though they had pissed in their shoos nay perhaps much wors As for that trick of curing the Eyes by it I can as yet say nothing to it for the rest it may be effectual We will grant that Clary strengthens the Back but this we deny That the cans of the running of the Reins in Men or the Whites in Women lies in the Back though the Back may somtimes be weakned by them and therfore the Medicine is as proper as for me when my Toe is sore to lay a Plaister to my Nose Cleavers or Goosgrass ♄ Description THe common Cleavers hath divers very rough square Stalks not so big as the Tag of a Point but rising up to be two or three yards high somtimes if it meet with any tall Bushes or Trees wheron it may climb yet without any Claspers or els much lower â—â— lying upon the Ground full of Joynts and at every of them shooteth forth a Branch besides the Leavs therat which are usually six set in a round compass like a Star or the Rowel of a Spur from between the Leavs at the Joynts towards the tops of the Branches come forth very smal white Flowers every one upon a smal threddy Footstalk which after they are fallen there do shew two smal round rough Seeds joyned together like two Testicles which when they are ripe grow hard and whitish having a little hole on the side somwhat like unro a Navil Both Stalks Leavs and Seeds are so rough that they wil cleav to any thing shal touch them The Root is small and very threddy spreading much in the Ground but dieth every yeer Place It groweth by the Hedg and Ditch Sides in many places of this Land and is so troublesom an Inhabitant in Gardens that it rampeth upon and is ready to choak what ever grows next it Time It. Flowreth in June and July and the Seed is tripe and falleth again in the end of July or August from whence it â—pringeth up again and not from the old Roots Vertues and use The Juyce of the Herb and Seed together taken in Wine helpeth those that are bitten with an Adder by preserving the Heart from the Venom It is familiarly taken in Broth to keep them lean and lank that are apt to grow fat The distilled Water drunk twice a day helpeth the yellow Jaundice and the Decoction of the Herb in experience found to do the same and stayeth Lasks and Bloody Fluxes The Juyce of the Leavs or they a little bruisep and applied to any bleeding wound stayeth the Bleeding The Juyce is also very good to close up the Lips of green Wounds and the Pouder of the dried Herb strewed therupon doth the same and likewise helpeth old Ulcers Being boyled with Hogs Greas it healeth al sorts of hard Swellings or Kernels in the Throat being anointed therwith The Juyce dropped into the Ears taketh away the pains of them It is a good remedy in the Spring eaten being first chopped smal and boyled well in Water-gruel to clens the Blood and strengthen the Liver thereby keeping the Body in health and fitting it for that change of Season that is coming Clowns Woundwort ♄ Description IT groweth up somtimes to three or four Foot high but usually about two Foot with square green rough Stalks but slender joynted somwhat far asunder and two very long and somwhat narrow dark green Leavs bluntly dented about the edges thereat ending in a long point The Flowers stand toward the tops compassing the Stalks at the Joynts with the Leavs and end likewise in a spiked â—op having long and much open gaping hoods of a Purplish red colour with whitish spots in them standing in somwhat rough Husks wherin afterwards stand blackish round Seeds The Root is composed of many long strings with some tuberous long Knobs growing among them of a pale yellowish or whitish colour yet at some times of the year these knobby Roots in many places are not seen in the Plant The whol Plant smelleth somwhat strongly Place It groweth in sundry Counties of this Land both North and West and frequently by Path sides in the Fields neer about London and within three or four miles distance about it yet it usually grows in or neer Ditches Time It Flowreth in June and July and the Seed is ripe soon after Vertues and use I is singularly effectual in all fresh and green Wounds and therfore beareth not this name for nought And is very available in stanching of Blood and to dry up the Fluxes of Humors in old fretting Ulcers Cancers c. that hinder the healing of them A Syrup made of the Juyce of it is inferior to none for inward Wounds Ruptures of Veins Bloody Flux Vessels broken spitting pissing or vomiting Blood Ruptures are excellently and speedily even to admiration cured by taking now and then a little of the Syrup and applying an Oyntment or Plaister of the Herb to the place Also if any Vein be swelled or Muscle cut apply a Plaister of this Herb to it and if you ad a little Comfry to it 't wil not do amiss I assure the Herb deservs Commendations though it have gotten but a Clownish name and whoever reades this if he try it as I have done will commend it as well as I. I have done only take notice that it is of a dry Earthy quality and under the Dominion of the Planet Saturn Cocks-Head ♀ Description THis hath divers weak but rough Stalks half a yard long leaning downwards beset with winged Leavs longer and more pointed than those of Lentils and whitish underneath from the tops of these Stalks arise up other slender Stalks naked without Leavs unto the tops where there grow many smal Flowers in manner of a Spike of a pale reddish â—olâ—â—r with some blueness among themâ— after which rise up in their places round rough and somwhat flat Heads The Root is tough and somwhat woody yet liveth and shooteth anew every yeer Place It groweth under Hedges and somtimes in the open Fields in divers places of this Land Time They Flower all the Months of July and August and the Seed ripeneth in the mean while Vertues and use It hath a power to rarifie and digest and therfore the green Leavs bruised and laid as a Plaister disperseth Knots Nodes or Kernels in the Flesh and if when it is dry it be taken in Wine it â—elpeth the Strangury and being anointed with Oyl it provoketh Sweat It is a singular Food for Cattel to caus them to give store of Milk and why then may it not do the like being boyled in the ordinary drink of Nurses ☽ Columbines THese are so wel known growing in almost every Garden that I think I may save the expence of time in writing a Description of them Time They Flower in May and abide not for the most part when June is past perfecting their Seed in the mean time Vertues and use The Leavs of Columbines are commonly used in Lotions with good
which by weakness useth to be often out of place or will not stay in long when it is set also to knit and joyn broken Bones in any part of the Body the Roots being bruised and applied to the place Yea it hath been found by late experience that the Decoction of the Root in Wine or the bruised Root put in Wine or other drink and after a nights infusion strained forth hard and drunk hath holpen both man and Beast whose Bones have been broken by any occasion which is the most assured refuge of help to people of diverse Countries of this Land that they can have It is no less effectual to help Rupture and Burstings the Decoction in Wine or the Pouder in Broth or Drink being inwardly taken and outwardly applyed to the place The same is also available for inward or outward Bruises Falls or Blows both to dispel the congealed blood and to take away both the pains and the black and blew Marks that abide after the hurt The same also or the distilled water of the whol Plant used to the Face or other part of the Skin clenseth it from Morphew Freckles Spots or Marks whatsoever leaving the place fresh fair and Lovely for which purpose it is much used by the Italian Dames Saturn owns this Plant for he loves his Bones well Sampire Description THe Rock Sampire groweth up with a tender green Stalk about half a yard or two foot high at the most branching forth almost from the very bottom and stored with sundry thick and almost round somwhat long Leavs of a deep green colour somtimes three together and somtimes more on a Stalk and are sappy and of a pleasant hot or spicy tast At the tops of the Stalk and Branches stand Umbels of white Flowers and after them come large Seed bigger than Fennel Seed yet somwhat alike The Root is great white and long continuing many yeers and is of a hot spicy tast likewise Place It groweth on the Rocks that are often moistened at the least if not overflown with the Sea water Time And it Flowreth and Seedeth in the end of July and August Vertues and Use. It is a safe Herb very pleasant both to the tast and Stomach helping digestion and in some sort opening the Obstructions of the Liver and Spleen provoking Urine and helping thereby to wash away the Gravel and Stone ingendred in the Kidneys or Bladder Sanicle Description THe ordinary Sanicle sendeth forth many great round Leavs standing upon long brownish stalkes every one somewhat deeply cut or divided into five or six parts and some of those also cut in somwhat like the Leaf of a Crowfoot or Doves-foot and finely dented about the edges smooth and of a dark green shining colour and somtimes reddish about the Brims from among which riseth up smal round green Stalks without any Joynt or Leaf thereon saving at the top where it brancheth forth into Flowers having a Leaf devided into three or four parts at that Joynt with the Flowers which are smal and whit starting out of smal round greenish yellow heads many standing together in a tuft in which afterward are the Seeds contained which are smal round rough Burs somwhat like the Seeds of Cleavers and stick in the same manner upon any thing that they touch The Root is composed of many black strings or fibres set together at a little long head which abideth with the green Leavs all the Winter and perish not Place It is found in many shadowy Woods and other places of this Land Time It Flowreth in June and the Seed is ripe shortly after Vertues and Use. It is exceeding good to heal all green Wounds speedily or any Ulcers Impostumes or bleedings inwardly It doth wonderfully help those that have any Tumors in any part of their Bodies for it represseth and dissipateth the Humors if the Decoction or Juyce thereof be taken or the Pouder in drink and the Juyce used outwardly For there is not found any Herb that can give such present help either to Man or Beast when the Disease falleth upon the Lungs or Throat and to heal up all the putrid Malignant Ulcers in the Mouth Throat and Privities by gargling or washing with the Decoction of the Leavs and Root made in Water and a little Honey put thereto It helpeth to stay Womens Courses and all other Fluxes of Blood either by the Mouth Urine or Stool and Lasks of the Belly the Ulceration of the Kidneys also and the pains in the Bowels and the Gonorrhea or running of the Reins being boyled in Wine or Water and drunk The same also is no less powerful to help any Ruptures or Burstings used both inwardly and outwardly and briefly it is effectual in binding restraining consolidating heating drying and healing as Comfry Bugle Self-heal or any other of the Consounds or Vulnerary Herbs whatsoever This is one of Venus her Herbs to cure either Wounds or what other mischiefs Mars inflicteth upon the Body of Man Sarasens Consound Description THis groweth very high somtimes with brownish Stalks and other whiles with green and hollow to a mans height having many long and narrow green Leavs snip'd about the edges somwhat like those of the Peach-Tree Tree or Willow Leavs but not of such a white green colour The tops of the Stalks are furnished with many pale yellow Starlike Flowers standing in green heads which when they are fallen and the Seed ripe which is somwhat long smal and of a yellowish brown colour wrapped in down is therewith carried away with the wind The Root is composed of many strings or fibres set together at a head which perish not in Winter but abide although the Stalks dry away and no Leaf appeareth in Winter The tast hereof is strong and unpleasant and so is the smel also Place It groweth in moist and wet grounds by Wood sides and somtimes in the moist places of shady Groves as also by the water side Time It Flowreth in July and the Seed is soon ripe and carryed away with the wind Vertues and Use. Among the Germans this Wound Herb is preferred before all others of the same quality Being boiled in Wine and drunk it helpeth the indisposâ—ion of the Liver and freeth the Gall from Obstructions whereby it is good for the yellow Jaundice and for the Dropsie in the beginning of it for all inward Ulcers of the Reins or elswhere and inward Wounds and Bruises And being steeped in Wine and then distilled the Water thereof drunk is singular good to ease all gnawings in the Stomach or other pains of the Body as also the pains of the Mother And being boyled in Water it helpeth continual Agues And this said Water or the simple Water of the Herb distilled or the Juyce or Decoction are very effectual to heal any green Wound or old sore or Ulcer whatsoever clensing them from corruption and quickly healing them up It is no less effectual for the Ulcers in the mouth or Throat
several Books of Mr. William Bridg Collected into one Volumn Viz. 1 The great Gospel-Mystery of the Saints Comfort and Holiness opened and applied from Christs Priestly Office 2 Satans Power to Tempt and Christs Love to and Care of His People under Temptation 3 Thankfulness required in every Condition 4 Grace for Grace or the Overflowings of Christs Fulness received by all Saints 5 The Spiritual Actings of Faith through Natural Impossibilities 6 Evangelical Repentance 7 The Spiritual-Life and In-Being of Christ in all Beleevers 8 The Woman of Canaan 9 The Saints Hiding-Place in time of Gods Anger 10 Christs Coming is at our Midnight 11 A Vindication of Ordinances 12 Grace and Love beyond Gifts Cum multis aliis THE English Physitian Adders Tongue ☽ Description THis small Herb hath but one Leaf which grows with the Stalk a fingers length above the ground being fat and of a fresh green colour broad like the Water Plantane but less without any middle Rib in it from the bottom of which Leaf on the inside riseth up ordinarily one somtimes two or three small slender stalks the upper half wherof is somwhat bigger and dented with smal round dents of a yellowish green colour like the Tongue of an Adder or Serpent only this is as useful as they are formidable The Root continues all the year Place It groweth in moist Meadows and such like places Time And is to be found in April and May for it quickly perisheth with a little heat Vertues and use It is temperate in respect of heat but dry in the Second Degree The Juyce of the Leaves drunk with the distilled Water of Horstail is a singular Remedy for all manner of wounds in the Breast Bowels or other parts of the Body and is given with good success unto those who are troubled with Casting Vomiting or bleeding at the Mouth or Nose or otherwise downwards The said Juyce given in the distilled Water of Oaken Buds is very good for Women who have their usual Courses or the Whites flowing down too abundantly It helps sore Eyes The Leaves infused or boyled in Oyl Omphacine or unripe Olives set in the Sun for certain daies or the green Leaves Sufficiently boyled in the said Oyl is made an excellent green Balsom not only for green and fresh Wounds but also for old and invererate Ulcers especially if a little fine clear Turpentine be dissolved therin It also stayeth and represseth all inflamations that arise upon pains by Hurts or Wounds It is an Herb under the Dominion of the Moon in Cancer and therfore if the weakness of the Rententive Faculty be caused by an evil influence of Saturn in any part of the Body governed by the Moon or under the Dominion of Cancer this Herb cures it by Sympathy It cures those Diseases before specified in any part of the Body under the influence of Saturn by Antypathy What parts of the Body are under each Planet and Sign and also what Diseases may be found in my Astrological Judgment of Diseases and for the internal Work of Nature in the Body of Man as Vital Animal Natural and Procreative Spirit of Man The Appreâ—â— Judgment Memory the external Sences viz. Seeing Hearing Smelling Tasting and Feeling the Vertues Attractive Retentive Digestive Expulsive c. under the Dominion of what Planets they are may be found in my Ephemerâ—s for the yeer 1651. in both which you shall find the Chaff of Authors blown away by the Fame of Dr. Reason and nothing but Rational Truths left for the Judgment of the Ingenious to feed upon Lastly To avoid blotting Paper with one thing many times and also to ease your Purses in the price of the Book and withal to make you Studious in Physick you have at the latter end of the Book the way of preserving all Herbs either in Juyce Conserve Oyl Oynâ—ment or Plaister Electuary Pill or Troches Agrimony ♃ Description THis hath divers long leaves some greates some smaller set upon a Stalk all of them dented about the edgesâ— green above and grayish underneath and a little hairy withal Among which ariseth up usually but one strong round hairy brown Stalk two or three Foot high with smaller Leaves set here and there upon it at the top wherof grow many smal yellow Flowers one above another in long Spikes after which come rough heads of Seeds hanging downwards which wil cleave to and stick upon Garments or any thing that shal rub against them The Root is black long and somwhat woody abiding many yeers and shooting afresh every Spring which Root though smal hath a reasonable good scent Place It ' groweth upon Banks near the sides of Hedges or Pales Time And it Flowreth in July and August the Seed being ripe shortly after Vertues and uses It is of a clensing and cutting faculty without any manifest heat moderately drying and binding It openeth and clenseth the Liver helpeth the Jaundice and is very beneficial to the Bowels healing all inward Wounds Bruises Hurts and other distempers The Decoction of the Herb made with Wine and drunk is good against the stinging and biting of Serpents and helps them that have foul troubled or bloody waters and makes them piss cleer spedily It also helpeth the Chollick clenseth the Breast and rids away the Cough A draught of the Decoction taken warm before the Fit first removes and in time rids away the Tertian or Quartan Agues The Leaves and Seed taken in Wine Stayeth the Bloody Fluâ— â—â— appâ—â—â— being stamped with old Swines grease it helpeth old sores Cancers and inveterate Ulcers and draweth forth Thorns Splinters of Wood Nails or any other such thing gotten into the Flesh it helpeth to strengthen the Members that be out of joynt and being bruised and applied or the Juyce dropped in it helpeth foul and imposthuâ—ned Ears The distilled Water of the Herb is good to all the said purposes either inward or outward but a great deal weaker It is an Herb under Jupiter and the Sign cancer and therfore strengthens those parts under that Planet and Sign and removes Diseases in them by Sympathy and those under Saturn Mars and Mercury by Antipâ—thy If they happen in any part of the Body governed by Jupiter or under the Signs Cancer Sagitary or Pisces and therfore must needs be good for the Gout either used â—outwardly in an Oyl or Oyntment or inwardly in an Electuary or Syrup or concreated Juyce for which see the latter end of the Book It is a most admirable remedy for such whole Livers are annoyed either by heat or cold The Liver is the former of Blood and Blood the Nourisher of the Body and Agrimony and Strengthner of the Liver I cannot stand to give you a Reason in every Herb why it cureth such Diseaess but if you please to peruse my Judgment in the Herb Wormwood you shall find them there and it will be well worth your while to consider it in every Herb you shall find them true
and to expel crude and raw humors from the Belly and Stomach by the sweet savor and warming quality it dissolveth the inward congealed Blood hapning by falls or bruises and the spitting of Blood if the Roots either green or dryed be boyled in Wine and drunk as also al manner of inward Wounds or outward if they be washed or bathed therwith The Decoction also being drunk comforteth the Heart and strengtheneth the Stomach and a cold Brain and therfore is good in the Spring time to open Obstructions of the Liver and helpeth the wind Chollick it also helpeth those that have Fluxes or are bursten or have a Rupture It taketh away spots or marks in the Face being washed therwith The Juyce of the fresh Root or Pouder of the dried Root hath the same effect with the Decoction The Root in the Spring time steeped in Wine doth give it a delicat savor and tast and being drunk fasting every morning comforteth the Heart and is a good Preservative against the Plague or any other Poyson it helpeth Digestion and warmeth a cold Stomach and openeth the Obstructions of the Liver and Spleen It is very safe you need have no Dose prescribedâ— and is very fit to be kept in every good bodies house ♃ ♋ Balm THis Herb is so wel known to be an Inhabitant almost in every Garden that I shal not need to write any Description thereof although the Vertues thereof which are many may not be omitted Vertues and use The Arabian Physitians have extolled the Vertues hereof to the Skyes although the Greeks thought it not worth mentioning Seâ—apio saith It causeth the Mind and Heart to becom merry and reviveth the Heart fainting into soundings especially of such who are over taken in their sleep and driveth away al troublesom cares and thoughts out of the Mind arising from Melancholly or black Choller which Avicen also confirmeth It is very good to help Digestion and open Obstructions of the Brain and hath so much purging quality in it saith Avicen as to expel those Melancholly vapors from the Spirits Blood which are in the Heart and Arteries although it cannot do so in other parts of the Body Diascorides saith That the Leaves steeped in Wine and the Wine drunk and the Leavs externally applied is a remedy against the sting of Scorpions and the bitings of mad Dogs and commendeth the Decoction therof for Women to bath or sit in to procure their Courses it is good to wasâ—â—aching Teeth therwith and profitable for those that have the bloudy-Flux The Leaves also with a little Nitre taken in Drink are good against a Surfet of Mushromes helps the griping pains of the Belly and being made into an Electuary is good for them that cannot fetch their breath Used with Salt it takes away Wens Kernels or hard Swellings in the Flesh or Throat it clenseth foul Sores and caseth pains of the Gout It is good for the Liver and Spleen A Tansie or Cawdle made with Egs and the Juyce therof while it is yong putting to it some Sugar and Rosewater is good for Women in Childbed when the After-birth is not thronghly avoided and for their faintings upon or after their sore travel The Herb bruised and boyled in a little Wine and Oyl and laid warm on a Boil will ripen and break it It is an Herb of Jupiter and under Cancer and strengthens Nature much in al its actions let a Syrup made with the Juyce of it and Sugar as you shall be taught at the latter end of the Book be kept in every Gentlewomans house to releeve the weak stomachs and sick Bodies of their poor sickly Neighbors as also the Herb kept dry in the Hous that so with other convenient Simples you may make it into an Electuary with Hony according as the Diseas is and as you shall be taught at the latter end of the Book ♂ Barberry THe Shrub is so wel known to every Boy and Girl that hath but attained to the age of seven years that it needs no Description Vertues and use Mars owns the Shrub and presents it to the use of my Country-men to purge their Bodies of Choller The inner Rind of the Barberry Tree boyled in White-Wine and a quarter of a pint drunk each morning is an excellent remedy to clense the Body of Chollerick Humors and free it from such Diseases as Choller canseth such be Scabs Itch Tetters Ringworms yellow Jaundice Boils c. It is excellent for hot Agues Burnings Scaldings heat of Bloud heat of the Liver Bloudy-flux for the Berries are as good as the Bark and more pleasing they get a man a good stomach to his victuals by strengthning the attractive faculty which is under Mars as you see more at large in the latter end of my Ephemeris for the year 1651. The Hair washed with the Ly made of the Ashes of the Tree and Water 't wil make it turn yellow viz. of Mars his own colour The Fruit and Rind of the Shrub the Flowers of Broom and of Hâ—ath or Furz clens the Body of Choller by Sympathy as the Flowers Leaves and Bark of the Peach-Tree do by Antipathy because these are under Mars that under Venus ♄ Barly THe continual usefulness hereof hath made al in general so aquainted herewith that it is altogether needless to describe its several kinds hereof plentifully growing being yearly sown in this Land The Vertues whereof take as followeth Vertues and use Barly in al the parts and compositions therof except Malt is more cooling than Wheat and a little clensing and al the Preparations therof as Barly-water and other things made therof do give great nourishment to persons troubled with Feavers Agues and heats in the Stomach A Pultis made of Barly Meal or Flower boyled with Vinegar and Honey and a few dry Figs put into them dissolveth all hard Imposthums and aswageth Inflamations being therto applied And being boyled with Melilot and Chamomel Flowers and som Linseed Fenngreek and Rue in Pouder and applied warm it easeth the pains in the Sides and Stomach and windiness of the Spleen The Meal of Barly and Fleawort boyled in Water and made into a Pultis with Honey and Oyl of Lillies applied warm cureth swellings under the Ears Throat Neck and such like and a Plaister made therof with Tar Wax Oyl helpeth the Kings-Evil in the Throat Boyled with sharp Vinegar into a Pultis and laid on hot helpeth the Leprosie Being boyled in red-red-Wine with Pomgranat Rinds and Mirtles stayeth the Lask or other Flux of the Belly Boyled with Vinegar and a Quince it easeth the hot pains of the Gout Barly flower white Salt Honey and Vinegar mingled together taketh away the Itch speedily and certainly The Water distilled from the green Barly in the end of May is very good for thos that have Defluxions of humors fallen into their Eyes and easeth the pains being dropped into them or White-Bread steeped therein and bound on to the Eyes
success for sore Mouths and Throats Tragus saith That a dram of the Seed taken in Wine with a little Saffron openeth Obstructions of the Liver and is good for the yellow Jaundice if the party after the taking therof be laid to sweat wel in his Bed The Seed also taken in Wine causeth a speedy Delivery of Women in Childbirth if one draught suffice not let her drink a second and it is effectual The Spaniards use to eat a piece of the Root hereof in a morning fasting many daies together to help them being troubled with the Stone in the Reins or Kidneys Coltsfoot or Foalsfoot ♀ Description THis shooteth up a fiender Stalk with small yellowish Flowers somwhat early which fall away quickly and after they are past come up somwhat round Leavs somtimes dented a little about the edges much lesser thicker and greener than those of Butterbur with a little down or Freez over the green Leaf on the upper side which may be rubbed away and whitish or mealy underneath The Root is smal and white spreading much under ground so that where it taketh it whil hardly be driven away again if any little piece be abiding therin and from thence springeth fresh Leavs Place It groweth as well in wet grounds as in drier places Time And Flowreth in the end of February the Leavs beginning to appear in March Vertues and use The fresh Leavs or Juyce or a Syrup made therof is good for a hot dry Cough for wheesings and shortness of breath The dry Leavs are best for those that have thin Rhewms and Distillations upon the Lungs causing a Cough for which also the dried Leavs taken as Tobacco or the Root is very good The distilled water herof simply or with Elder Flowers and Nightshade is a singular remedy against al hot Agues to drink two ounces at a time and apply Cloathes wet therein to the Head and Stomach which also doth much good being applied to any hot Swellings or Inflamations it helpeth St. Anthonies Fire and Burnings and is singular good to take away Wheals and smal Pushes that arise through heat As also the burning heat of the Piles or privy parts cloathes wet therin being therunto applied ♄ Comfry ♑ Description THe common great Comfry hath divers very large and hairy green Leavs lying on the ground so hairy or prickly that if they touch any tender part of the Hands Face or Body it will caus it to itch The Stalk that riseth up from among them being two or three Foot high hollow and cornered is very hairy also having many such like Leavs as grow below but lesser and lesser up to the top At the Joynts of the Stalks it is divided into many branches with some Leavs theron and at the ends stand many Flowers in order one above another which are somwhat long and hollow like the finger of a Glove of a pale whitish colour after which come smal black Seed The Roots are great and long spreading great thick Branches under ground black on the outside and whitish within short or easie to break and ful of a glutinous or clammy Juyce of little or no tast at al. There is another sort in al things like this save only it is somwhat less and beareth Flowers of a pale purple colour Place They grow by Ditches and Water Sides and in divers Fields that are moist for therin they chiefly delight to grow The first generally through al the Land and the other but in some several places By the leave of my Author the first grow often in dry places Time They Flower in June and July and give their Seed in August Vertues and use The great Comfry helpeth those that spit blood or make a Bloody Urin The Root boyled in Water or Wine and the Decoction drunk helpeth al inward Hurts Bruises and Wounds and the Ulcers of the Lungs causing the Flegm that oppresseth them to be easily spit forth It staieth the defluxions of Rhewm from the Head upon the Lungs the Fluxes of Blood or humors by the Belly Womens immoderate Courses as well the Reds as the Whites and the running of the Reins hapning by what caus soever A Syrup made therof is very effectual for all those inward Griefs and Hurts and the distilled Water for the same purpose also and for outward Wounds and Sores in the Fleshy or Sinewy part of the Body whersoever as also to take away the fits of Agues and to allay the sharpness of Humors A Decoction of the Leavs herof is available to all the purposes though not so effectual as of the Roots The Roots being outwardly applied helpeth fresh Wounds or Cuts immediatly being bruised and laid therunto and is especial good for Ruptures and broken Bones yea it is said to be so powerful to consolidate and Knit together that if they be boyled with dissevered pieces of Flesh in a pot it will joyn them together again It is good to be applied to Womens Breasts that grow sore by the abundance of Milk coming into them as also to repress the overmuch bleeding of the Hemorrhoids to cool the Inflamation of the parts therabouts and to give eas of pains The Roots of Comfry taken fresh beaten smal and spread upon Leather and laid upon any place troubled with the Gout do presently give eas of the pains and applied in the same manner giveth eas to pained Joynts and profiteth very much for running and moist Ulcers Gangrenes Mortifications and the like for which it hath by often experience been found helpful This is also an Herb of Saturn and I suppose under the Sign Capricorn cold dry and earthy in quality what was spoken of Clowns Woundwort may be said of this ♃ Costmary or Alecost THis is so frequently known to be an Inhabitant in almost every Garden that I suppose it needless to write a Descriptition therof Time It Flowreth in June and July Vertues and use The ordinary Costmary as well as Maudlin provoketh Urin abundantly and moistneth the hardness of the Mother It gently purgeth Choller and Flegm extenuating that which is gross and cutting that which is tough and gluttenous clenseth that which is foul and hindreth putrefaction and corruption it dissolveth without Attraction openeth Obstructions and healeth their evil effects and is a wonderful help to al sorts of day Agues It is astringent to the Stomach and strengtheneth the Liver and al the other inward parts and taken in Whey worketh the more effectually Taken fasting in the morning it is very profitable for the pains in the Head that are continual and to stay dry up and consume all thin Rhewms or distillations from the Head into the Stomach and helpeth much to digest raw humors that are gathered therein It is very profitable for those that are fallen into a continual evil disposition of the whol Body called Cachexia being taken especially in the beginning of the Diseas It is an
Flux and Womens Courses and is no â—ess prevalent in all Ruptures or Burstings being drunk inwardly and outwardly applied It is a Severaign Wound Herb inferior to none both for inward and outward Hurts green Wounds and old Sores and Ulcers are quickly cured therewith It is also of especial use in all Lotions for Sores or Ulcers in the Mouth Throat or privy parts of Man or Woman The Decoction also helpeth to fasten the Teeth that are loos in the Gums Venus claims the Herb and therefore to be sure it restores Beauty lost Goutwort or Herb-Gerrard Description THis is a low Herb seldom rising half a yard high having sundry Leavs standing on brownish green Stalks by threes snipped about and of a strong unpleasant savour The Umbels of Flowers are white and the Seed blackish the Root runneth in the Ground quickly taking up a great deal of room Place It groweth by Hedg and Wall sides and often in the borders or Corners of Fields and in Gardens also Time It Flowreth and Seedeth about the end of July Vertues and use Goutwort had not his name for nothing but upon good experience to help the cold Gout and Sciatica as also Joynt aches and other cold Griefs The very bearing of it about one easeth the pains of the Gout and defends him that bears it from the Diseas Gromel OF this I shall briefly describe three kinds which are principally used in Physick the Vertues whereof are alike though somwhat different in their manner and form of growing Description The greater Gromel groweth up with slender hard and hairy Stalks trailing and taking Root in the ground as it lieth thereon and parted into many other smaller Branches with hairy dark green Leavs thereon At the Joynts with the Leavs come forth very smal blew Flowers and after them hard stony roundish Seed The Root is long and woody abiding the Winter and shooting forth fresh Stalks in the Spring The smal wild Gromel sendeth forth divers upright hard branched Stalks two or three foot high full of Joynts at every of which groweth smal long hard and rough Leavs like the former but lesser among which Leavs come forth small white Flowers and after them grayish round Seed like the former The Root is not very long but with many Strings thereat The Garden Gromel hath divers upright slender woody hairy Stalks brown and crested very little branched with Leavs like the former and white Flowers after which in rough brown Husks is contained a white hard round Seed shining like Pearls greater than either of the former The Root is like the first described with divers Branches and Strings thereat which continueth as the first doth all Winter Place The two first grow wild in barren or untilled places and by the way sides in many places of this Land The last is a Nursling in the Gardens of the curious Time They all Flower from Midsummer unto September somtimes and in the mean time the Seed ripeneth Vertues and use These are accounted to be of as singular force as any other Herb or Seed whatsoever to break the Stone and to avoid it and the Gravel either in the Reins or Bladder as also to provoke Urine being stopped and to help the Strangury The Seed is of greatest use being bruised and boiled in white Wine or in Broth or the like or the Pouder of the Seed taken therin Two drams of the Seed in Pouder taken with Womens Breast-Milk is very effectual to procure a speedy Delivery to such Women as have sore pains in their Travail and cannot be delivered The Herb it self when the Seed is not to be had either boyled or the Juyce therof drunk is effectual to all the purposes aforelaid but not so powerful or speedy in operation The Herbe belongs to Dame Venus and therfore if Mars caus the Chollick or Stone as usually he doth if in Virgo this is your cure Winter Green Description THis sendeth forth 7. 8. or 9. Leaves from a smal brownish creeping Root every one standing upon a long Footstalk which are almost as broad as long round pointed of a sad green colour and hard in handling and like the Leaf of a Pear-tree from whence ariseth a slender weak Stalk yet standing upright bearing at the top many smal white and sweet smelling Flowers laid open like a Star consisting of five round pointed Leavs with many yellowish threds standing in the middle about a green Head and a long stile with them which in time groweth to be the Seed Vessel which being ripe is found five square with a smal point at it weerin is contained Seed as small as dust Place It groweth seldom in the Fields but frequently in the Woods Northwards viz. In Yorkshire Lancashire and Scotland Time It Flowreth about June or July Vertues and Vse Winter-Green is a singular good Wound Herb and an especial Remedy for to heal green Wounds speedily the green Leavs being brused and applied or the Juyce of them A Salve made of the green Herbs stamped or the Juyce boyled with Hogs Lard or with Sâ—llet Oyl and Wax and some Turpentine added unto it is a Soveragn Salve and highly extolled by the Germans who much use it to heal all manner of Wounds and Sores The Herb boyled in Wine and Water and given to drink to them that have any inward Ulcers in their Kidneys or Neck of the Bladder doth wonderfully help them It staieth also all Fluxes whether of Blood or Humors as the Lask Bloody Flux Womens Courses and bleeding of Wounds and taketh away any Inflamation rising upon pains of the Heart It is no less helpful for foul Ulcers hard to be cured as also for Cankers or Fistulaes The distilled Water of the Herb doth effectually perfrom the same things Groundsel Description OUr common Groundsel hath a round green and somwhat brownish Stalk spread toward the top into Branches set with long and somwhat narrow green Leavs cut in on the edges somwhat like the Oak Leavs but lesser and round at the ends at the tops of the Branches stand many smal green Heads out of which grow small yellow threds or thrums which are the Flowers and continue many daies blown in that manner before it pass away into Down and with the Seed is carried away in the wind The Root is smal and threddy and soon perisheth and as soon riseth again of its own sowing so that it may be seen many Months in the Yeer both green and in Flower and Seed for it will Spring and Seed twice in a yeer at least if it be suffered in a Garden Place This groweth almost every where as wel on the tops of Walls as at the foot among Rubbish and untilled grounds but especially in Gardens Time It Flowreth as is said before almost in every Month through the yeer Vertues and use The Decoction of the Herb saith Dioscorides made with Wine and Drunk `helpeth the pains in the Stomach proceeding
