The greater Sea Pine Tree 7. The lesser or Dwarf Sea Pine Tree 8. The Dwarf mountain Pine Tree 9. The crooked mountain Pine with thin leaves 10. The crooked mountain Pine with broader Leaves The Forme The tame Pine groweth very great and high with a thick reddish coloured bark spreading large arms towards the top and they again divided into lesser whereon are set by couples together at a joynt or knot all along the branches close one unto another long narrow or almost round hard and sharp pointed pale green Leaves abiding continually on the young branches and not falling away but from the elder this beareth certain small yellow Catkins in the Winter which fall away in the Spring as the Cones increase the fruit or Cones that are somewhat long and found grow very high on the branches and are somewhat greater then in any of the other sorts composed of sundry hard brown woody Scales lying close one unto and upon another which when they open of themselves or are caused by the heat of the fire do shew within them certain hard shels which contain in each of them a long and white very sweet kernell covered with a very thin reddish skin that is easily rubbed off the wood hereof is firmer heavier and closer grained then of the Firre or Deal reddish also and not so short or brittle as that is and with a kind of moisture about the heart which slived out into shivers will burn like Torches and were so used by the Ancients who called them Tedâ— The Place and Time The maâ—â—red kind is planted in sundry places both of this and divers other Countries for the beauty of the Tree with his ever green leaves yet are they found also wild about the sea side The other sorts grow both in Spain Italy and Germany and the parts near adjoyning and sea kinds near the sea in many places and upon the Land also as Clâ—sius hath observed the Catkins of many come forth in the Winter and fall away in the spring others spring not untill May the fruit of some of them being ripe in the end of Autumne and others not of a year after the springing The Temperature The Bark of the Pine Tree is binding and drying The kernells of the Nuts do concoct and moderately heat being in a mean between cold and hot The Leaves are cooling and asswage Inflammations The Signature and Vertues Croâ—iâ—s in his Book of Signatures saith that the woody scales whereof the Pine Apple is composed and wherein the kernels lie do very much resemble the formost teeth of a Man and therefore Pine leaves boyled in Vinegar make a good decoction to gargle the mouth for asswaging immoderate pains in the teeth and gums and so do the shivers of the Torch-pine boyled in Vinegar and gargled warm as the former must be The Kernels of the Apples are wholsom and much nourishing whilst they are fresh and although they be somewhat hard of digeâ—â—ion yet they do not offend especially if they be steeped three or four hours in warm water before the taking to soak out their sharpnesse and oyliness those that are of hot constitutions may take them with sugar but those that are cold with Hony and so they do amend the putrifying humours in the stomach and bowels and stirr up bodily lust and increase sperme if they be made into an Electuary with the powder of Penids and some sweet Wine Also they much help an hoarse throat wheesings and shortness of breath recover the voice being lost expectorate phlegm are good for an old Cough and the Ulcers of the Lungs They also lenifie the Uritory passages being fretted with the stone and cause it to be easily voided they help also to ripen inward Impostumes and are singular good for macilent bodies to hearten them and make them grow fat and being often taken they help the Palsie numnesse and shaking of the members There is a Water distilled from the green Cones or Apples that is very effectuall to take away wrinckles in the face to abate the overswelling breasts of Maides by bathing them with Cloaths wetted therein and to restore such as are ravished into better terms The Scales of the Pine Apple with the bark of the Tree do stop the Lask and bloody fluxe CHAP. LII Of the Pomgranat Tree The Names IT is called in Greek 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and by Hippocrates 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in Latine Malus Punica and Malus Granata and the fruit Malum Granatum or Punicum because it is thought they were brought from that part of Africk where old Carthage stood into that part of Spain which is now called Granado and from thence called Granatum The flowers of the tame kind are called Cytini which is notwithstanding properly the Cup of the flower and Balaustium is generally taken to be only the double flowers of the wild kind The rind of the fruit is called in Greek 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and so also Psidium and Sidium in Latine but generally Malicorium or Cortex Granatorum The greater doubled blossomed kind is called Balaustium Creticum and Cyprium because it groweth it both those places and there is another which is called Romanum The Kinds All the sorts of Pomgranats are but three 1. The Pomgranate Tree bearing fruit 2. The greater double blossomed Pomegranate Tree 3 The lesser double Pomegranate Tree The Form The Pomgranate Tree bearing fruit goweth up to the height of seven or eight Cubits in the warm Countries and where it is natural though in ours it riseth for the most part into severall brownish twigs which never attain neer unto that height spreading it self into many slender but tough branches set here and there with thorns and with many very fair green shining leaves like in form and bignesse unto large Myrtle leaves every one upon a small reddish Footstalk amongst the Leaves come forth here and there the flowers which are like bell flowers broad at the brims and smaller at the bottom being one whole leaf divided at the top into five parts of an orient red crimson colour naturally but much paler with us and many veins running through it with divers threds in the middle and standing in a brownish hollow Cup or long hard husk The fruit is great and round with a hard smooth brownish red rind not very thick but yellowish on the inside and a great crown at the top stored plentifully with a most clear liquor or Juyce like wine either sweet or sowre or between both according to the soil climate or Countrey where they grow The Places and Time They grow in the hot countries towards the South as in Spain Portugal Italy but chiefly in the kingdom of Granado they grow in many places without manuring yet being manured they prosper better for in Gardens Vineyards Orchards and other like husbanded grounds they come up more chearfully but in our cold Country much care is
be stretched forth The Stomack belly or leftside where the Spleene lyeth being annointed therewith are eased of their paines and obstructions thereby It killeth the Wormes in Children a drop or two thereof being given in Milk or fat broth or the lower part of the belly being anointed therewith and so it taketh away the hardnesse of their Bellys It helpeth also all Scabs and running sores of the Head and being dropped into the Eares it cureth deafnesse and the paines and noise therein It mightily cleanseth the skin from all manner of spots and blemishes as also the deformities of scarres and of the Pox. The greene Leaves bruised and applyed of themselves or else with Barly-Meale assawage the Inflammations as well as the swelling of the Eyes and the swellings also of Womens Brests after Childing and in case they want Milk they are good to procure it being applyed thereunto The juice of the Leaves applyed to any Wound that is caused by any splinter Iron or Arrow-head draweth them out if any such be in it The said Leaves have the Signature of the Hands and therefore are available for the paines of their or any other Joynts according to Crollius CHAP. CLXXXXVII Of Glasse-wort The Names IT is supposed that this Herb was not known to any of the Greek writers for we find it not so much as mentioned in any of their workes The Arabians who probably were the first that took notice of it called it Kali which name is taken up by the Latine Authors The ashes whereof Chrystall Glasses are made is called Soda Alumen Catinum or Calinum The Salt which is extracted out of the Ashes is called Sal Kali Sal Alkali which being mixed with a certaine kind of Sand and boiled in a furnace there ariseth a Scum called Axungia Vitri in Latine and in English Sandiver The English name of the herb is Glasse-wort Saltwort but the Inhabitants of the Sea-coasts call it Crab-Grasse and Frog-Grasse The Kinds Of this Glasseworth therefore be four sorts 1. Great Glassewort with Snaile-like seed 2. Small white Glassewort 3. Glassewort of Egypt 4. Joynted Glassewort The Form The great Glassewort riseth up with a big round fleshy stalk like unto Purslane two foot high or there abouts divided into many branches whereon do grow many thick long fleshy Leaves pointed at the ends growing without Order sometimes but one or two and sometimes more standing at a place and indeed most comonly here and there also dispersed upon the branches come forth small brownish heads turned round like snailes wherein lye small round seed the Root is somewhat long with many fibres thereat and perisheth commonly after it hath given its seed The Places and Time The first groweth in divers places of Syria Africa Italy and Spaine by the Sea sides of its own accord and very large fields thereof are sown in Provence and Gascoine for the abundant profit that is made of it The second groweth in the same Countries and in those which are colder also not onely by the Sea but by the salt pits that are remote both in Saxoniâ— and also in the Western parts of our own Land The third is known to grow no where but in Egypt unlesse it be upon the Western Shores of Naples The last groweth as well upon our own Coasts in many places as in other Countries by the Sea side and by the lakes of salt water in Saxonie and other places of Germany They all flourish in the Summer those that perish give their seed in August and sometimes later but the last continueth all the Winter The Temperature Glassewort is hot and dry the Ashes are both dryer and hâ—tter and that eveâ— to the fourth degree having in them a caustick or burning quality The Vertues The Powder of any of the afore mentioned sorts or the juyce which is much better taken in drink doth purge downwards by that cleansing quality which it hath Flegmatick waterish and adust or melancholick humors and therefore it is often used for a speciaill remedy for the Dropsy It is also effectuall to provoke Urinâ— to expell the dead birth as also to open the Obstructions of the Liver and Spleen and so consume the hardnesse thereof but there must be a care that it be not taken in too great a quantity for then it is very dangerous It is many times mixed with those things which are used as corrosives to consume proud Spongy Superfluous flesh that groweth in foule and virulent Uleers The Ashes of it being burnt are very sharpe and biting like a Caustick and the Lye that is made thereof is so strong that it will fetch off the skin from the hands or other parts of them that use it unadvisedly But if it be used discreetly that is applyed very sparingly or mixt with somewhat that mamy correct it sharpnesse it may do good in cleansing the skin from spots freckles Morphewes or the like Of the same Ashes also made into lye being boyled with Oyle was used to be made our ordinary Sope which being spread upon a peice of thick coorse brown paper cut into the form of a Shoo-sole and bound to the bottoms of their feet which have casually lost their Speech will bring it again within a little time after the applying thereof if they be recoverable as hath been proâ—ed but the Sope which we now use is made with cheaper Ingredients It was used to be put into Castle or rather Castile Sope for it came first out of Spaine the Castilians being the inventers thereof Sandiver worketh much to the same effect with Kali and is often used I mean the powder thereof to be blown in Horses eyes or being dissolved squirted into them to take away the skin that beginneth to grow there and dimm the sight It serveth also to dry up running sores and scabs Tetters Ring-worms and the like and to help the Itch if the foule parts be washed with the Water wherein it is boyled CHAP. CXCVIII. Of Spurge Laurell The Names IT is called in Greek 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Daphnoides à Lauri Foliorum Similitudine from the likenesse it hath with the Bay-Tree It is called in Latin Laureâ—la quasi pu filla Laurus because of the smallnesse of it In English Spurge Laurell both because it purgeth and to distinguish it from the Bay Tree or rather from the Cherry-Bay-Tree which is of divers called the Laurell Tree The Kinds There be but two sorts which may properly be referred to this kind 1. Spurge Laurell 2. Candy Spurge Laurell The Form Spurge Laurell riseth sometimes but with one but Commonly with more Stemmes of a cubit high or more very tough and pliant and covered with a thick whitish bark whereon are set many long smooth thick somewhat broad and shining dark green Leaves somewhat like unto Bay-Leaves but lesser smoother softer and not with hard veins therein as Bay-Leaves have The Flowers come out towards the tops of the Stalks and at the Joynts with the
men The Forme The Common Haw-thorne usually groweth to be but a Shrub or Hedg-bush with divers shootes armes and branches whereon are set in â—ivers places sharp thornes and faire shining Leaves somwhat broad and cut in on the edges into divers parts the flowers are many standing together comming forth both at the â—op of the branches and the upper joynts with the Leaves onâ—â—â—â—ng of five white Leaves a peece with divers white threds in the middle tipt with red and of a very pleasant sweet scent after which come the fruit being roundish berries greene at the first but of a lively red colour when they are ripe consisting of a soft sweet and certaine whitish seed the root groweth deepe into the ground of a very hard and durable substance The Place and Time The first groweth generally throughout the whole Land where any Hedges be the second in Germanâ— in some of the Gardens of those that love rarities not differing from the ordinary kind save that the fruit thereof is as yellow as Saffron the last at Glastenbury Abby and in Whey-street or rather High-street in Rumney Marsh and neere unto Nautwich in Cheshire by a place called White-green The two first flower in May and their fruit is ripe in September or thereabouts the last both in May and about Christmas sooner or later as the temperature of the weather will permit having at the same time both greene and ripe berries The Temperature The Leaves Flowers and fruit of the Haw-thorne are supposed to be drying and binding The Signatures and Vertues The powder of the Berries or the seeds in the Berries being given to drink in Wine is genâ—rally held to be a singular good Remedy against the Stone which is signified by the Stones or seeds which they cheifely consist of and so it is reported to be good for the Dropsy The flowers steeped three dayes in Wine and afterwards distilled in Glasse and the water thereof drunk is a Soveraign Remedy for the â—leurisy and for inward tormenting paines such as those of the Stone are which is also signified by the prickles that grow on this Tree The water of the Flowers distilled after the ordinary way stayeth the Flux or Lask of the belly the seeds cleared from the down bruised and boiled in wine and drunk perfoâ—meth also the same effect The said distilled water of the Flowers is not onely cooling but drawing also for it is found by good experience that if Cloathes and Spunges be wet in the said water and applyed to any place whereinto thornes Splinters c. have entered and be there abiding it will notably draw them forth so that the Thorne gives a medicine for its own pricking as many other things beâ—ides do if they were observed The Bark stamped with Red Wine and fryed with Boares grease and applyed hot worketh the effect before mentioned The ripe Berries are the best sustenance that many birds have in the Winter and they are good food for Hoggs and therefore the Swineheards do beat them down for them The Wood hath many convenient uses as making of Mounds If you would have a living Mound plant the Setts if a dead one make a hedge with them and it will out last two that is made of any other wood though it be troublesome to lay on the fire yet it will burn excellent well and last longest of any fewell especiall the Roots CHAP. CCXXXIII Of the Lemmon-Tree The Names IT is not likely that either this Tree or its fruit were known to the Ancient Greeks or Latins there being no mention of it in any of their writings but by modern Authors and in these dayes it is called Malus Limonia and the fruit Limons The Spaniards amongst whom it is most plentifull call the tree Limera and the fruit Limas All other Nations follow the Latin as near as their Dialect will permit The Kinds Of Lemmon-trees I find six sorts upon record 1. The ordinary Lemon-tree 2. The thin rinded sowre Lemmon 3. The round Lemmon-tree 4. The greater sweet Lemmon-tree 5. The Sivill Lemmon 6. The wild Lemmon-tree The Form The Lemmon-tree in hot Countryes where it principally delighteth grows to the stature of a lusty tall tree with great armes and slender branches but in this Land it is content with the compasse of a box filled with earth which standing upon legges may be carried up and down so that you may conceive it doth not attain to the bignesse of that in hotter Countries the branches are armed with long and greenish thornes the Leaves are long and somewhat like unto that soâ—t of the Bay-tree Leaves which is commonly called the Lawrell â—ented about the edges with a shew of very small holes in them but lesse then the Orenâ—e Leaves have of a very good sent the flowers grow at the Leaves all along the branches being somewhat longer then those of the Orenge maâ—e of five thiâ—k white Leaves with some threds in the middle and of a sweet sent also the fruit that followeth is somewhat long and round with a paller yellow rind the Orenge or Citron somewhat uneven or rugged somewhat bitter in tast but of a sweet smell the pulpe is white and lesser in quantity then eirher of the other in the middle whereof is contained a more soft spungy pulpe fullpulp of sower juyce it hath such like seed as the Citron amongst it but smaller and somewhat longeâ— if it be heedfully marked though they may seeme both alike at first sight The Places and Time Spaine is the place which furnishes us with Lemmons yet we have some of the Trees growing in our own Land as at Zion house by Brainford and at Wâ—mbleton house in the County of Surrey The Trees in Spain are seldom seen without ripe fruit and half ripe and small young and green and blossomes all at once and those with us have the same but not so frequently yet are alwaies green The Temperature Lemmons are not wholly of one temperature for the rind is hot in the first degree and dry in the second the juyce of them is cold in the second degree and dry in the first The Vertues and Signature The Lemmon with the prickles wherewith the tree is fortified do not altogether insignificantly expresse the Stone in the Reines and Bladder and the prickâ—ng paines that do accompany it and therefore an Ounce and half of the juyce of unripe Lemmons being taken with a little Malmesy helpeth to cleanse expell the Stone out of the Kidneys Or if the party grieved do but drink the juyce of Lemmons next his heart in a morning three times in a week he shall find it of good effect and I think it would do no body else any great harm if he take it in a Cup of White or Rhenish wine with Sugar and so it strengtheneth the heart stomack and head resisteth poyson expelleth Melancholy and maketh the breath sweet It likewise killeth and driveth forth the Wormes of the belly both from men
the beginning of the Spring The Acornes grow upon short stalks two or three for the most part joyned together whoâ—e outer rind or skin is of a yellowish green colour the lower part whereof standeth in a small rough hollow cup the kernell whereof cleweth in two and is of a reasonable sweet tast The rootes are great spreading farre and deepe The Timber or Wood is the most serviceable of all other especially for the building of ships and houses yet the outer part which is called the Sap is not so durable as the innermoâ— which is called the Heart as every one knoweth The Places and Time The first is that of our own Land but the others are more frequent in Italy Spaine and other hot Climates Their long Catkins or bloomings come forth early in the Spring and fall away for the most part before the leaves do come forth the fruit or Acornes are not ripe untill Ostober The Temperature The Leaves and Bark of the Oake and the Acorne cups do bind and dry very much and are somwhat cold withall but the Acornes themselves are neither so cold nor so much binding The Signature and Vertues The fruit of the Oake or Acornes seperated from the Cups do much resemble the Stone in the Bladder and therefore they not only provoke Urine and break the stone but are an especiall remedy for the exulceration of the Bladder and pissing of blood caused by the force of poysonous herbs and corroding medicines as also the virulency of Cantharides being eaten if the decoction of them and the bark made in Milk be taken The Powder of Acornes drunk in Wine are good to help stitches and paines of the sides especially if the powder of Bay-berries be mixed therewith The inner barke of the Tree and the thin skin that covereth the Acorne are most used in Phyâ—ick to stay the spitting of blood and the bloody 〈◊〉 the decoction of the Bark and Powder of the Cups which are much more binding then any other part do stay vomitings or castâ—ngs spitting of blood or bleeding at the Mouth or other flux of blood in Man or Woman Lackes also and the invâ—luntary flux of naturall seed The fume of the Leaves helpeth the strangling the Mother and the bruised Leaves Soder up wounds and keep them from Inflammation The distilled water of the Buds is also good to stay all manner of Fluxes in Man or Woman to coole the Body in pestilentiall and hot burning Feavers for it resisteth the force of the infection as also to coole the heat of the Liver break the Stone and in the Kidneys stay Womens Courses and to asswage all manner of Inflammations being used inwardly or outwardly and the decoction of the Leaves doth the like The water that is found in hollow places of old Okes is very effectuall against any foule or spreading Scab Though the Acornes were formerly used for food yet our Age being able to subsist without them I shall leave them for the Hoggs to seed upon CHAP. CXXXVIII Of Bucks-horne Plantaine The Names IT is called in Greek 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Coronopus from the similitude it hath with the foot of a Crow which name the Latines do hold as also Cornu cervi or cerviâ—um and Herba stella both of them from the posture of the Leaves It is called Sanguinaria or Sanguinalis and Harenaria the first from its verture in stopping blood and the last from the place of its growing We in English call it Bucks-horne Harts-horne and Bucks-horne Plantaine because the Spiky heads are like those of Plantaine The Kinds The sorts hereof though growing in different Climates may without breaking any great square be brought within the compasse of one Chapter and then the totall summe will be but five 1. Common Bucks-horne Plantaine 2. Prickly Bucks-horne 3. Small Sea Bucks-horne of Naples 4. The small hairy Sea Bucks-horne 5. Upright and creeping Bucks-horne or Wart-Cresses The Forme Common Bucks-horne Plantaine riseth up at first with small long narrow hairy dark green Leaves like Grasse without any division or gash in them but those that follow are gashed in on both sides the Leaves into three or four gashes and pointed at the ends resembling the Knaggs of a Bucks-horne and being well grown lye round about the root upon the ground in order one by another thereby resembling the form of a star from among which rise up divers hairy stalks about an hand breadth high bearing every one a small long spiky head very like unto those of the common Plantaine having such like bloomings and seed after them the root is single long and small with divers fibres annexed thereunto The Places and Time The first usually groweth in dry sandy grounds as in Tuttle fields by Westminster and without the Walls of Greenwich Park on that side that the way lyeth from thence to Eltham and in divers others places of this Land yea it is sown in the Gardens of those that know the Physicall use of it in some places of this Country where it groweth not naturally yet I have not known it eaten as a Sallet herb any where with us though in Italy and France it is frequently so used The second groweth on the rocks in the Island Prochyta The third in many untilled grounds in the Kingdom of Naples near the Sea side The last groweth in moist Countries of this Land on the foot bankes and under Walls and by high way sides especially in thoâ—e places where Hoggs frequent arising as iâ— supposed out of their dung which is the Reason why it is called Harenaria and Swines cresse They all flower and seed in the summer Monthes their green Leaves abiding all the winter The Temperature Bucks-horne is of a binding cooling and drying faculty as the Common sort of Plantaine is The Vertues and Signature Bucks-horne Plantaine boyled in wine and drunk is very effectuall to help those that are troubled with the Stone in the Reâ—nes or Kâ—dneys not that it breaketh the Stone or expelleth it but by cooling the Heat of the parts and strengthening the Reines and Back It stayeth likewise all bleedings and eruptions of Blood whether at the Mouth or Nose whether by Stoole or Urine and helpeth the laske of the bowels and belly and the Dysentery or bloody Flux It helpeth much also those that have weak Stomacks that are so much given to casting or Vomiting that they cannot retain their Meat and this the Herbe doth well but the root more effectually The said decoction drunk and some of the Leaves applyed to the place hurt is an excellent Remedy for the bâ—ting of the Viper or Adder which is supposed to be one and the same It helpeth those that are troubled with the Collick and is held profitable for Agues to weaken their fits and take them away the Leaves being briused and laid to the Sides of them that have them and the Leaves and Roots beaten with some Bay-Salt and applyed to the Hand-wrists worketh the same effects
