this to three Gallons more and let them work together and drink a draught of it every morning half a pint or there aocuts It is an excellent Purge for the Spring to consume that Flegmatick quality the Winter hath left behind it and withal keep your Body in health and consume those evil humors which the heat of Summer will readily stir up esteem it as a Jewel ♀ The Common Alder-Tree Description GRoweth to a reasonable heighth and spreads much if it like the place It is so generally wel known unto Country People that I conceive it needless to tel them that which is no news Place and Time It delighteth to grow in moist Woods and watry places Flowring in April or May and yeilding ripe Seed in September Vertues and Use. The Leaves and Bark of the Alder-Tree are cooling drying and binding The fresh Leaves laid upon swellings dissolveth them and staieth the Inflamations The Leaves put under the bare Feet gauled with travelling are a great refreshing to them The said Leaves gathered while the morning dew is on them and brought into a Chamber troubled with Fleas wil gather them therinto which being suddenly cast out wil rid the Chamber of those troublesom Bed-fellows It is a Tree under the Dominion of Venus and of some warry Sign or other I suppose Pisces and therfore the Decoction or distilled Water of the Leaves is excellent against Burnings and Inflamation either with Wounds or without to bath the place grieved with and especially for that inflamation in the Breast which the vulgar call an Ague If you cannot get the Leaves as in Winter â—tis impossible make use of the Bark in the same manner ☉ ♌ Angelica TO write a Description of that which is so well known to be growing in almost every Garden I suppose is altogether needless yet for its Vertues it is of admiaable use In times of Heathenism when men had found out any excellent Herb c. they dedicated it to their gods As the Bay-trce to Apello the Oak to Jupiter the vine to Bacchus the Poplar to Hercules These the Papists following as their Patriarchs they dedicate them to their Saints as our Ladies Thistle to the Blessed Virgin St. Johns Wort to St. John and another Wort to St. Peter c. Our Physitians must imitate like Apes though they cannot come off half so cleverly for they Blasphemously call Pansies or Hartseas an Herb of the Trinity becaus it is of three colours and a certain Oyntment an Oyntment of the Apostles becaus it consisteth of twelve Ingredients Alas poor Fools I am sorry for their folly and grieved at their Blasphemy God send them the rest of their Age for they have their share of Ignorance already O! why must ours be Blasphemous becaus the Heathens and Papists were Idolatrous certainly they have read so much in old rustie Authors that they have lost all their Deomity for unless it were amongst the Ranters I never read or heard of such Blasphemy The Heathens and Papists were bad and ours wors the Papists giving Idolatrous Names to Herbs for their Vertues sake not for their fair looks and therfore some called this an Herb of the Holy Ghost others more moderate called it Angelica becaus of its Angelical Vertues and that name it retains still and all Nations follow it so near as their Dialect will permit Vertues and use It resists Poyson by defending and comforting the Heart Blood and Spirits it doth the like against the Plague and all Epidemical Diseases if the Root be taken in pouder to the waight of half a dram at a time with some good Triacle in Cardâ—s Water and the party therupon laid to sweat in his Bed If Treacle be not at hand take it alone in Cardus or Angelica Water The Stalks or Roots candied and eaten fasting are good Preservatives in time of Infection and at other times to warm and comfort a cold Stomach The Root also steeped in Vineger and a little of that Vineger taken somtimes fasting and the Root smelled unto is good for the same purpose A water distilled from the Root simply or steeped in Wine and distilled in Glass is much more effectual than the Water of the Leaves and this Water drunk two or three spoonfuls at a time easeth all Pains and Torments coming of Cold and Wind so as the Body be not bound and taken with some of the Root in Pouder at the beginning helpeth the Pluresy as also all other Diseases of the Lungues and Breast as Coughs Phthisick and shortnefs of Breath and a Syrup of the Stalks doth the like It helps pains of the Collick the Strangury and stopping of the Urin procureth Womens Courses and expelleth the After-birth openeth the stoppings of the Liver and Spleen and briefly easeth and discusseth al windiness and inward swellings The Decoction drunk before the fit of an Ague that they may sweat if possible before the fit come wil in two or three times taking rid it quite away It helps digestion and is a remedy for a Surfet The Juyce or the Water being dropped into the Eyes or Ears helps dimness of sight and deafness The Juyce put into the hollow Teeth easeth their pains The Roots in Pouder made up into a Plaister with a little Pitch and laid on the biting of a mad-Dog or any other venemous creature doth wonderfully help The Juyce or the Water dropped or tents wet therin and put into old filthy deep Ulcers Or the Pouder of the Root in want of either doth clens and caus them to heal quickly by covering the naked Bones with Flesh. The distilled Water applied to places pained with the Gout or Sciatica doth give a great deal of ease The wild Angelica is not so effectual as the Garden although it may be safly used to al the purposes aforesaid It is an Herb of the Sun in Leo let it be gathered when he is there the Moon applying to his good Aspect let it be gathered either in his hour or in the hour of Jupiter let Sol be angular Oâ—serve the like in gathering the Herbs of other Plants and you may happen do wonders In al Epidemical Diseases caused by Saturn this is as good a Preservative as grows ♀ Apples A Word or two of the most usual kinds of Apples though the colledg of Physitians make use of none but such as Vulgò vulgati Pearmains vel Pippins Apples in general are cold and windy and being of sundry tasts Galen sheweth thereby how to distinguish them Som have a sharp tast and are good for fainting Stomachs and loos Bellies others sowr good to cool and quench thirst som sharp fit to cut gross flegm som sweet soon destributed in the Body and as soon passed away yet sooner corrupted is the Stomach if they be staid The best sorts before they be throughly ripe are to be avoided then to be roasted or scalded is the best way to take them and a little Spice or
to gargle but outwardly also for Scabs Itch or other like Infirmities and clenseth the Face from Morphew Spots Freckles and other Deformities It is an excellent Sawce for such whose Blood wants clarifying and for weak Stomachs being an Herb of Mars but naught for Chollerick people though as good for such as are aged or troubled with cold Diseases Aries claims somthing to do with it therfore it strengthens the heart and resisteth poyson let such whose Stomachs are so weak they cannot digest their meat or appetite it take of Mustard Seed a dram Cinnamon as much and having beaten them to Pouder ad half as much Mastich in Pouder and with Gum Arabick dissolved in Rose Water make it up into Troches of which they may take one of about half a dram weight an hour or two before meals let old men and women make much of this medicine and they will either give me thanks or manifest ingratitude Hedg-Mustard Description THis groweth up usually but with one blackish green Stalk tongh easie to bend but not break branched into diverse parts and somtimes with divers Stalks set full of Branches whereon grow long rough or hard rugged Leavs very much torn and cut on the edges into many parts some bigger and some lesser of a dirty green colour The Flowers are smal and yellow that grow at the tops of the Branches in long Spikes flowring by degrees so that continuing long in Flower the stalks will have smal round Cods at the bottom growing upright and close to the Stalk while the top Flowers yet shew themselvs in which are contained smal yellow Seed sharp and strong as the Herb is also The Root groweth down slender and woody yet abiding and springing again every yeer Place This groweth frequently in this Land by the Waies and Hedg sides and somtimes in the open Fields Time It flowreth most usually about July Vertues and Use. It is singular good in all the Diseases of the Chest and Lungs hoarceness ef voice and by the use of the Decoction therof for a little space those have been recovered who had utterly lost their voice and almost their Spirits also The Juyce threof made into a Syrup or licking Medicine with Honey or Sugar is no less effectual for the same purpose and for all other Coughs Weesings and shortness of Breath The same is also profitable for those that have the Jaundice the Pluresie pains in the Back and Loyns and for torments in the Belly or the Chollick being also used in Clysters The Seed is held to be a special Remedy against Poyson and Venom It is singular good for the Sciatica the Gout and all Joynt-aches Sores and Cankers in the Mouth Throat or behind the Ears and no less for the hardness and Swelling of the Testicles or of Womens Breasts Mars owns this Herb also Nep or Catmint Description THe common garden Nep shooteth forth hard four square Stalks with a hoariness on them a yard high or more full of Branches bearing at every Joynt two broad Leavs somwhat like Balm but longer pointed softer whiter and more hoary nicked about the edges and of a strong sweet scent The Flowers grow in large tusts at the tops of the Branches and underneath them likewise on the Stalks many together of a whitish Purple colour The Roots are composed of many long strings or Fibres fastning themselves strongly in the ground and abide with green Leavs thereon all the Winter Place It is only nursed up in our Gardens Time And it flowreth in July or thereabouts Vertues and Use Nep is generally used for Women to procure their Courses being taken inwardly or outwardly either alone or with other convenient Herbs in a decoction to bath them or sit over the hot fumes therof and by the frequent use thereof it taketh away barrenness and the wind and pains of the Mother It is also used in pains of the Head coming of any cold caus as Catarrh's Rhewms and for swimming and giddiness thereof and is of especial use for the windiness of the Stomach and Belly It is effectual for any Cramps or cold aches to dissolve the cold and wind that afflicteth the place and is used for Colds Coughs and shortness of breath The Juyce thereof drunk in Wine is profitable for those that are bruised by any accident The green Herb bruised and applied to the Fundament and lying there two or three hours easeth the pains of the Piles The Juyce also being made up into an Oyntment is effectual for the same purpose The head washed with a Decoction thereof it taketh away Scabs and may be effectual for other parts of the Body also It is an Herb of Venus Nettles THese are so well known that they need no Description at all they may be found by the feeling in the darkest night Vertues and Use. The Roots or Leavs boyled or the Juyce of either of them or both made into an Electuary with Honey or Sugar is a safe and sure Medicine to open the Pipes and passages of the Lungs which is the caus of wheesing and shortness of breath and helpeth to expectorate tough Flegm as also to raise the impostumated Pleurefie and spend it by spitting The same helpeth the swelling of the Almonds of the Throat the Mouth and Throat being gargled therewith The Juyce is also effectual to settle the Pallate of the Mouth in its place and to heal and temper the Inflamations and soreness of the Mouth and Throat The Decoction of the Leavs in Wine being drunk is singular good to provoke Womens Courses and settle the suffocation or strangling of the Mother and all other Diseases thereof as also applied outwardly with a little Mirrh The same also or the Seed provoketh Urine and expelleth the Gravel and Stone in the Reins or Bladder often proved to be effectual in many that have taken it The same killeth the Worms in Children easeth pains in the sides and dissolveth the windiness in the Spleen as also in the Body although others think it only powerful to provoke Venery The Juyce of the Leavs taken two or three daies together staieth bleeding at the Mouth The Seed being drunk is a Remedy against the stinging of Venemous Creatures the biting of Mad Dogs The poysonful qualities of Hemlock Henbane Nightshade Mandrake or other such like Herbs that stupifie or dull the senses as also the Lethargy especially to use it outwardly to rub the Forehead and Temples in the Lethargy and the places bitten or stung with Beasts with a little Salt The distilled water of the Herb is also effectual although not so powerful for the Diseases aforesaid as for outward Wounds and Sores to wash them and to clens the Skin from Morphew Lepry and other discolourings thereof The Seed or Leaves bruised and put into the Nostrils staieth the bleeding of them and taketh away the Flesh growing in them called Polipus The Juyce of the Leavs or the Decoction of them or of the Roots is singular
toward the top into many parts where the Leaves grow smaller again every one standing singly and never two at any Joynt The Flowers are very smal and yellow standing in tufts at the heads of the Branches where afterwards grow the Seed smal and blackish many thick thust together The Root is smal long and woody perishing every yeer after Seed time and rising again plentifully of its own sowing Place It is found growing in many Corn Fields and Pasture grounds in this Land Time It Flowreth in July and the Seed is ripe in August Vertues and Use. Thoroughwax is of a singular good use for all sorts of Bruises and Wounds either inward or outward and old Ulcers and Sores likewise if the Decoction of the Herb with water or Wine be drunk and the places washed therwith or the Juyce or green Herb bruised or boyled either by it self or with other Herbs in Oyl or Hogs Grease to be made into an Oyntment to serve all the yeer The Decoction of the Herb or the Pouder of the dried Herb taken inwardly and the same or the green Leaves bruised and applied outwardly is singular good to cure Ruptures and Burstings especially in Children before it be two old Being also applied with a little Flower and Wax to Childrens Navils that stick forth it helpeth them Tormentil Description THis hath many reddish slender weak Branches rising from the Root lying upon the ground or rather leaning than standing upright with many short Leaves that stand closer to the Stalks than Cinkfoyl doth which this is very like with the Footstalk encompassing the Branches in several places but those that grow next to the ground are set upon long Footstalks each whereof are like the Leaves of Cinkfoyl but somwhat longer and lesser and dented about the edges many of them devided but into five Leaves but most of them into sevens whence it is also called Setfoyl yet some may have six and some eight according to the fertility of the Soyl At the tops of the Branches stand diverse smal yellow Flowers consisting of five Leaves like those of Cinkfoyl but smaller The Root is smaller than Bistort somwhat thick but blacker without and not so red within yet somtimes a little crooked having many blackish fibres thereat Place It groweth as well in Woods and shadowy places as in the open Champion Country about the borders of Fields in many places of this Land and almost in every Broom Field in Essex Time It Flowreth all the Summer long Vertues and Use. Tormentil is most