Vertues and Use.
It provoketh Urine and Womens Courses,* 1.1 being taken either in Meat or Drink. The Seed thereof taken in Wine, is an Antidote a∣gainst all dangerous Medicines or deadly Poy∣sons. The Leavs taken either by themselves, or with Figs and Walnuts is called Metbri∣dates his Counter poyson, against the Plague and causeth all Venemous things to become harmless: Being often taken in Meat or Drink it abateth Venery, and destroyeth the ability to beger Children. A Decoction made there∣of with some dried Dill Leavs and Flowers, easeth all pains and torments inwardly to be drunk, and outwardly to be applied warm to the place grieved. The same being drunk helpeth the pains both of the Chest and Sides, as also Coughs, hardness of breathing, the Inflmations of the Lungs, and the tor∣menting pains of the Sciatica, and the Joynts, being anointed or laid to the places, as also the shaking Fits of Agues, to take a draught before the Fit come: Being boyled or infused in Oyl it is good to help the wind Chollick, the hardness or windiness of the Mother, and fre∣eth women from the strangling or suffocation thereof, if the Share and the Parts thereabouts be anointed therewith: It killeth and driveth forth the Worms of the Belly, if it be drunk after it is boyled in Wine to the half with a little Honey: It helpeth the Gout or pains in the Joynts of Hands, Feet, or Knees applied thereunto: and with Figs it helpeth the Dropsie being bathed therewith: being brui∣sed and put into the Nostrils it staieth the Bleeding thereof. It helpeth the swelling of the Cods it they be bathed with a Decoction of Rue and Bay Leaves. It taketh away Wheals and Pimples if being bruised with a few Mirtle Leavs, if it be made up with Wax, and applied: It cureth the Morphew* 1.2 and ta∣keth away all sorts of Warts, if boyled in Wine with some Pepper and Nitre and the places rubbed therewith: and with Allum and Honey, helpeth the dry Scab or any Tetter or Ringworm: The Juyce thereof warmed in a Pemegranate Shel or Rind, and dropped into the Ears helpeth the pains of them. The Juyce of it and Fennel with a little Honey, and the Gall of a Cock put thereto, helpeth the dim∣ness of the Eyelight. An Oyntment made of the Juyce therof with Oyl of Roses, Ceruss, and a little Vinegar, and anointed cureth St. Anthonies Fire, and all foul running Sores in the Head; and the stinking Ulcers of the Nose, or other parts. The Antidote used by Methridate•• every morning fasting to secure himself from any Poyson or Infection, was this. Take twenty Leavs of Rue, a little Salt, a couple of Walnuts, and a couple of Figs bea∣ten together into a Mass with twenty Juniper Berries, which is the quantity appointed for every day. Another Electuary is made thus; Take of Nitre, Pepper, and Cummin Seed, of each equal Parts, of the Leaves of Rue clean picked, as much in weight as all the other three weighed, beat them well together, and put to as much Honey as will make it up into an Electuary; (but you must first steep your Cummin seed in Vinegar twenty four hours, and then dry it, or rather toast it in a hot Fire∣shovel, or in an Oven) and it is a Remedy for the pains or griefs of the Chest or Stomach, of the Spleen, Belly or Sides, by Wind or Stit∣ches; of the Liver by Obstructions, of the Reins and Bladder by the stopping of Urine, and helpeth also to extenuate fat corpulent Bo∣dies.
What an Infamy is cast upon the Ashes of Methridates (or Methradates, as the Augu∣stanes read his name) by unworthy people; they that deserve no good report themselves, love to give non•• to others, Viz. That that renowned King of Pontus fortified his Body by Poyson against Poyson (He cast out Devils by Beelzebub the Prince of Devils) what a sot is he that knows not if he had accustomed his Body to cold Poysons hot Poysons would have dispatch'd him, or the contrary if not, corro∣sions would have done it, the whol world is at this very time beholding to him for his Stu∣dies in Physick, and he that useth the quan∣tity of but a Hazel Nut of that Recept every morning, to which his name is adjoyned shall to admiration preserve his Body in health, if he do but consider that Rue is an Herb of the Sun and under Leo, and gather it and the rest accordingly.