of most of the East countries especially about Meluin in Poland from whence I haue had great plenty thereof for my garden where they floure in the first of the Spring and ripen their fruit in August ¶ The Names It is vsually called in high-Dutch Zeilant Zeidelbast Lenszkraut and Kellerhals 〈◊〉 Apothecaries of our countrey name it Mezereon but we had rather call it Chamelaea Germanica in English Dutch Mezereon or it may be called Germane Oliue Spurge We haue heard that diuers Italians do name the fruit thereof Piper Montanum Mountaine Pepper Some say that 〈◊〉 or Spurge Laurell is this plant but there is another Laureola of which we will hereafter treat but by what name it is called of the old writers and whether they knew it or no it is hard to tell It is thought to be Cneoron album Theophrasti but by reason of his breuitie we can affirme no certainty There is saith he two kindes of 〈◊〉 the white and the blacke the white hath a leafe long like in forme to Spurge Oliue the black is ful of substance like Mirtle the low one is more white the same is with smell and the blacke without smell The root of both which groweth deepe is great the branches be many thicke wooddie immediatly growing out of the earth or little aboue the earth tough wherefore they vse these to binde with as with Oziars They bud and floure when the Autumne Equinoctiall is past and a long time after Thus much Theophrastus The Germane Spurge Oliue is not much vnlike to the Oliue tree in leafe the floure is sweet of smell the buds whereof as we haue written come forth after Autumne the branches are wooddy and pliable the root long growing deepe all which shew that it hath great likenesse and affinity with Cneoron if it be not the very same ¶ The Temperature This plant is likewise in all parts extreme hot the fruit the leaues and the rinde are very sharpe and biting they bite the tongue and set the throte on fire ¶ The Vertues The leaues of Mezereon do purge downeward flegme choler and waterish humours with great violence Also if a drunkard do eat one graine or berry of this plant hee cannot be allured to drinke any drinke at that time such will be the heat of his mouth and choking in the throat This plant is very dangerous to be taken into the body in nature like to the Sea Tithymale leauing if it be chewed such an heat and burning in the throat that it is hard to be quenched The shops of Germany and of the Low-countries dowhen need require vse the leaues hereof in stead of Spurge Oliue which may be done without errour for this Germane Spurge Oliue is like in vertue and operation to the other therefore it may be vsed in stead therof and prepared after the like and selfe-same manner CHAP. 64. Of Spurge Flax. 1 Thymelaea Spurge Flax or mountaine Widow waile ¶ The Description SPurge Flax bringeth forth many slender branched sprigs aboue a cubite high couered round with long and 〈◊〉 leaues like those of flax narrower lesser than the leaues of Spurge Oliue The floures are white small standing on the vpper parts of the sprigs the fruit is round greene at the first but red when it is ripe like almost to the round berries of the Hawthorne in which is a white kernel couered with a blacke skinne very hot and burning the mouth like Mezereon the root is hard and wooddie ¶ The Place It groweth in rough mountains and in vntoiled places in hot regions It groweth in my garden ¶ The Time It is greene at any time of the yeare but the fruit is perfected in Autumne ¶ The Names The Grecians call it 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Syrians as Dioscorides witnesseth Apolinon diuers also Chamelaea but not properly but as Dioscorides saith the leafe is properly called Cneoron the fruit Coccos Cnidios notwithstanding those which Theophrastus calleth Cneora seem to differ from Thymelaea or Spurge Flax vnlesse Nigrum Cneoron be Thymelaea for Theophrastus 〈◊〉 that there be two kindes of Cneoron the one white the other blacke this may be called in English Spurge Flax or mountaine Widow Wayle the seed of Thymelaea is called in shops Granum Gnidium ¶ The Temperature Spurge Flax is naturally both in leaues and fruit extreme hot biting and of a burning qualitie ¶ The Vertues The graines or berries as 〈◊〉 saith purge by siege choler slegme and water if twenty graines of the inner part be 〈◊〉 but t burneth the mouth and throat wherefore it is to be giuen with fine floure or Barly meale or in Raisons or couered with clarified hony that it may be swallowed The same being stamped with Niter and vineger serueth to annoint those with which can hardly sweat The leaues must be gathered about haruest and being dried in the shade they are to be layed vp and reserued They that would giue them must beat them and take forth the strings the quantity of two ounces and two drams put into wine tempered with water purgeth and draweth forth watery humors but they purge more gently if they be boiled with Lentils and mixed with pot-herbes chopped The same leaues beaten to pouder and made vp into 〈◊〉 or flat cakes with the iuice of sower grapes are reserued for vse The herbe is an enemy to the stomacke which also destroyeth the birth 〈◊〉 it be applied CHAP. 65. Of Spurge Laurell 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Laurell or Spurge Laurell flouring Laureola cum fructu Laurell with his fruit ¶ The Description SPurge Laurell is a shrub of a cubit high of tentimes also of two and spreadeth with many little boughes which are tough and lithy and couered with a thicke rinde The leaues be long broad grosse smooth blackish greene shining like the leaues of Laurell but lesser thicker and without smell very many at the top clustering together The floures be long hollow of a whitish greene hanging beneath and among the leaues the berries when they be ripe are blacke with a hard kernell within which is a little longer than the seed of Hempe the pulpe or inner substance is white the root wooddie tough long and diuersly parted growing deepe the leaues fruit and barke as wel of the root as of the little boughes doe with their sharpnesse and burning qualitie bite and set on fire the tongue and throat ¶ The Place It is found on mountaines in vntilled rough shadowie and wooddie places as by the lake of 〈◊〉 or Geneua and in many places neere the riuer of Rhene and of the Maze ‡ It growes abundantly also in the woods in the most parts of England ‡ ¶ The Time The floures bud very soon a little after the Autume Equinoctiall they are full blown in Winter or in the first Spring the fruit is ripe in May and Iune the plant is alwaies greene and indureth the cold stormes of winter ¶ The Names It is called in Greeke 〈◊〉 〈◊〉
The Time Saffron beginneth to floure in September and presently after spring vp the leaues and remaine greene all the Winter long ¶ The Names Saffron is called in Greeke 〈◊〉 in Latine Crocus in Mauritania Saffaran in Spanish 〈◊〉 in English Saffron in the Arabicke tongue Zahafaran ¶ The Temperature Saffron is a lirtle astringent or binding but his hot qualitie doth so ouer-rule in it that in the whole essence it is in the number of those herbes which are hot in the second degree and drie in the first therefore it also hath a certaine force to concoct which is furthered by the small astriction rhat is in it as Galen saith ¶ The Vertues Auicen affirmeth that it causeth head-ache and is hurtfull to the braine which it cannot do by taking it now and then but by too much vsing of it for too much vsing of it cutteth off sleepe through want whereof the head and sences are out of frame But the moderate vse of it is good for the head and maketh the sences more quicke and liuely shaketh off heauy and drowsie sleepe and maketh a man merry Also Saffron strengthneth the heart concocteth crude and raw humors of the chest openeth the lungs and remoueth obstructions ‡ 3 Crocus vernus flore luteo Yellow Spring Saffron ‡ 4 Crocus vernus flore albo White Spring Saffron ‡ 5 Crocus 〈◊〉 flore 〈◊〉 Purple Spring Saffron ‡ 6 Crocus montanus 〈◊〉 Autumne mountaine Saffron It is also such a speciall remedic for those that haue consumption of the lungs and are as wee terme it at deaths doore and almost past breathing that it bringeth breath again and prolongeth life for certaine dayes if ten or twentie graines at the most be giuen with new or sweet Wine For we haue found by often experience that being taken in that sort it presently and in a moment remoueth away difficultie of breathing which most dangerously and suddenly hapneth Dioscorides teacheth That being giuen in the same sort it is also good against a surfet It is commended against the stoppings of the liuer and gall and against the yellow Iaundise And hereupon Dioscorides writeth That it maketh a man well coloured It is put into all drinkes that are made to helpe the diseases of the intrailes as the same Authour affirmeth and into those especially which bring downe the floures the birth and the after burthen It prouoketh vrine stirreth fleshly lust and is vsed in Cataplasmes and pultesses for the matrix and fundament and also in plaisters and seare-cloaths which serue for old swellings and aches and likewise for hot swellings that haue also in them S. Anthonies fire ‡ 7 Crocus montanus Autumnalis flore majore albido caeruleo Autumne mountaine Saffron with a large whitish blew floure ‡ 8 Crocus Autumnalis flore albo White Autumne Saffron It is with good successe put into compositions for infirmities of the eares The eyes being annointed with the same dissolued in milke or fennell or rose water are preserued from being hurt by the small pox and measels and are defended thereby from humours that would fall into them The chiues steeped in water serue to illumine or as we say limne pictures and imagerie as also to colour sundry meats and confections It is with good successe giuen to procure bodily lust The confections called Crocomagna Oxycroceum and 〈◊〉 with diuers other emplaisters and electuaries cannot be made without this Saffron The weight of tenne graines of Saffron the kernels of Wall-nuts two ounces Figges two ounces Mithridate one dram and a few sage leaues stamped together with a sufficient quantitie of Pimpernell water and made into a masse or lumpe and kept in a glasse for your vse and thereof twelue graines giuen in the morning fasting preserueth from the Pestilence and expelleth it from those that are infected ‡ 9 Crocus vernus angustifolius flore violaceo Narrow leaued Spring Saffron with a violet floure ‡ 10 Crocus vernus latifolius flore flauo strijs violaceis Broad leaued Spring Saffron with a yellow floure purple streaks ‡ 11 Crocus vernus latifolius striatus flore duplici Double floured streaked Spring Saffron ¶ The Kindes of Spring Saffron OF wilde Saffrons there be sundry sorts differing as well in the colour of the floures as also in the time of their flouring Of which most of the figures shall be set forth vnto you ¶ The Description of wilde Saffron 1 THe first kind of wilde Saffron hath small short grassie leaues surrowed or chanelled downe the midst with a white line or streake among the leaues rise vp small floures in shape like vnto the common Saffron but differing in colour for this hath floures of mixt colours that is to say the ground of the floure is white stripped vpon the backe with purple and dasht ouer on the inside with a bright shining murrey colour the other not In the middle of the floures come forth many yellowish chiues without any smel of saffron at all The root is small round and couered with a browne skinne or filme like vnto the roots of common Saffron 2 The second wilde Saffron in leaues roots and floures is like vnto the precedent but altogether lesser and the floures of this are of a purple violet colour ‡ 12 Crocus vernus latifolius flore purpureo Broad leaued Spring Saffron with the púrple floure ‡ 13 Crocus vernus flore cinereo striato Spring Saffron with an Ash-coloured streaked floure ‡ 14 Crocus vernus latifolius flore flauovario duplici Broad leaued Spring Saffron with a double floure yellow streaked 4 There is found among Herbarists another sort not differing from the others sauing that this hath white floures contrarie to all the rest 5 Louers of Plants haue gotten into their gardens one sort hereof with purple or Violet coloured floures in other respects like vnto the other 6 Of these we haue another that floureth in the fall of the 〈◊〉 with floures like to the common Saffron but destitute of those chiues which yeeld the colour smell or taste that the right manured Saffron hath ‡ 7 And of this last kinde there is another with broader leaues and the floure also is larger with the leaues thereof not so sharpe pointed but more round the colour being at the first whitish but afterwards intermixt with some blewnesse ‡ 8 There is also another of Autumne wild Saffrons with white floures which sets forth the distinction Many sorts there are in our gardens besides those before specified which I thought needlesse to entreat of because their vse is not great ‡ Therefore I will only giue the figures and names of some of the chiefe of them and refer such as delight to see or please themselues with the varieties for they are no specificke differences of these plants to the gardens and the bookes of Florists who are onely the preseruers and admirers of these varieties not sought after for any vse but delight ‡ ¶ The Place All these wilde Saffrons we haue growing in
after some copies hot and dry in the third ¶ The 〈◊〉 Sweete Marjerome is a remedy against cold diseases of the braine and head being taken any way to your best liking put vp into the nosthrils it prouoketh sneesing and draweth forth much baggage 〈◊〉 it easeth the tooth-ache being chewed in the mouth being drunke it prouoketh vrine and draweth away waterish humors and is vsed in medicines against poison The leaues boiled in water and the decoction drunke helpeth them that are entering into the dropsie it easeth them that are troubled with difficultie of making water and such as are giuen to ouermuch sighing and easeth the paines of the belly The leaues dried and mingled with hony and giuen dissolueth congealed or clotted blood and putteth away blacke and blew markes after stripes and bruses being applied thereto The leaues are excellent good to be put into all odoriferous ointments waters pouders broths and meates The dried leaues poudered and finely searched are good to be put into Cerotes or Cere-cloths and ointments profitable against colde swellings and members out of joint There is an excellent oile to be drawne forth of these herbes good against the shrinking of sinewes crampes convulsions and all aches proceeding of a colde cause CHAP. 218. Of wilde Marjerome ¶ The Description 1 BAstard Marjerome groweth straight vp with little round stalkes of a reddish colour full of branches a foot high and sometimes higher The leaues be broad more long than round of a whitish greene colour on the top of the branches stand long spikie scaled eares out of which shoot forth little white floures like the flouring of wheate The whole plant is of a sweete smell and sharpe biting taste 2 The white Organy or bastard Marjerome with white floures differing little from the precedent but in colour and stature This plant hath whiter and broader leaues and also much higher wherein consisteth the difference 3 Bastard Marjerome of Candy hath many threddy roots from which rise vp diuers weake and feeble branches trailing vpon the ground set with faire greene leaues not vnlike those of Penny Royall but broader and shorter at the top of those branches stand scalie or chaffie eares of a purple colour The whole plant is of a most pleasant sweet smell The root endured in my garden 1 Origanum 〈◊〉 Bastard Marjerome 2 Origanum album Tabern White bastard Marjerome 3 Origanum Creticum Wilde Marjerome of Candy 4 Origanum Anglicum English wilde Marjerome 4 English wilde Marjerome is exceedingly well knowne to all to haue long stiffe and hard stalkes of two cubits high set with leaues like those of sweet Marjerome but broader and greater of a russet greene colour on the top of the branches stand tufts of purple floures composed of many small ones set together very closely vmbell fashion The root creepeth in the ground and is long lasting ¶ The Place These plants do grow wilde in the kingdome of Spaine Italy and other of those hot regions The last of the foure doth grow wilde in the borders of fields and low copses in most places of England ¶ The Time They floure and flourish in the Sommer moneths afterward the seed is perfected ¶ The Names Bastard Marjerome is called in Greeke 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and that which is surnamed Heracleoticum 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of diuers it is called Cunila in shops Origanum Hispanicum Spanish Organy our Euglish wilde Marjerome is called in Greeke of Dioscoridcs 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 Onitis of some Agrioriganum or 〈◊〉 Origanum in Italian Origano in Spanish Oregano in French Mariolaine bastarde in English 〈◊〉 bastard Marjerome and that of ours wilde Marjerome and groue Marjerome ¶ The Temperature All the Organies do cut attenuate or make thin dry and heate and that in the third degree and Galen teacheth that wilde Marjerome is more forceable and of greater strength notwithstanding Organy of Candy which is brought dry out of Spaine whereof I haue a plant in my garden is more biting than any of the rest and of greatest heate ¶ The Vertues Organy giuen in wine is a remedy against the bitings and stingings of venomous beasts and cureth them that haue drunke Opium or the juice of blacke poppy or hemlockes especially if it be giuen with wine and raisons of the sunne The decoction of Organy prouoketh vrine bringeth downe the monethly course and is giuen with good successe to those that haue the dropsie It is profitably vsed in a looch or a medicine to be licked against an old cough and the stuffing of the lungs It healeth scabs itches and scuruinesse being vsed in bathes and it taketh away the bad colour which commeth of the yellow jaundice The weight of a dram taken with meade or 〈◊〉 water draweth forth by stoole blacke and filthy humors as Dioscorides and Pliny write The juice mixed with a little milke being poured into the 〈◊〉 mitigateth the paines thereof The same mixed with the oile of Ireos or the rootes of the white Florentine floure de luce and drawne vp into the nosthrils draweth downe water and flegme the herbe strowed vpon the ground driueth away serpents The decoction looseth the belly and voideth choler and drunke with vineger helpeth the infirmities of the splcene and drunke in wine helpeth against all mortall poisons and for that cause it is put into mithridate and treacles prepared for that purpose These plants are easie to be taken in potions and therefore to good purpose they may be vsed and ministred vnto such as cannot brooke their meate and to such as haue a sowre and sqamish and watery stomacke as also against the swouning of the heart CHAP. 219. Of Goates Marjerome or Organy ¶ The Description 1 THe stalkes of Goates Organy are slender hard and wooddy of a blackish colour whereon are set long leaues greater than those of the wilde Time sweete of smell rough and somewhat hairy The floures be small and grow out of little crownes or wharles round about the top of the stalkes tending to a purple colour The root is small and threddy 1 Tragoriganum Dod. Goats Marierome Tragoriganum Lob. Goats Marierome 2 Tragoriganum Clusij Clusius his Goats Marierome ‡ 3 Tragoriganum Cretense Candy Goats Marierome 2 Carolus Clusius hath set forth in his Spanish Obseruations another sort of Goats Marierome growing vp like a small shrub the leaues are longer and more hoarie than wilde Marierome and also narrower of a hot biting taste but of a sweet smell 〈◊〉 not very pleasant The floures do stand at the top of the stalkes in spokie rundles of a white colour The root is thicke and wooddy ‡ 3 This differs little in forme and magnitude 〈◊〉 the last described but the branches are of a blacker colour with rougher and darker coloured leaues the floures also are lesser and of a purple colour Both this and the last described continue alwaies greene but this last is of a much more fragrant smell
on their tops carry pretty floures like those of Borage but not so sharpe pointed but of a more pleasing blew colour This floures in the spring and is kept in some choice Gardens Lobell calls it Symphytum pumilum repens Borraginis facie siue Borrago minima Herbariorum ‡ ¶ The Place Comfrey joyeth in watery ditches in fat and fruitfull medowes they grow all in my Garden ¶ The Time They floure in Iune and Iuly ¶ The Names It is called in Greeke 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in Latine Symphytum and Solidago in shops Consolida maior and Symphytum maius of Scribonius Largus Inula rustica and Alus Gallica of others Osteocollon in high Dutch Walwurtz in low Dutch 〈◊〉 in Italian Consolida maggiore in Spanish Suelda maiore and Consuelda maior in French Consire and Oreille d'asne in English Comfrey 〈◊〉 Consound of some Knit backe and Blackewoort ¶ The Temperature The root of Comfrey hath a cold quality but yet not much it is also of a clammie and gluing moisture it causeth no itch at all neither is it of a sharpe or biting taste vnsauory and without any qualitie that may be tasted so far is the tough and gluing moisture from the sharpe clamminesse of the sea Onion as that there is no comparison betweene them The leaues may cause itching not through heate or sharpenesse but through their ruggednesse as we haue already written yet lesse than those of the Nettle ¶ The Vertues The rootes of Comfrey stamped and the juice drunke with wine helpeth those that spit bloud and healeth all 〈◊〉 wounds and burstings The same bruised and laid to in manner of a plaister doth heale all fresh and greene woundes and are so glutenatiue that it will sodder or glew together meate that is chopt in peeces seething in a pot and make it in one lumpe The rootes boiled and drunke doe clense the brest from flegme and cure the griefes of the lungs especially if they be confect with sugar and syrrup it preuaileth much against ruptures or burstings The slimie substance of the root made in a posset of ale and giuen to drinke against the paine in the backe gotten by any violent motion as wrastling or ouermuch vse of women doth in foure or fiue daies perfectly cure the same although the inuoluntary flowing of the seed in men be gotten thereby The roots of Comfrey in number foure Knotgrasse and the leaues of Clarie of each an handfull being stamped all together and strained and a quart of Muscadell put thereto the yolkes of three egges and the powder of three Nutmegs drunke first and last is a most excellent medicine against a Gonorrhaea or running of the reines and all paines and consumptions of the backe There is likewise a syrrup made hereof to be vsed in this case which staieth voiding of bloud tempereth the heate of agues allaieth the sharpenesse of flowing humors healeth vp vlcers of the lungs and helpeth the cough the receit whereof is this Take two ounces of the roots of great Comfrey one ounce of Liquorice two handfulls of Folefoot roots and all one ounce and an halfe of Pine-apple kernells twenty iuiubes two drams or a quarter of an ounce of Mallow seed one dram of the heads of Poppy boile all in a sufficient quantitie of water till one pinte remaine straine it and and adde to the liquor strained six ounces of very white sugar and as much of the best hony and make thereof a syrrup that must be throughly boiled The same syrrup cureth the vlcers of the kidnies though they haue been of long continuance and stoppeth the bloud that commeth from thence Moreouer it staieth the ouermuch flowing of the monethly sickenesse taken euery day for certaine daies together It is highly commended for woundes or hurts of all the rest also of the intrailes and inward parts and for burstings or ruptures The root stamped and applied vnto them taketh away the inflammation of the fundament and ouermuch flowing of the hemorrhoides CHAP. 288. Of Cowslips of Jerusalem 1 Pulmonaria maculosa Spotted Cowslips of Ierusalem 2 Pulmonaria folijs Echij Buglosse Cowslips 3 Pulmoria angustifolia ij Clusij Narrow leafed Cowslips of Ierusalem ¶ The Description 1 COwslips of Ierusalem or the true and right Lungwort hath rough hairy and large leaues of a brown green color confusedly spotted with diuers spots or drops of white amongst which spring vp certaine stalkes a span long bearing at the top many fine floures growing together in bunches like the floures of cowslips sauing that they be at the first red or purple and sometimes blew and oftentimes al these colours at once The floures being fallen there come small buttons full of seed The root is blacke and threddy ‡ This is sometimes found with white floures ‡ 2 The second kinde of Lungwort is like vnto the former but greater in each respect the leaues bigger than the former resembling wilde Buglosse yet spotted with white spots like the former the floures are like the other but of an exceeding shining red colour 3 Carolus Clusius setteth forth a third kinde of Lungwoort which hath rough and hairie leaues like vnto wilde Buglosse but narrower among which rises vp a stalke a foot high bearing at the top a bundle of blew floures in fashion like vnto those of Buglosse or the last described ¶ The Place These plants do grow in moist shadowie woods and are planted almost euery where in gardens ‡ Mr. Goodyer found the Pulmonaria folijs Echij being the second May 25. Anno 1620. flouring in a wood by Holbury house in the New Forrest in Hampshire ‡ ¶ The Time They floure for the most part in March and Aprill ¶ The Names Cowslips of Ierusalem or Sage of Ierusalem is called of the Herbarists of our time Pulmonaria and Pulmonalis of Cordus Symphitum syluestre or wilde Comfrey but seeing the other is also of nature wilde it may aptly be called Symphytum maculosum or Maculatum in high Dutch Lungenkraut in low Dutch Onser 〈◊〉 melcruiit in English spotted Comfrey Sage of Ierusalem Cowslip of Ierusalem Sage of Bethlem and of some Lungwort notwithstanding there is another Lungwort of which we will intreat among the kindes of Mosses ¶ The Temperature Pulmonaria should be of like temperature with the great Comfrey if the roote of this were clammie but seeing that it is hard and woody it is of a more drying quality and more binding ¶ The Vertues The leaues are vsed among pot-herbes The roots are also thought to be good against the infirmities and vlcers of the lungs and to be of like force with the great Comfrey CHAP. 289. Of Clote Burre or Burre Docke 1 Bardana maior The great Burre Docke 2 Bardana minor The lesse Burre Docke ¶ The Description 1 CLot Burre bringeth forth broad leaues and hairie far bigger than the leaues of Gourds and of greater compasse thicker also and blacker which on the vpper side are of a darke greene colour and
leaues are rounder and not so much cut about the edges as the others The branches are weake and feeble trailing vpon the ground The floures are likewise of three colours that is to say white blew and yellow void of smell The root perisheth when it hath perfected his seed 5 There is found in sundry places of England a wilde kinde hereof bringing floures of a faint yellow colour without mixture of any other colour yet hauing a deeper yellow spot in the lowest 1 Violatricolor Hearts-ease 2 Viola assurgens tricolor Vpright Hearts-ease 3 Violatricolor syluestris Wilde Paunsies 4 Violatricolor petraea Stony Hearts-ease ¶ The Place The Hearts-ease groweth in fields in many places and in gardens also and that oftentimes of it selfe it is more gallant and beautifull than any of the wilde ones Matthiolus reporteth that the vpright Paunsie is found on mount Baldus in Italy Lobel saith that it groweth in Languedocke in France and on the tops of some hills in England but as yet I haue not seene the same Those with yellow floures haue been found by a village in Lancashire called Latham foure miles from 〈◊〉 by Mr. Thomas 〈◊〉 before remembred ¶ The Time They sloure not onely in the Spring but for the most part all Sommer thorow euen vntill Autumne ¶ The Names Hearts-ease is named in Latine Viola tricolor or the three coloured Violet and of diuers Iacea yet there is another Iacea syrnamed Nigra in English Knap-weed Bull-weed and Matfellon of others Herba 〈◊〉 or herbe Trinitie by reason of the triple colour of the floures of some others Herba 〈◊〉 in French Pensees by which name they became knowne to the Brabanders and others of the Low-countries that are next adioyning It seemeth to be Viola slammea which Theophrastus calleth 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which is also called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in English Hearts-ease Paunsies Liue in idlenesse Cull me to you and Three faces in a hood The vpright Pansie is called not vnproperly Viola assurgens or Surrecta and withall Tricolor that is to say straight or vpright Violet three coloured of some Viola arborescens or Tree Violet for that in the multitude of branches and manner of growing it resembles a little tree ¶ The Temperature It is of temperature obscurely cold but more euidently moist of a tough and 〈◊〉 iuyce like that of the Mallow for which cause it moistneth and suppleth but not so much as the Mallow doth ¶ The Vertues It is good as the later Physitions write for such as are sicke of an ague especially children and infants whose convulsions and fits of the falling sicknesse it is thought to cure It is commended against inflammations of the lungs and chest and against scabs and itchings of the whole body and healeth vlcers The distilled water of the herbe or floures giuen to drinke for ten or more dayes together three ounces in the morning and the like quantitie at night doth wonderfully ease the paines of the French disease and cureth the same if the Patient be caused to sweat sundry times as Costaeus reporteth in his booke denatura 〈◊〉 stirp CHAP. 314. Of Ground-Juy or Ale-hoofe ¶ The Description 1 GRound Iuy is a low or base herbe it creepeth and spreads vpon the ground hither and thither all about with many stalkes of an vncertaine length slender and like those of the Vine something cornered and sometimes reddish whereupon grow leaues something broad and round wrinkled hairy nicked in the edges for the most part two out of euerie ioynt amongst which come sorth the floures gaping like little hoods not vnlike to those of Germander of a purplish blew colour the roots are very threddy the whole plant is of a strong smell and bitter taste ‡ 2 Vpon the rockie and mountainous places of Prouince and Daulphine growes this other kinde of Ale-hoofe which hath leaues stalkes floures and roots like in shape to those of the former but the floures and leaues are of a light purple colour and also larger and longer This by Lobel is called Asarina siue Saxatilis hedera ‡ ¶ The Place It is found as well in tilled as in vntilled places but most commonly in obscure and darke places vpon banks vnder hedges and by the sides of houses ¶ The Time It remaineth greene not onely in Sommer but also in Winter at any time of the yeare it floureth from Aprill till Sommer be far spent 1 Hedera terrestris Ale-hoofe ‡ 2 Hedera saxatilis Rocke Ale-hoofe ¶ The Names It is commonly called Hedera terrestris in Greeke 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 also Corona terrae in high-Dutch Gundelreb in low-Dutch Onderhaue in French Lierre terrestre Hedera humilis of some and Chamaecissum in English Ground-Iuy Ale-hoofe Gill go by ground Tune-hoofe and Cats-foot ‡ Many question whether this be the Chamaecissus of the Antients which controuersie 〈◊〉 hath largely handled Pempt 3. lib. 3. cap. 4. ‡ ¶ The Temperature Ground-Iuie is hot and dry and because it is bitter it scoureth and remoueth stoppings out of the intrals ¶ The Vertues Ground-Iuy is commended against the humming noyse and ringing sound of the eares being put into them and for them that are hard of hearing Matthiolus writeth That the iuyce being tempered with Verdugrease is good against fistulaes and hollow vlcers Dioscorides teacheth That halfe a dram of the leaues being drunke in foure ounces and a halfe of faire water for fourty or fifty dayes together is a remedie against the Sciatica or ache in the huckle bone The same taken in like sort six or seuen dayes doth also cure the yellow jaundice Galen hath attributed as we haue said all the vertue vnto the floures Seeing the floures of Ground-Iuy saith he are very bitter they remoue stoppings out of the liuer and are giuen to them that are vexed with the Sciatica Ground-Iuy 〈◊〉 and Daisies of each a like quantitie stamped and strained and a little sugar and rose water put thereto and dropped with a feather into the eyes taketh away all manner of inflammation spots webs itch smarting or any griefe whatsoeuer in the eyes yea although the sight were nigh hand gone it is proued to be the best medicine in the world The herbes stamped as aforesaid and mixed with a little ale and honey and strained takes away the pinne and web or any griefe out of the eyes of horse or cow or any other beast being squirted into the same with a syringe or I might haue said the liquor iniected into the eyes with a syringe But I list not to be ouer eloquent among Gentlewomen to whom especially my Works are most necessarie The women of our Northerne parts especially about Wales and Cheshire do tunne the herbe Ale-hoof into their Ale but the reason thereof I know not notwithstanding without all controuersie it is most singular against the griefes aforesaid being tunned vp in ale and drunke it also purgeth the head from rhumaticke humors flowing from the braine Hedera terrestris boyled in water