excellent to stay all kind of Fluxes of Blood or Humors in man or woman whether at Nose Mouth Belly or any Wound in the Veins or elswhere The Juyce of the Herb or Root taken in drink not only resisteth all Poyson and Venom of any Creature but of the Plague it self and Pestilential Feavers and contagious Diseases as the Pox Measels Purples c. expelling the Venom and Infection from the Heart by sweating if the green Root be not at hand to be had the Pouder of the dry Root is as effectual a dram thereof being taken every morning The Decoction likewise of the Herbs and Roots made in Wine and drunk worketh the same effect and so doth the distilled water of the Herb and Root being steeped in Wine for a night and then distilled in Balneo Mariae This Water thus distilled taken with some Venice Treacle and the party presently laid to sweat will certainly with Gods help expel any Venom or poyson or the Plague Feaver c. for it is an ingredient of especial respect in all Antidotes or Counterpoysons There is not found any Root more effectual to help any Flux of the Belly Stomach Spleen or Blood than this to be taken inwardly or applied outwardly The Juyce taken doth wonderfully open Obstructions of the Liver and Lungs and thereby in short space helpeth the yellow Jaundice Some use to make Cakes hereof as well to stay all Fluxes as to restrain all Chollerick Belchings and much Vomitings with Loathings in the Stomach The Pouder of the dâ—â—ed Root made up with the white of an Egg and baked upon a hot Tile will do it Andreus Valesius is of opinion That the Decoction of this Root is no less effectual to cure the French Pox than Guajacum or China and 't is not unlikely because it so mightily resisteth putrefaction Lobel saith That Rondelitius used it as Hermodactils for Joynt-aches The Pouder also or Decoction to be drunk or to sit therein as a Bath is an assured Remedy against abortion in Women if it proceed from the over Fluxibility or weakness of the inward retentive faculty as also a Plaister made therewith and Vinegar applyed to the Roins of the Back doth much help not only this but also those that cannot hold their Water the Pouder being taken in the Juyce of Plantane and it is also commended against the worms in Children It is very powerful in Ruptures and Burstings as also for Bruises and Falls to be used as well outward as inwardly The Root hereof made up with Pellitory of Spain and Allum and put into an hollow Tooth not only asswageth the pain but staieth the Flux of Humors which caused it Tormentil is no less effectual and powerful a Remedy for outward Wounds Sores and Hurts than for inward and is therefore a special Ingredient meet to be used in all Wound drinks Lotions and Injections for foul corrupt rotten Sores and Ulcers of the Mouth Secrets or other parts of the Body And to put either the Juyce or Pouder of the Root into such Oyntments Plaisters and such things that are to be applied to Wounds and Soe 's it also dissolveth all Knots Kernels and hardness gathered about the Ears the Throat and Jaws and the Kings Evil if the Leaves and Roots be bruised and applied thereto The same also easeth the pains of the Sciatica or Hip-gout by restraining the sharp Humors that flow thereto The Juyce of the Leaves and Roots used with a little Vinegar is also a special Remedy against the running Sores of the Head or other parts Scabs also and the Itch or any such eruptions in the Skin proceeding of Salt and sharp Humors The same also is effectual for the Piles or Hemorrhoids if they be washed and bathed therwith or with the Distilled water of the Herb and Roots It is found also helpful to dry up any sharp Rhewm that distilleth from the Head into the Eyes causing redness pain waterings Itchings or the like if a little prepared Tutia or white Amber be used with the Distilled water hereof Many Women use this Water as a secret to help themselves and others when they are troubled with the too much flowing of the Whites or Reds both to drink it and inject it with a Syringe And here 's enough only remember the Sun challengeth the Herb. Turnsole or Heliotropium Description THe greater Turnsole riseth
usually little round flat Cakes or you may make them square it you will 2. Their first invention was that Pouders being so kept might resist the intromission of Air and so endure pure the longer 3. Besides they are the easier carried in the Pockets of such as travel many a man for example is forced to travel whose Stomach is too cold or at least not so hot as it should be which is most proper for the Stomach is never cold till a man be dead in such a case 't is better to carry Troches of Wormwood or of Galanga in a Paper in his Pocker and more convenient behalf than to lug a Gally-pot along with him 4. They are thus made At night when you go to bed take two drams of fine Gum Tragacanth put it into a Gally-pot and put half a quarter of a pint of any distilled Water fitting the purpose you would make your Troches for to it cover it and the next morning you shall find it in such a Jelly as Physitians call Mussilage with this you may with a little pains taking make any Pouder into Past and that Past into little Cakes called Troches 5. Having made them dry them well in the shadow and keep them in a Pot for your use Chap. 14. Of Pills 1. THey are called Pilule because they resemble little Balls the Greeks call them Catapotia 2. It is the Opinion of Modern Physitians that this way of making up Medicines was invented only to deceive the Pallat that so by swallowing them down whol the bitterness oâ— the Medicine might not be perceived or aâ— least it might not be unsufferable and indeed most of â—â—ills though not all are very bitter 3. I am of a clean contrary Opinion to this I rather think they were done up in this hard form that so they might be the longer in digesting and my Opinion is grounded upon Reason too not upon Fancy nor Hear-say The first invention of Pills was to purge the Head now as I told you before such Infirmities as lay neer the passages were best removed by Decoctions because they pass to the grieved part soonest so here if the insirmity lie in the Head or any other remote part the best way is to use Pills because they are longer in digestion and therefore the better able to call the offending Humor to them 4. If I should tell you here a long Tale of Medicines working by Sympathy and Antipathy you would not understand a word of it they that are fit to make Physitians may find it in the Treatise All Modern Physitians know not what belonged to a Sympatherical Cure no more than a Cookoo knows what belongs to Flats and Sharps in Musick but follow the vulgar road and call it a hidden quality because 't is hid from the Eyes of Dunces and indeed none but Astrologers can give a reason of it and Physick without Reason is like a Pudding without Fat. 5. The way to make Pills is very easie for with the help of a Pestle and Mortar and a little diligence you may make any Pouder into Pills either with Syrup or the Jelly I told you of before Chap. ult The way of mixing Medicines according to the Cause of the Disease and part of the Body afflicted THis being indeed the Key of the Work I shall be somthing the more dilligent in it I shall deliver my self thus 1. To the Vulgar 2. To Such as study Astrology or such as study Physick Astrologically First to the Vulgar Kind souls I am sorry it hath been your hard mishap to have been so long trained in such Egyptian darkness even darkness which to your sorrows may be felt the vulgar road of Physick is not my practice and I am therefore the more unfit to give you advice and I have now published a little Book which will fully instruct you not only â—â— the knowledg of your own Bodies but â—â— fit Medicines to remedy each part of it when afflicted mean season take these few Rules to stay your Stomachs 1. With the Disease regard the Cause and part of the Body afflicted for example suppose a Woman be subject to miscarry through wind thus do 1. Look Abortion in the Table of Diseases and you shall be directed by that how many Herbs prevent miscarriage 2. Look Wind in the same Table and you shall see how many of those Herbs expell wind These are the Herbs Medicinal for your Grief 2. In all Diseases strengthen the part of the Body afflicted 3. In mixed Diseases there lies some difficulty for somtimes two parts of the Body are afflicted with contrary Humors the one to the other somtimes one part is afflicted with two contrary Humors as somtimes the Liver is afflicted with Choller and Water as when a man hath both a Dropsie and the yellow Jaundice and this is usually mortal In the former suppose the Brain be too cold and moist and the Liver too hot and dry thus do 1. Keep your Head outwardly warm 2. Accustom your self to smell of hot Herbs 3. Take a Pill that beats the Head at night going to bed 4. In the morning take a Decoction that cools the Liver for that quickly passeth the Stomach and is at the Liver immediately You must not think Courteous People that I can spend time to give you examples of all Diseases these are enough to let you see so much light as you without Art are able to receive If I should set you to look upon the Sun I should dazle your eyes and make you blind Secondly To such as study Astrology who are the only men I know that are fit to study Physick Physick without Astrology being like a Lamp without Oyl you are men I exceedingly respect and such Documents as my Brain can give you at present being absent from my study I shall give you and an example to shew the proof of them 1. Fortifie the Body with Herbs of the Nature of the lord of the Ascendent 't is no matter whether he be a Fortune or an Infortune in this case 2. Let your Medicine be somthing Antipathetical to the lord of the sixth 3. Let your Medicine be somthing of the Nature of the Sign ascending 4. If the lord of the Tenth be strong make use of his Medicines 5. If this cannot well be make use of the Medicines of the light of time 6. Be sure alwaies fortifie the grieved part of the body by Sympathetical Remedies 7. Regard the Heart keep that upon the Wheels because the Sun is the Fountain of Life and therefore those Universal Remedies Aurum potabile and the Phylosophers Stone cure all Diseases by only fortifying the Heart But that this may appear unto you as cleer as the Sun when he is upon the Meridian I here quote you an Example which I performed when I was as far off from my study as I am now yet am I not ashamed the world should see how much or little of my Lesson I have learned
Leavs in a little Drink to caus Vomitings The Roots have also the same Vertue though they do not operate so forcibly yet they are very effectual against the biting of Serpents and therfore is put as an ingredient both into Metbridate and Venice Treacle The Leaves and Roots being boyled in Ly and the Head often washed therwith while it is warm comforteth the Head and Brain that is ill affected by taking cold and helpeth the Memory I shall desire Ignorant people to forbear the use of the Leavs the Roots purge more gently and may prove beneficial in such as have Cancers or old putrified Ulcers or Fistulaes upon their Bodies to take a dram of them in Pouder in a quarter of a pint of white Wine in the morning The truth is I fancy Purging and Vomiting Medicines as little as any Man breathing doth for they weaken Nature nor shall never advise them to be used unless upon urgent necessity If a Physitian be Natures servant it is his duty to strengthen his Mistris as much as he can and weaken her as little as may be ♃ Asparagus Sparagus or Sperage Description IT riseth up at first with divers whitish green scaly Heads very brittle or easie to break while they are yong which afterwards rise up into very long and slender green stalks of the bigness of an ordinary riding wand at the bottom of most or bigger or lesser as the Roots are of growth on which are set divers branches of green Leavs shorter and smaller than Fennel to the top at the joynts wherof come forth small mossie yellowish Flowers which turn into round Berries green at the first and of an excellent red colour when they are ripe shewing like Beads of Corral wherin are contained exceeding hard black Seeds The Roots are dispersed from a spongeous Head into many long thick and round strings wherby it sucketh much Nourishment out of the ground and encreaseth plentifully thereby Jupit Prickly Asparagus Sparagus or Sperage Description IT groweth usually in Gardens and some of it grows wild in Appleton Meadow in Glouce stershire where the poor people do gather the Buds or yong Shoots and sell them cheaper than our Garden Asparagus is sold at London Time They do for the most part Flower and bear their Berries late in the yeer or not at all although they are housed in Winter Vertues and use The yong Buds or branches boyled in ones ordinary broth maketh the Belly soluble and open and boyled in white Wine provoketh Urin being stopped and is good against the Strangury or difficulty of making water it expelleth the gravel and stone out of the Kidneys and helpeth pains in the Reins And boyled in white Wine or Vineger it is prevalent for them that have their Arteries loosned or are troubled with the Hip-Gout or Sciatica The Decoction of the Roots boyied in Wine and taken is good to cleer the sight and being held in the Mouth easeth the Toothach And being taken fasting several mornings together stirreth up bodily lust in Man or Woman whatsoever some have written to the contrary The Garden Asparagus nourisheth more than the wild yet hath it the same effects in al the asorementioned Diseases The Decoction of the Roots in white Wine and the Back and Belly bathed therwith or kneeling or lying down in the same or sitting therin as a Bath hath been found effectual against pains of the Reins and Bladder pains of the Mother and Chollick and generally against all pains that happen to the lower parts of the Body and no less effectual against stiff and benummed Sinews or those that are shrunk by Cramps and Convulsions and helpeth the Sciatica ☉ Ash-Tree THis is so wel known that time wil be mis-â—pent and Paper wasted in writing a Description of it and therfore I shall only insist upon the Vertues of it Vertues and use The yong tender Tops with the Leaves taken inwardly and some of them outwardly applied are singular good against the biting of the Viper Adder or any other Venemous Beast And the Water distilled therfrom being taken a smal quantity every morning fasting is a singular Medicine for those that are subject to a Dropsie or to abate the greatness of those who are too gross or fat The Decoction of the Leaves in white Wine helpeth to break the Stone and expel it and cureth the Jaundice The Ashes of the Bark of the Ash made into Ly and those Heads bathed therwith which are Leprous Scabby or Scal'd they are therby cured The Kernels within the Husks commonly called Ashen Keys prevaileth against Stitches and pains in the sides proceeding of Wind and avoideth away the stone by provoking Urin. I can justly except against none of all this save only the first viz. That Ash-tree Tops and Leaves are good against the biting of Serpents and Vipers and I suppose this had its rise from Gerard or Pliny both which hold that there is such an Antipathy between an Adder and an Ash-tree that if an Adder be compassed round with Ash-tree Leaves she wil sooner run through the fire than through the Leaves the contrary to which is the truth as both my eyes are witnesses the rest are Vertues somthing likely only if it be in Winter when you cannot get the Leaves you may safely use the Bank instead of them the Keys you may easily keep all the year gathering them when they are ripe ♃ Avens Description THe ordinary Avens hath many long rough dark green winged Leavs rising from the Root every one made of many Leavs set on each side of the middle Rib the largest three wherof grow at the ends and are snip'd or dented round about the edges the other being smal pieces somtimes two and somtimes four standing on each side of the middle rib underneath them among which do rise up divers rough or hairy Stalks about two foot high branching forth with Leavs at every Joynt not so long as those below but almost as much cut in on the edges some into three parts some into more On the Tops of the Branches stand smal pale yellow Flowers consisting of five Leavs like the Flowers of Cynkfoyl but larger in the middle wherof standeth a smal green Head which when the Flower is fallen groweth to be rough and round being made of many long greenish purple Seeds like grains which wil stick upon your Cloathes The Root consists of many brownish strings or fibres smelling somwhat like unto Cloves especially those which grow in the higher hotter and drier grounds and in the freer and clear Air. Place They grow wild in many places under Hedg sides and by the Pathwaies in Fields yet they rather delight to grow in shadowy than in Sunny places Time They Flower in May and June for the inost part and their seed is ripe in July at the furthest Vertues and use It is good for the Diseases of the Chest or Breast for pains and Stitches in the Sides
