Selected quad for the lemma: water_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
water_n	drink_v	good_a	half_a	7,854	5	8.2121	4	true

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A05102	The third volume of the French academie contayning a notable description of the whole world, and of all the principall parts and contents thereof: as namely, of angels both good and euill: of the celestiall spheres, their order and number: of the fixed stars and planets; their light, motion, and influence: of the fower elements, and all things in them, or of them consisting: and first of firie, airie, and watrie meteors or impressions of comets, thunders, lightnings, raines, snow, haile, rainebowes, windes, dewes, frosts, earthquakes, &c. ingendered aboue, in, and vnder the middle or cloudie region of the aire. And likewise of fowles, fishes, beasts, serpents, trees with their fruits and gum; shrubs, herbes, spices, drugs, minerals, precious stones, and other particulars most worthie of all men to be knowen and considered. Written in French by that famous and learned gentleman Peter de la Primaudaye Esquier, Lord of the same place, and of Barree: and Englished by R. Dolman.; Academie françoise. Part 3. English	La Primaudaye, Pierre de, b. ca. 1545.; Dolman, R. (Richard)	1601 (1601)	STC 15240; ESTC S108305	398,876	456

the fire considering also that heat hath but little motion except it attaine to the height thereof whereas otherwise it doth quench it selfe And therefore it is that matter which burneth vnder the earth that ministreth this puissant heat which doth so warme the water And wee may moreouer note that all those waters which boyle so are naturally light and haue some medicinable facultie and propertie And yet they are not to be so much accounted of as that which is fit for common vsage in mens affaires to preserue health What water is best For good water hath neither colour smel nor sauour and is passing cleere and being drunke it abideth not long in the belly such they say is the water of the riuer Euleus which falleth from the mountaine Zager by Susiana whereof the kings of Persia did make prouision in their expeditions and warlike voyages For to the preseruation of health water is no lesse to bee carefully chosen Diuers causes of cold waters and their tasts colours and smelles then aire Now as warme waters are famous for the reasons heretofore deliuered so there are some waters also verie much admired for their great coldnes whereof snowe marble mettals cold aire sudden motion and the great fall from aloft euerie one in his degree may be the cause Againe the sauours or tastes of waters are verie diuers and the principal cause thereof is heat For sodden earth which is of sundry sorts giueth a tast to water according to the quality thereof And the like reason is concerning colours for fine thin clay doth cause the colour of waters but thick clay tarrieth not in water and therefore dieth it not The same cause is also in the difference of smels And alwaies waters that are of a good smel are profitable for creatures but stinking waters cause diseases for as Philosophers say contrarie causes appertaine to contrarie things Good water likewise is lightest as that which fleeteth aboue other water be it in riuers springs or wels From whence it commeth that fresh water floateth vpon sea water which likewise being more massiue and waightie beareth more heauie burdens And amongst fresh waters the water of Rhodanus or Rosne in France swimmeth vpon that of the lake of Geneua passing ouer the midst thereof Also many rare properties and great woonders are written concerning waters with the causes of them as that Of a floud which ran not on the sabboth day which is reported by Iosephus of a certaine floud in Iudea neere Syria which ranne euery day except vpon the Sabbaoth day which was reputed a matter religious and as a myracle although that this might happen and come to passe through a naturall cause if we will so argue to wit that no more water was gathered into this floud by orderly spaces then was sufficient to runne for sixe daies and not for the seuenth in such sort as Phisitions render a like cause concerning the renewings or fits and ceasings of feauers For the world is the great man as man is the little worlde But not stretching this discourse any farther we will onelie note for conclusion thereof that in the diuersitie of the kindes of waters that which is gathered togither in one place is salt Of the diuers appellations of waters is called the sea the fresh water so gathered togither is called a lake if it mooue not at all it is named a marish or fen but if it be somewhat deepe it is a standing poole and if it runne then is it a riuer if it gather through raines or by snowe then is it a torrent or raine-floud and if it spring it is a fountaine which is euer the best water and doth slowliest putrifie For it is least moist and is most concocted by the heauenly heate Also the lightest water doth hardliest corrupt for which cause it is most fit for the maintenance of mans life as approching neerest to the substance of the aire by which we breath We haue said enough then concerning this matter But me thinketh that our succeeding discourse requireth that we should entreate of those commodities which men receiue by waters through nauigation which ACHITOB shall be the subiect of your discourse Of the commodities which men reape of the waters by nauigation and of the directions which sea-men receiue from heauen and from the starres vpon the sea Chap. 60. ACHITOB AMongst such things as are woorthie of consideration in the sea and in other waters we must not passe ouer in silence those goodly commodities and great profits which they bring vnto men by the meanes of nauigations and of the dealings and trafficks which they exercise by them For it is to be noted that euery land and countrey cānot be furnished with al commodities bicause God hath so disposed therof that some abound in those things which othersome do greatly want stand in need of But by meanes of sayling by water all that which can be required may be transported from one countrey to another with very small trouble charges so that one nation may communicate those commodities with another which the creator hath particularly bestowed on them all each granting mutuall helpe to the other by this meanes Wherin surely we may acknowledge the prouidence of God to be verie great manifold Of the prouidence of God in distribution of his gifts For first the Lord hath disposed of his creatures and distributed his treasures according to the diuersity of landes and countries euen in such manner as he diuideth his gifts and graces amongst men For he bestoweth not all either vpon one or vpon two or vpon three or vpon any other certaine number of them And therefore there neuer hath beene nor shall be any one which either could or may surpasse all others so much that hee may haue no need of another or that hath sufficient for himselfe For if one man possessed all he would thinke himselfe to be no more a man but a God rather and would therefore contemne all others Moreouer it is most certaine that if euery one were so well furnished with all things that they might all surpasse one another there would be no humane societie For one would make no account of another but being all puffed vp with pride whereto they are naturally enclined there woulde arise a thousand quarrels and dissensions amongst them as wee ordinarily see to happen amongst the proud mightie puissant and rich For seeing that charitie which should dwell amongst men can take no place how could they be vnited and allied togither in amitie if they were not constrained therto through necessitie and if it be a difficult matter to conioine and maintaine them in peace and mutuall good will what neede soeuer they haue one of another one may easilie iudge what woulde ensue if they had not necessitie for their mistresse to this effect which causeth them to do in spight of al their abilities that which she cannot obtaine of them

and white and of those are formed reddish Dates which haue a very hard long and crested stone within them And there are of these trees male and female which are discerned in that the femall buddeth without blossomes Maruell of the female Palme-tree or flowers And that which is most admirable in this diuersitie of kinde is that the female beeing separated from the male will hang downe hir branches and wither turning hir selfe that way whither her male hath beene caried so that the inhabitants of the countrie fearing to loose hir take of the earth and of the root of the male which they lay about the foot of the female who through this meanes springeth reneweth strength and beareth fruit It is noted in Date-trees that there are some which naturally follow the Sun which way so euer he turneth as many other plants do which hauing a sympathy and secret inclination to this star as acknowledging his virtue and that their vigour is deriued from him do alwaies behold him they themselues loosing colour when hee is far off from them And this is also very wonderfull in the Date tree that beeing dead it reuiueth of it selfe by meanes of the proper rootes thereof which beeing very deepe vnder ground maintained by the radicall humour there do at length spring out of them certaine stalkes which are afterwards sustained by the Sun there nourished and made trees Drinke that distilleth out of the Date-tree bearing fruit as before Moreouer out of the trunck of Date-trees many people especially the Negroes do extract a licour which they vse for beuerage in stead of wine by making a large slit therein with a certaine instrumēt a foot or two aboue the earth And this licour is of the colour of whay very good to drinke and almost asmuch inebriating or as strong as wine for which cause it must bee very oftentimes mixed with water And when it runneth out of the stock it is as sweete as new wine but it looseth that sweetenes from day to day becomming more pleasant to drinke when it tasteth somewhat more tart because it doth then slake thirst best They also draw out of this tree certaine threeds as fine as our threed Tapistry made of Palme trees wherof they make tapistrie worke which serue like other things to couer them which neede not seeme verie strange considering that in many other places they beat the barkes of some trees so hard after they haue wet it that they do draw it out so fine and weaue it so artificially as one would suppose it to be some faire and thin taffata Such as haue sailed to Manicongo and along the coast of Ethiopia do assure vs thereof in their writings For if that cotton commeth from trees and silke is spunne by wormes as all men know what should hinder the foresaid things to be of such ability through the ordinance of God established in nature to the end that men might receiue from these plants that which is needfull for them and which they cannot obtaine by the meanes that are common to others But if any make doubt therof because it is not notoriously known vnto all then must