beaten and mixed with barly meale and applyed to hot inflammations asswageth them and helpeth places that are burnt either by fire or water cureth fistulous ulcers being layde thereupon and easeth the paines of the goute being beaten and boyled with the tallow of a bull or goate and layd warme thereon the juyce of the leaves snuffed up into the nostrills purgeth the tunicles of the braine the juyce of the berries boyled with a little honey and dropped into the eares easeth the paines of them the decoction of the berries in wine being drunke provoketh urine the powder of the seedes first prepared in vinegar and then taken in wine halfe a dramme at a time for certaine dayes together is a meanes to abate and consume the fat flesh of a corpulent body and keepe it leane the berries so prepared and as much white tartar and a few aniseede put to them a dramme of this powder given in wine cureth the dropsie humour by purging very gently the dry flowers are often used in the decoctions of glisters to expell winde and ease the chollicke for they lose their purging quality which they have being greene and retaine an attenuating and digesting propertie being dryed the distilled water of the flowers is of much use to cleare the skinne from sunne burning freckles morphew or the like and as Matthiolus saith both the forepart and hinderpart of the head being bathed therewith it taketh away all manner of the headach that commeth of a cold cause The Vinegar made of flowers of the Elder by maceration and insolation is much more used in France than any where else and is grate full to the stomacke and of great power and effect to quicken the appetite and helpeth to cut grosse or tough flegme in the chest A Syrupus acetosus made hereof would worke much better than the ordinary for these purposes The leaves boyled and layd hot upon any hot and painefull apostumes especially in the more remote and sinewie parts doth both coole the heate and inflammation of them and ease the paines The distilled water of the inner barke of the tree or of the roote is very powerfull to purge the watery humors of the dropsie or timpanie taking it fasting and two houres before supper Matthiolus giveth the receipt of a medecine to helpe any burning by fire or water which is made in this manner take saith he one pound of the inner barke of the Elder bruise it or cut it small and put it into two pound of fine sallet oyle or oyle Olive that hath beene first washed oftentimes with the distilled water of Elder flowers let them boyle gently a good while together and afterwards straine forth the oyle pressing it very hard set this oyle on the fire againe and put thereto foure ounces of the juyce of the young branches and leaves of the Elder tree and as much new wax let them boyle to the consumption of the juyce after which being taken from the fire put presently thereunto two ounces of liquid Vernish such as Ioyners use to vernish their bedsteeds cupboords tables c. and afterwards of Olibanum in fine powder foure ounces and the whites of two egges being first well beaten by themselves all these being well stirred and mixed together put it up into a cleane pot and keepe it for to use when occasion serveth The young buddes and leaves of the Elder and as much of the rootes of Plantaine beaten together and boyled in old Hogs grease this being laid warme upon the place pained with the gout doth give present ease thereto The leaves also burned and the pouder of them put up into the nostrills staieth the bleeding being once or twise used If you shall put some of the fresh flowers of Elders into a bagge letting it hang in a vessell of wine when it is new made and beginneth to boyle I thinke the like may be tried with a vessell of ale or beere new tunned up and set to worke together the bagge being a little pressed every evening for a seaven night together giveth to the wine a very good rellish and a smell like Muscadine and will doe little lesse to ale or beere The leaves of Elders boyled tender and applied warme to the fundament easeth the paines of the piles if they be once or twice renued growing cold The foule inflamed or old ulcers and sores of the legges being often washed with the water of the leaves or of the flowers distilled in the middle of the moneth of May doth heale them in a short space The distilled water of the flowers taketh away the heate and inflammation of the eyes and helpeth them when they are bloud shotten The hands being washed morning and evening with the same water of the flowers doth much helpe and ease them that have the Palsie in them and cannot keepe them from shaking The pith in the middle of the Elder stalkes being dried and put into the cavernous holes of Fistulous ulcers that are ready to close openeth and dilateth the orifices whereby injections may be used and other remedies applied for the cure of them It is said that if you gently strike a horse that cannot stale with a sticke of this Elder and binde some of the leaves to his belly it shall make him stale quickly The Mushromes of the Elder called Iewes eares are of much use being dried to be boyled with Ale or Milke with Columbine leaves for sore throates and with a little Pepper and Pellitory of Spaine in powder to put up the uvula or pallet of the mouth when it is fallen downe Matthiolus saith that the dried Iewes eares steeped in Rosewater and applied to the temples and forehead doe ease the paines of the head or headach The Mountaine or red berried Elder hath the properties that the common Elder hath but weaker to all purposes the berries hereof are taken to be cold and to procure sleepe but the frequent use of it is hurtfull It is said that if a branch of this Elder be put into the trench that a moale hath made it will either drive them forth or kill them in their trench The Marsh Elder is of the like purging qualitie with the common especially the berries or the juyce of them Mens and birds doe feede upon them willingly in the Winter The Wallwort or Danewort is more forceable or powerfull than the Elder in all the diseases and for all the purposes whereunto it is applied but more especially wherein the Elder is little or nothing prevalent the Wallwort serveth to these uses The young and tender branches and leaves thereof taken with wine helpeth those that are troubled with the stone and gravell and laid upon the testicles that are swollen and hard helpeth them quickly the juice of the roote of Wallwort applied to the throate healeth the Quinsie or Kings evill the fundament likewise is stayed from falling downe if the juyce thereof be put therein the same also put up with a little wooll into the mother
the Trees and their fruites that are pleasant to eate and lastly with those which for the most part have some medicinall use CHAP. LVIII Payco herba Indian Plantaine for the stone THere groweth in Peru in the West Indies an Herbe whose leaves are like unto our Plantaine which being dryed are very thinne and taste hot and extreame bitter The pouther of them taken in Wine helpeth the chollicke and the stone whether proceeding of wind or of any cold cause the leaves boyled and applyed warme to the pained part worketh the same effect Herba ad renum morbiâ— utilis Lactucâ— siâ—is Another Herbe likewise was sent from thence like unto Lettice new sprung up and of the same colour being without taste and very profitable for the stone in the kidneyes comming from heate the juyce being applyed to the place mixed with some oyntment of Roses and the leaves also laid thereto the juyce thereof likewise cooleth inslammations Saint Anthonyes fire and the like hot eruptions in the skinne and easeth the paines From Peru likewise saith Monardus came the seed of a bushy plant there called Cachos being very small and taken from the fruite thereof Cachos semen which was like unto the Mala insana Madde Appels flat on the one part and round on the other of an ash colour on the outside and of an excellent greene colour but thinne and of a round forme It is of much esteeme with the Natives for the especiall vertues thereof in provoking urine and expelling gravell and the stone yea and breaking the stone in the bladder if it be not growne hard by long continuance dissolving it into sand and casting it forth with the urine the seed in pouther being taken in some water convenient for the purpose whereof they have had very many and notable experiences which sand after it is expelled will grow hard as into stones againe CHAP. LXIX Coca The herbe Coca THe seed of this Coca is sowne with great care by the West Indians in beds by rowes and riseth to be a plant of three or foure foote high with a stalke as bigge as a good wand and somewhat greater leaves then the Myrtle having as it were another leafe in the middle thereof being soft and of a pale greene colour the berries are red before they be ripe but blackish afterwards growing clustring together and then they gather the leaves laying them to dry that they may be kept all the yeare and carryed to and fro into severall Countries for thereof is the Natives chiefe Merchandise to provide them of all necessaries for life being instead of money which is generally used by the Americanes to be chawed as well in their long journeyes to preserve them from hunger and thirst abroad as for pleasure at home which they use after this manner they burne Oyster shells and with the powther of them they mixe the pouther of the leaves of this Coca first chewed in their mouthes and so made up as it were into a paste or dough but take lesse of the pouther of the Oyster shells then of the leaves whereof they make small pellets trochisses or trossis laying them to dry and to use them one by one holding them in their mouthes rolling them to and fro and sucking them untill they be quite spent and then take another which maketh them able to travaile many dayes with strength without either meate or drinke through uninhabited places where none is to be had If they stay at home they use the Coca alone chewing them sometimes a whole day without ceasing untill the substance be sucked forth and then use another if they would have them to be stronger able to intoxicate their braines like unto drunkennesse or to be as it were senslesse they put the leaves of Tobacco to it and take great pleasure in those courses CHAP. LX. Betre Betle Betele sive Bethle The Indian Bindweed called Betle or Betre THe East Indians doe use the leaves of this Betle much after the same manner that they of the West doe the last recited Coca and therefore I thought good to joyne them together It groweth very like unto a Bindweede wrapping and winding it selfe about the trees up to the toppes almost or other things that it is planted against to uphold it or lye on the ground and rot and therefore they for the most part plant it against the tree Fausel or Areca or such other like tall and great trees in the same manner as they doe Pepper whereunto it is so like that a farre off those that are not well exercised in the knowledge of them may soone mistake one for another and therefore Gerard called it Bastard Pepper when as it is neither in fruite taste or use like unto Pepper having onely leaves somewhat like to Pepper but more like unto Bindeweed yet thicker of a yellowish greene colour Betre sive Betle The Indian Bindeweed called Betle or Betre with three great thicke ribbes therein which the Indians with the nailes of their hands kept long and pointed for this purpose and not round like ours doe nippe or pare away before they dry them whose taste is somewhat a romaticall but bitter the fruite is slender and about two inches long writhed or consisting of five cods writhed one about another like unto a cord or rope of a yellowish colour tasting pretty spicy or aromaticall the plant is much tended and often watered to cause it grow the better and because it delighteth not in any very hot or cold Country and seldome groweth in the upland Countries but continually neere the Sea side or not farre distant from it Physically this is used to strengthen the head and stomacke after the clensing of them from rheume and flegme to comfort the heart and to breake or discusse winde in the stomacke or bowels it fastneth loose teeth and maketh them yellow causing also a sweet breath yet their breath stincketh fowlest that using daily to take it doe forbeare for a while from it but generally throughout all the East Indies the leaves are used both of the Princes and people the greater persons make certaine compositions for themselves with the leaves hereof Camfire of Burneo Lignum Aloes Muske and Ambergriese others put Cardamomes and Cloves to them but the ordinary manner of preparing them is that after the ribs be taken away with their nayles they chew those leaves in their mouthes and spit out the first juyce that commeth from them which is like blood and put unto them a little of the calx of burnt Oystershells and the fruite of Areca or Fanfell beaten small which give them a pleasant taste and is generally eaten by them all and none of the meaner sort or others that have not presently before eaten thereof will in civility speake with any great person but they will hold their mouthes that their breath doe not offend them It is called Betre in Malavar and â—am in Decan and Guzarate but in Malayo Siri Garcias saith
like scales it had about forty or fifty round yet somewhat flat branches a foote long in the same manner scaly or as it were set with hollow joynted cuppes or boxes and from the joynts broke forth small cones like to those of the Cedar tree set with thicke scales of a pollished shining brownish colour the outer shell being of the thickenesse of the Indian Nut shell containing within it a certaine kernell like unto a long Ackorne or Chesnut of two inches long or lesse very hard and not easie to be made into meale yet serving the Natives instead of bread Fructus squamosus Palmae alterae similis Another kinde of scaly fruite like the other Palme Another scaly fruite like hereunto was sent unto Clusius but came a little after his death which sheweth the stalke of the fruit divided into long fibers the fruite also divided whose inner substance betweene the outer shell and the inner kernell was blacke the smaller end of which kernell lay next the bottome of the fruite differing from those in the Cokar Nuts Chameriphes peregrina Clusij The strange dwarfe Palme of Clusius This branch Clusius referreth to the kindes of Palmetos as thinking it to partake with them it rose up saith Palma pinus sive Conifera The Pine or Conelike bearing Palme tree Fructus squamosus Palma altera similis Another kinde of scaly fruite like the other Palme Chamaeriphes peregrina Clusij A strange dwarfe Palme of Clusius he with forty stalkes or more bigger and lesser and longer or shorter then others containing many appearances of flowers or fruites growing thereon which were all rubbed off onely the places where they stood appearing and shewed as if they had beene all contained within a huske or covering for the whole branch rose from a certaine thicke barke made as it were of shards like unto that of the outer shell of the Cokar Nut or like unto that huske that covereth the Palmeto head which barke was of a yellowish colour smooth both above and below but the stalkes were of a brownish colour this seemed to be plucked from some tree but what or where is not expressed CHAP. CXLVII Gum Copal Anime Of Gum Copal and Gum Anime THese two Gummes are gathered in the West Indies as Hispaniola c. being very like one unto another the Copal is of a fine cleare translucent pure white gum in somewhat great peeces and pretty sweete although not so much as the Anime is with this Gum the Indians used to perfume their sacrifices instead of incense in their temples and when the Spaniards first came among them they perfumed them therewith it is hot in the second and moist in the first degree for it hath some watery parts therein it resolveth swellings and mollifieth hard tumours Gomara maketh two sorts hereof the one more rugged and soft then the other But there hath been brought of late dayes an oiely or liquid substance called Oleum de copal Iva and is of two sorts the one yellowish and of a more thicke substance somewhat like unto that Balsamum that commeth from Hispaniola the other whiter and more liquid but of us sweete if sent as the former both of them being excellent good for wounds c. The Anime is offer a whitish gumme running out of great trees and is not so cleare or pure white as the Copal but more fatry like unto Thys or Olibanum yet in greater peeces then Olibanum and being broken is somewhat yellowish and of a most sweete and pleasant sent being set on burning or cast on quicke coales and is soone consumed There is another Gum Anime of Ethiopia bordering on Africa which is called Orientale to distinguish it from this West Gum and is both clearer whiter and in greater peeces then this and is so like unto white Ambar that divers have taken it to be melted Ambar and thereof have made beads and bracelets c. the tree from whence it commeth is great having leaves like Mirtlesâ— but I have here before shewed you the true originall Ambar even to be a Bitumen which hath his fountaines in the Germane Sea and becommeth hard after it hath beene a while in the aire Of this Orientall Anime also I have shewed you the opinion of divers both in the Chapter of Lacea and Mirthae first that there is three sorts thereof brought from Guiney c. by the Portugals and others whereof that which is white is taken by Garbias Amatus Lusitanicus and others to be the true Cancamum of Dioscorides and called Anijmum by the Portugals serving for perfumes and censings Another sort which is browne is taken by divers to be the Myrrha Aminnaea of Dioscorides as is before said The third sort is dry of a pale colour and is easily broken like Rossin The West Gum Anime is of much use in the defluctions of rheume from the head and other diseases of the head rising from a cold cause the head ache also and megrime and where there is want of sleepe to burne it on a few quicke coales and â—ire ones head and their night cap with the smoke which warmeth and comforteth the parts very much and is herein very like unto Thus it is used likewise in plasters to warme and strenghthen the cold and weake sinewes or any other part of the body afflicted with cold it comforteth also a cold stomacke and helpeth to dissolve winde it is also hot in the second and moist in the first degree CHAP. CXLIX Resinae Americanae quaedam Certaine West Indie Rossins THere are divers other sorts of gums Rossins and liquours brought both from the East but especially from the West parts some whereof by good experience have given much helpe they to those that have used them many other more then they have beene brought whereof wee have knowne no use or name nor have made any tryall what effect they carry and therefore to avoyd tediousnesse and that this Worke being growne great should not be overcharged with needlesse and unprofitable matter I will onely in this Chapter shew you some of the chiefest that have beene either mentioned by others Resina Carthaginensis or not set forth before now The first is the Resina Carthaginensis set forth by Monardus that was gathered by Carthago nova in America and is a most cleare and most sweet liquid Rossin excelling either the Venice or the true Turpentine in the effects For it is by often experience found to be singular good for wounds in the nerves and sinewes and the joynts or for old sores in the legges and feete women by washing and preparing it in a convenient manner doe use it on their faces to take away wrinckles spots c. and to preserve their youth and beauty Resina Abiegua Indica Another sort is called also by Monardus Resina Abiegua that is Firre tree liquid Rossin or Turpentine and is gathered from great wilde trees that can neither be said to be Firre or Cypresse being taller
to be taken inwardly the juyce also clarified and mingled with a little vinegar is good to wash the mouth and throate that is inflamed but outwardly the juyce of the herbe or berries with oyle of Roses and a little vinegar and cerusse laboured together in a leaden Morter is very good to anoint all hot inflammations Saint Anthonies fire all other grieved places that are molested with heate as the head ache and frenzies anointing the temples and forehead therewith as also the heate and inflammation in the eyes it doth also much good for the shingles ringwormes and in all running fretting corroding ulcers and in weeping or moist Fistulaes if the juice be made up with some hens dung and applied thereunto a pessary dipped in the juyce and put up into the matrixe stayeth the immoderate fluxe of womens courses a cloth wet therein and applied to the testicles or cods upon any swelling therein giveth much ease as also to the goute that commeth of hot and sharpe humours the juyce dropped into the eares easeth those paines that arise of heat or inflammation Pliny saith moreover that it is good for hot swellings under the throate the sleepie Nightshade of both sorts are of one and the same qualitie being cold in the third degree and drie in the second comming neere unto the propertie of Opium to procure sleepe but somewhat weaker if a dramme of the barke of the roote be taken in wine but not to exceede that proportion for feare of danger the seede drunke doth powerfully expell urine and is also good for the dropsie but the often taking thereof in too great a quantite procureth frenzie the remedy whereof is to take good store of warme honied water the roote boyled in wine and a little thereof held in the mouth easeth the paines of the tooth ache Pliny saith it is good to fasten loose teeth the juyce of the roote mingled with hony is good for the eyes that are weake of sight It is more effectuall in all hot swellings and inflammations than the former in regard it is colder in qualitie the juyce of the herbe or rootes or the distilled water of the whole plant being applied the deadly Nightshade is held more dangerous than any of the other for it is thought to be cold in the fourth degree the juyce of the leaves and a little vinegar mixed together procureth rest and sleepe when upon great distemperature either in long sicknesse or in the tedious hot fits of agues rest and sleepe is much hindered if the temples and forehead be a little bathed therewith as also taketh away the violent paine of the head proceeding of a hot cause the leaves bruised or their juyce may be applied to such hot inflammations as Saint Anthonies fire the shingles and all other fiery or running cankers to coole and stay the spreading the danger is very great and more in the use of this inwardly than in any of the former and therefore there had neede of the more heed and care that children and others doe not eate of the berries hereof least you see the lamentable effects it worketh upon the takers thereof as it hath done both in our owne land upon sundry children killed by eating the broth wherein the leaves were boiled or the berries and beyond the sea in the same manner yet some doe hold that two ounces of the distilled water hereof is effectuall to be taken inwardly without any danger against the heart burning and other inflammations of the bowells and against all other hot inflammations of the skinne or eyes giving ease to the paines It hath beene often proved that one scruple of the dried roote hereof infused in a little wine sixe or seven hoares and then strained hard through a cloth that if this wine be put into a draught of other wine whosoever shall drinke that wine shall not be able to eate any meate for that meale nor untill they drinke some vinegar which will presently dispell that qualitie and cause them fall to their vlands with as good a stomacke as they had before this is a good jest for a bold unwelcome guest The Virginia Nightshade is a familiar purger with them in Virginia New England c. where they take a spoonefull or two of the juyce of the roote which worketh strongly but we having tried to give the dried roote in powder have not found that effect CHAP. VII 1. Solanum lignosum sive Dulcamara Wood Nightshade or Bitter sweete ALthough this plant hath no dangerous quality therein nor yet is properly any Nightshade more than the outward conformitie in some sort yet because many learned Authours have reckoned it as a sort thereof and called it by that name let me also place it with them and shew it you in this place thus it groweth up with many slender winding brittle wooddy stalkes five or sixe foote high without any claspers but foulding it selfe about hedges or any other thing that standeth next unto it covered with a whitish rough barke and having a pith in the middle shooting out many branches on all sides which are greene while they are young whereon grow many leaves without order somewhat like unto the leaves of Nightshade but that they are somewhat broad long and pointed at the ends with two small leaves or rather peeces of leaves at the bottome of most of them somewhat like the Sage with eares and many of them likewise but with one peece on the one side sometimes also those peeces are close unto the leaves making them seeme as it were jagged or cut in on the edges into so many parts and sometimes separate there from making the leaves seeme winged or made of many leaves and are of a pale greene colour at the toppes and sides of the branches come forth many flowers standing in fashion of along umbell upon short foote stalkes one above another which consist of five narrow and long violet purple coloured leaves not spread like a starre or very seldome but turning themselves backwards to the stalkes againe whereon they stand with a long gold yellow pointell in the middle sticking forth which afterwards turne into round and somewhat long berries greene at the first and very red soft and full of juyce when they are ripe of an unpleasant bitter taste although sweete at the first wherein are contained many flat white seedes the roote spreadeth it selfe into many strings under ground and not growing into any great body the barke also of the branches being chewed tasteth bitter at the first but sweeter afterwards 2. Dulcamara flore albo Wood Nightshade with white flowers Of this kinde there is another that differeth not from the former more than in the flowers whose outer leaves are white and the pointell yellow Dulcamara seâ— Solanum lignosum Wood Night shade The Place This groweth usually by ditches sides and hedges where they may climbe up upon them the first almost every where the second is very rare and seldome to be met
juice of the herbe is held as effectuall for all the purposes aforesaid as also to stay vomitings and taken with some Sugar or Hony helpeth an old and drie cough shortnesse of breath and the â—sicke and to stay an immoderate thirst taken upon extreame heate The distilled water of the herbe is used by many as the more pleasing to the palate taken with a little Suger and worketh to the same effect The juyce also is singular good in the inflammations and ulcers of the secret parts in man or woman as also of the bowells and hemorrhoides when there are ulcers or excorriations in them The herbe is sufficiently knowne to be used in sallets in the heate of the yeare to coole and temper the bloud and hot and fainting stomackes and is good for them to use that have the falling sicknesse the herbe bruised and applied to the forehead and temples allaieth excessive heate therein causing want of rest and sleepe and applied to the eyes taketh away the rednesse and inflammations in them and those other parts where pushes wheales pimples Saint Anthonies fire and the like breake forth especially if a little Vineger be put to it and being laid to the necke with as much of Galles Linseede together taketh away the paines therein and the cricke in the necke the juyce also is used with oyle of Roses for the said causes or for blastings by lightening or planets and for burnings by Gunpowder or other wise as also for womens sore breasts upon the like hot causes and to allay the heate in all other sores or hurts it is said also to stay the spreading of venemous serpents bitings and to draw forth the poyson applyed also to the Navell of children that sticke forth it helpeth them it is also good for sore mouthes and for sore gums when they are swollen to fasten loose teeth and to take away their paine when they are set on edge by eating sower things Camerarius saith that the distilled water used by some tooke away the paine of their teeth when all other remedies failed and that the thickened juice made in pilles with the powder of gum Tragacanth and Arabeck and taken prevailed much to helpe those that made a blooddy water applyed to the Goute it easeth the paines thereof and helpeth the hardnesse of 〈◊〉 if it bee not caused by the crampe or in a cold cause The wilde Purflane is used as familiarly in â—lleâ— and meates in many parts beyond the Seas where it groweth plentifully as the Garden kinde and the 〈◊〉 no lesse effectuall a remedy for most of the diseases aforesaid onely it cooleth not so strongly but is more â—â—â—gent and drying for fluxes and the like CHAP. II. Portulaca marina Sea Purslane THe Sea Purslane might be entreated of with the other Sea plants in the proper place but that I thinke it not meete to sever it from the other going before and hereunto for the neare likenesse and resemblance to joyne two other sorts of Halimus which may be called Sea Purslanes as well but growing in a hotter climate 1. Portulaca marina nostras Sea Purslane of our countrey The Sea Purslane hath divers hoary and grayish purple stalkes somewhat wooddy rising from the roote about a foote or more long lying for the most part upon the ground bearing thereon many small thicke for and long leaves of a whitish greene colour set without order at some joynts more and at some lesse branching forth here and there and bearing at the toppes many long sprigges or spiked stalkes set round about with greenish purple flowers which turne into whitish flat thinne seedes like unto those of the Sea Arrache the roote is somewhat wooddy with divers long strings joyned thereto and abideth with the leaves on the branches all the Winter 2. Halimus latifolius sive Portulaca marina incana major The greater outlandish or hoary Sea Puâ—e This hoary Sea Purslane sendeth forth divers thicke and wooddy hoary brittle stalke foure or five foot high whereon are set many thicke leaves without any order somewhat short broad so hoary white that they almost glister the flowers grow at the tops of the stalkes on divers long sprigges being mossie like the Olive blossome but of a purplish colour after which come broad and flat whitish seede like unto those of Arache the roote is long hard and wooddy enduring many yeares in the naturall places but must bee somewhat defended in the Portulaca marina Sea Purslaine 2 Halimus latifolius sive Portulaca marina incana major The greater outlandish or hoary sea Purflane Winter with us if you will have it preserved yet bringeth not forth the leaves so hoary white with us 3. Halimus tennifolius sive Portulaca marina incana minor The lesser outlandish or hoary Sea Purslane This other hoary Sea Purslane hath very slender weake and somewhat hoary stalkes about two foote long scarse able to stand upright but for the most part fall downe and lye upon the ground the leaves that grow on them being set in the same manner that is without order are narrower longer and not so hoary white the flowers are like the former but of a more greenish colour growing at the toppes of the stalkes and afterwards yeâ— such like seede as the former but somewhat lesse roote is wooddy and endureth like the other 4. Halimus minor Germanicus The lesser sea Purslane of Germany This hath a small hoary stalke an handfull high rising from a small threddy roote leaning divers wayes branching forth a little above the roote set with small and somewhat round leaves and those up higher with a gash on each side of an ash colour the flowers are small greenish and mossie yet yellow within set on long stalkes after which come square huskes with small gray seede like unto kidneys in them The Place The first groweth in the salt marshes of the Sea coasts of our owne land in Kent and many other places the second Clusius saith he found about Lishbone in Portingall and the third as well in the kingdome of Valentia in Spaine is not farre from Mompelier and Marselles in France and in the upland places about Tholouse as Lugdunensis saith if his Halimus be this as you shall heare by and by the last about Northusa in Germany The Time They flower in Iuly and their seede is ripe in August The Names Dioscorides Galen and Theophrastus call it in Greeke 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Halimus with an aspiration because it is a sea plant and tasteth somewhat saltish whom Pliny followeth and yet saith a certaine herbe used to be eaten is so called also as though it were differing from Halimus which as Dioscorides and Galen say is used to bee eaten Solinus and others call it 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Alimos without an aspiration and say the name was taken from the effect it worketh which is to expell hunger for saith Solinus the people in Candy say that that day they eate thereof they shall not be