may be found in my Translation of the London Dispensatory and it may be I may give you again in plainer terms at the latter end of this Book ♀ Bishops-weed Description COmmon Bishops-weed riseth up with a round straight Stalk somtimes as high as a Man but usually three or four foot high beset with divers smal long and somwhat broad Leavs cut in som places and dented about the edges growing one against another of a dark green colour having sundry Branches on them and at the top smal umbels of white flowers which turn into smal round brown Seed little bigger than Parsly-seed of a quick hot scent and tast The Root is white and stringie perishing yearly after it hath seeded and usually riseth again of its own sowing Place It groweth wild in many places in England and Wales as between Greenheath and Gravsend Vertues It digesteth Humors provoketh Urin and Womens Courses dissolveth Wind and being taken in Wine easeth pains and griping in the Bowels and is good against the biting of Serpents It is used to good effect in those Medicins which are given to hinder the poysonful operation of Cantharides upon the passages of the Urin Being mixed with Honey and applied to black and blue marks coming of blows or bruises it takes them away and being drunk or outwardly applied it abateth an high colour and makes it pale and the Fumes therof taken with Rozin or Raisons clenseth the Mother It is hot and dry in the third degree of a bitter tast and somthing sharp withal it provokes Lust to purpose I suppose Venus owns it Bistort or Snakeweed ♄ Description THis hath a thick short knobbed Root blackish without and somwhat reddish within a little crooked or turned together of an harsh astringent tast with divers black threds hanging there from whence spring up every year divers Leaves standing upon long Footstalks being somwhat broad and long like a Dock-leaf and a little pointed at the ends but that it is of a blewish green colour on the upper side and of an Ash colour gray and a little purplish underneath with divers Veins therin from among which rise up divers smal and slender Stalks two foot high and almost naked and without Leavs or with very few and narrow bearing a spiky Bush of pale Flesh colour'd Flowers which being past there abideth smal Seed somwhat like unto Sorrel Seed but greater There are other sorts of Bistort growing in this Land but smaller both in height Root and Stalks and especially in the Leavs The Root blackish without and somwhat whitish within of an austere binding tast as the former Place They grow in shadowy moist Woods and at the foot of Hils but are chiefly nourished up in Gardens The narrow leaved Bistort groweth in the North in Lancashire yorkshire and Cumberland Time They Flower about the end of May and the Seed is ripe about the beginning of July Vertues and use Both the Leavs and Roots have have a powerful faculty to resist al Poyson The Root in Pouder taken in drink expelleth the Venem of the Plague the smal Pox Meazles Purples or any other infectious Diseas driving it out by sweating The Root in Pouder or the Decoction therof in Wine being drunk stayeth al manner of inward bleedings or spittings of Blood and any Fluxes in the Body of either Man or Woman or Vomitings it is also very available against Ruptures or Burstings or all bruises or fals dissolving the congealed Blood and easeth the pains that happen thereupon it also helpeth the Jaundice The Water distilled from both Leavs and Roots is a singular remedy to wash any place bitten or stung by any venemous creature as also for any of the purposes before spoken of And is very good to wash any running Sores or Ulcers The Decoction of the Root in Wine being drunk hindreth Abortion or Miscarriage in Child-bearing The Leavs also kil the Worms in Children and is a great help for them that cannot keep their Water if the Jayce of Plantane be added therto And outwardly applied much helpeth the Gonorrhea or running of the Reins A dram of the Pouder of the Root taken in the Water thereof wherein som red hot Iron or Steel hath been quenched is also an admirable help thereto so as the Body be first prepared and purged from the offensive humors The Leaves Seed or Roots are al very good in Decoctions Drinks or Lotians for inward or outward Wounds or other fores and the Pouder strewed upon any cut or wound in a Vein stayeth the immoderat bleeding thereof The Decoction of the Roots in Water whereunto som Pomgranate Pils and Flowers are added injected into the Matrix stayeth the access of humors to the Ulcers therof and bringeth it to its right place being fallen down and stayeth the immoderat flux of the Courses The Root hereof with Pellitory of Spain and burnt Allum of each a like quantity beaten smal and made into Past with some Honey and a little Picce thereof put into an hollow-Tooth or held between the Teeth if there be no hollowness in them stayeth the defluxion of Rhewm upon them which causeth pains and helps to clense the Head and avoid much offensive Water The Distilled Water is very effectual to wash Sores or Cankers in the Nose or any other part if the Pouder of the Root be aplied therunto afterwards It is good also to fasten the Gums and to take away the heat and inflamations that happen in the Jaws Almonds of the Throat or Mouth if the Decoction of the Leavs Roots or Seeds be used or the Juyce of them but the Roots are most effectual to all the purposes aforesaid ☉ One-Blade Description THis smal Plant never beareth more than one Leaf but only when it rises up with its Stalk which thereon beareth another and seldom more which are of a bluish green colour broad at the bottom and pointed with many Ribs or Veins like Plantane At the top of the Stalk grow many smal white Flowers Star-fashion smelling somthing sweet after which come smal reddish Berries when they are ripe The Root is smal of the bigness of a Rush lying and creeping under the upper crust of the Earth shooting forth in diverse places Place It groweth in moist shadowy grassie places of Woods in many places of this Realm Time It flowreth about May and the Berries be ripe in June and then quickly perisheth until the next year it springth from the same again The Vertues Half a dram or a dram at most of the Roots hereof in Pouder taken in Wine and Vineger of each a like quantity and the party presently laid to swear is held to be a sovereign remedy for those that are infected with the Plague and have a sore upon them by expelling the Poyson and defending the Heart and Spirits from danger it is also accounted a singular good Wound-Herb and therfore used with other
them The distilled Water of the Herb hath the same properties and may be used for all the Effects aforesaid Briony or VVild Vine ♂ Description THe Common white Briony groweth ramping upon the Hedges sending forth many long rough very tender branches at the beginning with many very rough broad Leavs theron cut for the most part into five partitions in form very like a Vine Leaf but smaller rougher aud of a whitish or hoary green colour spreading very far spreading and twining with his smal Claspers that come forth at the Joynts with â—he Leavs very far on whatsoever standeth next it At the several Joynts also especially towards the top of the Branches cometh forth a long Stalk bearing many whitish Flowers together in a long tuft consisting of five smal Leaves apiece laid open like a Star after which come the Berries separated one from another more than a Cluster of Grapes green at the first and very red when they are through ripe of no good sent but of a most loathsom tast provoking Vomit The Root groweth to be exceeding great with many long Twines or Branches growing from it of a pale whitish colour on the outside and more white within and of a sharp bitter loathsom tast Place It groweth on Banks or under Hedges through this Land the Roots lie very deep Time It Flowreth in July and August som earlier and some later than others Vertues and Vse The Roots of the Briony purge the Bell with great Violence troubling the Stomach and hurting the Liver and therfore not rashly to be taken but being corrected is very profitable for the Diseases of the Head as Falling-sickness Giddiness and Swimmings by drawing away much Flegm and Rhewmatick humors that oppress the Head as also the Joynts and Sinews and is therfore good for Palseys Convulsions Cramps and Stitches in the Sides and the Dropsie and in provoking Urin it clenseth the Reins and Kidnies from Gravel and the Stone by opening the Obstructions of the Spleen and consumeth the hardness and swellings therof The Decâ—ction of the Root in Wine drunk once a week at going to bed clenseth the Mother and helpeth the rising therof expelleth the dead Child and Afterbirth but is not to be used by Women with Child for fear of abortion a dram of the Root in Pouder taken in white Wine bringeth down their Courses An Electuary made of the Roots and Honey doth mightily clens the Chest of Rotten Flegm and wonderfully help an old strong Cough those that are troubled with shortness of Breath and is very good for them that are brused inwardly to help to expel the clotted or congealed Blood The Leavs Fruit and Root do clens old and filthy Sores are good against al fretting and running Cankers Gangrenes and Tetters and therfore the Berries are by some Country People called TetterBerries The Root clenseth the Skin wonderfully from al black and blow Spots Freckles Morphew Leprosie soul Scars or other deformity whatsoever as also al running Scabs and Manginess are healed by the Pouder of the dried Root or the Juyce therof but especially by the fine white hardned Juyce The distilled water of the Roots worketh the same effects but more weakly The Root bruised and applied of it self to any place where the Bones are broken helpeth to draw them forth as also Splinters and Thorns in the Flesh and being applied with a little Wine mixed therwith it breaketh Boyls and helpeth Whitlows on the Joynts For al these latter beginning at Sores Cankers c. apply it outwardly and take my advice along with you you shal find in my Translation of the London Dispensatory among the Preparations at latter end a Medicin called Foeculae Brioniae take that and use it you have the way there how to make it and mix that with a little Hogs Greas or other convenient Oyntment and use it at your need As for the former Diseases where it must be taken inwardly it purgeth very Violently and needs an abler hand to correct it than most Country people have therfore it is a better way for them in my opinion to let the Simple alone and take the Compound Water of it mentioned in my Dispensatory and that is far more safe being wisely corrected ♂ Brooklime Description THis sendeth forth from a creeping Root that shooteth forth strings at every Joynt as it runneth divers and sundry green Stalks round and sappy with some branches on them somwhat broad round deep green and thick Leavs set by couples theron from the Bosom wherof shoot forth long Footstalks with sundry smal blue Flowers on them that consist of five smal round pointed Leavs apiece There is another sort nothing differing from the former but that it is greater and the Flowers of a paler blue Colour Place They grow in â—mal standing Waters and usually neer Watercresses Time And Flower in June and July giving Seed the next Month after Vertues and use Brooklime and Watercresses are generally used together in Diet Drinks with other things serving to purge the Blood and Body from ill Humors that would destroy health and are helpful for the Scurvy They do also provoke Urin and help to break the Stone and pass it away they procure Womens Courses and expel the dead Child Being fried with Butter and Vinegar and applied warm it helpeth all manner of Tumors or Swellings and Inflamations Such drinks ought to be made of Sundry Herbs according to the Malady offending I shal give a plain and easie Rule at the latter end of the Book ♂ Butchers-Broom Description THe first shoots that sprout from the Root of Butchers-Broom are thick whitish and short somwhat like those of Asparagus but greater these rising up to be a foot and an half high are spread into divers Branches green somwhat crested with the roundness tough and flexible wheron are set somwhat broad and almost round hard Leavs sharp and prickly pointed at the ends of a dark green colour two for the most part set at a place very close or neer together about the middle of the Leaf on the back or lower side from the middle Rib breaketh forth a smal whitish green Flower consisting of four smal round pointed Leavs standing upon little or no Foot-stalk and in the place wherof cometh a smal round Berry green at the first and red when it is ripe wherin are two or three white hard round Seeds contained The Root is thick white and great at the Head and from thence sendeth forth divers thick white long tough strings Place It groweth in Copses and upon Heaths and wast grounds and oftentimes under or neer the Holly-Bushes Time It shooteth forth his yong buds in the Spring and the Berries are ripe in or about September The Branches and Leavs abiding green al the Winter Vertues and use The Decoction of the Roots made with Wine openeth Obstructions provoketh Urin helpeth to expel Gravel and the Stone the Strangury and Womens Courses as also
