filme or skin that beginneth to grow over them or other defects in them that any outward medicine can helpe in this manner Take what quantitie of Strawberries you please and put them into a brasse vessell with a little salt cast upon them which being covered set into a wine cellar for eight dayes in which time the berries will be dissolved into a greene water which being cleared from the rest keepe in a glasse close stopped to use when you neede a droppe or two put into the eyes serveth for the purpose aforesaid some in misliking both salt and brasse for the eyes make a water both for the eyes and for the deformities in the skinne be it morphew leprey or the like in this manner Into a large destillatory or body of glasse they put so many Strawberries as they thinke meete for their use if a few the lesser glasse body will serve which being well closed let it be set in a bed of hot horse dâ—g for twelve or fourteene dayes and after distilled carefully and the water kept for your use CHAP. XVII Alsine Chickweede THere are so many sorts of Chickweedes some chiefely growing in moist and watery places others upon drie mountaines some in the Fields others in the Woods some worthy of ones paines to plant in a Garden others of no such respect that I must severre them and intreate of some in an other Classis where they are fittest to be spoken of you shall therefore have those evpressed in this Chapter and the 〈◊〉 next that follow that I thinke fiit for this place 1. Alsine repens baccifera Great spreading Chickweede The great Chickweede bringth forth many flexible branches full of joynts rising higher than a man if it stand by bushes or other things where it may take hold otherwise through weakenesse lying on the ground it seemeth not so long at every of the joynts stand two leaves one against the other somewhat like unto the ordinary Chickweede leaves but much larger comming somewhat neare unto those of Pelletory of the wall and of a fresh greene colour at the joynts likewise on both sides of the stalkes come forth other branches joynted and set with leaves in the same manner and at the ends of them large greene round huskes ending in five points with â—e flowers growing out of them consisting of five and sometimes of sixe white leaves apeece cut in at the 〈◊〉 in which huskes after the flowers are past stand small round heads like berries greene at the first and blackish when they are ripe containing within them many flat blackish purple seed the roote is white and long creeping much under ground and shooting forth in divers places every yeare new shootes the old dying downe every yeare this hath no taste but herbye as the ordinary Chickweedes have and therefore is by the judgement 1. Alsine repens baccifera Great spreading Chickweede 2. Alsine maxima The greatest Chickweede of the best Herbarists referred unto them yet Lugdunensis saith it hath a stinking and most unpleasant taste 2. Alsine maxima The greatest Chickweede This Chickweede which is the greatest of all the ordinary sorts riseth up with sundry stalkes a foote high or more and lye not on the ground as the smaller sorts Alsine miâ—r The smaller Chickweede doe bearing two leaver usually at a joynt larger then in any other that follow but somewhat narrower then the former it beareth plenty of white flowers of six leaves a peece standing in long greene huskes which containe likewise the head or seede vessell after the flowers are fallen with small yellowish seede in them the roote is white and threddy like the rest 3. Alsine major Great Chickweede This great Chickweede is in all things like the last both in leafe and flower but smaller the stalkes stand not fully upright but doe a little bend downewards and needeth no other description to cause it to bee knowne Minor There is another sort hereof differing in nothing else but the smalnesse of the whole plant 4. Alsine Baetica Spanish Chickweede The Spanish Chickweede riseth up very often with a single upright reddish stalke not branched at all and sometimes with many about a foote or more high full of joynts at each whereof grow two smooth and darke greene leaves narrower then the last a little broader at the bottome next the stalke and small pointed at the ends the middle ribbe on the backside being somewhat great and raised up the flowers stand at the end of the stalke many set together in heads or huskes like those of Symphytum petraeum of a purplish colour the roote is small white and long 5. Alsine recta triphyllos sive laciniata Vpright Chickweede with jagged leaves This jagged Chickweede groweth upright with a stalke for the most part branched into three or foure smaller sprayes about a foote high set at the severall joynts with small long leaves cut into three and sometimes foure parts even to the middle ribbe almost so that they seeme like severall leaves spread like so many fingers to the hand the flowers come forth at the toppes and uppermost joynts consisting of five small blew and round pointed leaves with some threds in the middle and standing in small greenish huskes wherein after the flowers are withered and gone appeare small flat heads divided as it were into two parts wherein lye small whitish seede the roote is small and long set with many fibres and perisheth every yeare after seedetime and springeth againe of the seede that is shed The Place The first as Clusius saith groweth in divers places of Spaine and Germany also and I have sometimes found it by hedge sides in our own Land the second and third is usually found in moyst and watery places by wood sides also oftentimes and in many other places the fourth Clusius found in Spaine the last groweth in sundry grounds and among rubbish sometimes The Time They flower about Iune and their seede is ripe in Iuly The Names Chickweede is called in Greeke 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 quod lucos quos 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 nominant umbrosa loca amat and Alsine also in Latine Dioscorides and from him Pliny lib. 27. cap 4. saith Alsine quam quidam Myosotin appellant nascuur in lucis unde Alsine dicta The first is called by Clusius Alsine repens and so it is also by Camerarius and Dodonaeus Lobel calleth it Planta Alsines majoris facie baccis Solani Cacubalum Plinij but some would make the Solâ— hortense to be Cacubalum led by the false coppie of Dioscorides which hath divers names to herbes which is generally reported to be none of his worke because the confusion of names taketh away the knowledge of the true one Lobel in Adversarijs calleth it Alsines majoris facie planta baccis Solani and maketh a doubt whether it bee Cacubalum Plinij quasi maleficum Lugdunensis also calleth it Cacubalus Plinij sive Ocimoides repens Lucas Ghinus taketh it to be Cyclaminus
Ilva in the Levant Seas as Camerarius saith but it hath beene found wild in our owne Country as it hath beene affirmed unto mee as well as the other naked kinde The fift groweth in Egypt as Prosper Alpinus saith and is onely naturall to that Country The sixth was found in Spaine by Myconus a learned Physitian of Barcinona and sent to Molinaus who composed the great Herball called Lugdunensis The seventh Clusius found upon the Mountaines of Stiria which are part of the Alpes The last Pena saith grew plentifully neare the Fishermens Cottages at the foote of Mons Caetius in Narbone in France The Time They all flower in Iune and Iuly but the Sea plant is the latest The Names It is called in Greeke 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Parthenium quasi virginalis quia mulierum morbis uterinis medetur inde vulgo Matricaria It is called also febrifuga from whence I thinke our English name Featherfew or Feaverfew is derived it being good to expell feavers or agues It is held by most of the later Writers to be the true Parthenium of Dioscorides yet Lobel and Pena even as Brasavolus and Fuchsius before them whom Matthiolus doth confute by many reasons alleadged doe shew that both the face or forme of the leaves compared by Dioscorides to Coriander but lesser as also the properties given to Parthenium can by no meanes be found in this Matricaria but may all most truely and plainely be found in Cotulafaetida or stinking Mayweed the discourse is too long here to recite I therefore referre you to the place where you may read it at large in the description of Parthenium in their Adversaria as also in Lugdunensis in the Chapter of Matricaria Parthenium as Galen saith was called in his time Anthemis Helxine Linozostis and Amaracus and Pliny affirmeth that Helxine was called Perdicium and Parthenium and in another place he saith that it was called Leucanthemum and Tamnacum and that Celsus called it Perdicium and Muralium so that hereby it may be seene that Parthenium was a word applyed to many hearbes Fuchsius would make Matricaria to be the second kinde of Dioscorides his Arthemisia called Leptophyllos that is tennifolia and Parthenium to be Cotuba faetida which as I said before Matthiolus disproveth the second is so called by divers Authors as it is in the title and by Tabermontanus Arthemisia tenuifolia flore pleno the third is a species not spoken of by any Author before as I take it The fourth sort Camerarius calleth Matricaria altera ex Ilva of Tabermontanus Arthemisia tenuifolia odorata and Bauhinus Matricaria odorata and we Matricaria grati odoris because it is of so good a scent The fifth Prosper Alpinus saith is called in Egypt Achaovan and he thereupon called it Parthenium inodorum in English Vnsavory Featherfew The sixth was judged by Myconus that sent it out of Spaine as is before said to be another Parthenium 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and it may be that of Hippocrates which many judge to bee Cetula faetida Bauhinu calleth it Matricaria folijs Abrotani The seventh Clusius calleth Parthenium Alpinum Camerarius Matricaria sive Parthenium Alpinum and Bauhinus Matricaria Alpina Chamaemeli folijs The last Lobel and Pena call Cotula sive Parthenium marinum minimum and Lugdunensis Parthenium maritimum minimum and is likewise the Chamaemelum maritimum of Dalechampius set out in the same place of Lugdunensis for they are both one as may be gathered both by the figure and description although the flowers in Lobels figure be more obscured in English small Sea Featherfew The Italians call it Maetricaria and Amarella the French Espargoutte the Germanes Mutterkraut and Meltram the Dutch Modecruit and we in English as I said before Featherfew or rather Feaverfew The Vertues It is chiefly used for the diseases of the mother whether it be the strangling or rising of the mother or the hardnesse or inflammations of the same applyed outwardly thereunto or a decoction of the flowers in wine with a little Nutmegge or Mace put therein and drunke often in a day is an approved remedy to bring downe womens courses speedily and to warme those parts oppressed by obstructions or cold as also helpeth to expell the dead birth and the afterbirth For a woman to sit over the hot fumes of the decoction of the hearbe made in water or wine is effectuall also for the same purposes and in some cases to apply the boyled hearb warme to the privie parts The decoction thereof made with some Sugar or honey put thereto is used by many with good successe as well to helpe the cough and stuffing of the chest by cold as also to cleanse the reines and bladder and helpe to expell the stone in them The powder of the hearbe as Dioscorides saith taken in wine with some Oxymel purgeth like to Epithymum both choler and flegme and is availeable for those that are short winded and are troubled with melancholy and heavinesse or sadnesse of the spirits It is very effectuall for all paines in the head comming of a cold cause as Camerarius saith the hearbe being bruised and applied to the crowne of the head It is also profitable for those that have the Vertigo that is a turning and swimming in their head It is also drunke warme I meane the decoction before the accesse or comming of an ague as also the hearbe bruised with a few cornes of Bay-salt and some put beaten glasse thereto but I see no reason wherefore and applyed to the wrestes of the hand to take away the fits of agues Some doe use the distilled water of the hearbe and flowers to take away freckles and other spots and deformities in the face And some with good successe doe helpe the winde and collicke in the lower part of the belly and some say it is good also for the winde in the stomack by bruising the hearbe and heating it on a tyle with some wine to moisten it or fryed with a little wine and oyle in a Frying-panne and applyed warme outwardly to the places and renewed as there is need It is an especiall remedy against Opium that is taken too liberally It is an hearbe among others as Camerarius saith much used in Italy fryed with egges as wee doe Tansies and eaten with great delight the bitternesse which else would make it unpleasant being taken away by the manner of dressing CHAP. XXX Chamaemelum Camomill I Have divers sorts of Camomill to shew you in this Chapter some common and well knowne to most others more rare and heard of but by a few and unto them I thinke it not amisse to joyne the Mayweeds because they are as well the like stinking as lesse or not sweet 1. Chamaemelum vulgare Ordinary Camomill Our ordinary Camomill is well knowne to all to have many 1. Chamaemelum vulgare Ordinary Camomill flore pleno Double Camomill small trayling branches set with very fine leaves bushing and spreading thick over the ground taking
made into powder and drunke in a draught of white wine or steeped therein all night and taken fasting or put among other purgers as shall be thought convenient clensing the stomacke and Liver and thereby the blood opening obstructions and helping those griefes that come thereof as the Iaundise the Dropsie the swelling of the spleene tertian and day agues and the pricking paine of the sides as also stayeth the spitting of blood comming as well from the Lunges as any other part the powder taken with Cassia dissolved and a little washt Venice Turpentine clenseth the Reines and helpeth to strengthen them afterwards and is very effectuall to stay the Gonorrhoea or running of the reines It is also given for the paines and swellings in the head for those that are troubled with melancholy and helpeth the Sciatica and Goute and the paines of the Crampe for which purpose one dramme or two of the extract thereof made in this manner and given in broth doth work effectually Let a sufficient quantitie of Rubarbe be steeped in Cinamon water which being strongly pressed forth let it be stilled in a glasse Limbeck in balneo untill the water be drawne forth and the substance remaining be of the thicknesse of honey which keepe in a close covered pot or glasse for the use aforesaid The powder of Rubarbe taken with a little Mumia and Madder rootes in some red wine dissolveth congealed or clotted blood in the body happening by any fall or bruise and healeth burstings and broken parts as well inward as outward the oyle likewise wherein it hath beene boyled being anointed worketh the same effect It helpeth the yexing or hickocke and all fluxes of the belly if it be toasted or dryed a little by the fire but much more if it be more roasted to be halfe burnt and taken in wine after this manner Take a pint of good Claret wine and burne it with some Sugar and a toppe or two of Rosemary into which put a dramme and a halfe of Rubarbe torrified or roasted by the fire as is aforesaid and one dramme of Chebul Myrobalanes a little broken or bruised let these stand in the burnt wine all night by the fire and straine it forth in the morning giving this at two times fasting which will in three or foure dayes stay any scowring or laxe strengthning the stomack and inward parts afterwards It is used to heale those Vlcers that happen in the eyes and eyelids being steeped and strayned as also to asswage the tumors and allay the inflammations and applyed with honey or cute that is to say boyled wine it taketh away all blacke and blew spots or markes that happen therein This Rubarbe is so gentle a medicine that it may be given to all sorts of gentle constitutions but in robustions or strong bodies it purgeth little or nothing whether they be children or women with childe and that safely at all times of the yeare the whey of milke but especially of Goates milke is the best and most accommodate liquor wherein it is to be steeped taken or else in white wine and it worketh thereby the more effectually in opening obstructions and in purging the stomacke and Liver from choler and flegme and most doe use a little Indian Spiknard as the best corrector thereof The other two last sorts of Rubarbe are not much or often used and their qualities are more astringent then opening little experience having beene made with us to shew you more of them CHAP. III. 1. Colocynthis Vulgaris Coloquintida or the bitter Gourde THis bitter Gourd runneth with his branches upon the ground as a Gourd or Cowcumber doth having diverse rough hairy leaves thereon every one by it selfe which are lesser and somewhat longer than those of the Cowcumber and more divided or cut in at the edges most usualy into five or seaven parts each partition also dented in or notched round about the leaves of the forme doe very much resemble those of the Citrull Cowcumber at the joynts with the leaves come forth the flowers which are yellow of the same fashion with them but somewhat smaller and also small tendrells or twining stalkes as the Vine hath wherewith it windeth about any plants or other things that stand next unto it thereby strangling or killing them the fruite that followeth is small and round as a ball many of them not much bigger than a great Crabbe or Peare-maine greene at the first on the outside and afterwards growing to be of a browne yellow which shell is as hard as any Pompion or Gourde and is usually pared away while it is greene the substance under it being white very light Colocynthis Pomiformis Pyriformiâ— The round and Peare fashioned bitter Gourde spongie or loose and of an extreame bitter taste almost indurable and provoking loathing or casting in many that taste it having therein sixe orders or rowes of white hard seede of the bignesse of Cowcumber seede but fuller harder and rounder and nothing so bitter or forceable in working as the white pulpe or substance is the roote is not very great but stringie and quickly perishing with the first cold approach of winter 2. Colocynthis major rotunda The greater Coloquintida or bitter Courde This sort of bitter Gourde differeth not from the former either in leafe or flower or manner of growing but onely in the fruite which groweth to be twice as big as the former and as round greene at the first but of a pale yellow when it is ripe whose pulpe or inner substance is also white and spongie and in a manner as bitter with such like seedes as are in the former and disposed for the most part into eight rowes or partitions the roote perisheth as the former 3. Colocynthis oblonga The long bitter Gourde This kind or Colloquintida differeth not from the last great sort for either manner of growing forme of the leaves or flowers but onely in the fruit which is as great almost as the last but is not so sphericall or round like a ball but somewhat long with the roundnesse and being a little flat at the head the shell or outer rinde thereof is greene at the first and afterwards groweth to be whitish with many spots thereon thâ— is also bitter but not so extreame as the first 4. Colocynthis pyriformis Peare-fashioned Coloquintida or bitter Gourd This Peare-fashioned kinde hath many trayling rough branches like the first and such like long and round pointed leaves cut in also on the edges but not so deepely neither so large or great and of a darker greene colour at the joynts with the leaves come forth the flowers being yellow but smaller than the first and likewise small twining claspers as the other which taketh hold on every thing that it may comprehend the fruite is small not bigger than a large Catherine Peare and many smaller yet all fashioned like a Peare the head whereof is somewhat rounder than a Peare the shell or outward rinde whereof is greene
beaten and mixed with barly meale and applyed to hot inflammations asswageth them and helpeth places that are burnt either by fire or water cureth fistulous ulcers being layde thereupon and easeth the paines of the goute being beaten and boyled with the tallow of a bull or goate and layd warme thereon the juyce of the leaves snuffed up into the nostrills purgeth the tunicles of the braine the juyce of the berries boyled with a little honey and dropped into the eares easeth the paines of them the decoction of the berries in wine being drunke provoketh urine the powder of the seedes first prepared in vinegar and then taken in wine halfe a dramme at a time for certaine dayes together is a meanes to abate and consume the fat flesh of a corpulent body and keepe it leane the berries so prepared and as much white tartar and a few aniseede put to them a dramme of this powder given in wine cureth the dropsie humour by purging very gently the dry flowers are often used in the decoctions of glisters to expell winde and ease the chollicke for they lose their purging quality which they have being greene and retaine an attenuating and digesting propertie being dryed the distilled water of the flowers is of much use to cleare the skinne from sunne burning freckles morphew or the like and as Matthiolus saith both the forepart and hinderpart of the head being bathed therewith it taketh away all manner of the headach that commeth of a cold cause The Vinegar made of flowers of the Elder by maceration and insolation is much more used in France than any where else and is grate full to the stomacke and of great power and effect to quicken the appetite and helpeth to cut grosse or tough flegme in the chest A Syrupus acetosus made hereof would worke much better than the ordinary for these purposes The leaves boyled and layd hot upon any hot and painefull apostumes especially in the more remote and sinewie parts doth both coole the heate and inflammation of them and ease the paines The distilled water of the inner barke of the tree or of the roote is very powerfull to purge the watery humors of the dropsie or timpanie taking it fasting and two houres before supper Matthiolus giveth the receipt of a medecine to helpe any burning by fire or water which is made in this manner take saith he one pound of the inner barke of the Elder bruise it or cut it small and put it into two pound of fine sallet oyle or oyle Olive that hath beene first washed oftentimes with the distilled water of Elder flowers let them boyle gently a good while together and afterwards straine forth the oyle pressing it very hard set this oyle on the fire againe and put thereto foure ounces of the juyce of the young branches and leaves of the Elder tree and as much new wax let them boyle to the consumption of the juyce after which being taken from the fire put presently thereunto two ounces of liquid Vernish such as Ioyners use to vernish their bedsteeds cupboords tables c. and afterwards of Olibanum in fine powder foure ounces and the whites of two egges being first well beaten by themselves all these being well stirred and mixed together put it up into a cleane pot and keepe it for to use when occasion serveth The young buddes and leaves of the Elder and as much of the rootes of Plantaine beaten together and boyled in old Hogs grease this being laid warme upon the place pained with the gout doth give present ease thereto The leaves also burned and the pouder of them put up into the nostrills staieth the bleeding being once or twise used If you shall put some of the fresh flowers of Elders into a bagge letting it hang in a vessell of wine when it is new made and beginneth to boyle I thinke the like may be tried with a vessell of ale or beere new tunned up and set to worke together the bagge being a little pressed every evening for a seaven night together giveth to the wine a very good rellish and a smell like Muscadine and will doe little lesse to ale or beere The leaves of Elders boyled tender and applied warme to the fundament easeth the paines of the piles if they be once or twice renued growing cold The foule inflamed or old ulcers and sores of the legges being often washed with the water of the leaves or of the flowers distilled in the middle of the moneth of May doth heale them in a short space The distilled water of the flowers taketh away the heate and inflammation of the eyes and helpeth them when they are bloud shotten The hands being washed morning and evening with the same water of the flowers doth much helpe and ease them that have the Palsie in them and cannot keepe them from shaking The pith in the middle of the Elder stalkes being dried and put into the cavernous holes of Fistulous ulcers that are ready to close openeth and dilateth the orifices whereby injections may be used and other remedies applied for the cure of them It is said that if you gently strike a horse that cannot stale with a sticke of this Elder and binde some of the leaves to his belly it shall make him stale quickly The Mushromes of the Elder called Iewes eares are of much use being dried to be boyled with Ale or Milke with Columbine leaves for sore throates and with a little Pepper and Pellitory of Spaine in powder to put up the uvula or pallet of the mouth when it is fallen downe Matthiolus saith that the dried Iewes eares steeped in Rosewater and applied to the temples and forehead doe ease the paines of the head or headach The Mountaine or red berried Elder hath the properties that the common Elder hath but weaker to all purposes the berries hereof are taken to be cold and to procure sleepe but the frequent use of it is hurtfull It is said that if a branch of this Elder be put into the trench that a moale hath made it will either drive them forth or kill them in their trench The Marsh Elder is of the like purging qualitie with the common especially the berries or the juyce of them Mens and birds doe feede upon them willingly in the Winter The Wallwort or Danewort is more forceable or powerfull than the Elder in all the diseases and for all the purposes whereunto it is applied but more especially wherein the Elder is little or nothing prevalent the Wallwort serveth to these uses The young and tender branches and leaves thereof taken with wine helpeth those that are troubled with the stone and gravell and laid upon the testicles that are swollen and hard helpeth them quickly the juice of the roote of Wallwort applied to the throate healeth the Quinsie or Kings evill the fundament likewise is stayed from falling downe if the juyce thereof be put therein the same also put up with a little wooll into the mother
fasting as the infusion of halfe an ounce in Wine or Ale for a night or the decoction of halfe an ounce or if need be of six drammes with some other herbes or rootes but because they are a little windie a few Aniseed or Fennell seede and a little Ginger is to be added unto them to helpe to correct that evill quality and then they purge melancholy choller and flegme from the head and braine the lungs and the heart the liver and the spleene clensing all those parts of such evill humours as by possessing them are the causes of those diseases incident unto them and comforting the stomacke especially if some cordiall or stomachicall helper be put with it for Mesues saith it hurteth the stomacke but Monardus and Matthiolus denye that it can doe so in regard that Sene hath somewhat a bitter taste partaking of heat and drynesse all which qualities are knowne rather to strengthen the stomack then to trouble or weaken it it strengtheneth the senses both of sight and hearing and procureth mirth by taking away that inward humour which was the inward cause of sadnesse in the minde opening the obstructions of the bowells and causing a fresh and lively habit in the body prolonging youth and keeping backe old age Divers things are added hereunto to quicken the working thereof and to make it the more effectuall as Rubarbe Agaricke Cassia Fistula drawne Syrupe of Roses c. according as the nature of the disease the age strength and necessitie of the patient doe require Serapio saith it wonderfully helpeth such as are distracted of their senses by the extremitie of the fits in agues or in other diseases which wee call raving or talking idle or such as are growne sottish their braines being overdulled or growing into a frensye or madnesse by inflammations of the braine the epilepsie also or the Falling sicknesse and the headach all sorts of Palsies which are the resolutions of the sinewes the lowsie evill also and all sorts of itches scabs and wheales or pushes c. whatsoever Sena likewise is an especiall ingredient among other things put into a bag to make purging Beere or Ale fit to be taken in the spring of the yeare not onely for all those diseases afore mentioned but also to clense the blood from all sharpe humours mixed or running therewith Purging Prunes also and purging Curranes are made herewith by boyling Sene and some other opening herbes and rootes or if yee will without them with some Anniseede Fennell seede Cinamon Ginger and Cloves some of these or all of them a little quantity and according to the proportion of your Prunes or Currans being set to stew with the decoction of your Sene and other things above specified these may be given to the daintiest stomack that is without offence and without danger to open the body and purge such humours above specified as troble the body And because the decoction of Sene is too unpleasant to many weak and tender stomacks even the smell thereof doth cause them to refuse any potion made therewith the infusion thereof for a night in warme embers and strained forth in the morning is much lesse offensive yet no lesse purging In that infusion while it is warme you may dissolve some Manna or put thereto some Syrupe of Roses and so take it Cassia fistula also may be drawne with the decoction of Sene corrected as aforesayd so given of it selfe or made into a bole with Rubarbe poudered or with the pouder of Sene leaves a little Anniseed and Licoris together some also I have knowne that after they have infused Sene Rubarbe Agarick Tamarinds Tartar with a few Anniseeds or Fennellseeds Cinamon and Cloves in white wine whereunto some have put thereto juice of Fumiterry for a whole day and night then distilling the water from them they keepe it to drinke with some Sugar put thereto as a most dainty and pleasant purge After this manner waters may be distilled from other things as Mecoacan Turbith Scamony and all the sorts of purgers infused in wine or the juice of Fumitery or other herbs as may be thought meete whereunto being distilled Sugar Manna or Syrope of Roses or Rubarbe may be added and so drunke for the purposes aforesaid For the manner of distilling these things if they be done in glasse they will be more neate and dainty and the glasse body to bee set iâ— sand or ashes the water distilled will be the stronger in efficacy from the ingredients and the weaker if the glasse body be set in Balneo with water yet may they bee distilled in an ordinary Still so as it be close If this Sent might be made to grow with us here in England in any quantity or in any of our plantations abroad which are more warmely scituate a water might bee distilled from the whole plant while it is greene and fresh according to the manner of other waters distilled from herbs which would bee as dainty a purger as could be taken The lye wherein Sene and Camomill flowers are boyled is mervelous good for weake braines to confort and strengthen them as also for the sight and hearing if the head bee washed therewith the same lye also is very profitable for the sinewes that are stiffe with cold or shrunke with crampes to helpe to warme comfort and extend them it helpeth also to take away the itch in the body and the hands if they bee washed therewith as Durantes saith and is a vaileable to clense and cure foule Vlcers and sores The Itilian Sene worketh the same effects before specified but more weakely in every part CHAP. XXXI Colutaea Bastard Sene. OF the Bastard sorts of Sene there are many differing much one from another as shall be shewed you in this Chapter 1. Colutaea vesicaria vulgaris Ordinary Bastard Sene with bladders This greater Bastard Sene groweth in time to be a tree of a reasonable greatnesse the stem or trunck being of the bignesse of a mans arme or greater covered with a blackish greene ragged barke the wood whereof is harder then of an Elder but with a pith in the middle of the branches which are divided many wayes having divers winged leaves composed of many small round pointed or rather flat pointed leaves set at severall distances and somewhat like unto Licoris or the Hatchet fitch among which come forth yellow flowers like unto Broome flowers and as large after which come thinne swelling cods like unto thinne transparant bladders wherein are conteined blacke seede set upon a middle ribbe within the bladders which being a little crushed betweene the fingers will give a cracke like a bladder full of winde the roote groweth great and wooddy branching forth divers wayes 2. Colutaea scorpioides major The great Scorpion podded Bastard Sene. This bastard Sene groweth nothing so great or tall but shooteth out sundry stalkes from the roote the elder whereof have a whitish barke and the younger a greene with winged leaves set thereon
two at a place but more usually one standing in greene huskes like unto the last composed of five small blewish purple leaves enclining to red in which huskes after the flowers are fallen stand small skinnie heads wherein is conteined small whitish seede the roote is small long and browne Vnto this sort might belong according to some mens opinion the Lysimachia caerulea galericulata which I have already set forth in the Chapter of Gratiola as a sort of that kinde in the Classis of purging plants but as I there sayd there was the fittest place for it in my judgment both for that it is extreame bitter and hath hooded flowers both which are proper to the Gratiola and not to the Lysimachia none of them being so as also that diverse of good judgement have likewise called it Gratiola caerulea The Place The first groweth in moyst Meddowes and grounds nigh unto water courses in many places of Hungary as Clusius saith the other he saith also he had of Doctor Mera who gathered it in some places not named in his returne out of Italy into Germany The Time They flower in Iune and Iuly with the rest The Names The first Clusius calleth Lysimachia purpurea secunda sive minor and by Bauhinus Lysimachia rubra non siliqâ—sa the other Clusius likewise calleth Lysimachia rubra minima and Bauhinus Lysimachia Lini folia purpurea caerulea The Vertues It is no doubt but these herbes being so like in face and outward forme unto the Lysimachia are not onely to be accounted as species thereof but of the same property in some measure with them but thereof I know not any tryall made and therefore can say no more of them CHAP. XXXV Lysimachia spicata Loosestirfe with spiked heads of flowers THere are likewise two sorts of this kinde of Lysimachia to be entreated of in this Chapter which are as followeth 1. Lysimachia spicata purpurea Purple spiked headed Loosestrife This Willow herbe or Loosestrife that carryeth a spiked head of flowers groweth with many wooddy square stalkes full of joynts about three foote high at the least at every one whereof stand two long leaves not altogether so great and large as those of the common yellow but shorter narrower and of a deeper greene colour and some brownish the stalkes are branched into many long stemmes of spiked flowers halfe a foote long growing in rondles one above another out of small huskes very like unto the spiked heads of Lavander each of which flowers have five round pointed leaves of a purple violet colour or somewhat enclining to rednesse in which huskes stand small round heads after the flowers are fallen wherein is conteined small seede the roote creepeth under ground like unto the yellow but is greater than it and so are the heads of leaves when they first appeare out of the ground and are more browne than those of the yellow Lysimachia Virginiana flore carneo Blush Willow herbe of Virginia This Willow herbe hath many faire long and large leaves c. expect the rest hereafter 2. Lysimiachia spicata caerulea Blew spiked Loosestrife This blue flowred Loosestrife groweth somewhat lower with some branches in the like manner at the toppes of the square stalkes and with darke greene and narrower leaves set by couples at the joynts towards the 1. Lysimachia purpurea spicata Purple spike headed Loosestrife 2. Lysimachia caruâ—ea spicata Blue spiked Loosestrife toppes but with three or foure at a joynt lower somewhat deepelyer snipped or dented about the edges the flowers grow in the same manner as the former doe in long spiked heads set round about with blue flowers of foure leaves a peece which turne into small flat heads with brownish seede therein the roote creepeth not as the first doth but shooteth forth many sprouts round about it whereby it doth much encrease The Place The former groweth usually by rivers and ditches sides in wet grounds as upon Lambeth side about the ditches there in many places the other is seldome found in our Land but in Austria and other places of Germany plentifully The Time Both these doe flower in the monthes of Iune and Iuly The Names The formost is certainely the Lysimachia that Plynie remembreth and to take the name from Lysimachus as is before sayd and is the Lysimachia altera of Matthiolus the Lysimachia Pliniana or purpurea of Lobel in his Adversaria and Observations the Lysimachia purpurea communis major of Clusius the Pseudo Lysimachium purpureum alterum of Dodonaeus and the Solidaginis Sarasenicae alia species of Tragus there have beene some that have taken it for Eupatorium and some for a kinde of Centaurium but they have erred both the other is taken by some to be Veronica recta major but others and that more truely make it a Lysimachia as Clusius who calleth it Lysimachia caeruleo flore Lobel Lysimachia caerulea hortensis Lugdunensis and Dodonaeus who calleth it Pseudo lysimachium caeruleum and saith that many Dutch did call it Partiicke Bauhinus calleth it Lysimachia spicata caerulea whom I thinke to be of as good and sound judgement as any other whom I doe follow as you see The Vertues The properties of these hearbes being cooling and drying are to be referred to the former wherein they scarse come behind the best of them and therefore it needeth not that I should make a repetition of the same things againe seeing any man may safely use the one instead of the other when it is not neere at hand or to be gotten And more by particular experience this hereafter hath beene found and by a friend imparted of whose learning and judgement there needeth no question The destilled water is a present remedy for hurts and blowes on the eyes and for blindnesse so as the christaline humor or sight it selfe of them be not perished or hurt or be not spoyled which experiments was found true upon a boy whose eye by chance was pricked and restored hereby as also by another who being hurt in the eye athwart by a dart was cured onely by applying this water outwardly he that performed this cure and the like upon divers would not declare this secret to any and therefore the Physitions and Chirurgions that undertooke to cure another hurt in the same manner and refusing this water failed of their cure and left him blind that they dealt with It is of as good use to cleere the eyes of any dust or other thing gotten into the eyes and keepeth the fight from much danger It is also availeable against wounds and thrusts to be made into an oyntment with May butter waxe and sugar in this manner Take to every ounce of the water two drammes of May butter without salt and of sugar and waxe of each as much also let them boyle gently altogether let tents be dipped in the liquor that remaineth after it is cold and put into the wounds and the place covered with a linnen cloath doubled and annointed with the oyntment
with them yet most used this This drieth more than Barly it selfe and bindeth the belly being drunke with red wine and allayeth inflammations and drunke with water it quencheth thirst it was often eaten with a little new wine or sodden wine put unto it as every one liked CHAP. XVI Maza MAza is but Polenta parched Barly moystened with some liquor as every one thought meete for some used nothing but Water others put to it both water and oyle together as Hesychius saith and some as Hippocrates sheweth did put sweete wine to it and some put honey also Galen declareth that Maza of it selfe doth hardlier digest in the stomacke and doth trouble the belly with winde if it abide long therein but it doth the sooner passe downe if it be much turned and honey be put to it CHAP. XVII Of Ptisana PTisana the most praysed and prayse-worthy drinke supping or pultage call it how you will was used anciently to be made of divers sorts of graine and not altogether of Barly for they had their Chondro Ptisana made of Zea Pyrina Ptisana made of Wheate and Pliny saith that Italy which was abounding in Rice made Ptisana thereof which others made of Barly and Galen also sheweth it was made of Pulse for he nameth Phacoptisana that is made of Lentills but Ptisana simply without any other addition is alwayes understood of Barley onely husked for the excellency thereof The manner of making it is set downe by divers authors as Pliny Galen Dydimus and others but because Hippocrates who is accounted the Prince of Physitions wrote a whole Treatise in prayse thereof I will here set downe his words of making it fit for meate or medicine Take saith he of the best Barley and moysten it with water let it so rest for 3. or 4. houres then put it into a course bagge and beate it with a mallet or pestell of wood untill it have cast off the huskes which then being washed to take them away drie it in the Sunne and keepe it to use as occasion serveth as Polenta but to make it Ptisana it is to be boyled gently in water untill it breake and that the liquor be thicke like creame which then is lenifying sweete and lubricke or slippery and being moderately liquid quencheth thirst it hath no astriction nor moveth perturbations nor swelleth in the stomacke for all the swelling is tooke away in the boyling it sticketh not in the breast or stomacke but by the lubricitie is easily digested and quencheth thirst by the moistening qualitie these properties saith Galen recorded by Hypocrates are availeable both for the sicke and for the sound Dioscorides further addeth the creame of Ptisana by reason of the boyling yeeldeth more nourishment than Polenta that is made of Barly and is profitable to helpe the sharpenesse and roughnesse of the throate and all exulcerations This was the manner of the ancients Ptisana for their manner of making and using but our Physitions in these times use onely Barly husked and boyled in water and then beaten and strained putting some blanched Allmonds or Pompion seede or other cold seedes beaten and strained with some Sugar and Rosewater and this is their most usuall Tisane or Barly creame Some appoint Barly to be lesse sodden which is called Barly-water and therewith is made either Tisane drinkes by adding Licoris Raisons of the Sunne Maidenhaire or the like for such as are troubled with coughes shortensse of breath c. or else with Almonds or cold seedes make it into an Almond milke with Suger and Rosewater or given to hecticke or macilent and weake bodies the Barly water alone or made into a Julip with Syrope of Violet or Lemonds or the like is a fit drinke for those that have hot or burning feaver on them or are otherwise distempered with heate or used with some pectorall Syrupes for the cough shortnesse of winde hoarsenesse or the like There yet remaineth Zythum and Curmi of the ancients to be spoken of and both as Dioscorides saith made of Barly which because wee suppose in these dayes they did point to our Ale and Beare which are made with Mault the substantiall part of the drinkes I thinke meete first to speake of Mault CHAP. XVIII Byne sive Maltum Mault AETius onely used this word Byne which by all is referred to Mault and as the by manner of making set downe by him is shewed plainely Maltum is a word made Latine from the Germans Manth and our Mault both signifying one thing that is that manner of prepared Barly as is fit therewith afterwards to serve to their use that would make of it either Ale or Beare the manner of making is as I take it in all countries alike without difference and so well knowne to all that it is in a manner needelesse for me to set it downe thereby to enforme any that having spent their time wholly thereon as being their profession can tell better how to enforme me but as in all the rest of this Worke my endeavours are to enforme shew those that not knowing wil not refuse to heare and understand and thus it is Barly is laid in water to soake for two or three dayes and nights which being swollen in that time the water is drained from it and is afterwardes spread equally on the floore of a garner or such like place that is close about halfe a foote thicke and covered with clothes or other things warme untill it beginne to sproute ready as it were to grow which will be performed within two or three dayes if the weather be warme or not very cold or else it will lye longer then doe they turne it before it grow too hot two or three times a day for a weeke or tenne dayes both to coole and to drie it then doe they bring it to the kill and there dry it throughly with fire made of straw or other such like light stuffe to cause it to have the sweeter relish for being dried with bavens or wood the mault will taste bitter of the smoake and is soone perceived in the drinke which will taste bittter This mault before it can be used is to be ground a little and then serveth it for the Brewer to use If Mault being ground be tried and applied in a bagge or double cloth hot to the sides or belly pained with stitches or gripings occasioned by cold or winde it giveth much ease and helpe and being made into a pultis asswageth tumors and swellings CHAP. XIX Of Zythum THeophrastus and Dioscorides onely and no other authors before them that I can finde have made mention of Zythum what it is or whereof it was made and yet they are so short therein that we rather understand this by others relation which thing sheweth it was so common a drinke there in those places of Greece c. that they thought it not worth their labour further to explane it even as Discorides hath done the like with many
bladders thereon as the former the wood or timber of this is not so tough as the former but is more short and will bee more easily cleft 3. Vlmus folio glabro Smooth leafed Elme or Witch Elme The Witch Elme groweth more like to the last then the first in the bending boughes and great body the blooming and seede also is like though lesse but the leaves hereof are nothing so large as the last but neerest in bignesse unto the first yet not rough or crumpled but smooth and plaine and without any blisters on them as the former two have the timber hereof is as strong and as tough as the first or rather more and is accounted of workemen the stronger and more serviceable kinde 1. Vlmus vulgaris cum samâ—rtis sive seminibus suis Our Common Elme with his seede 2. Vlmus latiore folio Broad leafed Elme or witch Hasell 3. Vlmus folio glabro Smooth leafed Elme or Witch Elme 4. Vlmus minor The lesser Elme 4. Vlmus minor The lesser Elme There is in some places of this land found a sort of Elme somwhat differing from those before in that it groweth lower and lesser and with smaller leaves that are as rough on both sides as the first and easie to be distinguished if they be heedefully observed The Place and Time All these sorts are as is said found in our owne Country yet the first is the most frequent and the second in some Countries as much or rather more then the first the third is to be seene in many woods in Essex they all blossome as is said before the leaves come forth and the seede not long after their first spreading at large The Names It is called in Greeke 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in Latine Vlmus Theophrastus and Columella as I said mention but two kindes Theophrastus Montiulmus or montosa Vlmus and campestris Vlmus Columella hath Vlmus Gallica and Vernacula which is Italica Pliny hath foure sorts Attinia Gallica Nostras and Sylvestris which will thus be reduced into the two sorts his Attinia and Gallica are both one sort as Columella plainely setteth downe and is the same with Theophrastus his montosa which is excelsissima Pliny his nostras and sylvestris are both one likewise and the same with Columella's Vernacula which as I said is called Italica and the same also with Theophastus his Vlmus campestris so that our third sort with smooth leaves was knowne to none of them nor yet scarse to any of our moderne Writers unlesse they put it for the Carpinus as it is usually called or for Ornus as Tragus calleth it as shall be shewed in the next Chapter so that our first here set downe agreeth with the Attinia of Pliny Galica of Columella and Montosa Vlmus of Theophrastus and our second with the campestris of Theophrastus Vernâ—cula of Columella and nostras sylvestris of Pliny and called also latifolia by divers but Bauhinus in my judgement hath much confounded them putting one for another the seede of the Elme is called Samarra The Arabians call it Didar Dirdar and Luzach the Italians Olmo the Spaniards Vlmo the French Orme the Germanes Rustholtz Vlmerbaum Iffenholtz and Lindbast as Tragus saith the Dutch Olboom and we in English the Elme tree The Vertues All the parts of the Elme are of much use in Physicke both leaves barkes branches and rootes the leaves while they are young were wont to be boyled or stewed and so eaten by many of the common people Marcellus saith that the leaves hereof beaten with some pepper and drunke in Malmesie doth helpe an old rotten cough to be taken fasting both Dioscorides and Galen upon his owne experience say that greene wounds are healed by applying some bruised leaves thereto and bound upon with the barke of the Line or Linden tree or with it owne barke the leaves used with vinegar cureth the scurfe and lepry very effectually so doth the barke also in vinegar as Galen saith Dioscorides and Columella do both say that the outer bark of the Elme drunk in wine hath a property to purge flegme which I know of none in our time hath tryed to confirme it the decoction of the leaves barke or roote being bathed healeth broken bones that moisture or water that is found in the bladders on the leaves while it is fresh is very effectually used to cleanse the skinne and make it faire whether of the face or of any other place Matthiolus saith he hath sufficient tryall that the water in the blisters on the leaves if clothes often wet therein and applyed to the ruptures of children will helpe them and they after well bound with a trusse The said water put into a glasse and set in the ground or else in dung for 25. dayes the mouth thereof being close stopped and then the bottome set upon a lay of ordinary salt that the feces may settle and the water become very cleare is so singular and soveraigne a balme for greene wounds that it is a wonder to see how quickly they will be healed thereby being used with soft tents the decoction of the barke of the roote fomented mollyfieth hard tumours and the shrinking of the sinewes the rootes of the Elme boyled for a long time in water and the fat rising on the toppe of the water being cleane scummed off and the place annointed therewith that is growne bald and the haire falne away will quickly restore them againe the said barke ground with brine or pickle untill it come to the forme of a pultis and laid on the place pained with the gout giveth a great deale of ease It hath been observed that Bees will hardly thrive well where many Elmes doe grow or at least if they upon their first going abroad after Winter doe light on the bloomings or seed thereof for it will drive them into a loosenesse that will kill them all if they be not helped speedily CHAP. XII Ostrys sive Ostrya Theophrasti The Horne beame tree THis tree which as I said before is so like unto the Elme but notably differing from it riseth up to be a reasonable great tree with a whitish rugged barke spreading well and bearing somewhat longer and narrower leaves then the ordinary Elme and more gentle or soft in handling resembling in some sort the Beech leaves turning yellow before they fall for which cause some have taken it as a kinde of small Beech at the end of the branches hang downe a large tuft of whitish greene narrow and long leaves being almost three square set together amogn which rise small round heads wherein are contained small yellowish seede like unto barley cornes the timber or wood hereof is whitish like the Beech but tougher and stronger then any Elme and more durable in any worke growing as hard is Horne whereon came our English name Caesalpinus seemeth to set forth another sort differing in the heads of seede which in Italy are smaller and closer Altera Italica
from this last errour would invert the Text and say that the Bay leaves are the hottest the Poplar the coldest and the Chaste tree leaves a meane betweene them both CHAP. XXXV Olea The Ollive tree THe Ollive is distinguished into the tame or manured Ollive and into the wild sort for although the old Writers aâ— Pliny Columella and others set downe ten sorts which they called by severall names which whether it were in these as in the diversities of Vines wee know not our climate not fitting their growing or according to Wines which according to the severall climates and soyles gave sweeter or harsher weaker or stronger Wine one then another and so greater or lesser Ollives and sweeter or stronger oyle one then another for divers doe account them to be differing in specie one from another as our Apples Peares and Cherries doe 1. Olea sativa The manured Olive tree The manured Ollive tree riseth in some place to be very tall and very great like a great Wallnut tree in others not of halfe that height and greatnesse with divers armes and branches not very thickely set together whereon grow somewhat long and narrow leaves like the Willowes but lesser and shorter thicke fat and sharpe pointed with short footestalke under them greenish above and whitish underneath never falling off the tree of a bitter taste and somewhat sharpe withall the blossomes are many set together at the joynts with the leaves small and of a greenish white colour made of foure leaves a peece after which come round and somewhat long berries greene at the first and changing pale afterwards and then purplish and lastly when they are full ripe of a deepe blacke and some white when they are ripe as Clusius saith he observed some are great others are small and some of a meane sise betweene both some are longer and some rounder then others some are fitter to eate and yeeld not much oyle others are not so fit to eate and are smaller yeelding more store of oyle some againe are gathered unripe and pickled up in brine which are the Ollives we use to eate with meate others are suffâ—red to grow ripe and then pickled or dryed and kept all the yeare to be eaten as every one list Of those Ollives whereof oyle is made some oyle will be delicate sweete and neate others more fatâ—y or full and strong some upon the taste will leave no bitternesse or heate in the mouth but will taste as sweete as butter others againe will be more or lesse hot and unpleasant in taste the wood is faire firme and solid full of curld veines and as apt to burne when it is greene as dry and will not rotin a long time 2. Oleaster sive Oâ—ea sylvestris The wild Ollive tree This wilde Ollive tree groweth somewhat like unto the manured but that it hath harder and smaller leaves and thicker set on the branches with sundry sharpe thornes among the leaves the blossomes and fruite come 1. Olea sativa The manured Ollive tree 2. Olea sylvestris The wild Ollive tree forth in the same manner that the other doe and in as great plenty yet much lesser and scarse comming at any time to ripenesse even in the naturall places but where they doe being ripe they are small with crooked pointes and blacke Of the Ollives hereof is sometimes made oyle which is colder and more astringent in property then the other and harsher in taste and greenish in colour but the Ollives are much also respected and gathered to be eaten The Place and Time Both these grow in the warmer Countries onely neither will they beare fruite in any cold climate or rather scarse live out their Winters the manured as I said before is wholly planted wheresoever it groweth where according to the soyle and climate come greater or lesser Ollives and more or lesse store sweeter oyle also or more strong in taste Many doe thinke saith Columella that the Ollive tree will not grow or at the least not beare fruite if it doe grow above three score miles from the Sea For from the Isles in the Mediterrenean Sea as Zante and Cerigo c. is brought the finest and sweetest oyle and from Majorca c. a fuller or fatter oyle from Protine in France a stronger and hotter tasted oyle then either of them or some others the wilde Ollive groweth naturally in Spaine Portugall Italy and many other Countries They flower in Iune and Iuly and have not their fruite ripe untill November or December and as Clusius in Granado not untill February the wilde in Ianuary and after Virgil sheweth in these Verses that the Ollive being planted needeth no further dressing Non ulla est Olivis cultura neque illae Procurvam expectant falcem rastrosque tenaces Cum semel haeserunt arvis anrasque tulerunt The Names The manured Ollive is called in Greeke 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and Olea sativa in Latine the wilde Ollive 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is in Latine Oleaster or Oleasylvestris Cotinus and Olea Aethiopica as Dioscorides hath it the fruite is called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and Oliva in Greeke and Latine and when they are neere ripe Drupae and Drupetes and Colymbades when they are pickled or dryed to be eaten yet the Greekes at this day call them Dermatia The manner to make Oyle as Matthiolus relateth is thus after the Ollives are gathered they are laid a little to wither and afterwards ground in a Mill and then put into a strong presse with some hot water powred on them to yeelde out the oyle which after it hath stood and is settled the pure oyle is drawne off from the foote or bottome and kept for use The manner to pickle Ollives to have them keepe their greene colour is saith Matthiolus to take six pound of quicke Limestones made into pouther which dissolved in so much water as may make it thinne you are to put thereto twelve pounds of fine sifted Oke ashes dissolved in as much water as will be sufficient into which you are to put 25. pounds of fresh gathered greene Ollives and let them lye therein eight or ten houres at the most to take out their bitternesse stirring them a little and afterwards washed in many waters shifted for five dayes together which are lastly to be put into brine or pickle wherein some Fennell stalkes and leaves have beene put into the boyling and then put up into woodden or earthen vessels as you list The foote of the oyle is called Amurca in Latine The gum saith Dioscorides that the Ethiopian or wilde Ollive doth yeelde is yellow somewhat like unto Scammony being in small droppes and is hot or sharpe biting upon the tongue but that saith he which is blackish resembling Gum Ammoniacum or other gum and burneth not upon the tongue is adulterate and false but saith Matthiolus this gum is neither brought us now adayes nor is in use yet some thinke that our Gum Elemi is it
Plumme but much lesse and of a softer substance very sweete thus farre Theophrastus Now let me descant a little hereon and compare them First the leaves of Persea saith Theophrastus are most like unto the leafe of the Peare tree and this saith Clusius is like unto the greatest Bay leafe the one is almost as broad as long and the other twice as long as broad besides it is small pointed the flowers of Persea are like the Peare tree which are much larger then those of the Bay and doe not grow so many together as this doth nor at the ends of the branches like this the fruite of Clusius is blace of this greene of that like a Peare of this as bigge as a peare but like an Almond of this the stone is like a Plumme of that like an Heart which is round and not flat as that plumme stone is that hath ripe fruite onely in Autumne this at all times of the yeare And besides all these which are differences sufficient to distinguish them I doe not finde almost any plant either herbe or tree growing in the West Indies to be like unto those that grow in Europe the lesser Asia or the hither part of Africa and therefore by all probabilities this of Clusius cannot be that of Theophrastus yet this sheweth an excellent judgement in Clusius to referre this tree to that Persea but in any judgement this Persea of Theophrastus is most likely to be some kinde of Myrobolane or else some other fruite not knowne to us It was called saith Clusius by them where he saw it Mamay but he was afterwards enformed by Doctor Tonar that it was not Mamay but called Aguacate by the Indians Some have thought this Persea to be all one with the Persica arbor as Palladius calleth it or Malus Persica of Dioscorides Gaza translating Theophrastus in some places rendereth it Persica and in others Persea as Pliny in one place also confoundeth them both together although in another he distinctly speaketh of Persea and separateth it himselfe from Persica but how much they differ one from another the descriptions of both doth plainely declare to any The Peach is called by the Arabians Sauch and Chauch by the Italians Persiche by the Spaniards Pexegos by the French Pesches by the Germans Pfersichbaum by the Dutch Perseboom and by us Peach The Vertues Some are of opinion that the leaves of Peaches are of a cold quality but Galen sheweth that the buds and leaves have an excellent bitter quality that if they be bruised and laid on the belly they will kill the wormes and so will they doe also if they be boyled in Ale and drunke and open the belly likewise and also is a safe medicine to discusse humours being dryed and the pouther of them strewed upon fresh bleeding wounds doth both stay their bleeding and close them up the flowers being steeped all night in a little Wine standing warme strained forth in the morning and drunke fasting doth gently open the belly and move it downewards and a Syrupe made of them by reiterate infusions as the Syrupe of Roses is made is found to worke more forceably then that of Roses for that it provoketh vomitting and spendeth waterish and Hydropicke humours by the continuance thereof the flowers condited or made into a conserve worketh to the same effect the gumme or rather the liquour that droppeth from the tree being wounded is given in the decoction of Coltsfoote unto those that are troubled with the cough or with shortnesse of breath by adding thereto some sweete wine and putting some Saffron also therein it is good for those that are hoarse or have lost their voyce helpeth all the defects of the lungs and those that vomit or spit blood Two drammes thereof given in the juyce of Lemmons or of Radish is good for those that are troubled with the stone it is said some given in Plantaine or Purslane water stayeth the casting or spitting of blood the kernels of the stones doe wonderfully ease the paines and wringings of the belly through winde or sharpe humours and are much commended to be effectuall to breake and drive forth the stone which that they may the more powerfully worke I commend this water unto you to drinke upon occasion three or foure ounces at a time Take fifty kernels of Peach stones and an hundred of the kernels of Cherry stones a handfull of Elder flowers fresh or dryed and three pints of Muscadine set them in a closed pot into a bed of Horse dung for ten dayes which afterwards stilled in glasse with a gentle fire keepe for your use The milke or creame of these kernells being drawne forth with some Verven water being applyed to the forehead and temples doth much helpe to procure rest and sleepe to sicke persons wanting it the oyle likewise drawne from the kernels doth the same being annointed the said oyle put into glisters doth ease the paines of the chollicke proceeding from winde and annoynted on the lower part of the belly doth the like and dropped into the eares easeth the paines of them the juyce of the leaves doth the like killeth the wormes and ulcers in them being also annoynted on the forehead and temples it helpeth the Megrome and other paines in the head If the kernels be bruised and boyled in vinegar untill they become thicke and applyed to the head or other places that have shed the haire and are bald it doth marvellously procure the haire to grow againe The Peaches themselves being eaten by reason of their sweetenesse and moisture doe soone putrefie in the stomacke and therefore Galen adviseth that they be never taken after but before meate alwaies so shall they make the rest to passe away the more speedily with them or else taken after they corrupt the rest in the stomacke with themselves The Nectarin hath a firmer substance and a more delectable taste for which it is most accepted being of no use in Physicke that I know The Persea is not used with any CHAP. LXXXII Amygalus The Allmond tree THe Almond is so like unto the Peach in every part thereof and yet differing from it that I can doe no lesse then joyne it next in a severall Chapter and although there are sundry sorts of sweete Almonds some great and some small others long and some short and a bitter kinde also yet being in the whole surface so like one unto another that they can be distinguished by no other thing then the Allmond I will onely give you one description and shew you their differences herein which I thinke shall be sufficient Amygdalus The Allmond tree The Allmond tree groweth greater and higher then any Peach and is therefore usually planted by it selfe and not against a wall and never grafted that I have seene and knowne that would take and abide but is alwayes planted of a stone put into the ground where you would have it to grow for it hardly suffereth a transplanting the body thereof becomming
where it was burned for they said that whosoever came neare the fire or flame thereof or whomever the smoake onely touched was made utterly impotent and unabled to any venereous acts CHAP. CXXIII Arbor Farinifera The Bread tree SOme that accompanied Sir Francis Drake in compassing the whole world did relate that in the Iland of Ternate which is neare the Equinoctiall line towards the North pole groweth a strange kinde of tree about ten foot high whose toppe is formed like unto a Cabbidge in the middle whereof is found a fine white meale which the poore Ilanders gather and by putting a little water thereto and letting it ferment they make past or dough whereof they make thinne flat square Cakes and bake them in certain long earthen pans with fire put round about them which they eate while they are hot for when they are growne older and hard they steepe them in warme water and bring them to a kinde of pultage and so eate them but this Cake or bread is in a manner without taste or rellish but when some Pepper or Cinamon with Sugar is put thereto it is a pleasant food to many but Marcia Poâ—us Venetus recordeth a more strange bread tree growing in the kingdome of Fanfur Arbor vâ—sta saâ—iâ—fera whose trunke two men could scarse fadome the barke whereof being thicke and taken away the wood thereof about three inches thicke in compasse is as hard as Iron being so heavy thaâ— it sinketh instantly in water whereof the natives make them short pikes or speares sharpening and burning them at the end so that they will be able to pearce Armour but the whole middle of this tree is soft like unto a meale which putting in water and stirring it to take away all the drosse that swimmeth above they mould up the residence into cakes and divers other sorts of viands fit to be eaten and whereof as hee saith he brought some with him to Venice CHAP. CXXIIII Arbor sive Palma saccifera The Bagge bearing Nut tree CErtaine Dutch Marriners having by a casualtie lost their shippe wherein they with others were sayling to the West Indies in their returne home in their shippe boate lighted on a desart Iland called Coronopez wherein they found whole woods full of these kindes of strange trees and others growing among them whose fruits being round Nuts as bigge as Wallnuts with their greene outer shell and within them other smaller Nuts so round as a ball and with so hard a shell yet not very thicke that they could hardly be broken with an Iron hammer and a white hollow kernell in the middle tasting like Pease at the first but a little bitter afterwards Arbor sive palma saccifera The bagge bearing Nut tree like a Lupine were inclosed in a long sheathe or hollow hose resembling an Hipocras or Syrupe bagge some being twenty two inches long others two foot and a halfe long yet all being very small at the end and growing larger up to the toppe where they were about seven inches wide and composed of a number of brownish threds or haires dispersed all over the case some running at the length and some crossewise by a wonderfull worke of nature CHAP. CXXV Arbor metrosideros The Iron hearted tree SCaliger maketh mention of a certaine small tree is reported to grow in the I le of Iava major whose heart or core is as impenitrable as Iron from the bottome to the toppe and the fruit which it beareth is likewise as hard but the report saith he is of so little credit and so neare a falsitie as I am from beleeving it yet Nicholaus Costinus in his Iournall doth report the same thing CHAP. CXXVI Arbor Gehuph The Splene tree of Sumatra IN the I le of Sumatra anciently called Trapobana Arbor Gehuph The Splene tree of Sumatra or Taprobana as Thevet relateth it groweth a tree not very great called there Gehuph and in the Indies Cobbam whose leaves are many smal ones set on a rib together somewhat like unto the Cassia solutiva or purging Cassia leaves set on short branches covered with a yellowish barke the fruit is somewhat thicke and as round as a ball where under is contained a Nut as big as an hasel Nut with a very bitter kernel within it yet tasting like an Angellica roote they use the fruit to quench thirst but the bitter kernell is the most effectuall in the diseases of the Liver and Spleene wherewith they are much afflicted and therefore draw an oyle out of the kernells of the Nuts which they take for eight dayes together in which time the disease is much abated and quickly after cured those that cannot by reason of the bitternesse take it so willingly as women and children it is appointed unto them to be annointed with the oyle on the belly back bone and sides which worketh the cure alike the said oyle is in much use with them also and of great account for the singular helpe and remedy it giveth to all joynt aches gouts and the like the gum likewise of this tree being dissolved with a little oyle and spread plasterwise is applyed to the grieved places with good effect The inhabitants doe plant this tree neare their Houses in their Orchards and Gardens for to have the benefit thereof nigh at hand CHAP. CXXVII Beretinus fructus The Beretine Ackorne CLusius in his second booke of Exoticks and seventeenth Chapter maketh mention that he obtained some of these fruites from those that accompanied Sir Francis Drake in his Circumnavigation of the world returning in the yeare 1580. by the meanes of some of his friends here as Beretium fructus The Beretine Acorne Master Garth and Master Morgan which were affirmed to be gathered in some Islands whereinto they put both for fruit and victuall standing in neede of both from very great and tall trees bigger then Oakes whose leaves were like unto Bay leaves not dented at all about the edges but thicke and shining the fruit were like the Ackornes of the Ilex or evergreene Oake but without any cup for as hee saith he enquired thereof of some of them whose outer rinde was thinne and of an ash colour and some blackish the inner kernell being somewhat long and white without any manifest taste within but covered with a thinne skinne which they found good to be eaten without any harme following and therefore in their want being taught by the Ilanders they boyled them like Pulse or Pease and so eate them or beate them to pouther and boiled them like Rice or Wheat untill it became a pultage and so eate them for hunger yet afterwards they found the like trees and fruit to grow in the Islands of the Moluccas as they affirmed But with what other propertie they were indued neyther they nor any other hath manifested to any that I know CHAP. CXXVIII Vhebebasou The Indian Hony tree THevet maketh mention of this tree among his other American singularities to be very tall spreading the branches so uniformely
names but especially because those of Cyzicen being the chiefest compositors of such oyles according to their Country name gave it that title Some have thought that the Amaracus of Galen is not the same of Dioscorides or Theophrastus but Parthenium because Dioscorides saith that by some in his time it was called Amaracus and the rather because he maketh no mention of Parthenium in the censure of his simples which how erronious it is appeareth by Galens owne words of the Oleum Amaracinum which he calleth a sweet oyle although not so sweet as Marum and Dioscorides termeth the smell of Parthenium subvirosus having leaves like Coriander then whether the Sampsuchum of Dioscorides be our Marjerome for I finde that Lobel in Adversaria termeth his Marum supinum Sampsuchus forte Dioscorides and Bauhinus in his Pinax entituleth our ordinary Marum or hearbe Mastick Sampsuchus sive Marum Mastichen redolens which two authors thought Marum better to argue with his Sampsuchum then Marjerome because Dioscorides saith that his Sampsuchum is an haerbe full of branches creeping on the ground with hairy round leaves like the smaller or finer leafed Calamint smelling very sweet and in the composition of the Oleum Sampsuchinum hee adviseth to chuse that Sampsuchum that hath darke greene leaves neither of which properties are in our Marjerome nor yet in either of Lobels or Bauhinus their Marum for although Lobel his Marum supinum creepe on the ground yet it hath not hairy round leaves but small and long and Bauhinus his and our Marum creepeth not upon the ground but standeth upright as Marjerome doth The next controversie is whether the Marum of Dioscorides be answerable to any of those hearbes are called Marum by any of our moderne Writers that none of them can be his Marum this sheweth plainely that he saith his Marum hath whiter leaves by much then Origanum and a sweeter flower and neither the Marum supinum of Lobel no nor our ordinary Marum hath whitish leaves or is sweeter then Marjerome Clusius therefore thought good to call our ordinary Marum Tragoriganum rather then Marum and saith that the seed thereof was sent him by the name of Ambradulcis and Bauhinus calleth the Marum Syriacum of Lobel Majorana Syriaca and yet by Bauhinus leave his Syriacum or Alpinus Creticum commeth neerer to Dioscorides his Marum then to his Sampsuchum most Writers call the sweet Marjeromes Amaracus and Sampsuchus and some Majorana vulgatior and the smaller or finer sort tenuior but I doe not finde that any of them hath made mention of my living sweet sort although both Camerarius and Bauhinus doe entitle the fourth Majorana perennis as I doe the next before it but they adde Sylvestris as Tragus and Gesner doe and Majorana major or latifolia as others doe and Anglica and Camerarius saith he found a sort thereof about Bononia going a simpling with Vlisses Aldroandus that had larger and softer leaves the sixt is called by many Authors Origanum vulgare and by others Origanum sylvestre Lobel Origanum Onitis majus and Agrioriganum Caesalpinus Origanum Italicum and Gerarde Anglicum but I as you see number it rather among the Marjeromes as a wilde kind thereof as we usually call it in English and as we doe the fourth and fift this having leaves like Marjerome but greener Pliny as I said before calleth it Cunila bubula and so doth Dioscorides his also But take them here as wee usually call them the seventh is commonly called Marum by most Authors yet Dodonaeus Gesner in hortis and Camerarius take it to be Clinopodium Anguilara and Lobel to be Helenium odorum of Theophrastus Clusius to be Tragoriganum and Bauhinus to be Sampsuchus Dioscoridis it is called Mastic both by the French and us The eight is called by Lobel Marum supinum by Caesalpinus Marum ex Sicilia allatum Sampsuchum Dioscoridis Lobel in Adversarijs calleth it Sampsuchus Dioscorid Amaracus serpens and Bauhinus Marum repens verticillatum The last is called by Lobel Marum Syriacum and so doe after him Dodonaeus and Tabermontanus but Alpinus calleth it Cretense finding it in Candye and Bauhinus as I said before Majorana Syriaca vel Cretica The Vertues Our common sweet Marjerome is hot and dry in the second degree and is warming and comfortable in cold diseases of the head stomack sinewes and other parts taken inwardly or applyed outwardly it digesteth saith Matthiolus attenuateth openeth and strengthneth the decoction thereof being drunke helpeth all the diseases of the chest which hinder the freenesse of breathing it is likewise profitable for the obstructions of the liver and spleene for it not onely cleareth them of those humours did stuffe them but strengthneth also and confirmeth the inward parts it helpeth the cold griefes of the wombe and the windines thereof or in any other inward part a it helpeth the losse of speech by the resolution of the tongue the decoction thereof made with some Pelletory of Spaine and long pepper or with a little Acorus or Origanum Dioscorides and Galens Sampsuchum is hot and dry in the third degree of thin parts and of a digesting quality the decoction thereof drunke is good for those that are beginning to fall into a dropsie for those that cannot make their water and against paines and torments in the belly it provoketh also womens courses if it be put up being made into a pessary and applyed with salt and vinegar it taketh away the venome of the Scorpions sting being made into powder and mixed with hony it taketh away the black markes of blowes or bruises applied thereto it is good for the inflammations and watering of the eyes being mixed with fine flower and laid unto them the juyce thereof dropped into the eares easeth the paines in them and helpeth the singing noyse of them it is profitably put into those oyntments and salves that are made to warme and comfort the outward parts or members the joynts also and sinewes for swellings also and places out of joynt the powder thereof snuffed up into the nose provoketh neesing and thereby purgeth the braine and chewed in the mouth draweth forth much flegme The oyle made thereof is very warming and comfortable to the joynts that are stiffe and the sinewes that are hard to molifie supple and stretch them forth Our Marjerome is much used in all odoriferous waters powders c. that are for ornament and delight The great or pot Marjerome because it is more mild and lesse bitter than the former is lesse used in Physicke but more in meates and brothes to give a rellish unto them and to helpe to warme a cold stomack and to expell winde the wilde Marjerome is more hot than it and therefore more effectual to heat warme comfort and strengthen both inwardly and outwardly in all things whereunto it is applyed Hearb Mastick is more temperate in heat than Marjerome and is used by our Apothecaries in stead of the true Marum which may well bee admitted
