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CULPEPER'S
COMPLETE HERBAL
ION DON
Published j1uo. H-1A4. In EM Evant, It ffhile me.SpitatAdds-
^ujlPEPER'S
COMPLETE HERBAL,
TO WHICH IS NOW ADDED, UPWARDS OP
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 his
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,
TO WHICH IS ALSO ADDED
UPWARDS OF FIFTY CHOICE RECEIPTS, Selected from the Author's last Legacy to his Wije.
EMBELLISHED WITH ENGRAVINGS OF UPWARDS OF FOUR HUNDRED DIFFERENT PLANTS,
WITH OTHER SUBJECTS TO ILLUSTRATE THE WORK.
"The Lord hath created Medicines out or the Earth; and he that is wise will not abhor them."— Ecc. zxxviii. 4.
LONDON: Published by RICHARD EVANS, No. 8, White's Row, Spitalfields.
1814.
%
^
Forty pages of herbs illustrated in color are shown at the back of this book.
CULPEPER's
EPISTLE TO THE READER.
>T\A.KE 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 dan- gerous 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 believing 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,
iv EPISTLE TO THE itJiAjJ Sit-
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 compo- sition of contrary elements, and in such a harmony as must needs shew 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 accor- ding 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 every thing 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 benefits 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 the Book; I shall only quote some few general heads.
EPISTLE TO THE READER. v
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 appears; 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 doth 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 inno- cence, that by looking upon a creature, he was able to give it a name according to his nature; and by knowing that, thou mayest know how great thy fall was, and be hum- bled for it even in this respect, because hereby thou art so ignorant.
Thirdly, Here is the right way for thee to begin 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, Astrolo- gical 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, vis. Instructions for the right use of the booh.
And herein let me promise 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 in my afore- said 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 causeth them: as diseases of Jupiter by Herbs of Mercury, and the contrary; diseases of the Luminaries by Herbs of Saturn, and the contrary; diseases of Mars by Herbs of Venus, and the contrary.
vi EPISTLE TO THE READER.
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, Sa- turn the spleen, Jupiter the Liver, Mars the gall and diseases of choler, and Venus dis- eases in the instruments of Generation.
From my House in Spitalfields, NICH. CULPEPER.
next door to the Red Lion,
September 5, 1653. ■
TO HIS DEAR 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 proceed- ing to publish any thing I leave thee, especially this master-piece ; assuring my friends and country men, 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 had many years locked up in my own breast. I gained them by my constant practice, and by them I maintained a continual repu- tation 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: fare- well my dear wife and child; farewell Arts and Sciences, which I so dearly loved; farewell all worldly glories, adieu readers.
Nicholas Culpeper.
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 some- times higher. The leaves fall off at the ap- proach of winter, and spring out of the same stalk at spring-time: the branch is compassed about with a whitish bark, and hath a pith in the middle of it: the main branch brancheth 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 bitter sweets, viz. sweet at first, and bitter after- wards.
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 excellent 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 diz- ziness 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
THE COMPLETE HERBAL
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 shewed 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 there- fore 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 obstruc- tions of the liver and spleen, to help diffi- culty of breath, bruises and falls, and con- . gealed blood in any part of the body, it helps the yellow-jaundice, the dropsy and black j aundice, and to cleanse women newly brought to bed. You may drink a quarter of a pint of the infusion every morning. It purgeth 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 medi- cines is too brief, it is only for the cheap- ness 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 ex- ceeding 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 con- sisting 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 riseth up a stalk, green in colour, round in form, great and strong in magnitude, five or six feet high in altitude, with many joints, and some leaves thereat; towards the top come forth umbles 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 des- cription 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 teacheth them that keep it in their gardens, that it flowers not till the latter end of the Sum- mer, and sheds its seed 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 sympa- thy, 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 purgeth choler very gently.
AND ENGLISH PHYSICIAN ENLARGED.
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 com- monly 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 Bug- loss, which lie very thick upon the ground ; the stalks rise up compassed round about, thick with leaves, which are lesser and nar- rower 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 be- ginning 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 inflam- mations, 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. Diosco- rides saith, it helps such as are bitten by a venomous beast, whether it be taken in- wardly, 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 ser- pent, 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 easeth 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 Plantane, 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 perisheth with a little heat.
Government and virtues.] It is an herb under the dominion of the Moon and Can- cer, and therefore if the weakness of the retentive faculty be caused by an evil in- fluence of Saturn in any part of the body governed by the Moon, or under the domi- nion of Cancer, this herb cures it by sym- pathy: It cures these diseases after speci- fied, 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 breasts, 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
4
THE COMPLETE tiiiitisAi.
have their usual courses, or the whites flow- ing down too abundantly. It helps sore eyes. Of the leaves infused or boiled in oil, om- phacine or unripe olives, set in the sun four certain days, or the greten 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 tur- pentine be dissolved therein. It also stayeth and refresheth 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 na- ture in the body of man; as vital, animal, natural and procreative spirits of man ; the apprehension, judgment, memory; the ex- ternal 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, con- serve, oil, ointment or plaster, 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 ariseth 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 hereof 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 Jupi- ter, or under the signs Cancer, Sagitary 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 dry- ing and binding. It opens and cleanses the liver, helps the jaundice, and is very bene- ficial to the bowels, healing all inward wounds, bruises, hurts, and other distem- pers. 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 be- fore 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 swines' grease, it helpeth old sores, cancers, and inveterate ulcers,
AND ENGLISH PHYSICIAN ENLARGED.
and draweth forth thorns and splinters of wood, nails, or any other such things gotten in the flesh. It helps to strengthen the mem- bers 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 Agri- mony 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 Agri- mony, Eupatorium, and Hepatorium, be- cause 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 pur- ple colour. The branches are many, grow- ing 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 winged, 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 run- ning waters ; sometimes you shall find them grow in the midst of waters.
Time.] They all flower in July or Aug- ust, 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 Can- cer. It healeth and drieth, cutteth and cleanseth 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 excel- lent remedy for the third day ague. It pro- vokes urine and the terms ; it kills worms, and cleanseth 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, OB, GROUND-IVY.
Several counties give it different names, so that there is scarcely an herb growing of that bigness that has got so many: It is called Cats-foot, Ground-ivy, Gill-go-by- ground, and Gill-creep-by-ground, Turn- hoof, Haymaids, and Alehoof .
Descript.] This well known herb lieth, spreadeth, and creepeth 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
6
THE COMPLETE HERBAL
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, exul- cerated lungs, or other parts, either by it- self, 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; ex- pelleth venom or poison, and also the plague; it provokes urine and womens' courses; the decoction of it in wine drank for some time together, procureth 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 allum, it is excel- lent good to gargle any sore mouth or throat, and to wash the sores and ulcers in the privy parts of man or woman ; it speed- ily helps green wounds, being bruised and bound thereto. The juice of it boiled with a little honey and verdigrease, both won- derfully cleanse fistulas, ulcers, and stayeth the spreading or eating of cancers and ul- cers ; it helpeth 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, won- derfully helps the noise and singing of them, and helps the hearing which is de- cayed. 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 after- birth, 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 groweth to- any great bigness, but far tjhe most part
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abideth like a hedge-bush, or a tree spreading its branches, the woods of the body being white, and a dark red cole, 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 black- er, 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 run- neth 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 Bar- comb in Essex, near the brook's sides.