that Women will not put it in the Pot becaus it makes the Pottage black Pride and Ignorance a couple of Monsters in the Creation preferring Nicity before Health Dodder of Time or Epithimum and other Dodders ♄ Description THis first from Seeds giveth Roots in the Ground which shooteth forth threads or Strings grosser or finer as the property of the Plant wherein it groweth and the Climate doth suffer creeping and spreading on that Plant wheron it fastneth be it high or low These Strings have no Leavs at all upon them but wind and interlace themselves so thick upon a smal Plant that it taketh away all comfort of the Sun from it and is ready to choke or strangle it After these Strings are risen up to that Height that they may draw Nourishment from the Plant they seem to be broken off from the ground either by the strength of ther rising or withered by the heat of the Sun Upon these Strings are found clusters of small Heads or Husks out of which star◠forth whitish Flowers which afterwads give smal pale colour'd Seed somwhat flat and twice as big as Poppy Seed It generally participates of the Nature of that Plant which it climbeth upon but the Dodder of Time is accounted the best and is the only true Epithimum Vertues and use This is accounted the most effectnal for Melanchollick Diseases and to purge black or burnt Choller which is the caus of many Diseases of the Head and Brains as also for the trembling of the Heart faintings and Swounings It is helpful in all Diseases and Griefs of the Spleen and of that Melancholly that ariseth from the windiness of the Hypochondria It purgeth also the Reins or Kidneys by Urin. It openeth Obstructions of the Gall wherby it profiteth them that have the Jaundice as also of the Liver and Spleen purging the Veins of Chollerick and Flegmatick Humors and helpeth Childrens Agues a little Wormseed being put therto The other Dodders do as I said before participate of the Nature of those Plants whereon they grow As that which hath been found growing upon Nettles in the West Country hath by experience been found very effectual to procure plenty of Urin where it hath been stopped or hindred And so of the rest All Dodders are under Saturn Tell not me of Physitians crying up Epithimum or that Dodder which grows upon Time most of which comes from Hymettus in Greece or Hybla in Sicilia becaus those Mountains abound with Time he is a Physitian indeed that hath wit enough to chuse his Dodder according to Nature of the Diseas and Humor peccant we confess Time is the hottest Herb it usually grows upon and therfore that which grows upon Time is hotter than that which grows upon colder Herbs for it draws Nourishment from what it grows upon as well as from the Earth where its Root is and thus you see old Saturn is wise enough to have two Strings to his Bow Sympathy and Antipathy are the two Hinges upon which the whol Moddel of Physick turns and that Physitian which minds them not is like a Door off from the Hooks more likely to do a man a mischief than to secure him then all the Diseases Saturn causeth this helps by Sympathy strengthens al the parts of the Body he rules such as caused by Sol it helps by Antipathy what those Diseases are see my Judgment of Diseases by Astrology and you be pleased to look the Herb Wormwood you shal find a Rational way for it ♃ Dogs-Grass OR Quich-Grass Description IT is well known that this Grass creepeth far about under ground with long white joynted Roots and smal fibres almost at every Joynt very sweet in tast as the rest of the Herb is and interlacing one another from whence shoot forth many fair long grassy Leavs small at the ends and cutting or sharp on the edges The Stalks are joynted like Corn with the like Leavs on them and a long spiked Head with long Husks on them and hard rough Seed in them Place It groweth commonly through this Land in divers plowed grounds to the no smal trouble of the Husbandman as also of the Gardiners in Gardens to weed it out if they can for it is a constant Customer to the place it gets footing in Vertues and use This is the most Medicinable of all the Quith-grasses Being boyled and drunk it openeth Obstructions of the Liver and Gall and the Stoppings of the Urin and easeth the griping pains of the Belly and Inflamations wasteth the matter of the Stone in the Bladder and the Ulcers thereof also The Roots brused and applied doth consolidate Wounds The Seed doth more powerfully expel Urin and stayeth the Lask and Vomitings The distilled Water alone or with a little Wormseed killeth the Worms in Children The way of use is to bruis the Roots and having well boyled them in white Wine drink the Decoction 't is opening but not purging very safe 't is a Remedy against all Diseases coming of Stopping and such are half those which are incident to the Body of man and although a Gardiner be of another opinion yet a Physitian holds half an Acre of them to be worth five Acres of Carrots twice told over Dovesfoot or Cranes-bill ♂ Description THis hath divers small round pale green Leavs out in about the edges much like Mallows standing upon long reddish hairy Stalks lying in a round compass upon the ground among which rise up two or three or more reddish Joynted slender weak and hairy Stalks with some such like Leavs thereon but smaller and more cut in up to the tops where grow many very smal bright red Flowers of five Leavs apiece after which follow smal Heads with smal short bea◠pointing forth as all other sorts of these Herbs do Place It groweth in Pasture Grounds and by the Path sides in many places and wil also be in Gardens Time It Flowreth in June July and August some earlier and some later and the Seed is ripe quickly after Vertues and use It is found by experience to be singular good for the Wind Chollick and pains thereof as also to expel the Stone and Gravel in the Kidnies The Decoction there of in Wine is an exceeding good Wound Drink for those that have inward Wounds Hurts or Bruises both to stay the bleeding to dissolve and expel the congealed Blood and to heal the parts as also to clens and heal outward Sores Ulcers and Fistulaes and for green Wounds many do but bruise the Herb and apply it to the place and it healeth them quickly The same Decoction in Wine fomented to any place pained with the Gout or to Joynt-aches or pain of the Sinews giveth much eas The Pouder or Decoction of the Herb taken for some time together is found by experience to be singular good for Ruptures and Burstings in People either yong or old ☽ Ducksmeat THis is so well known to swim on the top of standing Waters
about the Sea Coasts in almost every Country of this Land which bordereth upon the Sea Time It Flowreth in the end of Summer and giveth ripe Seed within a Month after Vertues and use The Decoction of the Root herof in Wine is very effectual to open the Obstructions of the Spleen and Liver and helpeth the yellow Jaundice the Dropsie the pains in the Loins and wind Chollick provoketh Urine and expelleth the Stone and procureth Womens Courses The continued use of the Decoction for 15. daies taken fasting and next to Bedward doth help the strangury the pissing by drops the stopping of Urine and Stone and all defects of the Reins or Kidneys and if the said drink be continued longer it is said that it perfectly cureth the Stone and that experience hath found it so It is found good against the French Pox. The Roots bruised and applied outwardly helpeth the Kernels of the Throat commonly called the Kings evil or taken inwardly and applied to the place stung or bitten by any Serpent healeth it speedily If the Roots be bruised and boyled in old Hogs greas or salted Lard and applied to broken Bones Thorns c. remaining in the Flesh doth not only draw them forth but healeth up the place again gathering new Flesh where it was consumed The Juyce of the Leavs dropped into the Ears helpeth Imposthumes therin The Distilled Water of the whol Herb when the Leavs and Stalks are yong is profitably drunk for all the purposes aforesaid and helpeth the Melancholly of the Heart and is available in Quartane and Quotidian Agues as also for them that have their Necks drawn awry and cannot turn them without turning their whol Body The Plant is Venerial and breedeth Seed exceedingly and strengthens the Spirit procreative it is hot and moist and under the Coelestial Ballance ☉ ♌ Eyebright Description THe common Eyebright is a small low Herb rising up usually but with one blackish green Stalk a span high or not much more spread from the bottom into sundry Branches wheron are set smal and and almost round yet pointed dark green Leavs finely snipped about the edges two alwaies set together and very thick At the Joynts with the Leavs from the middle upward come forth small white Flowers stryped with purple and yellow Spots or stripes after which follow small round Heads with very small Seed therin The Root is long small and threddy at the end Place It groweth in many Meadows and grassy places in this Land Vertues and Vse If this Herb were but as much used as it is neglected it would half spoil the Spectacle-makers Trade and a man would think that reason should teach people to prefer the prefervation of their Natural before Artificial Spectacles which that they may be instructed how to do take the Vertues of Eyebright as followeth The Juyce or distilled Water of Eyebright taken inwardly in white Wine or Broth or dropped into the Eyes for divers daies together helpeth all infirmities of the Eyes that caus dimness of Sight Some make a Conserv of the Flowers to the same effect Being used any of these waies it also helpeth a weak Brain or Memory This tunned up with strong Beer that it may work together and drunk Or the Pouder of the dried Herb mixed with Sugar a little Mace and Fennel Seeds and drunk or eaten in Broth Or the said Pouder made into an Electuary with Sugar and taken hath the same powerful effect to help and restore the Sight decaied through age And Arnoldus de villa nova saith It hath restored Sight to them that have been blind a long time before It is under the Sign of the Lyon and Sol claims Dominion over it ☿ Fern. Description OF this there are two kinds principally to be noted viz. The Male and Female The Female groweth higher than the Male but the Leavs therof are lesser more divided or dented of as strong a smel as the Male The Vertues of them are both alike and therfore I shall not trouble you with any further Description or distinction of them Place They both grow on Heaths and in shady places neer the Hedg sides in all Countries of this Land Time They flourish and give their Seed at Midsummer The Femal Fern is that plant which is In Sussex called Brakes the Seed of which some Authors hold to be so rare such a thing there is I know and may easily Be had upon Midsummer Eve and for ought yet I know two or three daies before or after if not more Vertues and Vse The Roots of both these sorts of Ferns being bruised and boyled in Mead or Honyed Water and drunk killeth both the broad and long Worms in the Body and abateth the Swelling and hardness of the Spleen The green Leavs eaten purgeth the Belly and Chollerick and waterish humors but it troubles the Stomach They are dangerous for Women with Child to meddle with by reason they caus abortment The Roots bruised and boyled in Oyl or Hogs greas maketh a very profitable Oyntment to heal Wounds or pricks gotten into the Flesh. The Pouder of them used in foul Ulcers drieth up their Malignant moisture and causeth their speedier healing Fern being burned the smoke therof driveth away Serpents Gnats and other noisom Creatures which in the Fenny Countries do in the night time trouble and molest people lying in their Beds with their Faces uncovered it causeth Barrenness Osmond Royal or Water Fern. ♄ Description THis shooteth forth in the Spring time for in the Winter the Leavs perish divers rough hard Stalks half round and hollowish or flat on the other side two Foot high having divers Branches of winged yellowish green Leavs on all sides set one against another longer narrower and not nicked on the edges as the former From the top of some of these Stalks grow forth a long Bush of smal and more yellowish green scaly aglets as it were set in the same manner on the Stalks as the Leavs are which are accounted the Flower and Seeds The Root is rough thick and Scaly with a white pith in the middle which is called the Heart therof Place It groweth on Moors Bogs and Watery places in many parts of this Land Time It is green all the Summer and the Root only abideth in Winter Vertues and Use. This hath all the Vertues mentioned in the former Ferns and is much more effectual than they both for inward and outward Griefs and is accounted singular good in Wounds Bruises or the like the Decoction to be drunk or boyled into an Oyntment or Oyl as a Balsom of Balm and so it is singular good against Bruises and Bones broken or out of joynt and giveth much eas to the Chollick and Splenetick Diseases as also for Ruptures or burstings The Decoction of the Root in white Wine provokes Urine exceedingly and clenseth the Bladder and passages of Urine ♀ Featherfew Description COmmon Featherfew
upward stored with a number of pale yellow Flowers of a strong unpleasant scent with deeper yellow mouths and blackish flat Seeds in round Heads The Root is somwhat woody and white especially the main downright one with many fibres abiding many yeers shooting forth Roots every way round about and new Branches every yeer Place This groweth throughout this Land both by the way sides in Meadows as also by Hedg sides and upon the sides of Banks and Borders of Fields Time It Flowreth in Summer and the Seed is ripe usually before the end of August Vertues and use This is frequently used to provoke Urine being stopped and to spend the abundance of those watery Humors by Urine which caus the Dropsie The Decoction of the Herb both Leavs and Flowers in Wine taken and drunk doth somwhat move the Belly downwards openeth Obstructions of the Liver and helpeth the yellow Jaundice expelleth Poyson provoketh Womens Courses driveth forth the dead Child and Afterbirth The Distilled water of the Herb and Flowers is effectual for all the same purposes especially being drunk with a dram of the Pouder of the Seeds or Bark of the Root of Walwort and a little Cinnamon for certain daies together is held a singular Remedy for the Dropsie The Juyce of the Herb or the distilled Water dropped into the Eyes is a certain Remedy for all heat Inflamations and redness in them The Juyce or water put into foul Ulcers whither they be Cancrous or Fistulous with tents rouled therin or the parts washed or injected therwith clenseth them throughly from the bottom and healeth them up safely The same Juyce or Water also clenseth the Skin wonderfully of all sorts of deformity thereof as Lepry Morphew Scurff Wheals Pimples or any other Spots or Marks in the Skin applied of it self or used with some Pouder of Lupines Mars owns the Herb in Sussex we call it Gall-wort and lay it in our Chickens water to cure them of the Gall I think I am sure it releevs them when they are drooping Fleawort Description THe ordinary Fleawort riseth up with a Stalk two Foot high or more full of Joynts and Branches on every side up to the top and at every Joynt two small long and narrow whitish green Leavs somwhat hairy At the tops of every Branch stand divers small short scaly or chaffy Heads out of which come forth small whitish yellow threds like to those of the Plantane Herbs which are the Bloomings or Flowers The Seed inclosed in those Heads is smal and shining while it is Fresh very like unto Fleas both for colour and bigness but turning black when it groweth old The Root is not long but white hard and woody perishing every yeer and rising again of its own Seed for divers yeers if it be suffred to shed The whol Plant is somwhat whitish and hairy smelling somwhat like Rozin There is another sort hereof differing not from the former in the manner of growing but only that his Stalk and Branches being somwhat greater do a little more bow down to the ground The Leavs are somwhat larger the Heads somwhat lesser the Seed alike and the Root and Leavs abide all the Winter and perish not as the former Place The first groweth only in Gardens the second plentifully in Fields that are neer the Sea Time They Flower in July or thereabouts Vertues and use The Seed fried and so taken staieth the Flux or Lask of the Belly