Seeds cast upon them and taken after meat do strenthen both Stomach and Bowels especially in those that loath or hardly digest their meat or are given to casting or have a Flux or Lask Those that are a little sowr and harsh used in that manner are fittest Sweet Apples loosen the Belly and drive forth Worms Sowr Apples stop the Belly and provoke Urin 3 and Crabs for this purpose are fittest The sweet Apples as the Pippin and Pearmain help to dissolve Melancholly humors and to procure Mirth and therfore are fittest for Confectio Alkerimes and Syrupus de Pomis The Leavs boyled and given to drink in hot Agues where the heat of the Liver and Stomach causeth the Lips to break out and the Throat to grow dry harsh and furred is very good to wash and gargle it withal and to drink down som. This may to good purpose be used when better things are not at hand or cannot be had The Juyce of Crabs either Verjuyce or Cider is of singular good use in the Heat and faintings of the Stomach and against Casting to make a Posset with or taken som of it alone by it self The Juyce of Crabs or Cider applied with wet cloaths therein to scalded or burnt places cooleth healeth and draweth sorih the Fire A rotten Apple applied to Eyes blood-shotten or enflamed with heat or that are black and blue about them by any stroke or fall and bound too all day or night helpeth them quickly The distilled Water of rotten Apples doth cool the heat and inflamations of Sores and is good to bath foul creeping Ulcers and to wash the Face to take away Spots Freckles or other discolorings The distilled Water of good and sound Apples is of special good use to procure Mirth and expel Melancholly The Ointment called Pomatum if sweet and well made helpeth the Chops in the Lips or Hands and maketh smooth and supple the rough Skin of the Hands or Face parched with wind or other accidents Thus my Authors All that I can say of Apples is this 1 That they are extream windy 2 That they provoke Urin being roasted especially Pomwaters and mixed with fair Water and drunk up at night going to bed half a dozen great ones mixed with a quart of Water excellently provokes Urin if there be no material stone in the Body This I had of Gerhard and have often known it proved and alwaies with good success All Apples loosen theâ— Belly and pleasure the Stomach by their coolness Arrach wild stinking ♀ Description THis hath small and almost round Leaves yet a little pointed and without dent or cut of a dusky mealy colour growing on the slender Stalks and Branches that spread on the the Leaves and smal Seeds succeding like the rest perishing yearly and rising again with its own sowing It smels like old rotten Fish or somthing worse Place It grows usually upon Dunghils Time They flower in June and July and their Seed is ripe quickly after Vertues and use Stinking Arrach is used as a remedy to help Women painèd and almost strangled with the Mother by smelling to it But inwardly taken there is not a better Remedy under the Moon for that Disease I would be large in commendation of this Herb were I but Eloquent It is an Herb under the dominion of Venus and under the sign Scorpio It is common almost upon every Dunghil The Works of God are given freely to Man his Medicins are common and cheap and easie to be found t is the Medicines of the Colledg of Physitians that are so dear and scarce to find I commend it for an Universal Medicine for the Womb and such a Medicine as will easily safly and speedily cure any Diseas therof as the fits of the Mother Dislocation or falling our therof it cools the Womb being over-heared And let me tel you this and I wil tel you but the truth Heat of the womb is one of the greatest causes of hard labor in Childbirth It makes barren women fruitful it clenseth the Womb if it be foul and strengthens it exceedingly it provokes the Terms if they be stopped and stops them if they flow immoderatly You can desire no good to your Womb but this Herb will effect it therfore if you love Children if you love Health if you love Ease keep a Syrup alwaies by you made of the Juyce of this Herb and Sugar or Honey if it be to clens the Womb and let such as be rich keep it for their poor neighbors and bestow it as freely as I bestow my studies upon them or els let them look to answer it another day when the Lord shall come to make inquisition for Bloud ♀ Archangel To put a gloss upon their practice the Physitians call an Herb which Country people â—ulgarly know by the name of Dead-Nettles Archangèl wherein whether they savor of more Superstition or Folly I leave to the judicious Reader There is more curiosity than courtesie to my Countrymen used by others in the explaination aswel of the Names as Description of this so wel-known an Herb which that I may not also be guilty of Take this short Description first of the Red-Archangel Descriptions This hath divers square stalks somwhat hairy at the joynts whereof grow two sad green Leaves dented about the edges opposit to one another the lowermost upon long footstalks but without any toward the tops which are somwhat round yet pointed and a little crumpled and hairy Round about the upper Joynts where the Leaves grow thick are sundry gaping Flowers of a pale reddish colour after which com the Seeds three or four in a Husk The Root is smal and thriddy perishing every year the whol Plant hath a strong scent but not stinking White-Archangel hath diverse square stalks not standing streight upright but bending downward wheron stand two Leavs at a Joynt larger and more pointed than the other dented about the edges and greener also more like unto Nettle-Leavs but not stinking yet hairy At the Joynts with the Leavs stand larger and more open gaping white Flowers in Husks round about the Stalks but not with such a bush of Leavs as Flowers set in the top as is on the other wherin stand smal roundish black Seeds The Root is white with many strings at it not growing downward but lying under the upper crust of the Earth and abideth many years encreasing This hath not so strong a scent as the former Tellow-Archangel is like the White in the Stalks and Leavs but that the Stalks are more streight and upright and the Joynts with Leaves are further asunder having longer Leavs than the former and the Flowers a little larger and more gaping of a fair yellow colour in most in som paler The Roots are like the White only they creep not so much under the ground Place They grow almost every where unless it be in the middle of the street the Yellow most usually in the wet grounds of
the name Cardiaca The Pouder thereof to the quantity of a spoonful drunk in Wine is a wonderful help to Women in their Sore Travails as also for the suffocations or risings of the Mother and from these effects it is likely it took the name of Motherwort with us It also provoketh Urine and Womens Courses clenseth the Chest of cold Flegm oppressing it and killeth the Worms in the Belly It is of good use to warm and dry up the cold Humors to digest and dispers them that are setled in the Veins Joynts and Sinews of the Body and to help Cramps and Convulsions Venus owns the Herb and it is under Leo there is no better Herb to drive Melancholly Vapors from the Heart to strengthen it and make a merry cheerful blith soul than this Herb it may be kept in a Syrup or Conserve therfore the Latins called it Cardiaca Besides it makes Women joyful Mothers of Children and settles their Wombs as they should be therfore we call it Motherwort Mousear Description THis is a low Herb creeping upon the ground by small strings like the Strawberry Plant whereby it shooteth forth smal Roots whereat grow upon the Ground many small and somwhat short Leavs set in a round form together hollowish in the middle where they are broadest of an hoary colour all over and very hairy which being broken do give a white Milk From among these Leavs spring up two or three smal hoary Stalks about a span high with a few smaller Leavs thereon At the tops whereof standeth usually but one Flower consisting of many paler yellow Leavs broad at the points and a little dented in set in three or four rows the greater outermost very like a Dandelyon Flower and a little reddish underneath about the edges especially if it grow in a dry ground which after they have stood long in Flower do turn into Down which with the Seed is carryed away with the Wind. Place It groweth on Ditch Banks and somtimes in Ditches if they be dry and in sandy Grounds Time It Flowreth about June and July and abideth green all the Winter Vertues and Use. The Juyce hereof taken in Wine or the Decoction thereof drunk doth help the Jaundice although of long continuance to drink thereof morning and evening and abstain from other drink two or three hours after It is a special Remedy against the Stone and the tormenting pains thereof as also other Tortures and griping pains of the Bowels The Decoction thereof with Succory and Centaury is held very eflectual to help the Dropsie and them that are inclining thereunto and the Diseases of the Spleen It stayeth the Fluxes of Blood either at the Mouth or Nose and inward Bleedings also for it is a singular Wound Herb for Wounds both inward and outward It helpeth the Bloody Flux and stayeth the abundance of Womens Courses There is a Syrup made of the Juyce hereof and Sugar by the Apothecaries of Italy and other places which is of much account with them to be given to those that are troubled with the Cough or Phtisick The same also is singular good for Ruptures or Burstings The green Herb bruised and presently bound to any fresh cut or Wound doth quickly soder the lips thereof And the Juyce Decoction or Pouder of the dried Herb is most singular to stay the Malignity of spreading and fretting Cankers and Ulcers wheresoever yea in the Mouth or secret parts The distilled Water of the Plant is available in all the Diseases aforesaid and to wash outward Wounds and Sores and to apply Tents or Cloaths wet therein The Moon owns the Herb also and though Authors cry out upon Alchymists for attempting to fix Quick Silver by this Herb and Moonwort A Roman would not have judged a thing by the success if it be to be fixed at all 't is by Lunar Influence Mugwort Description THe common Mugwort have divers Leavs lying upon the ground very much devided or cut deeply in about the Brims somwhat like Wormwood but much larger of a dark green colour on the upper side and very hoary white underneath The stalks rise to be four or five foot high having on it such like Leavs as those below but somwhat smaller branching forth very much toward the top whereon are set very smal pale yellowish Flowers like Buttons which fall away and after them come small Seed inclosed in round Heads The Root is long and hard with many smal Fibres growing from it whereby it taketh strong hold in the ground but both Stalk and Leaf do die down every yeer and the Root shooteth anew in the Spring The whol Plant is of a reasonable good scent and is more easily propogated by the Slips than by the Seed Place It groweth plentifully in many places of this Land by the way sides as also by smal Water-Courses and in divers other places Time It Flowreth and Seedeth in the end of Summer Vertues and Use. Mugwort is with good success put among other Herbs that are boyled for Women to fit over the hot Decoction to draw down their Courses to help the Delivery of the Birth and expel the Afterbirth as also for the Obstructions and Inflamations of the Mother It breaketh the Stone and causeth one to make water where it is stopped The Juyce thereof made up with Mirrh and put under as a Pessary worketh the same effect and so doth the Root also being made up with Hogs Greas into an Oyntment it taketh away Wens and hard Knots and Kernels that grow about the Neck and Throat and easeth the pains about the Neck and more effectually if some Field Daisies be put with it The Herb it self being fresh or the Juyce thereof taken is a special Remedy upon the overmuch taking of Opium Three drams of the Pouder of the dried Leavs taken in Wine is a speedy and the best certain help for the Sciatica A Decoction thereof made with Chamomel and Agrimony and the place bathed therewith while it is warm taketh away the pains of the Sinews and the Cramp This is an Herb of Venus therefore maintaineth the parts of the Body she rules and Remedies the Diseases of the parts that are under her Signs Taurus and Libra The Mulberry-Tree THis is so well known in the places where it groweth that it needeth no Description Time It beareth Fruit in the Months of July and August Vertues and Use. The Mulberry is of different parts the ripe Berries by reason of their Sweetness and slippery moisture opening the Belly and the unripe binding it especially when they are dried and then they are good to stay Fluxes Lasks and the abundance of Womens Courses The Bark of the Root killeth the broad Worms in the Body The Juyce or the Syrup made of the Juyce of the Berries helpeth all Inflamations and Sores in the Mouth or Throat and the Pallet of the Mouth when it is fallen down The Juyce of the Leavs is a Remedy against the biting
extenuate fat corpulent Bodies What an Infamy is cast upon the Ashes of Methridates or Methradates as the Augustanes read his name by unworthy people they that deserve no good report themselves love to give nonâ— to others Viz. That that renowned King of Pontus fortified his Body by Poyson against Poyson He cast out Devils by Beelzebub the Prince of Devils what a sot is he that knows not if he had accustomed his Body to cold Poysons hot Poysons would have dispatch'd him or the contrary if not corrosions would have done it the whol world is at this very time beholding to him for his Studies in Physick and he that useth the quantity of but a Hazel Nut of that Recept every morning to which his name is adjoyned shall to admiration preserve his Body in health if he do but consider that Rue is an Herb of the Sun and under Leo and gather it and the rest accordingly Rupture wort Description THis spreadeth very many threddy Branches round about upon the ground about a span long devided into many other smaller parts full of small Joynts set very thick together whereat come forth two very small Leavs of a fresh yellowish green colour branches and all where groweth forth also a number of exceeding smal yellowish Flowers scarce to be discerned from the Stalks and Leavs which turn into Seed as smal as the very dust The Root is very long and smal thrusting down deep into the ground This hath neither smel nor tast at first but afterward hath a little astringent tast without any manifest heat yet a little bitter and sharp withal Place It groweth in dry sandy and Rockie places Time It is fresh and green all the Summer Vertues and use Rupture wort hath not his name in vain for it is found by experience to cure the Rupture not only in Children but also in Elder Persons if the Diseas be not too inveterate by taking a dram of the Pouder of the dried Herb every day in Wine for certain daies together Or the Decoction made in Wine and drunk Or the Juyce or distilled water of the green Herb taken in the same manner and helpeth all other Fluxes either in men or Women Vomitings also and the Gonorrhea or running of the Reins being taken any of the waies aforesaid It doth also most assuredly help those that have the Strangury or have their Urine stopped or are troubled with the Stone or Gravel in their Reins or Bladder The same also helpeth much all Stitches in the Side all griping pains in the Stomach or Belly the Obstructions of the Liver and cureth the yellow Jaundice likewise It killeth also the Worms in Children Being outwardly applied it conglutineth Wounds notably and helpeth much to stay Defluxions of Rhewm from the Head to the Eyes Nose and Teeth being bruised green and bound thereto Or the Decoction of the dried Herb to bath the Forehead and Temples or the Nape of Neck behind It also drieth up the moisture of Fistulous Ulcers or any others that are foul and spreading They say Saturn causeth Ruptures if he do he doth no more than he can cure if you want wit he will teach you though to your cost this Herb is Saturns own and is a notable Antivenerian Rushes ALthough there are many kinds of Rushes yet I shall only here insist upon those which are best known and most Medicinal as the Bulrushes and other of the soâ—t and smooth kinds which grow so commonly in almost every place of this Land and are so generally noted that I suppose it needless to trouble you with any Description of them Briefly then take the Vertues of them as followeth Vertues and Uices The Seeds of these soft Rushes saith Dioscorides and Galen toasted saith Pliny being drunk in Wine and Water stayeth the Lask and Womens Courses when they come