Preface

[Transcriber's Note: As with any medicinal work first published in the
1600s and rewritten countless times, it should go without saying to not
attempt these recipes. Just in case, the transcriber has now said it.
Also, many and varied were the printing and publishing anomalies, for a
more complete explanation, see the extensive notes collected at the end
of this text.]



[Illustration: NICHOLAS CULPEPER, M.D.

Author of the Family Herbal.]

[Illustration: RED LION HOUSE, SPITALFIELDS

IN WHICH CULPEPER LIVED, STUDIED AND DIED]



THE

COMPLETE HERBAL;

TO WHICH IS NOW ADDED, UPWARDS OF

ONE HUNDRED ADDITIONAL HERBS,

WITH A DISPLAY OF THEIR

Medicinal and Occult Qualities

PHYSICALLY APPLIED TO

THE CURE OF ALL DISORDERS INCIDENT TO MANKIND:

TO WHICH ARE NOW FIRST ANNEXED, THE

ENGLISH PHYSICIAN ENLARGED,

AND

KEY TO PHYSIC.

WITH

RULES FOR COMPOUNDING MEDICINE ACCORDING TO THE TRUE SYSTEM OF NATURE.

FORMING A COMPLETE

FAMILY DISPENSATORY AND NATURAL SYSTEM OF PHYSIC.

————————————
BY NICHOLAS CULPEPER, M.D.
————————————

TO WHICH IS ALSO ADDED,

UPWARDS OF FIFTY CHOICE RECEIPTS,

SELECTED FROM THE AUTHOR’S LAST LEGACY TO HIS WIFE.

A NEW EDITION,

WITH A LIST OF THE PRINCIPAL DISEASES TO WHICH THE HUMAN BODY IS
LIABLE,

AND A GENERAL INDEX.

_Illustrated by Engravings of numerous British Herbs and Plants,
correctly coloured from nature._

———————
“The Lord hath created Medicines out of the earth; and he that is
wise will not abhor them.”—_Ecc._ xxxviii. 4.
———————

LONDON:
THOMAS KELLY, 17, PATERNOSTER ROW.
———
MDCCCL.




LONDON;
A. CROSS, PRINTER, 89, PAUL STREET,
FINSBURY.




[Transcriber's Notes: All plates were done by: THOMAS KELLY, LONDON]


PLATE 1.

Alexander
Agrimony
Alkanet
Allheal
Amara Dulcis _or_ Bitter Sweet
Amaranthus
Adder's Tongue
Angelica
Alehoof _or_ Ground Ivy


PLATE 2.

Garden Arrach
Avens
Ars smart
Basil
Archangel
Beets
Yellow Bedstraw
White Bedstraw
Water Betony


PLATE 3.

Bird’s Foot
Bishop’s Weed
Bistort _or_ Snakeweed
White Briony
Borage
Brooklime
Bucks-horn Plantain
Brank Ursine
Blue Bottle


PLATE 4.

Burdock
Butter-bur
Wall Bugloss
Bugle
Camomile
Carraway
Centaury
Wild Carrot
Celandine


PLATE 5.

Chervill
Comfry
Cleavers
Coltsfoot
Crabs Claws _or_ Fresh water Soldier
Cowslip
Columbine
Shrub Cinquefoil
Costmary


PLATE 6.

Crowfoot
Cuckow Point
Water Cress
Cudweed
Crosswort
Dill
Dandelion
Daisy
Devils Bit


PLATE 7.

Eringo
Eyebright
Elecampane
Dock
Dragons
Dog’s Grass
Dropwort
Dove’s Foot
Bloody Dock


PLATE 8.

Foxglove
Flower-de-luce
Figwort
Fleawort
Fumitory
Fluellin
Fennel
Flaxweed
Feverfew


PLATE 9.

Wall Hawkweed.
Hart’s Tongue.
Mouse-ear Hawkweed.
Gentian.
Golden Rod.
Galingal.
Clove Gilliflower.
Groundsel.
Germander.


PLATE 10.

Longrooted Hawkweed
Hearts Ease
Hounds Tongue
Herb Robert
Marsh Pennywort
White Horehound
Henbane
Truelove
Hemlock


PLATE 11.

Knapweed
Lady’s Mantle
Ladysmock
Sea Lavender
Water Lily
Liquorice
Loosestrife or Willowherb
Liver Wort
Lily of the Valley


PLATE 12.

Lovage
Lungwort
Loosestrife _or_ Wood Willow-herb
Maidenhair
Field Madder
Marsh Mallow
Marigold
Melilot
Masterwort


PLATE 13.

Mouse Ear
Moon-wort
Field Mouse Ear
Yellow Money-wort
Black Mullein
Mother-wort
Mug-wort
White Mullein
White Mustard


PLATE 14.

Black Mustard
Common Nightshade
Deadly Nightshade
Nep
Nailwort
Orpine
Cow Parsnip
Rock Parsley
Wild Parsnip


PLATE 15.

Pellitory of the Wall
Periwinkle
Pepper-wort
Pimpernel
Plantain
Polypody
White Poppy
Corn Rose Poppy
Primrose


PLATE 16.

Privet
Queen of the Meadow
Meadow Rue
Cress Rocket
Rattle Grass
Rocket Cress
Ragwort
Rapture Wort
Saffron


PLATE 17.

Meadow Saxifrage
Great Sanicle
Samphire
Garden Scurvygrass
Scabious
Shepherd’s Purse
Saracen’s Confound
Self-heal
Burnet Saxifrage


PLATE 18.

Yellow Succory
Solomon’s Seal
Wild Succory
Spignel
Wood Sorrel
Common Sorrel
Smallage
Sow Thistle
Tansy


PLATE 19.

Treacle Mustard
Tustan
Thorough Wax
Tooth-wort
Trefoil
Tormentil
Lady’s Thistle
Wild Teazle
Cotton Thistle


PLATE 20.

Vervain
Valerian
Viper’s Bugloss
Woad
Woodbine
Wall Flower
Wormwood
Sea Wormwood
Yarrow




CULPEPER’S

ORIGINAL EPISTLE TO THE READER.


TAKE Notice, That in this Edition I have made very many Additions to
every sheet in the book: and, also, that those books of mine that are
printed of that Letter the small Bibles are printed with, are very
falsely printed: there being twenty or thirty gross mistakes in every
sheet, many of them such as are exceedingly dangerous to such as shall
venture to use them: And therefore I do warn the Public of them: I can
do no more at present; only take notice of these Directions by which
you shall be sure to know the _True one_ from the _False_.

_The first Direction._—The true one hath this Title over the head of
every Book, THE COMPLETE HERBAL AND ENGLISH PHYSICIAN ENLARGED. The
small Counterfeit ones have only this Title, THE ENGLISH PHYSICIAN.

_The second Direction._—The true one hath these words, GOVERNMENT
AND VIRTUES, following the time of the Plants flowering, &c. The
counterfeit small ones have these words, VIRTUES AND USE, following the
time of the Plants flowering.

_The third Direction._—The true one is of a larger Letter than the
counterfeit ones, which are in _Twelves_, &c., of the Letter small
Bibles used to be printed on. I shall now speak something of the book
itself.

All other Authors that have written of the nature of Herbs, give not
a bit of reason why such an Herb was appropriated to such a part of
the body, nor why it cured such a disease. Truly my own body being
sickly, brought me easily into a capacity, to know that health was
the greatest of all earthly blessings, and truly he was never sick
that doth not believe it. Then I considered that all medicines were
compounded of Herbs, Roots, Flowers, Seeds, &c., and this first set
me to work in studying the nature of simples, most of which I knew
by sight before; and indeed all the Authors I could read gave me but
little satisfaction in this particular, or none at all. I cannot build
my faith upon Authors’ words, nor believe a thing because they say it,
and could wish every body were of my mind in this,—to labour to be
able to give a reason for every thing they say or do. They say Reason
makes a man differ from a Beast; if that be true, pray what are they
that, instead of reason for their judgment, quote old Authors? Perhaps
their authors knew a reason for what they wrote, perhaps they did not;
what is that to us? Do we know it? Truly in writing this work first,
to satisfy myself, I drew out all the virtues of the vulgar or common
Herbs, Plants, and Trees, &c., out of the best or most approved authors
I had, or could get; and having done so, I set myself to study the
reason of them. I knew well enough the whole world, and every thing
in it, was formed of a composition of contrary elements, and in such
a harmony as must needs show the wisdom and power of a great God. I
knew as well this Creation, though thus composed of contraries, was one
united body, and man an epitome of it: I knew those various affections
in man, in respect of sickness and health, were caused naturally
(though God may have other ends best known to himself) by the various
operations of the Microcosm; and I could not be ignorant, that as the
cause is, so must the cure be; and therefore he that would know the
reason of the operation of the Herbs, must look up as high as the
Stars, astrologically. I always found the disease vary according to the
various motions of the Stars; and this is enough, one would think, to
teach a man by the effect where the cause lies. Then to find out the
reason of the operation of Herbs, Plants, &c., by the Stars went I; and
herein I could find but few authors, but those as full of nonsense and
contradiction as an egg is full of meat. This not being pleasing, and
less profitable to me, I consulted with my two brothers, DR. REASON and
DR. EXPERIENCE, and took a voyage to visit my mother NATURE, by whose
advice, together with the help of DR. DILIGENCE, I at last obtained my
desire; and, being warned by MR. HONESTY, a stranger in our days, to
publish it to the world, I have done it.

But you will say, _What need I have written on this Subject, seeing so
many famous and learned men have written so much of it in the English
Tongue, much more than I have done?_

To this I answer, neither GERRARD nor PARKINSON, or any that ever wrote
in the like nature, ever gave one wise reason for what they wrote, and
so did nothing else but train up young novices in Physic in the School
of tradition, and teach them just as a parrot is taught to speak; an
Author says so, therefore it is true; and if all that Authors say be
true, why do they contradict one another? But in mine, if you view it
with the eye of reason, you shall see a reason for everything that is
written, whereby you may find the very ground and foundation of Physic;
you may know what you do, and wherefore you do it; and this shall call
me Father, it being (that I know of) never done in the world before.

I have now but two things to write, and then I have done.

1. _What the profit and benefit of this Work is._

2. _Instructions in the use of it._

1. The profit and benefit arising from it, or that may occur to a wise
man from it are many; so many that should I sum up all the particulars,
my Epistle would be as big as my Book; I shall quote some few general
heads.

First. The admirable Harmony of the Creation is herein seen, in the
influence of Stars upon Herbs and the Body of Man, how one part of the
Creation is subservient to another, and all for the use of Man, whereby
the infinite power and wisdom of God in the creation appear; and if I
do not admire at the simplicity of the Ranters, never trust me; who but
viewing the Creation can hold such a sottish opinion, as that it was
from eternity, when the mysteries of it are so clear to every eye? but
that Scripture shall be verified to them, _Rom._ i. 20: “_The invisible
things of him from the Creation of the World are clearly seen, being
understood by the things that are made, even his Eternal Power and
Godhead; so that they are without excuse._”—And a Poet could teach them
a better lesson;

“_Because out of thy thoughts God shall not pass,_
“_His image stamped is on every grass._”

This indeed is true, God has stamped his image on every creature, and
therefore the abuse of the creature is a great sin; but how much the
more do the wisdom and excellency of God appear, if we consider the
harmony of the Creation in the virtue and operation of every Herb!

Secondly, Hereby you may know what infinite knowledge _Adam_ had in his
innocence, that by looking upon a creature, he was able to give it a
name according to its nature; and by knowing that, thou mayest know how
great thy fall was and be humbled for it even in this respect, because
hereby thou art so ignorant.

Thirdly, Here is the right way for thee to begin at the study of
Physic, if thou art minded to begin at the right end, for here
thou hast the reason of the whole art. I wrote before in certain
Astrological Lectures, which I read, and printed, intituled,
_Astrological Judgment of Diseases_, what planet caused (as a second
cause) every disease, how it might be found out what planet caused it;
here thou hast what planet cures it by _Sympathy_ and _Antipathy_; and
this brings me to my last promise, _viz._


_Instructions for the right use of the book._

And herein let me premise a word or two. The Herbs, Plants, &c. are now
in the book appropriated to their proper planets. Therefore,

First, Consider what planet causeth the disease; that thou mayest find
it in my aforesaid Judgment of Diseases.

Secondly, Consider what part of the body is afflicted by the disease,
and whether it lies in the flesh, or blood, or bones, or ventricles.

Thirdly, Consider by what planet the afflicted part of the body is
governed: that my Judgment of Diseases will inform you also.

Fourthly, You may oppose diseases by Herbs of the planet, opposite
to the planet that causes them: as diseases of _Jupiter_ by herbs of
_Mercury_, and the contrary; diseases of the _Luminaries_ by the herbs
of _Saturn_, and the contrary; diseases of _Mars_ by herbs of _Venus_,
and the contrary.

Fifthly, There is a way to cure diseases sometimes by _Sympathy_, and
so every planet cures his own disease; as the _Sun_ and _Moon_ by
their Herbs cure the Eyes, _Saturn_ the Spleen, _Jupiter_ the liver,
_Mars_ the Gall and diseases of choler, and _Venus_ diseases in the
instruments of Generation.

NICH. CULPEPER.

From my House in Spitalfields,
next door to the Red Lion,
_September 5, 1653_.




TO HIS DEAREST CONSORT

MRS. ALICE CULPEPER.


MY DEAREST,

THE works that I have published to the world (though envied by some
illiterate physicians) have merited such just applause, that thou
mayest be confident in proceeding to publish anything I leave thee,
especially this master-piece: assuring my friends and countrymen, that
they will receive as much benefit by this, as by my _Dispensatory_,
and that incomparable piece called, _Semiotica Uranica_ enlarged, and
_English Physician_.

These are the choicest secrets, which I have had many years locked up
in my own breast. I gained them by my constant practice, and by them I
maintained a continual reputation in the world, and I doubt not but the
world will honour thee for divulging them; and my fame shall continue
and increase thereby, though the period of my Life and Studies be at
hand, and I must now bid all things under the sun farewell. Farewell,
my dear wife and child; farewell, Arts and Sciences, which I so dearly
loved; farewell, all worldly glories; adieu, readers,

NICHOLAS CULPEPER.

* * * * *

NICHOLAS CULPEPER, the Author of this Work, was son of Nicholas
Culpeper, a Clergyman, and grandson of Sir Thomas Culpeper, Bart. He
was some time a student in the university of Cambridge, and soon after
was bound apprentice to an Apothecary. He employed all his leisure
hours in the study of Physic and Astrology, which he afterwards
professed, and set up business in Spitalfields, next door to the
Red Lion, (formerly known as the Half-way House between Islington
and Stepney, an exact representation of which we have given under
our Author’s Portrait), where he had considerable practice, and was
much resorted to for his advice, which he gave to the poor gratis.
Astrological Doctors have always been highly respected; and those
celebrated Physicians of the early times, whom our Author seems to
have particularly studied, Hippocrates, Galen, and Avicen, regarded
those as homicides who were ignorant of Astrology. Paracelsus, indeed,
went farther; he declared, a Physician should be predestinated to the
cure of his patient; and the horoscope should be inspected, the plants
gathered at the critical moment, &c.

Culpeper was a writer and translator of several Works, the most
celebrated of which is his Herbal, “being an astrologo-physical
discourse of the common herbs of the nation; containing a complete
Method or Practice of Physic, whereby a Man may preserve his Body in
Health, or cure himself when sick, with such things only as grow in
England, they being most fit for English Constitutions.”

This celebrated, and useful Physician died at his house in
Spitalfields, in the year 1654. This Book will remain as a lasting
monument of his skill and industry.

“Culpeper, the man that first ranged the woods and climbed
the mountains in search of medicinal and salutary herbs, has
undoubtedly merited the gratitude of posterity.”—DR. JOHNSON.




THE

ENGLISH PHYSICIAN

ENLARGED.


AMARA DULCIS.

CONSIDERING divers shires in this nation give divers names to one and
the same herb, and that the common name which it bears in one county,
is not known in another; I shall take the pains to set down all the
names that I know of each herb: pardon me for setting that name first,
which is most common to myself. Besides Amara Dulcis, some call it
Mortal, others Bitter-sweet; some Woody Night-shade, and others
Felon-wort.

_Descript._] It grows up with woody stalks even to a man’s height, and
sometimes higher. The leaves fall off at the approach of winter, and
spring out of the same stalk at spring-time: the branch is compassed
about with a whitish bark, and has a pith in the middle of it: the
main branch branches itself into many small ones with claspers, laying
hold on what is next to them, as vines do: it bears many leaves, they
grow in no order at all, at least in no regular order; the leaves are
longish, though somewhat broad, and pointed at the ends: many of them
have two little leaves growing at the end of their foot-stalk; some
have but one, and some none. The leaves are of a pale green colour;
the flowers are of a purple colour, or of a perfect blue, like to
violets, and they stand many of them together in knots: the berries are
green at first, but when they are ripe they are very red; if you taste
them, you shall find them just as the crabs which we in Sussex call
Bittersweet, _viz._ sweet at first and bitter afterwards.

_Place._] They grow commonly almost throughout England, especially in
moist and shady places.

_Time._] The leaves shoot out about the latter end of March, if the
temperature of the air be ordinary; it flowers in July, and the seeds
are ripe soon after, usually in the next month.

_Government and virtues._] It is under the planet Mercury, and
a notable herb of his also, if it be rightly gathered under his
influence. It is excellently good to remove witchcraft both in men
and beasts, as also all sudden diseases whatsoever. Being tied round
about the neck, is one of the most admirable remedies for the vertigo
or dizziness in the head; and that is the reason (as Tragus saith) the
people in Germany commonly hang it about their cattle’s necks, when
they fear any such evil hath betided them: Country people commonly
take the berries of it, and having bruised them, apply them to felons,
and thereby soon rid their fingers of such troublesome guests.

We have now showed you the external use of the herb; we shall speak
a word or two of the internal, and so conclude. Take notice, it is a
Mercurial herb, and therefore of very subtile parts, as indeed all
Mercurial plants are; therefore take a pound of the wood and leaves
together, bruise the wood (which you may easily do, for it is not so
hard as oak) then put it in a pot, and put to it three pints of white
wine, put on the pot-lid and shut it close; and let it infuse hot over
a gentle fire twelve hours, then strain it out, so have you a most
excellent drink to open obstructions of the liver and spleen, to help
difficulty of breath, bruises and falls, and congealed blood in any
part of the body, it helps the yellow jaundice, the dropsy, and black
jaundice, and to cleanse women newly brought to bed. You may drink a
quarter of a pint of the infusion every morning. It purges the body
very gently, and not churlishly as some hold. And when you find good by
this, remember me.

They that think the use of these medicines is too brief, it is only for
the cheapness of the book; let them read those books of mine, of the
last edition, _viz._ _Reverius_, _Veslingus_, _Riolanus_, _Johnson_,
_Sennertus_, and _Physic for the Poor_.


ALL-HEAL.

IT is called All-heal, Hercules’s All-heal, and Hercules’s Woundwort,
because it is supposed that Hercules learned the herb and its virtues
from Chiron, when he learned physic of him. Some call it Panay, and
others Opopane-wort.

_Descript._] Its root is long, thick, and exceeding full of juice, of
a hot and biting taste, the leaves are great and large, and winged
almost like ash-tree leaves, but that they are something hairy, each
leaf consisting of five or six pair of such wings set one against the
other upon foot-stalks, broad below, but narrow towards the end; one
of the leaves is a little deeper at the bottom than the other, of a
fair yellowish fresh green colour: they are of a bitterish taste,
being chewed in the mouth; from among these rises up a stalk, green in
colour, round in form, great and strong in magnitude, five or six feet
in altitude, with many joints, and some leaves thereat; towards the top
come forth umbels of small yellow flowers, after which are passed away,
you may find whitish, yellow, short, flat seeds, bitter also in taste.

_Place._] Having given you a description of the herb from bottom to
top, give me leave to tell you, that there are other herbs called by
this name; but because they are strangers in England, I give only the
description of this, which is easily to be had in the gardens of divers
places.

_Time._] Although Gerrard saith, that they flower from the beginning
of May to the end of December, experience teaches them that keep it in
their gardens, that it flowers not till the latter end of the summer,
and sheds its seeds presently after.

_Government and virtues._] It is under the dominion of Mars, hot,
biting, and choleric; and remedies what evils Mars inflicts the body
of man with, by sympathy, as vipers’ flesh attracts poison, and
the loadstone iron. It kills the worms, helps the gout, cramp, and
convulsions, provokes urine, and helps all joint-aches. It helps all
cold griefs of the head, the vertigo, falling-sickness, the lethargy,
the wind cholic, obstructions of the liver and spleen, stone in the
kidneys and bladder. It provokes the terms, expels the dead birth:
it is excellent good for the griefs of the sinews, itch, stone, and
tooth-ache, the biting of mad dogs and venomous beasts, and purges
choler very gently.


ALKANET.

BESIDES the common name, it is called Orchanet, and Spanish Bugloss,
and by apothecaries, Enchusa.

_Descript._] Of the many sorts of this herb, there is but one known to
grow commonly in this nation; of which one take this description: It
hath a great and thick root, of a reddish colour, long, narrow, hairy
leaves, green like the leaves of Bugloss, which lie very thick upon the
ground; the stalks rise up compassed round about, thick with leaves,
which are less and narrower than the former; they are tender, and
slender, the flowers are hollow, small, and of a reddish colour.

_Place._] It grows in Kent near Rochester, and in many places in the
West Country, both in Devonshire and Cornwall.

_Time._] They flower in July and the beginning of August, and the
seed is ripe soon after, but the root is in its prime, as carrots and
parsnips are, before the herb runs up to stalk.

_Government and virtues._] It is an herb under the dominion of Venus,
and indeed one of her darlings, though somewhat hard to come by. It
helps old ulcers, hot inflammations, burnings by common fire, and St.
Anthony’s fire, by antipathy to Mars; for these uses, your best way is
to make it into an ointment; also, if you make a vinegar of it, as you
make vinegar of roses, it helps the morphew and leprosy; if you apply
the herb to the privities, it draws forth the dead child. It helps the
yellow jaundice, spleen, and gravel in the kidneys. Dioscorides saith
it helps such as are bitten by a venomous beast, whether it be taken
inwardly, or applied to the wound; nay, he saith further, if any one
that hath newly eaten it, do but spit into the mouth of a serpent, the
serpent instantly dies. It stays the flux of the belly, kills worms,
helps the fits of the mother. Its decoction made in wine, and drank,
strengthens the back, and eases the pains thereof: It helps bruises
and falls, and is as gallant a remedy to drive out the small pox and
measles as any is; an ointment made of it, is excellent for green
wounds, pricks or thrusts.


ADDER’S TONGUE OR SERPENT’S TONGUE.

_Descript._] THIS herb has but one leaf, which grows with the stalk
a finger’s length above the ground, being flat and of a fresh green
colour; broad like Water Plantain, but less, without any rib in it;
from the bottom of which leaf, on the inside, rises up (ordinarily)
one, sometimes two or three slender stalks, the upper half whereof
is somewhat bigger, and dented with small dents of a yellowish green
colour, like the tongue of an adder serpent (only this is as useful as
they are formidable). The roots continue all the year.

_Place._] It grows in moist meadows, and such like places.

_Time._] It is to be found in May or April, for it quickly perishes
with a little heat.

_Government and virtues._] It is an herb under the dominion of the Moon
and Cancer, and therefore if the weakness of the retentive 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 these diseases after specified, in any part of the
body under the influence of Saturn, by antipathy.

It is temperate in respect of heat, but dry in the second degree. The
juice of the leaves, drank with the distilled water of Horse-tail, 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 to those that
are troubled with casting, vomiting, or bleeding at the mouth or nose,
or otherwise downwards. The said juice 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. Of the
leaves infused or boiled in oil, omphacine or unripe olives, set in the
sun four certain days, or the green leaves sufficiently boiled in the
said oil, is made an excellent green balsam, not only for green and
fresh wounds, but also for old and inveterate ulcers, especially if a
little fine clear turpentine be dissolved therein. It also stays and
refreshes all inflammations that arise upon pains by hurts and wounds.

What parts of the body are under each planet and sign, and also what
disease 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 spirits of man; the apprehension, judgment,
memory; the external senses, _viz._ seeing, hearing, smelling, tasting
and feeling; the virtuous, attractive, retentive, digestive, expulsive,
&c. under the dominion of what planets they are, may be found in my
_Ephemeris_ for the year 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 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 physic; you have at the latter end of the book, the way
of preserving all herbs either in juice, conserve, oil, ointment or
plaister, electuary, pills, or troches.


AGRIMONY.

_Descript._] THIS has divers long leaves (some greater, some smaller)
set upon a stalk, all of them dented about the edges, green above, and
greyish underneath, and a little hairy withal. Among which arises up
usually but one strong, round, hairy, brown stalk, two or three feet
high, with smaller leaves set here and there upon it. At the top
thereof grow many small yellow flowers, one above another, in long
spikes; after which come rough heads of seed, hanging downwards, which
will cleave to and stick upon garments, or any thing that shall rub
against them. The knot is black, long, and somewhat woody, abiding many
years, and shooting afresh every Spring; which root, though small, hath
a reasonable good scent.

_Place._] It grows upon banks, near the sides of hedges.

_Time._] It flowers in July and August, the seed being ripe shortly
after.

_Government and virtues._] It is an herb under Jupiter, and the sign
Cancer; and strengthens those parts under the planet and sign, and
removes diseases in them by sympathy, and those under Saturn, Mars and
Mercury by antipathy, if they happen in any part of the body governed
by Jupiter, or under the signs Cancer, Sagitarius or Pisces, and
therefore must needs be good for the gout, either used outwardly in oil
or ointment, or inwardly in an electuary, or syrup, or concerted juice:
for which see the latter end of this book.

It is of a cleansing and cutting faculty, without any manifest heat,
moderately drying and binding. It opens and cleanses the liver, helps
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 drank, is good against the biting and stinging of
serpents, and helps them that make foul, troubled or bloody water.

This herb also helps the cholic, cleanses 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 seeds taken in wine, stays the bloody flux; outwardly
applied, being stamped with old swine’s grease, it helps old sores,
cancers, and inveterate ulcers, and draws forth thorns and splinters
of wood, nails, or any other such things gotten in the flesh. It helps
to strengthen the members that be out of joint: and being bruised and
applied, or the juice dropped in it, helps foul and imposthumed 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 a most admirable remedy for such whose livers are annoyed either
by heat or cold. The liver is the former of blood, and blood the
nourisher of the body, and Agrimony a strengthener of the liver.

I cannot stand to give you a reason in every herb why it cures such
diseases; but if you please to pursue 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 throughout the book.


WATER AGRIMONY.

IT is called in some countries, Water Hemp, Bastard Hemp, and Bastard
Agrimony, Eupatorium, and Hepatorium, because it strengthens the liver.

_Descript._] The root continues a long time, having many long slender
strings. The stalk grows up about two feet high, sometimes higher.
They are of a dark purple colour. The branches are many, growing at
distances the one from the other, the one from the one side of the
stalk, the other from the opposite point. The leaves are fringed,
and much indented at the edges. The flowers grow at the top of the
branches, of a brown yellow colour, spotted with black spots, having
a substance within the midst of them like that of a Daisy: If you rub
them between your fingers, they smell like rosin or cedar when it is
burnt. The seeds are long, and easily stick to any woollen thing they
touch.

_Place._] They delight not in heat, and therefore they are not so
frequently found in the Southern parts of England as in the Northern,
where they grow frequently: You may look for them in cold grounds, by
ponds and ditches’ sides, and also by running waters; sometimes you
shall find them grow in the midst of waters.

_Time._] They all flower in July or August, and the seed is ripe
presently after.

_Government and virtues._] It is a plant of Jupiter, as well as the
other Agrimony, only this belongs to the celestial sign Cancer. It
heals and dries, cuts and cleanses thick and tough humours of the
breast, and for this I hold it inferior to but few herbs that grow.
It helps the cachexia or evil disposition of the body, the dropsy and
yellow-jaundice. It opens obstructions of the liver, mollifies the
hardness of the spleen, being applied outwardly. It breaks imposthumes
away inwardly: It is an excellent remedy for the third day ague. It
provokes urine and the terms; it kills worms, and cleanses the body of
sharp humours, which are the cause of itch and scabs; the herb being
burnt, the smoke thereof drives away flies, wasps, &c. It strengthens
the lungs exceedingly. Country people give it to their cattle when they
are troubled with the cough, or broken-winded.


ALEHOOF, OR GROUND-IVY.

SEVERAL counties give it different names, so that there is scarcely
any herb growing of that bigness that has got so many: It is called
Cat’s-foot, Ground-ivy, Gill-go-by-ground, and Gill-creep-by-ground,
Turn-hoof, Haymaids, and Alehoof.

_Descript._] This well known herb lies, spreads and creeps upon the
ground, shoots forth roots, at the corners of tender jointed stalks,
set with two round leaves at every joint somewhat hairy, crumpled
and unevenly dented about the edges with round dents; at the joints
likewise, with the leaves towards the end of the branches, come forth
hollow, long flowers, of a blueish purple colour, with small white
spots upon the lips that hang down. The root is small with strings.

_Place._] It is commonly found under hedges, and on the sides of
ditches, under houses, or in shadowed lanes, and other waste grounds,
in almost every part of this land.

_Time._] They flower somewhat early, and abide a great while; the
leaves continue green until Winter, and sometimes abide, except the
Winter be very sharp and cold.

_Government and virtues._] It is an herb of Venus, and therefore cures
the diseases she causes by sympathy, and those of Mars by antipathy;
you may usually find it all the year long except the year be extremely
frosty; it is quick, sharp, and bitter in taste, and is thereby found
to be hot and dry; a singular herb for all inward wounds, exulcerated
lungs, or other parts, either by itself, or boiled with other the like
herbs; and being drank, in a short time it eases all griping pains,
windy and choleric humours in the stomach, spleen or belly; helps the
yellow jaundice, by opening the stoppings of the gall and liver, and
melancholy, by opening the stoppings of the spleen; expels venom or
poison, and also the plague; it provokes urine and women’s courses; the
decoction of it in wine drank for some time together, procures ease
to them that are troubled with the sciatica, or hip-gout: as also the
gout in hands, knees or feet; if you put to the decoction some honey
and a little burnt alum, it is excellently good to gargle any sore
mouth or throat, and to wash the sores and ulcers in the privy parts of
man or woman; it speedily helps green wounds, being bruised and bound
thereto. The juice of it boiled with a little honey and verdigrease,
doth wonderfully cleanse fistulas, ulcers, and stays the spreading or
eating of cancers and ulcers; it helps the itch, scabs, wheals, and
other breakings out in any part of the body. The juice of Celandine,
Field-daisies, and Ground-ivy clarified, and a little fine sugar
dissolved therein, and dropped into the eyes, is a sovereign remedy
for all pains, redness, and watering of them; as also for the pin and
web, skins and films growing over the sight, it helps beasts as well as
men. The juice dropped into the ears, wonderfully helps the noise and
singing of them, and helps the hearing which is decayed. It is good to
tun up with new drink, for it will clarify it in a night, that it will
be the fitter to be drank the next morning; or if any drink be thick
with removing, or any other accident, it will do the like in a few
hours.


ALEXANDER.

IT is called Alisander, Horse-parsley, and Wild-parsley, and the Black
Pot-herb; the seed of it is that which is usually sold in apothecaries’
shops for Macedonian Parsley-seed.

_Descript._] It is usually sown in all the gardens in Europe, and so
well known, that it needs no farther description.

_Time._] It flowers in June and July; the seed is ripe in August.

_Government and virtues._] It is an herb of Jupiter, and therefore
friendly to nature, for it warms a cold stomach, and opens a stoppage
of the liver and spleen; it is good to move women’s courses, to
expel the afterbirth, to break wind, to provoke urine, and helps the
stranguary; and these things the seeds will do likewise. If either of
them be boiled in wine, or being bruised and taken in wine, is also
effectual against the biting of serpents. And you know what Alexander
pottage is good for, that you may no longer eat it out of ignorance but
out of knowledge.


THE BLACK ALDER-TREE.

_Descript._] THIS tree seldom grows to any great bigness, but for the
most part abideth like a hedge-bush, or a tree spreading its branches,
the woods of the body being white, and a dark red colet or heart; the
outward bark is of a blackish colour, with many whitish spots therein;
but the inner bark next the wood is yellow, which being chewed, will
turn the spittle near into a saffron colour. The leaves are somewhat
like those of an ordinary Alder-tree, or the Female Cornet, or
Dogberry-tree, called in Sussex Dog-wood, but blacker, and not so long.
The flowers are white, coming forth with the leaves at the joints,
which turn into small round berries, first green, afterwards red, but
blackish when they are thorough ripe, divided, as it were, into two
parts, wherein is contained two small round and flat seeds. The root
runneth not deep into the ground, but spreads rather under the upper
crust of the earth.

_Place._] This tree or shrub may be found plentifully in St. John’s
Wood by Hornsey, and the woods upon Hampstead Heath; as also a wood
called the Old Park, in Barcomb, in Essex, near the brook’s sides.

_Time._] It flowers in May, and the berries are ripe in September.

_Government and virtues._] It is a tree of Venus, and perhaps under the
celestial sign Cancer. The inner yellow bark hereof purges downwards
both choler and phlegm, and the watery humours of such that have the
dropsy, and strengthens the inward parts again by binding. If the
bark hereof be boiled with Agrimony, Wormwood, Dodder, Hops, and some
Fennel, with Smallage, Endive, and Succory-roots, and a reasonable
draught taken every morning for some time together, it is very
effectual against the jaundice, dropsy, and the evil disposition of the
body, especially if some suitable purging medicines have been taken
before, to void the grosser excrements: It purges and strengthens the
liver and spleen, cleansing them from such evil humours and hardness as
they are afflicted with. It is to be understood that these things are
performed by the dried bark; for the fresh green bark taken inwardly
provokes strong vomitings, pains in the stomach, and gripings in the
belly; yet if the decoction may stand and settle two or three days,
until the yellow colour be changed black, it will not work so strongly
as before, but will strengthen the stomach, and procure an appetite to
meat. The outward bark contrariwise doth bind the body, and is helpful
for all lasks and fluxes thereof, but this also must be dried first,
whereby it will work the better. The inner bark thereof boiled in
vinegar is an approved remedy to kill lice, to cure the itch, and take
away scabs, by drying them up in a short time. It is singularly good to
wash the teeth, to take away the pains, to fasten those that are loose,
to cleanse them, and to keep them sound. The leaves are good fodder for
kine, to make them give more milk.

If in the Spring-time you use the herbs before mentioned, and will take
but a handful of each of them, and to them add an handful of Elder
buds, and having bruised them all, boil them in a gallon of ordinary
beer, when it is new; and having boiled them half an hour, add to this
three gallons more, and let them work together, and drink a draught of
it every morning, half a pint or thereabouts; it is an excellent purge
for the Spring, to consume the phlegmatic quality the Winter hath left
behind it, and withal to keep your body in health, and consume those
evil humours which the heat of Summer will readily stir up. Esteem it
as a jewel.


THE COMMON ALDER-TREE.

_Descript._] THIS grows to a reasonable height, and spreads much if
it like the place. It is so generally known to country people, that I
conceive it needless to tell that which is no news.

_Place and Time._] It delights to grow in moist woods, and watery
places; flowering in April or May, and yielding ripe seed in September.

_Government and virtues._] It is a tree under the dominion of Venus,
and of some watery sign or others, I suppose Pisces; and therefore
the decoction, or distilled water of the leaves, is excellent against
burnings and inflammations, either with wounds or without, to bathe the
place grieved with, and especially for that inflammation in the breast,
which the vulgar call an ague.

If you cannot get the leaves (as in Winter it is impossible) make use
of the bark in the same manner.

The leaves and bark of the Alder-tree are cooling, drying, and
binding. The fresh leaves, laid upon swellings, dissolve them, and
stay the inflammation. The leaves put under the bare feet galled 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, will gather them thereunto, which being suddenly cast out,
will rid the chamber of those troublesome bed-fellows.


ANGELICA.

TO write a discription of that which is so well known to be growing
almost in every garden, I suppose is altogether needless; yet for its
virtue it is of admirable use.

In time of Heathenism, when men had found out any excellent herb,
they dedicated it to their gods; as the bay-tree to Apollo, the Oak
to Jupiter, the Vine to Bacchus, the Poplar to Hercules. These the
idolators following as the Patriarchs they dedicate to their Saints;
as our Lady’s Thistle to the Blessed Virgin, St. John’s Wort to St.
John and another Wort to St. Peter, &c. Our physicians must imitate
like apes (though they cannot come off half so cleverly) for they
blasphemously call Phansies or Hearts-ease, _an herb of the Trinity_,
because it is of three colours; and a certain ointment, _an ointment
of the Apostles_, because it consists of twelve ingredients. Alas I am
sorry for their folly, and grieved at their blasphemy, God send them
wisdom the rest of their age, for they have their share of ignorance
already. Oh! Why must ours be blasphemous, because the Heathens and
infidels were idolatrous? Certainly they have read so much in old
rusty authors, that they have lost all their divinity; for unless it
were amongst the Ranters, I never read or heard of such blasphemy. The
Heathens and infidels were bad, and ours worse; the idolaters give
idolatrous names to herbs for their virtues sake, not for their fair
looks; and therefore some called this an herb of the _Holy Ghost_;
others, more moderate, called it Angelica, because of its angelical
virtues, and that name it retains still, and all nations follow it so
near as their dialect will permit.

_Government and virtues._] 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; observe the like in gathering the herbs of other planets,
and you may happen to do wonders. In all epidemical diseases caused by
Saturn, that is as good a preservative as grows: It resists poison,
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 powder to the weight of half a dram at a time, with some
good treacle in Carduus water, and the party thereupon laid to sweat
in his bed; if treacle be not to be had take it alone in Carduus 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 vinegar, and a little
of that vinegar taken sometimes fasting, and the root smelled unto, is
good for the same purpose. A water distilled from the root simply, as
steeped in wine, and distilled in a glass, is much more effectual than
the water of the leaves; and this water, drank two or three spoonfuls
at a time, easeth all pains and torments coming of cold and wind, so
that the body be not bound; and taken with some of the root in powder
at the beginning, helpeth the pleurisy, as also all other diseases of
the lungs and breast, as coughs, phthysic, and shortness of breath;
and a syrup of the stalks do the like. It helps pains of the cholic,
the stranguary and stoppage of the urine, procureth womens’ courses,
and expelleth the after-birth, openeth the stoppings of the liver and
spleen, and briefly easeth and discusseth all windiness and inward
swellings. The decoction drank before the fit of an ague, that they
may sweat (if possible) before the fit comes, will, in two or three
times taking, rid it quite away; it helps digestion and is a remedy
for a surfeit. The juice or the water, being dropped into the eyes
or ears, helps dimness of sight and deafness; the juice put into the
hollow teeth, easeth their pains. The root in powder, made up into a
plaster with a little pitch, and laid on the biting of mad dogs, or any
other venomous creature, doth wonderfully help. The juice or the waters
dropped, or tent wet therein, and put into filthy dead ulcers, or the
powder of the root (in want of either) doth cleanse and cause 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
safely used to all the purposes aforesaid.


AMARANTHUS.

BESIDES its common name, by which it is best known by the florists of
our days, it is called Flower Gentle, Flower Velure Floramor, and
Velvet Flower.

_Descript._] It being a garden flower, and well known to every one
that keeps it, I might forbear the description; yet, notwithstanding,
because some desire it, I shall give it. It runs up with a stalk a
cubit high, streaked, and somewhat reddish towards the root, but very
smooth, divided towards the top with small branches, among which stand
long broad leaves of a reddish green colour, slippery; the flowers are
not properly flowers, but tuffs, very beautiful to behold, but of no
smell, of reddish colour; if you bruise them, they yield juice of the
same colour, being gathered, they keep their beauty a long time; the
seed is of a shining black colour.

_Time._] They continue in flower from August till the time the frost
nips them.

_Government and virtues._] It is under the dominion of Saturn, and is
an excellent qualifier of the unruly actions and passions of Venus,
though Mars also should join with her. The flowers dried and beaten
into powder, stop the terms in women, and so do almost all other red
things. And by the icon, or image of every herb, the ancients at
first found out their virtues. Modern writers laugh at them for it;
but I wonder in my heart, how the virtues of herbs came at first to
be known, if not by their signatures; the moderns have them from the
writings of the ancients; the ancients had no writings to have them
from: but to proceed. The flowers stop all fluxes of blood; whether in
man or woman, bleeding either at the nose or wound. There is also a
sort of Amaranthus that bears a white flower, which stops the whites
in women, and the running of the reins in men, and is a most gallant
antivenereal, and a singular remedy for the French pox.


ANEMONE.

CALLED also Wind flower, because they say the flowers never open but
when the wind blows. Pliny is my author; if it be not so, blame him.
The seed also (if it bears any at all) flies away with the wind.

_Place and Time._] They are sown usually in the gardens of the curious,
and flower in the Spring-time. As for discription I shall pass it,
being well known to all those that sow them.

_Government and virtues._] It is under the dominion of Mars, being
supposed to be a kind of Crow-foot. The leaves provoke the terms
mightily, being boiled, and the decoction drank. The body being bathed
with the decoction of them, cures the leprosy. The leaves being stamped
and the juice snuffed up in the nose, purges the head mightily; so does
the root, being chewed in the mouth, for it procures much spitting,
and brings away many watery and phlegmatic humours, and is therefore
excellent for the lethargy. And when all is done, let physicians prate
what they please, all the pills in the dispensatory purge not the head
like to hot things held in the mouth. Being made into an ointment,
and the eyelids anointed with it, it helps inflammations of the eyes,
whereby it is palpable, that every stronger draws its weaker like. The
same ointment is excellently good to cleanse malignant and corroding
ulcers.


GARDEN ARRACH.

CALLED also Orach, and Arage; it is cultivated for domestic uses.

_Descript._] It is so commonly known to every housewife, it were labour
lost to describe it.

_Time._] It flowers and seeds from June to the end of August.

_Government and virtues._] It is under the government of the Moon; in
quality cold and moist like unto her. It softens and loosens the body
of man being eaten, and fortifies the expulsive faculty in him. The
herb, whether it be bruised and applied to the throat, or boiled, and
in like manner applied, it matters not much, it is excellently good
for swellings in the throat: the best way, I suppose, is to boil it,
apply the herb outwardly: the decoction of it, besides, is an excellent
remedy for the yellow jaundice.


ARRACH, WILD AND STINKING.

CALLED also Vulvaria, from that part of the body upon which the
operation is most; also Dog’s Arrach, Goat’s Arrach, and Stinking
Motherwort.

_Descript._] This has small and almost round leaves, yet a little
pointed and without dent or cut, of a dusky mealy colour, growing on
the slender stalks and branches that spread on the ground, with small
flowers set with the leaves, and small seeds succeeding like the rest,
perishing yearly, and rising again with its own sowing. It smells like
rotten fish, or something worse.

_Place._] It grows usually upon dunghills.

_Time._] They flower in June and July, and their seed is ripe quickly
after.

_Government and virtues._] Stinking Arrach is used as a remedy to
women pained, and almost strangled with the mother, by smelling to
it; but inwardly taken there is no better remedy under the moon for
that disease. I would be large in commendation of this herb, were I
but eloquent. It is an herb under the dominion of Venus, and under the
sign Scorpio; it is common almost upon every dunghill. The works of
God are freely given to man, his medicines are common and cheap, and
easily to be found. I commend it for an universal medicine for the
womb, and such a medicine as will easily, safely, and speedily cure any
disease thereof, as the fits of the mother, dislocation, or falling out
thereof; cools the womb being over-heated. And let me tell you this,
and I will tell you the truth, heat of the womb is one of the greatest
causes of hard labour in child-birth. It makes barren women fruitful.
It cleanseth the womb if it be foul, and strengthens it exceedingly;
it provokes the terms if they be stopped, and stops them if they flow
immoderately; you can desire no good to your womb, but this herb will
affect it; therefore if you love children, if you love health, if you
love ease, keep a syrup always by you, made of the juice of this herb,
and sugar (or honey, if it be to cleanse the womb), and let such as be
rich keep it for their poor neighbours; and bestow it as freely as I
bestow my studies upon them, or else let them look to answer it another
day, when the Lord shall come to make inquisition for blood.


ARCHANGEL.

TO put a gloss upon their practice, the physicians call a herb (which
country people vulgarly know by the name of Dead Nettle) Archangel;
whether they favour more of superstition or folly, I leave to the
judicious reader. There is more curiosity than courtesy to my
countrymen used by others in the explanation as well of the names, as
discription of this so well known herb; which that I may not also be
guilty of, take this short discription: first, of the Red Archangel.
This is likewise called Bee Nettle.

_Descript._] This has divers square stalks, somewhat hairy, at the
joints whereof grow two sad green leaves dented about the edges,
opposite to one another to the lowermost, upon long foot stalks, but
without any toward the tops, which are somewhat round, yet pointed, and
a little crumpled and hairy; round about the upper joints, where the
leaves grow thick, are sundry gaping flowers of a pale reddish colour;
after which come the seeds three or four in a husk. The root is small
and thready, perishing every year; the whole plant hath a strong smell
but not stinking.

White Archangel hath divers square stalks, none standing straight
upward, but bending downward, whereon stand two leaves at a joint,
larger and more pointed than the other, dented about the edges, and
greener also, more like unto Nettle leaves, but not stinking, yet
hairy. At the joints, with the leaves, stand larger and more open
gaping white flowers, husks round about the stalks, but not with such a
bush of leaves as flowers set in the top, as is on the other, wherein
stand small roundish black seeds: the root is white, with many strings
at it, not growing downward but lying under the upper crust of the
earth, and abides many years increasing; this has not so strong a scent
as the former.

Yellow Archangel is like the White in the stalks and leaves; but that
the stalks are more straight and upright, and the joints with leaves
are farther asunder, having longer leaves than the former, and the
flowers a little larger and more gaping, of a fair yellow colour in
most, in some paler. The roots are like the white, only they creep not
so much under the ground.

_Place._] They grow almost every where (unless it be in the middle of
the street), the yellow most usually in the wet grounds of woods, and
sometimes in the dryer, in divers counties of this nation.

_Time._] They flower from the beginning of the Spring all the Summer
long.

_Government and virtues._] The Archangels are somewhat hot and drier
than the stinging Nettles, and used with better success for the
stopping and hardness of the spleen, than they, by using the decoction
of the herb in wine, and afterwards applying the herb hot into the
region of the spleen as a plaister, or the decoction with spunges.
Flowers of the White Archangel are preserved or conserved to be used
to stay the whites, and the flowers of the red to stay the reds in
women. It makes the heart merry, drives away melancholy, quickens the
spirits, is good against quartan agues, stancheth bleeding at mouth
and nose, if it be stamped and applied to the nape of the neck; the
herb also bruised, and with some salt and vinegar and hog’s-grease,
laid upon a hard tumour or swelling, or that vulgarly called the
king’s evil, do help to dissolve or discuss them; and being in like
manner applied, doth much allay the pains, and give ease to the gout,
sciatica, and other pains of the joints and sinews. It is also very
effectual to heal green wounds, and old ulcers; also to stay their
fretting, gnawing, and spreading. It draws forth splinters, and such
like things gotten into the flesh, and is very good against bruises and
burnings. But the Yellow Archangel is most commended for old, filthy,
corrupt sores and ulcers, yea although they grow to be hollow, and to
dissolve tumours. The chief use of them is for women, it being a herb
of Venus.


ARSSMART.

The hot Arssmart is called also Water-pepper, or Culrage. The mild
Arssmart is called dead Arssmart Persicaria, or Peach-wort, because
the leaves are so like the leaves of a peach-tree; it is also called
Plumbago.

_Description of the mild._] This has broad leaves set at the great red
joint of the stalks; with semicircular blackish marks on them, usually
either blueish or whitish, with such like seed following. The root is
long, with many strings thereat, perishing yearly; this has no sharp
taste (as another sort has, which is quick and biting) but rather sour
like sorrel, or else a little drying, or without taste.

_Place._] It grows in watery places, ditches, and the like, which for
the most part are dry in summer.

_Time._] It flowers in June, and the seed is ripe in August.

_Government and virtues._] As the virtue of both these is various, so
is also their government; for that which is hot and biting, is under
the dominion of Mars, but Saturn, challenges the other, as appears by
that leaden coloured spot he hath placed upon the leaf.

It is of a cooling and drying quality, and very effectual for putrified
ulcers in man or beast, to kill worms, and cleanse the putrified
places. The juice thereof dropped in, or otherwise applied, consumes
all colds, swellings, and dissolveth the congealed blood of bruises by
strokes, falls, &c. A piece of the root, or some of the seeds bruised,
and held to an aching tooth, takes away the pain. The leaves bruised
and laid to the joint that has a felon thereon, takes it away. The
juice destroys worms in the ears, being dropped into them; if the hot
Arssmart be strewed in a chamber, it will soon kill all the fleas;
and the herb or juice of the cold Arssmart, put to a horse or other
cattle’s sores, will drive away the fly in the hottest time of Summer;
a good handful of the hot biting Arssmart put under a horse’s saddle,
will make him travel the better, although he were half tired before.
The mild Arssmart is good against all imposthumes and inflammations at
the beginning, and to heal green wounds.

All authors chop the virtues of both sorts of Arssmart together, as men
chop herbs for the pot, when both of them are of contrary qualities.
The hot Arssmart grows not so high or tall as the mild doth, but
has many leaves of the colour of peach leaves, very seldom or never
spotted; in other particulars it is like the former, but may easily be
known from it, if you will but be pleased to break a leaf of it cross
your tongue, for the hot will make your tongue to smart, but the cold
will not. If you see them both together, you may easily distinguish
them, because the mild hath far broader leaves.


ASARABACCA.

_Descript._] ASARABACCA appears like an evergreen, keeping its leaves
all the Winter, but putting forth new ones in the time of Spring. It
has many heads rising from the roots, from whence come many smooth
leaves, every one upon his foot stalks, which are rounder and bigger
than Violet leaves, thicker also, and of a dark green shining colour
on the upper side, and of a pale yellow green underneath, little or
nothing dented about the edges, from among which rise small, round,
hollow, brown green husks, upon short stalks, about an inch long,
divided at the brims into five divisions, very like the cups or heads
of the Henbane seed, but that they are smaller; and these be all the
flower it carries, which are somewhat sweet, being smelled to, and
wherein, when they are ripe, is contained small cornered rough seeds,
very like the kernels or stones of grapes or raisins. The roots are
small and whitish, spreading divers ways in the ground, increasing into
divers heads; but not running or creeping under the ground, as some
other creeping herbs do. They are somewhat sweet in smell, resembling
Nardus, but more when they are dry than green; and of a sharp and not
unpleasant taste.

_Place._] It grows frequently in gardens.

_Time._] They keep their leaves green all Winter; but shoot forth new
in the Spring, and with them come forth those heads or flowers which
give ripe seed about Midsummer, or somewhat after.

_Government and virtues._] It is a plant under the dominion of Mars,
and therefore inimical to nature. This herb being drank, not only
provokes vomiting, but purges downwards, and by urine also, purges
both choler and phlegm: If you add to it some spikenard, with the
whey of goat’s milk, or honeyed water, it is made more strong, but
it purges phlegm more manifestly than choler, and therefore does
much help pains in the hips, and other parts; being boiled in whey,
it wonderfully helps the obstructions of the liver and spleen, and
therefore profitable for the dropsy and jaundice; being steeped in
wine and drank, it helps those continual agues that come by the plenty
of stubborn humours; an oil made thereof by setting in the sun, with
some laudanum added to it, provokes sweating (the ridge of the back
being anointed therewith), and thereby drives away the shaking fits of
the ague. It will not abide any long boiling, for it loseth its chief
strength thereby; nor much beating, for the finer powder provokes
vomits and urine, and the coarser purgeth downwards.

The common use hereof is, to take the juice of five or seven leaves in
a little drink to cause vomiting; the roots have also the same virtue,
though they do not operate so forcibly; they are very effectual against
the biting of serpents, and therefore are put as an ingredient both
into Mithridite and Venice treacle. The leaves and roots being boiled
in lye, and the head often washed therewith while it is warm, comforts
the head and brain that is ill affected by taking cold, and helps the
memory.

I shall desire ignorant people to forbear the use of the leaves; the
roots purge more gently, and may prove beneficial to such as have
cancers, or old putrified ulcers, or fistulas upon their bodies, to
take a dram of them in powder 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 ever advise them to be used, unless upon urgent necessity. If
a physician be nature’s servant, it is his duty to strengthen his
mistress as much as he can, and weaken her as little as may be.


ASPARAGUS, SPARAGUS, OR SPERAGE.

_Descript._] IT rises up at first with divers white and green scaly
heads, very brittle or easy to break while they are young, which
afterwards rise up in 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 leaves shorter and smaller than fennel to the top; at the joints
whereof come forth small yellowish flowers, which turn into round
berries, green at first and of an excellent red colour when they are
ripe, shewing like bead or coral, wherein are contained exceeding hard
black seeds; the roots are dispersed from a spongeous head into many
long, thick, and round strings, wherein is sucked much nourishment out
of the ground, and increaseth plentifully thereby.


PRICKLY ASPARAGUS, OR SPERAGE.

_Descript._] THIS grows usually in gardens, and some of it grows
wild in Appleton meadows in Gloucestershire, where the poor people
gather the buds of young shoots, and sell them cheaper that our garden
Asparagus is sold in London.

_Time._] For the most part they flower, and bear their berries late in
the year, or not at all, although they are housed in Winter.

_Government and virtues._] They are both under the dominion of Jupiter.
The young buds or branches boiled in ordinary broth, make the belly
soluble and open, and boiled in white wine, provoke urine, being
stopped, and is good against the stranguary or difficulty of making
water; it expelleth the gravel and stone out of the kidneys, and
helpeth pains in the reins. And boiled in white wine or vinegar, it is
prevalent for them that have their arteries loosened, or are troubled
with the hip-gout or sciatica. The decoction of the roots boiled in
wine and taken, is good to clear the sight, and being held in the mouth
easeth the toothache. The garden asparagus nourisheth more than the
wild, yet hath it the same effects in all the afore-mentioned diseases.
The decoction of the root in white wine, and the back and belly bathed
therewith, or kneeling or lying down in the same, or sitting therein
as a bath, has been found effectual against pains of the reins and
bladder, pains of the mother and cholic, and generally against all
pains that happen to the lower parts of the body, and no less effectual
against stiff and benumbed sinews, or those that are shrunk by cramps
and convulsions, and helps the sciatica.


ASH TREE.

This is so well known, that time would be misspent in writing a
description of it; therefore I shall only insist upon the virtues of it.

_Government and virtues._] It is governed by the Sun: and the young
tender tops, with the leaves, taken inwardly, and some of them
outwardly applied, are singularly good against the bitings of viper,
adder, or any other venomous beast; and the water distilled therefrom
being taken, a small quantity every morning fasting, is a singular
medicine for those that are subject to dropsy, or to abate the
greatness of those that are too gross or fat. The decoction of the
leaves in white wine helps to break the stone, and expel it, and cures
the jaundice. The ashes of the bark of the Ash made into lye, and those
heads bathed therewith which are leprous, scabby, or scald, they are
thereby cured. The kernels within the husks, commonly called Ashen
Keys, prevail against stitches and pains in the sides, proceeding of
wind, and voideth away the stone by provoking urine.

I can justly except against none of all this, save only the first,
_viz._ That Ash-tree tops and leaves are good against the bitings of
serpents and vipers. I suppose this had its rise from Gerrard or Pliny,
both which hold that there is such an antipathy between an adder
and an Ash-tree, that if an adder be encompassed round with Ash-tree
leaves, she will 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 virtues something likely, only if it be in Winter when you
cannot get the leaves, you may safely use the bark instead of them. The
keys you may easily keep all the year, gathering them when they are
ripe.


AVENS, CALLED ALSO COLEWORT, AND
HERB BONET.

_Descript._] The ordinary Avens hath many long, rough, dark green,
winged leaves, rising from the root, every one made of many leaves set
on each side of the middle rib, the largest three whereof grow at the
end, and are snipped or dented round about the edges; the other being
small pieces, sometimes two and sometimes four, standing on each side
of the middle rib underneath them. Among which do rise up divers rough
or hairy stalks about two feet high, branching forth with leaves at
every joint 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 small, pale, yellow flowers consisting of five leaves,
like the flowers of Cinquefoil, but large, in the middle whereof stand
a small green herb, which when the flower is fallen, grows to be round,
being made of many long greenish purple seeds, (like grains) which will
stick upon your clothes. The root consists of many brownish strings or
fibres, smelling somewhat like unto cloves, especially those which grow
in the higher, hotter, and drier grounds, and in free and clear air.

_Place._] They grow wild in many places under hedge’s sides, and by the
path-ways in fields; yet they rather delight to grow in shadowy than
sunny places.

_Time._] They flower in May or June for the most part, and their seed
is ripe in July at the farthest.

_Government and virtues._] It is governed by Jupiter, and that gives
hopes of a wholesome healthful herb. It is good for the diseases of
the chest or breast, for pains, and stiches in the side, and to expel
crude and raw humours from the belly and stomach, by the sweet savour
and warming quality. It dissolves the inward congealed blood happening
by falls or bruises, and the spitting of blood, if the roots, either
green or dry, be boiled in wine and drank; as also all manner of inward
wounds or outward, if washed or bathed therewith. The decoction also
being drank, comforts the heart, and strengthens the stomach and a cold
brain, and therefore is good in the spring times to open obstructions
of the liver, and helps the wind cholic; it also helps those that have
fluxes, or are bursten, or have a rupture; it takes away spots or marks
in the face, being washed therewith. The juice of the fresh root, or
powder of the dried root, has the same effect with the decoction. The
root in the Spring-time steeped in wine, gives it a delicate savour
and taste, and being drank fasting every morning, comforts the heart,
and is a good preservative against the plague, or any other poison. It
helps indigestion, and warms a cold stomach, and opens obstructions of
the liver and spleen.

It is very safe: you need have no dose prescribed; and is very fit to
be kept in every body’s house.


BALM.

THIS herb is so well known to be an inhabitant almost in every garden,
that I shall not need to write any discription thereof, although its
virtues, which are many, may not be omitted.

_Government and virtues._] It is an herb of Jupiter, and under Cancer,
and strengthens nature much in all its actions. Let a syrup made with
the juice of it and sugar (as you shall be taught at the latter end of
this book) be kept in every gentlewoman’s house to relieve the weak
stomachs and sick bodies of their poor sickly neighbours; as also the
herb kept dry in the house, that so with other convenient simples, you
may make it into an electuary with honey, according as the disease
is you shall be taught at the latter end of my book. The Arabian
physicians have extolled the virtues thereof to the skies; although the
Greeks thought it not worth mentioning. Seraphio says, it causes the
mind and heart to become merry, and revives the heart, faintings and
swoonings, especially of such who are overtaken in sleep, and drives
away all troublesome cares and thoughts out of the mind, arising from
melancholy or black choler; which Avicen also confirms. 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 melancholy
vapours from the spirits and blood which are in the heart and arteries,
although it cannot do so in other parts of the body. Dioscorides says,
that the leaves steeped in wine, and the wine drank, and the leaves
externally applied, is a remedy against the stings of a scorpion, and
the bitings of mad dogs; and commends the decoction thereof for women
to bathe or sit in to procure their courses; it is good to wash aching
teeth therewith, and profitable for those that have the bloody flux.
The leaves also, with a little nitre taken in drink, are good against
the surfeit of mushrooms, helps the griping pains of the belly; and
being made into an electuary, it is good for them that cannot fetch
their breath: Used with salt, it takes away wens, kernels, or hard
swelling in the flesh or throat; it cleanses foul sores, and eases
pains of the gout. It is good for the liver and spleen. A tansy or
caudle made with eggs, and juice thereof while it is young, putting to
it some sugar and rose-water, is good for a woman in child-birth, when
the after-birth is not thoroughly voided, and for their faintings upon
or in their sore travail. The herb bruised and boiled in a little wine
and oil, and laid warm on a boil, will ripen it, and break it.


BARBERRY.

THE shrub is so well known by every boy or girl that has but attained
to the age of seven years, that it needs no description.

_Government and virtues._] Mars owns the shrub, and presents it to
the use of my countrymen to purge their bodies of choler. The inner
rind of the Barberry-tree boiled in white wine, and a quarter of a
pint drank each morning, is an excellent remedy to cleanse the body of
choleric humours, and free it from such diseases as choler causes, such
as scabs, itch, tetters, ringworms, yellow jaundice, boils, &c. It is
excellent for hot agues, burnings, scaldings, heat of the blood, heat
of the liver, bloody-flux; for the berries are as good as the bark,
and more pleasing: they get a man a good stomach to his victuals, by
strengthening the attractive faculty which is under Mars. The hair
washed with the lye made of the tree and water, will make it turn
yellow, _viz._ of Mars’ own colour. The fruit and rind of the shrub,
the flowers of broom and of heath, or furz, cleanse the body of choler
by sympathy, as the flowers, leaves, and bark of the peach-tree do by
antipathy, because these are under Mars, that under Venus.


BARLEY.

THE continual usefulness hereof hath made all in general so acquainted
herewith that it is altogether needless to describe it, several kinds
hereof plentifully growing, being yearly sown in this land. The virtues
thereof take as follow.

_Government and virtues._] It is a notable plant of Saturn: if you
view diligently its effects by sympathy and antipathy, you may easily
perceive a reason of them, as also why barley bread is so unwholesome
for melancholy people. Barley in all the parts and compositions thereof
(except malt) is more cooling than wheat, and a little cleansing:
And all the preparations thereof, as barley-water and other things
made thereof, give great nourishment to persons troubled with fevers,
agues, and heats in the stomach: A poultice made of barley meal or
flour boiled in vinegar and honey, and a few dry figs put into them,
dissolves all imposthumes, and assuages inflammations, being thereto
applied. And being boiled with melilot and camomile-flowers, and some
linseed, fenugreek, and rue in powder, and applied warm, it eases
pains in side and stomach, and windiness of the spleen. The meal of
barley and fleawort boiled in water, and made a poultice with honey and
oil of lilies applied warm, cures swellings under the ears, throat,
neck, and such like; and a plaister made thereof with tar, with sharp
vinegar into a poultice, and laid on hot, helps the leprosy; being
boiled in red wine with pomegranate rinds and myrtles, stays the lask
or other flux of the belly; boiled with vinegar and quince, it eases
the pains of the gout; barley-flour, white salt, honey, and vinegar
mingled together, takes away the itch speedily and certainly. The
water distilled from the green barley in the end of May, is very good
for those that have defluctions of humours fallen into their eyes,
and eases the pain, being dropped into them; or white bread steeped
therein, and bound on the eyes, does the same.


GARDEN BAZIL, OR SWEET BAZIL.

_Descript._] THE greater of Ordinary Bazil rises up usually with one
upright stalk, diversly branching forth on all sides, with two leaves
at every joint, which are somewhat broad and round, yet pointed, of a
pale green colour, but fresh; a little snipped about the edges, and of
a strong healthy scent. The flowers are small and white, and standing
at the tops of the branches, with two small leaves at the joints, in
some places green, in others brown, after which come black seed. The
root perishes at the approach of Winter, and therefore must be new sown
every year.

_Place._] It grows in gardens.

_Time._] It must be sowed late, and flowers in the heart of Summer,
being a very tender plant.

_Government and virtues._] This is the herb which all authors are
together by the ears about, and rail at one another (like lawyers).
Galen and Dioscorides hold it not fit to be taken inwardly; and
Chrysippus rails at it with downright Billingsgate rhetoric; Pliny, and
the Arabian physicians defend it.

For my own part, I presently found that speech true:

_Non nostrium inter nos tantas componere lites._

And away to Dr. Reason went I, who told me it was an herb of Mars, and
under the Scorpion, and perhaps therefore called Basilicon; and it is
no marvel if it carry a kind of virulent quality with it. Being applied
to the place bitten by venomous beasts, or stung by a wasp or hornet,
it speedily draws the poison to it; _Every like draws his like._
Mizaldus affirms, that, being laid to rot in horse-dung, it will breed
venomous beasts. Hilarius, a French physician, affirms upon his own
knowledge, that an acquaintance of his, by common smelling to it, had a
scorpion bred in his brain. Something is the matter; this herb and rue
will not grow together, no, nor near one another: and we know rue is as
great an enemy to poison as any that grows.

To conclude; It expels both birth and after-birth; and as it helps
the deficiency of Venus in one kind, so it spoils all her actions in
another. I dare write no more of it.


THE BAY TREE.

THIS is so well known that it needs no description: I shall therefore
only write the virtues thereof, which are many.

_Government and virtues._] I shall but only add a word or two to what
my friend has written, _viz._, that it is a tree of the sun, and under
the celestial sign Leo, and resists witchcraft very potently, as also
all the evils 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
Mizaldus, that neither witch nor devil, thunder nor lightning, will
hurt a man in the place where a Bay-tree is. Galen said, 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 jaundice, dropsy, &c. The berries are
very effectual against all poison of venomous creatures, and the sting
of wasps and bees; as also against the pestilence, or other infectious
diseases, and therefore put into sundry treacles for that purpose; they
likewise procure women’s courses, and seven of them given to woman in
sore travail of child-birth, do cause a speedy delivery, and expel the
after-birth, and therefore not to be taken by such as have not gone out
their time, lest they procure abortion, or cause labour too soon. They
wonderfully help all cold and rheumatic 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 rheums; as also the megrim. They mightily expel the wind, and
provoke urine; help the mother, and kill the worms. The leaves also
work the like effect. A bath of the decoction of leaves and berries, is
singularly good for women to sit in, that are troubled with the mother,
or the diseases thereof, or the stoppings of their courses, or for the
diseases of the bladder, pains in the bowels by wind and stoppage of
the urine. A decoction likewise of equal parts of Bay-berries, cummin
seed, hyssop, origanum, and euphorbium, with some honey, and the head
bathed therewith, wonderfully helps distillations and rheums, and
settles the pallate of the mouth into its place. The oil made of the
berries is very comfortable in all cold griefs of the joints, nerves,
arteries, stomach, belly, or womb, and helps palsies, convulsions,
cramp, aches, tremblings, and numbness in any part, weariness also, and
pains that come by sore travelling. All griefs and pains proceeding
from wind, either in the head, stomach, back, belly, or womb, by
anointing the parts affected therewith: And pains in the ears are also
cured by dropping in some of the oil, or by receiving into the ears
the fume of the decoction of the berries through a funnel. The oil
takes away the marks of the skin and flesh by bruises, falls, &c. and
dissolves the congealed blood in them. It helps also the itch, scabs,
and weals in the skin.


BEANS.

BOTH the garden and field beans are so well known, that it saves me the
labour of writing any description of them. The virtues follow.

_Government and virtues._] They are plants of Venus, and the distilled
water of the flower of garden beans is good to clean the face and
skin from spots and wrinkles, and the meal or flour of them, or the
small beans doth the same. The water distilled from the green husk,
is held to be very effectual against the stone, and to provoke urine.
Bean flour is used in poultices to assuage inflammations arising from
wounds, and the swelling of women’s breasts caused by the curdling of
their milk, and represses their milk; Flour of beans and Fenugreek
mixed with honey, and applied to felons, boils, bruises, or blue marks
by blows, or the imposthumes in the kernels of the ears, helps them
all, and with Rose leaves, Frankincense and the white of an egg, being
applied to the eyes, helps them that are swollen or do water, or have
received any blow upon them, if used with wine. If a bean be parted in
two, the skin being taken away, and laid on the place where the leech
hath been set that bleeds too much, stays the bleeding. Bean flour
boiled to a poultice with wine and vinegar, and some oil put thereto,
eases both pains and swelling of the privities. The husk boiled in
water to the consumption of a third part thereof, stays a lask; and the
ashes of the husks, made up with old hog’s grease, helps the old pains,
contusions, and wounds of the sinews, the sciatica and gout. The field
beans have all the aforementioned virtues as the garden beans.

Beans eaten are extremely windy meat; but if after the Dutch fashion,
when they are half boiled you husk them and then stew them (I cannot
tell you how, for I never was a cook in all my life), they are
wholesome food.


FRENCH BEANS.

_Descript._] THIS French or kidney Bean arises at first but with one
stalk, which afterwards divides itself into many arms or branches, but
all so weak that if they be not sustained with sticks or poles, they
will be fruitless upon the ground. At several places of these branches
grow foot stalks, each with three broad round and pointed green leaves
at the end of them; towards the top comes forth divers flowers made
like to pease blossoms, of the same colour for the most part that the
fruit will be of, that is to say, white, yellow, red, blackish, or of
a deep purple, but white is the most usual; after which come long and
slender flat pods, some crooked, some straight, with a string running
down the back thereof, wherein is flattish round fruit made like a
kidney; the root long, spreads with many strings annexed to it, and
perishes every year.

There is another sort of French beans commonly growing with us in this
land, which is called the Scarlet flower Bean.

This rises with sundry branches as the other, but runs higher, to
the length of hop-poles, about which they grow twining, but turning
contrary to the sun, having foot-stalks with three leaves on each,
as on the others; the flowers also are like the other, and of a most
orient scarlet colour. The Beans are larger than the ordinary kind, of
a dead purple colour turning black when ripe and dry; the root perishes
in Winter.

_Government and virtues._] These also belong to Dame Venus, and being
dried and beat to powder, are as great strengtheners of the kidneys as
any are; neither is there a better remedy than it; a dram at a time
taken in white wine to prevent the stone, or to cleanse the kidneys
of gravel or stoppage. The ordinary French Beans are of an easy
digestion; they move the belly, provoke urine, enlarge the breast that
is straightened with shortness of breath, engender sperm, and incite
to venery. And the scarlet coloured Beans, in regard of the glorious
beauty of their colour, being set near a quickset hedge, will much
adorn the same, by climbing up thereon, so that they may be discerned a
great way, not without admiration of the beholders at a distance. But
they will go near to kill the quicksets by cloathing them in scarlet.


LADIES BED-STRAW.

BESIDES the common name above written, it is called Cheese-Rennet,
because it performs the same office, as also Gailion, Pettimugget, and
Maiden-hair; and by some Wild Rosemary.

_Descript._] This rises up with divers small brown, and square upright
stalks, a yard high or more; sometimes branches forth into divers
parts, full of joints, and with divers very fine small leaves at
every one of them, little or nothing rough at all; at the tops of the
branches grow many long tufts or branches of yellow flowers very thick
set together, from the several joints which consist of four leaves a
piece, which smell somewhat strong, but not unpleasant. The seed is
small and black like poppy seed, two for the most part joined together:
The root is reddish, with many small threads fastened to it, which take
strong hold of the ground, and creep a little: and the branches leaning
a little down to the ground, take root at the joints thereof, whereby
it is easily increased.

There is another sort of Ladies Bedstraw growing frequently in England,
which bears white flowers as the other doth yellow; but the branches of
this are so weak, that unless it be sustained by the hedges, or other
things near which it grows, it will lie down to the ground; the leaves
a little bigger than the former, and the flowers not so plentiful as
these; and the root hereof is also thready and abiding.

_Place._] They grow in meadow and pastures both wet and dry, and by the
hedges.

_Time._] They flower in May for the most part, and the seed is ripe in
July and August.

_Government and virtues._] They are both herbs of Venus, and therefore
strengthening the parts both internal and external, which she rules.
The decoction of the former of those being drank, is good to fret and
break the stone, provoke the urine, stays inward bleeding, and heals
inward wounds. The herb or flower bruised and put into the nostrils,
stays their bleeding likewise; The flowers and herbs being made into
an oil, by being set in the sun, and changed after it has stood ten or
twelve days; or into an ointment being boiled in _Axunga_, or sallad
oil, with some wax melted therein, after it is strained; either the
oil made thereof, or the ointment, do help burnings with fire, or
scalding with water. The same also, or the decoction of the herb and
flower, is good to bathe the feet of travellers and lacquies, whose
long running causes weariness and stiffness in the sinews and joints.
If the decoction be used warm, and the joints afterwards anointed with
ointment, it helps the dry scab, and the itch in children; and the herb
with the white flower is also very good for the sinews, arteries, and
joints, to comfort and strengthen them after travel, cold, and pains.


BEETS.

OF Beets there are two sorts, which are best known generally, and
whereof I shall principally treat at this time, _viz._ the white and
red Beets and their virtues.

_Descript._] The common white beet has many great leaves next the
ground, somewhat large and of a whitish green colour. The stalk is
great, strong, and ribbed, bearing great store of leaves upon it,
almost to the very top of it: The flowers grow in very long tufts,
small at the end, and turning down their heads, which are small, pale
greenish, yellow, buds, giving cornered prickly seed. The root is
great, long, and hard, and when it has given seed is of no use at all.

The common red Beet differs not from the white, but only it is
less, and the leaves and the roots are somewhat red; the leaves are
differently red, some only with red stalks or veins; some of a fresh
red, and others of a dark red. The root thereof is red, spungy, and not
used to be eaten.

_Government and virtues._] The government of these two sorts of Beets
are far different; the red Beet being under Saturn and the white under
Jupiter; therefore take the virtues of them apart, each by itself. The
white Beet much loosens the belly, and is of a cleansing, digesting
quality, and provokes urine. The juice of it opens obstructions both
of the liver and spleen, and is good for the head-ache and swimmings
therein, and turnings of the brain; and is effectual also against all
venomous creatures; and applied to the temples, stays inflammations of
the eyes; it helps burnings, being used with oil, and with a little
alum put to it, is good for St. Anthony’s fire. It is good for all
wheals, pushes, blisters, and blains in the skin: the herb boiled,
and laid upon chilblains or kibes, helps them. The decoction thereof
in water and some vinegar, heals the itch, if bathed therewith; and
cleanses the head of dandruff, scurf, and dry scabs, and does much good
for fretting and running sores, ulcers, and cankers in the head, legs,
or other parts, and is much commended against baldness and shedding the
hair.

The red Beet is good to stay the bloody-flux, women’s courses, and the
whites, and to help the yellow jaundice; the juice of the root put into
the nostrils, purges the head, helps the noise in the ears, and the
tooth-ache; the juice snuffed up the nose, helps a stinking breath, if
the cause lie in the nose, as many times it does, if any bruise has
been there: as also want of smell coming that way.


WATER BETONY.

CALLED also Brown-wort, and in Yorkshire, Bishop’s-leaves.

_Descript._] First, of the Water Betony, which rises up with square,
hard, greenish stalks, sometimes brown, set with broad dark green
leaves dented about the edges with notches somewhat resembling the
leaves of the Wood Betony, but much larger too, for the most part set
at a joint. The flowers are many, set at the tops of the stalks and
branches, being round bellied and open at the brims, and divided into
two parts, the uppermost being like a hood, and the lowermost like a
hip hanging down, of a dark red colour, which passing, there comes in
their places small round heads with small points at the ends, wherein
lie small and brownish seeds; the root is a thick bush of strings and
shreds, growing from the head.