with Vinegar it taketh away the Morphew Lepry and all other deformities in the skinne and is good also for old foule Vlcers and sores to clense and heale them thâ— say Dioscorides and Galen of their Telephium but divers have thought that the difference in qualitie may happen from the Climate as it doth in Arum which in some places of Asia and Cilicia as Galen saith is not sharpe and biting as it is in these places of Greece Italy and all Europe and as it is found also in the lesser Celandine which as they say is sharpe in some places but is not so found with us Orpine is seldome used in inward Medecines with us although Tragus saith from his countrey Germanes experience that the distilled water thereof is profitably taken of those that have any gnawings or excoriations in their stomacke or bowells or have Vlcers in their Lungs or Liver or other inward parts as also in the matrix or mother and doth helpe all those diseases being drunke for certaine dayes together and that it stayeth the sharpnesse of humors in the blooddy flux as also stayeth other 〈◊〉 of bloud in the body or in the wounds the roote thereof also performeth the same effect It is used outwardly to coole any heate or inflammation upon any hurt or wound and easeth the paines of them as also to heale scouldings or burnings the juyce thereof beaten with some greene sallet oyle and annointed the leafe also bruised and laid to any greene wound in the hands or legges doth heale them quickly and as it is said being bound to the throate of them that hath the Quinsie doth helpe it very much it helpeth ruptures or burstings and from thence as Tragus saith the Germans call it Bruch wurts and Knabenkraut The leaves are much used to make Gâ—ds about Midsommer with the come Marigold-flowers put upon strings to hang them up in their houses upon bushes and May-poles c. Tragus sheweth a superstitious course in his country that some use after Midsommer day is past to hang it up over their chamber doores or upon the walles which will be fresh and greene at Christmas and like the Aloe spring and shoote forth new leaves with this perswasion that they that hanged it up shall feele no disease so long as that abideth greene CHAP. IV. Rhodia sive Rhodia radix Rosewort BEcause this plant is so like unto an Orpine both in leafe flower and manner of growing I thinke it fit to joyne it next thereunto It sendeth forth divers stalkes which are upright thicke round and greene about a foote thicke set with leaves up to the toppes and are somewhat long and narrow like unto those of Orpine but smaller yet as fat or thicke and of the like pale greene colour dented about the edges the flowers are many small and yellow set in a tuft or cluster but smaller than Orpine with seede in heads like unto Rhodia radix Rosewort it also the roote is thicke and tuberous or knobbie at the heads and branched out rising oftentimes above the ground whereas it groweth somewhat reddish and is long downward with divers fibres annexed unto it which being a little broken or bruised with it is fresh Altera much more than when it is drie smelleth like a Rose from whence it tooke the name Some doe account that there is an other sort hereof whose leaves are not dented and the flowers more purplish than the other The Place It groweth in the North parts of England and no where else wilde in our Land as I can heare of as upon the mountaines of Pandle and Ingelborough oftentimes on the very raggiest places and most dangerous of them scarce accessible and so steepe that they may soone tumble downe that very warily doe not looke to their footing from whence hath beene sent me some rootes for my Garden The Time It flowreth about Iuly and the stalkes and leaves perisheth to the ground springing every yeare anew from the toote which abideth firme in all extremities of cold The Names It is called in Greek 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Rhodia radix not from the Iland Rhodes but from the Rose as I said for the sent thereof it hath no other name with all authors than Rhodia radix or Rosea radix that I know The Vertues It is found by good experience to be cold and not hot as some have taken it to be and as Galen placeth it almost in the third degree of heate for even as red Roses so this by the coldnesse is profitable to asswage the headeach arising from an hot cause and both Dioscorides and Galen appoint it for paines in the head the juyce thereof with a little Rosewater applied to the forehead and temples which Gerard vindicateth to his owne invention CHAP. V. Aizoon Sedum sive Sempervivum majus The greater Houseleeke THere are so many sorts of Houseleekes properly and unproperly so called both great and small with whole or with divided leaves some cooling and others heating or exulcerating that without some methodicall division I can neither expresse them conveniently nor you apprehend them effectually which that I may do I will digest them into five Rankes and orders that is to say of all the great ones in this Chapter and of the smaller ones in the severall Chapters following which because they are of much variable I must intreate of those that grow upon muddie stone walles or houses and upon drie sandie bankes and places in the next thirdly of these that grow upon rockes and mountaines or in stony places and fourthly of such â—e divided leaves and lastly to accomplish the history of all the sorts of Houseleekes I should set forth the sorts of Coryledon or Kidney Worts but having entreated of many of them in my former Booke I will here shew you the rest that remaine 1. Sedum Majus legitimum The true great Houseleeke The true great Houseleeke groweth great to the forme of a shrubbe or woddy plant of the height of two or three foote or more sometimes in the naturall places which are the warme countries whose stemme or â—de below is of the bignesse of foure fingers and the other branches of ones thumme of a grayish colour on the oâ—side spot red as it were round about but they are the markes of the old leaves that are fallen the like whereof may be seene in the stalke of the Wood Spurge spreading limber smaller branches on all sides and â—es at the ends of them standing in a compasse like the heaâ—s of common houseleeke but nothing so close every 〈◊〉 formed somewhat like a tongue small at the bottome and broader toward the end where it is broadest â—y deâ—ted about the edges and as it were a little hollow like a Spoone thicke and full of juice and of a pale greene colour from the toppes of some of the branches thrusteth forth a long stalke divided into many twigges with some few small leaves on them and at the ends of them
the stones and rockes on the ground and sometimes also upon the very ordinary Mosse it selfe as Sir Matthew Lyster one of his Maâ—esties Physitians assured me and sent me some to see which he gathered in Windsor Forrest 8. Muscus ex cranio humano The Mosse upon dead mens Sculles Let me here also adjoyne thiâ— kinde of Mosse not having any fitter place to insert it It is a whitish short kinde of Mosse somewhat like unto the Mosse of trees and groweth upon the bare scalpes of men and women that have lyen long and are kept in Charnell houses in divers Countries which hath not onely beene in former times much â—ounted of because it is rare and hardly gotten but in our times â—â—ch more set by to make the Vngâ—entu◠〈…〉 â—etâ—â—ium which cureth wounds without locall application of salâ—â—s the composition whereof is put as a 〈…〉 ingredient but as Crollius hath it it should be taken from the sculls of those that have beene hanged 〈…〉 for offences The Place and Time The 〈…〉 â—ound in many 〈◊〉 and Woods in this Land but the places of the second and third are Italy as the fourth is also the 〈…〉 as usuall to our Land as to others but the last is oftner brought out of Ireland than found with us and they 〈◊〉 â—o be gathered in the Summer time The Names I have shewed you before how the Greekes and Latines called the Mosses which names indeede doe more properly belong to these trâ—e Mosses for I cannot finde that any of the ancients made any account of the ground Mosses or put them to any use the Arabians called it Axnec and Vsnec and by the Apothecaries Vsnea the Italians Mosco the French Mousse the Germaines Mooss and the Dutch Mosch The first here set downe is called Muscus arboreus and Muscuâ— quâ—ruâ— by most writers the second third and fourth are remembred by Columna the fifth is generally called Pulmonaâ—ia by most writers of this latter age for it is thought it was not knowne to the elder times but without distinction almost whereby many were misse 〈◊〉 taking one herbe for another because there are divâ—â—◠〈…〉 that name and therefore Lobel to distinguish it called it Muscus pulmonarius and others 〈…〉 Lichenis genus and yet some more properly Lâ—chen arbâ—â—â—m the seventh because it is a 〈…〉 as it is in the title and as I take it is Columnâ—â— his Lichen Dioscoridis and Plinii altera 〈…〉 betweene them this of trees and that on the ground by those titles Lichen foliosum being that of the 〈…〉 Lichen adhaerens being this of the trees The Vertues The Vertues that the ancients attributed unto Mosse are wholly to be understood concerning these of trees being cooling and binding and partake of a digesting and mollifying quality withall as Galen saith especially that of the great Ceder for each Mosse doth much partake of the nature of the tree from whence it is taken as that of the Oake to be more binding than those of the Cedar Larche Ivie Ritche and Firre to be more digesting and mollifying it is of good use and effect to stay fluxes and laskes in man or woman as also vomittings and bleedings the powder thereof to be taken in wine The decoction thereof also in wine is very good for women to be bathed with or to sit in that are troubled with the aboundance of their courses the same also drunke doth stay the troubled stomacke perplexed with casting or the hickocke and doth also comfort the heart as Avicen saith and as Serapio saith procureth deepe steepe some have thought it availeable for the Dropsie to take the powder thereof in drinke for some time together the Oyle of Roses that hath had fresh Mosse steeped therein for a time and after boyled and applyed to the Temples and forehead doth merveilously ease the head ache that commeth of a hot cause as also the distillations of hot rheume or humors to the eyes or other parts the ancients much used it in their oyntments c. against lassitude and to strengthen and comfort the sinewes The Lungwort is of great good use with many Physitions to helpe the diseases of the Lungs and for Coughes wheesings and shortnesse of breath and the sheapheards also to their Cattle doe give it for the same purpose with good successe with a little salt it is also very profitably put into lotions that are taken to stay the moyst humors that flow to ulcers and hinder their healing as also to wash all other ulcers in the secret parts of man or woman CHAP. LXII Lichen sive Hepatica Liverwort OF the Liverworts also there are diverse sorts which are also other kindes of Mosses that doe either grow on the ground or on rockes and stones yet moist 〈◊〉 1. Lichen sive Hepatica vulgaris Common ground Liverwort The common Liverwort groweth close and spreadeth much upon the ground in moyst and shadowie places with many sad greene leaves lying or rather as it were sticking flat one unto another very unevenly cut in on the edges and crumpled from among which rise small slender stalkes an inch or two high at the most bearing small starre like flowers at the toppes the rootes are very 〈◊〉 and small whereby it liveth 2. Lichen sive Hepatica minor stellaris Small ground Liverwort This small Liverwort groweth in the like manner as the former and sendeth forth such like starrie flowers but is smaller for the most part in all places where it grow for so as it groweth in the shaddow it will abide in pots as well as on the ground Vubellatus if the place be not stirred or turned up There is also another sort that beareth not 2. Lichen sive Hepatica minor umbellatus Small ground Lâ—verwort with round heaâ—s 4. Lichen 〈◊〉 pileatus Calceato folio 2. Lichen sive Hepatica minor stellaris Small ground Liverwort divided leaves and the small stalkes have round heads not differing in any other thing from the last 3. Lichen petraeus racemosus Cluster headed Liverwort This Liverwort that groweth upon the stones by wells and springs hath much lesser leaves than the former â—â—t lying flat one upon another in the like manner and of a paler greene colour and somewhat hayrie from among which rise slender naked stalkes two inches high bearing at their toppes small heads made like a cluster of divers graines set together of a reddish colour 4. Lichen petraeus pileatus Liverwort with a hooded head This Liverwort groweth in the like moyst stony 1. Lichen sive Hepatica vulgaris Common ground Liverwort places and hath such like leaves lying one upon another of a yellowish greene colour dasht over with an ash colour and spotted a little in the middle of them the stalke groweth to be three or foure inches high being white smooth cleare or transparent and of the thickenesse of a rush whereon standeth a small head somewhat like unto a hat divided underneath into five parts of a spongie substance
tryed my selfe by sowing the seedes in a pot by themselves so observed their springing from whence divers have imagined that it might grow as Mosse upon trees or like Misselto but I think rather as Ivie by drawing nourishment insensibly from the plants whereon it groweth thereby partaketh of the nature of the same plants upon these strings of both sorts upon what plants or herbe soever they grow are found clusters of small heads or huskes out of which start forth whitish flowers which afterwards give small pale coloured seede somewhat flat and twice as bigge as Poppye seede thus much I thought good to let all others understand by that experience and observation I have had thereof yet after this mine owne observation I reade much to this purpose in Tragus in his chapter of Audrosace or Cuscuta by this which I have truely related it may appeare plainely to any that neither Tyme Savory or any other herbe doe naturally of their owne seede bring these stringes or laces but that they spring from their owne seede either shâ—l or scattered of themselves upon the ground or comming among the seedes of other hearbs that are sowne The plantes whereon these laces doe grow are observed by divers to be Vines as Pena and others that have observed them in France and in some places of Turkey upon trees and thornes and some other things Theophrastus in the 23. chap. of his second booke of the causes of plants doth set downe that Cadytas groweth on trees and bushes in Syria which Pliny altereth to Cassitas in the last chap. of his 16. booke by which word no doubt they meant this plant for it differeth not much from Cassita as many others have it or Cuscuta as it is generally called the Arabian name being Chassnth and Cuscuth the hearbs are Polium Dictamus Germauder Hysope Mother of Tyme Marjerome Staebe Wallwort Rosemary and others as Bauhinus hath recorded and also very plentifully in many places of our owne land upon Nettles and upon Lin or Flaxe and called Podagra lini and Angina lini upon Tares also more aboundantly in some places where it destroyeth the pulse or at the least maketh it much worse and is called of the Country people Hell-weede because they know not how to destroy it upon Fearne also and other hearbes upon Hampstead heath as I lately found my selfe the strings flowers being white and upon the grasse likewise on Black-heath in Kent on the very ground not rising an inch or two high being red The place Tyme and Names are sufficiently as I thinke expressed before yet in particular Tragus and Anguilara thinke it to be the Androsace of Dioscorides but erroniously for Epithymum as Matthiolus sheweth out of Aetius Actuarius and others is the threads or laces growing upon Tyme although Dioscorides calleth it the flower thereof we doe generally call that Epithymum that groweth on Tyme in English laced Tyme as the Epithymbra laced Savory and so of Epistoebe Epimajorana Epiurtica Epirubus and so the rest laced Stoebe laced Marjerome laced Nettles laced Brambles but wee call those strings generally by the name of Dodder especially that which groweth on Flaxe and Tares which are red and most frequent with us The Vertues Epithymum by Dioscorides Paulus Aetius Actuarius Mesues and all others is accounted theÌ„ most principall and powerfull Dodder growing upon any herbe and that upon Savory or Stoebe not to bee so effectuall for all melancholicke diseases and to purge blacke or burnt choller which is the cause of many diseases of the head and braines as also for the trembling of the heart faintings and swounings it is helpefull in all the diseases or griefes of the spleene and of that melancholy that riseth from the windines of the Hypochondria which is that part of the belly under the short ribbes where the spleene lyeth by flying up to the braine causeth a kinde of frensy or madnes it purgeth also the reines and kidneys by Vrine it profiteth them that have the Iaundise in opening the obstructions of the gall Galen saith it hath the properties of Tyme being hot and dry in the third degree as Ruellius boserveth from the Arabian authors that it hath by the astriction or drying quality a strengthning property beside the purging as it is also found in Rubarbe and that it is a safe medicine for the obstructions as well of the liver as spleene purging the veines of flegmaticke cholericke humours likewise as Mesues saith it helpeth childrens agues if a little wormeseed be put to it The Dodder of all other plants herbes in like maner pertaketh of the nature of them whereon they grow be they hot or cold and is thought to worke more effectually for those diseases wherunto the herbe it selfe is applyed Lobel saith that in the west parts of this kingdom where he found these laces upon Netles the people had good experience that it was a soveraigne remedy to procure plenty of Vrine where it was stopped or hindred my selfe also have understood it from those parts But that Dodder which groweth upon Tares being the most frequent about London and wherewith our markets are onely in a manner furnished and our Apothecaries shoppes stored from thence taketh his propertie from the Tares whereon it groweth and can have no effectuall quality comparable to Epithymum for as Galen saith Tares are hard of digestion and binde the bellye and that the nourishment of them engendereth thicke blood apt to turne into melancholie which qualities are cleane contrary to those of Epithymum Epithymbra or of other good herbes Chap. V Majoranae vulgares exoticae Common and Strange Marjeroms THere are divers sorts of sweete garden Marjeroms some growing onely in the summer others abiding the winter and one that groweth wilde there are some other sorts called Marum that I have intituled strange Marjerom all which shall be comprehended in this chapter 1. Majorana vulgaris aestiva The ordinary garden sweete Marjerome Our common sweete Marjerome that is commonly 1. Majorana vulgaris Sweete Marjerome sowen in our countrey is a small low herbe little above a foote high full of branches and small whitish and soft roundish leaves on them smelling very sweete at the toppes of the branches stand divers smal long and round scaly heads or knots and therefore of some called Knotted Marierom of a whitish greene colour out of which come here and there small white flowers and after them small reddish seede the roote is composed of divers small threads or strings which perisheth with the whole plant every yeere Majorana tenuifolia Marjerome gentle This Marjerome likewise hath divers small branches growing low and not higher then the former but having finer and smaller leaves hoary and soft but much sweeter the heads are like unto the former and so are the flowers and seede the whole plant being more tender then the former abiding but a Summer in like manner 3. Majorana odorata perennis Winter sweete Marjerom
to kill the wormes of the belly to lessen the spleene and that bruised and mixed with Oxegall it taketh away the foule markes and scarres of ulcers and other sores And used with honey it taketh away the discolourings and spots of the face The Arabian Authors and Mesues chiefly have used the seed among other Cordiall Spices for the comforting of the heart in the trembling thereof and the expelling of Melancholy or sadnesse that riseth without manifest cause And for these causes chiefly the seed is used by our later Physicians for the most part the fragrant smell of this hearbe so comfortable to the sences reviving them as it were when they are dull or distempered may evidently declare a singular efficacy to be therein and therefore not to be smally regarded Theophrastus in his first booke and eighth Chapter de causis plantarū saith that Bassill growing in a place too much exposed to the heate of the Sunne changeth into Serpyllum or wild Tyme by the overmuch drynesse thereof for the leafe becommeth smaller and the scent the stronger thereby but these Metamorphoses or changes of hearbs one into another is very frequent both with him Pliny yea and Gallen too as well as divers others of the ancient Writers which sheweth in what errours men of judgement and learning have beene conversant and confident in Let me yet before I leave relate unto you a pleasant passage betweene Franciscus Marchio an Advocate of the state of Genua sent in Embassage to the Duke of Millan and the said Duke who refusing to heare his message or to agree unto the conditions proposed brought an handfull of Bassill and offered it to him who demanding of him what hee meant thereby answered him that the properties of that hearbe was that being gently handled it gave a pleasant smell but being hardly wrung and bruised would breed Scorpions with which witty answer the Duke was so pleased that he confirmed the conditions and sent him honourably home It is also observed that Scorpions doe much rest and abide under those pots or vessels wherein Bassill is planted CHAP. IX Clinopodium Field Bassill Acinos Wild or Rough Bassill I Have as you see joyned both these together for the affinity both of their name and nature unto the former Bassils and betweene themselves for that divers of our latter Writers doe confound them the one calling that Alcinos that another doth Clinopodium 1. Clinopodium minus sive vulgare Field Bassill or Beds foote flower That Clinopodium that is taken by the best Writers and other Herbarists in these dayes to come neerest unto the description of Dioscorides is a small low hearb not above 1. Clinopodium minus sive vulgare Field Basill or Beds foot flower 2. Clinopodium Austriacum Austrian wild Basill 3. Clinopodium Alpinum Mountaine wild Basill halfe a foot high having divers hard round branches rising from a small wooddy root with two small leaves set at every joynt being somewhat like the small or fine Basill a little dented about the edges and in some plants and places a little hairie and rough and in other lesse or not at all the flowers grow at spaces with the leaves like as Horehound doth standing in small greene rough cuppes which are of a purplish colour and parted as it were into foure equall short pieces at the end like the foure square foote of a Bed-stead and not hooded or open with severall leaves like other hooded flowers the seed is small and round growing in small swollen huskes the plant hath some small heate but more drynesse in the taste thereof sweet also in scent betweene Basill and Calamint 2. Clinopodium Austriacum Austrian wild Basill The Austrian wild Basill hath divers slender hard foure-square stalkes not a foote high whereon are set two greene leaves at every joynt somewhat like the former Field Basill but smaller being a little dented about the edges which is forgotten in the figure the flowers stand at the toppes of the stalkes somewhat like unto the flowers of the former but much larger and of a violet purple colour somewhat sad for the most part but some plants are found with white flowers hanging downewards and bending also backwards for the most part in like manner as the former the seed is enclosed in such like swollen huskes blacke and round three or foure together like Calamint or somewhat resembling the other the rootes are many hard and black with divers fibres annexed unto them 3. Clinopodium Alpinum Mountaine wild Basill The Mountaine wild Basill groweth with divers low and creeping foure-square rough branches having two small rough leaves at every joynt and some smaller also between them growing all along the stalkes the flowers are many growing in a head together with the leaves among them at the toppes of the branches very like unto the flowers of the first but of a darke red colour the rootes are many small blackish strings which shoot forth under ground new sprouts thereby creeping about and increasing plentifully abiding with his greene leaves which perish not 4. Acinos sive Clinopodium majus Great wilde Basill or Stone Basill 4. Acinos sive Clinopodium majus Great wild Basill or Stone Basill 6. Acinos latifolia Columna Broad leafed wild Basill This wild Basill hath foure-square hard hairie and hoary stalkes a foote high or more set with two hairie greene leaves at a joynt being covered also as the stalks with an hoary downe somewhat larger than any of the former comming neere unto the bignesse and fashion of the leaves of Origanum the flowers grow in rundles in more plenty than the former of a purplish colour and sometimes white the husks whereof are somewhat larger and rougher the roots are a bush of many strings set together at the head which shoot forth suckets round about Aliud Of this kinde there is also another whose stalkes are lower the leaves lesser and the huskes of the flowers smaller than the former not differing in any other thing from it 5. Acinos Anglica Clusij Our English wild Basill The English wild Basill hath a few slender foure-square branches not a foote long lying on the ground whereon grow divers small grayish greene leaves two alwayes at a joynt set together which are not much unlike the first Field Basill but smaller shorter and fuller of juyce and not dented about the edges at all very like unto the last wild Basill but smaller of a certaine sweet scent but not heady from the middle of the branches up to the toppes grow the flowers in rundles or spaces about the stalkes being very like unto the first Field Basill but of a more bluish purple colour with a white eye or circle in every flower and after they are past come three or foure small seeds like the first in the huskes where the flowers stood it perisheth every yeare in my garden and rayseth it selfe from its owne sowing 6. Acinos latifolia Columna Broad leafed wild Basill The
it warmeth the coldnesse of any part whereunto it is applied and digesteth raw or corrupt matter being boyled drunk it provoketh womens monthly courses expelleth the dead child and after-birth and stayeth the disposition to vomit taken in posset that is water and vineger mingled it allayeth the gnawing of the stomack being mingled with Honey and Aloes and drunke it causeth flegme to be avoyded forth of the lungs and helpeth crampes which place is observed by Cornarius in his third Booke and 31. Embleme to be erroneous for who ever used Aloes in any medicine that was to expectorate flegme but in stead of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 it should be written 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and so Pliny expresseth it in lib. 20. cap. 14 Hepaticis cum melle sale bibendum datur pulmonum vitia excreabilia facit with honey and salt it is a safe and good medicine for the lunges it avoydeth melancholy by the stoole drunke with wine it helpeth such as are bitten or stung with venemous beasts applyed to the nostrils with vineger it reviveth those that are fainting or sounding being dryed and burnt it strengthneth the gums it is helpfull to those that are troubled with the gowt applyed of it selfe to the place untill it wax red applyed in a cerot or a plaister it taketh away spots or markes in the face it much profiteth those that are spleenetick or livergrowne being applyed with salt the decoction helpeth those that have itches if the places affected bee washed therewith being put into bathes for women to sit therein it helpeth the swelling and hardnesse of the mother and when it is out of its place Some copies doe adde that if the greene hearbe be bruised and put into vineger it clenseth foule ulcers and causeth the matter to digest it taketh away the markes or bruises of blowes about the eyes which we call blacke and blue eyes and all discolourings of the face by the fire yea and the leprosie being drunke and applyed outwardly being boyled in wine with honey and salt it helpeth the toothach it helpeth the cold griefes of the joynts taking away the paines and warming the cold parts being fast bound to the place after a bathing or having beene in a hot house Pliny addeth hereunto that Mints and Penny-royall agree very well together in helping faintings or swonings being put into vineger and put to the nostrils to be smelled unto or a little thereof put into the mouth It easeth the head-ach and the paines of the breast and belly stayeth the gnawing of the stomack and the inward paines of the bowels being drunke in wine provoketh vrine and womens courses and expelleth the after-birth and dead child it helpeth the falling-sicknesse being given in wine put also into unwholsome and stinking waters that men must drinke as at Sea in long voyages it maketh them the lesse hurtfull it lesneth the fatnesse of the body being given with wine but here Pliny is supposed to have mis-interpreted the Greeke word translating it Salsitudines corporis for the thought to be 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is anxietates which Hippocrates in Aphorism 56. lib. 7. saith is taken away by drinking it in an equall proportion of wine and water it helpeth crampes or the convulsions of the sinewes being applyed with honey salt and Vineger It is very effectuall for the cough boyled in milke and drunke and for the ulcers or sores of the mouth Thus saith Pliny Galen saith that being sharpe and somewhat bitter it heateth much and extenuateth also And in that it heateth much may be knowne by this that it maketh the place red where it is applyed and raiseth blisters if it be suffered to lie long upon it And that it doth extenuate is sufficiently seene by this that it doth cause thick and tough flegme to be avoyded forth of the lungs and chest and that with ease as also that it procureth the feminine courses Matthiolus saith and so doth Castor Durantes also that the decoction thereof drunke helpeth the jaundise and dropsie and all paines of the head and sinewes that come a cold cause and that it helpeth to cleare and quicken the eye-sight It was used as Durantes saith in stead of Dictamus Cretensis for it should seeme in his time also the true Dictamus was not knowne which was in A◠1585. who saith that bruised and with vineger applyed to the nostrils of those that have the falling-sicknesse or the lethargie or put into the mouth helpeth them much and applyed with barly meale it helpeth burnings by fire it bringeth the loosned matrix to its place and dissolveth the windinesse and hardnesse thereof easeth all paines and inflamations of the eyes and comforteth and quickneth the eye-sight being put therein as also put into the eares easeth the paines of them CHAP. XIII Mentha Mintes THere are many sorts of Mints some chiefly nourished up in Gardens others growing wilde either on the mountaines which for their rarity and diversitie are brought also into Gardens or the wet and overflowne marishes or the Water it selfe 1. Mentha Romana angustifolio sive Cardiaca Hart Mint or Speare Mint This Mint hath divers round stalkes and longer and narrower 1. Mentha Romana angustifolio sive Cardiaca Hart Mint or Speare Mint leaves set thereon than the next Mint and groweth somewhat lower and smaller and of a darker greene colour than it the flowers stand in spiked heads at the tops of the branches being of a pale blush colour the smell or scent hereof is somewhat neere unto Basill It encreaseth by the root underground as all the others doe 2. Mentha Cruciata Crosse Mint The Crosse Mint hath his square stalkes somewhat hoary and the leaves thereon hairy also rougher broader and rounder than the former which stand on all sides thereof one against another two at a joynt so that they represent a crosse thereby giving it the name the flowers stand in spiky heads of a purplish colour somewhat deeper than it 3. Mentha fusca sive vulgaris Red or Browne Mints This Mint hath square brownish stalkes with somewhat long and round pointed leaves nicked about the edges of a darke greene and sometimes reddish colour set by couples at the joynts and of a reasonable good scent the flowers are reddish standing by spaces about the tops of the stalkes the roots runne creeping in the ground as the rest doe and will as hardly be extirped as the rest 4. Mentha Crispa Crispe or Curld Mint The greatest difference in this kinde of Mint from the last consisteth first in the leaves which are almost as round as the last but more rough or crumpled or as it were curld then in the flowers which are purplish standing in rundles about the toppes of stalkes and in the smell hereof which commeth neerest unto Balme 5. Mentha Crispa Danica aut Germanica speciosa The great Curld Mint of Germany This brave Mint creepeth with his rootes as the others doe having divers high stalkes
