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Title: The Complete Herbal - To which is now added, upwards of one hundred additional - herbs, with a display of their medicinal and occult - qualities physically applied to the cure of all disorders - incident to mankind: to which are now first annexed, the - English physician enlarged, and key to Physic.
Author: Culpeper, Nicholas
Language: English
As this book started as an ASCII text book there are no pictures available.
*** Start of this LibraryBlog Digital Book "The Complete Herbal - To which is now added, upwards of one hundred additional - herbs, with a display of their medicinal and occult - qualities physically applied to the cure of all disorders - incident to mankind: to which are now first annexed, the - English physician enlarged, and key to Physic." ***
produced from images generously made available by The
Internet Archive) In loving memory of Poppy Curnow, who
loved her herb garden.
[Transcriber's Note: As with any medicinal work first published in the
1600s and rewritten countless times, it should go without saying to not
attempt these recipes. Just in case, the transcriber has now said it.
Also, many and varied were the printing and publishing anomalies, for a
more complete explanation, see the extensive notes collected at the end
of this text.]
[Illustration: NICHOLAS CULPEPER, M.D.
Author of the Family Herbal.]
[Illustration: RED LION HOUSE, SPITALFIELDS
IN WHICH CULPEPER LIVED, STUDIED AND DIED]
THE
COMPLETE HERBAL;
TO WHICH IS NOW ADDED, UPWARDS OF
ONE HUNDRED ADDITIONAL HERBS,
WITH A DISPLAY OF THEIR
Medicinal and Occult Qualities
PHYSICALLY APPLIED TO
THE CURE OF ALL DISORDERS INCIDENT TO MANKIND:
TO WHICH ARE NOW FIRST ANNEXED, THE
ENGLISH PHYSICIAN ENLARGED,
AND
KEY TO PHYSIC.
WITH
RULES FOR COMPOUNDING MEDICINE ACCORDING TO THE TRUE SYSTEM OF NATURE.
FORMING A COMPLETE
FAMILY DISPENSATORY AND NATURAL SYSTEM OF PHYSIC.
————————————
BY NICHOLAS CULPEPER, M.D.
————————————
TO WHICH IS ALSO ADDED,
UPWARDS OF FIFTY CHOICE RECEIPTS,
SELECTED FROM THE AUTHOR’S LAST LEGACY TO HIS WIFE.
A NEW EDITION,
WITH A LIST OF THE PRINCIPAL DISEASES TO WHICH THE HUMAN BODY IS
LIABLE,
AND A GENERAL INDEX.
_Illustrated by Engravings of numerous British Herbs and Plants,
correctly coloured from nature._
———————
“The Lord hath created Medicines out of the earth; and he that is
wise will not abhor them.”—_Ecc._ xxxviii. 4.
———————
LONDON:
THOMAS KELLY, 17, PATERNOSTER ROW.
———
MDCCCL.
LONDON;
A. CROSS, PRINTER, 89, PAUL STREET,
FINSBURY.
[Transcriber's Notes: All plates were done by: THOMAS KELLY, LONDON]
PLATE 1.
Alexander
Agrimony
Alkanet
Allheal
Amara Dulcis _or_ Bitter Sweet
Amaranthus
Adder's Tongue
Angelica
Alehoof _or_ Ground Ivy
PLATE 2.
Garden Arrach
Avens
Ars smart
Basil
Archangel
Beets
Yellow Bedstraw
White Bedstraw
Water Betony
PLATE 3.
Bird’s Foot
Bishop’s Weed
Bistort _or_ Snakeweed
White Briony
Borage
Brooklime
Bucks-horn Plantain
Brank Ursine
Blue Bottle
PLATE 4.
Burdock
Butter-bur
Wall Bugloss
Bugle
Camomile
Carraway
Centaury
Wild Carrot
Celandine
PLATE 5.
Chervill
Comfry
Cleavers
Coltsfoot
Crabs Claws _or_ Fresh water Soldier
Cowslip
Columbine
Shrub Cinquefoil
Costmary
PLATE 6.
Crowfoot
Cuckow Point
Water Cress
Cudweed
Crosswort
Dill
Dandelion
Daisy
Devils Bit
PLATE 7.
Eringo
Eyebright
Elecampane
Dock
Dragons
Dog’s Grass
Dropwort
Dove’s Foot
Bloody Dock
PLATE 8.
Foxglove
Flower-de-luce
Figwort
Fleawort
Fumitory
Fluellin
Fennel
Flaxweed
Feverfew
PLATE 9.
Wall Hawkweed.
Hart’s Tongue.
Mouse-ear Hawkweed.
Gentian.
Golden Rod.
Galingal.
Clove Gilliflower.
Groundsel.
Germander.
PLATE 10.
Longrooted Hawkweed
Hearts Ease
Hounds Tongue
Herb Robert
Marsh Pennywort
White Horehound
Henbane
Truelove
Hemlock
PLATE 11.
Knapweed
Lady’s Mantle
Ladysmock
Sea Lavender
Water Lily
Liquorice
Loosestrife or Willowherb
Liver Wort
Lily of the Valley
PLATE 12.
Lovage
Lungwort
Loosestrife _or_ Wood Willow-herb
Maidenhair
Field Madder
Marsh Mallow
Marigold
Melilot
Masterwort
PLATE 13.
Mouse Ear
Moon-wort
Field Mouse Ear
Yellow Money-wort
Black Mullein
Mother-wort
Mug-wort
White Mullein
White Mustard
PLATE 14.
Black Mustard
Common Nightshade
Deadly Nightshade
Nep
Nailwort
Orpine
Cow Parsnip
Rock Parsley
Wild Parsnip
PLATE 15.
Pellitory of the Wall
Periwinkle
Pepper-wort
Pimpernel
Plantain
Polypody
White Poppy
Corn Rose Poppy
Primrose
PLATE 16.
Privet
Queen of the Meadow
Meadow Rue
Cress Rocket
Rattle Grass
Rocket Cress
Ragwort
Rapture Wort
Saffron
PLATE 17.
Meadow Saxifrage
Great Sanicle
Samphire
Garden Scurvygrass
Scabious
Shepherd’s Purse
Saracen’s Confound
Self-heal
Burnet Saxifrage
PLATE 18.
Yellow Succory
Solomon’s Seal
Wild Succory
Spignel
Wood Sorrel
Common Sorrel
Smallage
Sow Thistle
Tansy
PLATE 19.
Treacle Mustard
Tustan
Thorough Wax
Tooth-wort
Trefoil
Tormentil
Lady’s Thistle
Wild Teazle
Cotton Thistle
PLATE 20.
Vervain
Valerian
Viper’s Bugloss
Woad
Woodbine
Wall Flower
Wormwood
Sea Wormwood
Yarrow
CULPEPER’S
ORIGINAL EPISTLE TO THE READER.
TAKE Notice, That in this Edition I have made very many Additions to
every sheet in the book: and, also, that those books of mine that are
printed of that Letter the small Bibles are printed with, are very
falsely printed: there being twenty or thirty gross mistakes in every
sheet, many of them such as are exceedingly dangerous to such as shall
venture to use them: And therefore I do warn the Public of them: I can
do no more at present; only take notice of these Directions by which
you shall be sure to know the _True one_ from the _False_.
_The first Direction._—The true one hath this Title over the head of
every Book, THE COMPLETE HERBAL AND ENGLISH PHYSICIAN ENLARGED. The
small Counterfeit ones have only this Title, THE ENGLISH PHYSICIAN.
_The second Direction._—The true one hath these words, GOVERNMENT
AND VIRTUES, following the time of the Plants flowering, &c. The
counterfeit small ones have these words, VIRTUES AND USE, following the
time of the Plants flowering.
_The third Direction._—The true one is of a larger Letter than the
counterfeit ones, which are in _Twelves_, &c., of the Letter small
Bibles used to be printed on. I shall now speak something of the book
itself.
All other Authors that have written of the nature of Herbs, give not
a bit of reason why such an Herb was appropriated to such a part of
the body, nor why it cured such a disease. Truly my own body being
sickly, brought me easily into a capacity, to know that health was
the greatest of all earthly blessings, and truly he was never sick
that doth not believe it. Then I considered that all medicines were
compounded of Herbs, Roots, Flowers, Seeds, &c., and this first set
me to work in studying the nature of simples, most of which I knew
by sight before; and indeed all the Authors I could read gave me but
little satisfaction in this particular, or none at all. I cannot build
my faith upon Authors’ words, nor believe a thing because they say it,
and could wish every body were of my mind in this,—to labour to be
able to give a reason for every thing they say or do. They say Reason
makes a man differ from a Beast; if that be true, pray what are they
that, instead of reason for their judgment, quote old Authors? Perhaps
their authors knew a reason for what they wrote, perhaps they did not;
what is that to us? Do we know it? Truly in writing this work first,
to satisfy myself, I drew out all the virtues of the vulgar or common
Herbs, Plants, and Trees, &c., out of the best or most approved authors
I had, or could get; and having done so, I set myself to study the
reason of them. I knew well enough the whole world, and every thing
in it, was formed of a composition of contrary elements, and in such
a harmony as must needs show the wisdom and power of a great God. I
knew as well this Creation, though thus composed of contraries, was one
united body, and man an epitome of it: I knew those various affections
in man, in respect of sickness and health, were caused naturally
(though God may have other ends best known to himself) by the various
operations of the Microcosm; and I could not be ignorant, that as the
cause is, so must the cure be; and therefore he that would know the
reason of the operation of the Herbs, must look up as high as the
Stars, astrologically. I always found the disease vary according to the
various motions of the Stars; and this is enough, one would think, to
teach a man by the effect where the cause lies. Then to find out the
reason of the operation of Herbs, Plants, &c., by the Stars went I; and
herein I could find but few authors, but those as full of nonsense and
contradiction as an egg is full of meat. This not being pleasing, and
less profitable to me, I consulted with my two brothers, DR. REASON and
DR. EXPERIENCE, and took a voyage to visit my mother NATURE, by whose
advice, together with the help of DR. DILIGENCE, I at last obtained my
desire; and, being warned by MR. HONESTY, a stranger in our days, to
publish it to the world, I have done it.
But you will say, _What need I have written on this Subject, seeing so
many famous and learned men have written so much of it in the English
Tongue, much more than I have done?_
To this I answer, neither GERRARD nor PARKINSON, or any that ever wrote
in the like nature, ever gave one wise reason for what they wrote, and
so did nothing else but train up young novices in Physic in the School
of tradition, and teach them just as a parrot is taught to speak; an
Author says so, therefore it is true; and if all that Authors say be
true, why do they contradict one another? But in mine, if you view it
with the eye of reason, you shall see a reason for everything that is
written, whereby you may find the very ground and foundation of Physic;
you may know what you do, and wherefore you do it; and this shall call
me Father, it being (that I know of) never done in the world before.
I have now but two things to write, and then I have done.
1. _What the profit and benefit of this Work is._
2. _Instructions in the use of it._
1. The profit and benefit arising from it, or that may occur to a wise
man from it are many; so many that should I sum up all the particulars,
my Epistle would be as big as my Book; I shall quote some few general
heads.
First. The admirable Harmony of the Creation is herein seen, in the
influence of Stars upon Herbs and the Body of Man, how one part of the
Creation is subservient to another, and all for the use of Man, whereby
the infinite power and wisdom of God in the creation appear; and if I
do not admire at the simplicity of the Ranters, never trust me; who but
viewing the Creation can hold such a sottish opinion, as that it was
from eternity, when the mysteries of it are so clear to every eye? but
that Scripture shall be verified to them, _Rom._ i. 20: “_The invisible
things of him from the Creation of the World are clearly seen, being
understood by the things that are made, even his Eternal Power and
Godhead; so that they are without excuse._”—And a Poet could teach them
a better lesson;
“_Because out of thy thoughts God shall not pass,_
“_His image stamped is on every grass._”
This indeed is true, God has stamped his image on every creature, and
therefore the abuse of the creature is a great sin; but how much the
more do the wisdom and excellency of God appear, if we consider the
harmony of the Creation in the virtue and operation of every Herb!
Secondly, Hereby you may know what infinite knowledge _Adam_ had in his
innocence, that by looking upon a creature, he was able to give it a
name according to its nature; and by knowing that, thou mayest know how
great thy fall was and be humbled for it even in this respect, because
hereby thou art so ignorant.
Thirdly, Here is the right way for thee to begin at the study of
Physic, if thou art minded to begin at the right end, for here
thou hast the reason of the whole art. I wrote before in certain
Astrological Lectures, which I read, and printed, intituled,
_Astrological Judgment of Diseases_, what planet caused (as a second
cause) every disease, how it might be found out what planet caused it;
here thou hast what planet cures it by _Sympathy_ and _Antipathy_; and
this brings me to my last promise, _viz._
_Instructions for the right use of the book._
And herein let me premise a word or two. The Herbs, Plants, &c. are now
in the book appropriated to their proper planets. Therefore,
First, Consider what planet causeth the disease; that thou mayest find
it in my aforesaid Judgment of Diseases.
Secondly, Consider what part of the body is afflicted by the disease,
and whether it lies in the flesh, or blood, or bones, or ventricles.
Thirdly, Consider by what planet the afflicted part of the body is
governed: that my Judgment of Diseases will inform you also.
Fourthly, You may oppose diseases by Herbs of the planet, opposite
to the planet that causes them: as diseases of _Jupiter_ by herbs of
_Mercury_, and the contrary; diseases of the _Luminaries_ by the herbs
of _Saturn_, and the contrary; diseases of _Mars_ by herbs of _Venus_,
and the contrary.
Fifthly, There is a way to cure diseases sometimes by _Sympathy_, and
so every planet cures his own disease; as the _Sun_ and _Moon_ by
their Herbs cure the Eyes, _Saturn_ the Spleen, _Jupiter_ the liver,
_Mars_ the Gall and diseases of choler, and _Venus_ diseases in the
instruments of Generation.
NICH. CULPEPER.
From my House in Spitalfields,
next door to the Red Lion,
_September 5, 1653_.
TO HIS DEAREST CONSORT
MRS. ALICE CULPEPER.
MY DEAREST,
THE works that I have published to the world (though envied by some
illiterate physicians) have merited such just applause, that thou
mayest be confident in proceeding to publish anything I leave thee,
especially this master-piece: assuring my friends and countrymen, that
they will receive as much benefit by this, as by my _Dispensatory_,
and that incomparable piece called, _Semiotica Uranica_ enlarged, and
_English Physician_.
These are the choicest secrets, which I have had many years locked up
in my own breast. I gained them by my constant practice, and by them I
maintained a continual reputation in the world, and I doubt not but the
world will honour thee for divulging them; and my fame shall continue
and increase thereby, though the period of my Life and Studies be at
hand, and I must now bid all things under the sun farewell. Farewell,
my dear wife and child; farewell, Arts and Sciences, which I so dearly
loved; farewell, all worldly glories; adieu, readers,
NICHOLAS CULPEPER.
* * * * *
NICHOLAS CULPEPER, the Author of this Work, was son of Nicholas
Culpeper, a Clergyman, and grandson of Sir Thomas Culpeper, Bart. He
was some time a student in the university of Cambridge, and soon after
was bound apprentice to an Apothecary. He employed all his leisure
hours in the study of Physic and Astrology, which he afterwards
professed, and set up business in Spitalfields, next door to the
Red Lion, (formerly known as the Half-way House between Islington
and Stepney, an exact representation of which we have given under
our Author’s Portrait), where he had considerable practice, and was
much resorted to for his advice, which he gave to the poor gratis.
Astrological Doctors have always been highly respected; and those
celebrated Physicians of the early times, whom our Author seems to
have particularly studied, Hippocrates, Galen, and Avicen, regarded
those as homicides who were ignorant of Astrology. Paracelsus, indeed,
went farther; he declared, a Physician should be predestinated to the
cure of his patient; and the horoscope should be inspected, the plants
gathered at the critical moment, &c.
Culpeper was a writer and translator of several Works, the most
celebrated of which is his Herbal, “being an astrologo-physical
discourse of the common herbs of the nation; containing a complete
Method or Practice of Physic, whereby a Man may preserve his Body in
Health, or cure himself when sick, with such things only as grow in
England, they being most fit for English Constitutions.”
This celebrated, and useful Physician died at his house in
Spitalfields, in the year 1654. This Book will remain as a lasting
monument of his skill and industry.
“Culpeper, the man that first ranged the woods and climbed
the mountains in search of medicinal and salutary herbs, has
undoubtedly merited the gratitude of posterity.”—DR. JOHNSON.
THE
ENGLISH PHYSICIAN
ENLARGED.
AMARA DULCIS.
CONSIDERING divers shires in this nation give divers names to one and
the same herb, and that the common name which it bears in one county,
is not known in another; I shall take the pains to set down all the
names that I know of each herb: pardon me for setting that name first,
which is most common to myself. Besides Amara Dulcis, some call it
Mortal, others Bitter-sweet; some Woody Night-shade, and others
Felon-wort.
