Roses Heathes Mosses Mushroms Corall and their seuerall kindes Each booke hath chapters as for each herbe a bed and euery Plant presents thee with the Latine and English name in the title placed ouer the picture of the Plant. Then followes the kindes description place time names natures and vertues agreeing with the best receiued opinions Last of all thou hast a generall Index as well in Latine as English with a carefull supply likewise of an Index b linguis of barbarous names And thus hauing giuen thee a generall view of this garden now with our friendly labours wee will accompany thee and leade thee through a Grasse-plot little or nothing of many Herbarists heretofore touched and begin with the most common or best knowne Grasse which is called in Latine Gramen pratense and then by little and little conduct thee through most pleasant gardens and other delightfull places where any herbe or plant may be found fit for meate or medicine CHAP. 1. Of Medow-Grasse THere be sundry and infinite kindes of Grasses not mentioned by the Antients either as vnnecessarie to be set downe or vnknowne to them onely they make mention of some few whose wants we meane to supply in such as haue come to our knowledge referring the rest to the curious searcher of Simples ¶ The Description 1 COmmon Medow Grasse hath very small tufts or roots with thicke hairy threds depending vpon the highest turfe matting and creeping on the ground with a most thicke and appatant shew of wheaten leaues lifting vp long thinne ioynted and light stalks a foot or a cubit high growing small and sharpe at the top with a loose 〈◊〉 hanging downward like the tuft or top of the common Reed 2 Small medow Grasse differeth from the former in varietie of the soile for as the first kind groweth in medowes so doth this small grasse clothe the hilly and more dry grounds vntilled and barren by nature a Grasse more fit for sheepe than for greater cattell And because the kindes of Grasse do differ apparantly in root tuft stalke leafe sheath eare or crest we may assure our selues that they are endowed with seuerall vertues formed by the Creator for the vse of man although they haue been by a common negligence hidden and vnknowne And therefore in this our Labor we haue placed each of them in their seuerall bed where the diligent searcher of Nature may if so he please place his learned obseruations 1 Gramen pratense Medow Grasse 2 Gramen pratense minus Small Medow-grasse ¶ The Place Common Medow-grasse groweth of it selfe vnset or vnsowen euery where but the small medow grasse for the most part groweth vpon dry and barren grounds as partly wee haue touched in the description ¶ The Time Concerning the time when Grasse springeth and seedeth I suppose there is none so simple but knoweth it and that it continueth all the whole yeare seeding in Iune and Iuly Neither needeth it any propagation or replanting by seed or otherwise no not so much as the watery Grasses but that they recouer themselues againe although they haue beene drowned in water all the Winter long as may appeare in the wilde fennes in Lincolnshire and such like places ¶ The Names Grasse is called in Greeke 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in Latine Gramen as it is thought à gradiendo quod 〈◊〉 is 〈◊〉 serpat crebroquenouas spargat radices for it groweth goeth or spreadeth it selfe vnset or vnsowen naturally ouer all fields or grounds cloathing them with a faire and perfect greene It is yearely mowed in some places twice and in some rare places thrice then is it dried and withered by the 〈◊〉 of the Sunne with often turning it and then is it called Foenum nescio an à foenore aut foetu In English Hay in French Le herbe du 〈◊〉 ¶ The Nature The roots and seeds of Grasse are of more vse in physicke than the herbe and are accounted of all Writers moderately to open obstructions and prouoke vrine ¶ The Vertues The decoction of Grasse with the roots of Parsley drunke helpeth the dissurie and prouoketh vrine The roots of Grasse according to Galen doe glew and consolidate together new and bleeding wounds The iuyce of Grasse mixed with honey and the pouder of Sothernwood taken in drinke killeth wormes in children but if the childe be young or tender of nature it shall suffice to mixe the iuyce of Grasse and the gall of an Oxe or Bull together and therewith anoint the childes belly and lay a clout wet therein vpon the nauell Fernelius saith that grasse doth helpe the obstructions of the liuer reines and kidnies and the inflammation of the raines called Nephritis Hay sodden in water till 〈◊〉 be tender and applied hot to the chaps of beasts that be chap-fallen through long standing in pound or stable without meate is a present remedie CHAP. 2. Of Red Dwarfe-Grasse ¶ The Description 1 DWarfe Grasse is one of the least of Grasses The root consists of many little bulbes couered with a reddish 〈◊〉 or skinne with very many smal hairy and white strings the tuft or eare is of a reddish colour and not much differing from the grasse called Ischaemon though the eare be softer broader and more beautifull †1 Gramen minimum rubrum siue Xerampelinum Red Dwarfe-grasse 2 Gramen minimum album White Dwarfe-grasse †2 This kinde of Grasse hath small hairy roots the leaues are small and short as also the stalke which on the top thereof beares a pannicle not much vnlike the small medow 〈◊〉 but lesse the colour thereof is sometimes white and otherwhiles reddish whence some haue giuen two figures which I thinking needlesse haue onely retained the later and for the former giuen the figure of another Grasse intended by our Author to be comprehended in this Chapter 3 Small hard Grasse hath small roots compact of little strings or threds from which come forth many soure rushy leaues of the length of an inch and a halfe the tuft or eare is compact of many pannicles or very little eares which to your feeling are very hard or harsh This Grasse is vnpleasant and no wholesome food for cattell 4 Rush-grasse is a small plant some handfull high hauing many small rushy leaues tough and pliant as are the common Rushes whereupon do grow small scaly or chaffie huskes in stead of floures like those of Rushes but smaller The root is threddy like the former ‡ There is a varietie of this to be found in bogs with the seeds bigger and the leaues and whole plant lesser ‡ 3 Gramen minus duriusculum Small hard Grasse 4 Gramen junceum Rush-grasse or Toad-grasse ¶ The Place The Dwarfe-grasse doth grow on heathy rough and dry barren grounds in most places of England ‡ That which I haue giuen you I haue not as yet obserued growing in any part of England ‡ The white Dwarfe-grasse is not so common as the former yet doth it grow very plentifully among the Hop gardens in Essex and
guts The leaues boiled with a little barrowes grease and vsed as a pultis take away hot swellings and inflammations Oxen and other cattell do feed of the herbe and also calues and young lambs The floures are acceptable to Bees Pliny writeth and setteth it downe for certaine that the leaues hereof do tremble and stand right vp against the comming of a storme or tempest The medow Trefoile especially that with the blacke halfe Moon vpon the leafe stamped with a little honie takes away the pin and web in the eies ceaseth the paine and inflammation thereof if it be strained and dropped therein CHAP. 495. Of stinking Trefoile or Treacle Clauer Trifolium bituminosum Treacle Clauer ¶ The Description TReacle Clauer groweth vpright like a shrubbie plant with stalkes of a cubit and a halfe high whereupon do grow next the ground broad leaues 3 ioined together those vpon the stalkes are longer and narrower The stalks are couered ouer with a rough euill coloured hairinesse the leaues are of a dark black greene colour and of a loth some smell like the pitch called Bitumen Iudaicum whereof it took his name the floures grow at the toppe of the stalks of a darke purplish colour tending vnto blewnesse in shape like those of Scabious the seed is broad rough long and sharpe pointed the root is small and tender and cannot indure the coldnesse of our winter but perisheth at the first approch thereof ¶ The Place It groweth naturally saith Hippocrates Hippiatros not Cous in rough places as Ruellius translateth it in Germanie France and England it neuer commeth vp of it selfe but must be sown in gardens as my selfe haue proued diuers times and was constrained to sow it yearely or else it would not come vp neither of his owne sowing or otherwise ¶ The Time It floureth not in my garden vntil the end of August ¶ The Names Nicander calleth this Trefoile 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in 〈◊〉 Trifolium acutum or sharpe pointed 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Pliny 〈◊〉 odoratum but not properly of others Trifolium Asphaltaeum sive 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Stone Pitch 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 calleth it Tarsilon and not Handacocha Auicen doth comprehend Dioscorides his 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is to say Lotus vrbana 〈◊〉 and Aegyptia which Dioscorides confoundeth one with another in 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in English it is called Clauer gentle Pitch Trefoile stinking Trefoile 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ¶ The Temperature This Trefoile called 〈◊〉 as Galen saith is hot and drie as 〈◊〉 is and that in the third degree ¶ The Vertues Being drunke it taketh away the pain of the sides which commeth by obstructions or stoppings prouoketh vrine and bringeth downe the desired sicknesse Hippocrates writeth that it doth not onely bring them downe but likewise the birth not onely inwardly taken but also outwardly applied If a woman saith he be not well clensed after her 〈◊〉 bearing giue her this Trefoile to drinke in white wine Dioscorides saith that the seeds and leaues being drunke in water are a remedie for the 〈◊〉 dissicultie of making water the falling sicknesse the dropsie when it first beginneth and for 〈◊〉 that are troubled with the mother the quantity to be taken at once is three drams of the seeds and foure of the leaues The leaues drunke in Oxymel or a syrrup of vineger made with honie is good for those that 〈◊〉 bitten with serpents Some affirme that the decoction of the whole plant root and leaues taketh away paine from those whom serpents haue bitten if they be washed therewith but if any other man hauing anvlcer be washed with that water 〈◊〉 he was bathed that was bitten of the serpent they say that he shall be troubled in the same manner that the stinged partie was Some also giue with wine three leaues or a small quantitie of the seeds in 〈◊〉 agues and in quartaine foure as a sure remedie against the fits The root also is put into antidotes or counterpoisons saith 〈◊〉 but other antient 〈◊〉 do not onely mix the root with them but also the seed as we may see in Galen by a great 〈◊〉 compositions in his 2. booke of Antidotes that is to say in the Treacles of Aelius 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Laudoceus Claudius Apollonius Eudemus 〈◊〉 Dorothaeus and Heras The herbe stamped and applied vpon any enuenomed wound or made with poisoned weapon it draweth the poison from the depth most apparantly But if it be applied vpon a wound where there is no venomous matter to work vpon it doth no lesse infect that part than if it had been bitten with some serpent or venomous beast which wonderfull effect it doth not performe in respect of any vitious qualitie that it hath in it selfe but because it doth not finde that venomous matter to work vpon which it naturally draweth as the Load-stone doth iron wherupon it is constrained through his attractiue qualitie to draw and gather together humours from far vnto the place whereby the paine is greatly increased CHAP. 496. Of diuers other Trefoiles ¶ The Description 1 THree leaued grasse of America hath diuers crooked round stalks leaning this way and that way and diuided into diuers branches whereon do grow leaues like those of the medow Trefoile of a black greene colour and of the smel of Pitch Trefoile or Treacle Clauer the floures grow at the top of the branches made vp in a long spiked chassie care of a white colour after which commeth the 〈◊〉 somewhat flat almost like to those of Tares the roots are long strings of a wooddie substance 1 Trifolium Americum Trefoile of America 2 Trifolium Burgundiacum Burgundie Trefoile 3 Trifolium Salmanticum Portingale Trefoile 3 This three leaued grasse of Salmanca a citie as I take it of Portingale differeth not much from our field Trefoile it hath many branches weake and tender trailing vpon the ground of two cubites and a halfe high whereupon doe grow leaues 〈◊〉 together by three vpon a stemme from the bosome whereof thrust forth tender foot-stalkes whereon doe stand most fine floures of a bright red tending vnto purple after which come the seed wrapped in small skinnes of a red colour 4 Trifolium cordatum Heart Trefoile 5 Trifolium siliquosum minus Small codded Trefoile ‡ 6 〈◊〉 ex Codice Caesareo 〈◊〉 Trefoile 5 This kinde of three leaued grasse is a low herb creeping vpon the ground the leaues are like those of the common Trefoile but lesser and of a grayish greene colour the floures are faire and yellow fashioned like those of broome but lesser after come three or soure cods wherein is contained round seed the root is long and reddish ‡ This is the Trifolium 〈◊〉 or Melilotus Coronata of Lobel Lotus pentaphyllos of Gesner ‡ This codded Tresoile is like vnto the last described in euery respect sauing that this plant is altogether ‡ larger hauing stalks a cubite and a halfe high the leaues are also soure times as large two roundish leaues 〈◊〉 by the stalke and three 〈◊〉 ones growing vpon a short foot-stalke comming forth betweene the
Bizantine Floure de-luce 5 Chamaeiris Angustifolia Narrow leafed Floure de 〈◊〉 6 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Grasse Floure de 〈◊〉 ‡ 7 Iris flore caeruleo obsoleto polyanthos Narrow-leafed many-floured Iris. ‡ 8 Chamaeiris nivea 〈◊〉 Candida White Dwarfe Iris. ‡ 9 Chamaeiris latifolia flore rubello Red floured Dwarfe Iris. ‡ 10 Chamaeiris Lutea Yellow Dwarfe Iris. ‡ 11 Camaeiris variegata Varigated Dwarfe Iris. 3 The French or rather Sea Floure de-luce whereof there is also another of the same kinde altogether lesser haue their roots without any sauour In shew they differ little from the garden Floure de-luce but that the leaues of these are altogether slenderer and vnpleasant in smell growing plentifully in the rough crags of the rocks vnder the Alpes and neere vnto the sea side The which Pena found in the grassie grauelly grounds of the sea coast neere to Montpellier The learned Doctor Assatius a long time supposed it to be Medium Diosc. Matthiolus deceiued himselfe and others in that he said That the root of this plant hath the sent of the peach but my selfe haue proued it to be without sauour at all It yeeldeth his floures in Iune which are of all the rest most like vnto the grasse Floure de-luce The taste of his root is hot bitter and with much tenuitie of parts as hath been found by physicall proofe ‡ 4 This Iris Bizantina hath long narrow leaues like those of the last described very narrow sharpe pointed hauing no vngratefull smell the stalks are some cubit and an halfe in length and somtimes more at the top they are diuided into 2 or 3 branches that haue 2 or 3 floures a piece like in shape to the floures of the broad leafed variegated bulbous Iris they haue also a good smell the ends of the hanging-downe leaues are of a darke colour the other parts of them are variegated with white purple or violet colour The three other leaues that stand vp are of a deepe violet or purple colour The root is blackish slender hard knotty ‡ 5 Narrow leafed Floure de-luce hath an infinite number of grassie leaues much like vnto Reed among which rise vp many stalkes on the ends of the same spring forth two sometimes three right sweet and pleasant floures compact of nine leaues Those three that hang downward are greater than the rest of a purple colour stripped with white and yellow but those three small leaues that appeare next are of a purple colour without mixture those three that stand vpright are of an horse-flesh colour tipped with purple and vnder each of these leaues appeare three small browne aglets like the tongue of a small bird 6 The small grassie Floure de-luce differeth from the former in smalnesse and in thinnesse of leaues and in that the stalkes are lower than the leaues and the floures in shape and colour are like those of the stinking Gladdon but much lesse ‡ There are many other varieties of the broad leafed Floure de-luces besides these mentioned by our Authour as also of the narrow leafed which here wee doe not intend to insist vpon but referre such as are desirous to trouble themselues with these nicities to Clusius and others Notwithstanding I judge it not amisse to giue the figures and briefe descriptions of 〈◊〉 more of the Dwarfe Floure de-luces as also of one of the narrower leafed 7 This therefore which we giue you in the seuenth place is Iris slorc 〈◊〉 obsoleto c. 〈◊〉 The leaues of this are small and long like those of the wild 〈◊〉 Floure de-luce 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which is not very big hath many strong threds or fibres comming out of it the stalke which is somewhat tall diuides it selfe into two or three branches whereon grow floures in shape like those of the other Floure de-luces but their colour is of an ouer-worne blew or Ash colour 8 Many are the differences of the Chamaeirides latifoliae or Broad leafed 〈◊〉 Floure deluces but their principall distinction is in their floures for some haue flowers of violet or purple colour some of white other some are variegated with yellow and purple c. Therefore I will onely name the colour and giue you their figure because their shapes differ little This eighth therefore is Chamaeiris nivea aut Candida White Dwarfe Iris The ninth Chamaeiris 〈◊〉 flore rubello Red floured Dwarfe Iris The tenth Camaeiris lutea Yellow Dwarfe Iris The eleuenth Chamaeiris variegata Variegated Dwarfe Iris. The leaues and stalkes of these plants are vsually about a foot high the floures for the bignesse of the plants large and they floure betimes as in April And thus much I thinke may suffice for the names and descriptions of these Dwarfe varieties of Floure de-luces ‡ ¶ The place These plants do grow in the gardens of London amongst Herbarists and other Louers of Plants ¶ The nature They floure from the end of March to the beginning of May. ¶ The Names The Turky Floure de-luce is called in the Turkish tongue Alaia Susiani with this additament from the Italians Fiore Belle pintate in English Floure de-luce The rest of the names haue 〈◊〉 touched in their titles and historie ¶ Their nature and vertues The faculties and temperature of these rare and beautifull floures are referred to the 〈◊〉 sorts of Floure de-luces whereunto they do very well accord There is an excellent oyle made of the floures and roots of Floure de-luce of each a like quantitie called Oleum Irinum made after the same manner that oyle of Roses Lillies and such like be made which oyle profiteth much to strengthen the sinewes and joints helpeth the cramp proceeding of repletion and the disease called in Greeke Peripneumonia The floures of French Floure de-luce distilled with Diatrion sandalon and Cinnamon and the water drunke preuaileth greatly against the Dropsie as Hollerius and Gesner testifie CHAP. 43. Of stinking Gladdon ¶ The Description STinking Gladdon hath long narrow leaues like Iris but smaller of a darke greene colour and being rubbed of a stinking smell very lothsome The stalkes are many in number and round toward the top out of which do grow floures like the Floure de-luce of an ouer-worne blew colour or rather purple with some yellow and red streakes in the midst After the floures be vaded there come great huskes or cods wherein is contained a red berry or seed as bigge as a pease The root is long and threddy vnderneath ¶ The place Gladdon groweth in many gardens I haue seene it wilde in many places as in woods and shadowie places neere the sea ¶ The time The stinking Gladdon floureth in August the seed whereof is ripe in September ¶ The Names Stinking Gladdon is called in Greeke 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 by Dioscorides and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 by Theophrastus according to Pena in Latine Spatula 〈◊〉 among the Apothecaries it is called also Xyris in English stinking Gladdon and Spurgewort ¶ The nature Gladdon is hot and dry in the third degree ¶ The
