*{description} ..*{=} this small herb hath but one leaf which grows with
the stalk a fingers length above the ground being fat and of a fresh
green colour broad like the water plantane but less without any middle
rib in it from the bottom of which leaf on the inside riseth up
ordinarily one somtimes two or three small slender stalks the upper half
wherof is somwhat bigger and dented with smal round dents of a yellowish
green colour like the tongue of an adder or serpent only this is as
useful as they are formidable the root continues all the year =

*{place} ..*{=} it groweth in moist meadows and such like places =

*{time} ..*{=} and is to be found in april and may for it quickly
perisheth with a little heat =

*{vertues} ..*{=} it is temperate in respect of heat but dry in the
second degree the juyce of the leaves drunk with the distilled water of
horstail is a singular remedy for all manner of wounds in the breast
bowels or other parts of the body and is given with good success unto
those who are troubled with casting vomiting or bleeding at the mouth or
nose or otherwise downwards the said juyce given in the distilled water
of oaken buds is very good for women who have their usual courses or the
whites flowing down too abundantly it helps sore eyes the leaves infused
or boyled in oyl omphacine or unripe olives set in the sun for certain
daies or the green leaves sufficiently boyled in the said oyl is made an
excellent green balsom not only for green and fresh wounds but also for
old and inveterate ulcers especially if a little fine clear turpentine
be dissolved therin it also stayeth and represseth all inflamations that
arise upon pains by hurts or wounds =

*{wounds} ..*{.} it is an herb under the dominion of the moon in cancer
and therfore if the weakness of the rententive faculty be caused by an
evil influence of saturn in any part of the body governed by the moon or
under the dominion of cancer this herb cures it by sympathy it cures
those diseases before specified in any part of the body under the
influence of saturn by antypathy =

what parts of the body are under each planet and sign and also what
diseases may be found in my astrological judgment of diseases and for
the internal work of nature in the body of man as vital animal natural
and procreative spirit of man the apprehension judgment memory the
external sences viz° seeing hearing smelling tasting and feelings the
vertues attractive retentive digestive expulsive &c° under the dominion
of what planets they are may be found in my ephemeris for the yeer 1651
in both which you shall find the chaff of authors blown away by the fame
of dr reason and nothing but rational truths left for the judgment of
the ingenious to feed upon =

lastly to avoid blotting paper with one thing many times and also to
ease your purses in the price of the book and withal to make you
studious in physick you have at the latter end of the book the way of
preserving all herbs either in juyce conserve oyl oyntment or plaister
electuary pill or troches =

*{description} ..*{=} this hath divers long leaves some greater some
smaller set upon a stalk all of them dented about the edges green above
and grayish underneath and a little hairy withal among which ariseth up
usually but one strong round hairy brown stalk two or three foot high
with smaller leaves set here and there upon it at the top wherof grow
many smal yellow flowers one above another in long spikes after which
come rough heads of seeds hanging downwards which wil cleave to and
stick upon garments or any thing that shal rub against them the root is
black long and somwhat woody abiding many yeers and shooting afresh
every spring which root though smal hath a reasonable good scent =

*{place} ..*{=} it groweth upon banks near the sides of hedges or pales
=

*{time} ..*{=} and it flowreth in july and august the seed being ripe
shortly after =

*{vertues} ..*{=} it is of a clensing and cutting faculty without any
manifest heat moderately drying and binding it openeth and clenseth the
liver helpeth the jaundice and is very beneficial to the bowels healing
all inward wounds bruises hurts and other distempers the decoction of
the herb made with wine and drunk is good against the stinging and
biting of serpents and helps them that have foul troubled or bloody
waters and makes them piss cleer spedily it also helpeth the chollick
clenseth the breast and rids away the cough a draught of the decoction
taken warm before the fit first removes and in time rids away the
tertian or quartan agues the leaves and seed taken in wine stayeth the
bloody flux outwardly applied being stamped with old swines grease it
helpeth old sores cancers and inveterate ulcers and draweth forth thorns
splinters or wood nails or any other such thing gotten into the flesh it
helpeth to strengthen the members that be out of joynt and being bruised
and applied or the juyce dropped in it helpeth foul and imposthumed ears
=

*{clensing} ..*{.} the distilled water of the herb is good to all the
said purposes either inward or outward but a great deal weaker =

it is an herb under jupiter and the sign of cancer and therfore
strengthens those parts under that planet and sign and removes diseases
in them by sympathy and those under saturn mars and mercury by antipathy
if they happen in any part of the body governed by jupiter or under the
signs cancer sagitary or pisces and therfore must needs be good for the
gout either used outwardly in an oyl or oyntment or inwardly in an
electuary or syrup or concreated juyce for which see the latter end of
the book =

it is a most admirable remedy for such whose livers are annoyed either
by heat or cold the liver is the former of blood and blood the nourisher
of the body and agrimony and strengthner of the liver =

i cannot stand to give you a reason in every herb why it cureth such
diseases but if you please to peruse my judgment in the herb wormwood
you shall find them there and it will be well worth your while to
consider it in every herb you shall find them true throughout the book =

*{description} ..*{=} this well known herb lieth spreadeth and creepeth
upon the ground shooting forth roots at the corners of the tender
joynted stalks set all along with two round leavs at every joynt somwhat
hairy crumpled and unevenly dented about the edges with round dents at
the joynts likewise with the leaves towards the end of the branches come
forth hollow long flowers of a blewish purple colour with small white
spots upon the lips that hang down the root is small with strings =

*{place} ..*{=} it is commonly found under hedges and on the sides of
ditches under houses or in shadowed lanes and other wast grounds in
almost every part of the land =

*{time} ..*{=} they flower somwhat early and abide so a great while the
leaves continue green untill winter and somtimes abide except the winter
be very sharp and cold =

*{vertues} ..*{=} it is quick sharp and bitter in tast and is therby
found to be hot and dry a singular herb for all inward wounds
exulcerated lungs or other parts either by it self or boyled with other
the like herbs and being drunk it in short time easeth all griping pains
windy and chollerick humors in the stomach spleen or belly helps the
yellow jaundice by opening the stoppings of the gaul and liver and
melancholly by opening the stoppings of the spleen expelleth venom or
poyson and also the plague it provoketh urin and womens courses the
decoction of it in wine drunk for some time together procureth ease unto
them that are troubled with the sciatica or hip gout as also the gout in
the hands knees or feet and if you put to the decoction some honey and a
little burnt allum it is excellent good to gargle any sore mouth or
throat and to wash the sores and ulcers in the privy parts of man or
woman it speedily healeth green wounds being bruised and bound therunto
the juyce of it boyled with a little hony & verdigrees doth wonderfully
clens fistula's ulcers and stayeth the spreading or eating of cancers
and ulcers it helpeth the itch scabs wheals and other breakings out in
any part of the body the juyce of celondine field daysies and ground ivy
clarified and a little fine sugar dissolved therin and dropped into the
eyes is a sovereign remedy for all the pains redness and watering of
them as also for the pin and web skins and films growing over the sight
it helpeth beasts as well as men the juyce dropped into the ears doth
wonderfully help the noise and singing of them and helpeth the hearing
which is decayed it is good to tun up with new drink for it will so
clarifie it in a night that it will be the fitter to be drunk the next
morning or if any drink be thick with removing or any other accident it
will do the like in a few hours =

*{inward} ..*{.} it is an herb of venus and thefore cures her diseases
by sympathy and those of mars by antipathy how to preserve it all the
yeer you shall find at the latter end of the book =

*{description} ..*{=} it is usually sown in all the gardens in europe
and so well known that it needs no further description =

*{time} ..*{=} they flower in june and july and the seed is ripe in
august =

*{vertues} ..*{=} it warmeth a cold stomach and openeth stoppings of the
liver and spleen it is good to move womens courses to expel the after
birth to break wind to provoke urine and help the strangury and these
things the seeds wil do likewise if either of them be boyled in wine or
being bruised and taken in wine it is also effectual against the biting
of serpents and now you know what alexander porredg which is so familiar
in this city is good for that you may no longer eat it out of ignorance
but out of knowledg =

*{obstructions} ..*{=} this tree seldom groweth to any great bigness but
for the most part abideth like a hedg bush or tree spreading into
branches the wood of the body being white and of a dark red core or
heart the outward bark is of a blackish colour with many white spots
theron but the inner bark next unto the wood is yellow which being
chewed will turn the spittle neer unto a saffron colour the leaves are
somwhat like those of the ordinary alder tree or the foemale cornel or
dogberry tree called in sussex dog wood but blacker and not so long the
flowers are white coming forth with the leaves at the joynts which turn
into small round berries first green afterwards red but blackish when
they are through ripe divided as it were into two parts wherin is
contained two small round and flat seeds the root runneth not deep into
the ground but spreadeth rather under the upper crust of the earth =

*{place} ..*{=} this tree or shrub may be found plentifully in st° johns
wood by hornsey and in the woods upon hamsted heath as also at a wood
called the old park in barcomb in sussex near the brooks side =

*{time} ..*{=} it flowereth in may and the berries are ripe in september
=

*{vertues} ..*{=} the inner yellow bark herof purgeth downwards both
choller & flegm & the watry humors of such as have the dropsie and
strengtheneth the inward parts again by binding =

*{choller} ..*{.} if the bark hereof be boyled with agrimony wormwood
dodder hops and some fennel with smalledg endive and succory roots and a
reasonable draught taken every morning for some time together it is very
effectual against the jaundice dropsie and the evil disposition of the
body especially if some sutable purging medicine have been taken before
to avoid the grosser excrements =

*{jaundice} ..*{.} it purgeth and strengtheneth the liver and spleen
clensing them from such evil humors and hardness as they are afflicted
with it is to be understood that these things are performed by the dryed
bark for the fresh green bark taken inwardly provoketh strong vomitings
pains in the stomach and gripings in the belly yet if the decoction may
stand and settle two or three daies until the yellow colour be changed
black it will not work so strongly as before but will strengthen the
stomach and procure an appetite to meat =

*{stomach} ..*{.} the outer bark contrarywise doth bind the body and is
helpful for all lasks and fluxes therof but this must also be dried
first wherby it wil work the better the inner bark herof boyled in
vinegar is an approved remedy to kill lice to cure the itch and take
away scabs by drying them up in a short time it is singular good to wash
the teeth to take away the pains to fasten those that are loos to clens
them to keep them sound the leaves are good fodder for kine to make them
give more milk =

if in the spring time you use the herbs before mentioned and will but
take a handful of each of them and to them ad a handful of elder buds
and having bruised them all boyl them in a gallon of ordinary beer when
'tis new and having boyled them half an hour ad this to three gallons
more and let them work together and drink a draught of it every morning
half a pint or there about it is an excellent purge for the spring to
consume that flegmatick quality the winter hath left behind it and
withal keep your body in health and consume those evil humors which the
heat of summer will readily stir up esteem it as a jewel =

*{description} ..*{=} groweth to a reasonable heighth and spreads much
if it like the place it is so generally wel known unto country people
that i conceive it needless to tel them that which is no news =

*{place} ..*{=} it delighteth to grow in moist woods and watry places
flowring in april or may and yeilding ripe seed in september =

*{vertues} ..*{=} the leaves and bark of the alder tree are cooling
drying and binding the fresh leaves laid upon swelling dissolveth them
and staieth the inflamations the leaves put under the bare feet gauled
with travelling are a great refreshing to them the said leaves gathered
while the morning dew is on them and brought into a chamber troubled
with fleas wil gather them therinto which being suddenly cast out wil
rid the chamber of those troublesom bed fellows =

*{cooling} ..*{.} it is a tree under the dominion of venus and of some
watry sign or other i suppose pisces and therfore the decoction or
distilled water of the leaves is excellent against burnings and
inflamation either with wounds or without to bath the place grieved with
and especially for that inflamation in the breast which the vulgar call
an ague =

*{burnings} ..*{.} if you cannot get the leaves as in winter 'tis
impossible make use of the bark in the same manner =

to write a description of that which is so well known to be growing in
almost every garden i suppose is altogether needless yet for its vertues
it is of admirable use =

in times of heathenism when men had found out any excellent herb &c°
they dedicated it to their gods as the bay tree to apollo the oak to
jupiter the vine to bacchus the poplar to hercules these the papists
following as their patriarchs they dedicate them to their saints as our
ladies thistle to the blessed virgin st° johns wort to st° john and
another wort to st° peter &c° our physitians must imitate like apes
though they cannot come off half so cleverly for they blasphemously call
pansies or hartseas an herb of the trinity because it is of three
colours and a certain oyntment an oyntment of the apostles because it
consisteth of twelve ingredients alas poor fools i am sorry for their
folly and grieved at their blasphemy god send them the rest of their age
for they have their share of ignorance already o why must ours be
blasphemous becaus the heathens and papists were idolatrous certainly
they have read so much in old rustie authors that they have lost all
their decmity for unless it were amongst the ranters i never read or
heard of such blasphemy the heathens and papists were bad and ours wors
the papists giving idolatrous names to herbs for their vertues sake not
for their fair looks and thefore some called this an herb of the holy
ghost others more moderate called it angelica becaus of its angelical
vertues and that name it retains still and all nations follow it so near
as their dialect will permit =

*{vertues} ..*{=} it resists poyson by defending and comforting the
heart bleed and spirits it doth the like against the plague and all
epidemical diseases if the root be taken in pouder to the waight of half
a dram at a time with some good triacle in cardus water and the party
therupon laid to sweat in his bed if treacle be not at hand take it
alone in cardus or angelica water the stalks or roots candied and eaten
fasting are good preservatives in time of infection and at other times
to warm and comfort a cold stomach the root also steeped in vinegar and
a little of that vinegar taken somtimes fasting and the root smelled
unto is good for the same purpose a water distilled from the root simply
or steeped in wine and distilled in glass is much more effectual than
the water of the leaves and this water drunk two or three spoonfuls at a
time easeth all pains and torments coming of cold and wind so as the
body be not bound and taken with some of the root in pouder at the
beginning helpeth the pluresy as also all other diseases of the lungues
and breast as coughs phthisick and shortness of breath and a syrup of
the stalks doth the like it helps pains of the colick the strangury and
stopping of the urin procureth womens courses and expelleth the after
birth openeth the stoppings of the liver and spleen and briefly easeth
and discusseth al windiness and inward swellings the decoction drunk
before the fit of an ague that they may sweat if possible before the fit
come wil in two or three times taking rid it quite away it helps
digestion and is a remedy for a surfet the juyce or the water being
dropped into the eyes or ears helps dimness of sight and deafness the
juyce put into the hollow teeth easeth their pains the roots in pouder
made up into a plaister with a little pitch and laid on the biting of a
mad dog or any other venemous creature doth wonderfully help the juyce
or the water dropped or tents wet therin and put into old filthy deep
ulcers or the pouder of the root in want of either doth clens and cause
them to heal quickly by covering the naked bones with flesh the
distilled water applied to places pained with the gout or sciatica doth
give a great deal of ease =

*{poyson} ..*{.} the wild angelica is not so effectual as the garden
although it may be safly used to all the purpose aforesaid =

it is an herb of the sun in leo let it be gathered when he is there the
moon applying to his good aspect let it be gathered either in his hour
or in the hour of jupiter let sol be angular observe the like in
gathering the herbs of other plants and you may happen do wonders in all
epidemical diseases caused by saturn this is as good a preservative as
grows =

a word or two of the most usual kinds of apples though the colledg of
physitians make use of none but such as vulgo vulgati pearmains vel
pippins =

apples in general are cold and windy and being of sundry tasts galen
sheweth thereby how to distinguish them som have a sharp tast and are
good for fainting stomachs and loos bellies others sowr good to cool and
quench thirst som sharp fit to cut gross flegm som sweet soon
destributed in the body and as soon passed away yet sooner corrupted in
the stomach if they be staid the best sorts before they be throughly
ripe are to be avoided then to be roasted or scalded is the best way to
take them and a little spice or seeds cast upon them and taken after
meat do strengthen both stomach and bowels especially in those that
loath or hardly digest their meat or are given to casting or have a flux
or lask those that are a little sowr and harsh used in that manner are
fittest sweet apples loosen the belly and drive forth worms sowr apples
stop the belly and provoke urin and crabs for this purpose are fittest
the sweet apples as the pippin and pearmain help to dissolve melancholly
humors and to procure mirth and therfore are fittest for confectio
alkermes and syrupus de pomis the leavs boyled and given to drink in hot
agues where the heat of the liver and stomach causeth the lips to break
out and the throat to grow dry harsh and furred is very good to wash and
gargle it withal and to drink down som this may to good purpose be used
when better things are not at hand or cannot be had the juyce of crabs
either verjuyce or cider is of singular good use in the heat and
faintings of the stomach and against casting to make a posset with or
taken som of it alone by it self the juyce of crabs or cider applied
with wet cloaths therein to scalded or burnt places cooleth healeth and
draweth forth the fire a rotten apple applied to eyes bloodshotten or
enflamed with heat or that are black and blue about them by any stroke
of fall and bound too all day or night helpeth them quickly the
distilled water of rotten apples doth cool the heat and inflamations of
sores and is good to bath foul creeping ulcers and to wash the face to
take away spots freckles or other discolorings the distilled water of
good and sound apples is of special good use to procure mirth and expel
melancholly the ointment called pomatum if sweet and well made helpeth
the chops in the lips or hands and maketh smooth and supple the rough
skin of the hands or face parched with wind or other accidents =

*{fainting} ..*{.} thus my authors =

all that i can say of apples is this =

1 that they are extream windy =

2 that they provoke urin being roasted especially pomwaters and mixed
with fair water and drunk up at night going to bed half a dozen great
ones mixed with a quart of water excellently provokes urin if there be
no material stone in the body this i had of gerhard and have often known
it proved and alwaies with good success all apples loosen the belly and
pleasure the stomach by their coolness =

*{description} ..*{=} this hath small and almost round leaves yet a
little pointed and without dent or cut of a dusky mealy colour growing
on the slender stalks and branches that spread on the ground with smal
flowers in clusters set with the leaves and small seeds succeeding like
the rest perishing yearly and rising again with its own sowing it smels
like old rotten fish or somthing worse =

*{place} ..*{=} it grows usually upon dunghills =

*{time} ..*{=} they flower in june and july and their seed is ripe
quickly after =

*{vertues} ..*{=} stinking arrach is used as a remedy to help women
pained and almost strangled with the mother by smelling to it but
inwardly taken there is not a better remedy under the moon for that
disease i would be large in commendation of this herb were i but
eloquent it is an herb under the dominion of venus and under the sign
scorpio it is common almost upon every dunghil the works of god are
given freely to man his medicins are common and cheap and easie to be
found 'tis the medicines of the colledg of physitians that are so dear
and scarce to find i commend it for an universal medicine for the womb
and such a medicine as will easily safly and speedily cure any diseas
therof as the fits of the mother dislocation or falling out therof it
cools the womb being over heated and let me tel you this and i wil tel
you but the truth heat of the womb is one of the greatest causes of hard
labor in childbirth it makes barren women fruitful it clenseth the womb
if it be foul and strengthens it exceedingly it provokes the terms if
they be stopped and stops them if they flow immoderately you can desire
no good to your womb but this herb will effect it therfore if you love
children if you love health if you love ease keep a syrup alwaies by you
made of the juyce of this herb and sugar or honey if it be to clens the
womb and let such as be rich keep it for their poor neighbors and bestow
it as freely as i bestow my studies upon them or els let them look to
answer it another day when the lord shall come to make inquisition for
bloud =

*{mother} ..*{.} to put a gloss upon their practice the physitians call
an herb which country people vulgarly know by the name of dead nettles
archangel wherein whether they favor of more superstition or folly i
leave to the judicious reader there is more curiosity than courtesie to
my countrymen used by others in the explaination aswel of the names as
description of this so wel known an herb which that i may not also be
guilty of take this short description first of the red archangel =