and the corrosions that come by reason of hot Chollerick Sharp and malignant Humors or by the too much purging of any violent Medicine as Scammony or the like The Muccilage of the Seed made with Rose Water and a little Sugar Candy put therto is very good in all hot Agues and burning Feavers and other Inflamations to cool the thirst and lenify the dryness and roughness of the Tongue and Throat It helpeth also hoarsness of the voice and Diseases of the Breast and Lungs caused by heat or sharp salt humors and the Pluresie also The Muccilage of the Seed made in Plantane Water whereunto the Yolk of an Egg or two and a little Populeon is put is a most safe and sure Remedy to eas the sharpness prickings and pains of the Hemorrhoids or Piles if it be laid on a cloath and bound therto It helpeth also all Inflamations in any parts of the Body and the pains that come thereby as the Head-ach and Megrim and all hot Imposthumes or Swellings or breakings out of the Skin as Blains Wheals Pushes Purples and the likes as also the pains of the Joynts and of those that are out of joynt the pains of the Gout and Sciatica the Bursting of yong Children and the swelling of the Navel applied with Oyl of Roses and Vinegar It is also very good to heal the Nipples and Sore Breasts of Women being often applied thereunto The Juyce of the Herb with a little Honey put into the Ears helpeth the running of them and the Worms breeding in them The same also mixed with Hogs Greas and applied to corrupt and filthy Ulcers and Sores clenseth and healeth them The Herb is cold and dry Saturnine I suppose it obtained the name Fleawort becaus the Seeds are so like Fleas Flixweed Description THis riseth up with a round upright hard Stalk four or five Foot high spread into sundry Branches wheron grow many grayish green Leavs very finely cut and severed into a number of short and almost round parts The Flowers are very smal and yellow growing Spike fashion after which come very smal long Pods with very smal yellowish Seed in them The Root is long and woody perishing every yeer There is another sort differing in nothing save only it hath somwhat broader Leaves They have a strong evil savor being smelt unto and are of a drying tast Place They grow wild in the Fields by Hedg-sides and High-waies and among rubbish and in many other place Time They Flower and Seed quickly after namely in June and July Vertues and use Both the Herb and Seed of Flixweed is of excellent use to stay the Flux or Lask of the Besly being drunk in Water wherein gads of Steel heated have been often quenched and is no less effectual for the said purpose than Plantane or Comfry and to restrain any other Flux of Blood in man or Woman as also to consolidate Bones broken or out of Joynt The Juyce therof drunk in Wine or the Decoction of the Herb drunk doth kill the Worms in the Stomach or Belly or the Worms that grow in putrid and filthy Ulcers And made into a Salve doth quickly heal all old sores how foul or Malignant soever they be The distilled water of the Herb worketh the same effects although somwhat weaker yet is a fair Medicine and more acceptable to be taken It is called Flixweed becaus it cures the Flux and for its uniting broken Bones c. Paracelsus extols it to the Skies It is fitting Syrups
is not able to stand upright but bendeth down to the Ground devided at the top into two or three smal Branches with smal yellowish green Heads and Flowers of a whitish colour breaking out of them which being past there cometh smal yellow Seed like Poppy Seed The Root is somwhat long and black with many strings or fibres thereat Place It groweth naturally in many Pastures and Wood sides in Harfordshire wiltshire and Kent and other places of this Land Time It Flowreth in May and June and abideth after Seed time green al the Winter Vertues and Use. Ladies-Mantle is very proper for those Wounds that have Inflamations and is very effectual to stay Bleedings Vomitings Fluxes of al sorts in man or woman and Bruises by Fals or otherwise and helpeth Ruptures and such Women or Maids as have over great Flagging Breasts causing them to grow less and hard being both drunk and outwardly applied The distilled water drunk for twenty daies together helpeth Conception and to retain the Birth if the Woman do somtimes also sit in a Bath made of the Decoction of the Herb. It is one of the most singular Wound Herbs that is and therfore highly prized and praised by the Germans who use in al Wounds inward and outward to drink the Decoction thereof and wash the Wounds therewith or dip Tents therein and put them into the Wounds which wonderfully drieth up al humidity of the Sores and abateth Inflamations therein It quickly healeth al green Wounds not suffering any corruption to remain behind and cureth old Sores though Fistulous and hollow Venus claims the Herb as her own ☿ Lavender THis is so wel known being an Inhabitant in almost every Garden that it needeth no Description Time It flowreth about the end of June and beginning of July Vertues and Use. Lavender is of special good use for all the Griefs and pains of the Head and Brains that proceed of a cold caus as the Apoplexy Falling-sickness the drowsie or sluggish Malady Cramps Convulsions Palseys and often Faintings It strengtheneth the Stomach and freeth the Liver and Spleen from Obstructions provoketh Womens Courses and expelleth the dead Child and Afterbirth The Flowers of Lavender steeped in Wine helpeth them to make water that are stopped or are troubled with the Wind or Chollick if the places be bathed therewith A Decoction made with the Flowers of Lavender Horehound Fennel and Asparagus Roots and a little Cinnamon is very profitably used to help the Falling-sickness and the giddiness or turning of the Brain To gargle the Mouth with the Decoction thereof is good against the Toothach Two spoonfuls of the distilled Water of the Flowers taken helpeth them that have lost their voice as also the tremblings and passions of the Heart and faintings and swounings not only being drunk but applied to the Temples or Nostrils to be smelt unto but it is not safe to use it where the Body repleat with Blood and Humors becaus of the hot and subtil spirits wherewith it is possessed The Chimical Oyl drawn from Lavender usually called Oyl of Spike is of so fierce and piercing Spirits that it is cautiously to be used some few drops being sufficient to be given with other things either for inward or outward Griefs Mercury owns the Herb and it carries his effects very potently Lavender Cotten hath the same Vertues with Southernwood which shal be shewed you when I come to speak of it ☽ ♋ Lettice THis is so wel known being generally used as a Sallet Herb that it is altogether needless to write any Description thereof Vertues and Use. The Juyce of Lettice mixed or boyled with Oyl of Roses and applied to the Forehead and Temples procureth Sleep and easeth the Headach proceeding of an hot caus being eaten boyled it helpeth to loosen the Belly It helpeth digestion quencheth thirst encreaseth Milk in Nurses easeth griping pains of the Stomach or Bowels that come of Choller It abateth Bodily lust represseth Venereous Dreams being outwardly applied to the Cods with a little Camphire Applied in the same manner to the Region of the Heart Liver or Reins or by bathing the said place with the Juyce or distilled Water wherein some white Sanders and red Roses are put also it not only represseth the heat and Inflamation therein but comforts and strengthens those parts and also tempereth the heat of Urine Galen adviseth old men to use it with Spices and where Spices are wanting to ad Mints Rocket and such like hot Herbs or els Citron Lemmon or Orange Seeds to abate the cold of one and heat of the other The Seed and distilled Water of the Lettice work the like effects in al things but the use of Lettice is chiefly forbidden to those that are short winded or have any imperfection in their Lungs or spit Blood The Moon owns them and that 's the reason they cool and moisten what heat and driness Mars causeth because Mars hath his fall in Cancer and they cool the Heart becaus the Sun rules it between whom and the Moon is a Reccption in the Generation of Man as you may soe in my Guide for women The VVater-Lilly ☽ Description OF these there are two principally noted kinds Viz. Thewhite and the Yellow The white Lilly hath very large round and thick dark green Leavs lying on the Water sustained by long and thick Footstalks that rise from a great thick round and long tuberous black Root spungy or loos with many Knobs thereon like Eyes and whitish within from amidst the which rise other the like thick and great Stalks sustaining one large white Flower thereon green on the outside but as white as Snow within consisting of divers rows of long and somwhat thick and narrow Leavs smaller and thinner the more inward they be encompassing a head within w th many yellow threds or thrums in the middle where after they are past stand round Poppylike Heads ful of broad Oyly and bitter Seed The yellow kind is little different from the former save only it hath fewer Leavs on the Flowers greater and more shining Seed and a whitish Root both within and without The Roots of both being somwhat sweet in tast Place They are sound growing in great Pools and standing Waters and somtimes in slow running Rivers and lesser Ditches of Water in sundry places of this Land Time They Flower most commonly about the end of May and their Seed is ripe in August Vertues and use The Leavs and Flowers of the Water-Lillies are cold and moist but the Root and Seed is cold and dry The Leavs do cool al Inflamations and both outward and inward heats of Agues and so doth the Flowers also either by the Syrup or Conserve The Syrup helpeth much to procure rest and to settle the Brains of Frantick persons by cooling the hot distemperature of the Head The Seed as wel as the Root is effectual to stay Fluxes of Blood or Humors either of Wounds
female Peony for women and he desires to be judged by his brother Dr. Experience The Roots are held to be of most Vertue then the Seeds next the Flowers and last of all the Leavs Pepperwort or Dittander Description OUr common Pepper-wort sendeth forth somwhat long and broad Leavs of a light blewish green colour finely dented about the edges and pointed at the ends standing upon round hard Stalks three or four foot high spreading many Branches on all sides and having many smal white Flowers at the tops of them after which follow small Seed in small Heads The Root is slender running much under ground and shooting up again in many place and both Leavs and Root are very hot and sharp of tast like Pepper for which caus it took the name Place It groweth Naturally in many places of this Land as at Clare in Essex neer also unto Exceter in Devonshire upon Rochester common in Kent in Lancashire and divers other places but is usually kept in Gardens Time It Flowreth in the end of June and in July Vertues and Use Pliny and Paulus AEgineta say that Pepperwort is very effectual for the Sciatica or any other Gout or pain in the Joynts or any other inveterate grief the Leavs hereof to be bruised and mixed with old Hogs grease and applied to the place and to continue thereon four hours in Men and two hours in women the place being afterwards bathed with Wine and Oyl mixed together and then wrapped with Wool or Skins after they have sweat a little It also amendeth the Deformities or discolourings of the Skin and helpeth to take away Marks Scars and Scabs or the foul marks of burning with fire or iron The Juyce hereof is in some places used to be given in Ale to drink to women with child to procure them a speedy delivery in Travail Here 's another Martial Herb for you make much of it Perwinkle Description THe common sort hereof hath many Branches trayling or running upon the ground shooting out smal Fibres at the Joynts as it runneth taking thereby hold in the ground and Rooteth in divers places At the Joynts of these Branches stand two small dark green shining Leavs somwhat like Bay Leavs but smaller and with them come forth also the Flowers one at a Joynt standing upon a tender Footstalk being somwhat long and hollow parted at the brims somtimes into four somtimes five Leavs the most ordinary sort are of a pale blue colour some are pure white and some of a dark reddish Purple colour The Root is little bigger than a Rush bushing in the ground and creeping with his Branches far about whereby it quickly possesseth a great compass and is therfore most usually planted under Hedges where it may have room to run Place Those with the pale blue and those with the white Flowers grow in Woods and Orchards by the Hedg sides in diverse places of this Land But those with the Purple Flowers in Gardens only Time They Flower in March and April Vertues and Use. The Perwincle is a great binder staying bleeding both at Mouth and Nose if some of the Leavs be chewed The French use it to stay Womens Courses Dioscorides Galen and AEgineta commend it against the Lask and Fluxes of the Belly to be drunk in Wine Venus owns this Herb and saith that the Leavs eaten by man and wife together causeth love between them St. Peters-wort Name IF Superstition had not been the Father of Tradition as well as Ignorance the Mother of Devotion this Herb as well as St. Johns wort had found some other name to be known by but we may say of our Fore-fathers as St. Paul of the Athenians I perceive that in many things you are too Superstitious Yet seing it is come to that pass that Custom having gotten possession pleads Prescription for the name I shall let it pass and come to the Description of the Herb which take as followeth Description It riseth up with square upright Stalks for the most part somwhat greater and higher than St. Johns wort and good reason too St. Peter being the greater Apostle ask the Pope else for though God would have the Saints equal the Pope is of another Opinion but brown in the same mannor having two Leavs at every Joynt somwhat like but larger than St. Johns wort and a little rounder pointed with few or no Holes to be seen therein and having somtimes some smaller Leavs rising from the Bosom of the greater and somtimes a little hairy also At the tops of the Stalks stand many Starlike Flowers with yellow threds in the middle very like those of St. Johns wort insomuch that this is hardly discerned from it but only by the largeness of height the Seed being also alike in both The Root abideth long sending forth new shoots every yeer Place It groweth in many Groves and small low Woods in divers places of this Land as in Kent Huntington Cambridg and Nothampton shires as also neer water Courses in other places Time It Flowreth in June and July and the Seed is ripe in August Vertues and Use. It is of the same property with St. Johns wort but somwhat weak and therefore more seldom used Two drams of the Seed taken at a time in Honeyed water purgeth Chollerick Humors as saith Dioscorides Pliny and Galen and thereby helpeth those that are troubled with the Sciatica The Leavs are used as St. Johns wort to help those places of the Body that have been burnt with Fire There is not a straw to chuse between this and St. Johns wort only St. Peter must have it lest he should lack Pot-herbs Pimpernel Discription COmmon Pimpernel hath diverse weak square Stalks lying on the ground beset all along with two smal and almost round Leavs at every Joynt one against another very like Chickweed but hath no Footstalks for the Leavs do as it were compass the Stalk The Flowers stand singly each by themselvs at them and the Stalks consisting of five round small pointed Leavs of a fine pale red colour tending to an Orange with so many threds in the middle in whose places succeed smooth round Heads wherein is contained smal Seed The Root is smal and fibrous perishing every yeer Place It groweth every where almost as well in the Meadows and Cornfields as by the Way-sides and in Gardens arising of it self Time It Flowreth from May unto August and the Seed ripeneth in the mean time and falleth Vertues and Use. This is of a clensing and attractive quality whereby it draweth forth Thorns or Splinters or other such like things gotten into the Flesh and put up into the Nostrils purgeth the Head and Galen saith also they have a drying faculty whereby they are good to soder the lips of Wounds and to clens foul Ulcers The distilled Water or Juyce is much esteemed by French Dames to clense the Skin from any roughness deformity or discolouring thereof Being boyled in Wine and given to drink it