thin and waterish and if they happen to putrifie in the stomacke their nourishment is naught The distilled water drunke with white Wine is good against the passion of the heart reuiuing the spirits and making the heart merry The distilled water is reported to scoure the face to take away spots and to make the face faire and smooth and is likewise drunke with good successe against the stone in the kidnies The leaues are good to be put into Lotions or washing waters for the mouth and the priuie parts The ripe Straw-berries quench thirst coole heat of the stomack and inflammation of the liuer take away if they be often vsed the rednesse and heate of the face CHAP. 387. Of Angelica ¶ The Kindes THere be diuers kindes of Angelica's the garden Angelica that of the water and a third sort wilde growing vpon the land 1 Angelica satina Garden Angelica 2 Angelica syluestris Wilde Angelica ¶ The Description 1 Concerning this plant Angelica there hath bin heretofore some contention and controuersie Cordus calling it Smyrnium some later writers Costus niger but to auoid cauill the controuersie is soone decided sith it and no other doth assuredly retaine the name Angelica It hath great broad leaues diuided againe into other leaues which are indented or snipt about much like to the vppermost leaues of Sphondylium but lower tenderer greener and of a stronger sauor among which leaues spring vp the stalkes very great thicke and hollow sixe or seuen soot high ioynted or kneed from which ioynts proceed other armes or branches at the top whereof grow tufts of whitish floures like Fennell or Dill the root is thicke great and oilous out of which issueth if it be cut or broken an oylie liquor the whole plant as well leaues stalkes as roots are of a reasonable pleasant sauour not much vnlike Petroleum There is another kinde of true Angelica found in our English gardens which I haue obserued being like vnto the former sauing that the roots of this kinde are more fragrant and of a more aromaticke sauor and the leaues next the ground of a purplish red colour and the whole plant lesser ‡ 3 Archangelica Great wilde Angelica 2 The wilde Angelica which seldome growes in gardens but is found to grow plentifully in water soken grounds and cold moist medowes is like to that of the garden saue that his leaues are not so deepely cut or iagged they be also blacker and narrower The stalkes are much slenderer and shorter and the floures whiter the root much smaller and hath more threddy strings appendant thereunto and is not so strong of sauour by a great deale 3 Matthiolus and Gesner haue made mention of another kinde of Angelica but we are very slenderly instructed by their insufficient descriptions notwithstanding for our better knowledge and more certain assurance I must needs record that which my friend Mr. Bredwell related to me concerning his sight thereof who found this plant growing by the 〈◊〉 which compasseth the house of Mr. Munke of the parish of Iuer two miles from Colbrook and since that I haue seene the same in low fenny and marshy places of Essex about Harwich This plant hath leaues like vnto the garden Angelica but smaller and fewer in number set vpon one rib a great stalke grosse and thicke whose ioynts and that small rib whereon the leafe growes are of a reddish colour hauing many long branches comming forth of an husk or case such as is in the common garden Parsnep the floures doe grow at the top of the branches and are of a white colour and 〈◊〉 fashion which being past there succeed broad long and thicke seeds longer and thicker than garden Angelica the root is great thicke white of little sauour with some strings appendant thereto ‡ This of our Authors description seemes to agree with the Archangelica of Lobel Dodonaeus and Clusius wherefore I haue put their figure to it ‡ ¶ The Place The first is very common in our English gardens in other places it growes wilde without planting as in Norway and in an Island of the North called Island where it groweth very high It is eaten of the inhabitants the barke being pilled off as we vnderstand by some that haue trauelled into Island who were sometimes compelled to eate hereof for want of other food and they report that it hath a good and pleasant taste to them that are hungry It groweth likewise in diuers mountaines of Germanie and especially of Bohemia ¶ The Time They floure in Iuly and August whose roots for the most part do perish after the seed is ripe yet haue I with often cutting the plant kept it from seeding by which meanes the root and plant haue continued sundry yeares together ¶ The Names It is called of the later age Angelica in high-Dutch 〈◊〉 Brustwurtz or des 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is Spiritus sancti radix the root of the holy Ghost as witnesseth Leonhartus Fuchsius in low-Dutch Angeliika in French Angelic in English also Angelica It seemeth to be a kind of Laserpitium for if it be compared with those things which Theophrastus at large hath written concerning Silphium or Laserpitium in his sixth booke of the historie of plants it shall appeare to be answerable thereunto But whether wild Angelica be that which Theophrastus calleth Magydaris that is to say another kinde of Laserpitium we leaue to be examined and considered of by the learned Physitians of our London Colledge ¶ The Temperature Angelica especially that of the garden is hot and dry in the third degree therefore it openeth attenuateth or maketh thin 〈◊〉 and procureth sweat ¶ The Vertues The roots of garden Angelica is a singular remedy against poison and against the plague and all infections taken by euill and corrupt aire if you do but take a peece of the root and hold it in your mouth or chew the same between your teeth it doth most certainely driue away the pestilentiall aire yea although that corrupt aire haue possessed the hart yet it driueth it out again by vrine and sweat as Rue and Treacle and such like Antipharmaca do Angelica is an enemy to poisons it cureth pestilent diseases if it by vsed in season a dram weight of the pouder hereof is giuen with thin wine or if the feuer be vehement with the distilled water of 〈◊〉 benedictus or of Tormentill and with a little vineger and by it selfe also or with Treacle of Vipers added It openeth the liuer and spleene draweth downe the termes driueth out or expelleth the secondine The 〈◊〉 of the root made in wine is good against the cold shiuering of agues It is reported that the root is auaileable against witchcraft and inchantments if a man carry the same about them as Fuchsius saith It attenuateth and maketh thin grosse and tough flegme the root being vsed greene and while it is full of juice helpeth them that be asthmaticke dissoluing and expectorating the stuffings therein by cutting off and clensing the parts affected
lenitiue medicines It may be giuen in pouder but commonly the infusion thereof is vsed The quantitie of the pouder is a dram weight and in the infusion foure fiue or more It may be mixed in any liquor It is in the decoction or in the infusion tempered with cold things in burning agues and other hot diseases in cold and long infirmities it is boyled with hot opening simples and such like or else it is steeped in wine in which manner as familiar to mans nature it draweth forth gently by the stoole almost without any kinde of paine crude and raw humors Most of the Arabians commend the cods but our Physitions the leaues rather for vnlesse the cods be full ripe they ingender winde and cause gripings in the belly For they are oftentimes gathered before they be ripe and otherwise easily fall away being shaken downe by the wind by reason of their weake and slender stalks Some also thinke that Sene is hurtfull to the stomacke and weakneth the same for which cause they say that Ginger or some sweet kinde of spice is to be added whereby the stomacke may be strengthned Likewise Mesue noteth that it is slow in operation and therefore Salgem is to be mixed with it Moreouer Sene purgeth not so speedily as stronger medicines do Notwithstanding it may be helped not only by Salgem but also by other purging things mixed therewith that is to say with simple medicines as Rubarb Agaricke and others and with compounds as that which is called Catholicon or the Electuarie Diaphoenicon or that which is made of the iuyce of Roses or some other according as the condition or qualitie of the disease and of the sicke man requireth The leaues of Sene are a familiar purger to all people but they are windie and do binde the bodie afterwards very much disquieting the stomack with rumbling and belching for the auoiding of which inconuenience there must be added Cinnamon Ginger Annise seed and Fennell seed Raisins of the Sun and such like that do breake winde which will the better help his purging qualitie Sene doth better purge when it is infused or steeped than when it is boyled for doubtlesse the more it is boiled the lesse it purgeth and the more windie it becommeth Take Borage Buglosse Balme Fumitorie of each three drams Sene of Alexandria very wel prepared and pouned two ounces strow the pouder vpon the herbes and distill them the water that commeth thereof reserue to your vse to purge those that liue delicately being ministred in white wine with sugar in condited confections and such dainty waies wherein delicate and fine people do greatly delight you may also as was said before adde hereunto according to the maladie diuers purgers as Agaricke Mirobalans c. The pouder of Sene after it is well prepared two ounces of the pouder of the root of Mechoacan foure drams pouder of Ginger Anise seeds of each a little a spoonfull of Anise seeds but a very little Ginger and a modicum or small quantitie of Salgemmae this hath beene proued a verie fit and familiar medicine for all ages and sexes The patient may take one spoonful or two therof fasting either in pottage some supping in drink or white wine This is right profitable to draw both flegme and melancholy from the brest and other parts The leaues of Sene and Cammomil are put in baths to wash the head Sene opens the inward parts of the body which are stopped and is profitable against all griefes of the principall members of the body Take Sene prepared according to art one ounce Ginger half a quarter of an ounce twelue cloues Fenell seed two drams or in stead thereof Cinnamon and Tartar of each halfe a dram pouder all these which done take thereof in white wine one dram before supper which doth maruellously purge the head Handle Sene in maner aboue specified then take halfe an ounce thereof which don adde thereto sixty Raisins of the Sunne with the stones pickt out one spoonfull of Anise seeds braied boile these in a quart of ale till one halfe be wasted and while it is boiling put in your Sene let it stand so till the morning then straine it and put in a little Ginger then take the one halfe of this potion and put thereunto two spoonfulls of syrrup of Roses drinke this together I meane the one halfe of the medicine at one time and if the patient canot abide the next day to receiue the other halfe then let it be deferred vntil the third day after Sene and Fumitorie as Rasis affirmeth do purge adust humors and are excellent good against scabs itch and the ill affection of the body If Sene be infused in whey and then boyled a little it becommeth good physicke against melancholy clenseth the braine and purgeth it as also the heart liuer milt and lungs causeth a man to looke yong ingendreth mirth and taketh away sorrow it cleareth the sight strengthneth hearing and is very good against old feuers and diseases arising of melancholy CHAP. 11. Of bastard Sene. ¶ The Description 1 Colutea and Sene be so neere the one vnto the other in shape and shew that the 〈◊〉 Herbarists haue deemed Colutea to be the right Sene. This bastard Sene is a shrubby plant growing to the forme of a hedge bush or shrubby tree his branches are straight brittle and wooddy which being carelesly broken off and as negligently prickt or stucke in the ground will take root and prosper at what time of the yeare soeuer it be done but slipt or cut or planted in any curious sort whatsoeuer among an hundred one will 〈◊〉 grow these boughes or branches are beset with leaues like Sena or Securidaca not much vnlike Liquorice among which come forth faire broome-like yellow floures which turne into small cods like the sownd of a fish or a little bladder which will make a cracke being broken betweene the fingers wherein are contained many blacke flat seeds of the bignesse of Tares growing vpon a small rib or sinew within the cod the root is hard and of a wooddy substance 1 Colutea Bastard Sene. 2 Colutea Scorpioides Bastard Sene with Scorpion cods 2 Bastard Sene with Scorpion cods is a small wooddy shrub or bush hauing leaues branches and floures like vnto the former bastard Sene but lesse in each respect when his small yellow floures are fallen there succeed little long crooked cods like the long cods or husks of 〈◊〉 his Scorpioides whereof it tooke his name the root is like the root of the Box tree or rather resembling the roots of Dulcamara or Bitter-sweet growing naturally in the shadowie woods of Valena in Narbone whereof I haue a small plant in my garden which may be called Scorpion Sene. 3 Colutea scorpioides humilis Dwarfe bastard Sene. 4 Colutea scorpioides montana 〈◊〉 Mountaine bastard Sene. 5 Colutea minima siue Coronilla The smallest bastard Sene. 4 This mountaine bastard Sene hath stalks leaues and roots like the last
Description 1 STitchwort or as Ruellius termeth it Holosteum is of two kindes and hath round tender stalkes full of joints leaning toward the ground at euery ioynt grow two leaues one against another The flowers be white consisting of many small leaues set in the manner of a starre The roots are small jointed and threddy The seed is contained in small heads somewhat long and sharpe at the vpper end and when it is ripe it is very small and browne 2 The second is like the former in shape of leaues and flowers which are set in forme of a starre but the leaues are orderly placed and in good proportion by couples two together being of a whitish colour When the flowers be vaded then follow the seeds which are inclosed in bullets like the seed of flax but not so round The chiues or threds in the middle of the floure are sometimes of a reddish or of a blackish colour ‡ There are more differences of this plant or rather varieties as differing little but in the largenesse of the leaues floures or stalkes ‡ ¶ The place They grow in the borders of fields vpon banke sides and hedges almost euery where ¶ The time They flourish all the Sommer especially in May and Iune Gramen Leucanthemum Stitchwort ¶ The Names Some as Ruellius for one haue thought this to be the plant which the Grecians call 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in Latine Tota ossea in English All-Bones whereof I see no reason except it be by the figure Antonomia as when we say in English He is an honest man our meaning is that he is a knaue for this is a tender herbe hauing no such bony substance ‡ Dodonaeus questions whether this plant be not Crataeogonon and he calls it Gramen Leucanthemum or White-floured Grasse The qualitie here noted with B. is by Dioscorides giuen to Crataeogonon but it is with his 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is Some say or report so much which phrase of speech hee often vseth when as he writes faculties by heare-say and doubts himselfe of the truth of them ‡ ¶ The nature The seed of Stitchwort as Galen writeth is sharpe and biting to him that 〈◊〉 it and to him that vseth it very like to Mill. ¶ The vertues They are wont to drinke it in Wine with the pwoder of Acornes against the paine in the side stitches and such like Diuers report saith Dioscorides That the Seed of Stitchwort being drunke causeth a woman to bring forth a man childe if after the 〈◊〉 of her Sicknesse before she conceiue she do drinke it fasting thrice in a day halfe a dram at a time in three 〈◊〉 of water many dayes together CHAP. 39. Of Spiderwort ¶ The Description 1 THe obscure description which Dioscorides and Pliny haue set downe for Phalangium hath bred much contention among late Writers This plant Phalangium hath leaues much like Couch Grasse but they are somewhat thicker and fatter and of a more whitish greene colour The stalkes grow to the height of a cubit The top of the stalke is beset with small branches garnished with many little white flowers compact of six little leaues The threds or thrums in the middle are whitish mixed with a faire yellow which being fallen there follow blacke seeds inclosed in small round knobs which be three cornered The roots are many tough and white of colour 2 The second is like the first but that his stalke is not branched as the first and floureth a moneth before the other 3 The third kinde of Spiderwort which Carolus Clusius nameth Asphodelus minor hath a root of many threddy strings from the which immediately rise vp grassie leaues narrow and sharpe pointed among the which come forth diuers naked strait stalkes diuided towards the top into sundry branches garnished on euery side with faire starre-like flowers of colour white with a purple veine diuiding each leafe in the middest they haue also certaine chiues or threds in them The seed followeth inclosed in three square heads like vnto the kindes of Asphodils ‡ 4 This Spiderwort hath a root consisting of many thicke long and white fibers not much vnlike the precedent out of which it sends forth some fiue or six greene and firme leaues somewhat hollowed in the middle and mutually inuoluing each other at the root amongst these there riseth vp a round greene stalke bearing at the top thereof some nine or ten floures more or lesse these consist of six leaues apiece of colour white the three innermost leaues are the broader and more curled and the three outmost are tipt with greene at the tops The whole floure much resembles a white Lilly but much smaller Three square heads containing a dusky and vnequall seed follow after the floure 1 Phalangium Ramosum Branched Spiderwort 2 Phalangium non ramosum Vnbranched Spiderwort †3 Phalangium Cretae Candy Spiderwort ‡ 4 Phalangium Antiquorum The true Spiderwort of the Ancients ‡ 5 Phalangium Virginianum Tradescanti Tradescants Virginian Spider-wort 5 This plant in my iudgement cannot be sitlier ranked with any than these last described therefore I haue here giuen him the fifth place as the last commer This plant hath many creeping stringy roots which here and there put vp greene leaues in shape resembling those of the last described amongst these there riseth vp a pretty stiffe stalke jointed and hauing at each joint one leafe incompassing the stalke and out of whose bosome oft times little branches arise now the stalke at the top vsually diuides it selfe into two leaues much after the manner of Cyperus between which there come forth many floures consisting of three pretty large leaues a piece of colour deepe blew with reddish chiues tipt with yellow standing in their middle These fading as vsually they doe the same day they shew themselues there succeed little heads couered with the three little leaues that sustained the floure In these heads there is contained a long blackish seed ¶ The place 1. 2. 3. These grow only in gardens with vs and that very rarely 4 This growes naturally in some places of Sauoy 5 This Virginian is in many of our English gardens as with M. Parkinson M. Tradescant and others ¶ The time 1. 4. 5. These floure in Iune the second about the beginning of May and the third about August ¶ The Names The first is called Phalangium ramosum Branched Spiderwort 2 Phalangium non ramosum Vnbranched Spiderwort Cordus calls it Liliago 3 This Clusius calls Asphodelus minor Lobell Phalangium Cretae Candy Spiderwort 4 This is thought to be the Phalangium of the Ancients and that of Matthiolus it is Phalangium Allobrogicum of Clusius Sauoy Spiderwort 5 This by M. Parkinson who first hath in writing giuen the figure and description thereof is aptly termed Phalangium Ephemerum Virginianum Soone-fading Spiderwort of Virginia or Tradescants Spiderwort for that M. Iohn Tradescant first procured it from Virginia Bauhine hath described it at the end of his Pinax and very vnfitly termed it
Grano the Spaniards Trigo the French men Bled ou Fourment in England we call the first White-Wheat and Flaxen Wheat Triticum Lucidum is called Bright Wheat Red Wheat is called in Kent Duck-bill Wheate and Normandy Wheat ¶ The nature Wheat saith Galen is very much vsed of men and with greatest profit Those Wheats do nourish most which be hard and haue their whole substance so closely compact as they can scarcely be bit asunder for such doe nourish very much and the contrary but little Wheat as it is a medicine outwardly applied is hot in the first degree yet can it not manifestly either dry or moisten It hath also a certaine clamminesse and stopping qualitie ¶ The vertues Raw Wheat saith Dioscorides being eaten breedeth wormes in the belly being chewed and applied it doth 〈◊〉 the biting of mad dogs 3 Triticum Typhinum Flat Wheat 4 Triticum multiplici spica Double eared Wheat The floure of wheat being boyled with honey and water or with oyle and water taketh away all inflammations or hot swellings The bran of Wheat boyled in strong Vineger clenseth away scurfe and dry scales and dissolueth the beginning of all hot swellings if it be laid vnto them And boyled with the decoction of Rue it slaketh the swellings in womens brests The graines of white Wheat as Pliny writeth in his two and twentieth booke and seuenth chapter being dried brown but not burnt and the pouder thereof mixed with white wine is good for watering eyes if it be laid thereto The dried pouder of red Wheat boyled with vineger helpeth the shrinking of sinewes 5 Triticum lucidum Bright Wheat The leauen made of Wheat hath vertue to heate and draw outward it resolueth concocteth and openeth all swellings bunches tumors and felons being mixed with salt The fine floure mixed with the yolke of an egge honey and a little saffron doth draw and heale byles and such like sores in children and in old people very well and quickely Take crums of wheaten bread one pound and an halfe barley meale 〈◊〉 ij Fennigreeke and Lineseed of each an ounce the leaues of Mallowes Violets Dwale Sengreene and Cotyledon ana one handfull boyle them in water and oyle vntill they be tender then stampe them very small in a stone morter and adde thereto the yolks of three egges oyle of Roses and oyle of Violets ana 〈◊〉 ij Incorporate them altogether but if the inflammation grow to an Erysipelas then adde thereto the juice of Nightshade Plantaine and Henbane ana 〈◊〉 ij it easeth an Erysipelas or Saint Anthonies fire and all inflammations very speedily Slices of fine white bread laid to infuse or steepe in Rose water and so applied vnto sor̄e eyes which haue many hot humors falling into them doth easily defend the humour and cease the paine The oyle of wheat pressed forth betweene two plates of hot iron healeth the chaps and chinks of the hands feet and fundament which come of cold making smooth the hands face or any other part of the body The same vsed as a Balsame doth excellently heale wounds and being put among salues or vnguents it causeth them to worke more effectually especially in old vlcers CHAP. 47. Of Rie ¶ The Description THe leafe of Rie when it first commeth vp is somewhat reddish afterward greene as be the other graines It groweth vp with many stalks slenderer than those of wheat and longer with knees or ioynts by certaine distances like vnto Wheat the eares are orderly framed vp in rankes and compassed about with short beards not sharpe but blunt which when it floureth standeth vpright and when it is filled vp with seed it leaneth and hangeth downward The seed is long blackish slender and naked which easily falleth out of the huskes of it selfe The roots be many slender and full of strings ¶ The place Rie groweth very plentifully in the most places of Germany and Polonia as appeareth by the great quantitie brought into England in times of dearth and scarcitie of corne as hapned in the yeare 1596 and at other times when there was a generall want of corne by reason of the aboundance of raine that fell the yeare before whereby great penurie ensued as well of cattell and all other victuals as of all manner of graine It groweth likewise very wel in most places of England especially towards the North. Secale Rie ¶ The time It is for the most part sowen in Autumne and sometimes in the Spring which proueth to be a Graine more subiect to putrifaction than that which was sowen in the fall of the leafe by reason the Winter doth ouertake it before it can attaine to his perfect maturitie and ripenesse ¶ The Names Rie is called in high Dutch 〈◊〉 in Low-Dutch 〈◊〉 in Spanish Centeno in Italian Segala in French Seigle which soundeth after the old Latine name which in Pliny is Secale and Farrago lib. 18. cap. 16. ¶ The temperature Rie as a medicine is hotter than wheat and more forcible in heating wasting and consuming away that whereto it is applied It is of a more clammy and obstructing nature than Wheat and harder to digest yet to rusticke bodies that can well digest it it yeelds good nourishment ¶ The vertues Bread or the leauen of Rie as the Belgian Physitians affirme vpon their practise doth more forcibly digest draw ripen and breake all Apostumes Botches and Byles than the leuen of Wheat Rie Meale bound to the head in a Linnen Cloath doth asswage the long continuing paines thereof CHAP. 48. Of Spelt Corne. ¶ The Description SPelt is like to Wheat in stalkes and eare it groweth vp with a multitude of stalks which are kneed and joynted higher than those of Barley it bringeth forth a disordered eare for the most part without beards The cornes be wrapped in certaine dry huskes from which they cannot easily be purged and are joyned together by couples in two chaffie huskes out of which when they be taken they are like vnto wheat cornes it hath also many roots as wheat hath whereof it is a kinde ¶ The place It groweth in fat and fertile moist ground ¶ The time It is altered and changed into Wheat it selfe as degenerating from bad to better contrary to all other that do alter or change especially as Theophrastus saith if it be clensed and so sowen but that not forthwith but in the third yeare ¶ The Names The Grecians haue called it 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 the Latines Spelta in the Germane tongue 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 in low Dutch 〈◊〉 in French Espeautre of most Italians Pirra Farra of the Tuscans Biada of the Millanois Alga in English Spelt Corne. Dioscorides maketh mention of two kindes of Spelt one of which he names 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or single another 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which brings forth two cornes ioyned together in a couple of huskes as before in the description is mentioned That Spelt which Dioscorides calls Dicoccos is the same that Theophr and Galen do name Zea. The most ancient Latines
like as Rocket doth neither doe we know what other vse this herbe hath CHAP. 12 Of garden Cresses ¶ The Description 1 GArden Cresses or Towne Cresses hath small narrow iagged leaues sharpe and burning in taste The stalks be round a cubite high which bring sorth many small white flowers andafter little flat huskes or seede vessels like to those of she pheards purse wherein are contained seeds of a browne reddish colour The roote dieth when the seede is ripe 2 There is another kinde in taste like the former but in leaues farre different which I recouered of seedes sent me from Robinus dwelling in Paris The stalkes rise vp to the height of a foot garnished with many broad leaues deepely cut or indented about the edges the middle of the leafe is deckt and garnished with many little small leaues or rather shreds of leaues which make the same like a curlde fanne of feathers The seede is like the former in shape 3 Spanish Cresses riseth forth of the ground like vnto Basill afterwards the leaues grow larger and broader like those of Marigolds among the which riseth vp a crooked lymmer stalke whereupon do grow smaall tufts or spokie rundles of white flowers The seede followeth browne of colour and bitter in taste The whole plant is of a loathfome smell and sauour 4 Stone-Cresse groweth flat vpon the ground with leaues iagged and cut about the edges like the oake leafe resembling well the leaues of shepheardes purse I haue not seene the flowers and therefore they be not exprest in the figure notwithstanding it is reported vnto me that they bee small and white of colour as are those of the garden Cresses The seed is contained in small pouches or seede vessels like those of Treacle mustard or Thlaspi ¶ The Place Cresses are sowne in gardens it skils not what soile it be for that they like any ground especially if it be well watered ‡ M. Bowles found the fourth growing in Shropshire in the fields about Birch in the parish of Elesmere in the grounds belonging to M. Richard Herbert and that in great plenty ‡ ¶ The Time It may be sowne at any time of the yeere vnlesse it be in Winter it groweth vp quickly and bringeth forth betimes both stalke and seede it dieth euery yeere and recouereth it selfe of the fallen or shaken seed 1 Nasturtium hortense Garden Cresses ¶ The Names Cresses is called in Greeke 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in Latine Nasturtium in English Cresses the Germaines call it kersse and in French Cresson the Italians Nasturtio and Agretto of some towne Cresses and garden Karsse It is called Nasturtium as Varro and 〈◊〉 thinke à narribus torquendis that is to say of writhing the nosthrils which also by the loathsome smell and sharpnesse of the seede doth cause sneesing ‡ The first is called Nasturtium hortense Garden Cresses 2 Nasturtium hortense crispum Garden Cresses with crispe or curled leaues 3 Nasturtium Hispanicum or Latifolium Spanish Cresses or Broad-leaued Cresses 4 This is Nasturtium 〈◊〉 of Tabernamontanus and not of Lobell as out Author termed it Stone Cresses ‡ ¶ The Temperature The herbe of garden Cresses is sharpe and biting the tongue and therefore it is very hot and drie but lesse hot whilest it is yong and tender by reason of the waterie moisture mixed therewith by which the sharpenesse is somewhat allaied The seede is much more biting then the herbe and is hot and drie almost in the fourth degree ¶ The Vertues Galen saith that the Cresses may be eaten with bread Velutiobsonium and so the Antient 〈◊〉 vsually did and the low-Countrie men many times doe who commonly vse to feed of Cresses with bread and butter It is eaten with other sallade hearbes as Tarragon and Rocket and for this cause it is chiefely sowen It is good against the disease which the Germaines call Scorbuch and Scorbuye in Latine Scorbutus which we in England call the Scuruie and Scurby and vpon the seas the Skyrby it is as good and as effectuall as the Scuruie grasse or water Cresses Dioscorides saith if the seed be stamped and mixed with hony it cureth the hardnesse of the milt with Vineger and Barley meale parched it is a remedie against the Sciatica and taketh away hard swellings and inflammations It scoureth away tetters mixed with brine it ripeneth felons called in Greeke 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 it forcibly cutteth and raiseth vp thicke and tough humors of the chest if it be mixed with things proper against the stuffing of the lungs Dioscorides saith it is hurtfull to the stomacke and troubleth the belly 3 Nasturtium Hispanicum Spanish Cresses 4 Nasturtium Petreum Stone Cresses It driueth forth wormes bringeth downe the floures killeth the child in the mothers womb and prouoketh bodily lust Being inwardly taken it is good for such as haue fallen from high places it dissolueth cluttered bloud and preuenteth the same that it do not congeale and thicken in any part of the body it procureth sweat as the later Physitions haue found and tried by experience CHAP. 13. Of Indian Cresses ¶ The Description CResses of India haue many weake and feeble branches rising immediately from the ground dispersing themselues far abroade by meanes whereof one plant doth occupie a great circuit of ground as doth the great Bindeweede The tender stalkes diuide themselues into sundry branches trailing likewise vpon the ground somewhat bunched or swollen vp at euery ioint or knee which are in colour of a light red but the spaces betweene the ioints are greene The leaues are round like wall peniwort called Cotyledon the footestalke of the leafe commeth forth on the backeside almost in the middest of the leafe as those of Frogbit in taste and smell like the garden Cresses The flowers are dispersed throughout the whole plant of colour yellow with a crossed starre ouerthwart the inside of a deepe orange colour vnto the backe part of the same doth hang a taile or spurre such as hath the Larkes heele called in Latine Consolida Regalis but greater and the spurre or heele longer which being past there succeed bunched and knobbed cods or seede vessels wherein is contained the seede rough browne of colour and like vnto the seedes of the beete but smaller ¶ The Place The seedes of this rare and faire plant came first from the Indies into Spaine and thence into France and Flanders from whence I receiued seede that bore with me both flowers and 〈◊〉 especially those I receiued from my louing friend Iohn Robin of Paris ¶ The Time The seedes must be sowen in the beginning of Aprill vpon a bed of hot horse dung and some fine sifted earth cast thereon of an handfull thicke The bed must be couered in 〈◊〉 places with hoopes or poles to sustaine the mat or such like thing that it must be 〈◊〉 with in the night and layd open to the Sunne in the day time The which being sprung vp and hauing gotten three leaues you must replant them abroad in
ten graines with water wherein honey hath beene sodden The root boyled with vineger and the same holden hot in the mouth easeth the paine of the teeth The seed is vsed by Mountibanke Tooth-drawers which runne about the countrie for to cause wormes come forth of mens teeth by burning it in a chasing-dish with coles the party holding his mouth ouer the fume thereof but some crafty companions to gaine mony conuey small lute string into the water persuading the patient that those small creeping beasts came out of his mouth or other parts which he intended to ease CHAP. 67. Of yellow Henbane or English Tabaco Hyoscyamus luteus Yellow Henbane ¶ The Description YEllow Henbane groweth to the height of two cubits the stalke is thicke 〈◊〉 and greene of colour full of a spongeous pith and is diuided into sundry branches set with smooth and euen leaues thick and ful of juice The floures grow at the tops of the branches orderly placed of a pale yellow colour something lesser than those of the blacke Henbane The cups wherein the floures do stand are like but lesser tenderer and without sharpe points wherein is set the husk or cod somwhat 〈◊〉 full of very small seed like the seed of Marjerome The root is small and threddy ¶ The Place Yellow Henbane is sowen in gardens where it doth prosper exceedingly insomuch that it cannot be destroyed where it hath once 〈◊〉 it 〈◊〉 and it is dispersed into the most parts of England ¶ The Time It floureth in the Sommer moneths and 〈◊〉 till Autumne be farre spent in which time the seed commeth to perfection ¶ The Names Yellow Henbane is called Hyoscyamus 〈◊〉 of some Petum and Petun of others 〈◊〉 of Nicot a Frenchman that brought the seeds from the Indies as also the seeds of the 〈◊〉 Tabaco whereof this hath beene taken for a kinde insomuch that Lobel hath called it 〈◊〉 Hyoscyamus or doubtfull Henbane as a plant participating of Henbane and Tabaco and it is 〈◊〉 of diuers in stead of Tabaco and called by the same name for that it hath beene brought from 〈◊〉 a place so called in the Indies as also from Virginia and Norembega for Tabaco which doubtlesse taken in 〈◊〉 worketh the same kinde of drunkennesse that the right Tabaco doth ‡ Some vse to call this 〈◊〉 in English being a name taken from the Latine ‡ ¶ The Nature This kinde of Henbane is thought of some to be cold and moist but after Lobel it rather 〈◊〉 than cooles at all because of the biting taste as also that rosenninesse or gummines it is 〈◊〉 sessed of which is euidently perceiued both in handling and chewing it in the mouth ¶ The Vertues This herbe auaileth against all apostumes tumors inueterate vlcers botches and such like 〈◊〉 ing made into an vnguent or salue as followeth Take of the greene leaues three pounds and an halfe stampe them very small in a stone morter of Oyle Oliue one quart set them to boyle in 〈◊〉 brasse pan or such like vpon a gentle fire continually stirring it vntill the herbes seem blacke and will not boyle or bubble any more then shall you haue an excellent greene oyle which being strained from the 〈◊〉 or drosse put the cleare and strained oyle to the fire againe adding thereto of wax halfe a pound of rosen foure ounces and of good Turpentine two ounces melt them all together and keepe it in pots for your vse to cure inueterate vlcers apostumes burnings greene wounds and all cuts and hurts in the head wherewith I haue gotten both crownes and credit It is vsed of some in stead of Tabaco but to small purpose or profit although it do stupifie and dull the sences and cause that kinde of giddinesse that Tabaco doth and likewise spitting which any other herbe of hot temperature will do as Rosemary Time winter Sauorie sweet Marjerome and such like any of the which I like better to be taken in smoke than this kinde of doubtfull henbane CHAP. 68. Of Tabaco or Henbane of Peru. ¶ The Kindes THere be two sorts or kindes of Tabaco one greater the other lesser the greater was brought into Europe out of the prouinces of America which we call the West Indies the other from Trinidada an Island neere vnto the continent of the same Indies Some haue added a third sort and others make the yellow 〈◊〉 a kinde thereof †1 Hyoscyamus Peruvianus Tabaco or Henbane of Peru. †2 Sana Sancta Indorum Tabaco of Trinidada ¶ The Description 1 TAbaco or Henbane of Peru hath very great stalkes of the bignesse of a childes 〈◊〉 growing in fertile and well dunged ground of seuen or eight foot high diuiding it selfe into sundry branches of great length whereon are placed in most comely order very faire long leaues broad smooth and sharpe pointed 〈◊〉 and of a light greene colour so fastned about the stalke that they seeme to embrace and compasse it about The floures grow at the top of the stalkes in shape like a bell-floure somewhat long and cornered hollow within of a light carnation 〈◊〉 tending to whitenesse toward the brimmes The seed is contained in long 〈◊〉 pointed cods or seed-vessels like vnto the seed of yellow Henbane but somewhat smaller and browner of colour The root is great thicke and of a wooddy substance with some 〈◊〉 strings anexed thereunto 2 Trinidada Tabaco hath a thicke tough and fibrous root 〈◊〉 which immediately rise vp long broad leaues and smooth of a greenish colour lesser than those of Peru among which riseth vp a stalke diuiding it selfe at the ground into diuers branches whereon are set confusedly the like leaues but lesser at the top of the stalks stand vp long necked hollow floures of a pale purple 〈◊〉 to a blush colour after which succeed the cods or seed-vessels including many small seeds like vnto the seed of Marjerome The whole plant perisheth at the first approch of Winter ‡ 3 Tabacum minimum Dwarfe Tabaco ‡ 3 This third is an herbe some spanne or better long not in face vnlike the precedent neither defectiue in the hot and burning taste The floures are much lesse than those of the yellow Henbane of a greenish yellow The leaues are small and narrower those of Sage of Ierusalem The root is small and fibrous ‡ ¶ The Place These were first brought into Europe 〈◊〉 of America which is called the West Indies in which is the prouince or countrey of Peru but being now planted in the gardens of Europe it prospereth very well and commeth from seed in one yeare to beare both floures and seed The which I take to be better for the constitution of our bodies than that which is brought from India and that growing in the Indies better for the people of the same Countrey notwithstanding it is not so thought nor receiued of our Tabaconists for according to the English Prouerbe Far fetcht and deare bought is best for Ladies ¶ The Time Tabaco must be sowen in the most