down too abundantly but it causeth Headach It provoketh sleep likewife but must be given with caution lest the party that takes it wake not until the Resurrection Pliny saith The Root boyled in water to the consumption of one third helpeth the Cough Thus you see that Conveniences have their Inconveniences and Vertue is seldom unaccompanied with some Vices What I have written concerning Rushes is to satisfie my Country-mens Question Are our Rushes good for nothing Yes and as good let alone as taken There are Remedies enough without them for every Diseas and therforo as the Proverb is I care not a Rush for them or rather they will do you as much good as if one had given you a Rush. Rye THis is so well known in all the Countries of this Land and especially to the Country people who feed much thereon that if I should describe it they would presently say I might well have spared that Labor Its Vertues follow Vertues and use Rye is more digesting than Wheat The Bread and the Leaven thereof ripeneth and breaketh Impostumes Boyls and other Swellings The Meal of Rye put between a double cloth and moistned with a little Vinegar and heated in a Pewter dish set over a Chafing-dish of coals and bound fast to the Head while it is hot both much eas the continual pains of the Head Mathiolus saith That the ashes of Rye straw put into Water and suffered therein a day and a night and the Chops of the Hands or Feet washed therewith doth heal them Saffron THe Herb needs no Description it being known generally where it grows Place It grows frequently at Walden in Essex and in Cambridg-sbire Vertues and use It is an Herb of the Sun and under the Lion and therfore you need not demand a reason why it strengthens the heart so exceedingly Let not abov ten grains be given at one time for if the Sun which is the Fountain of Life may dazle the Eyes and make them blind a Cordial being taken in an immoderate quantity may hurt the Heart instead of helping it It quicken the Brain for the Sun is exalted in V as well as he hath his House in SL it help Consumption of the Lungs help difficulty of breathing it is an excellent thing in Epidemical Diseases as Pestilences smal Pox and Measles It is a notable expulsive Medicine and a notable Remedy for the yellow Jaundice My own Opinion is but I have no Author for it that Hermodactils is nothing else but the Roots of Saffron dried and my reason is that the Roots of all Crocus both white and yellow purge Flegm as Hermodactils do and if you please to dry the Roots of any Crocus neither your eye nor your tast shal distinguish it from Hermodactils Sage OUr ordinary Garden Sage needeth no Description Time It Flowreth in or about July Vertues and use A Decoction of the Leavs and Branches of Sage made and drunk saith Dioscorides provoketh Urine bringeth down Womens Courses helpeth to expel the dead Child and causeth the hairs to become black It staieth the bleeding of Wounds and clenseth foul Ulcers or Sores The seid
sire Running sores of the Head Vlceâ—s of the Nose Antidote pains of the Chest Stomach Spleen Belly Obstructions Ruptures Fluxes Running of the Reins Strangury Stone or Gravel Stitches Yellow Jaundice Worms Wounds Defluxions Foul Ulsers Impostums Boyls Swellings Pains of the Head Chops of the Hands or Feet Provoke Urine womens Courses Expel the Dead Child After birth stanch Bleeding Clense Ulcers sores Itching of the Cods Help Conception hinder Miscarriage spitting Blood consumption Pains of the Head Joynts Fallâ—â—gsickness Lethargy Dulness of spirit Palsey Defluxions of Rhewm Impostume behind the Ears Hoarsness cough Bloody Flux Ricing of Serpents Worms in the Ears or Sores Quincken the senses help Memory Sore Mouths Throats Cankers Palsey or cramp Stitch in the side Provokes Urine Womens courses sweat Swellings in the flesh French Pox Vein broken Bursteness Palsey Ulcers Sores Green Wounds Wounds Sores Vomiting Bleeding Fluxes Running of the Reins Knit Joynts broken Bones in man beast Ruptures Bruises Falls black blew Marks Beautifie the Face Helps digestion Opens Obstructions provokes Urin Expel Gravel and the Stone Green Wounds Vlcers Impostums Inward Bleedings Swellings ulcers in the Mouth Throat Privities Womens Courses Fluxes of Blood Lasks Vlcers in the Kidneys Running or the Reins Rupture Obstructions yellow Jaundice Dropsie Vlcers of the Reins Inward Wounds Bruises Pains in the Body Mother Agues Green Wounds Old Sores or Vlcers Vlcers in the Mouth or Throat Sores in the Privy Parts Helps digestion Cough Tough Flegm Wind-Chollick Stone Vlcers in the Legs Expelleth Wind Mother provokes Vrine Womens Courses Tough Flegm Lethargy Dull sights Singing in the Ears Deafness Sciatica Palsey stinging of Bees c. Chollick Illiack passion Clenseth the Reins Stone Gravel provoke Urine Womens Courses Tough Flegm Provoke Vrine Ease Wind Collick Mother Womens Courses Stone Tough Flegm Venom Cramps Convusions Wounds in the Head Freckles spots Coughs shortness of Breath Cold Flegm Inward Vlcers Impostumes Plurisie Infection Carbuncle or Plague sores Pains or stitches in the side Scabs tetters Ring-worms Itch inward Wounds Cold swellings shrunk Sinews Freckles Pimples Morphew Lepry Dandriff Scurf Green Wounds Old sorcs Vlcers Splinters Thorns broken Bones c. Scurvy Liver Spleen flegmatick Humors Foul ulcers sore Mouths Spots Scars in the Skin Inward Wounds Vlcers Bruises Flux of Blood Foul sores Green wounds Headach Sores in the Mouth or Throat secret parts Fluxes Scowrings Casting Bleeding of wounds or at Mouth Nose Liver spleen Vrine womens Courses Yellow Jaundice Agues sore Mouths Throats Vlcers Cankers wind worms stinking Breath Cut Fingers provokes Vrine Expels Gravel Stone Dropsie French Pox. Cooleth Inflamations heat of Blood Agues Quench thirst Provoke Appetite Killworms Womens Courses Fluxes Poyson Jaundice Gravel stone Black Jaundice Inward ulcers Itch Tetters Ring-worms Kernels in the Throat sore Mouth Impostume Boyl or Plague sore Ulcers Inflamations procure Appetite stay Vomiting Pestilential Feavers Hot swellings Canker or Ulcer in the Mouth â— ounds oâ— seabs Destuxions Pains heat of the Stomach short wind Wheesing Gravel Stone stinking Breath speedy Delivery Strangury Milk increased Deafness singing in the Ears Inflamed Eyes Wheals Blisters Hemorrhoids Cleer the Face Bursten Cramps Convulsions Sciaticae Strangury Womens Courses Toyson Agues Inflamed Eyes Pimples Pushes Wheals Worms Splinters Thorns Old Vlcers Sores in the Privities Baldness French pox Stone Spleen Mother Provokes Vrine Womens Courses Strangury pain in the stomach Mother Joynt aches Tough flegm Venemous Creatures Spleen strangury stone yellow Jaundice Running of the Reins Melancholly Diseases Provokes Vrine stone plague fistula french pox Obstructions Agues Cool the Liver spleen stomach Quench Thirst Inflamations Provoke Vrine stay the Bloody flux Womens Courses panting of the heart Yellow Jaundice Vlcers sore Mouths or Vlcers in the privities Loos teeth Cataâ—â—hs Desfluxions Inflamed Eyes pushes Wheals Red face Deformities in the skin films over the Eyes Chollerick flegmatick Humors Obstructions Yellow Jaundice Hot Reins Urin Dropsie Agues passions of the Heart Headach Swellings Inflamations St. Anthonies fires pushes wheals pimples Inflamed Eyes Too much Milk Tough Flegm Worms Meagrim pains in the Bowels Gravel Stone wind Mother toothach Kings Evil Venemous Creature Ague Cramps Aches Sciatica Itch Scabs Vlcers Cankers soul Sores Lice Fresh wound Old sores Impostums hard Swellings Spleen Hemorrhoids spitting Blood womens Courses Jaundice Chollick Venemous Serpents Toothach Pain in the Ears watering Eyes Gangrenes Vâ—â—â—s Nits Lice Spleen Burning Scalding French Pox Lepry Scabs Dropsie Melancholly Black Jaundice Disury Strangury Reins Kidneys wind womb Miscarriage Stone Stomach Worms Cramps Flux Terms stops Spitting Vomiting of Blood Whites Ruptures Belly-ach Sciatica Joynts toothach Loos teeth Gums Ulcers in the Mouth wounds Sore Legs Pimples Freckles Sunbursing Disury Ill smel stinking Breath Stomach Melancholly Agues Plague Obstructions Liver Spleen Stone Dropsie Stitches in the side Liver Blood Binds cools dries Bleeding Flux Bloody Flux gnawings in bowels and stomach Sore Mouth Throat Headach Bruises Wounds Ulcers Ruptures Navils sticking out Flux Bleeding Veins cut terms stops Feavers Pestilence Smal pox Measels Purples Poyson Speen Blood Inflamed Liver Lungs Yellow Jaundice French Pox Miscarriage Diabetes Worms Ruptures toothach Wounds Sores Hurts Gout Srabby Heads Choller Flegm Stons Disury Terms provokes Gout Warts Wens Disjunctures Belly-ach Inflamations Pin Web Eyes Venemous Beast Disury Wounds Scars Whites Swellings Apostums Choller Sciatica Gout Burning Bleeding Wounds Ulcers Disury Strangury Stitch terms provokes Brest Short wind Cough Flegm Pestilence Wind Headach Eyes Pin and Web Wounds Splinters thorn Obstructions Clensing Healing Yellow Jaundice Venemous Beasts Pestilence Agues Worms Cough shortness of Breath Wheesing Stone Gravel Reins Bladder Womb Dropsie Bleeding Wounds Ulcers Fistulaes Headach Frenzie Morphew Freckles Eyes Sore Mouth Inflamations Womens Longing Stone Teeth black Inflamation Eyes Womb Head-ach Watching Quinsie Falling-sickness Swellings Pleuresie Flegm Hoarceness Throat Back Reins Bladder Thirst Heart Venemous Beasts Poyson Heart Sadness Melancholly Agues Milk Loyns Back Kidneys Obstructions Liver Terms provokes Afterbirth Dead Child Spleen Weakness Disjuncture Gout Sinews Apoplexy Palsey Binds Dries Worms Poyson Epidemical Diseases Inflamation in the Throat wounds of the Sinews Gangrenes Carbuncles Flux Terms stops Baldness Quinsie Toothach Mother Chollick Wind Agues Deafness Ears Flegm Humors Tumors Venemous Beasts Pestilence Worms Cold Tetters Ring-worms Ulcers Chops in the Hands Feet Mad Dogs Eyes Kings Evil Sinews Scabs Leprosie Venemous Beasts Cods Hoarceness Stanch Bleeding Spitting of Blood Fluxes of Blood Vomiting Distillations on the Lungs Wind Chollick Heat of Lust Dimness of sight other Diseases in the Eyes Cleer the Face Dry up Humors Warts Corns superfluous flesh Scurf or Dandriff Feaver Bleeding Spleenâ— Ulcers Inflamations St. Anthonies fire defluxions of Blood Lungs afflicted Asthma Spleen provokes Urine speedy Delivery in Childbirth Cramps Convulsions Palseysâ— Freckles and Sunburning Choller Venery Provokes urine Helps Surfets Swellings Appetite lost Yelloow Jaundice Preserve Health Terms provokesâ— Biting of Rats Mice Mushroms Wheals Pushes Black blew Spots Quinsie Eyes Biting or stinging by Venemous Beasts Spleen French Pox Surfet Stinking Breath Dull Brain weak Sight Wounds Inflamations Terms stops Bloody Flux Baldnss Ulcers Fistulaes Retentive Faculty Running of the Reins Whites Diabetes Toothach * Galen's Art of Physick
doth the same Garden Bazil OR ♀ Sweet Bazil Description THe greater ordinary Bazil riseth up usually with one upright Stalk diversly branching forth on all sides with two Leaves at every Joynt which are somewhat broad and round yet pointed of a pale green colour but fresh a little snipt about the edges and of a strong heady scent the Flowers are smal and white standing at the rops of the Branches with two smal Leavs at the Joynt in som places green in others brown after which come black Seed The Root perisheth at the approach of Winter and therfore must be new sowen every year Place Iâ— only groweth in Gardens Time It must be sowed late and flowers in the heat of Summer being a very tender Plant. Vertues and use This is the Herb which all Authors are together by the Ears about and rail at one another like Lawyers Galen and Diascoride hold it not fitting to be taken inwardly and Chrysippus rails at it with downright Billingsgate-Rhetorick Fliny and the Arabian Physitians defend it For mine own part I presently found that Speech true Non nostrum inter nos tantas-componâ—re lites And away to Dr Reason went I who told me it was an Herb of Mars and under the Scorpion and perhaps therfore called Basilicon and then no mervail if it carry a kind of virulent quality with it Being applied to the place bitten by a venemous Beast or stung by a Wasp or Horner it speedily draws the Poyson to it Every like draws his like Myzalâ—us affirms That it being laid to rot in Horsdung it wil breed Venemous Beasts And Hollerius a French Physitian affirms upon his own knowledg That an acquaintance of his by common smelling to it had a Scorpion bred in his Brain Somthing is the matter this Herb and Rue wil not grow together no nor near one another And we know Rue is as great an enemy to Poyson as any grows To conclude It expelleth both Birth and After-birth and as it helps the deficiency of Venus in one kind so it spoils al her actions in another I date write no more of it ♃ The Bay-Tree THis is so wel known that it needs no Description I shal therfore only write the Vertues therof which are many Vertues and use Galen saith That the Leaves or Bark do dry and heal very much and the Berries more than the Leaves The Bark of the Root is less sharp and hot but more bitter and hath some astriction withal whereby it is effectual to break the Stone and good to open obstructions of the Liver Spleen and other inward parts which bring the Dropsie Jaundice c. The Berries are very effectual againft al Poyson of venemous Creatures and the Stings of Wasps and Bees as also against the Pestilence or other infectious Diseases and therfore is put into sundry Triacles for that purpose They likewise procure Womens Courses and seven of them given to a Woman in sore travel of Child-birth do cause a speedy delivery and expel the After-birth and therfore not to be taken by such as have not gon but theit time lest they procure Abortment or cause Labor too soon They wonderfully help al cold and rhumatick Distillations from the Brain to the Eyes Lungs or other parts And being made into an Electuary with Honey do help the Consumption old Coughs shortness of Breath and thin Rhewms as also the Meagrim they mightily expel wind and provoke Urin help the Mother and kil the Worms The Leaves also work the like effects A Bath of the Deccction of the Leavs and Berries is singular good for Women to sit in that are troubled with the Mother or the Diseases therof or the stoppings of their Courses or for the Diseases of the Bladder pains in the Bowels by wind and stoppnig of Urin A Decoction likewise of equal parts of Bay-berries Cummin-Seed Hysop Origanum and Euphorbium with some Honey and the Head bathed therwith doth wonderfully help Distillations and Rhewms and setleth the Pallat of the Mouth into its place The Oyl made of the Berries is very comfortable in all cold Griefs of the Joynts Nervs Arteries Stomach Belly or Womb and helpeth Palsies Convulsions Cramps Aches trembling and numness in any part weariness also and pains that come by sore travelling Al griefs and pains likewise proceeding from Wind either in the Head Stomach Back Belly or Womb by â—nointing the parts affected therwith And pains in the Ears are also cured by dropping in some of the Oyl or by receiving into the â—Ears the warm fume of the Decoction of the Berries through a Funnel The Oyl takes away marks of the Skin and Flesh by bruises fats c. and dissolveth the congealed Blood in them It helpeth also the Itch Scabs and Wheals in the Skin I shal but only ad a word or two to what my Friend hath written viz. That it is a Tree of the sun and under the Coâ—lostial sign Leo and resisteth Witchcraft very potently as also al the evil old Saturn can do to the Body of Man and they are not a few for it is the Speech of one and I am mistaken if it were not Myzaldus That neither Witch nor Devil Thunder nor Lightning wil hurt a Man in the place where a Bay-Tree is ♀ Beans BOth the Garden and Field Beans are so wel known that it saveth me labor of wriring any ' Description of them Their Vertues briefly are as followeth The distilled wather of the Flowers of Garden Beans is good to clens the Face and Skin from Spots and Wrinckles and the Meal or Flower of them or the smal doth the same The Water distilled from the green Husks is held to be very effectual against the Stone and to provoke Urine Bean Flower is used in Pultisses to asswage Inflamations rising upon Wounds and the swelling of Womens Breasts caused by the curding of their Milk and represseth their Milk The Flower of Beans and Fenugreek mixed with Honey and applied to Fellons Boyls Bruises or blue Marks by blows or the Imposthumes in the Kernels of the Ears helpeth them all And with Rose Leavs Frankinsens and the white of an Egg being applied to the Eyes helpeth them that are swoln or do water or have received any blow upon them is used with Wine If a Bean be parted in two the skin being taken away and laid on the place where a Leech hath been set that bleedeth too much it staieth the bleeding Bean Flower boyled to a Pultis with Wine and Vinegar and some Oyl put therto ceaseth both pain and swelling of the Cods The Husks boyled in Water to a consumption of a third part therof staieth a Lask and the Ashes of the Husks made up with old Hogs Greas helpeth the old pains contusions and Wounds of the Sinews the Sciatica and Gout The Field Beans have all the aforementioned Vertues as the Garden Beans Beans eaten are extream windy meat but if after the Dutch fashion