bad Livers and for such as have Itches and running Tetters The Pouder hereof taken or the Decoction killeth Worms The green Leavs bruised and boyled in old Hogs Greas unto an Oyntment healeth the biting of Dogs abateth the Swellings of Womens Breasts and taketh away the Swelling and Pains that come by any pricking of Thorns or such like means and used with Vinegar it clenseth and healeth Tetters There is a Syrup made of Horehonnd to be had at the Apothecaries very good for old Coughs to rid the tough Flegm as also to avoid cold Rhewm from the Lungs of old Folks and for those that are Astmatick or short winded Horstail Description OF this there are many kinds but I shall not trouble you nor my self with any large Description of them which to do were but as the Proverb is to find a knot in a Rush All the kinds hereof being nothing else but knotted Rushes some with Leavs and some without Take the Description of the most eminent sort as followeth The greater Horstail at the first springing hath Heads somwhat like those of Asparagus and after grow to be hard rough hollow Stalks joynted at sundry places up to the top a foot high so made as if the lower part were put into the upper whereat grow on each side a Bush of smal long Rush-like hard Leavs each part resembling a Hors Tail from whence it was so called At the tops of the Stalks come forth smal Catkins like to those of Trees The Root creepeth under ground having Joynts at sundry places Place This as most of the other sorts hereof groweth in wet grounds Time They spring up in April and their blooming Catkins in July seeding for the most part in August and then perish down to the ground rising afresh in the Spring Vertues and use Horstail the smoother rather than the rough and the Leaved rather than the Bare are most Physical It is very powerful to stanch bleedings whersoever either inward or outward the Juyce or Decoction thereof being drunk or the Juyce Decoction or distilled Water applied outwardly It staieth also al sorts of Lasks and Fluxes in Man or Woman and the pissing of Blood and healeth also not only the inward Ulcers and excoriations of the Entrails Bladder c. but al bther sorts of foul moist and running Ulcers and soon sodereth together the tops of green Wounds It cureth also Ruptures in Children The Decoction hereof in Wine being drunk provoketh Urin and helpeth the Stone and the Strangury and the distilled Water thereof drunk two or three times in a day a smal quantity at a time as also easeth the Intrails or Guts and is effectual against a Cough that cometh by distillation from the Head The Juyce or distilled Water being warmed and hot Inflamations Pustules or red Wheals and other breakings out in the Skin being bathed therewith doth help them and doth no less eas the Swellings heat and Inflamations of the Fundament or Privy parts in Man or Woman The Herb is belonging to Saturn yet is very harmless and excellent good for the Premises Houfleeks or Sengreen ♃ THese are so wel known unto my Country Men that I shal not need to write any Description of them Place It groweth commonly on Walls and Houssides and flowreth in July Vertues and use Our ordinary Housleek is good for all inward heats as wel as outward and in the Eyes or other parts of the Body A Posset made with the Juyce of Housleek is singular good in al hot Agues for it cooleth and tempereth the Blood and Spirits and quench the thirst and is also good to stay al hot Defluxions of sharp and salt Rhewms in the Eyes the Juyce being dropped into them or into the Ears helpeth them It helpeth also other Fluxes of Humors into the Bowels and the immoderate Courses of Women It cooleth and restraineth also all other hot Inflamations St. Anthonies Fire Scaldings and Burnings the Shingles fretting Ulcers Cankers Tetters Ringworms and the like and much easeth the pain of the Gout proceeding from an hot caus The Juyce also taketh away Warts and Corns in the Hands or Feet being often bathed therwith and the Skin of the Leavs being laid on them afterwards It easeth also the Head-ach and distempered heat of the Brain in Phrensies or through want of sleep being applied to the Temples and Forehead The Leavs bruised and laid upon the Crown or Seam of the Head staieth bleeding at the Nose very quickly The distilled Water of the Herb is profitable for all the purposes aforesaid The Leavs being gently rubbed on any place stung with Nettles or Bees doth quickly take away the Pain It is an Herb of Jupiter and it is reported by Myzaldus to preserve it grows upon from Fire and Lightning ☿ Houndstongue Description THe great ordinary Houndstongue hath many long and somwhat narrow soft hairy darkish green Leavs lying on the ground somwhat like unto Bugloss Leavs from among which riseth up a rough hairy Stalk about two foot high with some smaller Leavs thereon and branched at the top into divers parts with a smal Leaf at the Foot of every Branch which is somwhat long with many Flowers set along the same which Branch is crooked or turned inwards before it Flowreth and openeth by degrees as the Flowers do blow which consist of four smal purplish red Leavs of a dead colour scarce rising out of the Husk wherein they stand with some threds in the middle It hath somtimes a white Flower After the Flowers are past there cometh rough flat Seed with a smal pointel in the middle easily cleaving to any Garment that it toucheth and not so easily pulled off again The root is black thick and long hard to break and ful of a clammy Juyce smelling somwhat strong of an evil scent as the Leavs also do Place It groweth in most places of this Land in wast grounds and untilled places by high way sides Lanes and Hedg sides Time It Flowreth about May and June and the Seed is ripe shortly after Vertues and Use. The Root is very effectually used in Pills as wel as in Decoctions or otherwise to stay al sharp and thin Defluxions of Rhewm from the Head into the Eyes or Nose or upon the Stomach or Lungs as also for Coughs or shortness of breath The Leaves boyled in Wine saith Dioscorides but others do rather appoint it to be made with Water and to ad thereto Oyl and Salt mollifieth or openeth the Belly downwards it also helpeth to cure the biting of a mad Dog some of the Leavs being also applied to the Wound The Leavs bruised or the Juyce of them boyled in Hogs Lard and applied helpeth the falling away of the Hair which cometh of hot and sharp humors as also for any place that is scalded or burnt The Leavs bruised and laid to any green Wound doth heal it up quickly The Root baked under the Embers wrapped in Past or wet
rise up 2. or 3. short stalks about 2. foot high and slender with such like Leavs at the Joynts as grow below but with lesser fewer devisions bearing Umbels of white Flowers and after them small thinne flat blackish seed bigger than Dil seeds The Root is somwhat greater and groweth rather sideways than down deep into the ground shooting forth sundry heads which tast sharp biting on the Tongue and is the hottest and sharpest part of the Plant and the seed next unto it beiug somewhat blackish on the outside and smelling well Place It is usually kept in Gardens with us in England Time It Flowreth and seedeth about the end of August Vertues and Use. The Root of Masterwort is hotter than Pepper and very available in all cold Grelfes and Diseases both of Stomach and body dissolving very powerfully upward and downward It is also used in a decoction with wind against all cold rhewms or distillations upon the Lungs and shortnes of breath to be taken morning and evening it also provokerh Urin and helpeth to break the Stone and expel the Greavell from the Kidneys procuereth womens Courses and expelleth the dead birth is singular good for the strangling of the Mother and other such like Feminine Diseases It is effectuall also aganist the Dropsie Cramps and the Falling sicknes for the decection in wine being gargled in the Mouth draweth down much water and flegm from the brain purging easing it of what oppresseth it It is of a rare quality against al sorts of cold poyson to be taken as there is cause It provoketh sweat But left the tast herof or of the seed which worketh to the like effect though not so powerfully should be too offensive the best way is to take the water distilled both from the Herb and Root The Juyce herof dropped or Tents dipped therin and applyed either to green wounds or filthy rotten Ulcers and those that come by invenomed Weapons doth soon clens and heal them or isthey be bathed with the distilled water The same is also very good to help the Gout coming of a cold cause It is an Herb of Mars Sweet Maudlin Description COmmon Maudlin have somwhat long and narrow Leaves snip'd about the edges the stalks are two foot high bearing at the topps many yellow flowers Set round together and all of an equal height â—in umbles tufts like unto Tansy after which flowereth small whitish Seed almost as big as Wormseed The whol Herb is sweet and bitter Place and Time It groweth in Gardens and Flowreth in June and July Vertues and use The Vertues hereof being the same with Costmary or Alecost I shal not trouble you to make any repetition thereof left my Book grow too big but rather refer you unto Costmary for satisfaction The Medlar Description THis Tree groweth neer the bigness of the Quince Tree spreading Branches reasonable large with longer and narrower Leaves than either the Apple or Quince and not dented about the edges At the end of the Sprigs stand the Flowers made of Five white great broad pointed Leavs nicked in the middle with some white threds also after which cometh the Fruit of a brownish green colour being ripe bearing a Crown as it were on the top which were the five green Leaves and being rubbed off or fallen away the head of the Fruit is seen to be somwhat hollow The Fruit is very harsh before it be mellowed and hath usually five hard Kernels within it There is another kind hereof differing nothing from the former but that it hath some Thorns on it in several places which the other hath not and the Fruit is smal and not so pleasant Time They grow in this Land and Flower in May for the most part and bear ripe Fruit in September and October Vertues and use They are very powerful to stay and Fluxes of Blood or Humors in Man or Woman the Leavs have also the like quality The Fruit eaten by Women with Child stayeth their longings after unusual meats and is very effectual for them that are apt to miscarry and be delivered before their time to help that malady and make them joyful Mothers The Decoction of them is good to gargle and wash the Mouth Throat and Teeth when there is any defluxion of Blood to stay it or of Humors which causeth Pains and Swellings It is a good bath for Women to sit over that have their Courses flow too abundantly or for the Piles when they bleed too much If a Pultis or Plaister be made with dried Medlars beaten and mixed with the Juyce of red Roses whereunto a few Cloves and Nutmeg may be added and a little red Correl also and applied to the Stomach that is given to casting or loathing of meat it effectually helpeth The dried Leavs in Pouder strewed on fresh bleeding Wounds restraineth the Blood and healeth up the Wound quickly â—â— The Medlar stones made into Pouder and drunk in Wine wherein some Parsley Roots have lien infused all night or a little boyled do break the Stone in the Kidneys helping to expel it The Fruit is old Saturns and sure a better Medicine he hardly hath to strengthen the retentive faculty therfore it staies Womens Longings the good old Man cannot endure Womens minds should run a gadding Also a Plaister made of the Fruit dried before they be rotten and other convenient things and applied to the Reins of the Back stops Miscarriage in Women with Child Melilot or Kings Claver Description THis hath many green Stalks two or three foot high rising from a tough long white Root which dieth not every yeer set round about at the Joynts with smal and somwhat long wel smelling Leavs set three together unevenly dented about the edges The Flowers are yellow and well smelling also made like other Trefoyls but smal standing in long Spikes one above another for an hand breath long or better which afterwards turn into long crooked Cods wherein is contained flat Seed somwhat Brown Place It groweth plentifully in many places of this Land as in the edg of Susfolk and in Essex as also in Huntingtoushire and in other places but most usually in Corn Fields in corners of Meadows Time It Flowreth in June and July and is ripe quickly after Vertues and Use. Melilot boyled in Wine and applied mollifieth all hard Tumors and Inflamations that happen in the Eyes or other parts of the Body as the Fundament or privy parts of Man or Woman and somtimes the Yolk of a roasted Egg or fine Flower or Poppy Seed or Endive is added unto it It helpeth the spreading Ulcers in the Head it being washed with a Ly made thereof It helpeth the pains of the Stomach being applied fresh or boyled with any of the aforenamed things It helpeth also the pains of the Ears being dropped into them and steeped in Vinegar and Rose-Water it mitigateth the Headach The Flowers of Melilot and Chamomel are much used to
made of five Leavs narrow and pointed at the ends with some yellow thredssn the middle which being past there stand in their places smal round Heads of Seed Place It groweth plentifully in almost all places of this Land commonly in moist grounds by Hedg sides and in the middle of grassy Fields Time They Flower in June and July and their Seed is ripe quickly after Vertues and use Moneywort is singular good to stay all Fluxes in Men or Woman whether they be Lasks Bloody Fluxes the Flowing of Womens Courses Bleedings inwardly or outwardly and the weakness of the Stomach that is given to casting It is very good also for all Ulcers or Excoriations of the Lungs or other inward parts It is exceeding good for all Wounds either fresh or green to heal them speedily and for old Ulcers that are of a spreading nature For all which purposes The Juyce of the Herb or the Pouder drunk in Water wherein hot Steel hath been often quenched Or the Decoction of the green Herb in Wine or Water drunk Or the Seed Juyce or Decoction used to the outward places to wash or bath them or to have Tents dipped therein and put into them are effectual Moonwort Description This riseth up usually but with one dark green thick and fat Leaf standing upon a short footstalk not a bove two fingers breadth but when it will flower it may be said to beare a small slender stalk about four or five Inches high having but one leaf set in the middle therof which is much devided on both sides into somtimes five or seven parts on a sid somtimes more each of which parts is small next the middle rib but broad forwards and round pointed resembling therein an half Moon from whence it took the name the uppermost parts or divisions being less than the lowest The Stalk riseth above this Leaf two or three inches bearing many Branches of small long Tongues every one like the spiky Head of Adders-Tongue of a brownish colour which whether I shall call them Flowers or the Seed I well know notâ— which after they have continued a while resolve into a Mealy dust The Root is smal and Fibrous This hath somtimes divers such like Leavs as are before Described with so many branches or tops arising from one Stalk each devided from the other Place It groweth on Hills and Heaths yet where there is much Grass for therein it delighteth to grow Time It is to be found only in April and May for in June when any hot weather cometh for the most part it is withered and gone Vertues and use Moonwort is cold and drying more than Adders-tongue and is therefore held to be more available for all Wounds both inward and outward The Leavs boyled in red Wine and drunk stayeth the immoderate Flux of Womens Courses and the Whites It also staieth Bleeding Vomitings and other Fluxes It helpeth all Blows and Bruises and to consolidate all Fractures and Dislocations It is good for Ruptures But it is chiefly used by most with other Herbs to make Oyls or Balsoms to heal fresh or green Wounds as I said before either inward or outward for which it is excellent good Moonwort is an Herb which they say will open Locks and unshoo such Horses as tread upon it this some laugh to scorn and those no smal Fools neither but Country people that I know call it Unshoo the Horse besides I have heard Commanders say That on White Down in Devon neer Tiverton there was found thirty Hors shoos pulled off from the feet of the Earl of Essex his Horses being there drawn up in a Body many of them being but newly shod and no reason known which caused much admiration and the Herb described usually grows upon Heaths The Moon owns the Herb. Mosses I Shal not trouble the Reader with any Description of these sith my intent is to speak only of two kinds as the most principal Viz. Ground-Moss and Tree-Moss both which are very well know Place The Ground-Moss growing in our moist Woods and the bottoms of Hills in boggy grounds and in shadowy Ditches and many other such like places The Tree-Moss groweth only on Trees Vertues and use The Ground-Moss is held to be singular good to break the Stone and to expel and drive it forth by Urin being boyled in Wine and drunk The Herb bruised and boyled in Water and applied easeth all Inflamations and pains coming of an hot caus â— and is therfore used to eas the pains of the hot Gout The Tree-Mosses are cooling and binding and partake of a digesting and mollifying quality withal as Galon saith But each Moss doth partake of the Nature of the Tree from whence it is taken therefore that of the Oak is more Binding and is of good effect to stay Fluxes in man or Woman as also Vomitings or Bleedings the Pouder thereof being taken in Wine The Decoction thereof in Wine is very good for Women to be hathed with or to sit in that are troubled with the overflowing of their Courses The same being drunk stayeth the Stomach that is troubled with casting or the Hiccough and as Aâ—â—iâ—â—nna saith it comforteth the Heart The Pouder thereof taken in Drink for some time together is thought available for the Dropsie The Oyl of Roses that hath had fresh Moss steeped therin for a time and after boyled and applied to the Temples and Forehead doth Merveilously eas the Headach coming of a hot caus as also the Distillations of hot Rhewm or Humors to the Eyes or other parts The Antients much used it in their Oyntments and other Medicines against Lassitude and to strengthen and comfort the Sinews For which if it was good then I know no reason but it may be fonnd so still Motherwort Discription THis hath a hard square brownish rough strong Stalk rising three or four foot high at the least spreading into many Branches whereon grow Leavs ou each side with long Footstalks two at every Joynt which are somwhat broad and long as it were rough or crumpled with many great Veins therein of a sad green colour and deeply dented about the edges and almost devided From the middle of the Branches up to the tops of them which are very long and smal grow the Flowers round about them at distances in sharp pointed rough hard Husks of a more red or purple-colour than Balm or Horehound but in the same manner and form as the Horehounds after which come smal round blackish Seed in great plenty The Root sendeth forth a number of long Strings and smal Fibres taking strong hold in the Ground of a dark yellowish or brownish colour and abideth as the Horehound doth the smell of this being not much different from it Place It groweth only in Gardens with us in England Vertues and use Motherwort is held to be of much use for the trembling of the Heart and in faintings and swounings from whence it took
Bark of the Root taken in Wine performeth effectually Mathiolus saith the same helpeth the Diseas called Hiernia Carnosa the Fleshy Rupture by taking the said Pouder for some Months together constantly and that it hath cuted some which seemed incurable by any other means than by cutting or burning The Decoction thereof made with some Vinegar and gargled in the Mouth easeth the Toothach especially when it comes of Rhewm and the said Decoction is very powerful to open Obstructions of the Liver and Spleen and other parts A Distilled Water made in Balneo Mariae with four pound of the Roots hereof first sliced smal and afterwards steeped in a Gallon of Canary Wine is singular good for all the purposes aforesaid and to clens the passages of the Urine The Pouder of the said Root made into an Electuary or Lozenges with Sugar as also the Bark of the fresh Roots boyled tender and afterwards beaten Into a Consetve with Sugar worketh the like effect The Pouder of the Roots strewed upon the Brims of Ulcers or mixed with any other convenient thing and applied consumeth the hardness and canseth them to heal the better Rocket IN regard the garden Rocket is rather used as a Sallet Herb than to any Physical purposes I shall omit it and only speak of the common wild Rocket The Description whereof take as followeth Description The common wild Rocket hath longer and narrower Leavs much more devided into slender cuts and jags on both sides of the middle Rib than the Garden kinds have of a sad overworn green colour from among which riseth up divers stiff Stalks two or three foot high somtimes set with the like Leavs but smaller and smaller upwards branched from the middle into divers stiff Stalks bearing sundry yeilow Flowers on them made of four Leavs apiece as the others are which afterwards yield smal reddish Seed in smal long Pods of a more bitter and hot biting tast than the Garden kinds as the Leavs are also Place It is found wild in divers places of this Land Time It Flowreth about June and July and the Seed is ripe in August Vertues and Use. The Wild Rocket is more strong and effectual to encreas Sperm and Venereous qualities whereunto also the Seed is more effectual than the Garden kinds It serveth also to help Digestion and provoketh Urine exceedingly The Seed is used to cure the bitings of Serpents the Scorpion and the Shrew-Mouse and other Poysons and expelleth Worms and other noisom Creatures that breed in the Body The Herb boyled or stewed and some Sugar put thereto helpeth the Cough in Children being taken often The Seed also taken in drink taketh away the ill scent of the Armpits encreaseth Milk in Nurses and wasteth the Spleen The Seed mixed with Honey and used on the face clenseth the Skin from Spots Morphew and other discolourings therein and used with Vinegar taketh away Freckles and redness in the Face or other parts and with the Gall of an Ox it amendeth foul Scars black and blew Spots and the marks of the smal Pox. The Wild Rockets are forbidden to be used alone in regard their sharpness fumeth into the Head causing ach and pain therein and are no less hurtful to hot and Chollerick persons for fear of inflaming their Blood and therefore for such we may say a little doth but a little harm For angry Mars rules them and he somtimes will be testy when he meets with Focls Winter Rocket or Cresses Description VVInter Rocket or winter Cresses hath diverse somwhat large sad green Leavs lying upon the ground torn or cut into divers parts somwhat like unto Rocket or Turnep Leavs with smaller pieces next the bottom and broad at the ends which so abide all Winter if it spring up in Autumn when it is used to be eaten from among which riseth up divers smal round Stalks full of branches bearing many smal yellow Flowers of four Leavs apiece after which come smal long Pods with reddish Seed in them The Root is somwhat stringy and perisheth every yeer after the Seed is ripe Place It groweth of its own accord in Gardens and Fields by the way sides in diverse places and particularly in the next Pasture to the Conduit-Head behind Grayes-Inne that brings Water to Mr. Lamb's Conduit in Holbourn Time It Flowreth in May and Seedeth in June and then perisheth Vertues and Use. This is profitable to provoke Urine and helpeth the Strangury and to expel Gravel and the Stone It is also of good effect in the Scurvey It is found by experience to be a singular good Wound Herb to clense inward Wounds the Juyce or Decoction being drunk or outwardly applied to wash foul Ulcers and Sores clensing them by sharpness and hindring or abating the dead Flesh from growing therein and healing them by the drying quality Roses I Hold it altogether needless to trouble the Reader with a Description of any of these sith both the Garden Roses and the Wild Roses of the Bryars are well enough known Take therefore the Vertues of them as followeth And first I shal begin with the Garden kinds Vertues and Use. The White and the Red Roses are cooling and drying yet the White is taken to exceed the Red in both those properties but is seldom used inwardly in any Medicine The bitterness in the Roses when they are fresh especially the Juyce purgeth Choller and watery Humors but being dried and that heat which caused the bitterness being consumed they have then a binding and astringent quality Those also that are not ful blown do both cool and bind more than those that are full blown and the White Roses more than the Red. The Decoction of Red Roses made with Wine and used is very good for the Headach and pains in the Eyes Ears Throat and Gums as also for the Fundament the lower Bowels and the Matrix being bathed or put into them The same Decoction with the Roses remaining in it is profitably applyed to the Region of the Heart to eas the Inflamation therin as also St. Anthonies fire and other Diseases of the Stomach Being dried and beaten to Pouder and taken in steeled Wine or Water it helpeth to stay Womens Courses The yellow threds in the middle of the red Roses which are erroniously called the Rose Seeds being poudered and drunk in the distilled water of Quinces stayeth the overflowing of Womens Courses and doth wonderfully stay the Defluxions of Rhewm upon the Gums and Teeth preserving them from corruption and fastning them if they be loose being washed and gargled therewith and some Vinegar of Squils added thereto The Heads with Seed being used in Pouder or in a decoction stayeth the Lask and spitting of Blood Red Roses do strengthen the Heart the Stomack and the Liver and the retentive Faculties they mitigate the pains that arise from Heat asswage Inflamations procure rest and sleep stay both Whites and Reds in Women the Gonorrhea running of the
stay Defluxions from the Head upon the Stomach drying up the moisture thereof and helpeth digestion The Pulp of the Heps dried unto a hard consistence like to the Juyce of Liquoris or so dried that it may be made into Pouder and taken in drink stayeth speedily the Whites in Women The Bryar Ball is often used being made into Pouder and drunk to break the Stone to provoke Urine when it is stopped and to eas and help the Chollick some appoint it to be burnt and then taken for the same purpose In the middle of these Balls are often found certain white Worms which being dried and made into Pouder and some of it drunk is found by experience of many to kill and drie forth the Worms of the Belly What a quarter have Authors made with Roses what a racket have they kept I shall ad Red Roses are under Jupiter Damask under Venus and White under the Moon and Province under the King of France RosaSolis or Sun-dew Description THis hath diverse sinal round hollow Leavs somwhat greenish but full of certain red hairs which makes them seem red every one standing upon its own Fooststalk reddish hairy likewise The Leavs are continualty moist in the hottest day yea the hotter the Sun shines on them the moister they are with a certain sliminess that will rope as we say the smal hairs alwaies holding this moisture among these Leavs rise up small slender stalks reddesh also three or four fingers high bearing diverse smal white Knobs one above another which are the flowers after which in the Heads are certain smal Seeds the Root is a few small hairs Place It groweth usually on Bogs and in wet places and somtimes in moist Woods Time It Flowreth in June and then Leavs are fittest to be gatrhered Vertues and Use. Rosa Solis is accounted good to help those Distillatithat have salt Rhewm distilling on their Lungs on s oâ—â— which breedeth a Consumption and therefore Rhewm the Distilled water thereof in Wine is held fit and profitable for such to drink which Water will be of a gold yellow colour The same Water is held to be good for all other Diseases of the Lungs as Phtisicks Wheesing shortness of Breath or the Cough as also to heal the Ulcers that happen in the Lungs and it comforteth the Heart and fainting Spirits The Leavs outwardly applied to the Skin will raise Blisters which hath caused some to think it dangerous to be taken inward but there are other things which will also draw Blisters yet nothing dangerous to be taken inwardly There is an usual Drink made hereof with Aqua vitae and Spices freuently and without any offence or danger but to good purpose used in qualms and passions of the Heart The Sun rules it and 't is under the Sign Cancer Rosemary OUr Garden Rosemary is so well â—â—own that I need not here describe it Time It Flowreth in April and May with us and somtimes again in August Vertues and Use. It is an Herb if as great use with us in these daies as any whatsoever not only for Physical but Civil purposes The Physical use of it being my present Task is very much both for inward and outward Diseases For by the warming and comforting heat thereof it helpeth all cold Diseases both of the Head Stomach Liver and Belly The Decoction thereof in Wine helpeth the cold Distillations of Rhewm into the Eyes and all other cold Diseases of the Head and Brain as the Giddiness or swimming therein Drowsiness or Dulness of the mind and senses like a stupidness the dumb Palsey or loss of speech the Lethargy and Falling-sickness to be both drunk and the Temples bathed therewith It helpeth the pains in Gums and Teeth by Rhewm falling into them or by putrefaction causing an evil smel from them or a stinking Breath It helpeth a weak Memory and quickneth the Senses It is very comfortable to the Stomach in all the cold Griefs thereof helping both retention of meat and digestion the Decoction or Pouder being taken in Wine it is a Remedy for the windiness in the Stomach or Bowels and expellerh it powerfully as also Wind in Spleen It helpeth those that are Livergrown by opening the Obstructions thereof It helpeth dim Eyes and procureth cleer sight the Flowers thereof being taken all the while it is Flowring every morning fasting with bread and Salt Both Dâ—oscorides and Galen say That if a Decoction be made thereof with Water and they that have the yellow Jaundice do exercise their Bodies presenty after the taking thereof it will certainly cure it The Flowers and the Conserve made of them is singular good to comfort the Heart and to expel the contagion of the Pestilence to burn the Herb in Houses and Chambers correcteth the Air in them Both the Flowers and the Leavs are very profitable for Women that are troubled with the Whites if they be daily taken The dried Leavs shred smal and taken in a Pipe like as Tobacco is taken helpeth those that have any Cough or Phtisick or Consumption by warming and drying the thin Distillations which caus those Diseases The Leavs are much used in Bathing and made into Oyntments or Oyls is singular good to help cold benummed Joynts Sinews or Members The Chimical Oyl drawn from the Leavs and Flowers is a Soveraign help for all the Diseases aforesaid to touch the Temples and Nostrils with two or three drops for all the Diseases of the Head and Brains spoken of before as also to take a drop two or three as the caus requireth for the inward griefs yet must it be done with Descretion for it is very quick and piercing and therefore but a very little must be taken at a time There is also another Oyl made by insolation in this manner Take what qunatity you will of the Flowers and put them into a strong Glass close stopped tie a fine linnen cloth over the Mouth and turn the Mouth down into another Strong Glass which being set in Sun an Oyl will distil down into he lower Glass to be preserved as precious for divers uses both inward and outward as a Sovereign Balm to heal the diseases before mentioned to clcer a dim sight and to take away spots marks and scars in the skin The Sun claims Priviledg in it and 't is under the Coelestial Ram. Rubarb or Rhapontick DO not start and say this grows you know not how far off and then ask me How it comes to pass that I bring it among our English Simples for though name may speak it Forreign yet it grows with us in England and that frequent enough in our Gardens and when you have throughly perused its Vertues you will conclude it nothing inferior to that which is brought us out of China by that time this hath been as much used as that hath been the name which the other hath gotten wil be eclipsed by the same of