Time.] It flowers in May, and the ber- ries 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, Dod- der, Hops and some Fennel, with Smallage, Endive, and Succory-roots, and a reason- able draught taken every morning for some time together, it is very effectual against the jaundice, dropsy, and the evil disposi- tion of the body, especially if some suitable purging medicines have been taken before, to void the grosser excrements : It purgeth and strengtheneth 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 per- formed by the dried bark; for the fresh green bark taken inwardly provokes strong vomitings, pains in the stomach, and grip- ings 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 con- trariwise 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 singu- lar 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 hand- ful 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
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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 other, 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 Win- ter 'tis 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 inflammations. 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 description 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 dedi- cated it to their gods; as the Bay-tree to Apollo, the Oak to Jupiter, the Vine to Bacchus, the Poplar to Hercules. These the Papists following as the Patriarchs they dedicate to their Saints ; as our Lady's This- tle 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 lialf so clever- ly) for they blasphemously call Phansies or Heartsease, an herb of the Trinity, be- cause it is of three colours. And a certain
ointment, an ointment of the Apostles, be- cause 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 Papists 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 Papists were bad, and ours worse ; the Papists giving 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 virtu.es.] 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 angu- lar; 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 preser- vative as grows: It resists poison, by de- fending 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 trea- cle in Carduus water, and the party there- upon 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 can- died and eaten fasting, are gopd preserva- tives 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
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same purpose. A water distilled from the root simply, as steeped in wine, and dis- tilled 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 pleur- isy, as also all other diseases of the lungs and breast, as coughs, phthysic, and short- ness of breath ; and a syrup of the stalks do the like. It helps pains of the cholic, the strangury and stoppage of the urine, pro- cureth women's courses, and expelleth the after-birth, openeth the stoppings of the liver and spleen, and briefly easeth and dis- cusseth all windiness and inward swellings. The decoction drunk before the fit of an ague, that they may sweat, (if possible) be- fore 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 water dropped, or tents 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, not- withstanding, because some desire it, I shall give it. It runneth up with a stalk a cubit high, streaked, and somewhat reddish to- ward the root, but very smooth, divided towards the top with small branches, among which stand long broad leaves of reddish green colour, slippery; the flowers are not properly flowers, but tuffs, very beautiful to behold, but of no smell, of reddish col- our; 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 nip 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 an- cients had no writings to have them from: but to proceed. The flowers stop all fluxes of blood ; whether in man or woman, bleed- ing 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
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say the flowers never open but when the wind bloweth. 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 description 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 decoc- tion 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 phleg- matic humours, and is therefore excellent for the lethargy. And when all is done, let physicians prate what they please, all the pills in the dispensary 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 inflammation of the eyes, whereby it is palpable, that every stronger draws its weaker like. The same ointment is excellent good to cleanse malig- nant and corroding ulcers.
GARDEN AREACH.
Called also Orach, and Arage ; it is cul- tivated for domestic uses.
Descript.] It is so commonly known to every housewife, it were labour lost to de- scribe 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 softeneth and looseneth the body of man being eaten, and fortifieth 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 excellent, good for swellings in the throat: the best way, I suppose is to boil it, and having drank the decoction inwardly, apply the herb outwardly : the decoction of it besides is an excellent remedy for the yellow jaun- dice.
AB.B.ACH, 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 hath small and almost round leaves, yet a little pointed and with- out 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 Ar- rach 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 un- der the sign Scorpio; it is common almost upon every dunghill. The works of God are given freely 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, disloca- tion, or falling out thereof; it 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
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of hard labour in child-birth. It makes barren women fruitful. It cleanseth the womb if it be foul, and strengthens it ex- ceedingly ; it provokes the terms if they be stopped, and stops them if they Row im- moderately ; you can desire no good to your womb, but this herb will effect it; there- fore 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 inquisi- tion for blood.
ARCHANGEL.
To put a gloss upon their practice, the physicians call an herb (which country peo- ple 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 description of this so well known herb ; which that I may not also be guilty of, take this short description 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 lower- most 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 smaller and thready, perishing every year; the whole plant hath a strong scent 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 lon- ger 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 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 Arch- angels 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 decoc- tion 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 Arch- angel 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 mel-
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ancholy, 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 vine- gar and hog's-grease, laid upon an 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, cor- rupt 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.
ARSSMABT.
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 semi-circular blackish marks on them, usually either bluish and 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 dry- ing, 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 gov- ernment ; 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 cold 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 con- trary 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.
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ASARABACCA.
Descript.] Asarabacca appears like an evergreen, keeping its leaves all the Win- ter, 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 Nar- dus, 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 Mid- summer, 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 downward, 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, they wonderfully help the obstruc- tions of the liver and spleen, and therefore profitable for the dropsy and jaundice: be- ing 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 shaken fits of the ague. It will not abide any long boiling, for it looseth its chief strength thereby ; nor much beating, for the finer powder pro- vokes 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 in 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.
ASPAEAGUS, SPAEAGUS, OE SPEEAGE.
Descript .] It rises up at first with divers
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THE COMPLETE HERBAL
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 big- ger, 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 ex- cellent red colour when they are ripe, shew- ing like bead or coral, wherein are con- tained exceeding hard black seeds, the roots are dispersed from a spongeous head into many long, thick, and round strings, where- in is sucked much nourishment out of the ground, and increaseth plentifully thereby.
PRICKLY ASPARAGUS, OR SPERAGE.
Descript.] This grows usually in gar- dens, and some of it grows wild in Apple- ton meadows in Gloucestershire, where the poor people gather the buds of young shoots, and sell them cheaper than our gar- den 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 strangury or diffi- culty 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 tooth- ache. The garden asparagus nourisheth
more than the wild, yet hath it the same effects in all the afore-mentioned diseases: The decoction of the roots 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 and reins of the 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 mispent 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 singu- lar 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, pre- vail 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 Gerard or Pliny, both which hold, That there is such an antipathy be-
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tween 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 wit- nesses. The rest are virtues something like- ly, 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 COLEWOET, 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 mid- dle 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, yel- low 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 green- ish purple seeds (like grains) which will stick upon your cloaths. The root consists of many brownish strings of 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 whole- some heathful herb. It is good for the dis- eases of the chest or breast, for pains, and stitches 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 spit- ting 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 decoc- tion also being drank, comforts the heart, and strengthens the stomach and a cold brain, and therefore is good in the Spring time 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 be- ing 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 in- habitant almost in every garden, that I shall not need to write any description thereof, although its virtues, which are many, may not be omitted.
Government and virtues.] It is an herb of Jupiter, and under Cancer, and strength- ens nature much in all its actions. Let a
16
THE COMPLETE HERBAL
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, ac- cording 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 swoon- ings, 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 qual- ity 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 leayes also, with a little nitre taken in drink, are good against the surfeit of mush- rooms, 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 swellings 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 rosewater, is good for a woman in child-bed, when the after-birth is not thoroughly voided, and for their faintings upon or in their sore travel. 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 and 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 choloric humours, and free it from such diseases as choler causes, such as scabs, itch, tetters, ringworms, yel- low 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 stom- ach 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, vis. 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
usti> jd/X^<ii
ISK PHYSICIAN ENLARGED.
17
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 lit- tle 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 in- flammations, 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 flea- wort 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 to- gether, 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 be- ing dropped into them; or white bread steeped therein, and bound on the eyes, does the same.
GARDEN BAZIL, OK, SWEET BAZIL.
Descript.] The greater or 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 Chrysip- pus rails at it with downright Billingsgate rhetoric; Pliny, and the Arabian physi- cians, 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, be- ing laid to rot in horse-dung, it will breed venomous beasts. Hilarius, a French phy- sician, 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
18
THE COMPLETE aantiAL.
of Venus in one kind, so it spoils all her ac- tions in another. I dare write no more of it.
THE BAY TB.EE.