_Place._] It grows by the ditch side, brooks and other water-courses,
generally through this land, and is seldom found far from the
water-side.

_Time._] It flowers about July, and the seed is ripe in August.

_Government and virtues._] Water Betony is an herb of Jupiter in
Cancer, and is appropriated more to wounds and hurts in the breast
than Wood Betony, which follows: It is an excellent remedy for sick
hogs. It is of a cleansing quality. The leaves bruised and applied are
effectual for all old and filthy ulcers; and especially if the juice of
the leaves be boiled with a little honey, and dipped therein, and the
sores dressed therewith; as also for bruises and hurts, whether inward
or outward. The distilled water of the leaves is used for the same
purpose; as also to bathe the face and hands spotted or blemished, or
discoloured by sun burning.

I confess I do not much fancy distilled waters, I mean such waters as
are distilled cold; some virtues of the herb they may haply have (it
were a strange thing else;) but this I am confident of, that being
distilled in a pewter still, as the vulgar and apish fashion is, both
chemical oil and salt is left behind unless you burn them, and then all
is spoiled, water and all, which was good for as little as can be, by
such a distillation.


WOOD BETONY.

_Descript._] COMMON or Wood Betony has many leaves rising from the
root, which are somewhat broad and round at the end, roundly dented
about the edges, standing upon long foot stalks, from among which rise
up small, square, slender, but upright hairy stalks, with some leaves
thereon to a piece at the joints, smaller than the lower, whereon
are set several spiked heads of flowers like Lavender, but thicker
and shorter for the most part, and of a reddish or purple colour,
spotted with white spots both in the upper and lower part. The seeds
being contained within the husks that hold the flowers, are blackish,
somewhat long and uneven. The roots are many white thready strings: the
stalks perish, but the roots with some leaves thereon, abide all the
Winter. The whole plant is somewhat small.

_Place._] It grows frequently in woods, and delights in shady places.

_Time._] And it flowers in July; after which the seed is quickly ripe,
yet in its prime in May.

_Government and virtues._] The herb is appropriated to the planet
Jupiter, and the sign Aries. Antonius Musa, physician to the Emperor
Augustus Cæsar, wrote a peculiar book of the virtues of this herb; and
among other virtues saith of it, that it preserves the liver and bodies
of men from the danger of epidemical diseases, and from witchcraft
also; it helps those that loath and cannot digest their meat, those
that have weak stomachs and sour belchings, or continual rising in
their stomachs, using it familiarly either green or dry; either the
herb, or root, or the flowers, in broth, drink, or meat, or made into
conserve, syrup, water, electuary, or powder, as every one may best
frame themselves unto, or as the time and season requires; taken any
of the aforesaid ways, it helps the jaundice, falling sickness, the
palsy, convulsions, or shrinking of the sinews, the gout and those
that are inclined to dropsy, those that have continual pains in their
heads, although it turn to phrensy. The powder mixed with pure honey
is no less available for all sorts of coughs or colds, wheesing, or
shortness of breath, distillations of thin rheum upon the lungs,
which causes consumptions. The decoction made with Mead, and a little
Pennyroyal, is good for those that are troubled with putrid agues,
whether quotidian, tertian, or quartan, and to draw down and evacuate
the blood and humours, that by falling into the eyes, do hinder the
sight; the decoction thereof made in wine and taken, kills the worms
in the belly, opens obstructions both of the spleen and liver; cures
stitches, and pains in the back and sides, the torments and griping
pains in the bowels, and the wind cholic; and mixed with honey purges
the belly, helps to bring down women’s courses, and is of special use
for those that are troubled with the falling down of the mother, and
pains thereof, and causes an easy and speedy delivery of women in
child-birth. It helps also to break and expel the stone, either in
the bladder or kidneys. The decoction with wine gargled in the mouth,
eases the tooth-ache. It is commended against the stinging and biting
of venomous serpents, or mad dogs, being used inwardly and applied
outwardly to the place. A dram of the powder of Betony taken with a
little honey in some vinegar, does wonderfully refresh those that are
over wearied by travelling. It stays bleeding at the mouth or nose,
and helps those that void or spit blood, and those that are bursten
or have a rupture, and is good for such as are bruised by any fall or
otherwise. The green herb bruised, or the juice applied to any inward
hurt, or outward green wound in the head or body, will quickly heal
and close it up; as also any vein or sinews that are cut, and will
draw forth any broken bone or splinter, thorn or other things got into
the flesh. It is no less profitable for old sores or filthy ulcers,
yea, tho’ they be fistulous and hollow. But some do advise to put a
little salt for this purpose, being applied with a little hog’s lard,
it helps a plague sore, and other boils and pushes. The fumes of the
decoction while it is warm, received by a funnel into the ears, eases
the pains of them, destroys the worms and cures the running sores in
them. The juice dropped into them does the same. The root of Betony
is displeasing both to the taste and stomach, whereas the leaves and
flowers, by their sweet and spicy taste, are comfortable both to meat
and medicine.

These are some of the many virtues Anthony Muse, an expert physician
(for it was not the practice of Octavius Cæsar to keep fools about
him), appropriates to Betony; it is a very precious herb, that is
certain, and most fitting to be kept in a man’s house, both in syrup,
conserve, oil, ointment and plaister. The flowers are usually conserved.


THE BEECH TREE.

IN treating of this tree, you must understand, that I mean the green
mast Beech, which is by way of distinction from that other small rough
sort, called in Sussex the smaller Beech, but in Essex Horn-beam.

I suppose it is needless to describe it, being already too well known
to my countrymen.

_Place._] It grows in woods amongst oaks and other trees, and in parks,
forests, and chases, to feed deer; and in other places to fatten swine.

_Time._] It blooms in the end of April, or beginning of May, for the
most part, and the fruit is ripe in September.

_Government and virtues._] It is a plant of Saturn, and therefore
performs his qualities and proportion in these operations. The leaves
of the Beech tree are cooling and binding, and therefore good to be
applied to hot swellings to discuss them; the nuts do much nourish such
beasts as feed thereon. The water that is found in the hollow places
of decaying Beeches will cure both man and beast of any scurf, or
running tetters, if they be washed therewith; you may boil the leaves
into a poultice, or make an ointment of them when time of year serves.


BILBERRIES, CALLED BY SOME WHORTS,
AND WHORTLE-BERRIES.

_Descript._] OF these I shall only speak of two sorts which are common
in England, viz. The black and red berries. And first of the black.

The small bush creeps along upon the ground, scarcely rising half a
yard high, with divers small green leaves set in the green branches,
not always one against the other, and a little dented about the edges:
At the foot of the leaves come forth small, hollow, pale, bluish
coloured flowers, the brims ending at five points, with a reddish
thread in the middle, which pass into small round berries of the
bigness and colour of juniper berries, but of a purple, sweetish sharp
taste; the juice of them gives a purplish colour in their hands and
lips that eat and handle them, especially if they break them. The
root grows aslope under ground, shooting forth in sundry places as it
creeps. This loses its leaves in Winter.

The Red Bilberry, or Whortle-Bush, rises up like the former, having
sundry hard leaves, like the Box-tree leaves, green and round pointed,
standing on the several branches, at the top whereof only, and not from
the sides, as in the former, come forth divers round, reddish, sappy
berries, when they are ripe, of a sharp taste. The root runs in the
ground, as in the former, but the leaves of this abide all Winter.

_Place._] The first grows in forests, on the heaths, and such like
barren places: the red grows in the north parts of this land, as
Lancashire, Yorkshire, &c.

_Time._] They flower in March and April, and the fruit of the black is
ripe in July and August.

_Government and virtues._] They are under the dominion of Jupiter. It
is a pity they are used no more in physic than they are.

The black Bilberries are good in hot agues and to cool the heat of the
liver and stomach; they do somewhat bind the belly, and stay vomiting
and loathings; the juice of the berries made in a syrup, or the pulp
made into a conserve with sugar, is good for the purposes aforesaid,
as also for an old cough, or an ulcer in the lungs, or other diseases
therein. The Red Worts are more binding, and stops women’s courses,
spitting of blood, or any other flux of blood or humours, being used as
well outwardly as inwardly.


BIFOIL OR TWABLADE.

_Descript._] THIS small herb, from a root somewhat sweet, shooting
downwards many long strings, rises up a round green stalk, bare or
naked next the ground for an inch, two or three to the middle thereof
as it is in age or growth; as also from the middle upwards to the
flowers, having only two broad Plaintain-like leaves (but whiter) set
at the middle of the stalk one against another, compassing it round at
the bottom of them.

_Place._] It is an usual inhabitant in woods, copses, and in many
places in this land.

There is another sort grows in wet grounds and marshes, which is
somewhat different from the former. It is a smaller plant, and greener,
having sometimes three leaves; the spike of the flowers is less than
the former, and the roots of this do run or creep in the ground.

They are often used by many to good purpose for wounds, both green and
old, to consolidate or knit ruptures; and well it may, being a plant of
Saturn.


THE BIRCH TREE.

_Descript._] THIS grows a goodly tall straight tree, fraught with many
boughs, and slender branches bending downward: the old being covered
with discoloured chapped bark, and the younger being browner by much.
The leaves at the first breaking out are crumpled, and afterwards
like the beech leaves, but smaller and greener, and dented about the
edges. It bears small short cat-skins, somewhat like those of the
hazelnut-tree, which abide on the branches a long time, until growing
ripe, they fall on the ground and their seed with them.

_Place._] It usually grows in woods.

_Government and virtues._] It is a tree of Venus; the juice of the
leaves, while they are young, or the distilled water of them, or the
water that comes from the tree being bored with an auger, and distilled
afterwards; any of these being drank for some days together, is
available to break the stone in the kidneys and bladder, and is good
also to wash sore mouths.


BIRD’S FOOT.

THIS small herb grows not above a span high with many branches spread
upon the ground, set with many wings of small leaves. The flowers grow
upon the branches, many small ones of a pale yellow colour being set
a-head together, which afterwards turn into small jointed pods, well
resembling the claw of small birds, whence it took its name.

There is another sort of Bird’s Foot in all things like the former,
but a little larger; the flowers of a pale whitish and red colour, and
the pods distinct by joints like the other, but little more crooked;
and the roots do carry many small white knots or kernels amongst the
strings.

_Place._] These grow on heaths, and many open untilled places of this
land.

_Time._] They flower and seed in the end of Summer.

_Government and virtues._] They belong to Saturn and are of a drying,
binding quality, and thereby very good to be used in wound drinks, as
also to apply outwardly for the same purpose. But the latter Bird’s
Foot is found by experience to break the stone in the back or kidneys,
and drives them forth, if the decoction thereof be taken; and it
wonderfully helps the ruptures, being taken inwardly, and outwardly
applied to the place.

All sorts have best operations upon the stone, as ointments and
plaisters have upon wounds: and therefore you may make a salt of this
for the stone; the way how to do so may be found in my translation
of the London Dispensatory; and it may be I may give you it again in
plainer terms at the latter end of this book.


BISHOP’S-WEED.

BESIDES the common name Bishop’s-weed, it is usually known by the Greek
name _Ammi_ and _Ammois_; some call it Æthiopian Cummin-seed, and
others Cummin-royal, as also Herb William, and Bull-wort.

_Descript._] Common Bishop’s-weed rises up with a round straight stalk,
sometimes as high as a man, but usually three or four feet high, beset
with divers small, long and somewhat broad leaves, cut in some places,
and dented about the edges, growing one against another, of a dark
green colour, having sundry branches on them, and at the top small
umbels of white flowers, which turn into small round seeds little
bigger than Parsley seeds, of a quick hot scent and taste; the root is
white and stringy; perishing yearly, and usually rises again on its own
sowing.

_Place._] It grows wild in many places in England and Wales, as between
Greenhithe and Gravesend.

_Government and virtues._] It is hot and dry in the third degree, of a
bitter taste, and somewhat sharp withal; it provokes lust to purpose; I
suppose Venus owns it. It digests humours, provokes urine and women’s
courses, dissolves wind, and being taken in wine it eases pains and
griping in the bowels, and is good against the biting of serpents; it
is used to good effect in those medicines which are given to hinder
the poisonous operation of Cantharides, upon the passage of the urine:
being mixed with honey and applied to black and blue marks, coming of
blows or bruises, it takes them away; and being drank or outwardly
applied, it abates a high colour, and makes it pale; and the fumes
thereof taken with rosin or raisins, cleanses the mother.


BISTORT, OR SNAKEWEED.

IT is called Snakeweed, English Serpentary, Dragon-wort, Osterick, and
Passions.

_Descript._] This has a thick short knobbed root, blackish without, and
somewhat reddish within, a little crooked or turned together, of a hard
astringent taste, with divers black threads hanging therefrom, whence
springs up every year divers leaves, standing upon long footstalks,
being somewhat broad and long like a dock leaf, and a little pointed
at the ends, but that it is of a blueish green colour on the upper
side, and of an ash-colour grey, and a little purplish underneath, with
divers veins therein, from among which rise up divers small and slender
stalks, two feet high, and almost naked and without leaves, or with a
very few, and narrow, bearing a spiky bush of pale-coloured flowers;
which being past, there abides small seed, 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 leaves. The
root blackish without, and somewhat whitish within; of an austere
binding taste, as the former.

_Place._] They grow in shadowy moist woods, and at the foot of hills,
but are chiefly nourished up in gardens. The narrow leafed Bistort
grows 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.

_Government and virtues._] It belongs to Saturn, and is in operation
cold and dry; both the leaves and roots have a powerful faculty to
resist all poison. The root, in powder, taken in drink expels the venom
of the plague, the small-pox, measels, purples, or any other infectious
disease, driving it out by sweating. The root in powder, the decoction
thereof in wine being drank, stays all manner of inward bleeding, or
spitting of blood, and any fluxes in the body of either man or woman,
or vomiting. It is also very available against ruptures, or burstings,
or all bruises from falls, dissolving the congealed blood, and easing
the pains that happen thereupon; it also helps the jaundice.

The water, distilled from both leaves and roots, is a singular remedy
to wash any place bitten or stung by any venomous 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 drank,
hinders abortion or miscarriage in child-bearing. The leaves also
kill the worms in children, and is a great help to them that cannot
keep their water; if the juice of Plaintain be added thereto, and
outwardly applied, much helps the ghonorrhea, or running of the reins.
A dram of the powder of the root, taken in water thereof, wherein some
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
humours. The leaves, seed, or roots, are all very good in decoction,
drinks, or lotions, for inward or outward wounds, or other sores.
And the powder, strewed upon any cut or wound in a vein, stays the
immoderate bleeding thereof. The decoction of the root in water, where
unto some pomegranate peels and flowers are added, injected into the
matrix, stays the immoderate flux of the courses. The root thereof,
with pelitory of Spain and burnt alum, of each a little quantity,
beaten small and into paste with some honey, and a little piece thereof
put into a hollow tooth, or held between the teeth, if there be no
hollowness in them, stays the defluction of rheum upon them which
causes pains, and helps to cleanse the head, and void much offensive
water. The distilled water is very effectual to wash sores or cankers
in the nose, or any other part; if the powder of the root be applied
thereunto afterwards. It is good also to fasten the gums, and to take
away the heat and inflammations that happen in the jaws, almonds of
the throat, or mouth, if the decoction of the leaves, roots, or seeds
bruised, or the juice of them, be applied; but the roots are most
effectual to the purposes aforesaid.


ONE-BLADE.

_Descript._] THIS small plant never bears more than one leaf, but only
when it rises up with its stalk, which thereon bears another, and
seldom more, which are of a blueish green colour, broad at the bottom,
and pointed with many ribs or veins like Plaintain; at the top of the
stalk grows many small flowers star-fashion, smelling somewhat sweet;
after which comes small reddish berries when they are ripe. The root
small, of the bigness of a rush, lying and creeping under the upper
crust of the earth, shooting forth in divers places.

_Place._] It grows in moist, shadowy, grassy places of woods, in many
places of this realm.

_Time._] It flowers about May, and the berries are ripe in June, and
then quickly perishes, until the next year it springs from the same
again.

_Government and virtues._] It is a herb of the Sun, and therefore
cordial; half a dram, or a dram at most, of the root hereof in powder
taken in wine and vinegar, of each a little quantity, and the party
presently laid to sweat, is held to be a sovereign remedy for those
that are infected with the plague, and have a sore upon them, by
expelling the poison, and defending the heart and spirit from danger.
It is also accounted a singular good wound herb, and therefore used
with other herbs in making such balms as are necessary for curing of
wounds, either green or old, and especially if the nerves be hurt.


THE BRAMBLE, OR BLACK-BERRY BUSH.

IT is so well known that it needs no description. The virtues thereof
are as follows:—

_Government and virtues._] It is a plant of Venus in Aries. If any
ask the reason why Venus is so prickly? Tell them it is because she
is in the house of Mars. The buds, leaves, and branches, while they
are green, are of a good use in the ulcers and putrid sores of the
mouth and throat, and of the quinsey, and likewise to heal other fresh
wounds and sores; but the flowers and fruit unripe are very binding,
and so profitable for the bloody flux, lasks, and are a fit remedy for
spitting of blood. Either the decoction of the powder or of the root
taken, is good to break or drive forth gravel and the stone in the
reins and kidneys. The leaves and brambles, as well green as dry, are
exceeding good lotions for sores in the mouth, or secret parts. The
decoction of them, and of the dried branches, do much bind the belly
and are good for too much flowing of women’s courses; the berries
of the flowers are a powerful remedy against the poison of the most
venomous serpents; as well drank as outwardly applied, helps the
sores of the fundament and the piles; the juice of the berries mixed
with the juice of mulberries, do bind more effectually, and helps
all fretting and eating sores and ulcers wheresoever. The distilled
water of the branches, leaves, and flowers, or of the fruit, is very
pleasant in taste, and very effectual in fevers and hot distempers of
the body, head, eyes, and other parts, and for the purposes aforesaid.
The leaves boiled in lye, and the head washed therewith, heals the
itch and running sores thereof, and makes the hair black. The powder
of the leaves strewed on cankers and running ulcers, wonderfully helps
to heal them. Some use to condensate the juice of the leaves, and some
the juice of the berries, to keep for their use all the year, for the
purposes aforesaid.


BLITES.

_Descript._] OF these there are two sorts commonly known, viz. white
and red. The white has leaves somewhat like to Beets, but smaller,
rounder and of a whitish green colour, every one standing upon a small
long footstalk: the stalk rises up two or three feet high, with such
like leaves thereon; the flowers grow at the top in long round tufts,
or clusters, wherein are contained small and round seeds; the root is
very full of threads or strings.

The red Blite is in all things like the white but that its leaves and
tufted heads are exceeding red at first, and after turn more purple.

There are other kinds of Blites which grow different from the two
former sorts but little, but only the wild are smaller in every part.

_Place._] They grow in gardens, and wild in many places in this land.

_Time._] They seed in August and September.

_Government and virtues._] They are all of them cooling, drying, and
binding, serving to restrain the fluxes of blood in either man or
woman, especially the red; which also stays the overflowing of the
women’s reds, as the white Blites stays the whites in women. It is an
excellent secret; you cannot well fail in the use. They are all under
the dominion of Venus.

There is another sort of wild Blites like the other wild kinds, but
have long and spiky heads of greenish seeds, seeming by the thick
setting together to be all seed.

This sort the fishers are delighted with, and it is good and usual
bait; for fishes will bite fast enough at them, if you have wit enough
to catch them when they bite.


BORAGE AND BUGLOSS.

THESE are so well known to the inhabitants in every garden that I hold
it needless to describe them.

To these I may add a third sort, which is not so common, nor yet so
well known, and therefore I shall give you its name and description.

It is called _Langue de Bœuf_; but why then should they call one herb
by the name of Bugloss, and another by the name _Langue de Bœuf_? it is
some question to me, seeing one signifies Ox-tongue in Greek, and the
other signifies the same in French.

_Descript._] The leaves whereof are smaller than those of Bugloss but
much rougher; the stalks rising up about a foot and a half high, and is
most commonly of a red colour; the flowers stand in scaly round heads,
being composed of many small yellow flowers not much unlike to those
of Dandelion, and the seed flieth away in down as that doth; you may
easily know the flowers by their taste, for they are very bitter.

_Place._] It grows wild in many places of this land, and may be
plentifully found near London, as between Rotherhithe and Deptford, by
the ditch side. Its virtues are held to be the same with Borage and
Bugloss, only this is somewhat hotter.

_Time._] They flower in June and July, and the seed is ripe shortly
after.

_Government and virtues._] They are all three herbs of Jupiter and
under Leo, all great cordials, and great strengtheners of nature.
The leaves and roots are to very good purpose used in putrid and
pestilential fevers, to defend the heart, and help to resist and expel
the poison, or the venom of other creatures: the seed is of the like
effect; and the seed and leaves are good to increase milk in women’s
breasts; the leaves, flowers, and seed, all or any of them, are good to
expel pensiveness and melancholy; it helps to clarify the blood, and
mitigate heat in fevers. The juice made into a syrup prevails much to
all the purposes aforesaid, and is put, with other cooling, opening and
cleansing herbs to open obstructions, and help the yellow jaundice, and
mixed with Fumitory, to cool, cleanse, and temper the blood thereby;
it helps the itch, ringworms and tetters, or other spreading scabs or
sores. The flowers candied or made into a conserve, are helpful in the
former cases, but are chiefly used as a cordial, and are good for those
that are weak in long sickness, and to comfort the heart and spirits
of those that are in a consumption, or troubled with often swoonings,
or passions of the heart. The distilled water is no less effectual to
all the purposes aforesaid, and helps the redness and inflammations of
the eyes, being washed therewith; the herb dried is never used, but
the green; yet the ashes thereof boiled in mead, or honied water, is
available against the inflammations and ulcers in the mouth or throat,
to gargle it therewith; the roots of Bugloss are effectual, being made
into a licking electuary for the cough, and to condensate thick phlegm,
and the rheumatic distillations upon the lungs.


BLUE-BOTTLE.

IT is called Syanus, I suppose from the colour of it; Hurt-sickle,
because it turns the edge of the sickles that reap the corn; Blue-blow,
Corn-flower, and Blue-bottle.

_Descript._] I shall only describe that which is commonest, and in
my opinion most useful; its leaves spread upon the ground, being
of a whitish green colour, somewhat on the edges like those of
Corn-Scabious, amongst which rises up a stalk divided into divers
branches, beset with long leaves of a greenish colour, either but very
little indented, or not at all; the flowers are of a blueish colour,
from whence it took its name, consisting of an innumerable company of
flowers set in a scaly head, not much unlike those of Knap-weed; the
seed is smooth, bright, and shining, wrapped up in a woolly mantle; the
root perishes every year.

_Place._] They grow in cornfields, amongst all sorts of corn (pease,
beans, and tares excepted.) If you please to take them up from thence,
and transplant them in your garden, especially towards the full of the
moon, they will grow more double than they are, and many times change
colour.

_Time._] They flower from the beginning of May, to the end of the
harvest.

_Government and virtues._] As they are naturally cold, dry, and
binding, so they are under the dominion of Saturn. The powder or
dried leaves of the Blue-bottle, or Corn-flower, is given with good
success to those that are bruised by a fall, or have broken a vein
inwardly, and void much blood at the mouth; being taken in the water of
Plaintain, Horsetail, or the greater Confrey, it is a remedy against
the poison of the Scorpion, and resists all venoms and poison. The
seed or leaves taken in wine, is very good against the plague, and
all infectious diseases, and is very good in pestilential fevers. The
juice put into fresh or green wounds, doth quickly solder up the lips
of them together, and is very effectual to heal all ulcers and sores
in the mouth. The juice dropped into the eyes takes away the heat and
inflammation of them. The distilled water of this herb, has the same
properties, and may be used for the effects aforesaid.


BRANK URSINE.

BESIDES the common name Brank-Ursine, it is also called Bear’s-breach,
and Acanthus, though I think our English names to be more proper; for
the Greek word _Acanthus_, signifies any thistle whatsoever.

_Descript._] This thistle shoots forth very many large, thick, sad
green smooth leaves on the ground, with a very thick and juicy middle
rib; the leaves are parted with sundry deep gashes on the edges; the
leaves remain a long time, before any stalk appears, afterwards rising
up a reasonable big stalk, three or four feet high, and bravely decked
with flowers from the middle of the stalk upwards; for on the lower
part of the stalk, there is neither branches nor leaf. The flowers are
hooded and gaping, being white in colour, and standing in brownish
husk, with a long small undivided leaf under each leaf; they seldom
seed in our country. Its roots are many, great and thick, blackish
without and whitish within, full of a clammy sap; a piece of them if
you set it in the garden, and defend it from the first Winter cold will
grow and flourish.

_Place._] They are only nursed in the gardens in England, where they
will grow very well.

_Time._] It flowers in June and July.

_Government and virtues._] It is an excellent plant under the dominion
of the Moon; I could wish such as are studious would labour to keep
it in their gardens. The leaves being boiled and used in clysters, is
excellent good to mollify the belly, and make the passage slippery. The
decoction drank inwardly, is excellent and good for the bloody-flux;
The leaves being bruised, or rather boiled and applied like a poultice
are excellent good to unite broken bones and strengthen joints that
have been put out. The decoction of either leaves or roots being drank,
and the decoction of leaves applied to the place, is excellent good
for the king’s evil that is broken and runs; for by the influence of
the moon, it revives the ends of the veins which are relaxed. There is
scarce a better remedy to be applied to such places as are burnt with
fire than this is, for it fetches out the fire, and heals it without a
scar. This is an excellent remedy for such as are bursten, being either
taken inwardly, or applied to the place. In like manner used, it helps
the cramp and the gout. It is excellently good in hectic fevers, and
restores radical moisture to such as are in consumptions.


BRIONY, OR WILD VINE.

IT is called Wild, and Wood Vine, Tamus, or Ladies’ Seal. The white is
called White Vine by some; and the black, Black Vine.

_Descript._] The common White Briony grows ramping upon the hedges,
sending forth many long, rough, very tender branches at the beginning,
with many very rough, and broad leaves thereon, cut (for the most part)
into five partitions, in form very like a vine leaf, but smaller,
rough, and of a whitish hoary green colour, spreading very far,
spreading and twining with his small claspers (that come forth at the
joints with the leaves) very far on whatsoever stands next to it. At
the several joints also (especially towards the top of the branches)
comes forth a long stalk bearing many whitish flowers together on a
long tuft, consisting of five small leaves a-piece, laid open like a
star, after which come the berries separated one from another, more
than a cluster of grapes, green at the first, and very red when they
are thorough ripe, of no good scent, but of a most loathsome taste
provokes vomit. The root grows to be exceeding great, with many long
twines or branches going from it, of a pale whitish colour on the
outside, and more white within, and of a sharp, bitter, loathsome taste.

_Place._] It grows on banks, or under hedges, through this land; the
roots lie very deep.

_Time._] It flowers in July and August, some earlier, and some later
than the other.

_Government and virtues._] They are furious martial plants. The root
of Briony purges the belly with great violence, troubling the stomach
and burning the liver, and therefore not rashly to be taken; but being
corrected, is very profitable for the diseases of the head, as falling
sickness, giddiness, and swimmings, by drawing away much phlegm and
rheumatic humours that oppress the head, as also the joints and sinews;
and is therefore good for palsies, convulsions, cramps, and stitches
in the sides, and the dropsy, and for provoking urine; it cleanses the
reins and kidneys from gravel and stone, by opening the obstructions
of the spleen, and consume the hardness and swelling thereof. The
decoction of the root in wine, drank once a week at going to bed,
cleanses the mother, and helps the rising thereof, expels the dead
child; a dram of the root in powder taken in white wine, brings down
their courses. An electuary made of the roots and honey, doth mightily
cleanse the chest of rotten phlegm, and wonderfully help any old strong
cough, to those that are troubled with shortness of breath, and is good
for them that are bruised inwardly, to help to expel the clotted or
congealed blood. The leaves, fruit, and root do cleanse old and filthy
sores, are good against all fretting and running cankers, gangrenes,
and tetters and therefore the berries are by some country people called
tetter-berries. The root cleanses the skin wonderfully from all black
and blue spots, freckles, morphew, leprosy, foul scars, or other
deformity whatsoever; also all running scabs and manginess are healed
by the powder of the dried root, or the juice thereof, but especially
by the fine white hardened juice. The distilled water of the root
works the same effects, but more weakly; the root bruised and applied
of itself to any place where the bones are broken, helps to draw them
forth, as also splinters and thorns in the flesh; and being applied
with a little wine mixed therewith, it breaks boils, and helps whitlows
on the joints.—For all these latter, beginning at sores, cancers, &c.
apply it outwardly, mixing it with a little hog’s grease, or other
convenient ointment.

As for the former diseases where it must be taken inwardly, it purges
very violently, and needs an abler hand to correct it than most country
people have.


BROOK LIME, OR WATER-PIMPERNEL.

_Descript._] THIS sends forth from a creeping root that shoots forth
strings at every joint, as it runs, divers and sundry green stalks,
round and sappy with some branches on them, somewhat broad, round, deep
green, and thick leaves set by couples thereon; from the bottom whereof
shoot forth long foot stalks, with sundry small blue flowers on them,
that consist of five small round pointed leaves a piece.

There is another sort nothing different from the former, but that it is
greater, and the flowers of a paler green colour.

_Place._] They grow in small standing waters, and usually near
Water-Cresses.

_Time._] And flower in June and July, giving seed the next month after.

_Government and virtues._] It is a hot and biting martial plant.
Brook-lime and Water-Cresses are generally used together in diet-drink,
with other things serving to purge the blood and body from all ill
humours that would destroy health, and are helpful to the scurvy. They
do all provoke urine, and help to break the stone, and pass it away;
they procure women’s courses, and expel the dead child. Being fried
with butter and vinegar, and applied warm, it helps all manner of
tumours, swellings, and inflammations.

Such drinks ought to be made of sundry herbs, according to the malady.
I shall give a plain and easy rule at the latter end of this book.


BUTCHER’S BROOM.

IT is called Ruscus, and Bruscus, Kneeholm, Kneeholly, Kneehulver, and
Pettigree.

_Descript._] The first shoots that sprout from the root of Butcher’s
Broom, are thick, whitish, and short, somewhat like those of Asparagus,
but greater, they rise up to be a foot and half high, are spread into
divers branches, green, and somewhat creased with the roundness, tough
and flexible, whereon are set somewhat broad and almost round hard
leaves and prickly, pointed at the end, of a dark green colour, two at
the most part set at a place, very close and near together; about the
middle of the leaf, on the back and lower side from the middle rib,
breaks forth a small whitish green flower, consisting of four small
round pointed leaves, standing upon little or no footstalk, and in the
place whereof comes a small round berry, green at the first, and red
when it is ripe, wherein are two or three white, hard, round seeds
contained. The root is thick, white and great at the head, and from
thence sends forth divers thick, white, long, tough strings.

_Place._] It grows in copses, and upon heaths and waste grounds, and
oftentimes under or near the holly bushes.

_Time._] It shoots forth its young buds in the Spring, and the berries
are ripe about September, the branches of leaves abiding green all the
Winter.

_Government and virtues._] It is a plant of Mars, being of a gallant
cleansing and opening quality. The decoction of the root made with
wine opens obstructions, provokes urine, helps to expel gravel and the
stone, the stranguary and women’s courses, also the yellow jaundice and
the head-ache; and with same honey or sugar put thereunto, cleanses
the breast of phlegm, and the chest of such clammy humours gathered
therein. The decoction of the root drank, and a poultice made of the
berries and leaves applied, are effectual in knitting and consolidating
broken bones or parts out of joint. The common way of using it, is to
boil the root of it, and Parsley and Fennel and Smallage in white wine,
and drink the decoction, adding the like quantity of Grass-root to
them: The more of the root you boil, the stronger will the decoction
be; it works no ill effects, yet I hope you have wit enough to give the
strongest decoction to the strongest bodies.


BROOM, AND BROOM-RAPE.

TO spend time in writing a description hereof is altogether needless,
it being so generally used by all the good housewives almost through
this land to sweep their houses with, and therefore very well known to
all sorts of people.

The Broom-rape springs up in many places from the roots of the broom
(but more often in fields, as by hedge-sides and on heaths). The stalk
whereof is of the bigness of a finger or thumb, above two feet high,
having a shew of leaves on them, and many flowers at the top, of a
reddish yellow colour, as also the stalks and leaves are.

_Place._] They grow in many places of this land commonly, and as
commonly spoil all the land they grow in.

_Time._] They flower in the Summer months, and give their seed before
Winter.

_Government and virtues._] The juice or decoction of the young
branches, or seed, or the powder of the seed taken in drink purges
downwards, and draws phlegmatic and watery humours from the joints;
whereby it helps the dropsy, gout, sciatica, and pains of the hips and
joints; it also provokes strong vomits, and helps the pains of the
sides, and swelling of the spleen, cleanses also the reins or kidneys
and bladder of the stone, provokes urine abundantly, and hinders the
growing again of the stone in the body. The continual use of the powder
of the leaves and seed doth cure the black jaundice. The distilled
water of the flowers is profitable for all the same purposes: it also
helps surfeit, and alters the fit of agues, if three or four ounces
thereof, with as much of the water of the lesser Centaury, and a
little sugar put therein, be taken a little before the fit comes, and
the party be laid down to sweat in his bed. The oil or water that is
drawn from the end of the green sticks heated in the fire, helps the
tooth-ache. The juice of young branches made into an ointment of old
hog’s grease, and anointed, or the young branches bruised and heated
in oil or hog’s grease, and laid to the sides pained by wind, as in
stitches, or the spleen, ease them in once or twice using it. The same
boiled in oil is the safest and surest medicine to kill lice in the
head or body of any; and is an especial remedy for joint aches, and
swollen knees, that come by the falling down of humours.


_The_ BROOM RAPE _also is not without its virtues_.

THE decoction thereof in wine, is thought to be as effectual to void
the stone in the kidney or bladder, and to provoke urine, as the Broom
itself. The juice thereof is a singular good help to cure as well green
wounds, as old and filthy sores and malignant ulcers. The insolate oil,
wherein there has been three or four repetitions of infusion of the top
stalks, with flowers strained and cleared, cleanses the skin from all
manner of spots, marks, and freckles that rise either by the heat of
the sun, or the malignity of humours. As for the Broom and Broom-rape,
Mars owns them, and is exceeding prejudicial to the liver, I suppose
by reason of the antipathy between Jupiter and Mars; therefore if the
liver be disaffected, minister none of it.


BUCK’S-HORN PLANTAIN.

_Descript._] THIS being sown of seed, rises up at first with small,
long, narrow, hairy, dark green leaves like grass, without any division
or gash in them, but those that follow are gashed in on both sides the
leaves into three or four gashes, and pointed at the ends, resembling
the knags of a buck’s horn (whereof it took its name), and being well
wound round about the root upon the ground, in order one by another,
thereby resembling the form of a star, from among which rise up divers
hairy stalks, about a hand’s breadth high, bearing every one a small,
long spiky head, like to those of the common Plantain having such like
bloomings and seed after them. The root is single, long and small, with
divers strings at it.

_Place._] They grow in sandy grounds, as in Tothill-fields by
Westminster, and divers other places of this land.

_Time._] They flower and seed in May, June, and July, and their green
leaves do in a manner abide fresh all the Winter.

_Government and virtues._] It is under the dominion of Saturn, and is
of a gallant, drying, and binding quality. This boiled in wine and
drank, and some of the leaves put to the hurt place, is an excellent
remedy for the biting of the viper or adder, which I take to be one
and the same. The same being also drank, helps those that are troubled
with the stone in the reins or kidneys, by cooling the heat of the
part afflicted, and strengthens them; also weak stomachs that cannot
retain, but cast up their meat. It stays all bleeding both at mouth or
nose; bloody urine or the bloody-flux, and stops the lask of the belly
and bowels. The leaves hereof bruised and laid to their sides that have
an ague, suddenly ease the fits; and the leaves and roots applied to
the wrists, works the same effect. The herb boiled in ale and wine, and
given for some mornings and evenings together, stays the distillation
of hot and sharp rheums falling into the eyes from the head, and helps
all sorts of sore eyes.


BUCK’S HORN.

IT is called Hart’s-horn, Herba-stella and Herba-stellaria,
Sanguinaria, Herb-Eve, Herb-Ivy, Wort-Tresses, and Swine-Cresses.

_Descript._] They have many small and weak straggled branches trailing
here and there upon the ground: The leaves are many, small and jagged,
not much unlike to those of Buck’s-horn Plantain, but much smaller,
and not so hairy. The flowers grow among the leaves in small, rough,
whitish clusters; the seeds are smaller and brownish, of a bitter taste.

_Place._] They grow in dry, barren, sandy grounds.

_Time._] They flower and seed when the rest of the Plantains do.

_Government and virtues._] This is also under the dominion of Saturn;
the virtues are held to be the same as Buck’s-horn Plaintain, and
therefore by all authors it is joined with it. The leaves bruised and
applied to the place, stop bleeding. The herbs bruised and applied to
warts, will make them consume and waste in a short time.


BUGLE.

BESIDES the name Bugle, it is called Middle Confound and Middle
Comfrey, Brown Bugle, and by some Sicklewort, and Herb-Carpenter;
though in Essex we call another herb by that name.

_Descript._] This has larger leaves than those of the Self-heal, but
else of the same fashion, or rather longer; in some green on the upper
side, and in others more brownish, dented about the edges, somewhat
hairy, as the square stalk is also which rises up to be half a yard
high sometimes, with the leaves set by couples, from the middle almost,
whereof upwards stand the flowers, together with many smaller and
browner leaves than the rest, on the stalk below set at distance, and
the stalk bare between them; among which flowers, are also small ones
of a blueish and sometimes of an ash colour, fashioned like the flowers
of Ground-ivy, after which come small, round blackish seeds. The root
is composed of many strings, and spreads upon the ground.

The white flowered Bugle differs not in form or greatness from the
former, saving that the leaves and stalks are always green, and never
brown, like the other, and the flowers thereof are white.

_Place._] They grow in woods, copses, and fields, generally throughout
England, but the white flowered Bugle is not so plentiful as the former.

_Time._] They flower from May until July, and in the mean time perfect
their seed. The roots and leaves next thereunto upon the ground abiding
all the Winter.

_Government and virtues._] This herb belongs to Dame Venus: If the
virtues of it makes you fall in love with it (as they will if you be
wise) keep a syrup of it to take inwardly, an ointment and plaister of
it to use outwardly, always by you.

The decoction of the leaves and flowers made in wine, and taken,
dissolves the congealed blood in those that are bruised inwardly by a
fall, or otherwise is very effectual for any inward wounds, thrusts,
or stabs in the body or bowels; and it is an especial help in all
wound-drinks, and for those that are liver-grown (as they call it.)
It is wonderful in curing all manner of ulcers and sores, whether new
and fresh, or old and inveterate; yea, gangrenes and fistulas also,
if the leaves bruised and applied, or their juice be used to wash and
bathe the place; and the same made into a lotion, and some honey and
alum, cures all sores in the mouth and gums, be they ever so foul, or
of long continuance; and works no less powerfully and effectually for
such ulcers and sores as happen in the secret parts of men and women.
Being also taken inwardly, or outwardly applied, it helps those that
have broken any bone, or have any member out of joint. An ointment made
with the leaves of Bugle, Scabions and Sanicle, bruised and boiled in
hog’s grease, until the herbs be dry, and then strained forth into a
pot for such occasions as shall require; it is so singularly good for
all sorts of hurts in the body, that none that know its usefulness will
be without it.

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 themselves
much to drinking are troubled with strange fancies, strange sights
in the night time, and some with voices, as also with the disease
Ephialtes, or the Mare. I take the reason of this to be (according
to Fernelius) a melancholy vapour made thin by excessive drinking
strong liquor, and, so flies up and disturbs the fancy, and breeds
imaginations like itself, viz. fearful and troublesome. Those 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 does it
by sympathy, or antipathy, is some doubt in astrology. I know there
is great antipathy between Saturn and Venus in matter of procreation;
yea, such a one, that the barrenness of Saturn can be removed by none
but Venus! nor the lust of Venus be repelled by none but Saturn; but
I am not of opinion this is done this way, and my reason is, because
these vapours though in quality melancholy, yet by their flying upward,
seem to be something aerial; therefore I rather think it is done by
antipathy; Saturn being exalted in Libra, in the house of Venus.


BURNET.

IT is called Sanguisorbia, Pimpinella, Bipulo, Solbegrella, &c.
The common garden Burnet is so well known, that it needs no
description.—There is another sort which is wild, the description
whereof take as follows:—

_Descript._] The great wild Burnet has winged leaves arising from
the roots like the garden Burnet, but not so many; yet each of these
leaves are at the least twice as large as the other, and nicked in the
same manner about the edges, of a greyish colour on the under side;
the stalks are greater, and rise higher, with many such leaves set
thereon, and greater heads at the top, of a brownish colour, and out of
them come small dark purple flowers, like the former, but greater. The
root is black and long like the other, but greater also: it has almost
neither scent nor taste therein, like the garden kind.

_Place._] It first grows frequently in gardens. The wild kind grows
in divers counties of this land, especially in Huntingdon, in
Northamptonshire, in the meadows there: as also near London, by Pancras
church, and by a causeway-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.

_Government and virtues_] This is an herb the Sun challenges dominion
over, and is a most precious herb, little inferior to Betony; the
continual use of it preserves the body in health, and the spirits in
vigour; for if the Sun be the preserver of life under God, his herbs
are the best in the world to do it by. They are accounted to be both of
one property, but the lesser is more effectual because quicker and more
aromatic: It is a friend to the heart, liver, and other principal parts
of a man’s body. Two or three of the stalks, with leaves put into a cup
of wine, especially claret, are known to quicken the spirits, refresh
and cheer the heart, and drive away melancholy: It is a special help
to defend the heart from noisome vapours, and from infection of the
pestilence, the juice thereof being taken in some 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 blood
or humours, to staunch bleedings inward or outward, lasks, scourings,
the bloody-flux, women’s too abundant flux of courses, the whites, and
the choleric belchings and castings of the stomach, and is a singular
wound-herb for all sorts of wounds, both of the head and body, either
inward or outward, for all old ulcers, running cankers, and most sores,
to be used either by the juice or decoction of the herb, or by the
powder of the herb or root, or the water of the distilled herb, or
ointment by itself, 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 powder inwardly in wine, or steeled water, that is, wherein
hot rods of steel have been quenched; or the powder, or the seed mixed
with the ointments.


THE BUTTER-BUR, OR PETASITIS.

_Descript._] THIS rises up in February, with a thick stalk about a
foot high, whereon are set a few small leaves, or rather pieces, and
at the top a long spiked head; flowers of a blue or deep red colour,
according to the soil where it grows, and before the stalk with the
flowers have abiden a month above ground, it will be withered and gone,
and blow away with the wind, and the leaves will begin to spring,
which being full grown, are very large and broad, being somewhat thin
and almost round, whose thick red foot stalks above a foot long,
stand towards the middle of the leaves. The lower part being divided
into two round parts, close almost one to another, and are of a pale
green colour; and hairy underneath. The root is long, and spreads
underground, being in some places no bigger than one’s finger, in
others much bigger, blackish on the outside, and whitish within, of a
bitter and unpleasant taste.

_Place and Time._] They grow in low and wet grounds by rivers and water
sides. Their flower (as is said) rising and decaying in February and
March, before their leaves, which appear in April.

_Government and virtues._] It is under the dominion of the Sun, and
therefore is a great strengthener of the heart, and clearer of the
vital spirit. The roots thereof are by long experience found to be
very available against the plague and pestilential fevers by provoking
sweat; if the powder thereof be taken in wine, it also resists the
force of any other poison. The root hereof taken with Zedoary and
Angelica, or without them, helps the rising of the mother. The
decoction of the root in wine, is singularly good for those that wheese
much, or are short-winded. It provokes urine also, and women’s courses,
and kills the flat and broad worms in the belly. The powder of the root
doth wonderfully help to dry up the moisture of the sores that are hard
to be cured, and takes away all spots and blemishes of the skin. It
were well if gentlewomen would keep this root preserved, to help their
poor neighbours. _It is fit the rich should help the poor, for the poor
cannot help themselves._


THE BURDOCK.

THEY are also called Personata, and Loppy-major, great Burdock and
Clod-bur. It is so well known, even by the little boys, who pull off
the burs to throw and stick upon each other, that I shall spare to
write any description of it.

_Place._] They grow plentifully by ditches and water-sides, and by the
highways almost everywhere through this land.

_Government and virtues._] Venus challenges this herb for her own, and
by its leaf or seed you may draw the womb which way you please, either
upwards by applying it to the crown of the head, in case it falls out;
or downwards in fits of the mother, by applying it to the soles of the
feet; or if you would stay it in its place, apply it to the navel,
and that is one good way to stay the child in it. The Burdock leaves
are cooling, moderately drying, and discussing withal, whereby it is
good for old ulcers and sores. A dram of the roots taken with Pine
kernels, helps them that spit foul, mattery, and bloody phlegm. The
leaves applied to the places troubled with the shrinking of the sinews
or arteries, gives much ease. The juice of the leaves, or rather the
roots themselves, given to drink with old wine, doth wonderfully help
the biting of any serpents: And the root beaten with a little salt, and
laid on the place, suddenly eases the pain thereof, and helps those
that are bit by a mad dog. The juice of the leaves being drank with
honey, provokes urine, and remedies the pain of the bladder. The seed
being drank in wine forty days together, doth wonderfully help the
sciatica. The leaves bruised with the white of an egg, and applied to
any place burnt with fire, takes out the fire, gives sudden ease, and
heals it up afterwards. The decoction of them fomented on any fretting
sore, or canker, stays the corroding quality, which must be afterwards
anointed with an ointment made of the same liquor, hog’s-grease,
nitre, and vinegar boiled together. The roots may be preserved with
sugar, and taken fasting, or at other times, for the same purposes, and
for consumptions, the stone, and the lask. The seed is much commended
to break the stone, and cause it to be expelled by urine, and is often
used with other seeds and things to that purpose.


CABBAGES AND COLEWORTS.

I SHALL spare labour in writing a description of these, since almost
every one that can but write at all, may describe them from his own
knowledge, they being generally so well known, that descriptions are
altogether needless.

_Place._] They are generally planted in gardens.

_Time._] Their flower time is towards the middle, or end of July, and
the seed is ripe in August.

_Government and virtues._] The Cabbages or Coleworts boiled gently
in broth, and eaten, do open the body, but the second decoction doth
bind the body. The juice thereof drank in wine, helps those that are
bitten by an adder, and the decoction of the flowers brings down
women’s courses: Being taken with honey, it recovers hoarseness, or
loss of the voice. The often eating of them well boiled, helps those
that are entering into a consumption. The pulp of the middle ribs of
Coleworts boiled in almond milk, and made up into an electuary with
honey, being taken often, is very profitable for those that are puffy
and short winded. Being boiled twice, an old cock boiled in the broth
and drank, it helps the pains and the obstructions of the liver and
spleen, and the stone in the kidneys. The juice boiled with honey, and
dropped into the corner of the eyes, clears the sight, by consuming
any film or clouds beginning to dim it; it also consumes the cankers
growing therein. They are much commended, being eaten before meat to
keep one from surfeiting, as also from being drunk with too much wine,
or quickly to make a man sober again that was drunk before. For (as
they say) there is such an antipathy or enmity between the Vine and the
Coleworts, that the one will die where the other grows. The decoction
of Coleworts takes away the pain and ache, and allays the swelling of
sores and gouty legs and knees, wherein many gross and watery humours
are fallen, the place being bathed therewith warm. It helps also old
and filthy sores, being bathed therewith, and heals all small scabs,
pushes, and wheals, that break out in the skin. The ashes of Colewort
stalks mixed with old hog’s-grease, are very effectual to anoint the
sides of those that have had long pains therein, or any other place
pained with melancholy and windy humours. This was surely Chrysippus’s
God, and therefore he wrote a whole volume on them and their virtues,
and that none of the least neither, for he would be no small fool; He
appropriates them to every part of the body, and to every disease in
every part: and honest old Cato (they say) used no other physic. I know
not what metal their bodies were made of; this I am sure, Cabbages are
extremely windy, whether you take them as meat or as medicine: yea,
as windy meat as can be eaten, unless you eat bag-pipes or bellows,
and they are but seldom eaten in our days; and Colewort flowers are
something more tolerable, and the wholesomer food of the two. The Moon
challenges the dominion of this herb.


THE SEA COLEWORTS.

_Descript._] THIS has divers somewhat long and broad large and thick
wrinkled leaves, somewhat crumpled about the edges, and growing each
upon a thick footstalks very brittle, of a greyish green colour, from
among which rises up a strong thick stalk, two feet high and better,
with some leaves thereon to the top, where it branches forth much; and
on every branch stands a large bush of pale whitish flowers, consisting
of four leaves a-piece: The root is somewhat great, shoots forth many
branches under ground, keeping the leaves green all the Winter.

_Place._] They grow in many places upon the sea-coasts, as well on the
Kentish as Essex shores; as at Lid in Kent, Colchester in Essex, and
divers other places, and in other counties of this land.

_Time._] They flower and seed about the time that other kinds do.

_Government and virtues._] The Moon claims the dominion of these also.
The broth, or first decoction of the Sea Colewort, doth by the sharp,
nitrous, and bitter qualities therein, open the belly, and purge the
body; it cleanses and digests more powerfully than the other kind: The
seed hereof, bruised and drank, kills worms. The leaves or the juice of
them applied to sores or ulcers, cleanses and heals them, and dissolves
swellings, and takes away inflammations.


CALAMINT, OR MOUNTAIN-MINT.

_Descript._] THIS is a small herb, seldom rising above a foot high,
with square hairy, and woody stalks, and two small hoary leaves set at
a joint, about the height of Marjoram, or not much bigger, a little
dented about the edges, and of a very fierce or quick scent, as the
whole herb is: The flowers stand at several spaces of the stalk, from
the middle almost upwards, which are small and gaping like to those of
the Mints, of a pale bluish colour: After which follow small, round
blackish seed. The root is small and woody, with divers small strings
spreading within the ground, and dies not, but abides many years.

_Place._] It grows on heaths, and uplands, and dry grounds, in many
places of this land.

_Time._] They flower in July and their seed is ripe quickly after.

_Government and virtues._] It is an herb of Mercury, and a strong
one too, therefore excellent good in all afflictions of the brain.
The decoction of the herb being drank, brings down women’s courses,
and provokes urine. It is profitable for those that are bursten, or
troubled with convulsions or cramps, with shortness of breath, or
choleric torments and pains in their bellies or stomach; it also helps
the yellow-jaundice, and stays vomiting, being taken in wine. Taken
with salt and honey, it kills all manner of worms in the body. It
helps such as have the leprosy, either taken inwardly, drinking whey
after it, or the green herb outwardly applied. It hinders conception
in women, but either burned or strewed in the chamber, it drives away
venomous serpents. It takes away black and blue marks in the face, and
makes black scars become well coloured, if the green herb (not the
dry) be boiled in wine, and laid to the place, or the place washed
therewith. Being applied to the hucklebone, by continuance of time, it
spends the humours, which cause the pain of the sciatica. The juice
being dropped into the ears, kills the worms in them. The leaves boiled
in wine, and drank, provoke sweat, and open obstructions of the liver
and spleen. It helps them that have a tertian ague (the body being
first purged) by taking away the cold fits. The decoction hereof, with
some sugar put thereto afterwards, is very profitable for those that
be troubled with the over-flowing of the gall, and that have an old
cough, and that are scarce able to breathe by shortness of their wind;
that have any cold distemper in their bowels, and are troubled with
the hardness or the spleen, for all which purposes, both the powder,
called Diacaluminthes, and the compound Syrup of Calamint are the most
effectual. Let no women be too busy with it, for it works very violent
upon the feminine part.


CAMOMILE.

IT is so well known every where, that it is but lost time and labour to
describe it. The virtues thereof are as follow.

A decoction made of Camomile, and drank, takes away all pains and
stitches in the side. The flowers of Camomile beaten, and made up into
balls with Gill, drive away all sorts of agues, if the part grieved be
anointed with that oil, taken from the flowers, from the crown of the
head to the sole of the foot, and afterwards laid to sweat in his bed,
and that he sweats well. This is Nechessor, an Egyptian’s, medicine. It
is profitable for all sorts of agues that come either from phlegm, or
melancholy, or from an inflammation of the bowels, being applied when
the humours causing them shall be concocted; and there is nothing more
profitable to the sides and region of the liver and spleen than it. The
bathing with a decoction of Camomile takes away weariness, eases pains,
to what part of the body soever they be applied. It comforts the sinews
that are over-strained, mollifies all swellings: It moderately comforts
all parts that have need of warmth, digests and dissolves whatsoever
has need thereof, by a wonderful speedy property. It eases all pains
of the cholic and stone, and all pains and torments of the belly, and
gently provokes urine. The flowers boiled in posset-drink provokes
sweat, and helps to expel all colds, aches, and pains whatsoever, and
is an excellent help to bring down women’s courses. Syrup made of
the juice of Camomile, with the flowers, in white wine, is a remedy
against the jaundice and dropsy. The flowers boiled in lye, are good
to wash the head, and comfort both it and the brain. The oil made
of the flowers of Camomile, is much used against all hard swellings,
pains or aches, shrinking of the sinews, or cramps, or pains in the
joints, or any other part of the body. Being used in clysters, it helps
to dissolve the wind and pains in the belly; anointed also, it helps
stitches and pains in the sides.

Nechessor saith, the Egyptians dedicated it to the Sun, because it
cured agues, and they were like enough to do it, for they were the
arrantest apes in their religion that I ever read of. Bachinus, Bena,
and Lobel, commend the syrup made of the juice of it and sugar, taken
inwardly, to be excellent for the spleen. Also this is certain, that it
most wonderfully breaks the stone: Some take it in syrup or decoction,
others inject the juice of it into the bladder with a syringe. My
opinion is, that the salt of it, taken half a dram in the morning in
a little white or Rhenish wine, is better than either; that it is
excellent for the stone, appears in this which I have seen tried,
_viz._, That a stone that has been taken out of the body of a man being
wrapped in Camomile, will in time dissolve, and in a little time too.


WATER-CALTROPS.

THEY are called also Tribulus Aquaticus, Tribulus Lacusoris, Tribulus
Marinus, Caltrops, Saligos, Water Nuts, and Water Chesnuts.

_Descript._] As for the greater sort of Water Caltrop it is not found
here, or very rarely. Two other sorts there are which I shall here
describe. The first has a long creeping and jointed root, sending
forth tufts at each joint, from which joints rise long, flat, slender,
knotted stalks, even to the top of the water, divided towards the top
into many branches, each carrying two leaves on both sides, being about
two inches long, and half an inch broad, thin and almost transparent;
they look as though they were torn; the flowers are long, thick, and
whitish, set together almost like a bunch of grapes, which being gone,
there succeed, for the most part, sharp pointed grains all together,
containing a small white kernel in them.

The second differs not much from this, save that it delights in more
clean water; its stalks are not flat, but round; its leaves are not so
long, but more pointed. As for the place we need not determine, for
their name shews they grow in water.

_Government and virtues._] They are under the dominion of the Moon, and
being made into a poultice, are excellently good for hot inflammations,
swellings, cankers, sore mouths and throats, being washed with the
decoction; it cleanses and strengthens the neck and throat, and helps
those swellings which, when people have, they say the almonds of the
ears are fallen down. It is excellently good for the rankness of the
gums, a safe and present remedy for the king’s evil. They are excellent
for the stone and gravel, especially the nuts, being dried. They also
resist poison, and bitings of venomous beasts.


CAMPION, WILD.

_Descript._] THE wild White Campion has many long and somewhat broad
dark green leaves lying upon the ground, and divers ribs therein,
somewhat like plantain, but somewhat hairy, broader, but not so long.
The hairy stalks rise up in the middle of them three or four feet high,
and sometimes more, with divers great white joints at several places
thereon, and two such like leaves thereat up to the top, sending forth
branches at several joints also; all which bear on several foot-stalks
white flowers at the tops of them, consisting of five broad pointed
leaves, every one cut in on the end unto the middle, making them seem
to be two a-piece, smelling somewhat sweet, and each of them standing
in a large green striped hairy husk, large and round below next to the
stalk. The seed is small and greyish in the hard heads that come up
afterwards. The root is white and long, spreading divers fangs in the
ground.

The Red wild Campion grows in the same manner as the White; but its
leaves are not so plainly ribbed, somewhat shorter, rounder, and more
woolly in handling. The flowers are of the same form and bigness; but
in some of a pale, in others of a bright red colour, cut in at the ends
more finely, which makes the leaves look more in number than the other.
The seeds and the roots are alike, the roots of both sorts abiding many
years.

There are forty-five kinds of Campion more, those of them which are of
a physical use, having the like virtues with those above described,
which I take to be the two chief kinds.

_Place._] They grow commonly through this land by fields and
hedge-sides, and ditches.

_Time._] They flower in Summer, some earlier than others, and some
abiding longer than others.

_Government and virtues._] They belong to Saturn, and it is found by
experience, that the decoction of the herb, either in white or red wine
being drank, doth stay inward bleedings, and applied outwardly it does
the like; and being drank, helps to expel urine, being stopped, and
gravel and stone in the reins and kidneys. Two drams of the seed drank
in wine, purges the body of choleric humours, and helps those that are
stung by scorpions, or other venomous beasts, and may be as effectual
for the plague. It is of very good use in old sores, ulcers, cankers,
fistulas, and the like, to cleanse and heat them, by consuming the
moist humours falling into them and correcting the putrefaction of
humours offending them.


CARDUUS BENEDICTUS.

IT is called Carduus Benedictus, or Blessed Thistle, or Holy Thistle.
I suppose the name was put upon it by some that had little holiness
themselves.

I shall spare a labour in writing a description of this as almost every
one that can but write at all, may describe them from his own knowledge.

_Time._] They flower in August, and seed not long after.

_Government and virtues._] It is an herb of Mars, and under the sign
of Aries. Now, in handling this herb, I shall give you a rational
pattern of all the rest; and if you please to view them throughout the
book, you shall, to your content, find it true. It helps swimming and
giddiness of the head, or the disease called vertigo, because Aries
is in the house of Mars. It is an excellent remedy against the yellow
jaundice and other infirmities of the gall, because Mars governs
choler. It strengthens the attractive faculty in man, and clarifies the
blood, because the one is ruled by Mars. The continual drinking the
decoction of it, helps red faces, tetters, and ring-worms, because Mars
causes them. It helps the plague, sores, boils, and itch, the bitings
of mad dogs and venomous beasts, all which infirmities are under Mars;
thus you see what it doth by sympathy.

By antipathy to other planets it cures the French pox. By antipathy to
Venus, who governs it, it strengthens the memory, and cures deafness by
antipathy to Saturn, who has his fall in Aries, which rules the head.
It cures quartan agues, and other diseases of melancholy, and adust
choler, by sympathy to Saturn, Mars being exalted in Capricorn. Also
provokes urine, the stopping of which is usually caused by Mars or the
Moon.


CARROTS.

GARDEN Carrots are so well known, that they need no description; but
because they are of less physical use than the wild kind (as indeed
almost in all herbs the wild are the most effectual in physic, as being
more powerful in operation than the garden kinds,) I shall therefore
briefly describe the Wild Carrot.

_Descript._] It grows in a manner altogether like the tame, but that
the leaves and stalks are somewhat whiter and rougher. The stalks bear
large tufts of white flowers, with a deep purple spot in the middle,
which are contracted together when the seed begins to ripen, that the
middle part being hollow and low, and the outward stalk rising high,
makes the whole umbel to show like a bird’s nest. The root small, long,
and hard, and unfit for meat, being somewhat sharp and strong.

_Place._] The wild kind grows in divers parts of this land plentifully
by the field-sides, and untilled places.

_Time._] They flower and seed in the end of Summer.

_Government and virtues._] Wild Carrots belong to Mercury, and
therefore break wind, and remove stitches in the sides, provoke urine
and women’s courses, and helps to break and expel the stone; the seed
also of the same works the like effect, and is good for the dropsy,
and those whose bellies are swelling with wind; helps the cholic, the
stone in the kidneys, and rising of the mother; being taken in wine, or
boiled in wine and taken, it helps conception. The leaves being applied
with honey to running sores or ulcers, do cleanse them.

I suppose the seeds of them perform this better than the roots; and
though Galen commended garden Carrots highly to break wind, yet
experience teaches they breed it first, and we may thank nature for
expelling it, not they; the seeds of them expel wind indeed, and so
mend what the root marrs.


CARRAWAY.

IT is on account of the seeds principally that the Carraway is
cultivated.

_Descript._] It bears divers stalks of fine cut leaves, lying upon the
ground, somewhat like to the leaves of carrots, but not bushing so
thick, of a little quick taste in them, from among which rises up a
square stalk, not so high as the Carrot, at whose joints are set the
like leaves, but smaller and finer, and at the top small open tufts, or
umbels of white flowers, which turn into small blackish seed, smaller
than the Anniseed, and of a quicker and hotter taste. The root is
whitish, small and long, somewhat like unto a parsnip, but with more
wrinkled bark, and much less, of a little hot and quick taste, and
stronger than the parsnip, and abides after seed-time.

_Place._] It is usually sown with us in gardens.

_Time._] They flower in June and July, and seed quickly after.

_Government and virtues._] This is also a Mercurial plant. Carraway
seed has a moderate sharp quality, whereby it breaks wind and provokes
urine, which also the herb doth. The root is better food than the
parsnip; it is pleasant and comfortable to the stomach, and helps
digestion. The seed is conducing to all cold griefs of the head and
stomach, bowels, or mother, as also the wind in them, and helps to
sharpen the eye-sight. The powder of the seed put into a poultice,
takes away black and blue spots of blows and bruises. The herb itself,
or with some of the seed bruised and fried, laid hot in a bag or double
cloth, to the lower parts of the belly, eases the pains of the wind
cholic.

The roots of Carraway eaten as men do parsnips, strengthen the stomach
of ancient people exceedingly, and they need not to make a whole meal
of them neither, and are fit to be planted in every garden.

Carraway comfits, once only dipped in sugar, and half a spoonful of
them eaten in the morning fasting, and as many after each meal, is a
most admirable remedy, for those that are troubled with wind.


CELANDINE.

_Descript._] THIS hath divers tender, round, whitish green stalks,
with greater joints than ordinary in other herbs as it were knees,
very brittle and easy to break, from whence grow branches with large
tender broad leaves, divided into many parts, each of them cut in on
the edges, set at the joint on both sides of the branches, of a dark
blueish green colour, on the upper side like Columbines, and of a more
pale blueish green underneath, full of yellow sap, when any is broken,
of a bitter taste, and strong scent. At the flowers, of four leaves
a-piece, after which come small long pods, with blackish seed therein.
The root is somewhat great at the head, shooting forth divers long
roots and small strings, reddish on the outside, and yellow within,
full of yellow sap therein.

_Place._] They grow in many places by old walls, hedges and way-sides
in untilled places; and being once planted in a garden, especially some
shady places, it will remain there.

_Time._] They flower all the Summer, and the seed ripens in the mean
time.

_Government and virtues._] This is an herb of the Sun, and under the
Celestial Lion, and is one of the best cures for the eyes; for, all
that know any thing in astrology, know that the eyes are subject to the
luminaries; let it then be gathered when the Sun is in Leo, and the
Moon in Aries, applying to this time; let Leo arise, then may you make
into an oil or ointment, which you please, to anoint your sore eyes
with. I can prove it doth both my own experience, and the experience of
those to whom I have taught it, that most desperate sore eyes have been
cured by this only medicine; and then, I pray, is not this far better
than endangering the eyes by the art of the needle? For if this does
not absolutely take away the film, it will so facilitate the work, that
it might be done without danger. The herb or root boiled in white Wine
and drank, a few Anniseeds being boiled therewith, opens obstructions
of the liver and gall, helps the yellow jaundice; and often using it,
helps the dropsy and the itch, and those who have old sores in their
legs, or other parts of the body. The juice thereof taken fasting, is
held to be of singularly good use against the pestilence. The distilled
water, with a little sugar and a little good treacle mixed therewith
(the party upon the taking being laid down to sweat a little) has
the same effect. The juice dropped into the eyes, cleanses them from
films and cloudiness which darken the sight, but it is best to allay
the sharpness of the juice with a little breast milk. It is good in
all old filthy corroding creeping ulcers wheresoever, to stay their
malignity of fretting and running, and to cause them to heal more
speedily: The juice often applied to tetters, ring-worms, or other such
like spreading cankers, will quickly heal them, and rubbed often upon
warts, will take them away. The herb with the roots bruised and bathed
with oil of camomile, and applied to the navel, takes away the griping
pains of the belly and bowels, and all the pains of the mother; and
applied to women’s breasts stays the overmuch flowing of the courses.
The juice or decoction of the herb gargled between the teeth that ach,
eases the pain, and the powder of the dried root laid upon any aching,
hollow or loose tooth, will cause it to fall out. The juice mixed with
some powder of brimstone is not only good against the itch, but takes
away all discolourings of the skin whatsoever: and if it chance that in
a tender body it causes any itchings or inflammations, by bathing the
place with a little vinegar it is helped.

Another ill-favoured trick have physicians got to use to the eye, and
that is worse than the needle; which is to take away the films by
corroding or gnawing medicine. That I absolutely protest against.

1. Because the tunicles of the eyes are very thin, and therefore soon
eaten asunder.

2. The callus or film that they would eat away, is seldom of an equal
thickness in every place, and then the tunicle may be eaten asunder in
one place, before the film be consumed in another, and so be a readier
way to extinguish the sight than to restore it.

It is called Chelidonium, from the Greek word _Chelidon_, which
signifies a swallow; because they say, that if you put out the eyes of
young swallows when they are in the nest, the old ones will recover
their eyes again with this herb. This I am confident, for I have tried
it, that if we mar the very apple of their eyes with a needle, she will
recover them again; but whether with this herb or not, I know not.

Also I have read (and it seems to be somewhat probable) that the herb,
being gathered as I shewed before, and the elements draw apart from it
by art of the alchymist, and after they are drawn apart rectified, the
earthly quality, still in rectifying them, added to the _Terra damnata_
(as Alchymists call it) or _Terra Sacratisima_ (as some philosophers
call it) the elements so rectified are sufficient for the cure of all
diseases, the humours offending being known and the contrary element
given: It is an experiment worth the trying, and can do no harm.


THE LESSER CELANDINE, USUALLY KNOWN BY THE NAME OF PILEWORT
AND FOGWORT.

I WONDER what ailed the ancients to give this the name Celandine,
which resembles it neather in nature nor form; it acquired the name of
Pilewort from its virtues, and it being no great matter where I set it
down, so I set it down at all, I humoured Dr. Tradition so much, as to
set him down here.

_Descript._] This Celandine or Pilewort (which you please) doth spread
many round pale green leaves, set on weak and trailing branches which
lie upon the ground, and are flat, smooth, and somewhat shining, and in
some places (though seldom) marked with black spots, each standing on a
long foot-stalk, among which rise small yellow flowers, consisting of
nine or ten small narrow leaves, upon slender foot-stalks, very like
unto Crowsfoot, whereunto the seed also is not unlike being many small
kernels like a grain of corn sometimes twice as long as others, of a
whitish colour, with fibres at the end of them.

_Place._] It grows for the most part in moist corners of fields and
places that are near water sides, yet will abide in drier ground if
they be a little shady.

_Time._] It flowers betimes, about March or April, is quite gone by
May; so it cannot be found till it spring again.

_Government and virtues._] It is under the dominion of Mars, and behold
here another verification of the learning of the ancients, _viz._ that
the virtue of an herb may be known by its signature, as plainly appears
in this; for if you dig up the root of it, you shall perceive the
perfect image of the disease which they commonly call the piles. It is
certain by good experience, that the decoction of the leaves and roots
wonderfully helps piles and hæmorrhoids, also kernels by the ears and
throat, called the king’s evil, or any other hard wens or tumours.

Here’s another secret for my countrymen and women, a couple of them
together; Pilewort made into an oil, ointment, or plaister, readily
cures both the piles, or hæmorrhoids, and the king’s evil: The very
herb borne about one’s body next the skin helps in such diseases,
though it never touch the place grieved; let poor people make much of
it for those uses; with this I cured my own daughter of the king’s
evil, broke the sore, drew out a quarter of a pint of corruption, cured
without any scar at all in one week’s time.


THE ORDINARY SMALL CENTAURY.

_Descript._] THIS grows up most usually but with one round and somewhat
crusted stalk, about a foot high or better, branching forth at the top
into many sprigs, and some also from the joints of the stalks below;
the flowers thus stand at the tops as it were in one umbel or tuft,
are of a pale red, tending to carnation colour, consisting of five,
sometimes six small leaves, very like those of St. John’s Wort, opening
themselves in the day time and closing at night, after which come seeds
in little short husk, in forms like unto wheat corn. The leaves are
small and somewhat round; the root small and hard, perishing every
year. The whole plant is of an exceeding bitter taste.

There is another sort in all things like the former, save only it bears
white flowers.

_Place._] They grow ordinarily in fields, pastures, and woods, but that
with the white flowers not so frequently as the other.

_Time._] They flower in July or thereabouts, and seeds within a month
after.

_Government and virtues._] They are under the dominion of the Sun, as
appears in that their flowers open and shut as the Sun, either shews
or hides his face. This herb, boiled and drank, purges choleric and
gross humours, and helps the sciatica; it opens obstructions of the
liver, gall, and spleen, helps the jaundice, and eases the pains in the
sides and hardness of the spleen, used outwardly, and is given with
very good effect in agues. It helps those that have the dropsy, or the
green-sickness, being much used by the Italians in powder for that
purpose. It kill the worms in the belly, as is found by experience.
The decoction thereof, _viz._ the tops of the stalks, with the leaves
and flowers, is good against the cholic, and to bring down women’s
courses, helps to avoid the dead birth, and eases pains of the mother,
and is very effectual in all pains of the joints, as the gout, cramps,
or convulsions. A dram of the powder taken in wine is a wonderful good
help against the biting and poison of an adder. The juice of the herb
with a little honey put to it, is good to clear the eyes from dimness,
mists and clouds that offend or hinder sight. It is singularly good
both for green and fresh wounds, as also for old ulcers and sores, to
close up the one and cleanse the other, and perfectly to cure them
both, although they are hollow or fistulous; the green herb especially,
being bruised and laid thereto. The decoction thereof dropped into the
ears, cleanses them from worms, cleanses the foul ulcers and spreading
scabs of the head, and takes away all freckles, spots, and marks in the
skin, being washed with it; the herb is so safe you cannot fail in the
using of it, only giving it inwardly for inward diseases. It is very
wholesome, but not very toothsome.

There is beside these, another small Centaury, which bears a yellow
flower; in all other respects it is like the former, save that the
leaves are larger, and of a darker green, and the stalks pass through
the midst of them, as it does in the herb Thorowan. They are all of
them, as I told you, under the government of the Sun; yet this, if
you observe it, you shall find an excellant truth; in diseases of the
blood, use the red Centaury; if of choler, use the yellow; but if
phlegm or water, you will find the white best.


THE CHERRY-TREE.

I SUPPOSE there are few but know this tree, for its fruit’s sake; and
therefore I shall spare writing a description thereof.

_Place._] For the place of its growth, it is afforded room in every
orchard.

_Government and virtues._] It is a tree of _Venus_. Cherries, as they
are of different tastes, so they are of different qualities. The sweet
pass through the stomach and the belly more speedily, but are of little
nourishment; the tart or sour are more pleasing to an hot stomach,
procure appetite to meat, to help and cut tough phlegm, and gross
humours; but when these are dried, they are more binding to the belly
than when they are fresh, being cooling in hot diseases, and welcome to
the stomach, and provokes urine. The gum of the Cherry-tree, desolved
in wine is good for a cold, cough, and hoarseness of the throat; mends
the colour in the face, sharpens the eye-sight, provokes appetite, and
helps to break and expel the stone, and dissolved, the water thereof is
much used to break the stone, and to expel gravel and wind.


WINTER-CHERRIES.

_Descript._] THE Winter Cherry has a running or creeping root in the
ground, of the bigness many times one’s little finger, shooting forth
at several joints in several places, whereby it quickly spreads a great
compass of ground. The stalk rises not above a yard high, whereon are
set many broad and long green leaves, somewhat like nightshades, but
larger; at the joints, whereof come forth whitish flowers made of five
leaves a piece, which afterwards 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; wherein are contained
many flat and yellowish seeds lying within the pulp, which being
gathered and strung up, are kept all the year to be used upon occasions.

_Place._] They grow not naturally in this land, but are cherished in
gardens for their virtues.

_Time._] They flower not until the middle or latter end of July; and
the fruit is ripe about August, or the beginning of September.

_Government and virtues._] This also is a plant of Venus. They are
of great use in physic: The leaves being cooling, may be used in
inflammations, but not opening as the berries and fruit are; which
by drawing down the urine provoke it to be voided 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, kidneys and
bladder, helping to dissolve the stone, and voiding it by grit or
gravel sent forth in the urine; it also helps much to cleanse inward
imposthumes or ulcers in the reins of bladder, or in those that void a
bloody or foul urine. The distilled water of the fruit, or the leaves
together with them, or the berries, green or dry, distilled with a
little milk and drank morning and evening with a little sugar, is
effectual to all the purposes before specified, and especially against
the heat and sharpness of the urine. I shall only mention one way,
amongst many others, which might be used for ordering the berries, to
be helpful for the urine and the stone; which is this: Take three or
four good handfuls of the berries, either green or 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, has been found to do much
good to many, both to ease the pains, and expel urine and the stone,
and to cause the stone not to engender. The decoction of the berries in
wine and water is the most usual way; but the powder of them taken in
drink is more effectual.


CHERVIL.

IT is called Cerefolium, Mirrhis, and Mirrha, Chervil, Sweet Chervil,
and Sweet Cicely.

_Descript._] The garden Chervil doth at first somewhat resemble
Parsley, but after it is better grown, the leaves are much cut in and
jagged, resembling hemlock, being a little hairy and of a whitish green
colour, sometimes turning reddish in the Summer, with the stalks also;
it rises a little above half a foot high, bearing white flowers in
spiked tufts, which turn into long and round seeds pointed at the ends,
and blackish when they are ripe; of a sweet taste, but no smell, though
the herb itself smells reasonably well. The root is small and long, and
perishes every year, and must be sown a-new in spring, for seed after
July for Autumn fails.