Corne-Flag are called of the Italians Monacuccio in English Corne-Flag Corne-Sedge Sword-Flag Corne Gladin in French Glais ¶ The nature The root of Corne-Flag as Galen saith is of force to draw waste or consume away and dry as also of a subtill and digesting qualitie ¶ The vertues The root stamped with the pouder of Frankincense and wine and applied draweth forth splinters and thornes that sticke fast in the flesh Being stamped with the meale of Darnell and honied water doth waste and make subtill hard lumps nodes and swellings being emplaistred Some affirme that the vpper root prouoketh bodily lust and the lower causeth barrennesse The vpper root drunke in water is profitable against that kinde of bursting in children called 〈◊〉 The root of Corne-Flag stamped with hogs grease and wheaten meale hath been found by late Practitioners in physicke and Surgerie to be a certaine and approued remedie against the 〈◊〉 Scrophulae and such like swellings in the throat The cods with the seed dried and beaten into pouder and drunk in Goats milke or Asses milke presently taketh away the paine of the Collicke CHAP. 77. Of Starry Hyacinths and their kindes 1 Hyacinthus stellatus Fuchsij Starry Iacinth ‡ 2 Hyacinthus stellaris albicans The white floured starry Iacinth ¶ The kindes THere be likewise bulbous or Onion rooted plants that do orderly succeed whereof some are to be eaten as Onions Garlicke Leekes and Ciues notwithstanding I am first to entreat of those bulbed roots whose faire and beautifull Floures are receiued for their grace and ornament in gardens and garlands the first are the Hyacinths whereof there is found at this day diuers sorts differing very notably in many points as shall be declared in their seueral descriptions ‡ 3 Hyacinthus stellatus bifolius Two-leaued starry Iacinth 4 Hyacinthus stellatus Lilifolius cum flore semine The Lilly leaued starry Iacinth in floure and seed ‡ 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 stellaris 〈◊〉 The starry Iacinth of Constantinople ¶ The Description 1 THe first kinde of Iacinth hath three very fat thicke browne leaues hollow like a little trough very brittle of the length of a finger among which shoot vp fat thick brownish stalkes soft and very tender and full of juyce whereupon do grow many small blew Floures consisting of six little leaues spred abroad like a starre The seed is contained in small round bullets which are so ponderous or heauy that they lie trailing vpon the ground The root is bulbous or Onion fashion couered with brownish scales or filmes 2 There is also a white floured one of this kinde 3 There is found another of this kinde which seldome or neuer hath more than two leaues The roots are bulbed like the other The Floures be whitish starre-fashion tending to blewnesse which I receiued of Robinus of Paris ‡ 8 Hyacinthus stellaris Someri Somers starry Iacinth ‡ 9 Hyacinthus stellatus aestivus major The greater starry Summer Iacinth 4 This kinde of Hyacinth hath many broad leaues spread vpon the ground like vnto those of Garden Lilly but shorter The stalkes do rise out of the middest thereof bare naked and very smooth an handfull high at the top whereof do grow small blew floures starre-fashion very like vnto the precedent The root is thicke and full of juyce compact of many scaly cloues of a yellow colour ‡ There are some tenne or eleuen varieties of starry Iacinths besides these two mentioned by our Authour They differ each from other either in the time of flouring some of them flouring in the Spring other some in Sommer in their bignesse or the colours of their floures The leaues of most of them are much like to our ordinarie Iacinth or Hare-bels and lie spread vpon the ground Their floures in shape resemble the last described but are vsually more in number and somewhat larger The colour of most of them are blew or purple one of them excepted which is of an Ash colour and is knowne by the name of Somers his Iacinth I thinke it not amisse to giue you their vsuall names together with some of their figures for so you may easily impose them truly vpon the things themselues whensoeuer you shall see them 5 Hyacinthus stellaris Byzantinus nigra radice flore 〈◊〉 The blew starry Iacinth of Constantinople with the blacke root 6 Hyacinthus stellatus Byzantinus major 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The greater blew starry Iacinth of Constantiple 7 Hyacinthus stellatus Byzantinus alter flore boraginis The other blew starry Iacinth of Constantinonople with Floures somewhat resembling Borage 8 Hyacinthus stellaris aestivus siue exoticus Someri flore cinereo Ash coloured starry Iacinth or Somers Iacinth 9 Hyacinthus stellatus aestivus major The greater starry Sommer Iacinth 10 Hyacinthus stellatus aestivus minor The lesser starry Summer Iacinth 11 Hyacinthus stellaris Poreti flore 〈◊〉 strijs purpureis Porets starry Iacinth with blew Floures hauing purple streakes alongst their middles 12 Hyacinthus 〈◊〉 stellaris flore 〈◊〉 caeruleo The Spanish starry Iacinth with deepe blew floures 13 There is another starry Iacinth more large and beautifull than any of these before mentioned The leaues are broad and not very long spread vpon the ground and in the midst of them there riseth vp a stalke which at the top beareth a great spoke of faire starry floures which first begin to open themselues below and so shew themselues by little and little to the top of the stalke The vsuall sort hereofhath blew or purple floures There is also a sort hereof which hath flesh-coloured floures and another with white Floures This is called Hyacinthus stellatus Peruanus The starry Iacinth of Peru. 10 Hyacinthus stellatus aestivus minor The lesser starry Summer Iacinth 13 Hyacinthus Peruanus Hyacinth of Peru. Those who are studious in varieties of Floures and require larger descriptions of these may haue recourse to the Workes of the learned Carolus 〈◊〉 in Latine or to M. Parkinsons Worke in English where they may haue full satisfaction ‡ ¶ The place The three-first mentioned Plants grow in many places of Germany in woods and mountaines as 〈◊〉 and Gesner do testifie In Bohemia also vpon diuers bankes that are full of Herbes In England we cherish most of these mentioned in this place in our gardens onely for the beauty of their floures ¶ The time The three first begin to floure in the midst of Ianuarie and bring forth their seed in May. The other floures in the Spring ¶ The Names 1 The first of these Hyacinths is called Hyacinthus stellatus or Stellaris Fuchsij of the starre-like Floures Narcissus caeruleus Bockij of some Flos Martius stellatus 3 This by Lobell is thought to be Hyacinthus Bifolius of Theophrastus Tragus calls it Narcissus caeruleus and Fuchsius Hyacinthus caeruleus minor mas Wee may call it in English The small two leaued starrie Iacinth 4 The Lilly Hyacinth is called Hyacinthus Germanicus Liliflorus or Germane Hyacinth taken from the countrey where it naturally groweth wilde ‡ ¶ The
The Time Saffron beginneth to floure in September and presently after spring vp the leaues and remaine greene all the Winter long ¶ The Names Saffron is called in Greeke 〈◊〉 in Latine Crocus in Mauritania Saffaran in Spanish 〈◊〉 in English Saffron in the Arabicke tongue Zahafaran ¶ The Temperature Saffron is a lirtle astringent or binding but his hot qualitie doth so ouer-rule in it that in the whole essence it is in the number of those herbes which are hot in the second degree and drie in the first therefore it also hath a certaine force to concoct which is furthered by the small astriction rhat is in it as Galen saith ¶ The Vertues Auicen affirmeth that it causeth head-ache and is hurtfull to the braine which it cannot do by taking it now and then but by too much vsing of it for too much vsing of it cutteth off sleepe through want whereof the head and sences are out of frame But the moderate vse of it is good for the head and maketh the sences more quicke and liuely shaketh off heauy and drowsie sleepe and maketh a man merry Also Saffron strengthneth the heart concocteth crude and raw humors of the chest openeth the lungs and remoueth obstructions ‡ 3 Crocus vernus flore luteo Yellow Spring Saffron ‡ 4 Crocus vernus flore albo White Spring Saffron ‡ 5 Crocus 〈◊〉 flore 〈◊〉 Purple Spring Saffron ‡ 6 Crocus montanus 〈◊〉 Autumne mountaine Saffron It is also such a speciall remedic for those that haue consumption of the lungs and are as wee terme it at deaths doore and almost past breathing that it bringeth breath again and prolongeth life for certaine dayes if ten or twentie graines at the most be giuen with new or sweet Wine For we haue found by often experience that being taken in that sort it presently and in a moment remoueth away difficultie of breathing which most dangerously and suddenly hapneth Dioscorides teacheth That being giuen in the same sort it is also good against a surfet It is commended against the stoppings of the liuer and gall and against the yellow Iaundise And hereupon Dioscorides writeth That it maketh a man well coloured It is put into all drinkes that are made to helpe the diseases of the intrailes as the same Authour affirmeth and into those especially which bring downe the floures the birth and the after burthen It prouoketh vrine stirreth fleshly lust and is vsed in Cataplasmes and pultesses for the matrix and fundament and also in plaisters and seare-cloaths which serue for old swellings and aches and likewise for hot swellings that haue also in them S. Anthonies fire ‡ 7 Crocus montanus Autumnalis flore majore albido caeruleo Autumne mountaine Saffron with a large whitish blew floure ‡ 8 Crocus Autumnalis flore albo White Autumne Saffron It is with good successe put into compositions for infirmities of the eares The eyes being annointed with the same dissolued in milke or fennell or rose water are preserued from being hurt by the small pox and measels and are defended thereby from humours that would fall into them The chiues steeped in water serue to illumine or as we say limne pictures and imagerie as also to colour sundry meats and confections It is with good successe giuen to procure bodily lust The confections called Crocomagna Oxycroceum and 〈◊〉 with diuers other emplaisters and electuaries cannot be made without this Saffron The weight of tenne graines of Saffron the kernels of Wall-nuts two ounces Figges two ounces Mithridate one dram and a few sage leaues stamped together with a sufficient quantitie of Pimpernell water and made into a masse or lumpe and kept in a glasse for your vse and thereof twelue graines giuen in the morning fasting preserueth from the Pestilence and expelleth it from those that are infected ‡ 9 Crocus vernus angustifolius flore violaceo Narrow leaued Spring Saffron with a violet floure ‡ 10 Crocus vernus latifolius flore flauo strijs violaceis Broad leaued Spring Saffron with a yellow floure purple streaks ‡ 11 Crocus vernus latifolius striatus flore duplici Double floured streaked Spring Saffron ¶ The Kindes of Spring Saffron OF wilde Saffrons there be sundry sorts differing as well in the colour of the floures as also in the time of their flouring Of which most of the figures shall be set forth vnto you ¶ The Description of wilde Saffron 1 THe first kind of wilde Saffron hath small short grassie leaues surrowed or chanelled downe the midst with a white line or streake among the leaues rise vp small floures in shape like vnto the common Saffron but differing in colour for this hath floures of mixt colours that is to say the ground of the floure is white stripped vpon the backe with purple and dasht ouer on the inside with a bright shining murrey colour the other not In the middle of the floures come forth many yellowish chiues without any smel of saffron at all The root is small round and couered with a browne skinne or filme like vnto the roots of common Saffron 2 The second wilde Saffron in leaues roots and floures is like vnto the precedent but altogether lesser and the floures of this are of a purple violet colour ‡ 12 Crocus vernus latifolius flore purpureo Broad leaued Spring Saffron with the púrple floure ‡ 13 Crocus vernus flore cinereo striato Spring Saffron with an Ash-coloured streaked floure ‡ 14 Crocus vernus latifolius flore flauovario duplici Broad leaued Spring Saffron with a double floure yellow streaked 4 There is found among Herbarists another sort not differing from the others sauing that this hath white floures contrarie to all the rest 5 Louers of Plants haue gotten into their gardens one sort hereof with purple or Violet coloured floures in other respects like vnto the other 6 Of these we haue another that floureth in the fall of the 〈◊〉 with floures like to the common Saffron but destitute of those chiues which yeeld the colour smell or taste that the right manured Saffron hath ‡ 7 And of this last kinde there is another with broader leaues and the floure also is larger with the leaues thereof not so sharpe pointed but more round the colour being at the first whitish but afterwards intermixt with some blewnesse ‡ 8 There is also another of Autumne wild Saffrons with white floures which sets forth the distinction Many sorts there are in our gardens besides those before specified which I thought needlesse to entreat of because their vse is not great ‡ Therefore I will only giue the figures and names of some of the chiefe of them and refer such as delight to see or please themselues with the varieties for they are no specificke differences of these plants to the gardens and the bookes of Florists who are onely the preseruers and admirers of these varieties not sought after for any vse but delight ‡ ¶ The Place All these wilde Saffrons we haue growing in
such sort that the stalkes cannot be seene for the leaues The floures grow 〈◊〉 the top not so thicke set or thrust together as the others purple of colour like in shape vnto little Birds with their wings spread abroad ready to fly The roots be like the former 10 Spotted Birds Satyrion hath leaues like vnto the sormer sauing that they be 〈◊〉 or spotted here and there with darke spots or streakes hauing a stalke couered with the like leaues so that the plants differ not in any point except the blacke spots which this kinde is dasht with 11 White Birds Satyrion hath leaues rising immediately forth of the ground like vnto the blades or leaues of Leekes but shorter among the which riseth vp a slender naked stalke two handfulls high on the top whereof be white floures resembling the shape or forme of a small bird ready to fly or a white Butter-fly with herwings spread abroad The roots are round and smaller than any of the former 12 Souldiers Satyrion bringeth forth many broad large and ribbed leaues spred vpon the ground like vnto those of the great plantaine among the which riseth vp a fat stalke full of sap or iuyce cloathed or wrapped in the like leaues euen to the tuft of floures whereupon do grow little floures resembling a little man hauing a helmet vpon his head his hands and legges cut off white vpon the inside spotted with many purple spots and the backe part of the floure of a deeper colour tending to rednesse The roots be greater than any of the other kindes of Satyrions 7 Orchis Myodes Lutea Yellow Satyrion 9 Orchis Myodes minor Small yellow Satyrion 13 Souldiers Cullions hath many leaues spread vpon the ground but lesser than the soldiers Satyrion as is the whole plant The backside of the floures are somwhat mixed with whitenesse and sometimes are ash coloured the inside of the floure is spotted with white likewise 14 Spider Satyrion hath many thinne leaues like vnto those of the Lilly scatteringly set vpon a weake and feeble stalk whereupon doth grow small floures resembling as well in shape as colour the body of a dead humble Bee ‡ or rather of a Spider and therefore I thinke Lobel who was the Author of this name would haue said Arachnitis of 〈◊〉 a Spider ‡ ‡ 15 This by right should haue beene put next the Gnat Satyrion described in the second place It hath short yet pretty broad leaues and those commonly three in number besides those small ones set vpon the stemme The floures are small and much like those of the second formerly described ‡ 16 Our Author gaue you this figure in the fourteenth place vnder the title of Orchis 〈◊〉 but it is of the Orchis 16. minor of Tabernam or Orchis Angustifolia of 〈◊〉 This Orchis is of the kinde of the Myodes or Fly Satyrions but his leaues are farre longer and 〈◊〉 9 Orchis Ornithophora Birds Satyrion 10 Orchis Ornithophora folio maculoso Spotted Birds Orchis 11 Orchis Ornithophora candida White Birds Orchis 12 Orchis Strateumatica Souldiers Satyrion ¶ The Place These kindes of Orchis grow for the most part in moist medowes and fertile pastures as also in moist woods The Bee the Fly and the Butter-fly Satyrions do grow vpon barren chalkie hills and heathie grounds vpon the hils adioyning to a village in Kent named Green-hithe vpon long field downes by South-fleet two miles from the same place and in many other places of Kent likewise in a field adioyning to a small groue of trees halfe a mile from Saint Albons at the South end thereof They grow likewise at Hatfield neere S. Albons by the relation of a learned Preacher there dwelling M. Robert Abot an excellent and diligent Herbarist 13 Orchis Strateumatica minor Souldiers 〈◊〉 14 Orchis Andrachnitis Spider Satyrion That kinde which resembleth the white Butter-fly groweth vpon the declining of the hill at the North end of Hampsted heath neere vnto a small cottage there in the way side as yee go from London to Henden a village thereby It groweth in tfie fields adioyning to the pound or pinnefold without the gate at the Village called High-gate neere London and likewise in the wood belonging to a Worshipfull Gentleman of Kent named Master Sidley of South-fleet where doe grow likewise many other rare and daintie Simples that are not to be found elsewhere in a great circuit ¶ The Time They floure for the most part from May to the end of August and some of them sooner ¶ The Names These kindes of Orchis haue not bin much written of by the Antients neither by the late writers to any purpose so that it may content you for this time to receiue the names set down in their seuerall titles reseruing what else might be said as touching the Greeke French or Dutch names or any generall definition vntill a further consideration ‡ 15 Orchis trifolia minor Small Gnat Satyrion ‡ 16 Orchis angustifolia Narrow leaued Satyrion ¶ The Nature and Vertues The nature and vertues of these kindes of Orchis are referred vnto the others namely to those of the Fox stones notwithstanding there is no great vse of these in physicke but they are chiefly regarded for the pleasant and beautifull floures wherewith Nature hath seemed to play and disport her selfe CHAP. 114. Of Sweet Cullions ¶ The Kindes THere be sundry sorts of sweet smelling Testicles or Stones whereof the first is most sweet and pleasant in smell the others of lesse smell or sauour differing in floure and roots Some haue white floures others yellow some flesh coloured some dasht vpon white with a little reddish wash some haue two stones others three and some foure wherein their difference consisteth ¶ The Description 1 THe first kinde of Sweet stones is a small base and low plant in respect of all the rest The leaues be small narrow and short growing flat vpon the ground amongst the which riseth vp a small weake and tender stalke of a finger long whereupon doe grow small white floures spike fashion of a pleasant sweet smel The roots are two small stones in shape like the other 2 Triple Orchis hath commonly three yet sometimes foure bulbes or tuberous roots somewhat long set with many small fibres or short threads from the which roots rise immediately many flat and plaine leaues ribbed with nerues alongst them like those of Plantaine among the which come forth naked stalkes small and tender whereupon are placed certaine small white floures trace fashion not so sweet as the former in smell and sauour ‡ The top of the stalke whereon the floures do grow is commonly as if it were twisted or writhen about ‡ 3 Frieseland Lady traces hath two small round stones or bulbes of the bignesse of the pease that we call Rouncifalls from the which rise vp a few hairy leaues lesser than those of the triple stones ribbed as the small leafed Plantaine among the which commeth forth a
middle rise vp heads of pretty double floures made of many leaues like in colour to these of the single ‡ 4 The fourth sort of Cuckow Floures groweth creeping vpon the ground with small threddy stalkes whereon do grow leaues like those of the field Clauer or three leaued Grasse amongst which do come vp small and tender stalkes two handfulls high hauing floures at the top in greater quantitie than any of the rest of colour white and after them follow cods containing a small seed The root is nothing else but as it were a bundle of thrums or threds 5 Milke white Lady-smocke hath stalkes rising immediately from the root diuiding themselues into sundry small twiggy and hard branches set with leaues like those of Serpillum The floures grow at the top made of foure leaues of a yellowish colour the root is tough and woody with some fibres annexed thereto ‡ This is no other than the first described differing onely therefrom in that the floures are milke white as our Author truly in the title of his figure made them yet forgetting himselfe in his description he makes them yellowish contrarie to himselfe and the truth ‡ 1 Cardamine Cuckow floures 2 Cardamine altera Ladies-smocks ‡ 3 Cardamine altera flore pleno Double floured Lady-smocke 4 Cardamine Trifolia Three leaued Lady-smocke 6 Cardamine Alpina Mountaine Lady-Smocke ‡ 7 Sium minus impatiens The impatient Lady-smocke 8 Cardamine pumila Bellidis folio Alpina The Dwarfe Dasie-leaued Lady-smocke of the Alpes 6 Mountaine Lady-smocke hath many roots nothing else but as it were a bundle of threddy strings from the which do come 〈◊〉 three or foure small weak or tender leaues made of sundry small leaues in shew like to those of small water Valerian The stalkes be small and brittle whereupon doe grow small floures like the first kinde ‡ 7 I should be blame-worthy if in this place I omitted that pretty conditioned Sium which is kept in diuers of our London gardens and was first brought hither by that great Treasurer of Natures rarieties M. Iohn Tradescani This plant hath leaues set many vpon a rib like as the other Sium described in the second place hath but they are cut in with two or three prety 〈◊〉 gashes the stalk is some cubit high diuided into many branches which haue many small white floures growing vpon them after these floures are past there follow small long 〈◊〉 containing a small white seed Now the nature of this plant is such that if you touch but the cods when as the seed is ripe though you do it neuer so gently yet will the seed fly all abroad with violence as disdaining to be touched whence they vsually call it Noli me tangere as they for the like qualitie name the Persicaria siliquosa The nature of this plant is somewhat admirable for if the seeds as I said be fully ripe though you put but your hand neere them as profering to touch them though you doe it not yet will they fly out vpon you and if you expect no such thing perhaps make you affraid by reason of the suddennesse thereof This herbe is written of onely by Prosper Alpinus vnder the title of Sium Minimum and it may be called in English Impatient Lady-smocke or Cuckow floure It is an annuall and yeerely sowes it selfe by the falling seeds ‡ ‡ 8 The leaues of this somewhat resemble those of Dasyes but lesse and lie spread vpon the ground amongst which rises vp a weake and slender stalke set with 3 or 4 leaues at certaine distances it being some handful high the top is adorned with smal white floures consisting of foure leaues apeece after which follow large and long cods considering the smallnes of the plant within these in a double order is conteined a small reddish seed of somewhat a biting taste The root creepes vpon the top of the ground putting vp new buds in diuers places Clusius found this growing vpon the rockes on the Etscherian mountaine in Austria and hath giuen vs the history and figure thereof vnder the name of Plantula Cardamines emula and Sinapi pumulum Alpinum ¶ The Time and Place That of the Alpish mountaines is a stranger in these cold Countries the rest are to be found euery where as aforesaid especially in the castle ditch at Clare in Essex ‡ The seuenth growes naturally in some places of Italy These flower for the most part in Aprill and May when the Cuckowe doth begin to sing her pleasant notes with out stammering ¶ The Names They are commonly called in Latine Flos Cuculi by Brunfelsius and Dodonaeus for the reason aforesaid and also some call them Nasturtium aquaticum minus or lesser water Cresse of some Cardamine and Sisymbrium alterum of Dioscorides it is called in the Germane tongue 〈◊〉 in French Passerage sanuage in English Cuckowe flowers in Northfolke Canterbury bells at the Namptwich in Cheshire where I had my beginning Ladie smockes which hath giuen me cause to Christen it after my Country fashion ¶ The Nature and Vertues These herbes be hot and drie in the second degree we haue no certaine proofe or authority of their vertues but surely from the kindes of water Cresse they cannot much differ and therefore to them they may be referred in their vertues CHAP. 19. Of Treacle Mustard ¶ The Description 1 TReacle mustard hath long broad leaues especially those next the ground the others lesser slightly indented about the edges like those of Dandelion The stalkes be long and brittle diuided into many branches euen from the ground to the top where grow many small idle flowers tuft fashion after which succeed large flat thin chaffie huskes or seed vessels heart fashion wherein are conteined browne flat seeds sharpe in taste burning the tongue as doth mustard seed leauing a taste or sauour of Garlicke behinde for a farewell 2 Mithridate Mustard hath long narrow leaues like those of Woad or rather Cow Basil. The stalkes be inclosed with small snipt leaues euen to the branches Pyramidis fashion that is to say smaller and smaller toward the top where it is diuided into sundrie branches whereon doe grow small flowers which being past the cods or rather thinne chaffie huskes do appeare full of sharpe seed like the former The roote is long and slender 3 The third kinde of Treacle Mustard named Knaues Mustard for that it is too bad for honest men hath long fat and broad leaues like those of Dwale or deadly Night shade in taste like those of Vuluaria or stinching Orach set vpon a round stalke two cubits high diuided at the top into small armes or branches whereon do grow small foolish white spokie flowers The seed is conteined in flat pouches like those of Shepheards purse brown sharpe in taste and of an ill sauor 4 Bowyers Mustard hath the lower leaues resembling the ordinary Thlaspi but the vpper are very small like tode flaxe but smaller The stalkes be small slender and many The flowers be
