SI • The University Library Leeds etIeSCT IaVGE -Em-' biTVRi -t Afrl LEEDS UNIVERSITY LIBRARY Classmark: coo till l\ CUL COKERlf 1/ l H c* ENGLISH PHYSICIAN ENLARGED WITH THREE HUNDRED AND SIXTY-NINE MEDICINES M A D E O F ENGLISH HERBS, That were not in any Impressi on until This, BEING An Allrologo-Phyfical Difcourfe of the Vulgar Herbs of this Nation, containing a complete Mothod of Phyfic, whereby a Man may preferve his Body In Health, or cure himfelf, being Sick, for Three-pence Charge, with fuch Things only as grow in England, they being moll k fit for Englifh Bodies. HEREIN IS ALSO SHEWED, « i. The Way of making Plaftcrs, Ointments, Oils, Poultices, Syrups, Decoctions, Juleps, or Waters, of all Sorts of phy- sical Herbs, that you may have them ready for your U l'e at all Times of the Year — 2. What Planet governeth every Herb or Tree (uled in Phyfic) that groweth in England. 3. The Time of gathering all Herbs, both Vulgarly and Aftrologically. — 4. The Way of drying and keeping the Herbs ail the Year. — 5, The Way of keeping their juice ready for Ufe at all Times. — 6. The Way of making and keeping all Kinds of ufeful Compounds made of Herbs. — 7. The Way of mixing Medicines according to the Caufe and Mixture of the Difeafe and Part of the Body afflicted. By NICH. CULPEPPER, Gent. STUDENT IN PHYSIC AND ASTROLOGY. L O . N D O N : Printed for J. Walker, No. 44, Pater-noiler Row, m, d c c, x c. [Price Three Shillings.] An Alphabetical TABLE of all the Herbs and Plants in this BOOK; as alfo what Planet govern eth every one of them. AM A R A dulcis, it is under Mercury Page x All-Heal, it is under the domi- nion of Mars 2 Alkanet, it is under the domi- nion of Venns 3 Adder’s Tongue, it is under the Moon in Cancer 4 Agrimony, it is under Jupiter, and the fign Cancer 5 >Y ater Agrimony, it is under Ju- piter, and the fign Cancer 7 Alehoof, it is under Venus S Alexander, or Alifander, it is un- der Jupiter 9 Black Alder Tree, it is under Venus 10 Coipmon Alder Tree, it is under Venus ix Angelica, it is under the Sun in Leo 12 Amaranthus, it is under the do- minion of Saturn 14 Anemone, it is under Mars 15 Carden Arrach, it is under the Moon 17 Arrach, wild and ftinking, it is under the dominion of Venus and the fign Scorpio 16 Archangel, red, white, yellow, they are under Venus 17 Arfmart, and Dead Arfmart, it is under Saturn and the other forts under Mars 19 Afarabacca, it is under Mars 20 Afparagus and prickly Sparagus, are under Jupiter 22 Artichokes, are under Venus 144 A fit Tree, it is governed by the Sun 23 Avcns, is under Jupiter 24 Arum, fee Cuckow-pint Alecoft, fee Coftmary Apariae, fee Clever Acanthus, fee Brank Urfine Ammi and Amrnios. fee Eiihop’s weed B Balm is an herb of Jupiter 15 Barbary, it is under Mars 5 Barley, it is a notable plant of Saturn Garden Eafil, or Sweet BafiJ, is an herb of Mars and under the fign Scorpio 27 The Bay Tree is a tree of the Sun under the fign Leo 2SJ Beans arc under Venus 3® French Beans belong to Venus 31 Ladies Bedftraw, it is under Ve- nus 32 Beets, the red under Saturn, and the white under Jupiter 33 Water Bctony, called alfo Brown Wort, and Biibop’s Leaves, it is an herb of Jupiter 34 Wood Betony is appropriated to Jupiter and the fign Aries Beech Tree, it is under Saturn 37 Bilberries is under Jupiter 38 Bifoyl is a plant of Saturn ib. Birch Tree is under Venus ib. Birds-foot belongs to Saturn 4® Bifltop’s Weed, or Bulwort, is under Venns ib. Biffort, it is under Saturn 41 One Blade is an herb of the Sun 43 Bramble or Black-berry bu(h, 4 plant of Venus in Aries 43 Blites are under the dominion of Venus — — 44 Borage and Buglofs are under Jupite* — 43 * £lue-bctti« y A TABLE of the Herbs Blue-bottle and Blue-blow, is under Saturn — 4 6 Brankurfine and Bear’s breech, are under the Moon — 47 Briory is under Mars 48 Brooklime is under Mars 50 Butcher’s broom and Brufcus is under Mars 51 Broom and Broom rape, are under Mars 52 Bucks-horn Plan cane is under Saturn 53 Bucks-horn is under Saturn 54 Bugles, or Brown Bugles, is under Venus 55 Burnet, an herb of the Sun 56 Butter-bur, an herb of the Sun 58 Burdock, an herb of Venus 59 Bitter-fweet, fee Amara dulcis Spanifli Buglofs, Re Alkanet Bruifewort, fee Sopewort Bare-foor, fee bh.ck f- tllebore Baldmoney, fee Gem tan Brimttone wort, fee Fennel Barba-aron, fee Cuckow point Balfam herb, fee Coftmary Bull’s foot, fee Colt’s-foot Bkllcd Thiftle, fee Carduus Be- nedi4 Compions Wild, are under the San <>5 Carduus Bencdi&us is an herb of Mars -•■■■■ ■■ (><* Carrots are under Mercury 67 Carraway is under Mercury 68 Celandine, an herb of the Sun 69 The lefler Celandine is under Mars 7 1 The ordinary fmall Centaury i an herb of the Sun 72 The Cherry-tree is a tree of Ve- nus — 73 Winter Cherry, a plant of Ve- nus — — 74 Chervil Carefolium is under Ju- piter — — 7; Sweet Chervil and fweet Cicely are under Jupiter 7 6 Chefnut-Tree is under Jupiter 77 Earth Chefnuts and Cipcr Nuts are under Venus ib. Chickweed, under the Moon ib. Chick Peafe, or Cicers, is under Venus — 78 Cinquefoil, an herb of Jupiter 79 Cives, Chives, and Chivet, is under Mars — 81 Clary, or Clear Eyes, is under the Moon — ib. Clown’s Woundwort is under Sa- turn — 84 Cock s-Read is tinder Venus 8 5 Columbines is under Venus 85 Co tsfoot, or Coughwort, is un- der Venus ib. Comfrey is an herb of Saturn 87 Coralwort, under the Moon 89 Coftmary is under Jupiter 90 Crowfot is under Mars 95 Cudweed, or Cotton Wood, is an herb of Venus 90 Cowflips are under Venus 91 Crabs Claw is under Venus 9*2 Black Crefles, under Mars 93 Sciatica Creftes, under Saturn ib. Water Crefies is under the Moon 94- Croftwort is under Saturn 95 Crowfoot, an herb of Mars 06 Cuckowpint, or Pintle, or Calves- foot, is under Mars 97 Cucumbers, or Cowcumbers, is under the Moon 99 Wild As alfo what Planet governeth them. Wild Clary, or Chrift’s-Eye, is under the Moon • 82 Clevers and Clavers, are under the Moon — 83 Caterach, fee Spleen w ort Carpenters herb, fee Self-heal Cammock, fe Reft-harrow Corn Rofe, fee Poppv Champetys, fee Ground Piue Callians, fee Orchis Catmint, fee Nep Cuckcw Fiowers, fee Ladies Smock Chrilhnas herb, fee Black Helle- bore Call me to you, fee Heart’s F.afe Cranes Bill, fee Dovc’s-foot Crop, fee Darnel Middle Confound, Comfrey, or herb Carpenter, fee Bugle Corn Flowers, fee Blue Bottle Cummin Royal, and Ethiopian Cummin-feed, for both, fee Bilhop’s Wood Clovewort, fceAvens Catsfoor, fee Alchoof ' D Daifies are governed hy Venus and under the lign Cancer ico Dandelion is under Jupiter ib. Darnel is under Saturn ic» Dill is under Mercury ib. Devil’s Bit is under Venus J03 Docks are under Jupiter 104 Dodder of Thyme, and other Dodders, are under Saturn 105 Dog’s Grafs is under Jupiter red Dove’sFoot is a Martial plant 107 Duck’s Meat, Cancer claims the herb, and the Moon will be Lady of it 108 Down, or Cotton ThiHie, is un- der Mars ib. D-agons is a plant of Mars 109 Great round-leaved Dock, orBaf- tard Rhubarb ib. Garden Patience, fee Monk’s H-hubarh £ Dyer’s Weed, fee Wold and Weld Dittander, fee Pepper Wort Dog’s Stone, fee Orchis Dewberry Bulh, fee Goofclerry Bulb Drop Wort, fee Filtpendula Dentaria, fee Coral Wort Dragon Wort, fee Billort Do.'’s and Goat’s Arrach, fee Ar- rack wild and (linking E F.ldcr-Trec is under Venus ifr Dwarf Elder is under Yulis’- in. Elm-Tree is under Saturn t Endive is under Venus 1 t hlictmpRne is under .Mercury 113 Eringo is a venerea! plant ^ 114. Eye-Iii ight, the Sun claims, do- minion over it, and is under the Lion — 113 Kpithimum, fee Dodder of Thyme Earth Nuts, fee Earth Chef- nuts Englilh Serpentary, fee Bif- tort Eupatorium, fee Water Agri- mony F Fern is under Mercury x\6 Water Fern is under Saturn 1 17 Featherfew is under Venus 118 Fennel is an herb of Mercury, and under Virgo 119 Sow Fennel and Hog’s Fennel, are herbs of Mercury 120 Figwort is nadir Venus 121 Filipendula is under Venus 122 Fig-Tree is under Jupiter 123 The Yellow Water Flag, or Flower-de-luce, is under the Moon - 124 Flax-weed is under Mars 12 5 Flea Wort is under Saturn 126 Flower-de luce t2? Fiix-weed is under Saturn '127 Fluelin, 7 A TABLE of the Herbs H FJuellin, or Leuellin, is a Lu- nar herb 129 Foxglove is nnd Reft harrow, or Camnaock, eie under Mars 2 3 5 Rocket is under Mars »47 Winter rocket, or Winter-crols, is under Venus H’ R.d rofes are under Jupiter; Pam a Ik rofes are under Venus, White rofes are under the Moon *49 Rofa folis, or Sur.-dew, the Sun rules it *53 Rofemary, under the Sun zi 4 Rhubarb, or Rhapbonuck, Mars claims it *55 Garden Patience, or Monks Rhu- barb, or Ballard Rhubarb, Mars governs them 2 57 Meadow Rue *59 Carden Rue is an herb of the Sun, and under Leo *®° Rupture w«rt is Saturnine 261 Rtilhes are under Saturn 263 Rve lb' Ramp and Wake Robin, fee Cuc- kowpint Red Filching, fee Cock s head Ru(h Leeks, fee Civis Rufcus fee Butcher’s Broom Saffron is an herb of the S»n 264 Sage is an herb of Jupiter ib. Wood Sage is under Venus 26(5 Solomon’s Seal, Saturn owus the plant 2^7 Samphire is an herb of Jup. Sanicle is an herb of Venus 269 Saracens confound, or Saracens Wound wort, Saturn governs 270 Sauce-alone, or Jack by .he hedge, is an herb of Mercury 271 Winter and Summer Savory, Mer. governs them 272 Savine, Mars owns it ib. The common white Saxifrage, the Moon governs 273 Burnet Saxifrage, the Moon gov- erns it 274 Scabious, three forts, Mercury owns them 2 75 Scnrvy-grafs is under Jupiter *77 Self-heal, and Sickle- wort, are under Venus _ *77 Service-tree is under the dominion of Saturn a79 Shepherd’s purfe is under Saturn ib. Smailage is an herb of Mercury Sope-wort is under Venus 281 Sorrel is under Venus »b* Wood Sorrel is under Venus zbz Sow-Thiftle is under Venus 283 Southernwood is a Mercurial plant *84 Snignel is under Venus 28 5 Spleen-wort is under Saturn ib. Star-thiftle is under Mars Strawberries is under Venus 2H7 Succory isunder Jupiter 288 Stonc-crop, fmall Houlleek, is under the Moon B . Septfoil, A TABLE of the Herbs; Septfoil, fee Tormentil Silverwood, fee Wild Tanfy Staggerwood, and Stammerwort and Segrum.‘ fee Ragwort Satyrion, fee Orchis Sungrcen, fee Houflcek Setter-wort, and Setter-grafs, fee Black Hellebore Sulphur wort, fee Sow Fennel Sea-holly, fee Eringo Starch-wort, fee Cuckowpint Sweth, fee Cives Saligot, fee Caltrops Sickle-wort, fee Dtiglofs Sanguinare, ard Swine-crefles, fee Buckthorn Syamus, fee Blue-bottle Snakeweed, fee Bitlort Sparagus, or Sperage, fee Afpa- ragus Serpents Tongue, fee Adders Tongue Spanilh Bnglofs, fee Alkanet T Inglifti Tobacco is a Martial plant 19° Tamari/k-tree is governed by Sa- turn 5191 Garden Tanfy is under Venus 292 ■Wild Tanfy, Venus rules it 193 Thirties, Mars rules them 294 Melancholy Thiftle is under Cap- ricorn, and therefore under Saturn and Mars ib. OurLady’s Thiftle is under Ju- piter 295 Woolly, or Cotton Thiftle, is a plant of Mars 296 Fullers Thiftle, or Teaflc, is an herb of Venus 267 Treacle and Mithridate Muftard, are herbs of Mars 29S Black Thorn, or Sole Bufti 29S Thorough-wax, or Thorough- leaf 29s Thyme 3°° Thyme (Mother of) is under Venus ib- Termentil, or Septfoil, is an herb of the Sun 3or Turnfole, or Heliotiopium, is an herb of the Sun 303 Meadow Trefoil, or Koneyfuck- les, under Mercury ib. Heart Trefoil is under the domi- nion of the Sun 304 Pearl Trefoil is under the domi- nion of the Moon ib, Tut-fan, or Park-leaves, is an herb of the Sun 305 Three Faces in one Hood, fes Heart’s Eafe Throat-wort, fee Fig-wort Cotton Thiftle, fee Down Tooth-wort, toothed and Dog* teeth Violet, fee Coral-wort Tribus Aqaticus, and Tribus M«* cinus, fee Water Caltrops Tam as, fee Briony Twa-blade, fee Bifoyl Turnhoof, fee Alehoof V Garden Valerian is under the go- vernment of Mercury 305 Vervain is under Venus 307 The Vine is under Venus 308 Violets are under Venus ib. Vipers Buglofs is an herb of the Sun 309 Black and white Vine, Wild, or Wood Vine, fee Briony W Wall Flowers, or Winter Gilly- flowers, the Moon rules them 311 Walnut, a plant of the Sun ib. Wold, Weld, or Dyers Weed, is under Mars 313 Wheat is under Venus 314 The Willow-tree is governed by the Moon 315 Wood is under Saturn 3 1 6 Woodbine, As alfo what Planet governeth them Woodbine, or Honey-fuckle, is a plant of Mercury 3*7 Wormwood, an herb of Mars 3 id Whitlow-grafs zc6 Wall penny-royal, or Wall pen- ny-wort, fee Kidney-wort Wine berry -bulh, fee Goofe-ber- ry-bu(h Whins, fee the Furz-buth Water flag, fee yellow Flower- de-luce Wall-wort, fee Elder-tree Wrays fee Darnel Wading Pond-weed, fee Crabs claws, and Water Sea-green Water-nuts, and Water-cheinut , fee Caltrops Water-pimpernel, fee Rrooklime Worts, and Whortle-berries fee Bil-berries Wine-flower, fee Anemone Woody Nightlhade, fee Amarft Dn'cis Hercules Wound-wort, iee au heal Yarrow, called Nofe bleed, Mil- foil and Thoufand-leaf, is under the’influence of Venus 3*5 thp Directions for making! ThcT C7coNnferve OUs Omtments, Pbfters, fcc. of Herbs? Roots, Flowers, &c. whereby you may have them ready for Ufe all the Year long. SECT. I. The way of gathering, drying, and preferving Simples, and their Juices. Chap- 1. Of Leaves, of Herbs or 3IO Of Flowers 3^ Of Seeds }'>• Ot Roots lh- Of Barks 3*9 Trees Chap. a. Chap. 3 Chap. 4 Chap. 5 Chap. <5. Of Juices 33° SECT. II. The way of making and keeping all neceffary compounds. Chap. 1. Of diftilled Waters 331 Chap. Chap. Chap- Chap. Chap. Chap. Chap. Chap. Chap. Chap. Chap. Chap. Chap. Chap. Z. 3 4- 5- 6. 7- 8. Of Syrups Of Juleps Of DecoCtions Of Oils Of Electuaries Of Conferves Of Prefervcs Of Lohochs Of Ointments Of Plaiflers Of Poutlices Of Troches Of Pills iap. iV The way of mixtr Medicines accordingto thecau of the Difeafe, and parts of tl body afflitted 34 9- 10. I I . 1 1. 1 3- 14. 1 5- . > : . ■ ■ 1 . ’ 'v v - ;f- 01 yusiAl fW U<-> = if-: -U> •- - » .4 - 1 • rf iom u't THE ENGLISH PHYSICIANj ENLARGED. , Amara Dulcis. CONSIDERING divers fhires in this nation give divers | names to one and the fame herb, and that the common jj name which it bears in one county, is not known in ano- 3 ther, I fhall take the pains to fet down all the names that I l know of each herb : Pardon me for fetting that name firft, jj which is moft common to myfelf. Befides Amara dulcis, fome call it Mortal, others Bitter-fweet ; fome Woody J Night-fhade, and others Felon-wort. j Defcript.] It grows up with woody ftalkseven to a man's height, and fometimes higher. The leaves fall oft' at the ap- proach of Winter, and fpring out of the fame ftalks at Spring- time : The branchis compaffed about with a whitifli bark, and hath a pith in the middle of it : The main branch brancheth .. itfelf into many fmall ones with clafpers, lying hold on what \ is next to them, as vines do: It bears many leaves, they grow in no order at all, at leaft in no regular order : The leaves i are longifh, though fomewhat broad, and pointed at the ends : J many of them have two little leaves growing at the end of their foot-ftalk ; fome have but one, and fome none. The leaves are of a pale green colour ; the flowers are of a purple ’ colour, or of a perfect blue like to violets, and they fland many of them together in knots ; the berries are green at firft, but when they are ripe they are very red ; if you taftc them, j you fhall find them juft as the crabs which we in Suffex call bitter fweets, viz. fweet at firft, and bitter afterwards. Place.] They grow commonly almoft throughout Eng- j land, efpecially in moift and fhady places. Time.] The leaves fhoot out about the latter end of March if the temperature of the air be ordinary ; it flower- eth in July, and the feeds are ripe foon after, ufually in the next month. Government t The Englifh Phyfician Enlarged. Government and Virtues .] It is under the planet Mercury, and a notable herb of his alfo, if it be rightly gathered under his influence. It is excellent good to remove witch- craft both in men and beafls, as alfo all fudden difeafes whatfoever. Being tied round about the neck, is one of the admirable!! remedies for the vertigo of dizzinefs in the head that is ; and that is the reafon (as Tragus faith) the people in Germany commonly hang it about their cattle’s necks, when they fear any fuch evil hath betided them : Country people commonly ule to take the berries of it, and having bruifed them, they apply them to felons, and thereby foon rid their fingers of fuch troublefome guefts. We have now fliewed you the external ufe of the herb ; ive fnall fpeak a word or two of the internal, and fo con- clude. Take notice, it is a Mercurial herb, and therefore of very fubtle parts, as indeed all mercurial plants are ; therefore take a pound of the wood and leaves together, bruifie the wood (which you may eafily do, for it is not fo bard as oak) then put in a pot, and put to it three pints of white wine, put on the pot-lid and fnut it clofe j and let it infufe hot over a gentle fire twelve hours, then flrain it out, fo have you a mofi excellent drink to open obfiruifiions of the liver and fpleen, to help diihculty of breath, bruifes and falls, and congealed blood in any part of the bodv, it helps the yellow-jaundice, the dropfy and black jaundice, and to cleanfe women newly brought to bed. You may drink a quarter of a pint of the infufion every morning. It purgeth the body very gently, and not churlifhly, as foine hold. And when you find good by this, remember me. They that think the ufe of thefe medicines is too brief, it is only for the cheapnefs of the book ; let them read thofe books of mine, of the laft edition, viz. Riverius, Veflingus, Riolanus, Johnfon, Sennertus, and Phyfic for the Poor. All-heal. IT is called All-heal, Hercules’s All-heal, and Hercules’s Wound-wort, becaufe it is fuppoled that Hercules learned the herb and its virtues from Chiron, when he learned phvfie of him. Some call it Panay, and others Opopane-wort." j De/cript.] Its root is long, thick, and exceeding full of juice, of a hot and biting tafte, the leaves are great and large, and winged almoft like afh-tree leaves, but that they are fome thing The Englifh Phyfician Enlarged. 5 fomcthing hairy, each leaf confiding of five or fix pair of Arch wings let one againft the other upon foot-ftalks, broad below, but narrow towards the end , one of the leaves is a little deeper at the bottom than the other, of a fair, yellovvifli, frefti green colour ; they are of abitterilh tafte, being chewed in the mouth. From among thefe arileth up a ftalk, green in colour, round in form, great and firing in magnitude, five or fix feet high in altitude, with many joints, and fome leaves thereat : Towards the top come forth umbels of fmaii yelfc™’ flowers, after which are pafled away, you may find whitifli, yellow, fiiort, flat feeds, bitter alfo in tafte. Place .] Having given you the defeription of the herb from the bottom to the top, give me leave to tell you, that there are other herbs called by this name ; but becaufethey are ft fa tigers in England, I give only the defeription of this, which is eafily to be had in the gardens of divers places. Time.'] Although Gerrard faith, That they flower from the beginning of May to the end of December, experience ceachcth them that keep it in their gardens, that it flowers not till the latter end of the Summer, and flieds it feed pre- fently after. Government and Virtues.] It is under the dominion of Mars, hot, biting, and cholerick ; and remedies what evils Mars afflifh the body of man with, by fympathy, as vipers flclh attracts poifon, and the loadftone iron. It kills the worms, helps the gout, cramp, and convulfions, provokes urine, and helps all joint-aches. It helps all cold griefs of the head, the vertigo, falling licknefs, the lethargy, the wind colick, obftnnflions of the liver and fpleen, ftone in the kidneys and bladder. It provokes the terms, expels the dead birth : It is excellent good for the griefs of the finews, itch, ftone, and tooth-ach, the biting of mad dogs and venomous beafts, andpurgetn choler very gently. Alkanet. BESIDES the common name, it is called Orehanet, and Spanilh Buglofs, and by apothecaries, Enchufa. DeJ'eript .] Of the many forts of this herb, there is but one known to grow commonly in this nation ; of which one takes this defeription : It hath a great and thick root, of a reddifli colour, long, narrow, hairy leaves, green like the leaves of Buglols, which lie very thick upon the ground ; the ' 4 tfht Englifh Phyfician Enlarged. the ftalks rife up compafled round about, thick with leaves, which are lefler and narrower than the former ; they are ten- der, and (lender, the flowers are hollow', lmall, and of a reddifh colour. Place.] It grows in Kent near Rochefler, and in many places in the Weft Country, both in Devonfliire and Cornwall. Time.] They flower in July, and the beginning of Auguft, and the/ ripe foon after, but the root is in its prime, as -~?rfots and parfnips are, before the herb runs up to ltalk. Government and Virtues.] It is an herb under the domi- nion of Venus. and indeed one of her darlings, though fomewhat hard to come by. Jt helps old ulcers, hot in- flammations, burnings by common fire, and St. Anthony’s fire, by antipathy to Mars : for thefe ufes, your beft way is to make it into an ointment ; alfo, if you make a vinegar of it, as you make vinegar of rofes, it helps the morphew and leprol'y ; if you apply the herb to the privites, it draws forth the dead child. It helps the yeliow-jaundice, fpleen, and gravel in the kidneys. Diofcorides faith, it helps fuch as are bitten by venomous beads, whether it be taken in- wardly, or applied to the wound ; nay, he faith further, if any one that hath newly eaten it, do but fpit into the mouth of aferpent, the ferpent inftantly dies. It flays the flux of the belly, kills worms, helps the fits of the mother. Its decodtion made in wine, and drank, ftrengthens the back^ and eafeth the pains thereof : It helps bruifes and fells, and is as gallant a remedy to drive out the fmall pox and meafles as any is ; an ointment made of it, is excellent for green wounds, pricks or thrufts. Adder’s Tongue, or Serpent’s Tongue. Dcfcript.] ''T''HIS herb hath but one leaf, which grows I with the ftalk a finger’s length above the ground, being flat and of a frelh green colour ; broad like Water Plantane, but lefs, without any rib in it ; from the bottom of which leaf, on the inlide, rifeth up (ordinarily) one, fometimes two or three (lender ftalks, the upper half whereof is fomewhat bigger, and dented with fmall dents of a yellowilh green colour, like the tongue of an adder ferpent (only this is as ufeful as they are formidable)* The roots continue all the year. Place.] It grows in moift meadows, and fuch like places. Time.] J'he Englilli Phyfician Enlarged. 3 Time.'] It is to be found in May or April, for it quickly periflieth with a little heat. , , Government and Virtues.] It is an herb under the domi- nion of the Moon and Cancer, and therefore if the weakneis of the retentive faculty be cauled by an evil mlluence o Saturn in any part of the body governed by the Moon, or under the dominion of Cancer, this herb cures it by ) m- pathy : It cures thefe difeales after fpecified, in any part ot the body under the influence of Saturn, by antipathy. It is temperate in relpeft ot heat, but dry in the iecond degree. The juice of the leaves drank with the diuille.i water of Horfe-tail, is a Angular remedy of all manner of wounds in the breads, bowels, or other parts ot the boay, and is given with good luccefs unto thoie that are troubled with calling, vomiting, or bleeding at the mouth oi_ note, or otherwife downwards, i he faid juice given in the diftillcd water of Oaken-buds, is very good for women who have their ufual courfes, or the whites flowing down too abundantly. It helps fore eyes. Of the leavesinfufed or boiled in oil, omphachine, or unripe olives, fet in the lun for certuin days, or the green leaves fuihciently boiled in the faid oil, is made an excellent green balfatn, net onl) foi green and frefli wounds, but alto for old and inveterate ulcers, efpecially it a little fine clear turpentine bediffolved therein. Italfo ftaycth and retrefneth all inflammations that arife upon pains by hurts and wounds. What parts of the body arc under each planet and fign, and alio what difeafe may be found in my all rological judg- ment of difeafes ; and for the internal work of nature in the body of man ; as vital, animal, natural and procreative fpirits of man ; the apprehenlion, judgment, memory ; the external fenfes, viz. Seeing, hearing, fmellin g, tatting, an feeling; the virtues attraftive, retentive, digeftive, expulhve. See. under the dominion of what planets they are, may be found in my Ephemeris for the year 1651. In both w inch you fhall find the chaff of authors blown away by the tame of Dr. Reafon, and nothing but rational truths left foi t le ingenious to feed upon. Laftly, To avoid blotting paper with one thing many times, and alfo to eafe your purfes in the price of the book, and withal to make you ftudious in phyfic ; you have at the latter endpf the book, the way of preferving all herbs 6 The Englifh Phyfi.cian Enlarged. either in juice, conferve, oil, ointment or plafter, ele&ury* pills or troches. Agrimony. Defcript .] f * HIS hath divers long leaves (Tome greater, X fome fmaller) fet upon a ftalk, all of them dented about theedges, green above, and greyifli underneath, and a little hairy withal. Among which arifeth up ufuallv but one ftrong, round, hairy, brown ftalk, two or three feet high, with lmaller leaves fet here and there upon it. . At the top hereof grow many fmall yellow flowers, one above, ano- ther, in long fpikes ; after which come rough heads of feed, hanging downwards, which will cleave to and flick upon gar- ments, or any thing that fliall rub againft them. The knot is black, long, and lomewhat woody, abiding many years, and fhooting afrefli every fpting ; which root, though fmall, hath a reafonable good fcent. P lace. ] It groweth upon banks, near the fides of hedges. Time.] It fiowereth in July and Auguft, the feed being ripe fhortly after. 6 Government and Virtues .] It is an herb under Jupiter, and the fign Cancer ; and ftrengthens thofe parts under the planet and lign, and removes difcafes in them by fympathy, and thole under Saturn, Mars and Mercury by antipathy, if they happen in any part of the body governed by Jupiter, or under the ligns Cancer, Sagittary, or Pifecs, and therefore mult needs be good for the gout, either ui'ed outwardly in oil or ointment, or inwardly in an ele&uary, or fyrup, or concerted juice ; for which fee the latter end of this book. It is of a cleanfing and cutting faculty, without any ma- nifeft heat, moderately drying and binding. Itopeneth and cleanfeth the liver, hclpeth the jaundice, and is very bene- ficial to the bowels, healing all inward wounds, bruiles, hurts, and other diftempers. The decoction of the herb made with wine, and drank, is good againft the biting and flinging of ferpents, and helps them that make foul, troubled or bloody water, and makes them pifs clear fpeedijy. It alio helpeth the colic, cleanfeth the breaft, and rids" away the cough. A draught of the decottion taken warm before the fit, firft removes, and in time rids away the tertian or quartan agues. 1 he leaves and leeds taken in wine, flays the bloody flux ; outwardly -applied, being damped with old The Englifh Fhyfician Enlarged. 7 old fwines greafe, it helpeth old fores, cancers, and inve- tcrare ulcers, and draweth forth thorns and fplinters ol wood, nails, or any other fuch things gotten in theflefh. It helpeth to ftrengthen the members that be out of joint; and being bruifed and applied, or the juice dropped in it, helpeth foul and impoithumed ears. The dillilled water of the herb is good to all the faid pur- pofes, either inward or outward, but a great deal weaker. It is a moll admirable remedy for fuch whole lives are an- noyed cither by heat or cold. The liver is the former of blood, and blood the nourifher of the body, and Agrimony a llrengthencr of the liver. I cannot Hand to give you a reafon in every herb, why it cureth l'uch dileafes ; but it you pleafe to perule my judg- ment in the herb Wormwood, you (hall lind them there, and it will be well worth your while to conftder it in every herb, you Iliall find them true throughout the book. Water Agrimony. IT is called, in fome countries, Water Hemp, Baftard Hemp, and Ballard Agrimony, Eupatorium, and Hepa* torium, becauleit firengthens the liver. Defcript.'] The root continues a long time, -having many long fiender firings. The ftalk grows up about two feet high, fometimes higher. They are of a dark purple colour. The branches are many, growing at diftances the one from the other, the one from the one fide of the ftalk, the other from the oppofite point. The leaves are wdngcd, and much indented at the edges. The flowers grow at the top of the branches, of a brown yellow colour, fpotted with black fpots, having a fubftance within the midft of them like that ot a Daify : If you rub them between your fingers, they lmell like rofin or cedar when it is burnt. The feeds arc long, and eafily ftick to any woollen thing they touch. Place.] They delight notin heat, and therefore they are not fo frequently found in the fouthern parts of England, as in the northern, where they grow frequently : You may look for them in cold grounds, by ponds and ditches fidcs, as alio by running waters ; fometimes you Avail find them grow in the midft of the waters. Time.] They all flower in July or Auguft, and the leed is ripe presently after. Government 8 The Englilh Phyfician Enlarged. Government and Virtues .] It is a plant of Jupiter, as well as the other Agrimony, only this belongs to the celeftial Cancer. It healeth and drieth, cutteth and cleanfeth thick and tough humours of the breaft, and for this I hold it inferior to but few herbs that grow. It helps the cachexia or evil difpofition of the body, the dropfy and yellow-jaun- dice. It opens obftru&ions of the liver, mollifies the hard- neis of the fplcen, being applied outwardly. It breaks im- pouhumes, taken inwardly : It is an excellent remedy for the third-day ague. It provokes urine and the terms ; n kills worms, and cleanfeth the body of fharp humours, which are thccaufeof itch and fcabs ; the herb being burnt, the fmoke thereof drives away flies, wafps, &c. It ftren^- thens the lungs exceedingly. Country people give it to their cattle when they are troubled with the couvh or broken winded. b ’ Alehoof, or Ground-ivy. SEVERAL counties give it feveral names, fo that there is fcaree an herb growing of that bignefs that has got fo many : It is called Cats-foot, Ground-ivy, Gill-ao-by- ground, and Gill-creep-by-ground, Turnhoof, Haymaids, and Alehoof. Defcript.'] This well known herb lieth, fpreadeth, and creepeth upon the ground, Ihooteth forth roots, at the cor- ners of tender jointeu ftalks, fet with two round leaves at every joint fomewrhat hairy, crumpled, and unevenly dented about the edges with round dents ; at the joints likewife, with the leaves towards the end of the branches, come forth hollow, long flowers of a biueifh purple colour, with fmall white fpots upon the lips that hang down. The root is fmall with firings. Place.'] It is commonly found under hedges, and on the fides of ditches, under houfes, or in lhadowed lanes, and other wafte grounds, in almoft every part of this land. ’Time.'] They flower fomewhat early, and abide a great while ; the leaves continue green until Winter, and l'omc- tiincs abide, except the Winter be very fharp and cold. Government and Virtues ,] It is an herb of Venus, and therefore cures the difeafes (lie caufcs by fympathy, and thofe of Mars by antipathy ; you may ufuallyfind it all the vear long, except the year be extremely frofty • it is quick, lhafp. The Englilli Phyfician Enlarged. 9 fliarp, and bitter in tafie, and is thereby found to be hot and dry ; a lingular herb for all inward wounds, exulcerated lungs, or other parts, either by iti'elf, or boiled with other the like herbs ; and being drank, in a Ihort time it eafeth all griping pains, windy and cholerick humours in the llomach, Ipleen or belly ; helps the yellow jaundice, by- opening the Hoppings of the gall and liver, and melancholy, bv opening the Hoppings of the fpleen ; expel leth venom or poifon, and alfo the plague ; it provokes urine and wo- mens courfes; the decoition of it in wine drank for fome time together, procureth eafe unto them that are troubled with the fciatiea, or hip-gout, as alfo the gout in hands, knees, or feet ; if you put to the decoction fome honey and a little burnt allum, it is excellent good to gargle any fore mouth or throat, and to-walh the fores and ulcers in the privy parts of man or woman ; it fpeedily helpeth green wounds, being bruifed and bound thereto. The juice of it boiled with a little honey and verdigreafe, both wonder- fully cleanfe iifiulas, ulcers, and Hayeth the fpreading or earing of cancers and ulcers ; it helpeth the itch, fcabs, wheals, and other breakings out in any part of the body. The juice of Celandine. Ficld-daifies, and Ground-ivy clarified and a little fine lugar diflolved therein, and drop- ped into the eyes, is a fovereign remedy for all pains, red- nefs, and watering of them ; as alfo for the pin and web, ikins and films growing over the fight ; it helpeth beafis as well as men. The jmce dropped into the ears, doth won- derfully help the noife and tinging of them, and helpeth the hearing which is decayed. Ic is good to tun up with new drink, for it will clarify it in a night, that it will be the fitter to be drank the next morning ; or if any drink be thick with removing, or any other accident, it will do the like in a few hours. Alexander. IT is alfo called Aiifander, Horfe-parfley, and Wild- parfley, and the Black Pot-herb ; the feed of it is that which is ulually fold in apothecaries fliops for Macedonian Parfley-fced. Dcfcript.~\ It is ufually fown in all the gardens in Europe, and 10 well known, that it needs no fartner delcription. ft me."] It flowereth in June and J uly ; the feed is ripe in AuguH. ' 4 C ov rn- 10 Tbt Englifti Phyfician Enlarged. Government and Firtues.] It is an herb of Jupiter, atld therefore friendly to nature, for it warmeth a cold llomach, and openeth a ftoppage to the liver and fpleen ; it is good to move women’s courfes, to expel the after-birth, to break wind, to provoke urine, and helpeth the ftrangury : and thefe things the feeds will do likewile. If either of them be boiled in wine, or being bruifed and taken in wine, is alfo effe&ual againft the biting of ferpents. And you know what Alexander Pottage is good for, that you may no longer eat it out of ignorance, but out of knowledge. The Black Alder-tree. Vefcriptd] JT^HIS tree feldom groweth to any great big- | nefs, but for the mod: part abideth like a hcdge-bufli, or a tree fpreading its branches, the wood of the body being white, and a dark red cole, or heart ; the outward bark is of a blackifh colour, with many whitifli fpots therein ; but the inner bark next the wood is yellow, which being chewed, will turn the fpittle near into a faftron co- lour. The leaves are fomewhat like thofe of an ordinary Alder-tree, or the Female Cornet, or Dogberry-tree, called in Sufl'ex Dog-wood, but blacker, and not fo long. The flowers are white, coming forth tfcith the leaves at the joints, which turn into fmall round berries, firft green, afterward* red, but blackifh when they arc thorough ripe, divided, as it were, into two parts, wherein is contained two fmall round and flat feeds. The root runneth not deep into the ground, but fpreads rather under the upper cruft of the earth. Place.] This tree orfhrub may be found plentifully in St. Tohn’s wood by Hornfey, and the woods upon Hamftead- Heath ; as alfo a wood called the Old Park in Barcomb in Elfex, near the brooks Tides. Time. ] It flowereth in May, and the berries are ripe in September. Government and F'irtues.'] It is a tree of Venus, and per- haps under the celeftial fign Cancer. The inner yellow' bark hereof purgeth downwards both cholcr and phlegm, and the watery humours of fuch that have the dropfy, and ftrengthens the inward parts again by binding. If the bark hereof be boiled with Agrimony, Wormwood, Dodder, Hops and fome Fennel, with Smallage, Endive, and Suc- tory-roots, and a reafonable draught taken every morning 6 . for It The Englifh Phyfician Enlarged. for fome time together, it is very effectual againft the jaun- dice, dropfy, and the evil dilpolition of the body, efpecially if fome fuitable purging medicines have been taken before, to void thegrolfer excrements : It purgeth and llrcngtheneth the liver and fpleen, cleanfing them from fuch evil humour* and hardnefs as they are afflicted with. It is to be under- ftood that thefe things are performed by the dried bark ; for the frelh green bark taken inwardly provokes ftrong vomit- ings, pains in the ftomach, and gripings in the belly ; yec if the deco&ion may ftand and fettle two or three days, until the yellow colour be changed black, it will not work fo ftrongly as before, but will ftrengthen the ftomach, and pro- cure an appetite to meat. The outward bark contrariwifa doth bind the body, and is helpful for all lafks and fluxes thereof, but this alfo muft be dried firft, whereby it will work the better. The inner bark thereof boiled in vinegar is an approved remedy to kill lice, to cure the itch, andtak* away fcabs, by drying them up in a ftiort time. It is Angu- larly good to walh the teeth, to take away the pains, to fallen thole that are loofe, to cleanfe them, and keep them found. The leaves are good fodder for kine, to make them giv* more milk. In the Spring-time you ufe the herbs before-mentioned, and will take but a handful of each cf them, and to them add an handful of EMer buds, and having bruifed 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 confume the phleg- matic quality the Winter hath left behind it, and withal to keep your body in health, and confume thole evil humours which the heat of Summer will readily ftir up. Efteein it a* a jewel. The Common Alder-tree. Dcfcript .] /^iROWETH to a reafonable height, and VJT fpreads much if it like the place. It is fo generally well known unto country people, that 'I conceive it needlefs fo tell that which is no news. Place and Time.] It delighteth to grow in moift woods, and watery places ; flowering in April or May, and yield- ing ripe feed in September. Govern- 12 2 he Englifn Phfician Enlarged. Government and Ufe.'] It is a tree under the dominion of Venus, and of fome watery fign or other, I fuppofe Pifces ; and therefore the decoction, or diftilled water of the leaves, is excellent againft burnings and inflammations, either with wounds or without, to bathe the place grieved with, and efpecially for that inflammation in the breaft, which the vul- ger call an ague. If you cannot get the leaves (as in Winter ’tis impollible) make ufe of the bark in the fame manner. The leaves and bark of the Alder-tree are cooling, dry- ing, and binding. The frefh leaves laid upon fwel lings difl'olve them, and flay the inflammations. The leaves put under the bare feet gauled with travelling, are a great re- freshing to them. The faid leaves gathered while the morn- ing dew is on them, and brought into a chamber troubled with fleas, will gather them thereunto, wliich being fud- denly call out, will rid the chamber of thofe troublei'ome bedfellows. Angelica. O TO write a defeription of that which is fo well known to be growing almotl in every garden, I fuppofe is al- together needlefs ; yet for its virtues it is of admirable ufe. In time of Heathenifm, when men had found out any excellent herb, they dedicated it to their gods ; as the Bay-tree to Apollo, the Oak to J upiter, the Vine to Bacchus, the Poplar to Hercules. Thefethe PapilTs following as the Patriarchs, they dedicate to their Saints ; as our Lady’s Thiflle to the Blefled Virgin, St. John’s Wort to St. John, and another Wort to St. Peter, &c. Our phyficians mull imitate like apes (though they can riot come off half fo cleverly) for they blafpliemouily call Phanfies or Hearts- eafe, an herb for the Trinity , becaufe it is of three colours ; And a certain ointment, and ointment of the Jjpojiles, becaufe it conlills of twelve ingredients : Alas, I am lorry for their folly, and grieved at their blafphcmy ; God fend them wifdom the reft of their age, for they have their fharc of ignorance already. Oh ! Why muftours be blafphemous, becaufe the Heathens and Papiilswere idolatrous r Certainly the, have read fo much in old xully authors, that they have loft all their divinity ; for unlei's it were amongfl the Ranters, I never read or heard of i'uch blafphcmy. The Heathens The Englifh Phyfician Enlarged. 13 avid PapiPs were bad, and ours worfe ; the PapiPs giving idolatrous names to herbs for their virtues fake, not for their fair looks ; and therefore fame called this an herb of the Holy Ghnji ; others more moderate called it Angelica, becaufe of its angelical virtues, and that name it retains Pill, and all nations follow it lb near as their dialed will permit. Government and F~irtncs.~\ It is an herb of the Sun in Leo ; let it be gathered when he is there, the Moon ap- plying to his good afped ; let it be gathered either in his hour, or in the hour of Jupiter, let Sol be angular ; ob- ferve the like in gathering the herbs of other planets, and you may happen to do wonders. In all epidemical difeafes caufed by Saturn, that is as good a prefervative ns grows : It refills poifon, by defending and comforting the heart, blood, and fpirits ; it doth the like againfl the plague and all epidemical difeafes, if the root be taken in powder to the weight of half a dram at a time, with fome good treacle in Carduus wrater, and the party thereupon laid to fwe.it in his bed; if ireaclc be not to be had, take it alone in Carduus or Angelica water. The fialks or roots candied and eaten falling, are good prefervatives in time of infedlion ; and at other times to warm and comfort a cold ftomach. The root alfo Peeped in vinegar, and a little of that vinegar taken fometimes laPing, and the root fuelled unto, is good for the fame purpofe. A water dillilled from the root limply, as Peeped in wine, rtnddiPilled in a glafs, is much more effectual than the water of the leaves ; and this water, drank two or three lpoonfuls at a time, eafeth all pains and torments coming of cold and wind, fo that the body be not bound ; and taken with fomc of the root in powder at the beginning, helpcth the pleurily, as alfo all other difeafes of the lungs and breaP, as coughs, phthyfick, and Piortnefs of breath ; and a lyrup of the Palks doth the like. It helps pains of the cholick, thcPrangury and Poppaga of the urine, procureth women’s courfes, and expelleth the after-birth, openeth the Poppings of the liver i.nd fpleen, and briefly ealeth and difculleth all windinefs and inward fwcllings. The deco&iou drank before the fit of an ague, that they may fweat (if pofiiblc) before the fit conr.s, will, in two or three times taking, rid it quite away ; it helps digePion, and is % remedy for a forfeit. The juice, or the water, C being 14 The Englilh Phyfician Enlarged. being dropped into the eyes or ears, helps diinnefs of fight, and deafnefs ; the juice put into the hollow teeth, eafeth their pains. The root in powder, made up into a plalter with a little pitch, and laid on the biting of mad dogs, or any other venomous creature, doth wonderfully help. The juice or the water dropped, or tents wet therein, and put into filthy dead ulcers, or the powder of the root (in want of either) doth cleanfe and caufe them to heal quickly, by covering the naked bones with flefh ; the dillilled water ap- plied to places pained with the gout, or fciatica, doth give a great deal of eafe. The wild Angelica is not fo effedlual as the garden : al- though it may be fafely ufed to all the purpofes aforefaid. Amaranthus. BESIDES its common name, by which it is bell known by the florifis of our days, it is called Flower Gentle, Flower Velure, Floramor, and Velvet Flower. Drfcript.] It being a garden flower, and well known to every one that keeps it, I might forbear the defeription ; yet, notwithilanding, becaufe fome delire it, I fhall give it. It runneth up with a flalk a cubit high, ltreakeu, and femewhat reddifh totvard the root, but very linooth, divided towards the top with fin all branches, among which Hand long broad leaves of a reddifh green colour, flippery ; the flowers are not properly dowers, but tuffs, very beautiful to behold, but of no fmcll, of reddifh colour ; if you bruife them, they yield juice of the fame colour : being gathered, they keep their beauty along time ; the feed is of a fliining black colour. Time.'] They continue in flower from Auguft till the time the froft nip them. Government and Virtues.] It is under the dominion of Saturn, and is an excellent qualifier of the unruly adlions -and paffions of Venus, though Mars alfo fhould join with her. The flowers dried and beaten into powder, flop the terms in women, and 10 do almofi all other red things. And by the icon, or image of every herb, the ancients at fuff found out their virtues. Modern writers laugh at them for it ; but I wonder in my heart how the virtue ofh'crbs came at firftto be known, if not by their fignaturos ; the moderns have them from the writings of the ancient’s ; the ancient. The Englifh Phyficlan Enlarged. 15 had no writings to have them from: But to proceed. The flowers flop all fluxes of blood, whether in man or woman, bleeding either at the nofe or wound. There is alfo a fort of Arnaranthus that bears a white flower, which flops the. whites in women, and the running of the reins in men, and is a moil: gall&nt antivenereal, and a Angular remedy for the French pox. Anemone. CALLED alfo Wind Flower, becaufe, they fay the flow- ers never open but when the wind bloweth. Pliny is my anther; if it be not fo, blame him. The feed alfo (if it bears any at all) flies away with the wind. Place and Time.'] They are fown ufually in the gardens of the curious, and flower in the Spring-time. As for de- feription,* I fliall pafs it, being well known to all thofe that fow them. Government and Virtues. 3 It is under the dominion of Mars, being fuppofed to be a kind of Crow-foot. The leaves provoke the terms mightily, being boiled, and the tleco&ion drunk. The body being bathed with the decoc- tion of them, cures the leprofy. The leaves being damped, and the juice fnuffed up in the nofe, purgeth the head mightily ; fo doth the root, being chewed in the mouth, for it procureth much fpitting, and bringeth away many watery and phlegmatick humours, and is therefore excellent for the lethargy. And when all is done, let phyfleians prate what they pleafe, all the pills in the difpenfatory 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 ftrongcr draweth its weaker like. The fame ointment is excellent good to clcanfc malignant and corroding ulcers. Garden Arrach, C AIT. ED alfo Orach, and Aragc. Dtfcrip It is fo commonly known to every houfe* wile, it were labour loll to deferibe it. Time.] It fiowereth and iccdeth from June to the e: d of Augufl. Government and Virtues.] It is under the government C z of 16 yhe Englifh Phyfician Enlarged. of the Moon ; in quality cold and moift like unto her. It fofteneth and loofeneth the body of man being eaten, and fortifieth the expulfive faculty in him. The herb, whether it be bruifed and applied to the throat, or boiled, and in like manner applied , it matters not much, it is excellent good for fwellings in the throat ; the belf way, I fuppofe, is to boil it, and having drank the dccodtion inwardly, apply the herb outwardly : The decoftion of it befidcsis an ex- cellent remedy forthejellow jaundice. Arrach, wild and linking. CALLED alfo Vulvaria, from that part of the body, up- on which the operation is molt ; alfo Dogs Arrach, Goats Ai rach, and Stinking Motherwort. Defcript .] This hath fmall and almolt round leaves, yet a little pointed and without dent or cut, of a dulky mealy colour, growing on the {lender {talks and branches that fpread on the ground, with fmall flowers in clutters fet with the leaves, and fmall feeds fucceedinglike the reft, perifhing yearly, and rifing again with its own fowing. It finclls like rotten fifh, or fomething worfe. Place.'] It grows ufuaily upon dunghills. ’Time.} They flower in June or July, and their feed is ripe quickly after. Government and Virtues.] Stinking Arrach is ufed as a remedy to help women pained, and almoft ftrangled with the mother, by fmellingto it ; but inwardly taken there is no better remedy under the moon for that difrafe. I would be large in commendation of this herb, were I but eloquent. It is an herb under the dominion of Venus, and under the fign Scorpio; it is common almoft upon every dunghill. The works of God are given freely to man, his medicines are common and cheap, and eafy to be found : (’Tis the medicines of the College of Phyficians that are fo dear and fcarce to find). I commend it for an univcrlal medicine for the womb, and fuch a medicine as will eafily, lately, and fpeedily cure any difeafe thereof, as the fits of the mother, dii location, or falling out thereof ; it cools the womb being over heated. And let me tell you this, and I will tell you the truth, heat of the womb is one of the greateft caufes of hard labour in child-birth. It makes barren women fruit- ful, It cleanleth the womb if it be foul, and ftrengthens it ✓ exceedingly The Englifh Phyfician Enlarged. 17 exceedingly ; it provokes the terms if they be flopped, and flops them if they How immoderately ; you can defire no good to your womb, but this herb will effedf it ; therefore if you love children, if you love health, if you love eafe, keep a lyrup always by you, made of the juice of this herb, and fugar, (or honey, if it be to cleanfe the womb) and let inch as be rich keep it for their poor neighbours ; and be- flovv it as freely as I bcilow my fludies upon them, or elf* let them look to anfwer it another day, when the Lord (hall come to make inquifition of blood. Archangel. TO put a glofs upon their practice, the phyficians call an herb (which country people vulgarly know by the name of Dead Nettle) Archangel ; whether they favour more of fuperflition or folly, 1 leave to the judicious reader. Thera is more curiofity than courtcly to my countrymen ufed by others in the explanation as well of the names, as defeription of this fowell known herb ; which, that I may not alio be guilty of, take thislhort defeription, firft of the Red Arch* angel. Dcfcript .} This has divers fquare flalks, fomewhat hairy, at the joints whereof grow two fad green leaves dented about the edges, oppolite to one another to the lowermoft upon long foot flalks, but without any toward the tops, which are fomewhat round, yet pointed, and a little crumpled and hairy ; round about the upper joints, where the leaves grow thick, are fundry gaping flowers of a pale reddilh colour ; after which come the feeds three or four in a hulk. The root is fmaller and thready, perifliing every year ; the whole plant hath a ftrong (cent, but not (linking. White Archangel hath divers fquare flalks, none (landing Araight upward, but bending downward, whereon (land two leaves at a joint, larger and more pointed than the other, dented about the edges, and greener all'o, more like unto Nettle leaves, but not (linking, yet hairy. At the joints with the leaves (land larger and more open gaping white flowers, hulks round about the flalks, but not with l'uch a bufli of leaves as flowers fet in the top, as is on the other wherein Hand iipall roundifli black feeds ; the root is white, with, many Arings at it, not growing downward, C 3 but iS The Englifli PJjyfician Enlarged. hut lying under the upper cruft of the earth, and abidetfu many years increasing ; this hath not fo ftrong a fcent as the former. Yellow Archangel is like the white in the ftalks and leaves ; but that the ftalks are moreftraight and upright, and the joints with leaves are farther afunder, having linger leaves than the former, and the flowers a little larger and more gaping, of a fair yellow colour in moft, in fome paler. The roots are like white, only they creep not fo much under the ground. Place. J They grow almoft every where, un lefts it be in the middle of the ftreet ; the yellow moft uftually in the wet grounds of woods, and fometimes in the drier, in divers counties of this nation. Time. J They flower from the beginning of the Spring all ibe Summer long. Tirtucs etui Ufe.~\ The Archangels are ftomewhat hot and drier than the flinging Nettles, and lifted with better fuccefs for the flopping and hardnefts of the fpleen, than they, by ufing the decodiion of the herb in wine, and after- wards applying the herb hot unto the region of the fpleen as a plafter, or the decodtion with fpunges. Flowers of the White Archangel are preferved or conferved to be ufed to flay the whites, and the flowers of the red to flay the reds in women. It makes the heart merry, drives away melancholy, quickens the fpirits, is good againft quartan agues, ftauncheth bleeding at mouth and nofe, if it be flamped and applied to the nape of the neck ; the herb alfo bruiied, and with fome fait and vinegar and hogs-greafte, laid upon an hard tumour or fwclling, or that vulgarly called the king’s evil, do help to diflolve or difeufts them ; and being in like manner applied, doth much allay the pains, and give cafe to the gout, ftciatica, and other pains of the joints and iinews. It is alfo very effectual to heal green wounds and old ulcers ; alfo to flay their fretting, gnawing, and lpreading. It draweth forth fplinters, and fuch like things gotten into the flefli, and is very good againft: bruifes and burnings. But the yellow Archangel is moft commended for old, filthy, corrupt fores and ulcers, yea although they grow to be hollow ; and to dillolve tumours. The chief ufe of them is for women, it being a herb of Venus, and may be found in ray Guide for IFomni. Arflmart *9 The Engllfh Phyfician Enlarged. Ai Ulna it. rT^HE hot Arflmart is alfo called Water-pepper, or Cul- X rage. The mild Arflmart is called dead Arflinart Per- ciearia, or Peach-wort, becaufe the leaves are fo like the leaves of a peach-tree ; it is a To called Plumbago. Defer; pi ion HE ordinary Avenshath many long, rough, X dark-green winged leaves, riling from the root, every one made of many leaves fet on eaeh lidc of the middle rib, the larged three whereof grow at the end and are fnipped or dented round about the edges ; the other being (mail pieces, fometimes two and fometimes four, {land* ing on each lidc of the middle rib underneath them. Among which do rife up divers rough or hairy (talks about two feet high, branching forth with leaves at every joint, not fo long as thofe below, but almoft as much cut in on the edges, l'ome into three parts, forne into more. On the tops ot the branches Itund fmall, pale yellow flowers, confiding of five leaves, like the flowers of Cinquefoil, but large, in the middle whereof ftandeth a fmall green herb, which when the flower is fallen, groweth to be round, being made of many long grecnifh purple feeds (like grains) which will flick upon your cloaths. The roots confifts of many brovvn- ifli firings or fibres, fmelling fomewhat like unto cloves, efpecially thofe which grow in the higher, hotter, and drier grounds, and in free and clear air. Place."] They grow wild in many places under hedges fides, and by the path-ways in fields ; yet they rather delight to grow in fhadowy than funny places. Time .] They flower in May and June for the moft part, and their feed is ripe in July at the farthefl. Government and Virtues.] It is governed by Jupiter, and that gives hopes of a wholefome healthful herb. It is good for the difeales of the cheft or bread, for pains, and flitches in the fide, and to expel crude and raw humours from the belly and domach, by the fwcet favour and warming quality. It dilfolves the inward congealed blood happening by. falls or bruifes, and the (pitting of blood, if the root, either green or dry, be boiled in wine and drank ; as alfo all manner of inward wounds or outward, if walhcd or bathed therewith. The decodtion alfo being drank. Comforts the heart, and flrengthens the domach and a cold train, and thevclore is good in the Spring-time to open obflrudtiom * The Englilli Phyfician Enlarged. 2$ obftru&ions of the liver, and helpeth the wind colick ; it all'o helps thole that have fluxes, or are burften, or have a rupture ; it taketh away fpots or marks in the face, being wafhed therewith. The juice of the frefli roof, or powder of the dried root, hath the fame cfibft with the decodtion. The root in the Spring-time, ftcepcd in wine, doth give it a delicate favour and tafle, and being drank falling every morning, comforteth the heart, and is a good prefervativc againft the plague, or any other poifon. It helpeth di- geftion, and warmeth a cold ftomach, and openeth ob- itruclions of the liver and fpleen. It is very lafe ; you need have no dofe prcfcribed ; and is very fit to be kept in every body’s houl'e. Balm. THIS herb is fo well known to be an inhabitant almoft in every garden, that I {hall not need to write any defcription thereof, although the virtues thereof, which are many, fliould not be omitted. Government and Virtues.] It is an herb of Jupiter, and under Cancer, and flrengthcns nature much in all its ac- tions. Let a lyrup be made with the juice of it and fugar (as you {ball be taught at the latter end cf the book) be kept in every gentlewoman’s houfe, to relieve the weak ftomachs and lick bodies of their poor fichly neighbours ; as alfo the herb kept dry in the houfe, that fo with other con- venient fimples, you may make into an eledtuary with honey, according as the difeafe is, you (hall be taught at the latter end of my book. The Arabian phyficians have extolled the virtues of this herb to the ikies ; although the Greeks thought it not worth mentioning. Seraphic faith, it caufeth the mind and heart to become merry, and rc- viveth the heart, faintings and l'woonings, efpecially of fuch who are overtaken in deep, anddriveth away all troublefome cares and thoughts out of the mind, arifingfrom melancholy or black choler ; which Avicena alfo confirmeth. It is very good to help digeftion, and open obftrudHons of the brain, and hath fo much purging quality in it (faith Avicena) as to expel thofe melancholy vapours from the fpirits and blood which arc in the heart and arteries, although it cannot do fo in other parts of the body. Dio- fcorides faith, That the leaves ftecped ia wine, and the 26 The Englifh Fhyfician Enlarged 1 wine drank, and the leaves externally applied, is a remedy againft tire flings of a fcorpion, and the bitings of mad dogs ; and commendeth the decoCtion thereof for women to bathe or fit in to procure their courfes ; it is good to wafli aching teeth therewith, and profitable for thole that have the bloody -flux. The leaves allb, with a little nitre, taken in drink, are good againft the furfeit of mufli rooms, help the griping pains of the belly ; and being made into an electua- ry, it is good for them that cannot fetch their breath : Ufed with fait, it takes away wens, kernels, or hard fweHings in the flefh or throat ; it cleanfeth foul fores, and eafeth pains of the gout. It is good for the liver and fpleen. A tanfy or caudle made with eggs, and juice thereof while it is young, putting to it fome fugar and rofe-wateV, is good for a woman in child-bed, when the after-birth is not thoroughly voided, and for their faintings upon or in their fore travel. The herb bruifed and boiled in a little wine and oil, and laid warm on a boil, will ripen it, and break it* Barberry. THE fhrub is fo well known by every boy and girl that hath but attained to the age of leven years, that it needs no defeription. Government and Virtues,] Mars owns the fhrub, and prefents it to the ufe of iny 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 clean!? the body of choleric humours, and free it from fuch difeafes as choler caufeth, fuch as lcabs, itch, tetters, ringworms, yellow jaundice, boils, &c. It is excellent for hot agues, burnings, fcaldingS, heat of the blood, heat of the liver, bloody flux ; for the berries areas good as the bark, and more pleafing ; they get a man a good ftomach to his victuals, by ftrength- ening the attractive faculty which is under Mars, as you may fee more at large at the latter end of my Ephcmcris for the year 1651: The hair waflied with the lee made of afhes of the tree and water, will make it turn yellow, viz, of Mars’ own colour. The fruit and rind of the fhrub, the flowers of broom and of heath, or furz, clcanfe the body of choler by fympatby, as the flowers, leaves, and bark of the peach-tree do by antipathy ; bccaufe thefe arc under Mars, that under Venus. Barley. 17 The Englifii Phyfician Enlarged. Barley. THE continual ufefulncfs hereof hath made all in ge- neral fo acquainted herewith, that it is altogether needlefs to defcribe it, feveral kinds hereof plentifully grow- ing, being yearly fown in this land. The virtues thereof take as followeth : Government and Virtues.'] It is a notable plant of Saturn : if you view diligently its effe&s by fympathy and antipa- thy you may ealily perceive a reafon of them ; as alfo why barley -bread is lb unwholfome for melancholy people. Barley, in all the parts and compofitions thereof, (except malt) is more cooling than wheat, and a little cleanfing : And all the preparations thereof, as Barley-w'ater and other things made thereof, do give great nourifhment to pcrfons troubled with fevers, agues, and heats in the flo- mach. A pQultice made of barley-meal, or flour boiled in vinegar and honey, and a few dry figs put into them, dif- folveth all hard impofthumes, and affuageth inflammations, being thereto applied. And being boiled with nielilot and camomile-flowers, and fome linfeed, fenugreek, and rue in powder, and applied warm, it eafeth pains in the fide and flomach, and windinefs of the fpleen. The meal of bar- ley and fleawort boiled in water, and made a poultice with honey and oil of lilies, applied warm, cureth iwellings un- der the cars, throat, neck, and fuch like ; and a plaflcr made thereof with tar, wax, and oil, helpcthjthe King’s evH jn the throat ; boiled with fharp vinegar into a poultice, and laid on hot, hclpcth the leprofy ; being boiled in red wine, with pomegranate rind, and myrtles, flayeth the lafk, , or other flux of the belly ; boiled with vinegar and qgince, it eafeth the pains of the gout; barley-flour, white fait, honey, and vinegar, mingled together, taketh away the itch, fpeedily and certainly. The water diftilled from the green barley, in the end of May, is very good for thofe that have defludions of humours fallen into their eyes, and eafeth the pain being dropped into them ; or white-bread fteeped therein and bound on the eyes doth the fame. I Garden Bazil, or Sweet Bazil. Defcript.] rT''HE greater or ordinary Bazil rifeth up X ufually with one upright ftalk, diverfely branching £3 The Englifh Phyfician Enlarged. branching forth on all fidcs, with two leaves at ever/ joint, which are fomewhat broad and round, yet pointed of a pale green colour, but frelh ; a little fnipped about the edges, and of a ftrong, healthy lcent. The floweis are fmall and white, and (landing at the tops of the branches, with two fmall leaves at the joints, in feme places green, in others brown, after which come black feed. The root perifneth at the approach of Winter, and therefore mu ft be new fown every year. Place.'] It groweth in gardens. Time. It muft be lowed late, and flowxrs in the heart of Summer, being a very tender plant. Government a?ul Virtues. This is the herb which all authors are together by the ears about, and rail at one another (like lawyers.) Galen and Diofcoridcs hold it not fitting to be taken inwardly ; and Chryfipus rails at it with downright Billingfgate rhetoric : Pliny, and the Arabian phyficians, defend it. For mine own part, I prefently found that fpeech true ; Non no ft rum inter nos tantas componere lites. And away to Dr. l’eafon went I, who told me it was an herb of Mars, and under the Scorpion, and perhaps there- fore called Bafilieon, and it is no marvel if it carry a kind of virulent quality with it. Being applied to the place bitten by venomous beads, or ftung by a wafp or hornet, it fpeedily draws the poifon to it. Every like draws his like. Miznldus affirms, that, being laid to rot in horlc-dung, it will breed venomous bc.afts. Hilarious, a French phyli- cian, affirms, upon his own knowledge, that an acquaint- ance of his, by common duelling to it, had a fcorpion bred in his brain. Something is the matter, this herb and rue will never grow together, no, nor near one another ; and we know rue is as great an enemy to poifon as any that grows. To conclude, it expclleth both birth and after-birth ; and as it helps the deficiency of Venus in one kind, fo it fpoils all her actions in another. I dare write no more of it. The Bay Tree. THIS is fo well known that it needs no defeription ; I Khali therefore only write the virtues thereof, which are many. Government end Virtues .] 1 Khali but only add a word or The Englifh Phyfician Enlarged. 29 •r two to what my friend hath written, viz. That it is a tree of the fun, and under the celeliial lign Leo, and re- liftcth witchcraft very potently, as alfo all the evils old Saturn can do to the body of man, and they are not a lew ; for it is the fpeech of one, and I am miffaken if it were not JVlizaldus, that neither witch nor devil, thunder nor light- ening, will hurt a man in the place where a bay-tree is. Galen laid, that the leaves or bark do dry and heal very much, and the berries more than the leaves ; the bark of the root is lei's lharp and hot, but more bitter, and hath fome aflriiffion withal, whereby it is effectual to break the done, and good to open obtli udtions of the liver, fpleen, and other inward parts, which bring the jaundice, dropfy, &c. The berries are very effectual againft all poiion or ve- nomous creatures, and the lling of waips and bees ; as alfo againil the pefWence, or other infectious difeafes, and therefore put into fundry treacles for that purpofe : They likewife procure women’s courfes ; and feven of them given to a woman in fore travel of child-birth, do caufe a fpeedy delivery, and expel the after-birth, and therefore not to be taken by fuch as have not gone out their time, leil they procure abortion, or caufe labour too foon. They wonder- fully help all cold and rhumatic ditlillations from the brain to the eyes, lungs, or other parts ; and being made into an eledluary with honey, do help the conlumption, old coughs, fliortnefs of breath, and. thin rheums; as alfo the megrum. They mightily expel the wind, and provoke urine ; help the mother, and kill the worms. The leaves alfo work the like efl'edfs. A bath of the decodfion of the leaves and ber- ries, is fingularly good for women to fit in, that are troubled with the mother, or the difeafes thereof, or the lfoppings of their courfes, or for the difeafes of the bladder, pains in the bowels by wind and flopping of urine. A deeoftion likewife of equal parts ot Bay berries, cummin-l'eed, hyf- fop, origanum, and euphorbium, with fome honey, and the head bathed therewith, doth wonderfully help diilillations and rheums, and fettleth the palate of the mouth intuits place. The oil made of the berries is very comfortable in all cold griefs of the joints, nerves, arteries, l'tomach, belly, or womb, and helpeth pallies, convulfions, cra#pp&* aches, tremblings and numbnefs in any part, vvearinefs alfo, and pains that come by fore travelling. All griefs 30 The Englifh Phyfician Enlarged.- and pains proceeding from wind, either in the head, iio- mach, back, belly, or womb, by anointing the parts af- fected therewith : And pains in the ears are alfo cured by dropping in fome of the oil, or by receiving into the ears the fume of the decoCtion of the berries through a funnel. The oil takes away the marks of the fkin and flefli by bruiics, falls. Sec. and dillblveth the congealed blood in them : It helpeth alfo the itch, fcabs and weals in the fkin. Beans. BOTH the garden and field beans are fo well known, that it faveth me the labour of writing any defcription of them. Their virtues follow. Government and Virtues .] They are plants of Venus, and the ditfilled water of the flower of garden beans is good to clean the face and fkin from fpots and wrinkles, and the meal or flour of them, or the finall beans doth the fame. The water diftilled from the green hufks, is held to be ve- ry effectual againft the ftone, and to provoke urine. Bean flour is ufed in poultices to affuage inflammations fifing upon wounds, and the fwelling of women’s breafis, caufed by the curdling of their milk, and repreffeth their milk : Flour of beans and fenugreek mixed with honey, and ap- plied to felons, boils, bruifes, or blue marks by blows, or the impofthumes in the kernels of the ears, helpeth them all; and with rofe leaves, frankincenfe, and the white of an egg, being applied to the eyes, helpeth them that are fwollen or do water, or have received any blow upon them, if u fed with wine. If a Bean be parted in two, the fkin being taken away, and laid on the place where the leech hath been fet that bleedeth too much, ilayeth the bleeding. Bean flour boiled to a poultice with wine and vinegar, and fome oil put thereto, eafeth both pains and fwelling of the cods. The hufks boiled in water to the confumption of a third part thereof, ilayeth a lafk : And the allies of the hufks, made up. with old hog’s greafe, helpeth the old pains, contufions, and wounds of the finews, the feiatica and gout. The field Beans have all the afore-mentioned virtues as the garden Beans. Beans eaten are extremely windy meat; but if after the Dutch fafhion, when they are half boiled you hulk them, and then flew them (I cannot tell you how, for I never was cook in all my life) they are wholcfome food. The Englifh Phyfician Enlarged 31 French Beans. Defer French or Kidney-Bean arifeth at firft 1 but with one llalk, which afterwards di- vides itfelf into many arms or branches, but all fo weak that if they be not fuftained with flicks or poles, they will be fruitlefs upon the ground. At feveral places of thcle branches grow loot flalks, each with three broad, round, and pointed green leaves at the end of them ; towards the top comes forth divers flowers made like unto peas blofloms, of the fame colour for the mod part that the fruit will be of; that is to fay, white, yellow, red, blackifh, or of a deeper purple, but white is the inoft ufual ; after which come long and (lender flat pods, feme crooked, fome llraight, with a firing running down the back thereof, wherein is flattifli round fruit made like a kidney ; the root long, fpreadeth with many firings annexed to it, and perifheth every year. There is another fort of French Beans commonly growing with us in this land, which is called the fcarlet- flovvered Bean. This arifeth with fundry branches as the other, but runs higher to the length of hop-poles, about which they grow twining, but turning contrary to the fun, having foot-ftalks with three leaves on each, as on the other ; the flowers alfo are like the other, and of a moll orient fcarlet colour. The Beans are larger than the ordinary kind, of a dead purple colur, turning black when ripe and dry : The root perilheth in Winter. Government and Virtues .J Thefe alfo belong to Dame Venus, and being dried and beat to powder, are as great flrengtheners of the kidneys as any are ; neither is there a better remedy than it ; a dram at a time taken in white wine, to prevent the (lone, or to cleanfe the kidneys of gravel or l’toppage. The ordinary French Beans arc of an eai'y digeflion ; they move the belly, provoke urine, enlage the breail when it is cont railed by a fhortnefs of breath, engender lperm, and incite to venery. And the fcarlet- co loured Beans, in regard of the glorious beauty ot their colour, being let near a quickfet hedge, will bravely adorn the fame by climbing up thereon, lb that they may be difeerned a great way, not without admiration ot the be- holder 3 2 the Engiifh Phyfician Enlarged, holders at a diftance. Bat they will go near to kill the qujekfets by cloathing them in fcarlet. Ladies Bed-Straw. ESIDES the common name above written, it is called j j) Cheefe-Rennet, becaufe it performs the fame office ; as alfo Galliori, Pettimuggct, and Maid-Hair j and by fome, Wild Rofemary. Defcript. ] This rifeth up with divers fmall, brown and fquare upright ftalks a yard high or more ; fometimes branches forth into divers parts, full of joints, and with divers very fine fmall leaves at every one of them, little or nothing rough at all ; at the top3 of the branches grow many long tufts or branches of yellow flowers very thick fet together, from the fevcral joins which coniift of four leaves a-piece, which fmell fomevvhat ftrong, but not un- pleafant. The feed is fmall and black like poppy feed, two for the mod part joined together : The root is reddifh, with many fmall threads fattened unto it, which take ttrong hold of the ground, and creepeth a little : and the branches leaning a little down to the ground, take root at the joints thereof, whereby it is eafily encreafed. There is another fort of Ladies Bed-draw growing frequently in England which beareth white flowers as the other doth yellow ; but the branches, of this are fo weak, that unlcfs it be luftained by the hedges, or other things near which it.groweth, it will lie down to the ground: The leaves a little bigger than the former, and the flowers not Jo plentiful as thefc ; and the root hereof is alfo thready and abiding. Plice.~\ They grow in meadows and patturcs both wet and dry, and by the hedges. Time.'] They flower in May for the raoll parr, and the feed is ripe in July and Augufr. Government and P~i< t ie; They are both herbs of Venus, and therefore {Lengthening the parts both internal and external, which flic rules. The dcco&ion of the former of thofe being drank, is good to fret and break the ttone, provoke urine, ftaycth inward bleeding, and healeth inward wounds. The herb or,flower bruifed and put up into the nottrils, ftaycth their bleeding likewife : The flowers and herbs being made into an oil, by being fet in the fun, and changed U= roots are fome! ' n ll ' f hc ore differently red, fome only with dark rid Th'“S ’ fT "‘r • frc,fl' reJ- of a r0W tne,e0f ,S red- -a not ufed <0S:TC:: andpn, The figment of tbefe two lorn of beets are far different: the red Beet being under Saturn, and the vvh,te under Jupiter ; there.fo.-e take the vn ucs of them apart, each by itfelf: The white Beet doth much loolcntiie belly, and is of a clcanliug, digefling quality, and provoke, h urine. The juice oflt openeth obftruAions botn of the liver and (plan, and is good for tne head-ach and Iwimmings therein, and turnings of the brain ; and is effcAual alf, again ft all venomous creatures • 6 and 34 The Englifh Phyfician Enlarged. and applied unto the temples, ftayeth inflammations in the eyes ; it helpeth burnings, being ufed without oil, and with a little allum put to it, is good for Sr. Anthony’s fire.. It is o-oodfov all wheals, puftules, blifters, and blains in the (kin : the herb boiled and laid upon chilblains or kibes, helpeth them. The deco&ion thereof in water and fomc vinegar, healeth the itch, if bathed therewith, and cleanf- eth die head of dandriff, feurf, and dry fcabs, and doth much good for fretting and running lores, ulcers, and can- kers in the head, legs, or other parts, and. is much com- mended again ft baldnefs and fliedding the hair. > The red Beet is good to ftay the bloody -flux, women s courfes, and the whites, and to help the yellow jaundice : the juice of the root put into the noftrils, purgeth the head, helpeth the noife in the ears, and the tooth-ach ; the juice fn lifted up the nofe, helps a ftinking breath, it the caufe lies in the nofe, as many times it doth, if any bruife hath been there ; as alio want of fmell coming that way. Water Betony. CALLED alio Brown-wort, and in Yorkfliire, Bifhops- leaves. „ ...... Dcfcript.] Fir ft, of the Water Betony, which riieth up with fquare, hard, greenifli ftalks, fometimes brown, ftt with broad dark green leaves dented about the edges with notches fomewhat refembling the leaves ot the Wood .Be- tony, but much larger too, for the moftpait let at a joint. rppe powers are many, fet at the tops oi the 1 ilks and branches, being round bellied and opened at the brims, and divided into two parts, the uppermoft being like a hood, v nd the lowermoft like a hip hanging down, of a dark led colour, which paffing, 'there come in their places fmall round heads with fmall points at the ends, wherein lie fmall and brownilh feeds ; the root is a thick bufll of brings and llircds growing from the head. place.] It groweth by the ditch-fide, brooks, and other water-coui fes, generally through this land, and is ieldom found far from the watci-fide. Time']. It flow crcth about July, and the feed is ripe in Auguft. . . Government and Virtues.] Water Betony is an herb ot TUpiter in Cancer, and is appropriated more to wounds and J * hurts The Englifh Phyfician Enlarged. 