*{description} ..*{=} this hath divers square stalks somwhat hairy at
the joynts whereof grow two sad green leaves dented about the edges
opposit to one another the lowermost upon long footstalks but without
any toward the tops which are somwhat round yet pointed and a little
crumpled and hairy round about the upper joynts where the leaves grow
thick are sundry gaping flowers of a pale reddish colour after which com
the seeds three or four in a husk the root is small and thriddy
perishing every year the whol plant hath a strong scent but not stinking
=

white archangel hath diverse square stalks not standing streight upright
but bending downward wheron stand two leavs at a joynt larger and more
pointed than the other dented about the edges and greener also more like
unto nettle leavs but not stinking yet hairy at the joynts with three
leavs stand larger and more open gaping white flowers in husks round
about the stalks but not with such a bush of leavs as flowers set in the
top as in on the other wherin stand smal roundish black seeds the root
is white with many strings at it not growing downward but lying under
the upper crust of the earth and abideth many years encreasing this hath
not so strong a scent as the former =

yellow archangel is like the white in the stalks and leavs but that the
stalks are more streight and upright and the joynts with leaves are
further asunder having longer leavs than the former and the flowers a
little larger and more gaping of a fair yellow colour in most in som
paler the roots are like the white only they creep not so much under the
ground =

*{place} ..*{=} they grow almost everywhere unless it be in the middle
of the street the yellow most usually in the wet grounds of woods and
somtimes in the dryer in divers countries of this nation =

*{time} ..*{=} they flower from the begining of the spring all the
summer long =

*{vertues} ..*{=} the archangels are somwhat hot and dryer than the
stinking nettles and used with better success for the stopping and
hardness of the spleen than they by using the decoction of the herb in
wine and afterwards applying the herb hot unto the region of the spleen
as a plaister or the decoction with spunges the flowers of the white
archangel are preserved or conserved to be used to stay the whites and
the flowers of the red to stay the reds in women it makes the heart
merry drives away melancholly quickens the spirits is good against
quartan agues stancheth bleedings at mouth or nose if it be stamped and
applied to the nape of the neck the herb also brused and with some salt
and vinegar and hogs greas laid upon any hard tumor or swelling or that
which is vulgarly called the kings evil doth help to dissolve or discuss
them and being in like manner applied doth much allay the pains and give
eas to the gout sciatica and other aches of the joynts and sinews it is
also very effectual to heal all green wounds and old ulcers also to stay
their fretting gnawing and spreading it draweth forth splinters and such
like things gotten into the flesh and is very good against bruises and
burnings but the yellow archangel is most commended for old filty
corrupt sores and ulcers yea although they grow to be hollow and to
dissolve tumors the chief use of them is for women it being an herb of
venus and may be found in my guide for women =

*{spleen} ..*{=} this hath broad leaves set at the great red joynts of
the stalks with semicircular blackish marks on them usually yet somtimes
without the flowers grow in long spikes usually either blush or whitish
with such like seed following the root is long with many strings therat
perishing yeerly this hath no sharp tast as another sort hath which is
quick and biting but rather sowr like sorrel or els a little drying
without tast =

*{place} ..*{=} it grows in watery plashes ditches and the like which
for the most part are dry in summer =

*{time} ..*{=} it flowreth in june and the seed is ripe in august =

*{vertues} ..*{=} it is of a cooling and drying quality and very
effectual for putrified ulcers in man or beast to kill the worms and
clens the putrified places the juyce therof dropped in or otherwise
applied consumeth all cold swellings and dissolveth the congealed blood
of bruises by strokes falls &c° a piece of the root or some of the seed
bruised and held to an aching tooth taketh away the pain the leaves
bruised and laid to the joynt that hath a fellon theron taketh it away
the juyce destroyeth worms in the ears being dropped into them if the
hot arsmart be strewed in a chamber it will soon kill all the fleas and
the herb or juyce of the cold arsmart put to horses or other cattels
sores will drive away the flie in the hottest time of summer a good
handful of the hot biting arsmart put under a horses saddle will make
him travel the better although he were half tired before the mild
arsmart is good against hot imposthumes and inflamations at the
beginning and to heal green wounds =

*{ulcers} ..*{.} all authors chop the vertues of both sort of arsmart
together as men chop herbs for the pot when both of them are of clean
contrary qualities the hot arsmart groweth not so high or tall as the
mild doth but hath many leaves of the colour of peach leaves very seldom
or never spotted in other particulars it is like the former but may
easily be known from it if you will be but pleased to break a leaf of it
cross your tongue for the hot will make your tongue to smart so will not
the cold if you see them both together you many easily distinguish them
becaus the mild hath far broader leaves and our colledg of physitians
out of their learned care for the publick good anglice their own gain
mistake the one for the other in their new master piece wherby they
discover 1° their ignorance 2° their carelesness and he that hath but
half an eye may see their pride without a pair of spectacles i have done
what i could to distinguish them in their vertues and when you find not
the contrary named use the cold the truth is i have not yet spoken with
dr° reason nor his brother dr° experience concerning either of them both
=

asarabacca hath many heads rising from the roots from whence come many
smooth leavs every one upon his own footstalk which are rounder and
bigger than violet leaves thicker also and of a darker green shining
colour on the upper side and of a paler yellow green underneath little
or nothing dented about the edges from among which rise smal round
hollow brown green husks upon short stalks about an inch long divided at
the brims into five divisions very like the cups or heads of the henbane
seed but that they are smaller and these be all the flowers it carrieth
which are somwhat sweet being smelled unto and wherein when they are
ripe is contained smal cornered rough seeds very like the kernels or
stones of grapes or raisons the roots are small and whitish spreading
divers waies in the ground and encreasing into divers heads but not
running or creeping under ground as some other creeping herbs do they
are somwhat sweet in smell resembling nardus but more when they are dry
than green and of a sharp but not unpleasant tast =

*{place} ..*{=} it groweth frequently in gardens =

*{time} ..*{=} they keep their leaves green all winter but shoot forth
new in the spring and with them come forth those heads or flowers which
give ripe seed about midsummer or somwhat after =

*{vertues} ..*{=} this herb being drunk not only provoketh vomiting but
purgeth downward and by urin also purging both choller and flegm if you
ad to it some spicknard with the whey of goats milk or honeyed water it
is made more strong but it purgeth flegm more manifestly than choller
and therfore doth much help pains in the hips and other parts it being
boyled in whey it wonderfully helpeth the obstruction of the liver and
spleen and therfore profitable for the dropsie and jaundice being
steeped in wine and drunk it helps those continual agues that come by
the plenty of stubborn humors an oyl made therof by setting it in the
sun with some laudanum added to it provoketh sweating the ridg of the
back being anointed therwith and therby driveth away the shaking fits of
agues it will not abide any long boyling for it loseth its chiefest
strength therby nor much beating for the finer pouder doth provoke vomit
and urin and the courser purgeth downwards =

*{causeth} ..*{.} the common use herof is to take the juyce of five or
seven leavs in a little drink to caus vomitings the roots have also the
same vertue though they do not operate so forcibly yet they are very
effectual against the biting of serpents and therfore is put as an
ingredient both into methridate and venice treacle the leaves and roots
being boyled in ly and the head often washed therwith while it is warm
comforteth the head and brain that is ill affected by taking cold and
helpeth the memory =

*{serpents} ..*{.} i shall desire ignorant people to forbear the use of
the leavs the roots purge more gently and may prove beneficial in such
as have cancers or old putrified ulcers or fistulaes upon their bodies
to take a dram of them in pouder in a quarter of a pint of white wine in
the morning the truth is i fancy purging and vomiting medicines as
little as any man breathing doth for they weaken nature nor shall never
advise them to be used unless upon urgent necessity if a physitian be
natures servant it is his duty to strengthen his mistris as much as he
can and weaken her as little as may be =

*{description} ..*{=} it riseth up at first with divers whitish green
scaly heads very brittle or easie to break while they are yong which
afterwards rise up into very long and slender green stalks of the
bigness of an ordinary riding wand at the bottom of most or bigger or
lesser as the roots are of growth on which are set divers branches of
green leavs shorter and smaller than fennel to the top at the joynts
wherof come forth small mossie yellowish flowers which turn into round
berries green at the first and of an excellent red colour when they are
ripe shewing like beads of corral wherin are contained exceeding hard
black seeds the roots are dispersed from a spongeous head into many long
thick and round strings wherby it sucketh much nourishment out of the
ground and encreaseth plentifully thereby =

*{description} ..*{=} it groweth usually in gardens and some of it grows
wild in appleton meadow in gloucestershire where the poor people do
gather the buds or yong shoots and sell them cheaper than our garden
asparagus is sold at london =

*{time} ..*{=} they do for the most part flower and bear their berries
late in the yeer or not at all although they are housed in winter =

*{vertues} ..*{=} the yong bud or branches boyled in ones ordinary broth
maketh the belly soluble and open and boyled in white wine provoketh
urin being stopped and is good against the strangury or difficulty of
making water it expelleth the gravel and stone out of the kidneys and
helpeth pains in the reins and boyled in white wine or vinegar it is
prevalent for them that have their arteries loosned or are troubled with
the hip gout or sciatica the decoction of the roots boyled in wine and
taken is good to cleer the sight and being held in the mouth easeth the
toothach and being taken fasting several mornings together stirreth up
bodily lust in man or woman whatsoever some have written to the contrary
the garden asparaus nourisheth more than the wild yet hath it the same
effects in al the aforementioned diseases the decoction of the roots in
white wine and the back and belly bathed therwith or kneeling or lying
down in the same or sitting therin as a bath hath been found effectual
against pains that happen to the lower parts of the body and no less
effectual against stiff and benummed sinews or those that are shrunk by
cramps and convulsions and helpeth the sciatica =

*{belly} ..*{.} this is so wel known that time wil be misspent and paper
wasted in writing a description of it and therfore i shal only insist
upon the vertues of it =

*{vertues} ..*{=} the yong tender tops with the leaves taken inwardly
and some of them outwardly applied are singular good against the biting
of the viper adder or any other venemous beast and the water distilled
therfrom being taken a smal quantity every morning fasting is a singular
medicine for those that are subject to a dropsie or to abate the
greatness of those who are too gross or fat the decoction of the leaves
in white wine helpeth to break the stone and expel it and cureth the
jaundice the ashes of the bark of the ash made into ly and those heads
bathed therwith which are leprous scabby or scal'd they are therby cured
the kernels within the husks commonly called ashen keys prevaileth
against stitches and pains in the sides proceeding of wind and avoideth
away the stone by provoking urin =

*{adders} ..*{.} i can justly except against none of all this save only
the first viz° that ash tree tops and leaves are good against the biting
of serpents and vipers and i suppose this had its rise from gerard or
pliny both which hold that there is such an antipathy between an adder
and an ash tree that if an adder be compassed round with ash tree leaves
she wil sooner run through the fire than through the leaves the contrary
to which is the truth as both my eyes are witnesses the rest are vertues
somthing likely only if it be in winter when you cannot get the leaves
you may safely use the bark instead of them the keys you may easily keep
all the year gathering them when they are ripe =

*{description} ..*{=} the ordinary avens hath many long rough dark green
winged leavs rising from the root every one made of many leavs set on
each side of the middle rib the largest three wherof grow at the ends
and are snip'd or dented round about the edges the other being smal
pieces somtimes two and somtimes four standing on each side of the
middle rib underneath them among which do rise up divers rough or hairy
stalks about two foot high branching forth with leavs at every joynt not
so long as those below but almost as much cut in on the edges some into
three parts some into more on the tops of the branches stand smal pale
yellow flowers consisting of five leavs like the flowers of cynkfoyl but
larger in the middle wherof standeth a smal green head which when the
flower is fallen groweth to be rough and round being made of many long
greenish purple seeds like grains which wil stick upon your cloathes the
root consists of many brownish strings or fibres smelling somwhat like
unto clover especially those which grow in the higher hotter and drier
grounds and in the freer and clear air =

*{place} ..*{=} they grow wild in many places under hedg sides and by
the pathwaies in fields yet they rather delight to grow in shadowy than
in sunny places =

*{time} ..*{=} they flower in may and june for the most part and their
seed is ripe in july at the furthest =

*{vertues} ..*{=} it is good for the diseases of the chest or breast for
pains and stitches in the sides and to expel crude and raw humors from
the belly and stomach by the sweet savor and warming quality it
dissolveth the inward congealed blood hapning by falls or bruises and
the spitting of blood if the roots either green or dryed be boyled in
wine and drunk as also al manner of inward wounds or outward if they be
washed or bathed therwith the decoction also being drunk comforteth the
heart and strengtheneth the stomach and a cold brain and therfore is
good in the spring time to open obstructions of the liver and helpeth
the wind chollick it also helpeth those that have fluxes or are bursten
or have a rupture it taketh away spots or marks in the face being washed
therwith the juyce of the fresh root or pouder of the dried root hath
the same effect with the decoction the root in the spring time steeped
in wine doth give it a delicat savor and tast and being drunk fasting
every morning comforteth the heart and is a good preservative against
the plague or any other poyson it helpeth digestion and warmeth a cold
stomach and openeth the obstructions of the liver and spleen =

*{breast} ..*{.} it is very safe you need have no dose prescribed and is
very fit to be kept in every good bodies house =

this herb is so wel known to be an inhabitant almost in every garden
that i shal not need to write any description thereof although the
vertues thereof which are many may not be omitted =

*{vertues} ..*{=} the arabian physitians have extolled the vertues
hereof to the skyes although the greeks thought it not worth mentioning
serapio saith it causeth the mind and heart to becom merry and reviveth
the heart fainting into foundlings especially of such who are over taken
in their sleep and driveth away al troublesom cares and thoughts out of
the mind arising from melancholly or black choller which avicen also
confirmeth it is very good to help digestion and open obstructions of
the brain and hath so much purging quality in it saith avicen as to
expel those melancholly vapors from the spirits & blood which are in the
heart and arteries although it cannot do so in other parts of the body
diascorides saith that the leaves steeped in wine and the wine drunk and
the leavs externally applied is a remedy against the sting of scorpions
and the bitings of mad dogs and commendeth the decoction therof for
women to bath or sit in to procure their courses it is good to wash
aching teeth therwith and profitable for those that have the bloody flux
the leaves also with a little nitre taken in drink are good against a
surfet of mushromes helps the griping pains of the belly and being made
into an electuary is good for them that cannot fetch their breath used
with salt it takes away wens kernels or hard swellings in the flesh or
throat it clenseth foul sores and easeth pains of the gout it is good
for the liver and spleen a tansie or cawdle made with egs and the juyce
therof while it is yong putting to it some sugar and rosewater is good
for women in childbed when the after birth is not throughly avoided and
for their faintings upon or after their sore travel the herb bruised and
boyled in a little wine and oyl and laid warm on a boil will ripen and
break it =

*{mind} ..*{.} it is an herb of jupiter and under cancer and strengthens
nature much in al its actions let a syrup made with the juyce of it and
sugar as you shall be taught at the latter end of the book be kept in
every gentlewomans house to releeve the weak stomachs and sick bodies of
their poor sickly neighbors as also the herb kept dry in the hous that
so with other convenient simples you may make it into an electuary with
hony according as the diseas is and as you shall be taught at the latter
end of the book =

the shrub is so wel known to every boy and girl that hath but attained
to the age of seven years that it needs no description =

*{vertues} ..*{=} mars owns the shrub and present it to the use of my
country men to purge their bodies of choller the inner rind of the
barberry tree boyled in white wine and a quarter of a pint drunk each
morning is an excellent remedy to clense the body of chollick humors and
free it from such diseases as choller causeth such be scabs itch tetters
ringworms yellow jaundice boils &c° it is excellent for hot agues
burnings scaldings heat of bloud heat of the liver bloudy flux for the
berries are as good as the bark and more pleasing they get a man a good
stomach to his victuals by strengthning the attractive faculty which is
under mars as you see more at large in the latter end of my ephemeris
for the year 1651 the hair washed with the ly made of the ashes of the
tree and water 'twil make it turn yellow viz° of mars his own colour the
fruit and rind of the shrub the flowers of broom and of heath or furz
clens the body of choller by sympathy as the flowers leaves and bark of
the peach tree do by antipathy because these are under mars that under
venus =

*{choller} ..*{.} the continual usefulness hereof hath made al in
general so aquainted herewith that it is altogether needless to describe
its several kinds hereof plentifully growing being yearly sown in this
land the vertues whereof take as followeth =

*{vertues} ..*{=} barly in al the parts and compositions therof except
malt is more cooling than wheat and a little clensing and al the
preparations therof as barly water and other things made therof do give
great nourishment to persons troubled with feavers agues and heats in
the stomach a pultis made of barly meal or flower boyled with vinegar
and honey and a few dry figs put into them dissolveth all hard
imposthums and aswageth inflamations being therto applied and being
boyled with melilot and chamomel flowers and som linseed fenngreek and
rue in pouder and applied warm it easeth the pains in the sides and
stomach and windiness of the spleen the meal of barly and fleawort
boyled in water and made into a pultis with honey and oyl of lillies
applied warm cureth swellings under the ears throat neck and such like
and a plaister made therof with tar wax & oyl helpeth the kings evil in
the throat boyled with sharp vinegar into a pultis and laid on hot
helpeth the leprosie being boyled in red wine with pomgranat rinds and
mirtles stayeth the lask or other flux of the belly boyled with vinegar
and a quince it easeth the hot pains of the gout barly flower white salt
honey and vinegar mingled together taketh away the itch speedily and
certainly the water distilled from the green barly in the end of may is
very good for thos that have defluxions of humors fallen into their eyes
and easeth the pains being dropped into them or white bread steeped
therein and bound on to the eyes doth the same =

*{feavers} ..*{=} the greater ordinary bazil riseth up usually with one
upright stalk diversly branching forth on all sides with two leaves at
every joynt which are somewhat broad and round yet pointed of a pale
green colour but fresh a little snipt about the edges and of a strong
heady scent the flowers are smal and white standing at the tops of the
branches with two smal leavs at the joynt in som places green in others
brown after which come black seed the root perisheth at the approach of
winter and therfore must be new sowen every year =

*{place} ..*{=} it only groweth in gardens =

*{time} ..*{=} it must be sowed late and flowers in the heat of summer
being a very tender plant =

*{vertues} ..*{=} this is the herb which all authors are together by the
ears about and rail at one another like lawyers galen and diascorides
hold it not fitting to be taken inwardly and chrysippus rails at it with
downright billingsgate rhetorick pliny and the arabian physitians defend
it =

for mine own part i presently found that speech true =

*{non} ..*{=} and away to dr° reason went i who told me it was an herb
of mars and under the scorpion and perhaps therfore called basilicon and
then no mervail if it carry a kind of virulent quality with it being
applied to the place bitten by a venemous beast or stung by a wasp or
hornet it speedily draws the poyson to it every like draws his like
myzaldus affirms that it being laid to rot in horsdung it wil breed
venemous beasts and hollerius a french physitian affirms upon his own
knowledg that an acquaintance of his by common smelling to it had a
scorpion bred in his brain somthing is the matter this herb and rue wil
not grow together no nor near one another and we know rue is as great an
enemy to poyson as any grows =

*{venemous} ..*{.} to conclude it expelleth both birth and after birth
and as it helps the deficiency of venus in one kind so it spoils al her
actions in another i dare write no more of it =

this is so wel known that it needs no description i shal therfore only
write the vertues therof which are many =