The wild Chervil grows two or three feet high with yellow stalks and
joints, set with broader and more hairy leaves, divided into sundry
parts, nicked about the edges, and of a dark green colour, which
likewise grow reddish with the stalks; at the tops whereof stands small
white tufts, of flowers, afterwards smaller and longer seed. The root
is white, hard, and enduring long. This has little or no scent.

_Place._] The first is sown in gardens for a sallad herb; the second
grows wild in many of the meadows of this land, and by the hedge sides,
and on heaths.

_Time._] They flower and seed early, and thereupon are sown again in
the end of Summer.

_Government and virtues._] The garden Chervil being eaten, doth
moderately warm the stomach, and is a certain remedy (saith Tragus)
to dissolve congealed or clotted blood in the body, or that which is
clotted by bruises, falls, &c. The juice or distilled water thereof
being drank, and the bruised leaves laid to the place, being taken
either in meat or drink, it is good to help to provoke urine, or expel
the stone in the kidneys, to send down women’s courses, and to help the
pleurisy and pricking of the sides.

The wild Chervil bruised and applied, dissolves swellings in any part,
or the marks of congealed blood by bruises or blows, in a little space.


SWEET CHERVIL, OR SWEET CICELY.

_Descript._] THIS grows very like the great hemlock, having large
spread leaves cut into divers parts, but of a fresher green colour
than the Hemlock, tasting as sweet as the Anniseed. The stalks rise up
a yard high, or better, being creased or hollow, having leaves at the
joints, but lesser; and at the tops of the branched stalks, umbels or
tufts of white flowers; after which comes long crested black shining
seed, pointed at both ends, tasting quick, yet sweet and pleasant. The
root is great and white, growing deep in the ground, and spreading
sundry long branches therein, in taste and smell stronger than the
leaves or seeds, and continuing many years.

_Place._] This grows in gardens.

_Government and virtues._] These are all three of them of the nature
of Jupiter, and under his dominion. This whole plant, besides its
pleasantness in sallads, has its physical virtue. The root boiled, and
eaten with oil and vinegar, (or without oil) do much please and warm
old and cold stomachs oppressed with wind or phlegm, or those that have
the phthisic or consumption of the lungs. The same drank with wine is a
preservation from the plague. It provokes women’s courses, and expels
the after-birth, procures an appetite to meat, and expels wind. The
juice is good to heal the ulcers of the head and face; the candied root
hereof are held as effectual as Angelica, to preserve from infection in
the time of a plague, and to warm and comfort a cold weak stomach. It
is so harmless, you cannot use it amiss.


CHESNUT TREE.

IT were as needless to describe a tree so commonly known as to tell a
man he had gotten a mouth; therefore take the government and virtues of
them thus:

The tree is abundantly under the dominion of Jupiter, and therefore the
fruit must needs breed good blood, and yield commendable nourishment to
the body; yet if eaten over-much, they make the blood thick, procure
head ache, and bind the body; the inner skin, that covers the nut, is
of so binding a quality, that a scruple of it being taken by a man, or
ten grains by a child, soon stops any flux whatsoever: The whole nut
being dried and beaten into powder, and a dram taken at a time, is a
good remedy to stop the terms in women. If you dry Chesnuts, (only the
kernels I mean) both the barks being taken away, beat them into powder,
and make the powder up into an electuary with honey, so have you an
admirable remedy for the cough and spitting of blood.


EARTH CHESNUTS.

THEY are called Earth-nuts, Earth Chesnuts, Ground Nuts, Ciper-nuts,
and in Sussex Pig-nuts. A description of them were needless, for every
child knows them.

_Government and virtues._] They are something hot and dry in quality,
under the dominion of Venus, they provoke lust exceedingly, and stir
up to those sports she is mistress of; the seed is excellent good to
provoke urine; and so also is the root, but it doth not perform it
so forcibly as the seed doth. The root being dried and beaten into
powder, and the powder made into an electuary, is as singular a remedy
for spitting and pissing of blood, as the former Chesnut was for coughs.


CHICKWEED.

IT is so generally known to most people, that I shall not trouble
you with the description thereof, nor myself with setting forth the
several kinds, since but only two or three are considerable for their
usefulness.

_Place._] They are usually found in moist and watery places, by wood
sides, and elsewhere.

_Time._] They flower about June, and their seed is ripe in July.

_Government and virtues._] It is a fine soft pleasing herb under the
dominion of the Moon. It is found to be effectual as Purslain to all
the purposes whereunto it serves, except for meat only. The herb
bruised, or the juice applied (with cloths or sponges dipped therein)
to the region of the liver, and as they dry, to have it fresh applied,
doth wonderfully temperate the heat of the liver, and is effectual
for all imposthumes and swellings whatsoever, for all redness in the
face, wheals, pushes, itch, scabs; the juice either simply used, or
boiled with hog’s grease and applied, helps cramps, convulsions, and
palsy. The juice, or distilled water, is of much good use for all heats
and redness in the eyes, to drop some thereof into them; as also into
the ears, to ease pains in them; and is of good effect to ease pains
from the heat and sharpness of the blood in the piles, and generally
all pains in the body that arise of heat. It is used also in hot and
virulent ulcers and sores in the privy parts of men and women, or on
the legs, or elsewhere. The leaves boiled with marsh-mallows, and made
into a poultice with fenugreek and linseed, applied to swellings or
imposthumes, ripen and break them, or assuage the swellings and ease
the pains. It helps the sinews when they are shrunk by cramps, or
otherwise, and to extend and make them pliable again by this medicine.
Boil a handful of Chickweed, and a handful of red rose leaves dried, in
a quart of muscadine, until a fourth part be consumed; then put to them
a pint of oil of trotters or sheep’s feet; let them boil a good while,
still stirring them well; which being strained, anoint the grieved
place therewith, warm against the fire, rubbing it well with one hand:
and bind also some of the herb (if you will) to the place, and, with
God’s blessing, it will help it in three times dressing.


CHICK-PEASE, OR CICERS.

_Descript._] THE garden sorts whether red, black, or white, bring
forth stalks a yard long, whereon do grow many small and almost round
leaves, dented about the edges, set on both sides of a middle rib;
At the joints come forth one or two flowers, upon sharp foot stalks,
pease-fashion, either white or whitish, or purplish red, lighter or
deeper, according as the pease that follow will be, that are contained
in small, thick, and short pods, wherein lie one or two pease, more
usually pointed at the lower end, and almost round at the head, yet a
little cornered or sharp; the root is small, and perishes yearly.

_Place and Time._] They are sown in gardens, or fields as pease, being
sown later than pease, and gathered at the same time with them, or
presently after.

_Government and virtues._] They are both under the dominion of Venus.
They are less windy than beans, but nourish more; they provoke urine,
and are thought to increase sperm; they have a cleansing faculty,
whereby they break the stone in the kidneys. To drink the cream of
them, being boiled in water, is the best way. It moves the belly
downwards, provokes women’s courses and urine, increases both milk and
seed. One ounce of Cicers, two ounces of French barley, and a small
handful of Marsh-mallow roots, clean washed and cut, being boiled in
the broth of a chicken, and four ounces taken in the morning, and
fasting two hours after, is a good medicine for a pain in the sides.
The white Cicers are used more for meat than medicine, yet have the
same effect, and are thought more powerful to increase milk and seed.
The wild Cicers are so much more powerful than the garden kinds, by
how much they exceed them in heat and dryness; whereby they do more
open obstructions, break the stone, and have all the properties of
cutting, opening, digesting, and dissolving; and this more speedily and
certainly than the former.


CINQUEFOIL, OR FIVE-LEAVED GRASS; CALLED IN SOME COUNTIES,
FIVE-FINGERED GRASS.

_Descript._] IT spreads and creeps far upon the ground, with long
slender strings like straw berries, which take root again, and shoot
forth many leaves, made of five parts, and sometimes of seven, dented
about the edges, and somewhat hard. The stalks are slender, leaning
downwards and bear many small yellow flowers thereon, with some yellow
threads in the middle, standing about a smooth green head, which, when
it is ripe, is a little rough, and contains small brownish seeds. The
root is of a blackish brown colour, as big as one’s little finger, but
growing long, with some threads thereat; and by the small string it
quickly spreads over the ground.

_Place._] It grows by wood sides, hedge sides, the path-way in fields,
and in the borders and corners of them almost through all this land.

_Time._] It flowers in summer, some sooner, some later.

_Government and virtues._] This is an herb of Jupiter, and therefore
strengthens the part of the body it rules; let Jupiter be angular and
strong when it is gathered; and if you give but a scruple (which is but
twenty grains,) of it at a time, either in white wine, or in white wine
vinegar, you shall very seldom miss the cure of an ague, be it what
ague soever, in three fits, as I have often proved to the admiration
both of myself and others; let no man despise it because it is plain
and easy, the ways of God are all such. It is an especial herb used in
all inflammations and fevers, whether infectious or pestilential; or
among other herbs to cool and temper the blood and humours in the body.
As also for all lotions, gargles, infections, and the like, for sore
mouths, ulcers, cancers, fistulas, and other corrupt, foul, or running
sores. The juice hereof drank, about four ounces at a time, for certain
days together, cures the quinsey and yellow jaundice; and taken for
thirty days together, cures the falling sickness. The roots boiled in
milk, and drank, is a most effectual remedy for all fluxes in man or
woman, whether the white or red, as also the bloody flux. The roots
boiled in vinegar, and the decoction thereof held in the mouth, eases
the pains of the toothach. The juice or decoction taken with a little
honey, helps the hoarseness of the throat, and is very good for the
cough of the lungs. The distilled water of both roots and leaves, is
also effectual to all the purposes aforesaid; and if the hands be often
washed therein, and suffered at every time to dry in of itself without
wiping, it will in a short time help the palsy, or shaking in them.
The root boiled in vinegar, helps all knots, kernels, hard swellings,
and lumps growing in any part of the flesh, being thereto applied;
as also inflammations, and St. Anthony’s fire, all imposthumes, and
painful sores with heat and putrefaction, the shingles also, and all
other sorts of running and foul scabs, sores and itch. The same also
boiled in wine, and applied to any joint full of pain, ache, or the
gout in the hands or feet, or the hip gout, called the Sciatica, and
the decoction thereof drank the while, doth cure them, and eases much
pain in the bowels. The roots are likewise effectual to help ruptures
or bursting, being used with other things available to that purpose,
taken either inwardly or outwardly, or both; as also bruises or hurts
by blows, falls, or the like, and to stay the bleeding of wounds in any
parts inward or outward.

Some hold that one leaf cures a quotidian, three a tertain, and four a
quartan ague, and a hundred to one if it be not Dioscorides; for he is
full of whimsies. The truth is, I never stood so much upon the number
of the leaves, nor whether I give it in powder or decoction: If Jupiter
were strong, and the Moon applying to him, or his good aspect at the
gathering, I never knew it miss the desired effect.


CIVES.

CALLED also Rush Leeks, Chives, Civet, and Sweth.

_Government and virtues._] I confess I had not added these, had it
not been for a country gentleman, who by a letter certified me, that
amongst other herbs, I had left these out; they are indeed a kind of
leeks, hot and dry in the fourth degree as they are, and so under the
dominion of Mars; If they be eaten raw, (I do not mean raw, opposite
to roasted or boiled, but raw, opposite to chymical preparation) they
send up very hurtful vapours to the brain, causing troublesome sleep,
and spoiling the eye-sight, yet of them prepared by the art of the
alchymist, may be made an excellent remedy for the stoppage of the
urine.


CLARY, OR MORE PROPERLY CLEAR-EYE.

_Descript._] OUR ordinary garden Clary has four square stalks, with
broad, rough, wrinkled, whitish, or hoary green leaves somewhat evenly
cut in on the edges, and of a strong sweet scent, growing some near the
ground, and some by couples upon stalks. The flowers grow at certain
distances, with two small leaves at the joints under them, somewhat
like unto the flowers of Sage, but smaller, and of a whitish blue
colour. The seed is brownish, and somewhat flat, or not so round as the
wild. The roots are blackish, and spread not far, and perish after the
seed time. It is usually sown, for it seldom rises of its own sowing.

_Place._] This grows in gardens.

_Time._] It flowers in June and July, some a little later than others,
and their seed is ripe in August, or thereabouts.

_Government and virtues._] It is under the dominion of the Moon. The
seed put into the eyes clears them from motes, and such like things
gotten within the lids to offend them, as also clears them from white
and red spots on them. The mucilage of the seed made with water, and
applied to tumours, or swellings, disperses and takes them away; as
also draws forth splinters, thorns, or other things gotten into the
flesh. The leaves used with vinegar, either by itself, or with a
little honey, doth help boils, felons, and the hot inflammation that
are gathered by their pains, if applied before it be grown too great.
The powder of the dried root put into the nose, provokes sneezing, and
thereby purges the head and brain of much rheum and corruption. The
seed or leaves taken in wine, provokes to venery. It is of much use
both for men and women that have weak backs, and helps to strengthen
the reins: used either by itself, or with other herbs conducing to the
same effect, and in tansies often. The fresh leaves dipped in a batter
of flour, eggs, and a little milk, and fried in butter, and served to
the table, is not unpleasant to any, but exceedingly profitable for
those that are troubled with weak backs, and the effects thereof. The
juice of the herb put into ale or beer, and drank, brings down women’s
courses, and expels the after-birth.


WILD CLARY.

WILD Clary is most blasphemously called Christ’s Eye, because it cures
diseases of the eye. I could wish for my soul, blasphemy, ignorance,
and tyranny, were ceased among physicians, that they may be happy, and
I joyful.

_Descript._] It is like the other Clary, but lesser, with many stalks
about a foot and a half high. The stalks are square, and somewhat
hairy; the flowers of a bluish colour; He that knows the common Clary
cannot be ignorant of this.

_Place._] It grows commonly in this nation in barren places; you may
find it plentifully, if you look in the fields near Gray’s Inn, and
near Chelsea.

_Time._] They flower from the beginning of June to the latter end of
August.

_Government and virtues._] It is something hotter and drier than the
garden Clary is, yet nevertheless under the dominion of the Moon, as
well as that; the seeds of it being beat to powder, and drank with
wine, is an admirable help to provoke lust. A decoction of the leaves
being drank, warms the stomach, and it is a wonder if it should not,
the stomach being under Cancer, the house of the Moon. Also it helps
digestion, scatters congealed blood in any part of the body. The
distilled water hereof cleanses the eyes of redness, waterishness
and heat: It is a gallant remedy for dimness of sight, to take one
of the seeds of it, and put into the eyes, and there let it remain
till it drops out of itself, (the pain will be nothing to speak on,)
it will cleanse the eyes of all filthy and putrified matter; and in
often repeating it, will take off a film which covers the sight: a
handsomer, safer, and easier remedy by a great deal, than to tear it
off with a needle.


CLEAVERS.

IT is also called Aperine, Goose-shade, Goose-grass, and Cleavers.

_Descript._] The common Cleavers have divers very rough square stalks,
not so big as the top of a point, but rising up to be two or three
yards high sometimes, if it meet with any tall bushes or trees whereon
it may climb, yet without any claspers, or else much lower, and lying
on the ground, full of joints, and at every one of them shoots forth
a branch, besides the leaves thereat, which are usually six, set in
a round compass like a star, or a rowel of a spur: From between the
leaves or the joints towards the tops of the branches, come forth very
small white flowers, at every end upon small thready foot-stalks, which
after they have fallen, there do shew two small round and rough seeds
joined together which, when they are ripe, grow hard and whitish,
having a little hole on the side, something like unto a navel. Both
stalks, leaves, and seeds are so rough, that they will cleave to any
thing that will touch them. The root is small and thready spreading
much to the ground, but die every year.

_Place._] It grows by the hedge and ditch-sides in many places of this
land, and is so troublesome an inhabitant in gardens, that it ramps
upon, and is ready to choak what ever grows near it.

_Time._] It flowers in June or July, and the seed is ripe and falls
again in the end of July or August, from whence it springs up again,
and not from the old roots.

_Government and virtues._] It is under the dominion of the Moon. The
juice of the herb and the seed together taken in wine, helps those
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 drank twice a day, helps the yellow
jaundice, and the decoction of the herb, in experience, is found to do
the same, and stays lasks and bloody-fluxes. The juice of the leaves,
or they a little bruised, and applied to any bleeding wounds, stays the
bleeding. The juice also is very good to close up the lips of green
wounds, and the powder of the dried herb strewed thereupon doth the
same, and likewise helps old ulcers. Being boiled in hog’s grease,
it helps all sorts of hard swellings or kernels in the throat, being
anointed therewith. The juice dropped into the ears, takes away the
pain of them.

It is a good remedy in the Spring, eaten (being first chopped small,
and boiled well) in water-gruel, to cleanse the blood, and strengthen
the liver, thereby to keep the body in health, and fitting it for that
change of season that is coming.


CLOWN’S WOODS.

_Descript._] IT grows up sometimes to two or three feet high, but
usually about two feet, with square green rough stalks, but slender,
joined somewhat far asunder, and two very long, somewhat narrow, dark
green leaves, bluntly dented about the edges thereof, ending in a long
point. The flowers stand towards the tops, compassing the stalks at
the joints with the leaves, and end likewise in a spiked top, having
long and much gaping hoods of a purplish red colour, with whitish spots
in them, standing in somewhat round husks, wherein 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 some times of the year these knobby roots in many
places are not seen in this plant. This plant smells somewhat strong.

_Place._] It grows in sundry counties of this land, both north and
west, and frequently by path-sides in the fields near about London, and
within three or four miles distant about it, yet it usually grows in or
near ditches.

_Time._] It flowers in June or July, and the seed is ripe soon after.

_Government and virtues._] It is under the dominion of the planet
Saturn. It is singularly effectual in all fresh and green wounds, and
therefore bears not this name for nought. And it is very available in
staunching of blood and to dry up the fluxes of humours in old fretting
ulcers, cankers, &c. that hinder the healing of them.

A syrup made of the juice of it, is inferior to none for inward wounds,
ruptures of veins, bloody flux, vessels broken, spitting, urining,
or vomiting blood: Ruptures are excellent and speedily, ever to
admiration, cured by taking now and then a little of the syrup, and
applying an ointment or plaister of this herb to the place. Also, if
any vein be swelled or muscle, apply a plaister of this herb to it, and
if you add a little Comfrey to it, it will not be amiss. I assure thee
the herb deserves commendation, though it has gotten such a clownish
name; and whosoever reads this, (if he try it, as I have done,) will
commend it; only take notice that it is of a dry earthy quality.


COCK’S HEAD, RED FITCHING, OR MEDICK
FETCH.

_Descript._] THIS has divers weak but rough stalks, half a yard long,
leaning downward, but set with winged leaves, longer and more pointed
than those of Lintels, and whitish underneath; from the tops of these
stalks arise up other slender stalks, naked without leaves unto the
tops, where there grow many small flowers in manner of a spike, of a
pale reddish colour with some blueness among them; after which rise up
in their places, round, rough, and somewhat flat heads. The root is
tough, and somewhat woody, yet lives and shoots a-new every year.

_Place._] It grows upon hedges, and sometimes in the open fields, in
divers places of this land.

_Time._] They flower all the months of July and August, and the seed
ripen in the mean while.

_Government and virtues._] It is under the dominion of Venus. It has
power to rarify and digest, and therefore the green leaves bruised and
laid as a plaister, disperse knots, nodes, or kernels in the flesh; and
if, when dry, it be taken in wine, it helps the stranguary; and being
anointed with oil, it provokes sweat. It is a singular food for cattle,
to cause them to give store of milk; and why then may it not do the
like, being boiled in ordinary drink, for nurses.


COLUMBINES.

THESE are so well known, growing almost in 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.

_Government and virtues._] It is also an herb of Venus. The leaves of
Columbines are commonly used in lotions with good success for sore
mouths and throats. Tragus saith, that a dram of the seed taken in wine
with a little saffron, opens obstructions of the liver, and is good for
the yellow jaundice, if the party after the taking thereof be laid to
sweat well in bed. The seed also taken in wine causes a speedy delivery
of women in childbirth: if one draught suffice not, let her drink the
second, and it will be effectual: The Spaniards used to eat a piece of
the root thereof in the morning fasting, many days together, to help
them when troubled with the stone in the reins or kidneys.


COLTSFOOT.

CALLED also Coughwort, Foal’s-foot, Horse-hoof, and Bull’s-foot.

_Descript._] This shoots up a slender stalk, with small yellowish
flowers somewhat earlier, which fall away quickly, and after they are
past, come up somewhat round leaves, sometimes dented about the edges,
much lesser, thicker, and greener than those of butter-bur, with a
little down or frieze over the green leaf on the upper side, which may
be rubbed away, and whitish or meally underneath. The root is small
and white, spreading much under ground, so that where it takes it will
hardly be driven away again, if any little piece be abiding therein;
and from thence spring fresh leaves.

_Place._] It grows as well in wet grounds as in drier places.

_Time._] And flowers in the end of February, the leaves begin to appear
in March.

_Government and virtues._] The plant is under Venus, the fresh leaves
or juice, or a syrup thereof is good for a hot dry cough, or wheezing,
and shortness of breath. The dry leaves are best for those that have
thin rheums and distillations upon their lungs, causing a cough, for
which also the dried leaves taken as tobacco, or the root is very
good. The distilled water hereof simply, or with Elder flowers and
Nightshade, is a singularly good remedy against all hot agues, to drink
two ounces at a time, and apply cloths wet therein to the head and
stomach, which also does much good, being applied to any hot swellings
and inflammations: It helps St. Anthony’s fire, and burnings, and is
singularly good to take away wheals and small pushes that arise through
heat; as also the burning heat of the piles, or privy parts, cloths wet
therein being thereunto applied.


COMFREY.

THIS is a very common but a very neglected plant. It contains very
great virtues.

_Descript._] The common Great Comfrey has divers very large hairy green
leaves lying on the ground, so hairy or prickly, that if they touch any
tender parts of the hands, face, or body, it will cause it to itch; the
stalks that rise from among them, being two or three feet high, hollow
and cornered, is very hairy also, having many such like leaves as grow
below, but less and less up to the top: At the joints of the stalks it
is divided into many branches, with some leaves thereon, and at the
ends stand many flowers in order one above another, which are somewhat
long and hollow like the finger of a glove, of a pale whitish colour,
after which come small black seeds. The roots are great and long,
spreading great thick branches under ground, black on the outside,
and whitish within, short and easy to break, and full of glutinous or
clammy juice, of little or no taste at all.

There is another sort in all things like this, only somewhat less, and
bears flowers of a pale purple colour.

_Place._] They grow by ditches and water-sides, and in divers fields
that are moist, for therein they chiefly delight to grow. The first
generally through all the land, and the other but in some places. By
the leave of my authors, I know the first grows in dry places.

_Time._] They flower in June or July, and give their seed in August.

_Government and virtues._] This is an herb of Saturn, and I suppose
under the sign Capricorn, cold, dry, and earthy in quality. What was
spoken of Clown’s Woundwort may be said of this. The Great Comfrey
helps those that spit blood, or make a bloody urine. The root boiled
in water or wine, and the decoction drank, helps all inward hurts,
bruises, wounds, and ulcer of the lungs, and causes the phlegm that
oppresses them to be easily spit forth: It helps the defluction of
rheum from the head upon the lungs, the fluxes of blood or humours by
the belly, women’s immoderate courses, as well the reds as the whites,
and the running of the reins happening by what cause soever. A syrup
made thereof 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 whatsoever,
as also to take away the fits of agues, and to allay the sharpness
of humours. A decoction of the leaves hereof is available to all
the purposes, though not so effectual as the roots. The roots being
outwardly applied, help fresh wounds or cuts immediately, being bruised
and laid thereto; and is special good for ruptures and broken bones;
yea, it is said to be so powerful to consolidate and knit together,
that if they be boiled with dissevered pieces of flesh in a pot, it
will join them together again. It is good to be applied to women’s
breasts that grow sore by the abundance of milk coming into them; also
to repress the over much bleeding of the hæmorrhoids, to cool the
inflammation of the parts thereabouts, and to give ease of pains. The
roots of Comfrey taken fresh, beaten small, and spread upon leather,
and laid upon any place troubled with the gout, doth presently give
ease of the pains; and applied in the same manner, gives ease to pained
joints, and profits very much for running and moist ulcers, gangrenes,
mortifications, and the like, for which it hath by often experience
been found helpful.


CORALWORT.

IT is also called by some Toothwort, Tooth Violet, Dog-Teeth Violet,
and Dentaria.

_Descript._] Of the many sorts of this herb two of them may be found
growing in this nation; the first of which shoots forth one or two
winged leaves, upon long brownish foot-stalks, which are doubled down
at their first coming out of the ground; when they are fully opened
they consist of seven leaves, most commonly of a sad green colour,
dented about the edges, set on both sides the middle rib one against
another, as the leaves of the ash tree; the stalk bears no leaves on
the lower half of it; the upper half bears sometimes three or four,
each consisting of five leaves, sometimes of three; on the top stand
four or five flowers upon short foot-stalks, with long husks; the
flowers are very like the flowers of Stockgilliflowers, of a pale
purplish colour, consisting of four leaves a-piece, after which come
small pods, which contain the seed; the root is very smooth, white and
shining; it does not grow downwards, but creeps along under the upper
crust of the ground, and consists of divers small round knobs set
together; towards the top of the stalk there grows some single leaves,
by each of which comes a small cloven bulb, which when it is ripe, if
it be set in the ground, it will grow to be a root.

As for the other Coralwort, which grows in this nation, it is more
scarce than this, being a very small plant, much like Crowfoot,
therefore some think it to be one of the sorts of Crowfoot. I know not
where to direct you to it, therefore I shall forbear the description.

_Place._] The first grows in Mayfield in Sussex, in a wood called
Highread, and in another wood there also, called Fox-holes.

_Time._] They flower from the latter end of April to the middle of May,
and before the middle of July they are gone, and not to be found.

_Government and virtues._] It is under the dominion of the Moon. It
cleanses the bladder, and provokes urine, expels gravel, and the stone;
it eases pains in the sides and bowels, is excellently good for inward
wounds, especially such as are made in the breast or lungs, by taking
a dram of the powder of the root every morning in wine; the same is
excellently good for ruptures, as also to stop fluxes; an ointment made
of it is exceedingly good for wounds and ulcers, for it soon dries up
the watery humours which hinder the cure.


COSTMARY, OR ALCOST, OR BALSAM
HERB.

THIS is so frequently known to be an inhabitant in almost every garden,
that I suppose it needless to write a description thereof.

_Time._] It flowers in June and July.

_Government and virtues._] It is under the dominion of Jupiter. The
ordinary Costmary, as well as Maudlin, provokes urine abundantly,
and moistens the hardness of the mother; it gently purges choler
and phlegm, extenuating that which is gross, and cutting that which
is tough and glutinous, cleanses that which is foul, and hinders
putrefaction and corruption; it dissolves without attraction, opens
obstructions, and helps their evil effects, and it is a wonderful
help to all sorts of dry agues. It is astringent to the stomach, and
strengthens the liver, and all the other inward parts; and taken in
whey works more effectually. Taken fasting in the morning, it is very
profitable for pains in the head that are continual, and to stay, dry
up, and consume all thin rheums or distillations from the head into
the stomach, and helps much to digest raw humours that are gathered
therein. It is very profitable for those that are fallen into a
continual evil disposition of the whole body, called Cachexia, but
especially in the beginning of the disease. It is an especial friend
and helps to evil, weak and cold livers. The seed is familiarly given
to children for the worms, and so is the infusion of the flowers
in white wine given them to the quantity of two ounces at a time;
it makes an excellent salve to cleanse and heal old ulcers, being
boiled with oil of olive, and Adder’s tongue with it, and after it is
strained, put a little wax, rosin, and turpentine, to bring it to a
convenient body.


CUDWEED, OR COTTONWEED.

BESIDES Cudweed and Cottonweed, it is also Called Chaffweed, Dwarf
Cotton, and Petty Cotton.

_Descript._] The common Cudweed rises up with one stalk sometimes,
and sometimes with two or three, thick set on all sides with small,
long and narrow whitish or woody leaves, from the middle of the stalk
almost up to the top, with every leaf stands small flowers of a dun or
brownish yellow colour, or not so yellow as others; in which herbs,
after the flowers are fallen, come small seed wrapped up, with the
down therein, and is carried away with the wind; the root is small and
thready.

There are other sorts hereof, which are somewhat less than the former,
not much different, save only that the stalks and leaves are shorter,
so that the flowers are paler and more open.

_Place._] They grow in dry, barren, sandy, and gravelly grounds, in
most places of this land.

_Time._] They flower about July, some earlier, some later, and their
seed is ripe in August.

_Government and virtues._] Venus is Lady of it. The plants are
all astringent, binding, or drying, and therefore profitable for
defluctions of rheum from the head, and to stay fluxes of blood
wheresoever, the decoction being made into red wine and drank, or the
powder taken therein. It also helps the bloody-flux, and eases the
torments that come thereby, stays the immoderate courses of women,
and is also good for inward or outward wounds, hurts, and bruises,
and helps children both of bursting and the worms, and being either
drank or injected, for the disease called Tenesmus, which is an often
provocation to the stool without doing any thing. The green leaves
bruised, and laid to any green wound, stays the bleeding, and heals it
up quickly. The juice of the herb taken in wine and milk, is, as Pliny
saith, a sovereign remedy against the mumps and quinsey; and further
saith, That whosoever shall so take it, shall never be troubled with
that disease again.


COWSLIPS, OR PEAGLES.

BOTH the wild and garden Cowslips are so well known, that I neither
trouble myself nor the reader with a description of them.

_Time._] They flower in April and May.

_Government and virtues._] Venus lays claim to this herb as her own,
and it is under the sign Aries, and our city dames know well enough the
ointment or distilled water of it adds beauty, or at least restores it
when it is lost. The flowers are held to be more effectual than the
leaves, and the roots of little use. An ointment being made with them,
takes away spots and wrinkles of the skin, sun-burning, and freckles,
and adds beauty exceedingly; they remedy all infirmities of the head
coming of heat and wind, as vertigo, ephialtes, false apparitions,
phrensies, falling-sickness, palsies, convulsions, cramps, pains in
the nerves; the roots ease pains in the back and bladder, and open the
passages of urine. The leaves are good in wounds, and the flowers take
away trembling. If the flowers be not well dried, and kept in a warm
place, they will soon putrefy and look green: Have a special eye over
them; If you let them see the Sun once a month, it will do neither the
Sun nor them harm.

Because they strengthen the brain and nerves, and remedy palsies,
Greeks gave them the name Paralysis. The flowers preserved or
conserved, and the quantity of a nutmeg eaten every morning, is a
sufficient dose for inward diseases; but for wounds, spots, wrinkles,
and sunburnings, an ointment is made of the leaves, and hog’s grease.


CRAB’S CLAWS.

CALLED also Water Sengreen, Knight’s Pond Water, Water House-leek, Pond
Weed, and Fresh-water Soldier.

_Descript._] It has sundry long narrow leaves, with sharp prickles
on the edges of them, also very sharp pointed; the stalks which bear
flowers, seldom grow so high as the leaves, bearing a forked head, like
a Crab’s Claw, out of which comes a white flower, consisting of three
leaves, with divers yellowish hairy threads in the middle; it takes
root in the mud at the bottom of the water.

_Place._] It grows plentifully in the fens in Lincolnshire.

_Time._] It flowers in June, and usually from thence till August.

_Government and virtues._] It is a plant under the dominion of Venus,
and therefore a great strengthener of the reins; it is excellently
good for inflammation which is commonly called St. Anthony’s Fire; it
assuages inflammations, and swellings in wounds: and an ointment made
of it is excellently good to heal them; there is scarcely a better
remedy growing than this is, for such as have bruised their kidneys,
and upon that account discharge blood; a dram of the powder of the herb
taken every morning, is a very good remedy to stop the terms.


BLACK CRESSES.

_Descript._] IT has long leaves, deeply cut and jagged on both sides,
not much unlike wild mustard; the stalk small, very limber, though very
tough: you may twist them round as you may a willow before they break.
The flowers are very small and yellow, after which comes small pods,
which contains the seed.

_Place._] It is a common herb, grows usually by the way-side, and
sometimes upon mud walls about London, but it delights to grow most
among stones and rubbish.

_Time._] It flowers in June and July, and the seed is ripe in August
and September.

_Government and virtues._] It is a plant of a hot and biting nature,
under the dominion of Mars. The seed of Black Cresses strengthens the
brain exceedingly, being, in performing that office, little inferior
to mustard seed, if at all; they are excellently good to stay those
rheums which may fall down from the head upon the lungs; you may beat
the seed into powder, if you please, and make it up into an electuary
with honey; so you have an excellent remedy by you, not only for the
premises, but also for the cough, yellow jaundice and sciatica. This
herb boiled into a poultice, is an excellent remedy for inflammations;
both in women’s breast, and men’s testicles.


SCIATICA CRESSES.

_Descript._] THESE are of two kinds; The first rises up with a round
stalk about two feet high, spreads into divers branches, whose lower
leaves are somewhat larger than the upper, yet all of them cut or
torn on the edges, somewhat like the garden Cresses, but smaller, the
flowers are small and white, growing at the tops of branches, where
afterwards grow husks with small brownish seeds therein very strong and
sharp in taste, more than the Cresses of the garden; the root is long,
white, and woody.

The other has the lower leaves whole somewhat long and broad, not torn
at all, but only somewhat deeply dented about the edges towards the
ends; but those that grow up higher are smaller. The flowers and seeds
are like the former, and so is the root likewise, and both root and
seeds as sharp as it.

_Place._] They grow in the way-sides in untilled places, and by the
sides of old walls.

_Time._] They flower in the end of June, and their seed is ripe in July.

_Government and virtues._] It is a Saturnine plant. The leaves, but
especially the root, taken fresh in Summer-time, beaten or made into
a poultice or salve with old hog’s grease, and applied to the places
pained with the sciatica, to continue thereon four hours if it be on a
man, and two hours on a woman; the place afterwards bathed with wine
and oil mixed together, and then wrapped with wool or skins, after they
have sweat a little, will assuredly cure not only the same disease in
hips, knuckle-bone, or other of the joints, as gout in the hands or
feet, but all other old griefs of the head, (as inveterate rheums,)
and other parts of the body that are hard to be cured. And if of the
former griefs any parts remain, the same medicine after twenty days,
is to be applied again. The same is also effectual in the diseases of
the spleen; and applied to the skin, takes away the blemish thereof,
whether they be scars, leprosy, scabs, or scurf, which although it
ulcerate the part, yet that is to be helped afterwards with a salve
made of oil and wax. Esteem this as another secret.


WATER CRESSES.

_Descript._] OUR ordinary Water Cresses spread forth with many weak,
hollow, sappy stalks, shooting out fibres at the joints and upwards
long winged leaves made of sundry broad sappy almost round leaves, of
a brownish colour. The flowers are many and white standing on long
foot-stalks after which come small yellow seed, contained in small long
pods like horns. The whole plant abides green in the winter, and tastes
somewhat hot and sharp.

_Place._] They grow, for the most part, in small standing waters, yet
sometimes in small rivulets of running water.

_Time._] They flower and seed in the beginning of Summer.

_Government and virtues._] It is an herb under the dominion of the
Moon. They are more powerful against the scurvy, and to cleanse the
blood and humours, than Brooklime is, and serve in all the other uses
in which Brooklime is available, as to break the stone, and provoke
urine and woman’s courses. The decoction thereof cleanses ulcers, by
washing them therewith. The leaves bruised, or the juice, is good, to
be applied to the face or other parts troubled with freckles, pimples,
spots, or the like, at night, and washed away in the morning. The juice
mixed with vinegar, and the fore part of the head bathed therewith, is
very good for those that are dull and drowsy, or have the lethargy.

Water-cress pottage is a good remedy to cleanse the blood in the
spring, and help headaches, and consume the gross humours winter has
left behind; those that would live in health, may use it if they
please; if they will not, I cannot help it. If any fancy not pottage,
they may eat the herb as a sallad.


CROSSWORT.

THIS herb receives its name from the situation of its leaves.

_Descript._] Common Crosswort grows up with square hairy brown stalks
a little above a foot high, having four small broad and pointed, hairy
yet smooth thin leaves, growing at every joint, each against other one
way, which has caused the name. Towards the tops of the stalks at the
joints, with the leaves in three or four rows downwards, stand small,
pale yellow flowers, after which come small blackish round seeds, four
for the most part, set in every husk. The root is very small, and full
of fibres, or threads, taking good hold of the ground, and spreading
with the branches over a great deal of ground, which perish not in
winter, although the leaves die every year and spring again anew.

_Place._] It grows in many moist grounds, well in meadows as untilled
places, about London, in Hampstead church-yard, at Wye in Kent, and
sundry other places.

_Time._] It flowers from May all the Summer long, in one place or
other, as they are more open to the sun; the seed ripens soon after.

_Government and virtues._] It is under the dominion of Saturn. This is
a singularly good wound herb, and is used inwardly, not only to stay
bleeding of wounds, but to consolidate them, as it doth outwardly any
green wound, which it quickly solders up, and heals. The decoction of
the herb in wine, helps to expectorate the phlegm out of the chest,
and is good for obstructions in the breast, stomach, or bowels, and
helps a decayed appetite. It is also good to wash any wound or sore
with, to cleanse and heal it. The herb bruised, and then boiled applied
outwardly for certain days together, renewing it often: and in the mean
time the decoction of the herb in wine, taken inwardly every day, doth
certainly cure the rupture in any, so as it be not too inveterate; but
very speedily, if it be fresh and lately taken.


CROWFOOT.

MANY are the names this furious biting herb has obtained, almost enough
to make up a Welchman’s pedigree, if he fetch no farther than John of
Gaunt, or William the Conquerer; for it is called Frog’s-foot, from the
Greek name Barrakion: Crowfoot, Gold Knobs, Gold Cups, King’s Knob,
Baffiners, Troilflowers, Polts, Locket Gouions, and Butterflowers.

Abundance are the sorts of this herb, that to describe them all would
tire the patience of Socrates himself, but because I have not yet
attained to the spirit of Socrates, I shall but describe the most usual.

_Descript._] The most common Crowfoot has many thin great leaves, cut
into divers parts, in taste biting and sharp, biting and blistering
the tongue: It bears many flowers, and those of a bright, resplendent,
yellow colour. I do not remember, that I ever saw any thing yellower.
Virgins, in ancient time, used to make powder of them to furrow bride
beds; after which flowers come small heads, some spiked and rugged like
a Pine-Apple.

_Place._] They grow very common every where; unless you turn your head
into a hedge you cannot but see them as you walk.

_Time._] They flower in May and June, even till September.

_Government and virtues._] This fiery and hot-spirited herb of Mars
is no way fit to be given inwardly, but an ointment of the leaves or
flowers will draw a blister, and may be so fitly applied to the nape of
the neck to draw back rheum from the eyes. The herb being bruised and
mixed with a little mustard, draws a blister as well, and as perfectly
as Cantharides, and with far less danger to the vessels of urine, which
Cantharides naturally delight to wrong; I knew the herb once applied
to a pestilential rising that was fallen down, and it saved life even
beyond hope; it were good to keep an ointment and plaister of it, if it
were but for that.


CUCKOW-POINT.

IT is called Aron, Janus, Barba-aron, Calve’s-foot, Ramp, Starchwort,
Cuckow-point, and Wake Robin.

_Descript._] This shoots forth three, four or five leaves at the most,
from one root, every one whereof is somewhat large and long, broad at
the bottom next the stalk, and forked, but ending in a point, without
a cut on the edge, of a full green colour, each standing upon a thick
round stalk, of a hand-breadth long, or more, among which, after two
or three months that they begin to wither, rises up a bare, round,
whitish green stalk, spotted and streaked with purple, somewhat higher
than the leaves: At the top whereof stands a long hollow husk close at
the bottom, but open from the middle upwards, ending in a point: in
the middle whereof stands the small long pestle or clapper, smaller at
the bottom than at the top, of a dark purple colour, as the husk is on
the inside, though green without; which, after it hath so abided for
some time, the husk with the clapper decays, and the foot or bottom
thereof grows to be a small long bunch of berries, green at the first,
and of a yellowish red colour when they are ripe, of the bigness of a
hazel-nut kernel, which abides thereon almost until Winter; the root
is round, and somewhat long, for the most part lying along, the leaves
shooting forth at the largest end, which, when it bears its berries,
are somewhat wrinkled and loose, another growing under it, which is
solid and firm, with many small threads hanging thereat. The whole
plant is of a very sharp biting taste, pricking the tongue as nettles
do the hands, and so abides for a great while without alteration. The
root thereof was anciently used instead of starch to starch linen with.

There is another sort of Cuckow-point, with less leaves than the
former, and some times harder, having blackish spots upon them, which
for the most part abide longer green in Summer than the former, and
both leaves and roots are more sharp and fierce than it: In all things
else it is like the former.

_Place._] These two sorts grow frequently almost under every hedge-side
in many places of this land.

_Time._] They shoot forth leaves in the Spring, and continue but until
the middle of Summer, or somewhat later; their husks appearing before
the fall away, and their fruit shewing in April.

_Government and virtues._] It is under the dominion of Mars. Tragus
reports, that a dram weight, or more, if need be, of the spotted Wake
Robin, either fresh and green, or dried, having been eaten and taken,
is a present and sure remedy for poison and the plague. The juice of
the herb taken to the quantity of a spoonful has the same effect. But
if there be a little vinegar added thereto, as well as to the root
aforesaid, it somewhat allays the sharp biting taste thereof upon the
tongue. The green leaves bruised, and laid upon any boil or plague
sore, doth wonderfully help to draw forth the poison: A dram of the
powder 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 pursy and short-winded, as also those that have a cough; it
breaks, digests, and rids away phlegm from the stomach, chest, and
lungs. The milk wherein the root as been boiled is effectual also for
the same purpose. The said powder taken in wine or other drink, or
the juice of the berries, or the powder of them, or the wine wherein
they have been boiled, provokes urine, and brings down women’s courses
and purges them effectually after child-bearing, to bring away the
after-birth. Taken with sheep’s milk, it heals the inward ulcers of the
bowels. The distilled water thereof is effectual to all the purposes
aforesaid. A spoonful taken at a time heals the itch; an ounce or more
taken a time for some days together, doth help the rupture: The leaves
either green or dry, or the juice of them, doth cleanse all manner of
rotten and filthy ulcers, in what part of the body soever; and heals
the stinking sores in the nose, called Polypus. The water wherein the
root has been boiled, dropped into the eyes, cleanses them from any
film or skin, cloud or mists, which begin to hinder the sight, and
helps the watering and redness of them, or when, by some chance, they
become black and blue. The root mixed with bean-flour, and applied to
the throat or jaws that are inflamed, helps them. The juice of the
berries boiled in oil of roses, or beaten into powder mixed with the
oil, and dropped into the ears, eases pains in them. The berries or
the roots beaten with the hot ox-dung, and applied, eases the pains of
the gout. The leaves and roots boiled in wine with a little oil, and
applied to the piles, or the falling down of the fundament, eases them,
and so doth sitting over the hot fumes thereof. The fresh roots bruised
and distilled with a little milk, yields a most sovereign water to
cleanse the skin from scurf, freckles, spots, or blemishes whatsoever
therein.

Authors have left large commendations of this herb you see, but for my
part, I have neither spoken with Dr. Reason nor Dr. Experience about it.


CUCUMBERS.

_Government and virtues._] THERE is no dispute to be made, but that
they are under the dominion of the Moon, though they are so much cried
out against for their coldness, and if they were but one degree colder
they would be poison. The best of Galenists hold them to be cold and
moist in the second degree, and then not so hot as either lettuce or
purslain: They are excellently good for a hot stomach, and hot liver;
the unmeasurable use of them fills the body full of raw humours, and so
indeed the unmeasurable use of any thing else doth harm. The face being
washed with their juice, cleanses the skin, and is excellently good for
hot rheums in the eyes; the seed is excellently good to provoke urine,
and cleanses the passages thereof when they are stopped: there is not
a better remedy for ulcers in the bladder growing, than Cucumbers
are; The usual course is, to use the seeds in emulsions, as they make
almond milk; but a far better way (in my opinion) is this; When the
season of the year is, take the Cucumbers and bruise them well, and
distil the water from them, and let such as are troubled with ulcers in
the bladder drink no other drink. The face being washed with the same
water, cures the reddest face that is; it is also excellently good for
sun-burning, freckles, and morphew.


DAISIES.

THESE are so well known almost to every child, that I suppose it
needless to write any description of them. Take therefore the virtues
of them as follows.

_Government and virtues._] The herb is under the sign Cancer, and under
the dominion of Venus, and therefore excellently good for wounds in
the breast, and very fitting to be kept both in oils, ointments, and
plaisters, as also in syrup. The greater wild Daisy is a wound herb of
good respect, often used in those drinks or salves that are for wounds,
either inward or outward. The juice or distilled water of these, or
the small Daisy, doth much temper the heat of choler, and refresh the
liver, and the other inward parts. A decoction made of them and drank,
helps to cure the wounds made in the hollowness of the breast. The same
also cures all ulcers and pustules in the mouth or tongue, or in the
secret parts. The leaves bruised and applied to the privities, or to
any other parts that are swoln and hot, doth dissolve it, and temper
the heat. A decoction made thereof, of Wallwort and Agrimony, and the
places fomented and bathed therewith warm, gives great ease to them
that are troubled with the palsy, sciatica, or the gout. The same also
disperses and dissolves the knots or kernels that grow in the flesh of
any part of the body, and bruises and hurts that come of falls and
blows; they are also used for ruptures, and other inward burnings,
with very good success. An ointment made thereof doth wonderfully help
all wounds that have inflammations about them, or by reason of moist
humours having access unto them, are kept long from healing, and such
are those, for the most part, that happen to joints of the arms or
legs. The juice of them dropped into the running eyes of any, doth much
help them.


DANDELION, VULGARLY CALLED PISS-A-BEDS.

_Descript._] IT is well known to have many long and deep gashed leaves,
lying on the ground round about the head of the roots; the ends of each
gash or jag, on both sides looking downwards towards the roots; the
middle rib being white, which being broken, yields abundance of bitter
milk, but the root much more; from among the leaves, which always abide
green, arise many slender, weak, naked foot-stalks, every one of them
bearing at the top one large yellow flower, consisting of many rows
of yellow leaves, broad at the points, and nicked in with deep spots
of yellow in the middle, which growing ripe, the green husk wherein
the flowers stood turns itself down to the stalk, and the head of down
becomes as round as a ball: with long 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 one’s mouth. The root
growing downwards exceedingly deep, which being broken off within the
ground, will yet shoot forth again, and will hardly be destroyed where
it hath once taken deep root in the ground.

_Place._] It grows frequently in all meadows and pasture-grounds.

_Time._] It flowers in one place or other almost all the year long.

_Government and virtues._] It is under the dominion of Jupiter. It
is of an opening and cleansing quality, and therefore very effectual
for the obstructions of the liver, gall and spleen, and the diseases
that arise from them, as the jaundice and hypocondriac; it opens the
passages of the urine both in young and old; powerfully cleanses
imposthumes and inward ulcers in the urinary passage, and by its drying
and temperate quality doth afterwards heal them; for which purpose the
decoction of the roots or leaves in white wine, or the leaves chopped
as pot-herbs, with a few Alisanders, and boiled in their broth, are
very effectual. And whoever is drawing towards a consumption or an
evil disposition of the whole body, called Cachexia, by the use hereof
for some time together, shall find a wonderful help. It helps 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
fevers, and to wash the sores.

You see here what virtues this common herb hath, and that is the
reason the French and Dutch so often eat them in the Spring; and now
if you look a little farther, you may see plainly without a pair of
spectacles, that foreign physicians are not so selfish as ours are, but
more communicative of the virtues of plants to people.


DARNEL.

IT is called Jam and Wray: in Sussex they call it Crop, it being a
pestilent enemy among corn.

_Descript._] This has all the winter long sundry long, flat, and rough
leaves, which, when the stalk rises, which is slender and jointed, are
narrower, but rough still; on the top grows a long spike, composed of
many heads set one above another, containing two or three husks, with
a sharp but short beard of awns at the end; the seed is easily shaken
out of the ear, the husk itself being somewhat rough.

_Place._] The country husbandmen do know this too well to grow among
their corn, or in the borders and pathways of the other fields that are
fallow.

_Government and virtues._] It is a malicious part of sullen Saturn. As
it is not without some vices, so hath it also many virtues. The meal
of Darnel is very good to stay gangrenes, and other such like fretting
and eating cankers, and putrid sores: It also cleanses the skin of all
leprosies, morphews, ringworms, and the like, if it be used with salt
and raddish roots. And being used with quick brimstone and vinegar,
it dissolves knots and kernels, and breaks those that are hard to be
dissolved, being boiled in wine with pigeon’s dung and Linseed: A
decoction thereof made with water and honey, and the places bathed
therewith, is profitable for the sciatica. Darnel meal applied in a
poultice draws forth splinters and broken bones in the flesh: The red
Darnel, boiled in red wine and taken, stays the lask and all other
fluxes, and women’s bloody issues; and restrains urine that passes away
too suddenly.


DILL.

_Descript._] THE common Dill grows up with seldom more than one stalk,
neither so high, nor so great usually as Fennel, being round and fewer
joints thereon, whose leaves are sadder, and somewhat long, and so like
Fennel that it deceives many, but harder in handling, and somewhat
thicker, and of a strong unpleasant scent: The tops of the stalks have
four branches and smaller umbels of yellow flowers, which turn into
small seed, somewhat flatter and thinner than Fennel seed. The root is
somewhat small and woody, perishes every year after it hath borne seed:
and is also unprofitable, being never put to any use.

_Place._] It is most usually sown in gardens and grounds for the
purpose, and is also found wild in many places.

_Government and virtues._] Mercury has the dominion of this plant, and
therefore to be sure it strengthens the brain. The Dill being boiled
and drank, is good to ease swellings and pains; it also stays the belly
and stomach from casting. The decoction therefore helps women that
are troubled with the pains and windiness of the mother, if they sit
therein. It stays the hiccough, being boiled in wine, and but smelled
unto being tied in a cloth. The seed is of more use than the leaves,
and more effectual to digest raw and vicious humours, and is used in
medicines that serve to expel wind, and the pains proceeding therefrom.
The seed, being roasted or fried, and used in oils or plasters,
dissolve the imposthumes in the fundament; and dries up all moist
ulcers, especially in the fundament; an oil made of Dill is effectual
to warm or dissolve humours and imposthumes, and the pains, and to
procure rest. The decoction of Dill, be it herb or seed (only if you
boil the seed you must bruise it) in white wine, being drank, it is a
gallant expeller of wind, and provoker of the terms.


DEVIL’S-BIT.

_Descript._] THIS rises up with a round green smooth stalk, about two
feet high, set with divers long and somewhat narrow, smooth, dark green
leaves, somewhat nipped about the edges, for the most part, being else
all whole, and not divided at all, or but very seldom, even to the
tops of the branches, which yet are smaller than those below, with
one rib only in the middle. At the end of each branch stands a round
head of many flowers set together in the same manner, or more neatly
than Scabions, and of a bluish purple colour, which being past, there
follows seed which falls away. The root is somewhat thick, but short
and blackish, with many strings, abiding after seed time many years.
This root was longer, until the devil (as the friars say) bit away the
rest of it for spite, envying its usefulness to mankind; for sure he
was not troubled with any disease for which it is proper.

There are two other sorts hereof, in nothing unlike the former, save
that the one bears white, and the other bluish-coloured flowers.

_Place._] The first grows 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 be met with, yet they are both found growing wild about Appledore,
near Rye in Kent.

_Time._] They flower not usually until August.

_Government and virtues._] The plant is venereal, pleasing, and
harmless. The herb or the root (all that the devil hath left of it)
being boiled in wine, and drank, is very powerful against the plague,
and all pestilential diseases or fevers, poisons also, and the bitings
of venemous beasts: It helps also those that are inwardly bruised by
any casuality, or outwardly by falls or blows, dissolving the clotted
blood; and the herb or root beaten and outwardly applied, takes away
the black and blue marks that remain in the skin. The decoction of
the herb, with honey of roses put therein, is very effectual to help
the inveterate tumours and swellings of the almonds and throat, by
often gargling the mouth therewith. It helps also to procure women’s
courses, and eases all pains of the mother and to break and discuss
wind therein, and in the bowels. The powder of the root taken in drink,
drives forth the worms in the body. The juice or distilled water of
the herb, is effectual for green wounds, or old sores, and cleanses
the body inwardly, and the seed outwardly, from sores, scurf, itch,
pimples, freckles, morphew, or other deformities thereof, especially
if a little vitriol be dissolved therein.


DOCK.

MANY kinds of these are so well known, that I shall not trouble you
with a description of them: My book grows big too fast.

_Government and virtues._] All Docks are under Jupiter, of which the
Red Dock, which is commonly called Bloodwort, cleanses the blood, and
strengthens the liver; but the yellow Dock-root is best to be taken
when either the blood or liver is affected by choler. All of them
have a kind of cooling (but not all alike) drying quality, the sorrel
being most cold, and the Blood-worts most drying. Of the Burdock, I
have spoken already by itself. The seed of most of the other kinds,
whether the gardens or fields, do stay lasks and fluxes of all sorts,
the loathing of the stomach through choler, and is helpful for those
that spit blood. The roots boiled in vinegar help the itch, scabs, and
breaking out of the skin, if it be bathed therewith. The distilled
water of the herb and roots have the same virtue, and cleanses the skin
from freckles, morphews, and all other spots and discolourings therein.

All Docks being boiled with meat, make it boil the sooner: Besides
Blood-wort is exceeding strengthening to the liver, and procures good
blood, being as wholesome a pot herb as any growing in a garden; yet
such is the nicety of our times, forsooth, that women will not put it
into a pot, because it makes the pottage black; pride and ignorance (a
couple of monsters in the creation) preferring nicety before health.


DODDER OF THYME, EPITHYMUM, AND
OTHER DODDERS.

_Descript._] THIS first from seed gives roots in the ground, which
shoot forth threads or strings, grosser or finer as the property of
the plant wherein it grows, and the climate doth suffer, creeping
and spreading on that plant whereon it fastens, be it high or low.
The strings have no leaves at all on them, but wind and interlace
themselves, so thick upon a small plant, that it takes away all comfort
of the sun from it; and is ready to choak or strangle it. After these
strings are risen to that height, that they may draw nourishment
from that plant, they seem to be broken off from the ground, either
by the strength of their rising, or withered by the heat of the Sun.
Upon these strings are found clusters of small heads or husks, out of
which shoot forth whitish flowers, which afterwards give small pale
white coloured seed, somewhat flat, and twice as big as Poppy-seed. It
generally participates of the nature of the plant which it climbs upon;
but the Dodder of Thyme is accounted the best, and is the only true
Epithymum.

_Government and virtues._] All Dodders are under Saturn. Tell not me of
physicians crying up Epithymum, or that Dodder which grows upon Thyme,
(most of which comes from Hemetius in Greece, or Hybla in Sicily,
because those mountains abound with Thyme,) he is a physician indeed,
that hath wit enough to choose the Dodder according to the nature of
the disease and humour peccant. We confess, Thyme is the hottest herb
it usually grows upon; and therefore that which grows upon Thyme is
hotter than that which grows upon cold herbs; for it draws nourishment
from what it grows upon, as well as from the earth where its root is,
and thus you see old Saturn is wise enough to have two strings to his
bow. This is accounted the most effectual for melancholy diseases, and
to purge black or burnt choler, which is the cause of many diseases of
the head and brain, as also for the trembling of the heart, faintings
and swoonings. It is helpful in all diseases and griefs of the spleen,
and melancholy that arises from the windiness of the hypochondria. It
purges also the reins or kidneys by urine; it opens obstructions of
the gall, whereby it profits them that have the jaundice; as also the
leaves, the spleen: Purging the veins of the choleric and phlegmatic
humours, and helps children in agues, a little worm seed being put
thereto.

The other Dodders do, as I said before, participate of the nature of
those plants whereon they grow: As that which hath been found growing
upon nettles in the west-country, hath by experience been found very
effectual to procure plenty of urine where it hath been stopped or
hindered. And so of the rest.

Sympathy and antipathy are two hinges upon which the whole mode of
physic turns; and that physician who minds them not, is like a door
off from the hooks, more like to do a man mischief, than to secure
him. Then all the diseases Saturn causes, this helps by sympathy, and
strengthens all the parts of the body he rules; such as be caused by
Sol, it helps by antipathy. What those diseases are, see my judgment
of diseases by astrology; and if you be pleased to look at the herb
Wormwood, you shall find a rational way for it.


DOG’S-GRASS, OR COUGH GRASS.

_Descript._] IT is well known, that the grass creeps far about under
ground, with long white joined roots, and small fibres almost at every
joint, very sweet in taste, as the rest of the herb is, and interlacing
one another, from whence shoot forth many fair grassy leaves, small at
the ends, and cutting or sharp on the edges. The stalks are jointed
like corn, with the like leaves on them, and a large spiked head, with
a long husk in them, and hard rough seed in them. If you know it not
by this description, watch the dogs when they are sick, and they will
quickly lead you to it.

_Place._] It grows commonly through this land in divers ploughed
grounds to the no small trouble of the husbandmen, as also of the
gardeners, in gardens, to weed it out, if they can; for it is a
constant customer to the place it get footing in.

_Government and virtues._] ’Tis under the dominion of Jupiter, and is
the most medicinal of all the Quick-grasses. Being boiled and drank, it
opens obstructions of the liver and gall, and the stopping of urine,
and eases the griping pains of the belly and inflammations; wastes the
matter of the stone in the bladder, and the ulcers thereof also. The
roots bruised and applied, do consolidate wounds. The seed doth more
powerfully expel urine, and stays the lask and vomiting. The distilled
water alone, or with a little wormseed, kills the worms in children.

The way of use is to bruise the roots, and having well boiled them in
white wine, drink the decoction: ’Tis opening but not purging, very
safe: ’Tis a remedy against all diseases coming of stopping, and such
are half those that are incident to the body of man; and although a
gardener be of another opinion, yet a physician holds half an acre of
them to be worth five acres of Carrots twice told over.


DOVE’S-FOOT, OR CRANE’S-BILL.

_Descript._] THIS has divers small, round, pale-green leaves, cut in
about the edges, much like mallow, standing upon long, reddish, hairy
stalks lying in a round compass upon the ground; among which rise up
two or three, or more, reddish, jointed, slender, weak, hairy stalks,
with some like leaves thereon, but smaller, and more cut in up to the
tops, where grow many very small bright red flowers of five leaves
a-piece; after which follow small heads, with small short beaks pointed
forth, as all other sorts of those herbs do.

_Place._] It grows in pasture grounds, and by the path-sides in many
places, and will also be in gardens.

_Time._] It flowers in June, July, and August, some earlier and some
later; and the seed is ripe quickly after.

_Government and virtues._] It is a very gentle, though martial plant.
It is found by experience to be singularly good for wind cholic, as
also to expel the stone and gravel in the kidneys. The decoction
thereof in wine, is an excellent good cure for those that have inward
wounds, hurts, or bruises, both to stay the bleeding, to dissolve and
expel the congealed blood, and to heal the parts, as also to cleanse
and heal outward sores, ulcers, and fistulas; and for green wounds,
many do only bruise the herb, and apply it to the places, and it heals
them quickly. The same decoction in wine fomented to any place pained
with the gout, or to joint-aches, or pains of the sinews, gives much
ease. The powder or decoction of the herb taken for some time together,
is found by experience to be singularly good for ruptures and burstings
in people, either young or old.


DUCK’S MEAT.

THIS is so well known to swim on the tops of standing waters, as ponds,
pools, and ditches, that it is needless further to describe it.

_Government and virtues._] Cancer claims the herb, and the Moon will
be Lady of it; a word is enough to a wise man. It is effectual to help
inflammations, and St. Anthony’s Fire, as also the gout, either applied
by itself, or in a poultice with Barley meal. The distilled water by
some is highly esteemed against all inward inflammations and pestilent
fevers; as also to help the redness of the eyes, and swellings of
privities, and of the breasts before they be grown too much. The fresh
herb applied to the forehead, eases the pains of the head-ache coming
of heat.


DOWN, OR COTTON-THISTLE.

_Descript._] THIS has large leaves lying on the ground, somewhat cut
in, and as it were crumpled on the edges, of a green colour on the
upper side, but covered with long hairy wool, or Cotton Down, set with
most sharp and cruel pricks, from the middle of whose head of flowers,
thrust forth many purplish crimson threads, and sometimes (although
very seldom) white ones. The seed that follows in the heads, lying in
a great deal of white down, is somewhat large, long, and round, like
the seed of ladies thistle, but paler. The root is great and thick,
spreading much, yet it usually dies after seed-time.

_Place._] It grows in divers ditches, banks, and in corn-fields, and
highways, generally every where throughout the land.

_Time._] It flowers and bears seed about the end of Summer, when other
thistles do flower and seed.

_Government and virtues._] Mars owns the plant, and manifest to the
world, that though it may hurt your finger, it will help your body; for
I fancy it much for the ensuing virtues. Pliny and Dioscorides write,
That the leaves and roots thereof taken in drink, help those that have
a crick in their neck; whereby they cannot turn their neck but their
whole body must turn also (sure they do not mean those that have got a
crick in their neck by being under the hangman’s hand.) Galen saith,
that the root and leaves hereof are of a healing quality, and good
for such persons as have their bodies drawn together by some spasm or
convulsion, as it is with children that have the rickets.


DRAGONS.

THEY are so well known to every one that plants them in their gardens,
they need no description; if not, let them look down to the lower end
of the stalks, and see how like a snake they look.

_Government and virtues._] The plant is under the dominion of Mars,
and therefore it would be a wonder if it should want some obnoxious
quality or other: In all herbs of that quality, the safest way is
either to distil the herb in an alembick, in what vehicle you please,
or else to press out the juice, and distil that in a glass still, in
sand. It scours and cleanses the internal parts of the body mightily,
and it clears the external parts also, being externally applied, from
freckles, morphew, and sun-burning: Your best way to use it externally,
is to mix it with vinegar; an ointment of it is held to be good in
wounds and ulcers; it consumes cankers, and that flesh growing in the
nostrils, which they call Polypus: Also the distilled water being
dropped into the eyes, takes away spots there, or the pin and web, and
mends the dimness of sight; it is excellently good against pestilence
and poison. Pliny and Dioscorides affirm, that no serpent will meddle
with him that carries this herb about him.


THE ELDER TREE.

I HOLD it needless to write any description of this, since every boy
that plays with a pop-gun will not mistake another tree instead of
Elder: I shall therefore in this place only describe the Dwarf-Elder,
called also Dead-wort, and Wall-wort.


THE DWARF-ELDER.

_Descript._] THIS is but an herb every year, dying with his stalks to
the ground, and rising afresh every Spring, and is like unto the Elder
both in form and quality, rising up with square, rough, hairy stalks,
four feet high, or more sometimes. The winged leaves are somewhat
narrower than the Elder, but else like them. The flowers are white with
a dash of purple, standing in umbels, very like the Elder also, but
more sweet is scent; after which come small blackish berries, full of
juice while they are fresh, wherein is small hard kernels, or seed.
The root doth creep under the upper crust of the ground, springing in
divers places, being of the bigness of one’s finger or thumb sometimes.

_Place._] The Elder-tree grows in hedges, being planted there to
strengthen the fences and partitions of ground, and to hold the banks
by ditches and water-courses.

The Dwarf Elder grows wild in many places of England, where being once
gotten into a ground, it is not easily gotten forth again.

_Time._] Most of the Elder Trees, flower in June, and their fruit is
ripe for the most part in August. But the Dwarf Elder, or Wall-wort,
flowers somewhat later, and his fruit is not ripe until September.

_Government and virtues._] Both Elder and Dwarf Tree are under the
dominion of Venus. The first shoots of the common Elder boiled like
Asparagus, and the young leaves and stalks boiled in fat broth, doth
mightily carry forth phlegm and choler. The middle or inward bark
boiled in water, and given in drink, works much more violently; and
the berries, either green or dry, expel the same humour, and are often
given with good success to help the dropsy; the bark of the root boiled
in wine, or the juice thereof drank, works the same effects, but more
powerfully than either the leaves or fruit. The juice of the root
taken, doth mightily procure vomitings, and purges the watery humours
of the dropsy. The decoction of the root taken, cures the biting of
an adder, and biting of mad dogs. It mollifies the hardness of the
mother, if women sit thereon, and opens their veins, and brings down
their courses: The berries boiled in wine perform the same effect; and
the hair of the head washed therewith is made black. The juice of the
green leaves applied to the hot inflammations of the eyes, assuages
them; the juice of the leaves snuffed up into the nostrils, purges
the tunicles of the brain; the juice of the berries boiled with honey
and dropped into the ears, helps the pains of them; the decoction of
the berries in wine, being drank, provokes urine; the distilled water
of the flowers is of much use to clean the skin from sun-burning,
freckles, morphew, or the like; and takes away the head-ache, coming of
a cold cause, the head being bathed therewith. The leaves or flowers
distilled in the month of May, and the legs often washed with the
said distilled water, it takes away the ulcers and sores of them. The
eyes washed therewith, it takes away the redness and bloodshot; and
the hands washed morning and evening therewith, helps the palsy, and
shaking of them.

The Dwarf Elder is more powerful than the common Elder in opening and
purging choler, phlegm, and water; in helping the gout, piles, and
women’s diseases, colours the hair black, helps the inflammations
of the eyes, and pains in the ears, the biting of serpents, or mad
dogs, burnings and scaldings, the wind cholic, cholic, and stone, the
difficulty of urine, the cure of old sores and fistulous ulcers. Either
leaves or bark of Elder, stripped upwards as you gather it, causes
vomiting. Also, Dr. Butler, in a manuscript of his, commends Dwarf
Elder to the sky of dropsies, _viz._ to drink it, being boiled 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 counties of this
land, that it is needless to describe it.

_Government and virtues._] It is a cold and saturnine plant. The leaves
thereof bruised and applied, heal green wounds, being bound thereon
with its own bark. The leaves or the bark used with vinegar, cures
scurf and leprosy very effectually; The decoction of the leaves, bark,
or root, being bathed, heals broken bones. The water that is found
in the bladders on the leaves, while it is fresh, is very effectual
to cleanse the skin, and make it fair; and if cloaths be often wet
therein, and applied to the ruptures of children, it heals them, if
they be well bound up with a truss. The said water put into a glass,
and set into the ground, or else in dung for twenty-five days, the
mouth thereof being close stopped, and the bottom set upon a layer of
ordinary salt, that the fœces may settle and water become clear, is
a singular and sovereign balm for green wounds, being used with soft
tents: The decoction of the bark of the root, fomented, mollifies hard
tumours, and the shrinking of the sinews. The roots of the Elm, boiled
for a long time in water, and the fat arising on the top thereof, being
clean skimmed off, and the place anointed therewith that is grown
bald, and the hair fallen away, will quickly restore them again. The
said bark ground with brine or pickle, until it come to the form of a
poultice, and laid on the place pained with the gout, gives great ease.
The decoction of the bark in water, is excellent to bathe such places
as have been burnt with fire.


ENDIVE.

_Descript._] COMMON garden Endive bears a longer and larger leaf than
Succory, and abides but one year, quickly running up to a stalk and
seed, and then perishes; it has blue flowers, and the seed of the
ordinary Endive is so like Succory seed, that it is hard to distinguish
them.

_Government and virtues._] It is a fine cooling, cleansing, jovial
plant. The decoction of the leaves, or the juice, or the distilled
water of Endive, serve well to cool the excessive heat of the liver
and stomach, and in the hot fits of agues, and all other inflammations
in any part of the body; it cools the heat and sharpness of the
urine, and excoriation in the urinary parts. The seeds are of the
same property, or rather more powerful, and besides are available for
fainting, swoonings, and passions of the heart. Outwardly applied, they
serve to temper the sharp humours of fretting ulcers, hot tumours,
swellings, and pestilential sores; and wonderfully help not only the
redness and inflammations of the eyes, but the dimness of the sight
also; they are also used to allay the pains of the gout. You cannot use
it amiss; a syrup of it is a fine cooling medicine for fevers.


ELECAMPANE.

_Descript._] IT shoots forth many large leaves, long and broad, lying
near the ground, small at both ends, somewhat soft in handling of a
whitish green on the upper side, and grey underneath, each set upon
a short footstalk, from among which arise up divers great and strong
hairy stalks, three or four feet high, with some leaves thereupon,
compassing them about at the lower end, and are branched towards the
tops, bearing divers great and large flowers, like those of the corn
marigold, both the border of leaves, and the middle thrum being yellow,
which turn into down, with long, small, brownish seeds amongst it, and
is carried away with the wind. The root is great and thick, branched
forth divers ways, blackish on the outside and whitish within, of a
very bitter taste, and strong, but good scent, especially when they are
dried, no part else of the plant having any smell.

_Place._] It grows on moist grounds, and shadowy places oftener than in
the dry and open borders of the fields and lanes, and in other waste
places, almost in every county of this land.

_Time._] It flowers in the end of June and July, and the seed is ripe
in August. The roots are gathered for use, as well in the Spring
before the leaves come forth, as in Autumn or Winter.

_Government and virtues._] It is a plant under the dominion of Mercury.
The fresh roots of Elecampane preserved with sugar, or made into a
syrup or conserve, are very effectual to warm a cold windy stomach,
or the pricking therein, and stiches in the sides caused by the
spleen; and to help the cough, shortness of breath, and wheezing in
the lungs. The dried root made into powder, and mixed with sugar, and
taken, serves to the same purpose, and is also profitable for those
who have their urine stopped, or the stopping of women’s courses, the
pains of the mother and the stone in the reins, kidneys, or bladder;
it resists poison, and stays the spreading of the venom of serpents,
as also putrid and pestilential fevers, and the plague itself. The
roots and herbs beaten and put into new ale or beer, and daily drank,
clears, strengthens, and quickens the sight of the eyes wonderfully.
The decoction of the roots in wine, or the juice taken therein, kills
and drives forth all manner of worms in the belly, stomach, and maw;
and gargled in the mouth, or the root chewed, fastens loose teeth, and
helps to keep them from putrefaction; and being drank is good for those
that spit blood, helps to remove cramps or convulsions, gout, sciatica,
pains in the joints, applied outwardly or inwardly, and is also good
for those that are bursten, or have any inward bruise. The root boiled
well in vinegar beaten afterwards, and made into an ointment with hog’s
suet, or oil of trotters is an excellent remedy for scabs or itch in
young or old; the places also bathed or washed with the decoction
doth the same; it also helps all sorts of filthy old putrid sores or
cankers whatsoever. In the roots of this herb lieth the chief effect
for the remedies aforesaid. The distilled water of the leaves and roots
together, is very profitable to cleanse the skin of the face, or other
parts, from any morphew, spots, or blemishes therein, and make it
clear.


ERINGO, OR SEA-HOLLY.

_Descript._] THE first leaves of our ordinary Sea-holly, are nothing so
hard and prickly as when they grow old, being almost round, and deeply
dented about the edges, hard and sharp pointed, and a little crumpled,
of a bluish green colour, every one upon a long foot stalk; but those
that grow up higher with the stalk, do as it were compass it about. The
stalk itself is round and strong, yet somewhat crested, with joints and
leaves set thereat, but more divided, sharp and prickly; and branches
rising from thence, which have likewise other small branches, each of
them having several bluish round prickly heads, with many small jagged
prickly leaves under them, standing like a star, and sometimes found
greenish or whitish: The root grows wonderfully long, even to eight or
ten feet in length, set with rings and circles towards the upper part,
cut smooth and without joints down lower, brownish on the outside, and
very white within, with a pith in the middle; of a pleasant taste, but
much more, being artificially preserved, and candied with sugar.

_Place._] It is found about the sea coast in almost every county of
this land which borders upon the sea.

_Time._] It flowers in the end of Summer, and gives ripe seed within a
month after.

_Government and virtues._] The plant is venereal, and breeds seed
exceedingly, and strengthens the spirit procreative; it is hot and
moist, and under the celestial Balance. The decoction of the root
hereof in wine, is very effectual to open obstructions of the spleen
and liver, and helps yellow jaundice, dropsy, pains of the loins, and
wind cholic, provokes urine, and expels the stone, procures women’s
courses. The continued use of the decoction for fifteen days, taken
fasting, and next to bedward, doth help the stranguary, the difficulty
and stoppage of urine, and the stone, as well as all defects of the
reins and kidneys; and if the said drink be continued longer, it is
said that it cures the stone; it is found good against the French
pox. The roots bruised and applied outwardly, help the kernels of
the throat, commonly called the king’s evil; or taking inwardly, and
applied to the place stung or bitten by any serpent, heal it speedily.
If the roots be bruised, and boiled in old hog’s grease, or salted
lard, and broken bones, thorns &c. remaining in the flesh, they do
not only draw them forth, but heal up the place again, gathering new
flesh where it was consumed. The juice of the leaves dropped into the
ear, helps imposthumes therein. The distilled water of the whole herb,
when the leaves and stalks are young, is profitable drank for all the
purposes aforesaid; and helps the melancholy of the heart, and is
available in quartan and quotidian agues; as also for them that have
their necks drawn awry, and cannot turn them without turning their
whole body.


EYEBRIGHT.

_Descript._] COMMON Eyebright is a small low herb, rising up usually
but with one blackish green stalk a span high, or not much more,
spread from the bottom into sundry branches, whereon are small and
almost round yet pointed dark green leaves, finely snipped about the
edges, two always set together, and very thick: At the joints with the
leaves, from the middle upward, come forth small white flowers, marked
with purple and yellow spots, or stripes; after which follow small
round heads, with very small seed therein. The root is long, small and
thready at the end.

_Place._] It grows in meadows, and grassy land.

_Government and virtues._] It is under the sign of the Lion, and Sol
claims dominion over it. If the herb was but as much used as it is
neglected, it would half spoil the spectacle maker’s trade; and a man
would think, that reason should teach people to prefer the preservation
of their natural before artificial spectacles; which that they may be
instructed how to do, take the virtues of Eyebright as follows.

The juice or distilled water of Eyebright, taken inwardly in white wine
or broth, or dropped into the eyes for divers days together, helps all
infirmities of the eyes that cause dimness of sight. Some make conserve
of the flowers to the same effect. Being used any of the ways, it also
helps a weak brain, or memory. This tunned up with strong beer, that
it may work together, and drank, or the powder of the dried herb mixed
with sugar, a little Mace, and Fennel seed, and drank, or eaten in
broth; or the said powder made into an electuary with sugar, and taken,
has the same powerful effect to help and restore the sight, decayed
through age; and Arnoldus de Ville Nova saith, it hath restored sight
to them that have been blind a long time before.


FERN.