35 hurts in the breads than Wood Betony, which follows • It is an excellent remedy for lick hogs. It is of a cleaniine quality : The leaves bruifed and applied are cffcaual for all old and filthy ulcers ; and efpecially if the juice of the leaves be boiled with a little honey, and dipped 'therein, and the lores drelled therewith ; as alfo for bruifes or hurts whether inward or outward: The diftillcd water of the eaves is ufed tor the fame purpofe ; as alfo to bathe the lace and hands Ipotted or blemiihed, or difcoloured by fun burning. . J I confefs I do not much fancy diftilled waters, I mean fuch waters as are diftilled cold ; fome virtues of the herb they may happily have (it were a ftrange thing elle) ; but this I am confident of, that being diftifled in a' pewter ftill as the vulgar and apifli falhion is, both chymical oil and lalt is left behind, unlefs you burn them', and then all is i polled , water and all, which was good for as little as can be by luch a diftillation in my tranfladon of the London IJilpenfatory. VvTood Betony. Dfcnjet'] /^OMJION or Wood Betony hath many V>< leaves riling from the root, which are lomewhat broad and round at the end, roundly dented about the edges, Handing upon long foot Hulks, from amono- which anle up l.nall, fquarc, llender, but upright hairy (talks* with lome leaves thereon to a piece at the j fiiits, lin illcrthan the lower whereon are fet feveral fpiked heads of flowers luee lavender, but thicker and fliorter for the moft part, and yf a reddiflior purple colour, fpottcl with whit * (pots’ both m the upper and lower parr, the feeds hr ing contained within tnc hulks that hold the 11 nvers, are blackilli, lomewhat long and uneven. Flic roots are many white thready firings'; the ltaik periftieth, but the roots, with fome leaves thereon! abide all the \. inter. I he whole plant is fomething fmall. . J\laLf 3 Ir groweth frequently in woods, and delightet’h in fliady places. . Time.] And it flowereth in July ; after which the feed is quickly ripe, yet in its prime in May. Government and Girt urs.] I lie herb is appropriated to the planet. Jupiter, and the fign Aries. Antonius Mufa, phyfician to the Emperor Auguftus Caefar, wrote a pccular book 2 6 The Englifh Phyfician Enlarged. book of the virtues of this herb ; and among other virtues, faith of it, that it prefcrveth the liver and bodies of men from the danger of epidemical dileafes, and from witch- crafts alfo ; it helpcth thofe that lothe or cannot digeft their meat, thofe that have weak ftomachs, or four bejeh- ings, or continual riling in their ftomach, ufing it fami- liarly, either green or dry ; either the herb or root, or the flowers in broth, drink, or meat, or made into confervc, fyrup, water, electuary, or powder, as every one may belt frame themfelves unto, or as the time or fealbn requireth ; taken any of the atorefaid ways, it helpeth the. jaundice, falling-ficknefs, the palfy, convullions, or flirinking of the iinews, the gout, and thofe that are inclined to dropfy, thofe that have continual pains in their heads, although it turn to phrenfy. The powder mixed with pure honey, is no lefs available for all forts of coughs and colds, wheel- ing, or fhortnefs of breath, diftillations of thin rheum upon the lungs, which caufcth confumptions. The de- coition made with mead, and a little penny-royal, is good for thofe that are troubled with putrid agues, whether quotidian, tertian, or quartan, and to drary down and evacuate the blood and humours, that by falling into the eyes, do hinder the fight ; the decodtion thereof made in wine, and taken, killeth the worms in the belly, open- eth obflruftions both of the fpleen and liver, curctl» flitches, and the pains in the back or lidcs, the torments and griping pains of the bowels, and the wind-colick ; and mixed with honey purgeth the belly, helpeth to bring down women’s courfcs, and is of fpccial ule lor thofe that are troubled with the falling down of the mother, and pains thereof, and caufcth an eafy and fpeedy delivery of women in child-birth. It helpcth alfo to break and expel the flone, either in the bladder or kidneys. The decoction with wiife gargled in the mouth, cafeth the tooth-ach. It is commended againfl the flinging or biting of venomous ferpents, or mad dogs, being tiled inwardly and applied outwardly to the place. A dram of the powder of Betonv, taken with a litile honey in fome vinegar, doth wonder- fully refrcfii thofe that are over wearied by travel. It flaycth bleeding at the mouth or nofe, and helpeth thofe that pifs orfpit blood, and thofe that arc burften or have a rupture, and is good for fuch as arc bruited by any fall or otherwife. The green herb bruifed, or the juice applied The Englifh Phyfician Enlarged. 37 to any inward hurt, or outward green wound, in the head or body, will quickly heal and dole it up ; as alfo any veins or finews that are cut; and will draw forth any broken pone or fplmter, thorn, or other things, got into the flefli. It is no lefs profitable for old fores or filthy ulcers ; yea, though t cy be hfiulous and hollow. But fome do advife to put° a httle lalt to this purport, being applied with a little hog’s- lard, n helpeth a plague fore, and other boils and pufhes. I he fume of the decothon while it is warm, received bv a funnel into the ears, eafeth the pains of them, deitroys the worms, and cureth the running fores in them. The mice dropped into them doth the fame. The root of Bctony is di plea, mg both to the tafte and ftomach, whereas the leaves and fimvers, by their fweet and lpicy tafte, are comfortable both to meat and medicine. r,P,ThJlecar-e fo™cof!the many virtues Antony Mufe, an ex- pet t phyfician (for it was not the pradiceof Odavius Csefar to keep tools about him) appropriates to Betony ; it is a very precious herb, that is certain, and molt fitting to be kept i'n. ' The’ fl 113 fyrU^ C?,nferve’ oil’ ointment,1 and plotter. lhe flowers are ufually conferved. The Beech Tree. Bracts sr„’.cal“ inSufa I fuppoie it is needlefs to deferibe it, beino- already too well known to my countrymen. a 7 ° P,We.] It groweth in woods amongft oaks and other trees and in parks, forefts, and cliaces, to feed deer, and in other places to fatten fwine. 7W ] It bloometh in the end of April, or beginning of May, for the molt part, and the fruit is ripe in September. Government and Virtues.-] It is a plant of Saturn, and therefore performs his qualities and proportion in thefe operations : The leaves of the Beech Tree are cooling and binding and therefore good to be applied to her fwellin >s to di.cufs them; the nuts co much nourifhfuch hoods as feed thereon. I he water that is found in the hollow places of decaying Beeches will cure both man and beall of any leurf, fcab, or running tetters, it they be wafhed therewith; ^ you 38 The Englifh Pbyfician 'Enlarged. you may boil the leaves into a poultice, or make anointment of them when time of year ferves. Bilberries, called by fome Whorts, and Whortle- Berries. Defcrlpt. ] thefel (hall only fpeak of two forts, which are common in England, viz. the black and red berries. And fir ft of the black. The fmall bufti creepeth along upon the ground, fcarce rifing half a yard high, with divers fmall dark green leaves fet in the green branches, not always one againlt the other, and a little dented about the edges ; at the foot of the leaves come forth fmall, hollow, pale, bluilh-coloured Howers, the brims ending in five points, with U reddifh thread in the middle, which pafs into fmall round berries of the bignefs and colour of juniper berries, but of a purple, Iweetilh, {harp tafte ; the juice of them giveth a purplilh colour in their hands and lips that eat and handle them, efpecially if they break them. The root groweth aflope under ground, fhoot- inn- forth in fundry places as it creepeth. This lofes its L. in Winter. The Red Bilberry, or Whortle-Bufli, rifeth up like the former having fund '-hard leaves, like the Box-tree leaves, green and round pc., d, {landing on the feveral branches, at the top whereof only, and not from the fides, as in the former, come forth divers round, reddifli, fappy berries, when they are ripe, of a {harp tafte. The root rtmneth in the ground, as in the former, ’t the leaves of this abide all the Winter. Place. The firft groweth in forclls, on the heaths, and fuch like barren places. The red grows in the north parts of this land, as Laneafhire, York {hire, &c. Time.] They flower in March and April, and the fruit of the black is ripe in July and Auguft. Government and Virtues.] They are under the dominion of Jupiter. It is a pity they are ufed no more in phytic than they arc. .The black Bilberries arc good in hot agues, and to cod the heat of the liver and ftomaeh ; they do lome- whatbind the belly, and flay vomitings and loathings; the juice of the berries made in a fyrup, or the pulp made into a conferve with fugar, is good for the purpofes aforefaid, as ulfo for an old cough, or an ulcer in the lungs, or other dilcuies 3 The Englifli Phyfician Enlarged. 39 difeafes therein. The red Whorts are more binding, and flop women’s courfes, fpitring of blood, or any other flax of blood or humours, being ul'ed as well outwardly as inwardly. Bifoil, or Twablade, Defcriptf r | 'MIS i'mall herb, from a root fomewhat X fweet, {hooting downwards many long firings, rifeth up a round, green fialk, bare or naked next the ground for an inch, two or three to the middle thereof, as it is in age or growth ; as all'o from the middle upward to the flowers, having only two broad plantain-like leaves (but whiter) fet at the middle of the fialk, one again ft another, compafleth it round at the bottom of them. Place. It is an ufual inhabitant in woods, copfes, and in many other places in this land. There is another fort groweth in wet grounds and marlhes, which is fomewhat different from the former. It is a fmaller plant and greener, having fometimes three leaves ; the fpikc ot the flowers is lefs than the former, and the roots of this do run or creep in the ground. They are much, and often, ufed by many to good pu rpofc for wounds, both green and old, and to confolidate or ) < ' ruptures, as well it may, being a plant of Saturn. The Birch Tree ,'L Defcript. ] 'Tr",HIS groweth a good- Hall, ftraight, tree, \ fraught with many boughs, and' llendcr branches, bending downward ; the old being covered with a difcoloured, chapped hark, and the younger being browner by much. The leaves at tb‘ lJirft breaking out are crum- pled, and afterwards like beech leaves, but fmaller and greener, and dented about the edges. It bearcth final 1, lliort cat-ikins, fomewhat like thole of the hazel-nut tree, which abide on the branches a long time, until growing ripe, they fall on the gtoun (, and their feed with them. Place. ] It ufually groweth in woods. Government and Pirtr/es.] It is a tree of Venus : the i'licn of the leaves, while they arc young, or the diltilled water of them, or the water that comes from the tree, being bored with an auger, and diftilled afterwards ; any of the '- being drank tor fome days together is available to break the ftone in the kidneys ana bladder, and is good alfo to wafli lore mouths. D 2 Bird's a 40 The Englifli Phyfician Enlarged. Bird’s Foot. THIS fmall herb groweth not above a fpan high, with many branches fpread upon the ground, let with many wings of fmall leaves. The flowers grow upon the branches, many fmall ones of a pale yellow colour being let a head together, which afterwards turneth into fmall jointed cods, well refembling the claws of fmall birds, whence it took its name. There is another fort of Bird’s Foot, in all things like the former, but a little larger; the flower of a pale whitifli red colour, and the cods diftindt, by joints, like the other, but a little more crooked ; and the roots do carry many fmall wdiite knots, or kernels, amongft the firings. Place.'] T’nefe grow on heaths, and many open, untillcd places of ihis land. Time.] They flower and feed in the end of Summer. Government and Virtues.] They belong to Saturn, and are of a drying, binding quality, and thereby very good to..be ufed in wound drinks; as alfo to apply outwardly for the fame purpofe. But the latter Bird’s Foot is found by experience to- break the flone in the back or kidneys, and drives them tut , if the decoftion thereof be taken ; and it wonderfully s^.elpeth the rupture, being taken in- wardly, and outwardly applied to the place. All falt's have boil: operation upon the flone, as oint- ments and plafters have upon wounds ; and therefore you may make a fait of this for the flone : the way how to do fo may be found in my tranflation o. the London Difpenfatory ; and it may be I may give you it tgain in plainer terms at the latter end of this book. Billiops-Weckl. BESIDES the common name, Bifliops-Wecd, it is ufually known by the Greek name Ammi and Asnmios ; fome call it /Ethiopian Cummin-feed, and others Cummin- royal, as alfo Flerb-William, and Bull-wort. Dcfcript.] Common Bilhops-weed rifeth up with a round flraight flalk, fometimes as high as a man, but ufually three or four feet high, belet with divers fmall, long, and fomewhat broad leaves, cut in fome places, and dented" about the edges, growing one againfl another, of a dark green colour, The Englifli Phyfician Enlarged. 41 colour, having fundry branches on them, and at the top tmall umbels of white flowers, which turn into fmail round feeds, little bigger than parfley-feeds, of a quick, hot fcent and tafte : the root is white and ftringy, perifhing yearly, and ufually rifeth again on its own fowing. Place.] It groweth wild in many places in England and Wales, as between Greenhithe and Gravefend. Government and Virtues. 1 It is hot and dry in the third degree, of a bitter tulle, and fomewhat fharp withal ; it pro- vokes luft to purpole : I fuppofe Venus owns it. It digeft- eth humours, provoketh urine and women’s courfes, dilfolveth wind, and being taken in wine it eafeth pains and griping in the bowels, and is good againft the biting of lerpents ; it is ufed to good effedfs in thole medicines which are given to hinder the poilonous operation of Cantharides upon the pailage of the urine ; being mixed with honey and applied to black and blue marks, coming of blows or brinies, it takes them away ; and being drank, or outward- ly applied, it abateth an high colour, and makes it pale ; and the fumes thereof, taken with rolin or raifins, cleanfeth the mother. Biftorf, or Snakeweed. IT is called Snakeweed, Englif! Serpentary, Dragon- wort. Ofterick, and Paflions. Defcript. 3 This hath a thick, fhort, knobbed, root, black- ifh without, and fomewhat reddilh within, a little crooked or turned together, of a hard aftringent tafle, with divers black threads hanging there, from whence fpring up every year divers leaves llanding upon long foot-ftalks, being fomewhat broad and long like a dock-leaf, and a little pointed at the ends, but that it is of a blueilh green colour on the upper fide, and of an afli-colour grey, and a little purplifh underneath, with divers veins therein, from among which rife up divers fmail and llender ilulks, two feet high , and almoft naked and without leaves, or with a very few, and narrow, bearing a fpikey bulh of pale-coloured flowers ; which being pall, there abideth fmail feed, like untoforrel feed, but greater. There are other forts of Billort growing in this land, but fmaller, both in height, root, and flalks, and eipecially in the leaves. The root blaikifh without, and fomewhat whitifli within, of an auftere, binding talle, as the former. D 3 Place.] 42 The Englifh Phyfician Enlarged. Place.'] They grow in fhadovvy moift woods, and ar the foot of hills, but are chiefly nourifhed up in gardens. The narrow leafed Biftort groweth in the north, in Lancafliire, Yorkfhire, and Cumberland. Time.] The}1 flower about the end of May, and the feed is ripe about the beginning of July. Government ami Virtues.] It belongs to Saturn, and is ill operation cold and dry ; both the leaves and roots have a powerful faculty to relift all poifon. The root in powder taken in drink expel le^Ji the venom of the plague, the imall-pox, mealies, purples, or any other infectious difeafe, driving it out by fweating. The root in powder, the de- c oft ion thereof in wine being drank, ftayeth all manner of inward bleeding, or fpitting of blood, and any fluxes in the body of either man or woman, or vomiting. It is alfo very available againft ruptures, or burftings, or all bruiles, or falls, diflblving the congealed blood, and eafing the pains that happen thereupon ; it alfo hclpeth the jaundice. The water diftiiled from both leaves and roots is a lingular remedy to vvafli any place bitten or flung by any venomous creature; as alfo for any of the purpol'es before fpoken of, and is very good to waflt any running fores or ulcers. The decoftion of the root in wine being drank hindereth abortion or mifearriage in child-bearing. The leaves alfo kill the worms in children, and is a great help to them that cannot keep their water ; if the juice of plan- tain be added thereto, and outwardly applied, much help- cth the gonorrhoea, or running of the reins. A dram of the powder of the root taken in water thereof, wherein fome red-hot iron or fleel hath been quenched, is alfo an admirable help thereto, fo as the body bo firft pre- paied and purged from the offenlive humours. The leaves, feed, or roots, are all very good in decoftions, drinks, or lotions, for inward or outward wounds, or other fares. And the powder ihewed upon any cut or wound in a vein, ftayeth the immoderate bleeding thereof. The decoftion ot the root in water, where unto fome pomegra- nate-pcels and flowers are added, injefted into the matrix, ftayeth the immoderate flux of the courfes. The root th -reef, with pcllitory of Spain, and burnt allum, of each, n little quantity, beaten fmall and made into pafle, with fome honey, and a little piece thereof put into an hollow tooth, The Englifh Phyfician Enlarged. 4; tooth, or held between the teeth, if there be no hollownefs in them, ltayeth the deftuxion of rheum upon them, which caufeth pains, and helps to clean fe the head, and void much often live water. The diftilled water is very eft'c&ual towaih lores or cankers in the noie, or any other part ; if the pow- der of the root be applied thereunto afterward*. It is good alfo to fallen the gums, and to take away the heat and in- flammations that happen in the jaws, almonds of the throat or mouth, if the decohtion of the leaves, roots, or feeds bruited, or the juice of them be applied ; bat the roots are moil effectual to the purpofes aforefaid. One-Blade. Dejiript .] IIS fmall plant never beareth more than J. one leaf, but only when it rileth up with its ftalk, which thereon beareth another, and feidom more, which are of a bluilli green colour, broad at the bottom, and pointed with fhany ribs or veins like plantain ; at the »nn of the ftalk grows many finall flowers ftar-ftifhion, fmell- ing lomewhut fweet ; after which eoineth fiiuli reudiui berries 14 hen they are ripe : The root fmall, of the bignefs of a rufli, lying and creeping under tire upper cruft of the earth, lbooting forth in divers places. Place.'] It grows in moift, ftiadowy, grafTy places of W(K>ds, in many places of this realm. Time.] It ftowercth about May, and the berries arc ripe in June, and then quickly perilheth, until the next year . it fpringeth from the fame again. Government an,i Firtues. ] It is an herb of the Sun, and therefore cordial ; half a drachm or a drachm at 1110ft, of the roots, hereof in powder, taken in wine and vinegar, of each a like quantity, and the party prefentlv laid to fweat, is held to be a fovereign remedy for thofe that are in- fected with the plague, and have a fore upon them, bv expel- ling the poifon, and defending the heart and fpirits from danger. It is alfo accounted a lingular good wound herb, and therefore uled with other herbs in making fuch balms as are necelfary for curing of wounds, either green or old, and elpecially if the nerves be hurt. The Bramble, or Black-berry Bulh. IT is fo well known that it needeth no defcription. The virtues thereof are as follow. D 4 6*- 44 Englifli Phyfician Enlarged . Government and Virtues.] It is a plant of Venus in Aries. You (hall have ionic directions at the latter end of the book for the gathering of all herbs and plants, If any afk 'hereafon why Venus is l'o prickly ? Tell them ’tis becaufe the is in the houfe of Mars, The buds, leaves, and branches, while they are green, are of a good uie in the ulcers and pu- trid fores of the mouth and throat, and of the quinfy, and likewife to heal other frefh wounds and lores ; but the flowers and fruits unripe are very binding, and fo profitable for the bloody-flux, lafks, and are a fit remedy for fpitting of blood. Either the decoCtion or powder of the root being taken, is good to break or drive forth gravel and the ftone in the rins and kidneys. The leaves and brambles, as well green as dry, are excellent good lotions tor fores in the mouth, or fecret parts. The decoCtion of them, and of the dried branches, do much bind the belly, and are good for too much flowing of women’s courfes : the berries of the flowers are a powerful remedy againft the poifon of the mod venemous ferpents ; as well drank as outwardly applied, hclpcth the fores of the fundament, and the piles ; the juice of the berries mixed with the juice of mulberries, do bind more cffeftually, and help ail fretting and eating fore* and ulcers whatfoever. The diftilled water of the branches, leaves, and flowers, or of the fruit, is very pleafant in tafte, and very effectual in fevers, and hot difteinpers of the bodv, head, eyes, and other parts, and for the purpofes aforefaid. The leaves boiled in lee, and the head wafhed therewith, healeth the itch, and the running fores thereof, and maketh the hair black. The powder of the leaves ftrewed on can- kers and running ulcers, wonderfully helps to heal them. Some ufe to condenfate the juice of the leaves, and fome, the juice of the berries, to keep for their ufe all the year, for the puipoles aforefaid. Blites. ,Dr/c/'v^.'.]/^VF thefe there are two forts commonly known, viz. White and red. The White hath leaves fomewhat like unto beets, but fmaller, rounder, and of a whitifh green colour, every one {landing upon a ftnall, long foot-flalk ; the lialk rifes up two or three feet high, with fuch like leaves thereon ; the flowers grow at the top in long round tufts or clutters, wherein are contained fmall The Englidi Phyfician Enlarged. 45 fmall and round feeds ; the root is very full of threads or firings. The red Klite is in all things like the white, but that his leaves and tufted heads are exceeding red at firft, and after turn more purplifli. There are other kinds of Blites which grow, differing from the two former forts but little, but only the wild are fmaller in every part. Place.] They grow in gardens, and wild in many places in this land. Time.] They feed in Augufl and September. Government and Virtues.] They are all of them cooling, drying, and binding, ferving to reilrain the fluxes of blood in either man or woman, efpecially the red ; which alfo ftaycth the overflowing of the women’s reds, as the white Blites flayeth the whites in women : It is an excellent fecret, you cannot well fail in the ufe : They are all under the do- minion of Venus. There is another fort of wild Blites like the other .wild kinds, but have long and fpikev heads of greenilh feeds, feeming by the thick letting together to be all feed. This fort the fifhers are delighted with, and it is a good and ufual bait, for fifties will bite faft enough ilt them, if you have but wit enough to catch them when they bite. Borage and Busrlofs. CD O THESE are fo well known to the inhabitants in every garden, that I hold it needlefs to deferibe them. To thefe I may add a third fort, which is not fo common nor yet fo well known, and therefore I fliall give you its name and defeription. It is called Langue de Bceuf ; but why then fliould they call one herb by the name Buglofs, and another by the name Langue de Bceuf ? It is fome queflion to me, feeing one fig- nilies Ox-tongue in Greek, and the other lignifies the fame in French. Dcfcript.) The leaves whereof are fmaller than thofe of Buglofs, but much rougher ; the lialks ariling up about a foot and a half high, and is mod commonly of a red colour ; the flowers Hand in fcaly rough heads, being compofed of many fmall yellow flowers, not much unlike to thofe of Dandelions, and the feed flieth away in down, as that D 5 doth ; 46 The Englifh Phyfician Enlarged. doth ; you may eafily know the flowers by their tafie, for they are very bitter. Place .] It growth wild in many places of this land, and maybe plentifully found near London, as between Rother- liithe and Deptford, by the ditch-flde. Its virtues are held 1 to be the fame with Borage and Buglofs, only this is fome- what hotter. Time.'] They flower in June and July, and the feed is ripe fhortly after. Government ami PirtuesO] They are all three herbs of Jupiter, and under Leo, all great cordials, and great flrength- eners of nature. The leaves and roots are to very good purpofe ufed in putrid and peftilential fevers, to defend the heart, and help to refift and expel the poifon, or the venom of other creatures : the feed is of the like effects, and the feed and leaves are good to iucreafe milk in women’s breads ; the leaves, flowers, and feed, all or any of them, are good to expel penfivenefs and melancholy ; it helpeth to clarify the blood, and mitigate heat in fevers. The juice made into a fyrup, prevdileth much to all the purpofes aforefaid, and is put with other cooling, opening, and cleanflng herbs to open obstructions, and help the yellow jaundice ; and mixed with fumitory, to cool, cleanfe, and temper the blood thereby ; it helpeth the itch, ringworms, and tetters, or other fpread- ing fcabs or fores. The flowers candied or made into a con- ferve arc helpful in the former cafes, but are chiefly ufed a3 a cordial, and arc good for thofe that are weak in long lick* nefs, and to comfort the heart and fpirits of thofe that are in a confumption, or troubled with often fwoopings, or paf- • fions of the heart. The diftillcd water is no lei's effectual to all the purpofes aforefaid, and helpeth the rednefs and inflamations of the eyes, being waffled therewith ; the dried herb is never ufed, but the green ; yet the allies thereof, boiled in mead, or honied water, is available againft the in- ‘ flamations and ulcers in the month or throat to gargle it therewith ;• the roots of Buglofs are effectual, being made into a licking electuary for the cough, and to condefate thick phlegm, and the rheumatic distillations upon the lungs. Blue-Bottle. IT is called Syanus, I fuppofefrom the colour of it; Hurt- fickle, becaufe it turns the edge of the Sickles that reap > the corn ; Blue-blow, Corn-flower, and Blue-bottle. Defcript.'] The Englifh Phyfician Enlarged . 47 Dcfeript. ] I fliall only defcribe that which is commoneft, and, in my opinion, moil: ui'ciul; its leaves fpread upon the ground, being of a whittifli green colour, iomewhat on the edges like thole of Cornfcabions, among!! which arifeth up a ftalk divided into divers branches, befet with long leaves of a greenilh colour, either but very little indented, or not at all ; the flowers are of a blue colour, from whence it took its name, confifting of an innumerable company of ftnall flowers fet in a fcaly head, not much unlike thoie of knap- weed ; the feed is fmooth, bright and fhiniqg, wrapped up in a wooly mantle ; the root perilheth every year. Place .] They grow in corn-fields, amongft all forts of corn (peas, beans, and tares excepted). If you pleai'c to take them up from thence, and tranfplant them in your gar- den, efpccially towards the full of the moon, they will grow more double than they are, and many times change colour. Time.'] They flower from the beginning of May to the end of harvell. Government and Virtues .] As they are naturally cold, drv, and binding, fo they are under the dominion of Saturn. The powder or dried leaves of the Blue-bottle, or Corn-flower, is given with good fuccefs to thofe that are bruifed by a fall, or have broken a vein imvard’y, and void much blood at the mouth ; being taken in the water of plantains, horfetail, or the greater comfrey, it is a remedy again ft the poifon of the fcorpion, and ccfifteth all venoms and poifon. The feed or leaves taken in wine, is very good againft the plague, and all infectious difeafes, and is very good in peftifential fevers. The juice put intofrelh or green wohnds, doth quickly foi- der up the lips of them together, and is very effectual to heal all ulcers and fores in the mouth. The juice diopped into the eyes takes away the heat and inflamation of them. The diftilled water of this herb hath the fame properties, and may be ufed for the effects aforefaid. Brank .Ur fine. BESIDE the common name Brank Urfinc, it : Bears-breech, and Acanthus, though I ' .r* “do called lifh names to be more proper ; for the G. , 4pR3f™ our Eng- flgnifies any thiftle whatsoever. “C Wor“ -^'<3 mtbust Defcript.] This thiftle fliooteth forth f D 6 er^ njan7 large, * • tb: • Englifli Phyficlan Enlarged. thick, fad green fmooth leaves upon the ground, with a 1 very thick and juicy middle rib ; the leaves are parted with fundry deep gafhes on the edges ; the leaves remain a long . time before any ftalk appears, afterwards ril'eth up a reafon- able big ftalk, three or four feet high, and bravely decked with flowers from the middle of the ftalk upwards ; for on the lower part of the ftalk there is neither branches nor leaf. The flowers are licoded and gaping, being white in |i colour, and handing in brownifti hulks, with a long fmall undivided leaf under each leaf ; they feldom feed in our country. Its roots are many, great and thick, blackifh with- out, and whitifh within, full of a clammy lap ; a piece of them, if you fet in the garden, and defend it from the firft winter cold, will grow and flourifh. Place.'] They are only nurfed up in the gardens in Eng- land, where they will grow very well. Time.]. It flowereth in June and July. Government and Virtues.] It is an excellent plant, under the dominion of the moon : I could wifti fuch as are lludious would labour to keep it in the gardens. The leaves being boiled and ufed in clyfters, are excellent good to molify th«- beliy, and make the palfage flippery. The decoftion drank inwardly, is excellent and good for the bloody flux. The leaves being bruifed, or rather boiled, and applied like a poultice, are excellent good to unite broken bones, and ftrengthen joints that have been put out. The dccodfion of either leaves or roots being drank, and the decoction of leave* applied to the place, is excellent good for the king’s evil that is broken and runneth ; for by the influence of the Moon, it reviveth the ends of the veins which are relaxed : There is fearce a better remedy to be applied to fuch places as are burnt with fire than this is, for it fetches out the fire, and heals it without a fear. This is an excellent remedy for fuch as are burften, being either taken inwardly, or applied to the place. In like manner ufed, it helps the cramp and the gout. It is excellent good in he&ic fevers, and reftores ra- dical moifture to fuch as are in confumptions. Brionv, or Wild Vine. IT is called Wild, and Wood Vine, Tamus or Ladies Seal. The white is called White Vine by fome j and the black. Black Vine. Dcfcript.] The Englifh Phyfician Enlarged . 49 Defcript.] The common White Briony groweth ramping upon the hedges, fending forth many long, rough, very ten- der branches at the beginning, with many very rough, and broad leaves thereon, cut (for the moft part) into five parti- tions, in form very like a vine leaf, but fmaller, rough, and of a whitifh hoary green colour, fpreading very far, fpread- ing and twining with his fmall clafpers (that come forth at the joints with the leaves) very far on whatfoever ftandeth next to it. At the feveral joints alfo (efpecially towards the top of the branches) cometh forth a long (talk bearing many whitifh flowers together on a long tuft, confiding of five fmall leaves a piece, laid open like a flar, after which come the berries feparated one from another, more than a duller of grapes, green at the firft, and very red when they are thoroughly ripe, of no good feent, but of a mod loathfome tufle, provoking vomit. The root groweth to be exceeding great, with many long twines or branches going from it, of a pale whitifli colour on the outlide, and more white within, and of a {harp, bitter, loathfome tafte. Place.] It groweth on banks, or under hedges, through this land: the roots lie very deep. Time.'] It flowereth in July and Augud, fome earlier, and fome later than the other. Government and Virtues.'] They are furious martial plants. The root of Briony purges the belly with great violence, troubling the domach and burning the liver, and therefore not raflily to be taken ; but being correded, is very profit- able for the difeafes of the head, as falling ficknefs, giddinefs and fwimmings, by drawing away much plegm and rheu- matic humours that opprefs the head, as alfo the joints and finews ; and is therefore good forpalfics, convulfions, cramps, and ditches in the fides, and the dropfy, and in provoking urine; it cleanfeth the reins and kindneys from gravel and done, by opening the obflrudion of the fpleen, and con- fumeth the hardnefs and dwelling thereof. The dccodion of the root in wine, drunk once a week at going to bed, cleanfeth the mother, and helpeth the rifing thereof, cxpel- leth the dead child ; a dram of the root in powder taken in white wine, bringeth down their courfes. An eledhiary made of the roots and honey, doth mightily cleanfethe chelt of rotten phlegm, and wonderfully helps any old flrong cough, to thofe that arc troubled with Ihortnefs of breath, 4 and 50 The Englifh Phyfician Enlarged. and is very good for them that are bruifed inwardly, to help to expel the clotted or congealed blood. The leaves, fruit and root do clcanfe old and filthy fores, are good again fi all fretting and running cankers, gangrenes, and tetters, and therefore the berries are by fome country people called tetter- berries. The root cleanfeth the fkin wonderfully from all black and blue fpots, freckles, morph ew, leprofy, foul fears, or other deformity whatfoever ; alfo all running fcabs and manginefs are healed by the powder of the dried root, or the juice thereof, but efpecially by the fine white hardened juice. The difiilled water of the root worketh the fame ef- fects, F>ut more weakly; the root bruifed and applied of ir- felf to any place where the bones are broken, helpeth to draw them forth^s alfo fplinters and thorns in the flefl) ; and being applied with a little wine mixed therewith, it breaketh boils, and helpeth whitlows on the joints — For all thefe latter beginning at fores, cancers, &c. apply it out- wardly, and take my advice in my tranflation of the London Difpenfatory, among the preparations at the latter end, where you have a medicine caflrd Ftecula Brionia , which take and ufe, mixing it with a little hog’s greafe, or other convenient ointment. As for the former difeafes where it mud be taken inwardly, it purgeth very violently, and needs an abler hand to correct it than moll: country people have ; therefore it is a better way for them, in my opinion, to let the limple alone, and take the compound water of it mentioned in mv Difpenfatorv, and that is far more fafe, being wifely corre&ed. Brook Lime, or Water Pimpernel. Dcfcript .] r-pms fendeth forth from a creeping root that I fhooteth forth firings at every joint, as it runneth, divers and l'undry green fialks round and fappy, with fome branches on them, fomewhat broad, round, deep green and thick leaves, fet by couples thereon ; from the bottom whereof fhoot forth long foot-ftalks, with fundry fmall blue flowers on them, that confift of five fmall round pointed leaves a piece. There is another fort nothing differing from the former, but that it is greater, and the flowers of a paler green colour. Place .] They grow in fmall fianding waters, and ulually near water crclles. Time.] And flowers in June and July, giving feed the next mouth after. Govern* The Englifh Phyfician Enlarged. 51 Government and Virtues .] It is a hot and biting martial plant. Brook-lime and water crefles are generally ufed toge* tiler in diet drinking, with other things ferving to purge the blood and body from all ill-humours that would deftroy health, and are helpful to the feurvy. They do all pro- voke urine, and help to break the ilone, and pafs it away ; they procure women's courfes, and expel the dead child. Being fried with butter and vinegar, and applied warm, it helpeth all manner of tumours, dwellings, and inflammations. Such drinks ought to be made of fundry herbs, accor- ding to the malady. I fliall give a plain and eafy rule at the latter end of this book. Butchers Broom. IT is called Rufcus, and Brufcus, Kneeholm, Kneeholy, Kneehulver, and Pettigree. Defer ipt.] The firft fhoots that fprout from the root of Butchers Broom are thick, whitifli, and fhort, fomewhat like thole of alparagus, but greater, then riding up to be a foot and a half high, are lpread into divers branches, green, and fomewhat eroded with the roundnefs, rough and flexible, whereon are let fomewhat broad and almoft round hard leaves, and prickly, pointed at the end, of a dark green colour, two for the moil: part fet at a place, very clofe and near toge- ther; about the middle of the leaf, on the back and lower fide from the middle rib, breaketh forth a fmall whitifli green flower, confiding of four fmall round pointed leaves, itanding upon little or no foot-ftalk, and in the place whereof cometh a fmall round berry, green at the firft, and red when it is ripe, wherein are two or three white, hard, round feeds contained. The root is thick, white, and great at the head, and from thence fendeth forth divers thick, white, long, tough firings. Placed] It groweth in copfes, and upon heaths and wafte grounds, and oftentimes under or near the holly bullies Time.] It fliooteth forth its youngbuds in the fpring, and the berries are ripe about September, the branches of leaves abiding green all the winter. Government and Virtues.] ’Tis a plant of Mars, being of a gallant cleanfing and opening quality. The decoftion of the root made with wine, openeth obftrudlions, provoketh urine, helpeth to expel gravel and the Hone, the ftrangury and 52 The Englifh Phyfician Enlarged. and women’s courfes, alfo the yellow jaundice and the head- ach : And with fome honey or 1'ugar put thereunto, cleanfeth the breaft of phlegm, and the cheft of fuch clammy humours gathered therein. The deco&ion of the root drank, and a poultice made of the berries and leaves being applied, are ef- ieftual in knitting and confolidating broken bones or parts out of joint. The common way of ufing it, is to boil the root of it, and parfley and fennel, and fmallage in white wine, and drink the dcco&ion, adding the like quantity of grafs-root to them : The more of the root you boil, the ftronger will the decodfion be ; it works no ill effedls ; yet I hope you have wit enough to give the ftrongcft decodtion to the ftrongeft bodies. Broom, and Broom-Rape. TO fpend time in writing a defcription hereof is alto- gether needlefs, it being fo generally ufed by all the good houfewives almoft through this land to fweep their houfes with, and therefore very well known to all forts of people. The Broom-rape fpringeth up on many places from the roots of the broom (but more often in the fields, as by hedge- lidcs and on heaths.) The flalk whereof is of the bignefs of a finger or thumb, above two feet high, having a fiievv of leaves on them, and many flowers at the top, of a reddilh yellow colour, as alfo the ftalks and leaves are. Place.) They grow in many places of this land commonly, and as commonly fpoil all the land they grow in. Time.) And flower in the Summer months, and give their feed before winter. Government cmd Virtues.) The juice or decoftion of the young branches, or feed, or the powder of the feed taken in drink, purgeth downwards, and draweth phlegmatic and watery humours from the joints, whereby it helpeth the droply, gout, fciatica, and pains of the hips and joints ; it alfo provoketh ftrong vomits, and helpeth the pains of the Tides, and fwelling of the fpleen, cleanfeth alfo the reins or kidneys and bladder of the ftone, provoketh urine abun- dantly, and hindereth the growing again of the ftone in the body. The continual ufe of the powder of the leaves and feed doth cure the black jaundice. The diftilled water of the flowers is profitable for all the fame purpofes ; it alfo helpeth The Englilh Phyfician Enlarged. 53 lielpeTh forfeits, and altereth the fits of agues, if three or four ounces thereof, with as much of the water of the lefTer centaury, and a little fugar put therein, be taken a little be- fore the fit cometh, and the party be laid down to i'weat in his bed. The oil or water that is drawn from the end of the green flicks heated in the fire, helpeth the tooth-ach. The juice of young branches made into an ointment of old hog’s greafe, and anointed, or the young branches bruifed and heated in oil or hog’s greafe, and laid to the lides pained by wind, as in flitches, or the fpleen, eafeth them in once or twice ufing it. The lame boiled oil is the fafeft and fureft medicine to kill lice in the head or body of any ; and is an efpecial remedy for joint aches, and fwollen knees, that come by the falling down of humours. The Broom-rape alio is not without its virtues. The deco<5ti»n thereof in w ine, is thought to be as effetflual to void the flone in the kidneys and bladder, and to provoke urine, as the Broom itfelf. The juice thereof is a lingular good help to cure a3 well green wounds, as old and filthy fores and malignant ulcers. The infolate oil, wherein there hath been three or four repititions of infufionof the top ftalks, with flowers drained and cleared, cleanfeth the Ikin from all manner of fpots, marks, and freckles that rife either by the heat of the fun, or the malignity of humours. As for the Broom and Broom-rape, Mars owns them, and is exceed- ingly prejudicial to the liver, I fuppofe, by reafon of the an- tipathy between Jupiter and Mars ; therefore if the liver be aliened, miniftcr none of it. Bucks-Horn Plantain. Defcript'~\ ? | ‘''HIS being fown of feed, lifeth up at firft I w ith fmal], long, narrow, hairy, dark green leaves like grafs, without any divifion or gafh in them, but thofe that follow are gafhed in on both lides the leaves into three or four gafhes, and pointed at the ends, re fa mb ling the knags of a buck’s horn, (whereof it took its name) and be- ing well ground round about the root upon the ground, or order one by another, thereby refembling the form of a flar, from among which rife up divers hairy ftalks about a hand’s breadth high, bearing every one a fmall, long, fpikey head, like to thofe of the common plantain, having fuch like bloomings and feed after them. The root is Angle, long and fmall, with divers firings at it. Place.] 54 The Englifli Phyfician Enlarged. Place.} They grow in Tandy grounds, as in Tothil-fields, b)r Weftminiter, and divers other places ot this land. Time.'} They flower and Teed in May, June, and July, and their green leaves do in a manner abide frefh all the Winter. Government and Virtues.} It is under the dominion of Sa- turn, and is of a gallant, drying and binding quality. This boiled in wine and drank, and Tome of the leaves put to the hurt place, is an excellent remedy for the biting of the vi- per or adder, which I take to be one and the Tame : The Tame being alfo drank, helpeth thole that arc troubled with the {tone in the reins or kidneys, by cooling the heat of the part afflicted, and ftrengthening them ; alfo weak floraachs that cannot retain, but caft up their meat. It ftayeth all bleeding both at mouth and nofe ; bloody urine or the bloody flux, and'ftoppeth the lalk of the belly and bowels. The leaves hereof bruifed and laid to their Tides that have an ague, fuddenly ealeth the lit ; and the leaves and roots being beaten with Tome bay fait and applied to the walls, worketh the fame effects. The herb boiled in ale or wine, and given for Tome mornings and evenings together, flay- eth the diflillation of hot and Tharp rheums falling in- to the eyes from the head, and helpeth all Torts ot Tore eyes. Bucks-Horn. IT is called Ham-horn, Herba-flclla, and Herba-flella- ria, Sanguinaria, Herb-Eve, Herb-Ivy, Wort-TrelTes, and Svvine-Crefies. JDeJbipt.} They have many fmall and weak ftraggling branches trailing here and there upon the ground : The leaves are many, fmall and jagged, not much unlike tot-hole of Bucks-horn l’lantain, but much fmallcr, and not To hairy. The flowers grow among the leaves in fmall, rough, whitifh clufters : The feeds are fmaller and brovvnifh, of a bitter tafte. Place.} They grow in dry, barren, fandy grounds. Time.} They flower and feed when the reft of the plan- tains do. Government and Virtues.} This is alfo under the domi- nion of Saturn ; the virtues are held to be the fame as Bucks-horn Plantain, and therefore by all authors it is joined, with it ; The leaves bruifed and applied to the place, flops bleeding ; The Engliih Phyfician Enlarged. 55 bleeding; the herb bruifed and applied to warts, will make them confumeand wafte away in a lhorttime. Bugle. O BESIDES the name Bugle, it is called Middle Confound and Middle Comtiey, Brown Bugle, and of fome Sicklewort, and Herb-Carpenter; though in Eflex we call another herb by that name. DeJ'cript .] This hath larger leaves than thofe of the Self- heal, but elfe of the fame falhion, or rather longer, in fome green on the upper lide, and in others more brownifii, dent- ed about the edges, fomewhat hairy, as the fquare ftalk is alfo, which ril'eth up to be halfa yard high fometimes, with the leaves let by couples, from the middle almoft, whereof upwards Hand the flowers, together with many fmaller and browner leaves than the reft, on the ftalk below fet at dis- tance, and the ftalk bare betwee* them ; among which flowers are alio fmall ones of a bluifh and fometimes of an afli colour, fafliioned like the flowers of gmund-ivy, after w hich come fmall, round, b lack iflt feeds. The root is com- poled of many ftrings, and fpreadeth upon the ground. The white flower Bugle differeth not in form or great- nefs from the former, faving that the leaves and ftalks are always green, and never brown, like the other, and the flowers thereof are white. Place.] They grow in woods, copfes, and fields, generally throughout England ; but the white-flowered Bugle is not fo plentiful as the former. Time.] They flower from May until July, and in the mean time perfect their feed. The roots and leaves next thereunto upon the ground abiding all the Winter. Goi’ernment and Virtues.] This herb belongeth to Dame Venus : If the virtues of it make you fall in love with it las they will if you be wife) keep a fyrup of it to take inwardly, and an ointment and plaller of it to ufc outwardly, always by you. The decofHon of the leaves and flowers made in wine, and taken, dilfolveth the congealed blood in thofe that are bruifed inwardly by a fall, or otherwife, and is very effec- tual for any inward wounds, thruftsor ftabs in the body or bowels ; and is an efpecial help in all wound-drinks, and for thofe that are liver-grown (as they call it). It is won- derful 5 6 T^t.~\ As lor the greater fort of Water Caltrop it is rot found here, or very rarely. Two other forts there are, which I (hall here deicribc. The firft hath a long creeping and jointed root, fending forth tufts at each joint, from which joints arife long, flat, {Vender-knotted flalks, even to the top of the water, divided towards the top into many branches, each carrying two leaves on both lides, being about two inches long, and half an inch broad, thin and altnoft tranfparenr, they look as though they were torn ; the flowers are long, thick and whitifh, fet together almofl like a bunch of grapes, which being gone, there fucceed for the molt part lharp-pointed grains altogether, containing a ('mull white kernel in them. __ The "The Englifh Phyfician Enlarged. 6; The fecond differs not much from this, five that it de- h.iTnts in more clear water; its ftalks are nor flat, but roun • • lTf ^a^es are not fo Ion-, but more pointed: As tor the piace We need not tetermine, for their name lhevveth th -v grow in the water. rGCXTe>tt a"‘! TllT under the dominion ot the Moon, and being made into a poultice, are ewlient good ior hot inflammations. fweilings, cankers, fore:wvth< ana throats being waihed with the decoction ; it cleanferh and ftrcngthenwh the neck and throat, and helps thoie five ll mgs which when people have, they fhv the almond, ot their ears have fallen down ; it is excellent good for the king s -ev.il ; they are excellent good for the done and gra- Vc ; especially the nuts being dried; they alfo refill poifon, ».'m bitings ot venomous b rafts. 1 V Campion Wild. Diftrift.] "Pni'. wdd \\ bite Campion hath many Ion* . * fcniewnai broad dark green leave,-? |v» in.. 1 lx>n the ground, nod dh rib-;, tie-rein, fomewhtt Ht> plantain, but lomr.vhut hdr y ; broader, and not fo long : I he hairy ftalks nlc up in the middle of them three or four fret high, , and lumen -ms more, with divers great white joints at ft vend places thereon, and two fuch like Hv4 thereat up to the top, fending forth branches at icveml joints alfo: All which bear on feveral foot-ftalks while lowci S tuC i'.r' litem, comttuup ,,vc uroHo-noinmd kaves, every one cut in on the end unto the middle, mak- ing them fee in to be two a piece, fuelling fomevvhat fweer, and each ot them Handing in a large green firmed hairy hufk! laige and round below next to the ftalk: The fted is f'mall and grey, in in the hard heads that come up afterwards. The root is white and long, fpreading divers fangs in the ground. a f he red wild Campion groweth in the fame manner as the white, but his leaves are not fo pl ainly ribbed, fome- v.hat l nor ter, rounder, and more woolv in handling. The flowers are of the lame form and bignefs ; but in fome of a pnk. m others or a bright red colour, cut in at the ends more finely, which makes the leaves look more in number than toe other The ieeds and the root, are alike, the roots or octa lorn ..biding many veai j. 2 3 - ^ C- Tiie re 66 The Englifli Phyficinn Enlarged. There arc forty-five kinds of Campion more, thofc of them which are ot a phyfical life, having the like virtues with thofc above dclcribcd, which I take to be the tivo chief eft kinds. Place.] They grow commonly through this land by fields and hedge-tides and uitche?. Time.] They flower in Summer, fome earlier than others, and fome abiding longer than others. Government and / irtues.] They belong unto Saturn, and it is found by experience, that the decoction of the herb, cither in white or red wine being drank, doth ftay inward bleedings, and applied outwardly, it doth the like ; and being drank hc-lpeth to expel urine being flopped, and gravel and Hone in the reins or kidneys. Two drams of the feed drank in wine, purgeth the body of choleric hu- mours, and helpeth thole that are ftung by fcorpions, or other venomous beafts, and may be as effectual for the plague. It is of very good ufe in old fores, ulcers, cankers fibulas, and the like, to cleanfe and heat them, by confirm- ing the moift humours falling into them, and correcting the putrefaction of burnout s offending them. Carduus Benedidfrjs. |T is called Carduus Benedictus, or Blcfled Thiftle, or .1 Holy Thiftle ; I fuppofe the name was put upon it by fome that had little holinefs in themfelves. I fhall fpare a labour in writing a defeription of this, as <>»»<-■ t hrtt can but write at all, may dciCi'ibe them from his own knowledge. Time.] They flower in Auguft, and feed not long after. Government and Virtues.] It is an herb of Mars, and under the fign Aries. Now, in handling this herb, I fliall give you a rational pattern of all the- reft; and if you pleate to view them throughout the book, you fliall, to your content, find it true. It helps fvvimmings and giddinefs of the head, or the difeafe called Virtigo, becaufe Aries is in the houfe of Mars. It is an excellent remedy againft the yellow jaundice, and other infirmities ot the gall, becaufe Mars governs choler. It ftrengthens the attractive faculty in mm, and clarifies the blood, becaufe the one is ruled by Mars. The continual drinking the decoction of it, helps red faces, tetters, and ring-worms, becaufe Mars caufeth them. It helps the plague, lores, boils, and itch, the bit- The Englifn Phyfician Enlarged. 67 ings of mad dogs and venomous hearts, all which infirmities are under Mars ; thus you lee what it doth by fympathy. By antipathy to other planets it cures the French pox. By antipathy to Venue, who governs it, it rtrengthen* the memory, and cures deafnefs by antipathy to Saturn, w ho hath his fall in Aries, which rules the head. It cu.es quartan agues, and other difeafes of melancholy, and adult choler, by fympathy to Saturn, Mars being exalted in Ca- pricorn. Alio it provokes urine, the flopping of which is ufually caufied by Mars or the Moon* Carrots. GARDEN Carrots are fo well known, that they need no ' defeription ; but bccaufe they arc of lefs phyfical nfe than the wild kind (as indeed almoft in herbs the wild are mod effectual in phyfic, as being more powerful in opera- tions than the garden kind) I lhall therefore briefly dele ri be the Wild Carrot. Defcrrpt .] It grovveth in a manner altogether like the tame, but that the leaves and ftaiks are fomewhat whirt r and rougher. The rtalks bear large tufts of white flowers, with a deep purple lpot in the middle, which are con tr caffe 1 together when the leed begins to ripen, that the middle part being hollow and low, and the outward riling high, maketh the whole umbel fliew like a bird’s neft. The roots fmall, long and bard, and unfit for meat, being fomewhat fharp and rtrong. Place."] The wild kind groweth in divers parts of this land plentifully by the field-fides, and untilled places. Time.] They flower and feed in the end of Summer. Government and Virtues.] Wild Carrots belong to Mer- cury, and therefore break wind, and remove flitches in the lidcs, provoke urine and women’s courfes, and helpeth to break and expel the lione ; the feed alfo of the fame work- * cih the like cfletff, and is good far the dropfy, and thole whofe bellies are fwollen with wind ; helpeth the cholic, the Anne in the kidneys, and riling of the mother; being taken in wine, or boiled in wine, and taken, it helpeth con- ception. The leaves being applied with honey to running fores or ulcers, do cleanfe them. I fuppefe the feeds of them perform this better than the roots ; and though Galen commended garden Carrots highly E 4 to 68 The EngHfh Phyfician Enlarged. to break wind, yet experience teachcth they breed it firft, and we may thank nature for expelling it, not they ; the feeds of them *expel wind indeed, and i'o mend what the root marreth. C.trravvay. Dfjivipt. 3 TT bearcth divers ftalks of fine cut leaves, Iy- A ir.g upon the ground, fomevvbat like to the leaves of carrots, but not bulbing lo thick, of a little quick talte in them, from among which rifeth up a fquarc ftaik, not fo high as the carrot, at whole joints are fit the like leaves, but fmallcr and litter, and at the top frnallopen tufts, or umbels of white flowers, which turn into fmall blaekifh Iced, final ler than the Aaniieed, and of a quicker and better t ide. The root is whkifli, iinatl and long, fomewhat like unto a parfnip, but with more wrinkled bark, and much Us, of a little hot and quick take, and ftronger than th* parfnip, and abideth after feed time. Pl-ive.] It is u foully” fown with us in gardens. 'JirrH-.j They flower in June and July, and feed quickly after. Government end Virtues .] This is alfo a Mercurial plant. Carruway feed hath a moderate fliarp quality, whereby it breaketn wind. and provoketh urine, which alfo the herb doth. The root Is better food than the parfnips ; it is pleafant and confortable to the ftomach, and helpeth di- gefiion. The feed is conducing to all cold griefs of the head and ilomach, bowels, or mother, as alfo the wind in them, and helpeth to fharpen the eye-fight. The powder of the feed put into a poultice, taketh away black and blue fpots of blows and bruifes. The herb itielf, or with f'ome of the feed bruited and fried, laid hot in a bag or dou- ble cloth, to the lower parts of the belly, eaieth the pains of the wind and cholick. The roots of Carraways eaten as men eat parfnips, frretlgthen the flomachs of ancient people exceedingly, and they need not to make a whole meal of them neither, and are fit to be planted in every garden. Carraway confe&s, once only dipped in fugar, and half a fpnoaful of them eaten in the morning fatting, and as many after each meal, is a moll admirable remedy for thofe that are troubled with wind. Celandine* 71: e Englifh Piiyfician Enlarged. 69 . * Celandine. Defcript.~\ r | 'HIS hath divers tender, round, whitifh 1 green ilalks, with greater joints than ordi- nary in other herbs, as it were knees, very brittle and eafy to break, from whence grow branches with large tender broad leaves, divided into many parts, each of them cut in on the edges, fgt at the joint on both fides of the branches, of a dark bluilh green colour, on the upper lide like colum- bines, and of a more pale bluilh green underneath, full of yellow lap, when any part is broken, of a bitter tafle, and ftrong fount. At the flowers of four leaves a piece, after which come fmall long pods, with biackifli feed therein. The root is feme- what great at the head, fliooting forth di- vers long roots and fmall firings, reddifli on the out-fide, and yellow within, full of yellow lap therein. Piace.~\ They grow in many places by old walls, hedges and wav tides in unfilled places ; and being once planted in a garden, efpecinlly feme Iliad y places, it will remain there. They flower all the Summer long, and the feed ripeneth in the mean time. Government and Virtues.] This is an herb of the Sun, and under the celeftial I. ion, and is one of the belt cures for the eves; for all that know any thing in a Urology, know that the eves arc fubjedl to the luminaries ; let it then be gathered when the Sun is in Leo, and the Moon in Aries, applying to this time ; let Leo arife, then may you make it into an oil or ointment, which vou pleafe, to anoint your fore eyes with : I can prove it doth both by my own experience, and tile experience of thofe to whom I have taught it, that moll defperate fore eyes have been cured by this only medicine ; and then I pray, is not this far better than endangering the eyes by the art of the needle ? For if this doth not abfo- lutely take away the film, it will fo facilitate the work, that it may be done without danger. The herb or root boiled in white wine and drank, a few aunifeeds being boiled there- with, opencth obilrudtions of the liver and gall, helpeth the vellow jaundice ; and often ufing it, helps the drop fy and the itch, and thofe that have old fores in their legs, or other parts of the body. The juice thereof taken falling, is held to be of Angular good ufe againfl the peftilence. The dif- tiiled water, with a little fugar and a little good treacle E 5 mixed ;Q The Englifli Phyfician Enlarged. mixed therewith (the party upon the taking being laid down to fwcat a little) hath the fame effedt. The juice dropped in the eyes, clean let h them from films and cloudinefs which darken the fight, but it is beA to allay the fharpnefs of the juice with a little bread milk. It is good in old filthy cor- roding creeping ulcers vvherefoever, to flay their malignity of fretting and running, and to caufe them to heal more speedily : The juice often applied to tetters, ring worms, or other fuch like fpr eading cankers, will quickly heal them, and rubbed often upon warts, will take them away. The herb with the roots bruifed and bathed with oil of Camo- mile, and applied to the navel, taketh way the griping pains in the belly and bowels, and all the pains of the mother ; and applied to women’s breads, ftayeth the overmuch flow- ing of theccurfes. The juice or decoction, of the herb gar- gled between the teeth that ach, eafeth the pain, and the powder of the dried root laid upon any aching, hollow or loofe tooth, will caufe it to fall out. The juice mixed with fome powder of brimflone is not only good againfl the itch, but taketh away all difcolourings of the Ikin whatfoever ; and if it chance that in a tender body it caufeth any itching* or inflammations, by bathing the place with a litttle vinegar, it is helped. Another ill favoured trick have phyficians got to ufe to the eye, and that is worfe than the needle ; which is to take, away films by corroding or gnawing medicines. This I abfolutely pro ted againfl. 1. Becaufe the tunicles of the eyes are very thin, and therefore foon earen afunder. 2. The callus or film that they would eat away, is fel- dom of an equal thicknefs in every place, and then the tu- nicle may be eaten afunder in one place, before the film be confumed in another, and fo be a readier way to extinguifli the.figh than to reftore it. It is called Chelidonium, from the Greek word chelidon , which fignifics a fvvallovv, becaufe they fay, that if you put out the eyes of young fwallovvs when they are in the neft, the old ones will recover their eyes again with this herb. This I am confident, for I have tried it, that if we mar the very apple of their eyes with a neele, file will recover them gain; but whether with this herb or not, I know not. " Ado I have lead (and it feems to be fomewhat probable) that The Engl’ Hi Fhyfidian Enlarged. y i that the herb, being gathered as I (hewed before, and the elements drawn apart from it by art of the alchvmiif, and after they are drawn apart rectified, the earthly qualitv, fii) I in rectifying them, added to the Terra damnata (as Alchy- milis call it) or Terra facratifjbna ^as lome philofophers call it) the elements fo rectified are luilicient for the cure of all dileafes, the humours offending being known, and the con- trary element given : It is an experiment worth the trying, and can do no harm. The LelFer Celandine, ufuallv known by the name of Pilewort and Foorwort. O T WONDER what ailed the ancients to give this name of Celandine, which refembles it ncittier in nature or form ; it acquired the name oi Pilewort from its virtues, and it be- ing no great matter vvh re I let it down, fo I fet it down at all, I humour Dr. T radition fo much, as to fet it down here. D:fcript.~] I his Celandine or Pilewort (which youpieafe) doth fpread many round pale green leaves, let on weak and trailing branches, which iie upon the ground, and are flat, fmooth, and fomewhat Ihining, and in feme places (though feldom) marked with black Ipots, each Handing on a long foot-ftalk, among which rile fmall yellow flowers, confuting of nine or ten fmall narrow leaves, upon (lender foot-ffulks, very like unto Crowsloot, w hereunto the feed alio is not un- lik •, being many fmall kernels like a grain of corn, fome- times twice as long as others, of a vvhitilh colour, with feme fibres at the end of them. Place.] It groweth for the mo it part in rnoifr corner- of fields and places that are near wearer tides, yet will abide in drier ground if they be but a little fhady. Time., It flowerefh betimes about March, or April, is quite gone by May ; fo it cannot be found til! it lpring again. Government and Pirtues. It is under the dominion ol Mars, and behold here another verification of the leaniin" of the ancients, viz. that the virtue of an herb may be known by its iignaturc, as plainly appears in this; for it you dig up the root of it, you (hall perceive the perfect image of the difeafe which they commonly call the piles, ft is certain by good experience, that the decoction of ihe leaves and roots dodi wonderfully help pile* and haemorrhoids, E 6 alio 72 7 he Englifh Phyfician Enlarged. alia kernels by the ears and throat, called the king’s evil, or any other hard wens or tumours. Hue’s another fecret for my countrymen and women a couple of them together ; Pilewort made into an oil, oint- ment, or plaller, readily cures both the piles, or haemorr- hoids, and the king’s evil: The very herb borne about one’s body next the Ikin helps in fuch difeafes, though it never touch the place grieved ; let poor people make much of it for their ufes ; with this I cured my own daughter of the king’s evil, broke the fore, drew out a quarter of a pint of corruption, cured without any fear at all in one week’s time. The ordinary fmall Centaury. Defript .] r | ''HIS growefh up moll ufually but with one | round and fomewhat crufted ilalk, about a foot high or better, branching forth at the top into many fprigs, and fome alfo from the joints of the ftalks below : the flowers thus (land at the tops as it were in one umbel or tuft, are of a pale red, tending to carnation colour, confifting cf five, fometimes fix fmall leaves, very like thofe of St. John’s Wort, opening themfelves in the day time and dol- ing at night, after which come feeds in little fhort hulks, in form like unto wheat corn. The leaves are fmall and i'ome- vvhat round ; the root fmall and hard, perifhing every year. The whole plant is of an exceeding bitter tafte. There is another fort, in all things like the former, lave only it beareth white flowers. Place.] They grow ordinarily in fields, paftures and woods, but that with the white flowers not fo frequently as the othet. Time.'] They flower in July or thereabouts, and feed within a month after. Government arid Virtues.] They are under the dominion of the Sun, as appears in that their flotvers open and {hut as the fun either fheweth or hideth his face. This herb, boiled and drank, purgeth choleric and grofs humours, and helpeth the fciatica ; it epeneth obfirudtiens of the liver, gall, and l'pleen, helpeth the jaundice, and ealeth the pains in the fides, and hardnefs of the fpleen, ufed outwardly, and is given with very good eifedf in agues. It helpeth thofe that have the dropfy, or the green ficknefs, being much ufed by the Italians in powder for that purpofe. It killeth the worms in tUe’bcily. as is found by experience. The decodtion thereof, viz. the Englifh Phyfician Enlarged, 75 V17.. the tops of the ftalks, with the leaves and flowers, is good againft the cholic, an.d tobring down women’s courfes, help- cth to void the dead birth, and eafeth pains of the mother, and is very effectual in old pains of the joints, as the gout, cramps, or convul lions. A dram of the powder thereof, taken in wine, is a wonderful good help againft the biting and poifon of an adder. The juice of the herb, with a little honey put to it, is good to clear the eyes from dimnefs, mills, and clouds, that offend or hinder light. It is Angularly good both for green and frefh wounds, as alfo for old ulcers and fores, to clofe up the one and cleanl'e the other, and perfectly to cure them both, although they are hollow or fiftulous ; the green herbefpecially, being bruifed and laid thereto. The de- coction therefore dropped into the ears cleanfeth them from worms, cleanfeth the foul ulcers, and fpreading fcabs, of the head, and taketh away all freckles, fpots, and marks, in the fltin, being wafhed with it, the herb is fo fafe you cannot fail in the tiling of it, only giving it inwardly for inward dileafes. ’Tis very wholesome, but not very toothfome. There is, befides thefe, another l'mall Centaury, which beareth a yellow flower ; in all other refpedts it is like the former, fave that the leaves are bigger, and of a darker green, and the ftalk pallet h through the midft of them, as it doth the herb Thorowan. They are all of them, as I told you, under the government of the Sun ; yet this, if you obferve it, you fhall find an excellent truth ; in dileafes of the blood ufe the red Centaury , if of choler ufe the yellow ; but if phlegm or water, you will find the whit* bell. The Cherry-Tree. I SUPPOSE there are few but know this tree, for its fruit’s fake ; and therefore I fhall fpare writing a def- cription thereof. Place.'] For the place of its growth it is afforded room in every orchard. Government arid Virtucs.~\ It is a tree of Venus. Cher- ries, as they are of different taftes, fo they are of different qualities. The fweet pafs through the ftomach and the belly more fpeedily, but are of little nourifhment ; the tart or four are morepleafing to an hot ftomach, procure appetite to meat, and help to cut tough phlegm, and groCs humours ; 4 but 74 The Englifh Phyfician Enlarged. but when thcfe arc dried, they are more binding' to the bel- ly than when they are frefli, being cooling in hot difeafes, and welcome to the flomaeh, and provoke urine. The gum of the Cherry-Tree, diflblved in wine, is good for a cold, cough, and hoarfenefs of the throat ; mendeth the colour in the face, fliarpcneth the eye-fight, provoketh appetite, and helpctli to break and expel the done ; the Black Cher- ries, bruifedwith the Hones, and diliolved, the water thereof is much ulcd to break the Hone, and to expel gravel and wind. Winter Cherries. Defiript.'] r-pilE Winter Cherry hath a running or I creeping root in the ground, of the big- nefs, many times, of one’s l ttle finger, fhooting forth at feveral joints in feveral places, whereby it quickly fpreads a great compafs of ground. The ftalk rileth not above a yard high, whereon arc let many broad and long green leaves, fomewhat like Nightfhade, but larger ; at the joints where- of come forth whitifli flowers, made of five leaves apiece, which afterwards turn into green berries, inclofed with thin Ikins, which change to be redchfh when they grow ripe, the berries likewife being reddifh, and as large as a cherry, wherein are contained many fiat and yellowifii feeds lving within the pulp, which, being gathered, and ftrung up, are kept all the year to be ufed upon occafion. Place.'] They grow not naturally in this land, but art cheriflied in gardens for their virtues. Time.] They flower not until the middle or latter end of July, and the fruit is ripe about Augufl, or the beginning of September. Government and Virtues .] This alfo is a plant of Venus. They are of great life in phyfic : The leaves being cool- ing may be uled in inflammations, but not opening as the berries and fruit are, which by drawing down the urine provoke it to be voided plentifully when it is flopped or grown hot, {harp, and painful in the paflage ; it is good alfo to expel the flone and gravel out of the reins, kidneys, and bladder, helping to dilfolve the flone, and voiding it by grit or gravel fent forth in the urine ; it alfo helpeth much to clcanfe inward impoflhumes, or ulcers in the reins or bladder, or in thofe that void a bloody or foul urine. The difiillcd water of the fruit, or the leaves together with them. ’Tke Engliih Phyfician Enlarged. 75 or the berries, green or dry, didilled with a little milk and drank morning and evening with a little fugar, is effectual to all tne purpoies before ipeciiied, and efpecially againft the heat and lliarpnefs of the urine. I (hall only mention one way, amongft many others, which might be ufed for order- ing the berries, to be helpful for the urine and done, which is this: Take three or four good handfuls of the berries, either green or frcfh, or dried, and, having bruited them, put them into fo many gallons of beer or ale when it is new tunned up: This drink, taken daily, hath been found to do much good to many, both to cafe the pains and expel urine and the done, and to caule the done not to engender. The decodlion of the berries in wine and water is the mod ufual way, but the powder of them taken in drink is more effectual. Chervil. IT is called Cerefolium, Mirrhis, and Mirrha, Chervil, Sweet Chervil, and Sweet Cicely. Pcfcrrpt .] The garden Chervil doth at fird fomewhat re- femblc Parfley, but, after it is better grown, the leaves are much cut in and jagged, refembling Hemlock, being a little hairy and of a whitidi green colour, fometimes turning red- difh in the Summer, with the dalks alio ; it rifeth a little above half a foot high, bearing white flowers in fpiked tufts, which turn into long and round feeds, pointed at the ends, and blackidi when they are ripe ; of a fweet tade, hut no fmell, though the herb itfelf fmelleth reafonably well. The root is fmall and long, and periilieth every year, and mud be fown a-new ia Spring, for feed after July for Au- tumn fails. The wild Chervil groweth two or three feet high, with yellow dalks and joints, let with broader and more hairy leaves, divided into fundry parts, nicked about the edges, and of a dark green colour, which likewife grow rcddidi with the lhilks ; at the tops whereof dand fmall, white tufts #f flowers, afterwards fmaller and longer feed. The root is white, hard, and enduring long. This hath little or no lcent. Place] The fird is fown in gardens for a fallet herb ; the fecond groweth wild in many of the meadows of this land, and by the hedge ddes, and on heaths. Time.] They dower and feed early, and thereupon are fown again in the end of Summer. Govern * 76 The Englifh Phyfician Enlarged. Government and Virtues.'] The garden Chervil being eaten doth moderately warm the ftomach, and is a certain remedy (faith Tragus) to diflolve congealed or clotted blood in the body, or that which is clotted by bruifes, falls, &:c. The juice or diftilled water thereof being drank, and the broiled leaves laid to the place, being taken either in meat or drink, it is good to help to provoke urine, or expel the (lone in the kidneys, to fend down women’s courfes, and to help the pleurify and pricking of the lides. The wild Chervil, bruited and applied, diflTolveth (wall- ings in any part, or the marks of congealed blood by bruifei or blows in a little fpace. Sweet Chervil, or Sweet Cicely. Defcript .] r~T~T HIS groweth very like the great hemlock, j[ having large fpread leaves cut into divers parts, but of a frefher green colour than the hemlock, tafi- as ,r>veet as the annifeed. The italks rife up a yard high, or .better, being creiled or hollow, having leaves at the joints, but lefler; and at the tops of the branched flalks umbels or tufts of white flowers ; after which comes large and long crefted black fliining feed, pointed at both ends, tailing quick, yet fweet and pleafant. The root is great and white, growing deep in the ground, and fpreading fundry long branches therein, in talle and fmell ftronger than the leaves or feeds, and continuing many years. Place.'] This groweth in gardens. Government and Virtues . J Thefe are all three of them of the nature of Jupiter, and under his dominion. This whole plant, befides its pleafantnefs in fallets, hath its phyfical virtue. The root boiled, and eaten with oil and vinegar, (or without oil) does much pleafe and warm old and cold flomachs opprefled with wind or phlegm, or thofe that have the phthifick or confumption of the lungs. The fame drank with wine is a prefervation from the plague. It provoketh women’s courfes, and expelleth the after-birth, procureth an appetite to meat, and expelleth wind. The juice is good to heal the ulcers of the head and face ; the candied roots hereof are held as cffedtual as Angelica, to prcferv# from infection in the time of a plague, and to warm and comfort a cold weak ftomach. It is fo harmlefs you cannot ul'e it amifs. Chefnut The Engllfn Phyfician Enlarged. 77 Chefnut Tree. IT were as needlefs to deferibe a tree fo commonly known as to till a man he has gotten a mouth; therefore take the government and virtues of them thus : The tree is abundantly under the dominion of Jupiter, and therefore the fruit inuft needs breed good blood, and yield commendable nourifliment to the body; yet, if eaten over- much, they make the blood thick, procure head-ach, and bind the body ; the inner lkin, that covereth the nut, is of fo binding a quality that a fcruple of it being taken by a man, or ten grains by a child, foou hops any flux whatso- ever : The whole nut being dried and beaten into powder, and a dram taken at a time, is a good remedy to flop the terms in women. If you dry Chefnuts, (only the kernels I mean) both the barks being taken away, beat them into powder, and make the powder up into an eledluarv with honey, fo have you an admirable remedy for the cough and fpitting of blood. Earth Chefnuts. THEY are called Earth Nuts, Earth Chefnuts, Ground Nut*, Cipper-Nuts, and in Suffex Pig-Nuts. A def- cription of them were necdlefs, for every child knows thenrw Government and Virtues.] They are fomething hot and dry in quality, under the dominion of Venus, they provoke lull exceedingly, and flir up ihofe fports fire is mill refs of ; the feed is excellent good to provoke urine ; and fo alfo 13 the root, but it doth not perform it fo forcibly as the feed doth. The root being dried and beaten into powder, and the powder made into an eledluary, is as Angular a remedy for fpitting and pilling of blood, as the former Chefnut was for coughs. Chickweed. IT is fo generally known to nioft people, that I fliall not trouble you with the defeription thereof, nor myfclf with fetting forth the fevcral kinds, linec but only two or three are conliderablc for their ufefulnefs. Place.] They arc ufually found in moift and watery places, by wood tides, and elfewhere. Time.] They flower about June, and their feed is ripe in July. > Govern - 78 The Englifh Phyffcian Enlarged . Government and fri turs. ] It is a fine foft plcafing herb, under the dominion of the Moon. It is found to be effec- tual as Purfiain to all the purpofes whereuntoif ferveth, ex- cept for meat only. The herb bruifed, or the juice applied (with cloaths or fpunges dipped therein) to the region of the liver, and, as they dry, to have it lreflt applied, doth wonderfully temperate the heat of the liver, and is effectual for all impofi h times and fwellingswhatfoever, for all rednefs in the face, wheals, pufhes, itch, fcabs ; the juice, either limply ufed, or boiled with hog’s-greafe, and applied, help- erh cramps, convulfions, and palfy. The juice, or di filled water, is of much good ufe tor all heats and rednefs in the eyes, to drop fome thereof into them ; as alfo into the ears, to eafe pains in them ; and is of good effect! to eafe pains from the heatuand fliarpnefs of the blood in the piles, and generally all pains in the body that arife of heat. It is ufed alfo in hot and virulent ulcers and fores in the privy parts of men and women, or on the legs, or elfewhere. The leaves boiled with marfh-mallows, and made into a poultice with fenugreek and linfeed, applied tofwellings and impofthumes, ripen and break them, or affitage the fwellings and eafe the pains. It hclpeth the finevvs when they are flirunk by cramps, or other 'wife, and to extend and make them pliable again by this medicine. Boil a handful of Chickweed, and a handful of red rofe leaves dried, in a quart of mufeadine, un- til a foul th part be confurned ; then put to them a pint of oil of trotters or fheep’s feet ; let them b:il a good while, fill fiirring them well ; which, being drained, anoint the grieved place therewith, warm again!! the fire, rubbing it well with one hand ; and bind alfo fome of the herb (if you will) to the place, and, with God’s blefling, it will help it in three times drefiing. Chick-Peafe, or Cicrrs. Defcrlpt.'] npHK garden forts, whether red, black, or X white, bring foi th dalks a yard long, where- on do grow many frnall, and almoff round, leaves, dented about the edges, let on both fides of a middle rib : At the joints come forth one or two flowers, upon fharp foot ftalks. peafe-faflnon, cither white or vvhitifh, orpurplilh red, light- er or deeper, according as the peafe that follow will be, that are contained in frnall, thick, and fliort pods, wherein lie one or two peafe, more ufually pointed at the lower end, and almoff The Englifh Phyfician Enlarged. 79 almoft round at the head, yet a little cornered or fliarp ; the root is (mail, and perilheth yearly. PLice and Tim'. ] They are l'own in gardens, or fields, as peafe, being (own later than peafc, and gathered at the fame time with them, or prefently after. Govet nmcnt and Virtues. | They are both under the domi- nion of Venus. They are lefs windy than beans, but nouriflt more ; they provoke urine, and are thought to increafe fperm ; they have a cleaniing faculty, whereby they break the ftone in the kidneys. To drink the cream of them, being boiled in water, is the beft way. It moves the belly downwards, pro- vokes women’s courfes and urine, incrcafes both milk and feed. One ounce of Cicers, two ounces of French barley, and a fmall handful of marfli-nmllow roors, clean wafhed, and cut, being boiled in the broth of a chicken, and four ounces taken in the morning, and faffing two hours after, is a good medi- cine for a pain in the fides. The white Cicers are ufed more for meat than medicine, yet have the fume effects, and are thought more powerful to increafe milk and feed. The wild Cicers are fo much more powerful than the garden kinds, by how much they exceed them in heat and drynefs ; whereby they do more open obftruvftions, break the ftone, and have all the properties of cutt ing, opening, digefling, and diffolving ; and this more fpeedily and certainly than the former. Cinquefoil, or five-leaved Grafs ; called in fome Counties five-fingered Grafs. Defcript. 