Batman vppon Bartholome his booke De proprietatibus rerum, newly corrected, enlarged and amended: with such additions as are requisite, vnto euery seuerall booke: taken foorth of the most approued authors, the like heretofore not translated in English. Profitable for all estates, as well for the benefite of the mind as the bodie. 1582.

Of an Almond Tree. Chap. 3.

AN Almond trée is called Amigdalus, and is a trée that blometh timely. And the Tree is called Hec Amigdalus, and the fruit is called Hic Amigdalus. And so one sayth in this manner. Sunt matu∣ra mora, pira, ficus, amigdala mora.

That is to say, Beries, Peares, Figges, and Almonds be soone ripe: But in some place of holy writ, Hec Amigdala, le, is taken for the fruit. Num. 17. For (as S. Hierome sayth) The lawe and the Go∣spell may not be subiect to the rules of Grammer. And as Isid. sayth, li. 17. A∣migdala is Gréeke, and is to say, a long Nut And some call it Nucida, as it were the lesse not. Therefore Virgil speaketh in this maner, when many nuts in woods be closed with blossome. This Tree blo∣meth first of all trees, and beareth fruite before other Trees. Hue vsque Isido∣rus, in libr. de Plantis. Aristotle sayeth, that Almond Trees need much tilling, and namely when they be olde. And if they be beared with nailes, Cum com∣meth out of them, and humour is pured in the pith y^t is y^e matter of fruit. There∣fore if they be well tilled, Almonds trees beare more fruit, when they be old, then when they be young. And an Almonde Tree beareth double fruite, sweete, and bitter, as it is said in Plat.

Swéete Almonds be good to meate, and bitter Almonds to medicine, for they bee hot and dry.* 1.1 And Dioscorides saith that the swéete Almond helpeth the stomack if it be eaten new with the skinne, but it grieueth y^e head, & norisheth dimnes, & kindleth the seruice of Venus, and brée∣deth sléepe, and latteth dronkennesse. Also he saith there, that if a Foxe eateth Al∣monds, he shall dye.* 1.2 Ofte y^e thing that is wholesome and good for men, is poy∣son to other beasts, and againward. Also he saith, that nigh all the trée that bea∣reth bitter Almonds is medicinable: for the roote thereof sod and brayed, clean∣seth the face and doth awaye speckles, & abateth head ach if it be layd to the for∣head, and cleanseth, and helpeth rotted wounds, if it be medled with honie. Also the barke and leaues cleanseth and hea∣leth: and oyle of Almonds slaieth long wormes in the wombe, and exciteth and purgeth menstruall bloud, and helpeth effectually against deafenesse, and clean∣seth and purgeth matter of y^e eares, if it be luke hot dropped therein, as Diosco. saith. Also floures thereof sod in oyle, a∣waketh them that haue the Litargie, the sléeping euill, and the floures therof brai∣ed with honny, healeth biting of hounds and botches. Gumme of Almonde trées,* 1.3 mingled with a drinke, helpeth him that casteth bloud, and so little or nought is in the Almond trée, that accordeth not to medicine, as Diosc. saith.

(* 1.4The eating of sixe or eight bitter Almonds fasting, is sayd to staye a man frō dronkennesse that day. Dodoneus.)

Notes

• * 1.1

  Hot and drye.
• * 1.2

  Almonds doth kill the Foxe.
• * 1.3

  The gum of the Al∣mond.
• * 1.4

  Additiō.