ordinary great one having such like red flowers and yet he maketh the same to be Clusius his Cynoglossum pumilum sive Austriacum alterum and also Columna his Cynoglossa minor montana serotina altera Plinij who both say that theirs have blew flowers as the Elatine of Tragus and the Lappula rusticorum of Lugdunensis which are both one and the same with it this also Bauhinus himselfe maketh his tenth species calling it Cynoglossum minus and there also making it to be the same Cynoglossa Plinij of Columna before set downe so that he confoundeth them much maketh that sort with red flowers to be the same with that of Tragus and Lugdunensis which hath blew flowers and doth corresponde altogether with theirs which errour in him is usuall in many other places of his Pinax and not in this onely It is called by the Italians Cinoglossa and Lingua di canc by the Spaniards Langua de perro by the French Langue de chien by the Germans Hundss zungin by the Dutchmen Honts tonghe and we in English Hounds tongue generally or of some Dogges tongue The Vertues Hounds tongue is temperately cold drying and astringent and yet hath a mollifying qualitie The roote is very effectually used in pills as well as in decoctions or otherwise to stay all sharpe and thin defluxions of rheume from the head into the eyes or nose or upon the stomacke or lungs as also for coughs and shortnes of breath for which purpose the Pilulae de Cynoglossa either of Mesues or Trallianus description or as it is corrected by Fernelius is singular good which is set downe in this manner Take of Myrrhe five drammes Olibanum sixe drammes of Opium of the seedes of white Henbane and the barke of the dried rootes of Hounds tongue of each foure drams or halfe an ounce of Saffron and Castor of each one dramme and a halfe let all these be made into a masse or lumpe for pilles according to art with the syrupe of Staechados the leaves boiled in wine saith Dioscorides but others do rather appoint it to be made with water and to add thereunto oyle and salt mollifieth or openeth the belly downewards the same also taken doth helpe to cure the biting of a mad Dogge and applying some of the leaves also to the wound the leaves bruised or the juice of them boyled in Axungia that is Hogges larde and applied cureth the falling away of the haire which commeth of hot and sharpe humours the same also is a very good remedy to apply to any place that is scalded or burnt with fire the leaves of themselves bruised and laid to any greene wound doth heale it up quickly the same ointment aforesaid with a little Turpentine added thereunto as also the juyce used with other fit things doth wonderfully helpe all old ulcers and deepe or much spread sores in the legges or other parts of the body and taketh away all inflammation that rise about them or any where else in the body be it St. Authonies fire or the like the roote likewise baked under the embers either wrapped in paste or wet papers or in a wet double cloth and thereof a suppository made and put up into the fundament or applied to the fundament doth very effectually helpe the painefull piles or hemorrhoides the distilled water of the herbe and rootes is very good to all the purposes aforesaid to be used as well inwardly to drinke as outwardly to wash any sore places for it doth heale all manner of wounds or punctures and those foule ulcers that rise by the French Poxe CHAP. XX. Auchusa Alkanet THere are divers sorts of Alkanet whereof I have given you the description of one and under it have made mention of some other sorts in my former Booke but because I there did not shew you them at the full I will in this place make further mention thereof with the rest of it is kinde 1. Anchusa lutea major The greater yellow Alkanet This yellow Alkanet hath many long and narrow hoary leaves lying on the ground and thicke set on the stalkes likewise which riseth not much above a foote and a halfe high at the toppes wherof stand many yellow flowers with a small leafe at the foote of every flower which are somewhat long and hollow very like unto Comfrey flowers but a little opening themselves at the brimmes like unto Buglosse flowers with a pointell in the middle after they are past there come in their places small long blackish seede not unlike both to Buglosse and Comfrey seede the roote is of the bignesse of ones finger and of the length of two whose outward barke is somewhat thicke and of an excellent orient red colour ready to colour their hands and fingers with its red colour that shall handle it the inner pith being white and wooddy the whole herbe is of an astringent taste 2. Anchusa lutea minor The lesser yellow Alkanet This small Alkanet is very like unto the former but that the leaves are narrower and not so long yet covered 1. Anchusa lutea major Thâ— great yellow Akanet 2. Aâ—chusa lutea â—r The lesser yellow Alkanet 3. Anchusa minor purpurea Small Alkanet with purple flowers 5. 6. Anchusa arboreâ— Anchusa hâ— Tall and low Alkanet with an hairy hoarinesse as the stalkes are also which in some are but a foote in others a foote and a halfe high with smaller leaves thereon the flowers are hollow and yellow like the other but lesser the seede also is alike the roote is great in respect of the plant red and tender while it is young but growing wooddy when it is old and blackish but liveth and abideth after seed time which some others doe not 3. Anchusa minor purpurea Small Alkanet with purple flowers The small purple Alkanet hath greater and longer leaves then the last hairy and greene like unto Buglosse and somewhat like unto the first but yet lesser and narrower although more plentifull that lye upon the ground and those also that rise up with the stalkes which are many tender and slender Altera supina atro purpureo flore whose flowers being like the others are of a reddish purple colour the seede following is more gray the roote is greater and thicker then the other We have another sort hereof whose small flowers scarse rising out of the huskes are of a sad or dead red colour the seede blackish rising againe yearely of its owne sowing and leaning downe to the ground 4. Anchusa lignosior angustifolia Wooddy Alkanet This smallest Alkanet which scarse deserveth to be accounted one of them both for the want of colour in the roote and the hardnesse of both rootes and stalkes for the stalkes are scarse a foote high hard and wooddy having many small and narrow sad greene hairy leaves much smaller and shorter then the last the flowers stand on crooked stalkes bending inwards like Heliotropium and are hollow but smaller then the former and of a very blew colour like
our common Germander thereby transferring the Chamaedrys to be the taller shrub and Teucrium the lesser and lower yet as he saith seeing Dioscorides himselfe saith that in his time they were transferred for the likenesse of their leaves one unto another it is not absurd to call them as they are usually entituled but as I shall shew you in the next Chapter the Teucrium of Dioscorides is better to bee explaned than Dodonaeus doth It seemeth also that Dodonaeus having beene in an errour in his former workes concerning Hierabotane mas faemina giving the figures of the Chamaedrys sylvestris thereunto reclaimed himselfe in his later History or Pemptades and left them both out as not allowing of his former opinion The Arabians call it Damedrios Chamedrius and Kemadriut the Italians Chamedrio and Quercivola and some Calamandrina the Spaniards Chamedrios the French Germandree the Germanes Gamanderle and Bathengel the Dutch Gamandree and we in English Germander The Vertues Germander is hot and dry in the third degree and is more sharpe and bitter than Teucrium and as Dioscorides saith is a remedy for coughes taken with honey for those whose spleene is become hard for those that can hardly make their water and helpeth those that are falling into a dropsie in the beginning of the disease especially if a decoction be made thereof when it is greene and drunke It doth likewise bring downe the termes helpe to expell the dead child and taken with vineger doth waste or consume the spleene it is most effectuall against the poison of all Serpents both drunke in wine and laid to the place used with honey it cleanseth old and foule ulcers and taketh away the dimnesse and moistnes of the eyes being made into an oyle and annoynted It is likewise good for the paines in the sides and for crampes The decoction thereof taken for some dayes together driveth away and cureth both quartane and tertian agues The Tuscans as Matthiolus saith doe highly esteeme thereof and by their experience have found it as effectuall against the plague or pestilence as Scordium or water Germander It is also as he saith good against all the diseases of the braine as the continuall paines of the head the falling sicknesse melancholicke fullennesse the drowsie evill those that are sottish through the dulnesse of the spirits and for crampes convulsions and palsies a dramme of the seed taken in powder doth purge choller by urine and is thereby good for the yellow jaundise the juyce of the leaves dropped into the eares killeth the wormes in them It is also given to kill the wormes in the belly which a few toppes of them when they are in flower laid to steepe a day and a night in a draught of white wine and drunke in the morning will doe also Theophrastus in setting downe the properties of Germander saith that the one part of the roote purgeth upwards and the other part downewards whereof there is more wonder than for Thapsia and Ischias that is blistering Fennell and tuberous or knobbed Spurge to doe so Andreas Vesalius pag. 49. speaking of the China roote saith that if a decoction hereof bee made in wine and taken for 60. dayes continually foure houres before meate it is a certaine remedy for the gowt Durantes giveth the receipt of a Syrupe very effectuall for the spleene in this manner Take saith he Germander Chamaepitys or Ground Pine Ceterach or Milt waste and Madder of each one handfull the barke of the roote of Capers the rootes of Smallage Elecampane Orris or Flagge Flower-de-luce and Liquorice of each halfe an ounce Of the leaves and barke of Tamariske and of Cyperus of each three drammes of the seed of Anise Fennell and Smallage of each one dramme of Raisins stoned one ounce Let all these be boyled according to art in a sufficient quantity of Posset that is of vineger and water equall parts Vnto each pound of this decoction being strained put sixe ounces of Sugar and three ounces of Cinamon water which being made into a cleare Syrupe take foure ounces every morning fasting The decoction thereof is good to stay the whites in women if they sit therein while it is warme and likewise easeth the passions of the mother being boyled in vineger and applyed to the stomacke with a little leaven stayeth vomitings that rise not from chollericke or hot causes the leaves hereof and the seed of Nigella quilted in a Cap stayeth the catarrhe or distillation of raw cold and thinne rheumes being boyled in lye with some Lupines or flat beanes and the head washed therewith taketh away the dandraffe or scurfe thereof The mountaine Germander is used by those of the Alpes where it groweth to stay all manner or fluxes whether of the belly or of the blood the feminine courses and the bloody flixe as also to stay vomitings CHAP. XXXIX Teucrium Tree Germander IT remaineth that I shew you in this Chapter the rest of the Germanders called Teucria Tree Germanders to distinguish them from the former sorts whether they be true or false 1. Teucrium majus vulgare The more common Tree Germander Tree Germander groweth like a little shrubbe with hard 1. Teucrium majus vulgare The more common Tree Germander wooddy but brittle stalkes a foote or two and sometimes a yard high if it be well preserved and defended from the injuries of the Winters branching forth on all sides from the very bottome bearing alwayes leaves by couples smaller smoother and thicker that those of Germander of a darke shining greene colour on the upperside and grayish underneath and dented also about the edges like them the gaping flowers stand about the toppes of the branches spike fashion one above another of a pale whitish colour saith Clusius of a purplish saith Lobel of both which I have had plants somewhat larger than those of Germander and without any hood above having a few threads standing forth the seed is small blackish and round contained in small round but pointed huskes the roote is somewhat wooddy with many blackish fibres the whole plant is of a fine weake scent but somewhat stronger if it be a little bruised holding the stalkes and greene leaves continually if it be not exposed to the sharpnesse of the Winter season 2. Teucrium Creticum Tree Germander of Candy This shrubby Germander of Candy riseth up with such like wooddy brittle stalkes as the former but somewhat smaller and whiter whereon doe grow such like leaves and in the same manner but somewhat lesser lesse greene and shining above and more hoary underneath two alwayes set at a joynt but on the contrary side with the leaves towards the toppes come forth five or sixe flowers standing in a huske like unto the former but a little lesse and of a purple colour after which come small round seed like the other the whole plant is somewhat sweeter than the former 3. Teucrium Boeticum Tree Germander of Spaine This Spanish shrubby Germander groweth in some places of Spaine
hath it taken therefrom which thing Iunius Solinus Polyhister confirmeth in the 48 chapter of his booke onely he varyeth from Aristotle in saying it is of a brownish yellow colour which hee said was blacke And Plinye writeth also the same thing in his 8 booke and 42 chapter although he said also it was an other thing as you have heard before Virgill in his third booke of Georgickes hath these verses to shew what it is and whereto used taken as it should seeme from Aristotle Hinc demum Hippomanes vero quod nomine dicunt Pastores lentum distillat ab inguine virus Hippomanes quod saepe male legere novercae And Tibullus the Poet in his 2. booke and 4. Elegie hath the same also in effect in these verses Et quod ubi indomitis gregibus Venus afflat amores Hippomanes cupidae stillat ab inguine equae Anguillara is of opinion that the Hippomanes of Theocritus is the lesser Stramonium or thorne apple and the Cratevas whom Theocritus his interpreter doth cite saith that it is a plant whose fruite is like the wilde Cowcumber fruits but full of thornes Now if the ancients have left these doubts whether Hippomanes be an herbe or made of an hearbe and shew not certainely what the hearbe is or doe not all agree that it is the sperme of mares how shall we in these times compound the controversie The Vertues Dioscorides saith that the pure juyce of Hippophaes it selfe being dryed and the weight of halfe a scruple thereof taken or the weight of two scruples if it be made up with the meale of the bitter Vetche taken in meade or honyed water purgeth downewards flegme choller and water the whole plant rootes and all being bruised and put into meade and about a quarter of a pint thereof taken worketh in the same manner the juyce taken from both the plant and the roote as it is used to be done with Thapsia a dramme thereof taken at a time is a purgation of it selfe for the same purposes The juyce pressed out of the rootes leaves and heads of Hippophaestum is to be dryed and halfe a dramme thereof given to whom you will in meade or honyed water draweth forth flegme and water principally and chiefely this purgation is fit or convenient for those that are troubled with the falling sickenesse shortnesse of breath and aches in the joynts and sinewes CHAP. XX. Alypum Monspelâ—â—sium sive Herba terribilis Narbonensium Herbe Terrible BEcause this herbe is of a most violent purging quality sharpe and exulcerating withall very like unto the former Tithymalls I thinke it fittest to joyne it next unto them and another with it which by Pena his judgement is very like thereunto both for face and quality 1. Alypum Monspeliensium Herbe Terrible This terrible herbe hath many wooddy stalks rising two or three foote high dividing itselfe into smaller branches covered with a thinne barke the elder branches being of a darke purplish colour and the younger more red thicke set with small hard and dry leaves without order from the bottome to the toppe which are somewhat long and small at the setting on broader in the middle and sharpe pointed somewhat like unto small Mirtle leaves of a greenish colour on the upperside and whitish underneath at the top of every branch standeth a round flower in a scaly head consisting of many purplish thrummes or threds paler in the middle than round about somewhat like unto the head of a Scabious or rather Knapweede the roote is of a fingers thicknesse long wooddy and of a brownish colour somewhat salt if it grow neere the sea shore where it may drinke any of the Sea water or else not salt at all but bitter if it grow further off the leaves also tasting after the same manner 1. Alypum Monspeliensium sive Herba Terribilis Herbe Terrible Hippoglossum Valentinam Clusie 2. Tarton raire Massilicusium Gutworte or Trouble belly 2. Tarton raire Massiliensium Gutwort or Trouble belly The herbe Gutworte or Trouble belly hath very many hoary or silver white slender and very tough branches two foote high divided into many other smaller whereon grow many small white hoary leaves round about them smaller than those of Alypum the flowers are white and small set close together in a long tuft but so covered with the white woollinesse that they can scarse bee perceived after which come small blacke seede bitter and unpleasant and so fiery hot that if any shall either chew of them or the leaves a little in their mouth they will so heate the mouth lippes and jawes that no washing will for a long time take it away the roote is small long and wooddy with many fibres at it yellowish on the outside and white within nothing so hot bitter or unpleasant as the leaves or seede yet leaving a small hot taste at the end without any sent and not giving any milke it is saith Pena very like unto the Turbith of Alexandria or of the shoppes in the forme thereof The Place The first groweth on the mountaine or hill called Cestius or Cap de ceste and in other rockes and stony places hard by Marseilles in France as also in diverse places in Spaine as Clusius saith The second doth likewise grow neere Marseilles by the Seaside on a small hill neere thereunto called Mondrond as Pena saith and all a long the coast of Liguria and the Isles of Corsica and Sardinia as Lugdunensis saith The Time They flower not untill it be late with us but Clusius found the first in flower in the moneths of February and March as he saith in Spaine The Names 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in Greeke quasi indolens inoffensumque remedium 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 per contrarium enim se habet quemadmodum in aliis Grace scilicet fella 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 sive dulcia 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Holostium tota ossea cum herba sit tenera appellans except it might rather be said to come from 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 id est salsum vel maritimum because it groweth neere the sea in Latine it is called also Alypum herba terribilis according as the common people of Provence doe call it from the effects it worketh It is called also Alypias by Actuarius yet some thinke that his Alypias which as he saith purgeth flegme doth differ from his Alypum which purgeth blacke choller but Paulus reconcileth this doubt in his seaventh booke and fourth chapter where hee saith that the seede of Alypum purgeth downewards blacke choller taken with a little salt and Vinegar in the same quantity that Epithymum doth but if we credit Dioscorides saith he it doth lightly exulcerate the guts but is the same in my judgement saith Paulus which is now called Alypias the roote hereof as I sayd in the chapter of Tithymalls is called by Actuarius Turpetum album as that of Esula minor Turpetum nigrum There is some doubt with many whether we have the true
any other discolouring of the skinne but they that use it had neede to take heede that they use it not too strong nor let it lie on too long but rather wash it off againe with faire water within two or three houres after it hath beene used The dryed rootes called Orris being beaten either alone of themselves into pouder or with other sweete things are used to be layd in presses chests and wardrops to sweeten and perfume garments of linnen and silke especially and all things that you will put it to and thus much of the Flowerdeluce But there are but few that have written of the Gladwin or that have remembred the purging qualitie therein yet many of our country people in many places doe with the decoction of the rootes purge themselves and thereby avoyd much corrupt tough flegme and choller yet some that will not have it worke so strongly doe but infuse the sliced rootes in Ale and some take the leaves which serveth well for the weaker and tender stomacks the juice hereof procureth sneezing being put up or snuffed up into the nose and draweth downe from the head much corruption and the pouder thereof doth the same the pouder also drunke in wine helpeth those that are troubled with Crampes and Convulsions or with the Sciatica or Goute and giveth ease to those that have any griging paines in their body or belly and helpeth those that have the Strangurie that is that cannot make their water but by drops it is with much profit also given to those that have had long Fluxes by the sharpe and evill qualities of humors which it stayeth having first clensed and purged them by the drying and binding propertie therein even as Rubarbe and some other such like things doe the roote procureth womens monethly courses very effectually if it bee drunk after it hath beene boyled in wine and some of them shred and boyled in wine and vinegar in equall parts that shee may sit over the hot fumes being close covered untill it grow neare cold the roote used as a pessarie worketh the same effect but in women with child it causeth Abortion that is the delivery afore the due time the seed beaten to pouder and taken to the quantity of halfe a dram in wine helpeth those that cannot make water very effectually the same taken with vinegar disolveth both the hardnesse the tumors of the spleene the root is very effectuall in all wounds and specially of the head as also to draw forth any splinters thornes broken bones or any other thing sticking in the flesh without causing any paine used with a little Verdigrease and hony and the great centory roote the same also boyled in vinegar and layd upon any hard tumors doth very effectually dlissolve and consume them yea even those swellings of the throate called the Kings Evill the juice of the leaves and rootes is profitably used to heale the itch and all running or spreading scabs or sores and blemishes or scarres in the skinne some doe suppose by the sharpenesse of the taste in the roote especially more then in the seede which is more drying that it hath as well a corrosive as opening quality therein some also doe appropriate it to the effects of the chests and lungs for which the Iris or Flowerdeluce is more proper and effectuall some also to stay the involuntary passage of the sperme following Pliny therein and some also to heale the hemorrhoides and others the diseases of the fundament It is thought also to bee effectuall against the poyson of Serpents and thus much for the stinking Gladwin CHAP. XLVIII Cnicus sive Carthamus Bastard or Spanish Saffron ALthough these sorts of Cnicus might well be placed among the Thistles as other Authors doe and with these that other wilde kind called Attractylis but because these onely have purging qualities I thought it best thus to separate them and intreate of these in this place 1. Cnicus sive Carthamus sativus The manured bastard Saffron The manured bastard Saffron hath sundry large leaves lying next the ground without any pricks or with very few white ones at the corners of the leaves and divisions among which riseth a strong hard round stalke three or foure foote high branching it selfe up to the top bearing shorter leaves sharpe pointed 1. Cnicus sive Carthamus sativus The ordinary Spanish Saffron 2. Cnicus alter Creticus Wilde or bastard Saffron of Candye 3. Cnicus alter perennis Clusil Clusius his everliving bastard Saffron and prickly at the edges and at their ends a great open scaly head out of which thrusteth forth many gold yellow threds of a most orient and shining colour which being gathered in a dry warme time and kept dry will abide in the same delicate colour that it bare when it was fresh for a very long time the seed when it commeth to maturity is white and hard somewhat long and round and a little cornered the roote is long white and wooddy perishing yearly after seede time This hath beene found with a white flower but very bare 2. Cnicus alter Creticus Wild or bastard Saffron of Candy This other bastard Saffron of Candye from a thicke and long blacke root riseth one straight round stalke halfe a cubit high set here and there with long sharpe pointed leaves thicke set with prickles at the dentes of the edges at the toppe whereof standeth a scaly head compassed with prickly leaves of the bignesse of the Attractylis or Distaffe Thistle out of which breake forth divers thicke yellow Saffron like threads thicke thrust together after which the seede groweth therein being white and as great as the greater Centory seede 3. Cnicus alter perennis Clusii Clusius his everliving bastard Saffron This bastard Saffron riseth up with divers hard strong and round stalkes without any branches at all from them to the height of three or foure foote bearing thereon at severall places somewhat large and long leaves dented about the edges of a sad or duskie greene colour at the top of every stalke standeth one great close hard scaly head but not prickly at all not so great as the other Cnicus or bastard Saffron never opening the scales of the head as it doth from the middle whereof commeth divers threds yet nothing so many as in the other of a sad blewish ashcolour and whitish at the bottome of them the seede which lyeth among the downe in those heads is greater although Clusius saith smaller for I set you forth the plant as it groweth with us then of the other thick and short but not white and in lesser quantity then it the rootes runne downe deepe into the ground and being there encreased doe runne and spread themselves taking up a great deale of roome The Place The first is generally sowen in Spaine Italy and other places for the especiall use thereof The second Alpinus saith was brought out of Candye The last groweth wilde in Spaine as well about Sevill as Cordula and in other places as
Clusius saith Pona remembreth it to grow upon Mount Baldus The Time They flower in the end of Iuly or about the beginning of August and the seede is ripe about the end thereof The Names It is called in Greeke 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Cnicus and Cnecus either 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 quod est pungere vel mordere or 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 quod pungendo pruriginem excitet but is more properly to be understood of the wilde kind or rather a floris colore cum 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 exponatur croceus vel rutilus it is called Cnicus and Cnâ—cus also in Latin and Carthamus in the Apothecaries shops 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as it is thought quod est purgare but more truly from the Arabians Kartam The first is called Cnicus sativus urbanus and vulgaris by most Authors and Carthamus as I said in the Apothecaries shoppes of some also Crocus Saracenicus The second is remembred onely by Alpinus in his booke de plantis exoticis by the name of Cnicus singularis the last Clusius calleth Cnicus alter coeruleo flore and so doe all other after him without any great variation The Arabians call it Kartam the Italians Saffaranâ— Sarasenisco the Spaniards Alacor and Acafran salvaja The Germaines call it Wilder Saffran the French Saffran bastard and graine de Perroquets because they use to feede Parrats with the seede in English Wilde Saffron Bastard Saffron Spanish Saffron and Catalonia Saffron The Vertue The first Spanish Saffron flowers are much used in Spaine and other places to bee put into their brothes and meates to give them a yellow colour which doth much please them for as for any relish of spice or hot quick taste they have none nor any comfortable qualities that they should be desired or used neither have they any great use in Physicke that I know but many pounds of them are spent in dying silke into a kind of Carnation colour the seede is chiefly used in Physick or rather the kernells within the seede which beaten and the emulsion thereof with honyed water or with the broth of a pullet taken fasting doth open the body and purgeth waterie and flegmatick humours both upwards and downewards which humors also it voydeth if the emulsion of the seede be given in a glister and thereby helpeth the collicke and dropsie and those other diseases that proceede from those humors being made into a Lohoc or licking electuary with Sugar and hony and a few almonds and pine kernells it clenseth the brest and lungs of flegme sticking therein wonderfully causing it to be easily spit forth it also cleareth the voyce and encreaseth sperme by the often use of it but it doth somewhat trouble the stomacke and therefore some stomachicall helpers are fit to be given with it as Aniseede Galanga Masticke or if neede be of more forcible Cardamoms Ginger sal gemma c. a dram of the flowers in pouder taken in hydromel or honyed water or in barly water helpeth the Iaundise a dram of the pulpe of the seede taken with an ounce of the Syrupe of Wormewood doth the like also the confection made of the seeds hereof called in shoppes Diacarthamum is an especiall good medecine both to purge choller and fleagme as also to cleare and clense the body of the watery humors of the Dropsie Parrots doe most willingly feede upon this seede yet doth it not move their bodies a white The second sort Alpinus saith is used by the naturalists in the same manner and to the same purposes to purge that the first is used Of the last there is little written but wee may onely suppose that being so like in forme it should so be also in quality CHAP. XLIX Papaver corniculatum Horned Poppie THere are at this day two or three sorts of horned Poppies knowne to us whereas there was but one sort knowne to Dioscorides and other the antient Greeke and Latin writers 1. Papaver corniculatum luteum Yellow horned Poppie This horned Poppie hath divers long and somewhat large whitish or hoary leaves lying upon the ground very much cut in or torne on the edges and somewhat rough or hayrie from among which rise up divers weake round stalkes leaning downe rather then standing upright somewhat hayrie also spreading forth into some branches and bearing a large flower at the top of every one of them consisting of foure leaves of a fine pale yellow colour with a few threds in the middle standing about a small crooked pointell which in time groweth to be a long naked round pod halfe a foote long or better with a small head or button as it were at the end thereof wherein is conteyned small blackish round seede the roote is white long and tough spreading divers wayes enduring many yeares and keeping his leaves all the winter every part hereof yeeldeth forth a yellow juice being broken of bitter tast 2. Papaver Corniculatum rubrum Red horned Poppie The red horned Poppie hath fewer lesser and more jagged leaves then the former nothing so whitish but of a sullen greene colour somewhat hairy also the stalks are slenderer and lower bearing flowers at the tops of them like the other and consisting of foure leaves a peece but much smaller and of a pale reddish colour for the most part yet sometimes sadder after which come such like crooked or horned pods but smaller then the other having such like small blackish seede within them the roote is long and slender perishing every yeare and raiseth it selfe oftentimes from it owne sowing or else must bee sowen every yeare in the spring this yeeldeth no yellow juice when it is broken like the other 3. Papaver Corniculatum flore violaceo Blew horned Poppie The blew horned Poppie groweth much lower and with smaller leaves very much or finely cut and divided into many parts of a sad greene colour the stalkes are low and slender yet somewhat hairy rising not much 1. 2. Papaver corniculatum luteum sive rubrum Horned Poppie yellow and red 3. Papaver corâ—ulatum violaceum Blew Horned Poppie above a foote or halfe a yard high at the most with small flowers at the toppes of them like unto the last for forme that is consisting of foure leaves but of a faire deepe purple colour almost like unto a violet after which come small slenderer and shorter pods not above a fingers length wherein lyeth such like blackish seede but smaller the roote is small and perisheth every yeare The Place The first groweth naturally by the sea side as well beyond sea as on the coastes of our owne country in many places both of the Kentish and Essex shore as at Rie and Lid at Harwich and Whitstable in the Iles of Tennet and Shepey and is much desired and planted in Gardens for the beautifull aspect thereof as well as the vertues the other two Clusius saith hee first found in Spaine growing by the way sides and in the corne fields as
smell so strong nor doth it give any milkie but a watery juice when it is broken so farre as ever I could observe 3. Asclepias Cretica Swallow-wort of Candy This Candy Swallow-wort riseth up in the same fashion that the former doe with many slender flexible greene branches with leaves set at the joynts on either side as the white kinde hath and are very like unto them but somewhat of a paler greene colour the flowers stand in the same manner three or foure together upon a stalke but are somewhat of a paler white colour not so white as they to whom succeede sometimes but one but most usually two pods together which are thicker and shorter then those of the white kinde straked all along and double forked at the ends wherein lye seedes and silke as in the former the rootes have not so many strings as the last and have as well as the rest of the Plant a strong smell resembling Boxe leaves The Place The two first grow in rough untilled places and in mountaines in divers places both in France about Narboâ— Marseilles and Mompelier and in Italy also and in other places The last grew in Candy from whence the seed came The Time They all flower in the moneths of Iune and Iuly and sometimes not untill August if the yeare be backeward and their cods with seede is ripe about a moneth after the empty huskes abiding on the dry branches when the seed and silke is shed out and fallen on the ground or blowne away with the wind The Names It is called in Greeke 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Asclepias ab Aesculapio qui 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Graecie dicitur antiquo medicinae doctoreâ— some bastard names it hath also as 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 quasi hederula and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 haederefolium and thereupon or from the forme of the leaves like unto Ivy Ruellius calleth it Hederalis in Latine it is called usually Asclepias and Vincetoxicum which is as a generall word to denominate any Counterpoison for Vincetoxicum quasi Alexipharmicâ— dictum quod illi insignis adversus venena vis insit it was anciently called Hirundinaria although both the kindes of Chelidonium majus and minus be also called Hirundinaria of some quia acutae aperta ejus siliquae cum câ—dida lanugine volanti hirundini fere similis est alij vero a semine lanugine pinnato ita dici aiunt that is it is called Swallow-wort of some because the pointed cods when they are open and the silke appeareth out of them doe somewhat resemble a Swallow flying others say from the likenesse of the seed fethered as it were with the downe about it it is called in Italian Venci tassico Asclepiade in high Dutch Schwallen wurtz in low Dutch Swalnwe wortel and in English Swallow-wort and of some silken Cicely It is generally by the most writers and most judicious Herbarists now a dayes acknowledged to be the true Asclepias of Dioscorides although Anguillara doubteth of it and Matthiolus denieth it and contesteth against Fuchsius that said it was Vincetoxicum For first concerning the leaves to be like Ivye as Dioscorides saith and long as it is in some copyes but Oribasius as he saith hath it not so and Marcellus doth thereunto agree led peradventure as he saith by the sight of some ancient copies the leaves being like unto Bay leaves but sharper pointed secondly that the flowers had no strong or evill sent thirdly that the leaves and rootes did not smell sweet and lastly the seede was not like those of Pelecinum Securidaca the Hatchet Fetch all which Dodonaeus retorteth saying all his exceptions and reasons are nothing worth but I may say all Dioscorides his comparisons are not so stricktly to be stucke unto for in the description of the cods of Apocynum he saith they are like Beane cods when as all know they are more like the cods of Oleander and in the description of the leaves of Periclymenum he saith they are like those of Ivy unto whom they are in all mens judgement very little like and so in a number of other things Concerning the rootes Matthiolus saith that an ancient Manuscript hath not the word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 multas but 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 tenues but which of them both is taken doth not much alter the matter but that they are not sweete no man that hath his sence of smelling perfect can say so if he feele their sent as they grow naturally in the Mountaines and for the evill smell of the flowers the word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 virus redolens is not in all things of one equality and for the seede although â—it be not as square as the Securidaca yet is flat and in colour and bignesse like it Fabius Columna as it is set downe in the Chapter before tooke the Italian Asclepias to be rather Apocynum of Dioscorides and Lobel also calleth the blacke Swallow-wort Periploca minor belike because it riseth higher and clambereth like a Periploca or more then the white or peradventure because of the blacke flowers but I shewed you before the chiefest note to know Asclepius from Periploca or Apocynum There is little variation in the denominations of these plants by any writers more then is here expressed some calling them by the one and some by the other name and therefore not worthy further trouble The Vertues The rootes have a most soveraine quality against all poysons but in particular as is said before against the Apocynum or Dogs bane It is effectually given to any that are bitten by any venemous beast or stunge by any Serpent or other Creature as also against the biting of a mad dogge a dramme and a halfe thereof taken in Cardus Benedictus water for divers dayes together It is taken also in wine every day against the Plague or Pestilence a dramme thereof taken in Sorrell or Buglosse water is very effectuall against all the passions of the heart if a few Citron seedes be taken therewith taken in the same manner and measure it easeth all the griping paines in the belly the decoction of the rootes made with white wine taken for divers dayes together a good draught at a time and sweating presently thereupon cureth the dropsie the same also helpeth the jaundise provoketh urine and easeth the cough and all defects of the chest and lunges the powder of the rootes taken with Peony seede is good against the falling sickenesse or with Bassill seede or the rinde of Pomecitrons is good against Melancholly and taken with the rootes of Dictamnus albus or Fraxinella bastard Dittany will kill and expell the wormes of the maw or belly the rootes are very effectually used with other things made for bathes for women to sit in or over to ease all paines of the mother and to bring downe their courses the decoction likewise of the rootes hereof and of Cumfrye made with wine is much commended to helpe those that are