kind lesse sharpe or thorny than the other and calleth it Cardiaca Melica sive Molucca minus aspera Molucca Syriaca Bauhinus calleth it Melissa Moluccana odorata as he doth the fifth Melissa Moluccana foetida making the one to be sweet and the other stinking Lobel calleth it Molucca asperior Syriaca and saith moreover that it is called Maseluc of the Turkes Caesalpinus would referre both these kindes unto the Alissum of Dioscorides and Pliny and Bauhinus saith they are like to the Alissum of Galen They have their English names over their heads The last is called Cardiaca of most of our later Writers for it is likely it was not knowne to them of ancienter ages yet Dodonaeus formerly tooke it to be a Sideritis Tragus to be a wilde Baulme Brunfelsius to bee Marrubium mas Anguillara to bee Licopsis or Branca lupina Bauhinus calleth it Marrubium forte primum Theophrasti Caesalpinus thinketh that it is the Alissum of Galen and Aetius We doe call it Motherwort in English as truely from the effects to helpe the Mother as they call it Cardiaca from the effects to helpe the heart as you shall heare by and by the Arabians call Baulme Bederengie Bedarungi Cederenzegum Turungen or Trungian and Marmacor the Italians Melissa Codronella and Aranciata the Spaniards Torengil yerva cidrera the French Melisse Poncirade the Germanes Melissen Binenkrant and the Dutch Melisse Honichbaum Consille degreyn and we in English Bawme from the singular effects therein in imitation of the true naturall Baulme The Vertues The Arabian Physicians have extolled the vertues of Baulme for the passions of the heart in a wonderfull maner which the Greekes have not remembred for Serapio saith it is the property of Baulme to cause the minde and heart to become merry to revive the fainting heart falling into swounings to strengthen the weaknesse of the spirits and heart and to comfort them especially such who are overtaken in their sleepe therewith taking away all motion of the pulse to drive away all troublesome cares and thoughts out of the minde whether those passions rise from melancholly or black choller or burnt flegme which Avicen confirmeth in his booke of medicines proper for the heart where he saith that it is hot and dry in the second degree that it maketh the heart merry and strengthneth the vitall spirits both by the sweetnesse of smell austerity of taste and tenuity of parts with which qualities it is helpfull also to the rest of the inward parts and bowels It is to good purpose used for a cold stomack to helpe digestion and to open the obstruction of the braine It hath a purging quality therein also saith Avicen and that not so weake but that it is of force to expell those melancholly vapours from the spirits and from the blood which are in the heart and arteries although it cannot doe so in the other parts of the body Dioscorides saith that the leaves drunke in wine and laid to is a remedy against the sting of Scorpions and the poison of the Phalangium or venemous Spider as also against the bytings of Dogges and commendeth the decoction thereof for women to bathe or sit in to procure their courses and that it is good to wash the teeth therewith when they are full of paine and that it is profitable for those that have the bloody flixe The leaves also with a little Niter are taken in drinke against a surfet of Mushroms it helpeth the griping paines of the belly and is good for them that cannot take their breath unlesse they hold their necks upright being taken in a Lohoc or licking Electuary used with salt it taketh away wennes kernels or hard swellings in the flesh or throate it clenseth foule sores and is an helpe to ease the paines of the gowt Galen saith in his seventh Booke of Simples that Baulme is like unto Horehound in qualities but weaker by much and therefore few will use Baulme when Horehound is so plentifull and neere at hand to be had every where Pliny saith in lib. 20. cap. 11. that in Sardinia it is poyson wherein it is very probable that he was much mistaken and for Sardonia herba which is called of some Apium risus and of Apuleius Apiastellum he tooke this Apiastrum or Baulme the juyce thereof used with a little honey is a singular remedy for the dimnesse of the sight and to take away the mistinesse of the eyes It is of especiall use among other things for the plague or pestilence and the water thereof is used for the same purposes It is also good for the liver and spleene A Tansie or Caudle made with egges and the juyce thereof while it is young putting some Sugar and Rosewater unto it is often given to women in child-bed when the afterbirth is not throughly avoided and for their faintings upon or after their sore travels It is used in bathings among other warme and comfortable hearbes for mens bodies or legges in the Summer time to comfort the joynts and sinews which our former age had in much more use than now-adayes The hearbe bruised and boyled in a little wine and oyle and laid warme on a Bile will ripen and breake it There is an ordinary Aqua-vita or strong water stilled and called Baulme water used generally in all the Land which because it hath nothing but the simple hearbe in it which is too simple I will commend a better receit unto you Take two pound of Baulme while it is young and tender of Mints and Sage of each one pound bruise them well in a stone-morter and put them into a pot or Limbeck and put thereto of Aniseeds foure ounces of Cloves of Nutmegs of Cinamon of Ginger of Cubebes and of Galanga of each one ounce being all a little bruised and put into two gallons of good Sacke if you will have it excellent good or else into foure gallons of Ale and so still it as Aqua-vitae is distilled and let it distill as long as you shall finde any strength in the water yet so that the latter water bee not so weake to make all the rest white whereunto put a pound of Sugar shaking it well before you set it away and after it hath rested so one moneth you may use of it as occasion shall require for it is of especiall use in all passions of the heart swounings and faintings of the spirits and for many other purposes whereunto the hearbe is here declared to be availeable The hearbe is often put into oyles or salves to heale greene wounds and it is very probable the name of Baulme was given to this hearbe from the knowledge of the healing properties of the true and naturall Baulme It is also an hearbe wherein Bees doe much delight both to have their Hives rubbed therewith to keepe them together and draw others and for them to suck and feed upon and is a remedy against the stinging of them The Turkey Baulme is of as good
without falling away are to be seene full of holes as if they had beene eaten with wormes all the ribbes and veines abiding as they grew untill the frosts doe cause their stalkes to fall away the flowers are of a purplish colour greater than any of the Horehounds and more gaping after which come the seed in hard prickly huskes like unto Horehound the roote is thicke spreading with many blackish strings whereby it taketh strong hold in the ground and dyeth not but shooteth a fresh every yeare this hath no scent either good or ill to be found in it The Place The first is found in many places of our Land in dry grounds and waste greene places the second came from Spaine and being sowne of the seed abideth The third in like manner was sowne of seed that came from Candy as the fourth was also The fift was found growing about Paris in France The sixth in Germany The seaventh in Spaine and the last about Mompelier in fat grounds and sometimes in the wheate fields The Time They doe all flower in Iuly or thereabouts and their seed is ripe in August The Names Horehound is called in Greeke 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and in Latine â—rasium Marrubium videtur autem inquit Pena Prasinus viror aut certe vinosus odor appellationem dedisse Marrubio tam nigro faetido quod Ballote dicitur quam albo odoro Pliny hath committed many faults in translating the Greeke word Prasium setting downe Prasum id est porrum for it The first is generally called Marrubium by most of our moderne Writers but Prasium by Anguillara the second is called by Lobel Marrubium candidum alterum Hispanicum Of Clusius Marrubium alterum Pannonicum and of Camerarius Marrubium Creticum Of Dodonaeus Marrubium Candidum and of Bauhinus Marrubium album latifolium peregrinum The third is called by Lobel Marrubium Creticum angustiore folio Of Camerarius Marrubium Creticum aliud Marrubium Creticum of Dodonaeus Lugdunensis and others Of Bauhinus Marrubium album angustifolium peregrinum The fourth is called in the great Booke of the Bishop of Eystot his garden Marrubium Creticum angustifolijs inodorum and by Bauhinus Marrubium album peregrinum brevibus obtusis folijs The fifth is called of Bauhinus Marrubium album villosum and maketh a doubt if it should not be Prasium of Dioscorides in English French Horehound or white hairy Horehound The sixth is also called by Bauhinus Marrubium crispum in English Crispe or Curld Horehound The seventh is called by Clusius Ocimastrum Valentinum because as he saith the learned at Valentia in Spaine did so call it by Lobel Marrubium Hispanicum odore Staechadis Of Tabermontanus and Gerard Marrubium Hispanicum and of Bauhinus Marrubium nigrum latifolium The last is called by the Apothecaries of Mompelier Herba Venti Rondeletij others call it Sideritis Monspeliensium Parietaria Monspeliensium as Lugdunensis saith and so saith Cordus also Lobel maketh a question or quaere if it be not the Othonna of Dioscorides rather than the flos Africanus which usually carrieth that title Bauhinus calleth it Marrubium nigrum longifolium in English Black French Horehound untill a fitter may be given it The Vertues The second and third sorts of Horehound because they are nearest unto the first or wilde kinde are found to bee as effectuall for the purposes whereunto the wild is assigned having the same properties and as Dioscorides saith a decoction of the dryed hearb with the seed or the juyce of the greene hearbe taken with honey is a remedy for those that are pursie and short winded for those that have a cough and for such as by long sicknesse or thinne distillations of rheume upon the lungs are wasted and fallen into a consumption it helpeth to expectorate tough flegme from the chest being taken with the dryed roote of Iris or Orris it is given to women to bring downe their courses and to expell the afterbirth as also to them that have sore and long travels it is also given to them that have taken poison or are bitten or stung by any venemous Serpents or beasts but it hurteth the bladder and the reynes the leaves being used with honey doe purge foule ulcers stay running or creeping sores and the growing of the flesh over the nailes it helpeth also the paines of the sides the juyce thereof with wine and honey helpeth to cleare the eye-sight and snuffed up into the nostrils helpeth to purge away the yellow jaundise and either of it selfe or with a little oyle of Roses being dropped into the eares easeth the paines of them Galen saith that by reason of the bitternesse it openeth the obstructions both of the liver and spleene purgeth the breast and lungs of flegme and procureth womens courses and used outwardly it both clenseth and digesteth A decoction of Horehound saith Matthiolus is availeable for those that have bad livers and for such as have itches and running tetters the powder thereof taken or the decoction killeth the wormes the greene leaves bruised and boyled with old Hogs lard into an oyntment healeth the bytings of Dogges abateth the swellings of womens breasts and taketh away the swelling and paines that come by any pricking of thornes or any such like thing Vsed with vineger it clenseth and healeth tetters If saith Matthiolus you boyle two ounces of fresh Horehound in three pints of good white wine with the roots of Buglosse Elecampane and Agrimony of each one dram and a halfe of Rubarbe and lignum aloes of each one dram untill halfe be consumed and strained hereby is made a most excellent medicine to helpe the yellow jaundise that commeth by the obstruction of the vessels and overflowing of the gall if two ounces thereof having a little Sugar put to it to sweeten it be taken fasting for nine dayes together but he counselleth that if they that shall take this medicine have an ague the decoction must bee made with water and not with wine the decoction thereof is a singular helpe for women that are troubled with the whites if they sit over it while it is warme the same also healeth any scabs whether they be dry or moist if the places be bathed therewith being stamped and put into new milke and set in any place overpestered with flies it will soone destroy them all There is a sirope made of Horehound to be had at the Apothecaries much used and that to very good purpose for old coughes to rid the tough flegme as also for old men and others whose lungs are oppressed with thinne and cold rheme to helpe to avoid it and for those that are asthmatick or short-winded The other sorts are not used or their properties are not expressed by any CHAP. XVIII Stachys Base Horehound I Must needs adjoyne these Base Horehounds unto the former for the neare affinity that some of them especially have both in face smell and vertues referring the Sideritides to another place which some have joyned with these 1. Stachys Dioscoridis The
is of a manifest heating quality and a little binding and Aetius saith the same also but he further saith that some report that the fumes thereof being taken when it is burnt doth stay the immoderate fluxe of womens courses and all other fluxes of theirs Agrippa saith that if childing women whose wombes be too moist and slippery not able to conceive by reason of that default shall take a quantity of the juyce of Sage with a little salt for foure dayes before they company with their Husbands it will helpe them to conceive and also for those that after they have conceived are subject often to miscarry upon any small occasion for it causeth the birth to be the better retained and to become the more lively therefore in Cyprus and Aegypt after a great plague women were forced to drinke the juyce of Sage to cause them to be the more fruitfull Orpheus saith that three spoonefuls 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 Spiknard and Ginger of each two drammes of the seed of Sage a little tosted at the fire eight drammes of long pepper twelve drammes all these being brought into fine powder let there bee so much juyce of Sage put thereto as may make it into a masse formable for pills taking a dramme of them every morning fasting and so likewise at night drinking a little pure water after them Matthiolus saith that it is very profitable for all manner of paines of the head comming of cold and rheumaticke humours as also for all paines of the joynts whether used inwardly or outwardly and therefore It helpeth such as have the falling sicknesse the lethargie or drowsie evill such as are dull and heavie of spirit and those that have the palsie and is of much use in all defluxions or distillations of thin rheume from the head and for the diseases of the chest or brest The leaves of Sage and Nettles bruised together and laid upon the impostume that riseth behind the eares doth asswage and helpe it much also the juyce of Sage taken in warme water helpeth an hoarsnesse and the cough the leaves sodden in wine and laid upon any place affected with the Palsie helpeth much if the decoction be drunke also Sage taken with Wormewood is used for the bloody fluxe Pliny saith it procureth womens courses and stayeth them comming downe too fast helpeth the stinging and bytings of Serpents and killeth the wormes that breed in the eares and also in sores Sage is of excellent good use to helpe the memory by warming and quickning the sences and the conserve made of the flowers is used to the same purpose as also for all the former recited diseases they are perswaded in Italy that if they eate Sage fasting with a little salt they shall be safe that day from the danger of the byting of any venemous beast they use there also never to plant Sage but with Rue among it or neare it for feare of Toades and other Serpents breeding under it and infecting it with their venemous spittle c. the danger whereof is recorded in Boccace of two Friends or Lovers that by eating the leaves of that Sage under which a Toade was found to abide were both killed thereby and therefore the Poet joyneth them both together to have wholesome drinke saying Salvia cum ruta faciunt tibi pocula tuta Sage hath beene of good use in the time of the plague at all times and the small Sage more especially which therefore I thinke our people called Sage of Vertue the juyce thereof drunke with vineger The use of Sage in the Moneth of May with butter Parsley and some salt is very frequent in our Country to continue health to the body as also Sage Ale made with it Rosemary and other good hearbes for the same purpose and for teeming women or such as are subject to miscary as it is before declared Gargles likewise are made with Sage Rosemary Honisuckles and Plantaine boyled in water or wine with some Honey and Allome put thereto to wash cankers sore mouthes and throats or the secret parts of man or woman as need requireth And with other hot and comfortable hearbes to be boyled to serve for bathings of the body or legges in the Summer time especially to warme the cold joynts or sinewes of young or old troubled with the Palsie or crampe and to comfort and strengthen the parts It is much commended against the stitch or paines in the side comming of winde if the grieved place be fomented warme with the decoction thereof in wine and the hearbe after the boyling be laid warme also thereto CHAP. XX. Horminum Clary THere are divers sorts of Clary some manured onely called Garden Clary others growing wilde whereof I shall here shew you many collected from sundry parts 1. Horminum sativum vulgare sive Sclarea Garden Clary Our ordinary Garden Clary hath foure-square stalkes with 1. Horminum sativum vulgare sive Sclarea Garden Clary broad rough wrinckled whitish or hoary greene leaves somewhat evenly cut in on the edges and of a strong sweet scent growing some neare the ground and some by couples upon the stalkes The flowers grow at certaine distances with two small leaves at the joynts under them somewhat like unto the flowers of Sage but smaller and of a very whitish or bleack blue colour the seed is brownish and somewhat flatt or not so round as the wild the rootes are blackish and spread not farre and perish after the seed time it is most usuall to sow it for the seed seldome riseth of it owne shedding 2. Horminum genuinum sativum Dioscoridis The true garden Clary of Dioscorides This small Clary riseth up but with one square hairy stalke about halfe a yard high as farre as ever I could yet observe divided into severall square branches whereon are set at every joynt two leaves one against another which are somewhat broad and round a little rugged like unto Horehound but more greene than white and of a reasonable good and small scent at the toppes of the stalkes stand divers leaves one row under another of a very fine deepe purple violet colour yet the lowest are paler than the uppermost and seeme a farre of to be flowers but nearer observed are discerned to bee but the toppe leaves the flowers comming forth under them at spaces about the stalkes of a whitish purple colour smaller than any of the sorts of Clary standing in brownish purple huskes which after the flowers are past while the seed ripeneth turne themselves downeward whereby the seed is lost if it be not gathered in fit time the roote is small and perisheth every yeare requiring to bee new sowne in the Spring for it seldome commeth of the seed that it shed the Frosts and Winter most likely killing it 3. Horminum Syriacum Assirian Clary Assirian Clary is somewhat like
like the former the roote is long and blacke spreading in the ground 4. Artemisia Polyspermos Fruitfull Mugwort This kinde of Mugwort riseth up usuall but with one stalke dividing it selfe from the bottome thereof into many branches whereon are set somewhat sparsedly somewhat longer and larger leaves than the small Mugwort but more finely cut in on the edges unto the middle ribbe and ending in a longer point the toppes of the branches are more plentifully stored with flowers than the other sorts which turne into small seed bearing abundantly 5. Artemisia Virginiana Virginian Mugwort This Virginian being so lately come to our knowledge that we can scarce give a perfect description thereof unto you riseth up somewhat higher and larger spread with much divided leaves like the first but greater the flowers hath not beene yet thorowly observed The Place The first groweth plentifully in many places of this Land as well as in others by the way sides as also by small water courses and in divers other places The second likewise is found in some of those places but farre lesse frequent The other three are strangers and nursed up with us onely in gardens The Time They all flower and seed in the end of Summer The Names It is called in Greeke 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and Artemisia in Latine also and recorded by Pliny that it tooke the name of Artemisia from Artemisia the wise of Mausolus King of Caria when as formerly it was called Parthenis quasi Virginalis Maidenwort and as Apuleius saith was also called Parthenium but others thinke it tooke the name from 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 who is called Diana because it is chiefly applyed to womens diseases The first is generally called of all Writers Artemisia vulgaris because it is the most common in all Countries Some call it also Mater herbarum 2. Artemisia minor Small Mugwort 3. Artemisia tenuifolia montana Fine Mountaine Mugwort 4. Artemisia Polystermos Fruitfull Mugwort 4. Artemisia Monoclonos Fruitfull Mugwort The second is called by Matthiolus and others Artemisia minor and so doe we The third is called by Lugdunensis Artemisia leptophyllos incana and in English Fine Mountaine Mugwort The last is called by Bauhinus Artemisia Polyspermos and the other by Lugdunensis Artemisia Monoclonos quorundam alijs Ambrosia in English Fruitfull Mugwort The Vertues Dioscorides saith it heateth and extenuateth It is with good successe put among other hearbes that are boyled for women to sit over the hot decoction to draw downe their courses to helpe the delivery of the birth and to expell the secondine or afterbirth as also for the obstructions and inflammations of the mother it breaketh the stone and causeth one to make water where it is stopped the juyce thereof made up with Myrrhe and put under as a pessary worketh the same effect and so doth the roote also being made up with Axungia into an oyntment it doth take away Wens and hard knots and kernels that grow about the necke and throat as also to ease the paines about the necke but especially and with more effect if some field Daisies be put with it The hearbe it selfe being fresh or the juyce thereof taken is a speciall remedy upon the overmuch taking of Opium three drammes of the powder of the dryed leaves taken in wine is a speedy and the best certaine helpe for the Sciatica A decoction thereof made with Camomill and Agrimony and the place bathed therewith while it is warme taketh away the paines of the sinewes and the crampe It is said of Pliny that if a Traveller binde some of the hearbe about him he shall feele no wearinesse at all in his journey as also that no evill medicine or evill beast shall hurt him that hath this hearbe about him Many such idle superstitious and irreligious relations are set downe both by the ancient and later Writers concerning this and other plants which to relate were both unseemely for me and unprofitable for you I will onely declare unto you the idle conceit of some of our later dayes concerning this plant and that is even of Bauhinus who glorieth to be an eye witnesse of this foppery that upon Saint Iohns eve there are coales to be found at mid-day under the rootes of Mugwort which after or before that time are very small or none at all and are used as an Amulet to hang about the necke of those that have the falling sicknesse to cure them thereof But Oh the weake and fraile nature of man which I cannot but lament that is more prone to beleeve and relye upon such impostures than upon the ordinances of God in his creatures and trust in his providence CHAP. XXXIIII Abrotanum Sothernwood OF Sothernwood which is the Abrotanum mas as the late and best experienced Authors doe hold the faemina to be the Lavender Cotton which shall be set downe in the next Chapter there are many sorts as they shall be declared in their order of which number I have taken some from those hearbes going before as also from Wormewood that shall follow because I suppose they rather belong to this Tribe than to any of the other from whence I have taken them 1. Abrotanum mas vulgare Common Sothernwood 1. Abrotanum mas vulgare Common Sothernwood Our ordinary Sothernwood which is the most common in gardens with us and generally called Sothernwood for the other sorts are called by other names for the most part and not acknowledge to be of this kinde riseth up with many weake and wooddy branches bending downewards if they be not held up specially while they are small for the elder stems are more strong and great rysing in time to bee higher than any man from which doe grow out many small and long branches whereon are set many small fine and short leaves as fine as Fennell but not so long of a grayish or russet greene colour somewhat strong but not unpleasant in smell and of a strong and somewhat bitter taste from the middle almost to the toppes of the upper sprigges stand smal round yellow flowers hanging like little buttons which never open much but passe away and after them come the seed which is smaller than that of Wormewood the root groweth not very deepe but is wooddy with divers strings annexed unto it this loseth all the leaves on the stalkes and branches every yeare and shoot forth anew in the Spring 3. Abrotanum majus Great Sothernwood This great Sothernwood is altogether like the former growing as high or rather higher and with leaves like thereunto but somewhat larger and greener of a strong resinous scent not so pleasant but drawing somewhat neare unto the smell of Câ—fire or â—umsence the flowers and seed differ not from the other nor the roote which is wooddy and runneth under ground in the same manner 3. Abrotanum arborescâ— Tree Sothernwood This rare kinde of Sothernwood groweth upright with one stem or stalke to the height of a man if the lower small sprigges bee 〈◊〉 from
our common Germander thereby transferring the Chamaedrys to be the taller shrub and Teucrium the lesser and lower yet as he saith seeing Dioscorides himselfe saith that in his time they were transferred for the likenesse of their leaves one unto another it is not absurd to call them as they are usually entituled but as I shall shew you in the next Chapter the Teucrium of Dioscorides is better to bee explaned than Dodonaeus doth It seemeth also that Dodonaeus having beene in an errour in his former workes concerning Hierabotane mas faemina giving the figures of the Chamaedrys sylvestris thereunto reclaimed himselfe in his later History or Pemptades and left them both out as not allowing of his former opinion The Arabians call it Damedrios Chamedrius and Kemadriut the Italians Chamedrio and Quercivola and some Calamandrina the Spaniards Chamedrios the French Germandree the Germanes Gamanderle and Bathengel the Dutch Gamandree and we in English Germander The Vertues Germander is hot and dry in the third degree and is more sharpe and bitter than Teucrium and as Dioscorides saith is a remedy for coughes taken with honey for those whose spleene is become hard for those that can hardly make their water and helpeth those that are falling into a dropsie in the beginning of the disease especially if a decoction be made thereof when it is greene and drunke It doth likewise bring downe the termes helpe to expell the dead child and taken with vineger doth waste or consume the spleene it is most effectuall against the poison of all Serpents both drunke in wine and laid to the place used with honey it cleanseth old and foule ulcers and taketh away the dimnesse and moistnes of the eyes being made into an oyle and annoynted It is likewise good for the paines in the sides and for crampes The decoction thereof taken for some dayes together driveth away and cureth both quartane and tertian agues The Tuscans as Matthiolus saith doe highly esteeme thereof and by their experience have found it as effectuall against the plague or pestilence as Scordium or water Germander It is also as he saith good against all the diseases of the braine as the continuall paines of the head the falling sicknesse melancholicke fullennesse the drowsie evill those that are sottish through the dulnesse of the spirits and for crampes convulsions and palsies a dramme of the seed taken in powder doth purge choller by urine and is thereby good for the yellow jaundise the juyce of the leaves dropped into the eares killeth the wormes in them It is also given to kill the wormes in the belly which a few toppes of them when they are in flower laid to steepe a day and a night in a draught of white wine and drunke in the morning will doe also Theophrastus in setting downe the properties of Germander saith that the one part of the roote purgeth upwards and the other part downewards whereof there is more wonder than for Thapsia and Ischias that is blistering Fennell and tuberous or knobbed Spurge to doe so Andreas Vesalius pag. 49. speaking of the China roote saith that if a decoction hereof bee made in wine and taken for 60. dayes continually foure houres before meate it is a certaine remedy for the gowt Durantes giveth the receipt of a Syrupe very effectuall for the spleene in this manner Take saith he Germander Chamaepitys or Ground Pine Ceterach or Milt waste and Madder of each one handfull the barke of the roote of Capers the rootes of Smallage Elecampane Orris or Flagge Flower-de-luce and Liquorice of each halfe an ounce Of the leaves and barke of Tamariske and of Cyperus of each three drammes of the seed of Anise Fennell and Smallage of each one dramme of Raisins stoned one ounce Let all these be boyled according to art in a sufficient quantity of Posset that is of vineger and water equall parts Vnto each pound of this decoction being strained put sixe ounces of Sugar and three ounces of Cinamon water which being made into a cleare Syrupe take foure ounces every morning fasting The decoction thereof is good to stay the whites in women if they sit therein while it is warme and likewise easeth the passions of the mother being boyled in vineger and applyed to the stomacke with a little leaven stayeth vomitings that rise not from chollericke or hot causes the leaves hereof and the seed of Nigella quilted in a Cap stayeth the catarrhe or distillation of raw cold and thinne rheumes being boyled in lye with some Lupines or flat beanes and the head washed therewith taketh away the dandraffe or scurfe thereof The mountaine Germander is used by those of the Alpes where it groweth to stay all manner or fluxes whether of the belly or of the blood the feminine courses and the bloody flixe as also to stay vomitings CHAP. XXXIX Teucrium Tree Germander IT remaineth that I shew you in this Chapter the rest of the Germanders called Teucria Tree Germanders to distinguish them from the former sorts whether they be true or false 1. Teucrium majus vulgare The more common Tree Germander Tree Germander groweth like a little shrubbe with hard 1. Teucrium majus vulgare The more common Tree Germander wooddy but brittle stalkes a foote or two and sometimes a yard high if it be well preserved and defended from the injuries of the Winters branching forth on all sides from the very bottome bearing alwayes leaves by couples smaller smoother and thicker that those of Germander of a darke shining greene colour on the upperside and grayish underneath and dented also about the edges like them the gaping flowers stand about the toppes of the branches spike fashion one above another of a pale whitish colour saith Clusius of a purplish saith Lobel of both which I have had plants somewhat larger than those of Germander and without any hood above having a few threads standing forth the seed is small blackish and round contained in small round but pointed huskes the roote is somewhat wooddy with many blackish fibres the whole plant is of a fine weake scent but somewhat stronger if it be a little bruised holding the stalkes and greene leaves continually if it be not exposed to the sharpnesse of the Winter season 2. Teucrium Creticum Tree Germander of Candy This shrubby Germander of Candy riseth up with such like wooddy brittle stalkes as the former but somewhat smaller and whiter whereon doe grow such like leaves and in the same manner but somewhat lesser lesse greene and shining above and more hoary underneath two alwayes set at a joynt but on the contrary side with the leaves towards the toppes come forth five or sixe flowers standing in a huske like unto the former but a little lesse and of a purple colour after which come small round seed like the other the whole plant is somewhat sweeter than the former 3. Teucrium Boeticum Tree Germander of Spaine This Spanish shrubby Germander groweth in some places of Spaine
is called Mithridates his counterpoison or Mithridate against the plague causeth all venemous things as well as of Serpents to become harmelesse being often taken either in meate or drinke it abateth venery and destroyeth the ability of getting children a decoction made thereof with some dryed Dill leaves and flowers easeth all paines and torments inwardly to be drunke and outwardly to bee applied warme to the place affected The same being drunke helpeth the paines both of the chest and sides as also coughes hardnesse or difficulty of breathing the inflammation of the lungs and the vexing or tormenting paines of the Sciatica and of the joynts being anoynted or laid to the places as also the shaking of agues to take a draught before the fit come being boyled or infused in oyle it is good to helpe the wind collick or the swelling hardnesse or windinesse of the mother and sâ—eeth women from the strangling and suffocation of the mother if the share and the parts thereabout bee anoynted therewith it killeth and driveth forth the wormes of the belly if it bee drunke after it is boyled in wine to the halfe with a little honey it helpeth the gowt or paines in the joynts of hands feete or knees applyed thereunto and the same with Figges helpeth the dropsie which is a running of sharpe water betweene the flesh and the skin being bathed therewith being bruised and put into the nostrils it stayeth the bleeding thereof It helpeth the swellings of the cods if it be boyled with Bay leaves and they bathed therewith It taketh away wheales and pimples if being bruised with a few Mirtle leaves it be made up with waxe and applyed thereon It cureth the Morphew and taketh away all sorts of warts on the hands face nose or any other parts if it be boyled in wine with some Pepper and Niter and the places rubbed therewith and with Allome and Hony helpeth the dry scab or any tetter or ringworme the juyce thereof warmed in a Pomgranat shell or rinde dropped into the eares that are full of paine helpeth them the juyce of it and fennell with a little honey and the gall of a Cocke put thereunto helpeth the dimnesse of the eye-sight an oyntment made of the juyce thereof with oyle of Roses Cerusse and a little vinegar and anoynted cureth Saint Antonies fire and all foule running sores in the head and those stinking ulcers of the nose and other parts The eating of the leaves of Rue taketh away the smell both of Garlike and Leekes The Antidote that Mithridates the King of Pontus used to take every morning fasting thereby to secure himselfe from any poyson or infection was this Take twenty leaves of Rue a little salt a couple of Walnuts and a couple of Figges beaten together into a Masse which is the quantity appointed for every day Another Electuary is to be made in this manner Take of Niter Pepper and Cominseed of each equall parts of the leaves of Rue cleane picked as much in weight as all the other three weighed beate them well together as is fitting and put thereto as much honey as will well make it up into an Electuary but you must first prepare your Cominseed laying it to steepe in vinegar for 24. houres and then dry it or rather toste it in an hot fire-shovell or as others would have it in an Oven is a remedy for the paines and griefes of the chest or stomacke of the spleene belly and sides by winde or stitches of the liver by obstructions hindering digestion of the meate of the reines and bladder by the stopping of the urine and helpeth also to extenuate fat or corpulent bodies The leaves of Rue first boyled and then laid in pickle are kept by many to eate as sawce to meate like as Sampire is for the dimnesse of sight and to warme a cold stomacke The distilled water thereof is effectuall for many purposes aforesaid Our garden kindes worke all these effects but the wild kindes are not used so often with us not onely because we have them not usually and that they will not abide our cold Country but their fiercenesse is scarce tolerable except for outward griefes and applications for the falling sicknesse palsies gowts joynt-aches and the like wherein they worke more forceably than the garden kindes for taken inwardly by women with child it destroyeth the birth and mightily expelleth the after-birth Antigonus in his Rhapsody or huddle of memorable things relateth a story of a Weasell that being to fight with a cruell Serpent eateth Rue and rubbeth her selfe therewith before hand to be the better defended from the poison whereby it was found to be powerfull against the sting or byting of venemous creatures The small Mountaine kind is so violent that it may soone kill one if it be not carefully looked untoo or to great a quantity given at a time CHAP. XLVII Caryophyllata Avens THere are divers sorts of Avens more than formerly hath beene knowne to bee set forth together in this Chapter 1. Caryophyllata vulgaris Ordinary Avens Our ordinary Avens hath many long rough darke greene winged leaves rising from the roote every one made of many leaves set on each side of the middle ribbe the largest three whereof grow at the ends and snipt or dented round about the edges the other being small pieces sometimes two and sometimes foure standing on each side of the middle ribbe underneath them from among which rise up divers rough or hairy stalkes about two foote high branching forth diversly with leaves at every joynt not so long as those below but almost as much cut in on the edges some of them into three parts and some of them into more on the toppes of the branches stand small pale yellow flowers consisting of five leaves very like unto the flowers of Cinque-foile but larger in the middle whereof standeth a small greene head which when the flower is fallen groweth to be rough and round being made of many long greenish purple seeds like graynes which will sticke to any bodies cloaths the roote is made of many brownish strings or fibres which smell somewhat like unto Cloves in many places especially in the higher hotter and dryer grounds and freer cleare ayre but nothing so much or not at all in many other places especially if they be moist and are of an harsh or drying taste Of this kind Camerarius saith there is another found in Mountaines that is larger than it not much differing else in any thing Major 2. Caryophyllata montana Mountaine Avens The Mountaine Avens from a long brownish round roote of the bignesse of ones finger creeping under the upper crust of the earth and not altogether so stringy as the former with some small fibres shooting downewards in severall places and smelling and tasting like the other sendeth forth divers winged leaves made of many small leaves towards the bottome standing on both sides of the ribbe the end leaves being largest and whole not divided 1.
or making water by drops as also for those that are bursten bellied it provoketh womens termes or courses other drunke or applyed to the place the sumes thereof taken thorow a Reed or Tobacco-pipe either by it selfe or with some dryed Turpentine cureth them that have a cough it is put into bathes for women to sit in as also into Glisters to ease paines It is used in mollifying oyles and plaisters that serve to ripen hard impostuâ—s as also for the sweet scent thereof Galen saith that because it is temperate betweene heate and cold somewhat astringent and having a very little acrimony it is profitably used among other things that helpe the liver and stomacke doth gently procure urine and is put with other things into â—omentations for the mother when it is troubled with inflammations and gently to procure the courses it is as he saith hot and dry in the second degree but is more drying than heating and hath therein a little tenuity of parts as is in all sweet smelling things The Acorus or sweet smelling Flagge as Dioscorides saith is good to provoke urine if the decoction thereof be drunke It helpeth to ease the paines of the sides liver and breast as also to ease the gâ—ping paines of the collâ—e and crumpe and good for those that are bursten It helpeth likewise to waste the spleene and to bring helpe to them that have the strangury and â—ceth those from danger that are bitten by any venemous Serpent It is very profitably used among other things in bathes for women to fit it as the Iris or Flower-deluce rootes are the juyce dropped into the eyes dryeth rheumes therein and cleereth the sight taking away all filmes or such like that may offend them The roote is of 〈◊〉 use in Antidotes against all venome or poison or infection thus saith Dioscorides furthermore it is a speciall remedy to helpe a stinking breath if the roote be taken fasting every morning for some time together The hot fumes of the decoction made in water and taken in at the mouth thorow a funnell are excellent good to helpe them that are troubled with the cough a dram of the powder of the rootes of Acorus with as much Cinamon taken in a draught of Wormewood wine is singular good to comfort and strengthen a cold weake stomacke The decoction thereof drunke is good against convulsions or crampes and for falls or inward bruises An oxymell or Syrupe made of Acorus in this manner is wonderfull effectuall for all cold spleenes and cold livers Take of the fresh rootes of Acorus one pound bruise them after they are cleane washed and pickt steepe them for three dayes in vinegar after which time let them be boyled together to the consumption of the one halfe of the vinegar which being strained forth set to the fire againe putting thereinto as much honey as is sufficient for the vinegar to bring it into a Syrupe an ounce of this Syrupe taken in the morning with a small draught of the decoction of the same rootes is sufficient for every dose The whole rootes preserved either in Sugar or Honey is effectuall also for the same purposes but the greene rootes preserved are more desired than the dryed rootes that are steeped and afterwards preserved The rootes bruised and boyled in wine and applyed warme to the testicles that are swollen dissolveth the tumour and easeth the paines it likewise mollifieth hard tumours in any other parts of the body It is verily beleeved of many that the leaves or rootes of Acorus tyed to a hive of Bees stayeth them from wandring or flying away and draweth a greater resort of others thereunto It is also affirmed that none shall be troubled with any fluxe of blood or paines of the crampe that weareth the hearbe and roote about them The rootes of Acorus or Calamus as it is usually called are used among other things to make sweet powders to lay among linnen and garments and to make sweet waters to wash hand gloves or other things to perfume them CHAP. XLIX Juncus odoratus sive Schaenanthos The sweet Rush or Camels Hay BEcause through all the sorts of Grasses and Rushes I finde none sweet fit for this Classis but this which I bring here to your consideration let me following the like method of Dioscorides insert this Rush and the other that shall follow in the next Chapter in the end of this part of sweet hearbes as a complement to the same Of this sort of sweet Rush I finde two sorts a finer and a courser or the true and a bastard kinde although the ancient Writers have made mention but of one sort which is the finest and truest 1. Juncus odoratus tenuior The finer sweet smelling Rush 1. Iuncus odoraâ—us tenuior The finer sweet smelling Rush This finer Rush hath many tufts or heads of long rushe-like leaves thick set together one compassing another at the bottome and shooting forth upwards the outermost whereof are bigger or grosser than those that grow within which are a foote long and better small round and stiffe or hard and much smaller from a little above the bottome of them than any Rush with us of a quicke and spicy taste somewhat pleasant and of a fine sweet gentle or soft scent thus it hath growne with us but bore neither flower nor shewed any appearance of stalke by reason the Winter deawes perished it quickly but in the naturall places it beareth divers strong round hard joynted stalkes having divers short brownish or purplish huskes on the toppes containing within them mossie whitish short threads or haires wherein lyeth a chaffie seed the roote is stringy or full of long fibres which are very hard as they are brought to us from their naturall habitations which have the smallest scent or taste of any other part thereof for so much as ever I could observe either by the greene or dryed leaves that have beene brought unto us yet Matthiolus saith he had some plants that rose with him of seed whose rootes were-sweet some losing their scent but the leaves and rushes of his were bigger than ours here described having as hee saith leaves like Sedge which is Carex or Sparganium or like Zea which is a large or great kinde of wheat whereby I guesse it was of the greater or grosser kinde next hereunto following 2. Iuncus odoratus crassior The grosser sweet smelling Rush This greater or grosser Rush groweth in the same manner that the former doth but is greater in every part thereof and lesse sweet also as well as lesse sharpe and hot in taste whereby it seemeth to be a kinde of it selfe that groweth so great in the naturally as well as forraigne parts or that it being the same kinde by growing in moister places acquireth thereby the larger habitude The Place They grow naturally in Arabia Syria Mesopotamia and all that Tract of the Easterne Countries as also in some places of Africa The Time As I declared in the description it commeth
substance from whence a hole being made therein they gather a certaine liquor which will quickly grow into the forme of a Syrupe and being boyled a little on the fire will be as thick as Honey a little cleared and settled will become as Sugar dissolved with water it will serve as vinegar and will be made into wine if Ocpatli which is a roote they use to call the medicine of wine bee put unto it which wine they much use but nothing wholesome for it soone intoxicateth the braine and causeth drunkennesse but it moreover causeth so foule and stinking a breath to them that use it that no carrion carkeise or stinking sinke doth smell so loathsomely The Priests and Painters of those Countries doe use the leaves both in stead of Paper to write upon and to draw any figure thereon the Priests also use to pricke and wound themselves with the sharpe ends thereof which are so sharpe and strong that although they can cause them to pierce how farre they please yet will they not breake in the flesh no nor in other harder substances for those prickes serve them instead of an awle to make any hole and the long threads in the leaves serve in stead of thread to sow or tye any thing they would therewith yea it hath beene spun into so good and strong thread as any hempe can make and cloth hath beene woven thereof and made into shirts c. as Clusius reporteth the Daughter of his Hoastat Civell in Spaine did performe and shew to him while he was resident there and often brought into the markets to bee sold and being made into a courser thread serveth as cords or ropes in Ships or other such like purposes and with it also they use being platted together to worke into Sandals a kinde of shooes in much use with the Spaniards as well as the Indians into mattes to lay on the ground to goe upon or to lay any thing thereon to dry and into short course garments such as Shepheards and Shipmen use to be thereby defended from heat and raine CHAP. II. Iucca sive Yucca India putata The supposed Indian Iucca VNto these kindes of Aloes may most fitly in my judgement bee referred that plant which is usually in these parts called Iucca or Yucca for unto no other plant that I know can it better bee adjoyned the forme of the leaves especially being so like and although the flowers be differing as may be perceived by the figure and description yet that letteth not for so also are the flowers of that of America much differing from those of the true Aloes whose description is on this wise Iucca sive Yucca India putata The supposed Indian Iucca Iucca sive Yucca India putata The supposed Indian plant This rare Indian plant hath a great thicke tuberous roote spreading in time into many tuberous heads from whence shoot forth many long hard and narrow guâ—ed or hollow leaves very sharpe pointed compassing one another at the bottome of a grayish greene colour abiding continually or seldome falling away with sundry hard threads running in them and being withered become pliant withall to bind things from the midst whereof some yeares for it doth not every yeare with us springeth forth a strong round stalke divided into sundry branches whereon stand divers somewhat large white flowers hanging downewards consisting of sixe leaves with divers veines of a weake reddish or blush colour spread on the backe of the three outer leaves from the middle to the bottome not reaching to the edge of any leafe which abide not long but quickly fall away without bearing any seed in our Country as farre as could be observed by any hath growne in this land or in France c. The Place and Time This groweth in divers places of the West-Indies and in our English plantations also of Virginia New-England as it hath beene confidently affirmed to me It flowreth not untill the middle or latter end of Iuly the flowers falling away within a while after they have beene blowne open The Names That it cannot be the true Yucca of Oviedus Thevet and others whereof the bread called Casavi is made both they and Monardes shew plainely for the true Yucca beareth leaves divided into seven or nine parts standing on long foot-stalkes Yet not knowing what other or fitter name may be given it let it hold still that name of Iucca or Tucca or Hyjucca if you will untill a fitter may be knowne Bauhinus calleth it Iucca soijs Aloes The Vertues There hath not beene knowne any property conducible to any disease as yet found out or related of it Some Merchants Factors have affirmed but how probable I know not that it groweth in some parts of Turkie naturally and that they make a kinde of course cloth from the threads in the leaves which are strong and hard but the Relators were surely deceived herein for if it doe grow there it hath beene onely brought to them as unto us and planted the natives formerly in Virginia as I heare did and doe make bread of the rootes hereof as they of Hispaniola doe of the true Iucca and much after the same manner and it is said likewise that the raw juyce is dangerous if not deadly Aldinus relateth that the wound made by the sharpe point end of one of these leaves in his owne hand wrought such intolerable paines that he was almost beside himselfe untill by applying some of his owne Balsamâ— thereto it miraculously eased him of the anguish and all other trouble thereof CHAP. III. Lapathum sativum Rha. Garden Dock and Rubarbe BEcause both the true and the bastard Rha or Rubarbe are sorts of Duckes as shall be shewed I have therefore placed them together with the Patience or garden Docke in one Chapter and unto them for the names sake rather than for any knowne properties correspondent I have adjoyned two other plants called also Rha although they have no resemblance unto the Dockes as the other sorts of Rha have 1. Lapathum sativum sive Patientia Garden Patience or Monkes Rubarbe Garden Patience is a Docke bearing the name of Rubarbe for some small purging quality therein and groweth up with large tall stalkes set with somewhat broad and long faire greene leaves not dented at all the toppes of the stalkes being divided into small branches beare reddish or purplish flowers and three-square seed like unto other Dockes the roote is long great and yellow like unto the wild Dockes but a little redder and if it be a little dryed sheweth lesse store of discoloured veines then the next doth when it is dry 2. Hippolapathum rotundifolium vulgare Common Great round leafed Docke or bastard Rubarbe This Bastard Rubarbe hath divers large round thinne yellowish greene leaves rising from the roote a little waved about the edges every one standing on a reasonable thicke and long brownish foote-stalke from among which riseth up a pretty bigge stalke about two foote high with some such leaves
them which as he saith he received from Cyprus and hath no knot or head from whence the long smooth roots should spring such as is in the true Sarsaparilla which as I sayd before I have often seene my selfe in diverse bundles thereof but assuredly there are diverse sorts of Sarsaparilla the best being very large full with a white pith in the middle which will rend or slive in the middle very easily and this most commonly is brought without head or knot but with a number of fibres on all sides thereof which must be taken away before it can be used another sort is not so full and great yet rendeth or cleaveth reasonably well and is the most spent because the most store thereof is brought the third is a hungry sort and is of least respect and use this being usually brought with the heads or knots to be seene from whence the rootes sprung I say usually for sometimes you may finde a head or two among the middle sort The Vertues This prickly Bindweede saith Galen if the leaves be tasted they have some sharpenesse in them and being used any way they heate Dioscorides saith that both leaves and berryes being drunke before or after any deadly poyson is taken are a remedy there against serving to expell it It is sayd also saith he that if to a new borne childe some of the juyce of the berryes hereof be given it shall not be hurt by poyson ever after It is given as an Antidote against all sorts of poysonous or venemous things If a dozen or sixteene of the berryes being beaten to powder bee given in wine it procureth Vrine when it is stopped The distilled water of the flowers being drunke worketh the same effect and clenseth the raines and aswageth inward inflammations If the eyes be washed therewith it taketh away all heate and rednesse in them and if the sores of the legges be washed therewith it healeth them throughly The rootes as you have heard before are used by diverse learned and judicious men in stead of Sarsaparilla with as good successe as if they had used the true for Sarsaparilla doth not purge the body of humours manifestly as other purgers doe being generally held not to heate but rather to dry the humors yet it is wel perceived that it spendeth the humors by a secret and hidden property therein whether by purging or wasting consuming them much wherof is performed by sweating which it provoketh notably It is much used now adays in many kinds of diseases namely in all cold fluxes from the head braine rhumes and catarrhes as also all cold griefs of the stomack and expelleth winde very plentifully both from the stomacke and mother It helpeth not onely the french disease but all manner of aches in the sinewes and joynts all running sores in the legs all flegmaticke swellings tetters or ringwormes and all manner of spots and foulenesse of the skin it is not convenient to be given to those whose livers are over hot nor to such as have agues The manner of using it is diverse according to mens severall opinions for in former times it was used beaten to powder and so drunke others againe boyled it so long untill it became tender which being beaten or broken was afterward strayned into the decoction making a kind of thicke drinke like a creame Some againe and that most usually boyled it in water to the halfe or to the consumption of the third part as they would have it stronger or weaker and that either by it selfe or with other things meete for the disease attempted and others also put it among other things into drinke either beere or ale new tunned up to drinke after it hath stood three or foure dayes for Physicke drinke for the remedy of those griefes it is conducible as aforesayd CHAP. XII Lupulus sive Lupus salictarius Hoppes THe Hoppe is found to be of two sorts one manured for the use and profit of the toppe heads the other wilde growing in hedges and other such like places of it owne accord and was no doubt by ordering and manuring brought to be larger in every respect and more fruitfull for use such as the manured is I thinke it not amisse to speake of them both in this place being so neere in forme and quality the one unto the other and not separate them or trouble two places with them 1. Lupulus sativus The manured Hoppe The manured Hoppe riseth up at the first with diverse great browne heades like unto Asparagus but larger which afterwards spreading into rough branches clime upon great high poles that are set for them to runne on having many hard and rough darke greene leaves on them cut into three or five divisions somewhat like unto Bramble leaves and dented also about the edges at the toppes of the branches which hang downe againe for the most part come forth many scaly heads being as it were a number of small yellowish greene leaves growing thicke together from among which come forth the flowers of a whitish yellow colour which being past and the heads changing their colour to be somewhat whitish yellow they are sit then to be gathered to keepe and then there is a small round seede found therein the roote is great at the head shooting forth many blackish strings taking fast hold of the ground 2. Lupulus sylvestris The wilde Hoppe The wilde Hoppe groweth up in the same manner ramping upon trees or hedges as standeth next unto them with rough branches and leaves like the former this giveth both smaller heades and in farre lesse plenty than the manured doth yea many times there is scarfe a head or two scene in a yeare upon diverse and herein consisteth the chiefe difference The Place These plants are more frequent in these colder than in the Lupulus salictarius Hoppes hotter countries which sheweth the goodnesse of God unto us to provide for every Country such things as are fit for the sustentation of life for where Vines grow not and the water too cold and raw to drinke simply of it selfe there are these Hoppes chiefely bred to make drinke to serve instead of wine or water They delight chiefly or rather onely to grow well in low moist grounds where they may have moysture enough and yet not too much for therefore where they are planted on hillockes as it were there are trenches made to receive any great quantity of water and bee conveyed away that the plants stand not drowned therein The Time These spring not up untill Aprill and flower not untill the latter end of Iune the heads are not gathered untill the middle or end of September The Names It is observed and much marveiled at by our ordinary writers that this plant should not be remembred by Dioscorides Galen or any other of the ancient Greeke or Latine writers except Pliny who doth but onely name it and number it among those herbes that grow of themselves and that are used for meate with diverse
nations calling it Lupulus salictarius The Arabians have not onely remembred it but commended the use of it highly for many diseases as you shall heare by and by Mesues maketh it his third kind of Volubilis with rough leaves among his purging plants the Greekes at this day call it 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Bryon and Bryonia it is likely for the forme of the leaves and running of the branches It is called Lupulus Lupus salictarius reptitius quia salit reptat per arbores vel quia scandit salices of all our moderne writers onely Lobel calleth it Vitis septentrionalium the Vine of the Northerne regions and Tragus as I sayd before thinking it to be Smilax aspera the Italians call it Lupolo the Spaniards Hombrazillos the French Honblon the Germaines Hopffen the Dutch Hoppe and we in English Hoppes The Vertues The first buds of the Hoppes being layd a while in sand maketh them the tenderer and being boyled are used to be eaten after the same manner that the buds of Asparagus are and with as great delight for the taste yet they have little nourishment in them their Physicall operation therefore is to open the obstructions of the Liver and spleene to clense the blood to loosen the belly and to clense the Raines from gravell and to cause them to make water in whom it is stayed the decoction of the toppes of the Hoppes of the tame as well as of the wilde and so also the rootes doe worke the same effects but that they are somewhat hotter than the young buds which have more moysture in them in clensing the blood they helpe to cure the French disease and all manner of scabbes itch and other breakings out in the body as also all tetters ringwormes and spreading sores the morphew likewise and all discolourings of the skin and are used in Agues the decoction of the flowers and tops are used to be drunk to helpe and expell poyson that any one hath drunk half a dram of the seede in powder taken in drink killeth the worms in the body it likewise bringeth down womens courses expelleth Vrine The flowers and heads being put into bathes for women to sit in take away the swellings and hardnesse of the Mother and is good for the strangurie or those that very hardly make their water the juyce of the leaves dropped into the eares clenseth the corrupt sores and stench arising from the corruption in them Mesues saith they purge choler but worke more effectually being steeped in whey of goates milke A Syrupe made of the juyce and sugar cureth those that have the yellow jaundise easeth the headach that cometh of heate and tempereth the heate both of the liver and stomack and is very profitably given in long hot agues that rise of choler and blood Those bakers that will use the decoction of Hoppes to mould up their bread shal make thereby their bread to rise better and be baked the sooner Clusius recitetn the manner of a medecine used in Spaine by women leeches to cure the falling of the haire caused by the french disease in this sort A pound of the roots of Hopps wel washed boyled in 8 pints of faire water to the consumption of the third part or a halfe if they see cause whereof they give half a pint to drink in a morning causing them to sweate well after into the decoction they put sometimes two or three roots of parsly and as many of couch grasse with a few Raysins of the sunne The Ale which our forefathers were accustomed onely to drinke being a kinde of thicker drinke than beere caused a stranger to say of it Nil spissius dum bibitur nil clarius dum mingitur unde constat multas faeces in ventre relinquit that is there is no drinke thicker that is drunke there is no Vrine cleerer that is made from it it must needes be therefore that if leaveth much behinde it in the belly is now almost quite left off to be made the use of Hoppes to be put therein altering the quality thereof to be much more healthfull or rather physicall to preserve the body from the repletion of grosse humors which the Ale engendred The Wilde Hoppes are generally used Physically more than the manured either because the Wilde is thought to be the more opening and effectuall or more easily to come by or that the owners of the manured will not spare or lose so much profit as that which would be taken away might yeeld yet assuredly they are both of one property take which you will or can get CHAP. XIII Bryonia sive Vitis sylvestris Bryonie or Wilde Vine VNder this title of Bryonye I must comprehend diverse and sundry plants some whereof are of our Land and found plentifully therein others are strangers comming from other parts Among which I must remember the Mechoacan of America a plant neerest resembling the white Bryonie as you shall heare when we come to it and some others also that are strangers of those parts 1. Bryonia vulgaris sive Vitis alba The common white Bryonie or wild Vine The white Bryonie or wild Vine that groweth commonly abroad ramping up on the hedges sendeth forth many long rough very tender branches at the beginning growing with many very rough broad leaves thereon cut into five partitions for the most part in forme very like a Vine leafe but smaller rougher and of a whitish or hoarie greene colour spreading very farre upon trees or bushes or whatsoever standeth next it and twining with his small claspers that come forth at the joynts with the leaves at the severall joynts also with the leaves and claspers come forth especially towards the toppes of the branches a long stalke bearing thereon many whitish flowers together in a long tufte consisting of five small leaves a peece layd open like a starre after which come the berries standing more seperate one from another then a cluster of grapes greene at the first and very red when they are through ripe of the bignesse of Nightshade berries of no good sent but of a most loathsome taste provoking vomit the roote groweth to be exceeding greate with many long twines or branches growing from it of a pale whitish colour on the outside and more white within and of a sharpe bitter loathsome taste 2. Bryonia alba vulgaris fructu nigro Common white Bryonie with blacke berries This Bryonie differeth from the former white kinde neither in the running rough branches or in the leaves or in any other thing from it but in these two particulars the berries hereof are blacke and not red when they are through ripe and the roote is of a pale yellow colour on the inside and somewhat brownish on the outside 3. Bryonia Cretica dicoccos Candie white Bryonie with double berries The white Bryonie of Candy shooteth forth many long rough trayling branches in the same manner like the former in all respects with clasping tendrells winding it selfe upon
Oleum de Cherva yet it is also called Oleum Cicinum as well as that oyle made of the Indian seed brought from thence In Spaine they call the seede of the ordinary as well as the Indian sort Figuo del inferno and thereafter some call it Ficus infernalis The lesser kinde Clusius saith in the same place before mentioned is called Eraway by the Indians The great Indian kinde Clusius saith is called Curcas in America and we to distinguish it from the former kind do call it Ricinus Americus or Americanus Palma Christi of America The Arabians call it Cherva the Italians Mirasole Girasole Cataputia maggiore the French Palma Christi the Germanes Winderbaum the Dutch Molenkruit and Wonderboome and we in English Palma Christi or great Spurge The Vertues The seede of Palma Christi is almost wholly used and the leaves but seldome yet 30 seedes clensed from the huskes being bruised and taken in drinke saith Dioscorides but Costaeus in his Commentaries upon Mesues judgeth this to be a fault in the writers of the coppy of Dioscorides setting 30 for 3. and yet that is the utmost according to the dose of those times as I have sayd diverse times before doth purge choler and flegme and draw water abundantly from the belly provoking Vrine also which manner of purgings as Dioscorides himselfe confesseth doth trouble the stomacke and overturne it mightily yet with good advise it may be given to strong and able bodyes with Aniseed or Fennellseede who are troubled with the dropsie joynt aches the gout and sciatica because it draweth water and flegme very strongly from the more remote parts Durantes adviseth some of the seede to be boyled in the broth of an old cocke for the same purposes the oyle he saith of the seede is profitably put into glisters to open obstructions to ease the paines of the collicke and windinesse of the mother Clusius saith he knew diverse Emperickes give of the small seed that came out of America in a small quantity as a purge in diverse diseases because by purging the body well they found good successe they held it as a secret of worth which they kept to themselves Monardus saith that the oyle of the Indian seede and other authors say the same of the oyle of the former kinde is found by dayly experience to bee helpefull to many diseases as well in the Jndies as in Spaine for as he saith it helpeth all diseases proceeding of cold causes it dissolveth tumours and swellings disperseth winde especially of the collicke and mother if the places grieved be anointed therewith and some few drops thereof also taken in a little chicken broth that is fat it wonderfully helpeth the crampe and convulsion of the sinewes being gently rubbed on the places grieved and thereby causeth the sinewes to be stretched forth that were shrunke by anointing the stomacke the belly or the left side where the spleene lyeth it easeth them of the obstructions in them it killeth the wormes in children if either you give a droppe or two thereof inwardly in milke or fat broath or anoynt the lower part of the belly therewith it taketh away also the hardnesse of the belly in children that are apt thereto or have wormes the oyle also helpeth all scabs or running sores of the head dropped into the eares cureth the deafenesse and taketh away the paines and noyse therein it mightily clenseth the skinne from all manner of spots markes or blemishes therein as also the deformities of scarres and of the pox the greene leaves bruised and applyed of themselves or else with barly meale asswageth the inflammations as well as the swelling of the eyes and the swellings also of womens brests after childing being applyed likewise to womens brests they doe helpe to encrease milke in them It hath beene formerly set downe by good authors that Palma Christi planted in a garden was a sure remedy against moales to keepe them from working in the ground but Camerarius disproveth that asseveration saying that they will work in the same manner although they be planted therein yea or although the branches be thrust into their furrowes or trenches CHAP. XV. Tithymalus sive Lactaria Spurge or Milkeworte THere are many other sorts of Spurge that are remembred by diverse authors with whom there is much variation about the true names of diverse of them some of them are of the Sea as particularly to be found there abouts others in the woods and mountaines properly belonging to them some againe onely growing in gardens in these parts and for the most part not well knowne elsewhere to be found others also of the fields they have also obtained sundry names according to their formes or natures yet all of them Spurges or Milkeworts for some sort is particularly called Tithymalus some others 1. Tithymalus paralius Sea Spurge Lathyris or Cataputia others againe Esula or Pityusa and others Peplus Peplis and Chamaesyce and because they are all of them congeneres that is of one family or kindred and of one quality or property which is to purge I thinke it fittest to remember them all together yet in severall chapters 1. Tithymalus Paralius sive maritimus Sea Spurge The Sea Spurge riseth up with diverse reddish wooddy stalkes a foote or halfe a yard high set thicke with leaves from the bottome to the toppe which are small long and narrow yet broadest in the middle somewhat like unto the leaves of Line or Flax but thick and whitish full of a white milke if any part be broken which is so hot that being tasted it burneth the mouth and throate intollerably at the toppes of the stalkes stand many pale yellowish flowers with two leaves under them compassing the stalke as it is usuall to all the other sorts of Spurges and containing them after which come three square small heades wherein is conteined round discoloured seede the roote is long and wooddy abiding long and so doe the leaves on the branches not falling away in winter 2. Tithymalus maritimus Venetus Sea Spurge of Venice This Sea Spurge hath longer or taller and thicker stalkes somewhat hollow and reddish branching forth into diverse parts beset with small long leaves but somewhat larger and more separate than the former two alwayes standing together all along the branches like Licorice the flowers are small pendulous and of a sad purplish colour consisting of five small leaves a peece like a small starre without any round leaves under them as in the former after which come such like heads and seede the roote is great long and wooddy withall sending forth new branches every yeare 3. Tithymalus maritimus Creticus spinosus Thorny Sea Spurge of Candy The Thorny Sea Spurge of Candy sendeth forth diverse brownish round stalkes whereon are set many whitish hoary leaves being small thick and long as plentifully yeelding a causticke or burning milke as any of the former upon the branches stand diverse thornes with the leaves and likewise the ends of the
hath it taken therefrom which thing Iunius Solinus Polyhister confirmeth in the 48 chapter of his booke onely he varyeth from Aristotle in saying it is of a brownish yellow colour which hee said was blacke And Plinye writeth also the same thing in his 8 booke and 42 chapter although he said also it was an other thing as you have heard before Virgill in his third booke of Georgickes hath these verses to shew what it is and whereto used taken as it should seeme from Aristotle Hinc demum Hippomanes vero quod nomine dicunt Pastores lentum distillat ab inguine virus Hippomanes quod saepe male legere novercae And Tibullus the Poet in his 2. booke and 4. Elegie hath the same also in effect in these verses Et quod ubi indomitis gregibus Venus afflat amores Hippomanes cupidae stillat ab inguine equae Anguillara is of opinion that the Hippomanes of Theocritus is the lesser Stramonium or thorne apple and the Cratevas whom Theocritus his interpreter doth cite saith that it is a plant whose fruite is like the wilde Cowcumber fruits but full of thornes Now if the ancients have left these doubts whether Hippomanes be an herbe or made of an hearbe and shew not certainely what the hearbe is or doe not all agree that it is the sperme of mares how shall we in these times compound the controversie The Vertues Dioscorides saith that the pure juyce of Hippophaes it selfe being dryed and the weight of halfe a scruple thereof taken or the weight of two scruples if it be made up with the meale of the bitter Vetche taken in meade or honyed water purgeth downewards flegme choller and water the whole plant rootes and all being bruised and put into meade and about a quarter of a pint thereof taken worketh in the same manner the juyce taken from both the plant and the roote as it is used to be done with Thapsia a dramme thereof taken at a time is a purgation of it selfe for the same purposes The juyce pressed out of the rootes leaves and heads of Hippophaestum is to be dryed and halfe a dramme thereof given to whom you will in meade or honyed water draweth forth flegme and water principally and chiefely this purgation is fit or convenient for those that are troubled with the falling sickenesse shortnesse of breath and aches in the joynts and sinewes CHAP. XX. Alypum Monspelâ—â—sium sive Herba terribilis Narbonensium Herbe Terrible BEcause this herbe is of a most violent purging quality sharpe and exulcerating withall very like unto the former Tithymalls I thinke it fittest to joyne it next unto them and another with it which by Pena his judgement is very like thereunto both for face and quality 1. Alypum Monspeliensium Herbe Terrible This terrible herbe hath many wooddy stalks rising two or three foote high dividing itselfe into smaller branches covered with a thinne barke the elder branches being of a darke purplish colour and the younger more red thicke set with small hard and dry leaves without order from the bottome to the toppe which are somewhat long and small at the setting on broader in the middle and sharpe pointed somewhat like unto small Mirtle leaves of a greenish colour on the upperside and whitish underneath at the top of every branch standeth a round flower in a scaly head consisting of many purplish thrummes or threds paler in the middle than round about somewhat like unto the head of a Scabious or rather Knapweede the roote is of a fingers thicknesse long wooddy and of a brownish colour somewhat salt if it grow neere the sea shore where it may drinke any of the Sea water or else not salt at all but bitter if it grow further off the leaves also tasting after the same manner 1. Alypum Monspeliensium sive Herba Terribilis Herbe Terrible Hippoglossum Valentinam Clusie 2. Tarton raire Massilicusium Gutworte or Trouble belly 2. Tarton raire Massiliensium Gutwort or Trouble belly The herbe Gutworte or Trouble belly hath very many hoary or silver white slender and very tough branches two foote high divided into many other smaller whereon grow many small white hoary leaves round about them smaller than those of Alypum the flowers are white and small set close together in a long tuft but so covered with the white woollinesse that they can scarse bee perceived after which come small blacke seede bitter and unpleasant and so fiery hot that if any shall either chew of them or the leaves a little in their mouth they will so heate the mouth lippes and jawes that no washing will for a long time take it away the roote is small long and wooddy with many fibres at it yellowish on the outside and white within nothing so hot bitter or unpleasant as the leaves or seede yet leaving a small hot taste at the end without any sent and not giving any milke it is saith Pena very like unto the Turbith of Alexandria or of the shoppes in the forme thereof The Place The first groweth on the mountaine or hill called Cestius or Cap de ceste and in other rockes and stony places hard by Marseilles in France as also in diverse places in Spaine as Clusius saith The second doth likewise grow neere Marseilles by the Seaside on a small hill neere thereunto called Mondrond as Pena saith and all a long the coast of Liguria and the Isles of Corsica and Sardinia as Lugdunensis saith The Time They flower not untill it be late with us but Clusius found the first in flower in the moneths of February and March as he saith in Spaine The Names 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in Greeke quasi indolens inoffensumque remedium 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 per contrarium enim se habet quemadmodum in aliis Grace scilicet fella 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 sive dulcia 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Holostium tota ossea cum herba sit tenera appellans except it might rather be said to come from 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 id est salsum vel maritimum because it groweth neere the sea in Latine it is called also Alypum herba terribilis according as the common people of Provence doe call it from the effects it worketh It is called also Alypias by Actuarius yet some thinke that his Alypias which as he saith purgeth flegme doth differ from his Alypum which purgeth blacke choller but Paulus reconcileth this doubt in his seaventh booke and fourth chapter where hee saith that the seede of Alypum purgeth downewards blacke choller taken with a little salt and Vinegar in the same quantity that Epithymum doth but if we credit Dioscorides saith he it doth lightly exulcerate the guts but is the same in my judgement saith Paulus which is now called Alypias the roote hereof as I sayd in the chapter of Tithymalls is called by Actuarius Turpetum album as that of Esula minor Turpetum nigrum There is some doubt with many whether we have the true
bringeth downe womens courses the same juyce of the roote is a mighty purger of watery humours and held most effectuall for the dropsie of all others herbs whatsoever the dried berries or the seeds beaten to powder and taken in wine fasting worketh the like effect the powder of the seeds taken in the decoction of Chamaepitys or ground Pine and a little Cinamon to the quantitie of a dramme at a time is an approved remedy both for the gout joynt aches and sciatica as also for the French disease for it easeth the paines by withdrawing the humors from the places affected and by drawing forth those humors that are fluent peccant and offensive the pouder of the roote worketh in the like manner and to the same effect The roote hereof steeped in wine all night and a draught thereof given before the accesse and comming of the fit of an Ague prevaileth so effectually there against that it will either put off the fit or make it more easie and at the second taking seldome faileth to rid it quite away An ointment made of the greene leaves and May butter made in the moneth of May is accounted with many a soveraigne remedy for all outward paines aches and crampes in the jointes nerves or finewes for starcknesse and lamenesse by cold and other casualties and generally to warme comfort and strengthen all the outward parts ill affected as also to mollifie the hardnesse and to open the obstructions of the spleene the grieved parts anointed therewith The leaves laid to steepe in water and sprinkled in any chamber of the house as it is said killeth Fleas Waspes and Flies also if you will credit the report Tragus saith that the tender branches boyled in wine whereunto some honey is put and drunke for some dayes together is profitable for a cold and drie cough cureth the diseases of the breast by cutting and digesting the grosse and tough flegme therein Briefely whatsoever I have shewed you before in relating the properties of Elder doth Wallwort more strongly effect in opening and purging choller flegme and water in helping the gout the piles and womens diseases coloureth the haire blacke helpeth the inflammations of the eyes and paines in the eares the stinging and biting of Serpents or a mad Dogge the burnings or scaldings by fire and water the wind collicke the collicke and stone the difficultie of urine the cure of old sores and fistulous ulcers and other the griefes before specified which for brevitie I doe not set downe here avoiding tautologie as much as I can CHAP. XXV Helleborus niger Blacke Hellebor or Bearefoote OF the Hellebors there are two primary sorts white and blacke Of the white sort we will speake in the next Chapter and of the blacke in this whereof there are sundry sorts as you shall heare 1. Helleborus niger verus The true blacke Hellebor or Christmas flower The true blacke Hellebor or Bearefoote as some would call it but that name doth more fitly agree unto the other two bastard kinds hath sundry faire greene leaves rising from the roote each of them standing on a thicke round stiffe greene stalke about an handbreadth high from the ground divided into seven eight or nine parts or leaves and each of them nicked or dented from the middle of the leafe to the pointward on both 1. Helleborus niger verus Blacke Hellebor or Christmas flower 2. 3. Helleboraster minor trifoâ—iusspinosus Bastard blacke Hellebor or Beares foote and with trefoilae prickly leaves 3. Helleboraster maximus sive Consiligo The greatest bastard blacke Hellebor or Beares foote called Setterworte sides abiding greene all the Winter at which time the flowers rise on the like short stalkes as the leaves grow on without any leafe thereon for the most part yet sometimes having a small short pale greene leafe resembling rather a skin than a leafe a little under the flower and grow but little higher than the leaves each stalke also beareth usually but one flower yet sometimes two consisting of five large round white leaves a peece like unto a greate single white Rose changing sometimes to be either dasht with a purple about the edges or to be wholly purple without any white in them as the weather or time of continuance doth effect with many pale yellow thrums in the middle standing about a greene head which after groweth to be the seede vessell divided into severall cells or podes like unto a Colombine head or Aconitum hyemale but greater and thicker wherein is contained somewhat long and round blackish seede like the seedes of the bastard kindes the rootes are a number of brownish blacke strings which runne downe deepe into the ground and are fastened to a thicke head of the bignesse of ones finger Of this kinde there is an other whose flower is red from the first opening Florerubâ—o which Bellonius remembreth in his observations to have seene in the woods of Greece 2. Helleboraster minor flore viridante Bastard blacke Hellebor or Bearefoote The smaller bastard Hellebor or Bearefoote is in most things like unto the former true blacke Hellebor for it beareth also many leaves upon short stalkes divided into many parts but each of them are longer and narrower of a darker greene colour dented on both sides and feele somewhat hard perishing every yeare but rise againe the next Spring the flowers hereof stand on higher stalkes with some leaves on them also yet very few and are of a pale greene colour like the former but smaller by the halfe at least having likewise many greenish yellow threads or thrummes in the middle and such like heads or seede vessells and blackish seede in them the rootes are more stringie blacke and 5. Helleborus niger ferulaceus Fennell leafed bastard blacke Hellebor 6. Helleborus niger Saniculae folio major The greater purging Sanicle like Hellebor 8. Epipactis Matthioli Matthiolus his bastard blacke Hellebor hard than the former 3. Helleboraster alter trifolius spinosus Trefoile Prickly leafed Bearefoote This sort differeth little in the manner of growing from the last described having long stalkes with leaves thereon and flowers at the toppes of the same fashion and so is the seede also that followeth but the leaves are harder and only divided into three partes the dentes about the edges are hard sharpe and prickly the flowers being of a paler or whiter greene colour 4. Helleboraster maximus sive Consiligo The greatest bastard blacke Hellebor or Bearefoote called also Setterwort This great Bearefoote hath diverse sad greene leaves rising from the rootes each upon along stalke which are divided into 7 or 9 divisions or leaves each whereof is narrower than the lesser bastard blacke Hellebor or Bearefoote nicked or dented about the edges but not so deepely and abiding above ground greene all the winter whereas the other perisheth as I said every yeare and riseth againe in the spring this shooteth up a reasonable great and tall stalke higher by the halfe than the other with such
〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is granum pedicularium in Latine Staphis agria in the Apothecaries shoppes beyond sea Staphusaria and Pedicularis and Peduncularis and Pituitaria sic dicta a viribus quas habet pediculos enecando fervore pituitam educendo and thereupon Cordus on Dioscorides calleth it Pthirococtonon Pliny seemeth to call it Vva Taminia in his 26. Booke and 13. Chapter but in his 23. Booke and first Chapter hee saith that Astaphis agria or Staphis is corruptedly called Vva Taminia The seede thereof is so called also being onely in use and to be had in shoppes The Arabians call it Alberas Habebras Muthuzagi Mibbezegi the Italians Staphusaria the Spaniards Fabaraz Paparraz yerva pionta is pioybeyra the French Estaphisagria Paenilleuse and herbe aux povileux or povileux the Germans Bissmints the Dutch Luyscruidt and we in English Stavesacre and Lousewort The Vertues Staphysagria Stavesacre or Lousewort A few of the seed bruised and strained into posset drinke and drunke worketh very strongly upon the stomacke bringing forth abundance of slimie grosse flegme but there had neede of great caution to be used of whosoever shall take it for in that it heateth extreamely and bringeth danger of strangling by the violence thereof it is not used but by ignorant or desperate Surgions or countrie leeches without such correction and things as may mittigate the force thereof that thereby it may do no harme which being so ordered it is then used to be given to those that are troubled with itch scabbes the leprie or foule scurfe as well inwardly as to wash the places outwardly with the docoction of the seede which helpeth much as also to kill lice and vermine growing in the heads or bodies of any or the seeds mixed with oyle and axungia and anointed on the places Some use to make an Electuary of them by boyling them in water with some few correctors unto which liquor being strained so much Sugar is put as may be sufficient to make it up with the powder of Aniseede and Cinamon into an Electuarie whereof a dragme is a sufficient proportion at a time and is profitable for the diseases aforesaid as also to procure womens monethly courses it is also good to wash foule ulcers in the mouth or throate but if the decoction be too strong you may alay it with some vinegar and a little honey mixed therewith and so use it the seeds bruised and boyled in vinegar is good to helpe the toothach if the teeth and gummes be washed therewith for it draweth downe abundance of rheume which peradventure was the cause thereof being bruised also with a little pelletory of Spaine or without it and put into a fine linnen cloth and chewed where the teeth paine you most doth the like and often easeth and sometimes taketh away the paine Some say that if the flowers be chewed in the mouth and some of them laid upon the hurt place of any stung or bitten by any serpent they will heale them the seede beaten and mingled with meale and of it selfe so laid or made up into a paste with some hony will kill Mise and Ratts and such like vermine that doe eate it CHAP. XXIX Euphorbium The burning thornie plant called Euforbium Anteuphorbium The remedy for the Euforbium or the burning thorny plant AS the most extreme of all violent purging plants I bring this to your consideration not having any to exceede it in the qualitie of heate or violence and thereunto as many other Authors before me have done I joyne that other cooling herbe which is accounted the onely helpe and remedy against the fierie heate thereof 1. Euphorbium The burning thornie plant called Euforbium This strange thornie plant from a leafe thrust into the ground will shoote forth rootes and grow to have divers thicke and long leaves round also and not flat halfe a yard in length set with divers great ribbes which are armed all the length of them with a double row of small sharpe thornes or prickes two for the most part set together like unto the middle bone of a fish c. what fruit or flower it beareth we have not learned of any that hath seene it growing in Barbery from whence it hath beene brought both into our countrie and into others the rootes are great thicke and long spreading very much but impatient to endure any cold as the leaves are also there issueth out of the leaves as some say or out of the rootes as others say a pale yellowish gumme in small droppes or peeces most violent fierce even to smell unto but being tasted doth burne the mouth and throate not to be endured the dust also and fuming vapours that arise from it when it is stirred but much more when it is beaten to powder doe so fiercely penetrate into the head and mouth but especially the nostrills that it procureth frequent and strong neesing often times even unto delacrymation and if any shall touch their face or any other part of the skinne that is tender with their hands after they have handled it it will burne and enflame it so terribly that oftentimes it will raise blisters and wheales the furie whereof will not be allaid scarse in halfe a day after although cold water or any other cold thing be applied to mitigate the strength thereof and therefore in the same naturall places groweth with it as the chiefe and onely remedy thereof the 2. Anteuphorbium The remedy for Euforbium The Anteuphorbium hath divers fat thicke greene stalkes with many thicke and long leaves thereon somewhat like unto the leaves of Purslane but much bigger both stalkes and leaves being full of a cold and slimie moisture most fit and apt to temper the heate of the former we have likewise no further understanding of either flower or seede that it beareth the rootes are great and thicke from whence shoote forth many long and great strings and small fibres but as quickly subject to the cold as the former and perisheth upon the first cold blast that commeth upon it 1. Euphorbium The burning thorny plant called Euphorbium Anteuphorbium The remedy for Euphorbium The Place Both these plants have beene brought out of Barbery as I said from many places there as also other Iles there abouts and here they have thrived well all the heate of the yeare but as I said will endure no manner of cold and therefore without extraordinary care and keeping not to be kept in our land The Time The time of the well thriving is formerly expressed for it never bore flower with us or with any that hath had it as farre as we can learne The Names The Greeke name is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and the Latines have no other name than Euphorbium for it although Pliny calleth the plant Euphorbia and the gumme Euphorbium Iuba that was father to Ptolomy and first ruled both the countries of Mauritania is said by Pliny to have first found this plant and gave it the name Euphorbium
common Broome Spartium as if there were no difference when as yet they appoint the Spartium or Spartum Hispanicum Narbonenâ—e to be the true Spartium of Dioscorides which many call also Genista Hispanica Italica and Africana Many likewise mistooke the Spartum Iuncus which is a kinde of Rush wherewith in Spaine they make frailes or baskets to put Raysins Figges and other things in to be the Spartum frutex deceived by the name onely without further examining the matter But now in these dayes it is evidently knowne to all that are conversant in Herbarisme that Spartum or Spartium as some write it is one plant by it selfe and Genista another although the one be somewhat like the other and that Spartum frutex is differing from the other Spartum called Iuncus the first here set downe is generally by all writers called either Genista vulgaris or Genista angulosa or Scoparia vulgi Louicerus onely calleth it Genista minor sou non aculâ—ata and Caesalpinus Genista quadrato junco prima the Rapum Genista of all sorts I meane both of this Broome and of the other Dyers weede and of the hedge sides c. are called of Clusius Hemoderon according to Theophrastus lib. 8. c. 8. or Leimoderon as others have it and of most Orobanche although according to Theophrastiâ— there is another Orobanche that riseth up among the Ervum or Orobus and strangleth it as Tares doe Wheate whereof came the name the second is called by Lugdunensis Genista minima and by Bauhinus Genista ramosa foliis Hyperici the third is also called by Lugdunensis Genista Iluensis the fourth is by Tabermontanus called Genista alba and by Gerard after him Genista tenuifolia The fift is the same that Clusius calleth Chamaegenista Pannonica 7 a. and Gerard Chamaegenista Anglica howsoever the figures of them seeme diverse it is likely also to be the Genistae minoris species of Thalâ—us and of some is termed Chamaespartium the sixt is not onely remembred by Bauhinus in his Prodomus Pinax by the same name in the title but called also Spartium Creticum by Alpinus in lib. de plantis exoticis The seaventh is generally called Genista â—inctoria or infectoria and Genistella tinctoria Flos tinctorius of Brunfelsius and flos tinctorius of Fuchisus Lonicerus and Castor Durantes Tragus tooke it to be Ferula Leonicerus Lysimachia Anguillara and Caesalpinus Corneola Cordus calleth it Chamaeleuce and Bauhinus Genista tinctoria Germanica in English Greeneweede or Dyers weede because the Dyers doe dye a yellowish greene colour with the leaves and stalkes hereof and therefore provide thereof good store The eight is called by Clusius Genista tinctoria Hispanica of Lobel Genistella infectoria Lugdunensis thinketh it may be the Oricella of Thevet some take it to be the Lutea herba that Pliâ— mentioneth in lib. 33. c. 3. but therein they are much deceived as I shall shew you when I come to speak of that hearb Bauhinus calleth it Genista tinctoria frutescens foliis incanis The ninth is called by many Chamaegenista sagittalis by Camerarius Chamaegenista sagittalis Pannonica by Clusius Chamaegenista altera of Pena Lobel Genistella gâ—amiâ—a montana Gesner in hortis Germaniae calleth it Genista minima Cordus Genista angulosa Tragus Lonicerus Lugdunensis Tabermontanus call it Chamaespartium The tenth is called by Clusius Chamaegenista peregrina so doth Lugdunensis Lobel calleth it Genistella pinnata altera Hispanica Camerarius Genista pumila Dodonaeus Genista humilis Tabermontanus Chamaespartium tertium and Bauhinus Chamaegenista caule foliato The eleventh is called by Bauhinâ—s in Prodroâ— Genistae Hispanicae affinis and in his Pinax Sparto primo affinis but because it doth participate both with Spartum in some things and Genistella montana in others as I have shewed in the description I thought good to place it betweene them both and call it Pseudo Spartum Hispanicum in English bastard Spanish Broome The twelfth it called Spartum Hispanicum and Genista Hispanica Spartum Graecorum and Spartum frutex The thirteenth is called by Clusius Spartum 2 Hispanicum by Lobel Spartium Hispanicum alterum flore luteo by Dodonaeus Spartum frutex majus and by Bauhinus Spartium alterum monospermon semine reni simili The fourteenth is called by Clusius Spartum Hispanicum tertium by Lobel Spartium 2 flore albo by Dodonaeus Spartum frutex minus and by Bauhinus Spartium tertium flore albo The last is called by Columna Spartum Aequicolorum minimum montanum triphyllum The Italians call Spartum Spartio and Genista Genistra the Spaniards the one Spartio and the other Genistra Giesta and Geisteira the French Geneste and Geneste de Espaigne the Germanes call Spartum Pfrimmen and Genista Ginst the Dutch Brem and Spanische Brem and so we in English Broome and Spanish Broome The Vertues Our ordinary Broome doth much offend the stomacke and heart if Anniseedes or Fennell seedes or Roses or Masticke be not given with it being taken inwardly the juyce or decoction of the young branches as also of the seede or the powder of the seede taken in drinke purgeth downewards and draweth from the joynts flegmaticke and watery humors whereby it helpeth those that are troubled with the dropsie the goute the sciatica and the paines in the hippes and joynts it provoketh strong vomits also and helpeth the paines of the sides and swellings of the spleene clenseth also the reines kidnies and bladder of the stone engendred therein and hindreth the matter from encreasing or growing to be a stone therein againe and provoketh urine aboundantly the continuall use of the powder of the leaves and seede doth cure the blacke Iaundise the young buds of the flowers are gathered and kept in brine and Vinegar to be eaten all the yeare after as a sallet of much delight and are called Broome Capers which doe helpe to stirre up an appetite to meate that is weake or dejected helpeth also the obstructions of the spleene and to provoke urine that is stopped opening and clensing the uritory parts by the use of them very effectually The distilled water of the flowers is profitable for all the same purposes it helpeth also surfets and altereth also the fits of agues if 3 or 4 ounces thereof with as much of the water of the lesser Centory and a little Sugar be put therein and taken a little before the accesse of the fit first being layd downe to sweate in their bed the oyle or water that is drawne from the ends of the greene stickes heated in the fire helpeth the tooth-ach There is a lye made of the ashes of Broome which by art may be made as cleere as Claret wine which Camerarius commendeth to be profitable for those that have the Dropsie The juyce of the young branches made into an oyntment with old Axungia that is Hogges grease and anointed or the young branches bruised and heated in oyle or Axungia and layd to the sides that
stalke or divided branch is but as one winged leafe the leaves first falling away leaving the branches bare which then shew like unto ordinary or Spanish Broome when it hath lost the leaves and after the leaves the stalkes likewise perish that held the leaves wholly unto the very stemme and therefore sheweth to be but as one winged leafe of a tree as in the Ash Wallnut c. the lowest of these leaves are somwhat round pointed like the herbe Heliotropium Sunturner those on the middle of the branch more sharpe pointed like unto Myrtle leaves and the uppermost smallest somewhat like unto Knot-grasse it hath not borne either flowers or fruit in our Christian countries as yet so far as I can heare the roote is thicke long white and tuberous as it were yet ending in some sprayes being not much wooddy but rather fleshie and tender but the nuts or fruits such as have been brought over to us enclosed in their husks as also out of their husks are expressed here by themselves that is that many of them grow single in the husks some two together and that the nuts enclosed in every huske each by it selfe have their place bunched forth where each of them lie and straightned betweene them both the lower and upper end of the huske being small and sharpe pointed and about an handbreadth long round and of a darke ash colour on the outside and somewhat reddish on the inside of the substance of leather lither or easie to bow rugged on the outside with many long streakes in it but smooth on the inside the nuts themselves are three square for the most part covered with a whitish soft and somewhat tough wooddy shell wherein the white kernell lieth which is not altogether insipid but somewhat sharpe in taste and oylie withall causing a kind of loathing upon the tasting almost ready to provoke vomiting out of which is pressed an oyle as Dioscorides and Galen affirme like as is pressed out of Almonds and not from the shells or husks as some formerly supposed for it is commonly knowne to many here in our owne land and to my selfe also who have pressed as good oyle out of the kernells of the nutts as any hath beene brought from beyond seas and therefore Theophrastus was herein much mistaken or at least misinformed that said the oyle that served for sweete oyles and ointments was drawne from the huskes and shells and not from the Nutts themselves and Pliny also who saith the same doth erre in that although he saith that an oyle is drawen out of the nuts which the Physitions doe use for the oyle to both uses is one and the same The Place These trees grow in Syria Arabia Aethiopia and India and although some say in Egypt also yet I thinke Prosper Alpinus who was curious to set downe all the rare trees and plants unknowne in Italy that grew there would have given us some knowledge thereof among other Egyptian plants if they had beene there in his time The Time We have as I sayd before no knowledge of the time of flowring hereof The Names It is called in Greeke by Dioscorides Galen and others Banar 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Bulanut Myrepsica that is Glans Vuguentaria and by Lobel Glans unguentaria cathartica siliquata by Theophrastus 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 onely and by Pliny Myrobolanus Trogloditis in his 12 booke and 21. chap. but why the Grecians should call it Balanos an Acorne being like unto none of the kindes of Acornes nor the fruite it selfe nor shell or huske I know not for if they that doe so call it had ever seene the huskes wherein the Nuts are enclosed they would surely have given it a more proper name Monardus tooke them to be the Avellana purgatrices of the West Indies because the fruite is more like an Hasell nut than an Acorne and called them Ben Magnum but he was much mistaken therein and therefore the Arabians called it Ben and Habben which signifieth a Nut with them yet Pena seemeth to make the name and forme to agree together Rauwolfius called it Machalep album saying it is three square and like a Beech mast or fruite of the Beech tree for which cause onely as it is likely Bellonius compared the tree to a Beech it is called either Balanus myrepsica or Glans Vnguentaria after the Greeke signification of most writers but we in these dayes more usually call it Nux Ben and the oyle Oleum de Ben or as the ancients called it Oleum Balaninum I have given the English name to it according to the most proper signification as I thinke calling it rather a Nut than an Acorne as Gerard doth after the Greeke name The Vertues The kernells of the nuts bruised and drunke with Posca posset that is water and vinegar mingled together doth purge the body from grosse and thinne flegme also and thereby is helpefull to those are troubled with the wind collicke if a few Aniseede and Fennelseede be put unto it the oyle that is drawne out of the nuts doth the same also and provoketh vomiting clensing the stomacke of much foule matter gathered therein yet it doth much trouble the stomack in the meane time but the nut being toasted at the fire loseth much of that evill quality oftentimes causing them to purge downewards only it is with very good effect also put into glisters for the same purposes the oyle dropped into the eares helpeth the noise in them and the deafenesse also a dragme of the kernell taken in posset doth soften and dissolve the hardnesse of the spleene and liver Mesues commendeth the drie pressing after the oyle is taken from it being of a clensing as well as of a cutting qualitie by reason that the moisture is taken from it of a drying effect also for to helpe the itch the lepry and running sores and to take away the ruggednesse of the skin morphew drie scabbes scarres freckles wheales and pimples from the face or body especially if it be used with vinegar and niter with which it well agreeth and performeth the cures much better It is also used with the meale of Orobus the bitter Vetch or the meale of Darnell in manner of a plaister to be laid to the side to consume the spleene It helpeth the gout also used in the same manner used with barly meale it comforteth the sinewes that are pained with cold and all spasmes or crampes and used with hony dissolveth all knots and hard swellings the shells or huskes are of an exceeding binding propertie fit to be used when occasion serveth for such purposes The oyle that is pressed forth out of the nuts is much used of Perfumers although it have no sweete smell of it selfe to commend it yet it is of so excellent a qualitie that being kept never so long it will not grow ranke and therefore it doth both preserve the sweete sents of Muske Civet Ambergrise and the like mixed with it and keepeth
as small as those of the blacke thorne or slowe tree with a few thornes set here and there upon the branches but ending alwayes in a thorne the flowers are like unto the other but smaller and of an herby or whitish greene colour with smaller berries also succeeding them The Place The first groweth in many places of this land but especially in Kent as at the hither end of Dartford next unto London Farningham upon the Connie burrowes and in a narrow Lane neere South Fleete and in many other places The other Clusius found in Pannoniu and in Germany neere the bathes at Baden The Time They flower in Aprill and May their fruite is ripe in September and October The Names It is called Rhamnus although it can be referred to none either of Dioscorides or Theophrastus yet all agree it is a species or kind of Rhamnus and so even the thornes declare and therefore the word solutivus is added thereunto to denominate the difference Matthiolus I thinke first called it Spina infectoria and is by many followed therein Tragus calleth it Rhamni alia species yet knew not of any purging quality in it Dodonaeus called it Rhamnus solutivus and Lugdunensis Rhamnus Catharticus so doth Bauhinus Cordus calleth it Cervi spina Gesner Spina Cervina and Caesalpinus Spina Cervalis vulgo and some also Burgi spina from the French word Bourgespine whereby they call it as also Nerprun The other is called of Clusius Spina Jnfectoria pumila prima although Gerard hath called it in English Laxative Ram and Bucke horne yet I have rather entituled it a purging thorne as most fitting to it The Vertues The berries hereof dryed and a drame of the powder given in wine or the broth of flesh doth purge both flegme and grosse thicke humors also yet Pena saith it rather draweth forth thinne flegme and that from the joints and Arteries and therefore is singular good for dropsies some doe make an Electuary and some a Syrupe of the juyce of the berries clarified and Sugar or Honey put thereto but because it worketh a little troublesomely some spices are to be added thereto to aromatise it as Cinamon Ginger and Cloves and some adde Masticke and roses also which doth correct the evill quality therein and cause it worke without paine an ounce or more of either Electuary or Syrupe may be given at a time dissolved either in wine or in the broth of flesh which will draw forth raw whayish humors and choller aboundantly as also thicke clammie flegme for it worketh not with any troublesome heating of the parts but doth strengthen them after purging not causing any flux to follow Of these berries are made three severall sorts of colours as they shall be gathered that is being gathered while they are greene and kept dry are called Sappe berries which being steeped in some Allome water or fresh bruised into Allome water they give a reasonable faire yellow colour which painters use for their workes and Bookebinders to colour the edges of bookes and leather dressers to colour leather as they use also to make a greene colour called Sappe greene taken from the berries when they are blacke being bruised and put into a brasse or copper kettle or pan and there suffered to abide three or foure dayes or a little heated upon the fire and some beaten Allome put unto them and after pressed forth the juyce or liquor is usually put up into great bladders tyed with strong thred at the head and hung up untill it be drye which is dissolved in water or wine but sacke is the best to preserve the colour from starving as they call it that is from decaying and to make it hold fresh the longer the third colour whereof none that I can finde hath made mention but onely Tragus is a purplish colour which is made of the berries suffered to grow upon the bushes untill the middle or end of November that they are ready to droppe from the trees CHAP. XL. Anagyris Laburnum Beane Trefoiles THe Anagyris and Laburnum are such congeneres so like the one unto the other that diverse writers doe call that Anagyris which others call Laburnum and indeed I know no other distinction betweene them than of foetens non foetens major minor 1. Anagyris foetida Stinking Beane Trefoile The stinking beane Trefoile in his naturall places which are the hot Countries of Spaine and Naâ—bone in France seldome groweth to be higher than a man but transplanted into more cold and temperate climates riseth twise so high having the barke of the body and elder boughes of a darke grayish greene colour the younger of a fresher greene from whence shoote forth at diverse places three somewhat large leaves together standing upon a pretty long footestalke of a greene colour on the upperside and of an hoary or silver shining colour underneath of a strong unpleasant sent like unto stinking Gladwin especially in the hot countries for in the colder countries it is nothing so much and very little in ours as I have tryed who have had it many times growing with me at the joynts with the leaves come forth many flowers standing upon a long stalke one by another which are larger than in any Cytisus almost as great as the Colutaea the lower leaves being of a paler yellow colour and the uppermost which cover them of a deeper gold yellow which after turne into large and long flattish cods wherein lye foure or five seedes twise as big as in the other almost as big as Kidney beanes and more discoloured than the other that is of a darke purple spotted which were of a fairer purple before they 1. Anagyris faetida Stinking Beane Trefoile 2. Lâ—burnum majus The greater lesse stinking Beane Trefoile were thorough ripe the roote thrusteth not deepe into the ground but is well fastened with branches and fibres within the ground Of this kind there is one growing in Candy whereof Honorius Bellus gave knowledge to Clusius that hath rounder leaves which as yet I never saw 2. Anagyris non faetida sive Laburnum majus The greater lesse stinking Beane Trefoile This Beane Trefoile groweth larger in body and branches than the former and sometimes shooteth forth diverse stemmes from the roote the wood whereof is very firme and hard yellow toward the barke and blackish at the heart whereof the strongest bowes are made and stakes that will abide hard in the ground longer than others with leaves larger than either the former or the smaller sort of a darkish greene above and silver colour underneath like them the flowers are more in number and smaller than in the former the stalkes of flowers hanging downe and not standing up being sometimes almost a foote long and not so long as in the former and are for the most part all of one pale yellow colour the cods likewise are blacker shorter and smaller and so are the seedes within them also yet greater than in the lesser sort else much
these sorts of Myrobalanes have a gentle purging quality some more and some lesse then others some also purging choller some flegme and some melancholy but they have in them also an astringent quality much more then is in Rubarbe the Citrines and Bellericks that is the yellow and the round Myrobalanes doe purge choller gently the Chebules and Emblici that is the purple and six square Myrobalanes doe purge flegme and the Indies or black ones melancholly the decoction or infusion of them all doth purge better then any wayes else yet so gently that in evacuating the humors they strengthen the stomacke the liver and the heart but given in pouder they binde the body more then purge it and indeed the binding quality in them all especially in the dryed fruits is more prodominant and as Garzias saith the Indians wholly use them for that purpose and therefore they are the best medecines to be mingled with Scamony and all other violent purgers to restraine their violence and to correct their fiercenesse and yet as Mesues saith they are often put with Cassia Manna Tamarind to helpe the working of them as a most safe medecine the Bellericks and Emblicks by purging the stomack from rotten flegme lying therein and strengthning the braine and joynts the heart and liver and binding all other loose or fluent humors in the parts of the body are very effectuall as also for the trembling of the heart and to stirre up the appetite stay vomiting and restraine the fury and belchings of choller to increase the power and facultie of the spirits to qualifie the excessive heat of the inward parts and the thirst is raised thereof and doe helpe and give ease to those that are truobled with the hemorrhoides or piles by restraining the fiercenesse of choller flowing unto them and for this last effect the Citrines are most used also for all hot constitutions and in all hot agues where there are no obstructions for they as all the other sorts also doe rather cause obstructions and therefore in all such when they are to be used they are to bee corrected with Wormewood or the juice of Fumiterry or with Rubarbe Agarick Spiknard and the like as also with other opening and diureticall things the Chebules in especiall doe purge flegme sharpen the memory cleare the eye sight clense and strengthen the stomacke and are very effectuall against the dropsie and all old agues the Indies or blacke Myrobalanes in speciall doe purge melancholy and blacke or burnt choller and thereby are availeable for the quartaine Ague the Lepry or foule evill and all paralaticke diseases the Embliks and Bellericks in especiall purge flegme and comfort the braine very much as also the heart and stomacke stay vomiting and stirre up the appetite They all of them in generall are of especiall use in all Fluxes both of the stomack and belly by gently purging the maligne fluxibilitie of the humors and strengthning and binding the parts afterwards but as an especiall receit to binde or stay an old continued Laske I have knowne this medicine doe much good Take and burne a pint of Claret wine with a little Rosemary and Sugar whereinto put to steepe all night one dram of Rubarbe first sliced and tosted at the fire and halfe a dram of Chebule Myrobalanes which standing by the fire all night and strained forth in the morning is to be taken at two severall times a draught in the morning fasting which if it helpe not sufficiently the first time being renewed and taken two dayes more will certainly stay the laske wholly if the malignity and sharpenesse of the humors bee not so strong that scarse any medecine will cure it The Chebule Myrobalanes broken and steeped in Rosewater or in the clarified juice of Fennell for two or three dayes and after strained forth this water dropped into the eyes doth clere the sight and a fine cloth wet therein and often applyed taketh away the heat and inflammation in them and stayeth rheumes and distillations into them the pouder of any of the Myrobalanes and Masticke put into running Vlcers and sores dryeth up the moysture and consolidateth them The Chebules and the Emblicks are often brought over unto us preserved whereof the Chebules are more used Physically for such purposes as are before set downe then the Emblicks are which being nothing harsh in taste as the Chebuls but being very pleasant are more often used as a delicate preserved Plum among other junckets then for any Physicall respect CHAP. XLII Agaricus Terebinthina ex Larice Agaricke growing on the Larch tree and the fine cleare Turpentine taken from it also BEcause the Rosin or Turpentine of the Larch tree doth gently open and purge the belly but more especially the Agaricke that groweth thereon I must to shew you the manner of growing of Agaricke give you also the view of the body of the tree from whence it is taken and some branches and leaves thereon to be knowne by but the description of the tree it selfe shall be shewed you among the other Coniferas Resiniferas arbores trees that beare Cones or Pine apple like fruit and out of which is extracted a cleare liquid Rosin or Turpintine called in shoppes Agaricus ex Larice Agaricke growing on the Larch tree Venice Turpentine by boring the tree to the heart and receiving it into vessells and from the body of the tree when it is growne great and old in many places and from the greater armes and boughes also groweth certaine excressences like Mushromes but greater called Agaricke of divers and severall sises that is from the bignesse of ones hand lesse or more to be as bigge as any mans head and sometimes greater covered with a hard blackish barke which being cut and pared away the substance under it appeareth very white and if it be of the best sort very light also easie to breake loose or spungie and without strings through it somewhat sweete in taste at the first but very bitter afterwards and not having any hard barke on the outside the blacke heavy and hard is utterly unfit to be used in Physicke The Place The Larch tree groweth in many woods about Trent and Brixia in Italy and neare the rivers Benacus and Padus and in Galatia a Province of Asia as Dioscorides and Galen doe record and in Agaria a country of Sarmatia from whence the Agaricke tooke the name in Silesia also Moravia Lusatia And the Agaricke is gathered in most of these places so is the Turpentine likewise but especially from the woods about Trent c. The Time The Rosin or Turpentine is gathered in the hottest time of the yeare and the Agaricke at the latter end thereof that is November and December especially The Names This tree is called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in Greek and Larix or Larice in Latin Pliny hath in no one thing in all his History shewed his inconstancie and repugnancie more than in this one tree not onely in not
likewise an oyle drawne chimically from Turpentine which is singular good to be used in wounds being more drying and consolidating than the Turpentine it selfe as also to warme and ease the paines of the joynts and sinewes caused of cold the water that is distilled with the oyle is used for freckles and spots in the face a scruple in waight of that water taken in white wine procureth a vomite thereby giving much ease to such as have their stomacks overcharged with flegme the oyle is profitably used in hollow ulcers being dropped into them or a tent dipped in it and put into the ulcer it is good also for the wormes and deafenesse of the eares used with a little Oxe gall some use to mingle bay salt and Turpentine together and therewith spread a girdle of leather and tie it about their wastes that have an itch which by wearing some small time will cure the itch that is spread over the bodie as well as the hands Agaricke is a medicine of frequent and familiar use often by it selfe but most commonly with other purgers to open obstructions of the liver spleene and intralls purging flegme in especiall but in generall all other vitious humors offending any member of the body and because it doth somewhat trouble the stomacke and procure casting it is usually corrected with Ginger and given with Oximell that is syrupe made with vinegar and hony for it purgeth both thinne and rotten tough flegme both yellow hard blacke and burnt choller from the head and braine from the breast and lungs from the stomacke liver and spleene from the reines and blacke and from the wombe as also from the joynts sinewes and muscles and here by helpeth to cure the diseases that proceede from them that is such as are troubled with the gout dropsie and falling sicknesse jaundise the chollicke and hardnesse to make water the sciatica or paine of the hips the pale colour in women caused by the staying of their courses the shortnesse of breath the cough and consumption of the lungs the spitting of bloud the paines of the mother the sharpenesse of urine and the wormes it is helpefull also to cure all sorts of agues either tertians or quotidiaus to ease the griping paines of the stomacke and belly or such as have had falles or bruises or are bursten bellied all which actions it chiefely performeth by purging those grosse and vitious humors that trouble the parts and members of the body and are the causes of all these diseases it is an antidote against all poisons and cureth the bitings of Serpents very quickly halfe a drame or two scruples being taken in wine either by the infusion or the pouder for the other diseases afore specified a dramme sliced and put into a gentle purging decoction but not violent or into an infusion is the most generall manner of preparing it to be given if it be boyled in lye with other Cephalicall helpes it much comforteth the braine and memorie and giddinesse of the head to be washed therewith as also helpeth to stay the rheumes and catarrhes thereof and clenseth it much from scurfe and dandraffe CHAP. XLIII Zizyphus sive Iujuba The Iujube tree ALthough in former times there was but one sort of Iujube knowne yet now we have two or three which shall be shewed in this chapter 1. Zizyphus sive Iujuba major The greater Iujube tree The Iujube tree groweth sometimes to be very high but more often to a reasonable height having his stemme or body bowed or crooked and spreading rather in breadth the wood whereof is whitish and hard covered with a rugged barke from whence spread great branches and from the lesser and slender whitish twigges about a foote long full of leaves set on both sides not usually directly one against another but one a little above another with an odde one at the end each whereof is small somewhat broad and pointed at the end dented or finely nicked about the edges with long veines in them smooth and somewhat hard in handling each standing on a short foote stalke and very like unto the leaves of Paliurus or Christs thorne◠at the foote of every leafe towards the toppes of the 1. Zizyphus sive Iujuba major The greater Iujube tree twigges come forth small yellowish flowers of five leaves a peece where afterwards stand the fruite which is somewhat like unto a small Plumme or Olive but a little long greene at the first and then it is somewhat harsh and yellowish after but red and of a reasonable sweetenesse yet sharpe withall and somewhat clammy when they are ripe flat as it were at the lower end next the stalke whose skin is thicker and harder than a plumme and the stone within it is small firme and solid long round and pointed like unto an Olive or Cornelian Cherry stone both for forme and hardnesse all the branches both greater and smaller are armed with thorns two alwayes at a joynt wherof the one is long strong sharpe pointed and staight and the other crooked both of them of a blackish red colour like unto the elder branches the rootes are long and firme in the ground 2. Zizyphus sive Iujuba minor The lesser Iujube tree This lesser Iujube tree is very like unto the former both for the forme of branches leaves and flowers but lower and smaller in all parts the fruite also is alike red when it is ripe with such an hard firme Olive like stone as the former but the fruite hereof is smaller and rounder and not long like as the other is it is as thickely and strongly armed with thornes though somewhat shorter than the other 3. Zizyphus sive Iujuba sylvestris The Wilde Iujube tree This low Wilde Iujube tree groweth much lower and more like a shrubbe than the last and more cruelly armed also with small sharpe thornes the leaves are like but small growing in the same manner but fewer on a twigge the flowers are like the other the fruite is round and red like the last and somewhat lesser but dryer of substance not having such a pulpie substance as either of the former have and more austere even when it is ripest The Place The first groweth naturally in Africa Egypt Arabia Syria those more Easterly Countries frō whence as Pliny saith it was brought into Italy and planted there in his time by Sextus Papinius in the latter end of Caesar Augustus his reigne which now a dayes is very frequent not onely in many gardens and Orchards of Italy but in Provence of France also it is so tender that it seldome abideth long in our Country because it cannot endure the cold The other likewise was brought into Italy in these later times from Syria where it is onely to be seene but with a few that are lovers of rarities The last groweth wilde in the fieldes by the hedges not farre from Verona aboundantly as Pona saith The Time They all shoote forth in Aprill for none of them doe hold their leaves
the end of August or in September yet the huskes after they are ripe opening of themselves will hold their seedes within them for 2 or 3 moneths and not shed them The Names The greekes call it 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as also 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Iris and Hieris quasi sacra which made Gaza finding it so written in some coppies of Theophrastus to translate it Consecratrix but it was called Jris a caelestis arcus similitudine quam flores ejus representant from the Rainbow whose various colours the flower thereof doth imitate the old ignorant age made a difference betweene Iris and Ireos according to the Latine verse extant thereof which is this Iris parpureum florem gerit Ireos album The Iris tuberosa which is a peculiar kinde as you shall finde it in my former booke is called of Matthiolus Hermodactylus verus because the rootes are like unto fingers and from him diverse did so call it but most erroniously for a while Dodonaeus tooke it to be a kind of wild Flowerdeluce and that truly yet some did take it to be Lonchitis prior of Dioscorides the Arabians call it Asmeni juni or Ajersa the Italians Iride Giglio azurro celeste the Spaniards Lirii cardeno the French Flambe the Germanes Gilgau and Himmelschwertol but why Lobel should call the Iris bulbosa Anglica by the name of Hyacinthus poetarum I see no reason for it hath none of those mourning markes are in the Iris nor is it of the forme of a Lilly Gladwin is called in Greeke 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Xyris ob folii similitudinem quasi rasorium cultrum aut novaculum diâ—eris and in Latine Spatula or Spathula foetida for Spatha is taken for a sword as Gladium is and for that the leaves being bruised smell very strong his denomination in Latine and English hath risen sutable thereunto Theophrastus calleth it Iris agria Tragus in mistaking it did take it to be Gladiolus the Arabians call it Casoras the Italians Spatola foetida the French Glarent puant the Germanes Wendeleufkrant The Vertues All the Flowerdeluces especially the Flagge kindes are very neere of one quality but of the bulbous kindes I finde no Author to write or experience to teach whether they be of the same or differing propertie The juyce or the decoction of the greene rootes of the Flag Flowerdeluce with a little honey drunk doth purge and clense the stomack of grosse tough flegme and choller that lyeth therein which might be the cause of diverse agues it helpeth the Iaundise also and the dropsie by evacuating those humors both downwards and upwards and because it doth somewhat hurt the stomack it is not to be given but with honey Spiknard the same being drunk doth ease the paines and torments or wringing of the belly and sides the shakings of agues the diseases of the liver and spleene the wormes of the belly the stone in the raines convulsions or crampes that come of cold humors by warming them and comforting the parts as also helpeth those whose seede passeth from them unawares or unwillingly yet as one saith it doth consume and waste it very much also and is a remedy against the bitings and stingings of venemous creatures being boyled in water and Vinegar and drunke the same rootes being boyled in wine and drunke provoketh urine helpeth the collicke bringeth downe womens desired sicknesse and made up into a pessary with honey and put up into the body draweth forth the dead childe it is much commended against the cough to cause tough flegme to be the more easily extenuate and to be expectorate and spit forth and therefore the Diaireos in the Apothecaries shoppes either in the powder or made into a Lohâ—c or licking Electuary is effectuall for the same purpose it conduceth much to ease the paines in the head and to procure sleepe and rest being applyed with rose-rosewater rosecake and vinegar to helpe watering eyes by clensing the moyst sharpe humors and drying them up being put up into the Nostrils it procureth neesings and thereby also purgeth the head very much of flegme the juice of the root applyed to the Piles or the Hemorrhoides giveth much ease and for the Dropsie an Electuary made of the juice thereof with other things in this manner is held very effectuall Take of Galangae and of Zedoarie of each two drams of Cinamon and Cloves of each one dram and a halfe of the leaves of Sea Bindweede called Soldanella in the Apothecaries shoppes halfe an ounce make these into pouder and with so much hony wherein three drams of the juice of the rootes of Flowerdeluces hath beene boyled and is sufficient make them up into an Electuary whereof halfe an ounce taken in the morning fasting for divers dayes will doe much good it doth also wonderfully helpe the paines and swellings of the cods in this manner Take foure drams of the pouder of the rootes thereof of Cinamon and of Dill of each two drams of Saffron one scruple mix these well together and apply them to the cods being first laid upon a scarlet cloth moistned in whitewine and warmed in a dish over a Chafing dish with quick coales therein the decoction of the rootes gargled in the mouth easeth the toothach and a strong or stinking breath the oyle called Oleum Irinum if it be rightly and truly made of the flowers of the great broad Flagge Flowerdeluce of what colour I thinke it greatly mattereth not but not of the flowers of the greater blew English bulbous Flowerdeluce as I know some Apothecaries have and doe use and rootes of the same sorts of Flowerdeluces is very effectuall to warme and comfort all cold joynts and sinewes as also the Gout and Sciatica and mollifieth dissolveth and consumeth tumours or swellings although they be scrophulous in any part of the body as also of the matrix It helpeth the Crampe and Convulsion of the sinewes warming them and helping to extend them the head and temples annointed therewith helpeth the Catarrhe or thin Rheume distilling from thence and used upon the breast or stomack helpeth to extenuate the tough cold flegme making it easie to be spit out it helpeth also the paines and noyse in the eares and the stench or evill savour of the nosthrills it giveth also much ease unto the painefull Piles The roote it selfe either greene or in pouder helpeth to clense heale and incarnate wounds and to cover with flesh the naked bones that ulcers have made bare and is also very good to clense and heale up Fistulaes and Cankers that are hard to be cured divers doe use to beate the greene rootes and so apply them to the face or other parts but it is better tyed in a faire linnen cloth and laid for a day and a nigh in faire or Rose water with which water you may wet or moisten the skin of the face hands or neck that are sunburned or deformed with the Morphew black or blew markes or scarres or
Lugdunensis it is set forth for Pigamum quasi 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 i. Ruta and of some as Gesner saith Saxifraga lutea Camerarius calleth it Thalictrum Germanicum latifolium and the Hispanicum which is here the second he calleth Italicum The fift is Lugdunensis his Hypecoum in his Booke de palustribus and is the minus of Dodonaeus or Ruta pratensis tenuifolia of Lobel and others The third is the first great Montanum of Clusius and the sixt of Camerarius flore albo The fourth is Clusius his small Mountaine kinde with a white flower as the purple floured kinde is his third Mountaine sort The sixt is Camerarius his Thalictrum tertium angusti folium and Clusius his seventh or last The seventh Bauhinus calleth Angustissimo folio as he doth the eight minimuÌ„ foetidissimuÌ„ as their titles declare The two last are called by those that sent it us as it is in their titles The Vertues Dioscorides saith that being bruised and applied to old sores it bringeth them to cicatrizing that is doth perfectly cure them and the distilled water of the herbe and flowers doth the like for as Galen saith it drieth without any heate or sharpenesse The herbe is of some used to be put among other pot herbes to helpe to move or open the body and make it soluble but the rootes washed cleane and boyled in ale and drunke doth provoke to the stoole more than the leaves but yet very gently It is said according to many other superstitious conceits in other things that if the whole plant both herbe and roote be hung up in a chamber or tied to the necke of any person doth free them from any danger or harme The rootes hereof boiled in water and the places of the body most troubled with vermine or lice washed therewith while it is warme destroyeth them utterly In Italy it is used against the Plague and in Saxonie against the Jaundise as Camerarius saith Lugdunensis in transferring the name Pigamum hereunto doth therewith set downe a vertue proper to Rue as if it did belong to this that is that it raiseth up him from his fit that hath the falling sicknesse if some of the juice be put up into his nostrills and there kept a while CHAP. LII Asarum Asarabaca I Have in my former Booke given you the knowledge of this Asarabacca but because I have not there expressed it so sufficiently as it ought to be I have here amplified myselfe in some particulars Now although there was but one sort of Asarum with all Writers now adayes yet wee have received annother sort out of Virginia somewhat differing from the other and although the name hath beene formerly misapplied to many other herbes as is in part shewed in the 38. Chapter of the former tribe and shall be further declared in this yet now I hope that it is so sufficiently knowne there is no cause of errour but Matthiolus doth adde another herbe somewhat like unto it in leaves whereof I meane to speake also here 1. Asarum vulgare Common Asarabacca Asarabacca hath many heads rising from the rootes from whence come many smooth leaves every one upon his owne footestalke which are rounder and bigger than Violet leaves thicker also and of a darker greene shining colour on the upper side and of a paller yellow greene underneathe little or nothing dented about the 1. Asarum vu'gare Common Asarabacca 2. Asarum Americanum Virginia Asarabacca 3. Asarina Matthioli Bastard Asarum of Matthiolus edges from among which rise small round hollow browne greene huskes upon short stalkes about an inch long divided at the brimmes into five divisions very like unto the cuppes or heads of the Henbane seede but that they are smaller and these be all the flowers it carrieth which are somewhat sweete being smelled unto and wherein when they are ripe is contained small cornered rough seede very like unto the â—ernells or stones of Grapes or Raisins the rootes are small and whitish spreading diverse wayes in the ground and increasing into diverse heads but not running or creeping under ground as diverse other creeping herbes doe which are somewhat sweete in smell resembling Nardus but more being drie than when they are greene and of a sharpe but not unpleasant taste Camerarius saith that Gesner found a greater kinde hereof and more sweete upon the Alpes in Switzerland which Bauhinus as it should seeme never saw and therefore doubted of the truth 2. Asarum Americanum Virginia Asarabacca The Asarum of Virginia groweth very like the former but the leaves are a good deale larger stiffe also and thicke somewhat crumpled about the edges of a darke greene colour but not so much shining as it and not so round but a little pointed at the end some also will be spotted or straked the flowers have usually but three divisions or points of a paler greene colour the rootes are somewhat greater and fuller of substance spreading in the same manner and smelling somewhat more fragrant and a little hot in taste biting a little the tongue 3. Asarina Matthioli Bastard Asarum of Matthiolus Bastard Asarum is a low herbe also creeping upon the ground somewhat like unto Asarum having such like leaves upon long hairy footestalkes but rounder and rougher than they and somewhat dented about the edges the flowers are like unto Camomill flowers but that they are smaller by much and wholly yellow as well the border of leaves as middle thrume and are not unpleasant in smell the rootes are slender small and long creeping under the upper crust of the earth and not shooting downe deepe somewhat of a sharpe taste and a little bitter withall The Place The first groweth under trees and upon shadie hills in Pontus and Phrygia as Dioscorides saith and in Italy also and in sundry other places and is frequent in gardens The second came from the parts in or about Virginia The third as Matthiolus saith is found upon some mountaines of Bohemia and likewise in Somersetshire in our owne Land found by Dr. Lobel The Time The first and second keepe their greene leaves all the winter but shoote forth new in the spring and with them come forth those heads or flowers which give ripe seede about Midsommer or somewhat after the other doth follow much the same course The Names It is called in Greeke 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 quasi 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in ornatum non veniens as Plinye saith because in coronis non addatur but the text of Dioscorides is flat against him for he saith it is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a sweete herbe used in garlands it is also called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in Latine Asarum Nardus sylvestris or Nardus rustica and as Macer saith Vulgago as by his verse appeareth Est Asaron Graecè Vulgago dicta Latinis The former times as I sayd before thought Asarum and Baccharis to be one herbe and therefore not knowing what Baccharis was they called this Asarum Asarabaccara which name is continued both
ordinary small Centory 3. Centaurium minus spicatum album Small spiked Centory 4 Centaurium minus luteum vulgare Small yellow Centory 5.7 Centaurium minus luteum perfoliatum minimum luteâ— The small yellow thorough leafed and branched Centory and the least yellow greater the stalke sendeth forth sometimes diverse long branches from the joynts and sometimes but onely at the toppe at the joynts whereof stand two somewhat broad and long pointed leaves so compassing the stalke about the bottome and making it seeme as if it ranne thorough them that they will hold the dew or raine that falleth upon them the flowers that stand at the toppes of the small branches are somewhat larger than those of the ordinary sort composed of sixe or eight leaves of a fine pale yellow colour and sometimes deeper after which come bigger heads and somewhat greater seede than the other the roote is small and white like the former this is not so bitter as the former 6. Centaurium minus luteum non ramosum Small yellow unbranched Centory These is another of this kind of yellow Centory found that differeth not in leafe or flower from the former but the stalke bearing perfoliated leaves brancheth not forth but beareth onely one flower at the toppe which hath made it noted to be a different kinde from the other 7. Centaurium minimum luteum The least yellow Centory The least yellow Centory differeth not much from the last described saving that it is lesse in every part and beareth two or three or more small flowers at the toppe of each stalke The Place Most of those Centories are found in our owne country in many places the ordinary sort almost every where in fields pastures and woods yet that with the white flower more sparingly by much than the first the spiked kinde groweth about Mompelier and upon the Euganean hills neare Padoa The first yellow Centory groweth in many places of Kent as in a field next unto Sir Francis Carew his house at Bedington neare Croydon and in a field next beyond South-fleete Church towards Gravesend and in many other places where the other sorts are sometimes found The Time They doe all flower in July or there abouts and seede within a moneth after The Names It is called in Greeke 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Centaurum parvum minus Pliny maketh three sorts his Centaureae Chironia is Dioscorides his Centaurium majus his Centaurium is this little Centory and his third he nameth Centauris triorchis mistaking Theophrastus his meaning lib. 9. cap. 9. where he speaketh of that kinde of Hawke called in Latine Buteo a Bussard and in Greeke 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of whom they that did gather this Centory should take heed to be hurt Gesner and Dalechampius doe both note Pliny of this his errour herein of some Centaurea and for the excessive bitternesse fel terrae and for the qualitie febrifuga of some also Multi radix but for what cause I know not Dioscorides saith it was called Limnesion and Pliny Libadion because it loveth to grow in moist places It is thought to be that herbe that Theophrastus counted among the Panaces and called Leptophyllum Pliny saith it was called of the Gaules in his time Exacon because it did purge by the belly all other evill medicines out of the body It is called in Italian Biondella because women did with the lye thereof cleare and whiten their haire as Matthiolus saith but Lugdunensis saith it doth make the haire yellow Bauhinus calleth the third Centaurium minus spicatum album Lugdunensis calleth the sixt Centaurium luteum alterum and Fabius Columa the last Centaurium minus luteum non descriptum or Centaurium luteum novum The yellow Centory is called by Mesues Centaurium floribus luteis sive citreis pallidis and is thought by some to be the Achylleos vera that Pliny mentioneth in his 35. Booke and 5. Chapter and therefore Gesner in hortis calleth it Perfoliata Achyllea The Arabians call it Kantarion sages Canturion sege or Segir the Italians as is before said Biondella Cantaurea minore the Spaniards Cintoria felde tierra the French Petite Centoire the Germans Tausent guldenkrant and Fieberkraut the Dutch Kâ—in Santory unde Eerdegall and we in English small Centory The Vertues Dioscorides Pliny Galen Mesues and the other Arabian Physitions with diverse others doe all agree that the lesser Centory being boyled and drunke purgeth chollericke and grosse humors and helpeth the Sciatica and yet Dodonaeus seemeth to averre that it hath no purging qualitie in it that he could finde by much experience thereof which words and saying Gerard setteth downe as if himselfe had made the experience when as they are the very words of Dodonaeus it is much used with very good effect to be given in agues for it openeth the obstructions of the liver gall and spleene helping the jaundise and easing the paines in the sides and hardnesse of the spleene used also outwardly making thinne both the bloud and humors by the clensing and bitter qualities therein it helpeth also those that have the dropsie or the greene sicknesse as the Italians doe affirme who much use it for that purpose in pouder it is of much use to be boyled in water and drunke against agues as all know it killeth the wormes in the belly found true by daily experience it helpeth also to drie up rheumes as Galen saith being put with other things for that purpose the decoction thereof also the toppes of the stalkes with the leaves and flowers are most used is good against the chollicke and to brring downe womens courses helpeth to avoid the dead birth and easeth the paines of the mother and is very effectuall in all old paines of the joynts as the gout crampes or convulsions a dramme of the pouder thereof taken in wine is a wonderfull good helpe against the biting and poison of the Adder or Viper the juice of the herbe taken while it is greene as is used in other herbes and dried in the Sunne or by decoction and evaporation by the fire as was used in ancient times worketh the same effects but the distilled water of the herbe as it is more pleasant to be taken so it is lesse powerfull for any the purposes before spoken of because it wanteth that substance and bitternesse that is in the herbe the juice thereof with a little hony put to it is good to cleare the eyes from dimnesse mistes or cloudes that offend and hinder the sight it is singular good both for greene or fresh wounds and also for old ulcers and sores to close up the one and clense the other and perfectly to cure them both although they be hollow or fistulous the greene herbe especially being bruised or laid too the decoction thereof dropped into the eares clenseth them from wormes clenseth the foule ulcers and spreading scabbes of the head and taketh away all freckles spots and markes in the skinne being washed therewith The yellow
quality is well perceived by colouring the urine red even as Rubarb will dye it yellow the poperty in them both being a like to open and then to binde and strengthen it is an assured remedye for the yellow Iaundise by opening the obstructions of the Liver and gall and clensing those parts it openeth likewise the obstructions of the spleene and diminisheth the melancholike humour it is availeable also for those that have the palsie and feele the paines of the hippes called Sciatica it is usually given with good effect to those that have had bruises by falls or blowes and inwardly felt as much as outwardly and therefore it is much used in vulnerasie drinkes the roote for all these purposes aforesayd it to be boyled in wine or in water as the cause doth require and some honey or sugar put thereto afterwards the seede hereof taken with vinegar and honey helpeth the swellings and hardnesse of the spleene the decoction of the leaves and branches is a good fomentation for women to sit over that have not their courses the leaves and rootes beaten and applyed to any part that is discoloured with freckles morphew the white scurfe or any other such deformitie of the skinne clenseth them throughly and taketh them away CHAP. LVI Rubia minor Small or little Madder THe smaller madders are many that have beene lately found out by the diligence of painefull Herbarists or lovers of herbes some in one Country some in another all which I meane to comprehend in this Chapter that so you may have them all recorded together but although there be diverse other herbes as Asperula Aparino Gallium Mollugo and Cruciata that may be reckoned as kinds of Madder and might and should be joyned together if I follow the course of other Herballs that doe or should joyne the congenere yet because I have tyed my selfe to another course let me referre them to another fit place but not expell them from your sight and knowledge 1. Rubia spicata Cretica latiore folio Candy Madder with a spiked head and larger leaves This small Madder shooteth forth diverse square rough slender stalkes full of joynts from whence grow many branches and where also stand 4 or 5 small leaves compassing them and somewhat rough the top branches end in small long spiked heads foure square composed of many short rough huskes set close together one above another 1.2 Rubia spicata Cretica latifolia angusti folia Candye Madder with spiked heads and with larger and smaller leaves 5. Rubia pratensis minor curules Small Madder with purplish blew flowers from whence come forth small whitish greene flowers scarce to be seene after which come forth small greenish seede the roote is composed of many small fibres set unto a reddish bigger sprigge somewhat wooddy and perishing every yeare 2. Rubia spicata angustifolia Spiked Madder with smaller leaves This spiked Madder is a kinde of the former differing in this onely that it is lesse both in stalkes branches and leaves not growing above an hand breadth high and with as small leaves as Knawell perishing every yeare 3. Rubia pratensis laevis acuto folio Small smooth Madder with sharpe pointed leaves This smooth Madder shooteth forth one smooth square joynted stalke for the most part halfe a yarde in length from the joynts whereof grow other smaller branches whereat are set foure small long leaves usually and no more ending in a small point the flowers that come forth at the toppes are small and yellow at the first and of a pale white colour afterwards made of foure leaves 4. Rubia quadrifolia rotunda levis Small smooth Madder with round pointed leaves This other small smooth Madder hath many square stalkes halfe a foote long sending forth other smaller branches and at every joynt foure small round pointed leaves that are not altogether so smooth as the last but rather a little rough at the toppes whereof stand small white flowers upon small threddie foote stalkes made of foure leaves a peece the roote is small threddie and reddish 5. Rubia minor pratensis coerulea Small creeping Madder with purplish blew flowers This small Madder creepeth upon the ground with many small square smooth branches much divided or separated into other small ones full of joynts and at every of them five or sixe small round and very fresh greene leaves smooth also or but very little rough from these joynts and roundels of leaves as well as from the toppes of the branches come severall small flowers made of five blewish purple round pointed leaves with some small threds in the middle the seede is small and long pointed two for the most part standing together the roote is small and of a reddish yellow colour abiding all the winter with greene leaves thereon and will encrease plentifully from the seede it sheddeth every yeare 6. Rubia minima saxatilis The small rocke Madder This smallest Madder groweth not much above an hand breadth high with a square stalke spreading small branches from the joynts at which grow 7 or 8 small long pointed leaves even the smallest and narrowest of 〈◊〉 before mentioned being somewhat rough also the flowers are very small and of a pale red or blush colour standing in tuftes or umbels at the toppes of the branches the roote is small and reddish as all the other sorts are 7. Rubia Echinata saxatilis Small Rocke Madder with prickely heads This small Madder shooteth forth from a small whitish threddie roote many tender square branches small and slender below next unto the roote and thicker up higher distinguished by many thicke and hayrie joynts whereat grow foure small leaves lesser than those of Rue betweene the leaves and the branches come forth small greenish flowers for the most part standing together 6. Rubia minima saxatilis The small rockâ—e Madder upon a foote stalke each of them consisting of foure leaves with certaine small threds in the middle after which rise small heads somewhat rough which when they are thorough ripe and dry are more sharpe and prickly divided into foure parts as armes or wings on each side of the head the middle part also being prickely wherein is conteined small yellow seede it flowreth by degrees the lowest joynts first and the higher afterwards 8. Rubia argentea Cretica Candy silver-leafed Madder This small Madder is like the former small Madder but that the leaves are longer and whiter and the flowers yellow The Place The first groweth in Candye and abideth well with us the second groweth upon the hils not farre from Mompelier the third in Germany in the fields neere the bathes of Luke and by Lipswick also the fourth on the hils in Switzerland about Strasbourg likewise the fift groweth plentifully in many places of our owne land the sixt groweth also in diverse places with us and upon the chalkie hils neere Drayton over against the Isle of Wight the seaventh was found by Fabius Columnus on the ruinous moyst walls of Dioclesians bathes in Rome the last in Candye as
Alpinus saith The Time They all flower in the Sommer Moneths and give their seede shortly after The Names All these small Madders have their denominations in their titles as they are called by Clusius Bauhinus and others that have mentioned them onely the fift I take to be the Myagrum alterum minus Dalechampii of Lugdunensis and the seaventh is called by Fabius Columna Cruciata nova Romana minima muralis and peradventure is the same that Caesalpinus calleth Cruciata minima in maritimis which Bauhinus hath altered and called Rubia echinata saxatilis The Vertues These small Madders as by their taste and temperature may be gathered are of the same property with the greater kindes but are lesse effectuall in every respect CHAP. LVII Psyllium Fleawort THe ancient writers have delivered us but one fort of Fleawort but there hath beene in later times some others knowne which shall be here set forth together 1. Psyllium vulgare The ordinary Fleawort The ordinary Fleawort riseth up with a stalke two foote high or more full of joynts and branches on every side up to the toppe and at every joynt two small long and narrow whitish greene leaves somewhat hayrie at the toppes of every branch stand diverse small short scalie or chaffie heads out of which come forth small whitish yellow threds such as the Plantaine heads doe give which are the bloomings or flowers the seede enclosed in those heads is small and shining while it is fresh very like unto fleas both for colour and bignesse but turning blacke when it groweth old the roote is not long but white hard and wooddie perishing every yeare and raysing it selfe againe of it owne seede for diverse yeares if it be suffered to shed the whole plant is somewhat whitish and hayrie smelling somewhat resinous or like Rossen 2. Psyllium majus semper virens The greater ever greene Fleawort This Fleawort differeth not from the former in the manner of growing but onely that his stalke and branches being somewhat greater doe a little more bow downe to the ground the leaves are somewhat larger the heads somewhat lesser the seede alike and the roote and leaves abide all the winter and perish not as the former 3. Psyllium Indicum foliis crenatis Indian Fleawort with dented leaves Indian Fleawort hath a wooddy reddish rough stalke next to the ground about a foote high spreading forth into diverse branches the leaves that stand at the joynts thereof are somewhat long narrow pointed at the end and notched or rather somewhat torne on the edges and hayrie also like the former the toppes of the branches are more stored with heads than the former but of the same bignesse and fashion with flowers and seede shining like the other 4. Psyllium minus Small Fleawort The small Fleawort hath small round reddish branches leaning downe to the ground not above a handbreadth high spreading into more branches as having three or foure at a joynt and two leaves standing at every of them one against another as in the former but very short and narrow the small heads that stand at the tops of the stalkes have two small long leaves and sometimes more set under every of them one longer then another and in time bowing downewards and somewhat Psyllium vulgare The ordinary Fleawort hard the bloomings or flowers are white and the seede that flowreth is shining and like the other but smaller the roote is small and white with divers Fibres thereat The Place The first groweth in the fields and untilled places of Spaine and Italy but with us no where but in gardens The second groweth more plentifully in the fields that are neare the sea The third is thought to come out of the Indies as the name importeth but we are not sure thereof The last is naturally of Egypt or Arabia and grew in the most noble Signior Bembo his garden at Padoa The Time All these Fleaworts flower in July or thereabout with us but in their naturall places all the Summer long yet the last is the latest with us The Names It is called in Greeke 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in Latine Psyllium Pulicaris herba Pusicaria because the seede is like unto Fleas and not because it driveth away Fleas being brought greene into the house for that is false there is also another Pulicaria called Conyza which we have shewed before The Arabians call it Bazara Chatama and Bezercothune The Italians Psyllio the Spaniards Zargatona the French Herbe aux Poulx The Germans Psilienraut and wee in English Fleawort and not Fleabane for that is Conyza as is shewed before The first is generally called Psyllium of all writers Gesner in hortis Germaniae calleth it Cynops of Theophrastus The second is called by Matthiolus Psyllium alterum Gesner and Camerarius call it Psyllium perenne Lobel in his Adversaria calleth it Psyllium PlinianuÌ„ forte majus radice perenne the third is Anguillara his first Psyllium and thought by Bauhinus to be the true Psyllium of Dioscorides and by him called Indicum because the seede came to him under that name The last as Bauhinus saith he had from the most noble Bemâ— hiâ— Garden at Padoa under the name of Gottne rabrum as he had another called album which is a kind of Holostiâ— Bauhinus mentioneth Prosper Alpinus to call it Gottne rubrum but I can finde no other then Gottne msegiar Gâ—ssipium arboreum in his Egyptian plants he saith also that it was sent him from Heidelberg by Sprengerus with the name Botrio rubro The Vertues All Authors doe confirme that the seede of Psyllium is cold which Mesues attributeth to the barke or outside saying that the inward pulpe thereof is hot sharpe and drying but divers doe utterly mislike and refuse that opinion the muccilage of the seed made but indeed the seede is seldome buised by any Artist but alwayes steeped whole with barly water and some syrupe of Roses or Violets put thereto and drunke doth purge downewards grosse flegme and burnt choller but the seede being fryed and so taken stayeth the flux or laske of the belly and the corrosions that come by reason of hot chollericke sharpe and malignant humors or by the superpurgation of any violent medicine such as Scamony or the like worketh the muccilage of the seede made with rose-Rose-water and a little Sugar Candy put thereto is very good in all hot agues and burning feavers and other inflammations both to coole the thirst and to lenifie the drinesse and roughnesse of the tongue and throate it helpeth also the hoarsenesse of the voyce and diseases of the brest and lungs caused by heat or sharpe salt humors and the Pleurisie also the muccilage of the seede made in Plantaine water whereunto the yolke of an egge or two and a little Populeon is put is a most safe and sure remedy to ease the sharpenesse prickings and paines of the hemorrhoides or piles if it bee laid on a cloth and bound thereto it helpeth also all inflammations in any
by diverse Soda and of some Alumen Catinum or peradventure Calinum onely by the alteration of one letter and of the ashes of any of these herbes but especially of the 3 former sorts beaten to powder and mixed with a certaine kind of sand the glassemen by the heate of fire in their fornace being molten doe make those fine Christall glasses serviceable to drinke in but those other glasse bottles c. which serve to keepe Rosewater and other distilled waters in are made of other things as also that glasse which serveth for the Windowes of houses and from this glasse while it is in the furnace a boyling and refining riseth a kinde of scumme which they that tend the furnace doe diligently take of and this is called Axungia vitri in French Suin de verre the salt of glasse and wee in English much thereafter Sandiver and is indeed but the salt part of the ashes separated by the fire from the rest of the molten substance for it tasteth like salt and will relent grow moyst and consume like salt if it be not continually kept dry as it is Of the ashes of the Kali like-wise relented into a lye and boyled with oyle of Olives they of Spaine c. use to make a kind of hard sope to wash with the one sort comming from Spaine c. we call Castle sope another from Venice c. white or Venice sope but now it being for the most part spent in making of glasse there are found out other things sufficient to make our ordinary sope at a farre easier and cheaper rate The first is called of Lobel and Pena in their Adversaria Kali magnum Sedi medii foliis semine cochleato Matthiolus and Castor Durantes following him in all things in describing this kind confoundeth it with the last making them seeme but one Camerarius nameth it Kali cochleatum majus and saith it is that Anthyllis salsa that Iohannes Major doth mention in these Epitaphicall verses Ecineris massa salsaque Anthyllidis herba Formari flammis lucida vitra solent Sic cinis ater eram cineres nunc solvor in atros Sed nitidum summo corpus habebo die Bauhinus calleth it Kali majus cochleato scmine Caesalpinus Salsolae genus in hortis and is generally called of most in Italy where it groweth Isgaro the second is usually called Kali album in French as Pena saith Blanchette as a distinction from the former it is also called minus for the same cause is usually called in Italy where it groweth Borda it is very likely to be Anthyllis Chamaepity similis of Cordus in his Annotations upon Dioscorides and is likely also to be the Anthylloides of Thalius in his Harcynia sylva Bauhinus calleth it Kali minus villosum the third is the third sort of Kali Aegyptium with Prosper Alpinus because it is more proper to Egypt than to other places as he thinketh Bauhinus calleth it Kali Aegiptiacum foliis valde longis hirsutis The last is called of most writers Kali geniculatum and of some Salicornia of Cordus in Observationum sylva Anthyllis constans veluti tritici granis and of Caesalpinus Salsolae genus aliud it is called in English Glassewort and Saltwort of some the people that dwell neare it by the Sea side call it Frogge grasse and Crab grasse The Vertues All these sorts of Kali have a clensing qualitie in them without any manifest heate the pouder of any of them or the juyce which is much better taken in drinke doth purge downewards flegmaticke waterish and adust or melancholike humors and therefore are often used for the dropsie to provoke urine and to expell the dead birth as also to open the obstructions of the liver and of the spleene and to consume the hardnesse thereof they are somtimes mixed with those things that are used as corrosives to consume proud or spongie superfluous flesh that groweth in foule and virulent ulcers but the ashes themselves are very sharpe and biting like a caustike and the lye that is made thereof is so strong that it will fetch off the skinne from the hands or any other part of the body and therefore if any use it to clense the skinne from spottes freckles morphew or the like they had neede to be cautelous in the using of it and apply it very sparingly or delay it sufficiently and so it may doe good If the Sope that is made of the lye of the ashes of these Kalies or Saltworts be spread upon a peece of thicke course browne paper cut into the forme of their shooe sole that are causually taken speechles and bound to the soles of their feete it will bring againe the speech and that within a little time after the applying thereof if there be any hope of being restored while they live this hath beene tried to be effectuall upon diverse persons Sandiver worketh much to the same effect with Kali it is used often being made into pouder either to be blowne into horses eyes or being dissolved squirted into them to take away any skinne that beginneth to grow there and dimme the sight both of them likewise serve to drie up running sores and scabbes tetters ringwormes and the like and to helpe the itch CHAP. LIX Anthyllis maritima Sea Chickweede and sea ground Pine DIoscorides maketh mention of 2. sorts of Anthyllis only the one with leaves like Lentilles the other with leaves like unto Ajuga or ground Pine unto each of these some have appropriated certaine herbes and called them after those names because they nearest resemble them but it is judged an hard matter certainely to affirme any of them for the right of the most likeliest of them as I said before I shall speake in this Chapter and referre these other sorts that are not properly called Anthyllis unto their proper places 1. Anthyllis maritima incana Hoary sea Chickweede This small Anthyllis also hath diverse hoary branches set with many small whitish or hoary leaves by distances 1. Anthyllis maritima incana Hoary Sea Chickweede 2. Anthyllis maritima lentifolia Sea Chickweede with Lentillike leaves 3. Anthyllis altera herbariorum Sea Ground Pine about them as small as any Chickweed almost the flowers are white and stand at the toppes of the stalkes after which come small seede 2. Anthyllis maritima lentifolia Sea Chickweed with Lentill like leaves This Lentill leafed Anthyllis hath diverse short crested branches lying upon the ground of a pale greene colour and not much above an hand breadth long spreading forth diverse small branches whereon are set many small winged whitish greene leaves many together upon a stalke somewhat like unto those of the lesser Lentilles somewhat narrow the flowers stand at the toppes of the stalkes and branches like pointed starres of a yellow greene colour after which come three square heads like unto a Tithymall or Spurge wherein is contained small round seede this also is salt in the taste but somewhat bitter and hot withall 3.