Latines did call that in his time Nepeta which he calleth his second Calamint and was called also of some Pulegium sylvestre but Dioscorides his 2. Calamint is not our Nepeta used in these dayes as any of judgement may soone perceive that readeth and marketh Dioscorides his description thereof And Matthiolus also taxeth Brasavolus who fell into the same errour he being chiefly deceived by the mistaking of the name for the Italians call that manured kind of Calamint Nepotella as Matthiolus saith which was derived from the Nepeta and Brasavolus would fasten it upon this hearbe which they call Herba Gattaria The first of these is the Herba gattaria of Matthiolus Gesner in hortis tooke it for a kinde of Calamint Tragus Cordus and others call it Nepeta Lobel Cattaria and Mentha Cataria and generally with us Nepeta in English Nep or Cat Mint the second I doe not finde mentioned by any Author but it is continued in my Garden to this day under that name The third Clusius calleth Cattaria tenuifolia Hispanica and Camerarius Nepeta minor Bauhinus Mentha Cattaria minor in English small Neppe or Catmint The fourth he calleth Mentha Cataria minor Alpina in English Small mountaine Nep or Cat Mint The fift is called by Lobel Mentha Cataria peregrina latifolia of Tabermontanus Mentha felina satvia latifolia of Gerard Cattaria altera and of Beslerus in his garden of the Bishop of Eystot Nepeta peregrina in English strange Neppe with broad leaves The last is called by Lobel Mentha Cattaria peregrina angustifolia of Dodonaeus Cattaria folio longiore of Gerard Salvia Romana for the figure thereof answereth thereunto and not unto any Cattaria of Bauhinus himselfe Mentha Cataria angustifolia minor in English as it is in the title The Vertues Neppe is generally used for women to procure their courses when they are stayed to use inwardly or outwardly to bathe them in the decoction of it with other hearbes convenient for the purpose or with it alone or to sit over the hot fumes thereof for it not onely warmeth and comforteth the coldnesse but dryeth the overmuch moisture of the mother which may be one cause of sterility or barrennesse and by the frequent use of it to cause them to be more fruitfull that were hindred and also for the wind and paines of the mother or rising of it It is also used in paines of the head that come from any cold cause as catarrhes and thin rheumes and for swimmings and giddinesse thereof It is also of especiall use for the windinesse of the stomack or belly It is effectuall for any cramps or cold aches to dissolve the cold and wind that affecteth the place and to bring warmth and comfort thereunto afterwards It is used for colds or coughes and shortnesse of breathing The juyce thereof drunke in wine is profitable for those that have caught some bruise by any accident The greene hearbe bruised and applyed to the fundament there abiding for two or three houres easeth the sharpe paines of the piles the juyce also is effectuall for the same purpose being made up into an oyntment and applyed A Decoction thereof also is commended to wash the head to take away the scabs thereof and may be effectuall for other parts of the body also Lobel saith the two greater sorts of strange Neppe are more effectuall to all the purposes than the ordinary kinde is used for The vertues of the former two lesser sorts are not certainely knowne but are thought to conduce to the like effects CHAP. XVI Melissa Balme BEsides the ordinary which usually groweth in all our gardens there are some other sorts of Baulme as they are entituled by divers Authors for the sweet scent of them comming neerest is that of our ordidinary Baulme of all which I meane to entreate in this place 1. Melissa vulgaris The common Garden Baulme 1. Melissa vulgaris The common garden Baulme The common garden Balme hath divers square greene stalkes with round hard darke greene leaves pointed at the ends and a little dented about the edges set by couples at the joynts of a sweet smell comming neerest to a Citron or Lemmon the flowers are small and gaping growing at the toppes of the stalkes of a pale Carnation colour almost white the rootes fasten themselves strongly in the ground and endureth long the leaves and stalkes dying downe yeerely 2. Melissa Turcica flore coeruleo Turky Baulme with a blue flower This Baulme riseth up with one square brownish greene stalke two foot high at the least in any good ground and higher sometimes spreading with two branches from every joynt where the leaves are set up almost to the toppe the leaves are narrower and longer than those of the ordinary Baulme and more dented in about the edges of as sweet a Lemon scent or rather more than it rough also and of as sad a greene colour the flowers are gaping or hooded growing at the toppes of the branches at certaine distances of a blue or purplish blue colour standing in rough sharpe pointed huskes after which commeth the seed which is black and roundish with a white spot in every of them plainely to be seene while they are fresh but not so easily discerned when they are dry The root perisheth every yeare and must be sowne a fresh in the Spring time if any bee desirous to have it 3. Melissa Turcica flore albo Turky Baulme with a white flower This other Baulme differeth not from the former either in growing or height or forme of leaves and flowers or in the good smell thereof or in the durability for it is equall thereunto in all these properties the onely difference is in that the leaves hereof are of a fresher greene colour and that the flowers are of a perfect white colour the seed whereof doth not degenerate as in many other hearbes it hapneth but keepeth constantly his kinde for any thing I could observe in it these twenty yeeres and upwards since I first had it and sowed it 4. Melissophyllum Fuchsij Vnpleasant Baulme Vnto the kindred of Baulmes I thinke good to adjoyne this plant more for the formes sake of the leaves from whence Fuchsius first gave it the name then for any other correspondence it hath therewith but as it is at this time take it with this description It hath divers hairy square browne stalkes rising from the roote halfe a yard high whereon are set two leaves at severall spaces at the contrary sides of them ever up to the toppes of the stalkes which are broader and somewhat longer than the ordinary Baulme and of a sad greene colour betweene which leaves at every joynt with them from the middle of the stalke upward on each side thereof commeth forth larger flowers and longer than in Baulme more like unto those of the yellow Lamium or dead Nettles as some compare them or unto those of mountaine Calamint as others doe of a pale purplish colour on the lower part 2. 3
to supply the place of the right Hisope seeing it hath a place of it owne even among the sorts of wild Origanum or Marjerome whereunto it is like but somewhat altered by manuring from that which is common But this their Hisope or Pot-Marjerome hath no corymbi tufts or umbells they are rather a heape of flowers gathered together as the wild Origanum or Marjerome hath for no man did ever attribute any such heads or tufts as are called corymbi unto any of them This knot being untied it followeth saith he that we try whether the Staechas Citrina be Chrysocome In this their plant there is no likenesse of leaves of neither of the sorts of Hisope to bee seene to wit either of the long or of the round leafed sort besides the bushy toppe of leaves and stalkes of flowers of this Staechas Citrina loosely set together is not a close tuft of heads such as Corymbus which is a close umbell or tuft of heads or seeds such as the Ivie hath is usually said to bee but are onely a few yellow golden round shining bullets or heads at the toppes the roote also thereof hath no thicke and small strings as Helleborus niger hath nor is like to Cyperus nor hath an austere sweet taste all which Chrysocome hath He therefore I meane the foresaid Molinaeus saith that hee hath often in revolving these doubts suggested to those Herbarists that have knowledge in plants that hearbe which the French call Targon and some in Latine Targun Tarchon Tragum and Dracohortensis in English Tarragon and which Ruellius too credulous of fables thought was produced from the seed of Flaxe put into the roote of an Onion to bee very agreeable to the description of Chrysocome in the toppes set with many corymbi or tufted heads in the leaves like unto the ordinary long leafed Hisope and in the roote branching as Helleborus niger of the colour of Cyperus of a taste not unpleasant which is somewhat austere with the sweetnesse by which quality it is profitable to the diseases of the liver and lungs This saith he seemeth probable to me and therefore I could not bee silent therein setting forth the nature of Chrysocome leaving it to the judgement of those that are more learned I have I confesse beene a little too prolixe or tedious in this narration but I was rather willing to set forth the whole minde of the man then to abridge any of his reasons that comparing both his negatives and affirmatives yee may agree or discent from them For my owne part seeing Clusius and others doe account the Staechas Citrina to be Chrysocome of Dioscorides and mis-like of this opinion of Targum I can doe no lesse and thinke there is farre lesse reason in any to suppose Targum to be Chrysocome than Staechas Citrinae for Dioscorides in the description thereof mentioneth no likenesse of leaves but of the toppes of tufted heads to be like unto Hisope and the small rootes unto those of Helleborus niger equalling Ciperus The Arabians call Staechas Astochodos and Astochodes the Italians Staecha and Staechade the Spaniards Cantuesso the French Stichades the Germanes Stichas kraut the Dutch Stichas cruijt and we in English Sticadove Cassidony and French Lavender The Staechas citrina is called by the Italians Amarantho giallo by the Germanes Motten blumen and Rhein blumen The Vertues The decoction of our garden Cassidony is as effectuall as Hisope for the diseases of the breast that is for coughs and colds It is put into Antidotes that is such medicines as are remedies against infection and poison It is of a mixt temperature as Galen saith to wit of a small earthly cold essence from whence it hath the quality of binding and of another more earthly extenuated from whence it is bitter by the mixture of both which it openeth obstructions and freeth the body from them it extenuateth cleanseth and strengthneth all the inward parts and bowels as also the whole frame of the body Mesues saith it cleanseth purgeth and resolveth all obstructions of the liver spleene and of the other inward parts it hindereth putrefaction and correcteth their intemperature by that small astringent quality that is in it it strengthneth the braine and sinewes the heart and all the other inward parts It purgeth black choller and flegme as well from the head and braine as the sinewes and other the instruments of the sences and comforteth them also It is very effectuall in all cold griefes used in drinkes baths or fomentings An oyle made therewith and fomented giveth as it were life to the braines and sinewes by warming and comforting them Taken with vineger of Squilles it helpeth the falling sicknesse and swimming of the head and is helpfull for all other paines of the head and stomack with Lapis Cyaneus or Sal Indicum it helpeth those that are melancholick whom feares and terrours doe accompany Taken with the juyce of Buglosse and of Pipins it helpeth the sadnesse of the heart and melancholy it easeth the paines of the sinewes arteries muscles and joynts taken in what manner you will the fumes thereof taken into the nostrils openeth them when they are closed Taken in a Syrupe or any other forme it helpeth the quartane ague and all other day agues especially in those that are flegmatick It is especially hurtfull to those that are hot dry and cholerick because it troubleth the stomack and provoketh both thirst and fainting but because it worketh slowly some Sal gemma is added unto it to quicken it or else sometimes the Myrobalani Indi or Chebuli to make it the more forcible and sometime Squilles are added especially in the griefes of the head It is made the stronger if it be steeped or boyled in whey it is the lesse hurtfull if it be boyled with wine the juyce of Pipins and a few Raisons of the Sunne Cassidony and a little Spike or Lavender steeped in old oyle is of much good use and of great effect for all the cold causes aforesaid The heads of Cassidony are of more force than the leaues Pliny saith it provoketh womens monethly courses and urine It is of especiall good use for the cold griefes of the mother and for women with child The other yellow Staechas or Cassidony is much about the same temperature and vertues serving very well for most of the affects before specified as you shall heare It is somewhat bitter and binding and therefore it warmeth dryeth openeth and cleanseth where cause requireth The toppes or flowers steeped or boyled in wine openeth all obstructions of the liver and gall and therefore helpeth the jaundise and dropsie and is very profitably taken of those that have the falling sicknesse and for all other the diseases of the braine proceeding of a cold cause as catarrhs rheumes and distillations and also all old griefes of the head that are continuall and the Palsie also whether yee take the decoction of the hearbe or the powder thereof in Oxymel or
Vertues Lavender is of especiall good use for all the griefes and paines of the head and braine that proceed from a cold cause as the Apoplexie falling sicknesse the drowsie or sluggish malady crampes convulsions and palsies as also those that are given to faint often It strengthneth the stomack and freeth the liver and spleene from obstructions provoketh womens courses and expelleth the dead child and the secondine or after-birth The flowers of Lavender steeped in wine helpeth them to make water that are stopped as also that are troubled with the winde or collick if the places be bathed therewith A decoction made with the flowers of Lavender Horehound Fennell and Asparagus rootes and a little Cinamon is very profitably used to helpe the falling sicknesse and the giddinesse or turning of the braine It is good to garble the mouth with the decoction of the flowers against the paines of the teeth Two spoonefuls of the distilled water of the flowers taken doth helpe those that have lost their speech or voyce restoâ—ing it them againe It helpeth also the tremblings and passions of the heart and the swounings and faintings thereof likewise not onely drunke but even applied to the temples or to the nostrils to be smelt unto as also tyed to the arteries but where the body is repleate with blood and humours it is not safe to use it because of the hot and subtill spirits wherewith it is possessed The lesser Lavender is much commended in all the diseases of the mother as the strangling or suffocation the dislocation or displacing c. for women to be bathed therewith as also to helpe forward their travaile The oyle chimically drawne from Lavender which is usually called oyle of Spike is of so fierce and piercing spirits that it is to bee used with great respect and but some few drops used with other things either for inward or outward griefes CHAP. XXV Rosmarinum Rosmary THere was formerly but one sort of Rosmary knowne but we have now more diversity than hath beene extant before which shall be declared in this Chapter 1. Libanotis coronaria sive Rosmarinum vulgare Ordinary Rosemary 1. Libanotis coronaria sive Rosmarinum vulgare Ordinary Rosmary Our ordinary garden Rosmary is so well knowne I thinke to all manner of persons being continually in their hands that I shall scarse need to describe it yet not to passe it over so slightly It is well observed in our owne Land in divers places as Noblemens gardens c. where it hath stood long as well as in the naturall places that it groweth in time to a great height with a great and wooddy stemme of a close firme substance and whitish fit to make Instruments of c. being cut into long thin boords for the purpose branching forth into sundry armes and from them againe into many other smaller branches at the joynts whereof are set at severall distances many long and very narrow leaves greene above and grayish underneath and with them all all along the stalkes towards the toppes divers small gaping flowers of a pale bleake bluish colour standing in whitish huskes the seed is small and reddish but seldome doth any that is sowne in our Country endure the first Winter without extraordinary care and therefore is usually encreased by slipping the whole plant doth smell exceeding sweet 2. Rosmarinum stiatum sive aureum Gilded Rosmary This Rosmary differeth not from the former in any thing but in the leaves which are edged or striped or pointed with a faire gold yellow colour which so continueth all the yeare throughout yet fresher in Summer than in Winter 3. Rosmarinum latifolium Broad leafed Rosemary This also groweth like the former but wee have not seene it growne so great in our Country nor with such wooddy branches and is more tender to keepe the leaves are larger and of a more deepe shining greene colour on the upperside and little or nothing whitish underneath more thinly also or sparsedly set on the stalkes the flowers likewise differ not from the precedent 4. Rosmarinum flore duplici Double flowred Rosemary The double flowred Rosemary thus farre differeth from the former that it hath stronger stalkes while it is young then the last or not so easie to breake fairer also and larger leaves than the first and the flowers double like as the Larkes heele or spurre and all this narration is but by information not sight 5. Rosmarinum silvestre Matthioli Aâ—ttniolus his wild Bohemian Rosmary 5. Ledum Silefiacum clusit Wilde sweete Silesiâ— Rosemary 5. Rosmarinum sylvestre Bohemicum Matthioli sive Ledum Silesiacum Clusij Wild sweet Silesia Rosmary This wild sweet Rosemary of Silesia riseth with wooddy ash coloured branches two foote high or more which shoote forth other branches of a purplish colour covered with a brownish yellow hoarinesse on which are set many narrow long greene leaves like unto those of Rosemary but covered with the like hoarinesse as the stalkes are especially in the naturall place but not so much being transplanted and folding their sides so close together that they seeme nothing but ribbes or stalkes of an excellent pleasant and sweet scent at the ends of the branches grow certaine brownish scaly leaves out of which spreadeth a tuft of many flowers consisting of five white leaves a piece with ten white chives or threads in the middle and in some plants with sixe leaves and 12. threds or chieves after which follow long and five square heads spotted with silver like white spots while they are greene but grow brownish when they are ripe and turne downe their toppes opening their huskes at the stalkes lest the seed which is as small as dust should suddenly fall out the roote is wooddy with short sprayes 6. Rosmarinum sylvestre 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Vnsavory wild Rosmary Because this plant doth so nearely resemble Rosmary I have thought it meete to joyne it with the rest although it be not sweet like them It groweth above a foote high having divers reddish branches which divide them selves into other smaller of a whitish colour set confusedly with long and narrow leaves greene on the upperside and hoary underneath like those of the dwarfe willow of no pleasant scent at all but of an astringent taste at the toppes of the branches stand divers heads composed of many short scales out of which thrust forth sundry flowers standing on long foote stalkes made of five leaves a peece of a fine delayed reddish or flesh-colour after which rise short five square heads with blunt points containing small pale coloured seed 7. Rosmarinum sylvestre minus nostras Our wild Rosmary Our wilde North-Country Rosmary groweth not so high with smaller leaves nothing so great and long as Rosmary leaves but thicker and shorter of a darke greene shining colour above and somewhat yellowish greene underneath set very sparsedly on very slender and pliant blackish greene twigges at the toppes whereof grow the flowers not out of scaly heads as in the former as
Ilva in the Levant Seas as Camerarius saith but it hath beene found wild in our owne Country as it hath beene affirmed unto mee as well as the other naked kinde The fift groweth in Egypt as Prosper Alpinus saith and is onely naturall to that Country The sixth was found in Spaine by Myconus a learned Physitian of Barcinona and sent to Molinaus who composed the great Herball called Lugdunensis The seventh Clusius found upon the Mountaines of Stiria which are part of the Alpes The last Pena saith grew plentifully neare the Fishermens Cottages at the foote of Mons Caetius in Narbone in France The Time They all flower in Iune and Iuly but the Sea plant is the latest The Names It is called in Greeke 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Parthenium quasi virginalis quia mulierum morbis uterinis medetur inde vulgo Matricaria It is called also febrifuga from whence I thinke our English name Featherfew or Feaverfew is derived it being good to expell feavers or agues It is held by most of the later Writers to be the true Parthenium of Dioscorides yet Lobel and Pena even as Brasavolus and Fuchsius before them whom Matthiolus doth confute by many reasons alleadged doe shew that both the face or forme of the leaves compared by Dioscorides to Coriander but lesser as also the properties given to Parthenium can by no meanes be found in this Matricaria but may all most truely and plainely be found in Cotulafaetida or stinking Mayweed the discourse is too long here to recite I therefore referre you to the place where you may read it at large in the description of Parthenium in their Adversaria as also in Lugdunensis in the Chapter of Matricaria Parthenium as Galen saith was called in his time Anthemis Helxine Linozostis and Amaracus and Pliny affirmeth that Helxine was called Perdicium and Parthenium and in another place he saith that it was called Leucanthemum and Tamnacum and that Celsus called it Perdicium and Muralium so that hereby it may be seene that Parthenium was a word applyed to many hearbes Fuchsius would make Matricaria to be the second kinde of Dioscorides his Arthemisia called Leptophyllos that is tennifolia and Parthenium to be Cotuba faetida which as I said before Matthiolus disproveth the second is so called by divers Authors as it is in the title and by Tabermontanus Arthemisia tenuifolia flore pleno the third is a species not spoken of by any Author before as I take it The fourth sort Camerarius calleth Matricaria altera ex Ilva of Tabermontanus Arthemisia tenuifolia odorata and Bauhinus Matricaria odorata and we Matricaria grati odoris because it is of so good a scent The fifth Prosper Alpinus saith is called in Egypt Achaovan and he thereupon called it Parthenium inodorum in English Vnsavory Featherfew The sixth was judged by Myconus that sent it out of Spaine as is before said to be another Parthenium 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and it may be that of Hippocrates which many judge to bee Cetula faetida Bauhinu calleth it Matricaria folijs Abrotani The seventh Clusius calleth Parthenium Alpinum Camerarius Matricaria sive Parthenium Alpinum and Bauhinus Matricaria Alpina Chamaemeli folijs The last Lobel and Pena call Cotula sive Parthenium marinum minimum and Lugdunensis Parthenium maritimum minimum and is likewise the Chamaemelum maritimum of Dalechampius set out in the same place of Lugdunensis for they are both one as may be gathered both by the figure and description although the flowers in Lobels figure be more obscured in English small Sea Featherfew The Italians call it Maetricaria and Amarella the French Espargoutte the Germanes Mutterkraut and Meltram the Dutch Modecruit and we in English as I said before Featherfew or rather Feaverfew The Vertues It is chiefly used for the diseases of the mother whether it be the strangling or rising of the mother or the hardnesse or inflammations of the same applyed outwardly thereunto or a decoction of the flowers in wine with a little Nutmegge or Mace put therein and drunke often in a day is an approved remedy to bring downe womens courses speedily and to warme those parts oppressed by obstructions or cold as also helpeth to expell the dead birth and the afterbirth For a woman to sit over the hot fumes of the decoction of the hearbe made in water or wine is effectuall also for the same purposes and in some cases to apply the boyled hearb warme to the privie parts The decoction thereof made with some Sugar or honey put thereto is used by many with good successe as well to helpe the cough and stuffing of the chest by cold as also to cleanse the reines and bladder and helpe to expell the stone in them The powder of the hearbe as Dioscorides saith taken in wine with some Oxymel purgeth like to Epithymum both choler and flegme and is availeable for those that are short winded and are troubled with melancholy and heavinesse or sadnesse of the spirits It is very effectuall for all paines in the head comming of a cold cause as Camerarius saith the hearbe being bruised and applied to the crowne of the head It is also profitable for those that have the Vertigo that is a turning and swimming in their head It is also drunke warme I meane the decoction before the accesse or comming of an ague as also the hearbe bruised with a few cornes of Bay-salt and some put beaten glasse thereto but I see no reason wherefore and applyed to the wrestes of the hand to take away the fits of agues Some doe use the distilled water of the hearbe and flowers to take away freckles and other spots and deformities in the face And some with good successe doe helpe the winde and collicke in the lower part of the belly and some say it is good also for the winde in the stomack by bruising the hearbe and heating it on a tyle with some wine to moisten it or fryed with a little wine and oyle in a Frying-panne and applyed warme outwardly to the places and renewed as there is need It is an especiall remedy against Opium that is taken too liberally It is an hearbe among others as Camerarius saith much used in Italy fryed with egges as wee doe Tansies and eaten with great delight the bitternesse which else would make it unpleasant being taken away by the manner of dressing CHAP. XXX Chamaemelum Camomill I Have divers sorts of Camomill to shew you in this Chapter some common and well knowne to most others more rare and heard of but by a few and unto them I thinke it not amisse to joyne the Mayweeds because they are as well the like stinking as lesse or not sweet 1. Chamaemelum vulgare Ordinary Camomill Our ordinary Camomill is well knowne to all to have many 1. Chamaemelum vulgare Ordinary Camomill flore pleno Double Camomill small trayling branches set with very fine leaves bushing and spreading thick over the ground taking
or printed it keepeth them from being eaten with Mice Galen in his sixth Booke of simples maketh mention of Wormewood in this manner Wormewood hath a binding a bitter and sharpe quality it likewise heateth cleanseth strengthneth and dryeth It therefore purgeth downewards the cholericke humours of the belly and avoideth them also by urine especially those that are in the veines but helpeth no flegme that is contained therein or in the chests or lungs for the astringent quality therein is stronger than the bitter but by reason of the sharpnesse it partaketh more of heate than of cold so that the temperature thereof is hot in the first degree and dry in the third yet the juyce is farre better than the hearbe it selfe and speaking of Sea Wormewood called Seriphium he saith it is like unto Wormewood both in kind and in taste which qualities Dioscorides giveth to Santonicum for of Seriphium he saith it is more agreeing to Sothernwood than to Wormewood whereby it is thought by divers that the place in Dioscorides or in Galen is perverted by some Writers faults for they cannot be so farre differing in judgement one from another It is often used and by most either inwardly given or outwardly applyed for the wormes in children or elder persons Pliny saith it healeth old sores or ulcers in the head and cureth the itch also the decoction thereof with Cumminseeds taken warme easeth the paines of the belly and chollicke by winde the seed thereof helpeth the bloody flixe and all other fluxes it is said that if a few leaves of Wormewood be eaten it defendeth one from surfeiting and drunkennesse The vineger wherein Wormewood is boyled is especiall good for a stinking breath that commeth either from the gums or teeth or from corruption in the stomacke It is likewise much commended in tertian and other lingring agues by opening obstructions and purging by urine and by strengthning the liver and stomacke The conserve thereof much used preserveth them from the dropsie that are fallen into it or are in danger to fall thereinto so as there be a fit course held before by purging the offensive humours and such other helpes as the learned Physitian may appoint The distilled water is somewhat effectuall but is much weaker to all the purposes aforesaid yet the temples being bathed therewith it helpeth the paines of the head that come of a cold cause and dropped into the eyes helpeth to cleare the eyesight The other Wormewoods although they have some properties yet by how much they want of the bitternesse and astriction by so much weaker they are for the diseases aforesaid CHAP. XXXVII Absinthium Seriphium sive marinum Santonicum Sea Wormewood and strange Wormewood BEcause I would not overburden one Chapter with too many sorts of Wormewoods I thought it convenient to entreat of the Sea kindes and other strange sorts in a Chapter by themselves which are as followeth 1. Absinthium Seriphium sive marinum Anglicum English Sea Wormewood The English Sea Wormewood riseth up with many hoary round wooddy stalkes three or foure foote high at the least having thereon divers hoary white long and narrow leaves broader and longer than any Sothernwood leaves or the common Romane Wormewood but nothing so large as the true Romane Wormewood of a kind of saltish but not bitter taste and of a kinde of unpleasing savour the flowers are small and yellow standing at the joynts with the leaves towards the toppes of the branches as the former common Wormewood doth and give the like small seed the roote groweth somewhat deepe and wooddy 2. Absinthium Seriphium Narbonense French Sea Wormewood The French Sea Wormewood groweth not so high as the former nor so white and hoary the leaves are small long and finely cut like them but thicker and of an evill coloured greene colour and strong unpleasant savour and evill taste the flowers are yellow growing as the former doe and the seed that follow in the small round heads alike 3. Absinthium Seriphium Germanicum Germane Sea Wormewood This Germane Sea wormewood is also very like the last but with fine hoary white leaves somewhat finer or smaller and groweth not so high in other things there is little or no difference 4. Absinthium maritimum Lavendulae folio Lavender leafed Sea Wormewood 4. Absinthium maritimum Lavenâ—ule folio Lavender leafed Sea Wormewood This Wormewood shooteth forth many slender weake wooddy and brittle stalkes bending a little downewards whereon doe grow divers hoary white long leaves somewhat broader than Lavender leaves having sometimes some cuts or divisions at the bottomes of them which is but seldome seene and in a very few of the lowest next to the ground those that are set on the stalkes are smaller and sometimes are cut or divided at the ends of a reasonable weake scent betweene Lavender and Sothernwood but unpleasant taste the flowers grow after the same manner that the common Wormewood doth and of a yellow colour and the seed is not unlike thereunto also 5. Absinthium Santonicum Aegyptiacum Egyptian Wormewood I must here remember also this plant that is set forth by Matthiolus first and from him Dodonaeus Lugdunensis Tabermontanus Gerard and Bauhinus doe all number it among the Wormewoods as I Lobel and Pena likewise doe yet much doubt whether it be a Wormewood or no for that they say they saw it growing with Gesner about a fingers height and the dryed plant with Valerandus Donrez was in shew like unto Maidenhaire with white leaves set on both sides of a middle stalke rather to incite others to obtaine it that it may bee better knowne than that I have any knowledge thereof my selfe whose descrption Matthiolus who had it from Cortusus setteth forth in this manner it is saith he a small low hearbe growing in Egypt with small leaves almost like unto Lavender cotton and many slender short branches set full of leaves the seed is small and bitter in taste but not extreme some saith he would make it an Abrotanum mas but they might better as he saith call it a faemina Some also thought that the Wormeseed that commeth from the Levant to us should be gathered from this plant but as he saith he is doubtfull thereof himselfe yet withall saith that it hath all the vertues that the Italian Wormewood hath 6. Absinthium Santonicum Alexandrinum sive Sementina Semen Sanctum Wormeseed Wormewood or Levant Wormewood This Wormewood likewise is a plant set full of branches and with very few and those very fine small leaves on them at the bottome like unto the finer sorts of an ash colour but stored so plentifully with seed upwards that it seemeth to be there without leaves and wholly to consist of seed which as Ranwolfius saith are somewhat bitter in the naturall places and of a reasonable good and quicke scent with us especially if they be fresh and not 5. Absinthium Santonicum Aegyptiacum Egyptian Wormewood 6. Absinthium Santonicum Alexandrinum sive Sementina