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 re- sists 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 obstruc- tions 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 a 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 rheu- matic 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 meg- rim. They mightily expel the wind, and provoke urine; help the mother, and kill
the worms. The leaves also work the like effects. A bath of the decoction of the leaves and berries, is singularly good for women to sit in, that are troubled with the mother, or the diseases thereof, or the stop- pings of their courses, or for the diseases of the bladder, pains in the bowels by wind and stopping of the urine. A decoction like- wise of equal parts of Bay-berries, cum- min seed, hyssop, origanum, and euphor- bium, with some honey, and the head bathed therewith, wonderfully helps distillations and. rheums, and settles the palate of the mouth into its place. The oil made of the berries is very comfortable in all cold griefs of the joints, nerves, arteries, stom- ach, belly, or womb, and helpeth 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 there- with : And pains in the ears are also cured by dropping in some of the oil, or by re- ceiving into the ears the fume of the decoc- tion 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 saveth me the labour of writing any description of them. The vir- tues 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 husks, is held to be very effectual against the stone, and to provoke urine. Bean flour is used in poultices to
AND ENGLISH PHYSICIAN ENLAEGED.
19
assuage inflammations arising from wounds, and the swelling of women's breasts caused by the curdling of their milk, and repres- seth their milk; Flour of beans and fenu- greek mixed with honey, and applied to fel- ons, boils, bruises, or blue marks by blows, or the imposthumes in the kernels of the ears, helpeth them all, and with rose leaves, frankincense and the white of an egg, being applied to the eyes, helpeth 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 bleedeth too much, stay- eth the bleeding. Bean flour boiled to a poultice with wine and vinegar, and some oil put thereto, eases both pains and swell- ing of the cods. The husks boiled in water to the consumption of a third part thereof, stayeth 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 cook in all my life) they are wholesome food.
FRENCH BEANS.
Descript.] This French or Kidney Bean ariseth 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 deeper purple, but white is the most usual; after which come long and slender flat cods, some crooked, some strait, 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 other; 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 virtu.es.] These also be- long to Dame Venus, and being dried and beat to powder, are as great strengthened 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 stop- page. The ordinary French Beans are of an easy digestion ; they move the belly, pro- voke urine, enlarge the breast that that is straightened with shortness of breath, en- gender 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 bravely 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 writ- ten, it is called Cheese-Rennet, because it
20
THE COMPLETE HERBAL
performs the same office, as also Gallion, Pettimugget, and Maid-hair; and by some Wild Rosemary.
Descript.] This rises up with divers small brown, and square upright stalks, a yaad 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 to- gether: The root is reddish, with many small threads fastened to it, which take strong hold of the ground, and creep a lit- tle: and the branches leaning a little down to the ground, take root at the joints there- of, whereby it is easily encreased.
There is another sort of Ladies Bed- straw 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 meadows and pas- tures 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 strengthen- ing the parts both internal and external, which she rules. The decoction of the for- mer of those being drank, is good to fret and break the stone, provoke 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 sal- lad oil, with some wax melted therein, after it is strained ; either the oil made thereof, or the ointment, do help burnings with fire, or scaldings 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 weari- ness 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, some- what large and of a whitish green colour. The stalk is great, strong, and ribbed, bear- ing 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 turn- ing 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 govern- ment of these two sorts of Beets are far
AND ENGLISH PHYSICIAN ENLARGED.
21
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 ob- structions both of the liver and spleen, and is good for the head-ach and swimmings therein, and turnings of the brain; and is effectual also against all venomous crea- tures; and applied to the temples, stays inflammations in the eyes; it helps burn- ings, being used with oil, and with a little allum 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 dan- druff, 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-ach; 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.
WATEB BETONY.
Called also Brown-wort, and in York- shire, 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 ap- propriated more to wounds and hurts in the breasts 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 there- with ; 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 dis- tilled 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 dis- tillation.
WOOD BETONY.
Descript.] Common or Wood Betony has
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THE COMPLETE HERBAL
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 stalk perishes, 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 Csesar, wrote a pe- culiar book of the virtues of this herb ; and among other virtues saith of it, that it pre- serves the liver and bodies of men from the danger of epidemical diseases, and from witchcrafts also; it helps those that loath and cannot digest their meat, those that have weak stomachs and sour belchings, or continual rising in their stomach, 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 helpes the jaundice, falling sickness, the palsy, convulsions, or shrinking of the sinews, the gout and those that 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 pen- ny-royal, is good for those that are troubled with putrid agues, whether quotidian, ter- tian, 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 colic ; 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 gar- gled in the mouth, eases the tooth-ach. 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 travel. It stays bleeding at the mouth or nose, and helpeth 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 ap- plied to any inward hurt, or outward green wound in the head or body, will quickly heal and close it up ; as also any veins 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
AND ENGLISH PHYSICIAN ENLARGED.
23
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 Cesar 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 usu- ally c6nserved.
THE BEECH TREE.
In treating of this tree, you must under- stand^ 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-bean.
I suppose it is needless to describe it, being already too well known to my coun- trymen.
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 hol- low 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 looses its leaves in Winter.
The Eed 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,
24
THE COMPLETE HERBAL
and the fruit of the black is ripe in July and August.
Government and virtues.] They are un- der 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 vomitings 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 stop 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 downward 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 up- ward 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
strait 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 after- wards; 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 cods, well resemb- ling 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 flower of a pale whitish red colour, and the cods distinct by joints like the other, but a little more crooked; and the roots do carry many small white nots 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
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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 rup- ture, being taken inwardly, and outwardly applied to the place.
All salts 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 Bishopweed, it is usually known by the Greek name Ammi and Ammois; some call it ^Ethiopian Cummin-seed, and others Cummin-royal, as also Herb William, and Bullwort.
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 ; perish- ing yearly, and usually rises again on its own sowing.
Place.] It grows wild in many places in England and Wales, as between Green- hithe 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, dissolveth wind, and being taken in wine it eases pain and griping in the bowels, and is good against the biting of serpents; it is used to good effects 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 an 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 Serpen- tary, Dragon-wort, Osterick, and Passions.
Descript.] This has a thick short knobbed root, blackish without, and some- what reddish within, a little crooked or turned together, of a hard astringent taste, with divers black threads hanging there, from whence spring 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 bluish green colour on the upper side, and of an ash-colour grey, and a little pur- plish 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 spikey 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
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THE COMPLETE HERBAL
chiefly nourished up in gardens. The nar- row 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 begin- ning 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, pur- ples, or any other infectious disease, driv- ing 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, dissolv- ing 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 helpeth the ghoriorrhea, 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 of- fensive humours. The leaves, seed, or roots are all very good in decoctions, 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 decoc- tion of the root in water, where unto some pomegranate peels and flowers are added, injected into the matrix, stays the immod- erate flux of the courses. The root there- of with pelitory of Spain, and burnt allum, of each a little quantity, beaten small and into paste with some honey, and a little piece thereof put into an hollow tooth, or held between the teeth, if there be no hol- lowness 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 anj other, and seldom more, which are of a blue- ish green colour, broad at the bottom, and pointed with many ribs or veins like plain- tain; at the top of the stalk grow many small flowers star-fashion, smelling some- what sweet; after which comes small red- dish 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,
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Government and virtues.] It is an 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 pres- ently 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 ex- pelling the poison, and defending the heart and spirits 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 'tis be- cause 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 fruits 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, helpeth the sores of the fundament and the piles; the juice of the
berries mixed with the juice of mulberries, do bind more effectually, and help all fret- ting and eating sores and ulcers whereso- ever. 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, healeth 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 conden- sate 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 there- on; the flowers grow at the top in long round tufts or clusters, wherein are con- tained small and round seed; the root is very full of threads or strings.