we shut the doore against al things that seeme rare But what shal we say to that which is taught vs by many graue Authors that of the fruit of these trees called the Thebane Date being dried in the sun til such time as it may be ready to be groūd Bread made of Dates men vse to make bread which is a common practise amongst those of that countrey Moreouer for the particular vertues and properties of Dates they are so much different Propertie of Dates as there bee diuers kindes of them for some are drie and binding as those of Egypt others are soft moist and sweete as those that grow in Syria Palestina and Iericho And the rest are in meane betwixt these two kinds and all are hard in digestion and breed headach Some say that two greene dates hauing their stones taken out and then filled vp with powder of Vermilion being eaten doe keepe women with child that they may not abort and that being dried they be good to eate by such as spit blood to such as haue a weake stomacke and are troubled with the bloodie fluxe Now let vs speake of a tree Of a tree seruing for bread oyle wine and vineger that doth much resemble the Date-tree and is no lesse woorthie of woonder then it because it serueth for bread wine oyle and vineger This tree is called by the Arabians Baratha and of some Iansialindi which is as much to say as the Indian tree and the Indians name it Trican and the fruit thereof Nihor or Cocco It is found in many Ilands of India chiefly in Zamat and in the circumiacent Isles where the people liue vpon the fruit of this tree which fruit is as big as a mans head and is that which we terme An Indie Nut. The outtermost barke of this tree is all greene and aboue two fingers thicke amongst which they finde certaine fillets whereof they make cords wherewith the inhabitants of the countrey sowe their boats together Within this barke is another which they burne and beat to dust afterwards they vse this powder as a medicine for their sicke Vnder this second barke againe is a certaine white pith couered which is about a finger thicke and this they eate in stead of bread with flesh and fish And to make it the better they dry it first and then bring it into meale and make verie good bread thereof as the ancients in old time made of Acornes and of chestnuts for want of corne In the midst of this pith they finde a verie cleere sweete and cordiall water which being curdled and conuerted into an oylie substance they boyle it and then this mixture becomes so fat as the best butter that can be made amongst vs. But if they would haue vineger they set this water in the sunne without making it to boyle and it will become cleere and sharpe and as white as milke For their drinking liquor it runs out of the branches in great abundance And two of these trees suffice for the nourishment of an whole family Furthermore their fruit is hot in the second degree and moist in the first Propertie of Indie Nuts There is oyle drawen out of it verie good against the hemorrhoides and which healeth the paines of the reines and of the knees and purgeth the bellie of wormes This Indie-Nut bringeth also mens bodies into a good fat estate and restoreth leane and consumed persons A tree named Gehuph In the Isles of the Malucoes especially in Taprobana doth likewise growe a tree of a meruailous propertie and effect which is named in their language Gehuph and of the Indians Cobban It groweth very high but the leaues thereof are small The barke is all yealow and the fruit big and round like a ball hauing a nut enclosed within it wherein is

sage neither can much difference be marked in them saue in the leaues which are thinner whiter and rougher in wilde then in garden sage This plant is very singular against all cold and flegmaticke diseases in the head and against all paines of the ioints either being taken in drinke or applied in fomentations Wherefore it is very good for them who haue the falling disease or are sicke of the lethargie and for those that haue their members benummed or senselesse It is profitable against defluxions of fleame and maladies in the breast It is good for great bellied women to eate which are subiect to trauell before their time for euery light cause for it keepeth the childe in the wombe and doth quicken it If you giue three or foure ounces of the iuice of sage to them that spit blood that they may drinke it fasting in a morning with honie the blood will presently be staied The vse of sage in pottage and otherwise serueth to sharpen the appetite and cleanse the stomacke being full of ill humors In summe when occasion is to heate drie and binde sage is a very good and fit medicine Of Mints and their property Mints haue likewise many great properties and are very common both in gardens and fields Whereof though there be many kindes for some haue small and crisped leaues others haue the stalke and flower red and others white yet is there no great matter to be made of these differences considering that one selfe same vertue resideth in all Mints beaten and made into a plaister do comfort a weake stomacke It is a soueraigne thing to restore the smell and feeling to those that haue lost it so that it be often held to the nose The leaues thereof dried and brought into powder kill wormes in little children The iuice drunke with vineger stancheth blood with the iuice of a sower pomegranate it restraineth vomitings hickets and the colicke passion Mints laid vpon the forehead asswage the headach and laid vpon too tender dugs that are ful of milk it easeth the paine of them applied with salt it is good for bitings by dogs and with honied water it is good against paines in the eares The water of the whole plant distilled in a glasse-limbecke in a bath of hot water and drunke to the waight of fower ounces staieth bleeding at nose They that loue milke must presently after they haue eaten thereof chew mint leaues to hinder the milke that it doe not curdle in their stomacke if also you sprinkle cheese with the iuice thereof or with the decoction thereof it will keepe from corrupting and rottennesse Now I referre to you ARAM the sequele of this discourse Of Thyme Sauorie Marierom Rue Parsley and Fennell Chap. 75. ARAM. Of Thyme and the propertie thereof AMongst common herbes admirable in their properties Thyme is worthie to be noted Now there are two sorts thereof one bearing sundry twigs laden with verie manie little narrow leaues hauing small heads at the top full of purple flowers and the other is as hard as wood more branched and like vnto Sauorie In propertie it is hot and dry in the third degree And therefore it prouoketh vrine doth heat and being taken in drinke doth purge the intrailes It is good to make one spit out the ill-humours of the lungs and in the breast Fower drams of drie thyme puluerized being ministred fasting to one that hath the gout with two ounces and an halfe of honied vineger doth profit them verie much for it purgeth choler and other sharpe humours It is good also for diseases of the bladder and the waight of a dram being taken with a spoonefull of honied water it is good for such as begin to haue a swollen belly for the sciatica and paine in the reines in the sides and in the breast for inflations and stitches about the forepart of the belly for melancholie persons for those that are troubled in minde and are in continuall fearfulnes if three drams be giuen to them fasting with a spoonefull of honied-vineger it will doe them much good It is profitable also against inflammation of the eies and vehement paines therof and against the goute in the feete being taken with wine The vse thereof is verie good for them that haue but bad sight Out of Thyme there is an oyle extracted of the colour of gold which commeth forth with the water when the herbe being fresh and greene is distilled in a bathe of hot water This oyle smels like a Citron and is verie tart in taste and good for all things which haue need to be heated But we must note that heed must be taken that to all the foresaid purposes blacke thyme be not vsed for it corrupteth the temperature of the person and ingendreth choler And therfore that thyme must be chosen which beareth a carnation flower and that for the best yet which beareth a white flower Sauorie also is an herbe knowen vnto all Of Sauory and hath the same properties and vertues which thyme hath being taken in such manner There are two kindes thereof one is like to thyme somewhat lesse and more tender bearing a bud full of greene flowers enclining to purple The other is greater and more branched which is often found in gardens hauing many boughes that spread about it being round and woodie The leaues thereof are greater then those of thyme somewhat strong and harder which doe here and there grow about the branches in bunches togither after the springing whereof there grow out little buds enuironed with leaues which are much lesse then the other wherein grow small carnation flowers The leaues and flowers of sauorie being made in a garland or chaplet and set vpon the head of such as sleep do waken them Being vsed in a cataplasme with wheat-meale sod together in wine it is verie auaileable against griefe of the sciatica But the vse of sauorie is chiefly good for healthfull persons whether it be in pottage or in sauce or otherwise And it being dryed in the shade and brought into powder may be vsed insteed of spices and so may Thyme and Marierom with maruellous profit for health and strange drugs tbat are hurtfull may be spared as pepper and ginger are being commonly vsed Of Marierom Marierom is so good for all persons so that there are but few people which haue it not either in their gardens or in earth pots the whole plant is verie odoriferous and most profitable in phisicke It is branched with small plyable twigs with long whitish and hairie leaues growing about those twigs It beareth flowers in great number on the top of the stalkes and buds of the colour of the herbe being long and composed of an heape of scales wel compact together out of which groweth a litle graine In propertie it resolueth and is attenuatiue opening and coroboratiue It is excellent against all cold diseases of the head and of the sinewes both outwardly applied and taken in drinke as also