forth The Root in Pouder and given in Wine and drunk is good against the Plague or Pestilence and drunk in the mornings fasting for some time together is very profitable for a Fistula in any part of the Body Baptista Sardus doth much commend the distilled Water hereof being drunk to help the French Disease to open Obstructions of the Liver and clense the Blood from corrupted Humors and is profitably given against Quotidian or Tertian Agues Strawberries THese are so well known through this Land that they need no Description Time They Flower in May ordinarily and the Fruit is ripe shortly after Vertues and use Strawberries when they are green are cold and dry but when they are ripe they are cold and moist The Berries are excellent good to cool the Liver the Blood and the Spleen or an hot Chollerick stomach to refresh comfort the fainting Spirits to quench Thirst They are good also for other Inflamations yet it is not arniss to refrain them in a Feaver lest by their putrefying in the Stomach they encrease the Fits The Leavs and Roots boyled in Wine and Water and drunk do likewise cool the Liver and Blood and asswage all Inflamations in the Reins and bladder provoketh Urine and allayeth the heat and sharpness thereof The same also being drunk stayeth the Bloody Flux and Womens Courses and helpeth the Swellings of the Spleen The Water of the Berries carefully distilled is a Soveraign Remedy and Cordial in the panting and beating of the Heart and is good for the yellow Jaundice The Juyce dropped into foul Ulcers or they washed therewith or the Decoction of the Herb and Root doth wonderfully clense and help to cure them Lotions and Gargles for sore Mouthes or Ulcers therin or in the privy Parts or elswhere are made with the Leaves and Roots hereof which is also good to fasten loose Teeth and to heal spungy soul Gums It helpeth also to stay Catarrhs or Desluxions of Rhewm into the Mouth Throat Teeth or Eyes The Juyce or Water is singular good for hot and red Inflamed Eyes if dropped into them or they bathed therewith it is also of excellent property for all Pushes Wheals and other breakings forth of hot sharp Humors in the Face and Hands or other parts of the Body to bath them therewith and to take away any redness in the Face or Spots or other Deformities in the Skin and to make it cleer and smooth Some use this Medicine Take so many Strawberries as you shall think fitting and put them into a Distillatory or body of Glass fit for them which being well closed set it in a bed of Horsdung for twelve or fourteen daies and afterwards distill it carefully and keep it for your use It is an excellent water for hot inflamed Eyes and to take away any film or Skin that beginneth to grow over them and for such other defects in them as may be helped by any outward Medicine Venus owns the Herb. Succory Description THe Garden Succory hath longer and narrower Leaves than Endive and more cut in or torn on the edges and the Root abideth many yeers It beareth also blew Flowers like Endive and the Seed is hardly distinguished from the Seed of the smooth or ordinary Endive The wild Succory hath diverse long Leaves lying on the ground very much cut in or torn on the edges on both sides even to the middle rib ending in point somtimes it hath a red Rib down the middle of the Leaves from among which riseth up a hard round woody stalk spreading into many Branches set with smaller and lesser devided Leaves on them up to the tops where stand the Flowers which are like the Garden kind as the Seed is also only take notice that the Flowers of the Garden kind are gone in one Sunny day they being so cold that they are not able to endure the Beams of the Sun and therfore most delight in the shadow The Root is white but more hard and woody than the Garden kind The whol Plant is exceeding bitter Place This groweth in many places of our Land in wast untilled and barren Fields The other only in Gardens Vertues and Use. Garden Succory as it is more dry and less cold than Endive so it openeth more An handful of the Leavs or Roots boyled in Wine or Water and a draught thereof drunk fasting driveth forth Chollerick and Flegmatick Humors openeth Obstructions of the Liver Gall and Spleen helpeth the yellow Jaundice the Heat of the Reins and of the Urine the Dropsie also and those that have an evil disposition in their Bodies by reason of long sickness evil Diet c. which the Greeks call 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Cachexia A Decoction thereof made with Wine and drunk is very effectual against long lingring Agues and a dram of the Seed in Pouder drunk in Wine before the Fit of an Ague helpeth to drive it away The Distilled Water of the Herb and Flowers if you can take them in time hath the properties and is especial good for hot Stomachs and in Agues either Pestilential or of long continuance for swounings and Passions of the Heart for the heat and Headach in Children and to the blood and Liver The said water or the Juyce or the bruised Leaves applied outwardly allayeth Swellings Inflamations St. Anthonies Fire Pushes Wheals and Pimples especially used with a little Vinegar as also to wash pestiferous Sores The said Water is very effectual for sore Eyes that are inflamed with redness and for Nurses Breasts that are pained by the abundance of Milk The wild Succory as it is more bitter so it is more strengthning to the Stomach and Liver English Tobacco Description THis riseth up with a thick round Stalk about two foot high whereon do grow thick fat green Leaves nothing so large as the other Indian kinds somwhat round pointed also and nothing dented about the edges The Stalk brancheth forth and beareth at the tops divers Flowers set in green Husks like the other but nothing so large scarce standing above the Brims of the Husks round pointed also and of a greenish yellow colour The Seed that followeth is not so bright but larger contained in the like great Heads The Roots are neither so great nor woody and perishing every yeer with the hard Frosts in Winter but riseth generally of its own sowing Place This came from some parts of Brassiile as is thought and is more familier to our Country than any of the other sorts early giving ripe Seed which the others seldom do Time It Flowreth from June somtimes to the end of August or later and the Seed ripeneth in the mean time Vertues and Use. It is found by good experience to be available to expectorate tough Flegm from the Stomach Chest and Lungs The Juyce thereof made into a Syrup or the distilled water of the Herb drunk with some Sugar or without if you will Or the smoke taken by a
this to three Gallons more and let them work together and drink a draught of it every morning half a pint or there aocuts It is an excellent Purge for the Spring to consume that Flegmatick quality the Winter hath left behind it and withal keep your Body in health and consume those evil humors which the heat of Summer will readily stir up esteem it as a Jewel ♀ The Common Alder-Tree Description GRoweth to a reasonable heighth and spreads much if it like the place It is so generally wel known unto Country People that I conceive it needless to tel them that which is no news Place and Time It delighteth to grow in moist Woods and watry places Flowring in April or May and yeilding ripe Seed in September Vertues and Use. The Leaves and Bark of the Alder-Tree are cooling drying and binding The fresh Leaves laid upon swellings dissolveth them and staieth the Inflamations The Leaves put under the bare Feet gauled with travelling are a great refreshing to them The said Leaves gathered while the morning dew is on them and brought into a Chamber troubled with Fleas wil gather them therinto which being suddenly cast out wil rid the Chamber of those troublesom Bed-fellows It is a Tree under the Dominion of Venus and of some warry Sign or other I suppose Pisces and therfore the Decoction or distilled Water of the Leaves is excellent against Burnings and Inflamation either with Wounds or without to bath the place grieved with and especially for that inflamation in the Breast which the vulgar call an Ague If you cannot get the Leaves as in Winter â—tis impossible make use of the Bark in the same manner ☉ ♌ Angelica TO write a Description of that which is so well known to be growing in almost every Garden I suppose is altogether needless yet for its Vertues it is of admiaable use In times of Heathenism when men had found out any excellent Herb c. they dedicated it to their gods As the Bay-trce to Apello the Oak to Jupiter the vine to Bacchus the Poplar to Hercules These the Papists following as their Patriarchs they dedicate them to their Saints as our Ladies Thistle to the Blessed Virgin St. Johns Wort to St. John and another Wort to St. Peter c. Our Physitians must imitate like Apes though they cannot come off half so cleverly for they Blasphemously call Pansies or Hartseas an Herb of the Trinity becaus it is of three colours and a certain Oyntment an Oyntment of the Apostles becaus it consisteth of twelve Ingredients Alas poor Fools I am sorry for their folly and grieved at their Blasphemy God send them the rest of their Age for they have their share of Ignorance already O! why must ours be Blasphemous becaus the Heathens and Papists were Idolatrous certainly they have read so much in old rustie Authors that they have lost all their Deomity for unless it were amongst the Ranters I never read or heard of such Blasphemy The Heathens and Papists were bad and ours wors the Papists giving Idolatrous Names to Herbs for their Vertues sake not for their fair looks and therfore some called this an Herb of the Holy Ghost others more moderate called it Angelica becaus of its Angelical Vertues and that name it retains still and all Nations follow it so near as their Dialect will permit Vertues and use It resists Poyson by defending and comforting the Heart Blood and Spirits it doth the like against the Plague and all Epidemical Diseases if the Root be taken in pouder to the waight of half a dram at a time with some good Triacle in Cardâ—s Water and the party therupon laid to sweat in his Bed If Treacle be not at hand take it alone in Cardus or Angelica Water The Stalks or Roots candied and eaten fasting are good Preservatives in time of Infection and at other times to warm and comfort a cold Stomach The Root also steeped in Vineger and a little of that Vineger taken somtimes fasting and the Root smelled unto is good for the same purpose A water distilled from the Root simply or steeped in Wine and distilled in Glass is much more effectual than the Water of the Leaves and this Water drunk two or three spoonfuls at a time easeth all Pains and Torments coming of Cold and Wind so as the Body be not bound and taken with some of the Root in Pouder at the beginning helpeth the Pluresy as also all other Diseases of the Lungues and Breast as Coughs Phthisick and shortnefs of Breath and a Syrup of the Stalks doth the like It helps pains of the Collick the Strangury and stopping of the Urin procureth Womens Courses and expelleth the After-birth openeth the stoppings of the Liver and Spleen and briefly easeth and discusseth al windiness and inward swellings The Decoction drunk before the fit of an Ague that they may sweat if possible before the fit come wil in two or three times taking rid it quite away It helps digestion and is a remedy for a Surfet The Juyce or the Water being dropped into the Eyes or Ears helps dimness of sight and deafness The Juyce put into the hollow Teeth easeth their pains The Roots in Pouder made up into a Plaister with a little Pitch and laid on the biting of a mad-Dog or any other venemous creature doth wonderfully help The Juyce or the Water dropped or tents wet therin and put into old filthy deep Ulcers Or the Pouder of the Root in want of either doth clens and caus them to heal quickly by covering the naked Bones with Flesh. The distilled Water applied to places pained with the Gout or Sciatica doth give a great deal of ease The wild Angelica is not so effectual as the Garden although it may be safly used to al the purposes aforesaid It is an Herb of the Sun in Leo let it be gathered when he is there the Moon applying to his good Aspect let it be gathered either in his hour or in the hour of Jupiter let Sol be angular Oâ—serve the like in gathering the Herbs of other Plants and you may happen do wonders In al Epidemical Diseases caused by Saturn this is as good a Preservative as grows ♀ Apples A Word or two of the most usual kinds of Apples though the colledg of Physitians make use of none but such as Vulgò vulgati Pearmains vel Pippins Apples in general are cold and windy and being of sundry tasts Galen sheweth thereby how to distinguish them Som have a sharp tast and are good for fainting Stomachs and loos Bellies others sowr good to cool and quench thirst som sharp fit to cut gross flegm som sweet soon destributed in the Body and as soon passed away yet sooner corrupted is the Stomach if they be staid The best sorts before they be throughly ripe are to be avoided then to be roasted or scalded is the best way to take them and a little Spice or
Leavs in a little Drink to caus Vomitings The Roots have also the same Vertue though they do not operate so forcibly yet they are very effectual against the biting of Serpents and therfore is put as an ingredient both into Metbridate and Venice Treacle The Leaves and Roots being boyled in Ly and the Head often washed therwith while it is warm comforteth the Head and Brain that is ill affected by taking cold and helpeth the Memory I shall desire Ignorant people to forbear the use of the Leavs the Roots purge more gently and may prove beneficial in such as have Cancers or old putrified Ulcers or Fistulaes upon their Bodies to take a dram of them in Pouder in a quarter of a pint of white Wine in the morning The truth is I fancy Purging and Vomiting Medicines as little as any Man breathing doth for they weaken Nature nor shall never advise them to be used unless upon urgent necessity If a Physitian be Natures servant it is his duty to strengthen his Mistris as much as he can and weaken her as little as may be ♃ Asparagus Sparagus or Sperage Description IT riseth up at first with divers whitish green scaly Heads very brittle or easie to break while they are yong which afterwards rise up into very long and slender green stalks of the bigness of an ordinary riding wand at the bottom of most or bigger or lesser as the Roots are of growth on which are set divers branches of green Leavs shorter and smaller than Fennel to the top at the joynts wherof come forth small mossie yellowish Flowers which turn into round Berries green at the first and of an excellent red colour when they are ripe shewing like Beads of Corral wherin are contained exceeding hard black Seeds The Roots are dispersed from a spongeous Head into many long thick and round strings wherby it sucketh much Nourishment out of the ground and encreaseth plentifully thereby Jupit Prickly Asparagus Sparagus or Sperage Description IT groweth usually in Gardens and some of it grows wild in Appleton Meadow in Glouce stershire where the poor people do gather the Buds or yong Shoots and sell them cheaper than our Garden Asparagus is sold at London Time They do for the most part Flower and bear their Berries late in the yeer or not at all although they are housed in Winter Vertues and use The yong Buds or branches boyled in ones ordinary broth maketh the Belly soluble and open and boyled in white Wine provoketh Urin being stopped and is good against the Strangury or difficulty of making water it expelleth the gravel and stone out of the Kidneys and helpeth pains in the Reins And boyled in white Wine or Vineger it is prevalent for them that have their Arteries loosned or are troubled with the Hip-Gout or Sciatica The Decoction of the Roots boyied in Wine and taken is good to cleer the sight and being held in the Mouth easeth the Toothach And being taken fasting several mornings together stirreth up bodily lust in Man or Woman whatsoever some have written to the contrary The Garden Asparagus nourisheth more than the wild yet hath it the same effects in al the asorementioned Diseases The Decoction of the Roots in white Wine and the Back and Belly bathed therwith or kneeling or lying down in the same or sitting therin as a Bath hath been found effectual against pains of the Reins and Bladder pains of the Mother and Chollick and generally against all pains that happen to the lower parts of the Body and no less effectual against stiff and benummed Sinews or those that are shrunk by Cramps and Convulsions and helpeth the Sciatica ☉ Ash-Tree THis is so wel known that time wil be mis-â—pent and Paper wasted in writing a Description of it and therfore I shall only insist upon the Vertues of it Vertues and use The yong tender Tops with the Leaves taken inwardly and some of them outwardly applied are singular good against the biting of the Viper Adder or any other Venemous Beast And the Water distilled therfrom being taken a smal quantity every morning fasting is a singular Medicine for those that are subject to a Dropsie or to abate the greatness of those who are too gross or fat The Decoction of the Leaves in white Wine helpeth to break the Stone and expel it and cureth the Jaundice The Ashes of the Bark of the Ash made into Ly and those Heads bathed therwith which are Leprous Scabby or Scal'd they are therby cured The Kernels within the Husks commonly called Ashen Keys prevaileth against Stitches and pains in the sides proceeding of Wind and avoideth away the stone by provoking Urin. I can justly except against none of all this save only the first viz. That Ash-tree Tops and Leaves are good against the biting of Serpents and Vipers and I suppose this had its rise from Gerard or Pliny both which hold that there is such an Antipathy between an Adder and an Ash-tree that if an Adder be compassed round with Ash-tree Leaves she wil sooner run through the fire than through the Leaves the contrary to which is the truth as both my eyes are witnesses the rest are Vertues somthing likely only if it be in Winter when you cannot get the Leaves you may safely use the Bank instead of them the Keys you may easily keep all the year gathering them when they are ripe ♃ Avens Description THe ordinary Avens hath many long rough dark green winged Leavs rising from the Root every one made of many Leavs set on each side of the middle Rib the largest three wherof grow at the ends and are snip'd or dented round about the edges the other being smal pieces somtimes two and somtimes four standing on each side of the middle rib underneath them among which do rise up divers rough or hairy Stalks about two foot high branching forth with Leavs at every Joynt not so long as those below but almost as much cut in on the edges some into three parts some into more On the Tops of the Branches stand smal pale yellow Flowers consisting of five Leavs like the Flowers of Cynkfoyl but larger in the middle wherof standeth a smal green Head which when the Flower is fallen groweth to be rough and round being made of many long greenish purple Seeds like grains which wil stick upon your Cloathes The Root consists of many brownish strings or fibres smelling somwhat like unto Cloves especially those which grow in the higher hotter and drier grounds and in the freer and clear Air. Place They grow wild in many places under Hedg sides and by the Pathwaies in Fields yet they rather delight to grow in shadowy than in Sunny places Time They Flower in May and June for the inost part and their seed is ripe in July at the furthest Vertues and use It is good for the Diseases of the Chest or Breast for pains and Stitches in the Sides
doth the same Garden Bazil OR ♀ Sweet Bazil Description THe greater ordinary Bazil riseth up usually with one upright Stalk diversly branching forth on all sides with two Leaves at every Joynt which are somewhat broad and round yet pointed of a pale green colour but fresh a little snipt about the edges and of a strong heady scent the Flowers are smal and white standing at the rops of the Branches with two smal Leavs at the Joynt in som places green in others brown after which come black Seed The Root perisheth at the approach of Winter and therfore must be new sowen every year Place Iâ— only groweth in Gardens Time It must be sowed late and flowers in the heat of Summer being a very tender Plant. Vertues and use This is the Herb which all Authors are together by the Ears about and rail at one another like Lawyers Galen and Diascoride hold it not fitting to be taken inwardly and Chrysippus rails at it with downright Billingsgate-Rhetorick Fliny and the Arabian Physitians defend it For mine own part I presently found that Speech true Non nostrum inter nos tantas-componâ—re lites And away to Dr Reason went I who told me it was an Herb of Mars and under the Scorpion and perhaps therfore called Basilicon and then no mervail if it carry a kind of virulent quality with it Being applied to the place bitten by a venemous Beast or stung by a Wasp or Horner it speedily draws the Poyson to it Every like draws his like Myzalâ—us affirms That it being laid to rot in Horsdung it wil breed Venemous Beasts And Hollerius a French Physitian affirms upon his own knowledg That an acquaintance of his by common smelling to it had a Scorpion bred in his Brain Somthing is the matter this Herb and Rue wil not grow together no nor near one another And we know Rue is as great an enemy to Poyson as any grows To conclude It expelleth both Birth and After-birth and as it helps the deficiency of Venus in one kind so it spoils al her actions in another I date write no more of it ♃ The Bay-Tree THis is so wel known that it needs no Description I shal therfore only write the Vertues therof which are many Vertues and use Galen saith That the Leaves or Bark do dry and heal very much and the Berries more than the Leaves The Bark of the Root is less sharp and hot but more bitter and hath some astriction withal whereby it is effectual to break the Stone and good to open obstructions of the Liver Spleen and other inward parts which bring the Dropsie Jaundice c. The Berries are very effectual againft al Poyson of venemous Creatures and the Stings of Wasps and Bees as also against the Pestilence or other infectious Diseases and therfore is put into sundry Triacles for that purpose They likewise procure Womens Courses and seven of them given to a Woman in sore travel of Child-birth do cause a speedy delivery and expel the After-birth and therfore not to be taken by such as have not gon but theit time lest they procure Abortment or cause Labor too soon They wonderfully help al cold and rhumatick Distillations from the Brain to the Eyes Lungs or other parts And being made into an Electuary with Honey do help the Consumption old Coughs shortness of Breath and thin Rhewms as also the Meagrim they mightily expel wind and provoke Urin help the Mother and kil the Worms The Leaves also work the like effects A Bath of the Deccction of the Leavs and Berries is singular good for Women to sit in that are troubled with the Mother or the Diseases therof or the stoppings of their Courses or for the Diseases of the Bladder pains in the Bowels by wind and stoppnig of Urin A Decoction likewise of equal parts of Bay-berries Cummin-Seed Hysop Origanum and Euphorbium with some Honey and the Head bathed therwith doth wonderfully help Distillations and Rhewms and setleth the Pallat of the Mouth into its place The Oyl made of the Berries is very comfortable in all cold Griefs of the Joynts Nervs Arteries Stomach Belly or Womb and helpeth Palsies Convulsions Cramps Aches trembling and numness in any part weariness also and pains that come by sore travelling Al griefs and pains likewise proceeding from Wind either in the Head Stomach Back Belly or Womb by â—nointing the parts affected therwith And pains in the Ears are also cured by dropping in some of the Oyl or by receiving into the â—Ears the warm fume of the Decoction of the Berries through a Funnel The Oyl takes away marks of the Skin and Flesh by bruises fats c. and dissolveth the congealed Blood in them It helpeth also the Itch Scabs and Wheals in the Skin I shal but only ad a word or two to what my Friend hath written viz. That it is a Tree of the sun and under the Coâ—lostial sign Leo and resisteth Witchcraft very potently as also al the evil old Saturn can do to the Body of Man and they are not a few for it is the Speech of one and I am mistaken if it were not Myzaldus That neither Witch nor Devil Thunder nor Lightning wil hurt a Man in the place where a Bay-Tree is ♀ Beans BOth the Garden and Field Beans are so wel known that it saveth me labor of wriring any ' Description of them Their Vertues briefly are as followeth The distilled wather of the Flowers of Garden Beans is good to clens the Face and Skin from Spots and Wrinckles and the Meal or Flower of them or the smal doth the same The Water distilled from the green Husks is held to be very effectual against the Stone and to provoke Urine Bean Flower is used in Pultisses to asswage Inflamations rising upon Wounds and the swelling of Womens Breasts caused by the curding of their Milk and represseth their Milk The Flower of Beans and Fenugreek mixed with Honey and applied to Fellons Boyls Bruises or blue Marks by blows or the Imposthumes in the Kernels of the Ears helpeth them all And with Rose Leavs Frankinsens and the white of an Egg being applied to the Eyes helpeth them that are swoln or do water or have received any blow upon them is used with Wine If a Bean be parted in two the skin being taken away and laid on the place where a Leech hath been set that bleedeth too much it staieth the bleeding Bean Flower boyled to a Pultis with Wine and Vinegar and some Oyl put therto ceaseth both pain and swelling of the Cods The Husks boyled in Water to a consumption of a third part therof staieth a Lask and the Ashes of the Husks made up with old Hogs Greas helpeth the old pains contusions and Wounds of the Sinews the Sciatica and Gout The Field Beans have all the aforementioned Vertues as the Garden Beans Beans eaten are extream windy meat but if after the Dutch fashion
may be found in my Translation of the London Dispensatory and it may be I may give you again in plainer terms at the latter end of this Book ♀ Bishops-weed Description COmmon Bishops-weed riseth up with a round straight Stalk somtimes as high as a Man but usually three or four foot high beset with divers smal long and somwhat broad Leavs cut in som places and dented about the edges growing one against another of a dark green colour having sundry Branches on them and at the top smal umbels of white flowers which turn into smal round brown Seed little bigger than Parsly-seed of a quick hot scent and tast The Root is white and stringie perishing yearly after it hath seeded and usually riseth again of its own sowing Place It groweth wild in many places in England and Wales as between Greenheath and Gravsend Vertues It digesteth Humors provoketh Urin and Womens Courses dissolveth Wind and being taken in Wine easeth pains and griping in the Bowels and is good against the biting of Serpents It is used to good effect in those Medicins which are given to hinder the poysonful operation of Cantharides upon the passages of the Urin Being mixed with Honey and applied to black and blue marks coming of blows or bruises it takes them away and being drunk or outwardly applied it abateth an high colour and makes it pale and the Fumes therof taken with Rozin or Raisons clenseth the Mother It is hot and dry in the third degree of a bitter tast and somthing sharp withal it provokes Lust to purpose I suppose Venus owns it Bistort or Snakeweed ♄ Description THis hath a thick short knobbed Root blackish without and somwhat reddish within a little crooked or turned together of an harsh astringent tast with divers black threds hanging there from whence spring up every year divers Leaves standing upon long Footstalks being somwhat broad and long like a Dock-leaf and a little pointed at the ends but that it is of a blewish green colour on the upper side and of an Ash colour gray and a little purplish underneath with divers Veins therin from among which rise up divers smal and slender Stalks two foot high and almost naked and without Leavs or with very few and narrow bearing a spiky Bush of pale Flesh colour'd Flowers which being past there abideth smal Seed somwhat like unto Sorrel Seed but greater There are other sorts of Bistort growing in this Land but smaller both in height Root and Stalks and especially in the Leavs The Root blackish without and somwhat whitish within of an austere binding tast as the former Place They grow in shadowy moist Woods and at the foot of Hils but are chiefly nourished up in Gardens The narrow leaved Bistort groweth in the North in Lancashire yorkshire and Cumberland Time They Flower about the end of May and the Seed is ripe about the beginning of July Vertues and use Both the Leavs and Roots have have a powerful faculty to resist al Poyson The Root in Pouder taken in drink expelleth the Venem of the Plague the smal Pox Meazles Purples or any other infectious Diseas driving it out by sweating The Root in Pouder or the Decoction therof in Wine being drunk stayeth al manner of inward bleedings or spittings of Blood and any Fluxes in the Body of either Man or Woman or Vomitings it is also very available against Ruptures or Burstings or all bruises or fals dissolving the congealed Blood and easeth the pains that happen thereupon it also helpeth the Jaundice The Water distilled from both Leavs and Roots is a singular remedy to wash any place bitten or stung by any venemous creature as also for any of the purposes before spoken of And is very good to wash any running Sores or Ulcers The Decoction of the Root in Wine being drunk hindreth Abortion or Miscarriage in Child-bearing The Leavs also kil the Worms in Children and is a great help for them that cannot keep their Water if the Jayce of Plantane be added therto And outwardly applied much helpeth the Gonorrhea or running of the Reins A dram of the Pouder of the Root taken in the Water thereof wherein som red hot Iron or Steel hath been quenched is also an admirable help thereto so as the Body be first prepared and purged from the offensive humors The Leaves Seed or Roots are al very good in Decoctions Drinks or Lotians for inward or outward Wounds or other fores and the Pouder strewed upon any cut or wound in a Vein stayeth the immoderat bleeding thereof The Decoction of the Roots in Water whereunto som Pomgranate Pils and Flowers are added injected into the Matrix stayeth the access of humors to the Ulcers therof and bringeth it to its right place being fallen down and stayeth the immoderat flux of the Courses The Root hereof with Pellitory of Spain and burnt Allum of each a like quantity beaten smal and made into Past with some Honey and a little Picce thereof put into an hollow-Tooth or held between the Teeth if there be no hollowness in them stayeth the defluxion of Rhewm upon them which causeth pains and helps to clense the Head and avoid much offensive Water The Distilled Water is very effectual to wash Sores or Cankers in the Nose or any other part if the Pouder of the Root be aplied therunto afterwards It is good also to fasten the Gums and to take away the heat and inflamations that happen in the Jaws Almonds of the Throat or Mouth if the Decoction of the Leavs Roots or Seeds be used or the Juyce of them but the Roots are most effectual to all the purposes aforesaid ☉ One-Blade Description THis smal Plant never beareth more than one Leaf but only when it rises up with its Stalk which thereon beareth another and seldom more which are of a bluish green colour broad at the bottom and pointed with many Ribs or Veins like Plantane At the top of the Stalk grow many smal white Flowers Star-fashion smelling somthing sweet after which come smal reddish Berries when they are ripe The Root is smal of the bigness of a Rush lying and creeping under the upper crust of the Earth shooting forth in diverse places Place It groweth in moist shadowy grassie places of Woods in many places of this Realm Time It flowreth about May and the Berries be ripe in June and then quickly perisheth until the next year it springth from the same again The Vertues Half a dram or a dram at most of the Roots hereof in Pouder taken in Wine and Vineger of each a like quantity and the party presently laid to swear is held to be a sovereign remedy for those that are infected with the Plague and have a sore upon them by expelling the Poyson and defending the Heart and Spirits from danger it is also accounted a singular good Wound-Herb and therfore used with other
from the former saving that the Leavs and Stalks are alwaies green and never brown like the other and that the Flowers therof are very white Place They grow in Woods wet Copses and Fields generally throughout England but the White flowered Bugle is not so plentiful as the other Time They flower from May until July and in the mean time perfect their Seed The Roots and Leavs next therunto upon the ground abiding all Winter Vertues and Use. The Decoction of the Leavs and Flowers made in Wine and taken dissolveth the congeled Blood in those that are bruised inwardly by a fall or otherwise and is very effectual for any inward Wounds Thrusts or Stabs into the Body or Bowels and is an especial help in all Wound-drinks and for those that are Liver-grown as they cal it It is wonderful in curing all manner of Ulcers and Sores whether new and fresh or old and inveterate yea Gangrenes and Fistulaes also if the Leavs bruised be aplied or their Juyce used to wash and bath the places And the same made into a Lotion with some Honey and Allum cureth all sores of the Mouth or Gums be they never so foul or of long continuance and worketh no less powerfully and effectually for such Ulcers and Sores as happen in the secret parts of Men or Women Being also taken inwardly and outwardly applied it helpeth those that have broken any Bone or have any Member out of Joynt An Ointment made with the Leaves of Bugle Scabious and Sanicle bruised and boyled in Hogs-Greas until the Herbs be dry and then strained forth into a Pot for such occasions as shal require it is so singular good for al sorts of hurts in the Body that non that know its usefulness will be without it This Herb is belonging to Dame Venus and if the Vertues of it make you in love with it as they wil if you be wise keep a Syrup of it to take inwardly and an Ointment and Plaister of it to use outwardly alwaies by you The truth is I have known this Herb cure some Diseases of Saturn of which I thought good to quote one Many times such as give themselvs much to drinking are troubled with strange Fancies strange sights in the night-time and some with Voices as also with the Diseas Ephialtes or the Mare I take the reason of this to be according to Fernelius a Melancholly vapor made thin by excessive drinking strong Liquor and so flyes up and disturbs the Fancy and breeds imaginations like it self viz. fearful and troublesom These I have known cured by taking only two spoonfuls of the Syrup of this Herb after Supper two hours when you go to bed But whether this do it by Sympathy or Antipathy is som question all that know any thing in Astrologie know that there is a great Antipathy between Saturn and Venus in matter of Procreation yea such an one that the barreness of Saturn can be removed by none but Venus nor the lust of Venus be repelled by none but Saturn but I am not yet of opinion this is done this way and my reason is because these vapprs though in quality Melancholly yet by their flying upward seem to be somthing Aërial therefore I rather think it is done by Sympathy Saturn being exalted in Libra the house of Venus Selfheal which follows is of the same nature and I am of opinion the same Herb only differs a little in form according to the difference of place they grow in this I am sure they work the same effect ☉ Burnet THe common Garden Burnet is so well known that it needeth no Description There is another sort which is wild the Description wherof take as followeth Description The great wild Burnet hath winged Leavs rising from the Roots like the Garden Burnet but not so many yet each of these Leavs are at the least twice as large as the other aâ—d nicked in the same manner about the edges of a grayish colour on the underside The Stalks are greater and rise higher with many such like Leavs set theron and greater heads at the tops of a brownish green colour and out of them come smal dark purple Flowers like the former but greater The Root is black and long like the other but greater also It hath almost neither scent nor tast therin like the Garden kind Place The first grows frequently in Gardens The Wild kind groweth in divers Countries of this Land especially in Huntington Northampton shires in the Meadows there as also near London by Pancras-Church and by a Causey side in the middle of a Field by paddington Time They flower about the end of June and beginning of July and their Seed is ripe in August Vertues They are accounted to be both of one property but the lesser is more effectual because quicker and more Aromatical It is a friend to the Heart Liver and other the principal parts of a mans Body Two or three of the Stalks with Leavs put into a Cup of Wine especially Clarret are known to quicken the Spirits refresh and cheer the Heart and drive away Melancholly It is a special help to defend the Heart from noisom vapors and from Infection of the Pestilence the Juyce therof being taken in som Drink and the party laid to sweat thereupon They have also a drying and an astringent quality whereby they are available in all manner of Fluxes of Bloud or Humors to stanch bleedings inward or outward Lasks Scourings the Bloudy-flux Womens too abundant Courses the Whites and the Chollerick belchings and castings of the Stomach and is a singular good Wound-herb for all sorts of Wounds both of the Head and Body either inward or outward for all old Ulcers or running Cankers and moist sores to be used either by the Juyce or Decoction of the Herb or by the Pouder of the Herb or Root or the Water of the Distilled Herb or Ointment by it self or with other things to be kept The Seed is also no less effectual both to stop Fluxes and dry up moist Sores being taken in Pouder inwardly in Wine or steeled Water that is wherin hot Gads of Steel have been quenched Or the Pouder of the Seed mixed with the Ointments This is an Herb the Sun challengeth dominion over and is a most precious Herb little inferior to Betony The continual use of it preservs the Body in health and the Spirits in vigor for if the Sun be the preserver of life under God his Herbs are the best in the World to do it by ☉ The Butter-Bur Description THis riseth up in February with a thick Stalk about a foot high whereon are set a few smal Leavs or rather pieces and at the tops a long spiked head of Flowers of a blush or deep red colour according to the soil wherin it groweth and before the Stalk with the Flowers have abidden a month above ground wil be withered and gone blown away with the wind and the Leaves will begin to