gall for besides that it purgeth forth cholericke and naughty humors it remoueth stoppings out of the conduits It also mightily strengthneth the intrals themselues insomuch as Rubarb is iustly termed of diuers the life of the liuer for Galen in his eleuenth booke of the method or manner of curing affirmeth that such kinde of medicines are most fit and profitable for the liuer as haue ioyned with a purging and opening qualitie an astringent or binding power The quantitie that is to be giuen is from one dram to two and the infusion from one and a halfe to three It is giuen or steeped and that in hot diseases with the infusion or distilled water of Succory Endiue or some other of the like nature and likewise in Whay and if there be no heate it may be giuen in Wine It is also oftentimes giuen being dried at the fire but so that the least or no part thereof at all be burned and being so vsed it is a remedie for the bloudy flix and for all kindes of laskes for it both purgeth away naughty and corrupt humors and likewise withall stoppeth the belly The same being dried after the same manner doth also stay the ouermuch flowing of the monethly sicknesse and stoppeth bloud in any part of the body especially that which commeth thorow the bladder but it should be giuen in a little quantitie and mixed with some other binding thing Mesues saith That Rubarb is an harmelesse medicine and good at all times and for all ages and likewise for children and women with childe ‡ My friend Mr. Sampson Iohnson Fellow of Magdalen Colledge in Oxford assures me That the Physitions of Vienna in Austria vse scarce any other at this day than the Rubarb of the Antients which grows in Hungary not far from thence and they prefer it before the dried Rubarb brought out of Persia and the East Indies because it hath not so strong a binding facultie as it neither doth it heate so much onely it must be vsed in somewhat a larger quantitie ‡ CHAP. 84. Of Sorrell ¶ The Kindes THere be diuers kindes of Sorrell differing in many points some of the garden others wilde some great and some lesser 1 Oxalis siue Acetosa Sorrell 2 Oxalis tuberosa Knobbed Sorrell ¶ The Description THough Dioscorides hath not expressed the Oxalides by that name yet none ought to doubt but that they were taken and accounted as the fourth kinde of Lapathum For though some like it not well that the seed should be said to be Drimus yet that is to be vnderstood according to the common phrase when acride things are confounded with those which be sharpe and soure else we might accuse him of such ignorance as is not amongst the simplest women Moreouer the word Oxys doth not onely signifie the leafe but the sauour and tartnesse which by a figure drawne from the sharpnesse of kniues edges is therefore called sharpe for 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 signifieth a sharpe or sourc iuyce which pierceth the tongue like a sharpe knife whereupon also Lapathum may be called Oxalis as it is indeed The leaues of this are thinner tenderer and more vnctuous than those of Lapatium acutum broader next to the stem horned and crested like Spinage and Atriplex The stalke is much streaked reddish and full of iuyce the root is yellow and 〈◊〉 the seed sharpe cornered and shining growing in chaffie huskes like the other Docks 2 The second kinde of Oxalis or Sorrell hath large leaues like Patience confusedly growing together vpon a great tall stalke at the top whereof grow tufts of a chaffie substance The root is tuberous much like the Peonie or rather Filipendula fastned to the lower part of the stem with small long strings and laces 3 The third kinde of Sorrell groweth very small branching hither and thither taking hold by new shoots of the ground where it groweth whereby it disperseth it selfe far abroad The leaues are little and thin hauing two small leaues like eares fastned thereto in shew like the herbe Sagittaria the seed in taste is like the other of his kinde 4 The fourth kinde of Sorrell hath leaues somewhat round and cornered of a whiter colour than the ordinarie and hauing two short eares anexed vnto the same The seed and root in taste is like the other Sorrels 3 Oxalis tenuifolia Sheepes Sorrell 4 Oxalis Franca seu Romana Round leaued or French Sorrel 5 This kinde of curled Sorrell is a stranger in England and hath very long leaues in shape like the garden Sorrell but curled and crumpled about the edges as is the curled Colewort The stalke riseth vp among the leaues set here and there with the like leaues but lesser The floures seeds and roots are like the common Sorrell or soure Docke 6 The small Sorrell that groweth vpon dry barren sandy ditch-banks hath small grassy leaues somewhat forked or crossed ouer like the crosse hilt of a rapier The stalkes rise vp amongst the leaues small weake and tender of the same soure taste that the leaues are of The floure seed and root is like the other Sorrels but altogether lesser 6 Oxalis minor Small Sorrell 7 The smallest sort of Sorrell is like vnto the precedent sauing that the lowest leaues that ly vpon the ground be somewhat round and without the little eares that the other hath which setteth forth the difference ‡ 8 There is also kept in some gardens a verie large sorrel hauing leaues thicke whitish and as large as an ordinarie Docke yet shaped like Sorrell and of the same acide taste The stalkes and seed are like those of the ordinary yet whiter coloured ‡ ¶ The Place †The common Sorrell groweth for the most part in moist medowes and gardens The second by waters sides but not in this kingdome that I know of The fourth also is a garden plant with vs as also the fifth but the third and last grow vpon grauelly and sandie barren ground and ditch bankes †¶ The Time They flourish at that time when as the other kinds of Docks do floure ¶ The Names Garden Sorrell is called in Greeke 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of Galen 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is to say Acidum lapathum or Acidus rumex soure Docke and in shops commonly Acetosa in the Germane Tongue 〈◊〉 in low-Dutch Surckele and Surinck the Spaniards Azederas Agrelles and Azedas in French Ozeille and Surelle Aigrette in English Garden Sorrell The second is called of the later Herbarists Tuberosa acetosa and Tuberosum lapathum in English Bunched or Knobbed Sorrell The third is called in English Sheepes Sorrell in Dutch Schap Surkel The fourth Romane Sorrell or round leaued Sorrell The fifth Curled Sorrell The sixth and seuenth Barren Sorrell or Dwarfe Sheepes Sorrell ‡ The eighth is called Oxalis or Acetosa maxima latifolia Great broad leaued Sorrell ‡ ¶ The Nature The Sorrels are moderately cold and dry ¶ The Vertues Sorrell doth vndoutedly coole
healing The decoction hereof made with wine is commended to close vp and heale wounds of the entrailes and inward parts it is also good for vlcers of the kidneies especially made with water and the roots of Comfrey added thereto The leaues of Monophyllon or Vnifolium are of the same force in wounds with Pyrola especially in wounds among the nerues and sinewes Moreouer it is esteemed of some late writers a most perfect medicine against the pestilence and all poisons if a dram of the root be giuen in vineger mixed with wine or water and the sicke go to bed and sweat vpon it CHAP. 91. Of Lilly in the valley or May Lilly 1 Lilium conuallium Conuall Lillies 2 Lilium conuallium floribus suaue-rubentibus Red Conuall Lillies ¶ The Description 1 THe Conuall Lillie or Lilly of the Vally hath many leaues like the smallest leaues of Water Plantaine among which riseth vp a naked stalke halfe a foot high garnished with many white floures like little bels with blunt and turned edges of a strong sauour yet pleasant enough which being past there come small red berries much like the berries of Asparagus wherein the seed is contained The root is small and slender creeping far abroad in the ground 2 The second kinde of May Lillies is like the former in euery respect and herein varieth or differeth in that this kinde hath reddish floures and is thought to haue the sweeter smell ¶ The Place 1 The first groweth on Hampsted heath foure miles from London in great abundance neere to Lee in Essex and vpon Bushie heath thirteene miles from London and many other places 2 That other kind with the red floure is a stranger in England howbeit I haue the same growing in my garden ¶ The Time They floure in May and their fruit is ripe in September ¶ The Names The Latines haue named it Lilium Gonuallium Gesner doth thinke it to be Callionymum in the Germane tongue Meyen blumlen the low Dutch Meyen bloemkens in French Muguet yet there is likewise another herbe which they call Muguet commonly named in English Woodroof It is called in English Lillie of the Valley or the Conuall Lillie and May Lillies and in some places Liriconfancie ¶ The Nature They are hot and drie of complexion ¶ The Vertues The floures of the Valley Lillie distilled with wine and drunke the quantitie of a spoonfull restoreth speech vnto those that haue the dum palsie and that are falne into the Apoplexie and is good against the gout and comforteth the heart The water aforesaid doth strengthen the memorie that is weakened and diminished it helpeth also the inflammation of the eies being dropped thereinto The floures of May Lillies put into a glasse and set in a hill of antes close stopped for the space of a moneth and then taken out therein you shall find a liquour that appeaseth the paine griefe of the gout being outwardly applied which is commended to be most excellent CHAP. 92. Of Sea Lauander 1 Limonium Sea Lauander 2 Limonium parvum Rocke Lauander ¶ The Description 1 THere hath beene among writers from time to time great contention about this plant Limonium no one authour agreeing with another for some haue called this herbe Limonium some another herb by this name some in remouing the rock haue mired themselues in the mud as Matthiolus who described two kindes but made no distinction of them nor yet expressed which was the true Limonium but as a man heerein ignorant hee speakes not a word of them Now then to leaue controuersies and cauilling the true Limonium is that which hath faire leaues like the Limon or Orenge tree but of a darke greene colour somewhat fatter and a little crumpled amongst which leaues riseth vp an hard and brittle naked stalke of a foot high diuided at the top into sundry other small branches which grow for the most part vpon the one side full of little blewish floures in shew like Lauander with long red seed and a thicke root like vnto the small Docke 2 There is a kinde of Limonium like the first in each respect but lesser which groweth vpon rockes and chalkie cliffes ‡ 3 Besides these two here described there is another elegant Plant by Clusius and others referred to this kindred the description thereof is thus from a long slender root come forth long greene leaues lying spred vpon the ground being also deepely sinuated on both sides and somewhat roughish Amongst these leaues grow vp the stalkes welted with slender indented skinnes and towards their tops they are diuided into sundry branches after the manner of the ordinarie one but these branches are also winged and at their tops they carry floures some foure or fiue clustering together consisting of one thin crispe or crumpled leafe of a light blew colour which continues long if you gather them in their perfect vigour and so drie them and in the middest of this blew comes vp little white floures consisting of fiue little round leaues with some white threds in their middles This plant was first obserued by 〈◊〉 at Ioppa in Syria but it growes also vpon the coasts of Barbarie and at Malacca and Cadiz in Spaine I haue seene it growing with many other rare plants in the Garden of my kinde friend Mr. Iohn Tradescant at South Lambeth 4 Clusius in the end of his fourth Booke Historiae Plantarum sets forth this and saith hee receiued this figure with one dryed leafe of the plant sent him from Paris from Claude Gonier an Apothecarie of that citie who receiued it as you see it here exprest from Lisbone Now Clusius describes the leafe that it was hard and as if it had been a piece of leather open on the vpper side and distinguished with many large purple veines on the inside c. for the rest of his description was onely taken from the figure as he himselfe saith which I hold impertinent to set downe seeing I heere giue you the same figure which by no meanes I could omit for the strangenesse thereof but hope that some or other that trauell into forraine parts may finde this elegant plant and know it by this small expression and bring it home with them that so we may come to a perfecter knowledge thereos ‡ ‡ 3 Limonium folio sinuato Sea-Lauander with the indented leafe ‡ 4 Limonio congener Clus. Hollow leaued Sea-Lauander ¶ The Place 1 The first groweth in great plentie vpon the walls of the fort against Grauesend but abundantly on the bankes of the Riuer below the same towne as also below the Kings Store-house at Chattam and fast by the Kings Ferrey going into the Isle of Shepey in the salt marshes by Lee in Essex in the Marsh by Harwich and many other places The small kinde I could neuer finde in any other place but vpon the chalky cliffe going from the towne of Margate downe to the sea side vpon the left hand ¶ The Time They floure in Iune and Iuly ¶
afresh for certaine yeeres after ¶ The Time It may be sowne in March or Aprill it flourisheth and is greene in Iune and afterwards euen vntill winter ¶ The Names Purslane is called in Greeke 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in Latine Portulaca in high Dutch Burkelkraut in French Poupier in Italian 〈◊〉 in Spanish Verdolagas in English Purslane and Porcelane ¶ The Temperature Purslane is cold and that in the third degree and moist in the second but wilde Purslane is not so moist ¶ The Vertues Rawe Purslane is much vsed in sallades with oile salt and vineger it cooleth an hot 〈◊〉 and prouoketh appetite but the nourishment which commeth thereof is little bad cold grosse and moist being chewed it is good for teeth that are set on edge or astonied the juice doth the same being held in the mouth and also the distilled water Purslane is likewise commended against wormes in young children and is singular good especially if they be feuerish withall for it both allaies the ouermuch heate and killeth the wormes which thing is done through the saltnes mixed therewith which is not only an enemy to wormes but also to putrifaction The leaues of Purslane either rawe or boiled and eaten as sallades are good for those that haue great heate in their stomackes and inward parts and doe coole and temper the inflamed bloud The same taken in like manner is good for the bladder and kidnies and allaieth the out ragious lust of the body the juice also hath the same vertue The juice of Purslane stoppeth the bloudy fluxe the fluxe of the hemorroides monthly termes spitting of bloud and all other fluxes whatsoeuer The same thrown vp with a mother syringe cureth the inflammations frettings and 〈◊〉 of the matrix and put into the fundament with a clister pipe helpeth the vlcerations and 〈◊〉 the guts The leaues eaten rawe take away the paine of the teeth and fasteneth them and are good for teeth that are set on edge with eating of sharpe or soure things The seed being taken killeth and driueth forth wormes and stoppeth the laske CHAP. 149. Of sea Purslane and of the shrubby Sengreens ¶ The Description 1 SEa Purslane is not a herbe as garden Purslane but a little shrub the stalkes whereof be hard and wooddy the leaues fat full of substance like in forme to common Purslane but much whiter and harder the mossie purple floures stand round about the vpper parts of the stalkes as do almost those of Blyte or of Orach neither is the seed vnlike being broad and flat the root is wooddy long lasting as is also the plant which beareth out the winter with the losse of a few leaues †2 There is another sea Purslane or Halimus or after Dodonaus Portulaca marina which hath leaues like the former but not altogether so white yet are they somewhat longer and narrower not much vnlike the leaues of the Oliue tree The slender branches are not aboue a cubit or cubit and halfe long and commonly lie spred vpon the ground and the floures are of a deepe ouerworne herby colour and after them follow seedes like those of the former but smaller ‡ 3 Our ordinary Halimus or sea Purslane hath small branches some foot or better long lying commonly spred vpon the ground of an ouerworne grayish colour and sometimes purple the leaues are like those of the last mentioned but more fat and thicke yet lesse hoary The floures grow on the tops of the branches of an herby purple colour which is succeeded by small seeds like to that of the second kinde ‡ 4 There is found another wilde sea Purslane whereof I haue thought good to make mention which doth resemble the kindes of Aizoons The first kinde groweth vpright with a trunke like a small tree or shrub hauing many vpright wooddy branches of an ashe colour with many thicke darke greene leaues like the small Stone crop called Vermicularis the floures are of an herby yellowish greene colour the root is very hard and fibrous the whole plant is of a salt tang taste and the juice like that of Kaly 5 There is another kinde like the former and differeth in that this strange plant is greater the leaues more sharpe and narrower and the whole plant more wooddy and commeth neere to the forme of a tree The floures are of a greenish colour ‡ 1 Halimus latifolius Tree Sea Purslane ‡ 2 Halimus angustifolius procumbens Creeping Sea Purslane 3 Halimus vulgaris siue Portulaca marina Common Sea Purslane ‡ 4 Vermicular is frutex minor The lesser shrubby Sengreen ‡ 5 Vermicularis frutex major The greater Tree Stone-crop ¶ The Place ‡ The first and second grow vpon the Sea coasts of Spaine and other hot countries ‡ and the third groweth in the salt marishes neere the sea side as you passe ouer the Kings ferrey vnto the isle of Shepey going to Sherland house belonging sometime vnto the Lord Cheiny and in the yeare 1590 vnto the Worshipfull Sr. Edward Hobby fast by the ditches sides of the same marish it groweth plentifully in the isle of Thanet as you go from Margate to Sandwich and in many other places along the coast The other sorts grow vpon bankes and heapes of sand on the Sea coasts of Zeeland Flanders Holland and in like places in other countries as besides the Isle of Purbecke in England and on Rauen-spurne in Holdernesse as I my selfe haue seene ¶ The Time These flourish and floure especially in Iuly and August ¶ The Names Sea Purslane is called Portulaca Marina In Greeke 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 it is also called in Latine Halimus in Dutch Zee 〈◊〉 in English Sea Purslane The bastard ground Pines are called of some Chamepitys virmiculata in English Sea ground Pine ‡ or more fitly Tree Ston-crop or Pricket or Shrubby Sengreene ‡ ¶ The Temperature Sea Purslane is as Galen saith of vnlike parts but the greater part thereof is hot in a meane with a moisture vnconcocted and somewhat windie ¶ The Vertues The leaues saith Dioscorides are boyled to be eaten a dram weight of the root being drunke with meade or honied water is good against crampes and drawings awrie of sinewes burstings and gnawings of the belly it also causeth Nurses to haue store of milke The leaues be in the Low-countries preserued in salt or pickle as capers are and be serued and eaten at mens tables in stead of them and that without any mislike of taste to which it is pleasant Galen doth also report that the yong and tender buds are wont in Cilicia to be eaten and also laid vp in store for vse ‡ Clusius saith That the learned Portugal Knight Damianus a Goes assured him That the leaues of the first described boyled with bran and so applied mitigate the paines of the Gout proceeding of an hot cause ‡ CHAP. 150. Of Herbe-Iuy or Ground-Pine ¶ The Description 1 THe common kinde of Chamaepitys or Ground-Pine is a small herbe and very tender creeping vpon the
chamfered or crested hard and wooddy being for the most part two foot high The leaues are three or foure times bigger than those of S. Iohns wort which be at the first greene afterwards and in the end of Sommet of a dark red colour out of which is pressed a iuyce not like blacke bloud but Claret or Gascoigne wine The floures are yellow and greater than those of S. Peters wort after which riseth vp a little round head or berry first greene afterwards red last of all blacke wherein is contained yellowish red seed The root is hard wooddy and of long continuance ‡ 2 This which Dodonaeus did not vnfitly call Ruta syluestris Hypericoides and which others haue set forth for Androsaemum and our Author the last chapter saue one affirmed to be the true 〈◊〉 though here it seemes he had either altered his minde or forgot what he formerly wrot may fitly stand in competition with the last described which may passe in the first place for the Androsaemum of the Antients for adhuc sub judice lis est I will not here insist vpon the point of controuersie but giue you a description of the plant which is this It sends vp round slender reddish stalkes some two cubits high set with fewer yet bigger leaues than the ordinarie S. Iohns Wort and these also more hairy the floures and seeds are like those of the common S. Iohns wort but somewhat larger It growes in some mountainous and wooddy places and in the Aduersaria it is called Androsaemum excellentius seu magnum and by Dodonaeus as we but now noted Ruta syluestris Hypericoides thinking it to be the Ruta syluestris which is described by Dioscorides lib. 〈◊〉 cap. 48. in the old Greeke edition of Manutius 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 And in that of Marcellus Virgilius his Interpretation in the chapter and booke but now mentioned but reiected amongst the Notha in the Paris Edition Anno 1549. You may finde the description also in Dodonaeus Pempt primae lib. 3. cap. 25 whither I refer the curious being loath here to insist further vpon it ‡ 1 Clymenon Italorum Tutsan or Parke leaues ‡ 2 Androsaemum Hypericoides Tutsan S. Iohns wort ¶ The Place Tutsan groweth in woods and by hedges especially in Hampsted wood where the Golden rod doth grow in a wood by Railie in Essex and many other places ¶ The Time It floureth in Iuly and August the seed in the meane time waxeth ripe The leaues becom 〈◊〉 in 〈◊〉 at that time is very easily pressed forth his winie iuyce ¶ The Names It is called in Greeke 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and the Latines also Androsaemon it is likewise called 〈◊〉 as 〈◊〉 witnesseth They are farre from the truth that take it to be Clymenum and it is needlesse to finde fault with their error It is also called Siciliana and Herba Siciliana in English Tutsan and Parke-leaues ¶ The Temperature The faculties are such as S. Peters wort which doth sufficiently declare it to be hot and dry ¶ The Vertues The seed hereof beaten to pouder and drunke to the weight of two drams doth purge cholericke excrements as Dioscorides writeth and is a singular remedie for the Sciatica prouided that the Patient do drinke water for a day or two after purging The herbe cureth burnings and applied vpon new wounds it stancheth the bloud and healeth them The leaues laid vpon broken shins and scabbed legs healeth them and many other hurts and griefes whereof it tooke his name Tout-saine or Tutsane of healing all things ‡ CHAP. 161. Of Bastard S. Johns wort ‡ 1 Coris Matthioli Matthiolus his bastard S. Iohns wort ‡ 2 Coris coerulea Monspeliaca French bastard S. Iohns wort ‡ THe diligence of these later times hath beene such to finde out the Materia medica of the Antients that there is scarse any plant described by them but by some or other of late there haue been two or more seuerall plants referred thereto and thus it hath happened vnto 〈◊〉 which Dioscorides lib. 3. cap. 174. hath set forth by the name of Coris and presently describes after the kindes of Hypericon and that with these words 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Some also call this Hypericon to which Matthiolus and others haue fitted a plant which is indeed a kinde of Hypericon as you may perceiue by the figure and description which I giue you in the first place Some as 〈◊〉 referre it to Chamaepytis and indeed by Dioscorides it is placed betweene Androsaemon and Chamaepytis and to this that which is described by Pena and Lobel in the Aduers and by Clusius in his Historie may fitly be referred this I giue you in the second place ¶ The Description 1 THe first hath a wooddy thicke and long lasting root which sendeth vp many branches some foot or more high and it is set at certaine spaces with round leaues like those of the small Glasse-wort or Sea-Spurry but shorter the tops of the stalkes are diuided into 〈◊〉 branches which carry floures like those of S. Iohns wort of a whitish red colour with threds in their middles hauing little yellow pendants It growes in Italy and other hot countries in places not far from the sea side This is thought to be the true Coris by Matthiolus Gesner Lonicerus Lacuna Bellus Pona and others 2 This from a thicke root red on the outside sendeth vp sundry stalkes some but an handfull other some a foot or more long stiffe round purplish set thicke with leaues like those of Heath but thicker more succulent and bitter which so netimes grow orderly and otherwhiles out of order The spikes or heads grow on the tops of the branches consisting of a number of little cups diuided into fiue sharpe points and marked with a blacke spot in each diuision out of these cups comes a floure of a blew purple colour of a most elegant and not fading colour and it is composed of foure little biside leaues whereof the two vppermost are the larger the seed which is round and blackish is contained in seed-vessels hauing points somewhat sharpe or prickly It floures in Aprill and May and is to be found growing in many places of Spaine as also about Mompelier in France whence Pena and Lobel called it Coris Monspeliaca and Clusius Coris quorundam Gallorum Hispanorum ¶ The Temperature These Plants seeme to be hot in the second or third degree ¶ The Vertues Dioscorides saith That the seed of Coris drunke moue the courses and vrine are good against the biring of the Spider Phalangium the Sciatica and drunke in Wine against that kinde of Convulsion which the Greekes call Opisthotonos which is when the body is drawne backwards as also against the cold fits in Agues It is also good anointed with oyle against the aforesaid Convulsion ‡ CHAP. 162. Of the great Centorie ¶ The Description 1 THe great Centory bringeth forth round smooth stalkes three cubits high the leaues are long diuided as it were into many parcels
like to those of the Walnut tree and of an ouerworne grayish colour somewhat snipt about the edges like the teeth of a saw The floures grow at the top of the stalks in scaly knaps like the great Knapweed the middle thrums whereof are of a light blew or sky colour when the seed is ripe the whole knap or head turneth into a downy 〈◊〉 like the head of an 〈◊〉 wherein is found a long smooth seed bearded at one end like those of 〈◊〉 Sattron called Cartamus or the seed of Cardus Benedictus The root is great long blacke on the outside and of a sanguine colour on the inside somewhat sweet in taste and biting the tongue 2 There is likewise another sort hauing great and large leaues like those of the water Docke somewhat snipt or toothed about the edges The stalke is shorter than the other but the root is more oleous or fuller of iuyce otherwise like The floure is of a pale yellow purplish colour and the seed like that of the former 1 Centaurium magnum Great Centorie ‡ 2 Centaurium maius alterum Whole leaued great Centorie ¶ The Place The great Centorie ioyeth in a fat and fruitfull soile and in Sunny bankes full of Grasse and herbes It groweth very plentifully saith Dioscorides in Lycia Peloponnesus Arcadia and Morea and it is also to be found vpon Baldus a mountaine in the territories of Verona and likewise in my garden ¶ The Time It floureth in Sommer and the roots may be gathered in Autumne ¶ The Names It is called in Greeke 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of Theophrastus also Centauris in diuers shops falsly Rha Ponticum for Rha Ponticum is Rha growing in the countries of Pontus a plant differing from great Centorie Theophrastus and Pliny set downe among the kindes of Panaces or All-heales this great Centorie and also the lesser whereof we will write in the next chapter following Pliny reciting the words of Theophrastus doth in his twenty fifth booke and fourth chapter write that they were found out by Chiron the Centaure and syrnamed Centauria Also affirming the same thing in his sixth chapter where he more largely expoundeth both the Centauries hee repeateth them to be found out by Chiron and thereupon he addeth that both of them are named Chironia Of some it is reported That the said Chiron was cured therewith of a wound in his foot that was made with 〈◊〉 arrow that fell vpon it when he was entertaining Hercules into his house whereupon it was called Chironium or of the curing of the wounds of his souldiers for the which purpose it is most excellent ¶ The Temperature It is hot and dry in the third degree Galen 〈◊〉 by the taste of the root it sheweth contrarie qualities so in the vse it performeth contrarie effects ¶ The Vertues The root taken in the quantitie of two drams is good for them that be bursten or spit bloud against the crampe and shrinking of sinewes the shortnesse of wind or difficultie of breathing the cough and gripings of the belly There is not any part of the herbe but it rather worketh miracles than ordinarie cures in greene wounds for it ioyneth together the lips of simple wounds in the flesh according to the first intentention that is glewing the lips together not drawing to the place any matter at all The root of this Plant saith Dioscorides is a remedie for ruptures 〈◊〉 and cramps taken in the weight of two drams to be giuen with wine to those that are without a feuer and vnto those that haue with water Galen saith that the iuyce of the leaues thereof performeth those things that the root doth which is also vsed in stead of Lycium a kinde of hard iuyce of a sharpe taste CHAP. 163. Of Small Centorie ¶ The Description 1 THe lesser Centorie is a little herbe it groweth vp with a cornered stalke halfe a foot high with leaues in forme and bignesse of S. Iohns wort the floures grow at the top in a spoky bush or rundle of a red colour tending to purple which in the day time and after the Sun is vp do open themselues but towards euening shut vp againe after them come forth small seed-vessels of the shape of wheat cornes in which are contained very little seeds The root is slender hard and soone fading 2 The yellow Centorie hath leaues stalkes and seed like the other and is in each respect alike sauing that the floures 〈◊〉 are of a perfect yellow colour which setteth forth the difference ‡ This is of two sorts the one with broad leaues through which the stalkes passe and the other hath narrow leaues like those of the common Centorie ‡ 1 Centaurium parvum Small Centorie 2 Centaurium parvum luteum Lobelij Yellow Centorie ¶ The Place 1 The first is growing in great plenty throughout all England in most pastures and grassie fields 2 The yellow doth grow vpon the chalkie cliffes of Greenhithe in Kent and such like places ¶ The Time They are to be gathered in their flouring time that is in Iuly and August of some that gather them superstitiously they are gathered betweene the two Lady dayes ¶ The Names The Greekes call this 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in Latine it is called Centaurium minus yet Pliny nameth it Libadion and by reason of his great bitternesse Fel terrae The Italians in Hetruria call it Biondella in Spanish Centoria in low-Dutch 〈◊〉 in English Small little or common Centorie in French Centoire ¶ The Temperature The small Centorie is of a bitter qualitie and of temperature hot and dry in the second degree and the yellow Centorie is hot and dry in the third degree ¶ The Vertues Being boyled in water and drunke it openeth the stoppings of the liuer gall and spleene it helpeth the yellow jaundice and likewise long and lingering agues it killeth the wormes in the bellie to be briefe it cleanseth scoureth and maketh thinne humors that are thicke and doth effectually performe whatsoeuer bitter things can Dioscorides and Galen after him report that the decoction draweth downe by siege choler and thicke humors and helpeth the Sciatica but though wee haue vsed this often and luckily yet could we not perceiue euidently that it purges by the stoole any thing at all and yet it hath performed the effects aforesaid This Centorie being stamped and laid on whilest it is fresh and greene doth heale and closevp greene wounds cleanseth old vlcers and perfectly cureth them The iuyce is good in medicines for the eyes mixed with honey it cleanseth away such things as hinder the sight and being drunke it hath a peculiar vertue against the infirmities of the 〈◊〉 as Dioscorides teacheth The Italian Physitions do giue the pouder of the leaues of yellow Centorie once in three daies in the quantitie of a dram with annise or caraway seeds in wine or other liquor which preuaileth against the dropsie and greene sicknesse Of the red floured Ioannes Postius hath thus written Flos