3 T T fpreads and creeps far upon the ground, with _ A long ilender firings like ftrawberries, which take root again, and flioot forth many leaves made of five part*, and fometimes of feven, dented about the edges and lbmewhat hard. The flalks are Ilender, leaning downwards, and bear many fmall yellow flowers thereon, with fome yellow threads in the middle, Handing about a fmooth green bead, which, when it is ripe, is a little rough, and containeth fmall brownifli feed. The root is of a blackifh brown colour, as bigas one’s little finger, but growing long, with fame threads thereat; and by the fmall fixings, it quickly fpreadeth over the ground. Place.] It grovveth by wood fides, hedge fides, the pathway in fields, and in the borders and corners of them, almofi through all this land. Time.] So The Englifh Phyfician Enlarged. 7>W.] It flovvereth in Summer, fome fooner, feme later. Government and Virtues .] This is an herb of Jupiter, and therefore lfrengthens the part of the body it rules ; let Ju- piter be angular and Arong when it is gathered ; and if you give but a fcruple (which is but twenty grains) of it at a time, either in white wine, or in white wine vinegar, you lhall very feldom mil's the cure of an ague, be it what ague foever, in three fits, as I have often proved, to the admira- tion both of myfe-lf and others ; let no man defpile it becauf* it is plain and eafy, the ways of God are all luch. It is an efpecial herb ufed in all inflammations and fevers, whether infectious or peftilential ; or, amoug other herbs, to cool and temper the blood and humours in the body. As alfo for all lotions, gargles, infections, and the like, for fore mouths, ulcers, cancers, fiftulas, and other corrupt, foul, or running fores. The juice hereof drank, about four ounces at a time, for certain days together, cureth the quinfy and yel- low jaundice i and taken for thirty days together, cureth the falling ficknefs. The roots boiled in milk, anu drank, is a more effectual remedy for all fluxes in man or woman, whether the white or red, as alfo the bloody flux. The roots boiled in vinegar, and the decoCtion thereof held in the mouth, eafcth the pains of the tooth-ach. The juice or de- codtion taken with a little honey hclpeth the hoarfenefs of the th'ioat, and is very good for the cough of the lungs. The diflilied water of both roots and leaves is alfo effectual to all the purposes aforefaid; and if the hands be often waflied therein, and fuffered at every time to dry in of itfiif without wiping, it will, in a fhort time, help the pally, or fhaking in them. The root boiled in vinegar hclpeth all knots, kernels, hard fwellings, and lumps, growing in any part of the fiefh, being thereto applied ; as alfo inflamma- tions, and St. Antony’s lire, all impofthumes, and painful fores with heat and putrefaction, the lliingles alfo, and all other forts of running and foul fcabs, lores, and itch. The fame alfo boiled in wine, and applied to any joint full of pain, ach, or the gout in the hands or feet, or the hip gout, called the Sciatica, and the decoCtion thereof drank the while, d»th cure them, and eafeth much pain in the bowels. The roots arc likewife eftedtual to help ruptures or burftings, being erred with other things available to that pur- pofe, taken either inwardly or outwardly', or both ; as The Englifh Phyfician Enlarged. 81 alfo bruii'es or hurts by blows, falls, or the like, and to ftay the bleeding of wounds in any parts inward or outward. Some hold that one leaf cures a quotidian, three a tertian, and lour a quartan ague, and a hundred to one if it be not Diofcorides ; for he is full of whimlies. The truth is, I ne- ver flood fo much upon the number of the leaves, nor whe- ther I give it in powder or deco&ion : If Jupiter were ftrong, and the Moon applying to him, or his good afpedt at the ga- thering, I never knew it mils the defired effects. Cives. C CALLED alfo Rufh Leeks, Chives, Civet, and jt Sweth. Temperature andVirtues .] I confefs I had not added thefe, had it not been for a country gentleman, who, by a letter, certified me, that, amongft other herbs, I had left thefe out; they are indeed a kind of leeks, hot and dry in the fourth de- gree as they arc, and fo under the dominion of Mars ; if they he eaten raw (1 do not mean raw, oppofite to roafled or boiled, but raw, oppofite tochvmical preparation) they fend up very Lurtful vapours to the brain, caufing troublcfome fleep, and lbo'ding the eye-fight, yet of them, prepared by the art of the alchymift, may be made an excellent remedy for the itoppage of urine. Clary, or, more properly, Clear-Eye. Defi-; rpt.~\ /"'VUR ordinary garden Clary hath four fquare ftalks, with broad, rough, wrinkled, whitifh, or hoary green leaves, fomewhat evenly cut in on the edges, and of a ftrong fvveet feent, growing lome near the ground, and fotYte by couples upon ftalks. The flowers grow at cer- tain diftances, with two fmall leaves at the joints under them, fomewhat like unto the flowers of fage, but fmaller and of a whitifh blue colour. The feed is brownifh, and fomewhat flat, or not fo round as the wild. The roots are blackilb, and lpread not far, and perilli after the leed time. It is ufually fown, for it feldom riles of its own fovving. rlace.'} This groweth in gardens. Time. ] It llowereth in June and July, fome a little later than others, and their feed is ripe in Augufl, or thereabout*. Government and Virtues .] Ir is under the dominion of the Moon. The feed put into the eyes clears them trom motes and 82 The Englifh Phyfician Enlarged. and fuch like things gotten within the lids to offend them, as ail'd clears them from white and red fpots on them. The mucilage of the feed made with water, and applied to tu- mours, or fwellings, difperfeth and taketh them away ; as alfo draweth forth fplinters, thorns, or other things gotten into the flefll. The leaves ufed with vinegar, either by it- felf, or with a little honey, doth help boils, felons, and the hot inflammations that are gathered by their pains, if applied before it be grown too great. The powder of the dried root put into the nofe, provoketh fneezing, and thereby purgeth the head and brain of much rheum and corruption. The feed or leaves taken in wine provoketh to venery. It is of much ule both for men and women that have weak backs, and helpeth to ftrengthen the reins ; ufed cither by itfelf, or with other herbs conducing to the fame eft'edt, and in tanlics often. The frefli leaves dipped in a batter of Hour, eggs, and a little milk, and fried in butter, and ferved to the ta- ble, is not unpleafant to any, but exceeding profitable for thofe that are troubled with weak hacks, and the effects thereof The juice of the herb put into ale or beer, and drank, bringeih down women’s courles, and expelleth the after-birth. It is an ufual courfe with many men, when they have gotten the running of the reins, or women the whites, they run to the bufh of Clary ; Maid, bring hither the frying- pan ; fetch me fome butter, quickly ; then for eating fried Clary juft as hogs eat acorns : and this they think will cure their difeafe (forlooth), wftereas when they have devoured as much Clary as will grow upon an acre of ground, their backs are as much the better as though they had pifled in their fttocs ; nay, perhaps, much worfe. We will grant that Clary ftrengthens the back, but this we deny that the caufe of the running of the reins in men, or the whites in women, lies in the back (though the back fometimes be weakened by them) and therefore the medi- cine is as proper, as for me, when tny toe is fore, to lay a plaller on my nofe. Wild Clary. WILD Clary is tnoft blafphemoufly called Chrift’s Eye, becaufe it cures dileafes of the eyes. I could wifh from my foul blafphemy, ignorance, and tyranny were chafed among phyficians, that they may be happy, and I joy- ful Defcriptg The Englifii Phyfician Enlarged. 83 D Wipt.] ir is like the other Clary, but idler, with many ftalks ab at a toot and a half high. The ftalks are lquare and lomewhat hairy ; the flowers of u bl tifli colour : He that knows t lac common Clary cannot be ignorant of this. Place.] It grows commonly in this nation in barren places ; you may find it plentifully if you look in the field* near Gray’s Inn, and the fields near Chelfea. Time.'] They flower from the beginning of June till the latter end of Auguft. Government and Virtues. ] It is foniething hotter and drier than the garden Clary is, yet neverthelcfs under the dominion of the Moon, as well as that : the feeds of it being beaten to powder, and drank with wine, is an admirable help to provoke lull. A decodlion of the leaves being drank, warms the llomuch, and it is a wonder if it fliould not, the llomach being under Cancer, the Houle of the Moon. Alio it helps oigctlion, feutters congealed blood in any part of the body. The di lulled water hereof cleanfeth the eyes of red- nefs, wateriflmefs, and heat : Jt is a gallant remedy for dim- nefs of fight, to take one of the feeds of it, and put into the eyes, and there let it remain till it drops out of itielf, the pain will be nothing to l'peak on ; it will cleanfe the eyes of all filthy and putiified matter, and, in often repeating it, will take oft' a film which covercth the fight ; a bandfomer, fafer, and caller remedy by a great deal, than to tear it off with a needle. Cleavers. IT is alfo «alied Aparine, Goofe-fhare, Goofc-grafs, and Cleavers. Dejcritt.li The common Cleavers have divers very rough fquare ftalks, not fo big as the top of point, hut railing up to be two or three yards high fometimes, if it meet with any tall bullies or trees, whereon it may rlimb, vet without any clafpers, or elfc much lower, and lying on •'he ground, full of joints, and at every one of them {hooting forth a branch, bciides the leaves thereat, which are ufually fix, fet in a round compafis like a liar, or a rowel of a fpur : From between the leaves or the joints towards the tops of the branches, come forth very fmall white flowers, at every end upon fmall thready foot-rtalks, which, after they have fallen, there do fiiew two fmall round and tough feeds joined t )gethcr 84 The Englifh Phyfician Enlarged. together like two teflicles, which, when they are ripe, grow hard and whitilh, having a little hole on the tide, fomcthing like unto a navel. Both llalks, leaves, and feeds arc fo rough that they will cleave to any thing that fhall touch them. The root is lmall and thready, fpreading much in the ground, but dieth every year. Flace.\ It groweth by the hedge and ditch fides in many places of this land, and is fo troublelome an inhabitant in gardens, that it rampeth upon, and is ready to choak what- ever grows near it. Time. J It flowcrcth in June or July, and the feed is ripe and falleth again in the end of July or Augeft, from whence it fpringeth up again, and not from the old roots. Government and Firturs.] It is under the dominion of the Moon. The juice of the herb and the feed together taken in wine helpeth thofc bitten with an adder, by preferring the heart from the venom. It it familiarly taken in broth to keep them lank and lean that are apt to grow fat. The diflilled water, drank twice a day, helpeth the yellow jaun- dice, and the decodion of the herb, in experience, is found to do the fame, and ltayeth ialks and bloody fluxes. The juice of the leaves, or they a little bruifed, and applied to any bleeding wounds, flayeth the bleeding. The juice alfo is very good to clofe up the lips of green wounds, and the powder of the dried herb flrewed thereupon doth the fame, and likewife helpeth old ulcers. Being boiled in hog’s- greaie, it helpeth all forts of hard fwellings or kernels in the throat, being anointed therewith. 1 he juice dropped into the ears taketh away the pain of them. It is a good remedy in the Spring, eaten (being find chop- ped lmall, and boiled well) in water-gruel, to cleanfe the blood, and ftrengthen the liver, thereby to keep the body in health, and fitting it for that change of feafon that is coming. kJlowns Woodvrort. » ' Defcript.'] TT groweth up fometimes to tw'o or three feet A high, but ulualiy about two feet, with fnuare green, rough, flalks, but ilender, joined lomewhat far afun- dci, and two very *ong-, lomewhat narrow, dark, green leaves, bluntly dented about the edges thereof, ending in a long point, b he Howe 1 s Hand towards the tops, comparing the ftaiks at the joints with the leaves, and end likewile in a lpiked The Engliih Phyfician Enlarged. 85 fpiked top, having long and much gaping hoods of a pur- plifli red colour, with whitifh fpots in them. Handing in fomewhat round hulks, wherein afterwards Hand blackilh round feeds. The root is compofed of many long firings, with fome tuberous long knobs growing among them, of a pale yellowilh or whitilh colour, yet fometimes of the year thefe knobby roots in many places are not feen in this plant; The plant fmelleth fomewhat llrong. Place.'] It groweth in fundry counties of this land, both north and well, and frequently by path-fides in the fields near about London, and within three or four miles diflant about it ; yet it ufually grows in or near ditches. Time.] It fiowcreth in June or July, and the feed is ripe foon after. Government and Virtues.] It is under the dominion of the planet Saturn. It is Angularly effectual in all frefli and green wounds, and therefore beartth not this name for nought. And it is very available in (launching of blood, and to dry up the fluxes of humours in old fretting ulcers, cankers, &c. that hinder the healing of them. A i'yrup made of the juice of it, is inferior to none for inward wounds, ruptures of veins, bloody flux, veflels bro* ken, fpitting, pilling, or vomiting of blood : Ruptures are ex- cellently and fpcedily, even to admiration, cured by taking now and then a little of the fyrup, and applying an oint- ment or plafter of this herb to the place. Alfo, if any vein be iwelled or mufcle, apply a plalter of this herb to it, and if you add a little Comfrey to it, it will not do amifs. I al- lure thee the herb deferves commendations, though it ha9 gotten 1'uch a clownilh name ; and whofoever reads this, (if he try it as I have done) will commend it ; only take notice that it is of a dry, earthy quality. Cock’s Head, Red Filching, or Medick Fetch. Dcfcript. ] ry'HIS hath divers weak but rough flalks, half a X yard long, leaning downwards, but let with winged leaves, longer and more pointed than thofe of lin- tels, and whitifh underneath ; from the tops of thefe flalks arife up other flender flalks, naked, without leaves unto the tops, where there grow many fmall flowers in manner of a fpike, of a pale reddifh colour, with fome bluenefs among them ; after which rife up in their places, round, rough, F and .86 The Englifh Phyfician Enlarged. and fomewhat fiat heads. The root is tough, and foine- what woody, yet livcth and fliooteth a-new every year. PLice.] Itgrovveth under hedges, and fometimes in the open fields, in divers places of this land. Time.] They flower all the months of July and Auguft, and the feed ripeneth in the mean while. Government and Virtues. '] It is under the dominion of Venus. It hath power to rarefy and digell ; and therefore the green leaves bruifed and laid as a plafler, diiperfe knots, nodes, or kernels in the flcfli ; and if when dry it be taken in wine, it helpeth the flranguary ; and being anointed with oil, itprovoketh fwcat. It is a lingular food for cattle, to caufc them to give ftore of milk ; and why then may it not do the like, being boiled in ordinary drink, for nurfes ? Columbines. THESE are fo well know'll, growing almoft in every garden, that I think I may lave the expence of time in writing a defeription of them. Time.] They flmver in Mav, and abide not for the moil part when June is pail, perfecting their feed in the mean time. Government and Virtues.] It is alio an herb of Venus. The leaves of Columbines are commonly ufed in lotions with good luccefs for fore mouths and throats. Tragus faith, that a dram of the feed taken in wine with a little laf- fron, openeth obit ructions of the liver, and is good for the yellow jaundice, if the party after the taking thereof be laid to fweat well in bed. The feed alfo taken in wine caufeth a fpeedv delivery of women in childbirth ; if one draught luffice not, let her drink the fecond, and it is effe&ual : The Spaniards ufed to eat a piece of the root thereof in a morning falling, many days together, to help them when troubled with the done in the reins or kidneys. Coltsfoot. CALLED alfo Coughwort, Foals-foot, Korfe-hoof, and Bulls-foot. Defcript.] This fnooteth up a {lender Halt, with fmall yellow ill* flowers fomewhat earlier, which fall away quickly, and after they are pall, come up fomewhat round leaves, fometimes dented about the edges, much Idler, thicker, and greener than thole of butter-bur, with a little down or 4 trie j. A The Englifh Phyli^.m Enlarged. 87 frieze over the green leaf on the upper fide, which may be rubbed away, and whitifll or ineally underneath. The root is fmall and white, 1 preading much under ground, fo that vyherc it taketh it will hardly be driven away again, if any little piece by abiding therein ; and from thence Spring frelli leaves. P Lice.'] It groweth as well in wet grounds as in drier places. Pi me.'] And flowereth in the end of February, the leaves begin to appear in March. Government and Virtues.] The plant is under Venus, the frefli leaves or juice, ora fyrup thereof, is good for a hot, dry cough, or wheeling, and fhortnefs of breath. The dry leaves are bed for thofe that have thin rheums and difiilla- tions upon their lungs, caufing a cough, for which all'o the dried leaves taken as tobacco, or the root is very good. The diftillcd water hereof limply, or with elder flowers and night- shade, is a lingular good remedy again!! all hot agues, to drink two ounces at a time, and apply cloths wet therein to the head and itomach, which alio does much good, bein°- applied to any hot dwellings and inflammations : It helpeth St. Anthony’s fire and burnings, and is lingular good to fake away wheals and lmall pufl.es that arife through heat ; as all'o the burning heat of the piles or privy parts, cloths wet therein being thereunto applied. Comfrey. Dcfcript.] HP HE common Great Comfrey hath divers A very large hairy green leaves lying on the ground, fo hairy or prickly, that if they touch any tender part of the hands, face or body, it will caufe it fo itch ; the flalk that arileth from among them, being two or three feet high, hollow and cornered, is very hairy alfo, having many fuch like leaves. us grow below, but leflerand Idler up to the top ; at the joints of the flalks it is divided into many branches, with fome leaves thereon, and at the end Hand many flowers in order one above another, which are fome- what long and hollow like the finger of a glove, of a pale whitifh colour, after which come' fmall black feeds. The roots are great and long, fpreading greatthick branches under ground, black on the outfide, and whitifli within, fiiort and eafy to break, and full oi glutinous or clammy juice, of no talte at all. • F 2 There* 88 The Englrfh Phyfician Enlarged. There is another fort in all things like this, only fomc- what lefs, and beareth ilowers of a pale purple colour. Place.] They grow by ditches and water-fides, and in di- vers fields that are moift, for therein they chiefly delight to grow. The firft generally through all the land, and the other but in fome places. By the leave of my authors, I know they grow often in dry places. Time.] They flower in June or July, and give their feed in Auguft. Government and Virtues.] This is an herb of Saturn, and I fuppofe under the fign Capricorn, cold, dry, and earthly- in quality. What was fpoken of Clowns Woundwort, may be laid of this. The Great Comfrey helpeth thofe that fpit blood, or make a bloody urine. The root boiled in water or wine, and the decoftion drank, helps all inward hurts, bruifes, wounds, and ulcers of the lungs, and caufeth the phlegm that oppreffeth them to be eafily fpit forth : It helpeth the defludiion of rheum from the head upon the lungs, the fluxes of blood or humours by the belly, women's immoderate courfes, as well the reds as the whites, and the running of the reins, happening by what caufe foever. A fyrup made thereof is very effectual for all thofe inward griefs and hurts, and the diflilled water for the fame purpofe alfo, and for outward wounds and fores in the flefliy or finewy part of the body whatfoever, as alfo to take away the fits of agues, and to allay the fharpnefs of humours. A deco&ion of the leaves hereof is available to all the purpofes, though not fo effedtual as the roots. The roots being outwardly ap- plied, help frefh wounds or cuts immediately, being bruifed and laid thereto ; and is fpecial good for ruptures and broken bones ; yea, it is faid to be fo powerful to confolidate and knit together, that if they be boiled with diffevered pieces of flefh in a pot, it will join them together again. It is good to be applied to women’s breafts that grow fore by the abundance of milk coming into them ; alfo, to reprefs the overmuch bleeding of the haemorrhoids, to cool the inflam- mation of the parts thereabouts, and to give eafe of pains. The roots of Comfrey taken frefh, beaten fmall, and fpread upon leather, and laid upon any place troubled with the gout, doth prefently give eafe of the pains ; *and applied in th' fame manner, giveth eafe to pained joints, and pry- fiterh very much for running and moift ulcers, gangrenes, mor- The Englifh Phyfician Enlarged. 89 mortifications, and the like, for which it hath by often expe- rience been found helpful. \ Coral wort. IT is alfo by fome called Toothwort, Tooth Violet, Dog Teeth Violet, and Dentaria. De/crift ] Of the many forts of this herb two of them may be found growing in this nation ; the fird of which fhooteth forth one or two winged leaves, upon long browniih footftalks, which are doubled down at their nrft coming out of the ground ; when they are fully opened they coniid of * feven leaves, mod commonly of a fad green colour, dented about the edges, fet on both Tides the middle rib one againft another, as the leaves of the afh-tree; the dalk beareth no leaves on the lower half of it ; the upper half beareth fome- times three or four, each confiding of five leaves, fometimes of three ; on the top dand four or five flowers upon diort footdalks, with long hulks ; the dowers are very like the flowers of Aockgillitiowers, of a pale purplidi colour, confid- ing of four leaves a-piece, after which come fmall pods, which contain the feed ; the root is very fmooth, white, and Alining ; it doth not grow dowmw'ards, but creeping along under the upper cruft of the ground, and confifteth of divers fmall round knobs fet together ; towards the top of the ftalk there grows fome {ingle leaves, by each of which cometh a fmall cloven bulb, which when it is ripe, if it be fet in the ground, it will grow to be a root. As for the other Coralwort which groweth in this nation, ’tis more fcarcc than this, being a very fmall plant, much like crowfoot, therefore fome think it to be one of the fort* of crowfoot ; I know not where to diredl you to it, there- fore I fliall forbear the deferintion. Place.'] The di d groweth in Mayfield in Suflex, in a wood called Highroad, and in another wood there alfo, called Foxholes. Time.] They flower from the latter end of April to the middle of May, and before the middle of July they are gone, and not to be found. Government end Virtues.] It is under the dominion of the Moon. It cleanfeth the bladder, and provoketh urine, expels gravel, and the done ; it cafcth pains in the fides and bowels, is excellent good for inward wounds, efpccially F 3 fuch 9© The Englifh Phyfici an Enlarged. fuch as are made in the breait or lungs, by raking a dram of the powder of the root every morning in wine ; the faine is excellent good for ruptures, as aUb to flop fluxes ; an oint- ment made of it is excellent good for wounds and ulcers, for it ioon dries up the watery humours which hinder the cure. Coflmary, or Alcoft.or B-dfam Herb. iTtlS is fo frequently known to be an inhabitant in aimoff every garuen, that I fuppofe it needlefs to write adefeription thereof. Time.] It flovvereth in June and July. . Government and Virtues .] It is under the dominion of Ju- pi or. The ordinary Coftmary, as well as Maudlin, pro- voketh urine abundantly, and moifleneth the hardnefs of the mother; it gently purgeth choler and phlegm, extenuating that which is grois, aud cutting that which is tough and glutinous, cleanleth that which is foul, and hindercth pu- trefaction and corruption ; it diflolveth without attraction openexh obflr unions, and helpcth their evil effe&s, and it is a wonderful help to all forts of dry agues. It is aftringent to the lfomach, and llrengtheneth the liver, and all the other inward parts; and taken in whey worketh more effectually. Taken faffing in the morning, it is very profitable for pains’ in the head that are continual, and to flay, dry up, and con- fume all thin rheums or diflillations from the head into the flomach, and helpeth much to digeft raw humours that are gathered therein. It is very profitable for thofe that are fallen into a continual evil difpofition of the whole bodv called Cachexia, but Specially in the beginning of the dif- eafe. It is an efpecial friend and help Jo evil, weak and cold livers. The feed is familiarly given to children for the worms, _ and fo is the infufion of the flowers in white wme, given them to the quantity of two’ ounces at a time • it maketh an excellent falve to cleanfe and heal old ulcers’ being boiled with oil of olive and adders tongue with it’ and after it is /trained, put a little wax,* rofin, and turpen- tine, to bring it to a convenient bodv. 1 J Cudweed, or Cottonweed. I?™ Cudweed and Cottonweed, it is nlfo called Jp Chafiweed, Dwarff Cotton, and Petty Cotton. Dejiript.’l The common Cudweed rii'eth up with one flalk TJ.' e Englifh Phyfician Enlarged. 91 ftaTTc fometimes, and fometimes with two nr three, thick let on all lidcs with fmall, long and narrow wHitifli or woody leaves, from the middle of the flalk almoft up to the top, with every leaf (hinder h a fmall flower of a dun or browniili yellow colour, or not fo yellow as others ; in which heibs, after the flowers are fallen, come fmall feed wrapped up, with the down therein, and is carried away with the wind : the root is fmall and thready. There are other forts hereof, which are fomewhat lcfier than the former, not much different, lave only .that the ftalks and leaves are (horter, fo the flowers are paler and more open. Place.] They grow in dry, barren, fandy, and gravelly grounds, in molt places of this land. Time.] They flower about July, fome earlier, fome later? and their feed is ripe in Auguft. Government and Virtues .] Venus is lady of it. The plants are all aftringent, binding, or drying and therefore profitable for definitions of rheum from the head, and to ftav fh ire's of blood wlwrefocver, the decoction being made into red wine and drank, or the powder taken therein. It alfo helpeth the bloody -flux, and eafeth the torments that come thereby, ffayeth the immoderate courfes of women, and is alfo good for inward or outward wounds, hurts and bruifes, and help- eth children bath of burftings and the worms, and being either drank or injected, for the difeafe called TenelVnus, which is an often provocation to the ftool without doing any thing. The green leaves bruifcd, and laid to any green wound, ftaveth the bleeding, and healeth it up quickly. The juice of the herb taken in wine and milk i3, as Pliny faith, a fovereign remedy againft the mumps and quinfy ; and farther faith, that whofoever (hall fo take it, fiiall never be troubled with that difeafe again. Cowflips, or Peagles. OTH the wild and garden Cowflips are fo well known, 2 that ] will neither trouble myfelf nor the reader with a defeription of them. Tune.] They flower in April and May. Government and Virtues.] Venus lays claim to this herb as her own, and it is under the fign Aries, and our city dames know well enough the ointment or diftilled water of it adds beauty, or at leaft reflores it when it is lolt. The flowers F 4 are 9 2 The Englifh Phyfician Enlarged. ire hdd to be more effectual than the leaves, and the roots ot httl5 u,e* JAl1 ointment being made with them, taketh *-m-ay fpots and wrinkles of the ikin, fun burning and frec- . and adds beauty exceedingly ; they remedy all infir- mities of the head coming of heat and' wind, as vertigo, C phial ces, fabe apparitions, phrenfies, falling ficknefs, pal- ms, convuffions, cramps, pains in the nerves; the roots pain* tU tbe back and bladder, and open the paflages of urine, i he leaves are good in wounds, and the flowers ,.J K ; awa> trembling. If the flowers be not well dried, and -p in a warm place, they will foon putrify and look green : iave a fpecial eye over them. If you let them fee the fun P a month, it will neither do the fun nor them harm. thnY ft,1Cngthcn the brain and nerves, and remedy palhes, the Greeks gave them the name of Paralyfis. The flowers preierved or conferred, and the quantity of a nutmee eaten every morning, is a fuflicient dofc for inward difeafest °r Wol'nda’ [Pots, wrinkles, and fun-burnings, an oim- -ut is made of the leaves, and hog’s greafe. Crabs Claws. (im'UuaIfb,Water Sengreen’ Knights Pend Water, VV ater Houleleek, Pond Weed, and Frelh Water Sol- bath fuPdry lonP: narrow leaves, with {harp u Cd2eS 0t tbem alfo> yory fharp pointed ; the hem- whlchbear.flowe^ Seldom grow lb high as the leaves, beating a forked head, like a crab’s claw, out of which comes a white flower, confining of three leaves, with divers j e lowtlli hairy threads in the middle ; it taketh root in the mud in the bottom of the water. £{>«] It groweth plentifully* in the fens in Lincolniliirc. fggg !t flowereth 10 J“™> ufually from thence till ’Tis a Plant under the dominion of Venus and therefore a great ftrengthener of the reins • it is excellent good in that inflammation which is commonlv’ called St. Anthony s fire; it affuageth all inflammations and fwellings in wounds : and an ointment made of h i, excellent good to heal them ; there is fcarce a better remedy growing than this is lor fuch as have bruifed their lfl?- neys, and upon that account piffing blood i a dram of the powder 9: The Englifli Phyfician Enlarged. powder of the herb taken every morning, is a very good re- medy to flop the terms Black Crefles. Defcript .] TT hath long leaves, deeply cut and jagged on X both iides, not much unlike wild muflard : the flalks fmall, very limber, though very tough ; you may twill them round as you may a willow, before they break. The Hones be very lmall and yellow, after which comes fmall pods, which contain the feed. Place.'] It is a common herb, grows ufually by the way- fides, and fometimes upon mud walls about London, but it delights moll to grow among Hones and rubbifh. Time.] It flowers in June and July, and the feed is ripe in Augufl and September. Government and Virtues.] It is a plant of a hot and biting nature, under the dominion of Mars. The feed of Black Crefles flrengthens the brain exceedingly, being in perform- ing that office little inferior to muflard feed, if at all ; they arc excellent good to Hay thofe rheums which may fall down from the head upon the lungs ; you may beat the feed into powder, it you pieal'e, and make it up into an electuary with honey ; fo you have an excellent remedy by you, not only for (he premifes, but alfo for the cough, yellow jaundice, and fciatica. The herb boiled into a poultice, is an excellent re- medy for inflammations both in women’s breads and men’s teflicles. Sciatica Crefles. Defcript.] HpHESE are of two kinds : The fird rifeth up JL vvith a round Hulk, about two feet high, fpread into divers branches, whofe lower leaves are fome- what larger than the upper, yet all of them cut or torn on the edges, fomewhat like garden crefles, but fmaller ; the flowers are fmall and white, growing at the tops of branches, where afterwards grow hulks, with fmall brownifli feed therein, very flrong and fliarp in fade, more than the crefles of the garden : the root is long, white, and woody. The other hath the lower leaves whole, fomewhat long and broad, not torn at all, but only fomewhat deeplv dented about the edges towards the ends ; but thofe that grbw up F 5 higher The Englifh Phyfician Enlarged. higher are lefler. The flowers and feeds are like the farmer, and lo is the root iikewife, and both root and feeds as fharp as it. Place.'] They grow by the way-fides in untilled places, and by the iides of old walls. Time.] They flower in the end of June, and their feed is ripe in July. Government and Virtues.] It is a Saturnine plant. The lea\es, but efpecially the root, taken frefh in Summer-time, beaten or made into a poultice orfalve with old hog’s greafe, and applied to the places pained with the fciatica, to continue thereon four hours, if it be on a man, and tw« hours on a woman; the place afterwards bathed with wine and oil mixed together, and then wrapped with wool or Ikins after they have fweat a little, will ailurcdly cure not only the fame difeafe in hips, huckle-bone, or other of the joints, as gout in the hands or feet, but all other old griefs of the head, (as inveterate rheums> and other parts of the body that are hard to be cured. And if of the former griefs any parts re- main, the fame medicine after twenty days is to be applied again. The fame is aifo effectual in the difeafes of the 1'pleen, and applied to the fkin, it taketh away the blemifhes thereof, whether they be fears, leprofy, fcabs, or feu rf, which al- though it ulcerate the part, yet that is to be helped after- wards with a falve made of oil and wax. Efteem this a* another fecrot. Water Creffes. Idcfcript.] \UR ordinary Water Civile* fpread forth V/ with many weak, hollow, fappy flalks, fhooting out fibres tit the joints, and Upwards long winged leaves made of fundry broad fappy almoft round leaves, of a brownifh colour. The' flowers ate many and white, ftandino- on long footitalks, after which come fmall yellow feed con^ tained in lmall long pods like horns. The whole plant abideth green in the Winter, and talleth fomewhat hot and fharp. Place. They grow (for the mofl part) in fmall (landing waters, yet fometnnes in fmall rivulets of running winter. & Time.] They flower and feed in the beginning of Summer. Go vernment and 'Virtues.] It is an herb under the domi- nion of the Moon. They We more powerful again ft the feurvy The Englifh Phyfician Enlarged 95 fcurvy, and to cleanfe the blood and humours, than Brook- lime is, and fierce in all the other utes in which Brooklime is available, as to break the done, and provoke urine and wo- men’s courfes. The decodlion thereof cleanfeth ulcers, by walking them therewith, T he leaves bruifed, or the juice, is good to be applied to the face or other parts troubled with freckles, pimples, Ipots, or the like, at night, and walked away in the, morning. The juice mixed with vinegar, and the forepart of the head bathed therewith, is very good for thole that are dull and drowfy, or have the le- thargy. \\ atercrefs pottage is a good remedy to clcanfc the blood in thdSpring, and help head-achs, and con fume the grofs hu- moc is Winter hath left behind ; thofe that would live in healrll', may vile it it thev pleale, it thpv will not, I cannot help it. Ir any fancy not pottage, they may eat the herb as a fader. Cl ofs'.vorf. Defcript.] /COMMON Croiswort groweth up with Ujuare hairy brown itaiks a little above a foot high, having four fmal! broad and pointed, hairy, vet fmooth green leaves, growing at every joint, ^each again if other crof way, which has caufed the name. Towards the tops of the (talks at the joints, with the leaves in three or four rows downwards, ftarrd (mail, pale yellow flowers, after whioh come (mail blackifh round feeds, four for the moll {tart, fet in everv hulk. The root is very finall and full of fibres, or threads, taki-ug good' hold of the ground, and fpreading w ith thebrar.ches.a great deal of ground, which perifh not in Winter, although the leaves die every year, and lp ring again new.. Place.'] It gro\yeth in many moilt grounds,' as well mea- dows as untilied places aboiu London, in Hamplleftd church- yard, at Wye. in Kent, and fundry other places. 71.’. c.] It flowers from May all the Summer long, in one place or other, as they are open to the fun ; the feed ripen- eth foon after. . . Government and Urine ,] Tt is under the dominion ot Saturn. This is a Angular fnoA wound herb, and is ufed inwardly, not only to llav bidding of wounds, but to coniolidate them, as it doth 'outwardly any green wound, F 6 which 9 6 The Englifh Phyfician Enlarged. which it quickly foldereth up, and hcaleth. The dccoftion ot the herb in wine, helpetii to expectorate phlegm out of the chert, and is good for obftruCtions in the b: eaft, rtomach, or bowels, and helpeth a decayed appetite. It is alfo good to ualli any wound or fore with, to cleanfe and heal it. The hcib bruifed, and then boiled, applied outwardly for certain days together, renewing it often; and in the mean time the decoCtion of the herb in wine, taken inwardly every day, doth certainly cure the rupture in any, fo as it be not too inveterate ; but very fpeedily, if it be frefli and lately taken. Crowfoot. ’ANY arc the names this furious biting herb hath ob- . tained, almoft enough to make up a Welfhman’s pe- digree, if he fetch no farther than John of Gaunt, or Wil- liam the Conqueror; for it is called Frogsfoot from the Greek name Barikon ; Crowfoot, Gold Knobs, Gold Cups King's Knob, Baffiners, Troilflovvers, Bolts, Locket Gou- lions, and Butterflowers. Abundance are the forts of this herb, that to deferibe them all would tire the patience of Socrates himfelf; but becaufe I have not yet attained to the fpirits of Socrates I rtxall but deferibe the moft ufual. Dcfcript.] The moft common Crowfoot hath many dark green leaves, cut into divers parts, in taftc biting and'fliarp biting and bliftering the tongue : it bears many flowers, and’ thole of a bright, refplendent, yellow colour. I do not re- member, that I ever faw any thing yellower. Virgins in ancient time ufed to make powder of them to furrow bride beds ; after which flowers come frnall heads, fome fpiked and rugged like a pine apple. Place.'] They grow very common everywhere ; unlefs you turn your head into a hedge, you cannot but fee them as you walk. Time.] They flower in May and June, even till September _ Government mid Virtues.] This fiery and hot lpiritedherb °i Mars is no way fit be given inwardly, but an ointment ot the leaves or flowers will draw a blifter, and may be fo fitly applied to the nape of the neck to draw back rheum from the eyes. The herb being bruifed and mixed w flh a little muftard, draws a blifter as well, and as per- fectly T’j be Englifti PhyUcian Enlarged. 97 feclly as Cantharides, and with far lefs danger to the vcflels of urine, which Cantharides naturally delight to wrong : I knew the herb once applied to a pcllilcntial riling that was fallen down, and it faved life even beyond hope ; it were good to keep an ointment and plafter of it, if it were but for that. Cuckow-point. IT is called Atron, Janus, Barba-aron, Calves-foot, Ramp, Starchwort) Cuckow-pintle, Prieft-pintle, and Wake Robin. Defcript .] This fhooteth forth three, four, or five leaves at the mold, from one root, every one whereof is fomewhat large and long, broad at the bottom next the flalk, and fork- ed, but ending in a point, without a cut on the edge, of a full green colour, each Handing upon a thick, round ldalk, of a hand-breadth long, or more, among which, after two or three months that they begin to wither, rifeth up a bare, round, vvhitilh green ilalk, lpotted, and flreaked with purple, fomewhat higher than the leaves : At the top whereof lland- eth a long hollow hulk, clofe at the bottom, but open from the middle upwards, ending in a point; in the middle whereof lland the fmalllong peille or clapper, fmaller at the bottom than at the top, of a dark purple colour, as the hulk is on the infide, though green without ; which, after it hath fo abided for fome time, the hufk, with the clapper, de- cayeth, and the foot or bottom thereof groweth to be a fmalllong bunch of berries, green at the firlT, and of a yel- lowifli red colour when they are ripe, of the bignefs of a ha- zel-nut kernel, which abideth thereon almolf until Winter : the root is round, and fomewhat long, for the moll part ly- ing along, the leaves {hooting forth at the large!! end, which, when itbearethits berries, are fomewhat wrinkled and loofe, another growing under it, which is folid and firm, with many fmall threads hanging thereat. The whole plant is of a very {harp biting talle, pricking the tongue as nettles do the hands, and fo abideth for a great while without alteration. The root thereof was anciently uied inftead of {larch to Harch linen with. There is another fort of Cuckow-point, with Idler leaves than the former, and fometimes harder, having blackifh i'pots upon them, which, for the molt part, abide longer green 98 The Englifh Phyfician Enlarged. green in Summer than the former, and both leaves and roots are more fliarp and fierce than it; in all things clfe it is like the former. Place. 1 Thefe two forts grow frequently almoft under every hedge fide in many places in this land. . Time.1 They flioot forth leaves in the Spring, and con- tinue but until the middle of Summer, or fomewhat later • their hulks appearing before they fall away, and their fruit lhewing in April. Government and J ntties.] It is under the dominion of iVlais. Tragus leporteth that a dram weight, or more if need be, of the fpotted Wake Robin, either frefli and green, 01 dncd, being beaten and taken, is a prefent and lure re- medy tor poifon ai?d the plague. The juice of the herb ta- ken to the quantity of a fpoonful hath the fame effeft. But if there be a little vinegar added thereto, as well as to the root aforefaid, it fomewhat allayeth the fliarp biting tafte thereof upon the tongue. The green leaves bruifed and laid upon the boil or plague fore doth wonderfully help to draw forth the poifon : A dram of the powder of the dried root taken with twice fo much fugar in the form of a lickino- elec- tuary, or the green root, doth wonderfully help thofe that are purfy and fhort-winded, as alfo thofe that have a cough • it breaketh, digefteth, and riddeth away phlegm from^the ltomach, cheft, and lungs. The milk wherein the root hath been boiled is effectual alfo for the fame purpofe. The faid powder taken in wine, or other drink, or the juice of the berries or the powder of them, or the wine wherein they have been boiled, provoketh urine, and bringeth down wo- men s courfes, and purgeth them effectually after child-bear- mg, to bring away the after-birth. Taken with fliecps milk it healcth the inward ulcers of the bowels. The diflil- led water thereof is effe&ual to all the purpofes aforefaid. A lpoonful taken at a time healcth the itch; and an ounce or more taken at a time, for fomc days together, doth help the rupture; the leaves, either green or dry, or the juice of them, doth clean c all manner of rotten and filthy ulcers in what 5° t e body Soever ; and healeth the {linking fores in the nofc called Polypus. _ i he water wherein the root hath been boiled, dropped into the eyes, cleanfeth them from ZLm ?r*in> ,C °ud °r mift’ which begin to hinder the light, and helpeth the watering and rednefs of them, or when, The Engliih Phyfician Enlarged. 99 when, by fome chance, they become black and blue. The root mixed with bean-flour and applied to the throat or jaw's that are inflamed, helpeth them. The juice of the berries, boiled in oil of roles, or beaten into powder, mixed with the oil, and dropped into the ears, eafeth pains in them. The berries, or the roots, beaten with hot ox-dung, and applied, eafeth the pains of the gout. The leaves and roots boiled in wine, with a little oil, and applied to the piles, or the falling down of the fundament, ealeth them, and lo doth fitting over the hot fumes thereof. The frelh roots bruifed and clitUlled with a little milk, yieldeth a nioft fovereign water to clean fe the lkin from feurf, freckles, fpots, or ble- inifhes whatfoever therein. Authors have left large commendations of this herb, you fee ; but, for my parr, I have neither fpoken with Dr, Reafon, nor Dr. Experience about it. Cucumbers. Gwernmnit f INHERE is no difpute to be made, but that and Virtues. ] they are under the dominion of the Moon, though they are fw much cried out againft for their coldnefs, and if they were but one degree colder they would be poilbn. The bell of Qaler.ifts hold them to be cold and moill in the fecond degree, and then not lo hot as either let- tuces or purilain : They are excellent good for a hot ftomach, and hot liver; the unmeafurable ule of them fills the body full of raw humours, and fo indeed the unmeafurable ufe of any thing elfe doth harm. The face being wafhed with their juice cleanfeth the lkin, and is excellent good for hot rheums in the eyes ; the feed is excellent good to provoke urine, and cleanfeth the pallages whereof wrhen they are flopped; there is not a better remedy for ulcers in the bladder growing than Cucumbers are. The ufual courfe is to ufe the feeds in emulflons, as they make almond milk ; but a far better way (in my opinion) is this : When the feafon%of the year is, take the Cucumbers and bruife them well, and diflil the wa- tcr from them, and let luch as are troubled with ulcers in the bladder drink no other drink. The face being vvaflied with the fame water cureth the reddell face that is ; is is alfo excellent good for fun-burning, freckles, and morphew. Dailies, loo The Englifh Phyfician Enlarged. Dailies. THESE are fo well known almoft to every child that I fuppofe it needlefs to write any defcription of them. Take therefore the virtues of them as followeth. Government and Virtues .] The herb is under the fign Can- cer, and under the dominion of Venus, and therefore ex- cellent good for wounds in the breafl, and very fitting to be kept both in oils, ointments, and plailers, as alio in fyrup. The gi eater wild Daifey is a wound herb of good refpedf, often ufed in thofe drinks or lalves that are for wounds, cithd inward or outward. The juice, or diltilled water, of thefe, or the Imall Daifey, doth much temper the heat and choler, and letiefh the liver, and the other inward parts. A decoction made of them, and drank, hclpeth to' cure the wounds made m the hollownefs of the breaft. The fame cur- eth alio all ulcers and puftules in the mouth or tongue, or in t le feciet parts. 1 he leaves bruifed and applied to the cods, or to any other parts that are fvvoln and hot, doth diffolve ir, and temper the heat. A decoftion made thereof of Wall- wort and Agrimony, and the places fomented, or bathed therewith warm, giveth great eafe to them that are troubled with the pally, fciatica, or the gout. The fame alfo difperf- eth and diflblyeth the knots or kernels that grow in the fiefh ol any part of the body, and bruifes and hurts that come of falls and blows ; they are alfo ufed for ruptures, and other in- ward burnings, with very good fuccefs. An ointment made thereof doth wonderfully help all wounds that have inflam- mations about them, or by reafon of moift humours having accefs unto them are kept long from healing, and fuch are mfe, for the moll: part, that happen to joints of the arms or legs. I he juice of them dropped into the running eyes of any doth much help them. ° J Dandelion, vulgarly called Pifs-a-Beds. Defcript.'] TT is well known to have many long and deep- , , , , Safljcd leaves, lying on the ground round about the head of the roots ; the ends of each gafli, or jag on both f.des looking downwards towards the roots • the middle rib being white, which, being broken, yieldcth abun- dance of bitter milk, but the root much more f from among the leaves, which always abide green, arife many ilender, weak, IOI The Englifh Phyfician Enlarged. weak, naked, foot-ftalks, every one of them bearing at the top one large yellow flower, connfting of many rows of yellow leaves, broad at the points, and nicked in with deep ipots of yellow in the middle, which, growing ripe, the green hulk wherein the flowers flood turns itfelf down to thcftalk, and the head of down becomes as round as a ball ; with long reddifh feed underneath, bearing a part of the down on the head of every one, which together is blown away with the wind, or may be at once blown away with one’s mouth. The root growing downwards exceeding deep, which being broken off within the ground, will yet fhoot forth again, and will hardly be deflroyed where it hath once taken deep root in the ground. Place.'] It groweth frequently in all meadows and pafture grounds. Ti me.] It flowereth in one place or other almoft all the year long. Government and Virtues.] It is under the dominion of Jupiter. It is of an opening and cleanfing quality, and therefore very effedtual for the obftruftions of the liver, gall, and fplecn, and the difeafes that arife from them, as the jaundice and hypochondriac ; it openeth the paflages of the urine both in young and old ; powerfully clcanfeth impofl> hutnes and inward ulcers in the urinary paflage, and by its drying and temperate quality doth afterwards heal them ; for whieh purpofe the decodtion of the roots or leaves in white wine, or the leaves chopped as pot-herbs, with a few alifanders, and boiled in their broth, are very cffe&ual. And whoever is drawing towards a ccnfumption, or an evil difpofition of the whole body, called Cachexia, by the ufe hereof for fome time together, fliall find a wonderful help. It helpeth alfo to procure reft and fieep to bodies diftempered by the heat of ague fits, or otherwife : The diftilled water is cffedlual to drink in peftileiuial fevers, and to wadi the fores. You fee here what virtues this common herb hath, and that is the reafon the French and Dutch fooften eat them in the Spring: and now, if you look a little farther, you may fee plainly, without a pair of fpeflacles, that foreign phyli- cians are not fo fclfilh as ours arc, but more communicative of the virtues of plants to people. Darnel. 102 The Englifh Phyfician Enlarged. Darnel. IT is called Jum and Wrav ; in Sufie x they call it Crop, it being a peftilent enemy among corn. Defer ipt .] This hath, all the Winter long, fundry, long, flat, and rough leaves, which, when the ftalk rife th, which is flender and jointed, are nai rower, but rough itili ; on the top groweth a long fpike, compofcd of many heads fet one above another, containing two or three hulks, with fliarp, but fliort, beards of awns at the end j the feed is eaiily fliaked out of the ear, the hulk itfelf being fomewhat rough. Place.'} The country hulbandmen do know this too well to grow among their corn, or in the borders and pathways of the other fields that are fallow. Government and Virtues .] It is a malicious part of fullen Saturn. As it is not without fome vices, fo hath it alfo many virtues. The meal of Darnel is very good to flay gangrenes, and other fuch like fretting and eating cankers, and putrid fores : It alfo cleanfeth the Ikin of all leprofics, morphews, ringworms, and the like, if it be ufed with fait and reddifh roots. And being ufed with quick brimftone and vinegar, it diflolveth knots and kernels, and breaketh thofe that are hard to be diflolved, being boiled in wine with pigeon’s-dung and linfeed : A decodtion thereof made with water and honey, and the places bathed therewith, is profitable for the feiatiea. Darnel-meal applied in a poultice draweth forth fplinters and broken bones in the fiefh : The red Darnel, boiled in red wine, and taken, ftayeth the lalk, and all other fluxes, and women’s bloody iflues ; and re- ftraineth urine that paileth away too fuddenly. Dill. Defcript .] '■pMF. common Dill groweth up with feldom JL more than one ftalk, neither fo high, nor fo great ufually as Fennel, being round and fewer joints there- on, whofe leaves are ladder, and fomewhat long, and fo like Fennel that it deceiveth many, but harder in handling, .and fomewhat thicker, and of a ftrongcr unpleafant feent : The tops of the ftalks have four branches, and fmaller umbels of yellow flowers, which turn into fmall feed, fomewhat flatter and thinner than Fennel feed. The root is fomewhat lmall and woody, perifheth every year after it hath borne feed ; and is alfo unprofitable, being never put to any ufe. Place. ] The Eng-lifh Phvfician Enlarged. 102 P lace . J It is mo ft ufually Town in gardens and grounds for the purpofe, and is alfo found wild 111 many places. Government and Virtues.'] Mercury hath the dominion of this plant, and therefore to be fare it ftrengthens the brain. The Dill being boiled and drank, is good to cafe lwellings and pains ; it alfo ftayeth the belly and ftomach from call- ing. The decodtion thereof helpeth women that are trou- bled with pains and windinefs of the mother, if they fit therein. It ftayeth the hiccough, being gently boiled in wine, and but fimelled unto, being tied in aeioth. The feed is of more ufe than the leaves, and more effectual to digeft raw and villous humours, and is ufed in medicines that lerve to expel wind, and the pains proceeding therefrom. The feed, being roafled or fried, ana ufed in oils or plafters, diflolve the impofthumes in the fundament ; and drieth up all moift ulcers, efpecially in the fundament ; an oil made of Dill is effeddual to warm, or diffolve humours and im- pofthumes, to eafe pains, and to procure reft. The decoc- tion of Dill, be it herb or feed (only if you boil the feed you mull bruife it) in white wine, being drank, it is a gal- lant expeller of wind, and provoker of the terms. Devil's- Bit. Defcript.\ npHIS rifes up with a round green fmooth X ftalk, about two feet high, fet with divers long and fomewhat narrow, fmooth, dark green leaves, fomewhat nipp’d about the edges, for the moft part, being elfe all whole, and not divided at all, or but very feldom, even to the tops of the branches, which yet are fmaller than thofe below, with one rjb only in the middle. At the end of each branch ftandeth a round head of many flowers fet together in the fame manner, or more neatly than Sca- bions, and of a more bluifti purple colour, which being paft, there followeth feed that fiftieth away. The root fomewhat thick, but fhort and blackifli, with many firings, abiding after feed time many years. This root was longer, until the devil (as the friars fay) bit away the reft of it for fpirc, envying its ufefulnefs to mankind ; for fine he was not trou- bled with any dileafe for which it is proper. There are two other forts hereof, in nothing unlike the former, fave that the one beareth white, and the other blulh- coloured flowers. Place.] 104 3^* Englifh Phyfician Enlarged. Place.'} The firft groweth as well in dry meadows and fields as moift, in many places of this land.: But the other two are more rare, and hard to be met with, yet they arc both found growing wild about Applcdore, near Rye in Kent. Time.} They flower not ufually until Aug u ft. Government and Fivtucs.} The plant is venereal, pleafing and harmless. The herb or root (all that the devil hath left of it) being boiled in wine, and drank, is very powerful again ft the plague, and all peftilential difeafes or fevers, poifons alio, and the bitings ol venomous beads : It helpeth alfo thofe that are inwardly bruifed by any cafualty, or out- wardly by falls or blows, difiblving the clotted blood ; and the herb or root beaten and outwardly applied, taketh away the black and blue marks that remain in the fkin. The de- codtion of the herb, with honey of rofes put therein, is very effe&ual to help the inveterate tumours and fwellings of the almonds and throat, by often gargling the mouth therewith. It helpeth alfo to procure women’s courfes, and eafeth all pains of the mother, and to break and difperfe wind therein and in the bowels. The pow'der of the root taken in drink, driveth forth the worms in the body. The juice, or diftilled water of the herb, is effectual for green wounds, or old fores, and cleanfeth the body inwardly, and the feed outwardly from fores, feurff, itch, pimples, freckles, morphews, or other deformities thereof, efpeciaily if a little vitriol be diffolved therein. Dock. MANY kinds of thefe are fo well known, that I Hull not trouble you with a defeription of them : My book grows big too raft. Government and Virtues.} All Docks arc under Jupiter, of which the lie d Dock, which is commonly called Blood- wort, cleanfeth the blood, and ftrengthens the liver; but the yellow Dock-root is bell to be taken w hen either the blood or liver is nftedied by tholer. All of them leave a kind of cooling (but not all alike) drying quality, the lor- rcl being mod cold, ard the bloudy-worts molt drying. Of the Burdock 1 have fpoken already by itfelf. The feed of moft of the other kinds, whether the gardens or fields, do flay lafks and fluxes of all forts, the loathing of the ftomach through choler, and is helpful for thole that fpit blood. The The Englifli Phyfician Enlarged. 105 The roots boiled in vinegar helpeth the itch, fcabs, and bieaking out of the fkin, if it be bathed therewith. The diddled water ot the herb and roots have the lame virtue, and clean feth the ikin front freekles, morphews, and all other lpots, and difcolourings therein. All Dock being boiled with meat, make it boil the fooner : Befides Blood-wort is exceeding lengthening to the liver, and procures good blood, being as wholefome a pot- herb as any grows in a garden ; yet luch is the nicety of our times (forlooth) that women will not put it into a pot, be- cauie it makes the pottage black j pride and ignorance, a couple ot monlters in the creation, preferring nicety before health. Dodder of Thyme, Epithymum, and other Dodders. ' Defcript .] rT''HIS firfi from feed giveth roots in the , A ground, which fliooteth forth threads or firings, grofler of finer as the property of the plant wherein it gioweth, and the climate doth fuffer, creeping and ipread- ing on that plant whereon it faftcueth, be it high or low. The firings have no leaves at all upon them, but wind and interlace themfclves fo thick upon a fmall plant, that it taketh away all comfort of the fun from it ; and is ready to choak or llranglc it. After thefe firings arc rifen up to that height, that they may draw nouiifiiment from that plant, they leem to be broken off from the ground, either by the firength of their riling, or withered by the heat of the fun. Upon thefe firings arc found chillers of fmall heals or hulk?, out of which fiioot forth whitifii flowers, which afterwards give fmall pale-coloured feed, fomewh.,t (1 it, at d twice as big as a Poppy -hed. It generally participates of the nature of the plant which it clirabeth upon ; but the Dodder of Thyme is accounted the bell, and is the only true Epithymum. Government and Virtues .] All Dodders are under Saturn, Tell not me of phyficians who cry up Epithymum, or that Dodder which grows upon Ihyme, (moll of which comes from Hemctius in Gfece, or Hybla in Sicily, becaufc thofe mountains abound wi h Thyme) he is a phyfician indeed, that hath wit enough to chuofe f.;s Dodder, according to the nature of the difrafe and humour peccant. \Yc confefs, Thyme is the hettefi herb it ufually grows upon ; and 6 there- 106 The Englifh Phyfician Enlarged. therefore that which grows upon Tyme is hotter than that which grows upon colder herbs ; for it draws nouriflmient from what it grows upon, as well as from the earth where its root is, and thus you fee old Saturn is wife enough to , have two fixings to his bow. This is accounted the moft effectual for melancholy difeafes, and to purge black or burnt choler, which is the caufe of many difeafes of the head and brain, as alfo for the trembling of the heart, faintings, and fwoonings. It is helpful in all dileafes and griefs of the fpleen, and melancholy that arifes from the windinefs or the hypochondria. It purgeth alfo the reins or kidneys by urine, it openeth obftruftions of the gall, whereby it profiteth them that have the jaundice ; as alfo the leaves, the fpleen ; purging the veins of the choleric and phlegmatic humours, and helpeth children in agues, a little worm feed being put thereto. The other Dodders do (as I faid before) participate of the nature of thofe plants whereon they grow : as that which hath been found growing upon nettles in the weft- country, hath, by experience, been found very' effectual to procure plenty of urine, where it hath been fiepped or hin- dered. And fo of the refi. Sympathy and antipathy are two hinges upon which the whole mode of phyfic turns ; and that phyfician which minds them not, is like a door off from the hooks, more like to do a man mifehief, than to fecure him. Then all the difeafes Saturn caufeth, this helps by fympathy, and firengthens all the parts of the body he rules ; fuch as be caufed by Sol, it helps by antipathy. What thofe difeafes are, lee my judge- ment of difealcs by aftrology ; and if you be pleafed to look to the herb Wormwood, you lliall find a rational way for it. Dog’s-Grals or Couch-Grafs. T F is well known, that the Grafs creepeth far X about under ground, with long white jointed roots, and fmall fibres almofi at every joint, very fweet in tafie, as the refi of the herb is, and interlacing one ano- ther, from whence fiioot forth many fair gralfy leaves, fmall at the ends, and cutting or (harp on the edges. The ftalks are jointed like coi n, with the like leaves on them, and a large fpiked head, with a long hulk in them, and hard The Englifh Phyfician Enlarged. 107 rough feed in them. If you know it not by this defeription, watch the dogs when they are lick, and they will quickly lead you to it. Place. ] It groweth commonly through this land, in divers ploughed grounds, to the no fmall trouble of the hufband- men, as alio, ol the gardeners, in gardens, to weed it our, if they can : tor it is a conflant cuHomer to the place it gets footing in. Government and Virtues. ’Tws under the dominion of Jupiter, and is mod medicinable of all the Quick-grafTes. Being boiled and drank, it openeth obflrudlions of the li- ver and gall, and the Hopping of urine, and eafeth the grip- ing pains ot the belly, and inflammations; walfeth the mat- ter oi the Hone in the bladder, and the ulcers thereof alfo. '] he roots bruifed and applied do confolidate wounds. The feed doth more powerfully expel urine, and flayeth the bilk and vomiting. The diltilled water alone, or with a little Worm feed, killeth the worms in children. The way ot uie is to bruil'e the roots, and having well boiled them in white wine, drink the decoftion : ’Tis open- ings but not purging, very lafe : ’Tis a remedy againil all difeales coming of flopping, and luch are half thofe that are incident to the body of man; and although a gardener be ot another opinion, yet a phyfician holds half an acre of them to be worth five acres of Carrots twice told over. Doves-Foor, or Cranes-Bill. Defer ipt .] ^T^HIS hath divers fmall, round, pale-green I leaves, cut in about the edges, much like mallows. Handing upon long, reddifh, hairy rtalks, lying in a round compafs upon the ground ; among which rife up two, or three, or more reddifh jointed, llender, weak, hairy flalks, with fuch like leaves thereon, but fmaller, and more cut in up to the tops, where grow many Very fmall bright red flowers of live leaves a-piece; after which follow fmall heads, with fmall fhort beaks pointed forth, as ail other forts of thofe herbs do. Place.'] It groweth in paHure grounds, and by the path fides in many places, and will alfo be in gardens. Time.] It floWereth in June, July, and Augufl, fome ear- lier and tome later ; and the feed is ripe quickly after. Govtr/tr io8 The Englifli Phyfician Enlarged . Government and Virtues. ] It is a very gentle, though mar- tial plant. It is found by experience to be Angular good for the wind cholic, as alfo to expel the {tone and gravel in the kidneys. The dccodlion thereof in wine, is an excellent good cure for thefe that have inward wounds, hurts, or bruifes, both to flay the bleeding, to diflolve and expel the congealed blood, and to heal the parts, as alfo to cleanfe and heal outward fores, ulcers, and Aftulas ; and for green wounds, many do only bruife the herb, and apply it to the place, and it healeth them quickly. The fame decodtion in wine fomented to any place pained with the gout, or to joint-aches, or pain of the finews, giveth much eafe. The powder or decodion of the herb taken for fome rime toge- ther is found by experience to be Angular good for ruptures and burftings in people, either young or old. Duck’s Meat. THIS is fo well known to fwirn on the top of {landing waters, as ponds, pools, and ditches, that it is needlefs farther to deferibe it Government and Virtues.'] Cancer claims the herb, and the Moon will be lady of it; a word is enough to a wife man. It is eftedual to help inflammations, and St. An- thony’s fire, as alfo the gout, either applied by itfelf, or in a poultice with barley meal. The diftilled water by fome is , highly efleemed againft all inward inflammations and pefti- lent fevers ; as all'o to help the rednefs of the eyes, and fwellings of the cods, and of the breafls before they be grown too much. The frefli herb applied to the forehead, cafcth the pains of the head-ach coming of heat. Down, or Cotton Thiftle. Drfcript.] npHIS hath large leaves lying on the ground, X fomewhat cut in, and as it Were crumpled on the edges, of a green colour on the upper Ade, but co- vered with long hairy wool, or Cotton Down, fet with moll fharp and cruel pricks, from the middle of vvliofe heads of flowers, thruft forth many purplifli crimfon threads, and fometimes (although very feldcrr) white ones. The feed that followeth in the heads, lying in a great deal of white down, is fomewhat large, long, and round, like the feed of ladies thiftle, but fomewhat paler. The root is great and thick, fpreading much, yet it ufually dieth after feed-time. Place.] The Engliih Phyfician Enlarged. 109 Place.] It groweth in divers ditches, banks, and in corn fields and highways, generally everywhere throughout the land. Time.'] It fiowereth and bsareth feed about the end of Summer, when other thifllcs do flower and feed. Government anil Virtues. ] Mars owns the plant, and mani- feds to the world that though it may hurt your finger it will help your body ; for I fancy it much for the enfuing virtues. Pliny and Diofcorides write, That the leaves and roots there- of, taken in drink, help thole that have a crick in their neck, whereby they cannot turn their neck, but their whole body mud turn alfo (fure they do not mean thofe that have got a crick in their neck by being under the hangman’s hand.) Galen fayeth, That the root and leaves hereof are of a heat- ing cpiality, and good for fuch perions as have their bodies drawn together by fome fpafm or convulfions, as it is with children that have the rickets, or rather (as the college of phyficians will have it) the Rachites, for which name of the difeafe they have (in a particular treadle lately lot forth by them) learnedly dilputed, and put forth to public view, that the world may fee they have taken much pains to little pur* pofe. HEY are fo well known to every one that plants them. in their gardens, they need no defeription ; if not, let them look down to the lower end of the ltalks, and leu how like a fnake they look. Government and Virtues.] The plant is under the dominion of Mars, and therefore it wou'd be a wonder if it fhould want fome obnoxious quality or other ; in all herbs of that quality the fat’efl way i3 either to diflil the herb in art alembic, in what vehicle you pleale, or elfc to prefs out the juice, and diflil that in a glals ftill in land. It fcower- eth and cleanfeth the internal parts of the body mightily, and it cleareth the external parts alfo, being externally ap* plied, from freckles, morphew, and fun-burning: Your befi way to ufe it externally is to mix it with vinegar ; an ointment of it is held to be good in wounds and ulcers ; it conl'umes .cankers, and that flefli growing in the noftrils* which they call polypus: Alfo the diltiiled water bein dropped into the eyes, taketh away fpots there, or the pin Dragons. G i i.o The Englifh Phyiician. Enlarged. and web, and mends the dimnefs of fight; it is excellent good againft peftilence and poifon. Pliny and Diofcorid'es, affirm, that no lerpent will meddle with him that carries this herb about him. The Elder Tree. I HOLD it needlefs to write any deftription of this, fince every boy that plays with a pop-gun will not miftake another tree inftead of Elder. I fliall therefore in this place only defcribe the Dwarf Elder, called alfo Dead-wort, and Wall wort. The Dwarf Elder. Drjlripf. ] HpHIS is but an herb every year, dying with J. his ftalks to the ground, and riling frefli every Spring, and is like, unto the Elder both in foim and quality, riling up with a fquare rough hairy ftalk, four feet high, or more fometimes. The winged leaves are fomewhat narrower than the Elder, but elle like them. The flowers are white with a dafli of purple, fhmding in umbels, very like the Elder alfo, but more fw'eet in feent ; after which come lmall blackilh berries full of juice while they are frefii, where- in is fmall hard kernels or feed. The root doth creep under the upper cruft of the ground, fpringing in divers places, being of the biguefs of one’s finger or thumb fometimes. Place.'] The Elder-tree grovveth in hedges, being planted there to flrengthen the fences and partitions of ground, and to hold the banks by ditches and water-c®urfes. The Dwarf Elder growing wild in many places of England, where being once gotten into a ground it is not eafily gotten forth again. Time.] Moft of the Elder-trees flower in June, and their fruit is ripe for the moft part in Auguft. But the Dwarf Eilder, or Wallworf, flowereth fomewhat later, and its fruit is not ripe until September. Government and Virtues.] Both Elder and Dwarf Tree are under the dominion of Venus. The firft flioots of the common Elder, boiled like Afparagus, and the young leaves and ftalks, boiled in fat broth, doth mightily carry forth phlegm andcholer. The middle or inward bark, boiled in water, and given in drink, worketh much more violently, and the berries, either green or dry, expel the fame humour, 4 ami Ill The Englifh Phyfician Enlarged. and are often given with good fuccefs to help the dropfy ; the bark of the root boiled in wine, or the juice thereof drank, worketh the lame efl'eifts, but more powerfully than either the leaves or fruit. The juice of the root taken doth mightily procure vomitings, and purgcth the watery humours of the dropfy. The decodfion of the root taken cureth the bite of an adder, and biting of triad dogs. It mollifieth the hardnefsot the mother, if a woman (it thereon, andopeneth their veins, and bringeth down their couries : The berries boiled in wine performeth the fame effecSt ; and the hair of the head wallied therewith is made black. The juice of the green leaves ap- plied to the hot inflammations of the eyes alniageth them: the juice of the leaves fnulfed up into the noflrils purgeth the tuniclcs of the brain ; the juice of the berries boiled with honey, and dropped into the ears, helpeth the pains of them ; the decoction of the berries in wine being drank pro- voke th urine ; the diltilled water of the flowers is of much, ufe to clean the ikin from fun-burning, freckles, morphew, or the like ; and taketh away the head-ach, coming of a cold caufe, the head being bathed therewith. The leaves or flowers diitilied in the month of May, and the legs often walked with the faid diltilled water, it taketh away the ulcers, and fores of them. The eyes wafhed therewith, it taketli away the rednefs and blood-lhot ; and the hands wallied morning and evening therewith, helpeth the palfy and fhaking of them. The Dwarf Elder is more powerful than the common Elder in opening and purging choler, phlegm, and water : in help- ing the gout, piles, and women's uifeafes, coloureth the hair black, helpeth the inflammations of the eyes, and pains in the ears, the biting of lerpents, or mad dogs, burnings and fealdings, the wind cholic, cholic and ftone, the difficulty of urine, the cure of old fores, and filfulous ulcers. Either leaves or bark of Elder, Gripped upwards as you gather it, caufeth vomiting. Alio Dr. Butler, in a manufeript of his, commends Dwarf Elder to the iky for dropties, viz. to drink it, being boiled in white wine ; to drink the decoction I mean, not the Elder. The Elm Tree. THIS tree iis fo well’known, growing generally in all counties of this iand, that it is needlefs to deferibe it G z Govern I 12 Ihe Englifh Phyfician Enlarged. Government and Virtues .] It is a cold and Saturnine plant. The leaves thereof broiled and applied heal green wounds, being bound thereon with its own bark. The leaves or the bark ufed with vinegar, cureth feurf and leprofy very effec- tually : The deception of the leaves, bark, or root, being bathed, heals broken bones. The water that is found in the bladders on the leaves, while it is frefh, is very effectual to cleanfe the Ikin, and make it fair; and if cloths be often wet therein, and applied to the ruptures of children, it healcth them, if they be well bound up with a trufs. The faid water put into a glal's, and let into the ground, or elfe in dung for twenty-five days, the mouth thereof being dole flopped, and the bottom let upon a lay of ordinary fait, that the fences may fettle and water become clear, is a lingular and fove reign balm for green wounds, being ufed with foft tents: Thede- eodtion of the bark of the root fomented, mollifieth hard tu- mours, and the (blinking of the finews. The roots of the Elm boiled for a long time in water, and the fat ariiing on the top thereof, being clean feummed off', and the place anointed therewith that is grown bald, and the hair fallen away, tvill quickly re (lore them again. The laid bark ground w ith brine and pickle, until it come to the form of a poul- tice, and laid on the place pained with the gout, giveth great cafe. The deco&ion of the bark in water, is excellent to bathe inch places as have been burnt with fire. Endive. Dcfcript.] r OMMON garden Endive bearcth a longer V_> and larger leaf than Succory, and abideth but one year, quickly running up to italk and feed, and then pc- rilhcth ; it hath blue flowers, and the feed of the ordinal y Endive is l’o like Succory feed that it is hard to diitinguilh them. Government and Virtues.'] It is a fine cooling, cleanfing, jovial, plant. T he deception of the leaves, or the juice, or the diftilh d water of Endive ferveth well to cool the excel- live heat of the liver and fiomach, and in the hot fits of agues, and all other inflammations in any part of the body ; it cooleth the heat and (bar pad's of the urine, and excoria- tions in the urinary parrs. The feeds arc of the fame proper- ty, or rather more powerful, and bdides are available for fainting, The Englilh Phyfician Enlarged. 113 fainting, fwoonings, and paffions of the heart. Outwardly- applied, they l'erve to temper the (harp humours ot fretting ulcers, hot tumours, fwellings, and peftilential fores : and wonderfully help not only the rednefs and inflammations ot the eyes, but the dimnefs of the light alio ; they are alto ul'ed to allay the pains of the gout. You cannot ulc it ami Is ; a fyrup of it is a line coolimr medicine lor levers. See the J 1 m o ^ _ end of this book, and the Englifh Difpenlatory. Elecampane. - Defcript.] TT fliooteth forth many large leaves, long and A broad, lying near the ground, frnall at both ends, fomewhat loft in handling, of a whitiflt green on the upper fide, and grey underneath, each fet upon a lltort foor- flalk, from among which rife up clivers great and ftrong hairy fialks, three or four feet high, with fome leaves thereupon compaftmg them about at the lower end, and are branched towards the tops, bearing divers great and large flowers, like thofeofthccorn Marigold, both the border of leaves, and the middle thrum being \ cllow, which turn into down, with long, frnall, brownilh, feeds among it, and is carried away with the wind. The root is great and thick, branched forth divers ways, blackifh on the outlide, and whitifli within, of a very bitter tafte, and ftrong, but good l'ccnt, efpecially when they are dried, no part elfc oi the plant having any fmell. Place. ] It groweth in moilt grounds and lhadowy places, oftener than in the dry and open borders of fields and lanes, and in other wade places, almofl in every county of this land. Time.] It flowereth in the end of June and July, and the feed is ripe in Auguft. The roots are gathered for ufe, as well in the Spring, before the leaves come lorth, as in Au- tumn or Winter. Government and Virtues .] It is a plant under the dominion of Mercury. The frefil roots of Elecampane preferved with iugar, or made into a fvrup or conferve, are very otfeftual to warm a cold windy ftomach, or the pricking therein, ard flitches in the Jides, caul'ed by the fpleen ; and to help the cough, fhortnefs of breath, and wheezing in the lungs, i he dried root made into powder, and mixed with fugar and taken, ferveth to the fame purpofe, and is alfo profitable for thofe who have their urine flopped, or the flopping ot 1 14 ’The Englifli Phyfician Enlarged. ' women’s courfes, the pains of the mother, and of the ftonein the reins, kidneys, or bladder; it refifteth poifon, and ftayeth the fpreading of the venom of ferpents, as alfo putrid and pcflilential fevers, and the plague itfelf. The roots and herbs beaten and put into new ale or beer, and daily drank, ciear- eth, flrengtheneth, and quickcneth the fight of the eyes won- derfully. The decodion of the roots in wine, or the juice t :’HIS fends forth feven, eight, or nine, leave? I from a finall brown creeping root, every one (landing upon a long foot-dalk, which are atmoft as broad as long, round pointed, of a fad green colour, and hard in hand- ling, and like the leaf of a Pear-tree; from whence arifeth a {lender weak flalk, yet (landing upright, bearing at the top many fmall white fweet-fmelling flowers, laid open like a liar, confiding of five round-pointed leaves, with many ycl- lowifh threads (landing in the middle about a green head, and a long llalk with them, which being ripe, is found fivefquarc, with a fmall point at it, wherein is contained feed as fmall as dud. Place.] It groweth feldom in fields, but frequent in the woods northwards, viz., in Yorkfhire, Lancafhire, and Scotland. Time.'] It flowerefh about June and July. Government and Virtues.] Winter-green is under the domi- nion of Saturn, and is a Angular good wound herb, and an efpecial remedy for to heal green wounds fpccdilv, the green leaves being bruifed ar.d applied, or the juice of them. A ftdve made of the green herb damped, or the juice boiled with H s bo gV ij.2 The Englifh Phyficlan Enlarged. hog’s-lard, or with fallad-oil and wax, and fome turpentine added unto it, as a fovereign falve, and highly extolled by the Germans, who ufe it to heal all manner of wounds and fores. The herb boiled in wine and W'ater, and given to drink to them that have any inward ulcers in their kidneys, or neck of the bladder, doth wonderfully help them. It flayeth all fluxes, as the lalk, bloody fluxes, women’s courfes, and bleeding of wounds, and taketh away any inflammations riling upon pains of the heart; it is no lefs helpful for foul ulcers hard to be cured ; as alfo for cankers or nflulas. Thff di (filled water of the herb doth effectually perform the fame things. Groundfel. Deftript.] /^VUR common Groundfel hath a round green, and fomevvhat brownifh, ftalk, fpreading to- ward the top into branches, fet with long and fomewhat nar- row green leaves, cut in on the edges, fomewhat like the oak-leaves but lefler, and round at the end. At the tops of the branches ftand many fmall green heads, out of which grow finall yellow threads or thru mbs, which are the flowers, and continue many days blown in that manner, before it pals away into down, and with the feed is carried away in the wind. The root is fmall and thready, and foon perifneth, and as foon rifeth again of its own fowing, fo that it may be feen many months in the year, both green and in flower, and feed; for it will fpring and feed twice in a year at leal't, if it be luffered in a garden. Place.'] This grovveth almcfl everywhere, as well on tops of walls as at the foot, amongft rubbilh and untillcd grounds, but efpecially in gardens. Time.] It fiou'ereth, as is faid before, almofl: in every month throughout the year. Government and Virtues.] This herb is Venus’s miflrefs- piece, and is a gallant and univerfal medicine for all difeafes coming of heat, in what part of the body foever they be, as the fun fhines vipon ; it is very fate and friendly to the body of man, yet caufeth vomiting if the ftomach be afflided ; if not purging ; and it doth it with more gcntlenefs than can be cxpc&ed ; it is moift, and fomething cold withal, thereby caufing expulflon, and repreffing the heat caufed by the mo- tion of the internal parts in purges and vomits. Lay by our learned The Englidi Phyfician Enlarged. 