A nievve herball, or historie of plantes wherin is contayned the vvhole discourse and perfect description of all sortes of herbes and plantes: their diuers [and] sundry kindes: their straunge figures, fashions, and shapes: their names, natures, operations, and vertues: and that not onely of those whiche are here growyng in this our countrie of Englande, but of all others also of forrayne realmes, commonly vsed in physicke. First set foorth in the Doutche or Almaigne tongue, by that learned D. Rembert Dodoens, physition to the Emperour: and nowe first translated out of French into English, by Henry Lyte Esquyer.

Of the kyndes of Mynte. Chap. lxxiiij.

❀ The Kindes.

THe Mynte is diuers, aswell in proportion, as in his manner of growing: whereof some be garden Myntes, and some be wilde Myntes. The gar∣den Myntes are of foure sortes, that is to say, Curlde Mynte, Crispe Mynte, Spere Mynte, and Harte Mynte.

The wilde Mynte is of two sortes, that is, the Horse Mynte, and the Wa∣ter Mynte.

❧ The Description.

[ 1] THE firste kinde of garden Myntes hath fouresquare, browne redde, and hearie stemmes, with leaues almost rounde, snipte, or dented rounde about, of a darke greene colour, and of fauour very good and pleasant. The floures are Crymsin or reddishe, and do grow in knops about the stalke lyke whorles, or like the floures of Pennyroyall. The roote hath threddie stringes, and creepeth alongst the ground, & putteth foorth yong shootes or springs yearely.

[ 2] The second kind is very like vnto the first, in his round, swarte, and sweete sauouring leaues, also in his square stemmes, and the creeping rootes in the grounde, but his floures growe not in knoppes or whorles rounde aboute the stemmes, but at the toppe of the stalkes lyke to a small spike or busshie eare.

[ 3] The thirde kinde hath long narrow leaues, almost like wythie leaues, but they be greater, whiter, softer and hearie. The floures grow at the top of the stalkes like spikie eares, as in the second kinde. The roote is tender with thred∣dishe strings, and springeth foorth in diuers places, like to the others.

[ 4] The fourth kinde is like to the abouesayde in his leaues, stalkes, and roote, but that his floures are not fasshioned like spykie eares growing at the toppes of the stalkes, but they compasse & grow round about the stalkes like whorles, or garlandes, like to the Curled, or Crispe Mynte.

[ 5] The fifth kinde of Mynte, whiche is the first of the wilde kindes, and called Horse Mynte, hath square woollie stemmes, and his leaues be somwhat long, wrincled & soft, and couered or ouerlayde with a fine downe, or soft cotton, both

[illustration]

Menta satiua prima. Curlde Mynte.

[illustration]

Menta satiua secunda. Crispe Mynte, or Crispe Balme.

[illustration]

Menta satiua tertia. Spere Mynte, or right garden Mynte.

ouer and vnder. The floures grow at the toppe of the stalkes in spikie tuftes. The roote is tender with threddes or sucking strings.

[ 6] The second wilde kinde, whiche is the sixth in number of the Myntes, and called water Mynte, is much like vnto y^e Curlde Mynte, in his stalkes, leaues, and creeping rootes, sauing that his leaues & stalkes be greater, & of stronger sauour. The floures be purple growing at the top of the stalkes in small tuftes or knoppes like round bullets.

❀ The Place.

[ 1] The garden Myntes are founde in this countrie in gardens, especially the Curlde Mynte, the which is most common and best knowen.

[ 2] The wilde kindes do growe in lowe, moyst places as neare vnto springs, and on the brinkes of ditches.

❧ The Tyme.

All the sortes of Myntes do floure most commonly in August.

❀ The Names.

The garden Mynte is called in Greeke 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉: in Latine and in Shoppes Mentha: in Spanish Yerua Ortelana, yerua buena: in English Myntes: in French Mente: in high Douch Munte.

[ 1] The first kind is called in high Douch Deyment, and Kraunszdyment, that is to say, Curlde Mynte: in French Mente crespue: in base Almaigne Bruyn hey∣lighe.

[ 2] The second is also called of the high Douchmen Krausmuntz, and Krausz∣balsam, y^t is to say, in French Baulme crespu: in English Crispe Baulme, or Crispe Mynte: also Crosse Mynte: in base Almaigne Cruysmunte, and of some also Heylighe.

