Full text of "The complete herbal : to which is now added, upwards of one hundred additional herbs ... to which are now first annexed, the English physician enlarged, and Key to physic ... forming a complete family dispensatory and natural system of physic ... to which is also added ... receipts, selected from the author's Last legacy to his wife"

ttssaHgru/ai

vaw&wstit

H^M^^raBHM!HHHK&|HBy|^H31

nSHHH^Pl
BHWHHHHH|

/ / ^

, U* ft**.^, x

I /

University of California Berkeley

FROM THE ESTATE OF
AUDREY AIKIN

Alex

i moil y

Alkanet

Allheal

Amara Dulcis or Bitter Sweet

Ai u ;i i-.'i minis

Angelica

n i ! 1 1 1 \ v

THOMAS KI'.I.IA. LONDON. 183ft.

THE

COMPLETE HERBAL,

TO WHICH IS NOW ADDED, UPWARDS OP

ONE HUNDRED ADDITONAL HERBS,

WITH A DISPLAY OP THEIB

fttrlimnal and (Drrult <Qualtttr0 ;

PHYSICALLY APPLIED TO

THE CURE OF ALL DISORDERS INCIDENT TO MANKIND:

TO WHICH ARE NOW FIRST ANNEXED, THB

ENGLISH PHYSICIAN ENLARGED,

AND

KEY TO PHYSIC,

WITH

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

FORMING A COMPLETE

FAMILY DISPENSATORY, AND NATURAL SYSTEM OF PHYSIC.

BY NICHOLAS CULPEPER, M.D.

TO WHICH IS ALSO ADDED

UPWARDS OF FIFTY CHOICE RECEIPTS,

(ELECTED FROM THE AUTHOR'S LAST LEGACY TO HIS WIPE.

A NEW EDITION,

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

AND A GEUERAI. INDEX.

lUiutratrd bg Engravings of numerous British Herbs and Plants, correctly coloured from Nature.

"Th Lord hath created Medicines out of the Earth ; and he that is wise will not abhor them." Ecc. xxxviii. 4.

LONDON:
THOMAS KELLY, 17, PATERNOSTER ROW.

MDCCCXXXV.

J. HlDDON, Printer, Cmile Street, Fiuibury.

CULPEPERS

ORIGINAL EPISTLE TO THE READER.

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

Tlie first Direction. The true one hath this Title over the head of every Book, THE COM-
PLETE HERBAL AND ENGLISH PHYSICIAN ENLARGED. The small Counterfeit ones have only this Title,
THE ENGLISH PHYSICIAN.

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

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

All other Authors that have written of the nature of Herbs, give not a bit of reason why such
an Herb was appropriated to such a part of the body, nor why it cured such a disease. Truly
my own body being sickly, brought me easily into a capacity, to know that health was the greatest
of all earthly blessings, and truly he was never sick that doth not believe it. Then I considered
that all medicines were compounded of Herbs, Roots, Flowers, Seeds, &c., and this first set me
to work in studying the nature of Simples, most of which I knew by sight before ; and indeed
all the Authors I could read gave me but little satisfaction in this particular, or none at all. I
cannot build my faith upon Authors' words, nor believe a thing because they say it, and could wish
every body were of my mind in this, to labour to be able to give a reason for every thing they
say or do. They say Reason makes a man differ from a Beast ; if that be true, pray what are
they that, instead of reason for their judgment, quote old Authors ? Perhaps their authors knew
a reason for what they wrote, perhaps they did not ; what is that to us ? Do we know it ? Truly.
in writing this work first, to satisfy myself, I drew out all the virtues of the vulgar or common

iv EPISTLE TO THE READER.

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 enongh the whole world,
and every thing in it, was formed of a composition of contrary elements, and in such a harmony
as must needs show the wisdom and power of a great God. I knew as well this Creation, though
thus composed of contraries, was one united body, and man an epitome of it : I knew those
various affections in man, in respect of sickness and health, were caused naturally (though God
may have other ends best known to himself) by the various operations of the Microcosm ; and I
could not be ignorant, that as the cause is, so must the cure be ; and therefore he that would
know the reason of the operation of the Herbs, must look up as high as the Stars, astrologically.
I always found the disease vary according to the various motions of the Stars ; and this is enough,
one would think, to teach a man by the effect where the cause lies. Then to find out the reason
of the operation of Herbs, Plants, &c., by the Stars went I ; and herein I could find but few
authors, but those as full of nonsense and contradiction as an egg is full of meat. This not being
pleasing, and less profitable to me, I consulted with my two brothers, DR. REASON and Dn.
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 my Book ; I shall
quote some few general heads.

First, The admirable Harmony of the Creation is herein seen, in the influence of Stars upon
Herbs and the Body of Man, how one part of the Creation is subservient to another, and all
for the use of Man, whereby the infinite power and wisdom of God in the creation appear ; and
if I do not admire at the simplicity of the Ranters, never trust me ; who but viewing the
Creation can hold such a sottish opinion, as that it was from eternity, when the mysteries of it
are so clear to every eye ? but that Scripture shall be verified to them, Rom. i. 20 : " The in-
" visible things of him from the Creation of the World are clearly seen, being understood by the

EPISTLE TO THE READER. v

"things that are made, even his Eternal Power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse"
And a Poet could teach them a better lesson ;

" Because out of thy thoughts God shall not pass,

" His image stamped is on every grass."

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

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

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

Instructions for the right use of the book.

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

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

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

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

Fourthly, You may oppose diseases by Herbs of the planet, opposite to the planet that
causes them : as diseases of Jupiter by Herbs of Mercury, and the contrary ; diseases of the
Luminaries by the Herbs of Saturn, and the contrary ; diseases of Mars by Herbs of Venus, and
the contrary.

Fifthly, There is a way to cure diseases sometimes by Sympathy, and so every planet cures
his own disease ; as the Sun and Moon by their Herbs cure the Eyes, Saturn the Spleen, Jupiter
the Liver, Mars the Gall and diseases of choler, and Venus diseases in the Instruments of Gene-
ration.

NICH. CULPEPER.

From my House in Spital fields,
next door to the Red Lion,
September 5, 1653.

TO HIS DEAREST CONSORT,

MRS. ALICE CULPEPER.

MY DEAREST,

THE works that I have published to the world (though envied by some illiterate physicians)
have merited such just applause, that thou mayest be confident in proceeding to publish any
thing I leave thee, especially this master-piece ; assuring my friends and countrymen, that they
will receive as much benefit by this, as by my Dispensatory, and that incomparable piece, called,
Semiotica Uranica enlarged, and English Physician.

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

NICHOLAS CULPEPER.

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

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

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

u Culpeper, the man that first ranged the woods and climed the mountains in search of medicinal and salutary herbs,
has undoubtedly merited the gratitude of posterity." DR. JOHNSON.

THE

ENGLISH PHYSICIAN

ENLARGED.

\ green colour ; the flowers are of a purple
I colour, or of a perfect blue, like to violets,

(CONSIDERING divers shires in thisna-j a nd they stand many of them together in
tion give divers names to one and the j knots : the berries are green at first, but
same herb, and that the common name j when they are ripe they are very red ; if
which it bears in one county, is not known | you taste them, you shall find them just as
in another; I shall take the pains to set | the crabs which we in Sussex call Bitter-
down all the names that I know of each sweet, viz. sweet at first and bitter after-
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,

wards.

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

and others Felon-wort. j Time.'] The leaves shoot out about the

Descript.'] It grows up with woody stalks \ latter end of March, if the temperature of
even to a man's height, and sometimes! the air be ordinary ; it flowers in July, and
higher. The leaves fall off at the approach of | the seeds are ripe soon after, usually in the
winter, and spring out of the same stalk at> next month.

spring-time: the branch is compassed about j Government and virtues.'] It is under the
with a Avhitish bark, and has a pith in the < planet Mercury, and a notable herb of his
middle of it : the main branch branches | also, if it be rightly gathered under his in-
itself into many small ones with claspers, j fluence. It is excellently good to remove
laying hold on what is next to them, as j witchcraft both in men and beasts, as also
vines dc : it bears many leaves, they grow { all sudden diseases whatsoever. Being tied
in no order at all, at least in no regular \ round about the neck, is one of the most ad-
order : the leaves are longish, though some- 1 mirable remedies for the vertigo or dizziness
what broad, and pointed at the ends : many j in the head ; and that is the reason (as
of them have two little leaves growing at the | Tragus saith) the people in Germany corn-
end of their foot stalk; some have but one, j monly hang it about their cattle's necks,
and some none. The leaves are of a pale : when they fear any such evil hath betided

2 THE COMPLETE HERBAL.

them : Country people commonly take the they are something hairy, each leaf con-
berries of it, and having bruised them, ap-jsisting of five or six pair of such wings set
ply them to felons, and thereby soon rid j one against the other upon foot-stalks, broad
their fingers of such troublesome guests. \ below, but narrow towards the end ; one of

We have now showed you the external j the leaves is a little deeper at the bottom
use of the herb ; we shall speak a word or j than the other, of a fair yellowish fresh
two of the internal, and so conclude. Take j green colour: they are of a bitterish taste,
notice, it is a Mercurial herb, and there- being chewed in the mouth ; from among
fore of very subtile parts, as indeed all \ these rises up a stalk, green in colour,
Mercurial plants are; therefore take a; round in form, great and strong in magni-
pound of the wood and leaves together, j tude, five or six feet in altitude, with many
bruise the wood (which you may easily do, -joints, and some leaves thereat ; towards the
for it is not so hard as oak) then put it in j top come forth umbels of small yellow
a pot, and put to it three pints or white j flowers, after which are passed away, you
wine, put on the pot-lid and shut it close ; ; may find whitish, yellow, short, flat seeds,
and let it infuse hot over a gentle fire twelve; bitter also in taste.

hours, then strain it out, so have you a j Place.~\ Having given you a description
most excellent drink to open obstructions | of the herb from bottom to top, give me
of the 'iver and spleen, to help difficulty I leave to tell you, that there are other herbs
of breath, bruises and fails, and congealed ; called by this name ; but because they are
blood in any part or' the body, it helps the j strangers in England, I give only the des-
yellow jaundice, the dropsy, and black j cription or this, which is easily to be had
jaundice, arid to cleanse women newly j in the gardens of divers places,
brought to bed. You may drink a quarter) Time.} Although Gerrard saith, thai they
of a pint of the infusion every morning. flower from the beginning of May to the
It purges the body very gently, and not lend of Decembei, experience teaches them
churlishly as some hold. And when you \ that keep it in their gardens, that it flowers
find good by this, remember me. | not till the latter end of the Summer, and

They that think the use of these medi- ; sheds its seed presently after,
cines is too brief, it is only for the cheap- 5 Gorernmetit and virtues.'] It is under the
ness of the book ; let them read those books j dominion of Mars, hot, biting, and choleric;
of mine, of the last edition, viz. Reverius, j and remedies what evils Mars inflicts the
Veslingus, Riolanus, Johnson, Sennertus, and ; body of man with, by sympathy, as vipers'
Physic for the Poor. j flesh attracts poison, and the loadstone

i iron. It kills the worms, helps the gout,
I cramp, and convulsions, provokes urine,

IT is called All-heal, Kercules's All-heal, | and helps all joint-aches. It helps all cold
and Hercules's Wound-wort, because it is j griefs of the head, the vertigo, falling-sick-
supposed that Hercules learned the herb i ness, the lethargy, the wind cholic. obstruc-
and its virtues from Chiron, when he learn- itions of the liver and spleen, stone in the
ed physic of him. Some call it Panay, ! kidneys and bladder. It provokes the
and others Opopane-wort. j terms, expels the dead birth: it. is excellent

Descnpl.'] Its root is long, thick, and ex- j good for the griefs of the sinews, itch, stone,
eeeding full of juice, of a hot and biting; and tooth-ache, the biting of mad dogs and
taste, the leaves are great and large, and | venomous beasts, and purges choler very
winged almost like ash-tree leaves, but that; gently.

AND ENGLISH PHYSICIAN ENLARGED. 3

I drank, strengthens the back, and eases the
I pains thereof: It helps bruises and falls, and

BESIDES the common name, it is called | is as gallant a remedy to drive out the
Orchanet, and Spanish Bugloss, and by i mnall pox and measles as any is ; an oint-
apothecaries, Enchusa. ;inent made of it, is excellent for green

Descript.~] Of the many sorts of this herb, ; wounds, pricks or thursts.
there is but one known to grow commonly } , ,

in this nation; of which one take this de _ | ADDER STONGUE, OR SERPENT s TONGUE-

scription: It hath a great and thick root, of | Descript."] THIS herb has but one leaf,
a reddish colour, long, narrow, hairy leaves, > which grows with the stalk a f.nger's length
green like the leaves of Bugloss, which lie* above the ground, being flat and of a fresh
very thick upon the ground; the stalks rise j green colour; broad like Water Plantain,
up compassed round about, thick with 'but less, without any rib in it; from the
leaves, which are less and narrower than ! bottom of which leaf, on the inside, rises
ihe former ; they are tender, and slender, j up (ordinarily) one, sometimes two or three
the flowers are hollow, small, and of a red- i slender stalks, the upper half whereof is
dish colour. | somewhat bigger, and dented with small

Place.~\ It grows in Kent near Rochester, j dents of a yellowish green colour, like the
and in many places in the West Country, j tongue of an adder serpent (only this is as
both in Devonshire and Cornwall. j useful as they are formidable.) The roots

Time.'] They flower in July, and the be- j continue all the year.

ginning of August, and the seed is ripe \ PlaceJ] It grows in moist meadows, and
soon after, but the root is in its prime, as ! such like places.

carrots and parsnips are, before the herb; Time.~\ It is to be found in May or April,
runs up to stalk. j for it quickly perishes with a little heat.

Government and virtues.'] It is an herb un- 1 Government and virtues.'] It is an herb
der the dominion of Venus, and indeed one j under the dominion of the Moon and Can-
of her darlings, though somewhat hard to jeer, and therefore if the weakness of the
come by. It helps old ulcers, hot inflam- j retentive faculty be caused by an evil in-
mations, burnings by common fire, and St. | fluence of Saturn in any part of the body
Anthony's fire, by antipathy to Mars ; for! governed by the Moon, or under the domi-
these uses, your best way is to make it into \ nion of Cancer, this herb cures it by sym-
an ointment; also, if you make a vinegar \ pathy : It cures these diseases after specified,
of it, as you make vinegar of roses, it helps j in any part of the body under the influence
the morphew and leprosy; if you apply the J of Saturn, by antipathy,
herb to the privities, it draws forth the dead I It is temperate in respect of heat, but
child. It helps the yellow jaundice, spleen, j dry in the second degree. The juice of the
and gravel in the kidneys. Dioscorides j leaves drank with the distilled water of
saith, it helps such as are bitten by a veno- \ Horse-tail, is a singular remedy for all man-
mous beast, whether it be taken inwardly, \ ner of wounds in the breast, bowels, or
or applied to the wound; nay, he saith fur- j other parts of the body, and is given with
ther, if any one that hath newly eaten it, j good success to those that are troubled
do but spit into the mouth of a serpent, the: with casting, vomiting, or bleeding at the
serpent instantly dies. It stays the flux of i mouth or nose, or otherwise downwards,
the belly, kills worms, helps the fits of the j The said juice given in the distilled water
mother. Its decoction made in wine, and i of Oaken-buds, is very good for women who

4 THE COMPLETE HERBAL

have their usual courses, or the whites flow- 1 At the top thereof grow many small yellow
ing down tooabundantly. It helps sore ey es. j flowers, one above another, in long spikes ;
Of the leaves infused or boiled in oil, oni- j after which come rough heads of seed, hang-
phacine or unripe olives, set in the sun four j ing downwards, which will cleave to and
certain days, or the green leaves sufficiently ! stick upon garments, or any thing that shall
boiled in the said oil, is made an excellent j rub against them. The knot is black, long,
green balsam, not only for green and fresh \and somewhat woody, abiding many .years,
wounds, butalso foroldandinveterate ulcers, ; and shooting afresh every Spring ; which
especially if a little fine clear turpentine be j root, though small, hath a reasonable good
dissolved therein. It also stays and re- j scent.

freshes all inflammations that arise upon j Place.'] It grows upon banks, near the
pains by hurts and wounds. I sides of hedges.

What parts of the body are under each \ Time.'] It flowers in July and August, the
planet and sign, and also what disease may ? seed being ripe shortly after,
be found in my astrological judgment oft Government and virtues.'] It is an herb
diseases; and for the internal work of nature Sunder Jupiter, and the sign Cancer; and
in the body of man; as vital, animal, natural \ strengthens those parts under the planet
and procreative spirits of man ; the appre- j and sign, and removes diseases in them by
hension, judgment, memory ; the external j sympathy, and those under Saturn, Mars
senses, viz. Seeing, hearing, smelling, tast-jand Mercury by antipathy, if they happen
ing and feeling; the virtuous, attractive, \ in any part of the body governed by Jupi-
retentive, digestive, expulsive, &c. under j ter, or under the signs Cancer, Sagitarius or
the dominion of what planets they are, may | Pisces, and therefore must needs be good
be found in my Ephemeris for the year 1651. j for the gout, either used outwardly in oil or
In both which you shall find the chaff of ointment, or inwardly in an electuary, or
authors blown away by the fame of Dr. syrup, or concerted juice: for which see the
Reason, and nothing but rational truths left latter end of this book,
for the ingenious to feed upon It is of a cleansing and cutting faculty

Lastly. To avoid blotting paper with one! without any manifest heat, moderately
thing many times, and also to ease your drying and binding. It opens and clean-
purses in the price of the book, and withal I ses the liver, helps the jaundice, and is
to make you studious in physic; you have! very beneficial to the bowels, healing all
at the latter end of the book, the way of * inward wounds, bruises, hurts, and other
preserving all herbs either in juice, con- j distempers. The decoction of the herb
serve, oil, ointment or plaister, electuary, I made with wine, and drank, is good against
pills, or troches. ] the biting and stinging of serpent?, and

! helps them that make foul, troubled or

AGRIMONY. ,

j bloody water.

Descript.'] THIS has divers long leaves? This herb also helps the cholic, cleanses
(some greater, some smaller) set upon ajthe breast, and rids away the cough.
stalk, all of them dented about the edges, ; A draught of the decoction taken warm be-
green above, and greyish underneath, and \ fore the fit, first removes, and in time rids
a little hairy withal. Among which arises j away the tertain or quartan agues. The
up usually but one strong, round, hairy, ; leaves and seeds taken in wine, stays the
brown stalk, two or three feet high, with \ bloody flux ; outwardly applied, being
smaller leaves set here and there upon it. | stamped with old swines' grease, it helps

AND ENGLISH PHYSICIAN ENLARGED. 5

old sores, cancers, and inveterate ulcers, and j therefore they are not so frequently found
draws forth thorns and splinters of wood, | in the southern parts of England as in the
nails, or any other such things gotten in the ? northern, where they grow frequently : You
flesh. It helps to strengthen the members j may look for them in cold grounds, by ponds
that be out of joint: and being bruised and i and ditches' sides, and also by running
applied, or the juice dropped in it, helps 1 waters ; sometimes you shall find them grow
foul and imposthumed ears. 1 in the midst of waters.

The distilled water of the herb is good; TimeJ] They all flower in July or August,
to all the said purposes, either inward or j and the seed is ripe presently after,
outward, but a great deal weaker. Government and virtues."] It is a plant of

It is a most admirable remedy for such j J upiter, as well as the other Agrimony, only
whose livers are annoyed either by heat or i this belongs to the celestial sign Cancer,
cold. The liver is the former of blood, and j It heals and dries, cuts and cleanses
blood the nourisher of the body, and Agri- j thick and tough humours of the breast, and
mony a strengthener of the liver. i for this I hold it inferior to but few herbs

I cannot stand to give you a reason in ! that grow. It helps the cachexia or evil
every herb why it cures such diseases ; but ; disposition of the body, the dropsy and
if you please to pursue my judgment in j yellow-jaundice. It opens obstructions ot
the herb Wormwood, you shall find them { the liver, mollifies the hardness of the spleen,
there, and it will be well worth your while! being applied outwardly. It breaks impost-
to consider it in every herb, you shall find I humes away inwardly : It is an excellent
them true throughout the book. j remedy for the third day ague. It provokes

WATER AGRIMONY. | ne d , ^e terms ; it kills worms, and

| cleanses the body ot sharp humours, which

IT is called in some countries, Water | are the cause of itch and scabs ; the herb
Hemp, Bastard Hemp, and Bastard Agri- ! being burnt, the smoke thereof drives away
mony, Eupalorium, and Hepatorium, be- | flies, wasps, &c. It strengthens the lungs
cause it strengthens the liver I exceedingly. Country people give it to

Descript.~\ The root continues a long time, j their cattle when they are troubled with the
having many long slender strings. The j cough, or broken- winded,
stalk grows up about two feet high, some- 1

times higher. They are of a dafk purple | ALEHOOF, OR GROUND-IVY.

colour. The branches are many, growings SEVERAL counties give it different names,
at distances the one from the other, the one j so that there is scarcely an herb growing of
from the one side of the stalk, the other | that bigness that has got so many : It is
from the opposite point. The leaves are } called Cat's-foot, Ground-ivy, Gill-go-by-
fringed, and much indented at the edges. | ground, and Gill-creep-by-ground, Turn-
The flowers grow at the top of the branches, i hoof, Haymaids, and Alehoof.
ot a brown yellow colour, spotted with* Descript.'] This well known herb lies,
black spots, having a substance within 'spreads and creeps upon the grounds
the midst of them like that of a Daisy: It's shoots forth roots, at the corners of tendet
you rub them between your fingers, they | jointed stalks, set with two round leaves at
small like rosin or cedar when it is burnt, j every joint somewhat hairy, crumpled and
The seeds are long, and easily stick to any ! unevenly dented about the edges with round
woollen thing they touch. j dents; at the joints likewise, with the leaves

Place.~\ They delight not in heat, and \ towards the end of the branches, come forth

THE COMPLETE HERBAL

hollow, long flowers, of a blucish purple ; out in any part of the body. The juice of
colour, with small white spots upon the lips | Celandine, Field-daisies, and Ground-ivy
that hang down. The root is small with | clarified, and a little fine sugar dissolved
strings. 5 therein, and dropped into the eyes, is a

Place."] It is commonly found under j sovereign remedy for all pains, redness, and
hedges, and on the sides of ditches, under j watering of them ; as also for the pin and
houses, or in shadowed lanes, and other > weh. *kins and films growing over the sight
waste grounds, in almost every part of this; it helps beasts as well as men. The juice
land. ; dropped into the ears, Avonderfull.y helps

Time.] They flower somewhat early, and i the noise and singing of them, and helps the
abide a great Avhile ; the leaves continue Shearing which is decayed. It is good to
green until Winter, and sometimes abide, tun up with new drink, for it will clarify it
except the Winter be very sharp and cold, in a night, that it will be the fitter to be

Government and virtues.] It is an herb of j drank the next morning ; or if any drink
Venus, and therefore cures the diseases she! be thick with removing, or any other acci-
causes by sympathy, and those of Mars by : dent, it will do the like in a few hours
antipathy; you may usually find it all the

ATT Y A "NT T4 T" "R

year long except the year be extremely

frosty ; it is quick, sharp, and bitter in taste, $ IT is called Alisander, Horse-parsley, and
and is thereby found to be hot and dry ; a | W T ild-parsley, and the Black Pot-herb ; the
singular herb for all inward wounds, exul-jseed of it is that which is usually sold in
cerated lungs, or other parts, either by itself, j apothecaries' shops for Macedonion Pars-

or boiled with other the like herbs ; and \

ley-seed.

being drank, in a short time it eases all < Descript.'] It is usually sown in all the
griping pains, windy and choleric humours j gardens in Europe, and so well known, that
in the stomach, spleen or belly; helps the jit needs no farther description,
yellow jaundice, by opening the stoppings \ Time.'] It flowers in June and July ; the
of the gall and liver, and melancholy, by j seed is ripe in August.

opening the stoppings of the spleen ; ex- j Government and virtues."] It is an herb of
pels venom or poison, and also the plague ; j Jupiter, and therefore friendly to nature ;
it provokes urine and women's courses ; the j for it warms a cold stomach, and opens
decoction of it in wine drank for some time j a stoppage of the liver and spleen ; it is good
together, procures ease to them that are? to move woniens' courses, to expel the after-
troubled with the sciatica, or hip-gout: as j birth, to break wind, to provoke urine and
also the gout in hands, knees, or feet; if j helps the stranguary; and these things the
you put to the decoction come honey and i seeds will do likewise. If either of them
a little burnt allum, it is excellently good to j be boiled in wine, or being bruised and
gargle any sore mouth or throat, and to > taken in wine, is also effectual against the
wash the sores and ulcers in the privy parts \ biting of serpents. And you know what
of man or woman ; it speedily helps green \ Alexander pottage is good for, that you
wounds, being bruised and bound thereto. ! may no longer eat it out of ignorance but
The juice of it boiled with a little honey f out of knowledge,
and verdigrease, doth wonderfully cleanse ;

C . , P J ,. THE BLACK ALDER-TREK.

iistulas, ulcers, and stays the spreading or |

eating of cancers and ulcers; it helps j Descript."] THIS tree seldom grows to

the itch, scabs, wheals, and other breakings * any great bigness, but for the most part

AND ENGLISH PHYSICIAN ENLARGED.

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

Place.'] This tree or shrub may be found
plentifully in St. John's wood by Hornsey,
and the woods upon Hampstead-Heath ; as
also a wood called the Old Park in Bar-
comb in Essex, near the brook^s sides.

Time.'] It flowers in May, and the berries
nre 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
thedropsy, and strengthens theinward parts
again by binding. If the bark hereof be
boiled with Agrimony, Wormwood, Dodder,
Hops and some Fennel, with Smallage,
Endive, and Succory- roots, and a reason-
able draught taken every morning for some
time together, it is very effectual against
the jaundice, dropsy, and the evil disposition
of the body, especially if some suitable
purging medicines have been taken before,
to void the grosser excrements : It purges
and strengthens the liver and spleen,
cleansing them from such evil humours and
hardness as they are afflicted with. It is

to be understood that these things are 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 contrariwise doth
bind the body, and is helpful for all lasks
and fluxes thereof, but this also must be
dried first, whereby it will work the better.
The inner bark thereof boiled in vinegar is
an approved remedy to kill lice, to cure the
itch, and take away scabs, by drying them
up in a short time. It is singularly good to
wash the teeth, to take away the pains, to
fasten those that are loose, to cleanse them,
and to keep them sound. The leaves are
good fodder for kine, to make them give
more milk.

If in the Spring-time you use the herbs
before mentioned, and will take but a 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

THE COMPLETE HERBAL

moist woods, and watry places ; flowering j three colours. And a certain ointment, an
in April or May, and yielding ripe seed in ointment of the Apostles, because it consists
September. : of twelve ingredients : Alas, I am sorry for

Government and virtues.'] It is a tree und-er | their folly, and grieved at their blasphemy,
the dominion of Venus, and of some watry j God send them wisdom the rest of their
sign or other, I suppose Pisces ; and there- j age, for they have their share of igno-
fore the decoction, or distilled water of the j ranee already. Oh ! Why must ours be
leaves, is excellent against burnings and in- j blasphemous, because the Heathens and
flammations, either with wounds or without, \ infidels were idolatrous? Certainly they
lo bathe the place grieved with, and espe- J have read so much in old rusty authors, that
cially for that inflammation in the breast, \ they have lost all their divinity ; for unless
which the vulgar call an ague. j it were amongst the Ranters, I never read

If you cannot get the leaves (as in Winter 1 or heard of such blasphemy. The Heathens

it is impossible) make use of the bark in the
same manner.

The leaves and bark of the Alder-tree are ;
cooling, drying, and binding. The fresh j
leaves laid upon swellings dissolve them, \
and stay the inflammations. The leaves
put under the bare feet galled with travell-
ing, 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 there-
unto, which being suddenly cast out, will
rid the chamber of those troublesome bed-
fellows.

ANGELICA.

and infidels were bad, and ours worse; the
jdolators give idolatrous names to herbs for
their virtues sake, not for their fair looks;
and therefore some called this an herb of
the Holy Ghost; others more moderate call-
ed it Angelica, because of its angelical
virtues and that name it retains still, and all
nations follow it so near as their dialect will
permit.

Government and virtues.'] It is an herb of
the Sun in Leo ; let it be gathered when he
is there, the Moon applying to his good as-
pect ; 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

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 dedicated $ plague and all epidemical diseases, if the
it to their gods ; as the Bay-tree to Apollo, j root be taken in powder to the weight of
the Oak to Jupiter, the Vine to Bacchus, the \ half a dram at a time, with some good trea-
Poplar to Hercules. These the iclolatois | cle in Carduus water, and the party there-
following as the Patriarchs they dedicate to | upon laid to sweat in his bed ; if treacle be
their Saints; as our Lady's Thistle to tile's not to be had, take it alone in Carduus or
Blessed Virgin, St. John's Wort to St. John, j Angelica- water. The stalks or roots can-
and another Wort to Si. Peter, &c. Our j died and eaten fasting, are good preserva-
pnysicians must imitate liKe apes ^though j lives in time of infection ; and at other
they cannot come off half so cleverly) for i times to warm and comfort a cold stomach,
they blasphemously call Phansies or Hearts- > The root also steeped in vinegar, and a little
ease, an herb of the Trinity, because it is of/ of that vinegar taken sometimes fasting, and

AND ENGLISH PHYSICIAN ENLARGED. 9

the root smelled unto, is good for the same ; it is called Flower Gentle, Flower Velurc,
purpose. A water distilled from the root \ Floramor, and Velvet Flower.

simply, as steeped in wine, and distilled in
a glass, is much more effectual than the
water of the leaves ; and this water, drank
two or three spoonfuls at a time, easeth all

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

pains and torments coming of cold and 5 give it. It runs up with a stalk a cubit
wind, so that the body be not bound; and j high, streaked, and somewhat reddish to-
taken with some of the root in powder at > ward the root^ but rery smooth, divided
the beginning, helpeth the pleurisy, as also ; towards the top with small branches, among
all other diseases of the lungs and breast, (which stand long broad leaves of a reddish
as coughs, phthysic, and shortness of breath;! green colour, slippery; the flowers are not
and a syrup of the stalks do the like. It J properly flowers, but tuffs, very beautiful
helps pains of the cholic, the stranguary and | to behold, but of no smell, of reddish colour;
stoppage of the urine, procureth womens'jif you bruise them, they yield juice of the
courses, and expelleth the after-birth, open- i same colour, being gathered, they keep their
eth the stoppings of the liver and spleen, j beauty a long time; the seed is of a shining
and briefly easeth and discusseth all windi- j black colour.

ness and inward swellings. The decoction \ Time.'] They continue in flower from
drank before the fit of an ague, that they \ August till the time the frost nip them,
may sweat (if possible) before the fit comes, { Government and virtues^] It is under the
will, in two or three times taking, rid it \ dominion of Saturn, and is an excellent
quite away ; it helps digestion and is a re- \ qualifier of the unruly actions and passions
medy for a surfeit. The juice or the water j of Venus, though Mars also should join
being dropped into the eyes or ears, helps 5 with her. The flowers dried and beaten
dimness of sight and deafness; the j nice j into powder, stop the terms in women, and
put into the hollow teeth, easeth their pains. ! so do almost all other red things. And by
The root in powder, made up into a plaister i the icon, or imageof every herb, the ancients
with a little pitch, and laid on the biting of \ at first found out their virtues. Modern
mad dogs, or any other venomous creature, j writers laugh at them for it ; but I wonder
doth wonderfully help. The juice, or the | in my heart, how the virtues of herbs came
water dropped, or tents wet therein, and put s at first to be known, if not by their signa-
into filthy dead ulcers, or the powder of the j tures ; the moderns have them from the
root (in want of either) doth cleanse and : writings of the ancients ; the ancients had
cause them to heal quickly, by covering the j no writings to have them from : but to pro-
naked bones with flesh ; the distilled water I ceed. The flowers stop all fluxes of blood ;
applied to places pained with the gout, or! whether in man or woman, bleeding either
sciatica, doth give a grea-t deal of ease. \ at the nose or wound. There is also a sort
The wild Angelica is not so effectual as; of Amaranthus that bears a white flowei,
the garden; although it may be safely used \ which stops the whites in women, and the
to all the purposes aforesaid. j running of the reins in men, and is a most

j gallant antivenereal, and a singular remedy
AMARANTHUS. j for the French pox.

ANEMONE.

BESIDES its common name, by which its
is best known by the florists of our days, 1 C A LLED also Wind Flower, because they

THE COMPLETE HERBAL

say the flowers never open but when the to the throat, or boiled, and in like manner
wind blows. Pliny is my author; if it > applied, it matters not much, it is excellently
be not so, blame him. The seed also (if it | good for swellings in the throat: the best
bears any at all) flies away with the wind. way, I suppose is to boil it, apply the
Place and Time.1 They are sown usually } herb outwardly : the decoction of it besides

in the gardens of the curious, and flower in
the Spring-time. As for description I shall

is an excellent remedy for the yellow jaun
dice.

ARRACH, WILD AND STINKING.

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! CALLED also Vulvaria, from that part 01
kind of Crow-foot. The leaves provoke j the body, upon which the operation is most ;
the terms mightily, being boiled, and the * also Dog's Arrach, Goat's Arrach, and
decoction drank. The body being bathed \ Stinking Motherwort.
with the decoction of them, cures the leprosy, i DescriptJ] This has small and almost
The leaves being stamped and the juice : round leaves, yet a little pointed and with-
snuffed up in the nose, purges the head; out dent or cut, of a dusky mealy colour,
mightily; so does the root, being chewed in ii growing on the slender stalks and branches
the mouth, for it procures much spitting, | that spread on the ground, with small
and brings away many watery and phleg- j flowers set with the leaves, and small seeds
matic humours, and is therefore excellent j succeeding like the rest, perishing yearly

for the lethargy. And when all is done,
let physicians prate what they please, all
the pills in the dispensatory purge not the
head like to hot things held in the mouth.
Being made into an ointment, and the eye-
lids anointed with it, it helps inflammations
of the eyes, whereby it is palpable, that every
stronger draws its weaker like. The same
ointment is excellently good to cleanse ma-
lignant and corroding ulcers.

GARDEN ARRACH.

tage

and rising again with its own sowing. It
smells like rotten fish, or something worse.
P/ace.] It grows usually upon dunghills.
Time.~] They flower in June and July,
and their seed is ripe quickly after.

Government and virtues.^ Stinking Arrach
is used as a remedy to women pained, and
almost strangled with the mother, by smell-
ing to it ; but inwardly taken there is no
\ better remedy under the moon for that dis-
] ease. I would be large in commendation
t of this herb, were I but eloquent. It is an
it is j herb under the dominion of Venus, and un-
der the sign Scorpio ; it is common almost
upon every dunghill. The works of God

Called also Orach, and
cultivated for domestic uses.

Descript.~\ It is so commonly known to

every housewife, it were labour lost to de- are freely given to man, his medicines are
scribe it. common and cheap, and easily to be found.

Time."] It flowers and seeds from June \ I commend it for an universal medicine for
to the end of August. J the womb, and such a medicine as will

Government and virtues.'] It is under the j easily, safely, and speedily cure any disease
government of the Moon ; in quality cold j thereof, as the fits of the moiher, disloca-
and moist like unto her. It softens andjtion, or falling out thereof; cools the
loosens the body of man being eaten, | womb being over-heated. And let me fell
and fortifies the expulsive faculty in him. j you this, and I will tell you the truth, heat
The herb, whether it be bruised and applied 'of the womb is one of the greatest causes

-\\i-ns

Ars smart

Basil

Arc h a

n ^e

Beet-

Yellow B<*<Istrn\

V bite Hi-. 1st r,,\

Wa ter Bel <>i

THOMAS KELLY. LONDON. 1835.

AND ENGLISH PHYSICIAN ENLARGED. 11

of hard labour in child-birth. It makes { White A reliance! hath divers square
barren Avomen fruitful. It cleanseth the \ stalks, none standing straight upward, but
womb if it be foul, and strengthens it ex- | bending downward, whereon stand two
ceedingly ; it provokes the terms if they be? leaves at a joint, larger and more pointed
stopped, and stops them if they flow immode- ; than the other, dented about the edges, and
rately; you can desire no good to your i greener also, more like unto Nettle leaves,
womb, but this herb will affect it ; there- but not stinking, yet hairy. At the joints,
fore if you love children, if you love health, * with the leaves, stand larger and more open
if you love ease, keep a syrup always by I gaping white flowers, husks round about
you, made of the juice of this herb, and { the stalks, but not with such a bush of leaves
sugar, (or honey, if it be to cleanse the 'as flowers set in the top, as is on the other,
womb) and let such as be rich keep it fori wherein stand small roundish black seeds:
their poor neighbours ; and bestow it as ; the root is white, with many strings at it,
freely as I bestow my studies upon them, or | not growing downward but lying under the
else let them look to answer it another day, i upper crust of the earth, and abides inanj
when the Lord shall come to make inquisi- { years increasing; this has not so strong a
tion for blood. J scent as the former.

Yellow Archangel is like the White ir.
! the stalks and leaves ; but that the stalks

To put a gloss upon their practice, the ; are more straight and upright, and the joints
physicians call an herb (which country peo- with leaves are farther asunder, having Ion-
pie vulgarly know by the name of Dead | ger leaves than the former, and the flowers
Nettle) Archangel ; whether they favour > a little larger and more gaping, of a fail
more of superstition or folly, I leave to the | yellow colour in most, in some paler. The
judicious reader. There is more curiosity : roots are like the white, only they creep not
than courtesy to my countrymen used by ; so much under the ground,
others in the explanation as well of the i Place.'] They grow almost every where,
names, as description of this so well known > (unless it be in the middle of the street) the
herb; which that I may not also be guilty of, j yellow most usually in the wet grounds ot
take this short description: first, of the Red : woods, and sometimes in the dryer, in divers
Archangel. This is likewise called Bee 5 counties of this nation.
Nettle. TimeJ] They flower from the beginning

Descript.] This has divers square stalks, j of the Spring all the Summer long,
somewhat hairy, at the joints whereof grow > Government and virtues.'] The Archangels
two sad green leaves dented about the edges, i are somewhat hot and drier than the sting-
opposite to one another to the lowermost ; ing Nettles, and used with better success
upon long foot stalks, but without any to- j for the stopping and hardness of the spleen,
ward the tops, which are somewhat round, | than they, by using the decoction of the
yet pointed, and a little crumpled and { herb in wine, and afterwards applying the
hairy ; round about the upper joints, where j herb hot into the region of the spleen as a
the leaves grow thick, are sundry gaping ; plaister, or the decoction with spunges.
flowers of a pale reddish colour; after which 5 Flowers of the White Archangel are pre-
corne the seeds three or four in a husk, i served or conserved to be used to stay the
The root is small and thready, perishing i whites, and the flowers of the red to stay
every year ; the whole plant hath a strong i the reds in women. It makes the heart
but not stinking. J merry, drives away melancholv, quickens

12 THE COMPLETE HERBAL

the spirits is good against quartan agues, : Government and virtues.'] As the virtue of
stancheth bleeding at mouth and nose, if it j both these is various, so is also their govern-
be stamped and applied to the nape of the I ment ; for that which is hot and biting, is
neck; the herb also bruised, and with some! under the dominion of Mars, but Saturn
salt and vinegar and hog's-grease, laid upon ! challenges the other, as appears by that
an hard tumour or swelling, or that vulgarly j leaden coloured spot he hath placed upon
called the king's evil, do help to dissolve or j the leaf.

discuss them ; and being in like manner ; It is of a cooling and drying quality,
applied, doth much allay the pains, and give j and very effectual for putrined ulcers in man
ease to the gout, sciatica, and other pains j or beast, to kill worms, and cleanse the
of the joints and sinews. It is also very putrified places. The juice thereof dropped
effectual to heal green wounds, and old j in, or otherwise applied, consumes all cold
ulcers ; also to stay their fretting, gnawing j swellings, and dissolveth the congealed
and spreading. It draws forth splinters, ; blood of bruises by strokes, falls, &c. A
and such like things gotten into the flesh, j piece of the root, , or some of the seeds
and is very good against bruises and bur- j bruised, and held to an aching tooth, takes
nings. But the yellow Archangel is most \ away the pain. The leaves bruised and
commended for old, filthy, corrupt sores ; laid to the joint that has a felon thereon,
and ulcers, yea although they grow to be i takes it away. The juice destroys worms
hollow ; and to dissolve tumours. The j in the ears, being dropped into them ; if
chief use of them is for women, it being an ; the hot Arssmart be strewed in a chamber,
herb of Venus. ; it will soon kill all the fleas ; and the herb

| or juice of the cold Arssmart, put to a

ARSSMART. } horse, or other cattle's sores, will drive away

i the fly in the hottest time of Summer ; a

THE hot Arssmart is called also Water- {good handful of the hot biting Arssmart
pepper, or Culrage. The mild Arssmart; put under a horse's saddle, will make him
iscalleddead Arssmart Persicaria, or Peach- 1 travel the better, although he were half
wort, because the leaves are so like the \ tired before. The mild Arssmart is good
leaves of a peach-tree ; it is also called { against all imposthumes and inflammations
Plumbago. i at the beginning, and to heal green wounds.

Description of the mild.'] This has broad I All authors chop the virtues of both
leaves set at the great red joint of the I sorts of Arssmart together, as men chop
stalks ; with semicircular blackish marks i herbs for the pot, when both of them are
on them, usually either blueish or whitish, i of contrary qualities The hot Arssmart
with such like seed following. The root is { grows not so high or tall as the mild doth,
long, with many strings thereat, perishing j but has many leaves of the colour of.
yearly ; this has no sharp taste (as another s peach leaves, very seldom or never spotted ;
sort has, which is quick and biting) but ! in other particulars it is like the former, but
rather sour like sorrel, or else a little drying, j may easily be known from it. if you will
or without taste. j but be pleased to break a leaf of it cross

Place.'] It grows in watery places, ditches, | your tongue, for the hot will make your
and the like, which for the most part are | tongue to smart, but the cold will not. If
dry in Summer. , j you see them both together, you may easily

Time.'] It flowers in June, and the seed j distinguish them, because the mild hatli far
is ripe in August. ? broader leaves.

AND ENGLISH PHYSICIAN ENLARGED. 13

i choler, and therefore does much help pains
| in the hips, and other parts ; being boiled

Desmpf.'J ASARABACCA appears like { in whey, they wonderfully help the oh-
an evergreen, keeping its leaves all the | structions of the liver and spleen, and there-
Winter, but putting forth new ones in the! fore profitable for the dropsy and jaundice:
time of Spring. It has many heads rising ! being steeped in wine and drank, it helps
from the roots, from whence come many {those continual agues that come by the plenty
smooth leaves, every one upon his foot ; of stubborn humours ; an oil made thereof
stalks, which are rounder and bigger than j by setting in the sun, with some laudanum
Violet leaves, thicker also, and of a dark j added to it, provokes sweating, (the ridge
green shining colour on the upper side, and J of the back being anointed therewith) and
of a pale yellow green underneath, little or | thereby drives away the shaking fits of the
nothing dented about the edges, from among j ague. It will not abide any long boiling,
which rise small, round, hollow, brown \ for it loseth its chief strength thereby ; nor
green husks, upon short stalks, about an j much beating, for the finer powder pro-
inch long, divided at the brims into five | vokes vomits and urine, and the coarser
divisions, very like the cups or heads of | purgeth downwards.

the Hen bane seed, but that they are smaller:! The common use hereof is, to take the
and these be all the flower it carries, which j juice of five or seven leaves in a little drink

are somewhat sweet, being smelled to
and wherein, when they are ripe, is con-
tained 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, in-
creasing into divers heads ; but not running

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 washec

or creeping under the ground, as some other I therewith while it is warm, comforts the
creeping herbs do. They are somewhat j head and brain that is ill affected by taking
sweet in smell, resembling Nardus, but \ cold, and helps the memory,
more when they are dry than green ; and i I shall desire ignorant people to forbear
of* a sharp and not unpleasant taste. the use of the leaves ; the roots purge more

Placed] It grows frequently in gardens. ; gently, and may prove beneficial to such as
Time.~] They keep their leaves green all ; have cancers, or old putrified ulcers, or
Winter ; but shoot forth new in the Spring, j fistulas upon their bodies, to take a dram
and with them come forth those heads or of them in powder in a quarter of a pint of
flowers which give ripe seed about Mid- \ white wine in the morning. The truth is,
summer, or somewhat after. : I fancy purging and vomiting medicines as

Government and virtues^] It is a plant: little as any man breathing doth, for they
under the dominion of Mars, and therefore ; weaken nature, nor shall ever advise therc
inimical to nature. Thi-s herb being drank, to be used, unless upon urgent necessity,
not only provokes vomiting, but purges j If a physician be nature's servant, it is his
downward, and by urine also, purges both | duty to strengthen his mistress as much as
choler and flegm : If you add to it some | he can, and weaken her as little as may be.
spikenard, with the whey of goat's milk, or I

honeyed water, it is made more strong, but i AS "^us, SPARAGUS, OR SPKRAOP..
it purges flegm more manifestly than! DescriptJ] IT rises up at first with divers

14 THE COMPLETE HERBAL

white and green scaly heads, very brittle or { more than the wild, yet hath it the same
easy to break while they are young, which I effects in all the afore-mentioned diseases :
afterwards rise up in very long and slender j The decoction of the roet in white wine,
green stalks of the bigness of an ordinary | and the back and belly bathed therewith,
riding wand, at the bottom of most, or j or kneeling or lying down in the same, or
bigger, or lesser, as the roots are of growth; | sitting therein as a bath, has been found
on which are set divers branches of green I effectual against pains of the reins and
leaves shorter and smaller than fennel to the ! bladder, pains of the mother and cholic,
top ; at the joints whereof come forth small | and generally against all pains that happen
yellowish flowers, which turn into round f to the lower parts of the body, and no less
berries, green at first, and of an excellent \ effectual against stiff and benumbed sinews,
red colour when they are ripe, shewing like i or those that are shrunk by cramps and
bead or coral, wherein are contained ex- j convulsions, and helps the sciatica,
ceeding hard black seeds, the roots are dis- i

* A ^i TT T T? "P* "P

persed from a spongeous head into many |

long, thick, and round strings, wherein is j THIS is so well known, that time would
sucked much nourishment out of the ground, [be mispent in writing a description of it ;
and increaseth plentifully thereby. \ therefore I shall only insist upon the virtues

PRICKLY ASPARAGUS, OR SPERAGE. , . ,

i Government and virtues.] It is governed

Descript.~\ THIS grows usually in gar- j by the Sun: and the young tender tops,
dens, and some of it grows wild in Apple-! with the leaves taken inwardly, and some
ton meadows in Gloucestershire, where the \ of them outwardly applied, are singularly
poor people gather the buds of young ! good against the bitings of viper, adder, or
shoots, and sell them cheaper than our gar- ! any other venomous beast ; and the water
den Asparagus is sold in London. j distilled therefrom being taken, a small

Time.'] For the most part they flower, J quantity every morning fasting, is a singular
and bear their berries late in the year, or i medicine for those that are subject to dropsy,
not at all, although they are housed in I or to abate the greatness of those that are
Winter. j too gross or fat. The decoction of the leaves

Government and virtues^ They arc both ; in white wine helps to break the stone,
under the dominion of Jupiter. The young 5 and expel it, and cures the jaundice. The
buds or branches boiled in ordinary broth, \ ashes of the bark of the Ash made into
make the belly soluble and open, and boiled \ lye, and those heads bathed therewith
in white wine, provoke urine, being stopped, \ which are leprous, scabby, or scald, they
and is good against the stranguary or diffi- \ are thereby cured. The kernels within the
culty of making water; it expelleth the j husks, commonly called Ashen Keys, pre-
gravel and stone out of the kidneys, and j vail against stitches and pains in the sides,
helpeth pains in the reins. And boiled in j proceeding of wind, and voideth away the
white wine or vinegar, it is prevalent for \ stone by provoking urine,
them that have their arteries loosened, or! I can justly except against none of all
are troubled with the hip-gout or sciatica, i: this, save only the first, viz. That Ash-tree

The decoction of the roots boiled in wine !

tops and leaves are good against the bitings

and taken, is good to clear the sight, and i of serpents and vipers. I suppose this had hs
being held in the mouth easeth the tooth- |,rise from Gerrard or Pliny, both which hold,
ache. The garden asparagus nourishethiiThat there is such an antipathy between an

AND ENGLISH PHYSICIAN ENLARGED. 15

adder and an Ash-tree, that if an adder be j tne most part, and their seed is ripe in July
encompassed round with Ash-tree leaves, $ at the farthest.

she will sooner run through the fire than j Government and virtues^] It is governed
through the leaves : The contrary to which \ by Jupiter, and that gives hopes of a whole-
is the truth, as both my eyes are witnesses. \ some healthful herb. It is good for the dis-
The rest are virtues something likely, only i eases of the chest or breast, for pains, and
if it be in Winter when you cannot get the | stitches in the side, and to expel crude and
leaves, you may safely use the bark instead j raw humours from the belly and stomach,
of them. The keys you may easily keep \ by the sweet savour and warming quality
all the year, gathering them when they are j It dissolves the inward congealed blood
ripe. | happening by falls or bruises, and the spit-

5 ting of blood, if the roots, either green or

AVENS, CALLED ALSO COLEWORT, AND 5 i i u 'l J J 1 i

\ dry, be boiled in wine and drank ; as also
\ all manner of inward wounds or outward,

Descript.~\ The ordinary Avens hath \ if washed or bathed therewith. The de-
many long, rough, dark green, winged jcoction also being drank, comforts the heart,
leaves, rising from the root, every one made j and strengthens the stomach and a cold
of many leaves set on each side of the rnid-| brain, and therefore is good in the Spring
die rib, the largest three whereof grow at 1 time to open obstructions of the liver, and
the end, and are snipped or dented round \ helps the wind cholic ; it also helps those
about the edges ; the other being small j that have fluxes, or are bursten, or have a
pieces, sometimes two and sometimes four, 5 rupture ; it takes away spots or marks in
standing on each side of the middle rib i the face, being washed therewith. The
underneath them. Among which do rise j juice of the fresh root, or powder of the
up divers rough or hairy stalks about two dried root, has the same effect with the
feet high, branching forth with leaves at | decoction. The root in the Spring-time
every joint not so long as those below, but j steeped in wine, gives it a delicate savour
almost as much cut in on the edges, some : and taste, and being drank fasting every
into three parts, some into more. On the { morning, comforts the heart, and is a
tops of the branches stand small, pale, yel- s good preservative against the plague, or
low flowers, consisting of five leaves, like; any other poison. It helps indigestion,
the flowers of Cinquefoil, but large, in the I and warms a cold stomach, and opens
middle whereof stand a small green herb, \ obstructions of the liver and spleen,
which when the flower is fallen, grows to j It is very safe : you need have no dose
be round, being made of many long green- j prescribed ; and is very fit to be kept in
ish purple seeds (like grains) which will | every body's house,
stick upon your clothes. The root consists ;
of many brownish strings or fibres, smelling j

somewhat like unto cloves, especially those j THIS herb is so well known to be an in-
which grow in the higher, hotter, and drier j habitant almost in every garden, that I shall
grounds, and in free and clear air. | not need to write any description thereof,

P/ace.] They grow wild in many places j although its virtues, which are many, may
under hedge's sides, and by the path-ways \ not be omitted.

in fields ; yet they rather delight to grow in ; Government and virtues^] It is an herb of
shadowy than sunny places. ! Jupiter, and under Cancer, and strengthens

Time.~\ They flower in May or June for 1 nature much in all its actions. Let a syrup

THE COMPLETE HERBAL

made with the juice of it and sugar (as you }
shall be taught at the latter end of this j
book) be kept in every gentlewoman's house ;
to relieve the weak stomachs and sick bodies |
of their poor sickly neighbours ; as also j
the herb kept dry in the house, that so j
with other convenient simples, you may j
make it into an electuary with honey, ac- j
cording as the disease is you shall be taught |
at the latter end of my book. The Arabian J
physicians have extolled the virtues thereof!
to the skies ; although the Greeks thought \
it not worth mentioning. Seraphio says, I
it causes the mind and heart to become {
merry, and revives the heart, faintings and '
swoonings, especially of such who are over-
taken in sleep, and drives away all trou-
blesome 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 obstruc-
tions of the brain, and hath so much purg-
ing quality in it (saith Avicen) as to expel ]j
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 ap- ]'
plied, is a remedy against the stings of a ;
scorpion, and the bitings of mad dogs
and commends the decoction thereof forf
women to bathe or sit in to procure their;
courses ; it is good to wash aching teeth \
therewith, and profitable for those that \
have the bloody-flux. The leaves also, with j
a little nitre taken in drink, are good against
the surfeit of mushrooms, helps the griping '
pains of the belly ; and being made into an 1
electuary, it is good for them that cannot ;
fetch their breath : Used with salt, it takes j
away wens, kernels, or hard swellings in j
the flesh or throat ; it cleanses foul sores, >
and eases pains of the gout. It is good \
for the liver and spleen. A tansy or caudle \
made with eggs, and juice thereof while it

is young, putting to it some sugar and rose-
water, is good for a woman in child-bed,
when . the after-birth is not thoroughly
voided, and for their faintings upon or in
their sore travail. The herb bruised and
boiled in a little wine and oil, and laid warm
on a boil, will ripen it, and break it.

BARBERRY

THE shrub is so well known by ever}'
boy and girl that has but attained to the
age of seven years, that it needs no des-
cription.

Government and virtues.'] Mars owns the:
shrub, and presents it to the use of my
countrymen to purge their bodies of choler.
The inner rind of the Barberry-tree boiled
in white wine, and a quarter of a pint drank
each morning, is an excellent remedy to
cleanse the body of choleric humours, and
free it from such diseases as choler causes,
such as scabs, itch, tetters, ringworms, 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
stomach to his victuals, by strengthening the
attractive faculty which is under Mars.
The hair washed with the lye made of
the tree and water, will make it turn yellow,
viz. of Mars' own colour. The fruit and
rind of the shrub, the flowers of broom
and of heath, or furz, cleanse the body of
choler by sympathy, as the flowers, leaves,
and bark of the peach-tree do by antipathy ;
because these are under Mars, that under
Venus.

BARLEY.

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

AND ENGLISH PHYSICIAN ENLARGED. 17

Government and virtues.~\ It is a notable j two leaves at every joint, which are some-
plant of Saturn : if you view diligently its ; what broad and round, yet pointed, of a
effects by sympathy and antipathy, you | pale green colour, but fresh ; a little snipp-
may easily perceive a reason of them; as |ed about the edges, and of a strong healthy
also why barley bread is so unwholesome \ scent. The flowers are small and white,
for melancholy people. Barley in all the $ and standing at the tops of the branches,
parts and compositions thereof (except; with two small leaves at the joints, in some
malt) is more cooling than wheat, and a lit- 5 places green, in others brown, after which
tie cleansing : And all the preparations j come black seed. The root perishes at
thereof, as barley-water and other things j the approach of Winter, and therefore must
made thereof, give great nourishment to { be new sown every year,
persons troubled with fevers, agues, and! P/ace.] It grows in gardens,
heats in the stomach : A poultice made of \ Time.~\ It must be sowed late, and flowers
barley meal or flour boiled in vinegar and j in the heart of Summer, being a very tender
honey, and a few dry figs put into them, j plant.

dissolves all imposthumes, and assuages? Government and virtues. ~\ This is the herb
inflammations, being thereto applied. And ; which all authors are together by the ears
being boiled with melilot and camomile- j about, and rail at one another (like lawyers.)
flowers, and some linseed, fenugreek, and | Galen and Dioscorides hold it not fit to be
rue in powder, and applied warm, it eases ; taken inwardly ; and Chrysippus rails at it
pains inside and stomach, and windiness I with downright Billingsgate rhetoric; Pliny,

of the spleen. The meal of barley and
fleawort boiled in water, and made a poul-
tice with honey and oil of lilies applied

and the Arabian physicians, defend it.

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

warm, cures swellings under the ears, f Ar , , ,..

, , .p,., , , . \Nonnostnum inter "ios tantas componere litcs.

throat, neck, and such like ; and a plaister

made thereof with tar, with sharp vinegar ; And away to Dr. Reason went I, who told
into a poultice, and laid on hot, helps the | me it was an herb of Mars, and under the
leprosy ; being boiled in red wine with j Scorpion, and perhaps therefore called
pomegranate rinds, and myrtles, stays j Basilicon, and it is no marvel if it carry
the lask or other flux of the belly; boiled; a kind of virulent quality with it. Being
with vinegar and quince, it eases the pains 5 applied to the place bitten by venomous
of the gout; barley-flour, white salt, honey, j beasts, or stung by a wasp or hornet, it
and vinegar mingled together, takes away j speedily draws the poison to it ; Every like
the itch speedily and certainly. The water \ draws his like. Mizaldus affirms, that,
distilled from the green barley in the end of j being laid to rot in horse-dung, it will breed
May, is very good for those that have de- i venomous beasts. Hilarius, a French phy-

fluctions of humours fallen into their eyes,
and eases the pain, being dropped into
them : or white bread steeped therein, and

sician, affirms upon his own knowledge,
that an acquaintance of his, by common
smelling to it, had a scorpion bred in his

bound on the eyes, does the same. i 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

GARDEN BAZIL, OR SWEET BAZTL.

Deseript.~\ THE greater or ordinary Bazil
rises up usually with one upright stalk,
diversly branching forth on all sides, with

an enemy to poison as any that grows.

To conclude: It expels both birth and
after-birth ; and as it helps the deficiency

THE COMPLETE HERBAL

of Venus in one kind, so it spoils all her ac- j leaves also work the like effects. A bath of

tions in another. I dare write no more of it.

THE BAY TREE.

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

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 stoppings of their courses,
or for the diseases of the bladder, pains in
the bowels by wind and stopping of the

Government and virtues J\ I shall but only j urine. A decoction likewise of equal parts

1 1 1 -* " J 1_ X* "P> I * 11

add a word or two to what my friend has
written, viz. that it is a tree of the sun, and
under the celestial sign Leo, and resists
witchcraft very potently, as also all the evils

of Bay- berries, cummin seed, hyssop, ori-
ganum, and euphorbium, with some honey,
and the head bathed therewith, wonder-
fully helps distillations and rheums, and

WjL.tr* \

old Saturn can do to the body of man, and \ settles the pallate of the mouth into its
they are not a few; for it is the speech of j place. The oil made of the berries is very
one, and I am mistaken if it were not ( comfortable in all cold griefs of the joints,
Mizaldus, that neither witch nor devil, i nerves, arteries, stomach, belly, or womb,
thunder nor lightning, will hurt a man in ! and helps palsies, convulsions, cramp,
the place where a Bay-tree is. Galen said, aches, tremblings, and numbness in any
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

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

astriction withal whereby it is effectual to the parts affected therewith : And pains in
break the stone, and good to open obstruc- j the ears are also cured by dropping in some
tions of the liver, spleen, and other inward of the oil, or by receiving into the ears the

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

fume of the decoction of the berries through
a funnel. The oil takes away the marks 01
the skin and flesh by bruises, falls, &c. and
dissolves the congealed blood in them. It

helps also
the skin.

the itch, scabs, and weals in

BEANS.

pestilence, or other infectious diseases, and j
therefore put into sundry treacles for that i
purpose; They likewise procure women's!
courses, and seven of them given to a wo- i
man in sore travail of child-birth, do cause i BOTH the garden and field beans are so
a speedy delivery, and expel the after birth, i well known, that it saves me the labour of
and therefore not to be taken by such as have i: writing any description of them. The vir-
not gone out their time, lest they procure \ tues follow.

abortion, or cause labour too soon. They 1 Government and virtues^] They are plants
wonderfully help all cold and rheumatic j of Venus, and the distilled water of the
distillations from the brain to the eyes, j flower of garden beans is good to clean the
lungs or other parts ; and being made into j face and skin from spots and wrinkles, and
.in electuary with honey, do help the con- j the meal or flour of them, or the small beans
sumption, old coughs, shortness of breath, 1 doth the same. The water distilled from
and thin rheums ; as also the megrim. They, i the green husks, is held to be very effectual
mightily expel the wind, and provoke urine;* against the stone, and to provoke urine,
help the mother, and kill the worms. The 5 Bean flour is used in poultices to assuage

AND ENGLISH PHYSICIAN ENLARGED. 19

inflammations arising from wounds, and : is to say, white, yellow, red, blackish, or of
the swelling of women's breasts caused by \ a deeper purple, but white is the most usual ;
die curdling of their milk, and represses j after which come long and slender flat pods,
their milk ; Flour of beans and Fenugreek I some crooked, some straight, with a string
mixed with honey, and applied to felons, j running down the back thereof, wherein is
boils, bruises, or blue marks by blows, or * flattish round fruit made like a kidney ; the
the imposthumes in the kernels of the ears, * root long, spreads with many strings an-
helps them all, and with Rose leaves, ! nexed to it, and perishes every year.
Frankincense and the white of an egg, being! There is another sort of French beans
applied to the eyes, helps them that are j commonly growing with us in this land,
swollen or do water, or have received any j which is called the Scarlet flower Bean,
blow upon them, if used with wine. If a j This rises with sundry branches as the
bean be parted in two, the skin being taken j other, but runs higher, to the length of hop-
away, and laid on the place where the leech j poles, about which they grow twining, but
hath been set that bleeds too much, stays j turning contrary to the sun, haviug foot-
ihe bleeding. Bean flour boiled to a poul- 1 stalks with three leaves on each, as on the
tice with wine and vinegar, and some oil 1 other ; the flowers also are like the other,
put thereto, eases both pains and swelling and of a most orient scarlet colour. The
of the privities. The husks boiled in water to j Beans are larger than the ordinary kind,
the consumption of a third part thereof, j of a dead purple colour turning black when
stays a lask ; and the ashes of the husks, j ripe and dry ; the root perishes in Winter.

made up with old hog's grease, helps the
old pains, contusions, and wounds of the
sinews, the sciatica and gout. The field

Government and virtues.'] These also be-
long to Dame Venus, and being dried and
beat to powder, are as great strengtheners

beans have all the aforementioned virtues asiof the kidneys as any are; neither is there
the garden beans. j a better remedy than it ; a dram at a time

Beans eaten are extremely windy meat ;
but if after the Dutch fashion, when they
are half boiled you husk them and then

taken in white wine to prevent the stone, or
to cleanse the kidneys of gravel or stoppage.
The ordinary French Beans are of an easy

stew them, (I cannot tell you how, for I digestion ; they move the belly, provoke
never was a cook in all my life) they are j urine, enlarge the breast that is straight-
wholesome food. 1 ened with shortness of breath, engender

sperm, and incite to venery. And the scar-
let coloured Beans, in regard of the glori-

Descnpt.'] THIS French or Kidney Beaiious beauty of their colour, being set near
arises at first but with one stalk, which;: a quickset hedge, will much adorn the

afterwards divides itself into many arms or

same, by climbing up thereon, so that they

branches, but all so weak that if they be may be discerned a great way, not without
not sustained with sticks or poles, they will j admiration of the beholders at a distance,
be fruitless upon the ground. At several { But they will go near to kill the quicksets
places of these branches grow foot stalks, j by cloathing them in scarlet,
each with three broad round and pointed | TATITFS u STRAW

i i -i p I j LAJJL.tjO.D.kJL' SllvAVV.

green leaves at the end or them ; towards ?

the top comes forth divers flowers made like \ BESIDES the common name above writ-
to pease blossoms, of the same colour for! ten, it is called Cheese-Rennet, because it
the 'most part that the fruit will be of; that j performs the same office, as also Gailion,

20 THE COMPLETE HERBAL

Pettimugget, and Maiden-hair; and by some j oil, by being set in the sun, and changed
Wild Rosemary. J after it has stood ten or twelve days ; or

Descript.] This rises up with divers into an ointment being boiled in Axunga,
small brown, and square upright stalks, a \ or sallad oil, with some wax melted therein,
yard high or more ; sometimes branches j after it is strained ; either the oil made
forth into divers parts, full of joints, and | thereof, or the ointment, do help burnings
with divers very fine small leaves at every : with fire, or scalding with water. The
one of them, little or nothing rough at all ; : same also, or the decoction of the herb and
at the tops of the branches grow many long | flower, is good to bathe the feet of travellers
tufts or branches of yellow flowers very j and lacquies, whose long running causes
thick set together, from the several joints ; weariness and stiffness in the sinews and
which consist of four leaves a piece, which '.joints. If the decoction be used warm, and
smell somewhat strong, but not unpleasant. \ the joints afterwards anointed with oint-
The seed is small and black like poppy j ment, it helps the dry scab, and the itch
seed, two for the most part joined together : j in children ; and the herb with the white
The root is reddish, with many small threads | flower is also very good for the sinews,
fastened to it, which take strong hold of j arteries, and joints, to comfort and strengthen
the ground, and creep a little: and the : them after travel, cold, and pains,
branches leaning a little down to the ground, ;

O ^^ * 13 T? ~f T 1 Q

take root at the joints thereof, whereby it i

is easily encreased. OF Beets there are two sorts, which are

There is another sort of Ladies Bed- j best known generally, and whereof I shall
straw growing frequently in England, which I principally treat at this time, viz. the white
bears white flowers as the other doth yel- j and red Beets, and their virtues,
low ; but the branches of this are so weak, Descript.] The common white Beet has
that unless it be sustained by the hedges, j many great leaves next the ground, some-
or other things near which it grows, it will j what large and of a whitish green colour,
lie down to the ground ; the leaves a little 5 The stalk is great, strong, and ribbed, bear-
bigger than the former, and the flowers not > ing great store of leaves upon it, almost to
so plentiful as these; and the root hereof is | the very top of it: The flowers grow in
also thready and abiding. i very long tufts, small at the end, and turn-

Place.~\ They grow in meadows and pas- i ing down their heads, which are small, pale
lures both wet and dry, and by the hedges. ; greenish, yellow buds, giving cornered

Time.'] They flower in May for the most prickly seed. The root is great, long, and
part, and the seed is ripe in July and j hard, and when it has given seed is of no
August. i use at all.

Government and virtues.'] They are both j The common red Beet differs not from
herbs of Venus, and therefore strengthening j the white, but only it is less, and the leave*
the parts both internal and external, which \ and the roots are. somewhat red ; the leaves
she rules. The decoction of the former of j are differently red, some only with red stalks
those being drank, is good to fret and break \ or veins ; some of a fresh red, and others
the stone, provoke urine, stays inward : of a dark red. The root thereof is red,
bleeding, and heals inward wounds. The 1 spungy, and not used to be eaten,
herb or flower bruised and put into thej Government and virtues.] The government
nostrils, stays their bleeding likewise : \ of these two sorts of Beets are far different ;
The flowers and herbs being made into an j the red Beet being under Saturn and the

AND ENGLISH PHYSICIAN ENLARGED. 21

while under Jupiter; therefore take the j branches, being round bellied and open at
virtues of than apart, each by itself. The | the brims, and divided into two parts, the
white Beet much loosens the belly, and i uppermost being like a hood, and the lower-
is of a cleansing, digesting quality, and j most like a hip hanging down, of a dark
provokes urine. The juice of it opens

_ ** . i i i

obstructions both of the liver and spleen,

rt-d colour, which passing there comes in
their places small round heads with small

and is good for the head-ache and swirn- points at the ends, wherein lie small and

rnings therein, and turnings of the brain ; ! brownish seeds ; the root is a thick bush of

and is effectual also against all venomous j strings and shreds, growing from the head.

creatures; and applied to the temples,? Place.] It grows by the ditch side,

stays inflammations in the eyes; it helps j brooks, and other water-courses, generally

burnings, being used with oil, and with a \ through this land, and is seldom found far

little alum put to it, is good for St. An- \ from the water-side.

thony's fire. It is good for all wheals, \ Time.] It flowers about July, and the

pushes, blisters, and blains in the skin : the! seed is ripe in August.

herb boiled, and laid upon chilblains orj Government and virtues.] Water Betonv

kibes, helps them. The decoction thereof
in water and some vinegar, heals the itch,

is an herb of Jupiter in Cancer, and is ap-
propriated more to wounds and hurts in the

if bathed therewith; and cleanses the head ; breasts than Wood Betony, which follows ;
of dandruff, scurf, and dry scabs, and does j It is an excellent remedy for sick hogs. It
much good for fretting and running sores, us of a cleansing quality. The leaves bruised
ulcers, and cankers in the head, legs, or. and applied are effectual for all old and filthy

1 * 1 11 1 1 *11 */*.! i

other parts, and is much commended against i
baldness and shedding the hair.

ulcers ; and especially if the juice of the
leaves be boiled with a little honey, and

The red Beet is good to stay the bloody- j dipped therein, and the sores dressed there-
flux, women's courses, and the whites, and j with ; as also for bruises and hurts, whether
to help the yellow jaundice; the juice of \ inward or outward. The distilled water of
the root put into the nostrils, purges the j the leaves is used for the same purpose ; as
head, helps the noise in the ears, and the { also to bathe the face and hands spotted or
tooth-ache; the juice snuffed up the nose, { blemished, or discoloured by sun burning,
helps a stinking breath, if the cause lie in i I confess I do not much fancy distilled
the nose, as many times it does, if any bruise j waters, I mean such waters as are distilled
has been there : as also want of smell | cold ; some virtues of the herb they may
coming that way. j haply have fit were a strange thing else ;)

WATFU FIFTOMV ' but ^ * am c ""^ 6 " 1 f > that being dis-

>V A 1 .1.. K 13 .Ci 1 U JN \ * . * 1 1 1 ' . 1 1 i i

I tilled m a pewter still, as the vulgar and
CALLED also Brown-wort, and in York- 1 apish fashion is, both chemical oil and salt

shire, Bishop's-leaves. '| is left behind unless you burn them, and

Descript.] First, of the Water Betony, j then all is spoiled, water and all, which was

which rises up with square, hard, greenish good for as little as cun be by such a dis-

stalks, sometimes brown, set with broad | tillation.

dark green leaves dented about the edges I

with notches somewhat resemblingthe leaves j

of the Wood Betony, but much larger too, i Descrtpt.] COMMON or Wood Betonv

for the most part set at a joint The flowers j has many leaves rising from the root,

are many, set at the tops of the stalks and* which are somewhat broad and round at

22 THE COMPLETE HERBAL

the end roundly dented about the edges, ( pure honey is no less available for all sorts
standing upon long foot stalks, from among I of coughs, or colds, wheesing, or shortness
which rise up small, square, slender, but ; of breath, distillations of thin rheum upon
upright hairy stalks, with some leaves there- ! the lungs, which causes consumptions,
on to a piece at the joints, smaller than the j The decoction made with Mead, and a little
lower, whereon are set several spiked heads i Pennyroyal, is good for those that are
of flowers like Lavender, but thicker and j troubled with putrid agues, whether quo-
shorter for the most part, and of a reddish ; tidian, tertian, or quartan, and to draw
or purple colour, spotted with white spots j down and evacuate the blood and humours,
both in the upper and lower part. The j that by falling into the eyes, do hinder the
seeds being contained within the husks that j sight; the decoction thereof made in wine
hold the flowers, are blackish, somewhat j and taken, kills the worms in the belly,
long and uneven. The roots are many j opens obstructions both of the spleen and
white thready strings: the stalk perishes, 1 liver ; cures stitches, and pains in the
but the roots with some leaves thereon, j back and sides, the torments and griping
abide all the Winter. The whole plant is j pains in the bowels, and the wind cholic ;
somewhat small. Jand mixed with honey purges the belly,

Placed] It grows frequently in woods, J helps to bring down women's courses, and
and delights in shady places, \ is of special use for those that are troubled

Time.'] And it flowers in July ; after > with the falling down of the mother, and
which the seed is quickly ripe, yet in its j pains thereof, and causes an easy and

prime in May. ; speedy delivery of women in child-birth,

Government and virtues,"] The herb is ap- ! It helps also to break and expel the stone,
propriated to the planet Jupiter, and the j either in the bladder or kidneys. The de-
sign Aries. Antonius Musa, physician to \ coction with wine gargled in the mouth,
the Emperor Augustus Caesar, wrote a pe- } eases the tooth-ache. It is commended
culiar book of the virtues of this herb ; and : against the stinging and biting of venomous
among other virtues saith of it, that it pre- : serpents, or mad dogs, being used inwardly
serves the liver and bodies of men from j and applied outwardly to the place. A
the danger of epidemical diseases, and from idram of the powder of Betony taken with
witchcraft also ; it helps those that loath j a little honey in some vinegar, does won-
and cannot digest their meat, those that | derfully refresh those that are over wearied
have weak stomachs and sour belchmgs, or j by travelling. It stays bleeding at the mouth
continual rising in their stomachs, using it] or nose, and helps those that void or spit
familiarly either green or dry; either the j blood, and those that are bursten or have
herb, or root, or the flowers, in broth, drink, a rupture, and is good for such as are

or meat, or made into conserve, syrup,
water, electuary, or powder, as every one

bruised by any fall or otherwise. The
green herb bruised, or the juice applied to

may best frame themselves unto, or as the any inward hurt, or outward green wound
time and season requires ; taken any of j in the head or body, will quickly heal and
the aforesaid ways, it helps the jaundice, 5 close it up ; as also any veins or sinews that
falling sickness, the palsy, convulsions, or \ are cut, and will draw forth any broken
shrinking of the sinews, the gout and those j bone or splinter, thorn or other things got
that are inclined to dropsy, those that have ! into the flesh. It is no less profitable for
continual pains in their heads, although it j old sores or filthy ulcers, yea, tho' they be
turn to phrensy. The powder mixed with \ fistulous and hollow. But some do advise

AND ENGLISH PHYSICIAN ENLARGED. 2*

to put a little salt for this purpose, being \ The water that is found in the hollow places
applied with a little hog's lard, it helps a! of decaying Beeches will cure both man
plague sore, and other boils and pushes, i and beast of any scurf, or running tetters,
The fumes of the decoction while it is j if they be washed therewith ; you may boil
warm, received by a funnel into the ears, j the leaves into a poultice, or make an oint-
eases the pains of them, destroys the j ment of them when time of year serves.

worms and cures the running sores H BILBERRIES, CALLED BY SOME WHORTS,

them. The juice dropped into them does ;

the same. Ihe root of Betony is displeas- ;

ing both to the taste and stomach, whereas: Descript^] OF these I shall only speak

the leaves and flowers, by their sweet and j of two sorts which are common in England,

spicy taste, are comfortable both to meat : viz. The black and red berries. And first

and medicine. : of the black.

These are some of the many virtues! The small bush creeps along upon the
Anthony Muse, an expert physician, (for it : ground, scarcely rising half a yard high,
was not the practice of Octavius Cesar to; with divers small green leaves set in the
keep fools about him) appropriates to j green branches, not always one against the
Betony ; it is a very precious herb, that is j other, and a little dented about the edges:
certain, and most fitting to be kept in a j At the foot of the leaves come forth small,
man's house, both in syrup, conserve, oil, j hollow, pale, bluish coloured flowers, the
ointment and plaister. The flowers are ; brims ending at five points, with a reddish
usually conserved. ! thread in the middle, which pass into small

J round berries of the bigness and colour of

THE BEECH TREE. U f i

'jumper berries, but of a purple, sweetish

IN treating of this tree, you must under- 1 sharp taste; the juice of them gives a
stand, that I mean the green mast Beech, \ purplish colour in their hands and lips that
which is by way of distinction from that : eat and handle them, especially if they
other small rough sort, called in Sussex the j break them. The root grows aslope under
smaller Beech, but in Essex Horn-beam. ; ground, shooting forth in sundry places

I suppose it is needless to describe it, jas it creeps. This loses its leaves in
being already too well known to my coun- j Winter,
trymen. The Red Bilberry, or Whortle-Bush,

Place.'] It grows in woods amongst oaks f rises up like the former, having sundry
and other trees, and in parks, forests, and ; hard eaves, like the Box-tree leaves, green
chases, to feed deer ; and in other places to : and round pointed, standing on the several
fatten swine. | branches, at the top whereof only, and not

Time.'] It blooms in the end of April, j from the sides, as in the former, come forth
or beginning of May, for the most part, j divers round, reddish, sappy berries, when
and the fruit is ripe in September. { they are ripe, of a sharp taste. The root

Government and virtues.] It is a plant of | runs in the ground, as in the former, but
Saturn, and therefore performs his qualities! the leaves of this abide all Winter,
and proportion in these operations. The i PlaceJ] The first grows in forests, on the
leaves of the Beech tree are cooling and ; heaths, and such like barren places : the
binding, and therefore good to be applied j red grows in the north parts of this land, as
to hot swellings to discuss them ; the nuts : Lancashire, Yorkshire, &c.
do much nourish such beasts as feed thereon. 5 Time.~\ They flower in March and April,

24 THE COMPLETE HERBAL

and the fruit of the black is ripe in July i straight tree, fraught with many boughs, and
and August. j slender branches bending downward : the

Government and virtues."] They are under ; old being covered with discoloured chapped
the dominion of Jupiter. It is a pity they j bark, and the younger being browner by
are used no more in physic than they are. | much. The leaves at the first breaking our

The black Bilberries are good inhot agues j are crumpled, and afterwards like the beech
and to cool the heat of the liver and 5 leaves, but smaller and greener, and dented
stomach ; they do somewhat bind the belly, j about the edges. It bearo small short
and stay vomitings and loathings; the juice > cat-skins, somewhat like those of the hazel-
of the berries made in a syrup, or the pulp nut-tree, which abide on the branches a
made into a conserve with sugar, is good > long time, until growing ripe, they fall on
for the purposes aforesaid, as also for an old ; the ground, and their seed with them,
cough, or an ulcer in the lungs, or other; Placed It usually grows in woods,
diseases therein. The Red Worts are more j Government and virtues.] It is a tree of
binding, and stops women's courses, spitting j Venus the juice of the leaves, while they
of blood, or any other flux of blood or j are young, or the distilled water of them,
humours, being used as well outwardly as j or the water that comes from the tree being
inwardly. i bored with an auger, and distilled after-

BIFOIL OR TWABLADE. j Wards an y f . theS6 bein g drank f r SOme

T\ .-i rr< 11 u u r days together, is available to break the stone

Descnpt.-] THIS small herb, from a root | m ^ ; and ^ . a]so

somewhat sweet, shooting downward many L ^ SOK / mouths>
long strings, rises up a round green stalk, j

bare or naked next the ground for an inch, s BIRD'S FOOT.

two or three to the middle thereof as it is in j TR i g gma ,, herb ^ ab(m; &

age or growth; as also from the middle up- ; w fa wkh ma ^i^ d F the

ward to the flowers, having only two broad , f )und e{ . ^ V J small

PJamtain-like leaves (but whiter) set at the | f^^ The flowcm \ f he branches .
middle of the stalk one against another,; small oneg * f & ^ Uow co]our

compassing it round at the bottom of them. | bein ^ ^ a _ head t the] T whj ^ h afterward ,
Place.] It is an usual inhabitant in | turn into small jo f nted ds? wdl resem .
woods, copses, and in many places in this . blin the claw of J small birds> whence it took

land - ? its name

There is another sort grows m wet grounds | There ig another ort of Bird>s Foot in

and marshes, which is somewhat different; all thin , ike the fo but a ]itlle

from the former. It is a smaller plant, and 1; f he flowers of a le whitjsh red
greener having sometimes three leaves; the \ col % and the ds distinct by joints like

spike of the flowers is less than the former,
and the roots of this do run or creep in the
ground.

the other, but a little more crooked ; and
the roots do carry many small white knots

Qr j^gj-^s amongst the strings.
- s

_., ! , i \Jl JVGH1C10 ailJUl.lt'ai. IHVJ OHllltLO.

They are often used by many to good j p/flce -, Thege s on he | th and
purpose for wounds, both green and old.j un ^ p i a fe ces o f this land.

to consolidate or knit ruptures ; and well it rg, ^ flower and eed in the end
may, being a plant of baturn. | Q j.

THE BIRCH TREE. Government and virtues.'] They belong to

Descript.] THIS grows a goodly tall J Saturn, and are of a drying, binding quality

PLATE

Bird's l''o ol

> i > h D |'\ U -. c (!

Hist ori ,'/ Su;i kc\\ i-rtl

^ liii e !< riouv

r> rn n \< \ ' r s i i

AND ENGLISH PHYSICIAN ENLARGED.

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

It digests humours, provokes urine ana
women's courses, dissolves wind, and being
taken in wine it eases pains and griping in

is found by experience to break the stone : the bowels, and is good against the biting
in the back or kidneys, and drives them j of serpents ; it is used to good effect in
forth, if the decoction thereof be taken; j those medicines which are given to hinder
and it wonderfully helps the rupture, be- j the poisonous operation of Cantharides,
ing taken inwardly, and outwardly applied ! upon the passage of the urine: being
to the place. 1 mixed with honey and applied to black

All sorts have best operations upon the \ and blue marks, coming of blows or bruises,
stone, as ointments and plaisters have upon j it takes them away ; and being drank or
wounds : and therefore you may make a j outwardly applied, it abates an high colour
salt of this for the stone ; the way how to | and makes it pale ; and the fumes thereof

BISHOP S-WEED.

taken with rosin or raisins, cleanses the
mother.

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 BISTORT , OR SNAKEWEED.

the latter end or tins book.

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

BESIDES the common name Bishop's- j Rescript.'] This has a thick short knobbed
weed, it is usually known by the Greek I root, blackish without, and somewhat red-
name Ammi and Ammois ; some call it * dish within, a little crooked or turned
Ethiopian Cummin-seed, and others Cum- j together, of a hard astringent taste, with
min-royal, as also Herb William, and Bull- 1 divers black threads hanging therefrom,
wort. * whence spring up every year divers leaves,

DescriptJ] Common Bishop's-weed rises | standing upon long footstalks, being some-
up with a round straight stalk, sometimes j what broad and long like a dock leaf, and
as high as a man, but usually three or four j a little pointed at the ends, but that it is of
feet high, beset with divers small, long and \ a blueish green colour on the upper side,
somewhat broad leaves, cut in some places, ; and of an ash-colour grey, and a little pur-
and dented about the edges, growing one*plish underneath, with divers veins therein,
against another, of a dark green colour, I from among which rise up divers small and
having sundry branches on them, and at the j slender stalks, two feet high, and almost
top small umbels of white flowers, which | naked and without leaves, or with a very
turn into small round seeds little bigger than \ few, and narrow, bearing a spiky bush of
Parsley seeds, of a quick hot scent and ! pale-coloured flowers ; which being past,
taste; the root is white and stringy ; perish- j there abides small seed, like unto Sorrel
ing yearly, and usually rises again on its | seed, but greater,
own sowing. There are other sorts of Bistort growing

Placed] It grows wild in many places in \ in this land, but smaller, both in height.,

England and Wales, as between Green-:
hithe and Gravesend.

dry in the third degree, of a bitter taste,
and somewhat sharp withal ; it provokes

root, and stalks, and especially in the leaves.
The root blackish without, and somewhat

Government and virtues^ It is hot and '\ whitish within ; of an austere binding taste,

as the former.

Place.'] They grow in shadowy moist

lust to purpose ; 1 suppose Venus owns it. woods, and at the foot, of hills, but are

20 THE COMPLETE HERBAL

chiefly nourished up in gardens. The nar- ^immoderate bleeding thereof. The decoc-
row leafed Bistort grows in the north, in ! tion of the root in water, where unto some
Lancashire, Yorkshire, and Cumberland. | pomegranate peels and flowers are added,

Time.'] They flower about the end of j injected into the matrix, stays the immo-
May, and the seed is ripe about the begin- i derate flux of the courses. The root there-
ning of July. ; of with pelitory of Spain, and burnt alum,

Government and virtues.'] It belongs tojof each a little quantity, beaten small and
Saturn, and is in operation cold and dry ; > into paste with some honey, and a little
both the leaves and roots have a powerful j piece thereof put into an hollow tooth, or
faculty to resist all poison. The root in j held between the teeth, if there be no hoi-
powder taken in drink expels the venom j lowness in them, stays the defluction of
of the plague, the small-pox, measels, pur- j rheum upon them which causes pains, and
pies, or any other infectious disease, driv- $ helps to cleanse the head, and void much
ing it out by sweating. The root in powder, ; offensive water. The distilled water is very
the decoction thereof in wine being drank, t effectual to wash sores or cankers in the
stays all manner of inward bleeding, or j nose, or any other part ; if the powder of
spitting of blood, and any fluxes in the 1 the root be applied thereunto afterwards,
body of either man or woman, or vomiting, j It is good also to fasten the gums, and to
It is also very available against ruptures, : take away the heat and inflammations that
or burstings, or all bruises from falls, dissolv- \ happen in the jaws, almonds of the throat,

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

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.

DescriptJ] THIS small plant never bears
more than one leaf, but only when it rises

any running sores or ulcers. The decoction j up with its stalk, which thereon bears

of the root in wine being drank, hinders
abortion or miscarriage in child-bearing.
The leaves also kill the worms in children,

another, and seldom more, which are of a
blueish green colour, broad at the bottom,
and pointed with many ribs or veins like

and is a great help to them that cannot keep | Plaintain ; at the top of the stalk grow
their water; if the juice of Plaintain be J many small flowers star-fashion, smelling
added thereto, and outwardly applied, much ! somewhat sweet ; after which comes small
helps the ghonorrhea, or running of the! reddish berries when they are ripe. The
reins. A dram of the powder of the root \ root small of the bigness of a rush, lying
taken in water thereof, wherein some red I and creeping under the upper crust of the
hot iron or steel hath been quenched, is also \ earth, shooting forth in divers places,
an admirable help thereto, so as the body j Place.'] It grows in moist, shadowy,
be first prepared and purged from the of- j grassy places of woods, in many places of
fensive humours. The leaves, seed, or roots j this realm.

are all veiy good in decoctions, drinks or; Time.'] It flowers about May, and the
lotions, for inward or outward wounds, or ! berries are ripe in June, and then quickly
other sores. And the powder strewed upon | perishes, until the next year it springs from
any cut or wound in a vein, stays the ; the same again.

AND ENGLISH PHYSICIAN ENLARGED. 27

Government and virtues. ,] It is an herb of I berries mixed with the juice of mulberries,
the Sun, and therefore cordial ; half a dram, j do bind more effectually, and hdp all fret-
or a dram at most, of the root hereof in | ting and eatingsores and ulcers wheresoever,
powder taken in wine and vinegar, of each j The distilled Avater of the branches, leaves,
a little quantity, and the party presently j and flowers, or of the fruit, is very pleasant
aid to sweat, is held to be a sovereign Jin taste, and very effectual in fevers and hot
remedy for those that are infected with the j distempers of the body, head, eyes, and
plague, and have a sore upon them, by ex- 1 other parts, and for the purposes aforesaid,
pelling the poison, and defending the heart | The leaves boiled in lye, and the head
and spirits from danger. It is also accounted { washed therewith, heals the itch and
a singular good wound herb, and therefore \ running sores thereof, and makes the hair
used Avith other herbs in making such balms \ black. The powder of the leaves strewed

as are necessary for curing of wounds, i
either green or old, and especially if the
nerves be hurt.

on cankers and running ulcers, wonderfully
helps to heal them. Some use to conden-
sate the juice of the leaves, and some the

J<* f Ae ** tO "P *

THE BRAMBLE, OR SLACK-BBHKT BUSH.

j all (he year, for the purposes aforesaid.

IT is so well known that it needs no ;
description. The virtues thereof are as'j
follows: ! DescriptJ] OF these there aie two sorts

Government and virtues. ,] It is a plant cfs commonly known, viz. white and red,

Venus in Aries. If any ask the reason
why Venus is so prickly ? Tell them it is
because she is in the house of Mars. The

The white has leaves somewhat like to
Beets, but smaller, rounder and of a whitish
green colour, every one standing upon a

buds, leaves, and branches, while they are! small long footstalk : the stalk rises up two
green, are of a good use in the ulcers and; or three feet high, with such like leaves
putrid sores of the mouth and throat, and j thereon; the flowers grow at the top in long
of the quinsey, and likewise to heal other i round tufts or clusters, wherein are con-
fresh wounds and sores ; but the flowers \ tained small and round seed ; the root is
and fruits unripe are very binding, and so j very full of threads or strings,
profitable for the Woody flux, lasks, and ; The red Elite is in all things like the
are a fit remedy for spitting of blood. 1 white, but that his leaves and tufted heads
Either the decoction of the powder or of! are exceeding red at first, and after turn
the root taken, is good to break or drive : more purple.

forth gravel and the stone in the reins and j There are other kinds of Elites which
kidneys. The leaves and brambles, as | grow different from the two former sorts
well green as dry, are exceeding good lotions j but little, but only the wild are smaller in
for sores in the mouth, or secret parts, j every part.

The decoction of them, and of the dried j Place.'] They grow in gardens, and wild
branches, do much bind the belly and are : in many places in this land,
good for too much flowing of women's ! Time.'] They seed in August and Sep-

courses; the berries of the flowers are a
powerful remedy against the poison of the
most venomous serpents ; as well drank as

tember.

Government and virtues.'] They are all
of them cooling, drying, and binding, serv-

S . i rt rtll 1 * * . 1

outwardly applied, helps the sores of the j ing to restrain the fluxes of blood in either
fundament and the piles; the juice of the? man or woman, especially the red ; which

THE COMPLETE HERBAL

also stays the overflowing of the women's j Time.'] They flower in June and July,
reds, as the white Elites stays the whites j and the seed is ripe shortly after,
in women. It is an excellent secret ; you | Government and virtues.^ They are all
cannot well fail in the use. They are all i three herbs of Jupiter and under Leo, all
under the dominion of Venus. ! great cordials, and great strengtheners of

There is another sort of wild Elites like j nature. The leaves and roots are to very
the other wild kinds, but have long and j good purpose used in putrid and pestilential
spiky heads of greenish seeds, seeming by ; fevers, to defend the heart, and help to
the thick setting together to be all seed. j resist arid expel the poison, or the venom

This sort the fishers are delighted with, 1 of other creatures : the seed is of the like
and it is good and usual bait ; for fishes i effects ; and the seed and leaves are good
will bite fast enough at them, if you have I to increase milk in women's breasts; the
wit enough to catch them when they bite, j leaves, flowers and seed, all or any of

:them, are good to expel pensiveness and

BOEAGE AND BUGLOss. ; melancholy; it helps to clarify the blood,

iand mitigate heat in fevers. The juice

THESE are so well known to the inhabi-jmade into a syrup prevails much to all
tants in every garden that I hold it needless j the purposes aforesaid, and is put, with other
to describe them. i cooling, opening and cleansing herbs to

To these I may add a third sort, which! open obstructions, and help the yellow jaun-
is not so common, nor yet so well known, j dice, and mixed with Fumitory, to cool
and therefore I shall give you its name and ; cleanse, and temper the blood thereby ; it
description. 1 helps the itch, ringworms and tetters, or

It is called Langue de Bceuf; but why i other spreading scabs or sores. The flowers
then should they call one herb by the name j candied or made into a conserve, are help-
of Bugloss, and another by the name Langue | ful in the former cases, but are chiefly used
de Bxuf? it is some question to me, seeing? as a cordial, and are good for those thai
one signifies Ox-tongue in Greek, and the j are weak in long sickness, and to comfort
other signifies the same in French. ! the heart and spirits of those that are in a

Descript.~\ The leaves whereof are smaller -consumption, or troubled with often swoon-
than those of Bugloss but much rougher ; I ings, or passions of the heart. The distilled
the stalks rising up about a foot and a half i water is no less effectual to all the purposes
high, and is most commonly of a red colour; i aforesaid, and helps the redness and inflam-
the flowers stand in scaly round heads, j mations of the eyes, being washed there-
being composed of many small yellow \ with ; the herb dried is never used, but the
flowers not much unlike to those of Dan- ' green ; yet the ashes thereof boiled in
delion, and the seed flieth away in down I mead, or honied water, is available against
as that doth; you may easily know the | the inflammations and ulcers in the mouth
flowers by their taste, for they are very : or throat, to gargle it therewith ; the roots
hitter. j of Bugloss are effectual, being made into

Placed] It grows wild in many places ; a licking electuary for the cough, and to
of this land, and may be plentifully found j condensate thick phlegm, and the rheuma-
near London, as between Rotherhithe and tic distillations upon the lungs.
Deptford, by the ditch side. Its virtues;

111 i ti T> J J J Ai U JS J

are held to be the same with Borage and j;

Bugloss, only this is somewhat hotter

IT is called Syanus, I suppose from the

AND ENGLISH PHYSICIAN ENLARGED. 29

colour of it: Hurt-sickle, because it turns | The juice dropped into the eyes lakes away
the edge of the sickles that reap the corn ; j the heat and inflammation of them. The
Blue-blow, Corn flower, and Blue-bottle, j distilled water of this herb, has the same
Descript.~\ I shall only describe that j properties, and may be used for the effects
which is commonest, and in my opinion \ aforesaid,
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

BRANK URSINE.

BESIDES the common name Brank-
Ursine, it is also called Bear's-breech, and

divided into divers branches, beset with | Acanthus, though I think our English
long leaves of a greenish colour, either but- names to be more proper; for the Greek
very little indented, or not at all ; the I word Acanthus, signifies any thistle what-
flowers are of a blueish colour, from whence : soever.

it took its name, consisting of an innumera- j Descript.~\ This thistle shoots forth very
ble company of flowers set in a scaly head, j many large, thick, sad green smooth leaves
not much unlike those of Knap-weed ; the j on the ground, with a very thick and juicy
seed is smooth, bright, and shining, wrapp- j middle rib; the leaves are parted with
ed up in a wooly mantle ; the root perishes j sundry deep gashes on the edges; the leaves
every year. | remain a long time, before any stalk ap-

PlaceJ] They grow in corn fields, amongst | pears, afterwards rise? up a reasonable big
all sorts of corn, (pease, beans, and tares * stalk, three or four feet high, and bravely
excepted.) If you please to take them up | decked with flowers from the middle of the
from thence, and transplant them in your \ stalk upwards ; for on the lower part of the
garden, especially towards the full of j stalk, there is neither branches nor leaf,
the rnoon, they will grow more double than > The flowers are hooded and gaping, being
they are, and many times change colour, i white in colour, and standing in brownish

Time.~\ They flower from the beginning | husks, with a long small undivided leaf
of May, to the end of harvest. j under each leaf; they seldom seed in our

Government and virtues.'] As they are ! country. Its roots are many, great and
naturally cold, dry, and binding, so they j thick, blackish without and whitish within,
are under the dominion of Saturn. The full of a clammy sap ; a piece of them if

powder or dried leaves of the Blue-bottle,
or Corn flower, is given with good success

you set it in the garden, and defend it from
the first Winter cold, will grow and flourish.

to those that are bruised by a fall, or have \ Placed] They are only nursed in the
broken a vein inwardly, and void much j gardens in England, where they will grow
blood at the mouth ; being taken in the 5 very well.

water of Plantain, Horsetail, or the greater j Time.'] It flowers in June and July.
Comfrey, it is a remedy against the poison 1 Government and virtues.^ It is an exccl-
cf the scorpion, and resists all venoms and | lent plant under the dominion of the Moon;
poison. The seed or leaves taken in wine, ; I could wish such as are studious would
is very good against the plague, and all in- i labour to keep it in their gardens. The
fectious diseases, and is very good in pes- 1 leaves being boiled and used in clysters, is
tilential fevers. The juice put into fresh or \ excellent good to molify the belly, and
green wounds, doth quickly solder up the \ make the passage slippery. The decoction
lips of them together, and is very effectual { drank inwardly, is excellent and good for
to heal all ulcers and sores in the mouth. ' the bloody-flux : The leaves being bruised.

80 THE COMPLETE HERBAL.

ur rather boiled and applied like a poultice { be exceeding great, with many long twinrs
are excellent good to unite broken bones 5 or branches going from it, of a pale whitish
and strengthen joints that have been put ; colour on the outside, and more white
out. The decoction of either leaves or t within, and of a sharp, bitter, loathsome
roots being drank, and the decoction of j taste.

leaves applied to the place, is excellent \ Place.~\ It grows on banks, or under
good for the king's evil that is broken and : hedges, through this land ; the roots lie
runs ; for by the influence of the moon, : very deep.

it revives the ends of the veins which are I TimeJ] It flowers in July and August,
relaxed. There is scarce a better remedy to j some earlier, and some later than the other.
be applied to such places as are burnt with ;' Government and -virtues^] They are furious
fae than this is, for it fetches out the fire, ! martial plants. The root of Briony purges
and heals it without a scar. This is an \ the belly with great violence, troubling the
excellent remedy for such as are bursten, j stomach and burning the liver, and there-
being either taken inwardly, or applied to j fore not rashly to be taken ; but being cor-
the place. In like manner used, it helps ; rected, is very profitable for the diseases
the cramp and the gout. It is excellently |of the head, as falling sickness, giddiness,
good in hectic fevers, and restores radical i and swimmings, by drawing away much
moisture to such as are in consumptions, ! phlegm and rheumatic humours that op-

press the head, as also the joints and

BRIONY, OR WILD VINE. i *u r j c i

smews ; and is therefore good for palsies,

IT is called Wild, and Wood Vine, Tarnus,
or Ladies' Seal. The white is called White

convulsions, cramps, and stitches in the
sides, and the dropsy, and for provoking

Vine by some ; and the black, Black Vine. : urine ; it cleanses the reins and kidneys
DescriptJ] The common White Briony | from gravel and stone, by opening the ob-
grows ramping upon the hedges, sending j structions of the spleen, and consumes the
forth many long, rough, very tender : hardness and swelling thereof. The de-
branches at the beginning, with many very i coction of the root in wine, drank once a
rough, and broad leaves thereon, cut (for j week at going to bed, cleanses the mother,
the most part) into five partitions, in form j and helps the rising thereof, expels the
very like a vine leaf, but smaller, rough, and j dead child ; a dram of the root in powder
of a whitish hoary green colour, spreading j taken in white wine, brings down their
very far, spreading and twining with his > courses. An electuary made of the roots
small claspers (that come forth at the joints i and honey, doth mightily cleanse the chest
with the leaves) very far on whatsoever ; of rotten phlegm, and wonderfully help
stands next to it. At the several joints any old strong cough, to those that are
also (especially towards the top of the \ troubled with shortness of breath, and is
branches) comes forth a long stalk bearing! good for them that are bruised inwardly, to
many whitish flowers together on a long? help to expel the clotted or congealed blood,
tuft, consisting of five small leaves a-piece, | The leaves, fruit, and root do cleanse old
laid open like a star, after which come the j and filthy sores, are good against all fret-
berries separated one from another, more ; ting and running cankers, grangrenes, and
than a cluster of grapes, green at the first, | tetters, and therefore the berries are by
and very red when they are thorough ripe, : some country people called tetter-berries.
of no good scent, but of a most loathsome \ The root cleanses the skin wonderfully
taste provokes vomit. The root grows to j from all black and bjue spots, freckles,

AND ENGLISH PHYSICIAN ENLARGED. 31

morphew, leprosy, foul scars, or other de- 1 provoke urine, and help to break the stone,
formity whatsoever ; also all running scabs j and pass it away ; they procure women's
and manginess are healed by the powder of > courses, and expel the dead child. Being
the dried root, or the juice thereof, but > fried with butter and vinegar, and applied
especially by the fine white hardened juice. \ warm, it helps all manner of tumours, swel-
The distilled water of the root works the j lings, and inflammations,
same effects, but moie weakly; the root j Such drinks ought to be made of sundry
bruised and applied of itself to any place \ herbs, according to the malady. I shall
where the bones are broken, helps to draw j give a plain and easy rule at the latter end
them forth, as also splinters and thorns in \ of this book,
the flessh ; and being applied with a little i ,

wine mixed therewith, it breaks boils, and {

helps whitlows on the joints. For all these j IT is called Ruscus, and Bruscus, Knee-
latter, beginning at sores, cancers, &c. | holm, Kneeholly, Kneehulver, and Petti-
apply it outwardly, mixing it with a little jgree.
hog's grease, or other convenient ointment. 5 Descript.~\ The first shoots that sprout

As for the former diseases where il; must | from the root of Butcher's Broom, are
be taken inwardly, it purges very violently, | thick, whitish, and short, somewhat like
and needs an abler hand to correct it than j those of Asparagus, but greater, they rise
most country people have. I up to be a foot and a half high, are spread

(inlo divers branches, green, and somewhat
BROOK LIME, OR WATER-PIMPERNEL. | creassed with the roundness, tough and flex-

Descript.~\ THIS sends forth from alible, whereon are set somewhat broad and
creeping root that shoots forth strings at) almost round hard leaves and prickly,
every joint, as it runs, divers and sundry j pointed at the end, of a dark green colour,
green stalks, round and sappy Avith some j two for the most part set at a place, very
branches on them, somewhat broad, round, I close and near together; about the middle
deep green, and thick leaves set by couples j of the leaf, on the back and lower side
thereon ; from the bottom whereof shoot \ from the middle rib, breaks forth a small
forth long foot-stalks, with sundry small whitish green flower, consisting of four
blue flowers on them, that consist of five small round pointed leaves^? standing upon

small round pointed leaves a pice.

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

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

Placed] They grow in small standing j contained. The root is thick, white and
waters, and usually near Water Cresses, I great at the head, and from thence sends

Time.'] And flower in June and July, \ forth divers thick, white long, tough strings,
giving seed the next month after. ? Place."] It grows in cdpses, and upon

Government and virtues. ~\ It is a hot and j heaths and waste grounds, and oftentimes
biting martial plant. Brook-lime and | under or near the holly bushes.
Water-Cresses are generally used together | Time."] It shoots forth its young buds
in diet-drink, with other things serving to j in the Spring, and the berries are ripe
purge the blood and body from all ill? about September, the branches of leaves
humours that would destroy health, and { abiding green all the Winter,
are helpful to the scurvy. They do all j Government and virtues.'] It is a plant of

32 THE COMPLETE HERBAL

Mars, being of a gallant cleansing and j or the powder of the seed taken in drink,
opening quality. The decoction of the ; purges doAvnwards, and draws phlegmatic
root niad-e with wine opens obstructions, | and watery humours from the joints, where-
provokes urine, helps to expel gravel and | by it helps the dropsy, gout, sciatica, and
die stone, the stranguary and women's j pains of the hips and joints ; it also pro-
courses, also the yellow jaundice and the ; vokes strong vomits, and helps the pain* of
head-ache ; And with some honey or sugar j the sides, and swelling of the spleen,
put thereunto, cleanses the breast of phlegm, ; cleanses also the reins or kidneys and blad-
and the chest of such clammy humours jder of the stone, provokes urine abundantly,
gathered therein. The decoction of the > and hinders the growing again of the stone
root drank, and a poultice made of the fin the body. The continual use of the
berries and leaves applied, are effectual in j powder of the leaves and seed doth cure
knitting and consolidating broken bones or | the black jaundice. The distilled water of
parts out of joint. The common way of j the flowers is profitable for all the same
using it, is to boil the root of it, and Parsley | purposes : it also helps surfeits, and alters
and Fennel and Smallagein Avhitewine, and | the fit of agues, if three or four ounces
drink the decoction, adding the like (man- j thereof, with as much of the water of the
tity of Grass-root to them : The more of | lesser Centaury, and a little sugar put there-
the root you boil, the stronger will the de- ; in, be taken a little before the fit comes,
coction be ; it works no ill effects, yet I and the^ party be laid down to sweat in his
hope you have wit enough to give the
strongest decoction to the strongest bodies.

bed. The oil or water that is drawn from
the end of the green sticks heated in the

fire, helps the tooth-ache. The mice of

BROOM, AND BROOM-RAPE. , , . . J e

young branches made into an ointment of
To spend time in writing a description j old hog's grease, and anointed, or the young
hereof is altogether needless, it being so j branches bruised and heated in oil or hog's
generally used by all the good housewives j grease, and laid to the sides pained bv
almost through this land to sweep their j wind, as in stitches, or the spleen, ease
houses with, and therefore very well known them in once or twice using it. The same
to all sorts of people. I boiled in oil is the safest and surest medicine

The Broom-rape springs up in many j to kill lice in the head or body of any ;
places from the roots of the broom (but \ and is an especial remedy for joint aches,
more often in fields, as by hedge-sides and land swollen knees, that come by the falling
on heaths.) The stalk whereof is of the \ down of humours,
bigness of a finger or thumb, above two; , ,,

/. s i i i "- v r i .1, llM BROOM RAPE also IS not Without ItS

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 j THE decoction thereof in wine, is thought

are. 1 to be as effectual to void the stone in the

P/ace.] They grow in many places of j kidney or bladder, and to provoke urine,
this land commonly, and as commonly j as the Broom itself. The juice thereof is
spoil all the land they grow in. j a singular good help to cure as well green

Time.~\ They flower in the Summer J wounds, as old and filthy sores and malig-
months, and give their seed before "Winter. ! nant ulcers. The insolate oil, wherein theix-

Government and virtues^] The juice or \ has been three or four repetitions of infusion
decoction of the young branches, or seed, \ of the top stalks, with flowers strained and

AND ENGLISH PHYSICIAN ENLARGED. 38

cleared, cleanses the skin from all manner f stomachs that cannot retain, but cast up
ot spots, marks, and freckles that rise either > their meat. It stays all bleeding both at
by the heat of the sun, or the malignity of! mouth or nose ; bloody urine or the bloody-
humours. As for the Broom and Broom- 1 flux, and stops the lask of the belly and
rape, Mars owns them, and is exceeding pre-1 bowels. The leaves hereof bruised and
judicial to the liver; I suppose by reason I laid to their sides that have an ague, sud-
of the antipathy between Jupiter and Mars, j denly eases the fit ; anr 1 the leaves and roots
therefore if the liver be disaffected, minister : applied to the wrists, works the same effects,
none of it. |The herb boiled in ale and wine, arid given

BUCK'S-HORN PLANTAIN. j for som , e m m % and evenings together,

| stays the distillation of hot and sharp

Descnpt.] THIS being sown of seed, j rheums falling into the eyes from the head,
rises up at first with small, long, narrow, ? and helps all sorts of sore eyes,
hairy, dark green leaves like grass, without j

any division or gash in them, but those that j BUCK'S HORN.

follow are gashed in on both sides the ; -, -,-, -, ., , u

leaves into three or four gashes, and pointed ! l \ 1S caHed Hart s-horn, Herba-stella, and
at the ends, resembling the knags of a buck's j {H^ftft Sangumana Herb-Eve,
horn, (whereof k took its name) and beina \ Herb-Ivy Wort-Tresses, and Swine-Cresses
well wound round about the root upon the 1 ^^'l. ^ have t ma ^ s a11 and
ground, in order one by another, thereby ! W , eak stra gg h "? branches trailing here and
Fesembling the form of a star, from among | there u P on n the , ground : The leaves are
which ris? up divers hairy stalks about a ' nan /' **&* V&&"* much unlike
hand's breath high, bearing every one a to those of Buck s-horn Plantain but much
I. lon^ snikv head. lil-P to t\J~ nf *h~ smaller, and not so hairy. The flowers

small, long spiky head, like to those of the
common Plantain, having such like bloom-
ings and seed after them. The root is

grow among the leaves in small, rough,
whitish clusters ; The seeds are smaller and
I brownish, of a bitter taste.

single, long and small, wkh divers strings TO WJ *? ~|

at j t Place.] They grow in dry, barren, sandy

Place.-] They grow in sandy grounds, as \ g ro " nds -

in To hill fields by Westminster, and divers \ Tm /i ** V? and seed when the
other places of this land. ! rest of lhe Plantains d -

Time.-] They flower and seed in May,! C ^^ d t*'fO Thl * . also
June, and July, and their green leaves do untl ? ^ d 1 mi T n f S 3 ^^ the virtues
in a manner abide fresh all the Winter. ar , e he ! d to ** the same as Buck s-horn

Government and virtues.-} It is under the ! Plantain ' and therefore by all authors it is

j . . / O i I^M r\c*r\ in fr* i-f l*nA \t^r\ iroo h\r*in c-c.H ^n^i o r

dominion ot Saturn, and is of a gallant,
drying, and binding quality. This boiled

in wine and drank, and some of the leaves

joined with it. The leaves bruised and ap-
plied to the place, stop bleeding. The
herbs bruised and applied to warts, will

put to the hurt place, is an excellent ake them consume and waste in a short

remedy for the biting of the viper or adder, \ time>

which I take to be one and the same : The | BUGLE

same being also drank, helps those that are !

troubled with the stone in the veins or kid- ; BESIDES the name Bugle, it is called

neys, by cooling the heat of the part af- j Middle Confound and Middle Comfrey,

flicled, and strengthens them ; also weak I Brown Bugle, and by some Sicklewort, and

$4 THE COMPLETE HERBAL

Herb-Carpenter ; though in Essex we call * for those that are liver-grown (as they ca,
another herb by that name. jit.) It is wonderful in curing all manner o

Descript.] This has larger leaves than ; ulcers and sores, whether new and fresh
those of the Self-heal, but else of the same {or old and inveterate; yea, gangrenes and
fashion, or rather longer ; in some green on j fistulas also, if the leaves bruised and ap-
the upper side, and in others more brown- j plied, or their juice be used to wash and
ish, dented about, the edges, somewhat hairy, \ bathe the place, and the same made into a
as the square stalk is also which rises up to j lotion, and some honey and alum cures
be half a yard high sometimes, with the j all sores in the mouth and gums, be they
leaves set by couples, from the middle j never so foul, or of long continuance ; ana
almost, whereof upwards stand the flowers, j works no less powerfully and effectually for
together with many smaller and browner 5 such ulcers and sores as happen in the
leaves than the rest, on the stalk below set ! secret parts of men and women. Being
at distance, and the stalk bare between \ also taken inwardly, or outwardly applied,
them ; among which flowers, are also small 5 it helps those that have broken any bone,
ones of a blueish and sometimes of an ash | or have any member out of joint. An
colour, fashioned like the flowers of Ground- i ointment made with the leaves of Bugle,
ivy, after which come small, round blackish Scabions and Sanicle bruised and boileil
seeds. The root is composed of many j in hog's grease, until the herbs be dry, and
strings, and spreads upon the ground. j then strained forth into a pot for such

The white flowered Bugle differs not in 5 occasions as shall require; it is so singularly
form or greatness from the former, saving | good for all sorts of hurts in the body, that
that the leaves and stalks are always green, j none that know its usefulness will be with-
and never brown, like the other, and the > out it.
flowers thereof are white. j The truth is, I have known this herb cure

PlaceJ] They grow in woods, copses, \ some diseases of Saturn, of which 1 thought
and fields, generally throughout England, i good to quote one. Many times such as
but the white flowered Bugle is not so j give themselves much to drinking are
plentiful as the former. ; troubled with strange fancies, strange sights

Time.'] They flower from May until July, i in the nighttime, and some with voices,
aiuu in the mean time perfect their seed. las also with the disease Ephialtes, or the
The roots and leaves next thereunto upon | Mare. I take the reason of this to be
the ground abiding all the Winter. I (according to Fernelius) a melancholy

Government and virtues^ This herb be- j vapour made thin by excessive drinking
longs to Dame Venus: If the virtues of it [ strong liquor, and so flies up and disturbs
make you fall in love with it (as they will | the fancy, and breeds imaginations like
if you be wise) keep a syrup of it to take; itself, viz. fearful and troublesome. Those
inwardly, an ointment and plaister of it 1 1 have know cured by taking only two
to use outwardly, always by you. Ispoonfui. of the syrup of this herb after

The decoction of the leaves and flowers \ supper two hours, when you go to bed.
made in wine, and taken, dissolves the con- 1 But whether this does it by sympathy or
gea-ltd blood in those that are bruised in- j antipathy, is some doubt in astrology. I
wardly by a fall, or otherwise is very \ know there is great antipathy between
effectual for any inward wounds, thursts, j Saturn and Venus in matter of procreation ;
or stabs in the body or bowels ; and it is 5 yea, such a one, that the barrenness of
< n especial help in all wound-drinks, and 5 Saturn can be removed by none but Venus

AND ENGLISH PHYSICIAN ENLARGED. 35

nor the lust of Venus

2iius be repelled by none the bod} 7 in health, and the spirits in vigour
I am not of opinion this for if the Sun be the preserver of life unde!

but Saturn ; but I am not of opinion

is done this way, and my reason is, because i

these vapours though in quality melan-i

preserver of life under
God, his herbs are the best in the world to
do it by. They are accounted to be both of

choly, yet by their flying upward* seem to i one property, but the lesser is more effectual
be something aerial; therefore I rather think I because quicker and more aromatic : It
it is done by antipathy ; Saturn being : is a friend to the heart, liver, and other
exalted in Libra, in the house of Venus. \ principal parts of a man's body. Two or

I three of the stalks, with leaves put into a

BURNET. | cup of wine, especially claret, are known

i to quicken the spirits, refresh and cheer the

IT is called Sanguisorbia, Pimpinella, > heart, and drive away melancholy : It is a
Bipulo, Solbegrella, &c. The common \ special help to defend the heart from noi-
garden Bin-net is so well known, that it; some vapours, and from infection of the
needs no description. There is another sort ! pestilence, the juice thereof being taken in
which is wild, the description whereof take ; some drink, and the party laid to sweat
as follows. | thereupon. They have also a drying and

Descript.] The great wild Burnet has an astringent quality, whereby they are
winged leaves arising from the roots like the j available in all manner of fluxes of blood
garden Burnet, but not so many ; yet each \ or humours, to staunch bleedings inward or
of these leaves are at the least twice as i outward, lasks, scourings, the bloody-flux,
large as the other, and nicked in the same j women's too abundant flux of courses, the
manner about the edges, of a greyish colour whites, and the choleric belchings and cast-
on the under side ; the stalks are greater, j ings of the stomach, and is a singular
and rise higher, with many such leaves set j wound-herb for all sorts of wounds, both
thereon, and greater heads at the top, of a I of tne head and body, either inward or out-
brownish colour, and out of them come I ward, for all old ulcers, running cankers,
small dark purple flowers, like the former, j and most sores, to be used either by the
but greater. The root is black and long -juice or decoction of the herb, or by the
like the other, but great also : it has almost j powder of the herb or root, or the water of
neither scent nor taste therein, like the gar- j the distilled herb or ointment by itself, or
den kind. I with other things to be kept. The seed is

Placed] It first grows frequently in gar- j also no less effectual both to stop fluxes,
dens. The wild kind grows in divers ! and dry up moist sores, being taken in
counties of this land, especially in Hunting- j powder inwardly in wine, or steeled water,
don, in Northamptonshire, in the meadows ; that is, wherein hot rods of steel have been
there : as also near London, by Pancras j quenched ; or the powder, or the seed
churrh,and by a causeway-side in the middle \ mixed with the ointments,
of afield by Paddington.