143 learned receipts; take lo much Sena, fo much Scammony, fo much Colocynthis, fo much infufion of Crocus Metallo- rum, &c., this herb alone preferved in a fyrup, in a diftilled water, or in an ointment, lhalldo the deed for you in all hot dil'cafes, and lhall do it, 1. fafely, 2. fpeedily. The decodfion of the herb (fayeth Diolcorides) made with wine, and drank, hclpeth the pains of the Itomach, proceed- ing of choler, (which it may well do by a vomit) as daily experience fheweth. The juice thereof taken in drink, or the decotlion of it in ale, gently performeth the fame. It is good againft the jaundice and falling-ficknefs, being taken in wine; as alfo againft difficulty of making water. It pro- voketh urine, expelleth gravel in the reins or kidneys ; a dram thereof given in oxymel, after fume walking or (Hiring of the body. It helpeth alfo the fciatica, griping of the belly, the cholic, defects of the liver, and provoketh women’s courfes. The frefti herb boiled, and made into a poultice, applied to the breads of women that are fwoilcn with pain and heat, as alfo the privy parts of man or woman, the feat or fundament, or the arterits, joints, and linews, when they are inflamed and fwollen, doth much eafe them; and ufed with fome lalt, helpeth to diflnlve knots or kernels in any part of the body. The juice of the herb, or (as Diolcorides fayeth) the leaves and flowers, with fome fine frartkincenle in powder, ufed in wounds of the body, nerves, or fmews, do Angularly help to heal them. The diftilled water of the herb performeth well all the aforefaid cures, but especially for inflammations or watering of the eyes, by realoti oi the deduction of rheurc unto them. IIcart’s-Eafe. THIS is that herb which fuch phyficians as are licenfcd to blafpheme by authority, without danger of having their tongues burned throughwith an hot iron, called an herb of the Trinity. It is alfo called by thofe that are more mo- derate. Three Faces in a Hood, Live in Idlenefs, Call me to You: and in Suft’ex wc call them Pancies. Flcicc.'] Beftdcs thofe which are brought up in gardens, they grow commonly wild in the fields, cipecialiy in fuch as are very barren ; lbmetimes you may find it on the tops of the high hills. %'ime.] They flower all the Spring and Summer long. H 6 Govern* 144 The Englifh Phyfician Enlarged. Government and Virtues .] The herb is really Saturnine, fovnething cold, vifeous, and flinty. A ftrong deco&ion of the herbs and flowers (if you will, you may make it into fyrup) is an excellent cure for the French pox, the herb being a gallant antivenereal ; and that antivenereals are the heft cure for that difeafe, far better and fafer than to torment them with the flux, divers foreign phyficians have confefled. The fpirit of it is excellent good for the convullions in chil- dren, as alfo for the falling ficknefs, and a gallant remedy for the inflammation of the lungs and breads, pleurify, fcabs, itch, &c. It is under the celeftial Sign Cancer, Artichokes. THE Latins call them Cinera, only our college calif them Artichoeus. Government and Firtucs.] They are under the dominion of Venus, and therefore it is no marvel if they provoke lufl, as indeed they do, being fomewhat windy meat; and yet they flay the involuntary courfeof natural feed in man, which i« commonly called nocturnal pollutions. And here I care not greatly it I quote a little of Galen’s nonfenfe in his treatife of the faculties of nourifhment. He fayeth they contain plenty of choleric juice, (which notwithftanding I can fcarcely be- lieve) of which he fayeth is engendered melancholy juic^, and of that melancholy juice, thin choleric blood. But to proceed ; this is certain, that the deco&ion of the root boiled in wine, or the root bruifed and diftilled in wane in an alem- bic, and being drank, purgeth by urine exceedingly. Harts-Tongue. JDefcript. ] * I 'HIS hath divers leaves arifing from the root, j. every one fcverally, which fold themfelvcs in their firft fpringing and fpreading: when they are full grown, are about a foot long, fmooth and green above, but bard and with little fap in them, and ftreaked on the back, thwart on both tides of the middle rib with fmall and fome- what long brovvnifh marks ; the bottoms of the leaves are a little bowed on each fide of the middle rib, fomewhat narrow with the length, and fomewhat lmall at the end. The root is of many black threads, folded or interlaced together. Time.'] It is green all the Winter, but new' leaves fpring every year. Govern* Ihe Englifh Phyfician Enlarged. 145 Government and Virtues. ] Jupiter claims dominion over this herb, therefore it is a lingular remedy for the liver, both to flrengthen it when weak, and eale it when afflicted, you !l*all do well to keep it in a fyrup all the year, for though authors lay it is green all the year, 1 fcarce believe it. Harts-Tongue is much commended again!! the hardnefs and Hoppings of the fplecn and liver, and again!! the heat of the liver and llomach, and againll lafks, and the bloody-flux. The diflilled water thereof is alfo very good againii the pallions of the heart, and to Hay the hiccough, to help the falling of the palate, and to flay the bleeding of the gums, being gargled in the mouth. Diofcorides fayeth it is good again!! the Hinging or biting of ferpents. As for the ufe of it, my direction at the latter end will be fufficient, and enough for thofe that are Hudious in phyfic to whet their brains upon for one year or two. Hazel-Nut. HAZEL-Nuts are fo well known to every body that they need no defeription. Government and Virtues.] They are under the dominion of Mercury. The parted kernels made into an electuary, or the milk drawn from the kernels with mead or honeyed water, is very good to help an old cough ; and being parched, and a little pepper put to them and drank, digefleth the diililla- tions of rheum from the head. The dried hulks and Hiells, to the weight of two drams, taken in red wine, Hayeth lafks and women’s courfes, and fo doth the red Ikin that covers the kernels, which is more effectual to Hay women’s courfes. And if this be true, as it is, then why fliould the vulgar fo familiarly affirm that eating N uts caufeth fhortnefs of breath ? than which nothing is falfer, for how can that which flrength- ens the lungs caul'e fhortnefs of breath ; I confefs the opinion is far older than I am ; I knew tradition was friend to error before, but never that he was the father of Hander: Or are men’s tongues fo given to flandering one another, that they mufl Hander Nuts too, to keep their tongues in ufe ? If any- thing of the Hazel nut be flopping, it is the hulks and Hiells ; and nobody is fo mad to eat them, unlel's phyfically; and the red !kin which covers the kernel you may eafily pull off. And fo thus have I made an apology for Nuts, which can- not fpeak for themfclves. Hawk- 146 5 the Englifh Phyfician Enlarged . Hawk-weed. Dcfcript .] TT hath many large leaves lying upon the ground, A much rent or torn on the tides into gafhes like Dandelion, but with greater parts, more like the fmooth Sow Thiftle, fiom among which rifeth a hollow, rough, ftalk, two or three feet high, branched from the middle upward, where- on are let at every joint longer leaves, little or nothing rent or cut, bearing on their top fundry pale, yellow, .flowers, con- fiding of many fmall, narrow, leaves, broad-pointed, and nicked in at the ends, fet in a doable row or more, the outer- mod being larger than the inner, which from mod of the Hawk-weeds, (for there are many kinds of them) do hold, which turn into down, and with the fmall brownidi feed is blown away with the wind. The root is long, and fomewhat greater, with many fmall fibres thereat. The whole plant is full of bitter milk. Place.] It groweth in divers places about the field-fides, and the path-ways in dry grounds. ■Time.] It dowereth and flies away in the Summer months. Government and F’trtueu] Saturn owns it. Hawk-weed (faith Diofcorides) is cooling, l'omewhat drying and binding, find therefore good for the heat of the flomach, and gnawing* therein ; for inflammations, and the hot fits of agues. The juice thereof in wine, heipeth digedion, difculleth wind, hin- dereth crudities abiding in the flomach, and heipeth the dif- ficulty of making water, the biting of venomous l'erpents, and flinging ol the fcorpion, if the herb be alfo outwardly applied to the place, and is very good againft all other poifons. A fcruple of the dried root given in wine and vinegar, is pro- fitable for thole that have the dropfy. Thedecohtion of the herb taken with honey digefteth the phlegm in the ched or lungs, and with hyiiop heipeth the cough. The decodtion thereof, and of wild fuccory, made with wine, and taken, heipeth the wind cholic, and hardnefs of the fpleen ; it pro- cured red and fleep, hindereth venery and venerous dreams, cooling heats, purgeth the flomach, increafeth blood, and heipeth difeaies of the reins and bladder. Outwardly applied it is Angularly good for all the defe&s and difeafes of the eye* ul'ed with fome women’s milk; and tiled with good fuccefs in fretting or creeping ulcers, elpecially in the beginning. The green leaves bruifed, and with a little lalt applied to any The Englilli Phyfician Enlarged. 147 place burnt with fire, before bliflersdo arifc, helpeth them, as alfo inflammations, Sr. Anthony’s fire, and all puihes and eruptions, hot and fait phlegm. The fame applied with meal and fair water, in the manner of a poultice, to any place affodled with convulfions and the cramp, fuch as are out of joint, doth give help and eafe. The diftilled water cleanfeth the Ikin, and taketh away freckles, lpots, morphew, or wrinkles in the face. Hawthorn. IT is not my intent to trouble you with a defcription of this tree, which is fo well known that it needeth none. It is ordinarily but a hedge bulh, although being pruned and drolled, it groweth to a tree of a reafonable height. As for the Hawthorn-Tree at Glaftenberry, which is faid to flower yearly on Chriftmas Day, it rather (hews the fuper- ftilion of thole that obferve it for the time of its flowering, than any great wonder, fince the like may be found in divers other places of this land, as in Whey-flreet in Romney- Marfl), and near unto Nantwich in Chefhire, by a place called White-Green, where it flowereth about Chriftmas and May. If the weatherbe frofty it flowereth not until January, or that the hard weather be over. Government and Virtues.'] It is a tree of Mars. The feeds in the berries, beaten to powder, being drank in wine, are held Angularly good againft the ftone, and are good for the dropfy. The diftilled water of the flowers ftayeth the lafk. The feed, cleared from the down, bruifed and boiled in wine, and drank, is good for inward tormenting pains. If cloths and fpunges be wet in the diftilled water, and applied to any place wherein thorns and fplinters or the like do abide in the flefh, it will notably diaw them forth. And thus you fee the thorn gives a medicine for his own prickings, and fo doth almoft every thing elfe. Hemlock. T)efcript~\ r I ''HE common great Hemlock groweth up with I a green llalk, four or five feet high, or more, full of red fpots fometimes, and at the joints very large wing- ed leaves let at them, which are divided into many other winged leaves one fet againft the other, dented about the 4 edges, 148 The Englifh Phyfician Enlarged. edges, of a fad green colour, branched towards the top, where it is full of umbels of white flowers, and afterwards with whitifli flat feed : The root is long, white, and fome— times crooked, and hollow within. The whole plant, and every part, hath a ftrong, heady, and ill-favoured feent, much offending the fenfes. Place.'] It groweth in all counties of this land, by walls and hedge fides, in wade grounds and unfilled places. Time.] It fiowereth and feedeth in July, or thereabouts. Government and Virtues.] Saturn claims dominion over this herb, yet I wonder why it may not be applied to the privities in a Priapifm, or continual (landing of the yard, it being very beneficial to thatdifeafe: I fuppole my author’s judgement was firfl upon the oppofite difpoiition of Saturn to Venus in thofe faculties, and therefore he forbade t le apply- ing of it to thofe parts, that it might not caufe barrennefs, or fpoil the fpirit procreative ; which if it do, yet applied to the privities, it flops its lufiful thoughts. Hemlock is exceed- ingly cold, and very dangerous, efpccially to be taken in- wardly. It may fafely be applied to inflammations, tu- mours, and dwellings in any part of the body (fave the privy parts) as alfo to St. Anthony’s fire, wheals, pufhes, and creep- ing ulcers that aril’e of hot fharp humours, by cooling and repelling the heat ; the leaves bruifed and laid to the brow or forehead are good for their eyes that are red and iwollen ; a« alfo to take away a pin and web growing in the eye ; this is a tried medicine : Take a fmall handful of this herb, and half fo much Bay fair, beaten together, and applied to the contrary wrift of the hand, for 24 hours, doth remove it in thrice dreffing. If the root thereof be roafled under the em- bers, wrapped in double wet paper, until it be loft and ten- der, and then applied to the gout in the hands or fingers, it will quickly help this evil. If any through miflake eat the herb Hemlock inflead of Parfley, or the roots inflead of a Parfnip, (both of which it is very like) whereby happeneth a kind ot frenzy, or perturbation of the fenfes, as if they w ere flupid and drunk, the remedy is (as Pliny fayeth) to diink of the heft and flrongcfl pure wine, before it ftrikes to the heart, or gentian put in wine, or a draught of vinegar, wherewith Tragus doth affirm that he cured a woman that had eaten the root. Hemp 149 The Englifh FhvfiCian Enlarged. Hemp. THIS is fo well known to every good houfewjfe in the country, that I (hall not need to write any defcription of it. Time.'] It is Town in the end of March, or beginning of April, and is ripe in Auguft or September. Government and Virtues .] It is a plant of Saturn, and good for fomething elfc, you fee, than to make halters only. The feed of Hemp conlumeth wind, and by two much ufe thereof difperfeth it fo much that it drieth up the natural feed for procreation; yet, being boiled in milk, and taken, helpeth fuch as have a hot dry cough. The Dutch make anemulfion out of the feed, and give it with good fuccefs to thofe that have the jaundice, efpecially in the beginning of the difeafe, if there be no ague accompanying it, for it openeth obftruc- tions of the gall, and caufeth digeflion of choler. The emul- fion or decocHon of the feed flayeth lafks and continual fluxes, eafeth the cholic, and allayeth the troublefome humours in the bowels, and flayeth bleeding at the mouth, nofe, or other places, fome of the leaves being fried with rhe blood of them that bleed, and fo given them to eat. It is held very’ good to kill the worms in men or beads; and the juice dropped into the ears killeth worms in them, and draweth forth earwigs, and other living creatures gotten in them. The decoftion of the root allayeth inflammations of the head, or any other parts; the herb itfelf, or the diflilled water thereof, doth the like. The deco&ion of the roots eafeth pains of the gout, the hard humours of knots in the joints, the pains and fin ink- ing of the flnews, and the pains of the hips. The frefh juice mixed with a little oil and butter, is good for any place that hath been burnt with fire, being thereto applied. Henbane. Defcript .] UR common Henbane hath very large, thick, V^/ foft, woolly, leaves, lying on the ground, much cut in or torn on the edges, of a dark, ill greyifli green colour; among which arife up divers thick and fttort flalks, two or three feet high, fpread into divers fmall branch- es, with lefler leaves on them, and many hollow flowers, fcarce appearing above the hulk, and ufually torn on one *5° The Englifh Phyfician Enlarged. fide, ending in five round points, growing one above another, of a dciidifh y el lowiflt colour, fomewhat paler towards the edges, with many purplifli veins therein, and a dark yellow, - ifli purple in the bottom of the flower, with a final 1 point of the lame colour in the middle, each of them ftanding in a bard,, clofc hulk, which, after the flowers are pail, groweth very like the hulk of Afarabacca, and lomcwhat limp at the fop points, wherein is contained much final! feed, very like Poppy- feed, but of a dufky-grcyifli colour. The root is great, white, and thick, branching forth divers ways underground, fo like a Parfnip root (but that it is not fo white) that it hath deceived others. The whole plant, more than the root, hath a very heavy, ill, foporilerous fmell, iomewhat oft'enfivc. J 7 ac<\~] It commonly groweth by the way -Tides, and under hedge-fides and walls. Time, j It floweret h in July, and fpringeth again yearly of its own Iced. I doubt my authors miftook July for June, if not for May* Government and Virtues .] I wonder how aftrologers could take on them to make this an herb of Jupiter ; and yet Me- zaldus, a man of a penetrating brain, was of that opinion at well as the reft; the herb is indeed under the dominion of Sa- turn, and I prove it by this argument : Ail the herbs which delight moft to grow in Saturnine places are Saturnine herbs. But Henbane delights moft to grow in Saturnine places, and whole cart-loads of it may be found near the places where they empty the common Jacks, and fcarce a ditch to be found without it growing by it. Ergo, it is an herb of Saturn, The leaves of Henbane do cool all hot inflammations in the eyes, or any other part of the. body ; and are good to afluage all manner of fwel lings of the cods, or women’s breads, or el fe where, if they be boiled in wine, and either applied them- felves or the fomentation warm ; it alto afl'uageth the pain of the gout, the fciatica, and other pains in the joints which ariie from a hot caufe. And applied with vinegar to the forehead and temples, helpcth the head-ach and want of deep in hot fevers. The juice of the herb or feed, or the. oil drawn from the feed, dees the like. The oil of the feed is helpful for deafnels, noife, and worms in the ears, being dropped therein ; the juice of the herb or root doth the fame. The dccoiStion of the herb or feed, or both, killeth lice in man or beaft. The fume of the dried herb, ftaiks, and feed, burned, The Englilh Phyfician Enlarged. 15 1 burned, quickly healeth fwellings, chilblains, or kibes, in the hands or feet, bw holding them in the fume thereof. The remedy to hel|!>eVhofc that have taken Henbane is to drink goat’s milk, honeyed water, or pine kernels, with fweet wine; or, in the abfenec of thefe. Fennel-feed, Nettle-feed, the iecd of C reffes, Milliard, cr Raddifh ; as alfo Onions or Garlick taken in wine, do all help to free them from danger, and rellore them to their due temper again. Take notice, that this herb muff never be taken inwardly; outwardly, an oil, ointment, or plafler of it, is moll admi- rable for the gout, to cool the venereal heat of the reins in the French pox ; to flop the tooth-ach, being applied to the aching fide; to allay all inflammations, and to help the dif- eafes before premifed. Hedge Ely flop. Defcript.] | "\IVERS forts there are of this plant; thefirfl: 1 3 of which is an Italian by birth, and only nurfed up here in the gardens of the curious. Two or three forts are found commonly growing wild here, the deferip- tion of two of which I tb.all give you. The firft is a fmooth, low plant, not a foot high, very bitter in tafte, with many fejuare {lalks, diverfly branched from the bottom to the top, with divers joints, and two fmall leaves at each joint, broader at the bottom than they are at the end, and full of veins. The flowers Hand at the joints, being of a fair purple colour, with fome white fpots in them, in fafhion like thofe of dead nettles. The feed is fmall and yellow, and the roots fpread much underground. The fecond l'eldom groweth half a foot high, fending up many fmall branches, whereon grow many fmall leaves, fet one again if the other, fomcvvhat broad, but very fliort. 1 he flowers are like the flowers of the other in fafhion, but of a pale redifh colour. The feeds are fmall and yellowifh. The root fpreadeth like the other, neither will it yield to its fel- low one ace of bitternefs. Place .] They grow in wet low' grounds, and by the water- fidcs; the lait may be found among the bogs on Hamptlead Heath. Time.'} 152 7 he Englifh Phyfician Enlarged < Time."] They flower in June and July, and the feed is ripe prefently after. ,• Government and Virtues.} They are herbs of Mars, and as choleric and churlifh as he is, being' mofl violent purges, efpecially of choler and phlegm. It is not fale taking them inwardly, unlefs they be well rectified by the art of the al- chymiA, and only the purity of them given ; fo ufed they may be very helpful both for the dropfy, gout, and fciatica ; outwardly ufed in ointments they kill worms, the belly anointed with it, and are excellent good to cieanfc old and filthy ulc:rs. Black Hellebore. IT is called Setter-wort, Setter-gvafs, Bear’s-foot, Chrift- mas herb, aud Chriflmas-flower. Defcript.} It hath fundry fair green leaves riling from the root, e'ach of them Aanding about an handfal high from the earth ; each leaf is divided into feven, eight, or nine, parts, dented from the middle of the leaf to the point on both fides, abiding green all the Winter; about Chriflmas-time, if the weather be anything temperate, the flowers appear upon foot- ftalks, alfo coniiAing of five large, round, white, leaves a-piece, which fometimes are purple towards the edges, with many pale yellow thumbs in the middle; the feeds are di- vided into leveral cells, like thole of Columbines," fave only that they are greater; the feeds are in colour black, and in form long and round. The root conlifieth of numbeilefs blackifh firings all united into one head. There is another Black Hellebore, which grows up and down in the woods very like this, but only that the leaves are fmailer and nar- rower, and perifli in the Winter, which this doth not. Place.} The firft is maintained in gardens, The fecond is commonly found in the woods in Northamptonfnire. Time.} The firft flowereth in December or Januarv ; the fecond in February or March. Government a?id Virtues.} It is an herb of Saturn, and therefore no marvel if it hath fomelullen conditions with it, aud would be far fafer, being purified by the art of thealchv- mift than given raw. If any have taken any harm by taking it, the common cure is to take goat’s milk: If you cannot get goat’s milk, you inuft make a Ihift with fueh as you can get. The Englifh Phyfician Enlarged. 1 53 get. The roots are vetv effectual againft all melancholy diieafes, efpeciaily filch as are of long (landing, as quartan agues and madnels; it helps the fa'.Img-ficknefs, the ieprofy, both the yellow and black jaundice, the gout, lciatica, and convuliions; and this was found out by experience, that the root of that which groweth wild in our country, works not fo churlitliiy as thoi'e do which are brought from beyond lea, as being maintained by a more temperate air. The root, ufed as a peHary, provokes the terms exceedingly ; alfo being beaten into powder, and ftrewed upon foul ulcers, it confumes the dead flefh, and inftantly heals them ; nay, it will help gangrenes in the beginning. Twenty grains taken inwardly is a fufficient dofe for one time, and let that be corrected with half fo much cinnamon ; country people ufed to rowel their cattle with it. If a bealt be troubled with a cough, or have taken any poifon, they bore a hole through his ear, and put a piece of the root in it, this will help him in 24 hours time. Many other ufes farriers put it to which I (hall forbear. Herb Robert. Defer ipt .] TT rifeth up with a reddifh (talk, two feet high, having divers leaves thereon upon very long and reddifli foot-lfalks, divided at the ends into three or five diviiions, each of them cur in on the edges, fome deeper than others, and all dented likewife about the edges, which fome- tiines turn reddifli. At the tops of the flalks come forth di- vers flowers made of five leaver, much larger than the dove’s- foot, and a more reddifli colour; after which come back heads, as in others. The root is fmall and thready, and imelleth as the whole plant, very flrong, almoft flunking. Place.'] This groweth frequently everywhere by the way- fides, upon ditch banks and wufte grounds whereloever one goeth. Time.] ft flowereth in June and July chiefly, and the feed is ripe fliortly after. Government and Pirtues ] It is under the dominion of Ve- nus. Herb Robert is commended not only againfl the fione bur to flay blood, where or hovvfocver flowing; it fpeedily healeth all green wounds, and iseffecfual in old ulcers in the privy parts, or ell c where. You may perfuade yourfclf this 154 The Englifli Phyfician Enlarged. is true, and alfo conceive a good reafon for it, do but con- Uder it as an herb of Venus, for all it hath a man’s name. Herb True-love, or One-berry. Defcript.] /^VRDINARY Herb True-love, bath a fmall creeping root running under the uppermoft cruft of the ground, femewhat like couch-grafe root, but notfo white, (hooting forth ftalks with leaves, fome whereof carry no berries, the other do; every ftalk fmooth without joints, and blackifh green, rifing about half a foot high, if it bear berries, otherwife leldom fo high, bearing at the top four leaves let diredUy one again# another, in manner of a crofs or ribband tied (as it is called) in a true-loves knot, which are each of them apart fome what like unto a night-fliade leaf, but fomevvbat broader, having fometimes three leaves, fome- times five, fometimes fix, and thole fometimes greater than in Qthers, in the middle of thefour leaves rifeth up one fmall fien- der ftalk, about an inch high, bearing at the tops thereof one flower fpread like a liar, con filling of four fmall and long narrow-pointed leaves of a yellowifli green colour, and four others lying between them lefi'er than they, in the middle whereof (lands a round dark purplifli button or head, com* palled about with eight fmall yellow mealy threads with three colours, making it the more confpicuous, and lovely to be- hold. This button or head in the middle, when the other leaves are withered, becometh a blackifh purple berry, full of juice, of the bignefs of a reafonable grape, having within it many white feeds. The whole plant is without any mani- feft tafte. Place .] It groweth in woods and copfes, and fometimes in the corners or borders of fields, and wafte grounds in very many places of this land, and abundantly in the woods, copies, and other places about Chiflehurft, and Maidftonc in Kent. Time.'] They fpring up in the middle of April or May, and are in flower foon after. The berries are ripe in the end of May, and in fome places in June. Government and Pirtnes.] Venus owns it ; the leaves or berries hereof are effectual to expel poifon of all forts, efpe- cially that of the aconites ; ^as alfo the plague and other peftilential dil'orders : Matthiolus faith, that ibmc that have lain The Englifh Pbyfician Enlarged. 155 lain long in n lingering ficknefs, and others that by witch- craft (as it was thought) were become half foolifh, by taking a dram of the feeds or berries hereof in powder every day for 20 days together, were reftored to their former health. The roots in powder taken in wine eafeth the pains of the cholic fpeedily. The leaves are very effectual as well for green wounds as to cleanfe and heal up filthy old foresand ulcers; and is very powerful to difeufs ail tumours and fwellings in the cods, privy parts, the groin, or in any part of the body, and fpeedily to allay all inflammations. The juice of the leaves applied to felons, or thofe nails of the hands or toes that have iinpoflhumes or lores gathered together at the roots of them, healeth them in a fliort fpace. The herb is not to be deferibed for the premifes, but is fit to be nourifhed in every good woman’s garden. HyfTop. HYSSOP is fo well known to be an inhabitant in every garden, that it will fave me labour in writing a de- feription thereof. The virtues are as follows : Temperature anti Virtues.] The herb is Jupiter’s, and the fign Cancer. It flrengthens all the parts of the body under Cancer and Jupiter: which what they may be is found amply difeourfed in my aftrological judgement of difeafes. Diofcoridcs faith that H\ flop boiled with rue and honey, and drank, helpeth thofe that are troubled with coughs, fliort- nefs of breath, wheezing, and rheumatic diflillations upon the lungs; taken alfo with oxymel, it purgeth grofs humours by ftool ; and with honey killcth worms in the bellv; and with frefli and new figs bruiied helpeth to loofen the belly, and more forcibly if the root of Flower-de-luce and Crefles be added thereto. It amendeth andcheriflieth the native co- lour of the body, fpoiled by the yellow jaundice ; and being taken with figs and nitre, helpeth the dropfy and fplecn; being boiled with wine it is good to wafil inflammations, and taketh away the black and blue fpots and marks that come by ilrokes, bruifes, or falls, being applied with warm water. It is an excellent medicine for the quinfy, or fwellings in the throat, to wath and gargle it, being boiled in figs; it hclp- erh the tooth-ach, being boiled in vinegar and gargled there- with. The hot vapours of the decoction taken by a funnel iu 156 The Englifti Phyfician Enlarged . in at the ears, eafeth the inflammations and Tinging noife of them. Being bruifed, and fait, honey, and cummin-feed put to it, helpeth thofe that are flung by lerpents. The oil there- of (the head being anointed) killcth lice, and taketh away itching of the head. It helpeth thofe that have the falling - ficknefs, which way foever it be applied. It helpeth to ex- pectorate tough phlegm, and is effectual in all cold griefs or dileafes of the chefl or lungs, being taken either in fyrup or licking medicine. The green herb bruited and a little fugar put thereto, doth quickly heal any cut or green wounds, being thereunto applied. HESE are fo well known that they need no defeription ; l mean the manured kind, which every good hulband or houfevvife is acquainted with. Defcript.] This wild hop groweth up as the other doth, ramping upon trees or hedges that ftand next to them, with rough branches and leaves like the former, but it giveth l'maller heads, and in far lefs plenty than it, fo that there is fcarce a head or two i'een in a year on divers of this wild kind, wherein confifteth the chief difference. PUce. J They delight to grow in low moift grounds, and are found in all parts of this land. Time.'] They fpring not up until April, and flower not until the latter end of June; the heads are not gathered un- til the middle or latter end of September. Government and Pirtues.] It is under the dominion of Mars. This, in phyfical operations, is to open obitrud'tions of the liver and fpleen, to cleanfe the blood, to loolen the belly, to cleanfe the reins from gravel, and provoke urine. The de- codtion of the tops of Hops, as well of the tame as the wild, worketh the fame effects. In cleanling the blood they help to cure the French difeafe, and all manner of fcabs, itch, and other breakings-out of the body; as alfo all tetters, ring- worms, and fpreading fores, the morphew, and all decolour- ing of the fkin. The decodlion of the flowers and tops do help to expel poifon that any one hath drank. Half a dram of the feed in powaler, taken in drink, killeth w'orms in the body, bringeth down women’s courfes, and expelleth urine. * A fyrup made of the juice and fugar, cureth the yellow jaun- dice, eafeth the hcad-ach that comes of heat, and tempereth Hops. the The Englilh Phyfician Enlarged. 157 the heat of the liver and ftonrach, and is profitably given in long and hot agues that rife in choler and blood. Both the wildjand the manured are of one property, and a like effectual in all the aforefaid difeafes. By all thel'e teftimonies beer appears to be better than ale. Mars owns the plant, and then Dr. Reafon will tell you how it performs thcle actions. Horehound. JdefcriptJ] /COMMON Horehound groweth up with \^4 fquare hairy italks, half a yard, or two feet high, fet at the joints with two round crumpled rough leaves of a fullen hoary green colour, of a reafonable good feent, but a very bitter talle. The flowers are {mail, white, and gaping, fet in a rough, hard, prickly hulk round-about the joints, with the leaves in the middle of the {talk up- ward, wherein afterward is found finall round blackifhfeed. The root is blackifii, hard, and woody, with many firings, and abideth many years. Place.] It is found in many parts of this land, in dry grounds, and wafie green places. Time.] It flowereth in July, and the feed is ripe in Auguft. Government and J'irt\es.] It is an herb of Mercury. A cfecoction of the dried herb, with the feed, or the juice of the green herb taken with honey, is a remedy for thole that are lhort-winded, have a cough, or are fallen into a confumption, either through long fickneis, or thin diftillations of rheum upon the lungs. It helpeth to expectorate tough phlegm from the chefi, being taken from the root3 of Iris or Orris. It is given to women to bring down their courfes, to expel their nfter-birth, and to them that have fore and long travails ; ns alio to thofe that have token poifon, or are flung or bitten by venomous ferpent?. The leaves ufed with honey, purge foul ulcers, flay running or creeping lores, and the growing of the flelh over the nails. It alfo helpeth pains of the tides. The juice thereof with wine and honey, helpeth to clear the eye-light, and fnurfed up into the noftrils, purgeth away the yellow jaundice, and with a little oil of rofes dropped into die ears, ealeth the pains of them. Galen faith, it openeth obftruftions both of the liver and fpleen, and purgeth the breaft and lungs of phlegm : and ufed outwardly it hath clean feth aud digefierh. A decoction of Horehound (faith I Matthiolus) T 5 8 The Englifli Phyfician Enlarged. Matthiolus) is available for thofc that have hard livers, and for fuch as have itches and running tetters. The powder hereof taken, or the decodlion, killeth worms. The. green leaves bruited, and boiled in old hog’s greale unto an oint- ment, healeth the bitings of dogs', ahauththe fvvcllings and pains that come by anv pricking of thorns, or fuch like means; and ufed with vinegar, cleanfeth and healeth tetters. There is a fyrup made of Horehound to be had at the apo- thecaries, very good for old coughs, to l id phlegm : as alfo to void cold rheums from the lungs of old folks, and for thofc that arc afthmatic or fliort-winded. Horfetail. OF that there are many kinds, but I {hall not trouble you nor myfelf with any large defeription of them, which to do, were but as the proverb is, To find a knot in a ru fit, all the kinds thereof being nothing elle but knotted rufhes, feme with leaves, end lome without. Take the defeription of the mod eminent fort as followeth : Defer ipt.] The great Horfetail at the firfb fpringing hath heads fornewhat like thofe of afpaiagus, and after grow to be bard, rough, hollow ltalks, jointed at fun dry places up to the top, a foot high, fo made as if the lower parts were put into the upper, where grow on each fide a bum of fmall long ruth-like hard leaves, each part refembling a horfe-tail, from whence it is fo called. At the tops of the fiaiks come forth fmall catkins, like thole of trees. The root creepcth under ground, having joints at fun dry places. Place.'] This (as moil of the other forts hereof) groweth in wet grounds. Time.] They fpring up in April, and their blooming cat- kins in July, feeding for the molt part in Auguft, and then periih down to the ground, riling afrefh in the Spring. Government cnui Dirties.] The herb belongs to Saturn, yet is very harrolei’s, and excellent good for the things following : Horfetail, the ('moot her rather than the rough, and the leaved rather than the bare, is mo ft pbyfica). It is very powerful to {launch bleeding either inward or outward, the juice or the decoction thereof being drank, or the juice, decodtion, or diftilled water applied outwardly. It alfo ftayerh all forts of h Iks and fluxes in man or woman, and the pilling of blood ; and healeth alfo not only the inward ulcers, and the excoria- . tion The Englifh Phyfician Enlarged. 1 59 lion of the entrails, bladder, &c, but all other forts of foul, moil't and running ulcers, and loon foldereth together the tops of green wounds. It cureth ali ruptures in children. The deception thereof in wine being drank, provoketh urine, and helpeth the done and iiranguary ; and the diililled wa- ter thereof drank two or three times in a day, and a fmall quantity at a time, alfo eafeth the entrails or guts, and is effectual againfl a cough that comCs by diffttlation from the head. The juice or diililled water being warmed, and hot inflammations, putlles or red wheals, and other breakings-out in the lkin, being bathed therewith, doth help them, and doth no lei's eafethe fu elling, heat, and inflammations of the fundament, or privy parts in men or women. Houfleek, or Sengrcen. r^OTH thefc arc fo well known to mv countrymen, that ) I (hall not need to write any defeription of them. Place. . It groweth commonly upon walls and houfe-lides, and flowereth in July, Government and Virtues.] It is an herb of Jupiter, and it is reported by iVIezaldus, to preferve what it grows upon from lire and lightning. Our ordinary Iiouleleek is good for all inward heats, as well as outward, and in the eyes or other parts of the body ; a poflet made with the juice of Houfleck, is Angularly good in all hot agues, for it cooleth. and tempereth the blood and fpirits, and quenchcth the third ; and alfo good to flay all hot deductions, or fharp and fait rheums in the eyes, the juice being dropped into them, or into the ears, helpeth them. It helpeth alio other fluxes of hu- mours in the bowels, and the immoderate courfes of women. It cooleth and reftraineth all other hot inflammations, St. Anthony’s lire, fealdings and burnings, the Ihingles, fretting ulcers, cankers, tetters, ringworms, and the like; andmucii eafeth the pain of the gout proceeding from a hot caufe. The juice alfo taketh away warts and corns in the hands or feet, being often bathed therewith, and the lkin and leaves being laid on them afterwards. It eafeth alfo the head-ach, and diftempered heat of the brain in frenzies, or through want of lleep, being applied to the temples and forehead. The leaves bruited and laid upon the crown or feam of the; head, llayeth bleeding at the nofc very quicklv. The dif~ I ^ ' tilled 160 The Englifh Phyfician Enlarged. tilled water of the herb is profitable for all the purpofes aforefaid. The leaves being gently rubbed on any place Hung with nettles or bees, doth quickly take away the pain. Hound’s Tongue. Dcfcript.] rpHE great ordinary Hound’s Tongue hath 1 many long, and fomewhat narrow, foft, hairy, darkifh green leaves, lying on the ground, fomewhat like unto Buglofs leaves, from amongft which lifeth up a rough hairy ftalk about two feet high, with fome fmaller leaves thereon, and branched at the tops into divers parts, with a fmall leaf at the foot of every branch, which is fome- what long, with many flowers let along the fame, which branch is crooked or turneth inwards before it flovvereth, and openeth by degrees as the flowers do blow, which con- lift of fmall purplifli red leaves of a dead colour, rifing out of the hulks wherein they fland with fome threads in the middle. It hath fometimes a white flower. After the flowers are pafl, there, cometh rough flat feed, with a fmall point in the middle, eafily cleaving to any garment that it toucheth, and not fo eafily pulled off again. The root is black, thick, and long, hard to break, and full of clammy juice, fmel- ling fomewhat ftrong, of an evil feent, as the leaves alfo do. Place.] It groweth in moift places of this land, in wade grounds, and untilled places, by highway-fides, lanes, and hedge-lides. Time.] It flowereth about May or June, and the feed is ripe fliortly after. Government and Virtues.] It is a plant underthe dominion of Mercury. The root is very effectually ufed in pills, as well as the decoftion, or otherwife, to flay all (harp and thin deductions of rheum from the head into the eyes or nofe, or upon the ftomach or lungs, as alfo for coughs and (hortnefs of breath. The leaves boiled in wine, (faith Diofcorides, but others do rather appoint it to be made with water, and do add thereto oil and fait) mollifieth or openeth the belly downwards. It atfo helpeth to cure the biting of a mad dog, fome of the leaves being alfo applied to the wound : The leaves bruifed, or the juice of them boiled in hog’s-lard, and applied, helpeth falling away of the hair, which cometh of hot and fliarp humours j as alfo for any place that is fealded or Ibe Englifh Phyfician Enlarged. i6j 0 «u burnt ; the leaves bruifed and laid to any green wound vloth heal it quickly; the root baked under the embers, wrapped in palle or wet paper, or in a wet double cloth, and thereof a iuppolitory made, and put up into, or applied to, the fundament, doth very effectually help the painful piles or haemorrhoids. The diitilled water of the herbs and roots is very good to all the purpofes aforefaid, to be ufed as well inwardly to drink, as outwardly to wafli any fore place, lor it healeth all manner of wounds and pun&ures, and thole foul ulcers that arife bv the French pox. Mizaldus adds, that the leaves laid under the feet, will keep the dogs from bark* mg at you. It is called hound’s-tonguc, becaufe it ties the tongues of hounds; whether true, or not, I never tried, yet i cured the biting of a mad dog with this only medicine! Holy, Holm, or Hulver Bufh. FO R to deferibe a tree fo well known is needlefs. , Government andFirtves .] The tree is Saturnine. The berries expel wind, and therefore arc held to be profitable in the cholic. The berries have a ftrong faculty with them * for if you eat a dozen of them in the morning Ya fling, when they are ripe and not dried, they purge the bodv of orofs and clammy phlegm ; but if you dry the berries, and beat them into powder, they bind the body, and ftopfluxes, bloody* fluxes, and the terms in women. The bark of the tree, and alio the leaves, are excellently good, being ufed in fo- mentations for broken bones, and fitch members as arc out of joint. Pliny faith, the branches of the tree defend tioules from lightning, and men from witchcraft. St. John’s Wort. Defcript .] /COMMON St. John’s Wort fliooteth forth , . . , brownifh, upright, hard, round ilalks, two feet high, fp reading branches from the lides up to the tops of them, with two fniall leaves let one againft another at every place, which are of a deep green colour, loin ew hat like the leaves of the lcfTer centaury, but narrow, and full of fmall holes in every leaf, which cannot be fo well perceived, as " au thc£ are, he*d UP to light; at the tops of the flalks and branches tland yellow flowers of five leaves a-piece, with J 3 many 162 The English Phyfician Enlarged. many yellow threads in the middle, which being bruifcd do yield a redd i fir juice like blood ; after which come ftnall roundheads, wherein is contained fmall blackifh feed (moi- ling like rofin. The root is hard and woody, with divers firings and fibres at it, of a brownifh colour, which abidetli in the ground many years, (hooting anew every Spring. Place ] This groweth in woods and copfes, as well thofe that are flvady, as open to the fun. Tune. ] They flower about Midfummer and July, and their feed is ripe about the latter end of July or Auguft. Government and Firtues.\ It is under the celeitial lign Leo, and the dominion of the Sun. It may be, if you meet a Pa* pift, lie will tell you, efpecially if he be a lawyer, that St. John made it over to him by a letter of attorney. It is a lingular wound herb ; boiled in wine and drank, it healeth inward hurts or bruifes ; made into an ointment, it opens obilrnftions, diflolves fwel lings, and clofes up the lips of ivouuus. The decodlion of the herb and flowers, efpecially of the Iced, being drank in wine, with the juice of knot- fs, helpeth all manner of vomiting and fpittingoi blood, i s good for thofe that are bitten or (lung by any venomous a future, and for thofe that cannot make water. Two drams i f (be feed of St John’s Wort made into powder, and drank in a little broth, doth gently expel choler or congealed blood in the ftomach. The decoction of the leaves and feeds drank fomewhat warm before the fits of agues, whether tiny be tertians or quartans, alters the fits, and, by often tiling, doth take them quite away. The feed is much commended, being- drank for forty days together, to help the fciatica, the falling-ficknefs, and the palfy. Ivy. XT is well known, to every child almoft, to grow in woods upon the trees, and upon the ftone walls of churches, houfes, &c., and lbrhetimes to grow alone of itfelf, though but feldom. Time.'] It flowcreth not until July, and the berries arc not ripe till Chrillmas, when they have felt Winter frofts. Govern, rent i.vd Virtues. ] It is under the dominion of Sa- turn. A pugil of the flowers, which may be about a dram, (faith Dioicor ides) drank twice a day in red wine, helpeth the lafk, and blood} -flux. It is an enemy to the nerves and finevys, The Englifli Phyfician Enlarged. 163 lincvvs, being much taken inwardly, but very helpful unto them, being outwardly applied. Pliny faith, the yellow ber- ries are good again A the jaundice; and taken before one be let to drink hard, preferveth from dr unkennels, andhelpeth thofe that fpit blood; and that the white berries being taken ■inwardly, or applied outwardly, killeth the worms in the belly. The berries are a lingular remedy to prevent the plague, as alfo to free them from it that have got it, by drinking the berries thereof made into powder, for two or three days together. They being taken in wine, do cer- tainly help to break the ftone, provoke urine, and women’s courfes. The frelh leaves of Ivy, boiled in vinegar, and applied warm to the lides of thole that are troubled with the Iplcen, ach, or ditch in the fides, do give much eafe : The fame applied with fume role water, and oil of rofes, to the temples and forehead eafeth the liead-ach, though it be of long continuance. The f relh leaves boiled in wine, and old filthy ulcers, hard to be cured, walhcd therewith, do wonder- fully help to cieanfe them. It alfo quickly healeth green wounds, and is effectual to heal all burnings and fcalclings, and all kinds of exulcerations coming thereby, or by lalt phlegm or humours in other parts of the body. The juice of the berries or leaves fnuffed up into the nofe, purgeth the head and brain of rheum that maketh defluxions into the eye3 and nofe, and curing the ulcers and flench therein ; the fame dropped into the ears helpeth the old and running fores of them ; thofe that are troubled with the fplcen fliall find much eafe by continual drinking out of a cup made of Ivy, lb as the drink may fland l'ome fmall time therein before it be drank. Cato faith, That wine put into the cup will foak through it, by reafon of the antipathy that is between them. There feems to be a very great antipathy betvvech wine and Ivy; for if one hath got a furfeit by drinking of wine, his fpeedieft cure is, to drink a draught of the lame wine wherein a handful of Ivy leaves, being firft bruifed, have been boiled. Juniper Bufh. FOR to give a defeription of a bufli fo commonly known is neeulefs. I A riace.1 i 64 The Englifh Phyfician Enlarged. Place.'] They grow plentifully in divers woods in Kent, Warney Common near Brentwood in ElTex, upon Finchley Common without Highgatc, hard by the new-found Wells near Dulwich, upon a Common between Mitcham and Croy- don, in the Highgate near Amerlham in Buckinghamlhire, and many other places. Time.] The berries are not ripe the firftyear, but continue green two Summers and one Winter before they are ripe ; at w inch time they are all of a black colour, and therefore you iliitll always find upon the bufh green berries; the berries are tipe about the fall of the leaf. Government and Virtues .] This admirable Solar fhrub is fcarce to be paralleled for its virtues. The berries are hot in the third degree, and dry but in the firft, being a molt admi- rable counter-poilon, and as great a relifter of the peftilence, as any grows; they are excellent good againft the bitings of venomous beads, they provoke urine exceedingly, and there- fore are very available to dyfuries and ftranguaries. It is fo powerful a remedy againft the dropfy, that the very lee made of the allies of the herb, being drank, cures the difeafe. It provokes the terms, helps the fits of the mother, ftrengthens the ftomach exceedingly, and expels the wind. Indeed there is fcarce a better remedy for wind in any part of the body, or the cholic, than the chymical oil drawn from the berries ; fuch country people as know not how to draw the chymical oil, may content themfelves by eating ten or a dozen of the ripe berries every morning fading. They are admirably good for a cough, Ihortnefs of breath, and confumption, pains in the belly, ruptures, cramps, and convnlfions. They give fafe and fpeedy delivery to women with child, they ilrengthen the brain exceedingly-, help the memory, and fortify the fight by ftrengthening the optic nerves; are excellent good in all forts of agues; help the gout and feiatiea, and ftrengthen all the limbs of the body. The allies of the wood is a fpeedy femedy to Inch as have the feurvy, to rub their gums with. The berries day all fluxes, help the haemorrhoids or piles, and kill worms in children. A Ice made of the allies of the wood, and the body bathed with it, cures the itch, fcabs, and leprofy. The berries break the ftonc, procure ap - petite when it is loft, and are excellently good lor all pallios, and falling-ficknefs. Kidtwv • The Engliilx Phyfician Enlarged . 1 65 Kidney wort, or Wall Pennyroyal, or Wall Pennywort. Defcript.'] TT hath many thick, flat, and round leaves grow- X ing from the root, every one having a long footftalk, fattened underneath, about the middle ot it, and a little unevenly weaved fometimes about the edges, ofa pale green colour, and fomewhat yellow on the upper iide like a iaucer , from among which arife one or more tender, fmooth, hollow ttalks half a foot high, with two or three fmall leaves thereon, ufually not round as thole below, but fomewhat long, and divided at the edges ; the tops are fomewhat di- vided into long branches, bearing a number of flowers, let round about a long lpike one above another, which are hol- low like a little bell, of a whif.fh green colour, after which come fmall heads containing very fmall brownifli feed, which falling on the ground will plentifully fpring up before Win- ter, if it have tnoifturc. The root is round and moll ulually fmooth, grevifti without, and white within, having fmall fibres at the head of the root, and bottom of the ftalk. Place. ] It groweth very plentifully in many places in this land, but efpecially in all the weft partsjhercof, upon ftone and mud walls, upon rocks alfo, and in ftony places upon the ground, at the bottom of old trees, and fometimes on the bodies of them that arc decayed and rotten. Time .] It ufually flowereth in the beginning of May, and the feed ripeneth quickly after, fheddeth itfelf; fo that about the end of May ufually the leaves and ttalks are withered, dry, and gone until September, and the leaves fpring up again, and fo abide all the Winter. Government am! Virtues .] Venus challengeth the herb under Libra. The juice or the diftilled water being drank, is very effectual for all inflammations and unnatural heats, to cool a fainting hot ftomach, a hot liver, or the bowels ; the herb, juice, or diftilled water thereof, outwardly applied, healeth pimples, St. Anthony’s fire, and other outward heats. The laid juice or water helpeth to heal fore kidneys, torn or fret- ted by the ftone, or exulcerated within ; it alfo provoketh urine, is available for the dropfy, and helpeth to break the ftone. Being ufed as a bath, or made an ointment, it cool- cth the painful piles or hsemorrhoidal veins. It is no lefs I S effedual 1 65 The Englifh Phyfickn Enlarged. effefhial to siveenfe to pains of the gout, the fciatica, and the inflammations and f'wellings in the cods; it hdpeth the kernels or knots in the neck or throat, called the king’s evil, healing kibe 3 and chilblains if they be bathed with the juice, or anointed with ointment made thereof, and forne of the fkin of the leaf upon them ; it is alio ufed in green wounds to Hay the blood, and to heal them quickly. • Knapweed. Refcript .] ^jT^HE common fort hereof hath many long and | fome what broad, dark green leaves, riling from the root, dented about the edges, and fometimesa little rent or torn on both lides in two or three places, and fome- w hat hairy, withal ; amongft which ariieth a long round lialk, four or five feet high, divided into many branches, at the tops w hereof Hand great fcaly green heads, and from the middle of them thruft forth a number of dark purplifh red tlirumbs or threads, which, after they are withered and paft, there are found divers black lecds, lying in a great deal of down, fomewhat like unto Tldflle feed, but lfnaller; the root is white, hard, and woody, and divers fibres annexed thereunto, which perifheth not, but abideth with leaves thereon all the Winter, fhooting out frefli every Spring, Place."] It groweth in moft fields and meadows, and about their borders and hedges, and in many wafle grounds all'o everywhere. Time.] It ufually flowereth in June or July, and the feed is ripe fhortly after. Government and Firtucs. "> Saturn challengeth the herb for bis own. This Knapweed lielpeth to Hay fluxes, both of blood at the mouth or nofc, or other outward parts, and thofe veins that are inwardly broken, or inward wounds, as alfo the fluxes of the belly; it flayeth di {filiations of thin and fliarp humours from the head upon the ftomach and lungs ; it is good for thofe that arc bridled by any fall, blow's, or other- wile, and is profitable for thole that are burflen, and have ruptures, bv drinking the dccodtion of the herb and roots in wine, and applying the lame outwardly to the place. It is Angularly good in all running fores, cancerous and filtulous, drying up the moifture, and healing them up gently, with- out fliarpnefs; it doth the like to running fores or fcabs of the The Englifh Phyfician Enlarged. 167 the head or other parts. It is of fpeeial ufe for the forenefs ot the throat, fwelling of the uvula and jaws, and excellently good to day bleeding, and heal up all green wounds. Krotgrafs. IT is generally known fo well that it needeth no deferip* tion. Place.'] It groweth in every county of this land, by the highway (ides, and by foot paths in fields ; as alio by the (ides of old walls. Time.] It fpringeth up late in the Spring, and abideth until the Winter, when all the branches perifh. Temperature and Virtues.] Saturn feems to me to own the herb, and vet feme hold the Sun ; out of all doubt ’tis Saturn. The juice of the common kind of Knotgrals is mod effectual to day bleeding ol the mouth, beingdrank in deeled or red w ine ; and the bleeding at the noie, to be applied to the for e- head or temples, or to be iquirted up into the nodrils. It is no lefs effectual ro cool and temper the heat of the blood and domaeh, and to day any fl ix of the blood and humours, as j lafk, bloody-flux, women’s courfes, and running of the reins. | Ir is lingular good to provoke urine, help the dranguary, and | allayeth the heat that cometh thereby; and is powerful by urine to expel the gravel or done in^the kidneys and bladder, j a dram of the powder of the herb being taken in wine for j many days together: Being boiled in wine, and drank, it is j profitable to thole that are dung or bitten by venomous crea- 1 times, and very effectual to day all defluxions of rheumatic ; humours upon the domaeh, and killeth worms in the belly : or domaeh, quieteth inward pains that arife from the heat, lliarpnefs, and corruption of blood and cholcr. The diddled water hereof taken by itl'elf, or with the powder of the herb i or feed, is very effectual to all the purpoles aforel'aid, and is accounted one of the mod lovereign remedies to cool all' manner of inflammations, breaking out through heai, hot' dwellings and impoflhumes, gangrene and tidulous cankers, 01 fouffilthy ulcers, being applied or put into them; but; especially for all forts of ulcers and fores happening in the privy parts of men and women. It helpeth all lrelh and green wounds, and lpeedily healeth them. The juice dropped in- to the ears cleanfeth them, being foul, and having running matter in them. , 2 68 The Englifli Phyfician Enlarged. . .Tt 5s vfry prevalent for the premifes; as alfo for broken joints and ruptures. Ladies-Mantle-. Defcript.'] TT hath many leaves riling from the root fland- X mg. upon long hairy foot-ftalks, being almoft round, and a little cut on the edges, into eight or ten parts, making it ieem like a flar, with fo many corners and points, ?nd dented round about, of a light colour, fomewhat hard in handling, and as it were folded or plaited at firfl, and then crumpied in divers places, and a little hairy, as the ftalk is alio, which rifeth up among them to the height of two or th.ee feet; and, being weak, is not able to fland upright, but bendeth to the ground, divided at the top into two or three branches, with fmall yellowifli green heads, and flowers of a whitifli colour breaking out of them; which being paft, there cometh a fmall yellowifli feed like a poppy-feed : The root is fomewhat long and black, with many firings and fibres thereat. r >F!aCC-i] IrgjTCth “alIy in many paftures and wood fidesmHertfordflnre, Wiltflnre, and Kent, and other places of this land. r . Time.] It flowereth in May and June, abideth after feed- time green all the Winter. Government and Virtues.'] Venus claims the herb as her own.. Ladies-Mantle is very proper for thole wounds that have inflammations, and is very effeftual to flay bleeding vomitings, fluxes of all forts, bruifes by falls or otherwile and helpeth ruptures; and luch' women or maids as have’ over great flagging breafts, cauiing them to grow lefs and hard, being both drank, and outwardly applied for 20 days together helpeth conception, and to retain the birth • if 'thc woman do lometimes alfo fit in a bath made of the decoction ©f the herb. It is one of the inoft fingular wound herbs that is, and therefore highly prized and praifed by the Germans who ufe it in all wounds inward and outward, to drink a de-’ coifhon thereof, and wafli the wounds therewith, or dip ients therein, and put them into the wounds, which wonderfully dneth up all humidity of the fores, and abateth inflammations therein, It quickly healeth all green wounds, not buffering any The Englifh Phylician Enlarged. 169 any corruptions to remain behind, and cureth all old fores, though fiftulous and hollow. Lavender. BEING an inhabitant almoft in every garden, it is fo well known, that it needeth no defeription. Time.'] It flowereth about the end of June, and beginning of July. Government ami Virtues.] Mercury owns the herb, and it carries his effects very potently. Lavender is of a fpecial good ufe for all the griefs and pains of the head and brain that proceed of a cold caufe, as the apoplexy, falling-fick- nefs, the dropfy, or fluggifh malady, cramps, convullions, pallies, and often faintings. It ftrengthens the ftomach, and freeth the liver and lpleen from obftrutlions, provoketh wo- men’s courfes, andexpelleth the dead child and after-birth. The flowers of Lavender, fleeped in wine, helpeth them to make water that are flopped, or are troubled with the wind or cholic, if the place be bathed therewith. A deco&ion made with the flowers of Lavender, Horehound, Fennel, and Afparagus root, and a little Cinnamon, is very profitably uled to help thcfalling-ficknefs, and the giddinefs or turning of the brain; to gargle the mouth with the decodtion thereof is good againfl the tooth-ach. Two fpoonfuls of the diflilled water of the flowers taken helpeth them that have loft their voice, as alfo the tremblings and paflions of the heart, and faintings and lwooning, not only being drank, but applied to the temples, or noftrils to be fmelt unto; but it is not lafe to ufe it where the body is replete with blood and hu- mours, becaufe of the hot and fubtil fpirits wherewith it is poflefled. The chymical oil drawn from Lavender, ufually called Oil of Spike, is of fo fierce and piercing a quality, that it is cautioufly to be ufed, fome few drops being fuftici- ent, to be given with other things, cither for inward or out- ward griefs. Lavender-Cotton. IT being a common garden herb, I fhall forbear the de- feription, only take notice that it flowereth in June and M'- Government i jo The EngliCh Phyfician Enlarged, Government and Virtues. It is under the dominion of Mer- cury. It refifteth poifon, putrela&ion, and heals the bitings of venomous beafts: A dram of the powder of the dried leaves taken every morning fading flops the running of the reins in men, and whites in women. The ieed beaten into powder, and taken as worm-feed, kills the worms, not only in children but alio in people of riper year; the like doth the herb itfelf, being flecped in milk, and the milk drank; the body bathed with the decodhon of it helps l'cabs and itch. Ladies-Smock, or Cuckow-Flowers. Defcript.~\ r~T"' HE root is compoled of many fmall white threads, fpom whence fpring divers long {talks of winged leaves, confiding of round, tender, dark, green, leaves, let one againft another upon a middle rib, the greateft being atthe end, amongft which arife updivers tender, weak, round, green ftalks, fomewhat ftreaked, with longer and fmaller leaves upon them; on the tops of which Hand flowers, almoft like the Stock Giliifiowcrs, but rounder, and not fo long, of a blufhing, white colour; the feed is reddilh, and groweth to fmall bunches, being of a lliarp, biting, tafte, and fo hath the herb. PLice.] They grow in moift places, and near to brook - fides. Time. They flower in April or May, and the lower leave* continue green all the Winter. Government and Pri-tucs.~\ They are under the dominion of the Moon, and very little interior toWater-Crefles in all their operations; they are excellently good for the l'curvy ; they provoke urine, and break the Hone, and excellently warm a. .cold and weak llomach, reiloring loft appetite, and help digeftion. Lettuce. IT is fowell known, being generally ufed as a fallet-herb, that it is altogether needlefs to write any dtffcription thereof. Government and • irtues.'] The Moon owns them, and that is the reafon they cool and moiften what heat and drynef* Mars caufeth, becaufe Mars hath his fall in Cancer : and they cool the heat becaufc the Sun rules it, between whom and the The Englifti Phyfician Enlarged. 17 1 the Moon is a reception in the generation of man, as you may fee in mv Guide for Women. The juice of Lettuce mix- ed or boiled with Oil of Roles, applied to the forehead and temples procureth lleep, and cafeth the head-ach proceeding of an hot caitle: Being eaten boiled, it helpet’n toloofcn the belly. It helpcth digeftion, quenchcth third, increafeth milk in nurfes, eal'etli griping pains in the ltomach and bowels, that come of choler. It abateth bodily lull, reprefleth vene- rous dreams, being outwardly applied to the cods with a lit- tle Camphire, Applied in the lame manner to the region of the heart, liver, or reins, or by bathing the faid place with the juice of diltilled water, wherein 1‘orne white Sanders, or ved Rofes, are put all'o, it not only reprefleth the heat and inflammations therein, but comforts and ftrengthens thole parts, and all’o tempereth the heat of urine. Galen advifeth old men to ufe it with l'pice, and where lpices are wanting, to add mints, rochet, and iuch like hot herbs, or elfe citron, lemon, or orange feeds, to abate the cold of one and heat of the other. The feed and diddled water of the Lettuce works the fame effects in all things ; but the ufe of Lettuce is chiefly forbidden to thole that are fhort-winded, or have any imper- fection in the lungs, or fpit blood. Water Lily. OF thefe there are two principally noted kinds, viz. the White and the Yellow. Defcript .] The White Lily hath very large and thick dark green leaves lying on the water, fuflained by long and thick foot-dalks, that arile from a great, thick, round, and long, tuberous, black root, fpongyor loole, with many knobs there- on, like eyes, and whitilh within: from amidft which rife other, the like, thick green flalks, fuftaining one large great flower thereon, green on the outlide, but as white as fnow within, confiding of divers rows of long and lomewhat thick and narrow leaves, fmaller and thinner the more inward they be, encompalfing a head with many yellow' threads or thrums in the middle, where, after they arc pad, Hand round Poppy- like heads, full of broad, oily, and bitter feed. The Yellow kind is little different from the former, fave only that it hath fewer leaves on the flowers, greater and more fhining feed, and a whitifh root, both within and with- out. The root of both is fomewhat fvveet in tafte. Place.] 1 72 The Englifh Phyfician Enlarged. Place."} They are found growing in great pools, and (land- ing waters, andfomeriihcs i.i flow running rivers, and lefler ditches of water, in fundry places of this land. Time.} They flower mod: commonly about the end of May, and their feed is ripe in Augull. Government and Virtues,} The herb is under the dominion of the Moon, and therefore cools and n oiftens like the for- mer. The leaves and flowers of the Lilies are cold and moifl, but the roots and feeds are cold and dry ; the leaves do cool all inflammations, both outward and inward heat of agues ; and fo doth the flowers alfo, either by the fyrup or conferve ; the fyrup helpeth much 10 procure re if, and to fettle the brain of frantic perfons, by cooling the hot diftemperature of the head. The feed as well as the root is effedfual to flay fluxes of blood or humours, either of wounds or of the belly ; but the roots are moll ufed, and more effccftual to cool, bind, and reflrain all fluxes in men and women ; alfo running of the reins, and palling away of the feed when one is afleep ; but the frequent life hereof extinguiflieth vencreous actions. The root is likewife very good for thofe whofe urine is hot and (harp, to be boiled in wine and water, and the decodfion drank. The di Allied water of the flowers is very effectual for all the difeafes aforefaid, both inwardly taken, and out- wardly applied ; and is much commended to take away freckles, fpots, funburn, and morphew from the face, or other parts of the body. The oil made of the flowers, as Oil of Roles is made, is profitably ufed to cool hot tumours, and to cafe the pains, and help the fores. Lily of the Valley. CALLED alfo Conval Lily, Male Lily, and Lily Con- fancy. Defeript.} Thereof is final!, andcrecpcthfarin the ground, as grafs roots do. The leaves are many, againft which rif- cth up a flalk half afoot high, with many white flowers, like little bells, with turned edges, of a ftrong, though pleafing finell ; theberriesare red, not much unlike thofe of Afparagus. Place.} They grow plentifully upon Hampflead Heath, and many other places in this nation. Time.} They flower in May, and the feed is ripe in Sep- tember. ¥he Englifh Phyfician Enlarged. 173 Temperature and Virtues .] It is under the dominion of Mercury, and therefore it llrengthens the brain, recruits a weak memory, and makes it ftrong again : The dillilled water dropped into the eyes helps inflammations there; as alfo that infirmity which they call a pin and web. The fpirit of the flowers diddled in wine reftoreth loft fpeech, helps the palfy, and is exceeding good in the apoplexy, comforteth the heart and vital fpirits. Gerrard faith that the flowers being clofe flopped up in a glafis, put into an ant-hill, and taken away again a month after, ye fliall find a liquor in the glafs, which, being outwardly applied, helps the gout. White Lilies. IT were in vain to deferibe a plant fo commonly known in every one’s garden, therefore I fliall not tell you what they are, but what they are good for. Government and Virtues."] They are under the dominion of the Moon, and, by antipathy to Mars, expel poifon ; they are excellent good in peililential fevers, the roots being bruifed and boiled in wine, and the decodlion drank ; for it expels the venom to the exterior parts of the body. The juice of it being tempered with barley-meal, baked, and fo eaten for ordinary bread, is an excellent cure for the dropfy : An oint- ment made of the root and hog’s-greafe is excellent good for feald heads, unites the finews when they are cut, and deanfes ulcers. The root boiled in any convenient dccodlion gives lpecdy delivery to women in travail, and expels the after- birth. The root roafted, and mixed with a little hog’s- greafe, makes a gallant poultice to ripen and break plague- fores. The ointment is excellent good for fvvellings in the privities, and will cure burnings and fcaldings without a fear, and trimly deck a blank place with hair. Liquorice. Dcfcript .] /^UR Englifh Liquorice rifeth up with divers Vy woody ftalks, wherein are fet, at feveral dif- rances, many narrow, long, green, leaves, fet together on both tides of the flalk, and an odd one at the end, very well refembling a young afh-rree, fprung up from the feed. This by many years continuance in a place without removing, and not clfe, will bring forth flowers, many handing together 1 74 Englifh Phyfician Enlarged. fpike fnfliion, one above another upon the ftalk, of the form of peafe blofioms, but of a very pale blue colour, which turn into lenr, fomewhat fiat and irnooth cods, w herein is con- tained a {mail, round, hard, iced. The roots run down < x- ceeding deep into the ground, with divers other fmall roots and fibres growing with them, and fhsot out fuckers from the m in roots all about, whereby it is much increased, ol a brownifh colour on the outfide, and yellow within. Place.] It is planted in fields and gardens, in divers places of this land, and thereof good profit is made. Government and Virtues .] It is under the dominion of Mer- cury. Liquorice boiled in fair water, with fiome Maiden- Hair and figs, maketh a good drink for thole that have a dry cough or hoarfenefs, wheezing or fliortnefe of breath, and for all the griefs of the breads and lungs, ph thy lie, or con- futations caui'ed bv the diffillation of fait humours on them. It is aifo good in nil pains of the reins, the ftranguary, and heat of urine : The fine pow der of Liquorice blow n through a quill into the eyes that have a.p:n and W eb (as they cal! it) or rheumatic difiiliations in them, doth eleunte and help them : The juice of Liquorice is as effectual in all the difeafe^j of the brealt and lungs, the reins and the bladder, as the dc- coftion. The juice difiilled in Rofe-water, with fom&gum tragacanth, is a fine licking medicine for hoarienefs, wheez- ing, &c. Liverwort. Defcript .] /DOMINION Liverwort groweth clofe, and v_^ fpreadeth much upon the ground in moiftand fliady places, with many fmall green leaves, or rather (as it were) flicking flat to one another, very unevenly cut in on the edges, ana crumpled ; from among which arife fmall flen- der Hulks, an inch or two high at mod, bearing fmall ftar-iike flowers at the top; the roots are veiy fine and fmall. Government and Virtues.] It is under the dominion of J upi- ter, and under the fign Cancer. It is a lingular good herb for all the diieaies of the liver, both to cool and cleanfe it, and helpeth the inflammations in any part, and the yellow jaundice likewile: Being bruifed, and boiled in lmall beer, and drank, it cooletb the heat of the liver and kidneys, and helpeth the running of the reins in men, and the whites in women ; *The Englifh Phyfician Enlarged. 175 women ; it is a Angular remedy to ftay the Spreading oftettei s, ringworms, and other fretting and running lores and leans, and is an excellent remedy for inch whole livers are corrupted by l'urfeits, which caufe their bodies to break out, for it toi- tifieth the liver exceedingly, and makes it impregnable. Loofeftrife, or Willowherb. Defcript.'] /COMMON yellow Loofeftrife groweth to be four or five feet high, or more, with great round (talks, a little crefied, diverfly branched from the mid- dle of them to the tops into great and long branches, on all which at the joints grow long and narrow leaves, but bioadet below, and ufually two at a joint, yet fometimes three or four, fOmewhat like willow leaves, i'mooth on the edges, and a fair green colour from the upper joints of the branches, and at the tops of them all'o Hand many yellow flowers of five leaves a* piece, with divers yellow threads in the muaut., vvhich turn into final l round heads, containing nvudl cornel cd feeds; the root crcepeth under ground, aim oft like couch- grafs, but greater, and fhooteth up every Spring brow nun heads, which afterwards grow up into italks. It hath no fcentortaftc, but only aftringent. t Place. ] It groweth in many places of this land in rnoiit meadows, and by vvater-lides. Time .] It flowereth from June to Auguft. Government and P irtues.~\ i his herb is good for all manner of bleeding at the mouth, nofe, or wounds, and all fluxes of the bellv, and the bloody-flux, given either to drink or taken by clyfter; it ftayeth alfo the abundance of women s courfes ; it is a Angular good wound-herb for green wounds, to ftay the bleeding, and quickly clofe together the lips of the wound, if the herb be bruifed, and the juice only applied. It is often ufed in gargling for fore mouths, as alio for the fecret parts. The fmoak hereof, being burned, driveth away flies and gnats, which in the night-time moleft people inha- biting near maiflies, and in the tennv countries* Loofeftrife, with fpiked Heads of Flowers. Defer ip /.]r | ^ HIS groweth with many woody fquare ftalks, full of joints, about three feet high at leaft, at 1 7^ The Englifh Phyfician Enlarged. at every one whereof (land two long leaves, Ihorter, narrower, and a larger green colour than the former, and fome brown ifh. I he (talks are branched into many long ftems of fpiked flow- ers half a foot long, growing in bundles one above another, out of final 1 hulks, very like the fpiked heads of lavender, each of which flowers have five round-pointed leaves, of a puiple violet colour, or fomewhat inclining to rednefs • in which hulks Hand final 1 round heads after the flowers are fallen, wherein are contained frnall feed. The root creepeth under ground like unto the yellow, but is greater than it ana lo are the heads of the leaves when they firft appear out ot the ground, and more brown than the other. Place.-] It groweth ufually by rivers, and ditch-fides in wet ground as about the ditches at and near Lambeth, and in many other places of this land. Time.) It flowereth in the months of June and July. Government and Virtues.] It is an herb of the Moon and under the lign Cancer; neither do I know a better preferver of the fight when ’tis well, nor a better cure of fore eyes than Eyebright taken inwardly, and this ufed outwardly us cold in quality. This herb is no whit inferior unto the former, it having not only all the virtues which the former hath, but lome peculiar virtues of its own, found out by experience; as namely, 7 hat diflilled water is a prefent rc- medy for hurts and blows on the eyes, and for blindnefs, fo as the Chriftalline humour be not periflied or hurt; and this hath been fufhciently proved true by the experience of a man of judgement, who kept it long to himfelf as a great fecret. It e lea re th the eyes of duff, or anything gotten into them, and preferveth the fight. It is alio very available agamic wounds and thr lifts, being made into an ointment in this manner: To every ounce of the water add two drams of May butter without fait, and of fugar and wax, of each as much alfo; let them boil gently together. Let tents dipped into that liquor that remaineth after it is cold, be put into the wounds, and the place covered with a linen cloth doubled and anointed with the ointment ; and this is alfo an approved medicine. It hkewifc clcanfeth and healeth all foul ulcers, and lores whatsoever, and ftayeth their inflammations by wafinng them with the water, and laying on them a greei leaf or two m the Summer, or dry leaves in the Winter. This . The Englifh Phyfician Enlarged. 