to call it Polytricum and Capillaris We usually call it in Latine Trichomanes and in English Common Maidenhair and English Maidenhair because it is more plentifull in our Land then the rest and is of more use and of as good effect for all purposes as the former The last sort is Polytrichum Apulâ—â— by some called Polytrichum aureum by others Adiantum aureum Adiantum 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and Muscus Capillaris in English Golden Maidenhair The Kinds All the sorts of Maidenhair that I meet with are eight 1. The True Maidenhair 2. Common Black Maidenhair 3. Forrain or Assyrian Maidenhair 4. Wall Rue 5. The Male English Maidenhair 6. Female English Maiden-hair 7. Great golden Maidenhair 8. The lesser Golden Maidenhair Most of these sorts are strangers in England unlesse it be Wall Rue and that which is called English Maidenhair whose form only I shall set down The Form Common English Maidenhair doth from a number of hard bâ—ack Fibres send forth a great many blackish shining brittle stalks hardly a span long in many not half so long set on each side very thick with small round dark green leaves one against another and spotted on the back of them like Ceterach and other small Ferns The Place and Time Some have reported the first to be found in Glâ—stershire but I doubt it Wall Rue is found at Dartford and the bridge at Ashford in Kent at Beaconsfeild in Buckinghamshire at Wolley in Huntingtonshire on Framingham Castle in Suffolk on the Church wall at Mayfeild in Sussex and in divers other pâ—aces Engâ—iâ—h Maidenhair groweth much upon old stone Walles in the western parts Wales and Kent but particularly upon New Colledge Wall in Oxford on the Garden Wall which was formerly Mr. Bustards next to Adderbury Church yard and upon a wall near to Goreham berry in Hartfordshire It joyeth likewiâ—e to grow by Springs and Wells and other rocky moist and Shadowy places They are green in Winter as well as Summer but never flower that I know of The Temperature The true Maidenhair as Galen testifieth doth dry make thin wast away and is in a mean between heat and coldnesse Mesue sheweth that it consisteth of unlike or disagreeing parts and that some are waterie and earthy and the same binding and another superficially hot and thin And that by this it taketh away obstructions or stoppings maketh things thin that are thick looâ—eneth the belly especially when it is fresh and green for as this part is thin so is it quickly resolved and that by reason of its binding and earthy parts Wall Ruâ— and the rest are not much unlike to this in temperature and faculty The Signature and Vertues All these being Capillary herbs do cure all the diseases of the hair by Signature and therefore the Lee made of any of them is singular good to cleanâ—e the head from scurf and either dry or running â—ores stayeth the falling or shedding of the hair either of the Head or Beard and maketh it to grow again in such places where it is fallen and pilled off and causeth it to become thick fair and well coloured for which purpose some boyl it in Wine putting some Smallage â—eed thereto and afterwards some Oyl They are of singular good use against the Diseases of the Breast the Liver and Reins especially yet much conducing to others The decoction of the herb drunk helpeth those that are troubled with the cough shortnesse of breath the Yellow Jaundies the diseases of the Spleen stopping of Urine helpeth exceedingly to break the Stone provoketh Womens Courses and stayeth both bleedings and fluxes of the Stomach and belly if it be dry But if it be green as I said before it looâ—eneth and causeth Choler and Phlegme to be voided both from the Stomach and Liver and by freeing the Stomach by spitting it out wonderfully cleanseth the Lungs and by rectifying the Liver and Blood causeth a good colour to the wâ—ole body and expelleth those diseaâ—es that breed by the Obstruction of the Liâ—er or Spleen They are also said to resist and cure the bitings of venemous Creatures to consume and wast away the Kings-Evil and other hard wellings and to be excellent good against ruptures in young Children if the powder thereof be taken constantly for fourty daies together The Leaves of Wall Rue mixed with a little Salt Peter and the Urine of a young Câ—ild taketh away the shrivelled wrincklings that appear on Womens Bellies after their deliverance if it be washed therewith So much for those Plants that cure the Diseases of the Hair to which I might add Thapsia Aloes Millefolium aquaticum or water Millfole c. which because they are forraigners and more appropriate to other parts I forbear in this place CHAP. XVII Of Fennel COme we now from the Hair to the Eyes and in the first place treat of those five things which Schola Salerni commendeth for the Eyes in these Verses Foeniculus Verbena Rosa Chelidonia Ruta Ex istis fit aqua quae lumina reddit acuta The first whereof is Fennel The Names The Greeks called it 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which is thought to come from 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which signifies Marcesco because it is very good to season many things even when it is withered The Latines call it Faeniculum quod quasi fanum in hyemes arefactum vel marcidum reponatur because it is laid up against Winter being dryed and withered just like Hay or as some think quod magno cum faenâ—re semen reddat because it makes so plentiful a return of seed when it is sowen The Kindes 1. Common Fennel 2. Sweet Fennel 3. Small round 4. Wilde Fennel 5. Great Fennel of Candy 6. Great round-headed Fennel The common Fennel being generally known I shall chuse rather to describe the sweet Fennel The Forme Sweet Fennel groweth no otherwise then the former doth having both Roots Leaves Stalks and Flowers after the same manner saving that this neither beyond Sea nor in our Country doth rise so high and hardly endureth the sharpness of our VVinters the Seed is larger yellower and sweeter in taste neerer unto Anniseed then the former which so continueth in hot Countries but will not hold either colour largeness or sweetness long in ours It decayeth yearly and after the third years sowing yieldeth as bitter small and sad coloured seed as any in any other Garden or Country in this Land so that you may hereby certainly know that it is the Climate only that changeth it to be larger or smaller longer or shorter yellower or paler then others and also giveth the tast to be sweeter or bitterer which divers have thought to be differing sorts Some also think that the Cardus Fennel as the Italians call it is different from the other sweet sort when as it is only the Art in ordering it by transplanting and whitening it that maketh the leaves grow so thick bushing together more then the ordinary and the whitening giveth it a
carefully applyed The Kindes To omit the other sorts of herbs called by the name of Rue which have little likenesse thereunto but only a little shew in their leaves I intend to insist in this place of none but the ordinary Garden Rue and those sorts which have a more immediate relation to it they being six in all 1. The greater ordinary Rue or Herb of Grace 2. The lesser Garden Rue 3. The greater wild Rue 4. Small wild Rue 5. Mountain Rue 6. Assyrian Rue which with some of the other sorts are not usually bred nor easily kept in the Land The Forme Ordinary Garden Rue groweth up with hard whitish woody stalks branching forth on all sides and bearing thereon sundry long leaves divided into many small ones being somewhat thick and round pointed and of a dark blewish green colour the flowers that stand at the tops consist of four small yellow Leaves standing opposite one against another in the form of a Cross with a green button in the middest compassed about with sundry small yellow threds which growing ripe containeth within it small black seed the root is white and woody spreading far in the ground and abiding many years The Places and Time The two first sorts are found only in Gardens yet the second is not so common as the first and only kept by a few The other two wild sorts grow upon the Mountains in Spain and Italy The fifth groweth in Spain also France and other hot Countries The last groweth in Syria and in the hedges about Constantinople as Bellonius testifieth The Garden kinds especially the lesser do seldom flower in our Land and therefore scarce ever bear good seed And the wild or Mountain Kinds do the like and therefore they are commonly propagated by slips here in England The Temperature Rue is hot and dry in the latter end of the third degree and wild-Rue in the fourth It is of thin and subtile parts it wasteth and consumeth wind and it cutteth and digesteth cross and tough humours The Signature and Vertues The vertues of Rue are pithily expressed in Schola Salerni Ruta facit custum dut lumen iugerit astum Cocta facit Ruta de pulicibus loca tuta Rue maketh chast and eke preserveth sight Infuseth wit and Fleas doth put to flight Concerning Chastity I have spoken somewhat already in the Names besides it repaireth the Eyesight and sharpeneth it if it be eaten green as is there mentioned Ruta comesta recens oculos caligine purgat Or else the Juice of Rue together with the Juyce of Fennel the Gall of a Cock and clarified honey being put into the Eyes helpeth the dimnesse of them The third property is that Rue maketh a man quick subtill and inventive by reason that by heating and drying it maketh a mans Spirits subtile and so cleareth the wit The fourth is that the water wherein good store of Rue hath been sodden being cast and sprinked about the house riddeth away Fleas and killeth them Besides these foresaid properties it provoketh Urine and Womens Courses being taken either in meat or drink The Seed thereof taken in Wine is an Antidote against all dangerous Medicines or deadly Poysons The very smell of Rue keepeth a man from Infection as is often proved in time of pestilence for a Nosegay thereof is a good Preservative but being received into the body it is of much greater force A Decoction made thereof with some dryed Dill Leaves and Flowers easeth all pains and torments inwardly to be drunk and outwardly to be applyed warm to the place grieved The same being drunk helpeth the pains both of the Chest and Sides as also Coughs and hardnesse of breathing the Inflammations of the Lungs and the tormenting pains of the Sciatica and the Joynts being anointed or laid to the places as also the shaking fits of Agues to take a draught before the fit come Being boyled or infused in Oyl it is good to help the wind Collick the hardnesse or windiness of the Mother and freeth Women from the strangling or suffocation thereof if the Share and parts thereabouts be anointed therewith It killeth and driveth forth Woâ—ms of the Belly if it be drunk after it is boyled in Wine to the half with a little honey It helpeth the Gout or paines in the Joynts of Hands Feet or Knees applyed thereunto and with Figs it helpeth the Dropsie being bathed therewith being bruised and put into Nostrills it stayeth the bleeding thereof A Decoction of it and Bay Leaves helpeth the swelling of the Codds if they be bathed therewith if it be bruised with a few Myrtle leaves and made up with wax and applyed it taketh away Wheales and Pimples It cureth the Morphew and taketh away all sorts of Warts if boyled in Wine with some pepper and Nitre and the places rubbed therewith and with Allom and Honey helpeth the dry Scab or any Tetter or Ringworm The Juice thereof warmed in a Pomegranate Shell or Rind and dropped into the Ears helpeth the pain of them An Oyntment made of the said Juice with Oyl of Roses Cerusse and a little Vinegar and anointed cureth St. Anthonies fire and all soul running Sores in the Head and the stinking Uâ—cers of the Nose or other parts Take of Nitre Pepper and Cummin Seed of each equal parts of the Leaves of Rue clean picked as much in weight as all the other three weighed beat them well together and put-to as much honey as will make it up into an Electuary but you must first correct your Cummin Seed by keeping it in Vinegar twenty four hours and then dry it well in a hot Fire shoâ—el or in an Oven and it is remedy for the paines or griefs of the Chest or Stomach of the Spleen Belly or Sides by wind or Stiches of the Liver by obstructions of the Reins and Bladder by the stopping of Urine and helpeth also to extenuate fat corpulent Bodies The leaves of Rue first boyled and then laid in Pickle are kept by many to eat as sauce to meat like as Sampire is for tâ—e dimnesse of sight and to warm a cold Stomach The distilled water is very effectuall for many of the purposes aforesaid In outward applications the wild kinds work more forcibly then the Garden kinds but taken inwardly by Women with child it destroyeth the birth and mightily expelleth the after-birth A Weasell being to fight with a Serpent eateth Rue and rubbeth her self therewith to avoid his poyson I know not what religion Crollius was of but he saith that the signe of the Crosse which is upon the seed or rather as I suppose the flower of Rue driveth away all Phantasms and evill Spirits by Signature CHAP. XXII Of Eyebright The Names NExt to those mentioned by Schola Salerni We come to Eyebright which is called in Greek 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or as Fuchsius would rather have it 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 saying that without doubt the name of this herb hath been corrupted by some
the nose very quickly The distilled water of the herb is profitable for all the purposes aforesaid the leaves being gently rubbed on any place stung with nettles or bees or bitten with any venemous Creature doth presently take away the pain But take notice that Wall Pepper which though it be a kind of Sedum as to the form yet it is of a very hot sharp and exulcerating quality and raiseth blisters in the skin if it be laid thereupon but a while as forcibly as Ranunculus or Crowfoot will do and therefore it behoveth all those that shall have any occasion to use any of the cooling Stonecrops that they do not mistake this for some of them wherunto it is so like yet it is not without some other good qualities whereof good use may be made for it is said to procure vomiting the Juyce thereof taken with Vinegar and some other drink driveth forth thick cholerick and phlegmatick humours whereby quartane Agues and others of long continuance may be cured and that taken in the same manner it doth expell any poyson or the force of venemous herbs and of the Aconites which vertue notwithstanding is by some referred to the greater kinds but there may be some danger in the taking and therefore may be let alone seeing there be divers medicines to the same purpose in this book Yet it is not altogether unlikely that it should do so for why may not this as well expell the poyson of Aconite as well as Aconite prevail so mightily against the bitings of Scorpions or Vipers or fire fetch out fire which experience telleth us it doth Dioscorides saith that being applyed outwardly with Axungia that is Hogs-suet it will take away knots and kernels as well in the Neck and Throat which is called the Kings-Evil as in any other part of the body and applyed by it self or boyled in Oyl of Roses and the sore piles anointed therewith doth ease the pains and cure them of the grief And thus having given you the vertues of the greater aswell the lesser Houseleeks that grow by land it will not be impertinent to give you those of Aloes or Sea Houseleek also which I shall do in the next Chapter CHAP. XLVIII Of Aloes or Sea Houseleek The Names DIoscorides and all others both ancient and modern writers call it 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which name some suppose to have been given to it either from 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is à sale or else from 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 à Salo the Sea it self with whose breath it is much delighted It is called also 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 because it groweth not only in the ground but sometimes out of the ground though it be hanged up in an house Some of the modern Herbarists do call it Semper vivum marinum from the thickness of the leaves and likenesse unto Sedum majus or the greater Houseleek called Semper vivum The hardned Juyce thereof is also usually called Aloes of which as Schroderus saith there be four sorts now in use and because there is but one kind except the American of that plant I will set down the kinds of Juyces The Kindes There is 1. A Blackish sort called Aloe Caballina because it is fit only for Horses 2. A more pure sort in colour like the Liver called Aloe Hepatica 3. Another sort called Aloe Succotrina or Succo citrina because the powder thereof is of a citrine or yellow colour or Socotorina rather because there is great plenty of it in the island Socotora 4. The fourth kind is the purest part of the Juyce and is called Aloe lucida because being held up against the Beams of the of the Sun it sheweth very clear like a kind of red glasse The best is that which is most clear and transparent of a redish or yellow Colour being easy to bâ—eak and very bitter The Forme Sea-Houseleek hath divers long fleshy pale green Leaves of the thicknesse of ones finger with divers hard dents or points on both sides of them and pointed at the ends likewise the one enclosing the other at the bottom and standing round the outermost bending for the most part backwards from the middle of which ariseth a short thick stalk little more then a foot high bearing many small bottle-like flowers It beareth seed in husks like unto an Asphodil after the flowers are past the root is thick and about a foot long or lesse within the ground shooting out some thick Fibres at the end The Places and Time It groweth in Arabia Asia Syria and all the East Countries and in India as well a great way within the land as near the Sea side and in the islands there as in Socotora as Garcius saith where the best is made as also in many places in Italy and in Spaiu about Andalousia near the sea shore in such plenty that divers thought to have made good store of Aloes there but after tryall it was not found any way so effectuall as the Indian sort It flowreth in the hotter Countries in the first Summer moneths but never in these colder for it is preserved with great care from the frosts in Winter which will cause it quickly to rot if it feel never so little cold The Temperature Aloe that is to say the juyce that is used in Physick is moderately hot and that in the first Degree but dry in the third extream bitter yet without biting it is also of an emplaistick or clammy quality and something binding The Vertues and Signature Aloes openeth the Belly purgeth the stomach helpeth those that have a pale colour and is used against the yellow Jaundice by Signature not without good successe It is also profitable in the Head-ach when Vapours arise from the stomach in the Night-Mare in the Scorbute or Scurvy in the Falling-sickness and in Rheums It resisteth putrefaction killeth worms of all sorts whether in the belly or stomach nay it is a speciall Antidote against worms and is more proper for the stomach then all other purging Medicines notwithstanding Cardans Opinion to the contrary seeing it doth not only purge away Choler and flegme from it but also comfort it and help it much when it is crude moyst and nauseous It preventeth Arthriticall pains or pains of the joynts it quickeneth the senses by purging obnoxious humours from the brain It provoketh Womens Courses and the Hemorrhoides or Piles but hardly draweth humours from any part above the Liver Being outwardly applyed it hath a consolidating faculty to heal green wounds and dryeth as also mundifieth or cleanseth and takes away all putrifaction in wounds It healeth wounds of the Testicles and Privities it cures the redness of the Eys and consumes the spots growing therein It is good in the Inflammations of the Eys and Apostumes of the Lips Nose and Eys It healeth Ulcers that are hardly brought to cicatrize and especially those in the Fundament and privy Members Being mixed with Oxe-Gall or the juyce of VVormwood and