TimeJ] They flower about the end ofj THE BUTTER-BUR, OR PETASITIS.
June, and beginning of July, and their seed \
is ripe in August. Descript.~] THIS rises up in February,

Government and virtues."] This is an herb \ with a thick stalk about a foot high, where-
the Sun challenges dominion over, and is | on are set a few small leaves, or rather
a most precious herb, little inferior to j pieces, and at the tops a long spiked head;
Betony ; the continual use of it preserves | flowers of a blue or deep red colour, ac-

THE COMPLETE HERBAL

THE BURDOCK.

cording to the soil where it grows, and be- r

fore the stalk with the flowers have abiden (

a month above ground, it will be witnered } They are also called Personata, and

and gone, and blow away svith the wind, j Loppy-major, great Burdock and Clod-bur,

and the leaves will begin to spring, which j It is so well known, even by the little boys,

being full grown, are very large and broad, \ who pull off the burs to throw and stick

being somewhat thin and almost round, ; upon each other, that I shall spare to wiite

whose thick red foot stalks above a foot | any description of it.

long, stand towards the middle of the leaves. j PlaceJ] They grow plentifully by ditches

The lower part being divided into two round j and water-sides, and by the highways al-

parts, close almost one to another, and are j most every where through this land.

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.

Government and virtues.'] Venus chal-
lenges this herb for her own, and by its leat
or seed you may draw the womb which
way you please, either upwards by applying
it to the crown of the head, in case it falls
out ; or downwards in fits of the mother,
by applying it to the soles of the feet ; or
if you would stay it in its place, apply it to

Their flower (as is said) rising and decaying j the navel, and that is one good way to stay
in February and March, before their leaves, j the child in it. The Burdock leaves are
which appear in April. : cooling, moderately drying, and discussing

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

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
shrinkingof the si news or arteries, give much

fevers by provoking sweat ; if the powder ease. The juice of the leaves, or rather
thereof be taken in wine, it also resists the ! the roots themselves, given to drink with
force of any other poison. The root hereof i old wine, doth wonderfully help the biting
taken with Zedoary and Angelica, or without \ of any serpents : And the root beaten with
them, helps the rising of the mother. The \ a little salt, and laid on the place, suddenly
decoction of the root in wine, is singularly I eases the pain thereof, and helps those that
good for those that wheese much, or are \ are bit by a mad dog. The juice of the
short winded. It provokes urine also, and j leaves being drank with honey, provokes
women's courses, and kills the flat and urine, and remedies the pain of the bladder.

broad worms in the belly. The powder of
the root doth wonderfully help to dry up
the moisture of the sores that are hard to be
cured, and takes away all spots and
blemishes of the skin. It were well if
gentlewomen would keep this root preserved,
to help their poor neighbours. It is fit the
rich should help the poor, for the poor cannot
help fhemselves .

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
i must be afterwards anointed with an oint-

Burdoolt

Butter-bur

"Wall Bug-loss

,<;/, .,:,

Bug-lr

C a. m < > m i U

C ar r a wav

Wild Carrol

Celandine

rn.n.MAs [< K i.i A-. i. ON DON.

AND ENGLISH PHYSICIAN ENLARGED. 37

ment made of the same liquor, hog's-grease, j mended, being eaten before meat to keep
nitre, and vinegar boiled together. The j one from surfeiting, as also from being
roots may be preserved with sugar, and j drunk with too much wine, or quickly to
taken fasting, or at other times, for the same j make a man sober again that is drunk be-
purposes, and for consumptions, the stone, j fore For (as they say) there is such an
and the lask. The seed is much commended j antipathy or enmity between the Vine and
to break the stone, and cause it to be ex- j the Coleworts, that the one will die where
pelled by urine, and is often used with; the other grows. The decoction of Cole-
other seeds and things to that purpose. j worts takes away the pain and ache, and

{allays the swellings of sores and gouty

CABBAGES AND COLEWOHTS. J , 9 S j

j legs and knees, wherein many gross and

I SHALL spare labour in writing a des-j watery humours are fallen, the place being
cription of these, since almost every one j bathed therewith warm. It helps also old
that can but write at all, may describe and filthy sores, being bathed therewith,
them from his own knowledge, they being j and heals all small scabs, pushes, and
generally so well known, that descriptions i whcals, that break out in the skin. The
are altogether needless. | ashes of Colewort stalks mixed with old

Place .] They are generally planted in \ hog's grease, are very effectual to anoint
gardens. j the sides of those that have had long pains

Time.~] Their flower time is towards the! therein, or any other place pained with
middle, or end of July, and the seed is j melancholy and windy humours. This was
ripe in August. j surely Chrysippus's God, and therefore he

Government and virtues^] The Cabbages ? wrote a whole volume on them and their
or Coleworts boiled gently in broth, and | virtues, and that none of the least neither,
eaten, do open the body, but the second j for he would be no small fool: He appro-
decoction doth bind the body. The juice \ priates them to every part of the body, and
thereof drank in wine, helps those that are \ to every disease in every part ; and honest
bitten by an adder, and the decoction of the \ old Cato (they say) used no other physic,
flowers brings down women's courses : \ I know not what metal their bodies were
Being taken with honey, it recovers hoarse- : made of; this I am sure, Cabbages are
ness, or loss of the voice. The often eating extremely windy, whether you take them as

of them well boiled, helps those that are
entering into a consumption. The pulp of
the middle ribs of Coleworts boiled in al-

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

mond milk, and made up into an electuary j our days ; and Colewort flowers are some-
with honey, being taken often, is very pro- \ thing more tolerable, and the wholesomer
fitable for those that are puffy and short ! food of the two. The Moon challenges the
winded. Being boiled twice, an old cock j dominion of this herb,
boiled in the broth and drank, it helps the !
pains, and the obstructions of the liver and j

spleen, and the stone in the kidneys. The; Descript.~\ THIS has divers somewhat
juice boiled with honey, and dropped into! long and broad large and thick wrinkled
the corner of the eyes, clears the sight, j leaves, somewhat crumpled about the edges,
by consuming any film or cloud beginning ? and growing each upon a thick footstalk,
to dim it; it also consumes the canker {very brittle, of a greyish green colour,
growing therein. They are much com- j from among which rises up a strong thick

38 THE COMPLETE HERBAL

stalk, two feet high, and belter, with some
leaves thereon to the top, where it branches

lands, and dry grounds in many aces of
this land.

forth much ; and on every branch stands a Time.'] They flower in July, and their
large bush of pale whitish flowers, consist- 1 seed is ripe quickly after,
ing of four leaves a-piece : The root is t Government and virtues.'] It is an herb of
somewhat grea^ shoots forth many branches Mercury, and a strong one too, therefore
under ground, keeping the leaves green all i excellent good in all afflictions of the brain,
the winter. The decoction of the herb being drank,

Place .] They grow in many places upon brings down women's courses, and provokes
the sea-coasts, as well on the Kentish as t urine. It is profitable for those that are
Essex shores ; as at Lid in Kent, Colches- ; bursten, or troubled with convulsions or
ter in Essex, and divers other places, and ! cramps, with shortness of breath, or choleric
in other counties of this land. \ torments and pains in their bellies or

Time.'] They flower and seed about the j stomach; it also helps the yellow-jaundice,
time that other kinds do. jand stays vomiting, being taken in wine.

Government and virtues.'] The Moon | Taken with salt and honey, it kills all
claims the dominion of these also. The | manner of worms in the body. It helps
broth, or first decoction of the Sea Colewort, 5 such as have the leprosy, either taken in
doth by the sharp, nitrous, and bitter qual- i wardly, drinking whey after it, or the green
ities therein, open the belly, and purge the j herb outwardly applied. It hinders con-
body; it cleanses and digests more power- j ception in women, but either burned or
fully than the other kind : The seed hereof! strewed in the chamber, it drives away
bruised and drank kills worms. The leaves j venomous serpents. It takes away black
or the juice of them applied to sores or j and blue marks in the face, and makes
ulcers, cleanses and heals them, and dis- 5 black scars become well coloured, if the
solves swellings, and takes away inflam- j green herb (not the dry) be boiled in wine,
mations. j and laid to the place, or the place washed

5 therewith. Being applied to the huckle-

CALAMINT, OR MOUNTAIN-MINT. i bone, by continuance of lime, it spends the

j humours, which cause the pain of the

Descript.~] THIS is a small herb, seldom i sciatica. The juice being dropped into
rising above a foot high, with square hairy, Uhe ears, kills the worms in them. The
and woody stalks, and two small hoary 5 leaves boiled in wine, and drank, provoke
leaves set <n a joint, about the height of j sweat, and open obstructions of the liver
Marjoram, or not much bigger, a little den ted ; and spleen. It helps them that have a ler-
about the edges, and of a very fierce or 5 tian ague (the body being first purged) by
quick scent, as the whole herb is : The f taking away the cold fits. The decoction
flowers stand at several spaces of the stalks, i hereof, with some sugar put thereto after-
frorn the middle almost upwards, which are | wards, is very profitable for those that be
small and gaping like to those of the Mints, \ troubled with the over-flowing of the gall,
of a pale bluish coloui : After which follow j and that have an old cough, and that are
small, round blackish seed. The root is j scarce able to breathe by shortness of their
small and woody, with divers small strings wind; that have any cold distemper in their
spreading within the ground, and dies not j bowels, and are troubled with the hardness
but abides many years. or the spleen, for all which purposes, both

Place.'] It grows on heaths, and up- the powder, called Diacnluminthes. and the

AND ENGLISH PHYSICIAN ENLARGED.

compound Syrup of Calamint are the most j comfort both it and the brain. The oil
effectual. Let no woman be too busy with > made of the flowers of Camomile, is much

it, for it works very violent upon the femi-
nine part.

used against all hard swellings, pains or

aches, shrinking of the sinews, or cramps,
01 pa'.ns in the joints, or any other part of

CAMOMILE. I the body. Being used in clysters, it helps

to dissolve the wind and pains in the belly ;

IT is so well known every where, that it j anointed also, it helps stitches and pains in
is but lost time and labour to describe it. 1 the sides.

The virtues thereof are as follow. Nechessor sailh, the Egyptians dedicated

A decoction made of Camomile, and j it to the Sun, because it cured agues, and

drank, takes away all pains and stitches in j they Avere like enough to doit, for they

the side. The flowers of Camomile beaten, j were the arrantest apes in their religion
and made up into balls with Gill, drive away ; that I ever read of. Bachinus, Bena, and
all sorts of agues, if the part grieved be j Lobel, commend the syrup made of the
anointed with that oil, taken from the i juice of it and sugar, taken inwardly, to be
floAvers, from the crown of the head to the | excellent for the spleen. Also this is cer-
sole of the foot, and afterwards laid to \ tain, that it most wonderfully breaks the

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
corne either from phlegm, or melancholy,
or from an inflammation of the bowels,
being applied when the humours causing

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

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 { Camomile, will in time dissolve, and in
takes away weariness, eases pains, to what j little time too.
part of the body soever they be applied. I

It comforts the sinews that are over-strained, \ WATER-CALTROPS.

molifies all swellings : It moderately com- j

forts all parts that have need of warmth, \ THEY are called also Tribulus Aquaticus,
digests and dissolves whatsoever has need \ Tribulus Lacusoris, Tribulus, Marinus,
thereof, by a wonderful speedy property, j Caltrops, Saligos, Water Nuts, and Water
It eases all pains of the cholic and stone, 'I Chesnuts.

and all pains and torments of the belly, \ De-script.'] As for the greater sort of
and gently provokes urine. The flowers j Water Caltrop it is not found here, or very
boiled in posset-drink provokes sweat, and | rarely. Two other sorts there are which
help to expel all colds, aches and pains j I shall here describe. The first has a long
whatsoever, and is an excellent help to \ creeping and jointed root, sending forth
bring down women's courses. Syrup made ! tufts at each joint, from which joints rise
of the juice of Camomile, with the flowers i long flat, slender knotted stalks, even to
in white wine, is a remedy against the j the top of the water, divided towards the
jaundice and dropsy. The flowers boiled j top into many branches, each carrying
in lye, are good to wash the head, and ! two leaves on both sides, being about two

40 THE COMPLETE HERBAL

inches Jong, and half an inch broad, thin j on the end unto the middle, making them
and almost transparent, they look as though i seem to be two a-piece, smelling somewhat
they were torn ; the flowers are long, thick sweet, and each of them standing in a
and whitish, set together almost like a | large green striped hairy husk, large and
bunch of grapes, which being gone, there I round below next to the stalk : The seed is
succeed, for the most part, sharp pointed! small and greyish in the hard heads thai
grains all together, containing a small white ; come up afterwards. The root is white and
kernel in them. : long, spreading divers fangs in the ground.

The second differs not much from this, | The Red wild Campion grows in the same-
save that it delights in more clear water ; j manner as the White, but its leaves are not
Us stalks are not flat, but round ; its leaves; soplainlyribbed, somewhat shorter, rounder,
are not so long, but more pointed ; As for land more woolly in handling. The flowers
the place we need not determine, for their \ are of the same form and bigness ; but in
name shews they grow irt water. I some of a pale, in others of a bright red

Government and virtues.'] They are under j colour, cut in at the ends more finely, which
the dominion of the Moon, and being made j makes the leaves look more in number than
into a poultice, are excellently good for hot j the other. The seeds and the roots are.
inflammations, swellings, cankers, sore j alike, the roots of both sorts abiding many
mouths and throats, being washed with the j years.

decoction ; it cleanses and strengthens the | There are forty-five kinds 01 Campion
neck and throat, and helps those swellings { more, those of them which are of a phy-
which when people have, they say the jsical use, having the like virtues with those
almonds of their ears are fallen down. Il| above described, which I take to be the two
is excellently good for the rankness of the; chief kinds.

gums, a safe and present remedy for thej Place.'] They grow commonly through
king's evil. They are excellent for the stone : this land by fields and hedge-sides, and
and gravel, especially the nuts, being dried, j ditches.

They also resist poison, and bitings of| TimeJ] They flower in Summer, some
venomous beasts. 5 earlier than others, and some abiding longer

} than others.

CAMPION, WILD. Government and virtues.'] They belong

j to Saturn, and it is found by experience,

Descript.~] THE wild White Campion j that the decoction of the herb, either in
has many long and somewhat broad dark > white or red wine being drank, doth stay
green leaves lying upon the ground, and j inward bleedings, and applied outwardly,
divers ribs therein, somewhat like plantain,' j it does the like ; and being drank, helps
but somewhat hairy, broader, but not so .to expel urine, being stopped, and gravel
long: The hairy stalks rise up in the mid- j and stone in the reins and kidneys. Two
die of them three or four feet high, and \ drams of the seed drank in wine, purges
sometimes more, with divers great white ! the body of choleric humours, and helps
joints at several places thereon, and two 5 those that are stung by scorpions, or other
such like leaves thereat up to the top, send- 1 venomous beasts, and may be as effectual
ing forth branches at several joints also : \ for the plague. It is of very good use in
All which bear on several foot-stalks white ! old sores, ulcers, cankers, fistulas, and the
flowers at the tops of them, consisting of pike, to cleanse and heat them, by con-
five broad pointed leaves, every one cut in suming the moist humours falling into

AND ENGLISH PHYSICIAN ENLARGED. 41

them and correcting the putrefaction of 5

humours offending them. CARROTS.

CARDUUS BENEDICTS.

IT is called Carduus Benedictus, or } that they need no description ; but because
Blessed Thistle, or Holy Thistle. I sup- j they are of less physical use than the wild
pose the name was put upon it by some j kind (as indeed almost in all herbs the wild
that had little holiness themselves. \ are most effectual in physic, as being more

I shall spare a labour in writing a | powerful in operation than the garden
description of this as almost every one that j kinds,) I shall therefore briefly describe the
can but write at all, may describe them ? Wild Carrot.
from his own knowledge. Descript.'] It grows in a manner al-

Time.~\ They flower in August, and seed ? together like the tame, but that the leaves
not long after. $ and stalks are somewhat whiter and rougher

Government and virtues. It is an herb of j The stalks bear large tufts of white flowers,
Mars, and under the sign Aries. Now, in j with a deep purple spot in the middle,
handling this herb, I shall give you a j which are contracted together when the
rational pattern of all the rest ; and if you j seed begins to ripen, that the middle part
please to view them throughout the book, \ being hollow and low, and the outward
you shall, to your content, find it true. It \ stalk rising high, makes the whole umbel
helps swimming and giddiness of the head, j to show like a bird's nest. The roots small,
or the disease called vertigo, because Aries { long, and hard, and unfit for meat, being
is in the house of Mars. It is an excellent 5 some\v hat sharp and strong.
remedy against the yellow jaundice and ; Place.~\ The wild kind grows in divers
other infirmities of the gall, because Mars! parts of this land plentifully by the field-
governs choler. It strengthens the attrac- ! sides, and untilled places.
live faculty in man, and clarifies the blood, j Time.'] They flower and seed in the end
because the one is ruled by Mars. The of Summer.

continual drinking the decoction of it, helps

Government and virtues.^ Wild Carrots

red faces, tetters, a-nd ring-worms, because ? belong to Mercury, and therefore break
Mass causes them. It helps the plague, 5 wind, and remove stitches in the sides, pro-
sores, boils, and itch, the bitings of mad jvoke urine and women's courses, and helps
dogs and venomous beasts, all which in- i to break and expel the stone ; the seed also
firmities are under Mars; thus you see $ of the same works the like effect, and is
what it doth by sympathy. ! good for the dropsy, and those whose bellies

By antipathy to other planets it cures the i are swollen with wind; helps the cholic,
French pox. By antipathy to Venus, who j the stone in the kidneys, and rising of the
governs it, it strengthens the memory, and j mother ; being taken in wine, or boiled in
cures deafness by antipathy to Saturn, who j wine, and taken, it helps conception. The
has his fall in Aries, which rules the head. j leaves being applied with honey to running
It cures quartan agues, and other diseases j sores or ulcers, do cleanse them,
of melancholy, and adust choler, by sym-j I suppose the seeds of them perform this
pathy to Saturn, Mars being exalted in better than the roots ; and though Galen
Capricorn. Also provokes urine, the stopp- j commended garden Carrots highly to break
ing of which is usually caused by Mars or {wind, yet experience teaches they breed it
the Moon. \ first, and we may thank nature for expelling

42 THE COMPLETE HERBAL

it, not they ; the seeds of them expel wind 1 people exceedingly, and they need not to
indeed, and so mend what the root marrs. I make a whole meal of them neither, and are

CARRAWAY 5 ^ ^ bc pl an t e( l m ev ery garden.

Carraway comfits, once only dipped in

IT is on account of the seeds principally

sugar, and half a spoonful of them eaten in

that the Carraway is cultivated. | the morning fasting, and as many after ea ~

Descript] It bears divers stalks of fine I meal, is a most admirable remedy, for those
cut leaves, lying upon the ground, some- j that are troubled with wind,
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 :

CELANDINE.

Descript.~] THIS hath divers lender,
round, whitish green stalks, with greater

joints are set the like leaves, but smaller! joints than ordinary in other herbs as it
and finer, and at the top small open tufts, \ were knees, very brittle and easy to break,
or umbels of white flowers, which turn into \ from whence grow branches with large
small blackish seed, smaller than the; tender broad leaves, divided into many
Anniseed, and of a quicker and hotter 5 parts, each of them cut in on the edges,

taste. The root is whitish, small and long,
somewhat like unto a parsnip, but with
more wrinkled bark, and much less, of a

set at the joint on both sides of the
branches, of a dark blueish green colour,
on the upper side like Columbines, and of

little hot and quick taste, and stronger ! a more pale blueish green underneath, full
than the parsnip, and abides after seed- ; of yellow sap, when any is broken, of a
time. i bitter taste, and strong scent. A i, the

Place] It is usually sown with us in i flowers, of four leaves a-piece, after which

gardens.

come small long pods, with blackish seed

Time.] They flower in June and July, \ therein. The root is somewhat great at the
and seed quickly after. ; head, shooting forth divers long roots and

Government and virtues] This is also a 1 small strings, reddish on the outside, and
Mercurial plant. Carraway seed has a \ yellow within, full of yellow sap therein,
moderate sharp quality, whereby it breaks \ Place.] They grow in many places by
wind and provokes urine, which also the > old walls, hedges and way-sides in unfilled
herb doth. The root is better food than* places; and being once planted in a garden,
the parsnip; it is pleasant and comfortable ; especially some shady places, it will remain
to the stomach, and helps digestion. The
seed is conducing to all cold griefs of the

there.

Time] They flower all the Summer,

head and stomach, bowels, or mother, as 5 and the seed ripens in the mean time,
also the wind in them, and helps to sharpen | Government and virtues] This is an herb
the eye-sight. The powder of the seed put j of the S^n, and under the celestial Lion,
into a poultice, takes away black and blue \ and is one of the best cures f6r the eyes ;
spots of blows and bruises. The herb it- \ for, all that know any thing in astrology,
self, or with some of the seed bruised and 1 know that the eyes are subject to the
fried, laid hot in a bag or double cloth, to luminaries: let it then be gathered when the
the lower parts of the belly, eases the pains Sun is in Leo, and the Moon in Aries,
of the wind cholic. applying to this time ; let Leo arise, then

The roots of Carraway eaten as men do j may you make into an oil or ointment,
parsnips, strengthen the stomach of ancient | which you please, to anoint your sore eyes

AND ENGLISH PHYSICIAN ENLARGED.

not only good against the itch, but takes

away all discolourings of the skin what-

with : I can prove it doth both my own

experience, and the experience of those to

whom I have taught it, that most desperate \ soever : and if it chance that in a tender

sore eyes have been cured by this only \ body it causes any itchings or inflamma-

medicine ; and then, I pray, is not this far { tipns, by bathing the place with a little

better than endangering the eyes by the art
of the needle? For if this does not abso-

vinegar it is helped.

Another ill-favoured trick have physicians

lutely take away the film, it will so facilitate :j got to use to the eye, and that is worse than
the work, that it might be done without ! the needle ; which is to take away the films
danger. The herb or root boiled in white \ by corroding or gnawing medicines. That
Wine and drank, a few Anniseeds being : I absolutely protest against,
boiled therewith, opens obstructions of the t 1. Because the tunicles of the eyes are
liver and gall, helps the yellow jaundice ;! very thin, and therefore soon eaten asunder,
and often using it, helps the dropsy and the $ 2. The callus or film that they would eat
itch, and chose who have old sores in their j away, is seldom of an equal thickness in
legs, or other parts of the body. The ! every place, and then the tunicle may be
juice thereof taken fasting, is held to be of! eaten asunder in one place, before the film

singularly good use against the pestilence, i ' J : ~ - "---

The distilled water, with a little sugar and

be consumed in another, and so be a readier
way to extinguish the sight than to restore

a little good treacle mixed therewith (the j it.

party upon the taking being laid down to | It is called Chelidonium, from the Greek
sweat a little) has the same effect. The ! word Chelidon, which signifies a swallow ;
iuice dropped into the eyes, cleanses them \ because they say, that if you put out the
from films and cloudiness which darken the I eyes of young swallows when they are in
sight, but it is best to allay the sharpness ! the nest, the old ones will recover their eyes
of the iuice with a little breast milk. It is j again with this herb. This I am confident,
good in all old filthy corroding -creeping j for I have tried it, that if we mar the very
ulcers wheresoever, to stay their malignity j apple of their eyes with a needle, she will
of fretting and running, and to cause therm | recover them again ; but whether with this
to heal more speedily: The juice often { herb or not, I know not.
applied to tetters, ring-worms, or other such I Also I have read (and it seems to be
like spreading cankers, will quickly heal j somewhat probable) that the herb, being
them, and rubbed often upon warts, will gathered as I shewed before, and the
take them away. The herb with the roots !| elements draw apart from it by art of the
bruised and bathed with oil of camomile, i| alchymist, and after they are drawn apart
and applied to the navel, takes away the j rectified, the earthly quality, still in rectify-
griping pains in the belly and bowels, and j ing them, added to the Terra damnata (as
all the pains of the mother ; and applied to 5 Alchy mists call it) or Terra Sacratissima (as
women's breasts, stays the overmuch flowing i some philosophers call it) the elements so
of the courses, "^he juice or decoction of {rectified are sufficient for the cure of all
the herb garglea between the teeth thatach, j diseases, thehumoursoffendingbeingknown,
< ases the pain, and the powder of the dried { and the contrary element given : It is an

root laid upon any aching, hollow or loose
tooth, will cause it to fall out. The juice

mixed with some powder of brimstone is

experiment worth the trying, and can do
no harm.

44 THE COMPLETE HERBAL

THE LESSER CELANDINE, USUALL Y | J< ern , e ' s b J the ears and throat, called the

KNOWN BY THE NAME OP PILE WORT { ^ ***> T *"* Other haF(1 WenS OF
AND FOGWORT. 5 tumours.

Here s another secret for my countrymen

I WONDER what ailed the ancients to \ and women, a couple of them together;
give this the name Celandine, which re-fPilewort made into an oil, ointment, or
sembles it neither in nature nor form; itjplaister, readily cures both the piles, or
acquired the name of Pilewort from its { haemorrhoids, and the king's evil: The
virtues, and it being no great matter where j very herb borne about one's body next the
I set it down, so I set it down at all, I j skin helps in such diseases, though it never
humoured Dr. Tradition so much, as to set j touch the place grieved ; let poor people
him down here. j make much of it for those uses ; with this

Descript.~] This Celandine or Pilewort 5 1 cured my own daughter of the king's
(which you please) doth spread many round j evil, broke the sore, drew out a quarter of
pale green leaves, set on weak and trailing j a pint of corruption, cured without any
branches which lie upon the ground, and 5 scar at all in one week s time,
are flat, smooth, and somewhat shining, 5

and in some places (though seldom) marked j THB ORDINA * Y SMALL CENTAURY.
with black spots, each standing on a long| Descript.~] THIS grows up most usually
foot-stalk, among which rise small yellow \ but with one round and somewhat crusted
flowers, consisting of nine or ten small nar- * stalk, about a foot high or better, branching
row leaves, upon slender foot-stalks, very \ forth at the top into many sprigs, and some

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

also from the joints of the stalks below ; the
flowers thus stand at the tops as it were in
one umbel or tuft, are of a pale red, tending
to carnation colour, consisting of five,

fibres at the end of them. ; sometimes six small leaves, very like those

Placed] It grows for the most part in | of St. John's Wort, opening themselves in
moist corners of fields and places that are \ the day time and closing at night, after
near water sides, yet will abide in drier \ which come seeds in little short husks, in
ground if they be but a little shady. j form like unto wheat corn. The leaves are

Time.'] It flowers betimes, about March $ small and somewhat round ; the root small
or April, is quite gone by May ; so it can- and hard, perishing every year. The whole

not be found till it spring again.

Government and virtues.] It is under the
dominion of Mars, and behold here another

plant is of an exceeding bitter taste.

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

verification of the learning of the ancients, I Placed] They grow ordinarily in fields,
viz. that the virtue of an herb may be i pastures, and woods, but that with the
known by its signature, as plainly appears I white flowers not so frequently as the other
in this ; for if you dig up the root of it, \ Time.] They flower in July or there-
you shall perceive the perfect image of the 5 abouts, and seed within a month after,
disease which they commonly call the piles. | Government and virtues.] They are under
It is certain by good experience, that the 1 the dominion of the Sun, as appears in that
decoction of the leaves and roots wonder- : their flowers open and shut as the Sun either
fully helps piles and haemorrhoids, also 1 shews or hides his face. This herb, ooiled

AND ENGLISH PHYSICIAN ENLARGED. 4o

and drank, purges choleric and gross ; the government of the Sun ; yet this, if

humours, and helps the sciatica ; it opens j you observe it, you shall find an excellent

obstructions of the liver, gall, and speen, \ truth ; in diseases of the blood, use the red

helps the jaundice, and eases the pains in j Centaury ; if of choler, use the yellow ;

the sides and hardness of the spleen, used i but if phlegm or water, you will find the

outwardly, and is given with very good i white best.

effect in agues. It helps those that have THE CHERRY _ TREE .

the dropsy, or the green-sickness, being :

much used by the Italians in powder forj I SUPPOSE tnere are few but know this

that purpose. It kills the worms in the j tree, for its fruit's sake ; and therefore

belly, as is found by experience. The i I shall spare writing a description thereof.

decoction thereof, viz. the tops of the stalks, j Place.'] For the place of its growth, it

with the leaves and flowers, is good against Us afforded room in every orchard.

the cholic, and to bring down women's j Government and virtues.'] It is a tree of

courses, helps to void the dead birth, and t Venus. Cherries, as they are of different

eases pains of the mother, and is very ef- 5 tastes, so they are of different qualities.

fectual in all old pains of the joints as the;

The sweet pass through the stomach and

gout, cramps, or convulsions. A dram of { the belly more speedily, but are of little
the powder taken in wine, Ls a wonderful ; nourishment ; the tart or sour are more
good help against the biting and poison of j pleasing to an hot stomach, procure appe-
an adder. The juice of the herb with \ tite to meat, and help to cut tough phlegm,
a little honey put to it, is good to clear the j and gross humours ; but when these are
eyes from dimness, mists and clouds that; dried, they are more binding to the belly

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 othei, and perfectly to
cure them both, although they are hollow
or fistulous; the green herb especially, being
bruised and laid thereto. The decoction;

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

thereof dropped into the ears, cleanses! and expel the stone, and dissolved, the
them from worms, cleanses the foul ulcers j water thereof is much used to break the
and spreading scabs of the head, and takes J stone, and to expel gravel and wind,
away all freckles, spots, and marks in the! WTNTFR-CHFRRIES

I ' I * i i '1* 1 l 1* W * JY 1 JS *^/ ** JBT J A <

skin, being washed with it ; the herb is so :

safe you cannot fail in the using of it, only \

Descript.'] THE Winter Cherry has a

jiving it inwardly for inward diseases. running or creeping root in the ground, of
It is very wholesome, but not very tooth- i the bigness many times of one's little finger,
some. | shooting forth at several joints in several

There is beside these, another small | places, whereby it quickly spreads a great
Centaury, which bears a yellow flower ; in ! compass of ground. The stalk rises not
all other respects it is like the former, save j above a yard high, whereon are set many
that the leaves are larger, and of a darker j broad and long green leaves, somewhat
green, and the stalks pass through the midst | like nightshades, but larger ; at the joints
of them, as it does in the herb Thorowan. j whereof come forth whitish flowers made
They are all of them, as I told you, under ' of five leaves a piece, which afterwards

46 THE COMPLETE HERBAL

turn into green berries inclosed with thin | good to many, both to ease the pains, and
skins, which change to be reddish when \ expel urine and the stone, and to cause the
they grow ripe, the berry likewise being : stone not to engender. The deception of
reddish, and as large as a cherry ; wherein j the berries in wine and water is the most
are contained many flat and yellowish seeds j usual way ; but the powder of them taken
lying within the pulp, which being gathered I in drink is more effectual,
and strung up, are kept all the year to bei

O IT 7 J I" 1 TT 1? "P V T T

used upon occasion. 5

Place,'] They grow hot naturally in this i IT is called Cerefolium, Mirrhis, and
land, but are cherished in gardens for their I Mirrha, Chervil, Sweet Chervil, and Sweet
virtues. j Cicely.

Time.'] They flower not until the middle ; Descript.'] The garden Chervil doth at
or latter end of July ; and the fruit is ripe ; first somewhat resemble Parsley, but after it
about August, or the beginning of Sep- j is better grown, the leaves are much cut in
tember. ; andjagged,resemblinghemlock,beingalittle

Government and virtues.] This also is a ; hairy and of a whitish green colour, some-
plant of Venus. They are of great use in \ times turning reddish in the Summer, with
physic: The leaves being cooling, may be; the stalks also; it rises a little above half
used in inflammations, but not opening as \ a foot high, bearing white flowers in spiked
the berries and fruit are ; which by draw- \ tufts, which turn into long and round seeds
ing down the urine provoke it to be voided j pointed at the ends, and blackish when they
plentifully when it is stopped or grown hot, \ are ripe; of a sweet taste, but no smell
sharp, and painful in the passage ; it is ; though the herb itself smells reasonably
good also to expel the stone and gravel out : well. The root is small and long, and
of the reins, kidneys and bladder, helping j perishes every year, and must be sown
to dissolve the stone, and voiding it by grit I a-new in spring, for seed after July for
or gravel sent forth in the urine ; it also i Autumn fails.

helps much to cleanse inward imposthumes \ The wild Chervil grows two or three feet
or ulcers in the reins or bladder, or in those; high, with yellow stalks and joints, set with
that void a bloody or foul urine. The i broader and more hairy leaves, divided
distilled water of the fYuit, or the leaves j into sundry parts, nicked about the edges,
together with them, or the berries, green or j and of a dark green colour, which likewise
dry, distilled with a little milk and drank! grow reddish with the stalks; at the tops
morning and evening with a little sugar, is J whereof stand small white tufts, of flowers,
effectual to all the purposes before specified, J afterwards smaller and longer seed. The
and especially against the heat and sharp- [root is white, hard, and enduring long,
ness of the urine I shall only mention ; This has little or no scent,
one way, amongst many others, which; Place.~\ The first is sown in gardens for
might be used for ordering the berries, toiasallad herb; the second grows wild in
be helpful for the urine and the stone ; I many of the meadows of this land, and by
which is this : Take three or four good j the hedge sides, and on heaths,
handfuls of the berries, either green or} TimeJ] They flower and seed early, and
fresh, or dried, and having bruised them, \ thereupon are sown again in the end of
put them into so many gallons of beer or j Summer.

ale when it is new tunned up : This drink, j Government and virtues J] The garden
taken dailv has been found to do much ' Chervil being eaten, doth moderately warm

Chervil!

Com fry

Cleavers

Coltsfoot

(' ra.~bs C laws
or Fresh wator Soldier

Columbine

Shnil)

Costmary

THOMAS KELI.V. LONDON.

AND ENGLISH PHYSICIAN ENLARGED. 47

the stomach, and is a certain remedy (saith j after-birth, procures an appetite to meat,
Tragus) to dissolve congealed or clotted land expels wind. The juice is good lo
blood in the body, or that which is clotted j heal the ulcers of the head and face ; the
by bruises, falls, &c. The juice or distilled j candied root hereof are held as effectual as
water thereof being drank, and the bruised | Angelica, to preserve from infection in the
leaves laid to the place, being taken either \ time of a plague, and to warm and corn-
in meat or drink, it is good to help to pro- 1 fort a cold weak stomach. It is so harm-
voke urine, or expel the stone in the kid- j less, you cannot use it amiss,
neys, to send down women's courses, and! CHESNUT T

to help the pleurisy and pricking of the*

IT were as needless to describe a tree so
commonly known as to tell a man he had
gotten a mouth ; therefore lake the govern-

sides.

The wild Chervil bruised and applied,
dissolves swellings in any part, or the

rnarks of congealed blood by bruises or i ment and virtues of them thus :

? mi i i . i

blows, in a little space.

SWEET CHERVIL, OR SWEET CICELY.

The tree is abundantly under the do-
minion of Jupiter, and therefore the fruit
fin ust needs breed good blood, and yield

Descnpt.~\ THIS grows very like the i commendable nourishment to the body;
great hemlock, having large spread leaves \ yet if eaten over-much, they make the
cut into divers parts, but of a fresher green \ blood thick, procure head ache, and bind
colour than the Hemlock, tasting as sweet j the body; the inner skin, that covers the
as the Anniseed. The stalks rise up a yard I nut, is of so binding a quality, that a
high, or better, being creased or hollow, j scruple of it being taken by a man, or ten
having leaves at the joints, but lesser ; and i grains by a child, soon stops any flux what-
at the tops of the branched stalks, umbels j soever : The whole nut being dried and
or tufts of while flowers; after which comes i beaten into powder, and a dram taken at
long crested black shining seed, pointed at a time, is a good remedy to stop the terms
both ends, tasting quick, yet sweet and Jin women. If you dry Chesnuts, (only the
pleasant. The root is great and white, j kernels I mean) both the barks being taken
growing deep in the ground, and spreading! away, beat them into powder, and make
sundry long branches therein, in taste and j the powder up into an electuary with honey,
smell stronger than the leaves or seeds, and j so have you an admirable remed} r for the
continuing many years. j cough and spitting of blood.

Place.! This grows in gardens.

n j -j T mu 11 EARTH CHESNUTS.

Government ana vtrtttes.] Ihese are all;

three of them of the nature of Jupiter, and j THEY are called Earth-nuts, Earlh
under his dominion. This whole plant, ; Chesnuts, Ground Nuts, Ciper-nuts, and in
besides its pleasantness in sallads, has its ; Sussex Pig-nuts. A description of them
physical virtue. The root boiled, and eaten \ were needless, for every child knows then .
with oil and vinegar, (or without oil) do \ Government and virtues.~\ They are some-
much please and warm old and cold sto- j thing hot and dry in quality, under the
machs oppressed with wind or phlegm, or 5 dominion of Venus, they provoke lust
those that have ihe phthisic or consump- j exceedingly, and stir up to those sports she
lion of the lungs. The same drank with Us mistress of; the seed is excellent good to
wine is a preservation from the plague. It \ provoke urine ; and so also is the root, but
provokes women's courses, and expels the ! it doth not perform it so forcibly as the seed

48 THE COMPLETE HERBAL

doth. The root being dried and beaten ; the swellings and ease the pain". It helps
into powder, and the powder made into n j the sinews when they are shrunk by cramps,
electuary, is as singular a remedy for spitting or otherwise, and to extend and make them
and pissing of blood, as the former Chesnut ; pliable again by this medicine. Boil a
was for coughs. j handful of Chickweed, and a handful of

I red rose leaves dried, in a quart of musca-

* J , i r . i i

: dine, until a fourth part be consumed;

the several kinds, since but only two or i anoint the grieved place therewith, warm
three are considerable for their usefulness. | against the fire, rubbing it well with one

Place. J They are usually found in moist; hand": and bind also some of the herb (if
and watery places, by wood sides, and else- 5 you will) to the. place, and, with God's
where. ! blessing, it will help it in three times

TimeJ] They flower about June, and 1 dressing,
their seed is ripe in July.

n , -\ -r. c c.\ CHICK-PEASE, Oil CICERS.

Government a/id virtues.] It is a fine soft!

pleasing herb under the dominion of the J Descript.~\ THE garden sorts, whether
Moon. It is found to be effectual as | red, black, or white, bring forth stalks a
Purslain to all the purposes whereunto it j yard long, whereon do grow many small
serves, except for meat only. The herb \ and almost round leaves, dented about the
bruised, or the juice applied (with cloths or j edges, set on both sides of a middle rib ;
- sponges dipped therein) to the region of the j At the joints come forth one or two flowers,
liver, and as they dry, to have it fresh ap- 5 upon sharp foot stalks, pease-fashion, either
plied, doth wonderfully temperate the heat j white or whitish, or purplish red, lighter
of the liver, and is effectual for all impos-|or deeper, according as the pease that
thumes and swellings whatsoever, for all j follow will be, that are contained in small,
redness in the face, wheals, pushes, itch, thick, and short pods, wherein lie one or
scabs; the juice either simply used, or j two pease, more usually pointed at the
boiled with hog's grease and applied, helps j lower end, and almost round at the head,
cramps, convulsions, and palsy. The juice, : yet a little cornered or sharp; the root is
or distilled water, is of much good use for; small, and perishes yearly,
all heats and redness in the eyes, to drop $ Place and Time.^ They are sown in gar
some thereof into them; as also into the j dens, or fields as pease, being sown later
ears, to ease pains in them ; and is of good ; than pease, and gathered at the same time
effect to ease pains from the heat and sharp- 1 with them, or presently after,
ness of the blood in the piles, and generally \ Government and virtues^] They are both
all pains in the body fhat arise of heat. under the dominion of Venus. They are
It is used also in hot and virulent ulcers j less windy than beans, but nourish more;
and sores in the privy parts of men and \ they provoke urine, and are thought to in-
women, or on the legs, or elsewhere. The : crease sperm; they have a cleansing faculty,
leaves boiled with marsh-mallows, and \ whereby they break the stone in the kid
made into a poultice with fenugreek and i neys. To drink the cream of them, being
linseed, applied to swellings or impos-j boiled in water, is the best way. It moves
thumes, ripen and break them, or assuage > the belly downwards, provokes women's

AND ENGLISH PHYSICIAN ENLARGED. 49

courses and urine, increases both milk and ; of Jupiter, and therefore strengthens the
seed. One ounce of Cicers, two ounces of 'part of the body it rules; let Jupiter be
French barley, and a small handful of j angular and strong when it is gathered,
Marsh-mallow roots, clean washed and cut, j and if you give but a scruple (which is but
being boiled in the broth of a chicken, and j twenty grains,) of it at a time, either in
four ounces taken in the morning, and ; white wine, or in white wine vinegar, you
tasting two hours after, is a good medicine; shall very seldom miss the cure of an ague,
for a pain in the sides. The white Cicers | be it what ague soever, in three fits, as I
are used more for meat than medicine, yet | have often proved to the admiration both
have the same effect, and are thought more : of myself and others ; let no man despise it
powerful to increase milk and seed. The ; because it is plain and easy, the ways of
wild Cicers are so much more powerful i God are all such. It is an especial herb
than the garden kinds, by how much they ; used in all inflammations and fevers, whether
exceed them in heat and dry ness ; whereby ! infectious or pestilential; or among other
they do more open obstructions, break the j herbs to cool and temper the blood and
stone, and have all the properties of cutting, i humours in the body. As also for all lotions,
opening, digesting, and dissolving; and; gargles, infections, and the like, for sore
this more speedily and certainly than the j mouths, ulcers, cancers, fistulas, and other
former. $ corrupt, foul, or running sores. The juice

\ hereof drank, about four ounces at a time,

CINQUEFOTL, OR FIVE-LEAVED GRASS; 5 f . . ., .1

; for certain days together, cures the quinsev

CALLED IN SOME COUNTIES, FIVE- , . J j. s , . , c * .1 ~'

i and yellow laundice ; and taken for thirty

FINGERED GRASS. t , '" M J , , J

: days together, cures the falling sickness,

DescriptJ] IT spreads and creeps far \ The roots boiled in milk, and drank, is a
upon the ground, Avith long slender strings j most effectual remedy for all fluxes in man
like strawberries, which take root again, J or woman, whether the white or red, as also
and shoot forth many leaves, made of five; the bloody flux. The roots boiled in vine-
parls, and sometimes of seven, dented about | gar, and the decoction thereof held in
the edges, and somewhat hard. The stalks; the mouth, eases the pains of the tooth-
are slender, leaning downwards and beanach. The juice or decoction taken with
many small yellow flowers thereon, with ! a little honey, helps the hoarseness of
some yellow threads in the middle, standing! the throat, and is very good for the cough
about a smooth green head, which, when it \ of the lungs. The distilled water of both
is ripe, is a little rough, and contains small | roots and .leaves is also effectual to all the
brownish seeds. The root is of a blackish J purposes aforesaid ; and if the hands be
brown colours, as big as one's little finger, | often washed therein, and suffered at every
but growing long, with some threads thereat; | time to dry in of itself without wiping, it
and by the small string it quickly spreads j will in a short time help the palsy, or
over the ground. I shaking in them. The root boiled in

Place.~] It grows by wood sides, hedge j vinegar, helps all knots, kernels, hard
sides, the path-way in fields, and in the j swellings, and lumps growing in any
borders and corners of them almost through ! part of the flesh, being thereto applied ;
all this land. } as also inflammations, and St. An-

Time.'] It flowers in summer, somejthony's fire, all imposthumes, and pain-
sooner, some later, jful sores with heat and putrefaction.

Government and virtues.'] This is an herb i the shingles also, and all other sorts of

50 THE COMPLETE HERBAL

running and foul scabs, sores and itch. I has four square stalks, with broad, rough,
The same also boiled in wine, and applied ! wrinkled, whitish, or hoary green leaves,
to any joint full of pain, ache, or the gout j somewhat evenly cut in on the edges, and
in the hands or feet, or the hip gout, called | of a strong sweet scent, growing some near
the Sciatica, and the decoction thereof \ the ground, and some by couples upon
drank the while, doth cure them, and eases I stalks. The flowers grow at certain dis-
much pain in the bowels. The roots are jtances, with two small leaves at the joints
likewise effectual to help ruptures or burst- 1 under them, somewhat like unto the flowers
mgs, being used with other things available j of Sage, but smaller, and of a whitish blue
to that purpose, taken either inwardly or j colour. The seed is brownish, and some-
outwardly, or both ; as also bruises or j what flat, or not so round as the wild. The
hurts by blows, falls, or the like, and to | roots are blackish, and spread not far, and
stay the bleeding of wounds in any parts j perish after the seed time. It is usually
inward or outward. sown, for it seldom rises of its own sowing

Some hold that one leaf cures a quo-
tidian, three a tertain, and four a quartan

P/oce.] This grows in gardens.

Time.'] It flowers in June and July,

ague, and a hundred to one if it be not j some a little later than others, and their
Dioscorides ; for he is full of whimsies, jseed is ripe in August, or thereabouts.
The truth is, I never stood so much upon | Government and virtues.'] It is under the
the number of the leaves, nor whether I j dominion of the Moon. The seed put into
give it in powder or decoction: If Jupiter j the eyes clears them from motes, and such
were strong, and the Moon applying to \ like things gotten within the lids to offend
him, or his good aspect at the gathering, \ them, as also clears them from white and
I never knew it miss the desired effect. J red spots on them. The mucilage of the

| seed made with water, and applied to
\ tumours, or swellings, disperses and takes

CALLED also Rush Leeks, Chives, Civet, j them away; as also draws forth splinters,
and Sweth. $ thorns, or other things gotten into the flesh.

Government and virtues.'] I confess I had 5 The leaves used with vinegar, either by
not added these, had it not been for a coun- 1 itself, or with a little honey, doth help boils,
try gentleman, who by a letter certified { felons, and the hot inflammation that are
me, that amongst other herbs, I had left \ gathered by their pains, if applied before
these out ; they are indeed a kind of leeks, \ it be grown too great. The powder of the
hot and dry in the fourth degree as they j dried root put into the nose, provokes
are, and so under the dominion of Mars ; ; sneezing, and thereby purges the head and
if they be eaten raw, (I do not mean raw, j brain of much rheum and corruption. The
opposite to roasted or boiled, but raw, \ seed or leaves taken in wine, provokes to
opposite to chymical preparation) they send j venery. It is of much use both for men
up very hurtful vapours to the brain, caus- 1 and women that have weak backs, and
ing troublesome sleep, and spoiling the | helps to strengthen the reins : used eithei
eye-sight, yet of them prepared by the art j by itself, or with other herbs conducing to
of the alchymist, may be made an excel- ithe same effect, and in tansies often. The
lent remedy for the stoppage of the urine, j fresh leaves dipped in a batter of flour

J eggs, and a little milk, and fried in butter,

LARr, OB MORE PROPERLY CLEAR-EYE, j Jj ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^^

Descript.~] OUR ordinary garden Clary i to any, but exceedingly profitable for those

AND ENGLISH PHYSICIAN ENLARGED. 61

that are troubled with weak backs, and the j safer, and easier remedy by a great deal,
effects thereof. The juice of the herb put I than to tear it off with a needle,
into ale or bear, and drank, brings down :
women's courses, and expels the after-birth. \

IT is aiso called Aperine, Goose-share,
WILD CLARY. ; Goose-grass, and Cleavers.

Descript.~] The common Cleavers have

WILD Clary is most blasphunously : divers very rough square stalks, not so big
called Christ's Eye, because it cures dis- j as the top of a point, but rising up to be
eases of the eye. I could wish for my soul, j two or three yards high sometimes, if it
blasphemy, igrionance, and tyranny, were; meet with any tall bushes or trees whereon
ceased among physicians, that they may be it may climb, yet without any claspers, or
happy, and I joyful. I else much lower, and lying on the ground,

Descript.~] It is like the other Clary, but : full of joints, and at everj r one of them
lesser, with many stalks about a foot and j shoots forth a branch, besides the leaves
a half high. The stalks are square, and I thereat, which are usually six, set in a round
somewhat hairy; the flowers of a bluish | compass like a star, or a rowel of a spur:
colour ; He that knows the common Clary J From between the leaves or the joints to-
cannot be ignorant of this. > wards the tops of the branches, come forth

Place.'] It grows common!} 7 in this na- very small white flowers, at every end,
tion in barren places ; you may find it | upon small thready foot-stalks, which after

plentifully, if you look in the fields near

they have fallen, there do shew two small

Gray's Inn, and near Chelsea. j round and rough seeds joined together.

Time."] They flower from the beginning : which, when they are ripe, grow hard
of June to the latter end of August. ; anc 1 whitish, having a little hole on the

Government and virtues."] It is something i side, something like unto a navel. Both
hotter and drier than the garden Clary is, \ stalks, leaves, and seeds are so rough,
yet nevertheless under the dominion of the i that they will cleave to any thing that will
Moon, as well as that; the seeds of it being i touch them. The root is small and thready,
beat to powder, and drank with wine, is j spreading much to the ground, but dies
an admirable help to provoke lust. A de- i every year.

coction of the leaves being drank, warms | Place.'] It grows by the hedge and ditch-
the stomach, and it is a wonder if it should | sides in many places of this land, and is so
not, the stomach being under Cancer, the S troublesome an inhabitant in gardens, that
house of the Moon. Also it helps diges- i it ramps upon, and is ready to choak what-
lion, scatters congealed blood in any part ; ever grows near it.

of the body. The distilled water hereof! TimeJ] It flowers in June or July, and
cleanses the eyes of redness, waterishness, j the seed is ripe and falls again in the end
and heat : It is a gallant remedy for dim- I of July or August, from whence it springs
ness of sight, to take one of the seeds of it, | up again, and not from the old roots,
and put into the eyes, and there iet it re- Government and virtues.] It is under the
main till it drops out of itself, (the pain dominion of the Moon. The juice of the
will be nothing to speak on,) it will cleanse : herb and the seed together taken m wine,
the eyes of all filthy and putrified matter; ! helps those bitten with an adder, by pre-
and in often repeating it, will take off a -serving the heart from the venom. It is
film which covers the sight: a handsomer, ; familiarly taken in broth to keep them lean

52 THE COMPLETE HERBAL

and lank, that are apt to grow fat. The i this land, both north and west, and fre-
distilled water drank twice a day, helps the j quently by path-sides in the fields near
yellow jaundice, and the decoction of the about London, and within three or four
herb, in experience, is found to do the same, J miles distant about it, yet it usually grows
and stays lasks and bloody-fluxes. The j in or near ditches.

juice of the leaves, or they a little bruised, i Time.~\ It flowers in June or July, and
and applied to any bleeding wounds, stays \ the seed is ripe soon after,
the bleeding. The juice also is very good | Government and virtues. ~\ It is under the
to close up the lips of greed wounds, and j dominion of the planet Saturn. It is sin-
the powder of the dried herb strewed there- j gularly effectual in all fresh and green
upon doth the same, and likewise helps 5 wounds, and therefore bears not this name
old ulcers. Being boiled in hog's grease, i for nought. And it is very available in
it helps all sorts of hard swellings or ker- 1 staunching of blood and to dry up the
nels in the throat, being anointed there- i fluxes of humours in old fretting ulcers,
with. The juice dropped into the ears, $ cankers, &c. that hinder the healing of
fakes away the pain of them. jthem.

It is a good remedy in the Spring, eaten | A syrup made of the juice of it, is inferior
(being first chopped small, and boiled well) \ to none for inward wounds, ruptures of
in water-gruel, to cleanse the blood, and veins, bloody flux, vessels broken, spitting,
strengthen the liver, thereby to keep the urining, or vomiting blood : Ruptures are
body in health, and fitting it for that change j excellent and speedily, even to admiration.

of season that is coming.

cured by taking now and then a little of

the syrup, and applying an ointment or

CLOWNS WOOD , / v*v u u *. 4.1 i AI -f

plaister or this herb to the place. Also, if

Descript^] IT grows up sometimes to 5 , any vein be swelled or muscle, apply a
two or three feet, high, but usually about i plaister of this herb to it, and if you add
two feet, with square green rough stalks, j a little Comfrey to it, it will not be amiss
but slender, joined somewhat far asunder, 1 1 assure thee the herb deserves commenda-
and two very long, somewhat narrow, dark 5 tion, though it has gotten such a clownish
green leaves, bluntly dented about the j name ; and whosoever reads this, (if he try
edges thereof, ending in along point. The; it, as I have done,) will commend it; only
flowers stand towards the tops, compassing j take notice that it is of a dry earthy quality,
the stalks at the joints with the leaves, and | ,

i V1 J -, j , '. ?COCK S HEAD, RED PITCHING, OR ME-

end likewise in a spiked top, having long ' mcK FETCH

and much gaping hoods of a purplish red \

colour, with whitish spots in them, standing i DescriptJ] THIS has divers weak but
in somewhat round husks, wherein after- j rough stalks, half a yard long, leaning
wards stand blackish round seeds. The \ downward, but set with winged leaves,
root is composed of many long strings, j longer and more pointed than those of
with some tuberous long knobs growing | Lintels, and whitish underneath ; from the
among them, of a pale yellowish or whitish \ tops of these stalks arise up other slender
colour, yet some times of the year these i stalks, naked without leaves unto the tops,
knobby roots in many places are not seen j where there grow many small flowers in
in this plant : This plant smells somewhat manner of a spike, of a pale reddish colour,
strong. 1 with some blueness among them ; after

Place.] It grows in sundry counties of i which rise up in their places, round, rough,

AND ENGLISH PHYSICIAN ENLARGED. 53

and somewhat flat heads. The root is|

tough, and somewhat woody, yet lives and j COLTSFOOT.

shoots a-new every year,

Place.] It grows upon hedges, and ! CALLED also Coughwort, Foal's-foot,
sometimes in the open fields, in divers j Horse-hoof, and Bull's-foot.
places of this land. Descript.~] This shoots up a slender stalk,

Time.] They flower all the months of \ with small yellowish floweis somewhat
July and August, and the seed ripen m | earlier, which fall away quickly, and after
the mean while. 1 they are past, come up somewhat round

Government and virtues.'] It is under the j leaves, sometimes dented about the edges,
dominion of Venus. It has power to rarity j much lesser, thicker, and greener than those
and digest, and therefore the green leaves j of butter-bur, Avith a little down or frieze
bruised 5 and laid as a plaister, disperse | over the green leaf on the upper side, which
knots, nodes, or kernels in the flesh ; and j may be rubbed away, and whitish or meally
if, when dry, it be taken in wine, it helps j underneath. The root is small and white,
the stranguary ; and being anointed with * spreading much under ground, so that
oil, it provokes sweat. It is a singular food { where it takes it will hardly be driven
for cattle, to cause them to give store of] away again, if any little piece be abid-
tnilk ; arid why then may it not do the like, ] ing therein; and from thence spring fresh
being boiled in ordinary drink, for nurses, j leaves.

Place.l It grows as well in wet grounds
COLUMBINES. as in drier places,

THESE are so well known, growing al-j Time.~\ And flowers in the end of
most in every garden, that I think I may I February, the leaves begin to appear in
save the expence of time in writing a de- ! March,
scription of them. Government and virtues. The plant is

Time.'] They flower in May, and abide: under Venus, the fresh leaves or juice, or

not for the most part when June is past,
perfecting their seed in the mean time.
Government and virtues.] It is also an

a syrup thereof is good for a hot dry cough,
or wheezing, and shortness of breath. The
dry leaves are best for those that have thin

herb of Venus. The leaves of Columbines \ rheums and distillations upon their lungs,
are commonly used in lotions with good j causing a cough, for which also the dried
success for sore mouths and throats. Tra- j leaves taken as tobacco, or the root is very
gus saith, that a dram of the seed taken in {good. The distilled water hereof simply,
wine with a little saffron, opens obstruc- \ or with Elder flowers and Nightshade, is a
tions of the liver, and is good for the yellow j singularly good remedy against all hotagues,
jaundice, if the party after the taking to drink two ounces at a time, and apply
thereof be laid to sweat well in bed. The j cloths wet therein to the head and stomach,
seed also taken in wine causes a speedy j which also does much good, being applied
delivery of women in childbirth : if one * to any hot swellings and inflammations :
draught suffice not, let her drink the j It helps St. Anthony's fire, and burnings,
second, and it will be effectual : The* and is singularly good to take away wheals
Spaniards used to eat a piece of the root \ and small pushes that arise through heat ;
thereof in the morning fasting, many days j as also the burning beat of the piles, or
together, to help them when troubled with \ privy parts, cloths wet therein being fhere-
the stone in the reins or kidneys. | unto applied.

54 THE COMPLETE HERBAL

MFREY \of the lungs, and causes the phlegm that

I oppresses them to be easily spit forth : It

THIS is a very common but a very neg-| helps the defiuction of rheum from the
lected plant. It contains very great virtues. | head upon the lungs, the fluxes of blood or

Descript.~\ The common Great Com- i humours by the belly, women's immoderate
frey has divers very large hairy green leaves 5 courses, as well the reds as the whites, and
lying on the ground, so hairy or prickly, ; the running of the reins, happening by what
that if they touch any tender parts of the j cause soever. A syrup made thereof is
hands, face, or body, it will cause it to itch; | very effectual for all those inward griefs
the stalks that rise from among them, being; and hurts, and the distilled water for the
two or three feet high, hollow and cornered, ? same purpose also, and for outward wounds
is very hairy also, having many such like ; and sores in the fleshy or sinewy part of the
leaves as grow below, but less and less up j body whatsoever, as also to take away the
to the top: At the joints of the stalks it is j fits of agues, and to allay the sharpness of
divided into many branches, with some humours. A decoction of the leaves here-
leaves thereon, and at the ends stand many $ of is available to all the purposes, though
flowers in order one above another, which j not so effectual as the roots. The roots
are somewhat long and hollow like the j being outwardly applied, help fresh wounds
finger of a glove, olf a pale whitish colour, j or cuts immediately, being bruised and laid
after which come small black seeds. The i thereto ; and is special good for ruptures
roots are great and long, spreading great and broken bones ; yea, it is said to be so
thick branches under ground, black on the powerful to consolidate and knit together,
outside, and whitish within, short and easy that if they be boiled with dissevered pieces
to break, and full of glutinous or clammy j of flesh in a pot, it Avill join them together
juice, of little or no taste at all. ? again. It is good to be applied to women's

There is another sort in all things like; breasts that grow sore by the abundance
this, only somewhat less, and bears flowers | of milk coming into them ; also to repress
of a pale purple colour. j the over much bleeding of the haemorrhoids,

Place .] They grow by ditches and } to cool the inflammation of the parts there-
water-sides, and in divers fields that arejabouts, and to give ease of pains. The
moist, for therein they chiefly delight to ; roots of Comffey taken fresh, beaten small,
grow. The first generally through all the j and spread upon leather, and laid upon
land, and the other but in some places. By j any place troubled with the gout, doth
the leave of my authors, I know the first j presently give ease of the pains ; and ap-
gjows in dry places. j plied in the same manner, gives ease to

Time.'] They flower in June or July, j pained joints, and profits very much for
and give their seed in August. running and moist ulcers, gangrenes, mor-

tifications, and the like, for which it hath
by often experience been found helpful.

CORALWORT.

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 Wound wort i
may be said of this. The Great Comfrey j IT is also called by some Toothwon,
helps those that spit blood, or make ajToolh Violet, Dog-Teeth Violet, and
bloody irine. The root boiled in water or Dentaria.

wine, and the decoction drank, helps allj Dtscript.'] Of the many sorts of this
inward hurts, bruises, wounds, and ulcers ] herb two of them may be found growing

AND ENGLISH PHYSICIAN ENLARGED. 55

in this nation ; the first of which shoots ! wounds, especially such as are made in the
forth one or two winged leaves, upon long | breast or lungs, by taking a dram of the
brownish foot-stalks, which are doubled j powder of the root every morning in wine:
down at their first coming out of the ground ; j the same is excellently good for ruptures, as
when they are fully opened they consist | also to stop fluxes ; an ointment made of it
of seven leaves, most commonly of a sad j is exceedingly good for wounds and ulcers,
green colour, dented about the edges, set \ for it soon dries up the watery humours
on both sides the middle rib one against ! which hinder the cure,
another, a, the leaves of the ash tree; the I STMAR QR AL
stalk bears no leaves on the lower half of { HERB

it ; the upper half bears sometimes three or j

four, each consisting of five leaves, some-| THIS is so frequently known to be an
times of three ; on the top stand four or j inhabitant in almost every garden, that I
five flowers upon short foot-stalks, with j suppose it needless to write a description
long husks ; the flowers are very like the j thereof.

flowers of Stockgilliflowers, of a pale | Time.'] It flowers in June and July,
purplish colour, consisting of four leaves \ Government and virtues.'] It is under the
a-piece, after which come small pods, which ^ dominion of Jupiter. The ordinary Cost-
contain the seed ; the root is very smooth, i mary, as well as Maudlin, provokes urine
white and shining ; it does not grow down- j abundantly, and moistens the hardness of
wards, but creeps along under the upper j the mother ; it gently purges choler and
crust of the ground, and consists of divers j phlegm, extenuating that which is gross,
small round knobs set together ; towards ? and cutting that which is tough and glu-
the top of the stalk there grows some single \ tinous, cleanses that which is foul, and
leaves, by each of which comes a small j hinders putrefaction and corruption ; it
cloven bulb, which when it is ripe, if it be I dissolves without attraction, opens obstruc-
set in the ground, it will grow to be a root, i tions, and helps their evil effects, and it is a

As for the other Coral wort, which grows j wonderful help to all sorts of dry agues,
in this nation, it is more scarce than this, \ It is astringent to the stomach, and
being a very small plant, much like Crow- f strengthens the liver, and all the other in-
foot, therefore some think it to be one of? ward parts; and taken in whey works more
the sorts of Crowfoot. I know not where j effectually. Taken fasting in the morning,
to direct you to it, therefore I shall forbear j it is very profitable for pains in the head
the description. j that are continual, and to stay, dry up, and

Place.'] The first grows in Mayfield in I consume all thin rheums or distillations
Sussex, in a wood called Highread, and in j from the head into the stomach, and helps
another wood there also, called Fox-holes. ! much to digest raw humours that are

Time.'] They flower from the latter end j gathered therein. It is very profitable for
of April to the middle of May, and before I those that are fallen into a continual evil
the middle of July they are gone, and not j disposition of the whole body, called
to be found. \ Cachexia, but especially in the beginning

Government and virtues. ~\ It is under the j of the disease. It is an especial friend and
dominion of the Moon. It cleanses the j help to evil, weak and cold livers. The
bladder, and provokes urine, expels gravel, ; seed is familiarly given to children for the
and the stone ; it eases pains in the sides ] worms, and so is the infusion of the flowers
and bowels, is excellently good for inward | in white wine given them to the quantity of

56 THE COMPLETE HERBAL

two ounces at a lime; it makes an excellent i and the worms, and being either drank 01
salve to cleanse and heal old ulcers, being j injected, for the disease called Tenesmus,
boiled with oil of olive, and Adder's tongue j which is an often provocation to the stool
with it, and after it is strained, put a little j without doing any thing. The green leaves
wax, rosin, and turpentine, to bring it to a | bruised, and laid to any green wound, stays
convenient body. i tlie bleeding, and heals it up quickly. The

\ juice of the herb taken in wine and milk,

CUDWEED, OR COTTONWEED. \ J . -p,,. . ,

ps, as l j liny saith, a sovereign remedy

BESIDES Cudweed and Cotton weed, it is ! against the mumps and quinsey ; and further
also Called Chaffweed, Dwarf Cotton, and ; saith, That whosoever shall so take it, shall
Petty Cotton. \ never be troubled with that disease again.

Descn'pf.l The common Cudweed rises i
up with one stalk sometimes, and some-! COWSLIPS, OR PEAGLES.

times with two or three, thick set on all j BOTH the wild and garden Cowslips are
sides with small, long and narrow whitish \ so well known, that I neither trouble my-
or woody leaves, from the middle of the self nor the reader with a description of
stalk almost up to the top, with every leaf
stands small flowers of a dun or brownish

them.

Time.~\ They flower in April and May.

yellow colour, or not so yellow as others ; 5 Government and virtues.] Venus lays
in which herbs, after the flowers are fallen, j claim to this herb as her own, and it is
come small seed wrapped up, with the down \ under the sign Aries, and our city dames
therein, and is carried away with the wind ; >'"" - i11 ~r,,v, ^^ ;*.,,+ . ^;=f;n^j
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

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

paler and more open. I wrinkles of the skin, sun-burning, and

Placed] They grow in dry, barren, sandy, {freckles, and adds beauty exceedingly;
and gravelly grounds, in most places of j they remedy all infirmities of the head
this land. i coming of heat and wind, as vertigo, ephi-

TimeJ] They flower about July, some Suites, false apparitions, phrensies, falling-
earlier, some later, and their seed is ripe in I sickness, palsies, convulsions, cramps, pains
August. 5 in the jierves ; the roots ease pains in the

Government and virtues.~] Venus is Lady \ back and bladder, and open the passages of
of it. The plants are all astringent, bind- 1 urine. The leaves are good in wounds,
ing, or drying, and therefore profitable for and the flowers take away trembling. If
defluctions of rheum from the head, and to I the flowers be not well dried, and kept in
stay fluxes of blood wheresoever, the de- \ a warm place, they will soon putrefy and
coction being made into red wine and $ look green : Hare a special eye over them,
drank, or the powder taken therein. It also { If you let them see the Sun once a month,
helps the bloody-flux, and eases the tor- j it will do neither the Sun nor them harm
inents that corne thereby, stays the immode-j Because they strengthen the brain and
rate courses of women, and is also good for j nerves, and remedy palsies, the Greeks
inward or outward wounds, hurts, and i gave them the name Paralysis. The flowers
bruises, and helps children both of burstings * preserved or conserved, and the quantity of

AND ENGLISH PHYSICIAN ENLARGED. 57

a nutmeg eaten every morning, is a sufficient j low, after which comes small pods, which
dose for inward diseases ; but for wounds, contain the seed.

spots, wrinkles, and sunburnings, an oint- j Place.] It is a common herb, grows

ment is made of the leaves, and hog's j usually by the way-side, and sometimes

grease. j upon mud walls about London, but it

, \ delights to grow most among stones and

CM\ A lj S I j A \V o 11*1

rubbish.

CALLED also Water Sengreen, Knight's | Time.] It flowers in June and July,
Pond Water, Water House-leek, Pond \ and the seed is ripe in August and Sep-
Weed, and Fresh-water Soldier. ; tember.

Descript.] It has sundry long narrow \ Government and virtues.'] It is a plant of
leaves, with sharp prickles on the edges of a hot and biting nature, under the dominion

them, also very sharp pointed ; the stalks
which bear flowers, seldom grow so high as ;
the leaves, bearing a forked head, like a
Crab's Claw, out of which comes a white
flower, consisting of three leaves, with divers
yellowish hairy threads in the middle ; it

of Mars. The seed of Black Cresses
strengthens the brain exceedingly, being,
in performing that office, little inferior to
mustard seed, if at all ; they are excellently
good to stay those rheums which may fall
down from tke head upon the lungs ; you

takes root in the mud at the bottom of the j may beat the seed into powder, if you
water. j please, and make it up into an electuary

Placed] It grows plentifully in the fens * with honey ; so you have an excellent

remedy by you, not only for the premises,
but also for the cough, yellow jaundice and
sciatica. This herb boiled into a poultice

in Lincolnshire.

Time,.'] It flowers in June, and usually
from thence till August.

Government and virtues^] It is a plant j is an excellent remedy for inflammations,
under the dominion of Venus, and there- 1 both in women's breasts, and men's testicles,
fore a great strengthener of the reins ; it is !
excellently good for inflammation which is j

commonly called St. Anthony's Fire; it: Descript.] THESE are of two kinds
assuages inflammations, and swellings in ; The first rises up with a round stalk about
wounds : and an ointment made of it is i two feet high, spreads into divers branches,
excellently good to heal them ; there is j whose lower leaves are somewhat larger
scarcely a better remedy growing than this j than the upper, yet all of them cut or toin
is, for such as have bruised their kidneys, ! on the edges, somewhat like the garden
and upon that account discharge blood ; a I Cresses, but smaller, the flowers are small
dram of the powder of the herb taken j and white, growing at the tops of branches,
every morning, is a very good remedy to j where afterwards grow husks with small
stop the terms. \ brownish seeds therein very strong and

i sharp in taste, more than the Cresses of the

riljA^IvL'Jii^oolijlS. -i .1 M i . j i

| garden ; the root is long, white, and woody
Descript.~] IT has long leaves, deeply t The other has the lower leaves whole

cut and jagged on both sides, not much
unlike wild mustard ; the stalk small, very

somewhat long and broad, not torn at all,
but only somewhat deeply dented about

limber, though very tough : you may twist \ the edges towards the ends ; but those that
them round as you may a willow before they | grow up higher are smaller, The flowers
break. The flowers are very small and yel- \ and seeds are like the former, and so is the

58 THE COMPLETE HERBAL

root likewise, and both root and seeds as | Place.'] They grow, for the most part,
sharp as it. 'in small standing waters, yet sometimes in

PlaceJ] They grow in the way-sides in \ small rivulets of running water,
untilled places, and by the sides of old j Time.] They flower and seed in the
walls. | beginning of Summer.

TimeJ] They flower in the end of June, \ Government and virtues. It is an herb
and their seed is ripe in July. I under the dominion of the Moon. Thev

Government and virtues^] It is a Saturnine { are more powerful against the scurvy, and
plant. The leaves, but especially the root, j to cleanse the blood and humours, than
taken fresh in Summer-time, beaten or made \ Brooklime is, and serve in all the other
into a poultice or salve with old hog's grease, j uses in which Brooklime is available, as to
and applied to the places pained with the j break the stone, and provoke urine and
sciatica, to continue thereon four hours if it | women's courses. The decoction thereof
oe on a man, and two hours on a woman ; j cleanses ulcers, by washing them therewith,
the place afterwards bathed with wine and jThe leaves bruised, or the juice, is good, to
oil mixed together, and then wrapped with! be applied to the fare or other parts troubled
wool or skins, after they have sweat a little, j with freckles, pimples, spots, or the like, at
will assuredly cure not only the same dis- 1 night, and washed away in the morning
ease in hips, knuckle-bone, or other of the $The juice mixed with vinegar, and the fore
joints, as gout in the hands or feet, but all | part of the head bathed therewith, is very
other old griefs of the head, (as inveterate \ good for those that are dull and drowsy, or
rheums,) and other parts of the body that \ have the lethargy.

Water-cress pottage is a good remedy to
cleanse the blood in the spring, and help

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, headaches, and consume the gross humours
The same is also effectual in the diseases | winter has left behind; those that would
of the spleen ; and applied to the skin, | live in health, may use it if they please ;
takes away the blemish thereof, whether 1 if they will not, I cannot help it. If any
they be scars, leprosy, scabs, or scurf, j fancy not pottage, they may eat the herb as
which although it ulcerate the part, yet that j a sallad.
is to be helped afterwards with a salve made j

/ .-i i* T-, .1 .1 CROSSWORT.

of oil and wax. Esteem this as another

secret. THIS herb receives its name from the

! situation of its leaves.

,j Descript.-] Common Crosswort grows

Descnpt.'] OUR ordinary Water Cresses | up with square hairy brown stalks a little
spread forth with many weak, hollow, sappy j above a foot high, having four small broad
stalks, shooting out fibres at the joints, and 1 and pointed, hairy, yet smooth thin leaves,
upwards long winged leaves made of sundry } growing at every joint, each against other
broad sappy almost round leaves, of a | one way, which has caused the name-
brownish colour. The flowers are many I Towards the tops of the stalks at the joints,
and white, standing on long foot-stalks, t with the leaves in three or four rows down-
after which come small yellow seed, con- 1 wards, stand small, pale yellow flowers,
tained in small long pods like horns. The ; after which come small blackish round
whole plant abides green in the winter, and : seeds, four for the most part, set in every
tastes somewhat hot and sharp. husk. The root is very small, and full of

P1.ATF. 6.

Crowfoot

< "n r/kow Point

"Water Crt

e ed

Cr osswort

Dill

D andelion

Devils Bit

THOMAS KET.LV. LONDON 1(

AND ENGLISH PHYSICIAN ENLARGED. 69

fibres, or threads, taking good hold of the I patience of Socrates himself, but because
"round, and spreading with the branches : I have not yet attained to the spirit or
over a great deal of ground, which perish ; Socrates, I shall but describe the most
not in winter, although the leaves die every j usual,
year, and spring again anew. i Descript] The most common Crowfoot

Place.'] It grows in many moist grounds, 5 has many thin great leaves, cut into divers
as well meadows as untilled places, about \ parts, in taste biting and sharp, biting and
London, in Hampstead church-yard, at ; blistering the tongue: It bears many
Wye in Kent, and sundry other places. \ flowers, and those of a bright, resplendent,

Time.] It flowers from May all the Sum- j yellow colour. I do not remember, that I

mer long, in one place or other, as they are ;
more open to the sun ; the seed ripens soon <

ever saw any thing yellower. Virgins, in
ancient time, used to make powder of them

after. ? to furrow bride beds ; after which flowers

Government and virtues.] It is under the \ come small heads, some spiked and rugged
dominion of Saturn. This is a singularly like a Pine- Apple.

good wound herb, and is used inwardly,
not only to stay bleeding of wounds, but to

Place] They grow very common every
where ; unless you turn your head into a

consolidate them, as it doth outwardly any $ hedge, you cannot but see them as you

freen wound, whichitquickly solders up, and 5 walk
eals. The decoction of the herb in wine, j Time."] They flower in May and June,
helps to expectorate the phlegm out of the j even till September.

chest, and is good for obstructions in the ; Government and virtues."] This fiery and
breast, stomach, or bowels, and helps a f hot-spirited herb of Mars is no way fit to
decayed appetite. It is also good to wash j be given inwardly, but an ointment of the
any wound or sore with, to cleanse and heal j leaves or flowers will draw a blister, and
it. The herb bruised, and then boiled, ; may be so fitly applied to the nape of the
applied outwardly for certain days together, j neck to draAV back rheum from the eyes,
renewing it often : and in the mean times The herb being bruised and mixed with a

the decoction of the herb in wine, taken:

little mustard, draws a blister as well, and

inwardly every day, doth certainly cure the * as perfectly as Cantharides, and with far
rupture in any, so as it be not too invete- \ less danger to the vessels of urine, which

rate ; but very speedily, if it be fresh and
lately taken.

Cantharides naturally delight to wrong :
I knew the herb once applied to a pesti-

CROWFOOT lential rising that was fallen down, and it

\ saved life even beyond hope ; it were good

MANY are the names this furious biting I to keep an ointment and plaister of it, if it
herb has obtained, almost enough to make* were but for that,
up a Welshman's pedigree, if he fetch no*

farther than John of Gaunt, or William the) CUCKOW-POINT.

Conqueror; for it is called FrogVfoot, from | IT is called Aron, Janus, Barba-aron,
the Greek name Barrakion : Crowfoot, i Calve's-foot, Ramp, Starchwort, Cuckow-
Gold Knobs, Gold Cups, King's Knob, 5 point, and Wake Robin.
Baffiners, Troilflowers, Polts, Locket Gou-j Descript] This shoots forth three, four,
tions, and Butterflowers. \ or five leaves at the most, from one root,

Abundance are the sorts of this hero, j every one whereof is somewhat large and
that to describe them all, would tire the pong, broad at the bottom next the stalk.

CO THE COMPLETE HERBAL

and forked, but ending in a point, without $ Spring, and continue but until the middle
a cut on the edge, of a full green colour, ) of Summer, or somewhat later ; their husks
each standing upon a thick round stalk, of ? appearing before the fall away, and their
a hand-breadth long, ormore, amongwhich, fruit shewing in April,
after two or three months that they begin to ) Government and virtues.] It is under the
wither, rises up a bare, round, whitish green | dominion of Mars. Tragus reports, that
stalk, spotted and streaked with purple, \ a dram weight, or more, if need be, of the
somewhat higher than the leaves : At the \ spotted Wake Robin, either fresh and
top whereof stands a long hollow husk | green, or dried, having been eaten and taken,
close at the bottom, but open from the ; is a present and sure remedy for poison and
middle upwards, ending in a point : in the j the plague. The juice of the herb taken to
middle whereof stands the small long pestle the quantity of a spoonful has the same
or clapper, smaller at the bottom than at \ effect. But if there be a little vinegar
the top, of a dark purple colour, as the husk j added thereto, as well as to the root afore-
is on the inside, though green without ; j said, it somewhat allays the sharp biting
which, after it hath so abided for some time, j taste thereof upon the tongue. The green
the husk with the clapper decays, and the \ leaves bruised, and laid upon any boil or
foot or bottom thereof grows to be a small ; plague sore, doth wonderfully help to draw
long bunch of berries, green at the first, i forth the poison : A dram of the powder of
and of a yellowish red colour when they ; the dried root taken with twice so much
are ripe, of the bigness of a hazel-nut ker- 1 sugar in the form of a licking electuary, or
nel, which abides thereon almost until j the green root, doth wonderfully help those
Winter; the root is round, and somewhat 5 that are pursy and short-winded, as also those
long, for the most part lying along, the that have a cough ; it breaks, digests, and
leaves shooting forth at the largest end, ! rids away phlegm from the stomach,
which, when it bears its berries, are some- \ chest, and lungs. The milk wherein the
what wrinkled and loose, another growing | root has been boiled is effectual also for the
under it, which is solid and firm, with many j same purpose. The said powder taken in
small threads hanging thereat. The whole j wine or other drink, or the juice of the
plant is of a very sharp biting taste, prick- berries, or the powder of them, or the wine
ing the tongue as nettles do the hands, and i wherein they have been boiled, provokes
so abides for a great while without altera- i urine, and brings down women's courses
tion. The root thereof was anciently used j and purges them effectually after child-
instead of starch to starch linen with. \ bearing, to bring away the after-birth.

There is another sort of Cuckow-point, j Taken with sheep's milk, it heals the inward
with less leaves than the former, and some \ ulcers of the bowels. The distilled water
times harder, having blackish spots upon I thereof is effectual to all the purposes afore-
them, which for the most part abide longer 1 said. A spoonful taken at a time heals
green in Summer than the former, and \ the itch ; an ounce or more taken a time
both leaves and roots are more sharp and \ for some days together, doth help the rup-
fierce than it : In all things else it is like the { ture : The leaves either green or dry, or the
former. \ juice of them, doth cleanse all manner of

Place.~] These two sorts grow frequently j rotten and filthy ulcers, in what part of the
almost under every hedge-side in many j body soever ; and heals the stinking sores
places of this land., \ in the nose, called Polypus. The water

Time.'] They shoot forth leaves in the j wherein the root has been boiled, dropped

AND ENGLISH PHYSICIAN ENLARGED. 6T

into the eyes, cleanses them from any film
or skin, cloud or mists, which begin to

the bladder growing, than Cucumbers are
The usual course is, to use the seeds in

hinder the sight, and helps the watering emulsions, as they make almond milk ; but

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

a far belter 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

oil of roses, or beaten into powder mixed no other drink. The face being washed
with the oil, and dropped into the ears, \ with the same water, cures the reddest
eases pains in them. The berries or the I face that is ; it is also excellently good for
roots beaten with the hot ox-dung, and * sun-burning, freckles, and morphcw.
applied, eases the pains of the gout. The j DAISIES

leaves and roots boiled in wine with a little $

oil, and applied to the piles, or the falling j THESE are so well known almost to every
down of the fundament, eases them, and so I child, that I suppose it needless to write
doth sitting over the hot fumes thereof. The ! any description of them. Take theiefore
fresh roots bruised and distilled with a little j

milk, yields a most sovereign water to

the virtues of them as follows.

Government and virtues.] The herb is

cleanse the skin from scurf, freckles, spots, i undei the sign Cancer, and under the
or blemishes whatsoever therein. i dominion of Venus,andthereforeexcellently

Authors have left large commendations j good for wounds in the breast, and very
of this herb you see, but for my part, I have j fitting to be kept both in oils, ointments,
neither spoken with Dr. Reason nor Dr. j and plaisters, as also in syrup. The greater
Experience about it. | wild Daisy is a wound herb of good res-

! pect, often used in those drinks or salves
I that are for wounds, either inward or out-

Gwernment and virtues^] THERE is no j ward. The juice or distilled water of these,
dispute to be made, but that they are under ! or the small Daisy, doth much temper the
the dominion of the Moon, though they are \ heat of choler, and refresh the liver, and the
so much cried out against for their coldness, j other inward parts. A decoction made of
and if they were but one degree colder they j them and drank, helps to cure the wounds
would be poison. The best of Galenists ! made in the hollowness of the breast. The
hold them to be cold and moist in the j same also cures all ulcers and pustules in
second degree, and then not so hot as either j the mouth or tongue, or in the secret parts,
lettuce or purslain : They are excellently ; The leaves bruised and applied to the pri-
good for a hot stomach, and hot liver ; the j vities,or toany other parts thatareswolh and
immeasurable use of them fills the body | hot, doth dissolve it, and temper the heat,
full of raw humours, and so indeed the un- { A decoction made thereof, of Wallwort and
measurable use of any thing else doth harm. j Agrimony, and the places fomented and
The face being washed with their juice, \ bathed therewith warm, gives great ease to
cleanses the skin, and is excellently good for | them that are troubled with the palsy,
hot rheums in the eyes ; the seed is excel- j sciatica, or the gout. The same also dis-
lently good to provoke urine, and cleanses perses and dissolves the knots or kernels
the passages thereof when they are stopped ; | that grow in the flesh of any part of the
there is not a better remedy for ulcers in * body, and bruises and hurts that come of

02 THE COMPLETE HERBAL

falls and blows; they are also used for rup- j dominion of Jupiter. It is of an opening
tures, and other inward burnings, with ; and cleansing quality, and therefore very
very good success. An ointment made j effectual for the obstructions of the liver
thereof doth wonderfully help all wounds | gall and spleen, and the diseases that arise
that have inflammations about them, or by j from them, as the jaundice and hypocon-
reason of moist humours having access unto I driac ; it opens the passages of the urine
hem, are kept long from healing, and such j both in young and old ; powerfully cleanses
are those, for the most part, that happen to j imposthumes and inward ulcers in the
joints of the arms or legs. The juice of j urinary passage, and by its drying and
them dropped into the running eyes *t' any, j temperate quality doth afterwards heal
doth much help them. I them ; for which purpose the decoction of

I the roots or leaves in white wine, or the

DANDELION, VULGARLY CALLED PISS- ! , , , .?

leaves chopped as pot-herbs, with a few
I Alisanders, and boiled in their broth, are

Descript.~\ IT is well known to have j very effectual. And whoever is drawing
many long and deep gashed leaves, lying j towards a consumption or an evil disposi-
on the ground round about the head of the I tion of the whole body, called Cachexia,
roots ; the ends of each gash or jag, on j by the use hereof for some time together,
both sides looking downwards towards the ; shall find a wonderful help. It helps also
roots ; the middle rib being white, which \ to procure rest and sleep to bodies dis-
being broken, yields abundance of bitter \ tempered by the heat of ague fits, or other-
milk, but the root much more; from among \ wise : The distilled water is effectual to
the leaves, which always abide green, arise? drink in pestilential fevers, and to wash the
many slender, weak, naked foot-stalks, > sores.
every one of them bearing at the top one | You see here what virtues this common

large yellow flower, consisting of many
rows of yellow leaves, broad at the points,

herb hath, and that is the reason the French
and Dutch so often eat them in the Spring;

and nicked in with deep spots of yellow in \ and now if you look a little farther, you
the middle, which growing ripe, the green ! may see plainly without a pair of spec-
husk wherein the flowers stood turns itself j tacles, that foreign physicians are not so
down to the stalk, and the head of down j selfish as ours are, but more communicative
becomes as round as a ball : with long ! of the virtues of plants to people,
seed underneath, bearing a part of the |

down on the head of every one, which j DARNEL.

together is blown away with the wind, or 5

may be at once blown away with one's j IT is called Jam and Wray ; in Sussex
mouth. The root growing downwards } they call it Crop, it being a pestilent enemy
exceedingly deep, which being broken off! among corn.

within the ground, will yet shoot forth again, | DescriptJ] This has all the wmter long,
and will hardly be destroyed where it hath j sundry long, flat, and rough leaves, which,
once taken deep root in the ground. $when the stalk rises, which is slender and

Place.~] It grows frequently in all mea-j jointed, are narrower, but rough still; on
dows and pasture-grounds. j the top grows a long spike, composed of

Time.~\ It flowers in one place or other many heads set one above another, con-
almost all the year long. i taining two or three husks, with a sharp

Government and i'rfr/es.] It is under the j but short beard of awns at the end ; the

AND ENGLISH PHYSICIAN ENLARGEL 63

seed is easily shaken out of the ear, the I Placed] It is most usually sown in gar-

nusk itself being somewhat rough.

Place.] Thu country husbandmen do

dens and grounds for the purpose, and is
also found wild in many places.

know this loo well to grow among their { Government and virtues.] Mercury has
corn, or in the borders and pathways of j the dominion of this plant, and therefore to
the other fields that are fallow. be sure it strengthens the brain. The Dill

Government and virtues] It is a malicious
part of sullen Saturn. As it is not without

11*. 1 "

being boiled and drank, is good to ease
swellings and pains ; it also stays the belly

some vices, so hath it also many virtues, and stomach from casting. The decoction
The meal of Darnel is very good to stay therefore helps women that are troubled with
gangrenes, and other such like fretting and : the pains and windiness of the mother, it
eating cankers, and putrid sores : It also j they sit therein. It stays the hiccough,
cleanses the skin of all leprosies, morphews, j being boiled in wine, and but smelled unto
ringworms, and the like, if it be used with( being tied in a cloth. The seed is of more
salt and raddish roots. And being used j use than the leaves, and more effectual to
with quick brimstone and vinegar, it dis-l digest raw and vicious humours, and is
solves knots and kernels, and breaks those \ used in medicines that serve to expel wind,
that are hard to be dissolved, being boiled land the pains proceeding there-trom. The
in wine with pigeon's dung and Linseed : 1 seed, being roasted or fried, and used in
A decoction thereof made with water and oils or plasters, dissolve the imposthumes

honey, and the places bathed therewith, is
profitable for the sciatica. Darnel meal

in the fundament ; and dries up all moist
ulcers, especially in the fundament ; an oil

appJied in a poultice draws forth splinters j made of Dill is effectual to warm or dis-
and broken bones in the flesh : The red < solve humours and imposthumes, and the
Darnel, boiled in red wine and taken, ; pains, and to procure rest. The decoction
stays the lask and all other fluxes, and j of Dill, be it herb or seed (only if you boil
women's bloody issues ; and restrains urine | the seed you must bruise it) in white wine,
that passes away too suddenly. j being drank, it is a gallant expeller of wind,

; and provoker of the terms.

J-/ 1 Jj lj I

Descript.] THE common Dill grows upj

with seldom more than one stalk, neither j Descript] THIS rises up with a round
so high, nor so great usually as Fennel, j green smooth stalk, about two feet high,
being round and fewer joints thereon, \ set with divers long and somewhat narrow,
whose leaves are sadder, and somewhat j smooth, dark green leaves, somewhat nipped
long, and so like Fennel that it deceives | about the edges, for the most part, being
many, but harder in handling, and some- \ else all whole, and not divided at all, or but
what thicker, and of a strong unpleasant I very seldom, even to the tops of the
scent: The tops of the stalks have four j branches, which yet are smaller than those
branches and smaller umbels of yellow I below, with one rib only in the middle,
flowers, which turn into small seed, some- 5 At the end of each branch stands a round
what flatter and thinner than Fennel seed. \ head of many flowers set together in the
The root is somewhat small and woody, j same manner, or more neatly than Scabions,
perishes every year after it hath borne j and of a bluish purple colour, which
seed ; and is also unprofitable, being never j being past, there follows seed which falls
put to any use. * away. The root is somewhat thick, but

64 THE COMPLETE HERBAL

short and blackish, with many strings, | morphew, or other deformities thereof,

abiding after seed time many years. This j especially if a little vitriol be dissolved

root was longer, until the devil (as the I therein.

friars say) bit away the rest of it for spite, j

envying its usefulness to mankind; forj

sure he was not troubled with any disease; MANY kinds of these are so well known,

for which it is proper. | that I shall not trouble you with a descrip-

There are two other sorts hereof, in \ tion of them : My book grows big too fast,
nothing unlike the former, save that the j Government and virtues.'] All Docks are
one bears white, and the other bluish-colour- 1 under Jupiter, of which the Red Dock,
ed flowers. \ which is commonly called Bloodwort,

Place.'] The first grows as well in dry { cleanses the blood, and strengthens the
meadows and fields as moist, in many : liver ; but the yellow Dock-root is best to
places of this land : But the other two are 1 be taken when either the blood or liver is
more rare, and hard to be met with, yet! affected by choler. All of them have a
they are both found growing wild about I kind of cooling (but not all alike) drying
Appledore, near Rye in Kent. I quality, the sorrel being most cold, and the

Time.'] They flower not usually until | Blood-worts most drying. Of the Burdock,
August. I have spoken already by itself. The seed

Government and virtues^ The plant is \ of most of the other kinds, whether the gar-
venereal, pleasing, and harmless. The herb J dens or fields, do stay lasks and fluxes of
or the root (all that the devil hath left of fall sorts, the loathing of the stomach through
it) being boiled in wine, and drank, is very \ choler, and is helpful for those that spit
powerful against the plague, and all pes- \ blood. The roots boiled in vinegar help
tilential diseases or fevers, poisons also, : the itch, scabs, and breaking out of the
and the bitings of venemous beasts: It i skin, if it be bathed therewith. The dis-
helps also those that are inwardly bruised | tilled water of the herb and roots have the
by any casuality, or outwardly by falls or j same virtue, and cleanses the skin from
blows, dissolving the clotted blood ; and j freckles, morphews, and all other spots and
the herb or root beaten and outwardly \ discolourings therein.

applied, takes away the black and blue ; All Docks being boiled with meat, make
marks that remain in the skin. The de-tit boil the sooner: Besides Blood-wort is
coction of the herb, with honey of roses j exceeding strengthening to the liver, and
put therein, is very effectual to help the | procures good blood, being as wholesome
inveterate tumours and swellings of the j a pot-herb as any growing in a garden; yet
almonds and throat, by often gargling the j such is the nicety of our times, forsooth,

.1.1 . 1 T.ll 1 - J.l 11 * .*..*, 1

mouth therewith. It helps also to procure
women's courses, and eases all pains of the ,

that women will not put it into a pot, be-
cause it makes the pottage black ; pride

mother and to break and discuss wind i and ignorance (a couple of monsters in the
therein, and in the bowels. The powder of! creation) preferring nicety before health,
the root taken in drink, drives forth the!

u J ri^i J DODDER OF THYME, EPITHYMUM. ANT

worms in the body. The mice or dis-j

.n j r^uiu-ir i r OTHER. DODDERS.

tilled water of the herb, is effectual for[

green wounds, or old sores, and cleanses j Descript.~\ THIS first from seed gives
the body inwardly, and the seed outwardly, j roots in the ground, which shoot forth
from sores, scurf, itch, pimples, freckles, * threads or strings, grosser or finer, as the

AND ENGLISH PHYSICIAN ENLARGED.

properly of the plant wherein it grows, ;
and the climate doth suffer, creeping and |
spreading on that plant whereon it fastens, j
be it high or low. The strings have no*
leaves at all on them, but wind and in-j
terlace themselves, so thick upon a small j
plant, that it takes away all comfort of the |
sun from it ; and is ready to choak or stran- j
gle it. After these strings are risen to that j
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- j
ters of small heads or husks, out of which \
shoot forth whitisli 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 Dodder of Thyme is accounted the
best, and is the only true Epithymum.

Government and virtues.] All Dodders
are under Saturn. Tell not me of 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 phy-
sician indeed, that hath wit enough to
choose the Dodder according to the nature
of the disease and humour peccant. We
confess, Thyme is the hottest herb it usually
grows upon ; and therefore that which
grows upon Thyme is hotter than that
which grows upon cold herbs ; for it draws
nourishment from what it grows upon, as
well as from the earth where its root is, and j
thus you see old Saturn is wise enough to \
have two strings to his bow. This is ac-
counted 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 I
helpful in all diseases and griefs of the

spleen, and melancholy that arises from the
windiness of the hypochondria. It purges
also the reins or kidneys by urine ; it
opens obstructions of the gall, whereby it
profits them that have the jaundice ; as
also the leaves, the spleen : Purging the
veins of the choleric and phlegmatic
humours, and helps children in agues, a
little worm seed being put thereto.

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

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

DOG'S-GRASS, OR COUGH GRASS.

DescriptJ] 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 des-
cription, watch the dogs when they are
sick, and they will quickly lead you to it.

66 THE COMPLETE HERBAL

Place.'] It grows commonly through this! by the path-sides in many places, and will

land in divers ploughed grounds to the no
small trouble of the husbandmen, as also

also be in gardens.

Time.'] It flowers in June, July, and

of the gardeners, in gardens, to weed it out, August, some earlier and some later ; and

if they can ; for it is a constant customer to j the seed is ripe quickly after.

the place it gets footing in. Government and virtues.'] It is a very

Government and virtues.^ J Tis under the : gentle, though martial plant. It is found
dominion of Jupiter, and is the most medi- 1 by experience to be singularly good for wind
cinal of all the Quick-grasses. Being j cholic, as also to expel the stone and gravel
boiled and drank, it opens obstructions of; in the kidneys. The decoction thereof in
the liver and gall, and the stopping of! wine, is an excellent good cure for those
urine, and eases the griping pains of the hhat have inward wounds, hurts, or bruises,
belly and inflammations ; wastes the mat- both to stay the bleeding, to dissolve and
ter of the stone in the bladder, and the ; expel the congealed blood, and to heal the
ulcers thereof also. The roots bruised and | parts, as also to cleanse and heal outward
applied, do consolidate wounds. The seed i sores, ulcers, and fistulas; and for green
doth more powerfully expel urine, and j wounds, many do only bruise the herb, and
stays the lask and vomiting. The dis- j apply it to the places, and it heals them
tilled water alone, or with a little wormseed, \ quickly. The same decoction in wine
kills the worms in children. i fomented to any place pained with the

The way of use is to bruise the roots, and i gout, or to joint-aches, or pains of the
having well boiled them in white wine, | si news, gives much ease. The powder or
drink the decoction : 'Tis opening but not j decoction of the herb taken for some time
purging, very safe : 'Tis a remedy against i together, is found by experience to be sin-
all diseases coming of stopping, and such \ gularly good for ruptures and burstings in
are half those that are incident to the body \ people, either young or old.
of man; and although a gardener be of DUCK > S MAT

another opinion, yet a physician holds half j

an acre of them to be worth five acres of; THIS is so well known to swim on the

Carrots twice told over. i tops of standing waters, as ponds, pools,

, , 5 and ditches, that it is needless further to

DOVE S-FOOT, OR CEANES-BILL.

Descript.] THIS has divers small, round, Government and virtues.'] Cancer claims
pale-green leaves, cut in about the edges, | the herb, and the Moon will be Lady of it ;
much like mallow, standing upon long, j a word is enough to a wise man. It is
reddish, hairy stalks, lying in a round com- ; effectual to help inflammations, and St
pass upon the ground; among which rise | Anthony's Fire, as also the gout, either
up two or three, or more, reddish, jointed, [applied by itself, or in a poultice with Bar-
slender, weak, hairy stalks, with some like [ley meal. The distilled water by some is
leaves thereon, but smaller, and more cut in | highly esteemed against all inward inflam-
up to the tops, where grow many very j mations and pestilent fevers ; as also to
small bright red flowers of five leaves a- j help the redness of the eyes, and swellings
piece ; after which foHow small heads, with \ of privities, and of the breasts before they
small short beaks pointed forth, as all other j be grown too much. The fresh herb ap-
sorts of those herbs do. j plied to the forehead, eases the pains of

Place."] It grows in pasture grounds, and $ the head-ache coming of heat.

PLATE 7.

-Kringo

Elecampane

Dock

Dr<

g-oi

Dog's Grass

! ) I'M j j wort

Dove's Foot

JUoody Dock

THOMAS KELLY. LONDON. 1835.

AND ENGLISH PHYSICIAN ENLARGED. 67

\ to the lower end of the stalks, and see how

DOWN, OR COTTON-THISTLE. | like a snake they look.

Government and virtues. J I he plant is

Descript.~] THIS has large leaves lying \ un der the dominion of Mars, and therefore
on the ground, somewhat cut in, and as it > Jt would be a wonder if it should want
were crumpled on the edges, of a green ; SO me obnoxious quality or other : In all
colour on the upper side, but covered with \ herbs of that quality, the safest way is
long hairy wool, or Cotton Down, set with ; either to distil the herb in an alembick, in
most sharp and cruel pricks, from the mid- w ]iat vehicle) you please, or else to press
die of whose head of flowers, thrust forth j ou t the juice, and distil that in a glass still,
many purplish crimson threads, and some- \ f n sand. It scours and cleanses the in-
times (although very seldom) white ones. \ ternal parts of the body mightily, and it
The seed that follows in the heads, lying ) clears the external parts also, being exter-
in a great deal of white down, is some- { na lly applied, from freckles, morphew, and
what large, long, and round, like the seed | sun-burning : Your best way to use it ex-
of ladies thistle, but paler. The root is great j ternally, is to mix it with vinegar ; an oint-
and thick, spreading much, yet it usually j me nt of it is held to be good in wounds
dies after seed-time. | and ulcers ; it consumes cankers, and that

Place.'] It grows in divers ditches, j fl esn growing in the nostrils, which they call
banks, and in corn-fields, and highways, j Polypus : Also the distilled water being
generally every where throughout the land. | dropped into the eyes, takes away spots

TimeJ] It flowers and bears seed about i there, or the pin and web, and mends the
the end of Summer, when other thistles do \ dimness of sight; it is excellently good againsf
flower and seed. \ pestilence and poison. Pliny and Dios-

Government and virtues. ,] Mars owns the j corides affirm, that no serpent will meddle-
plant, and manifests to the world, that | w jth him that carries this herb about him.
though it may hurt your finger, it will help j

your body ; for I fancy it much for the ! THE ELDER TREE.

ensuing virtues. Pliny and Dioscorides j j HOLD j t nee( }less to write any descrip-
write, That the leaves and roots thereof j tion o f th j S) smce every k y t h at pi a y g w j t h
taken in drink, help those that have a crick j a pO p.g un w in no t mistake another tree
in their neck; whereby they cannot turn j i nstea d o f Elder: I shall therefore in this
their neck but their whole body must turn j place omy describe the Dwarf-Elder,
also (sure they do not mean those that have j called a j so D ea d-wort, and Wall-wort,
got a crick in their neck by being under

the hangman's hand.) Galen saith, that j THE DWARF-ELDER.

the root and leaves hereof are of a healing
quality, and good for such persons as have
their bodies drawn together by some spasm

i i'ii .1

Descript.~] THIS is but an herb every
year, dying with his stalks to the ground,
and rising afresh every Spring, and is like

. <-> . - " , .,, - , t dllU llQlllg 0.11^011 V^YV^IJT >^.iJ.^,

or convulsion, as it is with children that j unto the Elder both in form an( i qua lity,
have the rickets. | rising up with a square, rough, hairy stalk,

I four feet high, or more sometimes. The
j winged leaves are somewhat narrower than

THEY are so well known to every one | the Elder, but else like them. The flowers
that plants them in their gardens, they need j are white with a dash of purple, standing in
no description ; if not, let them look down } umbels, very like the Elder also, but more

68 THE COMPLETE HERBAL

sweet in scent; after which come small! the eyes, assuages them; the iuice of the
blackish berries, full of juice while they are | leaves snuffed up into the nostrils, purges
liesh, wherein is small hard kernels, or seed. I the tunicles of the brain ; the juice of the
The root doth creep unerd the upper crust I berries boiled with honey and dropped
of the ground, springing in divers places, I into the ears, helps the pains of them ; the
being of the bigness of one's finger or | decoction of the berries in wine, being
thumb sometimes. $ drank, provokes urine ; the distilled water

P/ce.] The Elder tree grows in hedges, I of the flowers is of much use to clean the
being planted there to strengthen the fences \ skin from sun-burning, freckles, morphew,
and partitions of ground, and to hold the j or the like; and takes away the head-ache,
banks by ditches and water-courses. \ coming of a cold cause, the head being

The Dwarf Elder grows wild in many; bathed therewith. The leaves or flowers
places of England, where being once gotten { distilled in the month of May, and the legs
into a ground, it is not easily gotten forth 5 often washed with the said distilled water,
again. lit takes away the ulcers and sores of them,

Time.'] Most of the Elder Trees, flower \ The eyes washed therewith, it takes away
in June, and their fruit is ripe for the mosU the redness and bloodshot ; and the hands
part in August. But the Dwarf Elder, or j washed morning and evening therewith,
Wall-wort, flowers somewhat later, and his \ helps the palsy, and shaking of them,
fruit is not ripe until September. | The Dwarf Elder is more powerful than

Government and virtues^] Both Elder and j the common Elder in opening and purging
Dwarf Tree are under the dominion ofjcholer, phlegm, and water; in helping the
Venus. The first shoots of the common j gout, piles, and women's diseases, colours
Elder boiled like Asparagus, and the young \ the hair black, helps the inflammations of
leaves and stalks boiled in fat broth, doth j the eyes, and pains in the ears, the biting ol
mightily carry forth phlegm and choler. \ serpents, or mad dogs, burnings and scald-
The middle or inward bark boiled in water, $ ings, the wind cholic, cholic, and stone, the
and given in drink, works much more \ difficulty of urine, the cure of old sores and
violently ; and the berries, either green or \ fistulous ulcers. Either leaves or bark of
dry, expel the same humour, and are often ; Elder, stripped upwards as you gather it,
given with good success to help the dropsy;! causes vomiting. Also, Dr. Butler, in a
the bark of the root boiled in wine, or the : manuscript of his, commends Dwarf Elder

juice thereof drank, works the same effects, to the sky for dropsies, viz. to drink it,
but more powerfully than either the leaves | being boiled in white wine ; to drink the
or fruit. The juice of the root taken, doth j decoction I mean, not the Elder,
mightily procure vomitings, and purges the J

" t * nil rrn 1 IHJ5 JEJjJB 1 JK. <Ji.

watery humours of the dropsy. Ihe de-j

coction of the root taken, cures the biting \ THIS tree is so well known, growing

of an adder, and biting of mad dogs. It ! generally in all counties of this land, that it

mollifies the hardness of the mother, if I is needless to describe it.

women sit thereon, and opens their veins, j Government and virtues.'] It is a cold and

and brings down their courses : The berries | saturnine plant. The leaves thereof bruised

boiled in wine perform the same effect;! and applied, heal green wounds, being

and the hair of the head washed therewith 5 bound thereon with its own bark. The

is made black. The juice of the green ! leaves or the bark used with vinegar, cures

leaves applied to the hot inflammations of I scurf and leprosy very effectually : The

AiSD ENGLISH PHYSICIAN ENLARGED. 69

decoction of the leaves, hark, or root, being | cools the heat and sharpness of the urine,
bathed, heals broken bones. The water land excoriation in the urinary parts. The
that is found in the bladders on the leaves, seeds are of the same property, or rather
while it is fresh, is very effectual to cleanse j more powerful, and besides are available foi
the skin, and make it fair; and if cloaths be j fainting, swoonings, and passions of the
often wet therein, and applied to the rup- \ heart. Outwardly applied, they serve to
tures of children, it heals them, if they be \ temper the sharp humours of fretting ulcers,
well bound up with a truss. The said j hot tumours, swellings, and pestilential
water put into a glass, and set into the j sores; and wonderfully help not only the
ground, or else in dung for twenty-five i redness and inflammations of the eyes, but
days, the mouth thereof being close stopped, j the dimness .of the sight also ; they are also
and the bottom set upon a layer of ordinary ; used to allay the pains of the gout. You
salt, that the fbeces may settle and water | cannot use it amiss ; a syrup of it is a fine
become clear, is a singular and sovereign \ cooling medicine for fevers,
balm for green wounds, being used with 5

soft tents: The decoction of the bark ofi ELECAMPANE.

the root, fomented, mollifies hard tumours, i

and the shrinking of the sinews. The roots i Descript.~\ IT shoots forth many large
of the Elm, boiled for a long time in water, ? leaves, long and broad, lying near the
and the fat arising on the top thereof, being I ground, small at both ends, somewhat soft
clean skimmed off, and the place anointed | in handling, of a whitish green on the upper
therewith that is grown bald, and the hair ; side, and grey underneath, each set upon
fallen away, will quickly restore them 5 a short footstalk, from among which rise
again. The said bark ground with brine; up divers great and strong hairy stalks, three
or pickle, until it come to the form of a | or four feet high, with some leaves there-
poultice, and laid an the place pained with \ upon, compassing them about at the lower
the gout, gives great ease. The decoc- > end, and are branched towards the tops,
tion of the bark in water, is excellent to j bearing divers great and large flowers, like
bathe such places as have been burnt with : those of the corn marigold, both the border
fire. 5 of leaves, and the middle thrum being yel-

I low, which turn into down, with long, small,
| brownish seeds amongst it, and is carried

DescriptJ] COMMON garden Endive! away with the wind. The root is great
bears a longer and larger leaf than Succory, |and thick, branched forth divers ways,
and abides but one year, quickly running | blackish on the outside and whitish within,
up to a stalk and seed, and then perishes ; !of a very bitter taste, and strong, but good
it has blue flowers, and the seed of the; scent, especially when they are dried, no
ordinary Endive is so like Succory seed, j part else of the plant having any smell,
that it is hard to distinguish them. PlaceJ] It grows on moist grounds and

Government and virtues.'] It is a fine j shadowy places oftener than in the dry and
cooling, cleansing, jovial plant. The de- t open borders of the fields and lanes, and in
coction of the leaves, or the juice, or the \ other waste places, almost in every county
distilled water of Endive, serve well to cool j of this land.

the excessive heat of the liver and stomach, > Time.~] It flowers in the end of June and
and in the hot fits of agues, and all others July, and the seed is ripe in August. The
inflammations in any part of the body ; it ; roots are gathered for use, as well in the

THE COMPLETE HERBAL

Spring before the leaves come forth, as in j from any morphew, spots, or blemishes
Autumn or Winter. I therein, and make it clear

Government and virtues^} It is a plant!

under the dominion of Mercury. The fresh { EEINGO, OB SEA-HOLLY.

roots of Elecampane preserved with sugar, } DescriptJ] THE first leaves of our ordi-

or made into a syrup or conserve, are very
effectual to warm a cold windy stomach,
or the pricking therein, and stitches in the

nary Sea-Holly, are nothing so hard and
prickly as when they grow old, being almost
round, and deeply dented about the edges,

sides caused by the spleen ; and to help the | hard and sharp pointed, and a little crumpled,
cough, shortness of breath, and wheezing in i of a bluish green colour, every one upon
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, 1

a long foot stalk ; but those that grow u|
higher with the stalk, do as it were compass
it about. The stalk itself is round and
strong, yet somewhat crested, with joints
and leaves set thereat, but more divided,
sharp, and prickly ; and branches rising
from thence, which have likewise other
small branches, each of ihem having several

bluish round prickly heads, with many
and the plague itself. Trie roots and herbs ii small jagged prickly leaves under them,

beaten and pat into new ale or beer, and
daily diank, 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 afterward, and made into an oint-
ment with hog's suet, or oil of trotters, is an
excellent remedy for scabs or itch in young

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 middle;
of a pleasant tasle, but much more, being
artificially preserved, and candied with

sugar.

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

Time.'] It flowers in the end of 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

or old ; the places also bathed or washed

with the decoction doth the same ; it also j and moist, and under the celestial Balance-
helps al) sorts of filthy old putrid sores or \ The decoction of the root hereof in wine,
cankers whatsoever. In the roots of this i is very effectual to open obstructions of the
herb lieth the chief effect for the remedies j spleen and liver, and helps yellow jaun-
aforesaid. The distilled water of the leaves j dice, dropsy, pains of the loins, and wind
and roots together, is very profitable tojcholic, provokes urine, and expels the
cleanse the skin of the face, or other parts, { stone, procures women's courses. The con-

AND ENGLISH PU\SICIAN ENLARGED.

tinned use of the decoction for fifteen clays,
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
iuice of the leaves dropped into the ear,
helps imposthurnes 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
awry, and cannot turn them without turn-
ing their whole body.

EYEBR1GHT.

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,
marked with purple and yellow spots, or
stripes; after which follow small round
heads, with very small seed therein. The
root is long, small and thready at the end.

Place.~] It grows in meadows, and grassy
places in this land.

Government and virtues.} It is under tho
sign of the Lion, and Sol claims dominion
over it. If the herb v/as 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 leach 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 inwardly in white wine or broth, or
dropped into the eyes for divers days
together, helps all infirmities of the eyes
that cause dimness of sight. Some make
conserve of the flowers to the same effect.
Being used any of the ways, it also helps
a weak brain, or memory. This tunned up
with strong beer, that it may work together,
and drank, or the powder of the dried herb
mixed with sugar, a little Mace, and Fennel
seed, and drank, or eaten in broth ; or the
said powder made into an electuary with
sugar, and taken, has the same powerful
effect to help and restore the sight, decayed
through age ; and Arnoldus de Villa Nova
saith, it hath restored sight to them that
have been blind a long time before.

