St. Peters-wort.
Name.
IF Superstition had not been the Father of Tradition, as well as Ignorance the Mo∣ther of Devotion, this Herb as well as St. Johns wort had found some other name to be known by; but we may say of our Fore-fa∣thers as St. Paul of the Athenians, I perceive that in many things you are too Superstitious: Yet seing it is come to that pass, that Custom having gotten possession pleads Prescription for the name, I shall let it pass, and come to the Description of the Herb, which take as followeth.
Description.
It riseth up with square upright Stalks for the most part, somwhat greater and higher than St. Johns wort (and good reason too, St. Peter being the greater Apostle (ask the Pope else) for though God would have the Saints equal, the Pope is of another Opinion) but brown in the same mannor, having two Leavs at every Joynt, somwhat like, but larger than St. Johns wort, and a little rounder pointed with few or no Holes to be seen therein, and having somtimes some smaller Leavs rising from the Bosom of the greater, and somtimes a little hairy also: At the tops of the Stalks stand many Starlike Flowers, with yellow threds in the middle very like those of St. Johns wort, insomuch that this is hardly dis∣cerned from it but only by the largeness of height, the Seed being also alike in both. The Root abideth long sending forth new shoots e∣very yeer.
Place.
It groweth in many Groves and small low Woods, in divers places of this Land, as in Kent, Huntington, Cambridg, and Nothamp∣ton shires, as also neer water Courses in other places.
Time.
It Flowreth in June and July, and the Seed is ripe in August.
Vertues and Use.
It is of the same property with St. Johns wort, but somwhat weak, and therefore more seldom used. Two drams of the Seed taken at a time in Honeyed water, purgeth Chollerick Humors* 1.1 (as saith Dioscorides, Pliny, and Ga∣len) and thereby helpeth those that are trou∣bled with the Sciatica: The Leavs are used as St. Johns wort, to help those places of the Body that have been burnt with Fire.
There is not a straw to chuse between this and St. Johns wort, only St. Peter must have it, lest he should lack Pot-herbs.