*{vertues} ..*{=} galen saith that the leaves or bark do dry and heal
very much and the berries more than the leaves the bark of the root is
less sharp and hot but more bitter and hath some astriction withal
whereby it is effectual to break the stone and good to open obstructions
of the liver spleen and other inward parts which bring the dropsie
jaundice &c° the berries are very effectual against al poyson of
venemous creatures and the stings of wasps and bees as also against the
pestilence or other infectious diseases and therfore is put into sundry
triacles for that purpose they likewise procure womens courses and seven
of them given to a woman in sore travel of child birth do cause a speedy
delivery and expel the after birth and therfore not to be taken by such
as have not gon out their time lest they procure abortment or cause
labor too soon they wonderfully help al cold and rhumatick distillations
from the brain to the eyes lungs or other parts and being made into an
electuary with honey do help the consumption old coughs shortness of
breath and thin rhewms as also the meagrim they mightily expel wind and
provoke urin help the mother and kil the worms the leaves also work the
like effects a bath of the decoction of the leavs and berries is
singular good for women to sit in that are troubled with the mother or
the diseases therof or the stoppings of their courses or for the
diseases of the bladder pains in the bowels by wind and stoppnig of urin
a decoction likewise of equal parts of bay berries cummin seed hysop
origanum and euphorbium with some honey and the head bathed therwith
doth wonderfully help distillations and rhewms and setleth the pallat of
the mouth into its place the oyl made of the berries is very comfortable
in all cold griefs of the joynts nervs arteries stomach belly or womb
and helpeth palsies convulsions cramps aches trembling and numness in
any part weariness also and pains that come by sore travelling al griefs
and pains likewise proceeding from wind either in the head stomach back
belly or womb by anointing the parts affected therwith and pains in the
ears are also cured by dropping in some of the oyl or by receiving into
the ears the warm fume of the decoction of the berries through a funnel
the oyl takes away marks of the skin and flesh by bruises fals &c° and
dissolveth the congealed bloud in them it helpeth also the itch scabs
and wheals in the skin =

*{stone} ..*{.} i shal but only ad a word or two to what my friend hath
written viz° that it is a tree of the sun and under the coelestial sign
leo and resisteth witchcraft very potently as also al the evil old
saturn can do to the body of man and they are not a few for it is the
speech of one and i am mistaken if it were not myzaldus that neither
witch nor devil thunder nor lightning wil hurt a man in the place where
a bay tree is =

*{witchcraft} *{.} both the garden and field beans are so wel known that
it saveth me labor of writing any description of them their vertues
briefly are as followeth =

the distilled wather of the flowers of garden beans is good to clens the
face and skin from spots and wrinkles and the meal or flower of them or
the smal doth the same the water distilled from the green husks is held
to be very effectual against the stone and to provoke urine bean flower
is used in pultisses to asswage inflamations rising upon wounds and the
swelling of womens breasts caused by the curding of their milk and
represseth their milk the flower of beans and fenugreek mixed with honey
and applied to fellons boyls bruises or blue marks by blows or the
imposthumes in the kernels of the ears helpeth them all and with rose
leavs frankinsens and the white of an egg being applied to the eyes
helpeth them that are swoln or do water or have received any blow upon
them if used with wine if a bean be parted in two the skin being taken
away and laid on the place where a leech hath been set that bleedeth too
much it staieth the bleeding bean flower boyled to a pultis with wine
and vinegar and some oyl put therto ceaseth both pain and swelling of
the cods the husks boyled in water to a consumption of a third part
therof staieth a lask and the ashes of the husks made up with old hogs
greas helpeth the old pains contusions and wounds of the sinews the
sciatica and gout the field beans have all the aforementioned vertues as
the garden beans =

*{spots} ..*{.} beans eaten are extream windy meat but if after the
dutch fashion when they are half boyled you husk them and then stew them
i cannot tell you how for i never was cook in al my life they are
wholsomer food =

*{description} ..*{=} the french or kidney bean ariseth up at first but
with one stalk which afterwards divideth its self into many arms or
branches but also weak that if they be not sustained with sticks or
poles they wil lie fruitless upon the ground at several places of these
branches grow forth long footstalks with every one of them three broad
round and pointed green leavs at the end of them towards the tops wherof
come forth divers flowers made like unto pease blossoms of the same
colour for the most part that the fruit wil be of that is to say white
yellow red blackish or a deep purple but white is most usual after which
come long and slender flat pods some crooked some straight with a string
as it were running down the back therof wherein are contained flattish
round fruit made to the fashion of a kidney the root is long and
spreadeth with many strings annexed to it and perisheth every year =

there is also another sort of french beans commonly growing with us in
this land which is called the scarlet flowred bean =

this ariseth up with sundry branches as the other but runs up higher to
the length of hop poles about which they grow twining but turning
contrary to the sun having footstalks with three leaves on each as on
the other the flowers also are in fashion like the other but many more
set together and of a most orient scalet colour the beans are larger
than the ordinary kind of a deep purple colour turning black when it is
ripe and dry the root perisheth also in winter =

*{vertues} ..*{=} the ordinary french beans are of an easie digestion
they move the belly provoke urin enlarge the breast that is straitned
with shortness of breath engender sperme and incite venery =

*{disury} ..*{.} and the scarlet coloured beans in regard of the
glorious beauty of their colour being set near a quickset hedg wil
bravely adorn the same by climing up theron so that they may be
discerned a great way not without admiration of the beholder at a
distance but they wil go near to kil the quicksets by cloathing them in
scarlet =

*{description} ..*{=} this ariseth up with divers smal brown and square
upright stalks a yard high or more somtimes branched forth into divers
parts ful of joynts and with diverse very fine small leaves at every one
of them little or nothing rough at al at the top of the branches grow
many long tufts or branches of yellow flowers very thick set together
from the several joynts which consist of four smal leavs apiece which
smel somwhat strong but not unpleasant the seed is smal and black like
poppy seed two for the most part joyned together the root is reddish
with many smal thrids fastned unto it which take strong hold of the
ground and creepeth a little and the branches leaning a little down to
the ground take root at the joynts therof wherby it is easily encreased
=

there is also another sort of ladies bedstraw growing frequently in
england which beareth white flowers as the other doth yellow but the
branches of this are so weak that unless it be sustained by the hedges
or other things near which it groweth it wil lie down on the ground the
leaves a little bigger than the former and the flowers not so plentiful
as those and the root hereof is also thridy and abiding =

*{place} ..*{=} they grow in meadows and pastures both wet and dry and
by the hedges =

*{time} ..*{=} they flower in may for the most part and the seed is ripe
in july and august =

*{vertues} ..*{=} the decoction of the former of these being drunk is
good to fret and break the stone and provokes urin stayeth inward
bleedings and healeth inward wounds the herb or flower bruised and put
up into the nostrils stayeth their bleeding likewise the flowers and the
herb made into an oyl by being set in the sun and changed after it hath
stood ten or twelve daies or into an ointment being boyled in axungia or
sallet oyl with some wax melted therein after it is strained either the
oyl made therof or the ointment do help burnings with fire or scalding
with water the same also or the decoction of the herb and flower is good
to bath the feet of travellers and lacquies whose long running causeth
weariness and stifness in their sinews and joynts if the decoction be
used warm and the joynts afterwards anointed with the ointment it
helpeth the dry scab and the itch in children and the herb with the
white flower is also very good for the sinews arteries and joynts to
comfort and strengthen them after travel cold and pains =

*{stone} ..*{.} they are both herbs of venus and therfore strengthen the
patrs both internal and external which she rules =

*{description} ..*{=} there are two sorts of beets which are best known
generally and wherof i shal principally intreat at this time viz° the
white and the red beets and their vertues =

the common white beet hath many great leaves next the ground somwhat
large and of a whitish green colour the stalk is great strong and ribbed
bearing great store of leaves upon it almost to the very top of it the
flowers grow in very long tufts smal at the ends and turning down their
heads which are smal pale greenish yellow burrs giving cornered prickled
seed the root is great long and hard and when it hath given seed of no
use at all =

the common red beet differeth not from the white but only it is lesser
and the leaves and the roots are somwhat red the leaves are differently
red in som only with red strakes or veins som of a fresh red and others
of a dark red the root hereof is red spungy and not used to be eaten =

*{clens} ..*{.} the white beet doth much loosen the belly and is of a
clensing and digesting quality and provoketh urin the juyce of it
openeth obstructions both of the liver and spleen and is good for the
headaches and swimmings therein and turnings of the brain and is
effectual also against al venemous creatures and applied upon the
temples stayeth inflamations in the eyes it helpeth burnings being used
without oyl and with a little allum put to it is good for st° anthonies
fire it is also good for al wheals pushes blisters and blains in the
skin the herb boyled and laid upon chilblains or kibes helpeth them the
decoction therof in water and some vinegar healeth the itch if bathed
therwith and clenseth the head of dandraf scurff and dry scabs and doth
much good for fretting and running sores ulcers & cankers in the head
legs or other parts and is much commended against baldness and shedding
of hair =

*{brning} ..*{.} the red beet is good to stay the bloody flux womens
courses and the whites and to help the yellow jaundice the juyce or the
root put into the nostrils purgeth the head helpeth the nois in the ears
and the tooth ach the juyce snuffed up the nose helps a stinking breath
if the caus lie in the nose as many times it doth if any bruis have been
there as also want of smel coming that way =

*{flux} ..*{=} first of the water betony which riseth up with square
hard greenish stalks and somtimes brown set with broad dark green leavs
dented about the edges with notches somwhat resembling the leavs of the
wood betony but much larger two for the most part set at a joynt the
flowers are many set at the tops of the stalks and branches being round
bellied and open at the brims and divided into two parts the uppermost
being like a hood and the lowest like a lip hanging down of a dark red
colour which passing away there comes in their places smal round heads
with smal points in the ends wherin lie smal and brownish seeds the root
is a thick bush of strings and threds growing from an head =

*{place} ..*{=} it groweth by ditchsides brooks and other water courses
generally through this land and is seldom found far from the waters
sides =

*{time} ..*{=} it flowereth about july and the seed is ripe in august =

*{vertues} ..*{=} it is of a clensing quality the leavs bruised and
applied are effectual for all old and filthy ulcers and especially if
the juyce of the leavs be boyled with a little honey and tents dipped
therin and the sores dressed therwith as also for bruises or hurts
whether inward or outward the distilled water of the leaves is used for
the same purposes as also to bath the face or hands spotted or blemished
or discolored by sunburning =

*{ulcers} ..*{.} i confess i do not much fancy distilled waters i mean
such waters as are distilled cold some vertue of the herb they may
happliy have it were a strange thing else but this i am confident of
that being distilled in a pewter stil as the vulgar and apish fashion is
both chymical oyl and salt is left behind unless you burn them and then
all is spoiled water and al which was good for as little as can be by
such a distillation you have the best way of distillation in my
translation of the london dispensatory the colledg of physitians having
as much skil in distillations as an ass hath reading hebrew =

water betony is an herb of jupiter in cancer and is apropriated more to
wounds and hurts in the breast than wood betony which follows =

*{description} ..*{=} the common or wood betony hath many leavs rising
from the root which are somwhat broad and round at the ends roundly
dented about the edges standing upon long footstalks from among which
rise up smal square slender but yet upright hairy stalks with some
leaves thereon two apiece at the joynts smaller than the lower whereon
are set several spiked heads of flowers like lavender but thicker and
shorter for the most part and of a reddish or purple colour spotted with
white spots both in the upper and lower part the seeds being contained
within the husks that hold the flowers are blackish somwhat long and
uneven the roots are many white threddy strings the stalk perisheth but
the root with some leavs theron abides al the winter the whole plant is
somwhat smal =

*{place} ..*{=} it groweth frequently in woods and delighteth in shady
places =

*{time} ..*{=} and it flowreth in july after which the seed is quickly
ripe yet in its prime in may =

*{vertues} ..*{=} antonius musa physitian to the emperor augustus caesar
wrote a peculiar book of the vertues of this herb and amongst other
vertues saith of it that it preserveth the lives and bodies of men free
from the danger of epidemical diseases and from witchcrafts also it is
found by daily experience to be good for many diseases it helpeth those
that loath or cannot digest their meat those that have weak stomachs or
sower belchings or continual rising in their stomach using it familiarly
either green or dry either the herb the root or the flowers in broth
drunk or meat or made into conserve syrup water electuary or pouder as
every one may best frame themselvs unto or as the time or season
requireth taken any of the aforesaid waies it helpeth the jaundice
falling sickness the palsie convulsions or shrinking of the sinews the
gout and those that are inclined to dropsies those that have continual
pains in their head although it turn to phrensie the pouder mixed with
pure honey is no less available for al sorts of coughs or colds wheesing
or shortness of breath distillations of thin rhewm upon the lungues
which causeth consumptions the decoction made with mead and a little
penyroyal is good for those that are troubled with putrid agues whether
quotidian tertian or quartan and to draw down and evacuate the blood and
humors that by falling into the eyes do hinder the sight the decoction
therof made in wine and taken killeth the worms in the belly openeth
obstructions both of the spleen and liver cureth stitches and pains in
the back or sides the torments and griping pains of the bowels and the
wind chollick and mixed with honey purgeth the belly helpeth to bring
down womens courses and is of especial use for those that are troubled
with the falling down of the mother and pains therof and causeth an
easie and speedy delivery of women in childbirth it helpeth also to
break and expel the stone either in the bladder or kidneys the decoction
with wine gargled in the mouth easeth the toothach it is commended
against the sting or biting or venemous serpents or mad dogs being used
inwardly and applied outwardly to the place a dram of the pouder in
betony taken with a little honey in some vinegar doth wonderfully
refresh those that are overwearied by travail it staieth bleedings at
the mouth or nose and helpeth those that piss or spit blood and those
that are bursten or have a rupture and is good for such as are bruised
by any fall or otherwise the green herb bruised or the juyce applied to
any inward hurt or outward green wound in the head or body wil quickly
heal and close it up as also any veins or sinews that are cut and will
draw forth any broken bone or splinter thorn or other thing gotten into
the flesh it is no less profitable for old sores or filthy ulcers yea
though they be fistulaus and hollow but some do advise to put in a
little salt to this purpose being applied with a little hogs lard it
helpeth a plague sore and other boyls and pushes the fumes of the
decoction while it is warm received by a funnel into the ears easeth the
pains of them destroyeth the worms and cureth the running sores in them
the juyce dropped into them doth the same the root of betony is
displeasing both to the tast and stomach whereas the leavs and flowers
by their sweet and spicy tast are comfortable both in meat and medicine
=

*{epidemical} ..*{.} there are some of the many vertues antony musa an
expert physitian for it was not the practice of octavius caesar to keep
fools about him apropriates to bethony it is a very precious herb that's
certain and most fitting to be kept in a mans hous both in syrup
conserve oyl oyntment and plaister the flowers are usually conserved =

the herb is apropriated to the planet jupiter and the sign aries =

in treating of this tree you must understand that i mean the great mast
beech which is by way of distinction from that other smal rough sort
called in sussex the small beech but in essex hornbeam =

i suppose it needless to describe it being already so wel known to my
countrymen =

*{place} ..*{=} it groweth in woods amongst oaks and other trees and in
parks forrests and chases to feed deer and in other places to fatten
swine =

*{time} ..*{=} it bloometh in the end of april or begining of may for
the most part and the fruit is ripe in september =

*{vertues} ..*{=} the leavs of the beech tree are cooling and binding
and therfore good to be applied to hot swellings to discuss them the
nuts do much nourish such beasts as feed thereon the water that is found
in the hollow places of decaying beeches will cure both man and beast of
any scurf scab or running tetters if they be washed therwith you may
boyl the leavs into a pultis or make an ointment of them when time of
year serves =

*{descriptions} ..*{=} of these i shal only speak of two sorts which are
commonly known in england viz° the black and the red bilberries and
first of the black =

this smal bush creepeth along upon the ground scarce rising half a yard
high with divers smal dark green leaves set on the green branches not
alwaies one against another and a little dented about the edges at the
foot of the leaves com forth smal hollow pale blush coloured flowers the
brims ending in five points with a reddish threed in the middle which
pass into smal round berries of the bigness and colour of juniper
berries but of a purple sweetish sharp tast the juyce of them giveth a
purplish colour to their hands and lips that eat and handle them
especially if they break them the root groweth asloop under ground
shooting forth in sundry places as it creepeth this loseth its leaves in
winter =

the red bilberry or whortle bush riseth up like the former having sundry
harder leaves like the box tree leaves green and round pointed standing
on the several branches at the tops whereof only and not from the sides
as in the former com forth divers round flowers of a pale red color
after which succeed round reddish sappy berries when they are ripe of a
sharp tast the root runneth in the ground as the former but the leaves
of this abide al winter =

*{place} ..*{=} the first groweth in forrests on the heaths and such
like barren plaaces the red grows in the north parts of this land as
lancashire yorkshire &c° =

*{time} ..*{=} they flower in march and april and the fruit of the black
is ripe in june and july =

*{vertue} ..*{=} this smal herb from a root somewhat sweet shooting
downwards many long strings riseth up a round green stalk bare or naked
next the ground for an inch two or three to the middle therof as it is
in age or growth as also from the middle upward to the flowers having
only two broad plantain like leaves but whiter set at the middle of the
stalk one against another and compasseth it round at the bottom of them
=

*{place} ..*{=} it is a usual inhabitant in woods copses and in many
other places in this land =

there is another sort growes in wet grounds and marshes which is somwhat
differing from the former it is a smaler plant and greener having
somtimes three leaves the spike of flowers is less than the former and
the roots of this do run or creep in the ground =

they are much and often used by many to good purpose for wounds both
green and old and to consolidate or knit ruptures =

*{description} ..*{=} this groweth a goodly tall straight tree fraught
with many boughes and slender branches bending downward the old ones
being covered with a discoloured chapped bark and the yonger being
browner by much the leaves at their first breaking out are crumpled and
afterward like the beech leaves but smaler and greener and dented about
the edges it beareth smal short catkins somwhat like those of the hazel
nut tree which abide on the branches a long time until growing ripe they
fall on the ground and their seed with them =

*{place} ..*{=} it usually groweth in woods =

*{vertues} ..*{=} the juyce of the leaves while they are yong or the
distilled water of them or the water that coms out of the tree being
bored with an augur and distilled afterwards any of these being drunk
for some time together is available to break the stone in the kidnies or
bladder and is good also to wash sore mouths =

*{stone} ..*{.} this smal herb groweth not above a span high with many
branches spread on the ground set with many wings of smal leaves the
flowers grow upon the branches many smal ones of a pale yellow colour
being set at a head together which afterwards turn into so many smal
joynted cods with seeds in them the cods well resembling the claws of
smal birds whence it took its name =

there is another sort of birds foot in all things like the former but a
little larger the flowers of a pale whitish red colour and the cods
distinct by joynts like the other but a little more crooked and the
roots do carry many small white knots or kernels amongst the strings =

*{place} ..*{=} these grow on heaths and many open untilled places of
this land =

*{time} ..*{=} they flower and feed in the end of summer =

*{vertues} ..*{=} they are of a drying binding quality and therby very
good to be used in wound drinks as also to apply outwardly for the same
purpose but the latter birds foot is found by experience to break the
stones in the back or kidnies and drive them forth if the decoction
therof be taken and it wonderfully helpeth the rupture being taken
inwardly and outwardly applied to the place =

*{dry} ..*{.} all salts have best operation upon the ston as ointments &
plaisters have upon wounds and therfore if you may make a salt of this
for the stone the way how to do so many be found in my translation of
the london dispensatory and it may be i may give you again in plainer
terms at the latter end of this book =

*{description} ..*{=} common bishops weed riseth up with a round
straight stalk somtimes as high as a man but usually three or four foot
high beset with divers smal long and somwhat broad leavs cut in som
places and dented about the edges growing one against another of a dark
green colour having sundry branches on them and at the top smal umbels
of white flowers which turn into smal round brown seed little bigger
than parsly seed of a quick hot scent and tast the root is white and
stringie perishing yearly after it hath seeded and usually riseth again
of its own sowing =

