¶ The Vertues.
Dioscorides saith that if Basil be much eaten, it dulleth the sight, it mollifieth the belly, breedeth [ A] winde, prouoketh vrine, drieth vp milke, and is of a hard digestion.
The iuice mixed with fine meale of parched Barly, oile of roses and Vineger, is good against in∣flammations, [ B] and the stinging of venomous beasts.
The iuice drunke in wine of Chios or strong Sacke, is good against head ache. [ C]
The iuice clenseth away the dimmenesse of the eyes, and drieth vp the humour that falleth into [ D] them.
The seede drunke is a remedie for melancholicke people; for those that are short winded, and [ E] them that can hardly make water.
If the same be snift vp in the nose, it causeth often neesing: also the herbe it selfe doth the same. [ F]
There be that shunne Basill and will not eat thereof, because that if it be chewed and laid in the [ G] Sun, it ingendreth wormes.
They of Africke do also affirme, that they who are stung of the Scorpion and haue eaten of it, [ H] shall feele no paine at all.
The Later writers, among whom Simeon Zethy is one, doe teach, that the smell of Basill is good [ I] for the heart and for the head. That the seede cureth the infirmities of the heart, taketh away sor∣rowfulnesse which commeth of melancholy, and maketh a man merry and glad.