〈◊〉 and in Greeke 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 for they are reported to cleere their sight by conueying the juice heereof into their eyes 〈◊〉 calleth it Porcellia for it is numbred among the Succories they are called also Lampuca Yellow Hawkeweed is called of some 〈◊〉 diaboli or yellow Diuels bit for that the root doth very well resemble the bitten or cropt root of the common Diuels bit being like Scabious ‡ ¶ The Names in particular 1 Matthiolus Fuchsius Dodonaeus and others call this Hieracium 〈◊〉 2 3 These are varieties of the same plant the first of them being called by Fuchsius 〈◊〉 and Matthiolus Hieracium minus Lobell calls it Hieracium minus praemorsa radice That sort of this with more cut leaues is by Tabernamontanus 〈◊〉 Hieracium nigrum 4 Lobell calls this Hieracium folijs facie Chondrillae Bauhinus makes this to differ from 〈◊〉 which our Author gaue in this 4. place out of Tabern for he termes this Hieracium 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 hirsutum and the other 〈◊〉 Chondrillae folio Glabrum the one smooth leaued the other rough yet that which growes frequently with vs and is very well represented by this figure hath smooth leaues as he also obserued it to haue in Italy and about Mountpelier in France 5 This is Hieracium alterum grandius and Hieracium montanum angustifolium primum of 〈◊〉 6 Lobell calls this from the length of the root though sometimes it be not so long Hieracium Longius radicatum as also Taber Hieracium macrorhizon it is thought to be the Apargia of 〈◊〉 by Daleschampius in the Hist. Lugd. pag. 562. but the figure there that beares the title is of Huracium minus 7 Tabernamontanus first gaue this vnder the name of Hieracium intybaccum asperum Bauhine refers it to the wilde yellow Succories and calls it Cichoreum montanum angustifolium hirsutie asperum 8 This Lobell calls Hieracium Narbonense falcata siliqua 9 He calls this Hieracium facie Hedypnois and Caesalpinus termes this Rhagadiolus and the last mentioned Rhagadiolus alter 10 This by Tabernamontanus is called Hieracium montanum majus Latifolium The figure of this was giuen by our Author chap. 30. vnder the title of Chondrilla Hispanica 11 Tabernamontanus also stiles this Hieracium montanum Latifolium minus ‡ ¶ The Nature The kindes of Hawkeweed are cold and dr ie and somewhat binding ¶ The Vertues They are in vertue and operation like to Sonchus or Sowthistle and being vsed after the same manner be as good to all purposes that it doth serue vnto They be good for the eie-sight if the juice of them be dropped into the eyes especially that which is called Diuels bit which is thought to be the best and of greatest force Therefore as Dioscorides writeth it is good for an hot stomacke and for inflammations if it be laid vpon them The herbe and root being stamped and applied is a remedie for those that be stung of the scorpion which effect not onely the greater Hawkeweeds but the lesser ones also doe performe CHAP. 35. Of Clusius Hawkeweed ¶ The Kindes THere be likewise other sorts of Hawkeweeds which Carolus Clusius hath set forth in his Pannonicke obseruations the which likewise require a particular chapter for that they do differ in forme very notably 1 Hieracium primum latifolium Clusij The first Hawkeweed of Clusius 2 Hieracium 5. Clusij Clusius his 5. kinde of Hawkeweed ¶ The Description 1 THe first of Clusius his Hawkeweeds haue great broad leaues spred vpon the ground somewhat hairie about the edges oftentimes a little iagged also soft as is the leafe of Mullen or Higtaper and sometimes dasht here and there with some blacke spots in shape like the garden Endiue full of a milkie juice among which riseth vp a thicke hollow stalke of a cubit high diuiding it selfe at the top into two or three branches whereupon do grow sweete smelling floures not vnlike to those of yellow Succorie set or placed in a blacke hoarie and woollie cup or huske of a pale bleake yellow colour which turneth into a downie blowball that is caried away with the winde the root entereth deepely into the ground of the bignesse of a finger full of milke and couered with a thicke blacke barke 2 The second sort of great Hawkeweed according to my computation and the 5. of Clusius hath leaues like the former that is to say soft and hoarie and as it were couered with a kinde of white woollinesse or hairinesse bitter in taste of an inche broad The stalke is a foot high at the top whereof doth grow one yellow floure like that of the great Hawkeweed which is caried away with the winde when the seed is ripe The root is blacke and full of milkie juice and hath certaine white strings annexed thereto 3 This kinde of Hawkeweed hath blacke roots a finger thicke full of milkie juice deepely thrust into the ground with some small fibers belonging thereto from which come vp many long leaues halfe an inch or more broad couered with a soft downe or hairinesse of an ouerworne 〈◊〉 colour and amongst the leaues come vp naked and hard stalkes whereupon doe grow yellow floures set in a woollie cup or chalice which is turned into downe and caried away with his seed by the winde 4 The fourth Hawkeweed hath a thicke root aboue a finger long blackish creeping vpon the top of the ground and putting out some fibres and it is diuided into some heads each whereof at the top of the earth putteth out some six or seuen longish leaues some halfe an inche broad and somewhat hoarie hairie and soft as are the others precedent and these leaues are snipt about the edges but the deepest gashes are neerest the stalkes where they are cut in euen to the middle rib which is strong and large The stalke is smooth naked and somewhat high the floures be yellow and double as the other 3 Hieracium 6. Clusij Clusius his 6. Hawkeweed 4 Hieracium 7. Clusij Clusius his 7. Hawkeweed ‡ 5 The same Author hath also set forth another Hieracium vnder the name of Hieracium parvum Creticum which he thus describes this is an elegant little plant spreading some six or more leaues vpon the top of the ground being narrower at that part whereas they adhere to the 〈◊〉 and broader at the other end and cut about the edges hauing the middle rib of a purple colour amongst these rise vp two or three little stalkes about a foot high without knot vntill you come almost to the top whereas they are diuided into two little branches at which place 〈◊〉 forth leaues much diuided the floures grow at the top of a sufficient bignesse considering the magnitude of the plant and they consist of many little leaues lying one vpon another on the vpper side wholly white and on the vnder side of a flesh colour The root is single longish growing small towards the end and putting forth stringy fibres on the sides Thus much Clusius who receiued this figure
smel vpon which plant if any should chance to rest and sleepe he might very well report to his friends that he had reposed himselfe among the chiese of Scoggins heires ¶ The Place It groweth vpon dunghills and in the most filthy places that may be found as also about the common pissing places of great princes and Noblemens houses Sometime it is found in places neere bricke kilns and old walls which doth somewhat alter his smell which is like tosted cheese but that which groweth in his naturall place smells like stinking salt-fish whereof it tooke his name Garosmus ¶ The Time It is an herbe for a yeare which springeth vp and when the seed is ripe it perisheth and recouereth it selfe againe of his owne seed so that if it be gotten into a ground it cannot be destroyed ¶ The Names Stinking Orach is called of Cordus Garosmus because it smelleth like stinking fish it is likewise called Tragium Germanicum and Atriplex 〈◊〉 olens by Pena and Lobel for it smelleth more stinking than the rammish male Goat whereupon some by a figure haue called it Vulvaria and it may be called in English stinking Mother-wort ¶ The Nature and Vertues There hath been little or nothing set down by the Antients either of his nature or vertues notwithstanding it hath beene thought profitable by reason of his stinking smell for such as are troubled with the mother for as Hyppocrates saith when the mother doth stifle or strangle such things are to be applied vnto the 〈◊〉 as haue a ranke and stinking smell CHAP. 47. Of Goose-foot ¶ The Description 1 GOose-foot is a common herbe and thought to be a kinde of Orach it riseth vp with a stalke a cubit high or higher somewhat chamfered and branched the leaues be broad smooth sharpe pointed shining hauing certaine deepe cuts about the edges and resembling the foot of a goose the floures be small something red the seed standeth in clusters vpon the top of the branches being very like the seed of wilde Orach and the root is diuided into sundry strings ‡ 2 This differs from the last described in that the leaues are sharper cut and more diuided the seed somewhat smaller and the colour of the whole plant is a deeper or darker greene ‡ 1 Atriplex syluestris latifolia siue Pes Anserinus Goose-foot ‡ 2 Atriplex syluestris latifolia 〈◊〉 The other Goose-foot ¶ The Place It growes plentifully in obscure places neere old walls and high-waies and in desart places ¶ The Time It flourisheth when the Orach doth whereof this is a wilde kinde ¶ The Names The later Herbarists haue called it Pes anserinus and Chenopodium of the likenesse the leaues haue with the foot of a Goose in English Goose-foot and wilde Orach ¶ The Temperature This herbe is cold and moist and that no lesser than Orach but as it appeareth more cold ¶ The Vertues It is reported that it killeth swine if they do eate thereof it is not vsed in Physicke and 〈◊〉 lesse as a sallade herbe CHAP. 48. Of English Mercurie Bonus Henricus English Mercurie or good Henrie ¶ The Description GOod Henrie called Tota bona so named of the later Herbarists is accounted of them to be one of the Dockes but not properly This bringeth forth very many thicke stalkes set with leaues two foot high on the branches wherof towards the top stand greene floures in clusters thicke thrust together The seed is flat like that of the Orach whereof this is a kinde The leaues be fastened to long foote-stalkes broad behinde and sharpe pointed fashioned like the leaues of Aron or Wake-robin white or grayish of colour and as it were couered ouer with a fine meale in handling it is fat and olious with a very thicke root and parted into many diuisions of a yellow colour within like the sharpe pointed Docke ¶ The Place It is commonly found in vntilled places and among rubbish neere common waies old walls and by hedges in fields ¶ The Time It floureth in Iune and Iuly especially ¶ The Names It is called of some 〈◊〉 Anserinus and Tota bona in English All-Good and Good Henrie in Cambridgshire it is called Good king Harry the Germanes call it Guter Heinrick of a certaine good qualitie it hath as they also name a certaine pernicious herbe Malus Henricus or bad Henry It is taken for a kinde of Mercurie but vnproperly for that it hath no participation with Mercurie either in forme or quality except yee will call euery herbe Mercurie which hath power to loose the belly ¶ The Temperature Bonus Henricus or Good Henrie is moderately hot and dry clensing and scouring withall ¶ The Vertues The leaues boiled with other pot-herbes and eaten maketh the body soluble The same brused and laid vpon greene wounds or foale and old vlcers doth scoure mundisie and heale them CHAP. 49. Of Spinach Spinacia Spinach ¶ The Description 1 SPinach is a kinde of Blite after 〈◊〉 notwithstanding I rather take it 〈◊〉 kinde of Orach It bringeth 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and tender leaues of a darke greene colour full 〈◊〉 juice sharpe pointed and in the largest part 〈◊〉 neather end square parted oftentimes with a deepe gash on either side next to the 〈◊〉 foot-stalke the stalke is round a foot high 〈◊〉 within on the tops of the branches stand little floures in clusters in whose places doth 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 prickly seed The root consisteth of many small threds 2 There is another sort found in our 〈◊〉 like vnto the former in goodnesse as also in 〈◊〉 sauing that the leaues are not so great 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 deepely gasht or indented and the seed 〈◊〉 prickles at all for which cause it is called 〈◊〉 Spinach ¶ The Place It is sowne in gardens without any great 〈◊〉 or industrie and forsaketh not any ground being but indifferent fertill ¶ The Time It may be sowne almost at any time of 〈◊〉 yeere but being sowne in the spring it quickly groweth vp and commeth to perfection within two moneths but that which is sowne in the fall of the leafe groweth not so soone to perfection yet continueth all the win terand seedeth presently vpon the first spring ¶ The Names It is called in these daies Spinachia of some Spinacheum olus of others Hispanicum olus 〈◊〉 nameth it 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Arabians and Serapio call it Hispane the Germanes Spinet in 〈◊〉 Spinage and Spinach in French Espinas ¶ The Nature Spinach is euidently cold and moist almost in the second degree but rather moist It is 〈◊〉 the pot-herbes whose substance is waterie and almost without taste and therefore quickly 〈◊〉 deth and looseth the bellie ¶ The Vertues It is eaten boiled but it yeeldeth little or no nourishment at all it is something windie and easily causeth a desire to vomit it is vsed in sallades when it is young and tender This herbe of all other pot-herbes and sallade herbes maketh the greatest diuersitie of 〈◊〉 and sallades CHAP. 50. Of Pellitorie of the wall ¶ The
mihi suaue rubet sed inest quoque succus amarus Qui juvat obsessum bile aperitque jecur My floure is sweet in smell bitter my iuyce in taste Which purge choler and helps liuer that else would waste CHAP. 164. Of Calues snout or Snapdragon ¶ The Description 1 THe purple Snapdragon hath great and brittle stalks which diuideth it selfe into many fragile branches whereupon do grow long leaues sharpe pointed very greene like vnto those of wilde flax but much greater set by couples one opposite against another The floures grow at the top of the stalkes of a purple colour fashioned like a frogs mouth or rather a dragons mouth from whence the women haue taken the name Snapdragon The 〈◊〉 is blacke contained in round huskes fashioned like a calues snout whereupon some haue called it Calues snout or in mine opinion it is more like vnto the bones of a sheeps head that hath beene long in the water the flesh consumed cleane away 2 The second agreeth with the precedent in euery part except in the colour of the floures for this plant bringeth forth white floures and the other purple wherein consists the difference 3 The yellow Snapdragon hath a long thicke wooddy root with certain strings fastned thereto from which riseth vp a brittle stalke of two cubits and a halfe high diuided from the bottome to the top into diuers branches whereupon doe grow long greene leaues like those of the former but greater and longer The floures grow at the top of the maine branches of a pleasant yellow colour in shape like vnto the precedent 4 The small or wilde Snapdragon differeth not from the others but in stature the leaues are lesser and narrower the floures purple but altogether smaller the heads or seed-vessels are also like those of the former ‡ 5 There is another kinde hereof which hath many slender branches lying oft times vpon the ground the leaues are much smaller than these of the last described the floures and seed-vessels are also like but much lesser and herein consists the onely difference ‡ 1. 2. 〈◊〉 purpureum sinc album Purple or white floured Snapdragon 3 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Yellow 〈◊〉 4 Antirrhinum minus Small Snapdragon ‡ 5 Antirrhinum 〈◊〉 repens Small creeping Snapdragon ¶ The Place The three first grow in most gardens but the yellow kinde groweth not common except in the gardens of curious Herbarists ‡ The fourth and fifth grow wilde amongst corne in diuers places ‡ ¶ The Time That which hath continued the whole Winter doth floure in May and the rest of Sommer afterwards and that which is planted later and in the end of Sommer floureth in the spring of the following yeare they do hardly endure the iniurie of our cold Winter ¶ The Names Snapdragon is called in Greeke 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in Latine also Antirrhinum of Apuleius Canis cerebrum Herba Simiana Venustaminor Opalis grata and Orontium it is thought to be Leo herba which Columella lib. 10. reckons among the floures yet Gesner hath thought that this Leo is Columbine which for the same cause he hath called 〈◊〉 but this name seemeth to vs to agree better with Calues snout than with Columbine for the gaping floure of Calues snout is more like to Lyons snap than the floure of Columbine it is called in Dutch 〈◊〉 in Spanish Cabeza de ternera in English Calues snout Snapdragon and Lyons snap in French Teste de chien and Teste de Veau ¶ The Temperature They are hot and dry and of subtill parts ¶ The Vertues The seed of Snapdragon as Galen saith is good for nothing in the vse of physicke and the herb it selfe is of like facultie with Bubonium or Star-wort but not so effectuall They report saith Dioscorides that the herbe being hanged about one preserueth a man from being bewitched and that it maketh a man gracious in the sight of people Apuleius writeth that the distilled water or the decoction of the herbe and root made in water is a speedy remedy for the watering of eyes proceeding of a hot cause if they be bathed therewith CHAP. 165. Of Tode-Flax 1 Linaria vulgaris lutea Great Tode-flax 2 Linaria purpurea odorata Sweet purple Tode-flax ¶ The Description 1 LInaria being a kinde of Antyrrhinum hath small slender blackish stalkes from which do grow many long narrow leaues like flax The floures be yellow with a spur hanging at the same like vnto a Larkes spur hauing a mouth like vnto a frogs mouth euen such as is to bee seene in the common Snapdragon the whole plant before it come to floure so much resembleth Esula minor that the one is hardly knowne from the other but by this old verse Esula lactescit sine lacte Linaria crescit ‡ Esula with milke doth flow Toad-flax without milke doth grow ‡ 2 The second kinde of Tode-flax hath leaues like vnto Bellis maior or the great Dasie but not so broad and somewhat iagged about the edges The stalke is small and tender of a cubit high beset with many purple floures like vnto the former in shape The root is long with many threds hanging thereat the floures are of a reasonable sweet sauour 3 The third being likewise a kinde of Tode-flax hath small and narrow leaues like vnto the first kinde of Linaria the stalke is a cubit high beset with floures of a purple colour in fashion like Linaria but that it wanteth the taile or spurre at the end of the floure which the other hath The root is small and threddie †4 Linaria Valentina hath leaues like the lesser Centorye growing at the bottome of the stalke by three and three but higher vp towards the top without any certaine order the stalkes are of a foot high and it is called by Clusius Valentina for that it was found by himselfe in Agro Valentino about Valentia in Spaine where it beareth yellow floures about the top of the stalke like common Linaria but the mouth of the floure is downie or mossie and the taile of a purple colour It floureth at Valentia in March and groweth in the medowes there and hath not as yet been seene in these Northerne parts 5 Osyris alba hath great thick and long roots with some threds or strings hanging at the same from which rise vp many branches very tough and pliant beset towards the top with floures not much vnlike the common Toad-flaxe but of a pale whitish colour and the inner part of the mouth somewhat more wide and open and the leaues like the common Tode-flax 3 Linaria purpurea altera Variable Tode-flax 4 Linaria Valentia Clus. Tode-flax of Valentia 5 Osyris alba Lob. White Tode-flax 6 Osyris purpurocaerulea is a kinde of Tode-flax that hath many small and weake branches trailing vpon the ground beset with many little leaues like flaxe The floures grow at the top of the stalke like vnto the common kinde but of a purple colour declining to blewnesse The root is small