red tending to a Carnation colour consisting of five somtimes six small Leavs very like those of St. Johns Wort opening themselvs in the day time and closing at night after which come Seed in little short Husks in form like unto Wheat Corns The Leavs are smal and somwhat round The Root smal and hard perishing every year The whol Plant is of an exceeding bitter tast There is another sort in al things like the former save only it beareth white Flowers Place They grow ordinarily in Fields Pastures and Woods but that with the white Flowers not so frequent as the other Time They Flower in July or there abouts and Seed within a Month after Vertues and use This Herb boyled and drunk purgeth Chollerick and gross humors and helpeth the Sciatica It openeth Obstructions of the Liver Gall and Spleen helping the Jaundice and easing pains in the Sides and hardness of the Spleen used outwardly and is given with very good effect in Agues It helpeth those that have the Dropsie or the green Sickness being much used by the Italians in pouder for that purpose It killeth the Worms in the Belly as is found by experience The Decoction therof viz. the tops of the Stalks with the Leavs and Flowers is good against the Chollick and to bring down Womens Courses helpeth to avoid the dead birth and easeth pains of the Mother and is very effectual in al old pains of the Joynts as the Gout Cramps or Convulsions A dram of the Pouder therof taken in Wine is a wonderful good help against the biting and poyson of the Adder The Juyce of the Herb with a little Honey put to it is good to cleer the Eyes from dimness mists and clouds that offend or hinder the Sight It is singular good both for green and fresh Wounds as also for old Ulcers and Sores to close up the one and clens the other and perfectly to cure them both although they be hollow or Fistulous the green Herb especially being bruised and laid therto The Decoction therof dropped into the Ears clenseth them from Worms clenseth the foul Ulcers and spreading Scabs of the Head and taketh away al Freckles Spots and Marks in the Skin being washed therwith The Herb is so safe you cannot fail in the using of it only give inwardly for inward Diseases use it outwardly for outward Diseases 'T is very wholsom but not very toothsom Dr. Reason and Dr. Experience could not agree the last time I spake with them whether the Herb were under the Dominion of the Sun or Mars ♀ The Cherry-Tree I Suppose there are sew but know this Tree for his Fruits sake and therfore shal spare the writing a Description therof Place For the place of its growth it is afforded room in every Orchard Vertues and Vse Cherries as they are of different tasts so they are of divers qualities The sweet pass through the Stomach and Belly more speedily but are of little Nourishment The tart or sowr are more pleasing to an hot Stomach procuring appetite to meat and help to cut tough Flegm and gross humors but when these are dryed they are more binding the belly than when they are fresh being cooling in hot Diseases and welcom to the Stomach and provoke Urin. The Gum of the Cherry-Tree dissolved in Wine is good for a cold Cough and boarsness of the Throat mendeth the colour in the Face sharpneth the Eye-sight provoketh appetite and helpeth to break and expel the Stone The Black Cherries bruised with the Stones and distilled the Water therof is much used to break the Stone expel gravel and break the Wind. ♀ Winter Cherries Description THe Winter Cherry hath a running or creeping Root in the ground of the bigness many times of ones little Finger shooting forth at several Joynts in several places wherby it quickly spreadeth a great compass of gronnd The Stalk riseth not above a yard high wheron are set many broad and long green Leavs somwhat like Night shade but larger at the Joynts wherof come forth whitish Flowers made of five Leavs apiece which after turn into green Berries inclosed with thin Skins which change to be reddish when they grow ripe the Berry likewise being reddish and as large as a Cherry wherin are contained many flat and yellowish Seeds lying within the pulp which being gathered and strung up are kept all the yeer to be used upon occasion Place They grow not naturally in this Land but are cherished in Gardens for their Vertues Time They Flower not until the middle or latter end of July and the Fruit is ripe about the end of August or beginning of September Vertues and use They are of great use in Physick The Leavs being cooling may be used in Inflamations but not opening as the Berries and Fruit are which by drawing down the Urine provoke it to be avoided plentifully when it is stopped or grown hot sharp and painful in the passage it is good also to expel the Stone and Gravel out of the Reins Kidnies and Bladder helping to dissolve the Stone and avoiding it by greet or gravel sent forth in the Urin It also helpeth much to clens inward Impostumes or Ulcers in the Reins or Bladder or in those that avoid a Bloody or foul Urin. The distilled Water of the Fruit or the Leavs together with them or the Berries green or dry distilled with a little Milk and drunk morning and evening with a little Sugar is effectual to al the purposes afore specified and especially against the heat and sharpness of the Urin. I shal only mention one way amongst many others which might be used for ordering the Berries to be helpful for the Urin and the Stone which is thus Take three or four good handfuls of the Berries either green and fresh or dried and having bruised them put them into so many Gallons of Beer or Ale when it is new tunned up This Drink taken daily hath been found to do much good to many both to eas the pains and expel Urin and the Stone and to caus the Stone not to ingender The Decoction of the Berries in Wine or Water is the most usual way but the Pouder of them taken in drink is more effectual ♃ Chervil Description THe Garden Chervil doth at first somwhat resemble Parsly but after it is better grown the Leavs are much cur in and jagged resembling Hemlocks being a little hairy and of a whitish green colour somtimes turning reddish in the Summer with the Stalks also It riseth little above half a Foot high bearing white Flowers in spoked tufts which turn into long and round Seed pointed at the ends and blackish when they are ripe of a sweet tast but no smel though the Herb it self smelleth reasonable wel The Root is smal and long and perisheth every yeer and must be sowen anew in the Spring for Seed and after July for Autumn Sallet The wild Chervil groweth two or three foot high with yellow
Plague The Juyce of the Herb taken to the quantity of a spoonful hath the same effect But if there be a little Vinegar added therunto as well as unto the Root aforesaid it somwhat all ayeth the sharp biting tast therof upon the Tongue The green Leavs bruised and laid upon any Boyl or Plague Sore doth wonderfully help to draw forth the Poyson A dram of the Pouder of the dried Root taken with twice so much Sugar in the form of a licking Electuary or the green Root doth wonderfully help those that are pursie and short winded as also those that have a Cough it breaketh digesteth and riddeth away Flegm from the Stomach Chest and Lungs The Milk wherin the Root hath been boyled is effectual also for the same purpose The said Pouder taken in Wine or other Drink or the Juyce of the Berries or the Pouder of them or the Wine wherein they have been boyled provoketh Urine and bringeth down Womens Courses and purgeth them effectually after Child-bearing to bring away the After-birth Taken with Sheeps Milk it healeth the inward Ulcers of the Bowels The distilled Water herof is effectual to all the purposes aforesaid A spoonful taken at a time healeth the Itch And an ounce or more taken at a time for some daies together doth help the Rupture The Leavs either green or dry or the Juyce of them doth clens all manner of rotten and filthy Ulcers in what part of the Body soever and healeth the stinking Sores in the Nose called Polipus The Water wherin the Root hath been boyled dropped into the Eyes clenseth them from any Film or Skin Clouds or Mists which begin to hinder the Sight and helpeth the watering or redness of them or when by some chance they become black and blue The Root mixed with Bean Flower and applied to the Throat or Jaws that are inflamed helpeth them The Juyce of the Berries boyled in Oyl of Roses or beaten into Pouder and mixed with the Oyl and dropped into the Ears and easeth pains in them The Berries or the Roots beaten with hot Ox Dung and applied easeth the pains of the Gout The Leavs and Roots boyled in Wine with a little Oyl and applied to the Piles or the falling down of the Fundament easeth them and so doth sitting over the hot fumes therof The fresh Roots bruised and distilled with a little Milk yieldeth a most Sovereign Water to clens the Skin from Scurff Freckles Spots or Blemishes whatsoever therin Authors have left large Commendation of this Herb you see but for my part I have neither spoken with Dr. Reason nor Dr. Experience about it ♀ ♋ Daisies THese are so well known to almost every Child that I suppose it is altogether needless to write any Description of them Take therfore the Vertues of them as followeth Vertues and Vse The greater wild Daisie is a Wound Herb of good respect often used in those Drink◠or Salvs that are for Wounds either inward or outwards The Juyce or distilled Water of these or the smal Daisies doth much temper the heat of Choller and refresheth the Liver and other inward parts A Decoction made of them and drunk helpeth to cure the Wounds made in the hollowness of the Breast The same also cureth al Ulcers and Pustles in the Mouth or Tongue or in the secret parts The Leavs bruised and applied to the Cods or to any other parts that are swollen and hot doth resolve it and temper the Heat A Decoction made hereof with Walwort and Agrimony and the places fomented or bathed therewith warm giveth great eas to them that are troubled with the Palsy Stiatica or the Gout The lame also disperseth and dissolveth the Knots or Kernels that grow in the Flesh or any part of the Body and the Bruises and Hurts that come of Fals and Blows They are also used for Ruptures and other inward Burnings with very good success An Oyntment made hereof doth wonderfully help al Wounds that have Inflamations about them or by reason of moist humors having access unto them are kept long from healing and such are those for the most part that happen in the Joynts of the Arms or Legs The Juyce of them dropped into the running Eyes of any doth much help them The Herb is under the Sign Cancer and under the Dominion of Venus and therfore excellent good for Wounds in the Breast and very fitting to be kept both in Oyls Oyntments and Plaisters as also in Syrup DANDELYON ♂ Vulgarly called Piss-a-beds Description THis is wel known to have many long and deeply gashed Leavs lying on the ground round about the Head of the Root the ends of each Gash or Jag on both sides looking downwards towards the Root the middle rib being white which broken yieldeth abundance of bitter Milk but the Root much more from among the Leavs which alwaies abide green arise many slender weak naked Footstalks every one of them bearing at the top one large yellow Flower consisting of many rows of yellow Leavs broad at the points and nicked in with a deep spot of yellow in the middle which growing ripe the green Husk wherin the Flower stood turneth it self down to the Stalk and the Head of down becometh as round as a Ball with long reddish Seed underneath bearing a part of the Down on the Head of every one which together is blown away with the Wind or may be at once blown away with ones Mouth The Root growth downwards exceeding deep which being broken off within the ground wil notwithstanding shoot forth again and wil hardly be destroyed where it hath once taken deep Root in the ground Place It groweth frequent in al Meadows and Pasture Grounds Time It Flowreth in one place or other almost all the yeer long Vertues and use It is of an opening and clensing quality and thefore very effectual for the Obstructions of the Liver Gall and Spleen and the Diseases that arise from them as the Jaundice Hypocondriacal Passion It wonderfully openeth the Passages of the Urin both in yong and old It powerfully clenseth Aposthumes and inward in the Uritory passages and by the drying and temperate quality doth afterwards heal them for which purpose the Decoction of the Roots or Leavs in white Wine or the Leavs chopped as Potherbs with a few Allisanders and boyled in their Broth is very effectual And whoso is drawing towards a Consumption or an il Disposition of the whol Body called Cachexia by the use herof for sometime together shal find a wonderful help It helpeth also to procure rest and sleep to Bodies distempered by the Heat of Ague Fits or otherwise The distilled Water is effectual to drink in Pestilential Feavers and to wash the Sores You see here what Vertues this common Herb hath and that 's the reason you French and Dutch so often eat them in the Spring and now if you look a little further
you may see plainly without a pair of Spectakles that Forraign Physitians are not so selfish as ours are but more communicative of the Vertues of Plants to People ♄ Darnel Description THis hath all the Winter long sundry long fat and rough Leavs which when the Stalk riseth which is slender and joynted are narrower but rough stil on the top groweth a long spike composed of many Heads set one above another containing two or three Husks with sharp but short Beards or awns at the ends the Seed is easily shaked out of the Ear the Husk it self being somwhat tough Place The Country Husbandmen do know this too well to grow among their Cornâ— or in the Borders and Pathwaies of other Fields that are fallow Vertues and use As this is not without some Vices so hath it also many Vertues The Meal of Darnel is very good to stay Gangreans and other such like fretting and eating Cankers and putrid Sores It also clenseth the Skin of al Lepries Morphews Ringworms and the like if it be used with Salt and Rhadish Roots And being used with quick Brimstone and Vinegar it dissolveth Knots and Kernels and breaketh those that are hard to be dissolved being boyled in Wine with Pidgeons Dung and Linseed A Decoction therof made with Water and Honey and the place bathed therwith is profitable for the Sciatica Darnel Meal applied in a Pultis draweth forth Splinters and broken Bones in the Flesh The red Darnel boyled in red Wine and taken stayeth the â—ask and all other Fluxes and Womens bloody Issues and restraineth Urin that passeth away too snddenly ☿ Dill. Description THe common Dill groweth up with seldom more than one Stalk neither so high nor so great usually as Fennel being round and with fewer Joynts theron whose Leavs are sadder and somwhat long and so like Fennel that it deceiveth many but harder in handling and somwhat thicker and of a stronger unpleasanter set The tops of the Stalks have four Branches and smaller Umbels of yellow Flowers which turn into smal Seed somwhat flatter and thinner than Fennel Seed The Root is small and woody perishing every year after it hath born Seed and is also unprofitable being never put to any use Place It is most usually sown in Gardens and Grounds for the purpose is also found wild with us in some places Vertues and use The Dill being boyled and drunk is good to eas Swellings pains it also stayeth the Belly and Stomach from casting The Decoction there of helpeth Women that are troubled with the Pains and Windiness of the Mother if they sit therin It stayeth the Hiccough being boyled in Wine and but smelled unto being tied in a Cloth The Seed is of more use than the Leavs and more effectual to digest raw and viscuous humors and is used in Medicines that serve to expel Wind and the pains proceeding therfrom The Seed being toasted or fried and used in Oyls or Plaisters dissolveth the Imposthumes in the Fundament and drieth up all moist Ulcers especially in the secret parts The Oyl made of Dill is effectual to warm to resolve Humors and Imposthumes to eas pains and to procure rest The Decoction of Dill be it Herb or Seed only if you boyl the Seed you must bruis it in white Wine being drunk is a gallant expeller of Wind and provoker of the Terms ♀ Devils-bit Description THis riseth up with a round green smooth Stalk about two soot high set with divers long and somwhat narrow smooth dark green Leavs somwhat snip'd about the edges for the most part being els al whol and not divided at al or but very seldom even to the tops of the Branches which yet are smaller than chose below with one Rib only in the middle At the end of each Branch standeth a round Head of many Flowers set together in the same manner or more nearly than the Scabious and of a more blewish purple colour which being past there followeth Seed that falleth away The Root is somwhat thick but short and blackish with may Strings abiding after Seed time many yeers This Root was longer untillthe Devil as the Fryars say hit away the rest of it for spight envying its usefulness unto Man-kind Foe sure he was not troubled with any Diseas for which it is proper There are two other sorts hereof in nothing unlike the former save that the one beareth White and the other Blush colour'd Flowers Place The first groweth as well in dry Meadows and Fields as moist in many places of this Land But the other two are more rare and hard to meet with yet they are both found growing wild about Appledore neer Rye in Kent Time They Flower not usually untill August Vertues and use The Herb or Root all that the Devil hath left of it being boyled in Wine and drunk is very powerful against the Plague and all Pestilential Diseases or Feavers Poysons also and the bitings of Venemous Beasts It also helpeth those that are inwardly bruised by any casualty ar outwardly by Falls or Blows dissolving the clotted Blood and the Herb or Root beaten and outwardly applied taketh away the black and blue Marks that remain in the Skin The Decoction of the Herb with Honey of Roses put therin is very effectual to help the inveterate tumors and Swellings of the Almonds and Throat by often gargling the Mouth therwith It helpeth also to procure Womens Courses and easeth all pains of the Mother and to break and discuss Winds therein and in the Bowels The Pouder of the Root taken in Drink driveth forth the Worms in the Body The Juyce or distilled Water of the Herb is effectual for green Wounds or old Sores and clenseth the Body inwardly and the Seed outwardly from Sores Scurff Itches Pimples Freekles Morphew or other deformities therof but especially if a little Vitriol be dissolved therin ♃ Dock THese are so wel known many kinds of them that I shall not trouble you with a Description of them my Book grows big too fast Vertues and use All of them have a kind of cooling but not all alike drying quality the Sorrels being most cold and the Bloodworts most drying Of the Bur-Dock I have spoken already by himself The Seed of most of the other kinds whether of the Garden or Field do stay Lasks or Fluxes of all sorts the loathings of the Stomach through Choller and is helpful to those that spit Blood The Roots boyled in Vinegar helpeth the Itch Scabs and breakings out of the Skin if it be bathed therwith The Distilled Water of the Herb and Roots hath the same Vertue and clenseth the Skin of Freckles Morphews and all other Spots and Discolourings therin All Docks being boyled with Meat make it boyled the sooner Beside Bloodwort is exceeding strengthning to the Liver and procures good Blood being as wholsom a Pot Herb as any grows in a Garden yet such is the nicity of our times forsooth
as Ponds Pools and Ditches that it is needless further to describe it Vertues and use It is effectual to help Inflamations and St. Anthonies fire as also the Gout either applied by it self or in a Pultis with Barley Meal The distilled Water herof is by some highly esteemed against all inward Inflamations and Pestilent Feavers as also to help the redness of the Eyes the Swellings of the Cods and of the Breasts before they be grown too much The fresh Herb applied to the Forehead easeth the Pains of the Head-ach coming of heat Cancer claims the Herb and the Moon wil be Lady of it a word is enough to a Wise man Down or Cotton-Thistle ♂ Description THis hath many large Leavs lying on the ground somwhat cut in and as it were crumpled on the edges of a green colour on the upper side but covered over with a long hairy Wool or Cottony Down set with most sharp and cruel pricks from the middle of whose Heads of Flowers thrust forth many Purplish Crimson Treds and sometimes although more seldom white ones The Seed that followeth in these Heads lying in a great deal of fine white Down is somwhat large long and round like the Seed of Ladies Thistle but somwhat paler The Root is great and thick spreading much yet it usually dieth after Seed time Place It groweth on divers Ditches Banks and in the Corn-fields and High-waies generally every where throughout the Land Time It Flowreth and beareth Seed about the end of Summer when other Thistles do Flower and Seed Vertues and use Pliny and Dioscorides write That the Leavs Roots hereof taken in Drink helpeth those that have a Crick in their Neck wherby they cannot turn their Neck but their whol Body must turn also Sure they do not mean those that have got a Crick in their Neck by being under the Hangmans Hands Galen saith that the Root and Leavs hereof are of an heating quality and good for such Persons as have their Bodies drawn together by some Spasme or Convulsion as it is with Children that have the Rickets or rather as the Colledg of Physitians will have it the Rachites for which name for the Diseas they have in a particular Treatise lately set forth by them Learnedly Disputed and put forth to the publick view that the World may see they took much pains to little purpose Mars owns the Plant and manifests to the World that though it may hurt your Fingers it will help your Body for I fancy it much for the Premises ♀ The Elder-Tree I Hold it needless to write any Description of this sith every Boy that plaies with a Potgun will not mistake another Tree instead of Elder I shall therfore in this place only describe the Dwarf Elder called also Danewort and Walewort ♀ The Dwarf Elder Description THis is but an Herb every yeer dying with his Stalks to the ground and rising again afresh every Spring and is like unto the Elders both in form and quality rising up with a four square rough hairy Stalk four foot high or more somtimes The winged Leavs are somwhat narrower than the Elder but els very like them The Flowers are white with a dash of Purple standing in Umbels very like the Elder also but more sweet in scent after which come smal blackish Berries full of Juyce while they are fresh wherein there lie smal hard Kernels or Seed The Root doth creep under the upper crust of the ground springing afresh in divers places being of the bigness of ones finger or Thumb somtimes Places The Elder-Tree groweth in Hedges being planted there to strengthen the Fences and Partitions of Grounds and to hold up the Banks by Ditches and Water-courses The Dwarf Elder groweth Wild in many places of England where being once gotten into a Ground it is not easily gotten forth again Times Most of the Elder-Trees Flower in June and their Fruit is ripe for the most part in August But the Dwarf Elder or Wallwort Flowreth somwhat later and his fruit is not ripe until September Vertues and Vse The first Shoots of the common Elder boyled like Asparagus the yong Leavs Stalks boyled in Fat Broth doth mightily carry forth Flegm and Choller The middle or inner Bark boyled in Water and given to drink worketh much more violently and the Berries either green or dry expel the same humors and is often given with good success to help the Dropsie The Bark of the Root boyled in Wine or the Juyce therof drunk worketh the same effects but more powerfully than either the Leavs or Fruit. The Juyce of the Root taken doth mightily provoke Vomit and purgeth the watery Humors of the Dropsie The Decoction of the Root taken cureth the biting of the Adder and biting of Mad Dogs It mollifieth the hardness of the Mother if Women sit therin â—nd openeth the Veins and bringeth down their Courses The Berries boyled in Wine performeth the same effect and the hair of the Head washed therwith is made black The Juyce of the green Leavs applied to the hot Inflamations of the Eyes asswageth them The Juyce of the Leavs snuffed up into the Nostrils purgeth the Tunicles of the Brain The Juyce of the Berries boyled with a little Honey and dropped into the Ears helpeth the pains of them The Decoction of the Berries in Wine being drunk provoketh Urine The distilled Water of the Flowers is of much use to clear the Skin from Sunburning Freckles Morphew or the like and taketh away Headaches coming of a cold caus the Head being bathed therwith The Leavs or Flowers distilled in the Month of May and the Legs often washed with the said distilled Water it taketh away the Ulcers and Sores of them The Eyes washed therewith it taketh away the redness and Blood-shot And the Hands washed morning and evening therwith helpeth the Palsey and shaking of them The Dwarf Elder is more powerful than the Common Elder in opening and purging Choller Flegm and Water in helping the Gout the Piles and Womens Diseases coloreth the Hair black helpeth Inflamation in the Eyes and pains in the Ears the biting of Serpents or a Mad Dog Burnings and Scaldings the wind Chollick Chollick and Stone the difficulty of Urine the cure of old Sores and Fistulous Ulcers Either Leavs or Bark of Elder stripped upward as you gather it causeth Vomiting but stripped downward it purgeth downwards Also Dr. Butler in a Manuscript of his commends Dwarf Elder to the Sky for Dropsies viz. to drink it being boyled in white Wine to drink the Decoction I mean not the Elder ♄ The Elm-Tree THis Tree is so well known growing generally in all Countries of this Land that it is needless to describe it Vertues and Vse The Leavs herof bruised and applied healeth green Wounds being bound thereon with its own Bark The Leavs or the Bark used with Vinegar cureth Scurf and Lepry very effectually The
upward stored with a number of pale yellow Flowers of a strong unpleasant scent with deeper yellow mouths and blackish flat Seeds in round Heads The Root is somwhat woody and white especially the main downright one with many fibres abiding many yeers shooting forth Roots every way round about and new Branches every yeer Place This groweth throughout this Land both by the way sides in Meadows as also by Hedg sides and upon the sides of Banks and Borders of Fields Time It Flowreth in Summer and the Seed is ripe usually before the end of August Vertues and use This is frequently used to provoke Urine being stopped and to spend the abundance of those watery Humors by Urine which caus the Dropsie The Decoction of the Herb both Leavs and Flowers in Wine taken and drunk doth somwhat move the Belly downwards openeth Obstructions of the Liver and helpeth the yellow Jaundice expelleth Poyson provoketh Womens Courses driveth forth the dead Child and Afterbirth The Distilled water of the Herb and Flowers is effectual for all the same purposes especially being drunk with a dram of the Pouder of the Seeds or Bark of the Root of Walwort and a little Cinnamon for certain daies together is held a singular Remedy for the Dropsie The Juyce of the Herb or the distilled Water dropped into the Eyes is a certain Remedy for all heat Inflamations and redness in them The Juyce or water put into foul Ulcers whither they be Cancrous or Fistulous with tents rouled therin or the parts washed or injected therwith clenseth them throughly from the bottom and healeth them up safely The same Juyce or Water also clenseth the Skin wonderfully of all sorts of deformity thereof as Lepry Morphew Scurff Wheals Pimples or any other Spots or Marks in the Skin applied of it self or used with some Pouder of Lupines Mars owns the Herb in Sussex we call it Gall-wort and lay it in our Chickens water to cure them of the Gall I think I am sure it releevs them when they are drooping Fleawort Description THe ordinary Fleawort riseth up with a Stalk two Foot high or more full of Joynts and Branches on every side up to the top and at every Joynt two small long and narrow whitish green Leavs somwhat hairy At the tops of every Branch stand divers small short scaly or chaffy Heads out of which come forth small whitish yellow threds like to those of the Plantane Herbs which are the Bloomings or Flowers The Seed inclosed in those Heads is smal and shining while it is Fresh very like unto Fleas both for colour and bigness but turning black when it groweth old The Root is not long but white hard and woody perishing every yeer and rising again of its own Seed for divers yeers if it be suffred to shed The whol Plant is somwhat whitish and hairy smelling somwhat like Rozin There is another sort hereof differing not from the former in the manner of growing but only that his Stalk and Branches being somwhat greater do a little more bow down to the ground The Leavs are somwhat larger the Heads somwhat lesser the Seed alike and the Root and Leavs abide all the Winter and perish not as the former Place The first groweth only in Gardens the second plentifully in Fields that are neer the Sea Time They Flower in July or thereabouts Vertues and use The Seed fried and so taken staieth the Flux or Lask of the Belly and the corrosions that come by reason of hot Chollerick Sharp and malignant Humors or by the too much purging of any violent Medicine as Scammony or the like The Muccilage of the Seed made with Rose Water and a little Sugar Candy put therto is very good in all hot Agues and burning Feavers and other Inflamations to cool the thirst and lenify the dryness and roughness of the Tongue and Throat It helpeth also hoarsness of the voice and Diseases of the Breast and Lungs caused by heat or sharp salt humors and the Pluresie also The Muccilage of the Seed made in Plantane Water whereunto the Yolk of an Egg or two and a little Populeon is put is a most safe and sure Remedy to eas the sharpness prickings and pains of the Hemorrhoids or Piles if it be laid on a cloath and bound therto It helpeth also all Inflamations in any parts of the Body and the pains that come thereby as the Head-ach and Megrim and all hot Imposthumes or Swellings or breakings out of the Skin as Blains Wheals Pushes Purples and the likes as also the pains of the Joynts and of those that are out of joynt the pains of the Gout and Sciatica the Bursting of yong Children and the swelling of the Navel applied with Oyl of Roses and Vinegar It is also very good to heal the Nipples and Sore Breasts of Women being often applied thereunto The Juyce of the Herb with a little Honey put into the Ears helpeth the running of them and the Worms breeding in them The same also mixed with Hogs Greas and applied to corrupt and filthy Ulcers and Sores clenseth and healeth them The Herb is cold and dry Saturnine I suppose it obtained the name Fleawort becaus the Seeds are so like Fleas Flixweed Description THis riseth up with a round upright hard Stalk four or five Foot high spread into sundry Branches wheron grow many grayish green Leavs very finely cut and severed into a number of short and almost round parts The Flowers are very smal and yellow growing Spike fashion after which come very smal long Pods with very smal yellowish Seed in them The Root is long and woody perishing every yeer There is another sort differing in nothing save only it hath somwhat broader Leaves They have a strong evil savor being smelt unto and are of a drying tast Place They grow wild in the Fields by Hedg-sides and High-waies and among rubbish and in many other place Time They Flower and Seed quickly after namely in June and July Vertues and use Both the Herb and Seed of Flixweed is of excellent use to stay the Flux or Lask of the Besly being drunk in Water wherein gads of Steel heated have been often quenched and is no less effectual for the said purpose than Plantane or Comfry and to restrain any other Flux of Blood in man or Woman as also to consolidate Bones broken or out of Joynt The Juyce therof drunk in Wine or the Decoction of the Herb drunk doth kill the Worms in the Stomach or Belly or the Worms that grow in putrid and filthy Ulcers And made into a Salve doth quickly heal all old sores how foul or Malignant soever they be The distilled water of the Herb worketh the same effects although somwhat weaker yet is a fair Medicine and more acceptable to be taken It is called Flixweed becaus it cures the Flux and for its uniting broken Bones c. Paracelsus extols it to the Skies It is fitting Syrups
of Choller which it may well do by a Vomit as daily experience sheweth the Juyce hereof taken in Drink or the Decoction of it in Ale gently performeth the same It is good against the Jaundice and Falling-sickness being taken in Wine as also against difficulty of making Water it provoketh Urin expelleth Gravel in the Reins or Kidneys a dram thereof given in Oximel after some walking or stirring the Body It helpeth also the Sciatica griping of the Belly and the Chollick helpeth the defects of the Liver and provoketh Womens Courses The fresh Herb boyled and made into a Pultis and appled to the Breasts of Women that are swollen with pain and heat as also to the privy parts of Man or Woman the Seat or Fundament or the Arteries Joynts and Sinews when they are inflamed and swoln doth much eas them and used with some Salt helpeth to dissolve Knots or Kernels in any part of the Body The Juyce of the Herb or as Dioscorides saith the Leavs and Flowers with some fine Frankincense in Pouder used in Wounds of the Body Nervs or Sinews doth singularly help to heal them The Distilled Water of the Herb performeth well all the aforesaid Cures but especially for Inflamations or watering of the Eyes by reason of the Defluxion of Rhewm into them This Herb is Venus her Mrs. piece and is as gallant an Universal Medicine for all Diseases coming of heat whatsoever they be or in what part of the Body soever they lie as the Sun shines upon 't is very safe and friendly to the Body of Man yet causeth Vomiting if the Stomach be afflicted if not it purging and it doth it with more gentleness than can be expected 'T is moist and somwhat cold withal thereby causing expulsion and repressing the Heat caused by the motion of the internal parts in Purges and Vomits Lay by your Learned Receipts Take so much Senna so much Scammony so much Colocynthis so much Infusion of Crocus Metallorum c. This Herb alone preserved in a Syrup in a distilled Water in an Oyntment shal do the deed for you in all hot Diseases and it shall do it 1. Safely 2. Speedily Harts-Tongue Description THis hath divers Leavs â—â—ing from the Root every one severally which fold themselvs in their first springing and spreading when they are full grown are about a foot long smooth and green above but hard and with little Sap in them and straked on the back athwart on both sides of the middle Rib with smal and somwhat long brownish marks the bottoms of the Leavs are a little bowed on each side of the middle Rib somwhat narrow with the length and somwhat smal at the end The Root is of many black threds folded or interlaced together Time It is green all the Winter but new Leavs spring every yeer Vertues and Vse Harts-Tongue is much commended against the hardness and stoppings of the Spleen and Liver and against the heat of the Liver and Stomach and against Lasks and the Bloody Flux The Distilled Water therof is also very good against the Passions of the Heart and to stay the Hiccough to help the falling of the Pallat and stay the bleeding of the Gums being gagled in the mouth Dioscorides faith it is good against the stinging or biting of Serpents Jupiter claims Dominion over this Herb therfore is a singular Remedy for the Liver both to strengthen it when weak and eas it when afflicted 't is no matter by what you should do well to keep it in a Syrup all the yeer for though my Author say 't is green all the yeer I scarce beleev it As for the use of it my Directions at latter end will be sufficient and enough for those that are studious in Physick to whet their Brains upon for one year or two The Hazel Nut. THese are so well known to every Boy that they need no Description Vertues and Vse The parched Kernels made into an Electuary or the Milk drawn from the Kernels with Mead or Honeyed Water is very good to help an old Cough and being parched and a little Pepper put to them and drunk digesteth the Distillations of Rhewm from the Head The dried Husks and Shels to the weight of two drams taken in red Wine staieth Lasks and Womens Courses and so doth the red Skin that covers the Kernels which is more effectual to stay Womens Courses And if this be true as it is then why should the Vulgar so familiarly affirm that eating Nuts causeth shortness of Breath than which nothing is falser for how can that which strengthens the Lungues cause shortness of breath I confess the Opinion is far older than I am I knew Tradition was a Friend to Ertors before but never that he was the Father of Slanders or are mens tongues so given to slandering one another that they must slander Nuts too to keep their tongues in â—re If any thing of the Hazel Nut be stopping ' t is the Husks and Shels and no body is so mad to eat them unless Physically and the red Skin which covers the Kernel which you may easily pull off And thus have I made an Apology for Nuts which cannot speak for themselves Hawkweed Description This hath many large hairy leaves lying on the ground much rent or torn on the sides into many gashes like Dandelion but with greater parts more like the smooth sow Thistle from among w th ariseth a hollow rough stalk two or three foot high branched from the middle upward wherin are set at every Joynt longer leaves little or nothing rent or cut in bearing at their top sundrypale yellow Flowers consisting of many small narrow leavs broad pointed and nicked in at the ends set in a double row or more the outermost beeing larger than the inner which form most of the Hawkweeds for there are many kinds of them do hold which turne into down and with the small brownish seeds is blown away with the wind The Roote is long and somwhat greater with many small fibres thereat The whole is full of bitter milke Place It groweth in divers places about Field sides and the path waies in dry grounds Time It flowreth flies away in the SuÌ„merMonths Vertues and use Howkweed saith Dioscorides is cooling somwhat drying and binding and therfore good for the heat of the stomach and gnawings therein for Inflamations and the hot fits of Agues The Juice therof in wine helpeth digestion discusseth wind hindreth crudities abiding in the stomack and helpeth the difficulty of making Water the biting of Venemous Serpents and sting of the Scorpion if the herb be also outwardly applyed to the place and is very good against all other Poysons A scruple of the dryed Juyce given in wine and vinegar is profitable for those that have the Dropsie The decoction of the Herb taken with Honey digeisteth thin flegm in the chest or lungs and with Hysop helpeth the cough The Decoction therof and of wild
