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.

Here followeth a note of the temperature and vertue of those those things that I haue written of before, and commended vnto you to be powerfull & medicinable, and fit to be vsed in phisicke: for the amending and curing of such infirmities and diseases as doe belong vnto all Hawkes.

[ Temperature.] ALoes that is to say the iuice which is vsed in phi∣sicke is moderately hot, and that in the first de∣gree: but drie in the third: extreame bitter, yet without biting: It is also of an emplasticke or clammie quallity; and something binding. [ Vertue.] Aloes, is of the number of those medicines which are purging, and it purgeth such excrements as be in the stomacke, the first veines and the nearest passages, for his purging force passeth not farre beyond the stomacke, and it purgeth more effectually if it be not washed: but if it be washed it strengthens the sto∣macke the more: Also it is an enemy to all manner of pu∣trifaction, and defendeth the body from corruption.

Rubarbe.

[ Temperature.] Rubarbe is hot and drie in the second degree, and is of a substance and temperature partly binding and drying, and partly thin hot and purging.

[ Vertue.] Rubarbe is abstersiue and purging, and doth chiefly re∣spect the diseases of the liuer, and place of kidneis, ope∣ning the obstructions thereof, and is good also for all gri∣pings, and inward gnawing of the guts, the infusion ther∣of in some distilled water, is more to be commended, and rather to be vsed then the substance: because the substance leaues a binding qualitie behind it.

Rubarbe though it be of nature hot; yet it may be ve∣ry safely giuen in those diseases of the liuer, which pro∣ceede

from heat as well as those which proceede from cold.

[ Temperature.] Agricke is hot in the first degree, and drie in the se∣cond; it cutteth, maketh thin, clenseth and taketh away obstructions and stoppings.

[ Vertue.] Agricke is abstersiue and purging, it is good for the op∣pilations of the liuer and Kidneis, for the shortnes of the breath, phisicke, and decaying of the longs, it purgeth from the stomacke grosse and tuffe humors, and killeth wormes, you may giue it in this manner, infuse it in white wine with a slice or two of ginger of the whitest, and draw your Hawkes meat thorow it and feed withall: you may also giue it in powder, and it is very good: you may also infuse it in faire running water, and so vse it when you haue need, or in any of your former coole waters.

Rewe.

[ Temperature.] Rew is hot and drie in the latter end of the third de∣gree, it is of thin and subtle parts, it wasteth and consu∣meth wind, it cutteth and digesteth grosse and tuffe hu∣mours.

[ Vertue.] Rew is good for the gripings in the body, paines in the stomacke, difficulty of breathing, shortnes of breath which proceeds of cold, and it is a good remedy for the stopping of the longes.

Saffron.

[ Temperature.] Saffron is hot in the second degree, and drie in the first, it is a little a stringen••, or binding, and yet it hath a certaine force to concoct.

[ Vertue.] Saffron strengtheneth the heart, concocteth crude

or rawe humours of the stomacke, it openeth the lungs, and remoueth obstructions, or stoppings.

Myrre.

[ Temperature and Vertue.] Myrre is hot and drie in the second degree, it is the gumme of a tree that groweth in Arabia, it is abstersiue and exsiccatiue, it killeth wormes, it is good for the sto∣macke, and resisteth putrifaction, this is to be giuen in powder.

Musterd seed.

[ Temperature.] Musterd-seed, is hot and drie in the fourth degree, it healeth, maketh thinne, and draweth forth.

[ Vertue.] Musterd-seed purgeth the head, helpes digestion, warmes the stomacke, prouoKes appetite, and is good for all shortnesse of winde and stoppings in the stomacke with tuffe fleam that falles from the head and braine and preuailes much against all cold causes of the body.

Wormewood.

[ Temperature.] Worm-wood is hot in the second degree, and drie in the third, it is of a nature loosening, cleansing and com∣forting.

[ Vertue.] Worme-wood purgeth humours from the stomack, and therefore it is good to be giuen after a surfet; for it doth mightily refresh the stomack and bowels, after large feeding it killeth the wormes in the bowels, and resisteth putrefaction.

Cloues.