cap. 143. For besides the notes it hath agreeing with the description it is at this day by the Greeks called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ‡ ¶ The Temperature The kindes of Tode-flax are of the same temperature with wilde Snap-dragons whereof they are kindes ¶ The Vertues The decoction os Tode-flax taketh away the yellownesse and deformitie of the skinne beeing washed and bathed therewith The same drunken openeth the stoppings of the Liuer and spleene and is singular good against the iaundise which is of long continuance The same decoction doth also prouoke vrine in those that pisse drop after drop vnstoppeth the kidneies and bladder CHAP. 166. Of Garden flaxe 1 Linum sativum Garden flax The Description FLaxe riseth vp with slender and round stalks The leaues thereof bee long narrow and sharpe pointed on the tops of the sprigs are faire blew floures after which spring vp little round knops or buttons in which is contained the seed in forme somewhat long smooth glib or slipperie of a dark colour The roots be smal and threddie ¶ The Place It prospereth best in a fat and fruitfull soile in moist and not drie places for it requireth as Columella saith a very fat ground and somewhat moist Some saith Palladius do sow it thicke in a leane ground by that means the flax groweth fine Pliny saith that it is to be sowne in grauelly places especially in furrowes Nec magis festinare aliud and that it burneth the ground and maketh it worser which thing also Virgil testifieth in his Georgickes Vrit lini campum seges vrit Auena Vrunt lethaeo perfusa papauera somno In English thus Flaxe and Otes sowne consume The moisture of a fertile field The same worketh Poppie whose Iuice a deadly sleepe doth yeeld ¶ The Time Flaxe is sowne in the spring it floureth in Iune and Iuly After it is cut downe as 〈◊〉 in his 19. booke first chapter saith the stalkes are put into the water subject to the heate 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 sunne and some weight laid on them to be steeped therein the loosenes of the rinde is a signe when it is well steeped then is it taken vp and dried in the sunne and after vsed as most huswiues can 〈◊〉 better than my selfe ¶ The Names It is called both in Greeke and Laine 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Linum in high Dutch 〈◊〉 in Italian and Spanish Lino in French Dulin in low Dutch 〈◊〉 in English Flaxe and Lyne ¶ The Temperature and Vertues Galen in his first booke of the faculties of nourishments saith that diuers vse the seed hereof parched as a sustenance with Garum no otherwise than made salt They also vse it mixed with hony some likewise put it among bread but it is hurtfull to the stomacke and hard of digestion and yeeldeth to the body but little nourishment but 〈◊〉 the quality which maketh the belly soluble neither will I praise or dispraise it yet that it hath some force to prouoke 〈◊〉 is more apparant when it is parched but then it also stayeth the belly more The same author in his bookes of faculties of simple medicines saith that Lineseed being eaten is windy although it be parched so full is it of super fluous moisture and it is also after a 〈◊〉 hot in the first degree and in a meane betweene moist and dry But how windy the seed is and how full of superfluous moisture it is in euery part might very well haue been perceiued a few yeeres since as at Middleborough in Zeland where for want of graine and other corne most of the Citizens were faine to eate bread and cakes made hereof with hony and oile who were in short time after swolne in the belly below the short ribs faces other parts of their 〈◊〉 in such sort that a great number were brought to their graues thereby 〈◊〉 these symptomes or accidents came no otherwise than by the superfluous moisture of the seed which causeth windinesse Lineseed as Dioscorides hath written hath the same properties that Fenugreeke hath it wasteth away and mollifieth all inflammations or hot swellings as well inward as outward if it be boiled with hony oile and a little faire water and made vp with clarified hony it taketh away blemishes of 〈◊〉 face and the sunne burning being raw and vnboiled and also foule 〈◊〉 if it be mixed with salt-peter and figs it causeth rugged and ill fauoured nailes to fall off mixed with hony and water Cresses It draweth forth of the chest corrupted flegme and other filthy humors if a composition with hony be made thereof to licke on and easeth the cough Being taken largely with pepper and hony made into a cake it stirreth vp lust The oile which is pressed out of the seed is profitable for many purposes in physicke and surgery and is vsed of painters picture makers and other artificers It softeneth all hard swellings it stretcheth forth the sinewes that are shrunke and drawne together mitigateth paine being applied in maner of an ointment Some also giue it to drinke to such as are troubled with paine in the side and collicke but it must be 〈◊〉 and newly drawne for if it be old and 〈◊〉 it causeth-aptnesse to vomit and withall it 〈◊〉 heateth Lineseed boiled in water with a little oile and a quantity of Annise-seed impoudered and implaistered vpon an angina or any swelling in the throat helpeth the same It is with good successe vsed plaisterwise boiled in vineger vpon the diseases called Coliaca and Dysenteria which are bloudy fluxes and paines of the belly The seeds stamped with the roots of wilde Cucumbers draweth forth splinters thornes broken bones or any other thing fixed in any part of the body The decoction is an excellent bath for women to sit ouer for the inflammation of the secret parts because it softeneth the hardnesse thereof and easeth paine and aking The seed of Line and Fenugreek made into powder boiled with Mallowes violet leaues Smallage and Chickweed vntill the herbs be soft then stamped in a stone morter with a little hogs grease to the forme of a cataplasme or pultesse appeaseth all maner of paine softneth all cold tumors or swellings mollifieth and bringeth to suppuration all apostumes defendeth wounded members from swellings and rankling and when they be already rankled it taketh the same away being applied very warme euening and morning CHAP. 167. Of Wilde Flaxe ¶ The Description 1 THis Wilde kinde of Line or Flaxe hath leaues like those of garden Flaxe but narrower growing vpon round bright and shining sprigs a foot long and floures like the manured flaxe but of a white colour The root is tough and small with some fibres annexed thereto ‡ This is sometimes found with deep blew floures with violet coloured floures and sometimes with white streaked with white streaked with purple lines ‡ 1 Linum sylvestre 〈◊〉 albis Wilde white flaxe 2 Linum sylvestre 〈◊〉 Thin leaued wilde flaxe 2 The narrow and thinne leafed kinde of Line is very
desired sicknesse prouoketh vrine applied in bathes and fomentations it procureth sweat being boyled in wine it helpeth the ague it easeth the strangurie it stayeth the hicket it breaketh the stones in the bladder it helpeth the Lethargie frensie and madnesse and stayeth the vomiting of bloud Wilde Time boyled in wine and drunke is good against the wambling and gripings of the bellie ruptures convulsions and inflammations of the liuer It helpeth against the bitings of any venomous beast either taken in drinke or outwardly applied Aetius writeth That Serpillum infused well in Vineger and then sodden and mingled with rose water is a right singular remedie to cure them that haue had a long phrensie or lethargie Galen prescribeth one dram of the iuyce to be giuen in vineger against the vomiting of bloud and helpeth such as are grieued with the spleene CHAP. 174. Of Garden Time ¶ The Description 1 THe first kinde of Time is so well knowne that it needeth no description because there is not any which are ignorant what Thymum durius is I meane our common garden Time 2 The second kinde of Time with broad leaues hath many wooddy branches rising from a threddy root beset with leaues like Myrtus The floures are set in rundles about the stalke like Horehound The whole plant is like the common Time in taste and smell 1 Thymum durius Hard Time 2 Thymum latifolium Great or broad leaued Time 3 Time of Candy is in all respects like vnto common Time but differeth in that that this kinde hath certaine knoppy tufts not much vnlike the spikes or knots of Stoecados but much lesser beset with slender floures of a purple colour The whole plant is of a more gracious smell than any of the other Times and of another kinde of taste as it were sauouring like spice The root is brittle and of a wooddy substance 4 Doubtlesse that kinde of Time whereon Epithymum doth grow and is called for that cause Epithymum and vsed in shops is nothing else than Dodder that growes vpon Time and is all one with ours though Matthiolus makes a controuersie and difference thereof for Pena trauelling ouer the hills in Narbone neere the sea hath seene not onely the garden Time but the wilde Time also loden and garnished with this Epithymum So that by his sight and mine owne knowledge I am assured that it is not another kinde of Time that beareth Epithymum but is common Time for I haue often found the same in England not onely vpon our Time but vpon Sauorie and other herbes also notwithstanding thus much I may coniecture that the clymate of those Countries doth yeeld the same forth in greater aboundance than ours by reason of the intemperance of cold whereunto our countrey is subiect 3 Thymum Creticum Time of Candy 4 Epithymum Graecorum Laced Time ¶ The Place These kindes of Time grow plentifully in England in most gardens euery where except that with broad leaues and Time of Candy which I haue in my garden ¶ The Time They flourish from May vnto September ¶ The Names The first may be called hard Time or common garden Time the second Broad leaued Time the third Time of Candy our English women call it Muske Time the last may be called Dodder Time ¶ The Temperature These kindes of Time are hot and dry in the third degree ¶ The Vertues Time boyled in water and hony drunken is good against the cough and shortnes of the breath it prouoketh vrine expelleth the secondine or after-birth and the dead childe and dissolues clotted or congealed bloud in the body The same drunke with vineger and salt purgeth flegme and boyled in Mede or Methegline it cleanseth the breast lungs reines and matrix and killeth wormes Made into pouder and taken in the weight of three drams with Mede or honied vineger called Oxymel and a little salt purgeth by stoole tough and clammie flegme sharpe and cholericke humors and all corruption of bloud The same 〈◊〉 in like sort is good against the Sciatica the paine in the side and brest against the winde in the side and belly and is profitable also for such as are fearefull melancholike and troubled in minde It is good to be giuen vnto those that haue the falling sicknesse to smell vnto 〈◊〉 after Galen is of more effectuall operation in physicke than Time being hot and dry in the third degree more mightily cleansing heating drying and opening than Cuscuta 〈◊〉 right good effect to eradicat melancholy or any other humor in the spleen or other disease sprung by occasion of the spleene It helpeth the long continued paines of the head and besides his singular effects about spleneticall matters it helpeth the lepry or any disease of melancholy all quart aine agues and such like griefes proceeding from the spleene Dioscorides saith Epithymum drunke with honied water expelleth by siege flegme and melancholy Of his natiue propertie it relieueth them which be melancholieke swolne in the face and other parts if you pound Epithymum and take the fine pouder thereof in the quantity of foure scruples in the liquour which the Apothecaries call Passum or with Oxymell and salt which taketh away all flatuous humours and ventosities CHAP. 175. Of Sauorie ¶ The Kindes THere be two kindes of Sauorie the one that indureth VVinter and is of long continuance the other an annuall or yearely plant that perisheth at the time when it hath perfected his seed and must be sowne againe the next yeare which we call Sommer Sauorie or Sauorie of a yeare There is likewise another which is a stranger in England called of Lobel Thymbra S. 〈◊〉 denying it to be the right Satureia or Sauorie whether that of Lobel or that we haue in our English gardens be the true winter Sauorie is yet disputable for we thinke that of S. Iulians rocke to be rather a wilde kinde than otherwise ‡ Pena and Lobel do not denie 〈◊〉 affirme it in these words Nullus non fatetur Satureiam veram that is which none can denie to be the true Satureia or Sauorie Vid. 〈◊〉 pag. 182. ‡ 1 Satureia hortensis VVinter Sauorie 2 Satureia hortensis aestiva Sommer Sauorie ¶ The Description 1 WInter Sauorie is a plant resembling Hyssope but lower more tender and brittle it bringeth forth very many branches compassed on euery side with narrow and sharpe pointed leaues longer than those of Time among which grow the floures from the bottome to the top out of small husks of colour white tending to a light purple The root is hard and wooddie as is the rest of the plant 2 Sommer Sauorie groweth vp with a slender brittle stalke of a foot high diuided into little branches the leaues are narrow lesser than those of Hysope like the leaues of winter Sauorie 〈◊〉 thinner set vpon the branches The floures stand hard to the branches of a light purple tending to whitenesse The root is small full of strings and perisheth when it hath perfected his seed 3
the stopping of the liuer and gall it is a remedie against lingring agues bastard and long tertians quartains also and properly agues in infants and young children as Mesues 〈◊〉 in Scrapio who also teacheth that the nature of Dodder is to purge choler by the stoole and that more effectually if it haue Wormewood ioined with it but too much vsing of it is hurtfull to the stomacke yet Auicen writeth that it doth not hurt it but strengtheneth a weake or feeble stomacke which opinion also we do better allow of 〈◊〉 or the Dodder which groweth vpon Tyme is hotter and drier than the Dodder that groweth vpon flax that is to say euen in the third degree as Galen saith It helpeth all the 〈◊〉 of the milt it is a remedy against obstructions and hard swellings It taketh away old head-aches the salling sicknesse madnesse that commeth of Melancholy and especially that which proceedeth from the spleene and parts thereabout it is good for those that haue the French disease and such as be troubled with contagious vlcers the leprosie and the scabbie euill It purgeth downewards blacke and Melancholicke humours as Aetius Actuarius and Mesue write and also flegme as Dioscorides noteth that likewise purgeth by stoole which groweth vpon Sauorie and Scabious but more weakly as Actuarius saith 〈◊〉 or Dodder that groweth vpon flax boiled in water or wine and drunke openeth the stoppings of the liuer the bladder the gall the milt the kidneies and veines and purgeth both by siege and vrine cholericke humours It is good against the ague which hath continued a long time and against the iaundise I meane that Dodder especially that groweth vpon brambles Epiurtica or Dodder growing vpon nettles is a most singular and effectuall medicine to prouoke vrine and to loose the obstructions of the body and is proued oftentimes in the West parts with good successe against many maladies CHAP. 177. Of Hyssope ¶ The Description 1 DIoscorides that gaue so many rules for the knowledge of simples hath left Hyssope altogether without description as beeing a plant so well knowne that it needed none whose example I follow not onely in this plant but in many others which bee common to auoid tediousnesse to the Reader 1 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Hyssope with blew floures 2 Hyssopus Arabum slore rubro Hyssope with reddish floures 3 Hyssopus albis floribus VVhite floured Hyssope 4 Hyssopus tenuifolia Thinne leafed Hyssope ‡ 5 Hyssopus parva angustis folijs Dwarfe narrow leaued Hyssope 2 The second kind of Hyssope is like the former which is our common Hyssope and differeth in that that this Hyssope hath his small and slender branches decked with faire red floures 3 The third kinde of Hyssop hath leaues stalkes branches seed and root like the common Hyssope and differeth in the floures only which are as white as snow 4 This kinde of Hyssope of all the rest is of the greatest beauty it hath a wooddie root tough and full of strings from which rise vp small tough and slender flexible stalkes wherupon do grow infinite numbers of small Fennel-like leaues much resembling those of the smallest grasse of a pleasant sweet smel aromatick taste like vnto the rest of the Hyssops but much sweeter at the top of the stalks do grow amongst the leaues smal hollow floures of a blewish colour tending to purple The seeds as yet I could neuer obserue ‡ 5 This differs from the first described in that the stalkes are weaker and shorter the leaues also narrower and of a darker colour the floures grow after the same manner are of the same colour as those of the common kinde ‡ We haue in England in our gardens another kinde whose picture it shall be needlesse to expresse considering that in few words it may be deliuered It is like vnto the former but the leaues are some of them white some greene as the other and some green and white mixed and spotted very goodly to behold Of which kinde we haue in our gardens moreouer another sort whose leaues are wonderfully curled rough and hairie growing thicke thrust together making as it were a tuft of leaues in taste and smell and in all other things like vnto the common Hyssope I haue likewise in my garden another sort of Hyssope growing to the forme of a small wooddie shrub hauing very faire broad leaues like vnto those of Numularia or Monywoort but thicker fuller of iuice and of a darker greene colour in taste and smell like the common Hyssope ¶ The Place All these kindes of Hyssope do grow in my garden and in some others also ¶ The Time They floure from Iune to the end of August ¶ The Names Hyssope is called in Latine Hyssopus the which name is likewise retained among the Germans Brabanders French-men Italians and Spaniards Therefore that shall suffice which hath been set downe in their seuerall titles ‡ This is by most Writers iudged to be Hyssope vsed by the Arabian Physitions but not that of the Greekes which is neerer to Origanum and Maricorme as this is to Satureia or Sauorie ‡ ¶ The Temperature and Vertues A decoction of Hyssope made with figs and gargled in the mouth and throte ripeneth breaketh the tumors and imposthumes of the mouth and throte and easeth the difficultie of swallowing comming by cold 〈◊〉 The same made with figges water honie and rue and drunken helpeth the inflammation of the lungs the old cough and shortnesse of breath and the obstructions or stoppings of the breast The sirrup or iuice of Hyssope taken with the sirrup of vineger purgeth by stoole tough and clammie flegme and driueth forth wormes if it be eaten with figges The distilled water drunke is good for those diseases before named but not with that speed and force CHAP. 178. Of Hedge Hyssope ¶ The Description 1 HEdge Hyssope is a low plant or herbe about a span long very like vnto the common Hyssope with many square stalkes or slender branches beset with leaues somewhat larger than Hyssope but very like The floures grow betwixt the leaues vpon short stems of a white colour declining to blewnesse All the herbe is of a most bitter taste like the small Centory The root is little and threddy dilating it selfe farre abroad by which meanes it multiplieth greatly and occupieth much ground where it groweth 1 〈◊〉 Hedge Hyssope ‡ 2 Gratiola angustifolia Grasse Poley 3 Gratiola latifolia Broad leaued Hedge Hyssope ‡ 2 Narrow leaued Hedge Hyssope from a small fibrous white root sends vp a reddish round crested stalke diuided into sundry branches which are set with leaues like those of knot grasse of a pale greene colour and without any stalkes out of the bosome of these come floures set in long cups composed of foure leaues of a pleasing blew colour which are succeeded by longish seed-vessells conteyning a small dusky seed The whole plant is without smell neither hath it any bitternesse or other manifest taste It varies in leaues sometimes broader and otherwhiles
containeth the seed is like the other but more like the eare of Phalaris which is the eare of Alpisti the Canarie seed which is meate for birds that come from the Islands of Canarie The root hereof lasteth all the Winter and likewise keepeth his greene leaues whereof it tooke this addition of Sempervirens 1 Psyllium siue pulicaris herba Flea-wort 2 Psyllium sempervirens Lobelij Neuer dying Flea-wort ¶ The Place These plants are not growing in our fields of England as they doe in France and Spaine yet I haue them growing in my garden ¶ The Time They floure in Iune and Iuly ¶ The Names Flea-wort is called in Greeke 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in Latine Pulicaria and Herba Pulicaris in shops Psyllium in English Flea-wort not because it killeth fleas but because the seeds are like fleas of some Flea-bane but vnproperly in Spanish Zargatona in French L'herbe aus pulces in Dutch Duyls vloye-cruyt ¶ The Temperature Galen and Serapio record that the seed of Psyllium which is chiefely vsed in 〈◊〉 is cold in the second degree and temperate in moisture and drinesse ¶ The Vertues The seed of Flea-wort boyled in water or infused and the decoction or infusion drunke purgeth downewards adust and cholericke humors cooleth the heate of the inward parts hot 〈◊〉 burning agues and such like diseases proceeding of heate and quencheth drought and 〈◊〉 The seed stamped and boyled in water to the forme of a plaister and applied taketh away all swellings of the ioynts especially if you boyle the same with vineger and oyle of Roses and apply it as aforesaid The same applied in manner aforesaid vnto any burning heate called S. Anthonies fire or any hot and violent impostume asswageth the same and bringeth it to ripenesse Some hold that the herbe strowed in the chamber where many fleas be will driue them away for which cause it tooke the name Flea-wort but I thinke it is rather because the seed doth resemble a flea so much that it is hard to discerne the one from the other ¶ The Danger Too much Flea-wort seed taken inwardly is very hurtful to mans nature so that I wish you not to follow the minde of Galen and Dioscorides in this point being a medicine rather bringing a maladie than taking away the griefe remembring the old prouerbe A man may buy gold too 〈◊〉 and the hony is too deare that is lickt from thornes ‡ Dioscorides nor Galen mention no vse of this inwardly but on the contrarie 〈◊〉 in his sixth booke which treats wholly of the curing and preuenting of poysons mentions this in the tenth chapter for a poyson and there sets downe the symptomes which it causes and 〈◊〉 you to the foregoing chapter for the remedies ‡ CHAP. 185. Of Gloue Gillofloures 1 Caryophyllus maximus multiplex The great double Carnation 2 Caryophyllus multiplex The double Cloue Gillofloure ¶ The Kindes THere are at this day vnder the name of Caryophyllus comprehended diuers and sundry sorts of plants of such various colours and also seuerall shapes that a great and large volume would not suffice to write of euery one at large in particular considering how insinite they are and 〈◊〉 euery yeare euery clymate and countrey bringeth forth new sorts such as haue not 〈◊〉 bin written of some whereof are called Carnations others Cloue Gillofloures some Sops in wine some Pagiants or Pagion colour Horse-flesh blunket purple white double and single Gillofloures as also a Gillofloure with yellow floures the which a worshipfull Merchant of London Mr. Nicolas 〈◊〉 procured from Poland and gaue me thereof for my garden which before that time was neuer seene nor heard of in these countries Likewise there be sundry sorts of Pinkes comprehended vnder the same title which shall be described in a seuerall chapter There be vnder the name of Gillofloures also those floures which wee call Sweet-Iohns and Sweet-Williams And first of the great Carnation and Cloue Gillefloure ‡ There are very many kindes both of Gillofloures Pinkes and the like which differ very little in their roots leaues seeds or manner of growing though much in the colour shape and magnitude of their floures wherof some are of one colour other some of more and of them some are striped others spotted c. Now I holding it a thing not so fit for me to insist vpon these accidentall differences of plants hauing specifique differences enough to treat of refer such as are addicted to these commendable and harmelesse delights to suruey the late and ost mentioned Worke of my friend Mr. Iohn Parkinson who hath accurately and plentifully treated of these varieties and if they require further satisfaction let them at the time of the yeare repaire to the garden of Mistresse Tuggy the wife of my late deceased friend Mr. Ralph Tuggy in Westminster which in the excellencie and varietie of these delights exceedeth all that I haue seene as also 〈◊〉 himselfe whilest he liued exceeded most if not all of his time in his care industry and skill in raising encreasing and preseruing of these plants and some others whose losse therefore is the more to be lamented by all those that are louers of plants I will onely giue you the figures of some three or foure more whereof one is of the single one which therefore some 〈◊〉 a Pinke though in mine opinion vnfitly for that it is produced by the seed of most of the double ones and is of different colour and shape as they are varying from them onely in the singlenesse of the floures ‡ ‡ Caryophyllus maior minor rubro albo variegati The white Carnation and Pageant ‡ Caryophyllus purpureus profunde laciniatus The blew or deep purple Gillofloure ¶ The Description 1 THe great Carnation Gillow-floure hath a thicke round wooddy root from which riseth vp many strong ioynted stalkes set with long greene leaues by couples on the top of the stalkes do grow very faire floures of an excellent sweet smell and pleasant Carnation colour whereof it tooke his name 2 The Cloue Gillofloure differeth not from the Carnation but in greatnesse as well of the floures as leaues The floure is exceeding well knowne as also the Pinks and other Gillofloures wherefore I will not stand long vpon the description ¶ Caryophyllus simplex maior The single Gillofloure or Pinke ¶ The Place These Gillofloures especially the Carnations are kept in pots from the extremity of our cold Winters The Cloue Gillofloure endureth better the cold and therefore is planted in gardens ¶ The Time They flourish and floure most part of the Sommer ¶ The Names The Cloue Gillofloure is called of the later Herbarists 〈◊〉 flos of the smell of cloues wherewith it is possessed in Italian Garofoli in Spanish Clauel in French Oeilletz in low-Dutch Ginoffelbloemen in Latine of most Ocellus Damascenus Ocellus Barbaricus and Barbarica in English Carnations and Cloue Gillofloures Of some it is called Vetonica and Herba Tunica The which 〈◊〉 Gordonius hath set downe for
it helpeth those that vomite 〈◊〉 and the Whites in such ashaue them Boiled with wine and honie it cureth the wounds of the inward parts and vlcers of the lungs in a word there is not a better wound herbe no not Tabaco it selfe nor any other what soeuer The herbe boiled in wine with a little honie or meade preuaileth much against the cough in children called the Chinne cough CHAP. 200. Of Bugle or Middle Comfrey ¶ The Description 1 BVgula spreadeth and creepeth alongst the ground like Monie woort the leaues be long fat oleous and of a brown colour for the most part The floures grow about the stalks in rundles compassing the stalke leauing betweene euery rundle bare or naked spaces and are of a faire blew colour and often white I found many plants of it in a moist ground vpon Blacke Heath neere London fast by a village called Charleton but the leaues were green and not browne at all like the other 1 Bugula Middle Consound 2 Bugula flore 〈◊〉 siue carneo White or carnation floured Bugle 2 Bugle with the white floure disfereth not from the precedent in roots leaues and stalks the onely difference is that this plant bringeth forth faire milk white floures and the other those that are blew ‡ It is also sound with a flesh coloured floure and the leaues are lesse snipt than those of the former Bauhine makes mention of one much lesse than those with round suipt leaues and a yellow floure which he saith he had out of England but I haue not as yet seene it nor found any other mention thereof ‡ ¶ The Place Bugula groweth almost in euery wood and copse and such like 〈◊〉 and moist places and is much planted in gardens the other varieties are seldome to be met withall ¶ The Time Bugula floureth in Aprill and May. ¶ The Names Bugle is reckoned among the Consounds or wound herbes and it is called of some Consolida media Bugula and Buglum in High Dutch Guntzel in Low Dutch Senegroen of 〈◊〉 Herba Laurentina in English Browne Bugle of some Sicklewoort and herbe Carpenter but not truly ¶ The Nature Bugle is of a meane temperature betweene heat and drinesse ¶ The Vertues It is commended against inward burstings and members torne rent and bruised and therefore it is put into potions that serue for nodes in which it is of such vertue that it can dissolue waste away congealed and elotted bloud Ruellius writeth that they commonly say in France how he needeth neither Physition nor Surgeon that hath Bugle and Sanickle for it doth not only cure rotten wounds being inwardly taken but also applied to them outwardly it is good for the infirmities of the Liuer it taketh away the obstructions and strengthneth it The decoction of Bugle drunken dissolueth clotted or congealed bloud within the bodie healeth and maketh sound all wounds of the bodie both inward and outward The same openeth the stoppings of the Liuer and gall and is good against the iaundise and feuers of long continuance The same decoction cureth the rotten vlcers and sores of the mouth and gums Bugula is excellent in curing wounds and scratches and the iuice cureth the wounds vlcers and sores of the secret parts or the herbe bruised and laid thereon CHAP. 201 Of Selfe-heale 1 Prunella Selfe-heale 2 Prunella 〈◊〉 The second Selfe-heale 3 Prunella flore albo White floured Selfe 〈◊〉 ¶ The 〈◊〉 1 PRunell or Brunel hath square hairy stalks of a foot high beset with long hairy and sharpe pointed leaues at the top of the stalks grow floures thicke set together like an 〈◊〉 or spiky knap of a browne colour mixed with blew floures and sometimes white of which kinde I found some plants in Essex 〈◊〉 Henningham castle The root is small and very threddie †2 Prunella altera or after Lobel and Pena Symphytum 〈◊〉 hath leaues like the last described but somewhat narrower and the leaues that grow commonly towards the tops of the stalks are deeply diuided or cut in after the manner of the leaues of the small Valerian and sometimes the lower leaues are also diuided but that is more seldom the heads and floures are like those of the former and the colour of the floures is commonly purple yet somtimes it is found with flesh coloured and otherwhiles with white or ashe coloured floures 3 The third sort of Selfe-heale is like vnto the last described in root stalke leaues in euery other point sauing that the floures hereof are of a perfect white colour and the others not so which maketh the difference ‡ The figure which our Authour gaue in this third place was of the Prunella secunda of Tabern which I iudge to be all one with the Prunella 1. non vulgaris of Clusius and that because the floures in that of Tabernamontanus are expressed Ventre laxiore which Clusius complaines his drawer did not obserue the other parts also agree now this of Clusius hath much larger floures than the ordinary and those commonly of a deeper purple colour yet they are sometimes 〈◊〉 and otherwhiles of an ashe colour the leaues also are somewhat more hairie long and sharpe pointed than the ordinary and herein consists the greatest difference ‡ ¶ The Place The first kinde of Prunell or Brunell groweth verie commonly in all our fieldes throughout England The second Brunel or Symphytum petraeum groweth naturally vpon rocks 〈◊〉 mountaines and grauelly grounds ‡ The third for any thing that I know is a stranger with vs but the 〈◊〉 common kinde I haue found with white floures ‡ ¶ The Time These plants floure for the most part all Sommer long ¶ The Names Brunel is called in English Prunell Carpenters herbe Selfe-heale and Hooke 〈◊〉 and Sicklewoort It is called of the later Herbarists Brunella and Prunella of Matthiolus Consolida minor and Solidago minor but saith Ruellius the Daisie is the right Consolida minor and also the Solidago minor ¶ The Nature These herbes are of the temperature of Bugula that is to say moderately hot and drie and something binding ¶ The Vertues The decoction of Prunell made with wine or water doth ioine together and make whole and sound all wounds both inward and outward euen as Bugle doth Prunell bruised with oile of Roses and Vineger and laied to the forepart of the head swageth and helpeth the paine and aking thereof To bee short it serueth for the same that Bugle doth and in the world there are not two better wound herbs as hath been often proued It is commended against the infirmities of the mouth and especially the ruggednesse blackenesse and drinesse of the tongue with a kinde of swelling in the same It is an infirmitie amongst souldiers that lie in campe The Germans call it de Braun which happeneth not without a continuall ague and frensie The remedie hereof is the decoction of Selfe-heale with common water after bloud letting out of the veins of the tongue and the
as in the Veronica's The root is knotty and fibrous and growes so fast amongst the rockes that it cannot easily be got out It floureth in Iuly 〈◊〉 describes this by the name of Teucrium 6. Pumilum and Pona sets it forth by the name of Veronica petraea semper virens ‡ 5 This Spanish Germander riseth vp oft times to the height of a man in manner of a hedge bush with one stiffe stalke of the bignesse of a mans little finger couered ouer with a whitish bark diuided sometimes into other branches which are alwayes placed by couples one right against another of an ouerworne hoarie colour and vpon them are placed leaues not much vnlike the common Germander the vpper parts whereof are of a grayish hoarie colour and the lower of a deepe greene of a bitter taste and somewhat crooked turning and winding themselues after the manner of a welt The floures come forth from the bosome of the leaues standing vpon small tender foot-stalkes of a white colour without any helmet or hood on their tops hauing in the middle many threddy strings The whole plant keepeth greene all the Winter long 6 Among the rest of the Tree Germanders this is not of least beauty and account hauing many weake and feeble branches trailing vpon the ground of a darke reddish colour hard and wood die at the bottome of which stalks come forth many long broad iagged leaues not vnlike the 〈◊〉 hoary vnderneath and greene aboue of a binding and drying taste The floures grow at the top of the stalkes not vnlike to those of Cistus foemina or Sage-rose and are white of colour consisting of eight or nine leaues in the middle whereof do grow many threddy chiues without smell or sauour which being past there succeedeth a tuft of rough threddy or flocky matter not vnlike to those of the great Auens or Pulsatill the root is wooddy and set with some few hairie strings fastned to the same ¶ The Place These plants do ioy in stony and rough mountaines and dry places and such as lie open to the Sunne and aire and prosper well in gardens and of the second sort I haue receiued one plant for my garden of Mr. Garret Apothecarie ¶ The Time They floure flourish and seed when the other Germanders do ¶ The Names Tree Germander is called in Greeke 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 retaining the name of the former Chamaedrys and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 according to the authoritie of Dioscorides and Pliny in Latine 〈◊〉 in English Great Germander vpright Germander and Tree Germander ¶ The Temperature and Vertues Their temperature and faculties are referred vnto the garden Germander but they are not of such force and working wherefore they be not much vsed in physicke CHAP. 214. Of Water Germander or Garlicke Germander ¶ The Description 1 SCordium or water Germander hath square hairie stalkes creeping by the ground beset with soft whitish crumpled leaues nickt and snipt round about the edges like a Saw among which grow small purple floures like the floures of dead Nettle The root is small and threddy creeping in the ground very deepely The whole plant being bruised smelleth like Garlicke whereof it tooke that name Scordium ‡ This by reason of goodnesse of soile varieth in the largenesse thereof whence Tabernamont anus and our Author made a bigger and a lesser thereof but I haue omitted the later as superfluous ‡ ¶ The Place Water Germander groweth neere to Oxenford by Ruley on both sides of the water and in a medow by Abington called Nietford by the relation of a learned Gentleman of S. 〈◊〉 in the said towne of Oxenford a diligent 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 my very good friend called Mr. Richard Slater Also it groweth in great plenty in the Isle of Elie and in a medow by Harwood in Lancashire and diuers other places 1 Scordium Water Germander ¶ The Time The floures appeare in Iune and Iuly it is best to gather the herbe in August it perisheth not in Winter but onely loseth the stalkes which come vp againe in Sommer the root remaineth fresh all the yeare ¶ The Names The Grecians call it 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Latines do keepe that name 〈◊〉 the Apothecaries haue no other name It is called of some Trixago Palustris Quercula and also Mithridatium of Mithridates the finder of it out It tooke the name Scordium from the smel of Garlicke which the Grecians call 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of the rancknesse of the smell in high-Dutch 〈◊〉 battenig in French Scordion in Italian Chalamandrina palustre in English Scordium Water Germander and Garlicke Germander ¶ The Temperature Water Germander is hot and dry it hath a certaine bitter taste harsh and sharpe as Galen witnesseth ¶ The Vertues Water Germander cleanseth the intrals and likewise old vlcers being mixed with honey according to art it prouoketh vrine and bringeth downe the monethly sickenesse it draweth out of the chest thicke flegme and rotten matter it is good for an old cough paine in the sides which commeth of stopping and cold and for burstings and inward ruptures The decoction made in wine and drunke is good against the bitings of Serpents and deadly poysons and is vsed in antidotes or counterpoysons with good successe It is reported to mitigate the paine of the gout being stamped and applied with a little vineger and water Some affirme that raw flesh being laid among the leaues of Scordium may be preserued a long time from corruption Being drunke with wine it openeth the stoppings of the liuer the milt kidnies bladder and matrix prouoketh vrine helpeth the strangurie that is when a man cannot pisse but by drops and is a most singular cordiall to comfort and make merry the heart The pouder of Scordion taken in the quantitie of two drams in meade or honied water cureth and stoppeth the bloudy flix and comforteth the stomacke Of this Scordium is made a most singular medicine called Diascordium which serueth very notably for all the purposes aforesaid The same medicine made with Scordium is giuen with very good successe vnto children and aged people that haue the small pockes measles or the Purples or any other pestilent sicknesse whatsoeuer euen the plague it selfe giuen before the sicknes haue vniuersally possessed the whole body CHAP. 215. Of Wood Sage or Garlicke Sage ¶ The Description THat which is called Wilde Sage hath stalkes foure square somewhat hairie about which are leaues like those of Sage but shorter broader and softer the floures grow vp all vpon one side of the stalke open and forked as those of dead Nettle but lesser of a pale white colour then grow the seeds foure together in one huske the root is full of strings It is a plant that liueth but a yeare it smelleth of garlicke when it is bruised being a kinde of Garlicke Germander as appeareth by the smell of garlicke wherewith it is possessed Scorodonia siue Saluia agrestis Wood Sage or