that are troubled with shortnesse of breath the same also is very good for them that are bruised inwardly to helpe to expell the clotted or congealed blood Dioscorides also saith that the roote being taken helpeth those that are bitten with a viper or an adder the Foecula or white hardned juyce is often used to be taken to the weight of two or three graines at the most in wine or broth to all the purposes of purging aforesayd For outward applications Dioscorides saith that the leaves fruite and roote by the sharpe quality that is in them doe clense old and filthy sores are good against all fretting and running cankers gangraenes and tetters and therefore the berries usually called of the Country people Tetter berries are with good successe and often experience applyed to them the roote also clenseth the skinne wonderfully from all blacke and blew spots freckles morphew leprie foule scarres or any other deformity of the skinne whatsoever as also all running scabbes and manginesse either the powder of the dryed roote or the juyce thereof rudely taken but especially the foecula or fine depurate and hardened white juyce to be used at all times of the yeare The distilled water of the rootes worketh the same effect but more weakely yet the water is often used to cleere the skinne from spottes c. the roote being bruised and applyed of it selfe to any place where the bones are broken helpeth to draw them forth as also splinters or thornes in the flesh and being applyed with a little wine mixed therewith it breaketh byles and helpeth whitlowes on the joynts it is sayd that Augustus Caesar was wont to weare it with bayes made into a roule or garland thereby to be secured from lightning The rootes of the blacke Bryonie are of the same effect with the white but much weaker in purging choler and flegme and other humors and provoking Vrine in helping the falling sickenesse the palsie the passions of the mother and the other diseases before mentioned it doth in some sort clense the skinne of spots and markes but the white is both more used and more effectuall the juyce hereof or the roote it selfe boyled with wine and honey and drunke and the roote also bruised and applyed with honey to the Kings Evill is very effectuall to heale it and all other kernels knots or hard swellings either in or about the necke and throate especially or in other parts being applyed also in the same manner to any place out of joynt is good both to ease the paines and to consolidate and strengthen the sinewes that they be not easily againe put out of their place it is often used also with good successe being fresh bruised and applyed to the shoulders or armes that are full of paine and ach as also to such hippes or hucklebones as have the Sciatica or paines therein the leaves bruised with wine and layde upon the sore neckes of Oxen that are wrung with the yoake helpeth them Matthiolus saith it was reported unto him that the roote of our sixt Bryonie which I say is called beyond Sea Sigillum Beatae Mariae our Ladies seale or signet and which he thinketh to be the blacke Bryonie of Dioscorides being roasted in the embers and eaten is a powerfull medecine to helpe forward the acts of Venerie and addeth withall that it excelleth all other medecines taken for that purpose which yet he saith he can hardly beleeve yet Lobel doth yerke him for that report The Mechoacan is a familiar medecine used of many especially when we first had it as all new things are but now is much neglected although it be the same and worketh the same effects it is given to all ages young and old and to young children yea women with childe without any harme or danger as also at all times of the yeare for being without any evill taste or smell it may be the better taken of the most delicate and tender stomacke that doth loath all other medecines it is most usually being made into powder taken in wine or if any refuse that manner the roote may be boyled either in a little broth as it was to Queene Elizabeth in her last sickenesse without her consent or sence in the taste or wine and so taken the dose whereof in powder is from halfe a dramme to a whole dramme or a dramme and a halfe or two drammes as there is cause respect being had to the age and strength of the patient It purgeth cholericke and flegmaticke yea grosse viscous and putride humors whatsoever in the body as also the yellow waterish humors of the dropsie with much ease and facility it clenseth also the liver and spleene and like the true Rubarbe strengtheneth the stomacke corroborating the inward parts after purging and opening the obstructions of them it helpeth also all diseases that come from them as the dropsie the Iaundise c. for it rectifieth the evill constitution of the Liver by opening and dissolving the hardnesse thereof as also of the spleene and stomacke dissolveth also the windinesse and expelleth it it taketh away also all old or inveterate paines of the head by clensing the braine and the nerves and purging those rheumaticke distillations and humors that are in them it helpeth also all paines whatsoever in the joynts in particular or generall as the joynt aches or gout and those of the bladder and raines in procuring one to make water and the collicke also by expelling the wind wonderfully it helpeth the paines of the mother by tempering the cold humour and expelling the windinesse which are the causes thereof it helpeth the shortnesse of breath and the old cough It is also availeable in the French disease by taking it often as there is cause and purging the old peccant humors especially if the disease be not of any long continuance It taketh away also the cause of old and long lingring agues whether they be tertian or quotidian or other intermittive agues caused by obstructions The Ialap is in working and purging somewhat like unto the Mechoacan but exceedeth it in working more strongly and a little more churlishly upon both flegmaticke and watery humors yet strengthening both the liver and stomacke the manner to take it is being made into powder to drinke it in white wine fasting yet some take it in the distilled water of Cichorie or Borrage or else in broth made with cold herbes CHAP. XIIII Ricinus sive Palma Christi Palma Christ or great Spurge BEcause there be many sorts of Spurges and that this kinde of great Spurge doth much differ from all the other sorts hereafter set forth I thinke it fittest to ranke it in a chapter by it selfe before the other as a captaine to all the rest for although the properties be conformable to the Spurges yet so are not either forme of leaves flowers or seede of any of the foure or five sorts I shall here shew you Take this therefore as the first kinde 1. Ricinus sive Cataputia
Oleum de Cherva yet it is also called Oleum Cicinum as well as that oyle made of the Indian seed brought from thence In Spaine they call the seede of the ordinary as well as the Indian sort Figuo del inferno and thereafter some call it Ficus infernalis The lesser kinde Clusius saith in the same place before mentioned is called Eraway by the Indians The great Indian kinde Clusius saith is called Curcas in America and we to distinguish it from the former kind do call it Ricinus Americus or Americanus Palma Christi of America The Arabians call it Cherva the Italians Mirasole Girasole Cataputia maggiore the French Palma Christi the Germanes Winderbaum the Dutch Molenkruit and Wonderboome and we in English Palma Christi or great Spurge The Vertues The seede of Palma Christi is almost wholly used and the leaves but seldome yet 30 seedes clensed from the huskes being bruised and taken in drinke saith Dioscorides but Costaeus in his Commentaries upon Mesues judgeth this to be a fault in the writers of the coppy of Dioscorides setting 30 for 3. and yet that is the utmost according to the dose of those times as I have sayd diverse times before doth purge choler and flegme and draw water abundantly from the belly provoking Vrine also which manner of purgings as Dioscorides himselfe confesseth doth trouble the stomacke and overturne it mightily yet with good advise it may be given to strong and able bodyes with Aniseed or Fennellseede who are troubled with the dropsie joynt aches the gout and sciatica because it draweth water and flegme very strongly from the more remote parts Durantes adviseth some of the seede to be boyled in the broth of an old cocke for the same purposes the oyle he saith of the seede is profitably put into glisters to open obstructions to ease the paines of the collicke and windinesse of the mother Clusius saith he knew diverse Emperickes give of the small seed that came out of America in a small quantity as a purge in diverse diseases because by purging the body well they found good successe they held it as a secret of worth which they kept to themselves Monardus saith that the oyle of the Indian seede and other authors say the same of the oyle of the former kinde is found by dayly experience to bee helpefull to many diseases as well in the Jndies as in Spaine for as he saith it helpeth all diseases proceeding of cold causes it dissolveth tumours and swellings disperseth winde especially of the collicke and mother if the places grieved be anointed therewith and some few drops thereof also taken in a little chicken broth that is fat it wonderfully helpeth the crampe and convulsion of the sinewes being gently rubbed on the places grieved and thereby causeth the sinewes to be stretched forth that were shrunke by anointing the stomacke the belly or the left side where the spleene lyeth it easeth them of the obstructions in them it killeth the wormes in children if either you give a droppe or two thereof inwardly in milke or fat broath or anoynt the lower part of the belly therewith it taketh away also the hardnesse of the belly in children that are apt thereto or have wormes the oyle also helpeth all scabs or running sores of the head dropped into the eares cureth the deafenesse and taketh away the paines and noyse therein it mightily clenseth the skinne from all manner of spots markes or blemishes therein as also the deformities of scarres and of the pox the greene leaves bruised and applyed of themselves or else with barly meale asswageth the inflammations as well as the swelling of the eyes and the swellings also of womens brests after childing being applyed likewise to womens brests they doe helpe to encrease milke in them It hath beene formerly set downe by good authors that Palma Christi planted in a garden was a sure remedy against moales to keepe them from working in the ground but Camerarius disproveth that asseveration saying that they will work in the same manner although they be planted therein yea or although the branches be thrust into their furrowes or trenches CHAP. XV. Tithymalus sive Lactaria Spurge or Milkeworte THere are many other sorts of Spurge that are remembred by diverse authors with whom there is much variation about the true names of diverse of them some of them are of the Sea as particularly to be found there abouts others in the woods and mountaines properly belonging to them some againe onely growing in gardens in these parts and for the most part not well knowne elsewhere to be found others also of the fields they have also obtained sundry names according to their formes or natures yet all of them Spurges or Milkeworts for some sort is particularly called Tithymalus some others 1. Tithymalus paralius Sea Spurge Lathyris or Cataputia others againe Esula or Pityusa and others Peplus Peplis and Chamaesyce and because they are all of them congeneres that is of one family or kindred and of one quality or property which is to purge I thinke it fittest to remember them all together yet in severall chapters 1. Tithymalus Paralius sive maritimus Sea Spurge The Sea Spurge riseth up with diverse reddish wooddy stalkes a foote or halfe a yard high set thicke with leaves from the bottome to the toppe which are small long and narrow yet broadest in the middle somewhat like unto the leaves of Line or Flax but thick and whitish full of a white milke if any part be broken which is so hot that being tasted it burneth the mouth and throate intollerably at the toppes of the stalkes stand many pale yellowish flowers with two leaves under them compassing the stalke as it is usuall to all the other sorts of Spurges and containing them after which come three square small heades wherein is conteined round discoloured seede the roote is long and wooddy abiding long and so doe the leaves on the branches not falling away in winter 2. Tithymalus maritimus Venetus Sea Spurge of Venice This Sea Spurge hath longer or taller and thicker stalkes somewhat hollow and reddish branching forth into diverse parts beset with small long leaves but somewhat larger and more separate than the former two alwayes standing together all along the branches like Licorice the flowers are small pendulous and of a sad purplish colour consisting of five small leaves a peece like a small starre without any round leaves under them as in the former after which come such like heads and seede the roote is great long and wooddy withall sending forth new branches every yeare 3. Tithymalus maritimus Creticus spinosus Thorny Sea Spurge of Candy The Thorny Sea Spurge of Candy sendeth forth diverse brownish round stalkes whereon are set many whitish hoary leaves being small thick and long as plentifully yeelding a causticke or burning milke as any of the former upon the branches stand diverse thornes with the leaves and likewise the ends of the
stalke hereof riseth to be about a foote high the leaves are in forme and colour like the ordinary or the last but larger enduring greene all the winter the flowers grow spike fashion on the toppe of the stalke formed like those of the Hollow roote whose bellies are blush and mouthes gold or paler yellow the seede is conteined in crooked long pods being round flattish and yellowish the roote is thicke and fibrous the whole plant is more bitter than the ordinary and therefore more effectuall 6. Fumaria alba latifolia Climing Fumiterrie The climing Fumiterrie riseth up with small slender stalkes not able to sustaine themselves but catching hold by certaine small tendrels it sendeth forth at the ends of the smaller branches on any thing that standeth nigh unto it whereby it climeth upon the hedges or other hearbes it sendeth forth diverse stalkes of small leaves set 2 or 3 or more together not dented or divided on the edges at all of a blewish greene colour very like unto Fumiterry at the toppes likewise of the small branches come forth many small whitish flowers tipt with blush set together nothing like the former but made like small long hollow huskes or Bell flowers ending in five small points after which come small seede enclosed in small broad huskes or pods the roote is small and long growing downe deepe into the ground and abideth the winter shooting forth new branches for the old perish every yeare 7. Fumaria tuberosa flore viridi Bulbous Fumiterry with a greene flower This hath diverse greene stalkes with such like leaves thereon as the small Hollow roote hath but somewhat larger and greener at the toppes of the stalkes 5. Fumaria semper virens Americana siliquosa Indian Fumiterrie 8. Et Bulbosa Americana Knobbed Indian Fumiterrie stand small greenish flowers at severall places with diverse small greene leaves set under them the roote is two or three times bigger than the roote of the small Capnes fabacea radice but yellow like unto it and the stalkes with leaves and flowers perishing as quickely as the others 8. Fumaria tuberosa Americana Knobbed Indian Fumiterry This kinde of Fumiterrie hath two small round solide rootes like testicles with diverse small fibres thereat from betweene which riseth up a stalke of sundry winged leaves two set together at a joynt variously divided and so smally that they almost resemble Iuniper leaves of a blewish greene colour the flowers have sundry colours in them but supposed of some to be but white it is almost without either sent or taste The Place The first groweth aswell in the corne fields almost every where as in gardens also and that with white flowers in Cornwall in their corne fields The second groweth in the fields of Spaine in many places as also in the fields and Vineyards about Mompelier and in other places also The third groweth in Candy from whence Clusius saith he had the seede The fourth groweth on the hils in Apulia and Calabria in the Kingdome of Naples and some other places in Italy and in Illyria also The fift groweth in Virginia and the backe parts thereof called Canada The sixt by the hedge sides and among bushes in some places of Brabant in the low Countries and about Frontignana and Mompelier in France it is found about Naples with a yellow flower as it is reported the seaventh is found likewise in the woods of Germany and the last in America or the West Jndies The Time They all flower early even in May for the most part yet the yellow flowreth much later as many times not untill August and their seede ripeneth shortly after The Names It is called in Greeke 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Capnos and Capnion quasi fumus eo quod succus occulis indi◠lachrimationem movet sicut fumus claritatem eorum efficit in Latine Fumaria Fumus Terrae of the Arabians Scheiteregi of the Italians Fumoterre and Fumostomo of the Spaniards Palonima of the French Fumoterre of the Germans Erdrauch and Danben Kropf as Tragus saith and of the Dutch Grijsciom and Duive Kernel The first is of all Authors called Fumaria or Capnos Fumaria of Lobel The second is called Fumaria minor or tenuifolia to distinguish it from the other The third is remembred by Clusius by the name in the title and it may be also the Syriaca of Camerarius The fourth is called Fumaria Coridalis of Matthiolus and of some as he saith Split of Gesner and Tabermontanus Fumaria montana of Lobel Fumaria lutea montana who taketh it also to be Chelidonium capnitis of Aetius of Camerarius and Anguillara Corydalis of Caesalpinus Split vulgo and Split Illirica or Sclavonica herba of others The fifth hath its name in the title and reckoned a kind of the fourth The sixt is called Capnos of Lobel who saith it is also called of some Split albuni of Dodonaeus it is thought to be the first Capnos Plinij which hee saith was called in his time Pedes gallinaci and saith also that some called it Corydalis and Splith and the common sort Corydalion hee calleth it also Fumaria altera and Capnos phragmites as Gesner doth also but divers of the best moderne Herbarists doe rather thinke that the Radix Cava is the Capnos prior Plinij then this Camerarius Fumaria Clematites and Bauhinus Fumaria claviculis donata and is his sixt Fumaria and yet is the same with his second if there be not a greater and a lesser as some doe set it downe The seventh is the Radix Cava viridi flore of Lobel which although Bauhinus thought it to be referred to the Radix Cava as a sort thereof yet the roote sheweth it to belong unto the Capnos fabacea radice and so both his description and the title which afterward he amended do declare The Arabians call it Schehiterig and Sabeteregi The Italians Fumoterra the Spaniards Palamilha the French Fumoterre the Germanes Erdtrauch and Katzenkernel the Dutch Erdtrook and Duynekervel The Vertues By the bitternesse of common Fumiterry it is by diverse of the best moderne Writers held to be hot and not cold as diverse others from the Arabians have set downe and sharpenesse joyned therewith it doth open and clense and by the drienesse doth strengthen and binde after the clensing The juyce or syrupe made thereof or the decoction made in wheye by it selfe with some other purging or opening herbes and rootes to cause it worke the better it selfe being but weake is very effectuall for the liver and spleene opening the obstructions and clarifying the bloud from saltish cholericke and adust humors which is the cause of the lepry scabbes tetters and itches and other such like breakings out in the skinne and after the purging doth strengthen all the inward parts not leaving any evill qualitie behind it and therefore is reckoned a most safe remedy against all the diseases that rise from those
in Narcoticke medicines and is an ingredient of much respect in those great compositions of Theriaca and Mithridatium c. whereof a small quantity hath beene gathered in some Christian Countryes and my selfe and others in our owne land have gathered a little from the greene heads as they stand and are but halfe growne ripe slit or cut with a knife in two or three places that the milke issuing forth may be gathered into some convenient thing and hardned afterwards in the Sunne but not at the fire which will not be so blacke as that Opium that commeth usually to us which is rather Meconium as Dioscorides setteth it downe which is made of the juice of both leaves and heades pressed forth of the white as well as of the blacke Poppy for the true best Opium is somewhat of a whitish yellow or brownish colour and giveth no such yellow tincture as that which is sophisticate and made with Glaucium which is the yellow juice of an herbe with leaves like unto horned Poppy but divers have thought Glaucium to be the juice of Chelidonius majus others of Pomum amâ— majus and lastly Bauhinus and some others thinke it to be of this thorny Poppy because it giveth a yellow juice but as Bellonius writeth that to have any quantity of true Opium it rather consisteth in the multitude of gatherers for it must be both speedily gathered and in the heat of the day then in the great quantity of ground sowen therewith it being a tedious worke for a very small quantity can be but gathered by any one in a day in that every head yeeldeth but little and must be attended to be taken from them before it be dryed too much upon them The Vertues All the sorts of Poppyes are cold in the fourth degree but especially Opium or the condensate juice as Galen and divers other authours doe affime yet Matthiolus sticketh thereat thinking it rather to be hot by the sharpenesse and bitternesse thereof and is Anodinum medicamentum that is such a medicine that by procuring sleepe easeth many paines for the present which indeede it doth but palliate or cause to be quiet for a time the continuall use whereof bringeth very often more harme and a more dangerous disease then it hath allayed that is an insensiblenesse or stupefaction of a part or member which commeth to be the dead palsie for although Dioscorides Galen and others write that the white seed is familiarly taken in bread and made into cakes and eaten with pleasure and Matthiolus and divers others have observed that in our dayes the white Poppy seede is sowen in Italy and other places and much used yea and the blacke seede also although as they all agree it is stronger in operation and onely medicineable or onely to be used in Physicke to helpe diseases for Matthiolus writeth that the inhabitants about Trent doe sow the blacke seede in their fields and grounds among Beanes and other pulse which they familiarly eate being made into cakes that are made of many foldes the seede being cast in betweene the folds and so kneaded together and yet hee saith they are no whit more sleepy or drowsie then those that eate none of them as also that in Stiria and the upper Austria the inhabitants doe eate the oyle pressed out of the blacke seede in their meates familiarly in the stead of Sallet oyle and finde no inconveniency of drowsinesse at all thereby which made him as he saith venture to give the creame of the seede made up with Barly water oftentimes and in great quantity in the hot fits of agues and burning feavers both to aswade thirst and to procure rest and hereby as he saith he shooke of that feare of Poppy that his wise Masters had by their grave admonitions seasoned him withall in former times the Garden Poppy heads with seedes made into a Syrupe is both frequently used in our dayes and to very good effect to procure rest and sleepe in the sicke and weake and to stay catarrhes and defluxions of hot and thinne rheume from the head into the stomacke and upon the lungs causing a continuall cough the forerunner of a consumption but hath not halfe that force in those that are stronger for the strength or debility of nature worketh divers effects as you see as well in this as in all or most other things the same also helpeth the hoarsenesse of the throate and when one hath lost their voyce which the oyle of the seede doth likewise the blacke seed boyled in wine and drunke is said also to stay the fluxe of the belly and the immoderate course of womens sickenesse the empty shels of the Poppy heades are usually boyled in water and given to procure rest and sleepe so doe the leaves in the same manner as also if the head and temples be bathed with the decoction warme or with the oyle of Poppyes the greene leaves or heads bruised and applyed with a little vinegar or made into a pultis with Barly meale and Axungia cooleth and tempereth all inflammations as also that disease called Saint Anthonyes fire The Opium but I may rather say the Meconium which is the juice of the Poppy thickned that is commonly used in the Apothecaries shops and is much weaker by the judgement of all both moderne and ancients then the true Opium is much colder and stronger in effect than any other part of the plant but if we may know the temperature and qualities of things by their taste and effect we may rather judge Opium to be hot then cold or at the least to have very hot parts in it witnesse the bitternesse thereof the heate and sharpenesse that is felt in the mouth upon the tasting and keeping it in the mouth a while that it is ready to blister both tongue and pallate as also the grievous or heady heavy smell as well in it as in the whole plant but it may be saith Matthiolus the bitternesse heate and sharpenesse in Opium or Meconium is rather accessory then innate and is therein by the mixture and adulterating of it with Glaucium and to give a yellow juice for our Opium if it be dissolved doth shew a brownish yellownesse yet by his leave I may say that even the fresh milke with us is bitter and strong in smell like the Meconium or Opium but because our ancients who have found out the qualities of things and left them for our knowledge have so found and judged of Opium I must as Matthiolus saith leave it for others to descant theron as reason and experience shall direct them It is generally used as I said before in Treakle and Mithridatum and in all other medicines that are made to procure rest and sleepe and to ease paines in the head as well as in other parts as I said before or rather to palliate them it is used also both to coole inflammations agues or frensies and to stay defluctions which cause a cough or consumption as
pointed at the ends but two or three very narrow and long leaves also with them comming from the roote the stalke is scarse an hand breadth high with many such whitish flowers thereon as are in the other small ones The Place The two first grow at the foote of hills and in the shadowie moist woods neare unto them in many places of Germany and in our countrie likewise in the like places but chiefely is nourished up in gardens The third groweth on the high hills in Silesia and other places the fourth groweth especially in the North as in Lancashire Yorkeshire and Cumberland in diverse places The two last are found likewise on the Alpes in diverse places but the last among the Switzers The Time They all flower about the end of May and the seede is ripe about the beginning of Iuly The Names It is called generally Bistorta quod radice in se serpentis modo contorta convoluta constet of Tragus Lonicerâ— and others Colubrina from the Germane title of Schlangenwurtzel and Natterwurtzel of Fuschius Serpentaris quod venenosorum serpentium ictibus succurrit of Gesner in hortis Germaniae Limonium Fracastorius calleth it Bâ—lapathum as well as Bistorta Lobel and Clusius thinke it may be Britannica of Dioscorides and Pliny Bauhinus calleth the first Bistorta major radice minus intorta Some call it Behen rubrum others take it to be Molybdeâ— of Pliny Some also doe take it to be the second Dracunculus of Pliny lib. 4. cap. 16. the second is called by Tragus Colubrina minor Bauhinus calleth it Bistorta major radice magis intorta The third Bauhinus that hath first set it forth as I thinke calleth it Bistorta Alpina maxima the fourth I take to be differing from the next and therefore call it Nostras the fifth is called by Camerarius Clusus Lobel Bauhinus and all others that have writteâ— 1. 4. Bistorta major vulgaris minor Great and small Bistorte or Snakeweede 5. 6. Bistorta minor Alpina Alpina pumila varia Small Bistorte of the Alpes anduariabbe leafed Bristorte â—hereof Bistorta minor or Alpina minor onely Gesner in hortis Germaniae reckoneth it to be a small sort of Limoniâ— But in that Bistorta cannot be Britanica this sheweth in the description thereof that the leaves are rough or â—airy when these are smooth and that the rootes of Britanica are small and short when these are not small alâ—hough short and Galen in his sixt Booke of Simples saith that although the leaves of Britanica be somewhat â—ke unto Docke leaves yet they are blacker and more hairy And that it cannot be Behen rubrum the faculties doe â—sily declare for the rootes of the true Behen rubrum album are both sweete in smell and are of an hot quaâ—tie that they are effectuall to procure venery or bodily lust which these cannot the last is not remembred by â—ny Author before this time The Italians Spaniards and French doe follow the Latine as we doe also the Low Dutch the Germanes in their appellations which is Natterwortele The Vertues Both the leaves and rootes of Bistort have a powerfull facultie to resist all poyson a dramme of the roote 〈◊〉 pouder taken in drinke expelleth the venome of the plague or Pestilence the small Pocks Measells Purples â—r any other infectious disease driving it forth by sweating the same roote in pouder or the decoction thereof 〈◊〉 wine being drunke staieth all manner of inward bleeding or spitting of bloud as also any fluxes of the body 〈◊〉 man or woman as also when one is troubled with vomiting the pouder also of the roote or the decoction â—hereof being drunke is very availeable against ruptures or burstings or all bruises or falls whatsoever dissolving â—e congealed bloud and easing the paines that happen thereupon the same also helpeth the Iaundise the water distilled from both leaves and rootes is a singular remedy to wash any place bitten or stung by any venemous creature as Spiders Toades Adders or the like as also for any the purposes before spoken of and is very â—ood to wash any running sores or ulcers the decoction of the roote in wine being drunke hindereth abortion â—at is when women are apt to miscarrie in child bearing the leaves also killeth the wormes in children and is 〈◊〉 great helpe to them that cannot keepe their water if they put thereto some juyce of Plantaine and applied â—utwardly doth give much helpe in the gonorrhaea or running of the reines a dramme of the pouder of the roote â—ken in the water thereof wherein some iron or steele being red hot hath beene quenched is an admirable helpe â—hereunto so as the body be first prepared and purged from the offensive humours the leaves or seedes or â—ootes are all very good to be put into decoctions or drinkes or lotions for either inward or outward wounds or other sores and the pouder strowed upon any cut or wound in a veine c. that is apt to bleede much staieth the immoderate fluxe thereof the decoction of the rootes in water whereunto some Pomgranet â—ills and flowers are added serveth for an incection into the matrice as well to stay the accesse of humours to â—he ulcers thereof as also to bring it to the place being fallen downe and to helpe to stay the abundance of their â—ourses the roote of Bistort and Pellitory of Spaine and burnt Allome of each alike quantitie beaten small made â—nto a paste with some hony a little peece hereof put into an hollow tooth or holden betweene the teeth if â—here be no hollownesse in them staieth the defluxions of rheume upon them when it is the cause of paine in them and helpeth to clense the head and avoide much offensive matter the distilled water is very effectuall to wash those sores or cankers that happen in the nose or any other part if the powder of the roote be applied thereto afterwards it is good also to fasten the gummes and to take away the heate and inflammation that happen as well in the jawes almonds of the throat ot mouth if the decoction of the rootes leaves or seedes be used â—or the juyce of them the rootes are more effectuall to all the purposes aforesaid than either leaves or seede CHAP. XXIV Tormentilla Tormentill or Setfoile ALthough formerly there hath but one kind of Tormentill or Setfoile beene knowne to our English Writers yet now there is found out and made knowne to us two other sorts which shall be all declared in this Chapter 1. Tormentilla vulgaris Common Tormentill The common Tormentill is so like unto Cinquefoile that many doe mistake it for it may well be reckoned as one of them hath many reddish slender weake branches rising from the roote lying upon the ground or rather leaning than standing upright with many short leaves that stand closer to the stalkes than the other Cinkefoiles doe with the foote stalke encompassing the branches at severall places but those that grow next to the ground are set
