A medicinal dispensatory, containing the vvhole body of physick discovering the natures, properties, and vertues of vegetables, minerals, & animals: the manner of compounding medicaments, and the way to administer them. Methodically digested in five books of philosophical and pharmaceutical institutions; three books of physical materials galenical and chymical. Together with a most perfect and absolute pharmacopoea or apothecaries shop. Accommodated with three useful tables. Composed by the illustrious Renodæus, chief physician to the monarch of France; and now Englished and revised, by Richard Tomlinson of London, apothecary.

SECTION IV. Of Indigenous Calefactives.

The Preface.

WE have many hot Plants which will not grow in forreign Coun∣tryes, of which we intend to speak distinctly in this fourth Se∣ction. And they are such as either grow spontaneously in the Fields, or by culture in Gardens. Wherein we shall observe this method, first, touch upon those that are hottest, then such as are hotter; and lastly, those that are moderately hot; all which we shall run over with brevity; yet not so, but that their qualities may be distinctly known. And there∣fore we shall begin with such as have a fiery kinde of quality; as,

CHAP. I. Of Bartram, or Pellitory.

BArtram, or Pyrethrum, is so called from that igneous quality which its chewed root leaves in the gustative organ; the Vulgar call it Alexander's foot; the Latines, from the abundance of spittle it causes in the mouth, call it Herba salinaris.

It is an herb of a cubits height, or more; in its caul and leaves emulating the wild Daucus, or vulgar Carret, are multifariously divided, and sected into small capillaments, like Fen∣nel; its flower that erupts out of the summities of its surcles, is fair, broad, and patulous, like a Marigold, but larger, subluteous in its orb, and circumdated with little angust, long leaves, supernally whitish, and on the contrary fide of a purple colour, in the middle of its orb, and between the leaves issues a small, long, and odorate seed.

Its root is crass, long, and of a blackish red colour.

It grows in many places of Italy and Spain, and fruticates, flou∣rishes and perfects its seed when it is sown in Gardens in Holland: but it grows more copiously and floridly in hot and Eastern Re∣gions; and we enumerate it amongst our indigenous Plants, be∣cause we have it in Europe and the Western Countryes-pretty plen∣tifull.

There is another Plant, which by its acrimonious odour moves sternutation, which Apothecaries call wild Pyrethrum, because by its vellicative sapour it moves the gust like Bartram, and promotes spittle; which grows in mountainous and incultivated places, also in meadows and hedges.

Pyrethrum's root is hot in the fourth degree; detained in the mouth, it projects flegm copiously, and therefore it helps the tooth∣ache proceeding from a frigid cause; it helps also the diuturnal head-ache, the Apoplexy, Epilepsy, Palsey, and all affections ari∣sing from flegm congested in the head.

CHAP. II. Of Mustard.

MUstard is no Aliment, sometimes a Medicament, often a Condiment; for it is most conveniently admixed to vi∣scid and glutinous dishes, especially in winter, that their vi∣scidity may be corrected, and the ventricle thereby roborated; for it admirably helps such as have dull palats, and nauseate their meat. But because by its acrimony it importunely affects the gust, it is not onely grinded with vinegar, to mitigate its fervour, but mix∣ed with sweet wine, to obdulcorate its acrimony; and so is made a gratefull Condiment, which many for its vulgarity disesti∣mate.

Mustard is either sative or spontaneous; [unspec 1] the sative is of two sorts, the one hath leaves like Rape, but lesser, and more sharp, with a round, hispid, sharp stalk, of two cubits height, or more, brachiated with many boughs, about which erupt luteous flowers orderly di∣sposed, to which long, thin and sharp husks succeed, wherein a little round seed is included, of a yellow colour, and mordaceous gust.

The other sative Mustard is so like the former, [unspec 2] that they seem onely to dissent in colour of their seeds; which in the former is luteous, in this a blackish red; the leaves of this are somewhat more like Rocket than the other, in all other things they are the same.

The wild grows spontaneously in any dry place, and sometimes in humid places, brinks, and hedges; it is less than the former, bearing

lesser leaves, jagged, almost like Shepherds-purse, but more acute; it emits luteous quadrifolious flowers; it afterwards puts forth its seed in husks, which it varies, sometimes bearing white, sometimes red seed.

This Plant denominates a noble Medicament they call Synapis∣mum, which is celebrated to many uses, as to inveterate Head-achs, Epilepsy, Vertigo, difficulty of breathing, distillations, and the Gout.

Mustard is hot and dry in the fourth degree; it incides, attenuates, * 1.1 extracts; detained in the mouth, it moves flegm; brayed and snuffed up the nose, it causes sternutation; it excites women suffo∣cated with the histerical passion: but such as have imbecil and cali∣ginous eyes, should altogether eschew it.

CHAP. III. Of Thlaspi, or Treacle-Mustard.

MUstard and Thlaspi are rightly described in the same se∣ries; for both agree, if not in effigies, yet much in qua∣lities; so that Thlaspi is commonly called Countrey, * 1.2 or Treacle-Mustard. There are many kinds of Thlaspis, whereof three are most noted, one greater, another lesser, and an∣other mean, whereunto all the rest of that name are referred.

The first grows plentifully both in cultivated and incultivated Fields, with large, long, crisped leaves, acute towards the end; its caul is about half a foot long, emitting boughs, circumcinged with flowers, at first white, which are frequent at the beginning of Summer, not unlike Shepherds-purse, which convolving themselves into two valvuls, produce a blackish, hot, and sharp seed, in sapour like Mustard, or Nasturtium.

The second hath a ramous caul of a foot high; its leaves are lesser, angust, acuminated, and subverted; its flowers white, seed small, sharp and hot, like Nasturtium.

The third and less Thlaspi is an Herb with angust leaves, of a fin∣gers length, converting themselves downwards, and a little incided in their extremities; its flowers are whitish, caul slender and ramous, of a foot high, whereon many small, plain husks, like little Lentils on small pedicles, do depend in an excellent series; wherein a small seed, affecting the mouth and tongue with a sharp sapour like Mu∣stard, is enclosed.

It grows in incultivated, stony, mountainous, hot and dry places, as on many walls and houses; whence some Herbalists call it Tecto∣rium Nasturtium, and sometimes Countrey-Mustard. Its seed is used in Antidotes; yet he shall not much erre, that in defect thereof usurps other seeds.

Many referr many more Plants, bearing sharp and servent seed, to the Thlaspi; but feeing they dissent much in effigies, others re∣ferr them rather to Plants more affine in form: for the Thlaspi of Crateva, which seems to be a latifolious Violet, called Bolbonac, as al∣so Draba, by some called Thlaspi, have little or no affinity with the rest of that name. * 1.3

Its seed is not and dry in the fourth degree; it breaks impostumes, moves flowers, kills the young in the uterus, helps the sciatical; in∣funded at the fundament, it evacuates blood, and pollicitates many more commodities, if rightly and opportunely usurped. It is mixed with some Antidotes.

CHAP. IV. Of Rockett.

ROcket, which the Greeks call Euxomon, is sown in Gar∣dens for Condiments sake; for it is both good and use∣full in Sallets and Pottage for such whose internal calour languishes, and whose lust to venery is dull; for Rotlet revokes venery, and accelerates the husband slow to congress; whence Poets call it, * 1.4 the Salacious Herb.

It rises a cubit high, with angust, long leaves, lacinated on both sides with deep, but rare incisures, with palid, and sometimes hue∣ous and quadrifolious flowers; seed like Turnep seed, and a white and dure root; it grows sometimes spomaneously among branches, and other rough and incultivated places.

There is also erratical and wild Rocket, which grows in squalid places near high wayes, and town walls, with leaves like Sow∣thistles, but more slender and small; with flowers of a luteous co∣lour, like them of Brassica, which erupt in the middle of Summer.

Bank-creffes, which some call Irio, others Tortela, do so much resemble Rocket both in gust and form, that they call it Rocket: yet seeing Galen reposes Erysimum amongst alimental Plants, I will scarce enumerate it among wild Rockets.

Eruca is also the name of a certain Insect, as well as an Heth, whereof there are many differences desumed from their dissidency in colour and magnitude, whereof we neither will, nor ought now to treat, it being our purpose to speak onely of such Simples as are In∣gredients necessary to Compositions in Pharmacopolies.

Rocket calefies and siccates in the third degree, * 1.5 extenuates the spleen, cures the bitings of Mice and Spiders, excites venery, moves urine, deleates black skars, if illited with Oxe-gail, and emaculates freckles.

CHAP. V. Of Nettle.

THere are two general differences of Nettles, * 1.6 one whose leaves are improbously mordacious, and surcle hurting the contrectants hands with its pungent down; the other innoxious, which may be handled without molestation. The former is by the Greeks called sometimes Acalyphe, because it is injucund to the tact; sometimes Cnide, because it punges morda∣ciously, commonly called Quick-Nettle; the other is called Lami∣um, and Anonium, as also white, or dead Nettle.

There be also three sorts of quick Nettles, the two greater, and one lesser, all wild and spontaneous. Some call these wild ones, ma∣sculine and seminine Nettles, as superating one another in pro∣cerity.

The Romanes call that Masculine in the first place, which emits round surcles of half a cubits height, and sometimes longer, cave, and hollow, with broad, mucronated, simbrious, crisped leaves, rough and mordaceous on both sides, which by their contact excite lumps and ustion, and rubefy the skin. The seed is included in small pills, round and hispid, which proceed out of the root of the leaves.

That Feminine in the second, which produces seed not globular∣ly, but racemously, like Grape clusters, after the manner of the fe∣minine Mercury; its caul is higher, and more ramous; its leaves broader, and all its parts mordacious.

The third sort is the least, and yet most ramous, mordacious, and graveolent, producing its seed racemously, but not after the manner of the former; for many grains erupt out of the surcie at the foot of the leaves together, but each one hath a pedicle like the masculine Nettle. This third sort is called Dog-Nettle, and is most of all mordaeious.

They all grow in incultivated places, about hedges, dams, and old walls, and sometimes in Gardens, and in fat soyls.

All Nettles siccate exceedingly, but calefie not so much; for though Urtica be ab urendo, Nettle from burning, yet they are not ustive from their heat, but by cansing such a pain from their pungent down: for (Macer. c. 2. l. 2.) Nettles decocted are very ignavely hot, they help the orthopnoical, moves urine and flowers; their feed stimulates to venery, and is a present Antidote against the poyson of Hemlock. It helps also against the malignant quality of Henbane, Mushromes, and Quick-filver, as also the bitings of Serpents, and poysonous Beasts. The seed of the mascussine Nettle is thought best.

Here we may not omit, * 1.7 that Oil conduces much to the ease of those pustuls and dolours excitated by Nettles; as also Elder leaves bruised and adhibited, which by a special propriety respect this af∣fection.

Many other Plants are reposed amongst Nettles, which are some∣times called Lamia, sometimes dead Nettles; whereunto another Plant is referred, which the Romanes call Labio, which some think is Agripalma, or Cardiack; others, Galeopsis, and Galeobdolon.

The first sort of these dead Nettles are those that assurge to a cu∣bital procerity with Nettle leaves, soft, and crisped, sometimes of a whitish, sometimes reddish colour.

The second very like the former, but not so ramous, with flowers like Spurge, but purpureous, issuing out of the genicles of its surcles.

The third is lesser, more imbecil and fetid, with rounder leaves, which is seldome, if at all used in Medicinal Confections. Some now of late make a syrup of the flowers of other Nettles for the af∣fections of the lungs and breast, which they call Syrupus de Lamis: but its effect doth not celebrate it.

CHAP. VI. Of Flower de luce, or Orris.

ACertain Lilly, whose flower in its variegated colour emulates the Rain-bow, painted in an opake cloud opposite to the Sun, is thence called Iris; whereof I have often noted twenty two sorts and varieties, which to recenseate, were superfluous.

But two especially are most frequently used in Medicine; the one our indigenous flower, which is of a ceruleous colour, and sweet odour, whose root potently educes waters; and the Tuscan or Fle∣rentine Iris, whose root is white, but flower much whiter, and both very fragrant; which pre-excells the other, save in educing serous humours out of the belly.

All Flower-de-luce hath long leaves like swords, and nodous roots; except a sew, whose roots are bulbous, and flowers patulous, like Lillyes, but with small leaves more reflected, three of which lesser sort are interposed amongst the three greater; after which, two or three husks that are triangular come forth, whereon angular seeds are contained.

The ceruleous Flower-de-luce, which some call, the Celestial Lilly, is most expetible in Pharmacopolies; for its root is hydrago∣gous, and usefull to the hydroptical; and an Oil may be made of its flowers, good for many things. The Florentinian is best, for it is ce∣phalical, aromatical, cordial, incisive, and apertive. All Flowers∣de-luce

calefy, extenuate, cure gripings, and expell flowers, being, according to Dioscorides, (c. 1. l. 1. universally usefull.

CHAP. VII. Of Helecampane.

ENulacampane puts forth leaves from its very root, which are long, late, mucronated, hispid, and numerous; its caul is hard, of three cubits length, or more; its flowers are aure∣ous, and stellated like Oxe-eye, or Flea-bane, which turn into knaps, the seed, which is like Thistle-seed, remaining.

Its root is great, crass, flave, odorate, and suaveolent; it grows in fat and humid places; the best is brought from Helena, where the Poets feign that it sprung up from Helena's tears, whence it had its name. Some say, Helena sowed it there to kill Serpents; for it is very efficacious against poysons, not onely such as infect men, but also and chiefly such as harm beasts; for given to Sheep in wine and vinegar, it keeps them from, and cures them in the pestilence, whereunto they are obnoxious, which the Vulgar call Clavelate.

Some think that the root of Hellecampane should be desumed instead of the unknown root of Behen; to whom I easily assent: * 1.8 for if Helecampane be not Behen, it's a good substitute.