FERN.

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

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

TimeJ] They flower and give their seed
at Midsummer.

The Female Fern is that plant which is
* in Sussex, called Brakes, the seed of which

72 THE COMPLETE HERBAL

some authors hold to be so rare: Such a j pith in the middle, which is called the heart
thing there is I know, and may be easily j thereof.

nad upon Midsummer Eve, and for ought j Placed] It grows on moors, bogs, and
I know, two or three days after it, if not j watery places, in many parts of this land,
more. Time.'] It is green all the summer, and

Government and virtues."] It is under the j the root only abides in winter,
dominion of Mercury, both Male and j Government and virtues.'] Saturn owns
Female. The roots of both these sorts of | the plant. This has all the virtues men-
Fern being bruised and boiled in Mead, \ tioned in the former Ferns, and is much
or honeyed water, and drank, kills both \ more effectual than they, both for inward
the broad and long worms in the body, ! and outward griefs, and is accounted sin-
and abates the swelling and hardness of the j gularly good in wounds, bruises, or the like,
spleen. The green leaves eaten, purge the I The decoction to be drank, or boiled into
belly of choleric and waterish humours : an ointment of oil, as a balsam or balm,
that trouble the stomach. They are dan- j and so it is singularly good against bruises,
gerous for women with child to meddle j and bones broken, or out of joint, and gives
with, by reason they cause abortions. The > much ease to the cholic and splenetic
roots bruised and boiled in oil, or hog's j diseases : as also for ruptures or burstings,
grease, make a very profitable ointment to j The decoction of the root in white wine,
heal wounds, or pricks gotten in the flesh. \ provokes urine exceedingly, and cleanses
The powder of them used in foul ulcers, > the bladder and passages of urine,
dries up their malignant moisture, and {

V. . T 1? k FEVERFEW, OR FEATHERFEW.

causes their speedier healing, lern being

burned, the smoke thereof drives away! Descript.~\ COMMON Featherfew has
serpents, gnats, and other noisome crea- \ large, fresh, green leaves, much torn or cut
Cures, which in fenny countries do, in the j on the edges. The stalks are hard and

* IT IT 11" 1 _ * 1 1_ 1 * I 1 l_

night time, trouble and molest people lying
in their beds with their faces uncovered ; it

round, set with many such like leaves, but
smaller, and at the tops stand many single

causes barrenness. {flowers, upon small foot stalks, consisting

of many small white leaves standing round

OSMOND ROYAL, OR WATER FERN, jiabouta yellow thrum in the middle. The

root is somewhat hard and short, with many
Descript.~] THIS shoots forth in spring j strong fibres about it. The scent of the

time (for in the Winter the leaves perish) whole plant is very strong, and the taste is

divers rough hard stalks, half round, and 1 very bitter.

yellowish, or flat on the other side, two feet \ Place.'] This grows wild in many places

high, having divers branches of winged yel- ! of the land, but is for the most part nourish-

lowish green leaves on all sides, set one |ed in gardens.

against another, longer, narrower, and not j Time.~\ It flowers in the months of June

nicked on the edges as the former. From
the top of some of these stalks grow forth

and July.

Government and virtues.'] Venus com-

a long bush of small and more yellow, mands this herb, and has commended it to
green, scaly aglets, set in the same manner j succour her sisters (women) and to be a
on the stalks as the leaves are, which are | general strengthener of their wombs, and
accounted the flowers and seeds. The root | remedy such infirmities as a careless mid-
is rough, thick and scabby : with a white 5 wife hath there caused ; if they will but be

AND ENGLISH PHYSICIAN ENLARGED. 73

pleased to make use of her herb boiled in \ plied warm outwardly to the places, helps
white wine, and drink the decoction ; it j the wind and cholic in the lower part of
cleanses the womb, expels the after-birth, the belly. It is an especial remedy against
and doth a woman all the good she can j opium taken too liberally,
desire of an herb. And if any grumble \

i i i , xJbJNJNJbli*

because they cannot get the herb m winter, ;

tell them, if they please, they may make j EVERY garden affords this so plenti-

a syrup of it in summer ; it is chiefly used | fully, that it needs no description.

for the disease of the mother, whether it be j Government and virtues."] One good old

the strangling or rising of the mother, or > fashion is not yet left off, viz. to boil Fennel

hardness, or inflammation of the same, | with fish ; for it consumes that phlegmatic

applied outwardly thereunto. Or a decoc- 1 humour, which fish most plentifully afford

tion of the flowers in wine, with a little Nut- | and annoy the body with, though few that

meg or Mace put therein, and drank often in j use it know wherefore they do it; I suppose

a day, is an approved remedy to bring! 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

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 * urine, and ease the pains of the stone, and

wine, is effectual for the same; and in some helps to break it. The leaves or seed,

cases to apply the boiled herb warm to the j boiled in barley water and drank are good

privy parts. The decoction thereof made, \ for nurses, to increase their milk, and make

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 cho-
ler and phlegm, and is available for those
that are short winded, and are troubled with
melancholy and heaviness, or sadness of

it more wholesome for the child. The
leaves, or rather the seeds, boiled in water,
stays the hiccough, and takes away the
loathings Avhich 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-

spirits. It is very effectual for all pains in j tions of the liver, spleen, and gall, and
the head coming of a cold cause, the herb ! thereby help the painful and windy swel-
being bruised and applied to the crown of i lings of the spleen, and the yellow jaundice;
the head : As also for the vertigo, that is a j as also the gout and cramps. The seed is
junning or swimming in the head. The | of good use in medicines to help shortness
decoction thereof drank warm, and the ; of breath and wheezing by stopping of the
herb bruised with a few corns of Bay salt, > lungs. It helps also to bring down the
and applied to *he wrists before the coming | courses, and to cleanse the parts after
of the ague fits, doth take them away. The \ delivery. The roots are of most use in
distilled water takes away freckles, and j physic drinks, and broth that are taken to
other spots and deformities in the face. cleanse the blood, to open obstructions of
The herb bruised and heated on a tile, with \ the liver, so provoke urine, and amend the
some wine to moisten it, or fried with a Jill colour in the face after sickness, and to
little wine and oil in a frying-pan, and ap- cause a good habit through the body.

74 THE COMPLETE HERBAL

Both leaves, seeds, and roots thereof are j little Euphorbium put to the nose, helps
much used in drink or broth, to make peo- i those that are troubled with the lethargy,
pie more lean that are too fat. The dis- j frenzy, giddiness of the head, the falling
tilled water of the whole herb, or the con- j sickness, long and inveterate head-aches,
densate juice dissolved, but especially the j the palsy, sciatica, and the cramp, and
natural juice, that in some counties issues s generally all the diseases of the sinews, used
out hereof of its own accord, dropped into; with oil and vinegar. The juice dissolved
the eyes, cleanses them from mists and i in wine, or put into an egg, is good for a
films that hinder the sight. The sweet j cough, or shortness of breath, and for those
Fennel is much weaker in physical uses; that are troubled with wind in the body.
than the common Fennel. The wild Fen- 1 It purges the belly gently, expels the hard-
nel is stronger and hotter than the tame, \ ness of the spleen, gives ease to women
and therefore most powerful against the! that have sore travail in child-birth, and
stone, but not so effectual to encrease milk, | eases the pains of the reins and bladder,
because of its dryness. 1 and also the womb. A little of the juice

dissolved in >, nd dropped into the

BESIDES the common name in English,

SOW-FENNEL, OR Hocs-FENNEL.

ears, eases much or the pains in them, and

put into a hollow tooth, eases the pain

Hog's Fennel, and the Latin name Peuci- j thereof. The root is less effectual to all
danum, is called Hoar-strange, and Hoar- j the aforesaid disorders ; yet the powder of
strong, Sulphur-wort, and Brimstone-wort, j the root cleanses foul ulcers, being put into

Descript.] The common Sow-Fennel | them, and takes out splinters of broken
has divers branched stalks of thick and j bones, or other things in the flesh, and
somewhat long leaves, three for the most | heals them up perfectly: as also, dries up
part joined together at a place, among \ old and inveterate running sores, and is of
which arises a crested straight stalk, less i admirable virtue in all green wounds,
than Fennel, with some joints thereon, and i

leaves growing thereat, and towards thej FIG-WORT, OR THROAT-WORT.

tops some branches issuing from thence ; 1

likewise on the tops of the stalks and? Descript.~] COMMON great Fig-wort sends
branches stand divers tufts of yellow flowers, j divers great, strong, hard, square brown
whereafter grows somewhat flat, thin, and j stalks, three or four feet high, whereon grow
yellowish seed, bigger than Fennel seed. Uarge, hard, and dark green leaves, two at
The roots grow great and deep, with many | a joint, harder and larger than Nettle
other parts and fibres about them of a \ leaves, but not stinking ; at the tops of the
strong scent like hot brimstone, and yield ' stalks stand many purple flowers set in
forth a yellowish milk, or clammy juice, j husks, which are sometimes gaping and
almost like a gum. | open, somewhat like those of Water Betony ;

Place.'] It grows plentifully in the salt \ after which come hard round heads, with
low marshes near Feversham in Kent. i a small point in the middle, wherein lie

Time.'] It flowers plentifully in July and j small brownish seed. The root is great,
August. | white, and thick, with many branches at it,

Government and virtues^] This is also an \ growing aslope under the upper crust of
herb of Mercury. The juice of Sow-Fennel \ the ground, which abides many years, but
(saith Dioscorides, and Galen,) used with j keeps not his green leaves in Winter,
vinegar and rose water, or the juice with a f Place.'] It grows frequently in moist

I' LATE 8.

Foxglove

flower - de -lu c e

Figwort

Fie a wort

Fnm.it ory

Fennel

F] axwee d

Feverfew

AND ENGLISH PHYSICIAN ENLARGED.

and shadowy woods, and in the lower parts j together in a pith or umbie, each upon a
of the fields and meadows. : small foot stalk, which after they have been

Time.'] It tiowers about July, and the i blown upon a good while, do fall away,
seed will be ripe about a month after the \ and in their places appear small-, round,
flowers are fallen. J chaffy heads like buttons, wherein are the

Government and virtues.] Some Latin ; chaffy seeds set and placed. The root
authors call it Cervicaria. because it is ap- \ consists of many small, black, tuberous
propriated to the neck ; and we Throat- \ pieces, fastened together by many small,
wort, because it is appropriated to the Hong, blackish strings, which run from one
throat. Venus owns the herb, and the \ to another.
Celestial Bull will not deny it; therefore Place] It grows in many places of this

a better remedy cannot be for the king's
evil, because the Moon that rules the dis-

land, in the corners of dry fieMs and mea-
dows, and the hedge sides.

7 ^-J

ease is exalted there. The decoction of the | Time.] They flower in June and July,

herb taken inwardly, and the bruised herb i
applied outwardly, dissolves clotted and

and their seed is ripe in August.

Government and virtues.] It is under the

congealed blood within the body, coming {dominion of Venus. It effectually opens
by any wounds, bruise, or fall ; and is no \ the passages of the urine, helps the stran-
less effectual for the king's evil, or any i guary ; the stone in the kidneys or bladder,
other knobs, kernels, bunches, or wens j the gravel, and all other pains of the blad-
growing in the flesh wheresoever ; and for I der and reins, by taking the roots in pow-
the haemorrhoids, or piles. An ointment! der, or a decoction of them in white wine,
made hereof may be used at all times when j with a little honey. The roots made into
the fresh herb is not to be had. The dis- \ powder, and mixed with honey in the form
tilled water of the whole plant, roots and | of an electuary, doth much help them
all, is used for the same purposes, and dries I whose stomachs are swollen, dissolving and

up the superfluous, virulent moisture of
hollow and corroding ulcers ; it takes away
all redness, spots, and freckles in the face,
as also the scurf, and any foul deformity
therein, and the leprosy likewise.

FILIPENDULA, OR DROP-WORT.

breaking the Avind which was the cause
thereof; and is also very effectual for all
the diseases of the lungs, as shortness of
breath, wheezing, hoarseness of the throat,
and the cough ; and to expectorate tough
phlegm, or any other parts thereabout.

THE FIG-TREE.

Descript] THIS sends forth many leaves, 5

some larger, some smaller, set on each side \ To give a description of a tree so well
of a middle rib, and each of them dented known to every body that keeps it in his
about the edges, somewhat resembling wild garden, were needless. They prosper very

Tansy, or rather Agrimony, but harder in

well in our English gardens, yet are fitter

handling; among which rise up one or | for medicine than for any other profit
more stalks, two or three feet high, with the 1 which is gotten by the fruit of them,
leaves growing thereon, and sometimes also ; Government and virtues.] The tree

under the dominion of Jupiter.

The milk

that issues out from the leaves or branches
where they are broken off, being dropped
threads in the middle of them, standing upon warts, takes them away. The de-

divided into other branches spreading at the
top into many white, sweet-smelling flowers,
consisting of five leaves a-piece, with some

76 THE COMPLETE HERBAL

eoction of the leveas is excellently good to s cover their bottoms ; but instead of the
wash sore heads with : and there is scarcely j three upright leaves, as the Flower-de-luce
a better remedy for the leprosy than it is. ; has, this has only three short pieces
It clears the face also of morphew, and the i standing in their places, after which succeed
body of white rcurf, scabs, and running I thick and long three square heads, con-
sores. If it be dropped into old fretting j taining in each part somewhat big and flat
ulcers, it cleanses out the moisture, and j seed, like those of the Flower-de-luce. The
brings up the flesh; because you cannot j root is long and slender, of a pale brownish
have the leaves green all the year, you may j colour on the outside, and of a horseflesh
make an ointment of them whilst you can. i colour on the inside, with many hard fibres
A decoction of the leaves being drank in- > thereat, and very harsh in taste,
wardly, or rather a syrup made of them, | PlaceJ] It usually grows in watery
dissolves congealed blood caused by bruises j ditches, ponds, lakes, and moor sides, which
or falls, and helps the bloody flux. The i are always overflowed with water,
ashes of the wood made into an ointment i Time.~\ It flowers in July, and the seed
with hog's grease, helps kibes and chilblains. j is ripe in August.

The juice being put into an hollow tooth, j Government and 'virtues.'] It is under the
eases pain; as also pain and noise in the j dominion of the Moon. The root of this
ears, being dropped into them; and deaf- j Water-flag is very astringent, cooling, and
ness. An ointment made of the juice and \ drying ; and thereby helps all lasks and
hog's grease, is an excellent remedy for the! fluxes, whether of blood or humours, as
biting of mad dogs, or other venomous j bleeding at the mouth, nose, or other parts,
beasts, as most are. A syrup made of the ; bloody flux, and the immoderate flux of
leaves, or green fruit, is excellently good for j women's courses. The distilled water of
coughs, hoarseness, or shortness of breath, j the whole herb, flowers and roots, is a
and all diseases of the breast and lungs ; it 5 sovereign good remedy for watering eyes,
is also extremely good for the dropsy and (both to be dropped into them, and to have
falling sickness. They say that the Fig I cloths or sponges wetted therein, and ap-
Tree, as well as the Bay Tree, is never [plied to the forehead: It also helps the
hurt by lightning ; as also, if you tie a bull, j spots and blemishes that happen in and
be he ever so mad, to a Fig Tree, he will ! about the eyes, or in any other parts : The
quickly become tame and gentle. As for? said water fomented on swellings and hot
such figs as come from beyond sea, I * inflammations of women's breasts, upon
have little to say, because I write not of cancers also, and those spreading ulcers
exoticks. : called Noli me tangere, do much good : It

$ helps also foul ulcers in the privities of man

THE YELLOW WATER-FLAG, OR FLOWER- 5 or woman ; but an ointment made of the
DE-LUCE. I flowers is better for those external applica-

; lions.

Descnpt.] THIS grows like the Flower-*

de-luce, but it has much longer andnar-> FLAX-WEED, OR TOAD-FLAX.

rower sad green leaves, joined together in j

that fashion ; the stalk also growing often- 1 Descript.~] OUR common Flax-weed
times as high, bearing small yellow flowers } has divers stalks full fraught with long and
shaped like the Flower-de-luce, with three I narrow ash-coloured leaves, and from the
falling leaves, and other three arched that j middle of them almost upward, stored with

AND ENGLISH PHYSICIAN ENLARGED.

a number of pale yellow flowers, of a strong | or spots, applied of itself, or used with some
unpleasant scent, with deeper yellow mouths, powder of Lupines,
and blackish flat seed in round heads.
The root is somewhat woody and white,
especially the main downright one, with

many fibres, abiding many years, shooting
forth roots every way round about, and
new branches every year.

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,

P/oce.] This grows throughout this land, \ and narrow whitish green leaves somewhat
both by the way sides and in meadows, as j hairy ; At the top of every branch stand
also by hedge-sides, and upon the sides of? divers small, short scaly, or chaffy heads
banks, and borders of fields. | out of which come forth small whitish

Time.'] It flowers in Summer, and the \ yellow threads, like to those of the Plan-
seed is ripe usually before the end of I 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.

August.

rovernment and virtues. 1

Mars owns the :

herb : In Sussex we call it Gall wort, and :
lay it in our chicken's water to cure them of;
the gall ; it relieves them when they are

drooping. This is frequently used to spend | perishing every year, and rising again of
the abundance of those watery humours by t its own seed for divers years, if it be suffered
urine, which cause the dropsy. The decoc- \ to shed : The whole plant is somewhat

tion of the herb, both leaves and flowers,
in wine, taken and drank, doth somewhat
move the belly downwards, opens obstruc-
tions of the liver, and helps the yellow
jaundice ; expels poison, provokes women's
courses, drives forth the dead child, and

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

after-birth. The distilled water of the herb * down to the ground : The leaves are some-
and flowers is effectual for all the same pur- \ what greater, the heads somewhat less, the
poses; being drank with a dram of the j seed alike; and the root and leaves abide
powder of the seeds of bark or the roots of \ all winter, and perish not as the former.
Wall-wort, and a little Cinnamon, for certain i Place.'] The first grows only in gardens,

days together, it is held a singular remedy
for the dropsy. The juice of the herb, or
the distilled water, dropped into the eyes, ;
is a certain remedy for all heat, inflamrna- j
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,

the seccond 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 seeds 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

THE COMPLETE HERBAL

like. The mucilage of the seed made with j There is another sort, differing in nothing,
Rose-water, and a little sugar-candy put j save only it has somewhat broad leaves ;
thereto, is very good in all hot agues and \ they have a strong evil savour, being

burning fevers, and other inflammations, to
cool the thirst, and lenity the dryness and
roughness of the tongue and throat. It
helps also hoarseness of the vt>ice, and dis-
eases of the breast and lungs, caused by
heat, or sharp salt humours, and the pleu-

smelled unto, and are of a drying taste.

Placed] 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.

risy also. The mucilage of the seed made j Government and virtues.'] This herb is
with Plantain water, whereunto the yolk of ? saturnine also. Both the herb and seed of
an egg or two, and a little Populeon are j Flux-weed is of excellent use to stay the flux
put, is a most safe and sure remedy to ease! or lask of the belly, being drank in water
the sharpness, pricking, and pains of the! wherein gads of steel heated have been
haemorrhoids or piles, if it be laid on a! often quenched; and is no less effectual
cloth, and bound thereto. It helps all in-i for the same purpose than Plantain or Com-
rlammations in any part of the body, and \ frey, and to restrain any other flux of blood

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
of joint, the pains of the gout and sciatica,
the burstings of young children, and the
swellings of the navel, applied with oil of
roses and vinegar. It is also good to heal
the nipples and sore breasts of women,
being often applied thereunto. The juice
of the herb with a little honey put into the
ears helps the running of them, and the
worms breeding in them : The same also
mixed with hog's grease, and applied to cor-
rupt and filthy ulcers, cleanses them and
heals them.

FLUX-WEED.

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.

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 gro\v
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 Flux-weed because
it cures the flux, and for its uniting broken
bones, &c. Paracelsus extols it to the
skies. It is fitting that syrup, ointment,
and plaisters of it were kept in your houses.

FLOWER-DE-LUCE.

IT is so well known, being nourished up
in most gardens, that I shall not need to
spend time in Avriting 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

AND ENGLISH PHYSICIAN ENLARGED. 79

cleanse the stomach of gross and tough j also the pains and noise in the ears, and
phlegm, and choler therein ; it helps the I the stench of the nostrils. The root itself,
jaundice and the dropsy, evacuating those! either green or in powder, helps to cleanse,
humours both upwards and downwards ;j heal, and incarnate wounds, and lo cover
and because it somewhat hurts the stomach, | the naked bones with flesh again, that
is not lo be taken without honey and spike-? ulcers have made bare; and is also very
nard. The same being drank, doth ease \ good to cleanse and heal up fistulas and
the pains and torments of the belly and I cankers that are hard to be cured,
sides, the shaking of agues, the diseases of?

,, r ,, & ,.., , ,, : FLUELLIN, OR LLUELLIN.

the liver and spleen, the worms of the beily, :

the stone in the reins, convulsions and j Descript.~\ IT shoots forth many long
cramps that come of old humours; it also j branches partly lying upon the ground,
helps those whose seed passes from them | and partly standing upright, set with al-
unawares : It is a remedy against the ; most red leaves, yet a little pointed, and
bitings and stingings of venomous crea- \ sometimes more long than round, without
tures, being boiled in water and vinegar j order thereon, somewhat hairy, and of an
and drank. Boiled in water and drank, it j evil greenish white colour; at the joints all
provokes urine, helps the cholic, brings | along the stalks, and with the leaves come
down women's courses ; and made up into J forth small flowers, one at a place, upon
a pessary with honey, and put up into the \ a very small short foot-stalk, gaping some-
body, draws forth the dead child. It is ] what like Snap-dragons, or rather like Toad-
much commended against the cough, to ; flax, with the upper jaw of a yellow colour,
expectorate rough phlegm ; it much eases \ and the lower of a purplish, with a small heel
pains in the head, and procures sleep ; | or spur behind ; after which come forth
being put into the nostrils it procures { small round heads, containing small black
sneezing, and thereby purges the head of \ seed. The root is small and thready, dying
phlegm. The juice of the root applied to 5 every year, and rises itself again of its
the piles or hemorrhoids, gives much ease. \ own sowing.

The decoction of the roots gargled in the | There is another sort of Lluellin which
mouth, eases the tooth-ache, and helps the j has longer branches wholly trailing upon
stinking breath. Oil called Oleum Irinum, | the ground, two or three feet long, and
if it be rightly made of the great broad \ somewhat more thin, set with leaves there-
flag Flower-de-luce and not of the great j on, upon small foot stalks. The leaves are
bulbous blue Flower-de-luce, (as is used by j a little larger, and somewhat round, and
some apothecaries) and roots of the same, of | cornered sometimes in some places on the
the flaggy kinds, is very effectual to warm \ edges ; but the lower part of them being
and comfort all cold joints and sinews, as \ the broadest, hath on each side a small
also the gout and sciatica, and mollifies, i point, making it seem as if they were ears,
dissolves and consumes tumours and swell- sometimes hairy, but not hoary, and of a

ings in any part of the body, as also of the
matrix ; it helps the cramp, or convulsions

/I mi IT i ^

better green colour than the former. The
flowers come forth like the former, but the

of the sinews. The head and temples \ colours therein are more white than yellow,
anointed therewith, helps the catarrh or j and the purple not so far. It is a large
thin rheum distilled from thence ; and used | flower, and so are the seed and seed-ves-
upon the breast or stomach, helps to ex- ! sels. The root is like the other, and
tenuate the cold tough phlegm ; it helps I perishes every year.

THE COMPLETE HERBAL

Place.] They grow in divers corn fields, 1 and hanging downwards, having some
and in borders about them, and in other j threads also in the middle, from whence
fertile grounds about Southfleet in Kent j rise round heads, pointed sharp at the ends,
abundantly ; at Buchrite, Hamerton, and 1 wherein small brown seed lies. The roots
Richmanworth in Huntingdonshire, and in * are so many small fibres, and some greater
divers other places. ; strings among them ; the flowers have no

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

scent, but the leaves have a bitter hot
taste.

P/ace.] It grows on dry sandy ground

Government and virtues.] It is a Lunar \ for the most part, and as well on the higher
herb. The leaves bruised and applied with j as the lower places under hedge-sides in
barley meal to watering eyes that are hot j almost every county of this land,
and inflamed by defluxions from the head, > Time] It seldom flowers before July,
do very much help them, as also the fluxes j and the seed is ripe in August.

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

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

or hurt, or bursting a vein ; it wonderfully ? and frequently used by the Italians to heal

helps all those inward parts that need con- j
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

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

the ulcers of the French pox ; if taken in- 1 liver and spleen. It has been found by
wardly, may cure the disease. i experience to be available for the king's

j;evil, the herb bruised and applied, or an

FOX-GLOVE. ' ointment made with the juice thereof, and

so used ; and a decoction of two handfuls

Descript] IT has many long and broad } thereof, with four ounces of Polipody in
leaves lying upon the ground dented upon \ ale, has been found by late experience to
the edges, a little soft or woolly, and of a i cure divers of the falling sickness, that have
hoary green colour, among which rise up i been troubled with it above twenty years,
sometimes sundry stalks, but one very j I am confident that an ointment of it is
often, bearing such leaves thereon from the \ one of the best remedies for a scabby head
bottom to the middle, from whence to the j that is.
top it is stored with large and long hollow $ TRY

reddish purple flowers, a little more long?

and eminent at the lower edge, with some; Descript] OUR common Fumitory is a
white spots within them, one above another 5 tender sappy herb, sends forth from one
with small green leaves at every one, but | square, a slender weak stalk, and leaning
all of them turning their heads one way, j downwards on all sides, many branches

AND ENGLISH PHYSICIAN ENLARGED. 81

two or three feet long, with finely cut and; tilled water of the herb is also of good
jagged leaves of a whitish or rather blueishi effect in the former diseases, and conduces

sea green colour ; At the tops of the
branches stand many small flowers, as it

much against the plague and pestilence,
being taken with good treacle. The dis-

were in a long spike one above another, j tilled water also, with a little water and
made like little birds, of a reddish purple j honey of roses, helps all sores of the mouth
colour, with whitish bellies, after which ; or throat, being gargled often therewith,
come small round husks, containing small j The juice dropped into the eyes, clears the
black seeds. The root is yellow, small, and j sight and takes away redness and other
not very long, full of juice while it is green, ; defects in them, although it procure some
but quickly perishes with the ripe seed. In \ pain for the present, and cause tears,
the corn fields in Cornwall, it bears white > Dioscorides saith it hinders any fresh
flowers. springing of hairs on the eye-lids (after they

Place.'] It grows in corn fields almost ; are pulled away) if the eye-lids be anointed
every where, as Avell as in gardens. I with the juice hereof, with Gum Arabic

Time.'] It flowers in May, for the most \ dissolved therein. The juice of the Fumi-
part, and the seed ripens shortly after. jtory and Docks mingled with vinegar, and

Government and virtues.'] Saturn owns ? the places gently washed therewith, cures
the herb, and presents it to the world as a^all sorts of scabs, pimples, blotches, wheals,
cure for his own disease, and a strengthener :
of the parts of the body he rules. If by :

and pushes which arise on the face or
hands, or any other parts of the body.

my astrological judgment of diseases, from:

the decumbiture, you find Saturn author of j THE FURZE BUSH,

the disease, or if by direction from as

nativity you fear a saturnine disease ap- | IT is as well known by this name, as it is

proaching, you may by this herb prevent | in some counties by the name of Gorz or

it in the one, and cure it in the other, and | Whins, that I shall not need to write any

therefore it is fit you keep a syrup of it j description thereof, my intent being to

always by you. The juice or syrup made {teach my countrymen what they know not,

thereof, or the decoction made in whey by J rather than to tell them again of that which

itself, with some other purging or opening Us generally known before.

herbs and roots to cause it to work the j Place.'] They are known to grow on dry

better (itself being but weak) is very effec- 1 barren heaths, and olher waste, gravelly

tual for the liver and spleen, opening the I or sandy grounds, in all counties of this

obstructions thereof, and clarifying the land.

blood from saltish, choleric, and adust
humours, which cause leprosy, scabs, tet-
ters, and itches, and such like breakings-

Time.~\ They also flower in the Summer
months.

Government and virtues.'] Mars owns the

out of the skin, and after the purgings doth ' herb. They are hot and dry, and open
strengthen all the inward parts. It is also * obstructions of the liver and spleen. A de-
good against the yellow-jaundice, and | coction made with the flowers thereof hath
spends it by urine, which it procures in! been found effectual against the jaundice,
abundance. The powder of the dried herb j as olso to provoke urine, and cleanse the
given for some lime together, cures melan-| kidneys from gravel or stone ingendered
choly, but the seed is strongest in opera- 1 in them. Mars doth also this by sym-
tion for all the former diseases. The dis- * pathy.

THE COMPLETE HERBAL

GARLICK. 1 GENTIAN, FELWORT, OR BALDMONY.

IT is confessed that Gentian, which is

THE offensiveness of the breath of him I most used amongst us, is brought over from
that hath eaten Garlick, will lead you by j beyond sea, yet we have two sorts of it
the nose to the knowledge hereof, and (in- \ growing frequently in our nation, which,
stead of a description) direct you to the \ besides the reasons so frequently alledged
place where it grows in gardens, which 1 why English herbs should be fittest for
kinds are the best, and most physical. | English bodies, has been proved by the

Government and virtues.] Mars owns this j experience of divers physicians, to be not
herb. This was anciently accounted the { a whit inferior in virtue to that which
poor man's treacle, it being a remedy for j comes from beyond sea, therefore be pleased
all diseases and hurts (except those which- j to take the description of them as follows,
itself breed.) It provokes urine, and women's 1 Descript.~\ The greater of the two hath
courses, helps the biting of mad dogs and many small long roots thrust down deep
other venomous creatures, kills worms in \ into the ground, and abiding all the Winter,
children, cuts and voids tough phlegm, | The stalks are sometimes more, sometimes
purges the head, helps the lethargy, is a 5 fewer, of a brownish green colour, which
good preservative against, and a remedy is sometimes two feet high, if the ground
for any plague, sore, or foul ulcers ; takes j be fruitful, having many long, narrow, dark
away spots and blemishes in the skin, eases j green leaves, set by couples up to the top ;
pains in the ears, ripens and breaks impos- ! the flowers are long and hollow, of a purple
thumes, or other swellings. And for all j colour, ending in fine corners. The smaller
those diseases the onions are as effectual, j sort which is to be found in our land,
But the Garlick hath some more peculiar j grows up with sundry stalks, not a foot
virtues besides the former, viz. it hath | high, parted into several small branches,
a special quality to discuss inconveniences j whereon grow divers small leaves together,
coming by corrupt agues or mineral vapours; i very like those of the lesser Centaury, of a
or by drinking corrupt and stinking waters; 1 whitish green colour ; on the tops of these
as also by taking wolf-bane, hen-bane, { stalks grow divers perfect blue flowers,
hemlock, or other poisonous and danger- j standing in long husks, but not so big as
ous herbs. It is also held good in hydro- \ the other ; the root is very small, and full
pick diseases, the jaundice, falling sickness, j of threads.

cramps, convulsions, the piles or hsemorr- ; Place.] The first grows in divers places
hoids, or other cold diseases. Many authors j of both the East and "West counties, and as
quote many diseases this is good for ; but \ well in wet as in dry grounds ; as near
conceal its vices. Its heat is very vehement, j Longfield, by Gravesend, near Cobham in
and all vehement hot things send up but | Kent, near Lillinstone in Kent, also in a
ill-favoured vapours to the brain. In cho- \ chalk pit hard by a paper-mill not far from
leric men it will add fuel to the fire ; in | Dartford in Kent. The second grows also
men oppressed by melancholy, it will j in divers places in Kent, as about South-
attenuate the humour, and send up strong j fleet, and Longfield ; upon Barton's hills in
fancies, and as many strange visions to | Bedfordshire ; also not far from St. Albans,
the head ; therefore let it be taken inwardly \ upon a piece of waste chalky ground, as
with great moderation ; outwardly you may j you go out by Dunstable way towards
make more bold with it. * Gorhambury.

PLATE 9.

41 Br

Wall Hawkweed.

Ha_rt's ToxLgue

Mouse -ear Hawkweed .

Gentian .

Golden .Rod .

Galingal .

('Invr

Groundsel .

Germander

THOMAS KKJ.LY, LONDON.

AND ENGLISH PHYSICIAN ENLARGED.

Time.'] They flower in August.

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

CLOVE GILLIFLOWERS.

It is vain to describe an herb so well
known.

Government and virtues.] They are gallant,
fine, temperate flowers, of the nature and
under the dominion of Jupiter; yea, so

i 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 lake now and then a little of either,
strengthens nature much, in such as are in
consumptions. They are also excellent! v
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 poi-
son 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 dim-
ness and moistness. It is likewise good for
the pains in the sides and cramps. The

84 THE COMPLETE HERBAL

decoction thereof taken for four days -places of this land, and is usually nursed
together, drives away and cures both ter- ; up in gardens.

tain and quartan agues. It is also good \ Time.'] It flowers not until July, and
against all diseases of the brain, as con-; the seed is ripe in August or September
tinual head-ache, falling-sickness, melan- 5 yet the husks after they are ripe, opening
choly, drowsiness and dullness of the spirits, : themselves, will hold their seed with then?
convulsions and palsies. A dram of the ; for two or three months, and not shed them
seed taken in powder purges by urine, and i Government and virtues.] It is supposed
is good against the yellow jaundice. The : to be under the dominion of Saturn. It is
juice of the leaves dropped into the ears : used by many country people to purge
kills the worms in them. The tops thereof, j corrupt phlegm and choler, which they do
when they are in flowers, steeped twenty- 1 by drinking the decoction of the roots ,
four hours in a draught of white wine, and and some to make it more gentle, do but
drank, kills the worms in the belly. infuse the sliced roots in ale; and some

itake the leaves, which serve well for the
STINKING GLADWIN. weaker stomach : The juice hereof put up,

DescriptJ] THIS is one of the kinds of

or snuffed up the nose, causes sneezing,
and draws from the head much corruption ;

Flower-de-luce, having divers leaves arising j and the powder thereof doth the same,
from the roots, very like a Flower-de-luce, s The powder thereof diank in wine, helps
but that they are sharp-edged on both sides, ; those that are troubled with the cramps and
and thicker in the middle, of a deeper green | convulsions, or with the' gout and sciatica,
colour, narrower and sharper pointed, and | and gives ease to those that have griping
a strong ill-scent, if they be bruised be- i pains in their body and belly, and helps
tween the fingers. In the middle rises up | those that have the stranguary. It is given
a reasonably strong stalk, a yard high at | with much profit to those that have had
least, bearing three or four flowers at the 5 long fluxes by the sharp and evil quality of
top, made somewhat like the flowers of the \ humours, which it stays, having first cleansed
Flower-de-luce, with three upright leaves, i and purged them by the drying and bind-
of a dead purplish ash-colour, with someiing property therein. The root boiled in
veins discoloured in them ; the other three \ wine and drank, doth effectually procure
do not fall down, nor are the three other j women's courses, and used as a pessary,
small ones so arched, nor cover the lower \ works the same effect, but causes abortion
leaves as the Flower-de-luce doth, but stand } in Avomen with child. Half a dram of the
loose or asunder from them. After they ; seed beaten to powder, and taken in wine,
are past, there come up three square hard doth speedily cause one to make water
husks, opening wide into three parts when I abuadantly. The same taken with vine-
they" are ripe, wherein lie reddish seed, \ gar, dissolves the hardness and swellings
turns black when it hath abiden long. The of the spleen. The root is very effectual
root is like that of the Flower-de-luce, but j in all wounds, especially of the head ; as
reddish on the outside, and whitish within, $ also to draw forth any splinters, thorns, or
very sharp and hot in the taste, of as evil j broken bones, or any other thing sticking
a scent as the leaves. ( in the flesh, without causing pains, being

P/ace.] This grows as well in upland j used with a little verdigrease and honey,
grounds, as in moist places, woods, and \ and the great Centaury root. The same
shadowy places by the sea-side in many \ boiled in vinegar, and laid upon any tumour

AND ENGLISH PHYSICIAN ENLARGED.

or swelling, doth very effectually dissolve |
and consume them ; yea, even the swell-
jngs 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, where-
soever they be.

GOLDEN ROD.

Descript.] THIS rises up with brownish
small round stalks, two feet high, and
sometimes more, having thereon many

inferior to none, both for the inward and
outward hurts ; green wounds, old sores
and ulcers, are quickly cured therewith.
It also is of especial use in all lotions for
sores or ulcers in the mouth, throat, or privy
parts of man or woman. The decoction
also helps to fasten the teeth that are loose
in the gums.

GOUT-WORT, OR HERB GERRARD.

Descript] IT is a low herb, seldom rising
half a yard high, having sundry leaves

narrow and long dark green leaves, very standing on brownish green stalks by three,
seldom with any dents about the edges, or -snipped about, and of a strong unpleasant
any stalks or white spots therein, yet they jj savour : The umbels of the flowers are

s* "l 1 * * 1 l *_1 'i* 1.1 ill 1*1 1 1

are sometimes so found divided at the tops
into many small branches, with divers
small yellow flowers on every one of them,
all Avhich are turned one way, arid 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

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

GROMEL-

OP this 1 shall briefly describe their

the herb, and therefore to be sure it res-
pects beauty lost. Arnold us de Villa Nova
commends it much against the stone in the

reins and kidneys, and to provoke urine in I kinds, which are principally used in physic,
abundance, wherebjr also the gravel and I the virtues whereof are alike, though some-
stone may be voided. The decoction of! what different in their manner and form of
the herb, green or dry, or the distilled ? growing.

water thereof, is very effectual for inward t Descript.] The greater Gromel grows up
bruises, as also to be outwardly applied, it j with slender hard and hairy stalks, trailing
stays bleeding in any part of the body, and \ and taking root in the ground, as it lies

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,

thereon, and parted into many other small
branches with hairy dark green leaves there-
on. At the joints, with the leaves, come
forth very small blue flowers, and after them
hard stony roundish seed. The root is long

86 THE COMPLETE HERBAL

and woody, abiding the Winter, and shoots \ boiled, or the juice thereof drank, is eflei
forth fresh stalks in the spring. j tual to all the purposes aforesaid, but not &

The smaller wild Gromel sends forth i powerful or speedy in operation.
divers upright hard branched stalks, two or {

three feet high, jull of joints, at every one of j GOOSEBERRY BUSH.

which grow small, long, hard and rough} CALLED alsO Feap berry, and in Sussex
leaves like the former, but less ; among j Dewberry . Bns h, and in some Counties
which leaves come forth small white flowers, | \v meb erry

and after them greyish round seed like the [ Governm ' ent and virtues.-] They are under
former; the root is not very big, but withj the dominionof Venus. The berries, while
many strings thereat. j thev are unripe being sca ided or baked,

The garden Gromel has divers upright j| arc - ood to s r up a B f aint i n g or decayed
slender, woody, hairy stalks, blown and j fo tite especial i5; such wh g se stomachs
erased, very little branched with leaves | a afflicted b holeric humours: They are
like the former, and white flowers; after; | exce |, entl y goo d to st ay longin gs of women
which, m rough brown husks, is contained ; with chikl . & Y OU may kSep them

, , wt c . OU may ep tem pre-

a white, hard, round seed shining lUtejj^ with s r a]1 the year Iong< The
pearls, and greater than either the former ; j decoction of & e leaves o f the tree cools
the root is like the first described, with| hot swelli s and inflammations; as also
divers branches and sprigs thereat which | gl Anth > s fire . The ripe Gooseberries
continues (as the first doth) all the Winter.; bejno . ea gre an excel]ent remed to

Place.] The two first grow wild in barren | al , e the violent heat hoth of the stO m ac h
or untilled places, and by the way side| and , iver The y and tcnder leavcj!

in many places of this land. Lhe last is ; hreak the stQIK% an<J d d both from
a nursling in the gardens of the curious. | the kidneys and bladder. All the evil they

Time.-] They all flower from Midsummer j do tf) ^ body of man ig> they are
until September sometimes, and in the; d tQ breed crudities> and by crud i t i e s,
mean time the seed ripens. | worms

Government and virtues] The herb belongs |

to Dame Venus; and therefore if Mars | WINTER-GUEEK.

cause the cholic or stone, as usually hej

doth, if in Virgo, this is your cure. These | Descript] THIS sends forth seven, eight,
are accounted to be of as singular force as I or nine leaves from a small brown creeping
any herb or seed whatsoever, to break the | root, every one standing upon a long fool
stone and to void it, and the gravel either \ stalk, which are almost as broad as long,
in the reins or bladder, as also to provoke | round pointed, of a sad green colour, and
urine being stopped, and to help stranguary. > hard in handling, and like the leaf of a
The seed is of greatest use, being bruised | Pear-tree ; from whence arises a slender
and boiled in white wine or in broth, or the \ weak stalk, yet standing upright, bearing
like, or the powder of the seed taken there- j at the top many small white sweet-smelling
in. Two drams of the seed in powder 5 flowers, laid open like a star, consisting ot
taken with women's breast milk, is very j five round pointed leaves, with many yellow
effectual to procure a very speedy delivery | threads standing in the middle about a green
to such women as have sore pains in their j head, and a long stalk with them, which in
travail, and cannot be delivered : The herb ; time grows to be the seed-vessel, which
itself, (when the seed is not to be had) either | being ripe is found five square, with a small

AND ENGLISH PHYSICIAN ENLARGED. 87

point at it, wherein is contained seed as j it may be se.en many months in the year,

small as dust. ! both green and in flower, and seed ; for it

Place.'] It grows seldom in fields, but ; will spring and &eed twice in a year at

frequent in the woods northwards, viz. in 'least, if it be suffered in a garden.

Yorkshire, Lancashire, and Scotland. | Place."] They grow almost every where,

Time.'] It flowers about June and July, fas well on tops of walls, as at the foot,
Government and virtues."] Winter-green \ amongst rubbish and untilled grounds, but

is under the dominion of Saturn, and is a especially in gardens.

singularly good wound herb, and an espe-
cial remedy for healing green wounds

Time.'] It flowers, as was said before, al-
most every month throughout the year.

speedily, the green leaves being bruised and ; ' Government and virtues."] This herb is
applied, or the juice of them. A salve I Venus's mistress-piece, and is as gallant
made of the green herb stamped, or the j and universal a medicine for all diseases
juice boiled with hog's lard, or with salad j coining of heat, in what part of the body
oil and wax, and some turpentine added j soever they be, as the sunshines upon; it is
to it, is a sovereign salve, and highly ex- ( very safe and friendly to the body of man:
tolled by the Germans, who use it to heal j yet causes vomiting if the stomach be af-
all manner of wounds and sores. The herb J flicted ; if not, purging : and it doth it with
boiled in wine and water, and given to I more gentleness than can be expected; it is
drink to them that have any inward ulcers j moist, and something cold Avithal, thereby
in their kidneys, or neck of the bladder, causing expulsion, and repressing the heat
doth wonderfully help them. It stays all 1 caused by the motion of the internal parts
fluxes, as the lask, bloody fluxes, women's s in purges and vom-its. Lay by our learned
courses, and bleeding of wounds, and takes ; receipts ; take so much Sena, so much
away any inflammations rising upon pains | Scammony, so much Colocynlhis, so much
of the heart ; it is no less helpful for foul i infusion of Crocus Metallorum, &c. this
ulcers hard to be cured ; as also for cankers | herb alone preserved in a syrup, in a dis-
or fistulas. The distilled water of the herb tilled water, or in an ointment, shall do
effectually performs the same things. j the deed for you in all hot diseases, and,

* shall do it, 1, Safely ; 2, Speedily.

GROUNDSEL. J rpi i r-'i- i 'i / i -p.-

j J he decoction or this herb (sailh Diosco-

Descript.'] OUR common Groundsel has > rides) made Avith wine, and drank, helps
a round green and somewhat brownish , the pains of the stomach, proceeding of
stalk, spreading toward the top into branches, j choler, (which it may well do by a vomit)
set with long and somewhat nan ow green I as daily experience shews. The juice there-
leaves, cut in on the edges, somewhat like | of taken in drink, or the decoction of it in
the oak-leaves, but less, and round at the f ale, gently performs the same. It is good
end. At the tops of the branches stand j against the iaundiee and falling sickness,
many small green heads, out of which grow j being taken in wine ; as aiso against dif-
several small, yellow threads or thumbs, 1 ficulty of making water. It provokes
which are the flowers, and continue many ; urine, expels gravel in the reins or kidneys;
days blown in that manner, before it pass la dram thereof given in oxymel, after some
away into down, and with | the seed is walking or stirring of the body. It helps
carried away in the wind. The root is small : also the sciatica, griping of the belly, the
and thready, and soon perishes, and aslcholic, defects of the liver, and provokes
soon rises again of its own sowing, so that : women's courses. The fresh herb boiled,

A A

88 THE COMPLETE HERBAL

and made into a poultice, applied to the and a gallant remedy for the inflammation

breasts of women that are swollen with pain j of the lungs and breasts, pleurisy, scabs,

and heat, as also the privy parts of man or j itch, &c. It is under the celestial sign

woman, the seat or fundament, or the ar- i Cancer.

teries, joints, and sinews, when they are i

inflamed and swollen, doth much ease them; j: ARTICHOKES.

ami used with some salt, helps to dissolve I m

knots or kernels in any part of the body. I HE L J ti ? cafl A them Clnera > onl J our

The juice of the herb, or as (Dioscorides \ co " e e calls them Artichocus

saith) the leaves and flowers, with some fine j , Government and virtues.] They are under

Frankincense in powder, used in wounds ofi the d mi nion of Venus, and therefore it is

the body, nerves or sinews, doth singulaily n u Carvel if they provoke lust, as indeed

help to heal them. The distilled water of! the / d \ bem somewhat windy meat;

the herb performs well all the aforesaid \ and ?<* they stay the involuntary course of

cures, but especially for inflammations orj na1 : ural seed in man which is commonly

watering of the eyes, by reason of the de- \ called nocturnal pollutions And here I

fluxion of rheum unto them. \ care not g reat ^ lf T H uotea lttle of Gale!n ' s

nonsense in his treatise of the faculties of

HEART'S-EASE. j nourishment. He saith, they contain plenty

THIS is that herb which such physicians I ? f ch oleric juice (which notwithstanding
as are licensed to blaspheme by authority,! 1 can scarce > b 1 eliev l e >) of which he saith
without danger of having their tongues I ls engendered melancholy juice, and of that
burned through with an hot iron, called an 1 melancholy juice thin choleric blood. But,
herb of the Trinity. It is also called by | to P"? 6 *' this is certain, that the decoc-
those that are more moderate, Three Faces i f )n of , the l .^ ed ln wmc ' or ^ e root
in a Hood, Live in Idleness, Cull me to bruised and distilled in wine in an alembic,

you; and in Sussex we call them Fancies. and bem S drank ' P ur S es b ? urme exceed -

Place] Besides those which are brought !

up in gardens, they grow commonly wildj HART'S-TONGUE.

in the fields, especially in such as are very \

barren: sometimes you may find it on the i Descript] THIS has divers leaves arising
tops of the high hil-ls. | from the root, every one severally, which

Time] They flower all the Spring and j fold themselves in their first springing and
Summer long. j spreading : when they are full grown, are

Government and virtues] The herb is \ about a foot long, smooth and green above,
really saturnine, something cold, viscous, j but hard and with little sap in them, and
and slimy. A strong decoction of the herbs I streaked on the back, athwart on both sides
and flowers (if you will, you may make itjof the middle rib, with small and some-
into syrup) is an excellent cure for the French | what long and brownish marks; the bot-
pox, the herb being a gallant antivenereal : j toms of the leaves are a little bowed on
and that antivenereals are the best cure for ; each side of the middle rib, somewhat
that disease, far better and safer than to small at the end. The root is of many
torment them with the flux, divers foreign j black threads, folded or interlaced together
physicians have confessed. The spirit of? Time] It is green all the Winter ; but
it is excellently good for the convulsions in t new leaves spring every year.
children, as also for the falling sickness, j Government and virtues] Jupiter claims

AND ENGLISH PHYSICIAN ENLARGED.

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.

domini-on over this herb, therefore it is a [was the father of slander; Or are men's

singular remedy for the liver, both to: tongues so given to slander one another,

strengthen 't when weak, and ease it when j that they must slander Nuts too, to keep

afflicted, you shall do well to keep it in a { their tongues in use ? If any part of the

syrup all the year ; For though authors say 5 Hazel Nut be stopping, it is the husks and

it is green all the year, I scarcely believe it. | shells, and no one is so mad as to eat them,

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 i

also very good against the passions of the i

heart, and to stay the hiccough, to help* THERE are several sorts of Hawk -weed,

the falling of the palate, and to stay the \ but they are similar in virtues.

bleeding of the gums, being gargled in the i; Descript.'j It has many large leaves

T-V- ~:*u :*: j. : -~' * 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 up-
ward, whereon are set at every joint longer
leaves, little or nothing rent or cut, bearing

mouth. Dioscorides saith, it is good against
the stinging or biting of serpents. As for
the use of it, my direction at the latter end
will be sufficient, and enough for those that
are studious in physic, to whet their brains
upon for one year or two.

HAZEL-NUT.

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

Government and virtues.] They are under
the dominion of Mercury. The parted
kernels made into an electuary, or the milk
drawn from the kernels with mead or;
honeyed water, is very good to help an old

on them sundry pale, yellow flowers, con-
sisting of many small, narrow leaves, broad
pointed, and nicked in at the ends, set
in a double row or more, the outermost
being larger than the inner, which form
most of the Hawk-weeds (for there are
many kinds of them) do hold, which turn

cough; and being parched, and a little j into down, and with the small brown
pepper put to them and drank, digests the

distillations of rheum from the head. The
dried husks and shells, to the weight of two

ish seed is blown away with the wind. The
root is long and somewhat great, with
many small fibres thereat. The whole plant

drams, taken in red wine, stays lasks and is full of bitter-milk.

women's courses, and so doth the red skin j Place.'] It grows in divers places about

that covers the kernels, which is more ef- j the field sides, and the path-ways in dry

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

grounds.

Time.'] It flowers and flies away in the
Summer months.

Government and virtues.] Saturn owns

which nothing is falser ? For, how can that | it. Hawk-weed (saith Dioscorides) is cool-
which strengthens the lungs, cause shortness I ing, somewhat drying and binding, and

far i therefore good for the heat of the stomach,
and gnawings therein ; for inflammations
and the hot fits of agues. The juice thereof

of breath ? I
older than I

confess, the opinion is
I knexv tradition was

friend to error before, but never that he

THE COMPLETE HERBAL

in wine, helps digestion, discusses wind,
hinders crudities abiding in the stomach,
and helps the difficulty of making water,

day, it rather shews the superstition of
those that observe it for the time of its
flowering, than any great wonder, since

the biting of venomous serpents, and sting- j the like may be found in divers other places
ing of the scorpion, if the herb be also
outwardly applied to the place, and is very
good against all other poisons. A scruple
of the dried root given in wine and vine-
gar, is profitable for those that have the

of this land ; as in Whey -street in Romney
Marsh, and near unto Nantwich in Che-
shire, by a place called White Green, where
it flowers about Christmas and May. If
the weather be frosty, it flowers not until

dropsy. The decoction of the herb taken \ January, or that the hard weather be over,
in honey, digests the phlegm in the chest ? Government and virtues. ~\ It is a tree of
or lungs, and with Hyssop helps the cough. I Mars. The seeds in the berries beaten to
The decoction thereof, and of wild Sue- j powder being drank in wine, are held sin-
cory, made with wine, and taken, helps the gularly good against the stone, and are good
wind cholic and hardness of the spleen ; it for the dropsy. The distilled water of the

procures rest and sleep, hinders venery
and venerous dreams, cooling heats, purges
the stomach, increases blood, and helps
the diseases of the icins and bladder. Out-
wardly applied, it is singularly good for
all the defects and diseases of the eyes, used
with some women's milk; and used wilh
good success in fretting or creeping ulcers,
especially in the beginning. The green
leaves bruised, and with a little salt ap-

flowers stav the lask. The seed cleared
from the down, bruised and boiled in wine,
and drank, is good for inward tormenting
pains. If cloths or sponges be wet in the
distilled water, and applied to any place
wherein thorns and splinters, or the like,
do abide in the flesh, it will notably draw
them forth.

And thus you see the thorn gives a medi-
cine for its own pricking, and so dotli

plied to any place burnt with fire, before ' almost every thing else.

HEMLOCK.

blisters do rise, helps them ; as also
flammat'ons, St. Anthony's fire, and all j
pushes and eruptions, hot and salt phlegm. j

The same applied with meal and fair waters Descnpt.~\ THE common great Hemlock
in manner of a poultice, to any place af- \ grows up with a green stalk, four or five
fected with convulsions, the cramp, and j feet high, or more, full of red spots some-
such as are out af joint, cloth give help and j times, and at the joints very large winged
ease. The distilled water cleanses the skin, heaves set at them, which are divided into
and takes away freckles, spots, morphew, many other winged leaves, one set against
or wrinkles in the face. jthe other, dented about the edges, of a sad

HAWTHORN. 1 ^ e n colour branched towards the lop,

i Avhere it is full of umbels of white flowers,

IT is not my intention to trouble you i and afterwards with whitish flat seed : The
with a description of this tree, which is so \ root is long, white, and sometimes crooked,
well known that it needs none. It is ordi- 1 and hollow within. The whole plant, and
narily but a hedge bush, although being! every part, has a strong, heady, and ill-
pruned and dressed, it grows to a tree of j savoured scent, much offending the senses
:i reasonable height. Place.'] It grows in all counties of this

As for the Hawthorn Tree at Glastonbury, i land, by walls and hedge-sides, in waste
which is said to flower yearly on Christmas- j grounds and untilled places.

PLATE 1O.

Lon^rooted Hawlcweed

Heart s Eas e

Hounds Tong-ue

Her"b Rotert

"Marsh Perm -y wort

"White Horetound

Mi- ri bane

'1 r\ielo ve

Hemlo ck:

THOMAS KE1.I.Y, LONDON.

AND ENGLISH PHYSICIAN ENLARGED. 91

Time.'] It flowers and seeds in July, or $
thereabouts.

Government and virtues.~\ Saturn claims! THIS is so well known to every good
dominion over this herb, yet I wonder why j housewife in the country, fhat I shall noi
it may not be applied to the privities in a \ need to write any description of it.
Priapism, or continual standing of the yard, i TimeJ] It is sown in the very end of
it being very beneficial to that disease ; I : March, or beginning of April, and is ripe
suppose, my author's judgment was first ! in August or September,
upon the opposite disposition of Saturn to j Government and virtues.'] It is a plant of
Venus in those faculties, and therefore he j Saturn, and good for something else, you
forbade the applying of it to those parts, ! see, than to make halters only. The seed
that it might not cause barrenness, or spoil \ of Hemp consumes wind, and by too much
the spirit procrealive ; which if it do, yet \ use thereof disperses it so much that it
applied to the privities, it stops its lustful f dries up the natural seed for procreation ;
thoughts. Hemlock is exceedingly cold, | yet, being boiled in milk and taken, helps
and very dangerous, especially to be taken \ such as have a hot dry cough. The Dutch
inwardly. It may safely be applied to in- \ make an emulsion out of the seed, and give
flammations, tumours, and swellings in any j it with good success to those that have the
part of the body (save the privy parts) as \ jaundice, especially in the beginning of the
also to St. Anthony's fire, wheals, pushes, \ disease, if there be no ague accompanying
and creeping ulcers that arise of hot sharp j it, for it opens obstructions of the gall, and
humours, by cooling and repelling the heat; | causes digestion of choler. The emulsion
the leaves bruised and laid to ihe brow or j or decoction of the seed stays lasks and
forehead aie good for their eyes that are red | continual fluxes, eases the cholic, and allays
and swollen; as also to take away a pin | the troublesome humours in the bowels,
and web growing in the eye; this is a tried \ and stays bleeding at the mouth, nose, or
medicine : Take a small handful of this { other places, some of the leaves being fried
herb, and half so much bay salt, beaten j with the blood of them that bleed, and so
together, and applied to the contrary wrist I given them to eat. It is held very good to
of the hand, for 24 hours, doth remove it j kill the worms in men or beasts ; and the
in thrice dressing. If the root thereof be j juice dropped into the ears kills worms in
roasted under the embers, wrapped in dou- ! them ; and draws forth earwigs, or other
ble wet paper, until it be soft and tender, { living creatures gotten into them. The de-
and then applied to the gout in the hands j coction of the root allays inflammations of
or fingers, it will quickly help this evil, j the- head, or any other parts: the herb it-
If any through mistake eat the herb Hern- j self, or the distilled water thereof doth the
look instead of Parsley, or the roots in- j like. The decoction of the root eases the
stead of a Parsnip (both of which it is very j pains of the gout, the hard humours of
like) whereby happens a kind of frenzy, or 1 knots in the joints, the pains and shrinking
perturbation of the senses, as if they were | of the sinews, and the pains of the hips,
stupid and drunk, the remedy is (as Pliny i The fresh juice mixed with a little oil and
saith) to drink of the best and strongest i butter, is good for any place that hath been
pure wine, before it strikes to the heart, or! burnt with fire, being thereto applied
Gentian put in wine, or a draught of vine- 1
gar, wherewith Tragus doth affirm, that he \
cured a woman that had eaten the root. Descnpt.'] OUR common Henbane has

B B

P2 THE COMPLETE HERBAL

very large, thick, soft, woolly leaves, lying : found without it growing by it. Ergo, it
on the ground, much cut in, or torn on the j is an herb of Saturn. The leaves of Hei.-
edges, of a dark, ill greyish green colour ;, bane do cool all hot inflammations in the
among which arise up divers thick and | eyes, or any other part of the body; and
short stalks, two or three feet high, spread | are good to assuage all manner of swellings
into divers small branches, with lesser leaves \ of the privities, or women's breast, or else-
on them, and many hollow flowers, scarce j where, if they be boiled in wine, and either
appearing above the husk, and usually torn j applied themselves, or the fomentation
on one side, ending in five round points, j warm; it also assuages the pain of the gout,
growing one above another, of a deadishjthe sciatica, and other pains in the joints
yellowish colour, somewhat paler towards ? which arise from a hot cause. And applied
the edges, with many purplish veins | with vinegar to the forehead and temples,
therein, and of a dark, yellowish purples helps the head-ache and want of sleep in
in the bottom of the flower, with a small jhot fevers. The juice of the herb or seed,
point of the same colour in the middle, j or the oil drawn from the seed, does the
each of them standing in a hard close husk, | like. The oil of the seed is helpful for
which after the flowers are past, grow very i deafness, noise, and worms in the ears,
like the husk of Asarabacca, and some- being dropped therein ; the juice of the

what sharp at the top points, wherein is
contained much small seed, very like Poppy

herb or root doth the same. The decoction
of the herb or seed, or both, kills lice in

seed, but of a dusky, greyish colour. The \ man or beast. The fume of the dried herb,
root is great, white, and thick, branching j stalks and seed, burned, quickly heals
forth divers ways under ground, so like a | swellings, chilblains or kibes in the hands
Parsnip root (but that it is not so white) j or feet, by holding them in the fume there-
thai it has deceived others. The whole plant j of. The remedy to help those that have
more than the root, has a very heavy, ill, j taken Henbane is to drink goat's milk,
soporiferous smell, somewhat offensive. j honeyed water, or pine kernels, with sweet

Placed] It commonly grows by the way- j wine ; or, in the absence of these, Fennel
sides, and under hedge-sides and walls. j seed, Nettle seed, the seed of Cresses,

Time.~\ It flowers in July, and springs | Mustard, or Radish ; as also Onions or
again yearly of its own seed. I doubt my Garlic taken in wine, do all help to free
authors mistook July for June, if not for * them from danger, and restore them to their
May. I due temper again.

Government and virtues^] I wonder how | Take notice, that this herb must never
astrologers could take on them to make this ; be taken inwardly ; outwardly, an oil oint-
an herb of Jupiter; and yet Mizaldus, ajment, or plaister of it, is most admirable
man of a penetrating brain, was of that? for the gout, to cool the veneral heat of the
opinion as well as the rest ; the herb is in- \ reins in the French pox ; to stop the tooth-
deed under the dominion of Saturn, and | ache, being applied to the aching side: to
I prove it by this argument : All the herbs j allay all inflammations, and to help the
which delight most to grow in saturnine j diseases before premised,
places are saturnine herbs. Both Hen-j HEDGE

bane delights most to grow in saturnine

places, and whole cart loads of it may be
found near the places where they empty the

D i VEERS sorts there are of this plant ;
the first of which is an Italian by birth, and

common Jakes, and scarce a ditch to be only nursed up here in the gardens of the

AND ENGLISH PHYSICIAN ENLARGED. 98

curious. Two or three sorts are found com-
monly growing wild here, the description
of two of which I shall give you.

Bear's-foot, Christinas-herb, and Christmas-
flowers.

Descript."] It hath sundry fair green

Descript.'] The first is a smooth, low f leaves rising from the root, each of them
plant, not a foot high, very bitter in taste, j standing about an handful high from the
with many square stalks, diversly branched 1 earth; each leaf is divided into seven, eight,
from the bottom to the top, with divers $ or nine parts, dented from the middle of
joints, and two small leaves at each joint, \ the leaf to the point on both sides, abiding
broader at the bottom than they are at the I green all the Winter ; about Christmas-
end, a little dented about the edges, of a; time, if the weather beany thing temperate,
sad green colour, and full of veins. The j the flowers appear upon foot stalks, also
flowers stand at the joints, being of a fair i consisting of five large, round, white leaves
purple colour, with some white spots in la-piece, which sometimes are purple towards
them, in fashion like those of dead nettles, uhe edges, with many pale yellow thumbs
The seed is small and yellow, and the roots i in the middle ; the seeds are divided into
spread much under ground. j several cells, like those of Columbines,

The second seldom grows half a foot | save only that they are greater ; the seeds
high, sending up many small branches, > are in colour black, and in form long and
whereon grow many small leaves, set one | round. The root consists of numberless
against the other, somewhat broad, but \ blackish strings all united into one head,
very short. The flowers are like the flowers i There is another Black Hellebore, which
of the other fashion, but of a pale reddish j grows up and down in the woods very like
colour. The seeds are small and yellowish. | this, but only that the leaves are smaller
The root spreads like the other, neither will j and narrower, and perish in the Winter,
it yield to its fellow one ace of bitterness. I which this doth not.

Place.~] They grow in wet low grounds, \ Place.~] The first is maintained in gar-
and by the water-sides ; the last may be 5 dens. The second is commonly found in
found among the bogs on Hampstead Heath, j the woods in Northamptonshire.

Time.'] They flower in June or July, \ Time.'] The first flowers in December
and the seed is ripe presently after. jor January; the second in February or

Government and virtues.'] They are herbs ! March.

of Mars, and as choleric and churlish as \ Government and virtues.'] It is an herb of
he is, being most violent purges, especially | Saturn, and therefore no marvel if it has
of choler and phlegm. It is not safe taking j some sullen conditions with it, and would
them inwardly, unless they be well rectified \ be far safer, being purified by the art of the
by the art of the alchymist, and only the | alchymist than given raw. If any have
purity of them given; so used they may be? taken any harm by taking it, the common

cure is to take goat's milk : If you cannojt
get goat's milk, you must make a shift with
such as you can get. The roots are very
effectual against all melancholy diseases,
especially such as are of long standing, as
! quartan agues and madness ; it helps the

BLACK HELLEBORE. j falling sickness, the leprosy, both the yel-

; low and black jaundice, the gout, sciatica,
IT is also called Setter-wort, Setter-grass, j and convulsions ; and this was found out

very helpful both for the dropsy, gout,
and sciatica ; outwardly used in ointments
they kill worms, the belly anointed with it,
and are excellently good to cleanse old and
filthy ulcers

THE COMPLETE HERBAL

by experience, that the root of that which j stay blood, where or howsoever flowing , it
grows wild in our country, works not so \ speedily heals all green wounds, and is
churlishly as those do which are brought! effectual in old ulcers in the privy parts, or
from beyond sea, as being maintained by \ elsewhere. You may persuade yourself
a more temperate air. The root used as this is true, and also conceive a good reason

a pessary, provokes the terms exceedingly ;

for it, do but consider it is an herb of

also being beaten into powder, and strewed Venus, for all it hath a man's name.

upon foul ulcers, it consumes the dead j

flesh, and instantly heals them; nay, ii\

will help gangrenes in the beginning, i Descript.~] ORDINARY Herb True-love

HERB TRUE-LOVE, OR ONE-BERRY.

Twenty grains taken inwardly is a sufficient
dose for one time, and let that be corrected
with half so much cinnamon ; country peo-
ple used to rowel their cattle with it. If a
beast be troubled with a cough, or have

taken any poison, they bore a hole through
the ear, and put a piece of the root in it,

has a small creeping root running under the
uppermost crust of the ground, somewhat
like couch grass root, but not so white,
shooting forth stalks with leaves, some
whereof carry no berries, the others do;
every stalk smooth without joints, and

blackish green, rising about half a foot high,

t r . 1 i .1 -t i t * 1

this will help him in 24 hours time. Many \if it bear berries, otherwise seldom so high,
other uses farriers put it to which I shall bearing at the top four leaves set directly
forbear. one against another, in manner of a cross

or ribband tied (as it is called in a true-
loves knot,) which are each of them apart
somewhat like unto a night-shade leaf, but

HERB ROBERT.

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

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

and smells, as the whole plant, very strong,
almost stinking.

somewhat broader, having sometimes three
leaves, sometimes five, sometimes six, and
those sometimes greater than in others, in
the middle of the four leaves rise up one
small slender stalk, about an inch high,
bearing at the lops thereof one flower spread
open like a star, consisting of four small
and long narrow pointed leaves of a yellow-
ish green colour, and four others lying
between them lesser than they ; in the mid-
dle whereof stands a round dark purplish
button or head, compassed about with
eight small yellow mealy threads with three
colours, making it the more conspicuous,

j and lovely to behold. This button or head

PlaceJ] This grows frequently every j in the middle, when the other leaves are
where by the way-sides, upon ditch banks: withered, becomes a blackish purple berry,

and waste grounds wheresoever one goes.

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

Government and virtue*.] It is under the
dominion of Venus. Herb Robert is com-j PlaceJ] It grows in woods and copses,
mended not only against the stone, but to land sometimes in the corners or borders of

full of juice, of the bigness of a reasonable
grape, having within it many white seeds.
The whole plant is without any manifest

taste.

AND ENGLISH PHYSICIAN ENLARGED. 05

fields, and waste grounds in very many \ Hyssop boiled with rue and honey, and
places of this land, and abundantly in the \ drank, helps those that are troubled with
woods, copses, and other places about \ coughs, shortness of breath, wheezing and
Chislehurst and Maidslone in Kent. j rheumatic distillation upon the lungs ; taken

Time.'] They spring up in the middle of! also with oxymel, it purges gross humours
April or May, and are in flower soon after. ; by stool ; and with honey, kills worms in
The berries are ripe in the end of May, ; the belly; and with fresh and new figs
and in some places in June. J bruised, helps to loosen the belly, and more

Government and virtues.] Venus owns it; I forcibly if the root of Flower-de-luce and
the leaves or berries hereof are effectual to cies^es be added thereto. It amends and

expel poison of all sorts, especially that of

cherishes the native colour of the body,

the aconites; as also, the plague, and other spoiled by the yellow jaundice; and being
pestilential disorders; Matthiolus saith, that 5 taken with figs and nitre, helps the dropsy
some that have lain long in a lingering sick- and spleen; being boiled with wine, it is

ness, and others that by witchcraft (as it
was thought) were become half foolish, by
taking a dram of the seeds or berries hereof
in powder every day for 20 days together, :

good to wash inflammations, and takes
away the black and blue spots and marks
that come by strokes, bruises, or falls, being
applied with warm water. It is an excellent

were restored to their former health. The \ medicine for the quinsy, or swellings in
roots in powder taken in wine eases the j the throat, to wash and gargle it, being
pains of the cholic speedily. The leaves i boiled in figs; it helps the tooth-ache, being
are very effectual as well for green wounds, 5 boiled in vinegar and gargled therewith,
as to cleanse and heal up filthy old sores j The hot vapours of the decoction taken by
and ulcers; and is very powerful to discuss i a funnel in at the ears, eases the inflam ma-
all tumours and swellings in the privy I tions and singing noise of them. Being
parts, the groin, or in any part of the body, j bruised, and salt, honey, and cummin seed
and speedily to allay all inflammations, j put to it, helps those that are stung by
The juice of the leaves applied to felons, or 4 serpents. The oil thereof (the head being
those nails of the hands or toes that have j anointed) kills lice, and takes away itching
imposthumes or sores gathered together at > of the head. It helps those that have the
the roots of them, heals them in a short J falling sickness, which way soever it be
space. The herb is not to be described for J applied. It helps to expectorate tough
the premises, but is fit to be nourished in j phlegm, and is effectual in all cold griefs
every good woman's garden. : or diseases of the chests or lungs, being

; taken either in syrup or licking medicine,
| The green herb bruised and a little sugar

HYSSOP is so Avell known to be an inha-jput thereto, doth quickly heal any cut or
bitant in every garden, that it will save me! green wounds, being thereunto applied,
labour in writing a description thereof. The 1
virtues are as follow. HOPS.

Government and virtues.] The herb is \

Jupiter's, and the sign Cancer. It strengthens \ THESE are so well known that they need
ali the parts of the bod}' under Cancer and j I no description ; I mean the manured kind,
Jupiter; which what they may be, is found > which every good husband or housewife is
amply described in my astrological judg- \ acquainted with.

ment of diseases. Dioscorides saith, that ' Descript] The wild hop grows up as the

c c

9(5 THE COMPLETE HERBAL

other doth, ramping upon trees or hedges, j

that stand next to them, with rough branches i

and leaves like the former, but it gives i THERE are two kinds of Horehound.

smaller heads, and in far less, plenty than ! the white and the black The black sor

it, so that there is scarcely a head or two > is likewise called Hen-bit ; but the white

seen in a year on divers of this wild kind, I one is here spoken of.

wherein consists the chief difference. Descript.~] Common Horehound grows

P/ace.] They delight to grow in low | up with square hairy stalks, half a yard or
moist grounds, and are found in all parts | two feet high, set at the joints with two
of this land. \ round crumpled rough leaves of a sullen

TimeJ] They spring not until April, and 1 hoary green colour, of a reasonable good
flower not until the latter end of June ; the j scent, but a very bitter taste. The flowers
heads are not gathered until the middle or 1 are small, white, and gaping, set in a rough,
latter end of September. jhard prickly husk round about the joints,

Government and virtues.'] It is under the I with the leaves from the middle of the
dominion of Mars. This, in physical { stalk upward, wherein afterward is found
operations, is to open obstructions of the small round blackish seed. The root is
liver and spleen, to cleanse the blood, to blackish, hard and woody, with many
loosen the belly, to cleanse the reins from j strings, and abides many years,
gravel, and provoke urine. The decoc-j Place.] It is found in many parts of
tion of the tops of Hops, as well of the | this land, in dry grounds, and waste green
tame as the wild, works the same effects, j places.

In cleansing the blood they help to cure \ Time.'] It flowers in July, and the seed
the French diseases, and all manner of Us ripe in August,
scabs, itch, and other breakings-out of the \ Government and virtues.] It is an herl

body ; as also all tetters, ringworms, arid

of Mercury. A decoction of the dried

spreading sores, the morphew and all dis- herb, with the seed, or the juice of the
colouring of the skin. The decoction of \ green herb taken with honey, is a remed)
the flowers and hops, do help to expel* for those that are short-winded, have a
poison that any one hath drank. Half a j cough, or are fallen into a consumption,
dram of the seed in powder taken in drink, i either through long sickness, or thin dis-
kills worms in the body, brings down \ tillations of rheum upon the lungs. It helps
women's courses, and expels urine. A syrup | to expectorate tough phlegm from the chest,
made of the juice and sugar, cures the yel-j being taken from the roots of Iris or Orris,
low jaundice, eases the head-ache thatcomes \ It is given to women to bring down their
of heat, and tempers the heat of the liver j courses, to expel the after-birth, and to
and stomach, and is profitably given in > them that have taken poison, or are slung
long and hot agues that rise in choler and i or bitten by venemous serpents. The leaves
blood. Both the wild and the manured used with honey, purge foul ulcers, stay
are of one property, and alike effectual in 5 running or creeping sores, and the growing
all the aforesaid diseases. By all these j of the flesh over the nails. It also helps
testimonies beer appears to be better than j pains of the sides. The juice thereof with
ale. | wine and honey, helps to clear the eye-

Mars owns the plant, and then Dr. Rea-; sight, and snuffed up into the nostrils,
son will tell you how it performs these \ purges away the yellow-jaundice, and with
actions. ]a little oil of roses dropped into the ears,

AND ENGLISH PHYSICIAN ENLARGED. D/

eases the pains of them. Galen saith, itj Time.'] They spring up in April, and
opens obstructions both of the liver and > their blooming catkins in July, seeding for

spleen, and purges the breast and lungs of
phlegm : and used outwardly it both i

the most part in August, and then perish
down to the ground, rising afresh in the

cleanses and digests. A decoction of Hore- i Spring.

hound (saith Matthiolus) is available fort Government and virtues.'] The herb be-

those that have hard livers, and for such as 5 longs to Saturn, yet is very harmless, and

have itches and running tetters. The pow-
der hereof taken, or the decoction, kills

excellently good for the things following :
Horsetail, the smoother rather than the

worms. The green leaves bruised, and | rough, and the leaves rather than the bare,

boiled in old hog's grease into an oint-jis most physical. It is very powerful to

nient, heals the biting of dogs, abates the

swellings and pains that come by any

pricking of thorns, or such like means ; and

used with vinegar, cleanses and heals tetters.

There is a syrup made of Horehound to be

had at the apothecaries, very good for old

coughs, to rid the tough phlegm; as also'

staunch bleeding either inward or outward,
the juice or the decoction thereof being
drank, or the juice, decoction, or distilled
water applied outwardly. It also stays all
sorts of lasks and fluxes in man or woman-
and bloody urine ; and heals also not onl_y
the inward ulcers, and the excoriation oi

to void cold rheums from the lungs of old| the entrails, bladder, &c. but all other sorts-
folks, and for those that are asthmatic on of foul, moist and running ulcers, and soon
short-winded. \ solders together the tops of green wounds.

Jit cures all ruptures in children. The de-

HOlxoJbTAI L. . i r ... , ,

f coction thereof in wine being drank, pro-

OF that there are many kinds, but I shall j vokes urine, and helps the stone and stran-
not trouble you nor myself with any large 1 omary; and the distilled water thereof drank

'_ /--! 1*1 1

description of them, which to do, were
but, as the proverb is, To find a knot in a

two or three times in a day, and a small
quantity at a time, also eases the bowels,

rush, ail the kinds thereof being nothing land is effectual against a cough that comes
else but knotted rushes, some with leaves, j by distillations from the head. The juice
and some without. Take the description of ! O r distilled water being warmed, and hot
the most eminent sort as follows. j inflammations, pustules or red wheals, and

Descript.] The great Horsetail at the* other breakings-out in the skin, being
first springing has heads somewhat like | bathed therewith, doth help them, and doth
those of asparagus, and afterwards grow to be j no less the swelling heat and inflammation
hard, rough, hollow stalks, jointed at sundry j o f the lower parts in men and women,
places up to the top, a foot high, so made :

as if the lower parts were put into the} HOUSELEEK OR SENCREEN

upper, where grow on each side a bush of { BOTH these are so well known to my
small long rush-like hard leaves, each part ! countrymen, that I shall not need to write
resembling a horsetail, from whence it is so j any description of them,
called. At the tops of the stalks cornej Place.] It grows commonly upon walls
forth small catkins, like those of trees. The | and house-sides, and flowers in July,
root creeps under ground, having joints at \ Government and virtues.~\ It is an herb
sundry places. | of Jupiter, and it is reported by Mezaldus,

Placed] This (as most of the other sorts ; to preserve what it grows upon from fire
hereof; grows in wet grounds. ! and lightning. Our ordinary Houseleek is

THE COMPLETE HERBAL

good for all inward heats as well as out-
ward, and in the eyes or other parts of the
body ; a posset made with the juice of
Houseleek, is singularly good in all hot
agues, for it cools and tempers the blood
and spirits, and quenches the thirst; and

which consist of small purplish red leaves
of a dead colour, rising out of the husks
wherein they stand with some threads in
the middle. It has sometimes a white
flower. After the flowers are past, there
comes rough flat seed, with a small pointle

also good to stay all hot deductions or sharp * in the middle, easily cleaving to any gar-
and salt rheums in the eyes, the juice being >ment that it touches, and not so easily
dropped into them, or into the ears. J pulled off again. The root is black, thick,
It helps also other fluxes of humours in the i and long, hard to break, and full of clammy
bowels, and the immoderate courses ofi juice, smelling somewhat strong, of an evil
women. It cools and restrains all other hot \ scent, as the leaves also do.
inflammations, St. Anthony's fire, scald- j Place.'] It grows in moist places of this
ings and burnings, the shingles, fretting! land, in waste grounds, and untillecl places,
ulcers, cankers, tettors, ringworms, and the! by highway sides, lanes, and hedge-sides,
like; and much eases the pains of the gout| Time.~\ It flowers about May or June,
proceeding from any hot cause. The juice j and the seed is ripe shortly after,
also takes away worts and corns in the] Government and virtues.'] It is a plant

hands or feet, being often bathed therewith,
and the skin and leaves being laid on them
afterwards. It eases also the head-ache,
and distempered heat of the brain in
frenzies, or through want of sleep, being
applied to the temples and forehead. The
leaves bruised and laid upon the crown or

under the dominion of Mercury. The root
is very effectually used in pills, as well as
the decoction, or otherwise, to stay all sharp
and thin defluxionsof rheum from the head
into the eyes or nose, or upon the stomach
or lungs, as also for coughs and shortness
of breath. The leaves boiled in wine (saith

seam of the head, stays bleeding at the nose j Dioscorides, but others do rather appoint it
very quickly. The distilled water of the | to be made with water, and add therelo

herb is profitable for all the purposes afore-
said. The leaves being gently rubbed on
any place stung with nettles or bees, doth
quickly take away the pain.

HOUND S TONGUE.

Descript.~\ THE great ordinary Hound's

oil and salt) molifies or opens the belly
downwards. It also helps to cure the biting
of a mad dog, some of the leaves being also
.applied to the wound : The leaves bruised,
| or the juice of them boiled in hog's lard,
Jand applied, helps falling away of the hair,
which comes of hot and sharp humours ;

Tongue has many long and somewhat as also for any place that is scalded or

narrow, soft, hairy, darkish green leaves,
lying on the ground, somewhat like unto
Bugloss leaves, from among which rises

up a rough hairy stalk about two feet high, paste or wet paper, or in a wet double cloth

burnt ; the leaves bruised and laid to any
green wound doth heal it up quickly : the
root baked under the embers, wrapped in

with some smaller leaves thereon, and;
branched at the tops into divers parts, with
a small leaf at the foot of every branch,
which is somewhat long, with man}' flowers

and thereof a suppository made, and put
up into or applied to the fundament, doth
very effectually help the painful piles or
haemorrhoids. The distilled water of the

set along the same, which branch is crooked herbs and roots is very good to all the pur-
or turned inwards before it flowers, and j poses aforesaid, to be used as well inwardly
opens by degrees as the flowers blow, | to drink, as outwardly to wash any sore

AND ENGLISH PHYSICIAN ENLARGED. 99

place, for it heals all manner of wounds and a-piece, with many yellow threads in the
punctures, and those foul ulcers that arise j middle, which being bruised do yield a red-
by the French pox. Mizaldus adds that dish juice like blood ; after which come
the leaves laid under the feet, will keep the j small rownd heads, wherein is contained
dogs from barking at you. It is called Ismail blackish seed smelling like rosin.
Hound's-tongue, because it ties the tongues j The root is hard and woody, with divers
of hounds ; whether true, or not, I never j strings and fibres at it, of a brownish colour,
tried, yet I cured the biting of a mad dog j which abides in the ground many years,
with this only medicine. ( shooting anew every Spring.

Place.! This grows in woods and copses,

HOLLY, HOLM, OR HULVER BUSH.

Qpen

sun.

Time.'] They flower about Midsummer

FOR to describe a tree so well known is
needless.

Government and virtues.'] The tree is j and July, and their seed is ripe in the latter
Saturnine. The berries expel wind, and 5 end of July or August.
therefore are held to be profitable in the } Government and virtues.] It is under the
cholic. The berries have a strong faculty J celestial sign Leo, and the dominion of the
with them ; for if you eat a dozen of them ! Sun. It may be, if you meet a Papist, he
in the morning fasting when they are ripe j will tell you, especially if he be a lawyer,
and not dried, they purge the body of gross j that St. John made it over to him by a
and clammy phlegm : but if you dry the j letter of attorney. It is a singular wound
berries, and beat them into powder, they | herb ; boiled in wine and drank, it heals
bind the body, and stop fluxes, bloody- inward hurts or bruises ; made into an oint-

fluxes, and the terms in women. The bark
of the tree, and also the leaves, are excel-
lently good, being used in fomentations for

ment, it open obstructions, dissolves swell-
ings, and closes up the lips of wounds. The
decoction of the herb and flowers, especi-

broken bones, and such members as are out | ally of the seed, being drank in wine, with
of joint. Pliny saith, the branches of the $ the juice of knot-grass, helps all manner of
tree defend houses from lightning, and men ? vomiting and spitting of blood, is good for
from witchcraft. those that are bitten or stung by any veno-

, Imous creature, and for those that cannot

make water. Two drams of the seed of

THIS is a very beautiful shrub, and is! St. John's Wort made into powder, and
a great ornament to our meadows. I drank in a little broth, doth gently expel

Descript.'] Common St. John's Wortjcholer or congealed blood in the stomach,
shoots forth brownish, upright, hard, round ! The decoction of the leaves and seeds
stalks, two feet high, spreading many I drank somewhat warm before the fits of
branches from the sides up to the tops of; agues, whether they be tertains or quartans,
them, with two small leaves set one again sti alters the fits, and, by often using, doth
another at every place, which are of a deep 5 take them quite away. The seed is much
green colour, somewhat like the leaves of \ commended, being drank for forty days
the lesser Centaury, but narrow, and full of ^together, to help the sciatica, the falling-
small holes in every leaf, which cannot be | sickness, and the palsy,
so well perceived, as when they are held up ]
to the light ; at the tops of the stalks and |
branches stand yellow flowers of five leaves \ IT is so well known to every child

D D

100 THE COMPLETE HERBAL

almost, to grow in woods upon the trees, f and nose, and curing the ulcers and stench
and upon the stone walls of churches, | therein ; the same dropped into the ears,
houses, &c. and sometimes to grow alone of j helps the old and running sores of them ;
itself, though but seldom, j those that are troubled with the spleen,

Time.'] It flowers not until July, and! shall find much ease by continual drinking
the berries are not ripe till Christmas, when \ out of a cup made of Ivy, so as the drink

-ii/i.TTr*/ .

they have felt Winter frosts.

Government and virtues."] It is under the ;

may stand some small time therein before
it be drank. Cato saith, That wine put

dominion of Saturn. A pugil of the flowers, into such a cup, will soak through it, by
which may be about a dram, (saith Diosco- j reason of the antipathy that is between
corides) drank twice a day in red wine, j them.

helps the lask, and bloody flux. It is an j There seems to be a very great antipathy
enemy to the nerves and sinews, being j between wine and Ivy ; for if one hath got
much taken inwardly, but very helpful | a surfeit by drinking of wine, his speediest
to them, being outwardly applied. Pliny j cure is to drink a draught of the same wine
saith, the yellow berries are good against ; wherein a handful of Ivy leaves, being first
the jaundice ; and taken before one be set \ bruised, have been boiled,
to drink hard, preserves from drunkenness, \
and helps those that spit blood; and that*

the white berries being taken inwardly, or; FOB to give a description of a bush so
applied outwardly, kills the worms in the; commonly known is needless,
belly. The berries are a singular remedy j Place.'] They grow plentifully in divers
to prevent the plague, as also to iree them j woods in Kent, Warney common near
from it that have got it, by drinking the ! Brent wood in Essex, upon Finchley Corn-
berries thereof made in to a powder, fortwoimon without High gate ; hard by the New-
or three days together. They being taken j found Wells near Dulwich, upon a Common
in wine, do certainly help to break the {between Mitcham and Crpydon, in the
stone, provoke urine, and women's courses, j Highgate near Amersham in Buckingham*
The fresh leaves of Ivy, boiled in vinegar, I shire, and many other places,
and applied warm to the sides of those that \ Time.'] The berries are not ripe the first
are troubled with the spleen, ache, or stitch 1 year, but continue green two Summers and
in the sides, do give much ease : The same] one Winter before they are ripe ; at which
applied with some Rosewater, and oil of j time they are all of a black colour, and
Roses, to the temples and forehead, eases j therefore you shall always find upon the
the head-ache, though it be of long con- \ bush green berries ; the berries are ripe
tinuance. The fresh leaves boiled in wine, I about the fall of the leaf,
and old filthy ulcers hard to be cured \ Government and virtues.'] This admirable
washed therewith, do wonderfully help to ; ( solar shrub is scarce to be paralleled for its
cleanse them. It also quickly heals green $ virtues. The berries are hot in the third
wounds, and is effectual to heal all burnings 1 degree, and dry but in the first, being a
and scaldings, and all kinds of exulcera- { most admirable counter-poison, and as great
tions coming thereby, or by salt phlegm or { a resister of the pestilence, as any growing ;
humours in other parts of the body. The j they are excellent good against the bi tings
juice of the berries or leaves snuffed up into of venomous beasts, they provoke urine
the nose, purges the head and brain of thin t exceedingly, and therefore are very avail-
rheum that makes defluxions into the eyes ; able to dysuries and stranguaries. It is so

AND ENGLISH PHYSICIAN ENLARGED. 10!

powerful a remedy against the dropsy, that j on, usually not round as those below, but
the very lye made of the ashes of the herb i somewhat long, and divided at the edges :
being drank, cures the disease. It provokes 1 the tops are somewhat divided into long
the terms, helps the fits of the mother, j branches, bearing a number of flowers, set
strengthens the stomach exceedingly, and j round about a long spike one above another,
expels the wind. Indeed there is scarce a; which are hollow and like a little bell of a
better remedy for wind in any part of the j whitish green colour, after which come
body, or the cholic, than the chymical oil j small heads, containing very small brownish
drawn from the berries ; such country j seed, which falling on the ground, will
people as know not how to draw the chy- : plentifully spring up before Winter, if it
mical oil, may content themselves by eating ! have moisture. The root is round and most
ten or a dozen of the ripe berries every I usually smooth, greyish without, and white
morning fasting. They are admirably good ; within, having small fibres at the head of
for a cough, shortness of breath, and con-; the root, and bottom of the stalk,
sumption, pains in the belly, ruptures,! Place.'] It grows very plentifully in
cramps, and convulsions. They give safe j many places of this land, but especially in
and speedy delivery to women with child, j all the west parts thereof, upon stone and
they strengthen the brain exceedingly, help { mud walls, upon rocks also, and in stony
the memory, and fortify the sight by j places upon the ground, at the bottom of
strengthening the optic nerves ; are excel- > old trees, and sometimes on the bodies of
lently good in all sorts of agues ; help the : them that are decayed and rotten,
gout and sciatica, and strengthen the limbs \ Time.'} It usually flowers in the begin-
of the body. The ashes of the wood is alning of May, and the seed ripening quickly
speedy remedy to such as have the scurvy, \ after, sheds itself; so that about the end or
to rub their gums with. The berries stay 1 May, usually the stalks and leaves are
all fluxes, help the haemorrhoids or piles, ? withered, dry, and gone until September,
and kill worms in children. A lye made! then the leaves spring up again, and so
of the ashes of the wood, and the body \ abide all winter.

bathed with it, cures the itch, scabs and ; Government and virtues.'] Venus chal-
leprosy. The berries break the stone, > lenges the herb under Libra. The juice
procure appetite when it is lost, and are \ or the distilled water being drank, is very
excellently good for all palsies, and falling- 1 effectual for all inflammations and unnatural
sickness. * heats, to cool a fainting hot stomach, a hot

* liver, or the bowels : the herb, juice, or dis-

KIDNEYWORf, OR WALL PENNYROYAL, J ^ ^^ ^^ Q ^^ } Ued

OR WALL PENNYWORT. | heals pimples, St. Anthon/s firef and other

Descript.'] IT has many thick, flat, and ! outward heats. The said juice or water
round leaves growing from the root, every * helps to heal sore kidneys, torn or fretted
one having a long footstalk, fastened un- j by the stone, or exulcerated within ; it also
derneath, about the middle of it, and a j provokes urine, is available for the dropsy,
little unevenly weaved sometimes about the J and helps to break the stone. Being used
edges, of a pale green colour, and some-? as a bath, or made into an ointment, it
what yellow on the upper side like a sau- \ cools the painful piles or haemorrhoida.
cer ; from among which arise one or more i veins.. It is no less effectual to give ease
tender, smooth, hollow stalks half a foot j to the pains of the gout, the sciatica, and
high, with two or three small leaves there- \ helps the kernels or knots in the neck or

102

THE COMPLETE HERBAL

throat, called the king's evil : healing kibes
and chilblains if they be bathed with the
juice, or anointed with ointment made
thereof, and some of the skin of the leaf
upon them: it is also used in green wounds
to stay the blood, and to heal them quickly.

KNAPWEED.

of the herb and roots in wine, and applying
the same outwardly to the place. It is
singularly good in all running sores, can-
cerous and fistulous, drying up of the mois-
ture, and healing them up so gently, with-
out sharpness; it doth the like to miming

KNOTGRASS.

sores or scabs of the head or other parts.
i It is of special use for the soreness of the
; throat, swelling of the uvula and jaws, and
DeacriptJ] THE common sort hereof j excellently good to stay bleeding, and heal

has many long and somewhat dark green j up all green wounds.

leaves, rising from the root, dented about

the edges, and sometimes a little rent or

torn on both sides in two or three places,

and somewhat hairy withal ; amongst

which arises a long round stalk, four or five

feet high, divided into many branches, at

the tops whereof stand great scaly green

heads, and from the middle of them thrust

forth a number of dark purplish red thrumbs

or threads, which after they are withered

and past, there are found divers black

seeds, lying in a great deal of down, some-
what like unto Thistle seed, but smaller ;

the root is white, hard and woody, and divers

fibres annexed thereunto, which perishes

not, but abides with leaves thereon all the

Winter, shooting out fresh every spring.

It grows in most fields and mea-

1 .1*1 i 111

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

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

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

Government and virtues^] Saturn seems
to me to own the herb, and yet some hold
the Sun; out of doubt 'tis Saturn. The
juice of the common kind of Knotgrass
is most effectual to stay bleeding of the
mouth, being drank in steeled or red wine ;
and the bleeding at the nose, to be applied

dows, and about their borders and hedges, \ to the forehead or temples, or to be squirted
and in many waste grounds also every i up into the nostrils. It is no less effectual
where. ' lo cool and temper the heat of the blood

TimeJ] It usually flowers in June and; and stomach, and to stay any flux of the
July, and the seed is ripe shortly after. i blood and humours, as lasks, bloody-flux,

Government and virtues.'] Saturn chal- i; women's courses, and running of the reins,
lenges the herb for his own. This Knap-i It is singularly good to provoke urine, help
weed helps to stay fluxes, both of blood at \ the stranguary, and allays the heat that
the mouth or nose, or other outward parts, j| comes thereby ; and is powerful by urine
and those veins that are inwardly broken, | to expel the gravel or stone in the kidneys

or inward wounds, as also the fluxes of the
belly; it stays distillation of thin and sharp

and bladder, a dram of the powder of
the herb being taken in wine for many

humours from the head upon the stomach j days together. Being boiled in wine and
and lungs; it is good for those that are \ drank, it is profitable to those that are stung
bruised by any fall, blows or otherwise, and * or bitten by venemous creatures, and very
is profitable for those that are bursten, and | effectual to stay all defluxions of rheumatic
have ruptures, by drinking the decoction | humours upon the stomach, and kills worms

I' I. ATI-'. 11.

K 1 1 . i p w ( i ( 1

I . ii <1 \'s M a n 1 1 r-

Sen ! . n \ ,

I . M | i io r icV-

fe u\- \Vil| f > w IHT h

i.ll V Of tin- \';il|

THOMAS KELLY. LONDON, in;-,;,

AND ENGLISH PHYSICIAN ENLARGED. 103

in tne belly or stomach, quiets inward pains { Time.'] It tiowers in May and June,
that arise from the heat, sharpness and cor- i abides after seedtime green all the Winter
ruption of blood and choler. The distilled \ Government and virtues.] Venus claims
water hereof taken by itself or with the \ the herb as her own. Ladies' Mantle it
powder of the herb or seed, is very effectual j,very proper for those wounds that have in-
to all the purposes aforesaid, and is ac- i flammations, and is very effectual to stay
counted one of the most sovereign remedies j bleeding, vomitings, fluxes of all sorts,
to cool all manner of inflammations, break- j bruises by falls or otherwise, and helps rup-
ing out through heat, hot swellings and i tures ; and such women as have large
imposthumes, gangrene and fistulous can- I breasts, causing them to grow less and hard
kers, or foul filthy ulcers, being applied | being both drank and outwardly applied ;
or put into them ; but especially for all j the distilled water drank for 20 days toge-

sorts of ulcers and sores happening in the i
privy parts of men and women. It helps i
all fresh and green wounds, and speedily i

ther helps conception, and to retain the
birth; if the women do sometimes also sit in
a bath made of the decoction of the herb.

heals them. The juice dropped into the \ It is one of the most singular wound herbs
ears, cleanses them being foul, and having !j that is, and therefore highly prized and
running matter in them. i; praised by the Germans, who use it in all

It is very prevalent for the premises ; as i wounds inward and outward, to drink a de-

also for broken joints and ruptures.

coction thereof, and wash the wounds there-

, with, or dip tents therein, and put them

into the wounds, which wonderfully dries

DescriptJ] IT has many leaves rising
from the root standing upon long hairy
foot-stalks, being almost round, and a little

up all humidity of the sores, and abates in-
flammations tnerein. It quickly heals ali
green wounds, not suffering any corruption

cut on the edges, into eight or ten parts, j to remain behind, and cures all old sores,

though fistulous and hollow.

LAVENDER.

making it seem like a star, with so many
corners and points, and dented round about,
of a light green colour, somewhat hard in
handling, and as it were folded or plaited | BEING an inhabitant almost in every
at first, and then crumpled in divers places, j garden, it is so well known, that it needs no
and a little hairy, as the stalk is also, which { description.

rises up among them to the height of two j Time.'] It flowers about the end of June,
or three feet ; and being weak, is not able > and beginning of July,
to stand upright, but bended to the ground, i Government and virtues.'] Mercury owns
divided at the top into two or three small j the herb; and it carries his effects very po-
oranches, with small yellowish green heads, j tently. Lavender is of a special good use
and flowers of a whitish colour breaking out { for all the griefs and pains of the head and
of them ; which being past, there comes a ; brain that proceed of a cold cause, as the
small yellowish seed like a poppy seed : | apoplexy, falling-sickness, the dropsy, or
The root is somewhat long and black, with j sluggish malady, cramps, convulsions,
many strings and fibres thereat. | palsies, and often faintings. It strengthens

Place.] It grows naturally in many pas- j the stomach, and frees the liver and spleen
tures and wood sides in Hertfordshire, i from obstructions, provokes women's courses,
Wiltshire, and Kent, and other places of j and expels the dead child and after-birth,
this land. 'The 'flowers of Lavender steeped in wine,

104 THE COMPLETE HERBAL

helps them to make water that are stopped, j DescriptJ] The root is composed of many
or are troubled with the wind or cholic, if | small white threads from whence spring up
the place be bathed therewith. A decoc- j divers long stalks of winged leaves, consist-
tion made with the flowers of Lavender, $ ing of round, tender, dark, green leaves,
Hore-hound, Fennel and Asparagus root, j set one against another upon a middle rib,
and a little Cinnamon, is very profitably j the greatest being at the end, amongst
used to help the falling-sickness, and the \ which arise up divers tender, weak, round,
giddiness or turning of the brain : to gar- 1 green stalks, somewhat streaked, with lon-
gle the mouth with the decoction thereof 5 . ger and smaller leaves upon them; on the
is good against the tooth-ache. Two ! tops of which stand flowers, almost like the
spoonfuls of the distilled water of the j Stock Gilliflowers, but rounder, and not so
flowers taken, helps them that have lost \ long, of a blushing white colour; the seed
their voice, as also the tremblings and pas- j is reddish, and grows to small branches,
sions of the heart, and faintings and swoon- i being of a sharp biting taste, and so has the
ing, not only being drank, but applied to 5 herb.

the temples, or nostrils to be smelled unto ; ! Place.'] They grow in moist places, and
but it is not safe to use it where the body is j near to brooksides.

replete with blood and humours, because of | Time.'] They flower in April and May,
the hot and subtile spirits wherewith it island the lower leaves continue green all the
possessed. The chymical oil drawn from \ Winter.

Lavender, usually called Oil of Spike, is of i Government and virtues.'] They are under
so fierce and piercing a quality, that it is \ the dominion of the Moon, and very little
cautiously to be used, some few drops being | inferior to Water Cresses in all their opera-
sufficient, to be given with other things, 5 tions ; they are excellently good for the
either for inward or outward griefs. i scurvy, they provoke urine, and break the

LAVENDER-COTTON. | stone, and excellently warm a cold and

T , u T i ii J weak stomach, restoring lost appetite, and

IT being a common garden herb, I shall ; , , r
c ^u j s i . i help digestion,

forbear the description, only take notice, ;

that it flowers in June and July. LETTUCE.

Government and virtues.-] It is under the , JT . g go weR kn j, aj] uged

dominion of Mercury. It resists poison, \ & Sal]ad _ herb that it is together need-
putrefaction, and heals the biting of veno- ^ ^ wrke descr ip t ion thereof,
rnous beasts: A dram of the powder of the | Gmemment J md ^ tues ^ The Moon
dried leaves taken every morning fasting > n t , and ^ ig the J reason th cool
stops the running of the reins in men, and j and moigten what heat and drvness / Mars
whites in women. The seed beaten into | ^^ becaue Marg hag hi fa in Can _
powder, and taken as worm-seed, kilsthej^. and th cool the heat because the
worms, not only in children , but .also m jg un fuleg j between whom and the Moon
people of riper years ; the like doth the [g & tion in the generation of men, as

herb itself, being steeped in milk and the ma gee jn m ^ Guide for Women>

milk drank ; the body bathed with the de- ^ .^ & of Lettuce mixed or boiled with
coction of it, helps scabs and itch. j ou ^ RoscSj app]ied to the forchead and

LADIES-SMOCK, OR cucKow-FLo WER. j temples procures sleep, and eases the head-

THIS is a very pretty ornament to the! ache proceeding of an hot cause: Being

sides of most meadows. i eaten boiled, it helps to loosen the belly.

AND ENGLISH PHYSICIAN ENLARGED. 105

It helps digestion, quenches thirst, in- j great pools, and standing waters, and some-
creases milk in nurses, eases griping pains in | times in slow running rivers, and lesser
the stomach or bowels, that come of choler. ; ditches of water, in sundry places of this
Applied outwardly to the region of the land.

. i . * 11.1* " 1

heart, liver or reins, or by bathing the said

TimeJ] They flower most commonly

places with the juice of distilled water, about the end of May, and their seed is
wherein some white Sanders, or red Roses : ripe in August.

are put ; not only represses the heat and | Government and virtues.] The herb is
inflammations therein, but comforts and j under the dominion of the Moon, and there-
strengthens those parts, and also tempers i fore cools and moistens like the former,
the heat of urine. Galen advises old men* The leaves and flowers of the Water Lilies
to use it with spice ; and where spices are tare cold and moist, but the roots and seeds
wanting, to add Mints, Rochet, and such ' are cold and dry ; the leaves do cool all
like hot herbs, or else Citron Lemon, or ; inflammations, both outward and inward
Orange seeds, to abate the cold of one and \ heat of agues ; and so doth the flowers

heat of the other. The seed and distilled
water of the Lettuce work the same effects

also, either by the syrup or conserve
the syrup helps much to procure rest,

in all things ; but the use of Lettuce is \ and to settle the brain of frantic per-
chiefly forbidden to those that are short- i sons, by cooling the hot distemperature
winded, or have any imperfection in the {of the head. The seed as well as the root
lungs, or spit blood. is effectual to stay fluxes of blood or

i humours, either of wounds or of the belly ;
but the roots are most used, and more ef-

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

fectual to cool, bind, and restrain all fluxes
in man or woman. The root is likewise

DescriptJ] The White Lily has very j very good for those whose urine is hot and
large and thick dark green leaves lying on \ sharp, to be boiled in wine and water, and
the water, sustained by long and thick j the decoction drank. The distilled water
foot-stalks, that arise from a great, thick, j of the flowers is very effectual for all the
round, and long tuberous olack root { diseases aforesaid, both inwardly taken,
spongy or loose, with many knobs thereon, j and outwardly applied ; and is much corn-
green on the outside, but as white as snow j mended to take away freckles, spots, sun-
within, consisting of divers rows of long; burn, and morphew from the face, or other
and somewhat thick and narrow leaves, j parts of the body. The oil made of the
smaller and thinner the more inward they j flowers, as oil of Roses is made, is profitably
be, encompassing a head with many yel- ; used to cool hot tumours, and to ease the
low threads or thrums in the middle; where, j pains, and help the sores,
after they are past, stand round Poppy-like j LjLy THE VALLEY

heads, full of broad oily and bitter seed.

The yellow kind is little different from} CALLED also Conval Lily, Male Lily,
the former, save only that it has fewer land Lily Confancy.

leaves on the flowers, greater and more I DescriptJ] The root is small, and creeps
shining seed, and a whitish root, both with- j far in the ground, as grass roots do. The
in and without. The root of both is some- leaves are many, against which rises up a
what sweet in taste. stalk half a foot high, with many white

Place.'] They are found growing in flowers, like little bells with turned edges

106 THE COMPLETE HERBAL

of a strong, though pleasing smell ; the \ birth. The root roasted, and mixed with a
berries are red, not much unlike those of I little hog's grease, makes a gallant poultice

Asparagus.

Place] They grow plentifully upon;
Hampstead-Heath, and many other places;

to lipen and break plague-sores. The
ointment is excellently good for swellings
in the privities, and will cure burnings and

11" * 1 i * t

in this nation. jscaldings without a scar, and trimly deck a

Time.'] They flower in May, and the ! blank place with hair,
seed is ripe in September.

Government and virtues] It is under the \

dominion of Mercury, and therefore itj Descript.~] OUR English Liquorice rises
strengthens the brain, recruits a weak | up with divers woody stalks, whereon are
memory, and makes it strong again: The j set at several distances many narrow, long,
distilled water dropped into the eyes, helps \ green leaves, set together on both sides of
inflammations there ; as also that infirmity ; the stalk, and an odd one at the end, very
which they call a pin and web. The spirit j well resembling a young ash tree sprung up
of the flowers distilled in wine, restores lost 1 from the seed. This by many years con-
speech, helps the palsy, and is excellently j tinuance in a place without removing, and
good in the apoplexy, comforts the heart j not else, will bring forth flowers, many
and vital spirits. Gerrard saith, that the j standing together spike fashion, one above
flowers being close stopped up in a glass, j another upon the stalk, of the form of pease
put into an ant-hill, and taken away again j blossoms, but of a very pale blue colour,
a month after, ye shall find a liquor in the j which turn into long, somewhat flat and
glass, which, being outwardly applied, helps j smooth cods, wherein is contained a small.,
the gout. | round, hard seed : The roots run down ex-

Sceedino; deep into the ground, with divers

WHITE LILIES. .1 11 1 , ,

I other small roots and fibres growing with

IT were in vain to describe a plant so! them, and shoot out suckers from the main
commonly known in every one's garden ; 1 roots all about, whereby it is much increas-
therefore I shall not tell you what they are, ied, of a brownish colour on the outside,
but what they are good for. 1 and yellow within.

Government and virtues.] They are under 5 Place.] It is planted in fields and gar-
the dominion of the Moon, and by anti-jdens, in divers places of this land, and
pathy to Mars expel poison ; they are ex- j thereof good profit is made,
cellently good in pestilential fevers, the j Government and virtues.] It is under the
roots being bruised and boiled in wine, and | dominion of Mercury. Liquorice boiled
the decoction drank ; for it expels the \ in fair water, with some Maiden-hair and
venom to the exterior parts of the body : < figs, makes a good drink for those that have
The juice of it being tempered with barley j a dry cough or hoarseness, wheezing or
meal, baked, and so eaten for ordinary [shortness of breath, and for all the griefs of
bread, is an excellent cure for the dropsy : the breast and lungs, phthisic or consump-
An ointment made of the root, and hog's tions caused by the distillation of salt
grease, is excellently good for scald heads, \ humours on them. It is also good in all
unites the sinews when they are cut, and? pains of the reins, the stranguary, and heat
cleanses ulcers. The root boiled in any i of urine : The fine powder of Liquorice
convenient decoction, gives speedy delivery j blown through a quill into the eyes that
to women in travail, and expels the after- : have a pin and web (as they call it) 01

AND ENGLISH PHYSICIAN ENLARGED. 107

rheumatic distillations in them, doth cleanse ; to the tops into great and long branches,
and help them. The juice of Liquorice is;on all which, at the joints, there grow long-
as effectual in all the diseases of the breast* and narrow leaves, but broader below, and
and lungs, the reins and bladder, as the : usually two at a joint, yet sometimes three
decoction. The juice distilled in Rose- $ or four, somewhat like willow leaves, smooth
water, with some Gum Tragacanth, is a fine; on the edges, and of a fair green colour
licking medicine for hoarseness, wheez- j from the upper joints of the branches, and
ing, &c. * at the tops of them also stand many yellow

5 flowers of five leaves a-piece, with divers

LIVERWORT. * 11 j i ii i i

j yellow threads in the middle, which turn,

THERE are, according to some botanists, Hnto small round heads, containing small
upwards of three hundred different kinds I cornered seeds : the root creeps under
of Liverwort. : ground, almost like coughgrass, but greater,

Descript] Common Liverwort grows ; and shoots up every Spring brownish heads
close, and spreads much upon the ground \ which afterwards grow up into stalks. It
in moist and shady places, with many small j has no scent or taste, and is only astringent,
green leaves, or rather (as it were) sticking < Place] It grows in many places of this
flat to one another, very unevenly cut in on ^ land in moist meadows, and by water sides,
the edges, and crumpled; from among; Time] It flowers from June to August,
which arise small slender stalks, an inch or; Government and virtiies] This herb is
two high at most, bearing small star-like j good for all manner of bleeding at the
flowers at the top ; the roots are very fine ; mouth, nose, or wounds, and all fluxes of
and small. j the belly, and the bloody-flux, given either

Government and virtues] It is under the) to drink or taken by clysters; it stays also
dominion of Jupiter, and under the sign : the abundance of women's courses ; it is a
Cancer. It is a singularly good herb for i singular good wound-herb for green wounds,
all the diseases of the liver, both to cool i to stay the bleeding, and quickly close
and cleanse it, and helps the inflammations ; together the lips of the wound, if the herb
in any part, and the yellow jaundice like- ; be bruised, and the juice only applied. It
wise. Being bruised and boiled in small is often used in gargles for sore mouths, as
beer, and drank, it cools the heat of the j also for the secret parts. The smoak here-
liver and kidneys, and helps the running of \ of being bruised, drives away flies and
the reins in men, and the whites in women ; j gnats, which in the night time molest people
it is a singular remedy to stay the spreading j inhabiting near marshes, and in the fenny
of tetters, ringworms, and other fretting and | countries,
running sores and scabs, and is an excellent :

remedy for such whose livers are corrupted ! LOOSESTRIFE ' WITH SPIKED HEADS OF
by surfeits, which cause their bodies to*

break out, for it fortifies the liver exceed- \ IT is likewise called Grass-polly.
ingly, and makes it impregnable. Descript.] This grows with many woody

LOOSESTRIFE OR WILLOW-HERB. S J^. f^' fdl f J mtS ' ab Ut three

j feet high at least ; at every one whereof

Dtscript] COMMON yellow Loosestrife \ stand two long leaves, shorter, narrower,
grows to be four or five feet high, or more, I and a greener colour than the former,
with great round stalks, a little crested, j and some brownish. The stalks are branched
diversly branched from the middle of them 5 into many long stems of spiked flowers half

108 THE COMPLETE HERBAL

a foot long, growing in bundles one above j the place covered with a linen cloth doubled
another, out of small husks, very like the j and anointed with the ointment ; and this
spiked heads of Lavender, each of which \ is also an approved medicine. It likewise
flowers have five round-pointed leaves of a I cleanses and heals all foul ulcers, and sores
purple violet colour, or somewhat inclining \ whatsoever, and stays their inflammations
to redness ; in which husks stand small I by washing them with the water, and lay-
round heads after the flowers are fallen, j ing on them a green leaf or two in the
wherein is contained small seed. The root | Summer, or dry leaves in the Winter. This
creeps under ground like unto the yellow, j water, gargled warm in the mouth, and
but is greater than it, and so are the heads j sometimes drank also, doth cure the quinsy,
of the leaves when they first appear out of I or king's evil in the throat. The said
the ground, and more brown than the j water applied warm, takes away all spots,
other, j marks, and scabs in the skin ; and a little

Place.'] It grows usually by rivers, and of it drank, quenches thirst when it is ex-
ditch-sides in wet ground, as about the treme.
ditches at and near Lambeth, and in many

i / t .i'ii 9 JjOVACrE.

places of this land.

Time.'] It flowers in the months of June | Descript.] IT has many long and green
and July. ; stalks of large winged leaves, divided into

Government and virtues.'] It is an herb
of the Moon, and under the sign Cancer;
neither do I know a better preserver of the

many parts, like Smallage, but much larger
and greater, every leaf being cut about the
edges, broadest forward, and smallest at the

sight when it is well, nor a better cure for j stalk, of a sad green colour, smooth and
sore eyes than Eyebright, taken inwardly, ' shining ; from among which rise up sundry
and this used outwardly; it is cold in quality.! strong, hollow green stalks, five or six,
This herb is nothing inferior to the for- sometimes seven or eight feet high, full of
mer, it having not only all the virtues which joints, but lesser leaves set on them than
the former hath, but more peculiar virtues j grow below; and with them towards the
of its own, found out by experience ; as, j tops come forth large branches, bearing at
namely. The distilled water is a present ! their tops large umbels of yellow flowers,
remedy for hurts and blows on the eyes, i and after them flat brownish seed. The
and for blindness, so as the Christalline I roots grow thick, great and deep, spreading
humours be not perished or hurt ; and this ! much, and enduring long, of a brownish
hath been sufficiently proved true by the i colour on the outside, and whitish within,
experience of a man of judgment, who kept! The whole plant and every part of it smell-
it long to himself as a great secret. It I ing strong, and aromatically, and is of a
clears the eyes of dust, or any thing gotten I hot, sharp, biting taste.
into them, and preserves the sight. It is I Place.'] It is usually planted in gardens,
also very available against wounds and | where, if it be suffered, it grows huge and
thrusts, being made into an ointment in | great.

this manner: To every ounce of the water,} Time.'] It flowers in the end of July,
add two drams of May butter without salt, ! and seeds in August.

and of sugar and wax, of each as muchj Government and virtues^] It is an herb
also; let them boil gently together. Let J of the Sun, under the sign Taurus. If
tents dipped into the liquor that remains j Saturn offend the throat (as he always doth
after it is cold, be put into the wounds, and \ if he be occasioner of the malady, and in

PLATE IV

! , m i ' \v o r t

1 . O V i! '^ I'

Loosestrife ,,r Woo

Maidenhair

Field

Mn r ] o | ( 1

Wallo-

Mil M I 1-1- ,x HI' t

THOM \s KKJ.I.', . LONDON. IH.