for griefes in the eares noise in them and difficult hearing if some of the iuice of the leaues therof be dropt into thē The iuice thereof also being snuffed vp into the nose purgeth the fleame of the head cleanseth the braine and fortifieth it The vse of this plant and of the decoction thereof is good against all euill in the breast which may stop the free course and recourse of breath It is profitable for them that are diseased in the liuer and in the spleene not onely freeing the liuer and spleene from oppilations and stoppings but also making them strong and sound The decoction thereof also being drunke is good in the beginning of a dropsie for difficultie in making water and for pulling in ones belly And the leaues thereof serue against the stingings of scorpions being laid thereupon with salt and vineger Of Rue Rue likewise by reason of the great and exquisite properties thereof deserueth to be remembred This plant is alwaies green verie thicke of iuicie leaues many hanging at one stalke of small growth but very broad of a dark green colour It produceth many little boughes branches on the top yellow flowers out of which grow little heads diuided into fower parts wherein small black seed is inclosed This herb is very attenuatiue incisiue digestiue resolutiue prouocatiue driueth out vētosities very forceably For it is hot in the third degree and not onely sharp in taste but bitter also by meanes whereof it may resolue and penetrate grosse and clammie humours and through the same qualities prouoke vrine It doth also consist of subtile parts and is numbred amongst medicines which drie greatly and therefore it is good against inflations asswaging the appetite of lust it resolueth and freeth from all windines The seed thereof drunke in wine to the waight of fifteene ounces is a singular remedie against all poyson The leaues eaten alone fasting or with nuts and drie figs do kill the power of venim and are good against serpents The decoction thereof drunke is profitable against paines in the breast and in the sides inflammation of the liuer the gout and shakings of agues being eaten raw or confected it cleereth the sight is good against difficultie in breathing and against the cough being mixed with French cherries dried it alayeth paines of the eies being mixed with oyle of Roses and vineger it easeth the headach being brayed and put into the nose it stancheth the bleeding thereof The distilled water of it infused into an equall portion of wine and rose water is soueraigne for the paine in the eies Parsley is ordinarie and common in all gardens Of Parsley and the vse thereof great and very commodious for the mouth and stomacke Neither is there any herbe more vsed in meates and in sauces But it hath many properties in phisicke for which it is much to be commended For the decoction of the leaues or rootes thereof openeth the passage of vrine and purgeth out grauell that hath long laine in the vrine conduits it easeth the colicke and paines in the raines being vsed in manner of fomentation vpon the grieued parts The seede thereof is yet of greater vertue in the foresaid effects it serueth beeing drunke against venime of serpents and driueth out ventosities The often vsage of parsley doth take away stinking of breath being applied in a cataplasme with crums of white bread it healeth tetters asswageth the swelling of the dugs and for women in childe-bed doth diminish their milke There is also another kind of parsley called Marsh-parsley commonly named broad smallage which hath as much or more efficacie in phisicke then the other especially the seede thereof which hath most singular vses Which being sharpe with great bitternesse is hot in operation with a pearsing vertue Wherefore it is good for wringings in the belly windines of stomacke for the colicke it is singular in drinke for paines in the sides in the raines and in the bladder Fennell doth also consist of two sorts one is of set fennel Of Fennell and the other wilde fennell Garden or set fennell is very pleasant in taste for the sauorie sweetenes thereof and is profitable being vsed in phisicke The decoction of the leaues serue greatly for paines in the reines being drunke and prouoketh vrine The herbe of fennell eaten or the seede sodden with barlie water doth make very much milke come into womens breasts The roote braied and applied with honie healeth the bitings of dogs The seede is excellent to suppresse winde being taken after meales though it be of hard digestion and doth but badly nourish the bodie But fennell is most principally good both the leaues and seede thereof to cleere the sight and therefore some presse out the iuice of the leaues and tender stalks which they preserue and keepe for this purpose And they doe also distill the water thereof for the same vse In the westerne part of Spaine the fennell yeeldeth a licour like vnto gum which is of greater efficacie then the iuice thereof in medicines for the eies Wilde fennell is sharper in taste hath greater leaues and groweth higher then garden fennell The roote thereof hath a good sent and being taken in drinke doth profit them much that hardly make water it is good against bitings of serpents breaketh the stone and healeth the iaundise which the seede thereof doth likewise Now ACHITOB doe you proceede in talke concerning simples Of Rosemarie Cammomill the Lillie Baulme of grasse or dogs-tooth and of Pimpernell Chap. 76. ACHITOB. IT would be very hard to finde out in one plant onely more vertues and properties then they who haue trauelled to publish the science of simples haue attributed to rosemarie and yet it seemeth to many that it is fit for nothing but to make garlands and nosegayes and being so very common is not esteemed to be of great efficacie Indeede it is a very ordinarie plant and in Prouence it groweth to such greatnes that the people vse it for fire-fewell like other wood and the stocke is of such compasse that they make tables and harpes thereof Yet all this lets not but it may be of admirable vertue For it is very good against cold diseases of the stomacke against the colicke and casting vp of meate Of Rosemary and the admirable propertie thereof by eating it either in bread or drinking it in powder with pure wine It is profitable for such as are diseased in the liuer or spleen for it doth not onely heate purifie and open but through the restringent vertue thereof it doth also fortifie It is very good against all rheumes and all cold maladies against the falling euil numbnes of members the lethargie and palsie It is good to wash the head and for fomentations of the ioints It doth sharpen the sight sweeten the breath and being boiled in vineger and hard wine it staieth the rheumes that fall into the teeth and gums if the mouth be washed with this decoction hot

Pimpernell There are three sorts of Pimpernell One groweth very great and hath a long root the leaues are couched round vpon the earth beeing cut and indented about the stalke is square the flowers thick in bunches smal and whitish The next sort is little and hath a red stalke the leaues small not so much cut and thinner dented The third kinde is the most common which is often eaten in sallades and set in gardens The root of the two first kindes wherein all their vertue lieth is very good for paines in the reines and bladder which are caused by the stone For it cleereth the reines of grauell and driueth foorth long kept vrine The iuice also of this root beeing drunke with wine is singular against all poisons and bitings of venemous beasts For which cause some esteeme much of this root to bee vsed against the plague The third kinde of Pimpernell is different in vertue from the former although they be verie like in forme of leaues For it is more restringent in taste and verie nourishing for which cause it may be thought to be of a binding nature Wherefore it stayeth the Dysenteria and other fluxes and the vomiting of cholericke humours It healeth wounds and vlcers and it is of speciall vse in ointments that are made for wounds in the head and for cankers Some phisitions haue much commended it in the cure of pestilent and contagious feuers affirming also that the often vsage thereof is a soueraigne preseruatiue against dangerous diseases Now ASER do you proceed in this our treatise concerning simples Of Night-shade Alkakeng Pellitorie of the wall Fumitorie Angelica and of Maidens-haire Chapter 77. ASER. IT is wonderfull to rehearse the vertues properties which many affirme to vs in their writings to cōsist in the Solanum whereof the Ancients made fower kindes But I will heere make mention of two onely which are verie common Of Nightshade and the properties thereof sith that the rest are seldome found or neuer The first kinde is called Night-shade which is a small little herbe hauing many pits in the stalke thereof out of which grow blacke leaues like to those of Basill but a little greater It beareth white flowers yealow in the midst in fashion of a starre The fruit thereof is round hanging in clusters full of a winie iuice no lesse then Iuniper seede wherein a small white graine is enclosed this fruit is of diuers colours for in some plants it is blacke in others yealow and in some enclining towards a greene Concerning the propertie of this plant the iuice of the fruit thereof as likewise of the leaues mixed with oyle of roses and a little vineger is singular against the headach when it is caused by heat It is good for such as are franticke if one steepe linnen clothes therein and lay them to the forepart of their head In like sort may they be applied to the forehead against hot rheumes that fal downe into the eies It is good also to gargle it against inflammations of the throat and falling of the pallat It is put in ointments to heale sore and grieuous vlcers The leaues thereof beaten with salt and laide on a plaister breake impostumes that grow behinde the eares In briefe when need is to refresh to dry vp or to restraine night-shade is verie conuenient Now for the other kinde of Solanum commonly called Alkakeng Of Alkakeng and the vertue thereof it hath leaues like vnto Nightshade but broader stronger somewhat sharp and not so black the stalke thereof is supple which beeing growne vp enclineth towards the ground The flowers are white out of which rise little bladders as big as a nut and growe sharpe they are composed of eight sides of equall distance one from another And they are at first greene and beeing ripe red within them they containe fruit one graine in each of them beeing fastned to the bottome of the bladder like to the seede of a red grape both sharp and bitter and full of a great number of small white graines within In this fruit also is great vertue not onely to prouoke vrine but also to allay the burning heat thereof For the iuice of it beeing drunke with the iuice of white poppie or of the seed of Melons or of Gourds or with the decoction of Mallowes or with barly water is marueilous singular for the scorching heate of vrine And this plant is so contrarie to adders that laying the roote thereof neere vnto them they are sodainly surprised with so great sleepe that they die therewith The fruite thereof steeped in new wine is very good being laide on the eie lids Some put it in a vessell togither with ripe grapes which they suffer to boyle for certaine daies togither out of which they extract a very profitable wine for such as are troubled with grauell euacuating the grauell marueilously well and clensing the reines being drunke to the waight of fowre ounces And the same fruite taken in drinke healeth the iaundise Of Pellitorie Pellitorie is an herbe very well knowne and hath manie great properties the leaues thereof are rough the stalke redde about which are bitter graines which are fit to lay amongst apparell This plant hath the vertue to refresh and binde for which cause it is singular good to heale greene wounds For if it be laide vpon a wound being halfe beaten and very fresh and be not taken off for three daies togither there shall be no neede to vse any other medicine The waight of three ounces of the iuice thereof being drunke is marueilous good to free vrine that hath long beene holden and the herbe heated vpon a tile and sprinkled with Malmesey and applied to the forehead is very good for such as are troubled with grauell and cannot make water The iuice thereof held within the mouth healeth the toothach The distilled water thereof clenseth and clarifieth the visage the leaues being applied heale burnings swellings and inflammations being fried with fresh butter or capons grease and laide in manner of a serge-cloth vpon the belly they ease the colicke A cataplasme also made of greene pellitorie beaten with crums of bread and oyle of roses or cammomill resolueth impostumes which grow in the dugs And being mixed with goates-grease or kids grease it is good for gouts and fals The iuice likewise mixed in like quantitie of white wine and oile of sweet almonds being newly made alayeth the paines torments of the stone and dropped into the eares with oyle of roses it healeth the paine of them Some minister them to gargle for inflammation in the throat And some giue them for an old cough It is seene by experience that this herbe is abstersiue in so much as it is verie good to expell wormes Of Fumitory Fumitorie is an herbe much branched and tender hauing verie small leaues growing here and there of a white ashie colour and in great number vpon euerie side The flower thereof is purple This plant