[ Temperature.] Cloues are hot and drie in the third degree.

[ Vertue.] Cloues strengthen the stomacke, the liuer and heart. and helpes digestion, it is to be giuen in powder.

Liuer-woort.

[ Temperature.] Liuer-woort, is of a temper colde and drie, and some∣thing binding.

[ Vertue.] The water of this hearbe is to be vsed, and is a singu∣lar remedie against all diseases of the liuer that proceede of heat, for it dooth mightily coole all inflammation of the same.

Sorrell.

[ Vertue.] [ Temperatur] Sorrell is moderately cold and drie: the distilled wa∣ter of this hearbe of the Iuice is to be vsed, it is specially good for all heate in the stomacke, it moues appetite to meate, and tempers the heate of the liuer, and opens the stoppings of the same.

Mintes.

[ Temperature.] Mintes is hot and drie in the third degree.

[ Vertue.] The distilled water of this hearbe is to be vsed, it is speciall good to strengthen a weake stomacke, drieth vp all superfluous humours gathered in the same, and is a speciall remedie for the casting of the gorge.

Borage and Buglosse.

[ Temperature.] Borage and buglosse are of temperature a like, moiste in the first degree, and in a meane betwixt hot and cold.

[ Vertue.] The destilled water of these hearbes are to be vsed, and are especially good for all infirmities of the heart, and doth quicken and reuiue the spirits.

Harts tongue.

[ Temperature.] Harts tounge is of temperature colde, and drie in the second degree, it is of a binding and drying facultie.

[ Vertue.] The distilled water thereof is to be vsed, it doth open the hardnes and stoppings of the liuer, and is good for all griefes proceeding of oppilations or stoppings whatso∣euer.

Rosemarie.

[ Temperature.] Rosemary is hot and drie in the second degree, and is of an astringent or binding qualitie.

[ Vertue.] Rosemary is to bee giuen either in powder, or in the distilled water, the powder thereof mingled with butter is speciall good for the stuffing of the head that proceedes from colde, the distilled water is good for all infirmities in the head that proceedes also of colde.

Sage.

[ Temperature.] Sage is hot and drie in the beginning of the third de∣gree.

[ Vertue.] Sage is good for the head and braine, quickneth the fences, strengtheneth the sinewes, taketh away shaking or trembling of the members, & being put into the nostrils deaweth downe slime and fleame out of the head, it is al∣so good to bee put into losiens for the canker in the mouth or throate.

Hoarehound.

[ Temperature.] Hoarehound is hot in the second degree, and drie in the third, [ Vertue.] it openeth the liuer, cleanseth the stomack and lights,* 1.1 and is speciall good for all stoppings in those pla∣ces, and against all shortnesse and difficultie of breathing.

Hony suckle or Woodbine.

[ Temperature.] Honiesuckels are of nature hot, and doe attenuate, or make thinne.

[ Vertue.] The flowers thereof boiled in oyle, are good for anie numming that comes of colde, the decoction of the leaues with honie and allum are speciall good for all sores and cankers in the mouth and throate, the distilled water of this, and also of horehound is much cooling and very good to giue vnto any hot and drie Hawke.

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.

Hearbe Angel: or the Angelicall, or Angelike hearbe.

Angelica is another excellent thing, and as it is affir∣med by diuers learned writers that the properties and vertue thereof is much like vnto the other, and that if the one be lacking, the other may be taken. The learned men of Germanie write thus of it, that if anie man, or o∣ther thing bee sodainly taken with poison, or other euill aire of infection. Let the powder of the roote mingled with some of the distilled water be giuen inwardly, and it presently helpeth. Also the powder of the roote being giuen with the distilled water of Cardus Benedictus is of the like vertue, and will cleanse the body of any poisoned infection newly taken.

They say also that the leaues of Angelica beaten with the leaues of Rue and hony will cure the bitings of mad dogges, or any other venemous thing, also with all some of the water wherein the roote and leaues of Angeli∣ca is boiled must be taken, or giuen into the body of either Hawke, or whatsoeuer it be that shall haue the like misfortune. ({inverted ⁂})

Notes

• * 1.1

  The distilled water is to be vsed.