put into the Nostrils purgeth the Head helpeth the nois in the Ears and the Tooth-ach the Juyce snuffed up the Nose helps a stinking Breath if the caus lies in the Nose as many times it doth if any bruis have been there as also want of smel coming that way Water-Betony ♃ ♋ Description FIrst of the Water-Betony which riseth up with square hard greenish Stalks and somtimes brown set with broad dark green Leavs dented about the edges with notches somwhat resembling the Leavs of the Wood-Betony but much larger two for the most part set at a Joynt The Flowers are many set at the tops of the Stalks and Branches being round bellied and open at the Brims and divided into two parts the uppermost being like a Hood and the lowest like a Lip hanging down of a dark red colour which passing away there comes in their places smal round Heads with smal points in the ends wherin lie smal and brownish Seeds The Root is a thick Bush of strings and threds growing from an Head Place It groweth by Ditchsides Brooks and other Water-courses generally through this Land and is seldom found far from the Waters sides Time It Flowreth about July and the Seed is ripe in August Vertues and Use. It is of a clensing quality the Leavs bruised and applied are effectual for all old and filthy Ulcers and especially if the Juyce of the Leavs be boyled with a little Honey and tents dipped therin and the Sores dressed therwith as also for Bruises or Hurts whether inward or outward The distilled water of the Leaves is used for the same purposes as also to bath the Face or Hands spotted or blemished or discolored by Sunburning I confess I do not much fancy distilled Waters I mean such Waters as are distilled cold some vertue of the Herb they may happliy have it were a strange thing else but this I am confident of that being distilled in a Pewter Stil as the vulgar and apish fashion is both Chymical Oyl and Salt is left behind unless you burn them and then all is spoiled Water and al which was good for as little as can be by such a Distillation You have the best way of Distillation in my Translation of the London Dispensatory The Colledg of Physitians having as much skil in Distillations as an Ass hath reading Hebrew Water-Betony is an Herb of Jupiter in cancer and is apropriated more to Wounds and Hurts in the Breast than Wood-Betony which follows ♃ ♈ Wood-Betony Description THe Common or Wood-Betony hath many Leavs rising from the Root which are somwhat broad and round at the ends roundly dented about the edges standing upon long Footstalks from among which rise up smal square slender but yet upright hairy Stalks with some Leaves thereon two apiece at the Joynts smaller than the lower whereon are set several spiked Heads of Flowers like Lavender but thicker and shorter for the most part and of a reddish or purple colour spotted with white spots both in the upper and lower part The Seeds being contained within the Husks that hold the Flowers are blackish somwhat long and uneven The Roots are many white threddy strings the Stalk perisheth but the Root with some Leavs theron abides al the Winter The whol Plant is somwhat smal Place It groweth frequently in Woods and delighteth in Shady-places Time And it flowreth in July after which the Seed is quickly ripe yet in its prime in May. Vertues and Vse Antonius Musa physitian to the Emperor Augustus caesar wrote a peculiar Book of the Vertues of this Herb and amongst other Vertues saith of it That it preserveth the Lives and Bodies of Men free from the danger of Epidemical Diseases and from Wicchcrafts also It is found by daily experience to be good for many Diseases It helpeth those that loath or cannot digest their Meat those that have weak Stomachs or sower belchings or continual rising in their Stomach using it familiarly either green or dry either the Herb the Root or the Flowers in Broth drunk or Meat or made into Conserve Syrup Water Electuary or Pouder as every one may best frame themselvs unto or as the time or season requireth taken any of the aforesaid waies It helpeth the Jaundice Falling-sickness the Palsie Convulsions or shrinking of the Sinews the Gout and those that are inclined to Dropsies those that have continual Pains in their Head although it turn to Phrensie The Pouder mixed with pure Honey is no less available for al sorts of Coughs or Colds Wheesing or shortness of Breath Distillations of thin Rhewm upon the Lungues which causeth Consumptions The Decoction made with Mead and a little Penyroyal is good for those that are troubled with putrid Agues whether Quotidian Tertian or Quartan and to draw down and evacuate the Blood and humors that by falling into the Eyes do hinder the Sight The Decoction therof made in Wine and taken killeth the Worms in the Belly openeth Obstructions both of the Spleen and Liver careth Stitches and Pains in the Back or Sides the Torments and griping pains of the Bowels and the wind Chollick and mixed with Honey purgeth the Belly helpeth to bring down Womens Courses and is of especial use for those that are troubled with the falling down of the Mother and pains therof and causeth an easie and speedy delivery of Women in Childbirth it helpeth also to break and expel the Stone either in the Bladder or Kidneys The Decoction with Wine gargled in the Mouth easeth the Toothach It is commended against the sting or biting or Venemous Serpents or Mad Dogs Being used inwardly and applied outwardly to the place A dram of the Pouder in Betony taken with a little Honey in some Vinegar doth wonderfully refresh those that are overwearied by travail it staieth bleedings at the Mouth or Nose and helpeth those that pise or spit Blood and those that are Bursten or have a Rupture and is good for such as are bruised by any fall or otherwise The green Herb bruised or the Juyce applied to any inward hurt or outward green Wound in the Head or Body wil quickly heal and close it up as also any Veins or Sinews that are cut and will draw forth any broken Bone or Splinter Thorn or other thing gotten into the Flesh It is no less profitable for old Sores or filthy Ulcers yea though they be Fistulaus and hollow but some do advise to put in a little Salt to this purpose Being applied with a little Hogs Lard it helpeth a Plague-Sore and other Boyls and Pushes The fumes of the Decoction while it is warm received by a Funnel into the Bars caseth the pains of them destroyeth the Worms and cureth the running Sores in them The Juyce dropped into them doth the same The Root of Betony is displeasing both to the tast and Stomach whereas the Leavs and Flowers by their sweet and spicy tast are comfortable both in Meat and Medicine There are some of the many
spring which being ful grown are very large broad being somwhat thin and almost round whose thick red foot stalks about a foot long stand towards the middle of the Leavs The lower parts being divided into two round parts close almost one to another and of a pale green colour and hoary underneath The Root is long and spreading under ground being in some places no bigger than ones Finger in others much bigger blackish on the outside white within of a bitter and unpleasant tast Place and Time They grow in low and wet grounds by Rivers and Waters side their Flower as is said rising and decaying in February and March before the Leavs which appear in April Vertues and use The Roots hereof are by long experience found to be very available against the Plague and Pestilential Feavers by provoking Sweat if the Pouder therof be taken in Wine it also resisteth the force of any other Poyson The Root hereof taken with Zedoà ry and Angelica or without them helps the rising of the Mother The Decoction of the Root in Wine is singular good for those that wheeze much or are short-winded It provoketh Urin also and Womens courses and killeth the flat and broad Worms in the Belly The Pouder of the Root doth wonderfully help to dry up the moisture of sores that are hard to be cured and taketh away all spots and blemishes of the skin It were wel if Gentlewomen would keep this Root preserved to help their poor Neighbors It is fit the Rich should help the Poor for the Poor cannot help themselvs ♀ The Bur-Dock IT is so well known even to the little Boys who pul off the Burs to throw and stick upon one another that I shal spare to write any Description of it Place They grow plentifully by Ditches and Water-sides and by the High-waies almost every where through this Land Vertues and use The Bur Leavs are cooling moderatly drying and discussing withal whereby it is good for old Ulcers and Sores A dram of the Roots taken with Pine Kernels helpeth them that spit foul â—â—â—tery and bloudy Flegm The Leavs applied on the places troubled with the shrinking of the Sinews or Arteries give much case The Juyce of the Leavs or rather the Roots themselvs given to drink with old Wine doth wonderfully help the bitings of any Serpents And the Root beaten with a little Salt and laid on the place suddenly easeth the pain thereof and helpeth those that are bit with a mad-Dog The Juyce of the Leavs taken with Honey provoketh Urin and remedieth the pain of the Bladder The Seed being drunk in Wine forty daies together doth wonderfully help the Sciatica The Leavs bruised with the White of an Egg and applied to any place burnt with Fire taketh out the Fire gives sudden ease and heal s it up afterwards The Decoction of them fomented on any fretting sore or Canker stayeth the corroding quality which must be afterwards anointed with an Ointment made of the same Liquor Hogs-Greas Nitre and Vinegar boyled together The Roots may be preserved with Sugar and taken fasting or at other times for the said purposes and for Consumptions the Ston and the Lask The Seed is much commended to break the Stone and cause it to be expelled by Urin and is often used with other Seeds and things to that purpose Venus challengeth this Herb for her own and by its Leaf or Seed you may draw the Womb whith way you pleas either upward by applying it to the Crown of the Heed if in case it fal out or downward in fits of the Mother by applying it to the Soals of the Feet Or if you would stay it in its place apply it to the Navel and that is one good way to stay the Child in it See more of it in my Guide for Women Cabbages and Coleworts ☽ IShal spare a labor in writing a Description of these sith almost every one that can but write at all may describe them from his own knowledg they being generally so well known that Descriptions are altogether needless Place These are generally planted in Gardens Time Their flowering time is towards the middle or end of July and the Seed is ripe in August Vertues and use The Cabbages or Colewors boyled gently in Broth and eaten do open the Body but the second Decoction doth bind the Body The Juyce therof drunk in Wine helpeth those that are bitten by an Adder and the Decoction of the Flowers bringeth down Womens Courses Being taken with Honey it recovereth hoarsness or loss of the voice The often eating of them wel boyled helpeth those that are â—â—â—ing into a Consumption The Pulp of the middle Ribs of Coleworts boyled in Almond Milk and made up into an Electuary with Honey being taken often is very profitable for those that are pursie and short-winded Being boyled twice and an old Cock boyled in the Broth and drunk it helpeth the pains and obstructions of the Liver and Spleen and the Stone in the Kidnies The Juyce boyled with Honey and dropped into the corner of the Eye cleareth the sight by consuming any Fnâ— or cloud begining to dim it it also consumeth the Canker growing therin They are much commended being eaten before meat to keep one from surfetting as also from being drunk with too much Wine or quickly make a man sober again that is drunk before For as they say there is such an Antipathy or enmity between the Vine and the Colewort that the one will die where the other groweth The Decoction of Coleworts taketh away the pain and ach and allayeth the swellings of swoln and gouty Legs and Knees wherein many gross and watry humors are fallen the place being bathed therwith warm It helpeth also old and fiâ—thy sores being washed therewith and healeth all smal Scabs Pushes and Wheals that break out in the Skin The Ashes of Colewort Stalks mixed with old Hogs-Grease are very effectual to anoint the Sides of those that have had long pains therin or any other place pained with Melancholly and windy humors This was surely Chrysiptus his god and therfore he wrote a whol Volumn of them and their Vertues and that none of the least neither for he would be no smal Fool he apropriates them to every part of the Body and to every Diseas in every part and honest old Cato they say used no other Physick I know not what Mettals their Bodies were made of this I am sure cabbages are extream windy whether you take them as Meat or as Medicine yea as windy Meat as can be eaten unless you eat Bagpipes or Bellows and they are but seldom eaten in our daies and Colâ—wort Flowers are somthing more tollerable and the wholsomer Food of the two The Moon challengeth the Dominion of the Herb. The Sea Colewort ☽ Description THis hath divers somwhat long and broad large thick wrinkled Leavs somwhat crumpled upon the edges growing each
upon a several thick Footstalk very brittle of a grayish green colour From among which riseth up a strong thick stalk two Foot high and better with some Leavs theron to the top where it brancheth forth much and on every Branch standeth a large Bush of pale whitish Flowers consisting of four Leavs apiece The Root is somwhat great and shooteth forth many Branches under ground keeping the green Leavs al the Winter Place They grow in many places upon the Sea Coasts as wel on the Kentish as Essex Shores as at Lidd in Kent Colechester in Essex and divers other places and in other Countries of this Land Time They Flower and Seed about the time that other kinds do Vertues The Broth or first Decoction of the Sea Colewort doth by the sharp nitrous and bitter qualities therin open the Belly and purge the Body it clenseth and digesteth more powerfully than the other kind The Seed herof bruised and drunk killeth Worms The Leavs or the Juyce of them applied to Sores or Ulcers clenseth and healeth them and dissolveth Swellings and taketh away Inflamations Calamint or Mountain ☿ ☽ Mint Description THis is a smal Herb seldom rising above a a Foot high with square hoary and woody Stalks and two smal hoary Leavs set at a Joynt about the bigness of Marjoram or not much cigger a little dented about the edges and of a very fierce or quick scent as the whol Herb is The Flowers stand at several spaces of the Stalks from the middle almost upwards which are smal and gaping like to those Mints and of a pale Blush colour after which follow smal reund blackish Seeds The Root is smal and Woody with divers smal sptigs spreading within the ground and dieth not but abideth many yeers Place It groweth on Heaths and Upland dry grounds in many places of this Land Time They Flower in July and their Seed is ripe quickly after Vertues and vse The Decoction of the Herb being drunk bringeth down Womens Courses and provoketh Urin It is profitable for those that are Bursten or troubled with Convulsions or Cramps with shortness of Breath or Chollerick torments and pains in their Bellies or Stomachs it also helpeth the yellow Jaundice and staieth Vomiting being taken in Wine taken with Salt and Honey it killeth al manner of Worms in the Body It helpeth such as have the Leprosie either taken inwardly drinking Whey after it or the green Herb outwardly applied It hindreth Conception in Women being either burned or strewed in the Chamber it driveth away Venemous Serpents It takes away black and blue marks in the Face and maketh black Scars become wel colored if the green Herb not the dry be boyled in Wine and laid to the place or the place washed therwith Being applied to the Hucklebone by continuance of time it spendeth the humors which caused the pain of the Sciatica The Juyce dropped into the Ears killeth the Worms in them The Leavs boyled in Wine and drunk provoketh sweat and openeth Obstructions of the Liver and Spleen it helpeth them that have a Tertian Ague the Body being first purged by taking