AND ENGLISH PHYSICIAN ENLARGED 109

Taurus is the Genesis) this is your cure. 1 is an excellent remedy boiled in beer for
It opens, cures and digests humours, and j broken-winded horses,
mightily provokes women's courses and \

TT if i r ii_ J J * MADDER.

urine. Half a dram at a time of the dried \

root in powder taken in wine, doth wonder- 1 Descript."] GARDEN Madder shoots
fully warm a cold stomach, helps digestion, | forth many very long, weak, four-square,
and consumes all raw and superfluous j reddish stalks, trailing on the ground a
moisture therein ; eases all inward gripings j great way, very rough or hairy, and full of
and pains, dissolves wind, and resists poison | joints: At every one of these joints come
and infection. It is a known and much ! forth divers long and narrow leaves, stand-

praised remedy to drink the decoction of
the herb for any sort of ague, and to help
the pains and torments of the body and

* f, -i i mi 1 fv ^

ing like a star about the stalks, round also
and hairy, towards the tops whereof come
forth many small pale yellow flowers, after

bowels coming of cold. The seed is effec- j which come small round heads, green at
tual to all the purposes aforesaid (except first, and reddish afterwards, but black
the last) and works more powerfully. The \ when they are ripe, wherein is contained
distilled water of the herb helps the quinsy j the seed. The root is not very great, but
in the throat, if the rnouth and throat be | exceeding long, running down half a man's
gargled and washed therewith, and helps \ length into the ground, red and very clear,
the pleurisy, being drank three or four j while it is fresh, spreading divers ways.

times. Being dropped into the eyes, it
takes away the redness or dimness of them ;
it likewise takes away spots or freckles in
the face. The leaves bruised, and fried
with a little hog's lard, and put hot to any

PlaceJ] It is only manured in gardens,
or larger fields, for the profit that is made
thereof.

Time.~] It flowers towards the ena of
Summer, and the seed is ripe quickly after.

blotch or boil, will quickly break it. Government and virtues.] It is an herb of

LUNGWORT. Mars. It hath an opening quality, and

I afterwards to bind and strengthen. It is a
DescriptJ] THIS is a kind of moss, that? sure remedy for the yellow jaundice, by

grows on sundry sorts of trees, especially
oaks and beeches, with broad, greyish,;

gashed in on the edges, and some spotted

opening the obstructions of the liver and
gall, and cleansing those parts ; it opens

tough leaves diversly folded, crumpled, and j; also the obstructions of the spleen, and

diminishes the melancholy humour. It is

also with many small spots on the upper- j available lor the palsy and sciatica, and
side. It was never seen to bear any stalk \ effectual for bruises inward and outward,
or flower at any time. land is therefore much used in vulnerary

Government and virtues.'] Jupiter seems { drinks. The root for all those aforesaid
to own this herb. It is of great use to ; purposes, is to be boiled in wine or water,
physicians to help the diseases of the lungs, j as the cause requires, and some honey and
and for coughs, wheezings, and shortness of; sugar put thereunto afterwards. The seed
breath, which it cures both in man and j hereof taken in vinegar and honey, helps
beast. It is very profitable to put into j the swelling and hardness of the spleen,
lotions that are taken to stay the moist The decoction of the leaves and branches
humours that flow to ulcers, and hinder I is a good fomentation for women thai have
their healing, as also to wash all other ulcers | not their courses. The leaves and roots
in the privy parts of a man or woman. It! beaten and applied to. any part that is dis-

110 THE COMPLETE HERBAL

coloured with freckles, morphew, the while j with the cough, shortness of breath, the
scurf, or any such deformity of the skin, J yellow jaundice, diseases of the spleen,
cleanses thoroughly, and takes them away. ; stopping of urine, and helps exceedingly to

1 break the stone in the kidneys, (in all which

MAIDEN IIAIIt. 5 ,. , ,, r ,, T> . r re

I diseases the Wall Kue is also very effectual.)

Descript.} Quit common Maiden-Hair j It provokes women's courses, and stays
doth, from a number of hard Mack fibres, \ both bleedings and fluxes of the stomach
send forth a great many blackish shining 5 and belly, especially when the herb is dry ;
brittle stalks, hardly a span long, in many \ for being green, it loosens the belly, and
not half so long, on each side set very thick j voids choler and phlegm from the stomach
with small, round, dark green leaves, and and liver; it cleanses the lungs, and by
spitted on the back of them like a fern. 1 rectifying the blood, causes a good colour
Place.} It grows upon old stone walls in \ to the whole body. The herb boiled in oil
the West parts in Kent, and divers other 5 of Camomile, dissolves knots, allays swell-
places of this land; it delights likewise to j ings, and dries up moist ulcers. The lye
grow by springs, wells, and rocky moist \ made thereof is singularly good to cleanse the
and shady places, and is always green. 1 head from scurf, and from dry and running

! sores, stays the falling or shedding of the

WALL RUE, OR, WHITE MAIDEN-HAIR.', , J . ... p.

; hair, and causes it to grow thick, fair, and

Descript} THIS has very fine, pale green i well coloured; for which purpose some
stalks, almost as fine as hairs, set confusedly j boil it in wine, putting some Smallage seed
with divers pale green leaves on every short ? thereto, and afterwards some oil. The
foot stalk, somewhat near unto the colour j Wall Rue is as effectual as Maiden-Hair,
of garden Rue, and not much differing in ; in all diseases of the head, or falling and
form but more diversly cut in on the edges, i recovering of the hair again, and generally
and thicker, smooth on the upper part, j for all the aforementioned diseases : And
and spotted finely underneath. ) besides, the powder of it taken in drink for

Place.} It grows in many places of this i forty days together, helps the burstings in
land, at Dartford, and the bridge at Ash- j children,
ford in Kent, at Beaconsfield in Bucking- |

hamshire, at Wolly in Huntingtonshire, on | GOLDEN MAIDEN H AIE

Framlingham Castle in Suffolk, on the j To the former give me leave to add this,
church Avails at Mayfield in Sussex, in > and I shall say no more but only describe
Somersetshire, and divers other places of jit to you, and for the virtues refer you to
this land ; and is green in Winter as well as | the former, since whatever is said of them,
Summer. ; may be also said of this.

Government and virtues.} Both this and \ Descript.} It has many small, brownish,
the former are under the dominion oft red hairs, to make up the form of leaves
Mercury, and so is that also which follows | growing about the ground from the root;
after, and the virtue of both are so near j and in the middle of them, in Summer, rise
alike, that though I have described them j small stalks of the same colour, set with very
and their places of growing severally, yet % fine yellowish green hairs on them, and
I shall in writing the virtues of them, join j bearing a small gold, yellow head, less
them both together as follows. j than a wheat corn, standing in a great

The decoction of the herb Maiden-Hair \ husk. The root is very small and thready,
being drank, helps those that are troubled : Place.} It grows in bogs and moorish

AND ENGLISH PHYSICIAN ENLARGED 111

places, and also on dry shady places, as
Hampstead Heath, and elsewhere.

to those purposes. The same used by
nurses procures them store of milk. The

5 decoction of the seed of any of the common

MALLOWS AND M ARSHMALLOWS. I AT 11 -n j

J Mallows made in milk or wine, doth mar-

COMMON Mallows are generally so well I vellously help excoriations, the phthisic,
known tha* they need no description. j pleurisy, and other diseases of the chest and

Our common Marshrnallows have divers | lungs, that proceed of hot causes, if it be
soft hairy white stalks, rising to be three or \ continued taking for some time together,
four feet high, spreading forth many | The leaves and roots work the same effects,
branches the leaves whereof are soft and ! They help much also in the excoriations of
hairy, somewhat less than the other Mallow the bowels, and hardness of the mother,
leaves, but longer pointed, cut (for the most \ and in all hot and sharp diseases thereof,
part) into some few divisions, but deep, j The juice drank in wine, or the decoction
The flowers are many, but smaller also than ; of them therein, do help women to a speedy
the other Mallows, and white, or tending to land easy delivery. Pliny saith, that who-
a bluish colour. After which come such j soever takes a spoonful of any of the Mal-
long, round cases and seeds, as in the other i lows, shall that day be free from all diseases
Mallows. The roots are many and long, j that may come unto him ; and that it is
shooting from one head, of the bigness of a j especially good for the falling-sickness. The
thumb or finger, very pliant, tough, and j syrup also and conserve made of the flowers,
being like liquorice, of a whitish yellow i are very effectual for the same diseases,
colour on the outside, and more whitish; and to open the body, being costive. The
within, full of a slimy juice, which being [leaves bruised, and laid to the eyes with
laid in water, will thicken, as if it were a \ a little honey, take away the imposthuma-
jelly. jtions of them. The leaves bruised or rubbed

Place.] The common Mallows grow in { upon any place stung with bees, wasps, or
every county of this land. The common i the like, presently take away the pain,
Marsh-mallows in most of the salt marshes, | red ness, arid swelling that rise thereupon,
from Woolwich down to the sea, both on \ And Dioscorides saith, The decoction of
the Kentish and Essex shores, and in divers j the roots and leaves helps all sorts of poison,
other places of this land. \ so as the poison be presently voided by

Time.] They flower all the Summer; vomit. A poultice made of the leaves
months, even until the Winter do pull them j boiled and bruised, with some bean or bar-
down. * ley flower, and oil of Roses added, is an

Government and virtues] Venus owns } especial remedy against all hard tumours
them both. The leaves of either of the i and inflammations, or imposthumes, or
sorts, both specified, and the roots also \ swellings of the privities, and other parts,
boiled in wine or water, or in broth with j and eases the pains of them; as also against
Parsley or Fennel roots, do help to open the | the hardness of the liver or spleen, being
body, and are very convenient in hot agues, j applied to the places. The juice of Mai-
or other distempers of the body, to apply | lows boiled in old oil and applied, takes
the leaves so boiled warm to the belly. It \ away all roughness of the skin, as also the
not only voids hot, choleric, and other : scurf, dandriff, or dry scabs in the head, or
offensive humours, but eases the pains and \ other parts, if they be anointed therewith,
torments of the belly coming thereby ; and I or washed with the decoction, and preserves
are therefore used in all clysters conducing j the hair from falling off. It is also effec-

G O

.112 THE COMPLETE HERBAL

tual against scaldings and burnings, St. !J drink, to those that are wounded, and read v
Anthony's fire, and all other hot, red, and to faint through loss of blood, and applied
painful swellings in any part of the body, i; the same, mixed with honey and rosin, to
The flowers boiled in oil or water (as every j the wounds. As also, the roots boiled in
one is disposed) whereunto a little honey \ wine to those that have received any hurt

and allum is put, is an excellent gargle to
wash, cleanse or heal any sore mouth or

throat in a short space. If the feet be ii pain, or ache in the muscles, sinews or

bathed or washed with the decoction of the

by bruises, falls, or blows, or had any bone
or member out of joint, or any swelling-

arteries. The muscilage of the roots, and of

leaves, roots, and flowers, it helps much \ Linseed and Fenugreek put together, is much
the defluxions of rheum from the head ; : used in poultices, ointments, and plaisters,
if the head be washed therewith, it stays j to molify and digest all hard swellings, and
the falling and shedding of the hair. The j the inflammation of them, and to ease pains
green leaves (saith Pliny) beaten with $ in any part of the body. The seed either

nitre, and applied, draw out thorns or
prickles in the flesh.

The Marshmallows are more effectual in

green or dry, mixed with vinegar, cleanses
the skin of morphew, and all other dis-
colourings, being boiled therewith in the

all the diseases before mentioned: The j Sun.

leaves are likewise used to loosen the belly | You may remember that not long since
gently, and in decoctions or clysters to ease j there was a raging disease called the bloody-
all pains of the body, opening the strait j flux ; the college of physicians not knowing
passages, and making them slippery, where-! what to make of it, called it the inside

by the stone may descend the more easily
and without pain, out of the reins, kidneys,
and bladder, and to ease the torturing pains

plague, for their wits were at Ne plus ultra
about it : My son was taken with the same
disease, and the excoriation of his bowels

thereof. But the roots are of more special j was exceeding great ; myself being in the
use for those purposes, as well for coughs, | country, was sent for up, the only thing
hoarseness, shortness of breath and wheez- 1 1 gave him, was Mallows bruised and
ings, being boiled in wine, or honeyed ; boiled both in milk and drink, in two days
water, and drank. The roots and seeds i (the blessing of God being upon it) it cured
hereof boiled in wine or water, are with j him. And I here, to shew my thankful-
good success used by them that have ex- j ness to God, in communicating it to his
conations in the bowels, or the bloody flux, j creatures, leave it to posterity
by qualifying the violence of sharp fretting j MAPLE TREE

Humours, easing the pains, and healing the '

soreness. It is profitably taken by them j Government and virtues.] IT is under the
that are troubled with ruptures, cramps, or ; dominion of Jupiter. The decoction either
convulsions of the sinews ; and boiled in j of the leaves or bark, must needs strengthen
Avhite wine, for the imposthumes by the $ the liver much, and so you shall find it to
throat, commonly called the king's evil, and j do, if you use it. It is excellently good to
of those kernels that rise behind the ears, \ open obstructions both of the liver and
and inflammations or swellings in women's i spleen, and eases pains of the sides thence
breasts. The dried roots boiled in milk | proceeding,
and drank, is especially good for the chin- j WJND MARJORAM

cough. Hippocrates used to give the de-i
coction of the roots, or the juice thereof, to* CALLED also Origanum, Eastward Mar-

AND ENGLISH PHYSICIAN ENLARGED. 113

joram; Wild Marjoram, and Grove Mar- 1 dry places of this land; but it is not my
joram. j purpose to insist upon them. The garden

Descript] Wild or field Marjoram hath kinds being most used and useful,
a root which creeps much under ground,! Time,~\ Theyflower in the end of Summer,
which continues a long time, sending up \ Government and virtues."] It is an herb of
sundry-brownish, hard, square stalks, with j Mercury, and under Aries, and therefore is
small dark green leaves, very like those of { an excellent remedy for the brain and other
Sweet Marjoram, but harder, and some- 1 parts of the body and mind, under the do-
what broader; at the top of the stalks stand j minion of the same planet. Our common
tufts of flowers, of a deep purplish red \ Sweet Marjoram is warming and comfor-
colour. The seed is small and something | table in cold diseases of the head, stomach,
blacker than that of Sweet Marjoram. | sinews, and other parts, taken inwardly, or

Place] It grows plentifully in the bor- i outwardly applied. The decoction thereof
ders of corn fields, and in some copses. j being drank, helps all diseases of the chest

Time.] It flowers towards the latter end} which hinder the freeness of breathing, and
of the Summer. I is also profitable for the obstructions of the

Government and virtues.] This is also i liver and spleen. It helps the cold griefs
under the dominion of Mercury. It i of the womb, and the windiness thereof, and

strengthens the stomach and head much, ;
there being scarce a better remedy growing i

the loss of speech, by resolution of the
tongue. The decoction thereof made with

for such as are troubled with a sour humour \ some Pellitory of Spain, and long Pepper,
in the stomach; it restores the appetite j or with a little Acorns or Origanum, being
being lost; helps the cough, and consump- ; drank, is good for those that cannot make
tion of the lungs; it cleanses the body of \ water, and against pains and torments in
choler, expels poison, and remedies the in- \ the belly ; it provokes women's courses, if
firmities of the spleen ; helps the bitings of| it be used as a pessary. r Being made into
venomous beasts, and helps such as have j powder, and mixed with honey, it takes
poisoned themselves by eating Hemlock, j away the black marks of blows, and bruises,
Henbane, or Opium. It provokes urine and being thereunto applied ; it is good for the
the terms in women, helps the dropsy, and i inflammations and watering of the eyes,
the scurvy, scabs, itch, and yellow jaun- 5 being mixed with fine flour, and laid unto
dice. The juice being dropped into the ! them. The juice dropped into the ears,
ears, helps deafness, pain and noise in the ! eases the pains and singing noise in them,
ears. And thus much for this herb, be- jit is profitably put into those ointments
tween which and adders, there is a deadly 5 and salves that are warm, and comfort the
antipathy. | outward parts, as the joints and sinews ;

| for swellings also, and places out of joint.
1 The powder thereof snuffed up into the nose

SWEET Marjoram is so well known, 5 provokes sneezing, and thereby purges the
being an inhabitant in every garden, that it j brain ; and chewed in the mouth, draws
is needless to write any description thereof, forth much phlegm. The oil made thereof,
neither of the Winter Sweet Marjoram, or 5 is very warm and comfortable to the joints
Pot Marjoram. I that are stiff, and the sinews that are hard,

Place.] They grow commonly in gar to molify and supple them. Marjoram is
dens; some sorts grow wild in the bor- much used in all odoriferous water, pow-
ders of corn fields and pastures, in sun- ders, &c. that are for ornament or delight.

114 THE COMPLETE HERBAL

MARIGOLDS. j * ai ? Ao dee f the ground, shooting

'forth sundry heads, which taste sharp,

THESE being so plentiful in every gar- j biting on the tongue, and is the hottest and
den, and so well known that they need no j sharpest part of the plant, and the seed
description. tnext unto it being somewhat blackish on

Time.~\ They flower all the Summer
long, and sometimes in Winter, if it be
mild.

the outside, and smelling well.

Place.] It is usually kept in gardens with
{ us in England.

Government and virtues.] It is an herb | Time] It flowers and seeds about the
of the Sun, and under Leo. They strengthen \ end of August.

the heart exceedingly, and are very ex- ! Government and virtues] It is an herb of
pulsive, and a little less effectual in the small- 1 Mars. The root of Masterwort is hotter
pox and measles than saffron. The juice than pepper, and very available in cold
of Marigold leaves mixed with vinegar, and griefs and diseases both of ihe stomach and
any not swelling bathed with it, instantly j body, dissolving very powerfully upwards
gives ease, and assuages it. The flowers, ; and downwards. It is also used in a de-
either green or dried, are much used in i coction with wine against all cold rheums,
possets, broths, and drink, as a comforter! distillations upon the lungs, or shortness of
of the heart and spirits, and to expel any \ breath, to be taken morning and evening,
malignant or pestilential quality which j It also provokes urine, and helps to break
might annoy them. A plaister made with .'the stone, and expel the gravel from the
the dry flowers in powder, hog's-grease, \ kidneys ; provokes women's courses, and
turpentine, and rosin, applied to the breast, i expels the dead birth. It is singularly good
strengthens and succours the heart infi- 1 for strangling of the mother, and other such
nitely in fevers, whether pestilential or not. \ like feminine diseases. It is effectual also

$ against the dropsy, cramps, and falling
i sickness; for the decoction in wine being

Descript] COMMON Masterwort has: gargled in the mouth, draws down much
divers stalks of winged leaves divided into j water and phlegm, from the brain, purging
sundry parts, three for the most part stand- \ and easing it of what oppresses it. It is of
ing together at a small foot-stalk on both \ a rare quality against all sorts of cold poi-
sides of the greater, and three likewise at; son, to be taken as there is cause; it pio-
the end of the stalk, somewhat broad, and j yokes sweat. But lest the taste hereof, or
cut in on the edges into three or more j of the seed (which works to the like effect,
divisions, all of them dented about the \ though not so powerfully) should be too
brims, of a dark green colour, somewhat j offensive, the best way is to take the water
resembling the leaves of Angelica, but that I distilled both from the herb and root. The
these grow lower to the ground, and on 1 juice hereof dropped, or tents dipped there-
lesser stalks; among which rise up two or Jin, and applied either to green wounds or
three short stalks about two feet high, and \ filthy rotten ulcers, and those that come by

slender, with such like leaves at the joints
which grow below, but with lesser and fewer
divisions, bearing umbels of white flowers,

envenomed weapons, doth soon cleanse
and heal them. The same is also very good
to help the gout coming of a cold cause.

and after them thin, flat blackish seeds, ;

TVii rri SWEET MAUDLIN.

bigger than Dill seeds. 1 he root is some- j

what greater and growing rather side-ways 5 Descript.~] COMMON Maudlin hath some-

AND ENGLISH PHYSICIAN ENLARGED 115

what long and narrow leaves, snipped about | women's minds should run a gadding
the edges. The stalks are two feet high, j Also a plaister made of the fruit dried he-
bearing at the tops many yellow flowers set ! fore they are rotten, and other convenient
round together and all of an equal height, | things, and applied to the reins of the back,
in umbels or tufts like unto tansy ; after | stops miscarriage in Avomen with child,
which follow small whitish seed, almost as I They are powerful to stay any fluxes of
big as wormseed. j blood or humours in men or women ; the

Place and Time.'] It grows in gardens, > leaves also have this quality. The decoc-
and flowers in June and July. j tion of them is good to gargle and wash the

Government and virtues.^ The Virtues j mouth, throat and teeth, when there is any
hereof being the same with Costmary or defluxions of blood to stay it, or of humours,
Alecost, I shall not make any repetition | which causes the pains and swellings. It
thereof, lest my book grow too big ; but I is a good bath for Avomen, that have their
rather refer you to Costmary for satis- j courses flow too abundant : or for the piles
faction. j when they bleed too much. If a poultice

(or plaister be made with dried medlars,
\ beaten and mixed with the juice of red

Descript. 1 THE Tree grows near the \ roses, whereunto a few cloves and nutmegs
bigness of the Quince Tree, spreading j may be added, and a little red coral also,
branches reasonably large, with longer and ; and applied to the stomach that is given to
narrower leaves than either the apple or : casting or loathing of meat, it effectually
quince, and not dented about the edges. I helps. The dried leaves in powder strewed
At the end of the sprigs stand the flowers, I on fresh bleeding wounds restrains the
made of five white, great, broad-pointed ; blood, and heals up the wound quickly,
leaves, nicked in the middle with some j The medlar-stones made into powder, and
white threads also ; after which comes the i drank in wine, wherein some Parsley-roots
fruit, of a brownish green colour, being ripe, j have lain infused all night, or a little boiled,
bearing a crown as it were on the top, j do break the stone in the kidneys, helping
which were the five green leaves ; and 1 to expel it.
being rubbed off, or fallen away, the head j

of the fruit is seen to be somewhat hollow, j MELLILOT, OB KING s CLAVLR.
The fruit is very harsh before it is mellowed, j Descript.'] THIS hath many green stalks,
and has usually five hard kernels within it. ', two or three feet high, rising from a tough,
There is another kind hereof nothing dif- j long, white root, which dies not ever}-
fering from the former, but that it hath some | year, set round about at the joints with
thorns on it in several places, which the j small and somewhat long, well-smelling
other hath not; and usually the fruit is j leaves, set three together, unevently dented
small, and not so pleasant. \ about the edges. The flowers are yellow,

Time and Place.'] They grow in this} and well-smelling also, made like other
land, and flower in May for the most part, j trefoil, but small, standing in long spikes
and bear fruit in September and October. } one above another, for an hand breath long

Government and virtues.'] The fruit is old | or better, which afterwards turn into long
Saturn's, and sure a better medicine he j crooked pods, wherein is contained flat seed,
nardly hath to strengthen the retentive j somewhat brown.

faculty ; therefore it stays women's long- \ PlaceJ] It grows plentifully in many
ings- The good old man cannot endure ! places of this land, as in the edge of Suffolk

H H

116 THE COMPLETE HERBAL

and in Essex, as also in Huntingdonshire, ; male Mercury two small, round green
and in other places, but most usually in j heads, standing together upon a short
corn fields, in corners of meadows. j foot stalk, which growing ripe, are seeds

Time^] It flowers in June and July, and i not having flowers. The female stalk is

is lipe quickly after.

longer, spike-fashion, set round about with

Government and virtues.'] Melilot, boiled : small green husks, which are the flowers
in wine, and applied, mollifies all hard 5 made small like bunches of grapes, which
tumours and inflammations that happen in j give no seed, but abiding long upon the
the eyes, or other parts of the body, and j stalks without shedding. The root is corn-
sometimes the yolk of a roasted egg, or fine; posed of many small fibres, which perishes
flour, or poppy seed, or endive, is added [every year at the first approach of Winter,
unto it. It helps the spreading ulcers inland rises again of its own sowing; and if
the head, it being washed with a lye made I once it is suffered to sow itself, the ground
thereof. It helps the pains of the stomach, ; will never want afterwards, even both sorts
being applied fresh , or boiled with any of* of it.
the aforenamed things; also, the pains of'
the ears, being dropped into them ; and j

steeped in vinegar, or rose water, it miti-j HAVING described unto you that which
gates the head-ache. The flowers of Melli- 1 is called French Mercury, I come now to
lot or Camomile are much used to be put \ shew you a description of this kind also,
together in clysters to expel wind, and ease j Descript.~\ This is likewise of two kinds,
pains; and also in poultices for the same |maleand Female, having many stalks slender
purpose, and to assuage swelling tumours j and lower than Mercury, without any
in the spleen or other parts, and helps in- j branches at all upon them, the root is set
flammations in any part of the body. The \ with two leaves at every joint, somewhat
juice dropped into the eyes, is a singularly j greater th-a-n the female, but more pointed
good medicine to take away the film or ! and full of veins, and somewhat harder in
skin that clouds or dimns the eye-sight, j handling: of a dark green colour, and less
The head often washed with the distilled | denied or snipped about the edges. At
water of the herb and flower, or a lye made : the joints with the leaves come forth longei
therewith, is effectual for those that sud- 1 stalks than the former, with two hairy
denly lose their senses; as also to strengthen | round seeds upon them, twice as big as
the memory, to comfort the head and brain, * those of the former Mercury. The taste
and to preserve them from pain, and the $ hereof is herby, and the smell somewhat
apoplexy. j strong and virulent. The female has much

I harder leaves standing upon longer foot-

FRENCH AND DOG MERCURY. , ,, f

\ stalks, and the stalks are also longer ; from

Descript.~] THIS rises up with a square | the joints come forth spikes of flowers like
green stalk full of joints, two feet high, or | the French Female Mercury. The roots of
thereabouts, with two leaves at every joint, j them both are many, and full of small
and the branches likewise from both sides of $ fibres which run under ground, and mat
the stalk, set with fresh green leaves, some- ! themselves very much, not perishing as the
what broad and long, about the bigness of | former Mercuries do, but abide the Win-
the leaves of Bazil, finely dented about the | ter, and shoot forth new branches every
edges; towards the tops of the stalk and ; year, for the old lie down to the ground,
branches, come forth at every joint in the | Place."] The male and female French

AND ENGLISH PHYSICIAN ENLARGED. 117

Mercury are found wild in divers places of i or the juice rubbed upon warts, takes them
this land, as by a village called Brookland j away. The juice mingled with some vine-
in Rumney Marsh in Kent. j gar, helps all running scabs, tetters, ring-

The Dog Mercury in sundry places of] worms, and the itch. Galen saith, that
Kent also, and elsewhere ; but the female j being applied in manner of a poultice to
more seldom than the male. 5 any swelling or inflammation, it digests the

Time.~\ They flower in the Summer * swelling, and allays the inflammation, and
months, and therein give their seed. jis therefore given in clysters to evacuate

Government and virtues.] Mercury, they j from the belly offensive humours. The Dog
say, owns the herb, but I rather think it is i Mercury, although it be less used, yet may
Venus's, and I am partly confident of it j serve in the same manner, to the same pur-
too, for I never heard that Mercury ever 5 pose, to purge waterish and melancholy
minded women's business so much : I humours,
believe he minds his study more. The de- j

coction of the leaves of Mercury, or the* MINT.

juice thereof in broth, or drank with a little \

sugar put to it, purges choleric and waterish i OF all the kinds of Mint, the Spear
humours. Hippocrates commended it ! Mint, or Heart Mint, being most usual,
wonderfully for women's diseases, and ap- ! I shall only describe as follows :
plied to the secret parts, to ease the pains of| Descript] Spear Mint has divers round
the mother ; and used the decoction of it, stalks, and long but narrowish leaves set
both to procure women's courses, and to { thereon, of a dark green colour. The
expel the after-birth ; and gave the de- flowers stand in spiked heads at the tops
coction thereof with myrrh or pepper, or | of the branches, being of a pale blue
used to apply the leaves outwardly against j colour. The smell or scent thereof is some-
the stranguary and diseases of the reins and 1 what near unto Bazil ; it encreases by the
bladder. He used it also for sore and j root under ground as all the others do.
watering eyes, and for the deafness and \ Place.] It is an usual inhabitant in gar-
pains in the ears, by dropping the juice j dens; and because it seldom gives any
thereof into them, and bathing them after- 1 good seed, the seed is recompensed by

i i . mi i i * _ i i / t / i i1I

wards in white wine. The decoction there- i
of made with water and a cock chicken, is ;

the plentiful increase of the root, which
being once planted in a garden, will hardly

a most safe medicine against the hot fits of \ be rid out again,
agues. It also cleanses the breast and lungs Time] It flowers not until the beginning
of phlegm, but a little offends the stomach. * of August, for the most part.
The juice or distilled water snuffed up into; Government and virtues] It is an herb
the nostrils, purges the head and eyes ofjof Venus. Dioscorides saith it hath a
catarrhs and rheums. Some use to drink j healing, binding and drying quality, and
two or three ounces of the distilled water, j therefore the juice taken in vinegar, stays
with a little sugar put to it, in the morning j bleeding : It stirs up venery, or bodily lust;
fasting, to open and purge the body of ! two or three branches thereof taken in the
gross, viscous, and melancholy humours, t juice of four pomegranates, stays the hic-
Matthiolus saith, that both the seed of the \ cough, vomiting, and allays die choler. It
male and female Mercury boiled with j dissolves imposthumes being laid to with
Wormwood and drank, cures the yellow ; j barley-meal. It is good to repress the
jaundice in a speedy manner. The leaves 5 milk in women's breasts, and for such as

118

THE COMPLETE HERBAL

have. 1 swollen, flagging, or great breasts. { turn to its place, the decoction being gar-
Applied with salt, it helps the biting of a : gled and held in the mouth,
mad dog ; with mead and honeyed water, j The virtues of the Wild or Horse Mint,
it eases the pains of the ears, and takes | such as grow in ditches (whose description
away the roughness of the tongue, being \ I purposely omitted, in regard they are

rubbed thereupon. It suffers not milk to
curdle in the stomach, if the leaves thereof
be steeped or boiled in it before you drink
it. Briefly it is very profitable to the
stomach. The often use hereof is a very
powerful medicine to stay women's courses
and the whites. Applied to the forehead

well known) are serviceable to dissolve wind
in the stomach, to help the cholic, and those
that are short-winded, and are an especial
remedy for those that have veneral dreams
and pollutions in the night, being outwardly
applied. The juice dropped into the ears
eases the pains of them, and destroys the

and temples, it eases the pains in the head, $ worms that breed therein. They are good

1* 1 111"!/* * * 1 I f*

and is good to wash the heads of young
children therewith, against all manner of:
breakings-out, sores or scabs, therein. It
is also profitable against the poison of ve-
nomous creatures. The distilled water of
Mint is available to all the purposes afore-
said, yet more weakly. But if a spirit
thereof be rightly and chymically drawn,
it is much more powerful than the herb
itself. Simeon Sethi saith, it helps a cold
liver, strengthens the belly, causes digestion,
stays vomits and hiccough ; it is good
against the gnawing of the heart, provokes
appetite, takes away obstructions of the
liver, and stirs up bodily lust ; but therefore
too much must not be taken, because it
makes the blood thin and wheyish, and
turns it into choler, and therefore choleric
persons must abstain from it. It is a safe

against the venemous biting of serpents.
The juice laid on warm, helps the king's
evil, or kernels in the throat. The decoction
or distilled water helps a stinking breath,
proceeding from corruption of the teeth,
and snuffed up the nose, purges the head.
Pliny saith, that eating of the leaves hath
been found by experience to cure the
leprosy, applying some of them to the face,
and to help the scurf or dandriff of the
head used with vinegar. They are extremely
bad for wounded people ; and they say a
wounded man that eats Mint, his wound
will never be cured, and that is a long day

MISSELTO.

DescriptJ] THIS rises up from the branch
or arm of the tree whereon it grows, with

medicine for the biting of a mad dog, being! a woody stem, putting itself into sundry

branches, and they again divided into many
other smaller twigs, interlacing themselves
one within another, very much covered
with a greyish green bark, having two leaves

bruised with salt and laid thereon. The
powder of it being dried and taken after
meat, helps digestion, and those that are
splenetic. Taken with wine, it helps women

in their sore travail in child-bearing. It is \ set at every joint, and at the end likewise,
good against the gravel and stone in the \ which are somewhat long and narrow, small
kidneys, and the stranguary. Being i at the bottom, but broader towards the end.
smelled unto, it is comfortable for the head \ At the knots or joints of the boughs and
and memory. The decoction hereof gar- branches grow small yellow flowers, which
gled in the mouth, cures the gums and j run into small, round, white, transparent
mouth that are sore, and mends an ill- 5 berries, three or four together, full of a
savoured breath ; as also the Rue and Cori- \ glutinous moisture, with a blackish seed in
ander, causes the palate of the mouth to | each of them, which was never yet known

AND ENGLISH PHYSICIAN ENLARGED.

to spring, being put into the ground, or any ; wine lees be added thereunto, it works the
where else to grow. \ stronger. The Misselto itself of the oak

Place.] It grows very rarely on oaks i (as the best) made into powder, and given
with us ; but upon sundry others as well i in drink to those that have the falling sick-
timber as fruit trees, plentifully in woody i ness, does assuredly heal them, as Matthi-
groves, and the like, through all this land, i olus saith : but it is fit to use it for forty

Time.'] It flowers in the Spring-time, ! days together. Some have so highly es-
but the berries are not ripe until October, teemed it for the virtues thereof, that they
and abides on the branches all the Winter, j have called it Lignum Sanctice Crucis, Wood
unless the blackbirds, and other birds, do i of the Holy Cross, believing it helps the
devour them. i falling sickness, apoplexy and palsy very

Government and virtues] This is under {speedily, not only to be inwardly taken, but
the dominion of the Sun, I do not question; 5 to be hung at their neck. Tragus saith,
and can also take for granted, that which j that the fresh wood of any Misselto bruised,
grows upon oaks, participates something of | and the juice drawn forth and dropped in
the nature of Jupiter, because an oak is one; the ears that have imposthumes in them,
of his trees ; as also that which grows upon i doth help and ease them within a few days,
pear trees, and apple trees, participates;

c i , MONEYWORT, OR HERB TWOPENCE

something or his nature, because he rules ;

the tree it grows upon, having no root of j Descript.~\ THE common Moneywort

its own. But why that should have most ; sends forth from a small thready root divers

virtues that grows upon oaks I know not,
unless because it is rarest and hardest to;
corne by ; and our college's opinion is in j

long, weak, and slender branches, lying and
running upon the ground two or three feet
long or more, set with leaves two at a joint

this contrary to scripture, which saith, Goem one against another at equal distances,
tender mercies are over all his works ; arid so i which are almost round, but pointed at the
it is, let the college of physicians walk as | ends, smooth, and of a good green colour,
contrary to him as they please, and that isl At the joints with the leaves from the middle
as contrary as the east to the west. Clusius j forward come forth at every point some-
affirms that which grows upon pear trees to j times one yellow flower, and sometimes
be as prevalent, and gives order, that it j two, standing each on a small foot-stalk,
should not touch the ground after it is { and made of five leaves, narrow-pointed at
gathered ; and also saith, that, being hung i the end, with some yellow threads in the
about the neck, it remedies witchcraft, i middle, which being past, there stand in
Both the leaves and berries of Misselto do i their places small round heads of seed.
heat and dry, and are of subtle parts ; the j Place.] It grows plentifully in almost
birdlime doth molify hard knots, tumours, jail places of this land, commonly in moist
and imposthumes ; ripens and discusses j grounds by hedge-sides, and in the middle
them, and draws forth thick as well as thin 5 of grassy fields.

humours from the remote parts of the body, | Time.*] They flower in June and July,
digesting and separating them. And being i arid their seed is ripe quickly after,
mixed with equal parts of rozin and Avax, j Government and virtues.] Venus owns it
doth molify the hardness of the spleen, and | Moneywort is singularly good to stay all
helps old ulcers and sores. Being mixed fluxes in man or woman, whether they be
with Sandaric and Orpiment, it helps to j lasks, bloody-fluxes, bleeding inwardly or
draw off foul nails ; and if quick-lime and outwardly, or the weakness of the stomach

i T

120 THE COMPLETE HERBAL

that is given to casting. It is very good | and May ; for in June, when any hot
also for the ulcers or excoriations of the j weather comes, for the most part it is
lungs, or other inward parts. It is exceed- j withered and gone,
ingly good for all wounds, either fresh or \ Government and virtues.'] The Moon owns

green, to heal them speedily, and for all
old ulcers that are of spreading natures.

the herb. Moonwort is cold and drying
more than Adder's Tongue, and is therefore

For all which purposes the juice of the $ held to be more available for all wounds
herb, or the powder drank in water where- j both inward and outward. The leaves
in hot steel hath been often quenched ; or j boiled in red wine, and drank, stay the
the decoction of the green herb in wine or i immoderate flux of women's courses, and
water drank, or used to the outward place, i the whites. It also stays bleeding, vomit-

to wash or bathe them, or to have tents;

ing, and other fluxes. It helps all blows

dipped therein and put into them, are ef- j and bruises, and to consolidate all frac-
fectual. | tures and dislocations. It is good for rup-

MOONWORT j tures, but is chiefly used, by most with

other herbs, to make oils or balsams to heal

DescriptJ\ IT rises up usually but with
one dark green, thick and flat leaf, stand-
ing upon a short foot-stalk not above two

**'. ~

fresh or green wounds (as I said before)
either inward or outward, for which it is
excellently good.

fingers breadth ; but when it flowers it may Moonwort is an herb which (they say)
be said to bear a small slender stalk about j will open locks, and unshoe such horses as
four or five inches high, having but oneUread upon it: This some laugh to scorn,
leaf in the middle thereof, which is much ] and those no small fools neither ; but coun-
divided on both sides into sometimes five I try people, that I know, call it Unshoe the
or seven parts on a side, sometimes more ; ; Horse. Besides I have heard commanders
each of which parts is small like the middle j say, that on White Down in Devonshire,
rib, but broad forwards, pointed and round, \ near Tiverton, there were found thirty
resembling therein a half-moon, from whence* horse shoes, pulled off from the feet of the
it took the name; the uppermost parts or j Earl of Essex's horses, being there drawn
divisions being bigger than the lowest, i up in a body, many of them being but
The stalks rise above this leaf two or three | newlv shod, and no reason known, which

1 fc.

inches, bearing many branches of small > caused much admiration: the herb des-

long tongues, every one like the spiky head , cribed usually grows upon heaths.

of the adder's tongue, of a brownish colour, ;

(which, whether I shall call them flowers, or j

the seed, I well know not) which, after they I I SHALL not trouble the reader with

have continued awhile, resolve into a mealy
dust. The root is small and fibrous. This

a description of these, since my intent is to
speak only of two kinds, as the most prin-

hath sometimes divers such like leaves as jcipal, viz. Ground Moss and Tree Moss,
are before described, with so many branches i both which are very well known.
or tops rising from one stalk, each divided! P/crce.] The Ground Moss grows in our
from the other. j moist woods, and at the bottom of hills, in

PlaceJ] It grows on hills and heaths, j boggy grounds, and in shadowy ditches,
yet where there is much grass, for therein j and many other such like places. The Tree
it delights to grow. \ Moss grows only on trees.

TimeJ] It is to be found only in April \ Government and virtues.~\ All sorts of

AND ENGLISH PHYSICIAN ENLARGED.

121

Mosses art- under the dominion of Saturn, i every joint, which are somewhat broad and
The Ground Moss is held to be singularly ! long, as if it were rough or crumpled, with
good to break the stone, and to expel and \ many great veins therein of a sad green
drive it forth by urine, being boiled in wine \ colour, and deeply dented about the edges,
and drank. The herb being bruised and \ and almost divided. From the middle of
boiled in water, and applied, eases all in- \ the branches up to the tops of them (which
flammations and pains coming from an hot j are long and small) grow the flowers round
cause; and is therefore used to ease the j them at distances, in sharp pointed, rough,
pains of the gout. j hard husks, of a more red or purple colour

The Tree Mosses are cooling and binding, \ than Balm or Horehound, but in the same
and partake of a digesting and molifying manner or form as the Horehound, after

quality withal, as Galen saith. But each
Moss partakes of the nature of the tree

which come small, round, blackish seeds in
great plenty. The root sends forth a num-

from whence it is taken ; therefore that of \ ber of long strings and small fibres, taking
the oak is more binding, and is of good effect i strong hold in the ground, of a dark yellow-

to stay fluxes in man or woman ; as also
vomiting or bleeding, the powder thereof
being taken in wine. The decoction there-
of in wine is very good for women to be;
bathed in, that are troubled with the over- ;
flowing of their courses. The same being j
drank, stays the stomach that is troubled
with casting, or hiccough ; and, as Avicena
saith, it comforts the heart. The powder
thereof taken in drink for some time

ish or brownish colour, and abides as the
Horehound does : the smell of the one not
much differs from the other.

Place.'] It grows only in gardens with us
in England.

Government and virtues.~\ Venus owns the
herb, and it is under Leo. There is no better
herb to take melancholy vapours from the
heart, to strengthen it, and make a merry,
chearful, blithe soul than this herb. It may

together, is thought available for the dropsy, be kept in a syrup or conserve ; therefore
The oil that has had fresh Moss steeped '( the Latins called it Cardiaca. Besides, it
therein for a time, and afterwards boiled i makes women joyful mothers of children,
and applied to the temples and forehead,; and settles their wombs as they should be,
marvellously eases the head-ache com- therefore we call it Motherwort. It is held
ing of a hot cause ; as also the distillations | to be of much use for the trembling of the
of hot rheums or humours in the eyes, or | heart, and faintings and swoonings ; from
other parts. The ancients much used it in | whence it took the name Cardiaca. The
their ointments and other medicines against \ powder thereof, to the quantity of a spoon-
the lassitude, and to strengthen and com- \ fill, drank in wine, is a wonderful help to
fort the sinews : For which, if it was good \ women in their sore travail, as also for the
then, I know no reason but it may be found suffocating or risings of the mother, and for
so still. these effects, it is likely it took the name of

Motherwort with us. It also provokes

MOTHERWORT. \ urine and women's courses, cleanses the

| chest of cold phlegm, oppressing it, kills

[>escript.'] THIS hath a hard, square, | worms in the belly. It is of good use to
brownish, rough, strong stalk, rising three j warm and dry up the cold humours, to
or four feet high at least, spreading into* digest and disperse them that are settled
many branches, whereon grow leaves on * in the veins, joints, and sinews of the body,
each side, with long foot-stalks, two at | and to help cramps and convulsions.

122 THE COMPLETE HERBAL

{ stays the fluxes of blood, either at the mouth

M < M j N K r, A K . i> 1 * i* t

j or nose, and inward bleeding also, for it is

Descript."] MOUSE-EAR is a low herb, ja singular wound herb for wounds both in-
creeping upon the ground by small strings, j ward and outward : It helps the bloody
like the Strawberry plant, whereby it shoots j flux, and helps the abundance of women's
forth small roots, whereat grow, upon the \ courses. There is a syrup made of the
ground, many small and somewhat short 'juice hereof and sugar, by the apothecaries
leaves, set in a round form together, and ! of Italy, and other places, which is of much
very hairy, which, being broken, do give a \ account with them, to be given to those
whitish milk : From among these leaves I that are troubled with the cough or phthisic,
spring up two or three small hoary stalks 1 The same also is singularly good for rup-
about a span high, with a few smaller leaves tures or burstings. The green herb bruised

thereon ; at the tops whereof stands usually
but one flower, consisting of many pale yel-
low leaves, broad at the point, and a little

and presently bound to any cut or wound,
doth quickly solder the lips thereof. And
the juice, decoction, or powder of the dried

dented in, set in three or four rows (the j herb is most singular to stay the malignity
greater uppermost) very like a Dandelion | of spreading and fretting cankers and ulcers
flower, and a little reddish underneath about j whatsoever, yea in the mouth and secret
the edges, especially if it grow in a dry j parts. The distilled water of the plant is
ground ; which after they have stood long I available in all the diseases aforesaid, and
in flower do turn into down, which with the t to wash outward wounds and sores, by
seed is carried away with the wind. \ applying tents of cloths wet therein.

PlaceJ] It grows on ditch banks, and 1
sometimes in ditches, if they be dry, and in I
sandy grounds. 1 Descript.~\ COMMON Mugwort hath

Time.'] It flowers about June or July, \ divers leaves lying upon the ground, very
and abides green all the Winter. \ much divided, or cut deeply in about the

Government and virtues. ~\ The Moon owns \ brims, somewhat like Wormwood, but much
this herb also ; and though authors cry out | larger, of a dark green colour on the upper
upon Alchymists, for attempting to fix $ side, and very hoary white underneath,
quicksilver by this herb and Moonwort, a j The stalks rise to be four or five feet high,
Roman would not have judged a thing by \ having on it such like leaves as those below,
the success ; if it be to be fixed at all, it is j but somewhat smaller, branching forth
by lunar influence. The juice thereof! very much towards the top, whereon are
taken in wine, or the decoction thereof j set very small, pale, yellowish flowers like
drank, doth help the jaundice, although of \ buttons, which fall away, and after them
long continuance, to drink thereof morn- \ come small seeds inclosed in round heads
ing and evening, and abstain from other * The root is long and hard, with many small
drink two or three hours after. It is as fibres growing from it, whereby it takes
special remedy against the stone, and the 5 strong hold on the ground ; but both stalks
tormenting pains thereof: as also other tor- $ and leaves do lie down every year, and the
tures and griping pains of the bowels. The i root shoots anew in the Spring. The whole
decoction thereof with Succory and Cen- j plant is of a reasonable scent, and is more
taury is held very effectual to help the | easily propagated by the slips than the
dropsy, and them that are inclining there- \ seed.
unto, and the diseases of the spleen. It\ Place ~\ It grows plentifully in many

I' I ATF, J3.

Mi> vise Ear

Mill \V < M ' 1

Yrllo-w Moiiev won

ii.-k Mullei

M ( ) I ll ( ) \v 01- 1

White Mullein

' ^S KKI.l.V, I.OXIXTK

AND ENGLISH PHYSICIAN ENLARGED. 123

places of this land, by the water-sides ; as j the body, and the unripe binding it, es-
also by small water courses, and in divers j pecially when they are dried, and then they
other places. 1 are good to stay fluxes, lasks, and the abun-

Time.] It flowers and seeds in the end I dance of women's courses. The bark of
of Summer. j the root kills the broad worms in the body.

Government and virtues.] This is an herb : The juice, or the syrup made of the juice of
of Venus, therefore maintains the parts of; the berries, helps all inflammations or sores
the body she rules, remedies the diseases of Jin the mouth, or throat, and palate of
the parts that are under her signs, Taurus j the mouth when it is fallen doAvn. The
and Libra. Mugwort is with good success ; juice of the leaves is a remedy against the
put among other herbs that are boiled for * biting of serpents, and for those that have
women to apply the hot decoction to draw \ taken aconite. The leaves beaten with
down their courses, to help the delivery of: vinegar, are good to lay on any place that
the birth, and expel the after-birth. As ; is burnt with fire. A decoction made of
also for the obstructions and inflammations i the bark and leaves is good to wash the
of the mother. It breaks the stone, and 1 mouth and teeth when they ache. If the

opens the urinary passages where they
are stopped. The juice thereof made up

root be a little slit or cut, and a small hole
made in the ground next thereunto, in the

with Myrrh, and put under as a pessary, Harvest-time, it will give out a certain
works the same effects, and so does the j juice, which being hardened the next day,
root also. Being made up with hog's \ is of good use to help the tooth-ache, to
grease into an ointment, it takes away wens dissolve knots, and purge the belly. The

and hard knots and kernels that grow about

leaves of Mulberries are said to slay bleecl-

the neck and throat, and eases the pains ing at the mouth or nose, or the bleeding of
about the neck more effectually, if some; the piles, or of a wound, being bound unto
Field Daisies be put with it. The herb itself j the places. A branch of the tree taken
being fresh, or the juice thereof taken, is at when the moon is at the full, and bound to
special remedy upon the overmuch taking) the wrists of a woman's arm, whose courses
of opium. Three drams of the powder of j come down too much, doth stay them in a
the dried leaves taken in wine, is a speedy 5 short space,
and the best certain help for the sciatica, i
A decoction thereof made with Camomile \

and Agrimony, and the place bathed there- j Descript.] COMMON White Mullein has
with while it is warm, takes away the pains j many fair, large, woolly white leaves, lying
of the sinews, and the cramp. | next the ground, somewhat larger than

; broad, pointed at the end, and as it were
THE MULBERRY-TREE. \denied about the edges. The stalk rises

THIS is so well known where it grows, j up to be four or five feet high, covered over
that it needs no description. jwith such like leaves, but less, so that no

Time.] It bears fruit in the months of { stalk can be seen for the multitude of leaves
July and August. \ thereon up to the flowers, which come for th

Government and virtues ] Mercury rules \ on all sides of the stalk, without any branches
the tree, therefore are its effects variable \ for the most part, and are many set together
as his are. The Mulberry is of different in a long spike, in some of a yellow colour,
parts ; the ripe berries, by reason of their j in others more pale, consisting of five round
sweetness and slippery moisture, opening * pointed leaves, which afterwards have small

K K

124 THE COMPLETE HERBAL

round heads, wherein is small brownish j and heal them also. The leaves bruised
seed contained. The root is long, white, | and wrapped in double papers, and covered
and woody, perishing after it hath borne: with hot ashes and embers to laake a while,
seed. >and then taken forth and laid warm on any

Place.'] It grows by way-sides and lanes, | blotch or boil happening in the groin or
in many places of this land. \ share, doth dissolve and heal them. The

Time.~\ It flowers in July or thereabouts, j seed bruised and boiled in wine, and laid
Government and virtues.'] It is under the j on any member that has been out of joint,
dominion of Saturn. A small quantity of; and newly set again, takes away all swel-
the root given in wine, is commended by ! ling and pain thereof.
Dioscorides, against lasks and fluxes of the I
belly. The decoction hereof drank, is pro- j

fitable for those that are bursten, and for| Descript."] OUR common Mustard hath
cramps and convulsions, and for those that: large and broad rough leaves, very much
are troubled with an old cough. The de- 1 jagged with uneven and unorderly gashes,
coction thereof gargled, eases the pains of i somewhat like turnip leaves, but less and
the tooth-ache. And the oil made by the \ rougher. The stalk rises to be more than
often infusion of the flowers, is of very good ja foot high, and sometimes two feet high,
effect for the piles. The decoction of the * being round, rough, and branched at the
root in red wine or in water, (if there be j top, bearing such like leaves thereon as
an ague) wherein red hot steel hath been j grow below, but lesser, and less divided,
often quenched, doth stay the bloody-flux. 5 and divers yellow flowers one above another
The same also opens obstructions of the { at the tops, after which come small rough
bladder and reins. A decoction of the | pods, with small, lank, flat ends, wherein
leaves hereof, and of Sage, Marjoram, and | is contained round yellowish seed, sharp,
Camomile flowers, and the places bathed { hot, and biting upon the tongue. The root
therewith, that have sinews stiff with cold } is small, long, and woody when it bears
or cramps, doth bring them much ease and j stalks, and perishes every year,
comfort. Three ounces of the distilled \ Place.] This grows with us in gardens
water of the flowers drank morning and j only, and other manured places,
evening for some days together, is said to be J Time.'] It is an annual plant, flowering
the most excellent remedy for the gout. ! in July, and the seed is ripe in August.
The juice of the leaves and flowers being j Government and virtues."] It is an excel-
laid upon rough warts, as also the powder | lent sauce for such whose blood wants clari-
of the dried roots rubbed on, doth easily \ fying, and for weak stomachs, being an
take them away, but doth no good to i herb of Mars, but naught for choleric
smooth warts. The powder of the dried } people, though as good for such as are
flowers is an especial remedy for those that i aged, or troubled with cold diseases. Aries
are troubled with the belly-ache, or the \ claims something, to do with it, therefore it
pains of the cholic. The decoction of the j strengthens the heart, and resists poison .
root, and so likewise of the leaves, is oft Let such whose stomachs are so weak they
great effect to dissolve the tumours, swel- : cannot digest their meat, or appetite it, take
lings, or inflammations of the throat. The j of Mustard-seed a dram, Cinnamon as much,
seed and leaves boiled in wine, and ap- j and having beaten them to powder, and
plied, draw forth speedily thorns or splin- : half as much Mastich in powder, and with
ters gotten into the flesh, ease the pains, i gum Arabic dissolved in rose-water, make

AND ENGLISH PHYSICIAN ENLARGED.

it up into troches, of which they may take 5 The seed bruised mixed with honey, and
one of about half a dram weight an hour or J applied, or made up with wax, takes away
two before meals ; let old men and women i the marks and black and blue spots of
make much of this medicine, and they will : bruises, or the like, the roughness or scab-
either give me thanks, or shew manifest 5 biness of the skin, as also the leprosy, and
ingratitude. Mustard seed hath the virtue \ lousy evil. It helps also the crick in the
of heat, discussing, ratifying, and drawing { neck. The distilled water of the herb, when
out splinters of bones, and other things or'j it is in the flower, is much used to drink
the flesh. It is of good effect to bring | inwardly to help in any of the diseases
'lown women's courses, for the falling-sick- j aforesaid, or to wash the mouth when the
ness or lethargy, drowsy forgetful evil, to j palate is down, and for the disease of the
use it both inwardly and outwardly, to rub | throat to gargle, but outwardly also for
the nostrils, forehead and temples, to warm | scabs, itch, or other the like infirmities, and
and quicken the spirits; for by the fierce 1 cleanses the face from morphew, spots,
sharpness it purges the brain by sneezing, j freckles, and other deformities,
and drawing down rheum and other vis-j

cous humours, which by their distillations j THE HEDGE-MUSTARD.

upon the lungs and chest, procure coughing, \

and therefore, with some, honey added? Descript.~\ THIS grows up usually but
thereto, doth much good therein. The de-l with one blackish green stalk, tough, easy
coction of the seed made in wine, and | to bend, but not to break, branched into
drank, provokes urine, resists the force of j divers parts, and sometimes with divers
poison, the malignity of mushrooms, and | stalks, set full of branches, whereon grow
venom of scorpions, or other venomous i long, rough, or hard rugged leaves, very
creatures, if it be taken in time ; and taken 5 much tore or cut on the edges in many
before the cold fits of agues, alters, lessens, j parts, some bigger, and some less, of a
and cures them. The seed taken either by 3 dirty green colour. The flowers are small
itself, or with other things, either in anelec-^and yellow, that grow on the tops of the
tuary or drink, doth mightily stir up bodily j branches in long spikes, flowering by de-
lust, and helps the spleen and pains in the grees ; so that continuing long in flower,
sides, and gnawings in the bowels; and

used as a gargle draws up the palate of the
mouth, being fallen down ; and also it dis- \

the stalk will have small round cods at the
bottom, growing upright and close to the
stalk, while the top flowers yet shew them-

solves the swellings about the throat, if it! selves, in which are contained small yellow

be outwardly applied. Being chewed in | seed, sharp and strong, as the herb is also.

the mouth it oftentimes helps the tooth-ache. > The root grows down slender and woody,

The outward application hereof upon the j yet abiding and springing again every

pained place of the sciatica, discusses the j year.

humours, and eases the pains, as also the! P/crce.] This grows frequently in this

gout, and other joint aches; and is much j land, by the ways and hedge-sides, and

and often used to ease pains in the sides or \ sometimes in the open fields.

loins, the shoulder, or other parts of the j Time.~] It flowers most usually about

body, upon the plying thereof to raise j July.

blisters, and cures the disease by drawing t Government and virtues.] Mars owns this

it, to the outward parts of the body. It is { herb also. It is singularly good in all the

also used to help the falling off the hair. \ diseases of the chest and lungs, hoarseness

12C THE COMPLETE HERBAL

of voice : and by the use of the decoction 1

thereof for a little space, those have beenj NET, OR CATMINT.

recovered who had utterly lost their voice,

and almost their spirits also. The juice { DescriptJ] COMMON Garden Nep shoots
thereof made into a syrup, or licking medi- 5 forth hard four-square stalks, with a hoari-
cine, with honey or sugar, is no less effec-lness on them, a yard high or more, full of
tual for the same purpose, and for all other! branches, bearing at every joint two broad
coughs, wheeling, and shortness of breath, j leaves like balm, but longer pointed, softer,
The same is also profitable for those that j white, and more hoary, nicked about the
have the jaundice, pleurisy, pains in the \ edgres, and of a strong sweet scent. The
back and loins, and for torments in the } flowers grow in large tufts at the tops of the
belly, or cholie, being also used in clysters, j branches, and underneath them likewise on
The seed is held to be a special remedy j the stalks many together, of a whitish pur-
ugainst poison and venom. It is singularly 1 pie colour. The roots are composed of
good for the sciatica, and in joint-aches, j many long strings or fibres, fastening them-
ulcers, and cankers in the mouth, throat, or j selves stronger in the ground, and abide
behind the ears, and no less for the hard- 1 with green leaves thereon all the winter,
ness and swelling of the testicles, or of* Place.] It is only nursed up in our
women's breasts. | gardens.

TimeJ] And it flowers in July, or there-

NAILWORT, OR WHITLOW-GRASS. j aboutS.

Government and virtues.] It is an herb of

Descript.~\ THIS very small and common | Venus. Nep is generally used for women
herb hath no roots, save only a few strings: | to procure their courses, being laKen in-
neither doth it ever grow to be above a j wardly or outwardly, either alone, or with
hand's breadth high, the leaves are very \ other convenient herbs in a decoction to
small, and something long, not much unlike j bathe them, or sit over the hot fumes there-
those of Chickweed, among which rise up j of; and by the frequent use thereof, it takes
divers slender stalks, bearing many white \ away barrenness, and the wind, and pains
flowers one above another, which are ex- 1 of the mother. It is also used in pains of
ceeding small; after which come small; the head coming of any cold cause, catarrhs,
flat pouches containing the seed, which is* rheums, and for swimming and giddiness
very small, but of a sharp taste. j thereof, and is of special use for the wind-

P/rtce.] It grows commonly upon oldjiness of the stomach and belly. It is ef-
stone and brick walls, and sometimes in ? factual for any cramp, or cold aches, to dis-
gravelly grounds, especially if there be j solve cold and wind that afflict the place,
grass or moss near to shadow it. \ and is used for colds, coughs, and short-

Time.~\ They flower very early in the ? ness of breath. The juice thereof drank
year, sometimes in January, and in | in wine, is profitable for those that are
February ; for before the end of April they I bruised by an accident. The green herb
are not to be found. ; bruised and applied to the fundament, and

Government and virtues.'] It is held to be ! lying there two or three hours, eases the
exceedingly good for those imposthumes in \ pains of the piles; the juice also being made
the joints, and under the nails, which they \ up into an ointment, is effectual for ihe
call Whitlows, Felons, Andicorns and Nail- 1 same purpose. The head washed with a
wheals. ; 5 decoction thereof, it takes away scabs

AND ENGLISH PHYSICIAN ENLARGED. 127

and may be effectual for other parts of the i together, stays bleeding at the mouth. The
body also. ] seed being drank, is a remedy against the

stinging of venomous creatures, the biting
of mad dogs, the poisonous qualities of
Hemlock, Henbane, Nightshade, Mandrake,
or other such like herbs that stupify or dull

NETTLES.

NETTLES are so well known, that they ;

need no description; they may be found j the senses; as also the lethaigy, especially
by feeling, in the darkest night. I to use it outwardly, to rub the forehead or

Government and virtues.] This is also 5 temples in the lethargy, and the places
an herb Mars claims dominion over. You > stung or bitten with beasts, with a little salt,
know Mars is hot and dry, and you know \ The distilled water of the herb is also effec-
as well that Winter is cold and moist ; then $ tual (though not so powerful) for the dis-
you may know as well the reason why j eases aforesaid ; as for outward wounds
Nettle-tops eaten in the Spring consume; and sores to wash them, and to cleanse the
the phlegmatic superfluities in the body or 1 skin from morphew, leprosy, and other
man, that the coldness and moistness of > discolourings thereof. The seed or leaves
Winter hath left behind. 1 he roots or | bruised, and put into the nostrils, stays the
leaves boiled, or the juice of either of them, 1 bleeding of them, and takes away the flesh
or both made into an electuary with honey { growing in them called polypus. The juice
and sugar, is a safe and sure medicine to j of the leaves, or the decoction of them, or
open the pipes and passages of the lungs, j of the root, is singularly good to wash either
which is the cause of wheezing and short- j old, rotten, or stinking sores or fistulous,
ness of breath, and helps to expectorate \ and gangrenes, and such as fretting, eating,
tough phlegm, as also to raise the impost- j or corroding scabs, manginess, and itch,
humed pleurisy ; and spend it by spitting; | in any part of the body, as also green
the same helps the swelling of the almonds j wounds, by washing them therewith, or ap-
of the throat, the mouth and throat being -plying the green herb bruised thereunto,
gargled therewith. The juice is also effec- 1 yea, although the flesh were separated from
tual to settle the palate of the mouth in its j the bones; the same applied to our wearied
place, and to heal and temper the inflam- j members, refresh them, or to place those
mations and soreness of the mouth and i that have been out of joint, being first set
throat. The decoction of the leaves in j up again, strengthens, dries, and comforts
wine, being drank, is singularly good to pro- 1 them, as also those places troubled with
voke women's courses, and settle the suf- j aches and gouts, and the defluxion of
focation, strangling of the mother, and all \ humours upon the joints or sinews ; it eases
other diseases thereof; it is also applied out- the pains, and dries or dissolves the defluc-
wardly with a little myrrh. The same also, j tions. An ointment made of the juice,
or the seed provokes urine, and expels the | oil, and a little wax, is singularly good to
gravel and stone in the reins or bladder, rub cold and benumbed members. An
often proved to be effectual in many that i handful of the leaves of green Nettles, and
have taken it. The same kills the worms | another of Wallwort, or Deanwort, bruised
in children, eases pains in the sides, and ; and applied simply themselves to the gout,
dissolves the windiness in the spleen, as s sciatica, or joint aches in any part, hath
also in the body, although others think it | been found to be an admirable help there-
only powerful to provoke venery. The junto,
juice of the leaves taken two or three days i

128 THE COMPLETE HERBAL

? mouth and throat that is inflamed : But

NIGHTSHADE. i n ^i c- .1 i i i

5 outwardly the juice or the herb or berries,

Descript.] COMMON Nightshade hath: with oil of roses and a little vinegar and
an upright, round green, hollow stalk, about j ceruse laboured together in a leaden mortar,
a foot or half a yard high, bushing forth in j is very good to anoint all hot inflammations
many branches, whereon grow many green i in the eyes. It also doth much good for
leaves, somewhat broad, and pointed at the j the shingles, ringworms, and in all running,
ends, soft and full of juice, somewhat like > fretting and corroding ulcers, applied
unto Bazil, but longer and a little unevenly j thereunto. The juice dropped into the
dented about the edges: At the tops of the | ears, eases pains thereof that arise of heat
stalks and branches come forth three or>or inflammations. And Pliny saith, it is
four more white flowers made of five small i good for hot swellings under the throat
pointed leaves a-piece, standing on a stalk I Have a care you mistake not the deadly
together, one above another, with yellow : Nightshade for this ; if you know it not,
pointels in the middle, composed of four or? you may let them both alone, and take no

harm, having other medicines sufficient in
the book.

five yellow threads set together, which af-
terwards run into so many pendulous green
berries, of the bigness of small pease, full of i

% T* TT P f} A 1*"

green juice, and small whitish round flat]

seed lying within it. The root is white,; IT is so well known (the timber thereor
and a little woody when it hath given flower ; oeing the glory and safety of this nation
and fruit, with many small fibres at it ;: by sea) that it needs no description.
The whole plant is of a waterish insipid j Government and virtues.] Jupiter owns
taste, but the juice within the berries is i the tree. The leaves and bark of the Oak,
somewhat viscous, and of a cooling and j and the acorn cups, do bind and dry very
binding quality. i much. The inner bark of the tree, and

Place.] It grows wild with us under our j the thin skin that covers the acorn, are

walls, and in rubbish, the common paths,
and sides of hedges and fields, as also in

most used to stay the spitting of blood, and
the bloody-flux. The decoction of that

our gardens here in England, without any bark, and the powder of the cups, do stay
planting. j vomitings, spitting of blood, bleeding at

Time.] It lies down every year, and
rises up again of its own sowing, but springs

the mouth, or other fluxes of blood, in
men or women ; lasks also, and the noctur-

not until the latter end of April at the \ nal involuntary flux of men. The acorn in
soonest. s powder taken in wine, provokes urine, and

Government and virtues] It is a cold i resists the poison of venomous creatures.
Saturnine plant. The common Night- : The decoction of acorns and the bark made
shade is wholly used to cool hot inflam- ! in milk and taken, resists the force of poi-
mations either inwardly or outwardly, \ sonous herbs and medicines, as also the
being no ways dangerous to any that use it, \ virulencyof cantharides, when one by eating
as most of the rest of the Nightshades are ; i them hath his bladder exulcerated, and
yet it must be used moderately. The dis- j voids bloody urine. Hippocrates saith, he
tilled water only of the whole herb is fittest j used the fumes of Oak leaves to women that
and safest to be taken inwardly : The juice j were troubled with the strangling of the
also clarified and taken, being mingled j mother ; and Galen applied them, being
with a little vinegar, is good to wash the j bruised, to cure green wounds. The dis-

II ia < k Mi: s i a i' il

< <>niiiiou_ N i-gli-t slxade

Deadly Nightshade

VTOT i

t i> n 1'.* i s i i i j

I*-.' i

V iUi 1 'a i s in ji

TIIOM AS KE1.L.Y, I. ON 1M NT. 1633

AND ENGLISH PHYSICIAN ENLARGED.

tilled water of the Oaken bud, before they jthe upper crust of the earth, shooting forth
break out into leaves is good to be used i in divers places.

either inwardly or outwardly, to assuage | PlaceJ] It grows in moist, shadowy,
inflammations, and to stop all manner of j and grassy places of woods, in many parts
fluxes in man or woman. The same is \ of this land.

singularly good in pestilential and hot j Time.'] It flowers about May, and the
burning fevers; for it resists the force of j berries are ripe in June, and then quickly
the infection, and allays the heat : It cools | perishes, until the next year it springs from
the heat of the liver, breaking the stone in j the same root again.

the kidneys, and stays women's courses. \ Government and virtues.'] It is a precious
The decoction of the leaves works the same j herb of the Sun. Half a dram, or a dram
effects. The water that is found in the j at most, in powder of the roots hereof taken
hollow places of old Oaks, is very effectual in wine and vinegar, of each equal parts,
against any foul or spreading scabs. The j and the party laid presently to sweat there-
distilled water (or concoction, which is { upon, is held to be a sovereign remedy for
better) of the leaves, is one of the best j those that are infected with the plague, and
remedies that I know of for the whites in \ have a sore upon them, by expelling the
women. I poison and infection, and defending the

j heart and spirits from danger. It is a sin-
' s ' gularly good wound herb, and is thereupon

ARE so well known that they need no 5 used with other the like effects in many
description. \ compound balms for curing of wounds, be

Government and virtues.'] Oats fried with * they fresh and green, or old and malignant,
bay salt, and applied to the sides, take j and especially if the sinews be burnt.
away the pains of stitches and wind in the i

sides or the belly. A poultice made of] ORCHIS.

meal of Oats, and some oil of Bays put

thereunto, helps the itch and the leprosy,

IT has almost as many several names

as also the fistulas of the fundament, and attributed to the several sorts of it, as would
dissolves hard imposthumes. The meal of: almost fill a sheet of paper ; as dog-stones,
Oats boiled with vinegar, and applied, j goat-stones, fool-stones, fox-stones, satiri-
takes away freckles and spots in the face, j con, cullians, together with many others too
and other parts of the body. j tedious to rehearse.

ONE BLADE Descript."] To describe all the several

| sorts of it were an endless piece of work ;

Descript^] THIS small plant never bears ! therefore I shall only describe the roots,
more than one leaf, but only when it rises j because they are to be used with some dis-
up with his stalk, which thereon bears | cretion. They have each of them a double
another, and seldom more, which are of a J root within, some of them are round, in
blueish green colour, pointed, with many : others like a hand ; these roots alter every
ribs or veins therein, like Plantain. At the | year by course, when the one rises and
top of the stalk grow many small white \ waxesfull,theotherwaxeslank,andperishes.
flowers, star fashion, smelling somewhat j Now, it is that which is full which is to be
sweet; after which come small red berries,! used in medicines, the other being either of
when they are ripe. The root is small, of the j no use at all, or else, according to the
bigness of a rush, lying and creeping under I humour of some, it destroys and disannuls

THE COMPLETE HERBAL

the virtues of the other, quite undoing what the place with good treacle, ana after to
that doth. roast it well under the embers, which, after

Time.~] One or other of them may be \ taking away the outermost skin thereof,
found in flower from the beginning of April : being beaten together, is a sovereign salve

to the latter end of August.

Government and virtues J] They are hot
and moist in operation, under the dominion
of Dame Venus, and provoke lust exceed-

for either plague or sore, or any other
putrefied ulcer. The juice of Onions is
good for either scalding or burning by fire,
water, or gunpowder, and used with vine-

ingly, -vhich, they say, the dried and 'gar, takes away all blemishes, spots and
withered roots do restrain. They are held \ marks in the skin : and dropped in the
to kill worms in children; as also, being! ears, eases the pains and noise of them,
bruised and applied to the place, to heal j Applied also with figs beaten togettier, helps

the king's evil.

ONIONS.

THEY are so well known, that I need not
spend time about writing a description of

to ripen and break imposthumes, and other
sores.

Leeks are as like them in quality, as the
pome-water is like an apple : They are a
remedy against a surfeit of mushrooms,

being baked under the embers and taken ,,

Government and virtues.'] Mars owns and being boiled and applied very warm,
them, and they have gotten this quality, to help the piles. In other things they have
draw any corruption to them, for if you I the same property as the Onions, although
peel one, and lay it upon a dunghill, you I not so effectual,
shall find it rotten in half a day, by drawing
putrefaction to it ; then, being bruised and

applied to a plague sore, it is very probable Descript.~] COMMON Orpine rises up
it will do the like. Onions are flatulent, or I with divers rough brittle stalks, thick set
windy ; yet they do somewhat provoke j with fat and fleshy leaves, without any
appetite, increase thirst, ease the belly and i order, and little or nothing dented about
bowels, provoke women's courses, help the | the edges, of a green colour : The flowers
biting of a mad dog, and of other venomous { are white, or whitish, growing in tufts, after
creatures, to be used with honey and rue, j which come small chaffy husks, with seeds
increase sperm, especially the seed of them, j like dust in them. The roots are divers

They also kill worms in children if they
drink the water fasting wherein they have

thick, round, white tuberous clogs ; and the
plant grows not so big in some places as in

been steeped all night. Being roasted > others where it is found.

under the embers, and eaten with honey or j Place.'] It is frequent in almost every

sugar and oil, they much conduce to help \ county of this land, and is cherished in

an inveterate cough, and expectorate the t gardens with us, where it grows greater than

tough phlegm. The juice being snuffed I that which is wild, and grows in shadowj

up into the nostrils, purges the head, and j sides of fields and woods.

helps the lethargy, (yet the often eating j Time.~\ It flowers about July, and the

them is said to procure pains in the head.) j seed is ripe in August.

It hath been held by divers country people \ Government and virtues.'] The Moon

a great preservative against infection, to eat j owns the herb, and he that knows but her

Onions fasting with bread and salt: As j exaltaralion, knows what I say is true

aJso to make a great Onion hollow, filling j Orpine is seldom used in inward medicines

AND ENGLISH PHYSICIAN ENLARGED. 131

with us, although Tragus saith from expe- i is also effectual against the venom of any
rience in Germany, that the distilled water j poisonous creature, and the danger that
thereof is profitable for gnawings or excori- \ comes to them that have the lethargy, and
ations in the stomach or bowels, or for ul- { is as good against the cough. The distilled

cers in the lungs, liver, or other inward J water of Parsley is a familiar medicine with
parts, as also in the matrix, and helps all ! nurses to give their children when they are
those diseases, being drank for certain days troubled with wind in the stomach or belly

-- n i * 1 1 _ 1 /* 1*1 1.

parts, as also in the matrix, and helps all ! nurses to give their children when they are
those diseases, being drank for certain days troubled with wind in the stomach or belly
together. It stays the sharpness of humours i which they call the frets ; and is also much
in the bloody-flux, and other fluxes in the i available to them that are of great years
body, or in wounds. The root thereof j The leaves of Parsley laid to the eyes that
also performs the like effect. It is used {are inflamed with heat, or swollen, doth
outwardly to cool any heat or inflammation i much help them, if it be used with bread or
upon any hurt or wound, and eases the J meal ; and being fried with butter, and ap-
painsof them; as, also, to heal scaldings \ plied to women's breasts that are hard
or burnings, the juice thereof being beaten i through the curdling of their milk, it abates
with some green sallad oil, and anointed. \ the hardness quickly; and also takes away
The leaf bruised, and laid to any green t black and blue marks coming of bruises or
wound in the hand or legs, doth heal them j falls. The juice thereof dropped into the
quickly ; and being bound to the throat, j ears with a little wine, eases the pains,
much helps the quinsy ; it helps also rup- 1 Tragus sets down an excellent medicine to
tures and burstenness. If you please to j help the jaundice and falling sickness, the.
make the juice thereof into a syrup with I dropsy, and stone in the kidne} r s, in this
honey or sugar, you may safely take a | manner : Take of the seed of Parsley, Fen-
spoonful or two at a time, (let my author j nel, Annise and Carraways, of each an
say what he will) for a quinsy, and you j ounce ; of the roots of Parsley, Burnet,
shall find the medicine pleasant, and the j Saxifrage, and Carraways, of each an ounce
cure speedy. jand an half; let the seeds be bruised, and

PARSLEY ? ' tne ro ts washed and cut small ; let them

| lie all night to steep in a bottle of white

THIS is so well known, that it needs no \ wine, and in the morning be boiled in a
description. j close earthen vessel until a third part or

Government and virtues^] It is under the * more be wasted ; which being strained and
dominion of Mercury ; is very comfortable} cleared, take four ounces thereof morning
to the stomach ; helps to provoke urine and \ and evening first and last, abstaining from
women's courses, to break wind both in the! drink after it for three hours. This opens

stomach and bowels, and doth a little open
the body, but the root much more. It
opens obstructions both of liver and spleen,
and is therefore accounted one of the five

obstructions of the liver and spleen, and
expels the dropsy and jaundice by urine.

PARSLEY PIERT, OR PARSLEY BREAK

STONE.

opening roots. Galen commended it
against the falling sickness, and to provoked Descript.~] THE root, although it be very
urine mightily ; especially if the roots be j small and thready, yet it continues many
boiled, and eaten like Parsnips. The seed 1 years, from which arise many leaves lying
is effectual to provoke urine and women's ! along on the ground, each standing upon
courses, to expel wind, to break the stone, la long small foot-stalk, the leaves as broad
and ease the pains and torments thereof ; it las a man's nail, very deeply dented on the

132 THE COMPLETE HERBAL

edges, somewhat like a parsley-leaf, but of j the seed being ripe about the beginning of

a very dusky green colour. The stalks are <
very weak and slender, about three or four
fingers in length, set so full of leaves that
they can hardly be seen, either having no
foot-stalk at all, or but very short; the

August, the second year after its sowing ;
for if they do flower the first year, the coun-
try people call them Madneps.

Government and virtues.] The garden
Parsnips are under Venus. The garden

it * * i i i

flowers are so small they can hardly be ; Parsnip nourishes much, and is good and
seen, and the seed as small as may be. j wholesome nourishment, but a little windy,

Place."] It is a common herb throughout I whereby it is thought to procure bodily
the nation, and rejoices in barren, sandy, { lust ; but it fastens the body much, if much
moist places. It may bs found plentifully i need. It is conducible to the stomach and
about Hampstead Heath, Hyde Park, and | reins, and provokes urine. But the wild
in Tothill-fields. j Parsnips hath a cutting, attenuating, clean-

TimeJ] It maybe found all the Sum- i sing, and opening quality therein. It re-
mer-time, even from the beginning of April jsists and helps the bitings of serpents, eases
to the end of October. 5 the pains and stitches in the sides, and dis-

Governmeni and virtues.] Its operation) solves wind both in the stomach and bowels,
is very prevalent to provoke urine, and to j which is the cholic, and provokes urine,
break the stone. It is a very good salladlThe root is often used, but the seed much
herb. It were good the gentry would pickle I more. The wild being better than the tame,
it up as they pickle up Samphire for their i shews Dame Nature to be the best phy-
use all the Winter. I cannot teach them j sician.
how to do it; yet this I can tell them, it is*

i it mi i L^(J>V^Al\5INlr&

a very wholesome herb. Ihey may also*

keep the herb dry, or in a syrup, if they | Descript.~\ THIS grows with three or
please. You may take a dram of the pow- 1 four large, spread winged, rough leaves,
derof it in white wine; it would bring awa^ | lying often on the ground, or else raised a
gravel from the kidneys insensibly, and \ little from it, with long, round, hairy foot-
without pain. It also helps the stranguary. j stalks under them, parted usually into five

divisions, the two couples standing each
j against the other ; and one at the end, and

THE garden kind thereof is so well known i each leaf, being almost round, yet some-
(the root being commonly eaten) that I j what deeply cut in on the edges in some
shall not trouble you with any description i leaves, and not so deep in others, of a whitish
of it. But the wild kind being of more j green colour, smelling somewhat strongly;
physical use, I shall in this place describe : among which rises up a round, crusted,
it unto you. ; hairy stalk, two or three feet high, with a

Descript.~\ The wild Parsnip differs j few joints and leaves thereon, and branched
little from the garden, but grows not so fair ; at the top, where stand large umbels of
and large, nor hath so many leaves, and the i white, and sometimes reddish flowers, and
root is shorter, more woody, and not so fit j alter them flat, whitish, thin, winged seed,
to be eaten, and therefore more medicinal. j two always joined together. The root is

Place.] The name of the first shews the \ long and white, with two or three long
place of its growth. The other grows wild : strings growing down into the ground^
in divers places, as in the marshes in Roches- > smelling likewise strongly and unpleasant
ter, and elsewhere, and flowers in July ; 5 Place.] It grows in moist meadows, ana

AND ENGLISH PHYSICIAN ENLARGED. 133

the borders and corners of fields, and near 1 within the stone. It sooner waxes old,
ditches, through this land. land decays, than the Apricot, by much.

Tinted] It Sowers in July, and seeds in* Place.] They arc nursed in gardens and

August.

Government and virtues.'] Mercury hath
the dominion over them. The seed thereof,
as Galen saith, is of a sharp and cutting

orchards through this land.

Time.'] They flower in the Spring, and
fructify in Autumn.

Government and virtues.] Lady Venus

quality, and therefore is a fit medicine for; owns this tree, and by it opposes the
a cough and shortness of breath, the falling} effects of Mars, and indeed for children and
sickness and jaundice. The root is avail- \ young people, nothing is better to purge
able to all the purposes aforesaid, and isjcholer and the jaundice, than the leaves or
also of great use to take away the hard j flowers of this tree being made into a syrup
skin that grows on a fistula, if it be but > or conserve. Let such as delight to please
scraped upon it. The seed hereof being* their lust regard the fruit ; but such as have
drank, cleanses the belly from tough phleg- \ lost their health, and their children's, let

malic matter therein, eases them that are

them regard what I say, they may safely

liver-grown, women's passions of the mother, i give two spoonfuls of the syrup at a time
as well being drank as the smoke thereof J it is as gentle as Venus herself. The leaves
received, and likewise raises such as are j of peaches bruised and laid on the belly,
fallen into a deep sleep, or have the lethargy, 1 kill worms, and so they do also being
by burning it under their nose. The seed I boiled in ale and drank, and open the belly

and root boiled in oil, and the head rubbed
therewith, helps not only those that are
fallen into a frenzy, but also the lethargy or

likewise ; and, being dried, is a far safer
medicine to discuss humours. The pow-
der of them strewed upon fresh bleeding

drowsy evil, and those that have been long I wounds stays their bleeding, and closes
troubled with the head-ache, if it be like- j them up. The flowers steeped all night in
wise used with Rue. It helps also the runn-j a little wine standing warm, strained forth
ing scab and shingles. The juice of the j in the morning, and drank fasting, doth
flowers dropped into the ears that run and j gently open the belly, and move it down-
are full of matter, cleanses and heals them, j ward. A syrup made of them, as the syrup

THE PEACH TREE. } * [ ? de, works more forcibly than

| that or roses, for it provokes vomiting, and

Descript.] A PEACH Tree grows not so; spends waterish and hydropic humours by
great as the Apricot tree, yet spreads { the continuance thereof. The flowers made
branches reasonable well, from whence {into a conserve, work the same effect,
spring smaller reddish twigs, whereon are: The liquor that dropped from the tree, being
set long and narrow green leaves dented I wounded, is given in the decoction of CoRs-
about the edges. The blossoms are greater \ foot, to those that are troubled with a cough
than the plumb, and of a light purple: or shortness of breath, by adding thereunto
colour; the fruit round, and sometimes as j some sweet wine, and putting some saffron
Dig as a reasonable Pippin, others smaller, I also therein. It is good for those that arc
as also differing in colour and taste, as rus- ; hoarse, or have lost their voice; helps all
set, red, or yellow, waterish or firm, with a {defects of the lungs, and those that vomit
frize or cotton all over, with a cleft therein j and spit blood. Two drams hereof given
like an Apricot, and a rugged, furrowed, 5 in the juice of lemons, or of radish, is good
great stone within it, and a bitter kernel; for them that are troubled with the stone.

134

THE COMPLETE HERBAL

the kernels of the stones do wonderfully
ease the pains and Avringings of the belly
through wind or sharp humours, and help!

much more, and are very good in repelling
medicines ; and if the wild sort be boiled
with mushrooms, it makes them less dan-

to make an excellent medicine for the stone \ gerous. The said Pears boiled with a ,ittle
upon all occasions, in this manner : I take honey, help much the oppressed stomach,
fifty kernels of peach-stones, and one hundred \ as all sorts of them do, some more, some
of the kernels of cherry-stones^ a handful of\ less : but the harsher sorts do more cool
elder flowers fresh or dried, and three pints \ and bind, serving well to be bound to green
of Muscadel; set them in a close pot into a bed \ wounds, to cool and stay the blood, and heal
of horse-dung for ten days, after which distill up the green wound without farther trouble,
in a glass with a gentle Jire, and keep it for \ or inflammation, as Galen saithhehath found
your use : You may drink upon occasion \ by experience. The wild Pears do sooner
three or four ounces at a time. The milk or j close up the lipsof green wounds than others,
cream of these kernels being drawn forth j Schola Selerni advises to drink much
Avith some Vervain water and applied to I wine after Pears, or else (say they) they are
the forehead and temples, doth much help i as bad as poison ; nay, and they curse the
to procure rest and sleep to sick persons tree for it too ; but if a poor man find his
wanting it. The oil drawn from the kernels, stomach oppressed by eating Pears, it is but
the temples being therewith anointed, doth working hard, and it will do as well as
the like. The said oil put into clysters, \ drinking wine,
eases the pains of the wind cholic : and i

i * .1 i c ,i PELLITORY OF SPAIN.

anointed -on the lower part or the belJy, j

doth the like, and dropped into the ears, : COMMON Pellitory of Spain, if it be

eases pains in them ; the juice of the leaves | planted in our gardens, will prosper very

doth the like. Being also anointed on the i well ; yet there is one sort growing ordina-

forehead and temples, it helps the megrim, jrily here wild, which I esteem to be little

and all other pains in the head. If the | inferior to the other, if at all. I shall not

kernels be bruised and boiled in vinegar,

until they become thick, and applied to the

head, it marvellously procures the hair to

grow again upon bald places, or where it is

too thin.

THE PEAR TREE.

PEAR Trees are so well known, that they
need no description.

Government and virtues^] The Tree belongs
to Venus, and so doth the Apple tree. For
their physical use they are best discerned

deny you the description of them both.

DescriptJ] Common Pellilory is a very
common plant, and will not be kept in our
gardens without diligent looking to. The
root goes down right into the ground bear-
ing leaves, being long and finely cut upon
the stalk, lying on the ground, much larger
than the leaves of the Camomile are. At
the top it bears one single large flower at a
place, having a border of many leaves,
white on the upper side, and reddish under-
neath, with a yellow thrum in the middle,

by their taste. All the sweet and luscious { not standing so close as that of Camomile,
sorts, whether manured or wild, do help to 1 The other common Pellitory which
move the belly downwards, more or less. \ grows here, hath a root of a sharp biting
Those that are hard and sour, do, on the j taste, scarcely discernible by the taste from
contrary, bind the belly as much, and the : that before described, from whence arise
leaves do so also : Those that are moist do divers brittle stalks, a yard high and more
in some sort cool, but harsh or wild sorts | with narrow leaves finely dented about the

AND ENGLISH PHYSICIAN ENLARGED. 18*

edges, standing one above another up to \ black, rough seed, which will stick to
the tops. The flowers are many and white, j cloth or garment that shall touch it. The
standing in tufts like those of Yarrow, with i root is somewhat long, with small fibre:
a small yellowish thrum in the middle. f thereat, of a dark reddish colour, whicl
The seed is very small. j abides the Winter, although the stalks am

Placed] The last grows in fields by the i leaves perish and spring every year.
hedge sides and paths, almost every where. \ Place.'] It grows wild generally through

Time.'] It flowers at the latter end of j the land, about the borders of fields, and bv
June and July. j the sides of walls, and among rubbish. It

Government and virtues] It is under the j will endure well being brought up in gnr-
government of Mercury, and I am per- j dens, and planted on the shady side,
suaded it is one of the best purgers of the ; where it will spring of it own sowing.
brain that grows. An ounce of the juice j Time.'] It flowers in June and July, and
taken in a draught of Muskadel an hourithe seed is ripe soon after.
before the fit of the ague comes, it will \ Government and virtues.] It i.5 under the
assuredly drive away the ague at the second ; dominion of Mercury. The dried herb
or third time taken at the farthest. Either i Pellitory made up into an electuary with
the herb or root dried and chewed in the; honey, or the juices of the herb, or the de-
mouth, purges the brain of plegmatic \ coction thereof made up with sugar or
humours; thereby not only easing pains in j homy, is a singular remedy for an old or
the head and teeth, but also hinders the j dry cough, the shortness of breath, and
distilling of the brain upon the lungs and | wheezing in the throat. Three ounces of
eyes, thereby preventing coughs, phthisicks ! the juice thereof taken at a time, doth won-
and consumption, the apoplexy and falling derfully help stopping of the urine, and to
sickness. It is an excellently approved j expel the stone or gravel in the kidneys or
remedy in the lethargy. The powder of the j bladder, and is therefore usually put among
herb or root being snuffed up the nostrils, j other herbs used in clysters to mitigate
procures sneezing, and eases the head-ache; I pains in the back, sides, or bowels, pro-
being made into an ointment with hog's ! ceed ing of wind, stopping of urine, the
grease, it takes away black and blue spots j gravel or stone, as aforesaid. If the bruised
occasioned by blows or falls, and helps both . herb, sprinkled with some Muskadel, be
the gout and sciatica. i warmed upon a tile, or in a dish upon a

PELLITORY OP THE WALL.

fe , w ^f, ^ in . a chafing-dish, and ap-
I plied to the belly, it works the same effect.
Descript.~] IT rises with brownish, red, j The decoction of the herb being drank,
tender, weak, clear, and almost transparent I eases pains of the mother, and brings down
stalks, about two feet high, upon which ; women's courses : It also eases those griefs
grow at the joints two leaves somewhat \ that arise from obstructions of the liver,
broad and long, of a dark green colour, j spleen, and reins. The same decoction,
which afterwards turn brownish, smooth on j with a little honey added thereto, is good
the edges, but rough and hairy, as the j to gargle a sore throat. The juice held a
stalks are also. At the joints with the j while in the mouth, eases pains in the teeth.
leaves from the middle of the stalk upwards, \ The distilled water of the herb drank with
where it spreads into branches, stand many j some sugar, works the same effects, and
small, pale, purplish flowers in hairy, rough i cleanses the skin from spots, freckles, pur
heads, or husks, after which come small ^1 pies, wheals, sun-burn, morphew, &c. The

N N

136 THE COMPLETE HERBAL

juice dropped into the ears, cases the noise \ There is a greater kind than the ordinary
in them, and takes away the pricking and Isort found wild with us, which so abides,
shooting pains therein: The same, or the .-being brought into gardens, and differs not
distilled water, assuages hot and swelling \ from it, but only in the largeness of the
hnposthumes, burnings and scalclings by | leaves and stalks, in rising higher, and not
fire or water ; as also all other hot tumours ! creeping upon the ground so much. The
and inflammations, or breakings-out, of ! flowers whereof are purple, growing in run-
heat, being bathed often with wet cloths ! dies about the stalks like the other,
dipped therein : The said juice made into | Place.~] The first, which is common in
a liniment with ceruss, and oil of roses, and j gardens, grows also in many moist and
anointed therewith, cleanses foul rotten watery places of this land,
ulcers, and stays spreading or creeping! The second is found wild in effect in
ulcers, and running scabs or sores in chil- j divers places by the highways from London
dren's heads ; and helps to stay the hair \ to Colchester, and thereabouts, more abun-
from falling off the head. The said oint- jdantly than in any other counties, and is
menl, or the herb applied to the fundament, ! also planted in their gardens in Essex,
opens the piles, and eases their pains ; and { Time.'] They flower in the latter end of
being mixed with goats' tallow, helps the j Summer, about August,
gout. The juice is very effectual to cleanse; Government and virtues.'] The herb is
fistulas, and to heal them up safely ; or the j under Venus. Dioscorides sailh, that
herb itself bruised and applied with a little > Pennyroyal makes thin tough phlegm,
salt. It is likewise also effectual to heal | warms the coldness of any part whereto it
any green wound ; if it he bruised and j is applied, and digests raw or corrupt mat-
bound thereto for three days, you shall j ter ; Being boiled and drank, it provokes
need no other medicine to heal it further. : women's courses, and expels the dead child
A poultice made hereof with Mallows, and 5 and after-birth, and stays the disposition
boiled in wine and wheat bran and bean \ to vomit, being taken in water and vinegar
flour, and some oil put thereto, and ap- j mingled together. And being mingled with
plied warm to any bruised sinews, tendon, j honey and salt, it voids phlegm out of the
or muscle, doth in a very short time restore \ lungs, and purges melancholy by the stool,
them to their strength, taking away the | Drank with wine, it helps such as are bitten
pains of the bruises, and dissolves the con- J and stung=with venomous beasts, and ap-
gealed blood coming of blows, or falls from plied to the nostrils with vinegar, revives
high places. { those that are fainting and swooning.

The juice of Pellitory of the Wall clarified j Being dried and burnt, it strengthens the
and boiled in a syrup with honey, and a gums. It is helpful to those that are trou-
spoonful of it drank every morning by such ! bled with the gout, being applied of itself
as are subject to the dropsy; if continuing' to the place until it was red; and applied
that course, though but once a weak, they j in a plaister, it takes away spots or marks
ever have the dropsy, let them but come : in the face; applied with salt, it profits those
to me, and I will cure them gratis. S that are splenetic, or livergrown. The de-

jcoction doth help the itch, if washed there-
jwith. The green herb bruised and put

PENNYROYAL is so well known unto j into vinegar, cleanses foul ulcers, and takes
all, I mean the common kind, that it needs jaway the marks of bruises and blows about
no description. I the eyes, and a.l discolourings of the face

AND ENGLISH PHYSICIAN ENLARGED. 1,37

by fire, yea, and the leprosy, being drank j The ordinary Female Peony hath as
and outwardly applied : Boiled in wine j many stalks, and more leaves on them than
with honey and salt, it helps the tooth-ache. I the Male; the leaves not so large, but nicked
It helps the cold griefs by the joints, taking Jon the edges, some with great and deep,
away the pains, and warms the cold part, j others with small cuts and divisions, of a
being fast bound to the place, after a I dead green colour. The flowers are of a
bathing or sweating in a hot house. Pliny (strong heady scent, usually smaller, and of
adds, that Pennyroyal and Mints together, j a more purple colour than the Male, witli
help faintings, being put into vinegar, and \ yellow thrums about the head, as the Male
smelled unto, or put into the nostrils or {hath. The seed vessels are like horns, as in
mouth. It eases head-aches, pains of the j the Male, but smaller, the seed is black,
breast and belly, and gnawings of the { but less shining. The root consists of many
stomach; applied with honey, salt, and j short tuberous clogs, fastened at the end of
vinegar, it helps cramps or convulsions of j long strings, and all from the heads of the
the sinews: Boiled in milk, and drank, ill roots, which is thick and short, and of the
is effectual for the cough, and for ulcers I like scent with the Male,
and sores in the mouth; drank in wine itj Place and Time.'] They grow in gardens,
provokes women's courses, and expels the | and flower usually about May.
dead child, and after-birth. Matthiolus : Government and virtues.! It is an herb of

saith, The decoction thereof being drank, i
helps the jaundice and dropsy, all pains of;

the Sun, and under the Lion. Physicians
say, Male Peony roots are best ; but Dr.

the head and sinews that come of a cold j Reason told me Male Peony was best for
cause, and clears the eye-sight. It helps I men, and Female Peony for women, and he
the lethargy, and applied with barley -meal, j desires to be judged by his brother Dr.

Experience. The roots are held to be of
more virtue than the seed ; next the flowers ;

helps burnings ; and put into the ears, eases
the pains of them.

! and, last of all, the leaves. The

MALE AND FEMALE PEONY. ! , \, , r c U *!

\ the Male Peony, fresh gathered, having

Descript.'] MALE Peony rises up with I been found by experience to cure the fall-
brownish stalks, whereon grow green and I ing sickness ; but the surest way is, besides
reddish leaves, upon a stalk without any \ hanging it about the neck, by which children
particular division in the leaf at all. Thelhave been cured, to take the root of the
flowers stand at the top of the stalks, con- j Mile Peony washed clean, and stamped
sisting of five or six broad leaves, of a fair i somewhat small, and laid to infuse in sack
purplish red colour, with many yellow : for 24 \ours at the least, afterwards strain
threads in the middle standing about the! it, and take it first and last, morning and
head, which after rises up to be the seed : evening, a good draught for sundry days
vessels, divided into two, three, or four j together, before and after a full moon : and
crooked pods like horns, which being full ; this will also cure old persons, if the dis-
ripe, open and turn themselves down back- lease be not grown too old, and past cure,
wards, shewing with them divers round, ' especially if there be a due and orderly
black, shining seeds, having also many j preparation of the body with posset-drink
crimson grains, intermixed with black, j made of Betony, &c. The root is also
whereby it makes a very pretty shew. The I effectual for women that are not sufficiently
roots are great, thick and long, spreading! cleansed after child-birth, and such as are
and running down deep in the ground. | troubled with the mother ; for which like-

J38 THE COMPLETE HERBAL

wise the black seed beaten to powder, and hereof to be bruised, and mixed with old
given in wine, is also available. The black j hog's grease, and applied to the place, and
seed also taken before bed-time, and in | to continue thereon four hours in men, and
the morning, is very effectual for such as in j two hours in women, the place being after-
their sleep are troubled with the disease | wards bathed with wine and oil mixed
called Ephialtes, or Incubus, bul we do together, and then wrapped up with wool
commonly call it the Night-mare: a disease j or skins, after they have sweat a little. It
which melancholy persons are subject unto : | also amends the deformities or discolour-
It is also good against melancholy dreams. | ings of the skin, and helps to take away
The distilled water or syrup made of the > marks, scars, and scabs, or the foul marks
flowers, works the same effects that the root | of burning with fire or iron. The juice
and seed do, although more weakly. The! hereof is by some used to be given in ale to
Females is often used for the purpose afore- j drink, to women with child, to procure
said, by reason the Male is so scarce a them a speedy delivery in travail,
plant, that it is possessed by few, and those }

, f. .1 i j " .t/KlVV 1 JN K. Li b.

great lovers of rarities in this kind.

Descript.~] THE common sort hereof

PEPPERWORT, OR DITTANDER. j ^ mtmy J bnmches trai]ing Qr running

Descript."] OUR common Pepperwortj upon the ground, shooting out small fibres
sends forth somewhat long and broad leaves, | at the joints as it runs, taking thereby hold
of a light blueish green colour, finely j in the ground, and rooteth in divers places,
dented about the edges, and pointed at the ! At the joints of these branches stand two
ends, standing upon round hard stalks, : small, dark-green, shining leaves, somewhat

three or four feet high, spreading many
branches on all sides, and having many
small white flowers at the tops of them,

like bay leaves, but smaller, and with them
come forth also the flowers (one at a joint)
standing upon a tender foot-stalk, being

after which follow small seeds in smalH somewhat long and hollow, parted at the
heads. The root is slender, running much! brims, sometimes into four, sometimes into
under ground, and shooting up again in ? five leaves : The most ordinary sorts are of
many places, and both leaves and roots are; a pale blue colour; some are pure white,

very hot and sharp of taste, like pepper, for
which cause it took the name.

Placed] It grows naturally in many

some of a dark reddish purple colour. The
root is little bigger than a rush, bushing in
the ground, and creeping Avith his branches

places of this land, as at Clare in Essex ; far about, whereby it quickly possesses a
also near unto Exeter in Devonshire; upon \ great compass, and is therefore most
Rochester common in Kent ; in Lanca- ! usually planted under hedges where it may
shire, and divers other places ; but usually \ have room to run.
kept in gardens. Placed] Those with the pale blue, and

Time.'] It flowers in the end of June, I those with the white flowers, grow in woods
and in July. ! and orchards, by the hedge-sides, in divers

Government and virtues.'] Here is another | places of this land ; but those with the pur-
martial herb for you, make much of it. j pie flowers, in gardens only.
Pliny and Paulus JSgineta say, that Pep- 5 Time.'] They flower in March and April,
perwort is very successful for the sciatica, \ Government and virtues.'] Venus owns
or any other gout or pain in the joints, or | this herb, and saith, That the leaves eaten
any other inveterate grief: The leaves j by man and wife together, cause love be-

, K 15.

Pellitory of the Wall

Pimpernel

P f r :L w inlcle

1 ' i . 1 1 u a on

-' (i I' U Jlosf ]*()[) Jj V

KKI.l.-Y. LONDON. 1835'.

Pepp er-vror t

AND ENGLISH PHYSICIAN ENLARGED. 139

tween them. The Periwinkle is a great; and Northamptonshire; as also near water-
binder, stays bleeding both at mouth and $ courses in other places,
nose, if some of the leaves be chewed, j Time.~] It flowers in June and July, and
The French used it to stay women's courses. | the seed is ripe in August.
Dioscorides, Galen, and jEgineta, com- j Government and virtues.] There is not
mend it against the lasks and fluxes of the* a straw to choose between this and St.
belly to be drank in wine. j John's Wort, only St. Peter must have it,

\ lest he should want pot herbs ; It is of the

ST. PETER'S WORT same property of St. John's Wort, but some-

| what weaker, and therefore more seldom

IF Superstition had not been the father j used. Two drams of the seed taken at a
of Tradition, as well . as Ignorance the j time in honied water, purges choleric
Mother of Devotion, this herb, (as well as \ humours, (as saith Dioscorides, Pliny, and
St. John's Wort) hath found some other j Galen,) and thereby helps those that are
name to be known by; but we may say of $ troubled with the sciatica. The leaves are
our forefathers, as St. Paul of the Athenians, \ used as St. John's Wort, to help those
I perceive in many things you are too si/per- { places of the body that have been burnt
stitious. Yet seeing it is come to pass, j with fire,
that custom having got in possession,!
pleads prescription for the name, I shall!

let it pass, and come to the description of; Descript] COMMON Pimpernel hath
the herb, which take as follows. i divers weak square stalks lying on the

Descript] It rises up with square up- j ground, beset all with two small and almost
right stalks for the most part, some greater round leaves at every joint, one against
and higher than St. John's Wort (and good another, very like Chickweed, but hath no
reason too, St. Peter being the greater \ foot-stalks ; for the leaves, as it were, corn -
apostle, (ask the Pope else;) for though -| pase the stalk. The flowers stand singly
God would have the saints equal, the Pope \ each by themselves at them and the stalk,
is of another opinion,) but brown in the? consistingof five small round-pointed leaves,
same manner, having two leaves at every > of a pale red colour, tending to an orange,
joint, somewhat like, but larger, than St. j with so many threads in the middle, in whose
John's Wort, and a little rounder pointed, j places succeed smooth round heads, where-
with few or no holes to be seen thereon, and j in is contained small seed. The root is
having sometimes some smaller leaves rising j small and fibrous, perishing every year,
from the bosom of the greater, and socne^l Place] It grows almost every where
times a little hairy also. At the tops of two { as well in the meadows and corn-fields,

as by the way-sides, and in gardens, arising
of itself.

Time] It flowers from May until. April,
and the seed ripens in the mean time, and
falls.

stalks stand many star-like flowers, with
yellow threads in the middle, very like
those of St. John's Wort, insomuch that
this is hardly discerned from it, but only by
the largeness and height, the seed being

alike also in both. The root abides long, \ Government and virtues] It is a gallant
sending forth new shoots every year. j solar herb, of a cleansing attractive quality,

Place] It grows in many groves, and 5 whereby it draws forth thorns or splinters,
small low woods, in divers places of this j or other such like things gotten into the
land, as in Kent, Huntingdon, Cambridge, \ flesh ; and put up into the nostrils, purges

o o

140 THE COMPLETE HERBAL

the'head ; and Galen saith also, they have \ along among the leaves; after which come
a drying faculty, whereby they are good to; small and round husks. The root is small
solder the lips of wounds, and to cleanse : and woody, perishing every year,
foul ulcers. The distilled water or juice is ! PlaceJ] It grows more plentifully in
much esteemed by French dames Lo cleanse \ Kent than any other county of this land, as
the skin from any roughness and defor- j namely, in many places on this side Dart-
mity, or discolouring thereof ; being boiled I ford, along to Southfleet, Chatham, and
in wine and given to drink, it is a good j Rochester, and upon Chatham down, hard
remedy against the plague, and other pes- 1 by the Beacon, and half a mile from
tilential fevers, if the party after taking it ? Rochester, in a field near a house called
be warm in his bed, and sweat for twojSelesys.

hours after, and use the same for twice at j Time.'] It flowers and gives seed in the
least. It helps also all stingings and | Summer months.

bitings of venomous beasts, or mad dogs, I Government and virtues.'] Mars owns the
being- used inwardly, and applied outward- 1 herb. The decoction of Ground Pine
ly. The same also opens obstructions of | drank, doth wonderfully prevail against the
the liver, and is very available against the | stranguary, or any inward pains arising
infirmities of the reins : It provokes urine, s from the diseases of the reins and urine,
and helps to expel the stone and gravel \ and is especially good for all obstructions of
out of the kidneys and bladder, and helps \ the liver and spleen, and gently opens
much in all inward pains and ulcers. The \ the body ; for which purpose they were
decoction, or distilled water, is no less ef- ; wont in former times to make pills with the
iecf.ual to be applied to all wounds that are j powder thereof, and the pulp of figs. It
fresh and green, or old, filthy, fretting, and j marvellously helps aiJ the diseases of the
running ulcers, which it very effectually ; mother, inwardly or outwardly applied,
cures in a short space. A little mixed I procuring women's courses, and expelling
with the juice, and dropped into the eyes, | the dead child and after-birth ; yea, it is so
cleanses them from cloudy mists, or thick i : powerful upon those feminine parts, that it

films which grow over them, and hinder:

is utterly forbidden for women with child,

the sight. It helps the tooth-ache, being 'for it will cause abortion or delivery before
dropped into the ear on a contrary side of j the time. The decoction of the herb in
the pain. It is also effectual to ease the j wine taken inwardly, or applied outwardly,
pains of the haemorrhoids or piles. ; or both, for some time together, is also

; effectual in all pains and diseases of the

GROUND PINE. OR CHAMEPITYS. | joints , as gouts , cr a mpSj pa]sieSj sc i at i cajand

Descript.] OUR common Ground Pine | aches; for which purpose the pills made
grows low, seldom rising above a hand's ! with powder of Ground Pine, and of Her-
breadlh high, shooting forth divers small | modactyls with Venice Turpentine are very
branches, set with slender, small, long, nar-l effectual. The pills also, continued for
row, greyish, or whitish leaves, somewhat \ some time, are special good for those that
hairy, and divided into three parts, many i have the dropsy, jaundice, and for griping
bushing together at a joint, some growing > pains of the joints, belly, or inward parts
scatteringly upon the stalks, smelling some- | It helps also all diseases of the brain, pro-
what strong, like unto rozin : The flowers I ceeding of cold and phlegmatic humours
are small, and of a pale yellow colour, | and distillations, as also for the falling sick-
growing from the joint of the stalk all { ness. It is a special remedy for the poison

AND ENGLISH PHYSICIAN ENLARGED. 14J

of the aconites, and other poisonous herbs, j from the head, and stays all manner of

as also against the stinging of any veno-
mous creature. It is a good remedy for a
cold cough, especially in the beginning.

fluxes, even women's courses, when hey
flow too abundantly. It is good to stay
spitting of blood and other bleedings at the

For all the purposes aforesaid, the herb j mouth, or the making of foul and bloody

being tunned up in new drink and drank,
is almost as effectual, but far more accepta-
ble to weak and dainty stomachs. The

water, by reason of any ulcer in the reins
or bladder, and also stays the too free
bleeding of wounds. It is held an especial

distilled water of the herb hath the same \ remedy for those that are troubled with the
effects, but more weakly. The conserve | phthisic, or consumption of the lungs, or
of the flowers doth the like, which Mat- ? ulcers of the lungs, or coughs that come of
thiolus much commends against the palsy, heat. The decoction or powder of the
The green herb, or the decoction thereof, roots or seeds, is much more binding for all
being applied, dissolves the harhness of the purposes aforesaid than the leaves.

women's breasts, and all other hard swell-

Dioscorides saith, that three roots boiled in

ings in any other part of the body. The wine and taken, helps the tertain agues, and
green herb also applied, or the juice thereof! for the quartan agues, (but letting the num-
Avith some honey, not only cleanses putrid, j ber pass as fabulous) I conceive the decoc-
stinking, foul, and malignant ulcers and \ tion of divers roots may be effectual. The
sores of all sorts, but heals and solders up \ herb (but especially the seed) is held to be
the lips of green wounds in any part also. I profitable against the dropsy, the falling-
Let pregnant women forbear, for it works i sickness, the yellow jaundice, and stoppings
violently upon the feminine part. j of the liver and reins. The roots of Plan-

PLANTA I tain, and Pellitory of Spain, beaten into

| powder, and put into the hollow teeth, takes

Tins grows usually in meadows and j away the pains of them. The clarified
fields, and by path sides, and is so well [juice, or distilled water, dropped into the
known, that it needs no description. | eyes, cools the inflammations in them, and

ThfieJ] It is in its beauty about June, | takes away the pin and web; and dropped
and the seed ripens shortly after. i i..to the ears, eases the pains in them, and

Government and -virtues.~\ It is true, Mis- 1 helps and removes the heat. The same
aldus and others, yea, almost all astrology- j also with the juice of Houseleek is profitable
physicians, hold this to be an herb of Mars, | against all inflammations and breakings out
because it cures the diseases of the head j of the skin, and against burnings and scald-
and privities, which are under the houses tings by fire and water. The juice or de-
of Mars, Aries, and Scorpio : The truth is, j coction made either of itself, or other things
it is under the command of Venus, and : of the like nature, is of much use and good
cures the head by antipathy to Mars, and j effect for old and hollow ulcers that are hard
the privities by sympathy to Venus; neither | to be cured, and for cankers and sores in
is there hardly a martial disease but it j the mouth or privy parts of man or woman ;
cures. | and helps also the pains of the piles in the

The juice of Plantain clarified and drank | fundament. The juice mixed with oil ol
for divers days together, either of itself, or \ roses, and the temples and forehead anoint-
in other drink, prevails wonderfully against \ ed therewith, eases the pains of the head
-all torments or excoriations in the intestines | proceeding from heat, and helps lunatic
or bowels, helps the distillations of rheum j and frantic persons very much ; as also the

142 THE COMPLETE HERBAL

biting of serpents, or a mad dog. The! stone. The gum or leaves boiled in vine-
sumc also is profitably applied to all hot -gar, and applied, kills tetters and ring-
gouts in the feet or hands, especially in the; worms. Matthiolus saith, The oil pre-
beginning. It is also good to be applied I served out of the kernels of the stones, as
\vhere any bone is out of joint, to hinder t oil of almonds is made, is good against the
inflammations, swellings, and pains that I inflamed piles, the tumours or swellings of
presently rise thereupon. The powder of * ulcers, hoarseness of the voice, roughness
the dried leaves taken in drink, kills worms J of the tongue and throat, and likewise the
of the belly; and boiled in wine, kills \ pains in the ears. And that five ounces
worms that breed in old and foul ulcers. j of the said oil taken with one ounce of mus-
One part of Plantain water, and two parts; kadel, drives forth the stone, and helps the
of the brine of powdered beef, boiled \ cholic.
together and clarified, is a most sure remedy ;

, , ,. - t i ,1 ; POLYPODY OF THE OAK.