_Descript._] It grows up with woody stalks even to a man’s height, and
sometimes higher. The leaves fall off at the approach of winter, and
spring out of the same stalk at spring-time: the branch is compassed
about with a whitish bark, and has a pith in the middle of it: the
main branch branches itself into many small ones with claspers, laying
hold on what is next to them, as vines do: it bears many leaves, they
grow in no order at all, at least in no regular order; the leaves are
longish, though somewhat broad, and pointed at the ends: many of them
have two little leaves growing at the end of their foot-stalk; some
have but one, and some none. The leaves are of a pale green colour;
the flowers are of a purple colour, or of a perfect blue, like to
violets, and they stand many of them together in knots: the berries are
green at first, but when they are ripe they are very red; if you taste
them, you shall find them just as the crabs which we in Sussex call
Bittersweet, _viz._ sweet at first and bitter afterwards.
_Place._] They grow commonly almost throughout England, especially in
moist and shady places.
_Time._] The leaves shoot out about the latter end of March, if the
temperature of the air be ordinary; it flowers in July, and the seeds
are ripe soon after, usually in the next month.
_Government and virtues._] It is under the planet Mercury, and
a notable herb of his also, if it be rightly gathered under his
influence. It is excellently good to remove witchcraft both in men
and beasts, as also all sudden diseases whatsoever. Being tied round
about the neck, is one of the most admirable remedies for the vertigo
or dizziness in the head; and that is the reason (as Tragus saith) the
people in Germany commonly hang it about their cattle’s necks, when
they fear any such evil hath betided them: Country people commonly
take the berries of it, and having bruised them, apply them to felons,
and thereby soon rid their fingers of such troublesome guests.
We have now showed you the external use of the herb; we shall speak
a word or two of the internal, and so conclude. Take notice, it is a
Mercurial herb, and therefore of very subtile parts, as indeed all
Mercurial plants are; therefore take a pound of the wood and leaves
together, bruise the wood (which you may easily do, for it is not so
hard as oak) then put it in a pot, and put to it three pints of white
wine, put on the pot-lid and shut it close; and let it infuse hot over
a gentle fire twelve hours, then strain it out, so have you a most
excellent drink to open obstructions of the liver and spleen, to help
difficulty of breath, bruises and falls, and congealed blood in any
part of the body, it helps the yellow jaundice, the dropsy, and black
jaundice, and to cleanse women newly brought to bed. You may drink a
quarter of a pint of the infusion every morning. It purges the body
very gently, and not churlishly as some hold. And when you find good by
this, remember me.
They that think the use of these medicines is too brief, it is only for
the cheapness of the book; let them read those books of mine, of the
last edition, _viz._ _Reverius_, _Veslingus_, _Riolanus_, _Johnson_,
_Sennertus_, and _Physic for the Poor_.
ALL-HEAL.
IT is called All-heal, Hercules’s All-heal, and Hercules’s Woundwort,
because it is supposed that Hercules learned the herb and its virtues
from Chiron, when he learned physic of him. Some call it Panay, and
others Opopane-wort.
_Descript._] Its root is long, thick, and exceeding full of juice, of
a hot and biting taste, the leaves are great and large, and winged
almost like ash-tree leaves, but that they are something hairy, each
leaf consisting of five or six pair of such wings set one against the
other upon foot-stalks, broad below, but narrow towards the end; one
of the leaves is a little deeper at the bottom than the other, of a
fair yellowish fresh green colour: they are of a bitterish taste,
being chewed in the mouth; from among these rises up a stalk, green in
colour, round in form, great and strong in magnitude, five or six feet
in altitude, with many joints, and some leaves thereat; towards the top
come forth umbels of small yellow flowers, after which are passed away,
you may find whitish, yellow, short, flat seeds, bitter also in taste.
_Place._] Having given you a description of the herb from bottom to
top, give me leave to tell you, that there are other herbs called by
this name; but because they are strangers in England, I give only the
description of this, which is easily to be had in the gardens of divers
places.
_Time._] Although Gerrard saith, that they flower from the beginning
of May to the end of December, experience teaches them that keep it in
their gardens, that it flowers not till the latter end of the summer,
and sheds its seeds presently after.
_Government and virtues._] It is under the dominion of Mars, hot,
biting, and choleric; and remedies what evils Mars inflicts the body
of man with, by sympathy, as vipers’ flesh attracts poison, and
the loadstone iron. It kills the worms, helps the gout, cramp, and
convulsions, provokes urine, and helps all joint-aches. It helps all
cold griefs of the head, the vertigo, falling-sickness, the lethargy,
the wind cholic, obstructions of the liver and spleen, stone in the
kidneys and bladder. It provokes the terms, expels the dead birth:
it is excellent good for the griefs of the sinews, itch, stone, and
tooth-ache, the biting of mad dogs and venomous beasts, and purges
choler very gently.
ALKANET.
BESIDES the common name, it is called Orchanet, and Spanish Bugloss,
and by apothecaries, Enchusa.
_Descript._] Of the many sorts of this herb, there is but one known to
grow commonly in this nation; of which one take this description: It
hath a great and thick root, of a reddish colour, long, narrow, hairy
leaves, green like the leaves of Bugloss, which lie very thick upon the
ground; the stalks rise up compassed round about, thick with leaves,
which are less and narrower than the former; they are tender, and
slender, the flowers are hollow, small, and of a reddish colour.
_Place._] It grows in Kent near Rochester, and in many places in the
West Country, both in Devonshire and Cornwall.
_Time._] They flower in July and the beginning of August, and the
seed is ripe soon after, but the root is in its prime, as carrots and
parsnips are, before the herb runs up to stalk.
_Government and virtues._] It is an herb under the dominion of Venus,
and indeed one of her darlings, though somewhat hard to come by. It
helps old ulcers, hot inflammations, burnings by common fire, and St.
Anthony’s fire, by antipathy to Mars; for these uses, your best way is
to make it into an ointment; also, if you make a vinegar of it, as you
make vinegar of roses, it helps the morphew and leprosy; if you apply
the herb to the privities, it draws forth the dead child. It helps the
yellow jaundice, spleen, and gravel in the kidneys. Dioscorides saith
it helps such as are bitten by a venomous beast, whether it be taken
inwardly, or applied to the wound; nay, he saith further, if any one
that hath newly eaten it, do but spit into the mouth of a serpent, the
serpent instantly dies. It stays the flux of the belly, kills worms,
helps the fits of the mother. Its decoction made in wine, and drank,
strengthens the back, and eases the pains thereof: It helps bruises
and falls, and is as gallant a remedy to drive out the small pox and
measles as any is; an ointment made of it, is excellent for green
wounds, pricks or thrusts.
ADDER’S TONGUE OR SERPENT’S TONGUE.
_Descript._] THIS herb has but one leaf, which grows with the stalk
a finger’s length above the ground, being flat and of a fresh green
colour; broad like Water Plantain, but less, without any rib in it;
from the bottom of which leaf, on the inside, rises up (ordinarily)
one, sometimes two or three slender stalks, the upper half whereof
is somewhat bigger, and dented with small dents of a yellowish green
colour, like the tongue of an adder serpent (only this is as useful as
they are formidable). The roots continue all the year.
_Place._] It grows in moist meadows, and such like places.
_Time._] It is to be found in May or April, for it quickly perishes
with a little heat.
_Government and virtues._] It is an herb under the dominion of the Moon
and Cancer, and therefore if the weakness of the retentive faculty be
caused by an evil influence of Saturn in any part of the body governed
by the Moon, or under the dominion of Cancer, this herb cures it by
sympathy: It cures these diseases after specified, in any part of the
body under the influence of Saturn, by antipathy.
It is temperate in respect of heat, but dry in the second degree. The
juice of the leaves, drank with the distilled water of Horse-tail, is
a singular remedy for all manner of wounds in the breast, bowels, or
other parts of the body, and is given with good success to those that
are troubled with casting, vomiting, or bleeding at the mouth or nose,
or otherwise downwards. The said juice given in the distilled water
of Oaken-buds, is very good for women who have their usual courses,
or the whites flowing down too abundantly. It helps sore eyes. Of the
leaves infused or boiled in oil, omphacine or unripe olives, set in the
sun four certain days, or the green leaves sufficiently boiled in the
said oil, is made an excellent green balsam, not only for green and
fresh wounds, but also for old and inveterate ulcers, especially if a
little fine clear turpentine be dissolved therein. It also stays and
refreshes all inflammations that arise upon pains by hurts and wounds.
What parts of the body are under each planet and sign, and also what
disease may be found in my astrological judgment of diseases; and for
the internal work of nature in the body of man; as vital, animal,
natural and procreative spirits of man; the apprehension, judgment,
memory; the external senses, _viz._ seeing, hearing, smelling, tasting
and feeling; the virtuous, attractive, retentive, digestive, expulsive,
&c. under the dominion of what planets they are, may be found in my
_Ephemeris_ for the year 1651. In both which you shall find the chaff
of authors blown away by the fame of Dr. Reason, and nothing but
rational truths left for the ingenious to feed upon.
Lastly. To avoid blotting paper with one thing many times, and also
to ease your purses in the price of the book, and withal to make you
studious in physic; you have at the latter end of the book, the way
of preserving all herbs either in juice, conserve, oil, ointment or
plaister, electuary, pills, or troches.
AGRIMONY.
_Descript._] THIS has divers long leaves (some greater, some smaller)
set upon a stalk, all of them dented about the edges, green above, and
greyish underneath, and a little hairy withal. Among which arises up
usually but one strong, round, hairy, brown stalk, two or three feet
high, with smaller leaves set here and there upon it. At the top
thereof grow many small yellow flowers, one above another, in long
spikes; after which come rough heads of seed, hanging downwards, which
will cleave to and stick upon garments, or any thing that shall rub
against them. The knot is black, long, and somewhat woody, abiding many
years, and shooting afresh every Spring; which root, though small, hath
a reasonable good scent.
_Place._] It grows upon banks, near the sides of hedges.
_Time._] It flowers in July and August, the seed being ripe shortly
after.
_Government and virtues._] It is an herb under Jupiter, and the sign
Cancer; and strengthens those parts under the planet and sign, and
removes diseases in them by sympathy, and those under Saturn, Mars and
Mercury by antipathy, if they happen in any part of the body governed
by Jupiter, or under the signs Cancer, Sagitarius or Pisces, and
therefore must needs be good for the gout, either used outwardly in oil
or ointment, or inwardly in an electuary, or syrup, or concerted juice:
for which see the latter end of this book.
It is of a cleansing and cutting faculty, without any manifest heat,
moderately drying and binding. It opens and cleanses the liver, helps
the jaundice, and is very beneficial to the bowels, healing all inward
wounds, bruises, hurts, and other distempers. The decoction of the herb
made with wine, and drank, is good against the biting and stinging of
serpents, and helps them that make foul, troubled or bloody water.
This herb also helps the cholic, cleanses the breast, and rids away
the cough. A draught of the decoction taken warm before the fit,
first removes, and in time rids away the tertian or quartan agues.
The leaves and seeds taken in wine, stays the bloody flux; outwardly
applied, being stamped with old swine’s grease, it helps old sores,
cancers, and inveterate ulcers, and draws forth thorns and splinters
of wood, nails, or any other such things gotten in the flesh. It helps
to strengthen the members that be out of joint: and being bruised and
applied, or the juice dropped in it, helps foul and imposthumed ears.
The distilled water of the herb is good to all the said purposes,
either inward or outward, but a great deal weaker.
It is a most admirable remedy for such whose livers are annoyed either
by heat or cold. The liver is the former of blood, and blood the
nourisher of the body, and Agrimony a strengthener of the liver.
I cannot stand to give you a reason in every herb why it cures such
diseases; but if you please to pursue my judgment in the herb Wormwood,
you shall find them there, and it will be well worth your while to
consider it in every herb, you shall find them true throughout the book.
WATER AGRIMONY.
IT is called in some countries, Water Hemp, Bastard Hemp, and Bastard
Agrimony, Eupatorium, and Hepatorium, because it strengthens the liver.
_Descript._] The root continues a long time, having many long slender
strings. The stalk grows up about two feet high, sometimes higher.
They are of a dark purple colour. The branches are many, growing at
distances the one from the other, the one from the one side of the
stalk, the other from the opposite point. The leaves are fringed,
and much indented at the edges. The flowers grow at the top of the
branches, of a brown yellow colour, spotted with black spots, having
a substance within the midst of them like that of a Daisy: If you rub
them between your fingers, they smell like rosin or cedar when it is
burnt. The seeds are long, and easily stick to any woollen thing they
touch.
_Place._] They delight not in heat, and therefore they are not so
frequently found in the Southern parts of England as in the Northern,
where they grow frequently: You may look for them in cold grounds, by
ponds and ditches’ sides, and also by running waters; sometimes you
shall find them grow in the midst of waters.
_Time._] They all flower in July or August, and the seed is ripe
presently after.
_Government and virtues._] It is a plant of Jupiter, as well as the
other Agrimony, only this belongs to the celestial sign Cancer. It
heals and dries, cuts and cleanses thick and tough humours of the
breast, and for this I hold it inferior to but few herbs that grow.
It helps the cachexia or evil disposition of the body, the dropsy and
yellow-jaundice. It opens obstructions of the liver, mollifies the
hardness of the spleen, being applied outwardly. It breaks imposthumes
away inwardly: It is an excellent remedy for the third day ague. It
provokes urine and the terms; it kills worms, and cleanses the body of
sharp humours, which are the cause of itch and scabs; the herb being
burnt, the smoke thereof drives away flies, wasps, &c. It strengthens
the lungs exceedingly. Country people give it to their cattle when they
are troubled with the cough, or broken-winded.
ALEHOOF, OR GROUND-IVY.
SEVERAL counties give it different names, so that there is scarcely
any herb growing of that bigness that has got so many: It is called
Cat’s-foot, Ground-ivy, Gill-go-by-ground, and Gill-creep-by-ground,
Turn-hoof, Haymaids, and Alehoof.
_Descript._] This well known herb lies, spreads and creeps upon the
ground, shoots forth roots, at the corners of tender jointed stalks,
set with two round leaves at every joint somewhat hairy, crumpled
and unevenly dented about the edges with round dents; at the joints
likewise, with the leaves towards the end of the branches, come forth
hollow, long flowers, of a blueish purple colour, with small white
spots upon the lips that hang down. The root is small with strings.
_Place._] It is commonly found under hedges, and on the sides of
ditches, under houses, or in shadowed lanes, and other waste grounds,
in almost every part of this land.
_Time._] They flower somewhat early, and abide a great while; the
leaves continue green until Winter, and sometimes abide, except the
Winter be very sharp and cold.
_Government and virtues._] It is an herb of Venus, and therefore cures
the diseases she causes by sympathy, and those of Mars by antipathy;
you may usually find it all the year long except the year be extremely
frosty; it is quick, sharp, and bitter in taste, and is thereby found
to be hot and dry; a singular herb for all inward wounds, exulcerated
lungs, or other parts, either by itself, or boiled with other the like
herbs; and being drank, in a short time it eases all griping pains,
windy and choleric humours in the stomach, spleen or belly; helps the
yellow jaundice, by opening the stoppings of the gall and liver, and
melancholy, by opening the stoppings of the spleen; expels venom or
poison, and also the plague; it provokes urine and women’s courses; the
decoction of it in wine drank for some time together, procures ease
to them that are troubled with the sciatica, or hip-gout: as also the
gout in hands, knees or feet; if you put to the decoction some honey
and a little burnt alum, it is excellently good to gargle any sore
mouth or throat, and to wash the sores and ulcers in the privy parts of
man or woman; it speedily helps green wounds, being bruised and bound
thereto. The juice of it boiled with a little honey and verdigrease,
doth wonderfully cleanse fistulas, ulcers, and stays the spreading or
eating of cancers and ulcers; it helps the itch, scabs, wheals, and
other breakings out in any part of the body. The juice of Celandine,
Field-daisies, and Ground-ivy clarified, and a little fine sugar
dissolved therein, and dropped into the eyes, is a sovereign remedy
for all pains, redness, and watering of them; as also for the pin and
web, skins and films growing over the sight, it helps beasts as well as
men. The juice dropped into the ears, wonderfully helps the noise and
singing of them, and helps the hearing which is decayed. It is good to
tun up with new drink, for it will clarify it in a night, that it will
be the fitter to be drank the next morning; or if any drink be thick
with removing, or any other accident, it will do the like in a few
hours.
ALEXANDER.
IT is called Alisander, Horse-parsley, and Wild-parsley, and the Black
Pot-herb; the seed of it is that which is usually sold in apothecaries’
shops for Macedonian Parsley-seed.
_Descript._] It is usually sown in all the gardens in Europe, and so
well known, that it needs no farther description.
_Time._] It flowers in June and July; the seed is ripe in August.
_Government and virtues._] It is an herb of Jupiter, and therefore
friendly to nature, for it warms a cold stomach, and opens a stoppage
of the liver and spleen; it is good to move women’s courses, to
expel the afterbirth, to break wind, to provoke urine, and helps the
stranguary; and these things the seeds will do likewise. If either of
them be boiled in wine, or being bruised and taken in wine, is also
effectual against the biting of serpents. And you know what Alexander
pottage is good for, that you may no longer eat it out of ignorance but
out of knowledge.
THE BLACK ALDER-TREE.
_Descript._] THIS tree seldom grows to any great bigness, but for the
most part abideth like a hedge-bush, or a tree spreading its branches,
the woods of the body being white, and a dark red colet or heart; the
outward bark is of a blackish colour, with many whitish spots therein;
but the inner bark next the wood is yellow, which being chewed, will
turn the spittle near into a saffron colour. The leaves are somewhat
like those of an ordinary Alder-tree, or the Female Cornet, or
Dogberry-tree, called in Sussex Dog-wood, but blacker, and not so long.