Helecampane's ropt is manifestly hot; * 1.9 it moves urine and flow∣ers; mandicated, it confirmates teeth; and condited, cures the cough, (Diosc. c. 27. l. 1.) the decoction of the root epoted, cures convulsions, orthopnoity, pestilence, and bitings of Serpents.

CHAP. VIII. Of Cyperus.

CYperus is a triangular rush, growing in moyst and marish places, of a cubits or higher procerity, whose lower part is white, and top black; it produces long, gracile, arundina∣ceous, hard, cultellated leaves, with panicles depending on its sum∣mity, amongst which the seed lurk. Its roots are round, nodous, long, implicated one amongst another, and reptant like grass roots, blackish without, and subluteously white within, which are odorate, pleasant, and amare. The roots are onely usefull, the other parts good for little.

The root excellsses without mordacity, * 1.10 potently exsiccating ulcen, and perducing them to a skar, which for its astrictive faculty is very conducible to the ulcers of the mouth; it moves flowers and urine, and being drunk, helps the stone and dropsy.

There is another kinde of Cyperus very like this in effigy, but its root is more nodous and rotund, whence it is called round Cyperus.

Dioscorides makes mention of a Cyperus in India like Ginger, which masticated in the mouth, makes the juice of Saffron colour; which is amare and acrimonious to the gust; and erasive, if illited on a place.

CHAP. IX. Of Angelica.

IT'S a wonder that the Antients either knew not, or spoke not of this noble Plant, for whose rare faculties the more recent denominated it Angelica; than which, Europe produces not a more fragrant and pleasant Plant. It is more than two cubits high, with a geniculated, skrewed, palid, cave and ferulaceous caul; its leaves are ample, soft, green, and crisped like Alexanders leaves; its root is very crass and long, sometimes disterminated into many roots, most odorate and aromatical; out of which an oleous liquor exudes, of the same odour with the leaves and branches; its seeds are yellowish, plain, broad, and membranous.

There are three sorts of Angelica, * 1.11 two domestick, and one wild; one of the domestick, which is above described, seems to be a kinde of Laserpitium; the other, which is lesser, is like it in odour, form, and faculties, differing onely in magnitude.

The wild one is like these in root, caul, leafs, heads, odour, flower, and gust, onely its odour and sapour is not so sweet; it delights in cold, moyst, and meadowish places; it seems to be that Herb which Dodonaeus and Clusius call Archangelica; yet if that name be meet for any Herb, it is more proper to the true Angelica.

It is hot and dry in the second degree; * 1.12 it opens, attenuates, and digests; it incides and discusses crass humours; it is averse to poy∣sons, conduces in pestilentious diseafes, moves flowers, and recreates the heart and its faculties.

CHAP. X. Of Libistichum, or Ligusticum, or Lovage.

THe affinity in form among Simples, causes much ambiguity in discerning their distinct Species; for what Laserpitium is, how it is differenced from Libisticum; how both from Angelica Imperatoria & Smyrnium, can scarce be collected from the writings of the learned: but as much as I can attain by conjecture and reason, Ligusticum, which in the shops they call Levisticum, is a plant in altitude equalising some arboreous shrubs, with a geni∣culated cause, hollow within, leafes like paludapium, but bigger, lacinious, and as it were disterminated and incided into many parts, of a pale green shining colour, capitulated with Umbells, coronated with small and subluteous flowers shining on every side, to which a long, round, strewed seed succeeds like fennel seed, acrimonious to the gust, and suaveolent. (Diosc. C. 51. L. 3.)

Its root is white and odorate like the Hungarian Alheal: whence some call it Panacea.

They erre, who think it is Smyrnium, or Hiposelinum; and they more, who contend, that it is not onely Silvium or Laserpitium, but a succe educed out of that plant, and is called Belzoni: for this Gumme comes out of a tall tree, the Syreniack juice out of La∣serpitium, which is a ferulaceous plant; and out of Libisticum or Lumbrady, either no juice is educed, or none of it preserved after eduction; whether the Syreniack juice be sweet Asa, or Belzoin, shall be declared in its place.

Ligusticum growes plenteously in Liguria, and in the Mountain Apenninus, where it is called Panacea, * 1.13 because it resembles the Heraclea panax in its root, caul, and faculties. Panacea is four∣fold, the Syrian, the Heraclean, the Chironian, and the Centaurean, which some call the Pharnacean; but I leave these to the exact discussers of Simples, who write the History of all Herbs, and re∣turn to my purpose.

The Roots and Seeds of Ligusticum are calefactive, * 1.14 and there∣fore help concoction, roborate the ventricle, dissipate Flatuosity, move Urine and flours, take away the suffocation of the uterus, and cure the bitings of Serpents.

CHAP. XI. Of Seseli, or Hartwort.

MAny Plants dissident in effigies are donated with this name, as Massiliense, Aethiopicum the herb, Aethiopicum the shrub, Creticum or Thordylium, Peloponnense pratense & herbaceum, or that which is like hemblock: the Massilian Seseli, which is most

useful in medicine, hath a ferulaceous caul, of two Cubits heighth, * 1.15 geniculated, and hard; its leases like Fennel, but more ample, large and crasse, with white flowers in Umbells; long seeds like Fennel, which are very acrimonious, and yet grateful, whereof Medicks make much use.

The Aethiopian fruticious Seseli hath lignous, * 1.16 rigid, subrubeous and cubital surcls, long leafes, which are indifferent broad, smooth, and a whitish green: yellow flowers upon umbells, and long seeds like Libisticum.

The Aethiopian herbaceous Seseli, * 1.17 hath ferulaceous bicubital cauls, broad leafs like paludapium, umbells referted with white flowers, membranous, broad, plain, paleaceous, odorate, and grateful seed.

The Peloponnesian Seseli, * 1.18 hath a geniculated and ferulaceous caul, broad leafes variously dissected, patulous Umbells, sublu∣teous flowers, broad, long, plain seed; and a crass root somewhat blackish without, white within, acrimonious and amare, and grievous to the stomach.

The Cretian Seseli hath a lowe and more obsequious Caul, leass incided and crisped in their margine, small white flowers in um∣bells, small, broad, plain, odorate, and acrimonious seeds, which are seldom used in medicine.

All Seseli seed is hot and dry in the second degree, expels urine, * 1.19 drawes flowers and the young; and educes urine from the reins and bladder, the seed of the Massilian is best.

CHAP. XII. Of Gentian.

GEntian is not underservedly extolled, nor yet indignly deno∣minated after Gentius King of Illyrium; for it is a most solemn fugatour of pestilence, destroyer of putretude, and antidote against Poyson; its Leafes are like Plantain, or rather white Hel∣lebore, veinous, a foot long, very amare, and of a redly green colour; its Caul is cubitall or higher, out of whose severall ge∣nicls issue flowers, consisting of six small angust and radiant leafes vertiginously disposed, to which broad tenuious seeds suc∣ceed, which are included in the long Cauls whereon the flowers stood.

It growes in any place, but delights more in montanous so they be opaque; the best come from Illyrium, where it arrogated the princely name of its inventor: its root is of chiefest use.

Gentian especially in its root, comprises so much of vertue, that it keeps not onely men, * 1.20 but beasts also from the harm of poyson, drunk in water it corroborates the stomach, kills the worms, ar∣ceates puttertude; tames pestilentious poyson, and securely cures the stinging of poysonous animalls.

Other plants from some similitude acquire the name of Gentian, as the lesser Cruciata and Gentianella; but their faculties being little or not at all like the true Gentians, they seldom ingrede the composition of Antidotes.

CHAP. XIII. Of Tormentill.

THis plant is called Tormentilla, * 1.21 because it leniates the torment and pain of Odontalgy or tooth-ache; and Septa∣foile, by the Greeks Heptaphyllon, because it consists of seven leafes; it growes in shady, wooddy, and opaque places; it puts forth many slender simbecil and lower branches, be∣twixt every knot it emits seven leafes of inequal magnitude, luteous flowers; a crasse, tuberous, short root, black without, red within, whose use is eximious in curing pestilentious disea∣ses.

Its root calefies moderately, dryes exceedingly, to wit, * 1.22 in the third degree; it astringes moderately, wonderfully opposes putre∣tude, moves sudor, and efficaciously sucurres in pestilentious diseases.

CHAP. XIV. Of Poeony.

POEony is an herb eximious in name, flower and faculties; it hath many branches of feets length, with fair rubeous flow∣ers on their summities, ample like Roses, whence some call them Saint Maries Roses.

There are three sorts of Poeony; The first is the Masculine, * 1.23 which hath leafs like Walnut-trees, but lesser in circuit, and more crasse.

The second bears leafs divided like Lovage, lesser then the former, of a dark green colour, with shorter surcl's, and all things lesse, which is the foeminine.

The third seems to be neuter or promiscuous, bearing an Idea of both, which is neither absolutely red, nor white, but pale.

Some grow now in Gardens altogether white, and very fair; the most elegant whereof is multiflorous, whose flower is not simple like the rest, but manifold.

All have tuberous and multifidous roots, but some of them are more glandulous then the rest; they have long cauls, divided leafs, patulous flowers, in the summity of their cauls there are husks like Almond husks, which dehisceing shew their small red splendent grains like Orenge grains, and in the middle some black lucid, medullous ones, of a medicated sapour, acrimonious, sub∣astringent,

with some amaritude. I describe these briefly, lest my Work should swell into a greater Volume: Many things are supersititiously spoken of Poeony; which I willingly omit, not judg∣ing them worthy recital.

Its roots are commended to the roboration of the Nerves and Brain, * 1.24 to exarceate the Epilepsie, and cure it, as also to roborate the whole Head.

CHAP. XV. Of Rubia, or Madder.

THis Plant from its rubetude is by the Latines called Rubia, by the Greeks Erythrodanum; it puts forth quadrangular, sharp, and geniculated boughes from the very ground; with an∣gust, long, sharp leafes, orbicularly digested about the genicls; its flowers in the summities of its branches are small and luteous, to which a small round seed succeeds, which at first is green, af∣ter red, at last black.

Its roots are very long, numerous, flexibly dispersed along the ground, red within and without, wherewith wooll and skins are infected or dyed; the Shopmen calls it Dyers Ruby, the vulgar Garensa; it growes spontaneously in shady and opaque places, so that all regions abound therewith; its root is amare to the gust, accommodated to infect and dye woollen, and therefore most used by Dyers.

Ruby root moves urine and flours, * 1.25 cures the jaundice, its seed drunk in vinegar absumes the Spleen; its root applyed drawes flours, seconds, and the birth; and illited with vinegar, it cures the tetter or ringworm.

CHAP. XVI. Of Oinon, or Rest-Harrow.

THis plant is called Onon, * 1.26 Or Oinon, from its flower which in colour represents wine; the Barbarians call it the Oxens ar∣rest, * 1.27 or rest; the Romans the Ploughes remora, because its long and fibrous roots remorate the Oxen in ploughing: it is also called Acutella, because with hard and acure pricks it punges its attin∣gents; it is a most notorious plant, growing in the middle or margins of fields, especially in fat and glutinous soyles; and most vivacious of plants; For happening upon an accommodate foyl, it propagates much, emitting every year new surcles which spread themselves over the vicine land, so it be cultivated and fat: its furcles are short, rigid and spinous, coronated with leafes like Rue leafes disposed Garland-wise; its heads are circinnared, its leafs hirsure and suadveolent; its flower like Pease blooms, but lesser unicolorate and purpureous.

Its root calefies and extenuates, moving Urine, breaking, and expelling the stone, removing obstructions, expelling flours and blood, and curing the Jaundice.

CHAP. XVII. Of Eryngium, or Sea Holly.

ERyngium is either marine, * 1.28 which germinating plenteously in maritimous places, puts forth broad and angulous leafs cir∣cumsepted with hard pricks; or campestrian and vulgar, whereof there are many varieties, some being called the Spanish, Panno∣nian and Alpine Eryngium, besides many spurious names.

The leafs of the vulgar is sected into many acuminated, spinous particles; its caul is cubital and ramous, in whose summity cer∣tain globular heads circumcincted with pricks, radiate like Stars; out of the middles of which heads so horrid with spines, issue caeruleous and sometimes flave flowers: its root is crasse and long, black extrinsecally, white intrinsecally, succulent, sweet and odorate.

From the indefinite number of its heads many call it centum-ca∣put, the rusticks, hare, thistle and flying thistle; for the whole plant withering, is evelled by the force of the winds, which rol∣ling up and down the fields, eminously represents a running hare; they mistake, that think this is Secacul, for Serapio treats of these two in several Chapters, and gives them distinct descriptions: The Arabians call Eryngium, Astaraticon, not Scacul, or Scekakul; yet their faculties being alike, as the learned Writers do assert, vulgar Eryngium may well be substituted for ignote secacul.

Eryngiums root is calefactive, it deduces the passages, * 1.29 moves Urine and flours, expels sand out of the reins and bladder, and excites venery.

CHAP. XVIII. Of Common grasse.

SEeing grasse comprehends all plants which bear leafes, * 1.30 or a segetive Idea, it is no wonder if perite Herbalists enumerate fourty six differences thereof. Yet of all these the dogge-grasse is onely medicative, the rest rather affording aliments for beasts, then medicaments for man.

And as dogge-grasse is unknown to none, so is it infensive to all Agricolists, who with their hands and rakes purge their corn of it, which being very feracious, would otherwise surrept all ali∣ment from their wheat or vicine plants; for it creeps along with numerous, genicusated and vivacious radicls, which attract to themselves all the fatnesse of the earth.

Its leafes are hard, as broad as them of a small reed, tenuious and acuminated; whence women call it needle-grasse, and dogs∣tooth.

This grasse liberates the reins and other intrals from obstructi∣ons, * 1.31 and kills the intestines worms; the root is more excellent then any other part of the plant.

CHAP. XIX. Of Liqucrice.

THe whole plant is denominated from the sweetnesse of the root; for Glycyrrhiza, which Pharmacopolists call Liquorice, denotes a sweet root; some call it 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, because retained in the mouth, it quenches thirst.

