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CHAP. XXVI.
Of Parsley.
PArsley craueth no great labour, but loueth a stonie and sandie ground, for which cause it is called Parsley: againe, it craueth not anie store of manure; wherefore it will be good to sow it vnder Arbors. It desireth aboue all things to be well watred: and if it so fall out, as that it be sowne or planted neere vnto anie Fountaine or Riuer, it groweth verie faire, and in great quantitie. And if anie be desirous that it should haue large leaues, hee must put into a faire Linnen Cloth so much seed as he can hold in his three fingers, and so cast it amongst the stones in the ground: or else he must put in a Goats trottle a quan∣titie of Parsley seed, and so set or sow it. And he that will haue it curled, must bruise the seed with a pestle of Willow, to the end that the huske may breake and fall off, and afterward wrap it in a Linnen Cloth, and so put it in the ground. Otherwise, without thus much to doe, it may be made to curle howsoeuer it be sowne, if you draw a Rowler vpon it so soone as it beginneth to grow. It is a good time to sow it from mid May vntill the Sunne be risen to his highest point in the Heauens, for it somewhat craueth the heat. The seed thereof that is but a yeare old, is nothing worth: for looke how much elder the seed is, by so much it is the better, and endu∣reth a long time vnsowne: in such sort, as that it will not be needfull to sow or plant it of fiue yeares; although, when it is sowne, it groweth not vnder the space of threescore daies. Notwithstanding, to cause it to grow, and put more speedily out of the earth, it behoueth that the seed be steeped in vineger some certaine time, and after sowne in a well toyled ground, and filled or mixed with one halfe of the ashes of Beane stalkes: and after it is sowne, it must be oft watered, and sleightly, with a little Aqua vitae: and by and by after the watering, to lay aloft it a piece of Cloth, that the heat thereof may not be spent, and breath away, and by this meanes it will grow vp within a few houres: and then you must take off the Cloth coue∣ring it, and water it oft, and by this meanes it will haue both a high stalke and great leaues.
A Cataplasme made of the leaues of Parsley, with the crummes of White bread, doth heale a Tettar or Ringworme, doth resolue the swellings of the Breasts, and maketh Women that are brought in bed to loose their Milke. The iuice of Parsley, drawne ••ut with vineger, and mixt with a little salt, helpeth Women that are in tra∣uell to be deliuered. The often vse of Parsley taketh away the stinking of the breath, especially from such as haue drunke much Wine, or eaten Garlicke: And therefore such as vse to keepe companie much, and haue an ill breath, must not goe vnproui∣ded of good store of fresh Parsley to chew or hold in their mouthes. The decoction of the roots or leaues of Parsley, helpeth downe Womens termes, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Vrine, casteth out Grauell contained in the Vrinarie vessels, taketh away the paine of the Colicke and of the Reines, applyed in manner of a fomentation vpon the pained parts: It serueth also for the obstructions of the Liuer; but better for such as are flegmaticke, than for the cholericke, or those that are of sanguine complexion. The leaues of Parsley cast vpon the water of Fish-ponds, doe recreate and reioyce the sicke and diseased Fish.