The flowers are white, coming forth with the leaves at the joints,
which turn into small round berries, first green, afterwards red, but
blackish when they are thorough ripe, divided, as it were, into two
parts, wherein is contained two small round and flat seeds. The root
runneth not deep into the ground, but spreads rather under the upper
crust of the earth.
_Place._] This tree or shrub may be found plentifully in St. John’s
Wood by Hornsey, and the woods upon Hampstead Heath; as also a wood
called the Old Park, in Barcomb, in Essex, near the brook’s sides.
_Time._] It flowers in May, and the berries are ripe in September.
_Government and virtues._] It is a tree of Venus, and perhaps under the
celestial sign Cancer. The inner yellow bark hereof purges downwards
both choler and phlegm, and the watery humours of such that have the
dropsy, and strengthens the inward parts again by binding. If the
bark hereof be boiled with Agrimony, Wormwood, Dodder, Hops, and some
Fennel, with Smallage, Endive, and Succory-roots, and a reasonable
draught taken every morning for some time together, it is very
effectual against the jaundice, dropsy, and the evil disposition of the
body, especially if some suitable purging medicines have been taken
before, to void the grosser excrements: It purges and strengthens the
liver and spleen, cleansing them from such evil humours and hardness as
they are afflicted with. It is to be understood that these things are
performed by the dried bark; for the fresh green bark taken inwardly
provokes strong vomitings, pains in the stomach, and gripings in the
belly; yet if the decoction may stand and settle two or three days,
until the yellow colour be changed black, it will not work so strongly
as before, but will strengthen the stomach, and procure an appetite to
meat. The outward bark contrariwise doth bind the body, and is helpful
for all lasks and fluxes thereof, but this also must be dried first,
whereby it will work the better. The inner bark thereof boiled in
vinegar is an approved remedy to kill lice, to cure the itch, and take
away scabs, by drying them up in a short time. It is singularly good to
wash the teeth, to take away the pains, to fasten those that are loose,
to cleanse them, and to keep them sound. The leaves are good fodder for
kine, to make them give more milk.
If in the Spring-time you use the herbs before mentioned, and will take
but a handful of each of them, and to them add an handful of Elder
buds, and having bruised them all, boil them in a gallon of ordinary
beer, when it is new; and having boiled them half an hour, add to this
three gallons more, and let them work together, and drink a draught of
it every morning, half a pint or thereabouts; it is an excellent purge
for the Spring, to consume the phlegmatic quality the Winter hath left
behind it, and withal to keep your body in health, and consume those
evil humours which the heat of Summer will readily stir up. Esteem it
as a jewel.
THE COMMON ALDER-TREE.
_Descript._] THIS grows to a reasonable height, and spreads much if
it like the place. It is so generally known to country people, that I
conceive it needless to tell that which is no news.
_Place and Time._] It delights to grow in moist woods, and watery
places; flowering in April or May, and yielding ripe seed in September.
_Government and virtues._] It is a tree under the dominion of Venus,
and of some watery sign or others, I suppose Pisces; and therefore
the decoction, or distilled water of the leaves, is excellent against
burnings and inflammations, either with wounds or without, to bathe the
place grieved with, and especially for that inflammation in the breast,
which the vulgar call an ague.
If you cannot get the leaves (as in Winter it is impossible) make use
of the bark in the same manner.
The leaves and bark of the Alder-tree are cooling, drying, and
binding. The fresh leaves, laid upon swellings, dissolve them, and
stay the inflammation. The leaves put under the bare feet galled with
travelling, are a great refreshing to them. The said leaves, gathered
while the morning dew is on them, and brought into a chamber troubled
with fleas, will gather them thereunto, which being suddenly cast out,
will rid the chamber of those troublesome bed-fellows.
ANGELICA.
TO write a discription of that which is so well known to be growing
almost in every garden, I suppose is altogether needless; yet for its
virtue it is of admirable use.
In time of Heathenism, when men had found out any excellent herb,
they dedicated it to their gods; as the bay-tree to Apollo, the Oak
to Jupiter, the Vine to Bacchus, the Poplar to Hercules. These the
idolators following as the Patriarchs they dedicate to their Saints;
as our Lady’s Thistle to the Blessed Virgin, St. John’s Wort to St.
John and another Wort to St. Peter, &c. Our physicians must imitate
like apes (though they cannot come off half so cleverly) for they
blasphemously call Phansies or Hearts-ease, _an herb of the Trinity_,
because it is of three colours; and a certain ointment, _an ointment
of the Apostles_, because it consists of twelve ingredients. Alas I am
sorry for their folly, and grieved at their blasphemy, God send them
wisdom the rest of their age, for they have their share of ignorance
already. Oh! Why must ours be blasphemous, because the Heathens and
infidels were idolatrous? Certainly they have read so much in old
rusty authors, that they have lost all their divinity; for unless it
were amongst the Ranters, I never read or heard of such blasphemy. The
Heathens and infidels were bad, and ours worse; the idolaters give
idolatrous names to herbs for their virtues sake, not for their fair
looks; and therefore some called this an herb of the _Holy Ghost_;
others, more moderate, called it Angelica, because of its angelical
virtues, and that name it retains still, and all nations follow it so
near as their dialect will permit.
_Government and virtues._] It is an herb of the Sun in Leo; let it be
gathered when he is there, the Moon applying to his good aspect; let
it be gathered either in his hour, or in the hour of Jupiter, let Sol
be angular; observe the like in gathering the herbs of other planets,
and you may happen to do wonders. In all epidemical diseases caused by
Saturn, that is as good a preservative as grows: It resists poison,
by defending and comforting the heart, blood, and spirits; it doth
the like against the plague and all epidemical diseases, if the root
be taken in powder to the weight of half a dram at a time, with some
good treacle in Carduus water, and the party thereupon laid to sweat
in his bed; if treacle be not to be had take it alone in Carduus or
Angelica-water. The stalks or roots candied and eaten fasting, are good
preservatives in time of infection; and at other times to warm and
comfort a cold stomach. The root also steeped in vinegar, and a little
of that vinegar taken sometimes fasting, and the root smelled unto, is
good for the same purpose. A water distilled from the root simply, as
steeped in wine, and distilled in a glass, is much more effectual than
the water of the leaves; and this water, drank two or three spoonfuls
at a time, easeth all pains and torments coming of cold and wind, so
that the body be not bound; and taken with some of the root in powder
at the beginning, helpeth the pleurisy, as also all other diseases of
the lungs and breast, as coughs, phthysic, and shortness of breath;
and a syrup of the stalks do the like. It helps pains of the cholic,
the stranguary and stoppage of the urine, procureth womens’ courses,
and expelleth the after-birth, openeth the stoppings of the liver and
spleen, and briefly easeth and discusseth all windiness and inward
swellings. The decoction drank before the fit of an ague, that they
may sweat (if possible) before the fit comes, will, in two or three
times taking, rid it quite away; it helps digestion and is a remedy
for a surfeit. The juice or the water, being dropped into the eyes
or ears, helps dimness of sight and deafness; the juice put into the
hollow teeth, easeth their pains. The root in powder, made up into a
plaster with a little pitch, and laid on the biting of mad dogs, or any
other venomous creature, doth wonderfully help. The juice or the waters
dropped, or tent wet therein, and put into filthy dead ulcers, or the
powder of the root (in want of either) doth cleanse and cause them to
heal quickly, by covering the naked bones with flesh; the distilled
water applied to places pained with the gout, or sciatica, doth give a
great deal of ease.
The wild Angelica is not so effectual as the garden; although it may be
safely used to all the purposes aforesaid.
AMARANTHUS.
BESIDES its common name, by which it is best known by the florists of
our days, it is called Flower Gentle, Flower Velure Floramor, and
Velvet Flower.
_Descript._] It being a garden flower, and well known to every one
that keeps it, I might forbear the description; yet, notwithstanding,
because some desire it, I shall give it. It runs up with a stalk a
cubit high, streaked, and somewhat reddish towards the root, but very
smooth, divided towards the top with small branches, among which stand
long broad leaves of a reddish green colour, slippery; the flowers are
not properly flowers, but tuffs, very beautiful to behold, but of no
smell, of reddish colour; if you bruise them, they yield juice of the
same colour, being gathered, they keep their beauty a long time; the
seed is of a shining black colour.
_Time._] They continue in flower from August till the time the frost
nips them.
_Government and virtues._] It is under the dominion of Saturn, and is
an excellent qualifier of the unruly actions and passions of Venus,
though Mars also should join with her. The flowers dried and beaten
into powder, stop the terms in women, and so do almost all other red
things. And by the icon, or image of every herb, the ancients at
first found out their virtues. Modern writers laugh at them for it;
but I wonder in my heart, how the virtues of herbs came at first to
be known, if not by their signatures; the moderns have them from the
writings of the ancients; the ancients had no writings to have them
from: but to proceed. The flowers stop all fluxes of blood; whether in
man or woman, bleeding either at the nose or wound. There is also a
sort of Amaranthus that bears a white flower, which stops the whites
in women, and the running of the reins in men, and is a most gallant
antivenereal, and a singular remedy for the French pox.
ANEMONE.
CALLED also Wind flower, because they say the flowers never open but
when the wind blows. Pliny is my author; if it be not so, blame him.
The seed also (if it bears any at all) flies away with the wind.
_Place and Time._] They are sown usually in the gardens of the curious,
and flower in the Spring-time. As for discription I shall pass it,
being well known to all those that sow them.
_Government and virtues._] It is under the dominion of Mars, being
supposed to be a kind of Crow-foot. The leaves provoke the terms
mightily, being boiled, and the decoction drank. The body being bathed
with the decoction of them, cures the leprosy. The leaves being stamped
and the juice snuffed up in the nose, purges the head mightily; so does
the root, being chewed in the mouth, for it procures much spitting,
and brings away many watery and phlegmatic humours, and is therefore
excellent for the lethargy. And when all is done, let physicians prate
what they please, all the pills in the dispensatory purge not the head
like to hot things held in the mouth. Being made into an ointment,
and the eyelids anointed with it, it helps inflammations of the eyes,
whereby it is palpable, that every stronger draws its weaker like. The
same ointment is excellently good to cleanse malignant and corroding
ulcers.
GARDEN ARRACH.
CALLED also Orach, and Arage; it is cultivated for domestic uses.
_Descript._] It is so commonly known to every housewife, it were labour
lost to describe it.
_Time._] It flowers and seeds from June to the end of August.
_Government and virtues._] It is under the government of the Moon; in
quality cold and moist like unto her. It softens and loosens the body
of man being eaten, and fortifies the expulsive faculty in him. The
herb, whether it be bruised and applied to the throat, or boiled, and
in like manner applied, it matters not much, it is excellently good
for swellings in the throat: the best way, I suppose, is to boil it,
apply the herb outwardly: the decoction of it, besides, is an excellent
remedy for the yellow jaundice.
ARRACH, WILD AND STINKING.
CALLED also Vulvaria, from that part of the body upon which the
operation is most; also Dog’s Arrach, Goat’s Arrach, and Stinking
Motherwort.
_Descript._] This has small and almost round leaves, yet a little
pointed and without dent or cut, of a dusky mealy colour, growing on
the slender stalks and branches that spread on the ground, with small
flowers set with the leaves, and small seeds succeeding like the rest,
perishing yearly, and rising again with its own sowing. It smells like
rotten fish, or something worse.
_Place._] It grows usually upon dunghills.
_Time._] They flower in June and July, and their seed is ripe quickly
after.
_Government and virtues._] Stinking Arrach is used as a remedy to
women pained, and almost strangled with the mother, by smelling to
it; but inwardly taken there is no better remedy under the moon for
that disease. I would be large in commendation of this herb, were I
but eloquent. It is an herb under the dominion of Venus, and under the
sign Scorpio; it is common almost upon every dunghill. The works of
God are freely given to man, his medicines are common and cheap, and
easily to be found. I commend it for an universal medicine for the
womb, and such a medicine as will easily, safely, and speedily cure any
disease thereof, as the fits of the mother, dislocation, or falling out
thereof; cools the womb being over-heated. And let me tell you this,
and I will tell you the truth, heat of the womb is one of the greatest
causes of hard labour in child-birth. It makes barren women fruitful.
It cleanseth the womb if it be foul, and strengthens it exceedingly;
it provokes the terms if they be stopped, and stops them if they flow
immoderately; you can desire no good to your womb, but this herb will
affect it; therefore if you love children, if you love health, if you
love ease, keep a syrup always by you, made of the juice of this herb,
and sugar (or honey, if it be to cleanse the womb), and let such as be
rich keep it for their poor neighbours; and bestow it as freely as I
bestow my studies upon them, or else let them look to answer it another
day, when the Lord shall come to make inquisition for blood.
ARCHANGEL.
TO put a gloss upon their practice, the physicians call a herb (which
country people vulgarly know by the name of Dead Nettle) Archangel;
whether they favour more of superstition or folly, I leave to the
judicious reader. There is more curiosity than courtesy to my
countrymen used by others in the explanation as well of the names, as
discription of this so well known herb; which that I may not also be
guilty of, take this short discription: first, of the Red Archangel.
This is likewise called Bee Nettle.
_Descript._] This has divers square stalks, somewhat hairy, at the
joints whereof grow two sad green leaves dented about the edges,
opposite to one another to the lowermost, upon long foot stalks, but
without any toward the tops, which are somewhat round, yet pointed, and
a little crumpled and hairy; round about the upper joints, where the
leaves grow thick, are sundry gaping flowers of a pale reddish colour;
after which come the seeds three or four in a husk. The root is small
and thready, perishing every year; the whole plant hath a strong smell
but not stinking.
White Archangel hath divers square stalks, none standing straight
upward, but bending downward, whereon stand two leaves at a joint,
larger and more pointed than the other, dented about the edges, and
greener also, more like unto Nettle leaves, but not stinking, yet
hairy. At the joints, with the leaves, stand larger and more open
gaping white flowers, husks round about the stalks, but not with such a
bush of leaves as flowers set in the top, as is on the other, wherein
stand small roundish black seeds: the root is white, with many strings
at it, not growing downward but lying under the upper crust of the
earth, and abides many years increasing; this has not so strong a scent
as the former.
Yellow Archangel is like the White in the stalks and leaves; but that
the stalks are more straight and upright, and the joints with leaves
are farther asunder, having longer leaves than the former, and the
flowers a little larger and more gaping, of a fair yellow colour in
most, in some paler. The roots are like the white, only they creep not
so much under the ground.
_Place._] They grow almost every where (unless it be in the middle of
the street), the yellow most usually in the wet grounds of woods, and
sometimes in the dryer, in divers counties of this nation.
_Time._] They flower from the beginning of the Spring all the Summer
long.
_Government and virtues._] The Archangels are somewhat hot and drier
than the stinging Nettles, and used with better success for the
stopping and hardness of the spleen, than they, by using the decoction
of the herb in wine, and afterwards applying the herb hot into the
region of the spleen as a plaister, or the decoction with spunges.
Flowers of the White Archangel are preserved or conserved to be used
to stay the whites, and the flowers of the red to stay the reds in
women. It makes the heart merry, drives away melancholy, quickens the
spirits, is good against quartan agues, stancheth bleeding at mouth
and nose, if it be stamped and applied to the nape of the neck; the
herb also bruised, and with some salt and vinegar and hog’s-grease,
laid upon a hard tumour or swelling, or that vulgarly called the
king’s evil, do help to dissolve or discuss them; and being in like
manner applied, doth much allay the pains, and give ease to the gout,
sciatica, and other pains of the joints and sinews. It is also very
effectual to heal green wounds, and old ulcers; also to stay their
fretting, gnawing, and spreading. It draws forth splinters, and such
like things gotten into the flesh, and is very good against bruises and
burnings. But the Yellow Archangel is most commended for old, filthy,
corrupt sores and ulcers, yea although they grow to be hollow, and to
dissolve tumours. The chief use of them is for women, it being a herb
of Venus.
ARSSMART.
The hot Arssmart is called also Water-pepper, or Culrage. The mild
Arssmart is called dead Arssmart Persicaria, or Peach-wort, because
the leaves are so like the leaves of a peach-tree; it is also called
Plumbago.
_Description of the mild._] This has broad leaves set at the great red
joint of the stalks; with semicircular blackish marks on them, usually
either blueish or whitish, with such like seed following. The root is
long, with many strings thereat, perishing yearly; this has no sharp
taste (as another sort has, which is quick and biting) but rather sour
like sorrel, or else a little drying, or without taste.
_Place._] It grows in watery places, ditches, and the like, which for
the most part are dry in summer.
_Time._] It flowers in June, and the seed is ripe in August.
_Government and virtues._] As the virtue of both these is various, so
is also their government; for that which is hot and biting, is under
the dominion of Mars, but Saturn, challenges the other, as appears by
that leaden coloured spot he hath placed upon the leaf.