The Red Blite is in all things like the White, but that his 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 Sep- tember.
Government and virtues.] They are all of them cooling, drying, and binding, serv- ing to restrain the fluxes of blood in either man or woman, especially the Red; which
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THE COMPLETE HERBAL
also stays the overflowing of the women's reds, as the white Elites stay 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 spikey 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 inhabi- tants 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 Bceuf; but why then should they call one herb by the name of Bugloss, and another by the name Langue de Bceuf? 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 small- er 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 rough heads, be- ing composed of many small yellow flowers, not much unlike to those of Dandelions, 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 strengthened 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 effects; 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 help- ful 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 swoon- ings, or passions of the heart. The distilled water is no less effectual to all the purposes aforesaid, and helps the redness and inflam- mations of the eyes, being washed there- with ; 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 rheuma- tic distillations upon the lungs.
BLUE-BOTTLE.
It is called Syanus, I suppose from the colour of it: Hurt-sickle, because it turns
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the edge of the sickles that reap the corn; Blue-blow, Corn flower, and Bluebottle.
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- scabions, 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 innumera- ble 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 wooly mantle; the root perishes every year.
Place.] They grow in corn fields, 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 col- our.
Time.] They flower from the beginning of May, to the end of 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 comfrey, 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 in- fectious diseases, and is very good in pes- tilential 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 j uice 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.
BHANK URSINE.
Besides the common name Brank- Ursine, it is also called Bears-breech, and Acanthus, though I think our English names to be more proper; for the Greek word Acanthus, signifies any thistle what- soever.
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 ap- pears, afterwards rises 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 husks, 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 excel- lent plant under the dominion of the Moon ; I could wish such as are studious would, labour to keep it in the gardens. The leaves being boiled and used in glisters, is excellent good to molify the belly, and make the passage slippery. The decoction drank inwardly, is excellent and good for the bloody-flux: The leaves being bruised.
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THE COMPLETE HERBAL
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 runneth; 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, OK 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 j oints 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 furi- ous martial plants. The root of Briony purges the belly with great violence, trou- bling 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 op- press 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 ob- structions of the spleen, and consumes the hardness and swelling thereof. The de- coction 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 fret- ting 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,
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morphew, leprosy, foul scars, or other de- formity 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 whitelows 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, OH 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, swel- lings, 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 Euscus, and Bruscus, Knee- holm, Kneeholly, Kneehulver, and Petti- gree.
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 a half high, are spread into divers branches, green, and somewhat cressed with the roundness, tough and flex- ible, whereon are set somewhat broad and almost round hard leaves and prickly, pointed at the end, of a dark green colour, two for 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 foot-stalk, 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 sendeth 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.] 'Tis a plant of
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THE COMPLETE HERBAL
Mars, being of a gallant cleansing and opening quality. The decoction of the root made with wine opens obstructions, pro- vokes urine, helps to expel gravel and the stone, the stranguary and women's courses, also the yellow jaundice and the head-ache: And with some honey or sugar put there- unto, 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, where- by it helps the dropsy, gout, sciatica, and pains of the hips and joints; it also pro- vokes strong vomits, and helps the pains of the sides, and swelling of the spleen, cleanses also the reins or kidneys and blad- der 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 surfeits, and alters the fit of agues, if three or four ounces thereof, with as much of the water of the lesser centuary, and a little sugar put there- in, 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 stiches, 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 iself. The juice thereof is a singular good help to cure as well green wounds, as old and filthy sores and malig- nant ulcers. The insolate oil wherein there has been three or four repetitions of infu- sion of the top stalks, with flowers strained
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and cleared, cleanses the skin from all man- ner of spots, marks, and freckles that rise either by the heat of the sun, or the malig- nity of humours. As for the Broom and Broom-rape, Mars owns them, and is ex- ceeding prejudicial to the liver; I suppose by reason of the antipathy between Jupiter and Mars, therefore if the liver be dis- affected, minister none of it.
buck's hoen 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 ground round about the root upon the ground, or order one by another, thereby resembling the form of a star, from among which rise up divers hairy stalks about a hand's breath high, bearing every one a small, long spikey head, like to those of the common plantain, having such like bloom- ings 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 veins or kid- neys, by cooling the heat of the part af- flicted, 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, sud- denly eases the fit; and the leaves and roots being beaten with some bay-salt and applied to the wrists, works the same ef- fects. The herb boiled in ale and wine, and given for some mornings and evenings to- gether, 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,andSwine-Cresses.
Descript.] They have many small and weak straggling 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 plantain, and therefore by all authors it is joined with it. The leaves bruised and ap- plied 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
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THE COMPLETE HERBAL
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 brown- ish, 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 be- longs to Dame Venus: If the virtues of it make you fall in love with it (as they will if you be wise) keep a syrup of it to take inwardly and 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 con- gealed blood in those that are bruised in- wardly 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 ap- plied, or their juice be used to wash and bathe the place, and the same made into a lotion, and some honey and allum cures all sores in the mouth and gums, be they never 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 singular good for all sorts of hurts in the body, that none that know its usefulness will be with- out 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 a 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 ;
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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 melan- choly, yet by their flying upward, seem to be something aerial; therefore I rather think it is done by sympathy ; 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 rising 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 great also : it has almost neither scent nor taste therein, like the gar- den kind.
Place.] It first grows frequently in gar- dens. The wild kind grows in divers counties of this land, especially in Hunting- don, in Northamptonshire, in the meadows there: as also near London, by Pancras church, and by a causey-side in the middle of a field by Paddington.
Time.] They flower about the end of June, and beginning of July, and their seed is ripe in August.
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 spirit 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 aromatical: It is a friend to the heart, liver, and other principal parts to 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 clear the heart, and drive away melancholy: It is a special help to defend the heart from noi- some 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, scourgings, the bloody-flux, women's too abundant flux of courses, the whites, and the choleric belchings and cast- ings of the stomach, and is a. singular wound-herb for all sorts of wounds, both of the head and body, either inward or out- ward, 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-BUB, OB, PETASITIS.
Descript.] This rises up in February, with a thick stalk about a foot high, where- on are set a few small leaves, or rather pieces, and at the tops a long spiked head; flowers of a blue or deep red colour, ac-
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THE COMPLETE HERBAL
cording to the soil where it grows, and be- fore 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 under- neath. The root is long, and spreads under ground, being in some places no bigger than ones 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 spirits. The roots thereof are by long experience found to be very avail- able 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 singular 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 pre- served, to help their poor neighbours. It is fit the rich should help the poor, for the poor cannot help themselves.
THE BUEDOCK.
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 one another, that I shall spare to write any description of it.
Place.] They grow plentifully by ditches and water-sides, and by the highways al- most every where through this land.
Government and virtues.] Venus chal- lenges 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 her 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 sinew or arteries, give 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 oint-
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ment 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 ex- pelled by urine, and is often used with other seeds and things to that purpose.
CABBAGES AND COLEWOBTS.
I shall spare a labour in writing a des- cription 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 hoarse- ness, 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 al- mond milk, and made up into an electuary with honey, being taken often, is very pro- fitable for those that are purfy 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, cleareth the sight, by consuming any film or cloud beginning to dim it; it also consumes the canker growing therein. They are much com-
mended, 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 is drunk be- fore. 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 Cole- worts takes away the pain and ache, and allayeth the swellings 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 of them and their virtues, and that none of the least neither, for he would be no small fool: He appro- priates 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 some- thing more tolerable, and the wholesomer food of the two. The Moon challenges the dominion of the herb.
THE SEA COI.EWOB.TS.