Iuly The Names French Mercurie is called in Greeke 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Linosostis 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Mercurii herba 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Parthenium in Latine Mercurialis because as Pliny saith it was found by Mercury Dogges Mercury is called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Cynea and Cynocrambe which is Canina Brassica but because it hath no agreement with any Cabbage unlesse you would say it were meate or a Cabbage for a dogge others have called it in Latine Mercurialis Canina propter ignobilitatem others Mercurialis sylvestris The childs or childing Mercury is called in Greek 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Phyllum Elaeophyllum quasi Oleaefolium Theophrastus in his ninth booke and 19. chap. saith that they called one herbe Phyllum Arrhenogonon and another Thelygonon MariparuÌ„ Foeminiparum which diverse doe thinke is but the former French Mercury because he saith they have leaves like Bassill whereunto the French and not the Childs or childing Mercury is most like and the rather for that Dioscorides appropriateth to his Mercuries those effects of bearing male and female children that the Phyllum of Theophrastus and Dioscorides hath The French Mercury is generally of all writers almost called Mercurialis mas faemina Cordus upon Dioscorides thinketh them to be the Phyllum Arrhenogonon and Thelygonon of Theophrastus and Bauhinus calleth them Mercurialis testiculata spicata the Italians call it Mercorella the Spaniards Mercuriale the French Mercuriale Vignoble the Germanes Bengelkrant and the Dutch men Bingelcruyte Mercurial The second is called Mercurialis sylvestris by Tragus Lonicerus Cordus Thalius Cynocrambe by Matthiolus Fuchsius Dodonaeus Camerarius and Lobel who in one figure representeth both the male and female Columna calleth it Mercurialis Canina and Bauhinus Mercurialis montana testiculata spicata neither of them both thinking it worthy of the name of Cynocrambe for that they knew it was not answerable to Dioscorides his Cynocrambe who doth not make it a Mercury whereof there is male and female for if it had beene so hee would have remembred it but he putteth it indefinitely not naming either male or female The third is called by Bauhinus who first set forth the figure and description thereof in his Matthiolus Cyncrambe vera Dioscorides and Pona in his description of Mont Baldus Cynocrambe legitima Belli Caesalpinus tooke it to be an Alsine and Columna calleth it Alsines facie plantanova The fourth is generally taken of all to be the Phyllum of Dioscorides and Theophrastus Bauhinus calleth it Phyllum testiculatum and spicatum as he did the former Mercuries The last is called of Tragus Mercurialis sylvestris altera in his Chapter of Mercury but putteth the figure thereof in the chapter of Esula of Lonicerus Tithymalus sylvestris of Camerarius Tabermontanus Lobel and Gesner Noli me tangere who also calleth it Milium Caprearum It is also called Perficaria siliquosa of Camerarius Thalius Lugdunensis and Lobel of Dodonaeus Impatiens herba of Caesalpinus Catanance altera of Columna Balsamita altera and of Lugdunensis Chrysaea Bauhinus calleth it Balsamina lutea sive Noli me tangere I have called it Noli me tangere and placed it in the Chapter of Mercuries and given it an English name proper for it as I take it let others call it as they please The Vertues The decoction of the leaves of Mercurie or the juyce thereof taken in broth or drinke and with a little Segar put to it to make it the more pleasant purgeth chollericke and waterish humors Hippocrates commendeth it wonderfully for womens diseases which none of the Physitians of our dayes I thinke ever put in practise for he applyed it to the secret parts to ease the paines of the mother and used both the decoction of it to procure womens courses and to expell the after birth and the fomentation or bathing for the same causes he also gave the decoction thereof with Myrrhe or pepper or used to apply the leaves outwardly against the strangury and the diseases of the reines and bladder he used it also for sore and watering eyes and for the deafenesse and paines in the eares by dropping the juyce thereof into them and bathing them afterwards in white wine the decoction thereof made with water and a cocke chicken is a most safe medicine to be taken against the hot in of agues it also clenseth the breast and lungs of flegme troubling them but it doth a little offend the stomacke the juyce or distilled water thereof cast or snuffed up into the nostrils purgeth the head and eyes of catarrhes and rheumes that distill downe from the braines into the nose and eyes as also sometimes into the eares Some use to drinke two or three ounces of the distilled water with a little Sugar put to it in a morning fasting to open the body and to purge it of grosse viscous and melancholicke humours as also mixing it with May dew taken from Rose bushes and Manna dissolved therein for the same purpose which thereupon some call Rhâ—domanna which purgeth choller also It is wonderfull if it be not fabulous that the ancient writers Dioscorides Theophrastus and others doe relate that if women use these herbes either inwardly or outwardly for three dayes together after conception and that their courses be past they shall bring forth male or female children according to that kinde of herbe that they use Matthiolus saith that the seede of both the kindes of Mercury that is both male and female boyled with wormewood and drunke cureth the yellow Iaundise in a most speedie and merveilous manner the leaves themselves or the juyce of them rubbed upon wartes or bound unto them for a certaine time doth take them cleane away the juyce mingled with some Vinegar helpeth all running scabs tetters ringwormes and the itch Galen saith that who so will apply it outwardly in manner of a pultis to any swellings or inflammations shall finde it to have a digesting quality that is it will disgest and spend the humours that was the cause of the swelling and alay the inflammations proceeding thereupon it is frequently and to very good effect given in glisters to evacuate the belly from those humors that be offensive therein and worketh as well after that manner as if so much Sene had beene put into the decoction The common Dogges Mercury is seldome used but may serve in the same manner and to the same purpose that the other is put to for purging waterish and melancholicke humors The childe 's Mercury although no other hath written of any purging qualitie in it yet the forme thereof so like unto Mercury and the saltish acide taste should demonstrate in my opinion an irritating quality Theophrastus and Dioscorides have onely mentioned the childing quality for women to beare either males or females that use this herbe according as is before sayd of French Mercury The Noli me tangere or the Quicke in hand hath a
in wine or in milke doth mervellously help all the diseases of the chest and lungs that proceede of hot causes as excoriations the ptisicke plurifie and the rest if it be continued for some time together the leaves and the rootes worke the same effects let any one take which of them they thinke best or most ready at hand agreeing to their disposition they helpe much also in the excoriations of the guts and bowells and hardnesse of the mother and in all hot and sharpe diseases thereof as also the Alcea fruticosa pentaphyllea the juyce drunke in wine or the decoction of them in wine doth help women to a speedy easie delivery the common Alcea or Vervaine Mallow is thought to be most effectuall for burstings or ruptures and the bloudy flixe and also for the shrinking of sinewes and the crampe the distilled water of them when they are in flower worketh to the same purposes but more weakely yet it is much commended to be used in hot agues or severs Pliny saith that whosoever shall take a spoonefull of the juyce of any of the Mallowes shall that day be free from all diseases that may come unto him and that it is especiall good for the falling sicknesse The syrupe also â—d conserve made of the flowers are very effectuall for the same diseases and to open the body when it is coâ— or bound by accident or a naturall disposition the young leaves are often eaten with salt as a sallet the leaves bruised and laid to the eyes with a little hony taketh away the impostumations of them which by sufferance might grow to a Fistula the leaves bruised or rubbed upon any place stung with Bees Waspes or the like yea of the Scorpion and the biting of the deadly Spider called Phalaegium and is said presently to take away paines rednesse and swellings that rise thereupon and keepeth them from stinking if they be rubbed therewith aforehand and as Dioscorides saith the decoction of the leaves and rootes helpeth all sorts of poyson so as the poyson be presently voided by vomite a pultis made of the leaves of Mallowes boyled and bruised whereunto some Beane or Barley flower and oyle of Roses is put is an especiall remedy against all hard tumours and inflammations of impostumes and swellings of the coddes and other parts and easeth the paines of them as also against the hardnesse of the spleene or liver to be applied to the places the juyce of Mallowes boyled in old oyle and applied taketh away all roughnesse of the skinne as also the falling of the haire the scurfe dandruffe or drie scabbes in the head or other parts if they be anointed therewith or washed with the decoction the same also is effectuall against the scaldings by water and burnings by fire and to helpe also the disease called Saint Anthonies fire and all other hot red and painefull swellings in any part of the bodie the flowers of Mallowes boyled in oyle or water as every one is disposed whereunto a little hony and allome is put is an excellent gargle to wash any sore mouth or throate for it clenseth and healeth them in a short space if the feete be bathed or washed with the decoction of the leaves rootes and flowers it helpeth much the defluxions of rheume from the head which rose out of the stomack if the head be washed therewith it stayeth the falling and shedding of the haire thereof the greene leaves saith Pliny beaten with niter and applied draweth out thornes or prickes in the flesh The French and curled Mallowes and the Hollihocks are of the same nature and quality and work to the same effect that the other do The Marsh Mallow is the chiefest Mallow of all other and most effectuall in all the diseases before specified and therefore as I said before it was called Bismalva for that it was twise as good in effect as the other the leaves are likewise used in stead of the common Mallowes to loosen the belly gently and are effectuall in decoctions of glisters for to ease all the paines of the body opening the straight passages and making them lubricke whereby the stone may descend the more easily and without paine out of the reines and kidnies and the bladder and to ease the torturing paines comming thereby but the rootes are of more especiall use for those purposes as well as for the diseases of the breast and lunges as coughes hoarsenesse of the throate and voyce wheesings and shortnesse of breath c. being boyled in wine or honied water and drunke the rootes boyled in water very well and after they be strained forth the decoction being boyled againe with Sugar to a just consistence and thereof made into rowles or trochisces or the like are a Polychreston and much used for all the purposes aforesaid the rootes and seedes of the Marsh Mallow boyled in wine or water is with good effect used by them that have any excoriations in the guts or the bloudy flixe not so much by any binding qualitie in them as by qualifying the violence of the sharpe cholericke fretting humors that are the cause thereof and by the fliminesse easing the paines and healing the sorenesse and in some sort staying the further eruption of bloud therefrom at that time or any other after it is profitably taken of them that are troubled with ruptures crampes or convulsions of the sinewes and boyled in white wine for the impostumes of the throate called the Kings evill and of those kernells that rise behind the eares and inflammations or swelings in womens breasts the dried rootes boyled in milke and drunke are specially good for the chin cough Hippocrates used to give the decoction of the rootes or the juyce thereof to drinke to those that were wounded and were ready to faint thorough the expense and losse of bloud and applied the same mixed with hony and rosen unto the wounds the rootes boyled in wine he gave also to drinke to those that had received hurt by bruises or falls or by blowes and stripes to those that had any bone or member out of joynt and to those that had any swelling paine or ach in the muscles sinewes or arteries of the body it is good also to be used in all the ulcers and sores that happen in any cartilaginous place The Muccilage of the rootes and of lineseede and fenegreâ—e put together is much used in pultises ointments and plaisters that serve to mollifie and digest all hard tumors and the inflammations of them and to give ease of the paines in any part of the body the seede either greene or drie mixed with vinegar clenseth the skinne of the morphew and all other discolouring thereof whatsoever being bathed therewith in the Sunne the seede of the yellow Mallow hath beene tried even as the seede of the Marsh Mallow hath beene also to be of singular good effect against the stone if a dramme or a dramme and a halfe at the most being made into pouder be
pointed at the ends but two or three very narrow and long leaves also with them comming from the roote the stalke is scarse an hand breadth high with many such whitish flowers thereon as are in the other small ones The Place The two first grow at the foote of hills and in the shadowie moist woods neare unto them in many places of Germany and in our countrie likewise in the like places but chiefely is nourished up in gardens The third groweth on the high hills in Silesia and other places the fourth groweth especially in the North as in Lancashire Yorkeshire and Cumberland in diverse places The two last are found likewise on the Alpes in diverse places but the last among the Switzers The Time They all flower about the end of May and the seede is ripe about the beginning of Iuly The Names It is called generally Bistorta quod radice in se serpentis modo contorta convoluta constet of Tragus Lonicerâ— and others Colubrina from the Germane title of Schlangenwurtzel and Natterwurtzel of Fuschius Serpentaris quod venenosorum serpentium ictibus succurrit of Gesner in hortis Germaniae Limonium Fracastorius calleth it Bâ—lapathum as well as Bistorta Lobel and Clusius thinke it may be Britannica of Dioscorides and Pliny Bauhinus calleth the first Bistorta major radice minus intorta Some call it Behen rubrum others take it to be Molybdeâ— of Pliny Some also doe take it to be the second Dracunculus of Pliny lib. 4. cap. 16. the second is called by Tragus Colubrina minor Bauhinus calleth it Bistorta major radice magis intorta The third Bauhinus that hath first set it forth as I thinke calleth it Bistorta Alpina maxima the fourth I take to be differing from the next and therefore call it Nostras the fifth is called by Camerarius Clusus Lobel Bauhinus and all others that have writteâ— 1. 4. Bistorta major vulgaris minor Great and small Bistorte or Snakeweede 5. 6. Bistorta minor Alpina Alpina pumila varia Small Bistorte of the Alpes anduariabbe leafed Bristorte â—hereof Bistorta minor or Alpina minor onely Gesner in hortis Germaniae reckoneth it to be a small sort of Limoniâ— But in that Bistorta cannot be Britanica this sheweth in the description thereof that the leaves are rough or â—airy when these are smooth and that the rootes of Britanica are small and short when these are not small alâ—hough short and Galen in his sixt Booke of Simples saith that although the leaves of Britanica be somewhat â—ke unto Docke leaves yet they are blacker and more hairy And that it cannot be Behen rubrum the faculties doe â—sily declare for the rootes of the true Behen rubrum album are both sweete in smell and are of an hot quaâ—tie that they are effectuall to procure venery or bodily lust which these cannot the last is not remembred by â—ny Author before this time The Italians Spaniards and French doe follow the Latine as we doe also the Low Dutch the Germanes in their appellations which is Natterwortele The Vertues Both the leaves and rootes of Bistort have a powerfull facultie to resist all poyson a dramme of the roote 〈◊〉 pouder taken in drinke expelleth the venome of the plague or Pestilence the small Pocks Measells Purples â—r any other infectious disease driving it forth by sweating the same roote in pouder or the decoction thereof 〈◊〉 wine being drunke staieth all manner of inward bleeding or spitting of bloud as also any fluxes of the body 〈◊〉 man or woman as also when one is troubled with vomiting the pouder also of the roote or the decoction â—hereof being drunke is very availeable against ruptures or burstings or all bruises or falls whatsoever dissolving â—e congealed bloud and easing the paines that happen thereupon the same also helpeth the Iaundise the water distilled from both leaves and rootes is a singular remedy to wash any place bitten or stung by any venemous creature as Spiders Toades Adders or the like as also for any the purposes before spoken of and is very â—ood to wash any running sores or ulcers the decoction of the roote in wine being drunke hindereth abortion â—at is when women are apt to miscarrie in child bearing the leaves also killeth the wormes in children and is 〈◊〉 great helpe to them that cannot keepe their water if they put thereto some juyce of Plantaine and applied â—utwardly doth give much helpe in the gonorrhaea or running of the reines a dramme of the pouder of the roote â—ken in the water thereof wherein some iron or steele being red hot hath beene quenched is an admirable helpe â—hereunto so as the body be first prepared and purged from the offensive humours the leaves or seedes or â—ootes are all very good to be put into decoctions or drinkes or lotions for either inward or outward wounds or other sores and the pouder strowed upon any cut or wound in a veine c. that is apt to bleede much staieth the immoderate fluxe thereof the decoction of the rootes in water whereunto some Pomgranet â—ills and flowers are added serveth for an incection into the matrice as well to stay the accesse of humours to â—he ulcers thereof as also to bring it to the place being fallen downe and to helpe to stay the abundance of their â—ourses the roote of Bistort and Pellitory of Spaine and burnt Allome of each alike quantitie beaten small made â—nto a paste with some hony a little peece hereof put into an hollow tooth or holden betweene the teeth if â—here be no hollownesse in them staieth the defluxions of rheume upon them when it is the cause of paine in them and helpeth to clense the head and avoide much offensive matter the distilled water is very effectuall to wash those sores or cankers that happen in the nose or any other part if the powder of the roote be applied thereto afterwards it is good also to fasten the gummes and to take away the heate and inflammation that happen as well in the jawes almonds of the throat ot mouth if the decoction of the rootes leaves or seedes be used â—or the juyce of them the rootes are more effectuall to all the purposes aforesaid than either leaves or seede CHAP. XXIV Tormentilla Tormentill or Setfoile ALthough formerly there hath but one kind of Tormentill or Setfoile beene knowne to our English Writers yet now there is found out and made knowne to us two other sorts which shall be all declared in this Chapter 1. Tormentilla vulgaris Common Tormentill The common Tormentill is so like unto Cinquefoile that many doe mistake it for it may well be reckoned as one of them hath many reddish slender weake branches rising from the roote lying upon the ground or rather leaning than standing upright with many short leaves that stand closer to the stalkes than the other Cinkefoiles doe with the foote stalke encompassing the branches at severall places but those that grow next to the ground are set
the same effect and so doth also the distilled water of the herbe and roote rightly made and prepared which is to steepe them in wine for a night and then distilled in Balneo mariae this water in this manner prepared taken with some Venice Treakle and thereupon being presently laid to sweate will certainely by Gods helpe expell any venome or poyson or the plague or any fever or horror or the shaking fit that happeneth for it is an ingredient of especiall respect in all antidotes or counterpoysons never to be forgotten out of them it is so effectuall in the operation against the plague yea it is said that good shepheards doe carefully preserve this herbe and give it their Sheepe for the rot and many other diseases in them for there is not found any roote more effectuall to helpe any fluxe of the belly stomacke spleene or bloud than this prepared after what manner one will to be taken inwardly or applied outwardly the juyce taken doth wonderfully open the obstructions of the liver and lungs and thereby certainely helpeth the yellow jaundise in a short space Some there be that use to make cakes hereof as well to stay all fluxes as to restraine all chollericke belchings and much vomitings with loathinge in the stomacke in this manner take the powder of the roote and of a peece of a Nutmeg beates made up with the white of an egge and as much meale of Oates as all of them come unto which being baked is to be taken every morning one untill you finde helpe or the powder of the roote onely made up with the white of an egge and baked upon an hot tile and so taken Andreas Valesius de radice Chinae pag. 84. holdeth this opinion thereof that the decoction of the roote is no lesse effectuall to cure the French poxe then Guaiâ—um or China because it so mightily resisteth putrefaction Lobel saith that Rondeletius used it in the stead or after in the same manner that he used Hermodactiles for joint aches the powder also or the decoction to be drunke or to fit therein as in a bath is an assured remedy against abortion in women that is when they use to miscarrie often in child bearing if it proceede from the over fluxibilitie or weakenesse of the inward retentive faculties as also a plaister made therewith and vinegar applied to the reines of the backe doth much helpe it doth much helpe likewise those that cannot hold their water the powder taken in the juice of Plantane and is commended also against the wormes in children it is very powerfull in ruptures and burstings as also for bruses and falls to be used as well outwardly as inwardly the roote hereof made up with pellitorie of Spaine and Allome and put into an hollow tooth doth not onely asswage the paine but staieth the fluxe of humors thereunto which was the cause thereof the juice hereof also being drunke is found effectuall to open the obstructions of the liver and gall Tormentill likewise is no lesse effectuall and powerfull a remedy for outward wounds sores and hurts than for inward and therefore it ought to be a speciall ingredient in all wound drinkes lotions and injections for foule and corrupt rotten sores and ulcers of the mouth or secret parts or any other part of the body and to put either the juice or powder of the roote into such ointments plaisters and such things that are to be applied to wounds and sores as cause shall require it doth also dissolve all knots kernells and hardnesse gathered about the eares the throate and jawes and the Kings evill if the leaves and rootes be bruised and applied thereunto the same also easeth the paines of the Scintica or Hippegout by restraining the sharpe humours that flow thereunto the juice of the leaves and rootes used with a little vinegar is also a speciall remedy against the running sores in the head or other parts scabbes also and the itch or any such eruptions in the skinne proceeding of salt and sharpe humours the same also is effectuall for the hemorrhoides or piles in the fundament if they be washed and bathed therewith or with the distilled water of the herbe and rootes it is found also helpefull to drie up any sharpe rheume that distilleth from the head into the eyes causing rednes paine waterings itchings or the like if a little prepared Tutia or white Amber be used with the distilled water hereof many women also use this water as a secret to helpe themselves and others when they are troubled with the abundance of the whites or reds as they call them both to be drunke and injected by a Syring CHAP. XXV Pentaphyllum sive Quinquefolium Cinkefoile or five leafed Grasse THe next unto the Tormentill must come the Cinkefoile to be intreated of not onely for the likenesse of the outward face or forme of the plant but of the properties also as you shall heare hereafter Hereof there are many more sorts found out and now made knowne than formerly there was and therefore I thinke it fit to expresse them in some method and order that is in three rankes the first shall be of those sorts that beare white or whitish flowers the second shall be of those that beare yellow flowers and lie downe with their leaves upon the ground or runne with their rootes the third shall be of those that stand more upright bearing yellow flowers Primus Ordo The first Ranke 1. Pentaphyllum majus luteo flore vel albo Great white or yellow Cinkefoile THis first and greatest upright Cinkefoile hath many leaves rising from the roote each upon his owne foote stalke divided in five parts as if they were five severall leaves dented about the edges and some times round pointed very like the great common yellow Cinkefoile but larger and a little hairy from among which rise up straight or upright stalkes and not much leaning downe to the ground as the next that followeth doth a little hairy also and divided at the toppes into two or three branches and they againe into other smaller upon every one whereof standeth one flower of a white colour and larger than in others but consisting of 〈◊〉 leaves as all others doe in the middle whereof standeth a small downy head encompassed with many red 〈◊〉 yellow threds the roote is somewhat thicke and long and reddish with all 2. Pentaphyllum majus alterum album Common great white Cinkefoile This other white Cinkefoile which is more common with all Herbarists have many leaves growing from the roote divided into five parts each of them somewhat longer a little dented and pointed also at the end greene on the upper side and hoary white underneath betweene these leaves grow weake branches leâ— downe to the ground scarfe a foote long with many such like leaves upon them but lesser than those below the flowers of these are almost as large as those before and of a white colour consisting of five more round pointed leaves than
goe out of Dunstable way towards Gorkambury and not farre from the ruines of the old Cittie Verulam which is not farre from Saint Albones the fourth is not knowne from whence it came the fift upon divers of the Alpes and the last according to the title in Bavaria The Time These flower for the most part not untill August and that is later than the former and therefore deservedly have the name of Autumne Gentians The Names The first is set downe by Matthiolus Lobel Cordus Clusius and others some under the name of Gentiana minima as Matthiolus some Pneumonanthe as Cordus and Lobel some Calathiana viola as Gesner in hortis Germaniae some Campanula Autumnalis as Dodonaeus and of Lugdunensis Campanula pratensis the second Columnae onely mentioneth by the name of Gentianella caerulea fimbriata angustifolia autumnalis Bauhinus calleth it Gentianella caerulea oris pilosis the third is the tenth Gentian of Clusius and called by Eystotensis horti author Gentianella autumnalis folijs centaureae minoris flore caeruleo Lobel calleth it Gentiana minima Bauhinus Gentiana angustifolia autumnalis floribus ad latera pilosis the fourth is not mentioned by any before the fift is the eleventh small Gentian of Clusius the last is called by Camerarius Gentianella elegantissima Bavarica Bauhinus referreth it to the Gentiana verna Alpina I to the Calathiana verna Dalechampij of Lugdunensis but that Camerarius saith it flowreth in Autumne The Vertues The greater Gentians are more used in Physicke with us then the smaller although they be neare of one propertie and almost as effectuall both inwardly and outwardly and in the places where the smaller are in plentie to be had and the greater not so readily to be gotten they doe very well serve in their stead They are by their bitternesse so availeable against putrefaction venomne and poyson the plague also or pestilence being a most certaine and sure remedy that the Germans account it their Treakle holding nothing to be a more commodious counterpoison and for this purpose did formerly make a Treakle therewith and other things at Iena which was transported into our country and we thereupon called it Iene Treakle made of Gentian Aristolochia Bayberies and other things which were all good wholesome and effectuall for griefes and paines in the stomacke and an especiall medicine against the infection of the plague to expell the malignitie of that and all other infectious diseases and to preserve the heart to strengthen it also against faintings and swounings which Treakle was bitter and therefore the more likely to worke these and other good effects but that Ieane Treakle which hath since crept into the place of it among the vulgar because it is sweet and pleasant is for that cause greedily sought after and for the cheapenesse of most sorts of poore people desired but there is nothing in it that can doe them good nor hath beene found to helpe them of any disease being nothing but the drosse and worst part of Sugar taken from it in purifying the which they call refining and because the good is bitter therefore but few can away with it yet in London it hath beene upon occasion both censured and condemned by a Jury and many hundred weights thereof beene publikely burned in the open streetes before their doores that sold it as a just witnesse to all if they would understand their owne good and be perswaded by reason true judgement and experience that it is not a thing tollerable in a Common-wealth I have thus farre digressed from the matter in hand and yet I hope not without good and just cause to informe all of our countrie to submit their wills and affections unto those of learning and judgement in Phisicke and not be obstinate in their selfe willed opinions and ignorance for assuredly if that kind of Ieane Treakle were wholsome or effectuall to any good purpose it were as easie for the Phisitians to give way to the use thereof as for any other tollerated medicine but the saying is most true Nitimur invetitum semper cupimusque negatum the more a thing is forbidden the more it is desired for the wrong opinion of many is to thinke that it is for the private profit of some that the thing is forbidden and therefore stollen bread is sweetest But to the matter now in hand The powder of the dried rootes takes in wine either of themselves or with other things as Mirrhe Rue Pepper and the like is a certaine remedy against the stingins or bitings of Serpents Scorpions or any other venemous beasts and against the bitings of a madde dog being taken three or foure dayes together and care taken to keepe open the wound with Vinegar or salt water and to cleanse and dresse it in order as it should be the same rootes also taken in wine helpeth those that have obstructions in their livers or are liver growne as they call it or have paines in their stomackes those also that cannot keepe or rellish their meate or have dejected appetites to their meate for hereby they shall finde present ease and remedy being steeped in wine and drunke it refresheth those that are overwearied with travell and are by cold and ill lodging abroad growen starke or lame in their joynts these also that have any griping paines in their sides as prickings stitches or the like it helpeth those that are bruised by blowes or falls by dissolving the congealed bloud and easing the paines the same also is held very effectuall against all agues to take of the roote not in wine but some other drinke or the water distilled of the herbe the fresh roote or the dried made into a pessary and put into the matrice expelleth the dead child and the afterbirth for it throughly worketh upon those parts and therefore not to be given to women that are with child and being taken inwardly procureth their courses being stopped and the urine when it is staied the decoction of the roote it mervellous effectuall to helpe those that are pained with the stone the same also taken in wine doth mervellous much good to those that are troubled with crampes and convulsions in any parts it doth much good also to those that are bursten and have any ruptures Dioscorides saith that there is so great power and efficacie in the rootes hereof that it helpeth not men onely but beasts also that are troubled with coughes and the outgoings of their intrails and that it expelleth the wormes of the belly it breaketh much winde in the body and causeth it to avoid and generally it is availeable in all cold diseases either inward or outward and as Galen saith is most effectuall where there is any neede to extenuate or make thinne thicke flegme or grosse humors clensing of corrupt and filthy sores or ulcers purging of peccant and offensive humours and opening the obstructions of the liver and lungs gall and spleene and freeing the parts affected with any the diseases incident unto them
and all these things Galen holdeth it to worke by the facultie of bitternesse therein for assuredly if our stomackes could brooke this and other bitter medicines and were not so nice and daintie to refuse whatsoever is not pleasing to the palate it would worke admirable effects in the curing of many desperate and inveterate diseases inwardly and clensing and healing foule corrupt and desperate sores and ulcers outwardly and therefore the Italians not undeservedly doe call the Gentiana cruciata Petimborsa quasi mettere in bursa put it into your purse either as Matthiolus saith that it was to be gathered wheresoever it was found and fit to be kept in ones purse as ready to be used upon all occasions or that it did by curing of diseases get store of crownes to be put into the purse so excellent they accounted this roote and herbe to be used the decoction of the leaves or the juice of them or the rootes worketh the same effects and so doth the distilled water of the leaves flowers and rootes artificially made in Glasse and drawen by the vapours of a Balneum or Hot water for this water drunke hath beene often tried to cure in a wonderfull manner all those sorts of agues that breede by the obstruction of humours or blood and killeth the wormes of the belly the said water used to the face clenseth it from all sorts of spots freckles morphew and other defections or discolourings of the skinne whatsoever if it be often bathed lightly therewith the powder of the roote or the juyce thereof healeth all wounds that are fresh as also is most soveraigne and effectuall for all sorts of foule putride or rotten ulcers wheresoever yea although they be hollow or fistulous cancrous also fretting or running for it mightily clenseth and drieth and healeth up also the same also or the powder of the dried rootes applied to the ulcers knots or kernells of the necke or throate which is called the Kings evill healeth them certainely and speedily as also the painefull swellings of the hemorrhoidiall veines which are called the piles when they are fallen downe and grow vlcerous or sore the juice either fresh or condensate that is made thicke by extraction and evaporation to his consistence fit to be kept is used to be infused into the eyes to take away inflammations and rednesse in them and to cleare clense them from skins and filmes growing upon them the roote or the juice of them or the decoction of the herbe or roote is given likewise very often to cattell to drinke to free them from the Bottes and wormes and many other diseases as also when they begin to swell being poisoned by any venemous worme or ticke which they often licke up with the grasse as also when such wormes or other hurtfull vermine have bittten Kine by the udders or other tender places which presently thereupon swell and put the cattle to much paine making them forbeare their meate which when the countrey people see they bruising the leaves of any of the Gentians growing neare unto them and wringing out the juice stroke therewith the udder or bitten place and they by two or three times so doing are helped and cured the rootes of the smaller Gentian of the Spring being dried and given in powder to any to drinke will cause much venting or farting and is given with good successe to helpe the torments of the wind-collicke and other sore and grievous panges or paines in the stomacke or bowells it is also profitable to helpe the yellow jaundise as also any evill disposition in the liver or body engendred by long sickenesse or bad diet whereby they pine away by a consumption CHAP. XXVII Scorsonera Vipers Grasse ALthough I have set forth in my former Booke two sorts of Scorsonera or Vipers Grasse which are the Spannish kinde and the low purple kinde yet because there are some others that Clusius and others have made mention of and some also not yet published by any I thinke it meete to declare all those not spoken of before in this place and Chapter 1. Scorsonera major Pannonica latifolia The greater Hungarian broad leafed Vipers Grasse This greater Hungarian Vipers grasse is very like unto the Spanish kinde in all things almost the leaves hereof are more in number that rise from the head of the roote as broad and long as they but not crumpled about the edges nor of that grayish greene colour but smooth and of a darke or evill greene colour this hath two or three stalkes rising up among the leaves and sometimes but one according as the roote hath encreased into severall heads having some lesser leaves upon them and at the top a scaly somewhat long greene head from the middle whereof groweth the like double yellow flower as the Spanish kinde hath and the like seede also lying in such downy substance neither of them to be well discerned the one from the other after they have growne any time in the garden together the roote also is long and great spreading into many branches and shooting forth into divers heads from the upper part thereof blackish on the outside and white and pleasant within as the other yeelding milke in every part in the same manner also abiding many yeares and not perishing after seede time as the Goates beards doe whereof all these are accounted as kindes 2. Scorsonera humilis latifolia Pannonica The dwarfe Hungarian Vipers grasse This dwarfe or low Scorsonera shooteth forth not so many long leaves but almost as broad as the last somewhat stiffer and shorter and of the same greene colour from among which riseth up one firme but hollow and shortstalke not above an handbredth high bearing some few small and short leaves thereon and a yellow flower out of the like greene scaly head but shorter than the other with the like seede therein also the roote is blacke without and whitewithin yeelding milke as the other doth 3. Scorsonera minor angustifolia Pannonica The small Hungarian Vipers grasse This small Vipers grasse hath long and very narrow greene leaves very like the leaves of Tragopogon or Goates beard but shorter and not so many the stalkes are slenderer and much lower then the first bearing smaller and more single flowers upon them then it and lesser seede but like in all other respects lying in such downe the roote likewise is long and blacke without and white within but smaller and slenderer never growing to be halfe so great neither yeeldeth such store of milke as the other doth 1. Scorsonera major Pannonica latifolia The greater Hungarian broad leafed Vipers grasse 5. Scorsonera tuberosa radice The smallest Spanish Vipers grasse 2. 3. Scorsonera humilis latifolia angustifolia The greater low and the lesser tall Hungarian Vipers grasse 4. Scorsonera elatior angustifolia Pannonica Tall narrow leafed Purple Vipers grasse The taller purple Vipers grasse hath many such like narrow long leaves as the last and longer stalkes with some lesser leaves on
fourth in Hungary and Austria The fifth and sixth in Candy The seaventh and tenth in Spaine The eighth and ninth on the hils in the Kingdome of Naples as Columna reporteth The eleventh and twelfth in Candy The Time They all flower in Sommer and their seede is quickely ripe after The Names It is called in Greeke 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Echium 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Alcibiadion and Alcibion or Alcibiacum of the first finder thereof who being bitten by a Viper gathered this herbe and chewing it and swallowing downe the juice and applying the rest of the herbe to the bitten place freed himselfe from danger Apuleius saith it was called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 theriorrhizon Viperee radix and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 from the forme of the seede which as Dioscorides saith is like the head of a Viper and thereof tooke the name Echium yet some others say from the effects in the rootes to cure the bitings of the Viper in Latine also Echium of most Authours yet of some Buglossum silvestre viperinum Serpentaria and some also tooke it for Anchusa as Thalius and Caesalpinus and under that name saith the seede of the Candy sorts were sent him Cordus on Dioscorides called the first Lycopsis and Lonicerus Buglossum sylvestre Camerarius and Matthiolus mention the second Clusius the third fourth fifth and sixth and the seventh in his Curae posteriores Columna the eighth and ninth and Bauhinus the tenth under their severall titles as they are here expressed the two last by Alpinus in his booke de plantis exoticis It is called of the Italians Echis and Buglossa Salvatica Of the Spaniards Yerva di las bivoras Of the French Borrache sauuage and L'herbe aux viperes Of the Germans wild ocksen song Of the Dutch men wild ossentonghe In English wild Buglosse and Vipers Buglosse The Vertues It is as you have heard by the first finder out of it an especiall remedy against the biting of the Viper and of all other Serpents or venemous creatures as also against poyson and poysonfull herbes it is added further by Dioscorides and others that whosoever shall take of the herbe or roote before they be bitten shall not be hurt by the poyson of any Serpent And I thinke from this and some other the like qualities in herbes to heale the diseases whereof some forme may be seene in them hath come the application of many other whose formes have beene imagined to have beene found in them which they call Signaturae plantarum whereof Crollius in his Basilica chymica hath given demonstration of all the parts of the body from the head to the foote and moreover of many the diseases of the body and of divers other things whereof they that will reade his worke may be better informed that desire the knowledge thereof the rootes or seedes are thought to be most effectuall for the foresaid causes as also to comfort the heart and to expell sadnesse and causelesse Melancholy it tempers the blood and allayes the hot fits of agues the seede drunke in wine procureth aboundance of milke in womens brests the same also being taken easeth the paines in the loines backe and kidneies the distilled water of the herbe when it is in his chiefest strength that is in flower is excellent to be applyed inwardly or outwardly for all the griefes aforesaid There is a syrupe made hereof very effectuall for the comforting of the heart and expelling sadnesse and melancholly which is made in this manner Take of the clarified juice of the common wilde or Vipers Buglosse foure pound of fine Sugar three pound of the infusion of the flowers thereof one pound boyle these gently unto the consistence of a syrupe which keepe by you to use as you shall have cause But because it is somewhat hard to presse forth this juice by reason of the sliminesse thereof it is fit that after you have beaten the herbe well you set it close covered in a cold cellar or other cold and moist place for two daies and nights and then wring or presse forth the juice and clarifie it with the whites of egges beaten and passed gently of it selfe through a thicke Hippocras bagge and because many know not how to make the infusion before spoken of rightly as it should be it is thus Gather of the flowers of the said wild Buglosse a good quantity which you shall put into a pot with some water being made boyling hot aforehand stoppe the pot close untill it be cold and then wring forth the infusion you may renew the infusion by putting in fresh flowers as before once or twice more if you will have it strong of the flowers CHAP. XXX Fraxinella sive Diptamnus albus False white Dittany I Have given you the descriptions of all the sorts of false Bastard Dittany or white Dittany in my former Booke whereunto I referre you I shall onely here exhibite the figure and amplifie the Vertues Fraxinella may more fitly be called false white Dittany then bastard Dittany because there is one already set forth in the first Tribe or Classis by the name of Pseudodictamnus Bastard Dittany least two herbes should be called by one name and then neither should be well understood when they were called for distinct epithites is most requisite therefore to avoid confusion The Vertues The false white Dittany then is heating and drying the rootes which are most in use doe attenuate or make thin grosse humours it openeth obstructions provoketh the menstrnes and urine and clenseth that which is foule and contagious It is very effectually both against poyson and the venome of Serpents and other poysonfull creatures and against the pestilence and other contagious diseases to take a dramme or two of the powder of the roote in wine or broth the same also taken killeth the wormes of the belly breaketh the stone causing it to avoid in the urine it warmeth and cleanseth the matrixe expelleth the dead childe and after-birth if the part be fumigated with it and Penniroyall or taken in Wine it easeth the paines and torments in the inward parts or bowels and healeth inward hurts and wounds it is much commended against the Epilepsie or falling sicknesse and other cold griefes of the head and braines and is hel◠to be of great good use against the French disease to use it with the decoction of Guaiacum Fraxinella vulgaris The most common false white Dittany CHAP. XXXI Galega Goats Rue BEcause this herbe is so effectuall against all infections 1. Galega sive Ruta Capraria Goats Rue I could do no lesse then insert it here and take it from the other leguminous plants where it might be placed which otherwise I would not have done and hereunto I must adjoyne another for the neerenesse both for forme and vertues 1. Galega vulgaris Common Goats Rue The common or most usuall Goats Rue sendeth forth many round hard stalkes foure or five foote high whereon
or red Rattle have which some call Lousewort because if sheepe feede thereon it will cause them to breede lice abundantly they must abide without use to us CHAP. XI Helxine sive Parietaria Paritary of the Wall THere are two sorts of Paritary of the Wall although the ancients have mentioned but one that is a greater and a lesser as shall be declared 1. Paritaria vulgaris Common Paritary of the Wall This kinde of Paritary or as it is usually called Pellitory of the Wall riseth up with many brownish red tender and weake cleare and almost transparent stalkes about two foote high upon which grow at the severall joynts two leaves somewhat broad and long like unto those of French Mercury or Amaranthin called Flower gentle of a darke greene which afterwards turne brownish not dented at all but smooth on the edges rough and hairy as the stalkes are also at the joynts with the leaves from the middle of the stalkes upwards where it spreadeth into some branches stand many small pale purplish flowers in hairy â—r somewhat rough heades or huskes after which come small blacke and rough seede which will sticke to any garment or cloath that shall touch it the roote is somewhat long with many small fibres annexed thereunto of a darke reddish colour which abideth the Winter although the stalkes with leaves perish and springeth a fresh every yeare 2. Parietaria minor Small Pellitory of the Wall The lesser Pellitory of the Wall groweth in the like 1. Parietaria vulgaris Common Pellitory of the Wall manner that the former doth but not so great or high having tender reddish rough stalkes and smaller and shorter and somewhat greener leaves thereon almost like unto Bassill and rougher also so that they will cleave to any cloth or other thing that toucheth it the flowers and seede differ not much from the other but smaller and the seede is more like unto Purslane seede being rubbed out of the huskes han the other The Place The first groweth wilde generally through the land about the borders of fields and by the sides of old Walls and among rubbish it will well endure also being brought into the garden and planted on the shadie side where it will spring of its owne sowing and will not easily be gotten out therehence afterwards The other is rare in our Countrie and in Germany also but neare Confluence where it is naturally found and not in many other places neither both of them in one place or very seldome it doth sometimes hold the greene leaves in the Winter The Time They flower in Iune and Iuly and the seede is ripe soone after The Names It is called in Greeke 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Helxine and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Perdicium the one quod foliorum seminum hirsutie vestibus ad hereat the other quod perdices ea libenter vescantur in Latine also Helxine but not Cissampelos which is described before Perdicium Perdicaria Vrceolaris Vitrago or Vitriolaris herba because the roughnesse thereof serveth to clense either pots or glasses it is called also Muralium and herba Muralis because it most usually groweth by Walls sides and for the same cause also it is called Farietaria or as some doe write it Paritaria Galen and Paulus Aegineta who followeth him in most things say that some in their dayes called it Parthenium but they doe not understand the Matricaria for it but this herbe here entreated of but there are to be found in the writings of divers that have written of herbes seven severall sorts of herbes called by the name Parthenion or Parthenium as Mercurialis Arthemifia Chamomilla nobilis Amaracus or Majorana Marum Matricaria and this Parietaria Cornelius Celsus also and Pliny out of him doe call it Parthenium and yet Leonicenus Colmarius and Rudolphus Agricola much doubted whether any did so call it the Italians call it Parietaria Vitriola the Spaniards yerva de muro the French Paritoire and Paritari the Germanes San Peterskraut as Tragus saith Tag un nacht and Glaszkraut the Dutchmen Glasscruidt in English ordinary Pellitory of the Wall but corruptly as I said for it hath no correspondencie with Pellitory but to follow the Latine name as most other Countries doe it should be called Paritarie and of the wall is added according to both the names of Paritaria and Muralis all Authors doe call it generally either Helxine or Parietaria and Tragus calleth the other Paritaria exigua The Vertues The dried herbe Paritary made up with hony into an Electuarie or the juice of the herbe or the decoction thereof made up with Sugar or Hony is a singular remedy for any old continuall or dry cough the shortnesse of breath and wheezings in the throate the juyce thereof taken to the quantie of three ounces at a time doth wonderfully ease those that are troubled with the suppression of their urine causing them very speedily to make water and to expell both the stone and gravell that are engendred in the kidnies and bladder and therefore it is usually put among other herbes that are used in glisters to mittigate paines in the backe sides or bowells proceeding of winds or the like stoppings of urine or the gravell and stone it worketh the like effect also if the bruised herbe sprinkled with some Muskadine be warmed upon a tyle or in a dish upon a few quicke coales in a Chaffing dish and applied to the belly the decoction also of the herbe being drunke easeth the paines of the mother and bringeth downe the courses that are staied the same also easeth those griefes that arise from the obstructions of the liver spleene and reines the same decoction also may serve in stead of a bath for men or women to sit in for the foresaid purposes the same decoction also with a little hony added thereto will serve to very good purpose to gargle the throate when it is swollen and pained the juice held a while in the mouth easeth the paines in the teeth the distilled water of the herbe drunk with some Sugar to make it the more pleasant worketh the same effects and moreover clenseth the skinne from spots freckles purples wheales sunburne morphew c. and leaveth the skinne cleare smooth and delicate the juyce dropped into the eares easeth the noise and hummings in them and taketh away the prickings and shooting paines in them the said juyce or the distilled water doth asswage hot and swelling impostumes burnings or scaldings by fire or water as also all other hot â—mours or imflammations be it Saint Anthonies fire or any other eruptions of heate being bathed often with 〈◊〉 cloths dipped therein or the said juice made into a linament with Cerussa oyle of Roses anointed therewith which also doth clense foule rotten ulcers and staieth spreading or creeping ulcers and the running scabbes 〈◊〉 sores in childrens heads the same also helpeth to stay the falling of the haire of the head the said ointment 〈◊〉
places of France also but it hath beene found naturally growing time out of minde both at the towne of Lidde by Romney and in the streetes of the towne of Romney in Kent where it is recorded Iulius Caesar landed with his souldiers and there abode for a certaine time which it is likely was by them called Romania and corruptly there-from Romeney or Romny and for the growing of it in that place it is reported that the souldiers brought some of the seede with them and sowed it there for their use to rubbe and chafe their limbes when through extreame cold they should be stiffe and benummed being told before they came from home that the climate of Brittaine was so extreame cold that it was not to be endured without some friction or rubbing to warme their bloods and to stirre up naturall heat since which time it is thought it hath continued there rising yearely of its owne sowing It groweth also in the streete of Bardney in Lincolneshire The other three soâ— grow in waste grounds by hedges and wall sides and many other untilled places yet they will also be found in many gardens where if they be suffered or neglected but a while it shall be hard to rid them out againe The Time They flower and seede in the end of Sommer and the lesser is so plentifully that it will seede and shed and spring and seede againe that is beare ripe seed twise in one yeare The Names It is called in Greeke 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Acalyphe quia tacta aspera injucunda est and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 quod vellicet punget a verbo 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 quod vellicare pungere significat in Latine Vrtica ab urendo quod pruritum pustulasque igni similes excitet The Arabians call it Huminro Vraith latum Angiara Tragus saith Serapio calleth it Hamure Vraith and the seede of it Bezori Bangora seu Ragi The Italians Ortica the Spaniards Ortiga the French Ortie the Germanes Nessell the Dutch men Netteles and we in English Nettle The first is called Vrtica Italica of some and hortensis and is the first kinde of Dioscorides called of Clusius Legitima of most writers Romana and mas or â—cula for the second is called famina and of most authors Vrtica major and vulgaris or urens The third is called by Tragus Vrtica vulgaris urens altera and of Lugdunensis Vrtica Olygophyllos a paucitate foliorum The fourth is called Vrtica minor of all writers but onely of Caesalpinus exigua and of Dodonaeus urens minima and is the third of Tragus Matthiolus Lugdunensis and Castor Durantes it is the Cania of Pliny which Cornarius thinketh should be rather written Canina The Vertues Although Nettles doe hurt and sting the skinne and flesh while they are greene which is caused by the haire or rough downe upon them and might be thought to be causticke or exulcerating being otherwise applyed yet it is not so being found to be hot and dry in the second degree the leaves boyled in wine and drunke is said to open the belly and make it soluble the rootes or leaves boyled or the juice of either of them or both made into an Electuary with Honey or Sugar is a safe or sure medicine to open the pipes and passages of the Lungs which is the cause of wheesings and shortnesse of breath and helpeth to expectorate tough cold flegme sticking in them or in the chest or stomacke as also to raise the impostumated Pluresie and spend it by spitting the same also helpeth the Almonds of the throate when they are swelled to gargle the mouth and throate therewith the juice also is effectuall to settle the pallate of the mouth in its place and to heale and temper the inflammations and sorenesse of the mouth and throate the decoction of the leaves in wine and drunke is singular good to provoke womens courses and to settle the suffocation or strangling of the mother and all other diseases thereof as also applyed outwardly with a little Myrrhe the same also or the seed provoketh urine and expelleth gravell and the stone in the reines or bladder often prooved to be effectuall in many that have taken it the same decoction also of the leaves or seede or being beaten and drunke in that decoction killeth the wormes in the bellies of Children and is said to ease the paines in the sides and to dissolve or breake the wiâ—dinesse in the spleene as also in the body but others doe thinke that it being somewhat windy of it selfe is not so powerfull or availeable to expell wind but onely to provoke Venery the juice of the leaves taken two or three dayes together stayeth bleeding at the mouth which riseth from the stomacke the seed being drunke is a remedy against the stinging of venemous creatures the bitings of madde dogs the poysonfull qualities of Heâ—locke Henbane Nightshade Mandrake or other such like herbes that stupify and dull the senses as also the Lethargy but especially to use it outwardly to rubbe the forehead and temples in the Lethargy and the places bitten or stunge with beasts used with a little salt Nicander saith it helpeth them that have taken Quicksilver and those that have eaten evill Mushromes or surfet of the good the distilled water of the herbe is very effectuall although not so powerfull as well for all the diseases aforesaid as for outward wounds and sores to wash them and to clense the skinne from Morphew Lepry and other discolourings thereof the seede and some also use the leaves being bruised and put into the nostrils doth stanch the bleeding of them and taketh away the flesh growing in them called Polypus the juice of the leaves or the decoction of them or of the rootes is singular good to wash either old rotten and stinking sores or fistulaies and Gangrenes also and such as are fretting eating or corroding scabbes also manginesse and itches in any part of the body as also greene wounds by washing them therewith or putting the juice into the sores or wounds or applying the greene herbe bruised thereunto yea although the flesh were separated from the bones the same also applyed to overwearied members refresheth them or to places out of joynt after the joynt is set in its right place it strengtheneth dryeth and comforteth them as also to those places troubled with aches and goutes and the defluction of humours upon the joynts or sinewes it easeth the paines and dryeth or discusseth the defluctions an ointment made with the juice oyle and a little waxe is singular good to rubbe cold and benummed members to bring them to their proper activity againe a handfull of the greene leaves of Nettles and another of Wall-wort or Dane-wort bruised and applyed simply of themselves to the Gout Sciatica or joynt aches in any part hath beene found to be an admirable helpe thereunto it is said that if greene Nettles be put into the urine of a sicke body if it be fresh
aforesaid it doth most assuredly helpe also those that have the strangurie and have their urine stopped or are troubled with the stone or gravell in their reines or bladder causing them that take it to urine plentifully and thereby to remove and wash downe whatsoever sticketh or is offensive in the passages thereof Vide Hollerium de morbis interniis lib. 1. c 62. fol. 268. the same also helpeth much all stitches in the sides all griping paines or torments in the stomacke or belly caused by collericke or sharpe or salt humours it helpeth the obstructions of the liver and cureth the yellow jaundise likewise it killeth also the wormes in children being outwardly applied it conglutinâ—th wounds very notably and helpeth much to stay defluxions of rheume from the head to the eyes nose or teeth being bruised greene and bound thereto or the decoction of the dried herbe to bathe the forehead and temples or the nape of the necke behinde it doth also drie up the moisture of fistulous ulcers or any others that by the much accesse of sharpe humors are growne foule and spreading the lesser Rupturewort is not much wanting in all the faculties of the other CHAP. XVI Polygonum Solinoides Parsly pert or Parsly Breakestone I Have as you see separated this kinde of Knotgrasse from all the other in the last Chapter and not without just reason as I take it because the face and forme thereof is so much differing from them as the ensuing description will declare the roote in very small and threddy but abiding divers yeares in the naturall places from whence come many leaves spread upon the ground each standing on a small long foote stalke and being as broad as the naile of a mans finger or Sive Percepierre Anglorum Polygonum Selinoides Parsly pert or Parsly breakestone â—humbe is very much jagged on the edges making it seeme somewhat like unto a Parslye leafe whereof came the name â—ut of an overworne or dusky greene colour from among which riseth up weake and slender stalkes about three or foure â—ingers long set full of the like leaves but smaller up to the â—oppes that almost no part of the stalkes can be seene and all â—or the most part standing close thereunto few of them having â—ny footestalke at all or very short among these leaves come forth very small greenish yellow flowers scarse to be discerned where afterwards groweth the seede as small as any of the former The Place This groweth naturally in most countries of this land if it be observed by any that have skill but especially in such barâ—en and sandy grounds as doe not want moisture for it joyeth much more in the wet places then in the dry I found it upon Hampsteed Heath by the foote pathes where being a dry ground and in a dry time it was very small which else in 〈◊〉 moister time and in a moister place upon the same Heath was much greater as also neare unto the meerestones by Lambeth which divide the liberties of London from Surrey The Time It is to be found all times of the Sommer Spring and Harvest even from Aprill unto the end of October in severall places for in the open and Sunny places it will be withered when in the shadowy and moist it will continue The Names This plant being of long continuance in our land and knowledge to us by the properties for it hath not beene mentioned by any the most curious searchers and writers of herbs beyond sea as being onely peculiar I thinke to our Country before Lobel came to us who called it Percep er Anglorum and Lugdunensis from him hath received no Latine name at all and therefore I have transferred the name Polygonum Selinoides hereunto as more proper unto it then Gerards Knawell is unto it for it may most fitly be reckoned a Polygonum by the manner of the growing and the name Selinoides may most fitly agree unto it from the forme of the leaves being derived from the Greeke word Selinon for Knawel hath no likenesse with Selinum Parsly In the former Chapter I shewed you Gerard his errours herein now let me shew you mine also if peradventure I speake not per Antiphrasim concerning these names of Percepier or Perch pier as some call it and Parsly pert or Parsly breakestone as they are usually called in English I shewed you before that the word Parsly pert was but a corruption of time in the vulgar sort and Percepier also derived from the French word Percepierre which as I said before signifieth as much as Lithontribon in Greeke Saxifraga Petrifindula an old outworne word and calculum frangens in Latine pierce stone or breakestone in English some call it Parsly pert and derive it from petra but the more proper English is Parsly breakestone Now concerning this and Lobel his Saxifraga Anglicana both of them are affirmed by Lobel to grow in the West Country and both are used for one purpose yet Lobel seemeth to referre the Percepier unto the Cerefolium Scandix sive Pecten Veneris or partaking of both of them but most unproperly in my minde which hath caused Bauhinus in his Pinax following his opinion to make it a species of Cerefolium calling it Chaerophyllo nonnihil similis planta and Tabermontanus thereupon calleth it Scandix minor and Columua was also much deceived in thinking this to be an Alchymilla calling it minima montana The Vertues This herbe hath properly with the vulgar sort both men and women leeches who have had most practice of it not found any other operation then to helpe to provoke urine and breake the stone in those that are troubled therewith for which purposes it is most availeable for they use to eate it familiarly as a Sallet herbe and pickle it up as a Sampire to eate in winter but is used also more Physically either by it selfe or with other things and either in powder or in juice decoction or water distilled from it whose severall wayes that I may declare them a little more amply are these Take of the juice of the herbe about three ounces put this with so much white wine as is fit to make a posset take hereof every morning and evening a draught or ye may adde hereto Wild Time or Mother of Time and some Camomill You may also boyle these herbes aforesaid in white wine or in water if wine be not at hand and drinke it when it is strayned in the same manner the powder also of the dryed herbe to the quantity of a dramme or lesse in white wine or in other drinke where wine is wanting for divers dayes first and last and the distilled water of the herbe taken with a little Sugar in the same manner is found to be a singular remedy to provoke urine when it is stopped wholly or passeth away by drops with paine or unsensibly without paine expelleth store of gravell in those that breede it and the stone also in the reines or kidneyes in washing it downe by the
the other and somewhat great but stand not so thicke â—stering together being of a daintie purple blew colour with a yellow spot in the mouth the heads for seede that follow are somewhat great having blackish flat seede within them the roote is small and white spreading divers wayes under ground and perisheth not in the Winter 6. Linaria lutea Moravica Clusij The small yellow Moravia Flaxeweede This small kinde of Todefluxe is somewhat like unto the last kinde in the precedent ranke but that it hath more store of stalkes that doe not stand upright having many small ash coloured leaves set upon them which are rounder and more sappy the stalkes beare at the toppes of them many yellow flowers with yellow spots in them but the least of all these in this third ranke the seede is small and blacke and the roote perisheth every yeare The Place The first groweth about Salamanca in Spaine the second and third in some other parts of Spaine it is not certainely knowne where the fourth on the hills in Moravia as the last doth also the fift groweth as well in Stiria as Clusius saith as among the Switzers and the hills in Rhaetia The Time They doe all flower in Sommer and give their seede quickly after The Names The first is the fift Spanish kinde of Clusius which Bauhinus calleth Osyris flava sylvestris and Tabermontaâ— Osyris minor the second is the fourth Spanish kinde of Clusius as the third is his second Spanish kinde the fourth is Clusius his second Linaria of Moravia as the last is his first Moravian kinde the fift is called by Clusius Linaria Stiriaca by Gesner in hortis Germaniae and in his Epistles Linaria Alpina Helvetica by Tabermontaâ— Linaria Alpina pumila and by Bauhinus Linaria quadrifolia supina the last is called by Clusius Linaria Moravica prima in his History The Vertues All these sorts are in some degree more or lesse effectuall but the most common kinde is the most used to provoke urine both when it is stopped as also in those that are troubled with the dropsie to spend the abundance of those watery humours by urine and by the drawing downe of much vrine doth in some sort helpe to wash the reines and uritory parts from gravell or stones gathered therein the decoction of the herbe both leaves and flowers in wine taken and drunke doth somewhat move the belly downewards openeth the obstructions of the liver and helpeth the yellow jaundise expelleth poison provoketh womens courses driveth forth the after-birth and dead child the distilled water of the herbe and flowers is effectuall for all the same purposes and in especiall being drunke with a dramme of the powder of the seedes or barke of the roote of Wallwort and a little Cinamon for certaine dayes together is held to be a singular remedy for the dropsie to spend the water and humors the juice of the herbe or the distilled water dropped into the eyes is a certaine remedy for all heate inflammation and rednesse in the eyes the juice or water put into foule ulcers whether they be cancrous or fistulous with tents rowled therein or the parts washed or injected therewith clenseth them throughly from the bottome and healeth them up safely the same juice or water also clenseth the skinne wonderfully of all sorts of deformity thereof as lepry morphew scurffe wheales pimples or any other spots and markes in the skinne applied of it selfe or used with some powder of Lupines CHAP. XXII Halicacabum sive Alkakengi Winter Cherries IN the reare of this Classis commeth the Winter Cherrie to be declared whereof there are some other sorts knowne to us more than in former times as I shall presently shew you 1. Halicacabum sive Alkakengi vulgare The ordinary Winter Cherry The ordinary Winter Cherry is described unto you in my former Booke therefore I doe here but onely make mention of it that you may take knowledge the next is differing from it 2. Halicacabum sive Alkakengi Virginense Virginian Winter Cherries This Virginian spreadeth the branches with leaves on the ground scarse raising it selfe up so much as the former but the branches are greater and foure the leaves also and more unevenly dented about the edges of a sad or sullen greene colour at the â—oâ—s come forth the flowers singly that is one at a place and more toward the bottome than upwards to the height of the branches which are rather smaller than the former composed of five small whitish leaves with a circle of red or every leafe spotted circlewise towards the bottomes of them the fruite that followeth is a small berry enclosed in a thinne skinne or bladder as the former but greene and not red when it is full ripe smaller likewise than it the berrie filling the skinne or bladder more than it and not leaving so much void â—me or the bladder as the former yet hath it small whitish seede within it as the other the roote spreadeth under ground not very farre and perisheth in Winter I have here onely given you three or foure leaves and a flower hereof with the figure of the former 3. Halicacabum Indicum rectum Vpright Indian Winter Cherries This Indian kinde riseth up to be about foure foote high with strong upright stalkes knotty and cornered shooting out many branches whereon grow faire greene leaves like unto those of the ordinary Winter Cherrie but somewhat larger and dented about the edges at the joints with the leaves come forth the flowers of a whitish colour as it is in the ordinary sort every one by it selfe which are composed but of one leafe having five corners somewhat crumpled about the edges and although they be not divided into five leaves yet in the bottome of them there doth appeare five blackish purple spots in the bottome of every flower with divers other purplish threds in the middle tipt with blackish blew chives after the flowers are past there commeth in their places the fruit which are bladders or thinne skinnes with berries in them like unto the ordinary Winter Cherrie but that the berrie hereof is larger than the other not onely filling the whole skinne or bladder but oftentimes breaking it and opening into foure parts which when it is ripe will be greene as well as the bladder saving sometimes that part that hath the Summe beâ—s most upon it will be of a darke greenish purple colour the whole plant is without taste yet yeelding forth at the joâ—s certaine glutinous matter or juyce of a strong sent like 1. 2. Alkakengi sive Halicacabum vulgare Virginense The ordinary and Virgini a Winter Cherry unto that of the Ponoa amoris or Love apples this perisheth every yeare in these colder climates at the first approach of Winter and whether it abideth in the naturall places wee know not nor to what physicall use it is applied or whether it be used to be eaten The Place The first groweth by the hedge sides in moist and shadowie place but is