aforesaid it doth most assuredly helpe also those that have the strangurie and have their urine stopped or are troubled with the stone or gravell in their reines or bladder causing them that take it to urine plentifully and thereby to remove and wash downe whatsoever sticketh or is offensive in the passages thereof Vide Hollerium de morbis interniis lib. 1. c 62. fol. 268. the same also helpeth much all stitches in the sides all griping paines or torments in the stomacke or belly caused by collericke or sharpe or salt humours it helpeth the obstructions of the liver and cureth the yellow jaundise likewise it killeth also the wormes in children being outwardly applied it conglutinâ—th wounds very notably and helpeth much to stay defluxions of rheume from the head to the eyes nose or teeth being bruised greene and bound thereto or the decoction of the dried herbe to bathe the forehead and temples or the nape of the necke behinde it doth also drie up the moisture of fistulous ulcers or any others that by the much accesse of sharpe humors are growne foule and spreading the lesser Rupturewort is not much wanting in all the faculties of the other CHAP. XVI Polygonum Solinoides Parsly pert or Parsly Breakestone I Have as you see separated this kinde of Knotgrasse from all the other in the last Chapter and not without just reason as I take it because the face and forme thereof is so much differing from them as the ensuing description will declare the roote in very small and threddy but abiding divers yeares in the naturall places from whence come many leaves spread upon the ground each standing on a small long foote stalke and being as broad as the naile of a mans finger or Sive Percepierre Anglorum Polygonum Selinoides Parsly pert or Parsly breakestone â—humbe is very much jagged on the edges making it seeme somewhat like unto a Parslye leafe whereof came the name â—ut of an overworne or dusky greene colour from among which riseth up weake and slender stalkes about three or foure â—ingers long set full of the like leaves but smaller up to the â—oppes that almost no part of the stalkes can be seene and all â—or the most part standing close thereunto few of them having â—ny footestalke at all or very short among these leaves come forth very small greenish yellow flowers scarse to be discerned where afterwards groweth the seede as small as any of the former The Place This groweth naturally in most countries of this land if it be observed by any that have skill but especially in such barâ—en and sandy grounds as doe not want moisture for it joyeth much more in the wet places then in the dry I found it upon Hampsteed Heath by the foote pathes where being a dry ground and in a dry time it was very small which else in 〈◊〉 moister time and in a moister place upon the same Heath was much greater as also neare unto the meerestones by Lambeth which divide the liberties of London from Surrey The Time It is to be found all times of the Sommer Spring and Harvest even from Aprill unto the end of October in severall places for in the open and Sunny places it will be withered when in the shadowy and moist it will continue The Names This plant being of long continuance in our land and knowledge to us by the properties for it hath not beene mentioned by any the most curious searchers and writers of herbs beyond sea as being onely peculiar I thinke to our Country before Lobel came to us who called it Percep er Anglorum and Lugdunensis from him hath received no Latine name at all and therefore I have transferred the name Polygonum Selinoides hereunto as more proper unto it then Gerards Knawell is unto it for it may most fitly be reckoned a Polygonum by the manner of the growing and the name Selinoides may most fitly agree unto it from the forme of the leaves being derived from the Greeke word Selinon for Knawel hath no likenesse with Selinum Parsly In the former Chapter I shewed you Gerard his errours herein now let me shew you mine also if peradventure I speake not per Antiphrasim concerning these names of Percepier or Perch pier as some call it and Parsly pert or Parsly breakestone as they are usually called in English I shewed you before that the word Parsly pert was but a corruption of time in the vulgar sort and Percepier also derived from the French word Percepierre which as I said before signifieth as much as Lithontribon in Greeke Saxifraga Petrifindula an old outworne word and calculum frangens in Latine pierce stone or breakestone in English some call it Parsly pert and derive it from petra but the more proper English is Parsly breakestone Now concerning this and Lobel his Saxifraga Anglicana both of them are affirmed by Lobel to grow in the West Country and both are used for one purpose yet Lobel seemeth to referre the Percepier unto the Cerefolium Scandix sive Pecten Veneris or partaking of both of them but most unproperly in my minde which hath caused Bauhinus in his Pinax following his opinion to make it a species of Cerefolium calling it Chaerophyllo nonnihil similis planta and Tabermontanus thereupon calleth it Scandix minor and Columua was also much deceived in thinking this to be an Alchymilla calling it minima montana The Vertues This herbe hath properly with the vulgar sort both men and women leeches who have had most practice of it not found any other operation then to helpe to provoke urine and breake the stone in those that are troubled therewith for which purposes it is most availeable for they use to eate it familiarly as a Sallet herbe and pickle it up as a Sampire to eate in winter but is used also more Physically either by it selfe or with other things and either in powder or in juice decoction or water distilled from it whose severall wayes that I may declare them a little more amply are these Take of the juice of the herbe about three ounces put this with so much white wine as is fit to make a posset take hereof every morning and evening a draught or ye may adde hereto Wild Time or Mother of Time and some Camomill You may also boyle these herbes aforesaid in white wine or in water if wine be not at hand and drinke it when it is strayned in the same manner the powder also of the dryed herbe to the quantity of a dramme or lesse in white wine or in other drinke where wine is wanting for divers dayes first and last and the distilled water of the herbe taken with a little Sugar in the same manner is found to be a singular remedy to provoke urine when it is stopped wholly or passeth away by drops with paine or unsensibly without paine expelleth store of gravell in those that breede it and the stone also in the reines or kidneyes in washing it downe by the
in imitation of the Greek Pliny saith that some called Myrrhis by the name of Smirnisusa and others Myrrha yet some have it 〈◊〉 from the likenesse unto Smyrnium as before the Smyrnium was likened to Myrrhis some also call it 〈◊〉 and some Cicutaria from the likenesse of the leaves and of some Conilaus the first is generally called 〈◊〉 most authors yet Anguilara calleth it Seseli Peleponense and is Gaesalpinus his Cicutaria tertia and by 〈◊〉 Caerefolium Hispanicum and by Bauhinus Myrrhis major vel Cicutaria odorata the second Lobel 〈◊〉 Myrrhis altera parua and Camerarius Myrrhis sativa minor and is the second Cicutaria of Caesalpinus and by 〈◊〉 Myrrhis montana the third is the Myrrhis of Fuchsius and others which Camerarius calleth sylvestris and Gesner in hortis Cicutaria similis Cicutae herba that grew in the fields and was not 〈◊〉 which Bauhinus calleth Myrrhis sylvestris seminibus â—evibus because hee calleth the last Myrrhis syl 〈…〉 which Columna called Myrrhis sylv nova Aequicolorum and I have added to the title Anglicanum because it is 〈◊〉 like his The Italians call it Mirrhida the French Persil d'asne the Germans Wilder kerffell the Dutch 〈◊〉 Kervell and we in English sweete Chervill great Chervill and sweet Cicely The Vertues Galen saith that Myrrhis is hot in the second degree with some 〈◊〉 of parts both leaves seede and 〈◊〉 are so fine and pleasant in Sallets as no other is comparable to it and give a better rellish to any other 〈…〉 put with it the seedes while they are fresh and greene sliced and put among other herbes make them the very pleasant the roote boyled and eaten with oyle and Vinegar or without oyle if any mislike oyle doth 〈…〉 pleasâ— and warme a cold or old stomacke oppressed with flegme or winde or those that have the 〈◊〉 or Consumption of the Lungs the roote drunke with wine is a remedy against the biting of the venemous 〈◊〉 Phalangium as also the Plague or Pestilence the same also provoketh womens courses and expelleth the after birth it also procureth an appetite to meate and helpeth to expell winde the juice is good to 〈◊〉 the 〈◊〉 of the head and face the candid rootes of this Chervill are held as effectuall as Angelica to preserve the spiritâ— from infection in the time of a Plague as also to warme and comfort a cold weake stomacke CHAP. XXXIIII Levisticum vulgare Ordinary Lovage HAving finished the two former rankes or order of umbelliferous plants I am come now to speake of the third and last sort which is of such as have broader leaves like Panax or Angellica and because I could not well place the Lovage among the Selina or Apia although it be most like unto them and not to be accounted one of them let me set it in the forefront of this broad leased order whose description is thus It hath many long and great stalkes of large winged leaves divided into many parts somewhat like unto Smallage but much larger and greater every leafe being cut about the edges broadest forwards and smallest at the stalke of a sad greene colour smooth and shining from among which rise up sundry strong and tall hollow greene stalkes five or six foote high yea eight foote high in my Garden full of joynts and such like but lesser leaves set at them then grow below and with the leaves come forth toward the toppes long branches bearing at their toppes large umbells of yellow flowers and after them flat brownish seede bigger by much then Dill and lesser then Parsneps and thicker also the roote groweth great and deepe spreading much and enduring long of a brownish colour on the outside and whitish within the Levisticum vulgare Ordinary Lovage Levisticum vulgare Germanicum The Lovage of Germany 〈◊〉 plant and every part of it smelleth somewhat strongly and aromatically and of an hot sharpe biting taste Having another figure of Levisticum which Camerarius in his Epitome upon Matthiolus exhibiteth I could not 〈◊〉 insert it here that the difference from the other may be seene our rootes being great and thicke Germanicum and nothing 〈…〉 and in the flowers which they say are white and are yellowish with us which Dodonaeus noteth also so that either they observed it not well when it was in flower or theirs doth differeth from ours therein â—ven as it is noted in the Paâ—ax Heracleum The Place and Time It groweth no where wilde in Europe that I can here of but is onely planted in Gardens where it will grow 〈◊〉 and great if it be suffered it flowreth in the end of Iuly and seedeth in August The Names It is called usually in Latine Levisticum for Greeke name it hath none and not Ligusticum being farre differing plants although some have taken them to be both one deceived chiefely by the vicinitie of the name as namely Cordus Gesner Tragus Camerarius and Tabermontanus who all call it Ligusticum either sativum or vulgar Fuchsius calleth it Libysticum and Smyrnium also for which he is reprehended by Matthiolus Anguilara tooke it to be Laserpitium and Dodonaeus saith it is likely to be a kind of Laserpitium and Lobel calleth it Laserpitiuâ— Germanicum but Lugdunensis maketh it to be Hpposelinum after Matthiolus his opinion who saith if this be not Dioscorides his Hipposelinum he knoweth no other Matthiolus Dodonaeus and Lobel doe call it Levisticum Bauhinus setteth it among the Libanotides and called it Ligusticum vulgare and Libanotis fertilis Theophrasti For the true Ligusticum called Siler montanum and in shoppes Siselios I have shewed you here before The Italians call it Levestico the French Levesche the Germanes Libstockel the Dutch Laverse and Lavas and wee in in English Lovage The Vertues Lovage is hot and drie in the beginning of the third degree and is of thinne parts also and thereby doth open out and digest humours and doth mightily provoketh womens courses and urine as much as any of the kindes of Parsley the dried roote in powder taken to the weight of halfe a dramme in wine doth wonderfully warme a cold stomacke helping digestion and consuming all superfluous moisture and raw humours therein easeth all inward griplings and paines dissolveth winde and resisteth poyson and infection effectually the greene roote hereof bruised in a stone morter and steeped for twelve houres in faire water then strained and drunke first in the morning and last at night two or three spoonefulls at a time asswageth any drought or great desire to drinke more than a carouse of cold drinke found true by often experience although the roote is well knowne to be hot it is a knowne remedy and of much and continuall experience in divers shires of this Land to drinke the decoction of the herbe for any sort of ague whether it be quotidian tertian or quartaine and to helpe the paines and torments in the body and bowells comming of cold the seede is effectuall to all the properties aforesaid
or sixe foote high with divers great joynts and leaves set on them whose foote stalkes doe compasse the maine stalke at the bottome and from thence also towards the toppe come forth branches with the like but lesser leaves at them and at their toppes large round spread umbells of white flowers but Brausus describeth his with yellow flowers which I never saw after which commeth the seede which is somewhat flat thicke short and white two alwayes set together and is usuall in all these umbelliferous plants and a little 1. Angelica sativa Garden Angellica 2. Angelica sylvestris Wilde Angellica 3. Angelica sylvestris montana ditarum specitrum Two sorts of Mountaine Angelica 4. Archangelica The great water Angellica crested on the round seede the roote groweth great and wooddy when it flowreth with many great long branches to it but perisheth after seede and will rise and spring againe better from the seede that doth fall of it selfe then what is sowen by hand at any other time the whole plant both leafe and seede and roote is of an excellent pleasant sent and taste very comfortable being not fierce or sharpe but rather sweete and giveth a most delicate rellish when it is tasted or used the leaves be the weakest and some hold the seede to bee next and the roote to be the strongest especially being not ready to grow up for stalke Of this kinde wee have another sort in our Gardens called sweet Angellica not differing in any thing from the former Dulcis but in that it hath a sweeter rellish then the other 2. Angelica sylvestris Wilde Angellica The wilde Angellica groweth up with large spread leaves on the ground having smaller stalkes and lesser divided leaves by much of a darke greene colour not smelling halfe so strong as the garden kinde yet savouring so much like Angelica that by the smell one may soone see and know it to be a kinde of Angellica though wilde the stalkes are much slender and smaller yet growing three or foure foote high with smaller joynts and lesser leaves thereat at the toppes grow lesser umbells of white flowers which turne into smaller seede and blacker the roote is nothing so great as the former neyther are the strings so great or long and of a blacker colour on the outside not smelling halfe so well Of this kinde likewise there is some varietie one growing likewise wilde with us not much differing in the leaves but being smaller and not so much divided the stalkes being reddish and the seede thicker and longer Sylvestris altera the roote being great and thicke 3. Angelica sylvestris montana Mountaine wilde Angellica Mountaine Angellica groweth like the former wilde kinde but much lower and smaller in every part the roote hereof differeth most in that it is nothing so great but sendeth forth many small brownish strings from the the head round about it yet holding the same strong sent of Angellica that the former doth I give you here the figures of two other sorts of Angellica taken out of Doctor Foxes booke of dryed herbes which he had from Padoa garden and might seeme to be the Laserpitium of Alpinus set forth before but that they had severall denominations to them 4. Archangelica The greater water Angellica This Angellica groweth with a taller and much greater stalke sometimes reddish the leaves likewise being more in number and smaller divided and of as deepe a greene colour as the first sort in the tufts of white flowers it is like the first garden Angellica and so is the seede but greater and blacker the roote is great according to the plant and endureth many yeares without perishing The Place and Time The first sorts are with us sowen in Gardens the second sort is wilde both in many places of Essex Kent and neare Kentish Towne by London also and in other places the third groweth on divers mountaines in Germany Hungary and the rest the last is not onely naturall to grow in watery ditches but in moist grounds also in many places with us and in the Marsh ditches by Rederiffe The Names This herbe hath gained many worthy names from sundry worthy persons for some have called it Sancti Spiritus radix Lacuna and Dodonaeus thinke it some kinde of Laserpitium Cordus and some others take it to be Smyrniâ—â— and Cordus to be Panax Heracleum but all in generall call it Angellica from the Angell-like properties therein All these sorts are so called by most Authors as their titles beare and therefore I neede not explaine them further onely the last is called Archangelica by Clusius and Angelica aquatica by Gesner All Christian nations likewise in their appellations hereof follow the Latine name as neare as their Dialect will permit onely in Sussex they call the wilde kinde Kex and the Weavers winde their Yarne on the dead stalkes The Vertues Angellica is hot and dry some put it in the second and others in the third degree It resisteth poyson by defending the heart the blood and spirits and giveth heate and comfort to them it doth the like against the Plague and infection of the Pestilence if the roote be taken in powder to the weight of halfe a dramme at a time with some good Treakle in Cardos water and layd to sweate thereupon in their bed if Treakle be not at hand take the roote alone in Cardus or Angellica water the stalkes or rootes candid and eaten fasting are good helpes also in time of infection and at other times to warme and comfort a cold or old stomack The root also steeped in Vinegar and a little of that Vinegar taken sometimes fasting and the roote smelled unto are both good preservatives for that purpose a water distilled from the rootes simply or steeped in wine and distilled in glasse is much more effectuall then the water of the leaves and this water being drunke two or three spoonefulls at a time doth ease all paines and torments that come of cold or winde so as the body be not bound the said water taken with some of the roote in powder helpeth the Plurisie being taken in the beginning as also all other diseases of the Lungs and breast as coughes and shortnesse of breath Tissickes and so doth the Syrupe of the stalkes mentioned in my former booke it helpeth likewise the torments of the Chollicke the strangury and stopping of the urine procureth womens courses and expelleth the afterbirth and briefely easeth and discusseth all inward tumors and windinesse it openeth the obstructions of the Liver and Spleene and the decoction thereof being drunke before the fit of an Ague so that they may sweate if it be possible before the fit come will in twice or thrice taking rid it quite away it helpeth also digestion in the stomacke and is a remedy for a Surfet The juice or the water dropped into the eyes cleareth the dimnesse of sight if any filmes doe begin to breed in them and helpeth deafenesse by dropping it into the eares
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
later Greeke writer doth not mention it neither yet doe the Latines or Pliny in his time for his Caryophyllon or Garyophyllon lib. 12. c. 7. is a round graine like Pepper as is shewed before with the Amomum but greater and more brittle and was taken by some in these dayes to be Amomum and by others Carpobalsamum yet were they knowne to the later Greekes by meanes of the Arabian Authours who have brought a more ample and exact knowledge of the Indian commodities and of many other things then were formerly knowne so that now what by the Portugals travels the Dutch and ours by sea unto those parts the tree hath beene well observed to be great and tall covered with an ash-coloured barke the younger branches being more white having leaves growing by couples one against another somewhat long and narrow like unto the Bay-tree that beareth narrow leaves with a middle rib and sundry veines running there through each of them standing on a long footestalke the ends of the branches are divided into many small browne sprigs whereon grow the flowers on the toppes of the Cloves themselves which are white at the first with their sprigges greene afterward and lastly reddish before they be beaten off from the tree and being dryed before they be put up grow blackish as we see them having foure small toppes at the heads of them and a small round head in the middle of them the flower it selfe standing betweene those consisteth of foure small leaves like unto a Cherry blossome but of an excellent blew colour 〈◊〉 it is confidently reported with three white veines in every leafe and divers purplish threds in the middle of a more dainty fine sent then the Clove it selfe which is a small slender fruite almost like a small nayâ—e and 〈◊〉 called Clavus by many and from thence the Dutch call them Naegelen being of a hot quickâ— and sharpe taste which are first ripe and gathered but those that doe abide longer on the trees doe grow somewhat thicker and greater and are not oâ— halfe the others goodnesse being called by most Fusses yet some call the stalkes of the Cloves Fustes and grow of their owne falling and are not grafted Hereout likewise commeth a certaine darke red gum and are found usually put together These grow chiefly in the Maluccâ— Islands where they gather them twise every yeare that is in Iune and December the leafe barke and wood being nothing so hot in taste as the Clove they grow also in Amboyâ—â— where they grow well and beare plentifully being there Caryophyllorum affigies spuâ—â—a A false figure of the Clove tree Caryophyllorum tâ—â—â—â—lis geâ—â—ina affigie A branch of the Clove tree with the fruite truely expressed planted by the Dutch in other places of the Indies more scarsely and lesse fruitefull then there which are called generally by the Indians Calefur and by those of the Maluccas and in some other places Chanqâ—â— The properties of Cloves are many and excellent being hot and dry in the third degree yet some say the second and of much use both in meate and medicine comforting the head and the heart and strengthening the liver the stomacke and all the inward parts that want heate helping digestion to breake winde and to provoke urine The oyle chymically drawne is much used for the tooth-ache and to stop hollow aking teeth as also to be put into perfumes for gloves leather and the like the Cloves themselves for their excellent sent serving as a speciall part in all sweet powthers sweet waters perfuming pots c. Garcias saith that the Portugall women distill the Cloves while they are fresh which make a most sweet and delicate water no lesse usefull for sent then profitable 〈◊〉 all the passions of the heart the weakenesse of the stomacke c. and with the pouther of Cloves applyed to 〈◊〉 forehead helpe the head ach comming of cold as also by eating them procure a sweet breath Soâ—â— as he saith procure sweating to those that have the French disease by giving Cloves Nutmegs Mace long and blacke â—â—â—per but this hath no use with us Christophorus a Costa saith that they binde the belly and sharpen the eye sight clensing them and taking away filmes or clouds that darken it if their water be dropped into them and that foure drammes of the pouther of Cloves taken in milke will procure and stirre up venery or bodily lust CHAP. XXII China radix officinarum The roote China THe roote called China is like to the roote of a great reed some flattish others round nor smooth but bunched or knotty reddish for the most part on the outside and whitish or sometimes a little reddish on the inside the best is solid or firme and somewhat weighty fresh and not worme eaten and without any taste but as it were drying it groweth up with many prickely branches of a reasonable great bignesse like unto Sarsa parilla or the prickely Bindeweed winding it selfe about trees and hath divers leaves growing on them like unto broad Plantaine leaves the rootes grow sometimes many together and may be eaten while they are fresh and so the Indians doe with their meate as we doe Carâ—ets or Turneps it not onely groweth in China but in Malabar Cochin Cranganâ—â— Taâ—â—r and other places there and is called Laâ—patan by the Chineses and Chophchina by the Arabians and Persians The properties whereof are many and of great use with us in divers cases it was at the first knowledge thereof to the Christians and others that dwelt in India chiefly used for dyet drinkes in Lua Vexerea the French disease but since it is found profitable in agues whether quotidian or intermittant or pestilentiall and also hectickes and consumptions China rozix officinarum The true China roote Pseudochina Bastard China to rectifie the evill disposition of the liver the inveterate paines in the head and stomacke and strengtheneth it and to dry up the defluxions of rheumes to helpe the jaundise and the burstings in children or others by drying up the humour which is the cause thereof it helpeth also the palsie and all the other diseases of the joynts and bladder the gout and Sciatica and the nodes also and ulcers of the yard and is good in all cold and melancholicke griefes some take it to be a great incendiary to lust the manner of taking it is divers for some boyle it being sliced thinne and steeped for a good while in water onely and some adde wine thereto and some boyle it in the broth with a chicken tyed up in a linnen cloath and to take from a quarter to halfe an ounce or more at a time as the quantity of drinke or broth you will provide or as the party can beare We have had a kinde of roote brought us from the West Indies in forme somewhat like unto this true but harder redder Pseudochina and more knotty which some called bastard China and was not used by any that I know Monardus saith that the
resembling a small lambe whose coate or rinde is wolly like unto a Lambes skinne the pulpe or meate underneath which is like the flesh of a Crevise or Lobster having as it is sayd blood also in it it hath the forme of an head hanging downe and feeding on the grasse round about it untill it hath consumed it and then dyeth or else will perish if the grasse round about it bee cut away of purpose it hath foure legges also hanging downe the Woolves much affect to feede on them CHAP. LXVIII Manobiforte Brasilianorum Indian earth nuts or Pease THere is growing in sundry places in Brassil and in America also neare the River Maranon a certaine fruit or Pease breeding under the ground like as puffes doe without either leafe or roote as it is sayd but they are no bigger then great Pease and inclosed in a small grayish thicke and short cod very like a small Pescod with one or two Pease therein of a pale reddish colour on the outside and white within tasting like unto an Almond which will rattle being shaked in the skinne growing many together and tyed by small strings The fruits are eaten as junkets with great delight for their pleasant tastes sake eyther fresh or dryed but a little tosted make them rellish much better and are served to the table of the better sort as an after course and doe dry and strengthen the stomacke very much but taken too liberally breed head ach and heavinesse CHAP. LXIX Radix Sancta Helenae Saint Helens beads or Indian round sweet Cyperus NEare the Port of Saint Hellen which is in Florida grew certaine rootes very long and full of knots or round joynts as great as ones thumbe blacke Radix Sancta Helene Saint Helens Beads or Indian round sweet Cyperus without and white within tasting somewhat aromaticall like Galanga which when they are dry are as hard as an horne the leaves are large and very greene growing on stalkes that spread on the ground it groweth in moist grounds and is drying in the beginning of the second degree and heating in the end of the same the pouther of them taken in wine is used against the paines of the stomacke and bowels easing the collicke and stone in the Kidneyes and provoking urine The Indians use to sprinkle the pouther of the rootes all over their bodies being ready to goe into the Baths because as they say it bindeth the skinne and strengthneth the members of the body by its sweet sent They use there to disjoynt these round knots of the rootes which being drilled and strung serve them in stead of Beads to tell God how many prayers they will give him at a time Clusius thinketh these roots may not unfitly bee referred to some kind of Cyperus but I thinke the large leaves contradict it CHAP. LXX Radix Quimbaya Carthagenas purging roots PEtrus Cieca maketh mention of these roots in the first part of his Peruvian history that they are slender of about a fingers thicknesse growing among the trees in Quinbaya a Province in Feru whose cheife city is Carthage if some of these roots be taken and steeped in a good quantitie of water all night they will drinke up most of the water but yet three ounces thereof remaining being drunke doe purge the body so gently and without trouble or perturbation as if it had beene purged with Rubarbe this hath beene often tryed Clusius thinketh that these rootes were the same or very like unto such as was sent him by a friend by the name of Bexugo vel Peru which he tooke to be no other then the branches of Atragene or Viorna of that Countrey they were so like CHAP. LXXI Rhabarbarum Americanum Rubarbe of America or West Indie Rubarbe MOnardus saith that among other things were sent him out of the maine of the West Indies he had a peece of a roote which they called there by the name of Rubarbe and was very like the East Indian kind for as hee saith it was round with a brownish coate and reddish core or inside which being broken had some whitenesse mixed among it and coloured the spittle yellow like Saffron being bitter withall but what leaves it bore was not signified This is not the white Rubarbe of America for that as is sayd in its place in the Mechoacan CHAP. LXXII Carlo Sancto The Indian Hoppe-like purger OVt of the Province of Mexico commeth this root which they there call Carlo Sancto for what cause is not well knowne it groweth after the manner of Hoppes climing on poles or other high things or else it will lye on the ground the leaves are like unto Hoppe leaves of a very sad greene colour and of a strong heady sent it is not knowne whether it beare eyther flower or fruite the roote is great at the head having sundry smaller sprayes issuing from it each of the bignesse of ones greater finger and white the barke or tinde whereof is easily separated from the rest and is of most use smelling somewhat sweet and tasting bitter and somewhat sharpe withall the pith of the roote consisteth as it were of many small and very thinne filmes which may easily Carlo Sancto The Indian Hoppe-like purger be separated one from another it is hot and dry in the beginning of the second degree The barke of the roote being a little chewed in the mouth draweth downe from the head much flegme whereby rheumes catarrhes and destillations therefrom are voyded and the parts much eased of paines and other griefes in some also it causeth a vomit avoyding thereby much choller and flegme from the stomacke that oppressed it before and strengthned it afterwards the decoction thereof worketh better thereon if a purgation fitting the person be taken before this evacuation upwards it will doe the more good the barke being chewed helpeth loose gummes putrid and rugged teeth and maketh a sweete breath but it were good to wash the mouth with a little wine afterwards to take away the bitternesse the pouther thereof taken in a little white wine or the decoction thereof with Maiden haire and a little Cinamon easeth women of the obstructions of the mother the staying of their courses and consumeth winde in their bodies being formerly purged and prepared and using Liquidambar Vng Dealthaea of equall parts mixed together to annoint the lower parts of the belly all the while the same also helpeth the Simptomes of the heart as swounings and other the passions thereof especially rising from the defects of the mother This decoction likewise is very beneficiall for them that are so troubled that is to take two drams of the barke and boile it in three pints of faire water putting in at the end thereof foure drammes of the barke of Pomcitrons and two drammes of Cinamon which afterwards being strained six ounces of this decoction is to be taken with a little Sugar every morning the body being purged before hand This pouther and decoction is commended likewise against the French disease the
Spaniards Tomilho the French Thym Marjolaine d' Angleterre the Germanes Quendel the true kind Romscher Quendel welsher Quendel the Dutch Thymus we in English Tyme or garden Tyme or as they are in their titles Serpillum or Serpyllum is called in Greeke 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a serpendo dictum of the Arabians Hemen of the Italians Serpillo of the Spaniards Serpilio of the French Serpollet of the Germanes Huner Kol of the Dutch Quendel or wilde Thymus we in English wild Tyme or Mother of Tyme The first true Tyme is usually called by all that have written of it Thymum legitimum or Capitatum or Creticum as Cordus Camerarius do but it is not that which the old Gerard setteth downe for it the second is called Thymus vulgaris nostras by many authors and Thymum durius nigrum by others by Caesalpinus Pepolina the fourth is called by Lobel Thymum latifolium and Serpyllum hortense by others but Bauhinus doth not number it among his Tymes but calles it Serpillum jus latifolium and is the same with Matthiolus his Serpillum although Bauhinus doth distinguish them the fift is from Bauhinus the sixt is called by Lobel Serpyllum Narbonense and by Clusius Serpyllum sylvestre Zygis Dioscorides the seventh Camerarius calleth Serpyllum majus flore purpureo and that with the white flower flore candido but both the old and new Gerard have erred in the figure and discription therof for this majus and the folijs Amaraci are both one the eighth is of Bauhinus his relation and denomination the ninth of both sorts Clusius calleth Serpyllum Pannonicum and Bauhinus angustifolium glabrum hirsutum the tenth is called by most authors Serpyllum or Serpyllum vulgare minus by others the rest have their names in their titles as whereby they may fitliest be called The Vertues The true Tyme or in the want thereof our garden Tyme as nearest thereunto although not altogether so effectuall doth helpe somewhat to purge flegme if as Dioscorides saith it be taken with hony salt and vinegar the decoction thereof is good for those that are troubled with shortnes or straightnesse of breath it killeth the wormes in the belly procureth the monethly courses of women expelleth the secondine or afterbirth after it hath holpen the delivery of the child causeth easie expectorations of tough flegme being taken with hony in an Electuary it dissolveth tumours or swellings when they are fresh the juyce thereof being annoynted or bathed on the place with some vinegar taketh away loose or hanging warts it helpeth those that have the Sciatica applyed with wine and meale it helpeth those that are dull sighted and is of good vse in meates and brothes to warme and comfort the stomacke and to helpe to breake winde as well for the sicke as the sound Galen saith the same things almost It is found by experience saith Aetius that if 4. dragmes of dried Tyme in powther be given in Oxymel fasting to them that have the gowte it helpeth them for it purgeth choller and other sharpe humours and that if one dragme thereof bee given fasting with meade it dissolveth the hard swellings of the belly It is profitable for those that have swellings in their sides and paines in their loynes and hippes it is likewise given fasting to those that have greate paines in their eyes and are bleare-eyed it is with wine applyed to the cods that are swollen Wild Tyme or Mother of Tyme if it be boyled and drunke moveth vrine and the monethly courses helpeth such as have griping paines in the belly or that have cramps or are bursten bellied or are troubled with inflamation of the liver being taken inwardly or applyed outwardly with Rosemary and vinegar to the head it ceaseth the paines thereof and is very helpefull to those that are troubled with either Frensye or Lethargy foure dragmes of the juyce drunke with a little vinegar is very availeable to those that spitt or vomit blood taken with hony licoris and aniseede in wine it helpeth a dry cough and is comfortable both to the head stomacke and reines and helpeth to expell winde the distilled water therof applyed with vinegar of Roses to the forehead easeth the rage of Frensye expelleth Vertigo that is the swimming or turning of the braine helpeth to breake the stone in the bladder CHAP. IIII. Cuscuta Dodder VNder this title of Dodder I comprehend not onely Epithymum as the chiefest kinde thereof but all the other sorts of laces or threads that grow either upon hearbes and shrubbes c. or upon the ground and because I would not speake of them in many places as I shall doe of the plants whereon they grow in severall places of this worke I though it more fitt to include them in one Chapter and give you knowledge both of their formes and vertues in one place rather then in many I acknowledge I might more fitly have placed this plant among the purgers but that for the names sake I would set it next unto the Tymes Epithymum The Dodder of Tyme Pliny setteth downe in the eigth Chapter of his 26. booke two sorts of Epithymum which Matthiolus seemeth to confute the one to be the flowers of Tyme as Dioscorides before him did both greene and white the other to be red haires growing without roote now most of our moderne writers doe acknowledge but one kinde Tragus as I thinke first mentioned both white red strings growing on severall hearbs even as I have done also which yet are but one and the same thing in it selfe growing in the same manner upon Tyme or Savory as it doth upon any other plant being red on some hearbes and white on others as may bee observed on sundry plants on Hampstead heath It first from seedes giveth rootes in the ground which shoote forth threads or stringes grosser or 1. Epithymum The Dodder of Tyme 2. Cuscuta Dodder finer as the property of the plants whereon it groweth and the climate doth suffer although Matthiolus and others have thought it to grow without roote creeping and spreading on that plant whereon it fasteneth bee it high or low clasping the very grasse if it meete with none else although Ruellius saith it groweth not on the grounde but on hearbes as upon some vines also in Narbone as Pena saith he observed these strings have no leaves at all upon them but winde and enterlace themselves so thicke oftentimes upon a small plant that it taketh away all comfort as one would thinke of the Sun from it and ready to choake or strangle it after these strings are risen up to that height that they may draw nourishment from the plant you shall scarse see any appearance of strings from the ground they being broken off either by the strength of their rising or withered by the heate of the Sunne and if they meete with no herbe or plant whereon to spreade they will soone perish of themselves as I have