Descript.] This has divers somewhat long and broad large and thick wrinkled leaves, somewhat crumpled about the edges, and growing each upon a thick footstalk, very brittle, of a greyish green colour, from among which rises up a strong thick
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THE COMPLETE HERBAL
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, consist- ing 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, Colches- ter 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 qual- ities therein, open the belly, and purge the body; it cleanses and digests most power- fully 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, arid dis- solves swellings, and takes away inflam- mations.
CALAMINT, OH. 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 highness of majoram, 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 stalks, 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 up-
lands, 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- j aundice, 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 in- wardly, drinking whey after it, or the green herb outwardly applied. It hinders con- ception 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 huckle- bone, 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 ter- tian ague (the body being first purged) by taking away the cold fits. The decoction hereof, with some sugar put thereto after- wards, 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 of the spleen, for all which purposes, both the powder, called Diacaluminthes, and the
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compound syrup of Calamint are the most effectual. Let not women be too busy with it, for it works very violent upon the femi- nine 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 Gil, 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, molifies all swellings: It moder- ately 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 urins. The flow- ers boiled in posset-drink provoke sweat, and help 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 glysters, 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 I never 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
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THE COMPLETE HERBAL
and almost transparent, they look as tho' they were torn; the flowers are long, thick and whitish, set together almost like a bunch of grapes, which being gone, there succeeds for the most part sharp pointed grains altogether, containing a small white kernel in them.
The second differs not much from this, save that it delights in more clear 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.
Governmentandvirtues.] They are under the dominion of the Moon, and being made into a poultice, are excellent 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 their 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 mid- dle 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, send- ing 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 his 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 phy- sical use, having the like virtues with those above described, which I take to be the two chiefest 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 unto 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 or 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 con- suming the moist humours falling into
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them, and correcting the putrefaction of humours offending them.
CAB.DUUS BENEDICTUS.
It is called Carduus Benedictus, or Blessed Thirstle, or Holy Thistle. I sup- pose the name was put upon it by some that had little holiness in 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 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 vertigon, 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 attrac- tive 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 in- firmities 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 sym- pathy to Saturn, Mars being exalted in Capricorn. Also provokes urine, the stopp- ing of which is usually caused by Mars or the Moon.
c ABBOTS.
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 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 alto- gether 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 mid- dle, 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 roots 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, pro- voke 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 swollen 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 tho' Galen com- mended garden Carrots highly to break wind, yet experience teaches they breed it first, and we may thank nature for expelling
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THE COMPLETE HERBAL
it, not they; the seeds of them expel wind indeed, and so mend what the root mareth.
CAERAWAY.
• It is on account of the seeds principally that the Carraway is chiefly cultivated.
Descript.] It bears divers stalks of fine cut leaves, lying upon the ground, some- what 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 fitter, 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 better 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 parsnips ; 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 iself, 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 Carraways eaten as men eat
parsnips, strengthen the stomachs of an- cient people exceedingly, and they need not to make a whole meal of them neither, and are fit to be planted in every garden.
Carraway confects, 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 joint's 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 out-side, 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 long, 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
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may you make it 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 when I pray, is not this far better than endangering the eyes by the art of the needle? For if this does not abso- lutely 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 that have old sores in their legs, or other parts of the body. The juice thereof taken fasting, is held to be of singular 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 in 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 in 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 what- soever; and if it chance that in a tender body it causes any itchings or inflamma- tions, by bathing the place with a little vinegar it is helped.
Another ill-favoured trick have physi- cians got to use to the eye, and that is worse than the needle ; which is to take away the films by corroding or gnawing medicines. That I absolutely protest against.
1. Because the tunicles of the eyes are very thing, 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 earthy quality, still in rectify- ing them, added to the Terra damnata (as Alchymists call it) or Terra Sacratissima (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 COMPLETE HERBAL
THE LESSEE CELANDINE, USUALLY KNOWN BY THE NAME OP PILEWOET AND EOGWOET.
I wonder what ailed the ancients to give this the name Celandine, which re- sembles it neither 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 nar- row 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 but a little shady.
Time.] It flowers betimes about March or April, is quite gone by May; so it can- not 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, vis. 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 wonder- fully helps piles and haemorthoids, 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 haemorthoids, 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 OEDINAEY SMALL CENTAUEY.
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 umble 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 husks, in form 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 there- abouts, and seed 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
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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 kills the worms in the belly, as is found by experience. The decoction thereof, viz. the top 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 ef- fectual in all old 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 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 therefore 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. 'Tis very wholesome, but not very tooth- some.
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 bigger, and of a darker green, and the stalks pass through the midst of them, as it does 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 excellent 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 CHEER Y-TEEE.
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 appe- tite to meat, and help to 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 provoke urine. The gum of the Cherry- Tree, dissolved 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.
WINTEE-CHEERIES.
Descript.] The Winter Cherry has a running or creeping root in the ground, of the bigness many times of 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
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THE COMPLETE HERBAL
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 occasion.
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 Sep- tember.
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 draw- ing down the urine provoke it to be avoided plentifully when it is stopped or grown hot, sharp, and painful in the passage; it is good also to expel the stone and gravel out of the reins, 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 or 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 speci- fied, 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.
CHEUVIL.
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 stand 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 sallet 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
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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 pro- voke urine, or expel the stone in the kid- neys, 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, OK 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 sto- machs oppressed with wind or phlegm, or those that have the phthisic or consump- tion 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 com- fort a cold weak stomach. It is so harm- less, 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 govern- ment and virtues of them thus :
The tree is abundantly under the do- minion 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 ach, 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 what- soever: 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 Chestnuts, (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 some- thing 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
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THE COMPLETE HERBAL
doth. The root being dried and beaten into powder, and the powder made into an electuary, is as singular a remedy for spit- ting and pissing of blood, as the former Chestnut was for coughs.
CHICKWEED.
It is so generally known to most people, that I shall not trouble you with the descrip- tion 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 else- where.
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 ap- plied, doth wonderfully temperate the heat of the liver, and is effectual for all impos- thumes 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 sharp- ness 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 impos- thumes, 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 musca- dine, 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 CICEB.S.
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 gar- dens, 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 in- crease sperm ; they have a cleansing faculty, whereby they break the stone in the kid- neys. To drink the cream of them, being boiled in water, is the best way. It moves the belly downwards, provokes women's
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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, OP FIVE-LEAVED GBASS ; CALLED IN SOME COUNTIES, FIVE- FINGERED GEASS.
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 colours, 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 vine- gar, and the decoction thereof held in the mouth, eases the pains of the tooth- ach. 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. An- thony's fire, all imposthumes, and pain- ful sores with heat and putrefaction, the shingles also, and all other sorts of running
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THE COMPLETE HERBAL
and foul scabs, sores and itch. The same also boiled in wine, and applied to any joint full of pain, ach, 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 burstings, 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 quo- tidian, 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.
Temperature 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 dis- tances, 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 some- what 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 inflammations 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
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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 dis- eases of the eye. I could wish from 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 blush colour; He that knows the common Clary cannot be ignorant of this.
Place.] It grows commonly in this na- tion in barren places; you may find it plentifully, if you look in the fields near Gray's Inn, and the fields 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 de- coction 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 diges- tion, 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 dim- ness of sight, to take one of the seeds of it, and put into the eyes, and there let it re- main 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-share, 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 to- wards 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 like two testicles, 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 dies every year.
Place.] It grows by the hedge and ditch- side 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 pre- serving the heart from the venom. It is familiarly taken in broth to keep them lean
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THE COMPLETE HEEBAL
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 there- upon doth the same, and likewise helps old ulcers. Being boiled in hog's grease, it helps all sorts of hard swellings or ker- nels in the throat, being anointed there- with. 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 woodwoet.
