As for Broom, it serueth also very well to make halters and cords of. The floures please bees [unspec G] passing well. I am in doubt and not able to say, whether this Genista or Broome, be that which the antient Greek writers called Sparton; for I haue shewed, that they vsed therof to make their fishing nets: and I wot not well whether Homer meant it, when he said, that the ship-sparts were vntwisted and loose. For this is certain, that neither the spart of Africk, ne yet the Spanish spart was as yet in any vse: and at what time as barges and vessels were sowed together with seams, it is wel known, that the stitches were made with linnen thred, & not with spart. The seed that it beareth, which the Greeks giue one and the same name to, growing within smal cods in maner of Phaseols, is as strong a purgatiue [of Melancholy] as Ellebore; if it be taken when one is fa∣sting to the weight of a dram and halfe, in four cyaths of honied water: the branches & leaues (such as they be) of Genista or Broome, being stamped after they haue lien infused in vineger, [unspec H] yeeld a certain juice singular good for the Sciatica, if it be drunk to the quantity of one cyath. Some chuse rather to steep it in sea-water, and to draw forth the juice, and so minister it with a clyster for the said purpose. The said juice incorporat with oile, serueth for an ointment also to be applied outwardly for the Sciatica. Some vse the seed for the strangury. The substance of Broom stamped with swines grease, helpeth the ach or pain in the knees.
To come now to Tamarisk, which the Greeks call Myrice, Lenaeus affirmeth, That it is vsed in maner of the Amerian willow for beesomes: and more than so, that if it bee sodden in wine, stamped and reduced into a liniment with hony, it healeth cankerous vlcers: and in very truth, some hold, That the Myrice and Tamariske be both one. But doubtlesse, singular it is for the spleen in case the patient drink the iuice pressed out of it in wine. And by report, there is that [unspec I] wonderfull antipathy and contrariety in Nature betweene Tamariske and this one part alone of all the other bowels, that if the troughs out of which swine drinke their swil, be made of this wood, they wil be found when they are opened, altogether without a spleen. And therfore some Physitians do prescribe vnto a man or woman also diseased in the spleen, and subject to the opi∣lations therof, both to drinke out of cups or cans of Tamarisk, and also to eat their meat out of such treen dishes as be made of that wood. One renowned writer aboue the rest, and for know∣ledge in great credit and author it among Physitians, hath affirmed and auouched constantly, That a twig of Tamarisk slipped or broken from the plant, so as it touched neither the ground, nor any yron toole, assuageth all belly ache, in case the patient weare it about him so, as that his girdle and coat hold it fast and close to the body. The common people cal it The vnlucky tree, [unspec K] as I haue heretofore said, because it beares no fruit, & is neuer with vs set or planted. In Corinth and all the territory or region round about, they name it Brya, and make two kinds thereof; to wit, the wilde, which is altogether barren, and that which is of a more tame and gentle nature. This Tamarisk in Egypt and Syria beareth in great plenty a certain fruit, in substance hard and wooddy, in quantity bigger than the gal-nut, of an vnpleasant and harsh tast; which the Physiti∣ans do vse in stead of the Gal-nut, and put into those compositions which they name Antheras. Howbeit, the very wood of this plant, the floure, leaues, and barke also, be vsed to the same pur∣pose, although they be not so strong in operation as the said fruit. The rind or barke beaten to pouder, is giuen with good successe to them that cast vp bloud: also to women who haue a great shift of their fleurs: likewise to such as be troubled with a continual flux, occasioned by the im∣becility [unspec L] of the stomack. The same bruised and applied as a cataplasme, represseth and smiteth backe all impostumations a breeding. The juice pressed out of the leaues, is good for the same infirmities: moreouer, they vse to boil the leaues in wine, for the same intent. But of themselues alone being brought into a liniment with some hony among, they are good to be applied vnto gangrenes. The foresaid decoction of the leaues beeing drunke in wine, or the leaues applied with oyle of Roses and wax, mitigat the said gangrenes, namely, when the flesh tendeth to mor∣tification. And in this manner they cure the night-foes or chilblanes. Their decoction is whol∣some for the paine of teeth or eares: for which purpose serueth the root likewise and the leaues. Ouer and besides, the leaues haue this property, That if they be brought into the form of a ca∣taplasme with barly groats and so applied, they keep down and restrain corrosiue vlcers. The [unspec M] seed if it be taken to the weight of a dram in drinke, is a preseruatiue and counterpoison against spiders, and namely those called Phalangia. And if the same be incorporat with the tallow or grease of any fatlings or beasts, kept vp in stall, stie, or mow, into a liniment, it is singular good for any vncome or fellon. Of great efficacy it is also against the sting of all serpents, except