177 This water gargled warm in the mouth, and fometimes drank alio, doth cure the quinfy, or king’s evil in the throat. The laid water applied warm taketh away all tpots, marks, and fcabs in the ikin; and a little of it drank queneheth thirft when it is extraordinary. Lovage. Dcfcript.] IT hath many long and great {lalks of large JL winged leaves, divided into many parts, like Smallage, but cut much larger and greater, every lcafbeing cut about the edges, broad ell; forward, and fmallell at the llalk, of a fad green colour, l'mooth an \ (Inning, from among which rife up fundry llrong, hollow, green, ifalks, live or fix, fometimes leven or eight, feet high, full of joints, but lefler leaves let on them than grow below: and with them to- wards the tops come forth large branches, bearing at their tops large umbels of yellow flowers, and after them flat brownifli feed. The root groweth thick, great, and deep, fpreading much, and enduring long, of a brownifli colour on the outlide, and whitifh within. The whole plant and every part of it fmelling llrong, and aromatically, and is of a hot, Iharp, biting, tafte. Place.'] It is ufually planted in gardens, where, if it be fullered, it groweth huge and great. Time.] It flowereth in the end of July, and feedeth in Augult. Government and Virtues.] It is an herbof the Sun, under the lign Taurus. If Saturn offend the throat (as he always doth if he he occafioner of the malady, and in Taurus is the Genelis) this is your cure. Itopeneth, cureth, and digelleth humours, and mightily provoketh women’s courfcs and urine. Half a dram at a time of the dried root in powder taken in wine, doth wonderfully warm a cold llomach, helpcth di- gestion, and confumeth all raw and luperfluous moifture therein; eai’eth all inward gripings and pains, diflolveth wind and relillcth poifon and inlebfion. It is a known and much- prailed remedy to drink the decobtion of the herb for any l’ort of ague, and to help the pains and torments of the body and bowels coming of cold. The Iced is effectual to all the purpofes aforefaid (except the laft) and worketh more power- fully. The diltilled water of the herb hclpeth the quinfy in 178 Ihe Eng'lifh Phyfician Enlarged. in the throat, if the mou>h and throat be gargled and wafhed therewith, and helpeth the pleurify, being drank three or four times. Being dropped into the eyes it taketh away the red- nefs or dimnefs of them ; it likewile taketh away fpots or freckles in the face. The leaves bruifed, and fried with a little hog’s-lard, and laid hot to any blotch or boil, will quickly break it. Lungwort. Defcript.~\ ’‘"IT-' HIS is a kind of mofs that groweth on (un- j dry forts of trees, efpecially oaks and beeches, with broad, grey id), tough, leaves, diveriley folded, crumpled, and gafhed in on the edges, and fome fpotted all’o with many imall fpots on the upper fide. It was never l'ecn to bear any (talk or flower at any time. Government and Virtues, ] Jupiter feems to own this herb. It is of great ufe to phyiicians to help the difeafes of the lungs, and tor coughs, wheezings, and fhortnels of breath, which it cureth both in man and bealt. It is very profitable to put into lotions that arc taken to flay the moifi humours that flow to ulcers, and hinder their healing, as alfo to wafh all other ulcers in the privy parts of men or women. It is an excellent remedy boiled in beer for broken-winded horfes. Madder. Defcript .] /'“GARDEN Madder fbooteth forth many very VJT long, weak, four-fquare, reddilh ftalks, trail- ing on'the ground a great way, very rough and hairy, and full qf joints ; At every one of thefe joints come forth divers long and narrow leaves, (landing like a- liar about the llalks, rough alfo and h'airy, towards the tops whereof come forth many fmall, pale, yellow flowers, after which come (mail round heads, green at fir ft, and reddifh afterwards, but black when they are ripe, wherein is contained the feed. The root is not very great, but exceeding long, running down half a man’s length into the ground, red and very clear while it is frefh, fpreading divers ways. Place. ] It is only produced in gardens, or large fields, for the profit that is made thereof. lime .] It flowereth towards the end of Summer, and the feed is ripe quickly after. Government and Virtues. ] It is an herb of Mars. It hath an opening quality, and afterwards to bind and ftrengthen. It The Englifh Phyfician Enlarged. 179 It is a fure remedy for the yellow jaundice, by opening the obdrucTions of the liver and gall, and cleanfing thofe pans ; it openeth alfo the obftruefions ot the fplcen, and diminilheth the melancholy humour : It is available for the pally and feiutica, and etfedlual for bruifes inward and outward, and is therefore much uled in vulnery drinks. The root for all thofe aforel'aid purpofes is to be boiled in wine or water, as the caufe requireth, and i’ome honey and in gar put thereunto afterwards. The feed hereof, taken in vinegar and honey, lielpeth the fwelling and hardnefs of the fplcen. The de- coction of the leaves and branches is a good fomentation for women to lit over that have not their courles. The leaves and roots beaten and applied to any part that is difcoloured with freckles, morphew, the white feurf, or any fuch defor- mity of the lkin, cleanfeth thoroughly, and taketh them away. Maiden-Hair. Dcfcript.] common Maiden-Hair doth, from a number of hard black, fibres, fend forth a great many blackilh, Ihining, brittle, ftalks, hardly a fpan long, in many not half fo long, on each fide li t very thick with final!, round, dark, green, leaves, and fpitted on the back of them like a Fein. Place.] It groweth upon old (lone walls in the Well parts in Kent, and divers other places of this land; it delighterh likewife to grow by fprings, wells, and rocky, moilt, and lhady places, and is aiways green. Wall Rue, or White Maiden-Hair. Defcript .] HT' HIS hath very fine pale, green, tlalks, almolf X as fine as hairs, let confufedly with divers pale green leaves on very Ihort foot-llalks, fomewhat in form, but morediverily cut in on the edges, and thicker, fmooth on the upper part, and fpotted finely underneath. Place.] It groweth in many places of this land, atDartford, and the bridge at Afhford in Kent, at Beaconsfield in Buck- inghamfnire, at Wolly in Huntingdonlhire, on Framingham Gallic in Suffolk, on the church walls at Mayfield in Sulfex, in Somerfetlhire, and divers other places of this land; and is green in Winter as well as Summer. Gpverr.ment and Virtues.] Both this and the former are 4 under i8o The English Phyfician Enlarged. under the dominion of Mercury, and fo is that alfo which followeth after, and the virtue of both thefe are fo near alike that though I have deicribed them and their places of grow- ing feverally , yet I fliall, in writing the virtues of them" join them both together as followeth : J The decoaion of the herb Maiden-Hair, being drank, he. pet h thoie that are troubled with the cough, fhortnefs of breath, yellow jaundice, difeafes of the fpleen, flopping of unne, and helpeth exceedingly to break the ftone in the kid- neys,in all which difeafes the Wall Rue is alfo very effe&ual.) It provoketh women’s courfes, and flays both bleedings and fluxes of the ftomach and belly, efpccially when the herb is dry for being green it loofeneth the belly, a„d voideth cholei and phlegm from the ftomach and liver; it cleanfeth the lungs, and, by rectifying the blood, caufeth a good colour to the whole body. The herb, boiled in oil of Camomile, diflolveth knots, allayeth fwellings, and dricth up moift ul- ceis. The lee made thereof is lingular good to cleanfc the head horn fcurl, and from dry and running fores, ftayeth the falling or fltedding of the hair, and caufeth it to grow thick, fair, and well coloured; for which purpofe fome boil it m wine, putting fome Sinallage thereto, and afterwards {n Jr llr a Rue .1S as cfta51ual as Maiden-Hair, in all dilea.es of the head, or falling and recovering of the hair again, and generally for all the aforementioned difeafes ; A.nd belides, the powder of it taken in drink for forty days toze- tner, helpeth the burftings in children. * Golden Maiden-Hair. Hr0 the (ormcr S*lvc me leave to add this, and I fliall no more but only defenbe it unto you, and for the vir- tues refer you to the former, fince whatfoever is faid of them may be alio laid of this. Defa ipt .] It hath many fmall, brownifli, red hairs to make up the form of leaves growing about the ground from the root; and in the middle of them, in Summer, rife fmall ft a Ik, of the fame colour, fet with very line yellowilh green hair* on them, and beauug a fmall, gold, yellow head, lefler than a wheat-corn, tending in a great hulk. The root is very Imall ana thready. ' It groweth in bogs and moorifli places, and alf» on d ly, Ihady, places, as Hampflead Heath, and elfwhere. * fallows 1 The Englifh Phyfictan Enlarged . 1 8 r Mallows and Marfhmallows. * \ COMMON Mallow's are generally fo well known that they need no defeription. Our common Marflnnallows have divers foft, hairy, white ftalks, riling to be three or four feet high, fpreading forth many branches, the leaves whereof are foft and hairy, lome- vvhat lefler than the other Mallow leaves, but longer pointed, cut, for the moft part, into ionic few divilions, but deep. The flowers are many, but fmaller alto than the other Mallow’s, and white, or tending to a bluifh colour. After which come Inch long, round cafes and feeds, as in the other Mallows. The roots are many and long, (hooting from one head, of the bignefs of a thumb or linger, very pliant, tough, and being like liquorice, of a whitilli yellow colour on the out- fide, and more white within, full ofaflimv juice, which being laid in w'ater will thicken as if it w’ere a jelly. Place."] The common Mallow's grow in every county of' this land; the common Marlh mallow's in moft of the fait marlhcs from Woolwich doum to the lea, both on the Kentifti and Eflex fiiore, and in divers other places of this land. Time. They flower all the Summer months, even until the Winter do pull them down. Government and ’Virtues.] Venus owns them both. The leaves of either of the forts before fpccified, and the roots alfo, boiled in wine and water, or in broth with Parfley or Fennel-roots, do help to open the body, and are very conve- nient in hot agues, or other diftempers of the body, to apply the leaves fo boiled warm to the belly. It not only voideth hot, choleric, and other offenflve humours, but eafeth the pains and torments of the belly coming thereby; and arc therefore ufed in all clyfters conducing to thofc purpofes. The fame ufed by nurfes procureth them ftore of milk. The decodt ion of the feed of any of the common Mailows made in milk or wine doth marvellouily help excoriations, the phthylic, pleurify, and other difeafes of tnecheft and lungs, that proceed of hot caules, if it be continued taking for fome time together. The leaves and roots work the fame effects. They help much alfo in the excoriations of the guts and bow'- els, and hardnefs ot the mother, and in all hot and fharp dif- eafes thereof. The juice drank in wine, or the de coition of K them 1 32 The Englifh Phyfician Enlarged. them therein, doth help women to a fpeedy and eafy delivery. Pliny faith, that whofoever fhall take a fpoontul of any of the Mallows, fliall that day be free from all ui eales that may come unto him; and that it is fpccial good for the falling- ficknefs. The fyrup alfo and conferee made of the flowers, are very effectual for the fame difeafes, and to open the body, being eoftive. The leaves bruifed and laid to the eyes with a little honey, taketh away the impofthumes of them. The leaves bruifed or rubbed upon the place flung with bees, wafps, or the like, prefently take away the pains, rednefs, and fwellings that arife thereupon. And Diofcorides faith, the decodtion of the roots aud leaves helpeth all forts of poi- fon, fo as the poifon be prefently voided by vomit. A poul- tice made of the leaves, bailed and bruifed, with fome bean or barley flower, and oil of rofes added, is an efpecial remedy againflall hard tumours and inflammations, or impoflhumes, or fwellings of the cods, and other parts, and eafeth the pains of them ; as alfo againft the hardnefs of the liver or fpleen, being applied to the places. The juice of Mallows boiled in old oil and applied, taketh away all roughnels of the fkin, as alfo the feurf, dandriff, or dry fcabs in the head, or other parts, it they be arointed therewith, or waflied with the decodtion, and preferveth the hair from falling off. It is alfo effedtual againft lcaldings and burnings, St. Anthony’s fire, and all other hot, red, and painful fwellings in any part of the body. The flowers boiled in oil or w'ater (as every one is difpofed) whereunto a little honey and allum is put, is an excellent gargle to wafli, cleanfe, or heal, any fore mouth or throat in a fliort fpace. If the feet be bathed or waffled with the decodtion of the leaves, roots, and flowers, it helpeih much the defluxions of rheum from the head ; if the head be wafhed therewith it ftayetfl the falling and ffledding of the hair. The green leaves (faith Pliny) beaten with nitre, and applied, draw out thorns or prickles in the flefh. The Marfflmallows are more effedtual in all the difeafes before mentioned : The leaves are likewife ufed to loofen the belly gently, and in decodtions for elyfters to cafe all pains of the body, opening the ftraight paflages, and making them flippery, whereby the ftone may delcend the more eafily, and without pain, out of the reins, kidneys, and bladder, and to eafe the torturing pains thereof. But the roots are of more fpecial ufes for thofe purpofes, as well for coughs, hoarfenelY, The Englifh Phyfician Enlarged. 183 lioarfenefs, fhortnefs of breath, and wheezings, being boiled in wine, or honied water, and drank. The roots and feeds hereof boiled in wine and water, are with good fuccefs ufed by them that have excoriations in the guts, or thebloody-flux, by qualifying the violence of fharp fretting humours, eafing pains, and healing the forenefs. It is profitably taken of them that are troubled with ruptures, cramps, or convullions of the finews; and boiled in white wine, for the impofthumes of the throat, commonly called the king’s evil, and of thofe kernels that rife behind the ears, and inflammations or fwellings in women’s breads. The dried roots boiled in milk, and drank, is fpecial good for the chin-cough. Hip- pocrates ufed to give the deco&ion of the roots, or the juice thereof, to drink, to thofe that are wounded, and ready to faint through lofs of blood, and applied, the fame mixed with honey and rofin, to the wounds. As alfo the roots boiled in wine to thofe that have received any hurt by bruifes, falls, or blows, or had any bone or member out of joint, or any fwelling pain, orach in the mufclcs, finews or arteries. The mucilage of the roots, and of linfeed and fenugreek put together, is much ufed in poultices, ointments, and plafters, to mollify and digefl all hard fwellings, and the inflammation of them, and to eafe pains in any part of the body. The feed, either green or dry, mixed with vinegar, cleanfeth the lkin of morphew, and all other difcolourings, being boiled therewith in the Sun. You may remember that not long fince there was a raging difeafe called the bloody-flux ; the college of phyficians, not knowing what to make of it, called it the plague of the guts, for their wits were at Ne plus ultra about it : My fon was taken with the fame difeafe, and the excoriation of his bowels was exceeding great ; myfelf being in the country, was font for up; the only thing I gave him was Mallows bruifed and boiled both in milk and drink, in two days (the blefling of God being upon it) it cured him. And 1 here, to fhew my thankfulnefs to God, in communicating it to his creatures, leave it to poftcrity. K 2 Maple i S 4 ' ¥ke EngliQi Phyfician Enlarged. Maple Tree. Government TT is under the domini >n of Jupiter. The and Virtues.] J. deception either of the leaves or bark, mull needs {Lengthen the liver much, and fo you {hall find it to do, if you ufe it. It is excellent good to open obftrudions bofh in the liver and fpleen, and eafeth pains of the lides thence proceeding. Wild Marjoram. CALLED alfo Origane, Origanum, Eaftward Marjoram, Wild Marjoram, and Grove Marjoram. Defcript .] Wild or field Marjoram hath a root which creepeth much under ground, which continueth a long time, fending up lundry brownifh, hard, fquare, {talks, with fmall dark green leaves, very like thole of Sweet Marjoram, but harrier, and fomewh.it broader ; at the top of the ftalk iland tufts of flowers, of a deep purplifh red colour. The feed is fmall and fomewh-. t blacker than that of Sweet Marjoram. Place.] It groweth plentifully in the borders of corn-fields, and in feme copfes. Time.'] It flovvereth towards the latter end of Summer. Government and V irtues .] This is alfo under the dominion of Mercury. It {Lengthens the flomach and head much, there being fcarce a better remedy growing for inch as are troubled with a four humour in the flomach ; it re ft ores the appetite being loll; helps the cough, and confuinption of the lungs; it clean feth the body of choler, expeileth poifon, and remedieth the infirmities of the fpleen ; heljis the hitings of venomous beafis, and helps fuch as have poifoned them- felves by eating hemlock, henbane, oropium. It provoketh urine, anil the terms in women, helps the dropf'y, and the feurvy, fcabs, itcli, and yellow jaundice. The juice being dropped into the cars, helps deartiefs, pains and noife in the ears. And thus much for this herb, between which and ad- ders there is a deadly antipathy. ✓ Sweet Marjoram. SWEET Marjoram is fo well known, being an inhabitant in every garden, diat it is needlefs to write any deferip • turn thereof, neither of the Winter Sweet Marjoram, or Pot Marjoram, Place.] The Englifh Phyfician Enlarged. 185 'Place.'] They grow commonly in gardens; fome there are that grow wild in the borders ot corn fields and paifuiy, in fundry places of this land; but it is not my purpofe to n> fill upon them. The garden kinds being molt uted and ufeful. Time.] They flower in the end of Summer. Government and Virtues.] It is an herb of Mercury, and under Aries, and therefore it is an excellent remedy for the brain, and other parts of the body and mind, under the domi- nion of the fa nfe planet. Our common Sweet Marjoram is warming and comfortable in the cold diteafes ot the head, i>o* maeh, linews, and other parts, taken inwardly, or outwardly applied. The decodtion thereof, being drank, helpeth all. diteafes of the chert which hinder the freenefs ot hi talking, and is alfo profitable for the obftrudtions of the liver andipleen. It helpeth the cold griefs of the womb, and the windings thereof, and the lofs of fpeecli by refolution of the tongue. The deco&ion thereof made with foine pellitory of Spam, and long pepper, or with a little acorns or origanum, being- drunk, is good for tliofe that are beginning to fall into a dropfy, for thofe that cannot make watei, and againrt pains and torments in the belly ; _ it provoketh women’s courfes, if it be put as apeflury. Being made into powder, and mixed with honey, it taketh away the black marks of blows, and bruifes, being thereunto applied ; it is good for the influni- mations and watering of the eyes, being mixed with fine flour and laid upon them. The juice dropped into the ears eafeth the pains and finging noils in them. It is profitably put into thole ointments and falves that are warm, and comfort the outward parts, as the joints and linews; for fwellings alfo, and places out of joint. The powder thereof, fnuffed up in- to the nofe, provoketh fneezing, and thereby purgeth the brain; and, chewed in the mouth, draweth forth much phlegm. The oil made thereof is very warm and comforta- ble to the joints that are flirt, and the linews that are hard, to mollify and hippie them. Marjoram is much ufed in all odoriferous waters, powders, &c., that are tor ornament or delight. Marigolds. THESE being fo plentiful in everyygarden, are fo well known that they need no defeription. K 3 Time.] 3 86 The Englifh Phyfician Enlarged. Time.'] They flower all the Summer long, and fometimes in Winter, if it be mild. Government and Virtues .] It is an herb of the Sun, and under Leo. They ftrengthen the heart exceedingly, and are very expulfive, and little lefs effectual in the fmall-pox and ineafles than faffron. The juice of Marigold leaves mixed with vinegar and any hot fwellings bathed with it, inftanrly giveth eafe, and afluageth it. The flowers, either green or dried, are much ufed in pofiets, broths, and drink, as a comforter of the heart and fpirits, and to expel any malig- nant or peftilential quality which might annoy them. A plafter made with the dry flowers in powder, hog’s-greafe, turpentine, and rofln, applied to the bread, ftrengthens and fuccours the heart infinitely in fevers, whether peflilentiaL or not peftilential. Mafterwort. Defcript . ] /TOMMON Mafterwort hath divers ftalks of V-j winged leaves divided into fundry parts, three, for the moft part, ftanding together at a fmall footftalk on both fides of the greater, and three likewife at the end of the ftalk, fomewhat broad, and cut in on the edges into three or more divifions, all of them dented about the brims, of a dark green colour, fomewhat refembling the leaves of Ange- lica, but that thefe grow lower to the ground, and on Idler 1 fa Iks ; among which rife up two or three flrort ftalks about two feet high, and (lender,* with fuch like leaves at the joints which grow below, bur with lefl'er and fewer divifions, bear- ing umbels of white flowers, and after them thin, flat, black- ifh feeds, bigger than Dill-feeds. The root is fomewhat great- er, and growing rather fidevvaysthan down deep in theground, (hooting forth fundry heads, which tafte (harp, biting on the tongue, and is the hotteft and fliarpeft part of the plant, and the feed next unto it being fomewhat biackifli on the outfide, and fmelling well. Place.] It is ufually kept in gardens with us in England. Time.] It flowereth and feedeth about the end of Auguft. Government and Virtues.] It is an herb of Mars. The root of Mafterwort is hotter than pepper, and very available in cold griefs and difeafes both of the ftomach and body, diflolving very powerfully upwards and downwards. It is alfo ufed in a decodtion with wine again ft all cold rheums, difti llations upon the lungs, or fliovtnefs of breath, to be taken The Englifh Phyfician Enlarged. 187 taken morning and evening. It alfo provoketh urine, and lielpeth to break the done, and expel the gravel from the kid- neys, provoketh women’s courfes, and expelleth the dead birth. It is Angularly good for drangling of the mother, and other fuch like feminine difeafes. It is effectual alfo againd the dropfy, cramps, and falling-ficknefs ; tor the ae- coftion in wine, being gargled in tne mouth, draweth down much water and phlegm from the brain, purging and ealing it of what oppredeth it. It is ot a rare quality againd all lor ts of cold poifon, to be taken as there is caule; it piovoketh fweat. But, led the fade hereof, or of the feed, (which worketh to the like effect, though not to powerfully) fhould be too offenfive, the bed way is to take the water diddled both from the herb and root. The juice hereof dropped, 01 tents dipped therein, and applied either to green wounds or filthy rotten ulcers, and thole that come by envenomed weapons, doth foon cleanie and heal them. The fame is alio very good to help the gout coming of a cold caufe. Sweet Maudlin. Defcript .] pOMMON Maudlin hath fomewhat long and narrow leaves, l'nipped about the edges. The ftalks are two feet high, bearing at the tops many yel- low flowers fet round together, and all ot an equal height, in umbels or tufts like unto Tanly; after which followeth fmall whitifh feed, almofl as big as Wormfeed. Place and Time.'] It groweth in gardens, and flowereth in June and July. . . Government and Pirtues.] The virtues hereof being the fame with Coflmary or Aiecoft, I fliall not make any lepeti- tion thereof, left my book grow too big; but rather refer you unto Coftmary for l'atisfadfion. The Medlar. Defcript.] *~pHE Tree groweth near the bignefs of the X Quince 'i'ree, fpreading branches reafon- ably large, with longer and narrower leaves than either the apple or quince, and not dented about the edges. At the end of the l'prigs ftand the flowers, made ot five white, great, broad-pointed leaves, nicked in the middle with feme white threads alfo; after which cometh the fruit, ot a brownifh green colour, being ripe, bearing a crown as it were on t tie top, which were the live green leaves ; and being rubbed off, K 4 w j S3 The Englifh Phyfician Enlarged. or fallen away, the head of the fruit is feen to be fomevvhat hollow. The fruit is very hurfh before it is mellowed, and hath ufually five hard kernels within it, There is another kind hereof nothing differing from the former, but that it hath fume thorns on it in feveral places, which the other hath not; and ufually the fruit is fmall, and not fo pleafant. 77 me and Placed] They grow in this land and flower in May, for the molt part, and bear fruit in September and Oc- tober. Government and Virtues .] The fruit is old Saturn’s, and fure a better medicine he hardly hath to ftrengthen the re- tentive faculty; therefore it flays women’s longings: The good old man cannot endure women’s minds fliould run a gadding. Alfo a plafter made of the fruit dried, before they are rotten, and other convenient things, and applied to the reins of the back, flops mifearriage in women with child. They are very powerful to flay any fluxes of blood or hu- mours in men or women; the leaves alfo have this quality. The fruit eaten by women with child flayeth their longing after unufual meats, and is very effectual for them that are apt to mifearry, and may be delivered before their time, to help that malady, and make them joyful mothers. Thede- coCiion of them is good to gargle and wafli the mouth, throat, and teeth, when there is any defluxions of blood to flay it, or of humours, which caufeth the pains and fvveUings. It is a good bath for women to fit over that have their courfes flow too abundant ; or for the piles when they bleed too much. If a poultice or plafter be made with dried Medlars, beaten and mixed with the juice of red rofes, whereunto a few cloves and nutmegs may be added, and a little red coral alfo, and applied to the ftomach, that is given to calling or loathing of meat, it effectually helpeth. The dried leaves in powder ftrewed on frcfli bleeding wounds reftraineth the blood, and healeth up the wound quickly. The Mcdlar- ftoncs made into powder, and drank in wine, wherein fome Parfley-roots have lain infufed all night, or a little boiled, do break the ftone in the kidneys, helping to expel it. Mellilot, or King’s Claver. Defcript. ] r I MIIS hath many green ftalks, two or three X feet high, rifing from a tough, long, white, rout, Tke Englifh Phyfician Enlarged. 189 root which dieth not every year, fet round about at the joints with fmall, and fomewhat long, well-hnelling leaves let three together, unevenly dented about the edges, flowers are yellow, and well-fmelling alto, made like ether trefoil, but fmall. Handing in long (pikes one above another for an hand-breadth long or better, which afterwards tur into long crocked pods, wherein is contained flat leed, Some- what brown. . , r .r • Place.] It groweth plentifully in many places of this land, as in the edge of Suffolk, and in feffesr, as alfo m Huntingdonfliire, and in other places, but moil uiually in corn fields, in corners of meadows. . , ,, Time.] It flowereth in June and July, and is ripe quick>y ^Government ami Virtues.] Mellilot : boiled in wine, and ap- plied, mollifieth all hard tumours and inflammations that hap- pen in the eyes, or other parts of the body, as the fundament, or privy parts of men and women; and fotnetimes the yoik of a roafted egg, or fine flour, or poppy-feed, or endive, u, added unto it. Ithelpeth the Spreading ulcers in the head, it being wafhed with a lee made thereof. It helpcth the pains of the Stomach, being applied frefli, or boi.cd with an . of the aforenamed things: Alio the pains oi the. eats, being dropped into them; and fteeped in vinegar, or rofe-water, it xnitmateth the head-ach. The flowers of Mellilot, or camo- mile" are much ufed to be put together in clyfters to expel wind, and eafe pains ; and alfo in poultices tor the fame pur- pole, and to affuage fwelling tumours in the ipleen or otuei parts, and helpeth inflammations in any part of the body. The juice dropped into the eyes is a Angular good medicine to take away the film or (kin that eloudeth or dimrneth the eye- fi^ht The head often vvaflicd with the diftillcd water of the herb and flower, or a lee made therewith, is effeftual for thole that fuddenly lofe their Senfes ; as alfo to ftrengthen the me- mory, to comfort the head and brain, and to preterve them from pain and the apoplexy. French and Dog’s Mercury. Defcritt.] npHIS rifeth up with a Square green fialk full J r x of joints, two feet high, or thereabouts, with two leaves at every joint, and the branches Hkewilc K - irum 190 The Englifh Phyfician Enlarged. from both Tides of the Balk, fct with frefh green leaves, fomewhat broad and long, about the bigncfs of the leaves of Bafil, finely dented about the edges ; towards the tops of the Balks and branches, come forth at every joint in the male Mercury, two ftnall round, green heads, Banding together upon a fliort foot-Balk, which, growing ripe, are feeds, not having flowers. The female Balk is longer, fpike fafliion, fet round about with imall green hufks, which are the flow- ers, made like fmail bunches of grapes, which give no feed, but abide long upon the Balks without lhcdding. The root is compofed of many fmail fibres, which perifheth every year at the firfl approach of Winter, and rifcth again of its own fowing ; and if once it is fufl'ered to fow itfelf, the ground will never want afterwards, even both forts of it. AVING defcribed unto vou that which is called French Mercury, I come now to Blew you a dcfcription of this kind alfo. D(fcript.~\ This is likewifc of two kinds, male and female, having many Balks Bern er and lower than Mercury, with- out any branches at all u[ on them, the root is fct with two leaves at every joint, fomewhat greater than the female, but more pointed and full of veins, and fomewhat harder in handling ; of a dark green colour, and lcfs dented or flipped about the edges. At the joints with the leaves come forth longer Balks than the former, with two hairy round feeds upon them, twice as big as thofe of the former Mercury. The tafle hereof is herby, and the fmell fomewhat Brong and virulent. The female has much harder leaves Banding upon longer foot-flalks, and the Balks are alfo longer; from the joints come forth fpikes of flowers like the French female Mercury. The roots of them both are many, and full of fmail fibres which run under ground, and mat themfelves Vv ry much, not perilling as the former Mercuries do, but abiding the Winter, and flioot forth new branches every year, for the old lie down to the ground. Place.'] The male and female French Mercury are found wild in divers places in this land, as by a village called Brookland in Rumney-Marfii in Kent. The Dog Mercury in fundry places of Kent alfo, and ellevvhere; but the female more feldom than the male. Dog Mercury. 4 Time.] The Englifh Phyfician Enlarged. 191 Time.) They flower in the Summer months, and therein give their feed. Government and Virtues. ] Mercury, they lay, owns the herb, but I rather think it is Venus’s, and I am partly, con- fident of it too, for I never heard that Mercury ever minded women’s bulinefs fo much : I believe he minds his fiudy more. The decoftion of the leaves of Mercury, or the juice thereof in broth, or drank, with a little lugar put to it, purgeth choleric and waterifh humours. Hippocrates commended it wonderfully for women’s difeafes, and, ap- plied to the fecret parts, to cafe the pains of the mother* and ufed the deeodion of it both to procure women’s courfes and to expel the after-birth; and gave the dccodion thereof with myrrh or pepper, or ufed to apply the leaves outwaici- ly againft the ftranguary, and dileales of the reins and blad- der." He ufed it alfo for fore and watering eyes, and for the deafnefs and pains in the ears, by dropping the juice thereof into them, and bathing them afterwards in white wine. I he decodion thereof made with water and a cock chicken, is a moft fafe medicine againft the hot fits of agues. It alio cleanfeth the breaft and lungs of phlegm, but a little offend'-, eth the ftomach. The juice or diftilled water fnuffed up into the noftrils, putgeth the head and eyes of catarrhs and rheums. Some ufe to drink two or three ounces of the diftil- led water, with a little lugar put to it, in the morning faff- ing, to open and purge the body of grofs, v'ncous, and me- lancholy humours. It is wonderful (if it be not fabulous) which Diofcorides and Theophraftus do relate of it, viz.. That if women ufe thele herbs either inwardly or outwardly for three days together, after conception, and their courfes J be paft, they {hall bring forth male or female children, ac- cording to that kind of herb they ufe. Matthiolus faith, that the feed both of the male and female Mercury boiled with Wormwood, and drank, cureth the yellow jaundice in a fpcedy manner. The leaves or the juice rubbed upon warts taketh them away. The juice mingled with fome vinegar, ; helpeth all running fcabs, tetters, ringworms, and the itch. Galen faith that being applied in manner of a poultice to any : fwelling or inflammation, it digefteth the dwelling, and al-| layeth the inflammation, and is therefore given in clyftcrs to: evacuate from the belly offenlive humours. The Dog Mer- j cury, although it be 'ids ufed, yet may ferve in the fame K 6 manner* 1 92 The Englifli Phyfician Enlarged . manner, to the famepurpofe, to purge waterifli and melan- choly humours. Mint. OF all the kinds of Mint, the Spear Mint, or Heart Mint, being molt ufual, I Ihall only defcribe as follows : Defcript.] Spear Mint hath divers round flalks, and long but narrowifh leaves fet thereon of a dark green colour. The flowers ftand in fpiked heads at the tops of the branches, being of a pale blue colour. The fmell or fcent thereof is fomewhat near unto Bafil ; it encrcafeth by the root under ground, as all others do. Place.] It is an ufual inhabitant in gardens, and becaufe it feldom giveth any good feed, the eflfedts is recompenfed by the plentiful increafe of the root, which being once planted in a garden will hardly be rid out again. Time.] It flowereth not until the beginning of Auguft, for the moft part. Government and Virtues .] It is an herb of Venus. Diof- corides faith it hath a heating, binding, and drying quality, and therefore the juice, taken in vinegar, flayeth bleeding: it ftirreth up vencry or bodily lull; two or three branches thereof taken in the juice of four pomegranates, flayeth the hiccough, vomiting, and allayeth the choler. It difiolveth impoflhumes being laid to with barley-meal. It is good to reprefs the milk in women’s breads, and for fuch as have fwollen, flagging, or great breads. Applied with fait it helpeth the biting of a mad dog; with mead and honied wa- ter it eafeth the pains of the ears, and taketh away the rough- nefs of the tongue being rubbed thereupon. It fuffercth not milk to curdle in the flomach, if the leaves thereof be deeped or boiled in it before you drink it : Briefly it is very profitable to the flomach. The often ufe hereof is a very powerful me- dicine to day women’s courfes and the whites. Applied to the forehead and temples it eafeth the pains in the head, and is good to wafh the heads of young children therewith againdall manner of brcakings-out, fores, or fcabs therein, and healeth the chops of the fundament. It is alfo profitable againfl the poifon or venomous creatures. The diddled wa- ter of Mint is available to all the purpofes aforefaid, yet more weakly. But if a fpirit thereof be rightly and chymically drawn, The Englifh Phyfician Enlarged. 193 drawn, it is much more powerful than the herb itfelf. Simeon Sethi faith, it helpeth a cold liver, ftrengtheneth the bellv, caufeth digeftion, ftayeth vomits and the hic- cough ; it is good againft the gnawing of the heart, pro- voketh appetite, taketh away obftru<5tions of the liver, and flirreth up bodily lull; but therefore too much muft not be taken, becaule it maketh the blood thin and whey- ifh, and turneth it into choler, and therefore choleric perfons mufl abftain from it. It is a fafe medicine for the biting of a mad dog, being bruifed with fait, and laid thereon. The powder of it being dried and taken after meat, helpeth digeftion, and thole that are fplenetic. Taken with wine, it helpeth women in their fore travail in child-bearing. It is good againft the gravel and ftone in the kidneys, and the ftranguary. Being fmelled unto, it is comfortable for the head and memory. The decoftion hereof gargled in the mouth, cureth the gums and mouth that is fore, and mendeth an ill-favoured breath ; as alfo the rue and corian- der, caufeth the palate of the mouth to turn to its place, the decoftion being gargled and held in the mouth. The virtues of the Wild or Horfe-Mint, fuch as grow in ditches (whofe defcription I purpofely omitted, in regard they are well enough known) are efpecially to dilfolve wind in the ftomach, to help the cholic, and thole that are fliort- winded, and are an efpccial remedy for thofe that have ve- nereal dreams and pollutions in the night, being outwardly applied to the tefticles or cods. The juice dropped into the ears eafeth the pains of them, and deftroyeth the worms that breed therein. They are good againft the venomous biting of ferpents. The juice laid on warm, helpeth the king’s evil, or kernels in the throat. The decoction or diftilled water helpeth a {linking breath, proceeding from corruption of the teeth ; and fnuffed up the nofe, purgeth the head. Pliny faith, that eating of the leaves hath been found by experience to cure the leprofy, applying fome of them to the face, and to help the feurf or dandriff of the head ufed with vinegar. They are extremely bad for wounded people; and they fay a wounded man that eats Mint, his wound will never be cured, and that is a long day. Mifleltc, 194 Englifh Phyfician Enlarged, Miffelto. Defcript .] r | ''HIS rJfeth up from the branch or arm of the Jb tree whereon it growcth, with a woody item, putting itfelf into fundry branches, and they again divided into many other fmaller twdgs, interlacing themfelves one within another, very much covered with a greyifh green bark, having two leaves fet at every joint, and at the end likewife, which are fomewhat long and narrow, fmall at the bottom, but broader towards the end. At the knots or joints of the boughs and branches grow fmall yellow flowers, which run into fmall, round, white, tranfparent berries, three or four together, full oi a glutinous moiflure, with a blackifh feed in each of them, which was never yet knowh to fpring, being put into the ground, or any where etfe, to grow. Place.'] It growcth very rarely on oaks with us ; but upon fundry other, as well timber as fruit-trees, plentifully in woody groves, and the like, through all this land. Time. 1 It flowereth in the Spring-time, but the berries are not ripe until October, and abideth on the branches all the Winter, unlefs the black-birds, and other birds, do de- vour them. Government and Virtues.] This is under the dominion of the Sun, I do not queftion ; and can alfo take for granted, that that which grows upon oaks, participates fomething of the nature of Jupiter, becaufe an oak is one of his trees; as alfo that which grows upon pear trees, and apple trees, par- ticipates fomething of his nature, becaufe he rules the tree it grows upon, having no root of its own. But why that fhould have moft virtues that grows upon oaks I know not, unlefs becaufe it is rarefl: and hardeft to come by ; and our college’s opinion is in this contrary to feripture, which faith, God's tender mercies are over all his works ; and fo it is, let the col- lege of phyficians walk as contrary to him as they pleafe, and that is as contrary as the eafl: to the well. Clufius affirms, that which grows upon pear trees to be as prevalent, and gives order, that it fhould not touch the ground after it is gathered ; and alfo faith, that, being hung about the neck, it remedies witchcraft. Both the leaves and berries of Mif- felto do heat and dry, and are of fubtil parts ; the birdlime doth mollify hard knots, tumours, and impoflhumes; ripen- cth and difeufleth them, and draweth forth thick as well as thin The Englifh Phyfician Enlarged. 195 thin humours from the remote parts of the body, digefting and feparating them. And being mixed with equal parts of rotin and wax, doth mollify the hardnefs of the fpleen, and helpeth old ulcers and fores. Being mixed with l'andaric and orpiment, it helpeth to draw off foul nails ; and if quick- , lime and wine lees be added thereunto, it worketh the ftrong- er. The miffelto itfelf of the oak (as the bell:) made into powder, and given in drink to thofe that have the falling- ''ficknefs, doth affuredly heal them, as Matthiolus faith; but it is fit to ufe it for forty days together. Some have fo high- ly efteemed it for the virtues thereof, that they have called it Lignum Sanftce Crucis, Wood of the Holy Crofs, believing it helps the falling-ficknefs, apoplexy and palfy very fpee- dily, not only to be inwardly taken, but to be hung at their neck. Tragus faith, that the frefli wood of any Miffelto bruited, and the juice drawn forth and dropped in the ears that have impoftlnimes in them, doth help and eale them j within a few days. Moneywort, or Herb Twopence. Defiript.] * | 'HE common Moneywort fendeth forth from 1 a fmall thready root, divers long, weak, and {lender branches, lying and running upon the ground two or three feet long, or more, fet with leaves two at -a joint one again!! another at equal diftances, which are almoft round, but pointed at the ends, fmooth, and of a good green colour. At the joints with the leaves from the middle forward come forth at every point fometimes one yellow flower, and fome- times two, {landing each on a fmall foot-ftalk, and made of five leaves, narrow-pointed at the end, with fome yellow threads in fhe miudle, which being pall:, there (land in their places fmall round heads of feed.’ Place.'] It groweth plentifully in almoft all places of this and, commonly in moil! grounds by hedge-fides, and in the m idle of grafs-fields. Time.] They flower in June and July, and their feed is ripe quickly alter. Government and Virtues Venus owns it. Moneywort is Angularly good to ftay fluxes in man or woman, whether they be lafks, bloody-fluxes, orflowingof women’s courfcs. Bleeding inwardly or outwardly, and the weaknef" f f 196 The EngliHi Phyfician Enlarged. \ ftomach that is given to calling. It is very good alfo for the ulcers or excoriations ot the lungs, or other inward parts. It is exceeding good for all wounds, either frefh or green, to heal them fpeedily, and for all old ulcers that are of a fpread- ing nature. For all which purpofes the juice of the herb, or the powder drank in water wherein hot ilcel hath been often quenched; or the decotflion of the green herb in wine or waterdrank, or ufed to the outward place, to wafli or bathe them, or to have tents dipped therein and put into them, are efte&ual. Moonvvort. v Defcript. ] TT rifeth up ufually but with one dark, green, X thick, and flat leaf, Handing upon a fliort foot- flalk, not above two fingers breadth ; but when it flowers it may be laid to bear a fmall flender flalk, about four or five inches high, having but one leaf in the middle thereof, which is much divided on both fides into fometimes five or feven parts on a fide, fometimes more; each of w’hich parts is fmall like the middle rib, but broad forwards, pointed and round, refembling therein a half-moon, from whence it took the name ; the uppermoll parts or divifions being bigger than the lovvefi. The ltalks life above this leaf two or three inches, bearing many blanches of fmall long tongues, every one like the fpiky head of the adder’s tongue, of a brovvnith colour, (which, whether I fliall call them flowers, or the feed, I well know not) which, after they have continued awhjile, re- folve into a mealy duft. The root is fmall and fibrous. This hath fometimes divers fitch like-lcavesj.s are before deferib- ed, with to many branches or tops riling from one ftalk, each divided from the other.* Place.'] Itgroweth on hills and heaths, yet w'here there is much grafs, for therein it delighteth to grow. Time.] It is to be found only in April and May, for in June, when any hot weather cometh, for the moll; part, it is withered and gone. Government and Virtues,] The Moon owns the herb. Moon- wort is cold, and drying more than adder’s tongue, and is therefore helutobemore available for all wounds both inward and outward. The leaves boiled in red wine, and drank, flay the immoderate flux of women’s courfes, and the whites. It The Englifh Phyfician Enlarged. 197 It alfo ftayeth bleeding, vomiting, and other fluxes. It helperh all blows and bruifes, and to confoli date all fradtures and diilocations. It is good for ruptures, but is chiefly ui'ed by mod, with other herbs, to make oils or balfams to heal ficfh or green wounds (as I laid before) either inward or outward, for which it is exceedingly good. Moonwort is an herb which (they lay) will open locks, and unihoe fuch horfes as tread upon it : This fome laugh to (corn, and thole no final 1 fools neither ; but country people, that 1 know, call it Unflioe the Horie. Belides I have heard commanders fay, that on White Down, in Devonlhire, near Tiverton, there were found thirty horfe-fhoes, pulled offfrom the feet of the Earl of Eilex’s horfes, being there drawn up in a body, many of them being but newly lluxl, and no rea« fon known, which caufcd much admiration, and the herb deleribed ufually grows upon heaths. MofTcS. I Shall not trouble the reader with a defcription of thefe, lince my intent is to fpeak only of two kinds, as the moft principal, viz. Ground Mofs and Tree Mofs, both which are very well known. Place.'] The Ground Mofs groweth in our moift woods, and in the bottom oi hills, in boggy grounds, and in fhadowy ditches, and many other fuch-like places. The Tree Mofs groweth only on trees. Government and Virtues.] All forts of Mofles are under the dominion of Saturn. The Ground Mofs is held to be fingu- larly good to break the llone, and to expel and drive it forth by urine, being boiled in wine and drank. The herb, being bruifed and boiled in water, and applied, eafeth all inflam- mations and pains corning from an hot caule; and is there- fore ufed to eafe the pains of the gout. The Tree Mofles are cooling and binding, and partake of a digefting and mollifying quality withal, as Galen faith. But each Mofs doth partake oi the nature of the tree from whence it is taken ; therefore that of the Oak is more binding, and is of good effedt to flay fluxes in men or women ; as alio vo- miting or bleeding, the powder thereof being taken in wine. The clecodtion thereof in wine is very good for women to be bathed, or to lit in, that are troubled with the overflowing of ‘i| 198 the Englifh Phyfician Enlarged. of their courfes. The fame being drank ftayeth the ftomach that is troubled with carting, or the hiccough; and, as Avi- cena faith, it comforteth the heart. The powder thereof taken in drink for fome time together, is thought available for the dropfy. The oil that has had frefh Mofs fteeped therein for a time, and afterwards boiled and applied to the temples and forehead, doth marvel loufly eafe the head-ach coming of a hot caufc ; as alfo the diftillations of hot rheums or humours in the eyes, or other parts. The ancients much ufea it in their ointments, and other medicines, againft the laflitude, and to ftrengthen and comfort the finevv*: For which, if it was good then, I know no reafon but it fiiay be found fo rtill. Motherwort. Defcript.'] HpHIS hath a hard, fquare, brownifh, rough, A ftrong rtalk, rifing three or four feet high at leaft, fpreading into many branches, whereon grow leaves on each fide, with long foot-ftalks, two at every joint, which are fomewhat broad and long, as if it were rough or coupled, with many great veins therein of a fad green colour, and deeply dented about the edges, and almoft divided. From the middle of the branches up to the tops of them ( which are long and fmall) grow the flowers round them at dirtances, in fharp-pointed, rough, hard hufks, of a more red or purple colour than Balm or Horehouud, but in the fame manner or form as the Rorehounds, after which come fmall, round, blaekifh feeds in great plenty. The root fendeth forth a number of long firings, and fmall fibres, taking ftrong hold in the ground, of a dark yellowifh or brownifh colour, and abideth as the Horchound doth ; the fmell of this not much differeth from it. Place. \ It groweth only in gardens with us in England. Government and Pirtues .] Venus owns the herb, and it is under Leo. There is no better herb to take melancholy vapours from the heart, to ftrengthen it, and make a merry, chcarful, blythe, foul than this heib. It may be kept in a fyrup or conferve; therefore the Latins called it Cardiaca. Beiides it makes women joyful mothers of children, and fettles their wombs as they fhould be, therefore we call it Motherwort. It is held to be of much ufe for the trembling of the heart, and huntings and fwoonings ; from whence it took The Englifli Phyfician Enlarged. 199 took the name Cardiaca. The powder thereof, to the quan- tity of a fpoonful, drank in wine, is a wonderful help to wo- men in their fore travail, as alfo for the fuffocating orrifings of the mother, and for thel'e effects it is likely it took the name of Motherwort with us. It all'o provoketh urine and women’s courfes, cleanfeth the cheft of cold phlegm, op- prefling it, killeth worms in the belly. It is of good ufe to warm and dry up the humours, to digeft and difperfe them that are fettled in the veins, joints, and finewsof the body, and to help cramps and convullions. Mou fe- Ear. Defcript.] Ty ^OUSE-Ear is a low herb, creeping upon the ground by fmall firings, like the ft raw - berry plant, whereby it fhooteth forth fmall roots, whereat grow upon the ground many fmall and fomewhat fliort leaves, fet in a round form together, and very hairy, which being broken do give a whitifli milk: From among thefe leaves fpring up two or three fmall hoary ftalks about a fpan high, with a few fmaller leaves thereon: at the tops whereof ftand- eth ufually but one flower, confiding of many pale yellow leaves, broad at the point, and a little dented in, fet in three or four rows (the greater up perm oft) very like a dandelion flower, and a little reddifh underneath about the edges, efpe- cially if it grow in a drv ground ; which, after they have flood long in flower, do turn into down, which, with the feed, is carried away with the wind. Place.'] It groweth on ditch banks, and fometimes in ditches, if they be dry, and in fandy grounds. Time.] It flowereth about fune or fuly, and abideth green all the Winter. Government and Virtues .] The Moon owns this herb alfo; and though authors cry out upon Alchymifts for attc mpting to fix quickfilver by this herb and Moonwort, a Roman would not have judged a thing by the fuccefs ; if it is to be fixed at all it is by lunar influence. The juice thereof taken in wine, or the decodftion thereof drank, doth help the jaun- dice, although of long continuance, to drink thereof morn- ing and evening, and abftain front other drink two or three hours after. It is a fpecial remedy againft the (lone, and the tormenting pains thereof ; as alfo othej- tortures and griping pains of the bowels. The decodtion thereof with Succory and ! | zoo 7he Englifh Phyfician Enlarged and Centaury is held very effectual to help the dropfy, and them that are inclining thereunto, and the difeafes of the fpleen. It ftayeth the fluxes of blood, cither at the mouth or nofe, and inward bleeding alfo, for it is a Angular wound herb for wounds both inward and outward: It hclpeth the bloody-flux, and helpeth the abundance of women’s courfes. There is a fyrup made of the juice thereof, and fugar, by the apothecaries of Italy, and other places, which is of much account with them, to be given to thole that are troubled with the cough or phthilic. The fame alio is Angularly good for ruptures or burftings. The green herb bridled and prefently bound to any cut or wound, doth quickly folder the lips thereof. And the juice, decoftion, or powder of the dried herb is rnoft Angular to flay malignity of lpreading and fretting cankers and ulcers whatfoever, yea, in the mouth and l'ecrct parts. The diddled water of the plant is available in all difeafes afore laid, and to waflt outward wounds and fores, and apply tents of cloths wet therein. Mug wort. Defcrlpt. ] /COMMON Mugwort hath divers leaves lying upon tne ground, very much divided, or cut deeply in abouj .he brims, fomewhat like Wormwood, but much larger, of a dark green colour on the upper Ade, and very hoary white underneath. The ftalk* rile to be four or Ave feet high, having on it l'uch like leaves as thofe below, but fomewhat fmallcr, branching forth very much towards the top, whereon are fet very fmall, pale, ycllowilh flowers like buttons, which fall away, and after them come fmall feeds enclofed in round heads. The root is long and hard, with many fmall flbres growing from -it, whereby it taketh (trong hold on the ground ; but both (talks and leaves do lie down every year, and the root fhooteth anew in the Spring. The whole plant is of a rcalonablc feent, and is more eafily propagated by the flips than the feed. Place. ] It groweth plentifully in many places of this land, by the water-tides; as allb by fmall water-eourfes, and in divers other places. Time.] It flowereth and feedeth in the end of Summer. Government and Virtues.'] This is an herb of Venus, there- fore maintaineth the parts of the body (lie rules, remedies the 201 The Englifh Phyfician Enlarged. the difeafes of the parts that are under her figns Taurus and Libra. Mugwort is with good fuccds put among other herbs that are boiled for women to (it over the hot decoction to draw down their courfes, to help the delivery of their birth, and expel the after-birth. As alfo tor the obftrurtions and inflammations of the mother. It breaketh the Hone, and caufeth one to make water when it is flopped. The juice thereof made up with myrrh, and put under as a pefiary, worketh the fame efforts, and fo doth the root alio. Being maJe up with hog’s greafe into an ointment, ittaketh away wens, and hard knots, and kernels that grow about the neck and throat, and eafeth the pains about the neck more effectu- ally if l'ome field dailies be put with it. The herb itfelf, being freth, or the juice thereof taken, is a fpccial remedy upon the overmuch taking of opium. Three drams of the powder of the dried leaves taken in wine is a fpecdy and the belt certain help for the fciatica. A decoction thereof made with camomile and agrimony, and the place bathed there- with while it is warm, taketh away the pains of the finews, and the cramp. The Mulberry Tree. fg-'HIS is fo well known where it groweth, that it need- J eth no description. Time.'] It beareth fruit in the months of July and Auguft. Government and Virtues.] Mercury rules the Tree, there- fore are its efforts variable as his are. The Mulberry is of different parts ; the ripe berries, by reafon of their fweetnel's and flippery moiffure, opening the body, and the unripe binding it, elpecially when they are dried, and then they are good to flay fluxes, lafks, and the abundance of women’s courfes. The bark ol the root killeth the broad worms in the body. The juice or the fyrup made of the juice of the berries helpeth all inflammations or fores in the mouth, or throat, and palate of the mouth when it is fallen down. The juice of the leaves is a remedy againfl the bi tings of lerpents, and for thofe that have taken aconite. The leaves beaten with vinegar, arc good to lay on any place that is burnt with fire. A decortion made of the bark and leaves is good to wafh the mouth and teeth when they ach. If the root be a little liii; or cut, and a finall hole made in the ground next there- 202 The Englifh Phyfician Enlarged. thereunto, in the harvefl-time, it will give out a certain juice, which, being hardened the next day, is of good ufe to help the tooth-ach, to dillblve knots, and purge the belly. The leaves of Mulberries are faid to flay bleeding at the mouth or nole, or the bleeding of the piles, or of a wound, being bound unto the places. A branch of the tree taken when the Moon is at the full, and bound to the wrilt of a woman’s arm, whofe courfes come down too much, doth flay them in a fliort fpace. Mullein. Defcript.] /COMMON White Mullein hath many fair, V_-4 large, woolly, white leaves, lying next the ground, fomewhat larger than broad, pointed at the end, and as it were dented about the edges. The flalk rifeth up to be four or five feet high, covered over with fuch like leaves, but lefTer, fo that no flalk can be feen for the multitude of leaves thereon up to the flowers, which come forth on all lides of the flalk, without any branches for the moll part, and are many fet together in a long fpike, in fome of a yel- low colour, in others more pale, confifling of five round- pointed leaves, which afterwards have fmall, round heads, wherein is fmall brownifh feed contained. The root is long, white, and woody, perilhing after it hath borne feed. Place.'] It grow'eth by way-lides and lanes, in many places of this land. Time.'] It flowereth in July, or thereabouts. Government and Virtues.] It is under the dominion of Sa- turn. A fmall quantity of the root, given in wrine, is com- mended by Diofcorides againft lalks, and fluxes of the belly. The decodlion hereof drank is profitable for thofe that are burflen, and for cramps and convulfions, and for thofe that are troubled with an old cough. The decoftion thereof gargled eafeth the pains of the tooth-ach. And the oil, made by the often infufion of the flowers, is of very good elfedt for the piles. The deeddtion of the root in red wine, or in water, (if there be an ague) wherein red hot fleel hath been often quenched, doth flay the bloody-flux. The fame alio openeth obltrudtions of the bladder and reins when one cannot make water. A decodlion of the leaves hereof, and of Sage, Marjoram, and Camomile flowers, and the places bathed therewith, that have fmews flift'with cold or cramps, doth The Engllfh Phyfician Enlarged. 203 doth bring them much eafe and comfort. Three ounces of the diftilled water of the flowers drank morning and e\ cmng for fome days together, is laid to be the molt excellent reme- dy for the gout. The juice of the leaves and flowers being laid upon rough warts, alfo the powder of the dried roots rubbed on, doth eafily take them away, but doth no good to fmooth warts. The powder of the dried flowers is an eipe- cial remedy for thofe that are troubled with the belly -ach, or the pains of the cholic. The decoftion of the loot, and io likewil'e ot the leaves, is of great eftedt todifl'olve the tumours, fwellings, or inflammations of the throat. The feed and leaves boiled in wine, and applied, draw forth fpeedily thorns or fplinters gotten into the ttefh, eafe the pains, and heal them alfo. The leaves bruifed and wrapped in double papers, and covered with hot allies and embers to bake awhile, and then taken forth and laid warm on any blotch oi boil hap- pening in the groin or fhare, doth diflolve and heal them. The feed bruifed, and boiled in wine, and laid on any mem- ber that hath been out of joint, and newly let again, taketh away all fwelling and pain thereof. Muftard. Drfcript.] common Muftard hath large and broad rough leaves, very much jagged with une- ven and unorderly gaflies, fomewhat like turnip leaves, but lefler and rougher. The ftalk rifeth to be more than a foot high, and fometimes two feet high,_ being round, rough, and branched at the top, bearing fuch like leaves theieoH as grow below, but leifer, and lefs divided, and divers yellow flowers one above another at the tops, after which come fmall, rough pods, with fmall, lank, flat ends, wherein is contained round yellowifli feed, fliarp, hot, and biting upon the tongue. The root is fmall, long, and woody, when it beareth ualks, and perilheth every year. Place.'] This groweth with us in gardens only, and other manured places. . . Time.] It is an annual plant, flowering in July, and the feed is ripe ir. Augult. # . , Government and P irtues .] It is an excellent lauce tor luen. whofe blood wants clarifying, and for weak ftomachs, being an herb of Mars, but naught for choleric people, though as good for fuch as are aged, or troubled with cold difeafes. 204 The EngliOi Phyfician Enlarged. Aries claims fonrething to do with it, therefore it (lengthens the heart and relitleth poil'on. Let fuch whole ffomachs are 1° weak they cannot digeft their meat, or appetite it, take of Muftard-feed a dram, cinnamon as much, and having beaten them to powder, and halt' as much maftickin powder and with gum arabic diflblved in Rofe-watcr, make it up into troches, of which they may take one of about half a dram weight an hour or two before meals; let old men and women make much of this medicine, and they will either grve me thanks cr fliew manifeft ingratitude. Muftard-feed hath^the virtue of heat, difcuffing, ratifying, and drawing out lphnters of bones, and other things of the flefh. It is of good effect to bring down women’s courfes, for the fall- ing-ficknefs or lethargy, drevvfy forgetful evil, to ufe it -b°j 1 lnw3>'dly and outwardly, to rub the nofoils, forehead, and temples, to warm and quicken the fpirits ; for by the fierce foarpnefs ltpurgeth the brain by fncezing, and draw- nig down rheum and other vifeous humours, which, by their diltillauons upon the lungs and cheit, procure coughing, and therefore, vvirh fome honey added thereto, doth much good therein. The dccodtion of the feed made in wine, and drank, provoketh urine, refifleth the force of poifon’ the malignity of Mufhrooms, and venom of fcorpions or other venomous creatures, if it be taken in timf; and taken before ihe cold fits of agues, altereth, lefleneth, and curcth them. _ 1 he feed taken either by ltlelf, or with other things either m an electuary or drink, doth mightily for up bodfly lull, mid helpeth the fplecn and pains in the lides, and gnawings m the bow e is ; and, ufed as a gargle, draweth up the palate °f the- mouth, being fallen down ; and alfo it diilolvcth the fvvel lings about the throat, if it be outwardly BTS iCVVfcd 111 the m0uth it oftentimes helpeth the tootlj-ach. 1 he outward application hereof upon the pained place of the feiatica, difeufleth the humours, and eafah the pains, as alfo the gout, and other joint achs- and isimich and often ufed to eafe pains in the iides or ’loins Jhcr^fUf ferSV°rK?aer 1>artSJ°f the bod>’’ uPon the applying hcaeot to raife bl.ftcrs, and cureth the difeafe by drawinf t to the outward parts of the body. It is alfo ufed to help the falling oft of the hair. The feed bruifed, mixed with lioncj, , and applied, or made up with wax, taketh away the The Englifh Phyfician Enlarged. £05 the marks and black and blue fpots of bruifes, or the like, the roughnefs or feabbinefs of the lkin, as all'o the leprofy, and loui'y evil. It helpeth all'o the crick in the neck. The di Hilled water of the herb, when it is in the flower, is much ufed to drink inwardly to help in any of the difeafes afore- faid, or to wadi the mouth when the palate is down, and for the difeafes of the throat to gargle, but outwardly alfo for fcabs, itch, or other the like infirmities, and cleanfeth the face from morphew, fpots, freckles, and other deformi- ties. The Hedge-Muftard. Dcfcrlpt .] ^T^IIIS groweth up ufually but with on6 black- JL ifh green ftalk, tough, eafy to bend, but noC to break, branched into divers parts, and fometimes with divers ftalks, let full of branches, whereon grow long, rough, or hard rugged leaves, very much tore or cut on the edges in many parts, fome bigger, and feme lefler, of a dirty green colour. The flowers are fmall and yellow, that grow on the tops of the branches in long fpikes, flowering by degrees ; fo that continuing long in flower, the ftalk will have fmall round pods at the bottom, growing upright and dole to the ftalk, while the top flowers yet (hew themfelves, in which are contained fmall yellow feed, {harp and ftrong, as the herb is alfo. The root groweth down liender and woody, yet abiding and fpringing again every year. Place.] This groweth frequently in this land, by the way and hedge-fides, and fometimes in the open fields. Time.] It flowerelh moft ufually about July. Government and Vi tnes.~\ Mars owns this herb alfo. It is fingulargood in all the difeafes of the chcft and lungs, hoarle- r.efsof voice ; and by the ufe of the decottion thereof for a little fpace, thofe have been recovered who had utterly loft their voice, and almoft their fpii irs alfo. The juice thereof made into a fyrup, or licking medicine, with honey or fugar, is no left, effectual for the fame purpofc, and for all other coughs, wheezing, and fhortnefs of breath. The fame is alfo profitable for thofe that have the jaundice, pleurify, pains in the back and loins, and for torments in the belly, or cholic, being alfo uled in clyfters. The feed is held to be a fpecial remedy againft poilon and venom. It is Angularly good for L the 206 The Engl ifli Phyfician Enlarged. the fciatica, and in joint-achs, ulcers, and cankers in the mouth, throat, or behind the ears, and no lefs for the hard- refs and fwelling of the teilicles, or of women’s breads. Nail wort, or Whitlowgrafs. Defcript..] ? J "'HIS very fmall and common herb hath no 1 roots, fare only a few firings ; neither doth it ever grow to be above a hand’s breadth high, the leaves are very fmall, and fomewhat long, not much unlike thofe of chickweed, among which rife up divers (lender (talks, bearing many white (lowers one above another, which are exceeding fmall ; after which come fmall flat pouches con- taining the feed, which is very fmall, but of a (liarp tatde. Place.'] It grows commonly upon old (lone and brick walls, and fometimes in dry gravelly grounds, efpecially if there be grafs or mofs near to (hadow it. Time.] They flower very early in the year, fometimes in January, and in February •, for before the end of April they are not to be found. Government and Virtues.] It is held to be exceeding good for thofe impodhumes in the joints, and under the nails, which they call Whitlowes, Felons, Andicons and Nail- wheals. Such as would be knowing phyficians, let them read thofe books of mine of the lad edition, viz. Rcverius, .Riolanus, Johnfon, Veflingus, Sennertus. Nep, or Catmint. Pe/c ript.] /COMMON Garden Nep (hootetli forth hard four-fquare flalks, with a hoarinefs on them, a yard high or more, full of branches, bearing at every joint two broad leaves like balm, but longer pointed, fofter, white, and more hoary, nicked about the edges, and of a flrong fweet (cent. The flowers grow in large tufts at the tops of the branches, and underneath them likewife on the flalks many together, of a whitifh purple colour. The roots are com- poled of many long ((rings or fibres, fattening themfelves ltronger in the ground, and abide with green leaves thereon all the Winter. Place.] It is only nurfed up in our gardens. Time.] And it flowereth in July, or thereabouts. Government and Virtues.] It is an herb of Venus. Nep is generally ufed for women to procure their courfes, being taken The Englifh Phyfician Enlarged.. zoj taken inwardly or outwardly, either alone, or with other convenient herbs in a decodtion to bathe them, or fit over the hot fumes thereof ; and by the frequent ule thereof, it takes away barrennefs, and the wind, and pains of the mo- ther. It is alfo uled in pains of the head coming of any cold caufe, catarrhs, rheums, and for fwimming and giddinefs thereof, and is of fpecial ufe for the windinefs of the ftomach and belly. It is effectual for any cramp, or cold achs, to dilfolve cold and wind that afflidtcth the place, and is ufed for colds, coughs, and Ihortnefs of breath. The juice there- of drank in wine, is profitable for thofe that are bruited by an accident. The green herb bruited and applied to the fundament, and lying there two or three hours, eafeth the pains of the piles ; the juice alfo being made up into an oint- ment, is effectual for the fame purpofe. The head waflied with a decodtion thereof, it taketh away fcabs, and may be effectual for other part^ of the body alfo. Nettles. NETTLES are fo well known, that they need no dc- feription ; they may be found by feeling in the dark- , eft night. Government ami Virtues."] This is alfo an herb Mars claims dominion over. You know Mars is hot and dry, and you know as well that Winter is cold and moift ; then you may know as well the reafon why Nettle-Tops eaten in the Spring confumeth the phlegmatic fuperfluities in the body of man, that the coldnels and moiftnefs of Winter hath left behind. The roots or leaves boiled, or the juice of either of them, or both made into an electuary with honey and fugar, is a fafe and lure medicine to open the pipes and panages of the lungs, which is the caufe of wheezing and Ihortnefs of breath, and helpcth to expectorate tough phlegm, as alfo to raife the impofthumed pleurify ; and fpend it by fpitting ; the fame helpcth the fwelling of the- almonds of the throats, the mouth and throat being gargled therewith. The juice is alfo ef- fectual to fettle the palate of the mouth in its place, and to heal and temper the inflammations and forenefs of the mouth and throat. The dccoCtion of the leaves in wine, being drank, is Angularly good to provoke womens courfes, and fettle the fuftbeation, ftrangling of* the mother, and all other L 2 dileafe* 2o$ the Engliili Phyfician Enlarged. difeafes thereof; as alfo applied outwardly with a little myrrh. The fame alfo, or the feed, provoketh urine, and expelleth the gravel and done in the reins or bladder, often proved to be effectual in many that have taken it. The fame killeth the worms in children, eafeth pains in the (ides, and diffolveth the windinefs in the fpleen, as alfo in the body, although others think it only powerful to provoke venery. The juice of the leaves taken two or three days together, ftayeth bleeding at the mouth. The feed be- ing drank, is a remedy againft the flinging of venomous creatures, the biting of mad dogs, the poil'onful qualities of hemlock, henhane, nightfhade, mandrake, or other inch like herbs that flupify or dull the fenfes ; as alfo the le- thargy, efpecially to ule it outwardly, to rub the forehead or temples in the lethargy, and the places ftung or bitten with beads, with a little fait. The didilled water of the herb is alfo effe&ual (though not fo powerful) for the dif- eafes aforefaid ; as for outward wounds and fores to wafh them, and to cleanfe the lkin from morphew, leprofy, and other difeolou rings thereof. The feed or leaves bruifed, and put into the noflrils, llayeth the bleeding of them, and taketh away the flefli growing in them called polypus. The juice of the leaves, or the dccodtion of them, or of the root, is lingular good to wafli either old, rotten, or dinking fores orfiftulas, aud gangrenes, and fuch as fretting eating, or corroding fcabs, manginefs, and itch in any part of the body, as alfo green wounds, by walking them therewith, or applying the green herb bruifed thereunto, yea, although the flefli were leparated from the bones ; the fame applied to our wearied members, refrefli them, or to place thole that have been out of joint, being flrft let up again, flrengtheneth, drieth, and comfortetli them, as alfo thole places troubled with achs and gouts, and the deflubfion of humours upon the joints or fmevvs ; it ealeth the pains, and drieth or dif- folveth the defluftions. An ointment made of the juice, oil, aud a little wax, is Angularly good to rub cold and be- numbed members. An handful of the leaves of green net- tles, and another of Walwort, or Dean wort, bruifed and ap- plied limply themfelves to the gout, fciatica or joint achs in any part, hath been found to be an admirable help thereunto. The Englifh Phyfician Enlarged, 209 Nightfhade. Cefcript,"] COMMON Nightfhade hath an upright, round, green, hollow ihilk, about a toot, or lulr a yard high, bulbing forth in many branches, whereon grow many green leaves, l'omewhat broad, and pointed at the ends, foft and full of juice, fomewhat like unto Brazil, but longer and a little unevenly dented about the edges : At the top3 of the ftalks and branches come forth three or four more white- flowers made of five fmall-pointed leaves a piece, Handing on a ftalk together, one above another, with yellow pointcls in the middle, compoi’ed of four or five yellow threads let toge- ther, which afterwards run into fo many pendulous green berries, of the bignefs of fmall peafe, full of green juice, and fmall whitifn round flat feed lying within it. The root is white, and a little woody when it hath given flower and- fruit, with many fmall fibres at it : The whole plant is of a waterifh infipid tulle, but the juice within the berries is fome- what vifrous, and of a cooling, and binding quality. Place.] It groweth wild with us under our walls, and in rubbifh, the common paths, and Tides of hedges and fields, as al fo in our gardens here in England, without any planting. Time.'] It lit tbs down every year, and rifeth again of its own fovving, but fpringeth not until the latter end of April at the fooneft. Government and Virtues .] It is a cold Saturnine plant. The common Nightfliade is wholly ufed to cool hot inflamma- tions either inwardly or outwardly, being no ways dangerous to any that ufe it, as mod of the reft of the Nightlhades are: yet it muft be ufed moderately. The diftilled water only of the whole herb is fitted: and fafeft to be taken inwardly : the juice alfo clarified and taken, being mingled with a little vinegar, is good to wafh the mouth and throat that is in- flamed : But outwardly the juice of the herbs or berries, with oil of roles, and a little vinegar and cerufe laboured together in a leaden m rtar, is very good to anoint all hot inflamma- tions in the eyes. It alfo doth much good for the fhinglcs, ringworms, and in all running, fretting and coroding ulcers, applied thereunto. A peflary dipped in the juice, and drop- ped into the matrix, ftayeth the immoderate flux of women’s courfes ; a cloth wet therein, and applied to the tellicles or cods, upon fwelling therein, giveth much eafe, alfo to the L 3 gout? 210 The Englifh Phylfician Enlarged. gout that cometli of hot and fharp humours. The juice dropped into the ears, eafeth pains thereof that arife of heat .or inflammations. And Pliny faith, it is good forhotfvvel- lings under the throat. Have a care you miftake pot the Deadly Nightfhade for this ; if you know it not, you may- let them both alone, and take no harm, having other medi- cines fufficient in the book. The Oak. IT is fo well known (the timber thereof being the glory and fafety of this nation by fea) that it lieedeth no dc- icription. Government cind Virtues. ] Jupiter owns the tree. The leaves and bark of the Oak, and the acorn cups, do bind and dry very much. The inner bark of the tree, and the thin ikin that covereth the acorn, are molt ufed to flay the (pitting of blood, and the bloody flux. The decodlkm of that bark, and the powder of the cups, do flay vomitings, (pitting of blood, bleeding at the mouth, or other flux of blood in men or women ; lafk.s alfo, and the involuntary flux of natural feed. The acorn in powder taken in wine, provoketh urine, and refifleth thepoifon of venomous creatures. The decoc- ti m of acorns and bark made in milk and taken, refifleth the force of poifonous herbs and medicines, as alfo the viru- lancy of cantahrides, when one by eating them hath his bladder exulcerated, and pifleth blood. Hippocrates faith, ha ufed the fumes of Oak leaves to women that were troubled with the firangling of the mother; and Galen applied them, being bruifed, to cure green wounds. The diililled water of the Oaken bud, before, they break out into leaves is good to be ufed either inwardly or outwardly, to afluage inflamma- tions, and to flop all manner of fluxes in man or woman. The fame is lingular good in peflilential and hot burning fevers ; for it refifleth the force of the infection, and allayeth the heat : It cooleth the heat of the liver, breaketh the (tone in the kidneys, and flaycth women’s courfes. The decoilioti of the leaves worketh the fame cffcdls. The water that is found in the hollow places of old oaks, is very effcfttial againit any foul or fpreading lcabs. The diililled water for concotflion, (which is better) of the leaves, is one of the bell remedies that I know of fer the whites in women. Oats. 21 1 The Englifh Phyfician Enlarged, Oats. ARE fo well known that they need no defeription. Government and Virtues.] Oars tried with bay 'alt, and applied to the tides, take away the pains ot hitches, and wind in the tides ot the belly. A poultice made ot meal ot Oats, and tome oil of bays put thereunto, helpeth t tie itch and the leprofy, as alfo the itrtulas of the fundament, and dilTolvcth hard impofthutnes. The meal ot Oats boiled with ■vinegar, and applied, taketh away freckles and (pets in the lace, and other parts of the body. One Blade. DeJ'cript .] np HIS final 1 plant never beareth more tha* J$ one leaf, but only where it rifeth up with his (talk, which thereon beareth another, and teldom more, which are a bluifh green colour, pointed, with many ribs or veins therein, like plantain. At the top ot the (talk grow many fmall white flowers, ftar ialhion, fmelling fomewhat fweet ; after which come fmall red berries, when they are ripe. The root is fmall, of the bignefs of a rufh, lying and creeping under the upper crult of the earth, (hooting forth in divers places. Place.'] It groweth in moi(t, fliadowy places, and ift woods, in many parts of this land. Time.] It flowereth about May, and the berries are rip* in June, and then quickly periflieth, until the next year it fpringeth from the fame root again. Cover - men- and Virtues.] It is a precious herb of the Sun. Half a dram, or a dram at mod, in powder of the root* hereof taken in wine and vinegar, of each equal parts, and the party laid prelentiy to fweat thereupon, is held to be a fovereign remedy for thofe that arc infpedted with the plague, and have a fore upon them, by expelling the poifon and in- fection, and defending the heart and fpirits from danger. It is a lingular good wound herb, and is thereupon ufed with other the like effects in many compound balms for curing of wounds, be they frefli and green, or old and malignant, and •Ipecially if the finews be burnt. Orchis. IT hath gotten almoft as many feveral names attributed to the leveral forts ot it, as would almoft fill a (beet of gaper $ as dog-ftones, goat-ftones, fool-ftones, fox-floncs, L 4 fatirion. 