away the cold Fits The Decoction herof with some Sugar put therto afterwards is very profitable for those that be troubled with the overflowing of the Gal and that have an old Cough and that are scarce able to breath by the shortness of their wind That have any cold distemper in their Bowels and are troubled with the hardness of the Spleen for al which purposes both the Pouder called Diacalaminthes and the Compound Syrup of Calamint which are to be had at the Apothecaries are most effectual Let not Women be too busy with it for it works very violently upon the Foeminin parts ☉ Chamomel THis is so wel known every where that it is but lost time and labor to describe it The Vertues wherof are as followeth A Decoction made of Chamomel and drunk taketh away al pains and Stitches in the Sides The Flowers of Chamomel beaten and made up into Bals with Oyl driveth away al sorts of Agues if the party grieved be anointed with that Oyl taken from the Flowers from the Crown of the Head to the Soal of the Foot and afterwards laid to sweat in his Bed and that he sweat wel This is Nichessor an Egyptian's Medicine It is profitable for all sorts of Agues that come either from Flegm or Melancholly or from an Inflamation of the Bowels being applied when the Humors causing them shal be concocted and there is nothing more profitable to the sides and Region of the Liver and Spleen than it The bathing with a Deeoction of Chamomel taketh away weariness easeth pains to what part of the Body soever they be applied it comforteth the Sinews that are overstrained mollifieth al Swellings It moderately comforteth al parts that have need of warmth digesteth and dissolveth whatsoever hath need therof by a wonderful speedy property It easeth al the pains of the Chollick and Stone and al pains and torments of the Belly and gently provoketh Urin. The Flowers boyled in Poster Drink provoketh Sweat and helpeth to expel Colds Aches and Pains whersoever and is an excellent help to bring down Womens Courses A Syrup made of the Juyce of Chamomel with the Flowers and white Wine is a Remedy against the Jaundice and Dropsie The Flowers boyled in a Ly are good to wash the Head and comfort both it and the Brain The Oyl made of the Flowers of Chamomel is much used against al hard swellings pains or aches shrinking of the Sinews or Cramps or pains in the Joynts or any other part of the Body being used in Clisters it helpeth to dissolve wind and pains in the Belly anointed also it helpeth Stitches and pains in the Sides Nichessor saith the Egyptians dedicated it to the Sun becaus it cured Agues and they were like enough to do it for they were the arrantest Apes in their Religion that ever I red of Bacchinus Pena and Lobel commend the Syrup made of the Juyce of it and Sugar taken inwardly to be excellent for the Spleen Also this is certain that it most wonderfully breaks the Stone some take it in Syrup or Decoction others inject the Juyce of it into the Bladder with a Syring my Opinion is That the Salt of it taken half a dram in a morning in a little White or Rhehish Wine is better than either that it is excellent for the Stone appears by this which I have seen tried viz. That a Stone that hath been taken out of the Body of a man being wrapped in Chamomel will in time dissolve and in a little time too ♄ Campions wild Descriptions THe white wild Campion hath many long and somwhat broad dark green Leavs lying upon the ground with divers Ribs therin somwhat like Plantane but somwhat hairy broader and not so long The hairy Stalks rise up in the middle of them three or
red tending to a Carnation colour consisting of five somtimes six small Leavs very like those of St. Johns Wort opening themselvs in the day time and closing at night after which come Seed in little short Husks in form like unto Wheat Corns The Leavs are smal and somwhat round The Root smal and hard perishing every year The whol Plant is of an exceeding bitter tast There is another sort in al things like the former save only it beareth white Flowers Place They grow ordinarily in Fields Pastures and Woods but that with the white Flowers not so frequent as the other Time They Flower in July or there abouts and Seed within a Month after Vertues and use This Herb boyled and drunk purgeth Chollerick and gross humors and helpeth the Sciatica It openeth Obstructions of the Liver Gall and Spleen helping the Jaundice and easing pains in the Sides and hardness of the Spleen used outwardly and is given with very good effect in Agues It helpeth those that have the Dropsie or the green Sickness being much used by the Italians in pouder for that purpose It killeth the Worms in the Belly as is found by experience The Decoction therof viz. the tops of the Stalks with the Leavs and Flowers is good against the Chollick and to bring down Womens Courses helpeth to avoid the dead birth and easeth pains of the Mother and is very effectual in al old pains of the Joynts as the Gout Cramps or Convulsions A dram of the Pouder therof taken in Wine is a wonderful good help against the biting and poyson of the Adder The Juyce of the Herb with a little Honey put to it is good to cleer the Eyes from dimness mists and clouds that offend or hinder the Sight It is singular good both for green and fresh Wounds as also for old Ulcers and Sores to close up the one and clens the other and perfectly to cure them both although they be hollow or Fistulous the green Herb especially being bruised and laid therto The Decoction therof dropped into the Ears clenseth them from Worms clenseth the foul Ulcers and spreading Scabs of the Head and taketh away al Freckles Spots and Marks in the Skin being washed therwith The Herb is so safe you cannot fail in the using of it only give inwardly for inward Diseases use it outwardly for outward Diseases 'T is very wholsom but not very toothsom Dr. Reason and Dr. Experience could not agree the last time I spake with them whether the Herb were under the Dominion of the Sun or Mars ♀ The Cherry-Tree I Suppose there are sew but know this Tree for his Fruits sake and therfore shal spare the writing a Description therof Place For the place of its growth it is afforded room in every Orchard Vertues and Vse Cherries as they are of different tasts so they are of divers qualities The sweet pass through the Stomach and Belly more speedily but are of little Nourishment The tart or sowr are more pleasing to an hot Stomach procuring appetite to meat and help to cut tough Flegm and gross humors but when these are dryed they are more binding the belly than when they are fresh being cooling in hot Diseases and welcom to the Stomach and provoke Urin. The Gum of the Cherry-Tree dissolved in Wine is good for a cold Cough and boarsness of the Throat mendeth the colour in the Face sharpneth the Eye-sight provoketh appetite and helpeth to break and expel the Stone The Black Cherries bruised with the Stones and distilled the Water therof is much used to break the Stone expel gravel and break the Wind. ♀ Winter Cherries Description THe Winter Cherry hath a running or creeping Root in the ground of the bigness many times of ones little Finger shooting forth at several Joynts in several places wherby it quickly spreadeth a great compass of gronnd The Stalk riseth not above a yard high wheron are set many broad and long green Leavs somwhat like Night shade but larger at the Joynts wherof come forth whitish Flowers made of five Leavs apiece which after turn into green Berries inclosed with thin Skins which change to be reddish when they grow ripe the Berry likewise being reddish and as large as a Cherry wherin are contained many flat and yellowish Seeds lying within the pulp which being gathered and strung up are kept all the yeer to be used upon occasion Place They grow not naturally in this Land but are cherished in Gardens for their Vertues Time They Flower not until the middle or latter end of July and the Fruit is ripe about the end of August or beginning of September Vertues and use They are of great use in Physick The Leavs being cooling may be used in Inflamations but not opening as the Berries and Fruit are which by drawing down the Urine provoke it to be avoided plentifully when it is stopped or grown hot sharp and painful in the passage it is good also to expel the Stone and Gravel out of the Reins Kidnies and Bladder helping to dissolve the Stone and avoiding it by greet or gravel sent forth in the Urin It also helpeth much to clens inward Impostumes or Ulcers in the Reins or Bladder or in those that avoid a Bloody or foul Urin. The distilled Water of the Fruit or the Leavs together with them or the Berries green or dry distilled with a little Milk and drunk morning and evening with a little Sugar is effectual to al the purposes afore specified and especially against the heat and sharpness of the Urin. I shal only mention one way amongst many others which might be used for ordering the Berries to be helpful for the Urin and the Stone which is thus Take three or four good handfuls of the Berries either green and fresh or dried and having bruised them put them into so many Gallons of Beer or Ale when it is new tunned up This Drink taken daily hath been found to do much good to many both to eas the pains and expel Urin and the Stone and to caus the Stone not to ingender The Decoction of the Berries in Wine or Water is the most usual way but the Pouder of them taken in drink is more effectual ♃ Chervil Description THe Garden Chervil doth at first somwhat resemble Parsly but after it is better grown the Leavs are much cur in and jagged resembling Hemlocks being a little hairy and of a whitish green colour somtimes turning reddish in the Summer with the Stalks also It riseth little above half a Foot high bearing white Flowers in spoked tufts which turn into long and round Seed pointed at the ends and blackish when they are ripe of a sweet tast but no smel though the Herb it self smelleth reasonable wel The Root is smal and long and perisheth every yeer and must be sowen anew in the Spring for Seed and after July for Autumn Sallet The wild Chervil groweth two or three foot high with yellow
Grass Called in some Countries Five finger'd Grass Description THis spreadeth and creepeth far upon the ground with long slender strings like Strawberries which take Root again and shooteth forth many Leavs made of five parts and somtimes of seven dented about the edges and somwhat hard The Stalks are slender leaning downwards and bear many smal yellow Flowers theron with some yellow threds in the middle standing about a smooth green head which when it is ripe is a little rough and containeth smal brownish Seeds The Root is of a blackish brown colour seldom so big as ones little finger but growing long with some threds therat and by the smal strings it quickly spreadeth over the ground Place It groweth by Wood sides Hedg sides the Pathwaies in Fields and in the Borders and Corners of them almost through all this Land Time It Flowreth in Summer some sooner some later Vertues and use It is an especial Herb used in all Inflamations and Feavers whether Infectious or Pestilential or among other Herbs to cool and temper the Blood and humors in the Body As also for all Lotions Gargles Injections and the like for sore Mouths Ulcers Cankers Fistulaes and other corrupt Foul or running Sores The Juyce herof drunk about four ounces at a time for certain daies together cureth the Quinsie and the yellow Jaundice and taken for thirty daies together cureth the Falling-sickness The Roots boyled in Milk and drunk is a most effectual remedy for all Fluxes in Man or Woman whether the Whites or Reds as also the Bloody Flux The Roots boyled in Vinegar and the Decoction therof held in the Mouth easeth the pains of the Toothach The Juyce or Decoction taken with a little Honey helpeth the hoarsness of the Throat and is good for the Cough of the Lungs The distilled Water of both Roots and Leavs is also effectual to all the purposes aforesaid and if the Hands be often washed therin and suffered at every time to dry in of it self without wiping it wil in short time help the Palsy or shaking in them The Root boyled in Vinegar helpeth all Knots Kernels hard swellings and lumps growing in any part of the Flesh being therto applied as also al Inflamations and St. Anthonies Fire all Imposthumes and painful Sores with heat and putrefaction the shingles also and all other sorts of running and soul Scabs Sores and Itch. The same also boyled in Wine and applied to any Joynts full of pain and achâ—or the Gout in the Hands or Feet or the Hip-gout called the Sciatica and the Decoction therof drunk the while doth cure them and easeth much pains in the Bowels The Roots are likewise effectual to help Ruptures or Burstings being used with other things available to that purpose taken either inwardly or outwaâ—dly or both as also for Bruises or Hurts by Blows Falls or the like and to stay the bleeding of Wounds in any part inward or outward This is an Herb of Jupiter and therfore strengthens the parts of the Body that he rules let Jupiter be angular and strong when it is gathered and if you give but a scruple which is but twenty grains of it at a time either in white Wine or white Wine Vinegar you shal very seldom miss the cure of an Ague be it what Ague soever in three Fits as I have often proved to the admiration both of my self and others let no Man despise it becaus it is plain and easie the waies of God are all such 't is the ungodliness and impudency of Man that made things hard and hath by so doing made sport for al the Devils in Hell and grieved the good Angels and when you reade this your own Genius if you be any thing at al acquainted with it may dictate to you many as good Conculsions both of this and other Herbs Some hold that one Leaf cures a Quotidian three a Tertian and four a Quartan Ague and a hundred to one if it be not Dioscorides for he is ful of such Whimseys The truth is I never stood so much upon the number of the Leavs nor whether I gave it in Pouder or Decoction If Jupiter were strong and the Moon applying to him or his good aspect at the gathering of it I never knew it miss the desired effects ♀ Clary Description OUr ordinary Garden Clary hath four square Stalks with broad â—ough wrinkled whitish or hairy green Leavs somwhat evenly cut in on the edges and of a strong sweet sent growing some neer the ground and some by couples upon the Stalks The Flowers grow at certain distances with two smal Leavs at the Joynts under them somwhat like unto the Flowers of Sage but smaller and of a whitish blue colour The Seed is brownish and somwhat Flat or not so â—ound as the wild the Roots are blackish and spread not far and perish after the Seed time It is usually sown for it seldom riseth of its own sowing Place This groweth in Gardens Time It Flowreth in June and July some a little later than others and their Seed is ripe in August or therabouts Vertues and use The Seed is used to be put into the Eyes to cleer them from Moats or other such like things gotten within the Lids to offend them as also to clear them from white or red spots in them The Muccilage of the Seed made with Water and applied to Tumors and swellings disperseth and taketh them away as also draweth forth Splinters Thorns or other things gotten into the Flesh. The Leavs used with Vinegar either by it self or with a little Honey doth help hot Inflamations as also Boyls Felons and the hot Inflamations that are gathered by their pains if it be applied before they be grown too great The Pouder of the dried Leavs put into the Nose provoketh neesing and therby purgeth the Head and Brain of much Rhewm and Corruption The Seed or Leavs taken in Wine provoketh to Venery It is of much use both for Men and Women that have weak Backs to help to strengthen the Reins used either by it self or with other Herbs conducing to the same effect and in Tansies often The fresh Leavs dipped in a Batter of Flower Egs and a little Milk and fried in Butter and served to the Table is not unpleasant to any but exceeding profitable for those that are troubled with weak Backs and the effects therof The Juyce of the Herb put into Ale or Beer and drunk bringeth down Womens Courses and expelleth the After-birth It is an usual cours with Men when they have gotten the running of the Reins or Women the Whites then run to the bush of Clary Maid bring hither the Frying Pan fetch me some Butter quickly then to eating fryed Clary just as Hogs eat Acorns and this they think wil cure their Diseas forsooth wheras when they have devoured as much Clary as wil grow upon an Acre of ground their Backs are as much the better as