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 after- wards 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 fre- quently 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 sin- gularly effectual in all fresh and green wounds, and therefore bears not this name for nought. And it is very available in stenching 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 in- ferior to none for inward wounds, ruptures of veins, bloody flux, vessels broken, spit- ting, pissing, or vomiting blood: Ruptures are excellent and speedily, even to admira- tion, 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 do amiss. I assure thee the herb deserves commenda- tion, 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, bed fitching, oa
MEDIOK 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,
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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 ripens 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 al- most in every garden, that I think I may save the expence of time in writing a de- scription 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 suc- cess 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, Foals-foot, Horse-hoof, and Bulls-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 abid- ing 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 wheesing, 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 singular 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 singular 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 there- unto applied.
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THE COMPLETE HERBAL
COMFEEY.
This is a very common but a very neg- lected 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 j oints 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 ulcers
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 here- of 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 overmuch bleeding of the haemorrhoids, to cool the inflammation of the parts there- abouts, 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 experi- ence been found helpful.
COUALWOHT.
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
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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, some- times 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 down- wards, 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, 'tis more scarce than this, being a very small plant, much like Crow- foot, 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 excellent 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 excellent good for ruptures, as also to stop fluxes ; an ointment made of it is excellent good for wounds and ulcers, for it soon dries up the watery humours which hinder the cure.
COSTMAH.Y, OK ALCOST, OB BALSAM HEEB.
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 Cost- mary, 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 glu- tinous, cleanses that which is foul, and hinders putrefaction and corruption; it dissolves without attraction, opens obstruc- tions, and helps their evil effects, and it is a wonderful help to all sorts of dry agues. It is astringent to the stomachy and strengthens the liver, and all the other in- ward 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 help 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
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THE COMPLETE HERBAL
two ounces at a time ; it makes an excellent salve to cleanse and heal old ulcers, being boiled with oil of olive, and adders 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, Dwarff Cotton, and Petty Cotton.
Descript.] The common Cudweed rises up with one stalk sometimes, and some- times 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, bind- ing, or drying, and therefore profitable for defluctions of rheum from the head, and to stay fluxes of blood wheresoever, the de- coction being made into red wine and drank, or the powder taken therein. It also helps the bloody-flux, and eases the tor- ments that come thereby, stays the im- moderate courses of women, and is also good for inward or outward wounds, hurts, and bruises, and helps children both of burstings
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, OE PEAGLES.
Bo*h the wild and garden Cowslips are so well known, that I neither trouble my- self 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, ephi- altes, 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, the Greeks gave them the name Paralysis. The flowers preserved or conserved, and the quantity of
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a nutmeg eaten every morning, is sufficient dose for inward diseases; but for wounds, spots, wrinkles, and sunburnings, an oint- ment is made of the leaves, and hog's grease.
ceab'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 mid- dle ; it takes root in the mud in 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.] 'Tis a plant under the dominion of Venus, and there- fore 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 CEESSES.
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 stones be very small and yel-
low, after which comes small pods, which contain 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 Septem- ber.
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 excellent 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 j aundice and sciatica. This herb boiled into a poultice, is an excellent remedy for inflammations, both in women's breasts, and men's testicles.
SCIATICA CEESSES.
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
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THE COMPLETE HERBAL
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 Saturn- ine 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 sciaticia, 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 blemishes 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 women'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 there- with, 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 down- wards, 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
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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, as well 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 Sum- mer 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 singular 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 to- gether, 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 inveter- ate; 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 Welshman's pedigree, if he fetch no farther than John of Gaunt, or William the Conqueror ; for it is called Frogsf oot, from the Greek name Barrakion: Crowfoot, Gold Knobs, Gold Cups, King's Knob, Bafliners, Troilflowers, Polts, Locket Gou- lions, 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 pesti- lential 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, Calves-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
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a cut on the edge, of a full green colour, each standing upon a thick round stalk, of a hand-breath 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 stand 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 ker- nel, 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 his berries, are some- what 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, prick- ing the tongue as nettles do the hands, and so abides for a great while without altera- tion. 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 Sjjring, and continue but until the middle
of Summer, or somewhat later ; their husks appearing before they 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, being 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 afore- said, 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 has 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 sheeps milk, it heals the inward ulcers of the bowels. The distilled water thereof is effectual to all the purposes afore- said. A spoonful taken at a time heals the itch ; an ounce or more taken at a time for some days together, doth help the rup- ture: 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
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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 lettuces or purslain: They are excellent good for a hot stomach, and hot liver; the unmeasurable use of them fills the body full of raw humours, and so indeed the un- measurable use of any thing else doth harm. The face being washed with their juice, cleanses the skin, and is excellent good for hot rheums in the eyes; the seed is excel- lent 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 excellent 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 Daisey is a wound herb of good re- spect, often used in those drinks or salves that are for wounds, either inward or out- ward. The juice or distilled water of these, or the small Daisey, 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 cods, 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 dis- perses and dissolves the knots or kernels that grow in the flesh of any part of the body, and bruises and hurts that come of
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falls and blows ; they are also used for rup- tures, 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 j ag, 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 where- in 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 mea- dows 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 hypochon- driac; 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 disposi- tion 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 distem- pered by the heat of ague fits, or other- wise: 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 spec- tacles, 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, con- taining two or three husks, with a sharp but short beards of awns at the end; the
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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 mali- cious 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 dis- solves 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.
DELI,.
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 some- what 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, some- what 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 gar- dens 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 thereof 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 plaisters, 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 dis- solve 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
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short and blackish, with many strings, abiding after seed time many years. This root was longer, until the devil (as the friers 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 blush-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 pes- tilential diseases or fevers, poisons also, and the bitings of venomous beasts: It helps also those that are inwardly bruised by any casualty, 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 de- coction 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, mor-
phew, or other deformities thereof, espe- cially if a little vitriol be dissolved therein.
DOCK.
Many kinds of these are so well known, that I shall not trouble you with a descrip- tion 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 gar- dens 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 dis- colourings 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, be- cause it makes the pottage black ; pride and ignorance (a couple of monsters in the crea- tion) prefering nicety before health.
DODDER OF THYME, EFITHYMUM, AND OTHEE DODDEES.
Descript.] This first from seed gives roots in the ground, which shoot forth threads or strings, grosser or finer, as the
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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 upon them, but wind and in- terlace themselves, so thick upon a small plant, that it takes away all comfort of the sun from it ; and is ready to choak or stran- gle 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 clus- ters of small heads or husks, out of which shoot forth whitish flowers, which after- wards give small pale white coloured seed, somewhat flat, and twice as big as Poppy- seed. It generally participates of the na- ture of the plant which it climbs upon; but the Dudder of Thyme is accounted the best, and is the only true Epithymum.
Government and virtues.] All Dodders are under Saturn. Tell not me of phy- sicians crying up Epithymum, or that Dodder which grows upon Thyme, (most of which comes from Hemetius in Greece, or Hybla in Sicily, because those moun- tains abound with Thyme), he is a physician indeed, that hath wit enough to choose his 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 obstruc- tions 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 these 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 hin- dered. And so of the rest.
Sympathy and antipathy are two hinges upon which the whole mode of physic turns; and that physician which 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 the herb Worm- wood, you shall find a rational way for it.
DOG's-GEASS, OB, 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 descrip- tion, watch the dogs when they are sick, and they will quickly lead you to it.
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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 gets footing in.
Government and virtues.] 'Tis under the dominion of Jupiter, and is the most medi- cinal 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 mat- ter 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 dis- tilled 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.
