Rams little Dodeon [sic] A briefe epitome of the new herbal, or histoy of plants. Wherein is contayned the disposition and true declaration of the phisike helpes of all sortes of herbes and plants, vnder their names and operations, not onely of those which are here in this our Countrey of England growing but of all others also of other realmes, countreyes and nations vsed in phisike: Collected out of the most exquisite newe herball, or history of plants, first set forth in the Dutch or Almayne tongue, by ... D. Reinbert Dodeon, ... and lately translated into English by Henry Lyte, ... and now collected and abridged by William Ram, Gent. Pandit oliua suos Ramos.

Obseruations in March.

Here I cut my Vine spring.

STill haue regard what foode you take,

For now in man bréede humors great,

The learned of your counsaile make,

Before you bléede, bathe, purge, or sweate.

Such victuals March requireth,

As are both light and pure,

Bloud letting somewhat profiteth,

And medicines some what cure.

Eate pleasant and well spiced meates.

Refraine sharpe meates.

Drinke pleasant and the strongest wines.

Oft times eate Léeke pottage.

To bathe often profiteth much.

Take no potion to purge or bléede by beine.

Eate often Penny-royal, to heate y^e stomack, & to make dige∣stiō: in sallets eate Bittony, to cleanse the sight, & to amēd y^e head.

• Vse Graines, and such like spices, profitable this time in drinkes or meates.
• Vse Ginger, and such like spices, profitable this time in drinkes or meates.
• Vse Nutmegs, and such like spices, profitable this time in drinkes or meates.
• Vse Galingale, and such like spices, profitable this time in drinkes or meates.
• Vse Pepper, and such like spices, profitable this time in drinkes or meates.
• Sow Cabage, Lettice, & Bazell, & Artichocks, in y^e old Moone.
• Sow Cucumers, & Saffron, & Cardus in y^e old Moone.
• Sow Cardus benedict. & Harts-horne, & Chickwéed, in y^e old Moone.
• Sow Samphire, & Harts-ease. & Burnet, in y^e old Moone.
• Sow Gilliflowres, & Walflowres, & Isop, sauory in y^e old Moone.
• Sow Reddish, and Margeram, In the new Moone.
• Sow Pumpions, and Violets, In the new Moone.
• Sow Sauell, and Time, In the new Moone.
• Sow Corsāder, Borage, and Marigolds, In the new Moone.
• Sow Purcelan, and White popie, In the new Moone.

Sowe Cabage coles, Onions, and Léekes, in the wane.

• Sowe Beetes, and White Cicory, In the ful Moone.
• Sowe Parcely, and White Cicory, In the ful Moone.
• Sowe Fenell, and White Cicory, In the ful Moone.
• Sowe Lettice, at all seasons.
• Sowe Reddish, at all seasons.
• Sowe Spynage, at all seasons.

In the new Moone graffe any good fruit, respecting the wind: plant Quicksets, so that the weather be not too drie.

Set Vines and prune them, set Hops and Willowes, and cut Quickset hedges.

In the waine, set Pease and Beanes, and sowe Onions, Parceneps, Otes, and Field pease.

Good huswiues are now knowne by their gardens.

I néede not to tell that it is now good to set and sow all herbs, except Bazell and Margeram, and such like.

In y^e end of this month set Cucumers, Melons, & Artichocks.

Sow Barley in moyst and cold ground.

Grose féeding bréedeth euill bloud and grosse humors.

Vse meates of good digestion, and such as bréede good iuyce.

It is good to purge in warme and milde weather.

Now it is good to enter into the diet of Ginacom.

Swéete meates and drinkes are now holsome.

March sayd to Auarill, I see three hogges vpon a hill: Wilt thou lend me dayes three, Ize do my good will to make them die. When three dayes were come and gone, The three hogges came hopping home. A showre in March, The third in Auarill, A nother in May, The third in Auarill, The fourth about the Lammastide, When Corne beginnes to fill, Is wel yworth a plough of gold, And all that longs theretill. I. D.