goe out of Dunstable way towards Gorkambury and not farre from the ruines of the old Cittie Verulam which is not farre from Saint Albones the fourth is not knowne from whence it came the fift upon divers of the Alpes and the last according to the title in Bavaria The Time These flower for the most part not untill August and that is later than the former and therefore deservedly have the name of Autumne Gentians The Names The first is set downe by Matthiolus Lobel Cordus Clusius and others some under the name of Gentiana minima as Matthiolus some Pneumonanthe as Cordus and Lobel some Calathiana viola as Gesner in hortis Germaniae some Campanula Autumnalis as Dodonaeus and of Lugdunensis Campanula pratensis the second Columnae onely mentioneth by the name of Gentianella caerulea fimbriata angustifolia autumnalis Bauhinus calleth it Gentianella caerulea oris pilosis the third is the tenth Gentian of Clusius and called by Eystotensis horti author Gentianella autumnalis folijs centaureae minoris flore caeruleo Lobel calleth it Gentiana minima Bauhinus Gentiana angustifolia autumnalis floribus ad latera pilosis the fourth is not mentioned by any before the fift is the eleventh small Gentian of Clusius the last is called by Camerarius Gentianella elegantissima Bavarica Bauhinus referreth it to the Gentiana verna Alpina I to the Calathiana verna Dalechampij of Lugdunensis but that Camerarius saith it flowreth in Autumne The Vertues The greater Gentians are more used in Physicke with us then the smaller although they be neare of one propertie and almost as effectuall both inwardly and outwardly and in the places where the smaller are in plentie to be had and the greater not so readily to be gotten they doe very well serve in their stead They are by their bitternesse so availeable against putrefaction venomne and poyson the plague also or pestilence being a most certaine and sure remedy that the Germans account it their Treakle holding nothing to be a more commodious counterpoison and for this purpose did formerly make a Treakle therewith and other things at Iena which was transported into our country and we thereupon called it Iene Treakle made of Gentian Aristolochia Bayberies and other things which were all good wholesome and effectuall for griefes and paines in the stomacke and an especiall medicine against the infection of the plague to expell the malignitie of that and all other infectious diseases and to preserve the heart to strengthen it also against faintings and swounings which Treakle was bitter and therefore the more likely to worke these and other good effects but that Ieane Treakle which hath since crept into the place of it among the vulgar because it is sweet and pleasant is for that cause greedily sought after and for the cheapenesse of most sorts of poore people desired but there is nothing in it that can doe them good nor hath beene found to helpe them of any disease being nothing but the drosse and worst part of Sugar taken from it in purifying the which they call refining and because the good is bitter therefore but few can away with it yet in London it hath beene upon occasion both censured and condemned by a Jury and many hundred weights thereof beene publikely burned in the open streetes before their doores that sold it as a just witnesse to all if they would understand their owne good and be perswaded by reason true judgement and experience that it is not a thing tollerable in a Common-wealth I have thus farre digressed from the matter in hand and yet I hope not without good and just cause to informe all of our countrie to submit their wills and affections unto those of learning and judgement in Phisicke and not be obstinate in their selfe willed opinions and ignorance for assuredly if that kind of Ieane Treakle were wholsome or effectuall to any good purpose it were as easie for the Phisitians to give way to the use thereof as for any other tollerated medicine but the saying is most true Nitimur invetitum semper cupimusque negatum the more a thing is forbidden the more it is desired for the wrong opinion of many is to thinke that it is for the private profit of some that the thing is forbidden and therefore stollen bread is sweetest But to the matter now in hand The powder of the dried rootes takes in wine either of themselves or with other things as Mirrhe Rue Pepper and the like is a certaine remedy against the stingins or bitings of Serpents Scorpions or any other venemous beasts and against the bitings of a madde dog being taken three or foure dayes together and care taken to keepe open the wound with Vinegar or salt water and to cleanse and dresse it in order as it should be the same rootes also taken in wine helpeth those that have obstructions in their livers or are liver growne as they call it or have paines in their stomackes those also that cannot keepe or rellish their meate or have dejected appetites to their meate for hereby they shall finde present ease and remedy being steeped in wine and drunke it refresheth those that are overwearied with travell and are by cold and ill lodging abroad growen starke or lame in their joynts these also that have any griping paines in their sides as prickings stitches or the like it helpeth those that are bruised by blowes or falls by dissolving the congealed bloud and easing the paines the same also is held very effectuall against all agues to take of the roote not in wine but some other drinke or the water distilled of the herbe the fresh roote or the dried made into a pessary and put into the matrice expelleth the dead child and the afterbirth for it throughly worketh upon those parts and therefore not to be given to women that are with child and being taken inwardly procureth their courses being stopped and the urine when it is staied the decoction of the roote it mervellous effectuall to helpe those that are pained with the stone the same also taken in wine doth mervellous much good to those that are troubled with crampes and convulsions in any parts it doth much good also to those that are bursten and have any ruptures Dioscorides saith that there is so great power and efficacie in the rootes hereof that it helpeth not men onely but beasts also that are troubled with coughes and the outgoings of their intrails and that it expelleth the wormes of the belly it breaketh much winde in the body and causeth it to avoid and generally it is availeable in all cold diseases either inward or outward and as Galen saith is most effectuall where there is any neede to extenuate or make thinne thicke flegme or grosse humors clensing of corrupt and filthy sores or ulcers purging of peccant and offensive humours and opening the obstructions of the liver and lungs gall and spleene and freeing the parts affected with any the diseases incident unto them
The Time They flower in Iune and Iuly and their seede ripeneth in August The Names This is taken by many learned writers and herbarists in these dayes to be the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Oenanthe of Dioscorides which he describeth in his third booke and 132. Chapter and not that Oenanthe which he saith in his fifth booke is the flower of the wild Vine that beareth onely flowers and not grapes and because that Matthiolus contesteth against Fuschius to whom Brunfelsius and Tragus doe agree for so holding it Lobel in his Adversaria would 1. Filipendula major The greater common Filipendula 3. Filipendula minor The lesser Filipendula seeme to maintaine Fuschius opinion against Matthiolus proving as he thinketh every part of Dioscorides his description to agree thereunto yet stil Matthiolus his assertions will hold good against Fuschius and Lobel that this Filipendula agreeth not with Dioscorides his Oenanthe especially in the seedes for it is such an eminent marke that none can alter or gainesay It is called of all moderne writers Filipendula quod numerosi illi in radice bulbilli quasi ex filo pendere vide antur some write it Philipendula because Nicholaus Myrepsus called it 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Some thinke this to be Molon of Pliny whereof he maketh mention in his 26. booke and 7. chapter but it is doubtfull the Italians and Spaniards call it Filipendula and the French Filipende and Filipendule the Germanes Rotten Steinbrech that is red breakestone from whence came the Latine name among them Saxifraga rubra red Saxifrage as also wild Garb that is Millofolium sylvestre we call it Filipendula and some Filipipendula and Dropwort The second Lugdunensis calleth Oenanthe alia Myconi because he saith it is so like the ordinary Filipendula both in outward forme and face of growing in rootes and leaves and in the tast and rellish also and not unlikely thereby to be of the same vertue and property but Bauhinus referreth it rather to the next Filipendula montana whereof I cannot see any reason for in my opinion it is the same with the former and not a species of the next let others be judge herein that are judicious The last Bauhinus setteth forth by the name of Filipendula minor The Vertues The ordinary or vulgar Filipendula is somewhat bitter in taste and thereupon judged to be hot and dry in the third degree it is very effectuall to open the passages of the urine when it is stayed as also to helpe the Strangury and all other paines of the bladder and reines helping mightily to breake and expell the stone either in the kidneyes or bladder and gravell also that is not as yet condensate into a stone whether you will use the leaves flowers or seede but the rootes are most usuall and most effectuall either taken in powder or in a decoction with white wine whereunto a little honey is added the same also helpeth to expell the secondine or afterbirth taken in the same manner an ancient copy of Dioscorides saith it helpeth also the yellow Iaundise Paulus Aegineta saith it is good for those that have the falling sicknesse and that it will helpe them if they use it often the rootes made into powder and mixed up with hony into the forme of an electuary doth much helpe them whose stomakes are swollen breaking and dissolving the winde which was the cause thereof as also is very effectuall for all the diseases of the lungs as shortnesse of breath wheelings hoarsenesse of the throate and the cough and to expectorate cold flegme therefrom or any other parts thereabouts CHAP. X. Filipendula montana Mountaine or Hooded Filipendula or Droppewort CLusius and others have made mention of divers sorts of this kinde of Filipendula if I may so call it for I doe herein rather please others than my selfe who thinke them with Clusius to be as unlike them in forme as differing also in qualitie peradventure yet because such learned men have so accounted of some of them let me in their errour be joyned with them for this time 1. Filipendula montana major albida Whitish Mountaine or hooded Filipendula This first hooded Mountaine Filipendula shooteth forth Filipendula montana Mountaine Filipendula his round crested or streaked stalkes of a fingers thickenesse and a cubites height whereon are set winges of many cut and divided leaves on each side of them from the bottome to the toppe somewhat like those of the former Filipendula or betweene them and Yarrow but hard and somewhat rough in handling whereon are growing a long spiked head of whitish flowers formed like the gaping hoodes of the Satyrions or Testicles called Cullions or Dogges stones every one set in a five leafed huske which being fallen there follow round heades pointed at the toppes wherein are contained much small grayish seede the rootes are many long and thicke strings somewhat like unto the Asphodill clogges but not so great which are set together at the heads and ending in long fibres abiding many yeares and shooting fresh leaves and stalkes in the Spring although the old die downe to the ground and wither 2. Filipendula montana mollior altera Smooth mountaine or hooded Filipendula This other mountaine Filipendula hath such like stalkes with long divided leaves on them in the like manner not differing from them but in that they are nothing hard but very gentle and smooth in handling the flowers grow likewise at the toppes of the stalkes in a long spiked head many set together and in forme hooded like them but are in some of a pale whitish yellow colour and in other of a reddish purple the rootes also are not so great and thicke but rather like Asparagus rootes The Place Both these sorts grow as Clusius saith on the grassie places in the mountaines of Austria and Stiria in Flanders also and in France in their Medowes The Time They flower in Iune and ripen their seede in August The Names Pena and Lobel doe call the first of these Filipendula altera montana and so doe also Dodonaeus and Taberâ—tanus but Clusius doth rather referre both it and the other unto the Fistularia or Pedicularis for that they neerest resemble it in forme excepting the rootes and thereupon calleth them Alectorolophus Alpina Bauhinus calleth it Filipendula montana flore pediculariae and with all maketh it to be that Oenanthe alia Miconi of Lugdunensis which is more probably another sort of the former and true Filipendula as I have shewed you in the Chapter before The second Clusius calleth Alectorolophus Alpina secunda velaltera and Bauhinus Filipendula montana â—tera I have as I said before followed them in this their errour and doe call them in English Mountaine or Hooded Filipendula according to the Latine The Vertues I do not finde any vertues appropriate peculiarly to these plants either by Clusius or any other that have mentioned them and unles they have the same qualities that the Yellow
greater measure for it helpeth those that spit blood or that bleede at the mouth or that make a bloody urine as also for all inward hurts bruises and wounds and helpeth the ulcers of the lungs causing the fleagme that oppresseth them to be easily spit forth the roote being boyled in water or wine the same also drunke stayeth the defluxions of rheume from the head upon the Lungs the fluxes of blood or humours by the belly womens immoderate courses as well the reds as the whites and the gonorrhea or the running of the raines happening by what cause soever A syrupe made thereof is very effectuall for all those inward griefes and hurts and the distilled water for the same purpose also and for outward wounds or sores in the fleshy or sinewy parts of the body wheresoever as also to take away the fits of agues and to alay the sharpenesse of humours a decoction of the leaves hereof is availeable to all the purposes although not so effectuall as of the rootes Camerarius saith that two ounces of the juice drunke doth much good in the Lethargy and dead sleepe the rootes being outwardly applyed helpeth fresh wounds or cuts immediately being bruised and laid thereto by glueing together their lips and is especiall good for ruptures and broken bones yea it is said to be so powerfull to consolidate or knit together whatsoever needeth knitting that if they be boyled with dissevered peeces of flesh in a pot it will joyne them together againe it is good to be applyed to womens breasts that grow sore by the aboundance of milke comming into them as also to represse the overmuch bleeding of the hemorrhoids to coole the inflammation of the parts thereabouts and to give ease of paines the rootes of Comfrey taken fresh beaten small spread upon leather and laid upon any place troubled with the gout doe presently give ease of the paines and applyed in the same manner giveth ease to pained joynts and profiteth very much for running and moist ulcers gangrenes mortifications and the like often experimented and found helpefull CHAP. XXV Bugula sive Consolida media Bugle or the middle Confound THis browne Bugle is so like unto the Prunella or Selfe heale that divers have made them but species to one genus and so have confounded them together and yet they have seemed to distinguish them calling this Consolida media and the other Consolida minor yet there are other herbes that they so call also which shall likewise be entreated of in the Chapters following but I finding them to differ notably one from another have disposed of them severally intreating of the greater in this Chapter and of the lesser in the next 1. Bugula vulgaris flore caeruleo Ordinary blew flowred Bugle This Bugle hath larger leaves then those of the Prunella or Selfe heale but else of the same fashion or rather a little longer in some greene on the upperside and in others more brownish dented about the edges somewhat hairy as the square stalke is also which riseth up to be halfe a yeard high sometime set with such leaves thereon by cuples from the middle almost whereof upwards stand the flowers together with many smaller and browner leaves then the rest on the stalke below set at distances and the stalke bare betweene them among which flowers are also small ones as those of Selfe heale and of a blewish and sometime of an ash-colour fashioned like the flowers of Alehoofe or Ground Ivy after which come small round blackish seede the roote is composed of many strings and spreadeth upon the ground into divers parts round about Of this kinde there is another whose leaves are longer then these Alia longioribus folijs and deeper dented in about the edges 2. Bugula flore albo Bugle with a white flower The white flowred Bugle differeth not in forme or greatnesse from the former saving that the leaves and stalkes thereof are alwaies greene and never browne like the other and that the flowers are very white 3. Bugula flore carneo Bugle with blush coloured flowers This other Bugle differeth little also from the other before declared but that it is a more tender plant soft and smooth in handling not rising full so high as the former and the flowers thereof are of a pale red or blush colour which maketh the greatest difference 4. Bugula Alpina coerulea Blew mountaine Bugle The mountaine Bugle is not unlike the other having longer and thicker leaves especially at the bottomes of them seeming for the smallnesse to be footestalkes dented 1. Bugula vulgaris Ordinary Bugle also about the edges and somewhat hard or hairy thinnely set by couples upon the square hairy stalkes a foote high or more at the toppes whereof the flowers stand in spikes neerer set together then the former and of a blew colour fashioned like unto the rest the roote is long with divers fibres thereat 5. Bugula flore luteo Bugle with yellow flowers This yellow Bugle is smaller then any of the former by much having rounder leaves upon the stalkes and dented about the edges like unto them the flower is yellowish standing in the same manner that the rest doe 6. Bugula odorata Lusitanica Sweete Portingall Bugle This kinde of Bugle riseth up with three or foure round and hairy stalkes about a foote high at the joynts whereof grow leaves by couples which are long hairy and divided or torne on both sides into two or three gashes each bowing backe a little the largest leaves are lowest and smaller still up to the toppes where among the great spikie heads of flowers they are very small the flowers are of a violet purple colour formed hollow with lips as it were hanging downe somewhat like the former Bugles standing in cuppes wherein afterwards grow white seede which by sowing it selfe doth often rise againe for it is but annuall the roote is composed of many blacke fibres all the whole plant hath a very pleasant sent The Place The first and second grow in woods and wet copses and fields generally throughout England in many places but the second is harder to be met withall The third groweth in Austria and some other places of Germany as Clusius saith The fourth upon Mount Baldus The fifth is said to grow with us and the last in Portugall The Time They all flower from May untill Iuly and in the meane time they perfect their seede the roote and leaves next thereunto upon the ground abiding all the Winter untill the next Spring The Names It hath no Greeke name or author that we are certaine of but is called in Latine in these times Consolida media and Solidago media but there are many herbes that are called Consolida and Solidago from their vertues as you shall finde them remembred in their severall Chapters and Buglum or Bugla as Ruellius saith the French were wont to call it and more usually now a daies Bugula but some as I said before confounded
the roote hereof is like the other and encreaseth by the shooting strings that put forth fresh leaves every year The Place The two first are found in woods and fieldes every where yet the second much more seldome than the former the third and fourth and so likewise the last on divers hills and parts of Germany and France The Time The two first sorts flower in May and sometimes in Aprill the other sort somewhat later as for the most part all mountaine herbes doe The Names This is generally called Prunella for it was not knowne to the ancient Greeke or Latine Writers that can yet be found and Brunella from the Germans who called it Brunnellen because it cureth that disease which they call die Bruen common to souldiers in campe but especially in garison which is an inflammation of the mouth throate and tongue with blacknesse therein accompanied for the most part with a strong burning feaver and distraction of the senses it is also called Consolida minor and Solidago minor and of Camerar us Consolida minima Lobel and some others also with him tooke it especially that with jagged leaves to be Symphitum petraeum of Dioscorides which that it cannot be you shall heare the description thereof as Dioscorides giveth it that is Symphitum petraeum groweth saith he in rockie and stony places with slender small branches like Origanum and with the heads and leaves of Time it is all woody swelling sweete and pleasant in taste yet drawing water into the mouth and causing one to spit it out the roote is somewhat reddish or browne of the length of a finger yet some coppies have it hath branches like Origanum and small leaves and heades like Time this is Dioscorides his text but this herbe Selfeheale hath no wooddy stalkes nor reddish rootes nor smelleth sweete except in some places nor doth it so strongly consolidate or knit flesh together as the great Comfrey doth which is one of the properties Dioscorides appropriateth unto Symphytum petraeum Lobel therefore first imagined that the Coris Monspeliensium should be it Bauhinus also after him saith he did but afterwards he learned that Matthiolus his Symphitum petraeum was much differing his figure being of Coris lutea The first and so the rest are called Brunella by Brunfelsius Dodonaeus and Lobel by Tragus Prunella vulgaris and so by all Authors only as I said before Lobel in his Adversaria calleth this last Symphytum petraeum and Bauhinus Prunella Laciniato folio The Vertues The Selfe heale being so like the Bugle as I said in outward forme is no lesse like it in the qualitie and vertues being by the bitternesse taken to be hot and drie and yet temperate in both degrees and by some thought to be rather more cold in regard it is so powerfull to helpe such an hot sicknesse as the Germane disease called die Bruen which as hath bin in some part said before commeth with inflammation and swelling both in the mouth and throate the tongue rough and rugged or blacke and a fierce hot continuall ague thereon which is remedied chiefely by drinking the decoction of this herbe continually and washing the mouth often also therewith having some vinegar added unto it but bloud letting must be used in the cure and the under the tongue without which it will not or very hardly be effected this herbe serveth for all the purposes whereunto Hugle is applied and with as good successe both inwardly and outwardly for inward wounds and ulcers wheresoever within the body for bruises and falls and other such griefes for if it be accompanied with Bugle Sanicle and other the like wound herbes it will be the more effectuall and to wash or inject into ulcers in the parts outwardly for where there is cause to represse the heate and sharpenesse of humours flowing to any sore ulcer inflammation swelling or the like or to stay the fluxe of bloud in any wound or any part this is used with good successe as also to clense the foulenesse of all sores and to cause them the more speedily to be healed it is an especiall remedy for all greene wounds to soder the lippes of them and to keepe the place from any further inconvenience the juyce hereof used with oyle of Roses to annoint the temples and forehead is very effectuall to remove the head-ach and the same juice mixed with a little Hony of Roses clenseth and healeth all ulcers and sores in the mouth and throate and those also in the secret parts that same ointment that is set downe in the former Chapter is made as often with this herbe instead of Bugle if it be not at hand or if it be yet they are oftentimes both put together to serve to helpe broken bones or joints out of place the Proverbe of the Germans French and others whereof is made mention in the former is no lesse verified as I there said then of this that he needeth neither Physition or Chirurgion that hath Selfeheale and Sanicle by him to helpe himselfe CHAP. XXVII Bellis The Daisie THre be many sorts of Daisies some growing wild both greater and smaller and others in gardens chiefely whereof I have in my former Booke given you the hint of divers but many more is to be spoken of here that is not there set downe which are fitter for this than that place and I am the more willing and thinke it fitter to joyne their Chapter next unto the last because some of them are called Consolida which I would set altogether 1. Bellis major vulgaris sive sylvestris The great white wild Daisie The great white Daisie hath many long narrow and round pointed leaves next the ground cut in on both sides making it seeme almost like the divisions of some sorts of Oaken leaves the stalkes grow to be somewhat high with divers leaves thereon but smaller and lesser divided than the lower at the toppes whereof grow large flowers each upon severall footestalkes consisting of many white and narrow leaves as a pale or border and the yellow thrummes in the middle of no sent at all whose seede which is somewhat long it blowen away with the winde the roote is a bush of white stringes which abide many Winters with the leaves shouting forth every Spring anew Ftore pleno Of this kinde there is one that beareth double flowers differing from the former in nothing else which is set forth in my former Booke 2. Bellis montana major folio acuto The mountaine great Daisie with sharpe pointed leaves This Daisie grow lower than the former and hath much narrower leaves and shorter also not deepely dented nor sharpe about the edges but ending in an exquisite point the stalkes beare but one flower apeece somewhat lesse than the former but else in all things alike 1. Bellis major vulgaris sive sylvestris The great white wilde Daisie 4. Bellis major ramosa umbellifera Americana The great strange white Daisie 3. Bellis Alpina major rigido folio The greater