_Descript._] OF this there are two kinds principally to be treated of,
_viz._ the Male and Female. The Female grows higher than the Male, but
the leaves thereof are smaller, and more divided and dented, and of
as strong a smell as the male; the virtue of them are both alike, and
therefore I shall not trouble you with any description or distinction
of them.

_Place._] They grow both in heaths and in shady places near the
hedge-sides in all counties of this land.

_Time._] They flower and give their seed at Midsummer.

The Female Fern is that plant which is in Sussex, called Brakes, the
seed of which some authors hold to be so rare: Such a thing there is I
know, and may be easily had upon Midsummer Eve, and for ought I know,
two or three days after it, if not more.

_Government and virtues._] It is under the dominion of Mercury, both
Male and Female. The roots of both these sorts of Fern being bruised
and boiled in Mead, or honeyed water, and drank, kills both the broad
and long worms in the body, and abates the swelling and hardness of
the spleen. The green leaves eaten, purge the belly of choleric and
waterish humours that trouble the stomach. They are dangerous for women
with child to meddle with, by reason they cause abortions. The roots
bruised and boiled in oil, or hog’s grease, make a very profitable
ointment to heal wounds, or pricks gotten in the flesh. The powder of
them used in foul ulcers, dries up their malignant moisture, and causes
their speedier healing. Fern being burned, the smoke thereof drives
away serpents, gnats, and other noisome creatures, which in fenny
countries do in the night time, trouble and molest people lying in
their beds with their faces uncovered; it causes barrenness.


OSMOND ROYAL, OR WATER FERN.

_Descript._] THIS shoots forth in Spring time (for in the Winter the
leaves perish) divers rough hard stalks, half round, and yellowish, or
flat on the other side, two feet high, having divers branches of winged
yellowish green leaves on all sides, set one against another, longer,
narrower, and not nicked on the edges as the former. From the top of
some of these stalks grow forth a long bush of small and more yellow,
green, scaly aglets, set in the same manner on the stalks as the leaves
are, which are accounted the flowers and seeds. The root is rough,
thick and scabby: with a white pith in the middle, which is called the
heart thereof.

_Place._] It grows on moors, bogs, and watery places, in many parts of
this land.

_Time._] It is green all the summer, and the root only abides in winter.

_Government and virtues._] Saturn owns the plant. This has all the
virtues mentioned in the former Ferns, and is much more effectual than
they, both for inward and outward griefs, and is accounted singularly
good in wounds, bruises, or the like. The decoction to be drank, or
boiled into an ointment of oil, as a balsam or balm, and so it is
singularly good against bruises, and bones broken, or out of joint,
and gives much ease to the cholic and splenetic diseases: as also
for ruptures or burstings. The decoction of the root in white wine,
provokes urine exceedingly, and cleanses the bladder and passages of
urine.


FEVERFEW OR FEATHERFEW.

_Descript._] COMMON Featherfew has large, fresh, green leaves, much
torn or cut on the edges. The stalks are hard and round, set with
many such like leaves, but smaller, and at the tops stand many single
flowers, upon small foot stalks, consisting of many small white leaves
standing round about a yellow thrum in the middle. The root is somewhat
hard and short, with many strong fibres about it. The scent of the
whole plant is very strong, and the taste is very bitter.

_Place._] This grows wild in many places of the land, but is for the
most part nourished in gardens.

_Time._] It flowers in the months of June and July.

_Government and virtues._] Venus commands this herb, and has commended
it to succour her sisters (women) and to be a general strengthener of
their wombs, and remedy such infirmities as a careless midwife hath
there caused if they will but be pleased to make use of her herb
boiled in white wine, and drink the decoction; it cleanses the womb,
expels the after-birth, and doth a woman all the good she can desire of
an herb. And if any grumble because they cannot get the herb in winter,
tell them, if they please, they may make a syrup of it in summer;
it is chiefly used for the disease of the mother, whether it be the
strangling or rising of the mother, or hardness, or inflammation of
the same, applied outwardly thereunto. Or a decoction of the flowers
in wine, with a little Nutmeg or Mace put therein, and drank often in
a day, is an approved remedy to bring down women’s courses speedily,
and helps to expel the dead birth and after-birth. For a woman to sit
over the hot fumes of the decoction of the herb made in water or wine,
is effectual for the same; and in some cases to apply the boiled herb
warm to the privy parts. The decoction thereof made with some sugar, or
honey put thereto, is used by many with good success to help the cough
and stuffing of the chest, by colds, as also to cleanse the reins and
bladder, and helps to expel the stone in them. The powder of the herb
taken in wine, with some Oxymel, purges both choler and phlegm, and
is available for those that are short winded, and are troubled with
melancholy and heaviness, or sadness of spirits. It is very effectual
for all pains in the head coming of a cold cause, the herb being
bruised and applied to the crown of the head: As also for the vertigo,
that is a running or swimming in the head. The decoction thereof drank
warm, and the herb bruised with a few corns of Bay salt, and applied to
the wrists before the coming of the ague fits, doth take them away. The
distilled water takes away freckles, and other spots and deformities
in the face. The herb bruised and heated on a tile, with some wine to
moisten it, or fried with a little wine and oil in a frying-pan, and
applied warm outwardly to the places, helps the wind and cholic in the
lower part of the belly. It is an especial remedy against opium taken
too liberally.


FENNEL.

EVERY garden affords this so plentifully, that it needs no description.

_Government and virtues._] One good old fashion is not yet left off,
_viz._ to boil Fennel with fish; for it consumes that phlegmatic
humour, which fish most plentifully afford and annoy the body with,
though few that use it know wherefore they do it; I suppose the reason
of its benefit this way is because it is an herb of Mercury, and under
Virgo, and therefore bears antipathy to Pisces. Fennel is good to break
wind, to provoke urine, and ease the pains of the stone, and helps to
break it. The leaves or seed, boiled in barley water and drank are good
for nurses, to increase their milk, and make it more wholesome for the
child. The leaves, or rather the seeds, boiled in water, stays the
hiccough, and takes away the loathings which oftentimes happen to the
stomachs of sick and feverish persons and allays the heat thereof. The
seed boiled in wine and drank, is good for those that are bitten with
serpents, or have eaten poisonous herbs, or mushrooms. The seed and
the roots much more, help to open obstructions of the liver, spleen,
and gall, and thereby help the painful and windy swellings of the
spleen, and the yellow jaundice; as also the gout and cramps. The seed
is of good use in medicines to help shortness of breath and wheezing
by stopping of the lungs. It helps also to bring down the courses,
and to cleanse the parts after delivery. The roots are of most use in
physic drinks, and broth that are taken to cleanse the blood, to open
obstructions of the liver, to provoke urine, and amend the ill colour
in the face after sickness, and to cause a good habit through the
body. Both leaves, seeds, and roots thereof are much used in drink or
broth, to make people more lean that are too fat. The distilled water
of the whole herb, or the condensate juice dissolved, but especially
the natural juice, that in some counties issues out hereof of its own
accord, dropped into the eyes, cleanses them from mists and films that
hinder the sight. The sweet Fennel is much weaker in physical uses
than the common Fennel. The wild Fennel is stronger and hotter than
the tame, and therefore most powerful against the stone, but not so
effectual to encrease milk, because of its dryness.


SOW-FENNEL, OR HOG’S-FENNEL.

BESIDES the common name in English, Hog’s Fennel, and the Latin name
Peucidanum, is called Hoar-strange, and Hoar-strong, Sulphur-wort, and
Brimstone-wort.

_Descript._] The common Sow-Fennel has divers branched stalks of thick
and somewhat long leaves, three for the most part joined together at a
place, among which arises a crested straight stalk, less than Fennel,
with some joints thereon, and leaves growing thereat, and towards the
tops some branches issuing from thence; likewise on the tops of the
stalks and branches stand divers tufts of yellow flowers, whereafter
grows somewhat flat, thin, and yellowish seed, bigger than Fennel seed.
The roots grow great and deep, with many other parts and fibres about
them of a strong scent like hot brimstone, and yield forth a yellowish
milk, or clammy juice, almost like a gum.

_Place._] It grows plentifully in the salt low marshes near Feversham
in Kent.

_Time._] It flowers plentifully in July and August.

_Government and virtues._] This is also an herb of Mercury. The juice
of Sow-Fennel (saith Dioscorides, and Galen,) used with vinegar and
rose water, or the juice with a little Euphorbium put to the nose,
helps those that are troubled with the lethargy, frenzy, giddiness of
the head, the falling sickness, long and inveterate head-aches, the
palsy, sciatica, and the cramp, and generally all the diseases of the
sinews, used with oil and vinegar. The juice dissolved in wine, or put
into an egg, is good for a cough, or shortness of breath, and for those
that are troubled with wind in the body. It purges the belly gently,
expels the hardness of the spleen, gives ease to women that have sore
travail in child-birth, and eases the pains of the reins and bladder,
and also the womb. A little of the juice dissolved in wine, and dropped
into the ears, eases much of the pains in them, and put into a hollow
tooth, eases the pain thereof. The root is less effectual to all the
aforesaid disorders; yet the powder of the root cleanses foul ulcers,
being put into them, and takes out splinters of broken bones, or other
things in the flesh, and heals them up perfectly: as also, dries up old
and inveterate running sores, and is of admirable virtue in all green
wounds.


FIG-WORT, OR THROAT-WORT.

_Descript._] COMMON great Fig-wort sends divers great, strong, hard,
square brown stalks, three or four feet high, whereon grow large, hard,
and dark green leaves, two at a joint, harder and larger than Nettle
leaves, but not stinking; at the tops of the stalks stand many purple
flowers set in husks, which are sometimes gaping and open, somewhat
like those of Water Betony; after which come hard round heads, with a
small point in the middle, wherein lie small brownish seed. The root is
great, white, and thick, with many branches at it, growing aslope under
the upper crust of the ground, which abides many years, but keeps not
his green leaves in Winter.

_Place._] It grows frequently in moist and shadowy woods, and in the
lower parts of the fields and meadows.

_Time._] It flowers about July, and the seed will be ripe about a month
after the flowers are fallen.

_Government and virtues._] Some Latin authors call it Cervicaria,
because it is appropriated to the neck; and we Throat-wort, because it
is appropriated to the throat. Venus owns the herb, and the Celestial
Bull will not deny it; therefore a better remedy cannot be for the
king’s evil, because the Moon that rules the disease, is exalted there.
The decoction of the herb taken inwardly, and the bruised herb applied
outwardly, dissolves clotted and congealed blood within the body,
coming by any wounds, bruise, or fall; and is no less effectual for the
king’s evil, or any other knobs, kernel, bunches, or wens growing in
the flesh wheresoever; and for the hæmorrhoids, or piles. An ointment
made hereof may be used at all times when the fresh herb is not to be
had. The distilled water of the whole plant, roots and all, is used
for the same purposes, and dries up the superfluous, virulent moisture
of hollow and corroding ulcers; it takes away all redness, spots,
and freckles in the face, as also the scurf, and any foul deformity
therein, and the leprosy likewise.


FILIPENDULA, OR DROP-WORT.

_Descript._] THIS sends forth many leaves, some larger, some smaller,
set on each side of a middle rib, and each of them dented about the
edges, somewhat resembling wild Tansy, or rather Agrimony, but harder
in handling; among which rise up one or more stalks, two or three feet
high, with the leaves growing thereon, and sometimes also divided into
other branches spreading at the top into many white, sweet-smelling
flowers, consisting of five leaves a-piece, with some threads in the
middle of them, standing together in a pith or umble, each upon a
small foot stalk, which after they have been blown upon a good while,
do fall away, and in their places appear small, round, chaffy heads
like buttons, wherein are the chaffy seeds set and placed. The root
consists of many small, black, tuberous pieces, fastened together by
many small, long, blackish strings, which run from one to another.

_Place._] It grows in many places of this land, in the corners of dry
fields and meadows, and the hedge sides.

_Time._] They flower in June and July, and their seed is ripe in August.

_Government and virtues._] It is under the dominion of Venus. It
effectually opens the passages of the urine, helps the stranguary; the
stone in the kidneys or bladder, the gravel, and all other pains of the
bladder and reins, by taking the roots in powder, or a decoction of
them in white wine, with a little honey. The roots made into powder,
and mixed with honey in the form of an electuary, doth much help them
whose stomachs are swollen, dissolving and breaking the wind which was
the cause thereof; and is also very effectual for all the diseases of
the lungs, as shortness of breath, wheezing, hoarseness of the throat,
and the cough; and to expectorate tough phlegm, or any other parts
thereabout.


THE FIG-TREE.

TO give a description of a tree so well known to every body that keep
it in his garden, were needless. They prosper very well in our English
gardens, yet are fitter for medicine than for any other profit which is
gotten by the fruit of them.

_Government and virtues._] The tree is under the dominion of Jupiter.
The milk that issues out from the leaves or branches where they are
broken off, being dropped upon warts, takes them away. The decoction
of the leaves is excellently good to wash sore heads with: and there
is scarcely a better remedy for the leprosy than it is. It clears the
face also of morphew, and the body of white scurf, scabs, and running
sores. If it be dropped into old fretting ulcers, it cleanses out the
moisture, and brings up the flesh; because you cannot have the leaves
green all the year, you may make an ointment of them whilst you can. A
decoction of the leaves being drank inwardly, or rather a syrup made
of them, dissolves congealed blood caused by bruises or falls, and
helps the bloody flux. The ashes of the wood made into an ointment with
hog’s grease, helps kibes and chilblains. The juice being put into an
hollow tooth, eases pain: as also pain and noise in the ears, being
dropped into them; and deafness. An ointment made of the juice and
hog’s grease, is an excellent remedy for the bitten of mad dogs, or
other venomous beasts as most are. A syrup made of the leaves, or green
fruit, is excellently good for coughs, hoarseness, or shortness of
breath, and all diseases of the breast and lungs; it is also extremely
good for the dropsy and falling sickness. They say that the Fig Tree,
as well as the Bay Tree, is never hurt by lightning; as also, if you
tie a bull, be he ever so mad, to a Fig Tree, he will quickly become
tame and gentle. As for such figs as come from beyond sea, I have
little to say, because I write not of exoticks.


THE YELLOW WATER-FLAG, OR FLOWER-DE-LUCE.

_Descript._] THIS grows like the Flower-de-luce, but it has much longer
and narrower sad green leaves, joined together in that fashion; the
stalk also growing oftentimes as high, bearing small yellow flowers
shaped like the Flower-de-luce, with three falling leaves, and other
three arched that cover their bottoms; but instead of the three
upright leaves, as the Flower-de-luce has, this has only three short
pieces standing in their places, after which succeed thick and long
three square heads, containing in each part somewhat big and flat seed,
like those of the Flower-de-luce. The root is long and slender, of a
pale brownish colour on the outside, and of a horseflesh colour on the
inside, with many hard fibres thereat, and very harsh in taste.

_Place._] It usually grows in watery ditches, ponds, lakes, and moor
sides, which are always overflowed with water.

_Time._] It flowers in July, and the seed is ripe in August.

_Government and virtues._] It is under the dominion of the Moon. The
root of this Water-flag is very astringent, cooling, and drying; and
thereby helps all lasks and fluxes, whether of blood or humours, as
bleeding at the mouth, nose, or other parts, bloody flux, and the
immoderate flux of women’s courses. The distilled water of the whole
herb, flowers and roots, is a sovereign good remedy for watering eyes,
both to be dropped into them, and to have cloths or sponges wetted
therein, and applied to the forehead: It also helps the spots and
blemishes that happen in and about the eyes, or in any other parts:
The said water fomented on swellings and hot inflammations of women’s
breasts, upon cancers also, and those spreading ulcers called _Noli me
tangere_, do much good: It helps also foul ulcers in the privities of
man or woman; but an ointment made of the flowers is better for those
external applications.


FLAX-WEED, OR TOAD-FLAX.

_Descript._] OUR common Flax-weed has divers stalks full fraught with
long and narrow ash-coloured leaves, and from the middle of them almost
upward, stored with a number of pale yellow flowers, of a strong
unpleasant scent, with deeper yellow mouths, and blackish flat seed in
round heads. The root is somewhat woody and white, especially the main
downright one, with many fibres, abiding many years, shooting forth
roots every way round about, and new branches every year.

_Place._] This grows throughout this land, both by the way sides and
in meadows, as also by hedge-sides, and upon the sides of banks, and
borders of fields.

_Time._] It flowers in Summer, and the seed is ripe usually before the
end of August.

_Government and virtues._] Mars owns the herb: In Sussex we call it
Gallwort, and lay it in our chicken’s water to cure them of the gall;
it relieves them when they are drooping. This is frequently used to
spend the abundance of those watery humours by urine which cause
the dropsy. The decoction of the herb, both leaves and flowers, in
wine, taken and drank, doth somewhat move the belly downwards, opens
obstructions of the liver, and helps the yellow jaundice; expels
poison, provokes women’s courses, drives forth the dead child, and
after-birth. The distilled water of the herb and flowers is effectual
for all the same purposes; being drank with a dram of the powder of the
seeds of bark or the roots of Wall-wort, and a little Cinnamon, for
certain days together, it is held a singular remedy for the dropsy.
The juice of the herb, or the distilled water, dropped into the eyes,
is a certain remedy for all heat, inflammation, and redness in them.
The juice or water put into foul ulcers, whether they be cancerous or
fistulous, with tents rolled therein, or parts washed and injected
therewith, cleanses them thoroughly from the bottom, and heals them up
safely. The same juice or water also cleanses the skin wonderfully of
all sorts of deformity, as leprosy, morphew, scurf, wheals, pimples,
or spots, applied of itself, or used with some powder of Lupines.


FLEA-WORT.

_Descript._] ORDINARY Flea-wort rises up with a stalk two feet high or
more, full of joints and branches on every side up to the top, and at
every joint two small, long and narrow whitish green leaves somewhat
hairy. At the top of every branch stand divers small, short scaly, or
chaffy heads out of which come forth small whitish yellow threads, like
to those of the Plantain herbs, which are the bloomings of flowers. The
seed enclosed in these heads is small and shining while it is fresh,
very like unto fleas both for colour and bigness, but turning black
when it grows old. The root is not long, but white, hard and woody,
perishing every year, and rising again of its own seed for divers
years, if it be suffered to shed: The whole plant is somewhat whitish
and hairy, smelling somewhat like rosin.

There is another sort hereof, differing not from the former in the
manner of growing, but only that the stalk and branches being somewhat
greater, do a little more bow down to the ground: The leaves are
somewhat greater, the heads somewhat less, the seed alike; and the root
and leaves abide all winter, and perish not as the former.

_Place._] The first grows only in gardens, the second plentifully in
fields that are near the sea.

_Time._] They flower in July or thereabouts.

_Government and virtues._] The herb is cold, and dry, and saturnine.
I suppose it obtained the name of Flea-wort, because the seeds are
so like Fleas. The seeds fried, and taken, stays the flux or lask of
the belly, and the corrosions that come by reason of hot choleric, or
sharp and malignant humours, or by too much purging of any violent
medicine, as Scammony, or the like. The mucilage of the seed made
with Rose-water, and a little sugar-candy put thereto, is very good in
all hot agues and burning fevers, and other inflammations, to cool the
thirst, and lenify the dryness and roughness of the tongue and throat.
It helps also hoarseness of the voice, and diseases of the breast
and lungs, caused by heat, or sharp salt humours, and the pleurisy
also. The mucilage of the seed made with Plantain water, whereunto
the yoke of an egg or two, and a little Populeon are put, is a most
safe and sure remedy to ease the sharpness, pricking, and pains of the
hæmorrhoids or piles, if it be laid on a cloth, and bound thereto. It
helps all inflammations in any part of the body, and the pains that
come thereby, as the headache and megrims, and all hot imposthumes,
swellings, or breaking out of the skin, as blains, wheals, pushes,
purples, and the like, as also the joints of those that are out of
joint, the pains of the gout and sciatica, the burstings of young
children, and the swellings of the navel, applied with oil of roses
and vinegar. It is also good to heal the nipples and sore breasts of
women, being often applied thereunto. The juice of the herb with a
little honey put into the ears helps the running of them, and the worms
breeding in them: The same also mixed with hog’s grease, and applied to
corrupt and filthy ulcers, cleanses them and heals them.


FLUX-WEED.

_Descript._] IT rises up with a round upright hard stalk, four or five
feet high, spread into sundry branches, whereon grow many greyish green
leaves, very finely cut and severed into a number of short and almost
round parts. The flowers are very small and yellow, growing spike
fashion, after which come small long pods, with small yellowish seed in
them. The root is long and woody, perishing every year.

There is another sort, differing in nothing, save only it has somewhat
broad leaves; they have a strong evil saviour, being smelled unto, and
are of a drying taste.

_Place._] They flower wild in the fields by hedge-sides and highways,
and among rubbish and other places.

_Time._] They flower and seed quickly after, namely in June and July.

_Government and virtues._] This herb is saturnine also. Both the herb
and seed of Flux-weed is of excellent use to stay the flux or lask of
the belly, being drank in water wherein gads of steel heated have been
often quenched; and is no less effectual for the same purpose than
Plantain or Comfrey, and to restrain any other flux of blood in man or
woman, as also to consoladate bones broken or out of joint. The juice
thereof drank in wine, or the decoction of the herb drank, 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 works the same effect, although somewhat weaker, yet it is a
fair medicine, and more acceptable to be taken. It is called Flux-weed
because it cures the flux, and for its uniting broken bones, &c.
Paracelsus extols it to the skies. It is fitting that syrup, ointment,
and plaisters of it were kept in your house.


FLOWER-DE-LUCE.

IT is so well known, being nourished up in most gardens, that I shall
not need to spent time in writing a description thereof.

_Time._] The flaggy kinds thereof have the most physical uses; the
dwarf kinds thereof flowers in April, the greater sorts in May.

_Government and virtues._] The herb is Luner. The juice or decoction
of the green root of the flaggy kind of Flower-de-luce, with a little
honey drank, doth purge and cleanse the stomach of gross and tough
phlegm, and choler therein; it helps the jaundice and the dropsy,
evacuating those humours both upwards and downwards; and because it
somewhat hurts the stomach, is not to be taken without honey and
spikenard. The same being drank, doth ease the pains and torments of
the belly and sides, the shaking of agues, the diseases of the liver
and spleen, the worms of the belly, the stone in the reins, convulsions
and cramps that come of old humours; it also helps those whose seed
passes from them unawares: It is a remedy against the bitings and
stingings of venomous creatures, being boiled in water and vinegar and
drank. Boiled in water and drank, it provokes urine, helps the cholic,
brings down women’s courses; and made up into a pessary with honey, and
put up into the body, draws forth the dead child. It is much commended
against the cough, to expectorate rough phlegm. It much eases pains in
the head, and procures sleep; being put into the nostrils it procures
sneezing, and thereby purges the head of phlegm. The juice of the root
applied to the piles or hæmorrhoids, gives much ease. The decoction of
the roots gargled in the mouth, eases the tooth-ache, and helps the
stinking breath. Oil called Oleum Irinum, if it be rightly made of
the great broad flag Flower-de-luce and not of the great bulbous blue
Flower-de-luce, (as is used by some apothecaries) and roots of the
same, of the flaggy kinds, is very effectual to warm and comfort all
cold joints and sinews, as also the gout and sciatica, and mollifies,
dissolves and consumes tumours and swellings in any part of the body,
as also of the matrix; it helps the cramp, or convulsions of the
sinews. The head and temples anointed therewith, helps the catarrh or
thin rheum distilled from thence; and used upon the breast or stomach,
helps to extenuate the cold tough phlegm; it helps also the pains and
noise in the ears, and the stench of the nostrils. The root itself,
either green or in powder, helps to cleanse, heal, and incarnate
wounds, and to cover the naked bones with flesh again, that ulcers have
made bare; and is also very good to cleanse and heal up fistulas and
cankers that are hard to be cured.


FLUELLIN, OR LLUELLIN.

_Descript._] IT shoots forth many long branches partly lying upon the
ground, and partly standing upright, set with almost red leaves, yet
a little pointed, and sometimes more long than round, without order
thereon, somewhat hairy, and of an evil greenish white colour; at the
joints all along the stalks, and with the leaves come forth small
flowers, one at a place, upon a very small short foot-stalk, gaping
somewhat like Snap-dragons, or rather like Toad-flax, with the upper
jaw of a yellow colour, and the lower of a purplish, with a small heel
or spur behind; after which come forth small round heads, containing
small black seed. The root is small and thready, dying every year, and
rises itself again of its own sowing.

There is another sort of Lluellin which has longer branches wholly
trailing upon the ground, two or three feet long, and somewhat more
thin, set with leaves thereon, upon small foot-stalks. The leaves are
a little larger, and somewhat round, and cornered sometimes in some
places on the edges; but the lower part of them being the broadest,
hath on each side a small point, making it seem as if they were ears,
sometimes hairy, but not hoary, and of a better green colour than the
former. The flowers come forth like the former, but the colours therein
are more white than yellow, and the purple not so far. It is a large
flower, and so are the seed and seed-vessels. The root is like the
other, and perishes every year.

_Place._] They grow in divers corn fields, and in borders about them,
and in other fertile grounds about Southfleet in Kent abundantly; at
Buchrite, Hamerton, and Rickmanworth in Huntingdonshire, and in divers
other places.

_Time._] They are in flower about June and July, and the whole plant is
dry and withered before August be done.

_Government and virtues._] It is a Lunar herb. The leaves bruised and
applied with barley meal to watering eyes that are hot and inflamed by
defluxions from the head, do very much help them, as also the fluxes of
blood or humours, as the lask, bloody flux, women’s courses, and stays
all manner of bleeding at the nose, mouth, or any other place, or that
comes by any bruise or hurt, or bursting a vein; it wonderfully helps
all those inward parts that need consolidating or strengthening, and is
no less effectual both to heal and close green wounds, than to cleanse
and heal all foul or old ulcers, fretting or spreading cankers or the
like. This herb is of a fine cooling, drying quality, and an ointment
or plaister of it might do a man a courtesy that hath any hot virulent
sores: ’Tis admirable for the ulcers of the French pox; if taken
inwardly, may cure the desease.


FOX-GLOVE.

_Descript._] IT has many long and broad leaves lying upon the ground
dented upon the edges, a little soft or woolly, and of a hoary green
colour, among which rise up sometimes sundry stalks, but one very
often, bearing such leaves thereon from the bottom to the middle, from
whence to the top it is stored with large and long hollow reddish
purple flowers, a little more long and eminent at the lower edge, with
some white spots within them, one above another with small green leaves
at every one, but all of them turning their heads one way, and hanging
downwards, having some threads also in the middle, from whence rise
round heads, pointed sharp at the ends, wherein small brown seed lies.
The roots are so many small fibres, and some greater strings among
them; the flowers have no scent, but the leaves have a bitter hot taste.

_Place._] It grows on dry sandy ground for the most part, and as well
on the higher as the lower places under hedge-sides in almost every
county of this land.

_Time._] It seldom flowers before July, and the seed is ripe in August.

_Government and virtues._] The plant is under the dominion of Venus,
being of a gentle cleansing nature, and withal very friendly to
nature. The herb is familiarly and frequently used by the Italians to
heal any fresh or green wound, the leaves being but bruised and bound
thereon; and the juice thereof is also used in old sores, to cleanse,
dry, and heal them. The decoction hereof made up with some sugar or
honey, is available to cleanse and purge the body both upwards and
downwards, sometimes of tough phlegm and clammy humours, and to open
obstructions of the liver and spleen. It has been found by experience
to be available for the king’s evil, the herb bruised and applied, or
an ointment made with the juice thereof, and so used; and a decoction
of two handfuls thereof, with four ounces of Polipody in ale, has been
found by late experience to cure divers of the falling sickness, that
have been troubled with it above twenty years. I am confident that an
ointment of it is one of the best remedies for scabby head that is.


FUMITORY.

_Descript._] OUR common Fumitory is a tender sappy herb, sends forth
from one square, a slender weak stalk, and leaning downwards on all
sides, many branches two or three feet long, with finely cut and
jagged leaves of a whitish or rather blueish sea green colour; At the
tops of the branches stand many small flowers, as it were in a long
spike one above another, made like little birds, of a reddish purple
colour, whith whitish bellies, after which come small round husks,
containing small black seeds. The root is yellow, small, and not very
long, full of juice while it is green, but quickly perishes with the
ripe seed. In the corn fields in Cornwall, it bears white flowers.

_Place._] It grows in corn fields almost every where, as well as in
gardens.

_Time._] It flowers in May, for the most part, and the seed ripens
shortly after.

_Government and virtues._] Saturn owns the herb, and presents it to
the world as a cure for his own disease, and a strengthener of the
parts of the body he rules. If by my astrological judgment of diseases,
from the decumbiture, you find Saturn author of the disease, or if by
direction from a nativity you fear a saturnine disease approaching,
you may by this herb prevent it in the one, and cure it in the other,
and therefore it is fit you keep a syrup of it always by you. The
juice or syrup made thereof, or the decoction made in whey by itself,
with some other purging or opening herbs and roots to cause it to
work the better (itself being but weak) is very effectual for the
liver and spleen, opening the obstructions thereof, and clarifying the
blood from saltish, choleric, and adust humours, which cause leprosy,
scabs, tetters, and itches, and such like breakings-out of the skin,
and after the purgings doth strengthen all the inwards parts. It is
also good against the yellow-jaundice, and spends it by urine, which
it procures in abundance. The powder of the dried herb given for some
time together, cures melancholy, but the seed is strongest in operation
for all the former diseases. The distilled water of the herb is also
of good effect in the former diseases, and conduces much against the
plague and pestilence, being taken with good treacle. The distilled
water also, with a little water and honey of roses, helps all sores
of the mouth or throat, being gargled often therewith. The juice
dropped into the eyes, clears the sight and takes away redness and
other defects in them, although it procure some pain for the present,
and cause tears. Dioscorides saith it hinders any fresh springing of
hairs on the eye-lids (after they are pulled away) if the eye-lids be
anointed with the juice hereof, with Gum Arabic dissolved therein. The
juice of the Fumitory and Docks mingled with vinegar, and the places
gently washed therewith, cures all sorts of scabs, pimples, blotches,
wheals, and pushes which arise on the face or hands or any other parts
of the body.


THE FURZE BUSH.

IT is as well known by this name, as it is in some counties by the
name of Gorz or Whins, that I shall not need to write any description
thereof, my intent being to teach my countrymen what they know not,
rather than to tell them again of that which is generally known before.

_Place._] They are known to grow on dry barren heaths, and other waste,
gravelly or sandy grounds, in all counties of this land.

_Time._] They also flower in the Summer months.

_Government and virtues._] Mars owns the herb. They are hot and dry,
and open obstructions of the liver and spleen. A decoction made with
the flowers thereof hath been found effectual against the jaundice, as
also to provoke urine, and cleanse the kidneys from gravel or stone
ingendered in them. Mars doth also this by sympathy.


GARLICK.

THE offensiveness of the breath of him that hath eaten Garlick, will
lead you by the nose to the knowledge hereof, and (instead of a
description) direct you to the place where it grows in gardens, which
kinds are the best, and most physical.

_Government and virtues._] Mars owns this herb. This was anciently
accounted the poor man’s treacle, it being a remedy for all diseases
and hurts (except those which itself breed.) It provokes urine, and
women’s courses, helps the biting of mad dogs and other venomous
creatures, kills worms in children, cuts and voids tough phlegm,
purges the head, helps the lethargy, is a good preservative against,
and a remedy for any plague, sore, or foul ulcers; takes away spots
and blemishes in the skin, eases pains in the ears, ripens and breaks
imposthumes, or other swellings. And for all those diseases the onions
are as effectual. But the Garlick hath some more peculier virtues
besides the former, _viz._ it hath a special quality to discuss
inconveniences coming by corrupt agues or mineral vapours; or by
drinking corrupt and stinking waters; as also by taking wolf-bane,
henbane, hemlock, or other poisonous and dangerous herbs. It is also
held good in hydropick diseases, the jaundice, falling sickness,
cramps, convulsions, the piles or hæmorrhoids, or other cold diseases.
Many authors quote many diseases this is good for; but conceal its
vices. Its heat is very vehement, and all vehement hot things send
up but ill-favoured vapours to the brain. In coleric men it will add
fuel to the fire; in men oppressed by melancholy, it will attenuate
the humour, and send up strong fancies, and as many strange visions to
the head; therefore let it be taken inwardly with great moderation;
outwardly you may make more bold with it.


GENTIAN, FELWORT, OR BALDMONY.

IT is confessed that Gentian, which is most used amongst us, is brought
over from beyond sea, yet we have two sorts of it growing frequently
in our nation, which, besides the reasons so frequently alledged why
English herbs should be fittest for English bodies, has been proved by
the experience of divers physicians, to be not a wit inferior in virtue
to that which comes from beyond sea, therefore be pleased to take the
description of them as follows.

_Descript._] The greater of the two hath many small long roots thrust
down deep into the ground, and abiding all the Winter. The stalks are
sometimes more, sometimes fewer, of a brownish green colour, which is
sometimes two feet high, if the ground be fruitful, having many long,
narrow, dark green leaves, set by couples up to the top; the flowers
are long and hollow, of a purple colour, ending in fine corners. The
smaller sort which is to be found in our land, grows up with sundry
stalks, not a foot high, parted into several small branches, whereon
grow divers small leaves together, very like those of the lesser
Centaury, of a whitish green colour; on the tops of these stalks grow
divers perfect blue flowers, standing in long husks, but not so big as
the other; the root is very small, and full of threads.

_Place._] The first grows in divers places of both the East and West
counties, and as well in wet as in dry grounds; as near Longfield,
by Gravesend, near Cobham in Kent, near Lillinstone in Kent, also in
a chalk pit hard by a paper-mill not far from Dartford in Kent. The
second grows also in divers places in Kent, as about Southfleet, and
Longfield; upon Barton’s hills in Bedfordshire; also not far from St.
Albans, upon a piece of waste chalky ground, as you go out by Dunstable
way towards Gorhambury.

_Time._] They flower in August.

_Government and virtues._] They are under the dominion of Mars, and
one of the principal herbs he is ruler of. They resist putrefactions,
poison, and a more sure remedy cannot be found to prevent the
pestilence than it is; it strengthens the stomach exceedingly, helps
digestion, comforts the heart, and preserves it against faintings and
swoonings: The powder of the dry roots helps the biting of mad dogs
and venomous beasts, opens obstructions of the liver, and restores
an appetite for their meat to such as have lost it. The herb steeped
in wine, and the wine drank, refreshes such as be over-weary with
traveling, and grow lame in their joints, either by cold or evil
lodgings; it helps stitches, and griping pains in the sides; is an
excellent remedy for such as are bruised by falls; it provokes urine
and the terms exceedingly, therefore let it not be given to women with
child: The same is very profitable for such as are troubled with cramps
and convulsions, to drink the decoction: Also they say it breaks the
stone, and helps ruptures most certainly: it is excellent in all cold
diseases, and such as are troubled with tough phlegm, scabs, itch,
or any fretting sores and ulcers; it is an admirable remedy to kill
the worms, by taking half a dram of the powder in a morning in any
convenient liquor; the same is excellently good to be taken inwardly
for the king’s evil. It helps agues of all sorts, and the yellow
jaundice, as also the bots in cattle; when kine are bitten on the udder
by any venomous beast, do but stroke the place with the decoction of
any of these, and it will instantly heal them.


CLOVE GILLIFLOWERS.

IT is vain to describe an herb so well known.

_Government and virtues._] They are gallant, fine, temperate flowers,
of the nature and under the dominion of Jupiter; yea, so temperate,
that no excess, neither in heat, cold, dryness, nor moisture, can be
perceived in them; they are great strengtheners both of the brain and
heart, and will therefore serve either for cordials or cephalics, as
your occasion will serve. There is both a syrup and a conserve made of
them alone, commonly to be had at every apothecary’s. To take now and
then a little of either, strengthens nature much, in such as are in
consumptions. They are also excellently good in hot pestilent fevers,
and expel poison.


GERMANDER.

_Descript._] COMMON Germander shoots forth sundry stalks, with small
and somewhat round leaves, dented about the edges. The flowers
stand at the tops of a deep purple colour. The root is composed of
divers sprigs, which shoots forth a great way round about, quickly
overspreading a garden.

_Place._] It grows usually with us in gardens.

_Time._] And flowers in June and July.

_Government and virtues._] It is a most prevalent herb of Mercury,
and strengthens the brain and apprehension exceedingly when weak, and
relieves them when drooping. This taken with honey (saith Dioscorides)
is a remedy for coughs, hardness of the spleen and difficulty of urine,
and helps those that are fallen into a dropsy, especially at the
beginning of the disease, a decoction being made thereof when it is
green, and drank. It also brings down women’s courses, and expels the
dead child. It is most effectual against the poison of all serpents,
being drank in wine, and the bruised herb outwardly applied; used with
honey, it cleanses old and foul ulcers; and made into an oil, and the
eyes anointed therewith, takes away the dimness and moistness. It is
likewise good for the pains in the sides and cramps. The decoction
thereof taken for four days together, drives away and cures both
tertain and quartan agues. It is also good against all diseases of the
brain, as continual head-ache, falling-sickness, melancholy, drowsiness
and dullness of the spirits, convulsions and palsies. A dram of the
seed taken in powder purges by urine, and is good against the yellow
jaundice. The juice of the leaves dropped into the ears kills the
worms in them. The tops thereof, when they are in flowers, steeped
twenty-four hours in a draught of white wine, and drank, kills the
worms in the belly.


STINKING GLADWIN.

_Descript._] THIS is one of the kinds of Flower-de-luce, having
divers leaves arising from the roots, very like a Flower-de-luce, but
that they are sharp-edged on both sides, and thicker in the middle,
of a deeper green colour narrower and sharper pointed, and a strong
ill-scent, if they be bruised between the fingers. In the middle
rises up a reasonably strong stalk, a yard high at least, bearing
three or four flowers at the top, made somewhat like the flowers of
the Flower-de-luce, with three upright leaves, of a dead purplish
ash-colour, with some veins discoloured in them; the other three do not
fall down, nor are the three other small ones so arched, nor cover the
lower leaves as the Flower-de-luce doth, but stand loose or asunder
from them. After they are past, there come up three square hard husks,
opening wide into three parts when they are ripe, wherein lie reddish
seed, turns black when it hath abiden long. The root is like that of
the Flower-de-luce, but reddish on the outside, and whitish within,
very sharp and hot in the taste, of as evil a scent as the leaves.

_Place._] This grows as well in upland grounds, as in moist places,
woods, and shadowy places by the sea-side in many places of this land,
and is usually nursed up in gardens.

_Time._] It flowers not until July, and the seed is ripe in August or
September, yet the husks after they are ripe, opening themselves, will
hold their seed with them for two or three months, and not shed them.

_Government and virtues._] It is supposed to be under the dominion of
Saturn. It is used by many country people to purge corrupt phlegm and
choler, which they do by drinking the decoction of the roots; and some
to make it more gentle, do but infuse the sliced roots in ale; and some
take the leaves, which serve well for the weaker stomach: The juice
hereof put up, or snuffed up the nose, causes sneezing, and draws from
the head much corruption; and the powder thereof doth the same. The
powder thereof drank in wine, helps those that are troubled with the
cramps and convulsions, or with the gout and sciatica, and gives ease
to those that have griping pains in their body and belly, and helps
those that have the stranguary. It is given with much profit to those
that have had long fluxes by the sharp and evil quality of humours,
which it stays, having first cleansed and purged them by the drying
and binding property therein. The root boiled in wine and drank, doth
effectually procure women’s courses, and used as a pessary, works the
same effect, but causes abortion in women with child. Half a dram of
the seed beaten to powder, and taken in wine, doth speedily cause one
to make water abundantly. The same taken with vinegar, dissolves the
hardness and swellings of the spleen. The root is very effectual in all
wounds, especially of the head; as also to draw forth any splinters,
thorns, or broken bones, or any other thing sticking in the flesh,
without causing pains, being used with a little verdigrease and honey,
and the great Centaury root. The same boiled in vinegar, and laid upon
an eruption or swelling, doth very effectually dissolve and consume
them; yea, even the swellings of the throat called the king’s evil;
the juice of the leaves or roots heals the itch, and all running or
spreading scabs, sores, blemishes, or scars in the skin, wheresoever
they be.


GOLDEN ROD.

_Descript._] THIS rises up with brownish small round stalks, two feet
high, and sometimes more, having thereon many narrow and long dark
green leaves, very seldom with any dents about the edges, or any stalks
or white spots therein, yet they are sometimes so found divided at the
tops into many small branches, with divers small yellow flowers on
every one of them, all which are turned one way, and being ripe, do
turn into down, and are carried away by the wind. The root consists of
many small fibres, which grows not deep in the ground, but abides all
the winter therein, shooting forth new branches every year, the old one
lying down to the ground.

_Place._] It grows in the open places of woods and copses, on both
moist and dry grounds, in many places of this land.

_Time._] It flowers about the month of July.

_Government and virtues._] Venus claims the herb, and therefore to
be sure it respects beauty lost. Arnoldus de Villa Nova commends it
much against the stone in the reins and kidneys, and to provoke urine
in abundance, whereby also the gravel and stone may be voided. The
decoction of the herb, green or dry, or the distilled water thereof,
is very effectual for inward bruises, as also to be outwardly applied,
it stays bleeding in any part of the body, and of wounds; also the
fluxes of humours, the bloody-flux, and women’s courses; and is no
less prevalent in all ruptures or burstings, being drank inwardly, and
outwardly applied. It is a sovereign wound herb, inferior to none,
both for the inward and outward hurts; green wounds, old sores and
ulcers, are quickly cured therewith. It also is of especial use in all
lotions for sores or ulcers in the mouth, throat, or privy parts of man
or woman. The decoction also helps to fasten the teeth that are loose
in the gums.


GOUT-WORT, OR HERB GERRARD.

_Descript._] IT is a low herb, seldom rising half a yard high, having
sundry leaves standing on brownish green stalks by three, snipped
about, and of a strong unpleasant savour: The umbels of the flowers
are white, and the seed blackish, the root runs in the ground, quickly
taking a great deal of room.

_Place._] It grows by hedge and wall-sides, and often in the border and
corner of fields, and in gardens also.

_Time._] It flowers and seeds about the end of July.

_Government and virtues._] Saturn rules it. Neither is it to be supposed
Gout-wort hath its name for nothing but upon experiment to heal the
gout and sciatica; as also joint-aches, and other cold griefs. The very
bearing of it about one eases the pains of the gout, and defends him
that bears it from the disease.


GROMEL.

OF this I shall briefly describe their kinds, which are principally
used in physic, the virtues whereof are alike, though somewhat
different in their manner and form of growing.

_Descript._] The greater Gromel grows up with slender hard and hairy
stalks, trailing and taking root in the ground, as it lies thereon,
and parted into many other small branches with hairy dark green leaves
thereon. At the joints, with the leaves, come forth very small blue
flowers, and after them hard stony roundish seed. The root is long and
woody, abiding the Winter, and shoots forth fresh stalks in the spring.

The smaller wild Gromel sends forth divers upright hard branched
stalks, two or three feet high full of joints, at every one of which
grow small, long, hard, and rough leaves like the former, but less;
among which leaves come forth small white flowers, and after them
greyish round seed like the former; the root is not very big, but with
many strings thereat.

The garden Gromel as divers upright, slender, woody, hairy stalks,
blown and cressed, very little branched, with leaves like the former,
and white flowers; after which, in rough brown husks, is contained a
white, hard, round seed, shining like pearls, and greater than either
the former; the root is like the first described, with divers branches
and sprigs thereat, which continues (as the first doth) all the Winter.

_Place._] The two first grow wild in barren or untilled places, and by
the way side in many places of this land. The last is a nursling in the
gardens of the curious.

_Time._] They all flower from Midsummer until September sometimes, and
in the mean time the seed ripens.

_Government and virtues._] The herb belongs to Dame Venus; and
therefore if Mars cause the cholic or stone, as usually he doth, if
in Virgo, this is your cure. These are accounted to be of as singular
force as any herb or seed whatsoever, to break the stone and to void
it, and the gravel either in the reins or bladder, as also to provoke
urine being stopped, and to help stranguary. The seed is of greatest
use, being bruised and boiled in white wine or in broth, or the like,
or the powder of the seed taken therein. Two drams of the seed in
powder taken with women’s breast milk, is very effectual to procure a
very speedy delivery to such women as have sore pains in their travail,
and cannot be delivered: The herb itself, (when the seed is not to be
had) either boiled, or the juice thereof drank, is effectual to all
the purposes aforesaid, but not so powerful or speedy in operation.


GOOSEBERRY BUSH.

CALLED also Feapberry, and in Sussex Dewberry-Bush, and in some
Counties Wineberry.

_Government and virtues._] They are under the dominion of Venus. The
berries, while they are unripe, being scalded or baked, are good to
stir up a fainting or decayed appetite, especially such whose stomachs
are afflicted by choleric humours: They are excellently good to stay
longings of women with child. You may keep them preserved with sugar
all the year long. The decoction of the leaves of the tree cools hot
dwellings and inflammations; as also St. Anthony’s fire. The ripe
Gooseberries being eaten, are an excellent remedy to allay the violent
heat both of the stomach and liver. The young and tender leaves break
the stone, and expel gravel both from the kidneys and bladder. All
the evil they do to the body of man is, they are supposed to breed
crudities, and by crudities, worms.


WINTER-GREEN.

_Descript._] THIS sends forth seven, eight, or nine leaves from a small
brown creeping root, every one standing upon a long foot stalk, 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 arises
a slender weak stalk, yet standing upright, bearing at the top many
small white sweet-smelling flowers, laid open like a star, consisting
of five round pointed leaves, with many yellow threads standing in the
middle about a green head, and a long stalk with them, which in time
grows to be the seed-vessel, which being ripe is found five square,
with a small point at it, wherein is contained seed as small as dust.

_Place._] It grows seldom in fields, but frequent in the woods
northwards, _viz._ in Yorkshire, Lancashire, and Scotland.

_Time._] It flowers about June and July.

_Government and virtues._] Winter-green is under the dominion of
Saturn, and is a singularly good wound herb, and an especial remedy
for healing green wounds speedily, the green leaves being bruised
and applied, or the juice of them. A salve made of the green herb
stamped, or the juice boiled with hog’s lard, or with salad oil and
wax, and some turpentine added to it, is a sovereign salve, and highly
extolled by the Germans, who use it to heal all manner of wounds and
sores. The herb boiled 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 stays all fluxes, as the lask, bloody
fluxes, women’s courses, and bleeding of wounds, and takes away any
inflammations rising upon pains of the heart; it is no less helpful
for foul ulcers hard to be cured; as also for cankers or fistulas. The
distilled water of the herb effectually performs the same things.


GROUNDSEL.

_Descript._] OUR common Groundsel has a round green and somewhat
brownish stalk, spreading toward the top into branches, set with long
and somewhat narrow green leaves, cut in on the edges, somewhat like
the oak-leaves, but less, and round at the end. At the tops of the
branches stand many small green heads, out of which grow several small,
yellow threads or thumbs, which are the flowers, and continue many days
blown in that manner, before it pass away into down, and with the seed
is carried away in the wind. The root is small and thready, and soon
perishes, and as soon rises again of its own sowing, so that it may be
seen many months in the year both green and in flower, and seed; for it
will spring and seed twice in a year at least, if it be suffered in a
garden.

_Place._] They grow almost every where, as well on tops of walls, as
at the foot amongst rubbish and untilled grounds, but especially in
gardens.

_Time._] It flowers, as was said before, almost every month throughout
the year.

_Government and virtues._] This herb is Venus’s mistress-piece, and is
as gallant and universal a medicine for all diseases coming of heat,
in what part of the body soever they be, as the sun shines upon; it
is very safe and friendly to the body of man: yet causes vomiting if
the stomach be afflicted; if not, purging: and it doth it with more
gentleness than can be expected; it is moist, and something cold
withal, thereby causing expulsion, and repressing the heat caused
by the motion of the internal parts in purges and vomits. Lay by
our learned receipts; take so much Sena, so much Scammony, so much
Colocynthis, so much infusion of Crocus Metallorum, &c. this herb alone
preserved in a syrup, in a distilled water, or in an ointment, shall do
the deed for you in all hot diseases, and, shall do it, 1, Safely; 2,
Speedily.

The decoction of this herb (saith Dioscorides) made with wine, and
drank, helps the pains of the stomach, proceeding of choler, (which it
may well do by a vomit) as daily experience shews. The juice thereof
taken in drink, or the decoction of it in ale, gently performs the
same. It is good against the jaundice and falling sickness, being
taken in wine; as also against difficulty of making water. It provokes
urine, expels gravel in the reins or kidneys; a dram thereof given
in oxymel, after some walking or stirring of the body. It helps also
the sciatica, griping of the belly, the cholic, defects of the liver,
and provokes women’s courses. The fresh herb boiled and made into
a poultice, applied to the breasts of women that are swollen with
pain and heat, as also the privy parts of man or woman, the seat or
fundament, or the arteries, joints, and sinews, when they are inflamed
and swollen, doth much ease them; and used with some salt, helps to
dissolve knots or kernels in any part of the body. The juice of the
herb, or as (Dioscorides saith) the leaves and flowers, with some fine
Frankincense in powder, used in wounds of the body, nerves or sinews,
doth singularly help to heal them. The distilled water of the herb
performs well all the aforesaid cures, but especially for inflammations
or watering of the eyes, by reason of the defluxion of rheum unto them.


HEART’S-EASE.

THIS is that herb which such physicians as are licensed to blaspheme by
authority, without danger of having their tongues burned through with
an hot iron, called an herb of the Trinity. It is also called by those
that are more moderate, Three Faces in a Hood, Live in Idleness, Cull
me to you; and in Sussex we call them Pancies.

_Place._] Besides those which are brought up in gardens, they grow
commonly wild in the fields, especially in such as are very barren:
sometimes you may find it on the tops of the high hills.

_Time._] They flower all the Spring and Summer long.

_Government and virtues._] The herb is really saturnine, something
cold, viscous, and slimy. A strong decoction of the herbs and flowers
(if you will, you may make it into syrup) is an excellent cure for
the French pox, the herb being a gallant antivenereal: and that
antivenereals are the best cure for that disease, far better and safer
than to torment them with the flux, divers foreign physicians have
confessed. The spirit of it is excellently good for the convulsions in
children, as also for the falling sickness, and a gallant remedy for
the inflammation of the lungs and breasts, pleurisy, scabs, itch, &c.
It is under the celestial sign Cancer.


ARTICHOKES.

THE Latins call them Cinera, only our college calls them Artichocus.

_Government and virtues._] They are under the dominion of Venus, and
therefore it is no marvel if they provoke lust, as indeed they do,
being somewhat windy meat; and yet they stay the involuntary course of
natural seed in man, which is commonly called nocturnal pollutions. And
here I care not greatly if I quote a little of Galen’s nonsense in his
treatise of the faculties of nourishment. He saith, they contain plenty
of choleric juice, (which notwithstanding I can scarcely believe,) of
which he saith is engendered melancholy juice, and of that melancholy
juice thin choleric blood. But, to proceed; this is certain, that the
decoction of the root boiled in wine, or the root bruised and distilled
in wine in an alembic, and being drank, purges by urine exceedingly.


HART’S-TONGUE.

_Descript._] THIS has divers leaves arising from the root, every
one severally, which fold themselves 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 streaked on the
back, athwart on both sides of the middle rib, with small and somewhat
long and brownish marks; the bottoms of the leaves are a little bowed
on each side of the middle rib, somewhat small at the end. The root is
of many black threads, folded or interlaced together.

_Time._] It is green all the Winter; but new leaves spring every year.

_Government and virtues._] Jupiter claims dominion over this herb,
therefore it is a singular remedy for the liver, both to strengthen it
when weak, and ease it when afflicted, you shall do well to keep it
in a syrup all the year; For though authors say it is green all the
year, I scarcely believe it. Hart’s 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 thereof is also very good against the passions
of the heart, and to stay the hiccough, to help the falling of the
palate, and to stay the bleeding of the gums, being gargled in the
mouth. Dioscorides saith, it is good against the stinging or biting of
serpents. As for the use of it, my direction at the latter end will be
sufficient, and enough for those that are studious in physic, to whet
their brains upon for one year or two.


HAZEL-NUT.

HAZEL Nuts are so well known to every body, that they need no
description.

_Government and virtues._] They are under the dominion of Mercury.
The parted 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 drank, digests
the distillations of rheum from the head. The dried husks and shells,
to the weight of two drams, taken in red wine, stays lasks and women’s
courses, and so doth the red skin that covers the kernels, which is
more effectual to stay women’s courses.

And if this be true, as it is, then why should the vulgar so familiarly
affirm, that eating nuts causes shortness of breath, than which nothing
is falser? For, how can that which strengthens the lungs, cause
shortness of breath? I confess, the opinion is far older than I am; I
knew tradition was a friend to error before, but never that he was
the father of slander; Or are men’s tongues so given to slander one
another, that they must slander Nuts too, to keep their tongues in use?
If any part of the Hazel Nut be stopping, it is the husks and shells,
and no one is so mad as to eat them unless physically; and the red skin
which covers the kernel, you may easily pull off And so thus have I
made an apology for Nuts, which cannot speak for themselves.


HAWK-WEED.

THERE are several sorts of Hawk-weed, but they are similar in virtues.

_Descript._] It has many large leaves lying upon the ground, much rent
or torn on the sides into gashes like Dandelion, but with greater
parts, more like the smooth Sow Thistle, from among which rises a
hollow, rough stalk, two or three feet high, branched from the middle
upward, whereon are set at every joint longer leaves, little or nothing
rent or cut, bearing on them sundry pale, yellow flowers, consisting of
many small, narrow leaves, broad pointed, and nicked in at the ends,
set in a double row or more, the outermost being larger than the inner,
which form most of the Hawk-weeds (for there are many kinds of them) do
hold, which turn into down, and with the small brownish seed is blown
away with the wind. The root is long and somewhat great, with many
small fibres thereat. The whole plant is full of bitter-milk.

_Place._] It grows in divers places about the field sides, and the
path-ways in dry grounds.

_Time._] It flowers and flies away in the Summer months.

_Government and virtues._] Saturn owns it. Hawk-weed (saith
Dioscorides) is cooling, somewhat drying and binding, and therefore
good for the heat of the stomach, and gnawings therein; for
inflammations and the hot fits of agues. The juice thereof in wine,
helps digestion, discusses wind, hinders crudities abiding in the
stomach, and helps the difficulty of making water, the biting of
venomous serpents, and stinging of the scorpion, if the herb be also
outwardly applied to the place, and is very good against all other
poisons. A scruple of the dried root given in wine and vinegar, is
profitable for those that have the dropsy. The decoction of the herb
taken in honey, digests the phlegm in the chest or lungs, and with
Hyssop helps the cough. The decoction thereof, and of wild Succory,
made with wine, and taken, helps the wind cholic and hardness of the
spleen; it procures rest and sleep, hinders venery and venerous dreams,
cooling heats, purges the stomach, increases blood, and helps the
diseases of the reins and bladder. Outwardly applied, it is singularly
good for all the defects and diseases of the eyes, used with some
women’s milk; and used with good success in fretting or creeping
ulcers, especially in the beginning. The green leaves bruised, and with
a little salt applied to any place burnt with fire, before blisters
do rise, helps them; as also inflammations, St. Anthony’s fire, and
all pushes and eruptions, hot and salt phlegm. The same applied with
meal and fair water in manner of a poultice, to any place affected
with convulsions, the cramp, and such as are out of joint, doth give
help and ease. The distilled water cleanses the skin, and takes away
freckles, spots, morphew, or wrinkles in the face.


HAWTHORN.

IT is not my intention to trouble you with a description of this tree,
which is so well known that it needs none. It is ordinarily but a
hedge bush, although being pruned and dressed, it grows to a tree of a
reasonable height.

As for the Hawthorn Tree at Glastonbury, which is said to flower
yearly on Christmas-day, it rather shews the superstition of those
that observe it for the time of its flowering, than any great wonder,
since the like may be found in divers other places of this land; as in
Whey-street in Romney Marsh, and near unto Nantwich in Cheshire, by a
place called White Green, where it flowers about Christmas and May. If
the weather be frosty, it flowers not until January, or that the hard
weather be over.

_Government and virtues._] It is a tree of Mars. The seeds in the
berries beaten to powder being drank in wine, are held singularly good
against the stone, and are good for the dropsy. The distilled water
of the flowers stay the lask. The seed cleared from the down, bruised
and boiled in wine, and drank, is good for inward tormenting pains. If
cloths or sponges be wet in the distilled water, and applied to any
place wherein thorns and 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 its own pricking, and
so doth almost every thing else.


HEMLOCK.

_Descript._] THE common great Hemlock grows up with a green stalk, four
or five feet high, or more, full of red spots sometimes, and at the
joints very large winged leaves set at them, which are divided into
many other winged leaves, one set against the other, dented about the
edges, of a sad green colour, branched towards the top, where it is
full of umbels of white flowers, and afterwards with whitish flat seed:
The root is long, white, and sometimes crooked, and hollow within. The
whole plant, and every part, has a strong, heady, and ill-savoured
scent, much offending the senses.

_Place._] It grows in all counties of this land, by walls and
hedge-sides, in waste grounds and untilled places.

_Time._] It flowers and seeds in July, or thereabouts.

_Government and virtues._] Saturn claims dominion over this herb, yet
I wonder why it may not be applied to the privities in a Priapism,
or continual standing of the yard, it being very beneficial to that
disease; I suppose, my author’s judgment was first upon the opposite
disposition of Saturn to Venus in those faculties, and therefore he
forbade the applying of it to those parts, that it might not cause
barrenness, or spoil the spirit procreative; which if it do, yet
applied to the privities, it stops its lustful thoughts. Hemlock is
exceedingly cold, and very dangerous, especially to be taken inwardly.
It may safely be applied to inflammations, tumours, and swellings in
any part of the body (save the privy parts) as also to St. Anthony’s
fire, wheals, pushes, and creeping ulcers that arise of hot sharp
humours, by cooling and repelling the heat; the leaves bruised and
laid to the brow or forehead are 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 small handful of this herb, and half so
much bay salt, beaten together, and applied to the contrary wrist of
the hand, for 24 hours, doth remove it in thrice dressing. If the root
thereof be roasted under the embers, wrapped in double wet paper, 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 through mistake eat
the herb Hemlock instead of Parsley, or the roots instead of a Parsnip
(both of which it is very like) whereby happens a kind of frenzy, or
perturbation of the senses, as if they were stupid and drunk, the
remedy is (as Pliny saith) to drink of the best and strongest pure
wine, before it strikes to the heart, or Gentian put in wine, or a
draught of vinegar, wherewith Tragus doth affirm, that he cured a woman
that had eaten the root.


HEMP.

THIS is so well known to every good housewife in the country, that I
shall not need to write any description of it.

_Time._] It is sown in the very end of March, or beginning of April,
and is ripe in August or September.

_Government and virtues._] It is a plant of Saturn, and good for
something else, you see, than to make halters only. The seed of Hemp
consumes wind, and by too much use thereof disperses it so much that
it dries up the natural seed for procreation; yet, being boiled in
milk and taken, helps 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 disease, if there
be no ague accompanying it, for it opens obstructions of the gall,
and causes digestion of choler. The emulsion or decoction of the seed
stays lasks and continual fluxes, eases the cholic, and allays the
troublesome humours in the bowels, and stays bleeding at the mouth,
nose, or other places, some of the leaves being fried with the blood
of them that bleed, and so given them to eat. It is held very good to
kill the worms in men or beasts; and the juice dropped into the ears
kills worms in them; and draws forth earwigs, or other living creatures
gotten into them. The decoction of the root allays inflammations of
the head, or any other parts: the herb itself, or the distilled water
thereof doth the like. The decoction of the root eases the pains of the
gout, the hard humours of knots in the joints, the pains and shrinking
of the sinews, and the pains of the hips. The fresh juice mixed with a
little oil and butter, is good for any place that hath been burnt with
fire, being thereto applied.


HENBANE.

_Descript._] OUR common Henbane has very large, thick, soft, woolly
leaves, lying on the ground, much cut in, or torn on the edges, of
a dark, ill greyish green colour; among which arise up divers thick
and short stalks, two or three feet high, spread into divers small
branches, with lesser leaves on them, and many hollow flowers, scarce
appearing above the husk, and usually torn on one side, ending in five
round points, growing one above another, of a deadish yellowish colour,
somewhat paler towards the edges, with many purplish veins therein,
and of a dark, yellowish purple in the bottom of the flower, with a
small point of the same colour in the middle, each of them standing in
a hard close husk, which after the flowers are past, grow very like
the husk of Asarabacca, and somewhat sharp at the top points, wherein
is contained much small seed, very like Poppy seed, but of a dusky,
greyish colour. The root is great, white, and thick, branching forth
divers ways under ground, so like a Parsnip root (but that it is not so
white) that it has deceived others. The whole plant more than the root,
has a very heavy, ill, soporiferous smell, somewhat offensive.

_Place._] It commonly grows by the way-sides, and under hedge-sides and
walls.

_Time._] It flowers in July, and springs again yearly of its own seed.
I doubt my authors mistook July for June, if not for May.

_Government and virtues._] I wonder how astrologers could take on
them to make this an herb of Jupiter; and yet Mizaldus, a man of
a penetrating brain, was of that opinion as well as the rest; the
herb is indeed under the dominion of Saturn, and I prove it by this
argument: All the herbs which delight most to grow in saturnine places,
are saturnine herbs. Both Henbane delights most to grow in saturnine
places, and whole cart loads of it may be found near the places where
they empty the common Jakes, and scarce a ditch to be found without it
growing by it. Ergo, it is an herb of Saturn. The leaves of Henbane do
cool all hot inflammations in the eyes, or any other part of the body;
and are good to assuage all manner of swellings of the privities, or
women’s breast, or elsewhere, if they be boiled in wine, and either
applied themselves, or the fomentation warm; it also assuages the pain
of the gout, the sciatica, and other pains in the joints which arise
from a hot cause. And applied with vinegar to the forehead and temples,
helps the head-ache and want of sleep in hot fevers. The juice of the
herb or seed, or the oil drawn from the seed, does the like. The oil
of the seed is helpful for deafness, noise, and worms in the ears,
being dropped therein; the juice of the herb or root doth the same. The
decoction of the herb or seed, or both, kills lice in man or beast.
The fume of the dried herb, stalks and seed, burned, quickly heals
swellings, chilblains or kibes in the hands or feet, by holding them in
the fume thereof. The remedy to help those that have taken Henbane is
to drink goat’s milk, honeyed water, or pine kernels, with sweet wine;
or, in the absence of these, Fennel seed, Nettle seed, the seed of
Cresses, Mustard, or Radish; as also Onions or Garlic taken in wine, do
all help to free them from danger, and restore them to their due temper
again.

Take notice, that this herb must never be taken inwardly; outwardly,
an oil ointment, or plaister of it, is most admirable for the
gout, to cool the veneral heat of the reins in the French pox; to
stop the toothache, being applied to the aching side: to allay all
inflammations, and to help the diseases before premised.


HEDGE HYSSOP.

DIVERS sorts there are of this plant; the first of which is an Italian
by birth, and only nursed up here in the gardens of the curious. Two
or three sorts are found commonly growing wild here, the description of
two of which I shall give you.

_Descript._] The first is a smooth, low plant, not a foot high, very
bitter in taste, with many square stalks, diversly branched from the
bottom to the top, with divers joints, and two small leaves at each
joint, broader at the bottom than they are at the end, a little dented
about the edges, of a sad green colour, and full of veins. The flowers
stand at the joints, being of a fair purple colour, with some white
spots in them, in fashion like those of dead nettles. The seed is small
and yellow, and the roots spread much under ground.

The second seldom grows half a foot high, sending up many small
branches, whereon grow many small leaves, set one against the other,
somewhat broad, but very short. The flowers are like the flowers of the
other fashion, but of a pale reddish colour. The seeds are small and
yellowish. The root spreads like the other, neither will it yield to
its fellow one ace of bitterness.

_Place._] They grow in wet low grounds, and by the water-sides; the
last may be found among the bogs on Hampstead Heath.

_Time._] They flower in June or July, and the seed is ripe presently
after.

_Government and virtues._] They are herbs of Mars, and as choleric and
churlish as he is, being most violent purges, especially of choler
and phlegm. It is not safe taking them inwardly, unless they be well
rectified by the art of the alchymist, and only the purity of them
given; so used they may be very helpful both for the dropsy, gout,
and sciatica; outwardly used in ointments they kill worms, the belly
anointed with it, and are excellently good to cleanse old and filthy
ulcers.


BLACK HELLEBORE.

IT is also called Setter-wort, Setter-grass, Bear’s-foot,
Christmas-herb, and Christmas-flowers.

_Descript._] It hath sundry fair green leaves rising from the root,
each of them standing about an handful high from the earth; each leaf
is divided into seven, eight, or nine parts, dented from the middle
of the leaf to the point on both sides, abiding green all the Winter;
about Christmas-time, if the weather be any thing temperate, the
flowers appear upon foot stalks, also consisting of five large, round,
white leaves a-piece, which sometimes are purple towards the edges,
with many pale yellow thumbs in the middle; the seeds are divided
into several cells, like those of Columbines, save only that they are
greater; the seeds are in colour black, and in form long and round. The
root consists of numberless blackish strings all united into one head.
There is another Black Hellebore, which grows up and down in the woods
very like this, but only that the leaves are smaller and narrower, and
perish in the Winter, which this doth not.

_Place._] The first is maintained in gardens. The second is commonly
found in the woods in Northamptonshire.

_Time._] The first flowers in December or January; the second in
February or March.

_Government and virtues._] It is an herb of Saturn, and therefore no
marvel if it has some sullen conditions with it, and would be far
safer, being purified by the art of the alchymist than given raw. If
any have taken any harm by taking it, the common cure is to take goat’s
milk: If you cannot get goat’s milk, you must make a shift with such
as you can get. The roots are very effectual against all melancholy
diseases, especially such as are of long standing, as quartan agues and
madness; it helps the falling sickness, the leprosy, both the yellow
and black jaundice, the gout, sciatica, and convulsions; and this was
found out by experience, that the root of that which grows wild in our
country, works not so churlishly as those do which are brought from
beyond sea, as being maintained by a more temperate air. The root used
as a pessary, provokes the terms exceedingly; also being beaten into
powder, and strewed upon foul ulcers, it consumes the dead flesh, and
instantly heals them; nay, it will help gangrenes in the beginning.
Twenty grains taken inwardly is a sufficient dose for one time, and
let that be corrected with half so much cinnamon; country people used
to rowel their cattle with it. If a beast be troubled with a cough,
or have taken any poison, they bore a hole through the ear, and put
a piece of the root in it, this will help him in 24 hours time. Many
other uses farriers put it to which I shall forbear.


HERB ROBERT.

THE Herb Robert is held in great estimation by farmers, who use it in
diseases of their cattle.

_Descript._] It rises up with a reddish stalk two feet high, having
divers leaves thereon, upon very long and reddish foot-stalks, divided
at the ends into three or five divisions, each of them cut in on
the edges, which sometimes turn reddish. At the tops of the stalks
come forth divers flowers made of five leaves, much larger than the
Dove’s-foot, and of a more reddish colour; after which come black
heads, as in others. The root is small and thready, and smells, as the
whole plant, very strong, almost stinking.

_Place._] This grows frequently every where by the way-sides, upon
ditch banks and waste grounds wheresoever one goes.

_Time._] It flowers in June and July chiefly, and the seed is ripe
shortly after.

_Government and virtues._] It is under the dominion of Venus. Herb
Robert is commended not only against the stone, but to stay blood,
where or howsoever flowing, it speedily heals all green wounds, and
is effectual in old ulcers in the privy parts, or elsewhere. You may
persuade yourself this is true, and also conceive a good reason for it,
do but consider it is an herb of Venus, for all it hath a man’s name.


HERB TRUE-LOVE, OR ONE-BERRY.

_Descript._] ORDINARY Herb True-love has a small creeping root running
under the uppermost crust of the ground, somewhat like couch grass
root, but not so white, shooting forth stalks with leaves, some whereof
carry no berries, the others do; every stalk smooth without joints,
and blackish green, rising about half a foot high, if it bear berries,
otherwise seldom so high, bearing at the top four leaves set directly
one against another, in manner of a cross or ribband tied (as it is
called in a true-loves knot,) which are each of them apart somewhat
like unto a night-shade leaf, but somewhat broader, having sometimes
three leaves, sometimes five, sometimes six, and those sometimes
greater than in others, in the middle of the four leaves rise up one
small slender stalk, about an inch high, bearing at the tops thereof
one flower spread open like a star, consisting of four small and long
narrow pointed leaves of a yellowish green colour, and four others
lying between them lesser than they; in the middle whereof stands
a round dark purplish button or head, compassed about with eight
small yellow mealy threads with three colours, making it the more
conspicuous, and lovely to behold. This button or head in the middle,
when the other leaves are withered, becomes a blackish purple berry,
full of juice, of the bigness of a reasonable grape, having within it
many white seeds. The whole plant is without any manifest taste.

_Place._] It grows in woods and copses, and sometimes in the corners or
borders of fields, and waste grounds in very many places of this land,
and abundantly in the woods, copses, and other places about Chislehurst
and Maidstone in Kent.

_Time._] They spring up in the middle of April or May, and are in
flower soon after. The berries are ripe in the end of May, and in some
places in June.

_Government and virtues._] Venus owns it; the leaves or berries hereof
are effectual to expel poison of all sorts, especially that of the
aconites; as also, the plague, and other pestilential disorders;
Matthiolus saith, that some that have lain long in a lingering
sickness, and others that by witchcraft (as it was thought) were become
half foolish, by taking a dram of the seeds or berries hereof in
powder every day for 20 days together, were restored to their former
health. The roots in powder taken in wine eases the pains of the cholic
speedily. The leaves are very effectual as well for green wounds, as to
cleanse and heal up filthy old sores and ulcers; and is very powerful
to discuss all tumours and swellings in the privy parts, the groin, or
in any part of the body, and speedily to allay all inflammations. The
juice of the leaves applied to felons, or those nails of the hands or
toes that have imposthumes or sores gathered together at the roots of
them, heals them in a short space. The herb is not to be described for
the premises, but is fit to be nourished in every good woman’s garden.


HYSSOP.

HYSSOP is so well known to be an inhabitant in every garden, that it
will save me labour in writing a description thereof. The virtues are
as follow.

_Government and virtues._] The herb is Jupiter’s, and the sign Cancer.
It strengthens all the parts of the body under Cancer and Jupiter;
which what they may be, is found amply described in my astrological
judgment of diseases. Dioscorides saith, that Hyssop boiled with
rue and honey, and drank, helps those that are troubled with coughs,
shortness of breath, wheezing and rheumatic distillation upon the
lungs; taken also with oxymel, it purges gross humours by stool; and
with honey, kills worms in the belly; and with fresh and new figs
bruised, helps to loosen the belly, and more forcibly if the root of
Flower-de-luce and cresses be added thereto. It amends and cherishes
the native colour of the body, spoiled by the yellow jaundice; and
being taken with figs and nitre, helps the dropsy and spleen; being
boiled with wine, it is good to wash inflammations, and takes away the
black and blue spots and marks that come by strokes, bruises, or falls,
being applied with warm water. It is an excellent medicine for the
quinsy, or swellings in the throat, to wash and gargle it, being boiled
in figs; it helps the tooth-ache, being boiled in vinegar and gargled
therewith. The hot vapours of the decoction taken by a funnel in at the
ears, eases the inflammations and singing noise of them. Being bruised,
and salt, honey, and cummin seed put to it, helps those that are stung
by serpents. The oil thereof (the head being anointed) kills lice, and
takes away itching of the head. It helps those that have the falling
sickness, which way soever it be applied. It helps to expectorate tough
phlegm, and is effectual in all cold griefs or diseases of the chests
or lungs, being taken either in syrup or licking medicine. The green
herb bruised and a little sugar put thereto, doth quickly heal any cut
or green wounds, being thereunto applied.


HOPS.

THESE are so well known that they need no description; I mean the
manured kind, which every good husband or housewife is acquainted with.

_Descript._] The wild hop grows up as the other doth, ramping upon
trees or hedges, that stand next to them, with rough branches and
leaves like the former, but it gives smaller heads, and in far less
plenty than it, so that there is scarcely a head or two seen in a year
on divers of this wild kind, wherein consists the chief difference.

_Place._] They delight to grow in low moist grounds, and are found in
all parts of this land.

_Time._] They spring not until April, and flower not until the latter
end of June; the heads are not gathered until the middle or latter end
of September.

_Government and virtues._] It is under the dominion of Mars. This, in
physical operations, is to open obstructions of the liver and spleen,
to cleanse the blood, to loosen the belly, to cleanse the reins from
gravel, and provoke urine. The decoction of the tops of Hops, as well
of the tame as the wild, works the same effects. In cleansing the blood
they help to cure the French diseases, and all manner of scabs, itch,
and other breakings-out of the body; as also all tetters, ringworms,
and spreading sores, the morphew and all discolouring of the skin. The
decoction of the flowers and hops, do help to expel poison that any one
hath drank. Half a dram of the seed in powder taken in drink, kills
worms in the body, brings down women’s courses, and expels urine. A
syrup made of the juice and sugar, cures the yellow jaundice, eases the
head-ache that comes of heat, and tempers the heat of the liver and
stomach, and is profitably given in long and hot agues that rise in
choler and blood. Both the wild and the manured are of one property,
and alike effectual in all 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.

THERE are two kinds of Horehound, the white and the black. The black
sort is likewise called Hen-bit; but the white one is here spoken of.

_Descript._] Common Horehound grows up with square hairy stalks, half a
yard or two feet high, set at the joints with two round crumpled rough
leaves of a sullen hoary green colour, of a reasonable good scent, but
a very bitter taste. The flowers are small, white, and gaping, set in a
rough, hard prickly husk round about the joints, with the leaves from
the middle of the stalk upward, wherein afterward is found small round
blackish seed. The root is blackish, hard and woody, with many strings,
and abides many years.

_Place._] It is found in many parts of this land, in dry grounds, and
waste green places.

_Time._] It flowers in July, and the seed is ripe in August.