it answereth very well thereunto although Lobel saith it is all one with the Mentha cruciata The seventh is called by Lobel Mentastrum aliud Mentastrum Campense of Lugdunensis it is the Sysimbrium sylvestre of Matthiolus very well set forth in his small Icoâ—es The eighth and ninth Clusius hath set forth calling the eighth Montanum or Pannonicum and the other Mentastrum tuberosa radice but referreth it rather to a kinde of Cattaria tuberosa and by that name I have often received it among other seeds from Italy and other places whereunto it doth most fitly agree The tenth Bauhinus hath written of and set the description thereof in his Prodromus by the name of Mentha geniculata radice and saith hee received it both by the name of Mentha tuberosa and Nepeta angustifoliá odorata from severall places The eleventh is called by Lobel Calamintha tertia Dioscoridis Mentastrifolia aquatica hirsuta by Lugdunensis Mentastrum minus spicatum by Camerarius Mentastrum aliud hirsutum and by Bauhinus Mentha palustris folio oblongo The last is called by Bauhinus Mentha rotundifolia palustris minor The Vertues The garden Mints in generall yet the sweeter sorts that is the Speare Mint and Hart Mint are more usually taken for all the uses whereunto Mints doe serve Dioscorides saith it hath an heating binding and drying quality and therefore the juyce taken with vinegar stayeth bleeding It stirreth up venery or bodily lust and as hee saith killeth the round wormes which hath not usually beene knowne to take effect with any two or three branches thereof taken with the juyce of sowre Pomegranats staieth the hickock vomitings and allaieth choller it dissolveth impostumes being layed to with barly meale it is good to represse the milke in womens breasts when they are swolne therewith or otherwise for such as have swollen flagging or great breasts applyed with salt it helpeth the byting of a mad Dogge with Meade or honied water it easeth the paines of the eares applyed to the privie parts of a woman before the act of generation hindreth conception which is contradicted as you may read a few lines below and rubbed upon the tongue taketh away the roughnesse thereof It suffereth not milke to curdle in the stomack if the leaves hereof be steeped or boyled in it before yee drinke it Briefly it is very profitable to the stomack and in meates is much accepted It is of especiall use to stay the feminine courses when they come too fast as also to stay the whites for which purpose no other hearbe is more safe and powerfull for by taking it often it hath cured many Applyed to the forehead or the temples of the head it easeth the paines thereof It is also good to wash the heads of young children therewith against all manner of breaking out therein whether sores or scabs and healeth the chaps of the fundament It is profitable also against the poison of venemous creatures The distilled water of Mints is availeable to all the purposes aforesaid yet more weakely but if a spirit thereof bee rightly and chimically drawne it is more powerfull than the hearbe it selfe in regard the spirit and strength of a great deale is brought into a small proportion foure ounces thereof taken as Matthiolus saith doth stay bleeding at the nose which may be thought incredible to a great many It is much commended to be available in venereous causes although Pliny in his lib. 20 cap. 14. doth write to the contrary but Galen in his sixt Booke of Simples doth render a reason of the faculty hereof very worthily where he saith some doe call that Mentha odorata sweet Mint which by others is called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Hedyosmos but there is another Mint which is not sweet which they call Calamintha both of them are sharpe in taste and hot in quality yea even in the third degree of heat but Mentha odorata is weaker and lesse heating so that I may well say that the one seemeth to be as it were the tame and the other the wild wherefore by that humidity it hath gained by manuring it provoketh to Venery which thing is common to all hearbes that have in them an humidity halfe digested and windy by reason of which temperature being mingled with Barley meale it is used to ripen impostumes which you cannot doe with Calamint because it heateth and digesteth more then such things as should ripen impostumes doe require It hath also in it a little bitternesse and some tartnesse by reason of the bitternesse it killeth the long wormes of the belly and by the tartnesse it stayeth the vomiting of blood while it is fresh if it bee taken with Oxycratum which some take to be sower milke and others to be Posca that is vineger and water mingled together It is of as great tenuity as any hearb whatsoever these are Galens words Simeon Sethi saith it helpeth a cold liver and strengtheneth the stomack and belly causeth digestion stayeth vomitings and the hickock is good against the gnawings of the heart and stirreth up the appetite it taketh away the obstructions of the liver and stirreth up bodily lust but thereof too much must not be taken because it maketh the blood thin and whayish and turneth it into choler yea and causeth the blood which is of very thin parts after it is separated to become thick and melancholick and therefore cholerick persons must abstaine from it it is a safe medicine for the byting of a mad Dogge being bruised with salt and laid on the powder of it being dryed and taken after meate helpeth digestion and those that are splenetick taken with wine it helpeth women in their hard and sore travels in child-bearing it is also thought to be good for bleare eyes applyed to them and that the decoction of them being drunke doth helpe the bleedings at the mouth speedily or presently It is good against the gravell and stone in the kidneys and strangury It is also comfortable for the head and memory not onely to be smelled unto but chiefly to be applyed unto the head and temples and easeth the head-ach the decoction thereof cureth the gums and mouth that is sore if it bee gargled therewith and mendeth an ill favoured breath as also with Rue and Coriander causeth the uvula or palate of the mouth that is downe to returne to its place againe the decoction thereof being gargled and held in the mouth Aristotle and other in the ancient times forbade Mints to be used of Souldiers in the time of warre because they thought it did so much incite to Venery that it tooke away or at least abated their animosity or courage to fight Divers have held for true that Cheeses will not corrupt if they be either rubbed over with the juyce or the decoction of Mints or they laid among them And some againe that if the juyce of Mints be put into the milke whereof you meane to make Cheese that although yee put
is of a manifest heating quality and a little binding and Aetius saith the same also but he further saith that some report that the fumes thereof being taken when it is burnt doth stay the immoderate fluxe of womens courses and all other fluxes of theirs Agrippa saith that if childing women whose wombes be too moist and slippery not able to conceive by reason of that default shall take a quantity of the juyce of Sage with a little salt for foure dayes before they company with their Husbands it will helpe them to conceive and also for those that after they have conceived are subject often to miscarry upon any small occasion for it causeth the birth to be the better retained and to become the more lively therefore in Cyprus and Aegypt after a great plague women were forced to drinke the juyce of Sage to cause them to be the more fruitfull Orpheus saith that three spoonefuls of the juyce of Sage taken fasting with a little honey doth presently stay the spitting or casting up of blood For them that are in a consumption these Pills are much commended Take of Spiknard and Ginger of each two drammes of the seed of Sage a little tosted at the fire eight drammes of long pepper twelve drammes all these being brought into fine powder let there bee so much juyce of Sage put thereto as may make it into a masse formable for pills taking a dramme of them every morning fasting and so likewise at night drinking a little pure water after them Matthiolus saith that it is very profitable for all manner of paines of the head comming of cold and rheumaticke humours as also for all paines of the joynts whether used inwardly or outwardly and therefore It helpeth such as have the falling sicknesse the lethargie or drowsie evill such as are dull and heavie of spirit and those that have the palsie and is of much use in all defluxions or distillations of thin rheume from the head and for the diseases of the chest or brest The leaves of Sage and Nettles bruised together and laid upon the impostume that riseth behind the eares doth asswage and helpe it much also the juyce of Sage taken in warme water helpeth an hoarsnesse and the cough the leaves sodden in wine and laid upon any place affected with the Palsie helpeth much if the decoction be drunke also Sage taken with Wormewood is used for the bloody fluxe Pliny saith it procureth womens courses and stayeth them comming downe too fast helpeth the stinging and bytings of Serpents and killeth the wormes that breed in the eares and also in sores Sage is of excellent good use to helpe the memory by warming and quickning the sences and the conserve made of the flowers is used to the same purpose as also for all the former recited diseases they are perswaded in Italy that if they eate Sage fasting with a little salt they shall be safe that day from the danger of the byting of any venemous beast they use there also never to plant Sage but with Rue among it or neare it for feare of Toades and other Serpents breeding under it and infecting it with their venemous spittle c. the danger whereof is recorded in Boccace of two Friends or Lovers that by eating the leaves of that Sage under which a Toade was found to abide were both killed thereby and therefore the Poet joyneth them both together to have wholesome drinke saying Salvia cum ruta faciunt tibi pocula tuta Sage hath beene of good use in the time of the plague at all times and the small Sage more especially which therefore I thinke our people called Sage of Vertue the juyce thereof drunke with vineger The use of Sage in the Moneth of May with butter Parsley and some salt is very frequent in our Country to continue health to the body as also Sage Ale made with it Rosemary and other good hearbes for the same purpose and for teeming women or such as are subject to miscary as it is before declared Gargles likewise are made with Sage Rosemary Honisuckles and Plantaine boyled in water or wine with some Honey and Allome put thereto to wash cankers sore mouthes and throats or the secret parts of man or woman as need requireth And with other hot and comfortable hearbes to be boyled to serve for bathings of the body or legges in the Summer time especially to warme the cold joynts or sinewes of young or old troubled with the Palsie or crampe and to comfort and strengthen the parts It is much commended against the stitch or paines in the side comming of winde if the grieved place be fomented warme with the decoction thereof in wine and the hearbe after the boyling be laid warme also thereto CHAP. XX. Horminum Clary THere are divers sorts of Clary some manured onely called Garden Clary others growing wilde whereof I shall here shew you many collected from sundry parts 1. Horminum sativum vulgare sive Sclarea Garden Clary Our ordinary Garden Clary hath foure-square stalkes with 1. Horminum sativum vulgare sive Sclarea Garden Clary broad rough wrinckled whitish or hoary greene leaves somewhat evenly cut in on the edges and of a strong sweet scent growing some neare the ground and some by couples upon the stalkes The flowers grow at certaine distances with two small leaves at the joynts under them somewhat like unto the flowers of Sage but smaller and of a very whitish or bleack blue colour the seed is brownish and somewhat flatt or not so round as the wild the rootes are blackish and spread not farre and perish after the seed time it is most usuall to sow it for the seed seldome riseth of it owne shedding 2. Horminum genuinum sativum Dioscoridis The true garden Clary of Dioscorides This small Clary riseth up but with one square hairy stalke about halfe a yard high as farre as ever I could yet observe divided into severall square branches whereon are set at every joynt two leaves one against another which are somewhat broad and round a little rugged like unto Horehound but more greene than white and of a reasonable good and small scent at the toppes of the stalkes stand divers leaves one row under another of a very fine deepe purple violet colour yet the lowest are paler than the uppermost and seeme a farre of to be flowers but nearer observed are discerned to bee but the toppe leaves the flowers comming forth under them at spaces about the stalkes of a whitish purple colour smaller than any of the sorts of Clary standing in brownish purple huskes which after the flowers are past while the seed ripeneth turne themselves downeward whereby the seed is lost if it be not gathered in fit time the roote is small and perisheth every yeare requiring to bee new sowne in the Spring for it seldome commeth of the seed that it shed the Frosts and Winter most likely killing it 3. Horminum Syriacum Assirian Clary Assirian Clary is somewhat like
is observed by Matthiolus that halfe a dramme of the pouder of the dryed leaves of Lavender Cotton taken in a little of the distilled water of Fetherfew every morning fasting for ten dayes together at the least and afterwards every other day is a very profitable medicine for women troubled with the whites to stay them Pliny saith that his Chamaecyparissus which as I said before is taken by some to be this Lavender cotton is good against the poison of all venemous Serpents and Scorpions being taken in wine The seed is generally in all our Country given to kill the wormes either in children or elder persons and accounted to be of as great force as Wormeseed the leaves also are good when seed cannot be had but are not of so great vertue Clusius saith that in Spaine they use the decoction of the Spanish kindes to take away the itch and scabbes in whomsoever have them but he adviseth there should be caution used in giving it CHAP. XXXVI Absinthium Wormewood ALthough Dioscorides and Galen also make mention but of three sorts of Wormewood the one a common sort well knowne as he saith the best growing in Pontus and Cappadocia The other Sea Wormewood or Seriphium and the third Santonicum of the Country beyond the Alpes in France yet there hath since beene found out many hearbes accounted to be kindes or sorts of them for some likenesse of face or vertues or both as shall be declared hereafter 1. Absinthium vulgare Common Wormewood Common Wormewood is well knowne to have many large whitish greene leaves somewhat more hoary underneath much divided or cut into many parts from among which rise up divers hard and wooddy hoary stalkes 1. Absinthium vulgare Common Wormewood 3. Absinthium Ponticum sive Romanum vulgare Common Roman Wormewood two or three foote high beset with the like leaves as grow below but smaller divided at the toppes into smaller branches whereon grow many small buttons with pale yellow flowers in them wherein afterward is conteined small seed the roote is hard and wooddie with many strings thereat the stalkes hereof dye downe every yeare but the roote holdeth a tuft of greene leaves all the winter shooting forth new againe which are of a strong scent but not unpleasant Arborescens and of a very bitter taste There is a Tree Wormewood like hereunto but growing greater and higher in the warme Countries 2 Absinthium Ponticum verum True Roman Wormewood This Wormewood hath more slender and shorter stalkes by a foote at the least than the former and reasonable large leaves yet smaller and more finely cut in and divided then it but as white and hoary both leaves and stalkes the flowers also are of a pale yellow colour standing upon the small branches in the same manner so that but that it is smaller in each part it is altogether like it the rootes likewise are smaller lesse woody and fuller of fibres the smell thereof is somewhat aromaticall sweete and the bitternesse is not so loathsome to taste Vnto this answereth the Absinthium Ponticum Creticum of Bauhinus but that it is in his owne Country more sweet in scent and little or nothing bitter in taste but somewhat altereth in another soyle 3. Absinthium Ponticum sive Romanum vulgare Common Romane Wormewood This is a small low hearbe if I may call it a Wormewood with much more slender short stalkes than the last whereon grow very smal and fine short hoary white leaves smaller and finer than those of the fine Sothernwood which grow at severall joynts many comming forth together at the tops of the stalkes grow small yellowish flowers neither so many nor so great as the last the roote from a short head shooteth forth many long fibres whereby it is nourished in the ground sending forth divers sprouts round about it whereby it is much encreased the smell hereof is faint and farre weaker than the other the taste thereof much lesse bitter 4. Absinthium tenuifolium Austriacum Five leafed Wormewood of Austria This small Wormewood hath many small hard and stiffe hoary stalkes whereon are set without order small and somewhat long hoary leaves very like unto the leaves of Sea Wormewood which stalkes are divided towards the toppes into many other small and slender branches rising from the joynts where the leaves doe grow with many small heads which shew forth many small whitish flowers 5. Absinthium inodorum Vnsavory Wormewood The Vnsavory Wormewood is in leafe so like the first common Wormewood both for the whitenesse largenesse and divisions thereof that it cannot be knowne from it at all unlesse you make your nose the judge of the scent which in this is so small that it is generally said to be without any at all yet it hath in the heate of Summer a small weake smel such as is found in some of the Sothernwoods the flowers and all things else are alike but this is somewhat more tender to be preserved in the Winter than the former 6. Absinthium album sive Vmbelliferum White tufted Wormewood This white Wormewood hath his roote composed of many small blacke fibres which shooteth forth many heads of long somewhat thick and broad hoary white leaves cut in about the edges in some places more than in others narrower at the bottome and broader at the point made somewhat like unto the leaves of the great field Daisie but smaller from some of these heads doe shoot forth slender hoary stalkes about a foote and a halfe high set here and there with such like leaves as grow below but smaller at the tops whereof stand many scaly silver white and greene heads in a tuft together out of which breake forth silver white small 4. Absinthium tenuifolium Austriacum Fine leafed Wormewood of Austria 6. Absinthium album sive Vmbelliferum White tufted Wormewood 7. Absinthium umbelliferum tenuifolium White tufted Wormewood with fine leaves flowers made of many leaves standing in a double row in the middle tipt with a little yellow the whole tuft of flowers doth somewhat resemble the flowers of Yarrow but much more pleasant to behold which stand a great while in flower and afterwards turne into small chaffy seed this holdeth some heads on the leaves all the Winter but are very small untill the Spring begin to come on which then shoote forth and become as large as is expressed before having little or no smell at all but exceeding bitter 7. Absinthium umbelliferum tenuifolium White tufted Wormewood with fine leaves This other white Wormewood hath much smaller and finer cut leaves than the former but as hoary white as the other the stalkes are shorter not rising so high the umbell or tuft of flowers is somewhat smaller also but as white so that it differeth in nothing from the former but in the smalnesse of the plant and in the small and fine divisions of the leaves neither hath it any more smell or lesse bitter taste Bauhinus maketh two sorts more of this
called Caballina either because they gave it horses being the coursest or because it was not fit for men but horses the knowledge as well as importation whereof is almost utterly forgotten and neglected It is called in English hearbe Aloes after the Greeke and Sea Housleeke after the Latine name and Aygreene that is Evergreene Pliny and others have written of an Aloe metallica or fossilis in Iudea and other places but it is found by divers Writers to be an errour in them and no such thing to be found The second as Gamara in the end of his Mexican History saith is called of some of the Indians Meâ— and of some others Magney of some Spaniards Cardon because of the prickes about and at the end of the leaves and of others Fil y Aguilla that is to say thread and needle because it supplieth both their uses the sharpe end thornes serving as an aule or needle and the threads running within the leaves being spunne serving as thread Clusius calleth it Aloe Americana and so almost all other Authors after him onely Lobel calleth it Aloe folio mucronato Fragosus saith that the pricke of the thornes hereof are venemous The Vertues The first hearbe Aloe is usually hung up in houses to bee ready at hand upon all occasions to apply a little of the juyce of a leafe presently cut of or the peece of a leafe it selfe upon any cut or fresh wound which is found to bee singular good to soder and heale them even as Dioscorides saith that that sort which grew in Asia Arabia c. is of more use to glue or soder wounds than that which commeth out of India the leaves also are found to be exceeding cold in the hot Countres and of very great use and effects for all manner of scalding with water or burning with fire gun-powder or the like healing them quickly the nature of the juyce or Aloes it selfe is fit to thicken to dry to procure sleepe and moderately to heate it openeth the belly purgeth the stomacke and the yellow jaundise and stayeth the spitting or vomiting of blood if a dramme thereof be taken in faire water it is not onely a good purger of it selfe but is added also with other purgers to cause the lesse trouble in the stomack it healeth greene wounds and bringeth old sores to cicatrizing as also those of the genitors it healeth the chappes of the fundament the piles and breaking forth of blood from them being used outwardly but assuredly it is found not convenient for those that are troubled with the piles to take thereof inwardly because it heateth and maketh the blood of them to be the more sharpe and fretting It is also found to be more helpefull to flegmaticke than to hot dry and cholericke constitutions It easeth the paines of the head to â—ee taken in pills or being dissolved to anoynt the forehead and temples dissolved in wine and honey it helpeâ— the forenesse of the reynes and gums and all ulcers in the mouth being torrified in a cleane earthen vessell it is in especiall good medicine to be used with others for the eyes Galen sheweth that it is hot in the first degree compleat or second inchoate and dry in the third and hath a little astringent faculty therein also but exceeding bitter it openeth the belly and purgeth moderately the stomacke chiefly whereunto it is most friendly and comfortable above all other medicines for whereas all other purgers doe trouble and weaken the stomacke this onely is found to comfort and strengthen it and those humours that are in the lower parts next unto the passage for it is no strong or generall purger of the whole body to expell grosse humours but those onely that be in and about the belly And for this purpose the Aloes simply it selfe is fittest to be used for if it be washed it loseth the most part of the purging quality and hath onely a comforting and strengthening property left And therefore if Aloes that is washt be given to those that are feverish howsoever it may doe small harme to some yet it is found to doe much to others Masticke or Cinamon are accounted the best correctors or helpers to be mixt therewith when it is given It healeth also those ulcers that are hardly cured and especially those in the fundament and secret parts Mesues saith it cleanseth the head and stomacke and easeth those paines are incident unto them and that the continuall use thereof preserveth any from dangerous and deadly diseases and with Mirrhe preserveth the bodies not onely of the living but of the dead from all putrefaction and corruption which effects long before his time were well knowne to the world for the manner of embalming the bodies of the dead with Aloes and Myrrhe which was used among the Iewes as appeareth in the 19. Chapter of Saint Iohns Gospell the 39. verse where it is said that Nicodemus brought about 100. pound weight of Mirrhe and Aloes mixed together which was laid with the body of our Saviour Iesus in the Sepulchre But the Aloes that is mentioned in all other places of the Scriptures is understood to bee the Lignum aloes which the Apothecaries use in their shops in many medicines appointed both by Greeke and Arabian Authors as well inward as outward for sweet oyntments perfumes and other compositions and the Aloe tree is onely once or twice named as in the 24. of Numb and the 6. verse The parable of Balaam concerning the beauty of Iacob or the children of Israel in the faire spreading of their habitations to be like valleies stretched forth like gardens by the River side like the Aloe trees which Saint Ierome translateth Tabernacles that God planted as the Cedars beside the waters And in the 45. Psalme where Saint Ieromes translation hath Myrrha Gutta Casia it should be Myrrâ— Aloe Casia for the Hebrew word Ahalod which the most juditious doe translate Agallochum into Greeke and Lignum aloes into Latine It is often given to children for the wormes either of it selfe or in a few Raisons of the Sunne opened and the stones taken forth and some put therein or outwardly applyed to the belly under the navill made into a plaister with a little oyle of Wormewood or some other such thing Aloes also is often used in medicines for the eyes with a little honey to allay the heate in them to cleanse the inward roughnesse of the eye-lids and cleare the dimnesse of the sight that commeth by moist humours distilling into them by drying it up without sharpnesse or offence it healeth also the itching in the corners of them Being mixed with a little vinegar and oyle of Roses and the temples and forehead anoynted therewith about the time of rest doth much helpe the headach and is a meanes to procure sleepe to those that want if it be dissolved in wine and the head washed therewith it stayeth the falling of or shedding of the haire used with honey and wine it cleanseth
made into powder and drunke in a draught of white wine or steeped therein all night and taken fasting or put among other purgers as shall be thought convenient clensing the stomacke and Liver and thereby the blood opening obstructions and helping those griefes that come thereof as the Iaundise the Dropsie the swelling of the spleene tertian and day agues and the pricking paine of the sides as also stayeth the spitting of blood comming as well from the Lunges as any other part the powder taken with Cassia dissolved and a little washt Venice Turpentine clenseth the Reines and helpeth to strengthen them afterwards and is very effectuall to stay the Gonorrhoea or running of the reines It is also given for the paines and swellings in the head for those that are troubled with melancholy and helpeth the Sciatica and Goute and the paines of the Crampe for which purpose one dramme or two of the extract thereof made in this manner and given in broth doth work effectually Let a sufficient quantitie of Rubarbe be steeped in Cinamon water which being strongly pressed forth let it be stilled in a glasse Limbeck in balneo untill the water be drawne forth and the substance remaining be of the thicknesse of honey which keepe in a close covered pot or glasse for the use aforesaid The powder of Rubarbe taken with a little Mumia and Madder rootes in some red wine dissolveth congealed or clotted blood in the body happening by any fall or bruise and healeth burstings and broken parts as well inward as outward the oyle likewise wherein it hath beene boyled being anointed worketh the same effect It helpeth the yexing or hickocke and all fluxes of the belly if it be toasted or dryed a little by the fire but much more if it be more roasted to be halfe burnt and taken in wine after this manner Take a pint of good Claret wine and burne it with some Sugar and a toppe or two of Rosemary into which put a dramme and a halfe of Rubarbe torrified or roasted by the fire as is aforesaid and one dramme of Chebul Myrobalanes a little broken or bruised let these stand in the burnt wine all night by the fire and straine it forth in the morning giving this at two times fasting which will in three or foure dayes stay any scowring or laxe strengthning the stomack and inward parts afterwards It is used to heale those Vlcers that happen in the eyes and eyelids being steeped and strayned as also to asswage the tumors and allay the inflammations and applyed with honey or cute that is to say boyled wine it taketh away all blacke and blew spots or markes that happen therein This Rubarbe is so gentle a medicine that it may be given to all sorts of gentle constitutions but in robustions or strong bodies it purgeth little or nothing whether they be children or women with childe and that safely at all times of the yeare the whey of milke but especially of Goates milke is the best and most accommodate liquor wherein it is to be steeped taken or else in white wine and it worketh thereby the more effectually in opening obstructions and in purging the stomacke and Liver from choler and flegme and most doe use a little Indian Spiknard as the best corrector thereof The other two last sorts of Rubarbe are not much or often used and their qualities are more astringent then opening little experience having beene made with us to shew you more of them CHAP. III. 1. Colocynthis Vulgaris Coloquintida or the bitter Gourde THis bitter Gourd runneth with his branches upon the ground as a Gourd or Cowcumber doth having diverse rough hairy leaves thereon every one by it selfe which are lesser and somewhat longer than those of the Cowcumber and more divided or cut in at the edges most usualy into five or seaven parts each partition also dented in or notched round about the leaves of the forme doe very much resemble those of the Citrull Cowcumber at the joynts with the leaves come forth the flowers which are yellow of the same fashion with them but somewhat smaller and also small tendrells or twining stalkes as the Vine hath wherewith it windeth about any plants or other things that stand next unto it thereby strangling or killing them the fruite that followeth is small and round as a ball many of them not much bigger than a great Crabbe or Peare-maine greene at the first on the outside and afterwards growing to be of a browne yellow which shell is as hard as any Pompion or Gourde and is usually pared away while it is greene the substance under it being white very light Colocynthis Pomiformis Pyriformiâ— The round and Peare fashioned bitter Gourde spongie or loose and of an extreame bitter taste almost indurable and provoking loathing or casting in many that taste it having therein sixe orders or rowes of white hard seede of the bignesse of Cowcumber seede but fuller harder and rounder and nothing so bitter or forceable in working as the white pulpe or substance is the roote is not very great but stringie and quickly perishing with the first cold approach of winter 2. Colocynthis major rotunda The greater Coloquintida or bitter Courde This sort of bitter Gourde differeth not from the former either in leafe or flower or manner of growing but onely in the fruite which groweth to be twice as big as the former and as round greene at the first but of a pale yellow when it is ripe whose pulpe or inner substance is also white and spongie and in a manner as bitter with such like seedes as are in the former and disposed for the most part into eight rowes or partitions the roote perisheth as the former 3. Colocynthis oblonga The long bitter Gourde This kind or Colloquintida differeth not from the last great sort for either manner of growing forme of the leaves or flowers but onely in the fruit which is as great almost as the last but is not so sphericall or round like a ball but somewhat long with the roundnesse and being a little flat at the head the shell or outer rinde thereof is greene at the first and afterwards groweth to be whitish with many spots thereon thâ— is also bitter but not so extreame as the first 4. Colocynthis pyriformis Peare-fashioned Coloquintida or bitter Gourd This Peare-fashioned kinde hath many trayling rough branches like the first and such like long and round pointed leaves cut in also on the edges but not so deepely neither so large or great and of a darker greene colour at the joynts with the leaves come forth the flowers being yellow but smaller than the first and likewise small twining claspers as the other which taketh hold on every thing that it may comprehend the fruite is small not bigger than a large Catherine Peare and many smaller yet all fashioned like a Peare the head whereof is somewhat rounder than a Peare the shell or outward rinde whereof is greene
made quickely into a very fine and white powder this I mention comparatively for it will be a very hard matter for any to know the best by relation but by inspection and chiefely by comparison of the good and bad together that so you may learne to know either of them at the first sight The dosis hereof as it is appointed by Dioscorides and others doth so farre exceede the proportion of our moderne Physitians that it hath made Pena to doubt that the Scammonye in Dioscorides time was more corrupt and encreased with other things than ours is because he gave so much and we doe give so little and Matthiolus on the otherside to doubt whether wee have any sincere Scammonye brought unto us at all or else that the text of Dioscorides is corrupt where he appointeth a dramme or foure obolos that is two scruples to be taken at a time and he setteth downe also that if a purging medicine be required to be effectuall you should take 3 aboli that is halfe a dram of Scammonye 2 oboli that is one scruple of blacke Hellebor and one dram of Aloes all these to be taken together at one time but the greatest dosis now adayes exceedeth not halfe an obolus to astrong body and lesse to the weaker or more tender Pena in his diligent observations and declarations hereof set downe in his Adversaria hath caused all whom it may concerne both to understand the choyse of this Scammonye as also thereby to bethinke them of the sincerity of other drugges and that as he guesseth the quantity of Scammonye is so great that is spent in all countries which is made onely in one that unlesse the quantity were augmented by mixture there could not be sufficient sincere and pure juyce to serve them by much and although in former ages and even in our former times there hath beene much false and corrupt Drugges brought into Europe and all the countries thereof farre and neere yet the skill and curiositie of these times is such that our Merchants taking onely the best for us of all sorts and refusing the course hath I thinke lessened if not worne out that sophisticating art in the masters thereof when they see that none but true and sincere is affected and bought the worst to lye on their hands untill it grow better It purgeth both flegme yellow choler and watery humors very stongly but if it bee indiscreetly or carelessely given without due respect it will not onely trouble the stomacke more than any other medecine but will also scowre fret and rase the gutts in working too forceably oftentimes unto blood and oftentimes causing faintings and swounings Our Physitians therefore doe seldome give to any tender and gentle body any Scammoniate Electuary and but in pills seldome any at all to avoyd the dangerous symptomes that often happen thereupon for Plinye Paulus Aeginata and others shew the dangers thereof and Mesues also declareth three severall hurts or harmes that come to the body thereby and the remedies of them which is not from the purpose to bee here set downe The first is saith he that it engendreth certaine gnawing windes in the stomacke so much offending it that it procureth a disposition to vomite To be baked therefore in a quince and some parslye fennell or wilde carrot seed or Galanga mixed with it is the remedy hereof The next is that it enflameth the spirits by the overmuch sharpnesse or fiercenesse therein whereby it readily induceth feavers especially in those that are subject to obstructions repleate with putrid humors which inconveniences are taken away by putting those things into your decoctions that doe coole and quench the heate thereof and such are the muccilage of the seedes of Psyllium or Fleawort Prunes boyled or rather the pulpe of them the juyce or the Iulep or the water of Roses or Violets or if before the boyling thereof that is the Scammonye you steepe it in the oyle of Roses or Violets or in the juyce of a sowre sweete quince and mingle with it a little Sumach or Spodium A third is that having a strong opening and drawing faculty it causeth immoderate fluxes of the belly by opening the mouth of the veines more than is fit This harme also is taken away by mixing astringent and restraining things with it such as Masticke is and especially yellow Myrobolanes and quinces or the juyce of them Againe it raseth or shaveth the intrales and guttes by reason of that sharpe juyce wherewith it doth abound and by which it procureth torments and paines therein the disease called Dysenteria which wee call the bloody flixe and Tenasâ—s which is a disease when one desireth to goe often to the stoole and can doe nothing but this danger is remedyed if moyst fat and slippery medecines be used as gum Tragacantha bdellium and oyle of Almonds and Roses as also the pulpe of prunes made up with Sugar the muccillage of Psyllium or Fleaworte seedes Masticke and quinces taken afterwards and warme water last of all all which cause it to passe the quicklier from the stomacke and bowels and thereby stay it from doing harme whereby those that are wise are taught to give the broth of barly sweetned with Sugar to drinke to those that have taken thereof This fault also is helped if cold medicines as well as hot being mixed together be given thereby to yeeld helpe to the heart liver and stomacke thus farre Mesues The juyce saith Dioscorides applyed to the wombe destroyeth the birth being mixed with honey and Oxe gall and rubbed on wheales pimples and pushes taketh them all away and boyled in Vinegar and annointed taketh away the Lepry or outward markes in the skinne being dissolved in Rosewater and vinegar and the head moystned therewith easeth the continuall paines therein A dramme or two of the rootes of Scammonye purge in the same manner that the juyce doth if some of the things appointed therewith be given with it the rootes boyled in water and made into a pultis with barly meale easeth the Sciatica being layd thereon it taketh away scurfes and scabbes if they be washed with the Vinegar wherein the rootes have beene boyled and also healeth apostumes Our English Bindweede hath beene experienced to be purging the rootes especially being boyled and the decoction thereof taken in a reasonable proportion That of Candy is mentioned in the description They of Mompelier have often used the dryed juyce of the fourth in stead of the true Scammonye when it was wanting but in a double quantity which yet did not worke so effectually CHAP. VI. Scammonia supposititia Supposed or Bastard Scammonyes THere be some other plants to be joyned next unto the true Scammonye for the strong purging quality in them but not either deadly or dangerous as the Apocynam is which else for the outward likenesse might be referred unto them 1. Scammonia Monspeliacae affinis Spanish Bastard Scammonye This Spanish kinde of Climer is very like unto the great
