Of Centory.
CEntaurium is of two sortes / the one is called Centaurium magnum / and it is called of the Potecaries Raponticum / and in Englishe Ra¦pontike. It groweth onelye in gardines: I ne¦uer sawe it / sauing onelye in Italye and Ger∣manye. The seconde kinde is called in Latin Centaurium minus / in English Centorye / in Duche Tausent gulden / in French Fel terre. Great Centaury / otherwise called Raponti∣cum / hath leaues lyke vnto a Walnut tre / som¦thing longe / of the grene color of cole / inden∣ted roūd about / it hath a stalk like vnto a dock ij. or iij. cubits of height in ye top / of ye which are hedes like vnto poppy / roūd & long. Page 118 The floure is blewe / the sede is lyke wilde saffrone / wrapped in certayn floc∣kes lyke wolle / the roote is thycke / heauy and sounde / of thre fote longe / and full of iuyce / byting with a certeine astriction / and some swetenes / the color of it is red. There growe manye bastard stalkes out of the roote / besyde the principal stalke. Centaurum minus / that is the lesse Centaury / which is oure common Centory in Englande / is an herbe lyke vnto Organe / or wild Ma∣rierum / or saint Iohns wurte. It hath a stalke full of corners a spanne longe and more / with a floure lyke vnto rose Campion / that is to witt crymesyne / turninge toward purple. The leaues are lyke rewe / long / and small: ye fruyte of it is lyke vnto wheate. The roote is very small / smoth / and of no valewe / but it is bitter.
The Vertues and Properties of rewe Pontike.
THE roote helpeth burstinges and drawynges together / those that are sycke in the pleuresye / and them that are shortwinded / the olde cough / and them that spitt bloode without an agewe with wine / if they haue an agewe / if it be taken with water in the quantite of two drammes / so that it be brosed and gyuen to the pacient. So lyke∣wyse doth it helpe the gnawynge and payne of the mo∣ther. It prouoketh also weomens sycknes / and dryueth furth the chylde / if it be put into the secret place of conception / and the iuyce doth the same / it healeth woundes well if the herbe be grene and brosed / or if it be drye / and then steped and brosed. It bindeth together and healeth vp woundes / the fleshe will growe together if it be sodden and brosed wyth this same herbe. Plinye writeth that this herbe is good for the diseases of shepe.
The Vertues of Centory.
THE herbe brused when it is grene / if it be layd vnto woundes / it doth ioyne them together agayne / it scoureth olde sores / and couereth them with skinne / it dryueth out choler and grosse hu∣mours thorow the bellye / if it be sodden and dronken. The broth that it is sodden in / is good to poure in agaynst them that haue the sciatica / for it draweth the blood / and easeth the payne. The iuyce is verye good for to put in the medicines for the eyes / for with honye it purgeth awaye the darcknes of the eyes / The same layd in with wolle in∣to the naturall place / bringeth doune weomens syckenes. The iuyce dron∣ken / healeth properlye the diseases of the synewes. Centorye is good for the stoppinge of the milte and the lyuer / for the colyke it killeth wormes / and he¦leth the ake of the mother / some do wryte also / that it doth let the spittinge of bloode / It is also good to laye wythoute vpon a harde milte / to make it softe agayne.