true kinde and either of ignorance not knowing the right or of wilfulnesses in not enduring to be with drawne from their old errours but our age hath reformed very many of these errours we were formerly nusled up in and no doubt but by the diligent search of divers for the truth both the light that hath risen hath appeared and the darknesse that remaines may be expelled which time must as it hath done in part already bring to passe the pertinatious wilfulnesse of many being the cause that it is not wholly performed as yet Anguillara first and Columna after him doe make this Eupatorium of Dioscorides to be that of Avicen also and so to be both one Dodonaeus because he would not acknowledge the Ageratum of Dioscorides to be the Eupatorium of Mesues runneth himselfe a ground on the dangerous shelfe of two errours namely that the Eupatorium of Mesues and Avices doe not differ and the Eupatorium of Mesues and Dioscorides be both one when as it is in neither of them trâ— for as we shewed in the Chapter of Ageratum that Ageratum was the true Eupatorium of Mesues which differeth much from this of Dioscorides so doth that of Mesues from that of Avicen also which is by the most judicious now adayes accounted to be the first Eupatorium Cannabinum here set downe and as before is sayd was in former times called Eupatorium vulgare yet there is some doubt therein in that Avicen saith the flowers of his Eupatorium are like those of Nenufar or water Lilly which the most judicious know not well how to reconcile but doe verily suppose some errour or mistake to be in the text and although it be not the true Eupatorium of Dioscorides the errour thereof being now reformed both their descriptions and figures inducing the same unto you yet is it not without very speciall properties as you shall heare by and by the second is called Agrimâ—niâ— odorata by Camerarius and Eupatorium alterum odoratum aromaticum by Columna the third is called Agrimonoides of Columna of Bauhinus Agrimoniae similis and of some Pimpinella folio Agrimoniae the fourth was usually called in former times beyond the Seas as I sayd Eupatorium vulgare as Matthiolus and others doe set it downe Fuschius called it Eupatorium adulterinum and Dodonaeus and Thalius Pseudo hepatorium mas Lobel calleth it Cannabina aquatica sive Eupatorium mas Gesner Eupatorium aquaticum Trifolium cervinum aquaticum Baptista Sardus calleth it Terzola Anguillara Gesner in hortis Germaniae Lacuna Lonicerus and Camerarius call it Eupatorium Avicannae This is called in high Dutch S. Kunigunds Kraut that is Herba Sancta kunigdis Wafferdost of the low Dutch Boelkencruiit the fift is called by Cornutus Eupatorium foliis Enulae and I according to the title to put a difference betweene it have set latifolium and the other of the sort which I call angastifolium and hath onely sprung with me and hath not beene mentioned by any before the last which as I sayd is of two sorts the one with divided leaves the other with whole are diversly named by divers for that with divided leaves is called by Tragus Verbena supina by Cordus upon Dioscorides Verbanaca recta by Gâ—sner in hortis Forbesina Bâ—â—endensium and by some as he there saith Conyza palustris Verbesina in his Appendix by Dodonaeus Hepatorium aquatile Ruellius tooke it to be Hydropiper and so did Lugdunensis but yet doth confute his opinion and sheweth the differences as Matthiolus before hath done by Caesalpinus Bidens folio tripartito divisa and by Bauhinus Cannabina aquatica folio tripartito diviso the other with whole leaves is called by Lobel Eupatorium Caâ—binum faemina Septentrionalium by Tabermontanus Eupatorium Cannabinum Chrysantheâ— by Lugdunensis Hydropiper aliud Dalechampii by Caesalpinus Bidens folio non dissecto and by Bauhinus in his â—s Cannabina aquatica similis capitulis nutantibus and in his Pinax Cannabina aquatica folio non diviso that oâ— Virginia may well goe under the same title The Vertues The sweete Agrimony is held by divers to be the more excellent in all the properties of Agrimony but because we cannot have it in that quantity that may serve all mens continuall uses our ordinary sort will serve sufficiently will and effectually Serapio saith it is hot and dry in the first degree and as Galen saith it is of thinne parts 〈…〉 clensing and cutting faculty without any manifest heate it is also moderately drying and binding â—eth the obstructions of the Liver and clenseth it it helpeth the jaundise and strengthneth the inward 〈◊〉 and is very beneficiall to the bowels and healeth their inward woundings and bruises or hurts and qualifieth all inward distemperatures that grow therein the decoction of the herbe made with wine and drunke is good against the sting and bitings of Serpents and helpeth them that have foule or troubled and bloody waters it is good for the strangury and helpeth them to make water currantly and helpeth also the collickeâ— clenseth the brest and helpeth the cough it is accounted also a good helpe to ridde a quartaine as well as a tertiaâ— â—gue by taking a drought of the decoction warme before the fit which by altering them will in time ridde them the leaves and seede saith Dioscorides the seede saith Pliny stayeth the bloody flixe being taken in wine outwardly applyed it helpeth old sores cancers and ulcers that are of hard curation being stamped with old Swines grease and applyed for it clenseth and afterwards healeth them in the same manner also applyed it doth draw forth the thornes or splinters of wood nayles or any other such thing that is gotten into the flesh and helpeth to strengthen members that be out of joynt it helpeth also foule impostumed eares being bruised and applyed or the juyce dropped into them the distilled water of the herbe is good to all the purposes aforesaide either inward or outward The Hempe like Agrimony or Eupatorium Cannabinum is of the same temperature of heate and dryeth for it also openeth clenseth cutteth and maketh thinne those humors that are thicke and tough and therefore is very effectuall for the dropsie yellow Iaundise obstructions of the Liver and hardnesse of the Spleene fulnesse of humors and the evill disposition or habit of the body the juyce hereof drunke is commended much against the impostumes that come of a cold cause within the body and for those that are without the herbe bruised and applyed outwardly the decoction thereof taken before the fits of long and lingring agues doth helpe much to free any from them the same also provoketh urine and womens naturall courses and boyled with Fumiterry in whey and drunke helpeth scabbes and the itch which proceede of salt and sharpe humours but the juyce mixed with vinegar and annointed cureth it outwardly and cureth the Leprosie also if it be taken in the beginning but the juyce being drunke is held to be more effectuall the
some let therein why it should not but now upon better consideration and examination of the particulars both forme and vertues I cannot finde any plant to agree better with Dioscorides his Chamaedaphne then this Let the criticke carper examine this animadversion but let the judicious convince me and I will yeeld The Vertues Gales in 6. simpl medic saith that Laurus Alexandrina is of a hot temperature sharpe and somewhat bitter in tast which being drunke provoketh Vrine and womens courses Dioscorides saith it hastneth the hard and sore travailes of women in childbearing a decoction made of the herbe and rootes in wine is very good for women to fit over the hot fumes as also to have it injected or the places bathed for the falling downe of the mother to settle it in the right place againe the said decoction or the powder of the herbe and rootes are accounted singular good to dry up the moisture of old Vlcers of long and hard curation to clense them and the more speedily to performâ— their healing the faculties of the other are by Galens judgement like to those of the former and Dioscorides saith it easeth the paines of the head and the heart burning as also the torments of the belly being drunke with wine and provoketh urine and womens courses CHAP. CV Hippoglossum sive Bistingua Horse tongue or double tongue THe Horse tongue or double tongue is very like unto the former two plants set forth in the last Chapter for the manner of growing for this shooteth forth divers hard stalkes with leaves on them one above another as they doe and much about the same length the leaves likewise for the forme are but little differing being somewhat harder in handling narrower longer and sharper pointed with 〈◊〉 running through them but this hath a smaller leafe or tongue Hippoglossum sive Bislingua Horse tongue or double tongue growing upon the greater from the middle ribbe and about the middle of the leafe on the upperside which maketh it to differ from all other plants that grow upon the ground that I know and from thence tooke the name of double tongue under the smaller leafe at the bottome where it joyneth to the greater commeth forth one small whitish greene flower and sometimes two standing upon short footstalkes where afterward stand the berries which when they are ripe are very red very like unto the berries of the Yew tree wherein is a white hard seede like the other the roote consisteth of many long hard whitish strings growing from a head Fabius Columna maketh mention of another sort with larger tongues upon the leaves then the former Majoribus liguis which is as he saith much more rare to finde The Place It groweth upon hills and in woods in divers places both of Italy and Germany but is onely cherished in gardens with us The Time It flowreth in Iune and the berries are ripe in the end of September in the naturall places as in the warmer countries but I could never learne that any hath seene it beare his fruit in our Land The Names It is called in Greeke 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Hippoglossum 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 saepissime magnis plantis datur vel quia equinaÌ„ linguam imitatur vel grandeÌ„ but others think it should be moretruly called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Hypoglossum because of the small leaves like small tongues growing upon the greater the Latines keepe the name and call it Hippoglossum or Hypoglossum and some to expresse the Greeke name more fully in Latine Bislingua two tongues or double tongue some Lingua Pagana and of Apuleius Victoriola it is called also Bonifacia by Anguilara and Vvularia by Brunfelsius Lonicerus Tabermontanus and others Fuschius calleth it Daphne Alexandrina and Laurus Alexandrina as Tragus and divers others doe and Clusius himselfe confesseth he knew no other Laurus Alexandrina untill Simon de Tovar a Spanish Phisition did send him a branch with the berries of the right Lâ—rus Alexandrina to see which had no tongues or small leaves at all and was as I take it the Chamadaphne I have shewed you before and therefore he called this Laurus Alexandrina Theophrasti secunda Casalpinus calleth it Rusco affinis prima Columna maketh it to bee Idea radix Dioscoridis and Dalechampius to bee Laurus Taxa of Pliny which to be so he contendeth very seriously as it is set downe by Lugdunensis that Pliny in his 15. Booke and 30. Chap. numbreth up the severall sorts of true Bayes and then mentioneth those that are so called eyther of the Greeke or Latines from some likenesse of the leaves as Laurus Tinus Laurus Taxa Chamaedaphne Daphnoides and Laurus Alexandrina but Monardus thinketh that in stead of Laurus Taxa Laurus Fraxinea or Fraxinus Laurea should be read against which he contesteth and sheweth that no author ever made mention of any such Bay and that Pliny in the place before cited giveth a speciall note of Laurus Taxa that is to bee fit for trailes or borders in Gardens and that it hath a small leafe like unto a jagge or torne peece of a leafe growing in the middle of the other leafe and further that the appellation or name doth fitly agree therewith being called a Bay from the forme of the leafe and Taxa from the red berries like unto those of the Yew tree called Taxus This I have related to shew his judgement and reasons that others may allow or disallow thereof as they shall see cause but for mine owne part I thinke that Pliny in this as in divers other plants giveth two names and two descriptions of one and the same herbe following the severall authors hee read as Dioscorides Theophrastus and others and often confoundeth them and often also addeth or detracteth of his owne minde or the opinion of others in his time what he thought good for in his 27. Booke and 11. Chapter hee maketh mention of Hippoglossum which he saith hath leaves like unto the wild Mirtle having a small leafe like a tongue issuing from them which describeth this Hippoglossum as plainely as may be and as I said before there is not knowne any herbe but this that hath such small leaves or peeces of leaves growing upon the greater Lugdunensis sheweth that Dalechaâ—pius tooke it to be the Chamaedaphne of Dioscorides upon this ground peradventure that Dioscorides maketh no mention of Hippoglossum but if he had so meant he could not have forgotten these small leaves or tongues upon the greater the Italians call it Bislingua and Bonifacia the Spaniards Lengua de cavallo the French Bislingâ—s the Germans Zapflinkraut the Dutch Tongheâ—bladt and wee in English Horse tongue and double â—ogue The Vertues Horse tongue is thought to be hot and dry in the second degree It is held to be the most powerfull herbe that is to helpe the suffocations and others diseases of the mother to take the powder of the dryed leaves or roots in wine broth or
whose forme of leafe is more sharpe and pointed than others and not for the sharpe taste to cause that name the Sheepes Sorrell is called Lapatiolum and Acetosella by divers Clusius maketh mention of the first great sort and Lobel Dodonaeus and others of the second Lobel gave first of all others knowledge of the third and Columna of the fourth Bauhinus of the fift sixt and seventh Columna of the eight Prosper Alpinus in his Booke of Egyptian plants of he ninth of the tenth and last none hath made any mention before now Besterus in horto Eystetensi speaketh of the eleventh by the name of Acetosa vesicaria peregrina which Bauhinus calleth Acetosa Americana folijs longissimis pediculis donatis but of the twelfth sort if it be not the same with the second whereunto it is very like no author ever made mention before now and scarce is it knowne to any but the Gentleman of Anglesey called Mr. Morris Lloid of Prislierworth that found it on a mountaine in Wales and shewed it to Dr. Bonham in his life the thirteenth is called by Matthiolus Tenuifolia and so by Lonicorus Gesner Tragus almost all other writers of herbes in our later age and called Oxalis vervecina of Lobel and Ovina of others and arvensis lanceolata by Bauhinus the fourteenth is remembred by Montanus Gerard and Bauhinus All of them deservedly have the name of Sorrell because howsoever they are somewhat different in leafe or roote yet they all agree in the sourenesse although some more or lesse than others The Arabians as Serapiâ— saith call it Humaalh the Italians Acetosa the Spaniards Azederas Azederilha and Agrethas the French Aâ—ills or Oseille Saltelle Surelle and Aigrette the Germanes Sawrampffer the Dutch Surckcle and Surincke and we in English Sorrell The Vertues Sorrell is cooling and drying in the second degree and is prevalent in all hot diseases to coole any inflammation and heate of bloud in agues pestilentiall or chollericke or other sicknesses and fainting rising from heate and to refresh the overspent spirits with the violence of furious or fiery fits of agues c. to quench thirst and to procure an appetite in fainting or decaied stomackes for it resisteth the putrefaction of the bloud killeth wormes and is as a cordiall to the heart which the seede doth more effectually being more drying and binding and thereby also stayeth the hot fluxes of the menstrues or of humours in the bloudy flixe or fluxe of the stomacke the rootes also in a decoction or in powder is effectuall for the said purposes both rootes and seede as well as the herbe is held powerfull to resist the poison of the Scorpion so that he that shall eate thereof shall feele no paine being stung the decoction of the rootes is taken to helpe the jaundise and to expell gravell and the stone in the raines or kidneyes the decoction of the flowers made with wine and drunke helpeth the blacke jaundise as also the inward ulcers of the body or bowells A Syrupe made with the juyce of Sorrell and Fumiterrie is a soveraine helpe to kill the force of those sharpe humours that cause the itch the juyce thereof with a little Vinegar serveth well to use outwardly for the same cause and is also profitable for frettings and gallings of the skin many part and for tetters ringwormes c. it helpeth also to discusse the scrophules or kernells in the throate and the juyce gargled in the mouth helpeth the sores therein the leaves wrapped up in a Colewort leafe and roasted under the embers and applied to an hard empostume botch bile or plague sore both ripeneth and breaâ—eth it the juyce of Sorrell dropped into the eares of such as are hard of hearing helpeth oftentimes the distilled water of the herbe is of much good use for all the purposes aforesaid The lesser wilde Sorrell and so all the other are of the same qualitie and are no lesse effectuall in all the diseases before spoken of CHAP. XI Oxys Alleluja sive Trifolium acetosum Wood Sorrell THere are two sorts of Wood Sorrell the one familiar enough in many places of this Land the other 〈◊〉 stranger as farre as I can learne and onely cherished in the Gardens of those that are curious I have as I said brought these two sorts from their family where they might otherwise be ranked that iâ— among the Trefoiles for their propertie and name also in part 1. Trifolium acetosum vulgare Common Wood Sorrell The common Wood Sorrell groweth low upon the ground without any stalke rising from it having a â—ber of leaves comming from the roote made of three leaves like a Trefoile or Three leafed grasse but broade at the ends and cut in the middle of a faint yellowish greene colour every one standing on a long footestalke which at their first comming up are close folded together to the stalke but opening themselves afterwards and are of aâ— fine soure relish more pleasing than many of the former Sorrells and yeelding a juyce which will turne red when it is clarified and maketh a most daintie cleare Syrup among these leaves rise up divers slender weake footâ— stalkes not growing above them with every one of them a flower at the top consisting of five small and pointed leaves starre fashion of a white colour in most places or in 1. Trifolium Acetosum Vulgare Common Wood Sorrell 2. Oxys luteo flore Wood Sorrell with yellow flowers some dasht over with a small shew of blush and in some but on the backe side onely of any other colour although some have set downe that it beareth deepe coloured flowers I have not seene after the flowers are past follow small round heads with small yellowish seede in them the rootes are nothing but threads or small strings fastened to the end of a small long peece all of them being of a yellowish colour not perishing every yeare but abiding with some leaves thereon in the Winter 2. Oxys luteo flore Wood Sorrell with yellow flowers This Wood Sorrell shooteth forth divers slender weake reddish stalkes trailing upon the ground and taking roote at the joynts as they lie spread into many branches with many leaves on them standing singly one above another and made of 3. leaves cut in at the ends like the former but are much smaller and of a paler greene colour at the joynts with the leaves come forth three or foure small flowers together at the end of a long foote stalke yet each separate from other consisting of small and pointed leaves like the other but of a yellow colour the seede that followeth is brownish like the other but contained in smaller and longer heads like cods or hornes yet not crooked but pointed small which quickly fall away being touched when they are ripe and spring up againe all about where it grew it abideth the Winter withouâ— perishing if it be not too violent else they will rot and perish must be new sowne againe The Place The
the Lungs or distillations into the eyes it mightily also purgeth the braine from those humours that are the cause of the Appoplexie and Epilepsie or falling sicknesse it helpeth also to consume the superflâ—â—â— moysture of the head and braines that falling into other parts of the body is the cause of many diseases and muche trouble thereunto the powther of the dryed herbe or roote put up into the Nostrills procureth sneezing which oftentimes doth ease the head-ach the leaves or flowers bruised and made into a salve or poultiâ— with old Hâ—gâ— grease being applyed taketh away blacke and blew spots that come by stroakes or falls or bruises as also all other sores or blemishes in the skinne and is also good for the Goute and Sciatica The true Pelletory of Spaine is most commonly used for the toothach by the root it selfe or with other things to bee chewed in the mouth Galen saith it is to be used with oyle and rubbed on the parts that have shaking fits of Agues CHAP. XXIIII Raphanus Rusticanus Horse Reddish THe kinds of Garden Reddish I have Raphanus rusticanus Horse Reddish declaed in my former Book therefore need not to describe the againe but onely to shew you their Figures and with them the Horse Reddish whose first leaves that rise up before Winter are about a foote and a halfe long narrower and very much cut in or torne on the edges into many parts of a darke greene colour with a great rib in the middle but after these have beene up a while others follow which are greater rougher broader and longer whole and not divided as the first but onely somewhat roundly dented about the edges the stalke when it doth beare flowers as it doth but seldome is great rising up with some few lesser leaves thereon to the height of three or foure foote spreading at the toppe many small branches of whitish flowers made of foure leaves a peece after which come small pods like those of the lesser Shepherds purse but seldome with any seede in them the roote is great long white and rugged shooting up divers heads of leaves which may be parted for increase but it doth not creepe within the ground nor run above ground and is of a strong sharpe and bitterish taste almost as Mustard The Place It is found wilde in some places of this Land but is chiefly planted in Gardens where it joyeth in a moyst and shadowy place The Time It flowreth as I sayd but seldome but when it doth it is in Iuly The Names It hath no Greeke name that I can finde for if Dioscorides his Copies bee true it cannot bee his Raphanus sylvestris called by the Romans Armoracia for hee maketh the roote thereof to bee small and the leaves tender and fit to bee eaten which cannot agree hereunto yet Tragus is confident that it is the Armoracia of Pliny and thinketh withall that it is the Thraciaradix and Liothalassion of Theophrastus lib. 7. cap. 4. which Pliny referreth to the Turneps It is called Raphanus Rusticanus by Lobel and Raphanus vulgaris and Rusticanus by Matthiolus by Dâ—dâ—â—eus Laphanus magna and Radicula magna Armoracia aut Raphanus major by Brunfelsius Raphanus major by Tragus and Gesner Cordus upon Dioscorides and Lonicerus call it Thlaspi majus and magnum and Bauhinus doth in part so judge of it also for he calleth it Raphanus Rusticanus Thlaspi alterum Dioscoridis lib. 2. cap. 13. But Pliny in his 19. booke and 15. Chap. hath faulted much in reciting the kinds of Reddish with the Graecians to make three which he taketh out of Theophrastus lib. 7. c. 4. where he by the word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 doth not understand Reddish but Cabbage as the learned doe well know that reade him and that 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 with him is as it is thought Raphanus Reddish whereof in the same Chapter he mentioneth five sorts Corinthia Cleoâ—ea Liothalassia Beotia and mother wild sort with Rocket like leaves which Athenaeus calleth Amorhea and Pliny inverting the word Raphanus Raphanus vulgaris Ordinary Garden Reddish Raphanus niger rotuddiore redice The rounder rooted blacke Reddish to Napus calleth viridis the Corinthia saith Theophrastus is the greatest whose roote is bare above ground growing upwards and not downewards as the rest doe Liothalasia called of some Thracia doth best indure the cold Beotia is sweetest the forme being small and round when as the Cleonaea is somewhat long Now let any one referre all these sorts rightly to the kinds of Reddishes knowne to us erit mihi magnus Apollo The Italians call it â—amoracia the French Grand raphaim and grand raifort the Germans Merrettich and thereupon Tahoâ—â—â—tanus calleth it in Latine Raphanus marinus and some Krein or Kren the Dutch Meerradijs and wee in English Horse Reddish Mountaine Reddish and in the North greene Reddish but better I thinke Clownes Mustard for it is too strong for any tender stomacke The Vertues Horse Reddish is hot and drie in the third degree with the roote salt and vinegar is made a Mustard much used with country people and strong labouring men in some countries of Germany c. and in our owne land also but as I said it is too strong for tender and gentle stomackes for as Matthiolus saith to those that use it it hurteth the head and causeth sharpe and soure belchings but it is of much good use in the paines of the raines bladder and stone provoking much urine and helping to separate the gravell from the stone and to expell it being boyled with hony and vinegar into an Electuary it is also a good remedy in strong bodies both for the Cough the Tifficke and other diseases of the lunges as also to procure womens courses that are stopped the same also by provoking vomiting and sweating is often given before the fit of the quartane ague to alter the course the juyce given in drinke is held to be very effectuall for the scurvey t killeth the wormes in children being drunke as also being laid upon the belly the roote bruised and laid to the place grieved with the Sciatica-gout joynt-ach or the hard swellings of the spleene and liver doth wonderfully helpe them all the distilled water of the herbe and rootes is more familiar to be taken with a little Sugar for all the purposes aforesaid CHAP. XXV Rapistrum Wilde Rape or Charlocke IN this Chapter I shall shew you the sorts of wild Rape called Chadlocke or Charlocke with us whereof there are more sorts knowne at these times then formerly were to the ancient writers 1. Rapum sylvestre non bulbosum The wild Rape or Turnep The leaves hereof are very like the garden long Turnep but growing thicker and more plentifully from the roote and more crumpled and rough in handling the roote is long and slender in the rest it differeth not from it 2. Rapistrum aliud sylvestre non bulbosum Another wilde Turnep This other sort hath smaller leaves at the bottome not
the juice also put into hollow teeth easeth the paine the rootes in powther made up with a little pitch into a plaister and layd on the biting of a mad dog or any other venemous creature doth wonderfully helpe them the juice or the water dropped or tents wet therein and put into old and filthy deepe Vlcers or the powder of the roote in want of the other doth clense them and cause them to heale quickly by covering the naked bones with flesh the distilled water applyed to places pained with the Goute or Sciatica doth give a great deale of case the wilde Angellica is not so effectuall as the Gardens although it may safely bee used to all these purposes aforesaid the roote of the Garden Angellica is a better substitute in Theriaca Andromachi and 〈◊〉 then many other that have beene formerly accepted CHAP. XXXVII Imperatoria sive Astrantia Maisterwort OF this herbe there are two sorts the one well-knowne and the other set forth first by Camerarius in his Epitome on Matthiolus and Bauhinus after him in his Matthiolus 1. Imperatoria sive Astrantia vulgaris The common Masterwort Common Maisterwort hath divers stalkes of winged leaves divided into sundry parts three for the most part standing together at a small footestalke on both sides of the greater and three likewise at the end of the stalk each of which leaves are somewhat broad cut in on the edges into three or more divisions and all of them besides dented about the brims of a darke greene colour and doe somewhat resemble Angelica leaves at the first sight untill they bee better regarded and that they grow lower to the ground and upon lesser stalkes among which rise up two or three short stalkes in comparison of Angelica being about two foot high and slender with such like leaves at the joynts as grow below but lesser and with fewer divisions bearing umbells of white flowers and after them small thinne flat blackish seede bigger then Dill seede the roote is somewhat great and rather groweth sidewise then downe deepe into the ground shooting forth sundry heads which tasteth sharpe biting on the tongue and is the hottest and sharpest part of any of the rest of the plant and the seede next unto it being somewhat blackish on the outside and smelling well 2. Imperatoria Alpina Mountaine Maisterwort The mountaine Maisterwort groweth somewhat like the former but lesser in every part having nine leaves standing on each stalke by three and three but they are smaller and narrower and have fewer incisions in them but finely dented about the edges the flowers and seede are alike and the roote groweth in like manner with a blackish outside but is more sharpe and hot biting on the tongue then the former by much The Place and Time The first is found on sundry hils in Italy as also in Germany yet it is usually kept in Gardens with them as well as with us The other was found on the Alpes in Switzerland They flower and seede late with us as not untill the end of August The Names It is called by the latter Writers generally Imperatoria from the excellent vertues it hath yet many have referred that name to sundry plants of the Auncients not thinking that an herbe of such rare qualities should be unknowne to them and therefore Anguilara tooke it to be Ligusticum and Ruellius and Fuchsius to be Laserpitium yet not finding it fully to answer thereunto calleth it Laserpitium Germanicum Tragus referreth it to Smyrnium and calleth it Smyrnium hortense and Osteritium and yet nameth other herbes by that name also and Cordus in historia unto Struthion Matthâ—olus Gesner in hortis Lobel Lugdunensis Tabermontanus and others call it Imperatoria Brunfelsius Dodonaeus and Clusius call it Astrantia Camerarius Magistrantia and Caesalpinus Herba rena as the vulgar with him did The other Camerarius calleth Imperatoria vel Astrantia Alpina and saith the Germanes 1. Imperatoria sive Astrantia vulgaris Common Maisterwort 2. Imperatoris sive Astrantia Alpina Mountaine Maisterwort call it Bergstrents and the former Meisterwurtz and thence it is like they derived their Magistrantia We in English call it usually Maisterwort and by some Pelletory of Spaine but falsely The Vertues The roote of Maisterwort is hotter then pepper even to the third degree compleate and is of very subtile parts it is very availeable in all cold griefes and diseases both of the stomacke and body dissolving winde very powerfully both upward and downeward it is also used in a decoction with wine against all cold rheumes or destillations upon the lungs and shortnesse of breath to be taken morning and evening the same also provoketh urine and helpeth to breake the stone and expell gravell from the Kidneyes it procureth womens courses and expelleth the dead birth and is singular good for the strangling of the mother and other the like womens diseases it is effectuall also against the dropsie crampes and the falling sicknesse for the decoction in wine being gargled in the mouth doth draw downe much water and flegme from the braine thereby purging and easing it of what oppressed it it is of a rare qualitie against all sorts of cold poysons to be taken as there is cause either more or lesse and provoketh sweate the seede worketh to the like effect although not with the like efficacie if they can brooke the taste thereof and therefore many doe distill the water from both herbe and roote that they may take it with the better content the juice hereof dropped or tents dipped therein and applyed eyther to the greene wounds or rotten ulcers yea although they fret and creepe and be almost gangrenated and those also that come by envenomed weapons doth soone clense and heale them or if they be bathed with the distilled water the same also is very good to helpe the Goute comming of a cold cause Tragus saith that the decoction of the roote in wine being drunke doth revive the abilitie of generation being almost extinct which you may truly beleeve and try to be certaine as he saith but by his leave this is against Galens rule for hee saith that those things that are so hot to expell winde doe not helpe but hinder nature the other sort as I said before is more effectuall and in especiall for quartaine Agues to expell the dead child to purge the braine and to expell winde and helpe the Collicke CHAP. XXXVIII Podagraria sive herba Gerardi Goutwort or herbe Gerard. OF this herbe likewise there are two sorts the one knowne but to few yet the other is two well knowne especially where it getteth into any ground and although for their likenesse one to another divers have joyned this and the foregoing Maisterwort in one Chapter yet because they are differing plants in many notable parts I have thought good to part them into two 1. Podagraria vulgaris Common herbe Gerard. The common herbe Gerard is a low herbe seldome rising halfe a yard high having sundry