therefore call it the white rot of the colour of the herbe as they have another they call the red rot which is Pedicularis red Rattle The third is called Sanicula montana altera by Clusius and Alpina and guttata by Camerarius and others by Lobel Gariophyllata sive Geum Alpinum recentiorum folio hederaceo The fourth Matthiolus called Cortusa having received it from Cortusâ— and reckoneth it among the Avens and thereupon Lobel calleth it Caryophyllata Veronensium flore Saniculae ursâ— Clusius calleth it his first Sanicula montana and others Alpina The last for some resemblance was called Cortusa by the French and Americana added to distinguish it The Vertues Sanicle is bitter in taste and thereby is heating and drying in the second degree it is astringent also and therefore exceeding good to heale all greene wounds speedily or any ulcers impostumes or bleedings inwardly it doth wonderfully helpe those that have any tumour in their bodies in any part for it represseth the humours and dissipateth them if the decoction or juice thereof be taken or the powder in drinke and the juice used outwardly for there is not found any herbe that can give such present helpe either to man or beast when the disease falleth upon the lungs or throate and to heale up all the maligne putride or stinking ulcers of the mouth throat and privities by gargling or washing with the decoction of the leaves and roote made in water and a little hony put thereto it helpeth to stay womens courses and all other fluxes of blood either by the mouth urine or stoole and laskes of the belly the ulceration of the kidneyes also and the paines in the bowels and the gonorrhea or running of the reynes being boyled in wine or water and drunke the same also is no lesse powerfull to helpe any ruptures or burstings used both inwardly and outwardly and briefely it is as effectuall in binding restraining consolidating heating drying and healing as Comfrey Bugle or Selfeheale or any other of the Consounds or vulnerary herbes whatsoever Butterwort is as one writeth to me a vulnerary herbe of great esteeme with many as well for the rupture in Children as to heale greene wounds the Country people that live where it groweth doe use to annoint their hands when they are chapt by the winde or when their Kines Vdders are swollen by the biting of any virulent worme or otherwise hurt chapt or rift the poorer sort of people in Wales make a Syrupe thereof as is of Roses and therewith purge themselves and their children they put it likewise into their broths for the same purpose which purgeth flegme effectually they also with the herbe and butter make an ointment singular good against the obstructions of the liver experienced by some Physitions there of good account CHAP. XXIX Primula veris pratensis sylvestris Primroses and Cowslips THere is so great a variety in these sorts of plants Primroses and Cowslips whereunto for likenesse both in forme and quality is to be joyned the little army of Auricules Beares eares or French Cowslips as they are called especially in the various colours of their flowers that to describe them all againe would but too much augment this volume I will therfore here but give you some figures of those described fully in my former Booke and the relation of such others as have since the publishing thereof come to our knowledge 1. Primula veris Turcica Tradescanti flore purpureo Tradescants Turkie purple Primrose The leaves of this Primrose are so like unto other Primroses that they can very hardly be distinguished untill the flowers appeare but the chiefest difference in the leaves is that they are somewhat longer rounder pointed and a little reddish at the very bottome of the leaves the flowers are as large as any other Primrose or rather larger made of five leaves like unto them but of a delicate violet purple colour the bottome of them yellow Primula veris vulgaris The ordinary field Primrose Primula veris flore purpureo Turcâ— The Turkie purple Primrose Primula Hesketi versâ—pellis Heskets Cameleon Primrose Pâ—alysis flore pleno Double Paigles Paralytica Alpina major The greater Birdes eye Paralytica Alpina minor The lesser Birdes eye Aricula ursi lutea The yellow Beares eares Auriculâ—si miniâ—a alba Small white Beares eares circled as it were with a deepe Saffron like yellow which addeth a greater grace thereunto in other things it is like unto the ordinary Primroses Flore chermesino Of this kinde there is also another sort little differing from it in any thing save in the colour of the flower which in this is crimson as in the other purple 2. Paralysios varia species The divers sorts of Cowslips Of the various sorts of Cowslips I have given you all the store I know are extant and therefore will describe none of them here but referre you to my former Booke where you shall finde them duplici 1. Purpureo vario 2. Purpureo saturo flore majore 3. Purpureo saturo flore minore 4. Sanguineo 5. Coe estino 6. Coeruleo 7. 8. Flore caeruleo folio Boraginis 9. Purpure coeruleo incano folio Flore cramosino 10. Holosericeo 11. Purpureo Rubro vario 12. Carneo colore 13. Flore niveo 14. Flore aâ—bo 15. Flore albido vel pallido 16. 17. Flore luteo Magno 18 Limoniaco 19. Stramineo 20.21 Versicolore luteo 22. Canescentibus folijs Luteo susco 23. Crinis coloris 24. Lutea rubra 25. 3. Auriculae ursivarietates The varieties of Beares eares or French Cowslips I have there also divided the varieties of the Beares eares or French Cowslips into three colours that is purple or red white and yellow of the rest that I have not there spoken I will here make but briefe mention of the difference in leafe and flower onely without any larger description The bright crimson hath leaves of a middle size more greene then mealy and flowers of a bright crimson colour larger then the blood red The deepe crimson velvet colour The double purple hath the purple flower once more double then the single but is not constant The stript purple differs in leafe little or nothing from the ordinary purple nor yet in flower but onely that it is variously stript with a kinde of whitish blush colour some of these will change wholly into the one or the other colour as all or most of the severall sorts of other stript flowers whether Tulipas Gilloflowers c. are observed often to doe yet as in them so in these if they change into the deeper colour they seldome or never returne to be marked as they will if they change into the lighter The heavens blew hath the leafe broader and of a duskie yellowish greene colour the flowers being of a blewish colour tending to a purple The paler blew is somewhat like unto the last in the greene leafe the flower being of a paler blew Borage leafed blew Beares eares is sufficiently expressed in my
roote divers long weake and slender branches lying and running upon the ground two or three foote long or more set on both sides with leaves with two at a joynt one against another at equall distances which are almost round but pointed at the ends smooth and of a good greene colour at the joynts with the leaves from the middle forward come forth at every joynt sometimes one yellow flower and sometimes two standing each on a small footestalke and made of five narrow leaves pointed at the ends with some yellow threds in the middle which being past there stand in their places small round heads of seede Minor There is one of this sort much lesser than the former not else differing 2. Numularia minor flore purpurascente Small Money-wort with purplish flowers This small Money-wort spreadeth and runneth on the ground in the same manner that the former doth with two very little leaves set at every joynt of the stalke which are as round or more than the former with a little point at the ends the flowers likewise stand in the same manner at the joynts but much smaller than they and of a purplish red colour after which come seede in round heads alike but lesser as the roote is so likewise The Place Both the former sorts grow in our owne Land in moyst grounds by hedge sides although the first more 1. Numularia vulgaris Common Money-wort Numularia minor Small Money-wort 2. Nummularia minor floâ—e purpurascenie Small Money-wort with purplish flowers plentifully and almost every where the last hath beene found with us also in sundry places The Time They doe all of them flower in Iune and Iuly and their seede is ripe quickly after The Names It is called of the later Latine writers for none of the ancient either greeke or Latines have made any mention of it unlesse it be Ereuthedanum of Theophrastus lib. 9. c. 14. as Pena thinketh which Gaza translateth Rubia but that the vertues thereof doe not agree herewith and Numulum of Plinye lib. 18. c. 28. which is falsly set downe Mimmulus Numularia of the round forme of the leafe like unto money Brunfelsius and others call it Serpentaria because it hath beene found that Serpents have helped themselves therewith being wounded and Centummorbium and Gesner Centimorbia or Centum morbia of the singularity to helpe diseases and wounds Some have called it Lunaria minor Tabermontanus and others before him calleth it Hirundinaria some say quod hirundinis instar parssim terrae adhereat Bauhinus hath made mention of the last The Italians call it Nummolaria the French Monnoyere the Germanes Egelkraut and Pfenningkraut the Dutch Pennickecruijt and we in English Herbe two pence or two penny grasse but more usualy Money-wort The Vertues Moneywort is somewhat cold but very astringent binding and drying whereby it is singular good for to stay all fluxes of blood in man or woman whether they be laskes bloody fluxes the flowing of womens monethly courses or bleedings inwardly or outwardly also the weakenesse of the stomacke that is given to casting it is very good also for all ulcers or excoriation of the lungs or other inward parts yet some shepherds and others doe thinke it is very hurtfull for their cattell to feede thereon and that it causeth their lungs to blister which assuredly is but a conceit or opinion for no cold and binding thing was ever knowne to exulcerate It is exceeding good for all wounds either fresh or greene to heale them speedily for old ulcers also which by their humidity and by the fluxe of moist and sharpe humours are either spreading or long in curing for all which purposes the juice of the herbe or the powder drunke in water wherein hot steele hath beene often quenched or the decoction of the dry or greene herbe in wine or water drunke or the seede juice or decoction used to the outward places to wash or bathe them or to have tents dipped therein and put into them are effectuall CHAP. XL. Paronychia Whitlow wort or Whitlow grasse ALthough Bauhinus disclaimeth all the sorts of Paronychia expressed by all other Authours referring them all to some one or other herbe and although those that I shall set forth here by that name doe not fully answer the description of Dioscorides yet because divers worthy Authours have so called them and I had rather if they have erred erre with them then be singular in error with Bauhinus let them therefore receive their place here at this time 1. Paronychia major The greater Whitlow wort The greater Whitlow wort hath very many leaves lying on the ground in a round compasse one by another of three inches long and one broad a peece rough hairy of a darke greene colour and somewhat dented about the edges standing upon short footestalkes from the middle of whom rise up one or two small round naked stalkes with few or no leaves thereon scarse able to stand upright but bending downewards at the tops wherof stand small white flowers after which come small long pods containing small reddish seede nothing so hot and sharpe as the next 2. Paronychia altera minor The lesser Whitlow-wort This other that is smaller hath likewise divers leaves lying on the ground lesser then former somewhat like unto the lesser Mouseare called Cats foote but not so hoary yet a little hairy and of a yellowish greene 3. Paronychia Alfines folio Common Whitlow grasse 4. Paronychia altera rutaceo solum 4. Paronychia incisis folijs Iagged Whitlow grasse colour from which spring divers small straight and crested stalkes halfe a foote high or more branching forth at the toppes where stand divers white flowers unto whom doe follow very slender long pods like those of Flixeweed full of small reddish seede as sharpe and hot in taste as Cresses the roote is small hard and wooddy 3. Paronychia vulgaris Alfines folio Common Whitlow grasse This is a very small herbe seldome rising to be an handbreadth high having many small and somewhat long leaves lying next unto the roote somewhat like those of Chickeweede but somewhat longer and whiter from whence rise divers slender naked stalkes bearing many white flowers one above another exceeding small after which come small flat pouches lesse then of any Thlaspi wherein is contained very small seede of a sharpe taste the rootes are a few small fibres 4. Paronychia folijs incisis Iagged Whitlow grasse This other Whitlow grasse hath some pale or reddish greene leaves cut in on the edges into two or three small cuts making them seeme like unto the leaves of Rue or herbe grace it hath fewer stalkes then the former and such like leaves but smaller set thereon in some places with some white flowers at the tops of the stalkes which turne about like a Scorpions taile greater then the other and huskes that hold the seede greater also the rootes are small and fibrous The Place The two first sorts are found upon open hils
skinne will after a small time raise blisters thereon as Tragus saith the water thereof helpeth the heate and inflammation in the eyes the seede to 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 saith being taken causeth paines in the head and because both flowers and herbes are of so pleasing a sweete sent many doe much delight therein to have it layd in their Chambers Parlars c. and Queene Elizabeth of famous memory did more desire it then any other sweet herbe to strew her Chambers withall a leafe or two hereof layd in a cup of wine will give as quick and as fine a rellish thereto as Burnet will as I sayd before CHAP. LIX Potentilla Wilde Tansey WIlde Tansey creepeth upon the ground taking roote at the joynts every where round about the place where it groweth that it will quickly take up a great compasse shooting forth sundry winged leaves made of many set on both sides of a middle ribbe some smaller being set among the greater somewhat like unto Agrimony or Medesweete and like also unto Tansey from whence it tooke the name for it partaketh in forme with them all and dented about the edges but of 〈◊〉 greene colour on the upper side and of a silver Potenilla Wilde Tansey shining white colour underneath it beareth no stalk but the flowers every one of them by it selfe stand upon a small short footestalke rising from the joynts with the leaves which consist of five small yellow round pointed leaves â—y like unto those of Cinkefoile or Five leaved grasse thâ— prime roote shooteth downeward like the Cinkefoile The Place It groweth almost every where wilde abroad in most places The Time It floweth in Iune and Iuly The Names It is called Potentilla ab eximijs viribus quibus pollet and Argentina a foliorum argenteo splendore some take it to bee Stephaâ—melis of Pliny lib. 26. c. 13. others referre it to Argemene It is also called Tâ—acetum sylvestre or agreste as Brâ—felsius doth Tabermontanus calleth it Anserina Gesner in hortis Germania Argeâ—one Altera and so doth Tragus and withall saith it might be called also Millifolium majus and some Agriâ—nia sylvestris the Italians call it Potentilla the French Aâ—entine sanuage the Germanes Greâ—sich and Genserich the Dutch Gansericke wee in English Silverweede and wilde Tansey The Vertues Wilde Tansey is cold and dry and binding withall so that it stayeth the laske and all fluxes of blood in men or women and some say it will doe so if the greene herbe be but worne in the shooes so as it be next the skinne it stayeth also spittings or vomitings of blood the powder of the dryed herbe taken in some of the distilled water helpeth the â—ites in women but more especially if a little Corall and Ivory in powder be put to it it is also much commended to helpe children that are bursten and have a Rupture being boyled in water and salt it is also said to be good for those that have bin bruised by any fall or the like to dissolve the blood as it is said doth help to break the stone being boyled in wine and drunke it easeth the griping paines of the bowels and is good for the Sciatica and joynt aches the same boyled in Vinegar with Hony and Allome gargled in the mouth easeth the paines of the toothach fastneth loose teeth and the gums that are sore and spongie and setleth the Vvula or Paâ— of the mouth when it is fallen downe it clenseth and healeth those Vlcers that are therein or in the secret parts and iâ— singular good also for inward wounds and to consolidate or close the lips of greene wounds as also to heale the old moyst and corrupt running sores in the legges or elsewhere being bruised and applyed to the soles of the feete and to the wrests of the hands it wonderfully cooleth the hot fits of Agues be they never so violent the distilled water clenseth the skinne of all discolourings therein as morphew sunburning c. as also pimples freckles and the like and dropped into the eyes or wet cloathes applyed unto them taketh away the heat and inflammations in them CHAP. LX. Agrimonia sive Eupatorium Agrimonie WEe have divers sorts of Agrimonie some of our owne land and some of others as you shall have them here set forth unto you 1. Eupatorium sive Agrimonia vulgaris Our common Agrimonie Our common Agrimonie hath divers long leaves made of many set upon a stalke some greâ— others smaller all of them dented about the edges greene above and grayish underneath and a little hairy withall among which ariseth up usually but one stiffe strong rough or hairy browne round stalke 2. or 3. foot high with smaller leaves set here and there thereon at the top whereof grow many small yellow flowers 〈◊〉 above another in long spikes after which come rough heads of seeds hanging downewards which will cleave to any thing that shall rubbe against them and sticke upon garments being touched or cast thereon the roote is blacke long and somewhat wooddy abiding many yeares and shooting afresh every spring it hath a reasonable good sent yet very small 2. Agrimonia odorata Sweete smelling Agrimonie This other or sweete smelling Agrimonie is so like the other that there is hardly any difference to be disâ— by the eye but by the nose onely except that if there be any difference this groweth somewhat 〈…〉 rounder and whiter leaves then the other and the roote of a darke red colour but the smell herein doth much surpasse the other and so doth the taste being aromaticall and astringent whereby it is held to bee of 〈◊〉 excellent use to corroborate and strengthen weake parts 3. Agrâ—oidâ— Bastard Agrimonie This herbe that is like to Agrimonie and yeâ—ne and therefore called Bastard Agrimonie hath â—ivâ— long soft and hairy leaves next the ground every â—pon a long reddish hairy footestalke which are cut and divided into many parts or leaves seaven for the most part three on each side and the seventh at the end but having some smaller ones betweene them like as Agrimony hath yet somewhat rounder then they and all of them smaller dented and sharper pointed of a darker greene colour on the upperside and grayish underneath among these leaves rise up sundry weake stalks not fully standing upright but leaning downewards whereon are set very sparsedly such like leaves but smaller and rounder with small peeces at the joynts of every of them at the tops come forth three or foure hairy greene huskes like cups dented at the brims out of every one whereof riseth a small yellow flower like unto Agrimony yet sometimes they scarse appeare above the huskes to bee seene wherein after they are fallen and past appeare small long and round graynes like unto the graines of 1. Agrimonia vulgaris Common Agrimony 3. Agrimoxoâ—des Bastard Agrimony wheate two standing together like two small lumpes which 4. Eupâ—torium Cannabinum Hempelike Agrimony 5. Eupatorium Cannabinum Americanum latifolium The
call it juriâ—tâ— Cardo monto and Bonvaron the French Senesson the Germans Crentzwurâ— the Dutch Cruizâ—ijs and wee in English Groundsell and Grunsell The first is called by all Authors Senetio and Senecio and minor with some because as I said they call the Iacobaa Senecio major Erigerâ— some also after the Italian name Carduncellus which I verily beleeve should be that herbe was appointed to be put into the composition of the Vnguâ—ius Maâ—tum and not Cardus Benedictus as it is appointed in the Pharmacopala Londinensis the second is the Senâ—cia 2. vel montanus of Tabermontanus and the first Erigerum in the old Gerard very well expressing it the third is set downe by Lugdunensis under Miconus name the fourth is the second Senecio with Tragus Lobel his figure of Erigerum tomentosâ— as also the Erigerum tertium of Dodonaeus as not the true figures of this plant as Dodonaeus himselfe acknowledgeth but rather as others called it Cichorium faetidum and Lugdunensis hath observed it likewise for thâ— differeth chiefly I am the common sort but in the hoarinesse and largenesse as well of the whole plant as of the leaves the 〈◊〉 is called by Lobel Erigerum tomentosum alterum by Thalius Erigerum faetidum seu majus by Gesner in hâ—râ— and by Lugdunensis Senecio faetidus by Clusius Iacobaea Pannonica prima as Bauhinus thinketh by him Senecio incâ— pâ—is the last is mentioned onely by Camerarius in herto who saith he received it by the 〈◊〉 of Sâ—ia florâ— odoraâ— from Iosephê° de Casa bona the great Duke of Tuscane or Florence his Herbarist The Vertues Groundsell is cold and moist as Tragus saith and therefore seldome used inwardly Galen saith in 6. simpl it hath a mixt quality both cooling and a little digesting the decoction of the herbe saith Dioscorides made with wine and drunke helpeth the paines in the stomacke proceeding of choller which it may well doe by a vomit which our daily experience sheweth the juice hereof taken in drinke or the decoction of the herbe in Ale gently performeth Pliny addeth from others report that it is good against the Iaundies and falling sicknesse being taken in wine as also to helpe the paine of the bladder that is in making water when it is stopped which it provoketh as also to expell gravell in the reines or kidneyes a dram thereof given in Oxymel after some walking or stirring the body it helpeth the Sciatica also and the griping paines in the belly or the Collicke some also eate it with Vinegar as a Sallat accounting it good for the sadnesse of the heart and to helpe the defects of the Liver it is said also to provoke womens courses and some say also that it stayeth the whites which as Maâ—olus saith cannot be beleeved to be so in that the one quality is contrary to the other The fresh herbe boyled and made into a Poultis and applyed to the breasts of women that are swollen with paine and heate as also to the privy parts of man or woman the Seate or Fundament or the Arteries Ioynts and Sinewes when they are inflamed and swollen doth much ease them and used with some salt helpeth to dissolve the knots or kernells that happen in any part of the body the juice of the herbe or as Dioscorides saith the leaves and flowers with some fine Frankinsence in powder used in wounds whether of the body or of the nerves and sinewes doth singularly helpe to heale them The downe of the heads saith hee used with Vinegar doth the like but if the same downe be taken in drinke it will choake any the distilled water of the herbe performeth well all the aforesayd properties but especially for the inflammations of the eyes and watering of them by reason of the defluxion of the rheume into them Pliny reporteth a ridiculous fable to helpe the toothach to digge up the plant without any Iron toole and then to touch the aking tooth five times therewith and to spit three times after every such touch and afterwards to set the herbe againe in the same place so that it may grow will ease the paines another as fabulous and ridiculous as that is this which some have set downe that glasse being boyled in the juice of Groundsell and the blood of a Ramme or Goate will become as soft as wax fit to bee made into any forme which being put into cold water will come to be hard againe CHAP. XCI Tripolium Sea Starrewort ALthough Dioscorides and Galen knew but of one Tripolium yet because Lobel hath set forth another that is lesse and Camerarius accounteth another herbe also to be a little sort thereof I thinke it not amisse to make mention of them also in this place and some others of later knowledge 1. Tripolium majus sive vulgare The greater Sea Starrewort Our ordinary Sea Starrewort hath many long and somewhat broad leaves rising from the roote next the ground smooth fat and thicke and of a blewish greene colour somewhat like unto the leaves of Dorias Woundwort but much lesser from among which riseth up a smooth herby or fleshy greene stalke two or three foote high branched towards the toppes into divers smaller branches with such like leaves on them as grow below but lesser the flowers that stand at the toppes of them are somewhat larger and greater then of the other Italian Starrewort here before set forth among the Asters and almost of the same colour having a blewish purple border of leaves standing about a yellow middle thrum which after it hath done flowring turneth into downe and the small seede therewith is blowne away at the will of the winde the roote hath divers greater strings and many smaller fibres thereat which grow deepe and sticke fast in the mudde of the marshie ditches where it groweth 2. Tripolium minus The lesser Sea Starrewort The small Sea Starre is in all things like the greater but lesser and lower both in roote leafe stalke and flower and in the naturall places observed not to exceede the greatnesse of the small Conyza or Fleabane 3. Tripolium minus Germanicum Small Sea Starrewort of Germany This also is very like unto the last but lesse then it having a shorter stalke and narrower leaves the flower also is small and of a more purplish colour Lobel maketh mention that Montonus had in his Garden one hereof with yellow flowers but I rather thinke it was another kinde of herbe and therefore I make no further mention of it here 4. 5. Tripolium Lychnidis Coronariae folio alterum Ferulae folio Starrewort with Rose Campion like leaves and another with Fennell like leaves The seede of both these sorts of Starreworts I received from Signor Bâ—el from Lishone but they sprang not with me but it may be that with Fennell like leaves was the Ageratum fâ—rulaceum of Lugdunensis The Place The first groweth as I sayd before in the ditches of the salt Marshes neare the Sea coasts in many places of
the contrary side of the paine easeth them thereof the berries or the leaves used causeth the haire to grow blacke The fresh leaves are commonly used to bee layd upon issues wheresoever in the armes legges c. to keepe them open and to draw forth the humours that fall thither the Gum of the Ivie which in the hot countries is gathered from the body and branches is exceeding sharpe and hot burning and exulcerating the skinne yet it is used being dossolved to take away superfluous haire in any place and to destroy Nits and Lice wheresoever the same dissolved in Vinegar and put into hollow aâ—ing teeth doth ease the same and being often used will cause them to fall out Some doe use it as a bâ—iâ—e with other things to kill fish the wood made into a cup and those that are troubled with the Spleene shall finde ease and be much holpen thereof if they continually drinke out of it so as the drinke may stand some small time therein before it be drunke Cato writeth an experiment how to finde out the deceit of Vintners and others that put water to their wine which is this that if you suspect your wine you shall put some thereof into such a cup that is made of Ivie wood and that if there be any Water therein it will remaine in the cup and the wine will soke through for the nature of Ivie wood faith he and Varro is not to hold any wine so great an antipathy there is betweene them the fume of Ivie branches being burned driveth away Gnattes and Battes and all other hurtfull and noysome creatures CHAP. XCV Cymbalaria Italica Hederacea The Italian Gondelo or Ivie like leafe THis small herbe creepeth on the ground with slender threddy branches all about taking hold on walls or any thing it meeteth by small fibrous rootes which it shooteth out at the joynts as it runneth at the severall joynts grow small broad and almost round leaves cut in on the edges into corners somewhat like unto a cornered Ivie leafe each standing upon a very small and threddy stalke at the joynts likewise stand severall small flowers upon slender footestalkes fashioned like unto a Snapdragon or Fluellen flower with a taile or spurre behind it mixed of yellow whitish and purple colours and the spurre as it were washed over with a purplish also in whose places after they are fallen come small round heads conteining small blackish seede The Place It groweth naturally in divers places of our Land although formerly it hath not beene knowne to bee but in Gardens as about Hatfield in Hartfordshire both in their Gardens and other places that are shadie upon the ground for there it will alwayes best like to grow as also upon the thatched houses in the North parts as I am given to understand and most abundantly in Lancashire and in my Garden where it runneth up from the ground on the wall a pretty height The Time It flowreth seldome untill the end of Iuly and in August but continueth with mee in flower untill the great frosts destroy it and the seede is ripe soone after the flowers doe shed The Names This never as I thinke met with a Greeke Author to give it a name although the name Cymbalaria by the Latines is derived from the Greeke word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Cymba a boat or from the herbe 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Cymbalion which Dioscorides saith was a name given to his Cotyledon or Vmbilicus Veneris alter whereof divers would make this to be eyther it or a species of it and thereupon gave it the name of Cymbalaria or Cymbalaris the Apothecaries of Venice Padoâ— and divers other places in Italy where it familiarly groweth upon their mudde walles c. take it either by ignorance not knowing the right or by penury not having the right for Cotyledon or Vmbiliâ—us Veneris and so use it instead thereof in Vnguento Populeon as Matthiolus saith and therefore Lonicerus calleth it Vmbilicus Veneris officinarum Lobel calleth it Cymbalaria Cymbalaris Hederacea The Ivie like leafe Italica hederaceo folio and Columna Linaria hederae folio for he in this as in all other herbes saith the flowers and seede doe most truly demonstrate the species of every genus which I hold to be the best judicium an Herbarist can use and therefore I would make it a species of the Elatine that is veronica foemina rather then Linaria every part herein and not one as in Linaria being answerable thereunto wee may call it in English eyther Iviewort or the Ivie like leafe as it is in the title or from Cymbalion the Italian Gondelo untill a more fit name may bee given it The Vertues It is held to be cold and moist and therefore the Italians thought it a fit substitute for Vmbilicus Veneris which I hold is farre better then that kind of Ranunculus called Cotyledon aquatica which our Apothecaries use in stead thereof because it is hot sharpe and exulcerating which are quite contrary to the qualities of that herbe they use it for although the forme of the leafe being round caused the name of Cotyledon to bee given it yet hath it some astriction also whereby as Matthiolus saith it is very profitable for women that have the whites to stay them being eaten often in Sallats as the manner of the Italians and other Nations is more then of ours and therefore a Conserve made of the leaves or Syrupe made of the juice we may use in stead of their Sallats It is held as Matthiolus saith with divers to have some properties that the true Vmbilicus Veneris hath which you shall finde related in the due place this is with many held and some found by good experience to cure wounds and to stay the bleeding of them the juice thereof being dropped into them or tents dipped therein and put into them the herbe bruised and applyed outwardly ripeneth Impostumes The distilled water of the herbe serveth well for all the uses aforesayd CHAP. XCVI Leontopetalon Lyon leafed Turnep or blacke Turnep THe roote of this herbe is tuberous somewhat like a Leontopetalon Lyon leafed blacke Turnip Turnep or Sowbread or great Earth Chesnut roote being of a blackish gray colour with divers small bunches or knobbes on the sides from whence spring up divers large and long leaves much divided or cut into divers parts Dioscorides saith like unto Coleworts or Poppies Pena and Lobel say more like unto Peony leaves but wee finde that they are more jagged or cut in of a darke yellowish greene colour with us but it may be of a darker yellow colour in the naturall places neare unto the colour of a Lyons haire and thereof rose the name of Lyon leafe as I take it from whence riseth up a straked stalke spotted with pale purplish lines and strakes divided into many branches set at the joynts with smaller leaves and lesser cut in on the toppes whereof stand divers small flowers made of five leaves
saith is of excellent use to heale both old and greene wounds 〈◊〉 stay bleedings and to heale Fistulaes the powder of the dryed herbe taken with Comfrey or Plaâ—ne water doth also stay inward bleedings and put into the nose as I said before will doe the same the juice thereof put into the eyes taketh away the blood and rednesse therein the oyle made thereof stayeth the shedding of the haire the decoction thereof made in wine and drunke is good for them that cannot retaine their meate in their stomack it is accounted a good remedy for a quartaine Ague to drinke a draught of the decoction warme before the fit and so for two or three fits together the juice of the herbe and flowers taken either in Goates milke or in the distilled water of the herbe stayeth the running of the reines in men and the whites in women but it will be the more effectuall if a little powder of Corall Amber and Ivory be put thereto Matthiolus doth wonderfully commend the powder of the dryed herbe and flowers against the pissing of blood so as to an ounce of the herbe a dram of fine Bolarmonacke bee put and taken three dayes together fasting in a dâ—e of milke the roote or the greene leaves chewed in the mouth is said to ease the paines in the teeth CHAP. CIII Polygonatum sive Sigillum Salomonis Salamons Seale THere are divers sorts of Salomons Scale some anciently knowne and set forth others of later knowledge and invention both from Virginia and Brassil as shall be specified in this Chapter following 1. Polygonatum vulgare Common Salomons Seale The common Salomons Seale riseth up with a round stalke about halfe a yard high bowing â—ding downe the toppe set with single leaves one above another which are somewhat large and like 〈…〉 leaves of the Lilly Convally or May Lilly and of the same colour that is with an eye of blewishnesse 〈…〉 greene with some ribbes therein and more yellowish underneath at the foote of every leafe almost from the bottome up to the toppe of the stalke come forth small long white and hollow pendulous flowers somewhat like the flower of the May Lilly but ending in five longer points for the most part two together at the end of along footestalke and sometimes but one and sometimes also two stalkes with flowers at the foote of a leafe which are without any sent at all and stand all on the one side of the stalke after they are past come in their places small round berries greene at the first and blackish greene tending to blewnesse when they are ripe wherein lie small white hard and stony seede Camerarius in his Epitome citing Matthiolus as his Author saith that it is sometimes found with red berries and with purple the roote is of the thicknesse of ones finger or thumbe white and knobbed in some places with a flat round circle representing a Seale whereof it tooke the name lying along under the upper face of the ground and not growing downeward but with many fibres underneath Baccis rubris et purpureu 2. Polygonatum majus Great Salomons Seale This other Salomons Seale is in all things like the former but in the bignesse of the leaves and height of the stalkes having larger flowers upon shorter footestalkes and more store set together at a leafe and larger roote 3. Polygonatum majus flore majore The great flowred Salomons Seale This great flowred Salomons Seale hath shorter stalkes not above a foote high and standing more upright and 1. 3. Polygonatum majus vulgare majus flore majore The greater ordinary Salomons Seale and that with greater flowers 6. Polygonatum â—tifolium ramosum sive quartuâ— Clusi Broad leafed branched Salomons Seale somewhat flatter then the former the leaves are shorter and rounder then it but stand thicke together the flowers are larger then in any of the former and sweeter smelling like Hawthorne flowers more also standing at each leafe the berries that follow are large like the last and so is the roote also especially if it grow in good ground or else smaller 4. Polygonatum maximo folio The greatest leafed Salomons Seale This Salomons Seale groweth in the same manner that the former sorts doe with a stalke rather greater and higher then the last but not so upright the leaves hereof are larger by halfe then it almost as great as the leaves of Ellebâ— albus or the white Neesewort of a paler greene colour and not so whitish or yellow underneath the flowers are white standing upon long stalkes like the first but usually more together and without sent like them the berries that follow are like the first and so are the rootes 5. Polygonatum latifolium minus Small Salomons Seale This small Salomons Seale hath a lower stalke scarse a foote high not bending downe so much as the first but having such like leaves thereon and in the same manner yet somewhat harder or stiffer the flowers come forth at the foote of the leaves in the same fashion but are larger standing upon short footestalkes and but one upon a stalke without sent like the first the berries and roots differ not also from the first 6. Polygonatum latifolium raâ—osum sive quartum Clusii Broad leafed branched Salomons Seale This branched Salomons Seale riseth up usually with a crooked or bending stalke about a foote or more long having one or two or three branches sometimes issuing out from the sides thereof at the joynts whereof stand severall leaves as in the former sorts and somewhat like them also being somewhat large and long but tenderer and softer and not hoary underneath compassing the stalke at the lower end where it is broadest like the leaves of Thoroughwax underneath every leafe at the sides of them also at the joynts commeth forth one white flower ending in six corners spotted with blackish spots on the inside standing on a crooked long and pendulous foot-stalke which smelleth pretty and sweete after the flowers are past there come in their places three square berries greene at the first which when they grow ripe are somewhat longer then before and equall a small berry of the Câ— mas or the Cornell Cherry in bignesse almost and of a reddish colour having many whitish kernells within them the roote is not tuberous like the former sorts but slender and knotty and of a paler colour shooting forth into many nodes or knotts with divers long fibres and strings fastned thereto the stalkes dying yearely and new rising up in the Spring 7. Polygonatum Virginianum Salomons Steale of Virginia This Salomons Seale differeth from the former in three principall parts that is first in the rootes which are in these slender long and creeping like as most of our Virginian plants are and shooting up stalkes round about and not tuberous as in the former then in the flowers which in this are not set at the foote of the leaves as in the other yet the leaves are of the same
call it generally Kings Claver as the chiefest of all other three leafed grasses generally called Clavers or Claver grasses and Melilot after the Latine name to be the more easily understood yet in some places they call it Harts Claver because if it grow where Stagges and Deere resort they will greedily feede thereon And in some places of Essex they call it Hartwort because as they thinke the seede thereof happening into their bread caused paines in the stomacke and chest which they usually call the Heart burne or paines of the heart The first is called by most Authors Melilotus after the Greeke name the old Latine name of Serta or Sertula Campana being quite left Tragus calleth it Melilotus major vulgaris Camerarius Dodonaeus and Lobel call it Melilotus Germanica and Thalius Dodonaeus TrifoliuÌ„ odoratuÌ„ Matthiolus Durantes and Lugdunensis call it Lotus urbana and sativa Fuschius and Lonicerus Saxifraga Lutea and altera The second is scarse mentioned but under the other and is called by Tragus Melilotus major candida and of Dalechampius Lotus sylvestris flore albo The third Camerarius calleth Italica and Bauhinus Melilotus Italica folliculis subrotundis The fourth is called by Tragus tertia species Meliloti vulgaris who saith it is most likely to be Serapio his Melilot Fuschius Gesner Dodonaeus and Matthiolus make it to be Melilotus Italica but we have another more true species called Melilotus Italica here set downe the next before this and Lobel as you heard before called it Melilotus Syriaca odora and that because it came from Aleppo as hee saith it was much used in Italy for the true Melilot and therefore called Melilotus Italica Bauhinus calleth it corniculis reflexis major The fift Prosper Alpinus saith is called in Egypt Alchimelech and is the onely Melilot they use Bauhinus calleth it Corniculis reflexis minor The sixt Bauhinus onely giveth the name being brought to him out of Spaine The last hath his name in his title as it hath beene sent to us which as I said doth still continue There hath beene some controversie among our later writers what herbe should be the true Melilotus of Dioscorides some taking a kind of Citysus to be it others a Medica or Lagopus and others a kind of wild Lotus without sent and some also doubting of his Melilot holding it rather to be Dioscorides his Lotus urbana for as Dodonaeus saith all the Apothecaries in Germany were wont to use no other Melilot then the Trifolium odoratum but time by degrees hath worne out all these opinions and setled a more constant of this and is so now generally accepted for is former times almost every country had a severall Trefoile with yellow flowers to be their Mellilot The Arabians call it Alchilelmelich and the Italians Spaniards and French Melilote the Germanes Edlersteinklee the Dutch Groote Steenclayeren and Ghemayne Melilot and in English as I have said before The Vertues Dioscorides saith it hath an astringent or binding qualitie It mollifieth all hard tumours and inflammations that happen in the eyes or other parts of the body as the seate or fundament and the privie parts of man or women being boyled in wine and laide to the place and sometimes the yoalke of a roasted egge or the powder of Feâ—eke or Linseede or fine flower or Poppie seede or Endive is added unto it It healeth those impostumes that are fresh being applied with torra figillata and wine and the spreading ulcers also in the head being washed with a lye made thereof It easeth the paines of the stomacke applied either fresh or boyled with any other of the aforenamed things It helpeth also the paines of the eares being dropped into them and steeped in Vinegar or Rosewater it mitigateth the headach Thus saith Dioscorides Galen saith in his sixth Booke of simple Medecines that Melilot is of a mixt qualitie for it hath a little astringent facultie in it and yet it doth digest for the warming or hot qualitie is more abundant therein then the cold The Arabian Physitians doe appoint the cods and seede to be used in medicines and make no mention of flowers The Greekes contrariwise doe will the flowers onely to be used and never make use of seede or codds and therefore as Matthiolus saith it is no wonder that the compound plaister of Mellilot which the Apothecaries make not having any of the meale of the seede of the true Melilot therein doth not worke that effect that the Physitians doe expect for this compound plaister is appointed to be used to dissolve hardnesse windinesse tumours and swellings both of the spleene liver and belly as also mightily to ease the paine of them all and to heale the Hypochondria or sore part of the belly about the short ribbes when it is stretched or crackt by the swelling thereof but there is another plaister called Mellilot which is much used to draw and heale all sores and wounds that neede cleansing and is made of the juice of the greene young Mellilot boyled with Rossen Waxe Sheepe tallow and some Turpentine which if it be well made will be almost as greene as the herbe it selfe and smell very strong thereof although it be two or three yeares old The flowers of Mellilot and Camomill are much used to be put together into glysters that are given to expell winde to ease paines as also into pultoses that are made for the same purpose and to asswage swellings or tumors that happen either in the spleene or other parts by the mollifying or discussing qualities that are in it It helpeth also inflammations whether in the eyes or face or other parts of the body The juyce dropped into the eyes is a singular good medicine to take away any filme or skinne from them that groweth as a cloud to dimme the eyesight It is effectuall to be applied to those that have sodainely lost their senses by any paroxisme as also to strengthen the memorie to comfort the head and braines and to preserve them from paines and the feare of the Apoplexie if the head be often washed with the distilled water of the herbe and flowers or a lye made therewith The water also distilled serveth as a perfume to wash course gloves or other things The flowers and herbe of the white flowred Mellilot steeped in oyle Olive and set into the Sunne to digest for some time and after being boyled in a Balneo of hot water and strained forth and other fresh flowers and herbes being put thereto and Sunned as before and strained and so used at the second or third time is accounted a most soveraine Balme both for greene wounds and old sores for swellings inflammations crampes convulsions paines or aches whatsoever in any part of the body whether it be in any fleshy or musculous part or among the sinewes and veines The Italian Melilot is as effectuall as any of the other and by some accounted to be of more efficacie and vertue
major minor and Cameraria major minor the third is called Cucurbita oblonga by almost all Authors except Dodonaeus Lobel and Gerard who call it Cucurbita anguina the fourth is called Cucurbita stellata sessilis by Camerarius and Gesner in hortis by Tabermontanus Cucurbita capitata by Gerard Cucurbita sylvestris fungiformis Pepo Indicus fungiformis and Pepo maximus clypeatus for all these his three figures expresse but this one sort of Gourd and by Dodonaeus Pepolatus the fift is called Cucurbita Indica by Matthiolus rotunda of Caesalpinus and Lugdunensis and Indica major or minor of Tabermontanus Zuccha major rotunda of Cordus and Citrullus maior and Pepo maior sylvestris of Gerard which although he expresse these as he did the former for sundry plants yet they are not so of this kinde Matthiolus and others have made mention of much varietie which they saw in their time and wee I thinke in ours many more as I have declared before the sixt is mentioned by Lugdunensis onely by the name of Cucurbita verrucosa the last some call Cucumeres hyemales but I had rather call it Cucurbita hyemalis partly for the reasons before set downe but chiefely for the seede sake which is more like a Gourd then a Cowcumber What I said before concerning the variablenesse of the ancient Authors in these things I may as well say of our moderne writers in confounding Pepo Melopepo and Cucurbita so promiscuously that it is not possible to finde out the distinct certaintie of them all for some make that to bee Pepo that others call Melopepo and others Cucurbita And Bauhinus who taketh upon him to refine all other mens writings and distinguish of them in making Pepo Melopepo and Cucurbita severall kinds of plants doth so huddle and confound them together as any that will reade him advisedly and compare him may soone see that he giveth severall names to one and the same plant in divers places which errour and the prolixitie about them you see I have endeavoured as much as I can to avoyd But to give you one note worth the observation to know the severall varieties of these and the other sorts of Millions Citrulls Cowcumbers c. is dilligently to marke the forme of the seedes for the seede of the ordinary bottle Gourds are formed quite differing from all the other sorts and therefore whatsoever strange seede shall come to your hands formed somewhat like unto them you may certainly conclude them kinds of Gourds so likewise of the Pompions or Millions which are flat white and greater 〈◊〉 either Muske Melon or Cowcumber in like manner the Citrull hath a thicke hard shelled blackâ—â—e and rounder then the Gourd and therefore what seede is nearest thereto in likenesse you may include them under their family the Muske Melons and Cowcumbers are very like one unto another and therefore I would conclude them both under one genus yet if you will well observe them you shall soone know their difference by the yellower and harder shell of the Melon greater also when as those of the Cowcumber are whiter smaller and â—endâ—er shelled I know none other of these kinds of fruites but may be most truly referred by their seede especially but not either by forme colour or taste to one of these foure foreshewed sorts Some other things more before I leave this narration I thinke good to shew you namely the divers errours both of Pliny and others â—th ancient and moderne who thinke that all or most of these varieties of Gourdes have come from the seede of one kinde viz. that the seede that lyeth in the necke of the Gourde will give long Gourdes those in the middle round like Gourdes and those in the bottome or lowest parts flat or bottle like Gourds and that the 〈◊〉 of formes in them is also caused by the Art of Gardiners who by mouldes and such like doe bring them unto what â—e they please which forme say they they will continually keepe afterwards each from their own seede which is found utterly untrue for howsoever they may by mouldes c. bring them in their growing to the forme of the mould yet the seede thereof assuredly will give no other forme than the first naturall unlesse it be for◠〈◊〉 Another errour or opinion possesseth many that by the standing of water in a pot three or foure foot of from the place where it groweth it will shoote and spring wondrous fast and that if oyle be set neare it it will shrinke in as fast and againe that if women when they have their courses shall touch any part of them it will hinder their growing and lastly that to make them come without seede is to steepe the seede in oyle of Sesaâ— before you set it all which are as erronious as the former The Vertues All these sorts of Gourdes how ever different in forme yet are of one qualitie that is cold and moist in the second degree they are eaten in the hot countries with much delight kept and preserved with great care art and paires to be spent almost all the yeare after and have there as I said before a farre more sweete and pleasant rellish than in these colder climates where being more waterish they are the more unsavorie at the least more insâ— they are eaten boyled or stewed but much better being fried whereby they give the better nourishment to the body for by their moisture being boiled or stewed they are the more lubricke and make the body the more â—le and so they doe also being pickled up as many use to doe Wine also kept in a fresh Gourde all â—ight after it hath beene clensed from the loose inward pulpe and seede and drunke in the morning will cause the body to be soluble They are conveniently given to hot cholericke bodies to coole the heat and inflammation of the liver and stomacke but the distilled water of them before they are through ripe drunke with some Sugar doth wonderfully helpe to asswage thirst and the hot fits of agues For want of a Still to make water you may make some effectuall in this manner Put a whole Gourd when you have cut off the upper head and clensed it from the seede into an Oven with a batch of bread in the middle whereof there will be gathered a fine cleare water which being powred out may be kept to use as neede requireth the leaves and young branches are conveniently applied to all the hot humors empostumes and inflammations and to asswage paines of the headach the rednesse and heat in the eyes the paines in the eares and the paines of the gout if either the juice of them or the water be applied in clothes and spunges wet therein the same applied to womens breasts pained with the abundance of milke easeth them by cooling and restraining the hot qualitie and quantitie thereof the water or juice being drunke or outwardly applied to the privie parts of man and woman
Iâ—ica laciniatis foliis Italian jagged Lettice This Italian Lettice also differeth not from the ordinary sort but in the leaves which are cut into many small parts of a pale greene colour very tender and pleasant to eate The Place These sorts come from Ialy and are there noursed up in the Gardens of the curious but scarse knowne to us aâ— yet Lactuca sativa Garden Lettice 1. Lactuca oblongo folio 〈◊〉 Sharpe pointed Garden Lettice Lactuca aguina Lambes Lettice or Corne Sallet The Time Their time of flowring seeding and spending is the same with the common sort The Names Lettice is called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Thridax in Greeke and in Latine Lactuca a lactis copia The first is taken by Bauhinus to bee the Lactuca Gallica of Castor Durantes and calleth it himselfe Lactuca folio oblongo acuto the other also is called by him Lactuca Italica laciniata and we in English thereafter Italian jagged Lettice the Arabians call Lettice Chas and Cherbas the Italians Lattuga the Spaniards Lechuga and Alfalsa the French Laittue the Germans Lattik the Dutch Lattouwe and we in English Lettice The Vertues Although these sorts of Lettice doe differ in forme from the other each of them also one from another in the forme of their leaves yet in qualitie they are alike and acceptable to an hot stomacke troubled with choller yeelding good nourishment to the body as both Serapio and Galen testifie of the experience thereof on themselves and Pliny also sheweth that the learned Physition Musa did by Lettice ease Augustus of the violence of his disease Galen sheweth that the eating of boyled Lettice at night when hee went to bed procured him rest and sleepe who should have had none if hee had beene without it having used himselfe to watching from his yonger dayes the same is found effectuall also with divers or the juice thereof mixed or boyled with oyle of Roses and applied to the forehead and temples both to procure rest and sleepe and to ease the headach of any hot cause being eaten raw or boyled it helpeth to loosen the belly and the boyled more then the raw which eaten last performeth it the better and was generally so used in ancient dayes which made the Poet Martiall move this question seeing the contrary course held in his time Clandere quae caenas Lactuca solebat avorum Dic mihi cur nostras inchoat illa dapes Which may be thus Lettice that earst our Grandsires meales did close Why it begins pray tell me whence it growes It helpeth digestion quencheth thirst helpeth to encrease milke in Nourses and easeth all griping paines of 〈◊〉 stomacke or bowels that come of Choller it abateth bodily lust and therefore both it and Rue are commended for Moâ—kes Nunnes and the like sort of people to eate and use to keepe them the chastes it represseth also venerom dreames and applyed outwardly to the Cods with a little Camfire abuteth the pride and heare of lust which some call the Colterevill applyed also in the same manner to the region of the Heart Liver or Reynes or by bathing the said place with the juice or distilled water wherein some white Saunders and red Roses are put also is not onely a repercussive medicine to stay and represse the heate and inflammations therein but doth also comfort and strengthen those parts the same also tempereth the heate of Vrine Galen adviseth old men to use it with spices to conserve the radicall moysture and that where spices are wanting to adde Mintes Rocket and such like hot Sallet herbes or else Citron Lemon or Orrenge seedes or the young shootes of them to abate the cold of the one and the heate of the other The seede and the distilled water of the Lettice worke the like effects in all things but the use of the Lettice is chiefly forbidden those that are short winded or have any imperfection in their Lungs or doe use to spit blood Galen saith it did hurt his teeth and some say it hurteth the sight CHAP. XLIIII Lactuca sylvestris Wilde Lettice OF the wilde Lettice there are two or three sorts to bee declared in this Chapter wherewith I shall close and finish this Classis of cooling herbes 1. Lactuca sylvestris Endiviae folijs odore viroso Broad leafed wilde Lettice This wilde Lettice riseth up with foure or five somewhat long and large leaves smaller at the bottome and broader at the ends being round pointed unevenly dented about the edges but not cut in or torne at all of a pale or whitish greene colour and very like unto the Garden Lettice or Garden Endive leaves so that it will soone deceive one that never saw it before which doe soe abide the first winter after the sowing whether in the Spring or Autumne of the shed seede but in May following it beginneth to rise up to a stalke and then those lower leaves will have the middle ribbe on the backe side set full of small sharpe prickes the stalke hath risen in my Garden to be eight foote high at the least and as bigge as the thumbe of any mans hand at the lower joynt somewhat browne and spreading into divers very long branches whereon are set large leaves like the other but more crumpled the lower and so to the middle of the stalke set with prickes in the manner of the bottome leaves but lesser and higher somewhat more jagged or divided on the edges all and every part yeelding plenty of milke being broken which smelleth strong very like unto Opium or bitter in taste the flowers are very small and single somewhat like unto Lettice but smaller and paler yellow scarse opening themselves and scarse abiding also halfe a day open but turne into downe with small blacke seede therewith very like unto seeke Lettice seede and is carryed away with the winde the roote is white long and wooddy when it beareth 〈…〉 2. Lactuca sylvestris 〈…〉 Wh◠〈◊〉 with jagged leaves This other wilde Lettice groweth like the last but not so high or great the first leaves are of a grayer greene colour smaller and narrower then the other which so 1. Lactuca sylvestris Endiviae folijs odore viroso Broad leafed wilde Lettice abide and afterwards gaine thornes or prickes on their backsides as the other hath those that follow are much more jagged then the others and set with sharpe prickes also yelding milke as plentifull being broken and as bitter as the former but doth smell as strongly of Poppie or Opium as the other the flowers and seede are like it flying away with the winde but the roote hereof abideth after seede when as the other doth not 3. Lactuca sylvestris purpureo flore Wilde Lettice with purple flowers This great plant sometimes in moyst grounds riseth up to be foure or five cubits high but usually two or three with a strong great stalke set on each side with leaves smallest at the bottome and larger as they rise up higher being largest about the middle of the
longer than two houres and then to be washed with salt or sea water warmed it is used likewise being dissolved into an ointment with good effect to the sides or breast for the griefes therein or for the paines in the feete or joynts it serveth also to gather againe the prepâ—ce in whom it is naturall to want it by raysing a tumour and after mollified and supplied with flat things supplieth the part of a prepuce it serveth likewise to cause haire to grow apace where the places wanted it or were deprived thereof The rootes of the second and third but of the last especially in former times were gathered by impostors in Italy and Spaine and dressed like Turbith that is pared and pithed and so sold instead thereof untill diligence add experience to know the right and restise the false had prevented the future deceit and Matthiolus declaiming against Fuchsius who tooke these rootes to be the true Turbith sheweth it was so taken in Germany but I have shewed you before in the Chapters of Alipâ—â— the Tithmalls and Scamony the many errors that former times came into concerning the true Turbith the old women Leeches of Salamanca in Spaine saith Clusius use the rootes of the third or greatest Spanish kinde of Thapsia to procure womens courses and to purge the body which it doth with that violence both upward and downeward that they are 〈◊〉 brought into great danger that take it CHAP. III. Peucedanum Sow-Fennell WEe have three sorts of Sow-Fennell to offer to your consideration in this Chapter 1. Peucedanum majus Italicum Great Sow-Fennell of Italy The great Sow-Fennell hath divers long branched stalkes of thicke and somewhat long leaves three for the most part joyned together at a place among which riseth a crested straight stalke neare as bigge as Fennell with some joynts thereon and leaves growing thereat and towards the toppe some branches issuing from thence likewise on the toppes of the stalke and branches stand divers tufts of yellow flowers where after grow somewhat flat thinne and yellowish seede twise as bigge as Fennell seede the roote groweth great and deepe with many other parts and fibres about them of a strong sent like hot brimstone and yeelding forth a yellowish milke or clammy juyce almost like a Gum. 2. Peucedanum vulgare Common Sow-Fennell The common Sow-Fennell groweth in the same manner that the former and hath no other difference but that this is lower and smaller by a fourth part and the smell thereof as strong as the former 3. Peucedanum minus Small Sow-Fennell As the first Sow-Fennell was larger then the second so this is lesse then it having smaller and shorter leaves of a blewish greene colour of a little bitter taste but almost no smell the stalke is slender and round about halfe a yard high parted into divers branches whereon stand small tufts of white flowers in an umbell which are succeeded by thicke short seede almost like to Parsley but of an ash colour and bitter sharpe taste the roote is of the bignesse of ones thumbe sometimes greater or lesser with a bush of haires at the toppe blackish or brownish on the outside with a thicke barke of a pleasant sweet taste at the first and afterward sharpe The Place and Time The first groweth naturally in Italy in divers places the second in good plentie in the salt low Marshes a little by Feversham in Kent the last was found on Saint Vincents Rocke by Bristow by Lobel as hee setteth it downe in his Adversaria pag. 331. and in Hungarie and Austria by Clusius They all flower and seede in the end of Sommer that is in Iuly and August The Names It is called in Greeke 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and in Latine Peucedanus and Peucedanum some take it of the pitchy sent it 1. Peucedani majoris Italicum sâ—â—itat The toppes of the Italian Sow-Fennell 2. Peucedanum vulgare Common Sow-Fennell carryeth and others of the Pine tree whose leaves are like it Apuleiâ— calleth it Pinastellum the first is the Peucedanum of Matthiolus Anguilara and others and Peucedanum majus Italicum by Lobel and Lugdunnensis the second is called by Bauhinus Peucedanum Germanicum and Peucedanum simply without any other addition by Tragus Fuchsius Dodonaeus and others it is called also Foeniculum porcinum but by Tabermontanus Cauda porcina the last is called by Lobel Peucedani facie perpusilla planta it is called by Clusius Peucedanum Pannonicum and is probable as Clusius and Bauhinus say to be the second Saxifrage of Matthiolus the Arabians call it Harbatum the Italians Peucedano and vulgarly Finocchio porcino and by some also Pinastello by the Spaniards Fenicho del porco by the French Feâ—il de Pourceaus by the Germans of some Harstrang but commonly Sewfenchel or Schebelwurts of the Dutch Verkens Venekell and we in English Sow-Fennell Hog-Fennell Sulphurwort and Horstrange The Vertues The juice of Sow Fennell say Dioscorides and Galen used with Vinegar and rose-Rosewater or the juice with a little Eppâ—orbium put to the nose helpeth those that are troubled with the Lethargie the Phrensie the turning of the braine or dissinesse in the head the Falling sicknesse long and inveterate Headach the Palsie the Sciatica and the Crampe and generally all the diseases of the Nerves and Sinewes used with oyle and Vinegar the juice dissolved in wine or put into an Egge is good for the Cough or shortnesse of breath and for those that are troubled with winde and tormenting paines in the body it purgeth the belly gently and dissolveth the winde and hardnesse of the Spleene it giveth case to those women that have sore travaile in child birth and easeth the paines both of the bladder and reines and wombe also a little of the juice dissolved in wine and dropped into the eares easeth much of the paines in them and put into an hollow tooth ceaseth the paines thereof The roote worketh to the like effect but more slowly and lesse and is to be boyled in water and the decoction thereof drunke the dryed powder of the roote being put into foule Vlcers of hard curation clenseth them throughly remooveth any splinters of broken bones or other things in the flesh healeth them up perfectly likewise bringeth on old and inveterate sores to cicatrising it is also put into such salves as serve to heate and warme any place the roote is hot in the second degree and dry in the third but the juice is stronger Pliny recordeth the vertues hereof in divers places the roote being drunke in wine with the seede of the Cypresse tree in powder easeth the strâ—gling of the mother but some use to burne it and by the smell thereof give ease thereunto the juice helpeth the burstings of children and their Navells when they sticke forth the roote is of so great force in greene wounds and sores that it draweth out the quitture from the very bones CHAP. IIII. Libanotis Herbe Francumsence THere be divers sorts of Libanotides as both the old