cosmographer saith Lib. 10. de cosm c. 4. if these shels or oisters haue no other substance within them but this pearle so conceiued of dew how doth the race of this shell-fish maintaine it selfe Moreouer in the west Indian seas where aboundance of these pearles are found it cannot bee seene how their generation may bee iudged by the cleere or obscure disposition of the weather for if that were so there is no doubt but that all the pearles which were found in one shell should be all of one manner whereas the contrary is seene that within one shell are found some darke pearles others drawing to a tawnie some pale some greenish and some againe blewish and very few there are which haue the perfection required in a faire pearle Thereupon he concludeth that this pearled fish maintaineth the kinde thereof by the egs which it breedeth and that the pearles come out of the sand and grauell wherein they breede and are hidden because that by little and little this grauell refineth it selfe and groweth into these shels or oisters till such time as it hath attained to an entire and perfect forme remaining still soft for so long time as the oister is within the water but beeing out it presently hardneth and becommeth such pearle as wee see But without much disputing hereupon euery man is of opinion that these pearles are bred in the shels of fishes And the experience hereof is not onely seene in the Indian sea but also in the British seas yea in all seas and fresh waters because that such oisters do swim aswell as fishes of which there haue beene some fished vp in the riuer Garonne But the industry of such as fish for them in the bottome of the sea is wonderfull for from thence they fetch their best mother of pearle which lie within and vpon rocks hidden in the waters They which are appointed to such fishing enter into boats and afterwards leauing some within to gouerne them and to help themselues also vp when they haue done their fishing they cast themselues into the water diuing downe to the bottome where they sometimes remaine for the space of halfe an hower and with nets catch these shels hauing taken some they returne againe to the top of the water and are receiued by those in the vessell where refreshing themselues with meat and drinke and hauing fitted on that which they put before their face which is as of little peeces of seare cloth very fine like a thinne bladder made that they may see cleerely through within the water they leap in fiue or six times a day These oisters are also found fastned vpon rocks which appeare aboue water from whence they are fetched with paine and beeing catched the pearles are straightwaies taken out which otherwise would consume and lose their fresh colour and in one shell there are sometimes thirty or forty small and meane ones but few great ones to wit one or two They were doubtlesse Pearles of great price woonderfull faire which were giuen to Ferdinand Magellano in a certaine Isle of the Moluccaes which were fower in number each one of the bignes of a pigeons egge esteemed to bee woorth fiue and twentie thousand crownes a peece But this was a very smal matter in comparison to the two Vnions of Cleopatra Queene of Egypt esteemed woorth fifteene hundred thousand crownes one whereof she dissolued in very strong vineger and dranke it vp at a banket because it might bee said that shee had surpassed in sumptuousnes of cost the feast which Anthonie had made hir Now for the vertues of pearles they are very good for passions and faintnes of hart and purge the bloud and beeing put into medicines they take away clowdes and dimnes from before the eies and drie vp the moisture that runnes from them Of corall Corall is likewise fished for in the sea and put into the number of stones although indeed it is a plant or shrubbe which being drawne out of the Mediterranean sea and feeling the aire doth waxe hard by the power thereof And there is found white red and blacke in one selfe same plant which groweth amongst stones and rocks in the bottome of the water but the best coral is the red if it be euenly congealed for the white is not so massiue nor heauie but is light rare and full of holes like a spunge When it is fished for it is all couered with mosse and hath no signe or apparition of rednes But being clensed it taketh colour and appeereth fairely polished now those graines of round corall which are put in bracelets and collers are not found so in the shrubbe but it consisteth of many little branches whereof these graines are made with a wheele and files and are afterwards polished with vermilion with a certaine earth which is brought frō Tripoly in Africa The properties which are attributed to coral are marueilous for some say that being hāged about the necke or taken in drinke it is good for them that haue the falling euill for bloodie flixes and loosenes of the belly to fasten the teeth to heale sorenes in the mouth to prouoke sleepe in such as haue feuers to diminish the spleene for those that vomite and spit bloud Auicen placeth it amongst those medicines that comfort the hart and Plinie saith that being burnt and puluerized and so drunke with water it is good for them that haue wringing in their belly and the stone in the bladder The ashes thereof also are put into medicines for the eies it thickneth refrigerateth and doth incarnate hollow vlcers and maketh skars smooth But amongst other properties this is most admirable and true that red corall which is pure and fulgent like the carbuncle being tyed about ones necke so that it touch the skinne when that person is sicke or shall be in short space after or hath drunke any venim which he yet feeleth not the corall doth wax pale and lose the splendor thereof which Cardanus hath often testified to haue prooued by experience I will hereto adde some short discourse concerning Chrystall Of chrystall because that as it is engendred in the veines of the earth of the same humour that the Diamond is which opened the entrance of this discourse concerning precious stones so now this speech of Chrystall may shut it vp againe Plinie and many others haue supposed that it was made of yce or snow in a word that it was water congealed through great cold But it appeereth that chrystall is engendred of some verie wel purified humour in that it is the cleerest of all stones Againe if the oldest yce in the world be put into an hot place it doth presently melt which chrystall doth not Moreouer it is most certaine that it is not found on the tops of mountaines where there is continuall snow and extreme coldnes but in quarries of marble and of other stones yea and in mines of diuers mettals This also is another reason that yce doth alwaies

eate and drinke to doe this But if it should please him to doe otherwise there were neither meate nor drinke which could giue any sustenance and conuenient nourishment vnto vs but would rather conuert within vs into deadly poyson to take away our life and hasten our death euen as God doth oftentimes to that effect vse the aire without which we could no more liue then without meate and drinke And therefore when it pleaseth God that we shall liue in health and long time he maketh the aire good and holsome for vs if otherwise it pleaseth him to strike vs with sicknes and to hasten our death he changeth it as if it were impoisoned as we doe very often finde in diuers contagious sicknesses and chiefly in time of pestilence The like also is in victuals drinks and medicines And therefore the Lord menaceth his people by Isaie declaring vnto them that he will take away the staffe of bread and of water that is to say the substance and naturall vertue which he hath giuen them to nourish which is the force that sustaineth them who are sustained as a staffe sustaineth him that is weake and as man cannot liue except he haue both meate and drinke sufficient the prophet hath comprised vnder bread and water all things needfull for nourishment and for the life of man It is therefore in these things that God saith he will take away all power Leuit. 