DOVES-FOOT, OE CRANES-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 com- pass 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 singular 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 sin- gularly 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 bar- ley meal. The distilled water by some is highly esteemed against all inward inflam- mations and pestilent fevers; as also to help the redness of the eyes, and swellings of the cods, and of the breasts before they be grown too much. The fresh herb ap- plied to the forehead, eases the pains of the head-ache coming of heat.
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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 mid- dle of whose heads of flowers, thrust forth many purplish crimson threads, and some- times (although very seldom) white ones. The seed that follows in the heads, lying in a great deal of white down, is some- what large, long, and round, like the seed of ladies thistle, but somewhat 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 manifests 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 convulsions, 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 distill that in a glass still in sand. It scours and cleanses the in- ternal parts of the body mightily, and it clears the external parts also, being exter- nally applied, from freckles, morphew, and sun-burning: Your best way to use it ex- ternally, is to mix it with vinegar ; an oint- ment 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 excellent good against pestilence and poison. Pliny and Dios- corides affirm, that no serpent will meddle with him that carries this herb about him.
THE ELDER TREE.
I hold it needless to write any descrip- tion 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 fresh every Spring, and is like unto the Elder both in form and qualify, rising up with a square rough hairy stalk, 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
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sweet in 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 ths dropsy. The de- coction of the root taken, cures the biting of an adder, and biting of mad dogs. It molifies 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 scald- ings, 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 for 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
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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 cloths be often wet therein, and applied to the rup- tures 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 lay of ordinary salt, that the foeces 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 and pickle, until it come to the form of a poultice, and laid on the place pained with the gout, gives great ease. The de- coction 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 de- coction of the leaves, or the juice, or the distilled water of Endive, serves 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 pesti- lential 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 rise 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 be- ing 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 of tener 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, j 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
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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 stitches in the sides caused by the spleen ; and to help the cough, shortness of breath, and weezing in the lungs. The dried root made into pow- der, 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 ser- pents, 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 quick- ens 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 oint- ment 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 ordi- nary 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 crum- pled, 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 com- pass 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 won- derfully long, even to eight or ten feet in length, set with rings and circles toward the upper part, cut smooth and without joints down lower, brownish on the outside, and very white within, with a pith in the mid- dle ; of a pleasant taste, but much more, be- ing 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 Sum- mer, 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 jaun- dice, dropsy, pains of the loins, and wind cholic, provokes urine, and expels the stone, procures women's courses. The con-
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tinued use of the decoction for fifteen days, taken fasting, and next to bedward, doth help the stranguary, the difficulty and stop- page 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 taken 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 profitably drank for all the purposes aforesaid; and helps the melancholy of the heart, and is avail- able in quartan and quotidian agues; as also for them that have their necks drawn away, and cannot turn them without turn- ing 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 up- ward, come forth small white flowers, steeped 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 places in this 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 vir- tues of Eyebright as follows.
The juice or distilled water of Eyebright, taken rnwardly 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 Villa Nova saith, it hath restored sight to them that have been blind a long time before.
FEEN.
Descript.] Of this there are two kinds principally to be treated of, vis. the Male and Female. The Female grows higher than the Male, but the leaves thereof are smaller, and more dividSd and dented, and of as strong a smell as the male; the vir- tue of them are both alike, and therefore I shall not trouble you with any descrip- tion 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
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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 dan- gerous 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 crea- tures, 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 yel- lowish 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, andl watery places, in many parts of this land.
Time.] It is green all the summer, an(Ji the root only abides in winter.
Government and virtues.] Saturn owns the plant. This has all the virtues men- tioned in the former Ferns, and is much more effectual than they, both for inward and outward griefs, and is accounted sin- gular 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 singular 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 stuffing, 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 com- mands 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 mid- wife hath there caused ; if they will but be
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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 decoc- tion of the flowers in wine, with a little nut- meg 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 shortwinded, 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 ap-
plied 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 poison- ous herbs, or mushrooms. The seed and the roots much more help to open obstruc- tions of the liver, spleen, and gall, and thereby help the painful and windy swel- lings 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.
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Both leaves, seeds, and roots thereof are much used in drink or broth, to make peo- ple more lean that are too fat. The dis- tilled water of the whole herb, or the con- densate 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 Fen- nel 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 Peuci- danum, 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 j oined 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 flow- ers, 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 hard- ness 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 pains 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-WOET, OE THEOAT-WOET.
Descript.] Common great Fig-wort sends divers great, strong, hard, square brown stalks, three or four feet high, where- on 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
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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 ap- propriated 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 dis- ease 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, kernels, bunches, or wens growing in the flesh wheresoever; and for the haemorrhoids, or piles. An ointment made hereof may be used at all times when the fresh herb is not to be had. The dis- tilled 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.
FLLIPENDUiLA, OE DEOP-WOET.
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 mea- dows, 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 stran- guary ; the stone in the kidneys or bladder, the gravel, and all other pains of the blad- der and reins, by taking the roots in pow- der, 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 TIG TEEE.
To give a description of a tree so well known to every body that keeps 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 decoc-
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tion of the leaves is excellent 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 in- wardly, 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 chil- blains. 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 biting of mad dogs, or other venomous beasts, as most are. A syrup made of the leaves, or green fruit, is excellent good for coughs, hoarseness, or shortness of breath, and all diseases of the breast and lungs ; it is also excellently 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 nar- rower sad green leaves joined together in that fashion; the stalk also growing often- times 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 suc- ceed thick and long three square heads, con- taining 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 ap- plied 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 applica- tions.
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
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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 year 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 chickens' 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 decoc- tion of the herb, both leaves and flowers, in wine taken and drank, doth somewhat move the belly downwards, open obstruc- tions of the liver, and helps the yellow j aundice ; 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 pur- poses; being drank with a dram of the powder of the seeds of bark or the roots of Wall-wort, and a little cinnamon, for cer- tain days together, it is held a singular rem- edy for the dropsy. The juice of the herb, or the distilled water, dropped into the eyes, is a certain remedy for all heat, inflamma- tion, 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 there- with, 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 plan- tain herbs, which are the bloomings of flowers. The seed inclosed 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 some- what 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 some- what 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 there- abouts.
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 seed fried, and taken, stays the flux or lask of the belly, and the corrosions that come by rea- son of hot choleric, or sharp and malignant humours, or by too much purging of any violent medicine, as Scammony, or the
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like. The mucilage of the seed made with Rosewater, 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 dis- eases of the breast and lungs, caused by heat, or sharp salt humours, and the pleu- risy also. The mucilage of the seed made with plantain water, whereunto the yolk 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 haemorrhoids or piles, if it be laid on a cloth, and bound thereto. It helps all in- flammations in any part of the body, and the pains that come thereby, as the head- ache 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 or 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 cor- rupt and filthy ulcers, cleanses them and heals them.
FlitTXWEED.
Descript.] It rises up with a round up- right 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 noth- ing, save only it has somewhat broad leaves ; they have a strong evil savour, 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 Fluxweed 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 com- f rey, and to restrain any other flux of blood in man or woman, as also to consolidate 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 effects, although somewhat weaker, yet it is a fair medicine, and more acceptable to be taken. It is called Fluxweed 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 plais- ters of it were kept in your houses.
FLOWEE-DE-IiTJCE.
It is so well known, being nourished up in most gardens, that I shall not need to spend time in writing a description thereof.
Time.] The flaggy kinds thereof have the most physical uses; the dwarf kinds thereof flower in April, the greater sorts in May.
Government and virtues.] The herb is Lunar. The juice or decoction of the green root of the flaggy kind of Flower-de-luce, with a little honey drank, doth purge and
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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 spike- nard. 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 crea- tures, 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 haemorrhoids, 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 bulbus 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 sin- ews, as also the gout and sciatica, and moli- fies, dissolves and consumes tumours and swellings in any part of the body, as also of the matrix ; it helps the cramp, or con- vulsions 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.
