The English physitian enlarged with three hundred, sixty, and nine medicines made of English herbs that were not in any impression until this: ... Being an astrologo-physical discourse of the vulgar herbs of this nation: containing a compleat method of physick, whereby a man may preserve his body in health; or cure himself, being sick, for three pence charge, with such things only as grow in England, they being most fit for English bodies. Herein is also shewed these seven things, viz. 1 The way of making plaisters, oyntments, oyls, pultisses, syrups, decoctions, julips, or waters, of al sorts of physical herbs ... 7 The way of mixing medicines according to cause and mixture of the disease, and part of the body afflicted. By Nich. Culpeper, Gent. student in physick and astrologie: living in Spittle Fields.

Mustard.

Descript.] OƲr common Mustard hath large and broad rough Leavs, very much jagged with uneven and unorderly gashes, som∣what like Turnip Leavs, but lesser and rougher: The Stalk riseth to be more than a foot high, & somtimes two foot high, being round, rough, and branched at the top, bearing such like Leavs theron as grow below, but lesser, and less divided; and divers yellow Flowers one above another at the tops; after which come smal rough Pods, with smal lank flat ends, wherein is contained round yellowish Seed, sharp, hot, and biting upon the Tongue: The Root is smal, long, and woody, when it beareth Stalks, and perisheth every yeer.

Place.] This groweth with us in Gardens only, and other manured places.

Time.] It is an annual Plant, Flowring in July, and their Seed is ripe in August.

Government and Vertues.] It is an excellent Sawce for such whose Blood wants clarifying, and for weak Stomachs, being an Herb of Mars, but naught for Chollerick people, though as good for such as are aged or troubled with cold Diseases: Aries claims somthing to do with it, there∣fore it strengthens the Heart and resisteth Poyson: let such whose Stomachs are so weak they cannot digest their meat, or appetite it, take of Mustard Seed a dram, Cinnamon as much, and having beaten them to Pouder, ad half as much Mastich in Pouder, and with Gum Arabick dissolved in Rose Water, make it up into Troches, of which they may take one of about half

a dram weight an hour or two before meals, let old men and women make much of this Medicine, and they wil either give me thanks, or manifest in∣gratitude. Mustard Seed hath the Vertue of heating, discussing, rarefying, and drawing out Splinters of Bones, and other things out of the flesh. It is of good effect to bring down Womens Courses, for the Falling-sickness or Lethargy, drousie forgetful evil, to use it both inwardly, and outwardly to rub th•• Nostrils, Forehead and Temples, to warm and quicken the Spirits, for by the fierce sha••pness it purgeth the Brain by sneezing, and drawing down Rhewm and other viscuous Humors, which by their distillations upon the Lungs and Chest procure Cough∣ing, and therfore with some Honey added thereto doth much good therein. The Decoction of the Seed made in Wine and drunk, provoketh Urin, resisteth the force of Poyson, the malignity of Mushroms, and the Venom of Scorpions, or other Venemous Creatures, if it be taken in time: and taken before the cold fits of Agues, altereth, lesseneth, and cureth them. The Seed taken either by it self or with other things, either in an E∣lectuary or Drink, doth mightily stir up bodily Lust, and hel∣peth the Spleen and pains in the Sides, and gnawing in the Bo∣wels. And used as a Gargle, draweth up the Pallat of the Mouth being fallen down, and also it dissolveth the Swellings about the Throat if it be outwardly applied. Being chewed in the Mouth, it oftentimes helpeth the Toothach. The outward ap∣plication hereof upon the pained place of the Sciatica, discusseth the Humors, and easeth the pains, as also of the Gout, and other Joynt aches. And is much and often used to eas pains in the Sides or Loyns, the Shoulders, or other parts of the Body, upon the applying therof to raise Blisters, and cureth the Disease by drawing it to the outward part of the Body: It is also used to help the falling of the Hair: The Seed bruised, mixed with Honey and applied, or made up with Wax, taketh away the Marks, and black and blue spots of Bruises or the like, the rough∣ness or scabbedness of the Skin, as also the Leprosie and Lousie evil: it helpeth also the crick in the Neck. The distilled Water of the Herb when it is in Flower, is much used to drink inward∣ly to help in any the Diseases aforesaid, or to wash the Mouth when the Pallat is down, and for the diseases of the Throat to gargle, but outwardly also for Scabs, Itch, or other like infirmities, and clenseth the Face from Morphew, Spots, Freckles, and other Deformities.

Notes

• Heat••, Dries, Splinters, Thorns, Terms, povokes, Falling-sickness, Lethargie, Sneezing, Disury, Poyson, Mushroms venemous Breasts, Agues, Lust pro∣vokes, Spleen, Ʋvula, Sciatica; Toothach, Pains, Hair, Bruises, Black and blue spots, roughness, Leprosie, Leuzie E∣vil, Mor-Freckles, Wry Necks.