the more wholsome for their Nurse Children to take the leaves being boyled in water but much more the seede stayeth the hickocke and taketh away that loathing which often happeneth to the stomackes of sicke or feaverish persons and alayeth the heate thereof the seede boyled in wine is good for them that are bitten by Serpents or have eaten poysonfull herbes or mushromes the seede and the rootes much more helpeth to open the obstructions of the Liver Spleene and Gall and thereby much conduceth to all the diseases arising from them as the painfull and windie swellings of the Spleene and the yellow Iaundies as also the Goute and Crampes the seede is of good use in pectorall medicines and those that helpe the shortnesse of breath and wheesing by obstructions of the Lungs it helpeth also to bring downe the courses and to clense the partes after delivery the rootes are of most use in Physicke drinkes and brothes that are taken to clense the blood to open obstructions of the Liver and to provoke Vrine and to amend the evill colour or complexion in the face after long sicknesse and to cause a good colour and a good habit through the whole body Fennell both leaves and seedes or rootes are much and often used in drinkes or brothes for those that are growen fat to abate their unweldinesse and make them more gaunt and lanke the distilled water of the whole herbe is likewise commended for the same purposes as also to be dropped into the eyes to clense them from all enormities risen therein but the condensate juice dissolved or as some take it the naturall juice or Gum that issueth out thereof of it owne accord in hot countries doth clense the eyes from mists and filmes that hinder the eyesight some for this purpose take the greene stalkes of Fennell and holding them to the fire in Autumne while they are greene cause a certaine juice or liquor to drop from them which they apply to the eyes as holding it to bee more effectuall then eyther condensate juice or the naturall Gum. And some yet more neately make a water to cleare the eye sight in this manner they powther some fine white Sugar Candy very finely and put that powder into the hollow greene stalke of Fennell while it groweth a foote above the ground so that it be betweene two joynts which after it hath remained therein a day two or three and the hole covered and bound close over that no raine get in in the meane time they open it at the lower joynt having first placed a good peece of soft wax made a little hollow gutture wise under the hole which may serve as a gutter or quill to carry the liquor from falling downe by the stalke into a vessell or thing set of purpose thereto to receive it The sweete Fennell by reason of the sweetenesse is much weaker then the ordinary which is better to all the physicall purpose aforesayd and therefore they doe but deceive themselves and others that use the sweet Fennell seede in compositions as thinking it the better when as it is much the weaker by want of the bitternesse which is the most operative the juice of Fennell dropped into their eares that have wormes breeding in them killeth the wormes The wilde Fennell is stronger and hotter then the tame and is therefore most powerfull against the Stone but not effectuall to encrease milke for it is dryer Honorius Bellus saith that the women of Candy use to boyle the great seede of the Hippomarathrum of Candy in Lye to dye their haire yellow CHAP. VI. Anethum Dill. ALthough formerly we have beene acquainted but with one sort of Dill although Theophrastus saith there are many sorts but expresseth none of them yet in these later times two other sorts more have beene found out which we will shew you together here 1. Anethum hortense sive vulgare Common garden Dill. The common Dill groweth up with seldome more then one stalke neither so high nor so great usually as Fennell being round and with fewer joynts thereon whose leaves are sadder and somewhat long and so like Fennell that it deceiveth many but harder in handling and somewhat thicker and of a stronger sent also and unpleasanter the toppes of the stalkes have fewer branches and smaller umbells of yellow flowers which turne into small seede somewhat flatter and thinner then Fennell seede and of a stronger and more unpleasant taste the roote is small and wooddy perishing every yeare after it hath borne seede and is unprofitable never put to any use 2. Anethum sylvestre majus Great wilde Dill. This great kinde differeth not from the former in any notable 1. Anethum hortense sive vulgare Common garden Dill. part but in the greatnesse both of stalkes leaves flowers and seede and that it is found growing naturally wilde in Sicilia as Caesalpinus saith 3. Anethum sylvestre minus Small wilde Dill. As the last was greater in all parts then the first so this is much lesse then it growing but a foot high the leaves are fine and small on the stalkes and the flowers yellow like it and the seede small and long thus in roote as well as the rest being smaller maketh the difference for both these last are but annuall as the first The Place and Time The first is most usually sowen in Gardens and grounds for the purpose yet it is found wilde with us in some places the second as is sayd hath beene found in Sicilia as the last and sent by Columna to Bauhinus and by Boel from Lishbone to us The Names It is called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in Greeke 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 quod cito crescat say some or as others thinke quasi 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 id est invictum quia cibi appetentiam excitat as also 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 quod est congressus coitio venerea ad quam lacessit Anethi usus ut antiqui prodiderant tameatsi plurimo usu geniteram tandem exhauriat The first is simply called Anethum by all authors or Anethum hortense as Bauhinus doth the second is onely mentioned by Cesalpinus and Bauhinus out of him and the last by Bauhinus onely from Columna the Arabians call it Zebet or Sebet the Italians Aneto the Spaniards Eneldo the French Anet the Germans Dyllen and Hechkraut the Dutch also Dille and we Dill. The Vertues Dill is hot in the third and dry in the second degree especially being greene but when it is dryed it is hot and dry in the third digesting then more then before it is good to breede milke saith Dioscorides but Galen in the Fennell before seemeth to gainesay it for being so dry it stayeth milke and engendreth it not and to ease swellings and paines being boyled and drunke the same also stayeth both the belly and the stomacke from casting the decoction thereof helpeth women that are troubled with the paines and windinesse of the mother if they sit therein it provoketh Vrine it
ample recitall which although I thinke it almost needlesse to set downe the vertues of an herbe which is so little likely to be had as this is for ignâ—ti nulla cupido yet to satisfie those that are curious these they are the roote saith he heateth and is hardly digested it hurteth the bladder and healeth knots and kernells of the throate called the Kings evill if it be made into a cerot or plaister and laid to with oyle taketh away blacke and blew spots that come by bruises or strokes it helpeth the Sciatica if it be made up with Ceratum Irinum or Cyprinum it taketh away the outgrowings about the fundament if it be boiled with vinegar in the rinde of a Pomegranat it resisteth the force of deadly poisonfull medicines The Laser of Media and Syria is weaker than that of Cyrene hath a loathsomer sent it is a juyce that is windy and sharpe in taste and cureth the falling of the haire if it be annointed with it Wine Pepper and Vinegar it sharpeneth the sight and discusseth the pinne and webbe in the beginning it is put into hollow teeth being tied up in a little linnen cloth with some white Francumsence and being boiled with Hisope and Figges in Vinegar and Water it is good to wash the mouth it helpeth the biting of mad dogges if it be applied to the wounds also the venome of any other creature or envenomed darts or aâ—â—owes if it be either drunke or outwardly applied it cureth the wounds of Scorpions if it be relented in oyle and anointed it is put into those ulcers that are ready to runne into a Gangreene if they be first scarified it breaketh carbuncles or plague sores being applied by it selfe or used with Rue Niter and Honey it taketh away warts cornes and hard skinnes growing in any place being first pared and it mollified with a cerote or the pulpe of a dried Figge and healeth tetters and ring wormes while they are yong being applied with vinegar it healeth the polypus in the nose which is a peece of flesh growing there if it be annointed for certaine dayes with it made up with Coperas or Vardigrease at other superfluous wens or outgrowings in the flesh being first clipped off it helpeth a continuall hoarsenesse in the throate and cleareth the voyce that is suddenly growen hoarse being delaied in water and supped off it staâ—eth the falling of the pallate of the mouth being applied with honey and helpeth the quinsie if it be put into honied water and the mouth gargled therewith being taken in meates it maketh one better coloured it helpeth the cough being taken in a reare egge and being put into broathes with dried Figges it is very profitable for those that have the dropsie or the yellow jaundise it taketh away the shaking fits of agues being taken with Pepper and white Francumsence in wine it is given to those that have strong crampes or crickes in their neckes halfe a scruple weight rowled up in waxe and swallowed it draweth out horse-leeches that by chance are got into the throate and there sticke if the mouth be gargled with it and a little vinegar it helpeth those who have the milke curded in their breasts and the falling sicknesse being taken with Oxymell or vinegar and honey it provoketh womens courses being taken with Pepper and Myrrhe and helpeth the chollicke being eaten in a Raâ—sâ—n and being drunke in lye it suddenly helpeth crampes or convulsions and burstings it is dissolved with bitter Almonds or with Rue or with hot bread to be given in potions the juyce of the leaves worketh the like effects but lesse powerfully this is eaten with Oxymell to helpe the windepipe when the speech is lost Pliny declareth many of these things out of Dioscorides but varieth from him in his remedy for teeth-ach for I cannot thinke saith he that any author would appoint it to be put into hollow teeth to take away the paine when as we have seene the experience thereof in a man that for the same cause threw himselfe downe headlong from an high place for it inflameth oxen if it be put into their noses and being mixed with wine it bursteth those Serpents that take it who are most greedy of wine and therefore saith he I would perswade men not to be anointed therewith although they doe appoint it Galen also lib. de simpl briefly speaketh thereof thus the juyce of Silphium is very hot saith he the leaves stalkes and rootes doe sufficient stoutly heate any cold part but they are all of flatulent windinesseâ— hereby it is hard of concoction but applied outwardly it is of more effect the juyce is the strongest of all other having a mightie drawing facultie yet it holdeth a certaine power to take away excressences in the flesh by reason of the temperature is said to be in it thus farre Galen Serapio likewise speaketh of the Greekes Laserpitium in this manner Laser saith he is knowne to the Indians to be of two sorts the one sincere shining and cleare like to Electrum of a stronger sent and greater price which is brought as it is thought from Guzarate Patane Maudou Chitor and Dely which is a cold countrey and extending unto Chervam the other is foule and muddy smelling lesse which they say is brought from Corasone to Ormus in Persia and from thence is carried to Pegu Malaca Tauasiris and the countries next adjoyning the Baneans of Cumbaya who were in times past Phylosophers and are now Merchants and forbeare to eate of any living creature which was the institution of Pythagoras doe buy this Laser according to their abilitie and put it into their broaths and sallats rubbing the vessells therewith first and use no other sawse to their meates being pleasant to them both in taste and smell yet doth it not breede any loathing in any that are not accustomed to it the taste thereof is at the first somewhat bitter as pickled Olives are but being chewed a while longer it is very pleasant that which is impure Porters and others of meane qualitie that live on bread and water only doe buy because they cannot for the greatnesse of the price buy that which is sincere and the Baneans who deale in this kinde of merchandise doe purge and clense the impure and doe not suffer it to be used in meates before they have cured it by their skill and thus much Serapio CHAP. XXXVI Angelica Angellica ALthough I have spoken of Angelica in my former booke yet having more to say thereof and to shew likewise some other sorts thereof I will here insert it with the rest 1. Angelica sativa Garden Angellica The Garden Angellica hath divers large and faire spread winged leaves three foote long or better sometimes made of many great and broad ones set usually one against another on a middle ribbe of a pale but fresh greene colour and dented about the edges from among which usually riseth but one round hollow stalke being very thicke and five
or sixe foote high with divers great joynts and leaves set on them whose foote stalkes doe compasse the maine stalke at the bottome and from thence also towards the toppe come forth branches with the like but lesser leaves at them and at their toppes large round spread umbells of white flowers but Brausus describeth his with yellow flowers which I never saw after which commeth the seede which is somewhat flat thicke short and white two alwayes set together and is usuall in all these umbelliferous plants and a little 1. Angelica sativa Garden Angellica 2. Angelica sylvestris Wilde Angellica 3. Angelica sylvestris montana ditarum specitrum Two sorts of Mountaine Angelica 4. Archangelica The great water Angellica crested on the round seede the roote groweth great and wooddy when it flowreth with many great long branches to it but perisheth after seede and will rise and spring againe better from the seede that doth fall of it selfe then what is sowen by hand at any other time the whole plant both leafe and seede and roote is of an excellent pleasant sent and taste very comfortable being not fierce or sharpe but rather sweete and giveth a most delicate rellish when it is tasted or used the leaves be the weakest and some hold the seede to bee next and the roote to be the strongest especially being not ready to grow up for stalke Of this kinde wee have another sort in our Gardens called sweet Angellica not differing in any thing from the former Dulcis but in that it hath a sweeter rellish then the other 2. Angelica sylvestris Wilde Angellica The wilde Angellica groweth up with large spread leaves on the ground having smaller stalkes and lesser divided leaves by much of a darke greene colour not smelling halfe so strong as the garden kinde yet savouring so much like Angelica that by the smell one may soone see and know it to be a kinde of Angellica though wilde the stalkes are much slender and smaller yet growing three or foure foote high with smaller joynts and lesser leaves thereat at the toppes grow lesser umbells of white flowers which turne into smaller seede and blacker the roote is nothing so great as the former neyther are the strings so great or long and of a blacker colour on the outside not smelling halfe so well Of this kinde likewise there is some varietie one growing likewise wilde with us not much differing in the leaves but being smaller and not so much divided the stalkes being reddish and the seede thicker and longer Sylvestris altera the roote being great and thicke 3. Angelica sylvestris montana Mountaine wilde Angellica Mountaine Angellica groweth like the former wilde kinde but much lower and smaller in every part the roote hereof differeth most in that it is nothing so great but sendeth forth many small brownish strings from the the head round about it yet holding the same strong sent of Angellica that the former doth I give you here the figures of two other sorts of Angellica taken out of Doctor Foxes booke of dryed herbes which he had from Padoa garden and might seeme to be the Laserpitium of Alpinus set forth before but that they had severall denominations to them 4. Archangelica The greater water Angellica This Angellica groweth with a taller and much greater stalke sometimes reddish the leaves likewise being more in number and smaller divided and of as deepe a greene colour as the first sort in the tufts of white flowers it is like the first garden Angellica and so is the seede but greater and blacker the roote is great according to the plant and endureth many yeares without perishing The Place and Time The first sorts are with us sowen in Gardens the second sort is wilde both in many places of Essex Kent and neare Kentish Towne by London also and in other places the third groweth on divers mountaines in Germany Hungary and the rest the last is not onely naturall to grow in watery ditches but in moist grounds also in many places with us and in the Marsh ditches by Rederiffe The Names This herbe hath gained many worthy names from sundry worthy persons for some have called it Sancti Spiritus radix Lacuna and Dodonaeus thinke it some kinde of Laserpitium Cordus and some others take it to be Smyrniâ—â— and Cordus to be Panax Heracleum but all in generall call it Angellica from the Angell-like properties therein All these sorts are so called by most Authors as their titles beare and therefore I neede not explaine them further onely the last is called Archangelica by Clusius and Angelica aquatica by Gesner All Christian nations likewise in their appellations hereof follow the Latine name as neare as their Dialect will permit onely in Sussex they call the wilde kinde Kex and the Weavers winde their Yarne on the dead stalkes The Vertues Angellica is hot and dry some put it in the second and others in the third degree It resisteth poyson by defending the heart the blood and spirits and giveth heate and comfort to them it doth the like against the Plague and infection of the Pestilence if the roote be taken in powder to the weight of halfe a dramme at a time with some good Treakle in Cardos water and layd to sweate thereupon in their bed if Treakle be not at hand take the roote alone in Cardus or Angellica water the stalkes or rootes candid and eaten fasting are good helpes also in time of infection and at other times to warme and comfort a cold or old stomack The root also steeped in Vinegar and a little of that Vinegar taken sometimes fasting and the roote smelled unto are both good preservatives for that purpose a water distilled from the rootes simply or steeped in wine and distilled in glasse is much more effectuall then the water of the leaves and this water being drunke two or three spoonefulls at a time doth ease all paines and torments that come of cold or winde so as the body be not bound the said water taken with some of the roote in powder helpeth the Plurisie being taken in the beginning as also all other diseases of the Lungs and breast as coughes and shortnesse of breath Tissickes and so doth the Syrupe of the stalkes mentioned in my former booke it helpeth likewise the torments of the Chollicke the strangury and stopping of the urine procureth womens courses and expelleth the afterbirth and briefely easeth and discusseth all inward tumors and windinesse it openeth the obstructions of the Liver and Spleene and the decoction thereof being drunke before the fit of an Ague so that they may sweate if it be possible before the fit come will in twice or thrice taking rid it quite away it helpeth also digestion in the stomacke and is a remedy for a Surfet The juice or the water dropped into the eyes cleareth the dimnesse of sight if any filmes doe begin to breed in them and helpeth deafenesse by dropping it into the eares
the juice also put into hollow teeth easeth the paine the rootes in powther made up with a little pitch into a plaister and layd on the biting of a mad dog or any other venemous creature doth wonderfully helpe them the juice or the water dropped or tents wet therein and put into old and filthy deepe Vlcers or the powder of the roote in want of the other doth clense them and cause them to heale quickly by covering the naked bones with flesh the distilled water applyed to places pained with the Goute or Sciatica doth give a great deale of case the wilde Angellica is not so effectuall as the Gardens although it may safely bee used to all these purposes aforesaid the roote of the Garden Angellica is a better substitute in Theriaca Andromachi and 〈◊〉 then many other that have beene formerly accepted CHAP. XXXVII Imperatoria sive Astrantia Maisterwort OF this herbe there are two sorts the one well-knowne and the other set forth first by Camerarius in his Epitome on Matthiolus and Bauhinus after him in his Matthiolus 1. Imperatoria sive Astrantia vulgaris The common Masterwort Common Maisterwort hath divers stalkes of winged leaves divided into sundry parts three for the most part standing together at a small footestalke on both sides of the greater and three likewise at the end of the stalk each of which leaves are somewhat broad cut in on the edges into three or more divisions and all of them besides dented about the brims of a darke greene colour and doe somewhat resemble Angelica leaves at the first sight untill they bee better regarded and that they grow lower to the ground and upon lesser stalkes among which rise up two or three short stalkes in comparison of Angelica being about two foot high and slender with such like leaves at the joynts as grow below but lesser and with fewer divisions bearing umbells of white flowers and after them small thinne flat blackish seede bigger then Dill seede the roote is somewhat great and rather groweth sidewise then downe deepe into the ground shooting forth sundry heads which tasteth sharpe biting on the tongue and is the hottest and sharpest part of any of the rest of the plant and the seede next unto it being somewhat blackish on the outside and smelling well 2. Imperatoria Alpina Mountaine Maisterwort The mountaine Maisterwort groweth somewhat like the former but lesser in every part having nine leaves standing on each stalke by three and three but they are smaller and narrower and have fewer incisions in them but finely dented about the edges the flowers and seede are alike and the roote groweth in like manner with a blackish outside but is more sharpe and hot biting on the tongue then the former by much The Place and Time The first is found on sundry hils in Italy as also in Germany yet it is usually kept in Gardens with them as well as with us The other was found on the Alpes in Switzerland They flower and seede late with us as not untill the end of August The Names It is called by the latter Writers generally Imperatoria from the excellent vertues it hath yet many have referred that name to sundry plants of the Auncients not thinking that an herbe of such rare qualities should be unknowne to them and therefore Anguilara tooke it to be Ligusticum and Ruellius and Fuchsius to be Laserpitium yet not finding it fully to answer thereunto calleth it Laserpitium Germanicum Tragus referreth it to Smyrnium and calleth it Smyrnium hortense and Osteritium and yet nameth other herbes by that name also and Cordus in historia unto Struthion Matthâ—olus Gesner in hortis Lobel Lugdunensis Tabermontanus and others call it Imperatoria Brunfelsius Dodonaeus and Clusius call it Astrantia Camerarius Magistrantia and Caesalpinus Herba rena as the vulgar with him did The other Camerarius calleth Imperatoria vel Astrantia Alpina and saith the Germanes 1. Imperatoria sive Astrantia vulgaris Common Maisterwort 2. Imperatoris sive Astrantia Alpina Mountaine Maisterwort call it Bergstrents and the former Meisterwurtz and thence it is like they derived their Magistrantia We in English call it usually Maisterwort and by some Pelletory of Spaine but falsely The Vertues The roote of Maisterwort is hotter then pepper even to the third degree compleate and is of very subtile parts it is very availeable in all cold griefes and diseases both of the stomacke and body dissolving winde very powerfully both upward and downeward it is also used in a decoction with wine against all cold rheumes or destillations upon the lungs and shortnesse of breath to be taken morning and evening the same also provoketh urine and helpeth to breake the stone and expell gravell from the Kidneyes it procureth womens courses and expelleth the dead birth and is singular good for the strangling of the mother and other the like womens diseases it is effectuall also against the dropsie crampes and the falling sicknesse for the decoction in wine being gargled in the mouth doth draw downe much water and flegme from the braine thereby purging and easing it of what oppressed it it is of a rare qualitie against all sorts of cold poysons to be taken as there is cause either more or lesse and provoketh sweate the seede worketh to the like effect although not with the like efficacie if they can brooke the taste thereof and therefore many doe distill the water from both herbe and roote that they may take it with the better content the juice hereof dropped or tents dipped therein and applyed eyther to the greene wounds or rotten ulcers yea although they fret and creepe and be almost gangrenated and those also that come by envenomed weapons doth soone clense and heale them or if they be bathed with the distilled water the same also is very good to helpe the Goute comming of a cold cause Tragus saith that the decoction of the roote in wine being drunke doth revive the abilitie of generation being almost extinct which you may truly beleeve and try to be certaine as he saith but by his leave this is against Galens rule for hee saith that those things that are so hot to expell winde doe not helpe but hinder nature the other sort as I said before is more effectuall and in especiall for quartaine Agues to expell the dead child to purge the braine and to expell winde and helpe the Collicke CHAP. XXXVIII Podagraria sive herba Gerardi Goutwort or herbe Gerard. OF this herbe likewise there are two sorts the one knowne but to few yet the other is two well knowne especially where it getteth into any ground and although for their likenesse one to another divers have joyned this and the foregoing Maisterwort in one Chapter yet because they are differing plants in many notable parts I have thought good to part them into two 1. Podagraria vulgaris Common herbe Gerard. The common herbe Gerard is a low herbe seldome rising halfe a yard high having sundry
give you because the plant perished through the intemperature of the climate The Place The first as I sayd groweth not onely neare the Sea coasts in the low countries and in our Land also but in the uplands also of the higher and lower Germany also by rivers sides as Cordus Gesner Clusius and others have set it downe the second as Clusius saith groweth in divers places of Spaine Portugall and Narbone in France the third he saith he onely found at the farther border of the kingdome of Valencia in Spaine about the Citie Horūela neare the River Sagura and in no place else the fourth he likewise saith he found plentifully among other shrubbes in the waste grounds of the kingdome of Granado and Murcia The Time They flower in the Sommer and the fruit is ripe in September The Names There is great controversie among our moderne writers as I said before concerning this 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Rhamnus as the Greekes and Latines call it every one almost appropriating one thorny bush or other thereunto for Camerarius and Tragus judge the Grossularia or Vuacrispa our Goose berry bush to be the Rhamni tertium genus of Dioscorides and call the Spina infectoria before set forth in this worke to be Rhamni aliaspecies not knowing any purging qualitie therein as others afterwards did and thereupon called it Rhamnus Catharticus or solutivus Matthiolus setteth forth likewise a kind of prickly bush for the Rhamnus secundus Dioscoridis which Pena and Lobel mislike giving another in the stead thereof which they say commeth nearer to the description of Dioscorides and even the ancient authors themselves are not constant nor free of variation herein for as before said Dioscorides hath three sorts of Rhamnus whereof the third sort is much doubted of by divers some thinking the Text of Dioscorides to be corrupt and the third sort to be added or superfluous Theophrastus hath but two sorts white and blacke and mentioneth Paliurus as a peculiar plant by it selfe saying also it is of many sorts and Galen maketh mention but of one sort as if there were but one or that the rest were comprehended under that one Pliny maketh two sorts but he without consideration referreth them to the Rubus or Bramble The first here set forth is the Rhamnus secundus Dioscoridis of Matthiolus Dodonaeus Clusius Lugdunensis as also of Lacuna and Lonicerus but Pena and Lobel in Adversarijs make it the first of Dioscorides Cordus upon Dioscorides and in his history also calleth it Oleaster Germanicus and in his Observationum sylva Oleastri peculiare genus Camerarius in horto and in Epitome calleth it Rhamni species and Caesalpinus Rhamni alterum genus Bellonius in his Observations maketh mention of a Rhamnus baccis rubentibus which it is probable is this Columna taketh it to be Hippophae Dioscoridis and Bauhinus calleth it Rhamnus Salicis folio angusto fructu flavescente the second is the Rhamnus primus Dioscoridis of Matthiolus Anguilara Lacuna Lonicceus Clusius Dodonaeus Lugdunensis and Rauwolfius Lobel calleth it Rhamnus alter Dioscoridis Monspeliacus Cordus upon Dioscorides and Bauhinus call it Rhamnus candida Theophrasti as also Rhamnus spinis oblongis flore candicante Rauwolfius saith that the Arabians call it Haoser and they about Tripoli in Soria or Syria Hansegi the third is Clusius his Rhammi primi altera species the fourth is his Rhamnus tertius and so also it is of Dodonaeus and Tabermontanus and of Lobel Rhamnus primae speciei tertius and is likely to be the Rhamni genus baccis nigris in Graecia of Bellonius Bauhinus calleth it Rhamnus niger Theophrasti and Rhamnus tertius flore herbaceo baccis nigris the fift Lugdunensis exhibiteth from a skilfull Herbarist as hee saith that brought it to Dalechampius gathered in Bavaria and not knowing unto what plant to referre it better called it Rhamnus Bavaricus which name doth so continue untill it can be better disposed of the last Iacobus Cornutus onely exhibiteth in his Canadensium plantarum historia The Arabians call it as is aforesaid the Italians Ramno and Mauruca the Spaniards Scambrones the French Bourgespine in some places for that name is given to divers plants in sundry places Anguilara saith that generally Dioscorides his first Rhamnus is taken to be that plant which at Rome is called Spino santo and of others Spino de Christo Marcellus in his booke de re medica calleth it Salutaris herba and spina alba Cordus also witneseth that Rhamnus is called by the Latines Spina alba but wisely adviseth that this shrub Spina alba be not confounded with the other two sorts of Thistles so called also Ovid also speaketh of it lib. 6. fastorum shewing the use of it in his time to expell incantations in these verses Sic fatus spinam qua tristes pellere posset Aforibus noxas haec erit alba dedit And in another place not farre from the former he saith the same of the same plant otherwise called Virga Ianalis in this manner Virgaque Ianalis despina sumitur alba Qua lumen thalamis parva fenestra dabat The Vertues These thorny plants are in qualitie one much like another being as Galen saith cold in the end of the first degree or in the beginning of the second and drying and digesting in the second and thereby helpeth inflammations Saint Anthonies fire and other fretting and eating Cankers and is good against pushes wheales c. in using the young leaves whiles they are fresh A decoction of the leaves and inner barke thereof made in water whereunto a little allome is put is very good to wash the mouth when there is any inflammation or Vlcer or other disease therein Clusius saith that the Spaniards doe eate the young shoots of his first Rhamnus as a Sallat herbe and that they use the decoction of the Blacke berries of this fourth sort to bathe those places that are out of joynt and to helpe the paines of the Goute CHAP. XXIIII Lycium sive Pyxacantha Box thorne ALthough we are not certaine that any of these thorny shrubs here set forth in this Chapter is the true and right Lycium of Dioscorides agreeing thereunto in all things yet because all of them have some correspondence therewith in divers particulars they have beene by the judicious finders out of them referred unto it as shall be shewed 1. Lycium vulgatius The more common Box thorne The more common Box thorne is a shrubbe or low tree yet growing sometimes foure or five cubits high with many branches spreading therefrom covered with a darke greene barke somewhat grayish in the body and older boughes set somewhat thicke with small hard and almost round leaves like Box two for the most part at a joynt from whence also thrusteth forth a small sharpe thorne the flowers grow many together in a cluster at the severall joynts upwards of a greenish colour after which come small berries greene at the first and blacke when they are ripe of the
Dioscorides sheweth of the leaves and berries but Pliny saith of the roote and branches which being steeped three dayes in water was afterwards boyled and strayned then evoporated untill it came to the thicknes of hony and so to be kept as a liquid medicine as Galen seemeth to intimate or else dryed up to the thicknesse of Opium and made up in that manner into Cakes which as is sayd were to be broken to know the goodnesse the scumme saith Dioscorides taken away in the boyling is put with other medicines that serve for the eyes the rest is put to other uses yet the Lycium it selfe is also set downe by him to be effectuall to take away the dimnesse and filmes that hinder the sight It stayeth Fluxes of all sorts both of the belly and humours as the Laske and Bloody flux the aâ—undance of Womens courses and the whites bleedings at the mouth or nose and spitting of blood it is effectuall also for all fowle and creeping Cankers Vlcers and sores whether in the mouth throat or other parts of the body as also for the loosenesse of the gummes chappes in the lippes or clefts in the fundament and at the rootes of the nayles of the hands but especially for all sores in the privie parts of man or woman it is good for the cough being taken with water as also against the bitings of a mad Dogge being put into the eares that ruâ—â—e and matter it helpeth them it is good also against the itch and scabbes and to clense the skinne it coloureth the haire yellow and giveth a yellow dye not onely to Leather and skinnes but serveth Dyers also and Painters in their workes CHAP. XXV Rubus The Bramble OF the Brambles there are are divers sorts some having thornes or prickles upon them others few or none some growing higher and lower then others some also carefully nursed up in Gardens which are the Raspies berries of divers sorts whereof I have in my former Booke given you the knowledge sufficiently and shall not be here againe described 1. Rubus vulgaris major The common Bramble Blacke berry bush The common Bramble or Blacke berry bush is so well knowne that it needeth no description every one that hath seene it being able to say that it shooteth forth many very long ribbed or straked branches which although a great part thereof standeth upright yet by reason of the length 1. Rubus vulgaris major The Bramble or Blacke bush and weakenesse they bend againe downe to the ground there many times taking roote againe all of them thicke set with short and crooked thornes and leaves likewise at severall places upon long prickly footestalkes three and sometimes five set together hard and as it were crumpled with small prickes on the middle under rib of a darke greene colour and grayish underneath which seldome fall away all the winter untill all the sharpe frosts be past whereby the countrey men doe observe that the extremity of Winter is past when they fall off and that new leaves shortly after beginne to shoot forth againe the flowers are many set together at the ends of the branches which consist of five whitish leaves like those of the wilde Bryer bush and sometimes dasht with a little Carnation with small threads in the middle after which come the fruit every one by it selfe but consisting of many graines or Berries as it were set together in a round head like a Mulberry greene at the first reddish afterwards and blacke and sweete when they are ripe which else are harsh and unpleasant the roote groweth great and knottie 2. Rubus minor Chamaerubus sive Humirubus The small low or ground Bramble The branches hereof are very slender alwayes lying and trayling upon the ground never raysing it selfe up as the former doth and often rooteth as it creepeth set with crooked thornes but much smaller then the other with the like leaves and flowers of a pale Rose colour and berries but smaller and of a blewish blacke colour when they are ripe like unto a Damson and as sweete as the other Blaccke berry almost but with lesser sappe or juice in then the roote here of creepeth about and from the knotty joynts send forth new branches Of this kinde there is another sort 3. Rubus montanus odoratus Sweet mountaine Bramble or Raspis This mountaine Bramble or Raspis for to eyther it may bee referred hath sundry long stalkes rising from the roote without any thornes on them but set thicke with soft haires from whence shoot forth theÌ„ broad and large leaves without order set upon long hairy footestalkes divided into five parts almost to the middle ribbe and sometimes but into three or more each a little dented about the edges of a very sweet sent but falling away in winter the flowers are somewhat large like the Eglantine of a delayed purplish violet colour with divers yellow threads in the middle 2. Chamaerubus sive Hamirubus The small or low Bramble 4. Rubus saxatilis Alpinus The stony Bramble or Rocke Raspis 6. Chamaemorus Anglica Our Knot berrie 7. Chamaemorus Cambro Britanica The welsh Knot berry or Lancashiere Cloud berry standing at the toppes of the branches after which come the fruit very like unto Bramble berries but reddish as Raspis but not so well rellished the roote spreadeth much about under ground 4. Rubus tricoccos The Deaw berry or Winberry The Deaw berry hath slender weake branches like the last more often lying downe then being raised up with fewer prickes and thornes thereon then in the last the leaves likewise are usually but three set together more separate on the branches yet almost as large as it and nearer set together on long footstalkes the flowers are white and small the berries usually consisting but of three small berries or graines set together in one yet many times foure or five lesse sappie but not lesse sweete or blew then the other the roote hereof creepeth under ground more then the last 5. Rubus saxmilis Alpinus The stony Bramble or Rocke Raspis This small low plant which by Clusius is more fitly referred to the Raspis then the Bramble hath divers slender reddish twiggy hairy branches little more then a foote high without any thorne at all on them set here and there with rough leaves upon footstalkes three alwayes joyned together and dented about the edges of a very harsh and binding taste the flowers stand at the toppes of the branches three or foure together consisting of foure and some of five leaves a peece of a pale or whitish Rose colour which afterwards turne into small fruit composed of three foure or five graines or berries set together greater then eyther in the Raspis or Bramble of a reddish colour when they are ripe almost transparent full of a most pleasant sweete and acid juice gratefull to the palate having in each of them a white rough kernell or stone the roote creepeth all about and shooteth forth sundry branches from the joynts as they creepe
bitternesse for being dryed that bitternesse vanisheth when the other two doe abide the bitternesse therefore in the Roses when they are fresh especially the juice purgeth choller and watery humours which qualitie the Greeke authours it seemeth knew not but being dryed and that heate that caused the bitternesse being consumed they then have a stopping and astringent power Those also that are not full blowen doe both coole and binde more then those that are full blowne and the white Roses more then the red The decoction of red Roses made with wine and used is very good for the head-ache and paines in the eyes eares throate and gums the fundament also the lower bowels and the matrix being bathed or put into them the same decoction with the Roses remaining in them is profitably applyed to the region of the heart to ease the inflammations therein as also Saint Anthâ—cies fire and all other diseases of the stomacke being dryed and beaten to powder and taken in steeled wine or water doe helpe to stay womens courses they serve also for the eyes being mixed with such other medicines that serve for that purpose and are sometimes put into those compositions that are called Anthera as is before said The yellow threads in the middle of the red Roses especially which as I said bee erroniously called the Rose seedes being powdered and drunke in the distilled water of Quinses stayeth the aboundance of womens courses and doth wonderfully stay and helpe the defluxions of rheume upon the gummes and teeth and preserveth them from corruption and fastneth them being loose if they bee washed and gargled therewith and some Vinegar of Squilles added thereto the heads with seed being used in powder or in a decoction stayeth the Laske and the spitting of blood Red Roses doe strengthen the heart the Stomacke and Liver and the retentive faculties they mitigate the paines that arise of heate asswage inflammations procure sleepe and rest stay womens courses both white and red and the Gonorrhea the running of the reines and the fluxes of the belly the juice of them doth purge and clense the body from choller and flegme the huskes of the Roses with the beards and the nailes of the Roses are binding and cooling and the distilled water of eyther of them is good for the heate and rednesse in the eyes to stay and dry up the rheumes and watering of them Of the red Roses are usually made many compositions all serving to sundry good uses which are these Electuary of Roses Conserve both moist and dry which is more usually called Sugar of Roses Syrupe of dryed Roses and Hony of Roses the cordiall powder called Diorrhodon Abbatis and Aromaticum rosarum the distilled water of Roses Vinegar of Roses ointment and oyle of Roses and the Rose leaves dryed which although no composition yet is of very great use and effect to be last of all spoken To entreate of them all exactly I doe not entend for so a pretty volume of it selfe might be composed I will therfore only give you a hint of every one of them and referre the more ample declaration of them to those that would entreat onely of them The Electuary is purging whereof two or three drams of it selfe taken in some convenient liquor is a competent purgation for any of weake constitution but may bee encreased unto six drammes according to the qualitie and strength of the patient this purgeth choller without any trouble and is good in hot Fevers in paines of the head arising from hot and chollericke humors and heare in the eyes the Iaundies also and joynt aches proceeding from hot humors The moyst conserve is of much use both binding and cordiall for untill it be about two yeare old it is more binding then cordiall but afterwards it is mâ—re cordial then binding some of the yonger conserve taken with Mithridatum mixed together is good for those that are troubled with the distillations of rheume from the braine into the nose and defluxions of rheume into the eyes as also for fluxes and Laskes of the belly and being mixed with the same powder of Masticke is very good for the running of the reines and for other loosenesse of humors in the body The old conserve mixed with Diarrhodon Abbatis or Aromaticum rosarum is a very good cordiall against faintings swownings and weakenesse and tremblings of the heart it strengthneth also both them and a weake stomacke helpeth digestion stayeth casting and is a very good preservative in the time of infection The dry Conserve which is called Sugar of Roses is a very good Cordiall to strengthen the heart and spirits as also to stay defluxions The Syrupe of dryed red Roses strengthneth a relaxed stomacke given to casting cooleth an overheated Liver and the blood in Agnes comforteth the heart and resisteth putrefaction and infection and helpeth to stay Laskes and fluxes Hony of Roses is much used in gargles and lotions to wash sores eyther in the mouth throate or other parts both to clense and heale them and stay the fluxes of humors falling upon them hindering their heating it is used also in glisters both to coole and clense The cordiall powders called Diarrhodon Abbatis and Aromaticum Rosarum doth comfort and strengthen the heart and stomacke procureth an appetite helpeth digestion stayeth casting and is very good for those that have slippery bowels to strengthen and confirme them and to consume and dry up their moisture and slipperinesse Red Rose water is well knowne and of familiar use in all occasions about the sicke and of better use then Damaske Rose water being cooling and cordiall refreshing and quickning the weake and faint spirits eyther used in meates or brothes to wash the temples or to smell unto at the nose or else by the sweete vapours thereof out of a perfuming pot or cast on a hot fireshovell it is also of much use against the rednesse and inflammations in the eyes to bathe them therewith and the temples of the head also against paine and ache therein Vinegar of Roses is of much use also for the same purposes of paine and ache and disquitnesse in the head as also to procure rest and sleepe if some thereof and Rosewater together be used to smell unto or the nose and temples moistned therewith but more usually to moisten a peece of a red Rose cake cut fit for the purpose and heated betweene a double foulded cloth with a little beaten Nutmeg and Poppy seede strewed on that side shall lye next the forehead and temples and so bound thereto for all night The oyntment of Roses is much used against heate and inflammations in the head to annoint the forehead and temples and being mixed with some Populeon to procure rest as also it is used for the heate of the Liver of the backe and reines and to coole and heale pushes wheales and other red pimples rising in the face or other parts Oyle of Roses is not only used by it selfe to coole any hot
swellings or inflammations and to binde and stay fluxes of humors unto sores but is put also into many other compositions both oyntments and plaisters that are cooling and binding and restraining the flux of humors The dryed leaves of the red Roses are used both inwardly and outwardly both cooling binding and cordiall for with them are made both Aromaticum rosarum Diarrhodon Abbatis and Saccharum rosarum each of whose properties are before declared Rose leaves and Mints heated and applyed outwardly to the stomacke stayeth castings and strengthneth a weake stomacke very much and applied as an Epitheme or fomentations to the region of the Liver and Heart doth much coole and temper the distemperature in them as also in stead of a Rose cake to the head and temples to quiet the overhot spirits which will suffer no sleepe or rest to fasten on the sicke patient Of the Damaske Roses are not made so many medicines or compositions for beside the Conserve and Preserve the Syrupe and Hony of those Roses each whereof is called Solutive the water and the distilled oyle or spirit which serveth more for outward perfumes then inward Physicke as the dryed leaves to fill sweete bagges and the like I know not any other use made of them and yet there is by many times much more of them spent and used then of red Roses so much hath pleasure outstripped necessary use The Syrupe of Damask Roses is both simple and compound and made with Agoricka the simple solutive Syrupe is a familiar safe and gentle easie medicine purging choller taken from one ounce or two unto three or foure yet this is remarkable and wonderfull herein that the distilled water of this Syrupe should notably binde the belly the Syrupe of Roses with Agaricke is more strong and effectuall in working then the simple Syrupe for one ounce thereof by it selfe will open the body more then of the other and worketh as much on flegme as choller the compound Syrupe is more forceable in working on melancholicke humors and availeable against the Lepry Itch Tetters c. and the French disease also Hony of Roses solutive is made of the same infusion that the Syrupe is made of and therefore worketh the same effect in opening and purging but because the hony is neither so familiar to many or convenient to hot and aguish bodies it is oftener given to flegmaticke then collericke persons and is more used in Glisters then potions as the Syrupe made with Sugar is The Conserve and Preserved leaves of these Roses are operative to the same effect in gently opening the belly The simple water of the Damaske Roses is of so much use for fumes to sweeten all things as also to put into meats and broths c. that it hath left almost no use for any Physicall purpose yet it hath beene well observed by Costaeus in his commentary upon Mesues that tenne ounces of Damaske Rose water drunke in the morning doth open and purge the belly the dryed leaves of the Damaske Roses serve most to make sweete powders and to fill sweet bagges or the like yet the same Costaeus in the same place sheweth that the dryed leaves powdered and drunk in the whey of Goats milke worketh to the same effect in purging The Muske Roses both single and double doe purge more forceable then the Damaske and the single is be'd to be stronger then the double for although none of the Greeke writers have made any mention thereof yet Mesues especially of the Arabians doth set it downe twenty of the leaves of the single Rose must be taken saith Camerarius but more of the double kinde to open the belly and purge the body The wilde Roses are few or none of them used in Physicke but yet are generally held to come neare unto the nature of the manured Roses both in the earthy and binding facultie Pliny setteth downe in his eighth booke and fourth Chapter that the roote of the wilde Rose is singular good to cure the biting of a mad Dogge which as he saith but how wee may beleeve him I know not was found out by miracle the fruit of the wilde Brier which are called Heppes being thorough ripe and made into a Conserve with Sugar according to the manner of divers other fruits besides that it is very pleasant to the taste doth gently binde the belly and stayeth defluxions from the head upon the stomacke and dryeth up the moisture thereof and helpeth digestion the pulpe of the Heppes dryed unto a hard consistence like to the juice of Licoris or so dryed that it may bee made into powder and taken in drinke stayeth speedily the whites in women With the fruit Cookes and their Ladies and Mistresses doe know how to prepare many fine dishes for their tables The Brier ball is often used being made into powder and drunke to breake the Stone to provoke urine when it is stopped and to ease and helpe the collicke some appoint it to bee burnt and then taken for the same purpose in the middle of these balles are often found certaine white wormes which being dryed and made into powder and some of it drunke is found by long experience of many to kill and drive forth the Wormes of the belly CHAP. XXVII Capparis Capers THe Caper tree or bush that was knowne to Dioscorides and Theophrastus being but one sort was thorny but there hath beene since some other sorts knowne both that are and are not thorny which for affinitie sake I thinke meete to joyne together and with the Capers another plant which for some likenesse beareth also the name of Capparis fabago or leguminosa Beane Capers not intending to joyne it to the pulses as some might thinke it should be 1. Capparis spinosa folio rotundâ— Round leafed thorny Capers This Caper sendeth forth divers long weake trayling wooddy stalkes lying round about upon the ground set with crooked thornes like hookes or as the Bramble at each joynt come forth two round leaves like unto Asarum opposite one unto another from whence springeth also a small round head upon a pretty long footstalke which is the bud from the flower before it open and is that small round Caper which wee doe usually eate at meate which being then gathered and pickled up with great salt are kept in barrells and brought into other countries and are taken out of the salt afterwards and kept in Vinegar to be spent at the table as all know but when it is open consisteth of foure white sweete smelling leaves with foure other greene ones as the huske wherein they stand having many yellowish threads and a long stile or pestle in the middle which afterwards groweth to bee the fruit and is long and round like unto an Olive or Acorne when it is ripe which also are brought pickled to us and are the long Capers which are used wherein are conteined divers hard browne seede somewhat like unto the kernells of Grapes the roote is great white long and
other whom Matthiolus justly gainesayeth for there is no likenesse in the Barbery excepting the thornes and yet in them there is a difference unto Oxyacantha being neither in forme of body like the wilde Peare not in the fruit like unto a Myrtle dry and fryable easie to breake the Barbery being moyst and full of juice Tragus saith that some tooke the Hawthorne to bee Arbuâ— But Theophrastus his Oxyacantha is neither Barbery nor Hawthorne which in his first booke and 15. Chapter hee 〈◊〉 among those trees that are ever greene which cannot be said of eyther Barbery or Hawthorne for that in no place or countrey they are knowne to keepe their leaves but to loose them in Winter but by the judgement of the best and most expert Herbarists in our times the Pyracantha as I have declared in my former booke is the 〈◊〉 Oxyacantha both of Dioscorides although hee hath not mentioned any sempiternitie of leaves and Theophrastus also agreeing thereto in all things Some there be also that would make the Spina appendix Plinij to bee the Barbery bush as Lugdunensis but Clusius is against that opinion for that therein there are these two doubts first that Pliny if hee had meant the Barbery by his Spina appendix would not have forgotten the three thornes that grow together in the Barbery which is eminent enough therein and next hee would not have forgotten the yellow colour both in the barke of the branches and rootes but the most judicious of these later times among whom is Gesner in hortis and Clusius in historia have determined that Spina Appendix Plinij which sometimes also he calleth Spina simply can be no other thorne then this Hawthorne which Tragus and Lonicerus tooke to bee Cynosbatâ—s Theophrasti and Cordus in historia calleth it Sorbus aculeata Anguilara Spina alba vulgo and Spina acuta as Dodoneus doth also Bauhinus placeth it among the Medlars calling it Mespilus apij folio sylvestris spinosa sive Oxyacantha and as a kinde thereof likewise putteth the Pyracantha but in my opinion he had done better and more rightly to have referred them both to the kinds of Services whereunto they better agree then unto Medlars in that Services are smaller fruits as these are the second here expressed is mentioned by Dodonaeus under the name of Spina acuta humilior the last as a kind peculiar to our owne countrey as I thinke I have here set forth unto you more exactly then Gerard who onely had a superficiall notion or rather relation thereof The Hawthorne is called by the Arabians Antirberis by the Italians in some places Bugaio and in others Amperlo and Panaâ—rsâ— by the Spaniards Pirlitero by the French A'ubespin Ruellius saith that the vulgar sort doe call it Senelle yet Quercetanus setteth a fruit downe in some of his receipts by the name of fructus Senellorum in his Pharmacâ—pâ—arestituta to be Paliurus unlesse hee thought the Paliurus to be the Hawthorne by the Germans Hagendoru by the Dutch Hagendoren and by us in English Hawthorne or Hedgethorne Whitethorne and May or May-bush because our ordinary sort seldome or never flowreth before May and never after The Vertues The berries or the seedes in the berries are generally held to be a singular good remedy against the stone if the powder of them be given to drinke in wine the same is also reported to bee good for the Dropsie but whereas divers have attributed hereunto a binding or astringent qualitie Anguilara his judgement was whom Matthiolus confuteth that Tragus who saith that the leaves flowers fruit are drying and binding and that if the flowers be steeped three dayes in wine and afterwards distilled in glasse the water thereof drunke is a soveraigne remedy for the Plurisie and for inward tormenting paines the distilled water of the flowers by an ordinary way stayeth saith he the Flux or Laske of the belly the seeds cleared from the downe bruised and boyled in wine and drunke performeth also the same effect the said distilled water of the flowers is not onely cooling but drawing also for it is found by good experience that if clothes or spunges be wet in the sayd water and applyed to any place whereinto thornes splinters c. have entered and bee there abiding it will notably draw them forth the vertues given by Galen unto Oxyacantha doe not pertaine hereunto for saith he the fruit thereof is not sower or harsh especially when it is ripe but sweet and therefore more fit to open then to binde the belly and fitter to bring downe then to stay womens monethly courses but the last evinceth this errour CHAP. XXIX Sabina The Savine tree or bush ONe sort of Savine I have expressed and set forth in my former Booke the figure whereof I here shew you againe the other sorts shall be exhibited in this Chapter 1. Sabina baccifera major The greater berried Savine tree The greater Savine tree that groweth with us spreadeth not so much as the former Savine doth but riseth more upright to a mans height but Bellonius saith in lib de coniferis that he saw it as high as an Almond tree on the mountaines Amanus and Olympus in Phrygia spreading forth armes and branches fully furnished with leaves which at their first comming forth are somewhat like unto Tamariske leaves but being growen old they are more like unto the leaves of the Cypresse tree hard and pricking and of a darke greene colour with an eye of blew shadowing them of a sent lesse strong and nothing so sharpe as the ordinary it hath not beene observed to beare any flowers but small round berries like unto Iuniper berries but greater and of a sharpe taste blacke when they are ripe with an eye of blew upon them like the Iuniper or the ordinary Savina which divers have held to be barren taking their authority from Pliny who also saith that Rosemary beareth no seede Sabina vulgaris The ordinary Savine Tree 1. Sabina baccifera major The greater berried Savine Tree 2. Sabina baccata altera Gentle Savine with berries both which are found untrue by good experience as Fuchsius Corâ— Gesner Dodonaeus and Lugdunensis doe testifie yet Camerarius saith it is true in one kind that it beareth no fruit but not in the other but Lobel saith the ordinary doth beare berries although but in a few places and but seldome and both of them holding their fruit on the branches all the Winter untill greene ones grow 〈◊〉 them and never loosing their leaves 2. Sabina baccata altera Gentle Savine with berries This other Savine groweth somewhat higher then the last as it groweth in Europe and almost unto the height of the Phenician or Cypresse like Cedar spreading more slender and weake branches whereon are set small and long leaves of a more gentle 〈◊〉 then the rest on the branches among the leaves come forth such like berries as the other and very like unto Iuniper blacke also when they are ripe and but little bitter in taste not
drinesse the gumme is hot and dry in the first degree The leaves and young tender branches of the Iuniper tree or the juice of them or of the berries or the berries themselves taken in wine are very effectuall against the biting of a Viper or Adder as also against the Plague or Pestilence or any other infection or poyson the Germanes use it much for their Treakle is made of the condensate juice of the berries which they commend in all diseases almost both for inward and outward remedies the same also is profitable against the Strangury and stopping of the Vrine and so powerfull against the Dropsie that as Matthiolus saith hee hath knowne divers to avoyd so much water by Vrine by taking foure or five ounces at a time of the Lye made of Iuniper ashes that they have beene holpen thereby it doth also provoke womens courses being stayed and doth helpe the rising and other paines of the mother the berries are good for the stomacke and to dissolve the swellings and windinesse thereof and are likewise profitable for the cough and shortnesse of breath and other diseases of the Chest and Lungs and to ease the griping paines and torments in the belly they are also prevailent to helpe Ruptures Convulsions and Crampes to procure a safe and easie delivery unto women with child for which purpose Matthiolus adviseth to take seven Iuniper and seven Bay-berries halfe a dramme of Cassia lignea and a dram of Cinamon these being grossely bruised put them into the belly of a Turtle Dove to be rosted therewith let it be basted with the fat of an Hen whereof they are to eate every other evening The scrapings of the wood saith Dioscorides being eaten doth kill men which clause both Matthiolus and Tragus before him finde much fault with seeing it is contrary to the former part of the Text and thrust thereinto by others for as he saith neither the best copies have it therein neither doe Galen Paulus Aegineta nor Serapio who wrote wholly after Dioscorides his Text word for word make any such mention of the properties of the wood and more saith he it is found false by tryall made thereof but Scaliger in his 15. Booke and 18. exercise maintaineth the Text of Dioscorides in that although the decoction of the wood is wholesome yet the scraping or course powder by the drinesse thereof sticking to the guts doth suffocate in the same manner as Colocynthis which to bee rightly prepared must bee beaten and finely sifted least it cleave to the bowells and blister them the berries are very comfortable to the braine and strengthen the memory and sight and all the senses and the heart also being eyther drunke in wine or the decoction of them in wine taken the same also is good against a quartane and dissolveth the winde in the belly and in generall is effectuall for all diseases as well outward as inward proceeding of any cold cause if they shall take of the berries two or three times a weeke three or foure at a time in wine which must bee gathered in the fit time of the ripenesse moystned with and after fairely dryed upon a cloth the Salt made of the ashes of the Iuniper wood is a singular remedy for the Scurvey the putrefied and spongy gums and generally resisting all putrefaction The Chymicall oyle drawne from the berries while they are greene is as effectuall if not more to all the purpose aforesaid there is an oyle also drawne out of the Iuniper wood per descensum as they call it which is very good against the toothach and for the Goute Sciatica and resolution of the Nerves or Sinewes comming of cold The gumme of Iuniper is used like as Amber is to stay cold rheumaticke distillations defluxions and Catarrhes upon the eyes or Lungs c. the fumes thereof upon the burning on coales being taken into a cappe the head also holden in the meane time over the said fumes at night and to lie covered therewith or the powder thereof with other things fit for the purpose strewed upon Flax and to be quilted into a cappe to bee worne in the night chiefely and in the day also as neede shall require the said gumme in powder taken in wine doth stay vomitings inward bleedings and spitting of blood womens courses also and all other the fluxes of the belly and of the hemorrhoides or piles the same also killeth the wormes in children and mixed with some oyle oâ— Roses and Myrtles healeth the chappes of the fundiment kibes also and chilblanes on the hands and feet the powder of the gumme mixed with the white of an Egge and applyed to the forehead stayeth the bleeding at the nose the same also burned upon quicke coales and the fumes thereof taken thorough a funnell upon as akiâ— tooth taketh away the paine it is effectuall in moist Vlcers and Fistulaes and weeping running sores to dryâ— the moisture in them which hindereth their cure the liquid Varnish is an especiall remedy against scaldings with water or burnings with fire and to helpe the painefull and bleeding Piles and Palsie Crampes Convulsions 〈◊〉 the Nerves and Sinewes The smoake of Iuniper wood being burned besides that it yeeldeth a good sent to peâ—fume any house it is of good use in the time of infection and driveth away all noysome Serpents Fliâ— Waspes c. the ashes of the wood or barke made into a Lye with water doth cure all itches scabbes pustules or other eruptions in the skinne yea and the Lepry also if the places be bathed therewith The Germanes Treakle of Iuniper berries is made in this manner Take what quantitie you will of fresh but ripe Iuniper berries bruise them and boyle them in a reasonable quantitie of water untill they be well boyled straine and presse them hard in a presse which pulpe and liquor set to the fire againe in a glased earthen vessell and evaporate away so much of the humiditie stirring of it continually as untill it become of the thicknesse of an Electuary which then put into pots or glasses to be kept for your use whereof a small quantitie taken morning and evening doth wonderfully helpe them that are troubled with the stone in the Reines or Kidneyes with the Chollicke with the paines of the mother and the stoppings of their courses is good against Catarrhes and rheumes the shortnesse of breath and winde the straightnesse of the breast the cough the cruditie rawnesse and indisposition of the stomacke against the Plague and other infectious diseases for it preserveth and defendeth the heart and vitall spirits from infection and venome and against swownings and faintnesse the paines swimming and giddinesse in the head against frensie also and madnesse for inflammations and rheumes into the eyes and preserving the sight deasenesse in hearing and stench of the gums mouth or breast helpeth the Dropsie Jaundies Falling sicknesse Palsie and Goute healeth inward Impostumes in briefe it not onely helpeth all diseases wherewith the body is possessed
that it dryeth up thinne humours digesteth the 〈◊〉 and tough and purgeth blacke or burnt choller and especially tough and thicke flegme and thinne flegme 〈◊〉 even from the joynts which the inhabitants about the Rivers of Rheine and Mosa doe finde to be true as Doâ—â—â— relateth it who by using the decoction of Polypody a good while together are freed from those tumors in their hands feete knees and joynts wherewith they are much troubled and is therefore good for those are â—â—â—led with Melancholy or Quartaine Agues especially if it be taken in Whey or Mede that is honied water or in Barly water or the broth of a Chicken with Epithymum or with Beetes and Mallowes it is also good â—r the hardnesse of the Spleene and for those prickings or stitches that happen in the sides as also for the chollicke taken any manner of wayes some use also to put to it some seedes of Fennell and Anise or Ginger to correct 〈◊〉 â—â—sea or loathing that he saith it bringeth to the stomacke and to strengthen it the better yet some hold it is â—â— free of danger that it bringeth no trouble to the stomacke but is a safe and gentle medicine fit for all seasons and persons which daily expecience confirmeth and yet a greater quantitie may be given in a decoction then â—â— appointeth even an ounce or more if there be not Sene or some other strong purger put with it a dramme or 〈◊〉 if neede be of the powder of the dryed rootes taken fasting in a cup full of honyed water worketh gently and for the same purposes aforesaid The distilled water both of rootes and leaves is much commended for â—â—e quartaine Ague to be taken many dayes together as also against Melancholy and fearefull or troublesome â—â—eepes and dreames and with some Sugar Candy dissolved therein against all the ill affects of the Lungs as the Cough shortnesse of breath and wheesings and those thinne distillations of rheume upon the Lungs which often turneth into a Consumption or Tisicke Some commend the salt made thereof to be mixed with the water â— rogus saith that a decoction of the Pollypody made with wine or the rootes themselves rather as I thinke given â—nto Hogges preserveth them from the Plague or Pestilence whereunto they are subject by purging them therewith which thing without doubt is effected as hee saith by the purging of flegme wherewith they are most doubled the fresh rootes beaten small or some in the stead thereof take them dry in powder mixed with 〈◊〉 and applyed to the joynts of any member or part out of his place doth much helpe it applyed also to the 〈◊〉 cureth the disease called Polypus which is a peece of flesh growing therein that by time and sufferance â—â—ppeth the passage of breath through that nostrill it helpeth also those clefts or chappes that happen to come 〈◊〉 â—ene the fingers of the hands or toes of the feete CHAP. V. Dryopteris Oake Ferne. OF the Oake Fernes there are two sorts one set forth by Lobel the other by Dodonaeus whereof I meane to entreate in this Chapter 1. Dryopteris repens Creeping Oake Ferne. This small Ferne sendeth forth divers slender blackish stalkes little more then halfe a foote high bearing many small winged leaves each against the other somewhat like unto those of the female â—erne but much smaller and finer and of a darkish greene colour the backeside of whom have not browne but white spots on them set in a double row as Lobel saith which 2. Dryopteris alba White Oake Ferne. Dryopteris sive Filix querna repius Creeping Oake Ferne. others mention not the roote is small and blackish creeping under the upper crust of the earth with divers small blacke fiâ—â—es growing from them and are somewhat like unto the rootes 〈◊〉 Pollypody but much smaller and slenderer of a more austere 〈◊〉 and stipticke taste then Pollypody 2. Dryopteris alba White Oake Ferne. This other Ferne groweth not much higher then the former but the leaves are broader shorter more deepely cut in on the edges and of a paler greene colour spotted also on the backside of them like unto the male Ferne the roote is composed of many â—â—ish threads or fibres issuing from a thicke roote The Place Both these sorts grow in the shadowey thicke woods on the sometimes and sometimes in the open valleyes neare them and sometimes also out of the mosse of old bushes and other trees The Time They both loose their leaves in Winter and spring up a fresh late in the Spring The Names It is called in Greeke 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Dryopteris that is Filix querna yet Oribasius calleth it 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Bryopteris 〈◊〉 Filix muscosa Mosse Ferne of the growing among the Mosse on trees the first is simply called Dryopteris by Lâ—â—bel Matthiolus Gesner and others Dryopteris sive Filix arborea by Tragus and Pterion famina by Cordus 〈…〉 first Booke and eighteenth Chapter and so also by Thalius in Harcynia sylva but is not the Filix puâ—â—ila saâ—â—â— prima of Clusius as I shall shew you in the next Chapter save one although it seeme to bee like it for the roâ—â— shew their difference The other is called Dryopteris candida by Dodonaeus and as Lobel saith is the Adiantum album Plinij and of the Shoppes also by Bauhinus Filicula fontana major sive Adiantum filicis folio The Vertues The first as Lobel saith was in former times used by the Apothecaries beyond Sea in stead of Pollypody as not knowing a righter neyther were they shewed by their Physitions to forbeare it and use any other but rather appointed by them so to do which as he saith some affirmed Rondeletius to say that in stead of a purging quality proper to Pollypody it had a pernitious operation in some of his sicke patients it is a remedy to take away haires 〈◊〉 Dioscorides saith if the rootes and leaves bee bruised together and applyed after sweating Matthiolus saith thâ—â— the rootes in powder with a little salt and Branne is given to Horses for the wormes The other sort is mode 〈◊〉 in taste somewhat drying and therefore may safely be used in stead of the true Adiantum or Maidenhaire as it is usuall now a dayes Lobel saith that the last sorts was safely used in the Apothecaries shoppes of divers countries for Adiantum album and nigrum CHAP. VI. Lanchitis aspera Rough Splenewort OF these Spleneworts there are divers sorts described by divers authors as shall be shewed and first of the greater kinde of Matthiolus 1. Lonchitis aspera major Matthioli The greater rough Splenewort This greater Splenewort hath divers stalkes of leaves somewhat like unto Miltwast but nearer unto Pollypody about a spanne long cut on both sides with uneven divisions dented about the edges with sharpe points and rough on both sides without such spots on the backes of them as Pollypody and Miltwaste have the roote is composed of many reddish strings or