Poplars which are most familiar with us Viz. The Black and the White both which I shall here describe unto you The white Poplar groweth great and reasonable high covered with a thick smooth white Bark especially the Branches having large Leavs cut into several devisions almost â— a Vine Leaf but not of so deep a green on the upper side and hoary white underneath of a reasonable good scent the whol form representing the Leaf of Coltsfoot The Catkins which it bringeth forth before the Leavs are long and of a faint reddish colour which fall away bearing seldom good Seed with them The Wood hereof is smooth soft and white very finely waved whereby it is much esteemed The Black Poplar groweth high â— straiter than the White with a grayish Bark bearing broad and green Leaves somwhat like Ivy Leavs not cut in on the edges like the White but whol and dented ending in a point and not white underneath hanging by slender long Footstalks which with the Air are continually shaken like as the Aspin Leavs are The Catkins hereof are greater than of the White composed of many round green Berries as it were set together in a long Cluster containing much downice matter which being ripe is blown away with the wind The clammy Buds hereof before they spread into Leavs are gathered to make the Unguentum Populeon and are of a yellowish green colour and smal somwhat sweet but strong The Wood is smooth tough â—and white and easie to be cloven On both these Trees groweth a sweet kind of Musk which in former times was used to be put into sweet Oyntments Place They grow in moist Woods and by water sides in sundry places of the Land yet the white is not so frequent as the other Time Their time is likewise expressed before The Catkins coming forth before the Leavs and ripen in the end of Summer Vertues and Use. The White Poplar saith Galen is of a clensing property The weight of one ounce in Pouder of the Bark thereof being drunk saith Dioscorides is a Remedy for those that are troubled with the Sciatica or the Strangury The Juyce of the Leavs dropped warm into the Ears easeth the pains in them The yong clammy Buds or Eyes before they break out into Leavs bruised and a little Honey put to them is a good Medicine for a dull Sight The Black Poplar is held to be more cooling than the White and therefore the Leavs bruised with Vinegar and applied helpeth the Gout The Seed drunk in Vinegar is held good against the Falling-sickness The Water that droppeth from the hollow places of this Tree taketh away Warts Pushes Wheals and other the like breakings out in the Body The yong black Poplar Buds saith Mathiolus are much used by Women to beautifie their hair bruising them with fresh Butter and straining them after they have been kept for some time in the Sun The Oyntment called Populeon which is made of this Poplar is singular good for all heat or Inflamation in any part of the â—â—â—â—â—y and tempereth the heat of Wounâ—â—his much used to dry up the Milk in Womens Breasts When they have weyned their Children Poppy OF this I shal describe three kinds Viz. The Whites and Black of the Garden and the Erratick wild Poppy or Corn Rose Discription The white Poppy hasth at first four or five whitish green Leavs lying upon the ground which rise with the Stalk compassing it at the bottom of them and are very large much cut or torn in on the edges and dented also besides The Stalk which is usually four or five foot high hath somtimes no Branches at the top usually but two or three at most bearing every one but one Head wrapped in a thin Skin which boweth down before it be ready to blow and then rising and being broken the Flower within it spreadeth it self open and consisteth of four very large White round Leavs with many whitish round threds in the middle set about a small round green Head having a Crown or Star-like cover at the Head thereof which growing ripe becometh as large as a great Apple wherein are contained a great number of smal round Seed in several partitions or devisions next unto the shell the middle thereof remaining hollow and empty All the whol Plant both Leavs Stalks and Heads while they are fresh yong and green yield a Milk when they are broken of an unpleasant bitter tast almost ready to provoke casting and of a strong heady smel which being condensate is called Opium The Root is white and woody perishing as soon as it hath given ripe Seed The Black Poppy little differeth from the former until it beareth his Flower which is somwhat less and of a black Purplish colour but without any purple spots in the bottom of the Leaf The Head of Seed is much less than the former and openeth it self a little round about the top under the Crown so that the Seed which is very black will fall out if one turn the Head thereof downwards The wild Poppy or Corn Rose hath long and narrow Leavs very much cut in on the edges into many devisions of a light green colour and somtimes hairy withal The Stalk is blackish and hairy also but not so tall as the Garden kinds having some such like Leavs thereon as grow below parted into three or four Branches somtimes whereon grow smal hairy Heads bowing down before the Skin break wherein the Flower is inclosed which when it is ful blown open is of a fair yellowish red or crimson colour and in some much paler without any spot in the bottom of the Leavs having many black soft threds in the middle compassing a smal green Head which when it is ripe is not bigger than ones little finger end wherin is contained much black Seed smaller by half than that of the Garden The Root perisheth every yeer and springeth again of its own sowing Of this kind there is one lesser in all the parts thereof and differeth in nothing els Places The Garden kinds do not naturally grow wild in any place but are all sown in Gardens where they grow The Wild Poppy or Corn Rose is plentiful enough and many times too much in the Corn Fields of all Countries through this Land and also upon Ditch Banks and by Hedg sides The smaller wild kind is also found in Corn Fields and also in some other place but not so plentiful as the former Time The Garden kinds are usually sown in the Spring which then Flower about the end of May and somwhat earlier if they spring of their own sowing The Wild Kinds Flower usually from May until July and the Seed of them is ripe soon after the Flowring Vertues and use The Garden Poppy Heads with Seeds made into a Syrup is frequently and to good effect used to procure rest and sleep in the sick and weak and to stay Catarrh's and Defluxions of hot thin Rhewms from the Head into the Stomach
extenuate fat corpulent Bodies What an Infamy is cast upon the Ashes of Methridates or Methradates as the Augustanes read his name by unworthy people they that deserve no good report themselves love to give nonâ— to others Viz. That that renowned King of Pontus fortified his Body by Poyson against Poyson He cast out Devils by Beelzebub the Prince of Devils what a sot is he that knows not if he had accustomed his Body to cold Poysons hot Poysons would have dispatch'd him or the contrary if not corrosions would have done it the whol world is at this very time beholding to him for his Studies in Physick and he that useth the quantity of but a Hazel Nut of that Recept every morning to which his name is adjoyned shall to admiration preserve his Body in health if he do but consider that Rue is an Herb of the Sun and under Leo and gather it and the rest accordingly Rupture wort Description THis spreadeth very many threddy Branches round about upon the ground about a span long devided into many other smaller parts full of small Joynts set very thick together whereat come forth two very small Leavs of a fresh yellowish green colour branches and all where groweth forth also a number of exceeding smal yellowish Flowers scarce to be discerned from the Stalks and Leavs which turn into Seed as smal as the very dust The Root is very long and smal thrusting down deep into the ground This hath neither smel nor tast at first but afterward hath a little astringent tast without any manifest heat yet a little bitter and sharp withal Place It groweth in dry sandy and Rockie places Time It is fresh and green all the Summer Vertues and use Rupture wort hath not his name in vain for it is found by experience to cure the Rupture not only in Children but also in Elder Persons if the Diseas be not too inveterate by taking a dram of the Pouder of the dried Herb every day in Wine for certain daies together Or the Decoction made in Wine and drunk Or the Juyce or distilled water of the green Herb taken in the same manner and helpeth all other Fluxes either in men or Women Vomitings also and the Gonorrhea or running of the Reins being taken any of the waies aforesaid It doth also most assuredly help those that have the Strangury or have their Urine stopped or are troubled with the Stone or Gravel in their Reins or Bladder The same also helpeth much all Stitches in the Side all griping pains in the Stomach or Belly the Obstructions of the Liver and cureth the yellow Jaundice likewise It killeth also the Worms in Children Being outwardly applied it conglutineth Wounds notably and helpeth much to stay Defluxions of Rhewm from the Head to the Eyes Nose and Teeth being bruised green and bound thereto Or the Decoction of the dried Herb to bath the Forehead and Temples or the Nape of Neck behind It also drieth up the moisture of Fistulous Ulcers or any others that are foul and spreading They say Saturn causeth Ruptures if he do he doth no more than he can cure if you want wit he will teach you though to your cost this Herb is Saturns own and is a notable Antivenerian Rushes ALthough there are many kinds of Rushes yet I shall only here insist upon those which are best known and most Medicinal as the Bulrushes and other of the soâ—t and smooth kinds which grow so commonly in almost every place of this Land and are so generally noted that I suppose it needless to trouble you with any Description of them Briefly then take the Vertues of them as followeth Vertues and Uices The Seeds of these soft Rushes saith Dioscorides and Galen toasted saith Pliny being drunk in Wine and Water stayeth the Lask and Womens Courses when they come down too abundantly but it causeth Headach It provoketh sleep likewife but must be given with caution lest the party that takes it wake not until the Resurrection Pliny saith The Root boyled in water to the consumption of one third helpeth the Cough Thus you see that Conveniences have their Inconveniences and Vertue is seldom unaccompanied with some Vices What I have written concerning Rushes is to satisfie my Country-mens Question Are our Rushes good for nothing Yes and as good let alone as taken There are Remedies enough without them for every Diseas and therforo as the Proverb is I care not a Rush for them or rather they will do you as much good as if one had given you a Rush. Rye THis is so well known in all the Countries of this Land and especially to the Country people who feed much thereon that if I should describe it they would presently say I might well have spared that Labor Its Vertues follow Vertues and use Rye is more digesting than Wheat The Bread and the Leaven thereof ripeneth and breaketh Impostumes Boyls and other Swellings The Meal of Rye put between a double cloth and moistned with a little Vinegar and heated in a Pewter dish set over a Chafing-dish of coals and bound fast to the Head while it is hot both much eas the continual pains of the Head Mathiolus saith That the ashes of Rye straw put into Water and suffered therein a day and a night and the Chops of the Hands or Feet washed therewith doth heal them Saffron THe Herb needs no Description it being known generally where it grows Place It grows frequently at Walden in Essex and in Cambridg-sbire Vertues and use It is an Herb of the Sun and under the Lion and therfore you need not demand a reason why it strengthens the heart so exceedingly Let not abov ten grains be given at one time for if the Sun which is the Fountain of Life may dazle the Eyes and make them blind a Cordial being taken in an immoderate quantity may hurt the Heart instead of helping it It quicken the Brain for the Sun is exalted in V as well as he hath his House in SL it help Consumption of the Lungs help difficulty of breathing it is an excellent thing in Epidemical Diseases as Pestilences smal Pox and Measles It is a notable expulsive Medicine and a notable Remedy for the yellow Jaundice My own Opinion is but I have no Author for it that Hermodactils is nothing else but the Roots of Saffron dried and my reason is that the Roots of all Crocus both white and yellow purge Flegm as Hermodactils do and if you please to dry the Roots of any Crocus neither your eye nor your tast shal distinguish it from Hermodactils Sage OUr ordinary Garden Sage needeth no Description Time It Flowreth in or about July Vertues and use A Decoction of the Leavs and Branches of Sage made and drunk saith Dioscorides provoketh Urine bringeth down Womens Courses helpeth to expel the dead Child and causeth the hairs to become black It staieth the bleeding of Wounds and clenseth foul Ulcers or Sores The seid