10 heal all spreading scabs or itch in the*

head and body, all manner of tetters, ring- 1 Descript.~] THIS is a small herb consist-
worms, the shingles, and all other running ; ing of nothing but roots and leaves, bearing
and fretting sores. Briefly, the Plantains ] neither stalk, flower, nor seed, as it is
are singularly good wound herbs, to heal | thought. It hath three or four leaves
fresh or old wounds or sores, either inward j rising from the root, every one single by
or outward | itself, of about a hand length, are winged,

J consisting of many small narrow leaves
| cut into the middle rib, standing on each

ARE so Avell known that they need no I side of the stalk, large below, and smallei
description. iupto the top, not dented nor notched at

Government and virtues.'] All Plums are i the edges at all, as the male fern hath, of
under Venus, and are like women, some j sad green colour, and smooth on the uppei
better, and some worse. As there is great $ side, but on the other side somewhat rough
diversity of kinds, so there is in the opera- 1 by reason of some yellowish flowers set
tion of Plums, for some that are sweet | thereon. The root is smaller than one's
moistens the stomach, and make the belly \ little finger, lying aslope, or creeping along
soluble ; those that are sour quench thirst! under the upper crust of the earth, brown-
more, and bind the belly; the moist andjish on the outside and greenish within, of
waterish do sooner corrupt in the stomach, | a sweetish harshness in taste, set Avith cer-
but the firm do nourish more, and offend { tain rough knags on each side thereof,
less. The dried fruit sold by the grocers I having also much mossiness or yellow hair-
under the names of Damask Prunes, do uness upon it, and some fibres underneath it,
somewhat loosen the belly, and being! whereby it is nourished,
stewed, are often used, both in health and i Place.'] It grows as well upon old rotten
sickness, to relish the mouth and stomach, j stumps, or trunks of trees, as oak, beech,
to procure appetite, and a little to open 1 hazel, willow, or any other, as in the woods
the body, allay choler, and cool the! under them, and upon old mud walls, as
stomach. Plum-tree leaves boiled in wine, | also in mossy, stony, and gravelly places
are good to wash and gargle the mouth and j near unto wood. That which grows upon
Chroat, to dry the flux of rheum coming to j oak is accounted the best; but the quantity
the, palate, gums, or almonds of the ear. > thereof is scarce sufficient for the common
The gum of the tree is good to break the ; use

AND ENGLISH PHYSICIAN ENLARGED. 143

Time.~\ It being always green, may be | doth much help it ; and applied also to the
gathered for use at any time. j nose, cures the disease called Poly pus, which

Government and virtues.'] Polypodium of jis a piece of flesh growing therein, which
the Oak, that which grows upon the earth ; in time stops the passage of breath through
is best ; it is an herb of Saturn, to purge j that nostril ; and it helps those clefts or
melancholy ; if the humour be otherwise, \ chops that come between the fingers or
chuseyour Polypodium accordingly. Meuse i toes,
(who is called the Physician's Evangelist for | POPTAR

i {* i j j , i i J. UiS JrU Jr.LAlt .1 JftJSJa*

the certainty or his medicines, and thej

truth of his opinion) saith, That it dries up \ THERE are two sorts of Poplars, which
thin humours, digests thick and tough, and \ are most familiar with us, viz. the Black
purges burnt choler, and especially tough j and White, both which I shall here des-
and thick phlegm, and thin phlegm also, j cribe unto you.

even from the joints, and therefore good for j DescriptJ\ The "White Poplar grows
those that are troubled with melancholy, or j great, and reasonably high, covered with
quartan agues, especially if it be taken in j thick, smooth, white bark, especially the
whey or honied water, or in barley-water, | branches ; having long leaves cut into
or the broth of a chicken with Epithymum, j several divisions almost like a vine leaf, but
or with Beets and Mallows. It is good for j not of so deep a green on the upper side,
the hardness of the spleen, and for pricking j and hoary white underneath, of a reason-
or stitches in the sides, as also forthecholic: j able good scent, the whole form represent-
Some use to put to it some Fennel seeds, or > ing the form of Coltsfoot. The catkins
Annis seeds, or Ginger, to correct that : which it brings forth before the leaves, are
loathing it brings to the stomach, which is j long, and of a faint reddish colour, which
more than needs, it being a safe and gentle j fall away, bearing seldom good seed with
medicine, fit for all persons, which daily ? them. The wood hereof is smooth, soft,
experience confirms ; and an ounce of it i and white, very finely waved, whereby it is
may be given at a time in a decoction, if: much esteemed.

there be not Sena, or some other strong \ The Black Poplar grows higher and
purger put with it. A dram or two of the * straighter than the White, with a greyish
powder of the dried roots, taken fasting in \ bark, bearing broad green leaves, somewhat
a cup of honied water, works gently, and \ like ivy leaves, not cut in on the edges like
for the purposes aforesaid. The distilled i the White, but whole and dented, ending

water both of roots and leaves, is much

in a point, and not white underneath, hang-

commended for the quartan ague, to be | ing by slender long foot stalks, which with
taken for many days together, as also j the air are continually shaken, like as the
against melancholy, or fearful and trouble- j Aspen leaves are. The catkins hereof are
some sleeps or dreams ; and with some | greater than those of the White, composed
sugar-candy dissolved therein, is good { of many round green berries, as if they
against the cough, shortness of breath, and I were set together in a long cluster, contain-
wheezings, and those distillations of thin j ing much downy matter, which being ripe,
rheum upon the lungs, which cause phthi- i is blown away with the wind. The clammy
sicks, and oftentimes consumptions. The \ buds hereof, before they spread into leaves,
fresh roots beaten small, or the powder of j are gathered to make Unguentum and
the dried roots mixed with honey, and ap- ! Populneum, and are of a yellowish green
plied to the member that is out of joint, ! colour, and somewhat small, sweet, but

p P

144 THE COMPLETE HERBAL

strong. The wood is smooth, tough, and j the White and black of the Garden, and
white, and easy to be cloven. On both { the Erratic Wild Poppy, or Corn Rose,
these trees grows a sweet kind of musk, j Descript.~\ The White Poppy hath at
which in former times was used to put into j first four or five whitish green leaves lying
sweet ointments. 5 upon the ground, which rise with the stalk,

Place.'] They grow in moist woods, and j compassing it at the bottom of them, and
by water-sides in sundry places of this land ;* are very large, much cut or torn on the
yet the White is not so frequent as the other. ? edges, and dented also besides : The stalk,

Time.'] Their time is likewise expressed ! which is usually four or five feet high, hath
before : The catkins coming forth before j sometimes no branches at the top, and
the leaves in the end of Summer. ; usually but two or three at most, bearing

Government and virtues.'] Saturn hath | every one but one head wrapped up in a
dominion over both. White Poplar, saith j thin skin, which bows down before it is
Galen, is of a cleansing property : The > ready to blow, and then rising, and being
weight of an ounce in powder, of the bark j broken, the flowers within it spreading itself
thereof, being drank, saith Dioscorides, is 5 open, and consisting of four very large,
a remedy for those that are troubled with j white, round leaves, with many whitish
the sciatica, or the stranguary. The juice [round threads in the middle, set about a
of the leaves dropped warm into the ears, small, round, green head, having a crown,
eases the pains in them. The young j or star-like cover at the head thereof, which
clammy buds or eyes, before they break | growing ripe, becomes as large as a great
out into leaves, bruised, and a little honey > apple, wherein are contained a great num-
put to them, is a good medicine for a dull ? her of small round seeds, in several parti-
sight. The Black Poplar is held to Le;tions or divisions next unto the shell, the
more cooling than the White, and therefore s middle thereof remaining hollow, and
the leaves bruised with vinegar and applied, i empty. The whole plant, both leaves,
help the gout. The seed drank in vinegar, s stalks, and heads, while they are fresh,
is held good against the falling-sickness. I young, and green, yield a milk when they
The water that drops from the hollow places ; are broken, of an unpleasant bitter taste,
of this tree, takes away warts, pushes, almost ready to provoke casting, and of a
wheals, and other the like breakings-out of | strong heady smell, which being condensed,
the body. The young Black Poplar buds, j is called Opium. The root is white and
saith Matthiolus, are much used by women ) woody, perishing as soon as it hath given
to beautify their hair, bruising them with I ripe seed.

fresh butter, straining them after they have j The Black Poppy little differs from the
been kept for some time in the sun. The \ former, until it baers its flower, which is
ointment called Populneon, which is made | somewhat less, and of a black purplish
of this Poplar, is singularly good for all I colour, but without any purple spots in the
heat and "inflammations in any part of the; bottom of the leaf. The head of the seed
body, and tempers the heat of wounds. It | is much less than the former, and opens
is much used to dry up the milk of women's I itself a little round about the top, under
breasts when they have weaned their 1 the crown, so that the seed, which is very
children. j black, will fall out, if one turn the head

! thereof downward.

The wild Poppy, or Corn Rose, hath long

OF this I shall describe three kinds, viz. \ and narrow leaves, very much cut in on the

AND ENGLISH PHYSICIAN ENIARGED. 145

edges into many divisions, of a .ight green ! the Moon. The garden Poppy heads with
colour, sometimes hairy withal. The stalk \ seeds made into a syrup, is frequently, and
is blackish and hairy also, but not so tall as | to good effect used to procure rest, arid
the garden kind, having some such like : sleep, in the sick and weak, and to stay

leaves thereon to grow below, parted into
three or four branches sometimes, whereon
grow small hairy heads bowing down be-

catarrhs and defluxions of thin rheums
from the head into the stomach and lungs,
causing a continual cough, the fore-runner

fore the skin break, wherein the flower is * of a consumption ; it helps also hoarseness
inclosed, which when it is fully blown open, j of the throat, and when one have lost their
is of a fair yellowish red or crimson colour, \ voice, which the oil of the seed doth like-
and in some much paler, without any spot i wise. The black seed boiled in wine, and
in the bottom of the leaves, having many drank, is said also to dry the flux of the
black soft threads in the middle, compass- ! belly, and women's courses. The empty
ing a small green head, which when it is ; shells, or poppy heads, are usually boiled
ripe, is not bigger than one's little finger's : in water, and given to procure rest and
end, wherein is contained much black seeds | sleep : so doth the leaves in the same man-
smaller than that of the garden. The root j ner ; as also if the head and temples be
perishes every year, and springs again of ! bathed with the decoction warm, or with
its own sowing, Of this kind there is one ; the oil of Poppies, the green leaves or the
lesser in all parts thereof, and differs in j heads bruised and applied with a little
nothing else. i vinegar, or made into a poultice with barley-

Place.~] The garden kinds do not natu- ; meal or hog's grease, cools and tempers
rally grow wild in any place, but all are i all inflammations, as also the disease called
sown in gardens where they grow. ; St. Anthony's fire. It is generally used in

The Wild Poppy or Corn Rose, is plen- 1 treacle and mithridate, and in all other
tifully enough, and many times too much so | medicines that are made to procure rest
in the corn fields of all counties through this ; and sleep, and to ease pains in the head as
land, and also on ditch hanks, and by i well as in other parts. It is also used to
hedge sides. The smaller wild kind is also \ cool inflammations, agues, or frenzies, or
found in corn fields, and also in some ; to stay defluxions which cause a cough, or
other places, but not so plentifully as the | consumptions, and also other fluxes of the
former. belly or women's courses ; it is also put

Time.] The garden kinds are usually | into hollow teeth, to ease the pain, and hath
sown in the spring, which then flower about j been found by experience to ease the pains
the end of May, and somewhat earlier, if j of the gout.
they spring of their own sowing. The Wild Poppy, or Corn Rose (as Mat-

The wild kind flower usually from May \ thiolus saith) is good to prevent the falling-
until July, and the seed of them is ripe soon | sickness. The syrup made with the flower,
after the flowering. i is with good effect given to those that have

Government and virtues.] The herb is the pleurisy ; and the dried flowers also,
Lunar, and of the juice of it is made opium; j either boiled in water, or made into powder
only for lucre of money they cheat you, : and drank, either in the distilled water of
and tell you it is a kind of tear, or some I them, or some other drink, works the like
such like thing, that drops from Poppies j effect. The distilled water of the flowers
when they weep, and that is somewhere j is held to be of much good use against
beyond the seas, I know not where beyond \ surfeits, being drank evening and morning ;

146 THE COMPLETE HERBAL.

It is also more cooling than any of the \ parts where pushes, wheals, pimples, St,
other Poppies, and therefore cannot but | Anthony's h're and the like, break forth ;
be as effectual in hot agues, frenzies, and j if a little vinegar be put to it, and laid to
other inflammations either inward or out- { the neck, with as much of galls and linseed
ward. Galen saith, The seed is dangerous \ together, it takes away the pains therein,
to be used inwardly. land the crick in the neck. The juice

PURSLAIN ' uset ^ w ^ ^ f roses * r tne same caus es,

\ or for blasting by lightening, and burnings

GARDEN Purslain (being used as a sal- j by gunpowder, or for women's sore breasts,
lad herb) is so well known that it needs no | and to allay the heat in all other sores or
description; I shall therefore only speak of j hurts ; applied also to the navels of chil-
its virtues as follows. \ dren that stick forth, it helps them ; it is

Government and virtues."] 'Tis an herb of j also good for sore mouths and gums that
the Moon. It is good to cool any heat in j are swollen, and to fasten loose teeth.
the liver, blood, reins, and stomach, and in | Camerarius saith, the distilled water used
hot agues nothing better : It stays hot and j by some, took away the pain of their teeth,
choleric fluxes of the belly, women's courses, j when all other remedies failed, and the
the whites, and gonorrhaea, or running of | thickened juice made into pills with the
the reins, the distillation from the head, j powder of gum Tragicanth and Arabic,
and pains therein proceeding from heat, j being taken, prevails much to help those
want of sleep, or the frenzy. The seed is that make bloody water. Applied to the
more effectual than the herb, and is of sin- j gout it eases pains thereof, and helps the
gular good use to cool the heat and sharp- j hardness of the sinews, if it come not of the
ness of urine, venereous dreams, snd the { cramp, or a cold cause.
like ; insomuch that the over frequent use j
hereof extinguishes the heat and vitue of

natural procreation. The seed bruised and j THEY are so well known, that they need
boiled in wine, and given to children, ex- \ no description. Of the leaves of Primroses
pels the worms. The juice of the herb is j is made as fine a salve to heal wounds as
held as effectual to all the purposes afore- \ any that I know; you shall be taught to
said ; as also to stay vomitings, and taken j make salves of any herb at the latter end of
with some sugar or honey, helps an old and ; the book : make this as you are taught
dry cough, shortness of breath, and the * there, and do not (you that have any in-
phthisick, and stays immoderate thirst, j genuity in you) see your poor neighbours
The distilled water of the herb is used by | go with wounded limbs when an halfpenny
many (as the more pleasing) with a little | cost will heal them.
sugar to work the same effects. The juice \
also is singularly good in the inflammations {

and ulcers in the serect parts of man or j Descript.'] OUR common Privet is carn-
woman, as also the bowels and hemorrhoids, | ed up with many slender branches to a
when they are ulcerous, or excoriations in reasonable height and breadth, to cover
them. The herb bruised and applied to the ! arbours, bowers and banquetting houses,
forehead and temples, allays excessive heat { and brought, wrought, and cut into so many
therein, that hinders rest and sleep ; and j forms, of men, horses, birds, &c. which
applied to the eyes, takes away the redness I though at first supported, grows afterwards
and inflammation in them, and those other | strong of itself. It bears long and narrow

PLATi: 16 .

Queen of the Me a dc

Me a d.o"w Rue

Cl I-SK KOI i I 1

Ra t tie Grass

KIM k,.| < !!>

Rapture "Wort

Snl'froi

KELLY. l.o.NiDON

AND ENGLISH PHYSICIAN ENLARGED. 1 17

green leaves by the couples, and sweet! (as Agrimony hath) somewhat deeply dented
smelling white flowers in tufts at the end of j about the edges, of a sad green colour on
the branches, which turn into small black j the upper side, and greyish underneath,
berries that have a purplish juice with them, \ of a pretty sharp scent and taste, somewhat
and some seeds that are flat on the one Hike unto the Burnet, and a leaf hereof put
side, with a hole or dent therein ; into a cup of claret wine, gives also a fine

Place.'] It grows in this land, in divers ; relish to it. At the tops of the stalks and
woods. i branches stand many tufts of small white

Time] Our Privet flowers in June and j flowers thrust thick together, which smell
July, the berries are ripe in August and \ much sweeter than the leaves ; and in their
September. j places, being fallen, come crooked and

Government and virtues] The Moon is j cornered seed. The root is somewhat
ladvofthis. It is little used in physic with : woody, and blackish on the outside, and
us in these times, more than in lotions, to \ brownish within, with divers great strings,
wash sores and sore mouths, and to cool land lesser fibres set thereat, of a strong scent, '
inflammations, and dry up fluxes. Yet j but nothing so pleasant as the flowers and
Matthiolus saith, it serves all the uses for i leaves, and perishes not, but abides many
which Cypress, or the East Privet, is ap-j years, shooting forth a-new every Spring,
pointed by Dioscorides and Galen. Hej Place] It grows in moist meadows
further saith, That the oil that is made of 1 that lie mostly wet, or near the courses ol
the flowers of Privet infused therein, and j water.

set in the Sun, is singularly good for the in- : Time.'] It flowers in some places or
flammations of wounds, and for the head- ; other all the three Summer months, that is,
ache, coming of a hot cause. There is a- June, July, and August, and the seed is
sweet water also distilled from the flowers, ! ripe soon after.

that is good for all those diseases that need \ Government and -virtues.] Venus claims
cooling and drying, and therefore helps all \ dominion over the herb. It is used to stay
fluxesof the belly or stomach, bloody-fluxes, jail manner of bleedings, fluxes, vomitings,
and women's courses, being either drank or land women's courses, also their whites:
applied ; as all those that void blood at the j It is said to alter and take away the fits of
mouth, or any other place, and for distilla-i the quartan agues, and to make a merry
tions of rheum in the eyes, especially if it \ heart, for which purpose some use the
be used with them. I flowers, and some the leaves. It helps

| speedily those that are troubled with the

QUEEN OF THE MEADOWS, ME ADO w \ cholic ; being boiled in wine, and with a
SWEET, OR MEAD SWEET. \ little honey, taken warm, it opens the belly ;

* but boiled in red wine, and drank, it stays

Descript] THE stalks of these are red- \ the flux of the belly. Outwardly applied,
dish, rising to be three feet high, sometimes | it helps old ulcers that are cankerous, or
four or five feet, having at the joints thereof | hollow fistulous, for which it is by many
large winged leaves, standing one above ;much commended, as also for the sores in
another at distances, consisting of many I the mouth or secret parts. The leaves when
and somewhat broad leaves, set on each | they are full grown, being laid on the skin,
side of a middle rib, being hard, rough, or | will, in a short time, raise blisters thereon,
rugged, crumpled much like unto elm leaves, \ as Tragus saith. The water thereof helps
having also some smaller leaves with them | the heat and imflammation in the eyes.

Q Q

148 THE COMPLETE HERBAL

THE QUINCE TREE. for watery humours, Scammony ; but

jir more forcible to bind, use the unripe

Descript.] THE ordinary Quince Tree : Quinces, with roses and acacia, hypocistis,
grows often to the height and bigness of a j and some terrified rhubarb. To take the
reasonable apple tree, but more usually j crude juice of Quinces, is held a preserva-
lower, and crooked, with a rough bark, > live against the force of deadly poison; for
spreading arms, and branches far abroad, jit hath been found most certainly true, that
The leaves are somewhat like those of the: the very smell of a Quince hath taken away
apple tree, but thicker, broader, and full of j all the strength of the poison of white Helle-
veins, and whiter on the under side, not j bore. If there be need of any outwardly
dented at all about the edges. The flowers i binding and cooling of hot fluxes, the oil
are large and white, sometimes dashed over ! of Quinces, or other medicines that may be
with ablush. The fruit that follows is yel-jmade thereof, are very available to anoint
low, being near ripe, and covered with a \ the belly or other parts therewith ; it like-
white freeze, or cotton ; thick set on the > wise strengthens the stomach and belly,
younger, and growing less as they grow to ! and the sinews that are loosened by sharp
be thorough ripe, bunched out oftentimes j humours falling on them, and restrains
in some places, some being like an apple, | immoderate sweatings. The muscilage taken
and some a pear, of a strong heady scent, \ from the seeds of Quinces, and boiled in a
and not durable to keep, and is sour, harsh, | little water, is very good to cool the heat
and of an unpleasant taste to eat fresh ; | and heal the sore breasts of women. The
but being scalded, roasted, baked, or pre-jsame, with a little sugar, is good to lenify
served, becomes more pleasant. j the harshness and hoarseness of the throat,

Place and Time.~\ It best likes to grow \ and roughness of the tongue. The cotton
near ponds and water sides, and is frequent! or down of Quinces boiled and applied to
through this land : and flowers not until j plague sores, heals them up : and laid as a
the leaves be come forth. The fruit is ripe; plaister, made up with wax, it brings hair
in September or October. I to them that are bald, and keeps it from

Government and virtues.'] Old Saturn : falling, if it be ready to shed.
owns the Tree. Quinces when they are!

i ! ,, c A RADDISH, OR HORSE-R ADDISH.

green, help all sorts or fluxes in men or:

women, and choleric lasks, casting, and* THE garden Raddish is so well known,
whatever needs astriction, more than any * that it needs no description.
way prepared by fire ; yet the syrup of the : Descript.~] The Horse-Raddish hath its
juice, or the conserve, are much conducible, | first leaves, that rise before Winter, about a
much of the binding quality being con- J foot and a half long, very much cut in or
sumed by the fire ; if a little vinegar be | torn on the edges into many parts, of a dark
added, it stirs up the languishing appetite, j green colour, with a great rib in the middle;
and the stomach given to casting ; some \ after these have been up a while, others
spices being added, comforts and strengthens j follow, which are greater, rougher, broader
the decaying and fainting spirits, and helps ; and longer, whole and not divided at first,
the liver oppressed, that it cannot perfect j but only somewhat rougher dented about
the digestion, or corrects choler and phlegm, j the edges ; the stalks when it bears flowers
If you would have them purging, put honey ; (which is seldom) is great, rising up with
to them instead of sugar; and if more laxa-1 some few lesser leaves thereon, to three or
tive, for choler, Rhubarb ; for phlegm, Tur- 1 four feet high, spreading at the top many

AND ENGLISH PHYSICIAN ENLARGED. 149

small branches of whitish flowers, made of | leaves lying on the ground, very much
tour leaves a-piece ; after which come small i rent and torn on the sides in many places :
pods, like those of Shepherd's Purse, but j from among which rise up sometimes but
seldom with any seed in them. The root is ; one, and sometimes two or three square or
great, long, white and rugged, shooting up > crested blackish or brownish stalks, three
divers heads of leaves, which may be parted ; or four feet high, sometimes branched,
for increase, but it doth not creep in the j bearing divers such-like leaves upon them,
ground, nor run above ground, and is of ajat several distances upon the top, where it
strong, sharp, and bitter taste almost like \ branches forth into many stalks bearing
mustard. | yellow flowers, consisting of divers leaves,

Place.'] It is found wild in some places, j' set as a pale or border, with a dark yellow
but is chiefly planted in gardens, and joys i thrum in the middle, which do abide a
in moist and shadowy places. ! great while, but at last are turned into down,

Time.'] It seldom flowers, but when it \ and with the small blackish grey seed, are
doth, it is in July. | carried away with the wind. The root is

Government and virtues.'] They are both ; made of many fibres, whereby it is firmly
under Mars. The juice of Horse-raddish * fastened into the ground, and abides many
given to drink, is held to be very effectual I years.

for the scurvy. It kills the worms in chil- : There is another sort, thereof differs from
dren, being drank, and also laid upon the j the former only in this, that it rises not so
belly. The root bruised and laid to the j high ; the leaves are not so finely jagged,
place grieved with the sciatica, joint-ache, ! nor of so dark a green colour, but rather
or the hard swellings of the liver and spleen, | somewhat whitish, soft and woolly, and the
doth wonderfully help them all. The dis- \ flowers usually paler.

tilled water of the herb and root is more Placed] They grow, both of them, wild in
familiar to be taken with a little sugar for j pastures, and untilled grounds in many
all the purposes aforesaid. j places, and oftentimes both in one field.

Garden Raddishes are in wantonness by ! Time.'] They flower in June and July,
the gentry eaten as a sallad, but they breed : and the seed is ripe in August.
but scurvy humours in the stomach, and : Government and virtues.^ Ragwort is
corrupt the blood, and then send fora phy-l under the command of Dame Venus, and
sician as fast as you can ; this is one cause \ cleanses, digests, and discusses. The cle-
which makes the owners of such nice palates icoction of the herb is good to wash the
so unhealthful ; yet for such as are troubled ! mouth or throat that hath ulcers or sores
with the gravel, stone, or stoppage of urine, \ therein : and for swellings, hardness, or
they are good physic, if the body be strong ; imposthumes, for it thoroughly cleanses and
that takes them ; you may make the juice j heals them ; as also the quinsy, and the
of the roots into a syrup if you please, for j king's evil. It helps to stay catarrhs, thin
that use : they purge by urine exceedingly, j rheums, and defluxions from the head into
RAT 'a T j the eyes, nose, or lungs. The juice is found

: by experience to be singularly good to heal

IT is called also St. James'-wort, and \ green wounds, and to cleanse and heal
Stagger-wort, and Stammer- wort, and Se- jail old and filthy ulcers in the privities, and
grum. \ in other parts of the body, as also inward

Descript.] The greater common Ragwort ; wounds and ulcers ; stays the malignity of
hath many large and long, dark green ' fretting and running cankers, and hollow

150 THE COMPLETE HERBAL

fistulas, not suffering them to spread far- Place.] They grow in meadows and

ther. It is also much commended to help \ woods generally through this land.

aches and pains either in the fleshy part, or? Time.] They are in flower from Mid-

in the nerves and sinews, as also the sciatica,
or pain of the hips or knuckle-bone, to

summer until August be past, sometimes.
Government and virtues.] They are both

bathe the places with the decoction of the of them under the dominion of the Moon,
herb, or to -anoint them with an ointment ; The Red Rattle is accounted profitable to
made of the herb bruised and boiled in old > heal up fistulas and hollow ulcers, and to
hog's suet, with some Mastick and Olibanum j stay the flux of humours in them, as also
in powder added unto it after it is strained! the abundance of women's courses, or any
forth. In Sussex we call it Ragweed. i other fluxes of blood, being boiled in red

I wine, and drank.

The yellow Rattle, or Cock's Comb, is

OF this there are two kinds which I shall { held to be good for those that are troubled
speak of, viz. the red and yellow. \ with a cough, or dimness of sight, if the

herb, being boiled with beans, and some
honey put thereto, be drank or dropped into

Descript.] The common Red Rattle hath
sundry reddish, hollow stalks, and some-
times green, rising from the root, lying for 5 the eyes. The whole seed being put into
the most part on the ground, some growing i the eyes, draws forth any skin, dimness or
more upright, with many small reddish or [film, from the sight, without trouble, or
green leaves set on both sides of a middle I pain,
rib, finely dented about the edges: The!
flowers stand at the tops of thettalks and jj REST HARROW ' OR CAMMOCK.

branches, of a fine purplish red colour, like;

Descript.] COMMON Rest Harrow rises

small gaping hooks; after which come \ up with divers rough woody twigs half a
blackish seed in small husks, which lying { yard or a yard high, set at the joints without
loose therein, will rattle with shaking. The; order, with little roundish leaves, sometimes
root consists of two or three small whitish \ more than two or three at a place, of a
strings with some fibres thereat. jdark green colour, without thorns while

The common Yellow Rattle hath seldom {they are young; but afterwards armed in
above one round great stalk, rising from j sundry places, with short and sharp thorns,
the foot, about half a yard, or two feet high, jThe flowers come forth at the tops of the
and but few branches thereon, having two ; twigs and branches, whereof it is full
long and somewhat broad leaves set at a \ fashioned like pease or broom blossoms, but
joint, deeply cut in on the edges, resembling | lesser, flatter, and somewhat closer, of a
the comb of a cock, broadest next to the! faint purplish colour; after which come
stalk, and smaller to the end. The flowers i small pods containing small, flat, round
grow at the tops of the stalks, with some | seed : The root is blackish on the outside,
shorter leaves with them, hooded after the I and whitish within, very rough, and hard
same manner that the others are, but of a j to break when it is fresh and green, and as
fair yellow colour, or in some paler, and in j hard as an horn when it is dried, thrusting
some more white. The seed is contained ; down deep into the ground, and spreading
in large husks, and being ripe, will rattle | likewise, every piece being apt to grow
or make a noise with lying loose in them. } again if it be left in the ground.
The root is small and slender, perishing! Place.] It grows in many places of this
every year. ;land, as well in the arable as waste ground-

AND ENGLISH PHYSICIAN ENLARGED. J5I

Time.'] It flowers about the beginning; have; of a sad green colour, from among
or middle of July, and the seed is ripe in ; which rise up divers stalks two or three
August. | feet high, sometimes set with the like leaves,

Government and virtues.'] It is under the j but smaller and smaller upwards, branched
dominion of Mars. It is singularly good j from the middle into divers stiff' stalks,
to provoke urine when it is stopped, and to \ bearing sundry yellow flowers on them,
break and drive forth the stone, which the ! made of four leaves a-piece, as the others

powder of the bark of the root taken in wine
performs effectually. Matthiolus saith,
The same helps the disease called Herma

are, which afterwards yield them small red-
dish seed, in small long pods, of a more
bitter and hot biting taste than the garden

Carwosa, the fleshy rupture, by taking the \ kinds, as the leaves are also.

said powder for three months together con- \ Place.'] It is found wild in divers places

stantly, and that it hath cured some which I of this land.

seemed incurable by any other means than > Time.'] It flowers about June or July,

by cutting or burning. The decoction \ and the seed is ripe in August.

thereof made with some vinegar, gargled in 1 Government and virtues.'] The wild Roc-

the mouth, eases the tooth-ache, especially
when it comes of rheum ; and the said de-

kets are forbidden to be used alone, in re-
gard their sharpness fumes into the head,

coction is very powerful to open obstruc- 5 causing aches and pains therein, and are
tions of the liver and spleen, and other | less hurtful to hot and choleric persons, foi
parts. A distilled water in Balneo Maria, \ fear of inflaming their blood, and therefore
with four pounds of the root hereof first! for such we may say a little doth but a
sliced small, and afterwards steeped in a j little harm, for angry Mars rules them, and
gallon of Canary wine, is singularly good j he sometimes will be restive when he meets
for all the purposes aforesaid, and to cleanse \ with fools. The wild Rocket is more strong
the urinary passages. The powder of the ; and effectual to increase sperm and vene-
said root made into an electuary, or lozenges, { rous qualities, whereunto all the seed is
with sugar, as also the bark of the fresh I more effectual than the garden kind. It
roots boiled Lender, and afterwards beaten i serves also to help digestion, and provokes
to a conserve with sugar, works the like j urine exceedingly. The seed is used to cure
effect. The powder of the roots strewed I the biting of serpents, the scorpion, and the
upon the brims of ulcers, or mixed with ! shrew mouse, and other poisons, and expels
any other convenient thing, and applied, J worms, and other noisome creatures that
consumes the hardness, and causes them to I breed in the belly. The herb boiled or
heal the better. | stewed, and some sugar put thereto, helps

i the cough in children, being taken often.

Tt O O K" T? T i o * O

| The seed also taken in drink, takes away

IN regard the Garden Rocket is rather j the ill scent of the arm-pits, increases milk
used as a sallad herb than to any physical \ in nurses, and wastes the spleen. The seed
purposes, I shall omit it, and only speak \ mixed with honey, and used on the face,
of the common wild Rocket. The des- cleanses the skin from morphew, and used
cription whereof lake as follows. j with vinegar, takes away freckles and red-

Descript.~] The common wild Rocket! ness in the face, or other parts; and with
has longer and narrower leaves, much more ; the gall of an ox, it mends foul scars, black
divided into slender cuts and jags on both land blue spots, and the marks of the small -
sides the middle rib than the garden kinds * pox.

it ft

152 THE COMPLETE HERBAL

WINTER-ROCKET, OR CRESSES. I hav authors made with Roses! What a

{racket have they kept? I shall add, red

Descript.'] WiNTER-Rocket, or Winter- \ Roses are under Jupiter, Damask under
Cresses, hath divers somewhat large sad \ Venus, White under the Moon, and Pro-
green leaves lying upon the ground, torn or} vence under the King of France. The
cut in divers parts, somewhat like unto j white and red Roses are cooling and dry-
Rocket or turnip leaves, with smaller pieces |ing, and yet the white is taken to exceed
next the bottom, and 'broad at the ends, { the red in both the properties, but is seldom
which so abide all the Winter (if it spring! used inwardly in any medicine : The bit-
up in Autumn, when it is used to be eaten) J terness in the Roses when they are fresh,
from among which rise up divers small! especially the juice, purges choler, and
round stalks, full of branches, bearing many \ watery humours; but being dried, and that
small yellow flowers of four leaves a-piece, j heat which caused the bitterness being con-
after which come small pods, with reddish i sumed, they have then a binding and as-
seed in them. The root is somewhat stringy, I tringent quality : Those also that are not
and perishes every year after the seed is i full blown, do both cool and bind more
ripe. I than those that are full blown, and the

Place.'] It grows of its own accord in white Rose more than the Red. The decoc-
gardens and fields, by the way -sides, in * tion of red Roses made with wine and used,
divers places, and particularly in the next \ is very good for the head-ache, and pains
pasture to the Conduit-head behind Gray's I in the eyes, ears, throat, and gums ; as also
Inn, that brings water to Mr. Lamb's con- for the fundament, the lower part of the
duit in Holborn. { belly and the matrix, being bathed or put

Time.'] It flowers in May, seeds in June, ) into them. The same decoction with the
and then perishes. | Roses remaining in it, is profitably applied

Government and virtues.'] This is pro- 1 to the region of the heart to ease the in-
fi table to provoke urine, to help stranguary, j flammation therein ; as also St. Anthony's
and expel gravel and stone. It is good for j fire, and other diseases of the rtcomach.
the scurvy, and found by experience to be i Being dried and beaten to powder, and
a singularly good wound herb to cleanse in- ; taken in steeled wine or water, it helps to
ward wounds ; the juice or decoction being! stay women's courses. The yellow threads
drank, or outwardly applied to wash fou'lin the middle of the Roses (which are
ulcers and sores, cleansing them by shai p- j erroneously called the Rose Seed) being
ness, and hindering or abating tne dead | powdered and drank in the distilled water
flesh from growing therein, and healing j of Quinces,staystheoverflowingof women's
them by their drying quality. j courses, and doth wonderfully stay the de-

ROSES | fluctions of rheum upon the gums and teeth,

| preserving them from corruption, and

I HOLD it altogether needless to trouble J fastening them if they be loose, being
the reader with a description of any of these, | washed and gargled therewith, and some
since both the garden Roses, and the Roses \ vinegar of Squills added thereto. The heads
of the briars are well enough known : take; with the seed being used in powder, or in a
therefore the virtues of them as follows ; j decoction, stays the lask and spitting o r
And first I shall begin with the garden j blood. Red Roses do strengthen the hearl s
kinds. ; the stomach and the liver, and the reten-

Govemment and virtues.] What a pother [ tive faculty : They mitigate the pains that

AND ENGLISH PHYSICIAN ENLARGED.

arise from heal, assuage inflammations,
procure rest and sleep, stay both whites
and reds in women, the gonorrhea, or runn-
ing of the reins, and fluxes of the belly : the !
juice of them doth purge and cleanse the;
body from choler and phlegm. The husks
of the Roses, with the beards and nails of
the Roses, are binding and cooling, and the

of mastich, is very good for the gonorrhea,
and for the looseness of the humours in the
body. The old Conserve mixed with Aro-
maticum Rosarum, is a very good cordial
against faintings, swoonings, weakness,
and tremblings of the heart, strengthens,
both it and a weak stomach, helps diges-
tion, stays casting, and is a very good pre-

l<llVy M-\j\f^^jy til \s 1^/1 1.1 UJ.1.J&1 til iv SWaJtU|b) ii H VJ. bMV I IIUUJ uni y o VfM7*a **i5 ****** * * V/ T CL\J\S\A. IJL\^

distilled water of either of them is good for servative in the time of infection. The dry
the heat and redness in the eyes, and to | Conserve, which is called the Sugar of Roses,
stay and dry up the rheums and watering; is a very good cordial to strengthen the
of them. Of the Red Roses are usually made I heart and spirits; as also to stay defluc-
many compositions, all serving to sundry j lions. The syrup of dried red Roses
good uses, viz. Electuary of Roses, Con- 1 strengthens a stomach given to casting,
serve, both moist and dry, which is more | cools an over-heated liver, and the blood in
usually called Sugar of roses, Syrup of dry | agues, comforts the heart, and resists putre-
Roses, and Honey of Roses. The cordial | faction and infection, and helps to slay
powder called Diarrhoden dbbatis, and j lasks and fluxes. Honey of Roses is much
Aromatica Rosarum. The distilled Water of! used in gargles and lotions to wash sores,
Roses, Vinegar of Roses, Ointment, and Oil either in the mouth, throat, or other parts,

of Roses, and the Rose leaves dried, are of
great use and effect. To Avri teat large of every

both to cleanse and heal them, and to slay
the fluxes of humours falling upon them.

one of these, would make my book smell j It is also used in clysters both to cool and
too big, it being sufficient for a volume of [cleanse. The cordial powders, called
itself, to speak fully of them. But briefly,! Diarrhoden Abbatis and Aromaticum Ro-
the Electuary is purging, whereof two or > sarum, do comfort and strengthen the heart
three drams taken by itself in some con- 1 and stomach, procure an appetite, help
venienl liquor, is a purge sufficient for a j digestion, stay vomiting, and are very good
weak constitution, but may be increased to > for those that have slippery bowels, to
six drams, according to the strength of the j slrengthen them, and to dry up their mois-
palient. It purges choler without trouble, j ture. Red Rose-water is well known, and
it is good in hot fevers, and pains of the | of familiar use on all occasions, and better
head arising from hot choleric humours, | than Damask Rose-water, beingcooling and
and heat in the eyes, the jaundice also, and j cordial, refreshing, quickening the weak
joint-aches proceeding of hot humours. : and faint spirits, used either in meats or
The moist Conserve is of much use, both > broths, to wash the temples, to smell at the
binding and cordial ; for until it be about? nose, or to smell ihe sweet vapours ihereof
two years old, it is more binding than i out of a perfuming pot, or cast into a hot
cordial, and after that, more cordial tharufire shovel. It is also of much good use
binding. Some of the younger Conserve f against the redness and inflammations of the
taken with mithridate mixed together, is \ eyes to bathe them therewith, and the tern-
good for those that are troubled with dis-iples of the head ; as also against pain and
dilations of rheum from the brain to the; ache, for which purpose also Vinegar of
nose, and defluctions of rheum into the i Roses is of much good use, and to procure
eyes ; as also for fluxes and lasks of the \ rest and sleep, if some thereof, and Rose-
belly ; and being mixed with the powder j water togelher, be used to smell unto, or the

154 THE COMPLETE HERBAL

nose and temples moistened therewith, but i pound syrup is more forcible in working on
more usually to moisten a piece of a red j melancholic humours; and available against
Rose-cake, cut for the purpose, and heated j the leprosy, itch, tetters, &c. and the French
between a double folded cloth, with a little { disease : Also honey of Roses solutive is
beaten nutmeg, and poppy-seed strewed on \ made of the same infusions that the syrup
the side that must lie next to the forehead i is made of, and therefore works the same
and temples, and bound so thereto all night. * effect, both opening and purging, but is
The ointment of Roses is much used against j oftener given to phlegmatic than choleric
heat and inflammations in the head, toanoint ; persons, and is more used in clysters than
the forehead and temples, and being mixt j in potions, as the syrup made with sugar is.
with Unguentum Populnetim, to procure rest: 1 The conserve and preserved leaves of those
it is also used for the heat of the liver, the; Roses are also operative in gently opening
back and reins, and to cool and heal pushes, j the belly.

wheals, and other red pimples rising in the \ The simple water of Damask Roses is
face or other parts. Oil of Roses is not | chiefly used for fumes to sweeten things, as
only used by itself to cool any hot swell- ! the dried leaves thereof to make sweet pow-
ings or inflammations, and to bind and stay { ders, and fill sweet bags; and little use
fluxes of humours unto sores, but is also i they are put to in physic, although they
put into ointments and plaisters that are i have some purging quality ; the wild Roses
cooling and binding, and restraining the i also are few or none of them used in physic,
flux of humours. The dried leaves of the* but are generally held to come near the
red Roses are used both inwardly and out- j nature of the manured Roses. The fruit of
wardly, both cooling, binding, and cordial, i the wild briar, which are called Hips, being
for with them are made both Aromaticum, \ thoroughly ripe, and made into a conserve
Rosarum, Diarrhoden Abbatis, and Saccha-\\viih sugar, besides the pleasantness of the
rum Rosarum, each of whose properties are j taste, doth gently bind the belly, and stay
before declared. Rose leaves and mint, \ defluctions from the head upon the stomach,
heated and applied outwardly to the i drying up the moisture thereof, and helps
stomach, stays castings, and very much 5 digestion. The pulp of the hips dried into
strengthen a weak stomach ; and applied j a hard consistence, like to the juice of the
as a fomentation to the region of the liver i liquorice, or so dried that it may be made
and heart, do much cool and temper them, i into powder and taken into drink, stays
and also serve instead of a Rose-cake (as is ! speedily the whites in women. The briar
said before) to quiet the over-hot spirits, j ball is often used, being made into powder
and cause rest and sleep. The syrup of j and drank, to break the stone, to provoke
Damask Roses is both simpleand compound, J urine when it is stopped, and to ease and
and made with Agaric. The simple solutive | help the cholic; some appoint it to be
syrup is a familiar, safe, gentle and easy j burnt, and then taken for the same purpose,
medicine, purging choler, taken from one j In the middle of the balls are often found
ounce to three or four, yet this is remarkable j certain white worms, which being dried and
herein, that the distilled water of this syrup j made into powder, and some of it drank,
should notably bind the belly. The syrup j is found by experience of many to kill and
with Agaric is more strong and effectual, for j drive forth the worms of the belly,
one ounce thereof by itself will open the ;
body more than the other, and works as 1
much on phlegm as choler. The com-*

AND ENGLISH PHYSICIAN ENLARGED. 156

ROSA SOLIS, OR SUN DFW.

ROSEMARY.

IT is likewise called Red-rot, and Youth- i: OUR garden Rosemary is so well known,
wort. * that I need not describe it.

Desm/tf.] It hath, divers small, round, i Time.'] It flowers in April and May with
hollow leaves somewhat greenish, but full of'j us, sometimes again in August,
certain red hairs, which make them seem t Government and virtues.'] The Sun claims*
red, every one standing upon his own foot- j privilege in it, and it is under the celestial
stalk, reddish, hairy likewise. The leavesJRam. It is an herb of as great use with us
are continually moist in the hottest day, j in these days as any whatsoever, not only
yea, the hotter the sun shines on them, the j for physical but civil purposes. The phy-
rnoister they are, with a sliminess that will j sical use of it (being my present task) is
rope (as we say,) the small hairs always j very much used both for inward and outward
holding the moisture. Among these leaves ! diseases, for by the warming and comfort-
rise up slender stalks, reddish also, three or j ing heat thereof it helps all cold diseases,
four fingers high, bearing divers small white j both of the head, stomach, liver, and belly,
knobs one above another, which are flowers ; j The decoction thereof in wine, helps the
after which in the heads are contained | cold distillations of rheurn into the eyes,
small seeds. The root is a few small hairs, i and all other cold diseases of the head and

Place.] It grows usually in bogs and j brain, as the giddiness or swimmings
wet places, and sometimes in moist woods.

Time.'] It flowers in June, and the leaves ;
are then fittest to be gathered.

therein, drowsiness or dullness of the mind
and senseslike a stupidness, the dumb palsy,
or loss of speech, the lethary, and fallen-

*J *

Government and virtues.'] The Sun rules ] sickness, to be both drank, and the temples

it, and it is under the sign Cancer. Rose
Solis is accounted good to help those that
have a salt rheum distilling on their lungs,

bathed therewith. It helps the pains in the
gums and teeth, by rheum falling into them,
not by putrefaction, causing an evil smell

which breeds a consumption, and there- j from them, or a stinking breath. It helps
fore the distilled water thereof in wine is | a weak memory, and quickens the senses,
held fit and profitable for such to drink, j It is very comfortable to the stomach in all
which water will be of a good yellow colour, j the cold griefs thereof, helps both retention

The same water is held to be good for all
other diseases of the lungs, as phthisicks,
wheezings, shortness of breath, or the cough ;
as also to heal the ulcers that happen in the

of meat, and digestion, the decoction 01
powder being taken in wine. It is a remedy
for the windiness in the stomach, bowels,
and spleen, and expels it powerfully. It

lungs ; and it comforts the heart and faint- j helps those that are liver-grown, by open-
ing spirits. The leaves, outwardly applied \ ing the obstructions thereof. It helps dim
to the skin will raise blisters, which has { eyes, and procures a clear sight, the flowers
caused some to think it dangerous to be j thereof being taken all the while it is flower-
taken inwardly ; but there are other things ; ing every morning fasting, with bread and
which will also draw blisters, yet nothing 5 salt. Both Dioscorides and Galen say,
dangerous to be taken inwardly. There is j j That if a decoction be made thereof with
an usual drink made thereof with aqua vitae | water, and they that have the yellow jaun-
and spices frequently, and without any j dice exercise their bodies directly after the
offence or danger, but to good purpose ; taking thereof, it will certainly cure them,
used in qualms and passions of the heart, j The flowers and conserve made of them,

s s

156

THE COMPLETE HERBAL

are singularly good to comfort the heart, pursued its virtues, you will conclude it
and to ex pel the contagion of the pestilence; $ nothing inferior to that which is brought
to burn the herb in houses and chambers, j out of China, and by that time this hath
corrects the air in them. Both the flowers I been as much used as that hath been, the
and leaves are very profitable for women 5 name which the other hath gotten will be
that are troubled with the whites, if they be j eclipsed by the fame of this ; take there-
daily taken. The dried leaves shred small, j fore a description at large of it as follows :
and taken in a pipe, as tobacco is taken, Descript.~\ At the first appearing out of

11 . 1 ,1,1 l_il_i * * 1~. A .. -__!__ *__.__* 1 - *

helps those that have any cough, phthisic,
or consumption, by warming and drying
the thin distillations which cause those dis-
eases. The leaves are very much used in
bathings ; and made into ointments or oil,
are singularly good to help cold benumbed
joints, sinews, or members. The chymical

the ground, when the winter is past, it hath
a great round brownish head, rising from
the middle or sides of the root, which opens
itself into sundry leaves one after another,
very much crumpled or folded together at
the first, and brownish : but afterwards it
spreads itself, and becomes smooth, very

oil drawn from the leaves and flowers, is a \ large and almost round, every one standing
sovereign help for all the diseases aforesaid, j on a brownish stalk of the thickness of a
to touch the temples and nostrils with two Oman's thumb, when they are grown to their
or three drops for all the diseases of the \ fulness, and most of them two feet and
head and brain spoken of before ; as also i more in length, especially when they grow
ro take one drop, two, or three, as the case \ in any moist or good ground ; and the
tequires, for the inward griefs : Yet must it [ stalk of the leaf, from the bottom thereof to
be done with discretion, for it is very quick ? the leaf itself, being also two feet, the breadth
and piercing, and therefore but a little must > thereof from edge to edge, in the broadest

-* - ' : - il - * place, being also two feet, of a sad or dark

green colour, of a fine tart or sourish taste,

be taken at a time. There is also another
oil made by insolation in this manner :
Take what quantity you will of the flowers,

much more pleasant than the garden or

and put them into a strong glass close i wood sorrel. From among these rise up
stopped, tie a fine linen cloth over the \ some, but not every year, strong thick
mouth, and turn the mouth down into J stalks, not growing so high as the Patience,
another strong glass, which being set in the 5 or garden Dock, with such round leaves as

sun, an oil will distil down into the lower
glass, to be preserved as precious for divers
uses, both inward and outward, asa sovereign
balm to heal the disease before-mentioned,
to clear dim sights, and to take away spots,
marks, and scars in the skin.

grow below, but small at every joint up to
the top, and among the flowers, which are
white, spreading forth into many branches,
consisting of five or six small leaves a-piece,
hardly to be discerned from the white

RHUBARB, OR KEPHONTIC.

threads in the middle, and seeming to be all
: threads, after which come brownish three
I square seeds, like unto other Docks, but
Do not start, and say, This grows you | larger, whereby it may be plainly known to
know not how far off : and then ask me, \ be a Dock. The root grows in time to be
How it comes to pass that I bring it among 5 very great, with divers and sundry great
our English simples ? For though the name j spreading branches from it, of a dark
may speak it foreign, yet it grows with us in * brownish or reddish colour on the outside,
England, and that frequent enough in our \ having a pale yellow skin under it, which
gardens ; and when you have thoroughly \ covers the inner substance or root, which

AND ENGLISH PHYSICIAN ENLARGED.

157

rind and skin being pared away, the root
appears of so fresh and lively a colour,
with fresh coloured veins running through
it, that the choicest of that Rhubarb that is

of the stalks being divided into many small
branches, bear reddish or purplish flowers,
and three-square seed, like unto other
Docks. The root is long, great and yellow,

brought us from beyond the seas cannot j like unto the wild Docks, but a little redder;
excel it, which root, if it be dried carefully, ( and if it be a little dried, shews less store of

discoloured veins than the other does when

it is dry.

and as it ought (which must be in our
country by the gentle heat of a fire, in re-
gard the sun is not hot enough here to do
it, and every piece kept from touching one
another) will hold its colour almost as well
as when it is fresh, and has been approved
of, and commended by those who have
oftentimes used them.

Place.~\ It grows in gardens, and flowers i
about the beginning and middle of June, i
and the seed is ripe in July. j rises up a pretty big stalk, about two feet

Time.'] The roots that are to be dried $ high, with some such high leaves growing
and kept all the year following, are not to I thereon, but smaller ; at the top whereof
be taken up before the stalk and leaves be j stand in a long spike many small brownish
quite turned red and gone, and that is not j flowers, which turn into a hard three square
until the middle or end of October, and if j shining brown seed, likethe garden Patience
they be taken a little before the leaves do \ before described. The root grows greater
spring, or when they are sprung up, the j thau that, with many branches or great

fibres thereat, yellow on the outside, and

GREAT ROUND-LEAVED DOCK, OR BAS-
TARD RHUBARB.

DescriptJ] THIS has divers large, round
thin yellowish green leaves rising from the
root, a little waved about the edges, everv
one standing upon a reasonably thick and
long brownish footstalk, from among which

roots will not have half so good a colour in
them.

I have given the precedence unto this,
because in virtues also it hath the pre-emi-
nence. I come now to describe unto you
that which is called Patience, or Monk's

I somewhat pale ; yellow within, with some
j discoloured veins like to the Rhubarb which
\ is first described, but much less than it,
especially when it is dry.

Place and Time.~] These also grow in

Rhubarb ; and the next unto that, the great j gardens, and flower and seed at or near the

round-leaved Dock, or Bastard Rhubarb,
for the one of these may happily supply in
the absence of the other, being not much
unlike in their virtues, only one more
powerful and efficacious than the other.

same time that our true Rhubarb doth, viz.
they flower in June, and the seed is ripe in
July.

Government and virtues.'] Mars claims
predominancy over all these wholesome

And lastly, shall shew you the virtues of all \ herbs : You cry out upon him for an un-

1.1 / * S~t -t 11.

the three sorts.

GARDEN-PATIENCE, OR
BARB.

MONK S RHU-

^ fortunate, when God created him for your
_ | good (only he is angry with fools.) What
' dishonour is this, not to Mars, but to God
4 himself. A dram of the dried root of
Descript.'] THIS is a Dock bearing the j Monk's Rhubarb, with a scruple of Ginger
name of Rhubarb for some purging quality i made into powder, and taken fasting in a
therein, and grows up with large tall stalks, j draught or mess of warm broth, purges
set with somewhat broad and long, fair, j choler and phlegm downwards very gently
green leaves, not dented at all. The tops { and safely without danger. The seed

158

THE COMPLETE HERBAL,

thereof contrary doth bind the belly, and j blood, opening obstructions, and helping
helps to stay any sort of lasks or bloody- j those griefs that come thereof, as the jaun-
flux. The distilled water thereof is very dice, dropsy, swelling of the spleen, tertain

and daily agues, and pricking pains of the
sides; and also stays spitting of blood.
The powder taken with cassia dissolved,

1 I t -W T

profitably used to heal scabs ; also foul
ulcerous sores, and to allay the inflamma-
tion of them ; the juice of the leaves or

roots or the decoction of them in vinegar, { and washed Venice turpentine, cleanses the
is used as the most effectual remedy to heal reins and strengthens them afterwards, and

scabs and running sores.

The Bastard Rhubarb hath all the pro-
perties of the Monk's Rhubarb, but more

i* i i i i \

is very effectual to stay the gonorrhea. It
is also given for the pains and swellings in
the head, for those that are troubled with

effectual for both inward and outward dis- j melancholy, and helps the sciatica, gout,
eases. The decoction thereof without vine- and the cramp. The powder of the Rhu-
gar dropped into the ears, takes away the; barb taken with a little mummia and mad-
pains ; gargled in the mouth, takes away ' der roots in some red wine, dissolves clotted
the tooth ache ; and being drank, heals the j blood in the body, happening by any fall
jaundice. The seed thereof taken, eases or bruise, and helps burstings and broken
the gnawing and griping pains of the j parts, as well inward as outward. The oil
stomach, and takes away the loathing there- | likewise wherein it hath been boiled, works
of unto meat. The root thereof helps the | the like effects being anointed. It is used
ruggedness of the nails, and being boiled in $ to heal those ulcers that happen in the eyes
wine helps the swelling of the throat, com- j or eyelids, being steeped and strained ; as
monly called the king's evil, as also the > also to assuage the swellings and inflam-
swellings of the kernels of the ears. It | mations ; and applied with honey, boiled
helps them that are troubled with the stone, | in wine, it takes away all blue spots or

r L" c tr* o t 1 \t _ \nor\ t MOI*AI n

provokes urine, and helps the dimness of
the sight. The roots of this Bastard Rhu- i
barb are used in opening and purging diet- i

marks that happen therein. Whey or
white wine are the best liquors to steep it
in, and thereby it works more effectual in

drinks, with other things, to open the liver, 1 opening obstructions, and purging the
and to cleanse and cool the blood. | stomach and liver. Many do use a little

The properties of that which is called the i Indian Spikenard as the best corrector
English Rhubarb are the same with the \ thereof,
former, but much more effectual, and hath i
all the properties of the true Italian Rhu- 1

barbs, except the force in purging, wherein } Descript.~] MEADOW-RWU rises up with
it is but of half the strength thereof, and I a yellow stringy root, much spreading in
therefore a double quantity must be used : | the ground, shooting forth new sprouts
it likewise hath not that bitterness and as- j round about, with many herby green stalks,
triction ; in other things it works almost in j two feet high, crested all the length of them,
an equal quantity, which are these : It i set with joints here and there, and many
purges the body of choler and phlegm, being) large leaves on them, above as well as be-
either taken of itself, made into powder, and I low, being divided into smaller leaves,
drank in a draught of white wine, or steeped j nicked or dented in the fore part of them,
therein all night, and taken fasting, or put s of a red green colour on the upper-side,
among other purges, as shall be thought | and pale green underneath ; Toward the
convenient, cleansing the stomach, liver, and \ top of the stalk there shoots forth divers

AND ENGLISH PHYSICIAN ENLARGED. 159

short branches, on every one whereof stand \ often taken in meat and drink, it abates
two, three or four small heads, or buttons, | venery. A decoction thereof with some
which breaking the skin that incloses them, \ dried dill leaves and flowers, eases all pains
shoots forth a tuft of pale greenish yellow j and torments, inwardly to be drank, and
threads, which falling away, there come in j outwardly to be applied warm to the place
their places small three-cornered cods, j grieved. The same being drank, helps the
wherein is contained small, long and round j pains both of the chest and sides, as also
seed. The whole plant has a strong un-| coughs and hardness of breathing, the in-
pleasant scent. j flammations of the lungs, and the torment-

PlaceJ] It grows in many places of this \ ing pains of the sciatica and the joints, being
land, in the borders of moist meadows, and j anointed, or laid to the places ; as also the
ditch-sides. * shaking fits of agues, to take a draught be-

Time.~\ It flowers about July, or the be- j fore the fit comes. Being boiled or infused
ginning of August. I in oil, it is good to help the wind cholic,

Government and virtues.] Dioscorides j the hardness and windiness of the mother,
saith, That this herb bruised and applied, (and frees women from the strangling or
perfectly heals old sores, and the distilled \ suffocation thereof, if the share and the
water of the herb and flowers doth the like, j parts thereabouts be anointed therewith. It
It .is used by some among other pot-herbs | kills and drives forth the worms of the
to open the body, and make it soluble ; but j belly, if it be drank after it is boiled in wine
the roots washed clean, and boiled in ale j to the half, with a little honey; it helps the
and drank, provokes to stool more than the | gout or pains in the joint?, hands, feet or
leaves, but yet very gently. The root i knees, applied thereunto ; and with figs it.
boiled in water, and the places of the body \ helps the dropsy, being bathed therewith :
most troubled with vermin and lice washed Being bruised and put into the nostrils, it
therewith while it is warm, destroys them 5 slays the bleeding thereof. It takes away
utterly. In Italy it is good against thejwheals and pimples, if being bruised with a

plague, and in Saxony against the jaundice,
as Camerarius saith.

GARDEN-RUE.

few myrtle leaves, it be made up with wax,
and applied. It cures the morphew, and
takes away all sorts of warts, if boiled in
| wine with some pepper and nitre, and the
GARDEN-RUE is so well known by this j place rubbed therewith, and with almond
name, and the name Herb of Grace, that I j and honey helps the dry scabs, or any
shall not need to write any farther descrip- \ tetter or ringworm. The juice thereof

tion of it, but shall shew you the virtue of it,
as follows.

Government and virtues."] It is an herb of
the Sun, and under Leo. It provokes urine
and women's courses, being taken either in
meat or drink. The seed thereof taken in

warmed in a pomegranate shell or rind, and
dropped into the ears, helps the pains of
them. The juice of it and fennel, with a
little honey, and the gall of a cock put there-
unto, helps the dimness of the eye-sight.
An ointment made of the juice thereof with

wine, is an antidote against all dangerous j oil of roses, ceruse, and a little vinegar, and
medicines or deadly poisons. The leaves 5 Oi A ~ iL '

taken either by themselves, or with figs and
walnuts, is called Mithridate's counter-poi-
son against the plague, and causes all veno-
mous things to become harmless; being

anointed, cures St. Anthony's fire, and all
running sores in the head : and the stinking
ulcers of the nose, or other parts. The
antidote used by Mithridates, every morn-
ing fasting, to secure himself from any

T T

160 THE COMPLETE HERBAL

poison or infection, was this: Take twenty j ground, about a span long, divided into

leaves of rue, a little salt, a couple of wal-
nuts, and a couple of tigs, beaten together
into a mess, with twenty juniper berries,
which is the quantity appointed for every

many other smaller parts full of small joints
set very thick together, whereat come forth
two very small leaves of a French yellow,
green coloured branches and all, where

day. Another electuary is made thus : | grows forth also a numSer of exceedingly
Take of nitre, pepper, and cumrnin seed, i small yellowish flowers, scarce to be dis-
of each equal parts ; of the leaves of Rue * cerned from the stalks and leaves, which
clean picked, as much in weight as all the! turn into seeds as small as the very dust,
other three weighed; beat them well toge-The root is very long and small, thrusting
ther, and put as much honey as will make i down deep into the ground. This has
it up into an electuary (but you must first neither smell nor taste at first, but after-
steep your cummin seed in vinegar twenty ! wards has a little astringent taste, without
four hours, and then dry it, or rather roast; any manifest heat; yet a little bitter and
it in a hot fire-shovel, or in an oven) and is j sharp withal.

a remedy for the pains or griefs in the chest | Placed] It grows in dry, sandy, and
or stomach, of the spleen, belly, or sides, \ rocky places.

by wind or stitches; of the liver by ob-j Time."] It is fresh and green ail the
structions ; of the reins and bladder by the j Summer.

stopping of urine ; and helps also toex-| Government and virtues.'] They say Saturn
tenuate fat corpulent bodies. What an in- 1 causes ruptures ; if he do, he does no more
famy is cast upon the ashes of Mithridates, \ than he can cure ; if you want wit, he will
or Methridates (as the Augustines read his* teach you, though to your cost. This herb
name) by unworthy people. They that | is Saturn's own, and is a noble antivene-
deserve no good report themselves, love to j rean. Rupture-wort hath not its name in
give none to others, viz. That renowned $ vain : for it is found by experience to cure
King of Poutus fortified his body by poison \ the rupture, not only in children but also in
against poison. (He cast out devils by Beel- \ elder persons, if the disease be not too in-
zebub, Prince of the devils.) What a sot is | veterate, by taking a dram of the powder
he that knows not if he had accustomed his: of the dried herb every day in wine, or a
body to cold poisons, but poisons would j decoction made and drank for certain days
have dispatched him? on the contrary, if j together. The juice or distilled water of
not, corrosions would have done it. The* the green herb, taken in the same manner,
whole world is at this present time beholden * helps all other fluxes either of man or
to him for his studies in physic, and he that woman; vomitings also, and the gonorrhea,
uses the quantity but of an hazel-nut of that j being taken any of the ways aforesaid. It
receipt every morning, to which his name \ doth also most assuredly help those that
is adjoined, shall to admiration preserve (have the stranguary, or are troubled with
his body in health, if he do but consider Jthe stone or gravel in the reins or bladder,
that Rue is an herb of the Sun, and under \ The same also helps stitches in the sides,
Leo, and gather it and the rest accord- \ griping pains of the stomach or belly, the
ingly. : obstructions of the liver, and cures the yel-

\ low jaundice ; likewise it kills also the
} worms in children. Being outwardly ap-

Descript."] THIS spreads very many j plied, it conglutinates wounds notably, and
thready branches round about upon the: helps much to stay defluctions of rheum

AND ENGLISH PHYSICIAN ENLARGED. 161

from the head to the eyes, nose, and teeth, i did describe it, they would presently say,
being bruised green and bound thereto ; or * I might as well have spared that labour.

green

the forehead, temples, or the nape of the
neck behind, bathed with the decoction of
the dried herb. It also dries up the mois-

ture of fistulous ulcers, or any other that are. Jeaven thereof ripens and breaks impos-

foul and spreading.

might as well have spare<
Its virtue follows.

Government and virtues.] Rye is more
digesting than wheat; the bread and the

thumes, boils, and other swellings : The

a USHES jmeal of Rye put between a double cloth,

j and moistened with a little vinegar, and

ALTHOUGH there are many kinds of {heated in a pewter dish, set over a chafing
Rushes, yet I shall only here insist upon j dish of coals, and bound fast to the head
those which are best known, and most I while it is hot, doth much ease the continual
medicinal ; as the bulrushes, and other of? pains of the head. Matthiolus saith, that
the soft and smooth kinds, which grow so I the ashes of Rye straw put into water, and
commonly in almost every part of this land, | steeped therein a day and a night, and the
and are so generally noted, that I suppose j chops of the hands or feet washed therewith,
it needless to trouble you with any des- i doth heal them,
cription of them : Briefly then take the
virtues of them as follows :

Government and virtues^] The seed of
the soft Rushes, (saith Dioscorides and

SAFFRON.

THE herb needs no description, it being
known generally where it grows.

Galen, toasted, saith Pliny) being drank in j Place.'] It grows frequently at Walden
wine and water, stays the lask and women's j in Essex, and in Cambridgeshire,
courses, when they come down too abun- \ Government and virtues.] It is an herb
daily : but it causes head-ache ; it pro- j of the Sun, and under the Lion, and there-
vokes sleep likewise, but must be given 5 fore you need not demand a reason why it
with caution. The root boiled in water, to j strengthens the heart so exceedingly. Let
the consumption of one third, helps the 1 not above ten grains be given at one time,
cough. | for the Sun, which is the fountain of light,

Thus you see that conveniences have may dazzle the eyes, and make them blind ;

their inconveniences, and virtue is seldom
unaccompanied with some vices. What

a cordial being taken in an immoderate
quantity, hurts the heart instead of help-

I have written concerning Rushes, is to \ ing it. It quickens the brain, for the Sun
satisfy my countrymen's questions : Are j is exalted in Aries, as he hath his house in
our Rushes good for nothing ? Yes, and as \ Leo. It helps consumptions of the lungs.

good let them alone as taken. There are
remedies enough without them for any dis-
ease, and therefore as the proverb is, I care

and difficulty of breathing. It is excellent
in epidemical diseases, as pestilence, small-
pox, and measles. It is a notable expul-

not a rush for them ; or rather they will do \ sive medicine, and a notable remedy for the
you as much good as if one had given you *. yellow jaundice. My opinion is, (but I
a Rush. 5 have no author for it) that hermodactyls are

| nothing else but the roots of Saffron dried ;

land my reason is, that the roots of all

THIS is so well known in all the counties! crocus, both white and yellow, purge
of this land, and especially to the country- 1 phlegm as hermodactyls do ; and if yon
people, who feed much thereon, that if 1 1 please to dry the roots of any crocus, neither

102 THE COMPLETE HERBAL

your eyes nor your taste shall distinguish
them from hermodactyls.

SAGE.

with wormwood is good for the bloody-flux.
Pliny saith, it procures women's courses,
\ and stays them coming down too fast: helps
I the stinging and biting of serpents, and kills
OUR ordinary garden Sage needs no \ the worms that breed in the ear, and in
description. 1 sores. Sage is of excellent use to help the

Time.~\ It flowers in or about July. \ memory, warming and quickening the

Government and virtues.] Jupiter claims i senses ; and the conserve made of the flowers
this, and bids me tell you, it is good for the \ is used to the same purpose, and also for all
liver, and to breed blood. A decoction of j the former recited diseases. The juice of
the leaves and branches of Sage made and ; Sage drank with vinegar, hath been of good
drank, saith Dioscorides, provokes urine, | use in time of the plague at all times,
brings down women's courses, helps to i Gargles likewise are made with Sage, rose-
expel the dead child, and causes the hair j mary, honey-suckles, and plantain, boiled
to become black. It stays the bleeding of s in wine or water, with some honey or allum
wounds, and cleanses foul ulcers. Three I put thereto, to wash sore mouths and
spoonfuls of the juice of Sage taken fasting, j throats, cankers, or the secret parts of man
with a little honey, doth presently stay the \ or woman, as need requires. And with
spitting or casting of blood of them that are | other hot and comfortable herbs, Sage is
in a consumption. These pills are much | boiled to bathe the body and the legs in the
commended ; Take of spikenard, ginger, 5 Summer time, especially to warm cold
of each two drams; of the seed of Sage points, r sinews, troubled with the palsy
toasted at the fire, eight drams ; of long j and cramp, and to comfort and strengthen
pepper, twelvedrams; all these beingbroughu the parts. It is much commended against
into powder, put thereto so much juice of | the stitch, or pains in the side coming of
Sage as may make them into a mass of .'wind, if the place be fomented warm with
pills, taking a dram of them every morning ! the decoction thereof in wine, and the
fasting, and so likewise at night, drinking i herb also after boiling be laid warm there-
a little pure water after them. Matthiolus j unto,
saith, it is very profitable for all manner j

of pains in the head coming of cold and j WOOD-SAGE.

rheumatic humours : as aiso for all pains of;

the joints, whether inwardly or outwardly, ', Descript.~] WOOD-SAGE rises up with
and therefore helps the falling-sickness, the j square hoary stalks, two feet high at the
lethargy such as are dull and heavy of j least, with two leaves set at every joint,
spirit, the palsy ; and is of much use in all i somewhat like other Sage leaves, but
defluctions of rheum from the head, and for \ smaller, softer, whiter, and rounder, and a
the diseases of the chest or breast. The j little dented about the edges, and smelling
leaves of Sage and nettles bruised together, j somewhat stronger. At the tops of the
and laid upon the imposthume that rises 1 stalks and branches stand the flowers, on a
behind the ears, doth assuage it much, j slender like spike, turning themselves all
The juice of Sage taken in warm water, | one way when they blow, and are of a pale
helps a hoarseness and a cough. The i and whitish colour, smaller than Sage, but
leaves sodden in wine, and laid upon the hooded and gaping like unto them. The
place affected with the palsy, helps much, j seed is blackish and round ; four usually
if the decoction be drank : Also Sage taken t seem in a husk together : the root is long

AND ENGLISH PHYSICIAN ENLARGED 163

and stringy, with divers fibres thereat, and i one, and sometimes also two stalks and
abides many years. I flowers at the foot of a leaf, which are with-

P/ace.] It grows in woods, and by j out any scent at all, and stand on the top
wood-sides ; as also in divers fields and j of the stalk. After they are past, come in
bye-lanes in the land. \ their places small round berries great at the

Time.'] It flowers in June, July, and \ first, and blackish green, tending to blueness
August. | when they are ripe, wherein lie small,

i rrai i i i -i i *"i i * mi

Government and virtues.'] The herb is
under Venus. The decoction of the Wood
Sage provokes urine and women's courses:

white, hard, and stony seeds. The root is
of the thickness of one's finger or thumb,
white and knotted in some places, a flat

It also provokes sweat, digests humours, \ round circle representing a Seal, whereof it
and discusses swellings and nodes in the ! took the name, lying along under the upper
flesh, and is therefore thought to be good ! crust of the earth, and not growing down-
against the French pox. The decoction \ ward, but with many fibres underneath,
of the green herb, made with wine, is a safe \ Place.'] It is frequent in divers places of

and sure remedy for those who by falls,
bruises, or blows, suspect some vein to be
inwardly broken, to disperse and void the

this land ; as, namely in a wood two miles
from Canterbury, by Fish-Pool Hill, as also
in Bushy Close belonging to the parsonage

congealed blood, and to consolidate the | of Alderbury, near Clarendon, two miles
veins. The drink used inwardly, and the j from Salisbury : in Cheffon wood, on Ches-
herb used outwardly, is good for such as | son Hill, between Newington and Sitting-
are inwardly or outwardly bursten, and is { bourn in Kent, and divers other places in
found to be a sure remedy for the palsy, i Essex, and other counties.
The juice of the herb, or the powder there- 1 Time.'] It flowers about May: The
of dried, is good for moist ulcers and sores j root abides and shoots a-new every year,
in the legs, and other parts, to dry them, i Government and virtues."] Saturn owns
and cause them to heal more speedily. It i the plant, for he loves his bones well. The
is no less effectual also in green wounds, to , root of Solomon's Seal is found by experience
be used upon any occasion. 5 to be available in wounds, hurts, and out-

ward sores, to heal and close up the lips of
those that are green, and to dry up and

SOLOMON S SEAL.

DescriptJ] THE common Solomon's

restrain the flux of humours to those that

Seal rises up with a round stalk half a yard i are old. It is singularly good to stay
high, bowing or bending down to the | vomitings and bleeding wheresoever, as
ground, set with single leaves one above | also all fluxes in man or woman ; also, to
another, somewhat large, and like the leaves \ knit any joint, which by weakness uses to
of the lily-convally, or May-lily, with an \ be often out of place, or will not stay in
eye of bluish upon the green, with some pong when it is set; also to knit and join
ribs therein, and more yellowish under- \ broken bones in any part of the body, the
neath. At the foot of every leaf, almost! roots being bruised and applied to the
from the bottom up to the top of the stalk, j places ; yea, it hath been found by expe-
come forth small, long, white and hollow | rience, an-d the decoction of the root in
pendulous flowers, somewhat like the; wine, or the bruised root put into wine or
flowers of May-lily, but ending in five long! other drink, and after a night's infusion,
points, for the most part two together, at the | strained forth hard and drank, hath helped
end of a long foot-stalk, and sometimes but both man and beast, whose bones hath been

u u

164 THE COMPLETE HERBAL

broken by any occasion, which is the most | are the cause of most of the diseases which
assured refuge of help to people of divers j the frail nature of man is subject to; both
counties of the land that they can have. It 5 which might be remedied by a more fre-
is no less effectual to help ruptures andjquentuse of this herb. If people would
burstings, the decoction in wine, or the j have sauce to their meat, they may take
powder in broth or drink, being inwardly ? some for profit as well as for pleasure. It
taken, and outwardly applied to the place. { is a safe herb, very pleasant both to taste
The same is also available for inward or out-; and stomach, helps digestion, and in some
ward bruises, falls or blows, both to dispel i sort opening obstructions of the liver and
the congealed blood, and to take away j spleen : provokes urine, and helps thereby
both the pains and the black and blue; to wash away the gravel and stone engen-
marks that abide after the hurt. The same ; dered in the kidneys or bladder,
also, or the distilled water of the whole |
plant, used to the face, or other parts of the \

skin, cleanses it from morphew, freckles, 5 THIS herb is by many called Butter-
spots, or marks whatsoever, leaving the > wort.

place fresh, fair, and lovely; for which J Descript.~\ Ordinary Sanicle sends forth
purpose it is much used by the Italian : many great round leaves, standing upon
Dames. \ long brownish stalks, every one somewhat

$ deeply cut or divided into five or six parts,
; and some of these also cut in somewhat like

DescriptJ] ROCK Samphire grows up \ the leaf of crow's-foot, or dove's-foot, and
with a tender green stalk about half a yard, j finely dented about the edges, smooth, and
or two feet high at the most, branching! of a dark shining colour, and somewhat
forth almost from the very bottom, and? reddish about the brims; from among
stored with sundry thick and almost round j which arise up small, round green stalks,
(somewhat long) leaves of a deep green j without any joint or leaf thereon, saving at
colour, sometimes two together, and some- j the top, where it branches forth into flowers,
times more on a stalk, and sappy, and of; having a leaf divided into three or four
a pleasant, hot, and spicy taste. At the j parts at that joint with the flowers, which
top of the stalks and branches stand umbels: are small and white, starting out of small
of white flowers, and after them come large j round greenish yellow heads, many stand-
seed, bigger than fennel seed, yet some- | ing together in a tui't, in which afterwards
what like it. The root is great, white, and : are the seeds contained, which are small
long, continuing many years, and is of an 5 round burs, somewhat like the leaves ol
hot and spicy taste likewise. ! clevers, and stick in the same manner upon

Place.] It grows on the rocks that are any thing that they touch. The root is
often moistened at the least, if not over- j composed of many blackish strings or
flowed with the sea water. j fibres, set together at a little long head,

Time.] And it flowers and seeds in the j which abides with green leaves all the Win-
end of July and August. ?ter, and perishes not.

Government and virtues.'] It is an herb of | Place.'] It is found in many shadowy
Jupiter, and was in former times wont to be j woods, and other places of thib land,
used more than now it is ; the more is the j Time.'] It flowers in June, and the seed
pity. It is well known almost to every ; is ripe shortly after,
body, that ill digestions and obstructions $ Government and virtues.] This is one of

Pl.ATK .17.

M e a do w S a xifr a ir e

Gr eat S aiiic le

SarapKir e

Gard-en

Sc abioiis

SHepherds Purse

B ' mcen'a Confound

fieal

THOMAS "KK. I ' . !>ONM835 .

AND ENGLISH PHYSICIAN ENLARGED. 105

Venus's herbs, to cure the wounds or mis-
chiefs Mars inflicts upon the body of man.

no leaf appears in the "Winter. The taste
hereof is strong and unpleasant ; and so is

It heals green wounds speedily, or any 1 the smell also.

ulcers, imposthumes, or bleedings inward,' Place.'] It grows in moist and wet
also tumours in any part of the body; for! grounds, by wood-sides, and sometimes in
the decoction or powder in drink taken,* moist places of shadowy groves, as also by
and the juice used outwardly, dissipates \ the water side.

the humours : and there is not found any j Time.'] It flowers in July, and the seed
herb that can give such present help either \ is soon ripe, and carried away with the
to manor beast, when the disease falleth j wind.

upon the lungs or throat, and to heal up j Government and virtues.] Saturn owns
putrid malignant ulcers in the mouth,} the herb, and it is of a sober condition, like
throat, and privities, by gargling or wash- \ him. Among the Germans, this wound
ing with the decoction of the leaves and ! herb is preferred before all others of the
roots made in water, and a little honey put; same quality. Being boiled in wine, and
thereto. It helps to stay women's courses, i drank, it helps the indisposition of the
and all other fluxes of blood, either by the i liver, and freeth the gall from obstructions ;
mouth, urine, or stool, and lasks of the | whereby it is good for the yellow jaundice,
belly ; the ulcerations of the kidneys also, | and for the dropsy in the beginning of it ;
and the pains in the bowels, and gonorrhea, \ for all inward ulcers of the reins, mouth or
being boiled in wine or water, and drank. | throat, and inward wounds and bruises,
The same also is no less powerful to help i likewise for such sores as happen in the
any ruptures or burstings, used both in- ; privy partsof menand women ; beingsteepcd
wardly and outwardly : And briefly, it is! in wine, and then distilled, the water there-
as effectual in binding, restraining, conso- |of drank, is singular!} 7 good to ease all gnaw-
lidating, heating, drying and healing, as \ ings in the stomach, or other pains of the
comfrey, bugle, self-heal, or any other of j body, as also the pains of the mother: and
the vulnerary herbs whatsoever. j being boiled in water, it helps continual

a UCS ' * C * ' T . 8 ! m P le

SARACENS CONFOUND, OR SARACEN Si - a

WOUNDWORT. I T atCr f the ^^ dlSt L! led > ? r thC , J U ! CC r

* decoction, are very effectual to heal any

Descript.'] THIS grows sometimes, with t green wound, or old sore or ulcer what-
brownish stalks, and other whiles with ; soever, cleansing them from corruption,
green, to a man's height, having narrow ! and quickly healing them up : Briefly,
green leaves snipped about the edges, some- 1 whatsoever hath been said of bugle or sani-
what like those of the peach-tree, or willow jcle, may be found herein,
leaves, but not of such a white green colour.
The tops of the stalks are furnished with
many yellow star-like flowers, standing in

green heads, which when they are fallen,! Descript.'] THE lower leaves of this are
and the seed ripe, which is somewhat long, j rounder than those that grow towards the
small and of a brown colour, wrapped in i top of the stalks, and are set singly on a
down, is therefore carried away with the! joint being somewhat round and broad,
wind. The root is composed of fibres set {pointed at the ends, dented also about the
together at a head, which perishes not in edges, somewhat resembling nettle leaves
Winter, although the stalks dry away and j for the form, but of a fresher green colour,

SAUCE-ALONE, OR J ACK-B Y-THE-HEDGE-
SIDE.

160

THE COMPLETE HERBAL

not rough or pricking : The flowers are
white, growing at the top of the stalks one
above another, which being past, follow
small round pods, wherein are contained
round seed somewhat blackish. The root
stringy and thready, perishes every year
after it hath given seed, and raises itself
again of its own sowing. The plant, or
any part thereof, being bruised, smells of
garlic, but more pleasantly, and tastes
somewhat hot and sharp, almost like unto
rocket.

Placed] It grows under walls, and by
hedge-sides, and path-ways in fields in
many places.

Time.~\ It flowers in June, July, and
August.

Government and virtues. ~] It is an herb of
Mercury. This is eaten by many country
people as sauce to their salt fish, and helps
well to digest the crudities and other cor-
rupt humours engendered thereby. It
warms also the stomach, and causes diges-
tion. The juice thereof boiled with honey
is accounted to be as good as hedge mus-
tard for the cough, to cut and expectorate
the tough phlegm. The seed bruised and
boiled in wine, is a singularly good remedy
for the wind colic, or the stone, being drank
warm : It is also given to women troubled
with the mother, both to drink, and the
seed put into a cloth, and applied while it
is warm, is of singularly good use. The
leaves also, or the seed boiled, is good to be
used in clysters to ease the pains of the
stone. The green leaves are held to be
good to heal the ulcers in the legs.

WINTER AND SUMMER SAVOURY.

BOTH these are so well known (being
entertained as constant inhabitants in our
gardens) that they need no description.

Government and virtues.'] Mercury claims
dominion over this herb, neither is there
a detter remedy against the colic and iliac
passion, than this herb ; keep it dry by

you all the year, if you love yourself and
your ease, and it is a hundred pounds to a
penny if you do not ; keep it dry, make
conserves and syrups of it for your use, and
withal, take notice that the Summer kind
is the best. They are both of them hot
and dry, especially the Summer kind,
which is both sharp and quick in taste,
expelling wind in the stomach and bowels,
and is a present help for the rising of the
mother procured by wind ; provokes urine
and women's courses, and is much com-
mended for women with child to take in-
wardly, and to smell often unto. It cures
tough phlegm in the chest and lungs, and
helps to expectorate it the more easily ;
quickens the dull spirits in the lethargy, the
juice thereof being snuffed up into the
nostrils. The juice dropped into the ej r es,
clears a dull sight, if it proceed of thin cold
humours distilled from the brain. The
juiceheated with the oil of Roses, and dropped
into the ears, eases them of the noise and
singing in them, and of deafness also.
Outwardly applied with wheat flour, in
manner of a poultice, it gives ease to the
sciatica and palsied members, heating and
warming them, and takes away their pains.
It also lakes away the pain that comes by
stinging of bees, wasps, &c.

SAVINE

To describe a plant so well known is need-
less, it being nursed up almost in every gar-
den, and abides green all the Winter.

Government and virtues.] It is under the
dominion of Mars, being hot and dry in
the third degree, and being of exceeding
clean parts, is of a very digesting quality.
If you dry the herb into powder, and mix
it with honey, it is an excellent remedy to
cleanse old filthy ulcers and fistulas ; but
it hinders them from healing. The same is
excellently good to break carbuncles and
plague-sores; also helps the king's evil,
being applied to the place. Being spread

AND ENGLISH PHYSICIAN ENLARGED. 167

over a piece of leather, and applied to the j them, and^ to expel it and the gravel by
navel, kills the worms in the belly, helps
:cabs and itch, running sores, cankers; tet-
ters, and ringworms ; and being applied to

the place, may haply cure venereal sores
This I thought good* to speak of, as it may
be safely used outwardly, for inwardly it
cannot be taken without manifest danger.

urine ; to help the stranguary ; for which
purpose the decoction of the herb or roots
in white wine, is most usual, or the powder
of the small kernelly root, which is called
the seed, taken in white wine, or in the
same decoction made with white wine, is
most usual. The distilled water of the

whole herb, root and flowers, is most farai-

THE COMMON WHITE SAXIFRAGE. j ]iar to be taken . It provokes also women's

Descript. "] THIS hath a few small red- courses, and frees and cleanses the stomach
dish kernels of roots covered with some and lungs from thick and tough phlegm
skins, lying among divers small blackish I that trouble them. There are not many
fibres, which send forth divers round, faint $ better medicines to break the stone than
or yellow green leaves, and greyish under- j this.

neath lying above the grounds, unevenly BURNET SAXIFRAGE.

dented about the edges, and somewhat:

hairy, every one upon a little foot-stalk,
from whence rises up round, brownish,
hairy, green stalks, two or three feet high,

Descript. .] THE greater sort of our
English Burnet Saxifrage grows up with
divers long stalks of winged leaves, set.

with a few such like round leaves as grow ! directly opposite one to another on both
below, but smaller, and somewhat branched 1 sides, each being somewhat broad, and a
at the top, whereon stand pretty large white j little pointed and dented about the edges,
flowers of five leaves a-piece, with some 1 of a sad green colour. At the top of the
yellow threads in the middle, standing in a * stalks stand umbels of white flowers, after
long crested, brownish green husk. After i which come small and blackish seed. The
the flowers are past, there arises sometimes [ root is long and whitish, abiding long. Our
a round hard head, forked at the top, i lesser Burnet Saxifrage hath much finer
wherein is contained small black seed, but; leaves than the former, and very small, and
usually they fall away without any seed, I set one against another, deeply jagged
and it is the kernels or grains of the root! about the edges, and of the same colour as
which are usually called the White Saxi- j the former. The umbels of the flowers are
frage-seed, and so used. I white, and the seed very small, and so is

Place.'] It grows in many places of our j the root, being also somewhat hot and quick
land, as well in the lower-most, as in the j in taste.

upper dry corners of meadows, and grassy j Place."] These grow in moist meadows
sandy places. It used to grow near Lamb's \ of this land, and are easy to be found being
conduit, on the backside of Gray's Inn. j well sought for among the grass, wherein

Time!] It flowers in May, and then \ many times they lay hid scarcely to be dis-
gathered, as well for that which is called j cerned.

the seed, as to distil, for it quickly perishesj Time.'] They flower about July, and
down to the ground' when any hot weather j their seed is ripe in August,
comes. Government and virtues.'] They are both

Government and virtues."] It is very ef-|of them herbs of the Moon. The Saxi-
fectual to cleanse the reins and bladder, j frages are hot as pepper ; and Tragus saith,
+ o dissolve the stone engendered in j by his experience, that they are wholesome

x x

1C8 THE COMPLETE HERBAL

They have the same properties the pars- j great, white and thick, growing clown deep
leys have, but in provoking urine, and [into the ground, and abides many years,
causing the pains thereof, and of the wind? There is another sort of Field Scabious
and colic, are much more effectual, the i different in nothing from the former, but

roots or seed being used either in powder,
or in decoctions, or any other way ; and

only it is smaller in all respects.

The Corn Scabious differs little from the

likewise helps the windy pains of the; first, but that it is greater in all respects,

mother, and to procure their courses, and ; and the flowers more inclining to purple,

to break and void the stone in the kidneys, land the root creeps under the upper crust

to digest cold, viscous, and tough phlegm \ of the earth, and runs not deep into the

in the stomach, and is an especial remedy ground as the first doth.

against all kind of venom. Castoreum \ Place.'] The first grows more usually in

being boiled in the distilled water thereof, \ meadows, especially about London every

is singularly good to be given to those that 1 where.

are troubled with cramps and convulsions. I The second in some of the dry fields

about this city, but not so plentifully as the
former.

Some do use to make the seeds into comfits
(as they do carraway seeds) which is effec-
tual to all the purposes aforesaid. The The third in standing corn, or fallow
juice of the herb dropped into the most ; fields, and the borders of such like fields,
grievous wounds of the head, dries up their j Time.'] They flower in June and July,
moisture, and heals them quickly. Some t and some abide flowering until it be late in

1 1 * 1 1 1 ii 11 1* * * 1

women use the distilled water to take away
freckles or spots in the skin or face ; and
to drink the same sweetened with sugar for
all the purposes aforesaid.

August, and the seed is ripe in the mean

time.

There are many other sorts of Scabious,
but I take these which I have here des-

cribed to be most familiar with us. The
SCABIOUS, THREE SORTS. virtues of both these and the rest, being

| much alike, take them as follow.

COMMON field Scabious grows | Government and virtues.'] Mercury owns
up with many hairy, soft, whitish green j the plant. Scabious is very effectual for
leaves, some whereof are very little, if at jail sorts of coughs, shortness of breath, and
all jagged on the edges, others very much j all other diseases of the breast and lungs,
rent and torn on the sides, and have threads 5 ripening and digesting cold phlegm, and
in them, which upon breaking may be j other tough humours, voids them forth by
plainly seen ; from among which rise up j coughing and spitting : It ripens also all
divers hairy green stalks, three or four feet 'sorts of inward ulcers and imposthumes ;
high, with such like hairy green leaves on i pleurisy also, if the decoction of the herb
them, but more deeply and finely divided and j dry or green be made in wine, and drank
branched forth a little : At the tops thereof, {for some time together. Four ounces of
which are naked and bare of leaves for ajthe clarified juice of Scabious taken in the
good space, stand round heads of flowers,] morning fasting, with a dram of mithridale,
of a pale blueish colour, set together in a -or Venice treacle, frees the heart from any
head, the outermost whereof are larger than { infection of pestilence, if after the taking
the inward, with many threads also in the j of it the party sweat two hours in bed, and
middle, somewhat flat at the top, as the i this medicine be again and again repeated,
head with the seed is likewise ; the root is ; if need require. The green herb bruised

PLATE !<"-.

accorv

Sol o 111 on* s S e a.1

Wild Su_c c orv

Sp i^-ricl

\\' 00 it Sit r re I

(' o m in on S orrcl

Si U 'I'll I S 1 '. :.

TM a s \

AND ENGLISH PHYSICIAN ENLARGED.

and applied to any carbuncle or plague: grass hath many thick flat leaves, more
sore, is found by certain experience to dis- 1 long than broad, and sometimes longer and
solve and break it in three hours space. \ narrower ; sometimes also smooth on the
The same decoction also drank, helps the j edges, and sometimes a little waved ; some-
pains and stitches in the side. The decoc- j times plain, smooth and pointed, of a sad
tion of the roots taken for forty days toge- 5 green, and sometimes a blueish colour,
ther, or a dram of the powder of then> every one standing by itself upon a long
taken at a time in whey, doth (as Matthi- j foot-stalk, which is brownish or greenish
olus saith) wonderfully help those that are | also, from among which arise many slender
troubled with running of spreading scabs, j stalks, bearing few leaves thereon like the
tetters, ringworms, yea, although they pro- j other, but longer and less for the most
ceed from the French pox, which, he saith | part : At the tops whereof grow many
he hath tried by experience. The juice or; whitish flowers, with yellow threads in the
decoction drank, helps also scabs and j middle, standing about a green head, which
breakings-out of the itch, and the like. { becomes the. seed vessel, which will be
The juice also made up into an ointment j somewhat flat when it is ripe, wherein is
and used, is effectual for the same purpose. | contained reddish seed, tasting somewhat
The same also heals all inward wounds by j hot. The root is. made of many white
the drying, cleansing, and healing quality j strings, which stick deeply into the mud,
therein : And a syrup made of the juice j wherein it chiefly delights, yet it will well
and sugar, is very effectual to all the pur- ; abide in the ir. ore upland and drier ground,
poses aforesaid, and so is the distilled water | and tastes a little brackish and salt even
of the herb and flowers made in due season, j there, but not so much as where it hath the
especially to be used when the green herb 5 salt water to feed upon,
is not in force to be taken. The decoction j Place.'] It grows all along the Thames
of the herb and roots outwardly applied, : sides, both on the Essex and Kentish
doth wonderfully help all sorts of hard or 1 shores, from Woolwich round about the
cold swellings in any part of the body, is! sea costs to Dover, Portsmouth, and even
effectual for shrunk sinews or veins, and { to Bristol, where it is had in plenty; the
heals green wounds, old sores, and ulcers, j other with round leaves grows in the marshes
The juice of Scabious, made up with the; in Holland, in Lincolnshire, and other
powder of Borax and Samphire, cleanses : places of Lincolnshire by the sea side,
the skin of the face, or other parts of the} Descript.'] There is also another sort
body, not only from freckles and pimples, | called Dutch Scurvygrass, which is most
but also from morphew and leprosy ; the ! known, and frequent in gardens, which has
head washed with the decoction, cleanses it fresh, green, and almost round leaves rising
from dandriff, scurf, sores, itch, and the

like, used warm. The herb bruised and
ipplied, doth in a short time loosen, and

from the root, not so thick as the former,
yet in some rich ground, very large, even
twice as big as in others, not dented about

Iraw forth any splinter, broken bone, { the hedges,or hollow in the middle, standing
irrow head, or other such like thing lying I on a long foot-stalk; from among these
in the flesh. rise long, slender stalks, higher than the for-

mer, with more white flowers at the tops of

SCURVVGRASS. them, which turn into small pods, and

| smaller brownish seed than the former.
THE ordinary English Scurvy- [The root is white, small and thready. The

170 THE COMPLETE HERBAL

taste is nothing salt at all ; it hath a hot, \ the ground, whereby it is made agieai
aromatical spicy taste. j in a short time.

Time.'] It flowers in April and May, I Place.] It is found in woods and fields
and gives seed ripe quickly after. [every where.

Government and virtues.] It is an herb of] Time.'] It flowers in May, and some-
Tupiter. The English Scurvy grass is more > times in April.

used for the salt taste it bears, which doth I Government and virtues.^ Here is another
somewhat open and cleanse; but the Dutch ! herb of Venus, Self-heal, whereby when
Scurvygrass is of better effect, and chiefly j you are hurt you may heal yourself: It is
used (if it may be had) by those that have \ a special herb for inward and outward
the scurvy, and is of singular good effect to > wounds. Take it inwardly in syrups for

cleanse the blood, liver, and spleen, taking

inward wounds : outwardly in unguents,

the juice in the Spring every morning fast- and plaisters for outward. As Self-heal is
ing in a cup of drink. The decoction is | like Bugle in form, so also in the qualities
good for the same purpose^ and opens* and virtues, serving for all the purposes

obstructions, evacuating cold, clammy and
phlegmatic humours both from the liver

whereto Bugle is applied to with good success,
either inwardly or outwardly, for inward

and the spleen, and bringing the body to a } wounds or ulcers whatsoever within the
more lively colour. The juice also . helps \ body, for bruises or falls, and such like
all foul ulcers and sores in the mouth, ! hurts. If it be accompanied with Bugle,
gargled therewith ; and used" outwardly, s Sanicle, and other the like wound herbs,
cleanses the skin from spots, marks, or scars j it will be more effectual to wash or inject
that happen therein. jinto ulcers in the parts outwardly. Where

| there is cause to repress the heat and sharp-
SELF-HEAL. j ness of humours flowing to any sore, ulcers,

\ inflammations, swellings, or the like, or to
Descript.'] TH^E common Self-heal which j stay the fluxes of blood in any wound or

is called also Prunel, Carpenter's Herb,
Hook-heal, and Sickle-wort, is a small, low,

part, this is used with some good success ;
as also to cleanse the foulness of sores, and

creeping herb, having many small, roundish cause them more speedily to be healed. It
pointed leaves, like leaves of wild mints, of; is an especial remedy for all green wounds,
a dark green colour, without dents on the j to solder the lips of them, and to keep the
edges ; from among which rise square hairy j place from any further inconveniencies.
stalks, scarce a foot high, which spread \ The juice hereof used with oil of roses to
sometimes into branches with small leaves j anoint the temples and forehead, is very ef-
set thereon, up to the top, where stand \ fectual to remove head ache, and the same
brown spiked heads of small brownish j mixed with honey of roses, cleanses and
leaves like scales and flowers set together, j heals all ulcers, in the mouth, and throat,
almost like the heads of Cassidony, which j and those also in the secret parts. And the
flowers are gaping, and of a blueish purple, j proverb of the Germans, French, and
or more pale blue, in some places sweet, j others, is verified in this, That he needs
but not so in otheis. The root consists of \neither physician nor surgeon that hath Self-
many fibres downward, and spreading s heal and Sanicle to help himself.
strings also whereby it increases. The *
small stalks, with the leaves creeping on the|
ground, shoot forth fibres taking hold on*

AND ENGLISH PHYSICIAN ENLARGED. 171

i being bound to the wrists of the hands, and
THE SERVICE-TREE. jlthe soles of the feet, it helps the yellow

u k~ i jaundice. The herb being made into a

IT is so well known in > the place where | J , ti hel inflammatio ^ and St . An-

,t grows that 11 t needs no description. , fire F T

ItafcJ It flowers before the end of ^ a ^ ^ . ^ . e l / mutter .

May, and the fruit 1S ripe m October. $ in thereo f. A good ointment may be

Gorcrnifieit* aid <^e.] Services when , % f . f ^ * ^ M / ^

they are mellow, are fit to be taken to stay j . ^ head

fluxes, scouring, and casting, yet less than |

medlers. If they be dried before they be SMALLAGE

mellow, and kept all the year, they may be j

used in decoctions for the said purpose, { a]so knQw andthere _

either to drink, or to bathe the parts re- ^ fa reader
quiring it ; and are profitably used m that| . .

manner to stay the bleeding of wounds,: naturally in dry and

and of the mouth or nose, to be applied to; J * ' .^

the forehead and nape of he neck ; and are ^ 7 ^ ye we] ,

under the dominion of Saturn. Jt

SHEPHERD'S PURSE. land seeds in August.

Government and virtues.] It is an her bot

IT is called Whoreman's Permacety, j Mercury. Sniallage is hotter, drier, and
Shepherd's Scrip, Shepherd's Pounce, Toy- ; much more medicinal than parsley, for it
wort, Pickpurse, andCasewort. j touch more opens obstructions of the liver

DescriptJ] The root is small, white, and land spleen, rarefies thick phlegm, and
perishes every year. The leaves are small | cleanses it and the blood withal. It pro-
and long, of a pale green colour, and deeply ; vokes urine and women's courses, and is
cut in on both sides, among which spring j singularly good against the yellow jaundice,
up a stalk which is small and round, con- j tertian and quartan agues, if the juice
taining small leaves upon it even to the top. | thereof be taken, but especially made up
The flowers are white and very small ; after j into a syrup. The juice also put to honey
which come the little cases which hold the j of roses, and barley-water, is very good to
seed, which are flat, almost in the form of j gargle the mouth and throat of those that
a heart. jhave sores and ulcers in them, and will

Place.'] They are frequent in this nation, \ quickly heal them. The same lotion also
almost by every path-side. \ cleanses and heals all other foul ulcers and

Time.'] They flower all the Summer ! cankers elsewhere, if they be washed there-
long ; nay some of them are so fruitful, that \ with. The seed is especially used to break
they flower twice a year. | and expel wind, to kill worms, and to help

Government and virtues.'] It is under the! a stinking breath. The root is effectual to
dominion of Saturn, and of a cold, dry, jail the purposes aforesaid, and is held to
and binding nature, like to him. It helps | be stronger in operation than the herb, but
all fluxes of blood, either caused by inward | especially to open obstructions, and to rid
or outward wounds; as also flux of the j away any ague, if the juice thereof be taken
belly, and bloody flux, spitting blood, and ; in wine, or the decoction thereof in wine
bloody urine, stops the terms in women ; \ used.

172 THE COMPLETE HERBAL

Government and virtues.'] It is under the

SOPEWORT, OK BRUISEWORT. j dominion of Venus. Sorrel is prevalent in

| all hot diseases, to cool any inflammation

Descript.'] THE roots creep underhand heat of blood in agues pestilential or
ground far and near, with many joints | choleric, or sickness and fainting, arising
theiein, of a brown colour on the outside ' from heat, and to refresh the overspent
and yellowish within, shooting forth in spirits with the violence of furious or fiery

divers places weak round stalks, full of
joints, set with two leaves a-piece at every

fits of agues ; to quench thirst, and procure
anappetitein fainting ordecaying stomachs:

one of them on a contrary side, which are \ For it resists the putrefaction of the blood,
ribbed somewhat like to plantain, and: kills worms, and is a cordial to the heart,
fashioned like the common field white cam- 5 which the seed doth more effectually, being
pion leaves, seldom having any branches i more drying and binding, and thereby stays
from the sides of the stalks, but set with 5 the hot fluxes of women's courses, or of
flowers at the top, standing in long husks I humours in the bloody flux, or flux of the
like the wild campions, made of five leaves { stomach. The root also in a decoction, or
a-piece, round at the ends, and dented in { in powder, is effectual for all the said pur-
the middle, of a rose colour, almost white, 5 poses. Both roots and seeds, as well as the
sometimes deeper, sometimes paler ; of a : herb, are held powerful to resist the poison
reasonable scent. 5 of the scorpion. The decoction of the roots

PlaceJ] It grows wild in many low and is taken to help the jaundice, and to expel
wet grounds of this land, by brooks and the j the gravel and the stone in the reins or kid-
sides of running waters. | neys. The decoction of the flowers made

TimeJ] It flowers usually in July, and: with wine and drank, helps the black jaun-
so continues all August, and part of Sep-jdice, as also the inward ulcers of the body
tember, before they be quite spent. ; and bowels. A syrup made with the juice

Government and virtues.'] Venus owns it. | of Sorrel and fumitory, is a sovereign help
The country people in divers places do use j to kill those sharp humours that cause the
to bruise the leaves of Sopewort, and lay it 5 itch. The juice thereof, with a little vine-
to their fingers, hands or legs, when they \ gar, serves well to be used outwardly for
are cut, to heal them up again. Some 5 the same cause, and is also profitable for
make great boast thereof, that it is diureti-* tetters, ringworms, &c. It helps also to
cal to provoke urine, aud thereby to expel | discuss the kernels in the throat; and the
gravel and the stone in the reins or kidneys, I juice gargled in the mouth, helps the sores
and do also account it singularly good to; therein. The leaves wrapt in a colewort
void hydropical waters : and they no less | leaf and roasted in the embers, and applied
extol it to perform an absolute cure in the i to a hard imposthume, botch, boil, or plague
French pox, more than either sarsaparilla, \ sore, doth both ripen and break it. The
guiacum, or China can do ; which, how | distilled water of the herb is of much good
true it is, I leave others to judge. i use for all the purposes aforesaid.

SORREL. WOOD SORREL.

i
\

O IT R ordinary Sorrel, which grows inj De&cript.'] THIS grows upon the ground,
gardens, and also wild in the fields, is so having a number of leaves coming from
well known, that it needs no description, jthe root made of three leaves, like a trefoil.

AND ENGLISH PHYSICIAN ENLARGED. 173

but broad at the ends, and cut in the mid- {

,. SOW THISTLE.

die, or a yellowish green colour, every one

standing on a long foot-stalk, which at
their first coming up are close folded toge-

Sow Thistles are generally so well known;,
that they need no description.

ther to the stalk, but opening themselves i PlaceJ] They grow in gardens and

afterwards, and are of a fine sour relish,

and yielding a juice which will turn red pathsides of fields, and high ways.

when it is clarified, and makes a most

manured grounds, sometimes by old walls,

Government and virtues.'] This and the

dainty clear syrup. Among these leaves | former are under the influence of Venus,
rise up divers slender, weak foot-stalks, \ Sow Thistles are cooling, and somewhat
with every one of them a flower at the top, j binding, and are very fit to cool a hot
consisting of five small pointed leaves, star- i stomach, and ease the pains thereof. The
fashion, of a white colour, in most places, t herb boiled in wine, is very helpful to stay
and in some dashed over with a small show! the dissolution of the stomach, and the milk
of blueish, on the back side only. After ; that is taken from the stalks when they are
the flowers are past, follow small round \ broken, given in drink, is beneficial to those
heads, with small yellowish seed in them. j that are short winded, and have a wheez-
The roots are nothing but small strings! ing. Pliny saith, That it hath caused the
fastened to the end of a small long piece ; | gravel and stone to be voided by urine, and
all of them being of a yellowish colour. |t.hat the eating thereof helps a stinking
Placed] It grows in many places of our | breath. The decoction of the leaves and
land, in woods and wood-sides, where they j stalks causes abundance of milk in nurses,
be moist and shadowed, and in other places j and their children to be well coloured. The
not too much upon the Sun. |j u ' ce or distilled water is good for all hot

Time.~] It flowers in April and May. j inflammations, wheals, and erputions or
Government and virtues.^ Venus owns it. ; heat in the skin, itching of the haemorr-
Wood Sorrel serves to all the purposes thatjhoids. The juice boiled or thoroughly
the other Sorrels do, and is more effectual | heated in a little oil of bitter almonds in the
in hindering putrefaction of blood, and j peel of a pomegranate, and dropped into
ulcers in the mouth and body, and to j the ears, is a sure remedy for deafness, sing-
quench thirst, to strengthen a weak stomach, \ ings, &c. Three spoonfuls of the juice
to procure an appetite, to stay vomiting, ! taken, warmed in white wine, and some
and very excellent in any contagious sick- } wine put thereto, causes women in travail
ness or pestilential fevers. The syrup made; to have so easy and speedy a delivery, that
of the juice, is effectual in all the cases j they may be able to walk presently after,
aforesaid, and so is the distilled water of' It is wonderful good for women to wash
the herb. Sponges or linen cloths wet in \ their faces with, to clear the skin, and give
the juice and applied outwardly to any hot jit a lustre,
swelling or inflammations, doth much cool !

,_J i rri SOUTHERN WOOD

and help them. Ihe same juice taken and \

gargled in the mouth, and after it is spit j SOUTHERN Wood is so well known to be

Forth, taken afresh, doth wonderfully help a ! an ordinary inhabitant in our gardens,

foul stinking canker or ulcer therein. It j that I shall not need to trouble you with

is singularly good to heal wounds, or to * any description thereof.

stay the bleeding of thrusts or scabs in the 5 Time.~] It flowers for the most part in

body. | J u ly and August.

174 THE COMPLETE HERBAL

Government and virtues. It is a gallant
mercurial plant, worthy of more esteem

than it hath. Dioscorides saith, That the

SPIGNEL, OB SPIKENARD.

DescriptJ] THE roots of common Spig-

seed bruised, heated in warm water, and | nel do spread much and deep m the ground,
drank, helps those that are bursten, or \ many strings or branches growing from one
troubled with cramps or convulsions of the: head, which is hairy at the top, of a black-

sinews, the sciatica, or difficulty in making!
water, and bringing down women's courses.;

ish brown colour on the outside, and white
within, from whence rise sundry long stalks

The same taken in wine is an antidote, or * taste, from whece rise sundry long stalks
counter-poison against all deadly poison, j of most fine cut leaves like hair, smaller
and drives away serpents and other venom- ! than dill, set thick on both sides of the
ous creatures ; as also the smell of the herb, j stalks, and of a good scent. Among these
being burnt, doth the same. The oil thereof' leaves rise up round stiff stalks, with a few
anointed on the back-bone before the fits of \ joints and leaves on them, and at the tops
agues come, takes them away : It takes j an umbel of pure white flowers ; at the
away inflammations in the eyes, if it be put | edges whereof sometimes will be seen a
with some part of a roasted quince, and I shew of the reddish blueish colour, especi-

boiled with a few crumbs of bread, and ap- j
plied. Boiled with barley-meal it takes

ally before they be full blown, and are
succeeded by small, somewhat round seeds,

away pimpels, pushes or wheals that arise: bigger than the ordinary fennel, and of a
in the face, or other parts of the body.! brown colour, divided into two parts, and
The seed as well as the dried herb, is often ! crusted on the back, as most of the umbel-
given to kill the worms in children: The Uiferous seeds are.

herb bruised and laid to, helps to draw forth \ Place.'] It grows wild in Lancashire,
splinters and thorns out of the flesh. The ! Yorkshire, and other northern counties, and
ashes thereof dries up and heals old ulcers, j is also planted in gardens,
that are without inflammation, although by | Government and virtues.'] It is an herb of
the sharpness thereof it bites sore, and puts i Venus. Galen saith, The roots of Spignel
them to sore pains ; as also the sores in the 1 are available to provoke urine, and women's
privy parts of man or woman. The ashes \ courses ; but if too much thereof be taken,
mingled with old salladoil, helps those that | it causes head-ache. The roots boiled in
have hair fallen, and are bald, causing the i wine or water, and drank, helps the stran-
hair to grow again either on the head or j iguary and stoppings of the urine, the wind,
beard. Daranters saith, That the oil made* swellings and pains in the stomach, pains
of Southern- wood, and put among theoint- jof the mother, and all joint-aches. If the
ments that are used against the French dis- j powder of the root be mixed with honey,
ease, is very effectual, and likewise kills * and the same taken as a licking medicine,
lice in the head. The distilled water of the j it breaks tough phlegm, and dries up the
herb is said to help them much that are * rheum that falls on the lungs. The roots are
troubled with the stone, as also for the dis- j accounted very effectual against the sting-
eases of the spleen and mother. The Ger- j ing or biting of any T enomous creature
nians commend it for a singular wound j 8PLEBNW CETKHACH, OR HEAET'S

herb, and therefore call it Stabwort. Itisj TONGUE

held by all writers, ancient and modern, \

to be more offensive to the stomach than! DescriptJ] THE smooth Spleen wort, from
worm-wood. a black, thready and bushy root, sends forth

AND ENGLISH PHYSICIAN ENLARGED. 175

many long single leaves, cut in on both down to the ground, that it seems a pretty
sides into round dents almost to the middle, { bush, set with divers the like divided leaves
which is not so hard as that of polypody, up to the tops, where severally do stand
each division being not always set opposite | small whitish green heads, set with sharp
nnto the other, cut between each, smooth, j white pricks (no part of the plant else being
and of a light green on the upper side, and ' prickly) which are somewhat yellowish ;
a dark yellowish roughness on the back, | out of the middle whereof rises the flowers,
folding or rolling itself inward at the first! com posed of many small redaish purple,
springing up. \ threads ; and in the heads, after the flowers

Place.'] It grows as well upon stone j are past, come small whitish round seed,
walls, as moist and shadowy places, about | lying down as others do. The root is small,
Bristol, and other the west parts plentifully ; j long and woody, perishing every year, and
as also on Framlingham Castle, on Bea- } rising again of its own sowing,
consfield church in Berkshire, at Stroud in i Place.'] It grows wild in the fields about
Kent, and elsewhere, and abides green all { London in many places, as at Mile- End
the Winter. ! green, and many other places.

Government and virtues.'] Saturn owns it. ; Time.~\ It flowers early, and seeds in
It is generally used against infirmities ofjjulv, and sometimes in August.
the Spleen : It helps the stranguary, and 5 Government and virtues^] This, as almost
wasteth the stone in the bladder, and is ! all Thistles are, is under Mars. The seed
good against the yellow jaundice and the | of this Star Thistle made into powder, and
hiccough ; but the juice of it in women j drank in wine, provokes urine, and helps
hinders conception. Matthiolus saith, That j to break the stone, and drives it forth. The
if a dram of the dust that is on the back- 1 root in powder, and given in wine and
side of the leaves be mixed with half a dram j drank, is good against the plague and pes-
of amber in powder, and taken with the | tilence ; and drank in the morning fasting
juice of purslain or plantain, it helps the \ for some time together, it is very profitable
gonorrhea speedily, and that the herb and | for fistulas in any part of the body,
root being boiled and taken, helps all { Baptista Sardas doth much commend the
melancholy diseases, and those especially \ distilled water thereof, being drank, to help
that arise from the French diseases, j the French disease, to open the obstructions
Camerarius saith, That the distilled water j of the liver, and cleanse the blood from
thereof being drank, is very effectual against | corrupted humours, and is profitable against
the stone in the reins and bladder ; and \ the quotidian or tertian ague,
that the lye that is made of the ashes there- \

of being drank for some time together,* STRAWBERRIES.

helps splenetic persons. It is used in out-*
ward remedies for the same purpose. THESE are so well known through this

STAR THISTLE.

land, that they need no description.

Time.'] They flower in May ordinarily,
Descript.~] A COMMON Star Thistle has j and the fruit is ripe shortly after,
divers narrow leaves lying next the ground, j Government and virtues.'] Venus owns the
cut on the edges somewhat deeply into j herb. Strawberries, when they are green,
many parts, soft or a little woo'ly, all over? are cool and dry; but when they are ripe,
green, among which rise up divers weak J they are cool and moist : The berries are
stalks, parted into many branches, ali lying (excellently good to cool the liver, the blood.

z z

176 THE COMPLETE HERBAL

and the spleen, or an hot choleric stomach ; a and for such other defects in them as mav
to refresh and comfort the fainting spirits, ! be helped by any outward medicine,
and quench thirst: They are good also fori

.1 n - n . J . . t 5 SUCCORY, OR CHICORY.

other inflammations ; yet it is not amiss to
refrain from them in a fever, lest by their
putrifying in the stomach they increase

Descript.~] THE garden Succory hath
long and narrower leaves than the Endive,

the fits. The leaves and roots boiled ! and more cut in or torn on the edges, and
in wine and water, and drank, do like- 1 the root abides many years. It bears also
wise cool the liver and blood, and assuage! blue flowers like Endive, and the seed is
all inflammations in the reins and bladder, j hardly distinguished from the seed of the
provoke urine, and allay the heat and 5 smooth or ordinary Endive,
sharpness thereof. The same also being! The wild Succory hath divers long leaves
drank stays the bloody flux and women's * lying on the ground, very much cut in or
courses, and helps the swelling of the ; torn on the edges, on both sides, even to the
spleen. The water of the Berries carefully $ middle rib, ending in a point ; sometimes
distilled, is a sovereign remedy and cordial lit hath a rib down to the middle of the
in the panting and beating of the heart, j leaves, from among which rises up a hard,
and is good for the yellow jaundice. The j rbun'd, woody stalk, spreading into many
juice dropped into foul ulcers, or they j branches, set with smaller and less divided
washed therewith, or the decoction of the j leaves on them up to the tops, where stand
herb and root, doth wonderfully cleanse j the flowers, which are like the garden kind,
and help to cure them. Lotions and gar- \ and the seed is also (only take notice that
gles for sore mouths, or ulcers therein, or in ; the flowers of the garden kind are gone in
the privy parts or elsewhere, are made with ; on a sunny day, they being so cold, that
the leaves and roots thereof; which is also | they are not able to endure the beams of the
good to fasten loose teeth, and to heal J sun, and therefore more delight in the shade)
spungy foul gums. It helps also to stay I the root is white, but more hard and woody
catarrhs, or defluctions of rheum in the j than the garden kind. The whole plant is
mouth, throat, teeth, or eyes. The juice or ; exceedingly bitter.

water is singularly good for hot and red ; Place.] This grows in many places of
inflamed eyes, if dropped into them, or they ; our land in waste untilled and barren fields,
bathed therewith. It is also of excellent j The other only in gardens,
property for all pushes, wheals and other Government and virtues.] It is an herb of
breakings forth of hot and sharp humours j Jupiter. Garden Succory, as it is more
in the face and hands, and other parts of S dry and less cold than Endive, so it opens
the body, to bathe them therewith, and to i more. An handful of the leaves, or roots
take away. any redness in the face, or spots, i boiled in wine or water, and a draught
or other deformities in the skin, and to make \ thereof drank fasting, drives forth choleric
it clear and smooth. Some use this rnedi- i and phlegmatic humours, opens obstruc-
cine , Take so many Strawberries as you ; tions of the liver, gall and spleen ; helps the
shall think fitting, and put them into a dis- ; yellow jaundice, the heat of the reins, and
tillatory, or body of glass fit for them, which 5 of the urine; the dropsy also ; and those
being well closed, set it in a bed of horse'- that have an evil disposition in their bodies,
dung for your use. It is an excellent water ;by reason of long sickness, evil diet, &c.
for hot inflamed eyes, and to take away aj which the Greeks call Cachexia. Aclecoc-
film or skin lhat begins to grow over them, J tion thereof made with wine, and drank, is

AND ENGLISH PHYSICIAN ENLARGED.

very effectual against long lingering agues ;
and a dram of the seed in powder, drank in
wine, before the fit of the ague, helps to
drive it away. The distilled water of the
herb and flowers (if you can take them in
time) hath the like properties, and is es-
pecially good for hot stomachs, and in
agues, either pestilential or of long con-
tinuance ; for swoonings and passions of
the heart, for the heat and head-ache in
children, and for the blood and liver. The
said water, or the juice, or the bruised
leaves applied outwardly, allay swellings,
inflammations, St. Anthony's fire, pushes,
wheals, and pimples, especially used with
a little vinegar ; as also to wash pestiferous
sores. The said water is very effectual for
sore eyes that are inflamed with redness,
for nurses' breasts that are pained by the
abundance of milk.