lately knowne and as he thinketh not in use before the time of Pompeius magnus The manner of making it Pliny setteth downe lib. 18. cap. 18. Alica saith hee is made of Zea first steeped in water thâ—â—â—eaten in a woodden morter for a stone morter would breake it too much the best is made by the painefull labâ—â— of those that were bound to their pestell yet the chiefe men had one of Iron the huske being beâ—â—en off it was againe beaten in the same manner that the naked graine might be broken and is of three sorts the smallest the second and the greatest yet saith he it had not the whitenesse that commended it untill Câ—â—lke were put to it which gave it colour and tendernesse and afterwards a fourth part of Gypsum whereof seemeth that Pliny himselfe seemeth to wonder they should adde but it is likely they were washed away before they were used as Galen sheweth that their brothes must bee heedefully observed to bee made of Alica being washed Dioscorides Galen and Pliny doe much commend the good nourishment it maketh for faith Pliny no man doubteth but that it is exceeding profitable whether it bee taken washed with Mede or boyled in broths which Galen calleth Chonaroptisana oâ— pottage and that if the old Graecians had knowne it they would not have written so much in praise of Ptisana Dioscorides saith it nourisheth more then Rie and bindeth more also and is more profitable to the stomacke being boyled in Vinegar and applyed it helpeth the Leprosie taketh away the ruggednesse of the nailes and is helpefull in the beginning of a Pistula in the eye the decoction thereof easeth their paines that have a Lacke or the blooddy flux CHAP. X. Of Athera DIoscorides saith that Athera is made of Zea finely ground but is made into a kinde of supping like liquid pappe and given to Infants and is also used in pultesses to be applyed outwardly But there be some authors that affirme it was made also of Wheate Olyra and Amylum and thereupon have set downe that the Booke Binders Paste is this Athera CHAP. XI Of Tragus THis also hath beene diversly interpreted by writers some taking it for a kinde of graine by it selfe namely the Triticum lucidum as is said before because Dioscorides seemeth to say it carrieth a shew of the graine Alica and herein Galen also followeth him but in stead of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of Dioscorides hee hath 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 when as Alica as I shewed you before is not properly a graine by it selfe but is made of Corne and Galen himselfe in the said Booke primo Aliment saith that Tragus is a thing made and like unto Alica of the best Olyra husked as it ought to be then boyled in water which being poured away eyther sweete wine or honied water was put to it and Pine kernells steeped in water untill they were much swollen the likewise saith lib. 1. H. p. de rat vict in morbis acutis Ptisanam igituâ— rectè praferri frumentaceis edulijs pani scilicet chondro Zeae ex qua fit Tragus and Pliny lib. 18. cap. 7. Ex tritico Tragus ptisana conficiendae vulgata ratio est And againe Simili mâ—do ex Tritici semine Tragus fit in Campania duntaxat Aegypto Cassianus Bassianus in Geopâ—nicia lib. 3. cap. 13. saith it was made of the Wheate of Alexandria which by most authors is Olyra for it there groweth best steeped and husked and dryed in the Sunne often untill it were cleane from the shales whereby wee may plainely see that all sorts of graine were husked and so ordered into divers manners of meate and called by divers names according to the graine or countre it is hard of digestion as some reade or as others it is hardly made and doth loosen the belly more CHAP. XII Of Amylum THis was made as Dioscorides sheweth of Summer Wheate and also of Zea streeped three dayes and nights till it be soft and tender the water then powred gently from it and other fresh water to bee powred on it and then troden with the feete till all the course huskes be cleane taken away by letting the finer parts passe through a Sive which then being dryed in the most hot scorching Sun is so kept to be used Cato sheweth that it was made of Siligo Pliny saith of all sorts of Wheate as well as of Siligo but the best of Summer Wheate it was so called saith he because it was made without a Mill. It is used against defluxions into the eyes to heale hollow Vlcers therein being drunke it stayeth the spitting of blood being put into Milke and taken it helpeth the roughnesse or hoarsenesse of the throate Amylum saith he is made also of Zea and so saith Cato also and of Wheate saith Pliny steeped and washed as is above said but saith he it hath no use in Physicke but we use it often for coughes and in defluxions CHAP. XIII Secale Rie OF this kinde of graine besides the common knowne sort there is two other remembred the one by Tragus Dodonaeus and Lugdunensis the other by Bauhinus as you shall presently understand Secale vulgatius Common Rie Our common Rie is so well knowne in all the countries of this Land and to the countrey people in especiall who feed most thereon that I shall seeme as it were but to teach them that which they know 1. Secale vulgatius Common Rie Vstilago Seca ina Burnt Rie better than I that is that it first springeth up somewhat reddish which afterwards groweth greene and bringeth forth divers jointed stalkes somewhat higher than Wheate bearing at their toppes smaller eates than Wheate set in short rowes with shorter and sharper rougher and more prickly awnes the graine within being smaller and lancker and blacker than Wheate and is not wrapped in huskes like Wheate but easily falling of it selfe out of the eare when it is ripe while it flowreth the eare standeth upright and being neare ripening it bloweth it downe the rootes are many but not so thicke bushing as Wheate nor consuming the fertilitie of the soyle so soone as Wheate 2. Secale estivum seu minus Small or Summer Rye This other Rye groweth lower with fewer stalkes a shorter and lesser eare yet armed with awnes as the other but fewer the graine or corne also is lesser and is sowne in the Spring onely and herein consisteth the difference 3. Secale latifolium Rye with great leaves This Rie hath whiter stalkes then others round also and straked the leaves that are set at the joynts are much larger then the common sort being a cubit long and an inch broad somewhat sharpe or rough about the edges like the ordinary Rie the eare at the toppe is large and great set with sharpe long awnes and as it were dented like the vulgar a full hand breadth the graine within is also like unto Rie blackish but greater then it being almost most like Wheate the roote likewise busheth like the
Galen calleth Gymnacrithon that is Hordeum nudum by which name I had it from a friend and may be also the Cantherinum of Columella which hee saith the country men called hexastichum wee have a small kinde of graine brought from Germany to our Drugists in great quantitie termed French Barly and is probable to be this Barly which Cordus saith was first sent them out of Italy having sixe rowes in the eares and not much unlike Wheate but lesser Cordus hath set downe more sorts hereof which I thinke sit to shew you here the two sorts of Barly Distichon and Hexastichon this of sixe rowes that of two in the eare saith Cordus is common with us fol. 42. in Dioscord yet that which hath but two rowes in the eare maketh a recompence in the roote by the greater number of stalkes that rise from thence for saith he I have numbred sixtie stalkes and above rising from the roote of one corne but it usually hath twentie thirty and fortie stalkes but besides these two saith be they have in Germany foure other sorts the first hath the whitest heaviest and greatest graine of all the rest and called by the country men of Hassia Andachi the second beareth a little smaller graine and hath fewer rowes and is a Semestre and is therefore called by the Germanes Winter-gerste that is Winter-Barly the third is sowne in the Spring and is ripe in Summer and therefore they call it Summer-gerst that is Summer-Barly the fourth may properly be called saith he Trrmistre because it is early and cut ripe in the third moneth after it is 〈◊〉 this they call Kleine Gorsten and Zoyt genshe or as the Saxons doe Titgâ—rsha that is a small Barly or one for the present they sow it either three dayes before or three dayes after Pentecost Thus much Cordus The Arabians call it â—ahaer or Shair the Italians Orzâ— the Spaniards Covada the French Orge the Germans Garsten the Dutch Gerstâ— and Soverion as Lobel saith and we in English Barly The Vertues Barly and Wheate are the prime graines of all others and the most profitable and useful for mans life both for meate drinke and medecine all the rest being as it were but degenerated from them and partaking of the one or other of the natures and qualities of them yea Barly may seeme to contend with Wheate for prioritie as well as use for although Wheate be the staffe of our life for bread now adayes in our Europe yet it was not so with the antient Athenians in the Levant and other of those parts of the world now where Barly holdeth a further extent that Wheate but this place will not permit that ample discourse might be said of it howsoever we acknowledge according as the antients have recorded of it that it nourisheth lesse than Wheate because it is a drier graine yet besides the medicinall qualities in it it maketh more wholsome drinke for our bodies than what can be made of Wheate alone which is too sweete and too much stuffing the body with humours and puffing it up with loose spungious fat and flesh making them that use it unweldy and unfit to follow their necessary affaires but hereof enough for this place Barly in all the parts and compositions thereof except Mault is more cooling than Wheate and a little cleansing being in the first degree of cooling and drying it provoketh urine saith Dioscorides it breedeth windinesse and is adverse to the stomacke but all the preparations thereof as Barly water or creame Tisane drinke or those other things made thereof doe give great nourishment to macilent and hâ—sticke and diseased persons or troubled with feavers or agues and heates in the stomacke c. and many of them have beene and still are received for good nourishment to the healthfull the preparations as they were anciently used and those that are now in use with us I meane to speake hereafter severally I onely meane to shew you here how it is otherwise used A pultis made of Barly-meale or flower boyled with vinegar and hony and a few drie figges put to them dissolveth all hard Impostumes and asswageth inflammations being applied and being boiled with Melilot and Camomill-flowers and some Linseede Fenugreeke and Rue in powder and applied warme it easeth the paines in the sides and stomacke and the windinesse of the spleene the meale of Barly and Psyllium Flea-wort boiled in water made into a pultis with hony and oyle of Lillies applied warme cureth tumors under the eares throate necke and such like places a plaister made thereof with Tarre Waxe and Oyle helpeth the hard swellings of the throate called the Kings Evill boyled with sharpe vinegar into a pultis and laid on hot helpeth the leprosie being boyled in Red-wine with Pomegranate-rindes and Mirâ—ells staieth the laske or other fluxe of the belly boyled with Vinegar and a Quince it easeth the hot paines of the gout Barly-flower white Salt Hony and Vinegar mingled together is used by divers to take away the itch speedily and certainely the water distilled from the greene Barly in the end of May is very good for those that have defluxions in the eyes to stay the humours and to ease the paines being dropped into them or white bread laid to steepe therein and bound thereto if Barly halfe sodden be given to Hennes that hardly or seldome lay Egges it will cause them to lay both greater and more often Now I am come to shew you both what hath beene in former times made of Barly as what is used to be made thereof among us in these dayes first I thinke it fit to speake of those preparations the ancients used and then of those which we use CHAP. XV. Of Polenta POlenta which may well be called parched Barly was antiently made after divers manners for Pliny in his 18. Booke and 7. Chapter sheweth that some Grecians used to make it as well of greene Barly taken out of the eare before it was ripe steeped in water and after beaten in a Morter and washed in Baskets to take away the huskes then dried in the Sunne and afterwards steeeped and beaten againe untill it was throughly clensed and then dried and ground small unto twentie pound whereof howsoever made was put of Linseede and Coriander seede of each one pound and a halfe and about two ounces of salt all being well bruised they mingled together The Italians made it of parched Barly without any moistening ground small and those things added thereunto aforesaid and some Millet seede also Other Grecians saith Pliny made it of Barly moistened for a night and then dried it and parched or fryed it the next day and then ground it Galen commendeth that most that was made of fresh Barly before it was throughly ripe and the beardes or 〈◊〉 over-dry and but indifferently parched and addeth nothing else unto it Sundry Nations did use this Polenta in stead of bread and namely the Cypriots who although they had Wheate growing
herbes that were most common in those times for he onely saith it is a drinke made of Barly and no more Diodorus Siculus saith that Zythum is a drinke made of Barly and was used in Galatia where was neither wine nor oyle Pliny after him hath a little further explained it by saying Of sundry sorts of Graine drink is used to be made as Zythum in Egypt Celia and Caerea in Spaine which as it is likely was so in Pliny his time and that before their planting of Vines there which hath generally now banished that Barly broth they now drinking eyther faire water alone or with a little Sugar or to their water put more or lesse wine as they desire to drinke it Cerevisia and other kindes of drinkes in Gallia and other countries thus saith Pliny Now the generall Tenet of our times is that it is the same drinke which we now call Beere or Ale or but varied according to the manner of the countrey where it is made and according to the goodnesse quantitie and diversitie of the graine whereof it is made and also of the water for first for the water it is well knowne that there is no Beere can bee made in the low countries by reason of their bâ—ackish water but will taste thereof and be farre inferiour to that is made in England and againe it is observed by many that the water of our River of Thames about London doth make better and stronger drinke keeping equall proportion in all things then that which is made of other Spring or River water else where and for the goodnesse of the graine and the well ordering and making it into Mault it is well knowne allo to make the drinke better or worse stronger or weaker the diversities of graine also causeth diversitie of drinke for if it should be made of Wheate alone it would be too thicke too sweete and fulsome as I said before or of Oates alone it would be too poore and thin and for the quantitie that is all in all to make it mightie â— durable even two or three yeares or poore and weake not to laste a moneth But Petrus Bellonius in his second booke of observations and 98. Chapter is of opinion that this Zythum of the ancient Graecians is the same drinke that the Latines called Posca or Pusca wherof Columella Serapio and Avicen also make mention but differeth as hee saith from Cerevisia Ale because it is white like milke thicke and of a good nourishment and fuming into the head causing drunkennesse if it bee too largely taken and this kinde of drinke saith hee is usually sould in all the cities of Asia in the tappe houses appointed for it and generally called with them Chousset and to strengthen his opinion alledgeth the place in Suetonius where hee relateth that Caesars bondman that fled from him was found at Capua selling Posca in a tappe house and therefore that Posca could not bee Oxycratum which is Vinegar and water but this Zythum but Scaliger in his annotations upon Bellonius as they are extant in Clusius his Exoticks sheweth his manifold errours in this his so saying the manner of making this Chousset of the Turkes I thinke not amisse breefely here to set downe that you may see the differences of the compositions of drinkes in severall places It is made saith he of meale made into paste and boyled in a great Caâ—on and then being made into small balles is cast into water which will presently boyle up of it selfe and grow hot without the helpe of any fire and become a kinde of thicke drinke The spunie or yest thereof saith he is white and light wherewith the Turkish women use to annoint themselves especially when they are in bathing making the rough skinne smooth and delicate and this facultie the ancients attributed unto Zythum and further Dioscorides saith Zythum provoketh Vrine but hurteth the reines and the sinewes especially the tunicles that cover the braine it breedeth windinesse maketh in blood and humors and engendreth the falling sicknesse CHAP. XX. Of Curmi THis likewise hath no further relation or explanation from Dioscorides then that it is also a drinke made of Barly and was often used for drinke nor yet by Pliny further then as is shewed before that Cerevisia was made in Gallia and other kindes in other countries We therefore in these times referre this Curmi to our Ale as wee did formerly Zythum unto Beere and withall let me shew you that Ale was the most ancient drinke was made in this Land whereof the Wolsh Curw which is Ale with them in their Language hath a shew of neare correspondence to Curmi and that our good Ale was better knowne to other nations by the word then by the forme oâ— taste but with us became a proverbe that it would make one have a rich 〈◊〉 and nose meaning by the red pimples it would raise on their faces and noses that did use to stand to it and drinke it stoutly yet a stranger both seeing it and râ—sting it here in England gave his verdict thereon in these words Nihil spissius dum bibitur nihil clarius duâ— mingitur unde constat mâ—ltas faeces in ventre reliquit But Cerevisia which we more properly transferre to Ale was it seemeth by Pliny a word well knowne before his time and more proper to Gaule or France then to Italy as the matter it selfe also was and which from them as it is likely hath beene transferred to us This old English drinke hath lost much of his reputation since that Biera Beere came in use and nothing so much desired as formerly it was partly because our Ale in most places of this Land now adayes is not so well boyled to make it cleane and cleare drinke being so muddy sweete and fulsome that many loath it at least refuse it for cause and in especiall because Beere is a clearer drinke and of better rellish by the boyling but chiefely that the hoppes make it more durable without sowring lesse fulsome and much more wholsome It remaineth now that I should shew you the properties of Beere and Ale for medecine what diseases they will helpe and what cures they will performe The graines that is the Mault that is left after the drinke is drained therefrom besides the fodder it yeldeth for all Cattle or â—ullane are of singular good use for those that are troubled with lamenesse in their Legs or Feete through cold or evill humors fallen into them or by the shrinking and paines in their sinewes or joynts if they set their Legs up to the knees into a Barrell or Firkin filled with these graines while they are hot or heated againe if they be cold which will by using three or foure times as occasion requireth abate both swellings and painers and restore the joynts and sinewes to their proper strength Strong or good Ale sodden so thicke that as hony it may be spread like a salve and applyed warme to the necke
a medicine for the foule Vlcers in the nose by boyling the whole herbe with the roote of the first wilde Oates in water untill a third part be consumed which being strained is to be boyled againe with as much hony unto the thicknesse of a Sâ—rupe some as he saith put some Aloes in powder to it and wetting tents therein to be put up into the nostrils the same herbe also he saith being boyled in Wine with some dryed Roses helpeth a stinking breath the rest are not knowne to be used to any Phisicall use CHAP. V. Gramina Avenacea arvorum The field Oaten Grasses THere are some other sorts of Grasses resembling wilde Oates and called Oate Grasses whereof some grow in the Fieldes others on the mountaines of those that are found in Corne grounds and other fields we will speake of in this Chapter and of the other in the next 1. Gramen Bromoides maximum hirtum Great hairy Oate Grasse This great Oate Grasse is all hairy the stalkes and leaves are greater then of Oates foure or five cubits high whose panicle at the toppe spreadeth into many chaffy bearded eares hanging downe their heads the roote is bushy this groweth in the pastures about London as also in Essex 2. Gramen Bromoides segetum latiore panicula Great Corne Oate Grasse This Corne-Grasse hath Oate-like stalkes three or foure cubits high the leaves are shorter and narrower the toppe is spread much divers stalkes with chaffye bearded eares in branches comming forth at a joynt broadest below and spiring small upwards 3. Gramen Auenaceum incanum Great hoary Oate Grasse This hath short narrow leaves somewhat hairy and a little hoary withall the stalke hath few joynts the panicle is spreade like the last but lesser and is somewhat hoary This is sometimes found lesser Minus and are both found in the borders of Cornefields both in Kent and Essex 4. Gramen Avenaceum pratense Medow Oaten Grasse The leaves hereof are many growing next the roote long and narrow the stalke is lesser and lower with such a pannicle at the toppe but lesser spread and not hoary this is in many Medowes 5. Gramen Avenaceum squamosa gluma Scaly eared Oaten Grasse This hath narrow leaves a little hairy a spanne long the slender stalke hath such alike panickle as the last but that the scaly eares stand single every one upon his owne small thredlike footestalke 6. Gramen Avenaceum pinnata longinscula spica Winged Oaten Grasse The stalke hereof is slender sometimes higher and sometime lower the leaves are narrower than the last the pannicle is somewhat long but small and not much spreade each part being as it were winged or devided into sundry peeces upon one ribbe or footestalke 7. Gramen Avenaceum filicea panicula Xerampelina Red Fernelike Grasse This beareth red shining stalkes a foote high the leaves are soft and narrow the pannicle at the toppe is three or foure inches long of a whitish greene colour divided into many winged branches many parts being set on both sides of the branch and each part divided like a Fearne leafe 8. Gramen Avenaceum murorum erectum Vpright Wall Oaten Grasse This Grasse groweth upright a spanne and sometimes a foote high the leaves are almost as small as any Grasse the spiked head is an handbreadth long sparsed or divided each small eare being bearded the roote is thready this is often found upon old mud Walles that close in Fieldes 1 2. Gramen Bromoides spicatum hirsutum alterum latiore panicula The great hairy and great Corne Oate-Grasse 4 5 6.7 Gramen avenaceum pratense Avenaceum squamosa gluma Pinâ—a longinscula spica Filicea panicula c. Medow scaly eared and winged Oaten-Grasse and the red Ferne-like Grasse 12. 11. Gramen Avenaceum altero alteri innatum exile mollicellis folijs Small Oaten Grasse one head set on another and small soft Oaten-Grasse 9. Gramen Avenaceum supiaum arvense Low Medow Oaten Grasse The leaves hereof are as small as the last an inch or an inch and a halfe long the stalkes are slender and weake leaning downewards with a few bearded huskes spike fashion at the toppe 10. Gramen Avenaceum supinum flosculos Secalinis Long winged Oate Grasse flowring like Rye This Grasse spreadeth many stalkes not being able to rise up of a cubit long full of joynts and small short leaves on them of a whitish greene colour the toppes are furnished with foure or five Oate like heads but more winged and with short aunes somewhat hard and flowring like Rye 11. Gramen Avenaceum exile mollicellis folijs Small soft leafed Oaten Grasse This small Grasse is very like the Gramen exile durius that it may easily be mistaken and differing from it onely in the leaves that are longer and soft as the whole plant else is not halfe a foote high and in the spiked toppe whose parts are winged 12. Gramen Avenaceum altero alteri innatum Small Oaten Grasse one head set on another This fine small Grasse resembleth well the Gramen Britanicum maritimum having divers haire like leaves and hard with such like span long stalkes some whereof beare their small sharpe huskes at their toppes onely as others doe and others out of a tuft of leaves in the middle of the stalke sendeth forth â—n other short stalke with such like sharpe huskes on them as the other The Place and Time All these sorts grow in the fieldes of this Land some in one place and some in another as they have beene observed either of plowed or fallow grounds and flower in the Summer season The Names Grasse is called in Greeke 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 quod in agris proveniat and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 id est herba by Theophrastus which is common to all herbes in Latine Gramen a gradiendo The severall names of all these Grasses are expressed in their Titles as much as is convenient for them being all of late observation not specified that I know by any before The Vertues There is no especiall property knowne to be in any of them but are as yet onely knowne by their face and name CHAP. VI. Gramina Avenacea nemorum montana Wood and mountaine Oaten Grasses THE rest of these Grasses that doe resemble Oates shall be expressed here whether they be found in Woods or on hills and mountaines c. 1. Gramen montanum Avenaceum Clusij Mountaine Oate Grasse with hoary huskes This hath slender joynted stalkes a cubit high with very narrow and long leaves and at the toppe a long spiked head bowing the head close with woolly short huskes containing seede like unto those of naked Oates the roote is made of divers long fibres 2. Gramen montanum avenaceum alterum Mountaine Oate Grasse without hoary huskes This other differeth not in any thing from the former but in the spiked head whose huskes are not hoary as the other are 3. Gramen Avenaceum rariore gluma spicatum Oate Grasse of Denmarke This grasse hath slender
roote is moderately cold and dry and hath also a little moâ—dâ— city in it and some tenuity of parts the herbe is cold in the first degree and moderate in moisture and drynesse but the seed is much more cold and drying of some tenuity of parts and somewhat harsh Pliny confoundeth this and the Pamassus grasse together applying the same properties to the one that are attributed to the other the distilled water or the decoction alone is often given to children for the wormes but if some wormeseede be put to it it is the more effectuall The first Quich grasse is that which hath beene ever in use in our Land with the Apothecaries for their medicines as it was also in the hether parts of France but the further parts thereof and about Geneva they use the knobbed or bulbed kinde but neither of them was knowne to Matthiolus or the Germanes or Italians in his time as it is evident in that he hath made no mention of it CHAP. XXII Gramen Caninum bulbosum nodosum Bulbed and knobbed Quich grasse VMto this kinde of Dogs grasse is to be joyned some other grasses whose rootes are knobbed or bulbed yet that sort which Bauhinus maketh mention of in his Prodromus growing in the water I will referre to the next Classis whereunto it is proper 1. Gramen Caninum bulbosum nodosum vulgare Common bulbed and knobbed Quich grasse This kinde of Quich grasse hath for his rootes three or foure or more round white knobs or bulbes one set upon the head of another with divers fibres underneath them from the uppermost of whom springeth forth divers long hard grassie leaves sharpe at the edges and in the middle of them a joynted stalke with three or foure such like leaves upon them at the toppe whereof is a long panickle spread into many parts like to that of Oates whereunto some have compared it Lobel exhibiteth another sort hereof differing little in any part but the root a which are small and round and set at distances all along the rootes and as sweete as the other Nodosum 2. Gramen nodosum spica parva Knobbed grasse with a small round spike This small Grasse hath a small whitish round knob or bulbe for the roote with small fibres under it shooting forth from the head thereof another somewhat like unto a bulbe but much smaller and like a slender knob with a small joynted stalke above it and a long narrow pointed leafe at each of them being foure or five inches long and at the toppe one short soft spiked head somewhat like unto the head of the Cats taile grasse 3. Gramen bulbosum geminum Double bulbed grasse This double bulbed Grasse hath a greater round sweete bulbed roote below covered with a reddish skinne and one like a lesser at the head thereof the upright stalke is not a foote high joynted and kneed like unto a Wheate straw having foure or five narrow grasse-like leaves on them and at the head thereof a small long panickle made of diverse huskes each standing by it selfe like the huske of an Oate out of which appeareth small reddish bloomings 4. Gramen bulbosum Alepinum The bulbed grasse of Aleppo This Aleppo grasse hath a firme white round roote covered over with a netted outer skinne and small white fibres underneath from the midst whereof come forth two or three stroked stalkes above a foote high and with many grassie leaves set on them the spike is somewhat like to the Wall Barley breaking out of a broade leafe whose point riseth above it 1 2. Gramen Caninum bulbosum vulgare alrerum nodosum spica parva Common knobbed Quich grasse And another with a small round spike 1. 3 Gramen bulbosum geminum nodosum vulgare Knotted Quich grasse and double bulbed Grasse 5. Gramen bulbosum Messanense The Sicilian bulbed Grasse Let me adde this plant here for I know no fitter place to insert it although it be not answerable to the rest whose description is thus The roote is very small and round somewhat like unto a wilde Saffron roote and of the table of a Chesnut having onely two or three long leaves as small as haires with some shorter on the stalke on the toppe whereof groweth a small long and round knob or bulbe of the bignesse of an ordinary beane somewhat yellow or browne on the outside and having three rough circles about it equally distant one from another but white within and of the substance of a Chesnut The Place and Time The first groweth not so common with us as the creeping rooted Grasse yet sufficient plentifull in many plowed fieldes in the Land The second neere Bassill The third in Spaine The fourth neere Aleppo in Syria The last both nere Verona and Italy and at Drepanum and Messana in Sicilia The Names The first is called Gramen nodosum avenacea pluma by Bauhinus who also doubteth whether it may not be the Aegilops Plinij which hath a kinde of bulbe others call it Gramen bulbosum tuberasum or nodosum The second is mentioned onely by Bauhinus in his Prodromus and Pinax by the same title it hath The third is the second Gramen nodosum by Bauhinus and the Coix Mycoâ—â— in Lugdunensis who tooke it to be the Coâ—x of Theophrastus lib. 8. c. 16. Casalpinus saith it is called by the common people in Italy Perlaro and Oryza sylvestriâ— The last is mentioned by Iohannes Baptisti Cortesius in Miscalancorum medicinalium decade quinta fol. 206. where hee saith that it is called Basyli by the Sicilians that usually sell it in the Markets and by some others there where it groweth Castancalos from the sweete taste like Chesnuts that both roots and heades have in eating Montaguana also as he there saith mentioneth this roote and that they of Verona call it Futrosium or Azulinum The Vertues The first knobbed Quich-grasse is found by certaine experience not onely with us but in Savoy Geneva c. where it plentifully groweth and is used to be more effectuall to provoke urine and to breake the stone to case those torments of the belly that come by loosenesse crudities of humours and obstructions and generally is held safely to be used in any the like causes that the other is and with as good successe The third Myconus saith hee could understand of no physicall use it was put unto but that Hares were much delighted to rest by it and to digge up and eate the rootes the last is used for food being windy withall that is not used Physically CHAP. XXIII Gramen geniculatum Kneed Grasse OF that kinde of grasse that groweth in the uplands there is onely a greater and a lesser as shall bee shewed in this Chapter but there are others growing in the waters and neare the Sea side which shall be declared in their proper places 1. Gramen geniculatum majus The greater Kneed Grasse The greater of these grasses hath many long trayling branches upon the ground with sundry great
Hippuris minor of Tragus Polygoâ—â—â— faemina of Fuchsius and Hippuris arvensis major of Tabermontanus the last is the Hippuris minor altera of Tragus and Equisetum sylvaticum of Tabermontanus and Bauhinus The Arabians call it Dhen ben alcail Dhemb 〈◊〉 and Dheneb alcail the Italians codâ— di cavallo the Spaniards Coda dimula and rabo de mula the French Queve de 〈◊〉 and Prelles the Germans Schaffthew and Ross schwantz the Dutch Peert steert and wee in English generally Horse taile and of some Shave grasse and as I sayd in the beginning by resembling a Rush might be called rough joynted Rushes The Vertues Horse taile the smoother rather then the rough and the leaved then the bare is both more used and of better effect in Physicke and is as Galen saith with the bitternesse of a binding qualitie and dryeth without sharpenesse It is very powerfull to stanch bleedings wheresoever eyther inward or outward the juice or decoction thereof being drunke or the juice decoction or distilled water applyed outwardly it stayeth also all sorts of Laskes and Fluxes in man or woman and the pissing of blood and healeth also not onely the inward Vlcers and excoriations of the intralls bladder c. but all other sorts of foule moist and running Vlcers and soone sodereth together the toppes of greene wounds not suffering them to grow to maturation it cureth also Ruptures in children quickly in the elder by time according to the disposition of the partie and the continuance the decoction hereof in wine being drunke is said to provoke urine to helpe the strangury and the stone and the distilled water thereof drunke two or three times in a day a small quantitie at a time as also to ease the paines in the intralls or guts and to be effectuall against a cough that commeth by the destillation of rheume from the head the juice or distilled water being warmed and hot inflammations pustules or red wheales and other such eruptions in the skinne being bathed therewith doth helpe them and doth no lesse ease the swellings heate and inflammations of the fundament and privy parts in man or woman Countrey huswives doe use any of these rough sorts that are next at hand to scoure both their woodden pâ—uter and brasse vessels the young buds are dressed by some like Asparagus or being boyled are after bestrewed with flower and fryed to be eaten CHAP. XXXVII Tipha Cats taile or Reede Mace BEing next to shew you all the sorts of Reedes I would set this in the first place to be entreated of as a meane betweene the Rushes and Reedes before I come to those are properly called Reedes whereof there are three sorts 1. Typha maxima The greater Reede Mace This great Reede Mace shooteth forth divers very long soft and narrow leaves pointed at the ends in a manner three square because the middle on the backside is great and sticketh forth amongst which rise up sundry smooth round and taper-like stalkes stuffed and not hollow above a mans height with joynts and leaves on them from the lower part upwards a good way but bare and naked thence to the toppe where they have small long and round heads shewing forth at the first some yellowish flowers which being past the torch or spike groweth greater and consisteth wholly of a flocky substance of a blackish browne colour on the outside somewhat solid 1. Typhae maxima The greatest Reede Mace 2. 3. Typha minor minima The two lesser sorts of Reede Mace or weightie yet is in time blowne away with the winde the roote is white somewhat thicke knobbed and joynted spreading much with many long fibres at it sweet in taste if it be chewed 2. Typha minor The lesser Reede Mace This differeth in nothing from the former but in that it attaineth not to that height and greatnesse that the former doth 3. Typha minima The least Reede Mace The least Reede Mace likewise differeth not from the last but in being smaller both in leafe and stalke which are more hard or rough and in the top which in some places beareth a smaller spike above the lower being greater with a small distance betweene them and a small leafe at the bottome of it The Place and Time They doe all grow either in the middle of watery ditches or ponds or by the banckes and sides of them in many places of this kingdome and flower about Midsommer the Torch Mace being ripe in August The Names It is called in Greeke 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and in Latine Typha a cylindro turbinataquaspicae effigis quasi typhonis sese gyrantis turbinem aut gigantis staturam minacem imitatur aut ut inquit Ruellius quod sceptra regum clavas argenteas vel aureas quae ante primos magistratus gestantur vulgo a Mace dictas perpolitas caulis lanosa floccum densitate summatim fastigiatus aemuletur some call it Cestrum morionis as Dodonaeus saith and some Typha aquatica or palustris to put a difference betweene it and that kind of Typha is put among the Cornes and therefore called Typha Cerealis Theophrastus maketh mention of them both as it is thought and Dioscorides but of this one but Theophrastus saith that his Typha palustris is without leaves which therefore cannot agree hereunto Pliny also speaketh hereof lib. 16. c. 36. among the sorts of water Reedes It hath no other name given it by any author saving that Anguilara tooke it to be Vlna and Dodonaeus calleth it Papyri species and Lugdunensis putteth it by the name of 〈…〉 Dodonaei Dodonaeus seemeth to take this to be that Scirpus that Ovia in sexto Fastorum mentioneth in these 〈◊〉 in plaustro scirpea matta fuit but not onely I but divers others more learned doe doubt thereof as also that he â—ferreth it to the Phleum of Theophrastus but not Phleos for that is a thorny plant as I have here before shewed which he numbereth inter palustria Orchoâ—nij and Aristophanes also as I recited him in the Chapter of the sweete Cyperus bringeth in the Frogs rejoycing that they had spent the day inter Cypirum Phleum whose flower Theophrastus saith is called Anthela as Dodonaeus saith but I rather judge it of the fruit for Theophrastus mentioneth both Typha and Phleum The second is onely remembred by Clusius if it be not the same that Gerard saith he saw growing in Shepey the last is called Typha minor by Lobel in his Adversaria and by Lugdunensis as also Typhula and murina by Clusius in his Paâ—onick Observations The Italians call it Mazza sâ—rda because that if the dust of the heads get into the eares of any it will make them deafe the Spaniards Behordo and Iunco amarocodaco The French Masse de Iunc The Germanes Narrenkolben The Dutch Lisâ—h doden and Donsen And we in English in divers places Cats taile and Reede Mace by others but in being betweene a Rush and a Reede it might fitly be called Torch rush or Torch
a long thicke round fleshy stalke by it selfe among which rise up fat thicke stalkes a â—ard high or neere with some leaves thereon and at the toppes divers faire great gold yellow flowers like unto Crowfoote flowers but much larger and shining the roote is composed of many long strings which grow deepe in the myre The Place and Time It joyeth onely in waters and watery ditches and by their banckes sides and flowreth somewhat earely yet continueth a good while and is paâ—t before the end of Aprill The Names It is generally called Caltha and to put a difference betweene it and the Calendula which is also called Caltha it is called Caltha palustris Tragus calleth it Caltha Virgilij and Gesner Caltha palustris who also saith it was called of some Ferraria from the likenesse of the leafe unto an Horse shooe Cordus calleth it Chelidâ—nia palustris and Tabermontanus Populago for what cause I know not nor yet why two sorts whereas they are all one although Caltha palustris vulgaris simplex Common single Marsh Marigold Caltha flore pleno The double Marsh Marigold lesser or greater in one place then another The Dutch call it Dotter bloâ—men And we Marsh Marigolds of some Gouldes and in some Countryes Bootes The Vertues We have not understood that any hath applyed this in Physicke for any griefe or disease CHAP. III. Cotyledon palustris Marsh Penny wort THe Marsh or water Penny wort Cotyledon palustris acris Septentriâ—â—alium as some call it groweth creeping on the ground with long trayling branches shooting forth fibres at sundry joynts and roundish deep greene leaves a little hollow in the middle and unevenly dented about the edges each standing on a small long footestalke the flowers are very small and white comming forth under the leaves the rootes are very small fibres that doe not grow deepe in the ground The Place and Time It groweth alwayes in wet grounds marshes or bogges as on Hampsteede heath and in many other places neere London and flowreth in Iuly The Names It is called by most Herbaristes in these daies Cotyledon palustris and aquatica Lobel calleth it Cotyledon aquatica acris Septentrionalium and in his observations maketh a doubt if it be not the Callitriche of Pliny but is taxed therefore by Columna who calleth it Raminculus aquaticus umbilicato folio making it a Rarunculus as it is most probable howsoever it be termed Cotyledon from the forme of the leaves Our Apothecaries as well as they beyond Sea did use this kinde instead of the true Vmbilicus Veneris being deceived in that the forme thereof doth somewhat resemble it but sure they have amended that error now in better knowing the true plant It is called in some Countries of this Land the White rot because if sheepe seede thereon it will kill them The Vertues By reason of the sharpe taste it cannot but be of an hot quality somewhat like the Crowfeete and therefore requireth respect in the use and not a current tradition we have no certaine property recorded of it CHAP. IV. Ranunculus palustris Marsh Crowfoote OF this kinde of Crowfoote there are divers sorts which shall be declared in this place being reserved for it 1. Ranunculus palustris flammeus major The greater or Marsh Spearewort This greater Marsh Spearewort hath a long joynted roote stored with many blackish fibres from whence riseth up a thicke joynted smooth stalke two foote high furnished with large and long shining and smooth thinner leaves then in the next some being more then halfe a foote long and two or three inches broad but smaller up to the toppe where stand a few pale yellow Crowfoote like flowers but larger then in others 2. Ranunculus palustris flammeus minor sive angustifolius The lesser Spearewort The lesser Spearewort groweth up with more store or sappy greene stalkes with longer thicker and narrower leaves thereon and more store of pale yellow flowers like other sorts of Crowfeete the seede that followeth is like other sorts of Crowfeete the roote is nothing but a bush of threddes or fibres that grow deepe in the mudde 3. Ranunculus flammeus serratus Dented Spearewort This other dented Spearewort is altogether like the last or is the very same but that this is oftentime found having the leaves dented about the edges in more plenty then in the other for both of them is often seene the plaine with some dented leaves and the dented with some plaine leaves among them 4. Ranunculus flammeus Bayonensis The French Spearewort We have had another sort of Spearewort sent us from Bayon growing in their Marshes neere the Sea coasts whose leaves are long and narrow sharpe pointed at the ends the stalke is branched and beareth larger yellow flowers then the last the rootes are like it 5. Ranunculus flammeus flore albo minor Small white flowred Spearewort This little Spearewort hath such like long leaves as the lesser Spearewort hath standing upon long footestalkes but lesser and narrower by much the stalke is bare without leaves saving that at the toppe where the flowers breake forth it hath two small long leaves the flowers are smaller then the common small sort but pure white the seede and rootes are alike also 1 2 3. Ranunculus flammeus major minor folâ—oâ— serrato The greater and lesser Marsh Crowfoote or Spearewort and with dented leaves 4 5. Ranunculus flammeus maritimus Bayonensis alter flore albo The French and small white flowred Spearewort 6. Ranunculus palustris Sardonius laetis Round leafed Marsh Crowfoote 7. Ranunculus Sardinius lanuginosis The true Sardinian Crowfoote 8. Ranunculus aquat cus Hepaticae facie Water Crowfoote 9. Ranunculus Hederaceus aquaticus Water Crowfoote with Ivy leaves 10. Ranunculus hederalae folio aquaticus Water Crowfoote with Ale-coast leaves 6. Ranunculus palustris Sardonius laevis Round leafed Marsh Crowfoote This kinde of Crowfoote shooteth forth a round hollow stalke neere halfe a yard high branching forth into sundry parts the lower leaves whereof are more round then those above and are divided some into three which are ths first and lowest others into five divisions and each of them dented about the edges somewhat like unto Coriander leaves of a pale greene colour and smooth but those up higher on the stalkes and branches are still more and more divided so that some of the highest have no devision or dent in them at the toppes stand small yellow yet Cordus saith he hath observed some to beare purplish flowers after which commeth a small long round head of many crooked seedeâ— set together as in other sorts is to be seene the rootes are a bush of small white stringes the whole plant is as sharpe and virulent as any of the other sorts here or else where described 7. Ranunuclus palustris Sardonius lanuginosus The true Sardinian Crowfoote The true Sardinian Crowfoote groweth very like unto the last but somewhat higher with such like leaves but more divided and hairy like a small
is the huske out of which commeth a white flower consisting of three leaves with divers yellowish hairy threds in the middle under these leaves there is a small short head broadest next unto the leaves and smallest downewards from whence doe proceede sundry long strings like small wormes wherewith as Dodonaeus saith some crafty men and women leeches putting them into glasses with water to make them shew the greater make others beleeve that they are wormes which came out of their bodies to whom they have given medicines for that purpose which take roote in the mudde under the Water 2. Stratiotes Aquatica vera Dioscoridis Aegyptiaca The true Water Houseleeke of Egypt This Water Houseleeke hath divers large and broad thicke hard and hairy whitish greene leaves lying on the water in three or foure rowes round compassed together like unto those of the great tree Houseleeke but greater the outer most row of them being broadest and the inner smaller and smaller Alpinus sheweth them to be pointed 1. Stratiotes sive Militaris Aizoides The water Souldier 2. Stratiotes aquatica vera Dioscoridis Aegyptiaca The true water Houseleeke of Egypt but Veslingius round and plaited and the ends a little foulded backwards as Veslingius hath it which I give you here together this hath not beene observed by either of them what stalkes or flowers it beareth the roote as Alpinus saith is a small thin peece of wooll that hangeth downe from under the leaves which lye on the water like Ducks meate but Veslingius saith it hath smal threddy fibres passing downe to the ground although Dioscorides said it had no rootes the leaves are of a drying stipticke or astringent taste no lesse then Acacia The Place and Time The first groweth in Germany and the Low Countries also plentifully and in Italy and other Countries also the other hath beene observed in Egypt by Alpinus and Veslingius and no where there but in the watery ditches neere Damiata or Pelusium The Names Dioscorides hâ—s 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 whereunto is added 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that it may be knowne from his 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is called by Matthiolus Stratiotes aquaticus in Latine and so also by Lugdunensis and is my second sort here exprest in my judgement rather then the first because the leaves and the posture also doe more resemble Houseleeke then the former which is like unto Aloes although it be called also Sedum marinum and againe because it hath not beene observed any where but in Egypt as I said by Alpinus and Veslingius however Lobel calleth the former Stratiotes sive Militaris Aizoides and Dodonaeus Stratiotes potamios sedum aquatile Bauhinus placeth the former with the sorts of Aloes and calleth it Aloes palustris and the other he placeth among the Lenticulae and calleth it Lenticula palustris Aegyptiaca sive Stratiotes aquatica folijs Sedo majore lâ—â—ioribus Alpinus saith that the Egyptians call it with them Hayhalemel maoni that is as much to say as Sedum aquaticum It is probable that Theophrastus meant this plant whereunto he giveth no name speaking thereof in the end of the ninth Chapter of his fourth Booke growing in ponds like a Lilly with many leaves of a greene colour c. The Vertues Each of these are very cooling and drying and astringent withall but Galen saith it is cold and moist and as he and Dioscorides say stayeth the fluxe of blood that passeth from the kidneys if it be taken in drinke Pliny addeth thereunto some Olibanum it stayeth likewise the swellings of wounds and causeth that they be not enflamed it helpeth other inflammations called Saint Anthonies fire and swellings in other parts it healeth also all wounds and vlcers and is good for fistulaes or hollow ulcers Alpinus saith that the Egyptian women use the juice decoction or pouther of the herbe a dramme every morning to stay their courses or other issues of blood in any other part of the body as also the Country people use it to heale any wound in bruising the leaves and laying them thereon which wonderfully healeth them CHAP. XXVIII Gladiolus lacustris Clusij sive Leucoium palustre flore subcaeruleo Bauhini Water Gladioll THis plant that was sent to Clusius from Groening by a worthy Apothecary there called Dortman found by him in a great pond or Gladiolus Lacustris Clusij sive Leucoium paâ—ustre flore subcaeruleo Bauhini Water Gladioll Lake of water where no other herbe did grow besides in the Country of Drentia neere unto a small village called Norcke and Westervelde is set downe by him with this description The leaves doe seldome exceede the length of nine inches being thicke and hollow severed with a partition like the cods of Stocke-Gilloflowers or the like but greene and sweete in taste being an acceptable food for the Duckes that dive to the bottome of the water to feede on it which is divers elles depth under the water yet the stalke that springeth from among those leaves is seene to rise above the water furnished with white flowers larger then those of Stockgilloflowers the hollow and lowest part which is next to the stalke being of a blewish colour somewhat resembling the forme of a Gladiolus or Corne flagge but yet not much like it consisting of five leaves the two uppermost whereof doe turne backeward to the stalke the other three which are the larger hang downe unto these flowers succeede round heads or seede vessels broad below and pointed at the end full of red seede This was observed in flower in the end of July The Place Time and Names Are related in the foregoing title and description as much as can be said of it for although Clusius would not alter the name thereof whereby it was sent that others might know with what title it came to him Yet Bauhinus thinking it better to agree in leafe and flower unto the Leucoium rather chose to call it Leucoium palustre flore subcaeruleo but I dare not herein follow him for it hath as little correspondence with the Stocke Gilloflower as with the Gladiolus or Corne Flagge neither leafe nor flower being like a Stocke gilloflower but in that the leaves are made like the double huske or seede vessell of Leucoium which maketh littâ—e resemblance of a plant but the flowers doe more answer to the forme of the flower of Gladiolus and therefore I so entitle it And for the Vertues there is none knowne or made to appeare that the neighbouring people make any uâ—e of it in medicine or any other wayes more then is before said for the Duckes to feede on CHAP. XXIX Nymphaea The Water Lilly THere are divers sorts of Water Lillyes both great and small both white and yellow as shal be shewed 1. Nymphaa alba major vulgaris The great common white Water Lilly This Water Lilly hath very large very round and thicke darke greene leaves lying upon the water like unto those of Faba Aegyptia as Dioscorides saith
spetiosa The faire headed water Grasse This Grasse riseth to be two cubits high the leaves are broad and a foote long but slenderly set on the stalkes somewhat rough on the edges some whereof will be hollow like a trunke that the stalke will goe through it halfe way the toppe pannickle is made of many fine soft scaly tufts very beautifull 4. Gramen aquaticum paniculatum minus Small bearded Water Grasse This Grasse sendeth forth from a thicke hard white fibrous roote a round straked stalke about two foote high compassed with sundry broad rough pale greene leaves neere a foote long the toppe pannickle is a spanne long thinnely or sparsedly placed made of many whitish heads compassed with long auâ—â—es or beardes 5. Gramen Echinatum aquaticum majus The greater prickly headed water Grasse The stalke of this Grasse riseth up two or three spannes above the water in the ditches where it groweth with divers long and narrow leaves beating at the toppes of the stalkes divers small prickely heads with long leaves at them the rootes thrust deepe in the mudde 6. Gramen echinatum aquaticum minus The lesser prickely headed water Grasse This other Grasse is like to the last both in the leaves and prickely heads but smaller and have no leaves standing with them as the former hath 1. Gramen aquaticum majus Great Water Reede 2. Gramen Arundinaceum aquaticum Great Water Reede grasse 7. Gramen aquaticum spicatum Spiked Water Grasse 8. Gramen flaviatile Hoare Grasse 9 Gramen aquaticum alterum An other Water Grasse 11. Gramen bulbosum aquaticum The Water bulbed Grasse 7. Gramen aquaticum spicatum Spiked Water Grasse The Water spiked Grasse hath sundry weake stalkes leaning every way full of joynts which are somewhat knobby or round taking roote againe in divers places having long and narrow leaves upon them which lye floting upon and under the Water that part that groweth up hath some leaves likewise thereon and a long slender browne spiked head at the toppe the roote busheth thicke in the mudde with many strings and fibres thereat 8. Gramen fluviatile Flote Grasse The Flote grasse groweth in the very like manner to the last with leaning stalkes and rooting at the joynts but hath more store of leaves on them the toppes being furnished with sundry spiked heads two or three together at a joynt upwards 9. Gramen aquaticum alterum Another Water or Burre Grasse The leaves of this Grasse are long smooth and tender among which riseth up a stalke about halfe a yard high with a few leaves set thereon and at the toppe a many small rough heads like burres 10. Gramen Fluviatile cornutum Horned Flote grasse This strange Grasse hath a very slender stalke about two foote high joynted at sundry places and two small Rushy leaves for the most part set at each of them growing somewhat broad and compassing it at the bottome with a large skinne from whence also rise one or two stalkes ending in a skinny head which hath at the end of them three or foure very narrow leaves turning downewards and seeming like hornes the roote is small and threddy 11. Gramen bulbosum aquaticum The Water bulbed Grasse This Grasse hath an ovall bulbed roote spotted with yellow markes and white within not having any sent or taste from whence springeth up betweene two eares as it were a small stalke about two inches long with another longer peece thereon at the toppe whereof thrusteth forth divers fibres and from them divers long and broad leaves but what stalke or flower it bore we are yet to learne being thus much onely brought and thereby described The Place and Time The two first doe grow in ponds and lakes in sundry places as well of this Land as of others The third in the watery places about Padoa and in Hassia also The fourth in the waters about Michelfield by Bassill The fifth sixth seventh eighth and ninth in watery ditches and ponds in divers parts of the land The last in the Lakes neere Mompelier and doe all flowrish in the Summer time The Names The first is the Gramen aquaticum harundinaceum paniculatum of Tabermontanus The second the Gramen majus aquaticum of Lobel The third and fourth are called by Bauhinus Gramen palustre c. but I have set them both under the title of aquaticum The fifth and sixth are not mentioned by any before The seventh is so called by Lobel as it is in the title The next hee calleth Gramen anqis innatans The ninth is called by Lobel Gramen aquaticum alterum The last is so called by Bauhinus as it is in the title The Vertues Most of these Grasses will Horses eate of although we know not any use they have for any humane griefe CHAP. XLI Lythoxylon sive lignum Lapideum Stone wood or Wood made Stone LET me yet adde this Wood made Stone in the end Lythoxylon sive lignum lapideum Stone Wood. of these fresh Water plants seeing diverse waters in this Kingdome as well as others have that property that what wood soever greater or lesser wrought or unwrought by letting it abide in the water in the Sommer time or Spring for some time according as the thicknesse will give time to penetrate it the branches of trees and greene herbes yea leather gloves and many other have beene metamorphosed into stone keeping that forme it held before it was put in by the chilling quality of the water CHAP. XLII Gramina maritima Sea Grasses THe Sea Grasses as I said before are fittest to be joyned next unto the former Water Grasses that after these I may shew you the rest of the plants that grow in or neere the Sea or within the aire or breath thereof which are properly called Maritime plants 1. Gramen Caninum geniculatum maritimum spicatum Sea spiked Dogs grasse or Quich grasse This Sea Grasse hath divers joynted stalkes about a foote high with hard leaves thereon a spanne long and like the other quich grasse the spiked heads are shorter by much and harder then the common kinde the roote is full of joynts and creepeth under ground like it 1. Gramen Caninum geniculatum maritimum spicatum Sea spiked Dogs grasse or Quich grasse 3. Gramen Caninum maritimum alterum longius radicatum Sea Dogs grasse with longer rootes 4. Gramen Caninum maritimum spicatum Monspeliense Sea spike grasse of Mompelier 5. Gramen Caninum maritimum asperum Rough Sea Grasse 2. Gramen maritimum vulgato Canario simile Sea Quich grasse This other Sea grasse is a slenderer harder and lancker Grasse then the ordinary quich grasse and of a more blewish greene colour and differeth not in any thing else But there are two other differing sorts hereof observed the one in the rootes which at the severall joynts as it runneth doth shoote up the like stalkes leaves and spiked tufts and will be sometimes twenty foote in length with a number of those tufts of stalkes and leaves at them the other in
French Monsse de mer the Germanes Meermoss the Dutch Zee mosch The Vertues Most of these Sea Mosses doe binde much and coole inflammations and being applyed while they are fresh give much ease to those are troubled with the hot Gout they have an especiall property in drying thickning cooling what part soever standeth in neede of any of these qualities both the sorts of the first killeth wormes in the body and the second of them is very effectuall for watering red eyes if the pouther mixed with some Fennell Water be put into them the same pouther taken with Vinegar stayeth vomiting and strengtheneth the stomacke but if the decoction thereof in wine be injected into the bladder by a sâ—rings it cleanseth the carnosity in the necke of the bladder and ulcers therein prooved effectuall to helpe one troubled with that disease in a short time the eighth likewise is said to helpe to cleanse foule ulcers of all sorts either inward or outward being made into pouther and given in wine and clenseth the stone in the kidneyes the vertues of the seventh are declared in the description CHAP. LII Fucus marinus sive Alga marina Sea wrake or Sea weede OF this kinde of broader leafed Sea excressences that are soft and herby some more and some lesse there are many sorts as they shall be here expressed 1. Fucus marinus sive Alga marina graminea Wrake or Sea weede or Grasse The roundish rootes hereof are hairy and blackish on the outside from whence rise up small and round and long white hairy heads breaking out at the sides as it were into branches on the toppes whereof stand three or foure very long and narrow soft greene leaves some being an ell or more long and about an inch broad this hath neither seede nor stalke but lyeth on the ground untill the tide raise it on the water which being broken by the force of the waves is carryed to the shore where it is kept for many things 2. Fucus marinus crassus latifolius Broad and thicke Sea Girdle This differeth from the former in that the roote is wholly fibrous the stalke rising from thence thicke and round two or three inches high and the leafe which is sometimes but one and seldome two of a very great length even divers feete or els long and above foure inches broad equall from a little above the setting on to the end but somewhat waved or crumpled on the edges being thicke and of a deepe greene colour so soft and moist while it is fresh that it is like unto moist glue or gelly and will hardly dry unlesse it lie long in the Sunne and will not be fit to be kept without rotting untill after many dayes drying 3. Fucus marinus latissimo tenni folio Broad and thin Sea girdle This is in all things like the last but that the leaves are thinner broader and shorter yet crumpled on the edges and of a paler greene colour and is like unto thin parchment 4. Fucus alatas sive phosganoides Winged Sea girdle This cleaveth unto stones and shels of fishes likewise both in the deeper and shallower places of the Sea having a round darke reddish stalke of the bignesse of a Goose quill which being growne to the full length is very weake lying on the ground unlesse the water raise it and an ell long on each side whereof groweth a wing all the whole length of it like unto a skinne or parchment with veines therein which being like the feather of an arrow is small below and broader above equally to the toppe of two or three inches breadth the leaves that grow next the ground are many and some are set also on the stalke of a yellower greenish colour and of an hand breadth being foure six or eight inches long lither or of a skinny substance like unto the other girdles the stalke doth very well resemble a two edged sword and is used to be dressed and eaten by the inhabitants of the Sea coasts where it groweth after it is cleared from the skinny wings and hath a little sweete taste with the saltnesse which maketh it the more acceptable 5. Fucus maximus polyschides Great Sea girdle with many Labels The manner of growing hereof and the use likewise is alike with the last but is the greatest of all these sorts of Sea weedes having a stalke as thicke as that of Angelica of a browne colour like a Chesnut on the outside and so are the round leaves likewise which are three or foure cubits long being not so thicke as ones little finger and ending in divers broad and short skinny Labels in like manner as the lower part of the swords hangers which are of a yellowish colour Both these last sorts were sent unto Bauhinus from Aberdein in Scotland by Doctor Cargillus and as it seemeth this and the second are somewhat differing from Mr. Iohnsons figure and description which containeth both of them in one yet I have thought good to give you his figure for want of them severall although his groweth from a roote and this from shels c. 6. Fucus marinus secundus Dodonaei Narrow long and thicke Sea girdles The roote hereof is round and flat from whence spring two or three narrow thicke leaves about a foote and a halfe long divided into sundry flat thicke thongs like leather some long and some shorter and they againe divided 1. Fucus murinus sive Alga marina graminea Wrake or Sea weede or Grasse 5. Fucus maximus polyschides Great Sea girdles with many Labels 6 7. Fucus marinus 2 3 4. Dodonaeus Two or three sorts of Sea thongs or girdles 9. Fucus marinus Lactuca marina dictus Oyster greene 10. Fucus sive Alga Intubacea Sea Curld Endive 11. Querciu marina herbacea varietas Sea Oake or Sea Wrake some varieties into smaller ones this hath but few or no swolne parts thereon But there is another of this sort that hath shorter and narrower leaves the stalkes ending all in swolne points 7. Fucus membranaceus ceranoides Sea weede with skinny hornes This hath a stalke little above an handbreadth long an inch and a halfe broad divided into sundry branches some broader and others narrower varying wonderfully each whereof endeth in divers short parts like unto small hornes hereof are seene divers sorts differing somewhat though not much one from another and are used to take away the hurtfull longings of women with childe 12. Opuntia marina The Sea Garland 8. Fucus maritimus Gallopavonis pennaâ— refereus The Peacockes Feather This also is of skinny substance spreading it selfe by little and little wide abroad cut into many jagges which end in halfe circles lying sometimes one upon another whereon are set sundry semicircular spots and stroakes of divers colours and of differing bignesse one from another like as is seene in the Peacockes feathers this groweth to the Rockes in the Sea somewhat like hereunto there is also a certaine barke taken from Scallops that breede