Its root is long, numerous, spread along the ground, which e∣mits a caul of three Cubits high, with leaves like Lentisks dense, fatt, gluminous and gummeous to the touch; with pur∣pureous and somtimes white flowers.

In the Moneth of July or sooner, it beares Cods about the bignesse of Vetches or Cicers.

Theophrastus, (C. 3. L. 9.) calls it Scythica, because the Scythians useing a little Liquorice would tolerate thirst eleaven or twelve dayes. Children delight herein, for which end they demerge small peices of Liquorice in water in a glasse bottle, which when it is flave with Liquorice-juice they drink off, and put more wa∣ter thereunto; * 1.32 which they agitate for more potions.

The Cappadocians and Spaniards bring us every yeare Liquorice-Juice, condensed into Pastills.

They say it is temperate as to all qualities, but accedes nearer to calour, * 1.33 it leniates the asperities of the Artery, and Ulcers of the Bladder; it helpes the Cough, moves expectoration, and is very good against all diseases in the Lungs and Breast.

CHAP. XX. Of Cyclamen, or Sowe-Bread.

VArious and many are the nomenclatures of this Sowe-bread; for the Barbarians call it Arthanita; the Shopmen Hogs-Bread; some the Earth-Corke; others the Earth-Aple; and some Cissophyllon.

It growes in shady places, under Trees, in bryars and thick Woods, it flourishes in Autumne, it bears Leafes like Ivy which are angular, crisped about, of a greenly purpureous colour, maculated with white spots on both sides.

There is another sort of Cyclamen, which hath broad Leaves, but scarcely any whit angular, but rather round, and obscurely maculated.

And a third sort also, which hath lesser roots, more purpu∣reous flowers, and more suaveolent, which some think is that, which Pliny calls Chamaecisson.

Cyclamen is indued with many eximious qualities, for it in∣cides potently, opens, moves floures, expells conception though dead, cures the Jaundice, expells stones, it is efficacious against impostumes, emends all spots, is averse to Poisons, either by potion or application, drawes menstruous blood and young ones; They say, if a woman with Child go over the root of Cyclamen, she will become abortive: * 1.34 but light conjectures oft beguile the credu∣lous.

The later writers mention two more, different from the former in form and magnitude of leaves, as also in colour and inversion of their flowers: and besides, some flourish in the Spring, others in Autumn, others in the midle time.

CHAP. XXI. Of Scilla, or Sea Onyon.

THat Scilla is caepacious, and delights in hot, sandy, and mari∣timous places, and growes spontaneously, is unknown to few, for it is of late called the Sea Onjon. And he that hath anatomized an Onyon and a Scilla, hath found no difference in their internals nor yet in their cores; yet in leafe flowers and seed they are much dissident.

When the leaves of Scilla are marcid, its Caule assurges to the height of a Cubit, with white flowers issuing out of its midle like strawberry-flowers, which from thence pullulate to its very sum∣mity; short, triangular and compressed huskes follow these, gra∣vidated with black and full seed.

The stalk is very long and florid, because of the threefold emersion of flowers; the first wherof, which are like them of Bulbus, expand themselves for a long season; then the second Garland of flowers performes its course; and then the last. And it is most re∣markeable, that the Caule and the Leaves never flourish at once for not till the Caule withers will the leaves erupt; nor, till the leaves become marcid, will the Caule assurge, contrary to the na∣ture of other Plants, which first emit leaves, then prolong their Caules: in Scilla the Caule first erupts, then the Leafes.

Scilla calefies in the second degree, and is very incisive, Ga∣len saith, it is best to take it boiled or rosted, for so its vehement quality will be castigated; duely praepared, it helpes against the frigid affections of the braine and Nerves. Galen repurged one, cut it small, demerged it in a melitery, insolated it forty dayes, and gave it to a boy infested with the Epilepsy.

CHAP. XXII. Of Bulbus, or the Sea Bulb.

BUlbus is either Coronative, medicative, or esculent; among the Coronative are enumerated the innumerable varieties of Daffadills, Lilionarcisses, Tulips, and Hyacinths; among the medicative, Scilla, Hermodactylls, Pancratium, and the vomitory Bulbus; and among the esculent which are also desumed to ma∣ny eximious medicinall uses, Leeke, the Onyons of Ascalon, and such as by a certain antinomasy are called regall Onions, as praecelling the rest, which excite venery, and which come in frequent use among the ancients for meat; instead whereof we use common Onions, which are the true bulbus, and pollicitate the same effects; being also alike described with the ancients, Bulbi, so that when Bulbus seed is praescribed, Onion or Scallyons seed may be usurped.

Bulbus is a certain root, corticous, short, round, and tunicated with many membranes, the most external whereof is greatest; it often growes out of the earth, producing some slender radicles like capillaments, which keeping in the earth attract convenient succe for the nutriment of the whole Bulbus.

Its fronts are like them of Onyons, round, angust, inane and mucronated; its caulicles of nine inches heighth, in whose sum∣mity, little purpureous flowers emicate, to which succeeds seed black without, white within.

All sorts of Bulbus are acrimonious; * 1.35 they excalefie, excite ve∣nery, suppeditate Aliment, cause inflation, and stiffnesse of the yard; but two large plenty of them should not be used in meats, because they trouble the nerves. Of all the Bulbuses I think Sa∣tyrium most excites venery, the rest are more ignave, causing it by their flatuosity.

CHAP. XXIII. Of Satyrion, or the True Dogs-stones.

SOme plants from the effigies of their roots are called Testicls, from their effect Satyria, because they make men Satyrs-like prone to venery; amongst Bulbous roots, such as have but one bulb, are properly called Satyria; that which hath two, Cynos∣orchis; that which hath three, Triorchis. Of every of which there are many differences, some desumed from the form of their bulbes: * 1.36 others from the number of their leafs; others from the colour of their flowers and their positure; yet are all alike in fa∣cultres, and friends to Venus: but that is most approved, whose root is singular, round, about the magnitude of an Apple, yellow

without, white within, turgid with carnosity, sweet to the gust, and grateful to the mouth. Three leafs emerge out of this root, which are depressed towards the ground, in figure and colour like Lillies leafs, but lesser; from which three it is called Trifoile; its caul is of a foot heighth, its flowers small and white, the roots of this praecels the rest for conditure; and this I think is the true Satyrium.

Condited Satyria are analeptical, and restaurative; they are good for such as are tabid, and such as frequently exercise venery: for the root of Satyrium is thought so potent in exciting venery, that by retension in ones hand, it will stimulate them to congresse; whence the Greeks design all plants by the nomenclature of Saty∣rion, which excite venery.

CHAP. XXIV. Of Leeks.

LEeks are sowen in gardens for culinary uses; for the plant is rather esculent then medicinal, as Cooks well know; yet its succe is sometimes usurped in medicinal remedies, as in coacting the powders of foetid pills; and sometimes in extinguishing or rather educing of Empyreums: for though it be calid, yet it hath an excellent faculty, in attracting and expelling the impressed vestigium of colour.

Leck is either sative or spontaneous, and both are twofold; * 1.37 the first sort of the sative is called the headed Leek; the second the sective Leek; the first, because it consists of a round root like an Onyon; the later, because its root is longer and oftner sected; one sort of the spontaneous is called Schoen oprasum, which bears tenuious leafs like a bulrush: the other is called Ampeloprasum, which growes spontaneously in vineyards and other places.

Dioscorides makes mention of one, to wit, the headed Leek, whose head or rather root that it might greatly increase and di∣late it self, the ancients covered it with a tile or slate, and so they obtained their end; many other wayes are invented, whereby Leeks may acquire a prodigious magnitude; but these we leave to Gardners.

All Leeks calefie extreamly, ezsiccate, extenuate, open, incide, * 1.38 resolve and help against the bitings of Serpents and Ustions.

Its seed brayed and drunk in passum or white Wine, helps against the difficulty of urine, and diduces its passages: some write, that Leek eaten excites venery, and discusses ebriety; but its frequent use causes tumultuous sleeps, hurts the sight, and be∣gets aeruginous bile.

CHAP. XXV. Of Radish root, and Rape or wild Navew.

THere is much affinity betwixt radish root, rape root, and wild Turnep. Radish root is so notorious, that it needs not much explication; for the vulgar are so delighted therewith, that they sustain themselves with this root, bread, and salt; nay all Nations make meat thereof: * 1.39 There are three sorts hereof, one is the greater, which is an enemy to Vines; another lesser; the third is black radish, which some call wild radish, the Gar∣deners Reforum.

Rape root, * 1.40 is from its tumescent figure called Bunias, from its round figure Gonzylon, or rather Strongylon; vulgarly Nape: its root is very crasse, carnous, tuberous, white and not capillated; its leafes, long, sharp, green, deeply incided on both sides, its Caule bicubitall and ramous; its flowers luteous to which Cods succeed, praegnant with seeds like Colewort feeds but grea∣ter, which ingrede the confection of Mithridate, whose faculty is eximious in expugning venenate diseases.

Some suspect, that Bunias differs from Nape, and that the seed of Bunias, and not of Nape, ingredes the composition of Mithri∣date, but each may be substituted in defect of the other.

There are three differences of Napes or Rapes desumed from their Roots, the first is orbiculated, turbinated, and short; the second crasse and long; the third lesse, and vulgar, which the vulgarity call Nape.

Napes or Turneps as they acquire their magnitude, so also their bonity from the condition of the Heavens and of the soyl; those that grow in the fields about * 1.41 Caen, are so sweet and grateful, that they are justly preferred before the rest.

Rapistrum is a certain wild rape root not at all bulbous; * 1.42 which germinates in every field, with broad, green leafs, and luteous flowers, whose seed the women call Navet.

There is another sort thereof, with leafs like Bank-cresses, which is called Lapsana; as also a third kind with leafes like rocket, and white flowers; all of them bear small, black, round seeds included in Cods.

Radish roots are eaten raw, turneps not without coction; all calefie, open, and move urine.

CHAP. XXVI. Of Anemone, or Wind-flower.

WE have above treated onely of such Calefactives, whose Roots were most celebrated, save that at the beginning of this Section we described a few, because of their exceeding calidi∣ty; whose roots were uselesse. Now we come to dissert of such whose other parts are also useful, beginning with Anemone. Which is sometimes called the Winds-herb, because it never opens and dilates it self, save when the wind blowes; the Poets fable, that it grew from Adonis blood, whence they call it Ado∣nis his flower. There are two general differences hereof, * 1.43 one is the wild, the other the garden Anemone; both which, (especial∣ly the later) are manifold; whose sorts and varieties are distin∣guished onely by the colour and multiplicity of their flowers: for some bear white flowers; others red; others caeruleous; some phoeniceous; others somewhat red; others violaceous; and others a greenish red: all which are coronary for the excellency and pulchritude of their flowers: but the wild Anemones va∣rieties are fewer, and yet more requisite in medicine; as in the confection of unguent Marliatum: des. Myrepsus; wherein wild Anemone, especially that that is called wind-herb is usurped: but seeing all their descriptions and variety are excellently and ele∣gantly depinged, by the famous Authors D. D. Dod. & Clus. I will not further prosecute their descriptions.

All the sorts of Anemone are acrimonious, apertive, incisive, detersive, and exsiccative.

CHAP. XXVII. Of Keiri or Wallflowers.

KEiri is a Mauritanian word, denoting a luteous Violet, which is alwayes green, patient of Cold, contrary to the nature of other Violets which wither at the first aspect of Win∣ters rigidity; and grow not again till they be new sowen: I ex∣cept the Garden Violets, that repullulate every year; in follow∣ing the distinction of the Herbalists, who nothing sollicitous about the nature of words, distinguish Leucoïon from white vio∣lets; when yet Leucoïon enunciates nothing more then a white violet: Leuco signifies white; ïon, a Violet.

And as there are many varieties of Violets, so are there also of Leucoïa, amongst which, that which bears a luteous flower, to wit, Keiri, is most commendable to medicinal uses: it growes in all places, as on stone walls, old edifices, and rubbages, and other saxous and dry places; it is sowen also, and pullulates in gardens

near walls; its Causs are ramous, many, rigid and slender; its leafs long, angust, of a blewish green, lesser and more rigid then other violets: its flowers luteous, odorate and sweet, its codds long and small, wherein a small plain seed is coarctated.

They make an oyl of the flowers by infusion, fit to resolve hu∣mours, mitigate cold dolours, and roborate the nerves; ʒ. ij. of its seed given in wine, or subacted with honey educes flowers, young, and secondines. A bath made of the decoction of its flowers will perform & effect the same.

CHAP. XXVIII. Of Thyme.

THyme unknown to none, is a little surculous plant, with small angust leafs, vested with many heads, referted with white flowers in its summities: whereof there are two sorts; the first called Cephaloton, * 1.44 which is like Stoechas; the others dif∣fers from this, because it is harder, and hath few leafs and flow∣ers, and them not on heads, but about the leaf roots. There is another exotical Thyme, they call Peruvian Thyme, which is not so surculous and folious, lesse acrimonious and more suaveolent, in other things it responds to the rest.

Thyme calefies and siccates in the third degree, it incides, at∣tenuates, moves flours, protrudes the young, purges the Bowels and Lungs: it is thought very conducible to the clarity of the eyes.

But it is more frequently used in condiments then otherwise. * 1.45

CHAP. XXIX. Of Serpylle, or Mother of Thyme.

THere are two sorts of Serpyll, one garden, which is greater and more succulent, delighting in culture and fat soyl; the other wild, which growes in petrous, squalid, dry sterile places, and in the margines of fields and on hills; both of them are like Thyme, in effigies odour and sapour, they derive their names from creeping; for their branches creep along by the ground, and radicate where ever they touch it: the vulgar and wild serpyl is exile and small like a little Vine, hard and lignous, assurging a palm in altitude, with small leafs like Thyme; others lay along, demitting capillated fibres or radicles into the earth.

They have round heads on their summities; out of which issue flowers of a whitish red and purpureous colour, which with the whole Plant are suaveolent.