de methodo medendi Mesues againe saith that Turbith is the roote of an herbe that giveth milke whose leaves are like unto Thapsia or Ferula Fennell giant and there upon diverse have taken the rootes of Thapsia to be true Turbith Serapio taketh the roote of Tripolium or Sea Starwort to be the true Turbith and lastly the roote of Scammonye iâ— taken of some to come neerest the true Turbith as hath beene shewed in the chapter of Scammonye here before Matthiolus saith that all the sorts of Tithymall were indifferently taken and used for Esula by Physitions and Apothecaries in his time but assuredly the Turbith officinarum which is most likely to be the same of the ancients is not the roote of any of the Tithymalls or Spurges because all of them are hot and sharpe whether fresh or dryed and the true Turbith is almost insipid and because they being dry break short without any of those long threds that are in the true Turbith neither can it be Alypum or Esula for they are hot likewise It cannot be the roote of Thapsia which besides the heate and sharpenesse is too white also and the roote of the true Turbith is somewhat blackish on the outside and not so white within as Thapsia is That Tripolium cannot be it Dioscorides and Galen declare sufficiently who say it is sharpe in taste and hot in the third degree which qualities are not to be found in Turbith Lastly that Turbith should be the roote of Scammomye I cannot thinke because they doe quickly grow greater than the rootes of Turbith are ever seene to be The Arabians call Tithymall Xanxer Ethutia Mesues Scebran Alscebran the Italians Titimalo Tortumaglio the Spaniards Leche nersna Leche tregna the French Herbe au laict the Germanes Wolffs milke the Dutch Wolfs milck and we in English Milkewort or Spurge in generall and particularly Sea Spurge Wood Spurge c. as is extant in the titles The Vertues All these Spurges except the last are heating and exulcerating the skinne if they be outwardly applyed and are vehement and excoriating purgers taken inwardly without great care and caution for as Mesues saith in his booke of purging Herbes they are all offensive to the heart liver and stomacke they breake the veines shave the guts and heate the whole body so much that thereupon they raise fevers many times the first ill qualities therefore he saith are taken away if those things be put thereto in the taking that doe strengthen the heart liver and stomacke The second and third are taken away by putting thereto such things as have a glutinous quality and such are gum Tragacant Bdellium and the muccilage or expression of the seedes of Fleaworte and Purslaine The fourth evill quality is taken away by mixing cold and moyst things with it and such are the juyces of Sowthistle Endive Purslaine Nightshade or the seedes of Quinces well beaten with Vinegar These Tithymals or Spurges doe purge with great violence both upward by vomits and downeward by the stoole flegmaticke humors both from the stomacke and from the joynts as also blacke choller melancholy and the dropsie but they wast and macerate the body and consume generation 3 or 4 droppes of the milke taken fresh is often put into a dry figge which is taken by strong Country people to purge them but it requireth some caution in gathering of the milke that they stand with their backes and not their faces to the winde and especially that they touch not their face or eyes with their hands The milkie juyce of them is the strongest worker the seedes and leaves are next in quality thereto and the rootes of most are of the same operation but not so strong yet they being boyled in Vinegar helpe the toothach especially if they be hollow and the milke put into them so as it touch not any of the other teeth or gummes doth worke more effectually and speedily the same milke layd also upon any hairy place taketh away the haires but it is necessary that it lye not long at a time that the places be anointed with oyle of roses and Nightshade quickly after the same also taketh away callous knots and all other callous or hard kernels or cornes of the feete or other parts of the body if they be first pared to the quick and some thereof dropped on or layde to the same also boyled in some oyle of bitter Almonds clenseth the skinne of the markes or scarres that come of sores as also other deformities and discolouring of the skinne and the scabbes and scurfes of the head The Myrtle leafed Spurge is effectuall in all these diseases excepting vomiting wherein it is weaker The rest are all of a like quality but the Helioscopius is the weakest yet the leaves of the greater sorts in generall although some attribute it to the broad leafed Spurge onely cast into the water causeth the fish therein to rise up to the toppe thereof which lying thereon as halfe dead for a while may be easely taken with ones hand or otherwise A lye made of the ashes of them and the ashes themselves also are answerable to the same effects before set downe in many things The sweete Spurge as Tragus saith doth strongly provoke vomitings if the roote thereof be taken inwardly The outer barke of the roote being steeped a day and a night in Vinegar and then taken forth dryed and powdered halfe a dramme of that powder taken in wine or honyed water doth purge all waterish humors downewards as also choller and is very profitably given to those that have the dropsie the roote also wonderfully sodereth and healeth all manner of greene wounds Tragus also sheweth the manner of making certaine pills that are very effectuall for the dropsie and those that are short-winded which may be taken as he saith without either paine or danger Take of the rootes of Esula prepared as aforesayd halfe an ounce of aloes one ounce of Masticke one dramme these being beaten into powder each by it selfe are to be made up with Fennell water into great or small pills CHAP. XVII Lathyris sive Cataputia minor Garden Spurge VNto these greater Spurges I must adjoyne this other kinde of Spurge which by all authors both before and since Galens time was accounted to be neerest unto them and yet differing from them and therefore fittest to be expressed in a Chapter by it selfe yet hereof there are two or three sorts observed one greater than another as shall be presently shewed 1. Lathyris major hortensis The greater garden Spurge The greater of these garden Spurges riseth up but with one hollow straight whitish stalke as big as a finger shaddowed as it were over with browne on which grow up to the toppe for the first yeare many thicke fat long and somewhat narrow leaves of a blewish greene colour on the upperside and more whitish underneath somewhat like unto Willow leaves for the forme yeelding milke as plentifull as any of the rest
Lugdunensis who saith it doth best agree with Clusius his first Sanamunda The last is not remembred by any before The Vertues The first Spurge Olive worketh very churlishly with whomsoever and in whatsoever manner you give it viz. the leaves prepared beaten to powder and taken in wine or broth or the berries swallowed whole or bruised and taken by themselves for as Dioscorides saith if twenty foure of the berries be taken in drinke this proportion is answerable to the rest of the phisicke in those times as I have often said or the inner pulpe of them onely it purgeth downewards very strongly both Choller Flegme and water but as he saith they will burne the jawes and throate and therefore they had neede be rowled or otherwise given with flower or barley meale or swallowed in meale or in raisins the stones taken out or taken with purified honey being beaten with niter and vinegar it is applied to them that are given to over much sweating He that will give the ponder of the leaves had neede first to take away the strings that runne in the leaves which may be done while it is grossely beaten before it be beaten finer which prepared in this manner may be made into Trochisces or balls to keepe all the yeare the leaves being gathered in Autumne It is a remedy also for them that have eaten and drunken Hemlocke the poysonfull herbe All the Sanamunda's likewise are violent purgers for halfe a dramme of the juyce of the berries taken in wine or in broth which is the better and the safer way purgeth watery humours aboundantly and therefore if it be taken with good advise warily it may doe good in Dropsies Gouts Joynt-aches the Sciatica and the like in Spaine they usually give a dramme in the decoction of red Cicers which purgeth flegmaticke and melanchancholy humors wonderfully and consequently is availeable to all such diseases as rise from such humours Lugdunensis recordeth a cure of one in the Hospitall at Lions who was grievously tormented with the Crampe performed by Dalechampius by giving him a dramme of the leaves of the fourth kinde here set downe in pouder in a little barley water which wrought as forceably as if he had taken Colocynthis and thereby was restored to his health The country people as Matthiolus sheweth doe often take of those berries to purge themselves thinking to be their owne Physitions herein and deceive them of their fee due for their counsell but as he there saith they often deceive themselves by their unskilfull foole-hardinesse and make more worke for the Phisitions to cure them of the paines and torments and other dangerous diseases that follow the taking of these violent purgers if they free them not of further trouble by their owne deaths Pliny is justly to be taxed for writing in his 27. booke and 9. Chapter that the Coccognidium which as I said before is called by the Grecians the fruite of Thymelaea doth stay or bind the belly Sistit alvum is the word in the generall Copie which yet some would impute to be the errour of the Writer out thereof when it should be Ciet alvum when Galen and all other Authors acknowledge it to be a strong purger Mesues adviseth that Mesereon which I said before the Arabians doe confound and is to be understood this Thymelaea as well as that Chamaelaea c. is not to be given without the correctors appointed for it and yet not but unto strong able bodies All these therefore are not safe to be given to weake bodies or stomackes to women with child or to children that are not strong except they be strongly infected CHAP. XXII Laureola Laurell or Spurge Laurell THis Laurell or Spurge Laurell that it may be knowne from the Bay tree which is of divers called the Laurell tree riseth up usually but with one stemme yet sometimes with more very tough and pliant covered with a whitish thicke tough barke branching forth into divers parts toward the toppes whereon are set many long smooth thicke somewhat broad and shining darke greene leaves somewhat like unto Bayleaves but longer smoother softer and not with hard veines therein as Bayleaves have the flowers come forth towards the toppes of the stalkes and branches and at the joynts with the leaves many set together which are somewhat long and hollow ending or spreading into foure small leaves of a whitish yellow greene colour after which come small round and somewhat long blacke berries when they are ripe wherein lieth a white kernell the roote groweth downe deepe into the ground and spreadeth likewise tough long white strings somewhat woodie both leafe and flower both barke and roote are very hot and sharpe in taste heating and burning the mouth and throate of any that shall taste them it keepeth the greene leaves all the Winter and doth not shed them 2. Chamaedaphnoides sive Laureola Cretica Candie Laurell From a crooked small white roote rise up three or foure crooked and bending blackish stalkes thicke set with leaves without order covering them allmost wholly which are long and small towards the bottomes and grow broader to the ends being thicke and hard greene above and grayish below tasting very hot and burning both mouth and throate very notably what flowers or fruit it beareth hath not beene seene but referred unto this Laurell for the forme and propertie and groweth very low The Place The first groweth wild in many places of this realme as well as beyond the seas and being brought into gardens will there abide and flourish sufficiently well the other was sent out of Candie to Prosper Alpinus who hath given this remembrance of it The Time The first flowreth very early in the yeare even in Ianuary or February and sometimes before if the Winter be milde the berries are ripe about June the other hath not floured as is before said The Names It is called in Greeke 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a Lauri foliorum similitudine and the Latines accordingly Laureola quasi pusilla Laurus Some doe appoint two kinds of Laureola mas faemina some accounting this to be mas and Chamalaea Germanica to be faemina others this to be faemina and Chamaelaea to be mas so variable are divers in their opinions Matthiolus taketh this to be Chamaedaphne of Dioscorides and the Chamaelaea to be Daphnoides but in both 1. Laureola Floâ—ens Lawrell in flower 2. Laureola cum baccis Laurell with berries he is much mistaken Lobel and Lugdunensis doe take this Laureola which he calleth Mas to be Daphnoides and the Chamaelaea Germanica to be Chamaedaphne or Laureola foemina Tragus also is much deceived in mistaking this plant for Dioscorides his Thymelaea Most of other writers doe call it Daphnoides or Laureola Dodonaeus as I said before would make it to be Cneorum nigram of Theophrastus and the Chamaelaea his Cneorum album In my former booke I was partly perswaded that Chamaeadaphne of Dioscorides was the Chamaelaea Germanica or came
beaten and mixed with barly meale and applyed to hot inflammations asswageth them and helpeth places that are burnt either by fire or water cureth fistulous ulcers being layde thereupon and easeth the paines of the goute being beaten and boyled with the tallow of a bull or goate and layd warme thereon the juyce of the leaves snuffed up into the nostrills purgeth the tunicles of the braine the juyce of the berries boyled with a little honey and dropped into the eares easeth the paines of them the decoction of the berries in wine being drunke provoketh urine the powder of the seedes first prepared in vinegar and then taken in wine halfe a dramme at a time for certaine dayes together is a meanes to abate and consume the fat flesh of a corpulent body and keepe it leane the berries so prepared and as much white tartar and a few aniseede put to them a dramme of this powder given in wine cureth the dropsie humour by purging very gently the dry flowers are often used in the decoctions of glisters to expell winde and ease the chollicke for they lose their purging quality which they have being greene and retaine an attenuating and digesting propertie being dryed the distilled water of the flowers is of much use to cleare the skinne from sunne burning freckles morphew or the like and as Matthiolus saith both the forepart and hinderpart of the head being bathed therewith it taketh away all manner of the headach that commeth of a cold cause The Vinegar made of flowers of the Elder by maceration and insolation is much more used in France than any where else and is grate full to the stomacke and of great power and effect to quicken the appetite and helpeth to cut grosse or tough flegme in the chest A Syrupus acetosus made hereof would worke much better than the ordinary for these purposes The leaves boyled and layd hot upon any hot and painefull apostumes especially in the more remote and sinewie parts doth both coole the heate and inflammation of them and ease the paines The distilled water of the inner barke of the tree or of the roote is very powerfull to purge the watery humors of the dropsie or timpanie taking it fasting and two houres before supper Matthiolus giveth the receipt of a medecine to helpe any burning by fire or water which is made in this manner take saith he one pound of the inner barke of the Elder bruise it or cut it small and put it into two pound of fine sallet oyle or oyle Olive that hath beene first washed oftentimes with the distilled water of Elder flowers let them boyle gently a good while together and afterwards straine forth the oyle pressing it very hard set this oyle on the fire againe and put thereto foure ounces of the juyce of the young branches and leaves of the Elder tree and as much new wax let them boyle to the consumption of the juyce after which being taken from the fire put presently thereunto two ounces of liquid Vernish such as Ioyners use to vernish their bedsteeds cupboords tables c. and afterwards of Olibanum in fine powder foure ounces and the whites of two egges being first well beaten by themselves all these being well stirred and mixed together put it up into a cleane pot and keepe it for to use when occasion serveth The young buddes and leaves of the Elder and as much of the rootes of Plantaine beaten together and boyled in old Hogs grease this being laid warme upon the place pained with the gout doth give present ease thereto The leaves also burned and the pouder of them put up into the nostrills staieth the bleeding being once or twise used If you shall put some of the fresh flowers of Elders into a bagge letting it hang in a vessell of wine when it is new made and beginneth to boyle I thinke the like may be tried with a vessell of ale or beere new tunned up and set to worke together the bagge being a little pressed every evening for a seaven night together giveth to the wine a very good rellish and a smell like Muscadine and will doe little lesse to ale or beere The leaves of Elders boyled tender and applied warme to the fundament easeth the paines of the piles if they be once or twice renued growing cold The foule inflamed or old ulcers and sores of the legges being often washed with the water of the leaves or of the flowers distilled in the middle of the moneth of May doth heale them in a short space The distilled water of the flowers taketh away the heate and inflammation of the eyes and helpeth them when they are bloud shotten The hands being washed morning and evening with the same water of the flowers doth much helpe and ease them that have the Palsie in them and cannot keepe them from shaking The pith in the middle of the Elder stalkes being dried and put into the cavernous holes of Fistulous ulcers that are ready to close openeth and dilateth the orifices whereby injections may be used and other remedies applied for the cure of them It is said that if you gently strike a horse that cannot stale with a sticke of this Elder and binde some of the leaves to his belly it shall make him stale quickly The Mushromes of the Elder called Iewes eares are of much use being dried to be boyled with Ale or Milke with Columbine leaves for sore throates and with a little Pepper and Pellitory of Spaine in powder to put up the uvula or pallet of the mouth when it is fallen downe Matthiolus saith that the dried Iewes eares steeped in Rosewater and applied to the temples and forehead doe ease the paines of the head or headach The Mountaine or red berried Elder hath the properties that the common Elder hath but weaker to all purposes the berries hereof are taken to be cold and to procure sleepe but the frequent use of it is hurtfull It is said that if a branch of this Elder be put into the trench that a moale hath made it will either drive them forth or kill them in their trench The Marsh Elder is of the like purging qualitie with the common especially the berries or the juyce of them Mens and birds doe feede upon them willingly in the Winter The Wallwort or Danewort is more forceable or powerfull than the Elder in all the diseases and for all the purposes whereunto it is applied but more especially wherein the Elder is little or nothing prevalent the Wallwort serveth to these uses The young and tender branches and leaves thereof taken with wine helpeth those that are troubled with the stone and gravell and laid upon the testicles that are swollen and hard helpeth them quickly the juice of the roote of Wallwort applied to the throate healeth the Quinsie or Kings evill the fundament likewise is stayed from falling downe if the juyce thereof be put therein the same also put up with a little wooll into the mother
common Broome Spartium as if there were no difference when as yet they appoint the Spartium or Spartum Hispanicum Narbonenâ—e to be the true Spartium of Dioscorides which many call also Genista Hispanica Italica and Africana Many likewise mistooke the Spartum Iuncus which is a kinde of Rush wherewith in Spaine they make frailes or baskets to put Raysins Figges and other things in to be the Spartum frutex deceived by the name onely without further examining the matter But now in these dayes it is evidently knowne to all that are conversant in Herbarisme that Spartum or Spartium as some write it is one plant by it selfe and Genista another although the one be somewhat like the other and that Spartum frutex is differing from the other Spartum called Iuncus the first here set downe is generally by all writers called either Genista vulgaris or Genista angulosa or Scoparia vulgi Louicerus onely calleth it Genista minor sou non aculâ—ata and Caesalpinus Genista quadrato junco prima the Rapum Genista of all sorts I meane both of this Broome and of the other Dyers weede and of the hedge sides c. are called of Clusius Hemoderon according to Theophrastus lib. 8. c. 8. or Leimoderon as others have it and of most Orobanche although according to Theophrastiâ— there is another Orobanche that riseth up among the Ervum or Orobus and strangleth it as Tares doe Wheate whereof came the name the second is called by Lugdunensis Genista minima and by Bauhinus Genista ramosa foliis Hyperici the third is also called by Lugdunensis Genista Iluensis the fourth is by Tabermontanus called Genista alba and by Gerard after him Genista tenuifolia The fift is the same that Clusius calleth Chamaegenista Pannonica 7 a. and Gerard Chamaegenista Anglica howsoever the figures of them seeme diverse it is likely also to be the Genistae minoris species of Thalâ—us and of some is termed Chamaespartium the sixt is not onely remembred by Bauhinus in his Prodomus Pinax by the same name in the title but called also Spartium Creticum by Alpinus in lib. de plantis exoticis The seaventh is generally called Genista â—inctoria or infectoria and Genistella tinctoria Flos tinctorius of Brunfelsius and flos tinctorius of Fuchisus Lonicerus and Castor Durantes Tragus tooke it to be Ferula Leonicerus Lysimachia Anguillara and Caesalpinus Corneola Cordus calleth it Chamaeleuce and Bauhinus Genista tinctoria Germanica in English Greeneweede or Dyers weede because the Dyers doe dye a yellowish greene colour with the leaves and stalkes hereof and therefore provide thereof good store The eight is called by Clusius Genista tinctoria Hispanica of Lobel Genistella infectoria Lugdunensis thinketh it may be the Oricella of Thevet some take it to be the Lutea herba that Pliâ— mentioneth in lib. 33. c. 3. but therein they are much deceived as I shall shew you when I come to speak of that hearb Bauhinus calleth it Genista tinctoria frutescens foliis incanis The ninth is called by many Chamaegenista sagittalis by Camerarius Chamaegenista sagittalis Pannonica by Clusius Chamaegenista altera of Pena Lobel Genistella gâ—amiâ—a montana Gesner in hortis Germaniae calleth it Genista minima Cordus Genista angulosa Tragus Lonicerus Lugdunensis Tabermontanus call it Chamaespartium The tenth is called by Clusius Chamaegenista peregrina so doth Lugdunensis Lobel calleth it Genistella pinnata altera Hispanica Camerarius Genista pumila Dodonaeus Genista humilis Tabermontanus Chamaespartium tertium and Bauhinus Chamaegenista caule foliato The eleventh is called by Bauhinâ—s in Prodroâ— Genistae Hispanicae affinis and in his Pinax Sparto primo affinis but because it doth participate both with Spartum in some things and Genistella montana in others as I have shewed in the description I thought good to place it betweene them both and call it Pseudo Spartum Hispanicum in English bastard Spanish Broome The twelfth it called Spartum Hispanicum and Genista Hispanica Spartum Graecorum and Spartum frutex The thirteenth is called by Clusius Spartum 2 Hispanicum by Lobel Spartium Hispanicum alterum flore luteo by Dodonaeus Spartum frutex majus and by Bauhinus Spartium alterum monospermon semine reni simili The fourteenth is called by Clusius Spartum Hispanicum tertium by Lobel Spartium 2 flore albo by Dodonaeus Spartum frutex minus and by Bauhinus Spartium tertium flore albo The last is called by Columna Spartum Aequicolorum minimum montanum triphyllum The Italians call Spartum Spartio and Genista Genistra the Spaniards the one Spartio and the other Genistra Giesta and Geisteira the French Geneste and Geneste de Espaigne the Germanes call Spartum Pfrimmen and Genista Ginst the Dutch Brem and Spanische Brem and so we in English Broome and Spanish Broome The Vertues Our ordinary Broome doth much offend the stomacke and heart if Anniseedes or Fennell seedes or Roses or Masticke be not given with it being taken inwardly the juyce or decoction of the young branches as also of the seede or the powder of the seede taken in drinke purgeth downewards and draweth from the joynts flegmaticke and watery humors whereby it helpeth those that are troubled with the dropsie the goute the sciatica and the paines in the hippes and joynts it provoketh strong vomits also and helpeth the paines of the sides and swellings of the spleene clenseth also the reines kidnies and bladder of the stone engendred therein and hindreth the matter from encreasing or growing to be a stone therein againe and provoketh urine aboundantly the continuall use of the powder of the leaves and seede doth cure the blacke Iaundise the young buds of the flowers are gathered and kept in brine and Vinegar to be eaten all the yeare after as a sallet of much delight and are called Broome Capers which doe helpe to stirre up an appetite to meate that is weake or dejected helpeth also the obstructions of the spleene and to provoke urine that is stopped opening and clensing the uritory parts by the use of them very effectually The distilled water of the flowers is profitable for all the same purposes it helpeth also surfets and altereth also the fits of agues if 3 or 4 ounces thereof with as much of the water of the lesser Centory and a little Sugar be put therein and taken a little before the accesse of the fit first being layd downe to sweate in their bed the oyle or water that is drawne from the ends of the greene stickes heated in the fire helpeth the tooth-ach There is a lye made of the ashes of Broome which by art may be made as cleere as Claret wine which Camerarius commendeth to be profitable for those that have the Dropsie The juyce of the young branches made into an oyntment with old Axungia that is Hogges grease and anointed or the young branches bruised and heated in oyle or Axungia and layd to the sides that
are pained either by the wind as in stitches and the like or in the spleene easeth them in once or twise using it the same also boyled in oyle is the safest and surest medicine to kill lice and other vermine growing in the head or body of any the same also is an especiall remedy for joynt aches and swollen knees that come by the falling downe of humors upon a confusion or puncture The Broome Rape is commended by some to be as good a sallet as Asparagus taken when they are young and eaten either raw or boyled but it is much more bitter If Kine feede thereon it maketh them sooner desire the bull and therefore in Spaine they call it yervatâ—ra the decoction thereof in wine is thought to bee as effectuall in helping to avoyd the stone in the Kidneyes and bladder and to provoke urine as the Broome it selfe the juyce thereof is accounted a singular good helpe to cure as well greene wounds as old and filthy sores and malignant Vlcers the insolate oyle wherein there have beene three or foure repetitions of infusion of the toppe stalkes with flowers strayned and cleered clenseth the skinne of all manner of spots markes and freckles that rise by the heate of the sunne or the malignity of humors All the other sorts of lesser Broome have the like qualities and may be conducible for the same diseases but every one in his owne proper existence some being weaker or stronger than other The Spanish Broome over and above the same properties as also to purge downewards and to provoke vomits especially the seede taken to the quantitie of a dramme in mead or honied water purgeth by vomit as Hellebor doth without trouble or danger the flowers thereof boyled in meade and drunke or the pouder of them taken in a reare egge or the juyce of the young branches drunke fasting doe cure the Kings evill and the hippe goute and an oximell made of them and the seed often used breaketh and healeth all impostumes of the Spleene by causing the corrupt matter to void it selfe upwards often and draweth also flegme and raw humors from the joynts CHAP. XXXIII Cassia solutiva Purging Cassia IN former times there was onely one sort of purging Cassia knowne but there hath beene since brought to our knowledge an other whereof I meane to give you the relation in this place 1. Cassia solutiva vulgaris The ordinary purging Cassia The purging Cassia tree groweth in Assiria about Babylon and in the Jndies to be a wonderfull great tree spreading both in height and breadth very much but in Arabia Egypt and Italy much lesse yet growing to be a tree of a large size or bignesse whose wood is solid and firme yellowish towards the sappe or outside and blackish like Lignum vitae at the heart covered with a smooth soft and ash coloured barke very likeunto the Wallnut tree the branches are not very great and but thinly stored with winged leaves consisting of eight or tenne leaves for the most part five standing on each side of the stalke without any odde one at the end each whereof is larger and longer pointed than the leaves of the Carob or sweete Beane tree that followeth in the next Chapter to be described the flowers are yellow and large many growing together on a long stalke and hanging downe somewhat like as the Laburnum or Beane Trefolie doth consisting of foure leaves for the most part or sometimes of five leaves with many greenish threads in the middle standing about a small long crooked umbone or horne of a very sweete sent especially in the morning before the Sunne shine upon them but grow weaker in smell as the Sunne groweth hotter upon them the small horne in the middle of the flower groweth to be the pod which while it is young is greene but in time commeth to be of a darke purple colour and being suffered to grow longer or taken at the time and kept turne blacke being of divers sizes both for length and greatnesse some being smaller and some greater some a foote or a foote and a halfe or two foote long with a hard round wooddy wrinkled shell not very thicke or very hard to breake with a seame as it were or list all the length thereof at the backe eminent to be seene and with another small one against it upon the other side which causeth it to be easily broken into two parts by the middle long wayes and 1. Cassia solutiva vulgaris The ordinary purging Cassia 2. Cassia Brafiliana The great Cassia of Brasill distinguished inwardly into many skinny wood-like partitions on both sides of which partitions grow a soft blacke substance like unto hony and very sweete which is that part onely that is to be used and no part thereof else beside betweene these cells or partitions lie round and flat gristly seed of a darke brownish colour very like unto the seede of the Carob tree the rootes are great and grow deepe in the ground the choise of the best cods or canes is that they be moist within and that the seeds doe not rattle when they are shaken 2. Cassia solutiva Brasiliana Purging Cassia of Brassill There is another sort of Cassia that hath beene brought from Brassill which differeth not much from the former either in the forme of the tree or fruite for the tree it selfe groweth as by relation it is affirmed great and hath such like winged leaves as the former hath the fruit onely or chiefely differeth from the other in this that it is about two foote long especially such as we have seene and more than two inches broad and about an inch and a halfe thicke whose barke or outward rinde is much harder thicker browner and flatter than the other but with great wrinkles or furrowes crossing it as the other hath the seames likewise at the backe and against it are greater and more eminent and the seede lying in the cells larger and flatter also the pulpe or blacke substance lying upon the wooddy skinnes is as sweete as the other but of more force in working by the one halfe at the least The Place The first groweth plentifully in Egypt but yet not naturally for it is onely in their orchards where it hath beene planted for it is generally held to be first brought thither and to Arabia also from Syria and Armenia and they from the East Indies it groweth also in the West Indies first planted by the Spaniards in Hispaniola in so great abundance that from thence the most store that is spent in Europe is brought The other groweth in Brassill from whence it was brought into these parts The Time The first flourisheth chiefely in Iune and the fruite hanging upon the tree all the yeare are gathered much about the time of the flowring for the tree holding his greene leafe all the Winter hath usully both blossomes and greene fruite and ripe all as it were at one time The other hath not beene hitherto further described or
many places in the East Indies as Garcias saith it is onely nourished as a stranger both in Arabia and Egypt in their Orchards The Time We have no certaine knowledge of the time of flowring or the bearing of ripe fruite The Names It is called by the Arabians for none of the ancient Greeke writers hath made any mention of it Tamarindus that is the Date tree of India for Tamar signifieth a Date with them and of the later Greeke writers Oxyphaenicon that is the sower Date tree but both of them very unfitly for it may very well be perceived that it is nothing like unto any kinde of Date tree Lacuna following Mesues calleth it Dactylus Indicus of the Greeke word â—ctylus that signifieth a finger which the fruite doth very well resemble being bowed or crooked like unto a bowed or bended finger some take it to be Pala of Pliny whereof he maketh mention in his 12 booke and 6. chap. some againe thinke that it differeth nothing from the Palmulae Thebaicae of Dioscorides the Dates of Thebes and because it should not want an English name according to the property thereof I have called it the sowre Beane tree for that the fruite or cod is so like a great kidney Beane cod The Vertues The inward pulpe of the Tamarind is very effectuall to purge choller and therefore is of great good use in all hot or pestilentiall agues it openeth the obstructions both of the liver and spleene and therefore is profitable against Tamarinda The Tamarinde or sower Beane tree Tamarindâ— fructus cum semâ—ne The cod and seedes of the Tamarinde tree all breakings out of the skinne which come of the heate of bloud or of a sharpe or salt water running betweene the flesh and the skinne as itches scabbes leprye and the like and helpeth those that are troubled with the Jaundies and the stopping of the Spleene it doth exceedingly helpe to asswage the thirst if an ounce thereof be dissolved in faire water and a little Sugar mixed therewith or taken of it selfe for the people of the hot countries doe usually eate thereof in their long travells to quench their thirst which they were never able to indure without it to refresh themselves in the great heate both of the Summer and of those drie places where no water is to be had It cooleth all inflammations both of the liver and of the stomacke as also of the reines and backe and helpeth the Gonorrhaea or running of the reines taken with Burrage water it quickneth the dulled spirits by melancholy and somewhat mittigateth the fits of frensie and madnesse it doth stay all rheumes and distillations being taken with some Suger and the water of Maiden haire if a small quantity of the pulpe of Tamarinds and Cassia and the pouder of Rubarbe be mixed together it maketh a delicate medicine to purge the stomacke and liver and is very effectuall to helpe to expell all hot or burning agues and procure an appetite it staieth also vomitings and taketh away the loathing of meate the leaves as well as the pulpe serve instead of vinegar with many of the Indians Ethiopians Arabians and others they give the leaves also to children for the wormes and both leaves and pulpe serve outwardly to coole all hot inflammations and wheales pimples and such like The young cods of the Tamarinds are preserved in Arabia with the hony of the Carobs or with Sugar which serve for all the purposes before recited CHAP. XXXVI Nux Ben sive Glans unguentaria The oyly Nut Ben. THis oyly Nut Ben hath undergone much controversie and contrarietie among those Authors that have antiently written thereof as namely Dioscorides Theophrastus Pliny and Galen for Dioscorides saith that the tree is like unto Tamariske Theophrastus saith it hath leaves like unto Mirtle leaves Pliny saith like unto the leaves of Heliotropium or Turnesole but that I may compose this controversie and end this contrarietie betweene them I will show you here the true description and figure thereof such as Doctor Tobias Aldinus the Cardinall Farnesius his Phisition at Rome hath set it forth being well growen for that which Honorius Bellus a famous Phisition living long in Candie had growing with him from the Nuts which he planted and sent the figure thereof to his friends in divers places especially to Iohannes Pona an Apothecary in Verona who in the description and catalogue of the names of those plants that grow upon Mount Baldus which he set forth himself hath inserted the figure hereof as Nux Ben sive Glans unguentaria cum siliqua integra nux exempta seorsim The oyly nut Ben with the whole cod and the nuts taken out and set by themselves he received it from the said Bellius was but a young plant of not above a yeare or two's growth Theophrastus in describing the tree growen great saith it groweth crooked and not straight upright spreading rather in breadth than in height whose leafe is like those of Mirtles but longer as by this figure that you here see you may well perceive and nothing like unto those of Tamariske and that the comparison of Pliny in the leaves like Turnsole is not much amisse for if they be both compared they will not be found much to differ in the forme I meane Turnesole leaves from the larger Mirtle leaves but the difference betwixt Dioscorides and Theophrastus riseth as it is thought from the errour in the Writers out of the coppie of Dioscorides the Greeke word in Dioscorides and Theophrastus being so neare and like the one unto the other that it might easily be mistaken which are 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in Dioscorides Myrica sive Tamariscus 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Myrtus in Theophrastus yet it is more probable that there is no errour in the Text of Dioscorides in that his comparison of this tree unto Tamariske is not unto the forme of the leaves as Theophrastus his is but unto the forme of the whole body and growing thereof the true description therefore hereof as Aldinus hath most acurately set it downe is thus The first two or three yeares saith he it sprang up and withered or perished downe every Winter to the roote and rose againe a fresh every Spring but after it became three or foure yeare old it grew more woddy and more likely to abide without decaying it rose up yearely after the first with one stemme shooting forth branches of winged leaves or rather winged branches of leaves the barke being whitish as the leaves are also but they are composed after such an order as no other tree doth the like for the branches rise up with the stemme or body divided into sundry other smaller twigges no bigger than rushes set with two leaves at severall spaces distant farre in sunder ending in small long points like haires but have no eyes or buddes at the feete of the leaves as the small branches of all other trees have which sheweth that the whole branched
in Spaine and other places and with us also to this day but the descriptions of them being so diverse if they had beene regarded or lookt into which was utterly neglected and those times led onely by tradition without searching out the veritie of things would make one mervaile how they could be so much mistaken as from the ignorance of some that called Asarum Bacchar to make one name of both but the errour being so old even before Plinye his time may seeme to make it the more excusable but we should not continue in the same course they formerly did seeing Plinye sheweth the errour and findeth fault with them that were so led as is shewed in the chapter of Baccharis The first is called Asarum by all our later writers except Lobel that calleth it Asarum Baccharis sive Bacchatus The second we have imposed the name according to the forme it carrieth as it is in the title The third Matthiolus first called Asarina and so doe others that set it forth after him onely Clusius doth much suspect it to be his second Tussilago Alpina and that his figure was taken from a dry plant and before it had brought forth the flowers to perfection but by the sharpe taste and creeping roote it may more probably be taken to be the Catyledon palustris acris or urens The Arabians call it Asaron the Italians Asaro and Bacchara the Spaniards Asarabaccara and we in English Asarabacca or Asarobacca The Vertues Dioscorides saith it hath an heating quality where or howsoever applyed and that it provoketh urine easeth the paines of the stone is profitable for dropsies and for the old paines of the Sciatica and that sixe drammes of the rootes being drunke in honeyed water procureth womens courses and purgeth like unto blacke Hellebor Mesues placeth it among other purging hearbes and so doe I for being drunke it not onely provoketh vomiting but worketh downewards and by urine also purging both choller and flegme it is made the more strong if some Spiknard be added with the whey of goates milke or honyed water but it purgeth flegme more manifestly than choller and therefore doth much helpe those that are troubled with the paines in the hippes and the parts thereabout especially if it be either steeped or boyled in whey it doth wonderfully helpe the obstructions of the liver and spleene and therefore profitable for those that are troubled with the dropsie and the overflowing of the gall which is the Iaundise being steeped in wine and drunke it helpeth those continuall agues that come by the plenty of stubborne humors An oyle made thereof by setting it in the sunne and whereunto some Laedanum is added provoketh sweating if the ridge of the backe be annointed therewith and thereby driveth away the shaking fits of agues It will not abide any long boyling the chiefest strength thereof vanishing thereby nor much beating for the finer powder doth provoke vomits and urine and the courser purging downewards thus saith Mesues hereby as Matthiolus saith the Germaine Country people were taught to cure both tertian and quartaine agues by drinking a draught of the decoction thereof made with wine wherein a little Mace or Cinamon or honey is put either every day or every other day which purgeth the body and often procureth vomitings as also they anoint the ridge of the backe and the soles of their feete with the warme oyle made thereof by long sunning upon the accesse or comming of the fit being in their warme bed whereby they prevent the shaking fits and provoke much sweate and are thereby cured that have long lingred under the disease It is profitable for those that have convulsion of the sinewes and an old cough The common use hereof is to take the juyce of 5 or 7 leaves in a little drinke to cause vomitings the rootes also worke in the same manner but not so forcibly but an extract made thereof according to art with wine might be more safe and effectuall and may be kept all the yeare to be at hand ready to be given when there is occasion the quantity onely is to be proportioned according to the constitution of the patient as the learned Phisition can best appoint It is also effectuall against the bitings of serpents the roote especially and therefore is put among other simples both into Mithridatum and Andromachus Treakle which is usually called Venice Treakle Galen saith that the rootes of Asarum have the same property that Acorus hath but more strong and Paulus Aegineta agreeth with him but Lugdunensis findeth fault with them both because they have a purging quality whereof they make no mention A dramme of the roote in powder given in white wine a little before the fit of an ague taketh away the shaking fit and thereby causeth the hot fit to be the more remisse and in twise taking expelleth it quite It is said that the leaves being a little bruised and applyed to the forehead and temples doe ease the paines of the head and procureth sleepe and applied to the eyes taketh away the inflammation of them the juice with a little Tutia prepared put to it and dropped into the corner of the eyes sharpneth the eyesight and taketh away the dimnesse and mistinesse that is often in them The leaves and rootes being boyled in lye and the head washed therewith often while it is warme comforteth the head and braine that is ill affected by taking cold and helpeth the memory also The Virginia Asarum hath beene but little experienced by any that I know and therefore can say nothing thereof but it is probable to be of the like effects being so much more aromaticall and sweet The Bastard Asarum as Matthiolus saith hath a little clensing quality but a greater propertie to attenuate or make thin that which is thicke to cut or breake that which is tough and to open that which is obstruct a dram of the pouder hereof taken in sweete wine or honyed water doth loosen the belly and purgeth from thence tough and thicke flegme and blacke or burnt humors It is to very good purpose and profit given to those that have the Yellow Iaundise to those that have the Falling sicknesse and to those that have the Palsie the herbe eyther taken of it selfe and eaten as in Sallets or the decoction thereof made and drunke It killeth also the wormes of the belly I confesse I might have placed these herbes among the other sorts of sweete herbes but the purging qualities being so prevalent both in procuring vomit and working downewards by the stoole hath rather moved me to insert them here CHAP. LIII Brassica Colewort ALl the edible sorts of Coleworts and Cabbiges with some others of delight I have mentioned in my former worke so amply that who so will may finde them there at large declared I will onely in this place give you some figures of them and their vertues more amply because I was then so briefe and with them show you some wilde