This floures in March and was found growing wilde by Clusius in the fields of Valentia he calls it Tragoriganum Hispanicum tertium Pena and Lobel call it Tragoriganum Cretense apud Venetas that is the Candy Goats Marierome of the Venetians ‡ ¶ The Place These plants grow wilde in Spaine Italy and other hot countries The first of these I found growing in diuers barren and chalky fields and high-wayes neere vnto Sittingburne and Rochester in Kent and also neere vnto Cobham house and Southfleet in the same county ‡ I doubt our Author was mistaken for I haue not heard of this growing wilde with vs. ‡ ¶ The Time They floure in the moneth of August I remember saith Dodonaeus that I haue seene Tragoriganum in the Low-countries in the gardens of those that apply their whole study to the knowledge of plants or as we may say in the gardens of cunning Herbarists ¶ The Names Goats Organie is called in Greeke 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in Latine likewise Tragoriganum in English goats Organie and Goats Marierome ¶ The Temperature Goats Organies are hot and dry in the third degree They are saith Galen of a binding qualitie ¶ The Vertues Tragoriganum or Goats Marierome is very good against the wamblings of the stomacke and the 〈◊〉 belchings of the same and stayeth the desire to vomit especially at sea 〈◊〉 bastard kindes of Organie or wilde Marieromes haue the 〈◊〉 force and faculties that the other 〈◊〉 haue for the diseases mentioned in the same chapter CHAP. 220. Of Herbe Masticke ¶ The Description 1 THe English and French herbarists at this day do in their vulgar tongues call this herb Masticke or Mastich taking this name Marum of Maro King of Thrace though some rather suppose the name corruptly to be deriued from this word Amaracus the one plant being so like the other that many learned haue taken them to be one and the selfe same plant others haue taken 〈◊〉 for Sampsuchus which doubtlesse is a kinde of Marierome Some as Dodonaeus haue called this our Marum by the name of Clinopodium which name rather belongs to another plant than to Masticke ‡ This growes some foot high with little longish leaues set by couples at the tops of the stalkes amongst white downie heads come little white floures the whole plant is of a very sweet and pleasing smell ‡ 2 If any be desirous to search for the true Marum let them be assured that the plant last mentioned is the same but if any do doubt thereof for nouelties sake here is presented vnto your view a plant of the same kinde which cannot be 〈◊〉 for a speciall kind thereof which hath a most pleasant sent or smell and in shew resembleth Marierome and Origanum consisting of smal twigs a foot and more long the heads 〈◊〉 like the common Marierome but the leaues are lesse and like Myrtus the root is of a 〈◊〉 substance with many strings hanging thereat 1 Marum Herbe Masticke 2 Marum Syriacum Assyrian Masticke 3 Marum supinum Lobelij Creeping Masticke ¶ The Place These plants are set and sowne in the gardens of England and there maintained with great care and diligence from the iniurie of our cold clymate ¶ The Time They floure about August and somewhat later in cold Sommers ¶ The Names ‡ Masticke is called of the new writers Marum and some as Lobel and Anguillara thinke it the 〈◊〉 odorum of Theophrastus Dodonaeus iudges it to be the Clinopodium of 〈◊〉 Clusius makes it his Tragoriganum 1. and saith he receiued the seeds thereof by the name of Ambra dulcis ‡ ¶ The Nature These plants are hot and drie in the third degree ¶ The Vertues Dioscorides writeth that the herbe is drunke and likewise the decoction thereof against the bitings of venomous beasts crampes and convulsions burstings and the strangurie The decoction boiled in wine till the third part be consumed and drunke stoppeth the laske 〈◊〉 them that haue an ague and vnto others in water CHAP. 221. Of Pennie Royall or pudding grasse 1 Pulegium regium Pennie Royall 2 Pulegium mas Vpright Pennie Royall ¶ The Description 1 PVlegium regium vulgatum is so exceedingly well knowne to all our English 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 it needeth no description being our common Pennie Royall 2 The second being the male Pennie Royall is like vnto the former in 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and smell and differeth in that this male kinde groweth vpright of himselfe without 〈◊〉 much like in shew vnto wilde Marierome 3 Pulegium angustifolium Narrow leafed Pennie Royall 3 The third kinde of Pennie Royall growes like vnto Tyme and is of a wooddie substance somewhat like vnto the thinne leased Hyssope of the sauour of common Pennie Royall ‡ but much stronger and more pleasant the longish narrow leaues stand vpon the stalkes by couples with little leaues comming forth of their bosomes and towards the tops of the branches grow rundles of small purple floures This grows plentifully about Montpellier and by the Authors of the Aduersaria who first set it forth it is stiled Pulegium angustifol sive ceruinum Monspeliensium ‡ ¶ The Place The first and common Pennie Royall groweth naturally wilde in moist and ouerflown places as in the Common neere London called Miles end about the holes ponds thereof in sundry places from whence poore women bring plentie to sell in London markets and it groweth in sundrie other Commons neere London likewise The second groweth in my garden the third I haue not as yet seene ¶ The Time They floure from the beginning of Iune to the end of August ¶ The Names Pennie Royall is called in Greeke 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and oftentimes 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in Latine Pulegium and Pulegium regale for difference sake betweene it and wilde Tyme which of some is called Pulegium 〈◊〉 in Italian Pulegio in Spanish Poleo in Dutch Poley in French Pouliot in English Pennie Roy. all Pudding grasse Puliall Royall and of some Organie ¶ The Nature Pennie Royall is hot and drie in the third degree and of subtill parts as Galen saith ¶ The Vertues Pennie Royall boiled in wine and drunken prouoketh the monthly termes bringeth forth the secondine the dead childe and vnnaturall birth it prouoketh vrine and breaketh the stone especially of the kidneies Pennie Royall taken with honie clenseth the lungs and cleereth the breast from all grosse and thicke humours The same taken with honie and Aloes purgeth by stoole melancholie humours helpeth the crampe and drawing together of 〈◊〉 The same taken with water and Vineger asswageth the inordinate desire to vomite the pains of the stomacke If you haue when you are at the sea Pennie Royal in great quantitie drie and cast it into corrupt water it helpeth it much neither will it hurt them that drinke thereof A Garland of Pennie royall made and worne about the head is of great force against the swimming in the head the paines and giddinesse thereof The
away with the winde being few in number and little in quantity so that without great diligence the seed is not to be gathered or preserued for my selfe haue often indeuoured to see it and yet haue lost my labour The roote is very thicke and of an excellent sweete sauour 1 Valeriana rubra Dodonaei Red Valerian 2 Behen album Spatling poppy 2 The second is taken for Spumeum papauer in respect of that kinde of frothy spattle or spume which we call Cuckow spittle that more aboundeth in the bosomes of the leaues of these plants than in any other plant that is knowne for which cause Pena calleth it Papaver spumeum that is frothy or spatling Poppy his floure doth very little resemble any kinde of Poppy but onely the seede and cod or bowle wherein the seede is contained otherwise it is like the other Ocymastrum the floures grow at the top of the stalkes hanging downewards of a white colour and it is taken generally for Behen album the roote is white plaine and long and very tough and hard to breake ¶ The Place The first groweth plentifully in my garden being a great ornament to the same and not common in England The second groweth almost in euery pasture ¶ The Time These plants do floure from May to the end of August ¶ The Names Red Valerian hath beene so called of the likenesse of the floures and spoked rundles with Valerian by which name we had rather haue it called than rashly to lay vpon itan vnproper name There are some also who would haue it to be a kinde of Behen of the later Herbarists naming the same 〈◊〉 rubrum for difference between it and the other Behenalbum that of some is called Ocymastrum and Papauer spumeum which I haue Englished Spatling Poppie and is in truth another plant much differing from Behen of the Arabians it is also called Valerianthon Saponaria altera Struthium Aldroandi and Condurdum in English red Valerian and red Cow Basill Spatling Poppie is called Behen album Ocymastrum alterum of some Polemonium and Papauer spumeum in English Spatling Poppie frothie Poppie and white Ben. ¶ The Nature These plants are drie in the second degree ¶ The Vertues The root of Behen Album drunke in wine is good against the bloudie fluxe and beeing pound leaues and floures and laid to cureth the stingings of Scorpions and such like venomous beasts insomuch that who so doth hold the same in his hand can receiue no damage or hurt by any venomous beast The decoction of the root made in water and drunke prouoketh vrine it helpeth the strangurie and paines about the backe and Huckle bone CHAP. 225. Of Mints ¶ The Kindes THere be diuers sorts of Mints some of the garden other wilde or of the field and also some of the water ¶ The Description 1 THe first tame or garden Mint commeth vp with stalkes foure square of an obscure red colour somewhat hairie which are couered with round leaues nicked in the edges like a saw of a deepe greene colour the floures are little and red and grow about the stalkes circle-wise as those of Pennie Royall the roote creepeth aslope in the ground hauing some strings on it and now and then in sundry places it buddeth out afresh the whole herbe is of a pleasant smell and it rather lieth downe than standeth vp 2 The second is like to the first in hairie stalkes something round in blackish leaues in creeping roots and also in smell but the floures do not at all compasse the stalke about but stand vp in the tops of the branches being orderly placed in little eares or rather catkines or aglets 3 The leaues of Speare-Mint are long like those of the Willow tree but whiter softer and more bairie the floures are orderly placed in the tops of the stalks and in ears like those of the second The root hereof doth also creepe no otherwise than doth that of the first vnto which it is like 4 There is another sort of Mint which hath long leaues like to the third in stalks yet in leaues and in roots lesser but the floures hereof stand not in the tops of the branches but compasse the stalks about circle-wise as do those of the first which be of a light purple colour 1 Mentha sativarubra Red Garden Mints 2 Mentha cruciata sive crispa Crosse Mint or curled Mint 3 Mentha Romana Speare Mint ‡ 4 Mentha Cardiaca Heart Mint ‡ 5 Mentha spicata 〈◊〉 Balsam Mint ¶ The Place Most vse to set Mints in Gardens almost euery where ¶ The Time Mints do floure and flourish in Sommer in Winter the roots onely remaine being once set they continue long and remaine 〈◊〉 and fast in the ground ¶ The Names Mint is called in Greeke 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the sweet smell saith Pliny in his 19. booke cap. 8. hath changed the name among the Graecians when as otherwise it should be called Mintha from whence our old writers haue deriued the name for 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 signifieth sweet and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 smel The Apothecaries Italians and French men do keepe the Latine name Mentha the Spaniards do call it Yerua buena and Ortelana in High Dutch Muntz in Low Dutch Munte in English Mint The first Mint is called in High Dutch Diement in Low Dutch Bruyn heylighe he that would translate it into Latin must call it Sacranigricans or the holy blackish mint in English browne Mint or red Mint The second is also called in High Dutch Krausz diement Krausz muntz and Krausz balsam that is to say Mentha cruciata in French Beaume crespu in English CrosseMint or curled Mint The third is called of diuers Mentha Sarracenica Mentha Romana it is called in High Dutch Balsam muntz Onser frawen muntz Spitzer muntz Spitzer balsam it may be called Mentha angustifolia that is to say Mint with the narrow leafe and in English Speare Mint common garden Mint our Ladies Mint browne Mint and Macrell Mint The fourth is called in High Dutch Hertzkraut as though it were to bee named Cardiaca or Cardiaca Mentha in English Hart-woort or Heart-mint ‡ This is the Sisymbrium sativum of Matthiolus and Mentha hortensis altera of Gesner the Italians call it Sisembrio domestico and Balsamita the Germanes Kakenbalsam ‡ ¶ The Temperature Mint is hot and drie in the third degree It is saith Galen somewhat bitter and harsh and it is inferiour to Calamint The smell of Mint saith Pliny doth stir vp the minde and the taste to a greedy desire to meat ¶ The Vertues Mint is maruellous wholesome for the stomacke it staieth the Hicket parbraking vomiting scowring in the Cholerike passion if it be taken with the iuice of a soure pomegranate It stoppeth the casting vp of bloud being giuen with water and vineger as Galen teacheth And in broth saith Pliny it staieth the floures and is singular good against
plant bringeth forth floures of the same fashion but of a snow white colour wherein consisteth the difference ‡ Our Authour out of 〈◊〉 us gaue three figures with as many descriptions of this plant yet made it onely to vary in the colour of the floures being either purple white or red but he did not touch the difference which Tabernamontanus by his figures exprest which was the first had all the leaues whole being only snipt about the edges the lower leaues of the second were most of them whole and those vpon the stalkes deepely cut in or diuided and the third had the leaues both below and aboue all cut in or deepely diuided The figure which we here giue you expresses the first and third varieties and if you please the one may be with white and the other with red or purple floures ‡ ¶ The Place Sawe-woort groweth in woods and shadowie places and sometimes in medowes They grow in Hampsted wood likewise I haue seene it growing in great abundance in the wood adjoining to Islington within halfe a mile from the further end of the towne and in sundry places of Essex and Suffolke ¶ The Time They floure in Iuly and August ¶ The Names The later age doe call them Serratula and Serratula tinctoria it differeth as we haue said from Betony which is also called Serratula other names if it haue any we know not it is called in English Sawewoort ‡ Coesalpinus calls it Cerretta and Serretta and Thalius 〈◊〉 or Centaurium maius sylvestre Germanicum ‡ ¶ The Temperature and Vertues Serratula is wonderfully commended to be most singular for wounds ruptures burstings and such like and is referred vnto the temperature of Sanicle CHAP. 243. Of Betony ¶ The Description 1 BEtony groweth vp with long leaues and broad of a darke greene colour slightly indented about the edges like a saw The stalke is flender foure square somewhat rough a foote high more or lesse It beareth eared floures of a purplish colour and 〈◊〉 reddish after the floures commeth in place long cornered seed The root consisteth of many strings 1 Betonica Betony 2 Betony with white floures is like the precedent in each respect sauing that the flours of this plant are white and of greater beautie and the others purple or red as aforesaid ¶ The Place Betony loues shadowie woods hedge-rowes and copses the borders of pastures and such like places Betony with white floures is seldome seene I found it in a wood by a village called Hampstead neere vnto a worshipfull Gentlemans house one of the Clerkes of the Queenes counsell called Mr. Wade from whence I brought plants for my garden where they flourish as in their naturall place of growing ¶ The Time They floure and flourish for the most part in Iune and Iuly ¶ The Names Betony is called in Greeke 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in Latine Betonica of diuers Vetonica but vnproperly There is likewise another Betonica which Paulus Aegineta described and Galen in his first booke of the gouernment of health sheweth that it is called 〈◊〉 that is to say Betonica Betonie and also Sarxiphagon Dioscorides notwithstanding doth describe another Sarxiphagon ¶ The Temperature Betony is hot and dry in the second degree it hath force to cut as Galen saith ¶ The Vertues Betony is good for them that be subject to the falling sickenesse and for those also that haue ill heads vpon a cold cause It clenseth the lungs and chest it taketh away obstructions or stoppings of the liuer milt and gall it is good against the yellow jaundise It maketh a man to haue a good stomack and appetite to his meate it preuaileth against sower belchings it maketh a man to pisse well it mitigateth paine in the kidnies and bladder it breaketh stones in the kidnies and driueth them forth It is also good for ruptures cramps and convulsions it is a remedie against the bitings of mad dogs and venomous serpents being drunke and also applied to the hurts and is most singular against poyson It is commended against the paine of the Sciatica or ache of the huckle bone There is a Conserue made of the floures and sugar good for many things and especially for the head-ache A dram weight of the root of Betonie dried and taken with meade or honied water procureth vomit and bringeth forth grosse and tough humors as diuers of our age do report The pouder of the dried leaues drunke in wine is good for them that spit or pisse bloud and cureth all inward wounds especially the greene leaues boyled in wine and giuen The pouder taken with meate looseth the belly very gently and helpeth them that haue the falling sicknesse with madnesse and head-ache It is singular against all paines of the head it killeth wormes in the belly helpeth the Ague it cleanseth the mother and hath great vertue to heale the body being hurt within by bruising or such like CHAP. 244. Of Water-Betony ¶ The Description WAter Betony hath great square hollow and brown stalks whereon are set very broad leaues notched about the edges like vnto those of Nettles of a swart greene colour growing for the most part by two and two as it were from one ioynt opposite or standing one right against an other The floures grow at the top of the branches of a darke purple colour in shape like to little helmets The seed is small contained in round bullets or buttons The root is compact of many and infinite strings Betonica aquatica Water Betony ¶ The Place It groweth by brookes and running waters by ditch sides and by the brinks of riuers and is seldome found in dry places ¶ The Time It floureth in Iuly and August and from that time the seed waxeth ripe ¶ The Names Water Betonie is called in Latine Betonica aquatica some haue thought it Dioscorides his Clymenum others his Galeopsis it is Scrophularia altera of Dodonoeus of Turner Clymenon of some Sesamoides minus but not properly of others Serpentaria in Dutch S. Antonies cruyd in English Water Betonie and by some Browne-wort in Yorke-shire Bishops leaues ¶ The Temperature Water Betony is hot and dry ¶ The Vertues The leaues of Water Betony are of a scouring or cleansing qualitie and is very good to mundifie foule and stinking vlcers especially the iuyce boyled with honey It is reported if the face be washed with the iuyce thereof it taketh away the rednesse and deformitie of it CHAP. 245. Of Great Figge-wort or Brownewort ¶ The Description 1 THe great Fig-wort springeth vp with stalkes foure square two cubits high of a darke purple colour and hollow within the leaues grow alwayes by couples as it were from one ioynt opposite or standing one right against another broad sharpe pointed snipped round about the edges like the leaues of the greater Nettle but bigger blacker and nothing at all stinging when they be touched the floures in the tops of the 〈◊〉 are of a darke purple colour very like in forme to little
and slackenesse of the sinewes which is the palsie The decoction of the roots is thought to be profitably 〈◊〉 against the stone in the kidneyes and bladder and the iuyce of the leaues for members that are loose and out of ioynt or inward parts that are hurt rent or broken A dramme and a halfe of the pouder of the dried roots of field Primrose gathered in Autumne giuen to drinke in Ale or Wine purgeth by vomit very forcibly but safely waterish humours choler and flegme in such manner as Azarum doth experimented by a learned and skilfull Apothecarie of Colchester Mr. Thomas Buckstone a man singular in the knowledge of Simples A conserue made with the floures of Cowslips and sugar preuaileth wonderfully against the palsie convulsions cramps and all the diseases of the sinewes Cowslips or Paigles do greatly restraine or stop the belly in the time of a great laske or bloudy flix if the decoction thereof be drunke warme A practitioner in London who was famous for curing the frensie after that hee had performed his cure by the due obseruation of physicke accustomed euery yeare in the moneth of May to diet his patients after this manner Take the leaues and floures of Primrose boyle them a little in fountaine water and in some Rose and Betony waters adding thereto sugar pepper salt and butter which being strained he gaue them to drinke thereof first and last The roots of Primrose stamped and strained and the iuyce sniffed into the nose with a quill or such like purgeth the braine and qualifieth the paine of the megrim An 〈◊〉 made with the iuyce of Cowslips and oyle of Linseed cureth all scaldings or burnings with fire water or otherwise The floures of Primroses sodden in vineger and applied do heale the Kings Euill as also the almonds of the throat and uvula if you gargarise the part with the decoction thereof The leaues and floures of Primroses boyled in wine and drunke is good against all diseases of the brest and lungs and draweth forth of the flesh any thorne or splinter or bone fixed therein CHAP. 274. Of Birds-eine 1 Primulaveris flore rubro Red Bird-eyne 2 Primula veris flore albo White Bird-eyne ¶ The Description 1 SOme Herbarists call this plant by the name of Sanicula angustifolia making thereof two kinds and distinguishing them by these termes maior minor siue media others cal them Paralytica alpina which without controuersie are kindes of Cowslips agreeing with them as well in shape as in their nature and vertues hauing leaues much like vnto Cowslips but smaller growing flat vpon the ground of a faint greenish colour on the vpper side vnderneath of a white or 〈◊〉 colour among which rise vp small and tender stalkes of a foot high hauing at the top of euery stalke a bush 〈◊〉 small floures in shape like the common Oxlip sauing that they are of a faire stammell colour tending to purple in the middle of euery small floure appeareth a little yellow spot resembling the eye of a bird which hath moued the people of the North parts where it aboundeth to call it Birds eyne The seed is small like dust and the root white and threddy 2 The second is like the first sauing that the whole plant is greater in each respect and that the floures are of a whitish colour ¶ The Place These plants grow very plentifully in moist and squally grounds in the North parts of England as in Harwood neere to Blackburne in Lancashire and ten miles from Preston in Aundernesse also at Crosby Rauenswaith and Crag-Close in Westmerland They likewise grow in the medowes belonging to a village in Lancashire neere Maudsley called Harwood and at Hesketh not far from thence and in many other places of Lancashire but not on this side Trent that I could euer haue any certaine knowledge of Lobel reporteth That doctor Penny a famous Physition of our London Colledge did finde them in these Southerne parts ¶ The Time They floure and flourish from Aprill to the end of May. ¶ The Names The first is called Primrose with the red floure the second Primrose with the white floure and Birds eyne ¶ The Nature and Vertues The nature and vertues of these red and white Primroses must be sought out amongst those aboue named CHAP 275. Of Beares eares or Mountaine Cowslips 1 Auricula vrsiflore luteo Yellow Beares-eare 2 Auricula vrsiflore purpurco Purple Beares-eare ¶ The Kindes THere be diuers sorts of Mountaine Cowslips or Beares-eares differing especially in the colour of their floures as shall be declared notwithstanding it may appeare to the curious that there is great difference in the roots also considering some of them haue knobby roots and others threddy notwithstanding there is no difference in the roots at all ‡ There are diuers 〈◊〉 of these 〈◊〉 and the chiefe differences arise either from the leaues or floures from their leaues which are either smooth and greene or else gray and hoary againe they are smooth about the edges or snipt more or lesse The floures some are fairer then othersome and their colours are so various that it is hard to finde words to expresse them but they may be refer'd to whites reds yellowes and purples for of all the varieties and mixtures of these they chiefely consist The gardens of Mr. Tradescant and Mr. 〈◊〉 are at this present furnished with very great varieties of these floures ‡ 3 Auricula Vrsi ij Clusij Red Beares eare 4 Auricula Vrsi iiij Clusij Scarlet Beares eare ¶ The Description 1 AVricula Vrsi was called of Matthiolus Pena and other Herbarists Sanicula Alpina by reason of his singular facultie in healing of wounds both inward and outward They do all call it Paralityca because of his vertues in curing the palsies cramps and convulsions and is numbred among the kindes of Cowslips whereof no doubt they are kinds as others are which do hereafter follow vnder the same title although there be some difference in the colour of the floures This beautifull and braue plant hath thicke greene and fat leaues somewhat finely snipt about the edges not altogether vnlike those of Cowslips but smoother greener and nothing rough or crumpled among which riseth vp a slender round stem a handfull high bearing a tuft of floures at the top of a faire yellow colour not much vnlike to the floures of Oxe-lips but more open and consisting of one only leafe like Cotiledon the root is very threddy and like vnto the Oxe-lip 2 The leaues of this kinde which beareth the purple floures are not so much sinipt about the edges these said purple floures haue also some yellownesse in the middle but the floures are not so much laid open as the former otherwise in all respects they are like 3 Carolus Clusius setteth forth in the booke of his Pannonicke trauels two kindes more which he hath found in his trauell ouer the Alpes and other mountaines of Germanie and Heluetia being the third in
like those of the last described And the seed also growes like vnto that of the Water 〈◊〉 last described 5 There is also another kinde of water Milfoile which hath leaues very like vnto water Violet smaller and not so many in number the stalke is small and tender bearing yellow gaping floures fashioned like a hood or the small Snapdragon which caused Pena to put vnto his 〈◊〉 this additament Galericulatum that is hooded The roots are small and threddy with some few knobs hanging thereat like the sounds of fish 2 Millesolium aquaticum Water Yarrow 3 Millesolium siue 〈◊〉 flore 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 aquatici 〈◊〉 facie Crow-foot or water Milsoile ‡ 6 To these may we adde a small water Milfoile set sorth by Clusius It hath round greene stalkes set with many ioynts whereout come at their lower ends many hairy fibres whereby it taketh hold of the mud the tops of these stems stand some handfull aboue the water and at each ioynt stand fiue long finely winged leaues very greene and some inch long which wax lesse and lesse as they stand higher or neerer the top of the stalke and at each of these leaues about the top of the stem growes one small white floure consisting of six little leaues ioyned together and not opening themselues and these at length turne into little knobs with foure little pointals standing out of them Clusius calls this Myriophyllon aquaticum minus ‡ ‡ 4 Millefolium tenuifolium Fennell leaued water Milfoile ‡ 5 Millefolium palustre galericulatum Hooded water Milfoile ¶ The Place They be found in lakes and standing waters or in waters that run slowly I haue not found such plenty of it in any one place as in the water ditches adioyning to Saint George his field neere London ¶ The Time They floure for the most part in May and Iune ¶ The Names The first is called in Dutch water Uiolerian that is to say Viola aquatilis in English Water Gillofloure or water Violet in French Gyroflees d'eaue Matthiolus makes this to be also Myrophylli 〈◊〉 or a kinde of Yarrow although it doth not agree with the description thereof for neither hath it one stalke onely nor one single root as Myriophyllon or Yarrow is described to haue for the roots are full of strings and it bringeth forth many stalkes The second is called in Greeke 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in Latine Millefolium and Myriophyllon and also Supercilium Veneris in shops it is vnknowne This Yarrow differeth from that of the land the rest are sufficiently spoken of in their titles ¶ The Nature and Vertues Water Yarrow as Dioscorides saith is of a dry facultie and by reason that it taketh away hot inflammations and swellings it seemeth to be of a cold nature for Dioscorides affirmeth that water Yarrow is a remedie against inflammations in greene wounds if with vineger it be applied greene or dry and it is giuen inwardly with vineger and salt to those that haue fallen from a high place Water Gillofloure or water Violet is thought to be cold and dry yet hath it no vse in physicke at all CHAP. 301. Of Ducks meate Lens palustris Ducks meate ¶ The Description DVckes meate is as it were a certaine greene mosse with very little round leaues of the bignesse of Lentils out of the midst whereof on the nether side grow downe very fine threds like haires which are to them in stead of roots it hath neither stalke floure nor fruit ¶ The Place It is found in pounds lakes city ditches and in other standing waters euery where ¶ The Time The time of Ducks meate is knowne to all ¶ The Names Duckes meate is called in Latine Lens lacustris Lens aquatilis and Lens palustris of the Apothecaries it is 〈◊〉 Aquae Lenticula in high-Dutch Meerlinsen in low-Dutch 〈◊〉 and more vsually Enden gruen that is to say Anatum herba Ducks herbe because Ducks doe feed thereon whereupon also in English it is called Ducks meate some terme it after the Greeke water Lentils and of others it is named Graines The Italians call it Lent 〈◊〉 in French Lentille d eaue in Spanish Lenteias de agua ¶ The Temperature Galen sheweth that it is cold and moist after a sort in the second degree ¶ The Vertues Dioscorides saith that it is a remedie against all manner of inflammations Saint Anthonies fire and hot Agues if they be either applied alone or else vsed with partched barley meale It also knitteth ruptures in young children Ducks meate mingled with fine wheaten floure and applied preuaileth much against hot swellings as Phlegmons Erisipelas and the paines of the ioynts The same doth helpe the fundament fallen downe in yong children CHAP. 302. Of Water Crow-foot 1 Ranunculus aquatilis Water Crow-foot ¶ The Description 1 WAter Crow-foot hath slender branches trailing far abroad whereupon grow leaues vnder the water most finely cut and iagged like those of Cammomill Those aboue the water are somwhat round indented about the edges in forme not vnlike the smal tender leaues of the mallow but lesser among which do grow the floures small and white of colour made of fine little leaues with some yellownesse in the middle like the floures of the Straw-berry and of a sweet smell after which there come round rough and prickly knaps like those of the field Crowfoot The roots be very small hairy strings ‡ There is sometimes to be found a varietie of this with the leaues lesse and diuided into three parts after the manner of an Iuy leafe and the floures are also much lesser but white of colour with a yellow bottome I question whether this be not the Ranunculus hederaceus Daleschampij pag. 1031. of the hist. Lugd. ‡ 2 There is another plant growing in the water of smal moment yet not amisse to be remembred called Hederula aquatica or water Iuie the which is very rare to finde neuerthelesse I found it once in a ditch by Bermondsey house neere to London and neuer elsewhere it hath small threddy strings in stead of roots and stalkes rising from the bottome of the water to the top wherunto are fastned small leaues swimming or floting vpon the water triangled or three cornered like to those of barren Iuie or rather noble Liuerwort barren of floures and seeds 2 Hederula aquatica Water Iuie ‡ 3 Stellaria aquatica Water Starwort 3 There is likewise another herbe of small reckoning that floteth vpon the water called Stellaria aquatica or water Star-wort which hath many small grassie stems like threds comming from the bottome of the water vnto the vpper face of the same whereupon do grow smal double floures of a greenish or herby colour ‡ I take this Stellaria to be nothing else but a water Chickeweed which growes almost in euery ditch with two long narrow leaues at each ioynt and halfe a dozen or more lying close together at the top of the water in fashion of a starre it may be seene in this shape in the end of