Plague The Juyce of the Herb taken to the quantity of a spoonful hath the same effect But if there be a little Vinegar added therunto as well as unto the Root aforesaid it somwhat all ayeth the sharp biting tast therof upon the Tongue The green Leavs bruised and laid upon any Boyl or Plague Sore doth wonderfully help to draw forth the Poyson A dram of the Pouder of the dried Root taken with twice so much Sugar in the form of a licking Electuary or the green Root doth wonderfully help those that are pursie and short winded as also those that have a Cough it breaketh digesteth and riddeth away Flegm from the Stomach Chest and Lungs The Milk wherin the Root hath been boyled is effectual also for the same purpose The said Pouder taken in Wine or other Drink or the Juyce of the Berries or the Pouder of them or the Wine wherein they have been boyled provoketh Urine and bringeth down Womens Courses and purgeth them effectually after Child-bearing to bring away the After-birth Taken with Sheeps Milk it healeth the inward Ulcers of the Bowels The distilled Water herof is effectual to all the purposes aforesaid A spoonful taken at a time healeth the Itch And an ounce or more taken at a time for some daies together doth help the Rupture The Leavs either green or dry or the Juyce of them doth clens all manner of rotten and filthy Ulcers in what part of the Body soever and healeth the stinking Sores in the Nose called Polipus The Water wherin the Root hath been boyled dropped into the Eyes clenseth them from any Film or Skin Clouds or Mists which begin to hinder the Sight and helpeth the watering or redness of them or when by some chance they become black and blue The Root mixed with Bean Flower and applied to the Throat or Jaws that are inflamed helpeth them The Juyce of the Berries boyled in Oyl of Roses or beaten into Pouder and mixed with the Oyl and dropped into the Ears and easeth pains in them The Berries or the Roots beaten with hot Ox Dung and applied easeth the pains of the Gout The Leavs and Roots boyled in Wine with a little Oyl and applied to the Piles or the falling down of the Fundament easeth them and so doth sitting over the hot fumes therof The fresh Roots bruised and distilled with a little Milk yieldeth a most Sovereign Water to clens the Skin from Scurff Freckles Spots or Blemishes whatsoever therin Authors have left large Commendation of this Herb you see but for my part I have neither spoken with Dr. Reason nor Dr. Experience about it ♀ ♋ Daisies THese are so well known to almost every Child that I suppose it is altogether needless to write any Description of them Take therfore the Vertues of them as followeth Vertues and Vse The greater wild Daisie is a Wound Herb of good respect often used in those Drink◠or Salvs that are for Wounds either inward or outwards The Juyce or distilled Water of these or the smal Daisies doth much temper the heat of Choller and refresheth the Liver and other inward parts A Decoction made of them and drunk helpeth to cure the Wounds made in the hollowness of the Breast The same also cureth al Ulcers and Pustles in the Mouth or Tongue or in the secret parts The Leavs bruised and applied to the Cods or to any other parts that are swollen and hot doth resolve it and temper the Heat A Decoction made hereof with Walwort and Agrimony and the places fomented or bathed therewith warm giveth great eas to them that are troubled with the Palsy Stiatica or the Gout The lame also disperseth and dissolveth the Knots or Kernels that grow in the Flesh or any part of the Body and the Bruises and Hurts that come of Fals and Blows They are also used for Ruptures and other inward Burnings with very good success An Oyntment made hereof doth wonderfully help al Wounds that have Inflamations about them or by reason of moist humors having access unto them are kept long from healing and such are those for the most part that happen in the Joynts of the Arms or Legs The Juyce of them dropped into the running Eyes of any doth much help them The Herb is under the Sign Cancer and under the Dominion of Venus and therfore excellent good for Wounds in the Breast and very fitting to be kept both in Oyls Oyntments and Plaisters as also in Syrup DANDELYON ♂ Vulgarly called Piss-a-beds Description THis is wel known to have many long and deeply gashed Leavs lying on the ground round about the Head of the Root the ends of each Gash or Jag on both sides looking downwards towards the Root the middle rib being white which broken yieldeth abundance of bitter Milk but the Root much more from among the Leavs which alwaies abide green arise many slender weak naked Footstalks every one of them bearing at the top one large yellow Flower consisting of many rows of yellow Leavs broad at the points and nicked in with a deep spot of yellow in the middle which growing ripe the green Husk wherin the Flower stood turneth it self down to the Stalk and the Head of down becometh as round as a Ball with long reddish Seed underneath bearing a part of the Down on the Head of every one which together is blown away with the Wind or may be at once blown away with ones Mouth The Root growth downwards exceeding deep which being broken off within the ground wil notwithstanding shoot forth again and wil hardly be destroyed where it hath once taken deep Root in the ground Place It groweth frequent in al Meadows and Pasture Grounds Time It Flowreth in one place or other almost all the yeer long Vertues and use It is of an opening and clensing quality and thefore very effectual for the Obstructions of the Liver Gall and Spleen and the Diseases that arise from them as the Jaundice Hypocondriacal Passion It wonderfully openeth the Passages of the Urin both in yong and old It powerfully clenseth Aposthumes and inward in the Uritory passages and by the drying and temperate quality doth afterwards heal them for which purpose the Decoction of the Roots or Leavs in white Wine or the Leavs chopped as Potherbs with a few Allisanders and boyled in their Broth is very effectual And whoso is drawing towards a Consumption or an il Disposition of the whol Body called Cachexia by the use herof for sometime together shal find a wonderful help It helpeth also to procure rest and sleep to Bodies distempered by the Heat of Ague Fits or otherwise The distilled Water is effectual to drink in Pestilential Feavers and to wash the Sores You see here what Vertues this common Herb hath and that 's the reason you French and Dutch so often eat them in the Spring and now if you look a little further
hath many large fresh green Leavs very much torn or cut on the edges The Stalks are hard and round set with many such like Leavs but somwhat smaller and at the tops stand many single Flowers upon several smal Footstalks consisting of many smal white Leavs standing round about a yellow thrum in the middle The Root is somwhat hard and short with many strong Fibres at it The scent of the whol Plant is very strong and stuffing and the tast very bitter Place This groweth wild in some places of this Land but it is for the most part nourished in Gardens Time It Flowreth in the Months of June and July Vertues and Vse It is chiefly used for the Diseases of the Mother whether it be the strangling or rising of the Mother or Hardness or Inflamations of the same applied outwardly thereunto or a Decoction of the Flowers in Wine with a little Nutmeg or Mace put therin and drunk often in a day is an approved Remedy to bring down Womens Courses speedily and helpeth to expel the dead Birth and Afterbirth For a Woman to sit over the hot fumes of the Decoction of the Herb made in Water or Wine is effectual also for the same and in some cases to apply the boyled Herb warm to the privy parts The Decoction therof made with some Sugar or Honey put therto is used by many with good success to help the Cough and stuffing of the Chest by cold as also to clens the Reins and Bladder and help to expel the stone in them The Pouder of the Herb taken in Wine with some Oximel purgeth both Choller and Flegm and is available for those that are short winded and are troubled with Melancholly and Heaviness or sadness of the Spirits It is very effectual for all pains in the Head coming of a cold caus the Herb being bruised and applied to the crown of the Head as also for a Vertigo that is a turning or swimming in the Head The Decoction therof drunk warm and the Herb bruised with a few Corns of Bay Salt and applied to the Wrists before the coming of the Ague Fits doth take them away The distilled Water taketh away Freckles other Spots and Deformities in the Face The Herb bruised and heated on a Tyle with some Wine to moisten it or fried with a little Wine and Oyl in a frying Pan and applied warm outwardly to the places helpeth the wind and Chollick in the lower part of the Belly It is an especial Remedy against Opium taken too liberally Venus commands the Herb and hath commanded it to succour her Sisters Women and to be a general strengthner of their Wombs and remedy such infirmities as a careless Midwife hath there caused if they will be but pleased to make use of her Herb boyled in white Wine and drink the Decoction it clenseth the Womb expelleth the Afterbirth doth the Woman all the good she can desire of an Herb. And if any grumble becaus they cannot get the Herb in Winter tell them if they pleas they may make a Syrup of it in Summer ☿ Fennel EVery Garden affordeth this so plentifully that it needeth no Description Vertues and Vse Fennel is good to break wind to provoke Urine and eas the pains of the Stone and help to break it The Leavs or Seed boiled in Barley Water and drunk is good for Nurses to encreas their Milk and make it more wholsom for the Child The Leavs or rather the Seed boyled in Water staieth the Hiccough and taketh away that loathing which oftentimes hapneth to the Stomachs of Sick and Feaverish Persons and allayeth the heat therof The Seed boyled in Wine and drunk is good for those that are bitten by Serpents or have eaten Poyson full Herbs or Mushroms The Seed and the Root much more helpeth to open Obstructions of the Liver Spleen and Gall and thereby helpeth the painful and windy swellings of the Spleen and the yellow Jaundice as also the Gout and Cramps The Seed is of good use in Medicines to help shortness of breath and Wheesing by stopping of the Lungs It helpeth also to bring down the Courses and to clens the parts after delivery The Roots are of most use in Physick Drinks and Broths that are taken to clens the Blood to open Obstructions of the Liver to provoke Urine and amend the ill colour in the Face after Sickness and to caus a good habit through the Body Both Leavs Seeds and Roots hereof are much used in Drinks or Broths to make people more spare and lean that are too fat The distilled Water of the whol Herb or the condensate Juyce dissolved but especially the Natural Juyce that in hot Countries issueth out thereof of its own accord dropped into the Eyes clenseth them from mists and films that hinder the fight The sweet Fennel is much weaker in Physical uses than the common Fennel The wild Fennel is stronger and hotter than the tame and therfore most powerful against the Stone but not so effectual to encreas Milk becaus of its driness One good old fashion is not yet quite left off viz. To boil Fennel with Fish for it consumes that Flegmatick homot which Fish most plentifully afford and annoy the body by therfore it is a most fit Herb for that purpose though few that use it know why or wherfore they do it I supoose the Reason of its benefit this way is becaus it is an Herb of Mercury aâ—d under Virgo and therfore bears Antipathy to Pisces Dill is also an Herb of Mercury which I forgot to certifie you of before Sow-Fennel or Hogs-Fennel ☿ Description THe common Sow-Fennel hath divers branched Stalks of thick and somwhat long Leavs three for the most part joyned together at a place among which risethâ—â—rested strait Stalk less than Fennel with some Joynts theron and Leavs growing thereâ—â— and toward the top some Branches issuing from thence likewise on the tops of the Stâ—k and Branches stand divers tufts of yellow Flowers where after grow somwhat flat thin and yellowish Seed bigger than Fennel Seed The Root groweth great and deep with many other parts and Fibres about them of a strong scent like hot Brimstone and yielding â—orth a yellowish Milk or clammy Juyce almost like a Gum. Place It groweth plentifully in the Salt low Marshes neer by Feaversham in Kent Time It Flowreth and seedeth in July and August Vertues and Vse The Juyce of Sow-Fennel saith Dioscorides and Galen used with Vinegar and Rose-water or the Juyce with alittle Euphorbium put to the Nose helpeth those that are troubled with the Lethargy the Frensie the turning or Giddiness of the Head the Falling-Sickness long and inveterate Headach the Palsie Sciatica and the Cramp and generally all the Diseases of the Sinews used with Oyl and vinegar The Juyce dissolved in Wine or put into an Eg is good for the Cough or shortness of Breath and for those that are
Oyntments and Plaisters of it were kept in your Houses Flower-de-luce Description THis is so well known being nursed up in most Gardens that I shall not need to spend time in writing a Description thereof Time The Flaggy kinds thereof have the most Physical uses the Dwarf kinds thereof flower in April the greater sorts in May. Vertues and Vse The Juyce or Decoction of the green Roots of the Flaggy kind of Flower-de-luce with a little Honey drunk doth purge and clens the Stomach of gross and tough Flegm and Choller therin It helpeth the Jaundice and the Dropsie by evacuating those humors both upwards and downwards and becaus it somwhat hurteth the Stomach is not to be taken but with Honey and Spicknard The same being drunk doth eas the pains and torments of the Belly and Sides the shaking of Agues the Diseases of the Liver and Spleen the Worms in the Belly the Stone in the Reins Convulsions or Cramps that come of cold Humors it also helpeth those whose Seed passeth from them unawars It is a Remedy against the bitings and stingings of Venemous Creatures being boyled in Water and Vineger and drunk Being boyled in Wine and drunk it provoketh Urine helpeth the Chollick bringeth down Womens Courses and made up into a Pessary with Honey and put up into the Body draweth forth the dead Child It is much commended against the Cough to expectorate tough Flengm It much easeth pains in the Head and procureth sleep Being put into the Nostrils it procureth Neesing and therby purgeth the Head of Flegm The Juyce of the Root applied to the Piles or Hemorrhoids giveth much eas The Decoction of the Roots gargled in the Mouth easeth the Toothach and helpeth a Stinking breath The Oyl called Oleum Irinum if it be rightly made of the great broad Flag Flower-de-luce and not of the great Bulbous blue Flower-de-luce as is used by some Apothecaries and Roots of the same of the Flaggy kinds is very effectual to warm and comfort all cold Joynts and Sinews as also the Gout and Sciatica and mollisieth dissolveth and consumeth Tumors or Swellings in any part of the Body as also of the Matrix It helpeth the Cramp and Convulsion of the Sinews The Head and Temples anointed therwith helpeth the Catark or thin Rhewm distilling from thence and used upon the Breast or Stomach helpeth to extenuate the cold tough Flegm It helpeth also the pains and noise in the Ears and the stench of the Nostrils The Root it self either green or in Pouder helpeth to clens heal and incarnate Wounds and to cover the naked Bones with Flesh again that Ulcers have made bare and is also very good to clens and heal up Fistulaes and Cankers that are hard to be cured Fluellin Description THis shooteth forth many long Branches partly lying upon the Ground and part standing upright set with almost round Leavs yet a little pointed and somtimes more long than round without order theron somwhat hoary and of an evil greenish white colour at the Joynts all along the Stalks and with the Leavs come forth smal Flowers one at a place upon a very small short Footstalk gaping somwhat like Snapdragons or rather like Toadflax with the upper Jaw of a yellow colour and the lower of a Purplish with a smal heel or Spur behind after which come small round Heads containing smal black Seed The Root is smal and threddy dying every yeer and raiseth it self again of its own sowing There is another sort of Lluellin which hath longer Branches wholly trailing upon the ground two or three foot long and somtimes more thinner set with Leavs theron upon smal Footstalks The Leaves are a little larger and somwhat round and cornered somtimes in some places on the edges but the lower part of them being the broadest hath on each side a smal point making it seem as if they were Ears somwhat hairy but not hoary and of