humors or from obstructions that are the cause of cholericke and putride feavers the same is good also for the jaundise and spendeth it by the urine which it procureth in abundance as Aegineta saith The juyce thereof saith Tragus and the pouder of the roote of Esula prepared in equall proportion that is a dramme provoketh vomiting where there is cause being taken in warme water and cureth the dropsie because it is somewhat windie it is good to use aniseede and fennell seede with it the pouder of the dried herbe given for sometime together hath cured a melancholy person as Brasavola saith but the seede is strongest in operation for all the purposes aforesaid The distilled water of the herbe is much used also and thought to cause good effect in all the former diseases and beside as Tragus saith conduceth much against the Plague or Pestilence being taken with good Treakle which it driveth forth by sweate the same water also with a little water and hony of Roses helpeth all the sores in the mouth and throate being gargled often therewith the juyce dropped into the eyes cleareth the sight and taketh away the rednes and other defects in them although it procure some paine for the present and bringeth forth water or teares Dioscorides saith that it hindereth any fresh springing of the haires on the eye liddes if after they be pulled away the eye browes be anointed with the juyce that hath Gun Arabeck dissolved in it the juyce of Fumiterry and of Docks mingled with vinegar and the places gently washed or wet therewith cureth all sores of scabbes itches wheales pimples or pushes that rise in the faceor hands or in any other part of the skinne of the body The lesser or fine leafed Fumitterry as also the climing Fumiterry worke to the same purposes but more weakely the yellow Fumiterry is also effectuall in most of the diseases aforesaid and besides that it provoketh urine abundantly it is very effectuall for the cholicke taken greene or dry in wine for many dayes Those Fumiteries with hollow and firme rootes are each of them effectuall both against poison and the pestilence being made into pouder and drunke and afterward the party laid to sweate the same also provoketh urine and helpeth the jaundise the seede being bruised and drunke helpeth fluxes and laskes the rootes are also singular good to heale and drie up putrid and running ulcers CHAP LXIII Aristolochia Birthwort ALthough divers doe thinke that none of the Aristolochia's or Birthworts doe purge or open the belly at all yet because Mesues the great Arabian Physitian numbreth it among his purging plants and Dodonaeus doth in the same manner I thinke it not amisse to doe so likewise Of these Birthworts Dioscorides and Galen have onely made three sorts which are the round the long and the running Birthworts Pliny hath added a fourth which he calleth Pistolochia or Polyrrhizos of all which there are some differences observed in these latter dayes which shall be declared in this Chapter 1. Aristolochia rotunda vulgatior The more ordinary round rooted Birthwort This round rooted Birthwort sendeth forth diverse long trayling square stalkes sometimes halfe a yeard long or better not able to stand upright but lie or leane downe to the ground with few or no branches issuing from them but with many round yellowish greene leaves full of veines standing at distances without order one beyond the other every one upon a short footstalk at every joynt with the leaves from the middle of these stalks upwards to the top commeth forth one long hollow flower apeece smaller at the bottome broader at the top with along peece or flippet as it were at one side of the top bending downe both of them of a deadish yellow or somewhat brownish colour and somewhat blackish purple on the inside this flower Dioscorides compareth to a cap or hood which as it should seeme was their fashion in his time after the flowers are past come in their places small round and somewhat long fruite of diverse sises some as bigge as a Wallnut without the shell some as bigge as it is with the outward greene shell and some lesser than both which when it is ripe openeth into three parts shewing the seede lying in order within it separated by certaine skinnes somewhat flat and round the roote is tuberous bunched out diversly of a darke or swart colour on the outside and more yellow within 1. Aristolochia rotunda vulgatior Round rooted Birthwort 3. Aristolochia longa vera The true long rooted Birthwort 5. Aristolochia Clematitis The running rooted Birthwort 2. Aristolochia rotunda altera Another round rooted Birthwort This other Birthwort is like the former for the manner of growing but the stalkes are more and shorter the leaves are somewhat greater and have each a longer foote stalke the flowers are of a pale or whitish purple on the outside and browne on the inside with a few haires set therein scarse to be discerned as is usuall to all the sorts the fruite is somewhat longer and peare fashion more pointed at the end the seede is flat somewhat lesse and red the roote is like the other but a little yellower 3. Aristolochia longa vera The true long rooted Birthwort The long rooted Birthwort is so like unto the round that it is very hard for one not throughly exercised in the knowledge of both to distinguish them the chiefe differences be these the stalke is shorter the leaves are smaller harder and paler the flowers are more whitish and greenish but like in forme the fruite is somewhat long like a peare somewhat like the other or last round rooted Birthwort but not so much pointed the seede differeth not but the roote hereof is long and not round or tuberous like the other as bigge as a mans wrest sometimes or bigger but most usually lesse of halfe a foote or a foote in length sometimes 4. Aristolochia longa Hispanica The Spanish long Birthwort This Spanish kinde differeth very little from the last recited long rooted Birthwort for in the flower and roote is the onely difference to be observed the flower in this is somewhat more purple both the flippet or eare and the innerside of the toppe of the flower the roote likewise is shorter for the most part and blunter at the lower end or nothing so much pointed 5. Aristolochia Clematitis The running rooted Birthwort The running rooted Birthwort groweth with longer stronger and rounder stalkes than the former even three or foure foote long branched oftentimes like the long rooted kind whereon grow much larger and broader leaves and of a paler greene colour then any of the other at the joynts with the leaves come forth the flowers as the other sorts doe but whereas none of them bring above one flower at a joynt this bringeth three or foure like unto the rest for forme but of a pale greene colour like the long the fruite hereof likewise is greater than any of the other as the
Iuly The Names French Mercurie is called in Greeke 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Linosostis 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Mercurii herba 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Parthenium in Latine Mercurialis because as Pliny saith it was found by Mercury Dogges Mercury is called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Cynea and Cynocrambe which is Canina Brassica but because it hath no agreement with any Cabbage unlesse you would say it were meate or a Cabbage for a dogge others have called it in Latine Mercurialis Canina propter ignobilitatem others Mercurialis sylvestris The childs or childing Mercury is called in Greek 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Phyllum Elaeophyllum quasi Oleaefolium Theophrastus in his ninth booke and 19. chap. saith that they called one herbe Phyllum Arrhenogonon and another Thelygonon MariparuÌ„ Foeminiparum which diverse doe thinke is but the former French Mercury because he saith they have leaves like Bassill whereunto the French and not the Childs or childing Mercury is most like and the rather for that Dioscorides appropriateth to his Mercuries those effects of bearing male and female children that the Phyllum of Theophrastus and Dioscorides hath The French Mercury is generally of all writers almost called Mercurialis mas faemina Cordus upon Dioscorides thinketh them to be the Phyllum Arrhenogonon and Thelygonon of Theophrastus and Bauhinus calleth them Mercurialis testiculata spicata the Italians call it Mercorella the Spaniards Mercuriale the French Mercuriale Vignoble the Germanes Bengelkrant and the Dutch men Bingelcruyte Mercurial The second is called Mercurialis sylvestris by Tragus Lonicerus Cordus Thalius Cynocrambe by Matthiolus Fuchsius Dodonaeus Camerarius and Lobel who in one figure representeth both the male and female Columna calleth it Mercurialis Canina and Bauhinus Mercurialis montana testiculata spicata neither of them both thinking it worthy of the name of Cynocrambe for that they knew it was not answerable to Dioscorides his Cynocrambe who doth not make it a Mercury whereof there is male and female for if it had beene so hee would have remembred it but he putteth it indefinitely not naming either male or female The third is called by Bauhinus who first set forth the figure and description thereof in his Matthiolus Cyncrambe vera Dioscorides and Pona in his description of Mont Baldus Cynocrambe legitima Belli Caesalpinus tooke it to be an Alsine and Columna calleth it Alsines facie plantanova The fourth is generally taken of all to be the Phyllum of Dioscorides and Theophrastus Bauhinus calleth it Phyllum testiculatum and spicatum as he did the former Mercuries The last is called of Tragus Mercurialis sylvestris altera in his Chapter of Mercury but putteth the figure thereof in the chapter of Esula of Lonicerus Tithymalus sylvestris of Camerarius Tabermontanus Lobel and Gesner Noli me tangere who also calleth it Milium Caprearum It is also called Perficaria siliquosa of Camerarius Thalius Lugdunensis and Lobel of Dodonaeus Impatiens herba of Caesalpinus Catanance altera of Columna Balsamita altera and of Lugdunensis Chrysaea Bauhinus calleth it Balsamina lutea sive Noli me tangere I have called it Noli me tangere and placed it in the Chapter of Mercuries and given it an English name proper for it as I take it let others call it as they please The Vertues The decoction of the leaves of Mercurie or the juyce thereof taken in broth or drinke and with a little Segar put to it to make it the more pleasant purgeth chollericke and waterish humors Hippocrates commendeth it wonderfully for womens diseases which none of the Physitians of our dayes I thinke ever put in practise for he applyed it to the secret parts to ease the paines of the mother and used both the decoction of it to procure womens courses and to expell the after birth and the fomentation or bathing for the same causes he also gave the decoction thereof with Myrrhe or pepper or used to apply the leaves outwardly against the strangury and the diseases of the reines and bladder he used it also for sore and watering eyes and for the deafenesse and paines in the eares by dropping the juyce thereof into them and bathing them afterwards in white wine the decoction thereof made with water and a cocke chicken is a most safe medicine to be taken against the hot in of agues it also clenseth the breast and lungs of flegme troubling them but it doth a little offend the stomacke the juyce or distilled water thereof cast or snuffed up into the nostrils purgeth the head and eyes of catarrhes and rheumes that distill downe from the braines into the nose and eyes as also sometimes into the eares Some use to drinke two or three ounces of the distilled water with a little Sugar put to it in a morning fasting to open the body and to purge it of grosse viscous and melancholicke humours as also mixing it with May dew taken from Rose bushes and Manna dissolved therein for the same purpose which thereupon some call Rhâ—domanna which purgeth choller also It is wonderfull if it be not fabulous that the ancient writers Dioscorides Theophrastus and others doe relate that if women use these herbes either inwardly or outwardly for three dayes together after conception and that their courses be past they shall bring forth male or female children according to that kinde of herbe that they use Matthiolus saith that the seede of both the kindes of Mercury that is both male and female boyled with wormewood and drunke cureth the yellow Iaundise in a most speedie and merveilous manner the leaves themselves or the juyce of them rubbed upon wartes or bound unto them for a certaine time doth take them cleane away the juyce mingled with some Vinegar helpeth all running scabs tetters ringwormes and the itch Galen saith that who so will apply it outwardly in manner of a pultis to any swellings or inflammations shall finde it to have a digesting quality that is it will disgest and spend the humours that was the cause of the swelling and alay the inflammations proceeding thereupon it is frequently and to very good effect given in glisters to evacuate the belly from those humors that be offensive therein and worketh as well after that manner as if so much Sene had beene put into the decoction The common Dogges Mercury is seldome used but may serve in the same manner and to the same purpose that the other is put to for purging waterish and melancholicke humors The childe 's Mercury although no other hath written of any purging qualitie in it yet the forme thereof so like unto Mercury and the saltish acide taste should demonstrate in my opinion an irritating quality Theophrastus and Dioscorides have onely mentioned the childing quality for women to beare either males or females that use this herbe according as is before sayd of French Mercury The Noli me tangere or the Quicke in hand hath a
Wake Robin that hath spotted leaves whether it be fresh and greene or dried it mattereth not being bruised or beaten and taken is a most present remedy never failing against both poyson and plague some he saith take as much Aâ—dromacâ— Treakle with it for the more certaintie the juyce of the herbe taken to the quantitie of a spoonefull or more worketh the same effect but if there be a little vinegar added thereunto as well as to the roote before spoken of it will somewhat allay that sharpe biting taste upon the tongue which it causeth the greene leaves likewise being bruised and laid upon any boyle or plague sore doth wonderfully helpe to draw forth the poyson the pouder of the dried roote of Wake Robin to the weight of a dramme taken with twise as much Sugar in the forme of a Lohoc or licking Electuary or the greene roote doth wonderfully helpe those that are pursie or short-winded as also those that have the cough having their stomacke chest and longs stuffed with much flegme for it breaketh and digesteth it in them and causeth it to be easily avoided and spit forth the milke wherein the roote hath beene boyled is effectuall also for the same purpose the said pouder taken in wine or drinke or the juyce of the berries or the pouder of them or the wine wherein they have beene boyled provoketh â—urine and bringeth downe womens courses when they are stayed and purgeth them effectually after child bearing to bring away the afterbirth it is said that it expelleth drunkennesse also taken with sheepes milke it healeth the inward ulcers of the bowells the distilled water hereof likewise is effectuall to all the purposes aforesaid and moreover a spoonefull taken at a time healeth the itch and an ounce or more taken at a time for some dayes together doth helpe the rupture the leaves either greene or drie or the juyce of them doth clense all manner of rotten and filthy ulcers of what part of the body soever they be and the stinking sores in the nose called Polypus and healeth them also the water wherein the roote hath beene boyled dropped into the eyes clenseth them from any filme or skinne beginning to grow over them or clouds or mistes that may hinder the sight and helpeth also the watering and rednesse of them and when by chance they become blacke and blew the roote mixed with Beane flower and applied to the throat or jawes that are inflamed helpeth them the juice of the berries boyled in oyle of Roses or the berries themselves made into pouder and mixed with the oyle and dropped into the eares easeth the paines in them the berries or the rootes beaten with hot oxe dung and applied to the gout easeth the paines thereof the leaves and rootes also boyled in wine with a little oyle and applied to the piles or the falling downe of the fundament easeth them and so doth the sitting over the hot fumes thereof the fresh rootes bruised and distilled with a little milke yeeldeth a most soveraigne water to clense the skinne from scurfe freckles spots or blemishes whatsoever therein yet some use the rootes themselves bruised and mixed with vinegar but that is too sharpe and not to be used but when there is great neede and with good caution and not to abide long upon any place there is a facula made by art from the fresh rootes called Gersa serpentaria which is as white as Starch or Ceruse and being dissolved in milke or in the distilled water of the rootes and milke aforesaid doth wonderfully blanch the skinne hiding many deformities the fresh rootes cut small and mixed with a sallet of white Endive or Lettice c. is an excellent dish to entertaine a smell-feast or unbidden unwelcome guest to a mans table to make sport with him and drive him from his too much boldnesse or the pouder of the dried roote strawed upon any daintie bit of meate that may be given him to eate for either way within a while after the taking of it it will so burne and pricke his mouth and throate that he shall not be able either to eate a bit more or scarse to speake for paine and will so abide untill there be some new milke or fresh butter given which by little and little will take away the heate and pricking and restore him againe Some use to lay the greene leaves of Wake Robin among their Cheeses both to keepe them from breeding wormes and to ridde them also being in them The Arisarum or Friers Coule as Dioscorides and Galen affirme is farre hotter and sharpe or biting in taste than Arum or Wake Robin which is not so found in any part of Europe whether Jtaly or Spaine France Germany or England that I know both hot and cold countries but in all of them much milder and weaker than the Arum which caused Tragus as I said before to suspect that our Arum was the Arisarum of the antients and therefore they appoint it to be laid to eating fretting and running sores to stay their spreading and abate their malignitie as also to be put into fistulas and hollow ulcers to helpe to clense and heale them up a peece of the roote put into the secret parts of any femall creature killeth them causing them to die quickly which thing is contradicted by some and said to be utterly untrue Amatus Lusitanus writeth that in the Low Countries it was used against the plague whereof Clusius saith it was not knowne unto his countrie men untill he had travelled into Spaine and Portugall and from thence gave them the knowledge thereof by sending it unto them but it may be hee mistooke Arisarum for Arum which as you may see before is found effectuall for that purpose The Arum of Egypt as it is milder in taste although somewhat sharpe and bitter and slimie in eating so it is lesse effectuall in medicine because it is more usuall in meate All the East countries which the Italians call the Levant as Asia Syria Arabia Egypt c. and Iava also and other places in the Indies as you heard before doe most frequently eate the rootes hereof boiled in the broth of flesh and many other wayes dressed not onely as a daily foode but as they thinke to encrease naturall sperme or seede and to cause a validitie also and more powerfull abilitie in the act of generation CHAP. XVIII Christophoriana Herbe Christopher BEsides the usuall sort of herbe Christopher which hath beene knowne of a long time to us we have lately gained an other sort as we suppose the neare resemblance in face causing us so to imagine 1. Christophoriana vulgaris Ordinary herbe Christopher Herbe Christopher shooteth forth divese greene stalkes of leaves halfe a foote long which are made into three parts yet some times into five the lower parts standing for the most part one against another or not much distant and the other at the end of the stalke each of these parts consist of three
pointed at the ends but two or three very narrow and long leaves also with them comming from the roote the stalke is scarse an hand breadth high with many such whitish flowers thereon as are in the other small ones The Place The two first grow at the foote of hills and in the shadowie moist woods neare unto them in many places of Germany and in our countrie likewise in the like places but chiefely is nourished up in gardens The third groweth on the high hills in Silesia and other places the fourth groweth especially in the North as in Lancashire Yorkeshire and Cumberland in diverse places The two last are found likewise on the Alpes in diverse places but the last among the Switzers The Time They all flower about the end of May and the seede is ripe about the beginning of Iuly The Names It is called generally Bistorta quod radice in se serpentis modo contorta convoluta constet of Tragus Lonicerâ— and others Colubrina from the Germane title of Schlangenwurtzel and Natterwurtzel of Fuschius Serpentaris quod venenosorum serpentium ictibus succurrit of Gesner in hortis Germaniae Limonium Fracastorius calleth it Bâ—lapathum as well as Bistorta Lobel and Clusius thinke it may be Britannica of Dioscorides and Pliny Bauhinus calleth the first Bistorta major radice minus intorta Some call it Behen rubrum others take it to be Molybdeâ— of Pliny Some also doe take it to be the second Dracunculus of Pliny lib. 4. cap. 16. the second is called by Tragus Colubrina minor Bauhinus calleth it Bistorta major radice magis intorta The third Bauhinus that hath first set it forth as I thinke calleth it Bistorta Alpina maxima the fourth I take to be differing from the next and therefore call it Nostras the fifth is called by Camerarius Clusus Lobel Bauhinus and all others that have writteâ— 1. 4. Bistorta major vulgaris minor Great and small Bistorte or Snakeweede 5. 6. Bistorta minor Alpina Alpina pumila varia Small Bistorte of the Alpes anduariabbe leafed Bristorte â—hereof Bistorta minor or Alpina minor onely Gesner in hortis Germaniae reckoneth it to be a small sort of Limoniâ— But in that Bistorta cannot be Britanica this sheweth in the description thereof that the leaves are rough or â—airy when these are smooth and that the rootes of Britanica are small and short when these are not small alâ—hough short and Galen in his sixt Booke of Simples saith that although the leaves of Britanica be somewhat â—ke unto Docke leaves yet they are blacker and more hairy And that it cannot be Behen rubrum the faculties doe â—sily declare for the rootes of the true Behen rubrum album are both sweete in smell and are of an hot quaâ—tie that they are effectuall to procure venery or bodily lust which these cannot the last is not remembred by â—ny Author before this time The Italians Spaniards and French doe follow the Latine as we doe also the Low Dutch the Germanes in their appellations which is Natterwortele The Vertues Both the leaves and rootes of Bistort have a powerfull facultie to resist all poyson a dramme of the roote 〈◊〉 pouder taken in drinke expelleth the venome of the plague or Pestilence the small Pocks Measells Purples â—r any other infectious disease driving it forth by sweating the same roote in pouder or the decoction thereof 〈◊〉 wine being drunke staieth all manner of inward bleeding or spitting of bloud as also any fluxes of the body 〈◊〉 man or woman as also when one is troubled with vomiting the pouder also of the roote or the decoction â—hereof being drunke is very availeable against ruptures or burstings or all bruises or falls whatsoever dissolving â—e congealed bloud and easing the paines that happen thereupon the same also helpeth the Iaundise the water distilled from both leaves and rootes is a singular remedy to wash any place bitten or stung by any venemous creature as Spiders Toades Adders or the like as also for any the purposes before spoken of and is very â—ood to wash any running sores or ulcers the decoction of the roote in wine being drunke hindereth abortion â—at is when women are apt to miscarrie in child bearing the leaves also killeth the wormes in children and is 〈◊〉 great helpe to them that cannot keepe their water if they put thereto some juyce of Plantaine and applied â—utwardly doth give much helpe in the gonorrhaea or running of the reines a dramme of the pouder of the roote â—ken in the water thereof wherein some iron or steele being red hot hath beene quenched is an admirable helpe â—hereunto so as the body be first prepared and purged from the offensive humours the leaves or seedes or â—ootes are all very good to be put into decoctions or drinkes or lotions for either inward or outward wounds or other sores and the pouder strowed upon any cut or wound in a veine c. that is apt to bleede much staieth the immoderate fluxe thereof the decoction of the rootes in water whereunto some Pomgranet â—ills and flowers are added serveth for an incection into the matrice as well to stay the accesse of humours to â—he ulcers thereof as also to bring it to the place being fallen downe and to helpe to stay the abundance of their â—ourses the roote of Bistort and Pellitory of Spaine and burnt Allome of each alike quantitie beaten small made â—nto a paste with some hony a little peece hereof put into an hollow tooth or holden betweene the teeth if â—here be no hollownesse in them staieth the defluxions of rheume upon them when it is the cause of paine in them and helpeth to clense the head and avoide much offensive matter the distilled water is very effectuall to wash those sores or cankers that happen in the nose or any other part if the powder of the roote be applied thereto afterwards it is good also to fasten the gummes and to take away the heate and inflammation that happen as well in the jawes almonds of the throat ot mouth if the decoction of the rootes leaves or seedes be used â—or the juyce of them the rootes are more effectuall to all the purposes aforesaid than either leaves or seede CHAP. XXIV Tormentilla Tormentill or Setfoile ALthough formerly there hath but one kind of Tormentill or Setfoile beene knowne to our English Writers yet now there is found out and made knowne to us two other sorts which shall be all declared in this Chapter 1. Tormentilla vulgaris Common Tormentill The common Tormentill is so like unto Cinquefoile that many doe mistake it for it may well be reckoned as one of them hath many reddish slender weake branches rising from the roote lying upon the ground or rather leaning than standing upright with many short leaves that stand closer to the stalkes than the other Cinkefoiles doe with the foote stalke encompassing the branches at severall places but those that grow next to the ground are set
call it Polygonum montanum and Bauhinus Polygonum minus candicans the second Columna calleth Vermiculata montana nova and Bauhinus Polygonum montanum Vermiculatae folijs the third Clusius calleth Anthyllis Valentina because he saith Plaza and other the learned Phisitions of the Vniversitie of Valentia in Spaine did so account and call it which as he saith although it might be a kind thereof yet it could not be Dioscorides his fifth Anthyllis because it hath upright stalkes which this hath not but all other Herbarists doe account it a kinde of small Knotgrasse and so have I called it although somewhat differing from him Bauhinus maketh it an Anthyllis among his Anthyllides and a Polygonum also among these calling it Polygonum gramineo folio majus erectum which in my opinion is not fitting unto it in that it neither groweth upright nor hath such long leaves that they should resemble grasse the fourth Bauhinus in his Pinax maketh to be both his ninth small Knotgrasse calling it Polygonum minus tenâ—ifolium and also his twelfth by the name of Polygonum minus lentifolium and in both places referreth us to the fourth Polygonum described in his Prodromus whereby he filleth up the number of sorts without reason the fifth Bauhinus so calleth as it is in the title the sixt Lobel calleth Polygonum alterum pufillum vermiculata Serpillâ— folio and Lugdunensis Polygonum alterum Serpilli folio but Bauhinus Polygonum maritimum minus folio Serpilli the seventh Tragus accounteth to be a kinde of Polygonum which they of his countrie called Knawel hee also thinketh it might be called Policarpon of the abundance of seede and Polycnemon of the vertues Lugdunensis also calleth it Polycarpon and Dodonaeus in his Pemptades taketh it to be a Polygonum exignum Gerard calleth it Pologonum Selinoides sive Knavel wherein hee is deceived many wayes First in that he giveth the name Selinoides unto Knawel when as his owne description and figure thereof might have plainely convinced that errour in him in that Knawel hath not leaves like Selinum or Parsly secondly that he maketh Knawel and Parsly pert to be one whereas they are two plants then againe that he thinketh that Saxifraga Anglicana of Lobel which he saith he found about Chipnam in the West countrie to be Parsly pert when as Lobel and Pena their description and figure doth contrary also that opinion although their figure be somewhat like as Gerard himselfe confesseth which he calleth Selinoides againe that he thinketh the Parsly pert that was shewed by a country Empericke to Mr. Bredwell was Knawel which as it is likely Mr. Bredwell shewed him and yet he could not discerne the face of the one herbe from the other and lastly he findeth fault with the name Parsly pert calling it a barbarous word and would amend it with his owne fine Latine word Petra pungens not understanding the true Etymologie of the word being corrupted as for the most part all unusuall or hard words are to the vulgar sort for the uncorrupted word is Percepierre a true French word and signifieth the same that Lithontribon in Greeke Saxifraga in Latine or Gerard his Petra pungens if ye like it Breakestone in English of all which I shall speak more fully in the next Chapter but I have here before given you my opinion of the Saxifraga Anglicana of Lobel neither can I thinke the Knawel of Tragus to be it as many might imagine by the likenesse of their figures being compared together but surely it may be a kinde thereof the forme and strong sweet smell which Tragus saith it hath inducing me in part so to thinke but that the small greene flowers and seede in them be much differing from the Pincke like white flower in that the eight I call Polygonum alterum Germanicum another Germane Knawel because it is so like thereunto and that Bauhinus saith the Germane Knawel hath many varieties whereof I thinke this to be one and it is probable also that both the Polygonum montanum niveum and the Anthyllis Valentina may be a species thereof Bauhinus himselfe calleth it Polygonum litoreum minus flosculis spadiceo albicantibus the ninth is called Empetron by Tragus and Lonicerus but not truely Polygonum minus by Matthiolus and Castor Durantes that followeth him Herba Cancri minor by Cordus in his Scholiastes and Millegrana in his history of plants Epipactis by Anguillara Herba Turca by Lobel and Caesalpinus Herniaria multigrana Serpylli folio by Pena in his Adversaria and generally Herniaria and so by Gesner in hortis Germania and in libello de collectione stirpium by Camerarius Dodonaeus Thalius Lugdunensis Tabermontanus and Gerard and by Bauhinus Polygonum minus seâ— Millegrana major the tenth we have imposed the name as it is in the title and most suting thereunto the last is called Millegrana minima by Lobel in his Dutch Herball and in his Icones stirpium by Thalius Herniaria altera and therefore I call it Herniaria minor Bauhinus calleth it Polygonum minimum sive Millegrana minima The Vertues All or most of these sorts of Knotgrasse doe participate with the former in the binding qualities although not altogether so much in the cooling some of them having a little bitternesse or sharpenesse in them which declareth some heate and therefore hath not that abundant moisture which Galen saith is in the former whereby as he saith they have their cooling qualitie they serve to provoke urine and helpe to breake and expell the stone and gravell by urine as the others doe yet wee have not so evident testimony of the operations of the five first sorts howsoever the delicacie of forme in some of them doe argue in mans judgement some singular vertue which yet doth not alwayes follow for in many deformed there is found much more helpe as we have of the rest which are these in particular Tragus saith that Knawel hath the same properties that Knotgrasse hath and may serve in the stead thereof to all purposes as well inward as outward remedies when the other is not at hand and that it is very powerfull to breake the stone being boyled in wine and drunke which our owne people doe averre also the other Germane Knawel or Knotgrasse being of the same kinde worketh the like effects Rupture wort hath not his name in vaine for it is found by daily experience in a number that have taken it to helpe and cure the rupture not onely in children but in elder persons so as it be not too old and inveterate by taking either a dramme of the powder of the dried herbe every day in wine for certaine dayes together as the strength of the disease and age of the patient doe require or the decoction made of the herbe in wine and drunke or the juice or distilled water of the greene herbe taken in the same manner and helpeth all other fluxes either of men or women vomitings also and the Gonorrhea being taken any of those wayes
the other and somewhat great but stand not so thicke â—stering together being of a daintie purple blew colour with a yellow spot in the mouth the heads for seede that follow are somewhat great having blackish flat seede within them the roote is small and white spreading divers wayes under ground and perisheth not in the Winter 6. Linaria lutea Moravica Clusij The small yellow Moravia Flaxeweede This small kinde of Todefluxe is somewhat like unto the last kinde in the precedent ranke but that it hath more store of stalkes that doe not stand upright having many small ash coloured leaves set upon them which are rounder and more sappy the stalkes beare at the toppes of them many yellow flowers with yellow spots in them but the least of all these in this third ranke the seede is small and blacke and the roote perisheth every yeare The Place The first groweth about Salamanca in Spaine the second and third in some other parts of Spaine it is not certainely knowne where the fourth on the hills in Moravia as the last doth also the fift groweth as well in Stiria as Clusius saith as among the Switzers and the hills in Rhaetia The Time They doe all flower in Sommer and give their seede quickly after The Names The first is the fift Spanish kinde of Clusius which Bauhinus calleth Osyris flava sylvestris and Tabermontaâ— Osyris minor the second is the fourth Spanish kinde of Clusius as the third is his second Spanish kinde the fourth is Clusius his second Linaria of Moravia as the last is his first Moravian kinde the fift is called by Clusius Linaria Stiriaca by Gesner in hortis Germaniae and in his Epistles Linaria Alpina Helvetica by Tabermontaâ— Linaria Alpina pumila and by Bauhinus Linaria quadrifolia supina the last is called by Clusius Linaria Moravica prima in his History The Vertues All these sorts are in some degree more or lesse effectuall but the most common kinde is the most used to provoke urine both when it is stopped as also in those that are troubled with the dropsie to spend the abundance of those watery humours by urine and by the drawing downe of much vrine doth in some sort helpe to wash the reines and uritory parts from gravell or stones gathered therein the decoction of the herbe both leaves and flowers in wine taken and drunke doth somewhat move the belly downewards openeth the obstructions of the liver and helpeth the yellow jaundise expelleth poison provoketh womens courses driveth forth the after-birth and dead child the distilled water of the herbe and flowers is effectuall for all the same purposes and in especiall being drunke with a dramme of the powder of the seedes or barke of the roote of Wallwort and a little Cinamon for certaine dayes together is held to be a singular remedy for the dropsie to spend the water and humors the juice of the herbe or the distilled water dropped into the eyes is a certaine remedy for all heate inflammation and rednesse in the eyes the juice or water put into foule ulcers whether they be cancrous or fistulous with tents rowled therein or the parts washed or injected therewith clenseth them throughly from the bottome and healeth them up safely the same juice or water also clenseth the skinne wonderfully of all sorts of deformity thereof as lepry morphew scurffe wheales pimples or any other spots and markes in the skinne applied of it selfe or used with some powder of Lupines CHAP. XXII Halicacabum sive Alkakengi Winter Cherries IN the reare of this Classis commeth the Winter Cherrie to be declared whereof there are some other sorts knowne to us more than in former times as I shall presently shew you 1. Halicacabum sive Alkakengi vulgare The ordinary Winter Cherry The ordinary Winter Cherry is described unto you in my former Booke therefore I doe here but onely make mention of it that you may take knowledge the next is differing from it 2. Halicacabum sive Alkakengi Virginense Virginian Winter Cherries This Virginian spreadeth the branches with leaves on the ground scarse raising it selfe up so much as the former but the branches are greater and foure the leaves also and more unevenly dented about the edges of a sad or sullen greene colour at the â—oâ—s come forth the flowers singly that is one at a place and more toward the bottome than upwards to the height of the branches which are rather smaller than the former composed of five small whitish leaves with a circle of red or every leafe spotted circlewise towards the bottomes of them the fruite that followeth is a small berry enclosed in a thinne skinne or bladder as the former but greene and not red when it is full ripe smaller likewise than it the berrie filling the skinne or bladder more than it and not leaving so much void â—me or the bladder as the former yet hath it small whitish seede within it as the other the roote spreadeth under ground not very farre and perisheth in Winter I have here onely given you three or foure leaves and a flower hereof with the figure of the former 3. Halicacabum Indicum rectum Vpright Indian Winter Cherries This Indian kinde riseth up to be about foure foote high with strong upright stalkes knotty and cornered shooting out many branches whereon grow faire greene leaves like unto those of the ordinary Winter Cherrie but somewhat larger and dented about the edges at the joints with the leaves come forth the flowers of a whitish colour as it is in the ordinary sort every one by it selfe which are composed but of one leafe having five corners somewhat crumpled about the edges and although they be not divided into five leaves yet in the bottome of them there doth appeare five blackish purple spots in the bottome of every flower with divers other purplish threds in the middle tipt with blackish blew chives after the flowers are past there commeth in their places the fruit which are bladders or thinne skinnes with berries in them like unto the ordinary Winter Cherrie but that the berrie hereof is larger than the other not onely filling the whole skinne or bladder but oftentimes breaking it and opening into foure parts which when it is ripe will be greene as well as the bladder saving sometimes that part that hath the Summe beâ—s most upon it will be of a darke greenish purple colour the whole plant is without taste yet yeelding forth at the joâ—s certaine glutinous matter or juyce of a strong sent like 1. 2. Alkakengi sive Halicacabum vulgare Virginense The ordinary and Virgini a Winter Cherry unto that of the Ponoa amoris or Love apples this perisheth every yeare in these colder climates at the first approach of Winter and whether it abideth in the naturall places wee know not nor to what physicall use it is applied or whether it be used to be eaten The Place The first groweth by the hedge sides in moist and shadowie place but is