It is of a cooling and drying quality, and very effectual for putrified
ulcers in man or beast, to kill worms, and cleanse the putrified
places. The juice thereof dropped in, or otherwise applied, consumes
all colds, swellings, and dissolveth the congealed blood of bruises by
strokes, falls, &c. A piece of the root, or some of the seeds bruised,
and held to an aching tooth, takes away the pain. The leaves bruised
and laid to the joint that has a felon thereon, takes it away. The
juice destroys worms in the ears, being dropped into them; if the hot
Arssmart be strewed in a chamber, it will soon kill all the fleas;
and the herb or juice of the cold Arssmart, put to a horse or other
cattle’s sores, will drive away the fly in the hottest time of Summer;
a good handful of the hot biting Arssmart put under a horse’s saddle,
will make him travel the better, although he were half tired before.
The mild Arssmart is good against all imposthumes and inflammations at
the beginning, and to heal green wounds.
All authors chop the virtues of both sorts of Arssmart together, as men
chop herbs for the pot, when both of them are of contrary qualities.
The hot Arssmart grows not so high or tall as the mild doth, but
has many leaves of the colour of peach leaves, very seldom or never
spotted; in other particulars it is like the former, but may easily be
known from it, if you will but be pleased to break a leaf of it cross
your tongue, for the hot will make your tongue to smart, but the cold
will not. If you see them both together, you may easily distinguish
them, because the mild hath far broader leaves.
ASARABACCA.
_Descript._] ASARABACCA appears like an evergreen, keeping its leaves
all the Winter, but putting forth new ones in the time of Spring. It
has many heads rising from the roots, from whence come many smooth
leaves, every one upon his foot stalks, which are rounder and bigger
than Violet leaves, thicker also, and of a dark green shining colour
on the upper side, and of a pale yellow green underneath, little or
nothing dented about the edges, from among which rise small, round,
hollow, brown green husks, upon short stalks, about an inch long,
divided at the brims into five divisions, very like the cups or heads
of the Henbane seed, but that they are smaller; and these be all the
flower it carries, which are somewhat sweet, being smelled to, and
wherein, when they are ripe, is contained small cornered rough seeds,
very like the kernels or stones of grapes or raisins. The roots are
small and whitish, spreading divers ways in the ground, increasing into
divers heads; but not running or creeping under the ground, as some
other creeping herbs do. They are somewhat sweet in smell, resembling
Nardus, but more when they are dry than green; and of a sharp and not
unpleasant taste.
_Place._] It grows frequently in gardens.
_Time._] They keep their leaves green all Winter; but shoot forth new
in the Spring, and with them come forth those heads or flowers which
give ripe seed about Midsummer, or somewhat after.
_Government and virtues._] It is a plant under the dominion of Mars,
and therefore inimical to nature. This herb being drank, not only
provokes vomiting, but purges downwards, and by urine also, purges
both choler and phlegm: If you add to it some spikenard, with the
whey of goat’s milk, or honeyed water, it is made more strong, but
it purges phlegm more manifestly than choler, and therefore does
much help pains in the hips, and other parts; being boiled in whey,
it wonderfully helps the obstructions of the liver and spleen, and
therefore profitable for the dropsy and jaundice; being steeped in
wine and drank, it helps those continual agues that come by the plenty
of stubborn humours; an oil made thereof by setting in the sun, with
some laudanum added to it, provokes sweating (the ridge of the back
being anointed therewith), and thereby drives away the shaking fits of
the ague. It will not abide any long boiling, for it loseth its chief
strength thereby; nor much beating, for the finer powder provokes
vomits and urine, and the coarser purgeth downwards.
The common use hereof is, to take the juice of five or seven leaves in
a little drink to cause vomiting; the roots have also the same virtue,
though they do not operate so forcibly; they are very effectual against
the biting of serpents, and therefore are put as an ingredient both
into Mithridite and Venice treacle. The leaves and roots being boiled
in lye, and the head often washed therewith while it is warm, comforts
the head and brain that is ill affected by taking cold, and helps the
memory.
I shall desire ignorant people to forbear the use of the leaves; the
roots purge more gently, and may prove beneficial to such as have
cancers, or old putrified ulcers, or fistulas upon their bodies, to
take a dram of them in powder in a quarter of a pint of white wine
in the morning. The truth is, I fancy purging and vomiting medicines
as little as any man breathing doth, for they weaken nature, nor
shall ever advise them to be used, unless upon urgent necessity. If
a physician be nature’s servant, it is his duty to strengthen his
mistress as much as he can, and weaken her as little as may be.
ASPARAGUS, SPARAGUS, OR SPERAGE.
_Descript._] IT rises up at first with divers white and green scaly
heads, very brittle or easy to break while they are young, which
afterwards rise up in very long and slender green stalks of the bigness
of an ordinary riding wand, at the bottom of most, or bigger, or
lesser, as the roots are of growth; on which are set divers branches of
green leaves shorter and smaller than fennel to the top; at the joints
whereof come forth small yellowish flowers, which turn into round
berries, green at first and of an excellent red colour when they are
ripe, shewing like bead or coral, wherein are contained exceeding hard
black seeds; the roots are dispersed from a spongeous head into many
long, thick, and round strings, wherein is sucked much nourishment out
of the ground, and increaseth plentifully thereby.
PRICKLY ASPARAGUS, OR SPERAGE.
_Descript._] THIS grows usually in gardens, and some of it grows
wild in Appleton meadows in Gloucestershire, where the poor people
gather the buds of young shoots, and sell them cheaper that our garden
Asparagus is sold in London.
_Time._] For the most part they flower, and bear their berries late in
the year, or not at all, although they are housed in Winter.
_Government and virtues._] They are both under the dominion of Jupiter.
The young buds or branches boiled in ordinary broth, make the belly
soluble and open, and boiled in white wine, provoke urine, being
stopped, and is good against the stranguary or difficulty of making
water; it expelleth the gravel and stone out of the kidneys, and
helpeth pains in the reins. And boiled in white wine or vinegar, it is
prevalent for them that have their arteries loosened, or are troubled
with the hip-gout or sciatica. The decoction of the roots boiled in
wine and taken, is good to clear the sight, and being held in the mouth
easeth the toothache. The garden asparagus nourisheth more than the
wild, yet hath it the same effects in all the afore-mentioned diseases.
The decoction of the root in white wine, and the back and belly bathed
therewith, or kneeling or lying down in the same, or sitting therein
as a bath, has been found effectual against pains of the reins and
bladder, pains of the mother and cholic, and generally against all
pains that happen to the lower parts of the body, and no less effectual
against stiff and benumbed sinews, or those that are shrunk by cramps
and convulsions, and helps the sciatica.
ASH TREE.
This is so well known, that time would be misspent in writing a
description of it; therefore I shall only insist upon the virtues of it.
_Government and virtues._] It is governed by the Sun: and the young
tender tops, with the leaves, taken inwardly, and some of them
outwardly applied, are singularly good against the bitings of viper,
adder, or any other venomous beast; and the water distilled therefrom
being taken, a small quantity every morning fasting, is a singular
medicine for those that are subject to dropsy, or to abate the
greatness of those that are too gross or fat. The decoction of the
leaves in white wine helps to break the stone, and expel it, and cures
the jaundice. The ashes of the bark of the Ash made into lye, and those
heads bathed therewith which are leprous, scabby, or scald, they are
thereby cured. The kernels within the husks, commonly called Ashen
Keys, prevail against stitches and pains in the sides, proceeding of
wind, and voideth away the stone by provoking urine.
I can justly except against none of all this, save only the first,
_viz._ That Ash-tree tops and leaves are good against the bitings of
serpents and vipers. I suppose this had its rise from Gerrard or Pliny,
both which hold that there is such an antipathy between an adder
and an Ash-tree, that if an adder be encompassed round with Ash-tree
leaves, she will sooner run through the fire than through the leaves:
The contrary to which is the truth, as both my eyes are witnesses. The
rest are virtues something likely, only if it be in Winter when you
cannot get the leaves, you may safely use the bark instead of them. The
keys you may easily keep all the year, gathering them when they are
ripe.
AVENS, CALLED ALSO COLEWORT, AND
HERB BONET.
_Descript._] The ordinary Avens hath many long, rough, dark green,
winged leaves, rising from the root, every one made of many leaves set
on each side of the middle rib, the largest three whereof grow at the
end, and are snipped or dented round about the edges; the other being
small pieces, sometimes two and sometimes four, standing on each side
of the middle rib underneath them. Among which do rise up divers rough
or hairy stalks about two feet high, branching forth with leaves at
every joint not so long as those below, but almost as much cut in on
the edges, some into three parts, some into more. On the tops of the
branches stand small, pale, yellow flowers consisting of five leaves,
like the flowers of Cinquefoil, but large, in the middle whereof stand
a small green herb, which when the flower is fallen, grows to be round,
being made of many long greenish purple seeds, (like grains) which will
stick upon your clothes. The root consists of many brownish strings or
fibres, smelling somewhat like unto cloves, especially those which grow
in the higher, hotter, and drier grounds, and in free and clear air.
_Place._] They grow wild in many places under hedge’s sides, and by the
path-ways in fields; yet they rather delight to grow in shadowy than
sunny places.
_Time._] They flower in May or June for the most part, and their seed
is ripe in July at the farthest.
_Government and virtues._] It is governed by Jupiter, and that gives
hopes of a wholesome healthful herb. It is good for the diseases of
the chest or breast, for pains, and stiches in the side, and to expel
crude and raw humours from the belly and stomach, by the sweet savour
and warming quality. It dissolves the inward congealed blood happening
by falls or bruises, and the spitting of blood, if the roots, either
green or dry, be boiled in wine and drank; as also all manner of inward
wounds or outward, if washed or bathed therewith. The decoction also
being drank, comforts the heart, and strengthens the stomach and a cold
brain, and therefore is good in the spring times to open obstructions
of the liver, and helps the wind cholic; it also helps those that have
fluxes, or are bursten, or have a rupture; it takes away spots or marks
in the face, being washed therewith. The juice of the fresh root, or
powder of the dried root, has the same effect with the decoction. The
root in the Spring-time steeped in wine, gives it a delicate savour
and taste, and being drank fasting every morning, comforts the heart,
and is a good preservative against the plague, or any other poison. It
helps indigestion, and warms a cold stomach, and opens obstructions of
the liver and spleen.
It is very safe: you need have no dose prescribed; and is very fit to
be kept in every body’s house.
BALM.
THIS herb is so well known to be an inhabitant almost in every garden,
that I shall not need to write any discription thereof, although its
virtues, which are many, may not be omitted.
_Government and virtues._] It is an herb of Jupiter, and under Cancer,
and strengthens nature much in all its actions. Let a syrup made with
the juice of it and sugar (as you shall be taught at the latter end of
this book) be kept in every gentlewoman’s house to relieve the weak
stomachs and sick bodies of their poor sickly neighbours; as also the
herb kept dry in the house, that so with other convenient simples, you
may make it into an electuary with honey, according as the disease
is you shall be taught at the latter end of my book. The Arabian
physicians have extolled the virtues thereof to the skies; although the
Greeks thought it not worth mentioning. Seraphio says, it causes the
mind and heart to become merry, and revives the heart, faintings and
swoonings, especially of such who are overtaken in sleep, and drives
away all troublesome cares and thoughts out of the mind, arising from
melancholy or black choler; which Avicen also confirms. It is very good
to help digestion, and open obstructions of the brain, and hath so
much purging quality in it (saith Avicen) as to expel those melancholy
vapours from the spirits and blood which are in the heart and arteries,
although it cannot do so in other parts of the body. Dioscorides says,
that the leaves steeped in wine, and the wine drank, and the leaves
externally applied, is a remedy against the stings of a scorpion, and
the bitings of mad dogs; and commends the decoction thereof for women
to bathe or sit in to procure their courses; it is good to wash aching
teeth therewith, and profitable for those that have the bloody flux.
The leaves also, with a little nitre taken in drink, are good against
the surfeit of mushrooms, helps the griping pains of the belly; and
being made into an electuary, it is good for them that cannot fetch
their breath: Used with salt, it takes away wens, kernels, or hard
swelling in the flesh or throat; it cleanses foul sores, and eases
pains of the gout. It is good for the liver and spleen. A tansy or
caudle made with eggs, and juice thereof while it is young, putting to
it some sugar and rose-water, is good for a woman in child-birth, when
the after-birth is not thoroughly voided, and for their faintings upon
or in their sore travail. The herb bruised and boiled in a little wine
and oil, and laid warm on a boil, will ripen it, and break it.
BARBERRY.
THE shrub is so well known by every boy or girl that has but attained
to the age of seven years, that it needs no description.
_Government and virtues._] Mars owns the shrub, and presents it to
the use of my countrymen to purge their bodies of choler. The inner
rind of the Barberry-tree boiled in white wine, and a quarter of a
pint drank each morning, is an excellent remedy to cleanse the body of
choleric humours, and free it from such diseases as choler causes, such
as scabs, itch, tetters, ringworms, yellow jaundice, boils, &c. It is
excellent for hot agues, burnings, scaldings, heat of the blood, heat
of the liver, bloody-flux; for the berries are as good as the bark,
and more pleasing: they get a man a good stomach to his victuals, by
strengthening the attractive faculty which is under Mars. The hair
washed with the lye made of the tree and water, will make it turn
yellow, _viz._ of Mars’ own colour. The fruit and rind of the shrub,
the flowers of broom and of heath, or furz, cleanse the body of choler
by sympathy, as the flowers, leaves, and bark of the peach-tree do by
antipathy, because these are under Mars, that under Venus.
BARLEY.
THE continual usefulness hereof hath made all in general so acquainted
herewith that it is altogether needless to describe it, several kinds
hereof plentifully growing, being yearly sown in this land. The virtues
thereof take as follow.
_Government and virtues._] It is a notable plant of Saturn: if you
view diligently its effects by sympathy and antipathy, you may easily
perceive a reason of them, as also why barley bread is so unwholesome
for melancholy people. Barley in all the parts and compositions thereof
(except malt) is more cooling than wheat, and a little cleansing:
And all the preparations thereof, as barley-water and other things
made thereof, give great nourishment to persons troubled with fevers,
agues, and heats in the stomach: A poultice made of barley meal or
flour boiled in vinegar and honey, and a few dry figs put into them,
dissolves all imposthumes, and assuages inflammations, being thereto
applied. And being boiled with melilot and camomile-flowers, and some
linseed, fenugreek, and rue in powder, and applied warm, it eases
pains in side and stomach, and windiness of the spleen. The meal of
barley and fleawort boiled in water, and made a poultice with honey and
oil of lilies applied warm, cures swellings under the ears, throat,
neck, and such like; and a plaister made thereof with tar, with sharp
vinegar into a poultice, and laid on hot, helps the leprosy; being
boiled in red wine with pomegranate rinds and myrtles, stays the lask
or other flux of the belly; boiled with vinegar and quince, it eases
the pains of the gout; barley-flour, white salt, honey, and vinegar
mingled together, takes away the itch speedily and certainly. The
water distilled from the green barley in the end of May, is very good
for those that have defluctions of humours fallen into their eyes,
and eases the pain, being dropped into them; or white bread steeped
therein, and bound on the eyes, does the same.
GARDEN BAZIL, OR SWEET BAZIL.
_Descript._] THE greater of Ordinary Bazil rises up usually with one
upright stalk, diversly branching forth on all sides, with two leaves
at every joint, which are somewhat broad and round, yet pointed, of a
pale green colour, but fresh; a little snipped about the edges, and of
a strong healthy scent. The flowers are small and white, and standing
at the tops of the branches, with two small leaves at the joints, in
some places green, in others brown, after which come black seed. The
root perishes at the approach of Winter, and therefore must be new sown
every year.
_Place._] It grows in gardens.
_Time._] It must be sowed late, and flowers in the heart of Summer,
being a very tender plant.
_Government and virtues._] This is the herb which all authors are
together by the ears about, and rail at one another (like lawyers).
Galen and Dioscorides hold it not fit to be taken inwardly; and
Chrysippus rails at it with downright Billingsgate rhetoric; Pliny, and
the Arabian physicians defend it.
For my own part, I presently found that speech true:
_Non nostrium inter nos tantas componere lites._
And away to Dr. Reason went I, who told me it was an herb of Mars, and
under the Scorpion, and perhaps therefore called Basilicon; and it is
no marvel if it carry a kind of virulent quality with it. Being applied
to the place bitten by venomous beasts, or stung by a wasp or hornet,
it speedily draws the poison to it; _Every like draws his like._
Mizaldus affirms, that, being laid to rot in horse-dung, it will breed
venomous beasts. Hilarius, a French physician, affirms upon his own
knowledge, that an acquaintance of his, by common smelling to it, had a
scorpion bred in his brain. Something is the matter; this herb and rue
will not grow together, no, nor near one another: and we know rue is as
great an enemy to poison as any that grows.
To conclude; It expels both birth and after-birth; and as it helps
the deficiency of Venus in one kind, so it spoils all her actions in
another. I dare write no more of it.
THE BAY TREE.
THIS is so well known that it needs no description: I shall therefore
only write the virtues thereof, which are many.