Succory made with wine and taken helpeth the wind chollick and hardness of the spleen it procureth rest and sleep hindereth venery and venercous dreams cooleth heats purgeth the stomach encreaseth blood helpeth the diseases of the Reins and Bladder Outwardly applied it is singular good for all the defects and diseases of the eyes used with some womens Milke and is used w th good success in fretting or creeping ulcers elpecially in the beginning The green Herb bruised and with a little Salt applyed to any place burnt with fire before blisters do arise helpeth them as also inflamations St Anthonies fire and al Pushes and eruptions heat and salt Flegm The same applyed with Meal and fair water in manner of a Poultis to any place affected with convulsions and the Cramp or such as are out of Joynt doth give help and ease The distilled water clenseth the skin and taketh away freckles Spots the Morphew or Wrinkles in the face The Hawthorn It is not my intent to trouble you with a Description of this Tree which is so well known that it needeth none It is ordinarily but a Hedg Bush although being pruned and dressed it groweth to be a Tree of a reasonable height As for the Hawthorn tree at Glastenbury which is said to flower yearly on Christmas Dry it rather shews the superstition of those who observe it for the time of its Flowring than any great wonder sith the like may be found in diverse other places of this land as in Whey-street in Rumney Marsh and neer unto Nantwiche in Cheshire by a place called White-Green where if the Winter be milde they will be white blossomes all over before and about Christmas as in May if the weather be frosty it Flowreth not until January or that the hard weather be over Vertues and use The Berries or the seeds in the Berries beaten to pouder and drunk in wine are held singular good against the stone and are good for the dropsy The distilled water of the Flowers stayeth the lask The seeds cleared from the Down bruised and boyled in wine drunk is good for inward tormenting pains If cloathes and spunges be wet in the said distilled water and applyed to any place wherin thornes splinters or the like do abide in the Flesh it will notably draw them forth And thus you see the thorn gives a medicine for his own pricking and so doth almost every thing else Hemlock Description The Common great Hemlock groweth up with a green stalk four or five foot high or more ful of red spots somtimes and at the Joynts very large winged leavs set at them which are divided into many other winged leaves one set against another dented about the edges of a sad green colour branched towards the top where it is full of Umbles of white Flowers and afterwards with whitish flat Seed The Root is long white and somtimes crooked and hollow within the whol Plant and every part hath a strong heady and ill favor'd scent much offending the Senses Place It groweth in all Countries of this Land by Wals and Hedges sides in wast Grounds and untilled places Time It Flowreth and Seedeth in July or thereabouts Vertues and Vse Hemlock is exceeding cold and very dangerous especially to be taken unwardly It may safely be applied to Inflamations Tumors and Swelling in any part of the Body save the Privy parts as also to St. Anthonies fire Wheals Pushes and creeping Ulcers that rise of hot sharp Humors by cooling and repelling the heat The Leavs bruised and laid to the Brow or Forehead is good for their Eyes that are red and swollen as also to take away a Pin and Web growing in the Eye this is a tried Medicine Take a smal Handful of the Herb and half so much Bay Salt beaten together and applied to the contrary Wrest of the Hand for twenty four Hours doth remove it in thrice dressing If the Root hereof be roasted under the Embers wrapped in double wet Papers until it be soft and tender and then applied to the Gout in the Hands or Fingers it will quickly help this evil If any shall through mistake eat the Herb Hemlock instead of Parsly or the Root instead of a Parsnip both which it is very like whereby hapneth a kind of Phrensie or Perturbation of the senses as if they were stupified or drunk The Remedy is as Pliny saith to drink of the best and strongest pure Wine before it strike to the Heart or Gentian put into Wine or a draught of good Vinegar wherewith Tragus doth affirm that he cured a Woman that had eaten the Root Saturn claims Dominion over the Herb yet Iwonder why it may not be applied to the privities in a Priapismus or continual standing of the Yard it being very beneficial for that Diseas I suppose my Authors Judgment was first upon the opposit Disposition of Saturn to Venus in those Faculties and therfore he forbid the applying of it to those parts that it might not caus Barrenness or spoil the Spirit Procreative which if it do yet applied to the Privities it stops lustful thoughts Hemp. THis is so well known to every good Huswife in the Country that I shal not need to write any Description of it Time It is sown in the end of March or beginning of April and is ripe in August or September Vertues and use The Seed of Hemp consumeth Wind and by the much use there of disperseth it so much that it drieth up the natural Seed for Procreation yet being boyled in Milk and taken helpeth such as have a hot dry Cough The Dutch make an Emulsion out of the Seed and give it with good success to those that have the Jaundice especially in the beginning of the Diseas if there be no Ague accompanying it for openeth Obstructions of the Gall and causeth digestion of Choller The Emulsion or Decoction of the Seed staieth Lasks and continual Fluxes easeth the Chollick and allayeth the troublesom Humors in the Bowels and staieth bleeding at the Mouth Nose or other place some of the Leavs being fried with the Blood of that bleed and so given them to eat It is held very good to kill the Worms in man or Beast and the Juyce dropped into the Ears killeth Worms in them and draweth forth Earwigs or other living Creatures gotten into them The Decoction of the Root allayeth Inflamations in the Head or any other parts the Herb it self or the Distilled Water thereof doth the like The Decoction of the Roots easeth the pains of the Gout the hard Tumors or Knots in the Joynts the pains and shrinking of the Sinews and the pains of the Hips The fresh Juyce mixed with a little Oyl and Butter is good for any place that hath been burnt with fire being thereto applied It is a Plant of Saturn and good for something els you see than to make Halters only Henbane Description
Plague and other Pestilential Diseases Some have been holpen therby saith Mathiolus that have lien long in a lingring sickness and others that by Witchcraft as it was thought were become half foolish by taking a dram of the Seed or Berries hereof in Pouder every day for twenty daies together they were restored to their former health The Roots in Pouder taken in Wine easeth the pains of the Chollick speedily The Leavs are very effectual as well for green Wounds as to clens and heal up old filthy Sores and Ulcers and is very powerful to discuss all Tumors and Swellings in the Cods privy Parts or Groyn or in any part of the Body and speedily to ally all Inflamations The Leavs or their Juyce applied to Felons or those Nails of the Hands or Toes that have Imposthumes or Sotes gathered together at the Roots of them healeth them in short space The Herb is not to be described for the premises but is fit to be noutished in every good Womans Garden Venus owns it Hysop THis is so well known to be an Inhabitant in every Garden that it wil save me Labor in writing a Description thereof The Vertues are as followeth Vertues and use Dioscorides saith that Hysop boyled with Rue and Honey and drunk helpeth those that are troubled with Coughs shortness of breath wheesing and Rhewmatick Distillations upon the Lungs Taken also with Oximel it purgeth gross Humors by the Stool and with Honey killeth Worms in the Belly and with fresh or new Figs bruised helpeth to loosen the Belly and more forcibly if the Root of Flower-de-luce and Cresses be added therto It amendeth and cherisheth the Native colour of the Body spoiled by the yellow Jaundice and being taken with Figs and Nitre helpeth the Dropsie and the Spleen Being boyled with Wine it is good to wash Inflamations and taketh away black and blew Spots and Marks that come by Strokes Bruises or Fals being applied with warm Water It is an excellent Medicine for the Quinsie or Swelling in the Throat to wash and gargle it being boyled with Figs. It helpeth the Tooth-ach being boyled in Vinegar and gargled therwith The hot Vapors of the Decoction taken by a Funnel in at the Ears easeth the Inflamations and singing nois of them Being bruised and Salt Honey and Cummin Seed put to it it helpeth those that are stung by Serpents The Oyl thereof being anoynted killeth Liâ—e and taketh away Itching of the Head It helpeth those that have the Falling-sickness which way soever it be applied It helpeth to expectorate tough Flegm and is effectual in al cold Griefs or Diseases of the Chest and Lungs being taken either in a Syrup or licking Medicine The green Herb bruised and a little Sugar put thereto doth quickly heal any cut or green Wound being thereunto applied The Herb is Jupiters and the Sign Cancer It strengthens all the parts of the Body under cancer and Jupiter which what they be may be found amply discoursed of in my Astrological Judgment of Diseases Hops THese are so well known that they need no Description I mean the manured kind which every good Husband or Huswife is acquainted with The wild Hop groweth up as the other doth ramping upon Trees or Hedges that stand next unto them with rough branches and Leavs like the former but it giveth smaller Heads in far less plenty than it so that there is scarce a Head or two seen in a year on divers of this wild kind wherein consisteth the chief difference Place They delight to grow on low moist grounds and are found in all parts of this Land Time They spring not up until April and Flower not until the latter end of June the heads are not gathered until the middle or latter end of September Vertues and use This Physical operation is to open Obstructions of the Liver and Spleen to clens the Blood to loosen the Belly to clens the Reins from Gravel and provoke Urine The Decoction of the tops of Hops as well of the tame as the wild worketh the same effects In cleansing the Blood they help to cure the French Diseas and al manner of Scabs Itch and other breakings out in the Body as also al Tetters Ringworms and spreading Sores the Morphew and all discolourings of the Skin The Decoction of the Flowers and tops do help to expel poyson that any one hath drunk Half a dram of the Seed in Pouder taken in drink killeth Worms in the Body bringeth down Womens Courses and expelleth Urin A Syrup made of the Juyce and Sugar cureth the yellow Jaundice easeth the Headach that comes of Heat and tempereth the heat of the Liver and Stomach and is profitably given in long and hot Agues that rise of Choller and Blood Both the wild and the manured are of one property and alike effectual in al the aforesaid Diseases By all these Testimonies Beer appears to be better than Ale Mars owns the Plant and then Dr. Reason will tell you how it performs these actions Horehound Description COmmon Horehound groweth up with square hoary Stalks half a yard or two foot high set at the Joynts with two round crumpled rough Leavs of a sullen hoary green colour of a reasonable good scent but a very bitter tast The Flowers are smal white and gaping set in rough hard prickly Husks round about the Joynts with the Leaves from the middle of the Stalk upwards wherein afterwards is found smal round blackish Seed The Root is blackish hard and woody with many strings ther eat and abideth many years Place It is found in many parts of this Land in dry grounds and wast green places Time It Flowreth in or about July and the Seed is ripe in Augst Vertues and Vse A Decoction of the dried Herb with the Seed or the Juyce of the green Herb taken with Honey is a Remedy for those that are pursie or short winded or have a Cough or are fallen into a Consumption either through long sickness or thin Distillations of Rhewm upon the Lungs It helpeth to expectorate tough Flegm from the Chest being taken with the Roots of Iris or Orris It is given to Women to bring down their Courses to expel the Afterbirth and to them that have sore and long Travails as also to those that have taken Poyson or are stung or bitten by Venemous Serpents The Leavs used with Honey purge foul Ulcers stay running or creeping sores and the growing of the Flesh over the Nails It also helpeth pains of the sides The Juyce thereof with Wine and Honey helpeth to cleer the Eyesight and snuffed up into the Nostrils purgeth away the yellow Jaundice and with a little Oyl of Roses dropped into the Ears easeth the pains of them Galen saith it openeth Obstructions both of the Liver and Spleen purgeth the Breast and Lungues of Flegm and used outwardly it both clenseth and digesteth A Decoction of Horchound saith Mathiolus is available for those that have
is not able to stand upright but bendeth down to the Ground devided at the top into two or three smal Branches with smal yellowish green Heads and Flowers of a whitish colour breaking out of them which being past there cometh smal yellow Seed like Poppy Seed The Root is somwhat long and black with many strings or fibres thereat Place It groweth naturally in many Pastures and Wood sides in Harfordshire wiltshire and Kent and other places of this Land Time It Flowreth in May and June and abideth after Seed time green al the Winter Vertues and Use. Ladies-Mantle is very proper for those Wounds that have Inflamations and is very effectual to stay Bleedings Vomitings Fluxes of al sorts in man or woman and Bruises by Fals or otherwise and helpeth Ruptures and such Women or Maids as have over great Flagging Breasts causing them to grow less and hard being both drunk and outwardly applied The distilled water drunk for twenty daies together helpeth Conception and to retain the Birth if the Woman do somtimes also sit in a Bath made of the Decoction of the Herb. It is one of the most singular Wound Herbs that is and therfore highly prized and praised by the Germans who use in al Wounds inward and outward to drink the Decoction thereof and wash the Wounds therewith or dip Tents therein and put them into the Wounds which wonderfully drieth up al humidity of the Sores and abateth Inflamations therein It quickly healeth al green Wounds not suffering any corruption to remain behind and cureth old Sores though Fistulous and hollow Venus claims the Herb as her own ☿ Lavender THis is so wel known being an Inhabitant in almost every Garden that it needeth no Description Time It flowreth about the end of June and beginning of July Vertues and Use. Lavender is of special good use for all the Griefs and pains of the Head and Brains that proceed of a cold caus as the Apoplexy Falling-sickness the drowsie or sluggish Malady Cramps Convulsions Palseys and often Faintings It strengtheneth the Stomach and freeth the Liver and Spleen from Obstructions provoketh Womens Courses and expelleth the dead Child and Afterbirth The Flowers of Lavender steeped in Wine helpeth them to make water that are stopped or are troubled with the Wind or Chollick if the places be bathed therewith A Decoction made with the Flowers of Lavender Horehound Fennel and Asparagus Roots and a little Cinnamon is very profitably used to help the Falling-sickness and the giddiness or turning of the Brain To gargle the Mouth with the Decoction thereof is good against the Toothach Two spoonfuls of the distilled Water of the Flowers taken helpeth them that have lost their voice as also the tremblings and passions of the Heart and faintings and swounings not only being drunk but applied to the Temples or Nostrils to be smelt unto but it is not safe to use it where the Body repleat with Blood and Humors becaus of the hot and subtil spirits wherewith it is possessed The Chimical Oyl drawn from Lavender usually called Oyl of Spike is of so fierce and piercing Spirits that it is cautiously to be used some few drops being sufficient to be given with other things either for inward or outward Griefs Mercury owns the Herb and it carries his effects very potently Lavender Cotten hath the same Vertues with Southernwood which shal be shewed you when I come to speak of it ☽ ♋ Lettice THis is so wel known being generally used as a Sallet Herb that it is altogether needless to write any Description thereof Vertues and Use. The Juyce of Lettice mixed or boyled with Oyl of Roses and applied to the Forehead and Temples procureth Sleep and easeth the Headach proceeding of an hot caus being eaten boyled it helpeth to loosen the Belly It helpeth digestion quencheth thirst encreaseth Milk in Nurses easeth griping pains of the Stomach or Bowels that come of Choller It abateth Bodily lust represseth Venereous Dreams being outwardly applied to the Cods with a little Camphire Applied in the same manner to the Region of the Heart Liver or Reins or by bathing the said place with the Juyce or distilled Water wherein some white Sanders and red Roses are put also it not only represseth the heat and Inflamation therein but comforts and strengthens those parts and also tempereth the heat of Urine Galen adviseth old men to use it with Spices and where Spices are wanting to ad Mints Rocket and such like hot Herbs or els Citron Lemmon or Orange Seeds to abate the cold of one and heat of the other The Seed and distilled Water of the Lettice work the like effects in al things but the use of Lettice is chiefly forbidden to those that are short winded or have any imperfection in their Lungs or spit Blood The Moon owns them and that 's the reason they cool and moisten what heat and driness Mars causeth because Mars hath his fall in Cancer and they cool the Heart becaus the Sun rules it between whom and the Moon is a Reccption in the Generation of Man as you may soe in my Guide for women The VVater-Lilly ☽ Description OF these there are two principally noted kinds Viz. Thewhite and the Yellow The white Lilly hath very large round and thick dark green Leavs lying on the Water sustained by long and thick Footstalks that rise from a great thick round and long tuberous black Root spungy or loos with many Knobs thereon like Eyes and whitish within from amidst the which rise other the like thick and great Stalks sustaining one large white Flower thereon green on the outside but as white as Snow within consisting of divers rows of long and somwhat thick and narrow Leavs smaller and thinner the more inward they be encompassing a head within w th many yellow threds or thrums in the middle where after they are past stand round Poppylike Heads ful of broad Oyly and bitter Seed The yellow kind is little different from the former save only it hath fewer Leavs on the Flowers greater and more shining Seed and a whitish Root both within and without The Roots of both being somwhat sweet in tast Place They are sound growing in great Pools and standing Waters and somtimes in slow running Rivers and lesser Ditches of Water in sundry places of this Land Time They Flower most commonly about the end of May and their Seed is ripe in August Vertues and use The Leavs and Flowers of the Water-Lillies are cold and moist but the Root and Seed is cold and dry The Leavs do cool al Inflamations and both outward and inward heats of Agues and so doth the Flowers also either by the Syrup or Conserve The Syrup helpeth much to procure rest and to settle the Brains of Frantick persons by cooling the hot distemperature of the Head The Seed as wel as the Root is effectual to stay Fluxes of Blood or Humors either of Wounds
or of the Belley but the Roots are most used some chusing the one and some the other to be more effectual to cool bind and restrain all Fluxes in Man or Woman as also the running of the Reins and the passage away of the Seed when one is asleep but the frequent use hereof extinguisheth Venereous actions The Root is likewise very good for those whose Urine is hot and sharp to be boyled in Wine or Water and the Decoction drunk The Distilled water of the Flowers is very effectual for al the Diseases aforesaid both inwardly taken and outwardly applied and is much commended to take away Freckles Spots Sun-burn and Morphew from the Face or other parts of the Body The Oyl made of the Flowers as Oyl of Roses is made is profitably used to cool hot Tumors and the Inflamations of Ulcers and Wounds and to eaâ— the pains and help the Sores The Herb is under the Dominion of the Moon and therefore cools and moistens like the former Liquoris Description OUr English Liquoris riseth up with divers woody Stalks whereon are set at several distances many narrow long green Leavs set together on both sides of the Stalk and an od one at the end very wel resembling a yong Ash-tree sprung up from the Seed This by many yeers continuance in a place without removing and not else will bring forth Flowers many standing together Spike fashion one above another upon the Stalks of the form of Pease Blossoms but of a very pale blue colour which turn into long somwhat flat and smooth Rods wherein is contained smal round hard Seed The Root runneth down exceeding deep into the ground with divers other smaller Roots and Fibres growing with them and shoot out Suckers from the main Roots al about wherby it is much encreased of a brownish colour on the outside and yellow within Place It is planted in Fields and Gardens in divers places of this Land and thereof good profit is made Vertues and use Liquoris boyled in fair Water with some Maidenhair and Figs maketh a good Drink for those that have a dry Cough or Hoarceness Wheesing shortness of breath and for al the Griefs of the Breast and Lungs Phtisick or Consumptions caused by the Distillation of Salt humors on them It is also good in all pains of the Reins the Strangury and heat of Urine The fine Pouder of Liquoris blown through a Quil into the Eyes that have a Pin and Web as they cal it or Rhewmatick Distillations into them doth clens and help them The Juyce of Liquoris is as effectual in al the Diseases of the Breast Lungs the Reins and Bladder as the Decoction The Juyce dissolved in Rose Water with some Guâ—-Tragacanth is a fine licking Medicine for Hoarceness Wheesings c. ♃ ♋ Liverwort Description THe Common Liverwort groweth close and spreadeth much upon the ground in moyst and shadowy places with many sad green leaves or rather as it were sticking flat one to another very unevenly cut in on the edges and crumpled from among which arise smal slender stalks an Inch or two high at most bearing smal Starlike Flowers at the tops The Roots are very fine and smal Vertues and use It is a singular good Herb for all the diseases of the Liver both to cool and clense it and helpeth the Inflamations in any part and the yellow Jaundice likewise Being bruised and boyled in small Beer and drunke it cooleth the heat of the Liver and Kidneys and helpeth the runing of the Reins in men the Whites in Women It is a singular remedy to stay the spreading of Tetters Ringworms and other fretting and running Sores Scabs and is an excellent remedy for such whose Livers are corrupted by sursets which causeth their bodies to break out for it fortifies the Liver exceedingly and make it impregnable It being under the command of Jupiter and under the sign Cancer Loos-strife or WillowHearb Discription THe Common yellow Loos-strife groweth to be four or five foot high or more with great round stalks a little crested diversly branched from the middle of them to the tops into great long Branches on al which at the Joynts ther grow long and narrow Leavs but broader below and usually two at a Joynt yet somtimes three or four somwhat like Willow Leaves smooth on the edges and of a faint green colour from the upper Joynts of the branches and at the tops of them also stand many yellow Flowers of five Leaves a piece with diverse yellow threeds in the middle which turn into small round heads containing small cornered Seeds The Roote creepeth under ground almost like Couchgrass but greater and shooteth up every Spring brownish heads which afterwards grow up into stalks It hath no scent nor tast but only astringent Place It groweth in many places of this Land in moyst Meadowes and by water sides Time It Flowreth from June to August Vertues and use This Hearb is good to stay all manner of Bleeding at Mouth or Nose or Wounds and all Fluxes of the Belly and the bloody Flux given either to drinke or taken by Clyster it stayeth also the abundance of Womens Courses It is a singular good wound Hearb for green wounds to stay the bleeding and quickly to close together the lips of the Wound if the herb be bruised and the Juyce only applyed It is often used in Gargles for sore mouthes as also for the secret parts the smoke herof being burned driveth away Flyes and Gnats which use in the night-time to molest people inhabiting neere Marshes and in the Fenney Countryes Loos-Strife with Spiked Heads of Flowers ☽ ♋ Description THis groweth with many woody square stalkes full of Joynts about three foot high at least at everyone wherof stand two long Leaves shorter narrower and of a deeper green colour than the former and some brownish The stalkes are branched into many long stemmes of spiked Flowers half a foot long growing in Rundles one above another out of smal husks very like the Spiked heads of Lavender each of which Flowers have five round pointed Leaves of a Purple Violet Colour or somwhat inclining to redness in which husks stand small round heads after the Flowers are fallen wherein is contained small seed The Root creepeth under ground like unto the yellow but is greater than it and so is the heads of the Leaves when they first appear out of the ground and more brown than the other Place It groweth usually by Rivers and Ditches sides in wet grounds as about the Ditches at and neer Lambeth and in many other places of this Land Time It Flowreth in the months of June and July Vertues and Use. This Herb is no whit inferior unto the former it having not only all the vertues which the former hath but some particular vertues of its own found out by experience as namely The distilled water is a present remedy for hurts and blows on the eyes and for
blindness so as the Christaline humor be not perished or hurt and this hath been sufficiently proved true by the experience of a man of judgment who kept it long to himself as a great sccret It also cleareth the Eyes of dust or any other thing gotten into them and preserveth the Sight It is also very much available against Wounds and Thrusts being made into an Oyntment on this manner To every ounce of the Water ad two drams of May Butter without Salt and of Sugar and Wax of each as much also let them boyl gently all together 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 cloth doubled and anointed with the Oyntment and this is also an approved Medicine It likewise clenseth and healeth all foul Ulcers and Sores wheresoever and staieth their Inflamations by washing them with the Water and laying on them a green Leaf or two in the Summer or dry Leaves in the Winter This Water gargled warm in the Mouth and somtimes drunk also doth cure the Quinsie or Kings Evil in the Throat The said Water applied warm taketh away all Spots Marks and Scars in the Skin And a little of it drunk quencheth thirst when it is extraordinary The Herb is an Herb of the Moon and under the Sign Cancer neither do I know a better Preserver of the Sight when 't is well nor a better Curer of sore Eyes than Eyebright taken inwardly and this used outwardly 't is cold in quality ☉ ☿ Lovage Description THis hath many long and great Stalks of large winged Leavs devided into many parts like Smallage but much larger and greater every Leaf being cut about the edges broadest forwards and smallest at the Stalk of a sad green colour smooth and shining from among which rise up sundry strong hollow green Stalks five or six foot yea somtimes seven or eight foot high full of Joynts but lesser Leavs set at them than grow below and with them toward the tops come forth long Branches hearing at their tops large Umbels of yellow Flowers and after them flat brownish Seed The Root groweth thick great and deep spreading much and enduring long of a brownish colour on the outside and whitish within The whol Plant and every part of it smelleth strong and Aromatically and is of an hot sharp biting tast Place It is usually planted in Gardens where if it be suffered it groweth huge and great Time It Flowreth in the end of July and seedeth in August Vertues and Use. It openeth cutteth and digesteth Humors and mightily provoketh Womens Courses and Urine Half a dram at a time of the dried Root in Pouder taken in Wine doth wonderfully warm a cold Stomach helping digestion and consuming all raw superfluous moisture therein easeth al inward gripings and pains dissolveth wind and resisteth Poyson and infection It is a known and much practised Remedy to drink the Decoction of the Herb for any sort of Ague and to help the pains and Torments of the Body and Bowels coming of cold The Seed is effectual to al the purposes aforesaid except the last and worketh more powerfully The distilled water of the Herb helpeth the Quinsie in the Throat if the Mouth and Throat be gargled and washed therewith and helpeth the Pluresie being drunk three or four times Being dropped into the Eyes it taketh away the redness or dimness of them it likewise taketh away Spots or Freckles in the Face The Leavs bruised and fried with a little Hogs Lard laid hot to any Botch or Boyl wil quickly break it It is an Herb of the Sun under the Sign Taurus if Saturn offend the Throat as he alwaies doth if he be occasioner of the Malady and in Taurus in the Genesis this is your cure Lungwort Description THis is a kind of Moss that groweth on sundry sorts of Trees especially Oaks and Beeches with broad grayish tough Leavs diversly folded crumpled and gashed in on the edges and somtimes spotted also with many smal spots on the upper side It was never seen to bear any Stalk or Flower at any time Vertues and Use. This is of great use with many Phystians to help the Diseases of the Lungs and for Coughs Wheesings and shortness of breath which it cureth both in Man and Beast It is very profitably put into Lotions that are taken to stay the moist Humors that flow to Ulcers and hinder their healing as also to wash all other Ulcers in the privy parts of Man or Woman It is an excellent Remedy boyled in Beer for broken-winded Horses Iuâ—â— seems to own the Herb. Madder Description THe Garden Madder shooteth forth many very long weak four square reddish Stalks trailing on the Ground a great way very rough or hairy and full of Joynts At every of those Joynts come forth divers long and somwhat narrow Leavs standing like a Star about the Stalks rough also and hairy toward the tops whereof come forth many smal pale yellow Flowers after which come smal round Heads green at first and reddish afterwards but black when they are ripe wherin is contained the Seed The Root is not very great but exceeding long running down half a mans length into the grouund red and very clear while it is fresh spreading divers waies Place It is only manured in Gardens or larger Fields for the profit that is made thereof Time It Flowreth towards the end of Summer and the Seed is ripe quickly after Vertues and Use. It hath an opening quality and afterwards to bind and strengthen It is an assured Remedy for the yellow Jaundice by opening the Obstructions of the Liver and Gall and clensing those parts It openeth also the Obstructions of the Spleen and diminisheth the Melanchollick humor It is available for the Palsey and Sciatica and effectual for Bruises inward or outward and is therfore much used in Vulnerary Drinks The Root for all those aforesaid purposes is to be boyled in Wine or Water as the caus requireth and some Honey or Sugar put therunto afterwards The Seed herof taken with Vinegar and Honey helpeth the Swellings and Hardness of the Spleen The Decoction of the Leaves and Branches is a good Fomentation for Women to sit over thar have not their Courses The Leavs and Roots beaten and applied to any part that is discoloured with Freckles Morphew the white Scurf or any such deformity of the Skin clenseth them throughly and taketh them away Maidenhair Description OUr common Maidenhair doth from a number of hard black Fibres send forth a great many blackish shining brittle Stalks hardly a span long in many not half so long on each side set very thick with smal round dark green Leavs and spotted on the back of them like other Ferns Place It groweth much upon old Stone Wals in in the West parts and Wales in Kent and divers other places of this Land It joyeth
likewise to grow by Springs Wels and rockie moist and shadowy places and is alwaies green Wall-Rue Or ordinary White Maidenhair Description THis hath very fine pale green Stalks almost as fine as hairs set confusedly with divers pale green Leavs on very short Foot-stalks somwhat neer unto the colour of Garden Rue and not much differing in form but more diversly cut in on the edges and thicker smooth on the upper part and spotted finely underneath Place It groweth in many places of this Land as at Dartford and the Bridg at Ashford in Kent at Beconsfield in Buckinghamshire at Wolley in Huntingtonshire on Frammingham Castle in Suffolk on the Church wals at Mayfield in Sussex in Summerset Shire and divers other places of this Land and is green in Winter as well as in Summer Vertues and use The Vertues of both these are so neer alike that although I have described them and their places of growing severally yet I shall in writing the Vertues of them joyn them both together as followeth The Decoction of the Herb Maidenhair being drunk helpeth those that are troubled with the Cough shortness of breath the yellow Jaundice diseases of the Spleen stopping of Urin and helpeth exceedingly to break the Stone in the Kidneys in all which Diseases the Wall Rue is also very effectual It provoketh Womens Courses and staieth both Bleedings and Fluxes of the Stomach and Belly especially when the Herb is dry for being green it loosneth the Belly and avoideth Choller and Flegm from the Stomach and Liver it clenseth the Lungs and by rectifying the Blood causeth a good colour to the whol Body The Herb boyled in Oyl of Chamomel dissolveth Knots allayeth Swellings and drieth up moist Ulcers The Ly made there of is singular good to clens the head from Scurf and from dry and running Sores stayeth the falling or shedding of the Hair and causeth it to grow thick fair and wel coloured for which purpose some boyl it in Wine putting some Smallage Seed thereto and afterwards some Oyl The Wall Rue is as effectual as Maidenhair in all Diseases of the Head and falling or the recovering of Hair again and generally for all the aforementioned Diseases and besides The Pouder of it taken in drink for fourty daies together helpteh the burstings in Children Golden Maidenhair Description TO the two former give me leave to ad this and I shall do no more but only describe it unto you and for the Vertues refer you unto the former sith whatsoever is said of them may be also said of this It hath many small brownish red hayres to make up the form of Leavs growing about the ground from the Root and in the middle of them in Summer rise smal Stalks of the same colour set with very fine yellowish green hairs on them and bearing a smal gold yellow head lesser than a Wheat Corn standing in a great Husk The Root is very smal and threddy Place It groweth on Bogs and Moorish places and also on dry shadow places at Hampstead Heath and elswhere Mallows and Marsh-Mallows THe Common Mallowes are generally so well known that they need no Description Our common Marsh-mallows have diverâ— soft hoary white stalkes rising to be three or four foot high spreading forth many Branches the Leavs wherof are soft and hairy somwhat lesser then the other Mallow Leaves but longer pointed cut for the most part into some few deivisions but deep The Flowers are many but smaller also then the other Mallows white or tending to a blush colour After which come such like round cases and Seed as in the other Mallows The Roots are many and long shooting from one Head of the bigness of a Thumb or Finger very pliant tough and bending like Liquoris of a whitish yellow colour on the outside and more white within full of a slimy juyce which being layd in water will thicken it as if it were gelly Place The Common Mallows grow in every countrey of this Land The Common Marsh Mallowes in most of the Salt Mashes from Woolwich downe to the Sea both on the Kentish and Essex Shoares and in diverse other places of this Land Time They Flower all the Summer Months even until the Winter do pull them down Vertues and Use. The Leavs of either of the sorts above named and the Roots also boyled in Wine or Water or in Broth with Parsley or â—ennel Roots doth help to open the Body and is very convenient in hot Agues or other distempers of the Body to apply the Leavs so boyled warm to the Belly It not only voideth hot Chollerick and other offensive Humors but easeth the pains and torments of the Belly coming thereby and are therefore used in all Clysters conducing to those purposes The same used by Nurses procureth them store of Milk The Decoction of the Seed of any of the common Mallows made in Milk or Wine doth Merveilously help excoriations the Phtisick Plurisie and other Diseases of the Chest and Lungues that proceed of hot causes if it be continued taking for some time together The Leavs and Roots work the same effects They help much also in the excoriations of the Guts and Bowels and hardness of the Mother and in all hot and sharp diseases thereof The Juyce drunk in Wine or the Decoction of them therein doth help Women to a speedy and easie Delivery Pliny saith That whosoever shal that take a spoonful of any of the Mallows shal that day be free from all Diseases that may come unto him and that it is special good for the Falling-sickness The Syrup also and Conserve made of the Flowers are very effectual for the the same Diseases and to open the Body being costive The Leavs bruised and laid to the Eyes with a little Honey taketh away the Impostumations of them The Leavs bruised or rubbed upon any place stung with Bees Wasps or the like presently taketh away the pains redness and Swellings that rise thereupon and Dioscorides saith The Decoction of the Leavs and Roots helpeth all sorts of Poyson so as the Poyson be presently voided by Vomit A Pultis made of the Leavs boyled and bruised whereunto some Bean or Batley Flower and Oyl of Roses is an especial Remedy against all hard Tumors and Inflamations of Impostums and Swellings of the Cods and other parts and easeth the pains of them as also against the hardness of the Liver or Spleen being applied to the places The Juyce of the Mallows boyled in old Oyl and applied taketh away al roughness of the Skin as also the Scurf Dandrif or dry Scabs in the Head or other parts if they be anointed therewith or washed with the Decoction and preserveth the Hair from falling off It is also effectual against Scaldings and Burnings St. Anthonies fire and all other hot red and painful Swellings in any part of the Body The Flowers boyled in Oyl or Water as every one is disposed