Another kind of serpyll is found in many places which is not Serpentine as the rest, but large and wild which the shopmen call Montanous, Penny-royall.

The Garden Serpill because of its gratefull and sweet odour is enumerated among the coronaries, its circles are longer and crasser then the other, its leafes also broader, and duller, and its heads coronated with greater flowers.

Serpill is acrimonious and hot, moves floures and Urine, abates the gripeings of the belly, conduces in the Lethargy, cures the biteing of poisonous beasts, and by its fume when it is burn∣ed repells Serpents.

CHAP. XXX. Of Sampsuchum and Marjoram.

SAmpsuchum according to Dioscorides is not Marjoram, but ano∣ther ramous hearb, which is reptant, with round and hirsute leaves like calamint, whereas Marjoram is not reptant but erect with many surcles, and with mucronated not round leafes, yet it may well be used for want of Sampsuchum, for it is a plant both in faculty and forme very like it, whose gratefull odour and sa∣vour causes it to be nourished in gardens and pots with diligence and care, and Marjoram perhaps desumed its name from Marum as Dodonaeous writes, who makes Marjoram, Marum and Hysobrium one Plant, as he collected from Dioscorides his description; and Sampsuchum and Amaracus another; as he gathered from Diosco∣rides and Theophrastus; yet Amaracus by Galens authority which he also gathered out of Dodonaeus is Feverfew so named, not by his own but by anothers lapse; seeing Amaracus is indeed Sampsuchum.

We cannot admit of their reasons who make Pulick Mountain a kind of Marum; which the vulgar French call Mastick sinck they are very dissident, for Marum according to Dioscorides is a sur∣culous herbe, with a flower like Origanum, leafes much whiter, and by him called Origanum. Pliny saith it is an exoticall Plant and not to be numerated amongst the domestick family, whereas Clinopodium, which some call Cleonicon, other Zopyron, is an herb of vulgar dignotion, and like Serpill.

Now Marjoram is either impatient of cold, or most patient there∣of, the latter is Winter Marjoram which flourishes in the midle of Winter; the former summer Marjoram which perishes with the first occurse of frost.

Marjoram is manifestly calefactive cephalicall, and hysteri∣call, which drank or assumed at the mouth or fundament acce∣letates flowers.

CHAP. XXXI. Of Penny-Royall.

PEnny-royal is two-fold, * 1.46 the one masculine and sative, which is the true Pulegium and latifolious; the other wild and an∣gustifolious: the true Pennyroyal doth abundantly emit many and round cauls, which are often procumbent; But oftner extoll themselves on high, two leafs somewhat rotund emerge out of each genicle; its flowers are subcaeruleous, circumcingeing the culms about the exortion of the leafs. Pennyroyal is suaveolent, especially when it is coronated with flowers; its water distilled duly in a glasse vessel will keep its odour: and as the true Pule∣gium or Pennyroyal differs little from the second sort of Cala∣mint, so neither doth the wild differ from Serpil: it growes best in dry saxous and mountanous places, whence it is called moun∣tain Pulegium, which many say is Clynopodium; fresh Pulegium incended will kill gnats. Many odorate Herbs are referred to Pulegium, in the designation whereof Authors agree not.

It calefies in the third degree, it exsiccates, attenuates, moves flowers and secondines, digests pectorall phlegm, helps con∣coction, eases convulsions; in wine it cures Serpents stings, cures the spleenatick by admotion, and is good against the affections of the Podagry and Epilepsie.

CHAP. XXXII. Of Polium.

THe little tomentaceous and whitish head of Polium coacted into the Species of an hirsute berry, represents the hoary head of an old man; whence its denomination is desumed: it hath from one root numerous, slender, hard, lignous, round surcles of half a hands height; its leafs are long, crisped and ri∣gid like Germander, but more angust and better harnessed; the tops of its branches are coronated with small flowers; circum∣vested with white down, many whereof are coacted together in∣to one head; its seed is small, black, and long.

The whole Plant is hollow, growing most abundantly in squa∣lid montanous places; whence Pharmacopolists call it Mountain-Polium, which Dioscorides calls Teuthrio; it is graveolent, and yet not injucund, but useful in Medicine.

There is another sort of Polium not so potent in odour, nor firm in power: whose surcles are also rigid and round, leafs shorter and more angust, flowers many congested together, and hoary with white down.

Remb. Dodonaeus recenseates yet two sorts more; Pena, four:

Which I leave to their investigation, who undertake to describe the universal History of plants.

Polium calefies in the second degree, ficcates in the third; it cures the Dropsie, Jaundice, and affections of the Spleen: it moves urine and flours, it drives away Serpents either by substraction or fumigation; it drawes wounds to skars.

CHAP. XXXIII. Of Basill.

BAsill or Ozymam, being a most odorate plant, doth justly chal∣lenge this name; lest posterity should confound it with Ocy∣mum, which Varro saith, is a kind of Pabulum, made up of green segetives for Oxen: For the same fragrancy it is called Basill, as though it were worthy a basilical or regal house. Many think it is called Ocymum from the celerity of its growth; for it erupts the third day after its sature, and often sooner; and some super∣stitiously or rather ridiculously believe, that it will make a more abundant provent, if it be sowen with maledictions: but its sig∣nification challenges z instead of c. from 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 to smell; because me whole plant smells sweetly; it is admirable, that Amber should expell the dry furcles of Basil, and yet attract the small stalks of all other segetives.

Holerius a Physician of Paris, tells us a story worth our notice, * 1.47 of a certain Italian, who frequently smelling to basil, had a Scor∣pion generated in his brains, which caused long and vehement dolours, and, at last, his death: yet the Libyans aver, that who ever eats Basil, he shall not that day fear to be hurt by a Scorpion.

There are four sorts of Basil, three sative, and one wild, which is called Acinos; two of the satives are latifolious, one angusti∣folious, which we call the lesser Basil.

The vulgar and latifolious, is surculous with round branches, leafs like Mercury of a cubital altitude, with white flowers, and sometimes purpureous; black and small seed, which D. Fern usurps to the Syrup of Arthemifia.

It is manifestly hot, dissolves flatuosity, moves urine, * 1.48 helps against fadnesse invected by melancholy, exhilarates, and ani∣mates; yet Chrysippus disallowes of its use, as inducing madnesse, and hurting the sanity of the eyes.

CHAP. XXXIV. Of Origanum.

THere are four sorts of Origanum; the first is called Origa∣num Heracleoticum, or Cunila; the second, Onitis; the third, Sylvestrian; the fourth, Tragorian; which also is of two sorts, which I will not describe at large.

The true Origanum is like the great Marjoram in leafs and branches; it bears umbels on its summities not circinated, but armed with small prickles variously congested: it begins to grow in the middle of Summer; and as it is like Marjoram in form, so also in odour: but it is more patient of Cold, for it lives in the middle of Winter, it is averse to Colworts, and to all kinds of Serpents; wherefore when Snailes are about to dimicate with Serpents, they arm themselves with Origanum, which is very prevalent against cold poysons.

It calefies, * 1.49 siccates, incides, attenuates, moves urine and flours, and is good for such as are troubled with Coughs or diffi∣culty of breathing, if it be taken in honey eclegmatically.

CHAP. XXXV. Of Mint.

THough Mint be well known to every one, for being most vi∣vacious, it germinates in every place; yet its Species are not all exactly described, but Mint, Menthastrum, Si∣symbrium, & Calamintha, all confusedly designed, which are thus distinguished.

Mint is either garden, domestick and true; or wild, which is called Menthastrum; * 1.50 now there are four Species of Mint: The first hath quadrangular cauls, obscurely red, somewhat pilous, with round leafs, and subrubrous flowers growing orbicularly about the Cauls: its root is Serpentine, which puts forth ever and anon new Turiones.

The second in root, leaf, Odour and magnitude aemulates the first, but its colour is more obscurely red, and the flowers in the summities of its branches are spicated.

The third hath longer leafs, and flowers in its ear.

The fourth hath long and sharp leafs, with subpurpureous flowers, geniculately circumvesting the internodia of the cauls like the first.

Besides these which the perite Herbalists enumerate, Matthio∣lus adjoyns another, which the Goritians call Greek-Mint; Val. Cordus, Sarracenica; some, St. Maries herb; some, Roman Sage; some, Lassulata; and most, herbe du co{que} after the French.

It growes in most Gardens, its leafs are like the greater Sage, or Betony; of a greenly white colour and crisped, its Cauls are cubital or longer; whose summities emit coryambaceous flow∣ers, of a yellowish colour like Tansey flowers, its sapour is amare; it and all mints are graveolent, yet not ingrateful.

There be also two sorts of Menthastrum or wild-Mint; the first growes about any old wall or ditch, with more large and rufous leafs, easily incided, whose flower is spicated: the other Meadow-Mint, which growes in water brinks, whose leafs are hispid,

hoary, and subrotund, and flowers spicated as the former, both are graveolent, yet grateful.

Mint is useful to cibaries, * 1.51 which being young is a very grate∣ful fallet herb, but more adult it is more ingrateful and hard: it is of a hot nature, and very stomachical; for its quality is to augment the heat of the ventricle, it confirms roboration, helps coction, discusses flatuosity, and cures gripings.

Sisymbrium hath such cognation with the family of Mints, that by culture or neglect it may be transmuted into Mint, or Mint into Sisymbrium; the Shopmen call it Balsamint; the vulgarity, Rugged Mint: it differs much from Sion, or Perula, as also from Cardamen, or Crescion, which they call water-mint: for the true Sisymbrium, which many call wild Serpil, is very like Garden mint, but more odorate and latifolious, which hath excellent medicinal faculties, (Diosc. C. 155. L. 2.)

CHAP. XXXVI. Of Calaminth.

THere are three sorts of Culaminth; * 1.52 the first is familiar with mountains; the second challenges affinity with Pennyroyal; the third with Menthastrum.

The first delights in squalid tuberous and montanous places, and is called Mountain-Calaminth, which for its elegant effigies and grateful odour, is now cicurated in Gardens; as also all kind of Mints, to which it responds after a manner both in faculties and nomenclature; for Calaminth portends fair Minth, and this com∣plex name denotes its nobility.

The second sort of Calaminth hath leafs like Pennyroyal, but sometimes greater, whether variegated with spots, with whitely purpureous flowers amicting its cubital branches, it delights in aprike places, and is found in many fields when the segetives are demessed; it is also called Nepeta in Dioscorides, who yet neither approves nor disapproves of the name.

The third is like Menthastrum, with leafs somewhat longer Caul and Branches greater then the former, and yet not so effica∣cious. Dodonaeus exhibited the herb Cattaria instead of this. Fuchsius exhibits another much dissident; and Dioscorides describes not a Line of Cattaria; yet it may justly be referred to the family of Calaminths, as having cognation therewith; though the herb and faculty hath been unknown by the Ancients. It puts forth many quadrate hard caulicles, at every knot two hoary leafs like horenound, spicated flowers like Mint or Menthastrum; it is called Cattaria, because Catts delight in eating and playing with its leafs; Apothecaries call it Nepeta.

It calefies and attenuates exceedingly; * 1.53 it hath a peculiar fa∣culty in auxiliating the conception, and foecundating the womb.

Yet all Calaminth is of a tenuious substance, * 1.54 hot and dry in the third degree, it abates gripings, kills worms, cures the Jaun∣dice, educes flowers, takes out blew skars, cures difficulty of breathing, and strenuously digests humours; the montanous Ca∣laminth is most efficacious.

CHAP. XXXVII. Of Wormwood.

THough Absynth be an herb of vulgar dignotion, yet scarce two agree in recenseating and describing its Species: how∣ever letting passe the varieties of opinions, we assert, that there are three sorts of Wormwood; * 1.55 the common Wormwood, the San∣tonian Wormwood, and the Scriphian Wormwood: They erre, who say, that the common Wormwood differs from the Roman and Pontian, and that the Santonian is the Roman Wormwood; for the common is the Roman Wormwood, so called, because it was holy to the vulgarity, and because it grew plenteously in the Roman fields, and in every old hedge. The Pontian is so denomi∣nated from Pontus, and from its stypticity or astriction.

That which is called San••onian, or rather Xantonian Worm∣wood, is so denominated from a tract where it growes, bearing the same name: hence some call its seed Sanctum, when they should call it Sanctonian seed; the whole plant is like common Wormwood, but lesser, and not so white; its seeds are not se many, and its flowers are small.

The third sort which is called Scriphian or Marine Wormwood, growes copiously on the Mountain Taurus near Cappadocia, the herb is slender, like small Suthernwood, referted with small seeds, subamare and graveolent with some calefaction; the whole is so like foeminine Southernwood, that they can scarce be discerned each from other.

Galen saith, * 1.56 that all Wormwood participates of an aromatical acrimonious and amare quality, but some Gardens afford us vul∣gar Wormwood no whit amare but sweet, distinguished from the Pontian onely in sapour; All roborate the stomach, help co∣ction, and kill Worms, whether they be assumed or adhibited. See Dioscorides about the differences and qualities of Worm∣woods; as also Gasparus Bauhinus, who published a whole Book of Wormwood.

CHAP. XXXVIII. Of Mugwort.

THe Species of Mugwort are more then two, contrary to the opinion of many; for besides the common differences of la∣tifolious and tenuifolious, there is one marine Mugwort, which from one lignous root, fruticates in many sarments, with lowe and serpentine leafs; and if we believe Ruellius and Fuchsius, Fe∣verfew and Tansey are Species of Mugwort.

All Mugworts are Sylvestrian, the first whereof is latifolious, lacinious, and marginally dissected; with streight, round, stria∣ted bicubital cauls, and small flowers like Wormwood: it growes by way-sides, and oftentimes in the middle of Gardens.

The second is more tenuious, with a small white and graveo∣lent flower.

The third is also tenuifolious, which growes about hedges and water-tracts, whose flowers and leafs contrited refer the odour of Marjoram; the vulgar is used to the confection of the Artemisian Syrope.