28. Deut. 16. as also Moses doth amply declare in the blessings and curses of the lawe For let vs also note that when God will punish men by dearth and famine he doth not onely make the earth barren as he threatneth but also curseth that little fruit which it beareth yea in such sort that it still diminisheth and hath not the accustomed vertue and power to nourish And therefore when the corne is sowne it yeeldeth not so many eares nor so many graines in the field as is expected and as it seemeth that it should yeeld And afterwards when it is gathered and reaped and that it commeth to be threshed there is yet found lesse corne then was esteemed to be And being laid vp in the barne it consumeth more then of custome carried to the mill it yeelds lesse meale then is looked for yea being kneaden into dough it seemeth to diminish briefly it seemeth to faile being made in paste brought to the ouen and so baked when it is in the binne vpon the table yea in the hand in the mouth in the stomack and in the bellie For it doth not satisfie nourish and sustaine so well as in time of plentie and abundance but they which feede thereof are alwaies hungrie and famished And so we may thinke of all other meates and drinks euen as we finde the contrarie in the blessing of God when through it he giueth fruitfulnes to the earth and abundance of all things according to the testimonie of his word As then we are admonished to haue recourse to him onely to demaund our daily bread and all other things needefull for this life so must wee also doe when wee are visited by sicknesse For hee is the soueraigne and onely phisition who can of himselfe heale vs. It is hee that striketh and giueth remedie which bringeth to the graue and draweth out againe which killeth and raiseth vp againe And therefore hee saith to his people by Moses If thou wilt diligently harken vnto the voice of the Lorde thy God Exod. 15. and wilt doe that which is right in his sight and wilt giue eare vnto his commandements and keepe all his ordinances then will I put none of these diseases vpon thee which I brought vpon the Egyptians for I am the Lorde that healeth thee But although that God alone can doe all things without the aide of any creature and without the vse of any meanes except he please Why God doth serue himselfe with his creatures towards man yet doth he choose out such meanes as he pleaseth to performe his works towards vs and to distribute his gifts and that chiefly for two causes The first is for that he will not haue his creatures remaine idle but serue to his glory and for the good and health of men considering that they were created to that end And the other cause is that it pleaseth him to accommodate himselfe to our infirmitie which is such as we do not thinke that he is neere vnto vs nor that he can or will do it except we haue alwaies some visible signes Although then it is as easie for him to nourish vs without victuales and without drinke as with them and to heale vs without Phisitions and medicines and drugs as hee doth by meanes of them neuerthelesse it is his pleasure to do it by such aides and he will haue vs subiect to this order And therefore let vs thinke that to despise the meanes which he giueth for the maintenance of this life is as much as to despise his commandements like mockers and rebels And if we be such we may not hope for any succours from him seeing we reiect the remedies by which he will giue them vnto vs. But we must alwaies come to this point that although wee cannot receiue the benefits which it pleaseth the most good God to communicate vnto vs except by the meanes ordained by his prouidence thereto yet neuerthelesse we must not attribute this power to any of his creatures but to him onely and must giue him the whole glory considering that he taketh them not for any need which he hath or that without them he could not performe his works but onelie for the aide and supportation of our infirmitie And therefore let vs beleeue that bread wine and all other meates drinkes drugs and medicines haue not any vertue of themselues but so much onely as God infuseth into them and as he thinketh needfull for our good by such instruments as he ordaineth thereto Wherefore men runne in vaine to such aides and especially to Phisitions and apothecaries to be succoured by them except God the soueraigne Phisition do put his hand thereto and except he blesse their arte and labour Of the true vse of phisick and how it is abused Experience certainly doth yeelde vs daily testimonie thereof For it oftentimes hapneth that in stead of helping Phisitions do hurt and in stead of healing do kill And how so Because there are very fewe which addresse themselues to the true and Almightie Phisition and who haue not more confidence in mortall men then in the immortall God as king Asa is accused in the Scripture and punished for this fault with death True it is that some faile in that which they make none account of the ordinarie meanes established by God despising both Phisitions and al the medicines of their arte which is almost as much as to refuse the vsage of those benefits which God giueth vs at need But the greatest number consisteth of those who not onely haue recourse chiefly

to celebrate his diuine prouidence Then ACHITOB begin you to entreate of trees Of trees and especially of the Pine the Fir-tree the Cypresse-tree and the Cedar Chap. 68. ACHITOB. Foure differences of plants transported IT is doubtlesse that the difference of trees of one kinde is chiefly caused by the diuersitie of regions And therefore amongst those trees that are transported from one place to another some do beare fruit as the Palmes at Genoa some also beare but vnperfectly as the Pepper-tree at Millaine There are some that cannot grow as the wood of Aloës brought out of India into Italy And some beare perfect fruit bicause they can agree with the aire and with the soile as well of one countrey as of another as the Vines transported out of Spaine into India But aboue all the calmenes of the aire and the answerablenes of the place are of great efficacy in the naturall propertie of trees do often cause them to beare great quantity of fruit and blossomes and are the cause that some are alwaies greene And therefore about the Grand Cairo and in the countrey of Elephants the leaues do neuer fall off the fig-trees and vines and in the Isles and other regions of the west Indies discouered by the Spaniards there is neuer a tree but is alwaies greene And therefore there are diuers trees both of one and of diuers kindes also higher greener and fairer to behold in one place then in another For in hot and moist countries all plants grow greater fuller of iuice and greener Property of the plants according to the quality of the regions where they growe if the proper nature of the plant doe not hinder and in hot and drie places they are smaller and drier and yet of no lesse vertue But in moist and cold regions the plants are weake and full of sappe And they which are hot by nature grow broad and high but the cold are small Now all trees whereof we now particularly entreat do by nature grow greatly for the most part and flourish a verie long time As Iosephus recordeth that Abrahams Oke did yet stand in his daies And there were betwixt the destruction of Hierusalem and the death of Abraham two thousand yeeres And next to the oke the palme the beech the oliue-tree the elme and the pine-tree do flourish longest Now will I proceede to a particular description of some trees the most woorthie to bee considered of Of the pine amongst which the Pine chalengeth the first place whereof there are two kindes one is domesticall and the other sauage The domesticall kinde hath an infinite sort of branches vpon the verie vppermost toppe of the stocke which spread rounde about it being very thicke of leaues which are pointed in the end and long it beareth plentie of great and sounde apples wherein are certaine hard kernels inclosed as blacke as soote in which the fruite is founde being couered with a thinne yellow skinne easie to get off by pilling it with your fingers And this fruite is sweete and pleasant in taste of a fatte and oylie substance For the sauage or wilde one there are many sorts of them Some growe on mountaines others on the sea coast They of the mountaines are of three kindes For there are some that be highest of all the rest which abound in the forrests of Bohemia Silasia Polonia and other places whereof the countrey men make pitch Which are euery whit like to the domesticall sort sauing that their apples bee lesse for they bee not much greater then those of Cypresse but they are a little longer and more sounde and husked like those of the domesticall Pine being full of gumme and of a sweete sent The second kinde of these mountaine Pines are such as haue no stocke or trunke but sprout their branches out of their roote close to the earth running along the ground till they attaine to tenne or fifteene cubits length they beare fruite like vnto the other but of a bigger sise and fuller of gumme and are founde in many places of Italy Finallie there are many other which are of goodly height and yet not so high as those of the first kinde neither haue they the barke of their stocks yellow like the other pines likewise their fruite is somewhat enclining towards red but more brittle then all the rest And the kernels of them are three square and crooked and in taste somewhat like those of the garden pine sauing that they leaue a certaine quicke sharpenes in the mouth which is proper to all wilde trees and they abounde in the territorie of Trent And the gumme that proceeds out of all these sorts of pines is white and sweete The sea pines are of two sorts differing onely in the greatnes and smalnesse of their fruite and do all of them produce white odoriferous gumme which turneth into a thinne liquor Qualities and virtues of the pine kernels whereof men make black pitch Moreouer as concerning the fruite of the pine in generall it is most certaine that therein are many great vertues properties and that it is very profitable for mans bodie For it is of a moderate temperature but that it enclineth more towards heate It ripeneth it mollifieth it resolueth it fatneth and it nourisheth well It correcteth the humours which are corrupted in the intrailes neuerthelesse it is hard in digestion and therefore to such as are cold of nature the kernels are ministred with honie to such as are hot with sugar to correct the strength of those kernels They do helpe being often eaten the paines of the sinewes and are good for those that be troubled with the Sciatica palsie shaking and numbnes of members They clense the lungs and the corruption of them purging out all clammie hummors and rottennes They are profitable against the cough and the corruption of the reines and bladder wherefore they ease them much who pisse but drop by drop and feele their vrine burne They fatten leane folkes and being taken with the iuice of purslaine they doe helpe eruptions of the stomacke Also the picked leaues of a greene pine being stamped and drunke with wine doe appease paines of the heart Other properties of some parts of the pine But the patient must abstaine from all fat meates Of the scales that couer the pine apples being sodde in very sharpe vineger is made a singular perfume against the Dysenteria And the water of those apples verie greene being distilled through a limbecke doth wash out the wrinckles of the face Moreouer of the oldest pines is pitch made which is called Nauall by reason that it is very good to pitch ships which to do men cut downe the pines with an hatchet which are become full of gummie iuice and hewe them in peeces as they doe other trees to make coales of Whereupon let vs note that they which inhabite mountaines say that it is a maladie amongst pines when not onely the hart thereof but the outward