English Winter-green The Kinds Though formerly but one now six sorts are known 1. Ordinary Winter Green 2. The least Winter Green 3. Slender Winter Green 4. The Winter Green of Europ with Chickweed Flowers 5. Winter Green of America with Chickweed flowers 6. Shrubby Winter Green The Forme The first sort groweth sending forth seven or eight or nine Leaves from a small brownish creeping root every one standing on a long Footstalk and being almost as broad as long round pointed of a sad green colour hard in handling and like unto the Leaf of the Peartree but others compare them to be like unto the small leaves of Beets from whence ariseth a slender weak stalk yet standing upright bearing at the top many small white flowers smelling as sweet as those of Lilly Convally laid open like a star consisting of five round pointed leaves with many yellowish threds standing in the middle about a green head and a long stile with them which in time groweth to be the Seed-Vessel which when it is ripe is formed five square with a small point at it wherein is contained as small seed as the dust it self The Places and Time The Sort I have now described groweth in Lansdale and Craven in the North part of England especially in a Close called Crag Close and also in a Bog by Rosecre in the Kings County The second groweth at the foot of the high hills in Austria and Stiria as Clusius saith The third in Germany as also near Savoy The fourth groweth on the Woods of Germany in divers places as also in the Beechwood in Scotland as is recorded by Bauhinus and on the Mountains in in Wales likewise The fifth groweth in Brasil towards the West Indies The last groweth in most of the Provinces of Hungary Germany and Bohemia they do all flower except the American Sorts about June and July but the other more late with Us. The Temperature Winter green is cold in the second degree and dry in the third and exceeding astringent and glutinous withall The Vertues Grollius in his Book of Signatures puts down Pyrola to be a principall Herb for the Throat and therefore saith he we use it in Gargarisms but how to make out the Signature is beyond my poor skill It is a singular Remedy for green Wounds to consolidate their lips speedily together either the green Leaves bruised and applyed of themselves or the juyce of them or a Salve made of the green Herbs stamped or the juyce boyled with Hogs-lard or with Sallet-Oyl and Wax and some Turpentine added unto it which is so soveraign a Salve for all manner of wounds and Sores that the Germans use it exceeding much and extoll it beyond all other Salves made of a simple Herb They likewise use it for inward wounds or hurts being boyled either by it self or with other Wound-Herbs as Comfry Burnet Mos-eare c. wherewith they use to heal whomsoever is wounded either in the Body or Bowels or any other part by giving them to drink of such a decoction The Herb boyled in Wine or water and thereof given to drink to them that have any inward Ulcers in the Kidneys or neck of the Bladder doth wonderfully help them It stayeth also all Fluxes whether of blood or of humours as the Lask Bloody Fluxes or Womens too abundant Courses as also the bleeding of wounds and both taketh away Inflammation rising upon the pains of the heart and hindereth any to arise being presently applyed after the hurt received It is no lesse helpful for foul Ulcers hard to be cured as also for Cancers and Fistulaes The distilled water of the Herb doth effectually perform the same things and some keep the dryed Herb to use in Decoctions or made into powder to drink as often as they shall have occasion CHAP. LXIV Of Horse-Tongue or Double-Tongue The Names THe Grecians call it 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Hippoglossum either because 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is a word oftentimes prefixed before great Plants as Hipposelinum Hippolapathum Hippomarathrum c. or because it somewhat resembles an Horses Tongue but others think it should be more truly called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Hypoglossum because of the small Leaves like small Tongues growing upon the greater The Latines keep the name and call it Hippoglossum or Hypoglossum and some to expresse it more fully Bislingua two Tongues or double Tongue some Lingua Pagana and of Apuleius Victoriola It is also called Bonifacia by Angularia and Uvularia by Bruâ—felsius Leonicerus Tabermontanus and others This is not Laurus Alexandrina as some have supposed The Kindes Besides the ordinary sort Fabius Columna maketh mention of another with larger Tongues upon the Leaves which as he saith is much more rare to find The Forme Horse-Tongue shooteth forth divers hard stalks with Leaves on them which are somewhat broad yet pointed at the end somewhat hard with Ribs running through them upon which from the middle Rib groweth a smaller Leaf or Tongue about the middle of the Leaf on the upper side which maketh it to differ from all other Plants that grow upon the ground Under the smaller Leaf at the bottom where it joyneth to the greater commeth forth one small whitish green Flower and sometimes two standing upon short foot-stalks where afterward stand the Berries which when they are ripe are very red very like unto the Berries of the Yew-Tree wherein is a white hard Seed the Root consisteth of many long hard whitish strings growing from a head The Places and Time It groweth upon Hills and in Woods in divers places both of Italy and Germany but is only cherished in Gardens with Us particularly in the Physick Garden in Oxford It flowreth in Iune and the Berries are ripe at the end of September in the naturall places as in the warmer Countries but it seldom commeth to perfection in our Land The Temperature Horse-Tongue is evidently hot in the second Degree and dry in the first The Signature and Vertues The little Leaf like a Tongue growing upon the greater is no light Argument that this Plant is effectuall for Sores in the Mouth and Throat and to settle the Palate of the Mouth in its place that is subject to fall down by reason of too much moysture which may likewise be signified thereby It is likewise of singular good use in old and filthy Ulcers in any part of the Body to dry up the moysture and to bring them on more speedily to be healed either the Powder of the Leaves or Roots to be used alone or with other things put into them or the decoction to wash them or inject into them It is held to be most powerful also of any Herb that is to help the suffocations and other Diseases of the Muther to take the Powder of the dryed Leaves or Roots in Wine Broth or other drink for it will speedily give ease Three or four drams of the said Powder taken in sweet Wine procureth a speedy delivery and
the Plant it self was altogether unknown unto the Ancients it being not so much as once mentioned in their Medicines but that is no excuse to the Physicians of our times who notwithstanding the admirable properties thereof do in a manner neglect it The Italians with whom it is in greater esteem then with us call it Aralda and have an usuall Proverb with them concerning it which is Aralda tutte Piaghe salda Aralda salveth all Sores for they use it familiarly to heal any fresh or green wound or cut the Leaves being but bruised and bound to and sometimes also they use the juyce of it in old Sores to cleanse them dry up their moysture and heal them the more speedily which it performeth by the bitter quality therein But the Reason why I treat of it in this place is because it hath been by later experience found to be very available for the Kings Evill the Flowers being stamped together with fresh Butter and applyed to the place or if the Flowers cannot be had the Leaves bruised and applyed or the juyce made up into an Oyntment and used thereon worketh the same effect though not altogether so powerfully By the rarifying and extenuating Vertue that it hath it cutteth and consumeth thick tough Flegme and viscous humours troubling the Chest or Stomack if it be boyled in water or Wine and drunken The Decoction or Juyce hereof made up with some Sugar or Honey is available for the same purpose as also to cleanse and purge the Body both upwards and downwards sometimes of tough flegme and clammy humours and to open the obstructions of the Liver and Spleen It hath been also by later experience found to be available for the Falling Sicknesse and divers have been cured thereby for after the taking of the Decoction of two handfulls thereof with four Ounces of Polypody of the Oak bruised made in Ale they that have been troubled with that Disease six and twenty years have been cured thereof Mr. Culpepper saith that he is confident that an Oyntment of it is one of the best remedies for a scabby head that is CHAP. LXVIII Of Orpine The Names IT is called by the Grecians 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 by the Latines Telephium Sempervivum Sylvestre It took the name Telephium some have thought from Telephus the King of Mysia whose wounds received from Achilles and grown almost past cure were healed therewith and hence the Medicines appointed for such purposes were called Telephia yet I must tell you that it is more frequently said that Telephus was cured with the rust of Achilles his Sword which hurt him both haply being mixed together It is called also Scrophularia media vel tertia of Brunfel sius Fabaria Faba crassa and Faba inversa by divers and so also by Lobel à foliorum fabae similitudine and Crassula or Crassula major by divers also as well as Dioscorides a foliorum crassitie Cordus upon Dioscorides calleth it Acetabulum alterum Columna taketh it to be Cotiledon alterum of Dioscorides Gesner in hortis Germaniae taketh it to be Anacampseros and Matthiolus Dodonaeus Clusius and divers others call it Telephium and Vulgare because it is most common in all these parts In English it is called Orpine and of some Livelong because a Branch of the green Leaves hung up in any place will keep the verdure along time The Kindes The Sorts of Orpine are six in number 1. Common Orpine 2. Purple flowred Orpine 3. Small creeping Orpine 4. The great Spanish Orpine 5. Imperatus of Naples his true Orpine 6. Matthiolus his small Orpine The Form The common Orpine riseth with divers round brittle stalks thick set with fat and fleshly Leaves without any Order and little or nothing dented about the edges of a pale green colour The Flowers are white or whitish growing in tufts after which come small chaffy husks with Seed like dust in them The Roots are divers thick round white tuberous Clogs which is not altogether so great in divers Fields and Wood-sides where it is found wild as it is in Gardens The Places and Time The first is frequent almost in every Country of this Land being generally cherished in Gardens and in many places growing wild as about Heddington Quarries in Oxford shire and about St. Albans in Hartfordshire The second is often found in many places of Germany as Tragus Camerarius Clusius and others set down The third was sent out of Italy by Alphonsus Pancius a worthy Herbarist and Physitian of Ferrara The fourth is found both in Spain and Hungary The fift came originally from Imperatus of Naples The last which was called Cepea by Matthiolus and all that have written since Cepea-Matthioli was first communicated from Padoa and is chiefly nursed up in the Gardens of those that are lovers of rare Plants They do all flower in July and their Seed is ripe in August The Temperature The Qualities of Orpine are differing from the Telephium of Dioscorides in that they are cooling as Purslain is especially the leaves for the root is more enclining to heat and by reason of the Muscilaginesse therein it is somewhat astringent also whereas the true Telephium as Dioscorides and Galen say is somewhat hot and of a cleansing drying quality yet it is thought the plant is the same though the Temperature be altered by the difference of the Climate in this as also in other Plants The Vertues and Signature The Leaves of Opine bruised and applyed to the throat cureth the Quinsy which is an Inflammation of the Throat or of the highest parts of the Gullet hindering breathing and swallowing when as the fault is neither in the Breast nor Lungs Mr. Culpeper saith that if you please to make the Juyce thereof into a Syrup with Honey or Sugar you may take a spoonful or two at a time for a Quinsy and you shall find the medicine more pleasant and the Cure more speedy then if you took a Dogs Turd which is the Learned Colledges vulgar cure This may be a good remedy but if Mr. Culpeper had been so wise as to have known the goodnesse of a Dogs Turd for this purpose he would not have belched it forth so opprobriously in disparagement of the Colledge whom I know not for what cause he takes occasion many times to inveigh against where there is none But to return to Orpine It is seldom used notwithstanding Mr. Culpepers Syrup in inward medicines with us but Tragus saith and that from experience that in Germany the distilled water thereof is used for gnawings or excoriations in the Stomach or Bowels and for Ulcers in the Lungs Liver or other inward parts as also in the Matrix and helpeth all those diseases being drunk for certain daies together and that it stayeth the sharpnesse of the humours in the bloody flux and other fluxes in the belly or in wounds The Root thereof also performeth the same effect It is used outwardly to
a thing as Wheat yet he seems to â—e so to be for in rekoning up seven sorts of Wheat he saith that there is 1. Bare or naked white Wheat 2. Bearded or Red Wheat 3. Bright eared Wheat 4. Double eared Wheat 5. The wild Wheat of Candy 6. Tripoly wheat 7. Summer wheat For my part I never saw a Land of Red Wheat with beards but many hundred Acres without and for White Wheat I have seen it both without and with Beards I have heard of sorts of wheat which Country People call Duckbill Wheat Cone Wheat c. Which whether they be by names to any of the former I am not certain but I think by Duckbill Wheat they mean the Red and by Cone Wheat they mean the White Wheat with beards which maketh not so white bread as the Red. The Summer-wheat is also called Triticum Amylâ—um Starch Corn whereof Starch is made Whose description I shall give you because it is not so well known as the other The Forme Starch Corn is very like unto wheat in Stalk and Seed but the Ears are narrower the beards longer and the grains smaller the Eare thereof is set round about and made up with two ranks with certain beards as I said before almost after the manner of Barley and the Seed is closed up in Chaffy Husâ—s and is sowen in the Spring The Places and Time I have observed the white Wheat to grow frequently in Hartfordshire and the Bright Eared Wheat also here and there The Red Wheat in Oxfordshire but without Beards The double Wheat groweth about Lyons in France The fift was brought from Tripoly The sixt from Candy The seventh groweth in Germany Poland and Denmark The double Wheat Summer Wheat and that of Candy are to be sown in the Spring because they will not indure the cold of the Winter but the rest are sown in Autumn are reaped in July or August The Temperature The kinds of Wheat according to their naturall qualities are hot in the first Degree but neither dryeth nor moistneth evidently as Galen saith yet Pliny saith it dryeth The Vertues The bread that is made of Wheat being applyed hot out of the Oven for an hour three daies together to the Throat that is troubled with Kernels or the Kings Evil healeth it perfectly and Slices of it after it is a little stale being soaked in Red Rose Water and applyed to the eyes that are hot red and inflamed or that are bloodshot helpeth them The flower of Wheat mixed with the juyce of Henbane doth stay the flux of humours to the joynts being laid thereon tâ—e said meal boyled in Vinegar helpeâ—h the shrinking of the Sinews saith Pliny aâ—d mixed with Vinegar and Hony boyled together healeth all â—reckles spots and Pimples on the face Wheat-flowre being mixed with the Yolk of an Egge Honey and Turpentine doth draw cleanse and heal any Bile or Plague-sore or any other foul Uâ—cer the Bran of Wheat Meal is often boyled in the Decoction of a Sheeps Head and it is given in Clysters to cleanse and open the Body and to ease the griping pains of the Intralls The said Bran steeped in sharp Vinegar and then bound in a Linnen Cloth and rubbed on those places that have the Morphew Scurf Scab or Leprosie will take them away so that the Body be well prepared and purged before the Decoction of the Bran of Wheat or Barley is found of good use to bathe those places which are bursten by a Rupture the said Bran boyled in good Vinegar and applyed to swollen Breasts doth help them and stayeth all Inflammations It helpeth also the biting of Vipers â—â— other venemous Creatures The Leaven of Wheat Meal hath a property to â—eal and to draw and in especiall it rarifieth the hard skins of the feet and hands as also Warts and hard knots in the flesh being applyed with some Salt Starch moystned with Rose-water and layd to the Cods taketh away their itching The Waters that are made of the purest and finest volatile Flower being put in water and drunk doth stay the Lask and Bloody-Flux and is profitably used both inwardly and outwardly for the Rupture in Children and boyled with Roses dry Figs and some Jujubes maketh a fit Lotion to wash sore mouths or Throats and when the Kernels thereof are swollen and sore the same also boyled in water unto a thick gelley and taken stayeth the spitting of blood and boyled with Mints and Butter it helpeth the hoarsnesse of the Throat Pliny saith That the Corns of Wheat parched upon an Iron Pan and eaten is a present remedy for those that are chilled with cold The Oyl pressed from Wheat between two thick Plates of Iron or Copper heated healeth all Tetters and Ring-worms being used warm And hereby Galen saith he hath known many to be cured Matthiolus commendeth the same Oyl to be put into hollow Ulcers to heal them up and it is good for Chops in the hands or feet and to make a rugged skin smooth Dioscorides saith That to eat the Corns of green Wheat hutteth the stomach and breedeth Worms but chewed and applyed to the biting of a mad Dog it cureth it CHAP. LXXI Of Barley The Names THis Grain is generally in Greek called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in Latine Hordeum but two of the kindes are distinguished into Distichon and Polysticâ—n which last is most likely to be that which Galen calleth Gymnocrithâ—n that is Hordeum nudum not that the Ears are without rowes but because the Grain is Huskless and may be also the Cantherinum of Columella which he saith the Countrymen called Hexasticum We have a small kind of Grain brought from Germany to our Druggists in great quantity termed French Barley and is probable to be this Barley which Cordus saith was sent him out of Italy having six rowes in the Ears There is a kind also which by Tragus and Cordus is called Hordeum minus and by Columella Hordeum Galaticum because it is whiter from 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Milk which is of a white colour The Kinds The Sorts of Barley are in number four 1. Bear Barley or common Barley 2. Big Barley 3. Winter Barly 4. Naked or bare Barly The Forme The ordinary Barly is so well known to all sorts of people that to describe it were to teach them that which they know already and therefore I shall describe that which is called naked or bare Barly It hath many rowes of Corns in the Eare which are inclosed in the Husks having not that skin on them that the other hath being lank small yellow and short almost like Wheat but lesse The stalks are like unto the common Barly saving that it hath not so many stalks rising from the Roots so that though the one have six rowes yet the other hath thirty or forty stalks to countervail them The Place and Time The first is Our usuall Barly in all the South parts of this Nation the other in the North parts only the
third is not very frequent in our Land but the last is more rare yet it hath been sowen in our Gardens in April and not before and was ripe in the beginning or middle of August The usuall time for the ordinary sort being in March as to the sowing and the latter end of August as to the mowing The Temperature Barly is cooling and drying in the first Degree It hath also a little abstersive or cleansing quality and doth dry somewhat more then Bean Meal The Vertues The Meal of Barley and Fleawort being boyled in water and made into a Pultis with Honey and Oyl of Lillies applyed warm cureth Tumours under the Ears Throat Neck and such like places A Plaister thereof with Tar Wax and Oyl helpeth the hard swellings of the Throat called the Kings Evill A Pultis made of Barley Meal or Flower boyled with Vinegar and Honey and a few dry Figs put unto them dissolveth all hard Impostumes and excrescences upon the Eye-lids growing in the form of a Barley Corn by Sâ—gnature and asswageth Inflammations also being applyed And being boyled with Melilote and Camomile Flowers and some Linseed Fennigreek and Rue in Powder and applyed warm it easeth the pains in the sides and stomack and the windinesse of the Spleen boyled with sharp Vinegar into a Pultis and layd on hot helpeth the Leprosie being boyled in red Wine with Pomegranat Rinds and Myrtills it stayeth the Lask or other Flux of the Belly boyled with Vinegar and a Quince it easeth the hot pains of the Gout Barley Flower white Salt Honey and Vinegar mingled together is used by divers to take away the Itch speedily and certainly The distilled water of green Barley stilled in the end of May is very good for those that have Defluxions in the Eyes to stay the humours and to ease the pains being dropped into them or white bread layd to steep therein and bound thereto doth the same All the preparations of it as Barley-water and other things made thereof do give great nourishment to persons troubled with Feavers Agues and Heats in the Stomach French Barley is much used in pectorall Diseases or Diseases of the Breast helpeth the sharpnesse of the Throat and increaseth Milk especially boyled with Fennel It provoketh Urine and is very profitable in Choletick Feavers if it be thus administred Take two Ounces of French-Barley boyl it in two fresh waters then boyl it again in a quart of water adding half an Ounce of Licorish and an handful of Violet Leaves and as many Strawberry Leaves to a pint or a pint and a half strain it and put thereto of Syrup of Violets two Ounces or for the poorer sort you may sweeten it with a little Sugar It is used outwardly to soften hard swellings and is good for Inflammations and sorenesse of the Throat being boyled alone or with other fitting Herbs and the Mouth and Throat washed therewith Take Mallowes Violet Beets black Hellebore Fumitory of each three handfuls of French Barley six handfulls boyl them in a sufficient quantity of water for a Bath and use it against the Scab Itch c. you shall find it very effectuall CHAP. LXXII Of Garlick The Names IT is called in Greek 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in Latine Allium which last name the Apothecaries do commonly use Some say 't is called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 quasi 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 i. e. Rudis Rosa because of its strong scent offending the Nose Allium also seemeth to have its Originall from the Greek word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 i. e. exilire because of its growth which is so speedy that it 's said as it were to leap Galen and others have called it Theriaca Rusticorum the Country Mans Treacle We in English call it Garlick Some of this kind are called Scorodoprassum and Moly The Kinds There are 12 sorts of Garlick mentioned by Authours 1. Common Garlick 2. Crow-Garlick 3. Ramsons spotted or Snake-Garlick 4. Great Turky Garlick 5. Great Turky Garlick with a bulbed and twining head 6. Clusius his first leafed Hungarian Moly 7. Sweet smelling Hungarian Moly 8. Purple round headed Mountain Moly 9. Purplish headed Moly of Africa 10. The small Italian white Moly 11. Indian Moly 12. Ramsons The Forme Omitting the Description of Garden Garlick because it is so common I shall give you that of the wild or Crow Garlick which the Greeks call 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is Snakes Garlick It hath small tough long Leaves like Rushes but not so round smooth and hollow within Amongst which riseth up a naked stalk round slippery hard and sound on the top whereof after the Flowers be gone grow little Seeds made up in a round cluster like small Kernells having the smell and tast of Garlick Instead of a Root there is a bulbe or round head without any Cloves at all The Places and Time Garlick is seldom sowen of Seed but planted in Gardens of the small Cloves which are commonly set in March Some on St. Peters day knit the blades together in a knot that it may head the better and is gathered not long after The Crow-Garlick groweth in fertile Pastures in all parts of England particularly in a Field called the Mantels on the back side of Islington by London The rest are peculiar to divers Countries as Germany Hungary France Spain Italy Turkey and our Land also flowring in Summer and Seeding after The Temperature It is hot and dry in the fourth Degree and raiseth Blisters being applyed to the skin The Vertues Garlick being eaten heateth the Body maketh thin thick and grosse humours cutteth such as are tough and clammy digesteth and consumeth them it also openeth Obstructions or stoppings and is an enemy to cold poyson and to the biting of venomous Beasts It taketh away the roughnesse of the Throat also helpeth an old Cough provoketh Urine killeth Worms expelleth Wind helpeth the Cholick cures the Dropsie proceeding of a cold Cause provoketh the Courses in Women and stirreth up Venus and Lust but dryeth the Seed of Generation and is most excellent for a cold and moyst stomach and to stir up naturall heat An old Man by lying in the cold in the Winter season had almost lost the innate or naturall heat of his stomach and his appetite was even decayed after many hot Medicines used in vain at length was cured with Garlick and Honey It is a good preservative against the contagious and pestilent Air. A Decoction thereof made with Origanum and Wine being drunk killeth Worm-Lice and Nits It is profitable against the biting of a mad Dog and for such as are inclined to the Palsie for shortnesse of breath and to dry up Rheum and also for the cold Head-ach It is commended against the Consumption of the Lungs pissing of blood and for such as cannot hold their water The distilled water is good for the same Diseases and for the Quinsie The milk wherein Garlick hath been boyled is good for worms in Children or two