*{place} ..*{=} it groweth wild in many places in england and wales as
between greenheath and gravsend =

*{vertues} ..*{=} it digesteth humors provoketh urin and womens courses
dissolveth wind and being taken in wine easeth pains and griping in the
bowels and is good against the biting of serpents it is used to good
effect in those medicins which are given to hinder the poysonful
operation of cantharides upon the passages of the urin being mixed with
honey and applied to black and blue marks coming of blows or bruises it
takes them away and being drunk or outwardly applied it abates an high
colour and makes it pale and the fumes therof taken with rozin or
raisons clenseth the mother =

*{disury} ..*{.} it is hot and dry in the third degree of a bitter tast
and somthing sharp withal it provokes lust to purpose i suppose venus
owns it =

*{description} ..*{=} this hath a thick short knobbed root blackish
without and somwhat reddish within a little crooked or turned together
of an harsh astringent tast with divers black threds hanging there from
whence spring up every year divers leaves standing upon long footstalks
being somwhat broad and long like a dock leaf and a little pointed at
the ends but that it is of a blewish green colour on the upper side and
of an ash colour gray and a little purplish underneath with divers veins
therin from among which rise up divers smal and slender stalks two foot
high and almost naked and without leavs or with very few and narrow
bearing a spiky bush of pale flesh colour'd flowers which being past
there abideth smal seed somwhat like unto sorrel seed but greater =

there are other sorts of bistort growing in this land but smaller both
in height root and stalks and especially in the leavs the root blackish
without and somwhat whitish within of an austere binding tast as the
former =

*{place} ..*{=} they grow in shadowy moist woods and at the foot of hils
but are chiefly nourished up in gardens the narrow leaved bistort
groweth in the north in lancashire yorkshire and cumberland =

*{time} ..*{=} they flower about the end of may and the seed is ripe
about the beginning of july =

*{vertues} ..*{=} both the leavs and roots have have a powerful faculty
to resist al poyson the root in pouder taken in drink expelleth the
venem of the plague the smal pox meazles purples or any other infectious
disease driving it out by sweating the root in pouder or the decoction
therof in wine being drunk stayeth al manner of inward bleedings or
spittings of blood and any fluxes in the body of either man or woman or
vomitings it is also very available against ruptures or burstings or all
bruises or fals dissolving the congealed blood and easeth the pains that
happen therupon it also helpeth the jaundice the water distilled from
both leavs and roots is a singular remedy to wash any place bitten or
stung by any venemous creature as also for any of the purposes before
spoken of =

*{poyson} ..*{.} and is very good to wash any running sores or ulcers
the decoction of the root in wine being drunk hindreth abortion or
miscarriage in child bearing the leavs also kil the worms in children
and is a great help for them that cannot keep their water if the juyce
of plantane be added therto and outwardly applied much helpeth the
gonorrhea or running of the reins a dram of the pouder of the root taken
in the water thereof wherein som red hot iron or steel hath been
quenched is also an admirable help thereto so as the body be first
prepared and purged from the offensive humors the leaves seed or roots
are al very good in decoctions drinks or lotians for inward or outward
wounds or other sores and the pouder strewed upon any cut or wound in a
vein stayeth the immoderat bleeding thereof the decoction of the roots
in water whereunto som pomgranate pils and flowers are added injected
into the matrix stayeth the access of humors to the ulcers thereof and
bringeth it to its right place being fallen down and stayeth the
immoderat flux of the courses the root hereof with pellitory of spain
and burnt allum of each a like quantity beaten smal and made into past
with some honey and a little piece thereof put into an hollow tooth or
held between the teeth if there be no hollowness in them stayeth the
defluxion of rhewm upon them which causeth pains and helps to clense the
head and avoid much offensive water the distilled water is very
effectual to wash sores or cankers in the nose or any other part if the
pouder of the root be applied therunto afterwards it is good also to
fasten the gums and to take away the heat and inflamations that happen
in the jaws almonds of the throat or mouth if the decoction of the leavs
roots or seeds be used or the juyce of them but the roots are most
effectual to all the purposes aforesaid =

*{ulcers} ..*{=} this smal plant never beareth more than one leaf but
only when it rises up with its stalk which thereon beareth another and
seldom more which are of a bluish green colour broad at the bottom and
pointed with many ribs or veins like plantane at the top of the stalk
grow many smal white flowers star fashion smelling somthing sweet after
which come smal reddish berries when they are ripe the root is smal of
the bigness of a rush lying and creeping under the upper crust of the
earth shooting forth in diverse places =

*{place} ..*{=} it groweth in moist shadowy grassie places of woods in
many places of this realm =

*{time} ..*{=} it flowreth about may and the berries be ripe in june and
then quickly perisheth until the next year it springth from the same
again =

*{the} ..*{=} this is so wel known that it needeth no description the
vertues therof are as followeth =

*{vertues} ..*{=} the buds leavs and branches while they are green are
of a good use in the ulcers and putrid sores of the mouth and throat and
for the quinsie and likewise to heal other fresh wounds and sores but
the flowers & fruit unripe are very binding and so profitable for the
bloudy flux lasks and are a fit remedy for spitting of bloud either the
decoction or pouder of the root being taken is good to break or drive
forth gravel and the stone in the reins and kidnies the leavs and
brambles aswel green as dry are excellent good lotions for sores in the
mouth or secret parts the decoction of them & of the dried branches do
much bind the belly and are good for the too much flowing of womens
courses the berries or the flowers are a powerful remedy against the
poyson of the most venemous serpents as wel drunk as outwardly applied
helpeth the sores of the fundament and the piles the juyce of the
berries mixed with juyce of mulberries do bind more effectually and help
fretting and eating sores and ulcers whersoever the distilled water of
the branches leaves and flowers or of the fruit is very pleasant in tast
and very effectual in feavers and hot distempers of the body head eyes
and other parts and for al the purposes aforesaid the leaves boyled in
ly and the head washed therewith healeth the itch and the running sores
therof and maketh the hair black the pouder of the leaves strewed on
cankrous and running ulcers doth wonderfully help to heal them some use
to condensate the juyce of the leaves and some the juyce of the berries
to keep for their use all the year for the purposes aforesaid =

*{ulcers} ..*{.} it is a plant of venus in aries you shall have som
directions at the latter end of the book for the gathering of al herbs
and plants &c° if any ask the reason why venus is so prickly tel them
'tis because she is in the house of mars =

*{description} ..*{=} of these there are two sorts commonly known viz°
white and red the white hath leavs somwhat like unto beets but smaller
rounder and of a whitish green colour every one standing upon a smal
long footstalk the stalk riseth up two or three foot high with such like
leavs theron the flowers grow at the top in long round tufts or clusters
wherein are contained smal and round seed the root is very full of
threeds or strings =

the red blite is in all things like the white but that his leavs and
tufted heads are exceeding red at first and after turn more purplish =

there are other kinds of blites which grow wild differing from the two
former sorts but little only the wild are smaler in every part =

*{place} ..*{=} they grow in gardens and wild in many places of this
land =

*{time} ..*{=} they seed in august and september =

*{vertues} ..*{=} they are all of them cooling drying and binding
serving to restrain the fluxes of bloud in either man or woman
especially the red which also stayeth the overflowing of women's reds as
the white blite stayeth the whites in women it is an excellent secret
you cannot wel fail in the use they are al under the dominion of venus =

*{reds} ..*{.} there is one other sort of wild blites like the other
wild kinds but having long and spike heads of greenish seed seeming by
the thick setting together to be al seed =

this sort the fishes are delighted with and it is a good and usual bait
for the fishes will bite fast enough at them if you have but wit enough
to catch them when they bite =

these are so wel known to be inhabitants in every garden that i hold it
needless to describe them =

*{time} ..*{=} they flower in june and july and the seed is ripe shortly
after =

*{vertues} ..*{=} they are very cordial the leaves or roots are to very
good purpose used in putrid and pestilential feavers to defend the heart
and help to resist and expel the poyson or the venom of other creatures
the seed is of the like effect and the seed and leavs are good to
encrease milk in womens breasts the leavs flowers and seed all or any of
them are good to expel pensiveness and melancholly it helpeth to
clarifie the bloud and mitigate heat in feavers the juyce made into a
syrup prevaileth much to all the purposes aforesaid and is put with
other cooling opening clensing herbs to open obstructions and help the
yellow jaundice and mixed with fumitory to cool clens and temper the
blood therby it helpeth the itch ringworms and tetters or other
spreading scabs or sores the flowers candied or made into a conserve are
helping in the former causes but are chiefly used as a cordial and is
good for those that are weak with long sickness and to comsumptions or
troubled with often swoonings or passions of the heart the distilled
water is no less effectual to all the purposes aforesaid and helpeth the
redness and inflamations of the eyes being washed therewith the dried
herb is never used but the green yet the ashes therof boyled in mead or
honyed water is available against inflamations and ulcers in the mouth
or throat to wash and gargle it therewith the roots of bugloss are
effectual being made into a licking electuarie for the cough and to
condensate thin flegm and rhewmatick distillations upon the lungs =

*{feavers} ..*{.} they are both herbs of jupiter and under leo both
great cordials great strengthners of nature =

these are so wel known generally unto my country men to grow among their
corn that i suppose it needless to write any description therof there
are other kinds which i purposely omit both in this and others my intent
being only to insist most principally upon the vulgarly known and
commonly growing flowers and herbs =

*{time} ..*{=} they flower and seed in the summer months =

*{vertues} ..*{=} the pouder or dried leavs of the bluebottle or
cornflower is given with good success to those that are bruised by a fal
or have broken a vein inwardly and void much blood at the mouth being
taken in the water of plantane horstail or the greater comfry it is a
remedy against the poyson of the scorpion and resisteth al other venoms
and poysons the seed or leavs taken in wine is very good against the
plague and al infectious diseases and is very good in pestilential
feavers the juyce put into fresh or green wounds doth quicky soder up
the lips of them together and is very effectual to heal al ulcers and
sores in the mouth the juyce dropped into the eyes taketh away the heat
and inflamation in them the distilled water of the herb hath the same
properties and may be used for all the effects aforesaid =

*{bruises} ..*{=} the common white briony groweth ramping upon the
hedges sending forth many long rough very tender branches at the
beginning with many very rough broad leavs theron cut for the most part
into five partitions in form very like a vine leaf but smaller rougher
and of a whitish or hoary green colour spreading very far spreading and
twining with his smal claspers that come forth at the joynts with the
leavs very far on whatsoever standeth next it at the several joynts also
especially towards the top of the branches cometh forth a long stalk
bearing many whitish flowers together in a long tuft consisting of five
smal leaves apiece laid open like a star after which come the berries
separated one from another more than a cluster of grapes green at the
first and very red when they are through ripe of no good sent but of a
most loathsom tast provoking vomit the root groweth to be exceeding
great with many long twines or branches growing from it of a pale
whitish colour on the outside and more white within and of a sharp
bitter loathsom tast =

*{place} ..*{=} it groweth on banks or under hedges through this land
the roots lie very deep =

*{time} ..*{=} it flowereth in july and august some earlier and some
later than others =

*{vertues} ..*{=} the roots of the briony purge the belly with great
violence troubling the stomach and hurting the liver and therfore not
rashly to be taken but being corrected is very profitable for the
diseases of the head as falling sickness giddiness and swimmings by
drawing away much flegm and rhewmatick humors that oppress the head as
also the joynts and sinews and is therfore good for palseys convulsions
cramps and stitches in the sides and the dropsie and in provoking urin
it clenseth the reins and kidnies from gravel and the stone and
consumeth the hardness and swellings therof the decoction of the root in
wine drunk once a week at going to bed clenseth the mother and helpeth
the rising therof expelleth the dead child and afterbirth but is not to
be used by women with child for fear of abortion a dram of the root in
pouder taken in white wine bringeth down their courses an electuary made
of the roots and honey doth mightily clens the chest of rotten flegm and
wonderfully help an old strong cough those that are troubled with
shortness of breath and is very good for them that are brused inwardly
to help to expel the clotted or congealed blood the leavs fruit and root
do clens old and filthy sores are good against al fretting and running
cankers gangrenes and tetters and therfore the berries are by some
country people called tetter berries the root clenseth the skin
wonderfully from al black and blew spots freckles morphew leprosie foul
scars or other deformity whatsoever as also al running scabs and
manginess are healed by the pouder of the dried root or the juyce therof
but especially by the fine white hardned juyce the distilled water of
the roots worketh the same effects but more weakly the root bruised and
applied of it self to any place where the bones are broken helpeth to
draw them forth as also splinters and thorns in the flesh and being
applied with a little wine mixed therwith it breaketh boyls and helpeth
whitlows on the joynts =

*{falling} ..*{.} for al these latter beginning at sores cankers &c°
apply it outwardly and take my advice along with you you shal find in my
translation of the london dispensatory among the preparations at latter
end a medicin called focculae brioniae take that and use it you have the
way there how to make it and mix that with a little hogs greas or other
convenient oyntment and use it at your need =

*{broken} ..*{.} as for the former diseases where it must be taken
inwardly it purgeth very violently and needs an abler hand to correct it
than most country people have therfore it is a better way for them in my
opinion to let the simple alone and take the compound water of it
mentioned in my dispensatory and that is far more safe being wisely
corrected =

*{description} ..*{=} this sendeth forth from a creeping root that
shooteth forth strings at every joynt as it runneth divers and sundry
green stalks round and sappy with some branchs on them somwhat broad
round deep green and thick leavs set by couples theron from the bosom
wherof shoot forth long footstalks with sundry smal blue flowers on them
that consist of five smal round pointed leavs apiece =

there is another sort nothing differing from the former but that it is
greater and the flowers of a paler blue colour =

*{place} ..*{=} they grow in smal standing waters and usually neer
watercresses =

*{time} ..*{=} and flower in june and july giving seed the next month
after =

*{vertues} ..*{=} brooklime and watercresses are generally used together
in diet drinks with other things serving to purge the blood and body
from ill humors that would destroy health and are helpful for the scurvy
they do also provoke urin and help to break the stone and pass it away
they procure womens courses and expel the dead child being fried with
butter and vinegar and applied warm it helpeth all manner of tumors or
swellings and inflamations =

*{blood} ..*{.} such drinks ought to be made of sundry herbs according
to the malady offending i shal give a plain and easie rule at the latter
end of the book =

*{description} ..*{=} the first shoots that sprout from the root of
butchers broom are thick whitish and short somwhat like those of
asparagus but greater these rising up to be a foot and an half high are
spread into divers branches green & somwhat crested with the roundness
tough and flexible wheron are set somwhat broad and almost round hard
leavs sharp and prickly pointed at the ends of a dark green colour two
for the most part set at a place very close or neer together about the
middle of the leaf on the back or lower side from the middle rib
breaketh forth a smal whitish green flower consisting of four smal round
pointed leavs standing upon little or no footstalk and in the place
wherof cometh a smal round berry green at the first and red when it is
ripe wherin are two or three white hard round seeds contained the root
is thick white and great at the head and from thence sendeth forth
divers thick white long tough strings =

*{place} ..*{=} it groweth in copses and upon heaths and wast grounds
and often times under or neer the holly bushes =

*{time} ..*{=} it shooteth forth his yong buds in the spring and the
berries are ripe in or about september the branches and leavs abiding
green al the winter =

*{vertues} ..*{=} the decoction of the roots made with wine openeth
obstructions provoketh urin helpeth to expel gravel and the stone the
strangury and womens courses as also the yellow jaundice and the head
ach and with some honey or sugar put therunto clenseth the breast of
flegm and the chest of much clammy humors gathered therin the decoction
of the roots drunk and a pultis made of the berries and leavs being
applied are effectual in knitting and consolidating broken bones and
parts out of joynt =

*{obstructions} ..*{.} it is called bruscus in some places and in sussex
kneeholly and kneeholm the common way of using it is to boyl the roots
of it and parsly and fennel and smallage in white wine and drink the
decoction adding the like quantity of grass roots to them the more of
the roots you boyl the stronger will the decoction be it works no ill
effects yet i hope you have wit enough to give the strongest decoction
to the strongest bodies =

to spend time in writing a descripton herof is altogether needless it
being so generally used by all the good huswifes almost through this
land to sweep their houses with and therfore very wel known to all sorts
of people =

the broomrape springeth up in many places from the roots of the broom
but more often in fields by hedg sides and on heaths the stalk wherof is
of the bigness of a finger or thumb above two foot high having a show of
leavs on them and many flowers at the top of a deadish yellow colour as
also the stalks and leavs are =

*{place} ..*{=} they grow in many places of this land commonly and as
commonly spoyl all the land they grow in =

*{time} ..*{=} and flower in the summer months and give their seed
before winter =

*{vertues} ..*{=} the juyce or decoction of the yong branches or seed or
the pouder of the seed taken in drink purgeth downwards and draweth
flegmatick and watery humors from the joynts wherby it helpeth the
dropsie gout sciatica and the pains in the hips and joynts it also
provoketh strong vomit and helpeth the pains of the sides and swellings
of the spleen clenseth also the reins or kidneys and bladder of the
stone provoketh urin abundantly and hindreth the growing again of the
stone in the body the continual use of the pouder of the leaves and seed
doth cure the black jaundice the distilled water of the flowers is
profitable for al the same purposes it also helpeth surfets and altereth
the fits of agues if three or four ounces therof with as much of the
water of the lesser centaury and a little sugar put therin be taken a
little before the fit cometh and the party be laid down to sweat in
their bed the oyl or water that is drawn from the ends of the green
sticks heated in the fire helpeth the toothach the juyce of the yong
branches made into an oyment of old hogs greas and anointed or the yong
branches bruised and heated in oyl or hogs greas and laid to the sides
pained by wind as in stitches or the spleen easeth them in once or twice
using it the same boyled in oyl is the safest and surest medicine to kil
lice in the head or body of any and is an especial remedy for joynt
aches and swoln knees that come by the falling down of humors =

*{flegm} ..*{.} the broomrape also is not without his vertues =

*{toothach} ..*{.} the decoction therof in wine is thought to be as
effectual to avoid the stone in the kidnies and bladder and to provoke
urin as the broom it self the juyce therof is a singular good help to
cure as wel green wounds as old and filthy sores and malignant ulcers
the insolate oyl wherin there hath been three or four repetitions of
infusion of the top stalks with flowers strained and cleered clenseth
the skin of al manner of spots marks and freckles that arise either by
the heat of the sun or the malignity of humors =

as for the broom for as yet i know not what to say to broomrape in the
business but as from broom mars owns it and it is exceeding prejucidial
to the liver i suppose by reason of the antipathy between jupiter and
mars therfore if the liver be disaffected administer not of it =

*{description} ..*{=} this being sown of seed riseth up at the first
with smal long narrow hairy dark green leavs like grass without any
division or gash in them but those that follow are gashed in on both
sides the leavs into three or four gashes and pointed at the ends
resembling the knags of a bucks horn wherof it took the name and being
well grown round about the root upon the ground in order one by another
therby rsembling the form of a star from among which rise up divers
hairy stalks about a hand breadth high bearing every one a smal long
spiky head like to those of the common plantane having such like
bloomings and seed after them the root is single long and smal with
divers strings at it =

*{place} ..*{=} they grow in dry sandy grounds as in tuttle fields by
westminster and divers other places of this land =

*{time} ..*{=} they flower and seed in may june and july and their green
leavs do in a manner abide fresh al the winter =

*{vertues} ..*{=} this boyled in wine and drunk and some of the leavs
applied to the hurt place is an excellent remedy for the biting of the
viper or adder which i take to be one and the same the same being also
drunk helpeth those that are troubled with the stone in the veins or
kidnies by cooling the heat of the parts afflicted strengthning them as
also weak stomachs that cannot retain but cast up their meat it stayeth
al bleedings at mouth and nose bloody urin or the bloody flux and
stoppeth the lask of the belly and bowels the leavs herof bruised and
laid to their sides that have an ague suddenly easeth the fit and the
leavs and roots beaten with some bay salt and applied to the wrists
worketh the same effects the herb boyled in ale or wine and given for
some mornings and evenings together staieth the distillations of hot and
sharp rhewms falling into the eyes from the head and helpeth al sorts of
sore eyes =

