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.

Wood Sorrel.

Descript.] THis groweth low upon the Ground, having a number of Leavs coming from the Root, made of three Leavs like a Trefoyl but broad at the ends and cut in the middle, of a faint yellowish green color, every one standing on a long Footstalk, which at their first coming up are close folded together to the Stalk, but opening themselves af∣terwards, and are of a fine sowr rellish, and yeilding a Juyce which wil turn red when it is clarified, and maketh a most dainty cleer Syrup: A∣mong these Leavs riseth up divers slender weak Footstalks, with every one of them a Flower at the top, consisting of five smal pointed Leavs star fashion, of a white color in most places, and in some dash'd over with a smal shew of blush, on the back side only: After the Flowers are past, follow smal round heads, with smal yellowish Seed in them: The Roots are nothing but smal strings fastned to the end of a smal long piece, al of them being of a yellowish color.

Place.] It groweth in many places of our Land, in Woods and Wood sides, where they be moist and shadowed, and in other places, not too much open to the Sun.

Time.] It flowereth in April and May.

Government and Vertues.] Venus owns it. Wood-Sorrel serveth to al the purposes that the other Sorrels do, and is more effectual in hindring the putrefaction of Blood,* 1.1 & ulcers in the Mouth and Body, and in cooling & tempering heats & inflamati∣ons, to quench thirst, to strengthen a weak Stomach, to pro∣cure an Appetite, to stay Vomiting, and very excellent in

any contagious sickness, or Pestilential Feavers. The Sy∣rup made of the Juyce is effectual in al the causes aforesaid, and so is the distilled Water of the Herb also. Spunges or Linnen Cloathes wet in the Juyce and applied outwardly to any hot Swellings or Inflamations, doth much cool and help them: The same Juyce taken and gargled in the Mouth, and after it is spit forth, fresh taken, doth wonder∣fully help a foul stinking Canker or Ulcer therein. It is singular good in Wounds, Thrusts, and Stabs in the Bo∣dy, to stay bleeding, and to clense and heal the Wounds speedily; and helpeth to stay any hot defluxions into the Throat or Lungs.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Ulcers, Infla∣mations, pro∣cure Appetite, stay Vomiting, Pestilential Feavers, hot swellings, can∣ker or Ʋlcer in the Mouth, Wounds, or scabs, defluxi∣ons.