_Government and virtues._] It is an herb of Mercury. A decoction of
the dried herb, with the seed, or the juice of the green herb taken
with honey, is a remedy for those that are short-winded, have a cough,
or are fallen into a consumption, either through long sickness, or
thin distillations of rheum upon the lungs. It helps to expectorate
tough phlegm from the chest, being taken from the roots of Iris or
Orris. It is given to women to bring down their courses, to expel the
after-birth, and to them that have taken poison, or are stung or bitten
by venemous serpents. The leaves used with honey, purge foul ulcers,
stay running or creeping sores, and the growing of the flesh over
the nails. It also helps pains of the sides. The juice thereof with
wine and honey, helps to clear the eyesight, and snuffed up into the
nostrils, purges away the yellow-jaundice, and with a little oil of
roses dropped into the ears, eases the pains of them. Galen saith, it
opens obstructions both of the liver and spleen, and purges the breast
and lungs of phlegm: and used outwardly it both cleanses and digests. A
decoction of Horehound (saith Matthiolus) is available for those that
have hard livers, and for such as have itches and running tetters.
The powder hereof taken, or the decoction, kills worms. The green
leaves bruised, and boiled in old hog’s grease into an ointment, heals
the biting of dogs, abates the swellings and pains that come by any
pricking of thorns, or such like means; and used with vinegar, cleanses
and heals tetters. There is a syrup made of Horehound to be had at the
apothecaries, very good for old coughs, to rid the tough phlegm; as
also to void cold rheums from the lungs of old folks, and for those
that are asthmatic or short-winded.


HORSETAIL.

OF that there are many kinds, but I shall not trouble you nor myself
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 thereof being
nothing else but knotted rushes, some with leaves, and some without.
Take the description of the most eminent sort as follows.

_Descript._] The great Horsetail at the first springing has heads
somewhat like those of asparagus, and afterwards grow to be hard,
rough, hollow stalks, jointed at sundry places up to the top, a foot
high, so made as if the lower parts were put into the upper, where grow
on each side a bush of small long rush-like hard leaves, each part
resembling a horsetail, from whence it is so called. At the tops of the
stalks come forth small catkins, like those of trees. The root creeps
under ground, having joints at sundry places.

_Place._] This (as most of the other sorts hereof) grows 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.

_Government and virtues._] The herb belongs to Saturn, yet is very
harmless, and excellently good for the things following: Horsetail, the
smoother rather than the rough, and the leaves rather than the bare, is
most physical. It is very powerful to staunch bleeding either inward or
outward, the juice or the decoction thereof being drank, or the juice,
decoction, or distilled water applied outwardly. It also stays all
sorts of lasks and fluxes in man or woman, and bloody urine; and heals
also not only the inward ulcers, and the excoriation of the entrails,
bladder, &c. but all other sorts of foul, moist and running ulcers, and
soon solders together the tops of green wounds. It cures all ruptures
in children. The decoction thereof in wine being drank, provokes urine,
and helps the stone and stranguary; and the distilled water thereof
drank two or three times in a day, and a small quantity at a time,
also eases the bowels, and is effectual against a cough that comes by
distillations from the head. The juice or distilled water being warmed,
and hot inflammations, pustules or red wheals, and other breakings-out
in the skin, being bathed therewith, doth help them, and doth no less
the swelling heat and inflammation of the lower parts in men and women.


HOUSELEEK OR SENGREEN.

BOTH these are so well known to my countrymen, that I shall not need to
write any description of them.

_Place._] It grows commonly upon walls and house-sides, and flowers in
July.

_Government and virtues._] It is an herb of Jupiter, and it is reported
by Mezaldus, to preserve what it grows upon from fire and lightning.
Our ordinary Houseleek is good for all inward heats as well as
outward, and in the eyes or other parts of the body; a posset made with
the juice of Houseleek, is singularly good in all hot agues, for it
cools and tempers the blood and spirits, and quenches the thirst; and
also good to stay all hot defluctions or sharp and salt rheums in the
eyes, the juice being dropped into them, or into the ears. It helps
also other fluxes of humours in the bowels, and the immoderate courses
of women. It cools and restrains all other hot inflammations, St.
Anthony’s fire, scaldings and burnings, the shingles, fretting ulcers,
cankers, tettors, ringworms, and the like; and much eases the pains
of the gout proceeding from any hot cause. The juice also takes away
worts and corns in the hands or feet, being often bathed therewith, and
the skin and leaves being laid on them afterwards. It eases also the
head-ache, and distempered heat of the brain in frenzies, or through
want of sleep, being applied to the temples and forehead. The leaves
bruised and laid upon the crown or seam of the head, stays bleeding at
the nose very quickly. The distilled water of the herb is profitable
for all the purposes aforesaid. The leaves being gently rubbed on any
place stung with nettles or bees, doth quickly take away the pain.


HOUND’S TONGUE.

_Descript._] THE great ordinary Hound’s Tongue has many long and
somewhat narrow, soft, hairy, darkish green leaves, lying on the
ground, somewhat like unto Bugloss leaves, from among which rises up
a rough hairy stalk about two feet high, with some smaller leaves
thereon, and branched at the tops into divers parts, with a small leaf
at the foot of every branch, which is somewhat long, with many flowers
set along the same, which branch is crooked or turned inwards before
it flowers, and opens by degrees as the flowers blow, which consist
of small purplish red leaves of a dead colour, rising out of the husks
wherein they stand with some threads in the middle. It has sometimes a
white flower. After the flowers are past, there comes rough flat seed,
with a small pointle in the middle, easily cleaving to any garment that
it touches, and not so easily pulled off again. The root is black,
thick, and long, hard to break, and full of clammy juice, smelling
somewhat strong, of an evil scent, as the leaves also do.

_Place._] It grows in moist places of this land, in waste grounds, and
untilled places, by highway sides, lanes, and hedge-sides.

_Time._] It flowers about May or June, and the seed is ripe shortly
after.

_Government and virtues._] It is a plant under the dominion of Mercury.
The root is very effectually used in pills, as well as the decoction,
or otherwise, to stay all sharp and thin defluxions of rheum from the
head into the eyes or nose, or upon the stomach or lungs, as also
for coughs and shortness of breath. The leaves boiled in wine (saith
Dioscorides, but others do rather appoint it to be made with water, and
add thereto oil and salt) molifies or opens the belly downwards. It
also helps to cure the biting of a mad dog, some of the leaves being
also applied to the wound: The leaves bruised, or the juice of them
boiled in hog’s lard, and applied, helps falling away of the hair,
which comes of hot and sharp humours; as also for any place that is
scalded or burnt; the leaves bruised and laid to any green wound doth
heal it up quickly: the root baked under the embers, wrapped in paste
or wet paper, or in a wet double cloth, and thereof a suppository made,
and put up into or applied to the fundament, doth very effectually help
the painful piles or hæmorrhoids. The distilled water of the herbs and
roots is very good to all the purposes aforesaid, to be used as well
inwardly to drink, as outwardly to wash any sore place, for it heals
all manner of wounds and punctures, and those foul ulcers that arise by
the French pox. Mizaldus adds that the leaves laid under the feet, will
keep the dogs from barking at you. It is called Hound’s-tongue, because
it ties the tongues of hounds; whether true, or not, I never tried, yet
I cured the biting of a mad dog with this only medicine.


HOLLY, HOLM, OR HULVER BUSH.

FOR to describe a tree so well known is needless.

_Government and virtues._] The tree is Saturnine. The berries expel
wind, and therefore are held to be profitable in the cholic. The
berries have a strong faculty with them; for if you eat a dozen of them
in the morning fasting when they are ripe and not dried, they purge the
body of gross and clammy phlegm: but if you dry the berries, and beat
them into powder, they bind the body, and stop fluxes, bloody-fluxes,
and the terms in women. The bark of the tree, and also the leaves, are
excellently good, being used in fomentations for broken bones, and such
members as are out of joint. Pliny saith, the branches of the tree
defend houses from lightning, and men from witchcraft.


ST. JOHN’S WORT.

THIS is a very beautiful shrub, and is a great ornament to our meadows.

_Descript._] Common St. John’s Wort shoots forth brownish, upright,
hard, round stalks, two feet high, spreading many branches from the
sides up to the tops of them, with two small leaves set one against
another at every place, which are of a deep green colour, somewhat
like the leaves of the lesser Centaury, but narrow, and full of small
holes in every leaf, which cannot be so well perceived, as when they
are held up to the light; at the tops of the stalks and branches stand
yellow flowers of five leaves a-piece, with many yellow threads in the
middle, which being bruised do yield a reddish juice like blood; after
which come small round heads, wherein is contained small blackish seed
smelling like rosin. The root is hard and woody, with divers strings
and fibres at it, of a brownish colour, which abides in the ground many
years, shooting anew every Spring.

_Place._] This grows in woods and copses, as well those that are shady,
as open to the sun.

_Time._] They flower about Midsummer and July, and their seed is ripe
in the latter end of July or August.

_Government and virtues._] It is under the celestial sign Leo, and the
dominion of the Sun. It may be, if you meet a Papist, he will tell
you, especially if he be a lawyer, that St. John made it over to him
by a letter of attorney. It is a singular wound herb; boiled in wine
and drank, it heals inward hurts or bruises; made into an ointment,
it open obstructions, dissolves swellings, and closes up the lips of
wounds. The decoction of the herb and flowers, especially of the seed,
being drank in wine, with the juice of knot-grass, helps all manner of
vomiting and spitting of blood, is good for those that are bitten or
stung by any venomous creature, and for those that cannot make water.
Two drams of the seed of St. John’s Wort made into powder, and drank
in a little broth, doth gently expel choler or congealed blood in the
stomach. The decoction of the leaves and seeds drank somewhat warm
before the fits of agues, whether they be tertains or quartans, alters
the fits, and, by often using, doth take them quite away. The seed
is much commended, being drank for forty days together, to help the
sciatica, the falling-sickness, and the palsy.


IVY.

IT is so well known to every child almost, to grow in woods upon the
trees, and upon the stone walls of churches, houses, &c. and sometimes
to grow alone of itself, though but seldom.

_Time._] It flowers not until July, and the berries are not ripe till
Christmas, when they have felt Winter frosts.

_Government and virtues._] It is under the dominion of Saturn. A pugil
of the flowers, which may be about a dram, (saith Dioscorides) drank
twice a day in red wine, helps the lask, and bloody flux. It is an
enemy to the nerves and sinews, being much taken inwardly, but very
helpful to them, being outwardly applied. Pliny saith, the yellow
berries are good against the jaundice; and taken before one be set
to drink hard, preserves from drunkenness, and helps those that spit
blood; and that the white berries being taken inwardly, or applied
outwardly, kills the worms in the belly. The berries are a singular
remedy to prevent the plague, as also to free them from it that have
got it, by drinking the berries thereof made into a powder, for two or
three days together. They being taken in wine, do certainly help to
break the stone, provoke urine, and women’s courses. The fresh leaves
of Ivy, boiled in vinegar, and applied warm to the sides of those that
are troubled with the spleen, ache, or stitch in the sides, do give
much ease: The same applied with some Rosewater, and oil of Roses, to
the temples and forehead, eases the head-ache, though it be of long
continuance. The fresh leaves boiled in wine, and old filthy ulcers
hard to be cured washed therewith, do wonderfully help to cleanse
them. It also quickly heals green wounds, and is effectual to heal all
burnings and scaldings, and all kinds of exulcerations coming thereby,
or by salt phlegm or humours in other parts of the body. The juice of
the berries or leaves snuffed up into the nose, purges the head and
brain of thin rheum that makes defluxions into the eyes and nose, and
curing the ulcers and stench therein; the same dropped into the ears
helps the old and running sores of them, those that are troubled with
the spleen, shall find much ease by continual drinking out of a cup
made of Ivy, so as the drink may stand some small time therein before
it be drank. Cato saith, That wine put into such a cup, will soak
through it, by reason of the antipathy that is between them.

There seems to be a very great antipathy between wine and Ivy; for if
one hath got a surfeit by drinking of wine, his speediest cure is to
drink a draught of the same wine wherein a handful of Ivy leaves, being
first bruised, have been boiled.


JUNIPER BUSH.

FOR to give a description of a bush so commonly known is needless.

_Place._] They grow plentifully in divers woods in Kent, Warney common
near Brentwood in Essex, upon Finchley Common without Highgate; hard
by the Newfound Wells near Dulwich, upon a Common between Mitcham and
Croydon, in the Highgate near Amersham in Buckinghamshire, and many
other places.

_Time._] The berries are not ripe the first year, but continue green
two Summers and one Winter before they are ripe; at which time they are
all of a black colour, and therefore you shall always find upon the
bush green berries; the berries are ripe about the fall of the leaf.

_Government and virtues._] This admirable solar shrub is scarce to be
paralleled for its virtues. The berries are hot in the third degree,
and dry but in the first, being a most admirable counter-poison,
and as great a resister of the pestilence, as any growing; they are
excellent good against the biting of venomous beasts, they provoke
urine exceedingly, and therefore are very available to dysuries and
stranguaries. It is so powerful a remedy against the dropsy, that the
very lye made of the ashes of the herb being drank, cures the disease.
It provokes the terms, helps the fits of the mother, strengthens the
stomach exceedingly, and expels the wind. Indeed there is scarce a
better remedy for wind in any part of the body, or the cholic, than the
chymical oil drawn from the berries; such country people as know not
how to draw the chymical oil, may content themselves by eating ten or
a dozen of the ripe berries every morning fasting. They are admirably
good for a cough, shortness of breath, and consumption, pains in the
belly, ruptures, cramps, and convulsions. They give safe and speedy
delivery to women with child, they strengthen the brain exceedingly,
help the memory, and fortify the sight by strengthening the optic
nerves; are excellently good in all sorts of agues; help the gout and
sciatica, and strengthen the limbs of the body. The ashes of the wood
is a speedy remedy to such as have the scurvy, to rub their gums with.
The berries stay all fluxes, help the hæmorrhoids or piles, and kill
worms in children. A lye made of the ashes of the wood, and the body
bathed with it, cures the itch, scabs and leprosy. The berries break
the stone, procure appetite when it is lost, and are excellently good
for all palsies, and falling-sickness.


KIDNEYWORT, OR WALL PENNYROYAL,
OR WALL PENNYWORT.

_Descript._] IT has many thick, flat, and round leaves growing from the
root, every one having a long footstalk, fastened underneath, about the
middle of it, and a little unevenly weaved sometimes about the edges,
of a pale green colour, and somewhat yellow on the upper side like
a saucer; from among which arise one or more tender, smooth, hollow
stalks half a foot high, with two or three small leaves thereon,
usually not round as those below, but somewhat long, and divided at
the edges: the tops are somewhat divided into long branches, bearing
a number of flowers, set round about a long spike one above another,
which are hollow and like a little bell of a whitish green colour,
after which come small heads, containing very small brownish seed,
which falling on the ground, will plentifully spring up before Winter,
if it have moisture. The root is round and most usually smooth, greyish
without, and white within, having small fibres at the head of the root,
and bottom of the stalk.

_Place._] It grows very plentifully in many places of this land, but
especially in all the west parts thereof, upon stone and mud walls,
upon rocks also, and in stony places upon the ground, at the bottom of
old trees, and sometimes on the bodies of them that are decayed and
rotten.

_Time._] It usually flowers in the beginning of May, and the seed
ripening quickly after, sheds itself; so that about the end of May,
usually the stalks and leaves are withered, dry, and gone until
September, then the leaves spring up again, and so abide all winter.

_Government and virtues._] Venus challenges the herb under Libra. The
juice or the distilled water being drank, is very effectual for all
inflammations and unnatural heats, to cool a fainting hot stomach, a
hot liver, or the bowels: the herb, juice, or distilled water thereof,
outwardly applied, heals pimples, St. Anthony’s fire, and other outward
heats. The said juice or water helps to heal sore kidneys, torn or
fretted by the stone, or exulcerated within; it also provokes urine,
is available for the dropsy, and helps to break the stone. Being used
as a bath, or made into an ointment, it cools the painful piles or
hæmorrhoidal veins. It is no less effectual to give ease to the pains
of the gout, the sciatica, and helps the kernels or knots in the neck
or throat, called the king’s evil: healing kibes and chilblains if
they be bathed with the juice, or anointed with ointment made thereof,
and some of the skin of the leaf upon them: it is also used in green
wounds to stay the blood, and to heal them quickly.


KNAPWEED.

_Descript._] THE common sort hereof has many long and somewhat dark
green leaves, rising from the root, dented about the edges, and
sometimes a little rent or torn on both sides in two or three places,
and somewhat hairy withal; amongst which arises a long round stalk,
four or five feet high, divided into many branches, at the tops whereof
stand great scaly green heads, and from the middle of them thrust forth
a number of dark purplish red thrumbs or threads, which after they are
withered and past, there are found divers black seeds, lying in a great
deal of down, somewhat like unto Thistle seed, but smaller; the root
is white, hard and woody, and divers fibres annexed thereunto, which
perishes not, but abides with leaves thereon all the Winter, shooting
out fresh every spring.

_Place._] It grows in most fields and meadows, and about their borders
and hedges, and in many waste grounds also every where.

_Time._] It usually flowers in June and July, and the seed is ripe
shortly after.

_Government and virtues._] Saturn challenges the herb for his own. This
Knapweed helps to stay fluxes, both of blood at the mouth or nose,
or other outward parts, and those veins that are inwardly broken, or
inward wounds, as also the fluxes of the belly; it stays distillation
of thin and sharp humours from the head upon the stomach and lungs; it
is good for those that are bruised by any fall, blows or otherwise,
and is profitable for those that are bursten, and have ruptures, by
drinking the decoction of the herb and roots in wine, and applying
the same outwardly to the place. It is singularly good in all running
sores, cancerous and fistulous, drying up of the moisture, and healing
them up so gently, without sharpness; it doth the like to running sores
or scabs of the head or other parts. It is of special use for the
soreness of the throat, swelling of the uvula and jaws, and excellently
good to stay bleeding, and heal up all green wounds.


KNOTGRASS.

IT is generally known so well that it needs no description.

_Place._] It grows in every county of this land by the highway sides,
and by foot-paths in fields; as also by the sides of old walls.

_Time._] It springs up late in the Spring, and abides until the Winter,
when all the branches perish.

_Government and virtues._] Saturn seems to me to own the herb, and yet
some hold the Sun; out of doubt ’tis Saturn. The juice of the common
kind of Knotgrass is most effectual to stay bleeding of the mouth,
being drank in steeled or red wine; and the bleeding at the nose, to
be applied to the forehead or temples, or to be squirted up into the
nostrils. It is no less effectual to cool and temper the heat of the
blood and stomach, and to stay any flux of the blood and humours, as
lasks, bloody-flux, women’s courses, and running of the reins. It is
singularly good to provoke urine, help the stranguary, and allays the
heat that comes thereby; and is powerful by urine to expel the gravel
or stone in the kidneys and bladder, a dram of the powder of the herb
being taken in wine for many days together. Being boiled in wine and
drank, it is profitable to those that are stung or bitten by venemous
creatures, and very effectual to stay all defluxions of rheumatic
humours upon the stomach, and kills worms in the belly or stomach,
quiets inward pains that arise from the heat, sharpness and corruption
of blood and choler. The distilled water hereof taken by itself or with
the powder of the herb or seed, is very effectual to all the purposes
aforesaid, and is accounted one of the most sovereign remedies to cool
all manner of inflammations, breaking out through heat, hot swellings
and imposthumes, gangrene and fistulous cankers, or foul filthy ulcers,
being applied or put into them; but especially for all sorts of ulcers
and sores happening in the privy parts of men and women. It helps all
fresh and green wounds, and speedily heals them. The juice dropped into
the ears, cleanses them being foul, and having running matter in them.

It is very prevalent for the premises; as also for broken joints and
ruptures.


LADIES’ MANTLE.

_Descript._] IT has many leaves rising from the root standing upon
long hairy foot-stalks, being almost round, and a little cut on the
edges, into eight or ten parts, making it seem like a star, with so
many corners and points, and dented round about, of a light green
colour, somewhat hard in handling, and as it were folded or plaited at
first, and then crumpled in divers places, and a little hairy, as the
stalk is also, which rises up among them to the height of two or three
feet; and being weak, is not able to stand upright, but bended to the
ground, divided at the top into two or three small branches, with small
yellowish green heads, and flowers of a whitish colour breaking out of
them; which being past, there comes a small yellowish seed like a poppy
seed: The root is somewhat long and black, with many strings and fibres
thereat.

_Place._] It grows naturally in many pastures and wood sides in
Hertfordshire, Wiltshire, and Kent, and other places of this land.

_Time._] It flowers in May and June, abides after seedtime green all
the Winter.

_Government and virtues._] Venus claims the herb as her own. Ladies’
Mantle is very proper for those wounds that have inflammations, and
is very effectual to stay bleeding, vomitings, fluxes of all sorts,
bruises by falls or otherwise, and helps ruptures; and such women as
have large breasts, causing them to grow less and hard, being both
drank and outwardly applied; the distilled water drank for 20 days
together helps conception, and to retain the birth; if the women do
sometimes also sit in a bath made of the decoction of the herb. It is
one of the most singular wound herbs that is, and therefore highly
prized and praised by the Germans, who use it in all wounds inward and
outward, to drink a decoction thereof, and wash the wounds therewith,
or dip tents therein, and put them into the wounds, which wonderfully
dries up all humidity of the sores, and abates inflammations therein.
It quickly heals all green wounds, not suffering any corruption to
remain behind, and cures all old sores, though fistulous and hollow.


LAVENDER.

BEING an inhabitant almost in every garden, it is so well known, that
it needs no description.

_Time._] It flowers about the end of June, and beginning of July.

_Government and virtues._] Mercury owns the herb; and it carries his
effects very potently. Lavender is of a special good use for all the
griefs and pains of the head and brain that proceed of a cold cause,
as the apoplexy, falling-sickness, the dropsy, or sluggish malady,
cramps, convulsions, palsies, and often faintings. It strengthens the
stomach, and frees the liver and spleen from obstructions, provokes
women’s courses, and expels the dead child and after-birth. The
flowers of Lavender steeped in wine, helps them to make water that
are stopped, or are troubled with the wind or cholic, if the place
be bathed therewith. A decoction made with the flowers of Lavender,
Hore-hound, Fennel and Asparagus root, 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 tooth-ache. Two spoonfuls of the distilled water of
the flowers taken, helps them that have lost their voice, as also the
tremblings and passions of the heart, and faintings and swooning, not
only being drank, but applied to the temples, or nostrils to be smelled
unto; but it is not safe to use it where the body is replete with blood
and humours, because of the hot and subtile spirits wherewith it is
possessed. The chymical oil drawn from Lavender, usually called Oil of
Spike, is of so fierce and piercing a quality, that it is cautiously
to be used, some few drops being sufficient, to be given with other
things, either for inward or outward griefs.


LAVENDER-COTTON.

IT being a common garden herb, I shall forbear the description, only
take notice, that it flowers in June and July.

_Government and virtues._] It is under the dominion of Mercury. It
resists poison, putrefaction, and heals the biting of venomous beasts:
A dram of the powder of the dried leaves taken every morning fasting,
stops the running of the reins in men, and whites in women. The seed
beaten into powder, and taken as worm-seed, kills the worms, not only
in children, but also in people of riper years; the like doth the herb
itself, being steeped in milk, and the milk drank; the body bathed with
the decoction of it, helps scabs and itch.


LADIES-SMOCK, OR CUCKOW-FLOWER.

THIS is a very pretty ornament to the sides of most meadows.

_Descript._] The root is composed of many small white threads from
whence spring up divers long stalks of winged leaves, consisting of
round, tender, dark, green leaves, set one against another upon a
middle rib, the greatest being at the end, amongst which arise up
divers tender, weak, round, green stalks, somewhat streaked, with
longer and smaller leaves upon them; on the tops of which stand
flowers, almost like the Stock Gilliflowers, but rounder, and not so
long, of a blushing white colour; the seed is reddish, and grows to
small branches, being of a sharp biting taste, and so has the herb.

_Place._] They grow in moist places, and near to brooksides.

_Time._] They flower in April and May, and the lower leaves continue
green all the Winter.

_Government and virtues._] They are under the dominion of the Moon, and
very little inferior to Water Cresses in all their operations; they
are excellently good for the scurvy, they provoke urine, and break the
stone, and excellently warm a cold and weak stomach, restoring lost
appetite, and help digestion.


LETTUCE.

IT is so well known, being generally used as a Sallad-herb, that it is
altogether needless to write any description thereof.

_Government and virtues._] The Moon owns them, and that is the reason
they cool and moisten what heat and dryness Mars causeth, because Mars
has his fall in Cancer; and they cool the heat because the Sun rules
it, between whom and the Moon is a reception in the generation of men,
as you may see in my Guide for Women. The juice of Lettuce mixed or
boiled with Oil of Roses, applied to the forehead and temples procures
sleep, and eases the headache proceeding of an hot cause: Being eaten
boiled, it helps to loosen the belly. It helps digestion, quenches
thirst, increases milk in nurses, eases griping pains in the stomach
or bowels, that come of choler. Applied outwardly to the region of the
heart, liver or reins, or by bathing the said places with the juice
of distilled water, wherein some white Sanders, or red Roses are put;
not only represses the heat and inflammations therein, but comforts
and strengthens those parts, and also tempers the heat of urine. Galen
advises old men to use it with spice; and where spices are wanting,
to add Mints, Rochet, and such like hot herbs, or else Citron Lemon,
or Orange seeds, to abate the cold of one and heat of the other. The
seed and distilled water of the Lettuce work the same effects in all
things; but the use of Lettuce is chiefly forbidden to those that are
short-winded, or have any imperfection in the lungs, or spit blood.


WATER LILY.

OF these there are two principally noted kinds, _viz._ the White and
the Yellow.

_Descript._] The White Lily has very large and thick dark green
leaves lying on the water, sustained by long and thick foot-stalks,
that arise from a great, thick, round, and long tuberous black root
spongy or loose, with many knobs thereon, green on the outside, but as
white as snow within, consisting of divers rows of long and somewhat
thick and narrow leaves, smaller and thinner the more inward they be,
encompassing a head with many yellow threads or thrums in the middle;
where, after they are past, stand round Poppy-like heads, full of broad
oily and bitter seed.

The yellow kind is little different from the former, save only that it
has fewer leaves on the flowers, greater and more shining seed, and a
whitish root, both within and without. The root of both is somewhat
sweet in taste.

_Place._] They are found growing in great pools, and standing waters,
and sometimes 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.

_Government and virtues._] The herb is under the dominion of the Moon,
and therefore cools and moistens like the former. The leaves and
flowers of the Water Lilies are cold and moist, but the roots and seeds
are cold and dry; the leaves do cool all inflammations, both outward
and inward heat of agues; and so doth the flowers also, either by the
syrup or conserve; the syrup helps much to procure rest, and to settle
the brain of frantic persons, by cooling the hot distemperature of the
head. The seed as well as the root is effectual to stay fluxes of blood
or humours, either of wounds or of the belly; but the roots are most
used, and more effectual to cool, bind, and restrain all fluxes in man
or woman. The root is likewise very good for those whose urine is hot
and sharp, to be boiled in wine and water, and the decoction drank. The
distilled water of the flowers is very effectual for all the diseases
aforesaid, both inwardly taken, and outwardly applied; and is much
commended to take away freckles, spots, sunburn, and morphew from the
face, or other parts of the body. The oil made of the flowers, as oil
of Roses is made, is profitably used to cool hot tumours, and to ease
the pains, and help the sores.


LILY OF THE VALLEY.

CALLED also Conval Lily, Male Lily, and Lily Confancy.

_Descript._] The root is small, and creeps far in the ground, as grass
roots do. The leaves are many, against which rises up a stalk half
a foot high, with many white flowers, like little bells with turned
edges of a strong, though pleasing smell; the berries are red, not
much unlike those of Asparagus.

_Place._] They grow plentifully upon Hampstead-Heath, and many other
places in this nation.

_Time._] They flower in May, and the seed is ripe in September.

GOVERNMENT AND VIRTUES.] It is under the dominion of Mercury, and
therefore it strengthens the brain, recruits a weak memory, and makes
it strong again: The distilled water dropped into the eyes, helps
inflammations there; as also that infirmity which they call a pin and
web. The spirit of the flowers distilled in wine, restores lost speech,
helps the palsy, and is excellently good in the apoplexy, comforts
the heart and vital spirits. Gerrard saith, that the flowers being
close stopped up in a glass, put into an ant-hill, and taken away
again a month after, ye shall find a liquor in the glass, which, being
outwardly applied, helps the gout.


WHITE LILIES.

IT were in vain to describe a plant so commonly known in every one’s
garden; therefore I shall not tell you what they are, but what they are
good for.

_Government and virtues._] They are under the dominion of the Moon,
and by antipathy to Mars expel poison; they are excellently good in
pestilential fevers, the roots being bruised and boiled in wine, and
the decoction drank; for it expels the venom to the exterior parts of
the body: The juice of it being tempered with barley meal, baked, and
so eaten for ordinary bread, is an excellent cure for the dropsy: An
ointment made of the root, and hog’s grease, is excellently good for
scald heads, unites the sinews when they are cut, and cleanses ulcers.
The root boiled in any convenient decoction, gives speedy delivery to
women in travail, and expels the afterbirth. The root roasted, and
mixed with a little hog’s grease, makes a gallant poultice to ripen and
break plague-sores. The ointment is excellently good for swellings in
the privities, and will cure burnings and scaldings without a scar, and
trimly deck a blank place with hair.


LIQUORICE.

_Descript._] OUR English Liquorice rises up with divers woody stalks,
whereon are set at several distances many narrow, long, green leaves,
set together on both sides of the stalk, and an odd one at the end,
very well resembling a young ash tree sprung up from the seed. This
by many years continuance in a place without removing, and not else,
will bring forth flowers, many standing together spike fashion, one
above another upon the stalk, of the form of pease blossoms, but of a
very pale blue colour, which turn into long, somewhat flat and smooth
cods, wherein is contained a small, round, hard seed: The roots run
down exceeding deep into the ground, with divers other small roots and
fibres growing with them, and shoot out suckers from the main roots
all about, whereby it is much increased, 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.

_Government and virtues._] It is under the dominion of Mercury.
Liquorice boiled in fair water, with some Maiden-hair and figs, makes a
good drink for those that have a dry cough or hoarseness, wheezing or
shortness of breath, and for all the griefs of the breast and lungs,
phthisic or consumptions caused by the distillation of salt humours
on them. It is also good in all pains of the reins, the stranguary,
and heat of urine: The fine powder of Liquorice blown through a
quill into the eyes that have a pin and web (as they call it) or
rheumatic distillations in them, doth cleanse and help them. The juice
of Liquorice is as effectual in all the diseases of the breast and
lungs, the reins and bladder, as the decoction. The juice distilled in
Rose-water, with some Gum Tragacanth, is a fine licking medicine for
hoarseness, wheezing, &c.


LIVERWORT.

THERE are, according to some botanists, upwards of three hundred
different kinds of Liverwort.

_Descript._] Common Liverwort grows close, and spreads much upon the
ground in moist and shady places, with many small green leaves, or
rather (as it were) sticking flat to one another, very unevenly cut
in on the edges, and crumpled; from among which arise small slender
stalks, an inch or two high at most, bearing small star-like flowers at
the top; the roots are very fine and small.

_Government and virtues._] It is under the dominion of Jupiter, and
under the sign Cancer. It is a singularly good herb for all the
diseases of the liver, both to cool and cleanse it, and helps the
inflammations in any part, and the yellow jaundice likewise. Being
bruised and boiled in small beer, and drank, it cools the heat of the
liver and kidneys, and helps the running of the reins in men, and the
whites in women; it is a singular remedy to stay the spreading of
tetters, ringworms, and other fretting and running sores and scabs, and
is an excellent remedy for such whose livers are corrupted by surfeits,
which cause their bodies to break out, for it fortifies the liver
exceedingly, and makes it impregnable.


LOOSESTRIFE OR WILLOW-HERB.

_Descript._] COMMON yellow Loosestrife grows to be four or five feet
high, or more, with great round stalks, a little crested, diversly
branched from the middle of them to the tops into great and long
branches, on all which, at the joints, there grow long and narrow
leaves, but broader below, and usually two at a joint, yet sometimes
three or four, somewhat like willow leaves, smooth on the edges, and
of a fair green colour from the upper joints of the branches, and at
the tops of them also stand many yellow flowers of five leaves a-piece,
with divers yellow threads in the middle, which turn into small round
heads, containing small cornered seeds: the root creeps under ground,
almost like coughgrass, but greater, and shoots up every Spring
brownish heads which afterwards grow up into stalks. It has no scent or
taste, and is only astringent.

_Place._] It grows in many places of the land in moist meadows, and by
water sides.

_Time._] It flowers from June to August.

_Government and virtues._] This herb is good for all manner of bleeding
at the mouth, nose, or wounds, and all fluxes of the belly, and the
bloody-flux, given either to drink or taken by clysters; it stays also
the abundance of women’s courses; it is a singular good wound-herb for
green wounds, to stay the bleeding, and quickly close together the lips
of the wound, if the herb be bruised, and the juice only applied. It is
often used in gargles for sore mouths, as also for the secret parts.
The smoak hereof being bruised, drives away flies and gnats, which in
the night time molest people inhabiting near marshes, and in the fenny
countries.


LOOSESTRIFE, WITH SPIKED HEADS OF
FLOWERS.

IT is likewise called Grass-polly.

_Descript._] This grows with many woody square stalks, full of joints,
about three feet high at least; at every one whereof stand two long
leaves, shorter, narrower, and a greener colour than the former, and
some brownish. The stalks are branched into many long stems of spiked
flowers half a foot long, growing in bundles one above another, out
of small husks, very like the spiked heads of Lavender, each of which
flowers have five round-pointed leaves of a purple violet colour, or
somewhat inclining to redness; in which husks stand small round heads
after the flowers are fallen, wherein is contained small seed. The
root creeps under ground like unto the yellow, but is greater than it,
and so are the heads of the leaves when they first appear out of the
ground, and more brown than the other.

_Place._] It grows usually by rivers, and ditch-sides in wet ground, as
about the ditches at and near Lambeth, and in many places of this land.

_Time._] It flowers in the months of June and July.

_Government and virtues._] It is an herb of the Moon, and under the
sign Cancer; neither do I know a better preserver of the sight when
it is well, nor a better cure for sore eyes than Eyebright, taken
inwardly, and this used outwardly; it is cold in quality. This herb
is nothing inferior to the former, it having not only all the virtues
which the former hath, but more peculiar virtues 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
Christalline humours 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 secret. It clears the eyes of dust,
or any thing gotten into them, and preserves the sight. It is also very
available against wounds and thrusts, being made into an ointment in
this manner: To every ounce of the water, add two drams of May butter
without salt, and of sugar and wax, of each as much also; let them
boil gently together. Let tents dipped into the liquor that remains
after it is cold, be put into the wounds, and the place covered with
a linen cloth doubled and anointed with the ointment; and this is also
an approved medicine. It likewise cleanses and heals all foul ulcers,
and sores whatsoever, and stays their inflammations 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 sometimes drank also, doth cure the quinsy, or king’s evil in the
throat. The said water applied warm, takes away all spots, marks, and
scabs in the skin; and a little of it drank, quenches thirst when it is
extreme.


LOVAGE.

_Descript._] IT has many long and green stalks of large winged leaves,
divided into many parts, like Smallage, but much larger and greater,
every leaf being cut about the edges, broadest forward, 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, sometimes
seven or eight feet high, full of joints, but lesser leaves set on
them than grow below; and with them towards the tops come forth large
branches, bearing at their tops large umbels of yellow flowers, and
after them flat brownish seed. The roots grow thick, great and deep,
spreading much, and enduring long, of a brownish colour on the outside,
and whitish within. The whole plant and every part of it smelling
strong, and aromatically, and is of a hot, sharp, biting taste.

_Place._] It is usually planted in gardens, where, if it be suffered,
it grows huge and great.

_Time._] It flowers in the end of July, and seeds in August.

_Government and virtues._] It is an herb of the Sun, under the sign
Taurus. If Saturn offend the throat (as he always doth if he be
occasioner of the malady, and in Taurus is the Genesis) this is your
cure. It opens, cures and digests humours, and mightily provokes
women’s courses and urine. Half a dram at a time of the dried root
in powder taken in wine, doth wonderfully warm a cold stomach, helps
digestion, and consumes all raw and superfluous moisture therein; eases
all inward gripings and pains, dissolves wind, and resists poison and
infection. It is a known and much praised 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 all
the purposes aforesaid (except the last) and works more powerfully.
The distilled water of the herb helps the quinsy in the throat, if
the mouth and throat be gargled and washed therewith, and helps the
pleurisy, being drank three or four times. Being dropped into the eyes,
it takes away the redness or dimness of them; it likewise takes away
spots or freckles in the face. The leaves bruised, and fried with a
little hog’s lard, and put hot to any blotch or boil, will quickly
break it.


LUNGWORT.

_Descript._] THIS is a kind of moss, that grows on sundry sorts of
trees, especially oaks and beeches, with broad, greyish, tough leaves
diversly folded, crumpled, and gashed in on the edges, and some spotted
also with many small spots on the upper-side. It was never seen to bear
any stalk or flower at any time.

_Government and virtues._] Jupiter seems to own this herb. It is of
great use to physicians to help the diseases of the lungs, and for
coughs, wheezings, and shortness of breath, which it cures both in man
and beast. It is very profitable to put into lotions that are taken to
stay the moist humours that flow to ulcers, and hinder their healing,
as also to wash all other ulcers in the privy parts of a man or woman.
It is an excellent remedy boiled in beer for broken-winded horses.


MADDER.

_Descript._] GARDEN Madder shoots forth many very long, weak,
four-square, reddish stalks, trailing on the ground a great way, very
rough or hairy, and full of joints: At every one of these joints come
forth divers long and narrow leaves, standing like a star about the
stalks, round also and hairy, towards the tops whereof come forth many
small pale yellow flowers, after which come small round heads, green at
first, and reddish afterwards, but black when they are ripe, wherein
is contained the seed. The root is not very great, but exceeding long,
running down half a man’s length into the ground, red and very clear,
while it is fresh, spreading divers ways.

_Place._] It is only manured in gardens, or larger fields, for the
profit that is made thereof.

_Time._] It flowers towards the end of Summer, and the seed is ripe
quickly after.

_Government and virtues._] It is an herb of Mars. It hath an opening
quality, and afterwards to bind and strengthen. It is a sure remedy
for the yellow jaundice, by opening the obstructions of the liver and
gall, and cleansing those parts; it opens also the obstructions of the
spleen, and diminishes the melancholy humour. It is available for the
palsy and sciatica, and effectual for bruises inward and outward, and
is therefore much used in vulnerary drinks. The root for all those
aforesaid purposes, is to be boiled in wine or water, as the cause
requires, and some honey and sugar put thereunto afterwards. The seed
hereof taken in vinegar and honey, helps the swelling and hardness
of the spleen. The decoction of the leaves and branches is a good
fomentation for women that have not their courses. The leaves and roots
beaten and applied to any part that is discoloured with freckles,
morphew, the white scurf, or any such deformity of the skin, cleanses
thoroughly, and takes them away.


MAIDEN HAIR.

_Descript._] OUR common Maiden-Hair 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
small, round, dark green leaves, and spitted on the back of them like a
fern.

_Place._] It grows upon old stone walls in the West parts in Kent,
and divers other places of this land; it delights likewise to grow by
springs, wells, and rocky moist and shady places, and is always green.


WALL RUE, OR, WHITE MAIDEN-HAIR.

_Descript._] THIS has very fine, pale green stalks, almost as fine as
hairs, set confusedly with divers pale green leaves on every short
foot stalk, somewhat near 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 grows in many places of this land, at Dartford, and the
bridge at Ashford in Kent, at Beaconsfield in Buckinghamshire, at Wolly
in Huntingtonshire, on Framlingham Castle in Suffolk, on the church
walls at Mayfield in Sussex, in Somersetshire, and divers other places
of this land; and is green in Winter as well as Summer.

_Government and virtues._] Both this and the former are under the
dominion of Mercury, and so is that also which follows after, and the
virtue of both are so near alike, that though I have described them and
their places of growing severally, yet I shall in writing the virtues
of them, join them both together as follows.

The decoction of the herb Maiden-Hair being drank, helps those that are
troubled with the cough, shortness of breath, the yellow jaundice,
diseases of the spleen, stopping of urine, and helps exceedingly to
break the stone in the kidneys, (in all which diseases the Wall Rue
is also very effectual.) It provokes women’s courses, and stays both
bleedings and fluxes of the stomach and belly, especially when the
herb is dry; for being green, it loosens the belly, and voids choler
and phlegm from the stomach and liver; it cleanses the lungs, and by
rectifying the blood, causes a good colour to the whole body. The herb
boiled in oil of Camomile, dissolves knots, allays swellings, and dries
up moist ulcers. The lye made thereof is singularly good to cleanse
the head from scurf, and from dry and running sores, stays the falling
or shedding of the hair, and causes it to grow thick, fair, and well
coloured; for which purpose some boil it in wine, putting some Smallage
seed thereto, and afterwards some oil. The Wall Rue is as effectual as
Maiden-Hair, in all diseases of the head, or falling and recovering of
the hair again, and generally for all the aforementioned diseases: And
besides, the powder of it taken in drink for forty days together, helps
the burstings in children.


GOLDEN MAIDEN HAIR

To the former give me leave to add this, and I shall say no more but
only describe it to you, and for the virtues refer you to the former,
since whatever is said of them, may be also said of this.

_Descript._] It has many small, brownish, red hairs, to make up the
form of leaves growing about the ground from the root; and in the
middle of them, in Summer, rise small stalks of the same colour, set
with very fine yellowish green hairs on them, and bearing a small gold,
yellow head, less than a wheat corn, standing in a great husk. The root
is very small and thready.

_Place._] It grows in bogs and moorish places, and also on dry shady
places, as Hampstead Heath, and elsewhere.


MALLOWS AND MARSHMALLOWS.

COMMON Mallows are generally so well known that they need no
description.

Our common Marshmallows have divers soft hairy white stalks, rising to
be three or four feet high, spreading forth many branches, the leaves
whereof are soft and hairy, somewhat less than the other Mallow leaves,
but longer pointed, cut (for the most part) into some few divisions,
but deep. The flowers are many, but smaller also than the other
Mallows, and white, or tending to a bluish colour. After which come
such long, round cases and seeds, 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 being like liquorice, of a whitish
yellow colour on the outside, and more whitish within, full of a slimy
juice, which being laid in water, will thicken, as if it were a jelly.

_Place._] The common Mallows grow in every county of this land. The
common Marsh-mallows in most of the salt marshes, from Woolwich down
to the sea, both on the Kentish and Essex shores, and in divers other
places of this land.

_Time._] They flower all the Summer months, even until the Winter do
pull them down.

_Government and virtues._] Venus owns them both. The leaves of either
of the sorts, both specified, and the roots also boiled in wine or
water, or in broth with Parsley or Fennel roots, do help to open the
body, and are very convenient in hot agues, or other distempers of the
body, to apply the leaves so boiled warm to the belly. It not only
voids hot, choleric, and other offensive humours, but eases 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 procures
them store of milk. The decoction of the seed of any of the common
Mallows made in milk or wine, doth marvellously help excoriations,
the phthisic, pleurisy, and other diseases of the chest and lungs,
that proceed of hot causes, if it be continued taking for some time
together. The leaves and roots work the same effects. They help much
also in the excoriations of the bowels, and hardness of the mother, and
in all hot and sharp diseases thereof. The juice drank in wine, or the
decoction of them therein, do help women to a speedy and easy delivery.
Pliny saith, that whosoever takes a spoonful of any of the Mallows,
shall that day be free from all diseases that may come unto him; and
that it is especially good for the falling-sickness. The syrup also and
conserve made of the flowers, are very effectual for the same diseases,
and to open the body, being costive. The leaves bruised, and laid to
the eyes with a little honey, take away the imposthumations of them.
The leaves bruised or rubbed upon any place stung with bees, wasps, or
the like, presently take away the pain, redness, and swelling that rise
thereupon. And Dioscorides saith, The decoction of the roots and leaves
helps all sorts of poison, so as the poison be presently voided by
vomit. A poultice made of the leaves boiled and bruised, with some bean
or barley flower, and oil of Roses added, is an especial remedy against
all hard tumours and inflammations, or imposthumes, or swellings of
the privities, and other parts, and eases the pains of them; as also
against the hardness of the liver or spleen, being applied to the
places. The juice of Mallows boiled in old oil and applied, takes away
all roughness of the skin, as also the scurf, dandriff, or dry scabs
in the head, or other parts, if they be anointed therewith, or washed
with the decoction, and preserves the hair from falling off. It is also
effectual against scaldings and burnings, St. Anthony’s fire, and all
other hot, red, and painful swellings in any part of the body. The
flowers boiled in oil or water (as every one is disposed) whereunto a
little honey and allum is put, is an excellent gargle to wash, cleanse
or heal any sore mouth or throat in a short space. If the feet be
bathed or washed with the decoction of the leaves, roots, and flowers,
it helps much the defluxions of rheum from the head; if the head be
washed therewith, it stays the falling and shedding of the hair. The
green leaves (saith Pliny) beaten with nitre, and applied, draw out
thorns or prickles in the flesh.

The Marshmallows are more effectual in all the diseases before
mentioned: The leaves are likewise used to loosen the belly gently,
and in decoctions or clysters to ease all 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 ease the torturing pains thereof. But the roots
are of more special use for those purposes, as well for coughs,
hoarseness, shortness of breath and wheezings, being boiled in wine,
or honeyed water, and drank. The roots and seeds hereof boiled in wine
or water, are with good success used by them that have excoriations
in the bowels, or the bloody flux, by qualifying the violence of
sharp fretting humours, easing the pains, and healing the soreness.
It is profitably taken by them that are troubled with ruptures,
cramps, or convulsions of the sinews; and boiled in white wine, for
the imposthumes by the throat, commonly called the king’s evil, and
of those kernels that rise behind the ears, and inflammations or
swellings in women’s breasts. The dried roots boiled in milk and drank,
is especially good for the chin-cough. Hippocrates used to give the
decoction of the roots, or the juice thereof, to drink, to those that
are wounded, and ready to faint through loss of blood, and applied the
same, mixed with honey and rosin, to the wounds. As also, the roots
boiled in wine to those that have received any hurt by bruises, falls,
or blows, or had any bone or member out of joint, or any swelling-pain,
or ache in the muscles, sinews or arteries. The muscilage of the roots,
and of Linseed and Fenugreek put together, is much used in poultices,
ointments, and plaisters, to molify and digest all hard swellings, and
the inflammation of them, and to ease pains in any part of the body.
The seed either green or dry, mixed with vinegar, cleanses the skin of
morphew, and all other discolourings being boiled therewith in the Sun.

You may remember that not long since there was a raging disease called
the bloody-flux; the college of physicians not knowing what to make of
it, called it the inside plague, for their wits were at _Ne plus ultra_
about it: My son was taken with the same disease, and the excoriation
of his bowels was exceeding great; myself being in the country, was
sent for up, the only thing I gave him, was Mallows bruised and boiled
both in milk and drink, in two days (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, leave it to posterity.


MAPLE TREE.

_Government and virtues._] IT is under the dominion of Jupiter. The
decoction either of the leaves or bark, must needs strengthen the liver
much, and so you shall find it to do, if you use it. It is excellently
good to open obstructions both of the liver and spleen, and eases pains
of the sides thence proceeding.


WIND MARJORAM.

CALLED also Origanum, Eastward Marjoram; Wild Marjoram, and Grove
Marjoram.

_Descript._] Wild or field Marjoram hath a root which creeps much under
ground, which continues a long time, sending up sundry brownish, hard,
square stalks, with small dark green leaves, very like those of Sweet
Marjoram, but harder, and somewhat broader; at the top of the stalks
stand tufts of flowers, of a deep purplish red colour. The seed is
small and something blacker than that of Sweet Marjoram.

_Place._] It grows plentifully in the borders of corn fields, and in
some copses.

_Time._] It flowers towards the latter end of the Summer.

_Government and virtues._] This is also under the dominion of Mercury.
It strengthens the stomach and head much, there being scarce a better
remedy growing for such as are troubled with a sour humour in the
stomach; it restores the appetite being lost; helps the cough, and
consumption of the lungs; it cleanses the body of choler, expels
poison, and remedies the infirmities of the spleen; helps the bitings
of venomous beasts, and helps such as have poisoned themselves by
eating Hemlock, Henbane, or Opium. It provokes urine and the terms
in women, helps the dropsy, and the scurvy, scabs, itch, and yellow
jaundice. The juice being dropped into the ears, helps deafness, pain
and noise in the ears. And thus much for this herb, between which and
adders, there is a deadly antipathy.


SWEET MARJORAM.

SWEET Marjoram is so well known, being an inhabitant in every garden,
that it is needless to write any description thereof, neither of the
Winter Sweet Marjoram, or Pot Marjoram.

_Place._] They grow commonly in gardens; some sorts 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.

_Government and virtues._] It is an herb of Mercury, and under Aries,
and therefore is an excellent remedy for the brain and other parts of
the body and mind, under the dominion of the same planet. Our common
Sweet Marjoram is warming and comfortable in cold diseases of the head,
stomach, sinews, and other parts, taken inwardly, or outwardly applied.
The decoction thereof being drank, helps all diseases of the chest
which hinder the freeness of breathing, and is also profitable for the
obstructions of the liver and spleen. It helps 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 some Pellitory of
Spain, and long Pepper, or with a little Acorns or Origanum, being
drank, is good for those that cannot make water, and against pains and
torments in the belly; it provokes women’s courses, if it be used as a
pessary. Being made into powder, and mixed with honey, it takes away
the black marks of blows, and bruises, being thereunto applied; it is
good for the inflammations and watering of the eyes, being mixed with
fine flour, and laid unto them. The juice dropped into the ears eases
the pains and singing noise in them. It is profitably put into those
ointments and salves that are warm, and comfort the outward parts, as
the joints and sinews; for swellings also, and places out of joint. The
powder thereof snuffed up into the nose provokes sneezing, and thereby
purges the brain; and chewed in the mouth, draws forth much phlegm.
The oil made thereof, is very warm and comfortable to the joints that
are stiff, and the sinews that are hard, to molify and supple them.
Marjoram is much used in all odoriferous water, powders, &c. that are
for ornament or delight.


MARIGOLDS.

THESE being so plentiful in every garden, and so well known that they
need no description.

_Time._] They flower all the Summer long, and sometimes in Winter, if
it be mild.

_Government and virtues._] It is an herb of the Sun, and under Leo.
They strengthen the heart exceedingly, and are very expulsive, and a
little less effectual in the small-pox and measles than saffron. The
juice of Marigold leaves mixed with vinegar, and any hot swelling
bathed with it, instantly gives ease, and assuages it. The flowers,
either green or dried, are much used in possets, broths, and drink, as
a comforter of the heart and spirits, and to expel any malignant or
pestilential quality which might annoy them. A plaister made with the
dry flowers in powder, hog’s-grease, turpentine, and rosin, applied to
the breast, strengthens and succours the heart infinitely in fevers,
whether pestilential or not.


MASTERWORT.

_Descript._] COMMON Masterwort has divers stalks of winged leaves
divided into sundry parts, three for the most part standing together
at a small foot-stalk on both sides of the greater, and three likewise
at the end of the stalk, somewhat broad, and cut in on the edges into
three or more divisions, all of them dented about the brims, of a dark
green colour, somewhat resembling the leaves of Angelica, but that
these grow lower to the ground, and on lesser stalks; among which rise
up two or three short stalks about two feet high, and slender, with
such like leaves at the joints which grow below, but with lesser and
fewer divisions, bearing umbels of white flowers, and after them thin,
flat blackish seeds, bigger than Dill seeds. The root is somewhat
greater and growing rather side-ways than down deep in the ground,
shooting forth sundry heads, which taste sharp, biting on the tongue,
and is the hottest and sharpest part of the plant, and the seed next
unto it being somewhat blackish on the outside, and smelling well.

_Place._] It is usually kept in gardens with us in England.

_Time._] It flowers and seeds about the end of August.

_Government and virtues._] It is an herb of Mars. The root of
Masterwort is hotter than pepper, and very available in cold griefs
and diseases both of the stomach and body, dissolving very powerfully
upwards and downwards. It is also used in a decoction with wine against
all cold rheums, distillations upon the lungs, or shortness of breath,
to be taken morning and evening. It also provokes urine, and helps
to break the stone, and expel the gravel from the kidneys; provokes
women’s courses, and expels the dead birth. It is singularly good for
strangling of the mother, and other such like feminine diseases. It is
effectual also against the dropsy, cramps, and falling sickness; for
the decoction in wine being gargled in the mouth, draws down much water
and phlegm, from the brain, purging and easing it of what oppresses it.
It is of a rare quality against all sorts of cold poison, to be taken
as there is cause; it provokes sweat. But lest the taste hereof, or of
the seed (which works 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 juice hereof dropped, or tents dipped
therein, and applied either to green wounds or filthy rotten ulcers,
and those that come by envenomed weapons, doth soon cleanse and heal
them. The same is also very good to help the gout coming of a cold
cause.


SWEET MAUDLIN.

_Descript._] COMMON Maudlin hath somewhat long and narrow leaves,
snipped about the edges. The stalks are two feet high, bearing at the
tops many yellow flowers set round together and all of an equal height,
in umbels or tufts like unto tansy; after which follow small whitish
seed, almost as big as wormseed.

_Place and Time._] It grows in gardens, and flowers in June and July.

_Government and virtues._] The Virtues hereof being the same with
Costmary or Alecost, I shall not make any repetition thereof, lest my
book grow too big; but rather refer you to Costmary for satisfaction.


THE MEDLAR.

_Descript._] THE Tree grows near the bigness of the Quince Tree,
spreading branches reasonably 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 leaves, nicked in the middle with some white threads
also; after which comes 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 somewhat hollow. The fruit is very harsh before it is
mellowed, and has usually five hard kernels within it. There is another
kind hereof nothing differing from the former, but that it hath some
thorns on it in several places, which the other hath not; and usually
the fruit is small, and not so pleasant.

_Time and Place._] They grow in this land, and flower in May for the
most part, and bear fruit in September and October.

_Government and virtues._] The fruit is old Saturn’s, and sure a better
medicine he hardly hath to strengthen the retentive faculty; therefore
it stays women’s longings: The good old man cannot endure women’s
minds should run a gadding. Also a plaister made of the fruit dried
before they are rotten, and other convenient things, and applied to
the reins of the back, stops miscarriage in women with child. They are
powerful to stay any fluxes of blood or humours in men or women; the
leaves also have this quality. The decoction of them is good to gargle
and wash the mouth, throat and teeth, when there is any defluxions of
blood to stay it, or of humours, which causes the pains and swellings.
It is a good bath for women, that have their courses flow too abundant:
or for the piles when they bleed too much. If a poultice or plaister be
made with dried medlars, beaten and mixed with the juice of red roses,
whereunto a few cloves and nutmegs may be added, and a little red coral
also, and applied to the stomach that is given to casting or loathing
of meat, it effectually helps. The dried leaves in powder strewed on
fresh bleeding wounds restrains the blood, and heals up the wound
quickly. The medlar-stones made into powder, and drank in wine, wherein
some Parsley-roots have lain infused all night, or a little boiled, do
break the stone in the kidneys, helping to expel it.


MELLILOT, OR KING’S CLAVER.

_Descript._] THIS hath many green stalks, two or three feet high,
rising from a tough, long, white root, which dies not every year, set
round about at the joints with small and somewhat long, well-smelling
leaves, set three together, unevently dented about the edges. The
flowers are yellow, and well-smelling also, made like other trefoil,
but small, standing in long spikes one above another, for an hand
breadth long or better, which afterwards turn into long crooked pods,
wherein is contained flat seed, somewhat brown.

_Place._] It grows plentifully in many places of this land, as in the
edge of Suffolk and in Essex, as also in Huntingdonshire, and in other
places, but most usually in corn fields, in corners of meadows.

_Time._] It flowers in June and July, and is ripe quickly after.

_Government and virtues._] Melilot, boiled in wine, and applied,
mollifies all hard tumours and inflammations that happen in the eyes,
or other parts of the body, and sometimes the yolk of a roasted egg, or
fine flour, or poppy seed, or endive, is added unto it. It helps the
spreading ulcers in the head, it being washed with a lye made thereof.
It helps the pains of the stomach, being applied fresh, or boiled
with any of the aforenamed things; also, the pains of the ears, being
dropped into them; and steeped in vinegar, or rose water, it mitigates
the head-ache. The flowers of Mellilot or Camomile are much used to
be put together in clysters to expel wind, and ease pains; and also
in poultices for the same purpose, and to assuage swelling tumours in
the spleen or other parts, and helps inflammations in any part of the
body. The juice dropped into the eyes, is a singularly good medicine to
take away the film or skin that clouds or dimns the eye-sight. The head
often washed with the distilled water of the herb and flower, or a lye
made therewith, is effectual for those that suddenly lose their senses;
as also to strengthen the memory, to comfort the head and brain, and to
preserve them from pain, and the apoplexy.


FRENCH AND DOG MERCURY.

_Descript._] THIS rises up with a square green stalk full of joints,
two feet high, or thereabouts, with two leaves at every joint, and the
branches likewise from both sides of the stalk, set with fresh green
leaves, somewhat broad and long, about the bigness of the leaves of
Bazil, finely dented about the edges; towards the tops of the stalk
and branches, come forth at every joint in the male Mercury two
small, round green heads, standing together upon a short foot stalk,
which growing ripe, are seeds, not having flowers. The female stalk is
longer, spike-fashion, set round about with small green husks, which
are the flowers, made small like bunches of grapes, which give no
seed, but abiding long upon the stalks without shedding. The root is
composed of many small fibres, which perishes every year at the first
approach of Winter, and rises again of its own sowing; and if once it
is suffered to sow itself, the ground will never want afterwards, even
both sorts of it.


DOG MERCURY.

HAVING described unto you that which is called French Mercury, I come
now to shew you a description of this kind also.

_Descript._] This is likewise of two kinds, male and Female, having
many stalks slender and lower than Mercury, without any branches at all
upon them, the root is set with two leaves at every joint, somewhat
greater than the female, but more pointed and full of veins, and
somewhat harder in handling: of a dark green colour, and less denied
or snipped about the edges. At the joints with the leaves come forth
longer stalks than the former, with two hairy round seeds upon them,
twice as big as those of the former Mercury. The taste hereof is herby,
and the smell somewhat strong and virulent. The female has much harder
leaves standing upon longer footstalks, and the stalks are also longer;
from the joints come forth spikes of flowers like the French Female
Mercury. The roots of them both are many, and full of small fibres
which run under ground, and mat themselves very much, not perishing
as the former Mercuries do, but abide the Winter, and shoot forth new
branches every year, for the old lie 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 Dog Mercury in sundry places of Kent also, and elsewhere; but the
female more seldom than the male.

_Time._] They flower in the Summer months, and therein give their seed.

_Government and virtues._] Mercury, they say, owns the herb, but I
rather think it is Venus’s, and I am partly confident of it too, for
I never heard that Mercury ever minded women’s business so much:
I believe he minds his study more. The decoction of the leaves of
Mercury, or the juice thereof in broth, or drank with a little sugar
put to it, purges choleric and waterish humours. Hippocrates commended
it wonderfully for women’s diseases, and applied to the secret parts,
to ease the pains of the mother; and used the decoction of it, both to
procure women’s courses, and to expel the after-birth; and gave the
decoction thereof with myrrh or pepper, or used to apply the leaves
outwardly against the stranguary and diseases of the reins and bladder.
He used it also for sore and watering eyes, and for the deafness and
pains in the ears, by dropping the juice thereof 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 cleanses the breast and lungs of phlegm, but a little
offends the stomach. The juice or distilled water snuffed up into the
nostrils, purges the head and eyes of catarrhs and rheums. 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,
viscous, and melancholy humours. Matthiolus saith, that both the seed
of the male and female Mercury boiled with Wormwood and drank, cures
the yellow jaundice in a speedy manner. The leaves or the juice rubbed
upon warts, takes them away. The juice mingled with some vinegar, helps
all running scabs, tetters, ringworms, and the itch. Galen saith, that
being applied in manner of a poultice to any swelling or inflammation,
it digests the swelling, and allays the inflammation, and is therefore
given in clysters to evacuate from the belly offensive humours. The Dog
Mercury, although it be less used, yet may serve in the same manner, to
the same purpose, to purge waterish and melancholy humours.


MINT.

OF all the kinds of Mint, the Spear Mint, or Heart Mint, being most
usual, I shall only describe as follows:

_Descript._] Spear Mint has divers round stalks, and long but narrowish
leaves set thereon, of a dark green colour. The flowers stand in spiked
heads at the tops of the branches, being of a pale blue colour. The
smell or scent thereof is somewhat near unto Bazil; it encreases by the
root under ground as all the others do.

_Place._] It is an usual inhabitant in gardens; and because it seldom
gives any good seed, the seed is recompensed by the plentiful increase
of the root, which being once planted in a garden, will hardly be rid
out again.

_Time._] It flowers not until the beginning of August, for the most
part.

_Government and virtues._] It is an herb of Venus. Dioscorides saith
it hath a healing, binding and drying quality, and therefore the juice
taken in vinegar, stays bleeding: It stirs up venery, or bodily lust;
two or three branches thereof taken in the juice of four pomegranates,
stays the hiccough, vomiting, and allays the choler. It dissolves
imposthumes being laid to with barley-meal. It is good to repress the
milk in women’s breasts, and for such as have swollen, flagging, or
great breasts. Applied with salt, it helps the biting of a mad dog;
with mead and honeyed water, it eases the pains of the ears, and takes
away the roughness of the tongue, being rubbed thereupon. It suffers
not milk to curdle in the stomach, if the leaves thereof be steeped
or boiled in it before you drink it. Briefly it is very profitable to
the stomach. The often use hereof is a very powerful medicine to stay
women’s courses and the whites. Applied to the forehead and temples,
it eases the pains in the head, and is good to wash the heads of young
children therewith, against all manner of breakings-out, sores or
scabs, therein. It is also profitable against the poison of venomous
creatures. The distilled water of Mint is available to all the purposes
aforesaid, yet more weakly. But if a spirit thereof be rightly and
chymically drawn, it is much more powerful than the herb itself. Simeon
Sethi saith, it helps a cold liver, strengthens the belly, causes
digestion, stays vomits and hiccough; it is good against the gnawing of
the heart, provokes appetite, takes away obstructions of the liver, and
stirs up bodily lust; but therefore too much must not be taken, because
it makes the blood thin and wheyish, and turns it into choler, and
therefore choleric persons must abstain from it. It is a safe medicine
for the biting of a mad dog, being bruised with salt and laid thereon.
The powder of it being dried and taken after meat, helps digestion, and
those that are splenetic. Taken with wine, it helps women in their sore
travail in child-bearing. It is good against the gravel and stone in
the kidneys, and the stranguary. Being smelled unto, it is comfortable
for the head and memory. The decoction hereof gargled in the mouth,
cures the gums and mouth that are sore, and mends an ill-savoured
breath; as also the Rue and Coriander, causes the palate of the mouth
to turn to its place, the decoction being gargled and held in the
mouth.

The virtues of the Wild or Horse Mint, such as grow in ditches (whose
description I purposely omitted, in regard they are well known) are
serviceable to dissolve wind in the stomach, to help the cholic, and
those that are short-winded, and are an especial remedy for those
that have veneral dreams and pollutions in the night, being outwardly
applied. The juice dropped into the ears eases the pains of them,
and destroys the worms that breed therein. They are good against the
venemous biting of serpents. The juice laid on warm, helps the king’s
evil, or kernels in the throat. The decoction or distilled water helps
a stinking breath, proceeding from corruption of the teeth, and snuffed
up the nose, purges the head. Pliny saith, that eating of the leaves
hath been found by experience to cure the leprosy, applying some of
them to the face, and to help the scurf or dandriff of the head used
with vinegar. They are extremely bad for wounded people; and they say a
wounded man that eats Mint, his wound will never be cured, and that is
a long day.


MISSELTO.

_Descript._] THIS rises up from the branch or arm of the tree whereon
it grows, with a woody stem, putting itself into sundry branches,
and they again divided into many other smaller twigs, interlacing
themselves one within another, very much covered with a greyish green
bark, having two leaves set at every joint, and at the end likewise,
which are somewhat long and narrow, small at the bottom, but broader
towards the end. At the knots or joints of the boughs and branches grow
small yellow flowers, which run into small, round, white, transparent
berries, three or four together, full of a glutinous moisture, with a
blackish seed in each of them, which was never yet known to spring,
being put into the ground, or any where else to grow.

_Place._] It grows very rarely on oaks with us; but upon sundry others
as well timber as fruit trees, plentifully in woody groves, and the
like, through all this land.

_Time._] It flowers in the Spring-time, but the berries are not ripe
until October, and abides on the branches all the Winter, unless the
blackbirds, and other birds, do devour them.

_Government and virtues._] This is under the dominion of the Sun, I
do not question; and can also take for granted, that which grows upon
oaks, participates something of the nature of Jupiter, because an oak
is one of his trees; as also that which grows upon pear trees, and
apple trees, participates something of his nature, because he rules
the tree it grows upon, having no root of its own. But why that should
have most virtues that grows upon oaks I know not, unless because it
is rarest and hardest to come by; and our college’s opinion is in this
contrary to scripture, which saith, _God’s tender mercies are over
all his works_; and so it is, let the college of physicians walk as
contrary to him as they please, and that is as contrary as the east
to the west. Clusius affirms that which grows upon pear trees to be
as prevalent, and gives order, that it should not touch the ground
after it is gathered; and also saith, that, being hung about the
neck, it remedies witchcraft. Both the leaves and berries of Misselto
do heat and dry, and are of subtle parts; the birdlime doth molify
hard knots, tumours, and imposthumes; ripens and discusses them, and
draws forth thick as well as thin humours from the remote parts of
the body, digesting and separating them. And being mixed with equal
parts of rozin and wax, doth molify the hardness of the spleen, and
helps old ulcers and sores. Being mixed with Sandaric and Orpiment,
it helps to draw off foul nails; and if quick-lime and wine lees be
added thereunto, it works the stronger. The Misselto itself of the oak
(as the best) made into powder, and given in drink to those that have
the falling sickness, does assuredly heal them, as Matthiolus saith:
but it is fit to use it for forty days together. Some have so highly
esteemed it for the virtues thereof, that they have called it _Lignum
Sanctiæ Crucis_, Wood of the Holy Cross, believing it helps the falling
sickness, apoplexy and palsy very speedily, not only to be inwardly
taken, but to be hung at their neck. Tragus saith, that the fresh wood
of any Misselto bruised, and the juice drawn forth and dropped in the
ears that have imposthumes in them, doth help and ease them within a
few days.


MONEYWORT, OR HERB TWOPENCE.

_Descript._] THE common Moneywort sends forth from a small thready
root divers long, weak, and slender branches, lying and running upon
the ground two or three feet long or more, set with leaves two at a
joint one against another at equal distances, which are almost round,
but pointed at the ends, smooth, and of a good green colour. At the
joints with the leaves from the middle forward come forth at every
point sometimes one yellow flower, and sometimes two, standing each on
a small foot-stalk, and made of five leaves, narrow-pointed at the end,
with some yellow threads in the middle, which being past, there stand
in their places small round heads of seed.

_Place._] It grows plentifully in almost all places of this land,
commonly in moist grounds by hedge-sides, and in the middle of grassy
fields.

_Time._] They flower in June and July, and their seed is ripe quickly
after.

_Government and virtues._] Venus owns it. Moneywort is singularly
good to stay all fluxes in man or woman, whether they be lasks,
bloody-fluxes, bleeding inwardly or outwardly, or the weakness of the
stomach that is given to casting. It is very good also for the ulcers
or excoriations of the lungs, or other inward parts. It is exceedingly
good for all wounds, either fresh or green, to heal them speedily,
and for all old ulcers that are of spreading natures. For all which
purposes the juice of the herb, or the powder drank in water wherein
hot steel hath been often quenched; or the decoction of the green herb
in wine or water drank, or used to the outward place, to wash or bathe
them, or to have tents dipped therein and put into them, are effectual.


MOONWORT.

_Descript._] IT rises up usually but with one dark green, thick and
flat leaf, standing upon a short foot-stalk not above two fingers
breadth; but when it flowers it may be said to bear a small slender
stalk about four or five inches high, having but one leaf in the middle
thereof, which is much divided on both sides into sometimes five or
seven parts on a side, sometimes more; each of which parts is small
like the middle rib, but broad forwards, pointed and round, resembling
therein a half-moon, from whence it took the name; the uppermost parts
or divisions being bigger than the lowest. The stalks rise above this
leaf two or three inches, bearing many branches of small long tongues,
every one like the spiky head of the adder’s tongue, of a brownish
colour, (which, whether I shall call them flowers, or the seed, I well
know not) which, after they have continued awhile, resolve into a mealy
dust. The root is small and fibrous. This hath sometimes divers such
like leaves as are before described, with so many branches or tops
rising from one stalk, each divided from the other.

_Place._] It grows on hills and heaths, yet where there is much grass,
for therein it delights to grow.

_Time._] It is to be found only in April and May; for in June, when
any hot weather comes, for the most part it is withered and gone.

_Government and virtues._] The Moon owns the herb. Moonwort is cold
and drying more than Adder’s Tongue, and is therefore held to be more
available for all wounds both inward and outward. The leaves boiled
in red wine, and drank, stay the immoderate flux of women’s courses,
and the whites. It also stays bleeding, vomiting, and other fluxes.
It helps all blows and bruises, and to consolidate all fractures and
dislocations. It is good for ruptures, but is chiefly used, by most
with other herbs, to make oils or balsams to heal fresh or green
wounds (as I said before) either inward or outward, for which it is
excellently good.

Moonwort is an herb which (they say) will open locks, and unshoe such
horses as tread upon it: This some laugh to scorn, and those no small
fools neither; but country people, that I know, call it Unshoe the
Horse. Besides I have heard commanders say, that on White Down in
Devonshire, near Tiverton, there were found thirty horse shoes, pulled
off from the feet of the Earl of Essex’s horses, being there drawn up
in a body, many of them being but newly shod, and no reason known,
which caused much admiration: the herb described usually grows upon
heaths.


MOSSES.

I SHALL not trouble the reader with a description of these, since my
intent is to speak only of two kinds, as the most principal, viz.
Ground Moss and Tree Moss, both which are very well known.

_Place._] The Ground Moss grows in our moist woods, and at the bottom
of hills, in boggy grounds, and in shadowy ditches and many other such
like places. The Tree Moss grows only on trees.

_Government and virtues._] All sorts of Mosses are under the dominion
of Saturn. The Ground Moss is held to be singularly good to break the
stone, and to expel and drive it forth by urine, being boiled in wine
and drank. The herb being bruised and boiled in water, and applied,
eases all inflammations and pains coming from an hot cause; and is
therefore used to ease the pains of the gout.

The Tree Mosses are cooling and binding, and partake of a digesting and
molifying quality withal, as Galen saith. But each Moss partakes 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 vomiting or bleeding, the powder thereof being taken in wine.
The decoction thereof in wine is very good for women to be bathed in,
that are troubled with the overflowing of their courses. The same being
drank, stays the stomach that is troubled with casting, or hiccough;
and, as Avicena saith, it comforts the heart. The powder thereof
taken in drink for some time together, is thought available for the
dropsy. The oil that has had fresh Moss steeped therein for a time, and
afterwards boiled and applied to the temples and forehead, marvellously
eases the head-ache coming of a hot cause; as also the distillations of
hot rheums or humours in the eyes, or other parts. The ancients much
used it in their ointments and other medicines against the lassitude,
and to strengthen and comfort the sinews: For which, if it was good
then, I know no reason but it may be found so still.


MOTHERWORT.

_Descript._] THIS hath a hard, square, brownish, rough, strong stalk,
rising three or four feet high at least, spreading into many branches,
whereon grow leaves on each side, with long foot-stalks, two at
every joint, which are somewhat broad and long, as if it were rough
or crumpled, with many great veins therein of a sad green colour, and
deeply dented about the edges, and almost divided. From the middle of
the branches up to the tops of them (which are long and small) grow the
flowers round 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 or form as the Horehound, after which come small, round,
blackish seeds in great plenty. The root sends forth a number of long
strings and small fibres, taking strong hold in the ground, of a dark
yellowish or brownish colour, and abides as the Horehound does: the
smell of the one not much differs from the other.

_Place._] It grows only in gardens with us in England.

_Government and virtues._] Venus owns the herb, and it is under Leo.
There is no better herb to take melancholy vapours from the heart, to
strengthen it, and make a merry, chearful, blithe soul than this herb.
It may be kept in a syrup or conserve; therefore the Latins called
it Cardiaca. Besides, it makes women joyful mothers of children, and
settles their wombs as they should be, therefore we call it Motherwort.
It is held to be of much use for the trembling of the heart, and
faintings and swoonings; from whence it took the name Cardiaca. The
powder thereof, to the quantity of a spoonful, drank in wine, is
a wonderful help to women in their sore travail, as also for the
suffocating or risings of the mother, and for these effects, it is
likely it took the name of Motherwort with us. It also provokes urine
and women’s courses, cleanses the chest of cold phlegm, oppressing it,
kills worms in the belly. It is of good use to warm and dry up the cold
humours, to digest and disperse them that are settled in the veins,
joints, and sinews of the body, and to help cramps and convulsions.


MOUSE-EAR.

_Descript._] MOUSE-EAR is a low herb, creeping upon the ground by small
strings, like the Strawberry plant, whereby it shoots forth small
roots, whereat grow, upon the ground, many small and somewhat short
leaves, set in a round form together, and very hairy, which, being
broken, do give a whitish milk: From among these leaves spring up two
or three small hoary stalks about a span high, with a few smaller
leaves thereon; at the tops whereof stands usually but one flower,
consisting of many pale yellow leaves, broad at the point, and a little
dented in, set in three or four rows (the greater uppermost) very like
a Dandelion flower, and a little reddish underneath about the edges,
especially if it grow in a dry ground; which after they have stood long
in flower do turn into down, which with the seed is carried away with
the wind.

_Place._] It grows on ditch banks, and sometimes in ditches, if they be
dry, and in sandy grounds.

_Time._] It flowers about June or July, and abides green all the Winter.

_Government and virtues._] The Moon owns this herb also; and though
authors cry out upon Alchymists, for attempting to fix quicksilver by
this herb and Moonwort, a Roman would not have judged a thing by the
success; if it be to be fixed at all, it is by lunar influence. The
juice thereof taken in wine, or the decoction thereof drank, doth help
the jaundice, although of long continuance, to drink thereof morning
and evening, and abstain from other drink two or three hours after.
It is a special remedy against the stone, and the tormenting pains
thereof: as also other tortures and griping pains of the bowels. The
decoction thereof with Succory and Centaury is held very effectual
to help the dropsy, and them that are inclining thereunto, and the
diseases of the spleen. It stays the fluxes of blood, either at the
mouth or nose, and inward bleeding also, for it is a singular wound
herb for wounds both inward and outward: It helps the bloody flux, and
helps the abundance of women’s courses. There is a syrup made of the
juice hereof and sugar, by the apothecaries of Italy, and other places,
which is of much account with them, to be given to those that are
troubled with the cough or phthisic. The same also is singularly good
for ruptures or burstings. The green herb bruised and presently bound
to any cut or wound, doth quickly solder the lips thereof. And the
juice, decoction, or powder of the dried herb is most singular to stay
the malignity of spreading and fretting cankers and ulcers whatsoever,
yea in the mouth and secret parts. The distilled water of the plant is
available in all the diseases aforesaid, and to wash outward wounds and
sores, by applying tents of cloths wet therein.