licking medicine for hoarsnesse wheesings and all other roughnesse in the Mouth or Throat and to expectorate tough Phlegm as also to condensate thin rheums falling on the Lungs It is likewise very much used by Farriers and Smiths to put in drenches for such horses as are hide bound and do not thrive or that have gotten a Cold or any other distemper of the Breast or Lungs and may also be given to any other Cattle upon the like occasion CHAP. LXXIIII Of the Figg-Tree The Names THe Tree is called in Greek 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and the fruit 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in Latine Ficus both Tree and Fruit the wild Fig-tree is called in Greek 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 by Galen and others in Latin Ficus Sylvestris and Caprificus the unripe fruit of the manured as also of the wild kind is called in Greek 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and in Latine Grossus but properly Olynthus as well as Grossus doth signifie the early ripe of each sort the dryed Figs are called in Greek 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and of some 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as Paulus Aeginetus and others in Latine Caricae the grains of small kernels within the Fig are called by the Greeks 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and by the Latines Ficaria the Greeks call the early Figs 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 quasi praecursores the Latines praecoces and Grossi the Branches of the tree are called Cradae both in Greek and Latine yet Nicander his Interpreter doth call the Figs so The Kinds Of ordinary Fig Trees that grow in Europe and bear eating Figs there be four sorts 1. The ordinary Fig-tree 2. The wild Fig-tree 3. The Fig-tree that beareth blew Figs early ripe 4. The Dwarf Fig-tree The Forme The ordinary Fig-tree is usually planted against a Wall and therefore to be conceived of no extraordinary bignesse with a grayish rugged bark on the body and elder boughs and green on the younger which are hollow and pithy in the middle the leaves grow single on the Branches being long large thick rough and of a sad green colour on the upperside whitish underneath divided into three but usually into five parts yeelding a sharp bitter and almost exulcerating milk when they are broken as the branches and Figs also will do when they are green the fruit breaketh out from the branches without any flower or blossom and are both of sundry colours of several sizes and ripening at contrary times of the year as also with thicker or thinner skins that cover them Those that are most ordinary are white and of a reasonable bignesse The Places and Time The manured Fig-tree groweth plentifully in Italy and Spain but not without planting where the fruit being gathered before it be over ripe is laid in the Sunne to dry that it may be the better to keep all the year after and is thence transported into other countries And so are the blew Figs which grow there also but not so commonly whose Tree as it is thought came out of Barbary They bear ripe fruit both in the Spring and in August or September We have them in divers Gardens of this Land but the fruit though many times it appear before the leaves yet seldome commeth to perfection unlesse it be planted under a hot Wall The Temperature The Fig-tree is hot and of thin parts which the milk that issueth from the Leaves and Branches being broken and the juyce taken from them by pressâ—ing them when they are young doth plainly declare being exceeding hot not only biting and sharp or forcibly cleansing but even exulcerating and offending the mouths of the Veins and therefore it is not safe to be taken inwardly Yea the branches of the Tree are of such an hot temper that if they be put to boyle with Beef that is hard it will thereby become tender and soft the wild Fig-tree and the Milk thereof is more effectuall then that of the manured The Figs themselves are hot and moist in the second or almost in the third degree and nourish well yet the dryed better then the green The Vertues and Signature A decoction of Figs is good for the Cough Lungs and throat as also against shortnesse of breath especially if it be boyled with Hyssop and Liquorish they are good for the Reins and Bladder and to recover a good Colour to them that by long Sicknesse have lost it and useful also in the Dropsy Falling-Sicknesse Quinsie and for the infirmities of the womb where cleansing is required they expell all superfluous humours from the inward parts to the circumference and therefore usefull to Expell Pox Measells and such like venemous matter to the skin Figs stamped with salt Rue and the kernels of Nuts withstand Poyson and corruption of the Air. They are best fasting or when the Stomach is empty Toasted Figs are good for women to hasten and facilitate the Birth Figs bruised and applyed with Barly Meal and the powder of Fennygreek seed do mollify the hard tumours and Kernells under the Throat and Ears and elsewhere by Signature as also the hardnesse of the Muther and if some Leaven and Salt be put to them it breaketh Plague sores and it may be was the same that cured Hezekiah They are also mixed with Copperas against old sores of the Legs and all other foul running Ulcers being boyled in Wine with Wormwood and then applyed with Barly Meal to the bellies of them that have a Dropsie helpeth them very much and beaten with Salt applyed taketh away the Itch and Scab and the ashes of the wood made up with Hogs Grease and applyed healeth Kibes and Chilblaines Figs bruised with Fennygreek and Vinegar easeth the Hot Gout of the Feet A Fig slit and toasted doth oftentimes ease the Tooth-ach being applyed The milk that issueth out from the Leaves or Branches when they are broken off being dropped upon Warts takes them away The decoction of Fig Leaves doth also avail much to do away any other malady that inâ—ects the hands by Signature the Leaf being commonly divided into five parts as the hand into five fingers and because the hand is a place full of joynts it hath therefore been applyed to the Joynts that have been pained and found eâ—fectual The same is likewise excellent good to wash sore heads withall neither is there scarcely a better remedy for a Leprosy then it is it clears the â—ace also of the Morphew and the body of white Scurffe moist Scabs and running sores If it be dropped into old fretting Ulcers it cleanseth out the moisture and bringeth up the flesh and because the green leaves are not to be had in winter an Oyntment may be made of them in the Summer for the same purpose The Juyce being put into an hollow Tooth easeth the pain and is an effectuall Remedy for pain and noise in the ears and also for deafnesse if it be dropped into them A Syrup made of Fig leaves taken inwardly dissolves congealed
burn but especially that which groweth by the Sea-side When the Hoggs were troubled with tuberous Baggs of corruption about their Necks the Country people were formerly wont to give them of the Herb Impious boyled in Milk or the like and they observed that which soever of them refused to take it would assuredly die CHAP. LXXVIII Of Jewes Eares The Names AMongst other Simples there is an Excressence of the Elder or Bore-tree which I shall treat of a part from the Tree it self and with it put a period to those things that are appropriated to the Throat it being of so great use for this part whereas the Elder it self is available to many others Notwithstanding I think that the Grecians took so little notice of it that they scarcely afforded it a Name It is called in Latine Fungus Sambucinus and Auricula Juda some having supposed the Elder-tree to be that whereon Judas hanged himself and that ever since these Mushromes like unto Eates have grown thereon which I will not perswade you to believe It is called in English Jewes Eares the Mushrome of the Elder by some the Gelly and by others the Sponge growing upon the Elder The Kinds My Lord Bacon in his naturall History saith that Jewes-Eâ—res grow upon other Trees besides the Elder as the Ash Fir c. but I suppose he was mistaken There are sometimes growing on those Trees certaâ—n Mushromes but like to Jewes-Eares neither in form nor vertue and therefore not to be called by that Name The Forme This Excrescence called Jewes-Eares is a soft and limber Mushrome which while it is fresh is not very thick but transparent and of a blackish colour of differing forms and sizes for some will be swolne and puffed up in one place more then in another having some resemblance to a Mans Eare some thin on the edge and thick in the middle and some two or three growing together all of them being dryed become of a blackish gray colour and then may be kept a whole year or more safe without spoyling to be used as you need The Places and Times Jewes-Eares grow as I said upon the Elder-tree but not so frequently upon them in other places as upon those that are planted upon Cony-Boroughs for their shadow and shelter I understand not but they may be found there at any time of the Year The Temperature Gerard saith that the jelley of the Elder otherwise called Jewes-Eares hath a binding and drying quality The Vertues Dr. Martin Blochwich Physician-Ordinary of Oshatin in his ingenious Tract called the Anatomy of Elder saith that even common Country Women so soon as they suspect any Disease in the Throat of their young Children they steep the Sponge of Elder in their Drink and when it is swelled they therewith carefully wipe away all the filth of the Palat Gums and Tongue It is likewise used for the same purpose being boyled in Ale or Milk with Columbine Leaves and with a little Pepper and Pellitory of Spain in Powder it helpeth to put up the Uâ—â—la or Palat of the Mouth being fallen down Take of the water or Decoction of Elder-Flowers wherein a little Elder-Honey hath been mixed and add thereunto some Leaves of Self-heal and a Jewes Eare or two and you will find it a sure Experiment for the Quinsey And a Lohoch or licking of the Rhob of Elder inspislated with Sugar with some pulverised Jewes-Eares added thereunto is commodious The distilled water of Jewes-Eares is very profitable for the Dropsie according to Crâ—lliâ—s de signaturis rerâ—â— and a drink made by sleeping three whole dryed Umbels of Elder Flowers and two Jewes-Eares very well dryed in two quarts of White-wine if it be used and no other drink the tumour will vanish away suddenly An handful of Jewes-Eares infused in a quart of the Spirit of Wine and a full draught thereof given to one that is troubled with the suffocation of the Matrix in the time of her fit cureth her The Powder of the Grains of Elder being mixed with an equall part of Jewes-Eares is commended in spitting blood CHAP. LXXIX Of Elecampane The Names HAving appropriated severall Simples to the inside and outside of the Throat the Breast comes next in Order to be provided for both internally and externally to which there is nothing more proper then Elecampane which is called in Greek 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Helenium also in Latine and of some Inula and Enula and Enula Campana some think it took the name from the tears of Helen from whence it sprung which is a Fable others say it was so called because Helen first found it available against biting and stingings of venemous Beasts and others think it took its name from the Island Helena where the best was found to grow We in English call it Elecampane generally yet in some Countries of this Land it is called Sabwort and Horse-heal The Kindes To this Plant which otherwise would be single do some refer the Flowers of the Sun as 1. The greater flower of the Sâ—â— 2. The lesser flower of the Sun 3. The Male flower of the Sun 4. The Marigold Sun flower The Forme Elecampane shooteth forth many large leaves lying neer the ground which are long and broad but small at both ends somewhat soft in handling of a whitish green on the upper side and gray underneath each set upon a short footstalk From amongst which riâ—e â—p divers great and strong hairy stalks two or three foot high with some leaves thereon compassing them about at the lower ends and are branched towards the tops bearing divers great and large flowers like unto those of the flower of the Sun of which it is said to be a kind as I said before both the border of the leaves and the middle Thrum being yellow which is not wholly converted into large seed as in the flower of the Sun but turneth into Down with some long small brownish seed among it and is carried away with the wind the Râ—â—t is great and thick branched forth divers waies blackish on the outside and white within of a very bitter taste but good sent especially when it is dryed no part else of the plant having any smell The Places and Time This is one of the Plants whereof England may boast as much as any for there growes none better in the world then in England let Apothecaries and Druggeists say what they will It groweth in Meadows that are fat and fruitful as in Parsons Meadow by Adderbury as I have been told and in divers other places about Oxfordshire It is found also upon the Mountains and shadowy places that be not altogether dry it groweth plentifully in the fields on the left hand as you go from Dunstable to Puddle hill Also in an Orchard as you go from Colâ—râ—â— to Ditton Ferry which is in the way from London to Windsor and in divers places in Wales particularly in the Orchard of Mr. Peter Piers at Guieruigron neer St. Asaphs The
breasts outwardly being first bruised a little Chrysippus with whom Mr. Culpeper seemeth to take part raileth down right against this Royal Plant yet it seemeth to me more reasonable to defend it as Pliny doth their frivolous objections against it being not worth the answering Perhaps it may be hurtful to a weak brain and cause the headach by reason of its strong savour yet by those whose brains are stronger it is as much esteemed as any other sweet smelling herb to sweeten or perform any thing and held as effectual to comfort the brain and likewise to open and purge the head It is good for those that are short winded provoketh Urine and the Terms in Women and brings a speedy deliverance to them in travail The seeds are used to help the trembling of the heart and to comfort the same as also to expel Melancholy or sadnesse A decoction of the herb made and taken is good against poyson and sting of Scorpions and helpful for those that are given to swoonings and it provokes Venery or Lust used with Oyl of Roses Myrtles and Vinegar is good against the paines of the head and it is profitably applyed to those that are troubled with the Lethargy the Jaundise and Dropsie It is good to be put into the ears of young children With a little Goosegrease to help them of the paines thereof the juyce or seed bruised put into the Nostrils procureth sneesing Mixed with honey and used it taketh a way spots in the face The Juyce put into the Eyes taketh away the dimnesse thereof and dryeth up humours that fall into them so that as it seemes this herb applyed outwardly cures that which it caused being taken inwardly for most Writers say that it dulleth the sight if it be eaten in any plentifull manner I conceive that Hollerus relating the story of the Italian who by often smelling to Basil had a Scorpion bred in his brain mistook the cause and that the Scorpion being there before he used to smell the Basil was then most quiet when he did so for it is observed that scorpions are pleased with its smell and so the Italian found it which made him use it so much but being grown too big for that narrow compasse he caused those vehemenr and long paines whereof he dyed CHAP. CI. Of Beanes The Names THis kind of pulse is called in Greek 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and Faba in Latine a wild kind whereof is called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in Greek and Faba Sylvestris in Latine and is of some thought to be the true Physicall bean of the Antients whereupon they have named it Faba Veterum and also Faba Graecorum But because they are different both in form and colour the Greek-bean being no bigger then a pease and very black the wild bean being bigger and not so black I hold it to be a mistake The Kinds The severall sorts of Beans are very numerous but I shall set down but five of them in this place 1. The Garden Bean. 2. The Field bean 3. The wild bean 4. The old Greekish bean 5. The Greek bean with dented leaves The old Greekish bean being most Physicall I shall give you its description the two first being well known The Forme The Greekish bean shooteth forth two or three long flat stalks with two edges lying or running on the ground if it have nothing whereon it may ramp or rise which branch out on every side into stalks of leaves four usually set thereon by two and two with a distance between them like unto the Garden Bean and each branch bending in a long clasper the flowers are set singly at the joynts of the branches under the leaves and are of a dead and sullen purple colour with some palenesse at the bottom of them after which succeed long and somewhat flat Pods with two sharp edges and dented about a little hooked or bowing green at the first but black and hard when they are ripe wherein are contained four or five or more round seeds as big as pease and very black so that one may well say they are rather Pease than Beans the root groweth not deep nor farre with some strings or long Fibres thereat dying yearly The Places and Times The first are set in Gardens and fields by the major part of the Gardâ—ners and are by them carried to the Market and sold for mans meat The second are sown generally through the Land by Husbandmen and used by them to give their horses and Hoggs which Mr. Parkinson affirmeth also of the third kind but I doubt he was mistaken for in all the Countries that I have been I never saw any of the Beanes which they sow for Horsemeat to have Claspers the other grow generally in Spain whence the seeds which we sow in our English Gardens are transported They flower in June and July and sometimes sooner in Gardens and are commonly ripe within a moneth or thereabouts after their flowering The Temperature The Garden Beans are with us more used for food then for Physick and being boyled whilest they are green and young they are no contemptibâ—e food for even the better sort of people feed upon them yet they are accounted windy The Field Beans are in many Countries used with a little Wheat and Rye to make Bread and Beer also being mixed with Malt and may be eaten green but then they are more windy then when they are dry and being dry they are harder of digestion though they be boyled parched or fryed Being green it is cold and moyst being dry it is cold and dry They are of a spongy and light substance which hath a scouring or cleansing faculty for it is plainly seen that the Meal of Beans cleanseth away the filth of the Skin The Vertues and Signature When the Paps are so filled and swollen through abundance of Milk that they are scarce able to hold make a Pultis of Bean-flower and Oyl or Vinegar or both and apply unto them and it will not only represse the Milk but also discuss the swelling of the Paps caused by the curdling thereof The distilled water of the Flowers is used of many to cleanse the Face and Skin and to take away both spots and wrinckles and so doth the Meal or Flowre of it and the water disâ—iâ—led from the green husks is held to be very effectuall against the Stone and to provoke Urine Bean Meal mixed with Fenugreek and Honey and applyed to Feâ—ons Biles blew marks by-blowes or bruises and Impostumes or Kernells about the Ears it helpeth them all With Rose Leaves Frankinsence and the white of an Egg it helpeth the Eys that swell or grow out if it be applyed as also the watering of them or stripes upon them if it be used with Wine If a Bean be parted in two the skin being taken away and then laid on the place where a Horse-Leech hath been set that bleedeth too much it stayeth the bleeding Bean-flowre boyled to a Pultis with Wine
The four first sorts are usuall in Gardens the fift was found upon Mount Baldus as also upon the Vaganean hills in Narbone the sixth was found in Spaine by Boel The Seaventh in Itady by Dr. Mera The Eight came from Virginia The Ninth from Yorkeshire The Tenth grows under Hedges and Bushes almost every where the last in the Corne fields and in such as ly Ley and in the borders of other fields The Violets Flower in February and March and after them the Pansies till the end of July The Temperature The Garden Violets and so likewise the Wild kinds are cold and moist whil'st they are fresh and green The Vertues The Flowers of Violets as well as those of Borage are reckoned to be cheife Cordiall Flowers and are much used in Cordiall drinks powders and other Medicines especially where cooling Cordialls as Roses and Saunders are used They are used to coole any heate or distemperature of the Body either inwardly or outwardly in the Inflammation of the Eyes in the Womb and Fundament when they are fallen down and are full of paine Imposthums also and hot Swellings to drinke the decoction of the Leaves of Flowers made with Water or Wine or to apply them pultis wise to the place that is grieved It likewise easeth paines in the Head which are caused through want of sleep A dram of the dryed Leaves of the Flowers of Violets doth purge the body of Cholericke humors and asswageth the heat being taken in a draught of Wine or other drink The pouder of the Leaves of the purple Flowers only pickt and dryed and drunk in powder with Water is said to help the Quinsie and the Falling sicknesse in Children especially in the beginning of the Disease The Flowers of the white Violets ripen and dissolve Swellings The seed being taken resisteth the poyson of the Scorpion The Herb or Flowers whil'st they are fresh or the Flowers when they are dry are effectuall in the Pleurisy and all other diseases of the Lungs to lenify the sharpnesse of hot Rheums and the hoarsenesse of the Throat the heat also of the Urine and the sharpnesse thereof and all paines of the back or reines or bladder They are good also for the Liver and the Jaundise and in all hot Agues helping to coole the heat and quench thirst But the Syrup of Violets is of most use and of better effect being taken in some convenient Liquor and if a little of the Juice or Syrup of Lemons be put to it or a few drops of the Oyle of Vitriall it is made thereby the more powerfull to coole the heat and to quench the thirst and besides the effect giveth to the drink both a Claret Wine colour and a pleasant tast Violets taken or made up with honey do more clense then coole and with Sugar contrarywise The Leaves of Violets are used in cooling Plaisters Oyls Cataplasms or Pultises and are of great efficacy among other Herbs as Mercury Mallowes c. to be put in Clysters CHAP. CXXII Of Straw-berries The Names THe whole Plant is called Fragraria and the Berries Fraga à fructus fragrantia odoris gustus for it hath no certain Greek name yet there are some which think it to be 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is Rubus Idaus because it hath no prickles which Opinion Fuchsius saith is not to be despised Others say that they called it 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 because of the â—ikeness of the fruit with that of the Tree-Strawberry Servius calleth them Mora terrestria Ground Mulberries because they are somewhat like those that grow on Trees The Kindes I have not yet met with any more then six sorts of Straw-berries 1. Red Straw-berries 2. White Straw-berries 3. Small Straw-berries with hard Leaves 4. Flat Straw-berries 5. Dwarf Straw-berries 6. Barren or unprofitable Straw-berries The Form I know not whether the Dwarf-Straw-berry be brought over in England yet I shall venter to give you so much of its Description as Parkinson hath set down choosing rather to give you the Description of a strange Plant then of the others which are so commonly known It hath very small triparted Leaves next the ground closer set together upon short foot-stalks then any other and those that are set on both sides of the long branch not above four inches long which lyeth creeping on the ground grow lesse and without stalk the Flower standeth at the end of the Branch many times but one at a place which consisteth of five round Leaves like a Straw-berry but larger then agreeth with the proportion of the Plant and is of a yellowish colour what fruit it beareth is not set down The Places and Time The two first grow in Gardens though 't is probable they were brought out of the Woods where they do most delight yet being set in a rich soyl they become far greater The three next grow upon divers of the Alps and other places of Germany The last is to be found in our own Land in most Woods and the Field sides near unto them in Cornwall as Lobel saith and in other places also They flower in May or thereabouts most commonly and are ripe in June but I have seen ripe Straw-berries after Michaelmas also The Temperature The Leaves of them are cooling in the first Degree and yet some say they are hot and drying in the second the Root is more drying and binding the Berries whâ—â—e they are green are cold and dry but when they are ripe they are coâ—d and moyst The Vertues and Signature The water of the Berries carefully distilled is a soveraign remedy and Cordiall in the paâ—pitations of the heart that is the panting and beating of the heart and is good for the over-flowing of the Gall which causeth the yeâ—â—ow Jaundise The Berries themselves are exâ—eâ—ent good to cool the Liver tâ—e Bâ—ood and Spleen or an hot choâ—eriâ—k sâ—omach to refresh and comfort the â—ainting Spirits and to quench thirst They are good also for other Inflammations yet it 〈…〉 veth one to be caâ—telous or rather to refrain them in a Feaver 〈◊〉 by theâ— putriâ—ying in the â—â—omaâ—h they increase the Fits and make them to be 〈…〉 ore fierâ—e The Leaves and Roots boyled in Wine and Water as drunk do likewiâ—e cooâ— the Liver and Blood and asswage al Inflammations in the Reins and Bladder provoketh Urine and allayeth the heat and sharpness thereof the same also beinâ— drunk stayeth the Bloody Flux and Womens Coâ—â—es and helpeth the swelâ—ings of the Spâ—een The Juyce dropped into foul Ulcers or they washed therewith or with the decoction of the Herb and Root doth wonderfully cleanse them and heâ—p to cure them All Lotions and Gargles that are made for sore mouths or Ulcers therein or in the privy parts or else-where are made with the Leaves and Roots heâ—eof which is good also to fasten loose Teeth and to heal spungy foul â—ums The same also helpeth to stay Catarrhs or Defluxions of Rheum into the Mouth Throat Teeth