_Government and virtues._] I shall but only add a word or two to what
my friend has written, _viz._, that it is a tree of the sun, and under
the celestial sign Leo, and resists witchcraft very potently, as also
all the evils old Saturn can do to the body of man, and they are not
a few; for it is the speech of one, and I am mistaken if it were not
Mizaldus, that neither witch nor devil, thunder nor lightning, will
hurt a man in the place where a Bay-tree is. Galen said, that the
leaves or bark do dry and heal very much, and the berries more than the
leaves; the bark of the root is less sharp and hot, but more bitter,
and hath some astriction withal whereby it is effectual to break the
stone, and good to open obstructions of the liver, spleen, and other
inward parts, which bring the jaundice, dropsy, &c. The berries are
very effectual against all poison of venomous creatures, and the sting
of wasps and bees; as also against the pestilence, or other infectious
diseases, and therefore put into sundry treacles for that purpose; they
likewise procure women’s courses, and seven of them given to woman in
sore travail of child-birth, do cause a speedy delivery, and expel the
after-birth, and therefore not to be taken by such as have not gone out
their time, lest they procure abortion, or cause labour too soon. They
wonderfully help all cold and rheumatic distillations from the brain
to the eyes, lungs or other parts; and being made into an electuary
with honey, do help the consumption, old coughs, shortness of breath,
and thin rheums; as also the megrim. They mightily expel the wind, and
provoke urine; help the mother, and kill the worms. The leaves also
work the like effect. A bath of the decoction of leaves and berries, is
singularly good for women to sit in, that are troubled with the mother,
or the diseases thereof, or the stoppings of their courses, or for the
diseases of the bladder, pains in the bowels by wind and stoppage of
the urine. A decoction likewise of equal parts of Bay-berries, cummin
seed, hyssop, origanum, and euphorbium, with some honey, and the head
bathed therewith, wonderfully helps distillations and rheums, and
settles the pallate of the mouth into its place. The oil made of the
berries is very comfortable in all cold griefs of the joints, nerves,
arteries, stomach, belly, or womb, and helps palsies, convulsions,
cramp, aches, tremblings, and numbness in any part, weariness also, and
pains that come by sore travelling. All griefs and pains proceeding
from wind, either in the head, stomach, back, belly, or womb, by
anointing the parts affected therewith: And pains in the ears are also
cured by dropping in some of the oil, or by receiving into the ears
the fume of the decoction of the berries through a funnel. The oil
takes away the marks of the skin and flesh by bruises, falls, &c. and
dissolves the congealed blood in them. It helps also the itch, scabs,
and weals in the skin.
BEANS.
BOTH the garden and field beans are so well known, that it saves me the
labour of writing any description of them. The virtues follow.
_Government and virtues._] They are plants of Venus, and the distilled
water of the flower of garden beans is good to clean the face and
skin from spots and wrinkles, and the meal or flour of them, or the
small beans doth the same. The water distilled from the green husk,
is held to be very effectual against the stone, and to provoke urine.
Bean flour is used in poultices to assuage inflammations arising from
wounds, and the swelling of women’s breasts caused by the curdling of
their milk, and represses their milk; Flour of beans and Fenugreek
mixed with honey, and applied to felons, boils, bruises, or blue marks
by blows, or the imposthumes in the kernels of the ears, helps them
all, and with Rose leaves, Frankincense and the white of an egg, being
applied to the eyes, helps them that are swollen or do water, or have
received any blow upon them, if used with wine. If a bean be parted in
two, the skin being taken away, and laid on the place where the leech
hath been set that bleeds too much, stays the bleeding. Bean flour
boiled to a poultice with wine and vinegar, and some oil put thereto,
eases both pains and swelling of the privities. The husk boiled in
water to the consumption of a third part thereof, stays a lask; and the
ashes of the husks, made up with old hog’s grease, helps the old pains,
contusions, and wounds of the sinews, the sciatica and gout. The field
beans have all the aforementioned virtues as the garden beans.
Beans eaten are extremely windy meat; but if after the Dutch fashion,
when they are half boiled you husk them and then stew them (I cannot
tell you how, for I never was a cook in all my life), they are
wholesome food.
FRENCH BEANS.
_Descript._] THIS French or kidney Bean arises at first but with one
stalk, which afterwards divides itself into many arms or branches, but
all so weak that if they be not sustained with sticks or poles, they
will be fruitless upon the ground. At several places of these branches
grow foot stalks, each with three broad round and pointed green leaves
at the end of them; towards the top comes forth divers flowers made
like to pease blossoms, of the same colour for the most part that the
fruit will be of, that is to say, white, yellow, red, blackish, or of
a deep purple, but white is the most usual; after which come long and
slender flat pods, some crooked, some straight, with a string running
down the back thereof, wherein is flattish round fruit made like a
kidney; the root long, spreads with many strings annexed to it, and
perishes every year.
There is another sort of French beans commonly growing with us in this
land, which is called the Scarlet flower Bean.
This rises with sundry branches as the other, but runs higher, to
the length of hop-poles, about which they grow twining, but turning
contrary to the sun, having foot-stalks with three leaves on each,
as on the others; the flowers also are like the other, and of a most
orient scarlet colour. The Beans are larger than the ordinary kind, of
a dead purple colour turning black when ripe and dry; the root perishes
in Winter.
_Government and virtues._] These also belong to Dame Venus, and being
dried and beat to powder, are as great strengtheners of the kidneys as
any are; neither is there a better remedy than it; a dram at a time
taken in white wine to prevent the stone, or to cleanse the kidneys
of gravel or stoppage. The ordinary French Beans are of an easy
digestion; they move the belly, provoke urine, enlarge the breast that
is straightened with shortness of breath, engender sperm, and incite
to venery. And the scarlet coloured Beans, in regard of the glorious
beauty of their colour, being set near a quickset hedge, will much
adorn the same, by climbing up thereon, so that they may be discerned a
great way, not without admiration of the beholders at a distance. But
they will go near to kill the quicksets by cloathing them in scarlet.
LADIES BED-STRAW.
BESIDES the common name above written, it is called Cheese-Rennet,
because it performs the same office, as also Gailion, Pettimugget, and
Maiden-hair; and by some Wild Rosemary.
_Descript._] This rises up with divers small brown, and square upright
stalks, a yard high or more; sometimes branches forth into divers
parts, full of joints, and with divers very fine small leaves at
every one of them, little or nothing rough at all; at the tops of the
branches grow many long tufts or branches of yellow flowers very thick
set together, from the several joints which consist of four leaves a
piece, which smell somewhat strong, but not unpleasant. The seed is
small and black like poppy seed, two for the most part joined together:
The root is reddish, with many small threads fastened to it, which take
strong hold of the ground, and creep a little: and the branches leaning
a little down to the ground, take root at the joints thereof, whereby
it is easily increased.
There is another sort of Ladies Bedstraw growing frequently in England,
which bears white flowers as the other doth yellow; but the branches of
this are so weak, that unless it be sustained by the hedges, or other
things near which it grows, it will lie down to the ground; the leaves
a little bigger than the former, and the flowers not so plentiful as
these; and the root hereof is also thready and abiding.
_Place._] They grow in meadow and pastures both wet and dry, and by the
hedges.
_Time._] They flower in May for the most part, and the seed is ripe in
July and August.
_Government and virtues._] They are both herbs of Venus, and therefore
strengthening the parts both internal and external, which she rules.
The decoction of the former of those being drank, is good to fret and
break the stone, provoke the urine, stays inward bleeding, and heals
inward wounds. The herb or flower bruised and put into the nostrils,
stays their bleeding likewise; The flowers and herbs being made into
an oil, by being set in the sun, and changed after it has stood ten or
twelve days; or into an ointment being boiled in _Axunga_, or sallad
oil, with some wax melted therein, after it is strained; either the
oil made thereof, or the ointment, do help burnings with fire, or
scalding with water. The same also, or the decoction of the herb and
flower, is good to bathe the feet of travellers and lacquies, whose
long running causes weariness and stiffness in the sinews and joints.
If the decoction be used warm, and the joints afterwards anointed with
ointment, it helps the dry scab, and the itch in children; and the herb
with the white flower is also very good for the sinews, arteries, and
joints, to comfort and strengthen them after travel, cold, and pains.
BEETS.
OF Beets there are two sorts, which are best known generally, and
whereof I shall principally treat at this time, _viz._ the white and
red Beets and their virtues.
_Descript._] The common white beet has many great leaves next the
ground, somewhat large and of a whitish green colour. The stalk is
great, strong, and ribbed, bearing great store of leaves upon it,
almost to the very top of it: The flowers grow in very long tufts,
small at the end, and turning down their heads, which are small, pale
greenish, yellow, buds, giving cornered prickly seed. The root is
great, long, and hard, and when it has given seed is of no use at all.
The common red Beet differs not from the white, but only it is
less, and the leaves and the roots are somewhat red; the leaves are
differently red, some only with red stalks or veins; some of a fresh
red, and others of a dark red. The root thereof is red, spungy, and not
used to be eaten.
_Government and virtues._] The government of these two sorts of Beets
are far different; the red Beet being under Saturn and the white under
Jupiter; therefore take the virtues of them apart, each by itself. The
white Beet much loosens the belly, and is of a cleansing, digesting
quality, and provokes urine. The juice of it opens obstructions both
of the liver and spleen, and is good for the head-ache and swimmings
therein, and turnings of the brain; and is effectual also against all
venomous creatures; and applied to the temples, stays inflammations of
the eyes; it helps burnings, being used with oil, and with a little
alum put to it, is good for St. Anthony’s fire. It is good for all
wheals, pushes, blisters, and blains in the skin: the herb boiled,
and laid upon chilblains or kibes, helps them. The decoction thereof
in water and some vinegar, heals the itch, if bathed therewith; and
cleanses the head of dandruff, scurf, and dry scabs, and does much good
for fretting and running sores, ulcers, and cankers in the head, legs,
or other parts, and is much commended against baldness and shedding the
hair.
The red Beet is good to stay the bloody-flux, women’s courses, and the
whites, and to help the yellow jaundice; the juice of the root put into
the nostrils, purges the head, helps the noise in the ears, and the
tooth-ache; the juice snuffed up the nose, helps a stinking breath, if
the cause lie in the nose, as many times it does, if any bruise has
been there: as also want of smell coming that way.
WATER BETONY.
CALLED also Brown-wort, and in Yorkshire, Bishop’s-leaves.
_Descript._] First, of the Water Betony, which rises up with square,
hard, greenish stalks, sometimes brown, set with broad dark green
leaves dented about the edges with notches somewhat resembling the
leaves of the Wood Betony, but much larger too, for the most part set
at a joint. The flowers are many, set at the tops of the stalks and
branches, being round bellied and open at the brims, and divided into
two parts, the uppermost being like a hood, and the lowermost like a
hip hanging down, of a dark red colour, which passing, there comes in
their places small round heads with small points at the ends, wherein
lie small and brownish seeds; the root is a thick bush of strings and
shreds, growing from the head.
_Place._] It grows by the ditch side, brooks and other water-courses,
generally through this land, and is seldom found far from the
water-side.
_Time._] It flowers about July, and the seed is ripe in August.
_Government and virtues._] Water Betony is an herb of Jupiter in
Cancer, and is appropriated more to wounds and hurts in the breast
than Wood Betony, which follows: It is an excellent remedy for sick
hogs. It is of a cleansing quality. The leaves bruised and applied are
effectual for all old and filthy ulcers; and especially if the juice of
the leaves be boiled with a little honey, and dipped therein, and the
sores dressed therewith; as also for bruises and hurts, whether inward
or outward. The distilled water of the leaves is used for the same
purpose; as also to bathe the face and hands spotted or blemished, or
discoloured by sun burning.
I confess I do not much fancy distilled waters, I mean such waters as
are distilled cold; some virtues of the herb they may haply have (it
were a strange thing else;) but this I am confident of, that being
distilled in a pewter still, as the vulgar and apish fashion is, both
chemical oil and salt is left behind unless you burn them, and then all
is spoiled, water and all, which was good for as little as can be, by
such a distillation.
WOOD BETONY.
_Descript._] COMMON or Wood Betony has many leaves rising from the
root, which are somewhat broad and round at the end, roundly dented
about the edges, standing upon long foot stalks, from among which rise
up small, square, slender, but upright hairy stalks, with some leaves
thereon to a piece at the joints, smaller than the lower, whereon
are set several spiked heads of flowers like Lavender, but thicker
and shorter for the most part, and of a reddish or purple colour,
spotted with white spots both in the upper and lower part. The seeds
being contained within the husks that hold the flowers, are blackish,
somewhat long and uneven. The roots are many white thready strings: the
stalks perish, but the roots with some leaves thereon, abide all the
Winter. The whole plant is somewhat small.
_Place._] It grows frequently in woods, and delights in shady places.
_Time._] And it flowers in July; after which the seed is quickly ripe,
yet in its prime in May.
_Government and virtues._] The herb is appropriated to the planet
Jupiter, and the sign Aries. Antonius Musa, physician to the Emperor
Augustus Cæsar, wrote a peculiar book of the virtues of this herb; and
among other virtues saith of it, that it preserves the liver and bodies
of men from the danger of epidemical diseases, and from witchcraft
also; it helps those that loath and cannot digest their meat, those
that have weak stomachs and sour belchings, or continual rising in
their stomachs, using it familiarly either green or dry; either the
herb, or root, or the flowers, in broth, drink, or meat, or made into
conserve, syrup, water, electuary, or powder, as every one may best
frame themselves unto, or as the time and season requires; taken any
of the aforesaid ways, it helps the jaundice, falling sickness, the
palsy, convulsions, or shrinking of the sinews, the gout and those
that are inclined to dropsy, those that have continual pains in their
heads, although it turn to phrensy. The powder mixed with pure honey
is no less available for all sorts of coughs or colds, wheesing, or
shortness of breath, distillations of thin rheum upon the lungs,
which causes consumptions. The decoction made with Mead, and a little
Pennyroyal, is good for those that are troubled with putrid agues,
whether quotidian, tertian, or quartan, and to draw down and evacuate
the blood and humours, that by falling into the eyes, do hinder the
sight; the decoction thereof made in wine and taken, kills the worms
in the belly, opens obstructions both of the spleen and liver; cures
stitches, and pains in the back and sides, the torments and griping
pains in the bowels, and the wind cholic; and mixed with honey purges
the belly, helps to bring down women’s courses, and is of special use
for those that are troubled with the falling down of the mother, and
pains thereof, and causes an easy and speedy delivery of women in
child-birth. It helps also to break and expel the stone, either in
the bladder or kidneys. The decoction with wine gargled in the mouth,
eases the tooth-ache. It is commended against the stinging and biting
of venomous serpents, or mad dogs, being used inwardly and applied
outwardly to the place. A dram of the powder of Betony taken with a
little honey in some vinegar, does wonderfully refresh those that are
over wearied by travelling. It stays bleeding at the mouth or nose,
and helps those that void or spit blood, and those that are bursten
or have a rupture, and is good for such as are bruised by any fall or
otherwise. The green herb bruised, or the juice applied to any inward
hurt, or outward green wound in the head or body, will quickly heal
and close it up; as also any vein or sinews that are cut, and will
draw forth any broken bone or splinter, thorn or other things got into
the flesh. It is no less profitable for old sores or filthy ulcers,
yea, tho’ they be fistulous and hollow. But some do advise to put a
little salt for this purpose, being applied with a little hog’s lard,
it helps a plague sore, and other boils and pushes. The fumes of the
decoction while it is warm, received by a funnel into the ears, eases
the pains of them, destroys the worms and cures the running sores in
them. The juice dropped into them does the same. The root of Betony
is displeasing both to the taste and stomach, whereas the leaves and
flowers, by their sweet and spicy taste, are comfortable both to meat
and medicine.
These are some of the many virtues Anthony Muse, an expert physician
(for it was not the practice of Octavius Cæsar to keep fools about
him), appropriates to Betony; it is a very precious herb, that is
certain, and most fitting to be kept in a man’s house, both in syrup,
conserve, oil, ointment and plaister. The flowers are usually conserved.
THE BEECH TREE.
IN treating of this tree, you must understand, that I mean the green
mast Beech, which is by way of distinction from that other small rough
sort, called in Sussex the smaller Beech, but in Essex Horn-beam.
I suppose it is needless to describe it, being already too well known
to my countrymen.
_Place._] It grows in woods amongst oaks and other trees, and in parks,
forests, and chases, to feed deer; and in other places to fatten swine.
_Time._] It blooms in the end of April, or beginning of May, for the
most part, and the fruit is ripe in September.
_Government and virtues._] It is a plant of Saturn, and therefore
performs his qualities and proportion in these operations. The leaves
of the Beech tree are cooling and binding, and therefore good to be
applied to hot swellings to discuss them; the nuts do much nourish such
beasts as feed thereon. The water that is found in the hollow places
of decaying Beeches will cure both man and beast of any scurf, or
running tetters, if they be washed therewith; you may boil the leaves
into a poultice, or make an ointment of them when time of year serves.
BILBERRIES, CALLED BY SOME WHORTS,
AND WHORTLE-BERRIES.
_Descript._] OF these I shall only speak of two sorts which are common
in England, viz. The black and red berries. And first of the black.
The small bush creeps along upon the ground, scarcely rising half a
yard high, with divers small green leaves set in the green branches,
not always one against the other, and a little dented about the edges:
At the foot of the leaves come forth small, hollow, pale, bluish
coloured flowers, the brims ending at five points, with a reddish
thread in the middle, which pass into small round berries of the
bigness and colour of juniper berries, but of a purple, sweetish sharp
taste; the juice of them gives a purplish colour in their hands and
lips that eat and handle them, especially if they break them. The
root grows aslope under ground, shooting forth in sundry places as it
creeps. This loses its leaves in Winter.