greene colour The root is very slender and single 2 There is another kinde of Herniaria called Mille grana or All-seed that groweth vpright a handfull high with many small and tender branches set with leaues like the former but few in number hauing as it were two smal leaues no more The whole plant seemeth as it were couered ouer with seeds or graines like the seed of Panicke but much lesser ‡ I haue not seen many plants of this but all that euer I yet saw neuer attained to the height of two inches ‡ ¶ The Place 1 It ioyeth in barren and sandy grounds and is likewise found in dankish places that lie wide open to the sunne it doth grow and prosper in my garden exceedingly ‡ 2 I found this in Kent on a Heath not farre from Chiste-hurst being in company with Mr. Bowles and diuers others in Iuly 1630. ¶ The Time It floureth and flourisheth in May Iune Iuly and August ¶ The Names It is called of the later Herbarists Herniaria and Herniola taken from the effect in curing the disease Hernia of diuers Herba Turca and Empetron in French 〈◊〉 in English Rupture woort and Burstwoort ¶ The Temperature and Vertue Rupture woort doth notably drie and throughly closeth vp together and fasteneth It is reported that being drunke it is singular good for Ruptures and that very many that haue been bursten were restored to health by the vse of this herbe also the pouder hereof taken with wine doth make a man to pisse that hath his water stopt it also wasteth away the stones in the kidnies and expelleth them CHAP. 173. Of wilde Time 1 Serpillum vulgre Wilde Time 3 Serpillum majus flore purpurco Great purple wilde Time ¶ The Description 1 BOth Dioscoridcs and Pliny make two kindes of Serpillum that is of creeping or wilde Time whereof the first is our common creeping Time which is sowell knowne that it needeth no description yet this ye shall vnderstand that it beareth floures of a purple colour as euery body knoweth Of which kinde I found another sort with floures as white as snow and haue planted it in my garden where it becommeth an herbe of great beauty 2 This wilde Time that bringeth forth white floures differeth not from the other but only in the colour of the floures whence it may be called Serpillum vulgare flore albo White floured Wilde Time There is another kinde of Serpillum which groweth in gardens in smell and sauour resembling Marjerome It hath leaues like Organy or wilde Marjerome but somewhat whiter putting forth many small stalkes set full of leaues like Rue but longer narrower and harder The floures are of a biting taste and pleasant smell The whole plant groweth vpright whereas the other creepeth along vpon the earth catching hold where it growes spreading it selfe far abroad 3 This great wilde Time creepeth not as the others doe but standeth vpright and bringeth forth little slender branches full of leaues like those of Rue yet narrower longer and harder The flours be of a purple colour and of a twingging biting taste it groweth vpon rocks and is hotter than any of the others 4 This other great one with white floures differeth not from the precedent hauing many knaps or heads of a milke white colour which setteth forth the difference and it may be called Serpillum maius flore albo Great white floured wilde Time 5 This wilde Time creepeth vpon the ground set with many leaues by couples like those of Marjerom but lesser of the same smel the flours are of a reddish color The root is very threddy 6 Wilde Time of Candy is like vnto the other wild Times sauing that his leaues are narrower and longer and more in number at each joint The smell is more aromaticall than any of the others wherein is the difference 7 There is a kinde of wilde Time growing vpon the mountaines of Italy called Serpillum 5 Serpillum folijs amaraci Marjerome Time 6 Serpillum Creticum Wilde Time of Candy ‡ 7 Serpillum citratum Limon Time ‡ 8 Serpillum hirsutum Hoary wilde Time 8 This which is the Serpillum Pannonicum 3. of Clusius runnes or spreds it selfe far vpon the ground For though it haue a hard and wooddy root like as the former kindes yet the branches which lie spred round about here and there take root which in time become as hard and wooddy as the former The leaues and stalkes are like those of the last described but rough and hoarie the floures also are not vnlike those of the common kind The whole plant hath a kinde of resinous smell It floures in Iune with the rest and growes vpon the like mountainous places 〈◊〉 whether with vs in England or no I cannot yet affirme any thing of certaintie ‡ ¶ The Place The first groweth vpon barren hills and vntoiled places the second groweth in gardens The white kinde I found at 〈◊〉 in Kent in a barren field belonging to one Mr. William Swan ¶ The Time They floure from May to the end of Sommer ¶ The Names Wild Time is called in Latine Serpillum à serpendo of creeping in high and low-Dutch 〈◊〉 and Wilden Thymus and also 〈◊〉 Urouwen 〈◊〉 in Spanish Serpoll in Italian Serpillo in French Pillolet in English Wilde Time Puliall Mountaine Pella mountaine running Time creeping Time Mother of Time in shops it is called Serpyllum yet some call it Pulegium montanum and it is euery where saith Dodonaeus thought to be the Serpyllum of the Antients Notwithstanding it answereth not so wel to the wilde Times as to Dioscorides his Saxifranga for if it be diligently compared with the description of both the Serpilla and the Saxifranga it shal be found to be little like the wilde Times but very much like the Saxifranga for saith Dioscorides Saxifranga is an herbe like Time growing on rockes where our common wilde Time is ostentimes found Aelianus in his ninth booke of his sundry Histories seemeth to number wilde Time among the floures Dionysius Iunior saith he comming into the city Locris in Italy possessed most of the houses of the city and did strew them with roses wild Time and other such kindes of floures Yet Virgil in the second Eclog of his Bucolicks doth most manifestly testifie that wilde Time is an herbe in these words Thestylis rapido fessis messoribus 〈◊〉 Allia serpillumque herbas contundit olentes Thestilis for mowers tyr'd with parching heate Garlicke wilde Time strong smelling herbes doth beate Out of which place it may be gathered that common wilde time is the true and right Serpillum or wilde Time which the Grecians call 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Marcellus an old antient Author among the Frenchmen saith it is called Gilarum as Plinius Valerianus saith it is called of the same Laurio ¶ The Temperature Wilde Time is of temperature hot and dry in the third degree it is of thin and subtill parts 〈◊〉 and much biting ¶ The Vertues It bringeth downe the
mouth and tongue must be often washed with the same decoction and sometimes a little vineger mixed therewith This disease is thought to be vnknowne to the old writers but notwithstanding if it be conferred with that which Paulus Aegineta calleth Erysipelas 〈◊〉 an inflammation of the braine then will it not be thought to bee much differing if it be not the very same CHAP. 202. Of the great Daisie or Maudelen woort 1 Bellis maior The great Daisie ¶ The Description 1 THe great Daisie hath very many broad leaues spred vpon the ground somewhat indented about the edges of the breadth of a finger not vnlike those of groundswell among which rise vp stalkes of the height of a cubit set with the like leaues but lesser in the top whereof do grow large white floures with yellow thrums in the middle like those of the single field Daisy or Mayweed without any smell at all The root is full of strings ¶ The Place It groweth in Medowes and in the borders of fields almost euery where ¶ The Time It floureth and flourisheth in May and Iune ¶ The Names It is called as we haue said Bellis maior and also 〈◊〉 media vulnerariorum to make a difrence betweene it and Bugula which is the true Consolida media notwithstanding this is holden of all to bee Consolida medij generis or a kinde of middle Consound in High Dutch as Fuchsius reporteth 〈◊〉 in English the Great Daisie and Maudelen woort ¶ The Temperature This great Daisie is moist in the end of the second degree and cold in the beginning of the same ¶ The Vertues The leaues of the great Maudleine woort are good against all burning vlcers and apostemes against the inflammation and running of the eies being applied thereto The same made vp in an vnguent or salue with wax oile and turpentine is most excellent for wounds especially those wherein is any inflammation and will not come to digestion or maturation as are those weeping 〈◊〉 made in the knees elbowes and other ioints The iuice decoction or distilled water is drunk to very good purpose against the rupture or any inward burstings The herbe is good to be put into Vulnerarie drinks or potions as one simple belonging thereto most necessarie to the which effect the best practised do vse it as a simple in such cases of great effect It likewise asswageth the cruell torments of the gout vsed with a few Mallows and butter boiled and made to the sorme of a pultis The same receipt aforesaid vsed in Clysters profiteth much against the vehement heat in agues and ceaseth the torments or wringing of the guts or bowels CHAP. 203. Of little Daisies ¶ The Description 1 THe Daisie bringeth forth many leaues from a threddy root smooth fat long and somwhat round withall very sleightly indented about the edges for the most part lying vpon the ground among which rise vp the floures euery one with his owne slender stem almost like those of Camomill but lesser of a perfect white colour and very double 2 The double red Daisie is like vnto the precedent in euery respect sauing in the colour of the floures for this plant bringeth forth floures of a red colour and the other white as aforesaid ‡ These double Daisies are of two sorts that is either smaller or larger and these againe either white or red or of both mixed together wherefore I haue giuen you in the first place the figure of the small and in the second that of the larger 3 Furthermore there is another pretty double daisie which differs from the first described only in the floure which at the sides thereof puts forth many foot-stalkes carrying also little double floures being commonly of a red colour so that each stalke carries as it were an old one and the brood thereof whence they haue fitly termed it the childing Daisie ‡ 1 Bellis minor multiplex flore albo vel rubro The lesser double red or white Daisie 2 Bellis media multiplex flore albo vel rubro The larger double white or red Daisie 4 The wilde field Daisie hath many leaues spred vpon the ground like those of the garden Daisie among which rise vp slender stems on the top whereof do grow small single floures like those of Camomill set about a bunch of yellow thrums with a pale of white leaues sometimes white now and then red and often of both mixed together The root is threddy 5 There doth likewise grow in the fields another sort of wilde Daisie agreeing with the former in each respect sauing that it is somewhat greater than the other and the leaues are somwhat more cut in the edges and larger ‡ 3 Bellis minor prolifera Childing Daisie 4 Bellis minor syluestris The small wilde Daisie 5 Bellis media syluestris The middle wilde Daisie 7 The French blew Daisie is like vnto the other blew Daisies in each respect sauing it is altogether lesser wherein consisteth the difference ‡ There were formerly three figures and descriptions of this blew Daisie but one of them might haue serued for they differ but in the tallnesse of their growth and in the bredth and narrownesse of their leaues ‡ ¶ The Place The double Daisies are planted in gardens the others grow wilde euery where The blew Daisies are strangers in England their naturall place of abode is set forth in their seuerall titles 6 Bellis coerulea siue Globularia 〈◊〉 The blew Italian Daisie 7 Bellis coerulea Monspeliaca Blew French Daisies ¶ The Time The Daisies do floure most part of the Sommer ¶ The Names The Daisie is called in high-Dutch Maszlieben in low Dutch Margrieten in Latine Bellis minor and Consolida minor or the middle Consound of Tragus Primula veris but that name is more proper vnto Primrose of some Herba Margarita or Margarites herbe in French Marguerites and Cassaudes in Italian Fiori di prima veri gentili In English Daisies and Bruisewort The blew Daisie is called Bellis coerulea of some Globularia of the round forme of the floure it is also called Aphyllanthes and Frondislora in Italian Botanaria in English blew Daisies and Globe Daisie ¶ The Temperature The lesser Daisies are cold and moist being moist in the end of the second degree and cold in the beginning of the same ¶ The Vertues The Daisies doe mitigate all kinde of paines but especially of the ioynts and gout proceeding from an hot and dry humor if they be stamped with new butter vnsalted and applied vpon the pained place but they worke more effectually if Mallowes be added thereto The leaues of Daisies vsed amongst other Pot-herbes doe make the belly soluble and they are also put into Clysters with good successe in hot burning feuers and against inflammations of the intestines The iuyce of the leaues and roots snift vp into the nosthrils purgeth the head mightily of foule and filthy slimie humors and helpeth the megrim The same giuen to little dogs with milke keepeth them
after some copies hot and dry in the third ¶ The 〈◊〉 Sweete Marjerome is a remedy against cold diseases of the braine and head being taken any way to your best liking put vp into the nosthrils it prouoketh sneesing and draweth forth much baggage 〈◊〉 it easeth the tooth-ache being chewed in the mouth being drunke it prouoketh vrine and draweth away waterish humors and is vsed in medicines against poison The leaues boiled in water and the decoction drunke helpeth them that are entering into the dropsie it easeth them that are troubled with difficultie of making water and such as are giuen to ouermuch sighing and easeth the paines of the belly The leaues dried and mingled with hony and giuen dissolueth congealed or clotted blood and putteth away blacke and blew markes after stripes and bruses being applied thereto The leaues are excellent good to be put into all odoriferous ointments waters pouders broths and meates The dried leaues poudered and finely searched are good to be put into Cerotes or Cere-cloths and ointments profitable against colde swellings and members out of joint There is an excellent oile to be drawne forth of these herbes good against the shrinking of sinewes crampes convulsions and all aches proceeding of a colde cause CHAP. 218. Of wilde Marjerome ¶ The Description 1 BAstard Marjerome groweth straight vp with little round stalkes of a reddish colour full of branches a foot high and sometimes higher The leaues be broad more long than round of a whitish greene colour on the top of the branches stand long spikie scaled eares out of which shoot forth little white floures like the flouring of wheate The whole plant is of a sweete smell and sharpe biting taste 2 The white Organy or bastard Marjerome with white floures differing little from the precedent but in colour and stature This plant hath whiter and broader leaues and also much higher wherein consisteth the difference 3 Bastard Marjerome of Candy hath many threddy roots from which rise vp diuers weake and feeble branches trailing vpon the ground set with faire greene leaues not vnlike those of Penny Royall but broader and shorter at the top of those branches stand scalie or chaffie eares of a purple colour The whole plant is of a most pleasant sweet smell The root endured in my garden 1 Origanum 〈◊〉 Bastard Marjerome 2 Origanum album Tabern White bastard Marjerome 3 Origanum Creticum Wilde Marjerome of Candy 4 Origanum Anglicum English wilde Marjerome 4 English wilde Marjerome is exceedingly well knowne to all to haue long stiffe and hard stalkes of two cubits high set with leaues like those of sweet Marjerome but broader and greater of a russet greene colour on the top of the branches stand tufts of purple floures composed of many small ones set together very closely vmbell fashion The root creepeth in the ground and is long lasting ¶ The Place These plants do grow wilde in the kingdome of Spaine Italy and other of those hot regions The last of the foure doth grow wilde in the borders of fields and low copses in most places of England ¶ The Time They floure and flourish in the Sommer moneths afterward the seed is perfected ¶ The Names Bastard Marjerome is called in Greeke 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and that which is surnamed Heracleoticum 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of diuers it is called Cunila in shops Origanum Hispanicum Spanish Organy our Euglish wilde Marjerome is called in Greeke of Dioscoridcs 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 Onitis of some Agrioriganum or 〈◊〉 Origanum in Italian Origano in Spanish Oregano in French Mariolaine bastarde in English 〈◊〉 bastard Marjerome and that of ours wilde Marjerome and groue Marjerome ¶ The Temperature All the Organies do cut attenuate or make thin dry and heate and that in the third degree and Galen teacheth that wilde Marjerome is more forceable and of greater strength notwithstanding Organy of Candy which is brought dry out of Spaine whereof I haue a plant in my garden is more biting than any of the rest and of greatest heate ¶ The Vertues Organy giuen in wine is a remedy against the bitings and stingings of venomous beasts and cureth them that haue drunke Opium or the juice of blacke poppy or hemlockes especially if it be giuen with wine and raisons of the sunne The decoction of Organy prouoketh vrine bringeth downe the monethly course and is giuen with good successe to those that haue the dropsie It is profitably vsed in a looch or a medicine to be licked against an old cough and the stuffing of the lungs It healeth scabs itches and scuruinesse being vsed in bathes and it taketh away the bad colour which commeth of the yellow jaundice The weight of a dram taken with meade or 〈◊〉 water draweth forth by stoole blacke and filthy humors as Dioscorides and Pliny write The juice mixed with a little milke being poured into the 〈◊〉 mitigateth the paines thereof The same mixed with the oile of Ireos or the rootes of the white Florentine floure de luce and drawne vp into the nosthrils draweth downe water and flegme the herbe strowed vpon the ground driueth away serpents The decoction looseth the belly and voideth choler and drunke with vineger helpeth the infirmities of the splcene and drunke in wine helpeth against all mortall poisons and for that cause it is put into mithridate and treacles prepared for that purpose These plants are easie to be taken in potions and therefore to good purpose they may be vsed and ministred vnto such as cannot brooke their meate and to such as haue a sowre and sqamish and watery stomacke as also against the swouning of the heart CHAP. 219. Of Goates Marjerome or Organy ¶ The Description 1 THe stalkes of Goates Organy are slender hard and wooddy of a blackish colour whereon are set long leaues greater than those of the wilde Time sweete of smell rough and somewhat hairy The floures be small and grow out of little crownes or wharles round about the top of the stalkes tending to a purple colour The root is small and threddy 1 Tragoriganum Dod. Goats Marierome Tragoriganum Lob. Goats Marierome 2 Tragoriganum Clusij Clusius his Goats Marierome ‡ 3 Tragoriganum Cretense Candy Goats Marierome 2 Carolus Clusius hath set forth in his Spanish Obseruations another sort of Goats Marierome growing vp like a small shrub the leaues are longer and more hoarie than wilde Marierome and also narrower of a hot biting taste but of a sweet smell 〈◊〉 not very pleasant The floures do stand at the top of the stalkes in spokie rundles of a white colour The root is thicke and wooddy ‡ 3 This differs little in forme and magnitude 〈◊〉 the last described but the branches are of a blacker colour with rougher and darker coloured leaues the floures also are lesser and of a purple colour Both this and the last described continue alwaies greene but this last is of a much more fragrant smell
when the cause of the infirmitie proceedeth of heat The herbe stamped with oile of roses and Vineger or the decoction of it made in oile of roses keepeth the haires from falling being bathed or annointed therewith It is a remedie against putrified vlcers it healeth vp wounds and perfectly cureth Fistulaes it wasteth away old swellings and taketh away the heat of inflammations The decoction of the roots and leaues swageth the tooth-ache and fasteneth them and healeth the vlcers of the mouth They report saith Pliny that if the dining roome be sprinckled with water in which the herbe hath beene steeped the guests will be the merrier which also Dioscorides mentioneth Most of the latter Physitions do giue the iuice or decoction hereof to them that hath the plague but these men are deceiued not only in that they looke for some truth from the father of falshood and leasings but also because in stead of a good and sure remedie they minister no remedy at all for it is reported that the Diuell did reueale it as a secret and diuine medicine CHAP. 247. Of Scabious 1 Scabiosa maior vulgaris Common Scabious 2 Scabiosa minor siue Columbaria The small common Scabious ¶ The Description 1 THe first kinde of Scabious being the most common and best known hath leaues long and broad of a grayish hoary and hairy colour spred abroad vpon the ground among which rise vp round and rough stems beset with hairy iagged leaues in fashion like great Valerian which we call Setwall At the top of the stalks grow blew floures in thicke 〈◊〉 or buttons The root is white and single 2 The second is like vnto the former sauing that his leaues are much cut or iagged and the whole plant is altogether lesser scarcely growing to the height of a foot 3 The third kinde of Scabious is in all things like vnto the second sauing that the knap or head doth not dilate it selfe so abroad and is not so thicke or closely thrust together and the lowest leaues are not so deepely cut or iagged but the vpper are much smaller and also the more diuided †4 The fourth groweth with large stalkes hauing two leaues one set right against another very much iagged almost like vnto common Ferne or rather Ash and at the top of the stalks there grow larger floures like vnto the first but greater and the roote is also like it and it differs no waie from the first described but onely by reason of the soile 5 Purple floured Scabious hath a rough hairie stalke whereon doe grow broad leaues deepely cut in the edges in forme like those of Sowthistle rough likewise and hairie the floures grow at the top of the stalks composed of an innumerable sort of purple thrums after which come scaly knaps like those of Iacea or Knapweed wherein is the seed The root is small and threddie ‡ 6 The sixth sort of Scabious hath stalks some cubite high round and set with leaues not cut and iagged almost to the middle rib as in the former yet somewhat rough and hairie snipt about the edges and of a light greene colour amongst which rise vp rough stalkes on the top whereof do grow faire red floures consisting of a bundle of thrummes The root is long tough and fibrous ‡ 7 The seuenth kinde of Scabious hath sundrie great rough and round stemmes as high as a tall man beset with leaues like the first Scabious but far greater The floures grow at the top of the stalkes like vnto the others but of a faint yellow colour which fall as soone as it is touched with the hand whereby it mightily increaseth notwithstanding the roote endureth for many yeares and groweth to be wonderfull great and in my garden it did grow to the bignesse of a mans body 3 Scabiosa media Middle Scabious 4 Scabiosa campestris sive 〈◊〉 Corne Scabious 5 Scabiosa flore purpurco Purple floured Scabious 6 Scabiosa rubra Austriaca Red Scabious of Austrich 7 Scabiosa montana maxima Mountaine Scabious ‡ 8 Scabiosa mont an a alba White mountaine Scabious 6 Scabiosamaior Hispanica Spanish Scabious 10 Scabiosa peregrina Strange Scabious 11 Scabiosa omnium minima Sheepes Scabious ‡ 8 The white mountaine Scabious hath broad leaues spred vpon the ground like those of the field Primrose but greater Amongst which riseth vp a great stiffe stalke smooth and plain garnished with leaues not like those next the ground but lesser much more diuided and of a greener colour harder The floures are like those of the common Scabious but white of colour the root of this perishes euery yeare after the perfecting of the seed ‡ 9 The ninth kinde of Scabious is like vnto the mountaine Scabious but lower and smaller hauing sundry large and broad leaues next the ground snipt confusedly and out of order at the edges like the Oken leafe among which riseth vp a stem two cubites high diuiding it selfe into sundry other branche The floures are set at the top of the naked stalkes of a whitish colour which being past the seed appeareth like a tuft of small bucklers round and somewhat hollow within and made as it were of parchment very strange to behold and within the bucklers there are sundry small crosses of blacke fastened to the bottome as it were the needle in a diall running vpon the point of a needle The plant dieth at the beginning of winter and must be sowne in Aprill in good and fertile ground 10 The tenth is like vnto the last before mentioned in stalkes root and floures and differeth that this plant hath leaues altogether without any cuts or iagges about the edges but is smooth and plaine like the leaues of Marigolds or Diuels bit and the floures are like vnto those of the last described 11 Sheeps Scabious hath small and tender branches trailing vpon the ground whereupon do grow small leaues very finely iagged or minced euen almost to the middle ribbe of an ouerworne colour The floures grow at the top of a blewish colour consisting of much thrummie matter hard thrust together like a button the root is small and creepeth in the ground 12 Scabiosa minima hirsuta Hairie Sheepes Scabious ‡ 13 Scabiosa minima Bellidis folio Daisie leaued Scabious ‡ 14 Scabiosa flore pallido Yellow Scabious ‡ 15 Scabiosa prolifera Childing Scabious ‡ 12 The other Sheeps Scabious of our Author according to the figure is greater than the last described growing some foot or better high with slender rough branches set with leaues not so much diuided but onely nicked about the edges the floures are in colour and shape like those of the last described or of the blew daisie the root is single and like that of a Rampion whence Fabius Columna the seed and milkie juice inducing him hath refer'd this to the Rampions calling it Rapuntium montanum capitatum leptophyllon Lobell calls it Scabiosamedia and Dodonaeus Scabiosa minor 13 To these