*{venemous} ..*{.} venus challengeth the dominion of this herb =

*{description} ..*{=} this hath larger leavs than those of the selfheal
but els of the same fashion or rather a little longer in some green on
the upper side and in others more brownish dented about the edges
somwhat hairy as the square stalk is also which riseth up to be half a
yard high somtimes with the leavs set by couples from the middle almost
hereof upwards stand the flowers together with many smaler and browner
leaves than the rest on this stalk below set at distances and the stalk
bare between them among which flowers are also smal ones of a bluish and
somtimes of an ash colour fashioned like the flowers of the ground ivy
after which come small round blackish seed the root is composed of many
strings and spreadeth upon the ground in divers parts round about =

the white flowered bugle differeth not in form or greatness from the
former saving that the leavs and stalks are alwaies green and never
brown like the other and that the flowers therof are very white =

*{place} ..*{=} they grow in woods wet copses and fields generally
throughout england but the white flowered bugle is not so plentiful as
the other =

*{time} ..*{=} they flower from may until july and in the mean time
perfect their seed the roots and leavs next therunto upon the ground
abiding all winter =

*{vertues} ..*{=} the decoction of the leavs and flowers made in wine
and taken dissolveth the congeled blood in those that are bruised
inwardly by a fall or otherwise and is very effectual for any inward
wounds thrusts or stabs in the body or bowels and is an especial help in
all wound drinks and for those that are liver grown as they cal it it is
wonderful in curing all manner of ulcers and sores whether new and fresh
or old and inveterate yea gangrenes and fistulaes also if the leavs
bruised be aplied or their juyce used to wash and bath the places and
the same made into a lotion with some honey and allum cureth all sores
of the mouth or gums be they never so foul or of long continuance and
worketh no less powerfully and effectually for such ulcers and sores as
happen in the secret parts of men or women being also taken inwardly and
outwardly applied it helpeth those that have broken any bone or have any
member out of joynt an ointment made with the leaves of bugle scabious
and sanicle bruised and boyled in hogs greas until the herbs be dry and
then strained forth into a pot for such occasions as shal require it is
so singular good for all sorts of hurts in the body that non that know
its usefulness will be without it =

*{bruises} ..*{.} this herb is belonging to dame venus and if the
vertues of it make you in love with it as they wil if you be wise keep a
syrup of it to take inwardly and an ointment and plaister of it to use
outwardly alwaies by you =

the truth is i have known this herb cure some diseases of saturn of
which i thought good to quote one many times such as give themselvs much
to drinking are troubled with strange fancies strange sights in the
night time and some with voices as also with the diseas ephialtes or the
mare i take the reason of this to be according to fernelius a
melancholly vapor made thin by excessive drinking strong liquor and so
flys up and disturbs the fancy and breeds imaginations like it self viz°
fearful and troublesom these i have known cured by taking only two
spoonfuls of the syrup of this herb after supper two hours when you go
to bed but whether this do it by sympathy or antipathy is som question
all that know any thing in astrologie know that there is a great
antipathy between saturn and venus in matter of procreation yea such an
one that the barreness of saturn can be removed by none but venus nor
the lust of venus be repelled by none but saturn but i am not yet of
opinion this is done this way and my reason is because these vapors
though in quality melancholly yet by their flying upward seem to be
somthing aeriel therfore i rather think it is done by sympathy saturn
being exalted in libra the house of venus =

*{mares} ..*{.} selfheal which follows is of the same nature and i am of
opinion the same herb only differs a little in form according to the
difference of place they grow in this i am sure they work the same
effect =

the common garden burnet is so well known that it needeth no description
there is another sort which is wild the description wherof take as
followeth =

*{description} ..*{=} the great wild burnet hath winged leavs rising
from the roots like the garden burnet but not so many yet each of these
leavs are at the least twice as large as the other and nicked in the
same manner about the edges of a grayish colour on the underside the
stalks are greater and rise higher with many such like leavs set theron
and greater heads at the tops of a brownish green colour and out of them
come smal dark purple flowers like the former but greater the root is
black and long like the other but greater also it hath almost neither
scent nor tast therin like the garden kind =

*{place} ..*{=} the first grows frequently in gardens the wild kind
groweth in divers countries of this land especially in huntington &
northampton shires in the meadows there as also near london by pancras
church and by a causey side in the middle of a field by paddington =

*{time} ..*{=} they flower about the end of june and beginning of july
and their seed is ripe in august =

*{vertues} ..*{=} they are accounted to be both of one property but the
lesser is more effectual because quicker and more aromatical it is a
friend to the heart liver and other the principal parts of a mans body
two or three of the stalks with leavs put into a cup of wine especially
clarret are known to quicken the spirits refresh and cheer the heart and
drive away melancholly it is a special help to defend the heart from
noisom vapors and from infection of the pestilence the juyce therof
being taken in som drink and the party laid to sweat thereupon they have
also a drying and an astringent quality whereby they are available in
all manner of fluxes or bloud or humors to stanch bleedings inward or
outward lasks scourings the bloudy flux womens too abundant courses the
whites and the chollerick belchings and castings of the stomach and is a
singular good wound herb for all sorts of wounds both of the head and
body either inward or outward for all old ulcers or running cankers and
moist sores to be used either by the juyce or decoction of the herb or
by the pouder of the herb or root or the water of the distilled herb or
ointment by it self or with other things to be kept the seed is also no
less effectual both to stop fluxes and dry up moist sores being taken in
pouder inwardly in wine or steeled water that is wherin hot gads of
steel have been quenched or the pouder of the seed mixed with the
ointments =

*{heart} ..*{.} this is an herb the sun challengeth dominion over and is
a most precious herb little inferior to betony the continual use of it
preservs the body in health and the spirits in vigor for if the sun be
the preserver of life under god his herbs are the best in the world to
do it by =

*{description} ..*{=} this riseth up in february with a thick stalk
about a foot high whereon are set a few smal leavs or rather pieces and
at the tops a long spiked head of flowers of a blush or deep red colour
according to the soil wherin it groweth and before the stalk with the
flowers have abidden a month above ground wil be withered and gone blown
away with the wind and the leaves will begin to spring which being full
grown are very large & broad being somwhat thin and almost round whose
thick red footstalks about a foot long stand towards the middle of the
leavs the lower parts being divided into two round parts close almost
one to another and of a pale green colour and hoary underneath the root
is long and spreading under ground being in some places no bigger than
ones finger in others much bigger blackish on the outside & white within
of a bitter and unpleasant tast =

*{place} ..*{=} they grow in low and wet ground by rivers and waters
side their flower as is said rising and decaying in february and march
before the leavs which appear in april =

*{vertues} ..*{=} the roots hereof are by long experience found to be
very available against the plague and pestilential feavers by provoking
sweat if the pouder therof be taken in wine it also resisteth the force
of any other poyson the root hereof taken with zedoary and angelica or
without them helps the rising of the mother the decoction of the root in
wine is singular good for those that wheeze much or are short winded it
provoketh urin also and womens courses and killeth the flat and broad
worms in the belly the pouder of the root doth wonderfully help to dry
up the moisture of sores that are hard to be cured and taketh away all
spots and blemishes of the skin =

*{plague} ..*{.} it were wel if gentlewomen would keep this root
preserved to help their poor neighbors it is fit the rich should help
the poor for the poor cannot help themselvs =

it is so well known even to the little boys who pul off the burs to
throw and stick upon one another that i shal spare to write any
description of it =

*{place} ..*{=} they grow plentifully by ditches and water sides and by
the high wales almost every where through this land =

*{vertues} ..*{=} the bur leavs are cooling moderatly drying and
discussing withal whereby it is good for old ulcers and sores a dram of
the roots taken with pine kernels helpeth them that spit foul mattery
and bloudy flegm the leavs applied on the places troubled with the
shrinking of the sinews or arteries give much ease the juyce of the
leavs or rather the roots themselvs given to drink with old wine doth
wonderfully help the bitings of any serpents and the root beaten with a
little salt and laid on the place suddenly easeth the pain thereof and
helpeth those that are bit with a mad dog the juyce of the leavs taken
with honey provoketh urin and remedieth the pain of the bladder the seed
being drunk in wine forty daies together doth wonderfully help the
sciatica the leavs bruised with the white of an egg and applied to any
place burnt with fire taketh out the fire gives sudden ease and heals it
up afterwards the decoction of them fomented on any fretting sore or
canker stayeth the corroding quality which must be afterwards anointed
with an ointment made of the same liquor hogs greas nitre and vinegar
boyled together the roots may be preserved with sugar and taken fasting
or at other times for the said purposes and for consumptions the ston
and the lask the seed is much commended to break the stone and cause it
to be expelled by urin and is often used with other seeds and things to
that purpose =

*{cools} ..*{.} venus challengeth this herb for her own and by its leaf
or seed you may draw the womb which way you pleas either upward by
applying it to the crown of the heed if in case it fal out or downward
in fits of the mother by applying it to the soals of the feet or if you
would stay it in its place apply it to the navel and that is one good
way to stay the child in it see more of it in my guide for women =

i shal spare a labor in writing a description of these sith almost every
one that can but write at all may describe them from his own knowledg
they being generally so well know that descriptions are altogether
needless =

*{place} ..*{=} these are generally planted in gardens =

*{time} ..*{=} their flowering time is towards the middle or end of july
and the seed is ripe in august =

*{vertues} ..*{=} the cabbages or coleworts boyled gently in broth and
eaten do open the body but the second decoction doth bind the body the
juyce therof drunk in wine helpeth those that are bitten by an adder and
the decoction of the flowers bringeth down womens courses being taken
with honey it recovereth hoarsness or loss of the voice the often eating
of them wel boyled helpeth those that are entring into a consumption the
pulp of the middle ribs of coleworts boyled in almond milk and made up
into an electuary with honey being taken often is very profitable for
those that are pursie and short winded being boyled twice and a old cock
boyled in the broth and drunk it helpeth the pains and obstructions of
the liver and spleen and the stone in the kidnies the juyce boyled with
honey and dropped into the corner of the eye cleareth the sight by
consuming any film or cloud begining to dim it it also consumeth the
canker growing therin they are much commended being eaten before meat to
keep one from surfetting as also from being drunk with too much wine or
quickly make a man sober again that is drunk before for as they say
there is such an antipathy or enmity between the vine and the colewort
that the one will die where the other groweth the decoction of colworts
taketh away the pain and ach and allayeth the swellings of swoln and
gouty legs and knees wherein many gross and watry humors are fallen the
place being bathed therwith warm it helpeth also old and filthy sores
being washed therewith and healeth all smal scabs pushes and wheals that
break out in the skin the ashes of colwort stalks mixed with old hogs
grease are very effectual to annoint the sides of those that have had
long pains therin or any other place pained with melancholly and windy
humors =

*{venemous} ..*{.} this was surely chrysippus his god and therfore he
wrote a whol volumn of them and their vertues and that none of the least
neither for he would be no smal fool he apropriates them to every part
of the body and to every disease in every part and honest old cato they
say used no other physick i know not what mettals their bodies were made
of this i am sure cabbages are extream windy whether you take them as
meat or as medicine yea as windy meat as can be eaten unless you eat
bagpipes or bellows and they are but seldom eaten in our daies and
colewort flowers are somthing more tollerable and the wholsomer food of
the two =

the moon challengeth the dominion of the herb =

*{description} ..*{=} this hath divers somwhat long and broad large
thick wrinkled leavs somwhat crumpled upon the edges growing each upon a
several thick footstalk very brittle of a grayish green colour from
among which riseth up a strong thick stalk two foot high and better with
some leavs theron to the top where it brancheth forth much and on every
branch standeth a large bush of pale whitish flowers consisting of four
leavs apiece the root is somwhat great and shooteth forth many branches
under ground keeping the green leavs al the winter =

*{place} ..*{=} they grow in many places upon the sea coasts as wel on
the kentish as essex shores as at lidd in kent colechester in essex and
divers other places and in other countries of this land =

*{time} ..*{=} they flower and seed about the time that other kinds do =

*{vertues} ..*{=} the broth or first decoction of the sea colewort doth
by the sharp nitrous and bitter qualities therin open the belly and
purge the body it clenseth and digesteth more powerfully than the other
kind the seed herof bruised and drunk killeth worms the leavs or the
juyce of them applied to sores or ulcers clenseth and healeth them and
dissolveth swellings and taketh away inflamations =

*{sores} ..*{=} this is a smal herb seldom rising above a a foot high
with square hoary and woody stalks and two smal hoary leavs set at a
joynt about the bigness of marjoram or not much cigger a little dented
about the edges and of a very fierce or quick scent as the whol herb is
the flowers stand at several spaces of the stalks from the middle almost
upwards which are smal and gaping like to those mints and of a pale
blush colour after which follow smal round blackish seeds the root is
smal and woody with divers smal sprigs spreading within the ground and
dieth not but abideth many yeers =

*{place} ..*{=} it groweth on heaths and upland dry grounds in many
places of this land =

*{time} ..*{=} they flower in july and their seed is ripe quickly after
=

*{vertues} ..*{=} the decoction of the herb being drunk bringeth down
womens courses and provoketh urin it is profitable for those that are
bursten or troubled with convulsions or cramps with shortness of breath
or chollerick torments and pains in their bellies or stomachs it also
helpeth the yellow jaundice and staieth vomiting being taken in wine
taken with salt and honey it killeth al manner of worms in the body it
helpeth such as have the leprosie either taken inwardly drinking whey
after it or the green herb outwardly applied it hindreth conception in
women being either burned or strewed in the chamber it driveth away
venemous serpents it takes away black and blue marks in the face and
maketh black scars become wel colored if the green herb not the dry be
boyled in wine and laid to the place or the place washed therwith being
applied to the hucklebone by continuance of time it spendeth the humors
which caused the pain of the sciatica the juyce dropped into the ears
killeth the worms in them the leavs boyled in wine and drunk provoketh
sweat and openeth obstructions of the liver and spleen it helpeth them
that have a tettian ague the body being first purged by taking away the
cold fits the decoction herof with some sugar put therto afterwards is
very profitable for those that be troubled with the overflowing of the
gal and that have an old cough and that are scarce able to breath by the
shortness of their wind that have any cold distemper in their bowels and
are troubled with the hardness of the spleen for al which purposes both
the pouder called diacalaminthes and the compound syrup of calamint
which are to be had at the apothecaries are most effectual =

*{terms} ..*{.} let not women be too busy with it for it works very
violently upon the foeminin parts =

this is so wel known every where that it is but lost time and labor to
describe it the vertues wherof are as followeth =

a decoction made of chamomel and drunk taketh away al pains and stitches
in the sides the flowers of chamomel beaten and made up into bals with
oyl driveth away al sorts of agues if the party grieved be anointed with
that oyl taken from the flowers from the crown of the head to the soal
of the foot and afterwards laid to sweat in his bed and that he sweat
wel this is nichessor an egyptian's medicine it is profitable for all
sorts of agues that come either from flegm or melancholly or from an
inflamation of the bowels being applied when the humors causing them
shal be concocted and there is nothing more profitable to the sides and
region of the liver and spleen than it the bathing with a decoction of
chamomel taketh away weariness easeth pains to what part of the body
soever they be applied it comforteth the sinews that are overstrained
mollifieth al swellings it moderately comforteth al parts that have need
of warmth digesteth and dissolveth whatsoever hath need therof by a
wonderful speedy property it easeth al the pains of the chollick and
stone and al pains and torments ofthe belly and gently provoketh urin
the flowers boyled in posset drink provoketh sweat and helpeth to expel
colds aches and pains whersoever and is an excellent help to bring down
womens courses a syrup made of the juyce of chamomel with the flowers
and white wine is a remedy against the jaundice and dropsie the flowers
boyled in a ly are good to wash the head and comfort both it and the
brain the oyl made of the flowers of chamomel is much used against al
hard swellings pains or aches shrinking of the sinews or cramps or pains
in the joynts or any other part of the body being used in clisters it
helpeth to dissolve wind and pains in the belly anointed also it helpeth
stitches and pains in the sides =

*{stitches} ..*{.} nichessor saith the egyptians dedicated it to the sun
becaus it cured agues and they were like enough to do it for they were
the arrantest apes in their religion that ever i read of baccinus pena
and lobel commend the syrup made of the juyce of it and sugar taken
inwardly to be excellent for the spleen also this is certain that it
most wonderfully breaks the stone some take it in syrup or decoction
others inject the juyce of it into the bladder with a syring my opinion
is that the salt of it taken half a dram in a morning in a little white
or rhenish wine is better than either that it is excellent for the stone
appears by this which i have seen tried viz° that a stone that hath been
taken out of the body of a man being wrapped in chamomel will in time
dissolve and in a little time too =

*{description} ..*{=} the white wild campion hath many long and somwhat
broad dark green leavs lying upon the ground with divers ribs therin
somwhat like plantane but somwhat hairy broader and not so long the
hairy stalks rise up in the middle of them three of four foot high and
somtimes more with divers great white joynts at several places theron
and two such like leavs therat up to the top sending forth branches at
the several joynts also al which bear on several footstalks white
flowers at the tops of them consisting of five broad pointed leavs every
one cut in on the end unto the middle making them seem to be two apiece
smelling somwhat sweet and each of them standing in large green striped
hairy husks large and round below next to the stalk the seed is smal and
grayish in the hard heads that come up afterwards the root is white and
long spreading divers fangs in the ground =

the red wild campion groweth in the same manner as the white but his
leavs are not so plainly ribbed somewhat shorter rounder and more woolly
in handling the flowers are of the same form and bigness but in som of a
pale in others of a bright red colour cut in at ends more finely which
maketh the leavs seem more in number than the other the seed and the
roots are alike the roots of both sorts abiding many years =

there are forty five kinds of campions more those of them which are of
physical uses having the like vertues with these above described which i
take to be the two chiefest kinds =

*{place} ..*{=} they grow commonly through this land by fields hedg
sides and ditches =

*{time} ..*{=} they flower in summer som earlier than others and some
abiding longer than others =

*{vertues} ..*{=} it is found by experience that the decoction of the
herb either the white or red being drunk doth stay inward bleedings and
applied outwardly it doth the like and being drunk helpeth to expel the
urin being stop'd and gravel or the stone in the reins or kidnies two
drams of the seed drunk in wine purgeth the body of chollerick humors
and helpeth those that are stung by scorpions or other venemous beasts
and may be as effectual for the plague it is of very good use in old
sores ulcers cankers fistulaes and the like to clens and heal them by
consuming the moist humors falling into them and correcting the
putrifaction of humors offending them =

*{bleeding} ..*{.} the garden kind are so wel known that they need no
description but because they are of less physical use than the wild kind
as indeed almost in all herbs the wild are most effectual in physick as
being more powerful in operation then the garden kinds i shal therfore
briefly describe the wild carrot =

*{description} ..*{=} it groweth in a manner altogether like the tame
but that the leavs and stalks are somwhat whiter and rougher the stalks
bear large tufts of white flowers with deep purple spot in the middle
which are contracted together when the seed begins to ripen that the
middle part being hollow and low and the outer stalks rising high maketh
the whol umbel to shew like a birds nest the root is smal long and hard
unfit for meat being somwhat sharp and strong =

*{place} ..*{=} the wild kind groweth in divers parts of this land
plentifully by the fields sides and in untilled places =