The Red Bilberry, or Whortle-Bush, rises up like the former, having
sundry hard leaves, like the Box-tree leaves, green and round pointed,
standing on the several branches, at the top whereof only, and not from
the sides, as in the former, come forth divers round, reddish, sappy
berries, when they are ripe, of a sharp taste. The root runs in the
ground, as in the former, but the leaves of this abide all Winter.
_Place._] The first grows in forests, on the heaths, and such like
barren places: the red grows in the north parts of this land, as
Lancashire, Yorkshire, &c.
_Time._] They flower in March and April, and the fruit of the black is
ripe in July and August.
_Government and virtues._] They are under the dominion of Jupiter. It
is a pity they are used no more in physic than they are.
The black Bilberries are good in hot agues and to cool the heat of the
liver and stomach; they do somewhat bind the belly, and stay vomiting
and loathings; the juice of the berries made in a syrup, or the pulp
made into a conserve with sugar, is good for the purposes aforesaid,
as also for an old cough, or an ulcer in the lungs, or other diseases
therein. The Red Worts are more binding, and stops women’s courses,
spitting of blood, or any other flux of blood or humours, being used as
well outwardly as inwardly.
BIFOIL OR TWABLADE.
_Descript._] THIS small herb, from a root somewhat sweet, shooting
downwards many long strings, rises up a round green stalk, bare or
naked next the ground for an inch, two or three to the middle thereof
as it is in age or growth; as also from the middle upwards to the
flowers, having only two broad Plaintain-like leaves (but whiter) set
at the middle of the stalk one against another, compassing it round at
the bottom of them.
_Place._] It is an usual inhabitant in woods, copses, and in many
places in this land.
There is another sort grows in wet grounds and marshes, which is
somewhat different from the former. It is a smaller plant, and greener,
having sometimes three leaves; the spike of the flowers is less than
the former, and the roots of this do run or creep in the ground.
They are often used by many to good purpose for wounds, both green and
old, to consolidate or knit ruptures; and well it may, being a plant of
Saturn.
THE BIRCH TREE.
_Descript._] THIS grows a goodly tall straight tree, fraught with many
boughs, and slender branches bending downward: the old being covered
with discoloured chapped bark, and the younger being browner by much.
The leaves at the first breaking out are crumpled, and afterwards
like the beech leaves, but smaller and greener, and dented about the
edges. It bears small short cat-skins, somewhat like those of the
hazelnut-tree, which abide on the branches a long time, until growing
ripe, they fall on the ground and their seed with them.
_Place._] It usually grows in woods.
_Government and virtues._] It is a tree of Venus; the juice of the
leaves, while they are young, or the distilled water of them, or the
water that comes from the tree being bored with an auger, and distilled
afterwards; any of these being drank for some days together, is
available to break the stone in the kidneys and bladder, and is good
also to wash sore mouths.
BIRD’S FOOT.
THIS small herb grows not above a span high with many branches spread
upon the ground, set with many wings of small leaves. The flowers grow
upon the branches, many small ones of a pale yellow colour being set
a-head together, which afterwards turn into small jointed pods, well
resembling the claw of small birds, whence it took its name.
There is another sort of Bird’s Foot in all things like the former,
but a little larger; the flowers of a pale whitish and red colour, and
the pods distinct by joints like the other, but little more crooked;
and the roots do carry many small white knots or kernels amongst the
strings.
_Place._] These grow on heaths, and many open untilled places of this
land.
_Time._] They flower and seed in the end of Summer.
_Government and virtues._] They belong to Saturn and are of a drying,
binding quality, and thereby very good to be used in wound drinks, as
also to apply outwardly for the same purpose. But the latter Bird’s
Foot is found by experience to break the stone in the back or kidneys,
and drives them forth, if the decoction thereof be taken; and it
wonderfully helps the ruptures, being taken inwardly, and outwardly
applied to the place.
All sorts have best operations upon the stone, as ointments and
plaisters have upon wounds: and therefore you may make a salt of this
for the stone; the way how to do so may be found in my translation
of the London Dispensatory; and it may be I may give you it again in
plainer terms at the latter end of this book.
BISHOP’S-WEED.
BESIDES the common name Bishop’s-weed, it is usually known by the Greek
name _Ammi_ and _Ammois_; some call it Æthiopian Cummin-seed, and
others Cummin-royal, as also Herb William, and Bull-wort.
_Descript._] Common Bishop’s-weed rises up with a round straight stalk,
sometimes as high as a man, but usually three or four feet high, beset
with divers small, long and somewhat broad leaves, cut in some places,
and dented about the edges, growing one against another, of a dark
green colour, having sundry branches on them, and at the top small
umbels of white flowers, which turn into small round seeds little
bigger than Parsley seeds, of a quick hot scent and taste; the root is
white and stringy; perishing yearly, and usually rises again on its own
sowing.
_Place._] It grows wild in many places in England and Wales, as between
Greenhithe and Gravesend.
_Government and virtues._] It is hot and dry in the third degree, of a
bitter taste, and somewhat sharp withal; it provokes lust to purpose; I
suppose Venus owns it. It digests humours, provokes urine and women’s
courses, dissolves wind, and being taken in wine it eases pains and
griping in the bowels, and is good against the biting of serpents; it
is used to good effect in those medicines which are given to hinder
the poisonous operation of Cantharides, upon the passage of the urine:
being mixed with honey and applied to black and blue marks, coming of
blows or bruises, it takes them away; and being drank or outwardly
applied, it abates a high colour, and makes it pale; and the fumes
thereof taken with rosin or raisins, cleanses the mother.
BISTORT, OR SNAKEWEED.
IT is called Snakeweed, English Serpentary, Dragon-wort, Osterick, and
Passions.
_Descript._] This has a thick short knobbed root, blackish without, and
somewhat reddish within, a little crooked or turned together, of a hard
astringent taste, with divers black threads hanging therefrom, whence
springs up every year divers leaves, standing upon long footstalks,
being somewhat broad and long like a dock leaf, and a little pointed
at the ends, but that it is of a blueish green colour on the upper
side, and of an ash-colour grey, and a little purplish underneath, with
divers veins therein, from among which rise up divers small and slender
stalks, two feet high, and almost naked and without leaves, or with a
very few, and narrow, bearing a spiky bush of pale-coloured flowers;
which being past, there abides small seed, like unto Sorrel seed, but
greater.
There are other sorts of Bistort growing in this land, but smaller,
both in height, root, and stalks, and especially in the leaves. The
root blackish without, and somewhat whitish within; of an austere
binding taste, as the former.
_Place._] They grow in shadowy moist woods, and at the foot of hills,
but are chiefly nourished up in gardens. The narrow leafed Bistort
grows in the north, in Lancashire, Yorkshire, and Cumberland.
_Time._] They flower about the end of May, and the seed is ripe about
the beginning of July.
_Government and virtues._] It belongs to Saturn, and is in operation
cold and dry; both the leaves and roots have a powerful faculty to
resist all poison. The root, in powder, taken in drink expels the venom
of the plague, the small-pox, measels, purples, or any other infectious
disease, driving it out by sweating. The root in powder, the decoction
thereof in wine being drank, stays all manner of inward bleeding, or
spitting of blood, and any fluxes in the body of either man or woman,
or vomiting. It is also very available against ruptures, or burstings,
or all bruises from falls, dissolving the congealed blood, and easing
the pains that happen thereupon; it also helps the jaundice.
The water, distilled from both leaves and roots, is a singular remedy
to wash any place bitten or stung by any venomous creature; as also
for any of the purposes before spoken of, and is very good to wash any
running sores or ulcers. The decoction of the root in wine being drank,
hinders abortion or miscarriage in child-bearing. The leaves also
kill the worms in children, and is a great help to them that cannot
keep their water; if the juice of Plaintain be added thereto, and
outwardly applied, much helps the ghonorrhea, or running of the reins.
A dram of the powder of the root, taken in water thereof, wherein some
red hot iron or steel hath been quenched, is also an admirable help
thereto, so as the body be first prepared and purged from the offensive
humours. The leaves, seed, or roots, are all very good in decoction,
drinks, or lotions, for inward or outward wounds, or other sores.
And the powder, strewed upon any cut or wound in a vein, stays the
immoderate bleeding thereof. The decoction of the root in water, where
unto some pomegranate peels and flowers are added, injected into the
matrix, stays the immoderate flux of the courses. The root thereof,
with pelitory of Spain and burnt alum, of each a little quantity,
beaten small and into paste with some honey, and a little piece thereof
put into a hollow tooth, or held between the teeth, if there be no
hollowness in them, stays the defluction of rheum upon them which
causes pains, and helps to cleanse the head, and void much offensive
water. The distilled water is very effectual to wash sores or cankers
in the nose, or any other part; if the powder of the root be applied
thereunto afterwards. It is good also to fasten the gums, and to take
away the heat and inflammations that happen in the jaws, almonds of
the throat, or mouth, if the decoction of the leaves, roots, or seeds
bruised, or the juice of them, be applied; but the roots are most
effectual to the purposes aforesaid.
ONE-BLADE.
_Descript._] THIS small plant never bears more than one leaf, but only
when it rises up with its stalk, which thereon bears another, and
seldom more, which are of a blueish green colour, broad at the bottom,
and pointed with many ribs or veins like Plaintain; at the top of the
stalk grows many small flowers star-fashion, smelling somewhat sweet;
after which comes small reddish berries when they are ripe. The root
small, of the bigness of a rush, lying and creeping under the upper
crust of the earth, shooting forth in divers places.
_Place._] It grows in moist, shadowy, grassy places of woods, in many
places of this realm.
_Time._] It flowers about May, and the berries are ripe in June, and
then quickly perishes, until the next year it springs from the same
again.
_Government and virtues._] It is a herb of the Sun, and therefore
cordial; half a dram, or a dram at most, of the root hereof in powder
taken in wine and vinegar, of each a little quantity, and the party
presently laid to sweat, is held to be a sovereign remedy for those
that are infected with the plague, and have a sore upon them, by
expelling the poison, and defending the heart and spirit from danger.
It is also accounted a singular good wound herb, and therefore used
with other herbs in making such balms as are necessary for curing of
wounds, either green or old, and especially if the nerves be hurt.
THE BRAMBLE, OR BLACK-BERRY BUSH.
IT is so well known that it needs no description. The virtues thereof
are as follows:—
_Government and virtues._] It is a plant of Venus in Aries. If any
ask the reason why Venus is so prickly? Tell them it is because she
is in the house of Mars. The buds, leaves, and branches, while they
are green, are of a good use in the ulcers and putrid sores of the
mouth and throat, and of the quinsey, and likewise to heal other fresh
wounds and sores; but the flowers and fruit unripe are very binding,
and so profitable for the bloody flux, lasks, and are a fit remedy for
spitting of blood. Either the decoction of the powder or of the root
taken, is good to break or drive forth gravel and the stone in the
reins and kidneys. The leaves and brambles, as well green as dry, are
exceeding good lotions for sores in the mouth, or secret parts. The
decoction of them, and of the dried branches, do much bind the belly
and are good for too much flowing of women’s courses; the berries
of the flowers are a powerful remedy against the poison of the most
venomous serpents; as well drank as outwardly applied, helps the
sores of the fundament and the piles; the juice of the berries mixed
with the juice of mulberries, do bind more effectually, and helps
all fretting and eating sores and ulcers wheresoever. The distilled
water of the branches, leaves, and flowers, or of the fruit, is very
pleasant in taste, and very effectual in fevers and hot distempers of
the body, head, eyes, and other parts, and for the purposes aforesaid.
The leaves boiled in lye, and the head washed therewith, heals the
itch and running sores thereof, and makes the hair black. The powder
of the leaves strewed on cankers and running ulcers, wonderfully helps
to heal them. Some use to condensate the juice of the leaves, and some
the juice of the berries, to keep for their use all the year, for the
purposes aforesaid.
BLITES.
_Descript._] OF these there are two sorts commonly known, viz. white
and red. The white has leaves somewhat like to Beets, but smaller,
rounder and of a whitish green colour, every one standing upon a small
long footstalk: the stalk rises up two or three feet high, with such
like leaves thereon; the flowers grow at the top in long round tufts,
or clusters, wherein are contained small and round seeds; the root is
very full of threads or strings.
The red Blite is in all things like the white but that its leaves and
tufted heads are exceeding red at first, and after turn more purple.
There are other kinds of Blites which grow different from the two
former sorts but little, but only the wild are smaller in every part.
_Place._] They grow in gardens, and wild in many places in this land.
_Time._] They seed in August and September.
_Government and virtues._] They are all of them cooling, drying, and
binding, serving to restrain the fluxes of blood in either man or
woman, especially the red; which also stays the overflowing of the
women’s reds, as the white Blites stays the whites in women. It is an
excellent secret; you cannot well fail in the use. They are all under
the dominion of Venus.
There is another sort of wild Blites like the other wild kinds, but
have long and spiky heads of greenish seeds, seeming by the thick
setting together to be all seed.
This sort the fishers are delighted with, and it is good and usual
bait; for fishes will bite fast enough at them, if you have wit enough
to catch them when they bite.
BORAGE AND BUGLOSS.
THESE are so well known to the inhabitants in every garden that I hold
it needless to describe them.
To these I may add a third sort, which is not so common, nor yet so
well known, and therefore I shall give you its name and description.
It is called _Langue de Bœuf_; but why then should they call one herb
by the name of Bugloss, and another by the name _Langue de Bœuf_? it is
some question to me, seeing one signifies Ox-tongue in Greek, and the
other signifies the same in French.
_Descript._] The leaves whereof are smaller than those of Bugloss but
much rougher; the stalks rising up about a foot and a half high, and is
most commonly of a red colour; the flowers stand in scaly round heads,
being composed of many small yellow flowers not much unlike to those
of Dandelion, and the seed flieth away in down as that doth; you may
easily know the flowers by their taste, for they are very bitter.
_Place._] It grows wild in many places of this land, and may be
plentifully found near London, as between Rotherhithe and Deptford, by
the ditch side. Its virtues are held to be the same with Borage and
Bugloss, only this is somewhat hotter.
_Time._] They flower in June and July, and the seed is ripe shortly
after.
_Government and virtues._] They are all three herbs of Jupiter and
under Leo, all great cordials, and great strengtheners of nature.
The leaves and roots are to very good purpose used in putrid and
pestilential fevers, to defend the heart, and help to resist and expel
the poison, or the venom of other creatures: the seed is of the like
effect; and the seed and leaves are good to increase milk in women’s
breasts; the leaves, flowers, and seed, all or any of them, are good to
expel pensiveness and melancholy; it helps to clarify the blood, and
mitigate heat in fevers. The juice made into a syrup prevails much to
all the purposes aforesaid, and is put, with other cooling, opening and
cleansing herbs to open obstructions, and help the yellow jaundice, and
mixed with Fumitory, to cool, cleanse, and temper the blood thereby;
it helps the itch, ringworms and tetters, or other spreading scabs or
sores. The flowers candied or made into a conserve, are helpful in the
former cases, but are chiefly used as a cordial, and are good for those
that are weak in long sickness, and to comfort the heart and spirits
of those that are in a consumption, or troubled with often swoonings,
or passions of the heart. The distilled water is no less effectual to
all the purposes aforesaid, and helps the redness and inflammations of
the eyes, being washed therewith; the herb dried is never used, but
the green; yet the ashes thereof boiled in mead, or honied water, is
available against the inflammations and ulcers in the mouth or throat,
to gargle it therewith; the roots of Bugloss are effectual, being made
into a licking electuary for the cough, and to condensate thick phlegm,
and the rheumatic distillations upon the lungs.
BLUE-BOTTLE.
IT is called Syanus, I suppose from the colour of it; Hurt-sickle,
because it turns the edge of the sickles that reap the corn; Blue-blow,
Corn-flower, and Blue-bottle.
_Descript._] I shall only describe that which is commonest, and in
my opinion most useful; its leaves spread upon the ground, being
of a whitish green colour, somewhat on the edges like those of
Corn-Scabious, amongst which rises up a stalk divided into divers
branches, beset with long leaves of a greenish colour, either but very
little indented, or not at all; the flowers are of a blueish colour,
from whence it took its name, consisting of an innumerable company of
flowers set in a scaly head, not much unlike those of Knap-weed; the
seed is smooth, bright, and shining, wrapped up in a woolly mantle; the
root perishes every year.
_Place._] They grow in cornfields, amongst all sorts of corn (pease,
beans, and tares excepted.) If you please to take them up from thence,
and transplant them in your garden, especially towards the full of the
moon, they will grow more double than they are, and many times change
colour.
_Time._] They flower from the beginning of May, to the end of the
harvest.
_Government and virtues._] As they are naturally cold, dry, and
binding, so they are under the dominion of Saturn. The powder or
dried leaves of the Blue-bottle, or Corn-flower, is given with good
success to those that are bruised by a fall, or have broken a vein
inwardly, and void much blood at the mouth; being taken in the water of
Plaintain, Horsetail, or the greater Confrey, it is a remedy against
the poison of the Scorpion, and resists all venoms and poison. The
seed or leaves taken in wine, is very good against the plague, and
all infectious diseases, and is very good in pestilential fevers. The
juice put into fresh or green wounds, doth quickly solder up the lips
of them together, and is very effectual to heal all ulcers and sores
in the mouth. The juice dropped into the eyes takes away the heat and
inflammation of them. The distilled water of this herb, has the same
properties, and may be used for the effects aforesaid.