or the powder thereof dryed is good for moist Ulcers and sores in the legs or other parts to dry them and thereby to cause them to heale the more speedily it is no lesse effectuall also in green wounds to be used upon any occasion Iack by the Hedge is eaten of many Country people as Sawce to their Salt-fish and helpeth well to digest the crudities and other corrupt humors that are engendered by the eating thereof it warmeth also the Stomack and causeth digestion The juyce thereof boyled with Honey is held to be as good as Hedge-Mustard for the Cough to help to cut and expectorate flegme that is tough and hard to rise The seed bruised and boyled in wine is a good remedy for the wind Collick or for the stone being drunk warm the same also given to women that are troubled with the mother both to drink and the seed put in a Cloth and applyed while it is warme is of singular good use The Leaves also or seed boyled is good to be put in glisters to ease the paines of the stone the green leaves are held to be good to heale the Ulcers of the Legs CHAP. CXXXII Of Burnet The Names IT is called in Greek 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or as Gesuer hath it 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 by Nicolaus Myrepsus besides whom there is not any Greek Author that is known to have mentioned it by that name Divers of good judgment do refer it to the Sideritis Secunda of Dioscorides Some call it in Latin Pimpinella Pampinula and Peponella from the likenesse of the scent with that of Cucumbers yet others referr these names to the Saxifrage kinds of Burnet which are â—â—belliferous plants It is called Sorbastrolla and Sang 〈…〉 aria also of divers but most usually Sanguisorba quod Sanguineos fluxus sistat because it stops fluxes of blood and it may be Bipinella or Bipenula because the leaves stand one against another like wings It is to be observed that Pimpinella Burnet and Pimpernell are different plants though some have Ignorantly taken them for the same The Kinds There are as I take it but Four of these sorts of Burnet 1. Common Burnet 2. The Ordinary great Burnet 3. Unsavory Burnet 4. Burnet of Canada or Great Burnet of America The Form The Ordinary Burnet groweth with many long winged Leaves Spread upon the ground which consist of divers small roundish Leaves green on the upper side and grayish underneath finely dented about the Edges set on each side of a middle ribe amongst which rise up crested brown stalkes a foot high or better with some smaller Leaves set in some places thereon devided into sundry branches and at the tops small round loose heads or knaps upon long foot-stalks of a brownish colour from whence start forth small purpâ—â—sh Flowers and after them cornered seed the root is small Long and Blackish-brown on the out side growing down deep into the ground with some fibres thereat the Herb hath a fine quick scent and tast The Places and Time The First groweth wild in most places of this Land in dry sandy ground but is usually preserved in gardens to be ready at hand when it shall need to be used The Second is to be found in divers Countries of this Land eâ—pecially in Huntingdon and Northamptonshires in the meadows there as also near London by Pancras Church in two or three fields nigh unto Boobies barn as also by a Causie side in the middle of a field by Paddâ—ngton The Third was found in Spain as Bauhinus saith The Last was brought from Canada which lyes as I take it on the North part of Virgâ—nia where it is naturall and is to be seen growing in the Phyâ—ick Gardens so often mentioned They all Flower about the end of June and the beginning of July and their seed is ripe in August The Temperature Both the greater and the Lesser Burnet are accounted to be of one property but the lesser because it is quicker and more aromaticall is more effectuall being both hot and dry in the second degree especially the lesser yet some say that it is cold in the second degree The Vertues Burnet is a friend to the Heart Liver and other principall parts of a mans body two or three of the stalks with Leaves put into a Cup of Wine especially French Wine as all know give a wonderfull fine relish to it and beâ—â—des is a great meanes to quicken the Spirits refresh the heart and make it merry driving away Melancholy It is a speciall help to defend the heart from noisom Vapours and from the infection of the Plague or Pestilence and all other contagious diseases for which purpose it is of great effect the juyce thereof being taken in some drink and the party either laid to sweat thereupon or wrapped and kept very warm It hath a drying and astringent quality also whereby it is available in all manner of fluxes of blood or humors to staunch bleeding either inward or outward Laskes or Scowrings the bloody flix womens too abundant Courses and the Whites also the cholerick belchings and castings of the stomack and is also a Singular good wound-herb for all sorts of wounds both of the head body either inward or outward for all old Ulcers or running Cancers and moist sores which are of hard curation to be used either by the juyce or the decoction of the Herb or by the powder of the Herb or Root or the water of the distilled Herb or else made into oile or ointment by it self or with other things to be kept the Seed also is no lesse effectuall both to stay fluxes and to dry up moist sores to be taken in powder inwardly in steeled Water or wine or the powder of the seed mixed with their Oyntments or injections CHAP. CXXXIII Of Avens The Names THis Herb is not found to be known of any Greek Writer and therefore the Greek name is not to be expected nor of the ancient Latines unlesse it be Geum of Plâ—ny as by good probability it seemeth It is generally called in Latine now a dayes Caryophyllata and Garyophyllata from the scent of the Root so near resembling Cloves which are called Caryâ—phylli yet some have called it Herba benedicta of the excellent or blessed quaâ—ities thereof and others Sanamunda from the like effects Tragus would have it called his Nardus agrestis not only for the sweet scent of the Roots but the Cordiall properties thereof In English Avens and Herb-Bennet The Kinds The former Age knew but two sorts of Avens but ours hath found out seaven at the least 1. Ordinary Avens 2. Mountain Avens 3. Small Mountain Avens 4. The other small Mountain Avens 5. Purple Mountain or Marsh Avens 6. Another Marsh Avens 7. Cinquefoile Avens The Forme Our ordinary Avens hath many long rough dark green winged Leaves rising from the Root every one made of many Leaves set on each sides of the middle Rib the three largest whereof grow
〈◊〉 Phyllitis quasi foliosa because it hath many long Leaves growing without any stalk which name is sometimes given it by the Latines but they call it also Lingua Cervina from the similitude it hath with an Hearts-Tongue which is the name that the English have taken up In former times the Apothecaries called it Scolopendrium but that error is now sufficiently manifested and left The Kinds The sorts of Harts-Tongue which I find mentioned by Authors are three 1. Ordinary Hearts-Tongue 2. Iagged Hearts-Tongue which is also called Finger Ferne and Finger Hearts-Tongue because the tops of the leaves thereof are divided into parts like unto the Fingers of a mans hand 3. Branched Hearts-Tongue according to Alphinus The Form Ordinary Hearts-Tongue hath divers Leaves rising from the Root every one severall which at their first springing up are crumpled and foâ—ded as Spleenwort and Fern are at theirs but after they have spread themselves to their full proportion they almost a foot long smoth and green above but hard or with little sap in them and straked on the back overthwart on both sides of the middle rib with small and somewhat long brownish marks the bottoms of the Leaves are a little bowed on each side of the middle rib somewhat narrow with the length and somewhat small at the end the root is of many black threds folded or interlaced together The Places and Time The first groweth in shadowy places and moist stony vallies in the Western parts and is much planted in Gardens in every Country by those that have delight in Physicall herbs The second groweth upon Ingleborough hills and divers other mountaines in the North of England It beareth no flower but is green all the year long bringing forth new Leaves in the Summer time The Temperature Hearts-Tongue is of a binding and drying faculty but whether it be hot or cold is set down by few and those disagree concerning it The Signature and Vertues Crollius writeth also that Hearts-Tongue hath the Signature of the Spleen as indeed it very manifestly hath being in Figure somewhat long as the Leafe of this herbe is Neither hath it this Signature for nothing for there is no Simple whatsoever that is more effectuall for all the Diseases of the Mâ—lt then this is for if it be loose or too much opened this bringeth it to its right temper and so likewise if it be swollen hard or stopped the decoction thereof in Wine being drunk and the herb it self after it is boyled laid to the greived place It is also commended against the hardnesse and stopping of the Liver and against the heat both of it and the Stomack It is very good likewise to stop lasks and the bloody Flix Spitting of blood the Termes and all other Fluxes Posset drink made of the Milk wherein it hath been boiled drunk warm or sodden in water till the Third part be boiled away and afterwards streined and one part thereof drunk with two parts of good white wine it expelleth the Stone and Gravell The like quantity of Hearts-Tongue Knot-grasse and Comfrey Roots being boiled in Water and a draught of the decoction drunk every morning and the Materialls which are taken out thereof applyed to the place is a notable remedy for such as are burst It is profitable also in the Jaundise Kings-Evill and against the bitting of Venemous beasts The herb or juyce applyed doth cleanse Wounds and Ulcers very wonderfully The distilled Water is commended by divers against the passion of the Heart to stay the Hicket to help the Falling of the Pallate and to stay the bleeding of the Gummes if the mouth be gargled therewith Mr. Culppeper commendeth the Syrupe thereof for strengthening the Liver which may be allowed of but the hardnesse of his beliefe as to the growing of it green all the year sheweth him to be one very little versed concerning the times of Plants and silly also in doubting of that which he himself saith Authors much more skillfull then himself do affirm CHAP. CCVI. Of Fern. The Names THe Male kind is called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Pteris and Pterion without any composition the Leavâ—s thereof being like unto the wings of birds Nicander calleth it 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 it is Filâ—x mas in Latine The Female is called in Greek 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Thelypteris and Nymphaapteris In Latin Fâ—lix Foemina in English Brake and Common Fern. There is a third kind which is called in Latin for it had no Greek name Osmunda Regalis of the Singular properties therein it hath other Latin names also as Filicastrum Filix florida or florescens Filix palustris or Aquaâ—â—ca c. It is called in English Osmund Ferne Osmundum the Waterman Osmund Royall and St. Christophers herb The Kinds Under the generall appellation of Fern are comprehended these seven sorts 1. The Common male Fern 2. The prickly male Fern 3. Sweet smelling Fern 4. Common Female Fern 5. Dented Female Fern 6. Sharp Female Fern 7. Osmund or Water Fern. The Forme The Common Male Fern sendeth forth divers hard rough unbranched stalkes of winged Leaves naked towards the bottom for a little space but afterwards hath many Leaves on each side up to the tops with one at the end not fully opposite each of them being deeply nicked on the Edges of a paâ—e green coulor hard and without sap broadest at the bottom and smallest towards the Top. It hath no flower yet Mr. Parkinson affirmes that it hath seed growing on the back side of the Leaves in the form of certain brownish small spots by the falling of which it is increased and so are all other sorts of Ferns and Capillary herbs whereby it appears that they were in an Error which held that it had no seed not knowing or at least not taking notice of the place in Genesis Chap. 11. 12. The root hereof is made of many thick black threads descending from a brown scaly thick head The Places and Time The first groweth on Heathes and open places of hills and sometimes in woods and shadowy places by the sides of fields more or lesse in every Country of this Land the second groweth in the like places also but very rarely the third in the Forrest of Savernake in Wiltshire The fourth groweth more frequently then the male on barren heaths and shady hedge-sides c. The fifth and sixth grow rather on moist rockes in the shaded hills the last groweth on bogs moors and watery places in severall Countries of this Land as on Hampsted heath and by an hedge-side in a medow on the left hand of the way that goes from St. Albans to Windridge c. The Leaves of all these sorts periâ—h commonly in the Winter but shoot up new from the root in the Spring which at their first rising are brownish and folded round The seed of the former six which groweth on the back
if you need there is no doubt but the druggist can furnish you with them They flower or carry their bushy tops in August with us except the fourth sort which giveth his tusted head in the end of July most commonly The Temperature The Roots of Cyperus are hot and dry in the second degree The Vertues The Rootes of Cyperus boiled in Wine and drunk for they are much more effectuall then the Leaves are very profitable for the Reines and Bladder for it provoketh Urine helpeth to break the Stone in the Bladder by the cutting quality that it hath yet without sharpnesse and bringeth down Womens Courses also The Rootes of Cyperus and Bay berries of each a like quantity beaten to Powder and made up with the Urine of a Boy under yeares and laid upon the belly or those that have the Droply doth help them very much and both of them boiled in Wine and drunk often while the other is used outwardly doth work more effectually It is good for the fretting paines and stranglâ—ngs of the Mother iâ— the parts be bathed with the decoction thereof or if the party sit over the sumes or in the decoction thereof The Powder thereof is an especiall Remedy for all Ulcers yea spreading and devouring Cancers that by their overmuch moisture hardly admit of any cure and by the astringent quality it hath it helpeth all sore Mouthes whatsoever Alpinus saith the Aegyptians do much use the powder of the Roots and ashes of them to cure the Ulcers both of the mouth and secret parts and to drink the decoction of them to comfort and warm the Stomack braine Lungs Sinews arteries and the womb of those that are distempered though cold or moisture or both being taken sometime together for it warmeth and strengtheneth the naturall vigor of the Spirits and is therefore comfortable to those that by long sicknesse are much spent in the health of their bodies It helpeth and strengtheneth digestion pocureth warmth to the blood and a good colour to the face it helpeth those that have strong or stinking breaths the said decoction being made in Wine and drunk The long sweet â—perus is not altogether so effectuall as the former yet may be used for it the quantity being increased when the other cannot be gotten but the chief use of it is to make sweet powders and perfumes for Garments Gloves c. to perfume Chambers also being burnt with Cloves and Bayleaves The Rush Nuts called Trasi which are cryed up and down the Streets in Spain as Orenges and Lemmons are in England are for the most part spent in Junkets rather then used Physically yet they are found to be good both for the paines of the breast and sides if a Cream be made thereof and drunk and therefore are very profitable for those that have a Cough to help to expectorate the Phlegme the same also drunk mitigateth the heat of Urine and allayeth the sharpnesse thereof and being taken with the broth of fat flesh it furthereth Venereous astions The decoction thereof hot steel being also quenched in it helps the Dysentery or flux CHAP. CCXX Of Hops The Names IT is called in Greek 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Bryon and Bryonia by the modern writers because the Leaves and running branches are somewhat like Briony for by Antients it is not remembred which is somewhat strange seeing it is a plant so usefull It is called in Latin Lupulus and Lupulus Salictarius and reptitius quia salit reptat per arbores vel quia scandit salices because it climbs upon Sallows and other trees which name is used by all our modern writers except Lobel who calls it Vitis Septentrionalium the vine of the Northern Regions because they put Hops in their drink The Kinds The Sorts of Hops may quickly be reckoned up for they be but two 1. The manured Hop 2. The wild Hop The Form The manured Hop riseth up at the first with divers great brown heads like unto Asparagus but larger which afterwards spread into rough Branches and climb upon great high poles that are set for them to run on having many hard and rough dark green Leaves on them cut into three or five divisions somewhat like unto â—ramble Leaves and dented likewise about the Edges At the tops of the Branches which hang down again for the most part come forth many scaly heads being as it were a small number of yellowish green Leaves growing tâ—ick together from among which come forth the Flowers of a whitish yellow colour which being past and the heads changing their colour to be somewhat whitish yellow they are then fit to be gathered to keep and then there is a small round seed found there in the root is great at the head shooting forth many blackish strings which take fast hold of the ground The Scaly heads which are put in beer are of strong smell by which the goodnesse of them may be discerned The Places and Times The first groweth in Flanders and divers other places besides whence the beads are brought into England and sold but they are no wayes comparable to those which grow with us in great plenty also in divers places but especially in Kent and Essex where there be men of good worth whose estates consist in Hop-grounds They delight in low moist grounds where they may have moisture enough yet they will not endure overmuch and therefore they are planted upon hillocks to preserve them from drowning The second groweth amongst bryâ—rs and thornes in hedge-rowes and other places in most Countries of this Land of its own accord and it is supposed to be the same with the former but onely that the ordering and manuring of that makes it larger They Spring not up untill Aprill and flower not untill the latter end of June yet the heads are fit to be gathered about the end of September The Temperature The Heads which are most commonly called Hops are hot and dry in the second degree and so are the Leaves also both of them being of an opening and cleansing faculty The Vertues The decoction of the tops of Hops as well of the wild as the manured is very powerfull to cleanse the Reines from Gravell and to provoke Urine which likewise openeth the obstructions of the Liver and Spleene cleanseth the Blood and looseneth the belly The roots also work the same effect but they are hotter and not so moist as the former As they cleanse the blood so consequently they help to cure all manner of Scabs Itch and other breakings out in the body as also all other Tetters Ring-worms or spreading sores the Morphew and all other dis 〈…〉 urings of the Skin The decoction of the Flowers and Tops are given with good successe to those that have drunk any deadly poyson the same being put in baths for women to sit in taketh away the swellings and hardnesse of the Mother and is good for those that can very hardly make their