wherunto a little Honey and Allum is put is an excellent Gargle to wash clens and heal any sore Mouth or Throat in a short space If the Feet be bathed or washed with the Decoction of the Leavs Roots and Flowers it helpeth much the Defluxions of Rhewm from the Head If the Head be washed therewith it staieth the falling and shedding of the Hair The green Leavs saith Pliny beaten with Nitre and applied draweth out Thorns or Pricks in the Flesh. The Marsh Mallows are more effectual in al the Diseases before mentioned The Leavs are likewise used to loosen the Belly gently and in Decections for Clysters to eas al pains of the Body opening the strait Passages and making them slippery whereby the Stone may descend the more easily and without pain out of the Reins Kidneys and Bladder and to eas the torturing pains thereof But the Roots are of more especial use for those purposes as well as for Coughs Hoarsness shortness of Breath and Wheesings being boyled in Wine or Honeyed Water and drunk The Roots and Seeds hereof boyled in Wine or Water is with good success used by them that have Excoriations in the Guts or the bloody Flux by qualifying the violence of the sharp fretting Humors easing the pains and healing the Soreness It is profitably taken of them that are troubled with Ruptures Cramps or Convulsions of the Sinews and boyled in white Wine for the Impostumes of the Throat commonly called the Kings Evil and of those Kernels that rise behind the Ears and inflamations or Swellings in Womens Breasts The dried Roots boyled in Milk and drunk is special good for the Chin-Cough Hippocrates used to give the Decoction of the Roots or the Juyce therof to drink to those that were wounded and ready to faint through loss of Blood and applied the same mixed with Honey and Rozin to the Wounds As also the Roots boyled in Wine to those that had received any Hurt by Bruises Falls or Blows or had any Bone or Member out of Joynt or any Swelling pain or ach in the Muscles Sinews or Arteries The Muccilage of the Roots and of Linseed and of Fennugreek put together is much used in Pultises Oyntments and Plaisters to mollifie and digest all hard Swellings and the Inflamation of them and to eas pains in any part of the Body The Seed either green or dry mixed with Vinegar clenseth the Skin of the Morphew and al other discolourings being bathed therewith in the Sun You may remember that not long since there was a raging Diseas called the Bloody Flux the Colledg of Physitians not knowing what to make of it called it the Plague in the Guts for their wits were at ne plus ultra about it My son was taken with the same Diseas and the excoriation of his Bowels was exceeding great my self being in the Country was sent for up the only thing I gave him was Mallows bruised and boyled both in his Milk and Drink in two daies the blessing of God being upon it it cured him and I here to shew my thankfulness to God in communicating it to his Creatures leav it to posterity ☿ ♈ Sweet Marjerom THis is so wel known being an Inhabitant in every Garden that it is needless to write any Description thereof neither of the Winter Sweet Marjerom nor Pot Marjerom Place They grow commonly in Gardens some sorts there are that grow wild in the Borders of Corn Fields and Pastures in sundry places of this Land but it is not my purpose to insist upon them The Garden kinds being most used and useful Time They Flower in the end of Summer Vertues and use Our common Sweet Marjerom is warming and comfertable in cold Diseases of the Head Stomach Sinews and other parts taken inwardly or outwardly applied The Decoction thereof being drunk helpeth al the Diseases of the Chest which hinder the freeness of breathing and is also profitable for the Obstructions of the Liver and Spleen It helpeth the cold Griefs of the Womb and the windiness thereof and the loss of Speech by resolution of the Tongue The Decoction thereof made with som Pellitory of Spain and long Pepper or with a little Acorus or Origanum being drunk is good for those that are beginning to fall into a Dropsie for those that cannot make Water and against pains and torments in the Belly it provoketh Womens Courses if it be put up as a Pessary Being made into Pouder and mixed with Honey it taketh away the black marks of Blows and Bruises being therto applied It is good for the Inflamations and watering of the Eyes being mixed with fine Flower and laid unto them The Juyce dropped into the Ears easeth the Pains and singing nois in them It is profitably put into those Oyntments and Salves that are made to warm and comfort the outward parts as the Joynts and Sinews for Swellings also and places out of Joynt The Pouder thereof snuffed up into the Nose provoketh neezing and thereby purgeth the Brain and chewed in the Mouth draweth forth much Flegm The Oyl made thereof is very warming and comfortable to the Joynts that are stiff and the Sinews that are hard to mollifie and supple them Marjerom is much used in all odoriferous Waters Pouders c. that are for Ornament or delight It is an Herb of Mercury and under Aries and is therfore an excellent Remedy for the Brain and other parts of the Body and Mind under the Dominion of the same Planet ☉ ♌ Marigolds THese being so pelentifull in every Garden are so well known that they need no Description Time They Flower al the Summer long and somtimes in the Winter if it be mild Vertues and Use The Flowers either green or dryed are used much in Possets broths and drinkes as a comforter of the Heart and spirits and to expell any malignant or pestilential quality which might annoy them It is an Herb of the Sun and under Leo they strengthen the heart exceedingly and are very expulsive and little less Effectual in the smal pox and measles than Saffron The Juyce of Marigold Leaves mixed with Vinegar and any hot swelling bathed with it instantly giveth ease and asswageth it A plaister made with the dry Flowers in pouder hogs greas Turpentine and Rozin and applyed to the breast strengthens and succours the heart infinitly in feavers whether pestilential or not pestileutiall ♂ Masterwort Description Common Masterwort hath divers stalks of winged Leaves devided into sundry parts three for the most part standing together at a small footstalk on both sides of the greater and three likewise at the end of the stalk somwhat broad and cut in on the edges into three or more devisions all of them dented about the brims of a dark green colour somwhat resembling the Leaves of Angelica but that these grow lower to the ground on lesser stalks among which
be put together in Clisters to expel Wind to eas pains also into Pultices for the same purpose and to asswage Swellings or Tumors in the Spleen or other parts helpeth Inflamations in any part of the Body The Juyce dropped into the Eyes is a singular good Medicine to take away any Film or Skin that cloudeth or dimmeth the Eyesight The Head often washed with the distilled Water of the Herb and Flowers or a Ly made therwith is effectual for those that have suddenly lost their senses as also to strengthen the Memory to comfort the Head and Brains and to preserve them from pains and the Apoplexie French and Dogs Mercury Description THis riseth up with a square green stalk full of Joynts two foot high or ther abouts with two Leaves at every Joynt and branches likewise from â—oth sides of the stalk set with fresh green Leaves somwhat broad and long about the bigness of the Leaves of Bassell finely dented about the edges towards the topps of the stalks and branches come forth at every Joynt in the Male Mercury two small round green heads standing together upon a short footstalk which growing ripe are the seeds not having any Flower In the female The stalk is longer spike fashion set round about with smal green husks which are the Flowers made like smal branches of Grapes which give no seed but abide long upon the stalks without shedding The Root is composed of many smal Fibres which perisheth every year at the first approach of winter and riseth again of its own sowing and where it once is suffered to sow it self the ground will never want it afterwards even both sorts of it Dogs Mercury Discription HAving described unto you that which is called French Mercury I come now to shew you in a Description this kind also This is likewise of two kinds Male and Female having many stalks slenderer lower than Mercury and without any branches at all upon them The Male is set with two Leavs at every Joynt somwhat greater than the Female but more pointed and full of Veins and somwhat harder in handling of a darker green colour and less dented or snip'd about the edges At the Joynts with the Leavs come forth longer Stalks than the former with two hairy round Seeds upon them twice as big as those of the former Mercury The tast hereof is Herby and the smel somwhat strong and Virulent The Female hath much harder Leavs standing upon longer Foot-stalks and the stalks are also longer From the Joynts come forth Spikes of Flowers like the French Female Mercury The Roots of them both are many and full of smal Fibres which run under ground and mat themselves very much not perishing as the former Mercuries do but abiding the Winter and shoot forth new Branches every yeer for the old die down to the ground Place The Male and Female French Mercury are found wild in divers places of this Land as by a Village called Brookland in Rumney Marsh in Kent The Dogs Mercury in sundry places of Kent also and elswhere but the Female more seldom than the Male. Time They flourish in the Summer months and therein give their Seed Vertues and Use. The Decoction of the Leavs of Mercury or the Juyce thereof in Broth or Drunk with a little Sugar put to it purgeth Chollerick and waterish Humors Hippocrates commendeth it wonderfully for Womens Diseases and applied it to the secret parts to eas the pains of the Mother and used the Decoction of it both to procure Womens Courses and to expel the Afterbirth And gave the Decoction thereof with Mirrh or Pepper or used to apply the Leavs outwardly against the Strangury and Diseases of the Reins and Bladder He used it also for sore and watering Eyes and for the Deafness and pain in the Ears by dropping the Juyce therof into them and bathing them afterwards in white Wine The Decoction thereof made with Water and a Cock Chicken is a most safe Medicine against the hot fits of Agues It also clenseth the Breast and Lungs of Flegm but a little offendeth the Stomach The Juyce or distilled Water snuffed up into the Nostrils purgeth the Head and Eyes of Catarrhes and Rhewms Some use to drink two or three ounces of the distilled water with a little Sugar put to it in the morning fasting to open and purge the Body of gross viscuous and Melancholly Humors It is wonderful if it be not Fabulous that Dioscorides and Theophrastus do relate of it Viz. That if Women use these herbs either inwardly or outwardly for three daies together after Conception and their Courses be past they shal bring forth Male or Female Children according to that kind of Herb they use Mathiolus saith That the Seed of both the Male and Female Mercury boyled with Wormwood and drunk cureth the yellow Jaundice in a speedy manner The Leavs or the Juyce rubbed upon Warts taketh them away The Juyce mingled with some Vinegar helpeth all running Scabs Tetters Ringworms and the Itch. Galen saith that being applied in manner of a Pultis to any Swelling or Inflamation it digesteth the Swelling and allayeth the Inflamation and is therfore given in Clysters to evacuate the Belly from offensive Humors The Dogs Mercury although it be less used yet may serve in the same manner to the same purpose to purge waterish and Melanchollick Humors Mercury they say owns this Herb but I rather think ' t is Venus and am partly confident of it too for I never read that Mercury ever minded Womens businesses so much I beleev he minds his study more Mint Description OF all the kinds of Mints the Spear-Mint or Heart-Mint being most useful I shal only describe it as followeth Spear-Mint hath divers round Stalks and long but narrowish Leavs set thereon of a a dark green colour The Flowers stand in Spiked Heads at the tops of the Branches being of a pale blush colour The smel or scent hereof is somwhat neer unto Bassilâ— It encreaseth by the Root under ground as all the others do Place It is an usual Inhabitant in Gardens And becaus it seldom giveth any good Seed the defect is recompensed by the plentiful encreas of the Root which being once planted in a Garden will hardly beâ—rid out again Time It Flowreth not until the beginning of August for the most part Vertues and Use. Dioscorides saith It hath an heating binding and drying quality and therefore the Juyce taken with Vinegar staieth Bleeding It stirreth up Venery or Bodily lust Two or three Branches thereof taken with the Juyce of sowr Pomegranates stayeth the Hiccough Vomiting and allayeth Choller It dissolveth Impostumes being laid too with Barley Meal It is good to repress the Milk in Womens Breasts and for such as have swollen flagging or great Breasts applied with Salt it helpeth the biting of a Mad Dog with Mead or Honeyed Water it easeth the pains of the Ears and taketh away the roughness of the Tongue
of Serpents and for those that have taken Aconite The Leavs beaten with Vinegar is good to lay on any place that is burnt with fire A Decoction made of the Bark and Leavs is good to wash the Mouth and Teeth when they ach If the Root be a little slit or cut and a smal hole made in the ground next thereunto in the Harvest time it will give out a certain Juyce which being hardned the next day is of good use to help the Toothach to dissolve Knots and purge the Belly The Leavs of Mulberries are said to stay bleeding at Mouth or Nose or the Bleeding of the Piles or of a Wound being bound unto the places A Branch of the Tree taken when the Moon is at the full and bound to the Wrist of a Womans Arm whose Courses come down too much doth stay them in a short space Mercury rules the Tree therefore are its effects variable as his are Mullein Description THe common white Mullein hath many fair large woolly white Leavs lying next the ground somwhat longer than broad pointed at the ends and as it were dented about the edges The Stalk riseth up to be four or five Foot high covered over with such like Leavs but lesser so that no Stalk can be seen for the multitude of Leavs thereon up to the Flowers which come forth on all sides of the Stalk without any Branches for the most part and are many set together in a long spike in some of a gold yellow colour in others more pale consisting of five round pointed Leavs which afterwards give smal round Heads wherein is smal brownish Seed contained The Root is long white and Woody perishing after it hath born Seed Place It groweth by the way sides and in Lanes in many places of this Land Time It Flowreth in July or thereabouts Vertues and use A smal quantity of the Root given in Wine is commended by Dioscorides against Lasks and Fluxes of the Belly The Decoction thereof drunk is profitable for those that are Bursten and for Cramps and Convulsions and for those that are troubled with an old Cough The Decoction thereof gargled caseth the pains of the Toothach An Oyl made by the often Infusion of the Flowers is of very good effect for the Piles The Decoction of the Root in Red Wine or in Water if there be an Ague wherein red hot Steel hath been often quenched doth stay the Bloody Flux The same also openeth Obstructions of the Bladder and Reins when one cannot make water A Decoction of the Leavs hereof and of Sage Marjetom and Camomil Flowers and the places bathed therewith that have Sinews stark with cold or Cramps doth bring them much eas and comfort Three ounces of the distilled water of the Flowers drunk morning and evening for some daies together is said to be the most excellent Remedy for the hot Gout The Juyce of the Leavs and Flowers being laid upon rough Warts as also the Pouder of the dried Roots rubbed on doth easily take them away but doth no good to smooth Warts The Pouder of the dried Flowers is an especial Remedy for those that are troubled with belly-aches or the pains of the Chollick The Decoction of the Root and so likewise of the Leavs is of great effect to dissolve the Tumors Swellings or Inflamation of the Throat The Seed and Leavs boyled in Wine and applied draweth forth speedily Thorns or Splinters gotten into the Flesh easeth the pains and healeth them also The Leavs bruised and wrapped in double papers and covered with hot Ashes and Embers to bake a while and then taken forth and laid warm on any Botch or Boyl hapning in the Groyn or share doth dissolve and heal them The Seed bruised and boyled in Wine and laid on any Member that hath been out of Joynt and is newly set again taketh away all Swellings and pains thereof Mustard Description THe common Mustard hath large and broad rough Leavs very much jagged with uneven and unorderly gashes somwhat like Turnip Leavs but lesser and rougher The Stalk riseth to be more than a foot high and somtimes two foot high being round rough and branched at the top bearing such like Leavs thereon as grow below but lesser and less devided and divers yellow Flowers one above another at the tops after which come smal rough pods with smal lank flat ends wherein is contained round yellowish Seed sharp hot and biting upon the Tongue The Root is smal long and woody when it beareth Stalks and perisheth every yeer Place This groweth with us in Gardens only and other manured places Time It is an annual Plant Flowring in July and their Seed is ripe in August Vertues and use Mustard Seed hath the Vertue of Heating discussing rarefying and drawing out Splinters of Bones and other things out of the Flesh. It is of good effect to bring down Womens Courses for the Falling sickness or Lethargy drousie forgetful evil to use it both inwardly and outwardly to rub the Nostrils Forehead and Temples to warm and quicken the Spirits for by the fierce sharpness it purgeth the Brain by sneezing and drawing down Rhewm and other Viscuous Humors which by their Distillations upon the Lungs and Chest procure coughing and therefore with some Honey added thereto doth much good therein The Decoction of the Seed made in Wine and drunk provoketh Urine resisteth the force of Poyson the Malignity of Mushroms and the Venom of Scorpions or other Venemous Creatures if it be taken in time and taketh before the cold fits of Agues altereth lesseneth and cureth them The Seed taken either by it self or with other things either in an Electuary or Drink doth mightily stir up Bodily lust and helpeth the Spleen and pains in the sides and gnawing in the Bowels And used as a Gargle draweth up the Pallat of the Mouth being fallen down and also it dissolveth the Swellings abouâ— the Throat if it be outwardly applied Being chewed in the Mouth it oftentimes helpeth the Toothach The outward application hereof upon the pained place of the Sciatica discusseth the Humors and easeth the pains as also of the Gout and other Joynt aches And is much and often used to eas pains in the sides or loyns the shoulders or other parts of the Body upon the applying thereof to rais Blisters and cureth the Diseas by drawing it to the outward part of the Body It is also used to help the falling of the Hair The Seed bruised mixed with Honey and applied or made up with Wax taketh away the Marks and black and blue spots of Bruises or the like the roughness or Scabbedness of the Skin as also the Leprosie and lowsie evil it helpeth also the crick in the Neck The distilled Water of the Herb when it is in Flower is much used to drink inwardly to help in any the Diseases aforesaid or to wash the Mouth when the Pallat is down and for the Diseases of the Throat
mean the common kind that it needeth no Description There is a greater kind than the ordinary sort found wild with us which so abideth being brought into Gardens and differeth not from it but only in the largeness of the Leavs and Stalks in rising higher and not creeping upon the ground so much The Flowers whereof are Purple growing in Rundles about the Stalk like the other Place The first which is common in Gardens groweth also in many moist and watery places of this Land The second is sound wild in Essex in divers places by the High-way from London â—to Colechester and thereabouts more abundantly than in other Countries and is also planted in their Gardens in Essex Time They Flower in the latter end of Summer about August Vertues and Use. Dioscorides saith That Peny-royal maketh thin tough Flegm warmeth the coldness of any part whereto it is apylied and digesteth raw or corrupt matter Being boyled drunk it provoketh Womens Courses and expelleth the dead Child and afterbirth and staieth the disposition to Vomit being taken in Water and Vinegar mingled together And being mingled with Honey and Salt it avoideth Flegm out of the Lungs and purgeth Melancholly by the Stool Drunk with Wine it helpeth such as are bitten or stung with Venemous Beasts and applied to the Nostrils with Vinegar reviveth those that are fainting and swouning Being dried and burnt it strengtheneth the Gums It is helpful to those that are troubled with the Gout being applied of it self to the place until it wax red and applied in a Plaister it taketh away spots or marks in the Face Applied with Salt it profiteth those that are Splenetick or Liver-grown The Decoction doth help the Itch if washed therwith Being put into Baths for Women to sit therein it helpeth the Swelling and hardness of the Mother The green Herb bruised and put into Vinegar clenseth foul Ulcers and taketh away the marks and bruises of blows about the Eyes and all discolourings of the Face by fire yea and the Leprosie being drunk and outwardly applied Boyled in Wine with Honey and Salt it helpeth the Toothach It helpeth the cold Griefs of the Joynts taking away the pains and warming the cold parts being fast bound to the place after a bathing or sweating in an hot hous Pliny addeth that Penny-royal and Mints together help faintings or swounings being put into Vinegar and put to the Nostrils to be smelled unto or a little thereof put into the Mouth It easeth the Headach and the pains of the Breast and Belly stayeth the gnawing of the Stomach and inward pains of the Bowels being drunk in Wine it provoketh Womens Courfes and expelleth the dead child and afterbirth Being given in Wine it helpeth the Falling-sickness Put into unwholsom or stinking Water that men must drink as at Sea and where other cannot be had it maketh them the less hurtful It helpeth Cramps or Convulsions of the Sinews being applied with Honey Salt and Vinegar It is very effectual for the Cough being boyled in Milk and drunk and for Ulcers or Sores in the Mouth Mathiolus saith The Decoction thereof being drunk helpeth heâ—Jaundice and Dropsie and all pains of the Head and Sinews that come of a cold caus and that it helpeth to clearâ— and quicken the Eye-sight Applied to the Nostrils of those that have the Falling-sicknessâ— or the Lethargy or put into the Mouth it helpeth them much being bruised and with Vinegar applied And applied with Barley Meal it helpeth Burnings by fire and put into the Ears easeth the pains of them The Herb is under Venus Peony Mas. Femina Description THe Male Peony riseth up with many brownish Stalks whereon grow many fair green and somtimes reddish Leavs one set against another upon a Stalk without any particular devision in the Leaf at all The Flowers stand at the tops of the Stalks consisting of five or six broad Leavs of a fair purplish red colour with many yellow threds in the middle standing about the Head which after riseth to be the Seed Vessels devided into two three or four rough crooked Pods like Horns which being ful ripe open and turn themselves down one edge to another backward shewing within them divers round black shining Seed having also many red or Crimson grains intermixed with the black whereby it maketh a very pretty shew The Roots are great thick and long spreading and running down reasonable deep in the Ground The ordinary Female Peony hath many Stalks and more Leavs on them than the Male the Leavs not so large but nicked diversly on the edges some with great and deep others with smaller cuts and devisions of a dark or dead green colour The Flowers are of a strong heady scent most usually smaller and of a more purple colour than the Male with yellow thrums about the Head as the Male hath The Seed Vessels are like Horns as in the Male but smaller the Seed also is black but less shining The Roots consist of many thick and short tuberous clogs fastned at the ends of long strings and all from the Head of the Root which is thick and short and of the like scent with the Male. Place and Time They grow in Gardens and Flower usually about May. Vertues and Use. The Root of the Male Peony fresh gathered hath been found by experience to cure the Falling-sickness but the surest way is besides hanging it about the Neck by which Children have been cured to take the Root of the Male Peony washed clean and stamped somwhat smal and lay it to infuse in Sack for twenty four Hours at the least after strain it and take first and last morning and evening a good draught for sundry daies together before and after a full Moon and this will also cure older persons if the Disease be not grown too old and past cure especially if there be a due and orderly preparation of the Body with Posset drink made of Betony c. The Root is also effectual for Women that are not sufficiently clensed after Childbirth and such as are troubled with the Mother for which likewise the black Seed beaten to Pouder and given in Wine is also available The black Seed also taken before bed time and in the morning is very effectual for such as in their sleep are troubled with the Diseas called Ephialtes or Incubus but we do commonly cal it the Night-Mare a diseas which Melancholly persons are subject unto It is also good against Melanchollick Dreams The Distilled water or Syrup made of the Flowers worketh the same effects that the Root and the Seed do although more weakly The Female is often used for the purposes aforesaid by reason the Male is so scarce a Plant that it is possessed by few and those great Lovers of Rarities in this kind It is an Herb of the Sun and under the Lyon Physitians say Male Peony Roots are best but Dr. Reason told me male Peony was best for men and
also is profitably applied to all hot Gouts in the Feet or Hands especially in the beginning It is also good to be applied where any Bone is out of Joynt to hinder Inflamations Swellings and Pains that presently rise thereupon The Pouder of the dried Leavs taken in drink killeth Worms of the Belly and boyled in Wine killeth Worms that breed in old and foul Ulcers One part of Plantane Water and two parts of the brine of pouder'd Beef boyled together and clarified is a most sure Remedy to heal all spreading Scabs and Itch in the Head or Body all manner of Tetters Ringworms the Shingles and all other running and fretting Sores Briefly the Plantanes are singular good Wound Herbs to heal fresh or old Wounds and Sores either inward or outward It s true Myzaldus and others yea almost all Astrologo-Physitians hold this to be an Herb of Mars and they give a verisimile of a truth for it too Viz. becaus it cures diseases of the Head and privities which are under the Houses of Mars Aries and Scorpio All Diseases of the Head comming of heat are caused by Mars for Venus is made of no such hot mettle or at least deals in inferior parts The truth is it is under the command of Venus and cures the Head by Antipathy to Mars and the Privities by Sympathy to Venus neither is there hardly a Martial Diseas but it cures If I were to fortisie my Body against a Martial Diseas I would do it by this Herb as soon as by any and may do it it may be when time shal serve Plums THese are so well known that they need no Description Vertues and Use. As there is great diversity of the kinds so is there in the operations of Plums for some that are sweet moisten the Stomach and make the Belly soluble those that are sowr quench thirst more and bind the Belly the moist and waterish do soonest corrupt in the Stomach but the firm do nourish more and offend less The dried Fruit sold by the Grocers under the name of Damask Prunes do somwhat loosen the Belly and being stewed are often used both in health and sickness to rellish the Mouth and Stomach to procure Appetite and a little to open the Body allay Choller and cool the Stomach Plum-tree Leavs boyled in Wine is good to wash and gargle the Mouth and Throat to dry the Flux of Rhewm coming to the Pallat Gums or Almonds of the Ears The Gum of the Trees is good to break the Stone The Gum or Leavs boyled in Vinegar and applied killeth Tetters and Ring-worms Mathiolus saith The Oyl pressed out of the Kernels of the Stones as Oyl of Almonds is made is good against the inflamed Piles the Tumors or Swellings of Ulcers Hoarsness of the voice roughness of the Tongue and Throat and likewise the pains in the Ears And that five ounces of the said Oyl taken with one ounce of Muscadine driveth forth the Stone and helpeth the Chollick All Plums are under Venus and are like Women some better some worse Pollipody of the Oak Description THis is a smal Herb consisting of nothing but Roots and Leavs bearing neither Stalk Flower nor Seed as it is thought If hath three or four Leavs rising from the Root every one singly by it self of about a hand length which are winged consisting of many smal narrow Leavs cut into the middle rib standing on each side of the Stalk large below and smaller up to the top not dented or notched on the edges at all as the Male Fern hath of a sad green colour and smooth on the upper side but on the underside somwhat rough by reason of certain yellowith spots set thereon The Root is smaller than ones little finger lying aslope or creeping along under the upper drust of the earth brownish on the outside and greenish within of a sweetish harshness in tast set with certain rough Knags on each side thereof having also much Mossiness or yellow hairiness upon it and some Fibres underneath it whereby it is nourished Place It groweth as well upon old rotten stumps or trunks of Trees as Oak Beech Hazel Willow or any other as in the Woods under them and upon old Mud Wals as also in Mossie Stony and gravelly places neer unto Woods That which groweth upon Oaks is accounted the best but the quantity thereof is scarce sufficient for the common use Time It being alwaies green may be gathered for use at any time Vertues and Use. Mesues who is called the Physitians Evangelist for the certainty of his Medicines and the truth of his Opinions saith That it drieth up thin Humors digesteth thick and tough and purgeth burnt Choller and especially tough and thick Flegm and thin Flegm also even from the Joynts and is therfore good for those that are troubled with Melancholly or Quartan Agues especially if it be taken in Whey or Honeyed Water or in Barley water or the Broth of a Chicken with Epithimum or with Beets and Mallows It is also good for the hardness of the Spleen and for prickings or Stitches in the sides as also for the Chollick some use to put to it some Fennel Seeds or Annis Seeds or Ginger to correct that loathing it bringeth to the Stomach which is more than needeth it being a safe and gentle Medicine fit for al persons at al seasons which daily experience confirmith And an ounce of it may be given at a time in a Decoction if there be not Saena or some other strong purger put with it Adram or two of the Pouder of the dried Roots taken fasting in a cup of Honeyed water worketh gently and for the purposes aforesaid The distilled water both of Roots and Leavs is much commended for the Quartan Ague to be taken for many daies together as also against Melancholly or fearful or troublesom sleeps or Dreams and with some Sugar Candy dissolved therein is good against the Cough shortness of breath and Wheesings and those distillations of thin Rhewin upon the Lungs which caus Phtisicks and oftentimes Consumptions The fresh Roots beaten smal or the Pouder of the dried Roots mixed with Honey and applied to any Member that is out of Joynt doth much help it Applied also to the Nose cureth the Diseas called Polipus which is a piece of Flesh growing therein which in time stoppeth the passage of breath through that Nostril And it helpeth those clefts or Chops that come between the fingers or Toes And why I pray must Pollipodium of the Oak only be used Gentle Colledg of Physitians can you give me but a glimps of a reason for it is it only becaus it is dearest will you never leave your coverousness till your lives leave you The Truth is that which grows upon the Earth is best 't is an Herb of Saturn and he seldom climbs trees to purge Melancholly if the humor be otherwise chuse your Pollipodium accordingly The Poplar-Tree Description THere are two sorts of