both the face and qualities of the one unto the other and Pliny also in his 25. Booke and 6. Chapter runneth into the same error with them who although be agreeth with Dioscorides in the description of it yet saith it hath a certaine bitternesse in it which is not found in this greater but the lesser kinde The second is called by Cornutus among his Canada plants Centauriâ— folijs Cynarae Pona saith in the description of the plants growing upon Mount Baldus that the third kind was called of divers there about Rheu Baldensis and Clusius saith the Portugals where he found it called it Rapontis Bauhinus saith that the last he received from out of the garden at Padoa by the name of Rhaponticum Lusitanicum The Vertues The roote of the great Centory saith Matthiolus being steeped in wine or the powder thereof given in wines is with great good successe and profit used for those that are fallen into a dropsie or have the jaundise or are troubled with the obstructions of the liver two drammes of the rootes beaten to powder and taken in wine or in water helpeth those that spit blood or that bleede much at the mouth if they have an ague to take it in water or else in wine it is likewise used for ruptures cramps and pleurisies and for those that have an old or long continued cough and for those that are short winded or can haâ—dly draw their breath it is good also to ease the griping paines in the belly and those of the mother being scraped and put up as a pâ—ssary into the mother it procureth womens courses and causeth the dead birth to be avoided the juice thereof used in the same manner worketh the same effect some copies of Dioscorides have this it is called Panacea because it helpeth all diseases and sores where there is inflammation or bruises causing it it helpeth the Strangury or pissing by droppes if it be injected as also the stone the decoction or juice of the roote or a dramme in powder thereof drunke and the wound washed therewith taketh away all the paine and danger of the bitings or stingings of venemous creatures it helpeth to sharpen the eyesight if it be steeped in water and dropped into them Galen in 7. simp sheweth that it hath contrary qualities in it and therefore worketh contrary effects the sharpe taste shewing an hot quality whereby it provoketh womens courses c. and the astringent a cold grosse earthly quality glueing or sodering the lippes of wounds and staying the spitting of blood and by all the qualities joyned together helpeth ruptures crampes and the diseases of the Lungs the sharpenesse procuring evacuation and the astriction the strengthning of the parts the whole plant as well herbe as roote is very availeable in all sorts of wounds or ulcers to dry soder clense and heale them and therefore is a principall ingredient or should be in all vulnerary drinkes and injections CHAP. II. Iacea Knapweede THere are a very great many of herbes that beare the name of Iacea which I must to avoide confusion distribute into severall orders that so the memory being not confounded with a promiscuous multitude each may be the better understood in their severall ranckes Iaceae non Laciniatae Knapweedes with whole leaves Ordo primus The first ranke or order 1. Iacea nigra vulgaris Our common Matfellon or Knapweede THe common Knapweede hath many long and somewhat broad darke greene leaves rising from the roote somewhat deepely dented about the edges and sometimes a little rent or torne on both sides in two or three places and somewhat hairy withall among which riseth up a strong round stalke foure or five foote high divided into many small branches at the toppes whereof stand great scaly greene heads and from the middle of them thrust forth a number of darke purplish red thrums or threds and sometimes white but very rarely which after they are withered and past there is found divers blacke seede lying in a great deale of downe somewhat like unto Thistle seed but smaller the roote is white hard and wooddy with divers fibres annexed thereunto which perisheth not but abideth with leaves thereon all the Winter and shooting out fresh every Spring 2. Iacea nigra angustifolia Narrow leafed Knapweede This Knapweede hath a round rough greene stalke about a foote and a halfe high whereon are set on each side narrow rough short and somewhat hoary greene leaves compassing it at the bottome and divided into some other branches above on each whereof standeth a scaly whitish greene head out of the middle whereof rise many small long threds like unto the former but smaller and of a pale reddish colour after which followeth small blacke seede like the other the roote is blackish and parted into many small fibres Of this sort also there is one whose stalke and leaves are longer smooth and all hoary soft and woolly 3. Iacea nigra humilis The smaller dwarfe Knapweede This low Knapweede hath small weake and round hoary stalkes about a foote high bending to the ground 1. Iacea nigra vulgaris The common wild Knapweede 6. Iacea Austriaca latifolia villoso capite The greater hairy headed Knapweede with leaves thereon of an inch in breadth and two in length not divided or dented about the edges at all but being a little rough and hoary as it were thereabouts compassing the stalkes at the bottome at the toppes whereof stand such like scaly heads as in the others with purplish threds or thrummes rising thereout as in the rest 4. Iacea montana Austriaca major The greater mountaine Hungarian Knapweede This greater mountaine Knapweede is very like unto the former common wilde kinde being somewhat broad and long dented about the edges and rough and hairy also and of a darke greene colour but those that grow upon the straked stalkes are still up higher smaller and more cut in on the edges the heads that stand at the toppes of the stalkes are not rough or hairy but smooth and scaly crackling if they be lightly touched brownish upward and whitish lower the flowers consist of many purple whitish leaves cut in the ends into five slits or divisions like as those of the Cyanus with many purplish long threds in the middle and a purple stile in the middle of them besprinkled at the head with a mealely whitenesse the seede that followeth is like unto the other but somewhat larger the roote also is blackish and stringy like the former and abideth as the rest doe 5. Iacea montana Austriaca minor The lesser mountaine Hungarian Knapweede The lesser Hungarian kinde is in most things like the last but that it groweth lower and the leaves and stalkes are nothing so hairy and rough but smooth and hoary the flowers also are of a paler purple colour and the seede is not blacke but of a whitish gray or ash colour 6 Iacea Austriaca latifolia villoso capite The greater hairy headed Knapweepe This greater hairy headed
and attenuating quality whereby it is very effectuall for all sorts of coughs shortnesse of breath and all other the diseases of the brest and lunges ripening and digesting cold flegme and other tough humours voyding them forth by coughing and spitting It ripeneth also all sorts of inward ulcers and apostumes yea the pluresie also if the decoction of the dry or greene herbe being made with wine be drunke some time together thereby voyding it forth by the urine as well as other waies or if you would have it more effectuall take this receipt viz. an haâ—dfull of dryed Scabious an ounce of Licoris scraped and cut into thinne slices a dozen figges washed and cut into peeces an ounce of Anisseede and as much of Fennelseede bruised and halfe an ounce of white Ortis rootes cut into thinne slices let all these be steeped for a night in a quart of faire water or rather in so much wine boyling them the next day untill a third part be consumed at the least whereof take a draught every morning and evening somewhat warme well sweetned with Sugar or Hony which worketh wonderfully to helpe all the diseases aforesaid Foure ounces of the clarified juice of Scabious taken in the morning fasting with a drâ— of Mithridatum or Venice Treakle doth free the heart from any infection of the plague or pestilence so as upon the taking thereof they sweate two houres in their beds at the least yet after the first time taking let them that are infected take the same proportion againe and againe if need be for feare of further danger the greene herbe also bruised and applyed to any Carbuncle or Plague sore is found certaine by good experience to dissolve or breake it within the space of three houres the same inward and outward application is very availeable against the biting or stinging of any venemous beast the same decoction also drunke helpeth the paines and stitches in the sides the decoction of the rootes taken for forty dayes together or the powder of them to the quantity of a dramme at a time taken in whey doth as Matthiolus saith wonderfully helpe those that are troubled with dangerous running or spreading scabbes tetters or ringwormes yea although they proceed of the French pox as himselfe saith he hath found true by certaine experience the juice or the decoction drunke doth wonderfully helpe those that are broken out into scabbes and itches and the juice also made up into an oyntment and used is effectuall for the same purpose The same also wonderfully helpeth all inward wounds be they made by thrust or stroke by the drying clensing and healing quality therein A Syruppe made of the juice and Sugar is very effectuall to all the purposes aforesaid and so is the distilled water of the herbe and flowers made in due time especially to be used when the greene herbe is not in force to be taken the decoction of the herbe and rootes outwardly applyed doth wonderfully helpe all sorts of hard or cold tumours or swellings in any part of the body and is also as effectuall for any shrunke sinew or veine in any place the juice of Scabious made up with the powder of Borax and Camphire doth notably clense the skinne of the face or any other part of the body as freckles pimples and other small eruptions therein yet it prevaileth also in greater deformities as the Morphew and Lepry the same decoction doth also helpe the rednesse and spots in the white of the eyes used either of it selfe or with the juice of Fennell the head washed with the same decoction clenseth it from dandraffe scurse scabbes sores itches and the like being used warme tents also dipped in the juice or water thereof doth not onely heale all greene wounds but old sores and ulcers also both by staying their fretting or running qualities and clensing and healing them up afterwards the herbe also bruised and applyed to any place wherein any splinter broken bone arrow head or other such like thing lyeth in the flesh doth in short time loosen it and causeth it to be easily drawne forth CHAP. X. Morsus Diaboli Divels bit THere resteth yet this kinde of Scabious to be entreated of being of all Herbarists accounted an especiall different kinde thereof yet some referre it to the Iacea's but not properly the former ages knew but one sort we have in these times found out some others as they shall presently be shewed you 1. Morsus Diaboli vulgaris flore purpureo Common Devills bit Devils bit riseth up with a round greene smooth and not hairy stalke two foote high or thereabouts set with divers long and somewhat narrow smooth darke greene leaves somewhat snipt about the edges for the most part being else all whole and not divided at all or but very seldome even to the toppes of the branches which yet are smaller then those below with one ribbe onely in the middle and being broken yeeld not such threds as the Scabious doth at the end of each branch standeth a round head of many flowers set together in the same manner or more neatly or succinctly then the Scabious and of a more blewish purple but not darke red as Gerard saith for such I never saw any colour which being past there followeth seede like unto the Scabious that falleth away in the same manner the roote is somewhat thicke but short and blackish with many strings fastned thereto abiding after seede time many yeares Fabulous antiquity the Monkes and Fryers as I suppose being the first inventors of the Fable said that the Devill envying the good that this herbe might do to mankinde bit away part of the roote and thereof came the name Succisa Devils bit which is so grosse and senslesse a relation that I merveile at the former times stupidity to receive as true such a fiction Of this kinde some doe make a greater and a lesser which I thinke rather commeth from the place of growing then from the nature of the plant Vnto this plant in my opinion belongeth the Scabiosa rubra Austriaca of Clusius set forth in my former booke for the leaves thereof being all whose and the flowers red doe notably resemble this Devils bit and may be a species thereof proper to Germany Austria c. Bauhinus maketh mention of one of this kind that hath hairy leaves not differing in any thing else and for his author nameth Gesner in hortis Germaniae who as hee saith called it Morsus Diabolihirsuta rarior which I cannot finde in Gesner but of the three sorts of Scabious one of the lesser he calleth Scabra hirsutaque having leaves without divisions which whether he should meane this I know not for he nameth it not Morsus Diaboli therefore I leave it to time to declare the truth thereof 2. Morsus Diaboli flore albo Devils bit with a white flower This sort differeth not from the former in any other thing then in the flower which is of a pure white colour as some
thereon all the Winter 9. Veronica Tenerij facie Germanderlike Speedewell This Speedewell hath square rough stalkes about a foote high with long narrow dented leaves set by couples at the joynts the toppes ending in a long spiked head of foure leafed blew flowers and seede succeeding like the greater Speedewels The Place The first groweth in all Countries of this land upon dry bankes and wood sides and other waste sandy groâ— especially The second groweth in Austria and other parts of Germany The third and fourth grow as well on the mountaines of Hungary as in the vallies at the foote of the Alpes in Austria Stiria c. The fifth groweth in some places of this Land as well as beyond the Sea The sixth Clusius saith he found on the hill in Stâ— â—led Sneberg whereon Snow lyeth almost all the yeare through The seventh was found on the Pyrâ— his by Doctor Burserus who brought it to Bauhinus The eighth and the last on Mount Baldus The Time They flower in Iune and Iuly and their seede is ripe in August The Names It hath no Greeke name that I know being not knowne to the ancient writers Dodonaeus onely taketh it to be the other Batonica Panâ— Aeginetae which he saith is like unto Penniroyall but not that is called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 wherby the Greekes call the true and right Betony and thereupon this is very ordinarily called of many Betoâ— Pauli or Veronica mas and supina to distinguish it from the other Tragus in his time tooke it to be Teâ—iâ— and many learned men doe likewise referre most of the other sorts thereunto The second ordinary upright sort is called by Casalpinus Auricula muris tertia as the spicata is his fourth and the fifth here his prima which Dodonaeus calleth pratensis Tragus Teucrium alterum and Branfelsius Enfragia nobilis but Lobel in his Adversaria Veronica minor serpilli folia Dodonaeus in his French Herball calleth this famina and so did Taberâ— but by the judgement of the best Herbarists of our times all these sorts are species of the male kind the female being another herbe of a differing forme as you shall presently understand Gerard hath foully erred not onely in the figure but in the description also of his second Veronica which is called recta not onely in saying that it creepeth contrary to the very little but in the flowers also saying they are yellow All the rest have their names in their titles as proper to them by most other authours and therefore I shall not neede a further explanation of them The Italians call it Veronica maschio The Germanes Grundheyl and Ehrenpreiss i. e. landata nobiliâ— that is to say honour and praise and so the Dutch as Lobel saith call it In English Speedewell and Paules Betony and of some Fluellen which being a Welch name is more proper I thinke to the female kinde whereof they give admirable praises The Vertues The male Speedwell is temperately hot and dry the bitternesse thereof shewing it and is held a singular good remedy for the Plague and all Pestilentiall Fevers and infectious diseases to expell the venome and poyson from the heart and afterwards to corroborate and strengthen it from noysome vapours if the ponder of the hearbe to the quantity of a dramme or two be given with a dramme of good Treacle in a small draught of wine and they be layd to sweate the decoction of the herbe in wine on the distilled water thereof given in some wine performeth the same thing it is reported that a French King troubled with the Leprosie was cured thereof by this hearbe one of his huntsmen advising him thereunto it doth also wonderfully helpe the memory and to ease all turnings and swimmings and other paines of the heâ—d and as it is sayd helpeth women to become fruitfull that were barren it clenseth the blood from corruption the decoction of this hearbe in water or the powder thereof dryed and given in it owne distilled water is singular good for all 〈◊〉 of coughes and diseases of the brest and â—inges by the warming and drying quality which thing the Shepheards have sufficiently tryed who give their sheepe thâ— are troubled with the cough or the like some of 〈◊〉 hearbe and a little saâ— with it it openeth the obstructions of the 〈◊〉 and is therefore good for the yellow â—aundise it openeth also the obstruction of the spleâ— being taken for some time together inwardly or the herbe bruised and applyed with some Vinegar to the reâ— of the fifteene outwardly iâ—â—enseth the eâ—cerations of the reines and bladder or of the mother also or any other inward wounds or sores it provoketh Value and helpeth thereby to breake the stone and as Paâ—s Aegineâ— saith is of much good use in all the 〈◊〉 â—r the backe and reines it it is singular good to heale◠〈…〉 â—ds and cuts in the flesh speedily 〈◊〉 lippes of them together and not suffering them to gather corruption it is no lesse effectuall also for â—ng â—tters and for fâ—le or old frettings or running sorâ— or places that are of hard curation or are of long continuance it stayeth the bleedings of woâ— or 〈…〉 of blood in any other part and dissolveâ—â—umâ— and swellings especially those in the necke The distilled water of the herbe either simple of it selfe or the hearte first steeped in wine for twelve 〈◊〉 â—east and then distilled in an ordinary still but not in any Limbecke to make it â—n hot water as others 〈◊〉 that manner doth wonderfully helpe for all the purpose aforesayd either for the the Plague the Cough Consumptions c. and all the other diseases before mentioned as also to wash woâ— and sores therewith 〈◊〉 coperas also dissolved in the sayd distilled water doth wonderfully helpe all itches scabbes and scurâ— letters also and the morphew and all discolourings of the skinne as freckles spots and markes whatsoever either risen from the infection of the blood and from hot and sharpe salt humours or 〈◊〉 scarres that remaine after huâ— or bâ—ses if they be bathed therewith a little alome dissolved in the sayd distilled water and sprinkled upon 〈◊〉 keepeth them from moths that spoyle them CHAP. XXXVIII Veronica faemina sive Elatine Fluellen or the female Speedwell OF this Elatine there are some varieties observed by diverse namely two sorts but we must thereunto adde a third as followeth 1. Elatine folio subrotundo Round leafed Flvellen This Fluellen shooteth forth many long branches partly lying upon the ground and part standing upright set with almost round leaves yet a little pointed at the ends and sometimes more long than round without order thereon being somewhat hoary and of an evill greenish white colour at the joynts all along the stalkes and with the leaves come forth small flowers one at a place upon a very small short foote stalk gaping somewhat like those of Snapdragon or rather Linaria Todeflaxe whose upper jaw is of a yellow colour and the lower
Bauhinus calleth it Androsaemum hirsutum the next two have their names in their titles that Bauhinus giveth them yet the third is called by Clusius in the Auctuarium of his other Appendix Ascyrum supiâ—m 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the last is called by Alpinus lib. de exoticis as it is in the title all nations christned take it as another kind of S. Iohns wort and so call it and we S. Peters wort The Vertues It is of the same propertie with S. Iohns wort but somewhat weake and therefore more seldome used the seede to the quantitie of two drams taken at a time in Meade or honyed water purgeth saith Dioscorides Pliny and Galen chollericke humours and thereby helpeth those that are troubled with the Sciatica or paine in the hippes the leaves are used as S. Iohns wort to helpe those places of the body that have beene burnt with fire CHAP. LII Androsamum Tutsan or Parke leaves ALthough our Tutsan be not the right Androsaemum of Dioscorides c. yet because it is so generally called and accounted by most let it receive his place here among some other plants called Androsaemum by divers writers that thereby you may see and know the difference betweene them 1. Androsaemum vulgare Common Tutsan or Parke leaves Our Tutsan hath not square but brownish shining round stalkes crushed all the length thereof rising to be two or sometimes three foote high branching forth even from the bottome but more thiâ—ly set or farther asunder having divers joynts and at each of them two faire large leaves standing but more thinly set then of the other sorts which are of a darke blewish greene colour on the upper side and of a yellower greene underneath turning reddish towards Autumne but abiding on the branches all the winter at the topes of the stalkes and branches stand larger yellow flowers then in any of the former â—orm and heads with seede likewise larger which being greene at the first and afterwards reddish turne to be of a blackish purple colour when they are through ripe with small brownish seede within them and then yeeld a reddish juice or liquor of a reasonable good sent somewhat resinous and of an harsh or stipticke taste as the leaves also and the flowers bee although much lesse but doe not yeeld such a cleare Claret wine liquor as Gerard following Dodonaeus therein saith it hath the roote is brownish somewhat great hard and wooddy spreading well in the ground 2. Androsaemum Matthioli Matthiolus his Tutsan This Tutsan for other English name I know not well what it may have unlesse you would call it a great S. Iohns wort because it is so like it hath brownish round stalkes with two leaves at every joynt fuller of branches else very like unto S Iohns wort but more sparingly or thinly set thereon much smaller and greener then the former Tutsan and greater then those of S. Iohns wort without any hoales at all in them the flowers are yellow likewise and greater then they and so are the heads with seede but spotted with blacke streakes on them the roote is brownish and abideth yet the stalkes 1. Androsaemum Vulgare Tutsan or Parke leaves 2. Hypericum mâ—jus sive Androsaemum Matthioli Matthiolus his Tutsan 4. Androsamum faetidum Stinking Tutsan perish the leaves hereof as well as flowers doe give a red juice like S. Iohns wort whereof it may best be discerned but because S. Peters wort doth the like also therefore divers doe mistake one for another and the rather for that S. Peters wort is found to have a round stalke although ordinarily it be square 3. Androsaemum alterum Apulum Tutsan of Naples This Neapolitane Tutsan is more bushie but groweth not so high as the last for it sendeth forth from a reddish roote somewhat threddy reddish or brownish round stalkes not much above a foote high with two crested strakes like filmes all the length of them and are full of branches with two leaves at every joynt so closely set thereunto at the bottome that the stalkes seeme to runne through them and yet are lesser then the last recited Tutsan sharpe pointed of a fresher greene colour and smooth on the upper side white underneath and having many small holes therein almost not to bee perceived and for the most part are greater and broader towards the toppes then they are below the flowers at the toppes of the branches are of a paler yellow colour many more set together then in the other whose greene huskes wherein they stand have blackish spots on them which so abide when the leaves are full of seede both leaves and flowers yeeld a blooddy or reddish juice being buised betweene the fingers as any of the other doe 4. Androsaemum faetidum Stinking Tutsan This stinking Tutsan groweth upright with hard wooddy stalkes three or foure and sometimes unto five cubits high as great as ones arme below and of a reddish colour branching forth upwards with divers wings of fresh greene leaves set thereon two at every joynt somewhat like unto those of Licoris and doe alwayes aside on the branches winter as well as Summer in the warme countries wherein it is naturall but doth hardly enâ—ure our cold climate although kept and defended with all the care wee can use at the ends of the stalkes stand yellow flowers like the common Tutsan upon slender but longer soo estalkes then in any of the former sorts and the yellow threds in the middle of them longer also which after they are past yeeld round and somewhat long heads like unto the berries of the Turpentine tree never falling away from the bushes of themselves wherein â—ye very small seede In Candy it yeeldeth a liquid Rosen or Turpentine that smelleth strong more like 〈◊〉 then any Rosen even as the leaves and all the rest of the plant doth this yeeldeth no red or blooddy 〈…〉 as the true Androsaemum and Ascyrum doe The Place The first groweth in many Woods Groves and wooddy grounds as Parkes and Forrests and by hedge sides in many places of this land as in Hampsted Wood by Raily in Essex in the wealde of Kent and many other places needelesse to recite The second is found also about Bristow and Bath and in other parts of the West country The third Fabius Columna saith hee found on the hills Cirinola which are to the Southward in Naples And the last Hanrius Bellus saith groweth by the brookes and springs of waters in Candy and no where else but â—t groweth upon Mount Baldus as Pona saith in the description thereof The Time They all flower later then S. Iohns wort or S. Peters wort and the last later then any of the other The Names It is called Greeke 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Androsaemon a sanguine humano cui comae succus assimilatur Galen saith it was of â—wo sorts the one whereof was called Dionisias by some in his time the other Ascyrium and Ascyroides The first so called by Dodonaeus Androsaemum and so it is also by
other but larger and in some white and in others purplish the cods and seedes are like the rest but the roote hereof is not so much parted as the former but more thicke and tuberous 6. Dentaria angustifolia bulbifera Bulbed narrow leafed Corallwort This Corallwort riseth up with a stalke or two bearing long and narrow leaves denâ— about the edges of sad greene colour and pâ—ed at the ends somewhat like the leaves of Ptarmica sylvestris called wilde Pelletory every one standing singly by it selfe and at the joynts therewith come forth such like scaly â—alâ—bs as are in the first sort but thicker and of a darke purplish colour but none among the flowers which grow many together of 1. Dentaria Bulbifera Bulbed Corallwort 2. Dentaria pentaphylles triphyllos Cinquefoile and trefoile Corallwort 5. Dentaria Heptaphyllos Setfoile Corallwort 6. Dentaria angustifolia Bulbifera Bulbed narrow leafed Corallwort the same fashion with the other that is of foure leaves 7. Alabastrites sive Dentaria minima The leaft Corallwort a peece but they are of a whitish colour after which come long pods with seede like the other the roote is white and somewhat short growing aslope as the rest doe set together with joynts somewhat closer and more even with some fibres at it 7. Alabastrites sive Dentaria minima The leaft Corallwort Although I know that this plant is referred by most unto the Laâ—tuli or Crowfeet so have I done here before not having gained a more perfect figure thereof and considering the small likenesse it hath with any sort of Crowfoote and the nearer resemblance of it unto these kindes of plaâ— have presumed to insert it in this place for the 〈◊〉 sake and likenesse of the roote although you have the exact description thereof among the Crowfeete under the name of Ranunculus nemorosus Moschatella dictus The Place The first and the last have beene found in our land the first at Mayfield in Sussex in a wood called Highreede and in another wood there also called Foxholes both of them belonging to one Mr. Stephen Forkhurst at the writing hereof the rest in the shadowie woods of Germany Switzerland and Savoy Naples Italy and divers other places The Time They floweâ— about the end of Aprill and beginning or middle of May and are withered and gone before Iuly for the most part the rootes abiding safe under ground The Names Neither Dioscoriâ—es nor Pliny nor any other of the ancient writers as divers have supposed have made any mention of these plants but being found out by later searchers are called diversly some from the forme and colour of the rootes calling them Dentaria Dentillaria Coralloides and Alablastrites as Lobel and Dentaria Coralloid radice as a difference from other Dentarias and some also thereupon tooke it to be an Aconitum as Dalechampius doth in Lugdunensis some both from the roote and the flowers that are like unto Stocke Gilloflowers which were anciently comprehended under the name of Viola called it Viola Dentaria as Dodonaeus some from the effects and properties as Cordus lib. 2. plantarum historia cap. 111. and Gesner in hortis Saâ—cula alba and Sanifraga montana and saith that about Savoy they call it Pulmonaria but Coluâ— taketh it to bee Ceratia Plinij and sheweth plainely that this Dentaria hath all the properties that Pliny ascribeth unto his Ceratia for whereas Pliny saith it hath but one leafe so saith Columna this hath but one sometimes for hee maketh that leafe to bee but one that standeth upon one stalke howsoever divided into 3.5.7 or more parts as is to bee seene in the Ashtree Quicken tree Service and Wallnut c. the whole leafe springing forth together and falling away all together and not one peece after another as in others that are single which is a true note how to know a winged leafe from others as I shewed you formerly in another place The first and sixt are called Deâ—tariae bulbifeâ— or baccifarae because they onely and none of the rest doe heare any bulbes like berries upon their stalkes They are all generally called Dentaria and most of them from the number of their leaves called eyther triphyllos pentaphyllos or heptaphyllos but the â—riphyllos is also called by Lobel Eâ—rphyllos onely the two last differ in some things from all the rest the sixt being called by Besberâ— that set forth the great booke of Hortus Eystensis Dentaria anguâ— bacciferâ— and Bauhinus thereupon Dentaria â—accifera folijs Dâ—armicae Cordus in his second booke 111. Chap. of his History of Plants setteth forth the figure thereof in my minde but without any bulbes at the leaves under the name of Coralloides alia species Gesner in his â—â—â—ia at the end of that Chapter saith that 〈◊〉 Dentaria baccifera was called by some Consolida Saraâ—enita and judgeth it himselfe a kind of Aâ—a and the 〈◊〉 as I have declared in the first division of the Crowfeete The Vertues The roote of Corallwort is drying binding and strengthning yet it helpeth to provoke Vrine and to expell gravell and the stoâ— is some doâ— affirme it is exceeding good to ease the griping paines of the sides and bowells and for inward wounds thâ— are made in the breast longs and bowells a dram of the powder of the roote taken for many dayes together in red wine the same also given to them that are bursten or have a rupture it very 〈…〉 to be drunke in the distilled water of the herbe called Horsetaile it stayeth also Laskes and Fluxes that are not proceede of hot and â—lericke humours the decoction of the herbe is good to bee applyed both to gâ— wound quickly to 〈◊〉 â—ate them and for old filthy sores to dry up their moysture and thereby to caâ— them 〈◊〉 the sooâ— CHAP. LXXII Leucoium Stocke Gilloflowers I Have in my former booke shewed you many sorts of Stocke Gilloflowers there yet doe reâ—e divers others which are of lesse beauty and durabilitie to be entreated of here as I there promised And because the word Leucium in Latine is referred as well to these Stocke Gilloflowers as to the Wallflowers with this distinction of Luteum onely I will also distinguish and separate then entreating in the next Chapter of those that beare yellow flowers and greene leaves which is the distinction betweene a Wallflower and a Gilloflower yet I will here give you the figure of the single garden Stocke Gilloflowers 1. Leucoium marinum maximum The greatest Sea Stocke Gillowflower This Sea Stocke Gilloflower hath divers long thicke whitish soft leaves lying upon the ground one within another in a round compasse and are stiffer then the other Sea kinds or the garden kinds formerly set forth jagged also or cut in on both sides evenly into deepe dents like the knagges of a Bucks horne which 〈◊〉 it seeme the more beautifull thus it doth abide for the first yeares growing but the next yeare it beareth a â—ry white stalke three foote high or thereabouts
leaves lying on the ground very much cut in or torne on the edges on both sides even to the middle ribbe ending in a point sometimes it is found to have a red ribbe or veyne downe the middle of the leaves from among which riseth up a hard round wooddy stalke spreading into many branches set with smaller and lesser divided leaves on them up to the toppes where stand the flowers both for forme and colour like unto the Garden kinde that is of a blew colour after which come the seede like thereunto also the roote is white but more hard and wooddy then the other the whole plant is exceeding bitter 3. Cichorium spinosum Creticum Thorny Succory of Candy This Thorny Succory hath the lower leaves next the ground somewhat long and narrow cut in somewhat roundly on the edges like the ordinary Succory into many short not deepe cuts the crested greene stalke that riseth Cichorium sativum vulgare Ordinary Garden Succory 1. Cichorium sativum flore rubello Garden Succory with red flowers 2. Cichorium sylvestre Wilde Succory 3. Cichorium sâ— Creticum Thorny Succory of Candy from among them is hard and wooddy spreading many such like branches from the very bottome all about making it seeme a round bush set with many narrower leaves and without any cut or division on the edges which quickly fall away leaving the stalkes bare or naked and each branch ending in one two or three sometimes long forked thornes at the joynts with the leaves which towards the toppes abide a little longer come forth small scaly huskes and out of them the flowers which are made of five leaves a peece broade at the ends and cut into two or thee dents of a blewish colour like unto Succory with some yellow threds in the middle the seede that followeth is like the ordinary sort and so is the roote but somewhat thicker and shorter and abideth as the Succory doth The Place The first sort is found wilde in some places of Italy from whence I had the seede and the white one in Germany the second is found in many places of our Land in waste untilled and barren fields the third by the Sea coasts and other sandy grounds in Candy The Time The two first sorts flower in the time that the other common sort doth but the last not untill August and hardly then so that in our Country it doth give no seede neither will well indure our Winters The Names 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in Greeke as I said before in the last Chapter and Intubum in Latine doe signifie Succory as well as Endive and the wild sort of Succory is called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 seris picris because it is more bitter then the rest Some take Hieracium and some Lactuca sylvestis to bee Seris or Intubum sylvestre but Matthiolus contesteth against them in Latine also Cichorium sylvestre Pliny lib. 22. cap. 8. saith that this Intubum sylvestre or Pictis or Cichorium erraticum was called by some in his time Ambugia but Celsus and some truer copies have Ambubeia Theophrastus calleth it 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Horace hath Cichoreum or Cichorea where he saith Me pascunt Olivae Me Cichorea levesque Malvae Tragui also hath Cichorea Of the first with red flowers I finde Tragus to note one that hath partim candidum partim roseum florem and from him Bauhinus to make mention and Thalius in Harcynia sylva of that with white flowers the second is called by Lobel Seris picris CichoriuÌ„ Seris sylvestris by Gesner Intubum sylvestre and Cichorium sylvestre and aguiste by Lâ—icerus by Lugdunensis Hypocheris Dalechampij whereof Theophrastus maketh mention in his seventh Book and 11. Chap. among the Cichoriacea which Gaza untowardly translateth Porcellia Brunfelsius calleth it Solse quium and Gerard putteth the figure hereof under the title of Hieracium latifolium and Bauhinus noteth it the third was first mentioned by Honorius Bellus in his fourth Epistle to Clusius by the name of Cichorium spinosum and Scamnagati id est Hydriae spina by the Cretans Clusius in his history of Plants calleth it Chondrillae elegans genus flore caeruleo and afterwards both by Pona in his Italian description of Mount Baldus and by Bauhinus in his Matthiolus and Prodromus Cichorium spinosum Creticum the Italians call Succory Girasole Radicchio Scariola and Cicorea and the wilde kinde Cicorea salvatica the Spaniards Almenera and Cicoria salvaja the French Cichoree sauvage by the Germans Wegwant by the Dutch Cichorrey and by us in English Succory and wilde Succory The Vertues Garden Succory as it is bitter is more dry and lesse cold then Endive and thereby more opening also An handfull of the leaves or rootes hereof boyled in wine or water and a draught thereof drunke fasting driveth forth chollericke and flegmaticke humors the same also openeth the obstructions of the Liver Gall and Spleene and helpeth the Yellow Iaundies the heate of the Reines and of the Vrine the Dropsie also and those that have an evill disposition in their bodies by long sicknesse evill dyet c. which disease the Greekes call 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Cachexia a decoction thereof made with wine and drunk is very effectuall against long lingering Agues and a dramme of the seede in powder drunke in wine before the fit of an Ague doth helpe to drive it away the distilled water of the herbe and flowers performeth the same properties aforesaid and is especiall good for hot stomacks and in Agues either pestilentiall or of long continuance and for swoundings and passions of the heart for the heate and headach in childâ— and to temper the distemperature of the blood and Liver the said water or the juice or the bruised leaves applyed outwardly allayeth tumors inflammations S. Anthonies fire pushes wheales and pimples especially used with a little Vinegar as also to wash pestiferous sores the said water is very effectuall for sore eyes that are inflamed or have any rednesse in them and for Nurses sore breasts that are pained by the aboundance of milke The wild Succory as it is more bitter so it is more strengthning to the stomack and Liver CHAP. XXV Pseudo-cichoria sive Cichoria sylvestria floribus luteis Bastard or wilde Succory with yellow flowers THere are divers other herbes which are accounted kindes of wilde Succory for their neare resemblance in forme but not in qualitie thereunto some whereof shall be set forth in this Chapter especially such as beare the title of Cichorium Succory For the Dens Leonis Dandelion and the Chondrilla Cum Succory that be kinds of Succory also so like unto it that many have mistaken the one for the other shall follow in their order 1. Cichorium pratense luteum asperum Rough yellow field Succory This rough yellow Succory hath longer and rougher leaves then those of the former wilde Succory in one sort with few or no cuts at all in others like unto it with deepe cuts and divisions