It was called Artemisia by King Mausolus his Wife, whereas before it was called Parthenis. Many superstitious people call it St. John's herb, wherewith he circumcinged his Loyns on holy∣dayes.

It calefies in the second degree, opens, attenuates, * 1.57 expells flow∣ers, secondines and young, and auxlliates many affections of the Uterus.

CHAP. XXXIX. Of Melissa, or Balm.

WIth the same complacency that a Cat is carried to Catta∣ria, is a Bee carried to Apiastrum or Melissophyllon, which is a melleous leaf. There are many differences hereof; for be∣sides that Sylvestrian which is improperly called Melissa by Fuch∣fius, which smells like Cymice; the vulgar is most celebrous; then the Spanish, and then the more peregrine as the Moluccian, which comes from the Islands of Molucra.

Our Melissa is well known, it assurges with quadrangular sur∣cles, broad, rugous and subasperous leafs, smelling like Quince-Apple; with two prominents betwixt each knot, which emit small cups, with candicant flowers, after which a small blackish seed succeeds.

The Spanish Melissa is in effigies, odour, and faculties, very like the former, but its leafs are lesser, not so rigid and green.

The Moluccian Melissa is twofold, the one smooth, the other spinous, both emitting culms and leafs like ours.

It calefies in the second degree, * 1.58 siccates in the first; in insessi∣ons it educes flowers, and in drink or illition it confers against the bitings of Scorpions, spiders, and dogs; it roborates the head, increases the memory, and recreates the animal faculties.

CHAP. XL. Of Horchound.

THere are two kinds of Horehound, * 1.59 the one white, the other black, which is called Ballore; both are ramous without roots, of half a foots altitude, growing about walls and fields margins: the white which is of more use hath quadrangular cauls hirsute with small hoarinesse; two subrotund, rugous, incided, and lanuginous leafs: its flowers which are small emerge out of small cups, which verticillately circumdate the genicls of the surcles: all Horehound delights in ruderous places, and about ruined aedifices; some prefer black Horehound before the white; but I choose the white with the more perite and Learned.

It is hot in the second degree, * 1.60 dry in the third; it removes ob∣structions, purges the Lungs, educes flowers, conduces to broken and convelled nerves, and is given against the stings of Serpents and poysonous potions.

CHAP. XLI. Of Betony.

Betony is altogether wild, delighting in opagque and watry places, yet for its excellent endowments it is cultivated in Gardens, it emits long, broad, green, subasperous leafs, incided about like a Saw; its caulicles are slender, quadrangular, some∣what hirsute, and cubital; its flowers are spicated, red and white in some places: the Greeks call it 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 & 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, the Latines, Betonica, which name may be detorted to another plant, which some call Vetonica altilis; some, flos Armerius; and the Germans, flos superbus.

Besides the vulgar Betony, there is another latifolious one, found in many places, which delights more in culture, and flourishes most in Gardens.

Betony is hot and dry in the second degree, * 1.61 it is indued with a cephalical and alexiterial faculty, wherefore it is good against the Epilepsie and poysonous diseases; especially against the bi∣tings of mad dogs and Serpents; and if any praeassume this, lethall poyson drunk shall not hurt him.

CHAP. XLII. Of Veronica, or Speedwell.

VEronica is twofold, one masculine, the other foeminine, which many call Elatine; the former, Paulus Aegineta calls Betony; it creeps along the earth, with many hirsute and pedall surcles with long leafs, lesser then Betony; somewhat like * 1.62 Teu∣crion, but lanuginous, with flowers orderly digested, of a purpu∣reous colour, with a small rotund black seed contained in cups like boxes, and with a slender root variously divaricated.

The foeminine Veronica, which many call Elatine; some, Rep∣rilis Veronica, hath many, pedal, slender, flexile, lanuginous, and solious surcles; with hoary, pilous leafs, like * 1.63 Nummulary: with small white flowers like * 1.64 Anthirrhinon, with small, round black seed like * 1.65 Pimpernel, much of it growes among segetives in fallow ground and sandy places.

Some make mention of a kind of Veronica, with an erect Caul, which puts forth more rigid furcles, which are renuious, ramous and folious like the former.

Dodonaeus adds another Veronica, growing in Meadowes and moist places, in effigies and magnitude very like the foeminine; but its leafs are lesser, not lanuginous, but smooth and green: its brauches are reptile, flowers caeruleous, its seed contained in lit∣tle boxes small and black; this and the former are seldom or never used in medicine.

Sense indicates, that Veronica is hot and dry; * 1.66 and experience demonstrates it to be astrictive, and a good vulnerary: it cures the Scab, Wounds, Ulcers, and all vices in the skin; it hath a peculiar faculty in curing, or at least asswaging, cancerous Ulcers. Fuchsius writes falsly, that the King of France, correpted with the Leprosie, was cured with the adjument of this herb: for no King of France was ever correpted with such a foede disease, nor yer with Pestilence.

CHAP. XLIII. Of Ditanny.

DItiany's caulicles are cubital or shorter, which divide them∣selves into certain wings, on whose summities depend flow∣ers proceeding from the same interstices, in the form of scales: its leafs are rotund, but acuminated on the one side, very lanugi∣nous, and like pennyroyal, but higher: that is best that growes in Crete; and that most laudable that growes on Picte, a Mountain in that Region, whence it is denominated; some of the Greeks call it Beloacon, that is, Weapon-salve; and Belotocon, because it

excludes infixed dar••••: for Harts confixed with Arrowes run to Dictanny, by the contact whereof they exclude the Arrowes. Hence some call it Dorcidium or Cervary, because Harts first inven∣ted its use. Goats also feeding near it, and vulnerated demon∣strated its efficacy; its leafs are tomentous, and its flowers of a violaceous black colour.

Another kind of Dictanny is found in some maritimous places, as in the Barofluctuan shores in Normandy, very like this in leass, which is called Pseudo-Dicamny; but its flowers do verticulately circumcinge its surcles, and its faculties are not so efficacious as the legitimate.

Dictamny which some call Diphthomny is hot and dry in the third degree, it will by the Ancients testimony extract weapons, extinguish introsumed poyson; it helps in pestilence, excludes flowers, young, and seconds; abates the spleen, and cures Stran∣gury.

CHAP. XLIV. Of Stoechas, Cassidony, or French Lavender.

SToechas is unjustly firnamed Arabian, seeing it equally germi∣nates in other parts and regions, as in Crete, Belgium and Nor∣mandy, where it lives well among Snowes, and in the Islands Stoechades, from which, or from their spicated summities they are denothinated.

Dodonaeus knew three sorts thereof; the first, the common and true Stoechas; the second, the Belgian, like the former in effigies; the third with sawed leafs: besides which there is another with golden coloured leafs, like Eliochrysum, and is called Chrysocome or Orenge-coloured Stoechas; this hath short and slender caulicles, angust, hoary and hispid leafs, and luteous splendent flowers like small bubles: it growes in rough and Sandy places; Pena makes three sorts hereof. See him.

The true Stoechac emits many cubitall, slender, and lignous cauls, with hair on its summities angular like ears of Corn, long leafs, broad like Lavander spike and heary; small, caeruleous odorate flowers in a Foliaceous spike which are sua veolent.

Stoechas is manifestly hot a mare, moderately astrictive and ve∣ry cephalical; for it recreates head, and all animal faculties, discusses frigid humours, exhilarates the mind, and conduces to all affections of the head flowing from a cold distempet: it ro∣borates all the intrals, and the whole body.

CHAP. XLV. Of Sage.

SAge is either domestick or Sylvestrian; domestick is twofold, the greater and the lesser: both called Elelisphacos, though some denote the greater onely with this name, calling the lesser Spha∣celos, which some call wild Sage, others boske Sage.

There is another kind of Sage in Crete that bears betries, which in figure, odour, and sapour is very like ours.

Sage is a ramous plant, (Diosc. C. 41. L. 3.) having quadrangu∣lar and hoary branches, with leafs like Quince leafs, but more angust, sharp, crasse and whiter: its flowers which depend on the tops of its branches are fulcated like them of Horminum, and cae∣ruleous.

Salvia is Cephalical, nerval, calefactive, siccative, apertive, * 1.67 moving flours and urine; the lesser must be selected as better to the confection of Stoechas, but the greater may well supply its defect.

CHAP. XLVI. Of Horminum, or Clary.

CLary is either sative, * 1.68 which delights in cultivated and fat soyl; or wild, which growes in meadowes and macilent places: both are well known, they emit from one root, many cubital, angular, and subhirsute Cauls, but especially the sa∣tive: their leafs are broad, mucronated and sharp like Hore∣hound: their flowers besides their leafs do verticulately circum∣cinge their surcles; their flowers are of a purpureous caerulcous colour; sometimes whitish, sometimes altogether white, erupt∣ing out of boxes, which dehisceing for maturity look down∣wards: a small, long, and black seed is included in these; the seed of the wild ones is round and brown.

Horminum and Orvalla have so much affinity with each other, that very grave men, and perite Herbalists constitute no diffe∣rence betwixt them; but they are without distinction; as Mat∣thiolus hath noted. Horminum comes from the verb 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, be∣cause it drawes its usurpers to venery. Some call it Sage of Rome; but Orvall is commonly called, All good: sometimes, Gallitriche; by some, Cockles center: by others, Sclarea; and by some, Scarlea; whose four varieties Dodon, delivers, which here particularly to recenseate, would be beyond mine institution.

Clary is manifestly hot, its seed drunk in Wine excites venery, * 1.69 takes away the white spot in ones eyes; it being demerged in some convenient liquor, cructates a certain mucage, which wonderful∣ly

helps the affections of the eyes: the Sylvestrian is more effi∣cacious.

CHAP. XLVII. Of Scordium.

SCordium is so called from the odour of Allium, which it re∣fers, it is a surculous plant procumbent on the ground, with two leafs issuing out of each genicle, which Leafs are long like Germander, but greater, incided in their circuits; soft, hirsute, and white, red flowers erupt out of the wings of the surcles, ve∣ry like the flowers of dead nettle or archangel, but lesser: that which growes in Crete is not onely laudable, but also that which growes in other Regions.

It is almost miraculous, that grave men, (especially Galen, C. 24. L. de Antiq.) write of Scordium, to wit, that those bodies of dead men lying upon the ground without Sepulture, which fell upon Scrodium, putrified much slower then others; and those parts of the carkasses that touched the herb were totally vindicated from putretude: wherefore Galen was perswaded that Scordium is averse to the poyson of all reptiles, and all noxious medicaments which cause putrefaction: it growes copiously in many Fennes, beside ditches and other concave and humid places; it is found also in many uliginous and fatter Mountains.

It calefies and siccates, * 1.70 preserves from putretude, and resists poysons; it cures the pestilence, and many contagious disea∣ses.

It is most usefully profitable in a potion against lethall poy∣sons and bitings, it purges the intralls, and moves flowers and urine.

CHAP. XLVIII. Of Rue.

RUe is enumerated amongst the graveolent herbs, whether it be domestical, whereof there is but one sort well known to all; or Sylvestrian, whereof there are more varieties. Rue is a suffrutitious, bicubital, ramous, surculous, folious, and conti∣nually green plant, which bears luteous flowers, upon whose occase, a quadrangular head emerges, divided with so many closets and continents, as it hath angles: wherein is contained that seed which ingredes the composition of the syrrup of Stoe∣chas.

Rue in Greek is Péganon, because its extraordinary dry spirit and calour exsiccate the genital sperme: yet it is indued with many other eximious faculties, which greatly commend its use:

Mithridates also set a good estimate upon it, who used it in that pcculiar Autidote wherewith he defended himself from many poysons.

Which he constituted of two hundred Rue Leafs, two figs, * 1.71 two dry Wallnuts, all contrited with a grain of salt.

The Sylvestrian Rue affords two differences especially, the one whereof, in leafs, odour, and effigies is very like the Garden Rue, and is called Mountain Rue, because it fruitcates on mountains; the other being most rare and variously denominated, hath exer∣cised many wits in its designation: Dioscorides (C. 53. L. 3.) seems to call it Moly, yet in the next Chapter describing Moly, he makes its leafs graminous, and roots bulbous, which can in no wise ac∣cord with Rue. The Cappadocians have also designed it with this name; the Syrians call it Besasan; the Arabians, Harmel & Har∣mala; which name many Shopmen give to common Rue: which may rightly be substituted in defect of the true Harmala, which is the second sort of Sylvestrian Rue.

This Harmala emits many caulicles of Nine Inches heighth, without any root; its leafs are angust, small, and long: its flow∣ers white and quinquefolious, its seed is contained in heads like them of the domestick Rue, but they are onely triangular; it is graveolent; it growes in Cappadocia, and in many incultivated places in Spain.

It is hot and dry in the third degree, it attenuates, incides, * 1.72 di∣gests crasse humours, and extinguishes Sperm.

We shall not now treat of Goat-rue, improperly so called, though we may speak of it in a more proper place.

CHAP. XLIX. Of Litho Sperm, or Gromell.

THis herb is called Lithosperm, from the durity of its seed; its leafs are like Olive-leafs, but longer, hispid, sharper, and of a sad green; its surcles are streight, slender, ligneous, sharp and hirsute: its flowers white, issuing out of the wings of its leafs, and depending upon short pedicls.

A small, rotund, hard and splendent seed, which glisters in the Sun, followes upon the occase of its flowers: whence it is pro∣bable, the Shopmen call it Sun-millet.

There are two sorts thereof, * 1.73 which in form and faculties aae alike, in magnitude onely dissident; besides which two others are found, which are either uselesse, or not experienced.

Lithosperm is hot and dry in the second degree, it moves urine, breaks and expels stones, liberates from obstructions, opens the passages, and helps against Strangury.

CHAP. L. Of Saxifrage.