[ 3] The third kinde is called at this time in y^e Shoppes of this countrey Menta Sarracenica, & Menta Romana: in English Spere Mynte, or the cōmon garden Mynte: also of some Baulme Mynte: in French du Baulme, and Mente Romayne: in high Douch Balsam Muntz, vnser frauwen Muntz, Spitz muntz, Spitz∣balsam: in base Almaigne Roomsche munte, and Balsem munte.

[illustration]

Menta satiua quarta. Harte Mynte.

[illustration]

Mentastrum. Horse Mynte.

[illustration]

Sisymbrium. Water Mynte.

[ 4] The fourth kinde is called in high Douch Hertzkraut, that is to say Harte wurte, or Harte Mynte: in French Herbe de cueur: of the later wryters in Latine Menta Romana angustifolia, Flore coronata, siue Cardiaca Mentha.

[ 5] The fifth wilde kinde, which is the fifth kinde of Mynte, is called in Greeke 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉: in Latine Mentastrum, and of the newe writers Menta aqua∣tica: in English Horse Mynte: in French Mente Cheualine ou sauuage: in high Douche Katzenbalsam, Roszmuntz, wilder Balsam, wild Muntz: in base Al∣maigne Witte water Munte.

[ 6] The seconde wilde kynde whiche is the sixthe Mynte, is called in Greeke 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, in Latine Sisymbrium, and of Damegeron Scimbron, as Constan∣tine the Emperour witnesseth: in English Fisshe Mynte, Brooke Mynte, Wa∣ter Mynte, and white water Mynte: in French Mente Aquatique: in high Douch Fischmuntz, Wassermuntz: in base Almaigne Roo munte, and Roo wa∣ter munte.

❀ The Nature.

All the kindes of Myntes, whiles they are greene, are hoate and dry in the second degree: but dried they are hoate in the thirde degree, especially the wild kindes, whiche are hoater then the garden Myntes.

❀ The Vertues.

[ A] Garden Mynte taken in meate or drinke, is very good and profitable for the stomacke, for it warmeth and strengtheneth the same, and drieth vp all su∣perfluous humors gathered in the same, it appeaseth and cureth all the paynes of the stomacke, and causeth good digestion.

[ B] Two or three branches of Myntes, dronken with the iuyce of soure Pome∣granets do swage and appease the Hicquet or yeoxe, and vomiting, and it cu∣reth the cholerique Passion, otherwise called the felonie, that is whan one doth vomit continually, and hath a laske withall.

[ C] The iuyce of Myntes drōken with vineger, stayeth the vomiting of bloud, and killeth the rounde wormes.

[ D] The same boyled in water and drōken by the space of three dayes togither, cureth the gryping payne and knawing in the belly, with the colique, and stop∣peth the inordinate course of the menstruall issue.

[ E] Mynte boyled in wine and dronken, easeth women which are tomuch grie∣ued with harde and perillous trauell in childebaring.

[ F] Mynte mengled with parched Barley meale, and layde vnto tumors and sweuings doth wast and consume them. Also the same layde to the forehead, cu∣reth headache.

[ G] It is very good to be applied vnto the breastes that are stretched foorth and swollen and full of milke, for it slaketh and softeneth the same, and keepeth the mylke from quarring, and crudding in the brest.

[ H] The same being very well pounde with Salte, is a speciall medicine to be applied vpon the biting of madde Dogges.

[ I] The iuyce of Mynte mengled with honied water, cureth the payne of the eares being dropped therein, and taketh away the asperitie, and roughnesse of the tongue, whan it is rubbed or wasshed therewith.

[ K] The sauour or sent of Mynte, reioyceth man: wherefore they sow & strow the wilde Mynte in this countrie in places whereas feastes are kepte, and in Churches.

[ 5] [ L] The Horse Mynte called Mentastrum, hath not bene vsed of the Auncients in medicine.

[ 6] [ M] The water Mynte is diuers wayes of the lyke operation vnto the garden Mynte, it cureth the trenches or gryping payne in the small of the bellie or bowels, it stayeth the yeoxe or hicket and vomyting, and appeaseth headache to be vsed for the same purpose as the garden Mynte.

[ N] It is also singuler against the grauell and stone of the kydneys, and against the strangury, whiche is whan one cannot pisse but droppe after droppe, to be boyled in wine and dronke.

[ O] They lay is with good successe vnto the stingings of Bees and Waspes.