because I find not any Greek or Latin Author that treates of it being unknown to all the transmarine Doctors before Lobel came to us who called it Percepier Anglorum which first word Percepier is derived from Percepierre signifying in French as much as Lâ—thon-tribon in Greek Saxifraga Petrifindula an obsolete word and Câ—lculum frangens in Latine which is Pierce-stone or Break-stone in English and Anglorum is added because it is thought to be peculiar to our Country Some call it Parsley-Pert and deâ—ive it from Pâ—tra but it is more properly Parsly Break-stone becauâ—e of its eminent â—aculties to that purpose Though there be but one sort hereof which might have been placed amongst the other Knot-grasse whereof it is a kind yet because it is somwhat different and is peculiar to our Country I have given it a Chapter by it selfe The Form Break-stone Parsly groweth with many Leaves spread upon the ground each standing upon a small long foot-stalke and being as broad as the naiâ—e of a mans finger or thumb very much jagged on the edges which maketh it to seeme somewhat like unto a Parsly leafe whereof came the name but of an overworn or dusky greene colour from amongst which there rise up weake and slender stalkeâ— about two or three fingers long set full of the like Leaves but smaller up to the tops that almost no part of the stalke can be seene amongst these Leaves come forth very small greenish yellow flowers scarce to be discerned where afterwards groweth the seed as small as that of the Knot-grasse The root is very small and threddy abiding divers yeares if it grow in a place that is liketh The Places and Time Parsly-pert groweth in those fields that are plowed up for Corne both at the same time with the Corne and also when they are fallow in most Countryes of this Land that ever I came into though Gerard and Parkinson make as if it were a Plant growing in few places It is to be found all the Spring Summer and Harvest even from April to the end of October yet it must be in severall places for that which groweth in the open and Sunny places will flourish first but that which is shadowed will continue longest The Temperature It is as I conceive of the same Temperature with Knot-grasse The Vertues Parsly Break-stone hath not its name for nothing for it is found to be a singular remedy to provoke Urine when it is stopped wholly or passeth away by drops with paine or unsensibly without pain expelleth store of Gravel in those that breed it and the stone also in the Reines or Kidneyes in washing it down by the abundant passage of the Urine and helpeth also to expell it out of the Bladder if it be not grown too great for the passages and if it be it is very probable that the abundance of Urine brought down into the Bladder by the Vertue of it even whilst it abideth there will work so much upon the stone therein confirmed and grown great that it will wast by degrees by causing it to be avoided in Gravell with the Urine And that it may performe these operations with the better successe you may take of the juice of the herb about three Ounces and mix it with so much White Wine as is fit to make a Posset the drink whereof taken in a pretty quantity morning and evening to which you may if you please adde Mother of time and some Camomile which is a good way Or you may boile the Herbs aforesaid in Wine or if that cannot be had in Water and drink it but I hope you will have the wit to streine it first The powder also of the dryed herb to the quantity of a dramme or lesse in White-Wine or in other drink where Wine is wanting taken first and last for divers dayes and the distilled Water drunk with a little Sugar in the same manner worketh the forementioned effects and so doth this Composition which came originally from a poore Country man who with good successe ministred it to divers sorts of people Take of the dryed herb of Parsly-pert and Mous-eare Bay-berries Turmarick and Cloves the seed of the Burdock the seed of Hep or the Bryar berries and the seeds of Fenugreek of each one Ounce of the Stone in an Oxes Gall twenty foure graines weight let all these be beaten into fine Powder and kept in a dry box or pot to use upon occasion whereof the quantity to be taken at a time is from halfe a dram to a dram as the age and necessity of the patient shall require There be divers who conceiving themselves inclined to the stone eat it familiarly as a Sallet Herb and pickle it up also like Sampire to eat in Winter when the greene herb cannot be gotten CHAP. CCXXIII. Of Saxifrage The Names IT is called in Latine Saxifraga or Saxifragia for to the Greek Writers it was altogether unknown as farre as we can gather they having left no name for it from its efficacy in breaking the Stone in England Saxifrage and Breakstone So much for the names in generall 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 there being 〈◊〉 that do it also though not so effectually I shall speak of them more particularly in the kindes The Kinds Because the best Saxifrage that is growes in England I shall trouble you with no forreine sorts we having nine or ten sorts of our own which for their Vertues not for their formes I shall put together 1. English Saxifrage so called because it groweth more plentifully in England then in any other Country 2. Mr. Goodrers Marsh-Saxifrage so called because he first discovered it in a marshy place 3. Lobels west-West-Country Saxifrage because Lâ—bâ—l found it in the Westerne parts of this Land 4. White Saxifrage so called from the colour of the flowers to distinguish it from the former 5. Golden Saxifrage from the Golden colour of the Leaves 6. The greater Burnet Saxifrage so called because it hath Leaves somwhat like Burner 7. The middle Burnet Saxifrage 8. The lesser Burnet Saxifrage 9. Saxâ—frage with Chickweed Leaves The Forme English Saxifrage White Saxifrage Golden Saxifrage and burnet Saxifrage be of so different Formes that it will be necessary that I describe them one aâ—ter another English or Medow Saxifrage which is known to divers by the name of Medow Parsly groweth with many very green winged Leaves somwhat like unto those of Fenneâ— but thicker and broader so like unto Medow Hart-wort of Mompelier that it made Parkinson joyne it next thereunto from amongst the said Leaves riâ—e up divers creâ—ed stalkes of a Cubit high having thereupon divers smaller stalkes of winged Leaves also finely cut but somwhat harsh to the feeling and bearing at the top spoky rundells or umbells beâ—et with white flowers tending a little to yellow which give place unto seeds like unto the Common Fennell â—eed both for forme and greatnesse but of a browner colour and small tast The root is thick black without
a fortnight being afterwards beaten in a Morter it will become thick and clammy so that the filthinesse being cleared therefrom by often washing and a little Oyle of Nutts added thereto it will be as good as that which is made of Misseltoe and being applyed with the yolke of an Egge to any place that hath any thorn prick or Splinter therein it draweth it forth but it is dangerous to be used inwardly lest it should glew the Guts together by its extraordinary clamminesse The lesser branches may be used to adorne Houses and Churches also at Christmas as well in this as in the former age without any superstition at all these that are of a bigger and longer size are very necessary for Carters to make Whips and the same may be used as Riding-rods as is known to every one But that which may seeme a little strange is this One that I knew had a Holly-Tree growing in his Orchard of that bignesse that being cut down he caused it to be sawed out in Boards and made himselfe thereof a Coffin and if I mistake not left enough to make his wife one also Both the parties were very corpulent and therefore you may imagine the Tree could not be small CHAP. CCXLIIII Of Juniper The Names IT is called in Greek 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Arceuthos or Arceuthis 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 id est 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 saith the Etymoâ—ogist quia celet noxam but then sureâ—y it must be by Antiphrasts for certainly there is no plant that hath more apparent Pâ—ickles then it It is called in Latine Juniperus quod juniores novellos fructus pariat because it bringeth forth new fruit before the old be ripe which will not be perfected in lesse then two yeares â—pace Some would have it come from 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Ignis either because of the Pyramicall forme of the Leafe or because as some say the Wood being kindled and raked up in Ashes will keepe fire a yeare that the Coals thereof are very hot may be gathered from the fifth verse of Psalme 120 where a question being made VVhat should be the reward of a false Tongue The Answer is Sharpe Arrowes of the mighty with Coales of Juniper intimating them to be the hottest of all Coales The Berries as well as the Tree are called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in Greek and somtimes 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Arceuthides In Latine Bacca Juniperi and Grana Juniperi and the Gum that issueth out of the wounded roots is calâ—ed Vernix or Vernia quasi veris ros because it is most plentifull in the Spring it is called also Lachryma Juniper and Sandaracha yet there is another kind of Sandaracha which is taken out of Mines and is a kind of Orpment The Kinds I think I should not trangresse if I should make six sorts of Juniper 1. The Common Juniper 2. The low or Mountaine Juniper 3. The great Sclavonian Juniper 4. West Indian Juniper 5. Barren Juniper 6. Creeping Juniper The Forme Juniper in some places riseth up to be a Tree yet in most parts of our Country it seldome exceedeth the height of two or three foot but spreading it selfe neere the ground the branches come to be of some substance which are easyer to bend then to break being covered with a reddish bark which often cleaveth and falleth away but the Leaves which are very small and long of a blewish greene colour somewhat like to those of Furse yet not so large nor so prickly do constantly endure The flowers are very small yet may be perceived to be of a yellow colour by the dust that falleth from them after which come small greene Berries not ripening fully till the second yeare which then will be somwhat like a Pepper-Corne Though the Juniper Tree in hotter Countries send forth the forementioned Gum yet our shrubs are not found to have any as farre as I can understand The Places and Time The first groweth in Germany Italy Spaine and in some places of Kent also in the forme of a Tree but in most places of our Land as by Beechen-Tree in Oxfordshire in the high waies about Amersham Stoken Church and Beaconsfeild in Buckinghamshire it exceedeth not the dimensions above specified It groweth also in many other places as upon Finchly Common without High-Gate the second groweth on the Rocks and Stony places of the Alpes as Clusius saith the third on Mount Taurus in Syria as Bellonius the place of the fourth may be understood by its name the fift groweth in sundry parts of this Land the sixth upon the Rocks neere Kilmadough They flower commonly in the Spring about May but the fift bringeth only yellowish threds for flowers without any berries succeeding the rest perfect them after two Summers and one Winter and not before as I have already said The Temperature Galen saith that Juniper is hot and dry and that in the third degree the Berries are as hot but not altogether so dry the Gum is hot and dry in the first degree as Scrapio saith The Vertues and Signature The fruit or berries of Juniper being boyled in Wine or Honeyed Water and drunk is an effectuall remedy for the Gripâ—ng and VVindinesse of the belly commonly called the VVind Chollick but especially the Chimicall Oyle drawn from the berries or the Wood foure or five drops thereof taken in a Morning in Broth or Beere and ten or a dozen of the ripe berries eaten every Morning fasting are good for the same purpose and the same Oyles be very prevalent against the Iliack passion if the parts be anointed therewith The Leaves and young tender branches or the juice of them or of the berries or the berries themselves taken in Wine are very effectuall against the biting of Vipers or Adders as also against the Plague or Pestilence or any other Infection or Poyson the same also is profitable against the Strangury and Stopping of Urine and is so powerfull against the Dropsy that the very Lye of the Ashes of Juniper being drunk cures the disease It provokes the Termes helps the Fits of the Mother and strengthens the Stomack exceedingly The berries are good for the Cough shortnesse of breath and Consumption Ruptures also Convulsions and Cramps They give safe and speedy delivery to VVomen with Child they strengthen the Braine help the Memory exceedingly and fortify the Sight by strengthening the Optick Nerves and are beneficiall to the other Senses as also to the Heart being drunk in Wine or the decoction of them in Wine taken and so they are excellent good for all sorts of Agues especially the Quartane they help the Gout and Sciatica and strengthen all the Limbes of the Body they break the Stone also procure Appetite being lost and are excellent good for the Palsey and likewise for the Falling sicknesse The Gum is used to stay cold Distillations and Catarrhes that fall upon the Eyes and Lungs the Head and Night-cap being fumigated therewith or the said Powder strewed upon Flax
Scabs if the places affected be often rubbed therewith Pure Oyle that is heated in an Apple of Coloquinda after the seeds are taken out being dropped into the Eares taketh away the paine and noise and killeth the Wormes in them And is said to make the hair black which was not so before and to keep it from falling as also from growing ray A Bath made of Coloquintida and the feet and other parts fomented bringeth down the Courses in Women The juyce boiled with hogs-grease and applyed to the Hip-Gout easeth the Sciatica The Dose in powder is from five graines to ten or fifteen but it is more safe to take it for all the purposes aforesaid in a Glister made after this manner Take of the Pulp of Coloquintida two drams Camomile flowers an handfull Anniseed Cumminseed of each halfe an Ounce make hereof a decoction in faire Water and in a pint of it being strained dissolve Honey of Roses and Oyle of Camomile of each three or foure Ounces Now if any one should aske how can a Glyster purge the whole Body I answer that the Glyster moistning the whole Colon doth by the twigs of the Arteries draw noisome humours from the whole Trunk The seeds will kill Ratts and Mice who delight to feed upon them and the decoction with Wormewood sprinkled in a House that is troubled with Fleaâ— doth utterly destroy them CHAP. CLXVII Of Bind-weed The Names IT is called in Greek 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to distinguish it from the Kidney-Beans which is called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Smilax hortensis In Latine also Smilax levis from a Maid of that name who pining away for the love of Crocus was turned into this flower according to that verse of Ovid and he into Saffron Et Crocum in parves versum cum Smilace flores It is called also Convâ—lvalâ—s and Volubilis quia crebrâ revolutione vicinos fructices et herbas impliceâ— because it rouleth or windeth it selfe about whatsoever is next it and for the same reason it is called Funis arborum but Campanella is given to it because it hath a flower like a little Bell. There is one cheife sort hereof called of some Campana Laxâ—ra or Campana caruleâ— of others Convolvulus Caeruleus Major five Indicus and Flâ—s Noctis because its cheifest beauty is in the Evening Night and Morning of some Nil Avâ—eeunae another is called in Greek 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Helxine Cissampelos ab 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 trahere vel harere and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 quasi Vitâ—alis five Hedera Vitiâ—ea because this Helxine should be known from Pellitory called also Helxine this most commonly growing in Vineyards creeping up upon the Vines with a Leafe like lvy it is called also Malacocissos quasi mollis hedera Orobanche Ervania Convolvulus niger c In English Bindweed With-wind and of some Divelsgut The Kinds To this smooth kind of Bindweed which is here to be understood for of the Prickly kind we shall treat elsewhere there may be referred these fifteene sorts 1. The greater blew Bind-weed or Bell-flower 2. The greater purple Bindweed with cornered Leaves 3. The American Bind-weed 4. The Arabian oâ— Egyptian Bind-weed 5. The blew Bell flower of Virginia 6. Mallow leased Bind-weed 7. The common small Bind-weed 8. Lavander leafed Bind-weed 9. Small purple Bind-weed 10. The African Bind-weed 11. The least African Bind-weed 12. The blew Spanish Bindweed 13. Black Bindweed 14. Branched black Bind-weed of Candy 15. Small black Bindweed The Form The greater blew Bind-weed or Bell flower though but a Weed as the name imports is taken into Gardens for the goodlynesse thereof where it riseth with many long and winding branches climbing and winding it selfe contrary to the course of the Sun upon any thing of substance that is neer it It hath many great faire round Leaves pointed at the end somewhat like a Violet Leafe in shape but much greater of a sad greene colour the flowers which come forth at the joynts of the branches where the Leaves are â—et on pretty long footstalkes two or three together are at first long somwhat like a finger and of a paâ—e whitish blew colour but afterwards they become broad like Bells of a deepe a â—ure tending to purple very gâ—orioâ—s to behold the flowers being past the stalkes whereon they stood bend downwards sending foâ—th husks with three or four black seeds a peece of the bignesse of a Tare or thereabouts the rootes are sâ—â—ingy and perish every where at the first approach of Winter The Places and Times Though the two first came to us out of Italy yet they are conceived to be naturall only to the East Indies The name of the third teâ—â—ifieth whence it came and so doth those of the fourth fift tenth eleaventh twelveth and fourteenth the sixth is found in many places of Spaine the seaventh and ninth in sundry Countryes of this Land as the eighth likewise is about Dunmow in Essex the thirteenth is that which is too common in every field and garden and the last groweth about Drayton neere Portsmouth They flower towards the latter end of Summer especially the greater sorts and therefore their seed is seldome perfected with us The Temperature The Bind-weeds are most of them hot and dry in the first or second degree The Signature and Vertues The most renowned Crollius in his Book of Signatures recordeth that Bind-weed or With-wind growing in the Corne by its turning and winding doth very much resemble the turnings and windings of the Guts and that therefore the dâ—coction thereof made in White Wine is a very singular remedy for those that are afflicted with the Collick purging and voiding sorth raw thick Phlegmatick and Melancholick humours and killing and driving sorth both flat and long Wormes out of the Belly yet not without some trouble to the Stomack which somtimes causeth Vomitings The Mallow Leafed Bind-weed as Clusius saith is used in Portugal as an herb of singular effect to heale all sores or wounds The Leaves of the black Bind-weed called Helxine Cissampelos stamped and streined and the juice drunken doth also loosen and open the belly exceedingly and so do the Leaves and Herb in Powder if it be drunk in Wine or any other Liquor The Leaves being bruised and laid to hard tumors and Knots in the Flesh dissolveth and consumeth them as Galen saith It is said likewise that if those places which you would have to be void of Haire be anointed with the juice hereof presently after the Haire is plucked up by the Rootes it will not suffer it to grow there any more Some of the greater sorts as also that with Leaves like Lavander where they naturally grow are rather a Plague then a pleasure to whatsoever groweth with it in the feildes yet the beauty of their flowers hath caused them to be received into Gardens where they are very delightfull to the Eyes of those which love to feast themselves even with the varieties of those things which the
excellent expedient to kill and expell Wormes out of the Stomacks and Bellies both of children and elder persons also but the seed is accounted of greatest force notwithstanding when that cannot be had the herb may be used as aforesaid Matthiolus saith that half a dram of Lavender Cotten taken in a little of the distilled Water of Fetherfew every morning fasting for ten days together at the least is a very profitable Medicine for Women that are troubled with the Whites to stay them The Leaves drunk with Wine seven dayes helpeth the yellow Jaundise the obstructions of the Liver and Kidneys and is good against the Sciatica It is a good medicine against the poysons of all Serpents and venemous Beasts being taken in the manner aforesaid and being only strewed or burnt in such places as are frequented with Vermine it driveth them away with the smell thereof and therefore it is not altogether inconvenient to set it in Flower-pots amongst other things Clusius saith that in Spaine about Salamanca they use the decoction of the Spanish kindes to take away the Itch and Scabs in whomsoever have them and he adviseth that Caution be used in giving it yet I suppose it is rather to be bathed with then taken inwardly But it is used more frequently with us to be put amongst other hot Herbs either in Bathes Oyntments or other Medicines to help those that are bursten or troubled with Cramps or Convulsions of Sinews to provoke Urine and bring down womens courses and generally it worketh the same effects and may be applyed to all the diseases that Southernwood is appropriated and therefore I shall referre you to it to be further informed concerning its Vertues lest I justly seeme to be Tautologicall But there is an use wherein this exceeds that of Southernwood and that is to make Knots Trailes and other Compartiments in the Gardens of Noble Personages for besides its gentle aspect it abideth green all the Winter and will with cutting be kept in as even proportion as any other herb may be yet it must be removed every third year that is taken up and set again otherwise it will grow stubbed and dry CHAP. CCLI Of Carrots and Parsneps The Names IT will not be amisse to joyne these two sorts in one Chapter as I suppose because they are so agreeable in their Names Natures and Vertues The first is called in Greek 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and so may the second for it is as probable that the derivation thereof commeth from 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the stalk of Briony the Roots of each growing after the same manner as that it should come from 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Grape to whose purplish colour when it is almost ripe one only sort hereof is resembled and therefore Dodonaeus and Fuscbius say that some in their time called them both Stapbylinus And so in Latine the word Pastinaca which cometh a Pascendâ— quia corpus alat doth agree with the one as well as the other for they are both nourishing yet differ in this because the Root of one is reddish and the other is white the one hath narrow Leaves and the other broad and therefore they are commonly divided into tenui folia latifolia Of that with narrow Leaves there is a wild sort called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in Greek and Daucus Daucum Daucium in Latine and Dauke in English to distinguish it from another sort of wild Carrots which is properly so called of all which I shall say somewhat in this Chapter The Kindes Though there be many sorts of Carrots and more of Dauke yet I shall onely mention five sorts of the first one of the second and two of the Parsnep which are eight in all 1 Common yellow Carrots 2 Wild Carrots 3 Wild Carrots of Naples 4 Prickly wild Carrots of Naples 5 Wild Carrots with hairy Stalkes 6 The true Dauke of Candy 7 Garden Parsnep 8 Wild Parsnep The Forme The wild Carrot which is of more use in Physick though lesse knowne then the Common sort groweth in a manner like that of the Garden but that the Leaves are whiter and rougher as the Stalkes likewise are which beare large spoky tufts of white flowers with a deep purple spot in the middle which are contracted together when the seed beginneth to grow ripe so that the middle part being hollow and low and the outward stalks rising high maketh the whole Umbel to shew like a birds nest The Root is small long and hard being also somewhat sharp and strong and therefore unfit for Meat The Places and Time The first is that which is sowne by the Gardiners in every Country in Gardens or Fields chosen out for the purpose whose soile must be loose and well manured if not new broken up The second groweth in most places of this Land as well in Pastures as by sides of fields and untilled places The third and fourth in Naples The fifth in Germany The sixth in Candy The seventh is nursed up in Gardens The last groweth in the Marshes by Rochester The first are sowen in April or sooner and will be ready for the pot about Iuly or August never seeding the first year if they be good but the seconâ— All the rest do flower and seed about the end of Summer except the Garâ—â— Parsnep whose seed is ripe about the beginning of August the second year after its sowing for if they seed the first year they are good for nothing and are called Mad Neepes by the Countrey people The Temperature The Roots of Carrots and Parsneps are temperatly hot and somewhat moist but the seeds are hot and dry almost in the third degree The Vertues The seed of every one of the before mentioned sorts are very carminative that is powerfull to expell wind and therefore they are very effectuall to ease the torments and gripings of the Belly and to cure the Collick but especially that of the true Dauke of Candy next the wild Carrots and if neither of them can be gotten the seeds of either of the other Carden sorts may be used in steed thereof either in Powder or in Decoction The seed of the true Dâ—â—cus is likewise very usefull to help the Strangury to provoke Urine and Womens courses to expell the Dead birth and to help the strangling of the Mother and remove those stitches that afflict the sides Both it and the Roots powdered drunk in Wine are very profitable for those that have receiv'd any grief or hurt by any venemous Beast whatsoever as also to resist any other venome or poyson and the Pestilence The same also put into Pultises doth ease tumours and swellings in any part and being mixed with honey it helpeth old and inveterate Coughes The seed of the wild Carrot is commended for all the purposes aforesaid as also for helping to break and expell the Stone in the Kidneys to cure the Dropsey and those whose Bellies are swollen with Wind it provoketh venery and helpeth conception The