MAny and different plants, from their faculty in breaking the stone, are called Saxifrages; thus Betony by Galen, and another ferulaceous herb like Epithyme by Dioscorides. Pimpi∣nell also, and other Lithontriptical plants are thus nuncupated: as also other plants which desume this name not from comminu∣tion or contrition of stones in the reins or bladder, but from their exortion in rocks; as Empetrum or Cristina marinv, which as it were dividing the rocks, issues out of their rimes and fruticates there long and vivaciously.

The vulgar Saxifrage, especially the greater, is very like Pim∣pinel, its leafs are variously descided, and serrated in their cir∣cuit: its caul is cubital, angulous and striated: its umbels whi∣tish, its seed like Garden smalledge, acrimonious and fervent to the gust.

The lesser differs from the former in little save magnitude. Many say, that Pimpinel differs from Saxifrage onely in hirsute∣nesse; for Pimpinel is pilous, the other smooth and glabre.

Other two plants, are referred to the family of Saxifrages; the one whereof is called white Saxifrage, because it bears a white flower; the other aureous, because it bears a golden flower; the seed of the greater Saxifrage should be selected to the confection of Benedicta Laxativa.

It is evidently hot and dry, * 1.74 it attenuates, incides, digests, ex∣purges, takes away obstructions, moves flowers, educes glutinous humours out of the breast, moves urine, and breaks and expells stones.

CHAP. LI. Of Aristolochy, or Birthwort.

ARistolochy is so called, because it helps childbearing, and edures their Lochia. Many call it the Earths apple, because its fruit is like an apple; but this nomenclature is peculiar to the round ones, for the fruits of some are turbinated.

There are five sorts of Aristolochies, the long, round sarmenti∣tious, saracenical, and Pistolochia or Polyrhizon; all which are so like in cauls, leafs and flowers, that none but such as are very per∣spicacious can difference and distinguish them.

They grow in many places in France about the margines of vineyards of fields, in fat and restible soyl: the long growes co∣piously on the Banks of Sequana.

Dioscorides acknowledges onely three sorts of Aristolochy, the

round, the long and the sarmentarious, the long he calls the mas∣culine; the round the foeminine; which some call Dactylis, he attributes eximious faculties to both; not onely against vene∣rate animals, but also for their potency in extracting the splin∣ters and fractures of bones and darts.

The round which nigreds the Confection of Hiera Pacchii, * 1.75 ca∣lefies and dryes potently, it is good against poysons, difficulty of breathing, sighings, and Spleen; it attracts such things as are left after childbearing; whence it is called Aristolochia; for removing the remora's it validly educes the Seconds, and moves Flowrs.

CHAP. LII. Of Asarum, or Asarabacca.

ASarum is by some called Vulgago; by others, Perpensa and Baccharis: but the Shopmen call it after the Greeks and La∣tines Afarum; its leafs are in colour and magnitude hederaceous, yet not acuminated, but somewhat rotund, constituting an imper∣fect circle; or as the Alchymists say, referring the signature of an ear, of which herb, when the Empirick Rivierius boasted, he was demanded by a learned Physician of Paris; whether or no the Leafs of Asarum were the best and most determinate cure for the diseases of the Auricles; whose ridiculous response demonstrated, that he neither knew the herb, nor the proper affections of the place; its flowers are small, lying under its leafs, like the flowers of Orenge coloured Henbane, but lesser, wherein a small, angu∣lous and sharp seed is contained; its roots are many, slender and gracile, obliquely diffused, and alternately implicated.

Its roots are hot and dry, as also its Leafs; * 1.76 but these more im∣becilly: they move urine and flowers, excite vomit, and expurge pituitous and crasse humours; they are very good against the ob∣structions and tumours of the Liver and Spleen; whence macera∣ted in wine, it is good against the Jaundice and Dropsie.

CHAP. LIII. Of Pimpinell, or Burnet.

PImpinel or Pampinell, * 1.77 which some enumerate amongst the Saxifrages, is twofold; the one Hortensian, which delights in sature and culture; the other Sylvestrian, which growes in Mea∣dowes and other incultivated places; both agree with Saxifrage, not onely in form, but faculties also; some call this plant Pepo∣nell; others, Bipennula; others, Sanguisorbe and Sanguinary; some give it the most composited name of Dionysio-nymphas; because con∣jected into Wine, it conciliates a certain grateful suavity in drink∣ing.

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It moves urine and flowers, cures wounds and Sciatica, con∣duces against the affections of the nerves; calefies, siccates, to∣borates the nerves, and is a good ingredient to vulneraries.

Many say that Ascyrum Androsaemum and Hypericum are one, but they are different plants, and of divers forms.

CHAP. LVIII. Of Androsaemum, or Peters-wort.

ANdrosaeme is so called, because its succe resembles mans blood; it is a fructiferous and ramous plant, its surcles are many, slender and red, its leafs broad, and mucronated like Ivy, but more tenuious and florid; which bruised, emit red succe like red wine; it hath many wings expanded on both fides of its summity: about which there are small luteous flowers; its seed is contained in small cups like Poppy seed, its hair contrited emits a resinous odour.

It growes spontaneously in many Woods of Northmany, and other incultivated places, whose leafs women collect and suc∣cessefully adhibite to pustuls, and almost all cutaneous affections: for they have experienced, that if it benefit not, it will not hurt any part whereunto it is admoved.

It calefies, * 1.78 siccates, agglutinates, stayes blood, cures burnings, helps against the Sciatica, cohibits wounds, adimpleats Ulcers with flesh, and cures them; two dragms of its seed brayed and taken, deduces the chollerick excrements of the belly by stools.

CHAP. LIX. Of Gith, or Nigella.

THere is no small difference betwixt Melanteria, and Melan∣thium; for Melanteria is a mineral like Mysius; but Melan∣thium or Gith is a Plant which they call Nigella, which assurges like a shrub, with slender boughs, leafs minutely incided like Coriander leafs, and candid flowers on the tops of its branches, many hairy tufts and stalks being interposed like green hair, whereunto quadrangular heads succeed, armed with prominent and reflected cornicles, distinguished with membranous covers, and gravidated with black angulous, acrimonious, and odorate seed.

There is another sort of sative Gith, which from the colour of its seed is called Orenge-coloured Gith; it is in all things like the former, but in its seed.

There are as many sorts of wild Gith, which grow amongst se∣getives, very like the satives; and another which is called Pseudo-Melanthium, and is enumerated amongst the caereals.

The first sort of Gith the Shopmen call Nigella Romana, though it be scarce at Rome, but plentiful in Germany.

It calefies and siccates potently, kills Worms, moves flowers, helps the orthopnoical, dissipates flatuosity, and benefits such as are affected with diseases in their Uterus.

CHAP. LX. Of Hyssope.

HYssop well known to all, is a fruticous plant, of a foots length, with leafs like Thyme, but longer, and broader; caeruleous flowers, whose branches are vested like Spike, with a long and lignous root.

And it is of two sorts; one montanous, which fruticates spon∣taneously in dry places; the other sative, which is for culinary uses nourished in Gardens; for it is grateful, and affects broth with a delectable sapour and sweet odour.

Both sorts are hot and dry in the third degree; but the dome∣stick, especially that which bears white flowers, is lesse hot and dry. Their faculties according to Dioscorides, Galen, and Mesue, are perstrictive, yet all confesse that they much help in diuturnal Coughs and distillations, and benefit the suspirious and ortho∣pnoical.

CHAP. LXI. Of Cranes-Bill.

DIoscorides makes but two sorts of Cranes-bill; * 1.79 Matthiolus three, borrowing the third from Pliny: Fuchsius, six; Do∣donaeus, eight, besides other two described by Fuchsius, which he doth but just mention.

The first emits very lanuginous surcles red from the root; leafs like Anemone, cut with many and long incisures, red flowers, af∣ter whose occase little heads emerge out of the summities of its branches, of the longitude of a needle, well representing the bill of a Stork, or Crane; whence later Writers one while call it Cranes bill, another while Storks bill, and another while Shep∣hards Needle.

The second hath small and pilous surcles, of half a foots lon∣gitude, with leafs like Mallowes, but whiter; purpureous flow∣ers on its summities, and with heads like Cranes bills: they mi∣stake, that call it Anemone.

The third hath pedal, geniculated, hoary, hispid and graveo∣lent surcles, with leafs like Chervil, red flowers and capitls ro∣strated like Storks.

The whole plant is red, whence it was of old called Rubel, now Rubertian, sometimes Robertian, or herb-Robert.

The fourth hath lacinated red leafs, purpureous flowers, and heads rostrated as the former.

The fifth is called Ranunculus, because it bears leafs like frogs; its flowers are patulous and subcaeruleous; its heads like the for∣mer: it is twofold; the one greater, whose flowers are caeruleous; the other lesser, whose flowers are red.

The sixth expands slender lanuginous branches, small and la∣ciniated leafs, purpureous flowers, to which the Stork bills suc∣ceed.

There is also a tuberous Storks bill; so called from its crasse, nodose and tuberous root; it luxuriates with many round surcles: leafs like Anemone, much laciniated, red, patulous, fair flowers on the tops of its caulicles, like little Roses.

Besides these, others are by some enumerated as the montanous Storks bill, the Ladies Comb, the Doves foot, and another, which for its suaveolence is called sweet Storks bill, which growes co∣piously in many places in Normandy, especially in maritimous tracts; some call it the herb Camphorata, but they erre; for Cam∣phorata is of the family of Ground-pines: but I find Southern∣wood called Camphorata, by many, for it smells like Camphire.

For defect of Camphorata, suaveolent Storks bill may be substi∣tuted in the confection of the unguent Martiatum; if both be want∣ing, the first sort of Storks bill may be desumed.

All of them are indued with the same faculty, * 1.80 the Moscative is calefactive, nerval, and discussive: the Rupertian, detersive, and accommodate to Ulcers.

CHAP. LXII. Of Doronicum, or Leopards Bane.

THat which Mesue calls Doronici, Actuarius Carnabadium; and it is likely that which Paulus calls Memirem, and Matthiolus falsly Aconitum Padalianche, we call vulgar Roman Doronicum, whereof that Matthiolus might give his opinion, he experienced his upon a dogg, which by that means dyed. I, besides the autho∣rity of grave men, can oppose him by experience; for I gave a great quantity thereof to a dogg, which he eat up without harm: yea, it is daily usurped successeful in decoctions and cordiall Electuaries: besides, the famous Doctor, Conradus Gesnerus as∣serts, that he hath often assumed Doronicums root condited, and drunk two dragms of its powder in water; yea, that he had fre∣quently and successefully prescribed it either solitary or mixed with other medicaments to his patients.

And though we grant to Matthiolus, that Doronicum kills dogs, it does not thence follow, that it is lethall to men; for both are

not of the same nature, nor yet live of the same aliment: thus Aloes kills Foxes, not men: Nux vomica kills Cats and many Birds, which is to us a solutiferous medicament.

Doronicum then must not be disapproved of as poyson, since many commend it, if not for an aromatical, yet for an alexiterial simple. And therefore Mesueus uses it in the Electuary de Gem∣mis, because there is some theriacality in it, (Avicen. Tract. 2. de med. cord.)

Doronicum is a small plant, with slender cauls; soft and long leafs like Plantain, somewhat flave and hirsute like Mouse-ears, whose ambitient is rotund, somewhat laciniated, and a little acuminated: its roots are small, rotund, and orbicular, growing more angust towards their extreams like the body and tail of a Snake; their colour is white, sapour, dulcoamare, and some∣what astrictive: its flowers are luteous and radiate like Oxe eye.

Some make but three varieties of Doronicum, which seem sole∣ly to discrepate in magnitude. Clusius enumerates seven; amongst which, Damasonion, which most call Alisma, is comprehended: and Classicall Authors affirm, that the root of Damasonion may well be substituted for the root of common Doronicum, in the confection of the Electuary de gemmis, and other cordiall com∣pounds; for it is commended against poysons, whether ingested or inflicted by Dioscorides, (C. 69. L. 3.) whereby it seems more convenient for these concoctions then Doronicum, of whose fa∣culties some doubt; others speak little.

Now Damasonium is very Doronicum in effigies, bearing leafs like Plantain, but more angust, lacinious, and conveyed down∣wards, with a slender, simple caul of more then a cubits heighth, a pale flower, slender, acrimonious, and odorate roots, which are good against poysons.

Doronicum is hot and dry almost in the third degree, * 1.81 it discusses flatuosity, is good against palpitation, and conduces to such as are venenately and pestilentiously diseased, or bitten by Ser∣pents.

CHAP. LXIII. Of Cardus Benedictus.

ATractylis, which is a kind of bastard Saffron, is twofold, the one whereof hath a streight Caul, and is thence called recti∣caul; the other emits procumbent surcles, and is thence called Straticaul, and by a more usuall name Carduus Benedictus; it is a plant well known to all, its Cauls are round, obsequious, bra∣chiated and decumbent; its leafs laciniated on both sides and spi∣nose; the summities of its surcles emit little heads stipated with spinose and pungent leafs, whence it is called Acanacia; which

heads are lanuginous and turgid, with long dusky and bearded seed; the flower is pallid, its root which is small in respect of the numerosity of its branches and leafs, is white, and divided in∣to fibres.

Carduus Benedictus being exceedingly amare, * 1.82 calefies, roborates the heart and vital parts, moves sudour, resists poysons, conduces against pestilentious diseases, mitigates the dolours of the Reins and sides, kills Worms, and prevails against the bitings of Ser∣pents.

CHAP. LXIV. Of Cardiobotanum, or Cardiaca, or Motherwort.

MYrepsus in the confecture of his unguent Martiatum, puts Cardiobotanum; Nic. Praepositus, Carducellum; but what ei∣ther of them are, we cannot easily define. Many use white Cha∣maeleon for Carducellum; and Carduus Benedictus for Cardiobotanum: others use Cardiaca, or Agripalma; which we call Motherwort.