meate before Nature hath of her selfe digested it Claret wine doth greatly nourish and warme the body and is wholesome with meate especially vnto phlegmaticke people but very vnwholesome for yong children as Galen saith because it heateth aboue nature and hurteth the head Red wine stops the belly corrupteth the bloud breedeth the stone is hurtfull to old people and good or profitable to few saue to such as are troubled with the laske bloudy flix or any other loosenesse of the body Sacke or Spanish wine hath beene vsed of a long time to be drunke after meate to cause the meate the better to digest but common experience hath found it to be more beneficiall to the stomacke to be drunke before meate Likewise Malmsey Muskadell Bastard and such like sweet wines haue been vsed before meat to comfort the cold and weake stomacke especially being taken fasting but experience teacheth that Sacke drunke in stead thereof is much better and warmeth more effectually Almighty God for the comfort of mankinde ordained Wine but decreed withall That it should be moderatly taken for so it is wholsome and comfortable but when measure is turned into excesse it becommeth vnwhole some and a poyson most venomous relaxing the sinewes bringing with it the palsey and falling sicknesse to those of a middle age it bringeth hot feuers frensie and lecherie it consumeth the liuer and other of the inward parts besides how little credence is to be giuen to drunkards it is euident for though they be mighty men yet it maketh them monsters and worse than brute beasts Finally in a word to conclude this excessiue drinking of Wine dishonoreth Noblemen beggereth the poore and more haue beene destroyed by surfeiting therewith than by the sword CHAP. 324. Of Hops ¶ The Kindes THere be two sorts of Hops one the manured or the Garden Hop the other wilde or of the hedge ¶ The Description 1 THe Hop doth liue and flourish by embracing and taking hold of poles pearches and other things vpon which it climeth It bringeth forth very long stalkes rough and hairie also rugged leaues broad like those of the Vine or rather of Bryonie but yet blacker and with fewer dented diuisions the floures hang downe by clusters from the tops of the branches puffed vp set as it were with scales like little canes or scaled Pine apples of a whitish colour tending to yellownesse strong of smell the roots are slender and diuersly folded one within another 2 The wilde Hop differeth not from the manured Hop in forme or fashion but is altogether lesser as well in the clusters of floures as also in the franke shoots and doth not bring forth such store of floures wherein especially consisteth the difference ¶ The Place The Hop ioyeth in a fat and fruitfull ground it prospereth the better by manuring also it groweth among briers and thornes about the borders of fields I meane the wilde kinde 1 Lupus salictarius Hops ¶ The Time The floures of hops are gathered in August and September and reserued to be vsed in beere in the Spring time come forth new shoots or buds in the Winter onely the roots remaine aliue ¶ The Names It is called in shops and in all other places Lupulus of some Lupus salictarius or Lupulus salictarius in high-Dutch Hoppe in low-Dutch Hoppe in Spanish Hombrezillos in French Houblon in English Hops Pliny lib. 〈◊〉 cap. 15. maketh mention of Hops among the prickly plants ¶ The Temperature The floures of the hop are hot and dry in the second degree they fill and stuffe the head and hurt the same with their strong smell Of the same temperature also are the leaues themselues which doe likewise open and clense ¶ The Vertues The buds or first sprouts which come forth in the Spring are vsed to be eaten in sallads yet are they as Pliny saith more toothsome than nourishing for they yeeld but very small nourishment notwithstanding they be good for the intrals both in opening and procuring of vrine and likewise in keeping the body soluble Theleaues and little tender stalkes and also the floures themselues remoue stoppings out of the liuer and spleene purge by vrine helpe the spleene clense the bloud and be profitable against long lingering Agues scabs and such like filth of the skin if they be boyled in whay The iuyce is of more force and doth not onely remoue obstructions out of the intrals but it is also thought to auoid choler and flegme by the stoole It is written that the same dropped into the eares taketh away the stench and corruption thereof The floures are vsed to season Beere or Ale with and too many do cause bitternesse thereof and are ill for the head The floures make bread light and the lumpe to be sooner and easilier leauened if the meale be tempered with liquor wherein they haue been boyled The decoction of hops drunke openeth the stoppings of the liuer the spleene and kidneyes and purgeth the bloud from all corrupt humors causing the same to come forth with the vrine The iuyce of Hops openeth the belly and driueth forth yellow and cholericke humours and purgeth the bloud from all filthinesse The manifold vertues of Hops do manifestly argue the wholsomenesse of beere aboue ale for the hops rather make it a physicall drinke to keepe the body in health than an ordinary drinke for the quenching of our thirst CHAP. 325. Of Trauellers-Joy ¶ The Description 1 THe plant which Lobel setteth forth vnder the title of Viorna Dodonaeus makes Vitis 〈◊〉 but not properly whose long wooddy and viny branches extend themselues very far and into infinite numbers decking with his clasping tendrels and white starre-like floures being very sweet all the bushes hedges and shrubs that are neere vnto it It sends forth many branched stalkes thicke tough full of shoots and clasping tendrels wherewith it foldeth it selfe vpon the hedges and taketh hold and climeth vpon euery thing that standeth neere vnto it The leaues are fastned for the most part by fiues vpon one rib or stem two on either side and one in the midst or point standing alone which leaues are broad like those of Iuy but not cornered at all among which come forth clusters of white floures and after them great tusts of flat seeds each seed hauing a fine white plume like a feather fastned to it which maketh in the winter a goodly shew couering the hedges white all ouer with his feather-like tops The root is long tough and thicke with many strings fastned thereto 2 Clusius hath set forth a kind of Clematis calling it Clematis Baetica hauing a maruellous long small branch full of ioynts with many leaues indented about the edges like those of the peare tree but stiffer and smaller comming from euery ioynt from whence also at each ioynt proceed two small clasping tendrels as also the small foot-stalkes whereon the seeds do stand growing in great tufted plumes or feathers like vnto the precedent whereof it is a kinde The floures are
small white floures doe turne into long and crooked seeds growing at the top of the branches three cubits high ‡ 3 This in leaues stalkes and roots is larger than the last described the stalkes equalling or exceeding the height of a man the smell is strange and greiuous and in all the parts thereof it is like to the other plants of this kinde Lobel figures it by the name of Cicutaria maxima Brancionis and questions whither it be not Thapsia tertia Salamanticensium of Clusius but Clusius denies it so to be ‡ 2 Cicuta latifolia faetidissima Broad leafed stinking Hemlocks ‡ 3 Cicuta latifolia altera Gyant Hemlocke ¶ The Place Common Hemlocke groweth plentifully about towne walls and villages in 〈◊〉 places and fat soiles neere ditches The second groweth vpon mountaines and desart places and is a stranger in England yet I haue plants thereof in my garden ¶ The Time They flourish and seed in September ¶ The Names Homlocke is called in Greeke 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in Latine Cicuta in high Dutch 〈◊〉 in low Dutch 〈◊〉 in Spanish 〈◊〉 Canaheia in French Cigue in English Hemlocke Homlocke Kexe and herbe Bennet The second is called Cicuta latifolia and Cicutaria latifolia and 〈◊〉 Peloponnense quorundam in English great Hemlockes and garden Homlocke ¶ The Temperature 〈◊〉 saith that Homlocke is extreme cold in operation euen in the fourth degree of coldnesse ¶ The Vertues It is therefore a very 〈◊〉 part to lay the leaues of Hemlocke to the stones of yong boyes or virgin brests and by that meanes to keepe those parts 〈◊〉 growing great for it doth not only 〈◊〉 cause those members to pine away but also hurteth the heart and liuer being outwardly 〈◊〉 then must it of necessitie hurt more being inwardly taken for it is one of the deadly 〈◊〉 which killeth by his cold qualitie as Dioscorides writeth saying Hemlocke is a very euill dangerous hurtfull and poysonous herbe insomuch that whosoeuer taketh of it into his body dieth remedilesse except the party drinke some wine that is naturally hot before the venome haue taken the heart as Pliny saith but being drunke with wine the poyson is with greater speed carie to the heart by reason whereof it killeth presently theresore not to be applied outwardly much lesse taken inwardly into the body The great Hemlocke doubtlesse is not possessed with any one good facultie as appeareth by his lothsome smell and other apparant signes and therefore not to be vsed in physicke CHAP. 430. Of wilde and water Hemlockes ¶ The Description 1 THis wilde kinde of Hemlocke hath a small tough white root from which arise vp diuets stiffe stalkes hollow somewhat reddish toward the Sun ioynted or kneed at certaine distances from which ioynts spring forth long leaues very greene and finely minced or iagged like the common Cheruill or Parsley the floures stand at the tops of the stalks in small spokie vmbels with little longish greene leaues about them the seed solloweth like those of Hemlocke or as they grow together on the tops of the stalks they resemble Coriander seeds but lesser the whole plant is of a naughty smell 1 Cicutaria tenuifolia Thin leafed wilde Hemlocke 2 Cicutaria 〈◊〉 Wilde water Hemlocke 2 Water Hemlock which Lobel calleth Cieutariapalustris Clusius and 〈◊〉 Phellandrium riseth vp with a thicke fat and empty hollow stalke full of knees or ioynts 〈◊〉 chamfered or furrowed of a yellowish greene colour the leaues shoot forth of the ioynts and branches like vnto wilde Hemlocke but much thicker fatter and oileous very finely cut or iagged almost like those of the smallest Visnaga or Spanish Tooth-pickes the floures stand at the top of the stalkes in small whitish tusts the seed followeth blackish of the bignesse of Anise seed and of a sweet sauour the root is thicke and long within the water very soft and tender with very many strings fastned thereto ¶ The Place 1 This growes among stones and rubbish by the walls of cities and towns almost euery where The other groweth in the midst of water ditches and standing pooles and ponds in most places of England it groweth very plentifully in the ditches by a causey as you goe from Redriffe to Detford neere London and in many other places ¶ The Time They floure and flourish in Iuly and August ¶ The Names ‡ 1 This is Petroselini vitium of Tragus and Dauci inutilis genus of Gesner Thalius calls it Apium cicutarium Lobel Cicutaria fatua Tabernamontanus Petroselinum caninum which name we may fitly make English and call it Dogs-parsley 2 This is Ligusticum syl Foeniculum syl of Tragus Cicutaria palustris of Lobel and others Dodonaeus thinkes it Plinies Phellandrion and Caesalpinus iudges it his Silaus ‡ ¶ The Temperature and Vertues Their temperature and faculties are answerable to the common Hemlocke which haue no vse in physicke as we haue said CHAP. 431. Of Earth-nut Earth Chest-nut or Kipper-nut †1 Bulbocastanon minus Small Earth-nut 2 Bulbocastanon 〈◊〉 Great Earth-nut ¶ The Description 1 EArth-nut or Kipper-nut called after Lobelius Nucula terrestris hath small euen crested stalkes a foot or somewhat more high whereon do grow next the ground leaues like those of Parsley and those that doe grow higher like vnto those of Dill the white floures doe stand on the top of the stalkes in spokie rundles like the tops of Dill which turne into small seed growing together by couples of a very good smell not vnlike to those of Fennell but much smaller the root is round knobbed with certaine eminences or bunchings out browne without white within of a firme and sollid substance and of a taste like the Chesse-nut or Chestnut whereof it tooke his name 2 There is also another Earth-nut that hath stalkes a foot high whereon doe grow iagged leaues like those of English Saxifrage of a bright greene colour the floures grow at the top of the branches in small spokie tufts consisting of little white floures the root is like the other bulbous fashion with some few strings hanging at the bottome of a good and pleasant taste ‡ This differs from the former in that the leaues are larger and greener the root also is not so far within the ground and it also sends forth some leaues from the bulbe it selfe whereas our common kind hath only the end of a small root that carries the stem and leaues vpon it fastned vnto it as you see it exprest in the former figure ‡ ¶ The Place These herbes do grow in pastures and corne fields almost euery where there is a field adioining to High-gate on the right side of the middle of the village couered ouer with the same and likewise in the next field vnto the conduit heads by Maribone neere the way that leadeth to Paddington by London and in diuers other places ‡ I haue not yet obserued the second to grow wilde with vs. ‡ ¶ The Time They floure in Iune and Iuly the seed
planted setteth forth the difference ¶ The Place Pease are set and sown in gardens as also in the 〈◊〉 in all 〈◊〉 of England The tufted Pease are in reasonable plenty in the West part of 〈◊〉 about Sennocke or Seuenock in other places not so 〈◊〉 The wilde Pease do grow in pastures and 〈◊〉 fields in diuers places specially about the field belonging vnto Bishops Hatfield in 〈◊〉 ¶ The Time They be sowne in the Spring time like as be also other pulses which are ripe in Summer they prosper best in warme weather and easily take harme by cold especially when they floure ¶ The Names The great Pease is called in Latine 〈◊〉 Romanum or 〈◊〉 maius in English Roman Pease or the greater Pease also garden Pease of some Branch Pease French Pease and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and other old Writers do call it in Greeke 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in Latine also Pisum in low Dutch Roomsche 〈◊〉 in French 〈◊〉 Pois The little Pease is called of the Apothecaries euery where Pisum and 〈◊〉 it is called in English little Pease or the common Pease ¶ The Temperature and Vertnes The Pease as Hippocrates saith is lesse windie than Beans but it passeth sooner through the belly Galen writeth that Peason are in their whole substance like vnto Beanes and be eaten after the same manner that Beans are notwithstanding they differ from them in these two things both because they are not so windie as be the beanes and also for that they haue not a clensing faculty and therefore they do more slowly descend through the belly They haue no effectuall qualitie manifest and are in a meane between those things which are of 〈◊〉 and bad iuice that nourish much and little that be windie and without winde as Galen in his booke of the Faculties of Nourishments hath written of these and of beans CHAP. 511. Of the 〈◊〉 or Garden Ciche ¶ The Description GArden Ciche bringeth forth round stalks branched and somewhat hairy leaning on the one side the leaues are made of many little ones growing vpon one stem or rib and set one right against another of which euery one is small broad and nicked on the edges lesser than the leaues of wilde Germander the floures be smal of colour either white or of a reddish purple after which come vp little short cods puffed vp as it were with winde like little bladders in which doe lie two or at the most three seeds cornered small towards the end with one sharp corner not much vnlike to a Rams head of colour either white or of a reddish blacke purple in which is plainly seen the place where they begin first to sprout The root is slender white and long For as Theophrastus saith the Ciche taketh deepest root of all the Pu ses ¶ The Place It is sowen in Italy Spaine and France euery where in the fields It is sowen in our London 〈◊〉 but not common Cicer sativum Garden Ciche ¶ The Time It is sowne in Aprill being first steeped in water a day before the fruit is ripe in August ¶ The Names It is called in Greeke 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in Latine Cicer 〈◊〉 or Rams Ciches of the blackish purple colour Cicer nigrum vel 〈◊〉 blacke or red Ciche and the other is named Cand dum 〈◊〉 album 〈◊〉 orwhite Ciche in English Common Cich or Ciches red 〈◊〉 of 〈◊〉 Sheepes Ciche Pease or Sheepes Ciche Peason ¶ The Temperature and 〈◊〉 The Ciche as Galen writeth in his booke of the Faculties of nourishments is no lesse 〈◊〉 than the true Bean but it yeeldeth a stronger nourishment than that doth 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 lust and it is thought to ingender seed Some giue the same to stalion borses Moreouer Ciches do scoure more than do the true Beanes insomuch as certaine of them do manifestly diminish or 〈◊〉 away the stones in the Kidneyes those be the blacke and little Ciches called Arutina or 〈◊〉 Ciches but it is better to drinke the broth of them sodden in water Both the Rams Ciches as Dioscorides saith the white and the blacke proucke 〈◊〉 if the decoction therof be made with Rosemary and giuen vnto those that haue either the Dropsie or yellow iaundice but they are hurtfull vnto the bladder and Kidneies that haue vlcers 〈◊〉 them CHAP. 512. Of wilde Ciches ¶ The Kindes THe wilde Ciche is like to the tame saith Dioscorid 〈◊〉 but it differeth in seed the later writers haue set downe two kindes hereof as shall be declared ¶ The Description 1 THe first wilde Cich bringeth forth a great number of stalks branched lying flat on the ground about which be the leaues consisting of many vpon one rib as do those of the garden Ciche but not nicked in the edges more like to the leaues of 〈◊〉 the fioures come forth fastned on small stems which grow close to the stalks of a pale yellow colour and like vnto eares in their places come vp little cods in forme and bignesse of the fruit of garden Ciches black and something hairie in which lieth the seed that is smal hard flat and glittering in taste like that of Kidney Beane the root groweth deepe fastened with many strings 2 There is another kinde of wilde Cich that hath also a great number of stalks lying vpon the ground about which stand soft leaues something hairy and white consisting of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 standing vpon a middle rib the least of which stand neerest to the stem and the greatest at the very too the floures come forth at the bottome of the leaues many together of colour 〈◊〉 after which grow small long huskes soft and hairy in cuery one whereof is a little cod in which lie two seeds like little Cichlings 1 Cicer syluestre The wilde Cich 2 Cicer syluestre 〈◊〉 Broad leafed wilde Cich ¶ The Place These plants are sowne in the parts beyond the seas for to feed their cattell with in winter as we do tares vetches and such other base pulse ¶ The Time The time answereth the Vetch or tare ¶ The Names Thewild Cich hath no other name in Latine but Cicer syluestre the later writers haue not found any name at all ¶ The Temperature and Vertues Their temperature and vertues are referred to the garden Cich as Theophrastus 〈◊〉 and Galen saith that the wilde Cich is in all things like vnto that of the garden but in Physicks vse more effectuall by reason it is more hotter and drier and also more biting and bitter CHAP. 513. Of Lentils ¶ The Description 1 THe first Lentil growes vp with slender stalks and leaues which be somwhat hard growing aslope from both sides of the rib or middle stalke narrow and many in number like those of Tares but narrower and lesser the floures be small tending somewhat towards a purple the cods are little and broad the seeds in these are in number three or foure little round plaine and flat the roots are small and threddy 2 The second kinde of Lentill hath small tender and pliant