them if the powder of the dryed leaves be cast thereon The juyce of the leaves hath the same effects whether it be taken out of the fresh Leaves or from the dry by sprinkling them over with Red Wine and is safely used where there is need of any binding Medicine either to heal the Ulcers of the Mouth or of the privy parts the same also helpeth watering eyes or those that begin to loose their eye-sight by reason of any filme or skin growing over it especially if it be laid on with parched Barly Meal The decoction of the Berries maketh the hair black and keepeth it from falling it cureth all the evill sores of the head and cleanseth the same from scurfe and scals being often washed therewith and helpeth them that are bursten The Syrupe of Myrtls is good for the Cough and exulceration of the Lungs The powder of the dryed Leaves helpeth the stinking sweat of the flanks and arme-pits and the sweating of the Cardiack passion The juyce condensate of Myrtles is also commended as a good substitute for Acacia The excrescence called Myrâ—â—danum is of greater force to dry and bind then either leafe juyce or seed CHAP. CCLIX Of Cistus The Names IT is called in Greek 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Cistus Cistbus also in Latine as if there were no pâ—re Latine Word to expresse it yet some call it Rosa Sylvarica but we in English call it Cistus The undergrowth or excrescence of the Cistus whereof I mean to intreat of also in this Chapter is called in Greek 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and Hypocistis is the Latine Name both for the Plant and the juyce drawn from it The Kindes It is not mine intention to muster up the whole family of the Cistus's which is very numerous but only to name such as may be most for the edification of my Country-men Let them therefore know that there be hereof two principal sorts 1 That which beareth the sweet Gum Ladonum and is called Cistus Ledon 2 That which beareth no Gum. That which beareth no Guâ— is divided into the Male and Female To this kind may also be referred 1 Common Dwarfe Cistus or little Sun-flower 2 White Dwarfe Cistus or little Sun-flower at every one of which I shall touch in this generall Description The Formâ— Both the Gum Cistus and the other kinds are woody shrâ—bs full of branches of three or four foot some have long and narrow Leaves as the Cistus Lâ—don others broader rough uneven wrinckled somewhat downy and almost like the Leaves of Sage as the Male Holly Rose The flowers grow at the tops of the branches like unto the wild Rose yet such as very quickly fade perish and fall away In their places come up little heads or knops somewhat round in which is contained small seed the Roots of them all are woody There groweth up sometimes under the Cistus where it is naturall a certain Excrescence with divers upright stalks covered with small Leaves thick set thereon scarce a foot high having many flowers at the tops full of juyce in fashion like unto the Nossel of a wooden Candlestick which passe away leaving seed as small as dust in the hard heads or seed Vessels which is unable to produce the like Plant. The Dwarfe Cistus sendeth forth sundry weak and small branches yet hard and almost woody lying for the most part upon the ground round about the Head of the Root whereon are set by couples many small and somewhat long Leaves a little soft or hairy with other small Leaves also growing between them at the tops whereof stand three or four flowers composed of five round pointed Leaves a peece with some threds in the middle of a pretty scent in some places but of little or none in others after which cometh the seed which is small and contained in small round heads it hath a hard woody brownish Root growing in time to be somewhat great but not very long and divided into small branches at the lower end The Places and Time The first which is the Gum Cisâ—us groweth naturally in Italy France Spain and other hot Countrys and so do the second which is the Male Holly Rose growing also in the Physick Garden at Oxon and the third which is called the Female The two last grow in divers places of this Land as in Stew Woâ—d neer Oxon and in divers of the parts thereabouts as also in Kent yet that with the White-flower is very rare They all flower in the Summer some earlier then other by a Month most whereof are so soon fading that their flowers endure but a day or two perfecting their seed quickly after The Temperature The Ladanum that is gathered from the Leaves of the Gum Cistus is hot in the later end of the first degree having also a little astrictive or binding quality It is likewise of a thin substance and therefore it softneth and with all doth moderatly digest and also concoct as Galen saith The Cistus's without Gum do dry almost in the second degree and yet are of a temperate heat Hypocistis is much more binding then any other part of any Cistus The Dwarfe Cistus's are also drying and binding The Vertues That which I especially aime at in this Chapter is the Hypocistis whose condensate juyce is a most certain safe and sure Medicine to stay all flâ—xes of blood or humours that is to say the Lask and bloody-flux spitting of blood and Womens extraordinary courses and therefore do I speak of it first It is also mixed with those things that are applyed to the Stomack to stay vomitings and to strengthen it when it is grown weak as also with those things that strengthen the Liver to be used inwardly or outwardly It is also available for clammy moist humours that fall upon the joynts or sinews thereby causing a weaknesse and solution of the Nerves Being used inwardly for the Piles it doth wonderfully help for it dryeth bindeth and corroborateth the parts It is also put into great Antidotes against Poyson and the Pestilence not for any property it hath to resist the venome but to contemperate and strengthen the Body This is also a very good substitute for Acatia Ledonum also drunk with old Wine stayeth the Lask or Flux of the Belly and easeth the griping pains thereof proceeding from sharp and Chollerick humours and is very good for all sowre belchings and provoketh Urine It is very effectuall for the hardnesse and other diseases of the Mother to ease the pains thereof and to heal those Ulcers that happen therein by taking of the fume thereof underneath or applying the substance thereof in a Pessary Being made up with Storax and honey in a Lohock or Electuary it is very profitable for the cough of the Lungs though it hath been of long continuance If it be used in an Oyntment with Myrrhe oyl of Myrtles and Wine it stayeth the falling of the hair It helpeth also the pains in the eares
English Solomons-seale from the ordinary Latine name and sometime White-wort or White 〈…〉 The Kindes The sorts of Solomons-seale that I finde mentioned by Authors are twelve 1. Common Solomons-seal 2. Great Solomons-seal 3. The great-flowred Solomons-seal 4. The greatest leased Solomons seal 5. Small Solomons-seale 6. Broad-leafed branched Solomons-seal 7. Solomons-seal of Virginia 8. Clâ—â—ter-like Solomons-seal of America 9. Solomons-seal of Brasil 10. The greater and lesser thorough-leafed yellow Solomons-Seal of America 11. Narrow-leafed Solomons-seal 12. Branched small Solomons-seal The Forme The Common Solomons-seale groweth with a round Stalk about half a yard high bowing or bending down the top set with single Leaves one above another which are somewhat large and like unto the Leaves of the May Lilly of a blewish green colour with some ribs therein and a little yellowish underneath it hath at the foot of every Leaf almost from the bottom small long white and yellow pendulous flowers like unto those of the May Lilly also but ending in five longer points for the most part two together at the end of a small foot-stalk standing all on one side the Stalk under the Leaves which being past there appâ—ar round berries green at first but afterwards of a blackish green tending to blewness wherein lyeth small white hard stony Seed The Root is white and thick full of knobs or joynts which in some places resemble the mark of a Seal the taste thereof is at first sweet but afterwards bitter and somewhat sharp The Places and Time The first groweth in divers places of this Land as in a Wood two miles from Canterbury by Fish-poole Hill as also between Newington and Sittingburne in Kent in Surrey about Horsely in Wiltshire about Alderbury in Hamâ—shire about Odiam c. The rest are not found in England unlesse it be in the Gardens of the most ingenuous Herbalists The Flowers of the common sort are ripe in May and they seed in September The Temperature The roots of Solomons-seale which are most in use are hot and dry containing in them a certain kind of astriction or binding and biting withall The Signature and Vertues The Roots of Solomons-seale doe by the Impresse that is set upon them signifie the wonderful vertue they have in sealing or closing up the Rim of the Belly when it is so bursten that the great Guts fall down into the Cods if the Decoction in Wine or the Powder in Broth or Drink be taken inwardly and outwardly applyed to the place It is also very available in all other Hurts Wounds or outward Sores to heal and close up the lips of those that are green and to dry up and restrain the Flux of Humours into those that are old It is singular good to stay Vomitings and also Bleedings wheresoever as also all Fluxes in Man or Woman whether they be the Running of the Reins in Men or the Whites or Reds in Women The people of divers Countreys of this Land have found by late experience that it is incomparably good to knit and joyn broken bones in any part of the Body even in those which by any weaknesse use to be often out of place or will not stay in long when they are set the Roots being bruised and applyed to the place but the Decoction of the Root in Wine or the bruised Root put in Wine or other Drink and after a nights infusion strained forth hard and drunk soddereth and gleweth together broken Bones very speedily and strangely though the Bones be but slenderly and unhandsomely placed and wrapped up and this it doth not onely in Man but in beasts also the Roots being stamped and outwardly applyed in manner of a Pultis The same also is available for inward or outward Bruises Falls or Blowes both to dispel the congealed Blood and to take away both the paines and the black and blew markes that abide after the hurt Some Authors doe affirme that the powder of the Herb or of the Seed purgeth Phlegme and viscous humours very notably both upward and downward and it is said also that the Root chewed in the Mouth draweth down much Phlegm out of the Head and put up into the Nostrils causeth sneezing but the distilled Water of the whole Herb doth without question cleanse the skin from Morphew Freckles Spots or other marks whatsoever leaving the place fresh fair and lovely after it hath been a few times washed therewith CHAP. CCCXXIV Of the Balsame Apple The Names IT is not conceived that the Greek Writers had any knowledge of this Plant because the name thereof is not so much as found amongst their Writings and therefore it is that the Latine Appellations do so much differ there being no Antiquity to build upon Cordus calleth it Cucumis puniceus Gesner Balsamina pomisera Lobel Balsamina Cucumerina punâ—cea but the most usuall name is Balsamine from the healing property that is in it the Oyle wherein the Apples of it have been steeped being in many things as effectual as the liquor of the Plant Balsa 〈…〉 It is called in English the Balsame Apple or Apple of Jerusalem The Kindes The Kindes hereof are not very numerous being distinguished into two onely 1. The Male Balsame Apple 2. The Female Balsame Apple The Forme The Male Balsame Apple springeth up with divers slender reddish Stalks and Branches shooting forth many clasping Tendrels like a Vine whereby it taketh hold of any Pole or other thing that standeth neer it or else no such thing being neer it lyeth upon the ground not being able to support it self having the Leaves thereon cut in on the edges into sundry divisions like unto those of the White Briony but much smaller tenderer and more divided The Flowers are yellowish white like unto those of the Cucumber coming out at the joynts with the Leaves as they do after which cometh the Fruit which is somewhat long and round poynted at both ends and bunched on the out side with rowes the Skin it self being smooth and very red the Pulp being reddish also within which is the Seed which is rough hard flat and reddish when it is first taken out but after it is dryed it is of a grayish black colour somewhat like unto the Citrul seeds for form and bignesse The Roots are small and stringy yet creeping a good way within the earth The Places and Times These Plants do at present acknowledge no natural place of abode but they are entertained as Sojourners in many of the Gardens of Italy where they come to perfection and their seed is sent over unto us which with labour and industry is made to grow with us but our cold nights being over-early the whole Herb withereth before the Fruit be ripe it being also late before it flowreth The Temperature The Male Balsame-Apple is of a notable drying quality having withall a certain moderate coldnesse The Vertues The powder of the Leaves taken in the distilled Water of Horse-taile or Plantane which are both good for this distemper is
of singular use for those that have any Bones broken The bloody Cranes-bill is found by the Signature thereof to be also effectual both in inward and outward Wounds either the decoction of the Herb or the powder of the Leaves and Roots being used as the cause shall require as also to stay all manner of Bleeding Vomiting or Fluxes either in Man or Woman Herb Robert is generally commended for the same qualities besides it is good against the Stone and is effectual in old Vlcers even in the Secret parts CHAP. CCCXXVI Of the Elme The Names IT is called in Greek 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Ptelea in Latine Vlâ—us in English the Elme and the Elme-tree The Kindes There were but two sorts of Elmes known to the Ancients for though Pliny seem to make foure Attinia Galâ—ica Nostras and Sylvestria yet they are reducible to two for Attinia and Gallica and so likewise Nostras and Sylvestris were the same as Collumella plainly setteth down one whereof he calleth Vlmus Gallica and the other Vernacula which is Italica Theophrastus also maketh but two sorts Montiulmus seâ— Montosa Vlmus and Campestris Vlmus yet the more Modern Writers make mention of four 1. The Common Elme 2. Broad-leafed Elme or Witch-Hasel 3. Smooth-leafed Elme or Witch-Elme 4. The lesser Elme The Forme The Common Elme groweth to be a very great Tree with a Body of a very large size covered with a thick rough barke chapt or crackt in many places but that on the branches is smoother as it happeneth in the Oake Willow Wallnut and divers other trees the blossomes that appeare before the Leaves come forth are like small tassells of red threds which falling away there come up in their stead broad flat whitish Skins which are the Seed and fall away by degrees some quickly and some again continue till the Leaves are fully come forth and after the Leaves are of a sad green colour somewhat round yet pointed at the ends rough and crumpled for the most part and dented about the edges one side of the Leaf next the Stalk being longer than the other on which doe grow certain small Bladders or Blisters containing small Worms in them The Wood or Timber of it is of a dark reddish yellow colour very tough and serviceable to make Pumps and Pipes to conveigh water under-ground as also to make Beams Rafters or Transomes and many other uses where it may be alwayes moist or alwayes dry but where it is subject to all Weathers it endureth not so long as the Oak The Places and Time The first groweth very frequently in every County of this Land as the second also doth in some Countreys as much or rather more than the first the third is to be seen in divers Woods growing in Essox the fourth groweth also in England according to Master Goodyer but the place is not particularly expressed They all blossome before the Leaves come forth and the Seede is ripe not long after the Leaves are come to their full bigness The Temperature Both the Leaves and Bark of the Elme be moderately hot with an evident clearsing faculty being also of a certain clammy and glewing quality The Signature and Vertues Those Bladders or Blisters that grow upon the Leaves of the Elme are said by Crollius to have the Signature of a Rupture the Guts coming through the Rim of the Belly maketh the Cods like unto it and therefore he saith that the water contained in those Bladders is of much force to close up Burstennesses Cloathes being often wet in the water that comes forth out of these and applyed thereunto but then it must be afterwards bound with a trusse and thus much Matthiolus also affirmeth The said Water while it is fresh is very effectually used to cleanse the Skin and make it fair whether of the face or any other part The same also being put into a glass and set in the ground or else in Horse dung for the space of twenty five dayes the mouth thereof being close stopped and then the bottome set upon a lay of ordinary salt that the Feces may settle and Water become very cleaâ— is so singular and soveraign a Balsom for green Wounds that there can hardly be a better being applyed to them with soft tents The decoction of the bark of the Root fomented molifieth hard Tumors and the shrinking of the Sinâ—wes The Roots of the Elme boyled for a long time in Water and the Fat rising on the top thereof being clean scommed off and anoynted upon any place where the haire is fallen away it will cause the same to come againe very quickly The said Bark being ground with Brine or Pickle untill it come to the form of a Pultis is an excellent Remedy for the Gout if it be applyed to the pained place The Decoction of the middle Bark of the Branches being thin sliced is very good to bathe those places which have been burnt with Fire or scalded with Water The â—aid Bark being boyled in Vinegar and some Syrup of Mulberries mixed therewith is so repercussive that it causeth the Vvula or Palat that is fallen down to go up again very speedily The same Bark being infused in Cream is good for the Shingles and other such like eruptions of the Skin especially if the juyce of House leek â—e added thereunto and being boyled onely in water and the Head washed therewith it cleanseth it from all manner of Scurf and Dandraff as it doth the Leprosie from that and other parts of the Body as the green Leaves stamped with Vinegar are said to do also The Leaves hereof bruised and applyed healeth green Wounds being bound thereto with its own Bark The decoction of the Leaves Bark or Root being bathed healeth broken bones It hath been observed that Bees prosper not well where many Elmes grow for if they feed upon the Bloomings or Seed as they are apt to do it will put them into such a loosness that unless they have speedy help they wil have much ado to keep their lives There be divers other things commended for Ruptures as the Roots of Aron the Roots of Orpine Avens Wood-Betony Bistort Comfrey Calamint Birdsfoot Daisies Gentian Golden-rod Horse-taile and divers others which I have formerly and shall hereafter treat of And now I passe on to the last head which concerns the lower Region and that is about the diseases of the Privy Members and because the French Pox is a Malady which for the most part comes by the immoderate use of Venery and is communicated to some by one Act onely with another that hath them by which botches do at first grow in the Groyne though afterwards the whole frame of the Body is infected and other evil Accidents are procured therefore I shall first proceed to declare what Simples are most used in that Disease and afterwards make mention of some others that are profitable for some other distempers happening about those parts CHAP. CCCXXVII Of Guajacum The Names IT