It is called Cardiaca, from its effect; for it is thought, that it conduces in heart affections: but it is strange, that so insuave an odour should laetificate the heart, which delights so much in sua∣veolents; Cardiaca, or Agripalma (for so it is often named) is a cubital plant, seldom lower, often taller, bearing quadrangular, hard, and crasse cauls, of a blackish red colour; its leafs are broad, obscurely green, like nettle leafs, laciniated and divided with deep incisures; its flowers small, purpureously white, ver∣ticulately circumcinging its furcles, and emerging out of its cau∣licles. It growes in incultivated, strong and rough places: some call it Melissa; others Syteritis Herculana.

It is hot and dry in the second degree, it absterges, expurges, kills belly-Worms, * 1.83 liberates from obstructions, helps in Convul∣sions, and cures the affections of the heart; yet its foetour portends it to be no whit cordial.

CHAP. LXV. Of Black Chamaeleon Thistle.

THere are almost innumerable varieties of Thistles, to whose family both the white and black Chamaeleon are referred; the white hath no caul, but from the midst of its broad, long pro∣cumbent leafs, emits a head covered with prickles; some take it for Carducellum: but the black, which the Romans call Vermilago, and Carduus Niger, assurges with crasser and higher Cauls; long and broad leafs, divided on each side with profund sections; out of its summities erupt certain round heads coacted into umbells, splendent with many little flowers; its root is crasse, black with∣out, flave within, and very acrimonious to the gust.

The Root of black Chamaeleon, * 1.84 participates of some malignant quality; insomuch that it is never intrinsecally assumed; but fre∣quently and safely extrinsecally adhibited, especially when mixed with other medicaments: for, its ferity is retunded by the con∣course of other simples, and it afterwards pollicitates a salutary effect upon some affections, as the Sciatica, and other infections of the skin.

CHAP. LXVI. Of Artichock, or Scolymus.

ARtichock, which the Greeks call Scolymus, is of trivial digno∣tion: whereof there are two special differences, the one simply so called, the other Spinose, and Spanish, which is a kind of Thistle; yea both indeed are depromed from that tribe, and by culture and Art have acquired a more specious form and gracious sapour.

The leafs of Artichoak are long, broad, laciniated on both sides with profund incisures, and of a cineritious colour, whence it may be, it was called Cinara; its surcles are bicubital, whose summi∣ties produce a kind of fruit with three triangular, crasse, hard, medullous leafs compacted like scales: this fruit cocted till it be soft, is most grateful meat, but it is not so inservient to venery, as many think; for it adds very little genital matter or flatulent spi∣rits, but much melancholical succe to the body: (Gal. l. 6. de alim. facul.) its flowers conglomerated on slender and innumerable stalks are caeruleously purpureous: which withering turn into down; small long seeds like them of Carduus remaining therein: Wild Scolymus is very like the spinous Artichock; the slender Cauls of Cinara or Artichock condited with Sugar are grateful to eat, and much celebrated in opsonies.

The juice of Artichock according to Galen is very prave, * 1.85 hot in the second degree, bilious and melancholical, moving urine; its root cocted and drunk in wine, takes away the graveolence of the whole body, depelling it through the bladder with urine.

CHAP. LXVII. Of Phu, or Valerian.

PHu, which some call wild Spikenard, and Pliny, Cretian Spike∣nard, is Valerian, by some called Marinella, whereof there are five sorts; the first is the male, the second the female, the third the small, the fourth the red, and the fifth the Graecian Valerian.

The first, whereof Dioscorides alone makes mention by knowledg, hath a cubital caul geniculated, concave, and articulated with tare intervals; its leafs are long, late, smooth, green, sinuated, very like wild Parsnip leafs, two whereof emerge out of each genicle

of its surcles: its flowers are fair, small, umbellically collected on the tops of its branches, purpureous and odorate; its root is of a digital spissitude, transversly sected with many fibres, and adhe∣rent to the surface of the Earth.

It is calefactive and alexiterial, * 1.86 whence some call it Theriacaria & herba Benedicta; it is mixed with Antidotes, and moves urine and flours.

The rest of the Valerians which are seldom or never used, are at large described in Herballs.

CHAP. LXVIII. Of Fumitory.

FUmitory is so called, because its succe immitted into the eyes cause tears like fume; It is an herb well known, growing ei∣ther in Gardens or Fields, it is very like Coriander, it emits many red, and sometimes white flowers, acuminated on one side like the crist of a little bird they call the combed Lark; there are two sorts thereof, the first is vulgar, fruticating among segetives, and in a prique places; the other, which growes most in Gardens, is bulbous, subcineritious, variegated sometimes with white, some∣times with luteous or otherwise coloured flowers.

All Fumitory is acrimonious and amare, * 1.87 it moves bilious urine, and cures the obstructions and imbecillity of the Liver.

Its juice stilled into ones eyes, wonderfully helps against cali∣ginosity, and acuates the sight.

The vulgar Fumitory is in frequent use, from which two Syrups are denominated; the one is the greater Syrup of Fumitory, the other the lesser.

CHAP. LXIX. Of Eyebright.

THis plant which is by some called Ophthalmica, and Ocular herb, is low, scarce exceeding a foot in heighth; it emits gracile and black Caulicles, from its slender and fibrous root, its leafs are small, and serrated like dwarfe elder, flowers white, maculated with minute points: it growes in macilent, dry, and incultivated places near high-wayes, and margins of fields, that are not umbrous: it flourishes about the beginning of Autumn, and should then be gathered and kept: or else its water distilled while it is fresh for their eyes, to which it very much conduces, and is thence by the Germans called Solamen oculorum: some call it Euphrosyne, because it exhilarates the mind; for which effect Bugglosse is sometimes so denominated.

It calefies gently, * 1.88 siccates potently, and helps the eyes admira∣bly; for when it is adhibited it takes away caliginosity, and oures all pituitous diseases therein; the wine wherein much Eye∣bright

is macerated at Vintage time, doth with much efficacy ad∣juvate the Eyes, and expugne their affections.

CHAP. LXX. Of the lesser Centory.

THere are two differences of Centories, the one greater, the other lesse, which are very dissident each from other in form and faculties; for the greater hath bicubital Cauls, long leafs, cohaering together, and crenated in the margin, with heads turbinated on the tops of its branches, obduced with herbaceous scales like Lacea, out of which stamineous, caeruleous, and elegant flowers erupt, which greater is not of any great moment in medi∣cine; though the ancients for its dignity have called it Ceutaurium, or Panax.

But the lesser Centory is frequently used, which from its potency in captivating and expugning Fevers, is often called Febrifugium, and sometimes from its amaritude Fel terrae, and sometimes Lim∣nision.

It is a small plant assurging with a pedal, angulous Caul, vested with small leafs like Hypericum, two at each interval, coronated with small purpureous flowers, which in the day-time are expli∣cated, in the night recluded; short Cods succeed these, wherein small grains are coarctated: it growes spontaneously in inculti∣vated, herbous, macilent and aprique places; it is found in some places with a luteous, in others with a white flower. I have seen one with purpureous leafs in the middle, in other parts with white ones.

The lesser Centory calefies potently, * 1.89 expurges and cures invete∣rate Ulcers, its decoction takes away the obstructions of the Liver, and helps against the induration of the milt; its succe in sod wine educes flours, and accelerates delivery; and emplasticated with honey, it takes away dimnesse and caliginosity from the Eyes.

CHAP. LXXI. Of Rhaponticum.

RHaponticum is not Rubarb, nor the greater Centory, as many deceived with their affinity have credited: for * 1.90 Rhaponticum, is a peregrine root, coming from the Regions beyond Bosphorus in Thracia, and Pontus in Euxinum; of the crassitude of the greater Radish, somewhat black and ruddy like the greater Centory, fra∣gile, of a dark red colour within, and of a ferrugineous, subamare, astrictive, and inodorate sapour, void of all acrimony.

There growes in many Gardens in France, especially in such as appertain to them that delight in rare simples, Rhaponticum that

so well agrees with the antique, that it seems to be the very same, That root is best which admits no Worms, and which in mandu∣cation becomes pliant and clammy, without much astriction, and colours the spittle palely red, and Croceous.

It cures the imbecillity of the stomack, * 1.91 is good against the lie∣nous, hepatical, coxendical and convulsive dolours, cures burst∣nesse, circuits of Feavers, and bitings of venenate animals; it is an useful ingredient, in Antidotes.

CHAP. LXXII. Of Meum, or Spignell.

MEu or Meum, * 1.92 is twofold; the one most laudable, which is found in Macedonia, and copiously in Athamanthe, whence they call it Athamanticum: the other more vulgar, which grows in many places in France and Italy, which Herbalists call some∣times the wild Dill; sometimes tortuous Fennel; both of them have small, angust, and capillaceous leafs, gracile and cubital surcles, out of whose summities umbells with candid flowers emerge, to which angulous, long, odorate and acrimoniously amare seeds succeed, greater then Cumin seed; its roots are very slender and odorate.

It calefies in the third, * 1.93 and siccates in the second degree, it in∣cides, attenuates, expurges, removes obstructions, moves urine and flours, discusses, the flatuosity of the stomack, takes away the stop∣ings of the Liver, and emends the vices of the reins.

CHAP. LXXIII. Of Anethum, or Dill.

BOth Medicks and women, make use of Anethum; the women in June, at which time it is coronated with flowers, and most fragrant, excerpe or cut it, dry it, keep it and recond it with their Linnen to conciliate a pleasant odour to them; but the Medicks use its seed also to many things, as we shall hereafter declare.

Now Anethum is of a bicubital procerity, with rotund and ge∣niculated surcles, leafs dissected small like capillaries, luteous flowers on its muscary; plain, small, foliated and pallid seed, and a hard fibrous root; it is sowen in Gardens, and annually revives from the deciduous seed; its odour is grave, and yet ju∣cund and sweet.

It calefies and siccates in the second degree, * 1.94 being introsumed it moves urine, allayes gripings and flatuosity, abates singulture, evokes milk and augments it, it incides, attenuates and cocts hu∣mours.

CHAP. LXXIIII. Of Macedonian Petroseline.

PEtroseline is either vulgar, frequent in our Gardens, which Physitians call Garden Smallage; and the vulgarity, Parsley: which as a gratefull Pot-herb is inservient to culinary uses; Or Macedonian, which is diversely depinged, by herbalists. For Lobelius contends that in caul, leafes, umbells, and seed it is ve∣ry like the vulgar or Garden Parsley, onely, it growes in Prae∣rupt and saxous places, whence it is called Petrapium and Petrose∣line: so that ours and the Garden is one; the wild and the Mace∣donian Parsley, the same also: yet Fuchsius saith it hath leafes like Pimpinella, and seeds like Ammi, Odorate, Acrmionious and Aromaolent. And this same description he received not onely by tradition from Dioscorides, but saw and experienced; for when he had committed the seed of Macedonian Petroseline to the Earth, he found the Plant, thence produced to beare leafes respon∣dent to Pimpinella, and seed conditionated as Dioscorides had de∣scribed.

It growes copiously in Macedonia, especially in rough and sax∣ous places.

It calefies and siccates notably, moves urine, educes flowers, * 1.95 eases the colicall dolour, mitigates gripings, cures the dolours of the sides, Reins, and Liver, discusses flatuosity, attenuates, incides and successefully ingredes the confecture of Antidotes.

CHAP. LXXV. Of Coriander.

THough Coriander be a tetrous and graveolent herb, yet is it sowen and cultivated in Gardens; for its grains by fricati∣on depose their ingratefull odour, and become suaveolent; its surcle is very slender, round, cubitall, and ramous; its leafes are at first like them of Adiantum, laciniated and variously incid∣ped, for the part next the caul, is lesse sected, the remoter, more; its flowers are white on large umbells; its seed made round, firme, somwhat striated, and inane, which at first is green, then luteously white, its root short, hard and fibrous; the odour of its leafes is putrid and tetrous.

It seed is commonly prepared with Vinegar, for the castigati∣on of some inique quality, but desiccation effects as much, so that it may thenceforth be desumed without further preparation.

Coriander is refrigerative according to Dioscorides and cures biles, pimples and inflammations, if taken in bread or pancakes. * 1.96 But Galen dissents from this tenent proveing it to be calid, and

not to help biles or the like, but onely small watry powks, for it calefies moderately, resiccates manifestly, and is somwhat a∣strictive.

CHAP. LXXVI. Of Capers.

THe Caper shrub growes spontaneously in many places, make∣ing much prouent in dry and desart fields without the help of the Ploughman; it is a senticous shrub, low, and hamated with many a dark Prickles, whose aculeated branches are orbi∣cularly spread on the ground, its leafes are circinated like them of Quince-Trees, out of whose wings erupt long pedicles, capi∣tulated with round umbells, which dehisteing expand white fl∣wers, whereunto long fruits full of Acinous seeds succeed.

These rudments of flowers, or small heads, while they are yet nodose and not explicate, are by Pharmacopolists evelled, con∣dited and brine, and kept for Capers, the lesser are better then the larger, this conditure makes them more suaue and whol-some both for medicinall uses and esure, the root of this shrub is also praescinded, its bark separated siccated and text; Capers afford but small Aliment to their assumers because of the tenuity of their parts, and are therefore rather subserivent to mediniall uses, yet they mutuate a certain savour pergratefull to the sto∣mack from this brine; that invites the ranseative to banquets and revotes the languishing appetite.

Caper both fruit and root is calefactive extersive and purgative, * 1.97 it incides and digests, roborates helpes and minuates the spleen, removes obstructions; and cures all diseases ariseing from the in∣sariture imbecillity of the spleen.

CHAP. LXVXII. Of upright holy suckles or Woodbind.

THis Plant the Romans call volucrum majus, somtimes Capri∣folium scribonius largus calls it Matrisglua, and some the Lilly among Thornes, it is a Surculons Lignous and Scansory shrub cir∣cumuoluring it self about the Vicine-Trees, and with its obse∣quious surcles, ascending their summities. Tis leafes which are posited at distance, and two together at each Genicle are long, smooth, sofi, of a whitish green colour, more white one the lo∣wer side, its flowers white and somtimes flave, long, fistulous, gapeing in their extremities, many congested together Garland wise, and suaveolent, out of whose middle come some lusts, its fruit somwhat red, round racemously cohaerem, wherein a hard seed is contained its root is crasse and lignous, and of no use in Pharmany.