colour conteining within 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 long yellow seed which is so small and slender that it is like to the dust or powder that 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 worme holes ‡ This is the Ledum Silesiacum of Clusius and the Ledum Rorismarini folio of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 it is also the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of Matthiolus and 〈◊〉 of Cordus and I 〈◊〉 deceiued if the figure which Tabernamont anus and our Author out of him gaue by the name of Cistus adulterinus were not of this ‡ 13 Among the shrubby bushes comprehended vnder the title of Cistus Ledum Matthiolus hath set forth one whereof to write at large were impossible considering the Author is so briefe and of our selues we haue not any acquaintance with the plant it selfe Dioscorides to helpe what may be saith that it is a shrub growing like vnto the stocke or kindred of the Cisti from whose leaues is gathered a clammy dew which maketh that gummie matter that is in shops called Lapdanum it groweth saith he in hot regions but not with vs the Mauritanians call the juice or clammy matter Leden and Laden of some Ladano and Odano in Spanish Xara and surther saith it groweth in Arabia where the bush is called Chasus thus much for the description ‡ Our Author here seems to make Dioscorides to comment vpon Matthiolus which shewes his learning and how well he was exercised in reading or vnderstanding any thing written of Plants But of this 〈◊〉 The plant here figured which Matthiolus iudges to be the true Ledon or Cistus Ladanifera of Dioscorides hath 〈◊〉 stalkes and branches whereon grow very thicke leaues broad also and long with the 〈◊〉 running alongst the leaues the floure of this consists of fiue white leaues and the seed is contained in a three cornered seed vessel ‡ 14 Cistus Ledum Alpinum Clusij The Mountaine Cistus ‡ 15 Cistus Ledon folijs Rorismarini Rosemary leaued Cistus Ledon 14 The foureteenth Cistus being one of those that do grow vpon the Alpish mountaines which Lobel setteth downe to be Balsamum alpinum of Gesner notwithstanding I thinke it not amisse to insert it in this place hauing for my warrant that famous Herbarist Carolus Clusius this plant is one of beautifullest differing in very notable points and yet resembleth them in the wooddy branches and leaues it riseth vp hauing many weake branches leaning to the ground yet of a wooddy substance couered ouer with an ash coloured barke the leaues are broad and very rough of a shining greene colour and a binding taste the floures grow at the tops of the branches like little bels hanging downe their heads diuided at the lips or brims into fiue diuisions of a deepe red color on the out side and dasht ouer here and there with some siluer spots on the inside of a bright shining red colour with certaine chiues in the middle and of a very sweet smell as is all the rest of the plant after which come small heads or knaps full of seed like dust of a very strong smell making the head of them to ake that smel thereto the root is long hard and very woody oftentimes there is found vpon the trunke or naked part of the stalks certaine excrescences or out 〈◊〉 in manner of galls of a fungous substance like those of Touchwood white within and red without of an astringent or binding 〈◊〉 ‡ 15 This growes some cubite and better high and hath long narrow glutinous leaues like in shape to those of Rosemarie set by couples but not very thick the branches whereon the floures do grow are slender and the seed vessels are diuided into fiue parts as in other plants of this kinde This Clusius found in Spaine and sets forth for his Ledum nonum ‡ ¶ The Place Cistus Ledon groweth in the Island of Candie as Bellonius doth testifie in vntilled places euery where it is also found in Cyprus as Pliny sheweth and likewise in many places of Spaine that lie open to the Sun moreouer both the forme and bignesle of the leaues and also of the plants themselues as well of those that bring sorth Ladanum as the other Cistus do varie in this wonderful maner according to the 〈◊〉 of the places and countries where they grow they are strangers in these Northerly parts being very impatient of our cold clymate ¶ The Time They floure for the most part from May to the end of August the clammie matter which falleth vpon the leaues which is a liquid kinde of Rosen of a sweet smell is gathered in the Spring time as Dioscorides saith but as Petrus Bellonius asfirmeth being an eye witnes of the gathering in the midst of sommer and in the extreme heat of the Dog-daies the which in our time not without great care and diligence and as great labour is gathered from the whole plant with certain instruments made in manner of tooth pickes or eare pickes which in their tongue they call Ergastiri and not gathered from the beards of Goats as it is reported in the old fables of the lying Monks themselues called Calohieros that is to say Greekish Monkes who of very mockerie haue foisted that fable among others extant in their workes ‡ I thinke it not amisse for the better explanation of the matter here treated of as also to shew you after what manner our Author in diuers places gaue the testimonies of sundry Writers and how well he vnderstood them here to set downe in English the words of Bellonius concerning the gathering of Ladanum which are these The Greekes saith he for the gathering of Ladanum prouide a peculiar instrument which in their vulgar tongue they terme Ergastiri This is an instrument like to a Rake without teeth to this are fastened sundry thongs cut out of a raw and vntanned hide they gently rub these vpon the Ladanum bearing shrubs that so the liquid moisture concrete about the leaues may sticke to them which afterwards with kniues they shaue off these thongs in the heat of the day Wherefore the labour of gathering Ladanum is exceeding great yea intollerable seeing they must of necessitie stay in the mountaines all the day long in the greatest heat of the Dog-daies neither vsually shall you finde any other who will take the paines to gather it besides the Calohieroi that is the Greeke Monkes It is gathered no where in the whole Island of Candy in greater plenty than at the foot of the mountaine Ida at a village called Cogualino and at Milopotamo ‡ ¶ The Names The shrub it selfe is called in Greeke 〈◊〉 or 〈◊〉 the Latines keep the name Ledon or Ladon and is a kinde of Cistus or Hollie Roses the fat or clammie matter which is gathered from the leaues is named Ladanon and Ledanon according to the Greeke the Apothecaries corruptly call it Lapdanum Dioscorides counteth that to be the best which is sweet of smell and somewhat greene that easily waxeth soft is fat without sand and is not easily broken but very full of Rosine or Gumme ¶ The
described The floures grow on the tops of the branches in maner of a crowne whereupon some haue called it Coronilla in shape like those of the pease and of a yellow colour the cods as yet we haue not seen and therefore not expressed in the figure 5 This small bastard Sene groweth like a small shrub creeping vpon the ground halfe a cubit high bringing forth many twiggie branches in maner of those of the Spanish broome wherupon do grow leaues like those of Lentils or the Strangle Tare with many smal leaues set vpon a middle rib somewhat fat or full of iuice of the colour of the leaues of Rue or Herbegrace of an astringent and vnpleasant taste the floures grow at the tops of the branches of a yellow colour in shape likethose of the smallest broome after which come little crooked cods like the clawes or toes of a bird wherein is contained seed somwhat long blacke and of an 〈◊〉 taste the root is long hard tough and of a wooddy substance 6 There is also found another sort hereof not much differing from the former sauing that this plant is greater in each respect wherein especially consisteth the difference ¶ The Place Colutea or bastard Sene groweth in diuers gardens and commeth vp of seed it quickly commeth to perfection insomuch that if a sticke thereof be broken off and thrust into the ground it quickly taketh root yea although it be done in the middle of summer or at any other time euen as the sticks of Willow or Elder as my selfe haue often prooued the which bring forth floures and fruit the next yeere after The second with Scorpion cods groweth likewise in my garden the last doth grow in diuers barren chalky grounds of Kent towards Sittinbourne Canturbury and about Southfleet I haue not seene them elsewhere the rest are strangers in England ¶ The Time They floure from May till summer be well spent in the meane season the cods bring forth ripe seed ¶ The Names This shrub is called of Theophrastus in Greeke 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 with the diphthong 〈◊〉 in the second sillable in Latine as Gaza expoundeth it Coloutea or Colutea in high Dutch 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in French Baguenaudier they are deceiued that thinke it to be Sena or any kinde thereof although we haue followed others in giuing it to name Bastard Sene which name is very vnproper to it in low Dutch it is called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and we may vse the same name Sene tree in English This Calutea or bastard Sene doth differ from that plant 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 with v in the second syllable of which Colytea Theophrastus writeth in his third booke ‡ The fifth is the Polygala 〈◊〉 of 〈◊〉 ‡ ¶ The Nature and Vertues Theophrastus neither any other hath made mention of the temperature or faculties in working of these plants more than that they are good to fatten cattell especially sheepe CHAP. 12. Of 〈◊〉 ¶ The Description 1 THe first kinde of Liquorice hath many 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 rising vp to the height of two or three cubits beset with leaues of an 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 colour consisting of many small leaues set vpon a middle rib like the leaues 〈◊〉 Colutea or the 〈◊〉 tree somewhat glutinous in handling among which come small knops growing vpon short stems betwixt the leaues and the branches clustering together and making a round forme and shape out of which grow small blew floures of the colour of an English Hyacinth after which succeed round rough prickly heads consisting of diuers rough or 〈◊〉 huskes closely and thicke compact together in which is contained a flat seed the root is straight yellow within and browne without of a sweet and pleasant taste 2 The common and vsuall Liquorice hath stalkes and leaues very like the former sauing that his leaues are greener and greater and the floures of a light shining blew colour but the floures of this are succeeded by longish cods that grow not so thicke clustring together in round heads as the former but spike fashion or rather like the wilde Vetch called 〈◊〉 or Galega the cods are small and flat like vnto the Tare the roots are of a brownish colour without and yellow within like Box and sweeter in taste than the former ¶ The Place These plants do grow in sundry places of Germany wilde and in France and Spaine but they are planted in gardens in England whereof I haue plenty in my garden the poore people of the North parts of England do manure it with great diligence wherby they obtain great plenty thereof replanting the same once in three or foure yeares ¶ The Time Liquorice floureth in Iuly and the seed is ripe in September 1 Glycyrrhiza Echinata Dioscoridis Hedge-hogge Licorice ‡ 2 〈◊〉 vulgaris Common Licorice ¶ The Names The first is called in Greeke 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in Latine Dulc is radix or sweet Root this Licorice is 〈◊〉 knowne either to the Apothecaries or to the vulgar people we call it in English Dioscorides his Licorice It is most euident that the other is 〈◊〉 or Licorice the Apothecaries call it by a corrupt word Liquiritia the Italians Regalitia the Spaniards Regeliza and Regalitia in high Dutch Suszhotz Suszwurtzel in French Rigolisse Raigalisse and Reglisse in low Dutch 〈◊〉 suethout in English common Licorice Pliny calleth it Scythica herba it is named Scythice of the countrey Scythia where it groweth ¶ The Temperature The Nature of Dioscorides his Licorice as Galen saith is familiar to the temperature of our bodies and seeing it hath a certaine binding quality adioined the temperature thereof so much as is hot and binding is specially of a warme buality comming neerest of all to a meane temperature besides for that it is also sweet it is likewise meanely moist For as much as the root of the common Licorice is sweet it is also temperately hot and moist notwithstanding the barke thereof is something bitter and hot but this must be scraped away the fresh root when it is full of juice doth moisten more than the dry ¶ The Vertues The root of Licorice is good against the rough harshnesse of the throat and brest it openeth the pipes of the lungs when they be stuffed or stopped and ripeneth the cough and bringeth forth flegme The iuice of Licorice made according to Art and hardned into a lumpe which is called 〈◊〉 Liquiritiae serueth well for the purposes aforesaid being holden vnder the tongue and there suffered to melt Moreouer with the juice of Licorice Ginger and other spices there is made a certaine bread or cakes called Ginger-bread which is very good against the cough and all the infirmities of 〈◊〉 lungs and brest which is cast into moulds some of one fashion and some of another The iuice of Licorice is profitable against the heate of the stomacke and of the mouth The same is drunke 〈◊〉 wine of Raisons against the infirmities of the liuer and chest scabs or sores of the bladder and diseases of the
a Turnep or Rape whereupon it is called Rapum 〈◊〉 or Broom Rape 2 This is a certaine bulbed plant growing vnto the roots of broome big below and 〈◊〉 aboue couered with blackish scales and of a yelowish pulpe within from which doth rise a stalke a span long hauing whitish floures about the top like almost to those of Dead Nettle after which grow forth long thicke and round husks in which are contained very many seeds and good for nothing the whole plant is of the colour of the Oken leafe 3 Genista Hispanica Spanish Broome 5 Chamaegenista Anglica English Dwarfe Broome 6 〈◊〉 Pannonica Dwarfe broome of Hungarie ‡ Of this Orobanche or Broome Rape there are some varieties obserued and set forth by Lobel and Clusius the first of these varieties hath longer and smaller floures than the ordinarie The second hath larger floures and those of a blewish colour and is sometimes found among corne The third is parted towards the top into sundry branches the floures of this are either blew purplish or else white and it willingly growes among hempe ‡ 3 The Spanish Broome hath likewise wooddy stems from whence grow vp slender pliant twigs which be bare and naked without leaues or at the least hauing but few small leaues set here and there far distant one from another with yellow floures not much vnlike the floures of common Broome but greater which turne into small long cods wherein is conteined browne and flat seed the roote is tough and wooddy 4 Small leafed or thin leafed Broome hath many tough pliant shoots rising out of the ground which grow into hard and tough stalks which are diuided into diuers twiggy branches whereon doe grow very small thin leaues of a whitish colour whereupon some haue called it Genista alba white Broome the floures grow at the top of the stalkes in shape like those of the common Broom but of a white colour wherein it specially differeth from the other Broomes 5 English Dwarfe Broome 〈◊〉 many twiggy branches very 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 at 〈◊〉 or cornered leaning toward the ground 〈◊〉 do grow leaues set without 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 two together and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or foure growing fast together like 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 common 〈◊〉 greene on the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a 〈◊〉 taste among which 〈◊〉 come forth yellow floures like 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of little or no smell at all after which appeare small 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 at 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is contained small seed the root is tough and wooddy ‡ Bauhine iudges these two last 〈◊〉 to be onely varieties of the common Broome to 〈◊〉 opinion I do much 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 I haue let our Authrs description stand 〈◊〉 with the figure 〈◊〉 this later which 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the greatest difference ‡ 6 The Dw arfe Broome of Hungary hath stalkes and yellow floures like those of the last described the leaues hereof are different they are longer and more in number the whole plant is altogether greater wherein especially consisteth the difference ¶ The Place The common Broome groweth almost euery where in dry pastures and low woods The Broome Rape is not to be found but where Broome doth grow it groweth in a Broome field at the foot of Shooters hill next to London vpon Hampstead Heath and in diuers 〈◊〉 places Spanish Broome groweth in diuers kingdomes of Spaine and Italy we haue it in our London gardens The White Broome groweth likewise in Spaine and other hot regions it is a stranger in England of this Titus Calphurnius makes mention in his second Eclog of his Bucolicks writing thus Cernis vt eccepater quas tradidit Ornite vaccae Molle sub hirsuta latus explicuere genista See father how the Kine stretch out their tender side Vnder the hairy broome that growes in fields so wide ¶ The Time Broome floureth in the end of Aprill or May and then the young buds of the floures are to be gathered and laid in pickle or salt which afterwards being washed or boyled are vsed 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as Capers be and be eaten with no lesse delight the cods and seeds be ripe in August the Rape appeareth and is seene especially in the moneth of Iune The Spanish Broome doth floure sooner and is longer in flouring ¶ The Names This shrub is called in Latine Genista oras some would haue it Genesta in Italian Genestra in Spanish likewise 〈◊〉 or 〈◊〉 in high Dutch Pfrimmen in low Dutch Brem in French Genest in English Broome ‡ The Spanish Broome by most writers is iudged to be the Spartum of Dioscorides ‡ ¶ The Temperature and Vertues The twigs floures and seeds of Broome are hot and dry in the second degree they are also of a thin essence and are of force to clense and open and especially the seed which is dryer and not so full of superfluous moisture The decoction of the twigs and tops of Broome doth clense and open the liuer milt and kidnies It driueth away by the stoole watery humours and therefore it is wholesome for them that haue the dropsie especially being made with wine but better for the other infirmities with water The seed also is commended for the same purposes There is also made of the ashes of the stalkes and branches dryed and burnt a lie with thin white wine as Rhenish wine which is highly commended of diuers for the greene sickenesse and dropsie and this doth mightily expell and driue forth thin and watery humors together with the vrine and that by the bladder but withall it doth by reason of his sharpe quality many times hurt and fret the intrailes Mesue saith that there is in the floures and branches a cutting moisture but full of excrements and therefore it causeth vomit and that the plant doth in all his parts trouble cut attenuate and violently purgeth by vomit and stoole flegme and raw humours out of the ioints But these things are not written of Broome but of Spartum which purgeth by vomit after the manner of Hellebor as both Dioscorides and Pliny do testifie Mesue also addeth that Broome doth breake the stone of the kidnies and bladder and 〈◊〉 not the matter whereof the stone is made to lie long or to become a stone The young buds or little floures preferued in pickle and eaten as a sallad stir vp an appetite to meate and open the stoppings of the liuer and milt The same being fully blowne stamped and mixed with swines grease do ease the paine of the gout And Mesue writeth that this tempered with honie of Roses or with an egge doth consume away the Kings-euill The Rape of the Broom or Broome Rape being boyled in wine is commended against the pains of the kidnies and bladder prouoketh vrine breaketh the stone and expelleth it The iuice pressed forth of Broom rape healeth green wounds and clenseth old and filthy vlcers the later Physitions do affirme that it is also good for old venomous and malicious vlcers That worthy Prince of famous 〈◊〉 Henry 8. King of England was woont