a better green colour than the former The Flowers come forth like the former but the colours therein are more white than yellow and the Purple not so fair It is a larger Flower and so are the Seed and Seed Vessels The Root is like the other and perisheth every yeer Place They grow in divers Corn Fields and in borders about them and in other fertile Grounds about Southfleet in Kent abundantly at Buckworth Hamerton and Richwersworth in Huntingtonshire and in divers other places Time They are in Flower about June and July and the whol Plant is dry and withered before August be done Vertues and Vse The Leavs bruised and applied with Barley Meal to watering Eyes that are hot and inflamed by defluxions from the Head doth very much help them as also the Fluxes of Blood or Humors as the Lask Bloody Flux Womens Courses and staieth all manner of bleeding at Nose Mouth or any other place or that cometh by any Bruis or Hurt or bursting a Vein and wonderfully it helpeth all those inward parts that need consolidating or strengthening and is no less effectual both to heal and close green Wounds as to clens or heal all foul or old Ulcers fretting or spreading Cankers or the like Bees are industrious and go abroad to gather Honey from each Plant and Flower but Drones lie at home and eat up what the Bees have taken pains for Just so do our Colledg of Physitians lie at home and domineer and suck out the Sweetness of other Mens Labors and Studies themselvs being as ignorant in the Knowledg of Herbs as a Child of four yeers old as I can make appear to any Rational man by their last Dispensatory now then to hide their Ignorance there is not a readier way in the World than to hide Knowledg from their Country men that so no Body might be able so much as to smel out their Ignorance when Simples were more in use mens Bodies were in better health by far than now they are or shall be if the Colledg can help it The truth is this Herb is of a fine cooling drying quality and an Oyntment or Plaister of it might do a Man a courtesie that hath any hot virulent Sores 't is admirable for the Ulcers of the French Pox and being a gallant Antivenerian Medicine under the Dominion of Saturn if taken inwardly may cure the Diseas It was at first called Foemale Speedwel but a Shentle man of wales whose Nose was almost eaten off with the Pox and so neer the matter that the Docters commanded it to be cut off being cured by only the Use of this Herb to honor the Herb for saving his Nose whol gave it one of her own Country names LLUELLIN Foxglove Description THis hath many long and broad Leavs lying upon the Ground dented about the edges a little soft or woolly and of a hoary green colour among which rile up somtimes sundry Stalks but one very often bearing such Leavs thereon from the bottom to the middle from
vehement hot things send up but ill favor'd vapors to the brain in chollerick men 't wil ad fuel to the fire in men oppressed by melancholly t'wll attenuate the humor and send up strange sancies and as strange visions to the head therfore let it be taken in wardly with great moderation outwardly you may maken â—â—â— bold with it Mars owns the herb Germander Discription COmmon Germander shooteth forth sundry stalks with small and somwhat round leavs dented about the edges The Flowers stand at the tops of a deep purple colour The Root is composed of divers sprigs which shoot forth a great way round about quickly overspreading a ground Place It groweth usually with us in Gardens Time And flowreth in June or July Vertues and use This taken with Honey saith Dioscorides is a remedy for Coughs for hardnes of the Spleen and difficulty of Urine helpeth those that are fallen into a Dropsie especially at the beginning of the diseas a Decction being made therof when it is green drunk It also bringeth down Womens Courses and expelleth the dead child It is most effectual against the poyson of al Serpents being drunk in Wine and the bruised herb outwardly applyed used with Honey it denseth old and soul Ulcers and made into an Oyl and the Eyes anoynted therwith taketh away their dimness and moystness It is like wise good for the paines in the sides and Cramps The Decetion thereof taken for some daies together driveth away and cureth both Tertian and Quartan Agues It is also good against all diseases of the brain as continual Headach Falling Sicknes Melancholly Drowsines and Dulnes of spirit Convulsions and Palseys A dâ—â—m of the seed taken in Pouder purgeth by Urine and is good against the yellow Jaundice The Juyce of the leaves dropped into the eares killeth the worms in them The tops therof when they are in flower steeped twenty four hours in a draught of white Wine and drunk killeth wormes in the belly It is a most prevalent Herb of Mercury and strengthens the brain and apprehention exceedingly you may see what humane vertues are under Mercury in the latter end of my Ephemeris for 1651. strengthen them when weak relieve them when drooping by this Herb. Stinking Gladwin Description THis is one of the kinds of Flower-de-luces having divers Leavs rising from the Roots very like a Flower-de-luce but that they are sharp edged on both sides and thicker in the middle of a deeper green colour narrower and sharper pointed and of a strong ill scent if they be bruised between the fingers In the midle riseth up a reasonable strong Stalk a yard high at least beareth 3 or 4 Flowers at the top made somwhat like the Flowers of the Flower-de-luce with three upright Leaves of a dead Purplish Ash-colour with some Veins discoloured in them the other three do not fall down nor the three other smal ones are so arched nor cover the lower leaves as the Flower-de-luce doth but stand loose or asunder from them After they are past there come up three square hard Husks opening wide into three parts when they are ripe wherin lie reddish seed tâ—rning black when it hath abidden long The Root is like that of the Flower-de-luce but reddish on the outside and whitish within very sharp and hot in tast of as evil a scent as the leavs Place This groweth as well on the upland grounds as also in moist places in woods and shadowy places by the Sea side in many places of this Land and is usually nursed up in Gardens Time It flowreth not until July and the seed is ripe in August or September yet the Huskes after they are ripe opening themselves will hold their seeds within them for 2 or 3. Months and not shedd them Vertues and Vse It is used by many countrey people to purge corrupt tough Flegm and Choller which they do by drinking the decoction of the Roots and some to make it work more gently do but infuse the sliced roots in Ale and some take the leavs which seryeth wel for the weaker stomachs The Juyce herof put up or snuffed up the nose causeth neezing draweth from the head much corruption the pouder therof doth the same The Pouder therof drunke in wine helpeth those that are troubled with Cramps and Convulsion or W th the Gout or Sciatica and giveth eas to those that have any griping pains in their body or belly and helpeth those that have the Strangury It is given W th much profit to those that have had long Fluxes by the sharp evil quality of humors which it stayeth having first clensed purged them by the drying and binding property therin The Root boyled in wine and drunk doth effectually procure womens courses and used as a Pessary worketh the same effects but causeth Abortion in women with child Half a dram of the seed beaten to pouder and taken in wine doth speedily caus one to pis which otherwis cannot The same taken with vinegar dessolveth the hardnes swellings of the spleen The Root is very effectual in all Wounds and specially of the head as also to draw forth any splinters Thornes Broken bones or any other thing sticking in the flesh without causing pain being used with a little Verdigreese and Honey and the great Centaury Root The same boyled in Vinegar and laid upon any Tumor or Swelling doth very effectually dissolve and consume them yea even the swellings of the Throat called the Kings evil The Juyce of the Leavs and Roots healeth the Itch and all running or spreading Scabs or Sores and Blemishes or Scars in the Skin wheresoever they be Golden Rod. Description THis riseth up with brownish smal round Stalks two foot high and somtimes more having thereon many narrow and long dark greene leaves very seldom with any dents about the edges or any strakes or white spots therin yet they are somtimes so found divided at the tops into many small branches with divers small yellow flowers on every one of them all which are turned one way and being ripe do turn into down are caried away with the wind The Root consisteth of many small fibres which grow not deep in the ground but abideth all the winter therin shooting forth new branches every yeer the old ones dying downe to the ground Place It groweth in the open places of woods and Copses both moyst and dry grounds in many places of this Land Time It Flowreth about the Month of July Vertues and use Arnoldus de villa nova commendeth it much against the Stone in the Reins and Kidneys and to provoke Urine in abundance whereby also the Gravel or Stone may be avoided The Decoction of the Herb green or dry or the distilled Water therof is very effectual for inward Bruises as also to be outwardly applied it stayeth bleedings in any part of the Body and of Wounds also the Fluxes of Humors the Bloody
Plague and other Pestilential Diseases Some have been holpen therby saith Mathiolus that have lien long in a lingring sickness and others that by Witchcraft as it was thought were become half foolish by taking a dram of the Seed or Berries hereof in Pouder every day for twenty daies together they were restored to their former health The Roots in Pouder taken in Wine easeth the pains of the Chollick speedily The Leavs are very effectual as well for green Wounds as to clens and heal up old filthy Sores and Ulcers and is very powerful to discuss all Tumors and Swellings in the Cods privy Parts or Groyn or in any part of the Body and speedily to ally all Inflamations The Leavs or their Juyce applied to Felons or those Nails of the Hands or Toes that have Imposthumes or Sotes gathered together at the Roots of them healeth them in short space The Herb is not to be described for the premises but is fit to be noutished in every good Womans Garden Venus owns it Hysop THis is so well known to be an Inhabitant in every Garden that it wil save me Labor in writing a Description thereof The Vertues are as followeth Vertues and use Dioscorides saith that Hysop boyled with Rue and Honey and drunk helpeth those that are troubled with Coughs shortness of breath wheesing and Rhewmatick Distillations upon the Lungs Taken also with Oximel it purgeth gross Humors by the Stool and with Honey killeth Worms in the Belly and with fresh or new Figs bruised helpeth to loosen the Belly and more forcibly if the Root of Flower-de-luce and Cresses be added therto It amendeth and cherisheth the Native colour of the Body spoiled by the yellow Jaundice and being taken with Figs and Nitre helpeth the Dropsie and the Spleen Being boyled with Wine it is good to wash Inflamations and taketh away black and blew Spots and Marks that come by Strokes Bruises or Fals being applied with warm Water It is an excellent Medicine for the Quinsie or Swelling in the Throat to wash and gargle it being boyled with Figs. It helpeth the Tooth-ach being boyled in Vinegar and gargled therwith The hot Vapors of the Decoction taken by a Funnel in at the Ears easeth the Inflamations and singing nois of them Being bruised and Salt Honey and Cummin Seed put to it it helpeth those that are stung by Serpents The Oyl thereof being anoynted killeth Liâ—e and taketh away Itching of the Head It helpeth those that have the Falling-sickness which way soever it be applied It helpeth to expectorate tough Flegm and is effectual in al cold Griefs or Diseases of the Chest and Lungs being taken either in a Syrup or licking Medicine The green Herb bruised and a little Sugar put thereto doth quickly heal any cut or green Wound being thereunto applied The Herb is Jupiters and the Sign Cancer It strengthens all the parts of the Body under cancer and Jupiter which what they be may be found amply discoursed of in my Astrological Judgment of Diseases Hops THese are so well known that they need no Description I mean the manured kind which every good Husband or Huswife is acquainted with The wild Hop groweth up as the other doth ramping upon Trees or Hedges that stand next unto them with rough branches and Leavs like the former but it giveth smaller Heads in far less plenty than it so that there is scarce a Head or two seen in a year on divers of this wild kind wherein consisteth the chief difference Place They delight to grow on low moist grounds and are found in all parts of this Land Time They spring not up until April and Flower not until the latter end of June the heads are not gathered until the middle or latter end of September Vertues and use This Physical operation is to open Obstructions of the Liver and Spleen to clens the Blood to loosen the Belly to clens the Reins from Gravel and provoke Urine The Decoction of the tops of Hops as well of the tame as the wild worketh the same effects In cleansing the Blood they help to cure the French Diseas and al manner of Scabs Itch and other breakings out in the Body as also al Tetters Ringworms and spreading Sores the Morphew and all discolourings of the Skin The Decoction of the Flowers and tops do help to expel poyson that any one hath drunk Half a dram of the Seed in Pouder taken in drink killeth Worms in the Body bringeth down Womens Courses and expelleth Urin A Syrup made of the Juyce and Sugar cureth the yellow Jaundice easeth the Headach that comes of Heat and tempereth the heat of the Liver and Stomach and is profitably given in long and hot Agues that rise of Choller and Blood Both the wild and the manured are of one property and alike effectual in al the aforesaid Diseases By all these Testimonies Beer appears to be better than Ale Mars owns the Plant and then Dr. Reason will tell you how it performs these actions Horehound Description COmmon Horehound groweth up with square hoary Stalks half a yard or two foot high set at the Joynts with two round crumpled rough Leavs of a sullen hoary green colour of a reasonable good scent but a very bitter tast The Flowers are smal white and gaping set in rough hard prickly Husks round about the Joynts with the Leaves from the middle of the Stalk upwards wherein afterwards is found smal round blackish Seed The Root is blackish hard and woody with many strings ther eat and abideth many years Place It is found in many parts of this Land in dry grounds and wast green places Time It Flowreth in or about July and the Seed is ripe in Augst Vertues and Vse A Decoction of the dried Herb with the Seed or the Juyce of the green Herb taken with Honey is a Remedy for those that are pursie or short winded or have a Cough or are fallen into a Consumption either through long sickness or thin Distillations of Rhewm upon the Lungs It helpeth to expectorate tough Flegm from the Chest being taken with the Roots of Iris or Orris It is given to Women to bring down their Courses to expel the Afterbirth and to them that have sore and long Travails as also to those that have taken Poyson or are stung or bitten by Venemous Serpents The Leavs used with Honey purge foul Ulcers stay running or creeping sores and the growing of the Flesh over the Nails It also helpeth pains of the sides The Juyce thereof with Wine and Honey helpeth to cleer the Eyesight and snuffed up into the Nostrils purgeth away the yellow Jaundice and with a little Oyl of Roses dropped into the Ears easeth the pains of them Galen saith it openeth Obstructions both of the Liver and Spleen purgeth the Breast and Lungues of Flegm and used outwardly it both clenseth and digesteth A Decoction of Horchound saith Mathiolus is available for those that have