FLTFEL1IN, OB. XLTJELLIN.
Descript.] It shoots forth many long branches partly lying upon the ground, and partly standing upright, set with al- most 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 some- what 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 raises 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-ves- sels. The root is like the other, and perishes every year.
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Place.] They grow in divers corn fields, and in borders about them, and in other fertile grounds about Southfleet in Kent abundant; at Buchrite, Hamerton, and Richmanworth 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 defluctions 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 man- ner 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 con- solidating 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 in- wardly, may cure the disease.
FOX-GLOVES.
Descript.] It has many long and broad leaves lying upon the ground dented upon the 'edges, a little soft or wooly, 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 decoc- tion 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 a 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
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two or three feet long, with finely cut and jagged leaves of 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, with 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 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 ap- proaching, 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 effec- tual for the liver and spleen, opening the obstructions thereof, and clarifying the blood from saltish, choleric, and adust humours, which cause leprosy, scabs, tet- ters, and itches,- and such like breakings- out of the skin, and after the purgings doth strengthen all the inward parts. It is also good against the yellow- j aundice, and spends it by urine, which it procures in abundance. The powder of the dried herb given for some time together, cures melan- choly, but the seed is strongest in opera- tion for all the former diseases. The dis-
tilled water of the herb is also of good effect in the former diseases, and conduces much against the plague and pestilence, be- ing 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 FUEZE BUSH.
It 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 interest 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 ob- structions of the liver and spleen. A decoc- tion 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 sym- pathy.
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GAELICS.
The offensiveness of the breath of him that hath eaten Garlick, will lead you by the nose to the knowledge hereof, and (in- stead 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 avoids tough phlegm, purges the head, helps the leth- argy, 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 effec- tual. But the Garlick hath some more pe- culiar virtues besides the former, viz. it hath a special quality to discuss inconven- iences coming by corrupt agues or mineral vapours, or by drinking corrupt and stink- ing waters; as also by taking wolf -bane, hen-bane, hemlock, or other poisonous and dangerous herbs. It is also held good in hydropick diseases, the jaundice, falling sickness, cramps, convulsions, the piles or hemorrhoids, 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 choleric men it will add fuel to the fire ; in men oppressed by melancholy, it will atten- uate 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, FELWOET, OE 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 ex- perience of divers physicians, to be not a whit inferior in virtue to that which comes 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 Centuary, 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 Long-field 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 of Dunstable way to- wards Gorhambury.
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Time.] They flower in August.
Government and virtues.] They are un- der 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 pes- tilence 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 help 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, re- freshes such as be over-weary with travel, 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 convul- sions, 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 GILLIFLOWEES.
It is vain to describe an herb so well known.
Government and virtues.] They are gal- lant, 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 per- ceived in them ; they are great strengthened both of the brain and heart, and will there- fore 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 some- what 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 droop- ing. This taken with honey (saith Diosco- rides) 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
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thereof taken for four days together, drives away and cures both tertian and quartan agues. It is also good against all diseases of the brain, as continual head-ache, falling- sickness, melancholy, drowsiness and dull- ness 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 aris- ing 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 be- tween the fingers. In the middle rises up a reasonable 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 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 cor- rupt 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 con- vulsions, 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 hu- mours, which it stays, having first cleansed and purged them by the drying and bind- ing 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 vine- gar, 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 any tumour
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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, whereso- ever they be.
GOLDEN EOD.
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 re- spects 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 burst- ings, 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 to 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 ris- ing 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 Goutwort hath its name for nothing but upon experi- ment 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.
GBOMEL.
Of this I shall briefly describe their kinds, which are principally used in physic, the virtues whereof are alike, though some- what different in their manner and form of growing.
Descript.] The greater Gromel grows up with slender hard and hairy stalks, trail- ing 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
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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 has 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 be- longs 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 avoid 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 there- in. 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 effec- tual to all the purposes aforesaid, but not so powerful or speedy in operation.
GOOSEBEEEY BUSH.
Called also Feapberry, and in Sussex Dewberry-Bush, and in some Counties Wineberry.
Government and virtues.] They are un- der 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 swellings and inflammations; as also St. Anthony's fire. The ripe Gooseberries being eaten, are an excellent remedy to al- lay 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.
WINTEE-GEEEN.
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
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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 espe- cial 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 ex- tolled 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 nar- row green leaves, cut in on the edges, some- what 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 many 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 car- ried 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.] This grows 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 af- flicted ; 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 dis- tilled 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 Diosco- rides) 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 there- of 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 dif- ficulty 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 colic, defects of the liver, and provokes women's courses. The fresh herb boiled,
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THE BRITISH HERBAL
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 ar- teries, joints, and sinews, when they are inflamed and swollen, doth much ease them; and used with some salt, helps to dis- solve knots or kernels in any part of the body. The juice of the herb, or (as Diosco- rides 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 inflam- mations or watering of the eyes, by reason of the defluction 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 anti- venerean: and that antivenereans 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 fall-
ing sickness, and a gallant remedy for the inflammation of the lungs and breasts, pleurisy, scabs, itch, &c. It is under the ce- lestial Sign Cancer.
ARTICHOKES,
The Latins call them Cinera, only our college calls them Artichocus.
Government and virtues.] They are un- der the dominion of Venus, and therefore it is no marvel if they provoke lust, as in- deed 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 non- sense 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 decoc- tion of the root boiled in wine, or the root bruised and distilled in wine in an alembic, and being drank, purges by urine exceed- ingly.
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, thwart 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 narrow with the length, and 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
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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 bleed- ing 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 un- der 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 pep- per put to them and drank, digests the dis- tillations of rheums 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 ef- fectual 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 short- ness 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 slandering one another, that they must slander Nuts too, to keep their tongues in use? If any thing of the Hazel Nut be stopping, it is the husks and shells, and no body is so mad 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, where- on are set at every joint longer leaves, little or nothing rent or cut, bearing on their sundry pale, yellow flowers, consist- ing 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 from 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 greater, 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 Sum- mer 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 gna wings therein; for inflammations, and the hot fits of agues. The juice thereof
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THE COMPLETE HERBAL
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 sting- ing of the scorpion, if the herb be also out- wardly applied to the place, and is very good against all other poisons. A scruple of the dried root given in wine and vine- gar, 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 wild cholic and hardness of the spleen; it pro- cures rest and sleep, hinders venery and venereous dreams, cooling heats, purges the stomach, increases blood, and helps the diseases of 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, espe- cially 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 man- ner of a poultice, to any place affected with convulsions and the cramp, such as are out of joint, doth give help and ease. The dis- tilled water cleanses the skin, and takes away freckles, spots, morphew, or wrinkles in the face.
HAWTHOEN.
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 ordi- narily but a hedge bush, although being pruned and dressed, it grows to a tree of a reasonable height.
As for the Hawthorn Tree at Glaston- bury, which is said to flower yearly on
Christmas-day, it rather shews the supersti- tion 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 March, and near unto Nantwich in Ches- hire, by a place called White Green, where it flowers about Christmas and May. If the weather be frosty, it flowers not until Janu- ary, 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 sin- gularly good against the stone, and are good for the dropsy. The distilled water of the flowers stays the lask. The seed cleared from the down, bruised and boiled in wine, and drank, is good for inward tormenting pains. If cloths and 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 medi- cine for his own pricking, and so doth al- most 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 some- times, 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.
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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 forbad 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 in- wardly. It may safely be applied to inflam- mations, 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,