or low Furze 6 Genista 〈◊〉 minor siue Nepa Theophr Scorpion Furzes 6 The smallest of all the Furzes is that of the Antients called Nepa or Scorpion Furze as the word Nepa seemeth to import it is a stranger in England it hath beene touched of the Antients in name onely which fault they haue beene all and euerie of them to be complained of being so briefe that nothing can be gathered from their description and therefore I refer what might hereof be said to a further consideration ‡ This hath a thicke wooddy blacke root some halfe foot long from whence arise many slender branches some foot high which are set with many stiffe and sharpe prickles growing somewhat after the maner of the wilde prickly Sperage the yong plants haue little leaues like those of Tragacanth the old ones none the floures are smal and come forth at the bottome of the prickles and they are succeeded by broad cods wherein the seed is contained It growes in diuers places of France and Spaine and is thought to be the Scorpius of Theophrastus which 〈◊〉 translates Nepa ‡ ¶ The Place The common sort hereof are very well knowne to grow in pastures and fields in most places of England The rest are likewise well knowne to those that curiously obserue the difference ¶ The Time They floure from the beginning of May to the end of September ¶ The Names Furze is commonly called Genista spinosa in high-Dutch 〈◊〉 in English Furze Furzen bushes Whinne Gorsse and Thorne-Broome This thorny Broome is taken for Theophrastus his Scorpius which Gaza nameth Nepa the name Scorpius in Pliny is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is to say signifying many things and common to certaine Plants for besides this Scorpius of which he hath made mention lib. 25. cap. 5. setting downe Theophrastus his words where he maketh Aconitum Thelyphonon to be Scorpius lib. 23. cap. 10. and likewise other plants vnder the same title but vnproperly ¶ The Temperature and Vertues There is nothing written in Theophrastus concerning the faculties of Scorpius spinosus or Furze Pliny seemeth to attribute vnto it the same vertues that 〈◊〉 hath notwithstanding the later Writers do agree that it is hot and dry of complexion the seeds are vsed in medicines against the stone and staying of the laske CHAP. 21. Of Cammocke Furze Rest-Harrow or Petty Whinne ¶ The Kindes THere be diuers sorts of Rest-Harrow which some haue inserted among the smooth Broomes others among those with prickles whereof some haue purple floures and likewise ful of prickles others white floures and sharpe thornes some also purple floures others white and also yellow and euery of them void of prickles 1 Anonis siue Resta Bouis Cammocke or Rest-Harrow 3 Anonis non 〈◊〉 Purple Rest-Harrow without prickles ¶ The Description 1 CAmmocke or ground Furze riseth vp with stalkes a cubit high and often higher set with diuers ioynted branches tough pliable and full of hard sharpe thornes among which do grow leaues in forme like those of S. Iohns wort or rather of the Lentill of a deep green colour from the bosome of which thorns and leaues come forth the 〈◊〉 like those of Peason of a purple colour after which do come the cods in which do lie flat seed the root is long and runneth far abroad very tough and hard to be torne in pieces with the plough 〈◊〉 that the oxen can hardly passe forward but are constrained to stand still whereupon it was called Rest-Plough or Rest-Harrow 4 Anonis siue Spinalutea Yellow Rest-Yarrow 2 We haue in our London pastures and likewise in other places one of the Rest-Harrowes not differing from the precedent in stalkes leaues or prickles the onely difference is that this plant bringeth forth white floures and the others not so whence we may call it Anonis flore albo Cammocke with white floures 3 Rest-Harrow without thornes hath a tough hoary rough stalke diuided into other rough branches whereon are set without order long leaues sharpe pointed sleightly cut about the edges of an hoary colour and somewhat hairy from the bosome whereof commeth forth purple Pease-like floures of a reasonable good smell the root is verie tough long and wooddy 4 The yellow floured Cammock is a 〈◊〉 in these parts it is only found in the cold Easterne countries for ought that I can learne it differs not from the last described sauing that the floures hereof are of a darke yellow colour wherein it differeth from all the other of his kinde ¶ The Place These grow in 〈◊〉 grounds in fertile pastures and in the borders of fields in a fat fruitful and long lasting soile it is sooner found than desired of husbandmen because the tough and wooddie roots are combersome vnto them for that they stay the plough and make the oxen stand ¶ The Time They send forth new shoots in May they be ful growne in Autumne and then those that of nature are prickly be fullest of sharpe thornes they floure in Iuly and August ¶ The Names Cammocke is called in Greeke 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and likewise in Latine Anonis and Ononis Of Herbarists commonly Aresta Bouis and Remora aratri because it maketh the Oxen whilest they be in plowing to rest or stand still it is also called Acutella of the stiffe and sharpe thorns which prick those that passe by in French Areste beuf and Boucrande Crateuas nameth it Aegipyrus in high-Dutch Stalkraut in low-Dutch Prangwortele in Italian Bonaga in Spanish Gattilhos in French Arreste beuf Beuf Bouerande in 〈◊〉 Cammocke Rest-Harrow Petty Whinne and ground Furze ¶ The Temperature The root of Cammocke is hot in the third degree as Galen saith it cutteth also and maketh thinne ¶ The Vertues The barke of the root drunke with Wine prouoketh vrine breaketh the stone and driueth it sorth The root boyled in water and vineger allayeth the paine of the teeth if the mouth be often washed therewith hot Pliny reporteth that being boyled in Oxymel or the syrrup made with honey and vineger till the one halfe be wasted it is giuen to those that haue the falling sicknesse 〈◊〉 reporteth that he knew a man cured of a rupture by taking of the pouder of this root for many moneths together The tender sprigs or crops of this shrub before the thornes come forth are preserued in pickle and be very pleasant sauce to be eaten with meat as sallad as a Dioscorides teacheth CHAP. 22. Of Goose-berrie or Fea-berry Bush. ¶ The Kindes THere be diuers sorts of the Goose-berries some greater others lesse some round others long and some of a red colour the figure of one shall serue for the rest ‡ I will not much insist vpon diuersities of fruits because my kinde friend Mr. Iohn Parkinson hath sufficiently in his late Worke discoursed vpon that subiect onely because I iudge many will be desirous to know their names and where to get them I will briefely name the chiefe varieties
same height with the former with such tough and bending branches which are neither so thick nor clad with so rough a barke nor so much spread The leaues also are smaller and not vnlike those of the Larix tree but not so soft nor falling euery yeare as they do The cones are little and slender the kernell small blackish and winged as the rest Clusius found this onely in some few places of the kingdome of Murcia in Spaine wherefore he calls it Pinaster 3. Hispanicus Dodonaeus calls it Pinus maritima minor ‡ ¶ The Place These wilde Pines doe grow vpon the cold mountaines of Liuonia Polonia Noruegia and Russia especially vpon the Island called Holland within the Sownd beyond Denmarke and in the woods by Narua vpon the Liefeland shore and all the tract of the way being a thousand Wersts each Werst containing three quarters of an English mile from Narua vnto Moscouia where I haue seene them grow in infinite numbers ¶ The Time The fruit of these Pine trees is ripe in the end of September out of all these issueth forth a white and sweet smelling Rosine they are also changed into Teda and out of these is boiled through the force of the fire a blacke Pitch the Pitch tree and the Larch tree be also sometimes changed into Teda yet very seldome for Teda is a proper and peculiar infirmitie of the wilde Pine tree A tree is said to be changed into Teda when not onely the heart of it but also the rest of the substance is turned into fatnesse ¶ The Names All these are called in Greeke 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and in Latine Syluestres Pini of Pliny Pinastri Pinaster saith he in his 16. booke 10 chapter is nothing else but Pinus sylvestris or the wild Pine tree of a lesser height and ful of boughes from the middle as the tame Pine tree in the top most of the copies haue falsely of a maruellous height they are far deceiued who thinke that the Pine tree is called in Greeke 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 besides the tame Pine which notwithstanding is so called not of all men but onely of the Arcadians as we haue said before 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 all men do name the wilde 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and therefore Teda or the Torch Pine hereof is said to be in Latine not Picea but Pinea that is not the Pitch-tree but the Pine tree as Ouid doth planly testifie in his Heroicall Epistles Vt vidi vt perij nec not is ignibus arsi Ardet vt admagnos Pinea Teda 〈◊〉 Also in 〈◊〉 4. Illic accendit geminas pro lampade Pinus Hinc Cereris sacris nunc quoque Teda datur The same doth Virgill also signifie in the seuenth of his Aeneid Ipsainter medias flag rantem feruida Pinum Sustinet Where in stead of Flagrantem Pinum 〈◊〉 admonisheth vs to vnderstand Teda Pinea 〈◊〉 also consenteth with them in the marriage song of Iulia and Mallius 〈◊〉 Pineam quate tedam And Prudentius in Hymno Cerei Paschalis Seu Pinus piceam fert alimoniam Moreouer the herbe Peucedanos or Horestrong so named of the likenesse of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is called also in Latine Pinastellum of Pinus the Pine tree all which things do euidently declare that 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is called in Latine not Picea but Pinus The first of these wilde kindes may be Idaea Theophrasti or Theophrastus his Pine tree growing on mount Ida if the apple which is shorter were longer for he nameth two kindes of wilde Pines the one of mount Ida and the other the Sea Pine with the round fruit but we hold the contrarie for the fruit or apple of the wilde mountaine Pine is shorter and that of the Sea Pine longer This may more truly be Macedonum mas or the Macedonians male Pine 〈◊〉 they make two sorts of wilde Pines the male and the female and the male more writhed and harder to be wrought vpon and the female more easie but the wood of this is more writhed and not so much in request for workes as the other and therefore it seemeth to be the male This wilde Pine tree is called in high Dutch Hartzbaum and 〈◊〉 Hartzbaum in Gallia Celtica Elvo 〈◊〉 and in Spanish Pino Carax The second wild Pine tree is named commonly of the Italians Tridentinis and Ananiensibus 〈◊〉 and Cirmolo it seemeth to differ nothing at all from the Macedonians wilde female Pine for the wood is easie to be wrought on and serueth for diuers and sundry workes The third they call Mugo this may be named not without cause 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is to say Humilis Pinus or Dwarfe Pine yet doth it differ from 〈◊〉 the Herbe called in English Ground Pine The fourth wilde Pine is named in Greeke 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in Latine Maritima and Marina Pinus in English Sea Pine That which the Latines call Teda is named in Greeke 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in high Dutch Kynholtz it may be termed in English Torch-pine Pliny is deceiued in that he supposeth the Torch Pine to bee a tree by it selfe and maketh it the sixth kinde of Cone-tree as likewise he erreth in taking Larix the Larch tree for 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Pine Tree And as Dioscorides maketh so little difference as scarse any betweene 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and supposeth them to be both of one kinde so likewise he setteth downe faculties common to them both ¶ The Temperature and Vertues The barke of them both saith he doth binde being beaten and applied it 〈◊〉 Merigals and also shallow vlcers and burnings if it be layed on with Litharge and fine Frankincense With the Cerote of Myrtles it healeth vlcers in tender bodies being beaten with Copperas it staieth tetters and creeping vlcers it draweth away the birth and after birth if it be taken vnder in a fume being drunke it stoppeth the belly and prouoketh vrine Galen hath almost the same things but he saith that the barke of the Pine tree is more temperate than that of the Pitch tree the leaues stamped take away hot swellings and sores that come thereof Being stamped and boyled in vineger they asswage the paine of the teeth if they be washed with this decoction hot the same be also good for those that haue bad liuers being drunke with water or mead Of the same operation is likewise the barke of the pine nuts but Galen affirmeth that the 〈◊〉 or apple although it seeme to be like these is notwithstanding of lesser force insomuch as it cannot effectually performe any of the aforesaid vertues but hath in it a certaine biting qualitie which hurteth The Torch Pine cut into small pieces and boiled in vineger is a remedy likewise against the tooth-ache if the teeth be washed with the decoction Of this there is made a profitable spather or slice to be vsed in making of compound plaisters and pessaries that ease
boyled in oyle Oliue and kept therein kill the wormes in children if you anoint their bellies therewith and the leaues poudered and giuen in milke or Muscadell do the same The leaues dried and beate into fine pouder and strewed vpon those kindes of excrescences sub praeputio called Caroles and such like gotten by dealing with vncleane women take them away perfectly curing and healing them but if they be inueterate and old and haue been much tampered withall it shall be necessarie to adde vnto the same a small quantitie of Auripigmentum in fine pouder and vse it with discretion because the force of the medicine is greatly increased thereby and made more corrosiue CHAP. 51. Of Tamariske 1 Tamariscus Narbonensis French Tamariske 2 Tamariscus Germanica Germane Tamariske ¶ The Description 1 THe first kinde of Tamariske groweth like a small hedge tree couered with a reddish barke hauing many branches set and bedeckt with leaues much like vnto Heath among which come forth small mossie white floures declining to purple which turne into a pappous or downie seed that flieth away with the winde as that of Willow doth the root is wooddie as the roots of other shrubs be and groweth diuers waies 2 The Germane Tamariske hath many wooddie branches or shoots rising from the root with a white bark hauing his leaues thicker and grosser than the former and not so finely iagged or cut The floures are reddish and larger than the former growing not vpon foot-stalkes many thick clustering together as those of the former but each a 〈◊〉 distance from another on the tops of the branches spike fashion and begin to floure below which do turne into seed that is likewise carried away with the winde ¶ The Place Tamariske groweth by running streames and many times by riuers that breake forth and not seldome about fenny grounds commonly in a grauelly soile for it best prospereth in moist and stony places it is sound in Germany Vindelicia Italy Spaine and also in Greece The Tamarisks do also grow in Egypt and Syria as Dioscorides writeth and likewise in Tylus an Island in Arabia as Theophrastus noteth the wood wherof saith he is not weak as with vs in Greece but strong like 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or timber or any other strong thing this Tamariske Dioscorides doth call 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is to say tame or planted and saith that it bringeth forth fruit very like to Galls in taste rough and binding Petrus Bellonius in his second booke of singularities reporteth that hee saw in Egypt very high Tamarisks and great like other trees and that sometimes in moist places by riuers sides and many times also in dry and grauelly grounds where no other trees did grow which now and then did beare hanging on the boughes such a multitude of Galls that the inhabitants call Chermasel as being ouer loden they were ready to breake Both these grow and prosper well in gardens with vs here in England ¶ The Time These trees or shrubs floure in May and in the later end of August their seed is carried away with the wind ¶ The Names They are called in Greeke 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and in Latine also Myrica and Tamarix in shops Tamariscus of Octautus Horatianus Murica Dioscorides maketh that which groweth in Greece and Italy to be 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 orwilde Tamariske it is named in high Dutch Tamarischen holk and Pork in low Dutch 〈◊〉 Tamarlschboome in Italian Tamarigio in Spanish Tamarguira and Tamariz in French Tamaris in English Tamariske ¶ The Temperature and Vertues Tamariske hath a clensing and cutting facultie with a manifest drying it is also somewhat astringent or binding and by reason of these qualities it is very good for an hard spleen being boyled with vineger or wine either the root or leaues or tender branches as Galen writeth Moreouer Dioscorides teacheth that the decoction of the leaues made with wine doth waste the spleene and that the same is good against the tooth-ache if the mouth be washed therewith that it bringeth downe the Menses if the patient sit therein that it killeth lice and nits if the parts be bathed therewith The ashes of burnt Tamariske hath a drying facultie and greatly scouring withall and a little binding The floures and downie seed of the greater Tamariske doth greatly binde insomuch as it commeth very neere to the Gall named Galla Omphacitis but that the roughnesse of taste is more euident in the Gall the which floures are of an vnequall temperature for there is ioined to the nature therof a great thinnesse of parts and clensing facultie which the Gall hath not as Galen writeth These floures we fitly vse saith Dioscor in stead of Gall in medicines for the eies and mouth It is good to stanch bloud and to stay the laske and womens whites it helpeth the yellow iaundice and also cureth those that are bit of the venomous spider called Phalangium the barke serueth for the same purposes The leaues and wood of Tamariske haue great power and vertue against the hardnesse and stopping of the spleene especially the leaues being boiled in water and the decoction drunke or else 〈◊〉 in a small vessell of Ale or Beere and continually drunke and if it bee drunke forth of a cup or dish made of the wood or timber of Tamariske is of greater efficacie CHAP. 52. Of Heath Hather or Linge ¶ The Kindes THere be diuers sorts of Heath some greater some lesser some with broad leaues and some narrower some bringing forth berries and others nothing but floures ¶ The Description 1 THe common Heath is a low plant but yet wooddie and shrubby scarce a cubit high it bringeth forth many branches whereupon do grow sundry little leaues somewhat hard and rough very like to those of Tamariske or the Cypresse tree the floures are orderly placed alongst the branches small soft and of a light red colour tending to purple the root is also wooddie and creepeth vnder the vpper crust of the earth and this is the Heath which the Antients tooke to be the right and true Heath 1 Erica vulgaris sive Pumila Common or dwarfe Heath ‡ Erica vulgaris hirsuta Rough leaued Heath There is another Heath which differeth not from the precedent sauing that this plant bringeth forth floures as white as snow wherein consisteth the difference wherefore we may call it Erica pumila alba Dwarfe Heath with white floures 2 The great Heath which Carolus Clusius at his being in England found in the barren grounds about Windsor which in his Spanish trauels he maketh the first kinde groweth to the height of two cubits seldome higher full of branches couered with a blackish barke whereon are set in very good order by couples small rough square leaues finer than those of Tamariske or Cypresse The floures inclose the little twiggie branches round about at certaine distances from the lower part to the top fashioned like little bottles consisting of foure parts of a shining
singular remedie for all those that be in a consumption of the lungs and especially the distilled water thereof for as the herbe doth keep and hold fast the moisture and dew and so fast that the extreme drying heate of the Sun cannot consume and waste away the same so likewise men thought that herewith the naturall and radical humidity in mens bodies is preserued and cherished But the vse therof doth otherwise teach and reason sheweth the contrarie for seeing it is an extreme biting herb and that the distilled water is not altogether without this biting qualitie it cannot be taken with safety for it hath also bin obserued that they haue sooner perished that vsed the distilled water hereof than those that abstained from it and haue followed the right and ordinarie course of diet Cattell of the female kinde are stirred vp to lust by eating euen of a small quantity which thing hath greatly 〈◊〉 their vain opinion without sence or reason for it doth not moue nor prouoke cattell to lust for that it increaseth the substance of the seed but because through his sharp and biting qualitie it stirreth vp a desire to lust which before was dulled and as it were asleepe It strengthneth and nourisheth the body especially if it be distilled with wine and that liquour made thereof which the common people do call Rosa Solis If any be desirous to haue the said drinke effectuall for the purposes aforesaid let them lay the 〈◊〉 of Rosa Solis in the spirit of wine adding thereto Cinnamon Cloues Maces Ginger Nutmegs Sugar and a few graines of Muske suffering it so to stand in a glasse close stopt from the aire and set in the Sun by the space of ten daies then straine the same and keep it for your vse CHAP. 161. Of Mosse of trees ¶ The Description TRee Mosse hath certaine things like haires made vp as it were of a multitude of slender leaues now and then all to be iagged hackt and finely carued twisted and interlaced one in another which 〈◊〉 fast to the barkes of trees hanging downe from the bodies one of this kinde is more 〈◊〉 quernus The Mosse of the Oke of other trees slender and thin another more thicke another shorter another longer all of them 〈◊〉 the most being of a whitish colour yet oftentimes there is a certaine one also which is blacke but lesser and thinner the most commendable of them all as Pliny saith be those that are whitish then the reddish and lastly such as be blacke ¶ The Place This Mosse is found on the Oke tree the white and blacke Poplar tree the Oliue tree the 〈◊〉 tree the Apple tree the Peare tree the Pine tree the wilde Pine tree the Pitch tree the Firre tree the Cedar tree the Larch tree on a great sort of other trees The best as 〈◊〉 saith is that of the Cedar tree the next of the Poplar in which kinde the white and the sweet smelling Mosse is the chiefest the blackish sort is of no account Matthiolus writeth that in Italy that Mosse is sweet which groweth on the Pine tree the Pitch tree the Fir tree the Larch tree and the sweetest that of the Larch tree ¶ The Time Mosse vpon the trees continueth all the yeare long ¶ The Names It is called of the Grecians 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of the Latins Muscus the Arabians and some Apothecaries in other countries call it Vsnea in high Dutch Mosz in low Dutch Mosch the French men Lu Mousch the Italians Musgo in Spanish Musco de los arbores in English Mosse tree Mosse or Mosse of trees ¶ The Temperature Mosse is somewhat cold and binding which notwithstanding is more and lesse according vnto the nature and facultie of that tree on which it groweth and especially of his barke for it taketh vnto it selfe and also retaineth a certaine propertie of that barke as of his breeder of which hee is ingendred therefore the Mosse which commeth of the Oke doth coole and very much binde besides his owne and proper facultie it receiueth also the extreme binding quality of the Oke barke it selfe The Mosse which commeth of the Cedar tree the Pine tree the Pitch tree the Fir tree the Larch tree and generally all the Rosine trees are binding and do moreouer digest and soften ¶ The Vertues Serapio saith that the wine in which Mosse 〈◊〉 been steeped certain daies bringeth sound sleep strengtheneth the stomacke staieth vomiting and stoppeth the belly 〈◊〉 writeth that the decoction of Mosse is good for women to sit in that are troubled with the whites it is mixed with the oile of Ben and with oiles to thicken them withall It is fit to be vsed in compositions which serue for sweet perfumes and that take away wearisomnesse for which things that is best of all which is most sweet of smell CHAP. 162. Of ground Mosse ¶ The Kindes THere groweth also on the supersiciall or vppermost part of the earth diuers Mosses as also vpon rocks and stony places and marish grounds differing in forme not a little ¶ The Description 1 Muscus 〈◊〉 vulgaris Common ground Mosse 2 Muscus 〈◊〉 scoparius Beesome ground Mosse 3. 4. Muscus capillaris siue Adianthuni aureum 〈◊〉 minus Goldilockes or golden Maiden-haire the bigger and lesse 2 Beesome Mosse which seldome or neuer is found but in bogs and marish places yet sometimes haue I found it in shadowie dry ditches where the Sun neuer sheweth his face it groweth vp 〈◊〉 a cubit high euery particular leafe consisting of an innumerable sort of hairy threds set vpon a middle rib of a shining blacke colour like that of Maiden-haire or the Capillare Mosse Adianthum 〈◊〉 whereof it is a kinde 5 Muscus 〈◊〉 floridus Flouring branched Mosse ‡ Of this Adiamhum aureum there are three kindes different onely in magnitude and that the two bigger haue many hairie threds vpon their branches when as the least hath onely three or foure close to the root and this is the least of plants that I euer yet saw grow ‡ 4 Of this there is also another kinde altogether lesser and lower This kind of mosse groweth in moist places also commonly in old mossie and rotten trees likewise vpon rocks and oftentimes in the chinks and crannies of stone walls 5 There is oftentimes found vpon old Okes and Beeches and such like ouer-grown trees a kinde of Mosse hauing many slender branches which diuide themselues into other lesser branches whereon are placed confusedly very many small threds like haires of a greenish ash colour vpon the ends of the tender branches sometimes there commeth forth a floure in shape like vnto a little buckler or hollow Mushrom of a whitish colour tending to yellownes and garnished with the like leaues of those vpon the lower branches 6 Muscus Pyxidatus Cup or Chalice Mosse 6 Of this Mosse there is another kinde which Lobel in his Dutch Herbal hath set forth vnder the title of Muscus Pyxtdatus which I