ferens of Henorius Bellus expressed in his first Epistle to Clusius but Bauhinus calleth it Carlina acaulis gummi fera whereof I much marvaile that he should continue that opinion of Chamaeleo albus and Carlina to be both but one plant knowing that Columna shewed them plainely in his booke to be different although that Carlina as well as Chamaeleo albus giveth a like gum also and that Theophrastus his Ixine hath such likewise which Columna as is sayd being deceived thought to be Carlina the second is the Carlina humilis of Columna taken by him to be the Ixine of Theophrastus as Anguilara did before him and Dodonaeus and called by Lobel Carlina herbaaiorum yet thought by him Clusius to be the Chamaelon albus of Dioscorides as Guilandinus in Papyro did thinke before as also by Matthiolus Cordus and Lugdunensis by Caesalpinus Carlina vulgo and by Gesner in hortis Cardopatium caule â—ullo by Ericius Cordus Carduus panis seu pacis by Camerarius Carlina sessili flore by Dodonaeus in former times taken to be Spina Arabica and by the Monkes that commented upon Mesues Acanthe lence of Dioscorides and by 〈◊〉 Carlina acanlos magno flore the third is the Carlina caulescens of Columna and Camerarius both in hortis 〈◊〉 in Epitome by Dodonaeus Carlina sive Leucacantha by Caesalpinus Carlinae alterum genus by Clusius Carlina major elatior by Lugdunensis Carlina caulem habens and taketh it also to be Crocodilion by Gesner in hortis Cardopatiâ—â—â— flore albo caulem habens and called by Lobel Chamaeleo albus cauledonatus but Chamaeleo niger by Lacuna Matthiolus and Lugdunensis Chamaeleon niger vulgaris by Tragus and Besler that set forth the Hortus Eystetensis by Brunfelsius as Bauhinus saith in his Matthiolus Eberwurtz that is Apri radix and from hence came the name of Carduus Snarius and Cardopacis but in his Pinax he referreth this name of Brunfelsius unto the Carlina acaulis so that it seemeth the Germanes call both sorts Eberwurtz he himselfe calling it in his Pinax Carlina caulescens magno flore and in his Matthiolus Carlina caule donatus the fourth is called Chamaeleon albus seu exiguus by Tragus and Lugdunensis and parvus by Louicerus by Columna Chamaeleon Septentrionalium exiguus appellaâ—us by Lobel Carduus acaulis Septentrionalium by Clusius Carlina minor purpureo flore who saith that some 〈◊〉 of opinion that it did not seeme unlike unto the Chamaeleon of Theophrastus in his sixt Booke and third Chapter and by Bauhinus Carlina acaulis minor purpureo flore the fift is the Carlina sylvestris vulgaris the first Carlina sylvestris of Dodonaeus and the Acarna vel Cirsium luteuÌ„ Sequanorum of Lobel c. the sixt is set forth by 〈◊〉 in his book de plantis exoticis and called also by him as Gaza did Carduus Pinea but is not although somewhat like the Iacea pinea called pumila Narbon of Lobel the last is called Chamaeleon niger Dioscoridis by Anguilara Maraâ—tha Cortusus Camerarius Lobel and Columna and Chamaeleon niger alter by Matthiolus Chamaeleon niger 〈◊〉 Dalechampij by Lugdunensis but thought to be Crocodilion by Tabermontanus and called by Bauhinus Chamaeleon niger umbellatus flore caeruleo hyacinthino The Italians call the white and blacke Chamaeleon Thistle Cameâ—â—â— and nero and the white more usually Carlina the Spaniards call both sorts Cardo pinto the French all the white Charline and Chamaeleon blanc but the blacke Chardonnette the Germanes as is said before call all 〈◊〉 Eberwurtz as the Dutch doe Ebewortele and wee in English Chamaeleon Thistle or Changeable Thistle 〈◊〉 or blacke or as they are set downe in their titles and the rest accordingly The Vertues The roote of the white Chamaeleon Thistle saith Dioscorides taken to the quantitie of a spoonefull in red wine wherein Origanum hath beene boyled killeth the broad wormes in the belly a dramme thereof taken in wine helpeth dropsie persons for it extenuates their belly the decoction thereof is profitable for them that cannot make water orderly Theophrastus and Pliny from him saith that the root hereof cut into peeces hung up on strings to drie afterwards boyled in broath or otherwise taken doth help the defluxions of rheume that fall from the head the eyes teeth nose or lungs If any saith he would trie whether a sicke person should die or live if he beare and endure three times washing with the decoction of the roote he shall not die it is as a Treakle or an antidote against poison being drunke in wine and from hence it is supposed that the Carline Thistle roote was used against the plague in the Emperour Charles his army although it be suggested to be declared by an Angell without an Allegory or allusion to the good Angell from due observation and practise which hath since found it very effectuall both to resist the infection as also very powerfull against the biting of a mad dogge or the sting of Serpents and yet Dioscorides saith the roote of Chamaeleon albus given to dogs swine or mise killeth them which propertie is also found in divers other things as on the contrary side divers creatures do feede on these things that are poysonous to men The blacke Chamaeleon Thistle is said by Dioscorides to cure the itch the roote being beaten and mixed with Axungia and so used and being boiled in vinegar and some brimstone put to it killeth tetters and ringwormes it clenseth the face and skinne from all blemishes deformities and discolouring being used with some brimstone it is put with other things that doe digest and mollifie and also with those that consume and eate the flesh and therefore is used to helpe foule sores and stincking ulcers hereby you see he doth not appoint it to be used inwardly for any disease by reason of the virulent qualitie therein but onely alloweth of the decoction thereof to gargle the teeth in the extreme paines of them or by the roote bruised and boyled in vinegar to helpe the tooth-ach and to breake them if they be touched therewith Of our wilde Carline Thistle I have not knowne or heard of any that have made any experiment although I am perswaded that it commeth neere to the qualities of the low Carline Thistle that is so much commended as you heard before and of the gummes either of the white Chamaeleon or Carline Thistle there is no other speciall propertie set downe by any than is declared before that as it is called Masticke of the Thistle so it is used as Masticke to chew in the mouth both to amend the evill savour of the breath and by reason of the glewing qualitie to stay rheume and to strengthen loose teeth for the juyce doth follow the propertie of the herbe or tree from whence it is taken and although the gumme of the white Chamaeleon be called Ixia as Dioscorides saith yet the Ixia that is poysonous is another thing quite differing from this for
swellings or inflammations and to binde and stay fluxes of humors unto sores but is put also into many other compositions both oyntments and plaisters that are cooling and binding and restraining the flux of humors The dryed leaves of the red Roses are used both inwardly and outwardly both cooling binding and cordiall for with them are made both Aromaticum rosarum Diarrhodon Abbatis and Saccharum rosarum each of whose properties are before declared Rose leaves and Mints heated and applyed outwardly to the stomacke stayeth castings and strengthneth a weake stomacke very much and applied as an Epitheme or fomentations to the region of the Liver and Heart doth much coole and temper the distemperature in them as also in stead of a Rose cake to the head and temples to quiet the overhot spirits which will suffer no sleepe or rest to fasten on the sicke patient Of the Damaske Roses are not made so many medicines or compositions for beside the Conserve and Preserve the Syrupe and Hony of those Roses each whereof is called Solutive the water and the distilled oyle or spirit which serveth more for outward perfumes then inward Physicke as the dryed leaves to fill sweete bagges and the like I know not any other use made of them and yet there is by many times much more of them spent and used then of red Roses so much hath pleasure outstripped necessary use The Syrupe of Damask Roses is both simple and compound and made with Agoricka the simple solutive Syrupe is a familiar safe and gentle easie medicine purging choller taken from one ounce or two unto three or foure yet this is remarkable and wonderfull herein that the distilled water of this Syrupe should notably binde the belly the Syrupe of Roses with Agaricke is more strong and effectuall in working then the simple Syrupe for one ounce thereof by it selfe will open the body more then of the other and worketh as much on flegme as choller the compound Syrupe is more forceable in working on melancholicke humors and availeable against the Lepry Itch Tetters c. and the French disease also Hony of Roses solutive is made of the same infusion that the Syrupe is made of and therefore worketh the same effect in opening and purging but because the hony is neither so familiar to many or convenient to hot and aguish bodies it is oftener given to flegmaticke then collericke persons and is more used in Glisters then potions as the Syrupe made with Sugar is The Conserve and Preserved leaves of these Roses are operative to the same effect in gently opening the belly The simple water of the Damaske Roses is of so much use for fumes to sweeten all things as also to put into meats and broths c. that it hath left almost no use for any Physicall purpose yet it hath beene well observed by Costaeus in his commentary upon Mesues that tenne ounces of Damaske Rose water drunke in the morning doth open and purge the belly the dryed leaves of the Damaske Roses serve most to make sweete powders and to fill sweet bagges or the like yet the same Costaeus in the same place sheweth that the dryed leaves powdered and drunk in the whey of Goats milke worketh to the same effect in purging The Muske Roses both single and double doe purge more forceable then the Damaske and the single is be'd to be stronger then the double for although none of the Greeke writers have made any mention thereof yet Mesues especially of the Arabians doth set it downe twenty of the leaves of the single Rose must be taken saith Camerarius but more of the double kinde to open the belly and purge the body The wilde Roses are few or none of them used in Physicke but yet are generally held to come neare unto the nature of the manured Roses both in the earthy and binding facultie Pliny setteth downe in his eighth booke and fourth Chapter that the roote of the wilde Rose is singular good to cure the biting of a mad Dogge which as he saith but how wee may beleeve him I know not was found out by miracle the fruit of the wilde Brier which are called Heppes being thorough ripe and made into a Conserve with Sugar according to the manner of divers other fruits besides that it is very pleasant to the taste doth gently binde the belly and stayeth defluxions from the head upon the stomacke and dryeth up the moisture thereof and helpeth digestion the pulpe of the Heppes dryed unto a hard consistence like to the juice of Licoris or so dryed that it may bee made into powder and taken in drinke stayeth speedily the whites in women With the fruit Cookes and their Ladies and Mistresses doe know how to prepare many fine dishes for their tables The Brier ball is often used being made into powder and drunke to breake the Stone to provoke urine when it is stopped and to ease and helpe the collicke some appoint it to bee burnt and then taken for the same purpose in the middle of these balles are often found certaine white wormes which being dryed and made into powder and some of it drunke is found by long experience of many to kill and drive forth the Wormes of the belly CHAP. XXVII Capparis Capers THe Caper tree or bush that was knowne to Dioscorides and Theophrastus being but one sort was thorny but there hath beene since some other sorts knowne both that are and are not thorny which for affinitie sake I thinke meete to joyne together and with the Capers another plant which for some likenesse beareth also the name of Capparis fabago or leguminosa Beane Capers not intending to joyne it to the pulses as some might thinke it should be 1. Capparis spinosa folio rotundâ— Round leafed thorny Capers This Caper sendeth forth divers long weake trayling wooddy stalkes lying round about upon the ground set with crooked thornes like hookes or as the Bramble at each joynt come forth two round leaves like unto Asarum opposite one unto another from whence springeth also a small round head upon a pretty long footstalke which is the bud from the flower before it open and is that small round Caper which wee doe usually eate at meate which being then gathered and pickled up with great salt are kept in barrells and brought into other countries and are taken out of the salt afterwards and kept in Vinegar to be spent at the table as all know but when it is open consisteth of foure white sweete smelling leaves with foure other greene ones as the huske wherein they stand having many yellowish threads and a long stile or pestle in the middle which afterwards groweth to bee the fruit and is long and round like unto an Olive or Acorne when it is ripe which also are brought pickled to us and are the long Capers which are used wherein are conteined divers hard browne seede somewhat like unto the kernells of Grapes the roote is great white long and
drinesse the gumme is hot and dry in the first degree The leaves and young tender branches of the Iuniper tree or the juice of them or of the berries or the berries themselves taken in wine are very effectuall against the biting of a Viper or Adder as also against the Plague or Pestilence or any other infection or poyson the Germanes use it much for their Treakle is made of the condensate juice of the berries which they commend in all diseases almost both for inward and outward remedies the same also is profitable against the Strangury and stopping of the Vrine and so powerfull against the Dropsie that as Matthiolus saith hee hath knowne divers to avoyd so much water by Vrine by taking foure or five ounces at a time of the Lye made of Iuniper ashes that they have beene holpen thereby it doth also provoke womens courses being stayed and doth helpe the rising and other paines of the mother the berries are good for the stomacke and to dissolve the swellings and windinesse thereof and are likewise profitable for the cough and shortnesse of breath and other diseases of the Chest and Lungs and to ease the griping paines and torments in the belly they are also prevailent to helpe Ruptures Convulsions and Crampes to procure a safe and easie delivery unto women with child for which purpose Matthiolus adviseth to take seven Iuniper and seven Bay-berries halfe a dramme of Cassia lignea and a dram of Cinamon these being grossely bruised put them into the belly of a Turtle Dove to be rosted therewith let it be basted with the fat of an Hen whereof they are to eate every other evening The scrapings of the wood saith Dioscorides being eaten doth kill men which clause both Matthiolus and Tragus before him finde much fault with seeing it is contrary to the former part of the Text and thrust thereinto by others for as he saith neither the best copies have it therein neither doe Galen Paulus Aegineta nor Serapio who wrote wholly after Dioscorides his Text word for word make any such mention of the properties of the wood and more saith he it is found false by tryall made thereof but Scaliger in his 15. Booke and 18. exercise maintaineth the Text of Dioscorides in that although the decoction of the wood is wholesome yet the scraping or course powder by the drinesse thereof sticking to the guts doth suffocate in the same manner as Colocynthis which to bee rightly prepared must bee beaten and finely sifted least it cleave to the bowells and blister them the berries are very comfortable to the braine and strengthen the memory and sight and all the senses and the heart also being eyther drunke in wine or the decoction of them in wine taken the same also is good against a quartane and dissolveth the winde in the belly and in generall is effectuall for all diseases as well outward as inward proceeding of any cold cause if they shall take of the berries two or three times a weeke three or foure at a time in wine which must bee gathered in the fit time of the ripenesse moystned with and after fairely dryed upon a cloth the Salt made of the ashes of the Iuniper wood is a singular remedy for the Scurvey the putrefied and spongy gums and generally resisting all putrefaction The Chymicall oyle drawne from the berries while they are greene is as effectuall if not more to all the purpose aforesaid there is an oyle also drawne out of the Iuniper wood per descensum as they call it which is very good against the toothach and for the Goute Sciatica and resolution of the Nerves or Sinewes comming of cold The gumme of Iuniper is used like as Amber is to stay cold rheumaticke distillations defluxions and Catarrhes upon the eyes or Lungs c. the fumes thereof upon the burning on coales being taken into a cappe the head also holden in the meane time over the said fumes at night and to lie covered therewith or the powder thereof with other things fit for the purpose strewed upon Flax and to be quilted into a cappe to bee worne in the night chiefely and in the day also as neede shall require the said gumme in powder taken in wine doth stay vomitings inward bleedings and spitting of blood womens courses also and all other the fluxes of the belly and of the hemorrhoides or piles the same also killeth the wormes in children and mixed with some oyle oâ— Roses and Myrtles healeth the chappes of the fundiment kibes also and chilblanes on the hands and feet the powder of the gumme mixed with the white of an Egge and applyed to the forehead stayeth the bleeding at the nose the same also burned upon quicke coales and the fumes thereof taken thorough a funnell upon as akiâ— tooth taketh away the paine it is effectuall in moist Vlcers and Fistulaes and weeping running sores to dryâ— the moisture in them which hindereth their cure the liquid Varnish is an especiall remedy against scaldings with water or burnings with fire and to helpe the painefull and bleeding Piles and Palsie Crampes Convulsions 〈◊〉 the Nerves and Sinewes The smoake of Iuniper wood being burned besides that it yeeldeth a good sent to peâ—fume any house it is of good use in the time of infection and driveth away all noysome Serpents Fliâ— Waspes c. the ashes of the wood or barke made into a Lye with water doth cure all itches scabbes pustules or other eruptions in the skinne yea and the Lepry also if the places be bathed therewith The Germanes Treakle of Iuniper berries is made in this manner Take what quantitie you will of fresh but ripe Iuniper berries bruise them and boyle them in a reasonable quantitie of water untill they be well boyled straine and presse them hard in a presse which pulpe and liquor set to the fire againe in a glased earthen vessell and evaporate away so much of the humiditie stirring of it continually as untill it become of the thicknesse of an Electuary which then put into pots or glasses to be kept for your use whereof a small quantitie taken morning and evening doth wonderfully helpe them that are troubled with the stone in the Reines or Kidneyes with the Chollicke with the paines of the mother and the stoppings of their courses is good against Catarrhes and rheumes the shortnesse of breath and winde the straightnesse of the breast the cough the cruditie rawnesse and indisposition of the stomacke against the Plague and other infectious diseases for it preserveth and defendeth the heart and vitall spirits from infection and venome and against swownings and faintnesse the paines swimming and giddinesse in the head against frensie also and madnesse for inflammations and rheumes into the eyes and preserving the sight deasenesse in hearing and stench of the gums mouth or breast helpeth the Dropsie Jaundies Falling sicknesse Palsie and Goute healeth inward Impostumes in briefe it not onely helpeth all diseases wherewith the body is possessed
that it dryeth up thinne humours digesteth the 〈◊〉 and tough and purgeth blacke or burnt choller and especially tough and thicke flegme and thinne flegme 〈◊〉 even from the joynts which the inhabitants about the Rivers of Rheine and Mosa doe finde to be true as Doâ—â—â— relateth it who by using the decoction of Polypody a good while together are freed from those tumors in their hands feete knees and joynts wherewith they are much troubled and is therefore good for those are â—â—â—led with Melancholy or Quartaine Agues especially if it be taken in Whey or Mede that is honied water or in Barly water or the broth of a Chicken with Epithymum or with Beetes and Mallowes it is also good â—r the hardnesse of the Spleene and for those prickings or stitches that happen in the sides as also for the chollicke taken any manner of wayes some use also to put to it some seedes of Fennell and Anise or Ginger to correct 〈◊〉 â—â—sea or loathing that he saith it bringeth to the stomacke and to strengthen it the better yet some hold it is â—â— free of danger that it bringeth no trouble to the stomacke but is a safe and gentle medicine fit for all seasons and persons which daily expecience confirmeth and yet a greater quantitie may be given in a decoction then â—â— appointeth even an ounce or more if there be not Sene or some other strong purger put with it a dramme or 〈◊〉 if neede be of the powder of the dryed rootes taken fasting in a cup full of honyed water worketh gently and for the same purposes aforesaid The distilled water both of rootes and leaves is much commended for â—â—e quartaine Ague to be taken many dayes together as also against Melancholy and fearefull or troublesome â—â—eepes and dreames and with some Sugar Candy dissolved therein against all the ill affects of the Lungs as the Cough shortnesse of breath and wheesings and those thinne distillations of rheume upon the Lungs which often turneth into a Consumption or Tisicke Some commend the salt made thereof to be mixed with the water â— rogus saith that a decoction of the Pollypody made with wine or the rootes themselves rather as I thinke given â—nto Hogges preserveth them from the Plague or Pestilence whereunto they are subject by purging them therewith which thing without doubt is effected as hee saith by the purging of flegme wherewith they are most doubled the fresh rootes beaten small or some in the stead thereof take them dry in powder mixed with 〈◊〉 and applyed to the joynts of any member or part out of his place doth much helpe it applyed also to the 〈◊〉 cureth the disease called Polypus which is a peece of flesh growing therein that by time and sufferance â—â—ppeth the passage of breath through that nostrill it helpeth also those clefts or chappes that happen to come 〈◊〉 â—ene the fingers of the hands or toes of the feete CHAP. V. Dryopteris Oake Ferne. OF the Oake Fernes there are two sorts one set forth by Lobel the other by Dodonaeus whereof I meane to entreate in this Chapter 1. Dryopteris repens Creeping Oake Ferne. This small Ferne sendeth forth divers slender blackish stalkes little more then halfe a foote high bearing many small winged leaves each against the other somewhat like unto those of the female â—erne but much smaller and finer and of a darkish greene colour the backeside of whom have not browne but white spots on them set in a double row as Lobel saith which 2. Dryopteris alba White Oake Ferne. Dryopteris sive Filix querna repius Creeping Oake Ferne. others mention not the roote is small and blackish creeping under the upper crust of the earth with divers small blacke fiâ—â—es growing from them and are somewhat like unto the rootes 〈◊〉 Pollypody but much smaller and slenderer of a more austere 〈◊〉 and stipticke taste then Pollypody 2. Dryopteris alba White Oake Ferne. This other Ferne groweth not much higher then the former but the leaves are broader shorter more deepely cut in on the edges and of a paler greene colour spotted also on the backside of them like unto the male Ferne the roote is composed of many â—â—ish threads or fibres issuing from a thicke roote The Place Both these sorts grow in the shadowey thicke woods on the sometimes and sometimes in the open valleyes neare them and sometimes also out of the mosse of old bushes and other trees The Time They both loose their leaves in Winter and spring up a fresh late in the Spring The Names It is called in Greeke 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Dryopteris that is Filix querna yet Oribasius calleth it 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Bryopteris 〈◊〉 Filix muscosa Mosse Ferne of the growing among the Mosse on trees the first is simply called Dryopteris by Lâ—â—bel Matthiolus Gesner and others Dryopteris sive Filix arborea by Tragus and Pterion famina by Cordus 〈…〉 first Booke and eighteenth Chapter and so also by Thalius in Harcynia sylva but is not the Filix puâ—â—ila saâ—â—â— prima of Clusius as I shall shew you in the next Chapter save one although it seeme to bee like it for the roâ—â— shew their difference The other is called Dryopteris candida by Dodonaeus and as Lobel saith is the Adiantum album Plinij and of the Shoppes also by Bauhinus Filicula fontana major sive Adiantum filicis folio The Vertues The first as Lobel saith was in former times used by the Apothecaries beyond Sea in stead of Pollypody as not knowing a righter neyther were they shewed by their Physitions to forbeare it and use any other but rather appointed by them so to do which as he saith some affirmed Rondeletius to say that in stead of a purging quality proper to Pollypody it had a pernitious operation in some of his sicke patients it is a remedy to take away haires 〈◊〉 Dioscorides saith if the rootes and leaves bee bruised together and applyed after sweating Matthiolus saith thâ—â— the rootes in powder with a little salt and Branne is given to Horses for the wormes The other sort is mode 〈◊〉 in taste somewhat drying and therefore may safely be used in stead of the true Adiantum or Maidenhaire as it is usuall now a dayes Lobel saith that the last sorts was safely used in the Apothecaries shoppes of divers countries for Adiantum album and nigrum CHAP. VI. Lanchitis aspera Rough Splenewort OF these Spleneworts there are divers sorts described by divers authors as shall be shewed and first of the greater kinde of Matthiolus 1. Lonchitis aspera major Matthioli The greater rough Splenewort This greater Splenewort hath divers stalkes of leaves somewhat like unto Miltwast but nearer unto Pollypody about a spanne long cut on both sides with uneven divisions dented about the edges with sharpe points and rough on both sides without such spots on the backes of them as Pollypody and Miltwaste have the roote is composed of many reddish strings or
with some spots on them as other Fernes have and onely foâ—ked at the toppes into two or three short parts bowing or bending downe their heads it agreeth saith Tragus with Ferne in smell and taste The Place These all doe grow in rockey and stony places and the sixt seaventh and eighth kinde as Lobel saith neere the sea in Cornewall in moyst rockie places The Time They flower with the rest of the Fernes 7. Filix marina Anglica The small English Sea Ferne. 8. Filix saxatilis Tragi Naked stone Ferne. The Names The first here set downe is the first Filix pumila saxatilis of Clusius according to his description but the second figure doth answere thereunto and not the first as you may observe by the creeping rootes in the second figure which he that onely regardeth the figure and doth not compare the description therewith may soone bee deceived and this transposition Bauhinus observed well although he doth not speake of it but onely entituleth it Filix saxatilis romosa nigris maculis puncta and questioneth if it be not the Filicula candida of Gesner in appendice the second is the second of Clusius by the former name and by Bauhinus Filix saxatilis non ramosa nigris maculis punctata and questioneth if it be not the Filicula saxatilis of Camerarius but the first figure in Clusius is set forth like the female branched Ferne the third is the third Filix petrea foemina of Tabermontanus and called by Bauhinus as it is in the title the fourth is the Filix saxatilis crispa of Pona in the description of Mount Baldus the fift is mentioned by Cornutas among his Canada plants which Mr. Iohn Tradescant the younger brought home with him from Virginia this present yeare 1638. presently after the death of his father the sixt is the Filicula fontana of Tabermontanus the seventh is the Chamae filix marina Anglica of Lobel and the last is the Holostium alterum of Lobel and the Holostium petraeunâ— of Tabermontanus Tragus calleth it Filix nuda sive saxatilis and Thalius Adianthum 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 seu furcatum and Bauhinus thereupon Filix saxatilis corniculata but why he should referre it also to the Muscus corniculatus of Tabermontanus and Gerard being different plants I know not The Vertues The faculties of these Fernes may be referred to the former CHAP. VIII Asplenum sive Ceterach Smooth Splene worte or Milt-waste THe smooth Splenewort I so call it in regard of the former which is rough from a blacke threddy and bushy roote sendeth forth many long single leaves cut in on both sides into round dents even almost to the middle ribbe which is not so hard as that of Pollipodye each division being not alwayes set opposite unto the other but betweene each smooth and of a light greene on the upperside and with a darke yellowish roughnesse on the backe foulding or rowling it selfe inward at the first springing up as many other Fernes doe and therein resembleth that Beare Worme that anglers use The Place and Time It groweth as well upon stone walls as moyst and shadowie places in many places of this Land as about Bristâ—â— and other the West parts plentifully as also on Framingham Castle on Beckensfeild Church in Barkeshire Stroude in Kent and else where and like Pollipody abideth greene in the winter The Names It is called in Greeke 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Asplenum and 〈◊〉 sive Ceterach Smooth Spleenewort or Miltwaste Splenium quod splenem juvat which it holdeth also in Latine in Greeke also 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Scolopendrium Scolopendra in Latine from the likenesse of the Worme so called as I sayd before Theophrastus calleth it 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and not 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as it is in the vulgar copies as also 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Hemionum which Galen translateth Mula herba in the Apothecaries shoppes Ceterach from the Arabians in the Antidotarium Bononiense it is called Digiti citrini the Apothecaries and Physitions in former times held the Harts-tongue to be the true Scolopendrium of the ancients but that errour is now sufficiently manifested and left as theirs also who held formerly that Asplenum was not Ceterach it is called of the later Arabians and Moores Scolofendrium of the Italians Aspleno and Scolopendria and herba inodorata of the Spaniards Doradilha of the French Ceterac of the Germanes Steynfarn of the Dutch Steenvaren and Miltcruit in English Spleenewort Miltwast and Scale-Ferne The Vertues It was and is generally used against the infirmities of the Spleene and as Vitruvius saith the Swine in Candy where it grew by feeding thereon were found to be without Spleenes when as others that did not eate thereof had them as the rest it helpeth the Strangury or pissing by droppes and wasteth the Stone in the Bladder and is good against the Yellow Jaundies and the hicket but the use of it in women hindereth conception Matthiolus saith that if a dramme of the dust that is on the backe of the leaves be mixed with halfe a dram of Amber in powder and taken with the juice of Purslane or Plantaine it will helpe the running of the Raines speedily and that the herbe and roote being boyled and taken helpeth all melancholicke diseases and those especially which rise from the French disease Camerarius saith that the distilled water thereof being drunke is very effectuall against the Stone both in the Reines and Bladder and that the Lye that is made of the ashes thereof being drunke for some time together helpeth Spleneticke persons it is used in outward remedies also for the same purpose CHAP. IX 1. Phyllitis sive Lingua Cervina vulgaris Ordinary Harts-tongue OVr ordinary Harts-tongue hath divers leaves rising 1. Phyllitis sive Lingua Cervina vulgaris Ordinary Harts-tongue from the roote every one severall which as the last and other Fernes fold themselves in the first springing and spreading when they are full growne are about a foote long smooth and greene above but hard or with little sappe in them and straked on the backe atwhart on both sides of the middle ribbe with small and somewhat long brownish markes the bottomes of the leaves are a little bowed on each side of the middle ribbe somewhat narrow with the length and somewhat small at the end the roote is of many blacke threads foulded or interlaced together Some doe make two sorts hereof and distinguish them into latifolia and angustifolia 2. Phyllitis laciniata Iagged Harts-tongue This Harts differeth in no other thing from the former then in the division of the toppes of the leaves which are diversly as it were torne or jagged some leaves much and some little according to the place of growing and time of abiding 3. Phyllitis ramosa Alpino Branched Harts-tongue according to Alpinus The rootes hereof are somewhat wooddy with the blacke fibres thereat shooting forth many slender broad stalkes of leaves two cubits long a little downy at
Pas de cheval and Pasâ— ' asne The Germanes Brandat lettich quasi Vstulorum lactuca and Roshub that is Vngula Caballina The Dutch Hoef bladeren that is foote leafe And we in English Folefoote and Coltsfoote and Horse hoofe The Vertues Coltsfoote while it is fresh is cooling and drying but when it is dry the cooling quality which remained in the moisture being evaporate it is then somewhat hot and dry and is best for those that have thinne rheumes and distillations upon the Lungs causing the cough thereby to thicken and dry it as the fresh leaves or juyce or Syrup made thereof is fittest for an hot drycough and for wheesings and shortnesse of breath the dryed leaves taken as Tabacco is in the like manner good for the thinne rheumes distillations and coughes as also the roote taken in like sort as Dioscorides and Galen say The distilled water hereof simply or with elder flowers and Nightshade is a singular remedy against all hot Agues to drinke two ounces at a time and to have some clothes wet therein and applyed to the head and stomack the same also applyed to any hot swellings or any other inflammations Tussilago Herba sive flore Colts foote without flowers Tussilago florens Colts foote in flower doth much good yea it helpeth that disease called Saint Anthonies fire and burnings also and is singular good to take away wheales and small pushes that rise through heate as also against the burning heate of the piles or of the privy parts to apply wet clothes therein to the places Matthiolus sheweth that in the roote of this Colts foote there groweth a certaine Cotten or white Wooll which being clensed from the rootes and bound up in linnen clothes and boyled in lye for a while and afterwards some salt niter added unto it and dryed up againe in the Sun is the best tinder to take fire being stroke from a flint that can be had CHAP. VIII Cacalia Great and strange Colts foote OF this kinde of Colts foote as I may so call it there are two sorts described by authors which I meanâ— to shew you in this place and unto them adde another American plant which in my opinion commeth nearest unto the others 1. Cacalia incano rotundo folio Hoary strange Colts foote The hoary strange Colts foote hath a long white roote divided into many heads with many long strings and fibres thereat of a clammy taste like unto gum Tragacant encreasing thereby much and shooting up many hoary reddish striped stalkes with large round leaves on them bigger and thicker then Colts foot and more woolly also on the upper side yet with a greenenesse to bee seene in them but very woolly and white underâ—eath with some ribbes and veines in them of a little bitterish unpleasant taste from among which rise up the striped woolly yet reddish stalkes two or three foote high having sundry lesser leaves on them and all of them dented about the edges branching forth at the toppe into sundry small sprigges of pale purplish flowers made of foure small leaves a peece with some threds in the middle which after they have beene a while blowne doe passe away into downe that is carried away with the winde Dalechampius saith that in the middle of the flowers are found hanging downe small white graines like pearles to make it answeare to Plinies description 2. Cacalia glabro folio acuminato Smooth strange Colts foote This other sort hath as large leaves as the former but thicker harder greener and smoother and not hoary at all but dented or waved on the edges and pointed also with the roundnesse and not open at the stalkes as the other the stalkes are in like manner smooth and striped bearing the like flowers at the toppes but somewhat paler the roote also is alike 1. 2. Cacalia folio incano rotundo glabro acuminato Hoary and Smooth strange Colts foote 3. Cacalia Americana Colts foote of America 3. Cacalia Americana Strange Coltsfoote of America This stranger riseth up with many round stalkes about a yard high and two somewhat round but pointed leaves a little dented about the edges at each joynt of them the upper leaves being smaller and little or nothing dented at the toppes of the stalkes come forth divers branches with pure white flowers divers small ones made of five leaves a peece rising out of each huske which being past there succeede small long seede sticking each to a little downe which are carryed away together with the winde The roote consisteth of a bush of blackish threds or fibres which abideth the extremity of the Winter both stalkes and leaves perishing yearely but grow brownish at the end this hath no sent that I could perceive neither in roote leafe nor flower whatsoever Cornâ—tus saith thereof The Place and Time The two first sorts grow in the vallies of mountaines in sundry places beyond Sea and by the Bathes where they want not moisture but not in our owne Land that as yet I can heare of and flower and seede in the Summer time The last in America both Virginia and Canada The Names It is generally taken by all our later Writers to be the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 sive 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of Dioscorides which Galen calleth Cacanum and not Cancanum as some copies have it for he mentioneth not Cacalia as Dioscorides hath it yet giveth the same properties to Cacanum that Dioscorides doth to Cacalia which is not usuall with him unlesse he meane the same thing These plants are called by no other name then Cacalia by any Writer but Lugdunensis who calleth the second Tussilago Alpina sive montana Dalechampij Bauhinus would make a third sort of these European kinds but I finde his description so answerable to the first sort that I thinke it is the very same and therefore give no further description of it The last Iacobus Cornutus calleth Valeriana Vrticae folio flore albâ— because he hath another of that sort with a purple flower saying the roote smelleth like Nardus or Valeriana But I can find no such thing in it I have called it great and strange Coltssoote and not mountaine Coltsfoote as some have done because there are other herbs more properly to be called Mountaine Coltsfoote which grow alwaies on the dryer grounds as shall be shewed in due place and these in the moister parts of the mountaines and because the flowers are white and stand like a Valerian I have therefore as I thinke added it to these Cacalia's for by that name did Master Tradescant receive it first from beyond Sea of whom I received the plant that groweth with me The Vertues The roote steeped in wine and eaten is good for the cough and the hoarsenesse of the throate which Galen confirmeth saying the same of his Cacanum that it is without sharpenesse and good for the hoarsenesse Dioscorides addeth that the Pearelike graines which are found in his Cacalia beaten and mixed with a cerote or ointment doth