Dragons ¶ The Names Friers hood is called of Dioscorides 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in Latine Arisarum but Pliny calleth it 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or Aris for in his twenty fourth booke cap. 16. he saith That Aris which groweth in Egypt is like Aron or Cuckowpint it may be called in English after the Latine name Arisarum but in my opinion it may be more fitly called Friers hood or Friers cowle to which the floures seeme to be like whereupon the Spaniards name it Frailillos as Daleschampius noteth ¶ The 〈◊〉 Friers-Cowle is like in power and facultie to the Cuckow-pint yet is it more biting as Galen saith ¶ The Vertues There is no great vse of these plants in physicke but it is reported that they stay running or eating sores or vlcers and likewise that there is made of the roots certaine compositions called in Greeke Collyria good against fistula's and being put into the secret part of any liuing thing it rotteth the same as Dioscorides writeth CHAP. 306. Of Astrabacca 1 Asarum Asarabacca 2 Asarina Matthioli Italian Asarabacca ¶ The Description 1 THe leaues of Asarabacca are smooth of a deepe greene colour rounder broader and tenderer than those of Iuy and not cornered at all not vnlike to those of Sow-bread the floures lie close to the roots hid vnder the leaues standing vpon slender foot-stalkes of an ill fauoured purple colour like to the floures and husks of Henbane but lesse wherein are contained small seeds cornered and somewhat rough the roots are many small and slender growing aslope vnder the vpper crust of the earth one folded within another of an vnpleasant taste but of a most sweet and pleasing smell hauing withall a kinde of biting qualitie 2 This strange kinde of Asarabacca which Matthiolus hath set forth creeping on the ground in manner of our common Astrabacca hath leaues somwhat rounder and rougher sleightly indented about the edges and set vpon long slender foot-stalkes the floures grow hard vnto the ground like vnto those of Cammomill but much lesser of a mealy or dusty colour and not without smel The roots are long and slender creeping vnder the vpper crust of the earth of a sharpe taste and bitter withall ‡ This Asarina of Matthiolus Clusius whose opinion I here follow hath iudged to be the Tussilago Alpina 2. of his description wherefore I giue you his figure in stead of that of our Author which had the floures exprest which this wants ‡ ¶ The Place It delighteth to grow in shadowie places and is very common in most gardens ¶ The Time The herbe is alwaies greene yet doth it in the Spring bring forth new leaues and floures ¶ The Names It is called in Greeke 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Asarum in Latine Nardus rustica and of diuers Perpensa Perpensa is also Baccharis in Pliny lib. 21. cap. 21. Macer saith That Asarum is called Vulgago in these words Est Asaron Graecè Vulgago 〈◊〉 Latinè This herbe Asaron do the Grecians name Whereas the Latines Vulgago clepe the same It is found also amongst the bastard names that it was called of the great learned Philosophers 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is Martis sanguis or the bloud of Mars and of the French men Baccar and thereupon it seemeth that the word Asarabacca came which the Apothecaries vse and likewise the common people but there is another Baccharis differing from Asarum yet notwithstanding Crateuas doth also call Baccharis Asarum This confusion of both the names hath been the cause that most could not sufficiently expound themselues concerning Asarum and Baccharis and that many things haue beene written amisse in many copies of Dioscorides in the chapter of Asarum for when it is set downe in the Greek copies a sweet smelling garden herbe it belongeth not to the description of this Asarum but to that of Baccharis for Asarum as Pliny saith is so called because it is not put into garlands and so by that meanes it came to passe that oftentimes the descriptions of the old Writers were found corrupted and confused which thing as it is in this place manifest so oftentimes it cannot so easily be marked in other places Furthermore Asarum is called in French Cabaret in high-Dutch Hazelwurtz in low-Dutch Mansooren in English Asarabacca Fole-foot and Hazel-wort ¶ The Temperature The leaues of Asarabacca are hot and dry with a purging qualitie adioyned thereunto yet not without a certaine kinde of astriction or binding The roots are also hot and dry yet more than the leaues they are of thin and subtill parts they procure vrine bring downe the desired sicknes and are like in facultie as Galen saith to the roots of Acorus but yet more forceable and the roots of Acorus are also of a thinne essence heating attenuating drying and prouoking vrine as he 〈◊〉 which things are happily performed by taking the roots of Asarabacca either by themselues or mixed with other things ¶ The Vertues The leaues draw forth by vomit thicke phlegmaticke and cholericke humours and withall moue the belly and in this they are more forceable and of greater effect than the roots themselues They are thought to keepe in hard swelling cankers that they encrease not or come to exulceration or creeping any farther if they be outwardly applied vpon the same The roots are good against the stoppings of the liuer gall and spleene against wens and hard swellings and agues of long continuance but being taken in the greater quantitie they purge flegme and choler not much lesse than the leaues though Galen say no by vomit especially and also by siege One dram of the pouder of the roots giuen to drinke in ale or wine grossely beaten prouoketh vomit for the purposes aforesaid but being beaten into fine pouder and so giuen it purgeth very little by vomit but worketh most by procuring much vrine therefore the grosser the pouder is so much the better But if the roots be infused or boyled then must two three or foure drams be put to the infusion and of the leaues eight or nine be sufficient the iuyce of which stamped with some liquid thing is to be giuen The roots may be steeped in wine but more effectually in whay or 〈◊〉 water as Mesues teacheth The same is good for them that are tormented with the Sciatica or gout in the huckle bones for those that haue the dropsie and for such also as are vexed with a quartaine ague who are cured and made whole by vomiting CHAP. 307. Of Sea Binde-weed 1 Soldanella marina Sea Binde-weed ‡ 2 Soldanella Alpina maior Mountaine Binde-weed ¶ The Description 1 Soldanella or Sea Binde-weed hath many small branches somwhat red trailing vpon the ground beset with small and round leaues not much vnlike Asarabacca or the leaues of Aristolochia but smaller betwixt which leaues and the stalkes come forth floures formed like a bell of a bright red incarnate colour in euery respect answering the small Binde-weed whereof it is a kinde albeit I haue
on the hils of Lincolnshire and in Somersetshire by the house of a gentleman called Mr. Hales vpon a Fox-borough also not far from Mr. Bamfields neere to a towne called Hardington The first two kindes do grow in my garden where they prosper well ‡ I cannot learne that this growes wilde in England ‡ ¶ The Time Sow-bread floureth in September when the plant is without leafe which doth afterwards spring vp continuing greene all the Winter couering and keeping warme the seede vntill Midsommer next at what time the seed is ripe as aforesaid The third floureth in the spring for which cause it was called Cyclamen 〈◊〉 and so doth also the fourth ¶ The Names Sow bread is called in Greeke 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in Latine Tuber terrae and Terrae rapum of Marcellus Orbicularis of Apuleius Palalia Rapum Porcinum and Terrae malum in shops Cyclamen Panis porcinus and Arthanita in Italian Pan Porcino in Spanish Mazan de Puerco in High Dutch Schweinbrot in Low Dutch Uetckins broot in French Pain de Porceau in English Sow-bread Pliny calleth the colour of this floure in Latine Colossinus color in English Murrey colour ¶ The Nature Sow-bread is hot and drie in the third degree ¶ The Vertues The root of Sow-bread dried into pouder and taken inwardly in the quantitie of a dram and a halfe with mead or honied water purgeth downeward tough and grosse flegme and other sharpe humours The same taken in wine as aforesaid is very profitable against all poison and the bitings of venomous beasts and to be outwardly applied to the hurt place The pouder taken as aforesaid cureth the iaundise and the stoppings of the liuer taketh away the yellow colour of the bodie if the patient after the taking hereof be caused to sweat The leaues stamped with honie and the iuice put into the eies cleereth the sight taketh away al spots and webs pearle or haw and all impediments of the sight and is put into that excellent ointment called Vnguentum Arthanitae The root hanged about women in their extreame trauell with childe causeth them to be deliuered incontinent and taketh away much of their paine The leaues put into the place hath the like effect as my wife hath prooued sundrie times vpon diuers women by my aduise and commandement with good successe The iuice of Sow-bread doth open the Hemorrhoids and causeth them to flow beeing applied with wooll or flocks It is mixed with medicines that consume or waste away knots the Kings euill and other 〈◊〉 swellings moreouer it clenseth the head by the nostrils it purgeth the belly being annointed therwith and killeth the childe It is a strong medicine to destroy the birth being put vp as a pessarie It scoureth the skin and taketh away Sun-burning and all blemishes of the face pilling of the haire and marks also that remaine after the small pocks and mesels and giuen in wine to drinke it maketh a man drunke The decoction thereof serueth as a good and effectuall bath for members out of ioint the gout aud kibed heeles The root being made hollow and filled with oile closed with a little wax and rosted in the hot embers maketh an excellent ointment for the griefes last rehearsed Being beaten and made vp into trochisches or little flat cakes it is reported to be a good amorous medicine to make one in loue if it be inwardly taken ¶ The Danger It is not good for women with childe to touch or take this herbe or to come neere vnto it or stride ouer the same where it groweth for the naturall attractiue vertue therein contained is such that without controuersie they that attempt it in maner abouesaid shall be deliuered before their time which danger and inconuenience to auoid I haue about the place where it groweth in my garden fastened sticks in the ground and some other stickes I haue fastened also crosse-waies ouer them lest any woman should by lamentable experiment finde my words to bee true by their stepping ouer the same ‡ I iudge our Author something too womanish in this that is led more by vain opinion than by any reason or experience to confirme this his assertion which frequent experience shews to be vaine and friuolous especially for the touching striding ouer or comming neere to this herbe ‡ CHAP. 311. Of Birthwoorts ¶ The Kindes BIrthwoort as Dioscorides writeth is of three sorts long round and winding Plinie hath added a fourth kinde called Pistolochia or little Birthwoort The later writers haue ioined vnto them a fifth named Saracens Birthwoort 1 Aristolochia longa Long Birthwoort 2 Aristolochiarotunda Round Birthwoort ¶ The Description 1 LOng Birthwoort hath many small long slender stalkes creeping vpon the ground tangling one with another very intricately beset with round leaues not much vnlike Sowbread or Iuie but larger of a light or ouerworne greene colour and of a grieuous or lothsome smell and sauour among which come forth long hollow floures not much vnlike the floures of Aron but without any pestell or clapper in the same of a dark purple colour after which do follow small fruit like vnto little peares containing triangled seeds of a blackish colour The root is long thicke of the colour of box of a strong sauour and bitter taste 2 The round Birthwoort in stalkes and leaues is like the first but his leaues are rounder the floures differ onely in this that they be somewhat longer and narrower and of a faint yellowish colour but the small flap or point of the floure that turneth backe againe is of a darke or blacke purple colour The fruit is formed like a peare sharpe toward the top more ribbed and fuller than the former the root is round like vnto Sow-bread in taste and sauour like the former 3 Aristolochia clematitis Climing Birthwoort ‡ 4 Aristolochia Saracenica Saracens Birthwoort ‡ 5 Pistolochia Small Birthwoort 3 Climing Birthwoort taketh hold of any thing that is next vnto it with his long and clasping stalks which be oftentimes branched and windeth it selfe like Bindweed the stalks of the leaues are longer whose leaues be smooth broad sharpe pointed as be those of the others the floures likewise hollow long yellow or of a blackish purple colour the fruit differeth not from that of the others but the roots be slender and very long sometimes creeping on the top of the earth and sometimes growing deeper being of like colour with the former ones 4 There is a fourth kinde of Birthwoort resembling the rest in leaues and branched stalkes yet higher and longer than either the long or the round the leaues thereof be greater than those of Asarabacca the floures hollow long and in one side hanging ouer of a yellowish colour the fruit is long and round like a peare in which the seeds lie seuered of forme three square of an ill fauored blackish colour the root is somewhat long oftentimes of a mean thicknesse yellow like to the colour of Box not inferior in bitternesse either
without taste it hath little agreement with Bryonie for the root of Bryonie is verie bitter Diuers name it Rha 〈◊〉 or white Rubarbe but vnproperly being nothing like It commeth neere vnto 〈◊〉 and if I might yeeld my censure it seemeth to be Scammonium 〈◊〉 Americanum or a certain Scammonie of America 〈◊〉 creepeth as wee haue sayd after the manner of Bindweed The root is both white and thicke the iuice hath but little taste as also hath this of Mechoacan it is called in English Mechoca and Mechocan and may bee called Indian 〈◊〉 ¶ The Temperature The root is of a meane temperature between hot and cold but yet drie ¶ The Vertues It purgeth by siege especially flegme and then waterish humours It is giuen from one ful dram weight to two and that with wine or with some distilled water according as the disease requireth or els in flesh broth It is to be giuen with good effect to all whose diseases proceed of flegme and cold humors It is good against head-ache that hath continued long old coughes hardnesse of breathing the colick paine of the kidneies and ioints the diseases of the reines and belly CHAP. 323. Of the Manured Vine ¶ The Kindes THe Vine may be accounted among those plants that haue need of staies and props and cannot stand by themselues it is held vp with poles and frames of wood and by that meanes it spreadeth all about and climbeth aloft it ioyneth it selfe vnto trees or whatsoeuer standeth next vnto it Of Vines that bring forth wine some be tame and husbanded and others that be wilde of tame Vines there are many that are greater and likewise another sort that be lesser ¶ The Description THe trunke or bodie of the Vine is great and thicke very hard couered with many barkes and those full of cliffes or chinkes from which grow forth branches as it were armes many waies spreading out of which come forth iointed shoots and springs and from the bosome of those ioints leaues and clasping tendrels and likewise bunches or clusters filled ful of grapes the leaues be broad something round fiue cornered and somewhat indented about the edges amongst which come forth many clasping tendrels that take hold of such props or staies as do stand next vnto it The grapes do differ both in colour and greatnesse and also in many other things the which to distinguish seuerally were impossible considering the infinite sorts or kindes and also those which are transplanted from one region or climate to another do likewise alter both from the forme and taste they had before in consideration whereof it shall be sufficient to set sorth the figure of the manured grape and speake somewhat of the rest There is found in Graecia and the parts of Morea as Pantalarea Zante Cephalonia and 〈◊〉 wherof some are Islands and the other of the continent a certaine Vine that hath a trunke or bodie of a wooddie substance with a scaly or rugged bark of a grayish colour whereupon do grow faire broad leaues sleightly indented about the edges not vnlike vnto those of the Marsh-mallow from the bosome whereof come forth many small clasping tendrels and also tough and pliant foot-stalkes whereon do grow verie faire bunches of grapes of a watchet blewish colour from the which fruit commeth forth long tender laces or strings such as is found among Sauorie whereupon wee call that plant which hath it laced Sauorie not vnlike that that groweth among and vpon Flax which we call Dodder or Podagra lini 〈◊〉 is made a blacke wine which is called Greeke wine yet of the taste of Sacke The laced fruit of this Vine may be fitly termed Vuabarbata Laced or bearded grapes The plant that beareth those small Raisins which are commonly called Corans or Currans or rather Raisins of Corinth is not that plant which among the vulgar people is taken for Currans being a shrubbe or bush that bringeth forth small clusters of berries differing as much as may bee from Corans hauing no affinitie with the Vine or any kinde thereof The Vine that beareth small Raisins or Corans hath a bodie or stocke as other Vines haue branches and tendrels likewise The leaues are larger than any of the others snipt about the edges like the teeth of a saw among which come forth clusters of grapes in forme like the other but smaller of a blewish colour which being ripe are gathered and laid vpon hurdles carpets mats and such like in the Sun to drie then are they carried to some house and laied vpon heapes as we lay apples and corne in a garner vntill the merchants do buy them then do they put them into large Buts or other woodden vessels and tread them downe with their bare feet which they call Stiuing and so are they brought into these parts for our vse ‡ And they are commonly termed in Latine 〈◊〉 Corinthiacae and 〈◊〉 minores ‡ Vitis Vinifera The manured Vine ‡ There is also another which beareth exceeding faire grapes whereof they make Raisins whiter coloured and much exceeding the bignesse of the common Raisin of the Sunne yet that Grape whereof the Raisin of the Sun is made is a large one and thought to be the Vua Zibibi of the Arabians and it is that which Tabernamontanus figured vnder that name who therein was followed by our Authour but the figures being little to the purpose I haue thought good to omit them ‡ There is another kinde of Vine which hath great leaues very broad of an ouerworne colour whereupon do grow great bunches of Grapes of a blewish colour the pulpe or meate whereof 〈◊〉 or cleaueth so hard to the graines or little stones that the one is not easily diuided from the other resembling some starued or withered berrie that hath been blasted whereof it was named 〈◊〉 There be some vines that bring forth grapes of a whitish or reddish yellow colour others of a deepe red both in the outward skinne pulpe and iuyce within There be others whose grapes are of a blew colour or something red yet is the iuyce like those of the former These grapes do yeeld forth a white wine before they are put into the presse and a reddish or paller Wine when they are trodden with the husks and so left to macerate or ferment with which if they remaine too long they yeeld forth a wine of a higher colour There be others which make a blacke and obscure red wine whereof some bring bigger clusters and consist of greater grapes others of lesser some grow more clustred and closer together others looser some haue but one stone others more some make a more austere or harsh wine others a more sweet of some the old wine is best of diuers the first yeares wine is most excellent some bring forth fruit 〈◊〉 square of which sorts or kindes we haue great plenty ¶ The Place A fit soile for Vines saith Florentinus is euery blacke earth which is not very close nor clammy hauing some moisture
Setter-wort and Setter-grasse The second is named in the German tongue Lowszkraut that is Pedicularis or Lowsie grasse for it is thought to destroy and kill lice and not onely lice but sheepe and other cattell and may be reckoned among the Beare-feet as kindes thereof ¶ The Temperature Blacke Hellebor as Galen holdeth opinion is hotter in taste than the white Hellebor in like manner hot and dry in the third degree ¶ The Vertues Black Hellebor purgeth downwards flegme choler and also melancholy especially and all melancholy humors yet not without trouble and difficultie therfore it is not to be giuen but to robustious and strong bodies as Mesues teacheth A purgation of Hellebor is good formad and furious men for melancholy dull and heauy persons for those that are troubled with the falling sicknes for lepers for them that are sicke of a quartane Ague and briefely for all those that are troubled with blacke choler and molested with melancholy The manner of giuing it meaning the first blacke Hellebor saith Actuarius in his first booke is three scruples little more or lesse It is giuen with wine of raisins or oxymel but for pleasantnes sake some sweet and odoriferous seeds must be put vnto it but if you would haue it stronger adde thereunto a grain or two of Scamonie Thus much Actuarius The first of these kindes is best then the second the rest are of lesse force The roots take away the morphew and blacke spots in the skin tetters ring-wormes leprosies and 〈◊〉 The root sodden in pottage with flesh openeth the bellies of such as haue the dropsie The root of bastard Hellebor called among our English women Beare-foot steeped in wine and drunken looseth the belly euen as the true blacke Hellebor and is good against all the diseases whereunto blacke Hellebor serueth and killeth wormes in children It doth his operation with more force and might if it be made into pouder and a dram thereof be receiued in wine The same boyled in water with Rue and Agrimony cureth the jaundice and purgeth yellow superfluities by siege The leaues of bastard Hellebor dried in an ouen after the bread is drawne out and the pouder thereof taken in a figge or raisin or strawed vpon a piece of bread spred with honey and eaten killeth wormes in children exceedingly CHAP. 378. Of Dioscorides his blacke Hellebor Astrantianigra siue 〈◊〉 nigrum Dioscoridis Dod. Blacke Master-worts or Dioscorides his blacke Hellebor ¶ The Description THis kinde of blacke Hellebor set forth by Lobel vnder the name of Astrantianigra agreeth very well in shape with the true Astrantia which is called Imperatoria neuertheles by the consent of Dioscorides and other Authors who haue expressed this plant for a kinde of Veratrum nigrum or blacke Hellebor it hath many blackish green leaues parted or cut into foure or fiue deepe cuts after the maner of the vine leafe very like vnto those of Sanicle both in greennes of colour and also in proportion The stalke is euen smooth and plain at the top wherof grow floures it little tufts or vmbels set together like those of Scabious of a whitish light greene colour dashed ouer as it were with a little darke purple after which come the seed like vnto Carthamus or bastard Saffron The roots are many blackish threds knit to one head or master root ¶ The Place Blacke Hellebor is found in the mountains of Germany and in other vntilled and rough places it prospereth in gardens Dioscorides writeth That blacke Hellebor groweth likewise in rough and dry places and that is the best which is taken from such like places as that saith hee which is brought out of Anticyra a city in Greece It groweth in my garden ¶ The Time This blacke Hellebor flowreth not in Winter but in the Sommer moneths The herb is green all the yeare thorow ¶ The Names It is called of the later Herbarists Astrantia nigra of others Sanicula foemina notwithstanding it differeth much from Astrantia an herbe which is also named Imperatoria or Master-wort The vulgar people call it Pellitorie of Spaine but vntruly it may be called blacke Master-wort yet 〈◊〉 a kinde of Hellebor as the purging facultie doth shew for it is certaine that diuers experienced physitians can witnesse that the roots hereof do purge melancholy and other humors and that they themselues haue perfectly cured mad melancholy people being purged herewith And that it hath a purging qualitie Conradus Gesnerus doth likewise testifie in a certaine Epistle written to Adolphus Occo in which he sheweth that Astrantianigra is almost as strong as white Hellebòr and that he himselfe was the first that had experience of the purging facultie thereof by siege which things confirme that it is 〈◊〉 his blacke Hellebor Dioscorides hath also attributed to this plant all those names that are ascribed to the other black Hellebors He saith further that the seed thereof in Anticyra is called Sesamoides the which is vsed to purge with if so be that the Text be true and not corrupted But it seemeth not to be altogether perfect for if Sesamoides as Pliny saith and the word it selfe doth shew hath his name of the likenesse of Sesamum the seed of this blacke Hellebor shall vnproperly be called Sesamoides being not like that of Sesamum but of Cnicus or bastard Saffron By these proofes we may suspect that these words are brought into Dioscorides from some other Author ¶ The Temperature and Vertues The faculties of this plant we haue already written to be by triall found like to those of the other blacke Hellebor notwithstanding those that are described in the former chapter are to be accounted of greater force CHAP. 379. Of Herbe Christopher 〈◊〉 Herbe Christopher ¶ The Description ALthough Herbe Christopher be none of the Binde-weeds or of those plants that haue need of supporting or vnderpropping wherewith it may clime or rampe yet because it beareth grapes or clusters of berries it might haue been numbred among the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or those that grow like Vines It brings forth little tender stalkes a foot long or not much longer whereupon do grow sundry leaues set vpon a tender foot-stalke which do make one leafe somewhat iagged or cut about the edges of a light greene colour the floures grow at the top of the stalks in spokie tufts consisting of four little white leaues apiece which being past the fruit succeeds round somwhat long and blacke when it is ripe hauing vpon one side a streaked 〈◊〉 or hollownesse growing neere together as doe the clusters of grapes The root is thicke blacke without and yellow within like Box with many trailing strings anexed therto creeping far abroad in the earth whereby it doth greatly increase and lasteth long ¶ The Place Herbe Christopher groweth in the North parts of England neere vnto the house of the right worshipfull Sir William Bowes I haue receiued plants thereof from Robinus of Paris for my garden where they flourish ¶ The
〈◊〉 it after the number of the leaues 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and Septifolium in English Setfoile and Tormentill in high-Dutch 〈◊〉 most take it to be Chrysogonon whereof Dioscorides hath made a briefe description ¶ The Temperature The root of Tormentill doth mightily dry and that in the third degree and is of thin parts it hath in it very little heat and is of a binding quality ¶ The Vertues Tormentill is not only of like vertue with Cinkefoile but also of greater efficacie it is much vsed against pestilent diseases for it strongly resisteth putrifaction and procureth sweate The leaues and roots boiled in wine or the iuice thereof drunken prouoketh sweat and by that means driueth out all venome from the heart expelleth poison and preserueth the bodie in time of pestilence from the infection thereof and all other infectious diseases The roots dried made into pouder and drunke in wine doth the same The same pouder taken as aforesaid or in the water of a Smiths forge or rather the water wherein hot steele hath been often quenched of purpose cureth the laske and bloudy flix yea although the patient haue adioined vnto his scouring a grieuous feuer It stoppeth the spitting of bloud pissing of bloud and all other issues of bloud as well in men as women The decoction of the leaues and rootes or the iuice thereof drunke is excellent good for all wounds both outward and inward it also openeth and healeth the stoppings of the liuer and lungs and cureth the iaundice The root beaten into pouder tempered or kneaded with the white of an egge and eaten staieth the desire to vomite and is good against choler and melancholie CHAP. 384. Of wilde Tansie or Siluer-weed Argentina Siluerweed or wilde Tansie ¶ The Description WIlde Tansie creepeth along vpon the ground with fine slender stalkes and clasping tendrels the leaues are long made vp of many small leaues like vnto those of the garden Tansie but lesser on the vpper side greene and vnder very white The floures be yellow and stand vpon slender stems as doe those of Cinkfoile ¶ The Place It groweth in moist places neere vnto high waies and running brookes euery where ¶ The Time It floureth in Iune and Iuly ¶ The Names The later Herbarists do call it Argentina of the siluer drops that are to be seene in the distilled water therof when it is put into a glasse which you shall easily see rowling and tumbling vp and downe in the bottome ‡ I iudge it rather so called of the fine shining Siluer coloured leaues ‡ It is likewise called Potentilla of diuers Agrimonia syluestris Anserina and Tanacetum syluestre in High Dutch 〈◊〉 in Low Dutch 〈◊〉 in French Argentine in English Wilde Tansie and Siluerweed ¶ The Temperature It is of temperature moderatly cold and dry almost in the third degree hauing withall a binding facultie ¶ The Vertues Wilde Tansie boiled in wine and drunk stoppeth the laske and bloudy flix and all other flux of bloud in man or woman The same boiled in water and salt and drunke dissolueth clotted and congealed bloud in such as are hurt or bruised with falling from some high place The decoction hereof made in water cureth the vlcers and cankers of the mouth if some honie and allom be added thereto in the boiling Wilde Tansie hath many other good vertues especially against the stone inward wounds and wounds of the priuie or secret parts and closeth vp all greene and fresh wounds The distilled water taketh away freckles spots pimples in the face and Sun-burning but the herbe laid to infuse or steepe in white wine is far better but the best of all is to steepe it in strong white wine vinegre the face being often bathed or washed therewith CHAP. 385. Of Auens or Herbe Bennet 1 Caryophyllata Auens or herbe Bennet 2 Caryophyllata montana Mountaine Auens ¶ The Description 1 THe common Auens hath leaues not vnlike to Agrimony rough blackish and much clouen or deepely cut into diuers gashes the stalke is round and hairy a soot high diuiding it selfe at the top into diuers branches whereupon do grow yellow floures like those of Cinkefoile or wilde Tansie which being past there follow round rough reddish hairy heads or knops ful of seed which being ripe wil hang vpon garments as the Burs doe The root is thicke reddish within with certaine yellow strings fastened thereunto smelling like vnto Cloues or like vnto the roots of Cyperus 2 The Mountain Auens hath greater and thicker leaues than the precedent rougher and more hairie not parted into three but rather round nicked on the edges among which riseth vp slender stalkes whereon doe grow little longish sharpe pointed leaues on the toppe of each stalke doth 3 Caryophyllata Alpina pentaphyllaea Fiue leaued Auens ‡ 4 Caryophyllata montana purpurea Red floured mountaine Auens ‡ 5 Caryophyllata Alpina minima Dwarfe mountaine Auens 3 Fiue finger Auens hath many small leaues spred vpon the ground diuided into siue parts somewhat snipt about the edges like Cinkefoile whereof it tooke his name Among which rise vp slender stalkes diuided at the top into diuers branches whereon do grow small yellow floures like those of Cinkefoile the root is composed of many tough strings of the smell 〈◊〉 Cloues which makes it a kind of Auens otherwise doubtles it must of necessitie be one of the Cinksoiles ‡ 4 This hath ioynted stringy roots some finger thick from whence rise vp many large and hairy leaues composed of diuers little leaues with larger at the top and these snipt about the edges like as the common Auens amongst these leaues grow vp sundry stalkes some foot or better high whereon grow floures hanging downe their heads and the tops of the stalkes and cups of the floures are commonly of a purplish colour the floures themselues are of a pretty red colour and are of diuers shapes and grow diuers wayes which hath beene the reason that Clusius and others haue iudged them seuerall plants as may be seene is Clusius his Workes where he giues you the floures which you here finde exprest for a different kind Now some of these floures euen the greater part of them grow with fiue red round pointed leaues which neuer lie faire open but only stand straight out the middle part being filled with a hairy matter and yellowish threds other-some consist of seuen eight nine or more leaues and some againe lie wholly open with greene leaues growing close vnder the cup of the floure as you may see them represented in the figure and some few now and then may be found composed of a great many little leaues thick thrust together making a very double floure After the floures are falne come such hairy heads as in other plants of this kinde amongst which lies the seed Gesner calls this Geum rivale Thalius Caryophyllata maior purpurea Camerarius Caryophyllata aquatica Clusius Caryophyllata mont ana prima tertia 5 The root of this
