Lathams falconry or The faulcons lure, and cure in two bookes. The first, concerning the ordering and training vp of all hawkes in generall; especially the haggard faulcon gentle. The second, teaching approued medicines for the cure of all diseases in them. Gathered by long practice and experience, and published for the delight of noble mindes, and instruction of young faulconers in things pertaining to this princely art. By Symon Latham. Gent.

Cardus Benedictus.

Cardus Benedictus, that is to say, the blessed thistle: which for the operation and vertue that God hath giuen vnto it, may well be so called; the properties whereof haue beene diligently and carefully gathered out of the Hearbals of diuers and sundry learned writers.

This hearbe being very small and finely minced, or shred, mingled with sweet butter and sugercandie, and now and then giuen in a morning vnto your Hawke in a pellet, or pellets; freeth the head of dizines, and purgeth the same and whole body of all colde infirmities.

The powder thereof also now and then giuen in the same manner, or cleanly conuayed into a bit of meate, preuenteth the same, or driueth it away when it is gotten

Also, it helpeth the weakenesse of the stomacke and causeth a good appetite to meate, it doth ripe and digest tough slime or glut that commeth of cold, and bringeth vp that which is in the pannell, scowring the same of all grosse humors, and causeth to fetch breath more easily: it is a speciall thing to preuent the infection that com∣meth, or is taken from one Hawke vnto another: or after it hath ceased or is entered into her body: if sodainely the

powder be giuen and often while shee is strong, it will ex∣pell the poison from the very heart: It preserueth the li∣uer, lungs, and all other inward parts of the body: The di∣stilled water thereof hath the same effects, and wasteth and consumeth all euil humors, and preserueth those that be good: and it is speciall good to giue vnto any Hawke immediatelie after a blow or bruse.

You may giue this herbe any of these waies, and shall haue good proofe of their vertues: First in the greene leaues: secondly in the powder: thirdly in the iuice: and fourthly in the distilled water: and also in the licker wher∣in the herbe is boiled: For the most part the vertue that is in the one, is in them all: so that in diuers diseases for the which the herbe is medicinable: for the lacke of the one, you may vse the other, and all are speciall preseruatiues almost against, all inward and outward diseases, Also you must vnderstand that the powder, and water of the herbe is most to be regarded, and especially the water: for they may be longest kept and preserued, so that you may haue them alwaies in a readinesse to vse as need shall require: when as you cannot haue the iuice or the greene leaues: and the water which is free from bitternesse, may be gi∣uen with meat by it selfe alone, for the stomacke and tast will beare it, and like of it as well as of any other sweet water,

As touching the quantitie of it, you neede not be so carefull as of other things that doe purge strongly; for in them there is great danger of death in giuing too much, otherwise no good done in vsing too little: but in this hearbe it is not so, you may vse your owne discretion with reasonable iudgement and cannot doe amisse: And thus much of this hearbe called Cardus Benedictus, the which is so speciall and powerfull, that it is meete for eue∣ry

man to haue it alwaies by them in a readinesse to vse on any occasion for which it serueth, and also not to think it sufficient to giue it once but to vse it often times to∣gether.