common prouerb Tuhai piu virtu che non ha la Betonica Thou art endewed with more virtues then Betonie is This herb hath a small stalke and in many places is found of a cubit in height hauing leaues like an oake soft long cut round about of sweete smell great neere to the roote and the seed thereof at top of the stalke lookes like that of sauorie Now for the propertie of this plant the leaues thereof brayed and layde to wounds in the head doe presently search them and healing them from day to day it is not long ere they fortifie the hurt part Being beaten and applied to the forehead they heale the paine of the eies which likewise the decoction of the root doth being sod in water til one third part be cōsumed if you wash your eies therewith The iuice of the leaues being drunke doth purge downwards that blood the great abundance whereof doth dazzle and dimme the sight Wherefore Betonie being eaten doth sharpen and clarifie it And being beaten with a verie little salt and put into the nosthrils it stancheth bleeding at the nose And the warme iuice being distilled with oyle of roses and put into the eares doth asswage the paine of them The vse of this herbe is verie profitable for those which are pained at the stomacke and haue short breath who spit corruption who haue paine in their liuer and spleene and are troubled with running of the raines it prouoketh vrine easeth the gnawing of the bellie and guttes if it proceede not from encreasing of humours and is verie good against dropsies breaketh the stone stayeth the spitting of blood and taken fasting keepeth from drunkennes being drunke often with wine it healeth the iaundise refresheth those that haue trauelled farre sharpneth the appetite resisteth poysons venims and bitings of serpents and all other venemous and mad beasts being not onely taken inwardly but also applied outwardly to the wounds In summe this plant hath so many properties therein that a verie learned phisition amongst the ancients hath written a whole booke thereof Anton. Musa Of Ceterach and the virtue thereof Ceterach hath many vertues of Betonie it groweth on wals and olde ruines and vpon rockes and in shadie places It hath neither stalke flower nor seed but hath many leaues growing out of a roote which are cut like those of mountaine Polipodie red and hairie vnderneath and greene aboue The decoction of this herbe is good for all melancholie passions it consumeth spleene is profitable for those that can hardly make water breaketh the stone in the bladder and is good for them that haue the iaundise Some bray Ceterach leaues to lay them hauing beene steeped in wine vpon the spleene which serueth well for to open it The yealow powder which is found behinde those leaues being drunke with a little white Amber and with the iuice of Plantaine or of Purslaine is maruellous profitable for those that are troubled with running of the reines Saint Iohns-woort also is a verie excellent herbe It is full of branches of a span in height reddish bearing a leafe like to Rue Of Saint Iohns wort and the propertie thereof hauing a yealow flower like to a violet which being rubbed betwixt the fingers yeeldeth iuice as red as blood This plant is called Millepertuis or thousand holes because the leaues of it are all full of so small holes that one can scarce see them but onely betwixt their sight and the sun It beareth seed in rough round and somewhat long huskes This herbe hath power to open resolue search and binde againe It heateth and drieth and is of subtile substance wherefore it prouoketh vrine The seede thereof being drunke with wine voideth the stone out of the bodie and resisteth poysons both the seed and herbe being eaten or taken in drinke or outwardly applied healeth inuenomed bitings The water distilled of this herbe when it beareth flower is singular good for those that are subiect to the falling sicknes or are troubled with the palsie if it be giuen them to drinke The seed being beaten into powder with the iuice of Renouée is good against spitting of blood It purgeth the belly the flowers and seed also haue a maruellous vertue to heale all wounds except such as are in the head Wherefore the oyle wherein the flowers and cods full of seede shall haue beene long time steeped in the sunne doth heale verie well all greene wounds especially if it be mixed with Turpentine If the belly be rubbed with this oyle it is good against the Dysenteria and a spoonefull thereof being drunke killeth the wormes There is a singular balme made of the flowers thereof with the fruit of an elme and rose-buds putting all together in a glasse bottle and setting it in the sunne till such time as all be so consumed that it seemeth to be putrified then must all be strained thorough a cloth and kept so to be vsed chiefely for wounds and hurts of the bodie Now AMANA doe you prosecute our discourse concerning Symples Of Celondine Cammocke Wormewood Hyssope Sage and Mints Chap. 74. AMANA Of Celondine and of the properties thereof IN the description of plants we finde that there is mention made of two kindes of Celondine otherwise called Clarie either of them indued with many vertues That which is called great Celondine hath a slender stalke of a cubit long and hath leaued branches The leaues thereof are soft and greene somewhat inclining towards a blew The flower resembleth that of the white Violet which buddeth out according to the order of euerie leafe It beareth long and slender cods made pointed wherein the seed is enclosed This herbe is of a verie abstersiue and hot qualitie The iuice thereof is verie good to take out spots and the pin and web in the eies but because it is verie sharp you must before you applie it mixe it with those things that may represse the sharpnes therof as namely with womans milke being put into hollow teeth it looseneth them that they fall out If you rub warts therewith they fall off and drie vp The decoction of the roote being drunk with annise seed and white wine doth heale the iaundise and is good for eating vlcers and being chewed it asswageth the paine in the teeth Some make report that swallowes cause their yoong ones to recouer lost sight by applying this herbe vnto them 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and that for this occasion it deriued the name thereof from a Greeke word which signifieth a Swallow as being verie well knowen by these birds and commodious for them Some Alchimists say for Chelidonium Celidonium that is the gift of heauen vaunting that they can extract out of this herbe a quintessence not onely fit for their purposes but profitable also to conserue the health of man and to heale many diseases Celondine the lesse is without stalke Of Celondine the lesse the leaues are round and thicke the flower yealow hanging at a small

The powder therof dried doth consolidate greene wounds if they be washed before with wine wherein rosemarie hath beene sodden and then the powder be strowed on afterwards The flowers thereof confected in sugar are good for all things aforesaide particularly against cold passions of the hart against maladies of the breast and against the plague The decoction of rosemarie made in water and taken in drinke doth heale the iaundise So likewise doth the seede being drunke with pepper and white wine In the plague time it is good to perfume the house with this plant for the fume thereof driueth away ill aires Cammomill also groweth abundantly amongst corne Of Cammomill and in the fieldes bearing yellow flowers enuironed with whitish leaues and is of a strong sauour But to mollifie resolue rarifie and loosen this plant is of singular operation And in this respect no medicine is better for wearie folkes then a bath of cammomill The leaues beaten and put into white wine make a profitable drinke to heale quotidian and quartan agues the decoction thereof drunke healeth paines in the side and so doth the water distilled of the flowers which flowers being gathered without leaues beaten in a morter formed with oile into trochisks afterwardes dissolued againe in oyle if they bee therewith rubbed and chafed which are troubled with feuers from the crowne of the head to the foote and that they presently goe into bed to sweate they shall be holpen bicause of the abundant heate that goeth out of their bodie Cammomill is especially good to dissolue feuers that are without inflammation of any chiefe intraile principally those which proceede from cholericke humors and thicknes of the skin Being taken in drinke or the fume thereof receiued in at the fundament it is a great helpe to voide vrine and grauell Of the Lillie The lillie is likewise very woorthie of consideration It beareth long leaues euer greene smooth and iuicie it hath a stalke of two cubits high round straight euen thicke and strong all clad with leaues from the bottome to the top At the top of the stalke growe three or fower little branches out of which issue small long heads of the colour of the herbe which in time become faire lillies of exquisite whitenesse crossed on the outside and the ends turned outwards round about At the bottome of the flower growe certaine yellow stalks as it were dustie on the vpper side of the fashion of toongs out of the midst of which groweth one long one hauing a round head of the colour of the herbe There is no flower so high and it surpasseth in beautie all other whitenesse Now for the vertue of this plant The leaues thereof are good beeing applied against the biting of serpents beeing boiled they heale burnings and confected in vineger are good for wounds water distilled of the flowers are profitable for women that are deliuered of childe with great difficulty and voideth out the after-burden beeing mixed with saffron and Cinamon The oile drawne out of those flowers is good against all cold diseases of the sinewes as cramps and palsies and to mollifie all stiffenes in the ioynts and all hard-swollen kernelles Lillies long time steeped in oile beeing applied hot do ripen hot impostumes without paine and do breake them especially such as are in the ioints And the bodie of the roots hath the same propertie For beeing boiled and braied with oile of roses they ripen impostumes and beeing braied with hony they heale cut and lame sinewes clense the head of scabs and clarifie the visage and make it smooth The seede of Lillies also taken in drink serueth against the bitings of serpents And the water that is distilled of the flowers in a limbeck doth take wrinkles out of womens faces and doth beautifie them very much Of Baulme Baulme is a very odoriferous plant and smelleth much like a Citron the stalke and leaues thereof are somewhat rough and many stalkes issue out of the roote The property of it is to reioyce the heart to comfort cold and moist stomacks to helpe digestion to euacuate the stoppings of the conduits of the braine to heale feeblenes and faintnes of hart to fortifie it being weake especially if the weakenes bee such that it oftentimes breaketh ones sleepe in the night moreouer this hearb staieth the panting of the hart driueth away cares and sad imaginations which proceede either from the melancholie humor or from fleame combust It hath also a laxatiue vertue not so feeble but that it clenseth and purgeth the spirits and bloud of the hart and arteries from all melancholie vapors which it cannot do to the other parts of the bodie The leaues thereof taken in drinke or outwardly applied are good against stingings of the Tarantula of Scorpions and against the biting of dogs and it is good to bath such wounds with the decoction thereof Beeing mixed with salt they are profitable against the kings euill and mundifie vlcers and beeing