212 *the Englifh Phyfician 'Enlarged. i'atirion, cullians, together with many others too tedious to rehearfe. Defcript To dcfcribe all the fevcral forts of it were an cndlefs piece of work ; therefore I fhall only defcribe the roots, becaufe they are to be ufed with fome difcrction. They have each of them a double root within, fome of them are round, in others like a hand ; thefe roots alter every year by courfe, when the one rifeth and waxeth full, the other waxeth lank, and periflieth : Now, it is that which is full which is to be ufed in medicines, the other being either of no ufe at all, or elfe according to the humour of fome, it de- ilroys and difannuls the virtue of the other, quite undoing what that doth. Time.’] One or other of them may be found in flower from the beginning of April to the latter end of Augufl. 'Temperature and Virtues."] They are hot and moift in ope- ration, under the dominion of Dame Venus, and provoke lud exceedingly, which, they fay, the dried and withered roots do re 11 rain. They are held to kill worms in children: as alfo, being bruiled and applied to the place, to heal the king’s evil- Onions. THEY are fo well known, that I need not fpend time about writing a defcription of them. Government and Virtues .] Mars owns them, and they have gotten this quality, to draw any corruption to them, for if you peel one, and lay it upon a dunghill, you {hall find him. rotten in half a day, by drawing putrefaction to it ; then being bruifed and applied to a plague fore, it is verv proba- ble it will do the like. Onions are flatulent, or windy ; yet they do fomething provoke appetite, increafc third, eafe the belly and bowels, provoke women’s courfes, help the biting of a mad dog, and of other venomous creatures, to be ufed with honey and rue, increafc fperm, efpecially the. feed of them. They alfo kill wormS in children if they drink the water fading wherein they have been desped all night. Being roaded under the embers, and eaten with honey, or fugar and ' oil, they much conduce to help an inveterate cough, and ex- peftorate the tough phlegm. The juice being funded up in the noftrils, purgeth the head, and helpeth the lethargy, (yet the often eating them i* laid to procure pains in the head.). It 1 Ihe Englifh Phylician Enlarged. 213. It hath been held by divers country people a great preferva- tivo again ft infedHon, to eat Onions falling with bread and fait : As alfo to make a great Onion hollow, filling the place With good treacle, and after to roaft it well under the em- bers, which, after taking away the outermoft Ikin thereof, being beaten together, is a fovereign falve for cither plague or fores, or any other putrified ulcer. The juice of Onions is good for either fealding or burning by fire, water, or gun- powder, and ufed with vinegar, taketh away all blemifhes, 1'pots, and marks in the Ikin ; and dropped in the cart, ealcth the pains and noife of them. Applied alfo with figs beaten together, htlpeth to ripen and break impollhumcs, and other fores. Leeks arc as as like them in quality, as the pome-water is like an apple : They area remedy againlf a furfeit ox mulh- rooms, being baked under the embers and taken ; and being boiled and applied very warm, help the piles. In other things they have the lame property as the Onions, although not fo effectual. Orpine. Defcript.] /COMMON Orpine rifeth up with divers round brittle (talks, thick fet with flit and flefliy leaves, without any order, and little or nothing dented about the edges, of a green colour : The flowers are white, or whitifh, growing: in tufts, after which come fmall chaffy hulks, with feeds like dull in them. The root are divers thick, round, white tuberous clogs ; and the plant groweth not fo big in fome places as in others where it is found. Placed It is frequent in almoft every county in this land, and is cherifhed in gardens with us, where it groweth greater than that which is wild, and groweth in ihadowy lides of fields and woods. Time.] It flovverth about July, and the feed is ripe in Augitft. Government and Virtues.'] The Moon owes the herb, and he that knows but her exaltation, knows what I fay is true. Orpine is feldom ufed in inward medicines with uS, alrhottgh Tragus faith from experience in Germany, that the diftilled water thereof is profitable for gnawings or excoriations in L 5 the £14 The Englifh Phyfician Enlarged . the flomach or bowels, or for ulcers in the lungs, liver, or other inward parts, as alfo in the matrix, and helpeth all thofe difeafes, being drank for certain days together. It ftayeth the fharpnefs of humours in the bloody-flux, and other fluxes in the body or in wounds. The root thereof alfo performeth the like effect. It is ufed outwardly to cool any heat or inflammation upon any hurt or wound, and cafeth the pains of them; as alfo, to heal fealdings or burnings, the juice thereof being beaten with fome green fallad oil, and anointed. The leaf bruifed and laid to any green wound in the hands or legs, doth heal them quickly; and being bound to the throat, much helpeth the quinfy; it helpeth alfo ruptures and burflennefs. If you pleafe to make the juice thereof into a fyrup with honey or fugar, you may jfafely take a fpoont'ul or two at a time, (let my author fay what he will) fora quinfy, and you fhall find the medicine more pleafant, and the cure more fpeedy, than if you had taken dog’s-turd, which is the vulgar cure. Parfley. THIS is fo well known that it needs no defeription. Government and Virtue r. \ It is under the dominion of Mercury ; is very comfortable to the ftomach ; helpeth to provoke urine and women’s courfes, to break wind both in the flomach and bowels, and doth a little open the body, but the root much more. It openeth obflrudtions both of liver and fpleen, and is therefore accounted one of the five opening roots. Galen commended it againfl the falling-ficknefs, and to provoke urine exceedingly, efpecially if the roots be boiled and eaten like parfnips. The teed is eftedtual to provoke urine and women’s courfes, to expel wind, to break the flone, and eafeth the pains and torments thereof; it is alfo effectual againfl; the venom of any poifonous creature, and the danger that cometh to them that have the lethargy, and is as good againfl the cough. The diflilled water of Parfley is a familiar medicine with nurfes to give their children when they are troubled with wind in the flomach or belly, which they call the frets ; and is alfo much available to them that are of great years. The leaves of Parfley laid to the eyes that are in- flamed with heat, or fwollen, do much help them, if it be ufed with bread and meal ; and being fried with butter, and applied The Englifh Phyfician Enlarged. 115 applied to women’s breafts that are hard through the curdling of their milk, it abaterh the hardnefs quickly, and alfo it taketh away black and blue marks coining of bruifes or falls. The juice thereof, dropped into the ears with a little wine, eafeth the pains. Tragus fetteth down an excellent medicine to help the jaundice and falling-ficknefs, the dropfy, and ftonc in the kidneys, in this manner: Take of the feed of Parfley, Fennel, Annife, and Carraways, of each an ounce, of the roots of Parfley, Burnet, Saxifrage, and Carraways, of each an ounce and an half; let the feeds be bruifed, and the roots wafhed and cut fmall ; let them lie all night in deep, in a bottle of white wine, and in the morning be boiled in a clofe earthen veffel, until a third part or more be wafted; which being drained and cleared, take four ounces thereof, morning and evening, fir ft and lad, abftaining from drink af- * ter it for three hours. This openeth obftrudtions of the liver and fpleen, and expelleth the dropfy or jaundice by urine. Parfley Piert, or Parfley Breakftone. Dcfcript .] * I 'HE root, although it be very fmall and JL thready, yet it continues many years, from whence arife many leaves lying along on the ground, each ftanding upon a long fmall foot-ftalk, the leaves as broad as a man’s nail, very deeply dent don the edges, fomewhatlike a Pariley-leaf, but ot a very dufky green colour. The ftalks are very weak and flender, aboutthrceorfourfingersin length, fet fo full of leaves that they can hardly be feen, either hav- ing no foot-ftalk at all, or but very ftiorj ; the flowers are fo fmall they can hardly be feen, and the feed as fmall as maybe. Place. J It is a common herb throughout the nation, and rejoiceth in barren, fandy, moift places. It may be found plentifully about Hampliead-Heath, Hyde-Park, and in Tothill-Fields. Time. ] It may be found all the Summer-time, even from the beginning of April to the end of October. Government and Virtues, j Its operation is very prevalent to provoke urine, and to break the ftone. It is a very good fallad-herb. It were good the gentry would pickle it up as they pickle up Samphire for their ule all the Winter. I can- not teach them hew to do it, yet this I can tell them, it is a very wholcl'ome herb. They may alfo keep the herb dry, jL 6 or ii6 The Englifh Phyfician Enlarged. or in a fyrup, if they pleafe. You may take a diam of the powder of it in white wine, it would bring away gravel from the kidneys infenfibly, and without pain. It alfo helps the lira ngu ary. Parfnip. THE garden kind thereof is fo well known (the root being commonly eaten) that I fliall not trouble you with any defeription of it. But the wild kind being of more phyfical ufe, I fliall in this place deferibe it unto you. Defer ipt .] The wild Parfnip differeth little from the gar- den, but groweth not fo fair and large, nor hath fo many leaves, and the root is fliorter, more woody, and not fo fit to be eaten, and therefore more medicinal. Place. The name of the firfl flieweth the place of its growth. The other groweth wild in divers places, as in the marfliesby Rochefter, and elfewhere, and flowercth in July; the feed being ripe about the beginning of Auguft, the fecond year after the lowing ; f®r if they do flower the firfl: year, the country people call them Madneps. Government and Virtues .] The garden Parfnips are under Venus. The garden Parfnip nouriflieth’much, and is good and wholefome nourifliment, but a little windy, whereby it is thought to procure bodily luft; but it fatteneth the body much, if much ufed. It is conducible to the ftomach and reins, and provoketh urine. But the wild Parfnip hath a cutting, attenuating, cleanfing, and opening quality therein. It rclifteth and helpeth the biting's of lerpents, eafeth the pains and flitches in the lides, and dillblveth wind both in the flo- mach and bowels, which is the cholic, and provoketh urine. The root is often ufed, but the feed much more. The wild being better than the tame, fliews Dame Nature to be th« heft phyfician. Cow Parfnip. Defcriptf\ ^T^HIS groweth with three or four large, fpread- A winged, rough leaves, lying often on the ground, or elfe railed a little from it, with long, round, hairy foot-flalks under them, parted ufually into five divi- fions, the two couples ftanding each againft the other; and one at the end, and each leaf being alraoft round, yet fome- what The Englifh Phyfician Enlarged. 217 what deeply cut in on the edges in fome leaves, and not fo deep in others, of a whitifli green colour, fmelling foinewhat ftrongly; among which rifeth up a round, crufted, hairy ftalk, two or three feet high, with a tew joints and haves thereon, and branched at the top, where ftand large umbels of white, and Sometimes reddith, flowers, and after them flat, whitifli, thin, winged feed, two always joined together. The root is long and white, with two or three long things growing down into the ground, iinelling likewife ftrongly and unpleafant. Place ] It groweth in moift meadows, and the borders and corners of fields, and near ditches, through this land. Time.'] It flowereth in July, and feedeth in Auguft. Government and Virtues.] Mercury hath the dominion over them. The feed thereof, as Galen faith, is of a fliarp and cutting quality, and therefore is a fit medicine for a cough and fhortnefs of breath, the falling-fickneis, and jaundice. The root is available to all the purpofes aforefaid, and is alio of great ufe to take away the hard (kin that groweth on a fiftula, if it be but feraped upon it. The feed hereof being drank, cleanfeth the belly from tough phlegmatic water therein, cafeth them that are liver-grown, paffions of the mother, as well being drank as the fmoke thereof received underneath, and likewife rifeth fuch as are fallen into a deep Deep, or have the lethargy, by burning it under their nofe. The feed and root boiled in oil, and the head rubbed there- with, helpeth not only thofe that are fallen into a frenzy, but alfo the lethargy or drowfy evil ; and thofe that have been long troubled with the head-ach, if it be likewife ufed with rue. It helpeth alfo the running fcab and the fliinglcs. The juice of the flowers dropped into the ears that run and are full of matter, cleanfeth and healeth them. The Peach Tree. Defcript.] A PEACH Tree groweth not fo great as the f \ Apricot Tree, yet fpreadeth branches rea- fonably well, from whence fpring fmaller reddifli twigs, whereon are fet long and narrow green leaves dented about the edges. The blofloms are greater than the plumb, and of a light purple colour, the fruit round, and fometimes as big as a rcafonable pippin, others linaller, as alio differing 1 1 8 % be Englifh Phyfician Enlarged. 0 in colour, and tafte, as ruffe r, red, or yellow, wateriffi, or firm, with a frize or cotton all over, with a cleft therein like an apricot, and a rugged, furrowed, great ftone within it, and a bitter kernel within the {lone- It fooner waxeth old, and decayeth, than the apricot, by much. Place.'] They arc nurfed in gardens and orchards through this land. Time.] They flower in the Spring, and frudtify in Au- tumn. Gonjcrmncnt and Virtues.] Lady Venus owns this Tree, and by it oppofeth the ill effedls of Mars, and indeed for children and young people, nothing is better to purge cho- ler and the jaundice, than the leaves or flowers of this tree, being made into a fvrup or conferve; let fuch as delight to pleafe their luft regard the fruit, but fuch as have loll their health, and their children’s, let them regard what I fay, they may fafely give two fpoonfuls of the fy- rup at a time; it is as gentle as Venus herfelf. The leaves of Peaches, bruifed and laid on the belly, kill worms; and fo they do alfo being boiled in ale and drank, and open the belly likewife; and being dried is a fafer medicine to difeufs humours. The powder of them {hewed upon frefh bleeding wounds ftayeth their bleeding, and clofeth them up. The flowers fteeped all night in a little wine, Handing warm, ftrained forth in the morning, and drank falling, doth gently open the belly, and move it downward. A fyrup made of them, as the fyrup of rofes is made, worketh more forcibly than that of rofes, for it provoketh vomiting, and fpendeth waterifh and hydropic humours by the continuance thereof. The flowers made into a conferve worketii the fame effedt. The liquor that drop- peth from the tree, being wounded, is given in the de- codlion of Coltsfoot, to thofe that are troubled with the cough or lhortnels of breath, by adding thereunto fome fweet wine, and putting fome iaffron alfo therein. It is good for thofe that are hoarfe, or have loft their voice ; helpcth all detects of the lungs, and thofe that vomit and fpit blood. Two drams hereof given in the juice of le- mons, or of raddifh, is good for them that are troubled with the ftone. The kernels of the ftones do wonderfully eafe the pains and wringings of the belly, through wind or {harp humours, and help to make an excellent medicine for the ftone The Englifti Phyfician Enlarged . ng ftone upon all occafions, in this manner : I take fifty ker- nels of peach- (tones, and one hundred of the kernels of cherry-ftones, a handful of elder flowers frefli or dried, and three pints of mufcadel ; let them in a cloi’e pot into a bed of hori'e dung for ten days, after which diflil it in a glafs with a gentle fire, and keep it for your life : You may drink upon occafion three or four ounces at a time. The milk or cream of thefe kernels being drawn forth with fome vervain water, and applied to the forehead and temples, doth much help to procure reft and fleep to fick perfons wanting it. The oil drawn from the kernels, the temples being therewith anointed, doth the like. The laid oil put into clyfters, ealeth the pains of the wind-cholic ; and anointed on the lower part of the belly, doth the like, and dropped into the ears, eafeth pains in them ; the juice of the leaves doth the like. Being alio anointed on the forehead and temples, it helpeth the megrim, and all other parts in the head. If the kernels be bruifed and boiled in vinegar, until they be- come thick, and applied to the head, it marvelloufly pro- cures the hair to grow again upon bald places, or where it is too tliin. The Pear Tree. PEAR Trees are fo well known, that they need no de- feription. Government and Virtues. ] The tree belongs to Venus, and fo doth the apple tree. For their phyfical ufe they are belt difeerned by their tafte. All the fweet and lulcious forts, whether manured or wild, do help to move the belly downwards, more or lefs. Thofe that are hard and four, do, on the contrary, bind the belly as much, and the leaves do foall'o : Thofe that are moil! do in fome fort cool, but harfh or wild forts much more, and are very good in repel- ling medicines ; and if the wild fort be boiled with nuifh- rooms, it makes them lefs dangerous. The laid Pears boiled with a little honev, helps much the opprefied fto- mach, as all forts of them do, l'ome more, fome lei's , but the hardier forts do more cool and bind, ferving well to be bound in green wounds, to cool and flay the blood, and to heal up the wound without farther trouble, or inflamma- tion, as Galen faith he found it by experience. The wild Pears do fooner clofe up the lips of green wounds than others. Schola 220 7tte Englifli Phyfician Enlarged. Schola Salcrni advifeth to drink- much wine after Pears,- or elfe (fay they) they are as bad as poifon ; nay, and they curie the tree ior it tco ; but if a poor man find his ftomach opp relied by eating Pears, it is but working hard, and it will do as well as drinking wine. Pclliroi v of Sp:'.in. COMMON Piliitory of Spain, if it be planted in our gardens, it will profper very well ; yet there is one fort growing ordinarily hi re wild, which i efteem to be lit- tle inferior to the other, if at all. I fliall not deny you the defer iption of them both. Defcript .] Common Peliitory is a very common plant,- and will not be kept in our gardens without diligent looking to. The root goes down right into the ground, bearing leaves, being long and finely cut upon the- (bilk, lying on the ground, much larger than the leaves of the camomile arc. At the top it bears one fingle large flower at a place, having a border of many leaves, white on the upper fide, and rcddifli underneath, with a yellow thrum in the mid- dle, not (landing fo clofc as that of camomile doth. The other common Peliitory which groweth here, hath a root of a (harp biting tafie, fcarce difcernible bv the tafle from that before deferibed, from whence -a rife divers brittle ftalks, a yard high and more, with narrow long leaves finely dented about the edges, (landing one above another up to the tops. The flowers are many and white, (landing in tufts like tliofe of yarrow, withafmall, yellow i(h thrum in the middle. The feed is very fmall. Place.'] The Lift groweth in fields, in the hedge (ides and paths, almoft every where. Time.] it flowereth at the latter end of June and July. Government and Virtues.] If is under the government of Mercury, and I am perfuaded it is one of the bed purgers of the brain that grows. An ounce of the juice taken in a draught of mufcadel an hour before the fit of the ague comes, it will afl’uredly drive aw'ay the ague at the fecond or third time taking at the fartheft. Either the herb or root dried and chewed in the mouth, purgeth the brain of phlegmatic humours ; thereby not only eaiing pains in the head and teeth, but alfo hindereth the diftilling of the brain upon the lungs and eyes, thereby preventing coughs. The Englifh Phyfician Enlarged. 221 coughs, phthvfics, and confumptions, the apoplexy, and falling-ficknels. It is an excellent, approved remedy in the lethargy. The powder of the herb or root being fnulied up the nollrils, procureth freezing, and eafcth the head-ach; being made into an ointment with hog’s-greafe, it takes away black and blue fpots occalioned by blows or falls, and helps both the gout and fciatica. Pellitory of the Wall. Defcriptg TT rifeth with brownifh, red, tender, weak, A clear, and alrnoft tranfparent, ltalks, about two feet high, upon which grow at the joints two leaves fomewhat broad and long, of a dark green colour, which afterwards turn brownifh, finooth on the edges, but rough and hairy, as the (talks are alio. At the joints with the leaves from the middle of the (talk upwards, where it fpread- eth into branches, (land many fmall, pale, purplifh flow- ers in hairy, rough heads, or hulks, after which come fmall, black, rough feeds, which will (tick to any cloth or gar- ment that fhall touch it. The root is fomewhat long, with fmall fibres thereat, of a dark, reddifh colour, which abideth the Winter, although the flalks and leaves perifh and fpring every year. Placed] It groweth wild generally through the land, about the borders of fields, and by the fides of walls, and among rubbifh. It will endure well being brought up in gardens, and planted on the fhady fide, where it will fpring of its own lowing. Time .] It flowereth in June and July, and the feed is ripe foon after. Government and Tirtuesd] It is under the dominion of Mercury. The dried herb Pellitory made up into an electuary with honey, or the juice of the herb, or the de- codtion thereof made up with fugar or honey, is a fingular remedy for an old or dry c nigh, the fhortnefs of breath, and wheezing in the throat. Three ounces of the juice thereof taken at a time, doth wonderfully help flopping of the urine, and to expel the done or gravel in the kidneys or bladder, and is therefore ufually put among other herbs ufed in clyflcrs to mitigate pains in the back, fides, or bowels, proceeding of wind, flopping of urine, the gravel *r (tone, as aforefaid. If the bruited herb, fprinkieu with fome 222 The Eng] i Hi Phyfioian Enlarged. fomc mufcadel, be warmed upon a tile, or in a difh upon a few quick coals in a chafing-difh, and applied to the belly, it worketh the fame efiedf, J he decodlion of the herb, being drank, eafeth pains of the mother, and bringeth down wo- men’s courfes : it alfo eafeth thofe griefs that arile from ob- ' o _ m llrudtions of the liver, fpleen, and reins. The fame decocti- on, with a little honey added thereto, is good to gargle a fore throat. Thejuice, held a while in the mouth, eafeth pain* in the teeth. The diftilled water of the herb, drank with fomefugar, worketh the fame effects, and clean feth the Ik in from fpots, freckles, purples, wheals, fun-burn, morph cw, &c. The juice, dropped into the ears, eafeth the noife in them, and taketh away the pricking and {hooting pains there- in; The fame, or the diftilled water, affuageth hot and fwel- ling impofthumes, burnings, and fealdingsby fire or water; as alfo all other hot tumours and inflammations, or breakings- out of heat, being bathed olten with wet cloths dipped there- in: The faid juice, made into a liniment with ceruie, and oil ofrofes, and anointed therewith, cleanfeth foul rotten ulcers, and ftayeth fpreading or creeping ulcers, and running fcab* or fores in children’s heads ; and hclpeth to flay the hair from falling off the head: The faid ointment, or the herb applied to the fundament, openeth the piles, and eafeth theirpains; and, being mixed with goat’s tallow, helpeth the gout : The juice is very effectual to eleanfc fiflulas, and to heal them up iafely ; or the herb itfelf bruifed and applied with a little fait. It is alfo cffe&ual to heal any green w< und, it it be bruifed and bound thereto, for three days, you flu.il need no other medicine to heal it further. A poultice made hereof, with mallows, and boiled in wine, and wheat, bran, and bean flower, and fume oil put thereto, and applied warm to any bruifed it news, tendon, or m'ufcle, doth in a very fhovt time reflore them to their flrength, taking away the pains of the bruifes, and diflolveth the congealed blood coining of blows, or falls from high places. The juice of Peliitory of the Wall, clarified and boiled in a fyrup v ith honey, and a fpoonful of it drank eveiy morning by fuch as are fubjedt to thedropfv ; if continuing that courfe, though but once a week, if ever they have the diopiy, let them come but to ms, and I will cute them gratis. Penny- The Englifh Phyfician Enlarged. 223 Pennyroyal. T) ENNYROY AL is fowell known unto all, I mean the Td common kind, that it needeth no dcfcription. There is a greater kind than the ordinary fort found wild with us, which fo abideth being brought into gardens, and differeth not from it, but only in the largenefs of the leaves and ftalks, in riling higher, and not creeping upon the ground fo much. The flowers whereof are purple, growing in rundles about the ftalks like the other. Place."] The firft, which is colftuon in gardens, groweth alfo in many moiftand watery places of this land. The fecond is found wild in effeft in divers places by th® highways from London to Colchcfler, and thereabouts, mors abundantly than in any other counties, and is alfo planted in their gardens in Ellex. Time.] They flower in the latter end of Summer, about Auguft. Government and Virtues.] The herb is under Venu3. Diolcorides faith that Pennyroyal maketh thin tough phlegm, warmeth the coldnefs of any part whereto it is applied, and digefteth raw or corrupt matter: Being boiled, and drank, it provoketh women’s courfes, and expclleth the dead child and after-birth, and ftayeth the difpofition to vomit, being taken in water and vinegar mingled together. And being mingled with honey and fait, it voideth phlegm out of the lungs, and purgeth melancholy by the ftool. Drank with wine, it helpeth fuch as are bitten and ftung with venomous bcafts, and applied to the noftrils with vinegar reviveth thofe that are fainting and fwooning. Being dried and burnt, it ftrengtheneth the gums. It is helpful to thole that ar® troubled with the gout, being applied of itfelf to the place until it was red, and applied in a plaftcr it takes away lpots or marks in the face, applied with (alt it profiteth thofe that are fplenetic, orliver-grown. The decoction doth help the itch, it walhed therewith; being put into baths tor women to lit therein, it helpeth the l'wellings and hardnefs of the mother. The £reen herb bruifed, and put into vinegar, cleanfeth foul ulcers, and taketh away the imtrks or bruifes and blows about the eyes, and all difcolourings of the face by fire, yea, and theleprofy, being drank and outwardly applied: Boiled in wine, with honey and fait, it helpeth the tcoth-ach. It helpeth 224 The Englifli Phyfician Enlarged. helpeth the cold griefs of the joints, taking away the pains, and warmeth the cold part, being faff bound to the place, after a bathing or fweacing in an hot houfe. Plinv addeth that Pennyroyal and Mints together help faintings, being put into vinegar, and fmelled unto, or put into the noftrils or mouth. It eafeth head-achs, pains of the breaft and belly, and gnawings cf the ttomach ; applied with honey, fait, and vinegar, it helpeth cramps, or convulfion* of the linews: Boiled in milk, and drank, it is effectual for the cough, and for ulcers and lores in the mouth ; drank in wine it provoketh women's courts, and expelleth the dead child and after-birth. Matthiolus faith, The decodtion thereof being drank, helpeth the jaundice and dropfy, all pains of the head and linews that come of a cold caufe, and cleareth the eye-light. It helpeth the lethargy, and applied with barley-meal, helpeth burnings; and put into the ears ealettv the pains of them. Male and Female Peony. Defcript."] If ALE Peony rifeth up with brownifli ffalks, whereon grow green and reddifh leaves, upon a ftalk without any particular divifion in the leaf at all. The flowers fland at the top of the ftalks, confiding of five or fix broad leaves, of a fair purplifli red colour, with many yellow threads in the middle Handing about the head, which after rifeth up to be the feed veflels, divided into two, three, or four crooked pods like horns, which being full ripe open and turn themlelves down backward, {hewing within them divers round, black, fhining feeds, having alfo many crimfon grains, intermixed with black, whereby it maketh a very pretty fliew. The roots are great, thick, and long, fpread- ing and running down deep into the ground. The ordinary Female Peony hath as many flalks, and more leaves on them, than the Male; the leaves not fo large, but nicked on the edges, fome with great and deep, others with fmaller cuts and divifions, of a dead green colour. The flowers arc of a Along heady feent, ufually- fmaller, aineof a more purple colour than the Male, with yellow thrums about the head, as the Male hath . The feed veflels are like horns, as in the Mile, but fmaller, the feed is black, but lei's Alin- ing. The roots contifl of many (hurt tuberous clogs, fattened at The Englifti Phyficinn Enlarged. 225 at the end of long firings, and all from the heads of the roots, which is thick and fliort, and of the like Icent with the Male. Place and Time.] They grow in gardens, and flower ul’u- ally about May. 'Government ami T'irtues .] It is an herb of the Sun, and under the Lion. Phyiici.ms lay, Male Peony roots are bell; but Dr. Reafon told me Male Peony was belt for men, and Female Peony for women, and he detircs to be judged by his brother Dr. Experience. The roots are held to be of more virtue than the feed ; next the flowers, and, lafl of all, the leaves. The root of the Male Peony, frelh gathered, having been found by experience to cure the falling- licknefs ; but the Cured way is, betides hanging it about the neck, by which children have been cured, t» take the root of the M de Peony walhed clean, and damped fomewbat (mail, and laid to in- fufe in lack tor 24 hours, at the lead, afterwards drain it, and take it firfl and lad morning and evening, a good draught for l'undry days together, before and after a full moon, and this will all'o cure older perfons, if the difeafe be not grown too old, and pad cure, efpeciaily if there be a due and or- derly preparation of the body with pofi'ct drink made of be- tony, &c. The root is alfo effcftual tor women that are not fufhciently clean fed after child-birth, and fuch as are troubled with the mother ; for which likewife the black feed beaten to p. wder, and given in wine, is alfo available. The black feed alfo taken before bed-time, and in the morning, is very effectual for fuch as in their deep are troubled with the dif- eafe called Ephialte, or Incubus ; but we do commonly call it the night-mare; a difeafe which melancholy perfons are fubjeft unto: It is alio good again It melancholy dreams. The didi lied water or fyrup, made of the dowers, worketh the fame effects that the root and the feed do, although more weakly. The Female is often ufed for the purpolcs afore- laid, by reafon the Male is fo Icarce a plant, that it is pof- fed'ed by few, and thole great lovers of rarities in this kind. Pepperwort, or Dittander. Dcfcript ] ^\UR common Pepperwort fendeth forth fomewbat long and broad leaves, of a light bluifli, greenifh colour, finely dented about the edges, and 226 The Englifh Phyfician Enlarged. and pointed at the ends, {landing upon round hard fialks, three or four feet high, fpreading many branches on all fides, and having many l'mall white flowers at the tops of them, after which follow fmall feeds in fmall heads. The root is {lender, running much under ground, and {hooting up again in many places, and both leaves and roots are very hot and {harp of tafte, like pepper, for which caufe it took the name. Place.] It grovveth naturally in many places of this land, as at Clare in i'.flex ; alfo near unto Exeter in Devonfhire; upon Rochefter Common in Kent; in Lancafliire, and di- vers other places ; but ulually kept in gardens. ’Time.] It flpwercth in the end of June, and in July. Government and Virtues .] Here is another martial herb for you, make much of it. Pliny and Paulus iEgineta fay, that Pepperwort is very fuccefsiul for the fciatica, or any other gout or pain in the joints, or any other inveterate grief: The leaves hereof to be bruifed, and mixed with old hog Vgreafe, and applied to the place, and to continue there- on four hours in men, and two hours in women, the place being afterwards bathed with wine and oil mixed together, and then wrapt up with wool or {kins, after they have fweat fpL little. It alfo amendeth the deformities or difcolourings of the {kin, and helpeth to take away marks, fears, and fcabs, or the foul marks of burning with fire or iron. The juice hereof is by fome ufed to be given in ale to drink to women with child, to procure them a fpcedy delivery in travail. Periwinkle. T)cfc ript.1 r_T‘ b* 232 The EnglilTi Fhyfician Enlarged. be cured, and for cankers and fores in the mouth or privy parts ot man or woman ; and helpeth alfo the pains of the piles in the fundament. The juice mixed with oil of rofes, and the temples and forehead anointed therewith, eafeth the pains of the head proceeding from heat, and helpeth lunatic and frantic perfons vervT much ; as alfo the biting ot ferpents, or a mad dog. The lame alfo is profitably applied to all hot gouts in the feet or hands, efpecially in the beginning. It is alfo good to be applied where any bone is out of joint, to hinder inflammations, fwellings, and pains that prefently rife thereupon. The powder of the dried leaves taken in drink, killeth worms of the belly ; aud boiled in wine, killeth worms that breed in old and foul ulcers. One part of Plantain water, aud two parts of the brine of powdered beef, boiled together and clarified, is a moll fure remedy to heal all fp reading fcabs or itch in the head and body, all manner of tetters, ringworms, the fhin- gles, and all other running and fretting fores. Briefly, the Plantains are Angularly good wound herbs to heal frelh or old wounds or fores, either inward or outward. Plums ARE fo well known, that they need no defeription. Govervmcjit and f^irtues.~\ All Plums are under Venus, and are like women, fome better, fome worfe. As there is great diverhty of kinds, fo there is in the operation of Plums, for feme that are lwcet moiften the flomaeh, and make the belly foluble ; thole that are four quench thirfl more, and bind the belly ; the moift and waterilh do fooner corrupt in the flomaeh, but the firm do nourifli more, and offend lei's. The dried fruit fold by the grocers under the name of Damalk Prunes, do fomewhat loofen the belly, and being ftewed, are often ufed, both in health and ficknels, to relilh the mouth and flomaeh, to procure appetite, and a little to open the body, allay choler, and cool the flomaeh. Plum-tree leaves boiled in wine, are good to wrafh and gargle the mouth and throat, to dry the flux of rheum coming to the palate, gums, or almonds of the ears. The gum of the tree is good to break the flone. The gum or leaves boiled in vinegar and applied, kills tetters and ringworms. Mat- thiolus faith, the oil prefled out of the kernels of the flone, as oil of almonds is made, is good againft the inflamed piles, 4 and The Englifh Phyfician Enlarged. 233 and tumours or fwellings of ulcers, hoarfenefs of the voice, roughnefs of the tongue and throat, and likewife the pains in the ears. And that five ounces of the laid oil taken with one ounce of mulcadel, driveth forth the ilone, and helpeth the cholic. Polypody of the Oak. Dcfcript.] *~I-' HIS is a fmall herb confiding of nothing J but roots and leaves, bearing neither flalk, flower, nor feed, as it is thought. It hath three or four leaves rifing from the root, every one Angle by itfelf, of about a hand’s length, are winged, confiding of many fmall, narrow leaves, cut into the middle rib, Handing o» each fide of the fialk, large below and frnaller up to the top, not dented nor notched at the edges at all, as the male fern hath, of a fad green colour, and lmooth on the upper fide, but on the other fide fomewhat rough by reafon of fome yellowifh fpois fet thereon. The root is frnaller than one’s little finger, lying afiope, or creeping along under the upper cruft of the eaith, brownifh on the outfide and greenilh within, of a fwectifh harflinei's in tafte, fet with certain rough knags on each fide thereof, having alfo much moffinefs or yellow hairinefs upon it, and fome fibres under- neath it, whereby it is nourifhed. j Place.] It groweth as well upon old rotten dumps, or trunks of trees, as oak, beech, hazel, willow, or any other, as in the woods under them, and upon old mud walls, as alfo in mofiy, lloney, and gravelly places near unto wood. That which groweth upon oak is accounted the bell; but the quantity thereof is lcarce fufficient for the common ufe. Time.] It being always green, may be gathered for ufe at any time. Government ami Virtues.] And why, I pray, mu ft Poly- podium of the Oak only be ufed, gentle college of phy- fieians ? Can you give me but a glimpfe of reafon for it ? It is only bccaufe it is deareft. Will vou never leave your covetouinefs till your lives leave you ? The truth is, that which grows upon the earth is bed: (’tis an herb of Saturn, and he feldom climbs trees) to purge melancholy ; if the humour be otherwife, chufc your Polypodium accordingly. Meufe (who is called the phyfician’s evangelift for the certainty of his medicines, and the truth of his opinion) M 3 faith. 234 *rhe Englifh Phyfician Enlarged. faith, that it drieth up thin humours, digeflcth thick and tough, and purgeth burnt choler, and efpecially tough and thick phlegm, and thin phlegm alfo, even from the joints, and therefore good for thofe that are troubled with melan- choly, or quartan agues, efpecially if it be taken in whey or honied water, or in barley water, or the broth of a chicken with epithymum, or with beets and mallows. It is good for the hardnefs of the fplecn, and for prickings or Hitches in the fides, as alfo for the cholic: Some ufe to put to it fome fennel feeds, pr annife feeds, or ginger, to cor- rect that loathing it bringeth to the flomach, which is more than needeth, it being a lafe and gentle medicine, fit for all perfons, which daily experience confirmeth ; and an ounce of it may be given at a time in a decodtion, if there be not fena, or fome other flrong purger put with it. A dram or two of the powder of the dried roots taken falling in a cup of honied water worketh gently, and for the purpofes aforefaid. The diflilled water, both of roots and leaves, is much more commended for the quartan ague, to be taken for many days together, as alfo againll melan- choly, or fearful and troublefome fleeps or dreams ; and with fome fugar-candy diffolvcd therein, is good againll the cough, fhortnefs of breath, and wheezings, and thofe dif- tlllations of thin rheum upon the lungs, which caule phthi- fics, and oftentimes confumptions. The frefli roots beaten fmall, or the powder of the dried roots mixed with honey, and applied to the member that is out of joint, doth much help it ; and applied alfo to the nofc, cureth the difeafe vailed Polypus, which is a piece of flefh growing therein, which in time floppeth the palfage of breath through that noflril ; and it helpeth thofe clefts or chops that come be- tween the fingers or toes. HERE are two forts of Poplars which are mofl fami- liar with us, viz. the Black and White, both which I fliall here deferibe unto you. Defcript.'] The White Poplar groweth great, and rea- fonably high, covered with thick, fmooth, white bark efpecially the" branches, having long leaves cut into fevera divifions almoft like a vine leaf, but not of fo deep a green on the upper fide, and hoary white uaderncatb, of a rca- The Poplar Tree. fonabl« ihe Englifh Phyfician Enlarged. 235 ibnable good feent, the whole form reprefenting the form of Coltsfoot. The catkins which it bringeth forth before the leaves, are long, and of a faint rcddillt colour, which fall away, bearing feldom good feed with them. The wood hereof is linooth, loft, and white, very finely waved, where- by it is much efteemed. The Black Poplar groweth higher and firaightcr than the W hite, with a greyilh bark, bearing broad green leaves, fomewhat like ivy leaves, not cut in on the edges like the White, but whole and dented, ending in a point, and not white underneath, hanging by llender long jbot-llalks, which with the air are continually fliaken like as the afpen leaves arc. The catkins hereof are greater than thole of the White, compofed of many round green berries, as if they were fet together in a long duller, containing much downy matter, v hich being ripe, is blow'n away with the wind. The clam- my buds hereof, before they lpread into leaves, are gathered to make Unguentum Populneum, and are of a yellowilh green colour, and fmall, fomewhat fw'eet, but ftrong. The wood is fmooth, tough, and white, and eafy to be cloven. On both thefc trees groweth a fvveet kind of mufk, which in former times was ufed to put into fvveet ointments. Place.'] They grow in moift woods, and by water-fides in fundry places of this land; yet the white is not fo frequent as the other. Time.] Their time is likewife exprefled before. The cat* kins coming forth before the leaves in the end of Summer. Government and Virtues.] Saturn hath dominion over both. White Poplar, faith Galen, is of a clcanfing pro- perty : The weight of one ounce in powder of the bark thereof being drank, faith Diofcoridcs, is a remedy for thole that arc troubled with the fciatica, Or the ftranguary. The juice of the leaves dropped warm into the ears, cafeth the pains in them. The young clammy buds or eyes, before they break out into leaves, bruifed, and a little honey put to them, is a good medicine for a dull fight. The Black Poplar is held to be more cooling than the White, and theretore the learves bruifed with vinegar and applied, help the gout. The feed drank in vinegar, is held good again ft the tailing ficknefs. The water that droppeth from, the hollow places of this tree, taketh away warts, pullies,, wheals, and other the like breakings out of the body. The M 4 young "3 ^ The Iinglifh Phyfician Enlarged . young Black Poplar buds, faith Mstthiolus, are much ufed bv women to beautify their hair, bruifing them with frefh uter, In aining them after they have been kept for fome •!™e\n th( 1,he °“t,nent caIled Populncum, which s made of this I oplar, is Angularly good for all heat and nfianmations in any part of 'the body, and tempereth the is n,uich ufcd to dr>' i,p mnk ^ omen s breads, when they have weaned their children. Poppy. 0FJ,his. 1 deferibe three kinds, viz. the White and ■Hlack of the garden, and the Erratic Wild Poppy, ore ;rn Kofe. trvj* Deja-iptg The White Poppy hath at firfl four or five whitifh green leaves lying upon the ground, which rife with , "ilk» compaUing it at the bottom of them, and are very T''ifennnUCh f”t,0.r t0™ °n th‘J edSes’ and dented alfo befides : I he ltalk, which is ufually four or five feet high, hath fome- timcs no branches at the top, and ufually but two or three at molt, bearing every one but one head wrapped up in a thin , n’ ™hlch boweth down before it is ready to blow, and then nfing, and being broken, the flower within it fpreading , 1 °Pcn.» and conliflmg of four very large, white, round •leaves, with many whitifli round threads in the middle, let about a lmall, round, green head, having a crown, or itar-hke coyer at the head thereof, which growing ripe, be- comes as large as a great apple, wherein are contained a gieat number of fmall round fends in feveral partitions or mfions next unto the flicll, the middle thereof remaining hoLow and empty. The whole plant, both leaves, italks&, aiid heacs, while they are frefli, young, and green, yield a milk when they are broken, of an unpleafant, bitter tafle, almo t ready to provoke calling, and of a llrong heady fmell which being condcnfate, is called Opium. The root is white and woody, perifliing as foon as it hath given ripe feed. I he Black Poppy little differcth from the former, until it bcareth its flower, which is fomewhat lefs, and of a black purphfli colour but without any purple fpots in the bottom of the leaf. The head of the feed is much lefs than the for- mer, and openeth itfelf a little found about the top, under the crown, fo that the feed, which is Very black, will fall out, if one turn the head thereof downward. The The Englifh Phyfician Enlarged. 237 The Wild Poppy, or Corn Rofe, hath long and narrow leaves, very much cut in on the edges into many diviiions, of a light green colour, fometimes hairy withal: The fttalk is blackifh and hairy alfo, but not lb tall as the garden-kind, having fome fuch-like leaves thereon to grow below, parted into three or four branches fometimes, whereon grow fmall hairy heads bowing down before the Ikin break, wherein the flower is enclofed, which when it is full blown open, is of a fair vellowilh red or crimfon colour, and in fome much paler, without any fpot in the bottom of the leaves, having many black foft threads in the middle, compaffing a fmall green head, which when it is ripe, is not bigger than one’s little finger’s end, wherein is contained much black feed, fmaller by half than that of the garden. The root perifheth every year, and fpringeth again of its own fowing. Of this kind there is one lelfer in all the parts thereof, and dil- fercth in nothing ell'e. Place.'] The garden kinds do not naturally grow wild in any place, but are all fovvn in gardens where they grow. The Wild Poppy, or Corn Rofe, is plentiful enough, and many times too much in the corn fields of all counties through this land, and alfo upon ditch bank?, and by hedge lides. The fmaller wild kind is alfo found in corn fields, and alfo in fome other places, but not fo plentiful as the former. Time.] The garden kinds are ufually fovvn in the Spring, which then flower about the end of May, and fomewhat earlier, if they fpring of their own fowing. The Wild kind flower ufually from May until Julv, and the feed of them is ripe foon after the dowering. Government and Virtues-] The herb is Lunar, and of the juice of it is made opium ; only for lucte of money they cheat you, and tell you it is a kind of tear, or fome .fuch like thing, that drops from poppies when they weep, and that is fomewhere beyond the feas, I know not where, be- yond the Moon. The garden poppy heads with feed* made into a fyrup, is frequently, and "to good effedf, ufed to procure reft, and fleep, in the lick and weak, and to ftay catarrhs and defludtions of thin rheums from the head into the ftomach and lungs, cauling a continual cough, the fore-runner of a confumption ; it belpeth alfo hoarfe- jiefs of the throat, and- when one hath loft their voice, M 5 whioh z3$ T’hc Englifh Phyfician Enlarged. which the oil of the feed doth likewife. The black feed boded in wine, and drank, is faid alfo to flay the flux of the belly, and women’s courfes. The empty ihells, or poppy heads, are ufually boiled in water, and given to piocure reft and fleep: So do the leaves in the fame man- ner; as alfo if the head and temples be bathed with the decoction warm, or with the oil of poppies, the green leaves or heads bruifed, and applied with a little vinegar, or made into a poultice with barley meal or hoy’s greafe eooleth and tempereth all inflammations, as alfo the difeafe called St. Anthony’s fire. It is generally ufed in treacle and mithridate, and in all other medicines that are made to procure reft and fleep, and to eafe pains in the head as well as in other parts. It is alfo ufed to cool inflammations, agues, or frenzies, or to flay deflations which caufe a cough, or confumption, and alfo other fluxes of the belly or women s courfes j it is alfo put into hollow teeth, to eafe’ the pain, and hath been found by experience to eafe the pains of the gout. . The Wild Poppy, or Corn Rofe (as Matthiolus faith) t0/revenl th£: filing fieknefs. The fyrup made *ith Vle 13 with good effeeft given to thole that have the pleunfy ; and the dried flowers alfo, either boiled lVna!fr’ °r mare,int° Powde* and drank, either in the blc pi?atxi°f lvanu j°r fome °ther drink> worketh the like effect. 1 he di failed water of the flowers is held to be of much good, ufe againft furfeits, being drank evening and morning : It is alfo more cooling than any of the other poppies, and therefore cannot but be as effe&ual in hot agues frenzies,. and other inflammations either inward or outward! l^alcn laith, the feed is dangerous to be ufed inwardly. Purflane. GARDEN Purflane (being ufed as a fallad herb; is fo well known that it needeth no defeription • I fhall theiefoie only fpeak of its virtues as followeth. Government and Virtues.] ’Tis an herb of the Moon It 2 S°°? t0 cp?1 any heat the liver, blood, reins,' and Itomach, and in hot agues nothing better : It ftayeth hot and choleric fluxes of the belly, women’s* courfes, the whites, and gonorrhoea, or running of the reins, the diftil- huion from the head, and pains therein proceeding from heat, The Englifh PTiyfician Enlarged. 239 heat, want of fleep, or the frenzy. The feed is more effec- tual than the herb, and is of Angular good ufe to cool the heat and fharpnefs of urine, and the outrageous luff of the body, venereous dreams, and the like : Infomuch that the over frequent ufe hereof extinguiflieth the heat and virtue of natural procreation. The feed br ailed and boiled in wine, and given to children, expelleth the worms. The juice of the herb is held effeaual to all the purpofes aforefaid ; a# alfo to flay vomitings, aud taken with fome fugar or honey, helpeth an old and dry cough, fliortnefs of breath, and the phthific, and ftayeth immoderate thirft. The diftilled water of the herb is ufed by many (as the more pleafing) with a little fugar to work the fame effedfs. The juice alfo is An- gularly good in the inflammations and ulcers in the fecret parts of man or woman, as alfo the bowels and haemorrhoids, when they are ulcerous, or excoriations in them : The herb bruifed and applied to the forehead and temples, allays ex- ceflive heat therein, that hinders reft and fleep; and applied to the eyes, taketh away the rednefs and inflammation m them, and thofe other parts where pufties, wheals, pimples, St. Anthony’s fire, and the like, break forth; if a little vinegar be put to it, and laid to the neck, with as much of o-nlls and linfeed together, it taketh away the pains therein, and the crick in the neck. The juice is ufed with oil of rofes for the fame caufes, or for blafting by lightning, and burnings by gunpowder, or for women’s fore brefts, and to allay the heat in all other fores or hurts; applied alfo to the navels of children that flick forth, it helpeth them ; it is alfo good for fore mouths and gums that are fwollen, and to fatten loofe teeth. Camerarius faith, that the dis- tilled water ufed by fome, took away the pain of their teeth, when all other remedies failed, and the thickened juice made into pills with the powder of gum tragacanth. and arabick, being taken, prevaileth to help thole that make bloody water. Applied to the gout it eafeth pains thereof, and helpeth the hardnefs of the iincws, if it come not of the cramp, or a cold caufe. Primrofes. THEY are fo well known, that they need no defeription. Of the leaves of the Primrofes is made as fine a uilve to heal wounds as any that I know j you fliall be taught to M fe make 240 The Englifh Phyfician Enlarged. make falves of any herb at the latter end of the book : make his as you are taught there, and do not (you that have anv ngenunv in you) lee your poor neighbours, go with wounded limbs when an halfpenny coil will heal them. Privet. common Trivet is carried up with many . nendcr branches to a reafonable height and breadth, to cover arbours, bowers, and banqueting louts and brought, wrought and cut into fo many formsf of men’ hones, birds, &c. winch though at firft fupported, growe h afterwards ftrong of itfelf. It beareth long Ind nar ow g e n leaves by the couples, and fweet fmclling white flowfrs in tufts at the end of the branches, which turn into fmall black banes that have a purphfh juice with them, and fome feeds that are flat on the one fide? with a hole or dent therein. 7 W] It grovveth in this land, in divers woods. . Time'\ °"r P' lvet Aowereth in June and July the her nes are ripe in Augufl and September J ' ’ b r” Government and Finn,!.] The Moon is lady of this Irl. 1. tie ufcd in phyliewith us in thefe times, mor/than in lotion! f° ,w.afl fory> ans of warm broth, purg- cth cho'.er and phlegm downwards very gently and fafely, without danger. The feed thereof, contrary, doth bind the belly, and hclpeth to day any fort of lafks or blocdy-flux. The ciiftillcd water thereof is very profitably ufed to heal feabs ; aifo foul ulcerous fores, and to lay the inflammation of them ; the juice of the leaves or roots, or the decodlion of them in vinegar, is ufed as a mod: efiedlual remedy to heal feabs and running fores. TheBafiard Rhuharb hath all the properties of the Monk’s Rhubard, but more cffedfually for both inward and outward difeafes. The decodtion thereof, without vinegar, dropped into the ears, taketh away the pains ; gargled in the mouth, taketh away the tooth ach ; and being drank, healeth the jaundice. The feed thereof taken, eafeth the gnawing and griping pains of the domach, and taketh away the loathing thereof unto meat. The root thereof helpeth the ruggednefs of the nails, and being boiled in wine, helpeth the fwelling of the throat, commonly called the king’s-evil, as alfo the fwcllings of the kernels of the ears. It helpeth them that arc troubled with the done, provoketh urine, and helpeth the dimnefs of the fight. The roots of this Badard Rhubarb arc ufed in opening and purging diet-drinks, with other things, to open the liver, and to cleanfe and cool the blood. The properties of that which is called the Englidi Rhu- barb, are the fame with the former, but much more effedtual, and hath all the properties of the true Italian Rhubarbs, ex- cept the force in purging, wherein it is but of half the drength thereof, and therefore a double quantity mud be ufed ; it' likewife hath not that bitternefs and adriffion ; in other things it worketh almod in an equal quantity, which are thefe : It purgeth the body of choler and phlegm, being either taken of itfelf, made into powder, and drank in a draught of white wine, or deeped therein all night, and taken fading, or put among other purges, as (hall be thought convenient, cleandng the llomach, liver, and blood, opening obftrudtions, and helpeth thofe griefs that come thereof, as the jaundice, dropfy, fwelling of the i'plccn, tertian, and ' The Englifh Phyficiaft Enlarged. 259 daily agues, and pricking pains of the tides ; and alfo it liayeth lpitting of blood. The powder taken with callia dilfolved, and wafhed Venice T urpcntine, clcanfeth the reins, and ftrengtheneth them afterwards, and is vei v effectual to flay the running of the reins, or gonorrhoea. It is alfo given for the pains and fwellings in the head, for th >fc that are troubled with melancholy, and helpeth the fciatica, gout, and the cramp. The powder of the Rhubaib taken with a little mummia and madder roots in fome red wine, diflolveth clotted blood in the body, happening by any fall or bruife, and helpeth burftings and broken parts, as well inward as outward. The oil likewife wherein it hath been boiled, worketh the like effects, being anointed. It is tifed to heal thole ulcers that happen in the eyes or eyelids, being fteeped and {trained j as alfo to afiuage the l'wellings and inflammations : and applied with honey, boiled in wine, it taketh away all blue fpots or marks that happen therein. Whey or white wine are the belt liquors to fleep it in, and thereby it worketh more elfetftually in opening obftrudtions, and purging the ftomach and liver. Many do ufe a little Indian Jpikenard as the belt corrector thereof. Meadow Rue. Defcript.~\ TV /TEADOW Rue rifeth up with a yellow ftrin- J_VA gy root, much fpreading in the ground, (hooting forth new fprouts -round about, with many green (talks, two feet high, crefted all the length of them, fet with joints here and there, and many large leaves on them, above as well as below, being divided into fmaller leavq^, nicked j or dented in the fore-part of them, of a red green colour on the upper lide, and pale green underneath: Toward the top of the ftalk there (hooteth forth divers fhort branches, on every one whereof (land two, three, or four fmall heads, or buttons, which breaking the (kin that inclofeth them, fhoot- eth forth a tuft of pale greenifli yellow threads, which falling away, there come in their places lmall three-cornered pods, j wherein is contained fmall, long, and round feed. The whole plant hath a ftroug unplealant feent. Place. ] It groweth in many places of this land, in the borders of moil! meadows, and ditch (ides. Time.] It flowereth about July, or the beginning of Augult. N 4 Govern - 260 7 he Englifh Phyfician "Enlarged. Government and Virtues Diofeorides faith, that this herb bruifed and applied, perfectly healeth eld fores, and the di- ftillcd water of the herb and flowers doth the like. It is ufed by fome, among other pot-herbs, to open the body and make it {blublc ; but the roots wafhed clean, and boiled in 'ale and drank, provoke to flool more than the leaves, but yet very gently. The root boiled in water, and the places of the body mod: troubled with vermin and lice wafhed therewith while it is warm, deilroyeth them utterly. In Italy it is ufed againft the plague, and in Saxony againft the jaundice, as Camcrarius faith. Garden Rue. GARDEN Rue is fo well known by this name, and the name Herb of Grace, that 1 Avail not need to write any farther defeription of it, but fhall only fhevv you the virtue wt it, as followeth : Government and Virtuesd\ It is an herb of the Sun, and under Leo. It provoketh urine and women’s courfes, being taken either in meat or drink. The feed thereof taken in w ine, is an antidote againft all dangerous medicines or deadly poifons. The leaves taken either by themfelves, or with figs and walnuts, is called Mithridates’ counter-poifon againft the plague, and caufeth all venomous things to become harm- Icfs ; being often taken in meat and drink, it abateth venerv, and deftroyeth the ability to get children. A decoftion made thereof with fome dried dill-leaves and flowers, eafeth all pains and torments inwardly to be drank, and outwardly to be applied warm to the place grieved. The fame being drank, helpeth the pains both of the cheft and iidcs, as alfo coughs and hardnefs of breathing, the inflammations of the lungs, and the tormenting pains of the fciatica and the joints, being anointed, or laid to the places ; as alio the fliaking iits of agues, to take a draught before the tit comes ; being boiled or infuftd in oil, it is good to help the wind-cholic, the hardnefs and windinefs of the mother, and freeth women from the ftrangling or fuiFocation thereof, if the (hare and . the parts thereabouts be anointed therewith : It killeth and driveth forth the worms of the belly, if it be drank after it is boiled in wine to the half, with a little honey ; it helpeth the gout or pains in the joints, hands, feet and kneesj applied there- The Englifh Phylician Enlarged. 261 thereunto; and with figs it helpeth thedropfy, being bathed therewith : Being bruited and put into the noftrils, it ftay- eth the bleeding thereof ; it helpeth the fwelling of the cods, if they be bathed with a decodfion of Rue and bay leaves. It taketh away wheals and pimples, if being bruifed with a few myrtle leaves, it be made up with wax, and applied. It eureth the morphevv, and taketh away all forts of warts, if boiled in wine w ith fame pepper and nitre, and the place rubbed therewith, and with almonds and honey, helpeth the dry fcabs, or any tetter or ring-worm. The juice thereof warmed in a pomegranate fhell or rind, and dropped into the ears, helpeth the pains of them. The juice of it and fennel, with a little honey, and the gall of a cock put thereunto, helpeth the dimnefs of the eye-light. An oint- ment made of the juice thereof with oil of rofes, cerufe, and a little vinegar, and anointed, eureth St. Anthony’s fire, and all running fores in the head; and the {linking ulcers of the nofe, or other parts. The antidote ufed by Mithri- dates, every morning fading; to fecure himfelf from any poifon or infection, was this : Take twenty leaves of rue, a little l'alt, a couple of walnuts, and a couple of figs, beaten together into a mefs, with twenty juniper berries, which is the quantity appointed for every day. Another electuary is made thus: Take of nitre, pepper, and cummin-feed, of each equal parts; of the leaves of Rue clean picked, as much in weight as all the other three weighed; beat them well together, and put as much honey as will make it up into an cledtuury (but you mull firfl lfeep your cummin-feed in vinegar twenty-four hours, and then dry it, or rather road it iu a hot fire-fhovel, or in an oven) and is a remedy for the pains or griefs in the clieil or flomach, of the fpleen, belly, or fides, by wind or flitches ; of the liver by obftru&ions ; of the reins and bladder by the flopping of urine ; and help- eth alfo to extenuate fat corpulent bodies. W hat an infamy is caft upon the afhes of Mithridates, or Methridatrs (as the Auguftines read his name) by unworthy people ! They that deferve no good report theml'elves, love to give none to others, viz. That renowned King of Pontus fortified his body by poifon againft poifon.) (He caft out devils by Beelzebub, prince of the devils.) Wrhat a for is he that knows not if he had accuftomcd his body to cold poifons, N 5 hot i i I , 262 The Englifh Phyfician Enlarged. hot poifons would have difpatched him ? On the contrary, if not, corrofions would have done it. The whole world is at this prefent time beholden to him for his ftudies in phyfic, and he that ufeth the quantity but of an hazel-nut of that receipt every morning, to which his name is adjoined, (bull to admiration preferve his body in health, if he do but con- fider that Rue is an herb of the Sun, and under Leo, and gather it and the reft accordingly. Rupture-Wort. Dcfcript.] 'TT'HIS fpreads very many thready branches 1 round about upon the ground, about a fpan long, divided into many other fmaller parts full of fmall joints fet very thick together, whereat come forth two very fmall leaves of a French yellow, green-coloured branches and all, where groweth forth alfo a number of exceeding fmall yellowifli flowers, fcarce to be difeerned from the ftalk and leaves, which turn into feeds as fmall as the very duft. The root is very long and fmall, thrufting down deep in the ground. This hath neither fmell nor tafte at fird, but af- terwards hath a little aftringent tafte, without any manifeft heat ; yet a little bitter and (harp withal. Placc.~\ It groweth in dry, fandv, and rocky places. Time.'] It is frefh and green all the Summer. Government and Virtues.] They fay Saturn caufeth rup- tures : If he does, he doth no more than he can cure; if you want wit, he will teach you, though to your coft. This herb is Saturn’s own, and is a noble antivenerean. Rupture- wort hath not its name in vain; for it is found by experience to cure the rupture, not only in children, but alfo in elder perfons, if thedifeafe be not too inveterate, by taking a dram of the powder of the dried herb every day in wine, or a de- coftion made and drank for certain days together. The juice or diftilled water of the green herb, taken in the fame man- ner, helpcth all other fluxes either of man or woman ; vomit- ing alfo, and the gonorrhoea or ninning of the reins, being taken any of the ways aforefaid. It doth alfo molt afluredly' help thole that have the ftranguary, or are troubled with the ftonc or gravel in the reins or bladder. The fame helpeth Hitches in the lidcs, griping pains of the ftomach or belly, the The Englifh Phyfician Enlarged . 263 the obftru&ionsof the liver, and cureth the yellow jaundice; likewife it kills alfo the worms in children. Being outwardly applied it conglutinateth wounds notably, and helpeth much to (lay defluxions of rheum from the head to the eyes, nofe, and teeth, being bruifed green, and bound thereto: or the forehead, temples, or the nape of the neck behind, bathed with the decoction of the dried herb. It all'o drieth up the moifture of fiflulous ulcers, or any other that are foul and fpreading. Rufhcs. ALTHOUGH there are many kinds of Ruflies yet I fhall only here infill upon thole which are bell: known, and mod medicinal ; as the bulrulhes, and other of the foft and finooth kinds, which grow fo commonly in almofTevery part of this land, and are fo generally noted that I fiippole it needlefs to trouble you with any defeription of them : Briefly then to take the virtues of them as followeth : Government and Virtues ] The feed of the foft Rufhes, faith Diofeorides and Galen, (toafied, faith Pliny) being drank in wine and water, llaverh the laflc, and women’s cour- les when they come down too abundantly; but it caufctli bead-ach: It provoketh fleep likewife, but mull be given with caution. The root, boiled in water, to the confump- tion of one third, helpeth the cough. Thus, you fee, that conveniences have their inconvenien- cics, and virtue is feldom unaccompanied with fome vices. What I have written concerning Ruflies is to fatisfy my countrymen’s queftions : Arc our Rulhes good for nothing ? Yes, and as good if let alone as taken. There are remedies enow without them for any difeafe, and therefore, as the proverb is, I care not a Rufli for them ; or rather, they will do you as much good as if one had given you a Ruth. Rye. ^T^HIS is fo well known in all the counties of this land, j and efpecially to the country people, who feed much thereon, that if I did deferibe it they would prefently fav, I might as well have fpared that labour. Its virtues follow: Government and Virtues.'] Rye is more digefting than wheat; the bread and leaves thereof ripenctli and breakerh impofthumes, boils, and other lwelliiigs; The meal of Rye N 6 put 264 The Eiiglifh Phyfician Enlarged. put between a double cloth, and moiffened with a little vine- gar, and heated in a pewter difh, fet over a chaffing*di(h of coals, and bound fait to the head while it is hot, doth much cafe the continual pains of the head. Matthiolus faith that theafhcs of Rye itraw put into water, and lieeped therein a day and a night, and the chops of the hands or feet walked therewith, doth heal them. Saffron. THE herb needs no defcripticn, it being known generally where it grows. Place.'] It grows frequently at Walden in Eflex, and in Cambridgeffiire. Government and Virtues.] It is an herb of the Sun, and under the Lion, and therefore you need not demand a rea- fon why it ifrengthens the heart fo exceedingly. Let not above ten grains be given at one time, for the Sun, which i* the fountain of light, may dazzle the eyes, and make them blind ; a cordial being taken in an immoderate quantity hurts the heart inftead of helping it. It quickeneth the brain, for the Sun is exalted in Aries, as well as he hath hishoufein Leo : It helps confumptions of the lungs, and difficulty of breathing. It is excellent in epidemical difeafes, as peftilcnce, fmall-pbx, and meafles. It is a notable, expulfive medicine, and a notable remedy for the yellow jaundice. My opinion is (but I have no author for it) that hermodadtyls are nothing elfe but the roots of Saffron dried ; and my real'on ir, that the roots of all crocus, both v\ bite and yellow, purge phlegm as liermodadtyls do; and if you pleaie to dry the roots of any crocus, neitheryour eyes noryour taffc (hall didinguifli them from hermodadtyls. Sage. OUR ordinary garden Sage needeth no defeription. Time.] It flowereth in or about July. Government and Virtues.] Jupiter claims this, and bids me tell you it is good for the liver, and to breed blood. A de- cottion of the leaves and branches of Sage made and drank, faith Diofcorides, provokes urine, bringeth down women’s courfts, helps to expel the dead child, and caufeth the hair to become black. It ffayeth the bleeding of wounds, and clcauleth foul uketsa jd fores. The deception made in wine, taketh / The Englifh Phyfician Enlarged. 265 t-iketh awnv the itching of the cods, if they be bathed there- with. Agrippa faith that if women that cannot conceive by reafon of the moil! flipperinels of their wombs, lhall take a quantity of the juice of Sage, with a little fait, for four days before they company with their hufbands, it will help them not only to conceive, but all'o to retain the birth without mifcarrying. Orpheus faith three fpoonfuls of the juice of Sage taken falling, with a little honey, doth prefently day the fpitting or calling of blood in them that are in a conlump- tion. Thcfe pills are much commended: Take of l'pikenard, ginger, of each two drams ; of the feed of Sage toafted at the lire, eight drams; of the long pepper, twelve drams; all thefe being brought into powder, put thereto l'o much juice of Sage as may make them into a mat's of pills, taking a dram of them every morning falling, and l'o likewile at night, drinking a little pure water after them. Matthiolus_ faith, it is very profitable for all manner of pains in the head, coming of cold and rheumatic humours; as all'o for all pains of the joints, whether inwardly or outwardly, and therefore helpeth the faliing-ficknels, the lethargy, fuch as are dull and heavy of fpirit, the pally ; and is of much ufe in all defluxions of rheum from the head, and for the difeafes of the chcll or breafl. The leaves of Sage and nettles bruiled together, and laid upon the impolthume that rifeth behind the ears doth afluage it much. The juice of Sage, taken in warm water, helpeth a hoarfenefs and a cough. The leaves foddened in wine, and laid upon the place affedlcd with the palfy, helpeth much, if the decodlion be drank: Alfo Sage taken with wormwood is good for the bloody-flux. Pliny faith it procures women’* courfes, and llayeth them coming down too fall; helpeth. the flinging and biting of ferpents, and killeth the worms that breed in the ears, and in fores. Sage is of excellent ufe to help the memory, warming and quickening the fenfes; and the conlervc made of the flowers is ufed to the fame purpofe, and alfo for all the former-recited difeafes. The juice of Sage, drank with vinegar, hath been found of great lervice in all times of the plague. Gargles likewile are made with Sage, rofeniary, honey-fuckles, and plantain, boiled in wineor water, with fome honey orallumputthereto, towafli fore mouths and throats, cankers, or the fecret parts of man or 2 66 The Englifh Phyfician 'Enlarged. or woman, as need requireth. And with other hot and com- fortable herbs, Sage is boiled to bathe the body and the legs in the Summertime, efpecially to warm cold joints or finews, troubled with the palfv, and cramps, and to comfort and flrengthen the parts. It is much commended againit the flitch, or pains in the fide coming of wind, if the place be fomented warm with the decodlion thereof in wine, and the herb alfo after boiling be laid warm thereunto. Wood Sage. Defcript .] '\\T OOD Sage rifeth up with fquare, hoary V V flalks, two feet high at the lead, with two leaves fet at every joint, fomewhat like other Sage leaves, hut fmaller, foftef, whiter, and rounder, and a little dented about the edges, and finelling fomewhat dronger. At the tops of the dalks and branches dand the flowers, on a (lender like fpike, turning theinfelves all one way when they blow, and are of a pale and whitifh colour, fmaller than Sage, but hooded and gaping like unto them. The feed is blackifh and round; four ufually feem in a hulk together; the root is long and flringy, with divers fibres thereat, and abideth many years. Place.'] It groweth in woods, and by wood-fides ; as alfo in divers fields and bye lanes in the land. Time.] It flovvereth in June, July, and Augufl. Government and Virtues.] The herb is under Venus. The decodlion of the Wood Sage provoketh urine and women’s courfes: It alio provoketh fweat, digefleth humours, and difeufleth fwellings and nodes in the flefh, and is therefore thought to be good againftthe French pox. The dccodlion of the green herb, made with wine, is a fafeand fure remedy for thofc who by falls, bruifes, or blows, fufpeft fome vein to be inwardly broken, to difperfe and void the congealed blood, and to confolidate the veins. The drink ufed in- wardly, and the herb ufed outwardly, is good for fuch as are inwardly burften, and is found to be a fure remedv for the palfy. The juice of the herb, or the powder thereof dried, is good for moift ulcers and fores in the legs, and other parts, to dry them, and caufe them to heal more •fpeedily. It is no lefs elfedual alfo in green wounds, to be ufed upon any occafion. Solomon’s The Engliih Phyfician Enlarged. 267 .Solomon’s Seal. Defcript.] nr'HE common Solomon’s Seal rifeth up with a X round ftalk half a yard high, bowing or bend- ing down to the ground, fet with Angle leaves one above another, fomewhat large, and like the leaves of the lily con- vally, or May-lily, with an eye of bluifh upon the green, with fome ribs therein, and more yellowifli underneath. At the foot of every leaf, almoft from the bottom up to the top of the ftalk, come forth fmall, long, white, and hollow pen- dulous flowers, fomewhat like the flowers of May-lily, but ending in five long points, for the moft part two together, at the end of a long foot-ftalk, and fometimes but one, and fometimes alfo two ftalks, with flowers at the foot of a leaf, which are without any fcent at all, and ftand on one fide of the ftalk. After they are paft, come in their places fmall round berries, great at the firft, and blackifli green, tending tobluenefs when they are ripe, wherein lie fmall, white, hard, and ftony feeds. The root is of the thicknefs of one’s finger or thumb, white and knotted in fome places, a flat round circle reprefenting a Seal, whereof it took the name, lying along under the upper cruft of the earth, and not growing downward, but with many fibres underneath. Place."] It is frequent in divers places of this land; as, namely, in a wood tw'o miles from Canterbury, by Fith-Pool Hill, as alfo in Bufhy Clofe belonging to the parfonage of Alderbury, near Clarendon, two miles from Salilbury ; in ChetFon Wood, or Chefion Hill, between Newington and Sittingbourn in Kent, and divers other places in Eflex, and other counties. Time.] It flowrereth about May. The root abideth and fhooteth anew' every year. Government and Firtucs.] Saturn owns the plant, for he loves his bones well. The root of Solomon’s Seal is found by experience to be available in wounds, hurts, and out- ward fores, to heal and clofe up the lips of thofe that are green, and to dry up and reftrain the flux of humours to thofe that are old. It is Angularly good to flay vomitings and bleedings wherefoever, as alfo for fluxes in man or wo- man, whether whites or reds in women, or the running of the reins in men; alfo to knit any joint, which by weaknefs ufeth to be often out of place, or will not ftay in long when it is fet; alfo to knit and join broken bones in any part of the 268 The Englifh Phyfician Enlarged. the body, the roots being bruifedand applied to the places.; yea, it hath been found by late experience that the decodlion of the root in wine, or the bruifed root put into wine, or other drink, and, after a night’s infufion, {trained forth hard, and drank, doth help both man and bead, whofe bones hath been broken by any accident, which is the mod allured re- fuge of help to people of divers counties of the land that they can have: It is no lefs effectual to help raptures and burdings, the decodfion in wine, or the powder in broth or drink, being inwardly taken, and outwardly applied to the place. The fame is all'o available for inward or outward bruifes, falls, or blows, both to difpel the congealed blood, and to take away both the pains and the black and blue marks that abide after the hurt. The fame alfo, or the diddled water of the whole plant, ufed to the face, or other parts of the {kin, cleanfcth it from morphew, freckles, fpots, or marks what- soever, leaving the place fredi, fair, and lovely; for which purpofe it is much ufed by the Italian dames. Samphire. Defcript .] T3 OCK Samphire groweth up with a tender green balk, about half a yard, or two feet high, at the mod, branching forth almod from the very bot- tom, and dored with fundry thick, and almod round, (iome- what long) leaves, of a deep green colour, fometimes two to- gether, and l'ometimes more on a dalk, and lappy, and of a pleafant, hot, and fpicy tade. At the tops of the balks and branches band umbels of white flowers, and after them come large feed bigger than fennel-feed, yet fomewhat like it. The root is great, white, and long, continuing many years, and is of an hot and fpicy tade alfo. Place.'] It groweth on the rocks that are often moidened, at the lead, if not overbowed, with the fca water. Time.] And it bowercth and l'eedeth in the end of July and Augub. Government and Fir tuejs.] It is an herb of Jupiter, and was in former times wont to be ufed more than now it is ; the more is the pity. It is well known, almod to every body, that ill digebions and obdrudlions are the caufe of mod of the difeafes which the frail nature of man is fubjedl to ; both which might be remedied by a more frequent ufe of this - herb* *Tbc Englifh Phyfician Enlarged. 