The wild Succory, as it is more bitter,
so it is more strengthening to the stomach
and liver.

STONE-CROP, PRICK-MADAM, OR SMALL- '
HOUSELEEK.

Rescript."] IT grows with divers trailing
branches upon the ground, set with many
thick, flat, roundish, whitish green leaves,
pointed at the ends. The flowers stand j
many of them together, somewhat loosely. *
The roots are small, and run creeping under j
ground.

Placed] It grows upon the stone walls
and mud walls, upon the tiles of houses and
pent-houses, and amongst rubbish, and in
other gravelly places.

Time] It flowers in June and July, and
the leaves are green all the Winter.

Government and virtues.] It is under the
dominion of the Moon, cold in quality,
and something binding, and therefore very \
good to stay defluctions, especially such as
fall upon the eyes. It stops bleeding, both
inward and outward, helps cankers, and all
fretting sores and ulcers ; it abates the heat

of choler, thereby preventing diseases
arising from choleric humours. It expels
poison much, resists pestilential fevers, being
exceeding good also for tertian agues : You
may drink the decoction of it, if you please,
for all the foregoing infirmities. It is so
harmless an herb, you can scarce use it
amiss : Being bruised and applied to the
place, it helps the king's evil, and any other
knots or kernels in the flesh ; as also the
piles.

ENGLISH TOBACCO.

Descript] THIS rises up with a round
thick stalk, about two feet high, whereon
do grow thick, flat green leaves, nothing so
large as the other Indian kind, somewhat
round pointed also, and nothing dented
about the edges. The stalk branches forth,
and bears at the tops divers flowers set on
great husks like the other, but nothing so
large : scarce standing above the brims of
the husks, round pointed also, and of a
greenish yellow colour. The seed that
follows is not so bright, but larger, con-
tained in the like great heads. The roots
are neither so great nor woody ; it perishes
every year with the hard frosts in Winter,
but rises generally from its own sowing.

Place.] This came from some parts of
Brazil, as it is thought, and is more familiar
in our country than any of the other sorts ;
early giving ripe seed, which the others sel-
dom do.

Time] It flowers from June, sometimes
to the end of August, or later, and the seed
ripens in the mean lime.

Government and virtues.] It is a martial
plant. It is found by good experience to
be available to expectorate tough phlegm
from the stomach, chest, and lungs. The
juice thereof made into a syrup, or the dis-
tilled water of the herb drank with some
sugar, or without, if you will, or the smcak
taken by a pipe, as is usual, but fainting;,
helps to expel worms in the stomach and

ITS THE COMPLETE HERBAL

belly, and to ease the pains in the head, or? or June, and the seed is ripe and blown

megrim, and the griping pains in the bowels.
Jt is profitable for those that are troubled;
with the stone in the kidneys, both to ease-
the pains by provoking urine, and also to

away in the beginning of September.

Government and virtues.'] A gallant Sa-
turnine herb it is. The root, leaves, young
branches,or bark boiled in wine, and drank,

expel gravel and the stone engendered \ stays the bleeding of the heemorrhodical
therein, and hath been found very effectual | veins, the spitting of blood, the too abound-
to expel windiness, and other humours, \ ing of women's courses, the jaundice, the
which cause the strangling of the mother. |cholic, and the biting of all venomous ser-
The seed hereof is very effectual to expel j pents, except the asp ; and outwardly ap-
the tooth ache, and the ashes of the burnt \ plied, is very powerful against the hardness
herb to cleanse the gums, and make the j of the spleen, and the tooth-ache, pains in
teeth white. The herb bruised and ap- ! the ears, red and watering eyes. The de-
plied to the place grieved with the king's \ coction, with some honey put thereto, is
evil, helps it in nine or ten days effectually, j good to stay gangrenes and fretting ulcers,
Monardus saith, it is a counter poison; and to wash those that are subject to nits
against the biting of any venomous crea-land lice. Alpinus and Veslingius affirm,
ture, the herb also being outwardly applied* That the Egyptians do with good success
lo the hurt place. The distilled water is j use the wood of it to cure the French dis-
often given with some sugar before the fit; ease, as others do with lignum vitse or
of an ague, to lessen it, and take it away in jguiacum ; and give it also to those who
three or four times using. If the distilled j have the leprosy, scabs, ulcers, or the like,
faeces of the herb, having been bruised be- Its ashes doth quickly heal blisters raised
fore the distillation, and not distilled dry, j by burnings or scaldings. It helps the
be set in warm dung for fourteen days, and \ dropsy, arising from the hardness of the
afterwards be hung in a bag in a wine! spleen, and therefore to drink out of cups
cellar, the liquor that distills therefrom is I made of the Avood is good for splenetic
singularly good to use in cramps, aches, j persons. It is also helpful for melancholy,
the gout and sciatica, and to heal itches, | and the black jaundice that arise thereof,
scabs, and running ulcers, cankers, and all |

foul sores whatsoever. The juice is also! GARDEN TANSY.

good for all the said griefs, and likewise to j

kill lice in children's heads. The green | GARDEN Tansy is so well known, that
herb bruised and applied to any green ! it needs no description,
wounds, cures any fresh wound or cut 5 Time.'] It flowers in June and July,
whatsoever: and the juice put into old | Government and virtues."] Dame Venus was
sores, both cleanses and heals them. There j minded to pleasure women with child by this
is also made hereof a singularly good salve |herb,for there grows not an herb, fitter for their
to help imposthumes, hard tumours, and i use than this is ; it is just as though it were
other swellings by blows and falls. i cut out for the purpose. This herb bruised

and applied to the naval, stays miscarriages;

THE TAMARISK TREE. j I know no herb like it for that use : Boiled

| in ordinary beer, and the decoction drank,

It is so well known in the place where it j doth the like ; and if her womb be not as
grows, that it needs no description. ? she would have it, this decoction will make

Time'.] It flowers about the end of May, i it so. Let those women that desire chil-

AND ENGLISH PHYSICIAN ENLARGED. 179

dren love this herb, it is their best com- j and it is true enough, that it will stop the
panion, their husbands excepted. Also it: terms, if worn so, and the whites too, for
consumes the phlegmatic humours, the cold \ ought I know. It stays also spitting or
and moist constitution of Winter most : vomiting of blood. The powder of the
usually affects the body of man with, and he r b taken in some of the distilled water,
that was the first reason of eating tansies in ; helps the whites in women, but more es-
the Spring. The decoction of the common i pecially if a little coral and ivory in pow-
Tansy, or the juice drank in wine, is a sin- j der be put to it. It is also recommended
gular remedy for all the griefs that come: to help children that are bursten, and have
by slopping of the urine, helps the stran- ; a rupture, being boiled in water and salt,
guary and those that have weak reins and ! Being boiled in water and drank, it eases
kidneys. It is also very profitable to dis- ! the griping pains of the bowels, and is good
solve and expel wind in the stomach, belly, : for the sciatica and joint-aches. The same
or bowels, to procure women's courses, and ; boiled in vinegar, with honey and allum,
expel windiness in the matrix, if it be bruis- \ and gargled in the mouth, eases the pains
ed and often smelled unto, as also applied iof the tooth-ache, fastens loose teeth, helps
to the lower part of the belly. It is also j the gums that are sore, and settles the
very profitable for such women as are given j palate of the mouth in its place, when it is
to miscarry. It is used also against the j fallen down. It cleanses and heals ulcers
stone in the reins, especially to men. The Jin the mouth, or secret parts, and is very
herb fried with eggs (as it is the custom in ; good for inward wounds, and to close the
the Spring-time) which is called a Tansy, | lips of green wounds, and to heal old, moist,
helps to digest and carry downward those | and corrupt running sores in the legs or
bad humours that trouble the stomach. | elsewhere. Being bruised and applied to
The seed is very profitably given to chil- the soles of the feet and hand wrists, it
dren for the worms, and the juice in drink i wonderfully cools the hot fits of agues, be
is as effectual. Being boiled in oil, it is i they never so violent. The distilled water
good for the sinews shrunk by cramps, or ; cleanses the skin of all discolourings there-
pained with colds, if thereto applied. :in, as morphew, sun-burnings, &c. as also

1 pimples, freckles, and the like ; and

WILD TANSY, OR SILVER WEED. , . , , .,

' dropped into the eyes, or cloths wet therein

THIS is also so well known, that it needs? and applied, takes away the heat and in-
no description. flammations in them.

Placed] It grows in every place.
Time.'] It flowers in June and July
Government and virtues.'] Now Dame

THISTLES.

OF these are many kinds growing here in

Venus hath fitted women with two herbs of \ England which are so well known, that
one name, the one to help conception, and | they need no description : Their difference
the other to maintain beauty, and what j is easily known on the places where they
more can be expected of her? What now i grow, viz.

remains for you, but to love your husbands, 5 Place.'] Some grow in fields, some in
and not to be wanting to your poor neigh- i meadows, and some among the corn ; others
boars? Wild Tansy stays the lask, and all Ion heaths, greens, and waste grounds in
the fluxes of blood in men and women, ; many places.

which some say it will do, if the green herb J Time.'] They flower in June and August,
be worn in the shoes, so it be next the skin ; * and their seed is ripe quickly after.

3 A

180 THE COMPLETE HERBAL

Government and virtues.'] Surely Mars i being drank, expels superfluous melancholy
rules it, it is such a prickly business. All \ out of the body, and makes a man as merry
these thistles are good to provoke urine, j as a cricket ; superfluous melancholy causes
and to mend the stinking smell thereof; as 5 care, fear, sadness, despair, envy, and many
also the rank smell of the arm-pits, or the evils more besides ; but religion teaches to
whole body ; being boiled in wine and * wait upon God's providence, and cast our
drank, and are said to help a stinking \ care upon him who cares for us. What a
breath, and to strengthen the stomach. fine thing were it if men and women could
Pliny saith, That the juice bathed on the j live so ? And yet seven years' care and fear
place that wants hair, it being fallen off, ; makes a man never the wiser, nor a farthing
will cause it to grow speedily. 5 richer. Dioscorides saith, the root borne

' about one doth the like, and removes all

THE MELANCHOLY THISTLE. , A/r i

s diseases of melancholy. Modern writers

Descript.~\ IT rises up with tender single ; laugh at him ; Let them laugh that win : my
hoary green stalks, bearing thereon four or j opinion is, that it is the best remedy against
five green leaves, dented about the edges;; all melancholy diseases that grows; they
the points thereof are little or nothing j that please may use it.
prickly, and at the top usually but one head , \ ,

yet sometimes from the bosom of the upper- j

most leaves there shoots forth another small j Descript.~] OUR Lady's Thistle hath
head, scaly and prickly, with many reddish j divers very large and broad leaves lying on
thrumbs or threads in the middle, which j the ground cut in, and as it were crumpled,
being gathered fresh, will keep the colour; but somewhat hairy on the edges, of a white
a long time, and fades not from the stalk a | green shining colour, wherein are many
long time, while it perfects the seed, which ! lines and streaks of a milk white colour,
is of a mean bigness, lying in the down, i running all over, and set with many sharp
The root hath many strings fastened to the j and stiff prickles all about, among which
head, or upper part, which is blackish, and irises up one or more strong, round, and
perishes not. j prickly stalks, set full of the like leaves up

There is another sort little differing from \ to the top, where at the end of every branch,
the former, but that the leaves are more | comes forth a great prickly Thistle-like
green above, and more hoary underneath, \ head, strongly armed with prickles, and
and the stalk being about two feet high, j with bright purple thumbs rising out of the
bears but one scaly head, with threads and j middle ; after they are past, the seed grows
seeds as the former. \ in the said heads, lying in soft white down,

Placed] They grow in many moist mea- which is somewhat flattish in the ground,
dows of this land, as well in the southern, as j and many strings and fibres fastened there-
in the northern parts. \ unto. All the whole plant is bitter in taste.
Time.~\ They flower about July or j Place.~\ It is frequent on the banks of
August, and their seed ripens quickly after. j almost every ditch.

Government and virtues^] It is under : Time.'] It flowers and seeds in June,
Capricorn, and therefore under both Saturn 5 July, and August.

and Mars, one rids melancholy by sym pa-; Government and virtues.'] Our Lady's
thy, the other by antipathy. Their virtues j Thistle is under Jupiter, and thought to be
are but few, but those not to be despised ; j as effectual as Carduus Benedictus for
for the decoction of the thistle in wine j agues, and to prevent and cure the infection

AND ENGLISH PHYSICIAN ENLARGED. 181

of the plague : as also to open the obstruc- : persons that have their bodies drawn toge-
tions of the liver and spleen, and thereby is j ther by some spasm or convulsion, or other
good against the jaundice. It provokes j infirmities ; as the rickets (or as the college
urine, breaks and expels the stone, and is j of physicians would have it, Rachites, about
e;ood for the dropsy. It is effectual also for \ which name they have quarrelled sufficiently)
the pains in the sides, and many other in- | in children, being a disease that hinders
ward pains and gripings^ The seed and ; their growth, by binding their nerves,
distilled water is held powerful to all the s ligaments, and whole structure of their
purposes aforesaid, and besides, it is often j body.

applied both outwardly with cloths or; TRE FULLR , S THI8T OR TEASLE>
spunges to the region of the liver, to cool;

the distemper thereof, and to the region of } IT is so well known, that it needs no
the heart, against swoonings and the pas- \ description, being used with the cloth-
sions of it. It cleanses the blood exceed- j workers.

ingly : and in Spring, if you please to boil j The wild Teasle is in all things like the
the 'tender plant (but cut off the prickles, {former, but that the prickles are small, soft,
unless you have a mind to choak yourself) f and upright, not hooked or stiff, and the
it will change your blood as the season : flowers of this are of a fine blueish, or pale
changes, and that is the way to be safe. I carnation colour, but of the manured kind,

5 whitish.

THE WOOLLEN, OR, COTTON THISTLE. ! T,, -, rpi c

Place.] Ihe first grows, being sown m

DescriptJ\ THIS has many large leaves 1 gardens or fields for the use of clothworkers :
lying upon the ground, somewhat cut in, (The other near ditches and rills of water in
and as it were crumpled on the edges, of a; many places of this land,
green < olour on the upper side, but covered ; TirneJ] They flower in July, and are ripe
over with a long hairy wool or cotton down, ; in the end of August.

set with most sharp and cruel pricks ; from : Government and virtues.~] It is an herb of
the middle of whose heads of flowers come : Venus. Dioscorides saith, That the root
forth many purplish crimson threads, and ; bruised and boiled in wine, till it be thick,
sometimes white, although but seldom, j and kept in a brazen vessel, and after spread
The seed that follow in those white downy : as a salve, and applied to the fundament,
heads, is somewhat large and round, re- 'doth heal the cleft thereof, cankers and
sembling the seed of Lady's Thistle, but; fistulas therein, also takes away warts and
paler. The root is great and thick, spread- ! wens. The juice of the leaves dropped into
irig much, yet usually dies after seed time. | the ears, kills worms in them. The dis-
Place.~] It grows on divers ditch-banks, j tilled water of the leaves dropped into the
and in the corn-fields, ana highways, gene- 5 eyes, takes away redness and mists in them
rally throughout the land, and is often j that hinder the sight, and is often used by
growing in gardens. ; women to preserve their beauty, and to take

Government and virtues."] It is a plant of; away redness and inflammations, and all
Mars. Dioscorides and Pliny write, That J other heat or discolourings.
the leaves and roots hereof taken in drink, >

. , . TREACLE MUSTARD.

help those that have a crick in their neck, >

that they cannot turn it, unless they turn | Descript.~] IT rises up with a hard round
their whole body. Galen saith, That the j stalk, about a foot high, parted into some
roots and leaves hereof are good for such > branches, having divers soft green leaves.

182 THE COMPLETE HERBAL

long and narrow, set thereon, waved, but I resisting poison, venom and putrefaction,
not cut into the edges, broadest towards the! It is also available in many cases for which
ends, somewhat round pointed ; the flowers \ the common Mustard is used, but somewhat
are white that grow at the tops of the \ weaker,
branches, spike-fashion, one above another: i

P. j' j TIIE BLACK THORN, OR SLOE-BUSH.

after which come round pouches, parted in \

the middle with a furrow, having one black- 1 IT is so well known, that it needs no
ish brown seed on either side, somewhat j description.

sharp in taste, and smelling of garlick, j Place] It grows in every county in the
especially in the fields where it is natural, | hedges and borders of fields,
but not so much in gardens: The roots j Time] It flowers in April, and some-
are small and thready, perishing every year. : times in March, but the fruit ripens after all

Give me leave hereto add Mithridate j other plums whatsoever, and is not fit to
Mustard, although it may seem more pro- ; be eaten until the Autumn frost mellow
perly by the name to belong to M, in the j them.

alphabet. Government and virtues] All the parts of

| the Sloe-Bush are binding, cooling, and
MITHRIDATE MUSTARD. | dry , and aU effectual to stay bleeding at the

Descript] THIS grows higher than the j nose and mouth, or any other place; the
former, spreading moreand higher branches, j lask of the belly or stomach, or the bloody
whose leaves are smaller and narrower, j flux, the too much abounding of women's
sometimes unevenly dented about the edges. | courses, and helps to ease the pains of the
The flowers are small and white, growing i sides, and bowels, that come by overmuch
on long branches, with much smaller and i scouring, to drink the decoction of the bark
rounder vessels after them, and parted in ; of the roots, or more usually the decoction
the same manner, having smaller brown 5 of the berries, either fresh or dried. The
seeds than the former, and much sharper in j conserve also is of very much use, and more
taste. The root perishes after seed time, j familiarly taken for the purposes aforesaid,
but abides the first Winter after springing, j But the distilled water of the flower first

Place.] They grow in sundry places in j steeped in sack for a night, and drawn
this land, as half a mile from Hatfield, by | therefrom by the heat of Balneum and
the river side, under a hedge as you go to j Anglico, a bath, is a most certain remedy,
Hatfield, and in the street of Peckham on j tried and approved, to ease all manner of
Surrey side. jgnawrogs in the stomach, the sides and

Time] They flower and seed from May i bowels, or any griping pains in any of them,
to August. ? to drink a small quantity when the extre-

Government and virtues] Both of them \ mity of pain is upon them. The leaves
are herbs of Mars. The Mustards are said j also are good to make lotions to gargle and
to purge the body both upwards and down- j wash the mouth and throat, wherein are
wards, and procure women's courses so swellings, sores, or kernels ; and to stay the
abundantly, that it suffocates the birth. | defluctions of rheum to the eyes, or other
It breaks inward imposthumes, being taken \ parts ; as also to cool the heat and inflam-
inwardly ; and used in clysters, helps the i mations of them, and ease hot pains of the
sciatica. The seed applied, doth the same. \ head, to bathe the forehead and temples
It is an especial ingredient in mithridatej there with. The simple distilled water of
and treacle, being of itself an antidote [the flowers is very effectual for the said

Pi. ATI-: L9

Tr e a c le MILS t a-r

T n_s t i\ 11

T h o i- o 1 1 -^ li \V : i

Too t!li-\vor t

La >!V'K Tin atle

\ iUl Te a

( ' < 1 1 1 o 1 1 r 1 1 1 s t i c-

AND ENGLISH PHYSICIAN ENLARGED. 103

purposes, and the condensate juice of the [applied with a little flour and wax to chil-
Sloes. The distilled water of the green \ dren's navels that stick forth, it helps them,
berries is used also for the said effects.

THYME.

THOROUGH WAX, OR THOROUGH LEAF. j It is in vain to describe an herb so com-

tmonly known.

Descript.~\ COMMON Thorough- Wax | Government and virtues."] It is a noble
sends forth a strait round stalk, two feet strengthener of the lungs, as notable a one

high, or better, whose lower leaves being
of a bluish colour, are smaller and narrower
than those up higher, and stand close there-
to, not compassing it; but as they grow
higher, they do not encompass the stalks,

as grows ; neither is there scarce a better
remedy growing for that disease in children
which they commonly call the Chin-cough,
than it is. It purges the body of phlegm,
and is an excellent remedy for shortness of

until it wholly pass through them, branch- 1 breath. It kills worms in the belly, and
ing toward the top into many parts, where: being a notable herb of Venus, provokes
the leaves grow smaller again, every one {the terms, gives safe and speedy delivery
standing singly, and never two at a joint. \ to women in travail, and brings away the
The flowers are small and yellow, standing I after birth. It is so harmless you need not
in tufts at the heads of the branches, where 5 fear the use of it. An ointment made of it
afterwards grow the seed, being blackish, ; takes away hot swellings and warts, helps
many thick thrust together. The root is \ the sciatica and dullness of sight, and takes
small, long and woody, perishing every I away pains and hardness of the spleen,
year, after seed-time, and rising again plen- | Tis excellent for those that are troubled
tifully of its own sowing. | with the gout. It eases pains in the loins

Place.'] It is found growing in many {and hips. The herb taken any way in-
corn-fields and pasture grounds in thisjwardly, comforts the stomach much, and
land. expels wind.

Time.'] It flowers in July, and the seed
is ripe in August.

Government and virtues.'] Both this and

WILD THYME, OR MOTHER OF THYME.

WILD Thyme also is so well known, that

the former are under the influence of 5 it needs no description.
Saturn. Thorough- Wax is of singular good * Place.] It may be found commonly in
use for all sorts of bruises and wounds either I commons, and other barren places through-
inward or outward ; and old ulcers and j out the nation.

sores likewise, if the decoction of the herb \ Government and virtues.'] It is under the
with water and wine be drank, and the j dominion of Venus, and under the sign
place washed therewith, or the juice of the J Aries, and therefore chiefly appropriated
green herb bruised, or boiled, either by i to the head. It provokes urine and the
itself, or with other herbs, in oil or hog's ! terms, and eases the griping pain of the
grease, to be made into an ointment to servej belly, cramps, ruptures, and inflamation
all the year. The decoction of the herb, j of the liver. If you make a vinegar of the
or powder of the dried herb, taken inwardly, \ herb, as vinegar of roses is made (you may
and the same, or the leaves bruised, and! find out the way in my translation of the
applied outwardly, is singularly good for \ London Dispensatory) and anoint the head
all ruptures and burstings, especially in with it, it presently stops the pains thereof,
children before they be too old. Being lit is excellently good to be given either in

1 3 B

184 THE COMPLETE HERBAL

phrenzy or lethargy, although they are two j is an ingredient in all antidotes or counter
contrary diseases : It helps spitting and j poisons. Andreas Urlesius is of opinion
voiding of blood, coughing, and vomiting ;: that the decoction of this root is no less
it comforts and strengthens the head, 1 effectual to cure the French pox than Gui-
stomach, reins, and womb, expels wind, I acurn or China ; and it is not unlikely,
and breaks the stone. \ because it so mightily resists putrefaction.

jThe root taken inwardly is most effectual
to help any flux of the belly, stomach,
spleen, or blood ; and the juice wonder-

TORMENTIL, OR SEPTFOIL.

Descripi.~] THIS hath reddish, slender,:

weak branches rising from the root, lying j fully opens obstructions of the liver and
on the ground, rather leaning than standing Hungs, and thereby helps the yellow jaun-
upright, with many short leaves that stand! dice. The powder or decoction drank, or
closer to the stalk than cinquefoil (to which ; to sit thereon as a bath, is an assured remedy
this is very like) with the root-stalk com- 1 against abortion, if it proceed from the
passing the branches in several places ; but { over flexibility or weakness of the inward
those that grow to the ground are set upon i retentive faculty ; as also a plaster made
long foot stalks, each whereof are like the I therewith, and vinegar applied to the reins
leaves of cinquefoil, but somewhat long and j of the back, doth much help not only this,
lesser dented about the edges, many of j but also those that cannot hold their water,
them divided into five leaves, but most: the powder being taken in the juice of
of them into seven, whence it is also called 1 plaintain, and is also commended against
Septfoil ; yet some may have six, and some j the worms in children. It is very powerful
eight, according to the fertility of the soil. |in ruptures and burstings, as also for bruises
At the tops of the branches stand divers | and falls, to be used as well outwardly as
small yellow flowers, consisting of five j inwardly. The root hereof made up with
leaves, like those of cinquefoil, but smaller.} pellitory of Spain and allum, and put into
The root is smaller than bistort, somewhat la hollow tooth, not only assuages tne pain,
thick, but blacker without, and not so red j but stays the flux of humours which causes
within, yet sometimes a little crooked, \ it. Tormentil is no less effectual and
having blackish fibres thereat. j powerful a remedy against outward wounds,

Placed] It grows as well in woods and j sores and hurts, than for inward, and is
shadowy places, as in the open champain j therefore a special ingredient to be used in
country, about the borders of fields in many | wound drinks, lotions and injections, for
places of this land, and almost in every j foul corrupt rotten sores and ulcers of the
broom field in Essex. i mouth, secrets, or other parts of the body.

Time.'] It flowers all the Summer long. iThe juice or powder of the root put in
Government and virtues.] This is a gallant! ointments, plaisters, and such things that
herb of the Sun. Tormentil is most ex- \ are to be applied to wounds or sores, is very
cellent to stay all kind of fluxes of blood or { effectual, as the juice of the leaves and the
humours in man or woman, whether at I root bruised and applied to the throat or
nose, mouth, or belly. The juice of the jaws, heals the king's evil, and eases the

herb of the root, or the decoction thereof,
taken with some Venice treacle, and the

pain of the sciatica; the same used with a
little vinegar, is a special remedy against

person laid to sweat, expels any venom or Uhe running sores of the head or other
poison, or the plague, fever, or other con- j parts ; scabs also, and the itch or any such
tagious diseases, as pox, measles, &c. for it {eruptions in the skin, proceeding of salt and

AND ENGLISH PHYSICIAN ENLARGED. 185

sharp humours. The same is also effectual
for the- piles or haemorrhoids, if they be
washed or bathed therewith, or with the

of joint and newly set, and full of pain, do
give much ease ; the seed and juice of the
leaves also being rubbed with a little salt

distilled water of the herb and roots. It is , upon warts and wens, and other kernels in
found also helpful to dry up any sharp I the face, eye-lids, or any other part of the
rheum that distills from the head into the: body, will, by often using, take them away,
eyes, causing redness, pain, waterings, itch- i

ing, or the like, if a little prepared tutia, or \ MEADOW TREFOIL, OR HONEYSUCKLES.
white amber, be used with the distilled j

water thereof. And here is enough, only i It is so well known, especially by the
remember the Sun challengeth this herb. I name of Honeysuckles, white and red, that

! I need not describe them.

TURNSOLE, OR HELIOTROPIUM. p^ -j ^ ^ almost every where

DescriptJ] THE greater Turnsole rises' in this land.

with one upright stalk, about a foot high, or j Government and virtues.] Mercury hath
rriore, dividing itself almost from the bottom, > dominion over the common sort. Dodo-
into divers small branches, of a hoary colour; j neus saith, The leaves and flowers are good
at each joint of the stalk and branches grow | to ease the griping pains of the gout, the
small broad leaves, somewhat white and | herb being boiled and used in a clyster,
hairy. At the tops of the stalks and branches i If the herb be made into a poultice, and
stand small white flowers, consisting of four, ? applied to inflammations, it will ease them,
and sometimes five small leaves, set in | The juice dropped in the eyes, is a familiar
order one above another, upon a small j medicine, with many country people, to
crooked spike, which turns inwards like a i take away the pin and web (as they call it)
bowed finger, opening by degrees as the fin the eyes; it also allays the heat and
flowers blow open; after which in their j blood shooting of them. Country people
place come forth cornered seed, four for the | do also in many places drink the juice
most part standing together; the root is \ thereof against the biting of an adder ; and
small and thready, perishing every year, i having boiled the berb in water, they first
and the seed shedding every year, raises it | wash the place with the decoction, and then
again the next spring. \ lay some of the herb also to the hurt place.

Place.'] It grows in gardens, and flowers) The herb also boiled in swine's grease, and
and seeds with us, notwithstanding it is not j so made into an ointment, is good to apply
natural to this land, but to Italy, Spain, and i to the biting of any venomous creature.
France, where it grows plentifully. jThe herb also bruised and heated between

Government and virtues.'] It is an herb of \ tiles, and applied hot to the share, causes
the Sun, and good one too. Dio^corides| them to make water who had it stopt be-
saith, That a good handful of this, which is { fore. It is held likewise to be good for
called the Great Turnsole, boiled in water, \ wounds, and to take away seed. The de-
and drank, purges both choler and phlegm; 1 coction of the herb and flowers, with the
and boiled with cummin, helps the stone in j seed and root, taken for some time, helps
the reins, kidneys, or bladder, provokes | women that are troubled with the whites,
urine and women's courses, and causes an | The seed and flowers boiled in water, and
easy and speedy delivery in child-birth. | afterwards made into a poultice with some
The leaves bruised and applied to places | oil, and applied, helps hard swellings and
pained with the gout, or that have been out! imposthumes.

186

THE COMPLETE HERBAL

HEART TREFOIL.

BESIDES the ordinary sort of Trefoil,

they yield a reddish juice or liquor, some-
what resinous, and of a harsh and stypick
taste, as the leaves also and the flowers be,

here are two more remarkable, and one of \ although much less, but do not yield such
which may be properly called Heart Tre-ja clear claret wine colour, as some say it

foil, not only because the leaf is triangular,
like the heart of a man, but also because
each leaf contains the perfection of a heart,
and that in its proper colour, viz. a flesh

doth, the root is brownish, somewhat great,
hard and woody, spreading well in the
ground.

Placed] It grows in many woods, groves,

colour. ! and woody grounds, as parks and forests,

Place.] It grows between Longford and ; and by hedge-sides in many places in this

Bow, and beyond Southwark, by the high- j land, as in Hampstead wood, by Ratley in

way and parts adjacent. ! Essex, in the wilds of Kent, and in many

Government and virtues^] It is under the ) other places needless to recite.

dominion of the Sun, and if it were used, it | Time.'] It flowers later than St. John's

would be found as great a strengthener of! or St. Peter's-wort.

the heart, and cherisher of the vital spirits { Government and virtues.'] It is an herb of

as grows, relieving the body against faint-
ing and swoonings, fortifying it against
poison and pestilence, defending the heart
against the noisome vapours of the spleen.

Saturn, and a most noble anti-venerean.
Tustan purges choleric humours, as St.
Peter's-wort is said to do, for therein it
works the same effects, both to help the

PEARL TREFOIL.

sciatica and gout, and to heal burning by
I fire ; it stays all the bleedings of wounds,

IT differs not from the common sort, j if either the green herb be bruised, or the
save only in this particular, it bath a while * powder of the dry be applied thereto. It
spot in the leaf like a pearl. It is particu- j hath been accounted, and certainly it is,
larly under the dominion of the Moon, and \ a sovereign herb to heal either wound or
its icon shews that it is of a singular virtue | sore, either outwardly or inwardly, and
against the pearl, or pin and web in the ; therefore always used in drinks, lotions,
eyes. ! green wounds, ulcers, or old sores, in all

\ balms, oils, ointments, or any other sorts of

TUSTAN, OR PARK LEAVES. 1-1 cc

I which the continual experience of former

Descript.~] IT hath brownish shining {ages hath confirmed the use thereof to be
round stalks, crested the length thereof, j admirably good, though it be not so much
rising two by two, and sometimes three feet j in use now, as when physicians and sur-
high, branching forth even from the bottom, \ geons were so wise as to use herbs more
having divers joints, and at each of them | than now they do.
two fair large leaves standing, of a dark I

. , -j GARDEN VALERIAN.

blueish green colour on the upper side, and |

of a yellowish green underneath, turning! Descript.~\ THIS hath a thick short
reddish toward Autumn. At the top of the! greyish root, lying for the most part above
stalks stand large yellow flowers, and heads i ground, shooting forth on all other sides
with seed, which being greenish at the first 5 such like small pieces of roots, which have
and afterwards reddish, turn to be of a * all of them many long green strings and
blackish purple colour when they are ripe, j fibres under them in the ground, whereby
with small brownish seed within them, and | it draws nourishment. From the head of

PLATE 20

. a in

Valfl 1:1 ii

Viper's Bugloss

Wo ad

< i> i n <

Flower

1 - - ' " i-

V.I. r I o ,

' s (CKLL1 . LQKDOK. 1835 .

AND ENGLISH PHYSICIAN ENLARGED. 187

these roots spring up many green leaves, j virtue against the plague, the decoction
which at first are somewhat broad and long, \ thereof being drank, and the root being
without any divisions at all in them, or dent- ju^ed to smell to. It helps to expel the
ing on the edges ; but those that rise up j wind in the belly. The green herb with

aftet are more and more divided on each ',
side, some to the middle rib, being winged,
as made of many leaves together on a stalk,

the root taken fresh, being bruised and ap-
plied to the head, takes away the pains and
prickings there, stays rheum and thin dis-

and those upon a s talk, in like manner morel filiation, and being boiled in white wine,
divided, but smaller towards the top than j and a drop thereof put into the eyes, takes
below ; the stalk rises to be a yard high or j away the dimness of the sight, or any pin
more, sometimes branched at the top, with 5 or web therein. It is of excellent property
many small whitish flowers, sometimes j to heal any inward sores or wounds, and

dashed over at the edges with a pale pur-
plish colour, of a little scent, which passing
away, there follows small browinsh white
seed, that is easily carried away with the
wind. The root smells more strong than
either leaf or flower, and is of more use in
medicines.

PlaceJ] It is generally kept with us in

also for outward hurts or wounds, and
drawing away splinters or thorns out of the
flesh.

VERVAIN.

Descript.~\ THE common Vervain hath
somewhat long broad leaves next the ground
deeply gashed about the edges, and some

gardens. * only deeply denied, or cut all alike, of a

Time.'] It flowers in June and July, and j blackish green colour on the upper side,
continues flowering until the frost pull it j somewhat grey underneath. The stalk is
down. i square, branched into several parts, rising

Government and virtues.'] This is under 5 about two feet high, especially if you
the influence of Mercury. Dioscorides reckon the long spike of flowers at ihe tops
saith, That the Garden Valerian hath ajof them, which are set on all sides one above
warming faculty, and that being dried and ' another, and sometimes two or three toge-
given to drink it provokes urine, and helps ; ther, being small and gaping, of a blue
the stranguary. The decoction thereof j colour and white intermixed, after which
taken, doth the like also, and takes away ! come small round seed, in small and some-

pains of thesides, provokes women's courses, j what long heads. The root is small and
and is used in antidotes. Pliny saith, That \ long.

the powder of the root given in drink, or! Place.] It grows generally throughout
the decoction thereof taken, helps all stopp- j this land in divers places of the hedges and
ings and stranglings in any part of the j way-sides, and other waste grounds,
body, whether they proceed of pains in the \ Time.'] It flowers in July, and the seed
chest or sides, and takes them away. The j is ripe soon after.

root of Valerian boiled with liquorice, rai- \ Government and virtues.] This is an herb
sins, and anniseed, is singularly good for J of Venus, and excellent for the womb to
those that are short-winded, and for those j strengthen and remedy all the cold griefs of
that are troubled with the cough, and helps i it, as Plantain doth the hot. Vervain is
to open the passages, and to expectorate | hot and dry, opening obstructions, cleans-
phlegm easily. It is given to those that are j ing and healing. It helps the yellow jaun-
bitten or stung by any venomous creature, j dice, the dropsy and the gout ; it kills and
being boiled in wine. It is of a special^ expels worms in the belly, and causes a

' 3c

183 THE COMPLETE HERBAL

good colour in the face and body, strengthens | meal into a poultice, if cools inflammations
as well as corrects the diseases of the stomach, j of wounds; the dropping of the vine, when
liver, and spleen ; helps the cough, wheez- 5 it is cut in the Spring, which country people
ings, and shortness of breath, and all the \ call Tears, being boiled in a syrup, with
defects of the reins and bladder, expelling I sugar, and taken inwardly, is excellent to
the gravel and stone. It is held to be good | stay women's longings after every thing

against the biting of sepents, and other
venomous beasts, against the plague, and

they see, which is a disease many women
with child are subject to. The decoction of

both tertian and quartan agues. It con- Vine leaves in white wine doth the like,
solidates and heals also all wounds, both * Also the tears of the Vine, drank two or
inward and outward, stays bleedings, and \ three spoonfuls at a time, breaks the stone
used with some honey, heals all old ulcers ! in the bladder. This is a very good remedy,,
and fistulas in the legs or other parts of the! and it is discreetly done, to kill a Vine to
body ; as also those ulcers that happen in I cure a man, but the salt of the leaves are
the mouth ; or used Avith hog's grease, it j held to be better. The ashes of the burnt
helps the swellings and pains of the secret \ branches will make teeth that are as black
parts in man or woman, also for the piles j as a coal, to be as white as snow, if you but
or haemorrhoids ; applied with some oil of | every morning rub them with it. It is a
roses and vinegar unto the forehead and most gallant Tree of the Sun, very sympa-
temples, it eases the inveterate pains and ; thetical with the body of men, and that is
ache of the head, and is good for those that | the reason spirit of wine is the greatest cor-
are frantic. The leaves bruised, or the i dial among all vegetables,
juice of them mixed with some vinegar, \
doth wonderfully cleanse the skin, andj

lakes away morphew, freckles, fistulas, and J BOTH the tame and the wild are so well
other such like inflamations and defor- \ known, that they need no description,
mities of the skin in any parts of the body, j Time."} They flower until the end of
The distilled water of the herb when it is in J July, but are best in March, and the begin-
full strength, dropped into the eyes, cleanses] ning of April.

them from films, clouds, or mists, that \ Government and virtues^] They are a fine
darken the sight, and wonderfully strengthens \ pleasing plant of Venus, of a mild nature,
the optic nerves. The said water is very \ no way harmful. All the Violets are cold
powerful in all the diseases aforesaid, either land moist while they are fresh and green,
inward or outward, whether they be old j and are used to cool any heat, or distem-
corroding sores, or green wounds. The \ perature of the body, either inwardly or
dried root, and peeled, is known to be ex-! outwardly, as inflammations in the eyes, in
cellently good against all scrophulous and \ the matrix or fundament, in imposthumes
scorbutic habits of body, by being tied to j also, and hot swellings, to drink the decoc-
the pit of the stomach, by a piece of white* tion of the leaves and flowers made with water
ribband round the neck. : in wine, or to apply them poultice-wise

| to the grieved places : it likewise eases pains
| in the head, caused through want of sleep ;

THE leaves of the English vine (I do not lor any other pains arising of heat, being
mean to send you to the Canaries for a | applied in the same manner, or with oil of
medicine (being boiled, makes a good lotion j roses. A dram weight of the dried 'eaves
for sore mouths ; being boiled with barley i or flower of Violets, but the leaves more

AND ENGLISH PHYSICIAN ENLARGED. 189

strongly, doth purge the body of choleric j rough, hairy, or prickly sad green leaves*
humours, and assuages the heat, being | somewhat narrow; the middle rib for the

taken in a draught of wine, or any other
drink ; the powder of the purple leaves of
the flowers, only picked and dried and

most part being white. The flowers stand
at the top of the stalk, branched forth m
many long spiked leaves of flowers bowing

i i _ i ^

drank in water, is said to help the quinsy, { or turning like the turnsole, all opening for

and the falling-sickness in children, espe-
cially in the beginning of the disease. The
flowers of the white Violets ripen and dis-
solve swellings. The herb or flowers, while
they are fresh, or the flowers when they are
dry, are effectual in the pleurisy, and all

the most part on the one side, which are
long and hollow, turning up the brims a
little, of a purplish violet colour in them
that are fully blown, but more reddish while
they are in the bud, as also upon their de-
cay and withering ; but in some places of

diseases of the lungs, to lenify the sharp- j a paler purplish colour, with a long poiritel
ness in hot rheums, and the hoarseness of sin the middle, feathered or parted at the
the throat, the heat also and sharpness of; top. After the flowers are fallen, the seeds

urine, and all the pains of the back or reins,
and bladder. It is good also for the liver

growing to be ripe, are blackish, cornered
and pointed somewhat like the head of a

and the jaundice, and all hot agues, to cool j viper. The root is somewhat great and
the heat, and quench the thirst ; but the \ blackish, and woolly, when it grows toward
syrup of Violets is of most use, and of better j seed-time, and perishes in the Winter,
effect, being taken in some convenient j There is another sort, little differing from
liquor : and if a little of the juice or syrupy the former, only in this, that it bears white
of lemons be put to it, or a few drops of the I flowers.

oil of vitriol, it is made thereby the more? Place.] The first grows wild almost
powerful to cool the heat, and quench the I every where. That with white flowers
thirst, and gives to the drink a claret wine j about the castle-walls at Lewis in Sussex.
colour, and a fine tart relish, pleasing to the ! Time.] They flower in Summer, and
taste. Violets taken, or made up with I their seed is ripe quickly after,
honey, do more cleanse and cool, and with ! Government and virtues] It is a most
sugar contrary-wise. The dried flower of gallant herb of the Sun ; it is a pity it is no
Violets are accounted amongst the cordial more in use than it is. It is an especial
drinks, powders, and other medicines, es- remedy against the biting of the Viper, and
pecially where cooling cordials are neces- j all other venomous beasts, or serpents ; as
sary. The green leaves are used with other j also against poison, or poisonous herbs,
herbs to make plaisters and poultices to { Dioscorides and others say, That whosoever
inflammations and swellings, and to ease all j shall take of the herb or root before they be
pains whatsoever, arising of heat, and for j bitten, shall not be hurt by the poison of any
the piles also, being fried with yolks of eggs, 5 serpent. The root or seed is thought to be
and applied thereto. \ most effectual to comfort the heart, and

, I ex pel sadness, or causeless melancholy; it

I tempers the blood, and allays hot fits of

Descripl.] THIS hath many long rough! agues. The seed drank in wine, procures
leaves lying on the ground, from among* abundance of milk in women's breasts,
which rises up divers hard round stalks, | The same also being taken, eases the pains
very rough, as if they were thick set with j in the loins, back, and kidneys. The dis-
prickles or hairs, whereon are set such like 5 tilled water of the herb when it is in flower,

190 THE COMPLETE HERBAL

or its chief strength, is excellent to be ap-jings, comforts and strengthens any weak
plied either inwardly or outwardly, for all? part, or out of joint; helps to cleanse the
the griefs aforesaid. There is a syrup made ? eyes from mistiness or films upon them,

hereof very effectual for the comforting:
the heart, and expelling sadness and melan- ;

and to cleanse the filthy ulcers in the mouth,
or any other part, and is a singular remedy

choly. j for the gout, and all aches and pains in the

WATT FTOWFRS OR wTVTFR. r TT T T J oints and sinews. A conserve made of the

W AJbJH Jc iiU W r/ Kn, UK. Wl^lliiJtt \jiiiLiL l" a if t i .1 f .1

FLOWERS i flowers, is used for a remedy both for the

1 apoplexy and palsy.

THE garden kind are so well known that!
they need no description. THE LLNUT TREE -

Descript.'] The common single Wall- \ IT is so well known, that it needs no des-
flowers, which grow wild abroad, have sun- I cription.

dry small, long, narrow, dark green leaves, j Time.] It blossoms early before the
set without order upon small round, whitish, j leaves come forth, and the fruit is ripe in
woody stalks, which bear at the tops divers 5 September.

single yellow flowers one above another, I Government and virtues.'] This is also a
every one bearing four leaves a-piece, and i plant of the Sun. Let the fruit of it be
of a very sweet scent : after which come j gathered accordingly, which you shall find
long pods, containing a reddish seed. The J to be of most virtues while they are green,
roots are white, hard and thready. | before they have shells. The bark of the

> Place.] It grows upon church walls, and \ Tree doth bind and dry very much, and the
old walls of many houses, and other stone \ leaves are much of the same temperature :
walls in divers places ; The other sort in ! but the leaves when they are older, are heat-
gardens only. } ing and drying in the second degree, and

Time.'] All the single kinds do flower j harder of digestion than when they are
many times in the end of Autumn ; and if? fresh, which, by reason of their sweetness,
the Winter be mild, all the Winter long, \ are more pleasing, and better digesting in
but especially in the months of February, I the stomach ; and taken with sweet wine,
March, and April, and until the heat of the! they move the belly downwards, but being
spring do spend them. But the double i old, they grieve the stomach; and in hot
kinds continue not flowering in that manner ' bodies cause the choler to abound and the
all the year long, although they flower very \ head-ach, and are an enemy to those that
early sometimes, and in some places very i have the cough ; but are less hurtful to those
late. | that have a colder stomach, and are said to

Government and virtues.'] The Moon rules f kill the broad worms in the belly or stomach,
them. Galen, in his seventh book of sim- 1 If they be taken with onions, salt, and
pie medicines, saith, That the yellow Wall- i honey, they help the biting of a mad dog,
flowers work more powerfully than any or the venom or infectious poison of any
of the other kinds, and are therefore of more | beast, &c. Caias Pompeius found in the
use in physic. It cleanses the blood, and 1 treasury of Mithridales, king of Pontus,
fretteth the liver and reins from obstruc- i when he was overthrown, a scroll of his own
tions, provokes women's courses, expels the hand writing, containing a medicine against
secundine, and the dead child ; helps the t any poison or infection ; which is this ;
hardness and pain of the mother, and of j Take two dry walnuts, and as many good
spleen also ; stays inflammations and swell- ^ figs, and twenty leaves of rue, bruised and

AND ENGLISH PHYSICIAN ENLARGED. 191

beaten together with two or three corns of j the green husks being ripe, when they are
salt and twenty juniper berries, which take i shelled from the nuts, and drank with a
every morning fasting, preserves from dan- j little vinegar, is good for the place, so as
ger of poison, and infection that day it is before the taking thereof a vein be opened-
taken. The juice of the other green husks ? The said water is very good against the
boiled with honey is an excellent gargle for | quinsy, being gargled and bathed there-
sore mouths, or the heat and inflammations ; with, and wonderfully helps deafness, the
in the throat and stomach. The kernels, j noise, and other pains in the ears. The
when they grow old, are more oily, and {distilled water of the young green leaves in
therefore not fit to be eaten, but are then j the end of May, performs a singular cure
used to heal the wounds of the sinews, j on foul running ulcers and sores, to be
gangrenes, and carbuncles. The said ker- | bathed, with wet cloths or spunges applied
nels being burned, are very astringent, [to them every morning,
and will stay lasks and women's courses, 5 ,

,.,,'! WOLD, WELD, OR DYERS WEED.

being taken in red wine, and stay the fall- 1

ing of the hair, and make it fair, being; THE common kind grows bushing with

anointed with oil and wine. The green
husks will do the like, being used in the
same manner. The kernels beaten with

many leaves, long, narrow and flat upon
the ground ; of a dark blueish green colour,
somewhat like unto Woad, but nothing so

rue and- wine, being applied, help the large, a little crumpled, and as it were
quinsy ; and bruised with some honey, and 5 round-pointed, which do so abide the first
applied to the ears, ease the pains and in- j year; and the next spring from among
flammation of them. A piece of the green them, rise up divers round stalks, two or

husks put into a hollow tooth, eases the
pain. The catkins hereof, taken before
they fall off, dried, and given a dram thereof

three feet high, beset with many such like
leaves thereon, but smaller, and shooting
forth small branches, which with the stalks

in powder with white wine, wonderfully j carry many small yellow flowers, in a long
helps those that are troubled with the rising j spiked head at the top of them, where aftcr-
of the mother. The oil that is pressed out] wards come the seed, which is small and
of the kernels, is very profitable, taken in- \ black, inclosed in heads that are divided at
wardly like oil of almonds, to help the j the tops into four parts. The root is long,
cholic, and to expel wind very effectually ; | white and thick, abiding the Winter. The
an ounce or two thereof may be taken at j whole herb changes to be yellow, after it
any time. The young green nuts taken j hath been in flower awhile,
before they be half ripe, and preserved with \ Place.'] It grows every where by the
sugar, are of good use for those that have \ way sides, in moist grounds, as well as dry,
weak stomachs, or defluctions thereon. The j in corners of fields and bye lanes, and some-
distilled water of the green husks, before \times all over the field. In Sussex and
they be half ripe, is of excellent use to cool i; Kent they call it Green Weed,
the heat of agues, being drank an ounce or: Time.] It flowers in June.

Government and virtues.] Matthiolus saith,
that the root hereof cures tough phlegm,

two at a time : as also to resist the infec-
tion of the plague, if some of the same be

also applied to the sores thereof. The | digests raw phlegm, thins gross humours,
same also cools the heat of green wounds j dissolves hard tumours, and opens obstruc-
and old ulcers, and heals them, being jtions. Some do highly commend it agains 1
bathed therewith. The distilled water of j the biting of venomous creatures, to be taken

3 r

192 THE COMPLETE HERBAL

inwardly and applied outwardly to the | bran of Wheat meal steeped in sharp vine-
hurt place ; as also for the plague or pes- j gar, and then bound in a linen cloth, and
tilence. The people in some countries of? rubbed on those places that have the scurf,
this land, do use to bruise the herb, and lay i morphew, scabs or leprosy, will take them
it to cuts or wounds in the hands or legs, to j away, the body being first well purged and
heal them. \ prepared. The decoction of the bran ot

WHEAT ;Wheat or barley, is of good use to bathe

| those places that are bursten by a rupture ;

ALL tne several kinds thereof are so welnand the said bran boiled in good vinegar,
known unto almost all people, that it is all j and applied to swollen breasts, helps them,
together needless to write a description j and stays all inflamations. It helps also
thereof. ? the biting of vipers (which I take to be no

Government and virtues.'] It is under { other than our English adder) and all other
Venus. Dioscorides saith, That to eat the j venomous creatures. The leaves of Wheat
corn of green Wheat is hurtful to the { meal applied with some salt, take away
stomach, and breeds worms. Pliny sailh, | hardness of the skin, warts, and hard knots

That the corn of Wheat, roasted upon an
iron pan, and eaten, are a present remedy

in the flesh. Wafers put in water, and
drank, stays the lask and bloody flux, and

for those that are chilled with cold. The are profitably used both inwardly and out-
oil pressed from wheat, between two thick ; wardly for the ruptures in children. Boiled
plates of iron, or copper heated, heals all \ in water unto a thick jelly, and taken, it
tetters and ring-worms, being used warm ; > slays spitting of blood; and boiled with
and hereby Galen sailh, he hath known mint and butter, it helps the hoarseness of
many to be cured. Mitthiolus commends ; the throat,
the same to be put into hollow ulcers to heal |
them up, and it is good for chops in the |

hands and feet, and to make rugged skin* 5 THESE are so well known that they need
smooth. The green corns of Wheat being 1 , no description. I shall therefore only shew
chewed, and applied to the place bitten by j you the virtues therof.
a mad dog, heals it ; slices of Wheat bread j Government and virtues!] The Moon
soaked in red rose water, and applied to j owns it. Both the leaves, bark, and the
the eyes that are hot, red, and inflamed, or j seed, are used to stanch, bleeding of wounds,
blood-shotten, helps them. Hot bread ap-<and at mouth and nose, spitting of blood,
plied for an hour, at times, for three days * and other fluxes of blood in man or woman,
together, perfectly heals the kernels in the \ and to stay vomiting, and provocation there-
throat, commonly called the king's evil, j unto, if the decoction of them in wine be
The flour of Wheat mixed with the juice of i drank. It helps also to stay thin, hot, sharp,
henbane, stays the flux of humours to the j salt distillations from the head upon the
joints, being laid thereon. The said meal | lungs, causing a consumption. The leaves
boiled in vinegar, helps the shrinking of the! bruised with some pepper, and drank in
sinews, saith Pliny; and mixed with vine- 1 wine, helps much the wind cholic. The
gar, and boiled together, heals all freckles, | leaves bruised and boiled in wine, and
spots and pimples on the face. Wheat \ drank, stays the heat of lust in man or
flour, mixed with the yolk of an egg, honey, j woman, and quite extinguishes it, if it be
and turpentine, doth draw, cleanse and heal Uong used: The seed also is of the same
any boil, plague, sore, or foul ulcer. The \ effect. Water that is gathered from the

AND ENGLISH PHYSICIAN ENLARGED. 193

Willow, when it flowers, the bark being | fit of it, where those that sow it, cut it three-
slit, and a vessel fitting to receive it, is very j times a year.

good for redness and dimness of sight, or \ Time.] It flowers in June, but it is long
films that grow over the eyes, and stay the j after before the seed is ripe,
iheums that fall into them; to provoke? Government and virtues.] It is a cold and
urine, being stopped, if it be drank; to clear \ dry plant of Saturn. Some people affirm
the "
ings
admirable faculty in drying up humours,

face and skin from spots and discolour- j the plant to be destructive to bees, and
3. Galen saith, The flowers have an I fluxes them, which, if it be, I cannot help

it. I should rather think, unless bees be

being a medicine without any sharpness or I contrary to other creatures, it possesses them
corrosion ; you may boil them in white i with the contrary disease, the herb being
wine, and drink as much as you will, so; exceeding dry and binding. However, if
you drink not yourself drunk. The bark J; any bees be diseased thereby, the cure is,
works the same effect, if used in the same 5 to set urine by them, but set it in a vessel,
manner, and the Tree hath always a bark ! that they cannot drown themselves, which
upon it, though not always flowers; the j may be remedied, if you put pieces of cork
burnt ashes of the bark being mixed with j in it. The herb is so drying and binding,
vinegar, takes away warts, corns, and ithat it is not fit to be given inwardly. An
superfluous flesh, being applied to the place. ; ointment made thereof stanches bleeding.
The decoction of the leaves or bark in wine, ; A plaister made thereof, and applied to the
takes away scurfFand dandriff by washing | region of the spleen which lies on the left
the place with it. It is a fine cool tree, the i side, takes away the hardness and pains
boughs of which are very convenient to \ thereof. The ointment is excellently good
be placed in the chamber of one sick of a | in such ulcers as abound with moisture, and
fever. I takes away the corroding and fretting

| humours : It cools inflammations, quenches
?St. Anthony's fire, and stays defluxion of

Descript] IT hath divers large leaves, j the blood to any part of the body,
long, and somewhat broad withal, like those i

,. TV i . .1 , WOODBINE, OR HONEY-SUCKLES

of the greater plntain, but larger, thicker, ;

of a greenish colour, somewhat blue withal. $ IT is a plant so common, that every one
From among which leaves rises up a lusty t that hath eyes knows it, and he that hath
stalk, three or four feet high, with divers j none, cannot read a description, if I should
leaves set thereon ; the higher the stalk \ write it.

rises, the smaller are the leaves ; at the top ! Time. They flower in June, and the
it spreads divers branches, at the end of | fruit is ripe in August,
which appear very pretty, little yellow | Government and virtues.] Doctor Tra-p
flowers, and after they pass away like other \ dition, that grand introducer of errors, that
flowers of the field, come husks, long and \ hater of truth, lover of folly, and the mortal
somewhat flat withal ; in form they resem- j foe to Dr. Reason, hath taught the common
ble a tongue, in colour they are black, and j people to use the leaves or flowers of this
they hang bobbing downwards. The seed ; plant in mouth-water, and by long con-
contained within these husks (if it be a little ; tinuance of time, hath so grounded it in the
chewed) gives an azure colour. The root is > brains of the vulgar, that you cannot beat it
white and long. i out with a beetle: All mouth-waters ought

Place.] It is sowed in fields for the bene- 1 to be cooling and drying, but Honey

104 THE COMPLETE HERBAL

Suckles are cleansing, consuming and di- 1 describe, and the third be critical at; and
gesting, and therefore fit for inflammations ; ! I care not greatly if I begin with the last
thus Dr. Reason. Again if you please, we \ first,
will leave Dr. Reason a while, and come to ! Sea Wormwood hath gotten as many names

Dr. Experience, a learned gentleman, and
his brother. Take a leaf and chew it in
your mouth, and you will quickly find it

as virtues, (and perhaps one more) Seriphian,
Santomeon, Bcichion, Narbinense, Han-
tonicon, Misneule, and a matter of twenty

likelier to cause a sore mouth and throat; more which I shall not blot paper withal,
than to cure it. Well then, if it be not good 1 A papist got the toy by the end, and he
for this, What is it good for? It is good for \ called it Holy Wormwood ; and in truth
something, for God and nature made j 1 am opinion, their giving so much holi-
nothing in vain. It is an herb of Mercury, ; ness to herbs, is the reason there remains so
and appropriated to the lungs; neither is it j little in themselves. The seed of this
Crab claims dominion over it; neither is it j Wormwood is that which women usually
a foe to the Lion ; if the lungs be afflicted $ give their children for the worms. Of all
by Jupiter, this is your cure : 1 1 is fitting a i Wormwoods that grow here, this is the
conserve made of the flowers of it were kept j weakest, but Doctors commend it, and

in every gentlewoman's house ; I know no i
better cure for an asthma than this : besides,
it takes away the evil of the spleen, provokes
urine, procures speedy delivery of women

apothecaries sell it; the one must keep his
credit, and the other get money, and that is
the key of the work. The herb is good for
something, because God made nothing in

in travail, helps cramps, convulsions, and \ vain : Will you give me leave to weigh
palsies, and whatsoever griefs come of cold \ things in the balance of reason ; Then thus ;
or stopping; if you please to make use of {The seeds of the common Wormwood are
it as an ointment, it will clear your skin of; far more prevalent than the seed of this, to
morphew, freckles, and sun-burnings, or! expel worms in children, or people of ripe
whatsoever else discolours it, and then the \ age ; of both some are weak, some are
maids will love it. Authors say, The! strong. The Seriphian Wormwood is the

flowers are of more effect than the leaves, '
and that is true ; but they say the seeds are i
least effectual of all. But Dr. Reason told
me, That there was a vital spirit in every

weakest, and haply may prove to be fittest
for the weak bodies, (for it is weak enough
of all conscience.) Let such as are strong
take the common Wormwood, for the others

seed to beget its like ; and Dr. Experience! will do but little good. Again, near the sea
told me, That there was a greater heat in the 1 many people live, and Seriphian grows
seed than there was in any other part of the j near them, and therefore is more fitting for
plant : and withal, That heat was the mother Hheir bodies, because nourished by the
of action, and then judge if old Dr. Tradi- j same air ; and this I had from Dr. Reason,
tion (who may well be honoured for his age, j In whose body Dr. Reason dwells not, dwells
but not for his goodness) hath not so poi- j Dr. Madness, and he brings in his brethren,
soned the world with errors before I was j Dr. Ignorance, Dr. Folly, and Dr. Sick-
born, that it was never well in its wits; ness, and these together make way for
since, and thereis a great fear it will die mad. \ Death, and the latter end of that man is

| worse than the beginning. Pride was the
| cause of Adam's fall ; pride begat a daugh-

THREE Wormwoods are familiar with jter, I do not know the father of it, unless
us ; one I shall not describe, another I shall ; the devil, but she christened it, and calle 1

AND ENGLISH PHYSICIAN ENLARGED.

195

it Appetite, and sent her daughter to taste | with many round, woody, hairy stalks from
these wormwoods, who finding this the J one root. Its height is four feet, 01 three at
least bitter, made the squeamish wench \ least. The leaves in longitude are long, in

" : latitude narrow, in colour white, in form
hoary, in similitude likeSouthernwood,only
broader and longer; in taste rather salt than
bitter, because it grows so near the salt-
i water ; at the joints, with the leaves toward
that dwell far from it ; my reason is, the sea I the tops it bears little yellow flowers; the
(those that live far from it, know when they 5 root lies deep, -vnd is woods,
come near it) casts not such a smell as the j Common Wormwood I shall not describe,
land doth. The tender mercies of God \ for every boy that can eat an egg knows it.
being over all his works, hath by his eternal | Roman Wormwood; and why Roman,
Providence, planted Seriphian by the sea- [ seeing it grows familiarly in England ? It

extol it to the skies, though the virtues of it:
never reached the middle region of the air. i
Its due praise is this ; It is weakest, there- i
fore fittest for weak bodies, and fitter for|
those bodies that dwell near it, than those!

side, as a fit medicine for the bodies of those
that live near it. Lastly, It is known to all
that know any thing in the course of nature,
that the liver delights in sweet things, if so,
it abhors bitter ; then if your liver be weak,
it is none of the wisest courses to plague it
with an enemy. If the liver be weak, a
consum ption follows ; would you know the
reason ? It is this, A man's flesh is repaired
by blood, by a third concoction, which
transmutes the blood into flesh, it is well
I said, (concoction) say I, if I had said
(boiling) every cook would have understood
me. The liver makes blood, and if it be
weakened that if it makes not enough, the
flesh wastes ; and why must flesh always be
renewed ? Because the eternal God, when

may be so called, because it is good fora
stinking breath, which the Romans cannot
be very free from, maintaining so many
bad houses by authority of his Holiness.

Descript.~] The stalks are slender, and
shorter than the common Wormwood by
one foot at least ; the leaves are more finely
cut and divided than they are, but some-
thing smaller ; both leaves and stalks are
hoary, the flowers of a pale yellow colour ;
it is altogether like the common Worm-
wood, save only in bigness, for it is smaller;
in taste, for it is not so bitter ; in smell, for
it is spicy.

Place.] It grows upon the tops of the
mountains (it seems 'tis aspiring) there 'tis
natural, but usually nursed up in gardens

he made the creation, made one part of it j for the use of the apothecaries in London.
in continual dependency upon another ; \ Time.'] All Wormwoods usually flower
and why did he so ? Because himself only j in August, a little sooner or later.

is permanent ; to teach us, That we should
not fix our affections upon what is transi-
tory, but what endures for ever. The re-
sult of this is, if the liver be weak, and can-

Government and virtues.] Will you give
me leave to be critical a little? I must
take leave. Wormwood is an herb of Mars,
and ifPontanus say otherwise, he is beside

not make blood enough, I would have said, the bridge ; I prove it thus : What delights
Sanguify, if I had written only to scholars, j in martial places, is a martial herb ; but
the Seriphian, which is the weakest of! Wormwood delights in martial places (foi

about forges and iron works you may gather
a cart-load of it,) ergo, it is a martial herb.

Wormwoods, is better than the best. I have
been critical enough, if not too much.

PlaceJ] It grows familiarly in England, It is hot and dry in the first degree, viz.
by the sea-side. Hust as hot as your blood, and no hotter. It

Descnp/.] It starts up out of the earth, { remedies the evils choler can inflict on the

196 THE COMPLETE HERBAL

body of man by sympathy. It helps the \ herb of Mars, is a present remedy for die
evils Venus and the wanton Boy produce, j biting of rats and mice. Mushrooms (I
by antipathy; and it doth something else! cannot give them the title of Herba, Fru-
besides. It cleanses the body of cholerjtex, or Arbor) are under the dominion of
(who dares say Mars doth no good?) It ] Saturn, ( and take one time with another,
provokes urine, helps surfeits, or swellings Uhey do as much harm as good ;) if any have
in the belly; it causes appetite to meat, j poisoned himself by eating them, Worm-
because Mars rules the attractive faculty in j wood, an herb of Mars, cures him, because
man: The sun never shone upon a better | Mars is exalted in Capricorn, the house of
herb for the yellow jaundice than this; Why \ Saturn, and this it doth by sympathy, as it
should men cry out so much upon Mars for \ did the other by antipathy. Wheals, pushes,
an infortunate, (or Saturn either?) Did ; black and blue spots, coming either by
God make creatures to do the creation a j bruises or beatings. Wormwood, an herb
mischief? This herb testifies, that Mars is | of Mars, helps, because Mars, (as bad you
willing to cure all diseases he causes; the Move him, and as you hate him) will not
truth is, Mars loves no cowards, nor Saturn ; break your head, but he will give you a
fools, nor I neither. Take of the flowers of i plaister. If he do but teach you to know
Wormwood, Rosemary, and Black Thorn, : yourselves, his courtesy is greater than is
of each a like quantity, half that quantity ! discourtesy. The greatest antipathy be-
of saffron; boil this in Rhenish wine, butj.tween the planets, is between Mars and
put it not in saffron till it is almost boiled ; j Venus: one is hot, the other cold; one
This is the way to keep a man's body in j diurnal, the other nocturnal; one dry, the
health, appointed by Camerarius, in his j other moist ; their houses are opposite, one
book intitled Horttis Medians, and it is a i masculine, the other feminine ; one public,
good one too. Besides all this, Wormwood * the other private ; one is valiant, the other
provokes the terms. I would willingly j effeminate: one loves the light, the other
teach astrologers, and make them physi-j hates it ; one loves the field, the other sheets;
cians (if I knew how) for they are most j then the throat is under Venus, the quinsy
fitting for the calling; if you will not believe Mies in the throat, and is an inflammation
me, ask Dr. Hippocrates, and Dr. Galen, \ there; Venus rules the throat, (it being
a couple of gentlemen that our college of j under Tamus her sign.) Mars eradicates
physicians keep to vapour with, not to j all diseases in the throat by his herbs (for
follow. In this our herb, I shall give the pat- j wormwood is one) and sends them to Egypt
tern of a ruler, the sons of art rough cast, j on an errand never to return more, this
yet as near the truth as the men of Benja- \ done by antipathy. The eyes are under
min could throw a stone : Whereby, my i the Luminaries ; the right eye of a man,
brethren, the astrologers may know by a; and the left eye of a woman the Sun claims
penny how a shilling is coined : As for the! dominion over: the left eye of a man, and
college of physicians, they are too stately to ; the right eye of a woman, are privileges of
college or too proud to continue. They I the Moon, Wormwood, an herb of Mars
^ay a mouse is under the dominion of the | cures both; what belongs to the Sun by
Moon, and that is the reason they feed in the i sympathy, because he is exalted in his
night; the house of the Moon is Cancer ; 1 house ; but what belongs to the Moon by
rats are of the same nature with mice, butt antipathy, because he hath his fall in her's.
they are a little bigger; Mars receives his {Suppose a man be bitten or stung by a
fall in Cancer, ergo, Wormwood being an I martial creature, imagine a wasp, a hornet.

AND ENGLISH PHYSICIAN ENLARGED. 197

a scorpion, Wormwood, an herb of Mars, j either linen or woolen draper) yet as brave as
gives you a present cure ; that Mars, cho- j they looked, my opinion was that the moths
leric as he is, hath learned that patience, to : might consume them ; moths are under the
pass by your evil speeches of him, and tells j dominion of Mars; this herb Wormwood be-
you by my pen, That he gives you no af-iing laid among cloaths, will make a moth
fliction, but he gives you a cure ; you need ; scorn to meddle with the cloalhs, as much
not run to Apollo, nor ./Esculapius ; and if : as a lion scorns to meddle with a mouse, or

i i it i *.i /i ~tr * ir

he was so choleric as you make him to be,
he would have drawn his sword for anger,
to see the ill conditions of these people
that can spy his vices, and not his virtues.
The eternal God, when he made Mars,

an eagle with a fly. You say Mars is an-
gry, and it is true enough he is angry with
many countrymen, for being such fools to
be led by the noses by the college of phy-
sicians, as they lead bears to Paris garden.

made him for public good, and the sons of; Melancholy men cannot endure to be
men shall know it it in the latter end of the \ wronged in point of good fame, and that
world. Et caelum Mars solus babet. You \ dolh sorely trouble old Saturn, because they
say Mars is a destroyer ; mix a little Worm- j call him the greatest infortunate ; in the
wood, an herb of Mars, with your ink, I body of man he rules the spleen, (and that
neither rats nor mice touch the paper writ- \ makes covetous man so splenetic) the poor
ten with it, and then Mars is a preserver. j old man lies crying out of his left side
Astrologers think Mars causes scabs and : Father Saturn's angry, Mars comes to him ;
itch, and the virgins are angry with him, | Come, brother, I confess thou art evil spoken
because wanton Venus told them he de- j of, and so am I ; thou knowest I have my
forms their skins ; but, quoth Mars, my j exaltation in thy house, I give him an herb
only desire is, they should know themselves; \ of mine, Wormwood, to cure the old man :
my herb Wormwood will restore them to | Saturn consented, but spoke little, and so
the beauty they formerly had, and in that {Mars cured him by sympathy. When
I will not come an inch behind my opposite, \ Mars was free from war, (for he loves to be
Venus: for which doth the greatest evil, he \ fighting, and is the best friend a soldier
that takes away an innate beauty, and when! hath) I say, when Mars was free from war,
he has done, knows how to restore it again ? | he called a council of war in his own brain,
or she that teaches a company of wanton j to know how he should do poor sinful man
lasses to paint their faces? If Mars be in [good, desiring to forget his abuses in being
a Virgin, in the nativity, they say he causes \ called an infortunate. He musters up his
the cholic (it is Avell God hath set some! own forces, and places them in battalia,
body to pull down the pride of man.) HejOh! quoth he, why do I hurt a poor
in the Virgin troubles none with the cholic, i silly man or woman ? His angel answer.*
but them that know not themselves (for who I him, It is because they have offended theii
knows himself, may easily know all the 5 God, (Look back to Adam:) Well, says
world.) Wormwood, an herb of Mars, is a { Mars, though they speak evil of me, I will
present cure for it ; and whether it be most | do good to them ; Death's cold, my herb

1 1 ^"1 1 1 I f* 1 1 ' ! -I i i 1 .1 .1 /11/*111

like a Christian to love him for his good, or;
hate him for his evil, judge ye. I had al-
most forgotten, that charity thinks no evil.

shall heat them : they are full of ill humours
(else they would never have spoken ill of
me ;) my herb shall cleanse them, and dry

robe, and there wasagreat many fine clothes: j herb shall strengthen them ; they are dull
I can give them no other title, for I was never \ witted, my herb shall fortify their appro-

198 THE COMPLETE HERBAL

hensions ; and yet among astrologers all \ niglit, the one from Aries, and the other
this does not deserve a good word : Oh the j from Scorpio ; give me thy leave by sym-
patience of Mars ! 1 pathy to cure this poor man with drinking

; a draught of Wormwood beer every morn-
Felix qui potuit rcmm cognoscere caucus,
inque domus superum scandere curafacit.
O happy he that can the knowledge gain,
To know the eternal God made nought in vain.

To this 1 add,
I know the reason causeth such a dearth

ing. The Moon was weak the other day,
and she gave a man two terrible mischiefs,
a dull brain and a weak sight; Mars laid
by his sword, and comes to her ; Sister
Moon, said he, this man hath angered thee,

I lYIIlFVV bUYrf ftwmWU VrUUWlrU t?u*_>aA ** *-_, u j T 1 11 1 * 1 *

Of knowledge ; 'tis because men love theearth. j out beseech thee take notice he is but a

I fool ; prithee be patient, I will with my herb

The other day Mars told me he met with * wormwood cure him of both infirmities by
Venus, and he asked her, What was the j antipathy, for thou knowest thou and I can-
reason that she accused him for abusing \ not agree ; with that the Moon began to
women? He never gave them the pox. In \ quarrel; Mars (not delighting much in
the dispute they fell out, and in anger ! women's tongues) went away, and did it
parted, and Mars told me that his brother j whether she would or no.

Jaturn told him, that an antivenerean

He that reads this, and understands what

medicine was the best against the pox. :i he reads, hath a jewel of more worth than
Once a month he meets with the Moon. | a diamond ; he that understands it not, is
Mars is quick enough of speech, and the! as little fit to give physick. There lies a
Moon not much behind hand, (neither are | key in these words which will unlock, (if it
most women.) The Moon looks much j be turned by a wise hand) the cabinet of

after children, and children are much trou- j
bled with the worms; she desired a medi-
cine of him, he bid her take his own herb,

physick : I have delivered it as plain as I
durst; it is not only upon Wormwood as
I wrote, but upon all plants, trees, and

Wormwood. He had no sooner parted \ herbs ; he that understands it not, is unfit
with the Moon, but he met with Venus, and 5 (in my opinion) to give physic. This shall
she was as drunk as a hog; Alas! poor j live when I am dead. And thus I leave it
Venus, quoth he ; What ! thou a fortune, j to the world, not caring a farthing whether
and be drunk? I'll give thee antipathetical \ they like it or dislike it. The grave equals
cure; Take my herb Wormwood, and thou \ all men, and therefore shall equal me with
shall never get a surfeit by drinking. A I all princes; until which time the eternal
poor silly countryman hath got an ague, j Providence is over rne : Then the ill tongue
and cannot go about his business : he | of a prating fellow, or one that hath more
wishes he had it not, and so do I ; but I { tongue than wit, or more proud than
will tell him a remedy, whereby he shall | honest, shall never trouble me. Wisdom is
prevent it ; Take the herb of Mars, Worm- [justified by her children. And so much for
wood, and if infortunes will do good, what | Wormwood.

will fortunes do? Some think the lungs are YAR CALLED NOSE _ BLEED , MILFOIL

under Jupiter ; and if the lungs then the ' AND THOUSALD . LEAL .

breath ; and though sometimes a man gets j

a stinking breath, and yet Jupiter is a for-! Descript.~\ IT hath many long leaves
tune, forsooth ; up comes Mars to him ; j spread upon the ground, finely cut, and
Come brother Jupiter, thou knowest I sent | divided into many small parts- It flowers
thee a couple of trines to thy house last | are white, but not all of a whiteness, and

AND ENGLISH PHYSICIAN ENLARGED.

199

stayed in knots, upon divers green stalks
which rise from among the leaves.

Place.] It is frequent in all pastures.

Time.'] It flowers late, even in the latter j
end of August.

Government and virtues.'] It is under the j
influence of Venus. An ointment of them i
cures wounds, and is most fit for such as i
have inflammations, it being an herb of!
Dame Venus ; it stops the terms in women, i
being boiled in white wine, and the decoc- j
tion drank; as also the bloody flux; the 5
ointment of it is not only good for green i
wounds, but also for ulcers and fistulas,;
especially such as abound with moisture. {

It stays the shedding of hair, the head being
bathed with the decoction of it ; inwardly
taken it helps the retentive faculty of the
stomach : it helps the gonorrhea in men,
and the whites in women, and helps such as
cannot hold their water ; and the leaves
chewed in the mouth eases the tooth-ache ,
and these virtues being put together, shew
the herb to be drying and binding. Achilles
is supposed to be the first that left the vir-
tues of this herb to posterity, having learned
them of this master Chiron, the Centaur ;
and certainly a very profitable herb it is in
cramps, and therefore called Militaris.

DIRECTIONS FOR MAKING SYRUPS, CONSERVES,

HAVING in divers places of this Treatise
promised you the way of making Syrups,
Conserves, Oils, Ointments, &c, of herbs,
roots, flowers, &c. whereby you may have
them ready for your use at such times when
they cannot be had otherwise ; I come now i;
lo perform what I promised, and you shall
find me rather better than worse than my
word.

That this may be done methodically,;
I shall divide my directions into two grand j
sections, and each section into several chap- i
ters, and then you shall see it look with such j
a countenance as this is.

SECTION I.

Of gathering, drying, and keeping Simples,
and their juices.

CHAP, i
CHAP. ii.
CHAP. in.
CHAP. iv.

Of leaves of Herbs,
Of Flowers.
Of Seeds.
Of Roots.

CHAP. v. Of Barks.
CHAP. vi. Of Juices.

SECTION II
'Of making and keeping Compounds.

ii.

IV.

CHAP.

CHAP. V.

CHAP. VI

CHAP.

CHAP. VIII

CHAP. IX.

CHAP.

3 F

Of distilled waters.

Of Syrups.

Of Juleps.
Of Decoctions.
Of Oils.

Of Electuaries.
Of Conserves.

Of Preserves.
Of Lohochs.
Of Ointments.
Of Plaisters.
Of Poultices.

Of Troches.

Of Pills.

The way of fitting Medi-
cines to Compound Dis-
eases.
Of all these in order.

VII.

XI.

XII.

XIII

XIV.

XV.

200 THE COMPLETE HERBAL

CHAPTER i. | ner a PP'y to a planet of the same triplicity;

j if you cannot wait that time neither, let
Of Leaves of Herbs, or Trees. j her be with a fixed star of their nature.

1. OF leaves, choose only such as are? 6 ' Having well dried them, put them up
green, and full of juice; pick them care-* m brown P a P er ' sewing the paper up like
fully, and cast away such as are any way a sack and P ress them not to hard to g e -
declining, for they will putrify the rest : So j * her > and kee P them m a dl T P lace near the
shall onehandfulbe worth ten of those you j ^

buy at the physic herb shops. 7 ' As for the d uration of dried herbs,

2. Note what places they most delight .{ * ,J ust time cannot be given, let authors prate
to grow in, and gather them there ; for j tneir Pj easure > for >

Betony that grows in the shade, is far better I lst * Such as g row u P on dr T grounds will
than that which grows in the Sun, because | keep better than such as grow on moist,
it delights m the shade ; so also such herbs j .J^' Such herbs as are ful1 of j ulce '
as delight to grow near the water, shall be j Wl11 n , ot kee P so lo , n g as such a f are di ; ier - .
gathered near it, though happily you may 3dl ^ Such herbs as are well dried, will
find some of them upon dry ground : The kee P longer than such as are slack dried.
Treatise will inform you where every herb Yet you may know when they are corrupt-
delights to grow ed ' y tneir l ss of colour, or smell, or

3. The leaves 'of such herbs as run up to bo ^'> and if t the y be corrupted, reason
seed, are not so good when they are in j ^ "J tel j. jou that they must needs corrupt
flower as before (some few excepted, the the bodies of those people that take them,
leaves of which are seldom or never used)' , 4 ' Gather a11 leav f m the hour of that
in such cases, if through ignorance they < P lanet that g overns them '

were not known, or through negligence j CHAPTER 11.

forgotten, you had better take the top and j

the flowers, then the leaf/ / Flowers '

4. Dry them well in the Sun, and not in
the shade, as the saying of physicians is ;
for if the sun draw away the virtues of the
herb, it must need do the like by hay, by
the same rule, which the experience of every

1. THE flower, which is the beauty of the
plant, and of none of the least use in phy-
sick, grows yearly, and is to be gathered
when it is in its prime.

2. As for the time of gathering them, let

country farmer will explode for a notable \ the planetary hour, and the planet they
piece of nonsense. j come of, be observed, as we shewed you

5. Such as are artists in astrology, (and \ in the foregoing chapter : as for the time of
indeed none else are fit to make physicians) i the day, let it be when the sun shine upon
such I advise ; let the planet that governs I them, that so they may be dry ; for, if you
the herb be angular, and the stronger the ; gather either flowers or herbs when they are
better ; if they can, in herbs of Saturn, let) wet or dewy, they will not keep.
Saturn be in the ascendant ; in the herbs of I 3. Dry them well in the sun, and keep
Mars, let Mars be in the mid heaven, for in | them in papers near the fire, as I shewed
those houses they delight; let the Moon } you in the foregoing chapter,
apply to them by good aspect, and let her| 4. So long as they retain the colour and
not be in the houses of her enemies ; if you ; smell, they are good ; either of them being
cannot well stay till she apply to them, let ! s gone, so is the virtue also.

AND ENGLISH PHYSICIAN ENLARGED.

201

CHAPTER III-

Of Seeds.

1. THE seed is that part of the plant
which is endowed with a vital faculty to
bring forth its like, and it contains poten-

morning; and this idle talk of untruth is so
grounded in the heads, not only of the vul-
gar, but also of the learned, that a man
cannot drive it out by reason. I pray let
such sapmongers answer me this argument;
If the sap falls into the roots in the fall of
the leaf, and lies there all the Winter, then

tiallf the whole plant in it. must the root grow only in the Winter.

2. As for place, let them be gathered But the root grows not at all in the Winter,
from the place where they delight to grow. j as experience teaches, but only in the

3. Let them be full ripe when they are j Summer : Therefore, If you set an apple-
gathered ; and forget not the celestial har- j kernel in the Spring, you shall find the root
mony before mentioned, for I have found jto grow to a pretty bigness in the Summer,
by experience that their virtues are twice as i and be not a whit bigger next Spring.

great at such times as others: "There is
an appointed time for every thing under
the sun."

4. When you have gathered them, dry
them a little, and but a little in the sun,
before you lay them up.

5. You need not be so careful of keeping
them so near the fire, as the other before-

root all that
as rotten as a

because they
therefore not

are fuller
so subject

What doth the sap do in the
while? Pick straws? 'Tis a
rotten post.

The truth is, when the sun declines from
the tropic of Cancer, the sap begins to con-
geal both in root and branch ; when he
touches the tropic of Capricorn, and ascends
to us-ward, it begins to wax thin again,

of | and by degrees, as it congealed. But to

to | proceed.

therefore
and it
yearly.

mentioned,
spirit, and

corrupt. 3. The drier time you gather the roots

6. As for the time of their duration, it is Jin, the better they are; for they have the
palpable they will keep a good many years; \ less excrementitious moisture in them,
yet, they are best the first year, and this jj 4. Such roots as are soft, your best way
I make appear by a good argument. They | is to dry in the sun, or else hang them in
will grow sooner the first year they be set, j the chimney corner upon a string ; as for
thprpfnrp thpn thev are in their prime ; \ such as are hard, you may dry them any

them | where.

5. Such roots as are great, will keep
I longer than such as are small ; yet most of
i them will keep a year.

8. Siieh roots as are soft, it is your best
1 way LO keep them always near the fire, and

1. OF roots, chuse such as are neither \ to take this general rule for it: If in Win-
rotten nor worm-eaten, but proper in their j ter-time you find any of your roots, herbs
taste, colour, and smell; such as exreed ! or flowers begin to be moist, as many times
neither in softness nor hardness. j you shall (for it is your best way to look to

2. Give me leave to be a little critical | them once a month) dry them by a very
against the vulgar received opinion, which j gentle fire; or, if you can with convenience
is, That the sap falls down into the roots in * keep them near the fire, you may save your-
the Autumn, and rises again in the Spring, { self the labour

as men go to bed at night, and rise in the) 7- It is in vain to dry roots that may

then they are in their
an easy matter to renew

CHAPTER IV.

Of Roots.

202 THE COMPLETE HERBAL

commonly be had, as Parsley, Fennel, \ 3. The manner of clarifying it is this :
Plantain, &c. but gather them only for pre-i Put it into a pipkin or skillet, or some such
sent need I thing, and set it over the fire ; and when the

\ scum arises, take it off; let it stand over the
CHAPTERV 5 fl re t jjj no more scum arise ', when you have

Of Barks. 5 your juice clarified, cast away the scum as

5 a thing of no use.

1. BARKS, which physicians use in medi- \ 4. When you have thus clarified it, you
cine, are of these sorts : Of fruits, of roots, j have two ways to preserve it all the year,
of boughs. (1.) When it is cold, put it into a glass,

2. The barks of fruits are to be taken | an d put so much oil on it as will cover it
when the fruit is full ripe, as Oranges, j to the thickness of two fingers ; the oil will
Lemons, &c. but because 1 have nothing to | sw im at the top, and so keep the air from
do with exotics here, I pass them without j coming to purtify it : When you intend to
any more words. | use it, pour it into a porringer, and if any

3. The barks of trees are best gathered j o il come out with it, you may easily scum
in the Spring, if of oaks, or such great \ it off with a spoon, and put the juice you
trees ; because then they come easier off, > use not into the glass again, it will quickly
and so you may dry them if you please ; j s i n k under the oil. This is the first way.
but indeed the best way is to gather all j (2.) The second way is a little more dif-
barks only for present use. : ficult, and the juice of fruits is usually pre-

4. As for the barks of roots, 'tis thus to
be gotten. Take the roots of such herbs as
have a pith in them, as parsley, fennel, &c

served this way. When you have clarified
it, boil it over the fire, till (being cold) it
be of the thickness of honey ; This is most

slit them in the middle, and when you have ; commonly used for diseases of the mouth,
taken out the pith (which you may easily | an d is called Roba and Saba. And thus
do) that which remains is called (tho' im- j muc h for the first section, the second follows,
properly) the bark, and indeed is only to be j
Ssed. SECTION II.

1 The way of making and keeping all necessary
CHAPTER vi. Compounds.

Of Juices.

CHAPTER V.

1. JUICES are to be pressed out or herbs *

when they are young and tender, out of i Of distilled Waters.

some stalks and tender lops of herbs and $

plants, and also out of some flowers. HITHERTO we have spoken of medicines

2. Having gathered the herb, would you \ which consist in their own nature, which
preserve the juice of it, when it is very dry j authors vulgarly call Simples, though some-
(for otherwise the juice will not be worth I times improperly; for in truth, nothing is
a button) bruise it very well in a stone mor- j simple but pure elements ; all things else
tar with a wooden pestle, then having put \ are compounded of them. We come now
it into a canvas bag, the herb I mean, not | to treat of the artificial medicines, in the
the mortar, for that will give but little juice,! form of wnich (because we must begin
press it hard in a press, then take the juice } somewhere) we shall place distilled waters :
and clarify it. ? ; in which consider,

AND ENGLISH PHYSICIAN ENLARGED.

203

1. Waters are distilled of herbs, flowers, j 2. You see at the first view, That this
fruits, and roots. aphorism divides itself into three branches,

2. We treat not of strong waters, but of
cold, as being to act Galen's part, and not
Paracelsus's.

3. The herbs ought to be distilled when
they are in the greatest vigour, and so ought
the flowers also.

4. The vulgar way of distillations which
people use, because they know no better,
is in a pewter still ; and although distilled

which
viz.

deserve severally to be treated of,

1. Syrups made by infusion.

2. Syrups made by decoction.

3. Syrups made by juice.

Of each of these, (for your instruction-
sake, kind countrymen and women) I speak
a word or two apart.

1st, Syrups made by infusion, are usually

waters are the weakest of artificial medicines, j made of flowers, and of such flowers as
and good for little but mixtures of other > soon lose their colour and strength by boil-
medicines, yet they are weaker by many | ing, as roses, violets, peach flowers, &c.
degrees, than they would be were they dis- 1 They are thus made : Having picked your
tilled in sand. If I thought it not impos- ; flowers clean, to every pound of them add
sible, to teach you the way of distilling in j three pounds or three pints, which you will
sand, I would attempt it. | (for it is all one) of spring water, made boil-

5. When you have distilled your water,
put it into a glass, covered over with a
paper pricked full of holes, so that the ex-
crementitious and fiery vapours may ex-
hale, which cause that settling in distilled
waters called the Mother, which corrupt
them, then cover it close, and keep it for
your use.

6. Stopping distilled waters with a cork,
makes them musty, and so does paper, if it
but touch the water : it is best to stop them
with a bladder, being first put in water, and
bound over the top of the glass.

ing hot ; first put your flowers into a pew-
ter-pot, with a cover, and pour the water on
them ; then shutting the pot, let it stand by
the fire, to keep hot twelve hours, and
strain it out : (in such syrups as purge) as
damask roses, peach flowers, &c. the usual,
and indeed the best way, is to repeat this
infusion, adding fresh flowers to the same
liquor divers times, that so it may be the
stronger) having strained it out, put the
infusion into a pewter bason, of an earthen
one well glazed, and to every pint of it add
two pounds of sugar, which being only

^ ^

Such cold waters as are distilled in a \ melted over the fire, without boiling, and

_ _ * 11 / * /* ill \ 1 1 i 1 "it i i ^"^

pewter still (if well kept) will endure a year;
such as are distilled in sand, as they are
twice as strong, so they endure twice
long.

CHAPTER II.

scummed, will produce you the syrup you
desire.

2dly, Syrups made by decoction are
usually made of compounds, yet may any
pirn pie herb be thus converted into syrup:

Q / c : Take the herb, root, or flowers you would

i make into a syrup, and bruise it a little ;

1. A SYRUP is a medicine of a liquid hhen boil it in a convenient quantity of
form, composed of infusion, decoction and | spring water ; the more water you boil it
juice. And, 1. For the more grateful taste, j j n , the weaker it will be ; a handful of the
For the better keeping of it: with a cer- { herb or root is a convenient quantity for a
tain quantity of honey or sugar, hereafter , pint of water, boil it till half the water be

mentioned, boiled to the thickness of new
honey.

consumed, then let it stand till it be almost
cold, and strain it through a woollen cloth,
So

204 THE COMPLETE HERBAL

letting it run out at leisure : without press- j want help, or such as are in health, and want
ing. To every pint of this decoction add I no money to quench thirst,
one pound of sugar, and boil it over the | 3. Novv-a-day it is commonly used-
rire till it come to a syrup, which you may j 1. To prepare the body for purgation,
know, if you now and then cool a little of? 2. To open obstructions and the pores
"t with a spoon : Scum it all the while it: 3. To digest tough humours,
boils, and when it is sufficiently boiled, ; 4. To qualify hot distempers, &c.
whilst it is hot, strain it again through a 4. Simple Juleps, (for I have nothing to
woollen cloth, but press it not. Thus you j say to compounds here) are thus made;
have the syrup perfected. j Take a pint of such distilled water, as con-

3dly, Syrups made of juice, are usually I duces to the cure of your distemper, which
made of such herbs as are full of juice, and $ this treatise will plentifully furnish you
indeed they are better made into a syrup; with, to which add two ounces of syrup,
this way than any other; the operation is 'conducing to the same effect; (I shall give
thus : Having beaten the herb in a stone | you rules for it in the next chapter) mix
mortar, with a wooden pestle, press out the j them together, and drink a draught of it at
juice, and clarify it, as you are taught be- j your pleasure. If you love tart things,
fore in the juices ; then let the juice boil J add ten drops of oil of vitriol to your pint ;
away till about a quarter of it be consumed ; 5 and shake it together, and it will have a fine
to a pint of this add a pound of sugar, and j grateful taste.

when it is boiled, strain it through a woollen $ 5. All juleps are made for present use;
cloth, as we taught you before, and keep it | and therefore it is in vain to speak of their
for your use. j duration.

3. If you make a syrup of roots that are j c H A P T E R i v .
any thing hard, as parsley, fennel, and grass |

roots, &c. when you have bruised them, j Of Decoctions.

lay them in steep some time in that water j ^ ALL the difference between decoc .

which you intend to boil them in hot, so will ti and syrups made by dec oction, is

the virtue the better come out. \ thig g are made to keep, decoctions

4. Keep your syrups either in glasses or j Qnl & ^ resent use; for can har(]J
stone pots, and stop them not with cork nor ke / a d ^ coction a week at any time f f
bladder, unless you would have the glass the feather be hot, not half so long,
break, and the syrup lost, only bind paper? 2 Decoctions are made of leaves, roots,

* Ut A ,, C m -r < flowers, seeds, fruits or barks, conducing to

5. All syrups, if well made, continue a j the cure of the disease ou make them f or

year with some advantage ; yet such as are j are made in the same manner as we shewgd j
made by infusion, keep shortest | you in syrupSt

CHAPTER ii i. 3. Decoctions made with wine last longer

Of j j ! than such as are made 'with water ; and if

Uj Juleps. *you take your decoction to cleanse the

1. JULEPS were first invented, as I sup- passages of the urine, or open obstructions,
pose, in Arabia; and my reason is, because! your best way is to make it with white
the word Julep is an Arabic word. : wine instead of water, because this is pene-

2. It signifies only a pleasant potion, asjtrating.

is vulgarly used by such as are sick, and J 4. Decoctions are of most use in such

AND ENGLISH PHYSICIAN ENLARGED.

205

diseases as lie in the passages of the body, 5 fruits or seeds by expression, as oil of sweet

_ , *^ _ 5^ 1 i i 11* i i 1

as the stomach, bowels, kidneys, passages
of urine and bladder, because decoctions
pass quicker to those places than any other
form of medicines.

5. If you will sweeten your decoction
with sugar, or any syrup fit for the occasion
you take it for, which is better, you may,
and no harm.

and bitter almonds, linseed and rape-seed
oil, &c. of which see in my Dispensatory.

4. Compound oils, are made of oil of
olives, and other simples, imagine herbs,
flowers, roots, &c.

5. The way of making them is this :
Having bruised the herbs or flowers you

\ would make your oil of, put them into an

6. If in a decoction, you boil both roots, i earthen pot, and to two or three handfuls of
herbs, flowers, and seed together, let the t them pour a pint of oil, cover the pot with
roots boil a good while first, because they j a paper, set it in the sun about a fortnight
retain their virtue longest ; then the next in \ or so, according as the sun is in hotness ;
order by the same rule, viz. 1. Barks. 2. j then having warmed it very well by the fire,
The herbs. 3. The seeds. 4. The flowers, i press out the herb, &c. very hard in a press,
5. The spices, if you put any in, because \ and add as many more herbs to the same
their virtues come soonest out. I oil; bruise the herbs (I mean not the oil) in

7. Such things as by boiling cause like manner, set them in the sun as before ;

sliminess to a decoction, as figs, quince-
seed, linseed, &c. your best way is, after

the oftener you repeat this, the stronger your
oil will be ; At last when you conceive it

you have bruised them, to tie them up in a i strong enough, boil both herbs and oil
linen rag, as you tie up calfs brains, and so' together, till the juice be consumed, which
boil them. i you may know by its bubbling, and the

8. Keep all decoctions in a glass close i herbs will be crisp ; then strain it while it
stopped, and in the cooler place you keep i : is hot, and keep it in a stone or glass vessel
them, the longer they will last ere they be j for your use.
sour. 6. As for chymical oils, I have nothing to

Lastly, The usual dose to be given at one i say here.

time, is usually two, three, four, or fivej 7 The general use of these oils, is for
ounces, according to the age and strength | pains in the limbs, roughness of the skin,
of the patient, the season of the year, the j the itch, &c. as also for ointments and
strength of the medicine, and the quality of j plaisters.

the disease. 8. If you have occasion to use it for

wounds or ulcers, in two ounces of oil,

{ dissolve half an ounce of turpentine, the

Of Oils. \ heat of the fire will quickly do it ; for oil

1. OIL Olive, which is commonly known j itself is f ns . ive to wounds ' and the tur P en '
by the name of Sal lad Oil, I suppose, be-j tme ( l uah

CHAPTEE VI.

cause it is usually eaten with sallads by *
them that love it, if it be pressed out of!
ripe olives, according to Galen, is tempe- !
rate, and exceeds in no one quality.

2. Of oils, some are simple, and some are j needs by half, about electuaries. I shall
compound. \ prescribe but one general way of making

3 Simple oils, are such as are made of them up; as for ingredients, you may very

Of Electuaries.
PHYSICIANS make more a quoil than

206 THE COMPLETE HERBAL

them as you please, and as you find occa- 1 2. Conserves of herbs and flowers, are
sion, by the last chapter. j thus made : if you make your conserves of

1. That you may make electuaries when { herbs, as of scurvy-grass, wormwood, rue,
you need them, it is requisite that you keep * and the like, take only the leaves and ten-
always herbs, roots, flowers, seeds, &c. \ der tops (for you may beat your heart out
ready dried in your house, that so you may j before you can beat the stalks small) and
be in a readiness to beat them into powder j having beaten them, weigh them, and to
when you need them. 1 every pound of them add three pounds of

2. It is better to keep them whole than {sugar, you cannot beat them too much,
beaten ; for being beaten, they are more 3. Conserves of fruits, as of barberries,

subject to lose their strength ; because the
air soon penetrates them.

sloes and the like, is thus made : First,
Scald the fruit, then rub the pulp through

3. If they be not dry enough to beat into | a thick hair sieve made for the purpose,
powder when you need them, dry them by \ called a pulping sieve ; you may do it for
a gentle fire till they are so. \ a need with the back of a spoon : then take

4. Having beaten them, sift them through 5 this pulp thus drawn, and add to it its
a fine tiffany scarce, that no great pieces j weight of sugar, and no more ; put it into
may be found in you electuary. a pewter vessel, and over a charcoal fire ;

5. To one ounce of your powder add; stir it up and down till the sugar be melted,
three ounces of clarified honey ; this quan- j and your conserve is made.

tity I hold to be sufficient. If you would j 4. Thus you have the way of making
make more or less electuary, vary your pro- 5 conserves ; the way of keeping them is in
portion accordingly. j earthen pots.

6. Mix them well together in a mortar, j 5. The dose is usually the quantity of a
and take this for a truth, you cannot mix \ nutmeg at a time morning and evening,
them too much. | or (unless they are purging) when you

7. The way to clarify honey, is to set it \ please.

r* li*11.1_!^>^v

over the fire in a convenient vessel, till the

6. Of conserves, some keep many years,

scum rise, and when the scum is taken off, j as conserves of roses : other but a year, as
it is clarified. \ conserves of Borage, Bugloss, Cowslips and

8. The usual dose of cordial electuaries, i the like.

is from half a dram to two drams ; of purg-j 7. Have a care of the working of some
ing electuaries, from half an ounce to an j conserves presently after they are made ;
ounce. \ look to them once a day, and stir them

9. The manner of keeping them is in a\ about conserves of Borage, Bugloss,

pot

10. The time of taking them, is either in

Wormwood, have got an excellent faculty
at that sport.

a morning fasting, and fasting an hour after j 8. You may know when your conserves
them ; or at night going to bed, three or four ; are almost spoiled by this ; you shall find
hours after supper. 1 a hard crust at top with little holes in it,

CHAPTER vii. i as though worms had been eating there.

Of Conserves. CHAPTER viii

1. The way of making conserves is two- j QJ- Preserves.

fold, one of herbs and flowers, and the other 5
of fruits. OF Preserves are sundry sorts, and the

AND ENGLISH PHYSICIAN ENLARGED.

207

operation of all being somewhat different, you cut it into it, and let it remain until

we will handle them all apart. These are you have occasion to use it.

preserved with sugar : 3. Roots are thus preserved ; First, Scrape

1. Flowers. 3. Roots. j them very clean, and cleanse them from the

2. Fruits. 4. Barks. 1 pith, if they have any, for some roots have
1. Flowers are very seldom preserved ; ? not, as Eringo and the like ; Boil them in

I never saw any that I remember, save ? water till they be soft, as we shewed you
only cowslip flowers, and that was a great i before in the fruits ; then boil the water you
fashion in Sussex when I was a boy. It is | boiled the root in into a syrup, as we shewed
thus done, Take a flat glass, we call them i you before ; then keep the root whole in the
jat glasses ; strew on a laying of fine sugar, j syrup till you use them,
on that a laying of flowers, and on that! 4. As for barks, we have but few come
another laying of sugar, on that another : to our hands to be done, and of those the
laying of flowers, so do till your glass be \ few that I can remember, are, oranges,
full ; then tie it over with a paper, and in j lemons, citrons, and the outer bark of wal-
a little time, you shall have very excellent i nuts, which grow without side the shell,
and pleasant preserves. j for the shells themselves would make but

There is another way of preserving {scurvy preserves; these be they lean re-
flowers; namely, with vinegar and salt, | member, if there beany more put them
as they pickle capers and broom-buds ; but ; into the number.

The way of preserving these, is not all

one in authors, for some ate bitter, some are

as I have little skill in it myself, I cannot
teach you.

2 Fruits, as quinces, and the like, are I hot ; such as are bitter, say authors, must
preserved two ways ; j be soaked in warm water, oftentimes chang-

(1.) Boil them well in water, and then j ing till their bitter taste be fled ; But I like

pulp them through a sieve, as we shewed
you before; then with the like quantity of
sugar, boil the water they were boiled in
into a syrup, viz. a pound of sugar to a pint
of liquor ; to every pound of this syrup,
add four ounces of the pulp ; then boil it
with a very gentle fire to their right con-
sistence, which you may easily know if you j

not this way and my reason is this ; Because
I doubt when their bitterness is gone, so is
their virtue also ; I shall then prescribe one
common way, namely, the same with the
former, viz. First, boil them whole till they
be soft, then make a syrup with sugar and
the liquor you boil them in, and keep the
barks in the syrup.

drop a drop of it upon a trencher ; if iti 5. They are kept in glasses or in glaz'd pots,
be enough, it will not stick to your fingers j 6. The preserved flowers will keep a year,
when it is cold. { if you can forbear eating of them ; tbe

(2.) Another way to preserve fruits is I roots and barks much longer,
this; First, Pare off the rind; then cut! 7- This art was plainly and first invented
them in halves, and take out the core: then j for delicacy, yet came afterwards to be of
boil them in water till they are soft ; if you t excellent use in physic ; For,
know when beef is boiled enough, you may | (1.) Hereby medicines are made pleasant
easily know when they are ; Then boil the ' for sick and squeamish stomachs, which
water with its like weight of sugar into a i else would loath them,
syrup; put the syrup into a pot, and put \ (2.) Hereby they are preserved from de-
the boiled fruit as whole as you left it when 'caying a long time

3 H

208 THE COMPLETE HERBAL

\ mean, not the mortar,) cover it with a

CHAPTER ] paper and set it either in ihe sun, or some

Of Lohocks other warm place ; three, four, or five days,

| that it may melt ; then take it out and boil
1. THAT which the Arabians call Lo- 1 it a little ; then whilst it is hot, strain it out,

hocks, and the Greeks Eclegma, the Latins
caJl Linctus, and in plain English signifies
nothing else but a thing to be licked up.
2. They are in body thicker than a

pressing it out very hard in a press : to this
grease add as many more herbs bruised as
before ; let them stand in like manner as
long, then boil them as you did the former;

syrup, and not so thick as an electuary. \ If you think your ointment is not strong

3. The manner of taking them is, often to : enough, you may do it the third and fourth
take a little with a liquorice stick, and let it j time, yet this I will tell you, the fuller of
go down at leisure. U ince t h e herbs are, the sooner will your

4. They are easily thus made; Make $ ointment be strong; the last time you boil
a decoction of pectoral herbs, and thetrea-jit, boil it so long till your herbs be crisp,
tjse will furnish you with enough, and when land the juice consumed, then strain it
you have strained it, with twice its weight I pressing it hard in a press, and to every
of honey or sugar, boil it to a lohock ; if. j pound of ointment add two ounces of tur-
you are molested with much phlegm, honey { pentine, and as much wax, because grease
is better than sugar ; and if you add a little j is offensive to wounds, as well as oil.
vinegar to it, you will do well ; if not, I hold j 2. Ointments are vulgarly known to be
sugar to be better than honey. | kept in pots, and will last above a year,

o. It is kept in pots, and may be kept a j some above two years,
year and longer.

6. It is excellent for roughness of the j

wind-pipe, inflammations and ulcers of ihej Qf Plaisters.

lungs,difficultyofbreathing,asthmas,coughs, |

and distillation of humours. 1- THE Greeks made their plaisters of

5 divers simples, and put metals into the most

CHAPTER x \ of them, if not all ; for having reduced their

Of Ointments. I metals into powder, they mixed them with

Vthat fatty substance whereof the rest of the

1. VARIOUS are the ways of making! plaister consisted, whilst it was thus hot,
ointments, which authors have left to pos-j continually stirring it up and down, lest it
terity, which I shall omit, and quote one j should sink to the bottom; so they con-
which is easiest to be made, and therefore jtinually stirred it till it was stiff; then they
most beneficial to people that are ignorant | made it up in rolls, which when they needed
in physic, for whose sake I write this. It is \ for use, they could melt by the fire again,
thus done. J 2. The Arabians made up theirs with

Bruise those herbs, flowers, or roots, you i

oil and fat, which needed not so long

will make an ointment of, and to two hand-* boiling.

fuls of your bruised herbs add a pound of I 3. The Greeks em plaisters consisted of
hog's grease dried, or cleansed from the! these ingredients, metals, stones, divers
skins, beat them very well together in assorts of earth, feces, juices, liquors, seeds,
stone mortar with a wooden pestle, then put \ roots, herbs, excrements of creatures, wax,
it into a stone pot, (the herb and grease I \ rosin, gums.

AND ENGLISH PHYSICIAN ENLARGED. 209

; stomach is never cold till a man be dead ;

Jin such a case, it is better to carry troches

Of Poultices. Jof wormwood, or galangal, in a paper in

f . . I his pocket, than to lay a gallipot along with
1. POULTICES are those kind of tnin gs'hj m

which the Latins .call Cataplasmata and our! 4 ' Th are made thus . At ni ht wheu
learned fellows, thatif they can reaclEnghsh, j t( / bed take two drams of b fiw

tliats all call them Cataplasms because J * anth . flt it into a gallipot, and put
' - a t of a t * f

]

watef mg for the purpose wou]d

'tis a crabbed word lew understand; it is in-
deed a very fine kind of medicine to ripen

| make your troches for to cover it, and the
2 They are made of herbs anc I roots, < ^ ^ ]} find k - n guch

fitted for the disease and members affl.cted, j je]] &g the f J icians ca]1 mucilage . With
being chopped small, and boiled m water ^ / (with a little pai ? s taken)

almost to a jelly ; hen by adding a htt e I mak / a v / er \ nto a paste a d that ^
barley meai or meal of lupins , and a lit tlej into cak s ca] , ed troch ^ s>
oil, or rough sweet suet, which I hold to be| 5 Hayin made them d them in t))e
better, spread upon a cloth and apply toj shad and \ eep them in a po t for your
the grieved places. I

3. Their use is to ease pain, to break I

sores, to cool inflammations, to dissolve | en AFTER xiv.

hardness, to ease the spleen, to concoct j QL- p;// s

humours, and dissipate swellings.

4. I beseech you take this caution along j 1- THEY are called Pilul<e, because they
with you; Use no poultices (if you can j resemble little balls ; the Greeks call them
help it) that are of an healing nature, before j Caf&pOtUt?

you have first cleansed the body, because j 2 - Tt is the opinion of modern physicians,
they are subject to draw the humours tol that lhls wa J of making medicines, was
them from every part of the body. invented only to deceive the palate, that

{ so by swallowing them down whole, the

CHAPTER xni. \ bitterness of the medicine might not be

Of Troches i perceived, or at least it might not be unsuf-

jferable: and indeed most of their pills,

1. THE Latins call them Placentula, or | though not all, are very bitter.

little cakes, and the Greeks Prochikois,\ 3. I am of a clean contrary opinion to
Kukliscoi, and Artiscoi ; they are usually j this. I rather think they were done up in
little round flat cakes, or you may make j this hard form, that so they might be the
them square if you will. j longer in digesting; and my opinion is

2. Their first invention was, that powders j grounded upon reason too, not upon fancy,
being so kept might resist the intermission : or hearsay. The first invention of pills was
of air, and so endure pure the longer. to purge the head, now, as I told you

3. Besides, they are easier carried in the; before, such infirmities as lie near the pas-

Sockets of such as travel ; as many a man j sages were best removed by decoctions,
or example) is forced to travel whose i because they pass to the grieved part
stomach is too cold, or at least not so hot as j soonest ; so here, if the infirmity lies in the
it should be, which is most proper, for the { head, or any other remote part, the best way

210 THE COMPLETE HERBAL

is to use pills, because they are longer in > 1. With the disease, regard the cause,
digestion, and therefore the better able to j and the part of the body afflicted ; for
call the offending humour to them. ; example, suppose a woman be subject to

4. If I should tell you here a long tale of! miscarry, through wind, thus do ;
medicine working by sympathy and anti-; (1.) Look Abortion in the table of dis-
pathy, you would not understand a word of leases, 'and you shall be directed by that,
it : They that are set to make physicians j how many herbs prevent miscarriage,
may find it in the treatise. All modern j (2.) Look Wind in the same table, and
physicians know not what belongs to a j you shall see how many of these herbs ex-
sympathetical cure, no more than a cuckow - pel wind.

what belongs to flats and sharps in music, ; These are the herbs medicinal for your
but follow the vulgar road, and call it a (grief,
hidden quality, because 'tis hidden from the \ 2. In all diseases strengthen the part of

eyes of dunces, and indeed none but astro-
logers can give a reason for il ; and physic
without reason is like a pudding without

lal.

6. The way to make pills is very easy,

the body afflicted.

3. In mix'd diseases there lies some dif-
ficulty, for sometimes two parts of the body
are afflicted with contrary humours, as
sometimes the liver is afflicted with choler

for with the help of a pestle and mortar, j and water, as when a man hath both the
and a little diligence, you may make any | dropsy and the yellow-jaundice ; and this
powder into pills, either with syrup, or the > is usually mortal.

jelly I told you before. In the former, Suppose the brain be too

\ cool and moist, and the liver be too hot and

CxlArlXjlvAV* I _ .

r . TI r j- \ dry > ^us do ;

The way of mixing Medicines according to\ L K r head outwardly warm.

the Cause of the Disease, and Parts of the j 2 Accustom yourself to the smell of hot

Body afflicted

THIS being indeed the key of the work, ;

herbs.

3. Take a pill that heats the head at night

I shall be somewhat the more diligent in \ going to bed.

it. I shall deliver myself thus ; 4. In the morning take a decoction that

1. To the Vulgar. ; cools the liver, for that quickly passes the

2. To such as study Astrology; or such \ stomach, and is at the liver immediately,
as study physic astrologically. You must not think, courteous people,

1st, To the Vulgar. Kind souls, I am jthat I can spend time to give you examples
sorry it hath been your hard mishap to have of all diseases ; These are enough to let you
been so long trained in such Egyptian dark- \ see so much light as you without art are
ness which to your sorrow may be felt ; I able to receive; If I should set you to look
The vulgar road of physic is not my prac- 1 at the sun, I should dazzle your eyes, and
tice, and I am therefore the more unfit to | make you blind.

give you advice. I have now published 1 2dly, To such as study Astrology, (who
a little book, (Galen's Art of Physic,) which} are the only men I know that are fit to
will fully instruct you, not only in the \ study physic, ph} r sic without astrology being
knowledge of your own bodies, but also in {like a lamp without oil : you are the men
fit medicines to remedy each part of its I exceedingly respect, and such documents
when afflicted; in the -mean season take \ as my brain can give you at present (being
these few rules to stay your stomachs. > absent from my study) I shall give you.

AND ENGLISH PHYSICIAN ENLARGED. 211

1 Fortify the body with herbs of the] 5. If this cannot well be, make use of the
nature of the Lord of the Ascendant, 'tis no \ medicines of the Light of Time
matter whether he be a Fortune or Infortune j 6. Be sure always to fortify the grieved
in this case. j part of the body by sympathetical remedies.

2. Let your medicine be something anti-l 7- Regard the heart, keep that upon the

. i iii .10*. i/*i. f

pathetical to the Lord of the sixth.

3. Let your medicine be something of
the nature of the sign ascending.

wheels, because the Sun is the foundation of
life, and therefore those universal remedies,
Aurum Potabile, and the Philosopher's

4. If the Lord of the Tenth be strong, ! Stone, cure all diseases by fortifying the
make use of his medicines. [ heart.

THE

ENGLISH PHYSICIAN

AND

FAMILY DIPENSATORY.

AN ASTRO LOGO-PHYSICAL DISCOURSE OF THE HUMAN VIRTUES IN
THE BODY OF MAN; BOTH PRINCIPAL AND ADMINISTERING.

HUMAN virtues are either PRINCIPAL! THE ""P 6 / this d . iscourse is > To P re ;
for procreation, and conswalion ; or AD _ serve in soundness and vigour, he mmd
UNSTRING, for Attraction, Digestion, and understanding of man; to strengthen

the b" n ' P reseie the m health ' l

Retention, or Expulsion. te " n ' P resei 7 e fi

! teach a man to be an able co-artificer, or

Virtues conservative, are Vital, Natural, i helper of nature, to withstand and expel
and Animal. Diseases.

By the natural are bred Blood, Choler,
Flegm, and Melancholy.

I shall touch only the principal faculties
both of body and mind ; which being kept

The animal virtue is Intellective, and Sen- j in a due decorum, preserve the body in
sitive. | health, and the mind in vigour.