it much resembleth white Corall but that it is neither so thicke hard nor smooth but is rough and bends easily without breaking which Corall will not do 〈◊〉 calls this Corallina alba it growes in the Mediteranian sea and vpon the Coasts of Spaine 6 This in all respects is like the last described the colour excepted which is a darke red and therefore better resembles the red Corall Clusius refers both these to the Quercus marina mentioned by Theophr 〈◊〉 Hist. plant lib. 7. cap. 4. ‡ 7 There is found growing vpon the rockes neere vnto the sea a certaine matter wrought together of the fome or froth of the sea which we call spunges after the Latine name which may very fitly be inserted among the sea Mosses whereof to write at large would greatly increase our volume and little profit the reader considering we hasten to an end and also that the vse is so well knowne vnto all therefore these few lines may serue vntill a further consideration or a second Edition ‡ Spunges are not like the Alcyonium that is an accidentall matter wrought together of the froth of the sea as our Author affirmes but rather of a nobler nature than plants for they are said to haue sence and to contract themselues at the approach of ones hand that comes to cut them vp or for feare of any other harme-threatning object and therefore by most writers they are referred to the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which some render Plantanimalia that is such as are neither absolute plants nor liuing creatures but participate of both they grow of diuers shapes and colours vpon the Rockes in the Mediterranian as also in the Archipelago or Aegean sea 8 Clusius obserued one yet adhering to the stone whereon it grew which in shape resembled a funnell but in substance was like another Spunge 9 There is also to be found vpon our English coast a small kinde of spunge cast vp by the sea and this is also of different shapes and colour for the shape it is alwaies diuided into sundry branches but that after a different manner and the colour is oft times brownish and 〈◊〉 gray or white Lobel makes it Conferuae marinae genus ‡ ¶ The Place The place of their growing is sufficiently spoken of in their seuerall descriptions ¶ The Time The time answereth the other kindes of sea Mosses ¶ The Names Corallium rubrum is called in English red Corrall Corallium 〈◊〉 blacke Corrall Corallium album white Corrall ¶ The Temperature Corrall bindeth and meanely cooleth it clenseth the scars and spots of the eies and is very effectuall against the issues of bloud and caseth the difficultie of making water ¶ The Vertues Corrall drunke in wine or water preserueth from the spleene and some hang it about the neckes of such as haue the falling sickenesse and it is giuen in drinke for the same purpose It is a soueraigne remedy to drie to stop and stay all issues of bloud whatsoeuer in man or woman and the dysentery Burned Corrall drieth more than when it is vnburned and being giuen to drinke in water it helpeth the gripings of the belly and the griefes of the stone in the bladder Corrall drunke in wine prouoketh sleepe but if the patient haue an ague then it is with better successe ministred in water for the Corrall cooleth and the water moistneth the body by reason whereof it restraineth the burning heate in agues and represseth the vapours that hinder sleepe CHAP. 167. Of Mushrumes or Toadstooles ¶ The Kindes SOme Mushrumes grow forth of the earth other vpon the bodies of old trees which differ altogether in kindes Many wantons that dwell neere the sea and haue fish at will are very desirous for change of diet to feed vpon the birds of the mountaines and such as dwell vpon the hills or champion grounds do longe after sea fish many that haue plenty of both do hunger after the earthie excrescences called Mushrumes whereof some are very venomous and full of poison others not so noisome and neither of them very wholesome meate wherefore for the auoiding of the venomous qualitie of the one and that the other which is lesse venomous may be discerned from it I haue thought good to set forth their pictures with their names and places of growth ‡ Because the booke is already grown too voluminous I will only giue you the figures of such as my Author hath here mentioned with some few others but not trouble you with any more history yet distinguish betweene such as are eatable and those that be poysonous 〈◊〉 at least not to be eaten for the first figured amongst the poysonous ones is that we call Iewes-eare which hath nopoysonous facultie in it Clusius all whose figures I could haue here giuen you hath written a peculiar tract of these bastard plants or excrescences where such as desire it may finde them susficiently discoursed of ‡ 1 Fungi vulgatissimi esculenti Common Mushrums to be 〈◊〉 ¶ The Description 1 GRound Mushrums grow vp in one night standing vpon a thicke and round stalke like vnto a broad hat or buckler of a very white colour vntil it begin to wither at what time it loseth his faire white declining to yellownesse the lower side is somewhat hollow set or decked with fine gutters drawne along from the middle centre to the circumference or round edge of the brim 2 All Mushroms are without pith rib or veine they differ not a little in bignesse and colour some are great and like a broad brimmed hat others smaller about the bignesse of a siluer coine called a doller most of them are red vnderneath some more 〈◊〉 lesse others little or nothing red at all the vpper side which beareth out is either pale or whitish or else of an ill fauored colour like ashes they commonly call it Ash colour or else it seemeth to be somewhat yellow There is another kinde of Mushrums called Fungi parui lethales galericulati in English deadly Mushrums which are fashioned like vnto an hood and are most venomous and full of poison There is a kinde of Mushrum called Fungus 〈◊〉 laethalis that is also a deadly Mushrum fashioned like a little buckler There is another kinde of Mushrum which is also most venomous and full of poison bearing also the shape of a buckler being called Fungus venenatus Clyptiformis in English the stinking venomous Mushrom 2 Fungi tethales aut saltem non esculenti Poyson Mushrums or at the least such as are not vulgarly 〈◊〉 The Mushrums or Toodstooles which grow vpon the trunkes or bodies of old trees very much resembling Auricula Iudae that is Iewes eare do in continuance of time grow vnto the substance of wood which the Foulers do call Touchwood and are for the most halfe circuled or halfe round whose vpper part is somewhat plaine and sometime a little hollow but the lower part is plaited or pursed together This kinde of Mushrum the Grecians do call 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉
from his force of driuing away Agues ¶ The Temperature Feuerfew doth manifestly heat it is hot in the third degree and drie in the second it clenseth purgeth or scoureth openeth and fully performeth all that bitter things can do ¶ The Vertues It is a great remedie against the diseases of the matrix it procureth womens sicknes with speed it bringeth forth the after birth and the dead childe whether it bee drunke in a decoction or boiled in a bath and the woman sit ouer it or the herbes sodden and applied to the priuie part in manner of a cataplasme or pultis Dioscorides also teacheth that it is profitably applied to Saint Anthonies fire to all hot inflammations and hot swellings if it be laid vnto both leaues and floures The same Author affirmeth that the pouder of Feuerfew drunke with Oxymell or syrup of Vineger or wine for want of the others draweth away flegme and 〈◊〉 and is good for them that are pursie and haue their lungs stuffed with flegme and is profitable likewise to be drunke a gainst the stone as the same Author saith Feuerfew dried and made into pouder and two drams of it taken with honie or sweet wine purgeth by siege melancholy and flegme wherefore it is very good for them that are giddie in the head or which haue the turning called Vertigo that is a swimming and turning in the head Also it is good for such as be melancholike sad pensiue and without speech The herbe is good against the suffocation of the mother that is the hardnesse and stopping of the same being boiled in wine and applied to the place The decoction of the same is good for women to sit ouer for the purposes aforesaid It is vsed both in drinks and bound to the wrests with bay salt and the pouder of glasse stamped together as a most singular experiment against the ague CHAP. 211. Of Poley or Pellamountaine 1 Polium montanum album White Poley mountaine 2 Polium montanum 〈◊〉 Yellow Poley mountaine ¶ The Description 1 THe first kinde of Polium or in English Poley of the mountain is a little tender and sweet smelling herbe verie hoarie whereupon it tooke his name for it is not onely hoary in part but his hoarie flockinesse possesseth the whole plant tufts and all being no lesse hoarie than Gnaphalium especially where it groweth neere the Sea at the bending of the hils or neere the sandie shores of the Mediterranean Sea from his wooddie and somewhat threddie root shooteth forth straight from the earth a number of small round stalkes nine inches long and by certaine distances from the stalke proceed somewhat long leaues like Gnaphalium which haue light nickes about the edges that stand one against another inclosing the stalke in the toppe of the stalkes stand spokie tufts of floures white of colour like Serpillum This plant is stronger of sent or sauour than any of the rest following which sent is somewhat sharp and affecting the nose with his sweetnesse 2 The tuftes of the second kinde of Polium are longer than the tuftes or floures of the last before mentioned and they are of a yellow colour the leaues also are broader otherwise they are very like 3 From the wooddie rootes of this third kinde of Polium proceed a great number of shootes like vnto the last rehearsed lying flat vpright vpon the ground whose slender branches take hold vpon the vpper part of the earth where they creepe The floures are like the other but of a purple colour 4 The last kinde of Polium and of all the rest the smallest is of an indifferent good smell in all points like vnto the common Polium but that it is foure times lesser hauing the leaues not snipt the floures white ‡ 5 This sends vp many branches from one root like to those of the first described but shorter and more shrubbie lying partly vpon the ground the leaues grow by couples at certain spaces somewhat like but lesser than those of Rosemarie or Lauander greene aboue and whitish beneath not snipt about their edges their taste is bitter and smell somewhat pleasant the floures grow plentifully vpon the tops of 〈◊〉 branches white of colour and in shape not vnlike those of the other Poleyes they grow on a bunch together and not Spike fashion the seed is blackish and contained in small vessels the root is hard and wooddie with many fibres Clusius calls this Polium 7. albo flore It is the Polium alterum of Matthiolius and Polium recentiorum foemina Lavandulae folio of Lobel I here giue you as Clusius also hath done two figures to make one good one the former shews the floures and their manner of growing the other the seede vessels and the leaues growing by couples together with a little better expression of the root ‡ 3 Polium montanum purpureum Purple Poley ¶ The Place These plants do grow naturally vpon the mountaines of France Italie Spaine and other hot regions They are strangers in England notwithstanding I haue plants of that Poley with yellow floures by the gift of Lobel ¶ The Time They floure from the end of May to the beginning of August 4 Polium montanum minimum Creeping Poley ‡ 5 Polium 〈◊〉 folio flore 〈◊〉 Lavander leaued Poley Another figure of the Lauander leaued Poley ¶ The Names Poley mountaine is called in Greeke 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of his hoarinesse and in Latine also Polium Diuers suspect that Polium is 〈◊〉 and that Dioscorides hath twise intreated of that herbe vnder diuers names the kindes the occasion of the name and likewise the faculties do agree There bee two of the Leucades one 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is of the mountaine the other 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which is that with the broader leafe it is called Leucas of the whitish colour and Polion of the hoarinesse because it seemeth like to a mans hoarie head for whatsoeuer waxeth hoarie is said to be white ¶ The Temperature Poley is of 〈◊〉 drie in the third degree and hot in the end of the second ¶ The Vertues Dioscorides saith it is a remedie for them that haue the dropsie the yellow iaundice and that are troubled with the spleene It prouoketh vrine is put into Mithridate treacle and counterpoisons It profiteth much against the bitings of venomous beasts and driueth away all venomous beasts from the place where it is strewed or burnt The same drunke with vineger is good for the diseases of the milt and spleene it troubleth the stomacke and afflicteth the head and prouoketh the loosenesse of the bellie CHAP. 212. Of Germander ¶ The Kindes THe old writers haue set downe no certaine kinds of Germander yet we haue thought it good and not without cause to intreat of mo sorts than haue been obserued of all diuiding those vnder the title of Teucrium from 〈◊〉 although they are both of one kind but yet differing very notably ¶ The Dèscription 3 THe first
Germander groweth lowe with very many branches lying vpon the ground tough hard and wooddie spreading it selfe here and there whereupon are placed small leaues snipt about the edges like the teeth of a saw resembling the shape of an oken leafe The floures are of a purple colour very small standing close to the leaues toward the top of the branches The seed is little and blacke The root slender and full of strings creeping and alwaies spreading within the ground whereby it greatly increaseth ‡ This is sometimes found with bigger leaues otherwhiles with lesse also the floure is sometimes white and otherwhiles red in the same plant whence Tabernam gaue two figures and our Authour two figures and descriptions whereof I haue omitted the later and put the two titles into one ‡ 2 The second Germander riseth vp with a little straight stalk a span long and sometimes longer wooddie and hard like vnto a little shrub it is afterwards diuided into very many little small branches The leaues are indented and nicked about the edges lesser than the leaues of the former great creeping Germander the floures likewise stand neere to the leaues and on the vpper parts of the sprigs of colour sometimes purple and oftentimes tending to blewnesse the roote is diuersly dispersed with many strings 1 Chamaedrys maior latifolia Great broad leaued Germander 2 Chamaedrys minor Small Germander 3 Chamaedrys syluestris Wilde Germander 3 Wilde Germander hath little stalkes weake and feeble edged or cornered somewhat hairie and set as it were with ioints about the which by certaine distances there come forth at each ioint two leaues something broad nicked in the edges and something greater than the leaues of creeping Germander and softer The floures be of a gallant blew colour made of foure small leaues a peece standing orderly on the tops of the tender spriggie spraies after which come in place little huskes or seede vessels The root is small and threddie ¶ The Place These plants do grow in rocky and rough grounds and in gardens they do easily prosper The wilde Germander groweth in manie places about London in Medowes and fertil fields and in euery place wheresoeuer I haue trauelled in England ¶ The Time They floure and flourish from the end of May to the later end of August ¶ The Names Garden Germander is called in Greeke 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Chamaedrys of some Trissago Trixago and likewise Quercula minor notwithstanding most of these names do more properly belong to Scordium or water Germander in Italian Querciuola in English Germander or English Treacle in French Germandre Before creeping Germander was knowne this wilde kinde bare the name of Germander amongst the Apothecaries and was vsed for the right Germander in the compositions of Medicines but after the former were brought to light this began to be named Syluestris and Spuria Chamaedrys that is wilde and bastard Germander of some Teucrium pratense and without errour because all the sorts of plants comprehended vnder the title of Teucrium are doubtlesse kindes of Germander Of some it hath been thought to be the plant that Dioscorides called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Hierabotane that is to say the Holie herbe if so bee that the Holie herbe and Verbenaca or Veruaine which is called in Greeke 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 be sundrie herbes Dioscorides maketh them sundrie herbes describing them apart the one after the other but other Authors as Paulus Aetius and Oribasius make no mention of Herba Sacra the Holie herbe but onely of Peristereon and this same is found to be likewise called Hierabotane or the Holie Herb and therefore it is euident that it is one and the selse same plant called by diuers names the which things considered if they say so and say truely this wilde Germander cannot be Hierabotane at all as diuers haue written and said it to be ¶ The Temperature Garden Germander is of thin parts and hath a cutting facultie it is hot and drie almost in the third degree euen as 〈◊〉 doth write of Teucrium or wilde Germandet The wilde Germander is likewise hot and drie and is not altogether without force or power to open and clense it may be counted among the number of them that do open the liuer and spleen ¶ The Vertues Germander boiled in water and drunk deliuereth the bodie from all obstructions or stoppings diuideth and cutteth tough and clammie humors being receiued as aforesaid it is good for them that haue the cough and shortnesse of breath the strangurie or stopping of vrine and helpeth those which are entring into a dropsie The leaues stamped with honie and strained and a drop at sundrie times put into the eies takes away the web and hawe in the same or any dimnesse of sight It prouoketh mightily the termes being boiled in wine and the decoction drunk with a fomentation or bath made also thereof and the secret parts bathed therewith CHAP. 213 Of Tree Germander ¶ The Description 1 THe first kinde of Tree Germander riseth vp with a little straight stalke a cubite high wooddie and hard like vnto a small wooddie shrubbe The stalke diuideth it selfe from the bottome vnto the toppe into diuers branches whereon are set indented leaues nicked about the edges in shape not much vnlike the leafe of the common Germander The floures grow among the leaues of a purple colour The root is wooddie as is all the rest of the plant 1 Teucrium latifolium Tree Germander with broad leaues 2 Teucrium Pannonicum Hungarie Germander 2 The Tree Germander of Hungarie hath many tough threddie roots from which rise vp diuers weake and feeble stalks reeling this way and that way whereupon are set together by couples long leaues iagged in the edges not vnlike those of the vpright Fluellen on the tops of the stalks stand the floures Spike fashion thicke thrust together of a purple colour tending towards blewnesse ‡ 3 This which is the fourth of Clusius description hath diuers stalkes some cubite high foure square rough and set at certaine spaces with leaues growing by couples like those of the wilde Germander the tops of the stalkes are diuided into sundry branches carrying long spokes of blew floures consisting of foure leaues whereof the vppermost leafe is the largest and distinguished with veines after the floures are past follow such 〈◊〉 seed vessels as in Fluellen the root is fibrous and liues long sending forth euery yeare new branches ‡ ‡ 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 maius Pannonicum Great Austrian Germander ‡ 4 Teucrium petraeum pumilum Dwarfe Rocke Germander 5 Teucrium Baeticum Spanish Tree Germander 6 Teucrium Alpinum Cisti flore Rough headed Tree Germander 4 This Dwarfe Germander sends vp stalkes some handfull high round not branched the leaues grow vpon these stalkes by couples thicke shining a little hairy and greene on their vpper sides and whitish below the tops of the stalkes carry spoky tufts of floures consisting of foure or fiue blewish leaues which falling there followes a seed-vessell