of a whitish greene colour and abiding in the Winter on the stalkes not falling of as the rest doe the flowers are wholly white and a little larger then the last standing at the toppes of the stalkes like others 9. Linum arboreum Creticum luteum The yellow shrubbe Flaxe of Candy This groweth like a small shrub covered with a blackish barke with long leaves thicke set on the branches somewhat like unto those of Flaxe but larger comming neerest unto large Myrtle leaves the flowers are yellow and very bitter in taste the seede vessels are as bigge as Ciche pease containing foure seedes within them very like unto Flaxe seede 10. Chamaelinum Clusij flore albo sive Linum sylvestre Catharticum Dwarfe wilde Flaxe with white flowers or Mill mountaine This Dwarfe Flaxe hath many slender stalkes of about a spanne and a halfe long with divers small long leaves set by couples on them and white flowers at the toppes of the branches lesser then those of the manured with yellow threds in the middle the seede is small that followeth in the small round heads the roote is small also and threddy Lobel setteth sorth another small one not rising above foure or five inches high with small leaves and yellow flowers Flor luteo 11. Chamaelinum stellatum Dwarfe wilde Flaxe with starre like flowers This whole plant is scarse three inches high having but one or two very small stalkes at the most and as small leaves ending in a very sharpe point the flowers are few and small made of five narrow pale greene leaves pointed at the ends and standing forth in that manner that every flower resembleth a starre with a round umbone in the middle The Place and Time Some of these as is before said grow in Spaine some in France or Germany and some in our owne Land also they all are in flower for the most part from Midsommer untill August and some abide longer the seede ripening in the meane time The Names Linum in Latine and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in Greeke signifieth as well the herbe as it groweth as the same prepared to be spun and when it is made into cloath also The first is called by all Authours Linum sâ—â—ivum and the second Linum sylvestre by Tragus who saith it is sowne in the fields of Germany in sundry places because it yeeldeth more store of Flaxe and yet is found naturally growing among Oates The third is Clusius his first Linum sylvestre latifolium The fourth is the third Linum sylvestre of Clusius The fifth is Clusius his second Linum angustifolium which Lobel and others call Linum sylvestre floribus albis The sixth is Clusius his angustifolium primum which Lobel and others call tennifolium The seventh is the Linum sylvestre of Matthiolus Dodonaeus Caâ—erarius and others and the Linum marinum luteum of Lobel and may be the first Linum fruticosum subflavum of Bauhinus in Prodromo and the Linum lutemâ—â— sylvestre latifolium of Columna for they differ little The eighth is the Linum sylvestre fruticosum of Clusius The ninth is the Linum arboreâ—â— of Alpinus in his booke de plantis Exoticis The tenth is the Chamaelinum of Clusius which is called Mill mountaine in many parts of this Land by the Country people where it groweth The last is called Linum minimum stellatum by Bauhinus who saith it is also called by some Passerina minor saxatilis The Arabians call it Bazari-chichen or Bozerchetan which is the seede thereof onely the Italians Lino the French Lin the Germanes Flachs the Dutch Vlas and we Flaxe and Line The Vertues There is neither leafe flower nor roote of Flaxe used in any medicine with 〈◊〉 that I know neyther greene nor dryed neither the juice distilled water or any other composition made thereof but onely the seede and that more in outward then inward Physicke in these dayes although in former times as Galen sheweth that some used the seede parched for their food taken with honey and some used to put it into their bread but saith he primo alimentorum it troubleth the stomacke hardly digesteth and giveth little nourishment to the body but concerning the mooving of the belly downewards saith he I will neither praise nor dispraise it yet it hath a small property to provoke urine which it doth best being parched thus saith Galen of the manured kinde but the wilde kindes that are more bitter have another property The seede of Line made into pouther mixed with honey and some pepper into an electuary and thereof the quantity of a Nutmeg taken every day doth helpe the cough as some say the seede also boyled in water and some honey put unto it and drunke is said also to ease the paines of the body as the collicke and stitches and all inflammations if it be outwardly used also with Fenugrecke and Linseed and some Mallows a pultis being made therof is of good use to mollify and discusse any tumour or hardnes in any part of the body or of the mother by sitting in the warme decoction of the seede or to receive the hot fumes through a seate for the purpose being taken with Raisins saith Pliny it helpeth the obstructions of the Liver the seede mixed with niter or salt and figge tree ashes easeth the paines and hardnesse of the muscles sinewes and arteries and used with figges it ripeneth and digesteth mixed with the wild Cowcumber roote it draweth forth splinters thornes nailes or any other thing sticking in the flesh and broken bones also the decoction thereof made in wine and applyed to any fretting or running sore stayeth it from spreading further used with as much Cresses it taketh away the ruggednesse of the nailes and with Myrrhe and Rossin it helpeth ruptures and the swellings of the cods used with Olibâ—â—â— and water or Myrrhe and wine it helpeth watering eyes and mixed up with hony or suet or waxe and applyed it helpeth the hard kernels and swellings under the eares or throate it taketh away also the spots and blemishes of the skin â—â—â—rning and other discolourings The oyle of Linseede besides that it is of much use for Painters to fasten their colours either on cloth wood stone iron or glasse and to burne in lamps abiding longer then the Oyle of Oliveâ— although it giveth much more smoake and soote is of exceeding good use to mollifie the hardnes and shrinking of the sinewes helpeth the hemorrhoides or piles the rifts and chaps of the fundament and the hardnesse and pâ—ines thereof and of the mother being beaten with Red-rose water it is good against burnings The wilde Flaxe is of the like use in most things and the more effectuall by reason of the bitternesse in many others the decoction thereof with the flowers doth resolve tumours and lenifie inflammations the arteries also when they grow hard and stiffe and the swelling and sores in the groine of Mill mountaine some triall hath beene made among our people to move the body
maketh two sorts montana and campestris the former white the other blacke but wee can finde no such diversity in those that grow with us Our Beech therefore groweth to be a great and a tall tree spreading the boughes and branches on every side whereby it maketh a goodly large shadow unlesse it be shred below to make it spring up higher covered with a smooth white barke whereon are placed many broad smooth leave almost round yet pointed at the end and a little finely dented about the edges of a sad greene colour which usually turne yellow before they fall away and whereon are often found certaine small round hollow berries pointed at one end greene at the first and red afterwards wherein are found small wormes The blowings or catkins are small and yellow like those of the Birch tree but lesse and quickely falling away The fruite is contained in a rough huske somewhat like the Chesnut but not prickly sharpe at all which being ripe openeth it selfe into three parts and sheweth a small three square nut covered with a smooth soft skin browner then the Chesnut and under it a sweete white kernell like the Chesnut but more astringent the rootes grow not deepe nor yet spread farre the timber is smooth and white but brittle yet profitable to many uses The Place and Time This groweth through most Woods in England among the Okes and other trees and is planted also in Parkes Forrests and Chases to feede their Deere but in other places to fatten Swine whose fat will bee softer then theirs that are fatted with Acornes it bloometh in the end of Aprill or beginning of May for the most part and the fruite it ripe in the end of September The Names It is called in Greeke 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Oxya in Latine Fagus Gaza translateth it Scissima quod sit in Laminas Scissilis it is easie to be cloven yet he also translateth the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of Theophrastus which he numbreth among the Okes to be Fagus whose ill sample Tragus Fuchsius Ruellius Matthiolus Dodonaeus and almost all other Writers thereof since his time have followed as I said before in the Chapter of Okes whose difference many yet have acknowledged but none before Dalechampius have plainely detected another errour also hath spread among many in taking 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Ostrys or Ostrya of the Greekes whereof Pliny speaketh lib. 13. c. 21. to be this Oxya but Pliny sheweth plainely in the description of Ostrys that the fruite or seede is like unto Barley which they would correct and make it to be like the Chesnut thus one errour begetteth another but Ostrys or Ostrya as shall be shewed hereafter is rather a kinde of Elme yet unproperly he calleth it Carpinus when as the Carpinus of the ancients is a kinde of Maple as shall be shewed and Dodonaeus to mend the matter placeth the Ostrys among the Maples under the name of Carpinus but the truth is that 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and Fagus The Beech tree 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 are three severall trees and Carpinus the fourth of severall kindes and not to be so confounded together The Italians call it Faggio the Spaniards Haia the French Faâ— Foustean and Hestre yet Bellonius in the 52. Chapter of his first Booke of Observations doth distinguish Hestre from Foustean saying that the Greekes Ostrya is The Frenches Haistre their Oxya the Frenches Fousteau both of them growing wilde in the woods upon the mountaines or hils of Sidero capsa in Macedonia the Germanes call it Buchbaum the Dutch Buickenboom and we in English Beeche The Vertues The leaves of the Beeche tree are cooling and binding and are therefore applyed unto hot swellings to discusse them the nuts are hot and moist in the first degree and thereby nourish much all creatures that feed thereon Petrus Crescentius writeth that the ashes of the wood is good to make glasse Tragus saith that he hath prooved by good and often experience that the water that is found in the hollow places of decaying Beeches will cure both man and beast of any scurfe or scabbe or running tetters if they be washed therewith Ruellius reporteth that if a Viper or Adder be strucken with a rod of the Beech tree or if it be but onely put unto it it hath such power as to stay the Viper from getting away while it is by it the barke of the Beech tree is so flexible that many Country people doe double it with a sticke thrust through both sides at the toppe to carry Cherries Strawberries and many other such like things therein which Pliny also noteth was used in his time CHAP. XI Vlmus The Elme THeophrastus Columella and many also of our moderne Authours have made mention onely of two sorts of Elmes Pliny hath made foure sorts which notwithstanding may be reduced into the former two we have observed in our Country three sorts and Master Goodier a fourth besides another very like unto them but yet notably differing which shall therefore bee set downe in the Chapter following by it selfe 1. Vlmus vulgaris Our common Elme That Elme which is most frequent and best knowne in generall throughout the Land groweth more upright and not so much spreading as the rest to bee a very great tree with a body of a very large sise covered with a thicke rough barke chapt or crackt in many places but that on the branches is smoother Figur Trag. pro sloribus the blossomes that appeare before the leaves come forth are like small tassells of red threds which falling away there come up in their stead broad flat whitish skinnes which are the seâ—de being not much unlike to the seede of the white Garden Arrache which doe fall away by degrees some quickely and some holding on a good while after the leaves are fully come forth the leaves are of a sad greene colour broad somewhat round and pointed at the the ends rough and crumpled for the most part and dented about the edges one side of the leafe next to the stalke being longer then the other and more eaten by all sorts of cattle then any of the rest having certaine small bladders or blisters thereon which containe small wormes in them the wood or timber hereof is of a darke reddish yellow colour and is very tough fit for many uses where it may be either continually wet or dry but not enduring both so long as the Oke 2. Vlmus latiore folio Broad leafed Elme or witch Hasell This other Elme groweth also to be as great a tree as the former but spreadeth the branches more and falling downewards not growing so upright as the former the bloomings and seed hereof is like the former in al things but greater the leaves hereof are much larger then it but crumpled and rough or hard and like unto the leaves of the Hasell nut from whence it became to be called Witch hasell and hath such like
both tame and wilde those that are manured and planted in Orchards are called Fillberds and the other growing wild Wood nuts or Hasell nuts usually unto which I must adjoyne some other sorts brought from other farre countries 1. Nux Avellana sativa fructu rotundo albo The round white Fillberd The manured Hasell or Fillberd tree of this kinde as of the other tame sorts groweth up into a taller and bigger body theâ— the wild Hasell or wood nut tree doth but never to any great bulke or sise and with fewer suckers or 〈◊〉 from the rootes and spread into sundry branches covered with a brownish speckled thin barke and greene undermost bearing large wrinckled or crumpled leaves somewhat like unto the Alder leaves cut in on the edges into some deeper dents but not cut into divisions of a sad greene colour above and grayish underneath the 〈…〉 forth in the Winter before any leaves appeare being then firme and close of a reddish yellow 〈◊〉 and afterwards opening themselves become more yellow falling away when the leaves begin to appeare 3. 5. Nux Avellana sativa sylvestris The Fillberd and the wild Hasell Nut. 4. Nux Avellana Macedonica sive Bysantina Filberds of Macedonia or Constantinople the nuts breake forth at other places of the stalkes three or foure or more together each enclosed in a tough browne huske which reacheth beyond the nut and is parted at the end into sundry jagges the nut with it is large and round more then the long sort with a white thinne shell on the outside and a white peeling covering the kernell within which is very sweete the wood hereof is smooth white and somewhat tough or hard 2. Nux Avellana sativa alba maximo fructu The great white Fillberd This differeth in no other thing from the former but in growing higher and bigger and the nuts larger by the halfe but round and white like it 3. Nux Avellana sativa fructu longo The long Fillberd This Filberd differeth not in the bush or tree in the leaves or catkins in the Nut or the bearded huskes from the former the onely difference consisteth in the nut it selfe which is long and round and hath a browner shell which is distinguished into two sorts the one hath the inner thinne skinne or peeling that covereth the kernell red and the other white and each of them of a sweeter taste then the former and the red of this sort better also then the white 4. Nux Avellana Macedonica sive Byzantina Filberds of Macedonia or Constantinople Although Cordus and Gesner gave the first knowledge of this Nut to the Christian world and that but by a short relation yet since them Clusius hath enlarged the description thereof by the often observations thereof it groweth up straight and tall like a tree as Cordus saith it was observed in Macedonia and Thracia but as Clusius saith it was reported to him that it grew very low covered with a whiter and more rugged barke having such like large crumpled leaves but somewhat longer the catkins are like the other but the nuts grow many together in a cluster whose hard skin or tough huske is much more jagged at the head then the other and somewhat likewise at the bottome the Nut it selfe is round like our wood nut with a hard shell the kernell within being very sweete and pleasant like the Filberd since which time Clusius hath observed it to grow somewhat otherwise 5. Corylus sive Nux Avellana sylvestris The Wood nut or Hasell nut The Wood Nut groweth with more stemmes or suckers from the roote then the manured kinde yet some of a reasonable bignesse branching foâ—th diversly covered with a like discoloured barke to the former the leaves are lesser and rounder yet not lesse crumpled greene above and gray underneath the catkins and nuts come forth in the same manner but the Nuts are smaller and rounder whose huske is shorter and whiter and never wholly covereth the nut but standeth therein like unto an Acorne in the cup and herein consisteth the chiefest difference for the manner of growing 6. Corylus Virginensis Virginian Hasell Nuts The manner of the growing of those Nuts we have not had sufficient instructions of all though wee have seene and had the Nuts of a long time which are as small or rather smaller and browner then our Wood nuts sharper pointed and with a rougher shell not so hard or easie to breake the kernell is somewhat sweete and white but not so pleasant as ours The Place and Time Filberds are planted in Orchards and the wilde nuts grow in woods and thickets that are moist rather then dry delighting best to grow in such a soile the catkins as is said appeare before the Spring and the fruite is ripe in August or September at the furthest The Names It is called in Greeke 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Nux Pontica and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Nux tenuis sive parva in Latine Corylus Nux Abellina from the Country which afterwards altered and fell to Avellana as also Nux Prenestina and Heracleotica the severall titles that they beare decipher them out sufficiently as wee and others have and can call them by The Arabians call it Agilenz and Bunduch the Italians Nocivole Nocelle and Avellana the Spaniards Avellanes the French Noisettes Noiselles and Avellaines the Germanes Haselnutz the Dutch Haselnoet and we in English Filberd for the manured kinde and Hasell nut Wood nut or small nut for the wilde kinde The Vertues These small Nuts while they are fresh are sweete and much pleasing to the palate but the much eating of them breed headache and windinesse in the stomacke especially when they grow older but if they be a little heated or parched by the fire the oylinesse doth become lesse offensive the parched Nuts made into an electuary or the milke drawne from the kernels with some mede or honyed water is very good to helpe an old cough and being parched and a little pepper put to them and drunke it doth digest the destillation of rheume from the head some doe hold that these Nuts and not Wallnuts with figs and Rue was Mithridâ—tes medicine effectually against poysons the oyle of the nuts is effectuall for the same purposes The dryed huskes and shels to the weight of two drammes taken in red Wine stayeth the laskes and womens courses and so doth the red skinne that covereth the kernels or is more effectuall to stay their termes if a snake be stroke with an Hasell wand it doth sooner stunne it then with any other sticke because it is so pliant that it will winde closer about it so that being deprived of their motion they must needâ— dye with paine and want and it is no hard matter in like manner saith Tragus to kill a mad dog that shall be strooke with an Hasell sticke such as men use to walke or ride withall CHAP. XX. Nux Pistacia The Fisticke Nut. THe Fisticke Nut groweth to
blacke is ripe in Iune and Iuly the other later The Names The first blacke sorts are taken generally by the best later Writers to be the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of Theophrastus that is Vitis ex parte Idae quam vocant Phalacras but Pliny falsly put in Alexandrina instead of Idaea in Latine by them Vitis Idaea Thâ—ophrasti and because all the rest have a resemblance thereunto they are all called Vites Idaea likewise with their severall distinctions as you shall presently heare they are many of them also called Vaccinia by divers thinking the black sort to be the Vaccinia nigra of Virgil by the transposition of a letter Baccinia nigra parva quasi bacca but that errour is exploded by many good Authours that shew Virgil putteth his Vaccinia among flowers and not fruites for as he saith Et sunt Violae nigrae Vaccinia nigra intending the colours were both alike as a kinde of Hyacinth which he might meane is as the Violet flower Vitruvius and Pliny indeede have a Vaccinium which giveth a purple dye to servants or others garments which may very wel be this for such a purple colour will the juyce hereof give if it be rightly ordered It is also called Myrtillus and by some Myrtillus Germanica because the Physitions and Apothecaries in Germany and those parts tooke them to be true Mirtle berries and so used them untill they were shewed their errour and since have forsaken it as we have done also Gesner also in hortis sheweth that some did take the Vitis Idaea to be that Vine that beareth Currans but saith he that noble Vine groweth not on so high or snowy mountaines but rather in the Planes and open hils and ordered by the industry of men The first Tragus calleth Myrtillus exiguus and so doe Matthiolus and Lugdunensis Dodonaeus and Lobel called it Vaccinia nigra Anguilara radix Idaea fructu nigro Camerarius Gesner and Clusius Vitis Idaea vulgaris baccis nigris Caesalpinus Bagola primum genus The second is called by Tragus Myrtilâ—us grandis and is the Vitis Idaea major of Thalius the Vitis Idaea secunda sive altera of Clusius and the Vitis folijs suer otunais â—nâ—lbidis although he hath transposed some of these titles to his second which is my third whereof onely Clusius maketh mention and calleth it his first and Gerard Vaccinia Pannonica and Bauhinus calleth Vitis Idaea folijs oblongis albicantibus The fourth is called Vaccinia rubra and Vitis Idaea rubra by all writers thereof Camerarius and Thalius say that some tooke it to be Rhus minor Plinij and Clusius Vitis Idaea buxeis folijs and Anguilara Radix Idaea fructu rubro as he did the blacke before Radix Idaea fructu nigro and Lugdunensis doth thinke that this is most properly the Radix Idaea of Dioscorides The fifth is mentioned onely by Camerarius in horto who calleth it Vitis Idaea rubra Bavarica The sixth is referred by Clusius to the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of Galen in his seventh Booke de composit med secundum locos cap. 4. and thereupon he called it Vva ursi Galeni Bauhinus refereth it to the Vitis Idaea making it his sixth and calleth it Idaea radix Dioscoridis also The seventh is called by Clusius Vitis Idaea tertia not thinking his former to be so worthy of that name Lobel saith the French call it Amelanchier and doubteth if it be not that shrub which they call Alâ—sâ—er Bellonius saith that their Melanchier is called in Candy Agriomelea and Codomalo but I thinke he is deceived that having blacke and this red fruite Gesner in his Epistles as Clusius saith if he meant this plant giveth it divers names as Myrtomalis Petromelis Pyrus Cervina and Pyraster Idaea Dalechampius taking it to be Cotonaster Gesneri calleth it Epimelis altera but giveth it red berries which therefore I suppose may be rather one of the two last The two last are mentioned by Alpinus in his Booke of Exoticke plants by the name of Cerasus and Chamaecerasus Idaea Cretica thinking the former most neerely to be the Cerasus Idaea Theophrasti The Italians did use to call the first Mirtillo but now Vite Idaea according to the Latine the French Airelle and Aurelle the Germanes Heidelbeer the Dutch Crake besien and we Whorts or Whortle berryes and Bill berries with us about London The Vertues The Bill berries doe coole in the second degree and doe a little binde and dry withall they are therefore good in hot agues and to coole the heat of the stomacke and liver and doe somewhat binde the belly and stay castings and loathings but if that they be eaten by those that have a weake or a cold stomacke they will much offend and trouble it saith Camerarius and therefore the juyce of the berries being made into a Syrupe or the pulpe of them made into a conserve with Sugar will be more familiar to such and helpe those paines the cold fruite procured and is good for all the purposes aforesaid as also for those that are troubled with an old cough or with an ulcer in the Lungs or other disease thereof with the juyce of the berries Painters to colour paper or cards doe make a kinde of purple blew colour putting thereto some Allome and Galles whereby they can make it lighter or sadder as they please And some poore folkes as Tragus sheweth doe take a potfull of the juyce strained whereunto an ounce of Allome foure spoonefuls of good Wine vinegar and a quarter of an ounce of the waste of the copper forgings being put together and boyled all together into this liquor while it is reasonable but not too hot they put their cloth wooll thred or yarne therein letting it lye for a good while which being taken out and hung up to dry and afterwards washed with cold water will have the like Turkie blew colour and if they would have it sadder they will put thereto in the boyling an ounce of broken Gaules Gerard saith that hee hath made of the juyce of the red berries an excellent crimson colour by putting a little Allome thereto the red Whorts are taken to be more binding the belly womens courses spitting of blood and any other fluxe of blood or humours to be used as well outwardly as inwardly CHAP. XLVII Iovis barba frutex The silver Bush THis beautifull fine bush groweth to the height of a Iovis barba frutex The Silver Bush man with a number of slender branches thicke bushing out on all sides whereon grow long winged leaves made of many small ones like Lentill leaves but narrower each set against other with an odde one at the end of a faire greene colour on the upperside and of a silver white shining colour underneath the young leaves being also of the same colour at the ends of the branch standeth large umbels of yellow flowers made after the fashion of broome flowers set in grayish huskes like the heads of the three leafed grasse after which
it Camfire doth coole the heate of the liver and backe and all hot inflammations and distempers of heate in any place of the body easing the paines in the head and restraining fluxes either of blood out of the head and nostrills being applyed to the forehead with the juyce of Houseleeke or with Plantaine water and some Nettle seed or the fluxe of sperme in man or woman using it to the reines or privy parts and extinguisheth Venery or the lust of the body It is a preserver from putrefaction and therefore is put into divers compositions and antidotes to resist venome poysons and infection of the plague or other diseases it is good in wounds and ulcers to restraine the heate and is of much use with women that desire to preserve their beauty by adding a luster to the skinne CHAP. XIX Caranha The Gumme Caranha CAranha Carauna or Caragna is a gumme brought from the West Indies whose tree is not described by any that have written of it but is a soft kind of Gum wrapped up in leaves that one peece should not sticke unto another for it is very cleaving and is of a darke or muddy greenish colour having somewhat a sharpe piersing sent but there is another sort as Monardus saith that is as cleere as Christall which I never saw It is a most especiall and speedy helpe when Tacamahaca could not as Monardus saith be had for all cold aches and paines in the nerves and joynts and the swellings and paines therin the defluxions also of humours on them or on the eyes or on any other part to be laid on the temples or behind the eares it is also used as well as Tacamahaca for the toothach to be laid on the temples like Masticke CHAP. XX. Cardamomum Cardamomes THere hath beene formerly much controversie concerning Cardamomes whether we have either that of the Grecians or those of the Arabians some supposing we have neither and that the Cardamomes we daily use agree with neither of all their descriptions Theophrastus Dioscorides and Galen among the auncient Greekes and Pliny among the Latines mentioning but one sort and the Arabians two Melignette sive Cardamomum maximum et Grana Paradisi Ginny graines Cardamomum minus vulgare The ordinary lesser sorts of Cardamomes Cardamomum majus vulgare The greater sort of Cardamomes Cardamomum medium minimum The two smallest sorts of Cardamomes a greater and a lesser but Fuchsius and Ruellius thought the Capsicum or Siliquastrum our red Indian Pepper in long horned huskes was the Arabians Cardaemomum minus which Matthiolus disproveth as improbable yea impossible the difference both in forme and property so farre disabling it and some supposing the Melegueta or grana Paradisi which we call usually graines or Ginney graines to be the Grecians Cardamomum and the Monkes that commented upon Mesues tooke the said Melegueta to be the lesser Gardamomes of Serapio all which and many other opinions may now be buryed and we better resolved that Dioscorides his Cardamomum not onely agreeth with Galens whereof divers made a doubt because Dioscorides maketh his to be sharpe in taste and fierce in sent piersing the senses and Galen pleasant and not so sharpe or hot as Cresses for Galen no doubt understood the same of Dioscorides when in a receipt that he had from Pamphilus 7 de comp med secund locoâ— c. 3. he appointeth Cardamomum delibratum Cardamomes that were huâ—ked to be taken as also in secundâ— antidot Zeno casteth away the huskes and in the Theriaca of Damocrates in verse Cardamomes in huskes are named and Dioscorides mentioneth not any huskes or other forme thereof because iâ— was so familiarly knowne in his time but that it was not easie to be broken which the huske being tough doe declare 〈◊〉 but it also agreeth with those we use in our shoppes and with that which Pliny mentioneth who aâ— I said in the Chapter of Amomum saith Cardamomum 〈◊〉 like thereunto that is to Amomum both in name and growth but that the seed is longer meaning the huske with the seed in it as it is used to be taken by him and others in many things And that of Dioscorides agreeing with that we use in our shops cannot be any other also then that of the Arabians usually brought to all these Christian parts from the East Indies as Garcias confesseth and especially the lesser which as Garcias saith is the better although as he saith they be both of one kinde differing in bignesse the bigger sort being somewhat longer and rounder and the small shorter and not so great but as it were three square Now as concerning Garcias his opinion that the Arabians Sacolaa quibir and ceguer Cardamomum majus minus was not knowne to the ancient Grecians or Latines assuredly he was mistaken therein for the notes and markes of Dioscorides his Cardamomum doe in all things agree both with ours in use brought from India and that of Pliny as I said before so that now seeing both Greekes Arabians and Latines are thus reconciled together there needeth not for any further doubt hereof to use our Cardamomes in any of their receiptâ— but the Melegueta or Grâ—â—a Parâ—disi which is in forme like to a Figge and full of reddish seed although it be good and safe spice to be used yet can it not be the Cardamomum majus as divers have formerly taken it and to this day is so supposed by many but as Garcias saith it may be the Combasbogue of Avicen 〈◊〉 greater and lesser Cardamomes differ not in kind but in greatnesse the one from the other and is called as Garcias saith by the Merchants of Malavar Etrimelli by them of Zeilan Ensal in both which places it groweth plentifully as Garcias saith in Bâ—ngala and Surrat Hil and of some Elachi but generally of the common people Dore in all those places The Vertues whereof are these it is hot and dry in the third degree it breaketh the stone provoketh urine when it is stopped or passeth with paine it resisteth poyson and the sting of the Scorpion or other venemous creatures and killeth the birth if they be perfumed therewith it is good against the falling sicknesse the cough the broad wormes and the torments or griping paines in the guts or bowels and expelleth winde powerfully both from the stomacke and entralls easeth those that by falls or beatings are bruised and broken those that have loose and weake sinewes and the paine of the Sciatica or hip gout and used with vinegar it is good against scabbes it is used in many of our compositions cordialls Antidotes and others the Indians as Garcias saith put this to the composition of their Betro leaves which they continually chew in their mouthes CHAP. XXI Caryophylli Cloves ALthough Cloves and Nutmegs and some other spices and drogues were not knowne to Dioscorides Galâ—â— and the other auncient Greekes for Serapio in citing Galens authority for Cloves is either false or mistaken for Paulus Aegiâ—â—ta a
of those that are brought from thence into these parts it is used also as a stirrer up of Venery and to encrease sperme or seed Out of this Copra or broken kernells is made two sorts of oyle the one pressed forth after the same manner that oyle of Allmonds is made and is a most cleare oyle in good abundance which serveth not onely to burne in Lampes but to put to their boyled Rice the other is made by putting warme water to them after they are broken to peeces and boyled by scumming off the oyle that swimmeth above the water after they are pressed together which oyle is used as a gentle purgation to evacuate the bowels some put thereunto the pulpe of Tamarindes which maketh it a little tarter and fitter for hot and chollericke bodies the other oyle serveth to mollefie the hardnesse and shrinking of the sinewes and old paines in the joynts and for this purpose they use to put the patient after he is annointed into a great and capatious tub or vessell being heated that may hold him and therein suffer him to abide for a good while untill he have slept therein and this bringeth him a great deale of ease and comfort but whereas Avicen saith that it killeth wormes Garcias saith he had not tryed it neither thought it probable because it is well knowne that the eating thereof ingendreth wormes in all the Inhabitants that eate much thereof and is a disease incident unto them and whereas Serapio saith by the authority of Mesues that by the eating of these Nuts the loosenesse of the belly is stayed it disagreeth not with reason saith he that the Nut itselfe which hath much earthy parts in it should binde the body and the oyle which is of many thinne and aerious parts should loosen it in the middle or hollow part of this kernell is contained as is before said a great quantity of cleere sweet liquour pleasant to drinke and not bringing any offence to the stomacke but rather refresheth the spirits the other sort of these trees are reserved saith Garcias that the head sprout or top thereof is taken to be eaten which tasteth more pleasantly then either tender Chesnuts or the head of the wild or dwarfe Date tree called Palmito and by the Italians Cefaglioni The older the tree is the pleasanter is this head but when it is taken away the tree dyeth so that he may well be said to devoure the whole tree that hath eaten one of these heads Nucula Indica racemosa A small Indian Coker Nut many growing together This small Indian Nut which Clusius described singly in the second Booke of his Exotickes the six and twentyeth Chapter and 54. page and the second Nut was afterward sent unto him from Mounsieur de Peiresc in Province but came a while after his death The tree that beareth these fruites is in great account with the Natives where it groweth for with the leaves they make their drinke being boyled with water and of the kernels of the fruites they make their bread that is sweet and pleasant which fruite groweth in a tuft or spike many together and all upon a great thicke stalke they are inclosed in a certaine hairy huske or skinne breaking open upon the ripening and each one also hath a hairy huske or covering under which was another shell or covering not much unlike to a Filberd being an inch long and an inch or better in compasse being firme and solid not having any loose or broken kernell within it whereby to make any noise but a firme white kernell fit to be eaten which inner shell had an oylinesse about it like unto oyle of Allmonds Nucula Indica altera Another small Indian Cokar Nut. The tree that beareth this Nut groweth in great plenty about the Castell de minas in Ginney called Palmes by the inhabitants being tall and as great as a good ships mast bearing leaves at the toppe of a dozen or fifteene foote long hanging downewards cut in like unto Reed leaves from under which leaves grow branches the fruite being then as bigge as a mans head containing within them many divers small nuts greater then Plummes of a gold yellow colour from whose kernels being bruised they draw a cleere oyle which they call the oyle of Palme which they put into their viands both for the colour and sents sake this oyle brought into these parts groweth thicke like butter and is very yellow which some that brought it used for the cure of their fresh wounds and annoynted their arteries and sinewes pained with crampes and convulsions whereby they finde much helpe and ease Clusius describeth these Nuts to be three square and to have three holes as it were at the heads of them like unto the Cokar Nut covered with a hairy huske but the shell saith Lobel is harder then a bone and blacke whether these be all one I am in some doubt Further it is said that the Inhabitants by boring the tree there commeth forth a sweet liquour almost like the whey of milke unto which they put a little wild honey and thereof make their drinke which they call the wine of the Palme which will inebriate being largely taken Mehenbethene The Indian Nut Mehenbethene This Indian Nut which Clusius saith Cortusus sent unto him for Mehenbethene but did little agree saith he unto the description thereof Lobel saith it was found among Nutmegs at Antwarpe It is saith Lobel both in colour forme and greatnesse like unto a Nutmegge which therefore Clusius saith it might be better referred to the kinds of Nutmegs yet very untowardly I thinke being about an inch long and three square whose shell was hard and wooddy like a Cokar Nut and being broken had three cels or divisions within it in each whereof was a small long white kernell of a sweete and pleasant taste 2. Coccus de Maldiva The Cokar Nut of Maldiva This kinde of Nut is accounted as another Coccus it is in many things so like the other for although it was never seene growing on any tree as the Indians doe report the Nuts being onely found upon those Islands of the Maldiva's as the Sea casteth them on the shores and in no other part of the world besides and are not lawfull to be reserved by any on the paine of their heads but are all brought to the King or his Officers in that all wrackes c pertaine to him and are onely sent by him as presents of great account to other Indian Princes and great persons c. Vnlesse by stealth and concealement some are diverted otherwayes nor was never seene to have any such rough huske as the Cokar Nut hath yet in the inner hard shell inclosing the inner kernell it is almost in all points like the other the whole Nut carrying this proportion it is farre greater longer and rounder then the other yet there are of smaller sizes also and of an ovall forme containing two parts which are so conjoyned Coccus de Maldiva The Cokar
resembling a small lambe whose coate or rinde is wolly like unto a Lambes skinne the pulpe or meate underneath which is like the flesh of a Crevise or Lobster having as it is sayd blood also in it it hath the forme of an head hanging downe and feeding on the grasse round about it untill it hath consumed it and then dyeth or else will perish if the grasse round about it bee cut away of purpose it hath foure legges also hanging downe the Woolves much affect to feede on them CHAP. LXVIII Manobiforte Brasilianorum Indian earth nuts or Pease THere is growing in sundry places in Brassil and in America also neare the River Maranon a certaine fruit or Pease breeding under the ground like as puffes doe without either leafe or roote as it is sayd but they are no bigger then great Pease and inclosed in a small grayish thicke and short cod very like a small Pescod with one or two Pease therein of a pale reddish colour on the outside and white within tasting like unto an Almond which will rattle being shaked in the skinne growing many together and tyed by small strings The fruits are eaten as junkets with great delight for their pleasant tastes sake eyther fresh or dryed but a little tosted make them rellish much better and are served to the table of the better sort as an after course and doe dry and strengthen the stomacke very much but taken too liberally breed head ach and heavinesse CHAP. LXIX Radix Sancta Helenae Saint Helens beads or Indian round sweet Cyperus NEare the Port of Saint Hellen which is in Florida grew certaine rootes very long and full of knots or round joynts as great as ones thumbe blacke Radix Sancta Helene Saint Helens Beads or Indian round sweet Cyperus without and white within tasting somewhat aromaticall like Galanga which when they are dry are as hard as an horne the leaves are large and very greene growing on stalkes that spread on the ground it groweth in moist grounds and is drying in the beginning of the second degree and heating in the end of the same the pouther of them taken in wine is used against the paines of the stomacke and bowels easing the collicke and stone in the Kidneyes and provoking urine The Indians use to sprinkle the pouther of the rootes all over their bodies being ready to goe into the Baths because as they say it bindeth the skinne and strengthneth the members of the body by its sweet sent They use there to disjoynt these round knots of the rootes which being drilled and strung serve them in stead of Beads to tell God how many prayers they will give him at a time Clusius thinketh these roots may not unfitly bee referred to some kind of Cyperus but I thinke the large leaves contradict it CHAP. LXX Radix Quimbaya Carthagenas purging roots PEtrus Cieca maketh mention of these roots in the first part of his Peruvian history that they are slender of about a fingers thicknesse growing among the trees in Quinbaya a Province in Feru whose cheife city is Carthage if some of these roots be taken and steeped in a good quantitie of water all night they will drinke up most of the water but yet three ounces thereof remaining being drunke doe purge the body so gently and without trouble or perturbation as if it had beene purged with Rubarbe this hath beene often tryed Clusius thinketh that these rootes were the same or very like unto such as was sent him by a friend by the name of Bexugo vel Peru which he tooke to be no other then the branches of Atragene or Viorna of that Countrey they were so like CHAP. LXXI Rhabarbarum Americanum Rubarbe of America or West Indie Rubarbe MOnardus saith that among other things were sent him out of the maine of the West Indies he had a peece of a roote which they called there by the name of Rubarbe and was very like the East Indian kind for as hee saith it was round with a brownish coate and reddish core or inside which being broken had some whitenesse mixed among it and coloured the spittle yellow like Saffron being bitter withall but what leaves it bore was not signified This is not the white Rubarbe of America for that as is sayd in its place in the Mechoacan CHAP. LXXII Carlo Sancto The Indian Hoppe-like purger OVt of the Province of Mexico commeth this root which they there call Carlo Sancto for what cause is not well knowne it groweth after the manner of Hoppes climing on poles or other high things or else it will lye on the ground the leaves are like unto Hoppe leaves of a very sad greene colour and of a strong heady sent it is not knowne whether it beare eyther flower or fruite the roote is great at the head having sundry smaller sprayes issuing from it each of the bignesse of ones greater finger and white the barke or tinde whereof is easily separated from the rest and is of most use smelling somewhat sweet and tasting bitter and somewhat sharpe withall the pith of the roote consisteth as it were of many small and very thinne filmes which may easily Carlo Sancto The Indian Hoppe-like purger be separated one from another it is hot and dry in the beginning of the second degree The barke of the roote being a little chewed in the mouth draweth downe from the head much flegme whereby rheumes catarrhes and destillations therefrom are voyded and the parts much eased of paines and other griefes in some also it causeth a vomit avoyding thereby much choller and flegme from the stomacke that oppressed it before and strengthned it afterwards the decoction thereof worketh better thereon if a purgation fitting the person be taken before this evacuation upwards it will doe the more good the barke being chewed helpeth loose gummes putrid and rugged teeth and maketh a sweete breath but it were good to wash the mouth with a little wine afterwards to take away the bitternesse the pouther thereof taken in a little white wine or the decoction thereof with Maiden haire and a little Cinamon easeth women of the obstructions of the mother the staying of their courses and consumeth winde in their bodies being formerly purged and prepared and using Liquidambar Vng Dealthaea of equall parts mixed together to annoint the lower parts of the belly all the while the same also helpeth the Simptomes of the heart as swounings and other the passions thereof especially rising from the defects of the mother This decoction likewise is very beneficiall for them that are so troubled that is to take two drams of the barke and boile it in three pints of faire water putting in at the end thereof foure drammes of the barke of Pomcitrons and two drammes of Cinamon which afterwards being strained six ounces of this decoction is to be taken with a little Sugar every morning the body being purged before hand This pouther and decoction is commended likewise against the French disease the
diversly compound or mixe it some putting thereto in pouther Faufel or Nutmegges or Cloves or choyse Camfire or Muske or Ambar according to every ones fancy and ability or as they would be intoxicated for it will drive them into sleepe and then grow great dreamers according to their humours and dispositions but if they take it with Opium as the great men and Souldiours oftentimes doe it will cause deepe sleepes to make them the more able to undergoe their sore labours travaile and watchings in the warre and to forget them also But the women oftentimes abuse their husbands hereby in giving it them to fulfill their lust before their faces Although this plant be in face like unto Hempe yet the qualites are quite contrary CHAP. LXXXIII Hiucca sive Mandioca ex qua Cazavi fit The true Indian Hiucca whereof the Indians bread Cazavi is made THe plant hereof groweth like a small shrub or bush of Elder and is accounted to be of two diffâ—ring sorts of leaves and riseth to be sixe or seven foote high with sundry wooddy stalkes bearing many faire broad leaves thereon divided into sundry parts like unto Helleboraster or the fingers of ones hand seven or eight together upon a long footestalke each part of them being halfe a foote long and three inches broad but not endented about the edges abiding alwayes greene the one sort of leaves are somewhat broad towards the points the other narrower it hath saith my friend that gave me the intelligence a small spotted flower but what fruite followed hath not yet beene signified by any the roote groweth quickely great for it is usually planted every yeare or every other yeare and becommeth as great and long as a good great Carrot roote browne on the outside and very white within the manner to propagate it is to cut off a stalke about a foote long and put it more then halfe way into the ground where it will quickely take roote and within a yeare or little more be fit to take up and use againe Of this roote did the Americanes notwithstanding in many places they had Maâ—x which is Indian Wheate both in the Isles and in the Continent for many hundreds of yeares make their bread whereon they lived in this manner Having pared away the rinde they â—â—â—ped or broke small the roote which is white sappy and full of substance from whence they pressed out the juyce which they kept by it selfe having an evill smell whereof whosoever tasted either man or beast dyed without remedy and that quickely but if they boyled it to the halfe it would become a good wholesome drinke although like small Ale and if set in the Sunne it would be as good as vinegar as might be of Wine and if it were boyled thicke it would be sweete as hony and serve for that purpose the masse from whence the juyce was pressed they did put into a panne and set it over the fire to make it grow thicke and being dry they made it into pouther and putting water thereto they formed it into small cakes and dryed them in the Sun which they kept for their use and would abide good for a long time twenty yeares without corrupting giving good nourishment to the body although it would exasperate the jawes and throate in eating thereof for which purpose they had need of water or other liquour to moisten it often or else it would be hard to swallow being somewhat harsh and sharpe in the throate This ordering of the roote to make poyson wholsome is no lesse admirable then Hiuccae sive Mandioca genuina Mexicana species dua solijs Cannabinis Two sorts of the true West Indian Hempe leafed Hiucca Hetich Americanum Mallow leafed Potatoes that the juyce of this roote groweth on the Vpland in the Continent is not any whit hurtfull as it is said although it be hurtfull in the Islands this bread was used by all the people of America from Florida to Peru and about to the Straights of Magellane above a thousand miles yet had they Maiz also that is Indian or Turky Wheate in most of those places The Names hereof are very various according to the Country for it is called Manihot by some Hiurca Hiucca or Iucca according to others and Cazavi as they call the bread which the Spaniards doe write Cacavi that is Casavi which is the most generall name through all places We have not heard that the Indians used either herbe or roote to any Physicall remedy Like hereunto is that which is called Hetich by the Indians whose leaves are round like Mallowes Hetich Avericum Mallow leafed Potatoes and the roote like unto great long Turneps being of two sorts the one being yellowish the other white when they are boyled or baked into bread and is planted from peeces cut off from the roote Some would referre this to the Vingum of Theophrastus which Pliny calleth Oetum CHAP. LXXXIV Cevadilla sive Hordeolum causticum Americanum The Indian Causticke Barley MOnardus saith that among other rare seedes Cevadilla sive Hordeolum causticum Americanum The Indian causticke tree and plants that were sent him from Hispaniola he had this also which they there called Cevadilla that is to say Hordeolum Small Barley from the likenesse of the spiked head of seed unto an eare of Barley but lesser having the seed enclosed in the like chaffie huskes but is like unto Linseed yet greater whose property is more admirable then ever was heard of in any other herbe or seed for neither Sublimatum nor fire it selfe can effect more in a cautery to be used therefore it will kill the wormes that breed in foule ulcers and clenseth those that are foule and stincking by casting some of the pouther thereinto yet with discretion according to the greatnesse and foulenesse of the sore and using those remedies that are â—â— for it but if it chance to worke too eagerly or sharpely they use to dippe tents in Rosewater or Plantaine water and put them into the ulcers it is used in the like manner for the sores of beastes this seed is hot in the fourth degree and beyond it if there were any further degree to be rekoned Millo is a graine or kind of Corne like Millet Millo used both for bread and drinke in the Kingdome of Saho in Guinea remembred in the Sea voyages of Vanderllagus in Clusius his Cura posteriores CHAP. LXXXV Anana seu Pina The West Indian delitious Pines THe Pines so much esteemed for the most excellent and pleasant sweete fruite in all the West Indies is the fruite of a kinde of Thistle growing with many long hard rough stiffe and narrow leaves thickest in the middle and thinne cut in and dented about the edges with reddish points seeming prickely like a Thistle but are not from the middle whereof riseth up a round and shorter stalke then that of the wilde sort set with the like leaves but lesser and at the toppe one head of the bignesse of a reasonable
at the Straights of Nagellon returning from thence home into England againe in the yeare 1579. in the Winteranus Cortex Captaine Winters Cinamon parts thereabouts cut downe certaine trees whose barke was somewhat like unto the thicker sort of Cinamon both for substance and colour yet for the most part thicker and some of it of an ash colour and some brownish on the outside and rugged like Elme barke some of it having chinkes or riftes on the inside and some smooth and firme of a smel not unpleasant but of a very sharpe taste like many spices together heating the mouth more then Pepper the leafe of the tree is of a whitish greene not unlike the Aspen leafe the berries grow in clusters like the Hawthorne with divers seedes in each of them They at the first knew not of any properties therein and therefore boyled some of it in hony to make it the more pleasant to be taken and dryed other some and made it into pouther putting it in stead of Cinamon in their meats but afterwards they found it to be singular good against the Scurvey for divers in the shippe being troubled with that disease found remedy thereby in using it a while Some of our company of Apothecaries and those not of the meanest doe use to call the Canella alba mentioned here before Cortex VVinterani and have used it in their dispensation of Mithridatium as a substitute for Costus whereof I gave you a touch in the Classis of Cardui and Spinosae in the last Chapter thereof save one but now by comparing the one with the other you may easily see the errour for the Canella alba is a white barke rowled like Cinamon and not much thicker then it of an hot taste but neither like Cinamon nor Pepper and this Cortex Winteranus is thicker then the thickest Cinamon not caste into rowles or hollow pipes like it and tasting much quicker besides the colour is of a duskie browne in most comming nearest unto Cinamon I thought good a little to explaine this matter here because I finde many possessed so strongly with that errour that Canella alba is Cortex Winterani that all may see how true their opinion is This barke might seeme to be that whereof Monardus saith he had a peece from Bernardino de Burgo an Apothecary but that his had a more excellent smell and taste excelling that of the Nutmeg and as pleasant as Cinamon and more cordiall which is not found in this barke of Winâ—s Monardus likewise maketh mention of another thicke barke which was taken from a tree as great as an Elme and like in forme growing scarse in any other part of the West Indies then neare the Rivers sides about 25. leagues distant from Lima it is hot saith he above the second degree the Indians use to put it up into their nostrills the fine pouther of the barke when they are troubled with rheumes and defluxions from the braines or with other paines in the head for it plentifully draweth downe humors whereby they finde ease CHAP. CXXXVII Coru arbor The costive or binding tree THis tree is somewhat like unto a dwarfe Orrenge tree both for forme and leafe but having a thickeâ— middle ribbe and eight or nine other smaller ones running to the sides the flower is yellow without sent the barke of the roote onely is in use which is of a pale greene colour and being broken yeeldeth much milke which is somewhat clammy having little taste but some bitternesse is more drying then cooling The juice or milke of the barke of the rootes hereof although unpleasant is much used by the natives of China Iapan Malaca and Bengala as well as Christians in all manner of Fluxes and Laskes comming from what cause soever Those of Canarin call it Corn they of Malabar Curo and Curo dapala and the Branchmenes Cura CHAP. CXXXVIII Pavate Another Costive tree THis other tree which is more frequent to be had then the last and called Pavate in Malabar is therefore in more use though not altogether of so strong and speedy effect for the staying of Laskes and Fluxes but is of excellent propertie to coole Pavate Another Costive tree all hot inflammations and eruptions of cholericke matter in the skinne and S. Anthonies fire the roote of this tree is of chiefest use and sometimes the wood steeped in the decoction of Rice which will grow sower after it hath stood a few houres and then they call it Cania with this decoction they wash also the outward parts inflamed or spotted which cooleth much and helpeth all those heates it is also drunke being steeped as aforesaid against the heate of the Liver and in hot Fevers a few leaves of Tamarinds being put thereto they use to wash the sides of Vlcers and wounds that are inflamed and have defluxions of humours to them to stay the Flux and coole the heate The tree is not greater then the former having but few branches and such like leaves of the Orrenge but without that small leafe underneath it and of a fresh greene colour the flowers are whitish like unto the Hony succkle with small round blackish seede likeunto those of the Masticke tree the barke is of an Ash-colour and the root white The Brackmenes and those of Canarin call it Vasaveli the Portugalls Arbol contra las erifi polas CHAP. CXXXIX Pacal The Tetter tree THis tree groweth neare the Rivers sides in the West Indies part whereof being sent to Monardus had this commendations that the ashes of the wood mixed with a little Sope the Indians used to annoint on those places that had Tetters Ring-Wormes or the fowlest spreading Vlcers and scarres that could be either in the head or any other part of the body to cure them and leave the place faire againe CHAP. CXL Lignum Nephriticum The tree against the stone FRom Hispaniola and the paâ— thereabouts hath beene of tear sent many years since at well as of late though now in farre lesse esteeme a certaine sin both light and white wood the tree whereof is as bigge as a Peare tree without knots the wood being sliced final and 〈◊〉 to â—ept in pine Chodait or Spring water will within halfe an houre oâ— thereabouts if it be right discolour the water into a fine light blew colour which lying longer therein will cause it grow of a deeper colour this infusion 〈◊〉 although it be altogether insipide and without any taste as if nothing had beene put into the water is found yet to be hot and dry in the first degree and singular availeable against the stone in the kidneyes and the difficultie in making urine and is found also by good experience to open the obstructions of the Liver and Spleene the water or infusion is being drunke of it selfe or mixed with wine and so taken but there is another wood very like unto this which often obtruded on many in stead thereof which being infused in water in the like manner will discolour
the water yellow and therefore without tryall the right is hard to be discerned CHAP. CXLI Lignum Molucense The Moluccas tree against venome and poyson IN the Ilands of the Moluccas is a certaine tree rather planted every where in Orchards then growing naturally being as bigge as a Quince tree whose leaves are broad and cut into disivions somewhat like unto those of the Mallow the fruit is like to Hasell nuts but lesser and with a softer and blacker shell whereof the natives make so great account that they will scarse suffer any strangers to see it much lesse to know any of the properties of it which they keepe from others as secret as may be but yet this their secresie hath caused it to be sought for and searched into nearer then otherwise peradventure it would have beene For some Portugalls have found out in part by the sight of the cures the Indians performed and partly by their relations which by meanes they made unto them they obtained of them and partly by their owne judgement and practise also at sundry times in the Spittles there and in the shippes among Mariners that the wood made into pouther and taken in a convenient quantitie according to the strength of the venome and the patient that shall take it so as the quantitie for a time exceede not ten graines taken in broth or water or other liquor is a most certaine speedy remedy against the venome of the most virulent Serpents that are even the Viper Regulus that is a Serpent that hath like a cappe or crowne on the head the Aspis or any other and the pouther strewed on the bitten place they use to file the wood small either with the Sea dogges skinne or a fine Iron file in the same manner likewise they give halfe a scruple of the pouther in warme water or the broth of a Chicken or Hen to them that are wounded with poisoned arrowes which they much use one against another and put on the pouther into the wound being taken in the morning betimes â—asting having made a spare supper over night before it helpeth to evacuate alâ—tough thicke and melancholy humors and herebe helpeth quartaine and quotidian Agnes prevaileth against the Iliacke and Chollick passions of winde or humors the dropsie also the gravell and stone in the backe oâ— kidneyes the difficultie of urine and the most cruell chollerick passion and other old griefes likewise in the joynts and legges as well schirrous as scrophulous that is have hard swellings or nodes and knots in them the same also killeth the wormes in the body of all sorts it regaineth a dejected or lost appetite and if the purgation worke too fiercely upon any to the patient is given halfe a small cup full of Cania that is the decoction of Rice to stay the working suddenly or else by eating a small Birde so that it is in the Phisitions or the Patients power to be purged as much as they will by the taking of this medecine there not hath bin found any trouble to the stomack or other ill symptomes although taken without observing any diet or defraining their businesse abroad yea in the working thereof living most loosely it is observed likewise to be avaleable in the old paines and griefes of the â—ead the Megrime Falling sicknesse and Apoplexye in the diseases of the belly and wombe as also the shortnesse of breath the noyse and singings in the eares and the goute or joynt aches it is given in all seasons to all ages to differing natures or dispositions and that without eyther danger or trouble but that onely in chollerick persons and that have hot stomackes and Livers it breedeth some perturbations in them untill that they have taken some meate and insome it hath procured a vomit but to the hot and chollericke persons being given with the Syrupe of Vinegar or in the fruit of a Charambola being preserved or in a Pill with Conserve of Rosâ—s it taketh away all those troubles In some also it causeth an itch in the fundament and sometimes excoriation and the Piles also in some but very few which are soone helped by other remedies These cures have beene often performed and yet the Indians performe many other no doubt which they conceale from the Christians all that they can This wood is called by them Panava the seede hereof is much used through all the Provences of the Indies to catch birds being carryed thither to bee sold for some thereof mixed with boiled Rice and cast to the wild Birds causeth as many as take it to fall downe to the ground as being stoned for a time but if any take thereof too greedily It will kill them if they bee not helped by cold water put on their heads but Dawes above all other Birds are soonest kild hereby CHAP. CXLII Lignum Colubrinum Snake wood THere are divers sorts of Snake woods Acosta hath set forth two or three that he knew used by the Indians against the bitings of Vipers Water Snakes or the like Serpents and yet as Clusius saith none of those agreeth with these three that Garcias maketh mention of Bauhinus calleth them all Clematis Indica The first of Garcias is rather a roote then a wood Garzlae primum and groweth with foure or five slender branches about two foote high the leaves are like Peach leaves but more shining the flowers grow many together on a long stalke in clusters of a brave red colour the berries are like those of the Elder clustering together and red and hard The roote which is most in use is full of knots or heads growing above ground with many small strings under them being of a whitish ash-colour and of a firme substance with a little bitternesse in the taste it is called by the Inhabitants Lametal and by the Portugals Pao de cobra that is Snakewood This roote being beaten into pouther iâ— given in wine or some cordiall water to those that are bitten by any Serpent and likewise taketh away spots and pushes or wheales or other fretting sores in the skinne and is held to be good against that cruell disease which they call Mordexi and some take to be Plague or other dangerous infectious disease and some call it the Chollericke passion it is held also to be good against agues Secundum an ounce thereof bruised and steeped in water purging much choller by vomit His second sort as he saith when it standeth alone groweth to be a tree and is like the Pomegarnet tree set with thicke short and hard thornes with a whitish thicke and firme barke full of rifts and a little bitter but not so much as the former the leaves are of a yellowish greene colour very pleasant to behold but if it grow by any other tree it will clime thereon by the branches unto the toppe like a Gourd they use to give both the wood and the barke hereof but especially the roote in the same manner aforesaid and for the said purposes
Fragaria Alpina fructu compresso Flat Strawberries There is no difference in this kinde from our ordinary Strawberrie but in the fruit which is more flat than round and hath a strake or list every berrie of a taste neare a Raspis this also usually beareth fruit againe in the Autumne 3. Fragaria Helvetia nana Dwarfe Strawberries Divers may judge that this Strawberrieâ— smallnesse commeth by the barrennesse of the soyle wherein it groweth but that is not so for it is well knowne to most that those hills of the Swissers have no barren ground upon them this hath very small triparted leaves next the ground closer set together upon short foote stalkes than any other and those that are set on both sides of the long branch not above foure inches long which lieth creeping on the ground grow lesse and without stalke the flower standeth at the end of the branch many times but one at a place which consisteth of five round leaves like a Strawberrie but larger then agreeth with the proportion of the plant and is of a yellowish colour what fruite this beareth wee have not yet scene or knowne certainely This commeth neare unto the description of the Fragariae affinis sericea planta of Bauhinus his brother formerly so calling it which as he saith is the Leucas Dioscoridis Adversariorum and giveth thereunto a small head containing small seâ—de therein but this was brought us from the Alpes by one Flescher a Silefian a young Doctor in Physicke but very skillfull in simples who perished in Virginia by tasting some poysonfull herbe and therefore I thinke it should beare a Strawberrie like head whereunto I am the rather perswaded because that as Bauhinus citeth although wrongfully Fragaria vulgaris Common Strawberries 3. Fragaria Helvetica nâ— Dwarfe Strawberries as I thinke for I cannot finde it in him Gesner in hortis that he should call one Fragaria parva flore luteo the rootes are blacke and stringie 4. Fragaria minime vesca Barren or unprofitable Strawberries This Strawberrie is in the growing altogether like the ordinary kindes with leaves triparted standing on severall stalkes and flowers in the same manner but smaller the fruite onely maketh the difference betwixt them which being small and many set together are sere and drie without sappe and of an harsh unpleasant taste The Place The three first plants grow upon divers of the Alpes and other places of Germany and the last in our owne Land in most woods and the fields sides neare unto them in Cornewall as Lobel saith but in other places also The Time They flower in May when the other sorts doe for the most part or somewhat later and the fruite is ripe quickly after The Names The whole plant is called in Latine Fragaria and the berries Fraga a fructus fragrantia odoris gustus for it hath no certaine Greeke name that I know unlesse as Tragus thinketh it may be referred to the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of Dioscorides or as others thinke to the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Comaron of Apuleius but neither of them is likely others suppose that Dioscorides did understand this plant under his 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 some have called it Rubus Idaeus non spinosus but there is a shrubbe like unto the Raspis that beareth no thornes as I have shewed in my former Booke Pliny maketh mention of Fraga lib. 25. c. 9. Servius calleth them Mora terrestria and therefore some would referre it to the Chamaebatus the Italians call the plant Fragheria and the berries Fraghe and Fragole the French Fraisier and Fraises the Germans call the fruit Erdbeer and the Dutch Erdtbesien and we in English Strawberries The first here set forth is the third Fragaria of Tragus which he saith the people about Spires in Germany doe call Harbeer and Gesner in hortis Germaniae calleth Fragaria species minor the second is called by Caesalpinus Fragariae genus in Alpibus and Bauhinus Fragaria bis fructum gerens the third is likely to be the Fragaria flore luteo of Bauhinus who citeth Gesner in hortis as I said in the description to call it so and I thinke it may as well agree unto the Leucas of Lobel which Bauhinus seemeth to make another plant differing therefrom calling it Fragaria affinis sericea incana for the descriptions are very correspondent the last is that which Lobel calleth Fragaria sylvestris minime vesca sive sterilis but is not that which Gerard calleth Fragaria vesca sive sterilis which is another plant as I have shewed before The Vertues These Strawberries that are here set forth and fit to be eaten are of the same qualitie with the other garden kinds expressed in my former Booke the leaves of them all being cooling in the first degree and yet some say hot and drying in the second the roote is more drying and binding the berries while they are greene are cold and drie but when they are ripe they are cold and moist the berries are excellent good to coole the liver the bloud and spleene or an hot chollericke stomacke to refresh and comfort the fainting spirits and to quench thirst they are good also for other inflammations yet it behoveth one to be cautelous or rather to refraine them in a fever least by their putrefying in the stomacke they encrease the fits and cause them to be the more fierce the leaves and rootes boiled in wine and water and drunke doe likewise coole the liver and bloud and asswage all inflammations in the raines and bladder provoketh urine and allaieth the heate and sharpenesse thereof the same also being drunke staieth the bloudy flixe and womens courses and helpeth the swellings of the spleene the water of the berries carefully distilled is a soveraigne remedy and cordiall in the palpitations of the heart that is the panting and beating of the heart and is good for the overflowing of the gall the yellow jaundise the juyce dropped into foule ulcers or they washed therewith or with the decoction of the herbe and roote doth wonderfully clense them and helpe to cure them All lotions and gargles that are made for sore mouthes or ulcers therein or in the privie parts or else where are made with the leaves and rootes hereof which is good also to fasten loose teeth and to heale spungie foule gummes the same also helpeth to stay catarrhes or defluxions of rheume into the mouth throate teeth or eyes the juyce or water is singuler good for hot and red inflamed eyes if some thereof be dropped into them or they bathed therewith the said juyce or water is also of excellent propertie for all pushes wheales and other eruptions of hot and sharpe humours into the face or hands or other parts of the body to bath them therewith and helpeth to take away any rednesse in the face and spots or other deformities of the skinne and to make the â—kin cleare and smooth some use thereof to make a water for hot inflammations in the eyes and to take away any