of Serpents and for those that have taken Aconite The Leavs beaten with Vinegar is good to lay on any place that is burnt with fire A Decoction made of the Bark and Leavs is good to wash the Mouth and Teeth when they ach If the Root be a little slit or cut and a smal hole made in the ground next thereunto in the Harvest time it will give out a certain Juyce which being hardned the next day is of good use to help the Toothach to dissolve Knots and purge the Belly The Leavs of Mulberries are said to stay bleeding at Mouth or Nose or the Bleeding of the Piles or of a Wound being bound unto the places A Branch of the Tree taken when the Moon is at the full and bound to the Wrist of a Womans Arm whose Courses come down too much doth stay them in a short space Mercury rules the Tree therefore are its effects variable as his are Mullein Description THe common white Mullein hath many fair large woolly white Leavs lying next the ground somwhat longer than broad pointed at the ends and as it were dented about the edges The Stalk riseth up to be four or five Foot high covered over with such like Leavs but lesser so that no Stalk can be seen for the multitude of Leavs thereon up to the Flowers which come forth on all sides of the Stalk without any Branches for the most part and are many set together in a long spike in some of a gold yellow colour in others more pale consisting of five round pointed Leavs which afterwards give smal round Heads wherein is smal brownish Seed contained The Root is long white and Woody perishing after it hath born Seed Place It groweth by the way sides and in Lanes in many places of this Land Time It Flowreth in July or thereabouts Vertues and use A smal quantity of the Root given in Wine is commended by Dioscorides against Lasks and Fluxes of the Belly The Decoction thereof drunk is profitable for those that are Bursten and for Cramps and Convulsions and for those that are troubled with an old Cough The Decoction thereof gargled caseth the pains of the Toothach An Oyl made by the often Infusion of the Flowers is of very good effect for the Piles The Decoction of the Root in Red Wine or in Water if there be an Ague wherein red hot Steel hath been often quenched doth stay the Bloody Flux The same also openeth Obstructions of the Bladder and Reins when one cannot make water A Decoction of the Leavs hereof and of Sage Marjetom and Camomil Flowers and the places bathed therewith that have Sinews stark with cold or Cramps doth bring them much eas and comfort Three ounces of the distilled water of the Flowers drunk morning and evening for some daies together is said to be the most excellent Remedy for the hot Gout The Juyce of the Leavs and Flowers being laid upon rough Warts as also the Pouder of the dried Roots rubbed on doth easily take them away but doth no good to smooth Warts The Pouder of the dried Flowers is an especial Remedy for those that are troubled with belly-aches or the pains of the Chollick The Decoction of the Root and so likewise of the Leavs is of great effect to dissolve the Tumors Swellings or Inflamation of the Throat The Seed and Leavs boyled in Wine and applied draweth forth speedily Thorns or Splinters gotten into the Flesh easeth the pains and healeth them also The Leavs bruised and wrapped in double papers and covered with hot Ashes and Embers to bake a while and then taken forth and laid warm on any Botch or Boyl hapning in the Groyn or share doth dissolve and heal them The Seed bruised and boyled in Wine and laid on any Member that hath been out of Joynt and is newly set again taketh away all Swellings and pains thereof Mustard Description THe common Mustard hath large and broad rough Leavs very much jagged with uneven and unorderly gashes somwhat like Turnip Leavs but lesser and rougher The Stalk riseth to be more than a foot high and somtimes two foot high being round rough and branched at the top bearing such like Leavs thereon as grow below but lesser and less devided and divers yellow Flowers one above another at the tops after which come smal rough pods with smal lank flat ends wherein is contained round yellowish Seed sharp hot and biting upon the Tongue The Root is smal long and woody when it beareth Stalks and perisheth every yeer Place This groweth with us in Gardens only and other manured places Time It is an annual Plant Flowring in July and their Seed is ripe in August Vertues and use Mustard Seed hath the Vertue of Heating discussing rarefying and drawing out Splinters of Bones and other things out of the Flesh. It is of good effect to bring down Womens Courses for the Falling sickness or Lethargy drousie forgetful evil to use it both inwardly and outwardly to rub the Nostrils Forehead and Temples to warm and quicken the Spirits for by the fierce sharpness it purgeth the Brain by sneezing and drawing down Rhewm and other Viscuous Humors which by their Distillations upon the Lungs and Chest procure coughing and therefore with some Honey added thereto doth much good therein The Decoction of the Seed made in Wine and drunk provoketh Urine resisteth the force of Poyson the Malignity of Mushroms and the Venom of Scorpions or other Venemous Creatures if it be taken in time and taketh before the cold fits of Agues altereth lesseneth and cureth them The Seed taken either by it self or with other things either in an Electuary or Drink doth mightily stir up Bodily lust and helpeth the Spleen and pains in the sides and gnawing in the Bowels And used as a Gargle draweth up the Pallat of the Mouth being fallen down and also it dissolveth the Swellings abouâ— the Throat if it be outwardly applied Being chewed in the Mouth it oftentimes helpeth the Toothach The outward application hereof upon the pained place of the Sciatica discusseth the Humors and easeth the pains as also of the Gout and other Joynt aches And is much and often used to eas pains in the sides or loyns the shoulders or other parts of the Body upon the applying thereof to rais Blisters and cureth the Diseas by drawing it to the outward part of the Body It is also used to help the falling of the Hair The Seed bruised mixed with Honey and applied or made up with Wax taketh away the Marks and black and blue spots of Bruises or the like the roughness or Scabbedness of the Skin as also the Leprosie and lowsie evil it helpeth also the crick in the Neck The distilled Water of the Herb when it is in Flower is much used to drink inwardly to help in any the Diseases aforesaid or to wash the Mouth when the Pallat is down and for the Diseases of the Throat
Milk or Cream of these Kernels being drawn forth with some Vervain Water and applied to the Forehead and Temples doth much help to procure rest and sleep to sick persons wanting it The Oyl drawn from the Kernels the Temples being therewith anointed doth the like The said Oyl put into Clysters easeth the pains of the wind Chollick and anointed on the lower part of the Belly doth the like and dropped into the Ears caseth the pains of them The Juyce of the Leavs doth the like being also anointed on the Forhead and Temples it helpeth the Megrim and all other pains in the Head If the Kernels be bruised and boyled in Vinegar until they become thick and applied to the Head it merveilously procure the Hair to grow again upon bald places or where it is too thin Lady Venus owns this Tree and by it opposeth the ill effects of Mars and indeed for Children and yong people nothing is better to purge Choller and the Jaundice than the Leavs and Flowers of this Tree being made into a Syrup or Conserve let such as delight to please their lust regard the Fruit but such as love their health and their Childrens let them regard what I say they may safely give two spoonfuls of the Syrup at a time 't is as gentle as Venus her self The Pear-tree THese are so well known that they need no Description Vertues and Use. For their Physical use they are best discerned by their tasts All the sweet or lushious sorts whether manured or wild do help to move the Belly downward more or less Those that are harsh and sowr do on the contrary bind the Belly as much and the Leavs do so also Those that are moist do in some sort cool but harsh or wild sorts much more and are very good in repelling Medicines as if the wild sorts be boyled with Mushroms it maketh them the less dangerous The said Pears boyled with a little Honey helpeth much the oppressed Stomach as al sorts of them do some more some less but the harsher sorts do most cool and bind serving well to be bound to green wounds to cool and stay the Blood and heal up the wound without further trouble or Inflamation as Galen saith he hath found by experience And wild Pears do sooner close up the Lips of green Wounds than the others Schola Salerni adviseth to drink much Wine after Pears or els they say they are as bad as poyson nay and they curs the Tree for it too but if a poor man find his Stomach oppressed by eating Pears 't is but working hard and it will do as wel as drinking Wine The Trce belongs to Venus and so doth the Apple-tree Pellitory of the Wall Description THis riseth up with many brownish red tender and weak clear and almost transparent stalks about two foot high upon which grow at the several Joynts two Leavs somwhat broad and long of a dark green colour which afterwards turn brownish smooth on the edges but rough and hairy as the Stalks are also At the Joynts with the Leavs from the middle of the stalks upwards wher it spreadeth into some branches stand many smal pale purplish Flowers in hairy rough Heads or Husks after which come smal black and rough Seed which will stick to any cloth or Garment that shall touch it The Root is somwhat long with many smal Fibres thereat of a dark reddish colour which abideth the Winter although the Stalks and Leavs perish and spring afresh every yeer Place It groweth wild generally through this Land about the borders of Fields and by the sides of Walls and among Rubbish It will endure well being brought into Gardens and planted on the shady side where it will spring of its own sowing Time It flowreth in June and July and the Seed is ripe soon after Vertues and Use. The dried Herb Pellitory made up into an Electuary with Honey or the Juyce of the Herb or the Decoction thereof made up with Sagar or Honey is a singular Remedy for any old or dry Cough the shortness of breath and Wheesing in the Throat Three ounces of the Juyce thereof taken at a time doth wonderfully help stopping of the Urine and to expel the Stone or Gravel in the Kidneys or Bladderâ— and is therfore usually put among other Herbs used in Clisters to mitigate pains in the Back Sides or Bowels proceeding of wind stopping of Urine the Gravel or Stone as aforesaid If the bruised Herb sprinkled with some Muskadine be warmed upon a Tile or in a Dish upon a few quick coals in a Chasing-dish and applied to the Belly it worketh the same effect The Decoction of the Herb being drunk easeth pains of the Mother and bringeth down Womens Courses it also easeth those griefs that arise from Obstructions of the Liver Spleen and Reins The same Decoction with a little Honey added thereto is good to gargle a sore Throat The Juyce held a while in the Mouth easeth pains in the Teeth The distilled water of the Herb drunk with some Sugar worketh the same effects and clenseth the Skin from Spots Freckles Purples Wheals Sunburn Morphew c. The Juyce dropped into the Ears easeth the noise in them and taketh away the pricking and shooting pains therein The same or the distilled Water asswageth hot and swelling Impostumes Burnings and Scaldings by fire or Water as also all other hot Tumors and Inflamations or breakings out of Heat being bathed often with wet Cloathes dipped therein The said Juyce made into a Liniment with Ceruss and Oyl of Roses and anointed therewith clenseth foul rotten Ulcers and stayeth spreading or creeping Ulcers and the running Scabs or Sores in Childrens Heads and helpeth to stay falling of the Hair from off the Head The said Oyntment or the Herb applied to the Fundament openeth the Piles and easeth their pains and being mixed with Goats Tallow helpeth the Gout The Juyce is very effectual to clens Fistulaes and to heal them up safely or the Herb it self bruised and applied with a little Salt It is likewise so effectual to heal any green Wound that if it be bruised and bound thereto for three daies you shall need no other Medicine to heal it further A Pultis made hereof with Mallows and boyled in Wine with Wheat Bran and Bean Flower and some Oyl put thereto and applied warm to any bruised Sinew Tendon or Muscle doth in a very short time restore them to their strength taking away the pains of the Bruises and dissolveth the congealed Blood coming of Blows or Falls from high places The Juyce of Pellitory of Wall clarified and boyled into a Syrup with Honey and a spoonful of it drunk every morning by such as are subject to the Dropsie if continuing that cours though but once a week if ever they have the Dropsie let them come but to me and I will cure them gratis Peny-royal Description THis is so well known unto all I
Decoction made in Wine taketh away the itching of the Cods if they be bathed therwith Agrippa saith That if Women that cannot conceive by reason of the moist slipperiness of their Wombs shall take a quantity of the Juyce of Sage with a little Salt for four daies before they company with their Husbands it will help them not only to Conceive but also to retain the Birth without miscarrying Orpheus saith Three spoonfuls of the Juyce of Sage taken fasting with a little Honey doth presently stay the spitting or casting up of Blood For them that are in a Consumption these Pills are much commended Take of Spicknard and Ginger of each two drams of the Seed of Sage toasted at the fire eight drams of long Pepper twelve drams all these being brought into fine Pouder put thereto so much Juyce of Sage as may make them into a Mass for Pills taking a dram of them every morning fasting and so likewise at night drinking a little pure Water after them Mathiolus saith it is very profitable for all manner of pains of the Head coming of cold and Rhewmatick Humors as also for all pains of the Joynts whether used inwardly or outwardly and therfore helpeth the Falling-sickness the Lethargy such as are dull and heavy of spirit the Palsey and is of much use in an Defluxions of Rhewm from the Head and for the Diseases of the Chest or Preast The Leavs of Sage and Nettles bruised together and laid upon the Impostume that riseth behind the Ears doth aslwage it much The juyce of Sage taken in warm water helpeth a Hoarsness and the Cough The Leavs sodden in Wine and laid upon the place affected with the Palsey helpeth much if the Decoction be drunk also Sage taken with Wormwood is used for the bloody Flux Pliny saith it procureth Womens Courses and stayeth them coming down too fast helpeth the stinging and biting of Serpents and killeth the Worms that breed in the Ears and in Sores Sage is of excellent use to help the Memory warming and quickning the senses and the Conserve made of the Flowers is used to the same purpose and also for all the former recited Diseases The Juyce of Sage drunk with Vinegar hath been of good use in the time of Plague at all times Gargles likewise are made with Sage Rosemary Honeysuckles and Plantane boyled in Wine or Water with some Honey and Allum put thereto to wash sore Mouthes and Throats Cankers or the secret parts of man or woman as need requireth And with other hot and comfortable Herbs Sage is boyled to bath the Body or Legs in the Summer time especially to warm cold Joynts or Sinews troubled with the Palsey or Cramp and to comfort and strengthen the parts It is much commended against the Stitch or pains in the side coming of Wind if the place be fomented warm with the Decoction thereof in Wine and the Herb after the boyling be laid warm also thereunto Jupiter claims this and bid me tell you it is good for the Liver and to breed good Blood VVood-Sage Description VVood-Sage riseth up with square hoary Stalks two foot high at the least with two Leavs set at every Joynt somwhat like other Sage Leavs but smaller softer whiter and rounder and a little dented about the edges and smelling somwhat strongly At the tops of the Stalks and Branches stand the Flowers on a slender long Spike turning themselves all one way when they blow and are of a pale and whitish colour smaller than Sage but hooded and gaping like unto them The Seed is blackish and round four usually set in a husk together The Root is long and stringy with diverse Fibres thereat and abideth many yeers Place It groweth in Woods and by Wood-sides as also in diverse Fields and by-Lanes in this Land Time It Flowreth in June July and August Vertues and Use. The Decoction of Wood-Sage provoketh Urine and Womens Courses it also provoketh Sweat digesteth Humors and discusseth Swellings and Nodes in the Flesh and is therefore thought to be good against the French Pox. The Decoction of the green Herb made with Wine is a safe and sure Remedy for those who by falls bruises or Blows doubt some Vein to be inwardly broken to disperse and avoid the congealed blood and to consolidate the Vein It is also good for such as are inwardly or outwardly bursten the drink used inwardly and the Herb applied outwardly The same used in the same manner is found to be a sure Remedy for the Palsey The Juyce of the Herb or the Pouder thereof dried is good for moist Ulcers and sores in the Legs or other parts to dry them and caus them to heal the more speedily It is no less effectual also in green Wounds to be used upon any occasion Solomons Seal Description THe common Solomons Seal riseth up with a round Stalk about half a yard high bowing or bending down to the top set with single Leavs one above another somwhat large and like the Leavs of the LillyConvalley or May Lilly with an eye of blewish upon the green with some ribs therein and more yellowish underneath At the foot of every Leaf almost from the bottom up to the top of the Stalk come forth small long white and hollow pendulous Flowers somwhat like the Flowers of May-Lilly but ending in five long points for the most part two together at the end of a long Footstalk and somtimes but one and sometimes also two Stalks with Flowers at the Foot of a Leaf which are without any scent at all and stand all on one side of the Stalk After they are past come in their places smal round Berries green at the first and blackish green tending to blewness when they are ripe wherein lie smal white hard and stony Seed The Root is of the thickness of ones finger or Thumb white and knobbed in some places with a flat round circle representing a Seal whereof it took the name lying along under the upper crust of the Earth and not growing downward but with many fibres underneath Place It is frequent in diverse places of this Land as namely in a Wood two miles from Canterbury by Fishpool-Hill as also in a bushy Close belonging to the Parsonage of Alderbury neer Clarindon two miles from Salisbury in Chesson Wood on Chesson Hill between Newington and Sittingborn in Kent and in diverse other places in Essex and other Counties Time It Flowreth about May The Root abideth and shooteth anew every yeer Vertues and Use. The Root of Solomons Seal is found by experience to be available in Wounds Hurts and outward Sores to heal and close up the lips of those that are green and to dry up and restrain the Flux of Humors to those that are old It is singular good to stay Vomitings and Bleedings wheresoever as also al Fluxes in man or woman whether the Whites or Reds in Women or the running of the Reins in men also to knit any Joynt