and upon the Lungs causing a continual Cough the Fore-runner of a Consumption It helpeth also Hoarsness of the Throat and when one hath lost their voice which the Oyl of the Seed doth likewise The black Seed boyled in Wine and drunk is said also to stay the Flux of the Belly and Womens Courses The empty thels of the Poppy Heads are usually boyled in water and given to procure rest and sleep so do the Leavs in the same manner as also if the Head and Temples be bathed with the Decoction warm or with the Oyl of Poppies the green Leaves or Heads bruised and applied with a little Vinegar or made into a Pultis with Barley Meal or Hogs Greas it cooleth and tempereth al Inflamations as also the Diseas called St. Anthonies Fire It is generally used in Treacle and Methridate and in all other Medicines that are made to procure rest and sleep and to eas pains in the Head as well as in other parts It is also used to cool Inflamations Agues or Phrensies and to stay Defluxions which caus a Cough or Consumption and also other Fluxes of the Belly or Womens Courses It is also put into hollow Teeth to eas the pain and hath been found by experience to eas the pain of the Gout The Wild Poppy or Corn Rose as Mathiolus saith is good to prevent the Falling-sickness The Syrup made with the Flowers is with good effect given to those that have the Pluresie and the dried Flowers also either boyled in water or made into Pouder and drunk either in the Distilled Water of them or in some other Drink worketh the like effect The Distilled Water of the Flowers is held to be of much good use against Surfets being drunk evening and morning It is also more cooling than any of the other Poppies and therefore cannot but be as effectual in hot Agues Phrensies and other Inflamations either inward or outward the Syrup or Water to be used therein or the green Leavs used outwardly either in an Oyntment as it is in Populeon a cooling Oyntment or any other wales applied Galen saith the Seed is dangerous to be used inwardly The Herb is Lunar and of the Juyce of it is made Opium only for lucre of Money they cheat you and tell you 't is a kind of Tear or some such like thing that drops from Poppies when they weep and that is some where beyond the Sea I know not where beyond the Moon Purslane THe Garden Purslane being used as a Sallet Herb is so well known that it needeth no Description I shal therefore only speak of its Vertues as followeth Vertues and use It is good to cool any heat in the Liver Blood Reins and Stomach and in hot Agues nothing better It stayeth hot and Chollerick Fluxes of the Belly Womens Courses the Whites and Gonorrhea or running of the Reins the Distillations from the Head and pains therein proceeding of heat want of sleep or the Phrensie The Seed is more effectual than the Herb and is of singular good use to cool the heat and sharpness of Urine and the outragious Lust of the Body Venerious Dreams and the like insomuch that the overfrequent use hereof exinguisheth the Heat and Vertue of Natural Procreation The Seed bruised and boyled in Wine and given to Children expelleth the Worms The Juyce of the Herb is held as effectual to all the purposes aforesaid as also to stay Vomitings and taken with some Sugar or Honey helpeth an old and dry Cough shortness of Breath and the Phtisick and stayeth immoderate Thirst. The Distilled water of the Herb is used by many as the more pleasing with a little Sugar to work the same effects The Juyce also is singular good in the Inflamations and Ulcers of the secret parts in man or woman as â—â— of the Bowels and Hemorrhoids â—hen they are Ulcerous or Excoriations in them The Herb bruised and applied to the Forehead and Temples allayeth excessive heat therein hindring rest and sleep and applied to the Eyes taketh away the redness and Inflamation in them and those other parts where Pushes Wheals Pimples St. Anthonies Fire and the like break forth especially if a little Vinegar be put to it And being laid to the Neck with as much of Galls and Linseed together taketh away the pains therein and the Crick in the Neck The Juyce is used with Oyl of Roses for the said causes or for Blastings by Lightning and Burnings by Gun-Pouder or for Womens sore Breastss and to allay the heat in all other Sores or Hurts applied also to the Navels of Children that stick forth it helpeth them It is also good for sore Mouths and Gums that are swollen to fasten loos Teeth Camerarius saith That the distilled water used by some took away the pain of their Teeth when all other Remedies failed and that the thickned Juyce made in Pills with the Pouder of Gum Tragacanth and Arabick being taken prevaileth much to help those that make a bloody water Applied to the Gout it easeth pains thereof and helpeth the hardness of Sinews if it come not of the Cramp or a cold caus 'T is an Herb of the Moon See Lettice Primroses THese are so well known that they need no Description Of the Leavs of Primroses is made as fine a Salve to heal green Wounds as any is that I know you shall be taught to make Salves of any Herb at the latter end of the Book make this as you are taught there and do not you that have any Ingenuity in you see your poor Neighbors go with wounded Limbs when a Halfpenny cost will heal them Privet Description OUr common Privet is carried up with many slender Branches to a reasonable height and breadth to cover Arbours Bowrs and Banquetting Houses and brought wrought and cut into many forms of Men Horses Birds c. which though at first supported groweth afterwards strong of it self It beareth long and narrow green Leavs by couples and sweet smelling white Flowers in tufts at the ends of the Branches which turn into smal black Berries that have a Purplish Juyce within them and some Seeds that are flat on the one side with a hole or dent therein Place It groweth in this Land in divers Woods Time Our Privet Flowreth in June and July The Berries are ripe in August and September Vertues and Use. It is little used in Physick with us in these times more than in Lotions to wash Sores and Sore Mouths and to cool Inflamations and dry up Fluxes Yet Mathiolus saith it serveth to all the uses for which Ciprus or the East Privet is appointed by Dioscorides and Galen He further saith That the Oyl that is made of the Flowers of Privet infused therin and set in the Sun is singular good for the Inflamations of Wounds and for the Headach coming of an hot caus There is a sweet water also distilled from the Flowers that is good for all those Diseases
extenuate fat corpulent Bodies What an Infamy is cast upon the Ashes of Methridates or Methradates as the Augustanes read his name by unworthy people they that deserve no good report themselves love to give nonâ— to others Viz. That that renowned King of Pontus fortified his Body by Poyson against Poyson He cast out Devils by Beelzebub the Prince of Devils what a sot is he that knows not if he had accustomed his Body to cold Poysons hot Poysons would have dispatch'd him or the contrary if not corrosions would have done it the whol world is at this very time beholding to him for his Studies in Physick and he that useth the quantity of but a Hazel Nut of that Recept every morning to which his name is adjoyned shall to admiration preserve his Body in health if he do but consider that Rue is an Herb of the Sun and under Leo and gather it and the rest accordingly Rupture wort Description THis spreadeth very many threddy Branches round about upon the ground about a span long devided into many other smaller parts full of small Joynts set very thick together whereat come forth two very small Leavs of a fresh yellowish green colour branches and all where groweth forth also a number of exceeding smal yellowish Flowers scarce to be discerned from the Stalks and Leavs which turn into Seed as smal as the very dust The Root is very long and smal thrusting down deep into the ground This hath neither smel nor tast at first but afterward hath a little astringent tast without any manifest heat yet a little bitter and sharp withal Place It groweth in dry sandy and Rockie places Time It is fresh and green all the Summer Vertues and use Rupture wort hath not his name in vain for it is found by experience to cure the Rupture not only in Children but also in Elder Persons if the Diseas be not too inveterate by taking a dram of the Pouder of the dried Herb every day in Wine for certain daies together Or the Decoction made in Wine and drunk Or the Juyce or distilled water of the green Herb taken in the same manner and helpeth all other Fluxes either in men or Women Vomitings also and the Gonorrhea or running of the Reins being taken any of the waies aforesaid It doth also most assuredly help those that have the Strangury or have their Urine stopped or are troubled with the Stone or Gravel in their Reins or Bladder The same also helpeth much all Stitches in the Side all griping pains in the Stomach or Belly the Obstructions of the Liver and cureth the yellow Jaundice likewise It killeth also the Worms in Children Being outwardly applied it conglutineth Wounds notably and helpeth much to stay Defluxions of Rhewm from the Head to the Eyes Nose and Teeth being bruised green and bound thereto Or the Decoction of the dried Herb to bath the Forehead and Temples or the Nape of Neck behind It also drieth up the moisture of Fistulous Ulcers or any others that are foul and spreading They say Saturn causeth Ruptures if he do he doth no more than he can cure if you want wit he will teach you though to your cost this Herb is Saturns own and is a notable Antivenerian Rushes ALthough there are many kinds of Rushes yet I shall only here insist upon those which are best known and most Medicinal as the Bulrushes and other of the soâ—t and smooth kinds which grow so commonly in almost every place of this Land and are so generally noted that I suppose it needless to trouble you with any Description of them Briefly then take the Vertues of them as followeth Vertues and Uices The Seeds of these soft Rushes saith Dioscorides and Galen toasted saith Pliny being drunk in Wine and Water stayeth the Lask and Womens Courses when they come down too abundantly but it causeth Headach It provoketh sleep likewife but must be given with caution lest the party that takes it wake not until the Resurrection Pliny saith The Root boyled in water to the consumption of one third helpeth the Cough Thus you see that Conveniences have their Inconveniences and Vertue is seldom unaccompanied with some Vices What I have written concerning Rushes is to satisfie my Country-mens Question Are our Rushes good for nothing Yes and as good let alone as taken There are Remedies enough without them for every Diseas and therforo as the Proverb is I care not a Rush for them or rather they will do you as much good as if one had given you a Rush. Rye THis is so well known in all the Countries of this Land and especially to the Country people who feed much thereon that if I should describe it they would presently say I might well have spared that Labor Its Vertues follow Vertues and use Rye is more digesting than Wheat The Bread and the Leaven thereof ripeneth and breaketh Impostumes Boyls and other Swellings The Meal of Rye put between a double cloth and moistned with a little Vinegar and heated in a Pewter dish set over a Chafing-dish of coals and bound fast to the Head while it is hot both much eas the continual pains of the Head Mathiolus saith That the ashes of Rye straw put into Water and suffered therein a day and a night and the Chops of the Hands or Feet washed therewith doth heal them Saffron THe Herb needs no Description it being known generally where it grows Place It grows frequently at Walden in Essex and in Cambridg-sbire Vertues and use It is an Herb of the Sun and under the Lion and therfore you need not demand a reason why it strengthens the heart so exceedingly Let not abov ten grains be given at one time for if the Sun which is the Fountain of Life may dazle the Eyes and make them blind a Cordial being taken in an immoderate quantity may hurt the Heart instead of helping it It quicken the Brain for the Sun is exalted in V as well as he hath his House in SL it help Consumption of the Lungs help difficulty of breathing it is an excellent thing in Epidemical Diseases as Pestilences smal Pox and Measles It is a notable expulsive Medicine and a notable Remedy for the yellow Jaundice My own Opinion is but I have no Author for it that Hermodactils is nothing else but the Roots of Saffron dried and my reason is that the Roots of all Crocus both white and yellow purge Flegm as Hermodactils do and if you please to dry the Roots of any Crocus neither your eye nor your tast shal distinguish it from Hermodactils Sage OUr ordinary Garden Sage needeth no Description Time It Flowreth in or about July Vertues and use A Decoction of the Leavs and Branches of Sage made and drunk saith Dioscorides provoketh Urine bringeth down Womens Courses helpeth to expel the dead Child and causeth the hairs to become black It staieth the bleeding of Wounds and clenseth foul Ulcers or Sores The seid
Decoction made in Wine taketh away the itching of the Cods if they be bathed therwith Agrippa saith That if Women that cannot conceive by reason of the moist slipperiness of their Wombs shall take a quantity of the Juyce of Sage with a little Salt for four daies before they company with their Husbands it will help them not only to Conceive but also to retain the Birth without miscarrying Orpheus saith Three spoonfuls of the Juyce of Sage taken fasting with a little Honey doth presently stay the spitting or casting up of Blood For them that are in a Consumption these Pills are much commended Take of Spicknard and Ginger of each two drams of the Seed of Sage toasted at the fire eight drams of long Pepper twelve drams all these being brought into fine Pouder put thereto so much Juyce of Sage as may make them into a Mass for Pills taking a dram of them every morning fasting and so likewise at night drinking a little pure Water after them Mathiolus saith it is very profitable for all manner of pains of the Head coming of cold and Rhewmatick Humors as also for all pains of the Joynts whether used inwardly or outwardly and therfore helpeth the Falling-sickness the Lethargy such as are dull and heavy of spirit the Palsey and is of much use in an Defluxions of Rhewm from the Head and for the Diseases of the Chest or Preast The Leavs of Sage and Nettles bruised together and laid upon the Impostume that riseth behind the Ears doth aslwage it much The juyce of Sage taken in warm water helpeth a Hoarsness and the Cough The Leavs sodden in Wine and laid upon the place affected with the Palsey helpeth much if the Decoction be drunk also Sage taken with Wormwood is used for the bloody Flux Pliny saith it procureth Womens Courses and stayeth them coming down too fast helpeth the stinging and biting of Serpents and killeth the Worms that breed in the Ears and in Sores Sage is of excellent use to help the Memory warming and quickning the senses and the Conserve made of the Flowers is used to the same purpose and also for all the former recited Diseases The Juyce of Sage drunk with Vinegar hath been of good use in the time of Plague at all times Gargles likewise are made with Sage Rosemary Honeysuckles and Plantane boyled in Wine or Water with some Honey and Allum put thereto to wash sore Mouthes and Throats Cankers or the secret parts of man or woman as need requireth And with other hot and comfortable Herbs Sage is boyled to bath the Body or Legs in the Summer time especially to warm cold Joynts or Sinews troubled with the Palsey or Cramp and to comfort and strengthen the parts It is much commended against the Stitch or pains in the side coming of Wind if the place be fomented warm with the Decoction thereof in Wine and the Herb after the boyling be laid warm also thereunto Jupiter claims this and bid me tell you it is good for the Liver and to breed good Blood VVood-Sage Description VVood-Sage riseth up with square hoary Stalks two foot high at the least with two Leavs set at every Joynt somwhat like other Sage Leavs but smaller softer whiter and rounder and a little dented about the edges and smelling somwhat strongly At the tops of the Stalks and Branches stand the Flowers on a slender long Spike turning themselves all one way when they blow and are of a pale and whitish colour smaller than Sage but hooded and gaping like unto them The Seed is blackish and round four usually set in a husk together The Root is long and stringy with diverse Fibres thereat and abideth many yeers Place It groweth in Woods and by Wood-sides as also in diverse Fields and by-Lanes in this Land Time It Flowreth in June July and August Vertues and Use. The Decoction of Wood-Sage provoketh Urine and Womens Courses it also provoketh Sweat digesteth Humors and discusseth Swellings and Nodes in the Flesh and is therefore thought to be good against the French Pox. The Decoction of the green Herb made with Wine is a safe and sure Remedy for those who by falls bruises or Blows doubt some Vein to be inwardly broken to disperse and avoid the congealed blood and to consolidate the Vein It is also good for such as are inwardly or outwardly bursten the drink used inwardly and the Herb applied outwardly The same used in the same manner is found to be a sure Remedy for the Palsey The Juyce of the Herb or the Pouder thereof dried is good for moist Ulcers and sores in the Legs or other parts to dry them and caus them to heal the more speedily It is no less effectual also in green Wounds to be used upon any occasion Solomons Seal Description THe common Solomons Seal riseth up with a round Stalk about half a yard high bowing or bending down to the top set with single Leavs one above another somwhat large and like the Leavs of the LillyConvalley or May Lilly with an eye of blewish upon the green with some ribs therein and more yellowish underneath At the foot of every Leaf almost from the bottom up to the top of the Stalk come forth small long white and hollow pendulous Flowers somwhat like the Flowers of May-Lilly but ending in five long points for the most part two together at the end of a long Footstalk and somtimes but one and sometimes also two Stalks with Flowers at the Foot of a Leaf which are without any scent at all and stand all on one side of the Stalk After they are past come in their places smal round Berries green at the first and blackish green tending to blewness when they are ripe wherein lie smal white hard and stony Seed The Root is of the thickness of ones finger or Thumb white and knobbed in some places with a flat round circle representing a Seal whereof it took the name lying along under the upper crust of the Earth and not growing downward but with many fibres underneath Place It is frequent in diverse places of this Land as namely in a Wood two miles from Canterbury by Fishpool-Hill as also in a bushy Close belonging to the Parsonage of Alderbury neer Clarindon two miles from Salisbury in Chesson Wood on Chesson Hill between Newington and Sittingborn in Kent and in diverse other places in Essex and other Counties Time It Flowreth about May The Root abideth and shooteth anew every yeer Vertues and Use. The Root of Solomons Seal is found by experience to be available in Wounds Hurts and outward Sores to heal and close up the lips of those that are green and to dry up and restrain the Flux of Humors to those that are old It is singular good to stay Vomitings and Bleedings wheresoever as also al Fluxes in man or woman whether the Whites or Reds in Women or the running of the Reins in men also to knit any Joynt
be they never so foul or stinking by washing and gargling them therewith and likewise for such Sores as happen in the privy parts of man or Woman Briefly whatsoever hath been said of Bugle or Sanicle may be found herein Saturn owns this Herb and 't is of sober condition like him Sawce alone or Jack by the Hedg Description THe lower Leavs of this are rounder than those that grow towards the tops of the Stalks and are set singly one at a Joynt being somwhat round and broad and pointed at the ends dented also about the edges somwhat resembling Nettle Leavs for the form but of a fresher green colour and not rough or pricking The Flowers are very smal and white growing at the tops of the Stalks one above another which being past there follow smal and long round pods wherein are cantained smal round Seed somwhat blackish The Root is stringy and threddy perishing every yeer after it hath given Seed and raiseth it self again of its own sowing The Plant or any part thereof being bruised smelleth of Garlick but more pleasantly and tasteth somwhat hot and sharp almost like unto Rocket Place It groweth under Walls and by Hedg sides and Pathwaies in Fields in many places Time It Flowreth in June July and August Vertues and Use. This is eaten by many Country people as Sawce to their Salt-fish and helpeth well to digest the crudities and other corrupt Humors ingendred thereby it warmeth also the Stomach and causeth digestion The Juyce thereof boyled with Honey is accounted to be as good as Hedg-Muster for the Cough to cut and expectorate the tough Flegm The Seed bruised and boyled in Wine is a singular good Remedy for the Wind Chollick or the the Stone being drunk warm It is also given to Women troubled with the Mother both to drink and the Seed put into a Cloth and applied while it is warm is of singular good use The Leavs also or Seed boyled is good to be used in Clysters to ease the pains of the Stone The green Leavs are held to be good to heal the Ulcers in the Legs VVinter and Summer Savory BOth these are so well known being entertained as constant Inhabitants in our Gardens that they need no Description Vertues and Use. They are both of them hot and dry especially the Summer kind which is both sharp and quick in tast expelling Wind in the Stomach and Bowels and is a present help for the rising of the Mother procured by Wind provoketh Urine and Womens Courses and is much commended for Women with Child to take inwardly and to smell often unto It cutteth tough Flegm in the Chest and Lungs and helpeth to expectorate in the more easily It quencheth the dull spirits in the Lethargy the Juyce thereof being snuffed or cast up into the Nostrils The Juyce dropped into the Eyes cleareth a dull sight if it proceed of â—â—â— cold humors distilling from the Brain The Juyce heated with a little Oyl of Roses and dropped into the Ears easeth them of the noise and singing in them and of deafness also Outwardly applied w th white flower in manner of a Pultis it giveth ease to the Sciatica and Palsey'd Members heating and warming them and taketh away their pains It also taketh away the pain that comes of stinging by Bees Wasps c. Mercury claims the Dominion over this Herb neither is there a better Remedy against the Chollick and Illiack passions than this Herb keep it dry by you all the yeer if you love your selves and your ease as 't is an hundred pound to a penny if you do not keep it dry make Conserves and Syrups of it for your use and withal take notice that the Summer kind is the best The common white Saxifrage Description THis hath a few smal reddish Kernels or Roots covered with some Skins lying among diverse smal blackish Fibres which send forth diverse round faint or yellowish green Leavs and grayish underneath lying above the ground unevenly dented about the edges somwhat hairy every one upon a little footstalk from whence riseth up a round brownish hairy green stalk two or three foot high with a few such like round Leaves as grow below but smaller and somwhat branched at the top whereon stand pretty large white Flowers of five Leaves apiece with some yellow threds in the middle standing in long crested brownish green Husks After the Flowers are past there ariseth somtimes a round hard head by forked at the top wherein is contained small blackish Seed but usually they fall away without any Seed and it is the Kernels or grains of the Root which are usually called the white Saxifrage Seed and so used Place It groweth in many places of our Land as well in the lower moist as in the upper dry corners of Meadows and graffy sandy places It used to grow neer Lambs Conduit on the back side of Grayes-Inn Time It Flowreth in May and is then gathered as well for that which is called the Seed as to distil for it quickly perisheth down to the ground when any hot weather comes Vertues and use It is very effectual to clense the Reins and Bâ—dder and to dissolve the Stone ingendred in them and to expel it and the Gravel by Urine to provoke Urine also being stopped and to help the Strangury for which purposes the Decoction of the Herb or Roots in white Wine or the Pouder of the smal Kernelly Roots which is called the Seed taken in white Wine or in the same Decoction made with white Wine is most usual The Distilled water of the whol Herb Roots and Flowers is most familiar to be taken It provoketh also Womens Courses and freeth and clenseth the Stomach and Lungs from thick and tough Flegm that troubles them There is not many better Medicines to break the Stone than this Burnet Saxifrage Description YHe greater sort of our English Burnet Saxifrage groweth up with diverse long Stalks of winged Leavs set directly opposite one to another on both sides each being somwhat broad a little pointed and dented about the edges of a sad green colour At the tops of the Stalks stand Umbels of white Flowers after which comes small and blackish Seed The Root is long and whitish abiding long Our lesser Burnet Saxifrage hath much finer Leaves than the former and very smal and set one against another deeply jagged about the edges and of the same colour as the former The Umbels of Flowers are white and the Seed very small and so is the Root being also somwhat hot and quick in tast Place These grow in most Meadows of this Land and are easie to be found being well sought for among the Grass wherein many times they lie hid scarcely to be discern'd Time They Flower about July and their Seed is ripe in August Vertues and use These Saxifrages are as hot as Pepper and Tragus saith by his experience they are more wholsom They have the
little dented in the middle of a pale Rose colour almost white somtimes deeper and somtimes paler of a reasonable good scent Place It groweth wild in many low and wet grounds of this Land by the Brooks and sides of running Waters Time It Flowreth usually in July and so continueth all August and part of September before they be quite spent Vertues and use The Country people in diverse places do use to bruise the Leaves of Sopewort and lay it to their Fingers Hands or Legs when they are cut to heal them up again Some make great boast there of that it is Diuretical to provoke Urine and thereby to expel Gravel and the Stone in the Reins or Kidneys and do also account it singular good to avoid Hydropical waters thereby to cure the disease of the Dropsie And they no less extol it to perform an absolute cure in the French Pox more than either Sarsaparilla Gujacum or China can do which how true it is I leave to others to judg Sorrel OUr ordinary Sorrel which groweth in Gardens and also wild in the Fields is so well known that it needeth no Description Vertues and Use. Sorrel is prevalent in all hot Diseases to cool any Inflamation and heat of Blood in Agues Pestilential or Chollerick or other sicknesses and sainting rising from heat and to refresh the overspent Spirits with the violence of furious or fiery fits of Agues to quench Thirst and procure an Appetite in fainting or decayd Stomachs for it resisteth the putrefaction of the Blood killeth Worms and is as a Cordial to the heart which the Seed doth more effectually being more drying and binding and thereby stayeth the hot Fluxes of Womens Courses or of Humors in the Bloody Flux or Flux of the Stomach The Roots also in a Decoction or in Pouder is effectual for all the said purposes Both Roots and Seed as well as the Herb is held powerful to resist the poyson of the Scorpion The Decoction of the Roots is taken to help the Jaundice and to expel Gravel and the Stone in the Reins or Kidneys The Decoction of the Flowers made with Wine and drunk helpeth the black Jaundice as also the inward Ulcers of the Body or Bowels A Syrup made with the Juyce of Sorrel and Fumitary is a Soveraign help to kill those sharp Humors that cause the Itch. The Juyce thereof with a little Vinegar serveth well to be used outwardly for the same cause and is also profitable for Tetters Ringworms c. It helpeth also to discuss the Kernels in the Throat and the Juyce gargled in the Mouth helpeth the Sores therein The Leaves wrapped up in a Colewoort Leaf and roasted under the Embers and applied to a hard Impostume Botch Boyl or Plague Sore both ripeneth and breaketh it The Distilled water of the Herb is of much good use for all the purposes aforesaid Venus owns it and she will never deny the Herb that follows Wood Sorrel Description THis groweth low upon the ground having a number of Leaves coming from the Root made of three Leaves like a Trefoyl but broad at the ends and cut in the middle of a faint yellowish green colour every one standing on a long Footstalk which at their first coming up are close folded together to the Stalk but opening themselves afterwards and are of a fine sowr rellish and yeelding a Juyce which will turn red when it is clarified and maketh a most dainty clear Syrup Among these Leavs riseth up diverse slender weak Footstalks with every one of them a Flower at the top consisting of five small pointed Leaves Star fashion of a white colour in most places and in some dash'd over with a small shew of blush on the back side only After the Flowers are past follow smal round heads with small yellowish Seed in them The Roots are nothing but smal strings fastned to the end of a smal long piece all of them being of a yellowish colour Place It groweth in many places of our Land in Woods and Wood sides where they be moist and shadowed and in other places not too much open to the Sun Time It Flowreth in April and May. Vertues and Use. Wood Sorrel serveth to all purposes that the other Sorrels do and is more effectual in hindring the putrefaction of Blood and Ulcers in the Mouth and Body and in cooling and tempering heats Inflamations to quench thirst to strengthen a weak Stomach to procure an appetite to stay Vomiting and very excellent in any contagious sickness or Pestilential Feavers The Syrup made of the Juyce is effectual in all the causes afore said and so is the Distilled Water of the Herb also Spunges or Linnen Cloathes wet in the Juyce and applied outwardly to any hot Swellings or Inflamations doth much cool and help them The same Juyce taken and gargled in the Mouth and after it is spit forth fresh taken doth wonderfully help a foul stinking Canker or Ulcer therein It is singular good in Wounds Thrusts and Stabs in the Body to stay bleeding and to clense â— and heal the Wounds speedily and helpeth to stay any hot Defluxions into the Throat or Lungs Sow-Thistles THese are generally so well known that they need no Description Place They grow in our Gardens and manured Grounds and somtimes by old Walls the path sides of Fields and High-waies Vertues and use Sow-thistles are cooling and somwhat binding and are very fit to cool an hot Stomach and to ease the gnawing pains thereof The Herb boyled in Wine is very helpful to stay the dissolutions of the Stomach And the Milk that is taken from the Stalks when they are broken given in drink is beneficial to those that are short Winded and have a wheesing withal Pliny saith that it hath caused the Gravel and Stone to be voided by Urine and that the eating thereof helpeth a stinking breath Three spoonfuls of the Juyce thereof taken in white Wine warmed and some Oyl put thereto causeth Women in Travel to have so easie and speedy delivery that they may be able to walk presently after The said Juyce taken in warm drink helpeth the Strangury and pains in making water The Decoction of the Leaves and Stalks causeth abundance of Milk in Nurses and their Children to be well coloured and is good for those whose Milk doth curdle in their Breasts The Juyce boiled or throughly heated with a little Oyl of Bitter Almonds in the Pill of a Pomegranate and dropped into the Ears is a sure Remedy for Deafness singings and all other Diseases in them The Herb bruised or the Juyce is profitably applied to all hot Inflamations in the Eyes or wheresoever else and for Wheals Blisters or other the like eruptions of heat in the Skin as also for the heat and itching of the Hemorrhoids and the heat and sharpness of Humors in the Secret parts of man or Woman The distilled water of the Herb is not only effectual for all the Diseases aforesaid
to be taken inwardly with a little Sugar which Medicine the daintiest Stomach will not refuse but outwardly by applying Cloathes or Spunges wetted therein It is wonderful good for Women to wash their Faces therewith to cleer the Skin and give a lustre thereto Southernwood THis is so well known to be an Ordinary Inhabitant in our Gardens that I shall not need to trouble you with any Description thereof The Vertues are as followeth Time It Flowreth for the most part in July and August Vertues and use Dioscorides saith That the Seed bruised heated in warm Water drunk helpeth those that are Bursten or troubled with Cramps or Convulsions of the Sinews the Sciatica or difficulty in making water and bringeth down Womens Courses The same taken in Wine is an Antidote or Counter poyson against all deadly Poyson and driveth away Serpents and other Venemous Creatures as also the smel of the Herb being Burnt doth the same The Oyl thereof anointed on the Backbone before the Fits of Agues come taketh them away it taketh away Inflamations in the Eyes if it be put with some part of a roasted Quince and boyled with a few crums of bread and applied Boyled with Barely Meal it taketh away Pimples Pushes or Wheals that rise in the Face or other part of the Body The Seed as well as the dried Herb is often given to kill the Worms in Children The Herb bruised and laid to helpeth to draw forth Splinters and Thorns out of the Flesh. The Ashes thereof dryeth up and healeth old Ulcers that are without Inflamation although by the sharpness thereof it biteth sore and putteth them to sore pains as also the Sores in the privy Parts of man or woman The Ashes mingled with old Sallet Oyl helpeth those that have their hair fallen and are bald causing the hair to grow again either on the Head or Beard Diâ—rantes saith That the Oyl made of Southernwood and put among the Oyntments that are used against the French Diseas is very effectual and likewise killeth Lice in the Head The Distilled Water of the Herb is said to help them much that are troubled with the Stone as also for the Diseases of the Spleen and Mother The Germans commend it for a singular Wound Herb and therefore call it Stabwort It is held by all Writers Antient and Modern to be more offensive to the stomach than Wormwood Spignel Description THe Roots of common Spignel do spread much and deep in the ground many strings or branches growing from one Head which is hairy at the top of a blackish brown colour on the outside and white within smelling well and of an Aromatical tast from whence rise sundry long stalks of most fine cut Leaves like hairs smaller than Dill set thick on both sides of the Stalks and of a good scent Among these Leaves rise up round stif stalks with few Joynts and Leaves at them and at the tops an Umbel of fine pure white Flowers at the edges whereof somtimes will be seen a shew of reddish blush colour especially before they be full blown and are succeeded by smal somwhat round Seed bigger than the ordinary Fennel and of a browner colour devided into two parts and crested on the back as most of the Umbelliferous Seeds are Place It groweth wild in Lancashire Yorkshire and other Northern Countries and is also planted in Gardens Vertues and Use. Galen saith The Roots of Spignel are available to provoke Urine and Womans Courses but if too much thereof be taken it causeth Headach The Roots boyled in Wine or Water and drunk helpeth the Strangury and stoppings of the Urine the Wind swellings and pains in the Stomach pains of the Mother and all Joynt Aches If the Pouder of the Roots be mixed with Honey and the same taken as a licking Medicine it breaketh tough Flegm and drieth up the Rhewm that falleth on the Lungs The Roots are accounted very effectual against the stinging or biting of any Venemous Creature and is one of the Ingredients in Methâ—idate and other Antidotes for the same Spleenwort or Ceterach Description THe smooth Spleenwort from a black threddy and bushy Root sendeth forth many long single Leaves cut in on both sides into round dents almost to the middle which is not so hard as that of Pollipodie each devision being not alwaies set opposite unto the other but between each smooth and of a light green on the upper side and a dark yellowish roughness on the back folding or rolling it self inward at the first springing up Place It groweth as well upon stone walls as moist and shadowy places about Bristol and other the West parts plentifully as also on Framingham Castle on Beckonsfield Church in Bakshire at Strowde in Kent and elswhere and abideth green all the Winter Vertues and Use. It is generally used against infirmities of the Spleen it helpeth the strangury and wasteth the Stone in the Bladder and is good against the yellow Jaundice and the Hiccough but the use of it in Women hindreth Conception Mathiolus saith That if a dram of the dust that is on the back side of the Leaves be mixed with half a dram of Amber in Pouder and taken with the Juyce of Purslane or Plantane it will help the running of the Reins Speedily and that the Herb and Root being boyled and taken helpeth all Melanchollick Diseases and those especially that arise from the French Disease Camerarius saith That the Distilled water thereof being drunk is very effectual against the Stone in the Reins and Bladder and that the Ly that is made of the Ashes thereof being drunk for some time together helpeth Splenetick persons It is used in outward Remedies for the same purpose Star-thistle Description THe common Star-thistle hath diverse long and narrow Leaves lying next the ground cut or torn on the edges somwhat deeply into many almost even parts soft or a little woolley all over the green among which rise up diverse weak stalks parted into many Branches all lying or leaning down to the ground that it seemeth a pretty Bush set with diverse the like devided Leaves up to the tops where severally do stand long and small whitish green heads set with very sharp and long white pricks no part of the Plant being else prickly which are somwhat yellowish out of the middle whereof riseth the Flower composed of many small reddish purple threds and in the Heads after the Flowers are past come small whitish round Seed lying in down as others do The Root is small long and woody perishing every yeer and rising again of its own sowing Place It groweth wild in the Fields about London in many places as at Mile-end-Green in Finsbury Fields beyond the Wind-mils and many other places Time It Flowreth early and Seedeth in July and somtimes in August Vertues and use The Seed of this Star-thistle made into Pouder and drunk in Wine provoketh Urine and helpeth to break the Stone and drive it