of sundry fishes being a soft herbe composed wholly of woolly white haires without any branch or stalke and is oftner found white then reddish or gray but is not greene There is another small sort hereof found growing on the stones by the Sea side as also sometimes upon wood and is likewise sometimes cast up by the Sea on the shore among the Alga of divers sorts growing somewhat like the former or ground Mosse but that it is white and tasteth a little saltish and binding 2. Muscus marinus Neapolitanus Sea Mosse of Naples This Sea Mosse likewise groweth unto some rocke or stone rising with a stalke more then foure inches high 1. Muscus marinus capillaceus Dioscoridis alter parvum Venetâ— The soft Sea Mosse and another small sort from the Venetian shore 2. Muscus marinus Neapolitanus Sea Mosse of Naples 3. Muscus marinus seu Alga tinctoria Dying red Sea Mosse 4. Muscus marinus vireus Fâ—niculaceus Short Fennell like Sea Mosse 5. Muscus marinus Ferulaceus Long Fennell like Sea Mosse 6. Muscus marinus Abrotonoides Southernewood like Sea Mosse 7. Muscus marinus argenteus plumiâ—ormis The silver like Sea Feather 8. Muscus marinus Venetus Costiradice effâ—gie The long close Sea Mosse of Venice 9. Penna aurea marina The goulden Sea Feather with sundry branches on both sides and they againe divided into lesser all of them plentifully stored with very fine leaves as small as Camomill leaves or finer then they if any other be finer soft in handling at the first easie to be bended and transparent if they be interposed to the light greene below at the lower part and purplish above this is not so brittle as Coâ—lline when it is dryed and groweth more rough by the drynesse although it may well be referred unto some kinde thereof and retaineth a very salt taste with it but being put into water oâ— a while steeped therein it will grow soft againe 3. Muscus maritimus tinctorius sive Alga tinctoria Lugdunensis Dying red Sea Mosse This small red Sea Mosse is somewhat like the last but with more store of soft stalkes and fewer branches and with as fine small leaves on them like unto Fennell of a reddish colour but with some whitenesse mixed together this is used by divers to strike a deepe crimson or reddish purple colour which will last long 4. Muscus marinus vireus Fâ—eniculaceus Short Fennell like Sea Mosse This short Fennell like Mosse groweth up from blackish round and fibrous rootes with divers fine short leaves like Fennell of an herby or greene colour among which an herby stalke riseth also with such like leaves on it and having sundry swolne eminences thereon 5. Muscus marinus Ferulaceus Long Fennell like Sea Mosse The leaves hereof are very long and fine like unto the Ferula or Fennell giant growing from stalkes neere a foote long divided into branches this springeth from Rockes or the like 6. Muscus marinus Abrotonoides The Southernewood like Sea Mosse This also riseth up from the Rockes with thicke stalkes and branches with fine cut leaves on them somewhat like unto Southernewood but much bigger and of a brownish red colour 7. Muscus marinus argenteus pluâ—formis The silver like Sea Feather This most beautifull Mosse groweth on the Rockes in the Sea upon the dry shels of Fishes and is also often found wrapped amongst the wrake or Sea weede cast upon the shore growing up as the figure sheweth into many particular parts or branches made as it were all of haires like other Mosses but verily representing severall sprigs of Feathers of so pure a white silverlike colour that it is to be wondered at that any Sea Mosse should become so white by nature or made by Art the property whereof is to waste the Spleene applyed with Vinegar it quickly also dissolveth the scrophules or kernels in the throate or elsewhere it helpeth the Dropsie in that it doth abundantly provoke urine it clenseth likewise the reignes and gravell or stones engendred in the kidneyes if a dramme of it in pouther be taken in the distilled water of Erysimum Hedge Mustard or Sea Holly with an equall proportion of the juice of Lemmons 8. Muscus marinus Venetus Costi Inditiradicis effigie The Venetian Costus like Mosse This Venetian Mosse groweth on rockes in the Sea which by the often agitation of the water is broken from it and carryed to the shore not having any roote but being made as it were of a tuft of small stickes set together and being dry resembleth the roote of Costus Indâ—eus but whiter and being moistened againe openeth it selfe into the forme aforesaid and as it is expressed in the figure it is very salt and full of it like sand 9. Penna marina aurea The goulden Sea Feather This Sea plant that for the beauty and excellency thereof doth worthily deserve his name although sent thus maiâ—ed as it were being but a peece as it is likely of what it was when it grew yet such as it is I here offer to your view being of a most shining gold colour both stalke and leaves which very neately resembleth the Spartum Austriacum of Clusius which we call the Feather grasse The Place and Time Their places are all declared by their titles to be the stones on the shore or Rockes in the Sea and the shells of fishes c. whereon many of them breede and but few spring out of the ground as the fourth doth some in other Countries and some on our owne causâ—â— and perish not in Winter or Summer The Names The Greekes call it 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and Muscus marinus in Latine yet some promiscuously call these Fucus marinus as well as Muscus but Dioscorides distinguisheth betweene them entreating of them in two sundry Chapters and although Pliny be inconstant herein making Mosse sometimes an herbe sometimes a shrubbe and sometimes confounding both Muscus and Fucus together The first of both sorts is mentioned by Antonio Donati in his herbation of the I le of Leo of the Venetians and is also the Muscus marinus of Dioscorides according to Constantinus his more exact consideration as Lugdunensis doth relate it and the Fucus capillaceo folio of Theophrastus as it is thought The second is Clusius his Muscus marinus which he received from Imperatus of Naples and sent by the name of Palmula marina but nothing agreeing with that of Theophrastus The third is the Fucus sive Alga tinctoria of Lugdunensis The fourth is the Muscus marinus viteus which Casalpinus calleth Muscus marinus herbaceus mollier The fifth the Fucus Ferulaceus of Lobel The sixth is his Fucus marinus folijs Abrotani maris whom Lugdunensis followeth calling it Muscus marinus folijs Abrotani The seventh and the last are so called by Donatus as their titles declare them and the eighth is mentioned by Pona in his Italian Baldus The Arabians call the Sea Mosse Thahaleb and Thaleb the Italians Mosco marinio the Spaniards Malhoquiana yerva the
fruite is ripe in September except the late ripe which as is said is in October The Names By the name of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 did the ancient Greekes understand all sorts of fruites whose outer shell or covering was hard as Nux Amygdala Nux Euboica Castanea Nux Heracleotica Avellana Nux Judica Nux moschata Nux Pinea c. and because these were brought unto them by Kings they therefore called them 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Nux Regia but afterward it was called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Jovis glans and so the Latines from them Diu glans but contracting the word and substracting the first Letter they called it Iuglans other names are found in Pliny whereby the varieties of them were called as Persica Tarentina and Mollusca for those with thinne shels and Moracina and Moracilla in Macrobius for those that come late their severall titles declare these here and their generall name by all Authours of late is Nux Iuglans or Nux Regia the outer greene shell or rinde is called in Latine Gulioca and by Festus Culeolus the inner skinne that covereth the kernell is called Nauci The Arabians call it Ieuz Leuz and Giausi which is properly but Nux as Giausi bandi Nux Bandensis the Italians Noci the French Noix and Noyer the Spaniards Nuezos the Germanes Welschnusbaum and Nussbaum the Dutch Note and Okernoteboom and we in English Wallnut The Vertues Dodonaeus is of opinion that the fresh nuts are cold and moist but Fuchsius saith they are drying in the first degree and warming in the second the barke of the tree doth binde and dry very much and the leaves are neere of the same temperature but the nuts when they are older are heating and drying in the second degree and of thin parts and are harder of digestion then when they are fresh which by reason of their sweetenesse are more pleasing and better digesting in the stomacke and taken with sweete wine they moove the belly downewards for being old they grieve the stomacke and cause in hot bodies choller to abound and the headache and are an enemy unto those that have a cough but they are lesse hurtfull to those that have colder stomackes and are said to kill the broad wormes in the stomacke or belly if they be taken with Onions salt and honey they helpe the biting of a mad dogge as also the biting of any man or any other venome or infectious poyson Cueus Pompeus found in the treasury of Mithridates King of Pontus when he was overthrowne a scroule of his owne handwriting of a medicine against any poyson or infection yet Galen attributeth it to Apollonius Murus and Aetius taketh it out of Strutho his writings which is this two dry Wallnuts and as many good Figges and twenty leaves of Rue or Herbegrace bruised and beaten together with two or three cornes of salt which taken every morning fasting preserveth from danger of poyson or infection that day it is taken the juyce of the outer greene huskes boyled up with hony is an excellent gargle for sore mouthes the heate and inflammations in the throate or stomacke the kernels when they grow old are more oyly and therefore are not so fit to be eaten but then are used to heale the wounds of the sinewes gangrens and carbuncles the said kernels being burned are then very astringent and will stay laskes and the feminine courses taken in red Wine and stay the falling of the haire and make it faire being annointed with oyle and wine the like will also the greene huskes doe used in the same manner the kernels beaten with Rue and Wine being applyed helpeth the Quinsie and bruised with some honey and applyed to the eares easeth the paines and inflammations of them if they be eaten after Onyons they take away the strong smell and sharpenesse of them a peece of the greene huske put unto an hollow tooth easeth the paines and consumeth the marrow the worme as they call it within it the catkins hereof taken before they fall thereof dryed and given a dramme weight in pouther with white wine doth wonderfully helpe those women that are troubled with the rising of the mother some doe use the greene huskes dryed and made into pouther instead of Pepper to season their meates but if some dryed Sage in pouther be put unto it it will give it the better rellish in the same manner doe some use the young red leaves before they grow greater and find it a seasoning not to be dispised of poore folkes the oyle that is pressed out of the kernells besides that it is farre better for the painters use to illustrate a white colour then Linseede oyle which deadeth it and is of singular good use to be laid on guilded workes or on those workes of wood that are made by burning such as are those walking staves that have workes on them or the like to preserve the colour of the gold or of the other worke for a long time without decay is very profitably taken inwardly like oyle of Almonds to helpe the chollicke and to expell winde very effectually taking an ounce or two at a time The young greene nuts before they be halfe ripe preserved whole in sugar are not onely a dainty 〈◊〉 among other of the like nature but are of good use for those that have weake stomackes and defluction◠〈◊〉 The dâ—â—tilled water of the greene huske before they are halfe ripe iâ— of excellent use both to coole the 〈…〉 to be drunke an ounce or two at a time as also to resist the infection of the Plague if some thereof also 〈…〉 the sores thereof the same likewise cooleth the heate of greene wounds and old ulcers and to hoâ—le them being bathed therewith the destilled water likewise of the greene huskes being ripe when they are shaled from the nuts is of very good use to be drunke with a little vinegar for those that are infected with the plague so as before the taking thereof a veine be opened this is of often experience the said water is very good against the Quinsie to be gargled and bathed therewith and wonderfully helpeth deafenesse the 〈◊〉 and other paines in the eares the distilled water of the young greene leaves in the end of May performed to singular cure on foule running ulcers and sores to be bathed with wet clothes or sponges applyed to them evening and morning there resteth on the leaves of this tree a kinde of red thicke dew in the hottest time of Summer more then on any other tree round about it which will be rather dry then bedewed at all which honey dew being taken doth stake the thirst wonderfully it is averred by some that if the ripe nuts huskes and all be put into hony they will then be of so good efficacy for sores and â—ore mouthes that thereof may fitly be made gargles and lotions either inward or outward CHAP. XIX Nux Avellana The Hassell nut OF these small nuts there is
leafed Maple or Sicomore tree The great Maple which hath beene with many falsely called the Sycomore tree groweth quickly to be a great 1. Acer majus latifolium Sycomorus falso dictum The great broad leafed Maple or Sycomore tree 2 3. Acer minus montanum Our common wood Maple and the mountaine kinde and a tall tree spreading many faire branches which make a goodly shadow covered with a reasonable smooth barke having many very faire large leaves thereon set upon reddish footestalkes cut somewhat deepely into five somewhat long parts or divisions all dented about the edges greene above and grayish underneath the flowers are of a whitish yellow greene colour standing on a long stalke with some few threds within them each flower yeelding two winged huskes parted at the stalke 4. Acer Creticum trifolium The three leafed Maple tree which are thinne skinnes at the ends and bunched out where the seede lyeth within and are very like unto the common or wood Maple but much larger and many more standing together the wood is whitish and smooth but not so white smooth and close as the wood kinde is 2. Acer minus sive vulgare Our common or wood Maple tree The common Maple tree groweth lower slower then the former somtimes in hedges no higher then those other hedge bushes or els much higher covered with a more rugged barke spreading neither so far not such great branches the leaves are much smaller thinner and not so deepely cut in but yet divided into five parts and somewhat broad at the setting on of the stalke of a deepe and shining green colour on the upperside and paler underneath the flowers and seede are very like the former but fewer set on the stalkes and lesser also in bulke or bignesse the wood hereof is very white very smooth and very close grained 3. Acer montanum The mountaine Maple tree This Maple differeth little from the last that groweth well and great differing chiefely in the leafe which is not flat next unto the stalke and is somewhat deepelier cut into more divisions 4. Acer Creticum trifolium The three leafed Maple of Candy This Maple groweth to be a tree of a meane sise spreading branches reasonable well the barke whereof is of a darke reddish colour having broad greene leaves full of veines divided into three parts standing equally distant one from another with a long slender footestalke under them the flowers stand onely a couple tegether on the stalke as the seede that followeth doth also winged somewhat like the last but smaller The Place and Time The first is no where found wilde or naturall in our Land that I can learne but onely planted in Orchards or walkes for the shadowes sake but groweth in sundry places in Germany c. The second and third are found both on high and low grounds in Woods and Groves Parkes Chases and the like through most Countries of this Kingdome the one in the moister grounds where the wood will be looser and the other in the dryer grounds firmer and closer but the last is also a stranger to us growing about Mompelier and Candy they all flower about the middle of Aprill and the seed is ripe in the end of September The Names It is called in Greeke 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Sphendamnus in Latine Acer The first is that which Clusius calleth latifolium because it hath the greatest and broadest leaves of any and therefore Tragus calleth it Platanus thinking as divers did that it was the true Platanus and therefore the French did call it Plane before the true one was discovered and knowne Ruellius and after him many others called it Sycomorus the Sycomore tree which in divers Countries doth still continue and with us also being called usually the Sycomore tree but by this name of Sycomorus the Sycomore tree divers Writers have called divers trees as first the true Sycomore or Mulberry Figge called of divers Ficus Pharaonis Ficus Aegyptia Morus Aegyptia and Ficus Cypria Matthiolus and others say that the Italians call the Azadarach by the name of Sycomorus And Petrus Crescentius calleth the Virga sanguinea by the name of Sycomorus And lastly Ruellius and others say that this Acer latifolium is called Sycomorus yet Clusius saith that the French call the lesser or wood sort so The second is that which is most frequent in our Land and called Acer tenuifolia by Cordus in histor Acer minor by Dodonaeus Clusius and Camerarius Opio by the Romanes Opulus by Gesner in hortis and Cordus and Opulus campestris by Lugdunensis who also taketh it to be Carpinus but not rightly The third is the Aceris altera species quae fortè Zygia Theophrasti of Lobel by Bellonius Acer montanum flavum crispum and Asphendamnos by the Country men of Candy by Lugdunensis Opulus montanus and can be no other then the Zygia of Theophrastus which Gaza calleth Carpinus which differeth much from the Ostrys which some as is before said call Carpinus And the last his Glinon which hee rendereth Gallicum The Italians call it Pie doca and Platano acquatico the French Erable the Germanes Masshoâ—der the common sort and Ahorne the greatest the Dutch Luytenhout and we in English Maple and some but as falsly as the French or any other the Plane tree The Vertues Neither Dioscorides nor Galen in his censure of simples make any mention of this tree yet lib. 8. med part cap. 8. in the medicines for the Liver written by Asclepias he appointeth a dramme of the roote to be beaten to pouther and given in water but Cornarius doubteth that the word is mistaken because none of the Greeke Writers have made any mention thereof or that it should be used in any disease And none but Pliny hath recorded any of these Maples but saith that the roote of the Maple being bruised is applyed with very great effect unto those that have obstructions or any other paines of the Liver or Spleene which Serenus delivereth in these Verses following Si latus immeritum morbo tentatur acuto Accensum tinges lapidem stridentibus undis Hinc bibis aut Aceris radicem tundis una Cum vino capis hoc praesens madicamen habetur Thy harmelesse side if sharpe disease invade In hissing water quench an heated stone This drinke Or Maple roote in pouther made Take oft in Wine a present med'cine knowne It is used in many joyners works especially the finest wrought grained wood which Pliny peradventure meant lib. 16. c. 16. by that which he there calleth Bruscus and Molluscus the more excellent both of them as he saith is tuber Aceris the knotty part of the tree or of the roote thereof which is held to be fuller of diversified veines therein either of which saith Pliny if they were large enough to make a table would excell the Cedar as some take it but others thinke it should be Citrus the Citron CHAP. XXVII 1. Platanus orientalis verus The true
blacke is ripe in Iune and Iuly the other later The Names The first blacke sorts are taken generally by the best later Writers to be the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of Theophrastus that is Vitis ex parte Idae quam vocant Phalacras but Pliny falsly put in Alexandrina instead of Idaea in Latine by them Vitis Idaea Thâ—ophrasti and because all the rest have a resemblance thereunto they are all called Vites Idaea likewise with their severall distinctions as you shall presently heare they are many of them also called Vaccinia by divers thinking the black sort to be the Vaccinia nigra of Virgil by the transposition of a letter Baccinia nigra parva quasi bacca but that errour is exploded by many good Authours that shew Virgil putteth his Vaccinia among flowers and not fruites for as he saith Et sunt Violae nigrae Vaccinia nigra intending the colours were both alike as a kinde of Hyacinth which he might meane is as the Violet flower Vitruvius and Pliny indeede have a Vaccinium which giveth a purple dye to servants or others garments which may very wel be this for such a purple colour will the juyce hereof give if it be rightly ordered It is also called Myrtillus and by some Myrtillus Germanica because the Physitions and Apothecaries in Germany and those parts tooke them to be true Mirtle berries and so used them untill they were shewed their errour and since have forsaken it as we have done also Gesner also in hortis sheweth that some did take the Vitis Idaea to be that Vine that beareth Currans but saith he that noble Vine groweth not on so high or snowy mountaines but rather in the Planes and open hils and ordered by the industry of men The first Tragus calleth Myrtillus exiguus and so doe Matthiolus and Lugdunensis Dodonaeus and Lobel called it Vaccinia nigra Anguilara radix Idaea fructu nigro Camerarius Gesner and Clusius Vitis Idaea vulgaris baccis nigris Caesalpinus Bagola primum genus The second is called by Tragus Myrtilâ—us grandis and is the Vitis Idaea major of Thalius the Vitis Idaea secunda sive altera of Clusius and the Vitis folijs suer otunais â—nâ—lbidis although he hath transposed some of these titles to his second which is my third whereof onely Clusius maketh mention and calleth it his first and Gerard Vaccinia Pannonica and Bauhinus calleth Vitis Idaea folijs oblongis albicantibus The fourth is called Vaccinia rubra and Vitis Idaea rubra by all writers thereof Camerarius and Thalius say that some tooke it to be Rhus minor Plinij and Clusius Vitis Idaea buxeis folijs and Anguilara Radix Idaea fructu rubro as he did the blacke before Radix Idaea fructu nigro and Lugdunensis doth thinke that this is most properly the Radix Idaea of Dioscorides The fifth is mentioned onely by Camerarius in horto who calleth it Vitis Idaea rubra Bavarica The sixth is referred by Clusius to the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of Galen in his seventh Booke de composit med secundum locos cap. 4. and thereupon he called it Vva ursi Galeni Bauhinus refereth it to the Vitis Idaea making it his sixth and calleth it Idaea radix Dioscoridis also The seventh is called by Clusius Vitis Idaea tertia not thinking his former to be so worthy of that name Lobel saith the French call it Amelanchier and doubteth if it be not that shrub which they call Alâ—sâ—er Bellonius saith that their Melanchier is called in Candy Agriomelea and Codomalo but I thinke he is deceived that having blacke and this red fruite Gesner in his Epistles as Clusius saith if he meant this plant giveth it divers names as Myrtomalis Petromelis Pyrus Cervina and Pyraster Idaea Dalechampius taking it to be Cotonaster Gesneri calleth it Epimelis altera but giveth it red berries which therefore I suppose may be rather one of the two last The two last are mentioned by Alpinus in his Booke of Exoticke plants by the name of Cerasus and Chamaecerasus Idaea Cretica thinking the former most neerely to be the Cerasus Idaea Theophrasti The Italians did use to call the first Mirtillo but now Vite Idaea according to the Latine the French Airelle and Aurelle the Germanes Heidelbeer the Dutch Crake besien and we Whorts or Whortle berryes and Bill berries with us about London The Vertues The Bill berries doe coole in the second degree and doe a little binde and dry withall they are therefore good in hot agues and to coole the heat of the stomacke and liver and doe somewhat binde the belly and stay castings and loathings but if that they be eaten by those that have a weake or a cold stomacke they will much offend and trouble it saith Camerarius and therefore the juyce of the berries being made into a Syrupe or the pulpe of them made into a conserve with Sugar will be more familiar to such and helpe those paines the cold fruite procured and is good for all the purposes aforesaid as also for those that are troubled with an old cough or with an ulcer in the Lungs or other disease thereof with the juyce of the berries Painters to colour paper or cards doe make a kinde of purple blew colour putting thereto some Allome and Galles whereby they can make it lighter or sadder as they please And some poore folkes as Tragus sheweth doe take a potfull of the juyce strained whereunto an ounce of Allome foure spoonefuls of good Wine vinegar and a quarter of an ounce of the waste of the copper forgings being put together and boyled all together into this liquor while it is reasonable but not too hot they put their cloth wooll thred or yarne therein letting it lye for a good while which being taken out and hung up to dry and afterwards washed with cold water will have the like Turkie blew colour and if they would have it sadder they will put thereto in the boyling an ounce of broken Gaules Gerard saith that hee hath made of the juyce of the red berries an excellent crimson colour by putting a little Allome thereto the red Whorts are taken to be more binding the belly womens courses spitting of blood and any other fluxe of blood or humours to be used as well outwardly as inwardly CHAP. XLVII Iovis barba frutex The silver Bush THis beautifull fine bush groweth to the height of a Iovis barba frutex The Silver Bush man with a number of slender branches thicke bushing out on all sides whereon grow long winged leaves made of many small ones like Lentill leaves but narrower each set against other with an odde one at the end of a faire greene colour on the upperside and of a silver white shining colour underneath the young leaves being also of the same colour at the ends of the branch standeth large umbels of yellow flowers made after the fashion of broome flowers set in grayish huskes like the heads of the three leafed grasse after which
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 seventh is the Pinus maritima minor of Dodonaeus and Bauhinus and the third Hispanicus of Clusius The eighth is Clusius his Pinaster pumilio The ninth his Pinaster tertius Austriacus And the last is his Pinaster secundus Austriacus 〈◊〉 or â—â—ger The Arabians call the Pine Senabar the Italians and Spaniards Pino the French Pin and the kernells Pignons the Germanes Hartzbaum and Fichtembaum and Pijnholtz the Dutch Pinappelbâ—om and Wee the Pine tree or Pine Apple tree The Vertues The barke of the Pine tree is binding and drying staying the laâ—ke and provoking urine is helpeth the frettings and gallings of the skin ulcers also that possesse the upper parts and burnings with fire taken with Coratâ—â—â— Myrtinum or with Litharge and skinneth them after and mixed with Coperas it stayeth the fretting or creeping of ulcers the fumes thereof taken underneath causeth a delivery of the birth and expelleth the secondine the leaves are cooling and asswage inflammations and keepe ulcers from being inflamed a dramme of them taken in water or mede that is honyed water are good for the heate of the Liver if they be boyled in vinegar and gargled warme in the mouth it helpeth the paines in the teeth and gummes the like doth the shivers of the Torchpine boyled in vinegar and gargled The kernells of the Apples are wholesome and much nourishing while they are fresh and although they be somewhat hard of digestion yet they doe not offend especially â—t they be steeped three or foure houres in warme water before the taking to soake out their sharpenesse and oylinesse those that are of hot constitutions may take them with Sugar but those that are cold with hony and so they doe amend the putrefying humours in the stomacke and bowels and stir up bodily lust and encrease sperme if they be made into an electuary with a little pouther of penidij penâ—ies and some sweete wine also they much helpe an hoarse throate wheesings and shortnesse of breath and when the voyce is lost and expectorate flegme and are good for an old cough and the ulcers of the lungs they also lenifie the uritory passages being fretted with the stone and cause them to be easily avoyded they helpe also to ripen inward Impostumes and are singular good for macilent bodies to hearten them and make them grow fat being often taken they helpe the palsie shaking and numnesse of the members Both Comfitmakers and Cookes know how to make dainty Quec choses for their delight that will have them There is a water destilled from the greene cones or apples that is very effectuall to take away the wrinckles in the face to abate the over swelling breasts of Maides by bathing them with wet cloathes in the water laid on them and to restore such as are ravisht into better termes CHAP. CXV Picea The Pitch tree THe Pitch tree hath formerly beene comprehended under one kinde yet Pliny seemeth to reckon a sativa and a sylvestris the sativa to be Sapinus and the sylvestris Picea but we in these times knew but one sort untill Clusius hath added a dwarfe sort thereunto 1. Picea vulgaris The ordinary Pitch tree The Pitch tree is so like unto the Firre tree that it oftentimes deceiveth them that are not skilfull Picea The Pitch tree 2 Picea pumila The dwarfe Pitch tree or well excercised therein for it is to be discerned but by some espetiall notes It riseth up as high and groweth as great as the Firre steeple fashion with a thicke reddish ashcoloured barke rough and rough like leather and spreadeth the branches a crosse as that doth but bending downe notstanding upright as the Firre doth The leaves also are thicke set on all sides of the branches and not onely on two as the Firre being thicke and short round and not flat as the Firre leaves are softer also and not hard pointed at the ends like it the cones come forth at the ends of the branches after the catkins are fallen which are somewhat reddish at the first springing forth and being full growne are slender about seven or eight inches long bending downewards abiding so long on the trees untill the scales opening the seed within them which is small and blackish falleth out upon the ground the wood is smoother softer lesse knotty and with fairer and straighter graines and thereby more accepted in workes then the Firre from this tree is gathered small paeces of white hard dry Rossin distilling out thereof of it owne accord very like unto Olibanuâ— that many may be deceived with it as also a liquid Rossin or Turpintine by boring the tree as others are and Pitch also as from the Pine 2. Picea pumila The dwarfe Pitch tree This tree never riseth high but alwayes abideth low spreading the branches in manner of a crosse as the former beset with shorter and paler greene leaves all about them this beareth certaine small heads of the bignesse of an Hasellnut composed of scales laid close one upon another whose end is a prickly leafe which opening when it is ripe sheweth it to be like hollow voyd or empty places within and from the heads that are at the ends of the branches shootâ—â— forth oftentimes branches with sundry short and prickely leaves whether it bore either flowers or fruite Clusius saith he knew not for he saw none on any that he found The Place and Time The first groweth usually in all Countries with the Firre trees but seldome neere the Sea the other Clusius found in his search for simples in Germany but nameth no place The Pitch tree blossomes fall away in March and Aprill when the cones begin to come forth which are ripe before Winter but abide on as is said if they be not gathered untill it shed all the seede and that the windes and the weather have rotted and blowne downe the stalkes of the withered The Names It is called in Greeke 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and in Latine Picea because the pitch is made of this tree yet as all Authours doe agree the Pine tree is most usually taken for that purpose and of it is made both the best and the most store Bellonius as Clusius thinâ—eth was much deceived in the Pitch tree taking the wilde Pine tree for it in his second Booke and third Chapter where Clusius noteth it giveth it the figure of his Pitch tree which is the wilde Pine tree as be saith but Bellonius in his first Booke and 44. Chapter doth there give the figure of the Sapinus which he saith some French men call du Sapâ—â— and some de la Suiffe which as Lugdunensis saith is the name by which they call the Pitch tree so that it seemeth probable that Clusius hath herein mistaken Bellonius yet he saith in the said second Booke and third Chapter that the Inhabitants doe take Teda Torches from this tree and that they make pitch and Codria â—arre from it also which is most usually made of the wilde pine tree
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
the same effect and so doth also the distilled water of the herbe and roote rightly made and prepared which is to steepe them in wine for a night and then distilled in Balneo mariae this water in this manner prepared taken with some Venice Treakle and thereupon being presently laid to sweate will certainely by Gods helpe expell any venome or poyson or the plague or any fever or horror or the shaking fit that happeneth for it is an ingredient of especiall respect in all antidotes or counterpoysons never to be forgotten out of them it is so effectuall in the operation against the plague yea it is said that good shepheards doe carefully preserve this herbe and give it their Sheepe for the rot and many other diseases in them for there is not found any roote more effectuall to helpe any fluxe of the belly stomacke spleene or bloud than this prepared after what manner one will to be taken inwardly or applied outwardly the juyce taken doth wonderfully open the obstructions of the liver and lungs and thereby certainely helpeth the yellow jaundise in a short space Some there be that use to make cakes hereof as well to stay all fluxes as to restraine all chollericke belchings and much vomitings with loathinge in the stomacke in this manner take the powder of the roote and of a peece of a Nutmeg beates made up with the white of an egge and as much meale of Oates as all of them come unto which being baked is to be taken every morning one untill you finde helpe or the powder of the roote onely made up with the white of an egge and baked upon an hot tile and so taken Andreas Valesius de radice Chinae pag. 84. holdeth this opinion thereof that the decoction of the roote is no lesse effectuall to cure the French poxe then Guaiâ—um or China because it so mightily resisteth putrefaction Lobel saith that Rondeletius used it in the stead or after in the same manner that he used Hermodactiles for joint aches the powder also or the decoction to be drunke or to fit therein as in a bath is an assured remedy against abortion in women that is when they use to miscarrie often in child bearing if it proceede from the over fluxibilitie or weakenesse of the inward retentive faculties as also a plaister made therewith and vinegar applied to the reines of the backe doth much helpe it doth much helpe likewise those that cannot hold their water the powder taken in the juice of Plantane and is commended also against the wormes in children it is very powerfull in ruptures and burstings as also for bruses and falls to be used as well outwardly as inwardly the roote hereof made up with pellitorie of Spaine and Allome and put into an hollow tooth doth not onely asswage the paine but staieth the fluxe of humors thereunto which was the cause thereof the juice hereof also being drunke is found effectuall to open the obstructions of the liver and gall Tormentill likewise is no lesse effectuall and powerfull a remedy for outward wounds sores and hurts than for inward and therefore it ought to be a speciall ingredient in all wound drinkes lotions and injections for foule and corrupt rotten sores and ulcers of the mouth or secret parts or any other part of the body and to put either the juice or powder of the roote into such ointments plaisters and such things that are to be applied to wounds and sores as cause shall require it doth also dissolve all knots kernells and hardnesse gathered about the eares the throate and jawes and the Kings evill if the leaves and rootes be bruised and applied thereunto the same also easeth the paines of the Scintica or Hippegout by restraining the sharpe humours that flow thereunto the juice of the leaves and rootes used with a little vinegar is also a speciall remedy against the running sores in the head or other parts scabbes also and the itch or any such eruptions in the skinne proceeding of salt and sharpe humours the same also is effectuall for the hemorrhoides or piles in the fundament if they be washed and bathed therewith or with the distilled water of the herbe and rootes it is found also helpefull to drie up any sharpe rheume that distilleth from the head into the eyes causing rednes paine waterings itchings or the like if a little prepared Tutia or white Amber be used with the distilled water hereof many women also use this water as a secret to helpe themselves and others when they are troubled with the abundance of the whites or reds as they call them both to be drunke and injected by a Syring CHAP. XXV Pentaphyllum sive Quinquefolium Cinkefoile or five leafed Grasse THe next unto the Tormentill must come the Cinkefoile to be intreated of not onely for the likenesse of the outward face or forme of the plant but of the properties also as you shall heare hereafter Hereof there are many more sorts found out and now made knowne than formerly there was and therefore I thinke it fit to expresse them in some method and order that is in three rankes the first shall be of those sorts that beare white or whitish flowers the second shall be of those that beare yellow flowers and lie downe with their leaves upon the ground or runne with their rootes the third shall be of those that stand more upright bearing yellow flowers Primus Ordo The first Ranke 1. Pentaphyllum majus luteo flore vel albo Great white or yellow Cinkefoile THis first and greatest upright Cinkefoile hath many leaves rising from the roote each upon his owne foote stalke divided in five parts as if they were five severall leaves dented about the edges and some times round pointed very like the great common yellow Cinkefoile but larger and a little hairy from among which rise up straight or upright stalkes and not much leaning downe to the ground as the next that followeth doth a little hairy also and divided at the toppes into two or three branches and they againe into other smaller upon every one whereof standeth one flower of a white colour and larger than in others but consisting of 〈◊〉 leaves as all others doe in the middle whereof standeth a small downy head encompassed with many red 〈◊〉 yellow threds the roote is somewhat thicke and long and reddish with all 2. Pentaphyllum majus alterum album Common great white Cinkefoile This other white Cinkefoile which is more common with all Herbarists have many leaves growing from the roote divided into five parts each of them somewhat longer a little dented and pointed also at the end greene on the upper side and hoary white underneath betweene these leaves grow weake branches leâ— downe to the ground scarfe a foote long with many such like leaves upon them but lesser than those below the flowers of these are almost as large as those before and of a white colour consisting of five more round pointed leaves than