leaues of the bignesse and growing somewhat after the manner of the wild Angelica the stalks are crested and diuided into sundry branches which carry long bending spikes or eares of white floures seeds some what like those of the common kinde This floures at the same time as the former and I haue not yet heard of it wilde with vs but onely seene it growing with Mr. Tradescant ‡ ¶ The Place It groweth in the brinkes of waterie ditches and riuers sides and also in medowesit liketh waterie and moist places and groweth almost euery where ¶ The Time It floureth and flourisheth in Iune Iuly and August ¶ The Names It is called of the later age Regina prati Barba Capri of some Vlmaria à foliorum Vlmi similitudine from the likenesse it hath with the Elme tree leafe in high Dutch 〈◊〉 It is called Barba 〈◊〉 which name belongeth to the plant which the Grecians do call Tragopogon of Anguillara Potentillamaior It hath some likenesse with Rhodora Plinij but yet we cannot affirme it to be the same It is called in low Dutch Rejjnette in French Barbe de Cheure Reine des Praiz in English Meades-sweet Medow-sweet and Queene of the medowes Camerarius of Noremberg saith it is called of the Germanes his countrimen 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 because the roots saith he seem to be eaten with wormes I rather suppose they call it so because the antient hackny men and horsleaches do giue the decoction therof to their horses and asses against the bots and wormes for 〈◊〉 which it is greatly commended ¶ The Temperature Mede-sweet is cold and drie with an euident binding qualitie adioined ¶ The Vertues The root boiled or made into pouder and drunke helpeth the bloudy flix staieth the laske and all other fluxes of bloud in man or woman It is reported that the floures boiled in wine and drunke do take away the fits of a quartaine ague and make the heart merrie The leaues and floures farre excell all other strowing herbes for to decke vp houses to straw in chambers halls and banqueting houses in the sommer time for the smell thereof makes the heart merrie delighteth the senses neither doth it cause head-ache or lothsomenesse to meat as some other sweet smelling herbes do The distilled water of the floures dropped into the eies taketh away the burning and itching thereof and cleareth the sight CHAP. 420. Of Burnet Saxifrage ¶ The Description 1 THis great kinde of Pimpinell or rather Saxifrage hath great and long roots fashioned like a 〈◊〉 of an hot and biting taste like Ginger from which riseth vp an hollow stalke with ioints and knees two cubits high beset with large leaues which do more neerely represent Smallage than Pimpernell or rather the garden Parsnep This plant consisteth of many small leaues growing vpon one stem snipt or dented about the edges like a saw the floures do grow at the top of the stalkes in white round tufts the seed is like the common Parsley sauing that it is hotter and biting vpon the tongue ‡ There is a bigger and lesser of this kinde which differ little but that the stalkes and veins of the leaues of the lesser are of a purplish colour and the root is hotter Our Authour formerly gaue the figure of the lesser in the second place in stead of that of Bipinella ‡ 1 Pimpinella Saxifraga Burnet Saxifrage †2 Bipinella siue Saxifragaminor Small Burnet Saxifrage 2 〈◊〉 is likewise a kinde of Burnet or Pimpinell vpon which Pena hath bestowed this addition Saxifragaminor vnder which name Saxifraga are comprehended diuers herbs of diuers kinds and the one very vnlike to the other but that kinde of Saxifrage which is called Hircina which is rough or hairie Saxifrage of others Bipinella is best knowne and the best of all the rest like vnto the small Burnet or common Parsley sauing that it is void of haires as may 〈◊〉 by the old Latine verse Pimpinella habet pilos Saxifraga non habet vllos Pimpinell hath haires some but Saxifrage hath none Notwithstanding I haue found a kinde hereof growing in our pastures adioining to London the leaues whereof if you take and tenderly breake with your hands you may draw forth small threds like the web of a spider such as you may draw from the leaues of Scabious The stalke is hollow diuiding it selfe from the ioints or knees into sundry other small branches at the top whereof doe grow small tufts or spokie rundles of a white colour after which commeth the seed like to Carui or Caruwaies of a sharpe taste the root is also sharpe and hot in taste ¶ The Place These plants do grow in drie pastures and medowes in this countrey very plentifully ¶ The Time They floure from Iune to the end of August ¶ The Names That which 〈◊〉 calleth 〈◊〉 maior Dodonaeus termeth Saxifragia 〈◊〉 which kinde of Saxifrage doth more absolutely answer the true Phellandrium of Pliny than any other plant whatsoeuer wherein the Physitions of Paris haue been 〈◊〉 calling or supposing the medow Rue to be the right 〈◊〉 whereunto it is not like either in shape or facultie for it is nothing so effectuall in breaking the stone or prouoking of 〈◊〉 as 〈◊〉 of these plants especially 〈◊〉 Hircina which is not so called because it hath any rammish smell of a goat but because practitioners haue vsed to feed 〈◊〉 with it whose flesh and bloud is singular good against the stone 〈◊〉 we rather take it to be named Hircina of 〈◊〉 where it doth grow in great abundance the sauour of the herbe not being vnpleasant somewhat resembling the smell and taste of 〈◊〉 Ligustrum and Pastinaca so to 〈◊〉 both 〈◊〉 are called 〈◊〉 the smaller is called of some 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and Bipenula of Baptista Sardus and also of Leonardus Fuchsius 〈◊〉 maior wherefore diuers call it 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 for there is also another Pimpinella called Pimpinella 〈◊〉 notwithstanding the 〈◊〉 before rehearsed sheweth a difference betweene Pimpinella and Saxifraga in high Dutch it is called 〈◊〉 in Low Dutch Bauenaert in English the greater may be called great Saxifrage and the other small Saxifrage Bipinella is called Saxifragia minor in English Small Saxifrage as Pimpinella is called great Saxifrage ‡ Columna iudges it to be the Tragium of 〈◊〉 ‡ ¶ The Nature Saxifrage of both kindes with their seed leaues and roots are hot and drie in the third degree and of thin and subtill parts ¶ The 〈◊〉 The seed and root of Saxifrage drunken with wine or the deco ction thereof made with wine causeth to pisse well breaketh the stone in the kidnies and bladder and is singular against the strangurie and the stoppings of the kidnies and bladder whereof it tooke the name 〈◊〉 or breake stone The iuice of the leaues of Saxifrage doth clense and take away all spots and freckles of the face and leaueth a good colour The distilled water thereof mingled with some vineger in the distillation cleareth the sight and taketh away all
much to say as Mouse prickle and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is to say 〈◊〉 Asparagus or Stone Sperage it is also named in Latine Asparagus syluestris and Corruda ¶ The Temperature The roots of the garden Sperage and also of the wilde doe clense without manifest heate and drinesse ¶ The Vertues The first sprouts or naked tender shoots hereof be oftentimes sodden in flesh broth and eaten or boyled in faire water and seasoned with oyle vineger salt and pepper then are serued at mens tables for a sallad they are pleasant to the taste easily concocted and gently loose the belly They 〈◊〉 prouoke vrine are good for the kidnies and bladder but they yeeld vnto the body little nourishment and the same moist yet not faultie they are thought to increase seed and stir vp lust CHAP. 458. Of Horse-taile or Shaue-grasse ¶ The Description 1 GReat Horse-taile riseth vp with a round stalke hollow within like a Reed a cubit high compact as it were of many small pieces one put into the end of another sometimes of a reddish colour very rough and set at euery ioint with many stiffe rush-like leaues or rough bristles which maketh the whole plant to resemble the taile of a horse whereof it tooke his name on the top of the stalke do stand in stead of floures clustered and thicke Catkins 〈◊〉 vnlike to the first shoots of Sperage which is called Myacantha the root is ioynted and creepeth 〈◊〉 the ground 2 This small or naked Shaue-grasse wherewith Fletchers and Combe-makers do rub and polish their worke 〈◊〉 out of the ground like the first shoots of Asparagus iointed or kneed by certaine distances like the precedent but altogether without such bristly leaues yet exceeding rough and cutting the root groweth aslope in the earth like those of the Couch-grasse 1 Equisetum maius Great Horse-taile 2 Equisetum nudum Naked Horse-taile 3 Horse-taile which for the most part groweth among corne and where corne hath been hath a very slender root and single from which rise vp diuers iointed stalkes whereon doe grow verie long rough narrow iointed leaues like vnto the first described but thicker and rougher as is the rest of the plant 4 Water Horse-taile that growes by the brinks of riuers and running streams and often in the midst of the water hath a very long root according to the depth of the water grosse thicke and iointed with some threds anexed thereto from which riseth vp a great thick iointed stalke whereon do grow long rough rushy leaues pyramide or steeple fashion The whole plant is also tough hard and fit to shaue and rub wooden things as the other 5 This kinde of Horse-taile that growes in woods and shadowie places hath a small root and single from which riseth vp a rough chamfered stalke ioynted by certaine spaces hauing at each ioynt two bushes of rough bristly leaues set one against another like the other of his kinde 3 Equisetum segetale Corne Horse-taile 4 Equisetum palustre Water Horse-taile 5 Equisetum 〈◊〉 Wood Horse-taile 6 Cauda equina foemina Female Horse-taile 9 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Italian rushie 〈◊〉 taile 6 The female Horse taile 〈◊〉 for the most part in waterish places and by the brinks of small rills and pirling brookes it hath a long root like that of Couch grasse from which rise vp diuers hollow stalkes set about at certaine distances with smal leaues in rundles like those of Woodroofe altogether barren of seed and floure whereof it was called by Lobel Polygonon foemina semine 〈◊〉 ‡ This is sometimes found with tenne or more seedes at each ioynt whence Bauhine hath called it 〈◊〉 palustre breuioribus folijs poly spermon ‡ ‡ 7 In some boggie places of this kingdome is found a rare and pretty Hippuris or Horse taile which growes vp with many little branches some two or three inches high putting forth at each ioynt many little leaues clustering close about the stalke and set after the 〈◊〉 of other Horse-tailes towards the tops of the branches the ioynts are very thicke the colour of the whole plant is gray a little inclining to green very brittle and as it were stony or grauelly like Coralline and will crash vnder your feet as if it were frozen and if you chew it you shall finde it all stonie or grauelly My friend Mr. Leonard Buckner was the first that found this plant and brought it to me he had it three miles beyond Oxford a little on this side Euansham-ferry in a bog vpon a common by the Beacon hill neere Cumner-wood in the end of August 1632. Mr. Bowles hath since found it growing vpon a bog not far from Chisselhurst in Kent I question whether this bee not the Hippuris lacustris quaedam folijs 〈◊〉 arenosis of Gesner but if Gesners be that which Bauhine in his 〈◊〉 pag. 24. sets forth by the name of Equisetum nudum minus variegatum then I iudge it not to be this of my description for Bauhines differs from this in that it is without leaues and ofttimes bigger the stalks of his are hollow these not so this may be called Hippuris Coralloides Horse-taile Coralline 8 Towards the later end of the yeare in diuers ditches as in Saint Iames his Parke in the ditches on the backe of Southwarke towards Saint Georges fields c. you may finde couered ouerwith water a kinde of stinking Horse-taile it growes sometimes a yard long with many ioints and branches and each ioint set with leaues as in the other Horse-tailes but they are somewhat iagged or diuided towards the tops I take this to be the Equisetum faetiduni sub aqua repens described in the fist place of Bauhinus his 〈◊〉 we may call it in English Stinking water Horse-taile ‡ 9 Clusius hath set forth a plant that he referreth vnto the stocke of Horse-tailes which he thus describeth it hath many twiggie or rushie stalks whereupon it was called Iuncaria and may bee Englished Rush-weed the leaues grow vpon the branches like those of Flax on the toppes of the stalks grow small chassie floures of a whitish colour The seed is small and blacke of colour The root is little and white the whole plant is sweetish in taste 10 Dodonaeus setteth forth another Horse-taile which he called climing Horse-taile or horstaile of Olympus There is saith he another plant like Horse-taile but greater and higher It riseth vp oftentimes with a stalke as big as a mans arme diuided into many branches out of which there grow long slender sprigs very full of ioints like to the first Horse-taile The floures stand about the ioints of a mossie substance small as are those of the Cornell tree in places whereof grow vp red fruit full of sowre iuice not vnlike to little Mulberries in which is the seed The root is hard and wooddie This growes now and then to a great height and sometimes lower Bellonius writeth in his Singularities that it hath been seene to be equall in height with the Plane 〈◊〉
guts The leaues boiled with a little barrowes grease and vsed as a pultis take away hot swellings and inflammations Oxen and other cattell do feed of the herbe and also calues and young lambs The floures are acceptable to Bees Pliny writeth and setteth it downe for certaine that the leaues hereof do tremble and stand right vp against the comming of a storme or tempest The medow Trefoile especially that with the blacke halfe Moon vpon the leafe stamped with a little honie takes away the pin and web in the eies ceaseth the paine and inflammation thereof if it be strained and dropped therein CHAP. 495. Of stinking Trefoile or Treacle Clauer Trifolium bituminosum Treacle Clauer ¶ The Description TReacle Clauer groweth vpright like a shrubbie plant with stalkes of a cubit and a halfe high whereupon do grow next the ground broad leaues 3 ioined together those vpon the stalkes are longer and narrower The stalks are couered ouer with a rough euill coloured hairinesse the leaues are of a dark black greene colour and of a loth some smell like the pitch called Bitumen Iudaicum whereof it took his name the floures grow at the toppe of the stalks of a darke purplish colour tending vnto blewnesse in shape like those of Scabious the seed is broad rough long and sharpe pointed the root is small and tender and cannot indure the coldnesse of our winter but perisheth at the first approch thereof ¶ The Place It groweth naturally saith Hippocrates Hippiatros not Cous in rough places as Ruellius translateth it in Germanie France and England it neuer commeth vp of it selfe but must be sown in gardens as my selfe haue proued diuers times and was constrained to sow it yearely or else it would not come vp neither of his owne sowing or otherwise ¶ The Time It floureth not in my garden vntil the end of August ¶ The Names Nicander calleth this Trefoile 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in 〈◊〉 Trifolium acutum or sharpe pointed 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Pliny 〈◊〉 odoratum but not properly of others Trifolium Asphaltaeum sive 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Stone Pitch 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 calleth it Tarsilon and not Handacocha Auicen doth comprehend Dioscorides his 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is to say Lotus vrbana 〈◊〉 and Aegyptia which Dioscorides confoundeth one with another in 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in English it is called Clauer gentle Pitch Trefoile stinking Trefoile 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ¶ The Temperature This Trefoile called 〈◊〉 as Galen saith is hot and drie as 〈◊〉 is and that in the third degree ¶ The Vertues Being drunke it taketh away the pain of the sides which commeth by obstructions or stoppings prouoketh vrine and bringeth downe the desired sicknesse Hippocrates writeth that it doth not onely bring them downe but likewise the birth not onely inwardly taken but also outwardly applied If a woman saith he be not well clensed after her 〈◊〉 bearing giue her this Trefoile to drinke in white wine Dioscorides saith that the seeds and leaues being drunke in water are a remedie for the 〈◊〉 dissicultie of making water the falling sicknesse the dropsie when it first beginneth and for 〈◊〉 that are troubled with the mother the quantity to be taken at once is three drams of the seeds and foure of the leaues The leaues drunke in Oxymel or a syrrup of vineger made with honie is good for those that 〈◊〉 bitten with serpents Some affirme that the decoction of the whole plant root and leaues taketh away paine from those whom serpents haue bitten if they be washed therewith but if any other man hauing anvlcer be washed with that water 〈◊〉 he was bathed that was bitten of the serpent they say that he shall be troubled in the same manner that the stinged partie was Some also giue with wine three leaues or a small quantitie of the seeds in 〈◊〉 agues and in quartaine foure as a sure remedie against the fits The root also is put into antidotes or counterpoisons saith 〈◊〉 but other antient 〈◊〉 do not onely mix the root with them but also the seed as we may see in Galen by a great 〈◊〉 compositions in his 2. booke of Antidotes that is to say in the Treacles of Aelius 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Laudoceus Claudius Apollonius Eudemus 〈◊〉 Dorothaeus and Heras The herbe stamped and applied vpon any enuenomed wound or made with poisoned weapon it draweth the poison from the depth most apparantly But if it be applied vpon a wound where there is no venomous matter to work vpon it doth no lesse infect that part than if it had been bitten with some serpent or venomous beast which wonderfull effect it doth not performe in respect of any vitious qualitie that it hath in it selfe but because it doth not finde that venomous matter to work vpon which it naturally draweth as the Load-stone doth iron wherupon it is constrained through his attractiue qualitie to draw and gather together humours from far vnto the place whereby the paine is greatly increased CHAP. 496. Of diuers other Trefoiles ¶ The Description 1 THree leaued grasse of America hath diuers crooked round stalks leaning this way and that way and diuided into diuers branches whereon do grow leaues like those of the medow Trefoile of a black greene colour and of the smel of Pitch Trefoile or Treacle Clauer the floures grow at the top of the branches made vp in a long spiked chassie care of a white colour after which commeth the 〈◊〉 somewhat flat almost like to those of Tares the roots are long strings of a wooddie substance 1 Trifolium Americum Trefoile of America 2 Trifolium Burgundiacum Burgundie Trefoile 3 Trifolium Salmanticum Portingale Trefoile 3 This three leaued grasse of Salmanca a citie as I take it of Portingale differeth not much from our field Trefoile it hath many branches weake and tender trailing vpon the ground of two cubites and a halfe high whereupon doe grow leaues 〈◊〉 together by three vpon a stemme from the bosome whereof thrust forth tender foot-stalkes whereon doe stand most fine floures of a bright red tending vnto purple after which come the seed wrapped in small skinnes of a red colour 4 Trifolium cordatum Heart Trefoile 5 Trifolium siliquosum minus Small codded Trefoile ‡ 6 〈◊〉 ex Codice Caesareo 〈◊〉 Trefoile 5 This kinde of three leaued grasse is a low herb creeping vpon the ground the leaues are like those of the common Trefoile but lesser and of a grayish greene colour the floures are faire and yellow fashioned like those of broome but lesser after come three or soure cods wherein is contained round seed the root is long and reddish ‡ This is the Trifolium 〈◊〉 or Melilotus Coronata of Lobel Lotus pentaphyllos of Gesner ‡ This codded Tresoile is like vnto the last described in euery respect sauing that this plant is altogether ‡ larger hauing stalks a cubite and a halfe high the leaues are also soure times as large two roundish leaues 〈◊〉 by the stalke and three 〈◊〉 ones growing vpon a short foot-stalke comming forth betweene the
spongie and light and this substance hath a scouring and clensing facultie for it is plainly seene that the meale of Beanes clenseth away the filth of the skin by reason of which qualitie it passeth not slowly through the belly And seeing the meale of Beanes is windie the Beanes themselues if they be boyled whole and eaten are yet much more windie If they be parched they lose their windinesse but they are harder of digestion and doe slowly descend and yeeld vnto the body thicke or grosse nourishing iuyce but if they be eaten green before they be ripe and dried the same thing hapneth to them which is incident to all fruits 〈◊〉 are eaten before they be fully ripe that is to say they giue vnto the body a moist kinde of nourishment and therefore a nourishment more full of excrements not onely in the inward parts but also in the outward and whole body thorow therefore those kindes of Beans do lesse nourish but they do more speedily passe thorow the belly as the said Author in his booke of the Faculties of simple Medicines saith that the Beane is moderately cold and dry The pulpe or meate thereof doth somewhat clense the skin doth a little binde Therefore diuers Physitians haue giuen the whole Beane boyled with vineger and salt to those that were troubled with the bloudy flix with laskes and vomitings It raiseth flegme out of the chest and lungs being outwardly applied it drieth without hurt the watery humors of the gout We haue oftentimes vsed the same being boiled in water and so mixed with swines grease We haue laid the meale therof with Oxymel or syrrup of vineger both vpon bruised and wounded sinewes and vpon the wounded parts of such as haue been bitten or stung to take away the fierie heat It also maketh a good plaister and pultis for mens stones and womens paps for these parts when they are inflamed haue need of moderate cooling especially when the paps are inflamed through the cluttered and congealed milke contained in them Also milke is dried vp with that pultis The meale thereof as Dioscorides further addeth being tempered with the meale of Fenugreek and hony doth take away blacke and blew spots which come by drie beatings and wasteth away kernels vnder the eares With Rose leaues Frankincense and the white of an egge it keepeth backe the watering of the eies the pin and the web and hard swellings Being tempered with wine it healeth suffusions and stripes of the eies The Beane being chewed without the skin is applied to the forehead against rheumes and falling downe of humours Being boiled in wine it taketh away the inflammation of the stones The skins of Beans applied to the place where the hairs were first plucked vp wil not suffer them to grow big but rather consumeth their nourishment Being applied with Barly meale parched and old oile they waste away the Kings euill The decoction of them serueth to die woollen cloth withall This Beane being diuided into two parts the skin taken off by which it was naturally ioined together and applied stancheth the bloud which doth too much issue forth after the biting of the horseleach if the one halfe be laied vpon the place The blacke Beane is not vsed with vs at all seeing as we haue said it is rare and sowne onely in a few mens gardens who be delighted in varietie and studie of herbes CHAP. 508. Of Kidney Beane ¶ The Kindes THe stocke or kindred of the Kidney Bean are wonderfully many the difference especially consisteth in the colour of the fruit there be other differences wherof to write particularly would greatly stuffe our volume with superfluous matter considering that the simplest is able to distinguish apart the white Kidney Beane from the blacke the red from the purple and likewise those of mixt colours from those that are onely of one colour as also great ones from little ones Wherefore it may please you to be content with the description of some few and the figures of the rest with their seuerall titles in Latine and English referring their descriptions vnto a further consideration which otherwise would be an endlesse labour or at the least needlesse ¶ The Description 1 THe first kinde of Phaseolus or garden Smilax hath long and small branches growing very high taking hold with his clasping tendrels vpon poles and stickes and whatsoeuer standeth neere vnto him as doth the hop 〈◊〉 vine which are so weake and tender that without such props or supporters they are not able to sustaine themselues but will run ramping on the ground fruitlesse vpon the branches do grow broad leaues almost like Iuie growing together by three as in the common Trefoile or three leaued Grasse among which come the floures that do vary and differ in their colours according to the soile where they grow sometimes white sometimes red and oftentimes of a pale colour afterwards there come out long cods whereof some are crooked and some are straight and in those the fruit is contained smaller than the common Beane somwhat flat and fashioned like a Kidney which are of diuers colours like vnto the floures whereto for the most part these are like 2 There is also another Dolichus or Kidney Beane lesser shorter and with smaller cods whose floures and fruit are like in forme to the former Kidney Beanes but much lesser and of a blacke colour 3 There is likewise another strange Kidney Beane which doth also winde it 〈◊〉 about poles and props neere adioining that hath likewise three leaues hanging vpon one stem as haue the other Kidney Beans but euery one is much narrower and also blacker the cods be shorter plainer and flatter and containe fewer seeds 1 Phaseolus albus White Kidney Beane 2 Phascolus niger Blacke Kidney Beane 3 Smilax hortensis rubra Red Kidney Beane 4 Smilax hortensis 〈◊〉 Pale yellow Kidney Beane ‡ 5 Phaseolus peregrinus 〈◊〉 minore albo Indian Kidney Beane with a small white fruit ‡ 6 Phaseolus peregrinus fructa minore frutescens Indian Kidney Beane with a small red fruit ‡ 7 Phaseolus peregrinus 〈◊〉 Narrow leafed Kidney Beane 4 This Kidney Bean differeth not from the others but onely in the colour of the fruit which are of a pale yellow colour wherein consisteth the difference ‡ Besides the varieties of these Kidney Beans mentioned by our Author there are diuers other 〈◊〉 vp by 〈◊〉 which haue been brought out of the East and West Indies and from some parts of Africa I will only giue you the figures of two or three of them outof Clusius with the colours of their floures and fruit 5 The stalke of this is low and stiffe the floures of a whitish yellow on the outside and of a violet colour within the fruit is snow white with a blacke spot in the eye This is Phaseolus peregrinus 4. of Clusius 6 This hath leaues like the Marsh Trefoile floures growing many together in shape and magnitude like those of common Pease the cods were
than the 〈◊〉 one 3 The blew Lupines are longer than the yellow and diuided into more wings and branches the leaues be lesser and thinner the floures small and lesser than the yellow of a blew colour the seeds be also of diuers colours bitter and lesser than any of them all ‡ 4 There is also another blew Lupine whose leaues stalks floures and cods are like but larger than those of the first described the floures are of colour blew with some whitenesse here and there intermixt ‡ ¶ The Place and Time They require saith 〈◊〉 a sandy and bad soile they hardly come vp in tilled places being of their owne nature wilde they grow in my garden and in other mens gardens about London They are planted in Aprill and bring sorth their fruit at two or three sundrie times as though it did floure often and bring forth many crops the first in May the second in Iuly the last in September but it seldome commeth to ripenesse ¶ The Names This pulse is named in Greeke 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in Latine Lupinus and Lupinus 〈◊〉 in high Dutch Feigbonen in Italian Lupino domestico in Spanish Entramocos in the Brabanders language 〈◊〉 boonen and Lupinen in French Lupins in English Garden Lupine tame Lupine and of some after the German name Fig-beane ¶ The Temperature and Vertues The seed of the garden Lupine is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is to say much and often vsed as Galen saith in his books of the Faculties of Nourishments for the same being boiled and afterwards steeped in faire water vntill such time as it doth altogether lose his naturall bitternes and lastly being seasoned with a reasonable quantitie of salt it is eaten with pickle The Lupine is of an hard and earthy substance wherefore it is necessarily of hard digestion and containeth in it a thicke iuice of which being not perfectly concocted in the veines is ingendred a bloud or iuice which is properly called crude or raw but when it hath lost all his bitternes by preparing or dressing of it as aforesaid it is like 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is to say to such things as are without relish which is perceiued by the taste being so prepared it is as Galen writeth in his books of the Faculties of simple medicines one of the emplaistickes or clammers But whilest the naturall bitternesse doth as yet remaine it hath power to clense and to consume or waste away it killeth wormes in the belly being both applied in manner of an ointment and giuen with hony to licke on and also drunke with water and vineger Moreouer the decoction thereof inwardly taken voideth the wormes and likewise if it be sundry times outwardly vsed as a bath it is a remedy against the morphew sore heads the small Pox wilde scabs gangrenes venomous vlcers partly by clensing and partly by consuming and drying without biting being taken with Rew and Pepper that it may be the pleasanter it scoureth the liuer and milt It bringeth downe the menses and expelleth the dead childe if it be layed to with 〈◊〉 and honie Moreouer the meale of Lupines doth waste or consume away without any biting qualitie for it doth not onely take away blacke and blew spots that come of dry beatings but also it cureth 〈◊〉 and Phymata but then it is to be boiled either in vineger or oxymell or else in water and vineger and that according to the temperature of the grieued parties and the diuersities of the diseases Quod ex vsu est 〈◊〉 and it also taketh away blew marks and what thing soeuer else we haue said the decoction could do all the same doth the meale likewise performe These Lupines 〈◊〉 Dioscorides doth furthermore write being boiled in raine water till they yeeld a certaine creame are good to clense and beautifie the face They cure the 〈◊〉 in sheepe with the root of blacke Chameleon Thistle if they be washed with the warme decoction The 〈◊〉 boiled with water and drunke prouoketh vrine The Lupines being made sweet and pleasant mixed with vineger and drunk take away the lothsomnesse of the stomacke and cause a good appetite to meat Lupines boiled in that strong leigh which Barbars do vse and some Wormwood Centorie and bay salt added thereto stay the running and spreading of a Gangroena and those parts that are depriued of their nourishment and begin to mortifie and staieth the ambulatiue nature of running and spreading vlcers being applied thereto very hot with stuphes of cloth or tow CHAP. 510. Of Peason ¶ The Kindes THere be diuers sorts of Peason differing very notably in many respects some of the garden and others of the field and yet both counted tame some with tough skinnes or membranes in the cods and others haue none at all whose cods are to be eaten with the Pease when they be young as those of the young Kidney 〈◊〉 others carrying their fruit in the tops of the branches are esteemed and taken for Scottish Peason which is not very common There be diuers sorts growing wild as shall be declared 1 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Pease 2 Pisum minus Garden and field Pease ¶ The Description 1 THe great Pease hath long 〈◊〉 hollow brickle of a whitish green colour branched and spread vpon the ground vnlesse they be held vp with proppes set neere vnto them the leafe thereof is wide and long made vp of many little leaues which be smooth white growing vpon one little stalke or stem and set one right against another it hath also in the vpper part long clasping tendrels wherewith it foldeth it selfe vpon props and staies standing next vnto 3 Pisum vmbellatum Tufted or Scottish Pease 4 Pisum excorticatum Pease without skins in the cod 5 Pisum syluestre Wilde Pease 6 Pisum perenne syluestre Euerlasting wilde Pease 2 The field Pease is so very well knowne to all that it were a needlesse labour to spend time about the description 3 Tufted Pease are like vnto those of the field or of the garden in each respect the difference consisteth onely in that that this plant carrieth his floures and fruit in the tops of the branches in a round 〈◊〉 or vmbel contrary to all other of his kinde which bring forth their fruit in the midst and alongst the stalks the root is thicke and fibrous 4 Pease without skins in the cods differ not from the precedent sauing that the cods hereof want that tough skinny membrane in the same which the hogs cannot eat by reason of the toughnesse whereas the other may be eaten cods and all the rest euen as Kidney beanes are which being so dressed are exceeding delicate meat 5 The wilde Pease differeth not from the common field Pease in stalke and leaues sauing that this wilde kinde is somewhat lesser the 〈◊〉 are of a yellow colour and the fruit is much lesser 6 The Pease whose root neuer dies 〈◊〉 not from the wilde Pease onely his continuing without sowing being once sowne or
Spanish Broome without leaues 2 Pseudospartum album Aphyllum The white leafe-lesse Spanish broom 2 This naked broome groweth vp to the height of a man the stalk is rough and void of leaues very greene and pliant which diuideth it selfe into diuers twiggie branches greene and tough like rushes the floures grow all along the stalks like those of broome but of a white colour wherein it differeth from all the rest of his kinde ¶ The Place These grow in the prouinces of Spaine and are in one place higher and more bushie and in an other lower ¶ The Time ‡ The first floures in May and the second in Februarie ‡ ¶ The Names These base Spanish broomes may be referred to the true which is called in Greeke 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Latines vse the same name calling it sometimes Spartum and Spartium in Spanish Retama in English Spanish broome and bastard Spanish broome ¶ The Temperature and Vertues Both the seeds and iuice of the branches of these base broomes wherewith they in Spaine and other hot regions do tie their vines do mightily draw as Galen writeth Diosoorides saith that the seeds and floures being drunke in the quantitie of a dram with Mede or honied water doth cause one to vomit strongly as the Hellebor or neesing pouder doth but yet without ieopardie or danger of life the seed purgeth by stoole The iuyce which is drawne from out of the branches steeped in water being first bruised is a remedie for those that are tormented with the Sciatica and for those that be troubled with the Squincie if a draught thereof be drunke in the morning some vse to steepe the branches in sea water and to giue the same in a clister which purgeth forth bloudy and slimie excrements CHAP. 20. Of Furzes Gorsse Whin or prickley Broome ¶ The Kindes THere be diuers sorts of prickly Broome called in our English tongue by sundry names according to the speech of the countrey people where they doe grow in some places Furzes in others Whins Gorsse and of some Prickly Broome Genista spinosa vulgaris Great Furze bush 2 Genista spinosa minor The small Furze bush ¶ The Description 1 THe Furze bush is a plant altogether a Thorne fully armed with most sharpe prickles without any leaues at all except in the spring and those very few and little and quickly falling away it is a bushy shrub often rising vp with many wooddy branches to the height of foure or fiue cubits or higher according to the nature and soile where they grow the greatest and highest that I did euer see do grow about Excester in the West parts of England where the great stalks are dearely bought for the better sort of people and the small thorny spraies for the poorer sort From these thorny branches grow little floures like those of Broome and of a yellow colour which in hot Regions vnder the extreme heate of the Sunne are of a very perfect red colour in the colder countries of the East as Danzicke Brunswicke and Poland there is not any branch hereof growing except some few plants and seeds which my selfe haue sent to Elbing otherwise called Meluin where they are most curiously kept in their fairest gardens as also our common Broome the which I haue sent thither likewise being first desired by diuers earnest letters the cods follow the floures which the Grauer hath omitted as a German who had neuer seen the plant it selfe but framed the figure by heare-say the root is strong tough and wooddy We haue in our barren grounds of the North parts of England another sort of Furze bringing forth the like prickley thornes that the others haue the onely difference consisteth in the colour of the floures for the others bring forth yellow floures and those of this plant are as white as snow 2 To this may be ioyned another kinde of Furze which bringeth forth certaine branches that be some cubit high stiffe and set round about at the first with small winged Lentill-like leaues and little harmelesse prickles which after they haue been a yeare old and the leaues gon be armed onely with most hard sharpe prickles crooking or bending their points downwards The floures hereof are of a pale yellow colour lesser than those of Broome yet of the same forme the cods are small in which do lie little round reddish seeds the root is tough and wooddy 3 Genista Spinosa minor siliqua rotunda Small round codded Furze 4 Genistella aculeata Needle Furze or petty Whin ‡ Of this Clusius reckons vp three varieties the first growing some cubit high with deepe yellow floures the second growes higher and hath paler coloured floures the third groweth to the height of the first the floures also are yellow the branches more prickly and the leaues hairy and the figure I giue you is of this third varietie 3 This seldome exceeds a foot in height and it is on euerie side armed with sharpe prickles which grow not confusedly as in the common sort but keepe a certaine order and still grow forth by couples they are of a lighter greene than those of the common Furze on the tops of each of the branches grow two or three yellow floures like those of the former which are succeeded by little round rough hairy cods of the bignesse of Tares This floures in March and groweth in the way between Burdeaux and Bayone in France and vpon the Pyrenean mountaines Clusius makes it his Scorpius 2. or second sort of Furze Lobel calls it Genista spartium spinosum alterum ‡ 4 This small kinde of Furze growing vpon Hampstead heath neere London and in diuers other barren grounds where in manner nothing else wil grow hath many weake and flexible branches of a wooddy substance whereon do grow little leaues like those of Tyme among which are set in number infinite most sharpe prickles hurting like needles whereof it tooke his name The floures grow on the tops of the branches like those of Broome and of a pale yellow colour The root is tough and wooddy ‡ 5 This plant saith Clusius is wholly new and elegant some span high diuided into many branches some spred vpon the ground others standing vpright hauing plentifull store of greene prickles the floures in shape are like those of Broome but lesse and of a blewish purple colour standing in rough hairy whitish cups two or three floures commonly growing neere together sometimes whilest it floures it sendeth forth little leaues but not very often and they are few and like those of the second described and quickly fall away so that the whole plant seemes nothing but prickles or like a hedge-hog when she folds vp her selfe the root is wooddy and large for the proportion of the plant It growes in the kingdome of Valentia in Spaine where the Spaniards call it Erizo that is the Hedge-hog and thence Clusius also termed it Erinacea It floureth in Aprill ‡ 5 Genista spinosa humilis Dwarfe