winter as Tragacantha doth is more hoary or woolly and spreadeth more abroad with the branches then Tragacantha which groweth more close and upright but agreeth therewith in the small leaves and sharpe thornes and in the roote which yeeldeth a gumme somewhat like to gumme Tragacantha but the Pimpinella spinosa hath both differing leaves branches and fruit with smaller and lesser prickly thornes and a dry saplesse roote which yeeldeth no gumme and abideth ever greene Now let others judge whether this be more fitly referred to Pimpinella spinosa as Bauhinus or to Tragacantha as Clusius doth who calleth it Tragacantha altera forte Poterion and so doe Lobel Tabermontanus Alpinus and Lugdunensis and Bellonius likewise as it is likely Bauhinus himselfe although he sever it from the Classis of Tragacantha yet calleth it Tragacantha affinis Matthiolus calleth it Poterium and so doth Tabermontanus and Lugdunensis Rauwolfius maketh it his first Tragacantha and Lugdunensis in his Appendix in the like sort after him the two last sorts are set downe by Rauwolfius in his second booke and in the said Appendix of Lugdunensis The Vertues I doe not finde that the leaves flowers seedes or rootes of Tragacantha are used to any purpose but onely the gumme it selfe which besides the physicall uses serveth to many purpoâ—es as a kinde of Starch or Glew to binde or stiffen things withall the gumme dissolved is often mixed with pectorall Syrupes hony or juice of Licoris to helpe the cough or hoarsenesse in the throate salt and sharpe distillations of rheume upon the Lungs being taken as an Electuary or put under the tongue so to distill gently downe the said gumme dissolved in sweet wine a dram at a time and drunke is availeable for the gnawing paines in the bowells and the sharpnesse and frettings of urine eyther in the reynes or bladder especially if some harts horne burnt and wast be mixed therewith the said gum also is an ocular medicine helping thereunto being used alone or mixed with other things for the purpose to allay the heate and sharpenes of hot rheums falling into them and strengtheneth and bindeth more then Sarcocolla the said gumme mingled with milke taketh away white spots growing in the blacke of the eyes the itching also of them and wheales and scabbes that grow upon the eyelids being somewhat terrified and mixed with the juice or wine of Quinces and used in a glister is good against the bloody flux And generally used where there is cause of making smooth any of these parts that is the Lungs Chest Throate or Windepipe growen hoarse or sharpe by rheumes or to represse or dry up defluxions of sharpe and thinne matter to the throate jawes c. as for Vlcers in any of these parts it is an excellent and approved remedy the rootes of the second which as I sayd is verily held to be the true Poterium of Dioscorides boyled in wine and drunke is profitable against the poyson of the red toade and being made into a pultis and applyed to any of the Nerves or Sinewes that are wounded cut or hurt doth heale them and soder them together as also all other sorts of wounds and cuts the said decoction of the rootes in wine is also effectuall for the said purposes to bee drunke and for inward wounds and veines that are broken CHAP. XIX Pimpinella spinosa Thorny Burnet THe thorny Burnet taken of divers to be Poterium but much differing therefrom as I have said before and shall here more presently spreadeth divers wooddy whitish twiggy stalkes round about not rising much above a cubit high branching and interlasing it selfe one within another very much bearing sundry winged leaves of many set together on both sides of a middle ribbe which upon the first appearing are closed together and afterwards spread themselves more largely and dented about the edges very like unto small Burnet leaves greene on the upper side and hoary white underneath with many small prickes or thornes not very strong or sharpe set confusedly upon the stalkes and at the ends at the toppes whereof and the branches stand divers small reddish greene flowers set together after which come small berries divers growing together like unto small Blackeberries or Mulberries greene at the first and reddish afterwards the roote is not great but long and slender spreading much under ground being tough and not easie to breake saplesse also or without any gum comming therefrom when it is broken The Place This groweth in Candy as Honorius Bellus saith and Alpinus also upon the hills where Time Savory and Asparagus grow and with them having Dodder growing upon it also and upon the side of mount Libanus in Syria as Rauwolfius saith and as Dalechampius saith in the vallies beneath the hilly woods in Savoy about Marra which is but a little distant from Gratianople but is never found in wet or marshy places The Time It flowreth in the end of Summer and the fruit is ripe in Autumne when the young leaves beginne to spring fâ—â—th The Names This plant is generally called Pimpinella spinosa and by Pimpinella spinosa Thorny Burnet some as is aforesaid Poterium but falsly for Poterium as you have heard before hath very strong and long white thornes the leaves are like Lentills the fruit are cods wherein lye the seede and the roote yeeldeth a kinde of gumme all which are contrary herein as you may perceive by the description the leaves hereof being dented about and in shew very like Burnet which together with the prickes hath caused the name of thorny Burnet Honorius Bellus in his second Epistle unto Clusius sheweth very learnedly and by sound and good reasons that this plant being called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Stoebeda not onely in Candy but of the Greekes in generall which name is but corrupted from Staebe is the true Staebe of Dioscorides although hee hath not given any description thereof but differeth much from the Staebe of Galen first because the names are so like then that the drying qualities herein are answerable to the Staebe of Dioscorides next hee sheweth that the Phleos of Theophrastus lib. 6. cap. 1. called also Staebe of some as he saith and not Phleum which is a marsh or water plant the affinitie of the names having deceived many learned men in taking them to be both one is numbred by him among the thorny plants that have thornes beside the leaves as this Burnet hath and not as Gaza translateth it at the thorny leafe hath another leafe placed with it comparing it therein unto Ononis and Tribulus and that Staebe is a thorny plant Plutarke in the life of Theseus sheweth where saying Ioxus the sonne of Menalippus taking care to plant a colony at Caria from whence the Ioxides had their originall have this custome among them that they neither burne the thornes of Asparagus nor of Staebe but have them in reverence and honour Aetius also in his third booke and 29. Chapter affirmeth that Epithymum or rather
drinesse the gumme is hot and dry in the first degree The leaves and young tender branches of the Iuniper tree or the juice of them or of the berries or the berries themselves taken in wine are very effectuall against the biting of a Viper or Adder as also against the Plague or Pestilence or any other infection or poyson the Germanes use it much for their Treakle is made of the condensate juice of the berries which they commend in all diseases almost both for inward and outward remedies the same also is profitable against the Strangury and stopping of the Vrine and so powerfull against the Dropsie that as Matthiolus saith hee hath knowne divers to avoyd so much water by Vrine by taking foure or five ounces at a time of the Lye made of Iuniper ashes that they have beene holpen thereby it doth also provoke womens courses being stayed and doth helpe the rising and other paines of the mother the berries are good for the stomacke and to dissolve the swellings and windinesse thereof and are likewise profitable for the cough and shortnesse of breath and other diseases of the Chest and Lungs and to ease the griping paines and torments in the belly they are also prevailent to helpe Ruptures Convulsions and Crampes to procure a safe and easie delivery unto women with child for which purpose Matthiolus adviseth to take seven Iuniper and seven Bay-berries halfe a dramme of Cassia lignea and a dram of Cinamon these being grossely bruised put them into the belly of a Turtle Dove to be rosted therewith let it be basted with the fat of an Hen whereof they are to eate every other evening The scrapings of the wood saith Dioscorides being eaten doth kill men which clause both Matthiolus and Tragus before him finde much fault with seeing it is contrary to the former part of the Text and thrust thereinto by others for as he saith neither the best copies have it therein neither doe Galen Paulus Aegineta nor Serapio who wrote wholly after Dioscorides his Text word for word make any such mention of the properties of the wood and more saith he it is found false by tryall made thereof but Scaliger in his 15. Booke and 18. exercise maintaineth the Text of Dioscorides in that although the decoction of the wood is wholesome yet the scraping or course powder by the drinesse thereof sticking to the guts doth suffocate in the same manner as Colocynthis which to bee rightly prepared must bee beaten and finely sifted least it cleave to the bowells and blister them the berries are very comfortable to the braine and strengthen the memory and sight and all the senses and the heart also being eyther drunke in wine or the decoction of them in wine taken the same also is good against a quartane and dissolveth the winde in the belly and in generall is effectuall for all diseases as well outward as inward proceeding of any cold cause if they shall take of the berries two or three times a weeke three or foure at a time in wine which must bee gathered in the fit time of the ripenesse moystned with and after fairely dryed upon a cloth the Salt made of the ashes of the Iuniper wood is a singular remedy for the Scurvey the putrefied and spongy gums and generally resisting all putrefaction The Chymicall oyle drawne from the berries while they are greene is as effectuall if not more to all the purpose aforesaid there is an oyle also drawne out of the Iuniper wood per descensum as they call it which is very good against the toothach and for the Goute Sciatica and resolution of the Nerves or Sinewes comming of cold The gumme of Iuniper is used like as Amber is to stay cold rheumaticke distillations defluxions and Catarrhes upon the eyes or Lungs c. the fumes thereof upon the burning on coales being taken into a cappe the head also holden in the meane time over the said fumes at night and to lie covered therewith or the powder thereof with other things fit for the purpose strewed upon Flax and to be quilted into a cappe to bee worne in the night chiefely and in the day also as neede shall require the said gumme in powder taken in wine doth stay vomitings inward bleedings and spitting of blood womens courses also and all other the fluxes of the belly and of the hemorrhoides or piles the same also killeth the wormes in children and mixed with some oyle oâ— Roses and Myrtles healeth the chappes of the fundiment kibes also and chilblanes on the hands and feet the powder of the gumme mixed with the white of an Egge and applyed to the forehead stayeth the bleeding at the nose the same also burned upon quicke coales and the fumes thereof taken thorough a funnell upon as akiâ— tooth taketh away the paine it is effectuall in moist Vlcers and Fistulaes and weeping running sores to dryâ— the moisture in them which hindereth their cure the liquid Varnish is an especiall remedy against scaldings with water or burnings with fire and to helpe the painefull and bleeding Piles and Palsie Crampes Convulsions 〈◊〉 the Nerves and Sinewes The smoake of Iuniper wood being burned besides that it yeeldeth a good sent to peâ—fume any house it is of good use in the time of infection and driveth away all noysome Serpents Fliâ— Waspes c. the ashes of the wood or barke made into a Lye with water doth cure all itches scabbes pustules or other eruptions in the skinne yea and the Lepry also if the places be bathed therewith The Germanes Treakle of Iuniper berries is made in this manner Take what quantitie you will of fresh but ripe Iuniper berries bruise them and boyle them in a reasonable quantitie of water untill they be well boyled straine and presse them hard in a presse which pulpe and liquor set to the fire againe in a glased earthen vessell and evaporate away so much of the humiditie stirring of it continually as untill it become of the thicknesse of an Electuary which then put into pots or glasses to be kept for your use whereof a small quantitie taken morning and evening doth wonderfully helpe them that are troubled with the stone in the Reines or Kidneyes with the Chollicke with the paines of the mother and the stoppings of their courses is good against Catarrhes and rheumes the shortnesse of breath and winde the straightnesse of the breast the cough the cruditie rawnesse and indisposition of the stomacke against the Plague and other infectious diseases for it preserveth and defendeth the heart and vitall spirits from infection and venome and against swownings and faintnesse the paines swimming and giddinesse in the head against frensie also and madnesse for inflammations and rheumes into the eyes and preserving the sight deasenesse in hearing and stench of the gums mouth or breast helpeth the Dropsie Jaundies Falling sicknesse Palsie and Goute healeth inward Impostumes in briefe it not onely helpeth all diseases wherewith the body is possessed
thicke middle rib running through the middle all the length of them and being reddish about the edges which are sharpe like the Iris leaves abiding alwayes greene from among the leaves at the heads come forth long footestalkes of about a footes length branched forth into other lesser stalkes bearing at certaine spaces divers fruites or berryes in clusters for the flowers have not beene observed each of them like unto a small Cherry of a sowrish or tart taste and of a yellowish colour when they are ripe with a stone within them very like a Cherry stone and a like kernell also but here is no shew of any Dragon here in to be seene as Monardus fableth and others that from him have set it forth which sheweth how necessary it is to have judicious and conscionable men to be the first relators of strange or unknowne things out of this tree being slit or bored commeth forth a thicke not cleare as Matthiolus saith darke red gumme or Rossin which hardneth quickely and will melt at the fire and flame being cast therein yet somewhat dryly being bruised it sheweth a very orient red crimson or bloody colour yet is very hardly mixed with any liquour eyther water or oyle the wood is very hard and firme and hardly admitteth to bee cut but the younger branches are more tender What if Master Hamonds flesh tree growing in Magadascar set forth in his Paradox yeelding liquor like blood may not prove to be this tree if the tendernesse of the wood cutting as he saith like flesh either hinder not the identity or be not an hyperbole The Place and Time This tree groweth in the Islands both of Madera and the Canaries and in Brassill also as I am given to understand where it groweth vast but Clusius saith that he found it in the Orchard belonging to the Monastery of our Lady of grace in Spaine planted among some Ollive trees on a small hill the Time is not expressed This is so tender that although it hath sprung with us from the stones that were set yet it would scarse endure to the end of Summer but perished with the first cold nights The Names It is most probable that neither Dioscorides nor any of the ancient Greeke or Latine Authours had any knowledge of this tree or could give any description thereof but of the gum or Rossin onely yet neither knew whether it came from herbe or tree or was a minerall of the earth but called it 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in Greeke and thereafter Cimnabaris in Latine Dioscorides saith that it was so scarse to be had that the Painters could not get sufficient for their workes but yet saith some called it Sanguis draconis so ancient is the name and by which onely the moderne Writers are led to thinke that the gumme of this tree continuing the name to this day the rest of this declaration agreeing likewise thereunto is the right Cinnabaris of Dioscorides but Pliny in his 33. Booke and 7. Chapter for the elder world hath fabled no lesse then Monardus from his Bishop of Carthage in this as is aforesaid and set it downe for a truth that Cinnabaris is no other thing but the blood of a Dragon or Serpent crusht to death by the weight of the dying Elephant killed by him and that both their bloods mingled togethers was the Sanguis draconis that the Painters used and was also used in medicines Iulius Solinus also affirmeth the same thing but assuredly the true cause of the name hereof was the bloody colour that the gum gave however they coloured the truth from others knowledge by the name of a Dragon The Vertues There is no part of this tree put to any use in Physicke with any that I know but the gum onely yet no doubt in the naturall places or where it groweth both barke and fruite might be applyed for such like diseases as the gumme is put unto which is very astringent serving to restraine the fluxe of blood or humours from any parts both in man and woman as laskes the menstrues whites and the gonorrhea it is also said to helpe the strangury and stoppings of the urine to fasten loose teeth and is very availeable for the gummes are spongy or with loose flesh it is good also to stay the watering of the eyes and to helpe those places that are burnt with fire The Goldsmiths and Glasiers use it much in their workes the one for an enamell and to set a foile under their pretious stones for their greater luster and the other by fire to strike a crimson colour into glasse for Windowes or the like I doe not know that Painters can bring it to be a fit colour to be used in their workes CHAP. XCII Cedrus magna Conifera Libani The great Cedar of Libanus THe rest of the Arbores resinifferae those trees that beare Rossins are to follow which are these that beare Cones being the great Cedar the Pine tree and all the sorts thereof both tame and wild the Pitch tree the Firre tree the Larch tree the Cypresse and the Arbor vitae or tree of life and first of the great Cedar This great Cedar groweth up with a great thicke upright body taller then any other tree whatsoever stored with branches on all sides but so ordered that the lower branches spread largest and still upward they grow smaller up to the toppe representing the forme of a Pyramid or Sugar loafe to them that view it a farre of the greater and lowest branches with the body are somewhat rugged and full of chappes but that of the upper branches is very Cedrus magna Conaea Libani The great Cedar of Libaijus smooth and of an ash colour and being rubbed away with ones nailes appeareâ—h greene underneath and reddish under that the branches soâ—e say grow all upright but others straight out and as it were crosse wise strong but brittle and easie to be broken not to be bended and so placed about the body one above another that they yeeld an easie ascent up to the toppe as it were by steps the leaves grow many together out of a knot which are small long and narrow like unto those of the Larch tree somewhat hard but not sharpe at the end as they are and so set the longest being in the middle and the lesser on the sides that they represent the forme of a Painters pensell abiding alwayes greene on the trees being somewhat sweete in sent a little sowre bitter and astringent in taste it beareth Cones that grow upright like as the Firre doth not hanging downe as others doe slenderer then those of the Pitch tree and thicker greater and harder then those of the Firre somewhat yellowish and round at the end made of many scales with a short footestalke to it but so firmely set to the branch that without breaking away some of the wood of the branch it cannot be pulled away yet the scales opening of themselves will fall away leaving the stalke bare
and saith that he had seene divers such great peeces that had not attained their true sent And although the Ethiopian coast from Mozamlique and Sofala to the Islands of Maldiva and beyond them to the East doe most abound with Ambergrise yet are not the coasts of the West Indies in sundry places without it nor yet these of Europe in severall parts and even our owne and the Irish coasts have yeelded it oftentimes and in severall peeces and quantity yet neither so much nor so great as in other Countries for Garcias ab Orta saith the greatest peece that ever he saw was a peece of fifteene pound weight but there hath beene seene as it is set downe by Authours some peece well neere an hundred pound weight For the choyse thereof seeing there is much variety in the colour and some in the substance as white more or lesse or gray lighter or darker or enclining to rednesse or blackenesse that which is not very white as being usually very dry but grayish more or lesse and either with spots and veines or without so as it be fat that is upon a knives point or such like thing heated will shew oylie is accounted the best having the peculier sent belonging thereto which is most neere unto dry cow dung in my opinion the blacke sort is the worst The properties of Ambergrise are these it is hot and dry in the second degree it warmeth resolveth and strengtheneth what way soever it be taken it easeth the paines in the head being dissolved in a warme morter and mixed with a little oyntment of Orenge flowers the temples and forehead being annoynted therewith it comforteth also the braine warmeth and resolveth the cold defluxions of humours thereon and on the nerves and sinewes it doth likewise comfort and strengthen the memory the vigour also and spirits of the heart it is singular good for women troubled with the mother to be applyed to the place it helpeth barrennesse proceeding from a cold cause it is conducible to Epilepticke persons to smell often thereunto which causeth their fits to be both lesse violent and permanent it doth most conveniently agree with aged persons to warme comfort and strengthen their cold decayed spirits adding vigour and lustinesse to them and is accounted conducible to venereous actions CHAP. IV. Amomum Amomum EVen as I said before of Lignum Aloes and in the last Classis of the true Balsamum so much more may be said of Amomum that the foregoing times for many ages had utterly lost the knowledge thereof and is yet to this day held doubtfull as the Balsamum is with many learned men both in other and our owne Country whether the right be to be found in rerum natura or no and therefore formerly many did obtrude divers things for it as the Rosa Hiericutitina by some and Pescolumbinus by others which is a kind of Cranes bill called Doves foote both which errors Matthiolus hath sufficiently confuted Quatranius also took the Myrtus Brabantica our Gaule to be it and then as Matthiolus saith a small seed came to be taken for it and therefore called Amomum Germanicum but Garcias ab Orta who lived many yeares in the East Indies declareth that he saw a branch of Amomum which the Physitions of Nizamalucco the King of Decan gave him being brought as they said among other drogues out of Asia Persia and Arabia for the Kings use which as he saith he found agreeable to Dioscorides his description there of and withall was very like unto a Doves foote and called Hamama by the Arabians which signifieth the same thing that is a Doves foote but both he and Valerandus Doures were deceived with the same thing brought from Ormus in being so taken there generally both the Amomum Amomis are set forth in the figures by Clusius in his Scholia on the same place in Garcias and here also All these opinions and every of them are utterly false and no way answering the truth of the thing and Dioscorides his description for of late dayes there hath been sent to Venice from the East Indies by one Martinellus a famous and curious Italian in the search of rare drogues the true Amomum which although it hath beene opposed by divers learned men yet Maroneus of Padoa hath in a little treatise thereof so exemplified it and comented upon every part of it and comparing Dioscorides with Pliny together that it is now generally accepted of almost every where to be the right and genuine thing the description whereof I meane so much as was sent is on this wise It is a bunch or cluster of whitish round berries somewhat like unto Grapes for the outward forme and bignesse but else very like unto Cardamomes within yet bigger and rounder having within the outer whitish thinne shell or skinne sundry blackish browne seedes close Amomum genuinum spurium True and false Amomum 2. Amomum aliud quorundam Garyophyllâ—m Plinij Elusie suspicatum Another sort of bastard or false Amomum suspected by Clusius to be Pliny his Garyophyllon thrust together very like to the inner seedes of Cardamomes but larger and of somewhat a fiercer piersing sent smelling somewhat like unto oyle of spike which made Clusius to thinke it had beene seasoned therewith and of a sharpe hot and quicke taste The properties whereof are these It is heating binding and drying procuring sleepe and rest and easing paines in the head being applyed to the forehead it digesteth and discusseth inflammations and Imposthumes and helpeth those that are stung by Scorpions being used with Bassill it helpeth gouty persons and mervailously easeth the griping paines in the belly and bowels by reason of wind to swallow three or foure of the seeds and for the mother in women taken in that manner or made into a pessary and so used or else in a bath it is convenient both for the liver and reines and is an ingredient of chiefe account in great Antidotes that are preservatives The false or bastard Amomum which as it is likely is the same that Garcias saith was held for true in the Indies and which Clusius saith in his Annotations upon that Chapter of Amomum of Garcias Valerandus Donres received from Ormus is by him thus described They were like the toppes of some bushes consisting of a number of small branches so thicke set with very small leaves that scarse any stalkes could be seene but leaves onely somewhat like unto the stalke with leaves of the sea Spurge the ends of them so closed that they did in some sort resemble a flower or Rose and the whole branches together the foote of a feather footed Dove from which likenesse it is probable arose the falsification this had no singular good sent or taste to commend it The very like hereunto saith Clusius he received at Vienna in Austria from Constantinople which they there used for Amomum 2. Amomum aliud quorundam Garyophyllon Plinij a Clusio suspicatum
in the one side a hard gristly seed as hard as an horne almost the other being for the most part empty hanging downe together by their long footestalkes it yeeldeth forth also a gumme or Rossin of a darke colour which will easily burne it groweth in sundry places of the West Indies where they call it Guayacan and wee in Latine thereafter Guajacum by some Lignum Sanctum and Lignum Indicum and taken by some to be a kinde of Ebony for the firmenesse and weightinesse others a kind of Boxe But as I have said heretofore in sundry places of this Worke most of the Trees and Herbes that grow in the Indies are differing from those that grow in Europe Guajace Occiduo similis arbor A West Indian tree like Guajacum The branch of this tree I have here exhibited unto you as Lobel hath set it forth before not having had the like brought since his dayes that I know which sheweth a more supine negligence in all our Sea men then heretofore was usuall which he hath described in this manner The tree is great from whence this was taken growing upright whose barke was like unto that of the Iudas tree the greene leafe of the forme of a Pomecitron leafe but thicke and smooth like unto the Bay but larger and shorter with sundry veines running therethrough at the toppes of whose branches grow cods of a leather like substance and round forme in a manner flat like a peece of mony in whose middle is contained flattish seed like unto a Lentill both for colour and forme and bitterish taste Falum Sanctum Indiae Occiduae A differing Indian Guajacum Lobel hath remembred this also in his Adversaria after this fashion Divers have thought this to be a Palme like the last or Palus Sanctus a stake of such a holy tree which yet is differing from it or Guajacum howsoever it was so signified for the tree is not very great like unto an Ash but smaller and the barke much like it in colour the leaves were like Plaintaine leaves but thicker fatter smaller and shorter the fruite was of the bignesse of a Wallnut which served them to purge their bodies The diseases for which the usuall Guajacum is appointed that is both the wood the barke and gum are sundry helping all cold flegmaticke and windy humours and although they are good and with effect used for Epilepsies or the falling sicknesse catarrhes rheumes and cold destillations on the lungs or other parts coughes also and consumptions the gout and all other joynt aches and many other the like diseases and to make the teeth white and firme if they be often washed with the decoction thereof yet was it first onely used for the French disease as we and the Spaniards call it the Neaepolitane as the French call it the Spanish pippe as the Germans call it but as it is indeed the Indian contagion for when Christophorus Colonus commonly called Columbus first opened the West Indies to the Spaniards they companying with the Indian women got this their familiar and naturall country disease from them and brought it with them from Santo Doningo being the first place the Spaniards possessed there unto the King of Spaines campe which was then at Naples treating of a peace with the French King in Anno 1493 bringing of the Natives with them both men and women The Physitions in those times not knowing this disease or the causes thereof were of divers opinions some taking it to proceed from the corrupt victailes that the souldiers were forced to eate which bred melancholicke and adust blood and humours others to the conjunction of Saturns and Mars and thereupon not knowing it to be a new disease they called it by divers names as the Leprosie the running scabbe the poxe and the like referring it to some of the ancient knowne diseases but all in vaine the cure hereof by this wood first was knowne from whence it first sprung for a Spaniard being plagued with this disease having an Indian that played the Leech to be his servant was cured thereof by drinking the decoction of the wood given him by the Indian which cure was presently divulged not onely to the rest of the Spaniards in the Indies but in Spaine also and so consequently to the whole world CHAP. XXXII Hermodactylus Hermodactiles HErmodactiles are to be numbred among the unknowne Drugges the shame of the Physitions in all ages and countries who although they put of the matter to the Apothecaries and the Apothecaries to the Merchants that bring many sackes full into their Countries with other commodities but they also take no further care to know what they are or where or how they grow to declare it should be skillfull in the knowledge of all Plants and should give order that the unknowne might be made more manifest but what doe I in so saying runne my Barke on the Rockes and put her in danger of splitting Divers of the later Writers as well Greekes as Arabians and Latines have made mention of the Hermodactile although none of the Ancients and have set downe the properties well knowne by experience unto them but no one hath ever declared either the place or manner of the growing thereof but onely Mesuas who maketh a shew of description which is almost as good as nothing saying it is a roote of a mountaine herbe whereof some are long like a finger and are round white both within and without which every one may see by the sight but that any should be long like a finger is but rather his supposition from the name then that he ever saw such indeed and therefore divers have imagined diversly some taking them to be the rootes of Colchicum but they are dangerous if not deadly besides the unlikenesse in forme colour and substance others take the Deus Caninus to be they but they are more unlikely for they are small and long not thicke and short as the Hermodactiles are besides the quality no way agreeth therewith Matthiolus first tooke the Orchis Serapias called Palma Christi the handed testicle to be they because the word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 signifieth Hermetis or Hermidactyles Hermes fingers and these rootes being like the fingers of ones hand may well be so called but having himselfe refused this errour he fell into another as bad taking Iris tuberosa the Velvet Flower de luce to be Hermodactiles for the same cause that the rootes thereof runne out like fingers which are such silly opinions that he may justly be beaten with his owne rod that is be taxed as he doth others that in referring Plants doe not examine and well perpend each part rather then any one before they determine of any thing for Hermodactiles notwithstanding the Etimology of the word have no shew or likenesse of fingers but are small and somewhat flat thicke and short white rootes yet some are blackish which are not good of the fashion almost of an heart as it is painted on the