BRANK URSINE.
BESIDES the common name Brank-Ursine, it is also called Bear’s-breach,
and Acanthus, though I think our English names to be more proper; for
the Greek word _Acanthus_, signifies any thistle whatsoever.
_Descript._] This thistle shoots forth very many large, thick, sad
green smooth leaves on the ground, with a very thick and juicy middle
rib; the leaves are parted with sundry deep gashes on the edges; the
leaves remain a long time, before any stalk appears, afterwards rising
up a reasonable big stalk, three or four feet high, and bravely decked
with flowers from the middle of the stalk upwards; for on the lower
part of the stalk, there is neither branches nor leaf. The flowers are
hooded and gaping, being white in colour, and standing in brownish
husk, with a long small undivided leaf under each leaf; they seldom
seed in our country. Its roots are many, great and thick, blackish
without and whitish within, full of a clammy sap; a piece of them if
you set it in the garden, and defend it from the first Winter cold will
grow and flourish.
_Place._] They are only nursed in the gardens in England, where they
will grow very well.
_Time._] It flowers in June and July.
_Government and virtues._] It is an excellent plant under the dominion
of the Moon; I could wish such as are studious would labour to keep
it in their gardens. The leaves being boiled and used in clysters, is
excellent good to mollify the belly, and make the passage slippery. The
decoction drank inwardly, is excellent and good for the bloody-flux;
The leaves being bruised, or rather boiled and applied like a poultice
are excellent good to unite broken bones and strengthen joints that
have been put out. The decoction of either leaves or roots being drank,
and the decoction of leaves applied to the place, is excellent good
for the king’s evil that is broken and runs; for by the influence of
the moon, it revives the ends of the veins which are relaxed. There is
scarce a better remedy to be applied to such places as are burnt with
fire than this is, for it fetches out the fire, and heals it without a
scar. This is an excellent remedy for such as are bursten, being either
taken inwardly, or applied to the place. In like manner used, it helps
the cramp and the gout. It is excellently good in hectic fevers, and
restores radical moisture to such as are in consumptions.
BRIONY, OR WILD VINE.
IT is called Wild, and Wood Vine, Tamus, or Ladies’ Seal. The white is
called White Vine by some; and the black, Black Vine.
_Descript._] The common White Briony grows ramping upon the hedges,
sending forth many long, rough, very tender branches at the beginning,
with many very rough, and broad leaves thereon, cut (for the most part)
into five partitions, in form very like a vine leaf, but smaller,
rough, and of a whitish hoary green colour, spreading very far,
spreading and twining with his small claspers (that come forth at the
joints with the leaves) very far on whatsoever stands next to it. At
the several joints also (especially towards the top of the branches)
comes forth a long stalk bearing many whitish flowers together on a
long tuft, consisting of five small leaves a-piece, laid open like a
star, after which come the berries separated one from another, more
than a cluster of grapes, green at the first, and very red when they
are thorough ripe, of no good scent, but of a most loathsome taste
provokes vomit. The root grows to be exceeding great, with many long
twines or branches going from it, of a pale whitish colour on the
outside, and more white within, and of a sharp, bitter, loathsome taste.
_Place._] It grows on banks, or under hedges, through this land; the
roots lie very deep.
_Time._] It flowers in July and August, some earlier, and some later
than the other.
_Government and virtues._] They are furious martial plants. The root
of Briony purges the belly with great violence, troubling the stomach
and burning the liver, and therefore not rashly to be taken; but being
corrected, is very profitable for the diseases of the head, as falling
sickness, giddiness, and swimmings, by drawing away much phlegm and
rheumatic humours that oppress the head, as also the joints and sinews;
and is therefore good for palsies, convulsions, cramps, and stitches
in the sides, and the dropsy, and for provoking urine; it cleanses the
reins and kidneys from gravel and stone, by opening the obstructions
of the spleen, and consume the hardness and swelling thereof. The
decoction of the root in wine, drank once a week at going to bed,
cleanses the mother, and helps the rising thereof, expels the dead
child; a dram of the root in powder taken in white wine, brings down
their courses. An electuary made of the roots and honey, doth mightily
cleanse the chest of rotten phlegm, and wonderfully help any old strong
cough, to those that are troubled with shortness of breath, and is good
for them that are bruised inwardly, to help to expel the clotted or
congealed blood. The leaves, fruit, and root do cleanse old and filthy
sores, are good against all fretting and running cankers, gangrenes,
and tetters and therefore the berries are by some country people called
tetter-berries. The root cleanses the skin wonderfully from all black
and blue spots, freckles, morphew, leprosy, foul scars, or other
deformity whatsoever; also all running scabs and manginess are healed
by the powder of the dried root, or the juice thereof, but especially
by the fine white hardened juice. The distilled water of the root
works the same effects, but more weakly; the root bruised and applied
of itself to any place where the bones are broken, helps to draw them
forth, as also splinters and thorns in the flesh; and being applied
with a little wine mixed therewith, it breaks boils, and helps whitlows
on the joints.—For all these latter, beginning at sores, cancers, &c.
apply it outwardly, mixing it with a little hog’s grease, or other
convenient ointment.
As for the former diseases where it must be taken inwardly, it purges
very violently, and needs an abler hand to correct it than most country
people have.
BROOK LIME, OR WATER-PIMPERNEL.
_Descript._] THIS sends forth from a creeping root that shoots forth
strings at every joint, as it runs, divers and sundry green stalks,
round and sappy with some branches on them, somewhat broad, round, deep
green, and thick leaves set by couples thereon; from the bottom whereof
shoot forth long foot stalks, with sundry small blue flowers on them,
that consist of five small round pointed leaves a piece.
There is another sort nothing different from the former, but that it is
greater, and the flowers of a paler green colour.
_Place._] They grow in small standing waters, and usually near
Water-Cresses.
_Time._] And flower in June and July, giving seed the next month after.
_Government and virtues._] It is a hot and biting martial plant.
Brook-lime and Water-Cresses are generally used together in diet-drink,
with other things serving to purge the blood and body from all ill
humours that would destroy health, and are helpful to the scurvy. They
do all provoke urine, and help to break the stone, and pass it away;
they procure women’s courses, and expel the dead child. Being fried
with butter and vinegar, and applied warm, it helps all manner of
tumours, swellings, and inflammations.
Such drinks ought to be made of sundry herbs, according to the malady.
I shall give a plain and easy rule at the latter end of this book.
BUTCHER’S BROOM.
IT is called Ruscus, and Bruscus, Kneeholm, Kneeholly, Kneehulver, and
Pettigree.
_Descript._] The first shoots that sprout from the root of Butcher’s
Broom, are thick, whitish, and short, somewhat like those of Asparagus,
but greater, they rise up to be a foot and half high, are spread into
divers branches, green, and somewhat creased with the roundness, tough
and flexible, whereon are set somewhat broad and almost round hard
leaves and prickly, pointed at the end, of a dark green colour, two at
the most part set at a place, very close and near together; about the
middle of the leaf, on the back and lower side from the middle rib,
breaks forth a small whitish green flower, consisting of four small
round pointed leaves, standing upon little or no footstalk, and in the
place whereof comes a small round berry, green at the first, and red
when it is ripe, wherein are two or three white, hard, round seeds
contained. The root is thick, white and great at the head, and from
thence sends forth divers thick, white, long, tough strings.
_Place._] It grows in copses, and upon heaths and waste grounds, and
oftentimes under or near the holly bushes.
_Time._] It shoots forth its young buds in the Spring, and the berries
are ripe about September, the branches of leaves abiding green all the
Winter.
_Government and virtues._] It is a plant of Mars, being of a gallant
cleansing and opening quality. The decoction of the root made with
wine opens obstructions, provokes urine, helps to expel gravel and the
stone, the stranguary and women’s courses, also the yellow jaundice and
the head-ache; and with same honey or sugar put thereunto, cleanses
the breast of phlegm, and the chest of such clammy humours gathered
therein. The decoction of the root drank, and a poultice made of the
berries and leaves applied, are effectual in knitting and consolidating
broken bones or parts out of joint. The common way of using it, is to
boil the root of it, and Parsley and Fennel and Smallage in white wine,
and drink the decoction, adding the like quantity of Grass-root to
them: The more of the root you boil, the stronger will the decoction
be; it works no ill effects, yet I hope you have wit enough to give the
strongest decoction to the strongest bodies.
BROOM, AND BROOM-RAPE.
TO spend time in writing a description hereof is altogether needless,
it being so generally used by all the good housewives almost through
this land to sweep their houses with, and therefore very well known to
all sorts of people.
The Broom-rape springs up in many places from the roots of the broom
(but more often in fields, as by hedge-sides and on heaths). The stalk
whereof is of the bigness of a finger or thumb, above two feet high,
having a shew of leaves on them, and many flowers at the top, of a
reddish yellow colour, as also the stalks and leaves are.
_Place._] They grow in many places of this land commonly, and as
commonly spoil all the land they grow in.
_Time._] They flower in the Summer months, and give their seed before
Winter.
_Government and virtues._] The juice or decoction of the young
branches, or seed, or the powder of the seed taken in drink purges
downwards, and draws phlegmatic and watery humours from the joints;
whereby it helps the dropsy, gout, sciatica, and pains of the hips and
joints; it also provokes strong vomits, and helps the pains of the
sides, and swelling of the spleen, cleanses also the reins or kidneys
and bladder of the stone, provokes urine abundantly, and hinders the
growing again of the stone in the body. The continual use of the powder
of the leaves and seed doth cure the black jaundice. The distilled
water of the flowers is profitable for all the same purposes: it also
helps surfeit, and alters the fit of agues, if three or four ounces
thereof, with as much of the water of the lesser Centaury, and a
little sugar put therein, be taken a little before the fit comes, and
the party be laid down to sweat in his bed. The oil or water that is
drawn from the end of the green sticks heated in the fire, helps the
tooth-ache. The juice of young branches made into an ointment of old
hog’s grease, and anointed, or the young branches bruised and heated
in oil or hog’s grease, and laid to the sides pained by wind, as in
stitches, or the spleen, ease them in once or twice using it. The same
boiled in oil is the safest and surest medicine to kill lice in the
head or body of any; and is an especial remedy for joint aches, and
swollen knees, that come by the falling down of humours.
_The_ BROOM RAPE _also is not without its virtues_.
THE decoction thereof in wine, is thought to be as effectual to void
the stone in the kidney or bladder, and to provoke urine, as the Broom
itself. The juice thereof is a singular good help to cure as well green
wounds, as old and filthy sores and malignant ulcers. The insolate oil,
wherein there has been three or four repetitions of infusion of the top
stalks, with flowers strained and cleared, cleanses the skin from all
manner of spots, marks, and freckles that rise either by the heat of
the sun, or the malignity of humours. As for the Broom and Broom-rape,
Mars owns them, and is exceeding prejudicial to the liver, I suppose
by reason of the antipathy between Jupiter and Mars; therefore if the
liver be disaffected, minister none of it.
BUCK’S-HORN PLANTAIN.
_Descript._] THIS being sown of seed, rises up at first with small,
long, narrow, hairy, dark green leaves like grass, without any division
or gash in them, but those that follow are gashed in on both sides the
leaves into three or four gashes, and pointed at the ends, resembling
the knags of a buck’s horn (whereof it took its name), and being well
wound round about the root upon the ground, in order one by another,
thereby resembling the form of a star, from among which rise up divers
hairy stalks, about a hand’s breadth high, bearing every one a small,
long spiky head, like to those of the common Plantain having such like
bloomings and seed after them. The root is single, long and small, with
divers strings at it.
_Place._] They grow in sandy grounds, as in Tothill-fields by
Westminster, and divers other places of this land.
_Time._] They flower and seed in May, June, and July, and their green
leaves do in a manner abide fresh all the Winter.
_Government and virtues._] It is under the dominion of Saturn, and is
of a gallant, drying, and binding quality. This boiled in wine and
drank, and some of the leaves put to the hurt place, is an excellent
remedy for the biting of the viper or adder, which I take to be one
and the same. The same being also drank, helps those that are troubled
with the stone in the reins or kidneys, by cooling the heat of the
part afflicted, and strengthens them; also weak stomachs that cannot
retain, but cast up their meat. It stays all bleeding both at mouth or
nose; bloody urine or the bloody-flux, and stops the lask of the belly
and bowels. The leaves hereof bruised and laid to their sides that have
an ague, suddenly ease the fits; and the leaves and roots applied to
the wrists, works the same effect. The herb boiled in ale and wine, and
given for some mornings and evenings together, stays the distillation
of hot and sharp rheums falling into the eyes from the head, and helps
all sorts of sore eyes.
BUCK’S HORN.
IT is called Hart’s-horn, Herba-stella and Herba-stellaria,
Sanguinaria, Herb-Eve, Herb-Ivy, Wort-Tresses, and Swine-Cresses.
_Descript._] They have many small and weak straggled branches trailing
here and there upon the ground: The leaves are many, small and jagged,
not much unlike to those of Buck’s-horn Plantain, but much smaller,
and not so hairy. The flowers grow among the leaves in small, rough,
whitish clusters; the seeds are smaller and brownish, of a bitter taste.
_Place._] They grow in dry, barren, sandy grounds.
_Time._] They flower and seed when the rest of the Plantains do.
_Government and virtues._] This is also under the dominion of Saturn;
the virtues are held to be the same as Buck’s-horn Plaintain, and
therefore by all authors it is joined with it. The leaves bruised and
applied to the place, stop bleeding. The herbs bruised and applied to
warts, will make them consume and waste in a short time.
BUGLE.
BESIDES the name Bugle, it is called Middle Confound and Middle
Comfrey, Brown Bugle, and by some Sicklewort, and Herb-Carpenter;
though in Essex we call another herb by that name.
_Descript._] This has larger leaves than those of the Self-heal, but
else of the same fashion, or rather longer; in some green on the upper
side, and in others more brownish, dented about the edges, somewhat
hairy, as the square stalk is also which rises up to be half a yard
high sometimes, with the leaves set by couples, from the middle almost,
whereof upwards stand the flowers, together with many smaller and
browner leaves than the rest, on the stalk below set at distance, and
the stalk bare between them; among which flowers, are also small ones
of a blueish and sometimes of an ash colour, fashioned like the flowers
of Ground-ivy, after which come small, round blackish seeds. The root
is composed of many strings, and spreads upon the ground.
The white flowered Bugle differs not in form or greatness from the
former, saving that the leaves and stalks are always green, and never
brown, like the other, and the flowers thereof are white.
_Place._] They grow in woods, copses, and fields, generally throughout
England, but the white flowered Bugle is not so plentiful as the former.
_Time._] They flower from May until July, and in the mean time perfect
their seed. The roots and leaves next thereunto upon the ground abiding
all the Winter.
_Government and virtues._] This herb belongs to Dame Venus: If the
virtues of it makes you fall in love with it (as they will if you be
wise) keep a syrup of it to take inwardly, an ointment and plaister of
it to use outwardly, always by you.
The decoction of the leaves and flowers made in wine, and taken,
dissolves the congealed blood in those that are bruised inwardly by a
fall, or otherwise is very effectual for any inward wounds, thrusts,
or stabs in the body or bowels; and it is an especial help in all
wound-drinks, and for those that are liver-grown (as they call it.)
It is wonderful in curing all manner of ulcers and sores, whether new
and fresh, or old and inveterate; yea, gangrenes and fistulas also,
if the leaves bruised and applied, or their juice be used to wash and
bathe the place; and the same made into a lotion, and some honey and
alum, cures all sores in the mouth and gums, be they ever so foul, or
of long continuance; and works no less powerfully and effectually for
such ulcers and sores as happen in the secret parts of men and women.
Being also taken inwardly, or outwardly applied, it helps those that
have broken any bone, or have any member out of joint. An ointment made
with the leaves of Bugle, Scabions and Sanicle, bruised and boiled in
hog’s grease, until the herbs be dry, and then strained forth into a
pot for such occasions as shall require; it is so singularly good for
all sorts of hurts in the body, that none that know its usefulness will
be without it.
The truth is, I have known this herb cure some diseases of Saturn, of
which I thought good to quote one. Many times such as give themselves
much to drinking are troubled with strange fancies, strange sights
in the night time, and some with voices, as also with the disease
Ephialtes, or the Mare. I take the reason of this to be (according
to Fernelius) a melancholy vapour made thin by excessive drinking
strong liquor, and, so flies up and disturbs the fancy, and breeds
imaginations like itself, viz. fearful and troublesome. Those I have
known cured by taking only two spoonfuls, of the syrup of this herb
after supper two hours, when you go to bed. But whether this does it
by sympathy, or antipathy, is some doubt in astrology. I know there
is great antipathy between Saturn and Venus in matter of procreation;
yea, such a one, that the barrenness of Saturn can be removed by none
but Venus! nor the lust of Venus be repelled by none but Saturn; but
I am not of opinion this is done this way, and my reason is, because
these vapours though in quality melancholy, yet by their flying upward,
seem to be something aerial; therefore I rather think it is done by
antipathy; Saturn being exalted in Libra, in the house of Venus.
BURNET.
