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.

Crosswort.

Descript.] THe common Crosswort groweth up with square hairy brown Stalks, little above a foot high, having four smal broad and pointed hairy, yet smooth green Leavs, growing at every joynt, each a∣gainst other, cross waies, which hath caused the name: Toward the tops of the Stalks at the Joynts with the Leavs in three or four rows upwards, stand smal, pale yellow Flowers; after whith come smal blackish, round Seed, four for the most part set in every Husk. The Root is very smal and full of fibres, or thrids, taking good hold of the ground, and spreading with the Branches a great deal of ground, which perish not in Winter, although the Leavs die every yeer, and spring again anew.

Place.] It groweth in many moist grounds, as wel Meadows, as untille•…•… places about London. In Hamsted Church-yard, at Wye in Kent, and sun∣dry other places.

Time.] It flowreth from May al the Summer long in one place or other as they are more open to the Sun; the Seed ripeneth soon after.

Government and Vertues.] It is under the Dominion of Sa∣turn. This is a singular good Wound Herb, and is used in∣wardly, not only to stay bleeding of Wounds, but to consolidate them, as it doth outwardly any green Wounds, which it quickly sodereth up and healeth. The Decoction of the Herb in Wine, helpeth to expectorate flegm out of the Chest, and is good for Obstructions in the Breast, Stomach, or Bowels, and helpeth a decayed Appetite; It is also good to wash any Wound or Sore with, to clense and heal it: The Herb bruised, and then boy∣led and applied outwardly for certain daies together, renewing it often, and in the mean time, the Decoction of the Herb in the Wine taken inwardly every day, doth certainly cure the Rupture in any, so as it be not too inveterate; but very speedily if it be fresh and lately taken.

Notes

• Wounds, inward & outward, flegm, Ob∣structions, Stomach, Bowels, Ruptures.