or low Furze 6 Genista 〈◊〉 minor siue Nepa Theophr Scorpion Furzes 6 The smallest of all the Furzes is that of the Antients called Nepa or Scorpion Furze as the word Nepa seemeth to import it is a stranger in England it hath beene touched of the Antients in name onely which fault they haue beene all and euerie of them to be complained of being so briefe that nothing can be gathered from their description and therefore I refer what might hereof be said to a further consideration ‡ This hath a thicke wooddy blacke root some halfe foot long from whence arise many slender branches some foot high which are set with many stiffe and sharpe prickles growing somewhat after the maner of the wilde prickly Sperage the yong plants haue little leaues like those of Tragacanth the old ones none the floures are smal and come forth at the bottome of the prickles and they are succeeded by broad cods wherein the seed is contained It growes in diuers places of France and Spaine and is thought to be the Scorpius of Theophrastus which 〈◊〉 translates Nepa ‡ ¶ The Place The common sort hereof are very well knowne to grow in pastures and fields in most places of England The rest are likewise well knowne to those that curiously obserue the difference ¶ The Time They floure from the beginning of May to the end of September ¶ The Names Furze is commonly called Genista spinosa in high-Dutch 〈◊〉 in English Furze Furzen bushes Whinne Gorsse and Thorne-Broome This thorny Broome is taken for Theophrastus his Scorpius which Gaza nameth Nepa the name Scorpius in Pliny is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is to say signifying many things and common to certaine Plants for besides this Scorpius of which he hath made mention lib. 25. cap. 5. setting downe Theophrastus his words where he maketh Aconitum Thelyphonon to be Scorpius lib. 23. cap. 10. and likewise other plants vnder the same title but vnproperly ¶ The Temperature and Vertues There is nothing written in Theophrastus concerning the faculties of Scorpius spinosus or Furze Pliny seemeth to attribute vnto it the same vertues that 〈◊〉 hath notwithstanding the later Writers do agree that it is hot and dry of complexion the seeds are vsed in medicines against the stone and staying of the laske CHAP. 21. Of Cammocke Furze Rest-Harrow or Petty Whinne ¶ The Kindes THere be diuers sorts of Rest-Harrow which some haue inserted among the smooth Broomes others among those with prickles whereof some haue purple floures and likewise ful of prickles others white floures and sharpe thornes some also purple floures others white and also yellow and euery of them void of prickles 1 Anonis siue Resta Bouis Cammocke or Rest-Harrow 3 Anonis non 〈◊〉 Purple Rest-Harrow without prickles ¶ The Description 1 CAmmocke or ground Furze riseth vp with stalkes a cubit high and often higher set with diuers ioynted branches tough pliable and full of hard sharpe thornes among which do grow leaues in forme like those of S. Iohns wort or rather of the Lentill of a deep green colour from the bosome of which thorns and leaues come forth the 〈◊〉 like those of Peason of a purple colour after which do come the cods in which do lie flat seed the root is long and runneth far abroad very tough and hard to be torne in pieces with the plough 〈◊〉 that the oxen can hardly passe forward but are constrained to stand still whereupon it was called Rest-Plough or Rest-Harrow 4 Anonis siue Spinalutea Yellow Rest-Yarrow 2 We haue in our London pastures and likewise in other places one of the Rest-Harrowes not differing from the precedent in stalkes leaues or prickles the onely difference is that this plant bringeth forth white floures and the others not so whence we may call it Anonis flore albo Cammocke with white floures 3 Rest-Harrow without thornes hath a tough hoary rough stalke diuided into other rough branches whereon are set without order long leaues sharpe pointed sleightly cut about the edges of an hoary colour and somewhat hairy from the bosome whereof commeth forth purple Pease-like floures of a reasonable good smell the root is verie tough long and wooddy 4 The yellow floured Cammock is a 〈◊〉 in these parts it is only found in the cold Easterne countries for ought that I can learne it differs not from the last described sauing that the floures hereof are of a darke yellow colour wherein it differeth from all the other of his kinde ¶ The Place These grow in 〈◊〉 grounds in fertile pastures and in the borders of fields in a fat fruitful and long lasting soile it is sooner found than desired of husbandmen because the tough and wooddie roots are combersome vnto them for that they stay the plough and make the oxen stand ¶ The Time They send forth new shoots in May they be ful growne in Autumne and then those that of nature are prickly be fullest of sharpe thornes they floure in Iuly and August ¶ The Names Cammocke is called in Greeke 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and likewise in Latine Anonis and Ononis Of Herbarists commonly Aresta Bouis and Remora aratri because it maketh the Oxen whilest they be in plowing to rest or stand still it is also called Acutella of the stiffe and sharpe thorns which prick those that passe by in French Areste beuf and Boucrande Crateuas nameth it Aegipyrus in high-Dutch Stalkraut in low-Dutch Prangwortele in Italian Bonaga in Spanish Gattilhos in French Arreste beuf Beuf Bouerande in 〈◊〉 Cammocke Rest-Harrow Petty Whinne and ground Furze ¶ The Temperature The root of Cammocke is hot in the third degree as Galen saith it cutteth also and maketh thinne ¶ The Vertues The barke of the root drunke with Wine prouoketh vrine breaketh the stone and driueth it sorth The root boyled in water and vineger allayeth the paine of the teeth if the mouth be often washed therewith hot Pliny reporteth that being boyled in Oxymel or the syrrup made with honey and vineger till the one halfe be wasted it is giuen to those that haue the falling sicknesse 〈◊〉 reporteth that he knew a man cured of a rupture by taking of the pouder of this root for many moneths together The tender sprigs or crops of this shrub before the thornes come forth are preserued in pickle and be very pleasant sauce to be eaten with meat as sallad as a Dioscorides teacheth CHAP. 22. Of Goose-berrie or Fea-berry Bush. ¶ The Kindes THere be diuers sorts of the Goose-berries some greater others lesse some round others long and some of a red colour the figure of one shall serue for the rest ‡ I will not much insist vpon diuersities of fruits because my kinde friend Mr. Iohn Parkinson hath sufficiently in his late Worke discoursed vpon that subiect onely because I iudge many will be desirous to know their names and where to get them I will briefely name the chiefe varieties
described but thinner and not snipt about the edges on the tops of the branches grow the floures wholly white consisting of nine ten or twelue leaues set in two rankes these floures are very sweet hauing a sent as it were compounded of the Spanish Iasmine and Orange floures It is a tender plant and may be graffed vpon the common Iasmine whereon it thriues well and floures most part of the Sommer It groweth plentifully in Egypt and Prosper Alpinus is thought to mention this by the name of Sambac Arabum siue Gelseminum Arabicum ‡ 4 Glans vnguentaria or the oylie Acorne is the fruit of a tree like Tamariske of the bignesse of an Hasell Nut out of the kernell whereof no otherwise than out of bitter Almonds is pressed an oylie iuyce which is vsed in pretious Oyntments as Dioscorides 〈◊〉 neither is it in our time wholly reiected for the oyle of this fruit mixed with sweet odours serueth to persume gloues and diuers other things and is vulgarly knowne by the name of Oyle of Ben. ¶ The Place 1. 2. These trees grow not wilde in England but I haue them growing in my garden in very great plenty ¶ The Time They floure in Aprill and May but as yet they haue not 〈◊〉 any fruit in my garden though in Italy and Spaine their fruit is ripe in September ¶ The Names The later Physitians call the first Syringa or rather 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is to say a Pipe because the stalks and branches thereof when the pith is taken out are hollow like a pipe it is also many times syrnamed Candida or white or Syringa candido slore or Pipe with a white floure because it should differ from Lillach which is sometimes named Syringa coerulea or blew Pipe in English White Pipe Blew Pipe the later Physitians as we haue said do name Lillach or 〈◊〉 of some Syringa 〈◊〉 or blew Pipe most do expound the word Lillach and call it Ben Serapio's and the Arabians 〈◊〉 is Glans vnguentaria which the Grecians name 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 from which Lillach doth very much differ among other differences it is very apparant that Lillach bringeth forth no Nut howsoeuer 〈◊〉 doth falsly picture it with one for it hath only a little cod the seed whereof hath in it no oile at all The figure of the Balanus Myrepsica we haue thought good to insert in this chapter for want of a more conuenient roome ¶ The Temperature and Vertues Concerning the vse and faculties of these shrubs neither we our selues haue found out any thing 〈◊〉 learned ought of others ‡ The Balanus Myrepsica taken in the quantitie of a dram causeth vomit drunk with Hydromel it purges by stoole but is hurtfull to the stomacke The oile pressed out of this fruit which is vsually termed oyle of Ben as it hath no good or pleasing smell so hath it no ill sent neither doth it become rancide by age which is the reason that it is much vsed by perfumers The oile smoothes the skin softens and dissolues hardnesse and conduces to the cure of all cold affects of the sinewes and it is good for the paine and noise in the eares being mixed with Goose-grease and so dropped in warme in a small quantitie ‡ CHAP. 62. Of Widow-Waile or Spurge Oliue ¶ The Description WIdow-waile is a small shrub about two cubits high The stalke is of a wooddy substance branched with many small twigs full of little leaues like Priuet but smaller and blacker on the ends whereof grow small pale yellow floures which being past there succeedeth a three cornered berrie like the Tithymales for which cause it was called Tricoccos that is three berried Chamelaea these berries are greene at the first red afterward and browne when they be withered and containe in them an oylie fatnesse like that of the Oliue being of an hot and biting taste and that doe burne the mouth as do both the leaues and rinde The root is hard and wooddy ¶ The 〈◊〉 It is found in most vntilled grounds of Italy and Languedoc in France in rough and desart places I haue it growing in my garden ¶ The Time It is alwaies greene the seed is ripe in Autumne ¶ The Names The Grecians call it 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as though they should say low or short Oliue tree the Latines 〈◊〉 and Oleastellus and likewise Citocacium it is also named of diuers Oliuella as Matthiolus 〈◊〉 saith it is called in English Widow-Waile quia facit viduas The fruit is named of diuers 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in Latine Coccus 〈◊〉 but he is deceiued saith 〈◊〉 that nameth the fruit of Spurge-Oliue Coccus 〈◊〉 Auicen and 〈◊〉 call 〈◊〉 or Spurge Oliue Mezereon vnder which name notwithstanding they haue also contained both the Chamaeleons or Carlines and so haue they confounded Chamelaea or Spurge Oliue with the Carlines and likewise 〈◊〉 or Spurge flax Chamelaea Arabum Tricoccos Widow-Waile ¶ The Temperature Both the leaues and fruit of Spurge-Oliue as we haue said are of a burning and extrme hot temperature ¶ The Vertues The leaues saith Dioscorides purge both flegme and choler especially taken in pills so that two parts of Wormewood be mixed with one of Spurge Oliue and made vp into pils with Mede or honied water They melt not in the belly but as many as be taken are voided whole Mesue likewise hath a description of pills of the leaues of Mezereon that is 〈◊〉 or Spurge-Oliue yet Syluius expoundeth it Thymelaea or Spurge-Flax but in stead of Wormwood he taketh the outward substance of the yellow Mirobalans and Cepula Mirobalans and maketh them vp with Tereniabin that is to say with Manna and soure 〈◊〉 which they call Tamarinds dissolued in Endiue water and appointeth the same leaues to be first tempered with very strong vineger and to be dried These pills are commended against the Dropsie for they draw forth watery humours but are violent to nature therfore we must vse them as little as may be Moreouer Dioscorides addeth that the leaues of Spurge Oliue beaten with hony do clense filthy or crusted vlcers 〈◊〉 Germanica siue Mezereon Spurge Flax or the dwarfe Bay CHAP. 63. Of Germane Oliue Spurge ¶ The Description THe dwarfe Bay tree called of Dutch men Mezereon is a smal shrub two cubits high the branches be tough limber easie to bend very soft to be cut whereon grow long leaues like those of Priuet but thicker and fatter The floures appeare before the leaues oft times in Ianuarie clustring together about the stalks at certain distances of a whitish colour tending to purple and of a most fragrant and pleasant sweet smel after come the small berries green at the first but being ripe of a shining red colour and afterward wax of a dark black colour of a very hot and burning taste inflaming the mouth and throat being tasted with danger of choking The root is wooddy ¶ The Place and Time This plant grows naturally in the moist and shadowy woods
faculties that the Sesely of Marsilles hath whereunto I refer it CHAP. 77. Of the Elder tree ¶ The Kindes THere be diuers sorts of Elders some of the land and some of the water or marish grounds some with very jagged leaues and others with double floures as shall be declared ¶ The Description 1 THe common Elder groweth vp now and then to the bignesse of a meane tree casting his boughes all about and oftentimes remaineth a shrub the body is almost all wooddie hauing very little pith within but the boughes and especially the young ones which be iointed are full of pith within and haue but little wood without the barke of the body and great armes is rugged and full of chinks and of an ill fauoured wan colour like ashes that of the boughes is not very smooth but in colour almost like and that is the outward barke for there is another vnder it neerer to the wood of colour greene the substance of the wood is sound somewhat yellow and that may be easily cleft the leaues consist of fiue or six particular ones fastened to one rib like those of the Walnut tree but euery particular one is lesser nicked in the edges and of a ranke and 〈◊〉 smell The floures grow on spokie rundles which be thin and scattered of a white colour and sweet smell after them grow vp little berries greene at the first afterwards blacke whereout is pressed a purple juice which being boiled with Allom and such like things doth serue very well 〈◊〉 the Painters vse as also to colour vineger the seeds in these are a little flat and somewhat long There groweth oftentimes vpon the bodies of those old trees or shrubs a certaine 〈◊〉 called Auricula Iudae or Iewes 〈◊〉 which is soft blackish couered with a skin somewhat like now and then to a mans eare which being plucked off and dryed shrinketh together and becommeth hard This Elder groweth euery where and is the common Elder 2 There is another also which is rare and strange for the berries of it are not blacke but white this is like in leaues to the former 1 Sambucus The common Elder tree ‡ 2 Sambucus fructu albo Elder with white berries 3 The jagged Elder tree groweth like the common Elder in body branches shootes 〈◊〉 floures fruit and stinking smell and differeth onely in the fashion of the leaues which doth so much disguise the tree and put it out of knowledge that no man would take it for a kinde of Elder vntill he hath smelt thereunto which will quickely shew from whence he is descended for these strange Elder leaues are very much jagged rent or cut euen vnto the middle rib From the trunke of this tree as from others of the same kinde proceedeth a certaine fleshie excrescence like vnto the eare of a man especially from those trees that are very old 4 This kinde of Elder hath 〈◊〉 which are white but the berries redde and both are not contained in spokie rundles but in clusters and grow after the manner of a cluster of grapes in leaues and other things it resembleth the common Elder saue that now and then it groweth higher ¶ The Place The common Elder groweth euery where it is planted about 〈◊〉 burrowes for the shadow of the 〈◊〉 but that with the white berries is rare the other kindes grow in like places but that with the clustered fruit groweth vpon mountaines that with the jagged leaues groweth in my garden ¶ The Time These kindes of Elders do floure in Aprill and May and their fruit is ripe in September ¶ The Names This tree is called in Greeke 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in Latine and of the Apothecaries Sambucus of 〈◊〉 Salicetus Beza in high Dutch Holunder Holder in low Dutch Ulier in Italian Sambuco in French Hus and 〈◊〉 in Spanish Sauco Sauch Sambugueyro in English Elder and Elder tree that with the white berries diuers would haue to be called Sambucus sylucstris or wilde Elder but Matthiolus calleth it Montana or mountaine Elder 3 〈◊〉 laciniatis folijs The iagged Elder tree 4 Sambucus racemosa vel 〈◊〉 Harts Elder or Cluster Elder ¶ The Temperature and Vertues Galen attributeth the like facultie to Elder that he doth to Danewoort and saith that it is of a drying qualitie gluing and moderatly digesting and it hath not only these faculties but others also for the 〈◊〉 leaues first buds 〈◊〉 and fruit of Elder do not only dry but also heate and haue withall a purging qualitie but not without trouble and hurt to the stomacke The leaues and tender crops of common Elder taken in some broth or pottage open the belly purging both slimie flegme and cholericke humors the middle barke is of the same nature but stronger and purgeth the said humors more violently The seeds contained within the berries dried are good for such as haue the dropsie and such as are too fat and would faine be leaner if they be taken in a morning to the quantity of a dram with wine for a certaine space The leaues of Elder 〈◊〉 in water vntill they be very soft and when they are almost boiled enough a little oile of sweet Almonds added thereto or a little Lineseed oile then taken forth and laid vpon a red cloath or a piece of scarlet and applied to the hemorrhoides or Piles as hot as can be suffered and so let to remaine vpon the part affected vntill it be somewhat cold hauing the like in a readinesse applying one after another vpon the diseased part by the space of an houre or more and in the end some bound to the place and the patient put warme a bed it hath not as yet failed at the first dressing to cure the said disease but if the Patient be dressed twice it must needs doe good if the first faile The greene leaues pouned with Deeres suet or Bulls tallow are good to be laid to hot swellings and tumors and doth asswage the paine of the gout The inner and greene barke doth more forcibly purge it draweth forth choler and waterie humors for which cause it is good for those that haue the dropsie being stamped and the liquor pressed out and drunke with wine or whay Of like operation are also the fresh floures mixed with some kinde of meat as fried with egges they likewise trouble the belly and moue to the stoole being dried they lose as well their purging qualitie as their moisture and retaine the digesting and attenuating qualitie The vinegar in which the dried floures are steeped are wholsome for the stomacke being vsed with meate it stirreth vp an appetite it cutteth and attenuateth or maketh thin grosse and raw humors The facultie of the seed is somewhat gentler than that of the other parts it also moueth the belly and draweth forth waterie humors being beaten to pouder and giuen to a dram weight being new gathered steeped in vineger and afterwards dried it is taken and that effectually in the like weight of the dried lees of
they haue brought forth plants of a foot high and also their beautifull leaues notwithstanding our care 〈◊〉 and industry they haue perished at the first approch of winter as not being able by reason of their tendernesse to indure the cold of our Winter blasts ¶ The Time As touching the time of his flourishing and bringing his fruit to maturitie we haue as yet no certaine knowledge but is thought to be greene both VVinter and Sommer ¶ The Names This most notable 〈◊〉 is called by the Indian name Molle of some Molly and Muelle taken from his tender softnesse as some haue deemed it may be called the Fennell tree or one of the Balme or Balsam trees ¶ The Temperature This tree is thought to be of an astringent or binding qualitie whereby it appeares besides the hot temperature it hath to be compounded of diuers other faculties ¶ The Vertues The Indians vse to seeth the fruit or berries hereof in water and by a speciall skill they haue in the boiling do make a most wholesome wine or drinke as also a kind of vineger and sometimes hony which are very strange effects these three things being so contrary in taste The leaues boiled and the decoction drunke helpeth them of any disease proceeding of a cold cause The gum which issueth from the tree being white like vnto Manna dissolued in milke taketh away the web of the eics and cleareth the sight being wiped ouer with it The barke of this tree boiled and the legs that be swolne and full of paine bathed and washed with the decoction diuers times taketh away both infirmities in short space This tree is of such estimation among the Indians that they worship it as a god according vnto their sauage rites and ceremonies much like as Pliny reporteth of Homers Moly the most renowned of all plants which they had in old time in such estimation and reuerence that as it is recorded the gods gaue it the name of Moly and so writeth Ouid Pacifer huic dederat florem Cyllenius album Moly vocant Superi nigraradice tenetur If any be desirous to see more hereof they may reade a learned discourse of it set forth in the Latine tongue by the learned Lobel who hath at large written the historie thereof dedicated vnto the right Honourable the Lord Chamberlaine at the Impression hereof faithfully ouerseene and examined by the learned Physition before remembred Mr. Doctor Browne and his censure vpon the same ‡ Together with Lobels reply who iudged this plant and not without good reason to be a kinde of the true Balsam of the Antients and not much different from that set forth by Prosper Alpinus whereof I haue made mention in the foregoing chapter ‡ CHAP. 147. Of the Canell or Cinnamon tree ¶ The Description 1 THe tree which hath the Cinnamon for his barke is of the stature of an Oliue tree hauing a body as thick as a mans thigh from which the Cinnamon is taken but that taken from the smaller branches is much better which branches or boughes are many and very straight wheron do grow beautifull leaues in shape like those of the Orenge tree and of the colour of the Bay leafe not as it hath been reported like vnto the leaues of flags or floure de-Luce among these pleasant leaues and branches come forth many faire white floures which turne into round blacke fruit or berries of the bignesse of an Hasell Nut or the Oliue berry and of a blacke colour out of which is pressed an oile that hath no smell at all vntill it be rubbed and chafed betweene the hands the trunke or body with the greater armes or boughes of the tree are couered with a double or twofold barke like that of Suber the Corke tree the innermost whereof is the true and pleasant Cinnamon which is taken from the tree and cast vpon the ground in the heate of the Sunne through the heate Canellae folium Bacillus Cortex The leafe barke and trunke of the Cinnamon tree thereof it turneth and foldeth it selfe round together as wee daily see by viewing the thing it selfe this tree being thus peeled recouereth a new barke in the space of three yeares and is then ready to be disbarked as afore That Cinnamon which is of a palecolour hath not been well dried in the Sunne that of a faire browne colour is best that which is blackish hath been too much dried and also hath taken some wet in the time of drying ‡ 2 Besides the Cinnamon vulgarly knowne and vsed there is another sort which also is commonly receiued for the Cassia of Dioscorides and the Antients Now this differs from the former in that it is of a redder colour of a more hard sollid and compact substance commonly also thicker if you chew it more clammy and viscous the taste and smell are much like Cinnamon yet not altogether so strong as that of the best Cinnamon There is much controuersie in late Writers concerning both the true Cinnamon and Cassia of the Antients the which I haue not time nor space here to mention much lesse to insist vpon I haue obserued that both the Cinnamon and Cassia that we haue are couered ouer with a rough grayish barke like that of an Oke or other such tree which is cleane scraped off and taken away before it be brought to vs. ‡ ¶ The Place The chiefest places where the trees doe grow that beare Cinnamon are Zeilan and Malauar but those of Zeilan are the best they grow in other of the Molucca Ilands as Iaoa or Iaua the greater and the lesse and also in Mindanoa for the most part vpon mountaines ¶ The Time The Cinnamon tree groweth green winter and Sommer as do all the other trees of the Moluccaes and East Indies for the most part the boughes whereof are cut off at seasonable times by the expresse commandement of the King of the Country and not before he hauc appointed the time There hath beene some controuersie among writers concerning the tree whose bark is Cassia and that tree that beareth Cinnamon making them both one tree but that opinion is not to be receiued for there is a great difference betweene them as there is betwixtan Oke and a Chestnut tree for the tree whose barke is Cassia is doubtlesse a bastard kinde of Canell or Cinnamon in shew it is very like but in sweetnesse of smell and other circumstances belonging to Cinnamon farre inferiour ¶ The Names Cinnamon is called in Italian Canella in Spanish Canola in French Canelle in high Dutch Zimmet coezlin the Grecians 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Latines likewise Cinnamomum the Arabians Darseni and as some say Querfaa others Querfe in Zeilan Cuurde in the Island Iaua they name it Cameaa in Ormus Darchini i. 〈◊〉 Chinense the wood of China in Malauar Cais mains which in their tongue signifieth Dulce 〈◊〉 Sweet wood in English Cinnamome Cinnamon and Canell The other is called Cassia and Cassia lignea ¶ The
mouth and tongue must be often washed with the same decoction and sometimes a little vineger mixed therewith This disease is thought to be vnknowne to the old writers but notwithstanding if it be conferred with that which Paulus Aegineta calleth Erysipelas 〈◊〉 an inflammation of the braine then will it not be thought to bee much differing if it be not the very same CHAP. 202. Of the great Daisie or Maudelen woort 1 Bellis maior The great Daisie ¶ The Description 1 THe great Daisie hath very many broad leaues spred vpon the ground somewhat indented about the edges of the breadth of a finger not vnlike those of groundswell among which rise vp stalkes of the height of a cubit set with the like leaues but lesser in the top whereof do grow large white floures with yellow thrums in the middle like those of the single field Daisy or Mayweed without any smell at all The root is full of strings ¶ The Place It groweth in Medowes and in the borders of fields almost euery where ¶ The Time It floureth and flourisheth in May and Iune ¶ The Names It is called as we haue said Bellis maior and also 〈◊〉 media vulnerariorum to make a difrence betweene it and Bugula which is the true Consolida media notwithstanding this is holden of all to bee Consolida medij generis or a kinde of middle Consound in High Dutch as Fuchsius reporteth 〈◊〉 in English the Great Daisie and Maudelen woort ¶ The Temperature This great Daisie is moist in the end of the second degree and cold in the beginning of the same ¶ The Vertues The leaues of the great Maudleine woort are good against all burning vlcers and apostemes against the inflammation and running of the eies being applied thereto The same made vp in an vnguent or salue with wax oile and turpentine is most excellent for wounds especially those wherein is any inflammation and will not come to digestion or maturation as are those weeping 〈◊〉 made in the knees elbowes and other ioints The iuice decoction or distilled water is drunk to very good purpose against the rupture or any inward burstings The herbe is good to be put into Vulnerarie drinks or potions as one simple belonging thereto most necessarie to the which effect the best practised do vse it as a simple in such cases of great effect It likewise asswageth the cruell torments of the gout vsed with a few Mallows and butter boiled and made to the sorme of a pultis The same receipt aforesaid vsed in Clysters profiteth much against the vehement heat in agues and ceaseth the torments or wringing of the guts or bowels CHAP. 203. Of little Daisies ¶ The Description 1 THe Daisie bringeth forth many leaues from a threddy root smooth fat long and somwhat round withall very sleightly indented about the edges for the most part lying vpon the ground among which rise vp the floures euery one with his owne slender stem almost like those of Camomill but lesser of a perfect white colour and very double 2 The double red Daisie is like vnto the precedent in euery respect sauing in the colour of the floures for this plant bringeth forth floures of a red colour and the other white as aforesaid ‡ These double Daisies are of two sorts that is either smaller or larger and these againe either white or red or of both mixed together wherefore I haue giuen you in the first place the figure of the small and in the second that of the larger 3 Furthermore there is another pretty double daisie which differs from the first described only in the floure which at the sides thereof puts forth many foot-stalkes carrying also little double floures being commonly of a red colour so that each stalke carries as it were an old one and the brood thereof whence they haue fitly termed it the childing Daisie ‡ 1 Bellis minor multiplex flore albo vel rubro The lesser double red or white Daisie 2 Bellis media multiplex flore albo vel rubro The larger double white or red Daisie 4 The wilde field Daisie hath many leaues spred vpon the ground like those of the garden Daisie among which rise vp slender stems on the top whereof do grow small single floures like those of Camomill set about a bunch of yellow thrums with a pale of white leaues sometimes white now and then red and often of both mixed together The root is threddy 5 There doth likewise grow in the fields another sort of wilde Daisie agreeing with the former in each respect sauing that it is somewhat greater than the other and the leaues are somwhat more cut in the edges and larger ‡ 3 Bellis minor prolifera Childing Daisie 4 Bellis minor syluestris The small wilde Daisie 5 Bellis media syluestris The middle wilde Daisie 7 The French blew Daisie is like vnto the other blew Daisies in each respect sauing it is altogether lesser wherein consisteth the difference ‡ There were formerly three figures and descriptions of this blew Daisie but one of them might haue serued for they differ but in the tallnesse of their growth and in the bredth and narrownesse of their leaues ‡ ¶ The Place The double Daisies are planted in gardens the others grow wilde euery where The blew Daisies are strangers in England their naturall place of abode is set forth in their seuerall titles 6 Bellis coerulea siue Globularia 〈◊〉 The blew Italian Daisie 7 Bellis coerulea Monspeliaca Blew French Daisies ¶ The Time The Daisies do floure most part of the Sommer ¶ The Names The Daisie is called in high-Dutch Maszlieben in low Dutch Margrieten in Latine Bellis minor and Consolida minor or the middle Consound of Tragus Primula veris but that name is more proper vnto Primrose of some Herba Margarita or Margarites herbe in French Marguerites and Cassaudes in Italian Fiori di prima veri gentili In English Daisies and Bruisewort The blew Daisie is called Bellis coerulea of some Globularia of the round forme of the floure it is also called Aphyllanthes and Frondislora in Italian Botanaria in English blew Daisies and Globe Daisie ¶ The Temperature The lesser Daisies are cold and moist being moist in the end of the second degree and cold in the beginning of the same ¶ The Vertues The Daisies doe mitigate all kinde of paines but especially of the ioynts and gout proceeding from an hot and dry humor if they be stamped with new butter vnsalted and applied vpon the pained place but they worke more effectually if Mallowes be added thereto The leaues of Daisies vsed amongst other Pot-herbes doe make the belly soluble and they are also put into Clysters with good successe in hot burning feuers and against inflammations of the intestines The iuyce of the leaues and roots snift vp into the nosthrils purgeth the head mightily of foule and filthy slimie humors and helpeth the megrim The same giuen to little dogs with milke keepeth them