to be taken inwardly with a little Sugar which Medicine the daintiest Stomach will not refuse but outwardly by applying Cloathes or Spunges wetted therein It is wonderful good for Women to wash their Faces therewith to cleer the Skin and give a lustre thereto Southernwood THis is so well known to be an Ordinary Inhabitant in our Gardens that I shall not need to trouble you with any Description thereof The Vertues are as followeth Time It Flowreth for the most part in July and August Vertues and use Dioscorides saith That the Seed bruised heated in warm Water drunk helpeth those that are Bursten or troubled with Cramps or Convulsions of the Sinews the Sciatica or difficulty in making water and bringeth down Womens Courses The same taken in Wine is an Antidote or Counter poyson against all deadly Poyson and driveth away Serpents and other Venemous Creatures as also the smel of the Herb being Burnt doth the same The Oyl thereof anointed on the Backbone before the Fits of Agues come taketh them away it taketh away Inflamations in the Eyes if it be put with some part of a roasted Quince and boyled with a few crums of bread and applied Boyled with Barely Meal it taketh away Pimples Pushes or Wheals that rise in the Face or other part of the Body The Seed as well as the dried Herb is often given to kill the Worms in Children The Herb bruised and laid to helpeth to draw forth Splinters and Thorns out of the Flesh. The Ashes thereof dryeth up and healeth old Ulcers that are without Inflamation although by the sharpness thereof it biteth sore and putteth them to sore pains as also the Sores in the privy Parts of man or woman The Ashes mingled with old Sallet Oyl helpeth those that have their hair fallen and are bald causing the hair to grow again either on the Head or Beard Diâ—rantes saith That the Oyl made of Southernwood and put among the Oyntments that are used against the French Diseas is very effectual and likewise killeth Lice in the Head The Distilled Water of the Herb is said to help them much that are troubled with the Stone as also for the Diseases of the Spleen and Mother The Germans commend it for a singular Wound Herb and therefore call it Stabwort It is held by all Writers Antient and Modern to be more offensive to the stomach than Wormwood Spignel Description THe Roots of common Spignel do spread much and deep in the ground many strings or branches growing from one Head which is hairy at the top of a blackish brown colour on the outside and white within smelling well and of an Aromatical tast from whence rise sundry long stalks of most fine cut Leaves like hairs smaller than Dill set thick on both sides of the Stalks and of a good scent Among these Leaves rise up round stif stalks with few Joynts and Leaves at them and at the tops an Umbel of fine pure white Flowers at the edges whereof somtimes will be seen a shew of reddish blush colour especially before they be full blown and are succeeded by smal somwhat round Seed bigger than the ordinary Fennel and of a browner colour devided into two parts and crested on the back as most of the Umbelliferous Seeds are Place It groweth wild in Lancashire Yorkshire and other Northern Countries and is also planted in Gardens Vertues and Use. Galen saith The Roots of Spignel are available to provoke Urine and Womans Courses but if too much thereof be taken it causeth Headach The Roots boyled in Wine or Water and drunk helpeth the Strangury and stoppings of the Urine the Wind swellings and pains in the Stomach pains of the Mother and all Joynt Aches If the Pouder of the Roots be mixed with Honey and the same taken as a licking Medicine it breaketh tough Flegm and drieth up the Rhewm that falleth on the Lungs The Roots are accounted very effectual against the stinging or biting of any Venemous Creature and is one of the Ingredients in Methâ—idate and other Antidotes for the same Spleenwort or Ceterach Description THe smooth Spleenwort from a black threddy and bushy Root sendeth forth many long single Leaves cut in on both sides into round dents almost to the middle which is not so hard as that of Pollipodie each devision being not alwaies set opposite unto the other but between each smooth and of a light green on the upper side and a dark yellowish roughness on the back folding or rolling it self inward at the first springing up Place It groweth as well upon stone walls as moist and shadowy places about Bristol and other the West parts plentifully as also on Framingham Castle on Beckonsfield Church in Bakshire at Strowde in Kent and elswhere and abideth green all the Winter Vertues and Use. It is generally used against infirmities of the Spleen it helpeth the strangury and wasteth the Stone in the Bladder and is good against the yellow Jaundice and the Hiccough but the use of it in Women hindreth Conception Mathiolus saith That if a dram of the dust that is on the back side of the Leaves be mixed with half a dram of Amber in Pouder and taken with the Juyce of Purslane or Plantane it will help the running of the Reins Speedily and that the Herb and Root being boyled and taken helpeth all Melanchollick Diseases and those especially that arise from the French Disease Camerarius saith That the Distilled water thereof being drunk is very effectual against the Stone in the Reins and Bladder and that the Ly that is made of the Ashes thereof being drunk for some time together helpeth Splenetick persons It is used in outward Remedies for the same purpose Star-thistle Description THe common Star-thistle hath diverse long and narrow Leaves lying next the ground cut or torn on the edges somwhat deeply into many almost even parts soft or a little woolley all over the green among which rise up diverse weak stalks parted into many Branches all lying or leaning down to the ground that it seemeth a pretty Bush set with diverse the like devided Leaves up to the tops where severally do stand long and small whitish green heads set with very sharp and long white pricks no part of the Plant being else prickly which are somwhat yellowish out of the middle whereof riseth the Flower composed of many small reddish purple threds and in the Heads after the Flowers are past come small whitish round Seed lying in down as others do The Root is small long and woody perishing every yeer and rising again of its own sowing Place It groweth wild in the Fields about London in many places as at Mile-end-Green in Finsbury Fields beyond the Wind-mils and many other places Time It Flowreth early and Seedeth in July and somtimes in August Vertues and use The Seed of this Star-thistle made into Pouder and drunk in Wine provoketh Urine and helpeth to break the Stone and drive it
Cramp Freckles Spots Morphew Wrinkles Stone Dropsie Flux Inward pains Splinters Thorns Inflamations St. Anthonies Fire Tetters Ring-worms Eyes Pin and Web Gout Lechery Wind Cough Jaundice Gall. Choller Flux Chollick Bleeding Worms Earwigs Inflamation Gout Sinews shrunk Inflamation Cods Womens Breasts Gout Sciatica Joynts Watching Deafness Noise in the Ears Chilblains Kibes French-Pox Stone Bleeding Terms stops wounds Vlcers in the Privities Poyson Pestilences Feavers Witchcraft Chollick Wounds Ulcers Swellings in the Groyn Cods and Privities Inflamations Aposthumes Cough shortuess of breath Wheesing Gross Humors Worms yellow Jaundice Dropsie Spleen Inflamations black and blue spots Quinsie Toothach Noise in the Ears Venemous Beasts Lice Itching of the Head Falling-sickness Wounds Obstructions Liver Spleen Blood Reins clenseth French Pox Scabs Itch Tetters Ring-worms Morphen Poyson Worms Terms provokes Disury yellow Jaundice Liver Stomach Agues Difficulty of breath Cough Consumption Flegm Terms provokes Afterbirth Weariness Poyson Venemous Beasts Ulcers Sides Eyes Yellow Jaundice Ears Obstructions of the Liver and Spleen Liver Itch Tetters Worms Dogs bitings Womens Breasts Thorns Asthmaes Bleeding Flux Terms stops Pissing Blood Inward ulcers Excoriations of the Bladder Ulcers Wounds Ruptures Disâ—ry Stone Sâ—angury Cough Inflamations Pimples Red Faces Heat Eyes Agues Thirst Salt Rhewms Ears Terms stops Fluxes Inflamations St. Anthonies Fire Burnings Scaldings Tetters Ring-worms Corns on the Hands and Feet Headach Frenzy Watching Bleeding Nettles Bees c. Eyes Nose Stomach Lungs shortness of breath Mad dogs Scaldings Burnings Hemorrhoids Wounds Ulcers French Pox. Wounds Bruises Obstructions Swellings Spitting and Vomiting blood Venemous Beasts Disury Choller Agues Sciatica Falling-sickness Palsey Flux Bloody Flux Jaundice Spitting Blood Worms Drunkenness Pestilence Stone Disury Terms provokes Spleen Stitch Headach Ulcers Wounds Burnings Scaldings salt Flegm Rhewm Sore Ears Inflamations Pimples Redness St. Anthonies fire Kidneys â—urt by the Stone Disury Dropsie Stone Bloodyflux Piles Hemorrhoids Gout Sciatica Cods Kings Evil Kibes Chilblains Fluxes Bleeding Veins broken Phtisick Falls Blows Ruptures Sores Cankers Fistulaes Scabby head Sore throat Voula Jaws Bleeding Heat Flux Bloody Flux Courses stops Disury Gravel Venemous Beasts Rhewm Worms Heat Choller Inflamations Apostums Gangrenes Fistulaes Cankers Ulcers Wounds Ears Inflamations Bleeding Vomiting Fluxes Bruises Ruptures Flagging Breasts Barrenness women with child Head Brains Apoplexie Falling-sickness Lethargy Cramps Convulsions Palsey both dead and shaking Stomach Liver Spleen Terms provokes Chollick Vertigo loss of voyce Trembling Fainting Watching Head-ach Indigestion Thirst Milk encreaseth choller Bowels Lust Venerious Dreams Inflamation Heat of Urire Inflamations Agues Watching Frenzy Flux Belly Running of the Reins Venery Cough Hoarsness Phtisick Consumption Reins Strangury Heat of Urine Eyes Bladder Liver Inflamation yellow Jaundice Spleen Running of the Reins whites Tetters Ring-worms Surfets Bleeding Flux Bloody Flux Terms stops Wounds Sore Mouth Privities Gnats Eyes Blindness Wounds Ulcers Inflamations Quinsie Kings Evil Spots Marks Scars Humors Terms provokes Disury Cold Stomach Indigestion Wind Poyson Epidemical Diseases Agues Belly-ach Quinsie Pleuresie Spots Freckles Boyls Lungues Coughs Wheesings shortness of breath Ulcers in the Privities and elswhere Yellow Jaundice Obstructions of the Liver and Gall Spleen Melancholly Palsey Sciatica Bruises inward and outward Terms provokes Freckles Morphew Scurf Cough shortness of breath the yellow Jaundice Spleen Disury Stone Terms provokes Bleeding Fluxes Lungs Swellings Vlcers Scursf Sores Balâ—lness Agues Choller Gripings in the Belly Milk Excoriation Phtisick Pleuresie Travail in Women Falling sickness Eyes Bees Wasps c. Poyson Hardswelling inflamation Cods Liver Spleen Roughness of the skin Scurff Dandrif Scabby Heads Scalding Burning St. Anthonies Fire sore Mouth Throat Baldness Thorns Belly Stone Reins Kidneys Bladder Coughs Hoarsness shortness of Breath Wheesing Excrriation of the Guts Ruptures Cramps Convulsions The Kings Evil Kernels Chincough Wounds Bruises Falls Blows Muscles Morphew sunburning Head Stomach Breast Obstructions Liver Spleen Womb Wind Dropsie Bellyach Terms provokes Marks of Blows Noise in the Ears Joynts Sinews Swellings Neâ—sing Flegm Heart Vital Spirits Pestilence smal Pox Meazles Hot swellings Feavers Pestilence Cold Griefs Stomach Wind Cold Rhewms Urine Stone Gravel Womens Comses Dead Child Mother Dropsie Cramps Falling-sickness Cold Poysons Sweat Green Wounds Rotten ulcers Gout Fluxes Stayeth Womens Longings Hinders Miscarriage Gargle Womens Courses Piles Loathing of Meat or Casting Bleeding Fresh wounds Sone in the Kidneys Miscarriage Hard Tumors Inflamations in the Eyes or elswhere Ulcers in the Head Stomach pained Hiadach wind Spleen Dimness of sight stupidity of senses strengthen Memory Apoplexy Purgeth Chollerick Humors Womens sickness Mother Womens Courses strangury sore Eyes Agues Flegm Rhewms and Catarrhes Melancolly Humors Yellow Jaundice Warts Scabs Tetters Ring-worms Swellings Inflamations Waterish Melancholly Humors Provokes Venery stayeth Vomiting Allayeth Choller Impostums great Breasts Mad Dogs biting Pains of the Ears Good for the Stomach Pains of the Head Sores Scabs Chops of the Fundament Poyson Helpeth Liver and Stomach stayeth Vomiting and Hiccough provoketh Lust Spleen Gravel Stone and Strangury comforts the Head sore Mouth ill Breath Pallet down Wind Venereal Dreams Nightly pollutions Ears pained biting of Serpents Kings Evil stinking Breath Lepry Dandrif Impostums Spleen Vlcers Falling-sickness Apoplexy Palsey Impostums Fluxes Vlcers Green Wounds Oldulcers Womens Courses Bleedings Vomiting Fluxes Broken disioynted Bones Green Wounds Stone Inflamations Fluxes Vomiting Bleeding Womens Courses Dropsie Headach Sinews Swonnings Sore Travail Mother Urine Womens Courses Flegm Cold Flegm Cramps Convulsions Melancholly Vapors Jaundice Stone Bellyach Dropsie Flux Wounds Bloody Flux Terms stops Cough Phtisick Ruptures Canker ulcers spreading sores Terms provokes Birth Afterbirth Womb Inflamed wens Kings Evil pains in the Neck Opium Sciatica Sinews pained Cramp Binding Fluxes Lasks Terms stops Inflamation Vvula sore Mouth Throat Toothach Bleeding Hemorrhoids Acurious secret Flux Ruptures Cramp Convulsion Cough Toothach Hemorrhoids Bloody Flux Obstrnctions Reins Bladder Sinews Gout Warts Bellyach Chollick Inflamation Thorns Splinters Boyls Groyn Disjunctures Heats Dries Splinters Thorns Terms provokes Falling-sickness Lethargy Sneezing Disury Poyson Mushroms Venemous Beasts Agues Luâ—â— provokes Spleen Vvula Sciatica Toothach Pains Hair Bruises Black and blue spots roughness Leprosie Low e Evil MorFreckles WryNecks Breast Lungs Hoarceness Cough shortness of breath Jaundice Pleuresie Back Loyns Belly Chollick Poyson Sciatica Gout Joynts Fistulaes ulcers Cankers Testicles Womens Breasts Terms provokes Barrenness Womb Wind Mother Cough Rhewms Vertigo Cramp Cold ach Difficulty of breath Bruises Hemorrhoids Scabby Heads Lungs Wheezing shortness of breath Pleuresie Almonds of the Ears Ears Throat Mouth Vvula Terms provokes Mother Disury Gravel Worms Spleen Bleeding Venemous Beasts MadDogs Hemlock Henbane Nightshade Mandrakes Lethargy Morphew Leprosie Bleeeing Polipus ulcers Fistulaes Gangrenes Scabs Itch Wounds Weariness Disjunctures Gout Sciatica Joynts Inflamations Inflamations Eyes Shingles Ring-worms Terms stops Testicles Gouts Ears Dry Bind Spitting Blood Bloody Flux Vomiting Venerious Acts Disury Poyson Venemous Beasts Cantharides Ulcers of the Bladder Mother Wounds Inflamation Flux Pestilences Epidemical Diseases Liver Stone Terms stops Scabs Whites Stitch wind Itch Leprosie