269 herb. If people would have fauce to their meat, they may take fome for profit as well as for pleafure. It is a late herb, very pleafant both to tafte and llomach, helping digeftion, and, in fome fort, opening oblirudtions of the liver and fpleen, provoketh urine, and helpeth thereby to wafh away the gravel and ftone engendered in the kidneys or bladder. Sanicle. Dcfcript.) /’"N RDINARYSanicle fendeth forth manygrent round leaves, {landing upon long brownifil ftalks, every one fomewhat deeply cut or divided into five or fix parts, and fome of thele allb cut in fomewhat like the leaf of crow’s-foot, or dove’s-foot, and finely dented about the edges, fmooth, and of a dark filming colour, and fometimes reddilh about the brim; from among which arife up fmall, round, green ftalks, without any joint or leaf thereon, faving at the top, where it branches forth into flowers, having a leaf divided into three or four parts at that joint with the flowers, which are fmall and white, {farting out of fmall, round, greenifh, yellow heads, many {landing together in a tuft, in which afterwards are the feeds contained, which are fmall round burs, fomewhat like the leaves of cleavers, and ftick in the fame manner upon any thing that they touch. The root is compofed of many blackiili filings or fibres, fet together at a little long head, which abideth with green leaves all the Winter, and perifheth not. Place.'] It is found in many fhadow’y woods, and other- places of this land. Time.] It flowercth in June, and the feed is ripe fliortly after. Government and Virtues.] This is one of Venus’s herbs, to cure the wounds or miichicfs Mars inflidleth upon the bo- dy of man. It heals green wounds fpeedily, or any ulcers, impofthumes, or bleedings inward, alfo tumours in any part of the body; for the dceoftion, or powder in drink, taken, and the juice ul'ed outwardly, diflipateth the humours; and there is not found any herb that can give fuch prefent help either to man or beaft, when the difeafe falleth upon the lungs or throat, and to heal up putrid malignant ulcers in the mouth, throat, and privities, by gargling or wafliing with the decoction of the leaves and roots made in water, and a little honey put thereto. It helpeth to ftay women’s courles, and 270 The Englifh Phyfician Enlarged. and all other fluxes of blood, either by the mouth, urine, or llool, and lafks of the belly; the ulcerations of the kidneys alfo, and the pains of the bowels, and gonorrhoea, or running of the reins, being boiled in wine or water, and drank. The fame alfo is no lei's powerful to help any rupture or burftings, ufed both inwardly and outwardly: And, briefly, it is as ef- fectual in binding, reflraining, confolidating, heating, dry- ing, and healing, as comfrey, bugle, felf-heal, or any other of the vulnerary herbs whatfoever. Saracen’s Confound, or Saracen’s Woundwort. Defcript. ] HpHIS groweth high fometimes, with brownifh X {talks, and other whiles with green, to a man’s height, having narrow green leaves fnipped about the edges, fomewha: like thofe of the peach tree, or willow leaves, but not of fuch white green colour. The tops of the {talks are furniflied with many yellow ftar-like flowers, {land- ing in green heads, which when they are fallen, and the feed ripe, which is ibmewhat long, fmall, and of a brown colour, wrapped in down, is therewith carried away with the wind. The root is compofed of fibres fet together at a head, which perifli not in Winter, although the flalks dry away, and no leaf appeareth in the Winter. The tafte hereof is ilrong and unpleafant; and fo is the fmell alfo. Place.'] It groweth in moift and wet grounds, by wood- fides, and fometimes in the moift places of fhadowy groves, as alfo by the water-lides. < Time.] It flowereth in July, and the feed is foonripe, and carried away with the wind. Government and Virtues.] Saturn owns the herb, and it is of a fober condition like him. Among the Germans this wound herb is preferred before all others of the fame quality. Being boiled in wine, and drank, it helpeth the indifpefition of the liver, and freeth the gall from obflruCtions ; tv hereby it is good for the yellow jaundice, and for the dropfy in the beginning of it ; for all inward ulcers of the reins, mouth, or throat, and inward wounds and bruifes, likewife for fuch fores as happen in the privy parts of men or women ; being {leeped in wine, and then dilfilled, the water thereof drank, is Angular good toeafe all gnawings in the ilomach, or other pains of the body, as alfo the pains of the mother: And being The Englifh Phyfician Enlarged. 271 being boiled in water it helpeth continual agues; and the faid water, or the liniple water of the herb diftilled, or the juice or dcco&ion, are very effeiftual to heal any green wound, or old fore or ulcer whatfoever, cleanling them from corrup- tion, and quickly healing them up : Briefly, whatfoever hath been laid of bugle or fanicle may be found herein. Sauce-alone, or Jack by the Hedge-fide. Defcript .] ' | "'HE lower leaves of this are rounder than J| thole that grow towards the tops of the ftalks, and arc fet fingly on the joint, being fomewhat round and broad, pointed at the ends, dented alfo about the edges, fomewhat refembling nettle-leaves, for the form, but of a frelher green colour, not rough or pricking: The flowers are white, growing at the top of the ftalks one above another, which, being paft, follow fm all round pods, wherein are con- tained round feed fomewhat blackifh. The root ftringy and thready, perifheth every year after it hath given feed, and raifeth itfelf again of its own flowing. The plant, or any part thereof, being bruifed, fmelleth of garlick, but more plantflantly, and tafteth fomewhat hot and fharp, almoft like unto rocket. Place.'] It groweth under walls, and by hedge-fides, and path-ways in fields in many places. Time.] It flowereth in June, July, and Auguft. Government and Virtues.] It is an herb of Mercury. This is eaten by many country people as flauce to their fait fifli, and helpeth well to digeft the crudities and other corrupt hu- mours engendered thereby: It warmeth alfo the ftomach, and caufeth digeftion : The juice hereof, boiled with honey, is accounted to be as good as hedge muftard for the cough, to cut and expectorate the tough phlegm. The feed bruifed and boiled in wine, is a Angular good remedy for the wind- cholic, or the ftone, being drank warm : It is alfo given to women troubled with the mother, both to drink, and the feed put into a cloth, and applied while it is Warm, is of lingular good ufe. The leaves alfo, or the feed boiled, is good to be ufed in clyfters to cafe the pains of the ftone. The green leaves are held ro be good to heal the ulcers in the legs. Winter 2-7 2 The Englifh Phyfician Enlarged. Winter and Summer Savory. BOTH thefe are fo well known (being entertained as con- stant inhabitants in our gardens) that they need no de- scription. Government and Virtues .] Mercury claims dominion over this herb, neither is there a better remedy againfl the cholic and iliac paffion than this herb; keep it dry by you all the year, if you loveyourfolf and your eafe, and it is a hundred pounds to a penny if you do not ; keep it dry, make conierves and fyrups of it for your ufe, and withal, take notice that the Summer kind is the belt. They are both of them hot and dry, efpecially the Summer kind, which is both fliarp and quick in tafle, expelling wind in the ftomach and bowels, and is a prefent help for the riling of the mother procured by wind ; provoketh urine and women’s courfes, and is much commended, for women with child to take inwardly, and to fmell often unto. It cureth tough phlegm in the cheft and lungs, and helpeth to expectorate it the more ealily ; quick- ens the dull fpirits in the lethargy, the juice thereof being fnuffed up into the noflrils. The juice dropped into the eyes cleareth a dull fight, it it proceed of thin cold humours di Hilled from the brain. The juice heated with oil of Roles and dropped into the ears ealeth them of the noife and Ting- ing in them, and of deafnefs alfo: Outwardly applied with wheat flour, in manner of a poultice, it giveth eafe to them, and taketh away their pains. It alfo taketh away the pain that comes by flinging of bees, wafps, &c. Savine. TO deferibe a plant fo well known is needlefs, it being nurfed up almoft in every garden, and abiding green all the Winter. Government and Virtues.'] It is under the dominion of Mats, being hot and dry in the third degree, and, beingofcx- ceeding clean parts, is of a very digefting quality. If you dry the herb into powder, and mix it. with honey, it is* an excellent remedy to cleanfe old filthy ulcers and fiftulas ; but it hinders them from healing. The fame is excellently good to break carbuncles and plague fores; alfo helpeth the king’s evil, being applied to the place. Being fpread over a piece tt-e Englifh Phyiician Enlarged. 273 of leather, and applied to the navel, kills the worms in the belly, helps feabs and itch, running fores, cankers, tetters, and ringworms ; and being appliedu) the place may happily cure venereal lores. This I thought good to fpeak of, as it may be fafely ufed outwardly, for inwardly it cannot be taken without manifefl danger. The Common White Saxifrage. Defer ipt.] HpHIS hath a few fmall reddifli kernels of roots X covered with fome ikins, lying among divers fmall blackifh fibres, which fend forth divers round, faint, or yellow green leaves, and greyifli underneath, lying above the ground, unevenly dented about the edges, and fomewhat hairy, everyone upon a little foot-lhdk, from whence rifeth up round, brovvnilh, hairy, green Halks, two or three feet high, with a few fuch-like round leaves as grow below, but fmaller, and fomewhat branched at the top, whereon Hand pretty large white flowers of live leaves a-piece, with fome yellow threads in the middle, Handing in a long creHed, 1-rownilh, green hulk. Alter the flowers are pad there arifeth ibmetimes a round, hardhead, forked at the top, wherein is contained fmall black feed, but ufually they fall away without any feed, and it is the kernels or grains of the root which are ufually called the White Saxifrage-feed, and fo ufed. Place*] It groweth in many places of this land, as well in the lowermoH, as in the upper dry corners of meadows, and grafly, fandy places. It ufed to grow near Lamb’s-conduir, on the baekiide of Gray’s-Inn. Time.] It flowereth in May, and then gathered, as well for that which is called the feed, as to diftil, for it quickly perifli- cth down to the ground when any hot weather comes. Government and Virtues.] It is very effedual to cleanfe the reins and bladder, and to difl'olve the Hone engendered in than, and to expel it and the gravel by urine; to help the flranguary, for which purpoi'e the decodion of the herb or roots in white wine, is molt ufual, or the powder of the fmall kernelly root, which is called the feed, taken in white wine, or in the fame decodion made with white wine, is moH ufual. The di Hilled water of the whole herb, root, and flowers, is mofl familiar to be taken. It provoketh alfo women’s cottrfcs, and freeth and cleanfeth the Homach 4 and 274 Englifli Phyfician Enlarged . and lungs from thick and tough phlegm that trouble them. There are not many better medicines to break the ltone than this. Burnet Saxifrage. Dcfcript .] rT'HE greater fort of our Englifli Burnet Saxi- X frage groweth up with divers long ftalks of winged leaves, fet diredfly oppoiite one to another on both fides, each being lbmevvhat broad, and a little pointed and dented about the edges, of a fad green colour. At the top of the ftalks (land umbels of white flowers, after which come fmall and blackilh feed. The root is long and whitilh, abiding long. Our leffer Burnet Saxifrage hath much finer leaves than the former, and very fmall, and let one againft another, deeply jagged about the edges, and of the fame colour as the former. The umbels of the floweis are white, and the feed very fmall, and fo is the root, being alfo l'ome- what hot and quick in tafte. Place.] Thefe grow in moifl meadows of this land, and are eal'y to be found being well fought for among ti • grafs, wherein many times they lay hid fcarcely to be difeerned. Time.] They flower about July, and their feed is ripe in Augufl. Government and Virtues.] They are both of them herbs of the Moon. Thc Saxifragcs are hot as pepper ; and Tragus faith, by his experience, that they are wholcfome. They have the fame properties the parfleys have, but in provoking urine, and eating the pains thereof, and of the wind and cholic, are much more eftedfual, the roots or feed being ufed either in powder, or in decoctions, or any other way ; and likewife helpeth the windy pains of the mother, and to pro- cure their courfes, and to break and void the ftone in the kidneys, to digeft cold, vilcous, and tough phlegm in the flomach, and is an efpecial remedy againfl all kind of venom. Cafloreum being boiled in the diltilled water thereof, is An- gularly good t; be given to thole that are troubled with cramps and convulfions. Some do ufe to make the feeds into corn- fits (as they do carraway feeds) which is eft'ctftual to all the purpofes atorefaid. Thejuice ot the herb dropped into the moft grievous wounds of the head drieth up their moiflure, and healcth them quickly. Some women ufe the djftilled water The Englifh Phyfician Enlarged. 275 water to take away freckles or fpots in the lkin or face ; and to drink the fame l'weetened with l'ugar for all the purpofes aforelaid. Scabious, three Sorts. Dcfcript.] OOMMON Field Scabious grevveth up with V_> many hairy, loft, whitilh-green leaves, lbme whereof are very little, if at all jagged on the edges, others very much rent and torn on the rides, and have threads in them, which upon breaking may be plainly feen ; from among which rile up divers hairy green ftalks, three or four feet high, with fuch-likc hairy green leaves on them, but more deeply and finely divided, branched forth a little: At the tops thereof, which are naked and bare of leaves for a good l'pace, fland round heads of flowers, of a pale bluifh colour, fet together in a head, the outermoft whereof are larger than the inward, with many threads alfo in the middle, lbmewhat flat at the top, as the head with the feed is like- wife; the root is great, white, and thick, growing down deep into the ground, and abideth many years. There is another fort of Field Scabious different in nothing from the former, but only it is fmaller in all refpedt*. The Corn Scabious differeth little from the firft, but that it is greater in all refjpetfs, and the flowers more inclining to purple, and the root creepeth under the upper cruft of the earth, and runneth not deep into the ground as the firft doth. Place.'] The firft groweth moft ufually in meadows, efpe- cially about London everywhere. The fecond in foine of the dry fields about this city, but not fo plentifully as the former. The third in ftanding corn, or fallow fields, and the bor- ders of fuch-like fields. Time.] They flower in June and July, and fomc abide flowering until it be late in Auguft, and the feed is ripe in the mean time. There are many other forts of Scabious, but I takeJtbefe which I have heredelcribed to be moft familiar with us : The virtues of both thefe and the reft, being much alike, take them as followcth: Government and Virtues.] Mercury owns the plant. Sca- bious is very eftedtual for all forts of coughs, fhortnefs of breath, and all other difeafes of the breaftand lungs, ripen- ing 2j6 The Englifh Phyfician Enlarged. ing and digefting cold phlegm, and other tough humour*, voideth them forth by cjughing and fpitting: It ripeneth alfo all forts of inward ulcers and impofthumes; pleurify alfo, if the decodion of the herb dry or green be made in wine, and drank for fomc time together. Four ounces of the clarified juice of Scabious taken in the morning falling, with a dram of mithridate, or Venice treacle, freeth the heart from any infedion of peililence, if after the taking of it the party fweat two hours in bed, and this medicine be again and again repeated, if need require. The green herb bruifed and applied to any carbuncle or plague fore, is found by certain experience to diflolve and break it in three hours lpace. The fame decoction alfo drank, helpeth the pains and Hitches in the fide. The decodion of the roots taken for forty days to- gether, or a dram of the powder of them taken at a time in whey, doth (as Matthiolus faith) wonderfully help thole that are troubled with running or fp reading fcabs, tetters, ring- worms, yea, although they proceed from the French pox, which, he faith, he hath tried by experience. The juice or decodion drank, helpeth alfo fcabs and breakings-out of the itch, and the like. The juice alfo made up into an ointment, and ufed, is cffedlual for the fame purpole. The fame alio healeth all inward wounds by the drying, clcaniing, and heal- ing quality therein : And a iyrup made of the juice and fugar is very cffedlual to all the purpoles aforefaid, and lb is the di Hilled water of the herb and liowers made in due lealbn, es- pecially to be ufed when the green herb is not in force to be taken. The decodion of the herb and roots outwardly ap- plied, doth wonderf ully help ali forts of hard or cold fu ellings in any part of the body, is effectual for flirunk finews or \ eins, and healeth green wounds, old lores and ulcers. The juice of Scabious, made up with the powder of borax and famphire, cleanfeth the fkin of the face, or other parts of the body, not only from freckles and pimples, but alfo from morphew and leproly ; the head walhed with the decodion cleanfeth it from da nd riff, lcurf, fores, itch, and the like, ufed warm. The herb bruifed and applied, doth in a fllort time loofen and draw forth any fplinter, broken bone, arrow head, or other fuch- like thing lying in the flelh. \ Scurvy- The Englifli Phyfician Enlarged. 277 Scurvygrafs. Defcript.} UR ordinary Englifli Scurvygrafs hath many thick flat leaves more long than broad, and fometimes longer and narrower; fometimes all’o linooth on the edges, and lometimes a little waved; fometimes plain, finooth, and pointed, of a fad green, and fometimes a bluifli, colour, every one (landing by itfelf, upon a long foot-llalk, which is brownilh or greenifli alfo, from among which arife many (lender llalks, bearing few leaves thereon like the other, but longer and lefler for the mod part: At the tops whereof grow many whitifli flowers, with yellow threads in the middle, (landing about a green head, which becometh the feed veil'd, which will be fomewhat flat when it is ripe, wherein is contained reddilh feed, tailing fomewhat hot. The root is made of many white firings, which (lick deeply into the mud, wherein it chiefly delights, yet it will well abide in the more upland and drier ground, and tafleth a little brackifh and fait even there, but not fo much as where it hath the fait water to feed upon. Place.'} It groweth all along the Thames fide, both on the Eflex and Kcntifh (bores, from Woolwich round about the fcacoafts to Dover, Port (mouth, and even to Briflol, where it is had in plenty; the other with round leaves groweth in the marflies in Holland, in Lincolnfhirc, and other places of Lincolnfhive by the lca-fide. Defer ipt.} There is alfo another fort called Dutch Scurvy- grafs, which is mod known, and frequent in gardens, which hath frefli, green, and almoft round, leaves, riling from the root, not fo thick as the former, yet in fomc rich ground, very large, even, twice as big as in others, not dented about the edges, or hollow in the middle, (landing on a long foot- ftalk, from among thefe rife long, (lender (bilks, higher than the former, with more white flowers at the tops of them, which turn into (mail pods, and (mailer brownifli feed than the former; the root is white, (mail, and thready. The fade is nothing fait at all ; it hath a hot, aromatical, fpicy fade. Time.} It flowereth in April and May, and giveth feed ripe quickly after. Government and Virtues.} It is an herb of Jupiter. The Englifli Scurvygrafs is more ufed for the fait tade itbeareth, which doth fomewhat open and cleanfe, but the Dutch 273 The Englifh Phyfician Enlarged. Scurvygrafs is of better effedf, and chiefly ufed (if it may be had) by thofe that have the feurvy, and is of Angularly good effedt to cleanfe the blood, liver, and fpleen, taking the juice in the Spring every morning fading in a cup of drink. The decodtion is good for the fame purpofe, and openeth obflruc- tions, evacuating cold, clammy, and phlegmatic humours both from the liver and the fpleen, and bringingthc body to a more lively colour. The juice alfo helpeth all foul ulcers and fores in the mouth, gargled therewith ; and ufed out- wardly, cleanfeth the fkin from fpots, marks, or fears that happen therein. Self-Heal. Called alfo Prunel, Carpenter’s Herb, Hook-Heal, and Sickle-wort. Defcript.] rTpHE common Self-Heal is a fmail, low, creep- JL ing herb, having many fmail, rcundifh- pointed leaves, like leaves of wild mints, of a dark green co- lour, without dents on the edges; from among which rife fquarc, hairy (talks, fcarcc afoot high, which fpread fome- times into branches with fmail leaves fet thereon, up to the tops, where (land brovvn-fpiked heads of fmail brownilh leaves like fcales and flowers together, almoft like the head of cafli- dony, which flowers arc gaping, and of a bluifh purple, or more pale blue, in fome places fweet, but not fo in others. The root confills of many fibres downward, and fpreadeth firings alfo whereby it increafeth. The fmail llalks, with the leaves creeping on the ground, (hoot forth fibres taking hold vCi the ground, whereby it is made a great tuft in a fhort time. Place. ] It is found in woods and fields everywhere. Tune. ~ It flowereth in May, and fometimes in April. Government and Virtues.] Here is another herb ot Venus. Self-Heal, whereby when you are "hurt you may heal your- fe'if : It is a fpetial herb for inward and outward wounds. Take it inwardly in fyrups for inward wounds; outwardly in tinge untt- and pi ifters for outward. As Self-Heal is like Bugle in form, lo alfo in the qualities and virtues, ferving for all the purpofes whereto Bugle is applied with good fuc- cefs, either inwardly or outwardly, for inward wounds or ul- cers whatsoever within the body, for bruifes or (alls, and fuch-like hurts. If it be accompanied with Bugle, Sanicle, apd other the like wound-herbs, it will be more effectual to wafli The Englifh Phyfician Enlarged. 279 wafh or injedl into ulcers in the parts outwardly. Where there is caule to reprefs the heat and fharpnefs of humours flowing to any fores, ulcers, inflammations, fwellings, or the like, or to ft ty the flux of blood in any wound or part, this is ufcd with i'ome good luccefs ; as alfo to cleanfe the foulnefs of fores, and caul'e them more fpeedily to be healed. It is an efpecial remedy for all green wounds, to folder the lips of them, and to keep the place from any further inconveniences. 'The juice hereof ui'ed with oil of roles, to anoint the temples and forehead, is very elfedlual to remove the head-ach, and the fame mixed with honey of roles, cleanfeth and healeth all ulcers in the mouth and throat, and thofe alfo in the fecret parts. And the proverb of the Germans, French, and others, is verified in this, That he needeth neither phyfician nor l'ur- gcon that hath Sclf-IIeal and Sauielc to help himfelf. The Service Tree. IT is fo well known in the place where it grows, that it needeth no defeription. 1 ■me.'] It flowereth before the end of May, and the fruit is ripe in October. Government and Virtues. ] Services, when they are mel- low, are fit to be taken to fray fluxes, fcouring, and calling, yet lefs than medlars. It they be dried before they be mel- low, and kept all the year, they may be ufcd in decoftions for the faid purpofe, either to drink, or to bathe the parts requiring it; and are profitably ufed in tjiat manner to ftay the bleeding of wounds, and of the mouth ornofc, to be ap- plied to the forehead, and nape of the neck; and are under the dominion of Saturn. Shepherd's Purfe. IT is called Whoreman’s Permacetv, Shepherd's Scrip, Shepherd’s Pounce, Toy wort, Pickpurfe, andCafewort. Dcfcript .] The root is linul I, white, and perillierh every year. The leaves are fnrall and long, of a pale green colour, and deeply cut in on both fides, among which fpring up a ilalk which is fmall and round, containing fmall leaves upon it even to the top. The flowers are white and very fmall ; after which come the little cafes which hold the feed, which ore flat, almoft in the form of a heart. O 2 Place. ] e8o The Englifti Phyfician Enlarged. Place.'] They are frequent in this nation, almoft by every path-iide. Time.] They flower all the Summer long; nay, fome of them are fo fruitful that they flower twice a year. Government and Virtues.] It is under the dominion of Sa- turn, and of a cold, dry, and binding nature, like to him. It helps all fluxes of blood, either cauled by inward or outward wounds ; as alfo flux of the belly, and bloody-flux, fpitting and piffing of blood, Hops the terms in women ; being bound to the w rifts of the hands, and the foies of the feet, it helps the yellow jaundice. The herb, being made into a poultice, helps inflammations and St Anthony’s lire. The juice being dropped into the ears, heals the pains, noife, and mattering* thereof. A good ointment may be made of it for all wounds, efpecially wounds in the head. Smallage. THIS is alfo very well known, and therefore I fliall not trouble the reader with any defeription thereof. Place.] It groweth naturally in dry and marftiy grounds ; but if it be fown in gardens it there profpereth very well. Time.] It abideth green all the Winter, and feedeth in Auguft. Government and Virtues.] It is an herb of Mercury. Smal- lage is hotter, drier, and much more medicinal than Parfley, for it much more openeth obltrudions of the liver and fpleen, rarifieth thick phlegm,. and cleanfeth it and the blood withal. It provoketh urine and women’s courfes, and is Angularly good againftthe yellow jaundice, tertian and quartan agues, if the juice thereof be taken, but efpecially made up into a fyrup. The juice alfo, put to honey of rofes, and barley water, is very good to>garglethe mouth and throat of thole that have fores and ulcfcrs in them, and will quickly heal them. The fame lotion alfo cleanfeth and healeth all other foul ul- cers and cankers ellewhere, if they bewafhed therewith. The feed is efpecially ufed to break and expel wind, to kill worms, and to help a ftinking breath. The root is eftedual to all the purpofes atorefaid, and is held to be ftronger in operation than the herb, but efpecially to open obftrudions, and to rid away any ague, if the juice thereof be taken in wine, or the deco&ion thereof in wine be ufed. Sopewort, The Englifh Phyfician Enlarged. 281 Sopewort, or Bruifewort. Defcript .] rT"'HE root creepeth under ground far and near, X with many joints therein, of a brown colour on the outfide, and yellow within, Ihooting forth in divers places weak round (bilks, full of joints, fet with two leaves a-piece at every one of them on the contrary lide, which ,i are ribbed fomewhat like the plantain, and fafliioned like the common field white campion leaves, feldom having any j branches from the fides of the (bilks, but fet with flowers at the top, (landing in long hulks like the wild campions, made of five leaves a-piece, round at the ends, and dented in the , middle, of a rofe colour, almoft white, fometimes deeper, fometimes paler, of a realbnable feent. Place."] It growethwild in many low and wet grounds of this land, by brooks and the fides of running waters. Time.] It fiowercth ufually in July, rind l'o continueth all Auguft, and part of September, before they be quite (pent. Temperature and Virtues.] Venus owns it, The country people in divers places do ufe to bruife the leaves of Sope- wort, and lay it to their fingers, hands, or legs, when they are cut, to heal them up again. Some make great boalt thereof, that it is diuretical to provoke urine, and thereby to expel gravel and the (lone in the reins or kidneys, and do alfo account it (angularly goodto void hydropical waters ; and they no lefs extol it to perform an abfolute cure in the French pox,, more than either larfaparilla, guaiacum, or China can do j which, how true it is, I leave others to judge. Sorrel. OUR ordinary Sorrel, which grows in gardens, and alfo wild in the fields, is l'o well known, that it needeth no defeription. Government and Virtues.] It is under the dominion of Ve- nus. Sorrel is prevalent in all hot difeafes, to cool any in- flammation and heat of biood in agues, peflilential or choleric, or ficknefs and fainting, arifing from heat, and to refrefh the ’ over-lpent Ipirits with the violence of furious or fiery fits of l agues; to quench third, and procure an appetite in fainting or decaying flomachs, tor it refifleththe putrefaftion of the ,5 blood, killeth worms, and is a cordial to the heart, which the feed doth more eflebtually, being more drying and bind- 1 ing, and thereby flaycth the hot fluxes of women’s courles, ; O 3 or I 282 The Englifh Phyfician E'nlarge'd. or of humours in the bloody flux, or flux of the ftomach. The root alfo in a decoiftion, or in powder, is effedtual for all the laid purpofes. Both roots and feeds, as well as the herb, aie held powerful to refill the poifon of thd fcorpion. The decodlion of the roots is taken to help the jaundice, and to expel the gravel and the fione in the reins or kidneys. The decodlion of the flowers made with wine, and drank, helpeth the black jaundice, as alfo the inward ulcers of the body and bowels. A fyrup made with the juice of Sorrel and fumitory, is a fovereign help to kill thofe fharp humours thatcaufe the itch. The juice thereof, with a little vinegar, ferveth well to be ufed outwardly for the fame caufe, and is alfo profit- able for tetters, ringworms, &c. It helpeth alfo to difeufs the kernels in the throat ; and the juice gargled in the mouth helpeth the fores therein. The leaves wrapt in a colevvort leal, and roalled in the embers, and applied to a hard im- pofthume, blotch, boil, or plague fore, doth both ripen and break it. The diftilled water of the herb is of much good life for all the purpofes aforefaid. Wood Sorrel. Defcript. ] | "Mi IS grovveth upon the ground, having a. I number of leaves coming from the root, made of three leaves, like a trefoil, but broad at the ends, and cut in the middle, of a yellowifh gretn colour, every one Handing on a long foot-ftalk, which at their iirft coming up are clofe folded together to the ilalk, but opening themfelves afterwards, and are of a fine four rclifh, and yielding a juice which will turn red when it is clarified, and maketh a mod dainty clear fyrup. Among thefe leaves rife up divers tender, weak foot-ftalks, with every one of them a flower at the top, contifting of five fmall-pointcd leaves, liar fafliion, of a white colour, in moil places, and in fome dallied over with a fmall fliow of bluifh, on the backfide only. Alter the flowers are pall, there then follow fmall, round heads, with ('mail ycl* low feed in them. The roots are nothing but fmall firings failened to the end of a fmall, long piece j all of them being of a yellowifh colour. PlacfJ] It groweth in many places of our land, in woods, and wood-iides, where they be moift and fhadowed, and in other places not too much open to the fun. Tune. j 5 "be Englifh Phyfician Enlarged. 283 Time.’] It flowereth in April and May. Government and Virtues Venus owns it. Wood Sorrel ferveth to all the purpofes that the other Sorrels do, and is more effectual in hindering putrefaction of blood, and ulcers in the mouth and body, and to quench third, toftrengthen a weak ftomach, to procure an appetite, to day vomiting, and very excellent in any contagious dcknefs or pcdilenti.il levers. The fyrup made of the juice is effectual in all the cafes aforefaid, and lb is the. diftillcd water of the herb. Spon- ges or linen cloths wet in the juice, and applied outwardly to any hot fwelling or inflammations, doth much cool and help them. The fame juice taken and gargled in the mouth, and after it is fpit forth, taken afrefli, doth wonderfully help a foul, Ainking canker or ulcer therein. It is Angularly good to heal wounds, or to flay the bleeding of thrufls or dabs in the body. Sow Thiftle. SOW Thidles are generally fo well known that they need no defeription. Place.] They grow in gardens and manured grounds, fometimes by old walls, path-lides of fields and highways. Government and Virtues.] This and the former are under the influence of Venus. SowThiftles are cooling, andfome* what binding, and are very fit to cool a hot ftomach, and eafe the pains thereof. The herb, boiled in wine, is very helpful to flay the diffolution of the ftomach, and the milk that is taken from the ftalks when they are broken, given in drink, is beneficial to thofe that arc fliort-winded, and have a wheezing. Pliny faith that it hath caufed the gravel and done to be voided by urine, and that the eating thereof help- etli a ftinking breath. T he decoCtion of the leaves and ftalks caufeth abundance of milk in nurfes, and their chil- dren to be well coloured. The juice or diftilled wat>r is good lor all hot inflammations, wheals, and eruptions or heat in the flvin, itching of the haemorrhoids. The juice boiled or thoroughly heated in a little oil of bitter almonds in the peel of a pomegranate, and dropped into the cars, is a fure re- medy for deafnefs, fingings, &c. Three fpoonfuls of the juice taken warmed in white wine, and lbmc wine put there- to, caufeth woman in travail to have fo eafy and fpeedy de- livery that they may be able to walk prcfenily after. It is O .1 won- 2 §4 The Englifli Phyfician Enlarged. wonderfully good for women to wafli their faces with, to clear the lkin, and give it a luAre. Southern Wood. SOUTHERN Wood is fo well known to be an ordinary inhabitant in our gardens that I fliall not need to trouble you w'ith any defeription thereof. Time .] It flowereth for the mod part in July and Auguft. Government and Virtues .] It is a gallant Mercurial plant, worthy of more efleem than it hath. Diofcorides faith that the feed bruifed, heated in warm water, and drank, helpeth thofe that arc burden, or rroubled with cramps or convul- (Ions of the finews, thefciatica, or difficulty in making wrater, and bringing down women’s courfes. The lame taken in wine is an antidote, or counter-poifon, againA all deadly poifon, anddriveth away ferpents and other venomous crea- tures; as alfo the finell of the herb, being burnt, doth the lame. The oil thereof anointed on the back bone before the (Its of the agues come, taketh them away : It taketh away in- llammations in the eyes, if it be put with feme part of a roafl- cd quince, and boiled with a few' crumbs of bread, and ap- plied. Boiled with barley-meal, it taketh away pimples, pulhes, or wdieals that arife in the face, or other parts of the body. The feed, as well as the dried herb, is often given to kill worms in children : The herb bruifed and laid to, help- cth to draw forth fplinters and thorns out of the flefli. The afnes thereof drieth up and liealcth old ulcers that are with- out inflammation, although by the lharpnefs thereof it biteth fore, and puttetn them to fore pains; as alfo the fores in the privy parts of man or woman. The allies mingled with old lallad oil, helpeth thofe that have hair fallen, and are bald, caufing the hair to grow: again either on the head or beard. Darantcrs faith that the oil made of Southern Wood, and put among the ointments that are ufed again A the French dileafe, is very effectual, and likewife killeth lice in the head. The diftil led water of the herb is faid to help them much that are troubled with the flone, as alfo for the difeafes of the fpleen and mother. The Germans commend itfora Angular wound- herb, and therefore call it Stabwort. It is held by all wri- ters, ancient and modern, to be more offenfivc to the flomach than w'ormvvood. Spignel.. The Englifh Phyfician Enlarged. 285 Spignel. Defcript.~\ * |“*HE roots of common Spignel do fpread 1 much and deep in the ground, many firings or branches grow'-g from one head, which is hairy at the top, of a blackifh brown colour on the outiide, and white within, iineiling well, and of an aromatical tafte, from whence rile fundrv long lla'd-s of mull fine cut leaves like hair, imaller than dill, fet thick on both tides of the flalks, and of a good leent. Among thefe leaves rife up round flifF flalks, with a lew joints and leaves on them, and at the tops an umbel of fine pure white flowers; at the edges whereof fometimes will be feen a lbew of the reddifh, bluifh colour, efpecially before they be full blown, and are fucceeded by fmall, fomewh.it round feeds, bigger than the ordinary fen- nel, and ot a brown colour, divided into two parts, and crufled on the back, as moil of the umbelliferous feeds are. Place. 1 It groweth wild in Lancafhire, Yorkfhire, and other northern counties, and is all'o planted in gardens. Gov rnment and Virtues. ] It is an herb of Venus. Galen faith the roots of Spignel are available to provoke urine and women’s courfes ; but, if two much thereof be taken, it cau- eth hcad-ach. The roots boiled in wine or water, and drank, hclperh the flranguary and lloppings of urine, the wind, fwellings, and pains in the flomach, pains of the mother, and all joint-achs. If the powder of the root be mixed w ith ho- ney, and the fame taken as a licking medicine, it breaketh tough phlegm, and drieth up the rhuem that f llcth on the lungs. The roots are accounted very effedtual againfl the flinging or biting of any venomous creature, and is one of the ingredients in mithridate, and other antidotes of the fame. Spleemvort, or Ceterach. Dcjc ript.~\ fmooth Spleemvort, from a black, thready, -1 and bufhy root, fendeth forth many long, finglc leaves, cut in on both iides into rounddents almofl to the middle, which is not lo hard as that of polypody, each j divifion being not always fet oppofitc unto the other, cut between each, fmooth, and of a light green on the upper fide, and a dark yellowifh roughnefs on the back, foldingor rolling itfelf inward at the firft fpringing up. , Place. J ft groweth as well upon itone walls as moiftalid O 5 fhadowy 2.86 The Englifh Phyfician Enlarged, fhadowy places, about Briftol, and other weftern parts, plen- tifully; as alfo on Frainlingham Caflle, on Beaconsfield church in Berkfliire, at Stroud in Kent, and elfcwhere, and abideth green all the Winter. Government and Virtues.'] Saturn owns it. It is generally ufed againft infirmities of the fpleen ; It helpeth the ftran- guary, and wafteth the flone in the bladder, and is good againft the yellow jaundice, and the hiccough ; but the juice of it in women hindereth conception. Matthiolus faith that if a dram of the duft that is on the backfide of the leaves be mixed with half a dram of amber in powder, and taken with the juice of purfiain and plantain, it helps the running of the reins fpcedily, and that the herb and root being boiled and taken, helpeth all melancholy difeafes, and thofe cfpecially that ar’rfe fVom the French difeafe. Camerarius faith that the diftilled water thereof, being drank, is very effedtual againft the ftonc in the reins and bladder; and that the lee that is made of theafhes thereof, being drank for fome time together, helpeth fplenetic perfons. It is ufed in outward remedies for the fame purpofe. Star Thiflle. Defer ipt .] \ COMMON Star Thiftle hath divers narrow leaves lying next the ground, cut in on the edges, fomewhat deeply, into many parts, foft or a little wool- ly, all over green, among which rife up divers weak ftalks parted into many branches, all lying down to the ground, that it feemeth a pretty bufli, fet with divers the like-divided leaves up to the tops, where feverally do (land fmall, whitifli, green heads, fet with (harp white pricks, (no part of the plant elfe being prickly) which are fomewhat yellowifh ; out of the middle whereof rifeth the flowers, compofed of many fmall reddifh purple threads; and in the heads, after the flowers arepaft, come fmall, whitifli, round feed, lying down as others do. The root is fmall, long, and woody, perilhing every year, and rifing again of their own {owing. Plave.~\ They grow wild in the fields about London in many places, as at Mile-End Green, in Finlbury fields be- yond the Windmills, and many other places. Time .] It flowereth early, and feedeth in July, and times in Auguft. Government and Firtues ,] This, as almoft all Thiftlcs are, 6 ' is The Englilh Phyfician 'Enlarged. 287 5s under Mars. The feed of this Star Thiftle made into pow- der, and drank in wine, provoketh urine, and helpeth to break the ftone, and drive it forth. The root in powder, and given in wine and drank, is good againft the plague and pef- tilence ; and drank in the morning fading for feme time to-' gether, it is very profitable for a fiflula in any part of the body. Baptifta Sardas doth much commend the dillilled water here- of, being drank, to help the French difeafe, to open the ob- ftruftions of the liver, and cleanfe the blood from corrupted humours, and is profitable againft »ue quotidian and tertian agues. Strawberries. THESE are fo well known through this land that they need no defeription. Time.] They flower in May ordinarily, and the fruit is ripe fhortly after. Government and Virtues. ] Venus owns the hetb. Straw- berries, when they are green, are cool and dry; but whefv they are ripe they are cool and moift ; The berries are ex- cellently good to cool the liver, the blood, and the fpleen, or an hot choleric ftomach; to refrefh and comfort the faint- ing fpirits, and quench thirft : They are good alio for other inflammations; yet it is not amifs to refrain from them in a fever, lcll, by their putrifyingin the (tomach, they increale the fits. The leaves and roots boiled in wine and water, and dftuik, do likcwile cool the liver and blood, and afliiage all inflammations in the reins and bladder, provoke urine, and allay the heat and fharpnefs thereof. The fame alfo, being drank, ftayeth the bloody-flux and women’s courfes, and helps the lwelling of the fpleen. The water of the berries, care- fully dillilled, is a fovereign remedy and cordial in the pant- ing and beating of the heart, and is good for the yellow jaun- dice. The juice dropped into foul ulcers, or they walked therewith, or the dccodtion of the herb and root, doth won- derfully cleanfe and help to cure them. Lotions and gargles for fore mouths, or ulcers therein, or in the privy parts, or elfewhere, are made with the leaves and roots thereof, which 13 alfo good to fallen loofe teeth, and to heal fpungy, foul j^iius. It helpeth alfo to flay catarrhs, o ' defluxions ot rheum in the mouth, throat, teeth, oreyes. The juice or water is Angularly good for hot and red inflamed eyes, if dropped into O 6 them, 28 8 The Englifh Phyfician Enlarged. them, or they bathed therewith. It is alfo of excellent pro- perty for all pufhes, wheals, and other breakings forth of hot and fharp humours in the face and hands, and other parts of the body, to bathe them therewith, and to take away any rednefs in the face, or fpots, or other deformities in the Ikin, and to make it clear and finooth. Some ule this medicine: Take as many Strawberries as you fhall think fitting, and put them into a diftillatory, or body of glafs fit for them, which being well clofed, fet it in a bed of horfe-dung for your ule. It is an excellent water lor hot, inflamed eyes, and to take away a film or fkin that beginneth to grow over them, and for fuch other defects in them as may be helped by any outward medicine* Succory. Defaipt.'] r I ''HE garden Succory hath longer and narrower X leaves than the Endive, and more cut in or torn on the edges, and the root abideth many years. It bcar- cth alfo blue flowers like Endive, and the leed is hardly difi*. tinguiflted from the feed of the fmooth or ordinary Endive. The wild Succory hath divers long leaves lying on the ground, very much cut in or torn on the cages, on both fides, even to the middle rib, ending in a point ; fometimes it hath a rib down to the middle of the leaves, from among which rifeth up a hard, round, woody flalk,. fpreading into many branches, fet with fmaller and lefler divided leaves on them up to the tops, where fland the flowers, which are like the garden kind, and the feed is alfo, (only take notice that the flowers of the garden kind are gone in on a funny day, they being fo cold that they are not able to endure the beams of the fun, and therefore more delight in the lhade) the root is white, but more hard and woody than the garden kind. The whole plant is exceeding bitter. Place.’] This groweth in many places of our land in wafte unfilled and barren fields. The other in gaidens. Government and Pirtues.] It is an herb of Jupiter. Garden Succory, as it is more dry and lefs cold than Endive, fo it openeth more. An handful ol the leaves or roots boiled in. wine or water, and a draught thereof drank fading, driveth forth choleric and phlegmatic humours, and openeth ob-^ Eruptions The Englifh Phyfician Enlarged. 289 ftrudfions of the liver, gall, and fpleen ; helpeth the yellow jaundice, the heat of the reins, and of the urine ; the dropfy alfo; and thofe that have an evil dil'polition in their bodies, by real'on of long ficknefs, evil diet, See. which the Greeks call Cachexia. A decoction thereof made with wine, and drank, is very effedtual againft long lingering agues ; and a dram of the feed in powder, drank in wine, before the fit of the ague, helpeth to drive it away. The diflilled water of the herb and flowers (if you can take them in time) hath the like properties, and is efpeciallv good for hot flomachs, and in agues, either peflilential or of long continuance; for fwoonings and paflions of the heart, for the heat and head ach in children, and for the blood and liver. The faid water, or the juice, or the bruifed leaves applied outwardly, allays fwellings, inflammations, St. Anthony’s fire, pufhes, wheals and pimples, efpeciallv ufed with a little vinegar; as alfo to wafh peftiferous fores. The faid water is very effec- tual for fore eyes that are inflamed with rednefs, for nurfes breads that are painet^by the abundance of milk. The wild Succory, as it is more bitter, fo it is more Arengthening to the Aomach and liver. Stone-Crop, Prick-Madam, or Small-Houfleek. Defcript.] TT groweth with divers trailing branches upon X the ground, let with many thick, flat, roundifli, whitifh, green leaves, pointed at the ends. The flowers Hand many of them together, fomewhat loofely. The roots are final), and run creeping underground. Place.] It groweth upon done walls and mud walls, upon the tiles of houfes, and pent-houfes, and amongfl rubbifli, and in other gravelly places. Time. It flowereth 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 fomething binding, and therefore very good to day defliudions, clpecially fuch as fall upon the eyes. It flops bleeding, both inward and outward, helps cankers, and all fretting fores and ulcers ; It abates the heat of choler thereby preventing diieafes ariiing from choleric humours. It expels poiion much, ' xeiiflcth peflilential fevers, being exceeding good alio for tertian f ■ 1 *r ■ to. 1; 290 *The Englifh Pljyficiari Enlarged. tertian agues : You may drink the decodtion of it, if you plcafe, for all the foregoing infirmities. It is fo hartnlcfs an herb, you can fcarce Life it amifs: Being bruife'd and applied to the place, it helps the king’s-evil, or any other knots or kernels in the flefli ; as alfo the piles. Englifh Tobacco. Dcfcript .] r r'HIS rifeth up with a round thick fialk, about X two feet high, whereon do grow thick, flat green leaves, nothing fo large as the other Indian kind, fomewhat round-pointed alfo, and nothing dented about the edges. The flalk branches forth, and benreth at the tops divers flowers let on great hulks like the other, but nothing lo large ; fcarce Handing above the brims of the hulks, round* pointed alfo, and of a greenifh yellow colour. The feed that followeth is net fo blight, but larger, contained in the like great heads. The roots are neither fo great nor woody ; it perilheth every year with the hard frofis in Winter, but rifeth generally of its own fowing. Place.'] This came from foine parts of Brafil, as it is thought, and is more familiar in our country thaii any of the other forts; early giving ripe feed, which the others feldoin do. Time.] It flowereth from June, fometimes to the end of Auguft, or later, and the feed ripencth in the mean time. Government and Virtues.] It is a martial plant. It is found by good experience to be available to expe&orate tough phlegm from the flomach, cheft, and lungs. The juice there- of made into a fyrup, or the diddled water of the herb drank with fome fugar, or without, if you will, or the finoak taken by a pipe, as is ufual, but fading, helpeth to expel worms in the lloraach and belly, and to eale the pains in the head, or megrim and the griping pains in the bowels. It is profitable for thofc that are troubled with the Hone in the kidneys, both to cafe the pains by provoking urine, and all'o to expel gravel and the Hone engendered therein, and hath been found very effedtual to expel vvindinels, and other hu- mours, which caufe the flrangllng of the mother. The feed hereof is very efte&ual to expel the tooth-ach, and the allies of the burnt herb to cleanfe the gums, and make the teeth white. The herb bruifed land applied to the place grieved with The Englifh Phyfician Enlarged. 291 with the king’s-evil, hclpeth it in nine or ten days effe&ually. Monardus faith, it is a counter-poifon again A the biting of any venomous creature, the herb alio being outwardly ap- plied to the hurt place. The diddled water is often given with fome fugar before the fit of an ague, to lefl'en it, and take it away in three or four times tiling. If the diddled faecis of the herb, having been bpuifed before the didillation, and not diflilled dry, be fet in warm dung for fourteen days, and afterwards be hung up in a bag in a wine cellar, the li- quor that diddleth therefrom is Angularly good to ufe for cramps, achs, the gout, and fciatica, and to heal itches, fcabs, and running ulcers, cankers, and all foul fores what- foever. The juice is alfo good for all the faid griefs, and likewife to kill lice in children’s heads. The green herb bruifed and applied to any green wounds, cureth any frefh wound or cut whatfoever; and the juice put into old fores, both elcanfeth and healetn them. There is alfo made hereof a Angular good falve to help impoAhumes, hard tumours, and other lwellings by blows and falls. The Tamar ifk-Tree. IT is fo well known in the places where it grows, that it needeth no defeription. Time.'] It flowereth about the end of May, or in June, and the feed is ripe and blown away in the beginning of September. Government and Virtues.] A. gallant Saturnine herb it is. The root, leaves, young branches, or bark, boiled in wine, and drank, flays the bleeding of the haemorrhoidal veins, the fpitting of blood, the too abounding of women’s courfes, the jaundice, the cholic, and the biting of all venomous ferpents, except the afp ; and outwardly applied, is veiy powerful againft the hardnefs of the fplecn, and the tooth- ach, pains in the ears, red and watering eyes. The decoc- tion, with fome honey put thereto, is good to flay gangrenes and fretting ulcers, and to wafh thofe that are fubjeft to nit* and lice. Alpinus and Veflingius aflirm, that the Egyptians do with good fuccef3 ufe the wood of it to cure the French difeafe, as others do with lignum vitae or guaiacum ; and give it alfo to thofe who have the leprofy, fcabs, ulcers, or the like. Its allies doth quickly heal bliflers railed by burnings or 19 2 The Englifh Phyfician Enlarged. or fcaldings. It helps the dropfy, ariling from hardnefs of the fpleen, and therefore to drink out of cups made of the wood is good for fplenctic perfons. It is alio helpful for melancholy, and the black jaundice that arifeth thereof. Garden Tanfy. C-'l ARDEN Tanfy is fo well known, that it needeth no Jf defeription. Time.] It flowereth in June or Julv. Government and V'rtues .] Dame Venus was minded to pleafure women with child by this herb, for there grows not an herb fitter for their ufe than this is; it is j till as though it were cut out for the purpofe. This herb bruifed and applied to the navel, days mifearriages ; 1 know no herb like it for that ufe : Boiled in ordinary beer, and the decodtion drank,, doth the like; and if her womb be not as file wrould have it, this decoclion will make it fo. Let thole women that de- fire children love this herb, it is their bed companion, (their luilbands excepted.) Alfo it confumes the phlegmatic hu- mours, the cold and mcid conditution of Winter mod ufually affeds the body of man with, arid that w as the fird reafon of eating Tanfies in the Spring. At lad the world being over-run with Popery, a monder called Superdition perks up his head, and, as a judgement of God, obfeures the bright beams of knowledge by his difmal looks ; (phydeiana feeing the Pope and his imps felfifh, they began to do fo too) and now forfooth Tanfies mud be eaten only on Palm and Eader Sundays, and their neighbour days: At lad fu perdi- tion being too hot to hold, and the (elfilhnefs of phjficians walking in the clouds ; after the Friars and Monks had made the people ignorant, the fuperdition of the time was found out, by the virtue of the herb hidden, and now it is almod, if not altogether, left off. Surely our pbyficians are beholden to none fo much as they are to Monks and Friars: For want of eating this herb in Spring, maketh people fickly in Summer ; and that makes w< rk for the phyfician. If it be againd any man or woman’s confidence to eat Tanfy in the Spring, I am as unwilling tu burthen their confidence, as 1 am that they Ihould burthen mine; thrv may boil it in wine and drink the dccodion, it will work the fame effed.. The Englifh Phyfician Enlarged. 293 The decodtion of the common Tanfy, or the juice drank in wine, is a Angular remedy for all the griefs that come by flopping of the urine, helpeth the ftranguary, and thofe that have weak reins and kidneys. It is alfo very profitable to dif- folve and expel wind in the ftotnach, belly, or bowels, to pro- cure women’s courfes, and expel windinefs in the matrix, if it be bruifed and often fmelled unto, as alfo applied to the lower part of the belly. It is alfo very profitable for fuch women a? are given to mifearry in child-bearing, to caufe them to go out their full time : It is ufed alfo againft the ftone in the reins, efpeciallv to men. The herb fryed with eggs (as it is accullomed in the Spring-time) which is called a Tanfy, helpeth to digeft and carry downward thofe bad hu- mours that trouble the ftoraach. The feed is very profitable given to children for the worms, and the juice in drink is as effectual. Being boiled in oil, it is good for the finews Ihrunk by cramps, or pained with colds, if thereto applied. Wild Tanfy, or, Silver Weed. THIS is alfo fo well known, that it needeth no deferip- tion. Place. ] It groweth almoft in every place. Time. J It flowereth in June and July. Goverrfmcnt and Virtues .] Now Dame Venus hath fitted women with two herbs of one name, one to help conception, the other to maintain beauty, and what more can be expedi- ed of her ? What now remains for you, but to love your hufbands, and not to be wanting to your poor neighbours ? Wild Tanfy ftayeth the lalk, and all the fluxes of blood in men and women, which fome fay it will do, if the green herb be worn in the fhoes, fo it be next the fkin ; and it is true enough, that it will flop the terms, if worn fo, and the whites too, for aught I know. It ftayeth alfo fpitting or vomitting of blood. The powder of the herb taken in fome of the diftilled water, helpeth the whites in women, but more efpecially if a little coral and ivory in powder be put to it. It is alfo commended to help children that are burden, and have a rupture, being boiled in water and fait. Being boiled in water and drank, it eafeth the griping pains of the bowels, and is good for the fciatica and joint-achs. The fame boiled in vinegar, with honey and allurn, and gargled in the mouth, eafeth the pains of the tooth-ach, fafteneth loofe teeth, helpeth 294 eH-e Englirti Phyfician Enlarged. helpcth the gums that are fore, and fcttleth the palate of the mouth in its place, when it is fallen down. It cleanfeth and healeth ulcers in the mouth or fecret parts, and is very good for inward wounds, and to clofe the lips of green wounds, and to heal old, moilf, and corrupt running fores in the legs or ellevvhere. Being bruifed and applied to the foies of the feet and hand-wrifts, it wonderfully cooleth the hot fits of the agues, be they ever fo violent. The diiliiled water cleanfeth the Ikin of all difcolourings there- in, as morphew, fun-burning, &c. as alfo pimples, treekles, and the like; and dropped into the eyes, or cloths wet therein and applied, taketh away the heat and inflammation# in them. Thirties. OF thefe are many kinds gu ,.g here in England, which are fo well known, that they need no deferip- tion : Their ditference are eafily known by the places where they grow', viz. Place .] Some grow in fields, fome in meadows, and fomc •ftmong the corn ; others on heaths, greens, and wafic grounds in many places. Tune. ] The flower in June and Auguft, and their feed is ripe quickly after. Government and Virtues .] Surely Mars rules it, it is fuch a prickly bufinefs. All thefe Thirties are good to provoke urine, and to mend the thinking fmell thereof; as alfo the rank fmell of the arm- pits, or the whole body, being boiled in wine and drank, and are laid alfo to help a {linking breath, and to flrengthen the ftomach. Pliny faith, that the juice bathed on the place that wanteth hair, it being fallen oft', will caule it to grow' again lpeedily. The Melancholy Thiftle. Dcfcript.~\ T T rifeth up with tender Angle hoary green T ftalks, bearing thereon four or five green leaves, dented about the edges ; the points thereof are little or nothing prickly, and at the top ufually but one head, yet fometimes from the bofom of the uppermoft leaves there fliooteth forth another fmall head, fcaly and prickly, with many reddifh thrumbs or threads in the middle, which being The Englifh Phyfician Enlarged . 295 being gathered frefh, will keep the colour a long time, and fadeth not from the flalk a long time, while it perfects the iced, which is of a mean bignefs, lying in the down. The root hath many firings fattened to the head, or upper part, which is blackifh, and perifheth not. There is another fort, little differing from the former, but that the leaves are more green above, and more hoary under- neath, and the {talk being about two feet high, beareth but one fcaly head, with threads and feeds as the former. Place.'] They grow in many moift meadows of this land, as well in the fouthern, as in the northern parts. Tune.] They flower about July or Auguft, and their feed ripeneth quickly after. Government and Virtues.] It is under Capricorn, and therefore under both Saturn and Mars; one rids melancho- ly by fympathy, the other by antipathy. Their virtues are but few, but thofe not to be defpiied ; for the decoftion of the Thiflle in wine being drank, expels fuperflous melan- choly out of the body, and makes a man as merry as a cricket; fuperfluous melancholy caufeth care, fear, fadnefs, defpair, envy, and many evils more befides ; but religion teacheth to wait upon God’s providence, and call our care upon him who careth for us. What a fine thing were it if men and women could live fo ; and yet feven years care and fear makes a man never the wifer, nor a farthing richer. Diofcorides faith, the root borne about one doth the like, and removes all difeafes of melancholy. Modern writers laugh at him : Let them laugh that win, my opinon is, that it is the bell remedy againft all melancholy difeafes that grows : they that pleafe may ufe it. Our Lady’s Thiflle. Defcript. ] Lady’s Thiflle hath divers very large and broad leaves lying on the ground cut in, and as it were crumpled, but fomewhat hairy on the edges, of a white green lhining colour, wherein are many lines and flreaks of a milk-white colour running all over, and let with many fliarp and itift' prickles all about, among which rifeth up one or more ilrong, round and prickly b jftalks, let full of the like leaves up to the top, where, at '•the end of every branch, comes forth a great prickly Thiltle- 296 Englifh Phyfician Enlarged. Thiftle-like head, llrongly armed with prickles, and with bright purple thrums riling out of the middle: After they are pad, the feed groweth in the faid heads, lying in fioft white down, which is fomewh.it flattifh in the ground, and many firings and fibres faftened thereunto. All the whole plant is bitter in talle. Place.] It is frequent on the banks of almoft every ditch. Time.] It flowereth and leedeth in June, July, and Auguft. Government and Virtues.] Our Lady’s Thillle is under Jupiter, and thought to be as effectual as Card u us Benedidus for agues, and to prevent and cure the infection of the plague; as alfo to open the obftrudions of the liver and fpleen, and thereby is good againft the jaundice. It pro- voketh urine, breakefhand expellcth the ltone, and is good for the dropfy. It is eftedual alfo for the pains in the fides, and many other inward pains and gripings. The feed and dillilled water are held powerful to all the purpofes aforefaid, and befidcs, it is often applied both outwardly with cloths or fpunges, to the region of the liver, to cool the diftemperv thereof, and to the region of the heart, againft fvvoonings and paffions of it. It clean feth the biood exceedingly; and in Spring, if you pleafe to boil the tender plant (but cut off the prickles, unlefs you have a mind to choak yourfelf) it will change your blood as the feafon changeth, and that is the way to be fafe. The Woollen, or Cotton-ThifUe. Defcript.] r | 'HIS hath many large leaves lying upon the 1 ground, fomewhat cut in, and, as it were, crumpled on the edges, of a green colour on the upper tide, but covered over with a long hairy wool or cotton down, fet with mod lharp and cruel pricks; from the middle of whole heads of flowers come forth many purplifh crimfon threads, and fometimes white, although but feldom. The feed that followeth in thofe white downy heads, is fomewhat large and round, refembling the feed of Lady’s Thillle, but paler; The root is great and thick, lpreading much, yet ulually dieth after feed-time. Place.] It groweth on divers ditch-banks, and in the corn-fields and highways, generally throughout the land, and is often growing in gardens. Government and Virtues.] It is a plant of Mars. Diofcorides and The Englilh Phyfician Enlarged. 297 and Pliny write, that the leaves and roots hereof taken in drink, help thole that have a crick in their neck, that they cannot turn it, unlel's they turn their whole body. Galen faith, that the roots and leaves hereof are good for fuch per- fons that have their bodies drawn together by fome fpafm or convullion, or other infirmities ; as the rickets (or as the college of phylicians would have it, Rachites, about which name they have quarrelled fufficiently) in children, being a dileafe that hindereth their growth, by binding their nerves, ligaments, and whole ilrudture of the body. The Fuller’s Thiftle, or Teafle. IT is fo well known, that it needs no defeription, being ufed with the cloth-workers. The wild Teafle is in all things like the former, but that the prickles are fniall, loft, and upright, not hooked or fliff, and the flowers of this are of a fine bluifli, or pale carnation colour, but of the manured kind, whitilh. Place.] The firfl groweth, .being fown, in gardens or fields for the ufe of cloth-workers : The other near ditches aud rills of water in many places of this land. Time.] They flower in July, and are ripe in the end of Auguft. Government and Pirtues.] It is an herb of Venus. Diolco- rides faith, that the root bruil'cd and boiled in wine, till it be thick, and kept in a brazen veflel, and after fpread as a falve, and applied to the fundament, doth heal the cleft thereof, cankers and fiflulas therein, alfo taketh away warts and wens. The juice ot the leaves dropped into the ears, killeth worms in them. The difiilled water of the leaves dropped into the eyes, taketh aw#y rednels and mills in them that hinder the fight, and is often ufed by women to preferve their beauty, and to take away rednefs and inflammations, and all other heat or dilcolou rings. ■ ' Treacle Milliard. Dcfcript.] tT rifeth with a hard round fialk, about a foot X high, parted into fome branches, having di- vers foft green leaves, long and narrow, fet thereon, waved, but not cut into the edges, broadeft towards the ends, Tomewhat round-pointed ; the flowers are white that grow at 2^3 The Englifh Phyfician Enlarged. at the tops of the branches, fpike-fafhion, one above another; after which come round pouches, parted in the middle with a furrow, having one blackifh brown Iced on either fide, fpmewhat (harp, in tafte, and fmeiling of garlic, efpecially in the fields where it is natural, but not fo much in gardens : The roots are finall and thready, perilling every year. Give me leave here to add Mithridate Muftard, although it may feem more properly by the name to belong to M, in the alphabet. Mithridate Muftard. Dcfc ript.] rT'' HIS groweth higher than the former, X fpreadirig more and higher branches, vvhofe leaves are fmalier and narrower, fometiines unevenly dented about the edges. The flowers are imall and white, growing on long branches, with much fmalier and rounder veffels after them, and p arted in the fame manner, having fmalier brown feed than the former, and much fharper in tafte. The root perifheth after feed-time, but abideth the firft Winter after fp ringing. Place.] They grow in fundry places in this land, as half a mile from Hatfield, by the river fide, under a hedge as you go to Hatfield, and in the ftreet of Peckham, on Surry fide. - Time.] They flower and feed from May to Auguft. Government and Virtues.] Both of them are herbs of Mars. The Muftards are laid to purge, the body both upwards and downwards, and procurcth women’s courfes fo abundantly, that it fuffocateth the birth. It breaketh inward impoit- humes, being taken inwardly ; and ufed in clyfters, helpctb the fciatica. The feed applied, doth the tame. It is an efpecial ingredient unto mithridate and treacle, being of itlelf an antidote refilling poifon, venom, and putrefac- tion. It is alio available in many cafes for which the com- mon Muftard is ufed, but fomcvvhat weaker. The Black Thorn, or Sloe-Bufh. IT is fo well known, that it needeth no defeription. Place ] It groweth in every county in the hedges and borders of fields. Time.] It flowereth in April, and fometimes in March, but the fruit ripeneth after all other plums whatfoever, and is not fit to be eaten until the Autumn frofl mellow them. Govern* The Englilh Phyfician Enlarged. 299 Government ami Virtues^] All the parts of the Sloe Radi are binding, cooling, and dry, and all effectual to day bleed- ing at the nofe and mouth, or any other place ; the lafk of the belly or ftomach, or belly-flux, the too much abound- ing of women’s courfes, and helpcth to cafe the pains of the tides, bowels, and guts, that come by overmuch fcouring, to drink the decodtion of the bark of the roots, or more ufivally the decodlion of the berries, either frefli or dried. The conferve alio is of very much ufe, and more familiarly taken for the purpofe aforelaid. But the diflilled water of the flowers firit fteeped in lack for a night, and drawn there- from by the heat of the Balneum Anglice, a bath, is a moil certain remedy, tried and approved, to eaie all manner of gnawings. in the flomach, the iides, and bowels, or any griping pains in any of them, to drink a fmall quantity when the extremity of the pain is upon them. The leave* alfo are good to make lotions to gargle and wafh the mouth and throat wherein arc dwellings, fores, or kernels : and to flay the deiludfions of rheum to the eyes, or other parts ; as alfo to cool the heat and inflammations of them, and cafe hot pains of the head, to bathe the forehead and temples therewith. The Ample diflilled water of the flowers is very eftedtual for the faid purpofes, and the condenfated juice of the Sloes. The diflilled water of the green berries is uled alfo for the faid effects. Thorough Wax, or Thorough Leaf. Defcript.] /COMMON Thorough Wax fendeth forth a flrait round ftalk, two feet high, or better, whofe lower leaves being of a bluifli colour, are fmaller and narrower than thofe up higher, and ftand clofc thereto, not compaflmg it; but as they grow higher, they do more en- compafs the (talks, until it wholly pals through them, branch- ing toward the top into many parts, where the leaves grow fmaller again, every one (landing iingly, and never two at a joint. The flowers arc. fmall and yellow, (landing in tufts at the heads of the branches, where afterwards grow the feed, being blackilh, many thick thrufl together. The root is fmall, long, and woody, perifhing every year, after feed- time, and riflng again plentifully of its own fowing. Place.'] It is found growing in many corn fields and paflure grounds in this land. Tune.] joo *The Englifli Phyfician Enlarged. Time.] It flowereth in July, and the feed is ripe in Auguft. Temperature and Virtues .] Both this and the former are under the influence of Saturn. Thorough-Wax is of An- gular good ufe for all forts of bruilcs and wounds either in- ward or outward ; and old ulcers and fores likewife, if the deco&ion of the herb with Water and wine be drank, and the place wafhed therewith, or the juice of the green herb bruifed or boiled, either by itlelf or with other herbs, in oil or hog’s greafe, to be made into an ointment to ferve all the year. The deeo&ion of the herb, or powder of the dried herb, taken inwardly, and the fame, or the leaves bruifed, and applied outwardly, is Angularly good for all ruptures and burftings, efpecially in children before they be too old. Being applied with a little flour and wax to chil- dren’s navels that flick forth, it helpeth them. Thyme. IT is in vain to deferibe an herb fo commonly known. Government and Virtues .] It is a noble flrengthener of the lungs, as notable a one as grows ; neither is there l'carcc a better remedy growing lor that difeafe in children which they commonly call tne Chin-cough, than it is. It purgeth the body of phlegm, and is an excellent remedy for fhortnefs of breath. It kills worms in the belly, and being a notable herb of Venus, provokes the terms, gives fafe and fpeedy delivery to women in travail, and brings away the after- birth. It is fo harmlefs you need not fear the ufe of it. An ointment made of it takes away hot fvvellings and warts, helps the fciatica and dulnefs of light, and takes away pains and hardnefs of the fplecn : ’Tis excellent for thole that are troubled with the gout ; as alfo to anoint the cods that are fwellcd. It eafeth pains in the loins and hips. The herb taken any way inwardly, comforts the ftomach much, and expels wind. Wild Thyme, or Mother of Thyme. WILD Thyme alfo is fo well known, that it needeth no defeription. P:acc.~\ It may be lound commonly in commons and other barren places throughout the nation. Government and > irtues.~\ It is under the dominion of V e- mir, and under the fign Aries, and therefore chiefly appro- priated The Englifh Phyfitian Enlarged. 301 minted to the head. It provoketh urine and the terms, and cafeth the griping pains of the belly, cramps, ruptures, and inflammation of the liver. If you make a vinegar of the herb, as vinegar of roles is made (you may find out the way in my translation of the London Difpenfatory) and anoint toe head with it, it presently fiops the pains thereof. It is excellently good to be given either in frenzy or lethargy although they are two contrary difeafes : It 'helps fpitring- and pili ng of blood, coughing, and vomiting; it comfort* and itrengthens the head, ilomach, reins, and womb, expels *uid, and breaks the ftone. t Tormentil, or Septfoil. Dcfcript.'] fT^HIS hath rcddifli, ilender, weak branches, r.., 1 • 1 ntAS Jom the.root> ]y'inS on the ground, rather leaning than Handing upright, with manyfliort leaves tlu.i ltand elofer to the fialks than Cinquefoil (to which this J? vei7i ^c) wu^ loot-llalk compalling the branches i* levcral places; but thole that grow to the ground are fet upon long foot-flalks, each whereof are like the leaves of Cinquefoil, but fomewhat long and lefil-r, dented about the OTge's, many or them divided but into live leaves, but moil of them into .even, whence it is nlfo called Septfoil • -ct iome may have fix, and fome eight, according to the ferti- lity ot the foil. At the tops of the branches Hand divcis imall, yellow flowers confiding of five leaves, like thofe of Cinquefoil, but Imalier. 1 he root is fmallcr than Biftort, lome what thick, but blacker without, and not fo red within yet fometimes a little crooked, having hlackifli fibres thereat. Ftace.\ It groweth as well in woods and fhadowy places as m the open champaign country, about the borders of fields •n l’iaces Cn’d land, and almcll in every broom* field m KfTex. Time.'] It flowereth all the Summer lone. Government and Firtues. ] This is a gallant herb of the bun. I ormentil is molt excellent to Hay all kind of fluxt 5 of blood or humours in man or woman, whether at nofe, mouth, or belly. The juice of the herb and root, cr tU decodion thereof, taken with fome Venice treacle, and th» pei fon laid to lweat, expels venom or poifon, cr the plastic, fever, or otner contagious dileafes, as the fur 11 pox, meafiev k. 302 The Englifh Phylician Enlarged. See., for it is an ingredient in all antidotes or counter-poifons. Andreas Valefus is of opinion, that the decodfion of this root is no lefs effectual to curethc French pox than Guaiacum or China ; and it is not unlikely becaufe it fo mightily re- iifteth putrefadtion. The root taken inwardly is molt effec- tual to help any flux of the belly, ftomach, fpleen, or blood ; and the juice wonderfully opens obftrudtions of the liver and lungs, and thereby helpetb the yellow jaundice. The pow- der or decodtion drank, or to fit thereon as a bath, is an al- lured remedy againft abortion in women, if it proceed from the over-flexibility or weaknefs of the inward retentive fa- culty ; as alfo a plafler made therewith and vinegar, applied to the reins of the back, doth much help not only this, but alfo thofe that cannot hold their water ; the powder being taken in the juice of plantain is commended again ft the worms in children. It is very powerful to ruptures and burftings, as alfo for bruifes and falls, to be uled as well outwardly as inwardly. The root hereof, made up with p’cl- litory of Spain and allum, and put into a hollow tooth, not only afluageth the pain, but ftayeth the flux of humours which cauleth it. Tormentil is no lefs effedtual and power- ful a remedy againft outward wounds, lores, and hurts, than for inward, and is therefore a fpecial ingredient to be ufed in wound drinks, lotions, and injedtions, for foul, coirupt, rotten fores, and ulcers of the mouth, fecrets, or other parts of the body. The juice or powder of the root put in oint- ments, platters, and fuch things that are applied to wounds or fores, is very effectual, as the juice of the leaves, and the root bruifed and applied to the throat, or jaws, healeth the king’s evil, and eafeth the pain of the fciatica; the lame ufed with a little vinegar, is a fpecial remedy againft the running fores of the head, or other parts; fcabs alfo, and the itch, or any fuch eruptions in the fkin, proceeding of fait and {harp humours. The1 fame is alfo eftedtual lor the piles or haemorrhoids, if they be waflied or bathed there- with, or with the diftilled water of the herb and roots. It is found alfo helpful to dry up any fharp rheum that diflilleth from the head into the eyes, caufing rednels, pain, water- ings, itchings, or the like, if a little prepared tutia, or white amber, be ufed with the diftilled water thereof. Many wo- men ufe this water as a fecret to help thcmfclvcs and others, when The Englifli Phyfician Enlarged. 