Decoction made in Wine taketh away the itching of the Cods if they be bathed therwith Agrippa saith That if Women that cannot conceive by reason of the moist slipperiness of their Wombs shall take a quantity of the Juyce of Sage with a little Salt for four daies before they company with their Husbands it will help them not only to Conceive but also to retain the Birth without miscarrying Orpheus saith Three spoonfuls of the Juyce of Sage taken fasting with a little Honey doth presently stay the spitting or casting up of Blood For them that are in a Consumption these Pills are much commended Take of Spicknard and Ginger of each two drams of the Seed of Sage toasted at the fire eight drams of long Pepper twelve drams all these being brought into fine Pouder put thereto so much Juyce of Sage as may make them into a Mass for Pills taking a dram of them every morning fasting and so likewise at night drinking a little pure Water after them Mathiolus saith it is very profitable for all manner of pains of the Head coming of cold and Rhewmatick Humors as also for all pains of the Joynts whether used inwardly or outwardly and therfore helpeth the Falling-sickness the Lethargy such as are dull and heavy of spirit the Palsey and is of much use in an Defluxions of Rhewm from the Head and for the Diseases of the Chest or Preast The Leavs of Sage and Nettles bruised together and laid upon the Impostume that riseth behind the Ears doth aslwage it much The juyce of Sage taken in warm water helpeth a Hoarsness and the Cough The Leavs sodden in Wine and laid upon the place affected with the Palsey helpeth much if the Decoction be drunk also Sage taken with Wormwood is used for the bloody Flux Pliny saith it procureth Womens Courses and stayeth them coming down too fast helpeth the stinging and biting of Serpents and killeth the Worms that breed in the Ears and in Sores Sage is of excellent use to help the Memory warming and quickning the senses and the Conserve made of the Flowers is used to the same purpose and also for all the former recited Diseases The Juyce of Sage drunk with Vinegar hath been of good use in the time of Plague at all times Gargles likewise are made with Sage Rosemary Honeysuckles and Plantane boyled in Wine or Water with some Honey and Allum put thereto to wash sore Mouthes and Throats Cankers or the secret parts of man or woman as need requireth And with other hot and comfortable Herbs Sage is boyled to bath the Body or Legs in the Summer time especially to warm cold Joynts or Sinews troubled with the Palsey or Cramp and to comfort and strengthen the parts It is much commended against the Stitch or pains in the side coming of Wind if the place be fomented warm with the Decoction thereof in Wine and the Herb after the boyling be laid warm also thereunto Jupiter claims this and bid me tell you it is good for the Liver and to breed good Blood VVood-Sage Description VVood-Sage riseth up with square hoary Stalks two foot high at the least with two Leavs set at every Joynt somwhat like other Sage Leavs but smaller softer whiter and rounder and a little dented about the edges and smelling somwhat strongly At the tops of the Stalks and Branches stand the Flowers on a slender long Spike turning themselves all one way when they blow and are of a pale and whitish colour smaller than Sage but hooded and gaping like unto them The Seed is blackish and round four usually set in a husk together The Root is long and stringy with diverse Fibres thereat and abideth many yeers Place It groweth in Woods and by Wood-sides as also in diverse Fields and by-Lanes in this Land Time It Flowreth in June July and August Vertues and Use. The Decoction of Wood-Sage provoketh Urine and Womens Courses it also provoketh Sweat digesteth Humors and discusseth Swellings and Nodes in the Flesh and is therefore thought to be good against the French Pox. The Decoction of the green Herb made with Wine is a safe and sure Remedy for those who by falls bruises or Blows doubt some Vein to be inwardly broken to disperse and avoid the congealed blood and to consolidate the Vein It is also good for such as are inwardly or outwardly bursten the drink used inwardly and the Herb applied outwardly The same used in the same manner is found to be a sure Remedy for the Palsey The Juyce of the Herb or the Pouder thereof dried is good for moist Ulcers and sores in the Legs or other parts to dry them and caus them to heal the more speedily It is no less effectual also in green Wounds to be used upon any occasion Solomons Seal Description THe common Solomons Seal riseth up with a round Stalk about half a yard high bowing or bending down to the top set with single Leavs one above another somwhat large and like the Leavs of the LillyConvalley or May Lilly with an eye of blewish upon the green with some ribs therein and more yellowish underneath At the foot of every Leaf almost from the bottom up to the top of the Stalk come forth small long white and hollow pendulous Flowers somwhat like the Flowers of May-Lilly but ending in five long points for the most part two together at the end of a long Footstalk and somtimes but one and sometimes also two Stalks with Flowers at the Foot of a Leaf which are without any scent at all and stand all on one side of the Stalk After they are past come in their places smal round Berries green at the first and blackish green tending to blewness when they are ripe wherein lie smal white hard and stony Seed The Root is of the thickness of ones finger or Thumb white and knobbed in some places with a flat round circle representing a Seal whereof it took the name lying along under the upper crust of the Earth and not growing downward but with many fibres underneath Place It is frequent in diverse places of this Land as namely in a Wood two miles from Canterbury by Fishpool-Hill as also in a bushy Close belonging to the Parsonage of Alderbury neer Clarindon two miles from Salisbury in Chesson Wood on Chesson Hill between Newington and Sittingborn in Kent and in diverse other places in Essex and other Counties Time It Flowreth about May The Root abideth and shooteth anew every yeer Vertues and Use. The Root of Solomons Seal is found by experience to be available in Wounds Hurts and outward Sores to heal and close up the lips of those that are green and to dry up and restrain the Flux of Humors to those that are old It is singular good to stay Vomitings and Bleedings wheresoever as also al Fluxes in man or woman whether the Whites or Reds in Women or the running of the Reins in men also to knit any Joynt
to be taken inwardly with a little Sugar which Medicine the daintiest Stomach will not refuse but outwardly by applying Cloathes or Spunges wetted therein It is wonderful good for Women to wash their Faces therewith to cleer the Skin and give a lustre thereto Southernwood THis is so well known to be an Ordinary Inhabitant in our Gardens that I shall not need to trouble you with any Description thereof The Vertues are as followeth Time It Flowreth for the most part in July and August Vertues and use Dioscorides saith That the Seed bruised heated in warm Water drunk helpeth those that are Bursten or troubled with Cramps or Convulsions of the Sinews the Sciatica or difficulty in making water and bringeth down Womens Courses The same taken in Wine is an Antidote or Counter poyson against all deadly Poyson and driveth away Serpents and other Venemous Creatures as also the smel of the Herb being Burnt doth the same The Oyl thereof anointed on the Backbone before the Fits of Agues come taketh them away it taketh away Inflamations in the Eyes if it be put with some part of a roasted Quince and boyled with a few crums of bread and applied Boyled with Barely Meal it taketh away Pimples Pushes or Wheals that rise in the Face or other part of the Body The Seed as well as the dried Herb is often given to kill the Worms in Children The Herb bruised and laid to helpeth to draw forth Splinters and Thorns out of the Flesh. The Ashes thereof dryeth up and healeth old Ulcers that are without Inflamation although by the sharpness thereof it biteth sore and putteth them to sore pains as also the Sores in the privy Parts of man or woman The Ashes mingled with old Sallet Oyl helpeth those that have their hair fallen and are bald causing the hair to grow again either on the Head or Beard Diâ—rantes saith That the Oyl made of Southernwood and put among the Oyntments that are used against the French Diseas is very effectual and likewise killeth Lice in the Head The Distilled Water of the Herb is said to help them much that are troubled with the Stone as also for the Diseases of the Spleen and Mother The Germans commend it for a singular Wound Herb and therefore call it Stabwort It is held by all Writers Antient and Modern to be more offensive to the stomach than Wormwood Spignel Description THe Roots of common Spignel do spread much and deep in the ground many strings or branches growing from one Head which is hairy at the top of a blackish brown colour on the outside and white within smelling well and of an Aromatical tast from whence rise sundry long stalks of most fine cut Leaves like hairs smaller than Dill set thick on both sides of the Stalks and of a good scent Among these Leaves rise up round stif stalks with few Joynts and Leaves at them and at the tops an Umbel of fine pure white Flowers at the edges whereof somtimes will be seen a shew of reddish blush colour especially before they be full blown and are succeeded by smal somwhat round Seed bigger than the ordinary Fennel and of a browner colour devided into two parts and crested on the back as most of the Umbelliferous Seeds are Place It groweth wild in Lancashire Yorkshire and other Northern Countries and is also planted in Gardens Vertues and Use. Galen saith The Roots of Spignel are available to provoke Urine and Womans Courses but if too much thereof be taken it causeth Headach The Roots boyled in Wine or Water and drunk helpeth the Strangury and stoppings of the Urine the Wind swellings and pains in the Stomach pains of the Mother and all Joynt Aches If the Pouder of the Roots be mixed with Honey and the same taken as a licking Medicine it breaketh tough Flegm and drieth up the Rhewm that falleth on the Lungs The Roots are accounted very effectual against the stinging or biting of any Venemous Creature and is one of the Ingredients in Methâ—idate and other Antidotes for the same Spleenwort or Ceterach Description THe smooth Spleenwort from a black threddy and bushy Root sendeth forth many long single Leaves cut in on both sides into round dents almost to the middle which is not so hard as that of Pollipodie each devision being not alwaies set opposite unto the other but between each smooth and of a light green on the upper side and a dark yellowish roughness on the back folding or rolling it self inward at the first springing up Place It groweth as well upon stone walls as moist and shadowy places about Bristol and other the West parts plentifully as also on Framingham Castle on Beckonsfield Church in Bakshire at Strowde in Kent and elswhere and abideth green all the Winter Vertues and Use. It is generally used against infirmities of the Spleen it helpeth the strangury and wasteth the Stone in the Bladder and is good against the yellow Jaundice and the Hiccough but the use of it in Women hindreth Conception Mathiolus saith That if a dram of the dust that is on the back side of the Leaves be mixed with half a dram of Amber in Pouder and taken with the Juyce of Purslane or Plantane it will help the running of the Reins Speedily and that the Herb and Root being boyled and taken helpeth all Melanchollick Diseases and those especially that arise from the French Disease Camerarius saith That the Distilled water thereof being drunk is very effectual against the Stone in the Reins and Bladder and that the Ly that is made of the Ashes thereof being drunk for some time together helpeth Splenetick persons It is used in outward Remedies for the same purpose Star-thistle Description THe common Star-thistle hath diverse long and narrow Leaves lying next the ground cut or torn on the edges somwhat deeply into many almost even parts soft or a little woolley all over the green among which rise up diverse weak stalks parted into many Branches all lying or leaning down to the ground that it seemeth a pretty Bush set with diverse the like devided Leaves up to the tops where severally do stand long and small whitish green heads set with very sharp and long white pricks no part of the Plant being else prickly which are somwhat yellowish out of the middle whereof riseth the Flower composed of many small reddish purple threds and in the Heads after the Flowers are past come small whitish round Seed lying in down as others do The Root is small long and woody perishing every yeer and rising again of its own sowing Place It groweth wild in the Fields about London in many places as at Mile-end-Green in Finsbury Fields beyond the Wind-mils and many other places Time It Flowreth early and Seedeth in July and somtimes in August Vertues and use The Seed of this Star-thistle made into Pouder and drunk in Wine provoketh Urine and helpeth to break the Stone and drive it
forth The Root in Pouder and given in Wine and drunk is good against the Plague or Pestilence and drunk in the mornings fasting for some time together is very profitable for a Fistula in any part of the Body Baptista Sardus doth much commend the distilled Water hereof being drunk to help the French Disease to open Obstructions of the Liver and clense the Blood from corrupted Humors and is profitably given against Quotidian or Tertian Agues Strawberries THese are so well known through this Land that they need no Description Time They Flower in May ordinarily and the Fruit is ripe shortly after Vertues and use Strawberries when they are green are cold and dry but when they are ripe they are cold and moist The Berries are excellent good to cool the Liver the Blood and the Spleen or an hot Chollerick stomach to refresh comfort the fainting Spirits to quench Thirst They are good also for other Inflamations yet it is not arniss to refrain them in a Feaver lest by their putrefying in the Stomach they encrease the Fits The Leavs and Roots boyled in Wine and Water and drunk do likewise cool the Liver and Blood and asswage all Inflamations in the Reins and bladder provoketh Urine and allayeth the heat and sharpness thereof The same also being drunk stayeth the Bloody Flux and Womens Courses and helpeth the Swellings of the Spleen The Water of the Berries carefully distilled is a Soveraign Remedy and Cordial in the panting and beating of the Heart and is good for the yellow Jaundice The Juyce dropped into foul Ulcers or they washed therewith or the Decoction of the Herb and Root doth wonderfully clense and help to cure them Lotions and Gargles for sore Mouthes or Ulcers therin or in the privy Parts or elswhere are made with the Leaves and Roots hereof which is also good to fasten loose Teeth and to heal spungy soul Gums It helpeth also to stay Catarrhs or Desluxions of Rhewm into the Mouth Throat Teeth or Eyes The Juyce or Water is singular good for hot and red Inflamed Eyes if dropped into them or they bathed therewith it is also of excellent property for all Pushes Wheals and other breakings forth of hot sharp Humors in the Face and Hands or other parts of the Body to bath them therewith and to take away any redness in the Face or Spots or other Deformities in the Skin and to make it cleer and smooth Some use this Medicine Take so many Strawberries as you shall think fitting and put them into a Distillatory or body of Glass fit for them which being well closed set it in a bed of Horsdung for twelve or fourteen daies and afterwards distill it carefully and keep it for your use It is an excellent water for hot inflamed Eyes and to take away any film or Skin that beginneth to grow over them and for such other defects in them as may be helped by any outward Medicine Venus owns the Herb. Succory Description THe Garden Succory hath longer and narrower Leaves than Endive and more cut in or torn on the edges and the Root abideth many yeers It beareth also blew Flowers like Endive and the Seed is hardly distinguished from the Seed of the smooth or ordinary Endive The wild Succory hath diverse long Leaves lying on the ground very much cut in or torn on the edges on both sides even to the middle rib ending in point somtimes it hath a red Rib down the middle of the Leaves from among which riseth up a hard round woody stalk spreading into many Branches set with smaller and lesser devided Leaves on them up to the tops where stand the Flowers which are like the Garden kind as the Seed is also only take notice that the Flowers of the Garden kind are gone in one Sunny day they being so cold that they are not able to endure the Beams of the Sun and therfore most delight in the shadow The Root is white but more hard and woody than the Garden kind The whol Plant is exceeding bitter Place This groweth in many places of our Land in wast untilled