The Intellective is Imagination, Judgment,! I shall in this place speak of them only
and Memory. Jin the general, as they are laid down to

The sensitive is Common, and Particular, j your view in the Synopsis, in the former

The particular is Seeing, Hearing, Smell- 1 pages, and in the same order,
ing, Tasting, and Feeling. Virtue Procreative~\ The first in order, is

3 i

212 THE COMPLETE HERBAL

the Virtue Procreative : for natural regards 5 Choler is made of meat more than per-
not only the conservation of itself, buttojfectly concocted; and it is the spume or
beget its like, and conserve in Species. j froth of blood : it clarifies all the humours,

The seat of this is the Member of Gene- ? heats the body, nourishes the apprehension.
ration, and is governed principally by the j as blood doth the judgment: It is in quality
influence of Venus. j hot and dry ; fortifies the attractive faculty,

It is augmented and encreased by the j as blood doth the digestive; moves man to
strength of Venus, by her Herbs, Roots, j activity and valour: its receptacle is the
Trees, Minerals, &c. jgall* a d it is under the influence of Mara.

It is diminished and purged by those of \ Flegm is made of meat not perfectly di-
Mars, and quite extinguished by those of igested; it fortifiesthe virtue expulsive,makes
Saturn. \ the body slippery, fit for ejection; it fortifies

Observe the hour and Medicines of Vemts,\ the brain by its consimilitude Avith it ; yet
to fortify; of Mars, to cleanse this virtue ; < it spoils apprehension by its antipathy to it:
of Saturn, to extinguish it. I It qualifies choler, cools and moistens the

Conservative.'] The conservative virtue is j heart, thereby sustaining it, and the whole
Vital, Natural, Animal. j body, from the fiery effects, which continual

Vital.~\ The Vital spirit hath its residence | motion would produce. Its receptacle is
in the heart, and is dispersed from it by the j the lungs, and is governed by Venus, some
Arteries; and is governed by the influence j say by the Moon, perhaps it may be go-
of the Sun. And it is to the body, as the 5 verned by them both, it is cold and moist in
Sun is to the Creation ; as the heart is in \ quality.

the Microcosm, so is the Sun in the Mega- \ Melancholy is the sediment of blood, cold
cosm: for as the Sun gives life, light, and j and dry in quality, fortifying the retentive
motion to the Creation, so doth the heart to I faculty, and memory; makes men sober,
the body; therefore it is called Sol Corporis, \ solid, and staid, fit for study ; stays the un-
as the Sun is called Cor Call, because their j bridled toys of lustful blood, slays the wan-
operations are similar. i dering thoughts, and reduces them home to

Inimical and destructive to this virtue, 1 the centre : its receptacle is in the spleen,
are Saturn and Mars. i and it is governed by Saturn.

The Herbs and Plants of Sol, wonderfully \ Of all these humours blood is the chief,
fortify it. jail the rest are superfluities of blood; yet

Natural.'] The natural faculty or virtue \ are they necessary superfluities, for without.
resides in the liver, and is generally governed | any of them, man cannot live.
by Jupiter, Quasi Juvans Pater; its-office is j Namely; Choler is the fiery superfluities,
to nourish the body, and is dispersed through i Flegm, the Watery; Melancholy, the

the body by the veins.

From this are bred four particular

Earthly.

Animal.] The third principal virtue re-

humours, Blood, Choler, Flegm, and Melon- mains, which is Animal ; its residence is in
choly. \ the brain, and Mercury is the general sig-

Blood is made of meat perfectly con- 5 nificator of it. Ptolomi/ held the Moon sig-
cocted, in quality hot and moist, governed \ nified the Animal virtue ; and I am of
by Jupiter: It is by a third concoction : opinion, both Mercury and the Moon dis-
transmuted into flesh, the sxiperfluity of it? pose it ; and my reason is, 1, Because both
into seed, and its receptacle is the veins, by j of them in nativities, either fortify, or impedite
which it is dispersed through the body. * it. 2, 111 directions to either, or from either.

AND ENGLISH PHYSICIAN ENLARGED. 218

afflict it, as good ones help it. Indeed the
Moon rules the bulk of it, as also the sensi-

So that it is one of the surest rales to
know a man's own complexion, by his

live part of it : Mercury the rational part : dreams, I mean a n an void of distractions,
and that's the reason, if in a nativity the j or deep studies : (this most assuredly shews
Moon be stronger than Mercury, sense many \ Mercury to dispose of the Imagination, as
times over-powers reason ; but if Mercury \ also because it is mutable, applying itself to
be strong, and the Moon weak, reason will j any object, as Mercury's nature is to do;) for
be master ordinarily in despite of sense. j then the imagination will follow its old bent;

It is divided into Intellective, and Sen- i for if a man be bent upon a business, his
sitive. apprehension will work as much when he is

1. Intellective.] The Intellectual resides I asleep, and find out as many truths by study,
in the brain, within the Pia mater, is govern- j as when the man is awake ; and perhaps
ed generally by Mercury. \ more too, because then it is not hindered

It is divided into Imagination, Judgment, { by ocular objects,
and Memory. And thus much for imagination, which is

Imagination is seated in the forepart of \ governed by Mercury, and fortified by his
the brain ; it is hot and dry in quality, ! influence ; and is also strong or weak in
quick, active, always working; it receives \ man, according as Mercury is strong or
vapours from the heart, and coins them into i weak in the nativity.

thoughts: it never sleeps, but always is * Judgment is seated in the midst of the
working, both when the man is sleeping and \ brain, to shew that it ought to bear rule over
waking; only when Judgment is awake it j all the other faculties : it is the judge of the
regulates the Imagination, which runs at j little world, to approve of what is good,
random when Judgment is asleep, and forms | and reject what is bad; it is the seat of
any thought according to the nature of the j reason, and the guide of actions; so that all
vapour sent up to it. Mercury is out of i failings are committed through its infirmity,
question the disposer of it. j it not rightly judging between a real and

A man may easily perceive his Judg-jan apparent good. It is hot and moist
ment asleep before himself many times, and \ in quality, and under the influence ot
then he shall perceive his thoughts run all Jupiter.

Memory is seated in the hinder cell of the
brain, it is the great register to the little

random.

Judgment always sleeps when men do,

Imagination never sleeps ; Memory some- \ world ; and its office is to record things
times sleeps when men sleep, and sometimes j either done and past, or to be done,
it doth not: so then when memory is awake, * It is in quality cold and dry, melancholic,
and the man asleep, then memory remem- 1 and therefore generally melancholic men
bers what apprehension coins, and that is a! have best memories, and most tenacious
dream: The thoughts would have been the ; every way. It is under the dominion of
same, if memory had not been awake to re- i Saturn, and is fortified by his influence, but
member it. j purged by the luminaries.

These thoughts are commonly (I mean in ! 2. Sensitive.'] The second part of the ani-
sleep, when they are purely natural,) framed j mal virtue, is sensitive, and it is divided into
according to the nature of the humour, ? two parts, common and particular,
called complexion, which is predominate in i Common sense is an imaginary term,
the body; and if the humour be peccant it land that which gives virtue to all the par-
is always so. I ticular senses, and knits and unites them

214 . THE COMPLETE HERBAL

together within the Pia Mater. It is regu- j It is under the dominion of Venus, some say,
lated by Mercury, (perhaps this is one rea- \ Mercury : A thousand to one, hut it "is
son why men are so fickle-headed) and its i under Mercury.

office is to preserve a harmony among the | mi. c

Ihe four ADMINISTERING VIRTUES are.

Scllaca. . , , .

Particular senses are five, vtz. seeing, \ attract > digestive, retentive, and expulsive,
hearing, smelling^ tasting^ and feeling. The attractive virtue is hot and dry, hot

These senses are united in one, in the 1 by quality, active, or principal, and that
brain, by the common sense, but are ope- \ appears because the fountain of all heat is
ratively distinguished into their several j attractive, viz. the sun. Dry by a quality
seats, and places of residence. ; passive, or an effect of its heat ; its office

The sight resides in the eyes, and par- 1 is to remain in the body, and call for what
ticularly in the christaline humour. It is } nature wants.

in quality cold and moist, and governed by 1 It is under the influence of the Sun, say
the luminaries. They who have them weak | authors, and not under Mars, because he is
in their genesis, have always weak sights;! of a corrupting nature, yet if we cast an
if one of them be so, the weakness pos- j impartial eye upon experience, we shall
sesses but one eye. jfind, that martial men call for meat none of

The hearing resides in the ears; is in j the least, and for drink the most of all other
quality, cold and dry, melancholy, and j men, although many times they corrupt the
under the dominion of Saturn. t body by it, and therefore I see no reason

The smelling resides in the nose, is in 5 why Mars being of the same quality with
quality hot and dry, choleric, and that is \ the Sun, should not have a share in the
the reason choleric creatures have so good j dominion. It is in vain to object, that the
smells, as dogs. It is under the influence j influence of Mars is evil, and therefore he
of Mars. should have no dominion over this virtue ;

The taste resides in the palate, which is

placed at the root of the tongue on purpose; 1. By the same rule, he should have no

to discern what food is congruous for the

for then,

dominion at all in the body of man.

stomach, and what not ; as the meseraik i 2. All the virtues in man are naturally
veins are placed to discern what nourish- 1 evil, and corrupted by Adam's fall,
inent is proper for the liver to convert into 5 This attractive virtue ought to be forti-
blood. In some very few men, and but ? fied when the Moon is in fiery signs, viz.
a few, and in those few, but in few instances | Aries and Sagitary, but not in Leo, for the
these two tasters agree not, and that is the j sign is so violent, that no physic ought to
reason some men covet meats that make J be given when the Moon is there : (and
them sick, viz. the taste craves them, and j why not Leo, seeing that is the most attrac-
the meseraik veins reject them : In quality 5 live sign of all ; and that's the reason such
hot and moist, and is ruled by Jupiter. j as have it ascending in their genesis, are

The feeling is deputed to no particular
organ, but is spread abroad, over the whole
body ; is of all qualities, hot, cold, dry, and

such greedy eaters.) If you connot stay till
the Moon be in one of them, let one of them
ascend when you administer the medicine.

moist, and is the index of all tangible j The digestive virtue is hot and moist, and
things ; for if it were only hot alone, it j is the principal of them all, the other like
could not feel a quality contrary, viz. cold, * handmaids attend it.
and this might be spoken of other qualities. J The attractive virtue draws that which it

AND ENGLISH PHYSICIAN ENLARGED 215

should digest, and serves continually to feed j Although I did what I could throughout
and supply it. \the whole book to express myself in such a

The retentive virtue, retains the substance ; language as might be understood by all, and
with it, till it be perfectly digested. I therefore avoided terms of art as much as

The expidsi-ve virtue casteth out, ex pels 1 might be, Yet, 1. Some words of necessity fall
what is superfluous b} digestion. It is J in which need explanation. 2. It would be
under the influence of Jupner, and fortified : very tedious at the end of every receipt to repeat
by his herbs and plants, #c. In fortifying jooer and over again, the way of administration
it, let your Moon be in Gemini, Aquary, or \ of the receipt, or ordering your bodies after ?V,
the first half of Libra, or if matters be come i or to instruct you in the mixture of medicines,

to that extremity, that you cannot stay till
that time, let one of them ascend, but both

and indeed would do nothing else but stuff the
book full of taidology.

of them together would do better, always \ To answer to both these is my task at this
provided that the Moon be not in the as- j time.

cendent. I cannot believe the Moon afflicts \ To the Jirst : The words which need ex-
the ascendent so much as they talk of, if \plaining, such as are obvious to my eye, are
she be well dignified, and in a sign she \ these, thatfollaw.

delights in. 1. To distil in Balno Mariae, is the usual

The retentive virtue is in quality cold and \way of distilling in water. It is no more than
dry ; cold, because the nature of cold is to j to place your glass body which holds the matter
compress, witness the ice ; dry, because the j to be distilled in a covenient vessel of water,
nature of dry ness, is to keep and hold whatlwhen the water is cold (for fear of breaking)
is compressed. It is under the influence of \piit a wisp of straw, or the like under is> to keep
Saturn, and that is the reason why usually j it from the bottom, then make the water boil,
Saturnine men are so covetous and tcnaci-lthat so the spirit may be distilled forth ; take
ous. In fortifying of it, make use of thejof the glass out till the zcater be cold again,
herbs and plants, &c. of Saturn, and let the [for fear of breaking : It is impossible for a
Moon be mTaurusor Virgo, Capricorn is noi\man to learn how to do it, unless he saw it
so good, say authors, (I can give no reason j done.

for that neither ;) let not Saturn nor his ill
aspect molest the ascendent.

2. Monica Hippocrates. Hippocrales's
sleeve, is a piece of woolen cloth, new and

The expidsive faculty is cold and moist; j white, sewed together in form of a sugar-loaf,
cold because that compasses the super- Its use is, to strain any syrup or decoction

fiuities ; moist, because that makes the body

through, by pouring it into it, and suffering

slippery and fit for ejection, and disposes it it to run through without pressing or crush-
to it. It is under the dominion of Luna, j ing it.
with whom you may join Yerus, because | 3. Calcination, is a burning of a thing in

she is of the same nature.

Also in whatsoever is before written, of
the nature of the planets, take notice, that
fixed stars of the same nature, work the

a crucible or other such convenient vessel
that will endure the fire. A crucible is such
a thing as goldsmiths melt silver in, and
founders metals ; you may place it in the

same effect. \ midst of the fire, with coals above, below,

In fortifying this, (which ought to be J and on every side of it.

done in all purgations,) let the Moon be in | 4. Filtrition, is straining of a liquid body
Cancer, Scorpio, or Pisces, or let one of these {through a brown paper: make up the paper
signs ascend. I in form of a funnel, the which having placed

216 THE COMPLETE HERBAL

in a funnel, and the funnel and the paper 5 so medicines might be more delightful, or at
in it in an empty glass, pour in the liquor ; least less burdensome. You may make the
you would filter, and let it run through at its I mixtures of them in what form you please,
leisure. } only for your better instruction at present,

5. Coagulation, is curdling or hardening : j accept of these few lines,
it is used in physic for reducing a liquid ] 1. Consider, that all diseases are cured by
body to hardness by the heat of the fire, j their contraries, but all parts of the body

6'. Whereas you find vital) natural, and ; maintained by their likes : then if heat be
animal spirits often mentioned in the virtues j the cause of the disease, give the cold medi-

or receipts, I shall explain what they be,
and what their operation is in the body of

man. i expel wind, and use them.

The actions or operations of the animal

cine appropriated lo it; if wind, see how
many medicines appropriated to that disease

2. Have a care you use not such mecli-

virtues, are, 1. sensitive, 2. motive. | cines to one part of your body which are

The sensitive is, 1. external, 2. internal. \ appropriated to another, for if your brain
The external senses are, 1, seeing, 2. hear-] be over heated, and you use such medicines

Ing, 3. tasting, 4. smelling, 5. feeling. jas cool the heart or liver, you may make

The internal senses are, 1. the Imagination, j bad work.

to apprehend a thing. 2. Judgment, to judge 3. The distilled water of any herb you

of it. 3. Memory, to remember it. | would take for a disease, is a fit mixture

The seat of all these is in the brain. s for the syrup of the same herb, or to make

The vital spirits proceed from the heart, i any electuary into a drink, if you affect

and cause in man mirth, joy, hope, trust, | such liquid medicines best ; if you have not

humanity, mildness, courage, <fyc. and their ' the distilled water, make use of the decoc-

opposite : viz. sadness, fear, care, sorrow, \ tion.

despair, envy, hatred, stubbornness, revenge, fyc. \ 4. Diseases that lie in the parts of the

by heat natural or not natural.

The natural spirit nourishes the body

body remote from the stomach and bowels,
it is in vain to think to carry away the cause

throughout (as the vital quickens it, and the j at once, and therefore you had best do it by
animal gives it sense and motion) its office i degrees; pills, and such like medicines which
is to alter or concoct food into chile, chile 1 are hard in the body, are fittest for such a
into blood, blood into flesh, to form, engen- 1 business, because they are longest before
der, nourish, and increase the body. \ they digest.

7. Infusion, is to steep a gross body into | 5. Use no strong medicines, if weak will
one more liquid. i serve the turn, you had better take one too

8. Decoction, is the liquor in which any weak by half, than too strong in the least
thing is boiled. 6. Consider the natural tern per of the part

As for the manner of using or ordering ! of the body afflicted, and maintain it in that,
the body after any sweating, or purging j else you extinguish nature, as the heart is
medicines, or pills, or the like, they will be j hot, the brain cold, or at least the coldest
found in different parts of the work, as also j part of the body,
in the next page. 7- Observe this general rule; That such

The different forms of making up medi- j medicines as are hot in the first degree are
cines, as some into syrups, others into elec- 5 most habitual to our bodies, because they
luaries, pills, troches, &c. was partly to j are just of the heat of our blood,
please the different palates of people, that? 8. All opening medicines, and such as

AND ENGLISH PHYSICIAN ENLARGED. 217

provoke urine or the menses, or break the j electuaries, as also all pills that have neither
stone, may most conveniently be given in : Diagrydium nor Colocynthus, in them. But
white wine, because white wine of itself is I all violent purges require a due ordering of
of an opening nature, and cleanses the j the body ; such ought to be taken in the
reins. I morning after you are up, and not to sleep

9. Let all such medicines as are taken j after them before they are done working, at
to stop fluxes or looseness, be taken before! least before night: two hours after you have
meat, about an hour before, more or less, j taken them, drink a draught of warm posset-
that so they may strengthen the digestion! drink, or broth, and six hours after eat a
and retentive faculty, before the food come j bit of mutton, often walking about the
into the stomach, but such as are subject to \ chamber ; let there be a good fire in the
vomit up their meat, let them take such j chamber, and stir not out of the chamber
medicines as stay vomiting presently after ! till the purge have done working, or not till
meat, at the conclusion of their meals, that I next day.

so they may close up the mouth of the! Lastly, Take sweating medicines when
stomach ; and that is the reason why usually 5 you are in bed, covered warm, and in the
men eat a bit of cheese after meat, because I time of your sweating drink posset-drink as
by its sourness and binding it closes the \ hot as you can. If you sweat for a fever, boil
mouth of the stomach, thereby staying \ sorrel and red sage in your posset-drink,
belching and vomiting. I sweat an hour or longer if your strength will

10. In taking purges be very careful, and j permit, then (the chamber being kept very
that you may be so, observe these rules. j warm) shift yourself all but your head, about

(1.) Consider what the humour offending | which (the cap which you sweat in being
is, and let the medicine be such as purges' still kept on) wrap a napkin very hot, to
that humour, else you will weaken nature, ! repel the vapours back,
not the disease. I confess these, or many of these direc-

(2.) Take notice, if the humour you would | tions may be found in one place of the
purge out be thin, then gentle medicines will \ book or other, and I delight as little to write
serve the turn, but if it be tough and viscous, \ tautology as another, but considering it
then such medicines as are cutting and 5 might make for the public good, 1 inserted
opening, the night before you would take j them in this place : if, notwithstanding, any
the purge. i will be so mad as to do themselves a mis-

(3.) In purging lough humours, forbear as * chief, the fault is not mine
much as may be such medicines as leave a i
binding quality behind them.

(4.) Have a care of taking purges when 1

your body is astringent; your best way, is- R O O T S.

first to open it by a clyster.

(5.) In taking opening medicines, you Acanths, Branca; Ursince. Of bearsbreech,
may safely take them at night, eating but j or brankursine, it is meanly hot and dry,
a little supper three or four hours before, i helps aches and aumness of the joints, and is
and the next morning drinking a draught of; of a binding quality, good for 'wounds and
warm posset-drink, and you need not fear j broken bones. Dioscorides saith, they are
to go about your business. In this manner! profitable for ruptures, or such as are
you may take Lenitive Electuary, Diacatho-\ bnrsten, or burnt with fire, a dram of the
iicon, Pulp of Cassia, and the like gentle i root in powder being taken in the morning

218

THE COMPLETE HERBAL

fasting, in a decoction made with the same
root and water.

Acori, Veri, Perigrini, vulgaris, Sfc. See
Calamus Aromaticus. I shall not speak con-
cerning the several sorts of it, one of which
is Water-flag, or Flower-de-luce, which is:
hot and dry in the second degree, binds,:

vulsions ; both of them resist poison. I
never read any use of the climing birth-
wort.

Artanitte, Cyclamims, $c. Or Sowbread ;
hot and dry in the third degree, a most
violent purge, dangerous; outwardly ap-
plied to the place, it profits much in the

strengthens, stops fluxes of the belly, and; bitings of venomous beasts, also being hung
immoderate flowing of the menses, a dram | about women in labour, it causes speedy
being taken in red wine every morning. \ deliverance. See the Herb.

Allhim. Garlic. It is hot and dry in the Arundinis, Fallanorue, and Saccharines.

Of common reeds and sugar reeds. The
roots of common reeds applied to the place
draw

See the leaves.

out thorns, and ease sprains ; the
ashes of them mixed with vinegar, take
scurf, or dandrif off from the head, and
prevent the falling off of the hair, they are

fourth degree, breeds corrupt blood, yet is
an enemy to all poisons, and such as are
bitten by cold venomous beasts, viz. Adders, j
Toads, Spiders, &c. it provokes urine, and
expels wind.

Alcanna. Of privet.

Althtece. Of Marsh mallows, are meanly i hot and dry in the~second degree, according
hot, of a digesting, softening nature, ease to Galen. I never read any virtue of the
pains, help bloody fluxes, the stone, and t root of sugar cane.

gravel ; being bruised and boiled in milk, j Ari, fyc. Of Cuckow-points, or Wake-
and the milk drank, is a good remedy for gri- \ Robin, hot and dry in the third degree,
pings of the belly, and the bloody flux. If! I know no great good they do inwardly
a fever accompany the disease, boil a hand- j taken, unless to play the rogue withal, or
ful of common mallow leaves with a hand- ! make sport : outwardly applied, they take
ful of these roots. j off scurf, morphew, or freckles from the

Angelica. Of Angelica; is hot and dry \ face, clear the skin, and ease the pains
the third degree, strengthens the heart, j of the gout.

and is good against pestilence and poison, 5 Asclepiadis,vincetoxici. Of Swallow-wort,
half a dram taken in the morning fasting. : hot and dry, good against poison, and

the

Anchusce. Of Alkanet ; cold and dry,
binding, good for old ulcers.

Anthora. A foreign root, the counter-
poison for Monkshood, it is an admirable
remedy for the wind cholic, and resists
poison.

Apii. Of smallage. See the barks.

AristolochUE. Of birthwort; of which are
three sorts, long, round, and climing : All
hot and dry in the third degree. The long,

brings

poison,

gripings of the belly, as also against
bitings of mad dogs, taken inwardly.

Asari. Of Asarabacca : the roots are
a safer purge than the leaves, and not so
violent, they purge by vomit, stool, and
urine ; they are profitable for such as have
agues, dropsies, stoppings of the liver, or
spleen, green sickness.

Asparagi. Of Asparagus, or sperage:
they are temperate in quality, opening,
they provoke urine, and cleanse the reins

boiled in white wine,

being drank in wine, brings away both
birth and after-birth, and whatsoever a care- 1 and bladder, being
.less midwife hath left behind. Dioscorides, s and the wine drank.

Galen. The round, being drank with wine, f Asphodeli, Hasta Reiga fam. Of Kings
helps (besides the former) stuffings of the | Spear, or Female Asphodel. I know no
lungs, hardness of the spleen, ruptures, con- 1 physical use of the roots ; probably there

AND ENGLISH PHYSICIAN ENLARGED.

219

is, for I do not believe God created any '
thing of no use.

Asphodeli, A Ibuci, mum. Of male Aspho- :

in the first degree, cheers the heart, helps
drooping spirits. Dioscorides.

Bronife, fyc. Of Briony both white and

del Hot and dry in the second degree, j black : they are both hot and dry, some
inwardly taken, they provoke vomit, urine, \ say in the third degree, and some say but
and the menses : outwardly used in oint- ! in the first ; they purge flegm and watery
ments, they cause hair to "grow, cleanse { humours, but they trouble the stomach
ulcers, and takeaway morphew and freckles J much, they are very good for dropsies;

from the face.

i the white is most in use, and is good for the

Bardanoe, fyc. Of Bur, Clot-bur, or Bur- ; fits of the mother : both of them externally
dock, temperately hot and dry. Helps ! used, take away freckles, sunburning, and
such as spit blood and matter ; bruised and >' morphew from the face, and cleanse filthy
mixed with salt and applied to the place, $ ulcers : It is but a churlish purge, but being
helps the bitings of mad dogs. It expels j let alone, can do no harm,
wind, eases pains of the teeth, strengthens j Buglossi. Of Bugloss : Its virtues are
the back, helps the running of the reins, :| the same with Borrage, and the roots of
and the whites, being taken inwardly, either seldom used.
Dioscorides, Apuleius. ! Bulbus Vomitorius. A Vomiting Root:

Behen. alb. rub. Of Valerian, white and ; I never read of it elswhere by this general
red. Mesue, Serapio, and other Arabians, ; name.

say they are hot and moist in the latter: Calami Aromatici. Of Aromatical Reed,
end of the first, or beginning of the second or sweet garden flag : it provokes urine,
degree, and comfort the heart, stir up lust, j strengthens the lungs, helps bruises, resists
The Grecians held them to be dry in the \ poison, &c. being taken inwardly in pow-
second degree, that they stop fluxes, andjder, the quantity of half a dram at a time,
provoke urine. \ You may mix it with syrup of violets, if

Bellidis. Of Dasies. See the Leaves. j your body be feverish.

Belts, nigrce, albce^ rubrce. Of Beets, \ Capparum. Capper Roots. Are hot
black, white, and red ; as for black Beets 'and dry in the second degree, cutting and
I have nothing to say, I doubt they are as I cleansing : they provoke menses, help

rare as black swans. The red Beet root
boiled and preserved in vinegar, makes a

fine, cool, pleasing, cleansing, digesting \ Cappers.

malignant ulcers, ease the toothache, assuage
swelling, and help the rickets. See Oil of

sauce. See the leaves.

Bistortte, fyc. Of Bistort, or snakeweed,
cold and dry in the third degree, binding :

Cariophillatae, $c. Of Avens, or Herb
Bennet. The roots are dry, and something
hot, of a cleansing quality, they keep gar-

half a d-. am at a time taken inwardly, re-i ments from being moth-eaten. See the

sists pestilence and poison, helps ruptures ; leaves.

and bruises, stays fluxes, vomiting, and j Caulium. Of Colewort. I know nothing

immoderate flowing of the menses, helps in- j 1 the roots are good for, but only to bear the

flammations and soreness of the mouth,

and fastens loose teeth, being bruised and

boiled in white wine, and the mouth washed

herbs and flowers.

Centrurii majoris. Of Centaury the
Greater. The roots help such as are bur-

with it. : sten, suchas spitblood, shrinking of sinews,

Borraginis. Of Borrage, hot and moist shortness of wind, coughs, convulsions,

a L

220 THE COMPLETE HERBAL

cramps: half a dram in powder be-|it opens obstructions of the liver, being
ing taken inwardly, either in muskadel,! boiled in white wine, and the decoctions
or in a decoction of the same roots, j drank; and if chewed in the mouth it helps
They are either not at all, or very scarce j the tooth-ache. Celandine the lesser is
in England, our centaury is the small cen-jthat which usually we call Pilewort, which
tuary. with us is hot in the first degree ; the juice

Cepoe. Of Onions. Are hot and dry \ of the root mised wilh honey and snuffed
(according to Galen) in the fourth degree :\ up in the nose, purges the head, helps the
they cause dry ness, and are extremely hurt- j hemorrhoids or piles being bathed with it,
ful for choleric people, they breed but little^ as also doth the root only carried about one:
nourishment, and that little is naught: they j being made into an ointment, it helps the
are bad meat, yet good physic for phleg-j king's evil or Scrophnla.
malic people, they are opening, and pro-1 China, wonderfully extenuates and dries,
voke urine and the menses, if cold be the provokes sweat, resists putrefaction; it
cause obstructing: bruised and outwardly strengthens the liver, helps the dropsy and
applied, they cure the bitings of mad dogs, j malignant ulcers, leprosy, itch, and vene-
roasted and applied, they help boils, and I real, and is profitable in diseases coming of
aposthumes : raw, they take the fire out of | fasting. It is commonly used in diet drinks
burnings, but ordinarily eaten, they cause j for the premises.

headache, spoil the sight, dull the senses,! Cichorii. Of Succory; cool and dry in
and fill the body full of wind. : the second degree, strengthens the liver and

Chameleontis albi mgri, $c. Of Chame- j veins, it opens obstructions, stoppings in the

Icon, white and black. Tragus calls the J liver and spleen, being boiled in white wine

carline thistle by the name of white chame- \ and the decoction drank.

leon, the root whereof is hot in the second \ Colchici. Of Meadow Saffron. The

degree, and dry in the third, it provokes \ roots are held to be hurtful to the stomach,

sweat, kills worms, resists pestilence and { therefore I let them alone.

poison ; it is given with success in pestilen- i Consolidte, majoris, minoris. Consolida

tial fevers, helps the toothache by being \ Major, is that which we ordinarily call

chewed in the mouth, opens the stoppings jComfry, it is of a cold quality, yet pretty

of the liver and spleen, provokes urine, and : temperate, so glutinous, that, according to

the menses : give but little of it at a time. j Dioscorides, they will join meat together

by reason of its heat. As for the black! that is cut in sunder, if they be boiled with

chameleon, all physicians hold it to have 5 it ; it is excellent for all wounds, both in-

a kind of venomous quality, and unfit to belternal and external, for spitting of blood,

used inwardly, Galen, Clusius, Nicander, \ ruptures or burstness, pains in the back, it

Dioscorides, and JEgineta. Outwardly in j strengthens the reins, it stops the menses,

ointments, it is profitable for scabs, mor- j and helps hemorrhoids. The way to use

phew, tetters, &c. and all things that need j them is to boil them in water and drink the

cleansing. i decoction. Consolida minor, is that we

Chelidonij majoris, minoris. Of celandine, j call Self-heal, and the latins Prunella. See

the greater and lesser : The greater is that | the herb.

which we usuaUy call Celandine : the root ; Costi utriusque. Of Costus both sorts
is hot and dry, cleansing and scouring, ? being roots coming from beyond sea, hoi
proper for such as have the yellow jaundice, land dry, break wind, being boiled in oil,

AND ENGLISH PHYSICIAN ENLARGED. 221

it is held to help the gout by anointing the j the pestilence: it helps the vertigo or
grieved place with it. \ swimming of the head, is admirable against-

Cucumeris a grestis. Of wild Cucumber Uhe bitings of venomous beasts, and such as
roots ; they purge flegm, and that with such j have taken too much opium, as also for
violence, that I would advise the country j lethargies, the juice helps hot rheums in the
man that knows not how to correct them, to j eyes ; a scruple of the root in powder is
let them alone. \ enough to take at one time.

Cinarce, $c. Of Artichokes. The roots j Dracontii, Dracunculi. Divers authors
purge by urine, whereby the rank savour of 1 attribute divers herbs to this name. It is
the body is much amended. jmost probable that they mean dragons,

Cyiioglosste, Sfc. Of. Hounds-tongue, j the roots of which cleanse mightily, and
Cold and dry : being roasted and laid to ! take away proud, or dead flesh, the very
the fundament, helps the hemorrhoids, is : smell of them is hurtful for pregnant women:
also good for burnings and scaldings. outwardly in ointments, they take away

Curcuma. Of Turmerick, hot in the scurf, morphew, and sun-burning ; I would
third degree, opens obstructions, is profita- ; not wish any, unless very well read in physic,
ble against the yellow jaundice, and cold ; to take them inwardly. Matthiohis, Dios-
distemper of the liver and spleen, half a ; corides.

dram being taken at night going to bed in \ Ebuli. Of Dwarf Elder, Walwort, or
the pulp of a roasted apple, and if you add | Danewort ; hot and dry in the third degree,
a little saffron to it, it will be the belter by Jthe roots are as excellent a purge for the
far. \ dropsy as any under the sun. You may

Cyperiutriusque, longi, rotundi. Of Cyprus |take a dram or two drams (if the patient be
Grass, or English Galanga, both sorts, long i strong) in white wine at a time,
and round : is of a warm nature, provokes! Echij. Of Viper's Bugloss, or wild Bug-
urine, breaks the stone, provokes the menses ; s loss. This root is cold and dry, good for such
the ashes of them (being burnt) are used for;s are bitten by vencmons beasts, either being
ulcers in the mouth, cankers, &c. j boiled in wine anddrank^ or bruised and applied

Dauci. Of Carrots. Are moderately ! to the place : being boiled in wine and drank,
hot and moist, breed but little nourishment, > it encreaseth milk in nurses.
and are windy. Ellebori, Veratri, albi nigri. Of Hclle-

Dentaria majoris, fyc. Of Toothwort, \ bore white and black. The root of white Helle-
toolhed violets, or corralvvort : they are \ bore, or sneezewort, being grated and snuffed
drying, binding, and strengthening; axe \ up the nose, causeth sneezing; kills tats and
good to ease pains in the sides and bowels ; i mice being mired with their meat.
also being boiled, the decoction is said to! Black Hellebore, Bears-foot or Christmas
be good to wash green wounds and ulcers \flower : both this and the former are hot and
wilh. $ dry in the third degree. This is neither so

Dictiamni. Of Dittany : is hot and dry I violent nor dangerous as the former.
in the third degree, hastens travail in j Enulae Campanae Helenij. Of Elecam-
women, provokes the menses. (See the j pane. It is hot and dry in the third degree,
leaves.) \wholesomejor the stomach, resists poison, helps

Doronici. Of Doronicum, a supposed t old coughs, and sortness of breath, helps rnp-
kind of Wolf's bane: It is hot and dry in \tures, and provokes lust ; in ointments, it is good
the third degree, strengthens the heart, is a ; against scabs and itch.
covercign cordial, and preservative against* Endivae, &c. Of Endive, Garden

222 THE COMPLETE HERBAL

which is the root here specified, is held to be I amorous diseases. You may take half a dram
somewhat colder ; though not so dry and cleans- \ at a time. Matthiolus.
ing as that which is mid ; it cools hot stomachs, \ Gentiana. Of Gentian ; some call it Pel-
hot livers, amends the blood corrupted by heat y i wort, and Baldmoney. It is hot, cleansing,
and therefore is good in fevers, it cools the \ and scouring, a notable counterpoison, it opens
reins, and therefore prevents the stone, it opens \ obstructions, helps the biting ofvenemous beasts,
obstructions, and provokes urine: youmaybndse\and mad dogs, helps digestion, and cleanseth
the root, and boil it in white wine, 'tis very \ the body of raw humours ; the root is profitable
harmless. If or ruptures, or such as are bursten.

Eringij. Of Eringo or Sea-holly: ihe\ Glycyrrhizae. Of Liquorice; the best
roots arc moderately hot, something drying and I that is grows in England : it is hot and moisi
cleansing, bruised and applied to the place ; in temperature, helps the roughness of the
they help the Scrophula, or disease in the windpipe, hoarsness, diseases in the kidneys and
throat called the King's Evil, they break the j bladder, and ulcers in the bladder, it concocts
stone, encrease seed, stir tip lust, provoke the raw humours in the stomach, helps difficulty of
terms, fyc. \ breathing, is profitable for all salt humours ,

Esulae, majoris, minoris. Of Spurge the] the root dried and beaten into powder, and the
greater and lesser, they are both (taken in- \ powder put into the eye, is a special remedy
wardly) too violent for common use; outwardly I for a pin and web.

in ointments they cleanse the skin, take awayl Gramminis. Of Grass, such as in London
sunburning. \they call couch grass, and Squitch-grass ; in

Filicis, &c. Fearn, of which are two grand j Sussex Dog-grass. It gallantly provokes
distinctions, viz. male and female. Both are urme, and easath the kidneys oppressed with
hot and dry, and good for the rickets in chil- gravel, gripings of the belly, and difficulty of
then, and diseases of the spleen, but dangerous \ urine. Let such as are troubled with these
for pregnant women. \ diseases, drink a draught of white wine, wherin

Filipendulae. Of Dropwort. The roots\these roots (being bruised) have been boiled,
are hot and dry in the third degree, opening, \for their morning's draught, bruised and ap-
cleansing, yet somewhat binding ; they provoke \ plied to the place, they speedily help green
urine, ease pains in the bladder, and are a good \ wounds. Galen, Dioscorides.
preservative against the falling-sickness. Hermodactyli. Of Hermodactils. They

Foeniculi. Of Fennel. The root is hot \ are hot and dry, purge flegm, especially from
and dry, some say in the third degree, opening; \ the joints, therefore are good for gouts, and
it provokes urine, and menses, strengthens the \ other diseases in the joints. Their vices are
liver, and is good against the dropsy. j corrected with long pepper, ginger, cinnamon,

Fraxini. Of Ash-tree. I know no greater mastich. I would not have unskilful people
virtues in physic of the roots. j too busy with purges.

Galangae, majoris, minoris. Galanga,\ Hyacinth!. Of Jacinths. The roots are
commonly called Galingal, the greater and \ dry in the first degree, and cold in the second,
lesser : They are hot and dry in the third \ they stop looseness, bind the belly,
degree, and the lesser are accounted the hotter, \ Iridis, vulgaris, and Florentine, &c.
it strengthens the stomach exceedingly, and\ Orris, or Flower-de-luce, both that which
takes away the pains thereof coming of coldl grows with us, and that which comes from
vrmnd; the smell of it strengthens the brain, ; Florence. They are hot and dry in the
it relieves faint hearts, takes away windiness \ third degree, resist poison, help shortness
of the womb, heats the reim, and provokes \ of the breath, provoke the menses; th

AND ENGLISH PHYSICIAN ENLARGED. 223

Root being green and bruised, takes away \ applied, it helps ulcers in the head, and
blackness and blueness of a stroke, being j amends the ill colour of the face,
applied thereto. Malvae. Of Mallows. They are cool,

Imperiiorice, Sec. Of Master- wort. The j and digesting, resist poison, and help cor-

fT -it '('.iii

root is hot and dry in the third degree ; j
mitigates the rigour of agues, helps dropsies, i

rosions, or gnawing of the bowels, or any
other part ; as also ulcers in the bladder.

provokes sweat, breaks carbuncles, and j See Marsh-mallows.

plague-sores, being applied to them ; it is | Mandragorce. Of Mandrakes. A root

very profitable being given inwardly in | dangerous for its coldness, being cold in the

bruises.

Isotidis, Glasti. Of Woad. I know no
great physical virtue in the root. See the

fourth degree : the root is dangerous.

MechoachantE. Of Mechoacah. It is
corrected with Cinnamon, is temperate yet

Herb. * drying, purges fiegm chiefly from the head

Labri Veneris, Dipsaci. Fullers-Thistle, \ and joints, it is good for old diseases in the
Teazle. The root being boiled in wine till | head, and may safely be given even to fe-
it be thick (quoth Dioscorides) helps by j verish bodies, because of its temperature: it
unction the clefts of the fundament, as also ; is also profitable against coughs and pains in
takes away warts and wens. Galen saith, j the reins; asalso against venereal complaints;
they are dry in the second degree : and ? the strong may take a dram at a time.
I take it all Authors hold them to be cold j Met, $c. Spignel. The roots are hot
and dry. Unslacked lime beaten into pow- ? and dry in the second or third degree, and
der, and mixed with black soap, takes ; send up unwholesome vapours to the head,
away a wen being anointed with it. Mezerei, #c. Of Spurge, Olive, or Widow-

Lactuca. Of Lettice. I know no phy-j wail. See the Herb, if you think it worth
sical virtue residing in the roots. j the seeing.

Latin. Of the Bay-tree. The Bark of { Merorum Celci. Of Mulberry Tree. The
the root drunk with wine, provokes urine, j bark of the root is bitter, hot and dry, opens
breaks the stone, opens obstructions of the ! stoppings of the liver and spleen, purges
liver and spleen. But according to Dios- \ the belly, and kills worms, boiled in vine-
corides is naught for pregnant women. \ gar, helps the tooth-ache.
Galen. Morsus Diaboli, Succisce, $c. Devil's-bit.

Lapathi acuti, Oxylapathi. Sorrel, accord- See the herb.

ing to Galen; but Sharp-pointed Dock, | Norpi Spicce, Indica, Celticce, $c. Of
according to Dioscorides. The roots of 1 Spikenard, Indian, and Cheltic. Cheltic
Sorrel are held to be profitable against the j Nard wonderfully provokes urine. They
jaundice. Of Sharp-pointed Dock; cleanse, | are both hot and dry. The Indian, also
and help scabs and itch. j provokes urine, and stops fluxes, helps win-

Levistici. Of Lovage. They are hot and | diness of the stomach, resists the pestilence,
dry, and good for any diseases coming off helps gnawing pains of the stomach; and
wind. \ dries up rheums that molest the head. The

Lillij albi. Of white Lillies. The root; Celtic Spikenard performs the same offices,
is something hot and dry, helps burnings, | though in a weaker measure,
softens the womb, provokes the menses, if j Nenupharis, Nymplue. Of Water-lilies,
boiled in wine, is given with good success* They are -cold and dry, and stop lust:
in rotten Fevers, Pestilences, and all dis- \ I never dived so deep to find what virtue
eases that require suppuration : outwardly 5 the roots have..

224 THE COMPLETE HERBAL

Ononidis, Arrestte Bovis, fyc. Of Cam- j speedy deliverance to women in travail, and
mock, or Rest-harrow, so called because it j brings away the placenta,
makes oxen stand still when they are plough- : Poeonioe, maris, fcemellae. Of Peony male

ing. The roots are hot and dry in the third
degree ; it breaks the stone (viz. the bark
of it.) The root itself, according to Pliny,

and female. They are meanly hot, but more
drying. The root helps women not sufficiently
purged after travail, it provokes the menses, and

helps the falling-sickness ; according to i helps pains in the belly, as also in the reins and
Matthiolus, helps ruptures : you may take j bladder, falling sickness, and convulsions in
half a dram at a time. i children, being either taken inwardly, or hung

Oslrutij. Masterwort, given once before j about their necks. You may take half a dram
under the name of Imperitoria. But I have \ at a time, and less for children.
something else to do than to write one ? Phu, Valerina3, majoris, minoris. Vale-
thing twice as they did. i rian, or Setwal, greater and lesser. They are

Pastinatte, Sativee, and silvestris. Garden $ temperately hot, the greater provokes urine and
and Wild Parsnips. They are of a tern- i the menses, helps the stranguary, stays rheums
perate quality, inclining something to heat : in the head, and takes away the pricking pains
The Garden Parsnips provoke lust, and thereof. The lesser resist poison, assuages the
nourish as much and more too, than any | swelling of the testicles, coming either through
root ordinarily eaten : the wild are more j wind or cold, helps cold taken after sweating or
physical, being cutting, cleansing, and } labour, wind cholic : outwardly it draws out
opening : they resist the bitings of veno- \ thorns, and cures both wounds and idcers.
mous beasts, ease pains and stitches in the ' Pimpinella3, &c. Of Burnet. It doth
sides, and are a sovereign remedy against I this good, to bring forth a gallant physical
the wind cholic. \ herb.

Pentafylli. Of Cinqfyl, commonly called \ Plantaginis. Of Plantane. The root is
Five-leaved, or Five-finger'd grass : the root \ something dryer than the leaf, but not so cold,
is very drying, but moderately hot: It is\it opens stoppages of the liver, helps thejaun-
admirable against all fluxes, and stops \ dice, and ulcers of the reins and bladder. A
blood flowing from any part of the body : \ little bit of the root being eaten, instantly stays
it helps infirmities of the liver and lungs, 5 pains in the head, even to admiration.
helps putrified ulcers of the mouth, the root ; Polypody. Of Polypodium, or Fern of
boiled in vinegar is good against the j the Oak. It is a gallant though gentle
shingles, and appeases the rage of any j purger of melancholy ; Also in the opinion
fretting sores. You may safely take half j of Mesue (as famous a physician as ever
a dram at a time in any convenient liquor, j I read for a Galenist,) it dries up super-

Petacittf. Of Butter-bur. The roots are j fluous humours, takes away swellings from
hot and dry in the second degree, they are j the hands, feet, knees, and joints, stitches
exceeding good in violent and pestilential | and pains in the sides, infirmities of the
fevers, they provoke the menses, expel poi- * spleen, rickets ; correct it with a few Annis
son, and kill worms. 1 seeds, or Fennel seeds, or a little ginger,

Peucedani, Fceniculi porcini. Of Sulphur- \ and then the stomach will not loath it.
wort, Hogs-fennel, or Hore-strange. It is \ Your best way of taking it, is to bruise it
very good applied to the navels of children j well, and boil it in white wine till half be
that stick out, and ruptures : held in the j consumed, you may put in much, or little,
mouth, it is a present remedy for the fits of j according to the strength of the diseased, it
the mother : being taken inwardly, it gives ( works very safely.

AND ENGLISH PHYSICIAN ENLARGED. 225

Po/igonati, sigilli Solomonis, $c. Of Solo- : ing takes away the virtue of it, and there-
tnon's Seal. Stamped and boiled in wine it i fore it is best given by infusion only; If
speedilyhelps(beingdrank)allbrokeubones, \ your body be any thing strong, you may
cind is of incredible virtue that way; as also ; take two drams of it at a time being sliced
being stamped and applied to the place, it thin and steeped all night in white wine, in
soon heals all wounds, and quickly takesaway ; the morning strain it out and drink the
the black and blue marks of blows, being; white wine; it purges but gently, it leaves
bruised and applied to the place, and for a binding quality behind it, therefore dried
these, I am persuaded there is not a better j a little by the fire and beaten into powder,
medicine under the sun. \ it is usually given in fluxes.

Pom. Of Leeks. They say they are 5 Rhaphani. Domesticce and Sylvestris. Of
hot and dry in the fourth degree ; they I Raddishes, garden and wild. Garden
breed ill-favoured nourishment at the best, j Raddishes provoke urine, break the stone,
they spoil the eyes, heat the body, cause \ and purge by urine exceedingly, yet breed
troublesome sleep, and are noisome to the j very bad blood, are offensive to the stomach,
stomach : yet are they good for something | and hard of digestion, hot and dry in
else, for the juice of them dropped into I quality. Wild, or Horse Raddishes, such
the ears takes away the noise of them, mixed t as grow in ditches, are hotter and drier
with a little vinegar and snuffed up the > than the former, and more effectual.

nose, it stays the bleeding of it, they are
better of the two boiled than raw, but

Rhodie Rod. Rose Root. Stamped and
applied to the head it mitigates the pains

both ways exceedingly hurtful for ulcers in thereof, being somewhat cool in quality,
the bladder : and so are onions and garlic. \ Rhabarbari Monachorum. Monks Rhu-

Prunellorum Silvestriiim. Of Sloe-bush, j barb, or Bastard-Rhubarb, it also purges,
or Sloe-tree. I think the college set this : and cleanses the blood, and opens obstruc-
amongst the roots only for fashion sake, $ tions of the liver,
and I did it because they did. \ Rubice tinctorum. Of Madder. It is

Pyrethri Salivaris^ fyc. Pelitory of Spain. | both drying and binding, yet not without
It is hot and dry in the fourth degree, j some opening quality, for it helps the yel-
chewed in the mouth, it draws away rheum \ low jaundice, and therefore opens obstruc-
in the tooth-ache; bruised and boiled in | tions of the liver and gall; it is given with
oil, it provokes sweat by unction; inwardly i good success, to such as have had bruises
taken, they say it helps palsies and other \ by falls, stops looseness, the hemorrhoids,

cold effects in the brain and nerves.

and the menses.

Rhapontici. Rhupontick, or Rhubarb i Rusci. Of Knee-holly or Butchers-
of Pontus. It takes away windiness and \ broom, or Bruscus. They are meanly hot
weakness of the stomach, sighings, sobbings, j and dry, provoke urine, break the stone,
spittings of blood, diseases of the liver and 1 and help such as cannot evacuate urine
spleen, rickets, &c. if you take a dram at \ freely Use them like grass roots,
a time it will purge a little, but bind much, j Sambuci. Of Elder. I know no wonders
and therefore fit for foul bodies that have j the root will do.
fluxes. Sars<e-Parigli(E. Of Sarsa-Parilla, or

Rhabarbari. Of Rhubarb. It gently Bind-weed ; somewhat hot and dry, helpful
purges choler from the stomach and liver, | against pains in the head, and joints ; they
opens stoppings, withstands the dropsy, j provoke sweat, and are used familiarly in
Hypocondriac Melancholly ; a little boil- 1 drying diet drinks

226

THE COMPLETE HERBAL

Satyrij utriusque. Of Satyrion, each sort, i

They are hot and moist in temper, provoke

venery, and increase seed ; each branch
bears two roots, both spongy, yet the one
more solid than the other, which is of most
virtue, and indeed only to be used, for some
say the most spongy root is quite contrary
in operation to the other, as the one in-
creaseth, the other decreaseth.

called our Ladies-thistles by that

the

name;
bind-

roots of which are drying and
ing, stop fluxes, bleeding, take away
cold swellings, and ease the pains of the
teeth.

Spatula fa'tidte. Stinking Gladon, a kind
of Flower-de-luce, called so for its unsavory
smell. It is hot and dry in the third
| degree ; outwardly they help the king's evil,

Saxifragite albce. Of white Saxifrage, in j soften hard swellings, draw out broken
Sussex we call them Lady-smocks. The j bones : inwardly taken, they help convul-
roots powerfully break the stone, expel :! sions, ruptures, bruises, infirmities of the
wind, provoke urine, and cleanse the reins. ; lungs.

Sanguisorbfe. A kind of Burnct.

Scabiosa. Of Scabious. The roots either
boiled, or beaten into powder, and so taken,
nelp such as are extremely troubled with
scabs and itch, are medicinal in the french
disease, hard swellings, inward wounds,
being of a drying, cleansing, and healing
faculty.

Tamarisci. Of Tamaris. See the herbs,
and barks.

Tanaceti. Of Tansie. The root eaten,
is a singular remedy for the gout : the rich
may bestow the cost to preserve it.

Thapsi, $c. A venomous foreign root :
therefore no more of it.

Tormcntillee. Of Tormentil. A kind of

Scorchj. Of Scordium, or Water-Ger- 1 Sinqfoil ; dry in the third degree, but mode-

mander. See the herb.

Scillfe. Of Squills. See vinegar, and
wine of Squills, in the compound.

Scropularitf, $c. Of Figwort. The roots
being of the same virtue with the herb,
I refer you thither.

Scorzonerte. Of Vipers grass. The root .
cheers the heart, and strengthens the vital \
spirits, resists poison, helps passions and .
tremblings of the heart, faintness, sadness, \
and melancholy, opens stoppings of the:
liver and spleen, provokes the menses, ease i
women of the fits of the mother, and helps \ I know no
swimmings in the head. Timicis.

Seseleos. Of Seseli, or Hartwort. The j 1
roots provoke urine* and help the falling- i Tripoli). The root purges flegm, expels
sickness. \ poison.

Sisarii secacitl. Of Scirrets. They are 5 Turbith. The root purges flegm, (being
hot and moist, of good nourishment, some- \ hot in the third degree) chiefly from the
thing Avindy, as all roots are; by reason of i exterior parts of the body : it is corrected
which, they provoke venery, they stir up t with ginger, or Mastich. Let not the vulgar
appetite, and provoke urine. \ be too busy with it.

Sconchi. Of Sow-thistles. See the herb, j Tubitrmim. Or Toad-stools. Whether

Spmee alba;. Bedeguar. The Arabians * these be roots or no, it matters not much

rately hot ; good in pestilences, provokes
sweat, stays vomiting, cheers the heart, ex-
pels poison.

Trifolij. Of Trefoil. See the herb.

/ */

Tribuli Aquatici. Of Water Caltrops.
The roots lie too far under water for me to
reach to.

Trachellij. Of Throat-wort: by some
called Canterbury Bells: by some Coventry
Bells. They help diseases and ulcers in
the throat.

Trinitatis herbee. Hearts-ease, or Pansies,
;reat virtue they have.
[ shall tell you the virtue when

know what it is.

AND ENGLISH PHYSICIAN ENLARGED

227

for my part I know but little need of them,
either in food or physic.

Victorialis. A foreign kind of Garlick.
They say, being hung about the neck of

cattle that are blind suddenly, it helps them ;
and defends those that bear it, from evil
spirits.

Swallow-wort, and teazles were handled
before.

UlmaricE, Reginte, prati, fyc. Mead-sweet.
Cold and dry, binding, stops fluxes, and

Avellanarum. Of Hazel The rind of
the tree provokes urine, breaks the stone ;
the husks and shells of the nuts, dried and
given in powder, stay the immoderate flux

of the menses.

Aurantiorum. Of Oranges. Both these,
and also Lemons and Citrons, are of dif-
ferent qualities : the outward bark, viz. what
looks red, is hot and dry, the white is cold
and moist, the juice colder than it, the seeds

v^-ivi c^vi <aij, unhung, a^jjjo HUA^O, .uu hot and dry; the outward bark is that
the immoderate flowing of the menses : you ! which here I am to speak to, it is somewhat
may take a dram at a time. j hotter than eithc % r that of Lemons or

Urticte. Of Nettles. See the leaves. 5 Citrons, therefore it warms a cold stomach
Zedoariae. Of Zedoary , or Setwall. This } more, and expels wind better, but strengthens
and Zurumbet, according to Rhasis, and ! not the heart so much.
Mesue, are all one ; Avicenna thinks them 1 Berber, tyc. Barberries. The Rind of
different : I hold with Mesue ; indeed they \ the tree according to Clcesius, being steeped
differ in form, for the one is long, the other I in wine, and the wine drank, purges choler,
round; they are both hot , and dry in the j and is a singular remedy for the yellow
second degree, expel wind, resist poison, j jaundice. Boil it in white wine and drink
stop fluxes, and the menses, stay vomiting, j it. See the directions at the beginning,
help the cholic, and kill worms ; you may i Cassia Lignea, $c. It is something more
take half a dram at a time. oily than Cinnamon, yet the virtues being

Zingiberis. Of Ginger. Helps digestion, not much different, I reft r you thither,
warms the stomach, clears the sight, and is Capparts Rod. Of Caper roots. See

profitable for old men : heats the joints, and
therefore is profitable against the gout,
expels wind ; it is hot and dry in the second
degree.

BARKS.

A Pil Rad. Of the roots of Sn milage.
Take notice here, that the Barks both of
this root, as also of Parsley, Fennel, &c.

all

the roots.

Castanearum. Of Chesnuts. The bark
of the Chesnut tree is dry and binding,
and stops fluxes.

Cinnamonum. Cinnamon, and Cassia
Lignea, are hot and dry in the second
degree, strengthens the stomach, help
digestion, cause a sweet breath, resist poi-
son, provoke urine, and the menses, cause
speedy delivery in women to travail, help
coughs and defluxions of humours upon

of the root which is in use, neither, the lungs, dropsy, and difficulty of urine.

In ointments it takes away red pimples, and
the like deformities from the face. There
is scarce a better remedy for women

can it properly be called bark, for it is all
the root, the hard pith in the middle ex-
cepted, which is always thrown away, when ^
the roots are used. It is something hotter i

and drier than Parsley, and more medicinal ; i

labour, than a dram of Cinnamon newly
beaten into powder, and taken in white
it opens stoppings, provokes urine, helps j wine,
digestion, expels wind, and warms a cold] Citrij. Of Pome Citrons. The outward
stomach : use them like grass roots. ; pill, which I suppose is that which is meant

3 N

228

THE COMPLETE HERBAL

here : It strengthens the heart, resists poi- !
son, amends a stinking breath, helps diges- \
tion, comforts a cold stomach.

Ebuli Bad. Of the roots of Dwarf-Elder,
or Walwort. See the herbs.

Emike. Of Elecampane. See the roots.

Esulfe Rod. See the roots.

Fabarum. Of Beans. Bean Cods (or ' back to the root.
Pods, as we in Sussex call them) being j Myrobalanorum.
bruised, the ashes are a sovereign rerredy |the fruits,
for aches in the joints, old bruises, gouts,
and sciaticas.

Fcenicitli Rod. Of Fennel roots. See
the roots, and remember the observation
given in Smallage at the beginning of the
barks.

Fraxini Rad. Of the bark of Ash-tree
roots. The bark of the tree, helps the rickets,
is moderately hot and dry, stays vomiting ;
being burnt, the ashes made into an oint-
ment, helps leprosy and other deformity
of the skin, eases pains of the spleen. You
may lay the bark to steep in white wine for
the rickets, and when it hath stood so for
two or three days, let the diseased child
drink now and then a spoonful of it.

Granatorum. Of Pomegranates. The

Lanri. Of the Bay-tree. See the root
Ltmonum. Of Lemons. The outward
peel is of the nature of Citron, but helps
not so effectually ; however, let the poor
country man that cannot get the other, use
this.

Mandragora Rad. Be pleased to look

Of Myrobalans. See

Mads. Of Mace. It is hot in the third
degree, strengthens the stomach and heart
exceedingly, and helps concoction.

Maceris, <fyc. It is held to be the inner
bark of Nutmeg-tree, helps fluxes and
spitting of blood.

Petroselini Rad. Of Parsley root: opens
obstructions, provokes urineand themenses,
warms a cold stomach, expels wind, and
breaks the stone. Use them as grass roots,
and take out the inner pith as you were
taught in smallage roots.

Prunelli Silvestris. Of Sloe-tree. I know
no use of it.

Pinearum putaminae. Pine shucks, or
husks. I suppose they mean of the cones
that hold the seeds ; both those and also the

rind cools, and forcibly binds, stays fluxes, \ bark of the tree, stop fluxes, and help the
and the menses, helps digestion, strengthens ;
weak stomachs, fastens the teeth, and are

lungs.

Querci. Of Oak-tree. Both the bark of

good for such whose gums waste. You! the oak, and Acorn Cups are drying and
may take a dram of it at a time inwardly, j cold, binding, stop fluxes and the menses,
Pomegranate flowers are of the same virtue. | as also the running of the reins ; have a

Gatrujaci. See the wood. i care how you use them before due purging.

Juglandiitm Virid. Of green Walnuts. ( Rhapha?ii. Of Radishes. I could never
As for the outward green bark of Walnuts, ; see any bark they had.
I suppose the best time to take them is; Suberis. Of Cork. It is good for some-
before the Walnuts be shelled at all, and \ thing else besides to stop bottles : being dry
then you may take nuts and all (if they may I and binding, stanches blood, helps fluxes,
properly be called nuts at such a time) you j especeially the ashes of it being burnt,
shall find them exceeding comfortable to\Pai/lus.

the stomach, they resist poison, and arej Sambuci, $c. Of Elder roots and
a most excellent preservative against the j branches ; purges water, helps the dropsy,
plague, interior to none : they are admira- 1 Cort. Medius Tamaricis. The middle
ble for such as are troubled with consump- j Bark of Tameris, eases the spleen, helps
lions of the lungs. * the rickets. Use them as Ash-tree bark.

AND ENGLISH PHYSICIAN ENLARGED.

229

Tilliai. Of Line-tree. Boiled, the water
helps burnings.

Thuris. Of Frankinsenses. I must plead
Ignoramus.

Ulmi. Of Elm. Moderately hot and
cleansing, good for wounds, burns, and

broken bones, viz. boiled in water and the

grieved place bathed with it.

Rhodium. Encreases milk in nurses.

Santalum, album, Ritbrum,citrinum. White,
red, and yellow Sanders : They are all cold
and dry in the second or third degree : the
red stops defluxions from any part, and
helps inflammations : the white and yellow
(of which the yellow is best) cool the heat

WOODS AND THEIR CHIPS, OR
RASPINGS.

of fevers, strengthen the heart, and cause
! cheerfulness.

Sassafras. Is hot and dry in the second
degree, it opens obstructions or stoppings,
i it strengthens the breast exceedingly; if it
| be weakened through cold, it breaks the
of i stone, stays vomiting, provokes urine, and

A Gallochus, Lignum Aloes. Wood w ^ ^

Aloes ; is moderately hot and dry : a good i is very profitable in the venereal, used in
cordial : a rich perfume, a great strengthener j diet drinks,
to the stomach. Tamaris. Is profitable for the rickets,

Aspalathus. Rose-wood. It is moderately j and burnings.

hot and dry, stops looseness, provokes I Xylobalsamum. Wood of the Balsam
urine, and is excellent to cleanse filthy tree, it is hot and dry in the second degree,
ulcers. according to Galen. I never read any great

Bresilium. Brasil. All the use I know virtues of it.
of it is, to die cloth, and leather, and j
make red ink.

Biu'iis. Box. Many Physicians havej
written of it, but no physical virtue of it.

Cypressus. Cypress. The Wood laid \
amongst cloaths, secures them from moths. !
See the leaves.

Ebenum. Ebony. It is held to clear the j

HERBS AND THEIR LEAVES.

A Brotanum, mas, fcemina. Southern-
wood, male and female. It is hot and dry
in the third degree, resists poison, kills
_ worms ; outwardly in plaisters, it dissolves

sight, being either boiled in wine, or burnt j cold swellings, and helps the bitings of
to ashes. | venomous beasts, makes hair grow : take

Guajacum, Lignum vitan Dries, attenu- j not above half a dram at a time in powder,
ales, causes sweat, resists putrefaction, is| Absinthium, Sfc. Wormwood. Its several
good for the French disease, as also for j sorts, are all hot and dry in the second or

11 . * i*i',. i'ii _ i

ulcers, scabs, and leprosy : it is used in diet i

drinks.

Junipenis. Juniper.

The smoak of the

wood, drives away serpents ; the ashes of:
it made into lie, cures itch, and scabs.

Nephriticum. It is a light wood and
comes from Hispaniola ; being steeped in
water, will soon turn it blue, it is hot and
dry in the first degree, and so used as be-
fore, is an admirable remedy for the stone,
and for obstructions of the liver and spleen.

third degrees, the common Wormwood is
thought to be hottest, they all help weak-
ness of the stomach, cleanse choler, kill
worms, open stoppings, help surfeits, clear
the sight, resist poison, cleanse the blood,
and secure cloaths from moths.

Abiigilissa, fyc. Alkanet. The leaves are
something drying and binding, but inferior
in virtue to the roots, to which I refer
you.

Acetosa. Sorrel. Is moderately cold

230

THE COMPLETE HERBAL

dry and binding, cuts tough humours, cools ( held to be more cordial ; cools the blood.

the brain, liver and stomach, cools the
blood in fevers, and provokes appetite.

helps ulcers in the mouth ; hot defluxions
upon the lungs, wounds, ulcers, &c.

Alcea. Vervain Mallow. The root helps

Acanthus. Bears-breech, or Branks

ursine, is temperate, something moist. See fluxes and burstness. JEtius, Dioscorides.
the root. Album. Garlick. Hot and dry in the

Adiantum, Album, mgrum. Maiden hair, | fourth degree, troublesome to the stomach;
white and black. They are temperate, yet I it dulls the sight, spoils a clear skin, resists
drying. White Maiden hair is that we I poison, eases the pains of the teeth, helps
usually call Wall -rue ; they both open ob-jthe bitings of mad clogs, and venomous
structions, cleanse the breast and lungs of' beasts, helps ulcers, leprosies, provokes
gross slimy humours, provoke urine, help; urine, is exceedingly opening, and profita-
ruptures and shortness of wind. | ble for dropsies.

Adiantum Aurcum Politrycwn. Golden j Althaa, fyc. Marsh-Mallows. Are mocle-
Maiden-hair. Its temperature and virtues irately hot and drier than other Mallows; they
are the same with the former ; helps the j help digestion, and mitigate pain, ease the
spleen ; burned, and lye made with the I pains of the stone, and in the sides. Use

t i .1 l * r f* n ^v . i i . i i *

ashes, keeps the hair from falling oif the
head.

Agrimonia Agrimony. Galen's Eupa-
torium. It is hot and dry in the first degree, { Alsine. Chickweed. Is cold and moist

them as you were taught in the roots, whose
virtues they have, and both together will
do better.

binding, it amends the infirmities of the
liver, helps such as evacuate blood instead

without any binding, assuages swelling

and comforts the sinews much ; therefore it

of water, helps inward wounds, opens is good for such as are shrunk up ; it dis-
obstructions. Outwardly applied it helps* solves aposthumes, hard swellings, and
old sores, ulcers, &c. Inwardly, it helps 5 helps mange in the hands and legs, out-
the jaundice and the spleen. Take a dram j wardly applied in a pultis. Galen.
of this or that following, inwardly in white j Alchymilla. Ladies-Mantle. Is hot and
wine, or boil the herb in white wine, and \ dry, some say in the second degree, some
drink the decoction. Galen, Pliny, Diosco-\ say in the third: outwardly it helps wounds,
rides, Serapio. \ reduces women's breasts that hang down :

---- __, *

Ageretum. Hot and dry in the second de-
gree, provokes urine and the menses, dries
he brain, opens stoppings, helps the green

inwardly, helps bruises, and ruptures, stays
vomiting, and the Fluor Albus, and is very
profitable for such women as are subject to

sickness, and profits such as have a cold, ! miscarry through cold and moisture,
weak liver ; outwardly applied, it takes i Alkanna. Privet hath a binding quality,
away the hardness of the matrix, and fills I helps ulcers in the mouth, is good against
hollow ulcers with flesh. | burnings and scaldings, cherishes the nerves

Agnus Castus, $c. Chast-tree. The leaves 1 and sinews ; boil it in white wine to wash

are hot and dry in the third degree ; expel
wind, consume the seed, cause chastity
being only borne about one ; it dissolves
swellings of the testicles, being applied to
them, head-ache, and lethargy.

Allajula, Lujula, $c. Wood Sorrel. It
is of the temperature of other Sorrel, and

the mouth, and in hog's grease for burnings
and scaldings.

Amaracus, Major ana. Marjoram. Some
say 'tis hot and dry in the second degree,
some advance it to the third. Sweet Mar-
joram, is an excellent remedy for cold dis-
eases in the brain, being only smelled to

AND ENGLISH PHYSICIAN ENLARGED. 231

helps such as are given to much sighing,: Aqnilegia. Columbines: help sore throats,
easeth pains in the belly, provokes urine, j are of a drying, binding quality,
being taken inwardly : you may take a dram | Argentina. Silver- weed, or Wild Tansy
of it at a time in powder. Outwardly in | cold and dry almost in the third degiee;
oils or salves, it helps sinews that are shrunk ; j stops lasks, tluxes, and the menses, good
limbs out of joint, all aches and swellings; against ulcers, the stone, and inward Avounds:
coming of a cold cause. ! easeth gripings in the belly, fastens loose

Angelica. Is hot and dry in the third de- j teeth : outwardly it takes away freckles,
gree; opens, digests, makes thin, strengthens j morphew, and sunburning, it takes awav
the heart, helps fluxes, and loathsomeness i inflammations, and bound to the wrists stop's
of meat. It is an enemy to poison and pes- \ the violence of the fits of the ague,
tilence, provokes menses, and brings away \ Artanita. Sow- bread: hot and dry in
the placanta. You may take a dram of it? the third degree, it is a dangerous purge:
at a time in powder. outwardly inointmentsittakesaway freckles,

Anagallis, mas,femina. Pimpernel, male j sunburning, and the marks which the small
and female. They are something hot and j pox leaves behind them : dangerous for
dry, and of such a drying quality that they i pregnant women.

draw thorns and splinters out of the flesh, ; Aristolochia, longa, rotunda. Birth-wort
amend the sight, cleanse ulcers, help in- \ long and round. See the roots,
fertilities of the liver and reins. Galen. Artemisia. Mugwort: is hot and dry in

Anethum. Dill. Is hot and dry in the j the second degree : binding : an herb ap-
second degree. It stays vomiting, eases j propriated to the female sex; it brings down

the menses, brings away both birth and
placenta, eases pains in the matrix. You
may take a dram at a time.

hiccoughs, assuages swellings, provokes:
urine, helps such as are troubled with
fits of the mother, and digests raw humours.

Apium. Smallage ; So it is commonly } Asparagus. See the roots,
used ; but indeed all Parsley is called by the \ Asarum, $c. Asarabacca : hot and dry ;
name of Apium, of which this is one kind. ! provokes vomiting and urine, and are good
Itis something hotter and dryer than Parsley, j for dropsies. They are corrected with mace
and more efficacious ; it opens stoppings of jor cinnamon.

the liver, and spleen, cleanses the blood, | Atriplex, SfC. Orach, or Arrach. It is
provokes the menses, helps a cold stomach j cold in the first degree, and moist in the
to digest its meat, and is good against the | second, saith Galen, and makes the belly
yellowjaundice. Both Smallage and Clevers,) soluble. Itis an admirable remedy for the
may be well used in pottage in the morning | fits of the mother, and other infirmities of

' the matrix, and therefore the Latins called

instead of herbs.

Aparine. Goose-grass, or Clevers : They
are meanly hot and dry, cleansing, help
the bitings of venomous beasts, keep men's ;
bodies from growing too fat, help theyel-i

it Vulvaria.

Aricula muris, major. Mouse-ear: hot
and dry, of a binding quality, it is admira-
ble to heal wounds, inward or outward, as

low jaundice, stay bleeding, fluxes, and j also ruptures or burstness : Edge-tools
help green wounds. Dioscorides, Pliny, * quenched in the juice of it. will cut iron
Galen, Tragus. j without turning the edge, as easy as they

Aspergula odorata. Wood-roof: Cheers* will lead : And, lastly, it helps the swelling
the heart, makes men merry, helps melan-iof the spleen, coughs and consumptions, of
.choly, and opens the stoppings of the liver, j the lungs.

3 o

232 THE COMPLETE HERBAL

Attractivis hirsuta. Wild Bastard-saffron, \ Betony : hot and dry in the second degree,
Distaff- thistle, or Spindle-thistle. Is dry and ; helps the falling sickness and all head-aches
moderately digesting, helps the biting of | coming of cold, cleanses the breast and
venomous beasts : Mesue saith, it is hot in j lungs, opens stoppings of the liver and
the first degree, and dry in the second, and | spleen, as the rickets, &c. procures appetite,
cleanseth the breast and lungs of tough \ helps sour belchings, provokes urine, breaks
flegm. | the stone, mitigates the pains of the reins

Balsamita, <fyc. Costmary, Alecost: See; and bladder, helps cramps, and convul-
Maudlin. : sions, resists poison, helps the gout, such as

Barbajovis, sedum majus. Houseleek or {evacuate blood, madness and head-ache,
Sengreen : cold in the third degree, pro- j kills worms, helps bruises, and cleanseth
fitable against the Shingles, and other hot j women after labour : You may take a dram
creeping ulcers, inflammations, St. Anthony s \ of it at a time in white wine, or any other
fire, frenzies ; it cools and takes away corns \ convenient liquor proper against the dis-
from the toes, being bathed with the juice j ease you are afflicted with,
of it, and a skin of the leaf laid over the 1 Betonica Pauli, &>c. Paul's Betony, or
place; stops fluxes, helps scalding and j Male Lluellin, to which add Elaine, or
burning. \ Female Lluellin, which comes afterwards ;

Bardana. Clot-bur, or Bur-dock : tern- j they are pretty temperate, stop defluxions
perately dry and wasting, something cool- j of humours that fall from the head into the
ing ; it is held to be good against the shrink- \ eyes, are profitable in wounds, help filthy
ing of the sinews; eases pains in the bladder, \ foul eating cankers.

and provokes urine. Also Mizaldus saith, ; Betonica Coronana, S^c. Is Clove Gilli-
that a leaf applied to the top of the head of; flowers. See the flowers.
a woman draws the matrix upwards, but 1 Bellis. Dasies : are cold and moist in
applied to the soles of the feet draws it \ the second degree, they ease all pains and
downwards, and is therefore an admirable \ swellings coming of heat, in clysters they
remedy for suffocations, precipitations, and : loose the belly , are profitable in fevers and
dislocations of the matrix, if a wise man | inflammations of the testicles, they take
have but the using of it. | away bruises, and blackness and blueness ;

Beta, alba, nigra, rubra. Beets, white, \ they are admirable in wounds and inflam-
black, and red ; black Beets I have no : mations of the lungs or blood
knowledge of. The white are something j Blitinn. Elites. Some say they are cold
colder and moister than the red, both of: and moist, others cold and dry : none
them loosen the belly, but have little or no J mention any great virtues of them,
nourishment. The white provoke to stool, j Borrago. Borrage : hot and moist, com-
and are more cleansing, open stoppings of : forts the heart, cheers the spirits, drives
the liver and spleen, help the vertigo or; away sadness and melancholy, they are
swimming in the head : The red stay fluxes, I rather laxative than binding; help swooning
help the immoderate flowing of the menses, j and heart-qualms, breed good blood, help
and are good in the yellow jaundice. ; consumptions, madness, and such as are

Beuedicta CariphylLa-a. Avens : hot and ; much weakened by sickness,
dry, help the cholic and rawness of the> Bonus Henricus. Good Henry, or all
stomach, stitches in the sides, and take away ; good ; hot and dry, cleansing and scouring ;
clotted blood in any part of the body. i inwardly taken it loosens the belly; out-

Betonica vulgaris. Common or Wood ? wardly it cleanseth old sores and ulcers.

AND ENGLISH PHYSICIAN ENLARGED. 233

Botrys. Oak of Jerusalem : hot and dry j Calamintha, Montana, Palustris. Moun-
in the second degree, helps such as are short- f tain and Water Calamint : For the Water

winded, cuts and wastes gross and tough
flegm, laid among cloaths they preserve
them from moths, and give them a sweet
smell.

Calamint : see mints, than which it is ac-
counted stronger. Mountain Calamint, is
hot and dry in the third degree, provokes
urine and the menses, hastens the birth in

Branca ursina. Bears-breech. { women, brings away the placenta, helps

Brionia, &>c. Briony, white and black ; \ cramps, convulsions, difficulty of breathing,
both are hot and dry in the third degree, \ kills worms, helps the dropsy : outwardly
purge violently, yet are held to be whole- \ used, it helps such as hold their necks on
some physic for such as have dropsies, \ one side: half a dram is enough at one time,
vertigo, or swimming in the head, falling- j Galen, Dioscorides, Apuleius.
sickness, &c. Certainly it is a strong, f Calendula. Sfc. Marigolds. The leaves
troublesome purge, therefore not to be tarn- are hot in the second degree, and something
pered with by the unskilful, outwardly in \ moist, loosen the belly : the juice held in
ointments it takes away freckles, wrinkles, 1 the mouth, helps the toothache, and takes
morphew, scars, spots, &c. from the face, j away any inflammation or hot swelling

Bursa pastoris. Shepherd's Purse, is ! being bathed with it, mixed with a little
manifestly cold and dry, though Lobel and j vinegar.

Pena thought the contrary ; it is binding \ Callitricum. Maiden-hair. SeeAdianthum.
and stops blood, the menses ; and cools in- j Caprisolium. Honey -suckles : The leaves
flammations. j are hot, and therefore naught for inflam-

Buglossom. Buglosse. Its virtues are ^mations of the mouth and throat, for which
the same with Borrage. jthe ignorant people oftentime give them:

Bugula. Bugle, or Middle Comfrey ; is and Galen was true in this, let modern
temperate for heat, but very drying, ex- j writers write their pleasure. If you chew
cellent for falls or inward bruises, for it dis- i but a leaf of it in your mouth, experience
solves congealed blood, profitable for inward | will tell you that it is likelier to cause,
wounds, helps the rickets and other stopp- \ than to cure a sore throat, they provoke
ings of the liver ; outwardly it is of wonder- : urine, and purge by urine, bring speedy
ful force in curing wounds and ulcers, ! delivery to women in travail, yet procure
though festered, as also gangreens and fis- j barrenness and hinder conception, out-
tulas, it helps broken bones, and disloca- 5 wardly they dry up foul ulcers, and cleanse
tions. Inwardly you may take it in powder i the face from morphew, sun-burning and
a dram at a time, or drink the decoction | freckles.

of it in white-wine : being made into an j Cardimcellus, #c. Groundsel!. Cold and
ointment with hog's grease, you shall find ! moist according to Tragus, helps the cholic,
it admirable in green wounds. {and gripings in the belly, helps such as

Bnphthalmiim, Sfc. Ox eye. Matthiolus \ cannot make water, cleanses the reins,
saith they are commonly used for black j purges choler and sharp humours : the
Hellebore, to the virtues of which I refer, j usual way of taking it is to boil it in water

Bums. Boxtree: the leaves are hot, dry, : with currants, and so eat it. I hold it to be
and binding, they are profitable against the ! awholesomeand harmless purge. Outwardly
biting of mad dogs ; both taken inwardly | it easeth women's breasts that are swollen
boiled and applied to the place : besides j and inflamed ; as also inflammations of the
they are good to cure horses of the bots. ! joints, nerves, or sinews. Mgineta.

234 THE COMPLETE HERBAL

Cardmis B. Marine. Our Ladies Thistles. 5 are drying and binding, help dimness of the
They are far more temperate than Carduus \ sight : help the spleen, preserve from
Benedictus, open obstructions of the liver, j drunkenness, and help the evil effects of it:
help the jaundice and dropsy, provoke \ provoke the menses,
urine, break the stone. Centaurium, majus^ minus. Centaury the

Carduus Benedictus. Blessed Thistle, but j greater and less. They say the greater
better known by the Latin name : it is hot j will do wonders in curing wounds : see the
and dry in the second degree, cleansing and ? root. The less is a present remedy for the
opening, helps swimming and giddiness in j yellow jaundice, opens stoppings of the
the head, deafness, strengthens the memory, \ liver, gall, and spleen : purges choler, helps
helps griping pains in the belly, kills worms, j gout, clears the sight, purgeth the stomach,
provokes sweat, expels poison, helps in- j helps the dropsy and green sickness. It is
rlammation of the liver, is very good in j only the tops and flowers which are useful,
pestilence and venereal: outwardly applied, of which you may take a dram inwardly in
it ripens plague-sores, and helps hot swell- \ powder, or half a handful boiled in posset-
ings, the bitings of mad dogs and venomous i drink at a time.

beasts, and foul filthy ulcers. Every one j Centinodittm, fyc. Knotgrass : cold in the
that can but make a Carduus posset, knows ; second degree, helps spitting and other
how to use it. Cdmerarius, Arnuldus vel evacuations of blood, stops the menses and
anovanus. \ all other fluxes of blood, vomiting of blood,

Chalina. See the roots, under the name j gonorrhea, or running of the reins, weak-
of white Chameleon. j ness of the back and joints, inflammations

Corallina. A kind of Sea Moss : cold, j of the privities, and such as make water by
binding, drying, good for hot gouts, in- \ drops, and it is an excellent remedy for
flammations : also they say it kills worms, j hogs that will not eat their meat. Your

and therefore by some is called Maw- worm-
seed.

Cussutha, cascuta, potagralini. Dodder.
See Epithimum.

only way is to boil it, it is in its prime about
the latter end of July, or beginning of
August : at which time being gathered it
may be kept dry all the year. Brassavolux,

Caryophyllata. Avens, or Herb Bennet, \ Camerarius.
hot and dry : they help the cholic, rawness ; Caryfolium vulgare et Myrrhis. Common
of the stomach, stitches in the sides, : and great chervil: Take them both together,
stoppings of the liver, and bruises. | and they are temperately hot and dry, pro-

Cataputia minor. A kind of Spurge. See j voke urine, stir up venery, comfort the
Tythymalus. \ heart, and are good for old people ; help

Cattaria, Nepeta. Nep, or Catmints. ! pleurises and pricking in the sides.
The virtues are the same with Calaminth. Capea^ Anagallis aquatica. Brooklime,

Cauda Equina. Horse-tail; is of a bind- hot and dry, but not so hot and dry as
ing drying quality, cures wounds, and is an j Water cresses ; they help mangy horses ;
admirableremedy for sinews that are shrunk: j see Water cresses.

it is a sure remedy for bleeding at the nose, j Ceterach, $c. Spleenwort : moderately
or by wound, stops the menses, fluxes, j hot, waste and consumes the spleen, inso-
ulcers in the reins and bladder, coughs, j much that Vitruvius affirms he hath known
ulcers in the lungs, difficulty of breathing, j hogs that have fed upon it, that have had

Caulis, Brassica hortensis, sihestris. Cole- j (when they were killed) no spleens at all.
wort, or Cabbages, garden and wild. They { It is excellently good for melancholy people.

AND ENGLISH PHYSICIAN ENLARGED. 235

helps the stranguary, provokes urine, and \ Cinara, $c. Artichokes. They provoke
breaks the stone in the bladder, boil it and | venery, and purge by urine,
drink the decoction; but because a little Cichorium. Succory, to which add Endive
boiling will carry away the strength of it in j which comes after. They are cold and dry
vapours, let it boil but very little, and let it j in the second degree, cleansing and open-
stand close stopped till it be cold before j ing ; they cool the heats of the liver, and
you strain it out ; this is the general rule ] are profitable in the yellow jaundice, and

the

for all simples of this nature.

Chamapitys. Ground-pine; hoi
second degree, arid dry in the third, helps
the jaundice, sciatica, stopping of the liver,
and spleen, provokes the menses, cleanses
the entrails, dissolves congealed blood, re-

sists poison, cures wounds and ulcers. Jire, or any eating ulcers.

Strong bodies may take a dram, and weak
bodies half a dram of it in powder at a
time.

Chamcemelum, sativum 9 sylvestre. Garden
and Wild Chamomel. Garden Chamomel,
is hot and dry in the first degree, and as

burning fevers ; help excoriations in the
privities, hot stomachs ; and outwardly ap-
plied, help hot rheums in the eyes.

Cicuta. Hemlock : cold in the fourth
degree, poisonous : outwardly applied, it
helps Priapismus, the shingles, St. Anthony's

Clematis Daphnoides, Vinca provinca. Peri-
winkle. Hot in the second degree, some-
thing dry and binding ; stops lasks, spitting
of blood, and the menses.

Consolida major. Comfrey, I do not con-
ceive the leaves to be so virtuous as the

gallant a medicine against the stone in the j roots.

bladder as grows upon the earth, you may Consolida media. Bugles, of which before.

take it inwardly, I mean the decoction of

it, being boiled in white wine, or inject the

juice of it into the bladder with a syringe.

It expels wind, helps belchings, and potent-
ly provokes the menses : used in baths, it
helps pains in the sides, gripings and
gnawings in the belly.

Consolida minima. Daises.

Consolida rubra. Golden Rod : hot and
dry in the second degree, cleanses the reins,
provokes urine, brings away the gravel :
an admirable herb for wounded people to
take inwardly, stops blood, &c.

Consolida Regalis, Delphinium. Lark

ChamcEdrtS) fyc. Germander : hot and i heels : resist poison, help the bitings of

dry in the third degree ; cuts and brings
away tough humours, opens stoppings of the
liver and spleen, helps coughs and shortness
of breath, stranguary and stopping of urine,

venomous beasts.

Saracenica Solidago. Saracens Confound.
Helps inward wounds, sore mouths, sore
throats, wasting of the lungs, and liver.

and provokes the menses ; half a dram is
enough to take at a time.

Chelidonium utrumque. Celandine both!

sorts. Small Celandine is usually called or applied to the wound : helps the cholic,
Pilewort; it is something hotter and dryer] breaks the stone. JEgineta.

Coronepus. Buchorn Plantane, or Sea-
plantain : cold and dry, helps the bitings
of venomous beasts, either taken inwardly,

than the former, it helps the hemorrhoids
or piles, bruised and applied to the grief.

Coronaria. Hath got many English
names. Cottonweed, Cudweed, Chaffweed,

Celandine the greater is hot and dry (they and Petty Cotton. Of a drying and bind-
say in the third degree) any way used ; j ing nature ; boiled in lye, it keeps the head
either the juice or made into an oil or oint- 1 from nits and lice; being laid among
ment, it is a great preserver of the sight, \ clothes, it keeps them safe from moths,
and an excellent help for the eyes. \ kills worms, helps the bitings of venomous

3 P

286

THE COMPLETE HERBAL

beasts ; taken in a tobacco-pipe, it helps !
coughs of the lungs, and vehement head-
aches.

Cruciata. Crosswort: (there is a kind
of Gentian called also by this name, which
I pass by) is drying and binding, exceed-
ing good for inward or outward wounds,
either inwardly taken, or outwardly

it is to poison ; it is an admirable remedy
against wounds and gunshot, wounds made
with poisoned weapons, it draws out splin-
ters, broken bones, &c. The dose from half
a dram to a dram.

Dipsacus, sativ. sylv. Teazles, garden
and wild, the leaves bruised and applied to
the temples, allay the heat in fevers, qualify

ap-

plied : and an excellent remedy for such the rage in frenzies ; the juice dropped into
as are bursten. \ the ears, kills worms in them, dropped into

Crassula. Orpine. Very good : out- 5 the eyes, clears the sight, helps redness and
wardly used with vinegar, it clears the skin; s pimples in the face, being anointed with it.
inwardly taken, it helps gnawings of the Ebulus. Dwarf Elder, or Walwort. Hot
stomach and bowels, ulcers in the lungs,
bloody-flux, and quinsy in the throat, for
which last disease it is inferior to none,
take not too much of it at a time, because
of its coolness.

Crithamus, $c, Sampire. Hot and dry,

and dry in the third degree ; waste hard
swellings, being applied in form of a
poultice; the hair of the head anointed with
the juice of it turns it black ; the leaves
being applied to the place, help inflamma-
tions, burnings, scaldings, the bitings of

helps difficulty of urine, the yellow jaun- j mad dogs; mingled with bulls suet is a pre-
dice, provokes the menses, helps digestion, j sent remedy for the gout ; inwardly taken,

opens stoppings of the liver and spleen.
Galen.

Cucumis Asininus. Wild Cucumbers. See
Elaterium.

Cyanus major, minor. Blue bottle, great
and small, a fine cooling herb, helps,

is a singular purge for the dropsy and gout.
Echium. Viper's-bugloss, Viper's-herb,
Snake bugloss, Wal-bugloss, Wild-bugloss,
several counties give it these several names :
It is a singular remedy being eaten, for the
biting of venomous beasts : continually

bruises, wounds, broken veins; the juice \ eatingof it makesthe body invincible against
dropped into the eye, helps the inflamma- | the poison of serpents, toads, spiders, &c.
lions thereof. i however it be administered ; it comforts the

Cygnoglossam. Hound's-Tongue, cold and heart, expels sadness and melancholy. The

dry : applied to the fundament helps the
hemorrhoids, heals wounds and ulcers, and

rich may make the flowers into a conserve,
and the herb into a syrup, the poor may

is a present remedy against the bitings of j keep it dry , both may keep it as a jewel,
dogs, burnings and scaldings. Empetron, Calcifragra^ Herniaria, $c.

Cyprebsus, Chamce. Cyparissus. Cypress- \ Rupture-wort, or Burst-wort. The English
tree. The leaves are hot and binding, help | name tells you it is good against ruptures,
ruptures, and Polypus or flesh growing on | and so such as are bursten shall find it, if
the nose. ! they please to make trial of it, either in-

Chama cyparissus. Is Lavender Cotton. \ wardly taken, or outwardly applied to the
Resists poison, and kills worms. j place, or both. Also the Latin names hold

Disdamnus Cretenis. Dictamny, or Dit- \ it forth to be good against the stone, which
tany of Creet, hot and dry, brings away j whoso tries shall find true,
dead children, hastens delivery, brings away j Enula Campana. Elicampane. Provokes
the placenta, the very smell of it drives i urine. See the root,
away venomous beasts, so deadly an enemy Epithimum. Dodder of Time, to wMch;

AND ENGLISH PHYSICIAN ENLARGED. 237

add common Dodder, which is usually that I Fragaria. Strawberry leaves, are cold,
which grows upon flax : indeed every Dod- : dry, and binding, a singular remedy for
der retains a virtue of that herb or plant j inflammations and wounds, hot diseases in
it grows upon, as Dodder that grows upon I the throat; they stop fluxes and the terms,
Broom, provokes ui-ine forcibly, and > cool the heat of the stomach, and the in-
loosens the belly, and is moister than that ;' flammations of the liver. The best way is
which grows upon flax that which grows \ to boil them in barley water,
upon time, is hotter and dryer than that j Fraxinus, fyc. Ash-trees, the leaves are
which grows upon flax, even in the third j moderately hot and dry, cure the bitings of
degree, opens obstructions, helps infirmities j Adders, and Serpents ; they stop looseness,
of the spleen, purgeth melancholy, relieves \ and stay vomiting, help the rickets, open
drooping spirits, helps the rickets : That \ stoppages of the liver and spleen.
Avhich grows on flax, is excellent for agues j Fumaria. Fumitory : cold and dry, it
in young children, strengthens weak j opens and cleanses by urine, helps such as
stomachs, purgeth choler, provokes urine, j are itchy, and scabbed, clears the skin,
opens stoppings in the reins and bladder, j opens stoppings of the liver and spleen.
That which grows upon nettles, provokes J helps rickets, hypochondriac melancholy,
urine exceedingly. The way of using it is j madness, frenzies, quartan agues, loosens
to boil it in white wine, or other convenient j the belly, gently purgeth melancholy, and
decoction, and boil it very little. JEtias, j addust choler : boil it in white wine, and
Mesue, Actuarius, Serapio, Avincena. j take this one general rule. All things of a

Eruch. Rocket, hot and dry in the j cleansing or opening nature may be most com-
third degree, being eaten alone, causeth ! modiously boiled in white wine. Remember
head-ache, by its heat procures urine. Galen. \ but this, and then I need not repeat it.
Siipatorium. See Ageratum. Galega. Goat's-rue : Temperate in

Euphragia. Eyebright is something hot ; quality, resists poison, kills worms, helps
and dry, the very sight of it refresheth the j the falling-sickness, resists the pestilence,
eyes ; inwardly taken, it restores the sight, j You may take a dram of it at a time in
and makes old men's eyes young, a dram ; powder.

of it taken in the morning is worth a pair j Galion. Ladies-bed straw : dry and bind-
of spectacles, it comforts and strengthens \ ing, stanches blood, boiled in oil, the oil is
the memory, outwardly applied to the j good to anoint a weary traveller ; inwardly
place, it helps the eyes. j it provokes venery.

Filix fcemina. ~\

Filicula, polypidium. > See the roots.
Filipendula. j

Gentiana. See the root.
Genista. Brooms : hot and dry in the
second degree, cleanse and open thestomach,

Malahathram. Indian -leaf, hot and dry j break the stone in the reins and bladder,
in the second degree, comforts the stomach j help the green sickness. Let such as are
exceedingly, helps digestion, provokes { troubled with heart-qualms or faintings,
urine, helps inflammations of the eyes, ; forbear it, for it weakens the heart and

secures cloaths from moths.

Ffeniciilum. Fennel, encreaseth milk in

spirit vital. See the flowers.

Geranium. Cranebill, the divers sorts of

nurses, provokes urine, breaks the stone, j it, one of which is that which is called
easeth pains in the reins, opens stoppings, \ Muscata; it is thought to be cool and dry,
breaks wind, provokes the menses; you j helps hot swellings, and by its smell amends
may boil it in white wine. ja hot brain.

238

THE COMPLETE HERBAL

Geranium Columbinum. Doves-foot ; helps
the wind cholic, pains in the belly, stone in
the reins and bladder, and is good in rup-
tures, and inward wounds. I suppose these
are the general virtues of them all.

Gramen. Grass : See the root.

Gratiola. Hedge-Hyssop, purges water
and flegm, but works very churlishly.
Gesner commends it in dropsies.

Asphodelus fcem. See the root.

Hepatica, Lichen. Liverwort, cold and
dry, good for inflammations of the liver,
or any other inflammations, yellow jaundice.

Hedera Arborea, Terrostris. Tree and
Ground-Ivy. Tree-Ivy helps ulcers, burn-
ings, scaldings, the bad effects of the spleen ;
the juice snuffed up the nose, purges the
head, it is admirable for surfeits or head-
ache, or any other ill effects coming of
drunkenness. Ground-Ivy is that which
usually is called Alehoof, hot and dry, the
juice helps noise in the ears, fistula's, gouts,
stoppings of the liver, it strengthens the
reins and stops the menses, helps the yellow
jaundice, and other diseases coming of
stoppings of the liver, and is excellent for
wounded people.

Herba Camphorata. Stinking Ground-
pine, is of a drying quality, and therefore
stops defluxions either in the eyes or upon
the lungs, the gout, cramps, palsies, aches :
strengthens the nerves.

Herbu Paralysis, Primula veris. Prim-
roses, or Cowslips, which you will. The
leaves help pains in the head and joints ;
see the flowers which are most in use.

Herba Paris. Herb True-love, or One-
berry. It is good for wounds, falls, bruises,
aposthumes, inflammations, ulcers in the
privities. Herb True-love, is very cold in
temperature. You may take half a dram
of it at a time in powder.

Herba Roberti. A kind of Cranebill.

Herba venti^ Anemone. Wind-flower. The
juice snuffed up in the nose purgeth the
head, it cleanses filthy ulcers, encreases

i milk in nurses, and outwardly by ointment
, helps leprosies.

| Herntaria. The same with Empetron.
\ Hehine. Pellitory of the wall. Cold,
j moist, cleansing, helps the stone and gravel
in the kidnies, difficulty of urine, sore
throats, pains in the ears, the juice being
dropped in them ; outwardly it helps the
} shingles and St. Anthony s fire.

Hyppoglossnm. Horse-tongue, Tongue-
: blade or Double-Tongue. The roots help
; the stranguary, provoke urine, ease the
I hard labour of women, provoke the menses,
i the herb helps ruptures and the fits of the
' mother : it is hot in the second degree, dry
in the first : boil it in white wine.

Hyppolapathum. Patience, or Monk's
Rhubarb : see the Root.

Hypposclinum. Alexanders, or Alisan-
ders : provoke urine, expel the placenta,
help the stranguary, expel wind.

Sage either taken inwardly or beaten and
applied plaister-wise to the matrix, draws
forth both menses and placenta.

Horminum. Clary : hot and dry in the
third degree; helps the weakness in the
back, stops the running of the reins, and
the Fluor Albus, provokes the menses, and
helps women that are barren through cold-
ness or moisture, or both : causes fruitful-
ness, but is hurtful for the memory. The
usual way of taking it is to fry it with but-
ter, or make a tansy with it.

Hydropiper. Arsmart. Hot and dry,
consumes all coJd swellings and blood con-
gealed by bruises, and stripes ; applied to
the place, it helps that aposthume in the
| joints, commonly called a felon : strewed
in a chamber, kills all the fleas there : this
is hottest Arsmart, and is unfit to be given
inwardly : there is a milder sort, called
Persicaria, which is of a cooler and milder
quality, drying, excellently good for putri-
ned ulcers, kills worms : I had almost for-
got that the former is an admirable remedy
for the gout, being roasted between two

AND ENGLISH PHYSICIAN ENLARGED.

239

tiles and applied to the grieved place, and j
yet 1 had it from Dr. Butler too.

Hysopus. Hysop. Helps coughs, short- j
ness of breath, wheezing, distillations upon
theiungs: it is of a cleansing quality : kills
worms in the body, amends the whole
colour of the body, helps the dropsy and
spleen, sore throats, and noise in the ears.
See Syrup of Hysop.

Hyosciamus, $c. Henbane. The white!
Henbane is held to be cold in the third \
degree, the black or common Henbane and j
the yellow, in the fourth. They stupify \
the senses, and therefore not to be taken \
inwardly, outwardly applied, they help;
inflammations, hot gouts : applied to the
temples they provoke sleep.

Hypericon. St. John's Wort. It is as
gallant a wound-herb as any is, either !
given inwardly, or outwardly applied toj
the wound : it is hot and dry, opens stopp- !
ings, helps spitting and vomiting of blood, i
it cleanses the reins, provokes the menses,
helps congealed blood in the stomach and
meseraic veins, the falling-sickness, palsy,
cramps and aches in the joints ; you may
give it in powder or any convenient decoc- ,
tion.

Hypoglottis, Laurus, Alexandrina. Laurel
of Alexandria, provokes urine and the
menses, and is held to be a singular help to
women in travail.

Hypoglossum, the same with Hypoglossum :
before, only different names given by dif-
ferent authors, the one deriving his name
from the tongue of a horse, of which form
the leaf is ; the other the form of the little !
leaf, because small leaves like small tongues t
grow upon the greater.

Iheris Cardamantice. Sciati ca- cresses. |
I suppose so called because they help the \
Sciatica, or Huckle-bone Gout.

Ingunialis, Asther. Setwort or Shart-j
wort : being bruised and applied, they help I
swellings, botches, and venerous swellings j
in the groin, whence they took their name, 5

as also inflammation and falling out of the
fundament.

Iris. See the roots.

Isatis, Glastmn. Woad. Drying and
binding ; the side being bathed with it, it
easeth pains in the spleen, cleanseth filthy
corroding gnawing ulcers.

Iva Arthritica. The same with Cameepytis,

luncus oderatus. The same with Schce-
nanthus.

Labrum veneris. The same with Dipsacus.

Lactuca. Lettice. Cold and moist, cools
the inflammation of the stomach, commonly
called heart-burning: provokes sleep, resists
drunkenness, and takes away the ill effects,
of it; cools the blood, quenches thirst, breeds
milk, and is good for choleric bodies, and
such as have a frenzy, or are frantic. It is
more wholesome eaten boiled than raw.

Logabus, Herba Leporina. A kind of
Trefoil growing in France and Spain. Let
them that live there look after the virtues
of it.

Lavendida. Lavender : Hot and dry in
the third degree : the temples and forehead
bathed with the juice of it; as also the smell
of the herb helps swoonings, catalepsis,
falling-sickness, provided it be not accom-
panied with a fever. See the flowers.

Laureola. Laurel. The leaves purge
upward and downward : they are good for
rheumatic people to chew in their mouths,
for they draw forth much water.

Laurus. Bay-tree. The leaves are hot
and dry, resist drunkenness, they gently
bind and help diseases in the bladder, help
the stinging of bees and wasps, mitigate
the pain of the stomach, dry and heal,
open obstructions of the liver and spleen,
resist the pestilence.

Lappa Minor. The lesser Burdock.

Lentiscus. Mastich-tree. Both the leaves
and bark of it stop fluxes (being hot and
dry in the second degree) spitting and
evacuations of blood, and the falling out
of the fundament.

240 THE COMPLETE HERBAL

Lens palustris. Duckmeat : Cold and \ provoke urine , the young sprouts open
moist in the second degree, helps inflamrna- ; stoppings of the liver and spleen, cleanse
tions, hot swellings, and the falling out of | the blood, clear the skin, help scabs and
the fundament, being warmed and applied J itch, help agues, purge choler: they are
to the place. { usually boiled and taken as they eat asparagus,

Lcpidium Piperites. Dittander, Pepper- \ but if you would keep them, for they are
wort, or Scar-wort : A hot fiery sharp herb, j excellent for these diseases, you may make
admirable for the gout being applied to the \ them into a conserve, or into a syrup,
place : being only held in the hand, it helps j Lychnitis Coronaria : or as others write
the tooth-ache, and withall leaves a wan jit, Lychnis. Rose Campion. I know no
colour in the hand that holds it. I great physical virtue it hath.

Livisticum. Lovage. Clears the sight, ! Mads. See the barks,
takes away redness and freckles from the I Magistrantia. $c. Masterwort. Hot and
face. i dry in the third degree : it is good against

Libanotis Coronaria. See Rosemary. ; poison, pestilence, corrupt and unwhole-

Linaria. Toad-flax, or Wild-flax: hot I some air, helps windiness in the stomach,
and dry, cleanses the reins and bladder, \ causeth an appetite to one's victuals, very
provokes urine, opens the stoppings of the \ profitable in falls and bruises, congealed
liver and spleen, and helps diseases coming j and clotted blood, the bitings of mad-dogs;
thereof: outwardly it takes away yellow- i the leaves chewed in the mouth, cleanse the
ness and deformity of the skin. \ brain of superfluous humours, thereby pre-

Lillium convallium. Lilly of the Valley. 5 venting lethargies, and apoplexes.
See the flowers. Malva. Mallows. The best of Authors

Lingua Cervina. Hart's-tongue : drying | account wild Mallows to be best, and hold
and binding, stops blood, the menses and j them to be cold and moist in the first degree,
fluxes, opens stoppings of the liver and [ they are profitable in the bitings of venom-
spleen, and diseases thence arising. The j ous beasts, the stinging of bees and wasps,
like quantity of Hart's-tongue, Knotgrass j &c. Inwardly they resist poison, provoke
and Comfrey Roots, being boiled in water, to stool ; outwardly they assuage hard

and a draught of the decoction drunk every
morning, and the materials which have
boiled applied to the place, is a notable
remedy for such as are bursten.

Limonium. Sea-bugloss, or Marsh-bug-
loss, or Sea-Lavender; the seeds being very
drying and binding, slop fluxes and the
menses, help the cholic and stranguary.

swellings of the privities or other places; in
clysters they help roughness and fretting of
the entrails, bladder, or fundament ; and so
they do being boiled in water, and the
decoction drank, as I have proved in the
bloody flux.

Majorana. See Amaraeus.

Mandragora. Mandrakes. Fit for no

Lotus urbana. Authors make some flutter j vulgar use, but only to be used in cooling
about this herb, I conceive the best take \t\ ointments.

to be Trisolium Odoratum, Sweet TrefoylJ Marrubium, album, nigrum, fcetidum.
which is of a temperate nature, cleanses | Marrubium album, is common Horehound.
the eyes gently of such things as hinder the 1 Hot in the second degree, and dry in the
sight, cures green wounds, ruptures, or j third, opens the liver and spleen, cleanses
burstness, helps such as urine blood or are! the breast and lungs, helps old coughs,
bruised, and secures garments from moths. ! pains in the sides, ptisicks, or ulceration of

Lupidus. Hops. Opening, cleansing, j the lungs, it provokes the menses, eases

AND ENGLISH PHYSICIAN ENLARGED.

241

hard labour in child-bearing, brings away i stomach, stay vomiting, stop the menses,

; help sore heads in children, strengthen the
stomach, cause digestion ; outwardly ap-
plied, they help the bitings of mad-dogs :
Yet they hinder conception.

the placenta. Se the syrups.

Marrubium, nigrum, ct fcetidum. Black
and stinking Horehouud, I take to be all
one. Hot and dry in the third degree;

cures the bitings of mad dogs, wastes and | Memba aquatica. "Water Mints : Ease
consumes hard knots in the fundament and \ pains of the belly, head-ache, and vomiting,
matrix, cleanses filthy ulcers. i gravel in the kidnies and stone.

Marum. Herb Mastich. Hot and dry \ Methastrum. Horse-mint. I know no
in the third degree, good against cramps difference between them and water mints,
and convulsions. Mercurialis, mas,fcemina. Mercury male

Matricaria. Feverfew. Hot in the third? and female, they are both hot and dry in
degree, dry in the second ; opens, purges ; \ the second degree, cleansing, digesting, they
a singular remedy for diseases incident to j purge watery humours, and further concep-
the matrix, and other diseases incident to j tion.

women, eases their travail, and infirmities j Mezereon. Spruge-Olive, or Widdow-
coming after it ; it helps the vertigo or dis-i wail. A dangerous purge, better let alone
siness of the head, melancholy sad thoughts : [than meddled with.

you may boil it either alone, or with other j Millefolium. Yarrow. Meanly cold and
herbs fit for the same purpose, with which | binding, an healing herb for wounds,
this treatise will furnish you : applied to j stanches bleeding ; and some say the juice
the wrists, it helps the ague. { snuffed up the nose, causeth it to bleed,

Matrisylva. The same with Caprifolium. \ whence it was called, Nose-bleed; it

Meliotus. Melilot. Inwardly taken, pro- j stops lasks, and the menses, helps the
vokes urine, breaks the Stone, cleanses the running of the reins, helps inflammations
reins and bladder, cutteth and cleanses the and excoriations of the priapus, as also
lungs of tough flegm , the juice dropped inflammations of wounds. Galen.
into the eyes, clears the sight, into the ears, j Muicia. Mosse. Is something cold and

' binding, yet usually retains a smatch of the

mitigates pain and noise there ; the head
bathed with the juice mixed with vinegar,
takes away the pains thereof: outwardly
in pultisses, it assuages swellings in the pri-
vities and elsewhere.

property of the tree it grows on; therefore
that which grows upon oaks is very dry and
binding. Serapio saith that it being infused
in wine, and the wine drank, it stays vorait-
Mellissa. Balm. Hot and dry: out- ing and fluxes, as also the Fluor Albus.
wardly mixed with salt and applied to the: Myrtus. Myrtle-tree. The leaves are
neck, helps the King's-evil, bitings of mad 'of a cold earthly quality, drying and birid-
dogs, venomous beasts, and such as cannot \ ing, good for fluxes, spitting and vomiting of
hold their neck as they should do; inwardly blood ; stop the Fluor Albus and menses.
it is an excellent remedy for a cold and j Nardus. See the root,
moist stomach, cheers the heart, refreshes j Nasturtium, Aquaticum, Hortense. Water
the mind, takes away griefs, sorrow, and \ cresses, and Garden-cresses. Garden-
care, instead of which it produces joy and j cresses are hot and dry in the fourth degree,
mirth. See the syrup. Galen, Avicenna. \ good for thes curvy, sciatica, hard swellings,
Mentha sativa. Garden Mints, Spear ! yet do they trouble the belly, ease pains o
Mints. Are hot and dry in the third degree, \ the spleen, provoke lust. Dioscorides. Water-
provoke hunger, are wholesome for the \ cresses are hot and dry, cleanse the blood f

242 THE COMPLETE HERBAL

help the scurvy, provoke urine and the travel four days without either meat or
menses, break the stone, help the green-sick- j drink, by only chewing a little of this in

ness, cause a fresh lively colour.

Nasturtium Alhum, Thlaspie. Treacle-
mustard. Hot and dry in the third degree,
purges violently, dangerous for pregnant
women. Outwardly it is applied with profit

their mouths : It eases the body o* super-
fluous humours, opens stoppings See the
ointment of Tobacco.

Nummularia. Money-wort, or Herb
Two-pence; cold, dry, binding, helps fluxes,

to the gout. | stops the menses, helps ulcers in the lungs ;

Nicorimi. Tobacco. It is hot and dry * outwardly it is a special herb for wounds,
in the second degree, and of a cleansing \ Nymphea. See the flowers,
nature : the leaves warmed and applied to * Ocynum. Basil, hot and moist. The best
the head, are excellently good in inveterate j use that I know of it, is, it gives speedy
head-aches and megrims, if the diseases | deliverance to women in travail. Let them
come through cold or wind, change them | not take above half a dram of it at a time
often till the diseases be gone, help such j in powder, and be sure also the birth be
whose necks be stiff: it eases the faults of tripe, else it causes abortion,
the breast : Asthma's or head-flegm in the \ Olea folia. Olive leaves : they are hard
lappets of the lungs : eases the pains of the i to come by here.

stomach and windiness thereof: being heated | Ononis. Restharrow. See the roots,
by the fire, and applied hot to the side, they \ Ophioglossum. Adder's-tongue. The leaves
loosen the belly, and kill worms being ap- \ are very drying : being boiled in oil they
plied unto it in like manner : they break | make a dainty green balsam for green
the stone being applied in like manner to j wounds : taken inwardly, they help inward
the region of the bladder : help the rickets, j wounds.

being applied to the belly and sides: applied ] Origanum. Origany: a kind of wild
to the navel, they give present ease to the | Marjoram ; hot and dry in the third degree,
fits of the mother : they take away cold i helps the bi tings of venomous beasts, such
aches in the joints applied to them : boiled, j as have taken Opium, Hemlock, or Poppy ;
the liquor absolutely and speedily cures ) provokes urine, brings down the menses,
scabs and itch: neither is there any better? helps old coughs; in an ointment it helps
salve in the world for wounds than may be | scabs and itch.

made of it : for it cleanses, fetches out the i Oxylapathum. Sorrel. See Acetosa.
filth though it lie in the bones, brings up the j Papaver, $c. Poppies, white, black, or
flesh from the bottom, and all this it doth J erratick. I refer you to the syrups of each,
speedily : it cures wounds made with poi- j Parietaria. Given once before under the
soned weapons, and for this Clusius brings name of Helxine.

many experiences too tedious here to relate.
It is an admirable thing for carbuncles and

Pastirwea. Parsnips. See the roots.
Persicaria. See Hydropiper. This is the

plague-sores, inferior to none : green wounds ; milder sort of Arsmart I described there:
'twill cure in a trice : ulcers and gangreens j If ever you find it amongst the compounds,
very speedily, not only in men, but also in j take it under that notion,
beasts, therefore the Indians dedicated it to j Pentaphyllium. Cinquefoil : very drying,
their god. Taken in a pipe, it hath almost! yet but meanly hot, if at all ; helps ulcers
as many virtues ; it easeth weariness, takes j in the mouth, roughness of the wind-pipe
away the sense of hunger and thirst, pro- j (whence comes hoarsness and coughs, &c.)
vokes to stool : he saith, the Indians will ! helps fluxes, creeping ulcers, and the yellow

AND ENGLISH PHYSICIAN ENLARGED. 243

jaundice ; they say one leaf cures a quoti- j helps all inward inflammations whatsoever,
dian ague, three a tertain, and four a I Poirum. Leeks. See the roots,
quartan. I know it will cure agues without j Primula Veris. See Cowslips, or the
this curiosity, if a wise man have the hand- \ Flowers, which you will,
ling of it ; otherwise a cart load will not j Prunella. Self-heal, Carpenter's-herb,
do it. | and Sicklewort. Moderately hot and dry,

Petroseiinum. Parsley. See Smallage. ; binding. See Bugle, the virtues being the

Per Columbinus. See Geranium. \ same.

Persicanum folia. Peach Leaves: they] Pulegium. Pennyroyal; hot and dry in
are a gentle, yet a complete purger of [the third degree; provokes urine, breaks
choler, and disease coming from thence ; J the stone in the reins, strengthens women's
n't for children because of their gentleness. 5 backs, provokes the menses, easeth their
You may boil them in white wine: a hand- \ labour in child-bed, brings away the pla-
full is enough at a time. j centa, stays vomiting, strengthens the brain,

Pilosella. Mouse-ear : once before and j breaks wind, and helps the vertigo,
this is often enough. Pulmonaria, arborea, et Symphytum macii-

Pithyusa. A new name for Spurge of j losum. Lung- wort. It helps infirmities of
the last Edition. the lungs, as hoarsness, coughs, wheezing,

Plantago. Plantain. Cold and dry ; an j shortness of breath, &c. You may boil it
herb, though common, yet let none des- in Hyssop-water, or any other water that

pise it, for the decoction of it prevails
mightily against tormenting pains and ex-

strengthens the lungs.

Pulicaria. Fleabane ; hot and dry in the

coriations of the entrails, bloody fluxes, it j third degree, helps the biting of venomous
stops the menses, and spitting of blood, j beasts, wounds and swellings, the } r ellow
phthisicks, or consumptions of the lungs, 5 jaundice, the falling sickness, and such as
the running of the reins, and the Fluor ; cannot make water; being burnt, the smoak
Albus, pains in the head, and frenzies: out- \ of it kills all the gnats and fleas in the
wardly it clears the sight, takes away in- j chamber ; it is dangerous for pregnant
flammations, scabs, itch, the shingles, and ; women.

all spreading sores, and is as wholesome an Pyrus sylvestris. Wild Pear-tree. I
herb as can grow about any an house. | know no virtue in the leaves.
Tragus, Dioscorides. Pyrola. Winter-green. Cold and dry,

Folium, fyc. Policy, or Pellamountain : j and very binding, slops fluxes, and the

All the sorts are hot in the second degree,
and dry in the third: helps dropsies, the yel-
low jaundice, infirmities of the spleen, and

menses, and is admirably good in green
wounds.

Quercus folia. Oak Leaves : Are much

provokes urine. Dioscorides. \ of the nature of the former, stay the Fluor

Polygonum. Knotgrass. \ Albus. See the bark.