*{time} ..*{=} they flower and seed in the end of summer =

*{the} ..*{=} it beareth divers stalks of fine cut leavs lying upon the
ground somwhat like to the leavs of carrots but not bushing so thick of
a little quick tast in them from among which riseth up a square stalk
not so high as the carrot at whose joynts are set the like leavs but
smaler and finer and at the top smal open tufts or umbels of white
flowers which turn into smal blackish seed smaler than the anniseed and
of a quicker and hotter tast the root is whitish smal and long somwhat
like unto a parsnep but with more wrinckled bark and much less of a
little hot and quick tast and stronger than the parsnep and abideth
after seed time =

*{place} ..*{=} it is usually sown with us in gardens =

*{time} ..*{=} they flower in june or july and seed quickly after =

*{vertues} ..*{=} caraway seed hath a moderat sharp quality wherby it
breaketh wind and provoketh urin which also the herb doth the root is
better food than the parsnep and is pleasant & comfortable to the
stomach helping digestion the seed is conducing to all the cold griefs
of head and stomach the bowels or mother as also the wind in them and
helpeth to sharpen the eye sight the pouder of the seed put into a
pultis taketh away black and blue spots of blows or bruises the herb it
self or with some of the seed bruised and fryed laid hot in a bag or
double cloth to the lower part of the belly easeth the pains of the wind
chollick =

*{wind} ..*{.} the roots of caraway eaten as men eat parsnips strengthen
the stomacks of ancient people exceedingly and they need not make a whol
meal of them neither and are fit to be planted in every ones garden =

caraway comfects once only dipped in sugar and half a spoonful of them
eaten in the morning fasting and as many after each meal is a most
admirable remedy for such as are troubled with wind =

*{description} ..*{=} this hath divers tender round whitish green stalks
with greater joynts than ordinary in other herbs as it were knees very
brittle and easie to break from whence grow branches with large tender
long leavs much divided into many parts each of them cut in on the edges
set at the joynts on both sides of the branches of a dark bluish green
colour on the upper side like columbines and of a more pale bluish green
underneath ful of a yellow sap when any part is broken of a bitter tast
and strong scent at the tops of the branches which are much divided grow
gold yellow flowers of four leaves apiece after which come smal long
pods with blackish seed therin the root is somwhat great at the head
shooting forth divers other long roots and smal strings reddish on the
outside and yellow within ful of a yellow sap therein =

*{place} ..*{=} it groweth in many places by old walls by the hedges and
way sides in untilled places and being once planted in a garden
especially in some shady place it wil remain there =

*{time} ..*{=} they flower all the summer long and the seed ripeneth in
the mean time =

*{vertues} ..*{=} the herb or roots boyled in white wine and drunk a few
aniseeds being boyled therwith openeth obstructions of the liver and
gall helpeth the yellow jaundice and the often using it helps the
dropsie and the itch and those that have old sores in their legs or
other parts of the body the juyce thereof taken fasting is held to be of
singular good use against the pestilence the distilled water with a
little sugar and a little good triacle mixed therwith the party upon the
taking being laid down to sweat a little hath the same effect the juyce
dropped into the eyes clenseth them from films and the cloudiness which
darken the sight but it is best to allay the sharpnes of the juyce with
a little breast milk it is good in old filthy corroding creeping ulcers
whersoever to stay their malignity of fretting and running and to cause
them to heal the more speedily the juyce often applied to tetters
ringworms or other such like spreading cancers will quickly heal them
and rubbed often upon warts will taken them away the herb with the roots
bruised and heated with oyl of camomel applied to the navel taketh away
the griping pain in the belly and bowels and all the pains of the mother
and applied to womens breasts stayeth the overmuch flowing of their
courses the juyce decoction of the herb gargled between the teeth that
ake easeth the pain and the pouder of the dryed root laid upon an aching
hollow or loos tooth wil cause it to fal out the juyce mixed with som
pouder of brimstone is not only good against the itch but taketh away al
discolourings of the skin whatsoever and if it chance that in a tender
body it causeth any itching or inflamation by bathing the place with a
little vinegar it is helped =

*{obstructions} ..*{.} this is an herb of the sun & under the coelestial
lyon and is one of the best cures for the eyes that is al that know any
thing in astrologie know as wel as i can tel them that the eyes are
subject to the luminaries let it then be gathered when the sun is in leo
and the moon in aries applying to his trine let leo arise then may you
make it into an oyl or oyntment which you please to anoint your sore
eyes withal i can prove it both by my own experience and the experience
of those to whom i have taught it that most desperat sore eyes have been
cured by this only medicine and then i pray is not this farbetter than
endangering the eyes by the art of the needle for if this do not
absolutly take away the film it wil so facilitate the work that it may
be don wihout danger =

another il favored trick have physitians got to use to the eye and that
is worse than the needle which is to eat away the film by corroding or
gnawing medicines this i absolutly protest against =

1 because the tunicles of the eye are very thin and therfore soon eaten
asunder =

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

it is called chelidonium from the greek word *** which sigifies a
swallow because they say that if you prick out the eyes of yong swallows
when they are in the nest the old ones wil recover their eyes again with
this herb this i am confident for i have tried it that if you mar the
very apple of their eyes with a needle she wil recover them again but
whether with this herb or no i know not =

also i have read and it seems to be somwhat probable that the herb being
gathered as i shewed before and the elements drawn apart from it by the
art of the alchymist and after they are drawn apart rectified the earthy
quality still in rectifying them added to the terra damnata as
alchymists call it or terra sacratissima as som phylosophers call it the
elements so rectified are sufficient for the cure of al diseases the
humor offending being known and the contrary element given it is an
experience wurth the trying and can do no harm =

i wonder what ailed the antients to give this the name of celandine
which resembles it neither in nature nor form it acquired the name of
pilewort from its vertues and it being no great matter where i set it
down so i do set it down at al i humor'd dr° tradition so much as to set
it down here =

*{description} ..*{=} this celandine then or pilewort which you please
doth spread many round pale green leavs set on weak and trailing
branches which lie upon the ground and are fat smooth and somwhat
shining and in some places though seldom marked with black spots each
standing on a long footstalk among which rise smal yellow flowers
consisting of nine or ten smal narrow leavs upon slender footstalks very
like unto a crowfoot wherunto the seed also is not unlike being many
smal ones set together upon a head the root is made of many smal kernels
like grain of corn some twice as long as others of a whitish colour with
some fibres at the end of them =

*{place} ..*{=} it groweth for the most part in the moist corners of
fields and places that are neer water sides yet wil abide in dryer
grounds if they be but a little shadowed =

*{time} ..*{=} it flowereth betimes about march or april is quite gone
in may so as it cannot be found until it spring again =

*{vertues} ..*{=} it is certain by good experience that the decoction of
the leavs and roots doth wonderfully help the piles and hemorrhoids as
also kernels by the ears and throat called the kings evil or any other
hard wens or tumors =

here's another secret for my country men and women a couple of them
together pilewort being made into an oyl oyntment or plaister readily
cures both the piles or hemorrhoids and the kings evil if i may lawfully
cal it the kings evil now there is no king the very herb born about ones
body next the skin helps in such diseases though it never touch the
place grieved let good people make much of it for these uses with this i
cured my own daughter of the kings evil broke the sore drew out a
quarter of a pint of corruption and cured it without any scar at all and
in one weeks time =

*{hemorrhoids} ..*{=} this groweth up most usually but with one round
and somwhat crested stalk about a foot high or better branching forth at
the top into many sprigs and some also from the joynts of the stalks
below the flowers that stand at the tops as it were in an umbel or tuft
are of a pale red tending to a carnation colour consisting of five
somtimes six small leavs very like those of st° johns wort opening
themselvs in the daytime and closing at night after which come seed in
little short husks in form like unto wheat corns the leavs are smal and
somwhat round the root smal and hard perishing every year the whol plant
is of an exceeding bitter tast =

there is another sort in al things like the former save only it beareth
white flowers =

*{place} ..*{=} they grow ordinarily in fields pastures and woods but
that with the white flowers not so frequent as the other =

*{time} ..*{=} they flower in july or there abouts and seed within a
month after =

*{vertues} ..*{=} this herb boyled and drunk purgeth chollerick and
gross humors and helpeth the sciatica it openeth obstructions of the
liver gall and spleen helping the jaundice and easing pains in the sides
and hardness of the spleen used outwardly and is given with very good
effect in agues it helpeth those that have the dropsie or the green
sickness being much used by the italians in pouder for that purpose it
killeth the worms in the belly as is found by experience the decoction
therof viz° the tops of the stalks with the leavs and flowers is good
against the chollick and to bring down womens courses helpeth to avoid
the dead birth and easeth pains of the mother and is very effectual in
al old pains of the joynts as the gout cramps or convulsions a dram of
the pouder therof taken in wine is a wonderful good help against the
biting and poyson of the adder the juyce of the herb with a little honey
put to it is good to cleer the eyes from dimness mists and clouds that
offend or hinder the sight it is singular good both for green and fresh
wounds as also for old ulcers and sores to close up the one and clens
the other and perfectly to cure them both although they be hollow or
fistulous the green herb especially being bruised and laid therto the
decoction therof dropped into the ears clenseth them from worms clenseth
the foul ulcers and spreading scabs of the head and taketh away al
freckles spots and marks in the skin being washed therwith =

*{choller} ..*{.} the herb is so safe you cannot fail in the using of it
only give inwardly for inward diseases use it outwardly for outward
diseases 'tis very wholsom but not very toothsom =

dr° reason and dr° experience could not agree the last time i spake with
them whether the herb were under the dominion of the sun or mars =

i suppose there are few but know this tree for his fruits sake and
therfore shal spare the writing a description therof =

*{place} ..*{=} for the place of its growth it is afforded room in every
orchard =

*{vertues} ..*{=} cherries as they are of different tasts so they are of
divers qualities the sweet pass through the stomach and belly more
speedily but are of little nourishment the tart or sowr are more
pleasing to an hot stomach procuring appetite to meat and help to cut
tough flegm and gross humors but when these are dryed they are more
binding the belly than when they are fresh being cooling in hot diseases
and welcom to the stomach and provoke urin the gum of the cherry tree
dissolved in wine is good for a cold cough and hoarsness of the throat
mendeth the colour in the face sharpneth the eye sight provoketh
appetite and helpeth to break and expel the stone the black cherries
bruised with the stones and distilled the water therof is much used to
break the stone expel gravel and break the wind =

*{appetite} ..*{=} the winter cherry hath a running or creeping root in
the ground of the bigness many times of ones little finger shooting
forth at several joynts ins everal places wherby it quickly spreadeth a
great compass of ground the stalk riseth not above a yard high wheron
are set many broad and long green leavs somwhat like nightshade but
larger at the joynts wherof come forth whitish flowers made of five
leavs apiece which after turn into green berries inclosed with thin
skins which change to be reddish when they grow ripe the berry likewise
being reddish and as large as a cherry wherein are contained many flat
and yellowish seeds lying within the pulp which being gathered and
strung up are kept all the yeer to be used upon occasion =

*{place} ..*{=} they grow not naturally in this land but are cherished
in gardens for their vertues =

*{time} ..*{=} they flower not until the middle or latter end of july
and the fruit is ripe about the end of august or beginning of september
=

*{vertues} ..*{=} they are of great use in physick the leavs being
cooling may be used in inflamations but not opening as the berries and
fruit are which by drawing down the urine provoke it to be avoided
plentifully when it is stopped or grown hot sharp and painful in the
passage it is good also to expel the stone and gravel out of the reins
kidnies and bladder helping to dissolve the stone and avoiding it by
greet or gravel sent forth in the urin it also helpeth much to clens
inward impostumes or ulcers in the reins or bladder or in those that
avoid a bloody or foul urin the distilled water of the fruit or the
leavs together with them or the berries green or dry distilled with a
little milk and drunk morning and evening with a little sugar is
effectual to al the purposes afore specified and especially against the
heat and sharpness of the urin i shal only mention one way amongst many
others which might be used for ordering the berries to be helpful for
the urin and the stone which is thus take three or four good handfuls of
the berries either green and fresh or dried and having bruised them put
them into so many gallons of beer or ale when it is new tunned up this
drink taken daily hath been found to do much good to many both to eas
the pains and expel urin and the stone and to caus the stone not to
ingender the decoction of the berries in wine or water is the most usual
way but the pouder of them taken in drink is more effectual =

*{inflamations} ..*{=} the garden chervil doth at first somwhat resemble
parsly but after it is better grown the leavs are much cut in and jagged
resembling hemlocks being a little hairy and of a whitish green colour
somtimes turning reddish in the summer with the stalks also it riseth
little above half a foot high bearing white flowers in spoked tufts
which turn into long and round seed pointed at the ends and blackish
when they are ripe of a sweet tast but no smel though the herb it self
smelleth reasonable wel the root is smal and long and perisheth every
yeer and must be sowen anew in the spring for seed and after july for
autumn sallet =

the wild chervil growth two or three foot high with yellow stalks and
joynts set with broader and more hairy leavs divided into sundry parts
nicked about the edges and of a darker green colour which likewise grow
reddish with the stalks at the tops wherof stand smal white tufts of
flowers & afterwards smaller and longer seed the root is white hard and
enduring long this hath little or no scent =

*{place} ..*{=} the first is sown in gardens for a sallet herb the
second groweth wild in many of the meadows of this land and by the hedg
sides and on heaths =

*{time} ..*{=} they flower and seed early and thereupon are sown again
in the end of summer =

*{vertues} ..*{=} the garden chervil being eaten doth moderately warm
the stomach and is a certain remedy saith tragus to dissolve congealed
or clotted bloud in the body or that which is clotted by bruises fals
&c° the juyce or distilled water therof being drunk and the bruised
leavs laid to the place being taken either in meat or drink it is held
good to provoke urin to expel the stone in the kidnies to send down
womens courses and to help the plurisie and prickings of the sides =

*{stomach} ..*{.} the wild chervil bruised and applied dissolveth
swellings in any part of the body and taketh away the spots and marks of
congealed blood by bruises or blows in a little space =

*{description} ..*{=} this groweth very like the greater hemlock having
large spread leavs cut into diverse parts but of a fresher green colour
than the hemlock tasting as sweet as the anniseed the stalk riseth up a
yard high or better being crested or hollow having the like leavs at the
joynts but lesser and at the tops of the branched stalks umbels or tufts
of white flowers after which com large and long crested black shining
seed pointed at both ends tasting quick yet sweet and pleasant the root
is great and white growing deep in the ground and spreading sundry long
branches therin in tast and smel stronger than the leavs or seed and
continuing many years =

*{place} ..*{=} this groweth in gardens =

*{vertues} ..*{=} this whol plant besides its pleasantness in sallets
hath also his physical vertues the root boyled and eaten with oyl and
vinegar or without oyl doth much pleas and warm an old and cold stomach
oppressed with wind or flegm or those that have the phtisick or
consumption of the lungs the same drunk with wine is a peservative from
the plague it provoketh womens courses and expelleth the after birth
procureth an appetit to meat and expelleth wind the juyce is good to
heal the ulcers of the head and face the candied roots hereof are held
as effectual as angelica to preserv from infection in the time of a
plague and to warm and comfort a cold weak stomach =

*{cold} ..*{.} it is so harmless you cannot use it amiss =

*{description} ..*{=} this is generally known to most people i shal
therfore not trouble you with the description therof nor my self with
setting fourth the several kinds sith but only two or three are
considerable for their usefulness =

*{place} ..*{=} these are usually found in moist and watry places by
wood sides and els where =

*{time} ..*{=} they flower about june and their seed is ripe in july =

*{vertues} ..*{=} it is found to be as effectual as purslane to al the
purposes whereunto it serveth except for meat only the herb bruised or
the juyce applied with cloaths or spunges dipped therein to the region
of the liver and as they dry to have fresh applied doth wonderfully
temper the heat of the liver and is effectual for all imposthums and
swellings wheresoever for scabs the juyce either simply used or boyled
with hogs greas and applied the same helpeth cramps convulsions and
palsies the juyce or distilled water is of much good use for al heat and
redness in the eyes to drop som therof into them as also into the ears
to ease pains in them and is of good effect to ease the pains the heat
and sharpness of blood in the piles and generally al pains in the body
that arise of heat it is used also in hot and virulent ulcers and sores
in the privy parts of man or woman or on the legs or els where the leavs
boyled with marsh mallows and made into a pultis with fenugreek and
linseed applied to swellings or imposthumes ripeneth and breaketh them
or swageth the swellings and easeth the pains it helpeth the sinews when
they are shrunk by cramps or otherwise and to extend and make them
pliable again by this medicine boyl an handful of chickweed and a
handful of red rose leavs dryed but not distilled in a quart of
muscadine until a fourth part be consumed then put to them a pint of the
oyl of trotters or sheeps feet let them boyl a good while still stirring
them wel which being strained anoint the grieved place herewith warm
against a fire rubbing it wel in with ones hand and bind also some of
the herb if you wil to the place and with gods blessing it will help in
three times dressing =

*{hot} ..*{=} the garden sorts whether red black or white brings forth
stalks a yard long wheron do grow many smal and almost round leavs
dented about the edges set on both sides of a middle rib at the joynts
come forth one or two flowers upon short footstalks peas fashion either
white or whitish or purplish red lighter or deeper according as the peas
that follow will be that are contained in smal thick and short pods
wherin lie one or two peas more usually a little pointed at the lower
end and almost round at the head yet a little corner'd or sharp the root
is smal and perisheth yeerly =

*{place} ..*{=} they are sown in gardens or the fields as peas being
sown later than peas and gathered at the same time with them or
presently after =

*{vertues} ..*{=} they are no less windy than beans but nourish more
they provoke urine and are thought to encreas sperm they have a clensing
faculty wherby they break the stones in the kidneys to drink the cream
of them being boyled in water is the best way it moveth the belly
downwards provoketh womens courses and urin and encreaseth both milk and
seed one ounce of cicers two ounces of french barley and a smal handful
of marsh mallow roots clean washed and cut being boyled in the broth of
a chicken and four ounces taken in the morning and fasting two hours
after is a good medicine for a pain in the side the white cicers are
used more for meat than medicine yet have they the same effect and are
thought more powerful to encrease milk and seed =

*{disury} ..*{.} the wild cicers are so much more powerful than the
garden kinds by how much they exceed them in heat and driness whereby
they do more open obstructions break the stone and have al the
properties of cutting opening digesting and dissolving and this more
speedily and certainly than the former =

*{description} ..*{=} this spreadeth and creepeth far upon the ground
with long slender strings like strawberries which take root again and
shooteth forth many leavs made of five parts and somtimes of seven
dented about the edges and somwhat hard the stalks are slender leaning
downwards and bear many smal yellow flowers theron with some yellow
threds in the middle standing about a smooth green head which when it is
ripe is a little rough and containeth smal brownish seeds the root is of
a blackish brown colour seldom so big as ones little finger but growing
long with some threds therat and by the smal strings it quickly
spreadeth over the ground =

*{place} ..*{=} it groweth by wood sides hedg sides the pathwaies in
fields and in the borders and corners of them almost through all this
land =

*{time} ..*{=} it flowreth in summer some sooner some later =

*{vertues} ..*{=} it is an especial herb used in all inflamations and
feavers whether infectious or pestilential or among other herbs to cool
and temper the blood and humors in the body as also for all lotions
gargles injections and the like for sore mouths ulcers cankers fistulaes
and other corrupt foul or running sores the juyce herof drunk about four
ounces at a time for certain daies together cureth the quinsie and the
yellow jaundice and taken for thirty daies together cureth the falling
sickness the roots boyled in milk and drunk is a most effectual remedy
for all fluxes in man or woman whether the whites or reds as also the
bloody flux the roots boyled in vinegar and the decoction therof held in
the mouth easeth the pains of the toothach the juyce or decoction taken
with a little honey helpeth the hoarsness of the throat and is good for
the cough of the lungs the distilled water of both roots and leavs is
also effectual to all the purposes aforesaid and if the hands be often
washed therin and suffered at every time to dry in of it self without
wiping it wil in short time help the palsy or shaking in them the roots
boyled in vinegar helpeth all knots kernels hard swellings and lumps
growing in any part of the flesh being therto applied as also al
inflamations and st° anthonies fire all imposthumes and painful sores
with heat and putrefaction the shingles also and all other sorts of
running and foul scabs sores and itch the same also boyled in wine and
applied to any joynts full of pain and ach or the gout in the hands or
feet or the hip gout called the sciatica and the decoction therof drunk
the while doth cure them and easeth much pains in the bowels the roots
are likewise effectual to help ruptures or burstings being used with
other things available to that purpose taken either inwardly or
outwardly or both as also for bruises or hurts by blows falls or the
like and to stay the bleeding of wounds in any part inward or outward =

