¶ The Vertues.
Golden Rod prouoketh vrine, wasteth away the stones in the kidnies, and expelleth them, and [ A] withall bringeth downe tough and raw flegmatick humors sticking in the vrine vessels, which now and then do hinder the comming away of the stones, and causeth the grauell or sand which is brit∣tle to be gathered together into one stone. And therefore Arnoldus Villanouanus by good reason hath commended it against the stone and paine of the kidnies.
It is of the number of those plants that serue for wound-drinks, and is reported that it can fully [ B] performe all those things that Saracens Consound can; and in my practise shall be placed in the formost ranke.
Arnoldus writeth, That the distilled water drunke with wine for some few dayes together, wor∣keth [ C] the same effect, that is, for the stone and grauell in the kidnies.
It is extolled aboue all other herbes for the stopping of bloud in sanguinolent vlcers and blee∣ding [ D] wounds; and hath in times past beene had in greater estimation and regard than in these dayes: for in my remembrance I haue knowne the dry herbe which came from beyond the sea sold in Bucklers Bury in London for halfe a crowne an ounce. But since it was found in Hampstead wood, euen as it were at our townes end, no man will giue halfe a crowne for an hundred weight of it: which plainly setteth forth our inconstancie and sudden mutabilitie, esteeming no longer of any thing, how pretious soeuer it be, than whilest it is strange and rare. This verifieth our Eng∣lish prouerbe, Far fetcht and deare bought is best for Ladies. Yet it may be more truely said of phantasticall Physitions, who when they haue found an approued medicine and perfect 〈◊〉〈◊〉 neere home against any disease; yet not content therewith, they wil seeke for a new farther off, and by that meanes many times hurt more than they helpe. Thus much I haue spoken to bring these new fangled 〈◊〉〈◊〉 backe againe to esteeme better of this admirable plant than they haue done, which no 〈◊〉〈◊〉 hath the same vertue now that then it had, although it growes so neere our owne homes in neuer so great quantitie.