It growes in Woods and Hedges, so straightly amplexing trees sometimes, that it leaves thereon the impression of its circum∣volutions.

Some of these Woodbinds in amplexing the vicine trees, take their rounds from the Orient to the Occident; others from the occident to the orient; and that at all times and in all pla∣ces.

It calefies and siccates evidently, diminishes the Spleen, con∣duces to the orthopnoical, moves urine, adimates singultion, accelerates delivery in birth, deleates the pimples of the face, * 1.98 and by long use causes sterility both in man and woman.

Xylosteron is very like this honey-suckle or woodbind, but that it needs no fulciments for its supporture; as this requires.

CHAP. LXXVIII. Of Broom.

THe very Maids know Broom, which they collect and colli∣gate for Beesoms; ours growes in incultivated and dry pla∣ces, and is wild; the Spanish Broom, which is our Garden Broom, is like the wild, but its branches, leafs; and flowers are larger.

The flowers of the Spanish Broom, are more graveolent then its branches; the branches of the wild Broom more tetrous then its flowers.

There is a low kind of Broom which we call Genistella, whose caulicles are each way extended into membranous wings instead of leafs, which is neglected as uselesse in medicine: Broom flou∣rishes at the beginning of the spring, whose flowers not then per∣fectly explicated, are collected and condited with Vinegar and Salt, and kept for Winter-Acetaries like Capers.

It calefies and siccates to the second degree; its flowers are chiefly commended to the expediating of the infarctures of the Spleen and Liver; one dragme, or a dragme and a half of its feed brayed and drunk in three ounces of sweet water, * 1.99 moves and subduces the belly, opens the bladder, and cures Strangu∣ry.

CHAP. LXXIX. Of Savine.

THere are two sorts of Savine; the one bacciferous, the other devoid of all fruit; both lowe, like Juniper, and al∣wayes green; * 1.100 that which is not gravidated with Berries is more graveolent, rigid and rough with short pricles, its Come is al∣wayes green, its odour molestfull, and its sapour fervid and acrimonious: this is alwayes low, diffusing it self laterally, and

sometimes assurging on high, if its boughes which circumdate its Caul be praescinded.

The other is not so horrid, not aculeated with any prickles, ve∣ry like Tamarisk, not so graveolent as the former; it bears sub∣puniceous and resinous Berries: this delights not in frigid soyls, but grows copiously and spontaneously in hot places.

Besides the two former, Belonius saith, that in Crete and Mysia he saw another sort which was arboreous, in magnitude and manner of an Almond-tree, whom I had rather believe, then go so far to see the truth.

It is hot and dry in the third degree, * 1.101 it educes blood with urine, moves flowers, and taken in wine or adhibited, it excusses the young whether alive or dead.

CHAP. LXXX. Of Rosemary.

DIoscorides gives the name Libanotis to two very different Plants; * 1.102 the first he calls foecund & frugiferous Libanotis, or Rosemary, whose leafs are like Fennel, spread along the ground, and suaveolent, whose Caul is cubital, or higher, concave and capitulated with umbells, wherein is contained long and acri∣monious seed called Canchrys: Of this there are three varieties, one whereof is this described; the second is very like the for∣mer, onely its seed is more broad, not so mordacious, nor acri∣monious; the third bears neither flower nor seed.

The other sort is Coronary, much dissimilar to the former, for it is a lignous shrub, having many slender, long cauls, circum∣vested with angust and hard leafs, whitish below, and green above, coronated on each side, with caeruleously candescent flow∣ers; though its odour be grave, yet it is not ingrateful, but robo∣rates the brain and nerves; it is planted in every garden, growing spontaneously in the hotter Regions of France; it flourishes twice a year in Spring and Autumne.

It is calefactive, * 1.103 cures the Jaundice, if its decoction be drunk before exercise, and after exercise the diseased ingrede a bath and drink wine: it helps against the resolution of the Nerves, and stupour, and all diseases arising from the frigid humours in the brain.

CHAP. LXXXI. Of Agnus Castus, or White Willow.

THere growes a certain odorate shrub in hot Countreys about the brinks of Rivers, torrent Channels, and rough places, which they call Agnus Castus, or white Willow, with leafs like

Hemp, yet not serrated in their ambient, long, acuminated, and cohaering on one pedicle a piece; its boughs are long, lent, not fragile, its flowers are subpurpureous, verticulately circundating the summities of its surcles; its seed is rotund like Cardamome: it is called Agnus Castus, because its leafs and flowers strewed under one, conduces to their Chastity.

It calefies and siccates notably, validly discussing all flatuosity; * 1.104 it auxiliates in venenate bitings, and affections of the Spleen; it moves flowers, cohibits the motion of sperm, and allayes vene∣reous fancies in the night as well as Rue seed, for which cause the Athenian Matrons in their Feasts to Ceres, the better to custo∣dite their Chastity, strewed their beds with its leafs.

CHAP. LXXXII. Of the Ash and Ashton Keyes.

THe Ash is a tall Tree, which the Greeks call Media and Milea, not onely used in the fabrication of ligneous vessels, but also accommodated to medicinary uses; whose bark, wood, and fruit, afford many commodious medicaments: it assurges with a very crasse and high Caul, involved in a slender and smooth bark, with long leafs consisting of many together, and adhering to one pedicle like Liquorice or Wallnut leafs.

Many Cods colligated together upon one pedicle, issue out of its slender boughes, without any praegession of conspicuous flowers which Cods resembling birds tongues, and their Medulla a lingel, are called Birds tongues; by the Greeks, Ornithoglossa.

The Ancients have noted such an Antipathy betwixt Serpents, and this Tree, that they had rather run into the fire, then creep upon its leafs and boughes, if they were circundated with both.

Its leafs and bark calefie moderately, and siccate efficaciously; * 1.105 and its seed which we call Ornithoglossum, is hot and dry in the second degree. Now if this Tree be so averse from Serpents, that its very shade abigates them, its leafs, succe, or other parts duly assumed or adhibited, must needs produce potent effects upon poysons; they are therefore useful for the curation of such af∣fections as participate of any maligne quality, and good ingre∣dients to Antidotes: its seed is much celebrated for exciting of venery, it cures the dolours of the Liver and Spleen, proceeding from a cold cause, if it be taken in wine.

CHAP. LXXXIII. Of Viscus Quercinus, or of Misselto of the Oak.

THere are three sorts of Misselto, one whereof is (as they say) Collachrymated our of black Camelaeon Thistle, about the rising of the Dogge Starre, which according to Pliny; Scribonius, and Hesichius is venenate, and by them named Ixia; the second is Malacticall extracted from the berryes, to take and hold Birds, which is made of Holly-bark elixated; sepulted in mud, putrifyed, brayed and washed in water, till the bark be se∣parated, and the glew alone remain.

The third sort is, as it were, one Plant growing upon another, no part of the same; the earth brings it not forth, nor yet is it produced by sature, but fruticates and growes upon an aliene Plant, whose leafe-fades not, nor vigour failes: it growes not onely on one Tree, but many very dissimilar, as Oakes, Apple-Trees whether domestick or wild, Willowes, Poplar and many more.

These very seldome exceed a cubit in heighth, but they extend themselves laterally, with many short, geniculated, ligneous and dilutely green boughs, with long, broad, striated and some∣what flave leafes; round, white and splended berries grow on their genicles; whereon Thrushes, Stock-Doves and the like, feed in Winter. They have no roots unlesse the fibres and boughs of the Viscigerous Trees be their roots. It is fabulous that this viscum will not grow, unlesse the seed, whereof they say it is produced, be intermitted through the belly of some Bird.

And it is as ridiculous that Athenaeus writes, If, saith he, a Stock-Dove eat the seed of this viscum, it will grow upon what ever tree she exonerates her belly, for it springs neither from seed nor dung, but from the sudour of that Tree whereon it growes, but that is best that growes on Oakes.

It calefies with some acritude and amarity; yet it is of that rank of simples which requires some time before it exerts its ca∣lefactive quality. * 1.106 After application it discusses, mollifyes, and at∣tracts; mixed with Waxe and Rosine it drawes lumps, impost∣humes, and other swellings to maturity, and is very good against the Epilepsy.

CHAP. LXXXIIII. Of Poplar.

THe Poplar Tree is threefold, one is white, the second black, the third Lybian or tremulous, this last sort growes equally in dry and humid places; the other two are onely delighted with

wet soyles: the first sort hath a crasse, tall Caul, vested with a smooth white bark, its leafs are broad, incided, angulous, tre∣mulous, like tussilage, smooth and green above, lanuginous and white beneath, adhering to a long pedicle.

The black Poplar doth sooner erect it self on high, with a crasse, smooth and white Caul; a round, long, hederaccous leaf appended on a long small pedicle; it emits long down, and a kind of a Cluster, whereon some grains like round Pepper adhaere, which drawing to maturity, fall off before they de∣hisce.

The first buds this tree emits, which are the rudiments of fu∣ture leafs, are long and acute, full of some fat, oleous, and resi∣nous matter, which is subflave, and adheres to the fingers of the Tangents. Apothecaries call them oculus populi, which excerpe in the beginning of the Spring, bruise, and recond in a figuline vessel with swines grease till June, for the confecture of the poplar Unguent: Bees collect a kind of Lachryma of its leafs, where∣with they make their propoly.

The Lybian tremulous or mountain Poplar, varies little from the black in superficies, but its leafs are harder, lesser, more pro∣foundly serrated and adherent to a longer pedicle; and therefore more obvious to motion by the wind, which by their collision make a noise; some think this is Ceris, but that seems by Theo∣phrastus his description to be the same that we call Judas-tree.

Black Poplar Gemmes or eyes, are onely usurped for Pharmacy, * 1.107 and they are calefactive and siccative, by the tenuity of their parts inciding and mollifying: their Leafs participate of the same faculties, but in a more imbecill degree, brayed and illi∣ted with vinegar, they cure the podagrical dolour.

Whether Poplars lachrymate into the river Paa••••, there ma∣king Amber by their coition, as Dioscorides and many of his fol∣lowers believe, we shall hereafter determine it.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Vires.
• * 1.2

  Species.
• * 1.3

  Vires.
• * 1.4

  Herba salas.
• * 1.5

  Vires.
• * 1.6

  Species.
• * 1.7

  To help those that are slung with Nettles.
• * 1.8

  Succidanium.
• * 1.9

  Vires.
• * 1.10

  Vires.
• * 1.11

  Species.
• * 1.12

  Vires.
• * 1.13

  Species.
• * 1.14

  Vires.
• * 1.15

  Seseli Mas∣siliense.
• * 1.16

  Aethiopi∣cum jrutex.
• * 1.17

  Aethiop. Herba.
• * 1.18

  Peloponeuse.
• * 1.19

  Vires.
• * 1.20

  Vires.
• * 1.21

  The deno∣mination.
• * 1.22

  Vires.
• * 1.23

  Species.
• * 1.24

  Vires.
• * 1.25

  Vires.
• * 1.26

  Resta Bovis.
• * 1.27

  Remora Aratri. Acutella.
• * 1.28

  Species.
• * 1.29

  Vires.
• * 1.30

  Species graminis quot.
• * 1.31

  Vires.
• * 1.32

  Spanish-Juice.
• * 1.33

  Vires.
• * 1.34

  Vires.
• * 1.35

  Vires.
• * 1.36

  How to know the Best.
• * 1.37

  Species.
• * 1.38

  Vires.
• * 1.39

  Rephani Species.
• * 1.40

  Rapium un∣de dicitur Bunias.
• * 1.41

  A Town in France.
• * 1.42

  Rapistrum.
• * 1.43

  Species
• * 1.44

  Species.
• * 1.45

  Vires.
• * 1.46

  Species.
• * 1.47

  A Story.
• * 1.48

  Vires.
• * 1.49

  Vires.
• * 1.50

  Prima menthae species.
• * 1.51

  Vires.
• * 1.52

  Species
• * 1.53

  Vires.
• * 1.54

  Vires.
• * 1.55

  Species.
• * 1.56

  Vires.
• * 1.57

  Vires.
• * 1.58

  Vires.
• * 1.59

  Species.
• * 1.60

  Vires.
• * 1.61

  Vires.
• * 1.62

  Spanish Spurge.
• * 1.63

  † Money∣wort.
• * 1.64

  Snap∣draggon.
• * 1.65

  † Anagali∣dis.
• * 1.66

  Vires.
• * 1.67

  Vires.
• * 1.68

  Species.
• * 1.69

  Vires.
• * 1.70

  Vires.
• * 1.71

  Antidotus Mithrid, quibus Con∣stiterit.
• * 1.72

  Vires.
• * 1.73

  Vires.
• * 1.74

  Vires.
• * 1.75

  Vires.
• * 1.76

  Vires.
• * 1.77

  Species.
• * 1.78

  Vires.
• * 1.79

  Species
• * 1.80

  Vires.
• * 1.81

  Vires.
• * 1.82

  Vires.
• * 1.83

  Vires.
• * 1.84

  Vires.
• * 1.85

  Vires.
• * 1.86

  Vires.
• * 1.87

  Vires.
• * 1.88

  Vires.
• * 1.89

  Vires.
• * 1.90

  † But now we have it plenti∣fully growing in England.
• * 1.91

  Vires.
• * 1.92

  Species.
• * 1.93

  Vires.
• * 1.94

  Vires.
• * 1.95

  Vires.
• * 1.96

  Vires.
• * 1.97

  Vires.
• * 1.98

  Vires.
• * 1.99

  Vires.
• * 1.100

  Species.
• * 1.101

  Vires.
• * 1.102

  Species.
• * 1.103

  Vires.
• * 1.104

  Vires.
• * 1.105

  Vires.
• * 1.106

  Vires.
• * 1.107

  Vires.