applied do asswage the paine of gowts They are vsed in clysters against the flux Also the leaues taken in drinke with niter are very good for them that are stopped by eating toad stooles or mushrums and in loch for them that are troubled with shrinking vp of the bellie and breath with such difficulty that they cannot do it except they stand vpright Grasse Of Dogs-tooth or Dogs-tooth is one of the commonest herbs in the field yea euen in leane grounds The branches thereof ly a long vpon the earth and are full of knots out of which and out of the top it often sendeth new rootes The leaues are very small and pointed it is maruailous in propertie For the decoction thereof taken in drinke healeth wringing in the bellie and hard making of water and breaketh the stone and grauell in the bladder The root braied and applied searcheth wounds And the iuice of the decoction thereof may bee vsed to the same effect which the herb also doth beeing beaten and keepeth wounds from all inflammation if to the decoction thereof bee put a little wine or hony and the third part of so much Pepper Myrrh Franckincense and be made to boile afterwards againe in some copper vessell it is a singular remedy for the tooth-ach and the rheume which falleth into the eies Grasse also that hath seuen spaces betwixt the knots is very good for the headach beeing bound about it It likewise stauncheth bleeding at nose The seede thereof doth greatly prouoke vrine and bindeth the bellie and staieth vomiting It is speciall good against byting of Dragons There is found in some places of Germany a certaine kinde of grasse which is tilled with as great care as other corne or pulse because the people vseth the seede thereof in their meats which seede they call Mama and they seeth it in pottage with fat meate and finde it as good as Rice It is smaller then millet and very white But it must bee beaten in a morter to vnhuske it Of

of Autumne Of Grapes so also are they the most nourishing of all the fruits of summer which are not to bee kept and they engender the best nourishment especially when they bee perfect ripe But all Raisins do not nourish after one manner for sweete ones haue a more hot substance and therefore they cause thirst do swell the stomacke and loosen the belly Contrariwise tart ones doe binde doe nourish little and are of hard digestion Greene and sowre ones are naught for the stomacke And the bigger grapes are the better they are especially if they be gathered verie ripe They which are kept hanged vp are best for nourishmēt because their great moisture is dried The fresh verie ripe grape is good for burnings if the wine thereof be prest out betwixt ones hands vpon the hurt places The mother of the wine or grapes being kept and mixed with salt is profitable against inflammations of the dugs hardnes of them through too much abundance of milke The decoction thereof clisterized serueth greatly for dysenterias or fluxes The stones or seeds haue a restringent vertue and are profitable for the stomacke Being parched and beaten into powder it is good to eate with meate against the fluxe and weaknes of stomacke Drie grapes or raisins haue yet greater vertues and properties in the vse of Phisicke and especially they which are sweetest and of most substance as they of Damascus of Cypres and of Candia The meate of them being eaten is good for the cough for the throat the reines and the bladder being eaten with their stones they serue against dysenterias Being boyled in a platter with sugar and flower of millet of barley and an egge they purge the braine being reduced into a plaister with flower of beanes and cumin Propertie of dry Raisins they appease inflammations Besides the nourishment of raisins is so distributed through the bodie according as their nature is sweete to the sweete sowre to the sowre meane to them that participate with both qualities and the sweete full and fat raisins doe nourish more then the sharpe and leane They which are without stones either by nature or art if they be sweet they are so depriued of all astriction so that they be maruellous lenitiue And therefore are they most fit for paines of the breast for the cough for sore throats for maladies in the reines and bladder and are good also for the liuer But we may not here forget to make mention of the fruit of the wilde Vine commonly called in French Lambrusque because of the admirable properties thereof The grapes of it are gathered and put to drie in the shade they are of a restringent vertue good for the stomacke and prouoke vrine they binde the belly and stay spitting of blood Now must wee speake of Wine which is made of the Raisin Of Wine and the properties thereof and grape produced by the vine Concerning it many affirme that it is the most sweete licour of all others the principall aide and chiefe prop of humaine life the chiefe restorer of the vitall spirits the most excellent strengthener of all the faculties and actions of the body reioicing comforting the hart very much and for these causes they say that the Auncients haue called that plant which beareth the fruit out of which wee receiue this wine Vitis quasi Vita life But yet wee must not deceiue our selues by so many praises attributed to wine considering that the vse thereof by the least excesse that may bee doth bring so many euils vpon man that they cannot bee numbred nor sufficientlie bewailed But beeing vsed temperately wee must confesse that it is a thing of greatest efficacie in the world to nourish and strengthen the bodie For it engendreth very pure bloud it is very quickly conuerted into nourishment it helpeth to make digestion in all parts of the bodie it giueth courage purgeth the braine refresheth the vnderstanding reioiceth the hart quickneth the spirits prouoketh vrine driueth out ventosities augmenteth naturall heat fatneth them who are in good health exciteth the appetite purifieth troubled bloud openeth stoppings conuaieth the nouriture throughout the whole body maketh good colour and purgeth out of the bodie all that which is therein superfluous But if wine bee taken without great mediocritie and temperance it doth by accident refrigerate the whole bodie For the naturall heat thereof by too much drinke remaineth choaked euen as a little fire is quenched by a great heap of wood cast thereupon Besides wine is hurtfull for the braine for the marrow of the back bone and the sinewes that grow out of it Whereby it falleth out that this principall part beeing hurt there succeede in time great and dangerous maladies thereupon to wit the apoplexie the falling euill the palsie shakings numbnes of members conuulsions giddines of the head shrinking of ioints the incubus the catalepsia lethargie frensie rheumes deafenes blindenes and shrinking of mouth and lips Moreouer wine immoderately drunke corrupteth all good manners and discipline of life For this is it that makes men quarrellers wranglers rash incensed furious dice-plaiers adulterers homicides in a word addicted to all vice and dissolution Besides it is to be noted that wine is fitter for old people then for them of other ages for it moderateth and mantaineth the cold temperature of ancient folkes which hath come vpon them for many yeeres Of the vse of Wine But it should not be sufferable if we will follow the counsell of the elders for children and yoong folkes to drinke thereof till they attaine to the age of twentie yeeres For otherwise it is as much as to put fire to fire And yet if we would follow the counsell of the Sages it should not be drunke at all except in certaine indispositions which might happen to the bodie according as the vse was in times past in Greece namely at Athens where wine was onely sold in Apothecaries shops as Aqua-vitae now is But aboue all heed must be taken that in the great heat of the yeere wine bee not drunke that is cooled by snow yee or verie cold water as we see by great curiositie done among vs. For it greatly hurteth the braine the sinewes the breast the lungs the stomacke the bowels the spleene liuer reines bladder and teeth And therefore it is no maruell if they which ordinarily vse it are in time tormented with the colicke and paine of the stomacke also with conuulsions palsies apoplexies difficultie in breathing restrainment of vrine stoppings of the inward members the dropsie and many other great and dangerous diseases Of Aquauitae and the manner how to distill it It resteth for conclusion of this discourse that wee say somewhat concerning wine distilled through a limbecke in a bathe of water which the Sages haue called for the admirable vertues thereof Water of Life For to make which Take of the best wine a certaine quantitie according to the vessel wherein you will distill it

and that fill to the third part of the pot or bodie then couer it with the head thereof verie well closed so that no vapour may issue out set it vpon the furnace ouer a moderate fire in such sort that the wine boyle not And to haue verie good Aqua-vitae you must distill it fower or fiue times and more for the more it is rectified the perfecter it will be And in the first distillation it is sufficient to receiue the tenth part of the wine put into the limbeck for the second the halfe for the third another moitie or lesse so that the oftner you distill the lesser you haue but better alwaies Now you may know whether Aqua-vitae haue attained to full perfection by these signes If it arise to the like quantitie of water or verie neere as the liquor put in if being lighted or set on fire it burne al away and leaue not any marke of moysture in the bottome of the vessell if a doth being dipt therein and lighted will not burne at all if a drop of oyle being cast therein sinke to the bottom and if a drop of this water spilt in the palme of your hand doe presently consume and euaporate Now the vertues and properties of this Aqua-vitae are verie many For as it preserueth from all corruption those things which haue beene steeped therein so all corruption being done away it keepeth repaireth mantaineth augmenteth and prolongeth the life of those that receiue it And it doth not onely preserue the naturall heat and mantaine it in vigour but it also regenerateth the vitall spirit quickneth and warmeth the stomacke sharpneth the braine and vnderstanding cleereth the sight repaireth the memorie especially if they vse it who are of a cold temper being subiect to rawnes of stomacke windines and other cold maladies Thus then haue we declared enough concerning the plants and fruits which the earth produceth for the commoditie of man Wherefore we will to morrow consider of the diuersitie of terrestriall creatures created to the same ende that we may be the more induced to glorifie him from whom we receiue all these benefits The end of the tenth daies worke THE ELEVENTH DAIES WORKE Of terrestriall beasts and especially of Serpents namely of the Aspis or Adder and of the Viper Chapter 81. ASER. BEing this day to discourse concerning liuing creatures of the Earth so much as the subiect of our speech doth require for the accomplishment