Polytricum. Maidenhair. Ranunculus. Hath got a sort of English

Portulaca. Purslain: Cold and moist j Names : Crowfoot, King-kob, Gold-cups,

in the second or third degree : cools hot

Gold-knobs, Butter-flowers, &c. they are

stomachs, and it is admirable for one that i of a notable hot quality, unfit to be taken
hath his teeth on edge by eating sour apples, j inwardly : If you bruise the roots and apply
it cools the blood, liver, and is good for hot i them to a plague-sore, they are notable
diseases, or inflammations in any of these j things to draw the venom to them,
places, stops fluxes, and the menses, and j Raparum folia. If they do mean Turnip

3 K

241 THE COMPLETE HERBAL

leaves, when they are young and tender, ; the boughs stuck about a chamber, wonder-
they are held to provoke urine. \ fully cool the air, and refresh such as have'

Rosmarirum. Rosemary, hot and dry in i fevers ; the leaves applied to the head,
the second degree, binding, stops fluxes, j help hot diseases there, and frenzies
helps stuffings in the head, the yellow jaun- 1 Sampsucum. Marjoram,
dice, helps the memory, expels wind. Seej Sunicula. Sanicle; hot and dry in the
the flowers. Serapio, Dioscorides. j second degree, cleanses wounds and ulcers.

Rosa soils. See the water. Saponaria. Sope-wort, or Bruise-wort,

Rosa alba, rubra, Damascena. White, j vulgarly used in bruises and cut fingers,
Red, and Damask Roses. ! and is of notable use in the veneral disease.

Rumex. Dock ; All the ordinary sort of Satureia. Savory. Summer savory is
Docks are of a cool and drying substance, hot and dry in the third degree, Winter
and therefore stop fluxes; and the leaves i savory is not so hot, both of them expel
are seldom used in physic. | wind.

Ritbits Idaus : Raspis, Raspberries, or 2 Sazifragia alba. White Saxifrage, breaks
Hind-berries : I know no great virtues in | wind, helps the cholic and stone,
the leaves. j Scabiosa. Scabious : hot and dry in the

Ruta. Rue, or Herb of Grace ; hot and j second degree, cleanses the breast and lungs,
dry in the third degree, consumes the seed,; helps old rotten coughs, and difficulty of
and is an enemy to generation, helps dif-j breathing, provokes urine, and cleanses the
ficulty of breathing, and inflammations of: bladder of filthy stuff, breaks aposthumes,
the lungs, pains in the sides, inflammations \ and cures scabs and itch. Boil it in white
of the priapus and matrix, naught for preg- \ wine.

nant women: no herb resists poison more. 1 Scariola. An Italian name for Succory.
It strengthens the heart exceedingly, and j Schccnanthus. Schcenanth, Squinanth,
no herb better than this in pestilential; or Chamel's hay; hot and binding. It
times, take it what manner you will or can. [ digests and opens the passages of the veins:

Ruta Muraria. See Adianthum. j surely it is as great an expeller of wind as

Sabina. Savin: hot and dry in the third j any is.

degree, potently provokesthemenses,expels | Scordium. Water-Germander, hot and
both birth and afterbirth, they (boiled in \ dry, cleanses ulcers in the inward parts, it
oil and used in ointments) stay creeping \ provokes urine and the menses, opens
ulcers, scour away spots, freckles and sun- j stopping of the liver, spleen, reins, bladder,
burning from the face ; the belly anointed s and matrix, it is a great counter poison, and
with it kills worms in children. j eases the breast oppressed with flegm : see

Salvia. Sage: hot and dry in the second 1 Diascordium.

or third degree, binding, it stays abortion Scrophularia. Figwort, so called of
in such women as are subject to come before \ Scrophula^ the King's Evil, which it cures
their times, it causes fruitfulness, it is sin- 1 they say, by being only hung about the
gularly good for the brain, strengthens the \ neck. If not, bruise it, and apply it to
senses and memory, helps spitting and j the place, it helps the piles or hemorrhoids,
vomiting of blood : outwardly, heat hot I; Sedum. And all his sorts : see Barba
with a little vinegar and applied to the side, i Jovis.

helps stitches <md pains in the sides.

Senna. It heats in the second degree

SalLr. Willow leaves, are cold, dry, and j and dries in the first, cleanses, purges, and
binding, stop spitting of blood, and fluxes; [digests; it carries downward both choler,

AND ENGLISH PHYSICIAN ENLARGED. 2k5

flegm, and melancholy, it cleanses the : usually found about old ruinous buildings :

brain, heart, liver, spleen; it cheers the; it is so called because of its virtue "in

senses, opens obstructions, takes away dul- j stopping fluxes.

ness of sight, helps deafness, helps mclan- \ Shinachia. Spinage. I never read any

clioly and madness, resists resolution of the i physical virtues of it.

nerves, pains of the head, scabs, itch, fall- < Spina Alba. See the root.

ing-sickness, the windiness of it is corrected ! Spica. See Nardus.

with a little ginger. You may boil half an \ St<zbe. Silver Knapweed: The virtues

ounce of it at a time, in water or white \ be the same with Scabious, and some think

wine, but boil it not too much ; half an I the herbs too ; though I am of another

ounce is a moderate dose to be boiled for j opinion.

any reasonable body. \ Stccchas. French Lavender. Cassidony,

Serpillum. Mother-of-Time, with Time ; \ is a great counterpoison, opens obstructions
it is hot and dry in the third degree, it pro- j of the liver and spleen, cleanses the matrix
vokes the menses, and helps the stranguary \ and bladder, brings out corrupt humours,
or stoppage of urine, gripings in the belly, \ provokes urine.

ruptures, convulsions, inflammation of the > Succisa^ Marsus Diaboli. DevilVbit.
liver, lethargy, and infirmities of the spleen, j Hot and dry in the second degree: inwardly
boil it in white wine. Mtius, Galen. \ taken, it eases the fits of the mother, and

Sigillum Solomonis. Solomon's seal. See ; breaks wind, takes away swellings in the
the root. j mouth, and slimy flegm that stick to the

Smyrnium. Alexander of Crete.
Solanum. Night-shade : very cold and
dry, binding; it is somewhat dangerous

jaws, neither is there a more present remedy
in the world for those cold swellings in
the neck which the vulgar call the almonds

given inwardly, unless by a skilful hand ; j of the ears, than this herb bruised and

oxitwardly it helps the Shingles, <Stf. Anthony's \ applied to them.

fire, and other hot inflammations. Sitchaha. An Egyptian Thorn. Very

Soldanella. Bindweed, hot and dry in j hard, if not impossible to come by here,
the second degree, it opens obstructions of j Tanacetum. Tansy : hot in the second
the liver, and purges watery humours, and \ degree and dry in the third ; the very smell
is therefore very profitable in dropsies, it is of it stays abortion, or miscarriages in
very hurtful to the stomach, and therefore j women ; so it doth being bruised and ap-
if taken inwardly it had need be well cor- 5 plied to their navels, provokes urine, and
rected with cinnamon, ginger, or annis- f is a special help against the gout,
seed, &c. Taraxacon. Dandelion, or to write better

Sonchns levis Asper. Sow-thistles smooth j French, Dent-de-lion, for in plain English,
and rough, they are of a cold, watery, yet lit is called lyon's tooth ; it is a kind of Sue-
binding quality, good for frenzies, they | cory, and thither I refer you.

increase milk in nurses, and cause the chil-
dren which they nurse to have a good

Tamariscus. Tamiris. It hath a dry
cleansing quality, and hath a notable virtue

colour, help gnawings of the stomach j against the rickets, and infirmities of the
coming of a hot cause ; outwardly they 5 spleen, provokes the menses. Galen, Dios-
help inflammations, and hot swellings, cool j corides.
the heat of the fundament and privities. TelepJiium. A kind of Opine.

Soplii Chiritrgorum. Fluxweed : drying \ Thlaspi. See Nasturtium.
without any manifest heat or coldness ; it is I Thymbra. A wild Savory.

24G

THE COMPLETE HERBAL

Thymum. Thyme. Hot and dry in the
third degree; helps coughs and shortness of
breath, provokes the menses, brings away
dead children and the after birth ; purges ;
flegm, cleanses the breast and lungs, reins \
and matrix ; helps the sciatica, pains in ;
the breast, expels wind in any part of the

body, resists fearfulness and melancholy, I hung about the neck
continual pains in the head, and is profita- : ~-* ; -
ble for such as have the falling-sickness to

smell to.

Thijmtelea. The Greek name for Spurge-
Olive : Mezereon being the Arabick name.

Tithymallus, Esula, fyc. Spurge. Hot
and dry in the fourth degree : a dogged
purge, better let alone than taken inwardly:
hair anointed with the juice of it will fall
oft': it kills fish, being mixed with any
thing that they will eat: outwardly
cleanses ulcers, takes away freckles,
burning and morphew from the face.

Tormentilla. See the root.

a digesting, cleansing quality, stops fluxes
and the hemorrhoids, it cures hoarseness,
the cough, and such as are broken winded
Verbena, Vervain : hot and dry, a great
opener, cleanser, healer, it helps the yellow
jaundice, defects in the reins and bladder,
pains in the head ; if it be but bruised and

all diseases in the
made into an ointment it is a
remedy for old head-aches, as
frenzies, it clears the skin, and causes

privities
sovereign
1 also

a lovely colour.

Voronica. See Betonica Pauli.

Violaria. Violet Leaves : they are cool,
ease pains in the head proceeding of heat
and frenzies, either inwardly taken, or out-
wardly applied ; heat of the stomach, or in-
flammation of thl lungs.

Vitis Viniseria.

The manured Vine : the

sun- leaves are binding and cool withal ; the
( burnt ashes of the sticks of a vine, scour
the teeth and make them as white as snow
bleeding,

Trinitatis herba. Pansies, or Heart's- j the leaves stop bleeding, fluxes, heart-
ease : They are cold and moist, both herbs j burnings, vomitings ; as also the longings
and flowers, excellent against inflammations \ of pregnant women. The coals of a burnt
of the breast or lungs, convulsions or fall- t Vine, in powder, mixed with honey, doth
ing-sickness, also they are held to be good j make the teeth as white as ivory, which are
for venereal complaints. \ rubbed with it.

Trifolium. Trefoil: dry in the third I Vincitoxicum. Swallow-wort. A pultis
degree, and cold : The ordinary Meadow \ made with the leaves helps sore breasts, and
Trefoil, cleanses the bowelsof slimy humours | also soreness of the matrix,
that stick to them, being used either in \ Virga Pastoris. A third name for Tea-
drinks or clysters ; outwardly they take \ zles. See Dipsatus.
away inflammations. Virga Aurea. See Consolida.

Tussilago. Colt's-foot : something cold j Ulmaria. See the root. Meadsweet.
and dry, and therefore good for inflamma- \ Umbslicus Veneris. Navil-wort : Cold,
tions, they are admirably good for coughs, j dry, and binding, therefore helps all iri-
and consumptions of the lungs, shortness s flammations ; they are very good for kibed
of breath, &c. It is often used and with \ heels, being bathed with it and a leaf laid
good success taken in a tobacco-pipe, being \ over the sore.

cut and mixed with a little oil of annis | Urtica. Nettles: an herb so Avell known,
seeds. See the Syrup of Colt's-foot. \ that you may find them by the feeling in

Valeriana. Valerian, or Setwall. See { the darkest night : they are something hot,

the roots. j not very hot ; the juice stops bleeding ;

Verbascum, Thapsus Barbatits. Mullin, they provoke lust, help difficulty of breath-

or Higtaper, It is something dry, and of | ing, pleurisies, inflammations of the lungs,

AND ENGLISH PHYSICIAN ENLARGED.

247

that troublesome cough that women call
the Chincough ; they exceedingly break
the stone, provoke urine, and help such as
cannot hold their necks upright. Boil
them in white wine.

Usnea. Moss ; once before.

FLOWERS.

BORAGE, and Bugloss flowers strengthen
the brain, and are profitable in fevers.

Chamomel flowers, heat and assuage
swellings, inflammation of the bowels, dis-
solve wind, are profitably given in clysters
or drink, to such as are troubled with the
cholic, or stone.

Stcechea, opens stoppings in the bowels,
and strengthens the whole body.

Saffron powerfully concocts, and sends
out whatever humour offends the body,
drives back inflammations ; applied outward-
ly, encreases venery, and provokes urine.

Clove-Gilliftowers, resist the pestilence,
strengthen the heart, liver, and stomach, and
provoke venery.

Schomanth (which I touched slightly
amongst the herbs) provokes urine potently,
provokes the menses, breaks wind, helps
such as spit or vomit blood, eases pains of
the stomach, reins, and spleen, helps drop-
sies, convulsions, and inflammations of the
womb.

Lavender-bowers, resist all cold afflic-
tions of the brain, convulsions, falling-sick-
ness, they strengthen cold stomachs, and
open obstructions of the liver, they provoke
urine and the menses, bring forth the birth
and placenta.

Hops, open stoppings of the bowels,
and for that cause beer is better than ale.

Balm-flowers, cheer the heart and vital
spirits, strengthen the stomach.

Rosemary-flowers, strengthen the brain
exceedingly, and resist madness ; clear the
sight.

Winter-Gilliflowers, or Wall-flowers, help
'inflammation of the womb, provoke the
| menses, and help ulcers in the mouth.
{ Honey-suckles, provoke urine, ease the
j pains of the spleen, and such as can hardly
fetch their breath.

Mallows, help coughs.
Red Roses, cool, bind, strengthen both
vital and animal virtue, restore such as are
in consumptions, strengthen. There are
5 so many compositions of them which makes
; me more brief in the simples.

Violets, (to wit, the blue ones,) cool and

j moisten, provoke sleep, loosen the belly,

! resist fevers, help inflammations, correct

the heat of choler, ease the pains in the

head, help the roughness of the wind-pipe,

diseases in the throat, inflammations in the

breast and sides, plurisies, open stoppings

of the liver, and help the yellow jaundice.

Chicory, (or Succory as the vulgar call

it) cools and strengthens the liver, so doth

Endive.

fyaiev lilies ease pains of the head com-
ing of choler and heat, provoke sleep, cool
inflammations, and the hrat in fevers.

Pom f granule-flowers, dry and bind, stop
fluxes, and the menses.

Cowslips, strengthen the brain, sense*,
and memory,' exceedingly, resist all dis-
eases there, as convulsions, falling-sickness,
\ palsies, &c.

Ccntaury, purgescholerand grosshumours

* helps the yellow jaundice, opens obstruc-

i : tions of the liver, helps pains of the spleen,

provokes the menses, brings away birth

i and afterbirth.

i Elder flowers, help dropsies, cleanse the
blood, clear the skin, open stoppings of the
liver and spleen, and diseases arising there-
from.

Bean-flowers, clear the skin, stop humours
flowing into the eyes

Peach-tree flowers, purge choler gently
Broom-flowers, purge Avater, and are good
Jin dropsies.
3 s

2 JO

THE COMPLETE HERBAL

The temperature of all these differ either! Cloves, help digestion, stop looseness, pro-
very little or not at all from the herbs. i voke lust, and quicken the sight

The way of using the flowers I did for-; Pepper, binds, expels wind, helps the
bear, because most of them may, and arejcholic, quickens digestion oppressed with

usually made into conserves, of which you
may take the quantity of a nutmeg in the

cold, heats the stomach.

Quinces. See the Compositions.

morning; all of them may be kept dry a| Pears are grateful to the stomach, dry-
year, and boiled with other herbs conducing \ ing, and therefore help fluxes.

to the cures they do.

FRUITS AND THEIR BUDS.

All plums that are sharp or sour, are
binding, the sweet are loosening.

Cucumbers, cool the stomach, and are
good against ulcers in the bladder.

Galls, are exceeding binding, help ulcers
in the mouth, wasting of the gums, ease
the pains of the teeth, help the falling out
of the womb and fundament, make the

Green Figs, are held to be of ill juice, but
the best is, we are not much troubled with
them in England; dry figs help coughs,
cleanse the breast, and help infirmities of the \ hair black,
lungs, shortness of wind, they loose thej Pompiotis are a cold and moist fruit, of
belly, purge the reins, help inflammations $ small nourishment, they provoke urine,
of the liver and spleen ; outwardly they dis- \ outwardly applied ; the flesh of them helps
solve swellings. ! inflammations and burnings; applied to the

forehead they help inflammations of theeyes.
Melons, have few other virtues.
Apricots, are very grateful to the stomach,
and dry up the humours thereof. Peaches
are held to do the like.

Cubebs, are hot and dry-in the third de-

for weak stomachs, for they soon digest, and I gree, they expel wind, and cleanse the
breed good nourishment, they help infir- i stomach of tough and viscous humours, they
mities of the reins, bladder, and womb. lease the pains of the spleen, and help cold
Sebestens, cool choler, violent heat of the > diseases of the womb, they cleanse the head
stomach, help roughness of the tongue and i of flegm and strengthen the brain, they heat
wind-pipe, cool the reins and bladder. the stomach and provoke venery.

Pine-nuts, restore such as are in con-
sumptions, amend the failings of the lungs,
concoct flegm, and yet are nviught for such
as are troubled with the head-ache.

Dates, are binding, stop eating ulcers
being applied to them ; they are very good

Bitter Almonds, are hot in the first degree
and dry in the second, they cleanse and cut
thick humours, cleanse the lungs , and eaten
every morning, they are held to preserve
from drunkenness.

Raisins of the Sun, help infirmities of the
breast and liver, restore consumptions,
gently cleanse and 'move to stool.

Walnuts, kill worms, resist the pestilence-, i
(I mean the green ones, not the dry.)

Capers eaten before meals, provoke hun- \ Bay-berries, heat, expel wind, mitigate
gcr. | pain ; are excellent for cold infirmities of

Nutmegs^ strengthen the brain, stomach, | the womb, and dropsies,
and liver, provoke urine, ease the pains ofj Cherries, are of different qualities accord-
the spleen, stop looseness, ease pains of the | ing to their different taste, the sweet arc
head, and pains in the joints, strengthen the': quickest of digestion, but the sour arc more
body, take away weakness coining of cold,'| pleasing to a hot stomach, and procure
and cause a sweet breath. .j appetite to one's meat.

AND ENGLISH PHYSICIAN ENLARGED.

219

Medlars,are strengthening to the stomach, j confident a child of three years old, it' you
inding, and the green are more binding should give it Raisins of the sun or Cherries,

bind

than the rotten, and the dry than the green.

Olives, cool and bind.

English-currants, cool the stomach, and
are profitable in acute fevers, they quench
thirst, resist vomiting, cool the heat of

would not ask how it should take them.

SEEDS OR GRAINS.

choler, provoke appetite, and are good for | Coriander seed, hot and dry, expels wind,
hot complexions. | but is hurtful to the head ; sends up un-

Services, or Checkers are of the nature of! wholesome vapours to the brain, dangerous
Medlars, but something weaker in opera- 1 for mad people,
tion. Fern/greek seeds, are of a softening, dis-

Barbcrries, quench thirst, cool the heat | cussing nature, they cease inflammations,
of choler, resist the pestilence, stay vomiting | be they internal or external: bruised and
and fluxes, stop the menses, kill worms, j mixed with vinegar they ease the pains of
help spitting of blood, fasten the teeth, and ! the spleen : being applied to tl.e sides,

strengthen the gums.

Strawberries, cool the stomach, liver, and

help hardness and swellings of the matrix,
being boiled, the decoction helps scabby

blood, but are very hurtful for such as have I heads.

agues. j Lin-seed hath the same virtues with Fenu-

Winter-Cherries, potently provoke urine, j greek,
and break the stone. Gromwett seed, provokes urine, helps the

Cassia-fatula, is temperate in quality, ; cholic, breaks the stone, and expels wind,
gently purgeth choler and flegm, clarifies Boil them in white wine ; but bruise them
the blood, resists fevers, cleanses the breast first.

and lungs, it cools the reins, and thereby j Lupines, ease the pains of the spleen,
resists the breeding of the stone, it provokes ! kill worms and cast them out: outwardly,
urine, and therefore is exceeding good for j they cleanse filthy ulcers, and gangrenes,
the running of the reins in men, and the? help scabs, itch, and inflammations.
Fluor Albus in women. Dill seed, encreases milk in nurses, expels

All the sorts or Myrobalans, purge the { wind, stays vomitings, provokes urine ; yet
stomach; the Indian Myrobalans, are held j it dulls the sight, and is an enemy to genc-
to purge melancholy most especially, the j ration.

other flegm ; yet take heed you use them i Smallage seed, provokes urine and the
not in stoppings of the bowels : they are j menses, expels wind, resists poison, and

cold and dry, they all strengthen the heart,
brain, and sinews, strengthen the stomach,
relieve the senses, take away tremblings and

eases inward pains, it opens stoppings in
any part of the body, yet it is hurtful for
such as have the falling-sickness, and for

heart-qualms. They are seldom used alone, j pregnant women.

Prunes, are cooling and loosening. Rocket seed, provokes urine, stirs up lust,

Tamarinds, are cold and dry in the second \ encreases seed, kills worms, eases pains of
degree, they purge choler, cool the blood, | the spleen. Use all these in like manner,
stay vomiting, help the yellow jaundice, j Basil seed : If we may believe Diosco
quench thirst, cool hot stomachs, and hot \ rides and Crescentius, cheers the heart, and
livers. j strengthens a moist stomach, drives away

I omit the use of these also as resting * melancholy, and provokes urine.

250

THE COMPLETE HERBAL

Ntttle seed, provokes venery, opens stop-
pages of the womb, helps inflammations of
of the sides and lungs ; purgeth the breast:
boil them (being bruised) in white wine
also.

The seeds of Ammi, or Bishop' s-weed,
heat and dry, help difficulty of urine, and
the pains of the cholic, the bitings of venom-
ous beasts ; they provoke the menses, and
purge the womb.

jinnis seeds, heat and dry, ease pain, ex-
pel wind, cause a sweet breath, help the
dropsy, resist poison, breed milk, and stop
the Fluor Albus in women, provoke venery,
and ease the head-ache.

Cardamoms, heat, kill worms, cleanse the
reins, and provoke urine.

Fennel seed, breaks wind, provokes urine
and the menses, encreases milk in nurses.

Cummin seed, heat, bind, and dry, stop
blood, expel wind, ease pain, help the
bitings of venomous beast : outwardly ap-
plied (viz. in Plaisters) they are of a dis- j
cussing nature.

Carrot seeds, are windy, provoke lust ex-
ceedingly, and encrease seed, provoke urine
and the menses, cause speedy delivery to
women in travail, and bring away the
placenta. All these also may be boiled in
white wine.

Nigella seeds, boiled in oil, and the fore-
head anointed with it, ease pains in the
head, take away leprosy, itch, scurf, and
help scald heads : Inwardly taken they
expel worms, they provoke urine, and the
menses, help difficulty of breathing.

Stavesacre* kills lice in the head, I hold it
not fitting to be given inwardly.

Olibanum mixed with as much Barrow's
Grease (beat the Olibanum first in powder)
and boiled together, make an ointment
which Avill kill the lice in children's heads,
and such as are subject to breed them, wilji
never breed them. A Medicine cheap,
safe, and sure, which breeds no annoyance
to the brain.

The seeds of Water-cresses, heat, yet trou-
ble the stomach and belly ; ease the pains
of the spleen, are very dangerous for
pregnant women, yet they provoke lust-
outwardly applied, they help leprosies, scald
heads, and the falling off of hair, as also
carbuncles, and cold ulcers in the joints.

Mustard seed, heats, extenuates, and
draws moisture from the brain : the head
being shaved and anointed with Mustard,
is a good remedy for the lethargy, it helps
filthy ulcers, and hard swellings in the
mouth, it helps old aches coming of cold.

French Barley, is cooling, nourishing, and
breeds milk

Sorrel seeds, potently resist poison, help
fluxes, and such stomachs as loath their
meat.

Succory seed, cools the heat of the blood,
extinguishes lust, opens stoppings of the
liver and bowels, it allays the heat of the
body, and produces a good colour, it
strengthens the stomach, liver, and reins.

Poppy seeds, ease pain, provoke sleep.
Your besl way is* to make an emulsion of
them with barley Avater.

Mallow seeds, ease pains in the bladder.

Chich-pease, are windy, provoke lust, en-
crease milk in nurses, provoke the menses,
outwardly, they help scabs, itch, and in-
flammations of the testicles, ulcers, &c.

White Saxifrage seeds, provoke urine, ex-
pel wind, and break the stone. Boil them
in white wine.

Rue seeds, helps such as cannot hold
their water.

Lettice seed, cools the blood, restrains
venery.

Also Gourds, Citruls, Cucumbers, Melons,
Purslain, and Endive seeds, cool the blood,
as also the stomach, spleen, and reins, and
allay the heat of fevers. Use them as you
were taught to do poppy-seeds.

Wormseed, expels wind, kills worms.

Ash-tree Keys, ease pains in the sides,
help the dropsy, relieve men weary with

AND ENGLISH PHYSICIAN ENLARGED

251

labour, provoke vcnery, and make the body \ name you please, is a desperate purge, hurt-
lean. | ful to the body by reason of its heat, windi-
Piony seeds, help the Ephialtcs, or the j ness, corroding, or gnawing, and violence
disease the vulgar call the Mare, as also the j of working. I would advise my countrymen
fits of the mother, and other such like in-! to let it alone; it will gnaw their bodies as
lirmities of the womb, stop the menses, and I fast as doctors gnaw their purses,
help convulsions. Opopanax, is of a heating, molifying :

Broom seed, potently provoke urine, j digesting quality.

break the stone. Gum Elemi, is exceeding good for frac-

Citron seeds, strengthen the heart, cheer I tures of the skull, as also in wounds, and

the vital spirit, resist pestilence and poison, j therefore is put in plaisters for that end.

] See Arceus his Liniment.

Tragacanthum, commonly called Gum
Traganth, and Gum Dragon, helps coughs,
5 hoarseness, and distillations on the lungs,
mollifying} Bdellium, heats and softens, helps hard
the veins, j swellings, ruptures, pains in the sides, hard-
ness of the sinews.

TEARS, LIQUORS, AND ROZINS.

of a heating,
the mouth of

Laudanum,
nature, it opens

stays the hair from falling off, helps pains
in the ears, and hardness of the womb. It

used only outwardly in plaisters.

Galbanum. Hot and dry, discussing ;
applied to the womb, it hastens both birth

Assafcetida. Is commonly used to allay | and after-birth, applied to the navel it stays
the fits of the mother by smelling to it ; I the strangling of the womb, commonly
they say, inwardly taken, it provokes lust, \ called the fits of the mother, helps pains in
and expels wind. j the sides, and difficulty of breathing, being

Benzoin, or Benjamin, makes a good per- i applied to it, and the smell of it helps the

vertigo or dizincss in the head.

Myrh, heats and dries, opens and softens
the womb, provokes the birth and after-
birth ; inwardly taken, it helps old coughs
and hoarseness, pains in the sides, kills worms,

fume.

Sanguis Draconis, cools and binds exceed-
ingly.

Aloes, purges choler and flegm, and with
such deliberation that it is often given to

troubled with the hemorrhoids, or ' time,
agues. I do not like it taken raw. ) Mastich, strengthens the stomach exceed-

withstand the violence of other purges, it and helps a stinking breath, helps the wast-
preserves the senses and betters the appre- ! ing of the gums, fastens the teeth: outwardly
hension, it strengthens the liver, and helps j it helps wounds, and fills up ulcers with
the yellow-jaundice. Yet is naught for such } flesh. You may take half a dram at a
as are
have

Sec Aloe Rosata, which is nothing but it 1 ingly, helps such as vomit or spit blood, it
washed with the juice of roses. 1 fastens the teeth and strengthens the gums,

Manna, is temperately hot, of a mighty j being chewed in the mouth,
dilative quality, windy, cleanses choler | Frankinsense, and Olibanum, heat and
gently, also it cleanses the throat and i bind, fill up old ulcers with flesh, stop bleed-
stomach. A child may take an ounce of it ing, but is extremely bad for mad people,
at a time melted in milk, and the dross i Turpentine, Purges, cleanses the reins,
strained out, it is good for them when they 1 helps the running of them,
are scabby. Styrax Calamitis, helps coughs, and dis-

Scamony, or Diagridium, call it by which tillations upon the lungs, hoarseness, want

252 THE COMPLETE HERBAL

of voice, hardness of the womb, but it is |

bad for head-aches LIVING CREATURES.

Ammonicaum, applied to the side, helps \

the hardness and pains of the spleen. Millepedes (so called from ihe multitude

Camphire, eases pains of the head coining \ of their feet, though it cannot be supposed they

of heat, takes away inflammations, arid cools j have a thousand) sows, hog-lice, wood-lice,

any place to which it is applied. ^ being bruised and mired with wine, they pro-

I voke urine, help the yellow jaundice outwardly
{ being boiled in oil, help pains in the ears, a

\drop be-ins put into them.
rfi a t r. i

Lhe flesh of vipers being eaten, clear the

THAT all juices have the same virtues ; sight, help the vices of the nerves, resist poison
with the herbs or fruits whereof they are j exceedingly, neither is there any better remedy
made, I suppose few or none will deny, \under the sun for their bitings than the head
therefore I shall only name a few of them, $ of the viper that bit you, bruised and applied
and that briefly. \ to the place, and the flesh eaten, you need not

Sugar is held to be hot in the first degree, $ eat above a dram at a time, and make it up a?
strengthens the lungs, takes away the rough- i you shall be taught in troches of vipers. Neither
ness of the throat, succours the reins and j any comparable to the stinging of bees and
bladder. 1 wasps, $c. than the same that sting you,

The juice of Citrons cools the blood, ! bruised and applied to the place.
strengthens the heart, mitigates the violent Land Scorpions cure their own stingings 'y
heat of fevers. the same means ; the ashes of them (being

The juice of Lemons works the same ef- burnt) potently provokes urine, and breaks the
feet, but not so powerfully. \stone.

Juice of Liquorice, strengthens the lungs, j Earth-worms, are an admirable remedy for
helps coughs and colds. \ cut nerves being applied to the place ; they pro-

\ voke urine ; see the oil of them, only let me not
\forgp.t one notable thing quoted by Mizalclus,

THINGS BRED FROM PLANTS. M>A fo, ITtof the powder of them put into an

% hollow tooth, makes it drop out.

These have been treated of before, only two j To draw a tooth without pain,/// #72 earth-
exceptcd. The first of which is* \ en crucible full of Emmets, Ants, or Pismires,

Agaricus. Agarick : It purges flegm, \ eggs and all, and when you have burned them,
choler, and melancholy, from the brain, nerves, \ keep the ashes, with which if you touch a tooth
muscles, marrow, (or more properly brain) of\ it will fall out.

ihe back, it cleanses the breast, lungs, liver, \ Eels, being put into wine or beer, and suffered
stomach, spleen, reins, womb, joints; it provokes \ to die in it, he that drinks it will never endure
urine, and the menses, kills worms, helps pains \ that sort of liquor again.
in the joints, and causes a good colour: it is\ Oysters applied alive to a pestilential swelling,
very seldom or never taken alone. See Syrup
of Roses with Agarick.

draw the venom to them.

Crab-fish, burnt to ashes, and a dram of it

Lastly, Vicus Quircinus, or Misleto of the \ taken every morning helps the bitings of mad
Oak, helps the falling-sickness being either] dogs, and all other venomous beasts,
taken inwardly, or hung about one's neck. Swallows, being eaten, clear the sight, the

Cashes of them (being burnt) eaten, preserve

AND ENGLISH PHYSICIAN ENLARGED. 253

from drunkenness^ helps sore throats being ap- \ ter than Castoriurn, raw, to which I refer
plied to them, and inflammation*. \ you.

Grass-hoppers, being eaten^ ease the cholic, \ A Sheep's or Goat's bladder being burnt,
and pains in the. bladder. \ and the ashes given inwardly, helps the

Hedge Sparrows, being kept in salt, or dried \ Diabetes.

and eaten raw^ are an admirable remedy for \ A flayed Mouse dried and beaten into
the stone. \ powder, and given at a time, helps such as

Young Pigeons being eaten^ help pains in \ cannot hold their water, or have a Diabetes,
the reins, and the disease called Tenesmus. : if you do the like three days together.

Ivory, or Elephant's tooth, binds, stops

1 jthe Whites, it strengthens the heart and

; stomach, helps the yellow jaundice, and
P \RTS OF LIVING CREATURES, t makes women fruitful.

AND EXCREMENTS. Those small bones which- are found in

j the fore-feet of an Hare, being beaten into

THE brain of Sparrows being eaten, pro-j powder and drank in wine, powerfully pro-
vokes lust exceedingly. j voke urine.

The brain of an Hare being roasted, helps \ Goose grease, and Capons grease, are both
trembling, it makes children breed teeth | softening, help gnawing sores, stiffness of
easily, their gums being rubbed with it, it j the womb, and mitigate pain,
also helps scald heads, and falling off of j I am of opinion that the suet of a Goat
hair, the head being anointed with it. j mixed with a little saffron, is as excellent

The head of a young Kite, being burnt) an ointment for the gout, especially the
to ashes and the quantity of a drachm of it gout in the knees, as any is.
taken every morning in a little water, is an \ Bears grease stays the falling off of the
admirable remedy against the gout. j hair.

Crab-eyes break the stone, and open \ Fox grease helps pains in the ears,
stoppings of the bowels. j Elk's Clazvs or hoofs are a sovereign remedy

The lungs of a Fox, well dried, (but not j for the falling sickness, though it be but
burned) is an admirable strengthened toj worn in a ring, much more being taken in-
the lungs : see the Lohoch of Fox lungs. \ wardly ; but saith Mizaldus, it must be the

The liver of a Duck, stops fluxes, and I hoof of the right foot behind,
strengthens the liver exceedingly. Milk is an extreme windy meat ; there -

The liver of a Frog, being dried andj fore I am of the opinion of Dioscorides, viz.
eaten, helps quartan agues, or as the vulgar ! that it is not profitable in head-aches ; yet
call them, third-dot/ agues. | this is for certain, that it is an admirable

Castoreum resists poison, the bitings of j remedy for inward ulcers in any part of
venomous beasts ; it provokes the menses, j the body, or any corrosions, or excoriations,
and brings forth birth and after-birth; it? pains in the reins and bladder: but it is
expels wind, eases pains and aches, con-j very bad in diseases of the liver, spleen, the
vulsions, sighings, lethargies; the smell of j falling-sickness, vertigo, or dissiaesh in the
it allays the fits of the mother; inwardly J head, fevers and head-aches; Goat's milk
given, it helps tremblings, falling-sickness, \ is held to be better than Cow's for Hectic
and other such ill effects of the brain and ; fevers, phthisick, and consumptions, and
nerves: A scruple is enough to take at also is Ass's also,
time, and indeed spirit of Caslorium is bet- j Whey, attenuates and cleanses both cho-

254 THE COMPLETE HERBAL

lor and melancholy: wonderfully helps j the Fluor Albus, helps such as spit blood,
melancholy and madness coming of it; jit is an approved remedy for the falling
opens stoppings of the bowels ; helps such; sickness. Also if ten grains of red Coral
as have the dropsy and are troubled with !. be given to a child in a little breast-milk so
the stoppings of the spleen, rickets and ; soon as it is born, before it take any other

hypochondriac melancholy : for such dis-
eases you may make up your physic with

food, it will never have the falling-sickness,
nor convulsions. The common dose is

whey. Outwardly it cleanses the skin of j from ten grains to thirty,
such deformities as come through choler or 5 Pearls, are a wonderful strengthener to
melancholy, as scabs, itch, morphew, lepro- \ the heart, encrease milk in nurses, and
sies, &c. j amend it being naught, they restore such

Honey is of a gallant cleansing quality, j as are in consumptions ; both they and the
exceeding profitable in all inward ulcers in j red Coral preserve the body in health, and
what part of the body soever; it opens the | resist fevers. The dose is ten grains or
veins, cleanses the reins and bladder. I i. fewer; more, I suppose, because it is dear,
know no vices belonging to it, but only it 1 than because it would do harm,
is soon converted into choler. Amber, (-viz. yellow Amber) heats and

Wax, softens, heats, and meanly fills < dries, therefore prevails against moist dis-
sores with flesh, it, suffers not the milk to j eases of the head ; it helps violent coughs,
curdle in women's breasts ; inwardly it is ( helps consumption of the lungs, spitting of
given (ten grains at a time) against bloody- \ blood, the Fluor Albus ; it stops bleeding
fluxes. \ at the nose, helps difficulty of urine : You

Raw-silk, heats and dries, cheers the \ may take ten or twenty grains at a time,
heart, drives away sadness, comforts all the j The Froth of the Sea, it is hot and dry,
spirits, both natural, vital and animal ! helps scabs, itch, and leprosy, scald heads,

! &c. it cleanses the skin, helps difficulty of
) urine, makes the teeth white, being rubbed

'rr\ T'UT? <zv \ s with it, the head being washed with it, it.
1O IH-h orjA. f, , i * i i i

I helps baldness, and trimly decks the head

Sperma Cceti, is well applied outwardly to ) with hair,
eating ulcers, the marks which the small
pox leaves behind them; it clears the sight, 5

provokes sweat; inwardly it troubles the! METALS, MINERALS, AND
stomach and belly, helps bruises, and j STONES

stretching of the nerves, and tnerefore is 5
good for women newly delivered. GOLD is temperate in quality, it won-

Amber-grease, heats and dries, strengthens Iderfully strengthens the heart and vital

the brain and nerves exceedingly, if the
infirmity of them corne of cold, resists pes-

tilence.

, a man that hath the dropsy,
being set up to the middle in it, it draws
out all the water.

Red Coral, is cold, dry and binding,
stops the immoderate flowing of the menses,

J- - - - ^ _ , ? -_- J

bloody-fluxes, the running of the reins, and j animal spirit.

spirits, which one perceiving, very wittily
inserted these verses :

For Gold is cordial ; and that's the reason,
Your raking Misers live so long a season.

However, this is certain, in cordials, it
resists melancholy, faintings, owoonings,
fevers, failing-sickness, and all such like
infirmities, incident either to the vital o;-

AND ENGLISH PHYSICIAN ENLARGED.

256

Alum. Heats, binds, and purges ; scours i and consumptions, viz. taken inwardly; for
filthy ulcers, and fastens loose teeth. ! this stone is not used to be worn as a jewel;

Brimstone, or flower of brimstone, which j the powder of it put upon wounds made
is brimstone refined, and the better for \ by venomous beasts, draws out the poison,
physical uses ; helps coughs and rotten j Topaz (if Epiphanius spake truth) if you
flegm; outwardly in ointments it takes away j put it into boiling water, it doth so cool it
leprosies, scabs, and itch; inwardly it helps j that you may presently put your hands into
yellow jaundice, as also worms in the belly, I it without harm ; if so, then it cools in-
especially being mixed with a little Salt- \ flammations of the body by touching them,
pelre: it helps lethargies being snuffed up j Toadstone ; Being applied to the place
in the nose. \ helps the bitings of venomous beasts, and

Litharge, both of gold and silver; binds 5 quickly draws all the poison to it; it is
and dries much, fills up ulcers with flesh, I known to be a true one by this ; hold
and heals them. i it near to any toad, and she will make

Lead is of a cold dry earthly quality, of j proffer to take it away from you if it be
an healing nature; applied to the place it j right; else not. Lemnim.
helps any inflammation, and dries up \ Nephr-itichus lapis; helps pains in the

j stomach, and is of great force in breaking

humours.

Pompholix, cools, dries and binds.

Jacynth, strengthens the heart being
either beaten into powder, and taken in-
wardly, or only worn in a ring.

Sapphire, quickens the senses, helps such
as are bitten by venomous beasts, ulcers in
the bowels.

| and bringing away the stone and gravel.

Jasper; being worn, stops bleeding, eases
the labour in women, stops lust, resists
fevers and dropsies. Mathiohts.

Atites, or the stone with child, because
hollow in the middle, it contains
i another little stone within it, is found in an

being

Emerald ; called a chaste stone because ; Eagle's nest, and in many other places ;
it resists lust : being worn in a ring, it j this stone being bound to the left arm of
helps, or at least mitigates the falling sick- j women with child, stays their miscarriage
ness and vertigo; it strengthens the memory, j or abortion, but when the time of their
and stops the unruly passions of men. | labour comes, remove it from their arm,

Ruby (or carbuncle, if there be such a j and bind it to the inside of their thigh, and
stone) restrains lust; resists pestilence; takes it brings forth the child, and that (almost)

without any pain at all. Dioscorides, Flirty.
Lapis Lazuli, purges melancholy being
taken inwardly ; outwardly worn as a jewel,
it makes men cheerful, fortunate and rich.
And thus I end the stones, the virtues of
which if any think incredible, I answer ;

1. I quoted the authors where I had them.

2. I know nothing to the contrary but why
it may be as possible as the s*ound of a
trumpet is to incite a man to valour ; or a

rt-mi-i 1 1 * f TT 1 I'l'l

away idle and foolish thoughts, makes men
cheerful. Cardanus.

Granite. Strengthens the heart, but hurts
the brain, causes anger, takes away sleep.

Diamond, is reported to make him that
bears it unfortunate.

Amethist, being worn, makes men sober
and steady, keeps men from drunkenness and
too much sleep, it quickens the wit, is pro-
fitable in huntings and fightings, and repels
vapours from the head.

Bezoar, is a notable restorer of nature,
a great cordial, no way hurtful nor danger-
ous is admirably good in fevers, pestilences, j wise, venial.

3 u

fiddle to dancing : and if I have added a
few simples which the Colled ge left out,
I hope my fault is not much, or at a least-

250 THE COMPLETE HERBAL

A CATALOGUE OF SIMPLES

IN THE

NEW DISPENSATORY

ROOTS. \\Navew, Spiitenard, Celtic ana Indian, Water

^lilies, Rest-harrow, sharp pointed Dock,

College.] Sorrel, Calamus Aromaticus, I Peony, male and female, Parsnips, garden and
Water-flag, Privet, Garlick, Marsh-mallows, j wild, Cinquefoil, Butter-Bu", Parsley, Hog'i
Alcanet* Angelica, Anthora, Smallage, Aron, \ Fennel, Valerian, greater and lesser, Burnet,
Birth-wort long and round, Sowbread, Reeds, \ Land and Water Plantain, Polypodium of the
Asarabacca, Virginian Snakeweed, Swall- 1 Oak, Solomon's Seal, Leeks, Pellitory of Spain,
wort, Asparagus, Asphodel, male and female i\ Cinque/oil, Titrnips,Raddishes,gardenandwild,
Bin-docks great and small, Behen, or Bazil,\i Rhapontick, common Rhubarb, Monk's Rim-
Valerian, white and red. Daisies, Beets, \ barb, Rose Root, Madder Bruscns. Sopewort,
white, red, and black. Marsh-mallows, Bis- i Sarsaparilla, Satyrion, male andiemale, White
tort, Barrage, Briony, white and black, Bugloss, \ Saxifrage, Squills, Figwort, Scorzonera, Eng-
garden and wild. Calamus Aromaticus, Our \ lish and Spanish, Virginian Snake weed, Solo~
Lady's thistles, Avens, Coleworts, Centaury the \ mon's Seal, Cicers, stinking Gladon, Devil's bit,
less. Onions, Chameleon, white and black. \ Dandelion, Thapsus, Tormentil, Turbith, Cdt's-
Celandine, Pilewort. China, Succory, Arti- \foot, Valerian, greater and, lesser, Vervain,
chokes. Virginian Snakeroot, Comfry greater \ Swallow-wort, Nettles, Zedoary long and round,
and lesser Contra yerva, Costus, szi'cet and \ Ginger.

bitter. Turmerick, wild Cucumbers, Sowbread, \ Cnlpeper.~] These be the roots the col -
Hound' s-tongue, Cypres, long and round. \ lege hath named, and but only named, and
Toothwort, white Dittany, Doronicum, Dra- 1 in this order I have set them down. It
gons, Woody Nightshade, Vipers Bugloss, \ seems the college holds a strange opinion,
Smallage, Hellebore, ivhite. and black, Endive, \ viz. That it would do an Englishman a
Elicampane, Eringo, Colt's-foot, Fearn, male \ mischief to know what the herbs in his
and female, Filipendula or Drop-wort, Fennel, \ garden are good for.

white Dittany, Galanga, great and small, \ But my opinion is, that those herbs,
Gentian, Liquorice, Dog-grass, Hermodactils. \ roots, plants, &c. which grow near a man,
Swallow wort, Jacinth, Henbane, Jallap, | are far better and more congruous to his
Master-wort, Orris or Flower-de-luce, both \ nature than any outlandish rubbish what-
English and Florentine, sharp pointed Dock, \ soever, and this I am able to give a reason
Burdock greater and lesser, Lovage, Privet, j of to any that shall demand it of me, there-
white Lilies, Liquorice, Mallows, Mechoacan, \ fore I am so copious in handling of them,
Jallap, Spignel, Mercury, Devil's bit, sweet j you shall observe them ranked in this order.

AND ENGLISH PHYSICIAN ENLARGED.

257

1. The temperature of the roots, herbs, \
flowers, &c. viz. Hot, cold, dry, moist, \
together with the degree of each quality.

2. What part of the body each root, \
herb, flower, is appropriated to, viz. head, !
throat, breast, heart, stomach, liver, spleen, \
bowels, reins, bladder, womb, joints, and >
in those which heat those places, and |
which cool them.

3. The proper!}- of each simple, as they
bind, open, mollify, harden, extenuate, \
discuss, draw out, suppure, cleanse, gluti-i
nate, break wind, breed seed, provoke or \
stop the menses, resist poison, abate swell- 1
ings, ease pain.

This I intend shall be my general method j
throughout the simples, which, having!
finished I shall give you a paraphrase ex-i
plaining these terms, which rightly con- \
sidered, will be the key of Galen's way ofj
administering physic.

Temperature of the Roots.

Roots hot m the first degree. Marsh-mal-
lows, Bazil, Valerian, Spattling, Poppy,
Burdocks, Borrage, Bugloss, Calamus
Aromaticus, Avens, Pilewort, China, Self-
heal, Liquorice, Dog-grass, white Lilies,
Peony, male arid female, wild Parsnips,
Parsley, Valerian, great and small, Knee-
holly, Satyrion, Scorzonera, Skirrets.

Hot in the second degree. Water-fl ag,Reed s,
Swallow-wort, Asphodel, male, Carline
Thistle, Cypress, long and round, Fennel,
Lovage, Spignel, Mercury, Devil's oil, But-
ter Bur, Hog's Fennel, Sarsaparilla, Squils,
Zedoary.

Hot in the third degree. -Angelica, Aron,
Birthwort long and round, Sowbread,
Asarabacca, Briony, white and black, Sal-
lendine, Virgianian snakeroot, Hemeric,
White Dittany, Doronicum, Hellebore,
white and black, Elicampane, Fillipendula,
Galanga greater and lesser, Masterwort,
Orris English and Florentine, Restharrow,
stinking Gladen, Turbith, Ginger.

Hot in the fourth degree. Garlick, Onions,
Leeks, Pellitory of Spain.

Roots temperate in respect of heat, arc
Bear's breech, Sparagus, our Lady's Thistle,
Eringo, Jallap, Mallows, Mechoacan, gar-
den Parsnips, Cinq uefoil, Tormentil.

Roots cold in the first degree. Sorrel,
Beets, white and red, Comfrey the greater,
Plantain, Rose Root, Madder.

Cold inthe second degree. Alcanet, Daisies,
Succory, Hound's tongue, Endive, Jacinth.

Cold in the third degree. Bistort and
Mandrakes are cold in the third degree,
and Henbane in the fourth.

Roots dry in the first degree. Bears-breech,
Burdocks, Redbeets, Calamus Aromaticus,
Pilewort, Self-heal, Endive, Eringo, Jacinth,
Madder, Kneeholly.

Dry in the second degree. Waterflag,
Marshmallows, Alkanet, Smallage, Reeds,
Sorrel, Swallow-wort, Asphodel male, Bazil,
Valerian and Spatling Poppy, according to
the opinion of the Greeks. Our Lady's
Thistles, Avens, Succory, Hound's tongue
Cypress long and round, Fennel, Lovage,
Spignel, Mercury, Devil's bit, Butter-bur,
Parsley, Plantain, Zedoary.

Dry in the third degree. Angelica, Aron,
Birthwort, long and round, Sowbread, Bis-
tort, Asarabacca, Briony white and black,
Carline Thistle, China, Sallendine, Virginian
Snake-root, white Dittany, Doronicum,
Hellebore white and black, Elicampane,
Fillipendula, Galanga greater and lesser,
Masterwort, Orris, English and Florentine,
Restharrow, Peony male and female, Cin-
quefoil, Hog's Fennel, Sarsaparilla, stink-
ing Gladen, Tormentil, Ginger.

Dry in the fourth degree. Garlick, Onions,
Costus, Leeks, Pellitory of Spain.

Roots moist are, Bazil, Valerian, and
Spatling-poppy, according to the Arabian
Phj'sicians, Daisies, white Beets, Borrage,
Bugloss, Liquorice, Dog grass, Mallows,
Satyrion, Scorzonera, Parsnips, Skirrets.

250

THE COMPLETE HERBAL

Roots appropriated to several parts of the body, j

Heat the head. Doronicum, Fennel, i
Jallap, Mechoacan, Spikenard, Celtic and '
Indian. Peony male and female.

Neck and throat. Pilewort, Devil's bit.

Breast and lungs. Birthwort long and j
round, Elicampane, Liquorice, Orris Eng- 1
lish and Florentine, Calamus Aromaticus, j
Cinquefoil, Squills.

Heart. Angelica, Borrage, Bugloss,
Carline Thistle, Doronicum, Butter bur,
Scorzonera, Tormentil, Zedoary, Bazil,
Valerian white and red.

Stomach. Elicampane, Galanga greater:
and lesser, Spikenard, Celtic and Indian,
Ginger, Fennel, Avens, Raddishes.

Bowels. Valerian great and small,
Zedoary, Ginger.

Liver. Smallage, Carline Thistle, Sullen- j
dine, China, Turmerick, Fennel, Gentian, j
Dog-grass, Cinquefoil, Parsley, Smallage, I
Asparagus, Rhubarb, Rhapontic, Kneeholly . |

Spleen. Smallage, Carline Thistle, Fern j
male and female, Parsley, Water-flag,
Asparagus, round Birthwort, Fennel,Capers,
Ash, Gentian.

Reins and Bladder. Marshmallows, Small-
age, Asparagus, Burdock, Bazil, Valerian,
Spading Poppy, Carline Thistle, China,
Cyprus long and round, Fillipendula, Dog

fass, Spikenard, Celtic and Indian, Parsly, \
nee-holly, white Saxifrage.

Womb. Birthwort long and round, \
Galanga greater and lesser. Peony male!
and female, Hog's Fennel.

Fundament. Pilewort.

Joints. Bear's -breech, Hermodactils, 1
Jallap, Mecoacan, Ginger, Costus.

Roots cool the head. Rose root.

Stomach. Sow Thistles, Endive, Succory,
Bistort.

Liver Madder, Endive, Chicory.

Properties of the Roots.
Although I confess the properties of the 1

simples may be found out by the ensuing
explanation of the terms, and I suppose by
that means they were found out at first ;
and although I hate a lazy student from
my heart, yet to encourage young students
in the art, I shall quote the .chie of them :
I desire all lovers of physic to compare
them with the explanation of these rules,
so shall they see how they agree, so may
they be enabled to find out the properties
of all simples to their own benefit in physic

Roots, bind. Cypress, Bistort, Tormen-
til, Cinquefoil, Bear's breech, Water-flag,
Alkanet, Toothwort, &c.

Discuss. Birthwort, Asphodel, Briony,
Capers, &c.

Cleanse. Birthwort, Aron, Sparagus,
Grass, Asphodel, Celandine, &c.

Open. Asarabacca, Garlic, Leeks, Onions,
Rhapontick, Turmerick, Carline Thistle,
Succory, Endive, Fillipendula, Fennel,
Parsly, Bruscus, Sparagus, Smallage, Gen-
tian, &c.

Extenuate. Orris English and Floren-
tine, Capers, &c.

Burn. Garlick, Onions., Pellitory of
Spain, &c.

Mollify. Mallows, Marshmallows &c.

Suppur. Marshmallows, Briony, white
Lillies, c.

Glutinate. Comfrey, Solomon's Seal,
Gentian, Birthwort, Daisies, &c.

Expel Wind. Smallage, Parsly, Fennel,
Water-flag, Garlick, Costus, Galanga.
Hog's Fennel, Zedoary, Spikenard Indian,
and Celtic, &c.

Breed Seed. Waterflag, Eringo, Saty-
rian, Galanga, &c.

Provoke the menses. Birthwort Asara-
bacca, Aron, Waterflag, white Dittany,
Asphodel, Garlick, Centaury the less,
Cyperus long and round, Costus, Capers,
Calamus Aromaticus, Dittany of Crete,
Carrots, Eringo, Fennel, Parsly, Smallage,
Grass, Elicampane, Peony, Valerian, Knee-
holly, &c.

AND ENGLISH PHYSICIAN ENLARGED.

250

Stop the menses, Comfrey, Tormentil,
Bistort, &c.

Provoke sweat. Carolina Thistle, China,
Sarsaparilla, &c.

Resist poison. Angelica, Garlick, long
Birth wort, Smallage, Doronicum, Costus,
Zedoary, Cyprus, Gentian, Carolina This-
tle, Bistort, Tormentil, Swallow- wort, Viper's
Bugloss, Elicampane, &c.

Help burnings. Asphodel, Jacinth, white
Lilies, &c.

Ease pains. Waterflag, Eringo, Orris,
Restharrow, &c.

Purge choler. Asarabacca, Rhubarb,
Rhapontick, Fern, &c.

Relieve melancholy. Hellebore, white and
black, Polipodium.

Purge flegm and watery humours. Squills,
Turbith, Hermodactils, Jallap, Mecoacan,
wild Cucumbers, Sowbread, male Asphodel,
Briony white and black, Elder, Spurge
great and small.

I quoted some of these properties to
teach you the way how to find the rest,
which the explanation of these terms will
give you ample instructions in : I quoted
not all because I would fain have you
studious : be diligent gentle reader.

How to use your bodies in, and after
taking purges,you shall be taught by and by.

Barks mentioned by the College are these.

College.] Hazel Nuts, Oranges, Bar-
berries, Birch-tree, Caper roots, Cassia Lignea,
Chestnuts, Cinnamon, Citron Pills, Dwarf-
Elder, Spurgeroots, Alder, Ash, Pomegranates,
Guajacum, Walnut tree, green Walnuts, Laurel,
Bay, Lemon, Mace, Pomegranates, Man-
drake roots, Mezereon, Mulberry tree roots,
Sloe tree roots, Pinenuts, Fistick-nuts, Poplar
tree, Oak, Elder, Sassafras, Cork, Tamerisk,
Lime tree, Frankincense, Elm, Capt. Winter's
Cinnamon.

Culpeper.~] Of these, Captain Winter's
Cinnamon, being taken as ordinary spice,
or half a dram taken in the morning in any

convenient liquor, is an excellent remedy
for the scurvy; the powder of it being snuf-
fed up in the nose, cleanses the head of
rheum gallantly.

The bark of f.he black Alder tree purges
choler and flegm if you make a decoction
\ with it. Agrimony, Wormwood, Dodder,
i Hops, Endive and Succory roots : Parsly
j and Smallage roots, or you may bruise a
i handful of each of them, and put them in
: a gallon of ale, and let them work together:
i put the simples into a boulter-bag, and a
i draught, (half a pint, more or less, accord -
: ing to the age of him that drinks it,) being
{drunk every morning, helps the dropsy,
i jaundice, evil disposition of the body ; also
| helps the rickets, strengthens the liver and
| spleen ; makes the digestion good, troubles
| not the stomach at all, causes appetite, and
| helps such as are scabby and itchy.

The rest of the barks that are worth the
| noting, and the virtues of them, are to be
l found in the former part of the book.

Barks are hot in the Jirst degree. Guaja-
cum, Tamarisk, Oranges, Lemons, Citrons.
In the second. Cinnamon, Cassia, Lignea,
Captain Winter's Cinnamon, Frankincense,
\ Capers.

In the third. Mace.

Cold in the Jirst. Oak, Pomegranates.

In the third. Mandrakes.

Appropriated to parts of the body.
Heat the head. Captain Winter's Cinna-

mon.

The heart. Cinnamon, Cassia, Lignea,
Citron Pills, Walnuts, Lemon pills, Mace.

The stomach. Orange pills, Cassia Lig-
nea, Cinnamon, Citron pills, Lemon pills,
Mace, Sassafras.

The lungs. Cassia Lignea, Cinnamon,
Walnuts.

The liver. Barberry-tree, Bay-tree, Cap-
tain Winter's Cinnamon

The spleen. Caper bark, Ash tiee bark.
Bay tree.

a x

200

THE COMPLETE HERBAL

The reins and bladder. Bay-tree, Sassa-
fras.

The womb. Cassia Lignea, Cinnamon.

Cool the stomach. Pomegranate pills.

Purge choler. The bark of Barberry
tree.

Purge fiegm and water. Elder, Dwarf-
Elder, Spurge, Laurel.

WOODS.

College.] Firr, Wood of Aloes, 'Rhodium,
Brazil, Box, Willow, Cypress, Ebony, Guaja-
cum, Juniper, Lentisk, Nephriticum, Rhodium,
Rosemary, Sanders, white, yellow, and red,
Sassafras, Tamarisk

Of these some are hot. Wood of Aloes,
Rhodium, Box, Ebony, Guajacum, Neph-
riticum, Rosemary, Sassafras, Tamarisk.

Some cold. As Cypress, Willow, Sanders
white, red, and yellow.

Rosemary is appropriated to the head,
wood of Aloes to the heart and stomach,
Rhodium to the bowels and bladder, Nephri-
licum to the liver, spleen, reins and bladder,
Sassafras to the breast, stomach and bladder,
Tamarisk to the spleen, Sanders cools the
heart and spirits in fevers.

For the particular virtues of each, see
that part of the book preceding.

HERBS.

College.] Southernwood male and female.
Wormwood, common, Roman, and such as bear
Wormseed, Sorrel, wood Sorrel, Maiden-hair
common, white or wall Rue, black and golden
Maudlin, Agremony, Vervain, Mallow, Ladies
Mantle, Chickweed, Marshmallows, and Pim-
pernel both male and female, Water Pimpernel,
Dill, Angelica, Smallage, Goose-grass, or
Cleavers, Columbine, wild Tansie, or Silver
Weed, Mugwort, Asarabacca, Woodroofe,
Arach, Distaff" Thistle, Mousear, Costmary,

\ or Alcost, Burdock greater and lesser, Brook-
lime, or water Pimpernel, Beets white, red, and
black, Betony of the wood and water. Daises
\ greater and lesser, Blite, Mercury, Barrage,
j Oak of Jerusalem, Cabbages, Sodonella, Brionu
! white and black, Bugloss, Buglesse, Shepherd's
\ Purse, Ox-eye, Box leaves, Calaminth of the
' Mountains and Fens, Ground Pine, Wood-bine,
I or Honey-suckles, Lady-smocks, Marygolds,
\0ur Lady's Thistle, Carduus Benedictus,
lAvens, small Spurge, Horse-tail, Coleworts,
\ Centaury the less, Knotgrass, Cervil, Ger-
\ mander, Camomle, Chamepytis female Southern-
\wood, Chelene, Pilewort, Chicory, Hemlock,
\garden and sea Scurvy-grass, Fleawort, Com-
\fry great, middle, or bugle, least or Daisies,
Sarasens, Confound, Buck-horn, Plantain,
May weed, (or Margweed, as we in Sussex
call it) Orpine, Sampeer, Crosewort, Dodder,
\ Blue Bottle great and small, Artichokes,
\ Houndstone, Cypress leaves, Dandelion, Dit-
tany of Treet, Box leaves, Teazles garden and
'wild, Dwarff Elder, Viper's Bugloss, Lluellin,
; Smallage, Endive, Elecampane, Horsetail^
\ Epithimum, Groundsel, Hedge-mustard,
\ Spurge, Agrimony, Maudlin, Eye-bright,
| Orpine, Fennel, Sampeer, Fillipendida, Indian
\ leaf, Strawberry leaves, Ash tree leaves, Fumi-
\tory, Goat's Rue, Lady's Bedstraw, Broom,
? Muscatu, Herb Robert, Doves Foot, Cotton-
| weed, Hedge Hyssop, Tree Ivy, Ground Ivy,
\or Alehoof, Elecampane, Pellitory of the wall,
^Liver-wort, Cowslips, Rupture-wort, Hawk-
\weed, Monk's Rhubarb, Alexanders, Clary
\ garden and wild, Henbane, St. Johns-wort,
Horsetongue, or double tongue, Hysop, Sciatica
cresses, small Sengreen, Sharewort, Woad,
Reeds, Schtenanth, Chamepitys, Glasswort,
Lettice, Lagobus* Arch-angel, Burdock great
and small, Lavender, Laurel, Bay leaves,
English and Alexandrian, Duckweed, Dittan-
der, or Pepper-wort, Lovage, Privet, Sea bug-
loss, Toad fax, Harts-tongue, sweet Trefoil,
Wood-sorrel, Hops, Willow-herb, Marjoram,
\ common and tree Mallows, Mandrake, Hoi'e-
\ hound white and black, Herb Mastich, Fea-

AND ENGLISH PHYSICIAN ENLARGED. 261

therfew, Woodbine, Melilot, Bawm garden and \ golden Maiden-hair, Wood roof, Bugle,
water, Mints, Horse-mints, Mercury, Mezereon, * Goat's Rue, Hart's-tongue, sweet Trefoil,
Yarrow, Devil's-bit, Moss, sweet Chivil, Mir- \ Flixweed, Cinquefoil, Trefoil, Paul's Bet-
tle leaves, Garden and water Cresses, Nep, j tony, Lluellin.

Tobacco, Money-wort, Water Lilies, Bazil, \ Intemperate and hot in the first degree, are
Olive Leaves, Rest-harrow, Adder's Tongue, \ Agrimony, Marsh-mallows, Goose-grass or
Origanum, sharp-pointed Dock, Poppy, white, \ Cleavers, Distaff Thistle, Borrage, Bugloss,
black, and red, or Erratick, Pellitory of the ' or Lady's Thistles, Avens, Cetrach, Chervil,
Wall, Cinquefoil, Ars-smart spotted and noti Chamomel, Eyebright, Cowslips, Melilot,
spotted, Peach Leaves, Thoroughwax, Parsley, \ Bazil, Self-heal.

Hart's Tongue, Valeriak, Mouse-ear, Burnet, ! In the second. Common and Roman
small Spurge, Plantain common and narrowl Wormwood, Maudlin, Lady's Mantle,
leaved, Mountain and Cretick Poley, Knot-\ Pimpernel male and female, Dill, Smallage,
grass, Golden Maidenhair, Poplar leaves and \ Mugwort, Costmary, Belony, Oak of Jeru-
buds, Leeks, Purslain, Silverweed, or wild\salem, Marigold, Cuckooflowers, Carcluus
Tansy, Horehound white and black, Primroses, \ Benedictus, Centaury the less, Chamepitys,
Self-heal, Field Pellitory, or Sneezewort, Penny- j Scurvy -grass, Indian Leaf, Broom, Ale-
royal, Fleabane, Lungwort, Winter-green, \ hoof,Alexanders,Double-tongue,orTongue-
Oak leaves and buds, Docks, common rue, ; blade, Archangel, or dead Nettles, Bay
Wall Rue or white Maidenhair, wild Rue, j Leaves, Marjoram, Horehound, Bawm,
Savin, Osier Leaves, Garden Sage the greater j Mercury, Devil's-bit, Tobacco, Parsley,
and lesser, Wild Sage, Elder leaves and buds, \ Poley mountain, Rosemary, Sage, Sanicle,
Marjorum, Burnet, Sanicle, Sopcwort, Savory, | Scabious, Senna, Soldanella, Tansy, Ycr-
White Saxifrage, Scabious, Chicory, Schcenanth, \ vain, Perewinkle.

Clary, Scordium, Figwort, Houseleek, or\ In the third degree. Southernwood ni.\[e
Sengreen the greater and lesser, Groundsel, \ and female, Brooklime, Angelica, Briony
Senna leaves and pods, Mother of Time, Sb/o- ; white and black, Calami nth, Germander,
mon's Seal, Alexanders, Nightshade, Soldo- j Sullendine, Pilewort, Fleabane, Dwarf
nela, Sow-thistles, smooth and rough, Flix- j Elder, Epithimun, Bank-cresses, Clary,
weed, common Spike, Spinach, Hawthorn,* Glasswor I, Lavender, Lovage, Herb Mas-
Devil's-bit, Comfry, Tamarisk leaves, Tansy, \ tich, Featherfew, Mints, Water-cresses,
Dandelyon, Mullen or Higcaper, Time, Lime \ Origanum, biting Arsmart, called in Lalin
tree leaves, Spurge, Tormentil, common and\ Hydropiper, (the college confounds this
golden Trefoil, Wood-sorrel, sweet Trefoil, * with Persicaria, or mild Arsmart, which is
Colt's-foot, Valerian, Mullen, Vervain, Paul's. \ cold (Sneezewort, Pennyroyal, Rue, Savin,
Bettony, Lluellin, Violets, Tansy, Perewinkles, \ Mimmer and winter Savory, Mother o;'
Swallou'-rcort, golden. Rod, Vine leaves, Mead- {Time, Lavender, Spike, Time, Nettles.
sweet, Elm leaves, Naval-wort, Nettles, com- \ In the fourth degree. Sciatica-cresses,
won and Roman, Archangel, or dead Nettles, \ Stone-crop, Dittany, or Pepper-wort, gar-
white and red. j den-cresses, Leeks, Crowfoot, Rosa Solis,

Culpeper. These be the herbs as the ; Spurge.

college set clown to look upon, we will ! Herbs cold in the first degree. Sorrel,
see if we can translate them in another * Wood-sorrel, Arach, Burdock, Shepherd's-
form to the benefit of the body of man. j puvse, Pellitory of the wall, Hawk-weed,

Herbs temperate in respect of heat, are ; Mallows, Yarrow, mild Arsmart, called
common Maiden-hair, Wall-rue, bla^k and | Persicaria, Burnet, Coltsfoot, Violets,

262

THE COMPLETE HERBAL

Cold in the second degree. Chickweed,! In the fourth degree. Garden-cresses,
wild Tansy, or Silverweed, Daisies, Knot- \ wild Rue, Leeks, Onions, Crowfoot, Rosa
grass, Succory, Buck-horn, Plantain, Dan- Solis, Garlic, Spurge,
delyon, Endive, Fumitory, Strawberry j Herbs moist in the Jirst degree. Borrage,
leaves, Lettice, Duck-meat, Plantain, Pur- ! Bugloss, Marigolds, Pellitory of the wall,
slain, Willow leaves. 1 Mallows, Bazil.

In the third degree. Sengreen, or House- 1 In the fourth degree. Chickweed, Arach,
leek, Nightshade. ? Daisies, Lettice, Duckmeat, Purslain, Sow

In the fourth degree. Hemlock, Henbane, [Thistles, Violets, Water-lilies.

Mandrakes, Poppies. I rr ? j t * - t f*i. i _?

u i j ft, * j A 5 Herbs appropriated to certain parts or the body

Herbs dry in thejirst degree. Agrimony, \ /

Marsh-mallows, Cleavers, Burdocks, Shep- j

herds-purse, our Lady's Thistle, Chervil, \ Heat the head. Maudlin, Costmary,
Chamomel, Eye-bright, Cowslips, Hawk- j Betony, Carduus Benedictus, Sullendine,
weed, Tongue-blade, or double tongue, j Scurvy -grass. Eye-bright, Goat's Rue,
Melilot, mild Arsmart, Self-heal, Senna, j Cowslips, Lavender, Laurel, Lovage, herb
Flixweed, Coltsfoot, Perewinkle. I Mastich, Feather-few, Melilot, Sneezewort,

Dry in the second degree. Common and Penny-royal, Senna, Mother of Time,
Roman Wormwood, Sorrel, Wood-sorrel,
Maudlin, Lady's mantle, Pimpernel male
and female, Dill, Smallage, wild Tansy,
or Silverweed, Mugwort, Distaff Thistle,
Costmary, Betony, Bugle, Cuckooflowers,
Carduus Benedictus, Avens, Centaury the
less, Chicory, commonly called Succory,
Scurvy-grass, Buckhorn, Plantain, Dande-
lyon, Endive, Indian Leaf, Strawberry
leaves, Fumitory, Broom, Alehoof, Alex-
anders, Archangel, or Dead Nettles, white

Vervain, Rosemary.

Heat the throat. Archangel white and
red, otherwise called dead Nettles, Devil's-
bit.

Heat the breast. Maiden-hair, white,
black, common and golden, Distaff Thistle,
Time, Betony, Calaminth, Chamomel,
Fennel, Indian-leaf, Bay leaves, Hyssop,
Bawm, Horehound, Oak of Jerusalem, Ger-
mander, Melilot, Origanum, Rue, Sabious,
Periwinkles, Nettles.

Heat the heart. Southernwood male and
female, Angelica, Wood-roof, Bugloss,
Carduus Benedictus, Borrage, Goat's Rue,
Senna, Bazil, Rosemary, Elecampane.

Heat the stomach. Wormwood common
and Roman, Smallage, Avens, Indian leaf,
Broom, Schenanth, Bay leaves, Bawm,

and red, Bay Leaves, Marjoram, Feather-
few, Bawm, Mercury, Devil's-bit, Tobacco,
Parsley, Burnet, Plantain, Rosemary, Wil- ;
low Leaves, Sage, Santicle, Scabious, Sol-
danella, Vervain.

Dry in the third degree. Southernwood,
male and female, Brooklime, Angelica, i

Briony, white and black, Calamint, Ger- 1 Mints, Parsley, Fennel, Time, Mother of
mander, Chamepitys, Selandine, Pilewort, {Time, Sage.

Fleabane, Epithinum, Dwarf-Elder, Bank j Heat the liver. Agrimony, Maudlin,
cresses, Clary, Glasswort, Lavender, Lovage i Pimpernel, male and female, Smallage,
Horehound, Herb Mastic, Mints, Water- i Costmary, or Ale cost, our Lady's Thistles,
cresses, Origanum, Cinquefoil, hot Arsmart, i Centaury the less, Germander, Chamepytis,
Poley mountain, Sneezewort, Penny-royal, i Selandine, Sampier, Fox Gloves, Ash-tree
Rue, or herb of Grace, Savin winter and i; leaves, Bay leaves, Toad-flax, Hops, Hore-
summer Savory, Mother of Time, Laven- j hound, Water-cresses, Parsley, Polev

der, Silk, Tansy, Time, Trefoil.

Mountain, Sage, Scordium, Senna, Mother

AND ENGLISH PHYSICIAN ENLARGED.

263

of Time, Solclanella, Asarabacca, Fennel, \ Strawberry leaves, and Water-Lilies.
Hyssop, Spikenard. Stai/iach. Sorrel, Wood sorrel, Succory,

Heat the bowels.
Alexanders.

Heat the spleen.

Chamomel, Alehoofe, ;
All the four sorts ol'j

laury the less, Cetrach, Germander, Chame- \
pitys, Samphire, Fox-glove, Epithimum, ;
Ash-tree, Bay leaves, Toad-flax, Hops, !

Orpine, Dandelyon, Endive, Strawberry
leaves, Hawkweed, Lettice, Purslain, Sow
Thistles, Violet leaves.

Maiden-hair, Agrimony, Smallage, Cen- < Liver. Sorrel, Woodsorrel, Dandelyon,

Endive, Succory, Strawberry leaves, Fumi-
tory, Liverwort, Lettice, Purslain, Night-
shade, Water Lilies.

Horehound, Parsley, Poley, Mountain Sage, | Bowels. Fumitory, Mallows, Buckthorn,
Scordium, Senna, Mother ofTime,Tamarisk, I Plantain, Orpine, Plantain, Burnet.
Wormwood, Water-cresses, Hart's-tongue. j Spleen. Fumitory, Endive, Succory,

Heat the reins and bladder. Agrimony, j Lettice.

Maudlin, Marsh-mallows, Pimpernel male j Reins and bladder. Knotgrass, Mallows,
and female, Brooklime, Costmary, Bettony, J Yarrow, Moneywort, Plantain, Endive,
Chervil, Germander, Chamomel, Samphire, j Succory, Lettice, Purslain, Water Lilies,
Broom, Rupture-wort, Clary, Schenanth, | Houseleek or Sengreen.
Bay-leaves, Toad-flax, Hops, Melilot, j The womb. Wild Tansy, Arrach, Bur-
Water-cresses, Origanum, Pennyroyal, j docks, Willow herb, Mirtle leaves, Money-
Scordium, Vervain, Mother of Time, Rocket, | wort, Purslain, Sow Thistles, Endive,
Spikenard, Saxifrage, Nettles. { Succory, Lettice, Water Lilies, Sengreen.

Heat the womb. Maudlin, Angelica, j The joints. Willow leaves, Vine leaves,
Mugwort, Costmary, Calaminth, Flea-bane, j Lettice, Henbane, Nightshade, Sengreen or
May-weed, Ormarg-weed, Dittany of Crete, i Houseleek.
Schenanth, Arch-angel or Dead Nettles, I TT , ,. . ,.

Melilot, Feather-few, Mints, Devil's-bit, Herbs altenn S according to property, m ope-
Origanum, Bazil, Pennyroyal, Savin, ration, some bind, as

Sage, Scordium, Tansy, Time, Vervain, j Amomus, Agnus Castus, Shepherd's
Periwinkles, Nettles. \ purse, Cypress, Horsetail, Ivy, Bay leaves,

Heat the joints. Cowslips, Sciatica-cresses, j Melilot, Bawm, Mirtles, Sorrel, Plantain,
hot Arsmart, Garden-cresses, Costmary, j Knot-grass, Com fry, Cinquefoil, Fleawort,
Agrimony, Chamomel, Saint John's-wort, Purslain, Oak leaves, Willow leaves, Sen-

Melilot, Water-cresses, Rosemary, Rue,

Sage Stechas.
Herbs cooling

the head. Wood-sorrel,

Teazles, Lettice, Plantain, Willow-leaves,
Sengreen or Houseleek, Strawberry-leaves,
Violet-leaves, Fumitory, Water Lilies.

green or Houseleek, &c.

Open, as, Garlick, Onions, Wormwood.
Mallows,' Marsh-mallows, Pellitory of the
Wall, Endive, Succory, &c.

Soften. Mallows, Marsh-mallows, Beets,
Pellitory of the Wall, Violet leaves, Straw-

Cool the throat. Orpine, Strawberry \ berry leaves, Arrach, Cypress leaves, Bay
leaves, Privet, Bramble leaves. > leaves, Fleawort, &c.

Breast. Mulberry leaves, Bramble i Harden. Purslain, Nightshade, Houses
leaves, Violet leaves, Strawberry leaves, \ leek or Sengreen, Duckmeat, and most
Sorrel, Wood-sorrel, Poppies, Orpine, j other herbs that are very cold.
Moneywort, Plantain, Colt's-foot. Extenuate. Mugwort, Chamomel, Hysop,

Heart. Sorrel, Wood sorrel, Viper's j Pennyroyal, Stoechas, Time, MotherofTime,
Bugloss, Lettice, Burnet, Violet leaves, t Juniper, &c.

' 3 Y

264

THE COMPLETE HERBAL

Discuss. Southernwood male and female, j St. John's Wort, Marjoram, Horehound
all the four sorts of Maidenhair, Marsh- > Bawrn, Water-cresses, Origanum, Bazi,
mallows, Dill, Mallows, Arrach, Beets, {Pennyroy al,Poley mountain, Parsley ,Small-

Chamomel, Mints, Melilot, Pelitory of the
Wall,Chickweed, Rue, Stoechas, Marjoram.
Draw. Pimpernel, Birthworl, Dittany,
Leeks, Onions, Garlick, and also take this
general rule, as all cold things bind and

age, Rue, Rosemary, Sage, Savin, Harlwort,
Time, Mother of Time, Scordium, Nettles.
Stop the terms. Shepherd's purse, Straw-
berries, Mirtles, Water Lilies, Plantain,
Houseleek or Sengreen, Comfry, Knotgrass.

harden, so all things very hot are drying. | Resist poison. Southernwood, Worm-
Suppure. Mallows, Marsh-mallows, White j wood, Garlick, all sorts of Maiden hair,
Lily leaves, &c. | Smallage, Bettony, Carduus Benedictus,

Cleanse. Pimpernel, Southernwood, j Germander, Calaminth, Alexanders, Car-
Sparagus, Cetrach, Arrach, Wormwood, nine Thistle, Agrimony, Fennel, Juniper,
Beet, Pelhtory of the Wall, Chamepitis, j Horehound, Origanum, Pennyroyal, Poley-
Dodder, Liverwort, Horehound, Willow j mountain, Rue, Scordium, Plantain,
leaves, &c. Discuss swellings. Maiden-hair, Cleavers,

Glntinate Marsh-mallows, Pimpernel,
Centaury, Chamepitis, Mallows, Germander,

or Goosegrass, Mallows, Marsh-mallows,
Docks, Bawm, Water-cresses, Cinquefbil,

Horsetail, Agrimony, Maudlin, Strawberry ! Scordium, &c.
leaves, Woad-chervil, Plantain, Cinquefoil, s Ease pain. Dil, Wormwood, Arach,
Comfry, Bugle, Self-heal, Woundwort, ! Chamomel, Csilaminth, Chamepitis, Hcn-
Tormentil, Rupture-wort, Knot-grass, bane, Hops, Hog's Fennel, Parsley, Rose-
Tobacco, i mary, Rue, Marjoram, Mother of Time.

Expel wind. Wormwood, Garlick, Dill,
Smallage, Chamomel, Epithimum, Fennel,

Juniper, Marjoram, Origanum, Savory both! Choler. Groundsel, Hops, Peach leaves,
winterand summer. Tansy isgood to cleanse j Wormwood, Centaury, Mallows, Senna,
the stomach and bowels of rough viscous j Melancholy. Ox-eye, Epithimum, Fumi-
flegm, and humours that stick to them, j tory, Senna, Dodder.

Herbs Purging.

which the flegmatic constitution of thei
winter usually infects the body of man with,

Flegm and water. Briony, white and
black, Spurge, both work most violently

and occasions gouts and other diseases of j and are not fit for a vulgar use, Dwarf
like nature and lasting long. This was the j Elder, Hedge Hyssop, Laurel leaves, Mer-
original of that custom to eat Tansys in thescury, Mezereon also purges violently, and

* 111 i i * lil f T^ 11 1 O

spring ; the herb may be made into a con-
serve with sugar, or boil it in wine and drink
the decoction, or make the juice into a syrup
with sugar, which you will.

so doth Sneezewort, Elder leaves, Senna.

For the particular operations of these, as
also how to order the body aftei purges, the
quantity to be taken at a time, vou have

T- - ^ -m * - ,

Herbs breed seed. Clary, Rocket, and j been in part instructed already, and shall
most herbs that are hot and moist, an d\ be more fully hereafter,
breed wind.

Provoke the terms. Southernwood, Gar-j
lick, all the sorts of Maiden hair, Mugwort, j
Wormwood, Bishops-weed, Cabbages, Bet- 1
tony, Centaury, Chamomel, Calaminth, j College.]
Germander, Dodder, Dittany, Fennel, * Amaranthus,

FLOWERS.

Wormwood, Agnus
Dill, Rosemary, Columbines,

AND ENGLISH PHYSICIAN ENLARGED.

2C5

Orrenges, Balaustins, or Pomegranate Flowers, j Epithimum, Winter-gilliflowers, or Wall-
Bettony, Barrage, Bugloss, Marigolds, Wood- : flowers, Woodbine, or Honey-suckles.

Cold in the first degree. Mallows, Roses
red, white, and damask Violets.

bine or Honey -suckles, Clove Gilliflowers, Cen-
taury the /ess, Chamomel, Winter Gilliflowers,
Succory, Comfry the greater, Saffron, Blue-
bottle great and small^ (Synosbatus, Tragus,
and Dedonaeus hold our white thorn to be it, ;

In the second. Anemora, or Wind-flower,
Endive, Succory, Water-lilies, both white
and yellow.

Balaustins, or Pomegranate

Cordus and Marcelus think it to be Bryars, \ In the third.

Lugdunensis takes it for the sweet Bryar, : flowers.

but what our College takes it for, I know not) j In the fourth. Henbane, and all the sorts

Fiitinue (T>;r>c/-nrirlf. mil* thp flnnw'v nf tfjp j of Poppies, only whereas authors say, field

Poppies, which some call red, others erratick
and corn Roses, are the coldest of all the
others ; yet my opinion is, that they are

Cytinus, (Dioscorides calls the fiowers of the
Manured Pomegranates, Cytinus, but Pliny
calls thejlowers of the wild kind by that name,)
Fox-glove, Viper s Bugloss, Rocket, Eye-

bright, Beans, Fumitory, Broom, Cowslips, \ not cold in the fourth degree.

St. John's Wort, Hysop, Jessamine or Shrub, \ Moist in the fast degree. Borrage, Bug-

Trefoil, Archangel, or Dead Nettles white**" * s ~ u c T?~J

and red, Lavender, Wall-flowers, or Winter-

Gilliflowers, Privet, Lilies white, and of the '

valley, Hops, Common and tree Mallows, \ Chamomel, Melilot, Roses.

Feather-few, Woodbine, or Honey -suckles, \ In the second. Wind-flower, Amomus,

Melilot, Bawm, Walnuts, Water-Lilies white \ Clove-gilliflowers, Rocket, Lavender, Hops,

and yellow, Origanum, Poppies white and red, \ Peony, Rosemary, Spikenard.

or Erraticks, Poppies, or corn Roses, so called ii In the third. Woodbine, or Honey-

loss, Mallows, Succory, Endive.
In the second. Water-lilies, Violets.
Dry in the first degree. Ox-eye, Saffron,

because they grow amongst Corn, Peony,
Honey-suckles, or Woodbine, Peach-flowers, :
Primroses, Self-heal,

suckles, Balaustines, Epithimum, German-
der, Chamepitis.

The temperature of any other flowers not

Sloebush, Rosemary i

fiowers, Roses, white, damask and red, Sage, \ here mentioned are of the same temperature
Elder, white Saxifrage, Scabious, Siligo, f/jwith the herbs, you may gain skill bj
think they mean wheat by it, Authors are not* searching there for them, you can loose

agreed

none.

For the parts of the body, they are appropriated
to, some heat

about it) Steches, Tamarisk, Tansy,
Mullen or Higtaper. Limetree, Clove Gilli-
flowers, Colt's-foot, Violets, Agnus Castus,
Dead Nettles white and red.

Culpeper.~] That these may be a little \ The head; as, Rosemary flowers, Self-
explained for the public good: be pleased $ heal, Chamomel, Bettony, Cowslips, Laven-
*~ *"'- * : ~~ - der, Melilot, Peony, Sage, Stoechas.

to take notice

Some are hot in the first degree, as Borrage,
Bugloss, Bettony, Ox-eye, Melilot, Cha-
momel, Stoechas.

Hot in the second degree. Amomus, Saf-
fron, Clove-gilliflowers, Rocket, Bawm,|
Spikenard, Hops, Schenanth,
Jasmine, Rosemary.

The breast. Bettony, Bawm, Scabious,
Schoenanth.

The heart. Bawm, Rosemary flowers,
Borrage, Bugloss, Saffron, Spikenard.
~, , , The stomach. Rosemary-flowers, Spike-
Lavender, \ nard, Schoenanth.

The liver. Centaur y, Schaenanth, Elder,
In th* third degree. Agnus Castus, 1 Bettony, Chamomel, Spikenard.

26G THE COMPLETE HERBAL

The spleen. Bettonj', Wall-flowers. Flowers purge choler. Peach flowers

The reins and bladder. Bettony, Marsh j Damask Roses, Violets,
mallows, Melilol, Schoenanth, Spikenard. Flegm. Broom flowers, Elder flowers.

The womb. Bettony, Squinanth or Sche- } If you compare but the quality of the
nanth, Sage, Orris or Elower-de-luce. j flowers with the herbs, and with the exphv-

The joints. Rosemary-flowers, Cowslips, 1 nation of these terms at the latter end, you
Chamomel, Melilot. i may easily find the temperature and pro-

Flowers, as they are cooling, so they cool \ pe 7 1 the rest ; ^

J The flowers of Ox-eye being boiled into

The head. Violets, Roses, the three sorts j a poultice with a little barley meal, takeaway
of Poppies, and Water-lilies. j swellings and hardness of the flesh, being

The breast and heart. Violets, Red Roses, i applied warm to the place.

Water-lilies. Chamomel flowers heat, discuss, loosen

The stomach. Red Roses, Violets. j and rarify, boiled in Clysters, they are ex-

The liver and spleen. Endive, and Succory J cellent in the wind cholic, boiled in wine,

Violets, Borrage, and Bugloss, moisten j and the decoction drunk, purges the reins,

the heart, Rosemary-flowers, Bawm and I break the stone, opens the pores, cast out

Bettony, dry it. j choleric humours, succours the heart, and

,- ,. , J eases pains and aches, or stiffness comin 2

According to property, so they bind, \ by travelling>

Balaustins, Saffron, Succory, Endive,? The flowers of Rocket used outwardly,
red-roses, Melilot, Bawm ,Clove-gilliflowers, j discuss swellings, and dissolve hard tumors,
Agnus Castus. j you may boil them into a poultice, but in-

Discuss. Dill, Chamomel, Marsh-mallows, Iwardly taken they send but unwholesome
Mallows, Melilot, Stoechas, &c. i vapours up to the head.

Cleanse. Damask-roses, Elder flowers, : Hops open obstructions of the bowels,
Bean flowers, &c. j liver, and spleen, they cleanse, the body of

Extenuate. Orris, or Flower-de-luce, I choler and flegm, provoke urine.
Chamomel, Melilot, Stcechas, &c. Jasmine flowers boiled in oil, and the

Mollify. Saffron, white Lilies, Mallows, 1 grieved place bathed with it, takes awaj
Marsh-mallows, &c. ; cramps and stitches in the sides.

Suppure. Saffron, white Lilies, &c.

Glutinate. Balaustines, Centaury, &c.

Provoke the terms. Bettony, Centaury,
Chamomel, Schcenanth, Wall-flowers, Bawm
Peony, Rosemary, Sage.

The flowers of Woodbine, or Honey-
suckles, being dryed and beaten into pow-
der, and a dram taken in white wine in the
morning, helps the rickets, difficulty of
breathing ; provoke urine, and help the

Stop the terms. Balaustines, or Pome- j stranguary.
granate flowers, Water Lilies. The flowers of Mallows being bruised and

Expel wind. Dill, Chamomel, Schcenanth, j boiled in honey (two ounces of the flowers
Spikenard. I is sufficient for a pound of honey; and

Help burnings. White Lilies, Mallows, j having first clarified the honey before you

put them in) then strained out ; this honey

Marsh-mallows.

Resist poison. Bettony, Centaury.

Ease pain. Dili, Chamomel, Centaury,
Melilot, Rosemary.

taken with a liquorice stick, is an excellent
remedy for Coughs, Asthmas, and con-
sumptions of the lungs.

AND ENGLISH PHYSICIAN ENLARGED. 267

| Capers, Nutmegs, dry Walnuts, dry Haztl
\ Nuts, Fistick Nuts.

FRUITS. In the third degree. Juniper Berries.

t Cloves, Carpobalsamum, Cubebs, Anacar-
College.] Winter-cherries, Lace Apples, i dium, bitter Almonds.

Almonds sweet and bitter, Anacardia, Oranges, j In the fourth degree. Pepper, white, black
Hazel Nuts, the oily Nut Ben, Barberries, \ and long, Guinny Pepper.

Capers, Guinny Pepper, Figs, Carpobalsamum, \
Cloves, Cassia Fistula, Chestnuts, Cherries '
black and red, Cicers, white, black and red,

Cold in the Jirst degree. The flesh of
Citrons, Quinces, Pears, Prunes, &c.

In the second. Gourds, Cucumbers,

Pome Citrons, Coculus Indi, Coloci/nthis, Cur- \ Melons, Pompions, Oranges, Lemons,

rants, Cornels or Cornelian Cherries, Cubebs, \ Citrons, Pomegranates, riz. the juice of

Cucumbers garden and mid, Gourds, Cynos- \ them, Peaches, Prunes, Galls, Apples.

batus, Cypress, Cones, Quinces, Dales, Dwarf- \ In the third. Mandrakes.

Elder, Green Figs, Strawberries, common and \ In the fourth. Stramonium.

Turkey Galls, Acorns, Acorn Citps, Pome- \ Moist in the Jirst degree. The flesh of

granatcs, Gooseberries, Ivy, Herb Truc-Lovc, \ Citrons, Lemons, Oranges, viz. the inner

Walnuts, Jujubes, Juniper berries, Bayberries, \ rhind which is white, the outer rhind is hot,

Lemons, Oranges, Citrons, Quinces, Pome- \ In the second. Gourds, Melons, Peaches,

granates, Lemons, Mandrakes, Peaches, \ Prunes, &c.

Stramonium, Apples, garden and wild, or \ Dry in the first degree. Juniper Berries.

Crabs and Apples, Musk Melons, Medlars
Mulberries, Myrobalans, Bellericks, Chebs,

In the second. The Nut Ben, Capers,
Pears, Fistick Nuts, Pine Nuts, Quinces,

Emblicks, Citron and Indian, Mirtle, Berries, Nutmegs, Bay berries.

water Nuts, Hazel Nuts, Chestnuts, Cypress \ In the third. Cloves, Galls, &c.

Nuts, Walnuts, Nutmegs, Fistick Nuts, \ In the fourth. All sorts of pepper.

Vomiting Nuts, Olives pickled in brine, Heads \ .

of white and black Poppies, Pompions, Peaches,\ As *PP">P'f to the body of Man, so they

French or Kidney Beans, Pine, Cones, white \ heat the head : as

black, and long Pepper, Fistick Nuts, Apples \ Anacardia, Cubebs, Nutmegs.

and Crabs, Prunes, French and Damask, Sloes, \ The breast. Bitter Almonds, Dates,

Pears, English Currants, Berries of Purging 2 Cubebs, Hazel Nuts, Pine Nuts, Figs,

Thorn., black Berries, Raspberries, Elder \ Raisins of the sun, Jujubes.

berries, Scbastens, Services, or Checkers, Haw- \ The heart. Walnuts, Nutmegs, Juniper

thorn berries, Pine Nuts, Water Nuts, Grapes, \ berries.

Gooseberries, Raisins, Ciirrants. The stomach. Sweet Almonds, Cloves,

Culpeper.] That you may reap benefit \ Ben, Juniper berries, Nutmegs, Pine Nuts,
by these, be pleased to consider, that they j Olives,
are some of them The spleen. Capers.

Temperate in respect of heat. Raisins of j The reins and bladder. Bitter Almonds,
the sun, Currants, Figs, Pine Nuts, Dates, j Juniper Berries, Cubebs, Pine Nuts, Raisins
Sebastens. | of the sun.

Hot in the Jirst degree. Sweet Almonds, j The womb. Walnuts, Nutmegs, Bay-
Jujubes, Cypress Nuts, green Hazel Nuts, j berries, Juniper berries,
green Walnuts. Cool the breast. Sebastens, Prunes,

Hot in the second degree. The Nut Ben, \ Oranges, Lemons.

3 z

268 THE COMPLETE HERBAL

art. Oranges, Lemons, Citrons, I Myrobalans of all sorts, especially Chebs,
lates, Quinces, Pears. \ Bellericks and Emblicks, purge flegm very

The heart.
Pomegranates, Quinces, Pears. j Bellericks and Emblicks, purge flegm very

Thestomach. Quinces, Citruls, Cucumbers, ! gently, and without danger.
Gourds, Musk Melons, Pompions, Cherries, i Of all these give me leave to commend

only one to you as of special concernment,
which is Juniper berries.

Gooseberries, Cornelian Cherries, Lemons,
Apples, Medlars, Oranges, Pears, English
Currants, Cervices or Checkers.

The liver. Those that cool the stomach
and Barberries. SEEDS

The reins and womb. Those that cool the i

stomach, and Strawberries. College.] Sorrel, Agnus Castus, Marsh-

\mallows, Bishop's weed true and common.
By their several operations, some j Amomus, Dill, Angellica, Annis, Rose-seed,

Bind As the berries of Mirtles, Bar- \S> n f a 8 e > Columbines, Sparagut, Arach,

berries, Chestnuts, Cornels, or Cornelian 1 at *> Or " n ^ ^Jocfe Bazil Barbernes,

Cherries, Quinces, Galls, Acorns, Acorn- \ Cotton > Bruscus or Knee-holly Hemp, Carda-

cups, Medlars, Checkers or Cervices, Pome- 1 ^ms greater and lesser, Carduiis Benedict us,

granates, Nutmegs, Olives, Pears, Peaches. [ ottr La ^ S Thistles Bastard Saffron Cora-

Discuss. Capek all the sorts o> Pepper. W Spurge greater and lesser, Cohorts

Extenuate. Sweet and bitter Almonds, m " S ' ^ Kernels of Cherry stones, Cheryl,

Bavberries Junioer berries > Succory, Hemlock, Citrons, Citruls, Garden

J^fCL. y Ut/l 1 lv>3 \} Hill \J\^L ILJC1 1 1CO j /-^ y- 7 7 j~ -. ,-*, j ,

Glutinate. Acorns, Acorn Cups, ^^l^^'^^J^^G^der^p^
Raisins of the sun, Currants. Cucumbers garden and mid Gourds, Quinces,

Expel Wind. Bay berries, Juniper ber- j ^TPf C ^ osba ^ jfiJtSS ^
TICS Nutmegs all the sorts of Pepner \Enghsh, and cretish, Dwarf -Elder, Endive,

T? j ' T> Rocket, Hedge Mustard, Orobus, Beans, Fennel,

Breed seed. Kaisms or the sun, sweet? v 7 t , , 7 V,

Almonds Pine Nuts Fijrs &r Fenugreek, Ash-tree keys, Fumitory, Brooms,

- \llin'JKlr>, IHC J.^1 lll>, X ^ii^9 tXL- s x~y /' Tl 1* Tk ? 7 Tt

Provoke urine. Winte? Cherries. G ins f P^adise, Pomegranates, mid Rue

Provoke the terms. Ivy berries, Capers,&c. { ^TJ^ ?arto, white Henbane, St Johns
Stoo the terms Barberries &c \Wort, Hyssop, Lettice, Sharp-pomted-Dock,

t*Jl>\JfJ t /( C frC/ /// ii . I fill UC-1 1 itT.3. tX-L- ^O 7~ 1T"*7T" "T

T? , T} i : Spurge, L,aurel, L,entils, Lovage, Lemons,

Resist poison. Bay berries, Juniper ber-j /, ; , T . ^ , /-.

A/tr^i n-* i 11 j Ash-tree-kei/s, Linseed, or klaxu-eed, Grom-

nes, Walnuts, Citrons, commonly called ;/ r i c * i-* * -i T IT
T) , p; fw ^11^1, c ii ia>e, JJarnel, bweet Irej oil, Lupines, Master -

Jrome L/itrons, all the sorts or Pepper. T.^ . , /r ^ ', / ; iir 7

17 -o u T i^'or^, Marjoram, Mallows, Mandrakes, Melons,

Ease pain. Bay berries, Juniper berries, 1/f - ), ^/r >-,

Ivv berries Fi- s Walnuts Raisins Cur ' Medlars > Mezereon, Cromwell, meet Navew

rants all the so?ts' of Pepper ! Ni S ella > the kernels # Cherrie * A P ricois > and

1(11113* dll LUC OLJ1 to \JL i C/lJUCl* > T\ 7 T> t /-\ 7 f- 1~ * ? T"

readies, Bazil, Orobus, Rice, Pamck, Poppies

Fruits purging \ wn ^ e an d black, Parsnips garden and wild,

\ Thorough Wax, Parsley, English and Mace-

Choler. Cassia Fistula, Citron ~M.yro- \donian, Burnet, Pease, Plantain, Peony, Leeks,
balans, Prunes, Tamarinds, Raisins. I Purslain, Fleazeort, Turnips, Radishes, Sumach

Melancholy. Indian Myrobalans. ; Spurge, .Roses, Rue, garden and wild, Worm-

Flegrn. Colocynthis and wild Cucumbers

seed, Saxifrage, Succory, Sesami, Hartzi'ort,

purge violently, and therefore not rashly to common and cretish, Mustard-seed, Alexanders,
be meddled withal: 1 desire my book should \ Nightshade, Steves Agcr, Sumach, Treacle,
be beneficial, not hurtful to the vulgar, but Mustard, sweet Trefoil, Wheat, both the Jint

AND ENGLISH PHYSICIAN ENLARGED. 269

Hour and the bran, and that which starch Is \ The stomach. Annis, Bishop's weed,
'made q/', Vetches or Tares, Violets, Nettles, Amornus^Smallage, Cummin, Cardamoms,

common and Roman, the stones of Grapes,
Greek Wheat, or Spelt Wheat

Culpeper.~] That you may receive a little
more benefit by these, than the bare reading
of them, which doth at the most but tell

Cubebs, Grains of Paradise.

The liver. Annis, Fennel, Bishop's weed,
Amomus, Smallage, Sparagus, Cummin,
Caraway, Carrots.

The spleen. Annis, Caraway, Water-

you what they are ; the following method j cresses.

may instruct you what they are good for. The reins and bladder. Cicers, Rocket,

, ,7 r I Saxifrage, Nettles, Gromwell.

iKcds are hot m the first degree. ^ ^ Peo ' ny) Rue

Linseed, Fenugreek, Coriander, Rice, > The joints. Water-cresses, Rue, Mustard-
Gromwell, Lupines. jseed.

In the second. Dill, Smallage, Orobus, | Cool the head. Lettice, Purslain, white
Rocket, Bazil, Nettles. | Poppies.

In the third. Bishop's Weed, Annis, i The breast. White Poppies, Violets.
Amomus, Carraway, Fennel, (and so 1 1 The heart. Orange, Lemon, Citron
believe Smallage too, let authors say what | and Sorrel seeds.

they will, for if the herb of Smallage bej Lastly, thefourgreaterand four lesser cold
somewhat hotter than Parsley ; I know | seeds, which you may find in the beginning
little reason why the seed should not be so j of the compositions, as also the seed of white
hot) Cardamoms, Parsley, Cummin, Carrots, | and black Poppies cool the liver and spleen,
Nigella, Navew, Hartwort, Staves Ager. j reins and bladder, womb and joints.

In the fourth. Water -cresses, Mustard- 7 . ,.

, According to operation some seeds

Cold in thejirst degree. Barley, &c. Bind, as Rose-seeds, Barberries, Shep-

In the second. Endive, Lettice, Purslain, | herd's purse, Purslain, &c.
Succory, Gourds, Cucumbers, Melons, j Discuss. Dill, Carrots, Linseeds, Fenu-
Citruls, Pompions, Sorrel, Nightshade. \ greek, Nigella, &c.

In the third. Henbane, Hemlock, Pop- j Cleanse. Beans, Orobus, Barley, Lupines,
pies white and black. j Nettles, &c.

Moist in thejirst degree. Mallows, &c. Mollify. Linseed, or Flax seed, Fenu-

Dry in the first degree. Beans, Fennel, j greek seed, Mallows, Nigella.
Fenugreek, Barley, Wheat, &c. \ Harden. Purslain seed, c.

In the second. Orobus, Lentils, Rice, \ Suppure. Linseed, Fenugreek seed, Dar-
Poppies, Nightshade, and the like. jnel, Barley husked, commonly called French

Ira the third. Dill, Smallages, Bishop's j Barley.

Weed, Annis, Caraway, Cummin, Cori-1 Glutinate. Orobus, Lupines, Darnel, &c,
ander, Nigella, Gromwell, Parsley. Expel wind. Annis, Dill, Smallage,

. , ,, , , f | Caraway, Cummin, Carrots, Fennel, Nigella,

Appropriated to the body of man, and so they j Pars , ey; ' Hartwort ; Wormsee d.

Heat the head. Fennel, Marjoram, Peony, j Breed seed. Rocket, Beans, Cicers, Ash-
ice. ? tree keys.

The breast. Nettles. Provoke the menses. Amomus, Sparagus,

The heart. Bazil, Rue, &c. Mustard I Annis, Fennel, Bishop's weed, Cicers, Car-
seed, &c. I rots, Smallage, Parsley, Lovage, Hartwort,

270

THE COMPLETE HERBAL

Break the stone Mallows, Marsh-mal- Concrete Juices , or Juic <, sma de thick, are either
lows, Cromwell, &c.

Stop the terms.
Burdock, &c.

Rose seeds, Cummin,

Resist poison. Bishop's weed, Annis, ' Hot in the Jirst degree. Sugar.

Temperate, as, Juice of Liquorice, white
starch.

Smallage, Cardamoms, Oranges, Lemons,:
Citrons, Fennel, &c.

Ease pain. Dill, Amomus, Cardamoms,
Cummin, Carrots, Orobus, Fenugreek, Lin-
seed, Gromwell, Parsley, Panick.

Assuage swellings. Linseed, Fenugreek

In the second. Labdanum.
In the third. Benzoin, Assafoetida.
Cold in the third degree. Sanguis Draco-
nis, Acacia.

In the third. Hypocistis.

In the fourth. Opium, and yet some

seeds, Marsh-mallows, Mallows, Corian- \ authors think Opium is hot because of its
der, Barley, Lupines, Darnel, &c. i bitter taste.

Aloes and Manna purge choler gently;
! and Scamony doth purge choler violently,
j that it is no ways fit for a vulgar man's use,

Opopoanax

The College tells you a talc that there are j for ]t c fl orrodes the
such things in Rerum Natura, as these, P u jg fle f m f r >' ^ ntl ^

Gums, Rozins, Balsams, and Juices made fHne sta ? gentlj levi g ates , or raake *
j , r - j smooth such parts as are rough, syrup ot

| Violets being made thick with it and so

College.] Juices of Wormwood and Maud- [ taken on the point of a knife, helps coughs,
lin, Acacia, Aloes, Lees of Oil, Assa-foetida, \ roughness of the throat, wheezing, excoria-
Balsam of Peru and India ; Bdellium, Ben- j tions of the bowels, the bloody-flux.
zoin t Camphire, Caranna, Colophonia, Juke of\ Juice of Liquorice helps roughness of the
Maudlin, Euphorbium, Lees of Wine, Lees of\ Trachea Arteria, which is in plain English
Oil, Gums of Galbanum, Amoniacum, Anime, \ called the windpipe, the roughness of which
Arabick, Cherry Trees, Copal, Elemy, Juni- \ causes coughs and hoarseness, difficulty of
per, Ivy, Plumb Trees, Cambuge, Hypocystis, breathing, &c. It allays the heat of the

Labdanum, Lacca, Liquid Amber, Manna,
Mastich, Myrrh, Olibanum, Opium, Opopanax,
Pice-bitumen, Pitch of the Cedar of Greece,
Liquid and dry Rozins of Fir-tree, Larch-tree,
Pine tree, Pine-fruit, Mastich. Venice and
Cyprus Turpentine. Sugar, white, red, and
Christaline, or Sugar Candy white and red,

stomach and liver, eases pains, soreness and
roughness of the reins and bladder, it
quencheth thirst, and strengthens the
stomach exceedingly: It may easily be
carried about in one's pocket, and eat a little
now and then.

Sugar cleanses and digests, takes away

Sagapen, Juniper, Gum, Sanguis Draconis, j roughness of the tongue, it strengthens the
Sarcocolla, Scamonu, Styrax, Liquid and j reins and bladder, being weakened : being

Calamitis, Tacha, Mahacca, Tartar, Frankin-
cense, Olibanum, Tragaganth, Birdlime.

CidpeperJ] That my country may receive
more benefit than ever the college of Phy-
sicians intended them from these, I shall
treat of them severally.

1. Of the Juices.

2. Of the Gums and Rosins,

beaten into fine powder and put into the
eyes, it takes away films that grow over
the sight.

Labdanum is in operation, thickening,
heating and mollifying, it opens the passage
of the veins, and keeps the hair from falling
off; the use of it is usually external : being
mixed with wine, myrrh, and oil of mirtles,

AND ENGLISH PHYSICIAN ENLARGED 271

and applied like a plaister, it takes away \ Opopanax gently purges flegm
filthy scars, and the deformity the small ? From the prickly Cedar when it is burned
pox leaves behind them; being- mixed with \ comes forth that which, with us, is usually
oil of Roses, and dropped into the ears, it! known by the name of Tar, and is excellently
helps pains there ; being used as a pes- \ good for unction either for scabs, itch, or
sary, it provokes the menses, and helps | manginess, either in men or beasts, as alsc
hardness, or stiffness of the womb. It is ! against the leprosy, tetters, ringworms, and
sometimes used inwardly in such medicines 5 scald heads.

as ease pains and help the cough : if you \ All sorts of Rozins fill up hollow ulcers,
mix a little of it with old white wine and j and relieve the body sore pressed with cold
drink it, it both provokes urine and stops \ griefs.

looseness or fluxes. The Rozin of Pilch-tree, is that which

Dragons blood, cools, binds, and repels. : is commonly called Burgundy pitch, and
Acasia, and Hyposistis, do the like. | is something hotter and sharper than the

The juice of Maudlin, or, for want of it \ former, being spread upon a cloth is ex-
Costmary, which is the same in effect, and j cellentlygood for old aches coming of former
better known to the vulgar, the juice is made! bruises or dislocations,
thick for the better keeping of it; first? Pitch mollifies hard swellings, and brings
clarify the juice before you boil it to its due \ boils and sores to suppuration, it breaks
thickness, which is something thicker than j carbuncles, disperses aposthumes, cleanses

honey.

It is appropriated to the liver, and the ;

ulcers of corruption and fills them with
flesh.

quantity of a dram taken every morning, * Bdellium heats and mollifies, and that very
helps the Cachexia, or evil disposition of; temperately, being mixed with any con-
the body proceeding from coldness of the { venient ointment or plaister, it helps ker-
liver : it helps the rickets and worms in | nels in the neck and throat, Scrophula, or
children, provokes urine, and gently (with- i that disease which was called the King's
out purging) disburdens the body of choler \ Evil. Inwardly taken in any convenient
and flegm; it succours the lungs, opens ob-i medicine, it provokes the menses, and breaks
structions, and resists putrifaction of blood. | the stone, it helps coughs and bitings of
Gums are either temperate, as 9 Lacca, j venomous beasts : it helps windiness of the
Elemi, Tragacanth, &c. } spleen, and pains in the sides thence coming.

Intemperate, and so are hot in the first \ Both outwardly applied to the place and
degree, as Bdellium, Gum of Ivy. j inwardly taken, it helps ruptures or such as

In the second, Galbanum, Myrrh, Mastich, are burst, it softens the hardness of the
Frankincense, Olibanum, Pitch, Rozin, j womb, dries up the moisture thereof and
Sty rax j expels the dead child.

In the third. Amoniacum. Bitumen Jadaicum is a certain dry pitch

In the/ourth. Euphorbiurn. which the dead sea, or lake of Sodom in India

Gum Arabick is cold. i casts forth at certain times, the inhabitants

Colophonia and Styrax soften. \ thereabouts pitch their ships with it. It is

Gum Arabick and Tragacanth, San- 1 of excellent use to mollify the hardness of

darack or Juniper Gum, and Sarcocolla \ swellings and discuss them, as also against

bind. 1 inflammations ; the smoke of it burnt is

Gum of Cherry trees, breaks the stone. 1 excellently good for the fits of the mother,

Styrax provokes the menses. f and the falling-sickness : Inwardly taken in

4 A

272 THE COMPLETE HERBAL

wine it provokes the menses, helps the bitings j turcs in the skull and head. See Arceus'
of venomous beasts, and dissolves congealed j liniment.

blood in the body. Gum Lacca being well purified, and the

Ambergreese is hot and dry in the second ; quantity of half a dram taken in any con
degree, I will not dispute whether it be a \ venient liquor, strengthens the stomach ana
Gum or not: It strengthens nature much liver, opens obstructions, helps the yellow
which way soever it be taken, there are but! jaundice and dropsy; provokes urine,
few grains usually given of it at a time: breaks the stone in the reins and bladder,
mixed with a little ointment of Orange j Liquid Amber is not much unlike liquid
flowers, and the temples and forehead ! Styrax: by unction it warms and comforts
anointed with it, it eases the pains of iheja cold and moist brain, it eases all griefs
head and strengthens the brain exceedingly ; j coming of a cold cause, it mightily comforts
the same applied to the privities helps the j and strengthens a weak stomach, being
fits of the mother; inwardly taken it | anointed with it, and helps digestion ex-
strengthens the brain and memory, thej ceedingly, it dissolves swellings. It is hoi
heart and vital spirit, Wtu ms cold stomachs, I in the third degree, and moist in the first,
and is an exceeding strengthener of nature j I think it would do the commonwealth
to old people, adding vigour to decayed and \ no narm if I should speak a word or two of
worn-out spirits : it provokes venery, and ! Manna here, although it be no Gum : I con-
makes barren women fruitful, if coldness j fess authors make some flutter about it,
and moisture or weakness be the cause im-i what it is, some holding it to be the juice
pediting. of a tree ; I am confident it is the very same

Assafwtido, being smelled to, is vulgarly

a little bit put into an aching tooth, pre-

very
condensatcd that our honey-dews here are,

known to repress the fits of the mother ; i only the contries whence it comes being far

hotter, it falls in great abundance. Let him

scntly eases the pain, ten grains of it taken | that desires reason for it, be pleased to read
before dinner, walking half an hour after \ Butlers book of Bees, a most excellent
it, provokes appetite, helps digestion, i experimental work, there he shall find rca-
strcngthens the stomach, and takes away j son enough to satisfy any reasonable man.
loathing of meat, it provokes lust exceed- 1 Choose the driest and Avhitest; it is a very
ingly and expels wind as much. \ gentle purger of choler, quenches thirst,

Borax, besides the virtues it has to solder \ provokes appetite, eases the roughness ot
Gold, Silver, Copper, &c. inwardly given \ the throat, helps bitterness in the throat,
in small quantities, it stops fluxes, and the: and often proneness to vomit, it is very good
running of the reins : being in fine powder, ! for such as are subject to be costive to put
and put into green wounds, it cures them at I it into their drink instead of sugar, it hath
once dressing. } no obnoxious quality at all in it, but may

Gambitge, which the College calls Gutta \ be taken by a pregnant woman without any
Gamba. I know no good of it. | danger; a child of a year old may take an

Caranna outwardly applied, i? excellent ; ounce of it at a time dissolved in milk, it
for aches and swellings in the nerves and I will melt like sugar, neither will it be known
ioints : If you lay it behind the ears, it j from it by the taste.

draws back humours from the eyes ; applied Myrrh is hot and dry in the second degree ,
to the temples as.they usually do Mastich, it 1 dangerous for pregnant women, it is bitter ,
helps the tooth-ache. jand yet held to be good for the roughness

Gum Elimi, authors appropriate to frac- ' of the throat and wind-pipe : half a drama

AND ENGLISH PHYSICIAN ENLARGED.

273

it taken at a time helps rheumatic distilla-
tions upon the lungs, pains in the sides ; it
Stops fluxes, provokes the menses, brings

not very easy. It stops defluctions from
the head, if you perfume your cap with the
smoke of it, it helps the headache and

away both birth and after-birth, softens the j megrim, strengthens the brain, and therefore
hardness of the womb ; being taken two \ the sinews.

hours before the fit comes, it helps agues.

Gum Tragaganth, which the vulgar call
Gum Dragon, being mixed with pectoral
Syrups, (which you shall find noted in their

Mathiolus saith he seldom used any other :
medicine for the quartan ague than a dram i

of myrrh given in Muskadel an hour before proper places) it helps coughs and hoarse-
ihe fit usually came ; if you make it up into \ ness, salt and sharp distillations upon the
pills with treacle, and take one of them : lungs, being taken with a liquorice stick,
every morning fasting, it is a sovereign i being dissolved in sweet wine, it helps
preservative against the pestilence, against! (being drank) gnawing in the bowels, sharp-
the poison of serpents, and other venomous j ness and freetings of the urine, whi