toward the top into many parts where the Leaves grow smaller again every one standing singly and never two at any Joynt The Flowers are very smal and yellow standing in tufts at the heads of the Branches where afterwards grow the Seed smal and blackish many thick thust together The Root is smal long and woody perishing every yeer after Seed time and rising again plentifully of its own sowing Place It is found growing in many Corn Fields and Pasture grounds in this Land Time It Flowreth in July and the Seed is ripe in August Vertues and Use. Thoroughwax is of a singular good use for all sorts of Bruises and Wounds either inward or outward and old Ulcers and Sores likewise if the Decoction of the Herb with water or Wine be drunk and the places washed therwith or the Juyce or green Herb bruised or boyled either by it self or with other Herbs in Oyl or Hogs Grease to be made into an Oyntment to serve all the yeer The Decoction of the Herb or the Pouder of the dried Herb taken inwardly and the same or the green Leaves bruised and applied outwardly is singular good to cure Ruptures and Burstings especially in Children before it be two old Being also applied with a little Flower and Wax to Childrens Navils that stick forth it helpeth them Tormentil Description THis hath many reddish slender weak Branches rising from the Root lying upon the ground or rather leaning than standing upright with many short Leaves that stand closer to the Stalks than Cinkfoyl doth which this is very like with the Footstalk encompassing the Branches in several places but those that grow next to the ground are set upon long Footstalks each whereof are like the Leaves of Cinkfoyl but somwhat longer and lesser and dented about the edges many of them devided but into five Leaves but most of them into sevens whence it is also called Setfoyl yet some may have six and some eight according to the fertility of the Soyl At the tops of the Branches stand diverse smal yellow Flowers consisting of five Leaves like those of Cinkfoyl but smaller The Root is smaller than Bistort somwhat thick but blacker without and not so red within yet somtimes a little crooked having many blackish fibres thereat Place It groweth as well in Woods and shadowy places as in the open Champion Country about the borders of Fields in many places of this Land and almost in every Broom Field in Essex Time It Flowreth all the Summer long Vertues and Use. Tormentil is most excellent to stay all kind of Fluxes of Blood or Humors in man or woman whether at Nose Mouth Belly or any Wound in the Veins or elswhere The Juyce of the Herb or Root taken in drink not only resisteth all Poyson and Venom of any Creature but of the Plague it self and Pestilential Feavers and contagious Diseases as the Pox Measels Purples c. expelling the Venom and Infection from the Heart by sweating if the green Root be not at hand to be had the Pouder of the dry Root is as effectual a dram thereof being taken every morning The Decoction likewise of the Herbs and Roots made in Wine and drunk worketh the same effect and so doth the distilled water of the Herb and Root being steeped in Wine for a night and then distilled in Balneo Mariae This Water thus distilled taken with some Venice Treacle and the party presently laid to sweat will certainly with Gods help expel any Venom or poyson or the Plague Feaver c. for it is an ingredient of especial respect in all Antidotes or Counterpoysons There is not found any Root more effectual to help any Flux of the Belly Stomach Spleen or Blood than this to be taken inwardly or applied outwardly The Juyce taken doth wonderfully open Obstructions of the Liver and Lungs and thereby in short space helpeth the yellow Jaundice Some use to make Cakes hereof as well to stay all Fluxes as to restrain all Chollerick Belchings and much Vomitings with Loathings in the Stomach The Pouder of the dâ—â—ed Root made up with the white of an Egg and baked upon a hot Tile will do it Andreus Valesius is of opinion That the Decoction of this Root is no less effectual to cure the French Pox than Guajacum or China and 't is not unlikely because it so mightily resisteth putrefaction Lobel saith That Rondelitius used it as Hermodactils for Joynt-aches The Pouder also or Decoction to be drunk or to sit therein as a Bath is an assured Remedy against abortion in Women if it proceed from the over Fluxibility or weakness of the inward retentive faculty as also a Plaister made therewith and Vinegar applyed to the Roins of the Back doth much help not only this but also those that cannot hold their Water the Pouder being taken in the Juyce of Plantane and it is also commended against the worms in Children It is very powerful in Ruptures and Burstings as also for Bruises and Falls to be used as well outward as inwardly The Root hereof made up with Pellitory of Spain and Allum and put into an hollow Tooth not only asswageth the pain but staieth the Flux of Humors which caused it Tormentil is no less effectual and powerful a Remedy for outward Wounds Sores and Hurts than for inward and is therefore a special Ingredient meet to be used in all Wound drinks Lotions and Injections for foul corrupt rotten Sores and Ulcers of the Mouth Secrets or other parts of the Body And to put either the Juyce or Pouder of the Root into such Oyntments Plaisters and such things that are to be applied to Wounds and Soe 's it also dissolveth all Knots Kernels and hardness gathered about the Ears the Throat and Jaws and the Kings Evil if the Leaves and Roots be bruised and applied thereto The same also easeth the pains of the Sciatica or Hip-gout by restraining the sharp Humors that flow thereto The Juyce of the Leaves and Roots used with a little Vinegar is also a special Remedy against the running Sores of the Head or other parts Scabs also and the Itch or any such eruptions in the Skin proceeding of Salt and sharp Humors The same also is effectual for the Piles or Hemorrhoids if they be washed and bathed therwith or with the Distilled water of the Herb and Roots It is found also helpful to dry up any sharp Rhewm that distilleth from the Head into the Eyes causing redness pain waterings Itchings or the like if a little prepared Tutia or white Amber be used with the Distilled water hereof Many Women use this Water as a secret to help themselves and others when they are troubled with the too much flowing of the Whites or Reds both to drink it and inject it with a Syringe And here 's enough only remember the Sun challengeth the Herb. Turnsole or Heliotropium Description THe greater Turnsole riseth
doth purge the Body of Chollerick Humors and asswageth the heat being taken in a draught of Wine or any other Drink The Pouder of the purple Leaves of the Flowers only pick'd and dried and drunk in Water is said to help the Quinsie and the Falling-sickness in Children especially in the beginning of the Disease The Flowers of the White Violets ripeneth and dissolveth Swellings The Herb or Flowers while they are fresh or the Flowers when they are dry are effectual in the Plurisie and all Diseases of Lungs to lenesie the sharpness of hot Rhewms and the Hoarsness of the Throat the heat also and sharpness of Urine and all pains of the Back or Reins and the Bladder It is good also for the Liver and the Jaundice and in al hot Agues to cool the Heat and quench the Thirst But the Syrup of Violets is of most use and of better effect being taken in some convenient Liquor and if a little of the Juyce or Syrup of Lemmons be put to it or a few drops of the Oyl of Vitriol it is made thereby the more powerful to cool the heat and to quench the Thirst and giveth to the drink a Clarret Wine colour and a fine tart â—ellish pleasing the tast Violets taken or made up with Honey doth more clense than cool and with Sugar contrary-wise The dryed Flowers of Violets are accounted among the Cordial Drinks Pouders and other Medicines especially where cooling Cordials are necessary The green Leaves are used with other Herbs to make Plaisters and Pultisces for Inflamations and Swellings and to ease pains wheresoever arising of heat and for the Piles also being fried with Yolks of Eggs and applied thereto Pansies or Heartsease are like unto Violets in all their operations but somwhat hotter and dryer yet very temperate and by viscuous Juyce therein doth somwhat mollifie yet less than Mallows It is conducing in like manner as Violets to the hot Diseases of the Chest and Lungs for Agues Convulsions and Falling-sickness in Children The Decoction helpeth Itch and Scabs being bathed therwith It is said also to soder green Wounds and to help old Sores the Juyce or distilled Water thereof being drunk Vipers Buglofs Description THis hath many long rough Leaves lying on the ground from among which rise up diverse hard round Stalks very rough as if they were thick set w th prickles or hairs wherin are set such like long rough hairy or prickly sad green Leavs somwhat narrow the middle Rib for the most part being white The Flowers stand at the tops of the Stalks branched forth into many long spiked Leaves of Flowers bowing or turning like the Turnsole all of them opening for the most part on the one side which are long and hollow turning up the Brims a little of a Purplish Violet colour in them that are fully blown but more reddish while they are in the Bud as also upon their decay and withering but in some places of a paler purple colour with a long pointel in the middle feathered or parted at the top After the Flowers are fallen the Seeds growing to be ripe are blackish cornered and pointed somwhat like unto the Head of a Viper The Root is somwhat great and blackish and woolly when it groweth toward Seed time and perisheth in the Winter There is another sort little differing from the former only in that it beareth white Flowers Place The first groweth wild almost every where That with white Flowers about the Castle Walls of Lewes in Sussex Time They Flower in Summer and their Seed is ripe quickly after Vertues and Use. It is an especial Remedy against the biting of the Viper and of all other Venemous Beasts or Serpents as also against poyson and poysonful Heâ—â—s Dioscorides and others say That whosoever shall take of the Herb or Root before they be bitten shall not be hurt by the poyson of any Serpent The Roots or Seeds are thought to be most effectual to comfort the Heart and expel Sadness or cause less Melancholly it tempers the Blood and allayeth the hot Fits of Agues The Seed drunk in Wine procureth abundance of Milk in Womens Brests The same also being taken caseth the pains in the Loyns Back and Kidneys The distilled Water of the Herb when it is in Flower or his chiefest strength is excellent to be applied either inwardly or outwardly for all the Griefs aforesaid There is a Syrup made hereof very effectual for the comforting of the Heart and expelling Sadness and Melancholly VVall-Flowers or Winter Gilly-flowers THe Garden kinds are so wel known that they need no Description Description The common single Wall-Flowers which grow wild abroad hath sundry smal long narrow and dark green Leaves set without order upon smal round whitish wooddy Stalks which bear at the tops diverse single yellow Flowers one above another every one having four Leaves apiece and of a very sweet scent after which come long Pods containing reddish Seed The Root is white hard and threddy Place It groweth upon old Church Walls and old Walls of many Houses and on the other stone Walls in diverse places The other sorts in Gardens only Time All the single kinds do Flower many times in the end of Autumn and if the Winter be mild all the Winter long but especially in the Months of February March and April and until the heat of the Spring do spend them But the double kinds continue not Flowring in that manner all the yeer along although they Flower very early somtimes and in some places very late Vertues and Use. Galen in his seventh Book of Simple Medicines saith That the yellow Wall-flowers worketh more powerfully than any of the other kinds and is therefore of more use in Physick It clenseth the Blood and freeth the Liver and Reins from Obstructions provoketh Womens Courses expelleth the Secondine and dead Child helpeth the hardness and pains of the Mother and of the Spleen also stayeth Inflamations and Swellings comforteth and strengthneth any weak part or out of Joynt helpeth to clense the Eyes from mistiness and Films on them and to clense foul and filthy Ulcers in the Mouth or any other part and is a singular Remedy for the Gout and all Aches and Pains in the Joynts and Sinews A Conserve made of the Flowers is used for a Remedy both for the Apoplexie and Palsey The VValnut-Tree THis is so well known that it needeth no Description Time It Blossometh early before the Leaves come forth and the Fruit is ripe in September Vertues and Use. The Bark of the Tree doth bind and dry very much and the Leaves are much of the same temperature but the Leaves when they are older are heating and drying the Second Degree and harder of digestion than when they are fresh which by reason of their sweetness are more pleasing and better digesting in the Stomach and taken with sweet Wine they move the Belly downwards but being old they grieve the
take to be no other but our English Adder and all other Venemous Creatures The Leaves of Wheat Meal applied with some Salt taketh away hardness of the Skin Wharts and hard Knots in the Flesh. Starch moistned with Rosewater and laid to the Cods taketh away their Itching Wafers put in Water and drunk stayeth the Lask and Bloody Flux and is profitably used both inward and outwardly for the Ruptures in Children Boyled in Water unto a thick Gelly and taken it stayeth spitting of Blood and boyled with Mints and Butter it helpeth the hoarsness of the Throat The VVillow-tree THese are so well known that they need no no Description I shall therefore only shew you the Vertues thereof Vertues and Use. Both the Leaves Bark and the Seed are used to stanch bleeding of Wounds and at Mouth and Nose spitting of Blood and all other Fluxes of Blood in man or woman and to stay Vomiting and provocation thereunto if the Decoction of them in Wine be drunk It helpeth also to stay thin hot sharp salt Distillations from the Head upon the Lungs causing a Consumption The Leaves bruised with some Peppâ—r and drunk in Wine much helpeth the wind Chollick The Leaves bruised and boyled in Wine and drunk staieth the heat of Lust in man or woman and quite extinguisheth it if it be long used The Seed is also of the same effect The Water that is gathered from the Willow when it Flowreth the Bark being slit and a fitting Vessel set to receive it is very good for redness and dimness of Sight for films that grow over the Eyes and stay the Rhewms that fall into them to provoke Urin being stopped if it be drunk and to cleer the Face and Skin from Spots and Discolourings Galenâ—aith â—aith The Flowers have an admirable faculty in drying up Humors beeing a Medicine without any sharpness or corrosion You may boyl them in white Wine and drink as much as you will so you drink not your self drunk The Bark work the same effects if used in the same manner and the Tree hath alwaies Bark upon it though not alwaies Flowers The Burnt ashes of the Bark being mixed with Vinegar taketh away Warts Corns and Superfluous Flesh being applied to the place The Decoction of the Leaves or Bark in Wine takes away Scurf or Dandrif by washing the place with it 'T is a fine cool Tree The Boughs of which are very convenient to be placed in the Chamber of one sick of a Feaver Woad Description IT hath diverse large Leaves long and somwhat broad withal like to those of the greater Plantaue but larger thicker of a greenish colour and somwhat blew withal From among which Leaves riseth up a lusty Stalk three or four foot high with diverse Leaves set thereon The higher the Stalk riseth the smaller are the Leaves at the top it spreadeth into diverse Branches at the ends of which appear pretty little yellow Flowers and after they pass away like other Flowers of the Field come Husks long and somwhat flat withal in form they resemble a Tongue in colour they are black and they hang bobbing downwards The Seed contained within these Husks if it be a little chewed gives an Azure colour The Root is white and long Place It is sowed in Fields for the benefit of it where those that sow it cut it three ' times a yeer Time It Flowreth in June but is long after before the Seed is ripe Vertues and Use. Some People affirm the Plant to be destructive to Bees which if it be I cannot help it They say it possesseth Bees with a Flux but that I can hardly beleeve unless Bees be contrary to all other Creatures I should rather think it possesseth them with the contrary Disease the Herb being exceeding drying and binding However if any Bees be diseased thereby the cure is to set Urine by them but set it in such a Vessel that they cannot drown themselves which may be remedied if you put pieces of Cork in it I told you before the Herb was drying and binding and so drying and binding that it is not fit to be given inwardly An Oyntment made thereof stancheth Bleeding A Plaister made thereof and applied to the Region of the Spleen and I pray you take notice that the Spleen lies on the left side takes away the hardness and pains thereof The Oyntment is excellent good in such Ulcers as abound with moisture and takes away the corroding and fretting Humors It cools Inflamations quencheth St. Anthonies fire and stayeth Defluxions of Blood to any part of the Body Woodbind or Honey-suckles THe Plant is so common that every one that hath Eyes knows them and he that hath none cannot reade a Description if I should write it Time They Flower in June and the Fruit is ripe in August Vertues and Use. Doctor Tradition that grand Introducer of Errors that Hater of Truth that Lover of Folly and that mortal Foe to Doctor Reason hath taught the common People to use the Leaves and Flowers of this Plant in Mouth Waters and by long continuance of time hath so grounded it in the Brains of the Vulgar that you cannot beat it out with a Beetle All Mouth Waters ought to be cooling and drying but Honeysuckles are clensing consuming and digesting and therefore no waies fit for Inflamations Thus Doctor Reason Again If you please we will leave Dr. Reason a while and come to Dr. Experience a learned Gentleman and his Brother Take a Leaf and chew it in your Mouth and you will quickly find it likelier to cause a sore Mouth or Throat than to cure it Well then if it be not good for this What is it good for 'T is good for somthing For God and Nature made nothing in vain It is an Herb of Jupiter and apropriated to the Lungs the Coelestial Crab claims Dominion over it neither is it a Foe to the Lyon If the Lungs be afflicted by Mercury this is your Cure It is fitting a Conserve made of the Flowers of it were kept in every Gentlewomans House I know no better cure for an Asthma than this Besides It takes away the evil of the Spleen provokes Urine procures speedy Delivery to Women in Travail helps Cramps Convulsions and Palseys and whatsoever griefs comes of cold or stopping If you please to make use of it in an Oyntment it will cleer your Skin of Morphew Freckles and Sun-burning or whatsoever else discolours it and then the Maids will love it I have done when I have told you what Authors say and cavelled a little with them They say the Flowers are of more effect than the Leaves and that 's true but they say The Seeds are of least effect of all But Dr. Reason told me That there was a Vital Spirit in every Seed to beget its like and Dr. Experiense told me That there was a greater heat in a Seed than there was in any other part of a
Plant and withal That Heat was the Mother of action and then judg if old Dr. Tradition who may well be honor'd for his Age but not for his Goodness have not so poysoned the World with his Errors before I was born that it was never well in its wits since and there is great fear it will die mad Wormwood Description THree Wormwoods are familiar with us One I shall not descsrabe another I shall describe and the Third be Critical at And I care not greatly if I begin with the last first Sea Wormwood hath gotten as many Names as Vertues and perhaps one more Scriphion Santonicon Belgicum Narbonense Xantomicum Misnense and a matter of twenry more which I will not blot Paper withal A Papist got the Toy by the end and he called it Holy Wormwood and in truth I am of Opinion Their giving so much holiness to Herbs is the Reason there remains so little in themselves The Seed of this Wormwood is that which usually Women give their Children for the Worms Of all Wormwoods that grow here this is the weakest I but Doctors commend it and Apothecaries sell it the one must keep his Credit and the other get Money and that 's the key of the work The Herb is good for somthing because God made nothing in vain Will you give me leave to weigh things in the Ballance of Reason Then thus The Seeds of the common Wormwood are far more prevalent than the Seed of this to expell Worms in Children or People of ripe age Of both some are weak some are strong The Seriphian Wormseed is the weakest happily may prove to be fittest for weakest Bodies for it is weak enough in all conscience Let such as are strong take the common Wormseed for the other will do but little good Again neer the Sea many people live and Seriphium grows neer them and therfore is more fitting for their Bodies because nourished by the same Air and this I had from Dr. Reason In whose Body Dr. Reason dwels not dwels Dr. Madness and he brings in his Brethren Dr. Ignorance Dr. Folly and Dr. Sickness and these together make way for Dr. Death and the latter end of that man is worse than the beginning Pride was the cause of Adam's Fall Pride begate a Daughter I do not know the Father of it unless the Divil but she christned it and call'd it Appetite and sent her Daughter to tast these Wormwoods who finding this the least bitter made the sqeamish Wench extol it to the Skies though the Vertues of it never reached to the middle Region of the Air. It s due praise is this It is weakest therefore fitter for weak Bodies and fitter for those Bodies that dwell neer it than those that live far from it my reason is The Sea as those that live far from it know when they comt neer it casteth not such a smel as the Land doth The tender Mercies of God being over all his Works hath by his eternal Providence planted Seriphium by the Sea side as a fit Medicine for the Bodies of those that live neer it Lastly It is known to all that know any thing in the Course of Nature That the Liver delights in sweet things if so it abhors bitter then if your Liver be weak it is none of the wisest courses to plague it with an Enemy if the Liver be weak a Consumption follows Would you know the Reason 't is this A mans Flesh is repaired by Blood by a third concoction which transmutes Blood into Flesh 't is well I said Conction for if I had said Boyling every Cook would have understood me The Liver makes Blood and if it be weakned that it makes not enough the Flesh wasteth and why must Flesh alwaies be renewed Because the eternal God when he made the Creation made one part of it in continual dependency upon another And why did he so Because Himself is only Permanent to teach us That we should not fix our affections upon what is transitory but upon what endures for ever The result of all is this If the Liver be weak and cannot make Blood enonough I would have said Sanguifie if I had written only to Schollers The Seriphian which is the weakest of Wormwoods is better than the best I have been Critical enonough if not too much Place It grows familiarly in England by the Sea side Description It starts up out of the earth with many round woody hoary Stalks from one Root its height is four foot high or three at the least The Leaves in Longitude are long in Latitude narrow in Colour white in Form hoary in Similitude like Southernwood only broader and longer in Tast rather salt than bitter because it grows so neer the Salt Water At the joynts with the Leaves toward the tops it bear little yellow Flowers The Root lies deep and is woody Common Wormwood I shall not describe for every Boy that can eat an Eg knows it Romane Wormwood And why Romane seeing it grows familiarly in England It may be it was so called because 't is special good for a stinking Brcarh which the Romans cannot be very free from maintaining so many Baudy Houses by Authority of his Holiness Description The Stalks are slenderer and shorter than the common Wormwood by one foot at least the Leaves are more finely cut and devided than they are but somthing smaller both Leaves and Stalks are hoary the Flowers of a pale yellow colour it is altogether like the common Wormwood save only in bigness â—or 't is smaller in tast for 't is not so bitter in smell for it is spicy Place It groweth upon the tops of the Mountains it seems 't is aspiring there 't is Natural but usually nursed up in Gardens for the use of the Apothecaries in London Time All Wormwoods usually Flower in August a little sooner or later Vertues and Use. Will you give me leave to be Critical a little I must take leave Wormnwood is an Herb of Mars and if Pontanus say otherwise he is beside the Bridg. I prove it thus What delights in Martial places is a Martial Herb But Wormwood delights in Martial places for about Forges and Iron Works you may gather a Cart load of it Ergo it is a Martial Herb. It is hot and dry in the first degree Viz Just as hot as your Blood and no hotter It remedies the evils Choller can inflict on the Body of man by Sympathy It helps the evils Venus and her wanton Girls produce by Antipathy and it doth somthing else besides It clenseth the Body of Choller and who dares say Mars doth no good It provokes Urine helps Surfets Swellings in the Belly it causeth an Appetite to meat because Mars rules the Attractive faculty in Man The Sun never shone upon a better Herb for the yellow Jaundice than this is Why should men cry out so much upon Mars for an Infortue or Saturn either Did God make Creatures to
it stand by the fire to keep hot twelve hours then strain it out in such Syrups as pâ—â—ge as Daâ—ask Roses Peach-Flowers c. the usual and indeed the best way is to repeat this Infusion adding fresh Flowers to the same Liquor diverse rimes that so it may be the stronger having strained it out put the Infusion into a Peuter Bason or an Eartlien one well glassed and to every pint of it ad two pound of fine Sugar which being only melted over the fire without boyling and scummed will produce you the Syrup you desire Secondly Syrups made by Decoction are usually used of Compounds yet may any Simple Herb be thus converted into Syrup Take the Herb Root or Flower you would make into Syrup and bruise it a little then boyl it in a convenient quantity of Spring Water the more water you boyl it in the weaker will it be a handful of the Herb Root c. is a convenient quantity for a pint of Water boyl it till half the water be consumed then let it stand till it be almost cold and strain it being almost cold through a woollen cloth letting it run out at leisure without pressing to every pint of this Decoction ad one pound of Sugar and boyl it over the fire till it come to a Syrup which you may know if you now and then cool a little of it in a spoon scum it all the while it boyls and when it is sufficiently boyled whilst it is hot strain it again through a woollen cloth but press it not thus have you the Syrup perfected Thirdly Syrups made of Juyces are usually made of such Herbs as are full of Juyce and indeed they are better made into a Syrup this way than any other the Operation is thus having beaten the Herb in a stone Mortar with a wooden Pestle press out the Juyce and clarifie it as you were taught before in the Juyces then let the Juyce boyl away till a quarter of it or neer upon be consumed to a pint of this ad a pound of Sugar and boyl it to a Syrup alwaies scumming it and when it is boyled enough strain it through woollen cloth as we taught you before and keep it for your use 3. If you make Syrups of Roots that are any thing hard as Parsley Fennel and grass Roots c. when you have bruised them lay them in steep some time in that Water which you intend to boyl them in hot so will the Vertue the better come out 4. Keep your Syrups either in Glasses or stone Pots and stop them not with Cork nor Bladder unless you would have the Glass break and the Syrup lost â— and as many Opinions as there are in this Nation I suppose there are but few or none of this only bind a Paper about the Mouth 5. All Syrups if well made will continue a yeer with some advantage yet of all such as are made by Infusion keep the least while Chap. 3. Of Juleps 1. Juleps were first invented as I suppose in Arabia and my reason is because that word Juleb is an Arabick word 2. It signifies only a pleasant Potion and was vulgarly used by such as were sick and wanted help or such as were in health and wanted no money to quench thirst 3. Now a daies 't is commonly used 1. To prepare the Body for Piâ—gation 2. To open Obstructions and the Pores 3. To digest tough Humors 4. To qualifie hot distempers c. 4. It is thus made I mean Simple Juleps for I have nothing to say to Compounds here all Compounds have as many several Idea's as men have crotchets in their Brain I say Simple Juleps are thus made Take a pint of such distilled Water as conduceth to the cure of your distemper which this Treatise will plentifully furnish you withal to which add two ounces of Syrup conducing to the same effect I shall give you Rules for it in the last Chapter mix them together and drink a draught of it at your pleasure If you love tart things ad ten drops of Oyl of Vitriol to your pint and shake it together and it will have a fine grateful tast 5. All Juleps are made for present use and therefore it is in vain to speak of their duration Chap. 4. Of Decoctions 1. ALL the difference between Decoctions and Syrups made by Decoction is this Syrups are made to keep Decoctions only for present use for you can hardly keep a Decoction a week at any time if the weather be hot not half so long 2. Decoctions are made of Leaves Roots Flowers Seeds Fruits or Barks conducing to the cure of the Disease you make them for in the same manner are they made as we shewed you in Syrups 3. Decoctions made with Wine last longer than such as are made with Water and if you take your Decoction to clense the passages of Urine or open Obstructions your best way is to make it with white Wine instead of Water because that is most penetrating 4. Decoctions are of most use in such Diseases as lie in the Passages of the Body as the Stomach Bowels Kidneys Passages of Urine and Bladder because Decoctions pass quicker to those places than any other form of Medicines 5. If you will sweeten your Decoction with Sugar or any Syrup fit for the occasion you take it for which is better you may and no harm done 6. If in a Decoction you boyl both Roots Herbs Flowers and Seeds together let the Roots boyl a good while first because they retain their Vertue longest then the next in order by the same Rule viz. 1. The Barks 2. the Herbs 3. the Seeds 4. the Flowers 5. the Spices if you put any in because their vertue comes soonest our 7. Such things as by boyling cause sliminess to a Decoction as Figs Quince Seeds Linseed c. your best way is after you have bruised them to tie them up in a linnen rag as you tie up a Calves Brains and so boyl them 8. Keep all Decoctions in a Glass close stopped and in the cooler place you keep them the longer will they last ere they be sowr Lastly The usual Dose to be given at one time is usually two three four or five ounces according to the age and strength of the Patient the season of the yeer the strength of the Medicine and the quality of the Discase Chap. 5. Of Oyles 1. OYL Olive which is commonly known by the name of Sallet Oyl I suppose because it is usually eaten with Sallets by them that love it If it be pressed out of ripe Olives according to Galen is temperate and exceeds in no one quality 2. Of Oyls some are Simple and some are Compound 3. Simple Oyls are such as are made of Fruits or Seeds by expression as Oyl of sweet and bitter Almonds Linseed and Rapeseed Oyl c. of which see my Dispensatory 4. Compound Oyls are made of Oyl of Olives and other Simples imagine Herbs Flowers Roots
usually little round flat Cakes or you may make them square it you will 2. Their first invention was that Pouders being so kept might resist the intromission of Air and so endure pure the longer 3. Besides they are the easier carried in the Pockets of such as travel many a man for example is forced to travel whose Stomach is too cold or at least not so hot as it should be which is most proper for the Stomach is never cold till a man be dead in such a case 't is better to carry Troches of Wormwood or of Galanga in a Paper in his Pocker and more convenient behalf than to lug a Gally-pot along with him 4. They are thus made At night when you go to bed take two drams of fine Gum Tragacanth put it into a Gally-pot and put half a quarter of a pint of any distilled Water fitting the purpose you would make your Troches for to it cover it and the next morning you shall find it in such a Jelly as Physitians call Mussilage with this you may with a little pains taking make any Pouder into Past and that Past into little Cakes called Troches 5. Having made them dry them well in the shadow and keep them in a Pot for your use Chap. 14. Of Pills 1. THey are called Pilule because they resemble little Balls the Greeks call them Catapotia 2. It is the Opinion of Modern Physitians that this way of making up Medicines was invented only to deceive the Pallat that so by swallowing them down whol the bitterness oâ— the Medicine might not be perceived or aâ— least it might not be unsufferable and indeed most of â—â—ills though not all are very bitter 3. I am of a clean contrary Opinion to this I rather think they were done up in this hard form that so they might be the longer in digesting and my Opinion is grounded upon Reason too not upon Fancy nor Hear-say The first invention of Pills was to purge the Head now as I told you before such Infirmities as lay neer the passages were best removed by Decoctions because they pass to the grieved part soonest so here if the insirmity lie in the Head or any other remote part the best way is to use Pills because they are longer in digestion and therefore the better able to call the offending Humor to them 4. If I should tell you here a long Tale of Medicines working by Sympathy and Antipathy you would not understand a word of it they that are fit to make Physitians may find it in the Treatise All Modern Physitians know not what belonged to a Sympatherical Cure no more than a Cookoo knows what belongs to Flats and Sharps in Musick but follow the vulgar road and call it a hidden quality because 't is hid from the Eyes of Dunces and indeed none but Astrologers can give a reason of it and Physick without Reason is like a Pudding without Fat. 5. The way to make Pills is very easie for with the help of a Pestle and Mortar and a little diligence you may make any Pouder into Pills either with Syrup or the Jelly I told you of before Chap. ult The way of mixing Medicines according to the Cause of the Disease and part of the Body afflicted THis being indeed the Key of the Work I shall be somthing the more dilligent in it I shall deliver my self thus 1. To the Vulgar 2. To Such as study Astrology or such as study Physick Astrologically First to the Vulgar Kind souls I am sorry it hath been your hard mishap to have been so long trained in such Egyptian darkness even darkness which to your sorrows may be felt the vulgar road of Physick is not my practice and I am therefore the more unfit to give you advice and I have now published a little Book which will fully instruct you not only â—â— the knowledg of your own Bodies but â—â— fit Medicines to remedy each part of it when afflicted mean season take these few Rules to stay your Stomachs 1. With the Disease regard the Cause and part of the Body afflicted for example suppose a Woman be subject to miscarry through wind thus do 1. Look Abortion in the Table of Diseases and you shall be directed by that how many Herbs prevent miscarriage 2. Look Wind in the same Table and you shall see how many of those Herbs expell wind These are the Herbs Medicinal for your Grief 2. In all Diseases strengthen the part of the Body afflicted 3. In mixed Diseases there lies some difficulty for somtimes two parts of the Body are afflicted with contrary Humors the one to the other somtimes one part is afflicted with two contrary Humors as somtimes the Liver is afflicted with Choller and Water as when a man hath both a Dropsie and the yellow Jaundice and this is usually mortal In the former suppose the Brain be too cold and moist and the Liver too hot and dry thus do 1. Keep your Head outwardly warm 2. Accustom your self to smell of hot Herbs 3. Take a Pill that beats the Head at night going to bed 4. In the morning take a Decoction that cools the Liver for that quickly passeth the Stomach and is at the Liver immediately You must not think Courteous People that I can spend time to give you examples of all Diseases these are enough to let you see so much light as you without Art are able to receive If I should set you to look upon the Sun I should dazle your eyes and make you blind Secondly To such as study Astrology who are the only men I know that are fit to study Physick Physick without Astrology being like a Lamp without Oyl you are men I exceedingly respect and such Documents as my Brain can give you at present being absent from my study I shall give you and an example to shew the proof of them 1. Fortifie the Body with Herbs of the Nature of the lord of the Ascendent 't is no matter whether he be a Fortune or an Infortune in this case 2. Let your Medicine be somthing Antipathetical to the lord of the sixth 3. Let your Medicine be somthing of the Nature of the Sign ascending 4. If the lord of the Tenth be strong make use of his Medicines 5. If this cannot well be make use of the Medicines of the light of time 6. Be sure alwaies fortifie the grieved part of the body by Sympathetical Remedies 7. Regard the Heart keep that upon the Wheels because the Sun is the Fountain of Life and therefore those Universal Remedies Aurum potabile and the Phylosophers Stone cure all Diseases by only fortifying the Heart But that this may appear unto you as cleer as the Sun when he is upon the Meridian I here quote you an Example which I performed when I was as far off from my study as I am now yet am I not ashamed the world should see how much or little of my Lesson I have learned