MUGWORT.

_Descript._] COMMON Mugwort hath divers leaves lying upon the ground,
very much divided, or cut deeply in about the brims, somewhat like
Wormwood, but much larger, of a dark green colour on the upper side,
and very hoary white underneath. The stalks rise to be four or five
feet high, having on it such like leaves as those below, but somewhat
smaller, branching forth very much towards the top, whereon are set
very small, pale, yellowish flowers like buttons, which fall away, and
after them come small seeds inclosed in round heads. The root is long
and hard, with many small fibres growing from it, whereby it takes
strong hold on the ground; but both stalks and leaves do lie down every
year, and the root shoots anew in the Spring. The whole plant is of a
reasonable scent, and is more easily propagated by the slips than the
seed.

_Place._] It grows plentifully in many places of this land, by the
water-sides; as also by small water courses, and in divers other places.

_Time._] It flowers and seeds in the end of Summer.

_Government and virtues._] This is an herb of Venus, therefore
maintains the parts of the body she rules, remedies the diseases of
the parts that are under her signs, Taurus and Libra. Mugwort is with
good success put among other herbs that are boiled for women to apply
the hot decoction to draw down their courses, to help the delivery of
the birth, and expel the after-birth. As also for the obstructions and
inflammations of the mother. It breaks the stone, and opens the urinary
passages where they are stopped. The juice thereof made up with Myrrh,
and put under as a pessary, works the same effects, and so does the
root also. Being made up with hog’s grease into an ointment, it takes
away wens and hard knots and kernels that grow about the neck and
throat, and eases the pains about the neck more effectually, if some
Field Daisies be put with it. The herb itself being fresh, or the juice
thereof taken, is a special remedy upon the overmuch taking of opium.
Three drams of the powder of the dried leaves taken in wine, is a
speedy and the best certain help for the sciatica. A decoction thereof
made with Camomile and Agrimony, and the place bathed therewith while
it is warm, takes away the pains of the sinews, and the cramp.


THE MULBERRY-TREE.

THIS is so well known where it grows, that it needs no description.

_Time._] It bears fruit in the months of July and August.

_Government and virtues._] Mercury rules the tree, therefore are its
effects variable as his are. The Mulberry is of different parts; the
ripe berries, by reason of their sweetness and slippery moisture,
opening the body, and the unripe binding it, especially when they are
dried, and then they are good to stay fluxes, lasks, and the abundance
of women’s courses. The bark of the root kills the broad worms in the
body. The juice, or the syrup made of the juice of the berries, helps
all inflammations or sores in the mouth, or throat, and palate of the
mouth when it is fallen down. The juice of the leaves is a remedy
against the biting of serpents, and for those that have taken aconite.
The leaves beaten with vinegar, are good to lay on any place that is
burnt with fire. A decoction made of the bark and leaves is good to
wash the mouth and teeth when they ache. If the root be a little slit
or cut, and a small hole made in the ground next thereunto, in the
Harvest-time, it will give out a certain juice, which being hardened
the next day, is of good use to help the tooth-ache, to dissolve knots,
and purge the belly. The leaves of Mulberries are said to stay bleeding
at the 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 wrists of a woman’s arm, whose courses
come down too much, doth stay them in a short space.


MULLEIN.

_Descript._] COMMON White Mullein has many fair, large, woolly white
leaves, lying next the ground, somewhat larger than broad, pointed at
the end, and as it were dented about the edges. The stalk rises up to
be four or five feet high, covered over with such like leaves, but
less, so that no stalk can be seen for the multitude of leaves 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 yellow colour, in others more pale, consisting of
five round pointed leaves, which afterwards have small round heads,
wherein is small brownish seed contained. The root is long, white, and
woody, perishing after it hath borne seed.

_Place._] It grows by way-sides and lanes, in many places of this land.

_Time._] It flowers in July or thereabouts.

_Government and virtues._] It is under the dominion of Saturn. A small
quantity of the root given in wine, is commended by Dioscorides,
against lasks and fluxes of the belly. The decoction hereof drank, 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, eases the pains of the tooth-ache. And the oil 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 opens obstructions of the bladder and reins.
A decoction of the leaves hereof, and of Sage, Marjoram, and Camomile
flowers, and the places bathed therewith, that have sinews stiff with
cold or cramps, doth bring them much ease and comfort. Three ounces of
the distilled water of the flowers drank morning and evening for some
days together, is said to be the most excellent remedy for the gout.
The juice of the leaves and flowers being laid upon rough warts, as
also the powder of the dried roots rubbed on, doth easily take them
away, but doth no good to smooth warts. The powder of the dried flowers
is an especial remedy for those that are troubled with the belly-ache,
or the pains of the cholic. The decoction of the root, and so likewise
of the leaves, is of great effect to dissolve the tumours, swellings,
or inflammations of the throat. The seed and leaves boiled in wine, and
applied, draw forth speedily thorns or splinters gotten into the flesh,
ease the pains, and heal them also. The leaves 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 blotch or boil happening in
the groin or share, doth dissolve and heal them. The seed bruised and
boiled in wine, and laid on any member that has been out of joint, and
newly set again, takes away all swelling and pain thereof.


MUSTARD.

_Descript._] OUR common Mustard hath large and broad rough leaves, very
much jagged with uneven and unorderly gashes, somewhat like turnip
leaves, but less and rougher. The stalk rises to be more than a foot
high, and sometimes two feet high, being round, rough, and branched at
the top, bearing such like leaves thereon as grow below, but lesser,
and less divided, and divers yellow flowers one above another at the
tops, after which come small rough pods, with small, lank, flat ends,
wherein is contained round yellowish seed, sharp, hot, and biting upon
the tongue. The root is small, long, and woody when it bears stalks,
and perishes every year.

_Place._] This grows with us in gardens only, and other manured places.

_Time._] It is an annual plant, flowering in July, and the seed is ripe
in August.

_Government and virtues._] It is an excellent sauce for such whose
blood wants clarifying, and for weak stomachs, being an herb of Mars,
but naught for choleric people, though as good for such as are aged,
or troubled with cold diseases. Aries claims something to do with it,
therefore it strengthens the heart, and resists poison. Let such whose
stomachs are so weak they cannot digest their meat, or appetite it,
take of Mustard-seed a dram, Cinnamon as much, and having beaten them
to powder, and half as much Mastich in powder, and with gum Arabic
dissolved in rose-water, make it up into troches, of which they may
take one of about half a dram weight an hour or two before meals; let
old men and women make much of this medicine, and they will either give
me thanks, or shew manifest ingratitude. Mustard seed hath the virtue
of heat, discussing, ratifying, and drawing out splinters of bones, and
other things of the flesh. It is of good effect to bring down women’s
courses, for the falling-sickness or lethargy, drowsy 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 purges the brain by sneezing, and drawing down rheum and
other viscous humours, 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
drank, provokes urine, resists the force of poison, the malignity of
mushrooms, and venom of scorpions, or other venomous creatures, if it
be taken in time; and taken before the cold fits of agues, alters,
lessens, and cures them. The seed taken either by itself, or with other
things, either in an electuary or drink, doth mightily stir up bodily
lust, and helps the spleen and pains in the sides, and gnawings in the
bowels; and used as a gargle draws up the palate of the mouth, being
fallen down; and also it dissolves the swellings about the throat, if
it be outwardly applied. Being chewed in the mouth it oftentimes helps
the tooth-ache. The outward application hereof upon the pained place
of the sciatica, discusses the humours, and eases the pains, as also
the gout, and other joint aches; and is much and often used to ease
pains in the sides or loins, the shoulder, or other parts of the body,
upon the plying thereof to raise blisters, and cures the disease by
drawing it to the outward parts of the body. It is also used to help
the falling off the hair. The seed bruised mixed with honey, and
applied, or made up with wax, takes away the marks and black and blue
spots of bruises, or the like, the roughness or scabbiness of the skin,
as also the leprosy, and lousy evil. It helps also the crick in the
neck. The distilled water of the herb, when it is in the flower, is
much used to drink inwardly to help in any of the diseases aforesaid,
or to wash the mouth when the palate is down, and for the disease of
the throat to gargle, but outwardly also for scabs, itch, or other the
like infirmities, and cleanses the face from morphew, spots, freckles,
and other deformities.


THE HEDGE-MUSTARD.

_Descript._] THIS grows up usually but with one blackish green stalk,
tough, easy to bend, but not to break, branched into divers parts, and
sometimes with divers stalks, set full of branches, whereon grow long,
rough, or hard rugged leaves, very much tore or cut on the edges in
many parts, some bigger, and some less, of a dirty green colour. The
flowers are small and yellow, that grow on the tops of the branches in
long spikes, flowering by degrees; so that continuing long in flower,
the stalk will have small round cods at the bottom, growing upright and
close to the stalk, while the top flowers yet shew themselves, in which
are contained small yellow seed, sharp and strong, as the herb is also.
The root grows down slender and woody, yet abiding and springing again
every year.

_Place._] This grows frequently in this land, by the ways and
hedge-sides, and sometimes in the open fields.

_Time._] It flowers most usually about July.

_Government and virtues._] Mars owns this herb also. It is singularly
good in all the diseases of the chest and lungs, hoarseness of voice:
and by the use of the decoction thereof for a little space, those have
been recovered who had utterly lost their voice, and almost their
spirits also. The juice thereof made into a syrup, or licking medicine,
with honey or sugar, is no less effectual for the same purpose, and
for all other coughs, wheezing, and shortness of breath. The same is
also profitable for those that have the jaundice, pleurisy, pains in
the back and loins, and for torments in the belly, or cholic, being
also used in clysters. The seed is held to be a special remedy against
poison and venom. It is singularly good for the sciatica, and in
joint-aches, ulcers, and cankers in the mouth, throat, or behind the
ears, and no less for the hardness and swelling of the testicles, or of
women’s breasts.


NAILWORT, OR WHITLOW-GRASS.

_Descript._] THIS very small and common herb hath no roots, save only
a few strings: neither doth it ever grow to be above a hand’s breadth
high, the leaves are very small, and something long, not much unlike
those of Chickweed, among which rise up divers slender stalks, bearing
many white flowers one above another, which are exceeding small; after
which come small flat pouches containing the seed, which is very small,
but of a sharp taste.

_Place._] It grows commonly upon old stone and brick walls, and
sometimes in gravelly grounds, especially if there be grass or moss
near to shadow it.

_Time._] They flower very early in the year, sometimes in January, and
in February; for before the end of April they are not to be found.

_Government and virtues._] It is held to be exceedingly good for
those imposthumes in the joints, and under the nails, which they call
Whitlows, Felons, Andicorns and Nail-wheals.


NEP, OR CATMINT.

_Descript._] COMMON Garden Nep shoots forth hard four-square stalks,
with a hoariness on them, a yard high or more, full of branches,
bearing at every joint two broad leaves like balm, but longer pointed,
softer, white, and more hoary, nicked about the edges, and of a strong
sweet scent. The flowers grow in large tufts at the tops of the
branches, and underneath them likewise on the stalks many together, of
a whitish purple colour. The roots are composed of many long strings
or fibres, fastening themselves stronger in the ground, and abide with
green leaves thereon all the winter.

_Place._] It is only nursed up in our gardens.

_Time._] And it flowers in July, or thereabouts.

_Government and virtues._] It is an herb of Venus. Nep is generally
used for women to procure their courses, being taken inwardly or
outwardly, either alone, or with other convenient herbs in a decoction
to bathe them, or sit over the hot fumes thereof; and by the frequent
use thereof, it takes away barrenness, and the wind, and pains of the
mother. It is also used in pains of the head coming of any cold cause,
catarrhs, rheums, and for swimming and giddiness thereof, and is of
special use for the windiness of the stomach and belly. It is effectual
for any cramp, or cold aches, to dissolve cold and wind that afflict
the place, and is used for colds, coughs, and shortness of breath. The
juice thereof drank in wine, is profitable for those that are bruised
by an accident. The green herb bruised and applied to the fundament and
lying there two or three hours, eases the pains of the piles; the juice
also being made up into an ointment, is effectual for the same purpose.
The head washed with a decoction thereof, it takes away scabs, and may
be effectual for other parts of the body also.


NETTLES.

NETTLES are so well known, that they need no description; they may be
found by feeling, in the darkest night.

_Government and virtues._] This is also an herb Mars claims dominion
over. You know Mars is hot and dry, and you know as well that Winter is
cold and moist; then you may know as well the reason why Nettle-tops
eaten in the Spring consume the phlegmatic superfluities in the body of
man, that the coldness and moistness of Winter hath left behind. The
roots or leaves boiled, or the juice of either of them, or both made
into an electuary with honey and sugar, is a safe and sure medicine
to open the pipes and passages of the lungs, which is the cause of
wheezing and shortness of breath, and helps to expectorate tough
phlegm, as also to raise the imposthumed pleurisy; and spend it by
spitting; the same helps the swelling of the almonds of the throat, the
mouth and throat being gargled therewith. The juice is also effectual
to settle the palate of the mouth in its place, and to heal and temper
the inflammations and soreness of the mouth and throat. The decoction
of the leaves in wine, being drank, is singularly good to provoke
women’s courses, and settle the suffocation, strangling of the mother,
and all other diseases thereof; it is also applied outwardly with a
little myrrh. The same also, or the seed provokes urine, and expels the
gravel and stone in the reins or bladder, often proved to be effectual
in many that have taken it. The same kills the worms in children, eases
pains in the sides, and dissolves the windiness in the spleen, as also
in the body, although others think it only powerful to provoke venery.
The juice of the leaves taken two or three days together, stays
bleeding at the mouth. The seed being drank, is a remedy against the
stinging of venomous creatures, the biting of mad dogs, the poisonous
qualities of Hemlock, Henbane, Nightshade, Mandrake, or other such
like herbs that stupify or dull the senses; as also the lethargy,
especially to use it outwardly, to rub the forehead or temples in the
lethargy, and the places stung or bitten with beasts, with a little
salt. The distilled water of the herb is also effectual (though not so
powerful) for the diseases aforesaid; as for outward wounds and sores
to wash them, and to cleanse the skin from morphew, leprosy, and other
discolourings thereof. The seed or leaves bruised, and put into the
nostrils, stays the bleeding of them, and takes away the flesh growing
in them called polypus. The juice of the leaves, or the decoction of
them, or of the root, is singularly good to wash either old, rotten,
or stinking sores or fistulous, and gangrenes, and such as fretting,
eating, or corroding scabs, manginess, and itch, in any part of the
body, as also green wounds, by washing them therewith, or applying the
green herb bruised thereunto, yea, although the flesh were separated
from the bones; the same applied to our wearied members, refresh them,
or to place those that have been out of joint, being first set up
again, strengthens, dries, and comforts them, as also those places
troubled with aches and gouts, and the defluxion of humours upon the
joints or sinews; it eases the pains, and dries or dissolves the
defluctions. An ointment made of the juice, oil, and a little wax, is
singularly good to rub cold and benumbed members. An handful of the
leaves of green Nettles, and another of Wallwort, or Deanwort, bruised
and applied simply themselves to the gout, sciatica, or joint aches in
any part, hath been found to be an admirable help thereunto.


NIGHTSHADE.

_Descript._] COMMON Nightshade hath an upright, round, green, hollow
stalk, about a foot or half a yard high, bushing forth in many
branches, whereon grow many green leaves, somewhat broad, and pointed
at the ends, soft and full of juice, somewhat like unto Bazil, but
longer and a little unevenly dented about the edges: At the tops of the
stalks and branches come forth three or four more white flowers made
of five small pointed leaves a-piece, standing on a stalk together,
one above another, with yellow pointels in the middle, composed of
four or five yellow threads set together, which afterwards run into so
many pendulous green berries, of the bigness of small pease, full of
green juice, and small whitish round flat seed lying within it. The
root is white, and a little woody when it hath given flower and fruit,
with many small fibres at it; The whole plant is of a waterish insipid
taste, but the juice within the berries is somewhat viscous, and of a
cooling and binding quality.

_Place._] It grows wild with us under our walls, and in rubbish, the
common paths, and sides of hedges and fields, as also in our gardens
here in England, without any planting.

_Time._] It lies down every year, and rises up again of its own sowing,
but springs not until the latter end of April at the soonest.

_Government and virtues._] It is a cold Saturnine plant. The common
Nightshade is wholly used to cool hot inflammations either inwardly
or outwardly, being no ways dangerous to any that use it, as most
of the rest of the Nightshades are; yet it must be used moderately.
The distilled water only of the whole herb is fittest and safest to
be taken inwardly: The juice also clarified and taken, being mingled
with a little vinegar, is good to wash the mouth and throat that is
inflamed: But outwardly the juice of the herb or berries, with oil of
roses and a little vinegar and ceruse laboured together in a leaden
mortar, is very good to anoint all hot inflammations in the eyes. It
also doth much good for the shingles, ringworms, and in all running,
fretting and corroding ulcers, applied thereunto. The juice dropped
into the ears, eases pains thereof that arise of heat or inflammations.
And Pliny saith, it is good for hot swellings under the throat. Have
a care you mistake not the deadly Nightshade for this; if you know
it not, you may let them both alone, and take no harm, having other
medicines sufficient in the book.


THE OAK.

IT is so well known (the timber thereof being the glory and safety of
this nation by sea) that it needs no description.

_Government and virtues._] Jupiter owns the tree. The leaves and bark
of the Oak, and the acorn cups, do bind and dry very much. The inner
bark of the tree, and the thin skin that covers the acorn, are most
used to stay the spitting of blood, and the bloody-flux. The decoction
of that bark, and the powder of the cups, do stay vomitings, spitting
of blood, bleeding at the mouth, or other fluxes of blood, in men or
women; lasks also, and the nocturnal involuntary flux of men. The acorn
in powder taken in wine, provokes urine, and resists the poison of
venomous creatures. The decoction of acorns and the bark made in milk
and taken, resists the force of poisonous herbs and medicines, as also
the virulency of cantharides, when one by eating them hath his bladder
exulcerated, and voids bloody urine. Hippocrates saith, he used the
fumes of Oak leaves to women that were troubled with the strangling
of the mother; and Galen applied them, being bruised, to cure green
wounds. The distilled water of the Oaken bud, before they break out
into leaves is good to be used either inwardly or outwardly, to assuage
inflammations, and to stop all manner of fluxes in man or woman. The
same is singularly good in pestilential and hot burning fevers; for
it resists the force of the infection, and allays the heat: It cools
the heat of the liver, breaking the stone in the kidneys, and stays
women’s courses. The decoction of the leaves works the same effects.
The water that is found in the hollow places of old Oaks, is very
effectual against any foul or spreading scabs. The distilled water (or
concoction, which is better) of the leaves, is one of the best remedies
that I know of for the whites in women.


OATS,

ARE so well known that they need no description.

_Government and virtues._] Oats fried with bay salt, and applied to
the sides, take away the pains of stitches and wind in the sides or
the belly. A poultice made of meal of Oats, and some oil of Bays put
thereunto, helps the itch and the leprosy, as also the fistulas of the
fundament, and dissolves hard imposthumes. The meal of Oats boiled with
vinegar, and applied, takes away freckles and spots in the face, and
other parts of the body.


ONE BLADE.

_Descript._] THIS small plant never bears more than one leaf, but only
when it rises up with his stalk, which thereon bears another, and
seldom more, which are of a blueish green colour, pointed, with many
ribs or veins therein, like Plantain. At the top of the stalk grow many
small white flowers, star fashion, smelling somewhat sweet; after which
come small red berries, when they are ripe. The root is small, of the
bigness of a rush, lying and creeping under the upper crust of the
earth, shooting forth in divers places.

_Place._] It grows in moist, shadowy and grassy places of woods, in
many parts of this land.

_Time._] It flowers about May, and the berries are ripe in June, and
then quickly perishes, until the next year it springs from the same
root again.

_Government and virtues._] It is a precious herb of the Sun. Half a
dram, or a dram at most, in powder of the roots hereof taken in wine
and vinegar, of each equal parts, and the party laid presently to sweat
thereupon, is held to be a sovereign remedy for those that are infected
with the plague, and have a sore upon them, by expelling the poison and
infection, and defending the heart and spirits from danger. It is a
singularly good wound herb, and is thereupon used with other the like
effects in many compound balms for curing of wounds, be they fresh and
green, or old and malignant, and especially if the sinews be burnt.


ORCHIS.

IT has almost as many several names attributed to the several sorts of
it, as would almost fill a sheet of paper; as dog-stones, goat-stones,
fool-stones, fox-stones, satiricon, cullians, together with many others
too tedious to rehearse.

_Descript._] To describe all the several sorts of it were an endless
piece of work; therefore I shall only describe the roots because they
are to be used with some discretion. They have each of them a double
root within, some of them are round, in others like a hand; these roots
alter every year by course, when the one rises and waxes full, the
other waxes lank, and perishes. Now, it is that which is full which is
to be used in medicines, the other being either of no use at all, or
else, according to the humour of some, it destroys and disannuls the
virtues of the other, quite undoing what that doth.

_Time._] One or other of them may be found in flower from the beginning
of April to the latter end of August.

_Government and virtues._] They are hot and moist in operation, under
the dominion of Dame Venus, and provoke lust exceedingly, which, they
say, the dried and withered roots do restrain. They are held to kill
worms in children; as also, being bruised and applied to the place, to
heal the king’s evil.


ONIONS.

THEY are so well known, that I need not spend time about writing a
description of them.

_Government and virtues._] Mars owns them, and they have gotten this
quality, to draw any corruption to them, for if you peel one, and
lay it upon a dunghill, you shall find it rotten in half a day, by
drawing putrefaction to it; then, being bruised and applied to a plague
sore, it is very probable it will do the like. Onions are flatulent,
or windy; yet they do somewhat provoke appetite, increase thirst,
ease the belly and bowels, provoke women’s courses, help the biting
of a mad dog, and of other venomous creatures, to be used with honey
and rue, increase sperm, especially the seed of them. They also kill
worms in children if they drink the water fasting wherein they have
been steeped all night. Being roasted under the embers, and eaten
with honey or sugar and oil, they much conduce to help an inveterate
cough, and expectorate the cough phlegm. The juice being snuffed up
into the nostrils, purges the head, and helps the lethargy, (yet the
often eating them is said to procure pains in the head.) It hath been
held by divers country people a great preservative against infection,
to eat Onions fasting with bread and salt: As also to make a great
Onion hollow, filling the place with good treacle, and after to roast
it well under the embers, which, after taking away the outermost skin
thereof, being beaten together, is a sovereign salve for either plague
or sore, or any other putrefied ulcer. The juice of Onions is good for
either scalding or burning by fire, water, or gunpowder, and used with
vinegar, takes away all blemishes, spots and marks in the skin: and
dropped in the ears, eases the pains and noise of them. Applied also
with figs beaten together, helps to ripen and break imposthumes, and
other sores.

Leeks are as like them in quality, as the pome-water is like an apple:
They are a remedy against a surfeit of mushrooms, being baked under
the embers and taken, and being boiled and applied very warm, help
the piles. In other things they have the same property as the Onions,
although not so effectual.


ORPINE.

_Descript._] COMMON Orpine rises up with divers rough brittle stalks,
thick set with fat and fleshy leaves, without any order, and little
or nothing dented about the edges, of a green colour: The flowers are
white, or whitish, growing in tufts, after which come small chaffy
husks, with seeds like dust in them. The roots are divers thick, round,
white tuberous clogs; and the plant grows not so big in some places as
in others where it is found.

_Place._] It is frequent in almost every county of this land, and is
cherished in gardens with us, where it grows greater than that which is
wild, and grows in shadowy sides of fields and woods.

_Time._] It flowers about July, and the seed is ripe in August.

_Government and virtues._] The Moon owns the herb, and he that knows
but her exaltaration, knows what I say is true. Orpine is seldom used
in inward medicines with us, although Tragus saith from experience in
Germany, that the distilled water thereof is profitable for gnawings
or excoriations in the stomach or bowels, or for ulcers in the lungs,
liver, or other inward parts, as also in the matrix, and helps all
those diseases, being drank for certain days together. It stays the
sharpness of humours in the bloody-flux, and other fluxes in the body,
or in wounds. The root thereof also performs the like effect. It is
used outwardly to cool any heat or inflammation upon any hurt or wound,
and eases the pains of them; as, also, to heal scaldings or burnings,
the juice thereof being beaten with some green sallad oil, and
anointed. The leaf bruised, and laid to any green wound in the hand or
legs, doth heal them quickly; and being bound to the throat, much helps
the quinsy; it helps also ruptures and burstenness. If you please to
make the juice thereof into a syrup with honey or sugar, you may safely
take a spoonful or two at a time, (let my author say what he will) for
a quinsy, and you shall find the medicine pleasant, and the cure speedy.


PARSLEY.

THIS is so well known, that it needs no description.

_Government and virtues._] It is under the dominion of Mercury; is very
comfortable to the stomach; helps to provoke urine and women’s courses,
to break wind both in the stomach and bowels, and doth a little open
the body, but the root much more. It opens obstructions both of liver
and spleen, and is therefore accounted one of the five opening roots.
Galen commended it against the falling sickness, and to provoke urine
mightily; especially if the roots be boiled, and eaten like Parsnips.
The seed is effectual to provoke urine and women’s courses, to expel
wind, to break the stone, and ease the pains and torments thereof;
it is also effectual against the venom of any poisonous creature,
and the danger that comes to them that have the lethargy, and is as
good against the cough. The distilled water of Parsley is a familiar
medicine with nurses to give their children when they are troubled
with wind in the stomach or belly which they call the frets; and is
also much available to them that are of great years. The leaves of
Parsley laid to the eyes that are inflamed with heat, or swollen, doth
much help them, if it be used with bread or meal; and being fried
with butter, and applied to women’s breasts that are hard through the
curdling of their milk, it abates the hardness quickly; and also takes
away black and blue marks coming of bruises or falls. The juice thereof
dropped into the ears with a little wine, eases the pains. Tragus sets
down an excellent medicine to help the jaundice and falling sickness,
the dropsy, and stone in the kidneys, in this manner: Take of the seed
of Parsley, Fennel, Annise and Carraways, of each an ounce; of the
roots of Parsley, Burnet, Saxifrage, and Carraways, of each an ounce
and an half; let the seeds be bruised, and the roots washed and cut
small; let them lie all night to steep in a bottle of white wine, and
in the morning be boiled in a close earthen vessel until a third part
or more be wasted; which being strained and cleared, take four ounces
thereof morning and evening first and last, abstaining from drink after
it for three hours. This opens obstructions of the liver and spleen,
and expels the dropsy and jaundice by urine.


PARSLEY PIERT, OR PARSLEY BREAK
STONE.

_Descript._] THE root, although it be very small and thready, yet it
continues many years, from which arise many leaves lying along on the
ground, each standing upon a long small foot-stalk, the leaves as broad
as a man’s nail, very deeply dented on the edges, somewhat like a
parsley-leaf, but of a very dusky green colour. The stalks are very
weak and slender, about three or four fingers in length, set so full
of leaves that they can hardly be seen, either having no foot-stalk at
all, or but very short; the flowers are so small they can hardly be
seen, and the seed as small as may be.

_Place._] It is a common herb throughout the nation, and rejoices
in barren, sandy, moist places. It may be found plentifully about
Hampstead Heath, Hyde Park, and in Tothill-fields.

_Time._] It may be found all the Summer-time, even from the beginning
of April to the end of October.

_Government and virtues._] Its operation is very prevalent to provoke
urine, and to break the stone. It is a very good sallad herb. It were
good the gentry would pickle it up as they pickle up Samphire for
their use all the Winter. I cannot teach them how to do it; yet this
I can tell them, it is a very wholesome herb. They may also keep the
herb dry, or in a syrup, if they please. You may take a dram of the
powder of it in white wine; it would bring away gravel from the kidneys
insensibly, and without pain. It also helps the stranguary.


PARSNIPS.

THE garden kind thereof is so well known (the root being commonly
eaten) that I shall not trouble you with any description of it. But the
wild kind being of more physical use, I shall in this place describe it
unto you.

_Descript._] The wild Parsnip differs little from the garden, but
grows not so fair and large, nor hath so many leaves, and the root is
shorter, more woody, and not so fit to be eaten, and therefore more
medicinal.

_Place._] The name of the first shews the place of its growth. The
other grows wild in divers places, as in the marshes in Rochester,
and elsewhere, and flowers in July; the seed being ripe about the
beginning of August, the second year after its sowing; for if they do
flower the first year, the country people call them Madneps.

_Government and virtues._] The garden Parsnips are under Venus. The
garden Parsnip nourishes much, and is good and wholesome nourishment,
but a little windy, whereby it is thought to procure bodily lust; but
it fastens the body much, if much need. It is conducible to the stomach
and reins, and provokes urine. But the wild Parsnips hath a cutting,
attenuating, cleansing, and opening quality therein. It resists and
helps the bitings of serpents, eases the pains and stitches in the
sides, and dissolves wind both in the stomach and bowels, which is the
cholic, and provokes urine. The root is often used, but the seed much
more. The wild being better than the tame, shews Dame Nature to be the
best physician.


COW PARSNIPS.

_Descript._] THIS grows with three or four large, spread winged, rough
leaves, lying often on the ground, or else raised a little from it,
with long, round, hairy foot-stalks under them, parted usually into
five divisions, the two couples standing each against the other; and
one at the end, and each leaf, being almost round, yet somewhat deeply
cut in on the edges in some leaves, and not so deep in others, of a
whitish green colour, smelling somewhat strongly; among which rises
up a round, crusted, hairy stalk, two or three feet high, with a few
joints and leaves thereon, and branched at the top, where stand large
umbels of white, and sometimes reddish flowers, and after them flat,
whitish, thin, winged seed, two always joined together. The root is
long and white, with two or three long strings growing down into the
ground, smelling likewise strongly and unpleasant.

_Place._] It grows in moist meadows, and the borders and corners of
fields, and near ditches, through this land.

_Time._] It flowers in July, and seeds in August.

_Government and virtues._] Mercury hath the dominion over them. The
seed thereof, as Galen saith, is of a sharp and cutting quality, and
therefore is a fit medicine for a cough and shortness of breath,
the falling sickness and jaundice. The root is available to all the
purposes aforesaid, and is also of great use to take away the hard skin
that grows on a fistula, if it be but scraped upon it. The seed hereof
being drank, cleanses the belly from tough phlegmatic matter therein,
eases them that are liver-grown, women’s passions of the mother, as
well being drank as the smoke thereof received, and likewise raises
such as are fallen into a deep sleep, or have the lethargy, by burning
it under their nose. The seed and root boiled in oil, and the head
rubbed therewith, helps not only those that are fallen into a frenzy,
but also the lethargy or drowsy evil, and those that have been long
troubled with the head-ache, if it be likewise used with Rue. It helps
also the running scab and shingles. The juice of the flowers dropped
into the ears that run and are full of matter, cleanses and heals them.


THE PEACH TREE.

_Descript._] A PEACH tree grows not so great as the Apricot tree, yet
spreads branches reasonable well, from whence spring smaller reddish
twigs, whereon are set long and narrow green leaves dented about the
edges. The blossoms are greater than the plumb, and of a light purple
colour; the fruit round, and sometimes as big as a reasonable Pippin,
others smaller, as also differing in colour and taste, as russet, red,
or yellow, waterish or firm, with a frize or cotton all over, with a
cleft therein like an Apricot, and a rugged, furrowed, great stone
within it, and a bitter kernel within the stone. It sooner waxes old,
and decays, than the Apricot, by much.

_Place._] They are nursed in gardens and orchards through this land.

_Time._] They flower in the Spring, and fructify in Autumn.

_Government and virtues._] Lady Venus owns this tree, and by it opposes
the ill effects of Mars, and indeed for children and young people,
nothing is better to purge choler and the jaundice, than the leaves or
flowers of this tree being made into a syrup or conserve. Let such as
delight to please their lust regard the fruit; but such as have lost
their health, and their children’s, let them regard what I say, they
may safely give two spoonfuls of the syrup at a time; it is as gentle
as Venus herself. The leaves of peaches bruised and laid on the belly,
kill worms, and so they do also being boiled in ale and drank, and
open the belly likewise; and, being dried, is a far safer medicine to
discuss humours. The powder of them strewed upon fresh bleeding wounds
stays their bleeding, and closes them up. The flowers steeped all
night in a little wine standing warm, strained forth in the morning,
and drank fasting, doth gently open the belly, and move it downward. A
syrup made of them, as the syrup of roses is made, works more forcibly
than that of roses, for it provokes vomiting, and spends waterish and
hydropic humours by the continuance thereof. The flowers made into a
conserve, work the same effect. The liquor that dropped from the tree,
being wounded, is given in the decoction of Coltsfoot, to those that
are troubled with a cough or shortness of breath, by adding thereunto
some sweet wine, and putting some saffron also therein. It is good for
those that are hoarse, or have lost their voice; helps all defects
of the lungs, and those that vomit and spit blood. Two drams hereof
given in the juice of lemons, or of radish, is good for them that are
troubled with the stone, the kernels of the stones do wonderfully ease
the pains and wringings of the belly through wind or sharp humours, and
help to make an excellent medicine for the stone upon all occasions,
in this manner: _I take fifty kernels of peach-stones, and one hundred
of the kernels of cherry-stones, a handful of elder flowers fresh or
dried, and three pints of Muscadel; set them in a close pot into a bed
of horse-dung for ten days, after which distil in a glass with a gentle
fire_, and keep it for your use: You may drink upon occasion three or
four ounces at a time. The milk or cream of these kernels being drawn
forth with some Vervain water and applied to the forehead and temples,
doth much help to procure rest and sleep to sick persons wanting it.
The oil drawn from the kernels, the temples being therewith anointed,
doth the like. The said oil put into clysters, eases the pains of the
wind cholic: and anointed on the lower part of the belly, doth the
like, and dropped into the ears, eases pains in them; the juice of the
leaves doth the like. Being also anointed on the forehead and temples,
it helps the megrim, and all other pains in the head. If the kernels
be bruised and boiled in vinegar, until they become thick, and applied
to the head, it marvellously procures the hair to grow again upon bald
places, or where it is too thin.


THE PEAR TREE.

PEAR Trees are so well known, that they need no description.

_Government and virtues._] The Tree belongs to Venus, and so doth the
Apple tree. For their physical use they are best discerned by their
taste. All the sweet and luscious sorts, whether manured or wild, do
help to move the belly downwards, more or less. Those that are hard and
sour, do, on the contrary, bind the belly as much, and the leaves do
so also: Those that are moist do in some sort cool, but harsh or wild
sorts much more, and are very good in repelling medicines; and if the
wild sort be boiled with mushrooms, it makes them less dangerous. The
said Pears boiled with a little honey, help much the oppressed stomach,
as all sorts of them do, some more, some less: but the harsher sorts
do more cool and bind, serving well to be bound to green wounds, to
cool and stay the blood, and heal up the green wound without farther
trouble, or inflammation, as Galen saith he hath found by experience.
The wild Pears do sooner close up the lips of green wounds than others.

Schola Selerni advises to drink much wine after Pears, or else (say
they) they are as bad as poison; nay, and they curse the tree for it
too; but if a poor man find his stomach oppressed by eating Pears, it
is but working hard, and it will do as well as drinking wine.


PELLITORY OF SPAIN.

COMMON Pellitory of Spain, if it be planted in our gardens, will
prosper very well; yet there is one sort growing ordinarily here wild,
which I esteem to be little inferior to the other, if at all. I shall
not deny you the description of them both.

_Descript._] Common Pellitory is a very common plant, and will not be
kept in our gardens without diligent looking to. The root goes down
right into the ground bearing leaves, being long and finely cut upon
the stalk, lying on the ground, much larger than the leaves of the
Camomile are. At the top it bears one single large flower at a place,
having a border of many leaves, white on the upper side, and reddish
underneath, with a yellow thrum in the middle, not standing so close as
that of Camomile.

The other common Pellitory which grows here, hath a root of a sharp
biting taste, scarcely discernible by the taste from that before
described, from whence arise divers brittle stalks, a yard high and
more, with narrow leaves finely dented about the edges, standing one
above another up to the tops. The flowers are many and white, standing
in tufts like those of Yarrow, with a small yellowish thrum in the
middle. The seed is very small.

_Place._] The last grows in fields by the hedge sides and paths, almost
every where.

_Time._] It flowers at the latter end of June and July.

_Government and virtues._] It is under the government of Mercury, and
I am persuaded it is one of the best purgers of the brain that grows.
An ounce of the juice taken in a draught of Muskadel an hour before the
fit of the ague comes, it will assuredly drive away the ague at the
second or third time taken at the farthest. Either the herb or root
dried and chewed in the mouth, purges the brain of phlegmatic humours;
thereby not only easing pains in the head and teeth, but also hinders
the distilling of the brain upon the lungs and eyes, thereby preventing
coughs, phthisicks and consumption, the apoplexy and falling sickness.
It is an excellently approved remedy in the lethargy. The powder of
the herb or root being snuffed up the nostrils, procures sneezing, and
eases the head-ache; being made into an ointment with hog’s grease, it
takes away black and blue spots occasioned by blows or falls, and helps
both the gout and sciatica.


PELLITORY OF THE WALL.

_Descript._] IT rises with brownish, red, tender, weak, clear, and
almost transparent stalks, about two feet high, upon which grow at the
joints two leaves somewhat broad and long, of a dark green colour,
which afterwards turn brownish, smooth on the edges, but rough and
hairy, as the stalks are also. At the joints with the leaves from the
middle of the stalk upwards, where it spreads into branches, stand many
small, pale, purplish flowers in hairy, rough heads, or husks, after
which come small, black, rough seed, which will stick to any cloth
or garment that shall touch it. The root is somewhat long, with small
fibres thereat, of a dark reddish colour, which abides the Winter,
although the stalks and leaves perish and spring every year.

_Place._] It grows wild generally through the land, about the borders
of fields, and by the sides of walls, and among rubbish. It will endure
well being brought up in gardens, and planted on the shady side, where
it will spring of its own sowing.

_Time._] It flowers in June and July, and the seed is ripe soon after.

_Government and virtues._] It is under the dominion of Mercury. The
dried herb Pellitory made up into an electuary with honey, or the
juices of the herb, or the decoction thereof made up with sugar or
honey, is a singular remedy for an old or dry cough, the shortness of
breath, and wheezing in the throat. Three ounces of the juice thereof
taken at a time, doth wonderfully help stopping of the urine, and to
expel the stone or gravel in the kidneys or bladder, and is therefore
usually put among other herbs used in clysters to mitigate pains in
the back, sides, or bowels, proceeding of wind, stopping of urine, the
gravel or stone, as aforesaid. If the bruised herb, sprinkled with
some Muskadel, be warmed upon a tile, or in a dish upon a few quick
coals in a chafing-dish, and applied to the belly, it works the same
effect. The decoction of the herb being drank, eases pains of the
mother, and brings down women’s courses: It also eases those griefs
that arise from obstructions of the liver, spleen, and reins. The same
decoction, with a little honey added thereto, is good to gargle a
sore throat. The juice held a while in the mouth, eases pains in the
teeth. The distilled water of the herb drank with some sugar, works
the same effects, and cleanses the skin from spots, freckles, purples,
wheals, sun-burn, morphew, &c. The juice dropped into the ears, eases
the noise in them, and takes away the pricking and shooting pains
therein: The same, or the distilled water, assuages hot and swelling
imposthumes, burnings and scaldings by fire or water; as also all
other hot tumours and inflammations, or breakings-out, of heat, being
bathed often with wet cloths dipped therein: The said juice made into
a liniment with ceruss, and oil of roses, and anointed therewith,
cleanses foul rotten ulcers, and stays spreading or creeping ulcers,
and running scabs or sores in children’s heads; and helps to stay the
hair from falling off the head. The said ointment, or the herb applied
to the fundament, opens the piles, and eases their pains; and being
mixed with goats’ tallow, helps the gout. The juice is very effectual
to cleanse fistulas, and to heal them up safely; or the herb itself
bruised and applied with a little salt. It is likewise also effectual
to heal any green wound; if it be bruised and bound thereto for three
days, you shall need no other medicine to heal it further. A poultice
made hereof with Mallows, and boiled in wine and wheat bran and bean
flour, and some oil put thereto, and applied warm to any bruised
sinews, tendon, or muscle, doth in a very short time restore them to
their strength, taking away the pains of the bruises, and dissolves the
congealed blood coming of blows, or falls from high places.

The juice of Pellitory of the Wall clarified and boiled in a syrup with
honey, and a spoonful of it drank every morning by such as are subject
to the dropsy; if continuing that course, though but once a week, they
ever have the dropsy, let them but come to me, and I will cure them
_gratis_.


PENNYROYAL.

PENNYROYAL is so well known unto all, I mean the common kind, that it
needs no description.

There is a greater kind than the ordinary sort found wild with us,
which so abides, being brought into gardens, and differs not from it,
but only in the largeness of the leaves and stalks, in rising higher,
and not creeping upon the ground so much. The flowers whereof are
purple, growing in rundles about the stalks like the other.

_Place._] The first, which is common in gardens, grows also in many
moist and watery places of this land.

The second is found wild in effect in divers places by the highways
from London to Colchester, and thereabouts, more abundantly than in any
other counties, and is also planted in their gardens in Essex.

_Time._] They flower in the latter end of Summer, about August.

_Government and virtues._] The herb is under Venus. Dioscorides saith,
that Pennyroyal makes thin tough phlegm, warms the coldness of any part
whereto it is applied, and digests raw or corrupt matter; Being boiled
and drank, it provokes women’s courses, and expels the dead child and
after-birth, and stays the disposition to vomit, being taken in water
and vinegar mingled together. And being mingled with honey and salt,
it voids phlegm out of the lungs, and purges melancholy by the stool.
Drank with wine, it helps such as are bitten and stung with venomous
beasts, and applied to the nostrils with vinegar, revives those that
are fainting and swooning. Being dried and burnt, it strengthens the
gums. It is helpful to those that are troubled with the gout, being
applied of itself to the place until it was red; and applied in a
plaister, it takes away spots or marks in the face; applied with salt,
it profits those that are splenetic, or livergrown. The decoction doth
help the itch, if washed therewith. The green herb bruised and put into
vinegar, cleanses foul ulcers, and takes away the marks of bruises and
blows about the eyes, and all discolourings of the face by fire, yea,
and the leprosy, being drank and outwardly applied: Boiled in wine
with honey and salt, it helps the tooth-ache. It helps the cold griefs
by the joints, taking away the pains, and warms the cold part, being
fast bound to the place, after a bathing or sweating in a hot house.
Pliny adds, that Pennyroyal and Mints together, help faintings, being
put into vinegar, and smelled unto, or put into the nostrils or mouth.
It eases head-aches, pains of the breast and belly, and gnawings of
the stomach; applied with honey, salt, and vinegar, it helps cramps or
convulsions of the sinews: Boiled in milk, and drank, it is effectual
for the cough, and for ulcers and sores in the mouth; drank in wine it
provokes women’s courses, and expels the dead child, and after-birth.
Matthiolus saith, The decoction thereof being drank, helps the jaundice
and dropsy, all pains of the head and sinews that come of a cold cause,
and clears the eye-sight. It helps the lethargy, and applied with
barley-meal, helps burnings; and put into the ears, eases the pains of
them.


MALE AND FEMALE PEONY.

_Descript._] MALE Peony rises up with brownish stalks, whereon grow
green and reddish leaves, upon a stalk without any particular division
in the leaf at all. The flowers stand at the top of the stalks,
consisting of five or six broad leaves, of a fair purplish red colour,
with many yellow threads in the middle standing about the head, which
after rises up to be the seed vessels, divided into two, three, or
four crooked pods like horns, which being full ripe, open and turn
themselves down backwards, shewing with them divers round, black,
shining seeds, having also many crimson grains, intermixed with black,
whereby it makes a very pretty shew. The roots are great, thick and
long, spreading and running down deep in the ground.

The ordinary Female Peony hath as many stalks, and more leaves on them
than the Male; the leaves not so large, but nicked on the edges, some
with great and deep, others with small cuts and divisions, of a dead
green colour. The flowers are of a strong heady scent, 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 is black, but less shining. The root
consists of many short tuberous clogs, fastened at the end of long
strings, and all from the heads of the roots, 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.

_Government and virtues._] It is an herb of the Sun, and under the
Lion. Physicians say, Male Peony roots are best; but Dr. Reason told
me Male Peony was best for men, and Female Peony for women, and he
desires to be judged by his brother Dr. Experience. The roots are
held to be of more virtue than the seed; next the flowers; and, last
of all, the leaves. The roots of the Male Peony, fresh gathered,
having 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 somewhat small, and laid to infuse in sack for 24 hours at the
least, afterwards strain it, and take it first and last, morning and
evening, a good draught for sundry days together, before and after a
full moon: and this will also cure old 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 cleansed
after child-birth, and such as are troubled with the mother; for
which likewise the black seed beaten to powder, 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 disease called Ephialtes, or Incubus, but we do commonly call
it the Night-mare: a disease which melancholy persons are subject
unto: It is also good against melancholy dreams. The distilled water
or syrup made of the flowers, works the same effects that the root
and seed do, although more weakly. The Female’s is often used for the
purpose 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.


PEPPERWORT, OR DITTANDER.

_Descript._] OUR common Pepperwort sends forth somewhat long and broad
leaves, of a light blueish green colour, finely dented about the edges,
and pointed at the ends, standing upon round hard stalks, three or
four feet high, spreading many branches on all sides, and having many
small white flowers at the tops of them, after which follow small seeds
in small heads. The root is slender, running much under ground, and
shooting up again in many places, and both leaves and roots are very
hot and sharp of taste, like pepper, for which cause it took the name.

_Place._] It grows naturally in many places of this land, as at Clare
in Essex; also near unto Exeter in Devonshire; upon Rochester common
in Kent; in Lancashire, and divers other places; but usually kept in
gardens.

_Time._] It flowers in the end of June, and in July.

_Government and virtues._] Here is another martial herb for you, make
much of it. Pliny and Paulus Ægineta say, that Pepperwort is very
successful for the sciatica, or any other gout or pain in the joints,
or any other inveterate grief: The leaves hereof to be bruised, and
mixed with old hog’s grease, and applied to the place, and to continue
thereon four hours in men, and two hours in women, the place being
afterwards bathed with wine and oil mixed together, and then wrapped up
with wool or skins, after they have sweat a little. It also amends the
deformities or discolourings of the skin, and helps to take away marks,
scars, and scabs, or the foul marks of burning with fire or iron. The
juice hereof is by some used to be given in ale to drink, to women with
child, to procure them a speedy delivery in travail.


PERIWINKLE.

_Descript._] THE common sort hereof hath many branches trailing or
running upon the ground, shooting out small fibres at the joints as it
runs, taking thereby hold in the ground, and rooteth in divers places.
At the joints of these branches stand two small, dark-green, shining
leaves, somewhat like bay leaves, but smaller, and with them come forth
also the flowers (one at a joint) standing upon a tender foot-stalk,
being somewhat long and hollow, parted at the brims, sometimes into
four, sometimes into five leaves: The most ordinary sorts are of a pale
blue colour; some are pure white, some of a dark reddish purple colour.
The root is little bigger than a rush, bushing in the ground, and
creeping with his branches far about, whereby it quickly possesses a
great compass, and is therefore most usually planted under hedges where
it may have room to run.

_Place._] Those with the pale blue, and those with the white flowers,
grow in woods and orchards, by the hedge-sides, in divers places of
this land; but those with the purple flowers, in gardens only.

_Time._] They flower in March and April.

_Government and virtues._] Venus owns this herb, and saith, That the
leaves eaten by man and wife together, cause love between them. The
Periwinkle is a great binder, stays bleeding both at mouth and nose,
if some of the leaves be chewed. The French used it to stay women’s
courses. Dioscorides, Galen, and Ægineta, commend it against the lasks
and fluxes of the belly to be drank in wine.


ST. PETER’S WORT.

IF Superstition had not been the father of Tradition, as well as
Ignorance the Mother of Devotion, this herb, (as well as St. John’s
Wort) hath found some other name to be known by; but we may say of our
forefathers, as St. Paul of the Athenians, _I perceive in many things
you are too superstitious_. Yet seeing it is come to pass, that custom
having got in possession, pleads prescription for the name, I shall let
it pass, and come to the description of the herb, which take as follows.

_Descript._] It rises up with square upright stalks for the most part,
some greater and higher than St. John’s Wort (and good reason too, St.
Peter being the greater apostle, (ask the Pope else;) for though God
would have the saints equal, the Pope is of another opinion,) but brown
in the same manner, having two leaves at every joint, somewhat like,
but larger, than St. John’s Wort, and a little rounder pointed, with
few or no holes to be seen thereon, and having sometimes some smaller
leaves rising from the bosom of the greater, and sometimes a little
hairy also. At the tops of two stalks stand many star-like flowers,
with yellow threads in the middle, very like those of St. John’s
Wort, insomuch that this is hardly discerned from it, but only by the
largeness and height, the seed being alike also in both. The root
abides long, sending forth new shoots every year.

_Place._] It grows in many groves, and small low woods, in divers
places of this land, as in Kent, Huntingdon, Cambridge, and
Northamptonshire; as also near water-courses in other places.

_Time._] It flowers in June and July, and the seed is ripe in August.

_Government and virtues._] There is not a straw to choose between this
and St. John’s Wort, only St. Peter must have it, lest he should want
pot herbs; It is of the same property of St. John’s Wort, but somewhat
weaker, and therefore more seldom used. Two drams of the seed taken at
a time in honied water, purges choleric humours, (as saith Dioscorides,
Pliny, and Galen,) and thereby helps those that are troubled with the
sciatica. The leaves are used as St. John’s Wort, to help those places
of the body that have been burnt with fire.


PIMPERNEL.

_Descript._] COMMON Pimpernel hath divers weak square stalks lying
on the ground, beset all with two small and almost round leaves at
every joint, one against another, very like Chickweed, but hath no
foot-stalks; for the leaves, as it were, compase the stalk. The flowers
stand singly each by themselves at them and the stalk, consisting of
five small round-pointed leaves, of a pale red colour, tending to an
orange, with so many threads in the middle, in whose places succeed
smooth round heads, wherein is contained small seed. The root is small
and fibrous, perishing every year.

_Place._] It grows almost every where as well in the meadows and
corn-fields, as by the way-sides, and in gardens, arising of itself.

_Time._] It flowers from May until April, and the seed ripens in the
mean time, and falls.

_Government and virtues._] It is a gallant solar herb, of a cleansing
attractive quality, whereby it draws forth thorns or splinters, or
other such like things gotten into the flesh; and put up into the
nostrils, purges the head; and Galen saith also, they have a drying
faculty, whereby they are good to solder the lips of wounds, and to
cleanse foul ulcers. The distilled water or juice is much esteemed by
French dames to cleanse the skin from any roughness and deformity, or
discolouring thereof; being boiled in wine and given to drink, it is
a good remedy against the plague, and other pestilential fevers, if
the party after taking it be warm in his bed, and sweat for two hours
after, and use the same for twice at least. It helps also all stingings
and bitings of venomous beasts, or mad dogs, being used inwardly, and
applied outwardly. The same also opens obstructions of the liver, and
is very available against the infirmities of the reins: It provokes
urine, and helps to expel the stone and gravel out of the kidneys and
bladder, and helps much in all inward pains and ulcers. The decoction,
or distilled water, is no less effectual to be applied to all wounds
that are fresh and green, or old, filthy, fretting, and running ulcers,
which it very effectually cures in a short space. A little mixed with
the juice, and dropped into the eyes, cleanses them from cloudy mists,
or thick films which grow over them, and hinder the sight. It helps the
tooth-ache, being dropped into the ear on a contrary side of the pain.
It is also effectual to ease the pains of the hæmorrhoids or piles.


GROUND PINE, OR CHAMEPITYS.

_Descript._] OUR common Ground Pine grows low, seldom rising above a
hand’s breadth high, shooting forth divers small branches, set with
slender, small, long, narrow, greyish, or whitish leaves, somewhat
hairy, and divided into three parts, many bushing together at a joint,
some growing scatteringly upon the stalks, smelling somewhat strong,
like unto rozin: The flowers are small, and of a pale yellow colour,
growing from the joint of the stalk all along among the leaves;
after which come small and round husks. The root is small and woody,
perishing every year.

_Place._] It grows more plentifully in Kent than any other county of
this land, as namely, in many places on this side Dartford, along to
Southfleet, Chatham, and Rochester, and upon Chatham down, hard by the
Beacon, and half a mile from Rochester, in a field near a house called
Selesys.

_Time._] It flowers and gives seed in the Summer months.

_Government and virtues._] Mars owns the herb. The decoction of Ground
Pine drank, doth wonderfully prevail against the stranguary, or any
inward pains arising from the diseases of the reins and urine, and
is especially good for all obstructions of the liver and spleen, and
gently opens the body; for which purpose they were wont in former
times to make pills with the powder thereof, and the pulp of figs.
It marvellously helps all the diseases of the mother, inwardly or
outwardly applied, procuring women’s courses, and expelling the dead
child and after-birth; yea, it is so powerful upon those feminine
parts, that it is utterly forbidden for women with child, for it will
cause abortion or delivery before the time. The decoction of the herb
in wine taken inwardly, or applied outwardly, or both, for some time
together, is also effectual in all pains and diseases of the joints,
as gouts, cramps, palsies, sciatica, and aches; for which purpose the
pills made with powder of Ground Pine, and of Hermodactyls with Venice
Turpentine are very effectual. The pills also, continued for some
time, are special good for those that have the dropsy, jaundice, and
for griping pains of the joints, belly, or inward parts. It helps also
all diseases of the brain, proceeding of cold and phlegmatic humours
and distillations, as also for the falling sickness. It is a special
remedy for the poison of the aconites, and other poisonous herbs, as
also against the stinging of any venomous creature. It is a good remedy
for a cold cough, especially in the beginning. For all the purposes
aforesaid, the herb being tunned up in new drink and drank, is almost
as effectual, but far more acceptable to weak and dainty stomachs. The
distilled water of the herb hath the same effects, but more weakly. The
conserve of the flowers doth the like, which Matthiolus much commends
against the palsy. The green herb, or the decoction thereof, being
applied, dissolves the hardness of women’s breasts, and all other hard
swellings in any other part of the body. The green herb also applied,
or the juice thereof with some honey, not only cleanses putrid,
stinking, foul, and malignant ulcers and sores of all sorts, but heals
and solders up the lips of green wounds in any part also. Let pregnant
women forbear, for it works violently upon the feminine part.


PLANTAIN.

THIS grows usually in meadows and fields, and by path sides, and is so
well known, that it needs no description.

_Time._] It is in its beauty about June, and the seed ripens shortly
after.

_Government and virtues._] It is true, Misaldus and others, yea, almost
all astrology-physicians, hold this to be an herb of Mars, because
it cures the diseases of the head and privities, which are under the
houses of Mars, Aries, and Scorpio: 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
disease but it cures.

The juice of Plantain clarified and drank for divers days together,
either of itself, or in other drink, prevails wonderfully against
all torments or excoriations in the intestines or bowels, helps the
distillations of rheum from the head, and stays all manner of fluxes,
even women’s courses, when they flow too abundantly. It is good to stay
spitting of blood and other bleedings at the mouth, or the making of
foul and bloody water, by reason of any ulcer in the reins or bladder,
and also stays the too free bleeding of wounds. It is held an especial
remedy for those that are troubled with the phthisic, or consumption
of the lungs, or ulcers of the lungs, or coughs that come of heat.
The decoction or powder of the roots or seeds, is much more binding
for all the purposes aforesaid than the leaves. Dioscorides saith,
that three roots boiled in wine and taken, helps the tertain agues,
and for the quartan agues, (but letting the number pass as fabulous)
I conceive the decoction of divers roots may be effectual. The herb
(but especially the seed) is held to be profitable against the dropsy,
the falling-sickness, the yellow jaundice, and stoppings of the liver
and reins. The roots of Plantain, and Pellitory of Spain, beaten into
powder, and put into the hollow teeth, takes away the pains of them.
The clarified juice, or distilled water, dropped into the eyes, cools
the inflammations in them, and takes away the pin and web; and dropped
into the ears, eases the pains in them, and heals and removes the heat.
The same also with the juice of Houseleek is profitable against all
inflammations and breakings out of the skin, and against burnings and
scaldings by fire and water. The juice or decoction made either of
itself, or other things of the like nature, is of much use and good
effect for old and hollow ulcers that are hard to be cured, and for
cankers and sores in the mouth or privy parts of man or woman; and
helps also the pains of the piles in the fundament. The juice mixed
with oil of roses, and the temples and forehead anointed therewith,
eases the pains of the head proceeding from heat, and helps lunatic and
frantic persons very much; as also the biting of serpents, or a mad
dog. The same 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 joint, to hinder inflammations, swellings, and
pains that presently rise thereupon. The powder of the dried leaves
taken in drink, kills worms of the belly; and boiled in wine, kills
worms that breed in old and foul ulcers. One part of Plantain water,
and two parts of the brine of powdered beef, boiled together and
clarified, is a most sure remedy to heal all spreading scabs or itch
in the head and body, all manner of tetters, ringworms, the shingles,
and all other running and fretting sores. Briefly, the Plantains are
singularly good wound herbs, to heal fresh or old wounds or sores,
either inward or outward.


PLUMS.

ARE so well known that they need no description.

_Government and virtues._] All Plums are under Venus, and are like
women, some better, and some worse. As there is great diversity of
kinds, so there is in the operation of Plums, for some that are sweet
moisten the stomach, and make the belly soluble; those that are sour
quench thirst more, and bind the belly; the moist and waterish do
sooner corrupt in the stomach, but the firm do nourish more, and offend
less. The dried fruit sold by the grocers under the names of Damask
Prunes, do somewhat loosen the belly, and being stewed, are often
used, both in health and sickness, to relish the mouth and stomach,
to procure appetite, and a little to open the body, allay choler, and
cool the stomach. Plum-tree leaves boiled in wine, are good to wash
and gargle the mouth and throat, to dry the flux of rheum coming to
the palate, gums, or almonds of the ear. The gum of the tree is good
to break the stone. The gum or leaves boiled in vinegar, and applied,
kills tetters and ringworms. Matthiolus saith, The oil preserved out of
the kernels of the stones, as oil of almonds is made, is good against
the inflamed piles, the tumours or swellings of ulcers, hoarseness of
the voice, roughness of the tongue and throat, and likewise the pains
in the ears. And that five ounces of the said oil taken with one ounce
of muskadel, drives forth the stone, and helps the cholic.


POLYPODY OF THE OAK.

_Descript._] THIS is a small herb consisting of nothing but roots and
leaves, bearing neither stalk, flower, nor seed, as it is thought. It
hath three or four leaves rising from the root, every one single by
itself, of about a hand length, are winged, consisting of many small
narrow leaves cut into the middle rib, standing on each side of the
stalk, large below, and smaller up to the top, not dented nor notched
at the edges at all, as the male fern hath, of sad green colour, and
smooth on the upper side, but on the other side somewhat rough by
reason of some yellowish flowers set thereon. The root is smaller than
one’s little finger, lying aslope, or creeping along under the upper
crust of the earth, brownish on the outside and greenish within, of a
sweetish harshness in taste, 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 grows 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 walls, as also in mossy, stony, and gravelly places
near unto wood. That which grows upon oak is accounted the best; but
the quantity thereof is scarce sufficient for the common use.

_Time._] It being always green, may be gathered for use at any time.

_Government and virtues._] Polypodium of the Oak, that which grows
upon the earth is best; it is an herb of Saturn, to purge melancholy;
if the humour be otherwise, chuse your Polypodium accordingly. Meuse
(who is called the Physician’s Evangelist for the certainty of his
medicines, and the truth of his opinion) saith, That it dries up
thin humours, digests thick and tough, and purges burnt choler, and
especially tough and thick phlegm, and thin phlegm also, even from the
joints, and therefore good for those that are troubled with melancholy,
or quartan agues, especially if it be taken in whey or honied water,
or in barley-water, or the broth of a chicken with Epithymum, or with
Beets and Mallows. It is good for the hardness of the spleen, and for
pricking or stitches in the sides, as also for the cholic: Some use
to put to it some Fennel seeds, or Annis seeds, or Ginger, to correct
that loathing it brings to the stomach, which is more than needs, it
being a safe and gentle medicine, fit for all persons, which daily
experience confirms; and an ounce of it may be given at a time in a
decoction, if there be not Sena, or some other strong purger put with
it. A dram or two of the powder of the dried roots, taken fasting in
a cup of honied water, works gently, and for the purposes aforesaid.
The distilled water both of roots and leaves, is much commended for
the quartan ague, to be taken for many days together, as also against
melancholy, or fearful and troublesome sleeps or dreams; and with some
sugar-candy dissolved therein, is good against the cough, shortness of
breath, and wheezings, and those distillations of thin rheum upon the
lungs, which cause phthisicks, and oftentimes consumptions. The fresh
roots beaten small, or the powder of the dried roots mixed with honey,
and applied to the member that is out of joint, doth much help it; and
applied also to the nose, cures the disease called Polypus, which is
a piece of flesh growing therein, which in time stops the passage of
breath through that nostril; and it helps those clefts or chops that
come between the fingers or toes.


THE POPLAR TREE.

THERE are two sorts of Poplars, which are most familiar with us, viz.
the Black and White, both which I shall here describe unto you.

_Descript._] The White Poplar grows great, and reasonably high, covered
with thick, smooth, white bark, especially the branches; having long
leaves cut into several divisions almost like a vine leaf, but not
of so deep a green on the upper side, and hoary white underneath,
of a reasonable good scent, the whole form representing the form of
Coltsfoot. The catkins which it brings forth before the leaves, are
long, and of a faint reddish colour, which fall away, bearing seldom
good seed with them. The wood hereof is smooth, soft, and white, very
finely waved, whereby it is much esteemed.

The Black Poplar grows higher and straighter than the White, with a
greyish bark, bearing broad green leaves, somewhat like ivy leaves, not
cut in on the edges like the White, but whole and dented, ending in a
point, and not white underneath, hanging by slender long foot stalks,
which with the air are continually shaken, like as the Aspen leaves
are. The catkins hereof are greater than those of the White, composed
of many round green berries, as if they were set together in a long
cluster, containing much downy matter, which being ripe, is blown away
with the wind. The clammy buds hereof, before they spread into leaves,
are gathered to make Unguentum and Populneum, and are of a yellowish
green colour, and somewhat small, sweet, but strong. The wood is
smooth, tough, and white, and easy to be cloven. On both these trees
grows a sweet kind of musk, which in former times was used to put into
sweet ointments.

_Place._] They grow in moist woods, and by water-sides in sundry places
of this land; yet the White is not so frequent as the other.

_Time._] Their time is likewise expressed before: The catkins coming
forth before the leaves in the end of Summer.

_Government and virtues._] Saturn hath dominion over both. White
Poplar, saith Galen, is of a cleansing property: The weight of an
ounce in powder, of the bark thereof, being drank, saith Dioscorides,
is a remedy for those that are troubled with the sciatica, or the
stranguary. The juice of the leaves dropped warm into the ears,
eases the pains in them. The young clammy buds or eyes, before they
break out into leaves, bruised, and a little honey put to them, is a
good medicine for a dull sight. The Black Poplar is held to be more
cooling than the White, and therefore the leaves bruised with vinegar
and applied, help the gout. The seed drank in vinegar, is held good
against the falling-sickness. The water that drops from the hollow
places of this tree, takes away warts, pushes, wheals, and other the
like breakings-out of the body. The young Black Poplar buds, saith
Matthiolus, are much used by women to beautify their hair, bruising
them with fresh butter, straining them after they have been kept for
some time in the sun. The ointment called Populneon, which is made of
this Poplar, is singularly good for all heat and inflammations in any
part of the body, and tempers the heat of wounds. It is much used to
dry up the milk of women’s breasts when they have weaned their children.


POPPY.

OF this I shall describe three kinds, _viz._ the White and Black of
the Garden, and the Erratic Wild Poppy, or Corn Rose.

_Descript._] The White Poppy hath at first four or five whitish green
leaves lying upon the ground, which rise with the stalk, compassing
it at the bottom of them, and are very large, much cut or torn on the
edges, and dented also besides: The stalk, which is usually four or
five feet high, hath sometimes no branches at the top, and usually but
two or three at most, bearing every one but one head wrapped up in a
thin skin, which bows down before it is ready to blow, and then rising,
and being broken, the flowers within it spreading itself open, and
consisting of four very large, white, round leaves, with many whitish
round threads in the middle, set about a small, round, green head,
having a crown, or star-like cover at the head thereof, which growing
ripe, becomes as large as a great apple, wherein are contained a great
number of small round seeds, in several partitions or divisions next
unto the shell, the middle thereof remaining hollow, and empty. The
whole plant, both leaves, stalks, and heads, while they are fresh,
young, and green, yield a milk when they are broken, of an unpleasant
bitter taste, almost ready to provoke casting, and of a strong heady
smell, which being condensed, is called Opium. The root is white and
woody, perishing as soon as it hath given ripe seed.

The Black Poppy little differs from the former, until it bears its
flower, which is somewhat less, and of a black purplish colour, but
without any purple spots in the bottom of the leaf. The head of the
seed is much less than the former, and opens itself a little round
about the top, under the crown, so that the seed, which is very black,
will fall out, if one turn the head thereof downward.

The wild Poppy, or Corn Rose, hath long and narrow leaves, very much
cut in on the edges into many divisions, of a light green colour,
sometimes hairy withal. The stalk is blackish and hairy also, but not
so tall as the garden kind, having some such like leaves thereon to
grow below, parted into three or four branches sometimes, whereon grow
small hairy heads bowing down before the skin break, wherein the flower
is inclosed, which when it is fully blown open, is of a fair yellowish
red or crimson colour, and in some much paler, without any spot in the
bottom of the leaves, having many black soft threads in the middle,
compassing a small green head, which when it is ripe, is not bigger
than one’s little finger’s end, wherein is contained much black seeds
smaller than that of the garden. The root perishes every year, and
springs again of its own sowing. Of this kind there is one lesser in
all parts thereof, and differs in nothing else.

_Place._] The garden kinds do not naturally grow wild in any place, but
all are sown in gardens where they grow.

The Wild Poppy or Corn Rose, is plentifully enough, and many times too
much so in the corn fields of all counties through this land, and also
on ditch banks, and by hedge sides. The smaller wild kind is also found
in corn fields, and also in some other places, but not so plentifully
as the former.

_Time._] The garden kinds are usually sown in the spring, which then
flower about the end of May, and somewhat earlier, if they spring of
their own sowing.

The wild kind flower usually from May until July, and the seed of them
is ripe soon after the flowering.

_Government and virtues._] The herb is Lunar, and of the juice of it
is made opium; only for lucre of money they cheat you, and tell you it
is a kind of tear, or some such like thing, that drops from Poppies
when they weep, and that is somewhere beyond the seas, I know not where
beyond the Moon. The garden Poppy heads with seeds made into a syrup,
is frequently, and to good effect used to procure rest, and sleep, in
the sick and weak, and to stay catarrhs and defluxions of thin rheums
from the head into the stomach and lungs, causing a continual cough,
the fore-runner of a consumption; it helps also hoarseness of the
throat, and when one have lost their voice, which the oil of the seed
doth likewise. The black seed boiled in wine, and drank, is said also
to dry the flux of the belly, and women’s courses. The empty shells,
or poppy heads, are usually boiled in water, and given to procure
rest and sleep: so doth the leaves in the same manner; as also if the
head and temples be bathed with the decoction warm, or with the oil
of Poppies, the green leaves or the heads bruised and applied with
a little vinegar, or made into a poultice with barley-meal or hog’s
grease, cools and tempers all inflammations, as also the disease called
St. Anthony’s fire. It is generally used in treacle and mithridate, and
in all other medicines that are made to procure rest and sleep, and to
ease pains in the head as well as in other parts. It is also used to
cool inflammations, agues, or frenzies, or to stay defluxions which
cause a cough, or consumptions, and also other fluxes of the belly or
women’s courses; it is also put into hollow teeth, to ease the pain,
and hath been found by experience to ease the pains of the gout.

The Wild Poppy, or Corn Rose (as Matthiolus saith) is good to prevent
the falling-sickness. The syrup made with the flower, is with good
effect given to those that have the pleurisy; and the dried flowers
also, either boiled in water, or made into powder and drank, either
in the distilled water of them, or some other drink, works the like
effect. The distilled water of the flowers is held to be of much good
use against surfeits, being drank evening and morning; It is also more
cooling than any of the other Poppies, and therefore cannot but be as
effectual in hot agues, frenzies, and other inflammations either inward
or outward. Galen saith, The seed is dangerous to be used inwardly.


PURSLAIN.

GARDEN Purslain (being used as a sallad herb) is so well known that it
needs no description; I shall therefore only speak of its virtues as
follows.

_Government and virtues._] ’Tis an herb of the Moon. It is good to
cool any heat in the liver, blood, reins, and stomach, and in hot
agues nothing better: It stays hot and choleric fluxes of the belly,
women’s courses, the whites, and gonorrhæa, or running of the reins,
the distillation from the head, and pains therein proceeding from heat,
want of sleep, or the frenzy. The seed is more effectual than the herb,
and is of singular good use to cool the heat and sharpness of urine,
venereous dreams, and the like; insomuch that the over frequent use
hereof extinguishes the heat and virtue of natural procreation. The
seed bruised and boiled in wine, and given to children, expels the
worms. The juice of the herb is held as effectual to all the purposes
aforesaid; as also to stay vomitings, and taken with some sugar or
honey, helps an old and dry cough, shortness of breath, and the
phthisick, and stays 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 juice also is singularly good in the inflammations
and ulcers in the secret parts of man or woman, as also the bowels
and hæmorrhoids, when they are ulcerous, or excoriations in them. The
herb bruised and applied to the forehead and temples, allays excessive
heat therein, that hinders rest and sleep; and applied to the eyes,
takes away the redness and inflammation in them, and those other parts
where pushes, wheals, pimples, St. Anthony’s fire and the like, break
forth; if a little vinegar be put to it, and laid to the neck, with as
much of galls and linseed together, it takes away the pains therein,
and the crick in the neck. The juice is used with oil of roses for the
same causes, or for blasting by lightning, and burnings by gunpowder,
or for women’s sore breasts, and to allay the heat in all other sores
or hurts; applied also to the navels of children that stick forth, it
helps them; it is also good for sore mouths and gums that are swollen,
and to fasten loose teeth. Camerarius saith, the distilled water used
by some, took away the pain of their teeth, when all other remedies
failed, and the thickened juice made into pills with the powder of gum
Tragicanth and Arabic, being taken, prevails much to help those that
make bloody water. Applied to the gout it eases pains thereof, and
helps the hardness of the sinews, if it come not of the cramp, or a
cold cause.


PRIMROSES.

THEY are so well known, that they need no description. Of the leaves of
Primroses is made as fine a salve to heal wounds as any 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 neighbours go with wounded limbs when
an halfpenny cost will heal them.


PRIVET.

_Descript._] OUR common Privet is carried up with many slender branches
to a reasonable height and breadth, to cover arbours, bowers and
banquetting houses, and brought, wrought, and cut into so many forms,
of men, horses, birds, &c. which though at first supported, grows
afterwards strong of itself. It bears long and narrow green leaves by
the couples, and sweet smelling white flowers in tufts at the end of
the branches, which turn into small black berries that have a purplish
juice with them, and some seeds that are flat on the one side, with a
hole or dent therein.

_Place._] It grows in this land, in divers woods.

_Time._] Our Privet flowers in June and July, the berries are ripe in
August and September.

_Government and virtues._] The Moon is lady of this. It is little used
in physic with us in these times, more than in lotions, to wash sores
and sore mouths, and to cool inflammations, and dry up fluxes. Yet
Matthiolus saith, it serves all the uses for which Cypress, or the East
Privet, is appointed by Dioscorides and Galen. He further saith, That
the oil that is made of the flowers of Privet infused therein, and set
in the Sun, is singularly good for the inflammations of wounds, and
for the headache, coming of a hot cause. There is a sweet water also
distilled from the flowers, that is good for all those diseases that
need cooling and drying, and therefore helps all fluxes of the belly
or stomach, bloody-fluxes, and women’s courses, being either drank or
applied; as all those that void blood at the mouth, or any other place,
and for distillations of rheum in the eyes, especially if it be used
with them.


QUEEN OF THE MEADOWS, MEADOW
SWEET, OR MEAD SWEET.

_Descript._] THE stalks of these are reddish, rising to be three feet
high, sometimes four or five feet, having at the joints thereof large
winged leaves, standing one above another at distances, consisting of
many and somewhat broad leaves, set on each side of a middle rib, being
hard, rough, or rugged, crumpled much like unto elm leaves, having
also some smaller leaves with them (as Agrimony hath) somewhat deeply
dented about the edges, of a sad green colour on the upper side, and
greyish underneath, of a pretty sharp scent and taste, somewhat like
unto the Burnet, and a leaf hereof put into a cup of claret wine, gives
also a fine relish to it. At the tops of the stalks and branches stand
many tufts of small white flowers thrust thick together, which smell
much sweeter than the leaves; and in their places, being fallen, come
crooked and cornered seed. The root is somewhat woody, and blackish on
the outside, and brownish within, with divers great strings, and lesser
fibres set thereat, of a strong scent, but nothing so pleasant as the
flowers and leaves, and perishes not, but abides many years, shooting
forth a-new every Spring.

_Place._] It grows in moist meadows that lie mostly wet, or near the
courses of water.

_Time._] It flowers in some places or other all the three Summer
months, that is, June, July, and August, and the seed is ripe soon
after.

_Government and virtues._] Venus claims dominion over the herb. It is
used to stay all manner of bleedings, fluxes, vomitings, and women’s
courses, also their whites: It is said to alter and take away the fits
of the quartan agues, and to make a merry heart, for which purpose some
use the flowers, and some the leaves. It helps speedily those that
are troubled with the cholic; being boiled in wine, and with a little
honey, taken warm, it opens the belly; but boiled in red wine, and
drank, it stays the flux of the belly. Outwardly applied, it helps old
ulcers that are cankerous, or hollow fistulous, for which it is by many
much commended, as also for the sores in the mouth or secret parts. The
leaves when they are full grown, being laid on the skin, will, in a
short time, raise blisters thereon, as Tragus saith. The water thereof
helps the heat and inflammation in the eyes.