and barren Fields The other only in Gardens Vertues and Use. Garden Succory as it is more dry and less cold than Endive so it openeth more An handful of the Leavs or Roots boyled in Wine or Water and a draught thereof drunk fasting driveth forth Chollerick and Flegmatick Humors openeth Obstructions of the Liver Gall and Spleen helpeth the yellow Jaundice the Heat of the Reins and of the Urine the Dropsie also and those that have an evil disposition in their Bodies by reason of long sickness evil Diet c. which the Greeks call 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Cachexia A Decoction thereof made with Wine and drunk is very effectual against long lingring Agues and a dram of the Seed in Pouder drunk in Wine before the Fit of an Ague helpeth to drive it away The Distilled Water of the Herb and Flowers if you can take them in time hath the properties and is especial good for hot Stomachs and in Agues either Pestilential or of long continuance for swounings and Passions of the Heart for the heat and Headach in Children and to the blood and Liver The said water or the Juyce or the bruised Leaves applied outwardly allayeth Swellings Inflamations St. Anthonies Fire Pushes Wheals and Pimples especially used with a little Vinegar as also to wash pestiferous Sores The said Water is very effectual for sore Eyes that are inflamed with redness and for Nurses Breasts that are pained by the abundance of Milk The wild Succory as it is more bitter so it is more strengthning to the Stomach and Liver English Tobacco Description THis riseth up with a thick round Stalk about two foot high whereon do grow thick fat green Leaves nothing so large as the other Indian kinds somwhat round pointed also and nothing dented about the edges The Stalk brancheth forth and beareth at the tops divers Flowers set in green Husks like the other but nothing so large scarce standing above the Brims of the Husks round pointed also and of a greenish yellow colour The Seed that followeth is not so bright but larger contained in the like great Heads The Roots are neither so great nor woody and perishing every yeer with the hard Frosts in Winter but riseth generally of its own sowing Place This came from some parts of Brassiile as is thought and is more familier to our Country than any of the other sorts early giving ripe Seed which the others seldom do Time It Flowreth from June somtimes to the end of August or later and the Seed ripeneth in the mean time Vertues and Use. It is found by good experience to be available to expectorate tough Flegm from the Stomach Chest and Lungs The Juyce thereof made into a Syrup or the distilled water of the Herb drunk with some Sugar or without if you will Or the smoke taken by a
doth purge the Body of Chollerick Humors and asswageth the heat being taken in a draught of Wine or any other Drink The Pouder of the purple Leaves of the Flowers only pick'd and dried and drunk in Water is said to help the Quinsie and the Falling-sickness in Children especially in the beginning of the Disease The Flowers of the White Violets ripeneth and dissolveth Swellings The Herb or Flowers while they are fresh or the Flowers when they are dry are effectual in the Plurisie and all Diseases of Lungs to lenesie the sharpness of hot Rhewms and the Hoarsness of the Throat the heat also and sharpness of Urine and all pains of the Back or Reins and the Bladder It is good also for the Liver and the Jaundice and in al hot Agues to cool the Heat and quench the 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 Juyce or Syrup of Lemmons be put to it or a few drops of the Oyl of Vitriol it is made thereby the more powerful to cool the heat and to quench the Thirst and giveth to the drink a Clarret Wine colour and a fine tart â—ellish pleasing the tast Violets taken or made up with Honey doth more clense than cool and with Sugar contrary-wise The dryed Flowers of Violets are accounted among the Cordial Drinks Pouders and other Medicines especially where cooling Cordials are necessary The green Leaves are used with other Herbs to make Plaisters and Pultisces for Inflamations and Swellings and to ease pains wheresoever arising of heat and for the Piles also being fried with Yolks of Eggs and applied thereto Pansies or Heartsease are like unto Violets in all their operations but somwhat hotter and dryer yet very temperate and by viscuous Juyce therein doth somwhat mollifie yet less than Mallows It is conducing in like manner as Violets to the hot Diseases of the Chest and Lungs for Agues Convulsions and Falling-sickness in Children The Decoction helpeth Itch and Scabs being bathed therwith It is said also to soder green Wounds and to help old Sores the Juyce or distilled Water thereof being drunk Vipers Buglofs Description THis hath many long rough Leaves lying on the ground from among which rise up diverse hard round Stalks very rough as if they were thick set w th prickles or hairs wherin are set such like long rough hairy or prickly sad green Leavs somwhat narrow the middle Rib for the most part being white The Flowers stand at the tops of the Stalks branched forth into many long spiked Leaves of Flowers bowing or turning like the Turnsole all of them opening for the most part on the one side which are long and hollow turning up the Brims a little of a Purplish Violet colour in them that are fully blown but more reddish while they are in the Bud as also upon their decay and withering but in some places of a paler purple colour with a long pointel in the middle feathered or parted at the top After the Flowers are fallen the Seeds growing to be ripe are blackish cornered and pointed somwhat like unto the Head of a Viper The Root is somwhat great and blackish and woolly when it groweth toward Seed time and perisheth in the Winter There is another sort little differing from the former only in that it beareth white Flowers Place The first groweth wild almost every where That with white Flowers about the Castle Walls of Lewes in Sussex Time They Flower in Summer and their Seed is ripe quickly after Vertues and Use. It is an especial Remedy against the biting of the Viper and of all other Venemous Beasts or Serpents as also against poyson and poysonful Heâ—â—s Dioscorides and others say That whosoever shall take of the Herb or Root before they be bitten shall not be hurt by the poyson of any Serpent The Roots or Seeds are thought to be most effectual to comfort the Heart and expel Sadness or cause less Melancholly it tempers the Blood and allayeth the hot Fits of Agues The Seed drunk in Wine procureth abundance of Milk in Womens Brests The same also being taken caseth the pains in the Loyns Back and Kidneys The distilled Water of the Herb when it is in Flower or his chiefest strength is excellent to be applied either inwardly or outwardly for all the Griefs aforesaid There is a Syrup made hereof very effectual for the comforting of the Heart and expelling Sadness and Melancholly VVall-Flowers or Winter Gilly-flowers THe Garden kinds are so wel known that they need no Description Description The common single Wall-Flowers which grow wild abroad hath sundry smal long narrow and dark green Leaves set without order upon smal round whitish wooddy Stalks which bear at the tops diverse single yellow Flowers one above another every one having four Leaves apiece and of a very sweet scent after which come long Pods containing reddish Seed The Root is white hard and threddy Place It groweth upon old Church Walls and old Walls of many Houses and on the other stone Walls in diverse places The other sorts in Gardens only Time All the single kinds do Flower many times in the end of Autumn and if the Winter be mild all the Winter long but especially in the Months of February March and April and until the heat of the Spring do spend them But the double kinds continue not Flowring in that manner all the yeer along although they Flower very early somtimes and in some places very late Vertues and Use. Galen in his seventh Book of Simple Medicines saith That the yellow Wall-flowers worketh more powerfully than any of the other kinds and is therefore of more use in Physick It clenseth the Blood and freeth the Liver and Reins from Obstructions provoketh Womens Courses expelleth the Secondine and dead Child helpeth the hardness and pains of the Mother and of the Spleen also stayeth Inflamations and Swellings comforteth and strengthneth any weak part or out of Joynt helpeth to clense the Eyes from mistiness and Films on them and to clense foul and filthy Ulcers in the Mouth or any other part and is a singular Remedy for the Gout and all Aches and Pains in the Joynts and Sinews A Conserve made of the Flowers is used for a Remedy both for the Apoplexie and Palsey The VValnut-Tree THis is so well known that it needeth no Description Time It Blossometh early before the Leaves come forth and the Fruit is ripe in September Vertues and Use. The Bark of the Tree doth bind and dry very much and the Leaves are much of the same temperature but the Leaves when they are older are heating and drying the Second Degree and harder of digestion than when they are fresh which by reason of their sweetness are more pleasing and better digesting in the Stomach and taken with sweet Wine they move the Belly downwards but being old they grieve the
it stand by the fire to keep hot twelve hours then strain it out in such Syrups as pâ—â—ge as Daâ—ask Roses Peach-Flowers c. the usual and indeed the best way is to repeat this Infusion adding fresh Flowers to the same Liquor diverse rimes that so it may be the stronger having strained it out put the Infusion into a Peuter Bason or an Eartlien one well glassed and to every pint of it ad two pound of fine Sugar which being only melted over the fire without boyling and scummed will produce you the Syrup you desire Secondly Syrups made by Decoction are usually used of Compounds yet may any Simple Herb be thus converted into Syrup Take the Herb Root or Flower you would make into Syrup and bruise it a little then boyl it in a convenient quantity of Spring Water the more water you boyl it in the weaker will it be a handful of the Herb Root c. is a convenient quantity for a pint of Water boyl it till half the water be consumed then let it stand till it be almost cold and strain it being almost cold through a woollen cloth letting it run out at leisure without pressing to every pint of this Decoction ad one pound of Sugar and boyl it over the fire till it come to a Syrup which you may know if you now and then cool a little of it in a spoon scum it all the while it boyls and when it is sufficiently boyled whilst it is hot strain it again through a woollen cloth but press it not thus have you the Syrup perfected Thirdly Syrups made of Juyces are usually made of such Herbs as are full of Juyce and indeed they are better made into a Syrup this way than any other the Operation is thus having beaten the Herb in a stone Mortar with a wooden Pestle press out the Juyce and clarifie it as you were taught before in the Juyces then let the Juyce boyl away till a quarter of it or neer upon be consumed to a pint of this ad a pound of Sugar and boyl it to a Syrup alwaies scumming it and when it is boyled enough strain it through woollen cloth as we taught you before and keep it for your use 3. If you make Syrups of Roots that are any thing hard as Parsley Fennel and grass Roots c. when you have bruised them lay them in steep some time in that Water which you intend to boyl them in hot so will the Vertue the better come out 4. Keep your Syrups either in Glasses or stone Pots and stop them not with Cork nor Bladder unless you would have the Glass break and the Syrup lost â— and as many Opinions as there are in this Nation I suppose there are but few or none of this only bind a Paper about the Mouth 5. All Syrups if well made will continue a yeer with some advantage yet of all such as are made by Infusion keep the least while Chap. 3. Of Juleps 1. Juleps were first invented as I suppose in Arabia and my reason is because that word Juleb is an Arabick word 2. It signifies only a pleasant Potion and was vulgarly used by such as were sick and wanted help or such as were in health and wanted no money to quench thirst 3. Now a daies 't is commonly used 1. To prepare the Body for Piâ—gation 2. To open Obstructions and the Pores 3. To digest tough Humors 4. To qualifie hot distempers c. 4. It is thus made I mean Simple Juleps for I have nothing to say to Compounds here all Compounds have as many several Idea's as men have crotchets in their Brain I say Simple Juleps are thus made Take a pint of such distilled Water as conduceth to the cure of your distemper which this Treatise will plentifully furnish you withal to which add two ounces of Syrup conducing to the same effect I shall give you Rules for it in the last Chapter mix them together and drink a draught of it at your pleasure If you love tart things ad ten drops of Oyl of Vitriol to your pint and shake it together and it will have a fine grateful tast 5. All Juleps are made for present use and therefore it is in vain to speak of their duration Chap. 4. Of Decoctions 1. ALL the difference between Decoctions and Syrups made by Decoction is this Syrups are made to keep Decoctions only for present use for you can hardly keep a Decoction a week at any time if the weather be hot not half so long 2. Decoctions are made of Leaves Roots Flowers Seeds Fruits or Barks conducing to the cure of the Disease you make them for in the same manner are they made as we shewed you in Syrups 3. Decoctions made with Wine last longer than such as are made with Water and if you take your Decoction to clense the passages of Urine or open Obstructions your best way is to make it with white Wine instead of Water because that is most penetrating 4. Decoctions are of most use in such Diseases as lie in the Passages of the Body as the Stomach Bowels Kidneys Passages of Urine and Bladder because Decoctions pass quicker to those places than any other form of Medicines 5. If you will sweeten your Decoction with Sugar or any Syrup fit for the occasion you take it for which is better you may and no harm done 6. If in a Decoction you boyl both Roots Herbs Flowers and Seeds together let the Roots boyl a good while first because they retain their Vertue longest then the next in order by the same Rule viz. 1. The Barks 2. the Herbs 3. the Seeds 4. the Flowers 5. the Spices if you put any in because their vertue comes soonest our 7. Such things as by boyling cause sliminess to a Decoction as Figs Quince Seeds Linseed c. your best way is after you have bruised them to tie them up in a linnen rag as you tie up a Calves Brains and so boyl them 8. Keep all Decoctions in a Glass close stopped and in the cooler place you keep them the longer will they last ere they be sowr Lastly The usual Dose to be given at one time is usually two three four or five ounces according to the age and strength of the Patient the season of the yeer the strength of the Medicine and the quality of the Discase Chap. 5. Of Oyles 1. OYL Olive which is commonly known by the name of Sallet Oyl I suppose because it is usually eaten with Sallets by them that love it If it be pressed out of ripe Olives according to Galen is temperate and exceeds in no one quality 2. Of Oyls some are Simple and some are Compound 3. Simple Oyls are such as are made of Fruits or Seeds by expression as Oyl of sweet and bitter Almonds Linseed and Rapeseed Oyl c. of which see my Dispensatory 4. Compound Oyls are made of Oyl of Olives and other Simples imagine Herbs Flowers Roots