*{inflamation} ..*{.} this is an herb of jupiter and therfore
strengthens the parts of the body that he rules let jupiter be angular
and strong when it is gathered and if you give but a scruple which is
but twenty grains of it at a time either in white wine or white wine
vinegar you shal very seldom miss the cure of an ague be it what ague
soever in three fits as i have often proved to the admiration both of my
self and others let no man despise it becaus it is plain and easie the
waies of god are all such 'tis the ungodliness and impudencey of man
that made things hard and hath by so doing made sport for al the devils
in hell and grieved the good angels and when you reade this your own
genius if you be any thing at al acquainted with it may dictate to you
many as good conclusions both of this and other herbs =

some hold that one leaf cures a quotidian three a tertian and four a
quartan ague and a hundred to one if it be not dioscorides for he is ful
of such whimseys the truth is i never stood so much upon the number of
the leavs nor whether i gave it in pouder or decoction if jupiter were
strong and the moon applying to him or his good aspect at the gathering
of it i never knew it miss the desired effects =

*{description} ..*{=} our ordinary garden clary hath four square stalks
with broad rough wrinkled whitish or hairy green leavs somwhat evenly
cut in on the edges and of a strong sweet sent growing some neer the
ground and some by couples upon the stalks the flowers grow at certain
distances with two smal leavs at the joynts under them somwhat like unto
the flowers of sage but smaller and of a whitish blue colour the seed is
brownish and somwhat flat or not so round as the wild the roots are
blackish and spread not far and perish after the seed time it is usually
sown for it seldom riseth of its own sowing =

*{place} ..*{=} this groweth in gardens =

*{time} ..*{=} it flowereth in june and july some a little later than
others and their seed is ripe in august or therabouts =

*{vertues} ..*{=} the seed is used to be put into the eyes to cleer them
from moats or other such like things gotten within the lids to offend
them as also to clear them from white or red spots in them the muccilage
of the seed made with water and applied to tumors and swellings
disperseth and taketh them away as also draweth forth splinters thorns
or other things gotten into the flesh the leavs used with vinegar either
by it self or with a little honey doth help hot inflamations as also
boyls felons and the hot inflamations that are gathered by their pains
if it be applied before they be grown too great the pouder of the dried
leavs put into the nose provoketh neesing and therby purgeth the head
and brain of much rhewm and corruption the seed or leavs taken in wine
provoketh to venery it is of much use both for men and women that have
weak backs to help to strengthen the reins used either by it self or
with other herbs conducing to the same effect and in tansies often the
fresh leavs dipped in a batter of flower egs and a little milk and fried
in butter and served to the table is not unpleasant to any but exceeding
profitable for those that are troubled with weak backs and the effects
therof the juyce of the herb put into ale or beer and drunk bringeth
down womens courses and expelleth the after birth =

*{eyes} ..*{.} it is an usual cours with men when they have gotten the
running of the reins or women the whites then run to the bush of clary
maid bring hither the frying pan fetch me some butter quickly then to
eating fryed clary just as hogs eat acorns and thus they think wil cure
their disease forsooth wheras when they have devoured as much clary as
wil grow upon an acre of ground their backs are as much the better as
though they had pissed in their shoos nay perhaps much wors =

as for the trick of curing the eyes by it i can as yet say nothing to it
for the rest it may be effectual =

we will grant that clary strengthens the back but this we deny that the
caus of the running of the reins in men or the whites in women lies in
the back though the back may somtimes be weakned by them and therfore
the medicine is as proper as for me when my toe is sore to lay a
plaister to my nose =

*{description} ..*{=} the common cleavers hath divers very rough square
stalks not so big as the tag of a point but rising up to be two or three
yards high somtimes if it meet with any tall bushes or trees wheron it
may climb yet without any claspers or els much lower and lying upon the
ground full of joynts and at every of them shooteth forth a branch
besides the leavs therat which are usually six set in a round compass
like a star or the rowel of a spur from between the leavs at the joynts
towards the tops of the branches come forth very smal white flowers
every one upon a smal threddy footstalk which after they are fallen
there do shew two smal round rough seeds joyned together like two
testicles which when they are ripe grow hard and whitish having a little
hole on the side somewhat like unto a navil both stalks leavs and seeds
are so rough that they wil cleave to any thing shal touch them the root
is small and very threddy spreading much in the ground but dieth every
yeer =

*{place} ..*{=} it groweth by the hedg and ditch sides in many places of
this land and is so troublesom an inhabitant in gardens that it rampeth
upon and is ready to choak what ever grows next it =

*{time} ..*{=} it flowreth in june and july and the seed is ripe and
falleth again in the end of july or august from whence it springeth up
again and not from the old roots =

*{vertues} ..*{=} the juyce of the herb and seed together taken in wine
helpeth those that are bitten with an adder by preserving the heart from
the venom it is familiarly taken in broth to keep them lean and lank
that are apt to grow fat the distilled water drunk twice a day helpeth
the yellow jaundice and the decoction of the herb in experience found to
do the same and stayeth lasks and bloody fluxes the juyce of the leavs
or they a little bruisep and applied to any bleeding wound stayeth the
bleeding the juyce is also very good to close up the lips of green
wounds and the pouder of the dried herb strewed therupon doth the same
and likewise helpeth old ulcers being boyled with hogs greas it healeth
al sorts of hard swellings or kernels in the throat being anointed
therwith the juyce dropped into the ears taketh away the pains of them =

*{venemous} ..*{.} it is a good remedy in the spring eaten being first
chopped smal and boyled well in water gruel to clens the blood and
strengthen the liver thereby keeping the body in health and fitting it
for that change of season that is coming =

*{description} ..*{=} it groweth up somtimes to three or four foot high
but usually about two foot with square green rough stalks but slender
joynted somwhat far asunder and two very long and somwhat narrow dark
green leavs bluntly dented about the edges thereat ending in a long
point the flowers stand toward the tops compassing the stalks at the
joynts with the leavs and end likewise in a spiked top having long and
much open gaping hoods of a purplish red colour with whitish spots in
them standing in somwhat rough husks wherein afterwards stand blackish
round seeds the root is composed of many long strings with some tuberous
long knobs growing among them of a pale yellowish or whitish colour yet
at some times of the year these knobby roots in many places are not seen
in the plant the whol plant smelleth somwhat strongly =

*{place} ..*{=} it groweth in sundry counties of this land both north
and west and frequently by path sides in the fields neer about london
and within three or four miles distance about it yet it usually grows in
or neer ditches =

*{time} ..*{=} it flowreth in june and july and the seed is ripe soon
after =

*{vertues} ..*{=} i is singularly effectual in all fresh and green
wounds and therfore beareth not this name for nought and is very
available in stanching of blood and to dry up the fluxes of humors in
old fretting ulcers cancers &c° that hinder the healing of them =

*{wounds} ..*{.} a syrup made of the juyce of it is inferior to none for
inward wounds ruptures of veins bloody flux vessels broken spitting
pissing or vomiting blood ruptures are excellently and speedily even to
admiration cured by taking now and then a little of the syrup and
applying an oyntment or plaister of the herb to the place also if any
vein be swelled or muscle cut apply a plaister of this herb to it and if
you ad a little comfry to it 'twil not do amiss i assure the herb
deservs commendations though it have gotten but a clownish name and
whoever reades this if he try it as i have done will commend it as well
as i =

i have done only take notice that it is of a dry earthy quality and
under the dominion of the planet saturn =

*{description} ..*{=} this hath divers weak but rough stalks half a yard
long leaning downwards beset with winged leavs longer and more pointed
than those of lentils and whitish underneath from the tops of these
stalks arise up other slender stalks naked without leavs unto the tops
where there grow many smal flowers in manner of a spike of a pale
reddish colour with some blueness among them after which rise up in
their places round rough and somwhat flat heads the root is tough and
somwhat woody yet liveth and shootheth anew every yeer =

*{place} ..*{=} it groweth under hedges and somtimes in the open fields
in divers places of this land =

*{time} ..*{=} they flower all the months of july and august and the
seed ripeneth in the mean while =

*{vertues} ..*{=} it hath a power to rarifie and digest and therfore the
green leavs bruised and laid as a plaister disperseth knots nodes or
kernels in the flesh and if when it is dry it be taken in wine it
helpeth the strangury and being anointed with oyl it provoketh sweat it
is a singular food for cattel to cause them to give store of milk and
why then may it not do the like being boyled in the ordinary drink of
nurses =

*{knots} ..*{.} these are so wel known growing in almost every garden
that i think i may save the expence of time in writing a description of
them =

*{time} ..*{=} they flower in may and abide not for the most part when
june is past perfecting their seed in the mean time =

*{vertues} ..*{=} the leavs of columbines are commonly used in lotions
with good success for sore mouths and throats tragus saith that a dram
of the seed taken in wine with a little saffron openeth obstructions of
the liver and is good for the yellow jaundice if the party after the
taking therof be laid to sweat wel in his bed the seed also taken in
wine causeth a speedy delivery of women in childbirth if one draught
suffice not let her drink a second and it is effectual the spaniards use
to eat a piece of the root hereof in a morning fasting many daies
together to help them being troubled with the stone in the reins or
kidneys =

*{sore} ..*{=} this shooteth up a slender stalk with small yellowish
flowers somwhat early which fall away quickly and after they are past
come up somwhat round leavs somtimes dented a little about the edges
much lesser thicker and greener than those of butterbur with a little
down or freez over the green leaf on the upper side which may be rubbed
away and whitish or mealy underneath the root is smal and white
spreading much underground so that where it taketh it windwardly be
driven away again if any little piece be abiding therin and from thence
springeth fresh leavs =

*{place} ..*{=} it groweth as well in wet grounds as in drier places =

*{time} ..*{=} and flowreth in the end of february the leavs beginning
to appear in march =

*{vertues} ..*{=} the fresh leavs or juyce or a syrup made therof is
good for a hot dry cough for wheesings and shortness of breath the dry
leavs are best for those that have thin rhewms and distillations upon
the lungs causing a cough for which also the dried leavs taken as
tobacco or the root is very good the distilled water herof simply or
with elder flowers and nightshade is a singular remedy against al hot
agues to drink two ounces at a time and apply cloathes wet therein to
the head and stomach which also doth much good being applied to any hot
swellings or inflamations it helpeth st° anthonies fire and burnings and
is singular good to take away wheals and smal pushes that arise through
heat as also the burning heat of the piles or privy parts cloathes wet
therin being therunto applied =

*{cough} ..*{=} the common great comfry hath divers very large and hairy
green leavs lying on the ground so hairy or prickly that if they touch
any tender part of the hands face or body it will caus it to itch the
stalk that riseth up from among them being two or three foot high hollow
and cornered is very hairy also having many such like leavs as grow
below but lesser and lesser up to the top at the joynts of the stalks it
is divided into many branches with some leavs theron and at the ends
stand many flowers in order one about another which are somwhat long and
hollow like the finger of a glove of a pale whitish colour after which
come smal black seed the roots are great and long spreading great thick
branches under ground black on the outside and whitish within short or
easie to break and ful of a glutinous or clammy juyce of little or no
tast at al =

there is another sort in al things like this save only it is somwhat
less and beareth flowers of a pale purple colour =

*{place} ..*{=} they grow by ditches and water sides and in divers
fields that are moist for therin they chiefly delight to grow the first
generally through al the land and the other but in some several places =

by the leave of my author the first grow often in dry places =

*{time} ..*{=} they flower in june and july and give their seed in
august =

*{vertues} ..*{=} the great comfry helpeth those that spit blood or make
a bloody urin the root boyled in water or wine and the decoction drunk
helpeth al inward hurts bruises and wounds and the ulcers of the lungs
causing the flegm that oppresseth them to be easily spit forth it
staieth the defluxions of rhewm from the head upon the lungs the fluxes
of blood or humors by the belly womens immoderate courses as well the
reds as the whites and the running of the reins hapning by what caus
soever a syrup made therof is very effectual for all those inward griefs
and hurts and the distilled water for the same purpose also and for
outward wounds and sores in the fleshy or sinewy part of the body
whersoever as also to take away the fits of agues and to allay the
sharpness of humors a decoction of the leavs herof is available to all
the purposes though not so effectual as of the roots the roots being
outwardly applied helpeth fresh wounds or cuts immediatly being bruised
and laid therunto and is especial good for ruptures and broken bones yea
it is said to be so powerful to consolidate and knit together that if
they be boyled with dissevered pieces of flesh in a pot it will joyn
them together again it is good to be applied to womens breasts that grow
sore by the abundance of milk coming into them as also to repress the
overmuch bleeding of the hemorrhoids to cool the inflamation of the
parts therabouts and to give eas of pains the roots of comfry taken
fresh beaten smal and spread upon leather and laid upon any place
troubled with the gout do presently give eas of the pains and applied in
the same manner giveth eas to pained joynts and profiteth very much from
running and moist ulcers gangrenes mortifications and the like for which
it hath by often experience been found helpful =

*{spitting} ..*{.} this is also an herb of saturn and i suppose under
the sign capricorn cold dry and earthy in quality what was spoken of
clowns woundwort may be said of this =

this is so frequently known to be an inhabitant in almost every garden
that i suppose it needless to write a description therof =

*{time} ..*{=} it flowreth in june and july =

*{vertues} ..*{=} the ordinary costmary as well as maudlin provoketh
urin abundantly and moistneth the hardness of the mother it gently
purgeth choller and flegm extenuating that which is gross and cutting
that which is tough and gluttenous clenseth that which is foul and
hindreth putrefaction and corruption it dissolveth without attraction
openeth obstructions and healeth their evil effect and is a wonderful
help to al sorts of day agues it is astringent to the stomach and
strengtheneth the liver and al the other inward parts and taken in whey
worketh the more effectually taken fasting in the morning it is very
profitable for the pains in the head that are continual and to stay dry
up and consume all thin rhewms or distillations from the head into the
stomach and helpeth much to digest raw humors that are gathered therein
it is very profitable for those that are fallen into a continual evil
disposition of the whol body called cachexia being taken especially in
the beginning of the diseas it is an especial friend and help to evil
weak and cold livers the seed is familiarly given to children for the
worms and so is the infusion of the flowers in white wine given them to
the quantity of two ounces at a time it maketh an excellent salve to
clens and heal old ulcers being boyled with oyl olive and adders tongue
with it and after it is strained to put a little wax rozin and
turpentine to bring it into a convenient body =

*{disury} ..*{=} the common cudweed riseth up but with one stalk somtime
and somtimes with two or three thick set on all sides with small long
and narrow whitish or wooly leavs from the middle of the stalk almost up
to the top with every leaf standeth a smal flower of a dun or brownish
yellow colour or not so yellow as others in which heads after the
flowers are fallen come smal seed wrapped up with the down therin and is
carried away with the wind the root is small and threddy =

there are other sorts hereof which are somwhat lesser than the former
not much different save only that as the stalk and leavs are shorter so
the flowers are paler and more open =

*{place} ..*{=} they grow in dry barren sandy and gravelly grounds in
most places of this land =

*{time} ..*{=} they flower about july some earlier some later and their
seed is ripe in august =

*{vertues} ..*{=} the plants are all stringent or binding and drying and
therfore profitable for defluxions of rhewm from the head and to stay
fluxes of blood whersoever the decoction being made into red wine and
drunk or the pouder taken therin it also helpeth the bloody flux and
easeth the torments that come therby stayeth the immoderate courses of
women and is also good for inward or outward wounds hurts and bruises
and helpeth children both of burstings and the worms and the disease
called tenasmus which is an often provocation to the stool and doing
nothing being either drunk or injected the green leavs bruised and laid
to any green wound staieth the bleeding and healeth it up quickly the
decoction or juyce therof doth the same and helpeth all old and filthy
ulcers quickly the juyce of the herb taken in wine and milk is as pliny
saith a soverign remedy against the mumps and quinsie and further saith
that whosoever shal so take it shal never be troubled with that disease
again =

*{bind} ..*{.} venus is lady of it =

both the wild and garden cowslips are so wel know that i wil neither
trouble my self nor the reader with any description of them =

*{time} ..*{=} they flower in april and may =

*{vertues} ..*{=} the flowers are held to be more effectual than the
leavs and the roots of little use =

an oyntment being made with them taketh away spots and wrinkles of the
skin sunburning and freckles and ads beauty exceedingly they remedy all
infirmities of the head coming of heat and wind as vertigo ephialtes
fals apparitions phrensies falling sickness palsies convulsions cramps
pains in the nerves the roots eas pains in the back and bladder and open
the passages of urine the leavs are good in wounds and the flowers take
away trembling if the flowers be not well dried and kept in a warm place
they wil soon putrifie and look green have a special eye over them if
you let them see the sun once a month it wil do neither the sun nor them
harm =

*{spots} ..*{.} because they strengthen the brain and nerves and remedy
palsies the greeks gave them the name prralisis the flowers preserved or
conserved and the quantity of a nutmeg eaten every morning is a
sufficient dose for inward diseases but for wounds spots wrinkles and
sunburnings an oyntment is made of the leavs and hogs greas =

venus laies claim to the herb as her own and it is under the sign aries
and our city dames know wel enough the oyntment or distilled water of it
ads beauty or at least restores it when it is lost =

*{description} ..*{=} these are of two kinds the first riseth up with a
round stalk about two foot high spread into divers branches whose lower
leavs are somwhat larger than the upper yet all of them cut or torn on
the edges somewhat like unto garden cresses but smaller the flowers are
smal and white growing at the tops of the branches where afterwards grow
husks with smal brownish seed therin very strong and sharp in tast more
than the cresses of the garden the root is long white and woody =

the other hath the lower leavs whol somwhat long and broad not torn at
al but only somwhat deeply dented about the edges towards the ends but
those that grow up higher are lesser the flowers and seed are like the
former and so is the root likewise and both root and seed as sharp as it
=

*{place} ..*{=} these grow by the waysides in untilled places and by the
sides of old walls =

*{time} ..*{=} the flower in the end of june and their seed is ripe in
july =

*{vertues} ..*{=} the leavs but especially the roots taken fresh in the
sumer time beaten & made into a pultis or salve with old hogs greas and
applied to the place pained with the sciatica to continue theron four
hours if it be on a man and two hours on a woman the place afterwards
bathed with wine and oyl mixed together and then wrapped with wool or
skins after they have set a little wil assuredly cure not only the same
diseas in the hips hucklebone or other of the joynts as the gout in the
hands or feet but all other old griefs of the head as inveterate rhewms
and other part of the body that is hard to be cured and if of the former
griefs any part remain the same medicine after twenty daies is to be
applied again the same is also effectual in the diseases of the spleen
and applied to the skin it taketh away the blemishes therof whether they
be scars leprosie scabs or scurf which although it exulcerate the part
yet that is to be helped afterwards with a salve made of oyl and wax =