303 when they are troubled with too much flowing of the whites or reds, both to drink it, or injedt it with a fyringe. And here is enough, only remember the Sun challengeth this' herb. Turnfole, or Heliotropium. Defcript.] rl ' HE greater Turnfole rifeth with one upright X flalk, about a foot high, or more, dividing itielf almofl from the bottom into divers fmall branches, of a hoary colour; at each joint of the flalk and branches grow fmall broad leaves, fomewhat white and hoary. At the tops of the flalks and branches fland fmall white flowers, confid- ing of four, and fometimes five fmall leaves, fet in order one above another, upon a fmall, crobked fpike, which turneth inwards like a bowed finger, opening by degrees as the flow- ers blow open; after which, in their place, come forth cor- nered feed, four for the moll part Handing together; the root is fmall and thready, pcrifhing every year, and the feed ilicd- ding every year, raifeth it again the next Spring. Place.'] It groweth in gardens, and flowercth and feedeth with us, not with handing it is not natural to this land, but to Spain and France, where it grows plentifully. Government and Pirtuei.] It is an herb of the Sun, and a good one too. Diofcoi ides faith that a good handful of this, which is called the Great Turnfole, boiled in water, and drank, purgeth both choler and phlegm ; and boiled with cummin helpeth the flene in the reins, kidneys, or bladder, provoketh urine and women’s courfes, and caufeth an cal'y and fpeedy delivery in child-birth. The leaves bruited and applied to places pained with the gout, or that have been out of joint, and newly fet, and full of pain, do give much cafe ; the feed and juice of the leaves allb being rubbed with a little fait upon warts or wens, and other kernels in the face, eye- lids, or any other part of the body, will, by often uiing, take them away. Meadow Trefoil, or IToncyfuckles. IT is fo well known, efpecially by the name of Honey- fuckles, white and red, that I need not deferibe them. Place, j They grow almofl everywhere in this land. Government and Firtucs.] Mercury hath dominion over the common forts. Douoneus faith the leaves and flowers P z arc 304 ybe Englifh Phyfician Enlarge J. are good to eafe the griping pains of the gout, the herb (being boiled and ufed in a clyftcr. If the herb be made into a poultice, and applied to inflammations, it will eafe them. The juice dropped into the eyes is a familiar medicine, with many country people, to take away the pin and web (as they call it) in the eyes ; it alfo allay eth the heat and blood-fhcot- ingof them. Country people do alfo, in many places, drink the juice thereof againft the biting ot an adder; and having boiled the herb in water, they firft wafli the place with the dccodtion, and then lay fome of the herb all'o to the hurt .place. The herb, boiled in fwine’sgreafe, and lb made into an ointment, is good to apply to the biting of any venomous creatures. The herb, bruited, and heated between tiles, and .applied hot to the lharc, caufeth them to make water who had it ftopt before. It is held likewife to be good for wounds, and to take away feed. The decodlion of the herb and flow- ers, with the feed and root, taken for fome time, help- eth women that are troubled with the whites. The feed and flowers, boiled in water, and after made into a poultice with fome oil, and applied, helpeth hard fwellings and impoft- luimes. Heart Trefoil. BESIDES the ordinary fort of Trefoil, here arc two more remarkable, and one of which may be probably called Heart Trefoil, not only becaufe the leaf is triangular, like the heart of a man, but alfo becaufe each leaf contains the perfect icon ot a heart, and that in its proper colours, viz., a fit 111 colour. Place.'] It groweth between Longford and Bow, and be- yond Southwark, by the highway and parts adjacent. Government and Virtues. ] It is under the dominion of the Sun, and it it were ufed it would be found as great a firengthener of the heart, .and cheriftierof the vital fpiritsas grows, relieving the body again ft huntings and iwooningr, fortifying it a gain it poifon and pctlilcnce, defending the heait iigauui the noifome vapours of the fplcen. Pearl Trefoil. IT1 differs not from the common fort, fave only in this one particular, it hath a white fpot in the leaf like a pearl. It is particularly under the dominion of the Moon, and its icon flieweth that if is of a Angular virtue againft the pearl, or pin and \\cb in the eyes. Tutlan, fhe Englifh Phyfician Enlarged L 305 Tutfan, or Park-Leaves. Defcript. ] TT hath brownifli, filming, round flalks, -crcfted X the length thereof, riling two by two, and fometimes three feet high, branching forth even from the bottom, having divers joint?, and at each of them two fair large leaves {landing, of a dark bluifh green colour on the upper fide, and of a yellowifh green underneath, turning reddifli toward Autumn. At the top of the (bilks {land large yellow flowers, and heads with feed, which being grccnidt sit the firft, and afterwards reddifli, turn to be of a blackifil purple colour when they are ripe, with fmall brownifli feed within them, and they yield a reddifli juice or liquor, fome- what reiinous, and of a harfli and flyptick tafle, as the leaves alfo and the flowers be, although much lefs, but do not yield fuch a clear claret wine colour as fome fay it doth ; the root is brownifli, fomtwhat great, hard, and woody, fpreading well in the ground. Place .] It groweth in many woods, groves, and woody grounds, as parks, and forefls, and by hedge-iides in many places in this land, in Hampftead-wood, by Ratley in Eflex, in the wilds of Kent, and in many other places need-*' lei's to recite. Time.] Itflovvcreth later than St. John’s or St. Petcr’s-worr. Government and Virtues. J It is an herb of Saturn, and a mofl noble anti-venerean. Tutfan purgeth choleric humours, as St. Peter’s-wort is faid to do, for therein it vvorketh the fame effects, both to help the fciatica and gout, and to heal burnings by fire; it flayeth all the bleedings of wounds, if either the green herb be bruited, or the powder of the dry be applied thereto. It hath been accounted, and certainly it is, a fovereign herb to heal either wound or fore, either outward- ly or inwardly, and therefore always uled in drinks, lotions, balms, oils, ointments, or any other forts of green wounds, old ulcers, or fores, in all which the continual experience of former ages hath confirmed the ufe thereof to be admirablv good, though it be not fo much in life now as when phyfici- ans and lurgeons were 1b wife to ufe herbs more than now they do. Garden Valerian. Defcript .] flpHIS hath a thick, fliort, grcyifh root, lving X for the mofl part above ground, (hooting P 3 forth | 306 The Englidi Phyfician Enlarged. forth on all other fidesfuch-like fnaalt pieces of roots, which have all of them many long, green firings ami fibres under them in the ground, whereby it draweth nourifhment. From the head of thefe roots fpring up many green leaves, which at firfl are fome what broad and long, without any divifions at all in them, or denting on the edges; but thole that rife up after are more and more divided on each fide, fome to the rrtiddie rib, being winged, as made of many leaves together on a flalk, and thofe upon a flalk, in like manner more divi- ded, but fmaller towards the top than below : '1 he flalk ri- feth to be a yard high, or more, fometimes branched at the top, with many fmall whitifh flowers, fometimes dallied over at the edges with a pale purplifh colour, of a little feent, which palling away, there followeth fmall brownifh white feed, that is eafily carried away with the wind. The root fmelleth more flrong than either leaf or flewep, and is of more ufe in medicines. Place.'] It is generally kept with us in gardens. Time.] It flowereth in June and July, and continueth flowering until the frofl pull it down. Govenunent and Virtues . j This is under the influence of Mercury. Diofcorides faith that the garden Valerian hath a warming faculty, and that being dried, and given to drink, itprovoketh urine, and helpeth the flranguary. The decoc- tion thereof taken doth the like alfo, and taketh away pains of thefides, provoketh women’s courfes, and isufed in anti- dotes. Pliny faith that the powder of the root, given in drink, or the decoffion thereof taken, helpeth all Hoppings and flranglings in any part of the body, whether they proceed of pains in the cheit or fides, and taketh them away. The root of Valerian, boiled with liquorice, railins, and annifeed, is Angularly good for thofe that are fhort-winded, and for thofe that are troubled with the cough, and helpeth to open the paflages, and to expe&onrtc phlegm eafily. It is given to tiiofe that are bitten or filing by any venomous creature, being boiled in wine. It is of a fpecial virtue agr.infl the plague, rhe decoftion thereof being drank, and the root being ufed to fmell to. It helpeth to expel the wind in the belly. The green herb, with the root taken froth, being bruited and ap- plied to the head, taketh away the pains and prickings there, ftayeth rheum and thin di (filiations, and being boiled in white wine, and a drop thereof put into the eyes, taketh away M I’he Englifli Phyfician Enlarged. 307 away the dimnefs of the fight, or any pin or web therein: It is of excellent property to heal any inward fores or wounds, and alfo for outward hurts or wounds, and drawing away fplinters or thorns out of theflefli. Vervain. Defcript.] *T*HE common Vervain hath fomewhat long, JL broad leaves next the ground, deeply gafhsd about the edges, and fome only deeply dented, or cut all alike, of a blackifh green colour on the upper tide, fomewhat grey underneath. The (talk is fquare, branched into feveral parts, riling about two feet high, efpecially if you reckon the long t'pike of flowers at the tops of them, which are let on all iides one abfcve another, and fometimes two or three together, being fmali and gaping, of a blue colour, and white intermixed, after which come linall round feed, in fmali and fomewhat long heads : The root is fmali and long, but of no ufe. Place.'] It groweth generally throughout this land in divers places of the hedges and vvay-fides, and other wallc grounds. Time.] It liowereth in July, and the feed is ripe foon after. Government and Virtues.] This is an herb of Venus, and excellent for the womb, to hrengthen and remedy all the cold griefs of it, as Plantain doth the hot. Vervain is hot and dry, opening obrtruCtions, cleanfing and healing : It helpeth the yellow jaundice, the dropfy, and the gout; it killethand expdleth worms in the belly, and caufeth a good colour in the face and body, ilrengtheneth as well as corredleth the difeafes of the flomach, liver, andfpleen; helps the cough, wheezings, and fhortnefs of breath, and all the defeats of the reins and bladder, expelling the gravel and ftone. It is held to be good againft the biting of lerpents, and other ve- nomous beads, ygainrt the plague, and both tertian and quartan agues. It confolidateth and healcth allball wounds, both inward and outward, rtayeth bleedings, and ufed with fome honey, healeth all old ulcers and fiftulas in the legs or other parts of the body; as alfo thofe ulcers that happen in the mouth; or ufed with hog’s greafe, it helpeth the l'vvel- lings and pains of the fecret parts in man or woman, alfo for the piles or haemorrhoids ; applied with fome oil of rofes and vinegar unto the forehead and temples, it eafeth the invete- rate pains and ach of the head, and is good for thofe that are E 4 frantic. 308 The Englilh Phyfician Enlarged. frantic. The leaves bruifed, or the juice of them mixed with fome vinegar, doth wonderfully cleanfe the ikin, and taketh away morphew, freckies, fiftulas, and other fuch-like ia- flammations and deformities of the Ikin in any part of the body. The difiilled water of the herb, when it is in full firength, dropped into the eyes, clcanfeth them from films* clouds, or miits, that darken the fight, and wonderfu ifrengthens the optic nerves : The faid water is very power- ful in all the difeafes aforefaid, either inward or outward, whether they be old corroding fores, or green wound- . The Vine. THE leaves of the Englifli Vine (T do not mean to fend you to the Canaries for a medicine) being boiled, make a good lotion for fore mouths ; being boiled with bar- ley-meal into a poultice, it co Is inflammations of wounds j the dropping of the Vine, when it is cut in the Spring, which country people call Tears, being boiled in a fyrup, with fu- £ar, and taken inwardly, is excellent to flay women’s long- ings after every thing they fee, which is a difeafe many wo- men with child are fubjedl to. The decoction of Vine leave* in white wine doth the like ; alfo the tears of the Vine, drank two or three fpoonfuls at a time, breaks the flone in the bladder. This is a very good remedy, and it is difcreetly done to kill a Vine to cure a man, but the fait of the leaves are held to do better. The allies of the burnt branches will make teeth that are as black as a coal to be as white as fnow, if you but every morning rub them with it. It is a moil gal- lant Tree of the Sun, very fyrrpathetical with the body of man, and that is the reafon ipirit of wine is the greateft cor- dial among all vegetables. Violets. BOTH the tame and the wild are fo well known that they heed no defeription. / and rihns on them, and ta cleanfe the flltby ulcers in the mouth, or any other part, and is a Angular remedy for the | gout, and all achs and pains in the joints and Anews. A con- ftrve made of the flowers, is ufed for a remedy both for the apoplexy and palfy. The Walnut Tree. IT is fo well known that it necdoth no defcription. Time.] It blofiometh early before the leaves come forth, and the fruit is ripe in September. Government and Virtues.] This is alfo a plant of the Sun. Let the fruit of it be gathered accordingly, which you (hall P 6 And |j 312, The Engl i ill Phyflcian Enlarged . find to be of moft virtues tvhilft they are green, before they have {hells. Tire bark of the Tree do:h bind and cby very much, and the leaves are much of the fame temperature; but the leaves, when they are older, are heating and drying in the fecond degree, anddiarderof digeflion than when they are frefli, which, by rcafon of their fweetnefs, are more pleating, and better digefling in the ftomach; and taken with fvveet wine, they move the belly downwards, but being old they grieve the ftomach; and in hot bodies caufe the clioler to abound, and the head-ach, and are an enemy to thofe that have the cough ; but arc lefs hurtful to thofe that have a colder ftomach, and are faid to kill the broad worms in the belly or ftomach. If they be taken with onions, fait, and honey, they help the biting of a mad dog, or the venom, or infedfious poifon of any beaft, &c. Caius Pompeius found in the treasury of Mithridatcs, king of Pontus, when he was overthrown, a fcroll of his own hand-writing, containing a medicine againft any poifon or infedfion j which is this : Take •two dry Walnuts, and as many good figs, and twenty leaves of rue, bruifed, and- beaten together with two or three corns of fair, and twenty juniper berries, which take every morning falling, preferveth from danger of poifon and infection that day it is taken. The juice of the other green hulks, boiled with honey, is an excellent gargle for a fore mouth, or the heat and inflammations in the throat and ftomach. The ker- nels, when they grow old, are more oily, and therefore not fit to be eaten, but are then ufed to heal the wounds of the finews, gangrenes, and carbuncles. The faid kernels being burned, are then very aftringent, and will ftay lafits and wo- men’s courfes, being taken in red wine, and ftay the falling of the hair, and make it fair, being anointed with oil and wine. The green hulks will do the like, being ufed in the fame manner. The kernels, beaten with rue and wine, being applied, helpeth the quinfy; and bruifed with fome honey, and applied to the ears cafcth the pains and inflam- mations of them. A piece of the green hulks put into a hol- low tooth cafeth the pain. The catkins hereof, taken before they fall oft', dried, and given a dram thereof in powder with white wine, wonderfully helpeth thofe that are troubled with the rifing of the mother. The oil that is prefled out of the kernels, is very profitable, taken inwardly like oil of of al- monds, to help the cholic, and to expel wind very effectually : The Englifh Phyfician Enlarged. 213 an ounce or two thereof may be taken at a time. The young green nuts taken before they be half ripe, and preferved with l'ugar, are of good ul'e for thofe that have weak ltomachs or deductions thereon. Thediftillcd water of the green hulks, before they be half ripe, is of excellent ufe to cool the heat of agues, being drank an ounce or two at a time; as alfo to re- fill the infection of the plague, if fomc of the lame be alfo ap- plied to the fores thereof. The fame alfo coolcth the heat of green wounds and old ulcers, and healeth them, being bathed therewith. The diililled water of the green hulks being ripe, when they are llielled from the nuts, and drank with a little vinegar, is good for the plague, fo as before the taking thereof a vein be opened. The faid water is very good again ft the quinfy, being gargled and bathed therewith, and wonderful- ly helpeth deafnefs, the noife, and other pains in the ears. The diililled water of the young green leaves, in the end of May, performeth a lingular cure of foul running ulcers and fores, to be bathed, with wet cloths, or fponges applied to them every morning. WoJd, Weld, or Dyer’s Weed. THE common kind groweth bulbing with many leaves, long, narrow, and flat upon the ground, of a dark bluilh green colour, fomewhat like unto Woaci, but nothing fo large, a little crumpled, and as it were round- pointed, which do fo abide the firll year, and the next Spring, from among them rife up divers round ftalks, two or three feet high, belet with many fuch-like leaves thereon, but fmaller, and (hooting forth fmall branches, which, with the llalks, carry many fmall yellow7 flowers, in along-fpiked head at the top of them, where afterwards come the feed, which is fmall and black, inclofed in heads that are divided at the tops into four parts. The root is long, white, and thick, abiding the Winter. The whole herb changeth to be yellow7, after it hath been in flower awhile. Place.'] It groweth everywhere by the vvay-lides, in moift grounds, as well as dry, in corners of fields, and bye lanes, and fometimes all over the field. In Suficx and Kent they call it Green Weed. Time.] It fiowerctk about June, Qovertk. i. 1| •Ji I II I 11 314 The Englifli Phyfician Enlarged. Government and Firtues.'] Matthiolus faith that the root hereof curcth tough phlegm, digefreth raw phlegm, tbinneth grofs humours, diflolveth hard tumours, and openeth ob- ftrudtions. Some do highly commend it agaiuft the bitings of venomous creatures, t;o be taken inwardly, and applied outwardly to the hurt place; as alfo for the plague or pefti- lence. The people in fome counties of this land do uie to bruife the herb, and lay it to cuts or wounds in the hands or legs to heal them. Wheat. ALL the feveral kinds hereof are fo well known unto al- moft all people that it is altogether needlel's to write a defeription thereof. Government and Firtues. ] It is under V enus. Diofcorides faith that to eat the corn of green Wheat is hurtful to the flomach and breedeth worms. Pliny faith that the corn of Wheat, roafled upon an iron pan, and eaten, are a prefent remedy for thole that are chilled with cold. The oil prelied from Wheat, between two thick plates of iron, or copper, heated, healeth all tetters and ringworms, being u fed warm; and hereby Galen faith he hath known many to be cured. Matthiolus ccmmendeth the fame to be put into hollow ul- cers to heal them up, and it is good for chops in the hands and feet, and to make rugged fkin fmooth. The green corns of Wheat being chewed and applied to the place bitten by a mad dog heals it ; dices of Wheat-bread foaked ill red rofe ■water, and applied to the eyes that are hot, red, and in- flamed, or blood Ihotten, helpcth them. Hot bread applied for an hour, at times, lor three days together, perfectly heal- eth the kernels in the throat, commonly called the king’s evil. The flour of Wheat, mixed with the juice of henbane, flays the flux of humours to the joints, being laid thereon. The faid meal, boiled in vinegar, helpeth the flirinking of the fi- news, faith Pliny; and mixed with vinegar, and boiled toge- ther, healeth all freckles, lpots, and pimples on the face; Wheat-flour, mixed with the yolk of an egg, honey, and tur- pentine, doth draw, cleanfe, and heal any boil, plarue fore, or foul ulcer. The bran of Wheat-meal, fteeped in fliarp vinegar, and then bound in a linen cloth, and rubbed on » 11 thofe / The Englifh Phyfician Enlarged. 315 thofe places that have the fcurf, morphew, fcabs, or leprofy, will take them away, the body being firft well purged and prepared. The decoction of the bran of Wheat or barley, is of good life to bathe thole places that are burden by a rup- ture ; and the faid bran boiled in good vinegar, and applied to fwollen breads, helpeth them, and dayeth all inflamma- tions. It helpeth alfo the biting of vipers (which I take to be no other than our Englilh adder) and all other venomous creatures. The leaves of wheat meal, applied with fait, take away hardnefs of the fkin, warts and hard knots in the flefli. Starch moidened in role water, and laid to the cods, taketh away their itching. Watters put in water, and drank dayeth the lalks and bloody flux, and are profitably ufed both inwardly and outwardly for the ruptures in children. Boiled in water unto a thick jelly, and taken, it dayeth fpit- ting of blood ; and boiled with mint and butter, it helpeth the hoarfnefs of the throat. «■ The Willow Tree. THESE are fo well known that they need no defeription, I (hall therefore only flievv you the virtues thereof. Government and V irtjies . ] The Moon owns it. Both the leaves, bark, and the feed, are ufed to daunch bleeding of wounds, and at mouth and nol'e, fpitting of blood, and other fluxes of blood in man or woman, and to day vomiting, and provocation thereunto, if the decodtion of them in, wine be drank. It helpeth alfo to day thin, hot, fliarp fait didilla- tions from the head upon the lungs, cauling a confumption. The leaves bruiled with forne pepper, and drank in wine, helps much the wind cholic. The leaves bruifed and boiled in wine, dayeth the heat of lufl in man or woman, and quite extinguifiieth it, if it be long ufed : The feed is alfo of the fame effect. Water that is gathered from the Willow, when it flowrereth, the bark being flit, and a velfel fitting to receive it, is very good for rednels and dimnefs of light, or films that grow over the eyes, and day the rheums that fall into them ; to provoke urine, being dopped, if it be drank ; to clear the face and Ikin from lpots and difcolourings. Galen faith, the flowers have an admirable faculty in drying up humours, being a medicine without any lharpnefs or cop- rolion; you may boil them in white \yine, and drink as 4 . much i' l P. f Ji 3 1 6 The Englifh Phyfician Enlarged, much as you will, fo you drink not yourfelf drunk. The bark works the fame effedt, if ufed in the fame manner, and the tree hath always a bark upon it, though not always flow- ers ; the burnt allies of the bark being mixed with vinegar, taketh away warts, corns, and fuperfluous flefli, being applied to the place. The deception ot the leaves or bark in wine, takes away feurf and dandriff by wafhing the place with it. It is a fine cool tree, the boughs of which are very con- venient to be placed in the chamber of one lick of a fever. Woad. Defcript.'} TT hath divers large leaves, long and fomewhat X broad withal, like thofe.of the greater plantain, but larger, thicker, of a greenifh colour, fomewhat blue withal. From among which leaves ril'eth up a lufly flalk, three or four feet high, with divers leaves fet thereon ; the higher the flalk rifeth, the fmaller are the leaves ; at the top it fpreadeth divers branches, at the end of which appear very pretty, iifle yellow flowers, and after they pafs away like other flowers of the field, come hulks, long and fome- what flat withal ; in form they refemble a tongue, in colour they are black, and they hang bobbing downwards. The feed contained within thefe hulks (if it be a little chewed) give an azure colour. The root is white and long. Place.'] It is lowed in fields for the benefit of it, where thofe that low it, cut it three times a year. Time.'] It flowers in June, but it is long after before the feed is ripe. Government and Virtues. J It is a cold and dry plant of Saturn. Some people affirm the plant to be deflruftive to bees, and fluxes them, which if it be, I cannot help it. 1 fhould rather think, unlefs bees be contrary to other creatures, it pofTelfeth them with the contrary difeafe, the herb being exceeding dry and binding. However, if any bees be difeafed thereby, the cure is, to fet urine by them, but fet it in a veil'd, that they cannot drown themlelves, which may be remedied, if you put pieces of cork in it. The herb is fo drying and binding, that it is not fit to be given inwardly. An ointment made thereof lfancheih "bleeding. A plaller made thereof and applied to the re- gion of the fplecn which lays on the left fide, takes away the hardnefs and pains thereof. The ointment is excellently good The Englifh Phyfician Enlarged. 317 good in fuch ulcers as abound with moifturc, and takes away the corroding and fretting humours: It cools inflammations, qucncheth St. Anthony’s fire, and flayeth defludion of th* blood to any pan of the body. Woodbine, or Honey-Suckles. IT is a plant fo common, that every one that hath eyes knows it, and he that hath none, cannot read a deferip- tion, if I fhould write it. Time.'] They flower in June, and the fruit is ripe in Aug lift. Government and Virtues.] Doftor Tradition, that grand introducer of errors, that hater of truth, that lover of tolly, and that mortal foe to Dr. Reafon, hath taught the common people to ufe the leaves or flowers of this plant in mouth water, and by long continuance of time, hath fo grounded it in the brains of the vulgar, that you cannot beat it out with a beetle : All mouth waters ought to be cooling and drying, but honey-Suckles are clcanfing, confuming and di* getting, and therefore no way fit for inflammations ; thus Dr. Reafon. — Again, if you pleafe, we will leave Dr. Reafoti awhile, and come to Dr. Experience, a learned gentleman, and his brother : Take a leaf and chew it in your mouth, and you will quickly find it likelier to caufe a fore mouth and tbroatthan to cure it. Wellthcn, if itbenot good for this, what is it good for? It is good for fomething, for God and nature made nothing in vain. It is an herb of Mercury, and appropriated to the lungs ; the celefiial Crab claims domi- nion over it; neither is it a foe to the Lion; it the lungs bs afflicted bv Jupiter, this is your cure : It is fitting a conferee ma^e of the flowers-of it were kept in every gentlewoman’s houfe ; I know no better cure for an ahttma than this ; be- fides it takes away the evil of the fpleen, provokes urine, procures fpeedy delivery of women in travail, helps cramps, convullions, and pallies, and whatfoever griefs come of cold or flopping ; if you pleafe to make ufe of it as an ointment, it will clear your fkin of morphew, freckles, and fun-burn- ings, or whatever .elle difcolours it, and then the maids will love it. Authors fay, the flowers are of more effect than the leaves, and that is true ; but they fay the feeds are leafl effectual of all. But Dr. Reafon told me, that there was a vital fpirit in every feed to beget its like; and Dr. Expe- rience jl I - ■ n 3 1 8 The Englilh Phyfician Enlarged. rience told me, that there was a greater heat in the feed than there was in any other part of the plant ; and withal, that heat was the mother of action, and then judge if old Dr. Tra- dition (who may well be honoured for his age, but not for his goodnefs) hath not fo poifoncd the world with errors be- fore I was born, that it was never well in its wits lince, and there is great fear it will die mad. Wormwood* THREE Wormwoods arc familiar with us; one I (hall not deferibe, another I fhall deferibe, and the third be critical at : and I care not greatly if I begin with the laft firft. Sea Wormwood hath gotten as many names as virtues, (and perhaps one more) Seriphian, Santoniccn, Belchion, Narbiiienfe, Hantonicon, Mil'neule, and a matter of twenty more which I fhall not blot paper withal. A Papift got the toy by the end, and he called it Holy Wormwood ; and in truth, I am of opinion, their giving fo much hoiinefs to herbs, is the reafon there remains fo little in theml'elves. The feed of this Wormwood is that which ufually women give their children for the worms. Of all Wormwoods that grow here, this is the weakeft, but doctors commend it, and apothecaries fell it; the one muft keep his credit, and the other get money, and that is the key of the work. The herb is good for fomething, becaufe God made no- thing in vain : Will you give me leave to weigh thing* in the balance of reafon ; then thus : The feeds of the common Wormwood are far more prevalent than the feed of this to expel worms in children, or people of ripe age ; of both, fome are weak, fome are ftrong. The Seriphian Wormwood is the weakeft, and haply may prove to be fitted: for the weak bodies, (for it is weak enough of all confidence.) Let luch as are ft rung take the common Wormwood, for the others will do but little good. Again near the fea many people live, and Seriphian grows near them, and therefore is more fitting for their bodies, be- caufe nourilhed by the fame air ; and this I had from Dr. Reafon. In whole body Dr. Reafon dwells not, dwells Dr. Madnefs, and he brings in his brethren, Dr. Ignorance, Dr. Folly, and Dr. Sicknefs, and thefe together make way for death, and the latter end of that man is worfe than the beginning. Pride was the caufe of Adam’s fall ; pride begat a daughter, The Englilli Phyfician Enlarged. 319 a daughter, I do not know the father of it, unlefs the devil, but flie christened it, and called it Appetite, and fent her daughter to tafte thefe Wormwoods, who finding this the leaft bitter, made the iqueamifh wench extol it to thefkics; though the virtues of it never reached to the middle region ot the air. Its due praife is this : It is weakeit, therefore fitteft for weak bodies, and fitter for thofe bodies that dwell near it, than thofe that live far from it; my reafon is, the fea (thole that live far from it, know when they come near it) cafieth not fuch a l'mell as the land doth. The tender mercies of God being overall his works, hath by his eternal Providence planted Seriphian by the lea fide, as a fit medicine for the bodies of thofe that live near it. Laftly, it is known to all that know any thing in the courfe of nature, that the liver delights in fweet things, if fo it abhors bitter ; then if your liver be weak, it is none of the wifefi courfes to plague it with an enemy. If the liver be weak, a confumption follows ; would you know the reafon? it is this, a man’s flelh is repaired by blood, by a third con- coftion, which tranfmutes the blood into fielh ; it is well I faid conco&ion, fay I, if I had laid boiling, every cook would have underfcood me. The liver makes blood, and if it be weakened that it makes not enough, the flefh wallcth; and why muft flelh always be renewed ? Becaufe the eternal God, when he made the creation, made one part of it ih continual dependency upon another : And why did he fo ? Becaufe himfelf only is permanent : to teach us, that we fhould not fix our affections upon what is tranfitory, but upon what endures for ever. The refult of this is, if the liver be weak, and cannot make blood enough, (I would have faid fanguify, if I had only written to fcholars) the Seriphian, which is the wcakeft of Wormwoods, is better than the belt. I have been critical enough, if not too much. Place.} It grows familiarly in England, bv the fea fide. Defcript. ] It darts up out of the earth, with many round, v'oody, hairy ftalks from one root. Its height is tour feet, or three at leaft. The leaves in longitude are long, in lati- tude narrow, in colour white, in form hoary, in limilitude like Southernwood, only broader and longer; in tafte rather fa.lt than bitter, becaufe it grows fo near the fait water. At • the joints, with the leaves toward the tops, it bears little yellow flowers ; the root lies deep, and is woody. Common 320 The Englifh Fhyfician 'Enlarged'. Common Wormwood I fhall not dcfcribc, for every boy that can eat an egg knows it. Roman Wormwood; and why Roman, feeing it grows familiarly in England ? It may be fo called, becaufe it is good for a ftinking breath, which the Romans cannot be very free from, maintaining fo many bawdy-houfes by au- thority of his Holincfs. Defcrift. ] The ftalks arc flender, and fhorter than the common Wormwood by one foot at lead; the leaves are more finely cut and divided than they are, but fomething fmaller; both leaves and fhlks are hoary, the flowers of a pale yellow colour; it is altogether like the common Worm- wood, fave only in bignefs, for it is Fmailcr ; in tafte, for it is not bitter ; in fmell, for it is fpicy. Place. ] It groweth upon the tops of the mountains, (it feems’tis afpiritig) there ’tis natural, but ufually nurfed up in gardens for the ufe of the apothecaries in London. Time.'] All Wormwoods ufually flower in Auguft, a little fooner or later. Government and Virtues Will you give me leave to be critical a little ? I mull take leave : Wormwood is an herb of Mars, and if Pontanus fay otherwife, he is befide the bridge ; I prove it thus : What delights in martial places is a martial herb ; but Wormwood delights in martial places,, (for about forges and iron works you may gather a cart-load of it) ergo, it is a martial herb. It is hot and dry in the firft degree, viz. juft as hot as your blood, and no hotter. It remedies the evils choler can inflidt on the body of man by fympathy. It helps the evils Venus and the wanton Boy produce, by antipathy : and it doth fomething elte befides. It eleanfeth the body of choler (who dares fay Mars doth no good ?) It provokes urine, helps furfeits, or fwellings in the belly; it caufeth appetite to meat, becaufe Mars rules the attractive faculty in man : The fun never (hone upon a bitter herb for the yellow jaundice than this : Why Ihould men cry out fo much upon Mars lor an unfortunate, (or Saturn cither?) Did God make creatures to do the creation a mifehief ? This herb toftifies, that Mars is willing to cure all difeafes he caufes ; the truth is, Mars loves no cowards, nor Saturn fools, nor I neither. Take of the flowers of Wormwood, Rofemtiry, and Black Thorn, of each a like quantity, half that quantity of iaffron ; boil this The Englifh Phyfician Enlarged. jit tliis in Rhenifh wine, but put it not in faffron till it is almoft boiled : This is the way to keep a man's body in health, appointed by Camerarius, in his book, entitled, llorius MciHcus , and it is a good one too. Bolides all this. Wormwood provokes the terms. I would willingly teach atirologers, and make them phyficians (if I knew how) for they are moll fitting tor the calling; if you will not believe me, alk Dr. Hippocrates, and Dr. Galen, a couple of gen- tlemen, that our College of Phyficians keep to vapour with, not to follow. In this herb, I fhall give the pattern of z ruler, the fons of art rough cad, yet as near the truth as the men of Benjamin could throw a done : Whereby, my bre- thren, the adrologers may know by a penny how a fhilling is coined : As for the College of Phyficians, they are too {lately to learn, and too proud to continue. They fay a moule is under the dominion of the Moon, and that is the reafon they feed in the night ; the houfe of the Moon is Cancer; rats are of the fame nature with mice, but they are a iittle bigger; Mars receives his fall in Cancer, ergo, Worm- wood being an herb of Mars, is a prefent remedy for the biting of rats and mice. Mufhrooms (I cannot give them the title of Herba, Frutex, or Arbor,) are under the dominion of Saturn, (and take one time with another, they do as much harm as good ;) if any have poifoned himfelf by eating them. Wormwood, an herb of Mars, cures him, becaufe Mars is exalted in Capricorn, the hoiife of Saturn, and that it doth by fympathy, as it doth the other by antipathy. \\ heals, puflics, black and blue fpots, coming either by bruifes or beatings, Wormwood, an herb of Mars, helps, becaufe Mars, ■(as bad as you love him, and as you hate him) will not break your head, but he will give you a plader. If he dci but teach you to know yourfelves, his courtcly is greater than his difeourtefy. The greatell antipathy. between the planets, is between Mars and Venus; one is hot, the other cold; one diurnal, the other nocturnal ; one dry, the other moifl; their houles are oppofite, one mafeuline, the other feminine; one public, the other private; one is valiant, the other effeminate ; one loves the light, the other hates it ; one loves the field, the other flieets ; then the throat is under Venus, the quinfy lies in the throat, and is an inflamma- tion there : Venus rules the throat (it being under Taurus, her iign.) Mars eradicates all difeafes in the throat by hi* herbs 322 The E$gllfh Phyfician Enlarged* herbs (of which Wormwood is one) and fends them to Egypt -on an errand never to return more, this is done by antipathy. The eyes are under the Luminaries; the right eye of a man, and the left eye of a woman, the Sun claims dominion over; the left eye of a man, and the right eve of a woman, are privileges of the Moon, Wormwood, an herb of Mars, cures both ; what belongs to the Sun by fympathy, becaule he is exalted in his houfe; but what belongs to the Moon by an- tipathy, becaufc he hath his fall in hers. Suppofe a man be bitten or flung by a martial creature, imagine a wafp, a hornet, a fcorpion, Wormwood, an herb of Mars, giveth you aprefent cure; then Mars, choleric as he is, hath learn- ed that patience, to pafs by your evil fpceches of him, and tells you by my pen, that he gives you no affliction, but he gives you a cure; you need not run to Apollo, nor JEfculapius; and if he was fo choleric as you make him to be, he would have drawn his fword for anger, to fee the ill conditions of thofe peopl* that can fpy his vices, and not his virtues. The eternal God, when he made Mars, made him for public good, and the Ions of men {hall know it in the latter end of the world. E ccelum Mars folus babet. You fay Mars is a deitrover; mix a little Wormwood, an herb of Mars, with your ink, neither rats nor mice touch the paper written with it, and then Mars is a prclerver. Aitrologers think Mars caufeth fcabs, and itch, and the virgins are angry with him, becaufe wanton Venus to'd them he deforms their fkins; but, quoth Mars, my only delire is, they fhould know themfelve: ; my herb Wormwood, will relfore them to the beauty they formerly had, and in that I will not come an inch behind mvoppofite, Venus; for which doth the greatelf evil, he that takes away an innate beauty, and when he has done, knows how to relfore it again ; or (he that teaches a company of wanton lafies to paint their faces? If Mars be in a virgin, in the nativity, they fay he caufeth the cholic (it is wt 11 God hath let fomebody to pull down the pride of man) he in the virgin troubles none with the cholic, but them that know not themlelves (for who knows himfelf, may ealilv know all the world.) Wormwood, an herb of Mars, is a prefent cure for it ; and whether it be meft like a Chril'tian to love him for his good, or hate him for his evil, judge ye. I had almoll forgotten, that charity thinks no evil. The Englifh Phyfician Enlarged. 323 evil. I was once in the Tower and viewed the wardrobe, and there was a great many fine cloaths : (I can give them no other title, for I was never either linen or wollen-draper) yet as brave as they looked, my opinion was that the moths might confume them ; moths are under the dominion of Mars; this herb Wormwood being laid among cloaths, will make a moth icorn to meddle with the cloaths, as much as a lion fcorns to meddle with a moufe, or an eagle with a fly. You lay Mars is angry, and it is true enough he is angry with many countrymen, for being fuch fools to be led" by the nofes by the College of Phyfician, as they lead bears to Paris garden. Melancholy men cannot endure to be wrong- ed in point of good fame, and that doth forelv trouble old Saturn, bccaufe they call' him the greateft unfortunate ; in the body of man he rules the fpleen, (and that makes cove- tous men fo fplcnetie) the poor old man lies crying out of his left fide. Father Saturn’s angry, Mars comes to him : Come, brother, I confefs thou art evil l'poken of, and fo am I : thou knoweft I have my exaltation in thy houfe, I give him an herb of mine, Wormwood, to cure the poor man : Saturn confented, but fpoke little, and Mars cured him by fympathy. When Mars was free from war, (for he loves to be fighting, and is the belt friend a foldier hath) I fay, when Mars was tree from war, he called a council of war in his own brain, to know how he fhould do poor finful man good, defiring to forget his abufes in being called an unfortunate. He mutters up his own forces, and places them in battalia. Oh ! quoth he, why do I hurt a poor filly man or woman > His angel anfwcrs him, it is bccaufe they have offended their God, (Look back to Adam !) Well, fays Mars, though they (peak evil of me, I will do good to them : Death’s cold, my herb fliall heat them ; they are full of ill humours (elfe they would never have fipoken ill of me) my herb fliall cleanfe them, and dry them; they are poor, weak creatures, my herb (hall ftrengthen them; they arc dull-witted, my herb fliall fortify their apprehenfions; and yet among atfrologers all this does not del'erve a good word: Oh! the patience of Mars ! Felix qu't potuit rerum cognofcerc cai/fas , Inque doj/ius Juperum fcandere cura fru it. Oh! happy he that can the knowledge gain, To know th’ eternal God made nought in vain. To r,24 The Englifh Phyfician Enlarged. To this I add, 1 know the reafon caufeth fuch a dearth Of knowledge ; ’tis becaufe men love the earth. The other day Mars told me he met with Venus, and he a{ked her, What was the reafon that Hie aecufed him for abufing women ? He never gave them the pox. In the dif- pute they fell out, and in anger parted, and Mars told me that his brother Saturn told him, that an anti-venerean me- dicine was the bell again ll the pox. Once a month he meet* with the Moon. Mars is quick enough of fpeech, and the Moon not much behindhand (neither are moil women.) The Moon looks much after children, and children are much troubled with the worms ; file dclired a medicine of him, he bid her take his own herb, Wormwood. He had no fooner parted with the Moon but he met with Venus, and flic was- as drunk as a bitch : Alas! poor Venus, quoth he; What! thou a fortune, and be drunk ? I’ll give thee an antipatheti- cal cure: Take my herb, Wormwood, and thou (halt never get a furfeit by drinking. A poor, filly countryman hath got an ague, and cannot go about his bulinefs; he willies lie had it not, and fo do 1 ; but I will tell him a remedy, where- by he {hall prevent it: Take the herb of Mars, Wormwood, and if infortunes will do good, what will fortunes do ; Some think the lungs are under Jupiter; and if the lungs, then the breath ; and though fometimes a man gets a {linking breath, and yet Jupiter is a fortune, for foot h ; up comes Mars to him: Come, brother Jupiter, thou knoweil 1 fent thee a couple of trines to thy houfe lail night, the one from Aries, and the other from Scorpio; give me thy leave by fympathy to cure tins poor man by drinking a draught of Wormwood beer every morning. The Moon was weak the other dav, and file gave a man two terrible mifehiefs, a dull brain and a weak fight; Mars laid by his fword, and comes to her: Sif- ter Moon, find he, this man hath angered thee, but 1 be- fcech thee take notice he is but a feel; prithee be patient, I will, with my herb Wormwood, cure him of both infirmities by antipathy, for thou knoweil thou and I cannot agree; with that the Moon began to quarrel; Mars, not delighting much in women’s tongues, went away, and did it whether flic would or no. He that reads this, and underfiands what he reads, hath a jewel of more worth than a diamond ; he that underfiands it 3 not The Englifli Phyfician Enlarged. 32S »ot is very unfit to give phyfic. There lies a key in thefe words which will unlock (if it be turned by a wife hand) the cabinet of phyfic : I have delivered it as plain as I durft • it is not only upon Wormwood as I wrote, but upon all plants’, tiecs? and herbs; he that underftands it not is unfit, in mv opmion, to give phyfic. This fliall live when I am dead. And thus I leave it to the world, not caring a farthing whether they hke or diflike it. _ The grave equals ail men, and there- tore fliall equal me with all princes ; until which time the Eternal Province is over me: Then the ill tongue of a prating fellow, or one that hath more tongue than wit, or ™ n'-c ^I0Lud ,than hone^» never trouble me, Wii'dom s j ulhfied by her children. And fo much for Wormwood. Yarrow, called Nofe-bleed, Milfoil, and Thou- land-leaf. Dcfoipt.-] TT hath many long leaves, fpread upon the r .. . "'ound, finely cut, and divided into manv fmall parts; its flowers are white, but not all of awhitenefs and flayed in knots, upon divers green flaiks which rik from among the leaves. -£Jace- ] Ic is frequent in all pa flu res. Time.-} Itflowereth late, even in the latter end of Augufl: Government and Tirtues .] It is under the influence ofv/. nus. An ointment ot them cures wounds, and is mod fit for fuen as have inflammations, it being an herb of Dame Venus - J rhc,terTS in W0,men’ beinS boiled in white wine and the decodtion drank; as alio the bloody-flux; the ointment of k is not only good for green wounds, but alio tor ulcers and fhlU^Sdd PSC1? uy-iUa! a? abound witli moiflure. It flays the fl.eddi ng of hair, the aead being bathed with the decoc- tion ot it; inwardly taken u heips the retentive faculty of III ii ,aCh-: U help* tne ,running of the reins in men, and the wh.tes in women, and helps inch as cannot hold their watei ; and the leaves chewed in the mouth eafeth the tooth- ach : And thefe virtues being pu together fliew the herb to be drying and binding Ach, lies is luppoled to be uie nrfl that left the virtues (i. this herb to potter lty, having learned them mS uu- Ch‘ron thc Centaur; and certainly a ver> p o- «ta. le herb it u in cramp’s, and therefore called Miliu.'is. CL direc- ' [ 32f> ] DIRECTIONS. HAVING in divers places of this Treatife premifed you the way of making Syrups, Conferves, Oils, Oint- ments, &c., of herbs, roots, flowers, &c., whereby you may have them ready for your ufe at fuch times when they can- not be had otherwife; I come now to perform what I pro- mifed, and you fliall find me rather better than worfe than my word. That this maybe done methodically, I {hall divide my di. rettions into two grand ieftious, and each fection intoleveral chapters, and then you {bail fee it look with fuch a counte- nance as this is. SECT. I. Of gathering, drying , and keeping Simples, and tleir Juices. HAP. i . Of leaves of Herbs , &c. ^ Chap. 2. Of Flower's. Chap. 3. Of Seeds. Chap. 4. Of Roots. Chap. 5. Of Barks. C h a p . 6 . Oj ’ Jui ces. SECT. II. Of making and keeping Compounds. HAP. I. Of d if illcd Wa- ters. Chap. 2. Of Syrups. Chap. 3. Of Juleps. Chap. 4. Of Decoflions. Chap. 5. Of Oils. Chap. 6. Of Flccluarics. Chap. 7. Of Conferves. Chap. 8. Of Prefe. ves. Chap. 9. Of Lohoclt Chap. 10. Of Ointments. Chap. 11. Of Plafers. Chap. 12. Of Poultices. Chap. 13. Of Troches. Chap. 14. Of Pills. Chap. 1 3. The way of fitting Medicines to compound T)if cafes. Of all thefe in order. C H A P. I. Of Leaves of Herbs or Trees. j. leaves, chufe only fuch as are green and full of juice; pick them carefully, and caft away fuch as are any way declining, for they will putrify the reft : So fhall one handful be worth ten of thole you buy in Cheaplidc. 2. Ni-te what places they molt delight to g ow in, .and gather them there ; for Betony that grows in the (hade is far better Dire 51 ions for making of Syrups, &c. -27 better than that which grows in the Sun, becaufe it delights in the made; lo alio inch herbs as delight to grow neaimhe water fhould be gathered near it, though haply you may find iome of them upon dry ground: The Treat lie will inform you where every herb delights to grow. 3. The leaves of inch herbs as run up to feed are not fo good when they are in flower as before, fome few excepted the leaves of which arc very fcldom ufed ; in fuch cafes if through ignorance they were not known, or through negli- gence forgotten, you had better take the top and tife flowers thantheleaf. __ 4. Dry them well in the Sun, and not in the fhnde. as the lay ingot phyficians is, for if the Sun draw away the virtues of the herb it muft needs do the like by hay, by the fame rule which the experience of every country' farmer will ex- plode fora notable piece of noufenfe. 5. Such as are artiils in allrology, (and indeed none elfe are lit to make phyficians) fuch I advife ; let the planet that governs the herb be angular, and the ltronger the better- if the , can, in heibs of Saturn let Saturn be in the afeendant- \u tie heibs of Mars let Mars he in the mid-heaven, for in thoie houfes they delight; let the Moon apply to them by good a I peel, and let her not be in the houfes of her enemies'- it you cannot well flay till fhe apply to them, let her apply to a planet of tnc l ime treplicity; it you cannot wait that time neither let her be with a fixed liar of their nature 6. Having well dried them put them up in brtTpaper, few mg tae paper up like a fack, and pre/i; them not too hard together, and keep them in a dry place near the fire. . i-' *\s duiation of dried herbs a juft time cannot be given, let authors prate their pleafu/e, for, 1, Such as grow upon dry grounds will keep better than luch as grow on rnoift. 2dly, Such herbs as are full of juice will not keep fo Ion"- as luch as are drier. 1 0 3-1}', Such herbs as are well dried will keep longer that fuch as arc flaek.dricd. Yet you m ly know wheat; e ire corrupted by their lofs of colour, or fmell, or both : n 1 if they be couupred, real’on will tell von that they mtifi n -e ls corrupt the bodies of tliofe people that take them. S. Gather all leaves in the hour of thatpianet that govern than, b Q~2 CHAP. an e 328 Dire Elions for making of Syrups, tsc. t < - CHAP II. Of Flowers. x 1. r | ^HE flower, which is the beauty of the plant, and 1 of none of the leaft ufe in phyfic, groweth yearly, and is to be gathered when it is in its prime. 2. As for the time of gathering them let the planetary hour, and the planet they come of, be obferved, as we {hew- ed you in the foregoing chapter ; as for the time of the day, let it be when the fun fliines upon them, that lb they may be dry ; for if you gather either flowers or herbs when they are wet or dewy they will not keep. 3. Dry them w’ell in the Sun, and keep them in papers near the fire, as I fhewed you in the foregoing chapter. 4. So long as they retain the colour and fmell they are good; either of them being gone, fo is their virtue alfo. CHAP. III. Of Seeds. 1. P“1“>HE feed is that part of the plant which is endowed I with a vital faculty to bring forth its like, and it contains potentially the whole plant in it. 2. As for place, let them be gathered from the place where they delight to grow. 3. Let them be full ripe when they are gathered; and for- get not the celeftial harmonv before-mentioned, for I have found by experience that their virtues are twice as great at fuch times as others. “ There is an appointed time for “ everything under the Sun. ’’ 4. When you have gathered them, dry them a little, and but a little, in the fun before you lay them up. c; . You need not be fo careful of keeping them fo near the fire as the other before mentioned, becaufe they are fuller of fpirit, and therefore nor fo fubjedl to corrupt. 6. As for the time of their duration it is palpable they will keep a good many years ; yet they arc beft the fn ft year, and this 1 make appear by a good argument: They will grow fooneft the firif year they be let, therefore then they are in their prime; and it is an eafy matter to renew them yearly. CHAP. IV. Of Roots. 1 . roots chufe fuch as are neither rotten or worm -eaten, but proper in their tafte, colour, and fmell ; fuch as exceed neither in foftnefs nor hardnefs. 2. Give Directions for making of Syrups, &c. 329 2. Give me leave to be a little critical againft the vulgar- received opinion, which is, That the fap falls down into the roots in the Autumn, and riles again in the Spring, as men go to bed at night and rife in the morning; and this idle talk of untruth is fo grounded in the heads, not only of the vul- gar, but alfo of the learned, that a man cannot drive it out by reafon. I pray let fuch lapmongers anfwer me this argu- ment : If the fap falls into the roots in the fall of the leaf, and lies there all the Winter, then mud; the root grow only in the Winter. But the root grows not at all in the Winter, as experience teacheth, but only in the Summer: Therefore if you fet an apple-kernel in the Spring you ihall find the root to grow to a pretty bignefs in the Summer, and be not a whit bigger next Spring. What doth the fap do in the root all that while, pick draws? ’Tis as rotten as a rotten port. The truth is, when the fun declines from the tropic of Cancer the fap begins to congeal both in root and branch; when he touches the tropic of Capricorn, and afeends to- wards us, it begins to wax thin again, and by degrees, as it congealed. But to proceed : 3. The drier time you gather the roots in the better they are ; for they have the lefs excrementitious moidure in them. 4. Such roots as are foft your bed way is to dry in the fun, or elfe hang them in the chimney corner upon a firing; as for fuch as are hard you may dry them anywhere. 5. Such roots as are great will keep longer than fuch as are fmall ; yet mod of them will keep all the year. 6. Such roots as are foft it is your bed; way to keep them always near the fire, and to take this general rule for it : If in Winter-time you find any of your roots, herbs, or flowers begin to be moiff, as many times you (hall (for it is your bed: way to look to them once a month) dry them by a very gentle fire ; or if you can with conveniency keep them near the fire you may lave yourfelf the labour. 7. It is in vain to dry roots that may commonly be had, as Parfley, Fennel, Plantain, &c., but gather them only for prefent need. CHAP. V. Of Barks. 1. T^ARKS, which Phyficians ufe in medicine, are of thefe forts: Of fruits, of roots, of boughs. 2. The barks of fruits are to be taken vyhen the fruit is full CL 3 ripe. 33-O Directions for waling of Syrups , '& c. ripe, as oranges, lemons, &c., but becaufe I have nothing to do with exotics here I pafs them without any more words. 3. The barks of trees are beft gathered in the Spring, if of oaks, or inch great trees; becaufe then they come eafier off, and fo you may dry them if you pleafe; but indeed the belt way is to gather ail barks only for prefent ufe. 4. As for the bark of roots, ’tis thus to be gotten : Take the roots of fuch herbs as have a pith in them, as parfley, fennel, &c., liit them in the middle, and when you have taken out the pith (which you may eatily do) that which re- mains is called, though improperly, the bark, and indeed is only to be ufed. CHAP. VI. Of Juices. 1. VOICES are to be preffed out of herbs when they are J) young and tender, out of fome llalks, and tender tops of herbs and plants, and alio out of fome flowers. 2. Having gathered the herb you would preferve the juice of, when it is very dry, for othenvife the juice will not be worth a button, bruife it wrcll in a flone mortar with a wooden pelfle, then, having put it into a canvas bag, the herb I mean, not the mortar, for that will give but little juice, prcls it hard in a prefs, then take the juice and clarify it. 3. The manner of clarifying it is this: Put it into a pip- kin or fkillet, or fome fuch thing, and fet it over the hrej apd when the feum arifeth take it off; let it Hand over the fire till no more feum at ife ; when you have your juice clari- fied, caff away the feum as a thing of no ufe. 4. When you have thus clarified it, you have two ways to preferve it all the year. # ( 1 ) When it is cold put it into a glafs, and put fo much oil on it as will cover it to the thicknefs of two fingers ; the oil will fwim at the top, audio keep the air from coming to putrifv it: When you intend to ufe it pour it into a porrin- ger, and if any oil come out with it you may eafily icum it off with afpoon, and put the juice you ufe not into the glafs again, it will tpiickly link under the oil. (2) The fecond way is a little more difficult, and the juic* of fruits is ufuaJly prclerved this way. When you have cla- rified it, boil it over the fire, till, being cold, it be of the thicknefs of honey : This is mull commonly uled for difeales of the mouth, and is called Roba and Saba. And thus much for the firff fedlion, the fecond follows. SECT Directions for makir-g of Syrups, &c. 331 SECT. II. Tie w ay of making and keeping all necejfary Compounds. CHAP. I. Of difilled Waters. HITHERTO vve have fpoke of medicines, which confift in rheir own nature, which authors vulgarly call Sim- ples, though fomething improperly ; for in truth nothing i* Ample but pure elements ; ail things elfe are compounded of them. We come now to treat of the artificial medicines, in the form of which (beeaufe we mull begin fomewhere) w* fhall place ditiilled waters; in which confider, 1. Waters are diftilled of herbs, flowers, fruits, and roots. 2. We treat not of ftrong waters, but of cold, as being to aft Galen’s part, and not Paracelfus’9. 3. The herbs ought to be diftilled when they are in th« greateft vigour, and fo ought the flowers alfo. 4. The vulgar way of diltindtion which people ufe, beeaufe they know no better, is in a pewter ftill; and although dif- tilled waters are the weakeft of artificial medicines, and good for little but mixtures of other medicines, yet they arc weak- er by many degrees than they would be were they diftilled in fand. If I thought it not impofliblc to teach you the way of diftiiling in fand I would attempt it. 5. When you have diftilled your water put it intoa glaft, covered over with a paper pricked full of holes fo that th® cxcrementitious and fiery vapours may exhale which cauft that fettling in diftilled waters called the mother, which cor- rupt them, then cover it clofe, and keep it for your ufe. 6. Stopping diftilled waters with a cork makes them muf- tv, and fo does paper, if it but touch the water ; it is beft to flop them with a bladder, being firft put in water, and bound over the top of the glafs. Such cold waters as are diftilled in a pewter ftill (if well kept) will endure a year; fuch as are diftilled in fand, a* they are twice as ftrong, fo they endure twice as long. CHAP. II. Of Syrups. x. \ SYRUP is a medicine of a liquid form, compofedof infulion, decodfion, and juice. And, 1. For the more grateful tafte. 2. For the better keeping of it ; with? a certain quantity of honey or fugar, hereafter mentioned, boiled to the thicknefs of new honey. 0^4 2. You 332 Dir eft ions for making of Syrups, &V. 2. You fee at the firft view that this aphorifm divides it- ielf into three branches, which defervefeverally to be treated^ of, viz. 1. Syrups made by infuiion. 2. Syrups made by decodtion. 3. Syrups made by juice. Of each of thcfe (for your inflru£tion-fake, kind country- men and women) I fpeak a word or two apart. 1 ft, Syrup made by infufion are ufually made of flowers, and of fuch flowers as foon lofe their colour and ftrength by boiling, as rofes, violets, peach-flowers, &c. My tranfla- tjon of the London Difpenlatory will inftrudt you in the reft. They arc thus made : Having picked your flowers clean, to every pound of them add three pounds, or three pints, which you will, for it is all one, of fpring water, made boiling hot; firfl put your flowers into a pewter pot, with a cover, and pour the water on them; then (hutting the pot, let it (land by the lire, to keep hot twelve hours, and (train it out ; in fuch lyrups as purge, as damafk rofes, peach-flowers, &c., the ufual, and indeed the belt, way is to repeat this infuiion, adding frelli flowers to the fame liquor divers times that fo it may be the ftronger ; having (trained it out, put the infufion into a pewter bafon, or an earthen one well glazed, and to every pint of it add two pounds of fugar, which being only melted over the fire, without boiling, and fcummed, will produce you the fyrup vou defire. 2dly, Syrups made by decodtion are ufually made of com- pounds, yet may any Ample herb be thus converted into fy- rup: Take the herb, root, or flowers, you would make into a fyrup, and bruife them a little; then boil it in a conveni- ent quantity of fpring water; the more water you boil it in the weaker it will be ; a handful of the herb or root is a con- venient quantity for a pint of water; boil it till half the water be confumed, then let it fiand till it be almoft cold, and drain it through a woollen cloth, letting it run out at leifurc, with- out prefling: To every pint of this decodtion add one pound of fugar, and boil it over the fire till it conic to a fyrup, which you may know, if you now and then cool a little of it with a fpoon ; feum it all the while it boils, and when it is fuffici- cntly boiled, whilfl it is hot, drain itagain through a woollen cloth, but prefs it not. Thus you have the fvrup perfected. gdly, Syrups made of juice are ufually made of fuch herbs DireSUons for making of Fyrups, &c. 333 as are full of juice, and indeed they are better made into a fyrupthis way than any other, the operation is thus: Having beaten the herb in a done mortar, with a wooden peftle, prefs out the juice, and clarify it, as you are taught before in the juices; then let the juice boil away till about a quarter of it be con fumed : To a pint of this add a pound of fugar, ana boil it to a fyrup, always feumming it, and when it is boiled enough drain it through a woollen cloth, as we taught you before, and keep it for your life. 3. If you make a fyrup of roots that are any thing hard, as parfley, fennel, and grais-roots, &c., when you have bruifed them, lay them in deep lbme time in that water which you intend to boil them in, hot, fo will the virtue better come out. 4. Keep your lyrups either in glades or done pots, and dop them not with cork nor bladder, unlefsyou would have the glafs break, and the fyrup lod, only bind paper about the mouth. All Syrups, if well made, continue a year with fome advantage; yet fuch as are made by infulion keep fhorted. CHAP. III. Of Juleps. JULEPS were fird invented, as l fuppofe, in Arabia; and my reafon is, becaufe the word Julep is an Arabic word. 2. It lignifies only a pleafant potion, as is vulgarly ufed by fuch as are fick, and want help, or fuch as are in health, and want no money to quench third. 3. Now-a-day it is commonly ufed, 1. To prepare the body for purgation, 2. To open obdrudtions and the pores, , 3. To diged tough humours, 4. To qualify hot didempers, &c. 4. Simple Juleps (fori have nothing to fay to compounds here) aie thus made : Take a pint of fuch didilled water as conduces to the cure of your didemper, which this treatife will plentifully furnifh you with, to which add two ounces of lyrup, conducing to the fameeliedt; (I fliall give you rules for it in the next chapter) mix them together, and drink a draught of it at your pleafure. If you lore tart things, add ten drops of oil of vitriol to your pint, and diake it together, an in d it will have a nne grateful taite. 5. All juleps are made for piefent ule, and therefore it is vain to fpeak of their duration. 0*5 CHAP I 234 Dir eft ions for making of Syrups, & c. G H A P. IV. Of Decoctions. I. \ LL the difference between decoPtions, and fvrnp made by decoPtion, is this : Syrups are made to keep, decoPfion only for prefent ufe ; for you can hardly keep a de- coPtion a week at any time ; if the weather be hot, not half fo long. 2. DecoPtions arc made of leaves, roots, flowers, feeds, fruits, or barks, conducing to the cure of the difeafe you make them for; are made in the fame manner as we fhewed you in fyrups. 3. DecoPtions made with wine laft longer than fuch as are made with water; and if you take your decoPtion to cleanfe the pafiage of the urine, or open obllruPtions, your beft way is to make it with white wine inflead of water, becaufe this is penetrating. 4. Deceptions are of moil ufe in fuch difeafes as lie in the paliiiges of the body, as the ftomach, bowels, kidneys, paf- fages of urine and bladder, becaufe deceptions pafs quicker to thofe places than any other form of medicines. 5. If you will fweeten yotlr decoPtion with fugar, or any fyrup fit for the occafion you take it for, which is better, you may, and no harm. 6. If in a decoPtion you boil both roots, herbs, flowers, and feed together, let the roots boil a good while firfl, becaufe they retain their virtue longeft; then the next in order by the fame rule, viz., 1. The barks. 2. The herbs. 3. The feeds. 4. The flowers. 5. The fpiccs, if you put any in, becaufe their virtues come fooneft out. 7. Such things as by boiling caufe fliminefs to a decoPtion, as figs, quince-feed, linfeed, &c., your beft way is, after you have bruifed them, to tie them up in a linen rag, as you tie up calf’s brains, and fo boil them. 8. Keep all deceptions in aglafs clofe flopped, and in th« cooler place you keep them the longer they will laft ere they be four. Laftlv, The ufual dofe to begin at one time is ufually two, three, four, or five ounces, according to the age and flrength of the patient, the feafon of the year, the flrength of the me- dicine, and the quality of the difeafe. C H A IV V. Of Oils. OIL Olive, which is commonly known by the name of Sallad Oil, I fuppofe, becaufe it is ufually eaten with 6 fallads, Direftions for making of Syrups , &c. 3 35 fallads, by them that love it, if it be preffed out of ripe olives, according to Galen, is temperate, and exceeds in no one quality. 2. Of oils, fume are fimplc, and fome are compound. 3* Simple oils are fuch as are made of fruits or feeds by expreflion, as oil of fvveet and bitter almonds, linfeed, and rape-feed oil, See., of which fee in my Difpenfatory. 4. Compound oils are made of oil of olives, and other fim- ples, imagine herbs, flowers, roots. Sec. 5. The way of making them is this : Having bruied the herbs or flowers you would make your oil of, put them into an earthen pot, and to two or three handfuls oi 'hem pour a pint of oil, cover the pot with a paper, fet it in the fun about a fortnight or fo, accoiding as the fun is in hotnefs; then having warmed it very well by the fire, prefs out the herb. See., very hard in a prefs, and add as many more heibs to the fame oil; bruife the herbs (I mean not the oil) in like man- ner fet them in the fun as before; the ofrener you repeat this the ftronger your oil will be: At luff, when you conceive it ffrong enough, boil both herbs and oi! together, tiil the juice be confumcd, which you may know by its leaving its bub- bling, and tiie herbs will be ctifp; then drain it while it is hot, and keep it in a done or glafs vefl'cl for your life. 6. As for chvmicai ■ ils I h ave norhing to .ay' here. 7. The general u e of thefe this i - i w p.tins in the limbs, roughnefs of the lkin, the itch, &c., as ilfo for ointments and pladers. 8* I ' you have occadon to ui'e it for w ounds or ulcers, in two ounces of oil diffolve halt an ounce of turpentine, the heat of the tire wilt quickly do it ; for oil itfelf is oflfenfrve to wound?, and the turpentine qualifies it. C H A P. VI. Of EkSluaries. PHYSICI ANS make more a q mil than needs by half/ about electuaries. 1 fit 11 prefcribe'but one general way of making them up; as tor ingredient? you may vary them as you pica , md as you find occafion, by the lad chapter. i. Th.'ty^u ray make el . htu.iri s when yon need them, it is requilite rh..t you keep always herb®, roots, flowers, feeds, S:c., teady fitted in your home, that fo you maybe in a readineisto be ,t 'hem into powder when you need them. 2. It is better to keep them whole than beaten; for being Q^6 beaten 336 Directions for making of Syrups) &c. beaten, they are more fubjeft to lofe their flrength ; becaufc the air foon penetrates them. 3. If they be not dry enough to beat into powder when you need them, dry them by a gentle fire till they are fo. 4. Having beaten them, lift them through a fine tiffany fearce, that no great pieces may be found in your electuary. 5. To one ounce of your powder add three ounces of cla- rified honey; this quantity I hold to be fufficient. If you would make more or lefs ele&uary vary your proportion ac- cordingly. * 6. Mix them well together in a mortar, and take this for a truth, ycu cannot mix them too much. 7. The way to clarify honey is to let it over the fire in a convenient veffel till the feum rife, and when the feum is taken off it is clarified. 8. The ufual dofe of cordial electuaries- is from half a dram to two drams ; of purging electuaries from half an ounce to an ounce. 9. The manner of keeping them is in a pot. 10. The time of taking them is either in a morning faff- ing, and faffing an hour after them, or at night going to bed, three or four hours after fupper. / CHAP. VII. Of Cojfcrves. r jp'HFr'way of making conferves is twofold, one of herbs | ' ajrcl flowers, and the other of fruits. .^.'“Conferves of herbs and flowers are thus made; If you make your conferve of herb1:, as of fcuryygrafs, wormwood, rue, and the like, /take only the leaves and tender tops, (for you may beat your heart out before you can beat the flalks fmall) and having beaten them, weigh them, and to every pound of them add three pounds of fugar, you cannot beat them too much. 3. Conferves of fruits, as of barberries, floes, and the like, are thus made: Firft feald the fruit, then rub the pulp through a thick Itair fieve, made for that purpofe, called a pulping-ficve ; you may do it for a need w ith the back of a fpoon ; then take this pulp thus drawn, and add to it its weight of fugar, and no more; put it into*a pewter vefTel, and over a charcoal fire ; dir it up and down till the fugar be melted, and your conferve is made. 4. Thus Dire ft ions for making of Syrups , &c. 337 4. Thus you have the way of making conferves ; the way of keeping them is in earthen pots. 5. The dofe is ufually the quantity of a nutmeg at a ' time, morning and evening, or, (unlefs they are purging) jj when you pleafe. fi. Of conferves, fome keep many years, as conferves of j rofes ; others but a year, as conferves of borage, buglofs, cowflips, and the like. 7. Have a care of the working of fome conferves pre- l fently after they are made ; look to them once a day, and ftir them about. Confeives of borage, buglofs, wormwood, have gotten an excellent faculty at that fport. 8. You may know when your conferves are almoftjfpoil- ed by this ; you fliall find a hard cruft at top with little holes if in if, as though worms had been eating' there. OF Preferves there are fundry-forts, and the operations of all being l'omewhat different, we will handle them all apart. Thefe are preferred with fugar : 1. Flowers are very feldom preferved ; I never faw any that I remember, fave only cowtlip flowers, and that was a great fafliion in Suflex when I was a boy. It is thus done : • Take a fiat glafs, w'e call them jat-glaffes ; ftrew in a laying of fine fugar, on that a laying of flowers, on that another laying of fugar, on that another laying of flowers, lo do till your glafs be fuil ; then tie it over with a paper, and in a little time you fliall have very excellent and plcafant con- ferves. There is another way of preferving flowers : namely, with vinegar and fait, as they pickle capers and broom buds ; but as I have little lkili in it myfelf, I cannot teach you. 2. Fruits, as quinces, and the like, are preferved two ways : 1. Boil them well in water, and then pulp them through a fieve, as we flieved you before ; then with the like quan- tity of fugar, boil the water they were boiled in into a fy- rup, viz. a pound of fugar to a pint of liquor; to every pound of this fyrup, add four ounces of the pulp; then boil it with a very gentle fire to their right conliftence, which CHAP. VIII. Of Preferves. 1. Flowers. 2. Fruits. 3. Roots. 4. Barks. ill ’si <538 Directions for making of Syrups , &c. you may cafily know, if you drop a drop of ir upon a tren- cher ; if it be" enough, it will not flick to your fingers when it is cold. __ . 2. Another way to prefer ve fruits is this : Firir, pare off the rind ; then cut them in halves, and take out the core ; then boil them in water till they are foft ; if you know When beef is boiled enough, you may eafily know when they are : Then boil the water with its like weight of fuga'r into a fyrup ; put the lyrup into a pot, and put the boiled fruit as whole as you left it" when you cut it into it, and let it remain till you have occafon to ute it. 3. Roots are thus preferved : Firft, ferape them very clean, and cleanfe them from the pith, if they have any, for fome roots have not, as Eringo and the like : Boil them in water till they be foft, as we fhewed you before in the fruits ; then boil the water you boiled the root in into a ly- rup, as we fhewed you before ; then keep the root whole in the iyrup till you ufe them. 4. As for barks, we have but few come to our hands to be done, and of thofe the few that I can remember, are oran- ges, lemons, citrons, and the outer haik of walnuts, which grow without-fide the flieli, for the (hells themfelves would make but feurvy preierves 5 tneie aie all I can lemenibci j if there be any more, put them into the number. The way of .preferving thefe, is not all one in authors, for fome are bitter, fome are hot ; fuch as are bitter, fay authors, muft be foaked in warm water, oftentimes changing till their bitter talle be fled : But I like not this way, and my reafon is this : Becaufe I doubt when their bitternefs is gone, fo is their virtue alfo ; I (hall then preferibe one com- mon wav, namely, the fame with tne former, viz. Firft, boil them whole till they be foft, then make a fyrup with fugar and the liquor you "boiled them in, and keep the barks in the fyrup. 5. They are kept in glaffes, or in glazed pots. 6. The preferved flowers will keep a year, if you can forbear eating of them ; the roots and barks much longer. 7. This art was plainly firft invented for delicacy, yet came afterwards to be of excellent ufe in phyiick : For, 1. Flereby medicines are made pleafant for fick and fqueamifh ftomachs ; which elfe would lothe them. 2. Hereby they are preferved from decaying a long time. CHAP. Dir eSi ions for making cf Syrups, &c. 339 C H A P. IX. Of Lohocks. t. r b "'HAT which the Arabians call Lohocks, and the | I Greeks Eclegma, the Latins call Linftus, and in plain Englilh iignifies nothing clfe but a thing to be licked up. 2. Their fir ft invention was to prevent and remedy afflic- tions of the breaft and lungs, to cleanfe the lungs of phlegm, ifnd make it fit to be calf out. 3. They are in body thicker than a fyrup, and not fo 'thick as an eledluary. 4. The manner of taking them is, often to take a little with liquorice ftick, and let it go down at leifure. 5. They are eafily made thus : Make a decoction of pec- toral herbs, and the treatife will furnifh you with enow, and when you have drained it, with twice its weight of ho- ney or l'ugar, boil it to a lohock ; if you are molcfted with \ much phlegm, honey is better than fugar ; and if you add a little vinegar to it, you will do well, if not, I hold lugar to be better than honey. 6. It is kept in pots, and may be kept a year and longer. 7. It is excellent for rough nef3 of the wind-pipe, inflam- mations and ulcers of the lungs, difficulty of breathing-, afth- mas, coughs and didillations of humours. CHAP X. Of Ointments. 1. "T TARIOUS are the ways of making ointments, which V authors have left to poderity, which I fhall omit, and quote one which is eafieft to be made, and therefore moft beneficial to people that are ignorant in phyfick, for Whole fake I write this. It is thus done : Bruife thofe herbs, flowers, or roots, you will make an ointment of, and to two handfuls of your bruifed herbs add a pound of hog’s greafe dried, or cleanfed from the Ikins, beat them very well together in a ftonc mortar with a wood- en pellle, then put it into a Hone pot, (the herb and greafe I mean, not the mortar) cover it with a paper, and fet it either in the fun, or fume other warm place, three, four, or five days, that it may melt ; then take it out and boil it a little ; then whilft it is hot ftrain it out, preffing it out very hard in a prefs ; to this greafe add as many more herbs bruifed as before; let them Hand in like manner as long, , then boil them as you did the former: If you think your ointment not ftrong enough, you may do it the third and fourth time ; yet this I will tell you, the fuller of juice I., the 34^ DireHions for making of Syrups , &c. the herbs are, the fooner will your ointment be ftrong ; the laft time you boil it, boil it fo long till your herbs be crifp. And the juice confumed, then drain it, preffing it hard in a prefs, and to every pound of ointment add two ounces of turpentine, and as much wax, becaufe greafe is offeniive to wounds, as well as oil. 2. Ointments are vulgarly known to be kept in pots, and will laft above a year, fome above two years. 'CHAP. XI. Of Plafers. l. r | >HE Greeks made their plafters of divers ftmples, I and put metals into moll of them, if not all; for having reduced their metals into powder, they mixed them with that fatty lubftance whereof the reft of the piafter con- lifted, whilft it was yet hot, continually ftirring it up and down, left it fliould link to the bottom ; fo they continually ftirred it till it was ftifF ; then they made it up in rolls, which when they needed for ufe, they could melt by fire again. 2. The Arabians made up theirs with oil and fat, which needeth not (b long boiling. 3. The Greeks’ emplafters confided of thefe ingredients, metals, ftones, divers forts of earth, feces, juices, liquors, feeds, roots, herbs, excrements of creatures, wax, rolin, gums. CHAP. XII. Of Poultices. POULTICES are thofe kind of things which the Latins c\MCataplafmata , and our learned fellow's, that if they can read E ighth, that’s all, call them Cataplafms, becaufe *tis a crabbed word few underhand : it is indeed a very fine kind of medicine to ripen lores. 2. They are made of herbs and roots, fitted for the dif- eafe and members aftftrfted, being chopped fmall, and boiled in water ahnolt to a jelly ; then adding a little barley-meal, or meal of lupins, and a little oil, or rough fweet fuet, W'hich I hold to be better, fpread upon a cloth and apply to the grieved place. 3. Their ufe is to cafe pain, to break fores, to cool in- flammations, to diflb'vc bardnefs, to eafe the fpleen, to concoft humours, and diftipate fvvellings. 4. I befeech you t ike rhis caution along with you : Ufe no poultices (if you can help it) that are of an healing na- ture, before you have firft cleanfed the body, becaufe they are fuhjeft to draw the humours to them from every part of the body. C H A P. Directions for making of Syrups , &c. 341 CHAP. XIII. Of Troches. 1. npHE Latins call them Placentula , or little cakes, I and the Greeks Procbikois , KuUifcoi , and Artifcoi ; they are ufually little round flat cakes, or you may make them fquare if you will. 2. Theic firft invention was, that powders being fo kept, might refill the intermiiiion of air, and fo endure pure the longer. 3. Befides, they are eafier carried in the pockets of fuch as travel ; as many a man (for example) is forced to travel whofe ftomach is too cool, or at lead; not fo hot as it fhould be, which is mod proper, for the ftomach is never cold till a man be dead ; in fuch a cafe, it is better to carry troche* of wormwood, or galangal, in a paper in his pocket, than to take a gallipot along with him. 4. They are made thus : At night when you go to bed, take two drains of fine gum tragacanth ; put it into a galli- pot, and put half a quarter of a pint of any diflilled water fitting for the purpofe you would make your troches for, to cover it, and the next morning you fliall find it in fuch a jelly as the phyficians call mucilage : With this you may (with a little pains taking) make a powder into a pafte, and that palle into a cake called troches. 5. Having made them, dry them in the lliade, and keep them in a pot for your ufe. CHAP. XIV. Of Pills. 1. ' ( ’ HEY are called Pilule, becaufe they refcmblc lit- tie balls ; the Greeks call them Catapotia. 2. It is the opinion of modern phyficians, that this way of making medicines, was invented only to deceive the pa- late, that fo, by lwallowing them down whole, the bitter- nefs of the medicine might not be perceived, or at leaft it might not be inlufferable ; and indeed moll of their pills, though not all, are very bitter. 3. I am of a clear contrary opinion to this. I rather think they were done up in this hard form, that fo they might be th# longer in digefting ; and my opinion is ground- ed upon reafon too, not upon fancy, or hearfay. The firft invention of pills was to purge the head ; now, as I told you before, fuch infirmities as lie near the paffages, were bed removed by deco