THE QUINCE TREE.

_Descript._] THE ordinary Quince Tree grows often to the height and
bigness of a reasonable apple tree, but more usually lower, and
crooked, with a rough bark, spreading arms, and branches far abroad.
The leaves are somewhat like those of the apple tree, but thicker,
broader, and full of veins, and whiter on the under side, not dented
at all about the edges. The flowers are large and white, sometimes
dashed over with a blush. The fruit that follows is yellow, being near
ripe, and covered with a white freeze, or cotton; thick set on the
younger, and growing less as they grow to be thorough ripe, bunched out
oftentimes in some places, some being like an apple, and some a pear,
of a strong heady scent, and not durable to keep, and is sour, harsh,
and of an unpleasant taste to eat fresh; but being scalded, roasted,
baked, or preserved, becomes more pleasant.

_Place and Time._] It best likes to grow near ponds and water sides,
and is frequent through this land: and flowers not until the leaves be
come forth. The fruit is ripe in September or October.

_Government and virtues._] Old Saturn owns the Tree. Quinces when they
are green, help all sorts of fluxes in men or women, and choleric
lasks, casting, and whatever needs astriction, more than any way
prepared by fire; yet the syrup of the juice, or the conserve, are much
conducible, much of the binding quality being consumed by the fire;
if a little vinegar be added, it stirs up the languishing appetite,
and the stomach given to casting; some spices being added, comforts
and strengthens the decaying and fainting spirits, and helps the liver
oppressed, that it cannot perfect the digestion, or corrects choler and
phlegm. If you would have them purging, put honey to them instead of
sugar; and if more laxative, for choler, Rhubarb; for phlegm, Turbith;
for watery humours, Scammony; but if more forcible to bind, use the
unripe Quinces, with roses and acacia, hypocistis, and some torrified
rhubarb. To take the crude juice of Quinces, is held a preservative
against the force of deadly poison; for it hath been found most
certainly true, that the very smell of a Quince hath taken away all
the strength of the poison of white Hellebore. If there be need of any
outwardly binding and cooling of hot fluxes, the oil of Quinces, or
other medicines that may be made thereof, are very available to anoint
the belly or other parts therewith; it likewise strengthens the stomach
and belly, and the sinews that are loosened by sharp humours falling on
them, and restrains immoderate sweatings. The muscilage taken from the
seeds of Quinces, and boiled in a little water, is very good to cool
the heat and heal the sore breasts of women. The same, with a little
sugar, is good to lenify the harshness and hoarseness of the throat,
and roughness of the tongue. The cotton or down of Quinces boiled and
applied to plague sores, heals them up: and laid as a plaister, made
up with wax, it brings hair to them that are bald, and keeps it from
falling, if it be ready to shed.


RADDISH, OR HORSE-RADDISH.

THE garden Raddish is so well known, that it needs no description.

_Descript._] The Horse-Raddish hath its first leaves, that rise before
Winter, about a foot and a half long, very much cut in or torn on the
edges into many parts, of a dark green colour, with a great rib in the
middle; after these have been up a while, others follow, which are
greater, rougher, broader and longer, whole and not divided at first,
but only somewhat rougher dented about the edges; the stalks when it
bears flowers (which is seldom) is great, rising up with some few
lesser leaves thereon, to three or four feet high, spreading at the top
many small branches of whitish flowers, made of four leaves a-piece;
after which come small pods, like those of Shepherd’s Purse, but seldom
with any seed in them. The root is great, long, white and rugged,
shooting up divers heads of leaves, which may be parted for increase,
but it doth not creep in the ground, nor run above ground, and is of a
strong, sharp, and bitter taste almost like mustard.

_Place._] It is found wild in some places, but is chiefly planted in
gardens, and joys in moist and shadowy places.

_Time._] It seldom flowers, but when it doth, it is in July.

_Government and virtues._] They are both under Mars. The juice of
Horse-raddish given to drink, is held to be very effectual for the
scurvy. It kills the worms in children, being drank, and also laid upon
the belly. The root bruised and laid to the place grieved with the
sciatica, joint-ache, or the hard swellings of the liver and spleen,
doth wonderfully help them all. The distilled water of the herb and
root is more familiar to be taken with a little sugar for all the
purposes aforesaid.

Garden Raddishes are in wantonness by the gentry eaten as a sallad, but
they breed but scurvy humours in the stomach, and corrupt the blood,
and then send for a physician as fast as you can; this is one cause
which makes the owners of such nice palates so unhealthful; yet for
such as are troubled with the gravel, stone, or stoppage of urine, they
are good physic, if the body be strong that takes them; you may make
the juice of the roots into a syrup if you please, for that use: they
purge by urine exceedingly.


RAGWORT.

IT is called also St. James’-wort, and Stagger-wort, and Stammer-wort,
and Segrum.

_Descript._] The greater common Ragwort hath many large and long, dark
green leaves lying on the ground, very much rent and torn on the
sides in many places: from among which rise up sometimes but one, and
sometimes two or three square or crested blackish or brownish stalks,
three or four feet high, sometimes branched, bearing divers such-like
leaves upon them, at several distances upon the top, where it branches
forth into many stalks bearing yellow flowers, consisting of divers
leaves, set as a pale or border, with a dark yellow thrum in the
middle, which do abide a great while, but at last are turned into down,
and with the small blackish grey seed, are carried away with the wind.
The root is made of many fibres, whereby it is firmly fastened into the
ground, and abides many years.

There is another sort thereof differs from the former only in this,
that it rises not so high; the leaves are not so finely jagged, nor of
so dark a green colour, but rather somewhat whitish, soft and woolly,
and the flowers usually paler.

_Place._] They grow, both of them, wild in pastures, and untilled
grounds in many places, and oftentimes both in one field.

_Time._] They flower in June and July, and the seed is ripe in August.

_Government and virtues._] Ragwort is under the command of Dame Venus,
and cleanses, digests, and discusses. The decoction of the herb is good
to wash the mouth or throat that hath ulcers or sores therein: and for
swellings, hardness, or imposthumes, for it thoroughly cleanses and
heals them; as also the quinsy, and the king’s evil. It helps to stay
catarrhs, thin rheums, and defluxions from the head into the eyes,
nose, or lungs. The juice is found by experience to be singularly good
to heal green wounds, and to cleanse and heal all old and filthy ulcers
in the privities, and in other parts of the body, as also inward wounds
and ulcers; stays the malignity of fretting and running cankers, and
hollow fistulas, not suffering them to spread farther. It is also
much commended to help aches and pains either in the fleshy part, or
in the nerves and sinews, as also the sciatica, or pain of the hips or
knuckle-bone, to bathe the places with the decoction of the herb, or
to anoint them with an ointment made of the herb bruised and boiled in
old hog’s suet, with some Mastick and Olibanum in powder added unto it
after it is strained forth. In Sussex we call it Ragweed.


RATTLE GRASS.

OF this there are two kinds which I shall speak of, _viz._ the red and
yellow.

_Descript._] The common Red Rattle hath sundry reddish, hollow stalks,
and sometimes green, rising from the root, lying for the most part
on the ground, some growing more upright, with many small reddish or
green leaves set on both sides of a middle rib, finely dented about the
edges: The flowers stand at the tops of the stalks and branches, of a
fine purplish red colour, like small gaping hooks; after which come
blackish seed in small husks, which lying loose therein, will rattle
with shaking. The root consists of two or three small whitish strings
with some fibres thereat.

The common Yellow Rattle hath seldom above one round great stalk,
rising from the foot, about half a yard, or two feet high, and but few
branches thereon, having two long and somewhat broad leaves set at
a joint, deeply cut in on the edges, resembling the comb of a cock,
broadest next to the stalk, and smaller to the end. The flowers grow
at the tops of the stalks, with some shorter leaves with them, hooded
after the same manner that the others are, but of a fair yellow colour,
or in some paler, and in some more white. The seed is contained in
large husks, and being ripe, will rattle or make a noise with lying
loose in them. The root is small and slender, perishing every year.

_Place._] They grow in meadows and woods generally through this land.

_Time._] They are in flower from Midsummer until August be past,
sometimes.

_Government and virtues._] They are both of them under the dominion of
the Moon. The Red Rattle is accounted profitable to heal up fistulas
and hollow ulcers, and to stay the flux of humours in them, as also
the abundance of women’s courses, or any other fluxes of blood, being
boiled in red wine, and drank.

The yellow Rattle, or Cock’s Comb, is held to be good for those that
are troubled with a cough, or dimness of sight, if the herb, being
boiled with beans, and some honey put thereto, be drank or dropped into
the eyes. The whole seed being put into the eyes, draws forth any skin,
dimness or film, from the sight, without trouble, or pain.


REST HARROW, OR CAMMOCK.

_Descript._] COMMON Rest Harrow rises up with divers rough woody twigs
half a yard or a yard high, set at the joints without order, with
little roundish leaves, sometimes more than two or three at a place,
of a dark green colour, without thorns while they are young; but
afterwards armed in sundry places, with short and sharp thorns. The
flowers come forth at the tops of the twigs and branches, whereof it
is full fashioned like pease or broom blossoms, but lesser, flatter,
and somewhat closer, of a faint purplish colour; after which come small
pods containing small, flat, round seed: The root is blackish on the
outside, and whitish within, very rough, and hard to break when it is
fresh and green, and as hard as an horn when it is dried, thrusting
down deep into the ground, and spreading likewise, every piece being
apt to grow again if it be left in the ground.

_Place._] It grows in many places of this land, as well in the arable
as waste ground.

_Time._] It flowers about the beginning or middle of July, and the seed
is ripe in August.

_Government and virtues._] It is under the dominion of Mars. It is
singularly good to provoke urine when it is stopped, and to break and
drive forth the stone, which the powder of the bark of the root taken
in wine performs effectually. Matthiolus saith, The same helps the
disease called _Herma Carnosa_, the fleshy rupture, by taking the said
powder for three months together constantly, and that it hath cured
some which seemed incurable by any other means than by cutting or
burning. The decoction thereof made with some vinegar, gargled in the
mouth, eases the tooth-ache, especially when it comes of rheum; and the
said decoction is very powerful to open obstructions of the liver and
spleen, and other parts. A distilled water in _Balneo Mariæ_, with four
pounds of the root hereof first sliced small, and afterwards steeped
in a gallon of Canary wine, is singularly good for all the purposes
aforesaid, and to cleanse the urinary passages. The powder of the said
root made into an electuary, or lozenges, with sugar, as also the bark
of the fresh roots boiled tender, and afterwards beaten to a conserve
with sugar, works the like effect. The powder of the roots strewed upon
the brims of ulcers, or mixed with any other convenient thing, and
applied, consumes the hardness, and causes them to heal the better.


ROCKET.

IN regard the Garden Rocket is rather used as a sallad herb than to any
physical purposes, I shall omit it, and only speak of the common wild
Rocket. The description whereof take as follows.

_Descript._] The common wild Rocket has longer and narrower leaves,
much more divided into slender cuts and jags on both sides the middle
rib than the garden kinds have; of a sad green colour, from among
which rise up divers stalks two or three feet high, sometimes set with
the like leaves, but smaller and smaller upwards, branched from the
middle into divers stiff stalks, bearing sundry yellow flowers on them,
made of four leaves a-piece, as the others are, which afterwards yield
them small reddish seed, in small long pods, of a more bitter and hot
biting taste than the garden kinds, as the leaves are also.

_Place._] It is found wild in divers places of this land.

_Time._] It flowers about June or July, and the seed is ripe in August.

_Government and virtues._] The wild Rockets are forbidden to be used
alone, in regard their sharpness fumes into the head, causing aches
and pains therein, and are less hurtful to hot and choleric 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
sometimes will be restive when he meets with fools. The wild Rocket is
more strong and effectual to increase sperm and venerous qualities,
whereunto all the seed is more effectual than the garden kind. It
serves also to help digestion, and provokes urine exceedingly. The seed
is used to cure the biting of serpents, the scorpion, and the shrew
mouse, and other poisons, and expels worms, and other noisome creatures
that breed in the belly. The herb boiled or stewed, and some sugar put
thereto, helps the cough in children, being taken often. The seed also
taken in drink, takes away the ill scent of the arm-pits, increases
milk in nurses, and wastes the spleen. The seed mixed with honey,
and used on the face, cleanses the skin from morphew, and used with
vinegar, takes away freckles and redness in the face, or other parts;
and with the gall of an ox, it mends foul scars, black and blue spots,
and the marks of the small-pox.


WINTER-ROCKET, OR CRESSES.

_Descript._] WINTER-Rocket, or Winter-Cresses, hath divers somewhat
large sad green leaves lying upon the ground, torn or cut in divers
parts, somewhat like unto Rocket or turnip leaves, with smaller pieces
next the bottom, and broad at the ends, which so abide all the Winter
(if it spring up in Autumn, when it is used to be eaten) from among
which rise up divers small round stalks, full of branches, bearing many
small yellow flowers of four leaves a-piece, after which come small
pods, with reddish seed in them. The root is somewhat stringy, and
perishes every year after the seed is ripe.

_Place._] It grows of its own accord in gardens and fields, by the
way-sides, in divers places, and particularly in the next pasture to
the Conduit-head behind Gray’s Inn, that brings water to Mr. Lamb’s
conduit in Holborn.

_Time._] It flowers in May, seeds in June, and then perishes.

_Government and virtues._] This is profitable to provoke urine, to help
stranguary, and expel gravel and stone. It is good for the scurvy,
and found by experience to be a singularly good wound herb to cleanse
inward wounds; the juice or decoction being drank, or outwardly applied
to wash foul ulcers and sores, cleansing them by sharpness, and
hindering or abating the dead flesh from growing therein, and healing
them by their drying quality.


ROSES.

I HOLD it altogether needless to trouble the reader with a description
of any of these, since both the garden Roses, and the Roses of the
briars are well enough known: take therefore the virtues of them as
follows; And first I shall begin with the garden kinds.

_Government and virtues._] What a pother have authors made with Roses!
What a racket have they kept? I shall add, red Roses are under Jupiter,
Damask under Venus, White under the Moon, and Provence under the King
of France. The white and red Roses are cooling and drying, and yet the
white is taken to exceed the red in both the properties, but is seldom
used inwardly in any medicine: The bitterness in the Roses when they
are fresh, especially the juice, purges choler, and watery humours; 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 full blown, do both cool and bind more than those that are full
blown, and the white Rose more than the Red. The decoction of red
Roses made with wine and used, is very good for the head-ache, and
pains in the eyes, ears, throat, and gums; as also for the fundament,
the lower part of the belly and the matrix, being bathed or put into
them. The same decoction with the Roses remaining in it, is profitably
applied to the region of the heart to ease the inflammation therein;
as also St. Anthony’s fire, and other diseases of the stomach. Being
dried and beaten to powder, and taken in steeled wine or water, it
helps to stay women’s courses. The yellow threads in the middle of
the Roses (which are erroneously called the Rose Seed) being powdered
and drank in the distilled water of Quinces, stays the overflowing of
women’s courses, and doth wonderfully stay the defluctions of rheum
upon the gums and teeth, preserving them from corruption, and fastening
them if they be loose, being washed and gargled therewith, and some
vinegar of Squills added thereto. The heads with the seed being used
in powder, or in a decoction, stays the lask and spitting of blood.
Red Roses do strengthen the heart, the stomach and the liver, and the
retentive faculty: They mitigate the pains that arise from heat,
assuage inflammations, procure rest and sleep, stay both whites and
reds in women, the gonorrhea, or running of the reins, and fluxes of
the belly: the juice of them doth purge and cleanse the body from
choler and phlegm. The husks of the Roses, with the beards and nails
of the Roses, are binding and cooling, and the distilled water of
either of them is good for the heat and redness in the eyes, and to
stay and dry up the rheums and watering of them. Of the Red Roses are
usually made many compositions, all serving to sundry good uses, viz.
Electuary of Roses, Conserve, both moist and dry, which is more usually
called Sugar of roses, Syrup of dry Roses, and Honey of Roses. The
cordial powder called _Diarrhoden Abbatis_, and _Aromatica Rosarum_.
The distilled Water of Roses, Vinegar of Roses, Ointment, and Oil of
Roses, and the Rose leaves dried, are of great use and effect. To
write at large of every one of these, would make my book smell too
big, it being sufficient for a volume of itself, to speak fully of
them. But briefly, the Electuary is purging, whereof two or three drams
taken by itself in some convenient liquor, is a purge sufficient for
a weak constitution, but may be increased to six drams, according to
the strength of the patient. It purges choler without trouble, it is
good in hot fevers, and pains of the head arising from hot choleric
humours, and heat in the eyes, the jaundice also, and joint-aches
proceeding of hot humours. The moist Conserve is of much use, both
binding and cordial; for until it be about two years old, it is more
binding than cordial, and after that, more cordial than binding. Some
of the younger Conserve taken with mithridate mixed together, is good
for those that are troubled with distillations of rheum from the brain
to the nose, and defluctions of rheum into the eyes; as also for
fluxes and lasks of the belly; and being mixed with the powder of
mastich, is very good for the gonorrhea, and for the looseness of the
humours in the body. The old Conserve mixed with Aromaticum Rosarum,
is a very good cordial against faintings, swoonings, weakness, and
tremblings of the heart, strengthens, both it and a weak stomach,
helps digestion, stays casting, and is a very good preservative in
the time of infection. The dry Conserve, which is called the Sugar of
Roses, is a very good cordial to strengthen the heart and spirits; as
also to stay defluctions. The syrup of dried red Roses strengthens a
stomach given to casting, cools an over-heated liver, and the blood
in agues, comforts the heart, and resists putrefaction and infection,
and helps to stay lasks and fluxes. Honey of Roses is much used in
gargles and lotions to wash sores, either in the mouth, throat, or
other parts, both to cleanse and heal them, and to stay the fluxes
of humours falling upon them. It is also used in clysters both to
cool and cleanse. The cordial powders, called Diarrhoden Abbatis and
Aromaticum Rosarum, do comfort and strengthen the heart and stomach,
procure an appetite, help digestion, stay vomiting, and are very good
for those that have slippery bowels, to strengthen them, and to dry
up their moisture. Red Rose-water is well known, and of familiar use
on all occasions, and better than Damask Rose-water, being cooling
and cordial, refreshing, quickening the weak and faint spirits, used
either in meats or broths, to wash the temples, to smell at the nose,
or to smell the sweet vapours thereof out of a perfuming pot, or cast
into a hot fire shovel. It is also of much good use against the redness
and inflammations of the eyes to bathe them therewith, and the temples
of the head; as also against pain and ache, for which purpose also
Vinegar of Roses is of much good use, and to procure rest and sleep,
if some thereof, and Rose-water together, be used to smell unto, or
the nose and temples moistened therewith, but more usually to moisten
a piece of a red Rose-cake, cut for the purpose, and heated between
a double folded cloth, with a little beaten nutmeg, and poppy-seed
strewed on the side that must lie next to the forehead and temples,
and bound so thereto all night. The ointment of Roses is much used
against heat and inflammations in the head, to anoint the forehead
and temples, and being mixt with _Unguentum Populneum_, to procure
rest: it is also used for the heat of the liver, the back and reins,
and to cool and heal pushes, wheals, and other red pimples rising in
the face or other parts. Oil of Roses is not only used by itself to
cool any hot swellings or inflammations, and to bind and stay fluxes
of humours unto sores, but is also put into ointments and plaisters
that are cooling and binding, and restraining the flux of humours. The
dried leaves of the red Roses are used both inwardly and outwardly,
both cooling, binding, and cordial, for with them are made both
_Aromaticum_, _Rosarum_, _Diarrhoden Abbatis_, and _Saccharum Rosarum_,
each of whose properties are before declared. Rose leaves and mint,
heated and applied outwardly to the stomach, stays castings, and very
much strengthen a weak stomach; and applied as a fomentation to the
region of the liver and heart, do much cool and temper them, and also
serve instead of a Rose-cake (as is said before) to quiet the over-hot
spirits, and cause rest and sleep. The syrup of Damask Roses is both
simple and compound, and made with Agaric. The simple solutive syrup
is a familiar, safe, gentle and easy medicine, purging choler, taken
from one ounce to three or four, yet this is remarkable herein, that
the distilled water of this syrup should notably bind the belly. The
syrup with Agaric is more strong and effectual, for one ounce thereof
by itself will open the body more than the other, and works as much on
phlegm as choler. The compound syrup is more forcible in working on
melancholic humours; and available against the leprosy, itch, tetters,
&c. and the French disease: Also honey of Roses solutive is made of the
same infusions that the syrup is made of, and therefore works the same
effect, both opening and purging, but is oftener given to phlegmatic
than choleric persons, and is more used in clysters than in potions,
as the syrup made with sugar is. The conserve and preserved leaves of
those Roses are also operative in gently opening the belly.

The simple water of Damask Roses is chiefly used for fumes to sweeten
things, as the dried leaves thereof to make sweet powders, and fill
sweet bags; and little use they are put to in physic, although they
have some purging quality; the wild Roses also are few or none of them
used in physic, but are generally held to come near the nature of the
manured Roses. The fruit of the wild briar, which are called Hips,
being thoroughly ripe, and made into a conserve with sugar, besides
the pleasantness of the taste, doth gently bind the belly, and stay
defluctions from the head upon the stomach, drying up the moisture
thereof, and helps digestion. The pulp of the hips dried into a hard
consistence, like to the juice of the liquorice, or so dried that
it may be made into powder and taken into drink, stays speedily the
whites in women. The briar ball is often used, being made into powder
and drank, to break the stone, to provoke urine when it is stopped,
and to ease and help the cholic; some appoint it to be burnt, and then
taken for the same purpose. In the middle of the balls are often found
certain white worms, which being dried and made into powder, and some
of it drank, is found by experience of many to kill and drive forth the
worms of the belly.


ROSA SOLIS, OR SUN DEW.

IT is likewise called Red-rot, and Youth-wort.

_Descript._] It hath, divers small, round, hollow leaves somewhat
greenish, but full of certain red hairs, which make them seem red,
every one standing upon his own foot-stalk, reddish, hairy likewise.
The leaves are continually moist in the hottest day, yea, the hotter
the sun shines on them, the moister they are, with a sliminess that
will rope (as we say,) the small hairs always holding the moisture.
Among these leaves rise up slender stalks, reddish also, three or four
fingers high, bearing divers small white knobs one above another, which
are flowers; after which in the heads are contained small seeds. The
root is a few small hairs.

_Place._] It grows usually in bogs and wet places, and sometimes in
moist woods.

_Time._] It flowers in June, and the leaves are then fittest to be
gathered.

_Government and virtues._] The Sun rules it, and it is under the
sign Cancer. Rose Solis is accounted good to help those that have a
salt rheum distilling on their lungs, which breeds a consumption,
and therefore the distilled water thereof in wine is held fit and
profitable for such to drink, which water will be of a good yellow
colour. The same water is held to be good for all other diseases of the
lungs, as phthisicks, wheezings, shortness of breath, or the cough;
as also to heal the ulcers that happen in the lungs; and it comforts
the heart and fainting spirits. The leaves, outwardly applied to the
skin will raise blisters, which has caused some to think it dangerous
to be taken inwardly; but there are other things which will also draw
blisters, yet nothing dangerous to be taken inwardly. There is an usual
drink made thereof with aqua vitæ and spices frequently, and without
any offence or danger, but to good purpose used in qualms and passions
of the heart.


ROSEMARY.

OUR garden Rosemary is so well known, that I need not describe it.

_Time._] It flowers in April and May with us, sometimes again in August.

_Government and virtues._] The Sun claims privilege in it, and it is
under the celestial Ram. It is an herb of as great use with us in these
days as any whatsoever, not only for physical but civil purposes. The
physical use of it (being my present task) is very much used both for
inward and outward diseases, for by the warming and comforting heat
thereof it helps all cold diseases, both of the head, stomach, liver,
and belly. The decoction thereof in wine, helps the cold distillations
of rheum into the eyes, and all other cold diseases of the head and
brain, as the giddiness or swimmings therein, drowsiness or dullness
of the mind and senses like a stupidness, the dumb palsy, or loss of
speech, the lethargy, and fallen-sickness, to be both drank, and the
temples bathed therewith. It helps the pains in the gums and teeth,
by rheum falling into them, not by putrefaction, causing an evil
smell from them, or a stinking breath. It helps a weak memory, and
quickens the senses. It is very comfortable to the stomach in all the
cold griefs thereof, helps both retention of meat, and digestion,
the decoction or powder being taken in wine. It is a remedy for the
windiness in the stomach, bowels, and spleen, and expels it powerfully.
It helps those that are liver-grown, by opening the obstructions
thereof. It helps dim eyes, and procures a clear sight, the flowers
thereof being taken all the while it is flowering every morning
fasting, with bread and salt. Both Dioscorides and Galen say, That if
a decoction be made thereof with water, and they that have the yellow
jaundice exercise their bodies directly after the taking thereof, it
will certainly cure them. The flowers and conserve made of them, are
singularly good to comfort the heart, and to expel the contagion of
the pestilence; to burn the herb in houses and chambers, corrects the
air in them. Both the flowers and leaves are very profitable for women
that are troubled with the whites, if they be daily taken. The dried
leaves shred small, and taken in a pipe, as tobacco is taken, helps
those that have any cough, phthisic, or consumption, by warming and
drying the thin distillations which cause those diseases. The leaves
are very much used in bathings; and made into ointments or oil, are
singularly good to help cold benumbed joints, sinews, or members. The
chymical oil drawn from the leaves and flowers, is a sovereign 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 brain spoken of
before; as also to take one drop, two, or three, as the case requires,
for the inward griefs: Yet must it be done with discretion, for it is
very quick and piercing, and therefore but a little must be taken at a
time. There is also another oil made by insolation in this manner: Take
what quantity you will of the flowers, and put them into a strong glass
close stopped, tie a fine linen cloth over the mouth, and turn the
mouth down into another strong glass, which being set in the sun, an
oil will distil down into the lower glass, to be preserved as precious
for divers uses, both inward and outward, as a sovereign balm to heal
the disease before-mentioned, to clear dim sights, and to take away
spots, marks, and scars in the skin.


RHUBARB, OR REPHONTIC.

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 the name may speak it foreign, yet it grows with us in
England, and that frequent enough in our gardens; and when you have
thoroughly pursued its virtues, you will conclude it nothing inferior
to that which is brought out of China, and by that time this hath been
as much used as that hath been, the name which the other hath gotten
will be eclipsed by the fame of this; take therefore a description at
large of it as follows:

_Descript._] At the first appearing out of the ground, when the winter
is past, it hath a great round brownish head, rising from the middle
or sides of the root, which opens itself into sundry leaves one after
another, very much crumpled or folded together at the first, and
brownish: but afterwards it spreads itself, and becomes smooth, very
large and almost round, every one standing on a brownish stalk of the
thickness of a man’s thumb, when they are grown to their fulness, and
most of them two feet and more in length, especially when they grow in
any moist or good ground; and the stalk of the leaf, from the bottom
thereof to the leaf itself, being also two feet, the breadth thereof
from edge to edge, in the broadest place, being also two feet, of a
sad or dark green colour, of a fine tart or sourish taste, much more
pleasant than the garden or wood sorrel. From among these rise up some,
but not every year, strong thick stalks, not growing so high as the
Patience, or garden Dock, with such round leaves as grow below, but
small at every joint up to the top, and among the flowers, which are
white, spreading forth into many branches, consisting of five or six
small leaves a-piece, hardly to be discerned from the white threads in
the middle, and seeming to be all threads, after which come brownish
three square seeds, like unto other Docks, but larger, whereby it
may be plainly known to be a Dock. The root grows in time to be very
great, with divers and sundry great spreading branches from it, of a
dark brownish or reddish colour on the outside, having a pale yellow
skin under it, which covers the inner substance or root, which rind
and skin being pared away, the root appears of so fresh and lively a
colour, with fresh coloured veins running through it, that the choicest
of that Rhubarb that is brought us from beyond the seas cannot excel
it, which root, if it be dried carefully, and as it ought (which must
be in our country by the gentle heat of a fire, in regard the sun is
not hot enough here to do it, and every piece kept from touching one
another) will hold its colour almost as well as when it is fresh, and
has been approved of, and commended by those who have oftentimes used
them.

_Place._] It grows in gardens, and flowers about the beginning and
middle of June, and the seed is ripe in July.

_Time._] The roots that are to be dried and kept all the year
following, are not to be taken up before the stalk and leaves be
quite turned red and gone, and that is not until the middle or end of
October, and if they be taken a little before the leaves do spring, or
when they are sprung up, the roots will not have half so good a colour
in them.

I have given the precedence unto this, because in virtues also it
hath the pre-eminence. I come now to describe unto you that which is
called Patience, or Monk’s Rhubarb; and the next unto that, the great
round-leaved Dock, or Bastard Rhubarb, for the one of these may happily
supply in the absence of the other, being not much unlike in their
virtues, only one more powerful and efficacious than the other. And
lastly, shall shew you the virtues of all the three sorts.


GARDEN-PATIENCE, OR MONK’S RHUBARB.

_Descript._] THIS is a Dock bearing the name of Rhubarb for some
purging quality therein, and grows up with large tall stalks, set
with somewhat broad and long, fair, green leaves, not dented at all.
The tops of the stalks being divided into many small branches, bear
reddish or purplish flowers, and three-square seed, like unto other
Docks. The root is long, great and yellow, like unto the wild Docks,
but a little redder; and if it be a little dried, shews less store of
discoloured veins than the other does when it is dry.


GREAT ROUND-LEAVED DOCK, OR BASTARD
RHUBARB.

_Descript._] THIS has divers large, round, thin, yellowish green leaves
rising from the root, a little waved about the edges, every one
standing upon a reasonably thick and long brownish footstalk, from
among which rises up a pretty big stalk, about two feet high, with
some such high leaves growing thereon, but smaller; at the top whereof
stand in a long spike many small brownish flowers, which turn into a
hard three square shining brown seed, like the garden Patience before
described. The root grows greater than that, with many branches or
great fibres thereat, yellow on the outside, and somewhat pale; yellow
within, with some discoloured veins like to the Rhubarb which is first
described, but much less than it, especially when it is dry.

_Place and Time._] These also grow in gardens, and flower and seed at
or near the same time that our true Rhubarb doth, viz. they flower in
June, and the seed is ripe in July.

_Government and virtues._] Mars claims predominancy over all these
wholesome herbs: You cry out upon him for an unfortunate, when God
created him for your good (only he is angry with fools.) What dishonour
is this, not to Mars, but to God himself. A dram of the dried root of
Monk’s Rhubarb, with a scruple of Ginger made into powder, and taken
fasting in a draught or mess of warm broth, purges choler and phlegm
downwards very gently and safely without danger. The seed thereof
contrary doth bind the belly, and helps to stay any sort of lasks or
bloody-flux. The distilled water thereof is very profitably used to
heal scabs; also foul ulcerous sores, and to allay the inflammation
of them; the juice of the leaves or roots or the decoction of them in
vinegar, is used as the most effectual remedy to heal scabs and running
sores.

The Bastard Rhubarb hath all the properties of the Monk’s Rhubarb, but
more effectual for both inward and outward diseases. The decoction
thereof without vinegar dropped into the ears, takes away the pains;
gargled in the mouth, takes away the tooth ache; and being drank, heals
the jaundice. The seed thereof taken, eases the gnawing and griping
pains of the stomach, and takes away the loathing thereof unto meat.
The root thereof helps the ruggedness of the nails, and being boiled
in wine helps the swelling of the throat, commonly called the king’s
evil, as also the swellings of the kernels of the ears. It helps them
that are troubled with the stone, provokes urine, and helps the dimness
of the sight. The roots of this Bastard Rhubarb are used in opening
and purging diet-drinks, with other things, to open the liver, and to
cleanse and cool the blood.

The properties of that which is called the English Rhubarb are the same
with the former, but much more effectual, and hath all the properties
of the true Italian Rhubarbs, except the force in purging, wherein it
is but of half the strength thereof, and therefore a double quantity
must be used: it likewise hath not that bitterness and astriction; in
other things it works almost in an equal quantity, which are these: It
purges the body of choler and phlegm, being either taken of itself,
made into powder, and drank in a draught of white wine, or steeped
therein all night, and taken fasting, or put among other purges, as
shall be thought convenient, cleansing the stomach, liver, and blood,
opening obstructions, and helping those griefs that come thereof, as
the jaundice, dropsy, swelling of the spleen, tertain and daily agues,
and pricking pains of the sides; and also stays spitting of blood.
The powder taken with cassia dissolved, and washed Venice turpentine,
cleanses the reins and strengthens them afterwards, and is very
effectual to stay the gonorrhea. It is also given for the pains and
swellings in the head, for those that are troubled with melancholy,
and helps the sciatica, gout, and the cramp. The powder of the Rhubarb
taken with a little mummia and madder roots in some red wine, dissolves
clotted blood in the body, happening by any fall or bruise, and helps
burstings and broken parts, as well inward as outward. The oil likewise
wherein it hath been boiled, works the like effects being anointed.
It is used to heal those ulcers that happen in the eyes or eyelids,
being steeped and strained; as also to assuage the swellings and
inflammations; and applied with honey, boiled in wine, it takes away
all blue spots or marks that happen therein. Whey or white wine are the
best liquors to steep it in, and thereby it works more effectual in
opening obstructions, and purging the stomach and liver. Many do use a
little Indian Spikenard as the best corrector thereof.


MEADOW-RUE.

_Descript._] MEADOW-RUE rises up with a yellow stringy root, much
spreading in the ground, shooting forth new sprouts round about, with
many herby green stalks, two feet high, crested all the length of them,
set with joints here and there, and many large leaves on them, above
as well as below, being divided into smaller leaves, nicked or dented
in the fore part of them, of a red green colour on the upper-side, and
pale green underneath; Toward the top of the stalk there shoots forth
divers short branches, on every one whereof stand two, three or four
small heads, or buttons, which breaking the skin that incloses them,
shoots forth a tuft of pale greenish yellow threads, which falling
away, there come in their places small three-cornered cods, wherein
is contained small, long and round seed. The whole plant has a strong
unpleasant scent.

_Place._] It grows in many places of this land, in the borders of moist
meadows, and ditch-sides.

_Time._] It flowers about July, or the beginning of August.

_Government and virtues._] Dioscorides saith, That this herb bruised
and applied, perfectly heals old sores, and the distilled water of
the herb and flowers doth the like. It is used by some among other
pot-herbs to open the body, and make it soluble; but the roots washed
clean, and boiled in ale and drank, provokes to stool more than the
leaves, but yet very gently. The root boiled in water, and the places
of the body most troubled with vermin and lice washed therewith while
it is warm, destroys them utterly. In Italy it is good against the
plague, and in Saxony against the jaundice, as _Camerarius_ saith.


GARDEN-RUE.

GARDEN-RUE is so well known by this name, and the name Herb of Grace,
that I shall not need to write any farther description of it, but shall
shew you the virtue of it, as follows.

_Government and virtues._] It is an herb of the Sun, and under Leo.
It provokes urine and women’s courses, being taken either in meat
or drink. The seed thereof taken in wine, is an antidote against
all dangerous medicines or deadly poisons. The leaves taken either
by themselves, or with figs and walnuts, is called Mithridate’s
counter-poison against the plague, and causes all venomous things
to become harmless; being often taken in meat and drink, it abates
venery. A decoction thereof with some dried dill leaves and flowers,
eases all pains and torments, inwardly to be drank, and outwardly to
be applied warm to the place grieved. The same being drank, helps the
pains both of the chest and sides, as also coughs and hardness of
breathing, the inflammations of the lungs, and the tormenting pains of
the sciatica and the joints, being anointed, or laid to the places;
as also the shaking fits of agues, to take a draught before the fit
comes. Being boiled or infused in oil, it is good to help the wind
cholic, the hardness and windiness of the mother, and frees women from
the strangling or suffocation thereof, if the share and the parts
thereabouts be anointed therewith. It kills and drives forth the worms
of the belly, if it be drank after it is boiled in wine to the half,
with a little honey; it helps the gout or pains in the joints, hands,
feet or knees, applied thereunto; and with figs it helps the dropsy,
being bathed therewith: Being bruised and put into the nostrils, it
stays the bleeding thereof. It takes away wheals and pimples, if being
bruised with a few myrtle leaves, it be made up with wax, and applied.
It cures the morphew, and takes away all sorts of warts, if boiled in
wine with some pepper and nitre, and the place rubbed therewith, and
with almond and honey helps the dry scabs, or any tetter or ringworm.
The juice thereof warmed in a pomegranate shell or rind, and dropped
into the ears, helps the pains of them. The juice of it and fennel,
with a little honey, and the gall of a cock put thereunto, helps the
dimness of the eye-sight. An ointment made of the juice thereof with
oil of roses, ceruse, and a little vinegar, and anointed, cures St.
Anthony’s fire, and all running sores in the head: and the stinking
ulcers of the nose, or other parts. The antidote used by Mithridates,
every morning fasting, to secure himself from any poison or infection,
was this: Take twenty leaves of rue, a little salt, a couple of
walnuts, and a couple of figs, beaten together into a mess, with twenty
juniper berries, which is the quantity appointed for every day. Another
electuary is made thus: Take of nitre, pepper, and cummin seed, of
each equal parts; of the leaves of Rue clean picked, as much in weight
as all the other three weighed; beat them well together, and put as
much honey as will make it up into an electuary (but you must first
steep your cummin seed in vinegar twenty four hours, and then dry
it, or rather roast it in a hot fire-shovel, or in an oven) and is a
remedy for the pains or griefs in the chest or stomach, of the spleen,
belly, or sides, by wind or stitches; of the liver by obstructions;
of the reins and bladder by the stopping of urine; and helps also to
extenuate fat corpulent bodies. What an infamy is cast upon the ashes
of Mithridates, or Methridates (as the Augustines read his name)
by unworthy people. They that deserve no good report themselves,
love to give none to others, _viz._ That renowned King of Pontus
fortified his body by poison against poison. (_He cast out devils by_
Beelzebub, _Prince of the devils._) What a sot is he that knows not
if he had accustomed his body to cold poisons, but poisons would have
dispatched him? on the contrary, if not, corrosions would have done
it. The whole world is at this present time beholden to him for his
studies in physic, and he that uses the quantity but of an hazel-nut
of that receipt every morning, to which his name is adjoined, 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.

_Descript._] THIS spreads very many thready branches round about upon
the ground, about a span long, divided into many other smaller parts
full of small joints set very thick together, whereat come forth two
very small leaves of a French yellow, green coloured branches and
all, where grows forth also a number of exceedingly small yellowish
flowers, scarce to be discerned from the stalks and leaves, which turn
into seeds as small as the very dust. The root is very long and small,
thrusting down deep into the ground. This has neither smell nor taste
at first, but afterwards has a little astringent taste, without any
manifest heat; yet a little bitter and sharp withal.

_Place._] It grows in dry, sandy, and rocky places.

_Time._] It is fresh and green all the Summer.

_Government and virtues._] They say Saturn causes ruptures; if he
do, he does no more than he can cure; if you want wit, he will teach
you, though to your cost. This herb is Saturn’s own, and is a noble
antivenerean. Rupture-wort hath not its name in vain: for it is found
by experience to cure the rupture, not only in children but also in
elder persons, if the disease be not too inveterate, by taking a dram
of the powder of the dried herb every day in wine, or a decoction made
and drank for certain days together. The juice or distilled water of
the green herb, taken in the same manner, helps all other fluxes either
of man or woman; vomitings also, and the gonorrhea, being taken any of
the ways aforesaid. It doth also most assuredly help those that have
the stranguary, or are troubled with the stone or gravel in the reins
or bladder. The same also helps stitches in the sides, griping pains
of the stomach or belly, the obstructions of the liver, and cures the
yellow jaundice; likewise it kills also the worms in children. Being
outwardly applied, it conglutinates wounds notably, and helps much to
stay defluctions of rheum from the head to the eyes, nose, and teeth,
being bruised green and bound thereto; or the forehead, temples, or the
nape of the neck behind, bathed with the decoction of the dried herb.
It also dries up the moisture of fistulous ulcers, or any other that
are foul and spreading.


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 soft and smooth kinds, which grow so commonly in
almost every part 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 virtues of them as follows:

_Government and virtues._] The seed of the soft Rushes, (saith
Dioscorides and Galen, toasted, saith Pliny) being drank in wine and
water, stays the lask and women’s courses, when they come down too
abundantly: but it causes head-ache; it provokes sleep likewise,
but must be given with caution. The root boiled in water, to the
consumption of one third, helps the cough.

Thus you see that conveniences have their inconveniences, and virtue is
seldom unaccompanied with some vices. What I have written concerning
Rushes, is to satisfy my countrymen’s questions: _Are our Rushes good
for nothing?_ Yes, and as good let them alone as taken. There are
remedies enough without them for any disease, and therefore 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 counties of this land, and especially
to the country-people, who feed much thereon, that if I did describe
it, they would presently say, I might as well have spared that labour.
Its virtue follows.

_Government and virtues._] Rye is more digesting than wheat; the bread
and the leaven thereof ripens and breaks imposthumes, boils, and other
swellings: The meal of Rye put between a double cloth, and moistened
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, doth much
ease the continual pains of the head. Matthiolus saith, that the ashes
of Rye straw put into water, and steeped 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 Cambridgeshire.

_Government and virtues._] It is an herb of the Sun, and under the
Lion, and therefore you need not demand a reason why it strengthens the
heart so exceedingly. Let not above ten grains be given at one time,
for the Sun, which is the fountain of light, may dazzle the eyes, and
make them blind; a cordial being taken in an immoderate quantity, hurts
the heart instead of helping it. It quickens the brain, for the Sun is
exalted in Aries, as he hath his house in Leo. It helps consumptions of
the lungs, and difficulty of breathing. It is excellent in epidemical
diseases, as pestilence, small-pox, and measles. It is a notable
expulsive medicine, and a notable remedy for the yellow jaundice. My
opinion is, (but I have no author for it) that hermodactyls are nothing
else but the roots of Saffron dried; and my reason is, that the roots
of all crocus, both white and yellow, purge phlegm as hermodactyls do;
and if you please to dry the roots of any crocus, neither your eyes
nor your taste shall distinguish them from hermodactyls.


SAGE.

OUR ordinary garden Sage needs no description.

_Time._] It flowers in or about July.

_Government and virtues._] Jupiter claims this, and bids me tell you,
it is good for the liver, and to breed blood. A decoction of the leaves
and branches of Sage made and drank, saith Dioscorides, provokes urine,
brings down women’s courses, helps to expel the dead child, and causes
the hair to become black. It stays the bleeding of wounds, and cleanses
foul ulcers. Three spoonfuls of the juice of Sage taken fasting, with
a little honey, doth presently stay the spitting or casting of blood
of them that are in a consumption. These pills are much commended;
Take of spikenard, 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 powder, put thereto so much juice of Sage
as may make them into a mass of pills, taking a dram of them every
morning fasting, and so likewise at night, drinking a little pure water
after them. Matthiolus saith, it is very profitable for all manner of
pains in the head coming of cold and rheumatic humours: as also for
all pains of the joints, whether inwardly or outwardly, and therefore
helps the falling-sickness, the lethargy, such as are dull and heavy
of spirit, the palsy; and is of much use in all defluctions of rheum
from the head, and for the diseases of the chest or breast. The leaves
of Sage and nettles bruised together, and laid upon the imposthume
that rises behind the ears, doth assuage it much. The juice of Sage
taken in warm water, helps a hoarseness and a cough. The leaves sodden
in wine, and laid upon the place affected with the palsy, helps much,
if the decoction be drank; Also Sage taken with wormwood is good for
the bloody-flux. Pliny saith, it procures women’s courses, and stays
them coming down too fast: helps the stinging and biting of serpents,
and kills the worms that breed in the ear, and in sores. Sage is of
excellent use to help the memory, warming and quickening the senses;
and the conserve made of the flowers is used to the same purpose, and
also for all the former recited diseases. The juice of Sage drank
with vinegar, hath been of good use in time of the plague at all
times. Gargles likewise are made with Sage, rosemary, honey-suckles,
and plantain, boiled in wine or water, with some honey or allum put
thereto, to wash sore mouths and throats, cankers, or the secret parts
of man or woman, as need requires. And with other hot and comfortable
herbs, Sage is boiled to bathe the body and the legs in the Summer
time, especially to warm cold joints, or sinews, troubled with the
palsy and 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 also after boiling be laid warm thereunto.


WOOD-SAGE.

_Descript._] WOOD-SAGE rises up with square hoary stalks, two feet
high at the least, with two leaves set at every joint, somewhat like
other Sage leaves, but smaller, softer, whiter, and rounder, and a
little dented about the edges, and smelling somewhat stronger. At the
tops of the stalks and branches stand the flowers, on a slender like
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 seem in a husk
together: the root is long and stringy, with divers fibres thereat,
and abides many years.

_Place._] It grows in woods, and by wood-sides; as also in divers
fields and bye-lanes in the land.

_Time._] It flowers in June, July, and August.

_Government and virtues._] The herb is under Venus. The decoction of
the Wood Sage provokes urine and women’s courses: It also provokes
sweat, digests humours, and discusses 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, suspect some vein
to be inwardly broken, to disperse and void the congealed blood, and
to consolidate the veins. The drink used inwardly, and the herb used
outwardly, is good for such as are inwardly or outwardly bursten, and
is found to be a sure remedy for the palsy. The juice of the herb,
or the powder thereof dried, is good for moist ulcers and sores in
the legs, and other parts, to dry them, and cause them to heal more
speedily. It is no less effectual also in green wounds, to be used upon
any occasion.


SOLOMON’S SEAL.

_Descript._] THE common Solomon’s Seal rises up with a round stalk half
a yard high, bowing or bending down to the ground, set with single
leaves one above another, somewhat large, and like the leaves of the
lily-convally, or May-lily, with an eye of bluish 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, somewhat like
the flowers of May-lily, but ending in five long points, for the most
part two together, at the end of a long foot-stalk, and sometimes but
one, and sometimes also two stalks, and flowers at the foot of a leaf,
which are without any scent at all, and stand on the top of the stalk.
After they are past, come in their places small round berries great at
the first, and blackish green, tending to blueness when they are ripe,
wherein lie small, white, hard, and stony seeds. The root is of the
thickness of one’s finger or thumb, white and knotted in some places, 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 divers places of this land; as, namely
in a wood two miles from Canterbury, by Fish-Pool Hill, as also in
Bushy Close belonging to the parsonage of Alderbury, near Clarendon,
two miles from Salisbury: in Cheffon wood, on Chesson Hill, between
Newington and Sittingbourn in Kent, and divers other places in Essex,
and other counties.

_Time._] It flowers about May: The root abides and shoots a-new every
year.

_Government and virtues._] Saturn owns the plant, for he loves his
bones well. The root of Solomon’s 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
humours to those that are old. It is singularly good to stay vomitings
and bleeding wheresoever, as also all fluxes in man or woman; also,
to knit any joint, which by weakness uses to be often out of place,
or will not stay in long when it is set; also to knit and join broken
bones in any part of the body, the roots being bruised and applied to
the places; yea, it hath been found by experience, and the decoction
of the root in wine, or the bruised root put into wine or other
drink, and after a night’s infusion, strained forth hard and drank,
hath helped both man and beast, whose bones hath been broken by any
occasion, which is the most assured refuge of help to people of divers
counties of the land that they can have. It is no less effectual to
help ruptures and burstings, the decoction in wine, or the powder in
broth or drink, being inwardly taken, and outwardly applied 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 blue marks that abide after the hurt. The same
also, or the distilled water of the whole plant, used to the face, or
other parts of the skin, cleanses 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.


SAMPHIRE.

_Descript._] ROCK Samphire grows up with a tender green stalk about
half a yard, or two feet high at the most, branching forth almost
from the very bottom, and stored with sundry thick and almost round
(somewhat long) leaves of a deep green colour, sometimes two together,
and sometimes more on a stalk, and sappy, and of a pleasant, hot, and
spicy taste. At the top of the stalks and branches stand umbels of
white flowers, and after them come large seed, bigger than fennel seed,
yet somewhat like it. The root is great, white, and long, continuing
many years, and is of an hot and spicy taste likewise.

_Place._] It grows on the rocks that are often moistened at the least,
if not overflowed with the sea water.

_Time._] And it flowers and seeds in the end of July and August.

_Government and virtues._] It is an herb of Jupiter, and was in former
times wont to be used more than now it is; the more is the pity. It is
well known almost to every body, that ill digestions and obstructions
are the cause of most of the diseases which the frail nature of man
is subject to; both which might be remedied by a more frequent use of
this herb. If people would have sauce to their meat, they may take some
for profit as well as for pleasure. It is a safe herb, very pleasant
both to taste and stomach, helps digestion, and in some sort opening
obstructions of the liver and spleen: provokes urine, and helps thereby
to wash away the gravel and stone engendered in the kidneys or bladder.


SANICLE.

THIS herb is by many called Butter-wort.

_Descript._] Ordinary Sanicle sends forth many great round leaves,
standing upon long brownish stalks, every one somewhat deeply cut or
divided into five or six parts, and some of these also cut in somewhat
like the leaf of crow’s-foot, or dove’s-foot, and finely dented about
the edges, smooth, and of a dark shining colour, and somewhat reddish
about the brims; from among which arise up small, round green stalks,
without any joint or leaf thereon, saving at the top, where it branches
forth into flowers, having a leaf divided into three or four parts at
that joint with the flowers, which are small and white, starting out of
small round greenish yellow heads, many standing together in a tuft,
in which afterwards are the seeds contained, which are small round
burs, somewhat like the leaves of clevers, and stick in the same manner
upon any thing that they touch. The root is composed of many blackish
strings or fibres, set together at a little long head, which abides
with green leaves all the Winter, and perishes not.

_Place._] It is found in many shadowy woods, and other places of this
land.

_Time._] It flowers in June, and the seed is ripe shortly after.

_Government and virtues._] This is one of Venus’s herbs, to cure the
wounds or mischiefs Mars inflicts upon the body of man. It heals green
wounds speedily, or any ulcers, imposthumes, or bleedings inward, also
tumours in any part of the body; for the decoction or powder in drink
taken, and the juice used outwardly, dissipates the humours: and 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 putrid malignant ulcers in the mouth, throat, and privities,
by gargling or washing with the decoction of the leaves and roots made
in water, and a little honey put thereto. It helps to stay women’s
courses, and all other fluxes of blood, either by the mouth, urine, or
stool, and lasks of the belly; the ulcerations of the kidneys also, and
the pains in the bowels, and gonorrhea, being boiled in wine or water,
and drank. The same also is no less powerful to help any ruptures or
burstings, used both inwardly and outwardly: And briefly, it is as
effectual in binding, restraining, consolidating, heating, drying and
healing, as comfrey, bugle, self-heal, or any other of the vulnerary
herbs whatsoever.


SARACEN’S CONFOUND, OR SARACEN’S
WOUNDWORT.

_Descript._] THIS grows sometimes, with brownish stalks, and other
whiles with green, to a man’s height, having narrow green leaves
snipped about the edges, somewhat like those of the peach-tree, or
willow leaves, but not of such a white green colour. The tops of the
stalks are furnished with many yellow star-like flowers, standing in
green heads, which when they are fallen, and the seed ripe, which
is somewhat long, small and of a brown colour, wrapped in down, is
therefore carried away with the wind. The root is composed of fibres
set together at a head, which perishes not in Winter, although the
stalks dry away and no leaf appears in the Winter. The taste hereof is
strong and unpleasant; and so is the smell also.

_Place._] It grows in moist and wet grounds, by wood-sides, and
sometimes in moist places of shadowy groves, as also by the water side.

_Time._] It flowers in July, and the seed is soon ripe, and carried
away with the wind.

_Government and virtues._] Saturn owns the herb, and it is of a sober
condition, like him. Among the Germans, this wound herb is preferred
before all others of the same quality. Being boiled in wine, and drank,
it helps the indisposition of the liver, and freeth the gall from
obstructions; whereby it is good for the yellow jaundice and for the
dropsy in the beginning of it; for all inward ulcers of the reins,
mouth or throat, and inward wounds and bruises, likewise for such sores
as happen in the privy parts of men and women; being steeped in wine,
and then distilled, the water thereof drank, is singularly good to
ease all gnawings in the stomach, or other pains of the body, as also
the pains of the mother: and being boiled in water, it helps continual
agues; and the said water, or the simple water of the herb distilled,
or the juice or decoction, are very effectual to heal any green wound,
or old sore or ulcer whatsoever, cleansing them from corruption, and
quickly healing them up: Briefly, whatsoever hath been said of bugle or
sanicle, may be found herein.


SAUCE-ALONE, OR JACK-BY-THE-HEDGE-SIDE.

_Descript._] THE lower leaves of this are rounder than those that grow
towards the top of the stalks, and are set singly on a joint being
somewhat round and broad, pointed at the ends, dented also about the
edges, somewhat resembling nettle leaves for the form, but of a fresher
green colour, not rough or pricking: The flowers are white, growing
at the top of the stalks one above another, which being past, follow
small round pods, wherein are contained round seed somewhat blackish.
The root stringy and thready, perishes every year after it hath given
seed, and raises itself again of its own sowing. The plant, or any part
thereof, being bruised, smells of garlic, but more pleasantly, and
tastes somewhat hot and sharp, almost like unto rocket.

_Place._] It grows under walls, and by hedge-sides, and path-ways in
fields in many places.

_Time._] It flowers in June, July, and August.

_Government and virtues._] It is an herb of Mercury. This is eaten by
many country people as sauce to their salt fish, and helps well to
digest the crudities and other corrupt humours engendered thereby. It
warms also the stomach, and causes digestion. The juice thereof boiled
with honey is accounted to be as good as hedge mustard for the cough,
to cut and expectorate the tough phlegm. The seed bruised and boiled
in wine, is a singularly good remedy for the wind colic, or the stone,
being drank 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 singularly good use. The leaves also, or the seed boiled,
is good to be used in clysters to ease the pains of the stone. The
green leaves are held to be good to heal the ulcers in the legs.


WINTER AND SUMMER SAVOURY.

BOTH these are so well known (being entertained as constant inhabitants
in our gardens) that they need no description.

_Government and virtues._] Mercury claims dominion over this herb,
neither is there a better remedy against the colic and iliac passion,
than this herb; keep it dry by you all the year, if you love yourself
and your ease, and it is a hundred pounds 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. They are both of them
hot and dry, especially the Summer kind, which is both sharp and quick
in taste, expelling wind in the stomach and bowels, and is a present
help for the rising of the mother procured by wind; provokes urine and
women’s courses, and is much commended for women with child to take
inwardly, and to smell often unto. It cures tough phlegm in the chest
and lungs, and helps to expectorate it the more easily; quickens the
dull spirits in the lethargy, the juice thereof being snuffed up into
the nostrils. The juice dropped into the eyes, clears a dull sight, if
it proceed of thin cold humours distilled from the brain. The juice
heated with the oil of Roses, and dropped into the ears, eases them
of the noise and singing in them, and of deafness also. Outwardly
applied with wheat flour, in manner of a poultice, it gives ease to
the sciatica and palsied members, heating and warming them, and takes
away their pains. It also takes away the pain that comes by stinging of
bees, wasps, &c.


SAVINE.

TO describe a plant so well known is needless, it being nursed up
almost in every garden, and abides green all the Winter.

_Government and virtues._] It is under the dominion of Mars, being hot
and dry in the third degree, and being of exceeding clean parts, is of
a very digesting quality. If you dry the herb into powder, and mix it
with honey, it is an excellent remedy to cleanse old filthy ulcers and
fistulas; but it hinders them from healing. The same is excellently
good to break carbuncles and plague-sores; also helps the king’s evil,
being applied to the place. Being spread over a piece of leather, and
applied to the navel, kills the worms in the belly, helps scabs and
itch, running sores, cankers, tetters, and ringworms; and being applied
to the place, may haply cure venereal sores. This I thought good to
speak of, as it may be safely used outwardly, for inwardly it cannot be
taken without manifest danger.


THE COMMON WHITE SAXIFRAGE.

_Descript._] THIS hath a few small reddish kernels of roots covered
with some skins, lying among divers small blackish fibres, which
send forth divers round, faint or yellow green leaves, and greyish
underneath, lying above the grounds, unevenly dented about the edges,
and somewhat hairy, every one upon a little foot-stalk, from whence
rises up round, brownish, hairy, green stalks, two or three feet
high, with a few such like round leaves as grow below, but smaller,
and somewhat branched at the top, whereon stand pretty large white
flowers of five leaves a-piece, with some yellow threads in the middle,
standing in a long crested, brownish green husk. After the flowers are
past, there arises sometimes a round hard head, forked at the top,
wherein is contained small black 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 grows in many places of our land, as well in the
lower-most, as in the upper dry corners of meadows, and grassy sandy
places. It used to grow near Lamb’s conduit, on the backside of Gray’s
Inn.

_Time._] It flowers in May, and then gathered, as well for that which
is called the seed, as to distil, for it quickly perishes down to the
ground when any hot weather comes.

_Government and virtues._] It is very effectual to cleanse the reins
and bladder, and to dissolve the stone engendered in them, and to
expel it and the gravel by urine; to help the stranguary; for which
purpose the decoction of the herb or roots in white wine, is most
usual, or the powder of the small kernelly root, 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 whole herb, root
and flowers, is most familiar to be taken. It provokes also women’s
courses, and frees and cleanses the stomach and lungs from thick and
tough phlegm that trouble them. There are not many better medicines to
break the stone than this.


BURNET SAXIFRAGE.

_Descript._] THE greater sort of our English Burnet Saxifrage grows
up with divers long stalks of winged leaves, set directly opposite
one to another on both sides, each being somewhat broad, and a little
pointed and dented about the edges, of a sad green colour. At the top
of the stalks stand umbels of white flowers, after which come 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
small, and set one against another, deeply jagged about the edges, and
of the same colour as the former. The umbels of the flowers are white,
and the seed very small, and so is the root, being also somewhat hot
and quick in taste.

_Place._] These grow in moist meadows of this land, and are easy to be
found being well sought for among the grass, wherein many times they
lay hid scarcely to be discerned.

_Time._] They flower about July, and their seed is ripe in August.

_Government and virtues._] They are both of them herbs of the Moon.
The Saxifrages are hot as pepper; and Tragus saith, by his experience,
that they are wholesome. They have the same properties the parsleys
have, but in provoking urine, and causing the pains thereof, and of
the wind and colic, are much more effectual, the roots or seed being
used either in powder, or in decoctions, or any other way; and likewise
helps the windy pains of the mother, and to procure their courses, and
to break and void the stone in the kidneys, to digest cold, viscous,
and tough phlegm in the stomach, and is an especial remedy against all
kind of venom. Castoreum being boiled in the distilled water thereof,
is singularly good to be given to those that are troubled with cramps
and convulsions. Some do use to make the seeds into comfits (as they do
carraway seeds) which is effectual to all the purposes aforesaid. The
juice of the herb dropped into the most grievous wounds of the head,
dries up their moisture, and heals them quickly. Some women use the
distilled water to take away freckles or spots in the skin or face; and
to drink the same sweetened with sugar for all the purposes aforesaid.


SCABIOUS, THREE SORTS.

_Descript._] COMMON field Scabious grows up with many hairy, soft,
whitish green leaves, some whereof are very little, if at all jagged
on the edges, others very much rent and torn on the sides, and have
threads in them, which upon breaking may be plainly seen; from among
which rise up divers hairy green stalks, three or four feet high,
with such like hairy green leaves on them, but more deeply and finely
divided and branched forth a little: At the tops thereof, which
are naked and bare of leaves for a good space, stand round heads
of flowers, of a pale blueish colour, set together in a head, the
outermost whereof are larger than the inward, with many threads also
in the middle, somewhat flat at the top, as the head with the seed is
likewise; the root is great, white and thick, growing down deep into
the ground, and abides many years.

There is another sort of Field Scabious different in nothing from the
former, but only it is smaller in all respects.

The Corn Scabious differs little from the first, but that it is greater
in all respects, and the flowers more inclining to purple, and the root
creeps under the upper crust of the earth, and runs not deep into the
ground as the first doth.

_Place._] The first grows more usually in meadows, especially about
London every where.

The second in some of the dry fields about this city, but not so
plentifully as the former.

The third in standing corn, or fallow fields, and the borders of such
like fields.

_Time._] They flower in June and July, and some abide flowering until
it be late in August, and the seed is ripe in the mean time.

There are many other sorts of Scabious, but I take these which I have
here described to be most familiar with us. The virtues of both these
and the rest, being much alike, take them as follow.

_Government and virtues._] Mercury owns the plant. Scabious is very
effectual for all sorts of coughs, shortness of breath, and all other
diseases of the breast and lungs, ripening and digesting cold phlegm,
and other tough humours, voids them forth by coughing and spitting: It
ripens also all sorts of inward ulcers and imposthumes; pleurisy also,
if the decoction of the herb dry or green be made in wine, and drank
for some time together. Four ounces of the clarified juice of Scabious
taken in the morning fasting, with a dram of mithridate, or Venice
treacle, frees the heart from any infection of pestilence, if after the
taking of it the party sweat two hours in bed, and this medicine be
again and again repeated, if need require. The green herb bruised and
applied to any carbuncle or plague sore, is found by certain experience
to dissolve and break it in three hours space. The same decoction also
drank, helps the pains and stitches in the side. The decoction of the
roots taken for forty days together, or a dram of the powder of them
taken at a time in whey, doth (as Matthiolus saith) wonderfully help
those that are troubled with running of spreading scabs, tetters,
ringworms, yea, although they proceed from the French pox, which, he
saith he hath tried by experience. The juice or decoction drank, helps
also scabs and breakings-out of the itch, and the like. The juice also
made up into an ointment and used, is effectual for the same purpose.
The same also heals all inward wounds by the drying, cleansing, and
healing quality therein: And a syrup made of the juice and sugar, is
very effectual to all the purposes aforesaid, and so is the distilled
water of the herb and flowers made in due season, especially to be
used when the green herb is not in force to be taken. The decoction of
the herb and roots outwardly applied, doth wonderfully help all sorts
of hard or cold swellings in any part of the body, is effectual for
shrunk sinews or veins, and heals green wounds, old sores, and ulcers.
The juice of Scabious, made up with the powder of Borax and Samphire,
cleanses the skin of the face, or other parts of the body, not only
from freckles and pimples, but also from morphew and leprosy; the head
washed with the decoction, cleanses it from dandriff, scurf, sores,
itch, and the like, used warm. The herb bruised and applied, doth in
a short time loosen, and draw forth any splinter, broken bone, arrow
head, or other such like thing lying in the flesh.


SCURVYGRASS.

_Descript._] THE ordinary English Scurvygrass hath many thick flat
leaves, more long than broad, and sometimes longer and narrower;
sometimes also smooth on the edges, and sometimes a little waved;
sometimes plain, smooth and pointed, of a sad green, and sometimes a
blueish colour, every one standing by itself upon a long foot-stalk,
which is brownish or greenish also, from among which arise many slender
stalks, bearing few leaves thereon like the other, but longer and less
for the most part: At the tops whereof grow many whitish flowers,
with yellow threads in the middle, standing about a green head, which
becomes the seed vessel, which will be somewhat flat when it is ripe,
wherein is contained reddish seed, tasting somewhat hot. The root is
made of many white strings, which stick deeply into the mud, wherein it
chiefly delights, yet it will well abide in the more upland and drier
ground, and tastes a little brackish and salt even there, but not so
much as where it hath the salt water to feed upon.

_Place._] It grows all along the Thames sides, both on the Essex and
Kentish shores, from Woolwich round about the sea coasts to Dover,
Portsmouth, and even to Bristol, where it is had in plenty; the other
with round leaves grows in the marshes in Holland, in Lincolnshire, and
other places of Lincolnshire by the sea side.

_Descript._] There is also another sort called Dutch Scurvygrass, which
is most known, and frequent in gardens, which has fresh, green, and
almost round leaves rising from the root, not so thick as the former,
yet in some rich ground, very large, even twice as big as in others,
not dented about the edges, or hollow in the middle, standing on a long
foot-stalk; from among these rise long, slender stalks, higher than
the former, with more white flowers at the tops of them, which turn
into small pods, and smaller brownish seed than the former. The root is
white, small and thready. The taste is nothing salt at all; it hath a
hot, aromatical spicy taste.

_Time._] It flowers in April and May, and gives seed ripe quickly after.

_Government and virtues._] It is an herb of Jupiter. The English Scurvy
grass is more used for the salt taste it bears, which doth somewhat
open and cleanse; but the Dutch Scurvygrass is of better effect, and
chiefly used (if it may be had) by those that have the scurvy, and
is of singular good effect to cleanse the blood, liver, and spleen,
taking the juice in the Spring every morning fasting in a cup of drink.
The decoction is good for the same purpose, and opens obstructions,
evacuating cold, clammy and phlegmatic humours both from the liver and
the spleen, and bringing the body to a more lively colour. The juice
also helps all foul ulcers and sores in the mouth, gargled therewith;
and used outwardly, cleanses the skin from spots, marks, or scars that
happen therein.


SELF-HEAL.

_Descript._] THE common Self-heal which is called also Prunel,
Carpenter’s Herb, Hook-heal, and Sickle-wort, is a small, low, creeping
herb, having many small, roundish pointed leaves, like leaves of wild
mints, of a dark green colour, without dents on the edges; from among
which rise square hairy stalks, scarce a foot high, which spread
sometimes into branches with small leaves set thereon, up to the top,
where stand brown spiked heads of small brownish leaves like scales and
flowers set together, almost like the heads of Cassidony, which flowers
are gaping, and of a blueish purple, or more pale blue, in some places
sweet, but not so in others. The root consists of many fibres downward,
and spreading strings also whereby it increases. The small stalks, with
the leaves creeping on the ground, shoot forth fibres taking hold on
the ground, whereby it is made a great tuft in a short time.

_Place._] It is found in woods and fields every where.

_Time._] It flowers in May, and sometimes in April.

_Government and virtues._] Here is another herb of Venus, Self-heal,
whereby when you are hurt you may heal yourself: It is a special herb
for inward and outward wounds. Take it inwardly in syrups for inward
wounds: outwardly in unguents, and plaisters for outward. As Self-heal
is like Bugle in form, so also in the qualities and virtues, serving
for all the purposes whereto Bugle is applied to with good success,
either inwardly or outwardly, for inward wounds or ulcers whatsoever
within the body, for bruises or falls, and such like hurts. If it be
accompanied with Bugle, Sanicle, and other the like wound herbs, it
will be more effectual to wash or inject into ulcers in the parts
outwardly. Where there is cause to repress the heat and sharpness of
humours flowing to any sore, ulcers, inflammations, swellings, or the
like, or to stay the fluxes of blood in any wound or part, this is used
with some good success; as also to cleanse the foulness of sores, and
cause them more speedily to be healed. It is an especial remedy for all
green wounds, to solder the lips of them, and to keep the place from
any further inconveniencies. The juice hereof used with oil of roses to
anoint the temples and forehead, is very effectual to remove head ache,
and the same mixed with honey of roses, cleanses and heals all ulcers,
in the mouth, and throat, and those also in the secret parts. And the
proverb of the Germans, French, and others, is verified in this, _That
he needs neither physician nor surgeon that hath _Self-heal_ and
_Sanicle_ to help himself_.


THE SERVICE-TREE.

IT is so well known in the place where it grows, that it needs no
description.

_Time._] It flowers before the end of May, and the fruit is ripe in
October.

_Government and virtues._] Services, when they are mellow, are fit to
be taken to stay fluxes, scouring, and casting, yet less than medlers.
If they be dried before they be mellow, and kept all the year, they
may be used in decoctions for the said purpose, either to drink, or to
bathe the parts requiring it; and are profitably used in that manner to
stay the bleeding of wounds, and of the mouth or nose, to be applied to
the forehead and nape of the neck; and are under the dominion of Saturn.


SHEPHERD’S PURSE.

IT is called Whoreman’s Permacety, Shepherd’s Scrip, Shepherd’s Pounce,
Toy-wort, Pickpurse, and Casewort.

_Descript._] The root is small, white, and perishes every year. The
leaves are small and long, of a pale green colour, and deeply cut in
on both sides, among which spring up a stalk which is small and round,
containing small leaves upon it even to the top. The flowers are white
and very small; after which come the little cases which hold the seed,
which are flat, almost in the form of a heart.

_Place._] They are frequent in this nation, almost by every path-side.

_Time._] They flower all the Summer long; nay some of them are so
fruitful, that they flower twice a year.

_Government and virtues._] It is under the dominion of Saturn, and of
a cold, dry, and binding nature, like to him. It helps all fluxes of
blood, either caused by inward or outward wounds; as also flux of the
belly, and bloody flux, spitting blood, and bloody urine, stops the
terms in women; being bound to the wrists of the hands, and the soles
of the feet, it helps the yellow jaundice. The herb being made into a
poultice, helps inflammations and St. Anthony’s fire. The juice being
dropped into the ears, heals the pains, noise, and mutterings thereof.
A good ointment may be made of it for all wounds, especially wounds in
the head.


SMALLAGE.

THIS is also very well known, and therefore I shall not trouble the
reader with any description thereof.

_Place._] It grows naturally in dry and marshy ground; but if it be
sown in gardens, it there prospers very well.

_Time._] It abides green all the Winter, and seeds in August.

_Government and virtues._] It is an herb of Mercury. Smallage is
hotter, drier, and much more medicinal than parsley, for it much more
opens obstructions of the liver and spleen, rarefies thick phlegm,
and cleanses it and the blood withal. It provokes urine and women’s
courses, and is singularly good against the yellow jaundice, tertian
and quartan agues, if the juice thereof be taken, but especially
made up into a syrup. The juice also put to honey of roses, and
barley-water, is very good to gargle the mouth and throat of those
that have sores and ulcers in them, and will quickly heal them. The
same lotion also cleanses and heals all other foul ulcers and cankers
elsewhere, if they be washed therewith. The seed is especially used to
break and expel wind, to kill worms, and to help a stinking breath.
The root is effectual to all the purposes aforesaid, and is held
to be stronger in operation than the herb, but especially to open
obstructions, and to rid away any ague, if the juice thereof be taken
in wine, or the decoction thereof in wine used.


SOPEWORT, OR BRUISEWORT.

_Descript._] THE roots creep under ground far and near, with many
joints therein, of a brown colour on the outside and yellowish within,
shooting forth in divers places weak round stalks, full of joints, set
with two leaves a-piece at every one of them on a contrary side, which
are ribbed somewhat like to plantain, and fashioned like the common
field white campion leaves, seldom having any branches from the sides
of the stalks, but set with flowers at the top, standing in long husks
like the wild campions, made of five leaves a-piece, round at the ends,
and dented in the middle, of a rose colour, almost white, sometimes
deeper, sometimes paler; of a reasonable scent.

_Place._] It grows wild in many low and wet grounds of this land, by
brooks and the sides of running waters.

_Time._] It flowers usually in July, and so continues all August, and
part of September, before they be quite spent.

_Government and virtues._] Venus owns it. The country people in divers
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 thereof, 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 singularly good to void hydropical waters: and they no
less extol it to perform an absolute cure in the French pox, more than
either sarsaparilla, guiacum, or China can do; which, how true it is, I
leave others to judge.


SORREL.

OUR ordinary Sorrel, which grows in gardens, and also wild in the
fields, is so well known, that it needs no description.

_Government and virtues._] It is under the dominion of Venus. Sorrel
is prevalent in all hot diseases, to cool any inflammation and heat
of blood in agues pestilential or choleric, or sickness and fainting,
arising 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 decaying stomachs: For it resists
the putrefaction of the blood, kills worms, and is a cordial to the
heart, which the seed doth more effectually, being more drying and
binding, and thereby stays the hot fluxes of women’s courses, or of
humours in the bloody flux, or flux of the stomach. The root also in a
decoction, or in powder, is effectual for all the said purposes. Both
roots and seeds, as well as the herb, are held powerful to resist the
poison of the scorpion. The decoction of the roots is taken to help
the jaundice, and to expel the gravel and the stone in the reins or
kidneys. The decoction of the flowers made with wine and drank, helps
the black jaundice, as also the inward ulcers of the body and bowels. A
syrup made with the juice of Sorrel and fumitory, is a sovereign help
to kill those sharp humours that cause the itch. The juice thereof,
with a little vinegar, serves well to be used outwardly for the same
cause, and is also profitable for tetters, ringworms, &c. It helps also
to discuss the kernels in the throat; and the juice gargled in the
mouth, helps the sores therein. The leaves wrapt in a colewort leaf and
roasted in the embers, and applied to a hard imposthume, botch, boil,
or plague sore, doth both ripen and break it. The distilled water of
the herb is of much good use for all the purposes aforesaid.


WOOD SORREL.

_Descript._] THIS grows upon the ground, having a number of leaves
coming from the root made of three leaves, like a trefoil, but broad
at the ends, and cut in the middle, of a yellowish green colour, every
one standing on a long foot-stalk, which at their first coming up are
close folded together to the stalk, but opening themselves afterwards,
and are of a fine sour relish, and yielding a juice which will turn
red when it is clarified, and makes a most dainty clear syrup. Among
these leaves rise up divers slender, weak foot-stalks, 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 dashed
over with a small show of blueish, on the back side only. After the
flowers are past, follow small round heads, with small yellowish seed
in them. The roots are nothing but small strings fastened to the end of
a small long piece; all of them being of a yellowish colour.

_Place._] It grows in many places of our land, in woods and wood-sides,
where they be moist and shadowed, and in other places not too much upon
the Sun.

_Time._] It flowers in April and May.

_Government and virtues._] Venus owns it. Wood Sorrel serves to all the
purposes that the other Sorrels do, and is more effectual in hindering
putrefaction of blood, and ulcers in the mouth and body, and to quench
thirst, to strengthen a weak stomach, to procure an appetite, to stay
vomiting, and very excellent in any contagious sickness or pestilential
fevers. The syrup made of the juice, is effectual in all the cases
aforesaid, and so is the distilled water of the herb. Sponges or linen
cloths wet in the juice and applied outwardly to any hot swelling or
inflammations, doth much cool and help them. The same juice taken
and gargled in the mouth, and after it is spit forth, taken afresh,
doth wonderfully help a foul stinking canker or ulcer therein. It is
singularly good to heal wounds, or to stay the bleeding of thrusts or
scabs in the body.


SOW THISTLE.

SOW Thistles are generally so well known, that they need no description.

_Place._] They grow in gardens and manured grounds, sometimes by old
walls, pathsides of fields, and high ways.