*{sciatica} ..*{.} esteem of this as another secret =

*{description} ..*{=} our ordinary water cresses spreadeth forth with
many weak hollow sappy stalks shooting out fibres at the joynts and
upwards long winged leavs made of sundry broad sappy and almost round
leavs of a brownish green colour the flowers are many and white standing
on long footstalks after which come small yellow seed contained in smal
long pods like horns the whol plant abideth green in the winter and
tasteth somwhat hot and sharp =

*{place} ..*{=} they grow for the most part in the smal standing waters
yet somtimes in smal rivulets of running water =

*{time} ..*{=} they flower and seed in the beginning of summer =

*{vertues} ..*{=} they are more powerful against the scurvy and to clens
the blood and humors than brooklime is and serve in al the other uses in
which brooklime is available as to break the stone and provoke urin and
womens courses the decoction therof clenseth ulcers by washing them
therwith the leavs brused or the juyce is good to be applied to the face
or other parts troubled with freckles pimples spots or the like at night
and washed away in the morning the juyce mixed with vineger and the
forepart of the head bathed therwith is very good for those that are
dull and drowsie or have the lethargy =

*{scurvy} ..*{.} water cress pottage is a good remedy to clens the blood
in the spring and help head aches and consume the gross humors winter
hath left behind those that would live in health may use it if they
pleas if they will not i cannot help it if any fancy not pottage they
may eat the herb as a sallet =

*{description} ..*{=} the common crosswort groweth up with square hairy
brown stalks little above a foot high having four smal broad and pointed
hairy yet smooth green leavs growing at every joynt each against other
cross waies which hath caused the name toward the tops of the stalks at
the joynts with the leavs in three or four rows upwards stand smal pale
yellow flowers after which come smal blackish round seed four for the
most part set in every husk the root is very smal and full of fibres or
threads taking good hold of the ground and spreading with the branches a
great deal of ground which perisheth not in winter although the leavs
die every year and spring again anew =

*{place} ..*{=} it groweth in many moist grounds as well meadows as
untilled places about london in hamsted church yard at wye in kent and
sundry other places =

*{time} ..*{=} it flowreth from may al the summer long in one place or
other as they are more open to the sun and the seed ripeneth soon after
=

*{vertues} ..*{=} this is a singular good wound herb and is used
inwardly not only to stay bleeding of wounds but to consolidate them as
it doth outwardly any green wounds which it quickly sodereth up and
healeth the decoction of the herb in wine helpeth to expectorate flegm
out of the chest and is good for obstructions in the breast stomach or
bowels and helpeth a decayed appetite it is also good to wash any wound
or sore with to clens and heal it the herb bruised and then boyled and
applied outwardly for certain daies together renewing it often and in
the mean time the decoction of the herb in wine taken inwardly every day
doth certainly cure the rupture in any so as it be not too inveterate
but very speedily if it be fresh and lately taken =

*{wounds} ..*{.} abundance are the sorts of this herb that to describe
them all would tire the patience even of socrates himself but because i
have not yet attained to the spirit of socrates i shall but describe the
most usual =

*{description} ..*{=} the most common crowfoot hath many dark green
leavs cut into divers parts in tast biting & sharp biting & blistering
the tongue it bears many flowers and those of a bright resplendent
yellow colour i do not remember that ever i saw any thing yellower
virgins in ancient time used to make pouder of them to strew bride beds
after which flowers come smal heads of seeds round but tugged like a
pine apple =

*{place} ..*{=} they grow very common every where unless you run your
head into a hedg you cannot chuse but see some of them wherever you walk
=

*{time} ..*{=} they flower in may and june even till september =

*{names} ..*{=} this fiery and hot spirited herb of mars is no way fit
to be given inwardly but an oyntment of the leavs or flowers wil draw a
blister and may so be fitting applied to the nape of the neck to draw
back rhewm from the eyes the herb being bruised and mixed with a little
mustard draws a blister as well and as perfectly as cantharides and with
far less danger to the vessels of urin which cantharides naturally
delight to wrong i knew the herb once applied to a pestilential rising
that was falling down and it saved life even beyond hope it were good
keeping an oyntment and plaister of it if it were but for that =

this shooteth forth three four or five leavs at the most from one root
every one wherof is somwhat large and long broad at the bottom next the
stalk and forked but ending in a point without cut on the edges of a ful
green colour each standing upon a thick round stalk of a hands breadth
long or more among which after two or three months that they begin to
wither riseth up a bare round whitish green stalk spotted and straked
with purple somwhat higher than the leavs at the top wherof standeth a
long hollow hose or husk close at the bottom but open from the middle
upwards ending in a point in the middle whereof standeth a smal long
pestle or clapper smaller at the bottom than at the top of a dark purple
colour as the husk is on the inside though green without which after it
hath so abidden for some time the husk with the clapper decayeth and the
foot or bottom therof groweth to be a smal long bunch of berries green
at the first and of a yellowish red colour when they are ripe of the
bigness of an hazel nut kernel which abide theron almost until winter
the root is round and somwhat long for the most part lying along the
leavs shooting forth at the bigger end which when it beareth his berries
is somwhat wrinkled and loos another being growing under it which is
solid and firm with many smal threads hanging therat the whol plant is
of a very sharp biting tast pricking the tongue as nettles do the hands
and so abideth for a great while without alteration the root hereof was
anciently used instead of starch to starch linnen withal =

there is another sort of cockowpint with lesser leavs than the former
and somwhat harder having blackish spots upon them which for the most
part abide longer green in summer than the former and both leavs and
roots are more sharp and fierce than it in al things els it is like the
former =

*{place} ..*{=} these two sorts grow frequently almost under every hedg
side in many places of this land =

*{time} ..*{=} they shoot forth leavs in the spring and continue but
until the middle of summer or somwhat later their husks appearing before
they fall away and their fruit shewing in august =

*{vertues} ..*{=} tragus reporteth that a dram weight or more if need be
of the spotted wake robin either fresh and green or dried being beaten
and taken is a most present and pure remedy for poyson and the plague
the juyce of the herb taken to the quantity of a spoonful hath the same
effect but if there be a little vinegar added therunto as well as unto
the root aforesaid it somwhat allayeth the sharp biting tast therof upon
the tongue the green leavs bruised and laid upon any boyl or plague sore
doth wonderfully help to draw forth the poyson a dram of the pouder of
the dried root taken with twice so much sugar in the form of a licking
electuary or the green root doth wonderfuly help those that are pursie
and short winded as also those that have a cough it breaketh digesteth
and riddeth away flegm from the stomach chest and lungs the milk wherin
the root hath been boyled is effectual also for the same purpose the
said pouder taken in wine or other drink or the juyce of the berries or
the pouder of them or the wine wherein they have been boyled provoketh
urine and bringeth down womens courses and purgeth them effectually
after child bearing to bring away the after birth taken with sheeps milk
it healeth the inward ulcers of the bowels the distilled water herof is
effectual to all the purposes aforesaid a spoonful taken at a time
healeth the itch and an ounce or more taken at a time for some daies
together doth help the rupture the leavs either green or dry or the
juyce of them doth clens all manner of rotten and filthy ulcers in what
part of the body soever and healeth the stinking sores in the nose
called polipus the water wherin the root hath been boyled dropped into
the eyes clenseth them from any film or skin clouds or mists which begin
to hinder the sight and helpeth the watering or redness of them or when
by some chance they become black and blue the root mixed with bean
flower and applied to the throat or jaws that are inflamed helpeth them
the juyce of the berries boyled in oyl of roses or beaten into pouder
and mixed with the oyl and dropped into the ears and easeth pains in
them the berries or the roots beaten with hot ox dung and applied easeth
the pains of the gout the leavs and roots boyled in wine with a little
oyl and applied to the piles or the falling down of the fundament easeth
them and so doth sitting over the hot fumes therof the fresh roots
bruised and distilled with a little milk yieldeth a most sovereign water
to clens the skin from scurff freckles spots or blemishes whatsoever
therin =

*{poyson} ..*{.} authors have left large commendation of this herb you
see but for my part i have neither spoken with dr° reason nor dr°
experience about it =

these are so wel known to almost every child that i suppose it
altogether needless to write any description of them take therfore the
vertues of them as followeth =

*{vertues} ..*{=} the greater wild daisie is a wound herb of good
respect often used in those drinks or salvs that are for wounds either
inward or outwards the juyce or distilled water of these or the smal
daisies doth much temper the heat of choller and refresheth the liver
and other inward parts a decoction made of them and drunk helpeth to
cure the wounds made in the hollowness of the breast the same also
cureth al ulcers and pustles in the mouth or tongue or in the secret
parts the leavs bruised and applied to the cods or to any other parts
that are swollen and hot doth resolve it and temper the head a decoction
made hereof with walwort and agrimony and the places fomented or bathed
therwith warm giveth great eas to them that are troubled with the palsy
sciatica or the gout the same also disperseth and dissolveth the knots
or kernels that grow in the flesh of any part of the body and the
bruises and hurts that come of fals and blows they are also used for
ruptures and other inward burnings with very good success an oyntment
made hereof doth wonderfully help al wounds that have inflamations about
them or by reason of moist humors having access unto them are kept long
from healing and such are those for the most part that happen in the
joynts of the arms or legs the juyce of them dropped into the running
eyes of any doth much help them =

*{wounds} ..*{.} the herb is under the sign cancer and under the
dominion of venus and therfore excellent good for wounds in the breast
and very fitting to be kept both in oyls oyntments and plaisters as also
in syrup =

*{description} ..*{=} this is wel known to have many long and deeply
gashed leavs lying on the ground round about the head of the root the
ends of each gash or jag on both sides looking downwards towards the
root the middle rib being white which broken yieldeth abundance of
bitter milk but the root much more from among the leavs which alwaies
abide green arise many slender weak naked footstalks every one of them
bearing at the top one large yellow flower consisting of many rows of
yellow leavs broad at the points and nicked in with a deep spot of
yellow in the middle which growing ripe the green husk wherin the flower
stood turneth it self down to the stalk and the head of down becometh as
round as a ball with long reddish seed underneath bearing a part of the
down on the head of every one which together is blown away with the wind
or may be at once blown away with ones mouth the root growth downwards
exceeding deep which being broken off within the ground wil
notwithstanding shoot forth again and wil hardly be destroyed where it
hath once taken deep root in the ground =

*{place} ..*{=} it groweth frequent in al meadows and pasture grounds =

*{time} ..*{=} it flowreth in one place or other almost all the yeer
long =

*{vertues} ..*{=} it is of an opening and clensing quality and therfore
very effectual for the obstructions of the liver gall and spleen and the
diseases that arise from them as the jaundice & hypocondriacal passion
it wonderfully openeth the passages of the urin both in yong and old it
powerfully clenseth aposthumes and inward in the uritory passages and by
the drying and temperate quality doth afterwards heal them for which
purpose the decoction of the roots or leavs in white wine or the leavs
chopped as potherbs with a few allisanders and boyled in their broth is
very effectual and whoso is drawing towards a consumption or an il
disposition of the whol body called cachexia by the use herof for some
time together shal find a wonderful help it helpeth also to procure rest
and sleep to bodies distempered by the heat of ague fits or otherwise
the distilled water is effectual to drink in pestilential feavers and to
wash the sores =

*{openeth} ..*{.} you see here what vertues this common herb hath and
that's the reason you french and dutch so often eat them in the spring
and now if you look a little further you may see plainly wthout a pair
of spectakles that forraign physitians are not so selfish as ours are
but more communicative of the vertues of plants to people =

*{description} ..*{=} this hath all the winter long sundry long fat and
rough leavs which when the stalk riseth which is slender and joynted are
narrower but rough stil on the top groweth a long spike composed of many
heads set one above another containing two or three husks with sharp but
short beards or awns at the ends the seed is easily shaked out of the
ear the husk it self being somwhat tough =

*{place} ..*{=} the country husbandmen do know this too well to grow
among their corn or in the borders and pathwaies of other fields that
are fallow =

*{vertues} ..*{=} as this is not without some vices so hath it also many
vertues the meal of darnel is very good to stay gangreans and other such
like fretting and eating cankers and putrid sores it also clenseth the
skin of al lepries morphews ringworms and the like if it be used with
salt and rhadish roots and being used with quick brimstone and vinegar
it dissolveth knots and kernels and breaketh those that are hard to be
dissolved being boyled in wine with pidgeons dung and linseed a
decoction therof made with water and honey and the place bathed therwith
is profitable for the sciatica darnel meal applied in a poltis draweth
forth splinters and broken bones in the flesh the red darnel boyled in
red wine and taken stayeth the lask and all other fluxes and womens
bloody issues and restraineth urin that passeth away too suddenly =

*{gangreans} ..*{=} the common dill groweth up with seldom more than one
stalk neither so high nor so great usually as fennel being round and
with fewer joynts theron whose leavs are sadder and somwhat long and so
like fennel that it deceiveth many but harder in handling and somwhat
thicker and of a stronger unpleasanter set the tops of the stalks have
four branches and smaller umbels of yellow flowers which turn into smal
seed somwhat flatter and thinner than fennel seed the root is small and
woody perishing every year after it hath born seed and is also
unprofitable being never put to any use =

*{place} ..*{=} it is most usually sown in gardens and grounds for the
purpose & is also found wild with us in some places =

*{vertues} ..*{=} the dill being boyled and drunk is good to eas
swellings & pains it also stayeth the belly and stomach from casting the
decoction thereof helpeth women that are troubled with the pains and
windiness of the mother if they fit therin it stayeth the hiccough being
boyled in wine and but smelled unto being tied in a cloth the seed is of
more use than the leavs and more effectual to digest raw and viscuous
humors and is used in medicines that serve to expel wind and the pains
proceeding therfrom the seed being toasted or fried and used in oyls or
plaisters dissolveth the imposthumes in the fundament and drieth up all
moist ulcers especially in the secret parts the oyl made of dill is
effectual to warm to resolve humors and imposthumes to eas pains and to
procure rest =

*{swellings} ..*{.} the decoction of dill be it herb or seed only if you
boyl the seed you must bruis it in white wine being drunk is a gallant
expeller of wind and provoker of the terms =

*{description} ..*{=} this riseth up with a round green smooth stalk
about two foot high set with divers long and somwhat narrow smooth dark
green leavs somwhat snip'd about the edges for the most part being els
al whol and not divided at al or but very seldom even to the tops of the
branches which yet are smaller than those below with one rib only in the
middle at the end of each branch standeth a round head of many flowers
set together in the same manner or more neatly than the scabious and of
a more blewish purple colour which being past there followeth seed that
falleth away the root is somehat thick but short and blackish with may
strings abiding after seed time many yeers this root was longer untill
the devil as the fryars say bit away the rest of it for spight envying
its usefulness unto man kind for sure he was not troubled with any
disease for which it is proper =

*{a} ..*{.} there are two other sorts hereof in nothing unlike the
former save that the one beareth white and the other blush colour'd
flowers =

*{place} ..*{=} the first groweth as well in dry meadows and fields as
moist in many places of this land but the other two are more rare and
hard to meet with yet they are both found growing wild about appledore
neer rye in kent =

*{time} ..*{=} they flower not usually untill august =

*{vertues} ..*{=} the herb or root all that the devil hath left of it
being boyled in wine and drunk is very powerful against the plague and
all pestilential diseases or feavers poysons also and the bitings of
venemous beasts it also helpeth those that are inwardly bruised by any
casualty ar outwardly by falls or blows dissolving the clotted blood and
the herb or root beaten and outwardly applied taketh away the black and
blue marks that remain in the skin the decoction of the herb with honey
of roses put therin is very effectual to help the inveterate tumors and
swellings of the almonds and throat by often gargling the mouth therwith
it helpeth also to procure womens courses and easeth all pains of the
mother and to break and discuss winds therein and in the bowels the
pouder of the root taken in drink driveth forth the worms in the body
the juyce or distilled water of the herb is effectual for green wounds
or old sores and clenseth the body inwardly and the seed outwardly from
sores scurff itches pimples freekles morphew or other deformities therof
but especially if a little vitriol be dissolved therin =

*{pestilence} ..*{.} these are so wel known many kinds of them that i
shall not trouble you with a description of them my book grows big too
fast =

*{vertues} ..*{=} all of them have a kind of cooling but not all alike
drying quality the sorrels being most cold and the bloodworts most
drying of the bur dock i have spoken already by himself the seed of most
of the other kinds whether of the garden or field do stay lasks or
fluxes of all sorts the loathings of the stomach through choller and is
helpful to those that spit blood the roots boyled in vinegar helpeth the
itch scabs and breakings out of the skin if it be bathed therwith the
distilled water of the herb and roots hath the same vertue and clensth
the skin of freckles morphews and all other spots and discolourings
therin =

*{flux} ..*{.} all docks being boyled with meat make it boyled the
sooner besides bloodwort is exceeding strengthning to the liver and
procures good blood being as wholsom a pot herb as any grows in a garden
yet such is the nicity of our times forsooth that women will not put it
in the pot becaus it makes the pottage black pride and ignorance a
couple of monsters in the creation preferring nicity before health =

*{description} ..*{=} this first from seeds giveth roots in the ground
which shooteth forth threads or strings grosser or finer as the property
of the plant wherein it groweth and the climate doth suffer creeping and
spreading on that plant wheron it fastneth be it high or low these
strings have no leavs at all upon them but wind and interlace themselves
so thick upon a smal plant that it taketh away all comfort of the sun
from it and is ready to choke or strangle it after these strings are
risen up to that height that they may draw nourishment from the plant
they seem to be broken off from the ground either by the strength of
ther rising or withered by the heat of the sun upon these strings are
found clusters of small heads or husks out of which start forth whitish
flowers which afterwads give smal pale colour'd seed somwhat flat and
twice as big as poppy seed it generally participates of the nature of
that plant which it climbeth upon but the dodder of time is accounted
the best and is the only true epithimum =

*{vertues} ..*{=} this is accounted the most effectual for melanchollick
diseases and to purge black or burnt choller which is the caus of many
diseases of the head and brains as also for the trembling of the heart
faintings and swounings it is helpful in all diseases and griefs of the
spleen and of that melancholly that ariseth from the windiness of the
hypochondria it purgeth also the reins or kidneys by urin it openeth
obstructions of the gall wherby it profiteth them that have the jaundice
as also of the liver and spleen purging the veins of chollerick and
flegmatick humors and helpeth childrens agues a little wormfeed being
put therto =

the other dodders do as i said before participate of the nature of those
plants whereon they grow as that which hath been found growing upon
nettles in the west country hath by experience been found very effectual
to procure plenty of urin where it hath been stopped or hindred and so
of the rest =

*{melancholy} ..*{.} all dodders are under saturn tell not me of
physitians crying up epithimum or that dodder which grows upon time most
of which comes from hymettus in greece or hybla in sicilia becaus those
mountains abound with time he is a physitian indeed that hath wit enough
to chuse his dodder according to nature of the diseas and humor peccant
we confess time is the hottest herb it usually grows upon and therfore
that which grows upon time is hotter than that which grows upon colder
herbs for it draws nourishment from what it grows upon as well as from
the earth where its root is and thus you see old saturn is wise enough
to have two strings to his bow =

sympathy and antipathy are the two hinges upon which the whol moddel of
physick turns and that physitian which minds them not is like a door off
from the hooks more likely to do a man a mischief than to secure him
then all the diseases saturn causeth this helps by sympathy &
strengthens al the parts of the body he rules such as caused by sol it
helps by antipathy what those diseases are see my judgment of diseases
by astrology and you be pleased to look the herb wormwood you shal find
a rational way for it =

*{description} ..*{=} it is well known that this grass creepeth far
about under ground with long white joynted roots and smal fibres almost
at every joynt very sweet in tast as the rest of the herb is and
interlacing one another from whence shoot forth many fair long grassy
leavs small at the ends and cutting or sharp on the edges the stalks are
joynted like corn with the like leavs on them and a long spiked head
with long husks on them and hard rough seed in them =

*{place} ..*{=} it groweth commonly through