of our worke It behooueth vs to consider that the terrestriall beasts being as it were innumerable in the species yet they consist of two principall kindes to wit of Insect and of perfect beasts They of the first kinde are called of the Latins by this word Insecta because of the incisions which appeere vpon their bodies retayning life in that part which we behold diuided and cut off and they are engendred for the most part of putrefaction but these things agree not with perfect creatures who take their forme in the matrice Now we will here summarily entreat of Insect animals generally and consequently of the most excellent of their kinde whereof some creepe vpon the earth Of Insect beasts as serpents others fly as flies We are first then to note that all insect beasts are wilde and are verie hardly tamed and made milde for they haue their inner senses verie weak whereas such creatures as are made tame and familiar must haue the facultie of imagination and good memorie Moreouer these kindes of beasts haue little blood or none at all as Philosophers hold who finde in them a certaine vitall humour onely which Nature hath giuen them insteed of blood for which cause they are naturally fearfull and feare hindreth creatures from being tamed Likewise they haue commonly but short life and beasts who should be made familiar require time for that purpose Furthermore in this kinde of Insect beasts some are engendred onely of putrefaction as flies others of egs as serpents and also by another manner which is perfected in the matrice by egs as the viper Now in al this kind of beasts they are most admirable which we haue heere named to wit serpents because of their greatnes and puissant effects and hony-flies or bees and silke-wormes also because of their worke But amongst the many kindes of serpents Of the Aspis the Aspis or Adder is very worthie of consideration and much to bee feared for there are three sorts each whereof causeth him that is bitten by them soone to die except he bee quickly and very well succoured One sort is named Ptyas another Chersaea both earth-serpēts and the third is called Chelidonia which abideth about banks of riuers specially of Nilus The Ptyas and Chersaea are of ashie and greene colour drawing a little to the colour of gold But the Chelidonia hath a blacke backe and white belly like to swallowes And both the one and the other sort are of fiue cubits long in the regions of Africa They raise vp their necke when they will cast their venim wherewith when one is attayned their present remedie is speedily to cut away all that which is bitten or else it is hard to saue them from death and yet many speake of diuers remedies and amongst others they commend verie strong vineger aduising that it should be giuen to the patient to drinke euen so much and for so long time till he feele the qualitie in the right side of his flanks for they say that the liuer is first depriued of feeling in such an accident Some vse Opopanax a drug extracted out of Panaces Heracleum which is giuen to drinke in wine mixed with water to cause them vomit the venim alreadie spread throughout the whole bodie And after such vomiting they must take verie good treacle in drinke and apply it also vpon the biting Mattheolus describeth a quintessence In. Diosco● Lib. 6. composed of Aqua-vitae and some simples and aromaticall drugs which is an excellent remedie of great efficacie when such accidents happen For indeed it is most certaine that waters artificially composed and ingeniously distilled consisting of most subtile parts are in a moment dispersed throughout all the veines and arteries and euerie part of the whole bodie And therefore they cause that the blood and spirits waxe not cold and doe not congeale in those vessels which containe them whereby also the naturall heat comming to augment it selfe doth strongly resist the force of the venim and doth presently surmount it The Viper also is a kinde of serpent it hath a flat head Of the viper and broad neere to the ioint of the necke which is naturally small it hath a quicke eie and a naile in the nosthrill thereof hauing all the rest of the bodie short with the taile also and is of a pale colour Her pace and motion is verie quicke and she beareth her head aloft she differeth from other serpents in that they lay but egs and she bringeth foorth her yoong ones aliue which before

the ship on dry land Lib. 3. Plinie recordeth many other wonders concerning these beasts saying that they honour the stars and principally the sunne and moone that some haue beene seene who beeing sicke haue fallen downe back-wards casting vp herbes towards heauen as if they would offer vp the fruits of the earth in sacrifice and praier to obtaine succour from aboue that all of them doe honour a king and fall downe vpon their knees before him and that they bring chaplets of hearbes and flowers vnto him Hist nat lib. 8. That some of them haue beene seene to record by themselues in the night time that which they haue beene taught in the day time to the ende that they might the better put it in practise That marching in troupes the eldest amongst them goeth formost as captaine and another behinde them as ordering the rereward that intending to passe any riuer they put the yoongest elephants formost knowing that the great elephants would sinke lower because of their excessiue heauines and would by that meanes make the fourd more difficult to passe by reason of the water which would gather there That they doe no harme except they be prouoked thereto and also that they are so gentle towards other weake beasts that passing by a flocke of small cattell they will gently turne backe with their heads all those beasts which they meete for feare of hurting them or treading them vnder their feete They are verie long liued euen to two hundred or three hundred yeeres as Aristotle affirmeth and when the male and female couple together as man and woman they withdraw themselues for this purpose into most secret and hidden places and the females bear their yoong ones for two yeeres together and do neuer bring foorth but one and that but once onely in their life Of their teeth is the true iuorie made but because there are but few to be had therefore some saw and cut in pieces the bones of Elephants which they sell for iuorie Moreouer Historiographers report that the first time that Elephants were seene at Rome was in the triumph of Pompey after he had subdued Africke for he had two yoked to his chariot and that in the turnies and fence-playes which Germanicus Caesar made to shew pastime to the people of Rome there were Elephants that leaped as if they would skippe and daunce and that fortie two Elephants were brought in triumph to Rome after the memorable victorie which Ruscius Metellus did obtaine in Sicily against the Carthaginians Of the Cammell The camell is also a verie tractable beast and profitable to man verie ingenious and apt to receiue discipline For they serue to ride vpon to beare great burthens and also to shew men pastime in many exercises which is taught them by vse There are some in all parts of the world but they abound in Africa And the Arabians hold them for their greatest riches and possessions There are three kindes of them one whereof is verie great another sort are verie little these two kindes hauing but one bunch vpon their backes and the other are of meane stature and haue two bunches each whereof are fit to carrie burthens and to ride vpon also besides some of them resemble asses in colour and some are reddish and they haue their hoofes almost clouen in two but not exactly so that their foote expresseth a kinde of semblance of fiue toes fleshie vnderneath which maketh them tender in stonie places The best Camels are those of Africa because they beare their charges for the space of fortie daies together without euer eating any oates but onely such grasse as is in the fields or some boughes and their least burthen is of a thousand waight being by a naturall instinct so vrged to the seruice of man that with the least touch which may be vpon their necke or knees they will presently bend and kneele vpon the ground to receiue their loade which when they feele to be answerable to their strength they rise againe vpon their feete There are some of them so swift that they will run fiftie miles and more in one day but these are of small stature being good for nothing but to ride vpon The noblemen of Arabia Numidia and Africans of Lybia do neuer vse other steeds And when the king of Tombuto would haue any matter of importance to be signified to the merchants of Numidia with speed he sendeth a Poste vpon one of his camels who runneth from Tombuto to Darha or Segelmessa in the space of seuen or eight daies which are about fower hundred and fiftie French miles being a countrey full of deserts so that the way is verie hard to finde out but by the verie direction of the Camell it selfe When these beasts are lustie which lasteth for fortie daies together with them they waxe verie fierce and outragious and will remember the least blow that their masters shall strike them with a sticke so that if they may fasten their teeth vpon any of them they will lift them vp into the aire then cast them downe againe and murther them with their fore-feete in terrible and grieuous manner but that time being passed they become gentle and tractable as before They neuer drinke but from fiue daies to fiue daies and sometimes they stay nine or fifteene daies whether it be by custome or that this beast is drie or else that Nature hath so well prouided that this creature which liueth in deserts should haue no need to drinke oftentimes in those places where water is seldome found He daunceth at the sound of the trumpet and seemeth to reioice at musicke refreshing himselfe and taking new courage then when being tyred with a tedious iourney his guide beginneth to sing some merrie song Lib. 9. and some also haue beene seene to daunce at the sound of a tabor as the Author of the description of Africa doth testifie Now speake we of the Rhinoceros which is named by some the Bull of India being admirable amongst other beasts Of the Rhinoceros For he is almost as big as the Elephant his thighes are bigger of the colour of wood being all naturally armed with shels which he beareth like bucklers He hath in the vppermost part of his forehead an horne for the length of a span or more very hard strong straight and verie sharpe which turneth towards the forehead and when he will fight he whetteth it And there are some also which haue another little horne vpon the skinne of their backe which is so hard and difficult to penetrate that no arrow how sharpe soeuer it be can pierce it thorough And therefore the Indians arme themselues with their skins as we doe with harneis and murrions and couer their horses with it as we doe ours with barbs and armour This beast hath continuall warre with the Elephant and is his great enemie fighting chiefly with him yea and with all other beasts when the female bringeth foorth her yoong ones of which