_Government and virtues._] This and the former are under the influence
of Venus. Sow Thistles are cooling, and somewhat binding, and are very
fit to cool a hot stomach, and ease the pains thereof. The herb boiled
in wine, is very helpful to stay the dissolution 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
wheezing. Pliny saith, That it hath caused the gravel and stone to be
voided by urine, and that the eating thereof helps a stinking breath.
The decoction of the leaves and stalks causes abundance of milk in
nurses, and their children to be well coloured. The juice or distilled
water is good for all hot inflammations, wheals, and eruptions or heat
in the skin, itching of the hæmorrhoids. The juice boiled or thoroughly
heated in a little oil of bitter almonds in the peel of a pomegranate,
and dropped into the ears, is a sure remedy for deafness, singings,
&c. Three spoonfuls of the juice taken, warmed in white wine, and some
wine put thereto, causes women in travail to have so easy and speedy
a delivery, that they may be able to walk presently after. It is
wonderful good for women to wash their faces with, to clear the skin,
and give it a lustre.


SOUTHERN WOOD.

SOUTHERN Wood is so well known to be an ordinary inhabitant in our
gardens, that I shall not need to trouble you with any description
thereof.

_Time._] It flowers for the most part in July and August.

_Government and virtues._] It is a gallant mercurial plant, worthy of
more esteem than it hath. Dioscorides saith, That the seed bruised,
heated in warm water, and drank, helps those that are bursten, or
troubled with cramps or convulsions of the sinews, the sciatica, or
difficulty in making water, and bringing down women’s courses. The same
taken in wine is an antidote, or counter-poison against all deadly
poison, and drives away serpents and other venomous creatures; as also
the smell of the herb, being burnt, doth the same. The oil thereof
anointed on the back-bone before the fits of agues come, takes them
away: It takes away inflammations in the eyes, if it be put with some
part of a roasted quince, and boiled with a few crumbs of bread, and
applied. Boiled with barley-meal it takes away pimples, pushes or
wheals that arise in the face, or other parts 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, helps to draw forth splinters and thorns
out of the flesh. The ashes thereof dries up and heals old ulcers,
that are without inflammation, although by the sharpness thereof it
bites sore, and puts them to sore pains; as also the sores in the privy
parts of man or woman. The ashes mingled with old sallad oil, helps
those that have hair fallen, and are bald, causing the hair to grow
again either on the head or beard. Daranters saith, That the oil made
of Southern-wood, and put among the ointments that are used against
the French disease, is very effectual, and likewise kills 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, ancient and modern, to be
more offensive to the stomach than worm-wood.


SPIGNEL, OR SPIKENARD.

_Descript._] 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 taste from whence rise
sundry long stalks of most fine cut leaves like hair, smaller than
dill, set thick on both sides of the stalks, and of a good scent. Among
these leaves rise up round stiff stalks, with a few joints and leaves
on them, and at the tops an umbel of pure white flowers; at the edges
whereof sometimes will be seen a shew of the reddish blueish colour,
especially before they be full blown, and are succeeded by small,
somewhat round seeds, bigger than the ordinary fennel, and of a brown
colour, divided into two parts, and crusted on the back, as most of the
umbelliferous seeds are.

_Place._] It grows wild in Lancashire, Yorkshire, and other northern
counties, and is also planted in gardens.

_Government and virtues._] It is an herb of Venus. Galen saith, The
roots of Spignel are available to provoke urine, and women’s courses;
but if too much thereof be taken, it causes head-ache. The roots
boiled in wine or water, and drank, helps the stranguary and stoppings
of the urine, the wind, swellings and pains in the stomach, pains of
the mother, and all joint-aches. If the powder of the root be mixed
with honey, and the same taken as a licking medicine, it breaks tough
phlegm, and dries up the rheum that falls on the lungs. The roots are
accounted very effectual against the stinging or biting of any venomous
creature.


SPLEENWORT, CETERACH, OR HEART’S
TONGUE.

_Descript._] THE smooth Spleenwort, from a black, thready and bushy
root, sends 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
polypody, each division being not always set opposite unto the other,
cut between each, smooth, and of a light green on the upper side, and a
dark yellowish roughness on the back, folding or rolling itself inward
at the first springing up.

_Place._] It grows as well upon stone walls, as moist and shadowy
places, about Bristol, and other west parts plentifully; as also on
Framlingham Castle, on Beaconsfield church in Berkshire, at Stroud in
Kent, and elsewhere, and abides green all the Winter.

_Government and virtues._] Saturn owns it. It is generally used against
infirmities of the Spleen: It helps the stranguary, and wasteth the
stone in the bladder, and is good against the yellow jaundice and the
hiccough; but the juice of it in women hinders conception. Matthiolus
saith, That if a dram of the dust that is on the backside of the leaves
be mixed with half a dram of amber in powder, and taken with the juice
of purslain or plantain, it helps the gonorrhea speedily, and that the
herb and root being boiled and taken, helps all melancholy diseases,
and those especially that arise from the French diseases. Camerarius
saith, That the distilled water thereof being drank, is very effectual
against the stone in the reins and bladder; and that the lye that is
made of the ashes thereof being drank for some time together, helps
splenetic persons. It is used in outward remedies for the same purpose.


STAR THISTLE.

_Descript._] A COMMON Star Thistle has divers narrow leaves lying next
the ground, cut on the edges somewhat deeply into many parts, soft
or a little wooly, all over green, among which rise up divers weak
stalks, parted into many branches: all lying down to the ground, that
it seems a pretty bush, set with divers the like divided leaves up to
the tops, where severally do stand small whitish green heads, set with
sharp white pricks (no part of the plant else being prickly) which
are somewhat yellowish; out of the middle whereof rises the flowers,
composed of many small reddish purple threads; and in the heads, after
the flowers are past, come small whitish round seed, lying down as
others do. The root is small, long and woody, perishing every year, and
rising again of its own sowing.

_Place._] It grows wild in the fields about London in many places, as
at Mile-End green, and many other places.

_Time._] It flowers early, and seeds in July, and sometimes in August.

_Government and virtues._] This, as almost all Thistles are, is under
Mars. The seed of this Star Thistle made into powder, and drank in
wine, provokes urine, and helps to break the stone, and drives it
forth. The root in powder, and given in wine and drank, is good against
the plague and pestilence; and drank in the morning fasting for some
time together, it is very profitable for fistulas in any part of the
body. Baptista Sardas doth much commend the distilled water thereof,
being drank, to help the French disease, to open the obstructions
of the liver, and cleanse the blood from corrupted humours, and is
profitable against the quotidian or tertian ague.


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.

_Government and virtues._] Venus owns the herb. Strawberries, when they
are green, are cool and dry; but when they are ripe, they are cool and
moist: The berries are excellently good to cool the liver, the blood,
and the spleen, or an hot choleric stomach; to refresh and comfort
the fainting spirits, and quench thirst: They are good also for other
inflammations; yet it is not amiss to refrain from them in a fever,
lest by their putrifying in the stomach they increase the fits. The
leaves and roots boiled in wine and water, and drank, do likewise cool
the liver and blood, and assuage all inflammations in the reins and
bladder, provoke urine, and allay the heat and sharpness thereof. The
same also being drank stays the bloody flux and women’s courses, and
helps the swelling of the spleen. The water of the Berries carefully
distilled, is a sovereign remedy and cordial in the panting and beating
of the heart, and is good for the yellow jaundice. The juice dropped
into foul ulcers, or they washed therewith, or the decoction of the
herb and root, doth wonderfully cleanse and help to cure them. Lotions
and gargles for sore mouths, or ulcers therein, or in the privy parts
or elsewhere, are made with the leaves and roots thereof; which is also
good to fasten loose teeth, and to heal spungy foul gums. It helps also
to stay catarrhs, or defluctions of rheum in the mouth, throat, teeth,
or eyes. The juice or water is singularly 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 and sharp humours in the face and hands, and other parts of the
body, to bathe them therewith, and to take away any redness in the
face, or spots, or other deformities in the skin, and to make it clear
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 horse dung
for your use. It is an excellent water for hot inflamed eyes, and to
take away a film or skin that begins to grow over them, and for such
other defects in them as may be helped by any outward medicine.


SUCCORY, OR CHICORY.

_Descript._] THE garden Succory hath long and narrower leaves than the
Endive, and more cut in or torn on the edges, and the root abides many
years. It bears also blue flowers like Endive, and the seed is hardly
distinguished from the seed of the smooth or ordinary Endive.

The wild Succory hath divers 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 a point; sometimes it hath a rib down to the middle of the
leaves, from among which rises up a hard, round, woody stalk, spreading
into many branches, set with smaller and less divided leaves on them up
to the tops, where stand the flowers, which are like the garden kind,
and the seed is also (only take notice that the flowers of the garden
kind are gone in on a sunny day, they being so cold, that they are not
able to endure the beams of the sun, and therefore more delight in the
shade) the root is white, but more hard and woody than the garden kind.
The whole plant is exceedingly bitter.

_Place._] This grows in many places of our land in waste untilled and
barren fields. The other only in gardens.

_Government and virtues._] It is an herb of Jupiter. Garden Succory,
as it is more dry and less cold than Endive, so it opens more. An
handful of the leaves, or roots boiled in wine or water, and a draught
thereof drank fasting, drives forth choleric and phlegmatic humours,
opens obstructions of the liver, gall and spleen; helps the yellow
jaundice, the heat of the reins, and of the urine; the dropsy 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 drank, is very effectual against
long lingering agues; and a dram of the seed in powder, drank in wine,
before the fit of the ague, helps to drive it away. The distilled water
of the herb and flowers (if you can take them in time) hath the like
properties, and is especially good for hot stomachs, and in agues,
either pestilential or of long continuance; for swoonings and passions
of the heart, for the heat and head-ache in children, and for the blood
and liver. The said water, or the juice, or the bruised leaves applied
outwardly, allay swellings, inflammations, St. Anthony’s 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, for nurses’ breasts that are pained by
the abundance of milk.

The wild Succory, as it is more bitter, so it is more strengthening to
the stomach and liver.


STONE-CROP, PRICK-MADAM, OR SMALL-HOUSELEEK.

_Descript._] IT grows with divers trailing branches upon the ground,
set with many thick, flat, roundish, whitish green leaves, pointed at
the ends. The flowers stand many of them together, somewhat loosely.
The roots are small, and run creeping under ground.

_Place._] It grows upon the stone walls and mud walls, upon the tiles
of houses and pent-houses, and amongst rubbish, and in other gravelly
places.

_Time._] It flowers in June and July, and the leaves are green all the
Winter.

_Government and virtues._] It is under the dominion of the Moon,
cold in quality, and something binding, and therefore very good to
stay defluctions, especially such as fall upon the eyes. It stops
bleeding, both inward and outward, helps cankers, and all fretting
sores and ulcers; it abates the heat of choler, thereby preventing
diseases arising from choleric humours. It expels poison much, resists
pestilential fevers, being exceeding good also for tertian agues: You
may drink the decoction of it, if you please, for all the foregoing
infirmities. It is so harmless an herb, you can scarce use it amiss:
Being bruised and applied to the place, it helps the king’s evil, and
any other knots or kernels in the flesh; as also the piles.


ENGLISH TOBACCO.

_Descript._] THIS rises up with a round thick stalk, about two feet
high, whereon do grow thick, flat green leaves, nothing so large as
the other Indian kind, somewhat round pointed also, and nothing dented
about the edges. The stalk branches forth, and bears at the tops divers
flowers set on great 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 follows is not so bright, but
larger, contained in the like great heads. The roots are neither so
great nor woody; it perishes every year with the hard frosts in Winter,
but rises generally from its own sowing.

_Place._] This came from some parts of Brazil, as it is thought, and is
more familiar in our country than any of the other sorts; early giving
ripe seed, which the others seldom do.

_Time._] It flowers from June, sometimes to the end of August, or
later, and the seed ripens in the mean time.

_Government and virtues._] It is a martial plant. It is found by
good experience to be available to expectorate tough phlegm from the
stomach, chest, and lungs. The juice thereof made into a syrup, or the
distilled water of the herb drank with some sugar, or without, if you
will, or the smoak taken by a pipe, as is usual, but fainting, helps
to expel worms in the stomach and belly, and to ease the pains in the
head, or megrim, and the griping pains in the bowels. It is profitable
for those that are troubled with the stone in the kidneys, both to
ease the pains by provoking urine, and also to expel gravel and the
stone engendered therein, and hath been found very effectual to expel
windiness, and other humours, which cause the strangling of the mother.
The seed hereof is very effectual to expel the tooth ache, and the
ashes of the burnt herb to cleanse the gums, and make the teeth white.
The herb bruised and applied to the place grieved with the king’s
evil, helps it in nine or ten days effectually. Monardus saith, it is
a counter poison against the biting of any venomous creature, the herb
also being outwardly applied to the hurt place. The distilled water
is often given with some sugar before the fit of an ague, to lessen
it, and take it away in three or four times using. If the distilled
fæces of the herb, having been bruised before the distillation, and not
distilled dry, be set in warm dung for fourteen days, and afterwards
be hung in a bag in a wine cellar, the liquor that distills therefrom
is singularly good to use in cramps, aches, the gout and sciatica,
and to heal itches, scabs, and running ulcers, cankers, and all foul
sores whatsoever. The juice is also good for all the said griefs, and
likewise to kill lice in children’s heads. The green herb bruised and
applied to any green wounds, cures any fresh wound or cut whatsoever:
and the juice put into old sores, both cleanses and heals them. There
is also made hereof a singularly good salve to help imposthumes, hard
tumours, and other swellings by blows and falls.


THE TAMARISK TREE.

IT is so well known in the place where it grows, that it needs no
description.

_Time._] It flowers about the end of May, or June, and the seed is
ripe and blown away in the beginning of September.

_Government and virtues._] A gallant Saturnine herb it is. The root,
leaves, young branches, or bark boiled in wine, and drank, stays the
bleeding of the hæmorrhodical veins, the spitting of blood, the too
abounding of women’s courses, the jaundice, the cholic, and the biting
of all venomous serpents, except the asp; and outwardly applied, is
very powerful against the hardness of the spleen, and the tooth-ache,
pains in the ears, red and watering eyes. The decoction, with some
honey put thereto, is good to stay gangrenes and fretting ulcers, and
to wash those that are subject to nits and lice. Alpinus and Veslingius
affirm, That the Egyptians do with good success use the wood of it to
cure the French disease, as others do with lignum vitæ or guiacum; and
give it also to those who have the leprosy, scabs, ulcers, or the like.
Its ashes doth quickly heal blisters raised by burnings or scaldings.
It helps the dropsy, arising from the hardness of the spleen, and
therefore to drink out of cups made of the wood is good for splenetic
persons. It is also helpful for melancholy, and the black jaundice that
arise thereof.


GARDEN TANSY.

GARDEN Tansy is so well known, that it needs no description.

_Time._] It flowers in June and July.

_Government and virtues._] Dame Venus was minded to pleasure women with
child by this herb, for there grows not an herb, fitter for their use
than this is; it is just as though it were cut out for the purpose.
This herb bruised and applied to the navel, stays miscarriages; I
know no herb like it for that use: Boiled in ordinary beer, and the
decoction drank, doth the like; and if her womb be not as she would
have it, this decoction will make it so. Let those women that desire
children love this herb, it is their best companion, their husbands
excepted. Also it consumes the phlegmatic humours, the cold and
moist constitution of Winter most usually affects the body of man
with, and that was the first reason of eating tansies in the Spring.
The decoction of the common Tansy, or the juice drank in wine, is a
singular remedy for all the griefs that come by slopping of the urine,
helps the stranguary and those that have weak reins and kidneys. It is
also very profitable to dissolve and expel wind in the stomach, belly,
or bowels, to procure women’s courses, and expel windiness in the
matrix, if it be bruised and often smelled unto, as also applied to the
lower part of the belly. It is also very profitable for such women as
are given to miscarry. It is used also against the stone in the reins,
especially to men. The herb fried with eggs (as it is the custom in
the Spring-time) which is called a Tansy, helps to digest and carry
downward those bad humours that trouble the stomach. The seed is very
profitably given to children for the worms, and the juice in drink is
as effectual. Being boiled in oil, it is good for the sinews shrunk by
cramps, or pained with colds, if thereto applied.


WILD TANSY, OR SILVER WEED.

THIS is also so well known, that it needs no description.

_Place._] It grows in every place.

_Time._] It flowers in June and July.

_Government and virtues._] Now Dame Venus hath fitted women with
two herbs of one name, the one to help conception, and the other to
maintain beauty, and what more can be expected of her? What now remains
for you, but to love your husbands, and not to be wanting to your poor
neighbours? Wild Tansy stays the lask, and all the fluxes of blood in
men and women, which some say it will do, if the green herb be worn in
the shoes, so it be next the skin; and it is true enough, that it will
stop the terms, if worn so, and the whites too, for ought I know. It
stays also spitting or vomiting of blood. The powder of the herb taken
in some of the distilled water, helps the whites in women, but more
especially if a little coral and ivory in powder be put to it. It is
also recommended to help children that are bursten, and have a rupture,
being boiled in water and salt. Being boiled in water and drank, it
eases the griping pains of the bowels, and is good for the sciatica
and joint-aches. The same boiled in vinegar, with honey and allum,
and gargled in the mouth, eases the pains of the tooth-ache, fastens
loose teeth, helps the gums that are sore, and settles the palate of
the mouth in its place, when it is fallen down. It cleanses and heals
ulcers in the mouth, or secret parts, and is very good for inward
wounds, and to close the lips of green wounds, and to heal old, moist,
and corrupt running sores in the legs or elsewhere. Being bruised
and applied to the soles of the feet and hand wrists, it wonderfully
cools the hot fits of agues, be they never so violent. The distilled
water cleanses the skin of all discolourings therein, as morphew,
sun-burnings, &c. as also pimples, freckles, and the like; and dropped
into the eyes, or cloths wet therein and applied, takes away the heat
and inflammations in them.


THISTLES.

OF these are many kinds growing here in England which are so well
known, that they need no description: Their difference is easily known
on the places where they grow, _viz._

_Place._] Some grow in fields, some in meadows, and some among the
corn; others on heaths, greens, and waste grounds in many places.

_Time._] They flower in June and August and their seed is ripe quickly
after.

_Government and virtues._] Surely Mars rules it, it is such a prickly
business. All these thistles are good to provoke urine, and to mend
the stinking smell thereof; as also the rank smell of the arm-pits, or
the whole body; being boiled in wine and drank, and are said to help a
stinking breath, and to strengthen the stomach. Pliny saith, That the
juice bathed on the place that wants hair, it being fallen off, will
cause it to grow speedily.


THE MELANCHOLY THISTLE.

_Descript._] IT rises up with tender single hoary green stalks, bearing
thereon four or five green leaves, dented about the edges; the points
thereof are little or nothing prickly, and at the top usually but one
head, yet sometimes from the bosom of the uppermost leaves there shoots
forth another small head, scaly and prickly, with many reddish thrumbs
or threads in the middle, which being gathered fresh, will keep the
colour a long time, and fades not from the stalk a long time, while it
perfects the seed, which is of a mean bigness, lying in the down. The
root hath many strings fastened to the head, or upper part, which is
blackish, and perishes not.

There is another sort little differing from the former, but that the
leaves are more green above, and more hoary underneath, and the stalk
being about two feet high, bears but one scaly head, with threads and
seeds as the former.

_Place._] They grow in many moist meadows of this land, as well in the
southern, as in the northern parts.

_Time._] They flower about July or August, and their seed ripens
quickly after.

_Government and virtues._] It is under Capricorn, and therefore under
both Saturn and Mars, one rids melancholy by sympathy, the other by
antipathy. Their virtues are but few, but those not to be despised; for
the decoction of the thistle in wine being drank, expels superfluous
melancholy out of the body, and makes a man as merry as a cricket;
superfluous melancholy causes care, fear, sadness, despair, envy,
and many evils more besides; but religion teaches to wait upon God’s
providence, and cast our care upon him who cares for us. What a fine
thing were it if men and women could live so? And yet seven years’
care and fear makes a man never the wiser, nor a farthing richer.
Dioscorides saith, the root borne about one doth the like, and removes
all diseases of melancholy. Modern writers laugh at him; _Let them
laugh that win_: my opinion is, that it is the best remedy against all
melancholy diseases that grows; they that please may use it.


OUR LADY’S THISTLE.

_Descript._] OUR Lady’s Thistle hath divers very large and broad leaves
lying on the ground cut in, and as it were crumpled, but somewhat hairy
on the edges, of a white green shining colour, wherein are many lines
and streaks of a milk white colour, running all over, and set with many
sharp and stiff prickles all about, among which rises up one or more
strong, round, and prickly stalks, set full of the like leaves up to
the top, where at the end of every branch, comes forth a great prickly
Thistle-like head, strongly armed with prickles, and with bright purple
thumbs rising out of the middle; after they are past, the seed grows in
the said heads, lying in soft white down, which is somewhat flattish
in the ground, and many strings and fibres fastened thereunto. All the
whole plant is bitter in taste.

_Place._] It is frequent on the banks of almost every ditch.

_Time._] It flowers and seeds in June, July, and August.

_Government and virtues._] Our Lady’s Thistle is under Jupiter, and
thought to be as effectual as Carduus Benedictus for agues, and to
prevent and cure the infection of the plague: as also to open the
obstructions of the liver and spleen, and thereby is good against the
jaundice. It provokes urine, breaks and expels the stone, and is good
for the dropsy. It is effectual also for the pains in the sides, and
many other inward pains and gripings. The seed and distilled water
is held powerful to all the purposes aforesaid, and besides, it is
often applied both outwardly with cloths or spunges to the region of
the liver, to cool the distemper thereof, and to the region of the
heart, against swoonings and the passions of it. It cleanses the blood
exceedingly: and in Spring, if you please to boil the tender plant (but
cut off the prickles, unless you have a mind to choak yourself) it will
change your blood as the season changes, and that is the way to be safe.


THE WOOLLEN, OR, COTTON THISTLE.

_Descript._] THIS has many large leaves lying upon the ground, somewhat
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 cotton down, set
with most sharp and cruel pricks; from the middle of whose heads of
flowers come forth many purplish crimson threads, and sometimes white,
although but seldom. The seed that follow in those white downy heads,
is somewhat large and round, resembling the seed of Lady’s Thistle, but
paler. The root is great and thick, spreading much, yet usually dies
after seed time.

_Place._] It grows on divers ditch-banks, and in the corn-fields,
and highways, generally throughout the land, and is often growing in
gardens.

_Government and virtues._] It is a plant of Mars. Dioscorides and Pliny
write, That the leaves and roots hereof taken in drink, help those that
have a crick in their neck, that they cannot turn it, unless they turn
their whole body. Galen saith, That the roots and leaves hereof are
good for such persons that have their bodies drawn together by some
spasm or convulsion, or other infirmities; as the rickets (or as the
college of physicians would have it, Rachites, about which name they
have quarrelled sufficiently) in children, being a disease that hinders
their growth, by binding their nerves, ligaments, and whole structure
of their body.


THE FULLER’S THISTLE, OR TEASLE.

IT is so well known, that it needs no description, being used with the
clothworkers.

The wild Teasle is in all things like the former, but that the prickles
are small, soft, and upright, not hooked or stiff, and the flowers
of this are of a fine blueish, or pale carnation colour, but of the
manured kind, whitish.

_Place._] The first grows, being sown in gardens or fields for the use
of clothworkers: The other near ditches and rills of water in many
places of this land.

_Time._] They flower in July, and are ripe in the end of August.

_Government and virtues._] It is an herb of Venus. Dioscorides saith,
That the root bruised and boiled in wine, till it be thick, and kept
in a brazen vessel, and after spread as a salve, and applied to the
fundament, doth heal the cleft thereof, cankers and fistulas therein,
also takes away warts and wens. The juice of the leaves dropped into
the ears, kills worms in them. The distilled water of the leaves
dropped into the eyes, takes away redness and mists in them that
hinder the sight, and is often used by women to preserve their beauty,
and to take away redness and inflammations, and all other heat or
discolourings.


TREACLE MUSTARD.

_Descript._] IT rises up with a hard round stalk, about a foot high,
parted into some branches, having divers soft green leaves, long
and narrow, set thereon, waved, but not cut into the edges, broadest
towards the ends, somewhat round pointed; the flowers are white that
grow at the tops of the branches, spike-fashion, one above another;
after which come round pouches, parted in the middle with a furrow,
having one blackish brown seed on either side, somewhat sharp in taste,
and smelling of garlick, especially in the fields where it is natural,
but not so much in gardens: The roots are small and thready, perishing
every year.

Give me leave here to add Mithridate Mustard, although it may seem more
properly by the name to belong to M, in the alphabet.


MITHRIDATE MUSTARD.

_Descript._] THIS grows higher than the former, spreading more and
higher branches, whose leaves are smaller and narrower, sometimes
unevenly dented about the edges. The flowers are small and white,
growing on long branches, with much smaller and rounder vessels after
them, and parted in the same manner, having smaller brown seeds than
the former, and much sharper in taste. The root perishes after seed
time, but abides the first Winter after springing.

_Place._] They grow in sundry places in this land, as half a mile from
Hatfield, by the river side, under a hedge as you go to Hatfield, and
in the street of Peckham on Surrey side.

_Time._] They flower and seed from May to August.

_Government and virtues._] Both of them are herbs of Mars. The Mustards
are said to purge the body both upwards and downwards, and procure
women’s courses so abundantly, that it suffocates the birth. It breaks
inward imposthumes, being taken inwardly; and used in clysters, helps
the sciatica. The seed applied, doth the same. It is an especial
ingredient in mithridate and treacle, being of itself an antidote
resisting poison, venom and putrefaction. It is also available in many
cases for which the common Mustard is used, but somewhat weaker.


THE BLACK THORN, OR SLOE-BUSH.

IT is so well known, that it needs no description.

_Place._] It grows in every county in the hedges and borders of fields.

_Time._] It flowers in April, and sometimes in March, but the fruit
ripens after all other plums whatsoever, and is not fit to be eaten
until the Autumn frost mellow them.

_Government and virtues._] All the parts of the Sloe-Bush are binding,
cooling, and dry, and all effectual to stay bleeding at the nose and
mouth, or any other place; the lask of the belly or stomach, or the
bloody flux, the too much abounding of women’s courses, and helps
to ease the pains of the sides, and bowels, that come by overmuch
scouring, to drink the decoction of the bark of the roots, or more
usually the decoction of the berries, either fresh or dried. The
conserve also is of very much use, and more familiarly taken for the
purposes aforesaid. But the distilled water of the flower first steeped
in sack for a night, and drawn therefrom by the heat of Balneum and
Anglico, a bath, is a most certain remedy, tried and approved, to
ease all manner of gnawings in the stomach, the sides and bowels,
or any griping pains in any of them, to drink a small quantity when
the extremity of pain is upon them. The leaves also are good to make
lotions to gargle and wash the mouth and throat, wherein are swellings,
sores, or kernels; and to stay the defluctions of rheum to the eyes,
or other parts; as also to cool the heat and inflammations of them,
and ease hot pains of the head, to bathe the forehead and temples
therewith. The simple distilled water of the flowers is very effectual
for the said purposes, and the condensate juice of the Sloes. The
distilled water of the green berries is used also for the said effects.


THOROUGH WAX, OR THOROUGH LEAF.

_Descript._] COMMON Thorough-Wax sends forth a strait round stalk, two
feet high, or better, whose lower leaves being of a bluish colour, are
smaller and narrower than those up higher, and stand close thereto,
not compassing it; but as they grow higher, they do not encompass
the stalks, until it wholly pass through them, branching toward the
top into many parts, where the leaves grow smaller again, every one
standing singly, and never two at a joint. The flowers are small
and yellow, standing in tufts at the heads of the branches, where
afterwards grow the seed, being blackish, many thick thrust together.
The root is small, long and woody, perishing every year, 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 flowers in July, and the seed is ripe in August.

_Government and virtues._] Both this and the former are under the
influence of Saturn. Thorough-Wax is of 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 and wine be
drank, and the place washed therewith, or the juice of the green herb
bruised, or boiled, either by itself, or with other herbs, in oil or
hog’s grease, to be made into an ointment to serve all the year. The
decoction of the herb, or powder of the dried herb, taken inwardly, and
the same, or the leaves bruised, and applied outwardly, is singularly
good for all ruptures and burstings, especially in children before they
be too old. Being applied with a little flour and wax to children’s
navels that stick forth, it helps them.


THYME.

IT is in vain to describe an herb so commonly known.

_Government and virtues._] It is a noble strengthener of the lungs, as
notable a one as grows; neither is there scarce a better remedy growing
for that disease in children which they commonly call the Chin-cough,
than it is. It purges the body of phlegm, and is an excellent remedy
for shortness of breath. It kills worms in the belly, and being a
notable herb of Venus, provokes the terms, gives safe and speedy
delivery to women in travail, and brings away the after birth. It is so
harmless you need not fear the use of it. An ointment made of it takes
away hot swellings and warts, helps the sciatica and dullness of sight,
and takes away pains and hardness of the spleen. ’Tis excellent for
those that are troubled with the gout. It eases pains in the loins and
hips. The herb taken any way inwardly, comforts the stomach much, and
expels wind.


WILD THYME, OR MOTHER OF THYME.

WILD Thyme also is so well known, that it needs no description.

_Place._] It may be found commonly in commons, and other barren places
throughout the nation.

_Government and virtues._] It is under the dominion of Venus, and
under the sign Aries, and therefore chiefly appropriated to the head.
It provokes urine and the terms, and eases the griping pain of the
belly, cramps, ruptures, and inflamation of the liver. If you make a
vinegar of the herb, as vinegar of roses is made (you may find out
the way in my translation of the London Dispensatory) and anoint the
head with it, it presently stops the pains thereof. It is excellently
good to be given either in phrenzy or lethargy, although they are two
contrary diseases: It helps spitting and voiding of blood, coughing,
and vomiting; it comforts and strengthens the head, stomach, reins, and
womb, expels wind, and breaks the stone.


TORMENTIL, OR SEPTFOIL.

_Descript._] THIS hath reddish, slender, weak branches rising from the
root, lying on the ground, rather leaning than standing upright, with
many short leaves that stand closer to the stalk than cinquefoil (to
which this is very like) with the root-stalk compassing the branches
in several places; but those that grow to the ground are set upon
long foot stalks, each whereof are like the leaves of cinquefoil, but
somewhat long and lesser dented about the edges, many of them divided
into five leaves, but most of them into seven, whence it is also called
Septfoil; yet some may have six, and some eight, according to the
fertility of the soil. At the tops of the branches stand divers small
yellow flowers, consisting of five leaves, like those of cinquefoil,
but smaller. The root is smaller than bistort, somewhat thick, but
blacker without, and not so red within, yet sometimes a little crooked,
having blackish fibres thereat.

_Place._] It grows as well in woods and shadowy places, as in the open
champain country, about the borders of fields in many places of this
land, and almost in every broom field in Essex.

_Time._] It flowers all the Summer long.

_Government and virtues._] This is a gallant herb of the Sun. Tormentil
is most excellent to stay all kind of fluxes of blood or humours in man
or woman, whether at nose, mouth, or belly. The juice of the herb and
root, or the decoction thereof, taken with some Venice treacle, and
the person laid to sweat, expels any venom or poison, or the plague,
fever, or other contagious diseases, as pox, measles, &c. for it is an
ingredient in all antidotes or counter poisons. Andreas Urlesius is of
opinion that the decoction of this root is no less effectual to cure
the French pox than Guiacum or China; and it is not unlikely, because
it so mightily resists putrefaction. The root taken inwardly is most
effectual to help any flux of the belly, stomach, spleen, or blood; and
the juice wonderfully opens obstructions of the liver and lungs, and
thereby helps the yellow jaundice. The powder or decoction drank, or
to sit thereon as a bath, is an assured remedy against abortion, if it
proceed from the over flexibility or weakness of the inward retentive
faculty; as also a plaster made therewith, and vinegar applied to
the reins of the back, doth much help not only this, but also those
that cannot hold their water, the powder being taken in the juice of
plantain, and 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 outwardly as inwardly. The root hereof made
up with pellitory of Spain and allum, and put into a hollow tooth, not
only assuages the pain, but stays the flux of humours which causes it.
Tormentil is no less effectual and powerful a remedy against outward
wounds, sores and hurts, than for inward, and is therefore a special
ingredient to be used in wound drinks, lotions and injections, for
foul corrupt rotten sores and ulcers of the mouth, secrets, or other
parts of the body. The juice or powder of the root put in ointments,
plaisters, and such things that are to be applied to wounds or sores,
is very effectual, as the juice of the leaves and the root bruised
and applied to the throat or jaws, heals the king’s evil, and eases
the pain of the sciatica; the same used with a little vinegar, is 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 humours. The same is also effectual for the piles
or hæmorrhoids, if they be washed or bathed therewith, or with the
distilled water of the herb and roots. It is found also helpful to dry
up any sharp rheum that distills from the head into the eyes, causing
redness, pain, waterings, itching, or the like, if a little prepared
tutia, or white amber, be used with the distilled water thereof. And
here is enough, only remember the Sun challengeth this herb.


TURNSOLE, OR HELIOTROPIUM.

_Descript._] THE greater Turnsole rises with one upright stalk, about a
foot high, or more, dividing itself almost from the bottom, into divers
small branches, of a hoary colour; at each joint of the stalk and
branches grow small broad leaves, somewhat white and hairy. At the tops
of the stalks and branches stand small white flowers, consisting of
four, and sometimes five small leaves, set in order one above another,
upon a small crooked spike, which turns inwards like a bowed finger,
opening by degrees as the flowers blow open; after which in their place
come forth cornered seed, four for the most part standing together; the
root is small and thready, perishing every year, and the seed shedding
every year, raises it again the next spring.

_Place._] It grows in gardens, and flowers and seeds with us,
notwithstanding it is not natural to this land, but to Italy, Spain,
and France, where it grows plentifully.

_Government and virtues._] It is an herb of the Sun, and a good one
too. Dioscorides saith, That a good handful of this, which is called
the Great Turnsole, boiled in water, and drank, purges both choler and
phlegm; and boiled with cummin, helps the stone in the reins, kidneys,
or bladder, provokes urine and women’s courses, and causes an easy
and speedy delivery in child-birth. The leaves bruised and applied to
places pained with the gout, or that have been out of joint and newly
set, and full of pain, do give much ease; the seed and juice of the
leaves also being rubbed with a little salt upon warts and wens, and
other kernels in the face, eye-lids, or any other part of the body,
will, by often using, take them away.


MEADOW TREFOIL, OR HONEYSUCKLES.

IT is so well known, especially by the name of Honeysuckles, white and
red, that I need not describe them.

_Place._] They grow almost every where in this land.

_Government and virtues._] Mercury hath dominion over the common sort.
Dodoneus saith, The leaves and flowers are good to ease the griping
pains of the gout, the herb being boiled and used in a clyster. If
the herb be made into a poultice, and applied to inflammations, it
will ease them. The juice dropped in the eyes, is a familiar medicine,
with many country people, to take away the pin and web (as they call
it) in the eyes; it also allays the heat and blood shooting of them.
Country people do also in many places drink the juice thereof against
the biting of an adder; and having boiled the herb in water, they
first wash the place with the decoction, and then lay some of the herb
also to the hurt place. The herb also boiled in swine’s grease, and so
made into an ointment, is good to apply to the biting of any venomous
creature. The herb also bruised and heated between tiles, and applied
hot to the share, causes them to make water who had it stopt before.
It is held likewise to be good for wounds, and to take away seed. The
decoction of the herb and flowers, with the seed and root, taken for
some time, helps women that are troubled with the whites. The seed and
flowers boiled in water, and afterwards made into a poultice with some
oil, and applied, helps hard swellings and imposthumes.


HEART TREFOIL.

BESIDES the ordinary sort of Trefoil, here are two more remarkable, and
one of which may be properly called Heart Trefoil, not only because the
leaf is triangular, like the heart of a man, but also because each leaf
contains the perfection of a heart, and that in its proper colour, viz.
a flesh colour.

_Place._] It grows between Longford and Bow, and beyond Southwark, by
the highway and parts adjacent.

_Government and virtues._] It is under the dominion of the Sun, and if
it were used, it would be found as great a strengthener of the heart,
and cherisher of the vital spirits as grows, relieving the body against
fainting and swoonings, fortifying it against poison and pestilence,
defending the heart against the noisome vapours of the spleen.


PEARL TREFOIL.

IT differs not from the common sort, save only in this particular, it
hath a white spot in the leaf like a pearl. It is particularly under
the dominion of the Moon, and its icon shews that it is of a singular
virtue against the pearl, or pin and web in the eyes.


TUSTAN, OR PARK LEAVES.

_Descript._] IT hath brownish shining round stalks, crested the length
thereof, rising two by two, and sometimes three feet high, branching
forth even from the bottom, having divers joints, and at each of them
two fair large leaves standing, of a dark blueish green colour on the
upper side, and of a yellowish green underneath, turning reddish toward
Autumn. At the top of the stalks stand large yellow flowers, and heads
with seed, which being greenish at the first and afterwards reddish,
turn to be of a blackish purple colour when they are ripe, with small
brownish seed within them, and they yield a reddish juice or liquor,
somewhat resinous, and of a harsh and stypick taste, as the leaves also
and the flowers be, although much less, but do not yield such a clear
claret wine colour, as some say it doth, the root is brownish, somewhat
great, hard and woody, spreading well in the ground.

_Place._] It grows in many woods, groves, and woody grounds, as parks
and forests, and by hedge-sides in many places in this land, as in
Hampstead wood, by Ratley in Essex, in the wilds of Kent, and in many
other places needless to recite.

_Time._] It flowers later than St. John’s or St. Peter’s-wort.

_Government and virtues._] It is an herb of Saturn, and a most noble
anti-venerean. Tustan purges choleric humours, as St. Peter’s-wort,
is said to do, for therein it works the same effects, both to help
the sciatica and gout, and to heal burning by fire; it stays all the
bleedings of wounds, if either the green herb be bruised, or the powder
of the dry be applied thereto. It hath been accounted, and certainly it
is, a sovereign herb to heal either wound or sore, either outwardly or
inwardly, and therefore always used in drinks, lotions, balms, oils,
ointments, or any other sorts of green wounds, ulcers, or old sores, in
all which the continual experience of former ages hath confirmed the
use thereof to be admirably good, though it be not so much in use now,
as when physicians and surgeons were so wise as to use herbs more than
now they do.


GARDEN VALERIAN.

_Descript._] THIS hath a thick short greyish root, lying for the most
part above ground, shooting forth on all other sides such like small
pieces of roots, which have all of them many long green strings and
fibres under them in the ground, whereby it draws nourishment. From
the head of these roots spring up many green leaves, which at first
are somewhat broad and long, without any divisions at all in them, or
denting on the edges; but those that rise up after are more and more
divided on each side, some to the middle rib, being winged, as made of
many leaves together on a stalk, and those upon a stalk, in like manner
more divided, but smaller towards the top than below; the stalk rises
to be a yard high or more, sometimes branched at the top, with many
small whitish flowers, sometimes dashed over at the edges with a pale
purplish colour, of a little scent, which passing away, there follows
small brownish white seed, that is easily carried away with the wind.
The root smells more strong than either leaf or flower, and is of more
use in medicines.

_Place._] It is generally kept with us in gardens.

_Time._] It flowers in June and July, and continues flowering until the
frost pull it down.

_Government and virtues._] This is under the influence of Mercury.
Dioscorides saith, That the Garden Valerian hath a warming faculty,
and that being dried and given to drink it provokes urine, and helps
the stranguary. The decoction thereof taken, doth the like also, and
takes away pains of the sides, provokes women’s courses, and is used
in antidotes. Pliny saith, That the powder of the root given in drink,
or the decoction thereof taken, helps all stoppings and stranglings
in any part of the body, whether they proceed of pains in the chest
or sides, and takes them away. The root of Valerian boiled with
liquorice, raisins, and anniseed, is singularly good for those that are
short-winded, and for those that are troubled with the cough, and helps
to open the passages, and to expectorate phlegm easily. It is given to
those that are bitten or stung by any venomous creature, being boiled
in wine. It is of a special virtue against the plague, the decoction
thereof being drank, and the root being used to smell to. It helps
to expel the wind in the belly. The green herb with the root taken
fresh, being bruised and applied to the head, takes away the pains and
prickings there, stays rheum and thin distillation, and being boiled
in white wine, and a drop thereof put into the eyes, takes away the
dimness of the sight, or any pin or web therein. It is of excellent
property to heal any inward sores or wounds, and also for outward hurts
or wounds, and drawing away splinters or thorns out of the flesh.


VERVAIN.

_Descript._] THE common Vervain hath somewhat long broad leaves next
the ground deeply gashed about the edges, and some only deeply dented,
or cut all alike, of a blackish green colour on the upper side,
somewhat grey underneath. The stalk is square, branched into several
parts, rising about two feet high, especially if you reckon the long
spike of flowers at the tops of them, which are set on all sides one
above another, and sometimes two or three together, being small and
gaping, of a blue colour and white intermixed, after which come small
round seed, in small and somewhat long heads. The root is small and
long.

_Place._] It grows generally throughout this land in divers places of
the hedges and way-sides, and other waste grounds.

_Time._] It flowers in July, and the seed is ripe soon after.

_Government and virtues._] This is an herb of Venus, and excellent
for the womb to strengthen and remedy all the cold griefs of it, as
Plantain doth the hot. Vervain is hot and dry, opening obstructions,
cleansing and healing. It helps the yellow jaundice, the dropsy and the
gout; it kills and expels worms in the belly, and causes a good colour
in the face and body, strengthens as well as corrects the diseases
of the stomach, liver, and spleen; helps the cough, wheezings, and
shortness of breath, and all the defects of the reins and bladder,
expelling the gravel and stone. It is held to be good against the
biting of serpents, and other venomous beasts, against the plague,
and both tertian and quartan agues. It consolidates and heals also
all wounds, both inward and outward, stays bleedings, and used with
some honey, heals all old ulcers and fistulas in the legs or other
parts of the body; as also those ulcers that happen in the mouth; or
used with hog’s grease, it helps the swellings and pains of the secret
parts in man or woman, also for the piles or hæmorrhoids; applied with
some oil of roses and vinegar unto the forehead and temples, it eases
the inveterate pains and ache of the head, and is good for those that
are frantic. The leaves bruised, or the juice of them mixed with some
vinegar, doth wonderfully cleanse the skin, and takes away morphew,
freckles, fistulas, and other such like inflamations and deformities
of the skin in any parts of the body. The distilled water of the herb
when it is in full strength, dropped into the eyes, cleanses them
from films, clouds, or mists, that darken the sight, and wonderfully
strengthens the optic nerves. The said water is very powerful in all
the diseases aforesaid, either inward or outward, whether they be old
corroding sores, or green wounds. The dried root, and peeled, is known
to be excellently good against all scrophulous and scorbutic habits
of body, by being tied to the pit of the stomach, by a piece of white
ribband round the neck.


THE VINE.

THE leaves of the English vine (I do not mean to send you to the
Canaries for a medicine) being boiled, makes a good lotion for sore
mouths; being boiled with barley meal into a poultice, it cools
inflammations of wounds; the dropping of the vine, when it is cut in
the Spring, which country people call Tears, being boiled in a syrup,
with sugar, and taken inwardly, is excellent to stay women’s longings
after every thing they see, which is a disease many women with child
are subject to. The decoction of Vine leaves in white wine doth the
like. Also the tears of the Vine, drank two or three spoonfuls at a
time, breaks the stone in the bladder. This is a very good remedy, and
it is discreetly done, to kill a Vine to cure a man, but the salt of
the leaves are held to be better. The ashes of the burnt branches will
make teeth that are as black as a coal, to be as white as snow, if you
but every morning rub them with it. It is a most gallant Tree of the
Sun, very sympathetical with the body of men, and that is the reason
spirit of wine is the greatest cordial among all vegetables.


VIOLETS.

BOTH the tame and the wild are so well known, that they need no
description.

_Time._] They flower until the end of July, but are best in March, and
the beginning of April.

_Government and virtues._] They are a fine pleasing plant of Venus,
of a mild nature, no way harmful. All the Violets are cold and moist
while they are fresh and green, and are used to cool any heat,
or distemperature of the body, either inwardly or outwardly, as
inflammations in the eyes, in the matrix or fundament, in imposthumes
also, and hot swellings, to drink the decoction of the leaves and
flowers made with water in wine, or to apply them poultice-wise to the
grieved places: it likewise eases pains in the head, caused through
want of sleep; or any other pains arising of heat, being applied in
the same manner, or with oil of roses. A dram weight of the dried
leaves or flower of Violets, but the leaves more strongly, doth purge
the body of choleric humours, and assuages the heat, being taken in a
draught of wine, or any other drink; the powder of the purple leaves
of the flowers, only picked and dried and drank in water, is said to
help the quinsy, and the falling-sickness in children, especially in
the beginning of the disease. The flowers of the white Violets ripen
and dissolve swellings. The herb or flowers, while they are fresh, or
the flowers when they are dry, are effectual in the pleurisy, and all
diseases of the lungs, to lenify the sharpness in hot rheums, and the
hoarseness of the throat, the heat also and sharpness of urine, and
all the pains of the back or reins, and bladder. It is good also for
the liver and the jaundice, and all 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 juice or syrup of lemons be put to it, or a few drops of the
oil of vitriol, it is made thereby the more powerful to cool the heat,
and quench the thirst, and gives to the drink a claret wine colour,
and a fine tart relish, pleasing to the taste. Violets taken, or made
up with honey, do more cleanse and cool, and with sugar contrary-wise.
The dried flower of Violets are accounted amongst the cordial drinks,
powders, and other medicines, especially where cooling cordials are
necessary. The green leaves are used with other herbs to make plaisters
and poultices to inflammations and swellings, and to ease all pains
whatsoever, arising of heat, and for the piles also, being fried with
yolks of eggs, and applied thereto.


VIPER’S BUGLOSS.

_Descript._] THIS hath many long rough leaves lying on the ground,
from among which rises up divers hard round stalks, very rough, as if
they were thick set with prickles or hairs, whereon are set such like
rough, hairy, or prickly sad green leaves, somewhat narrow; the middle
rib for the most part being white. The flowers stand at the top of the
stalk, branched forth in many long spiked leaves of flowers bowing or
turning like the turnsole, all 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 purplish 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
somewhat like the head of a viper. The root is somewhat great and
blackish, and woolly, when it grows toward seed-time, and perishes in
the Winter.

There is another sort, little differing from the former, only in this,
that it bears white flowers.

_Place._] The first grows wild almost every where. That with white
flowers about the castle-walls at Lewis in Sussex.

_Time._] They flower in Summer, and their seed is ripe quickly after.

_Government and virtues._] It is a most gallant herb of the Sun; it
is a pity it is no more in use than it is. It is an especial remedy
against the biting of the Viper, and all other venomous beasts, or
serpents; as also against poison, or poisonous herbs. Dioscorides and
others say, That whosoever shall take of the herb or root before they
be bitten, shall not be hurt by the poison of any serpent. The root or
seed is thought to be most effectual to comfort the heart, and expel
sadness, or causeless melancholy; it tempers the blood, and allays
hot fits of agues. The seed drank in wine, procures abundance of milk
in women’s breasts. The same also being taken, eases the pains in the
loins, back, and kidneys. The distilled water of the herb when it is
in flower, or its chief 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 the heart, and expelling
sadness and melancholy.


WALL FLOWERS, OR WINTER GILLI-FLOWERS.

THE garden kind are so well known that they need no description.

_Descript._] The common single Wall-flowers, which grow wild abroad,
have sundry small, long, narrow, dark green leaves, set without order
upon small round, whitish, woody stalks, which bear at the tops divers
single yellow flowers one above another, every one bearing four leaves
a-piece, and of a very sweet scent: after which come long pods,
containing a reddish seed. The roots are white, hard and thready.

_Place._] It grows upon church walls, and old walls of many houses, and
other stone walls in divers places; The other sort 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 flowering
in that manner all the year long, although they flower very early
sometimes, and in some places very late.

_Government and virtues._] The Moon rules them. Galen, in his seventh
book of simple medicines, saith, That the yellow Wall-flowers work more
powerfully than any of the other kinds, and are therefore of more use
in physic. It cleanses the blood, and fretteth the liver and reins from
obstructions, provokes women’s courses, expels the secundine, and the
dead child; helps the hardness and pain of the mother, and of spleen
also; stays inflammations and swellings, comforts and strengthens any
weak part, or out of joint; helps to cleanse the eyes from mistiness or
films upon them, and to cleanse the filthy ulcers in the mouth, or any
other part, and is a singular remedy for the gout, and all aches and
pains in the joints and sinews. A conserve made of the flowers, is used
for a remedy both for the apoplexy and palsy.


THE WALLNUT TREE.

IT is so well known, that it needs no description.

_Time._] It blossoms early before the leaves come forth, and the fruit
is ripe in September.

_Government and virtues._] This is also a plant of the Sun. Let the
fruit of it be gathered accordingly, which you shall find to be of most
virtues while they are green, before they have shells. 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 in 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 stomach; and
in hot bodies cause the choler to abound and the head-ach, and are an
enemy to those that have the cough; but are less hurtful to those that
have a colder stomach, and are said to kill the broad worms in the
belly or stomach. If they be taken with onions, salt, and honey, they
help the biting of a mad dog, or the venom or infectious poison of any
beast, &c. Caias Pompeius found in the treasury of Mithridates, king
of Pontus, when he was overthrown, a scroll of his own hand writing,
containing a medicine against any poison or infection; which is this;
Take two dry walnuts, and as many good figs, and twenty leaves of
rue, bruised and beaten together with two or three corns of salt and
twenty juniper berries, which take every morning fasting, preserves
from danger of poison, and infection that day it is taken. The juice
of the other green husks boiled with honey is an excellent gargle for
sore mouths, or the heat and inflammations in the throat and stomach.
The kernels, when they grow old, are more oily, and therefore not
fit to be eaten, but are then used to heal the wounds of the sinews,
gangrenes, and carbuncles. The said kernels being burned, are very
astringent, and will stay lasks and women’s courses, being taken in
red wine, and stay the falling of the hair, and make it fair, being
anointed with oil and wine. The green husks will do the like, being
used in the same manner. The kernels beaten with rue and wine, being
applied, help the quinsy; and bruised with some honey, and applied to
the ears, ease the pains and inflammation of them. A piece of the green
husks put into a hollow tooth, eases the pain. The catkins hereof,
taken before they fall off, dried, and given a dram thereof in powder
with white wine, wonderfully helps those that are troubled with the
rising of the mother. The oil that is pressed out of the kernels,
is very profitable, taken inwardly like oil of almonds, to help the
cholic, and to expel wind very effectually; an ounce or two thereof may
be taken at any time. The young green nuts taken before they be half
ripe, and preserved with sugar, are of good use for those that have
weak stomachs, or defluctions thereon. The distilled water of the green
husks, before they be half ripe, is of excellent use to cool the heat
of agues, being drank an ounce or two at a time: as also to resist the
infection of the plague, if some of the same be also applied to the
sores thereof. The same also cools the heat of green wounds and old
ulcers, and heals them, being bathed therewith. The distilled water of
the green husks being ripe, when they are shelled from the nuts, and
drank with a little vinegar, is good for the place, so as before the
taking thereof a vein be opened. The said water is very good against
the quinsy, being gargled and bathed therewith, and wonderfully helps
deafness, the noise, and other pains in the ears. The distilled water
of the young green leaves in the end of May, performs a singular cure
on foul running ulcers and sores, to be bathed, with wet cloths or
spunges applied to them every morning.


WOLD, WELD, OR DYER’S WEED.

THE common kind grows bushing with many leaves, long, narrow and
flat upon the ground; of a dark blueish green colour, somewhat like
unto Woad, but nothing so large, a little crumpled, and as it were
round-pointed, which do so abide the first year; and the next spring
from among them, rise up divers round stalks, two or three feet high,
beset with many such like leaves thereon, but smaller, and shooting
forth small branches, which with the stalks carry many small yellow
flowers, in a long spiked head at the top of them, where afterwards
come the seed, which is small and black, inclosed in heads that are
divided at the tops into four parts. The root is long, white and thick,
abiding the Winter. The whole herb changes to be yellow, after it hath
been in flower awhile.

_Place._] It grows every where by the way sides, in moist grounds, as
well as dry, in corners of fields and bye lanes, and sometimes all over
the field. In Sussex and Kent they call it Green Weed.

_Time._] It flowers in June.

_Government and virtues._] Matthiolus saith, that the root hereof cures
tough phlegm, digests raw phlegm, thins gross humours, dissolves hard
tumours, and opens obstructions. Some do highly commend it against
the biting of venomous creatures, to be taken inwardly and applied
outwardly to the hurt place; as also for the plague or pestilence. The
people in some countries of this land, do use to bruise the herb, and
lay it to cuts or wounds in the hands or legs, to heal them.


WHEAT.

ALL the several kinds thereof are so well known unto almost all people,
that it is all together needless to write a description thereof.

_Government and virtues._] It is under Venus. Dioscorides saith, That
to eat the corn of green Wheat is hurtful to the stomach, and breeds
worms. Pliny saith, That the corn of Wheat, roasted upon an iron pan,
and eaten, are a present remedy for those that are chilled with cold.
The oil pressed from wheat, between two thick plates of iron, or copper
heated, heals all tetters and ring-worms, being used warm; and hereby
Galen saith, he hath known many to be cured. Matthiolus commends the
same to be put into hollow ulcers to heal them up, and it is good for
chops in the hands and feet, and to make rugged skin smooth. The green
corns of Wheat being chewed, and applied to the place bitten by a mad
dog, heals it; slices of Wheat bread soaked in red rose water, and
applied to the eyes that are hot, red, and inflamed, or blood-shotten,
helps them. Hot bread applied for an hour, at times, for three days
together, perfectly heals the kernels in the throat, commonly called
the king’s evil. The flour of Wheat mixed with the juice of henbane,
stays the flux of humours to the joints, being laid thereon. The said
meal boiled in vinegar, helps the shrinking of the sinews, saith Pliny;
and mixed with vinegar, and boiled together, heals all freckles, spots
and pimples on the face. Wheat flour, mixed with the yolk of an egg,
honey, and turpentine, doth draw, cleanse and heal any boil, plague,
sore, or foul ulcer. The bran of Wheat meal steeped in sharp vinegar,
and then bound in a linen cloth, and rubbed on those places that have
the scurf, morphew, scabs or leprosy, will take them away, the body
being first well purged and prepared. The decoction of the bran of
Wheat or barley, is of good use to bathe those places that are bursten
by a rupture; and the said bran boiled in good vinegar, and applied
to swollen breasts, helps them, and stays all inflamations. It helps
also the biting of vipers (which I take to be no other than our English
adder) and all other venomous creatures. The leaves of Wheat meal
applied with some salt, take away hardness of the skin, warts, and hard
knots in the flesh. Wafers put in water, and drank, stays the lask
and bloody flux, and are profitably used both inwardly and outwardly
for the ruptures in children. Boiled in water unto a thick jelly, and
taken, it stays spitting of blood; and boiled with mint and butter, it
helps the hoarseness of the throat.


THE WILLOW TREE.

THESE are so well known that they need no description. I shall
therefore only shew you the virtues therof.

_Government and virtues._] The Moon owns it. Both the leaves, bark,
and the seed, are used to stanch bleeding of wounds, and at mouth and
nose, spitting of blood, and other fluxes of blood in man or woman,
and to stay vomiting, and provocation thereunto, if the decoction of
them in wine be drank. It helps also to stay thin, hot, sharp, salt
distillations from the head upon the lungs, causing a consumption. The
leaves bruised with some pepper, and drank in wine, helps much the wind
cholic. The leaves bruised and boiled in wine, and drank, stays the
heat of lust in man or woman, and quite extinguishes it, if it be long
used: The seed also is of the same effect. Water that is gathered from
the Willow, when it flowers, the bark being slit, and a vessel fitting
to receive it, is very good for redness and dimness of sight, or films
that grow over the eyes, and stay the rheums that fall into them; to
provoke urine, being stopped, if it be drank; to clear the face and
skin from spots and discolourings. Galen saith, The flowers have an
admirable faculty in drying up humours, being a medicine without any
sharpness or corrosion; you may boil them in white wine, and drink as
much as you will, so you drink not yourself drunk. The bark works the
same effect, if used in the same manner, and the Tree hath always a
bark upon it, though not always flowers; the burnt ashes of the bark
being mixed with vinegar, takes away warts, corns, and superfluous
flesh, being applied to the place. The decoction of the leaves or bark
in wine, takes away scurff and dandriff by washing the place with it.
It is a fine cool tree, the boughs of which are very convenient to be
placed in the chamber of one sick of a fever.


WOAD.

_Descript._] IT hath divers large leaves, long, and somewhat broad
withal, like those of the greater plantain, but larger, thicker, of a
greenish colour, somewhat blue withal. From among which leaves rises up
a lusty stalk, three or four feet high, with divers leaves set thereon;
the higher the stalk rises, the smaller are the leaves; at the top it
spreads divers branches, at the end of which appear very pretty, little
yellow flowers, and after they pass away like other flowers of the
field, come husks, long and somewhat 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 year.

_Time._] It flowers in June, but it is long after before the seed is
ripe.

_Government and virtues._] It is a cold and dry plant of Saturn. Some
people affirm the plant to be destructive to bees, and fluxes them,
which, if it be, I cannot help it. I should rather think, unless bees
be contrary to other creatures, it possesses them with the contrary
disease, the herb being exceeding dry and binding. However, if any bees
be diseased thereby, the cure is, to set urine by them, but set it in
a vessel, that they cannot drown themselves, which may be remedied, if
you put pieces of cork in it. The herb is so drying and binding, that
it is not fit to be given inwardly. An ointment made thereof stanches
bleeding. A plaister made thereof, and applied to the region of the
spleen which lies on the left side, takes away the hardness and pains
thereof. The ointment is excellently good in such ulcers as abound with
moisture, and takes away the corroding and fretting humours: It cools
inflammations, quenches St. Anthony’s fire, and stays defluxion of the
blood to any part of the body.


WOODBINE, OR HONEY-SUCKLES.

IT is a plant so common, that every one that hath eyes knows it, and he
that hath none, cannot read a description, if I should write it.

_Time._] They flower in June, and the fruit is ripe in August.

_Government and virtues._] Doctor Tradition, that grand introducer of
errors, that hater of truth, lover of folly, and the mortal foe to Dr.
Reason, hath taught the common people to use the leaves or flowers of
this plant in mouth-water, 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
Honey Suckles are cleansing, consuming and digesting, and therefore
fit for inflammations; thus Dr. 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 and throat
than to cure it. Well then, if it be not good for this, What is it
good for? It is good for something, for God and nature made nothing in
vain. It is an herb of Mercury, and appropriated to the lungs; Crab
claims dominion over it; neither is it a foe to the Lion; if the lungs
be afflicted by Jupiter, this is your cure: It is fitting a conserve
made of the flowers of it were kept in every gentlewoman’s 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
of women in travail, helps cramps, convulsions, and palsies, and
whatsoever griefs come of cold or stopping; if you please to make use
of it as an ointment, it will clear your skin of morphew, freckles,
and sun-burnings, or whatsoever else discolours it, and then the maids
will love it. Authors say, The flowers are of more effect than the
leaves, and that is true; but they say the seeds are least effectual
of all. But Dr. Reason told me, That there was a vital spirit in every
seed to beget its like; and Dr. Experience told me, That there was a
greater heat in the seed than there was in any other part of the plant;
and withal, That heat was the mother of action, and then judge if old
Dr. Tradition (who may well be honoured for his age, but not for his
goodness) hath not so poisoned the world with errors before I was born,
that it was never well in its wits since, and there is a great fear it
will die mad.


WORMWOOD.

THREE Wormwoods are familiar with us; one I shall not describe, 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 virtues, (and perhaps one
more) Seriphian, Santomeon, Belchion, Narbinense, Hantonicon, Misneule,
and a matter of twenty more which I shall not blot paper withal. A
papist got the toy by the end, and he called it Holy Wormwood; and in
truth I am 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 women usually give their children for the worms. Of all
Wormwoods that grow here, this is the weakest, but Doctors commend
it, and apothecaries sell it; the one must keep his credit, and the
other get money, and that is the key of the work. The herb is good for
something, because God made nothing in vain: Will you give me leave
to weigh things in the balance of reason; Then thus: The seeds of
the common Wormwood are far more prevalent than the seed of this, to
expel worms in children, or people of ripe age; of both some are weak,
some are strong. The Seriphian Wormwood is the weakest, and haply may
prove to be fittest for the weak bodies, (for it is weak enough of all
conscience.) Let such as are strong take the common Wormwood, for the
others will do but little good. Again, near the sea many people live,
and Seriphian grows near them, and therefore is more fitting for their
bodies, because nourished by the same air; and this I had from Dr.
Reason. In whose body Dr. Reason dwells not, dwells Dr. Madness, and
he brings in his brethren, Dr. Ignorance, Dr. Folly, and Dr. Sickness,
and these together make way for Death, and the latter end of that man
is worse than the beginning. Pride was the cause of Adam’s fall; pride
begat a daughter, I do not know the father of it, unless the devil,
but she christened it, and called it Appetite, and sent her daughter
to taste these wormwoods, who finding this the least bitter, made the
squeamish wench extol it to the skies, though the virtues of it never
reached the middle region of the air. Its due praise is this; It is
weakest, therefore fittest for weak bodies, and fitter for those bodies
that dwell near it, than those that dwell far from it; my reason is,
the sea (those that live far from it, know when they come near it)
casts not such a smell as the land doth. The tender mercies of God
being over all his works, hath by his eternal Providence, planted
Seriphian by the seaside, as a fit medicine for the bodies of those
that live near 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? It is this, A man’s
flesh is repaired by blood, by a third concoction, which transmutes the
blood into flesh, it is well I said, (concoction) say I, if I had said
(boiling) every cook would have understood me. The liver makes blood,
and if it be weakened that if it makes not enough, the flesh wastes;
and why must flesh always 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 only is permanent; to teach
us, That we should not fix our affections upon what is transitory, but
what endures for ever. The result of this is, if the liver be weak, and
cannot make blood enough, I would have said, Sanguify, if I had written
only to scholars, the Seriphian, which is the weakest of Wormwoods, is
better than the best. I have been critical enough, if not too much.

_Place._] It grows familiarly in England, by the sea-side.

_Descript._] It starts up out of the earth, with many round, woody,
hairy stalks from one root. Its height is four feet, or three at 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 taste rather salt than bitter, because it grows so near the
salt-water; at the joints, with the leaves toward the tops it bears
little yellow flowers; the root lies deep, and is woody.

_Common Wormwood_ I shall not describe, for every boy that can eat an
egg knows it.

_Roman Wormwood_; and why Roman, seeing it grows familiarly in England?
It may be so called, because it is good for a stinking breath, which
the Romans cannot be very free from, maintaining so many bad houses by
authority of his Holiness.

_Descript._] The stalks are slender, and shorter than the common
Wormwood by one foot at least; the leaves are more finely cut and
divided than they are, but something 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, for it is smaller; in taste,
for it is not so bitter; in smell, for it is spicy.

_Place._] It grows upon the tops of the mountains (it seems ’tis
aspiring) there ’tis 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.

_Government and virtues._] Will you give me leave to be critical a
little? I must take leave. Wormwood is an herb of Mars, and if Pontanus
say otherwise, he is beside the bridge; 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 choler can inflict on the body of man by sympathy. It helps
the evils Venus and the wanton Boy produce, by antipathy; and it doth
something else besides. It cleanses the body of choler (who dares say
Mars doth no good?) It provokes urine, helps surfeits, or swellings
in the belly; it causes 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; Why should men cry out so much upon
Mars for an infortunate, (or Saturn either?) Did God make creatures to
do the creation a mischief? This herb testifies, that Mars is willing
to cure all diseases he causes; the truth is, Mars loves no cowards,
nor Saturn fools, nor I neither. Take of the flowers of Wormwood,
Rosemary, and Black Thorn, of each a like quantity, half that quantity
of saffron; boil this in Rhenish wine, but put it not in saffron till
it is almost boiled; This is the way to keep a man’s body in health,
appointed by Camerarius, in his book intitled _Hortus Medicus_, and
it is a good one too. Besides all this, Wormwood provokes the terms.
I would willingly teach astrologers, and make them physicians (if I
knew how) for they are most fitting for the calling; if you will not
believe me, ask Dr. Hippocrates, and Dr. Galen, a couple of gentlemen
that our college of physicians keep to vapour with, not to follow. In
this our herb, I shall give the pattern of a ruler, the sons of art
rough cast, yet as near the truth as the men of Benjamin could throw
a stone: Whereby, my brethren, the astrologers may know by a penny
how a shilling is coined: As for the college of physicians, they are
too stately to college or too proud to continue. They say a mouse is
under the dominion of the Moon, and that is the reason they feed in the
night; the house of the Moon is Cancer; rats are of the same nature
with mice, but they are a little bigger; Mars receives his fall in
Cancer, _ergo_, Wormwood being an herb of Mars, is a present remedy
for the biting of rats and mice. Mushrooms (I cannot give them the
title of Herba, Frutex, or Arbor) are under the dominion of Saturn,
(and take one time with another, they do as much harm as good;) if any
have poisoned himself by eating them, Wormwood, an herb of Mars, cures
him, because Mars is exalted in Capricorn, the house of Saturn, and
this it doth by sympathy, as it did the other by antipathy. Wheals,
pushes, black and blue spots, coming either by bruises or beatings.
Wormwood, an herb of Mars, helps, because Mars, (as bad you love him,
and as you hate him) will not break your head, but he will give you
a plaister. If he do but teach you to know yourselves, his courtesy
is greater than his discourtesy. The greatest antipathy between the
planets, is between Mars and Venus: one is hot, the other cold; one
diurnal, the other nocturnal; one dry, the other moist; their houses
are opposite, one masculine, the other feminine; one public, the other
private; one is valiant, the other effeminate; one loves the light, the
other hates it; one loves the field, the other sheets; then the throat
is under Venus, the quinsy lies in the throat, and is an inflammation
there; Venus rules the throat, (it being under Taurus her sign.) Mars
eradicates all diseases in the throat by his herbs (for wormwood is
one) and sends them to Egypt on an errand never to return more, this
done by antipathy. The eyes are under the Luminaries; the right eye of
a man, and the left eye of a woman the Sun claims dominion over: the
left eye of a man, and the right eye of a woman, are privileges of the
Moon, Wormwood, an herb of Mars cures both; what belongs to the Sun
by sympathy, because he is exalted in his house; but what belongs to
the Moon by antipathy, because he hath his fall in hers. Suppose a man
be bitten or stung by a martial creature, imagine a wasp, a hornet,
a scorpion, Wormwood, an herb of Mars, gives you a present cure; that
Mars, choleric as he is, hath learned that patience, to pass by your
evil speeches of him, and tells you by my pen, That he gives you no
affliction, but he gives you a cure; you need not run to Apollo, nor
Æsculapius; and if he was so choleric as you make him to be, he would
have drawn his sword for anger, to see the ill conditions of these
people that can spy his vices, and not his virtues. The eternal God,
when he made Mars, made him for public good, and the sons of men shall
know it in the latter end of the world. _Et cælum Mars solus babet._
You say Mars is a destroyer; mix a little Wormwood, an herb of Mars,
with your ink, neither rats nor mice touch the paper written with it,
and then Mars is a preserver. Astrologers think Mars causes scabs and
itch, and the virgins are angry with him, because wanton Venus told
them he deforms their skins; but, quoth Mars, my only desire is, they
should know themselves; my herb Wormwood will restore them to the
beauty they formerly had, and in that I will not come an inch behind my
opposite, Venus: for which doth the greatest evil, he that takes away
an innate beauty, and when he has done, knows how to restore it again?
or she that teaches a company of wanton lasses to paint their faces?
If Mars be in a Virgin, in the nativity, they say he causes the cholic
(it is well God hath set some body to pull down the pride of man.) He
in the Virgin troubles none with the cholic, but them that know not
themselves (for who knows himself, may easily know all the world.)
Wormwood, an herb of Mars, is a present cure for it; and whether it be
most like a Christian to love him for his good, or hate him for his
evil, judge ye. I had almost forgotten, that charity thinks no evil. I
was once in the Tower and viewed the wardrobe, and there was a great
many fine clothes: (I can give them no other title, for I was never
either linen or woolen draper) yet as brave as they looked, my opinion
was that the moths might consume them; moths are under the dominion of
Mars; this herb Wormwood being laid among cloaths, will make a moth
scorn to meddle with the cloaths, as much as a lion scorns to meddle
with a mouse, or an eagle with a fly. You say Mars is angry, and it is
true enough he is angry with many countrymen, for being such fools to
be led by the noses by the college of physicians, as they lead bears to
Paris garden. Melancholy men cannot endure to be wronged in point of
good fame, and that doth sorely trouble old Saturn, because they call
him the greatest infortunate; in the body of man he rules the spleen,
(and that makes covetous man so splenetic) the poor old man lies crying
out of his left side. Father Saturn’s angry, Mars comes to him; Come,
brother, I confess thou art evil spoken of, and so am I; thou knowest I
have my exaltation in thy house, I give him an herb of mine, Wormwood,
to cure the old man: Saturn consented, but spoke little, and so Mars
cured him by sympathy. When Mars was free from war, (for he loves to
be fighting, and is the best friend a soldier hath) I say, when Mars
was free from war, he called a council of war in his own brain, to know
how he should do poor sinful man good, desiring to forget his abuses in
being called an infortunate. He musters up his own forces, and places
them in battalia. Oh! quoth he, why do I hurt a poor silly man or
woman? His angel answers him, It is because they have offended their
God, (Look back to Adam:) Well, says Mars, though they speak evil of
me, I will do good to them; Death’s cold, my herb shall heat them: they
are full of ill humours (else they would never have spoken ill of me;)
my herb shall cleanse them, and dry them; they are poor weak creatures,
my herb shall strengthen them; they are dull witted, my herb shall
fortify their apprehensions; and yet among astrologers all this does
not deserve a good word: Oh the patience of Mars!

_Felix qui potuit rerum cognoscere caucas,
Inque domus superum scandere cura facit._
O happy he that can the knowledge gain,
To know the eternal God made nought in vain.

To this I add,

I know the reason causeth such a dearth
Of knowledge; ’tis because men love the earth.

The other day Mars told me he met with Venus, and he asked her, What
was the reason that she accused him for abusing women? He never gave
them the pox. In the dispute they fell out, and in anger parted, and
Mars told me that his brother Saturn told him, that an antivenerean
medicine was the best against the pox. Once a month he meets with the
Moon. Mars is quick enough of speech, and the Moon not much behind
hand, (neither are most women.) The Moon looks much after children, and
children are much troubled with the worms; she desired a medicine of
him, he bid her take his own herb, Wormwood. He had no sooner parted
with the Moon, but he met with Venus, and she was as drunk as a hog;
Alas! poor Venus, quoth he; What! thou a fortune, and be drunk? I’ll
give thee antipathetical cure; Take my herb Wormwood, and thou shall
never get a surfeit by drinking. A poor silly countryman hath got an
ague, and cannot go about his business: he wishes he had it not, and
so do I; but I will tell him a remedy, whereby he shall prevent it;
Take the herb of Mars, Wormwood, and if infortunes will do good, what
will fortunes do? Some think the lungs are under Jupiter; and if the
lungs then the breath; and though sometimes a man gets a stinking
breath, and yet Jupiter is a fortune, forsooth; up comes Mars to him;
Come brother Jupiter, thou knowest I sent thee a couple of trines to
thy house last night, the one from Aries, and the other from Scorpio;
give me thy leave by sympathy to cure this poor man with drinking a
draught of Wormwood beer every morning. The Moon was weak the other
day, and she gave a man two terrible mischiefs, a dull brain and a weak
sight; Mars laid by his sword, and comes to her; Sister Moon, said
he, this man hath angered thee, but I beseech thee take notice he is
but a fool; prithee be patient, I will with my herb wormwood cure him
of both infirmities by antipathy, for thou knowest thou and I cannot
agree; with that the Moon began to quarrel; Mars (not delighting much
in women’s tongues) went away, and did it whether she would or no.

He that reads this, and understands what he reads, hath a jewel of more
worth than a diamond; he that understands it not, is as little fit to
give physick. There lies a key in these words which will unlock, (if it
be turned by a wise hand) the cabinet of physick: I have delivered it
as plain as I durst; it is not only upon Wormwood as I wrote, but upon
all plants, trees, and herbs; he that understands it not, is unfit (in
my opinion) to give physic. This shall live when I am dead. And thus
I leave it to the world, not caring a farthing whether they like it
or dislike it. The grave equals all men, and therefore shall equal me
with all princes; until which time the eternal Providence is over me:
Then the ill tongue of a prating fellow, or one that hath more tongue
than wit, or more proud than honest, shall never trouble me. _Wisdom is
justified by her children._ And so much for Wormwood.


YARROW, CALLED NOSE-BLEED, MILFOIL
AND THOUSAND-LEAL.

_Descript._] IT hath many long leaves spread upon the ground, finely
cut, and divided into many small parts. Its flowers are white, but not
all of a whiteness and stayed in knots, upon divers green stalks which
rise from among the leaves.

_Place._] It is frequent in all pastures.

_Time._] It flowers late, even in the latter end of August.

_Government and virtues._] It is under the influence of Venus. An
ointment of them cures wounds, and is most fit for such as have
inflammations, it being an herb of Dame Venus; it stops the terms in
women, being boiled in white wine, and the decoction drank; as also the
bloody flux; the ointment of it is not only good for green wounds, but
also for ulcers and fistulas, especially such as abound with moisture.
It stays the shedding of hair, the head being bathed with the decoction
of it; inwardly taken it helps the retentive faculty of the stomach: it
helps the gonorrhea in men, and the whites in women, and helps such as
cannot hold their water; and the leaves chewed in the mouth eases the
tooth-ache, and these virtues being put together, shew the herb to be
drying and binding. Achilles is supposed to be the first that left the
virtues of this herb to posterity, having learned them of this master
Chiron, the Centaur; and certainly a very profitable herb it is in
cramps, and therefore called Militaris.




DIRECTIONS FOR MAKING SYRUPS, CONSERVES,

_&c._ _&c._


HAVING in divers places of this Treatise promised you the way of making
Syrups, Conserves, Oils, Ointments, &c., of herbs, roots, flowers, &c.
whereby you may have them ready for your use at such times when they
cannot be had otherwise; I come now to perform what I promised, and you
shall find me rather better than worse than my word.

That this may be done methodically, I shall divide my directions into
two grand sections, and each section into several chapters, and then
you shall see it look with such a countenance as this is.