Vertues and use.
The Leavs of Peaches bruised and laid on the Belly killeth Worms; and so they do also being boyled in Ale and drunk, and open the Belly likewise; and being dried is a safe Me∣dicine to discuss Humors.* 1.1 The Pouder of them strewed upon fresh bleeding Wounds, stayeth their bleeding and closeth them up. The Flowers steeped all night in a little Wine standing warm, strained forth in the morning and drunk fasting, doth gently open the Belly and move it downwards: A Syrup made of them as the Syrup of Roses is made, worketh more forcibly than that of Roses, for it pro∣voketh Vomiting, and spendeth waterish and Hydropick Humors by the continuance there∣of. The Flowers made into a Conserve wor∣keth the same effect. The Liquor that drop∣peth from the Tree being wounded, is given in the Decoction of Coltsfoot, to those that are troubled with the Cough or shortness of breath, * 1.2 by adding thereto some sweet Wine; and putting some Saffron also therein, it is good for those that are hoarce or have lost their voice, helpeth all defects of the Lungs, and those that vomit or spit blood. Two drams thereof given in the Juyce of Lemmons or of Radish, is good for those that are trou∣bled with the Stone. The Kernels of the Stones do wonderfully eas the pains and wrin∣gings of the Belly through wind or sharp Hu∣mors, and help to make an excellent Medicine for the Stone upon all occasions, on this man∣ner! Take fifty Kernels of Peach Stones, and one hundred of the Kernels of Cherry Stones, a handful of Eldor Flowers, fresh or dried, and three pints of Muscadine, set them in a closed pot into a bed of Horse dung for ten daies, which after distill in Glass with a gentle fire, and keep it for your use; you may drink upon occasion three or four ounces at a time. The Milk or Cream of these Kernels being drawn forth with some Vervain Water, and applied to the Forehead and Temples, doth much help to procure rest and sleep to sick persons wan∣ting it.* 1.3 The Oyl drawn from the Kernels, the Temples being therewith anointed doth the like: The said Oyl put into Clysters ea∣seth the pains of the wind Chollick, and a∣nointed on the lower part of the Belly doth the like, and dropped into the Ears* 1.4 caseth the pains of them: The Juyce of the Leavs doth the like: being also anointed on the Forhead and Temples, it helpeth the Megrim and all other pains in the Head. If the Kernels be bruised and boyled in Vinegar until they be∣come thick, and applied to the Head, it mer∣veilously procure the Hair to grow again up∣on bald places or where it is too thin.* 1.5
Lady Venus owns this Tree, and by it op∣poseth the ill effects of Mars, and indeed for Children and yong people, nothing is better to purge Choller, and the Jaundice, than the Leavs and Flowers of this Tree, being made into a Syrup or Conserve, let such as delight to please their lust regard the Fruit, but such as love their health and their Childrens, let them regard what I say, they may safely give two spoonfuls of the Syrup at a time, 'tis as gentle as Venus her self.