is another courser sort made by boyling the branches and scumming of the uppermost fatnesse that is gathered there which is thought to be that Storax liquida that is usually sold in the Druggists and Apothecaries shops out of the first sort while it is fresh and laid in the Sunne there droppeth a certaine cleare reddish yellow oyle called the oyle of Liquid Amber and of some that know no other Liquid Amber it selfe which because it is the purer part is more effectuall and of the milder sent some using it with other sweetes to perfume gloves withall but is of singular good use either of it selfe or mixed with other things to comfort and warme a cold moist braine used like unto an oyntment and easeth all paines and griefes that rise of a cold cause being applyed thereto it wonderfully comforteth and strengthneth a weake stomacke helping digestion and procuring an appetite but more effectually if it be mixed with some Storax and a little Muske and Amber and laid as a plaister to the stomacke it likewise is profitable in all cold griefes of the mother warming mollefying and dissolving all tumours and opening the obstructions and the courses that are stopped it is hot almost in the third degree and moist in the first CHAP. XXXVI Macer Graecorum The Graecians Macer MAny taking Macer to be Macis and both one thing have erred egregiously for of Macer Dioscorides Galen and Pliny have written and shewed the faculties but of Macis which is one of the barkes or coverings of the fruite of the Nutmegge tree they have not made any mention being a thing utterly unknowne unto them for if they had knowne it they must needes have heard and knowne of the Nut or Nutmegge whose covering it is but Macer is as they all say a yellowish barke which must needes be understood of some tree Galen saith that Macer is of a cold and earthly essence and but little hot but Macis is of much heate and no cold And Pliny saith plainely that it is the barke of a great roote and Avicen and Serapio both knew the difference and entreate of them distinctly in severall Chapters calling this Thalisofar This Macer being called Macre by the Indians as Acosta saith is a vaste and large spread tree the barke onely of whose rootes they use greater then any Elme whose leaves are sixe or seven inches long and two inches broad of a pale greene colour on the upperside and deeper greene on the underside bearing a small yellow fruite no bigger then a penny heart fashion tasting like an Allmond or Peach kernell covered with a double thin transparent skin like a bladder close joyned together and growing out of the middle of a leafe which is as bigge as the rest on the tree but that it is a little rounder pointed and narrower towards the stalke being of a colour betweene red and yellow and crumpled with divers veines therein and like unto the bladders of the Elmetree leaves every part of this tree giveth milke as the Mulberry tree doth and hath very great and faire spread rootes like the Ilex or Evergreene Oke covered with a thicke rugged and hard barke of an ash colour on the outside and white within full of milke while it is fresh but turning yellowish when it is dryed very astringent and a little sharpe or biting withall which vanisheth quickely it loveth to grow in moist sandy grounds and killeth all the herbes that would grow about it and is found in Malabar Cochin Cranganor and many other places and Islands in the East Indies the Portugals call it Arbore de las Cameras and some Arbore de Sancto Thome and Macruyre The barke of the roote is used much in all the Hospitalls and of great account with the Indians to cure laskes and fluxes of the belly or blood and give it either in pouther mixed with some sowre milke or steeped in whey all night and taken in the morning and sometimes if it be needfull as Acosta saith they put some Opium to it to make the medicine the stronger and the Arabians put both Opium and Nutmegs to it and so cure them the said barke also stayeth vomitings or castings and strengthneth the weake stomacke CHAP. XXXVII Manna granata liquida Manna in hard graines and liquid or thin MAnna is of two sundry sorts the one hard and in peeces either greater or lesser the other liquid or thin like the thinner or at least lesse thicke hony yet some have thought that the Manna thuris was that Manna that was used in shops but Monardus in one of his Epistles confuteth that errour shewing that it is but the small peeces and dust of the Thus or Ohbanum that became so by the bruising and rubbing of one peece against another in the carriage Of the dryer or hard sort there is some diversity for that which is gathered in Arabia differeth from that in Persia and called Transchibil Arabica being in small graines somewhat like unto Coriander seed and is gathered as Ranwolfius saith from those trees the Arabians call Agull or Alhagi Another sort is reddish and gathered from herbes and plants That of Persia is called Xircast that is Alia rubra Persiana Lac arborum the milke of trees and is white like that of Calabria whereof some is as small as Hempeseed others as big as Allmond Comfits yet Garcias saith that the liquid sort is so called by them Another sort is gathered in Armenia in great lumpes as Ranwolfius saith of a brownish colour Another sort is affirmed by Aphrodiseus Armeniac◠cited by Niger that falling as an honie dew on mount Libanus in Syria is by the heat of the Sunne congealed into a hard Sugar which the Inhabitants call Sacchar for whence came the Latine word Saccharum Syriaca All these sorts are recorded by sundry Authours some contrarying one another as is aforesaid and might be much more amplyfied if this place were fit for it and therefore as I take it I have taken the truer reports but whereas some have thought that some of these smaller white sorts might be the Manna of the Israelites wherewith they were fed and therefore called bread and that from heaven yea Angels food not that Angels feed thereon but 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 per excellentium the choysest and chiefest for forty yeares together in the wildernesse of Sinai and Arabia it sheweth that such have had little conversation with the holy Scriptures as a learning not fit for them to understand which is flat against such conceites divers wayes First that this of theirs had no purging but a nutritive quality secondly it was not so Sugar sweete as ours in taste thirdly it fell not on certaine dayes that is on their Sabbaths although it did all the weeke after fourthly it fell all the yeare long and not the Summer onely as our Manna doth fifthly it vanished away as soone as the Sunne grew hot upon it but ours is condensate thereby
men and the whites in women applyed also to Maides or womens great brests mixed with the juyce of Puâ—slane abateth their greatnesse and represseth their overmuch growing CHAP. XLVIII Pseudosantalus Cretica Abolicea dicta Bastard red Saunders of Candy THis tree groweth in Candy and made Pseudosantalus Cretica Abolicea dicta Bastard red Saunders of Candy knowne to Alpinus whose figure was sent him as I here shew it you with this description following It is a tree that groweth to a reasonable great height straight upright furnished with many armes and branches very beautifull to behold set with faire greene leaves one at a place like unto those of Alaternus but rounder and deeplier endented about the edges the flowers were not observed what forme or colour they bore but the fruite was round and of the biggenesse of Pepper cornes of a darke greenish colour which were not perfectly ripe when this tree was found The wood it selfe is somewhat sweete hard and reddish so that it seemed like red Saunders especially being made into pouther from whence I thinke saith he it may not unfitly be called Bastard red Saunders of Candy some of the wood saith Pona hath beene brought into Italy and there sold for Saunders but it differs from it in that it is nothing so heavy as the true red Saunders is CHAP. XLIX Sassaphras The Sassafras or Ague tree THe first knowledge of this Sassafras or Ague tree came by the French to our Christian world and to the Spaniards by driving out the French who had seated themselves somewhat neere the Florida which they claimed for themselves for they having gotten Agues and swellings in their legges and other diseases by lying on the ground in the open aire by bad victualls and raw drinke of water as the French before them had by a French man that remained among them were taught the use of this tree which he and his Country men had learned before of the Natives to helpe themselves in these extremities some Indians call the tree Pavame and some Winanke but the French whom the Spaniards and all other Nations since that use it follow Sassafras upon what ground or cause is not knowne The tree groweth great and tall bare of branches unto a reasonable height covered with a grayish browne barke somewhat thicke being in taste hotter and quicker then the wood or roote by much towards the toppe it spreadeth forth many goodly armes and branches into a round compasse or forme having large darke greene leaves growing thereon one at a place standing on the contrary side each to other tasting like the roote but more weakely some cut into three divisions somewhat resembling Figge tree leaves but lesser by the halfe for the most part with a middle ribbe running through each division and two others to the inner cuts with veines besides and some with little or no division at all upon them for both sorts wee have seene growing on the same tree smooth also and not dented about the edges the flowers are small and yellow made of threds very like to the Male Cornel tree as Master Iohn Tradescant saith and the fruite small blackish berries set in small cups upon Sassafras The Sassaphras or Ague tree long footestalkes many clustring together the rootes are not very great nor grow deepe in the like manner as all other sorts of Indian trees doe but are covered with the like brownish barke that the trunke and branches are but somewhat redder which are most in use being of greater force and efficacy then any other part of the tree and taste somewhat spicelike rellishing Fennell seede withall but Clusius compareth the taste thereof unto the herbe Tarragon and is hot and dry in the beginning of the third degree The decoction whereof is familiarly given in all cold diseases and obstructions of the Liver and spleene as also in cold rheumes and defluxions of the head on the teeth eyes or lunges warming and drying up the moisture and strengthning the parts afterwards and therefore is availeable in coughes and other cold diseases of the brest stomacke and lungs and restraineth castings and helpeth digestion breaketh and expelleth winde the gravell and stone in the kidneyes and provoketh urine and womens courses it also warmeth heateth and dryeth up the moisture of womens wombes which is in most the cause of barrennesse and causeth them to be the more apt to conceive it is of especiall good use in tertian and quotidian agues that come of humours or are of long continuance it is thought also to be good in the time of the pestilence to weare some thereof continually about them that the smell of it may expell the corrupt and evil vapours of the pestilence it is generally used in all the diseases that come of cold and raw thin and corrupt humours the French disease and other of the like foule nature the Indians use the leaves being bruised to heale their wounds and sores of whatsoever quality they be CHAP. L. Spermacaeti Parmasitty SPermacaeti that is the spawne of the Whale usually called in English Parmasitty is found in the head of one onely sort of Whale fish called Trumpa which hath no finnes in his mouth but teeth about a spanne long and as thicke as ones wrist it lyeth in a hole therein as it were a Well which is taken out and brought home after their fishing for Whales in barrels and is afterwards pressed in a presse that the thinne oyle may runne from the thicker substance which is that Parmasitty we use and the more it is pressed the whiter it will be and of little or no smell yet the oyle is somewhat strong this sort of Whale hath but one hole in the head whereby it spouteth out water all other sorts having two his head is bigger then others and bigger then his whole body besides which is also of a more gray colour in this Whales entralls Ambergreise is said often to be found in more plenty then in other which it is more likely that they swallow as food finding it swimming on the Sea water then that it should breed in them as diverse have supposed for I have here shewed you the generation of Ambergreese this Whale also yeeldeth a kind of oyle as other Whales doe but it groweth both white and hard when it is cold when as all other are liquid like oyle and never glow hard like it and therefore it is alwayes kept by it selfe and not put to others CHAP. LI. Tacamahaca The Gum Tacamahaca THis Gum which the West Indians call Tacamahaca the Spaniards and all other Nations retaining the same name is said to be gathered from a great tree like unto a Poplar that is very sweete having a red fruite or berry like unto those of the Peony more we cannot as yet learne of it The Gumme is of good and much use for outward remedies not being knowne to be given inwardly for any infirmity although I doubt not but that it might safely and to good purpose
Epilepsie or falling sicknesse in the younger sort the pouther thereof hath beene often found to cause women to have a speedy delivery and to take away the passion and faintings in their tedious travailes being taken either in wine or in some Orenge flower water the continuall use thereof 〈◊〉 beene tryed to amend a cold and weake stomake and to helpe such as could digest no meate the like use 〈◊〉 given remedy and perfect cure to those that have beene bursten so that they have not used any Trusse 〈◊〉 themselves being perfecty helped thereby CHAP. LXXIII Fabe sive Phaseoli purgantes Purging Beanes MOnardus speaketh of certaine purging Beanes that grow about Cartagena and Nombre de Dios very like unto our ordinary Beanes but lesser with Fabae sive Phaseoli purgantes Purging Beanes a thinne outer skinne dividing it in the middle which was to be cast away least it might procure too violent evacuation both upward and downeward even to the hazard of life With the Indians this is a famous and familiar medecine purging without trouble flegme and choller and grosse humors and that very gently the quantity to be taken is from foure of them or more according to every ones abilitie but you must regard that every one of them bee rosted well before they be used but Clusius saith he could never see such beanes as are here described but hath had a certaine kind of Phaseoli Kidney beanes sent him under the name of Fabae purgatrices whose figure is here exhibited being round and flat on both sides about a fingers thicknesse and two in breadth or more yet a little hollow on that side where it grew to the huske the outer haske is hard and in a manner woody smooth and of a darke red colour being white and of a firme substance within parting into two as most other pulses do of the like taste also at the first but quickly hot and sharpe upon the tongue from whence commeth as it is likly the purging quality because in some sort these resemble the forme of a heart therefore some called them Cor Divi Thomae Saint Thomas hearts and besides because they grow in Saint Thomas Island Clusius thinketh that this is the Beane of the Phasiolus Brasilinus whose pods I have shewed you in page 1057. Avellanae purgatrices Monardus also speaketh of purging nuts which he calleth Avellanae purgatrices which grew in Santo Domingo that were very like unto Hasell nuts but three square and browne on the outside with a tough thin shell the kernell being white and sweete withall whereby many were deceived for they purge very violently both upwards and downewards choller and flegme even almost to the danger of life which by roasting of them before the taking is avoyded they helpe the Chollicke and expell winde and are often put into glisters for that purpose but I have knowne a glister given in this manner to good purpose a glister being ready to be given with a bladder the small end of a Tobacco pipe was put into the bladder and tyed but so that it might bee drawne closer after the pipe is pulled out that had Tobacco in the Bole which onely blowing the smoake thereof into the bladder and so given hath given present ease CHAP. LXXIIII Faalim Theveti Mombazas Antidote or Counterpoyson ANdraeas Thevet mentioneth this herbe in his Cosmography to grow in the Island of Mombaza having many long leaves like unto Faalim Theveti Mombazas Antidote or Counterpoyson Elecampane which Island as it aboundeth with many singular good herbes both for meate and medecine so it doth also with venomous Serpents for whose remedy it is also especially provided of other powerfull herbes among whom this one is accounted a principall the experience whereof saith hee I have seene upon divers people bitten by a most virulent Serpent there called Alefah partly living in the waters and partly upon land whose venome was present death if the patient were not suddenly succored herewith CHAP. LXXV Herba Malucana The poore mans Chirurgery THis herbe riseth usually to be two or three cubits high but in more fertile places to be above five cubits of a fresh greene colour the stalke is slender weake and hollow leaning unto something to uphold it or else it will lye on the ground where it will take roote againe it spreadeth into sundry branches having tender soft leaves thereon like in forme and bignesse unto Elder leaves but dented about the edges the flowers are like Camomill but all yellow and greater it is greene all the yeare through those of Canaria call it Brungara aradua and the vulgar sort Poore mens remedy and Chirurgions bains because the common people of India doe generally plant it being naturally of Maluca and use it for all hurts eyther alone or mixed with other things that serve for the purpose the manner whereof is thus They boyle the bruised leaves in oyle which after it is well boyled and strained they make an ointment thereof with a little yellow Wax and herewith they dresse their sores be they old or young blooddy putrid malignant or fistulous and especially is good in the foule sores of the legges Another way they have to use it by taking the middle or inner rinde the outermost being taken away which is as easily done as in Hempe and annointing it with the oyle of the Indian Nut they rowle it in the leaves thereof and rost it under the hot embers which being growne soft they beate it and then apply it to all such wounds and sores aforesaid which are perfectly cured within a few dayes without inflammations or Impostumes to the wonder of all that knew it not before it likewise easeth all paines and stayeth all fluxes of blood and is a singular helpe to the joynts that are pricked or wounded and briefly serveth the people that use no other remedy to helpe themselves in any case of necessity without the use of a Chirurgion and trust thereto as unto an undoubted remedy the oyntment is carryed into sundry other Countryes also Caxella Another herbe called Centella groweth in the West Indies mentioned by Mâ—nardus out of Petrus de Osma his Letter to him who without any description thereof saith that the Indians doe familiarly use it and the Spaniards from them being bruised and laid to any tumour in the legges or thighes comming from a cold cause would cure them by raising blisters that the humours might be let out and the swelling asswaged Hâ—â—bae folia sanguinem ilico sistens Gramen quod ad pituâ—â—am Another herbe also Monardus there remembreth from him likewise that would stanch the blood of any wound suddenly seene and tryed by certaine captive Indians that through hunger cut off the calves of their owne legges and did eate them and presently applyed the leaves to them which stanched the blood to the great admiration of all that saw it The same de Osma saith there he used a kinde of herbe growing like grasse which
also other fluxes of the belly or womens courses and generally for all the properties that the seede or any other part of the plant is used it is also put into hollow teeth to ease the paine it is used both in ocular and auricular medicines with some and to stay fluxes and to ease paines but Galen and divers others in the former as well as in our times have forbidden such medicines as too dangerous for the eyes and even any other wayes used inwardly it is not to be taken but with good correction and great caution yet divers have found that applyed to the gout it hath given much ease of paine The wild or red Poppy that groweth in the corne while it is young is a Sallet herbe in Italy in many places and in the territory of Trent especially as Matthiolus saith as also to prevent the falling sicknesse which Theophrastus also saith in his 9. booke and 13. Chapter was common in his time the Syrupe made of the flowers is with good effect given to those that have a Plurisie and the dryed flowers also either boyled in water or made into powder and drunke either in the distilled water of them or in some other drinke worketh the like effect the same also is availeable in all other cephalicall or pectorall griefes the distilled water of the flowers of the wilde red Poppyes is held to be of much good use against surfets to drinke it evening and morning it is also more cooling in quality then any other Poppy and therefore cannot but be as effectuall in hot agues frensies and other inflammations either inward or outward the Syrupe or water to be used therein or the greene leaves used outwardly either in an ointment as it is in Populeon a cooling ointment or any other wayes applyed Galen in 7. facultatum simplicium medicamentorum saith the seede is dangerous to be used inwardly Gerard was much mistaken to thinke that this wilde Poppy should be that which should be used in the composition called Diacodium and citeth Galen for his authour as if he had taught him that opinion not understanding what kinde of Poppy Galen doth meane by wild Poppy for he according as Dioscorides afore him hath done accounteth onely the great white Poppy whose heads are somewhat long to be the garden or manured kinde and the other blacke kind to be wild and doth not meane this red Poppy because it is onely wild with us and not sowen as whosoever shall observe the places throughly shall finde The thorny Poppy being but of late invention hath not beene applyed to any disease by any that I can heare of CHAP. XV. Argemone Bastard wilde Poppy THere is of the kindes of wilde Poppy divers other sorts some described by others and some not set forth by any before that I know which being found in our owne land shall be spoken of with the rest 1. Argemone capitulo rotundiore Round headed bastard Wild Poppy This kind of wilde Poppy hath divers hairy greene leaves lying on the ground somewhat longer and more divided into parts then those of the former wild Poppy somewhat like unto the leaves of the thinne leafed Anemone or wind flower as Lobel saith but is seldome so found with us from among which rise up diverse rough hairy stalkes more then two foote high sometimes bearing such like leaves here and there on them lesser then those below all yeelding a yellow juice or milke being broken and on the top of each branch one flower lesser then the other wilde Poppy yet consisting of foure round pointed leaves of a more delayed red colour sometimes having each of them a blackish spot in the bottome and sometimes without with divers blackish threds standing about a small greene head which when it is ripe is somewhat short rough and round with some crests thereon and a little round head but not a Crowne or starre like the Poppies 1. Argemone capitulo rotundiore Round headed bastard wilde Poppy 4. Argemone lutea Cambro-Britanica Yellow wild bastard Poppy of Wales at the top wherein is conteined such like small blackish seed as the former wild kind hath but bigger the roote is small and long with many fibres thereat and perisheth in the like manner after seede time 2. Argemone capitulo longiore Long headed Bastard wild Poppy This is in all things like the last both for leaves flowers and seede the chiefest difference in this from the former consisteth in the head with seede which is longer then the other smaller below then above yet havingâ— little round head at the top but no crowne and is rough and hard like it 3. Argemone Alpina lutea Yellow mountaine bastard wilde Poppy The yellow outlandish mountaine bastard wilde Poppy hath many smooth greene leaves set on somewhat hairy long footestalkes an handbredth long which leaves are very much and finely cut on the edges very like unto those of the Coriander leafed Crowfoote from among which rise up divers bare or naked stalkes yet hairy withall of halfe a foote high at the toppes whereof stand one flower a peece of a meane size consisting of foure yellow leaves with many whitish threds in the middle tipt with yellow standing about a small round and rough head like the former kinde wherein is contained small blackish seede the roote is small and long and threddy at the end 4. Argemone Cambro-Britanica lutea Yellow wild Bastard Poppy of Wales This yellow Poppy hath many winged large spreade leaves lying upon the ground that is many leaves set together on each side of a middle rib each divided leafe being somewhat deepely cut in in some places of the edges more then others of a deepe but faire greene colour among these leaves rise up divers branched stalkes two foote high having some such leaves thereon but smaller at severall distances and at the tops of the stalkes and branches a faire yellow somewhat large flower consisting of foure round leaves with many yellow threds in the middle standing about a long greene head in the middle which when the flower is fallen and the head ripe is then larger then the former long headed wilde Poppy but in the like manner smaller at the bottome and bigger at the toppe with a small head thereon containing much small blacke seed lying within severall cels in the same fashion that the other Poppies doe the roote is long and brownish on the outside spreading into some branches and divers small fibres thereat which perisheth not every yeare as the other sorts before specified doe The Place The two first are often found as well in Corne fields in Summersetshire Kent and other Countries of this land as in the corners and borders of fieldes and by the way sides The third was found upon Sueberg a hill in Austria as also on some hils in Italy The last groweth in many places of Wales in the valleyes and fields at the foote of the hils and by the water sides about a mile from a small
Arsmart and in some countries Red-knees The Vertues The milde Arsmart is of a cooling and drying qualitie and the other contrarie is hot and drie the first is very effectuall for putrid ulcers either in man or beast to kill the wormes and clense the putrified places the juyce thereof dropped in or otherwise applied it likewise consumeth all cold swellings and dissolveth the congealed bloud of bruises by strokes falls c. a peece of the roote or some of the seede bruised and held to an aking-tooth taketh away the paine the leaves bruised and laid to the joint that hath a selon thereon taketh it away the juyce dropped into their eares that have wormes in them destroyeth them quickly if the herbe be strowed in a chamber it will soone kill all the Fleas therein and if the herbe or juyce thereof be put to horses or other cattelles sores it will drive away the Flyes that will sticke thereto even in the hottest time of Summer a good handfull of the herbe put under a horses saddle will make him travell better although hee were halfe tired before The milde Arsmart is held to be good against hot empostumes and inflammations at the beginning and to heale greene wounds CHAP. XXIII Ptarmica vulgaris Common field Pelletory or Sneeseworte NExt unto Dittander should follow Tarragon called Tarchon and Dracunculus hortensis osculeâ—us being of the like hot and sharpe biting taste but that I have entreated therof in my former Book as also of the garden Dragons whose figure I herewith shew you must in this Chapter shew you the Ptarmica vulgaris ordinarily called wilde Pelletory and Sneeseworte of which kinde also I have set forth one with double flowers in my former Booke Pyrethrum also vulgare called by us Pelletory of Spaine although set forth in my former Booke Vnto this I must adde an other stranger scarce knowne so much as by name to our Nation This common Pelletory shooteth forth divers brittle stalkes a yarde high and more spread into sundry branches whereon are set narrow long leaves pointed at the ends and finely dented about the edges standing one above another up to the toppes where grow many white flowers in a round tuft together somewhat like unto those of Yarrow or Millfoyle with a very small yellowish thrumme in the middle bordered about with very short whitish leaves dented in at the broad ends which passing away leave behinde them small heades with chaffie seede therein the roote is long and whitish joynted at severall distances creeping farre about under ground both leafe and roote are of an hot sharpe biting taste like unto the tree Pelletory of Spaine whereof it tooke the name 2. Pyrethrum vulgare officinarum Pelletory of Spaine This is a small low plant bearing many finely cut long leaves upon the stalkes lying on the ground much larger than Camomill bearing at the toppes of each one single large flower having a pale or border of many leaves white on the upperside and reddish underneath set about the middle yellow thrumme but not standing so close joyned at the bottome as the Camomill flowers doe but more severed one from another it beareth small whitish seede which is hardly found and discerned from the chaffe the roote is long growing downeright of the bignesse of a mans finger or thumbe in our countrie but not halfe so great where it groweth naturally with divers fibres from the sides of a very hot sharpe and biting taste drawing much water into the mouth being a while chewed after it hath beene dried but nothing so much while it is fresh and greene the plant is very tender with us not enduring our Winter unlesse it be very carefully preserved 3. Ptarmica Alpina sive Dracamalus Alpinus Scabiosae folio Wilde Pelletory with Scabions leaves This mountaine Pelletory hath round stalkes about a foote high spreading some branches towards the toppes whereon are set divers long pale greene leaves on both sides one above another as in the former but jagged or deepely cut in on both sides somewhat like unto a Scabious leafe at the toopes of the stalkes and branches stand Ptarmica vulgaris Common field Pelletory or Sneeseworte Dracunculus major vulgaris Ordinary Dragons 2. Pyrethrum vulgare officinarum Pelletory of Spaine the flowers somewhat larger than the other else not much unlike having a border or pale of white leaves set about a middle thrumme the roote hereof is more stringy and fibrous than the other The Place The first groweth in fields and medowes by the hedge sides and path wayes almost every where and in lanes also and wast grounds the other in Spaine and divers other countries the last was found in the mountainous fields of Helvetia or Switserland and other parts there abouts The Time The first and last flower in the end of Iune and in July and the second not untill August with us and seldome giveth ripe seede unlesse carefully preserved in the Winter The Names It is called in Greeke 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Ptarmica quod est Sternutatoria or Storuntamentoria as it is also in Latine from the effect of provoking sneesing The first is diversly called by divers Tragus calleth it Tanacetum album sive acutum Millefolium primum Gesner in hortis Tarchon sylvestre vel aquaticum in collect stirpium Draco aquaticus Brunfelsius Pyrethrum Cordus on Dioscorides Pyrethrum sylvestre Dodonaeus Draco sylvestris sive Ptarmica Bauhinus referreth it to that plant which Lugdunensis calleth Mencha Sarasenica species altera Myconij and yet maketh it also a kinde of Costmarie Thalius Ptarmica sylvestris Germanica Clusius Ptarmica pratensis Lobel Ptarmica folio Taracanis vel Sterunâ—eria Matthiolus Fuchsius Gesner and others Ptarmica and Bâ— Dracunculus pratensis serrato folio the second is called by all â—thors Pyrethrum and of some Salivariâ— but Gesner in hortis addeth Germanicum as it is thought Matthiolus Lugdunensis and all other alterum Lobel officinarum and Bauhinus flore Bellidis the last is set forth onely by Bauhinus who calleth it Dracunculus Alâ— folio â—cabiosae it is called by the Arabians Maâ—arcaraba or 〈…〉 by the Italians â—tro by the Spaniards Peliere by the Frâ—ch Pis d' Alexandre by the Germans and Dutch Bertram it is â—ed in English wilde Pelletory or wilde Pelletory of Spaine as the second is called the true Pelletory of Spaine The Vertues Wilde Pelletory is hot and dry in the second degree while it is fresh and greene but in the third degree when it is dry An ounce of the juice hereof taken in a draught of Muscadine an houre or two before the â—it of an Ague and presently layd to sweat will assuredly drive away the Ague at the second or third time taking at the farthest the herbe dryed or the roote chiefly chewed in the mouth draweth downe from the head much flegâ—e and is thereby availeable to ease the paines in the head and teeth and to draw forth cold rheume catarrhes and defluxions upon