Latin Aster Atticus because the Flower of it is like a Star and that as it is probable it grew plentifully about Athens It is also called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in Latine Bubonium because it is notable for curing those Botches about the Share called Bubones and for a like reason it is called Inguinalis from Inguâ—n signifying the groyne or share Other names it hath as Asterion Asteriscon Hyopthalmon and Herba stellaria but it is generally known by the name of Aster In English Star-wort or Share-wort The Kindes There be divers sorts of Star-wort but few of them growing in these parts I shall mention onely six which I take to be most familiar amongst us in our Gardens 1. The true Aster Attick or yellow Star-wort 2. Star-wort with Willow leaves 3. Narrow-leafed Star-wort 4. Italian Star-wort 5. Virginian Star-wort 6. Fleabane-like Star-wort The Forme The After Attick or yellow Star-wort riseth up with two or three or more hairy Stalks about a soot high with long rough or hairy brownish dark green Leavès on them divided into two or three Branches at every one of whose tops standeth a flat scaly Head compassed underneath with five or six long brown rough green Leaves standing like a Star the Flower it self standing in the middle thereof is made as a border of narrow long pale yellow Leaves set with brownish yellow Thrummes which turning into Down are carried away with the Wind. The Root is very fibrous of a binding and sharp taste The Places and Time Though the Attitk After grew very plentifully about Athens as the name seemeth to import yet it is said to grow in other places also as upon Hamstead Heath four miles from London as the fourth also doth according to one of our English Herbarists the second is to be sound in divers Gardens here in England and so is the third but not so familiarly the name of the fifth speakes its Countrey the last groweth naturally in many places of out own Land in moist or shâ—dowy places They all flower about June or July The Temperature Star-wort is said to be cooling and drying It doth moderately wast and consume especially while it is yet soft and new gathered The Vertues Not onely the name of Buboninus but also the testimony of Dioscorides do give us to understand that the Leaves of the Flowers boyled in Water have been of a long time held to be good for the paines and sorts in the Groyne as also the use of the fresh hâ—rb in Oylâ— to anoynt the place and likewise if the dryed Flowers be bound to the place that is grieved it taketh away the inflammations thereof It helpeth also Children that are troubled with the Falling Sicknesse as such as have the Quinsy It helpeth an hot Stomach the inflammation of the Eyes and Fundament when it is fallen down if an Oyntment be made of the green herb and old Hogs-grease It helpeth them that are bitten by a mad Dog confumeth the swellings of the Throat and being burnt it driveth away Serpents It is profitable for the pains of the Hippes if it be bound to the place as Pliny saith CHAP. CCCXXXI Of Herb Paris True-Love or One-Berry The Names IT cannot be gathered by any of the writings of the Antients that they had any knowlege of this Plant which is the reason why the Moderns have given so many various appellations thereunto Some calling it Herba Paris others Aconitum Pardalianches and Aconitum Pardalianches Monococcum supposing it to be deadly or at least dangerous but some that have proved the contrary have called it Aconitum Salutiferum which name properly belongeth to another Plant. It is called also After but not Atticus because it may be known from that which I have treated of in the former Chapter Vva Versa Vva Lupina Solanum Tetraphyllum c. The Kindes It will not be amisse to put these three sorts together 1. Herb True-Love or One-Berry 2. Herb True-Love of Brasil 3. Herb True-Love of Canada with a round Root The Forme The ordinary Herb-Paris or True-love shooteth forth Stalks with Leaves some whereof carry no Berries and others do every Stalk being smooth without Joynts of a blackish green colour rising not higher than half a foot at the most bearing at the top four Leaves set directly one against another like the parts of a True-Lovers Knot which are each of them a part somewhat like unto a Night-shade leaf but somewhat broader in the middle whereof there riseth up a small slender Stalk about an inch long bearing at the top thereof one Flower spread open like a Starre consisting of foure small and narrow long pointed leaves of a yellowish green colour and four other lying between them lesser than they in the middle whereof standeth a round dark purplish Button or Head compassed about with eight small yellow mealy Chives or Heads very lovely to bebold the Berry in the middle when the other Leaves are withered becometh to be of a blackish purple colour and full of juyce of no hot nor evil nor yet of any sweetish tast of the bignesse of a reasonable Grape having within it many white Seeds the Root is small and creeping under the upper crust of the Earth somewhat like to a Couch-grasse root but not so white of a little binding but unpleasant loathsome tast The Places and Time The first groweth in divers places of this Land in the Woods and Copses of Kent Essex Lancashire Cheshire c. the second was found in the Woods of Brasil the last brought out of Canada They spring up in April and May and are in flower soon after the Berries are ripe about the beginning of June and sometimes before May be finished The Temperature Herb-Paris is exceeding cold whereupon it is proved to represse the rage and force of any Poyson Humour or Inflammation The Vertues and Signature The Leaves of Herb True-love or one Berry by the mighty cooling quality that it hath are exceeding powerfull to discusse all those tumors and swellings of the Codds Privy parts and Groyn which do commonly proceed of some extraordinary heat to allay all other kindes of inflammations in any part of the Body to cure all manner of green wounds and to cleanse and heale up old filthy Sores and Vlcers The Leaves or the Juyce applyed to Felons or those Nailes of the Hands and Toes that have Whiteflaws or any such like impostume gathered under them healeth them in a short space The Leaves or Berries hereof are very effectual also to expel Poysons of all sorts especially that of the Aconites as also the Plague other pestilential Diseases and therefore it is a main Ingredient in that preservative powder called Pulvis Saxonicus It hath been observed by Matthiolus and others that a Dramme of the Seeds or Berries hereof in powder taken every day for twenty dayes together hath holpen those that have lien long in a lingering sicknesse and others that by Witchcraft as it was thought were
be eminent for healing green Wounds yet not for all other diseases as those names import The Forme Clownes Wound-wort groweth up with slender four square green rough Stalks to the height of halfe a yard or two foot surrowed in a little upon every square the joynts standing somewhat farre a sunder with two very long and somewhat narrow dark green Leaves bluntly dented about the Edges and sharp pointed at the end the flowers stand towards the top compassing the stalkes at the joynts as those of Horehound doe but it endeth in a spiked top which Horehound doth not having long and much open gaping hoods of a purplish red colour with whitish spots in them standing in somewhat rough huskes wherein afterwards stand blackish round seeds The root is composed of many long strings with some tuberous long knobs commonly growing amongst them of a pale yellowish or whitish colour the whole plant is of a strong smell somewhat like unto Stinking Horehound The Places and Time Clownes Allheale groweth frequently in most of the Countries of this Land by the sides of severall brooks and ditches and sometimes by the Path-sides and Borders of fields It floureth in August and bringeth its seed to perfection about the end of September The Temperature This kind of Sideritis is hot in the second degree and dry in the first and withal of an earthy quality The Vertues The Leaves of Clownes Wound-wort stamped with Swines grease and applyed unto green Woundes in manner of a Pultis doth heale them in a short time according to the first intention that is by closing up the lips of them without drawing or bringing them to Suppuration or Matter in such absolute manner that it is hard for any one that hath not had the experience thereof to believe It is also very availeable in stanching of bloud and to dry up the Fluxes of humors in old fretting Vlcers Cancers c. that hinder the healing of them Neither is it excellent onely for outward but also for inward Wounds Ruptures of veines bloudy flux spitting pissing or vomiting bloud a syrupe being made thereof and taken now and then a little and so Ruptures or burstings of the belly are speedily even to admiration cured if a Plaister of the Herb or an oyntment of the same be applyed to the place The said Plaister being applyed to any veine that is swollen or Muscle that is cut helpeth it and if there be a little Comfry added to it it will be so much the better CHAP. CCCXXXIV Of Arsmart The Names IT is called in Greeke 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Hydropiper i. e. Piper aquaticum because one kind of it hath a burning taste like Pepper and Hydropiper in Latine sometimes but generally Perficaria quod folia â—jus Perfica foliis similia sunt because the leaves of it are like unto those of the Peach-tree yet some make this distinction calling the mild or gentle sort Perficaria simply and the other Hydropiper five Perficaria urens in English Water Pepper and Arsmart and in some Countries Red-knees and of some Culrage and Cyderach The Kindes There be foure Sorts of Arsmart growing in our owne Country 1. Dead or Spotted Arsmart 2. Small creeping Arsmart 3. Codded Arsmart or Touchme not 4. Biting Arsmart or Water Pepper The Forme The â—ild or Spotted Arsmart groweth up with Leaves of a middle size both for length and breadth set at the great red joynts of the Stalkes with blackish spots upon them many times almost like a halfe moone but not alwayes the flowers grow in long Spiky heades either of a blush or whitish colour which falling away blackish â—lat seed come in their places The root is long with many fibres thereat perishing yearly this hath no biting tast as the Water Pepper hath which is exceeding hot but is rather like sowre Sorrell or else a little drying or without tast the way of distinguishing one from an other is to breake a leafe of it crosse ones tongue for the biting sort will make the tongue to smart and so will not the other The Places and Time The first groweth very common almost every where in moist and watery Plashes and neer to the brims of Rivers Ditches and running Brooks and sometimes in those Corn-fields that are subject to moisture in the Winter time The second groweth also within the confines of our Countrey and so doth the third but the place thereof is not particularly expressed and therefore some Physick Garden is the surest place to finde them the last is found in like places with the first but not so frequently and is to be known from iâ— by the red spots which it sometimes hath as also by the Diagnostick I have already set down They flower in June and their Seed is ripe in August The Temperature The â—ildâ— or dead Arsmart as it is called is cold and something dry but the Biting Arsmart is hot and dry yet not so hot as Pepper according to Galen The Vertues and Signature The Leaves and Stalkes of the Dead Arsmart being stamped and applyed to green or fresh Wounds doe cool and comfort them exceedingly and keep them from â—â—postumation and inflaâ—mation and so doth the juice of them being dropped thereinto Being applyed in like manner it consumeth all cold swellings and taketh away black and blew markes of the Skin by dissolving the congealed blood happening upon bruises strokes fallâ— c. which is signified by the black spots which are upon the Leaves and being laid to a Joynt that hath a Felon thereon it taketh it away by Signature also A piece of the Root or some of the Seed bruised and held to an aking tooth taketh away the pâ—ine The Juice of it being dropped into the Eares destroyeth the Wormes that are in them and so it is good against deafenesse Two dâ—amms of the powder of the herb taken with a little Vinegar openeth the obstructions of the Liver Being stamped with Wine and applyed to the Matrix it bringeth unto Women their monthly Courses If it be stamped with Rue and Wormwood and all of them fryed together with Butter or Suet and applyed to the Stomach or Bâ—lly it killeth the Wormes in them When a Womans Belly is great and she not with Childe let her boyl of Arsmart Rue and Hyssâ—p of each one handfull in a quart of Ale to the one halfe and drinke thereof first and last it will reduce it to its just measure The distilled Water of the herb mingled with an Oxe Gall and a little Oyle of Spike being annointed upon any place that is troubled with the Gout and a blew woollen cloth laid upon it taketh away the pain thereof Two spoonfulls of the said Water with one of Aqua Vitae being nointed on any place troubled with an Ach for five or sixe dayes taketh it quite away It is said that if a handfull of Arsmart wetted in Water be applyed to a Wound or Sore and afterwards buried in moist ground as the herb rotteth so
some of them being sometimes brownish the stalkes are branched into many long stemmes of spiked Flowers half a foot long growing in â—undles one above another out of small Huskes very like unto the spiked Heads of Lavender every of the flowers consisting of five round pointed Leaves of a Purple Violet colour tending to rednesse in which Huskes after the flowers are fallen the seed is contained the root creepeth under-ground almost like Couch-grasse but greater and shooteth up every Spring brownish heads which afterward growing up into Stalkes doe smell like Câ—â—led Apples whilest they are young The Places and Time The first groweth usually by Rivers and Ditches sides and in wet grounds in every Countrey of this Land almost the others grow in the like places but not so frequently but that which is most rare is the Yellow Willow herbe with double flowers which groweth by Kings Langley in Hartford shire Any of these being brought into Gardens doe prosper well enough as the Câ—amaenerion of Rosebay Willow herbe also doth though it grow not naturally in England June and July are the ordinary months wherein they flower yet some of them stay till August The Temperature All the sorts of Lysimachia are hot and dry and of an exceding binding quality The Vertues The distilled Water of Willow herb whether it be the yellow sort or that which I have described which is more common is exceeding soveraign for green Wounds whether they happen in the Body or Limbs if to every ounce of Water there be taken two drams of May Butter without Salt and of Sugar and Wax each as much also gently boyled together til it become to be an Oyntment and then let Tents be dipped in the Liquor that remaineth after it is cold and put into the Wounds and the place covered with a linnen Cloath doubled and anointed with the Ointment It likewise cleanseth and healeth all foule Vlcers and Sores whatsoever or wheresoever and stayeth their inflammations by washing them with the Water and laying on them a green Leafe or two in Summer or dry ones in the Winter The distilled Water aforesaid is a present Remedy for hurts and blowes on the Eyes and for blindnesse if the Christalline humor or Sight it so if be not perished or spoiled as hath been often proved and it is also of as good use to cleer the Eyes of Dust or any other thing gotten into them and preserveth the Sight The said Water gargled warm in the Mouth and sometimes drunk also doth cure the Quinsey and Kings-Evill in the Throat The same being warmed and the Skin washed therewith taketh away all Spots Markes and Scarres thereof and a little of it drank quencheth the thirst extraordinarily And not onely this but the Yellow sorts also are good for all manner of Bleeding at the Mouth or Nose or of Wounds and stayeth all manner of Fluxes of the Belly or the Bloudy Fluxe given either to drink or taken in a Clister it stayeth also the abundance of Womens Courses If the herb he bruised and the juice onely applyed to green Wounds it stayeth the bleeding and quickly closeth together the Lips of them The decoction or the distilled Water thereof is often used in Gargles for sore Mouths as also to â—ath the secret parts withall as often as there is any Sore or Vlcer there arising The smoak of the Stalkes being burned driveth away Serpents or any other venemous Creature as Pliny saith and the people in the Fenny Countreyes can testifie that it driveth away the Flyes and Gnats that would otherwise molest them in the night season CHAP. CCCXXXIX Of the Daisy The Names IT is called in Latine for it is a question whether the Greeks ever knew it Bellis à bello as some think quasi Bellis praesidium because it is usefull in War to heal the Souldiers Wounds for which reason some have called it Consolida also other have thought that it was called Bellis from the Adjective Bellus signifying pretty for it hath indeed a pretty Flower if it be marked some of the sorts especially The greater sort is called by Bruâ—selsius Bupthalmus and Oculus Bovis and by Tabermontanus Bellium majus by others Consolida media Vulnerariorum yet most commonly it is called Bellis major the lesser sort being called Bellis minor Consolida minor and Herba Morgarita In English the greater and lesser Daisy the greater is also called Maudlin and Maudlin-wort The Kindes There be divers sorts of Daisyes as well in our Gardens as growing beyond the Seas yet because the time will not permit me to enquire after them I shall give you onely those that grow naturally with us they being of greatest use for our intended purpose and they are three 1. The Great Daisyes which some call Or-Eyes and White Moons 2. The middle sort of Daisyes 3. The little Daisy The Forme The Great Daisy hath very many narrow and round-pointed Leaves next the ground cut in on both sides making them to seem almost like unto those of the Oak from amongst which do grow up somewhat high Stalks with divers Leaves thereon but smaller and lesser divided than the lower at the tops whereof grow large Flowers each upon severall long foot stalks consisting of many white and narrow Leaves as the Pale or Border and the yellow Thrummes in the middle of little or no scent whose Seed which is somewhat long is blown away with the Wind The Root is bush of white Strings which abide many Winters shooting forth new Leaves in the Spring if the cold weather hath killed the old The Places and Time The first which is Great Daisy Oxe Eye or White-Moone groweth almost every where by the hedge sides in the borders of fields and other wast ground and many times in meadowes that lye any thing high the second groweth in the like places but not so frequently the place of the third can hardly be mistook for it groweth upon every Common and other place almost The two first flower in May and June and then must be gathered for they last not long but the last beginneth to flower in the Spring and holdeth on most part of the Summer The Temperature Daisyes are held by most to be cold and dry which are the qualities which are required in Wound herbs yet Dâ—donam saith they be cold and moist which no body else doth allow of The Vertues The Leaves of the great Daisy or Mandlinwort made up into an Oyntment or Salve with Wax Oyl and Turpentine is most excellent for Wounds especially those wherin there is any inflammation and which are hardly brought to digestion or maturation as those weeping Wounds made in the Elboes Knees or other Joynts and it is often used in Decoction or Drinks as well as outwardly for the same or the like purposes as fractures in the Head and deep wounds in the Breast The said Decoction being drunk cureth all Vlcers and Pustles in the Mouth or Tongue or in the Secret parts
which proceed from the heat of the Liver and therefore in such cases the Juyce or distilled Water of either sort doth much temper the heat of Choler and refresheth the Liver and other inward parts The Leaves bruised and applyed to the Cods or any other parts that are swoln and hot doth dissolve the swelling and temper the heat A Decoction made hereof with Walwort and Agrimony and the places fomented and bathed therewith warm giveth great ease to them that are troubled with the Palsy Sciatica or other Gout The same also disperseth dissolveth the Knots and Kernels that grow in the Flesh belonging to any part of the Body the bruises hurts that come of falls blows The Juyce Decoction or distilled Water is drunk to very good purpose against the Rupture or any inward Burstings The juyce of them or the distilled water dropped into the Eyes cleareth them and taketh away the watering of them The little Daisyes when the greater cannot so well be gotten may be used with good successe for all the purposes aforesaid as also to help Agues the decoction of them in Wine or Water being drunk It is said that the Roots hereof being boyled in Milk and given to little Puppies will not suffer them to grow great CHAP. CCCXL Of Speedwell The Names IT must be divided into two sorts viz. Male and Female before I can give you the names thereof The Greek name of the Male is unknown if ever it had any but in Latine it is called Veronica mas and Bâ—tonica Pauli in English Speedwell and Pauls Betony and of some Fluellen yet that name is thought to belong more properly to the Female kind which is called in Greek 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Elatine in Latine Veronica famina because a Shentleman of Wales whose Nose was so neer eating off by the French Pox that the Doctors gave order to cut it off being cured by the use of this Herb onely to honour the Herb for saving her Nose whole gave it one of her own Country names Lluellin or Fluellin it being before called Female Speedwell which name it retaineth also The Kindes Of the Male and Female Speedwel there be eight sorts 1. The Common Speedwell 2. Speedwel with white Flowers 3. Great Speedwel or Fluellin 4. Little Fluellin or smooth Fluellin 5. The smallest Fluellin 6. Female Fluellin or Speedwel 7. Cornered Fluellin with blew Flowers 8. Sharp-pointed Fluellin The Forme The Common Speedwell hath divers soft Leaves about the breadth of a two-pence extending themselves in length also but not very much of a hoary green colour a little dented about the edges and somewhat hoary also set by couples at the joynts of the hairy brownish Salks which lean down to the ground never standing upright but shooting forth roots as they lye upon the ground at divers joynts much after the same manner that Nummularia or Moneywort doth the Flowers grow one above another at the tops being of a blewish purple colour and sometimes though seldome white after which come small flat husks wherein the Seed which is small and blackish is contained the Root is composed of very many Fibres The Places and Time All these Plants which I have named are said to grow within the Dominions of England those which are Outlandish being omitted The first groweth in divers Countreys of this Land upon dry Banks and Wood-sides and other places where the ground is sandy and particularly in Prey-wood by St. Albans very plentifully where there be a great many good Simples besides the third was found upon St. Vincents Rock neer Bristoll by Mr. Goodyer the fifth in a Field neer unto Barâ— Elmes in Surrey the other three grow in divers Corn-fields about Southfleet in Kent abundantly as also about Buckworth Hamerton and Richwersworth in Huntingdon-shire and in divers other places They flower in June and July and their Seed is ripe in August that of the Female kind withering presently after The Temperature The Male Speedwell is temperatly hot and dry the bitternesse thereof shewing so much The Female though it be bitter is held to be cooling yet no lesse drying than the former The Vertues Both the Male and the Female Speedwell are Wound-herbs of very good note The Male is singular to heale all fresh Wounds and Cuts in the Flesh speedily closing the Lips of them together and not suffering them to gather corruption and Salve being made therewith as also with Wax Oyl and Turpentine and applyed outwardly and the decoction of it in Wine taken inwardly and so it is no lesse effectual for spreading Tetters or for foul or old fretting or running Sores or Vlcers that have been of long continuance and therefore the harder to cure It stayeth the bleeding of Wounds or other Fluxes of Blood in any other part and dissolveth all tumors and swellings especially those of the Neck It is also held to be a special Remedy for the Plague and all pestilentiall Feavers and infectious Diseases for it expelleth the venome and poyson from the Heart and afterwards strengtheneth it and maketh it able to resist all noysome vapours if a Dramme or two of the herb in powder be given with a dramme of good Treacle in a small draught of Wine and the party be laid to sweat and so doth the decoction thereof in Wine or the distilled Water thereof given in some Wine It helpeth the Memory easeth all swimmings turnings and other paines of the Head and maketh Barren Women become fruitful as it is said It cleanseth the blood from corruption and therefore it helpeth the Leprosie as no worse than a French King making tryall thereof found to be true as it is reported The decoction of the Herb in water or the powder thereof being dry and given in its own distilled water is singular good in all manner of Coughs and diseases of the Breast and Lungs and it hath the same operation upon Sheep and therefore Sheepherds make use of it by adding a little Salt thereto It openeth the obstructions of the Liver and Spleen helpeth the yellow Jaundise cleanseth the exulcerations of the Reines and Bladder and also of the Mother and of inward and outward Wounds being inwardly and outwardly used for the Spleen and Wounds but inwardly onely for the rest It provoketh Vrine and helpeth thereby to break the Stone and is very profitable for the Back and Reins The distilled water of the Herb onely or after it hath been steeped in Wine twelve hours doth wonderfully help in the Plague Consumption Cough and all other the diseases before-mentioned as also to wash Wounds Sores therewith the same doth wonderfully help all Itches Scabs Scurf Tetters Morphew and all discolourings of the Skin as Freckles Spots and Scarrs a little Coperas being dissolved therein and bathed therewith the said Water defendeth Garments from Moths a little Allom being dissolved therein and sprinkled upon them The Leaves of the Female Speedwell or Fluellin being bruised and applyed with Barly Meale