IT is called Sanguisorbia, Pimpinella, Bipulo, Solbegrella, &c.
The common garden Burnet is so well known, that it needs no
description.—There is another sort which is wild, the description
whereof take as follows:—
_Descript._] The great wild Burnet has winged leaves arising from
the roots like the garden Burnet, but not so many; yet each of these
leaves are at the least twice as large as the other, and nicked in the
same manner about the edges, of a greyish colour on the under side;
the stalks are greater, and rise higher, with many such leaves set
thereon, and greater heads at the top, of a brownish colour, and out of
them come small dark purple flowers, like the former, but greater. The
root is black and long like the other, but greater also: it has almost
neither scent nor taste therein, like the garden kind.
_Place._] It first grows frequently in gardens. The wild kind grows
in divers counties of this land, especially in Huntingdon, in
Northamptonshire, in the meadows there: as also near London, by Pancras
church, and by a causeway-side in the middle of a field by Paddington.
_Time._] They flower about the end of June and beginning of July, and
their seed is ripe in August.
_Government and virtues_] This is an herb the Sun challenges dominion
over, and is a most precious herb, little inferior to Betony; the
continual use of it preserves the body in health, and the spirits in
vigour; for if the Sun be the preserver of life under God, his herbs
are the best in the world to do it by. They are accounted to be both of
one property, but the lesser is more effectual because quicker and more
aromatic: It is a friend to the heart, liver, and other principal parts
of a man’s body. Two or three of the stalks, with leaves put into a cup
of wine, especially claret, are known to quicken the spirits, refresh
and cheer the heart, and drive away melancholy: It is a special help
to defend the heart from noisome vapours, and from infection of the
pestilence, the juice thereof being taken in some drink, and the party
laid to sweat thereupon. They have also a drying and an astringent
quality, whereby they are available in all manner of fluxes of blood
or humours, to staunch bleedings inward or outward, lasks, scourings,
the bloody-flux, women’s too abundant flux of courses, the whites, and
the choleric belchings and castings of the stomach, and is a singular
wound-herb for all sorts of wounds, both of the head and body, either
inward or outward, for all old ulcers, running cankers, and most sores,
to be used either by the juice or decoction of the herb, or by the
powder of the herb or root, or the water of the distilled herb, or
ointment by itself, or with other things to be kept. The seed is also
no less effectual both to stop fluxes, and dry up moist sores, being
taken in powder inwardly in wine, or steeled water, that is, wherein
hot rods of steel have been quenched; or the powder, or the seed mixed
with the ointments.
THE BUTTER-BUR, OR PETASITIS.
_Descript._] THIS rises up in February, with a thick stalk about a
foot high, whereon are set a few small leaves, or rather pieces, and
at the top a long spiked head; flowers of a blue or deep red colour,
according to the soil where it grows, and before the stalk with the
flowers have abiden a month above ground, it will be withered and gone,
and blow away with the wind, and the leaves will begin to spring,
which being full grown, are very large and broad, being somewhat thin
and almost round, whose thick red foot stalks above a foot long,
stand towards the middle of the leaves. The lower part being divided
into two round parts, close almost one to another, and are of a pale
green colour; and hairy underneath. The root is long, and spreads
underground, being in some places no bigger than one’s finger, in
others much bigger, blackish on the outside, and whitish within, of a
bitter and unpleasant taste.
_Place and Time._] They grow in low and wet grounds by rivers and water
sides. Their flower (as is said) rising and decaying in February and
March, before their leaves, which appear in April.
_Government and virtues._] It is under the dominion of the Sun, and
therefore is a great strengthener of the heart, and clearer of the
vital spirit. The roots thereof are by long experience found to be
very available against the plague and pestilential fevers by provoking
sweat; if the powder thereof be taken in wine, it also resists the
force of any other poison. The root hereof taken with Zedoary and
Angelica, or without them, helps the rising of the mother. The
decoction of the root in wine, is singularly good for those that wheese
much, or are short-winded. It provokes urine also, and women’s courses,
and kills the flat and broad worms in the belly. The powder of the root
doth wonderfully help to dry up the moisture of the sores that are hard
to be cured, and takes away all spots and blemishes of the skin. It
were well if gentlewomen would keep this root preserved, to help their
poor neighbours. _It is fit the rich should help the poor, for the poor
cannot help themselves._
THE BURDOCK.
THEY are also called Personata, and Loppy-major, great Burdock and
Clod-bur. It is so well known, even by the little boys, who pull off
the burs to throw and stick upon each other, that I shall spare to
write any description of it.
_Place._] They grow plentifully by ditches and water-sides, and by the
highways almost everywhere through this land.
_Government and virtues._] Venus challenges this herb for her own, and
by its leaf or seed you may draw the womb which way you please, either
upwards by applying it to the crown of the head, in case it falls out;
or downwards in fits of the mother, by applying it to the soles of the
feet; or if you would stay it in its place, apply it to the navel,
and that is one good way to stay the child in it. The Burdock leaves
are cooling, moderately drying, and discussing withal, whereby it is
good for old ulcers and sores. A dram of the roots taken with Pine
kernels, helps them that spit foul, mattery, and bloody phlegm. The
leaves applied to the places troubled with the shrinking of the sinews
or arteries, gives much ease. The juice of the leaves, or rather the
roots themselves, given to drink with old wine, doth wonderfully help
the biting of any serpents: And the root beaten with a little salt, and
laid on the place, suddenly eases the pain thereof, and helps those
that are bit by a mad dog. The juice of the leaves being drank with
honey, provokes urine, and remedies the pain of the bladder. The seed
being drank in wine forty days together, doth wonderfully help the
sciatica. The leaves bruised with the white of an egg, and applied to
any place burnt with fire, takes out the fire, gives sudden ease, and
heals it up afterwards. The decoction of them fomented on any fretting
sore, or canker, stays the corroding quality, which must be afterwards
anointed with an ointment made of the same liquor, hog’s-grease,
nitre, and vinegar boiled together. The roots may be preserved with
sugar, and taken fasting, or at other times, for the same purposes, and
for consumptions, the stone, and the lask. The seed is much commended
to break the stone, and cause it to be expelled by urine, and is often
used with other seeds and things to that purpose.
CABBAGES AND COLEWORTS.
I SHALL spare labour in writing a description of these, since almost
every one that can but write at all, may describe them from his own
knowledge, they being generally so well known, that descriptions are
altogether needless.
_Place._] They are generally planted in gardens.
_Time._] Their flower time is towards the middle, or end of July, and
the seed is ripe in August.
_Government and virtues._] The Cabbages or Coleworts boiled gently
in broth, and eaten, do open the body, but the second decoction doth
bind the body. The juice thereof drank in wine, helps those that are
bitten by an adder, and the decoction of the flowers brings down
women’s courses: Being taken with honey, it recovers hoarseness, or
loss of the voice. The often eating of them well boiled, helps those
that are entering into a consumption. The pulp of the middle ribs of
Coleworts boiled in almond milk, and made up into an electuary with
honey, being taken often, is very profitable for those that are puffy
and short winded. Being boiled twice, an old cock boiled in the broth
and drank, it helps the pains and the obstructions of the liver and
spleen, and the stone in the kidneys. The juice boiled with honey, and
dropped into the corner of the eyes, clears the sight, by consuming
any film or clouds beginning to dim it; it also consumes the cankers
growing therein. They are much commended, being eaten before meat to
keep one from surfeiting, as also from being drunk with too much wine,
or quickly to make a man sober again that was drunk before. For (as
they say) there is such an antipathy or enmity between the Vine and the
Coleworts, that the one will die where the other grows. The decoction
of Coleworts takes away the pain and ache, and allays the swelling of
sores and gouty legs and knees, wherein many gross and watery humours
are fallen, the place being bathed therewith warm. It helps also old
and filthy sores, being bathed therewith, and heals all small scabs,
pushes, and wheals, that break out in the skin. The ashes of Colewort
stalks mixed with old hog’s-grease, are very effectual to anoint the
sides of those that have had long pains therein, or any other place
pained with melancholy and windy humours. This was surely Chrysippus’s
God, and therefore he wrote a whole volume on them and their virtues,
and that none of the least neither, for he would be no small fool; He
appropriates them to every part of the body, and to every disease in
every part: and honest old Cato (they say) used no other physic. I know
not what metal their bodies were made of; this I am sure, Cabbages are
extremely windy, whether you take them as meat or as medicine: yea,
as windy meat as can be eaten, unless you eat bag-pipes or bellows,
and they are but seldom eaten in our days; and Colewort flowers are
something more tolerable, and the wholesomer food of the two. The Moon
challenges the dominion of this herb.
THE SEA COLEWORTS.
_Descript._] THIS has divers somewhat long and broad large and thick
wrinkled leaves, somewhat crumpled about the edges, and growing each
upon a thick footstalks very brittle, of a greyish green colour, from
among which rises up a strong thick stalk, two feet high and better,
with some leaves thereon to the top, where it branches forth much; and
on every branch stands a large bush of pale whitish flowers, consisting
of four leaves a-piece: The root is somewhat great, shoots forth many
branches under ground, keeping the leaves green all the Winter.
_Place._] They grow in many places upon the sea-coasts, as well on the
Kentish as Essex shores; as at Lid in Kent, Colchester in Essex, and
divers other places, and in other counties of this land.
_Time._] They flower and seed about the time that other kinds do.
_Government and virtues._] The Moon claims the dominion of these also.
The broth, or first decoction of the Sea Colewort, doth by the sharp,
nitrous, and bitter qualities therein, open the belly, and purge the
body; it cleanses and digests more powerfully than the other kind: The
seed hereof, bruised and drank, kills worms. The leaves or the juice of
them applied to sores or ulcers, cleanses and heals them, and dissolves
swellings, and takes away inflammations.
CALAMINT, OR MOUNTAIN-MINT.
_Descript._] THIS is a small herb, seldom rising above a foot high,
with square hairy, and woody stalks, and two small hoary leaves set at
a joint, about the height of Marjoram, or not much bigger, a little
dented about the edges, and of a very fierce or quick scent, as the
whole herb is: The flowers stand at several spaces of the stalk, from
the middle almost upwards, which are small and gaping like to those of
the Mints, of a pale bluish colour: After which follow small, round
blackish seed. The root is small and woody, with divers small strings
spreading within the ground, and dies not, but abides many years.
_Place._] It grows on heaths, and uplands, and dry grounds, in many
places of this land.
_Time._] They flower in July and their seed is ripe quickly after.
_Government and virtues._] It is an herb of Mercury, and a strong
one too, therefore excellent good in all afflictions of the brain.
The decoction of the herb being drank, brings down women’s courses,
and provokes urine. It is profitable for those that are bursten, or
troubled with convulsions or cramps, with shortness of breath, or
choleric torments and pains in their bellies or stomach; it also helps
the yellow-jaundice, and stays vomiting, being taken in wine. Taken
with salt and honey, it kills all manner of worms in the body. It
helps such as have the leprosy, either taken inwardly, drinking whey
after it, or the green herb outwardly applied. It hinders conception
in women, but either burned or strewed in the chamber, it drives away
venomous serpents. It takes away black and blue marks in the face, and
makes black scars become well coloured, if the green herb (not the
dry) be boiled in wine, and laid to the place, or the place washed
therewith. Being applied to the hucklebone, by continuance of time, it
spends the humours, which cause the pain of the sciatica. The juice
being dropped into the ears, kills the worms in them. The leaves boiled
in wine, and drank, provoke sweat, and open obstructions of the liver
and spleen. It helps them that have a tertian ague (the body being
first purged) by taking away the cold fits. The decoction hereof, with
some sugar put thereto afterwards, is very profitable for those that
be troubled with the over-flowing of the gall, and that have an old
cough, and that are scarce able to breathe by shortness of their wind;
that have any cold distemper in their bowels, and are troubled with
the hardness or the spleen, for all which purposes, both the powder,
called Diacaluminthes, and the compound Syrup of Calamint are the most
effectual. Let no women be too busy with it, for it works very violent
upon the feminine part.
CAMOMILE.
IT is so well known every where, that it is but lost time and labour to
describe it. The virtues thereof are as follow.
A decoction made of Camomile, and drank, takes away all pains and
stitches in the side. The flowers of Camomile beaten, and made up into
balls with Gill, drive away all sorts of agues, if the part grieved be
anointed with that oil, taken from the flowers, from the crown of the
head to the sole of the foot, and afterwards laid to sweat in his bed,
and that he sweats well. This is Nechessor, an Egyptian’s, medicine. It
is profitable for all sorts of agues that come either from phlegm, or
melancholy, or from an inflammation of the bowels, being applied when
the humours causing them shall be concocted; and there is nothing more
profitable to the sides and region of the liver and spleen than it. The
bathing with a decoction of Camomile takes away weariness, eases pains,
to what part of the body soever they be applied. It comforts the sinews
that are over-strained, mollifies all swellings: It moderately comforts
all parts that have need of warmth, digests and dissolves whatsoever
has need thereof, by a wonderful speedy property. It eases all pains
of the cholic and stone, and all pains and torments of the belly, and
gently provokes urine. The flowers boiled in posset-drink provokes
sweat, and helps to expel all colds, aches, and pains whatsoever, and
is an excellent help to bring down women’s courses. Syrup made of
the juice of Camomile, with the flowers, in white wine, is a remedy
against the jaundice and dropsy. The flowers boiled in lye, are good
to wash the head, and comfort both it and the brain. The oil made
of the flowers of Camomile, is much used against all hard swellings,
pains or aches, shrinking of the sinews, or cramps, or pains in the
joints, or any other part of the body. Being used in clysters, it helps
to dissolve the wind and pains in the belly; anointed also, it helps
stitches and pains in the sides.
Nechessor saith, the Egyptians dedicated it to the Sun, because it
cured agues, and they were like enough to do it, for they were the
arrantest apes in their religion that I ever read of. Bachinus, Bena,
and Lobel, commend the syrup made of the juice of it and sugar, taken
inwardly, to be excellent for the spleen. Also this is certain, that it
most wonderfully breaks the stone: Some take it in syrup or decoction,
others inject the juice of it into the bladder with a syringe. My
opinion is, that the salt of it, taken half a dram in the morning in
a little white or Rhenish wine, is better than either; that it is
excellent for the stone, appears in this which I have seen tried,
_viz._, That a stone that has been taken out of the body of a man being
wrapped in Camomile, will in time dissolve, and in a little time too.
WATER-CALTROPS.
THEY are called also Tribulus Aquaticus, Tribulus Lacusoris, Tribulus
Marinus, Caltrops, Saligos, Water Nuts, and Water Chesnuts.
_Descript._] As for the greater sort of Water Caltrop it is not found
here, or very rarely. Two other sorts there are which I shall here
describe. The first has a long creeping and jointed root, sending
forth tufts at each joint, from which joints rise long, flat, slender,
knotted stalks, even to the top of the water, divided towards the top
into many branches, each carrying two leaves on both sides, being about
two inches long, and half an inch broad, thin and almost transparent;
they look as though they were torn; the flowers are long, thick, and
whitish, set together almost like a bunch of grapes, which being gone,
there succeed, for the most part, sharp pointed grains all together,
containing a small white kernel in them.
The second differs not much from this, save that it delights in more
clean water; its stalks are not flat, but round; its leaves are not so
long, but more pointed. As for the place we need not determine, for
their name shews they grow in water.
_Government and virtues._] They are under the dominion of the Moon, and
being made into a poultice, are excellently good for hot inflammations,
swellings, cankers, sore mouths and throats, being washed with the
decoction; it cleanses and strengthens the neck and throat, and helps
those swellings which, when people have, they say the almonds of the
ears are fallen down. It is excellently good for the rankness of the
gums, a safe and present remedy for the king’s evil. They are excellent
for the stone and gravel, especially the nuts, being dried. They also
resist poison, and bitings of venomous beasts.
CAMPION, WILD.
_Descript._] THE wild White Campion has many long and somewhat broad
dark green leaves lying upon the ground, and divers ribs therein,
somewhat like plantain, but somewhat hairy, broader, but not so long.
The hairy stalks rise up in the middle of them three or four feet high,
and sometimes more, with divers great white joints at several places
thereon, and two such like leaves thereat up to the top, sending forth
branches at several joints also; all which bear on several foot-stalks
white flowers at the tops of them, consisting of five broad pointed
leaves, every one cut in on the end unto the middle, making them seem
to be two a-piece, smelling somewhat sweet, and each of them standing
in a large green striped hairy husk, large and round below next to the
stalk. The seed is small and greyish in the hard heads that come up
afterwards. The root is white and long, spreading divers fangs in the
ground.
The Red wild Campion grows in the same manner as the White; but its
leaves are not so plainly ribbed, somewhat shorter, rounder, and more
woolly in handling. The flowers are of the same form and bigness; but
in some of a pale, in others of a bright red colour, cut in at the ends
more finely, which makes the leaves look more in number than the other.
The seeds and the roots are alike, the roots of both sorts abiding many
years.
There are forty-five kinds of Campion more, those of them which are of
a physical use, having the like virtues with those above described,
which I take to be the two chief kinds.
_Place._] They grow commonly through this land by fields and
hedge-sides, and ditches.
_Time._] They flower in Summer, some earlier than others, and some
abiding longer than others.
_Government and virtues._] They belong to Saturn, and it is found by
experience, that the decoction of the herb, either in white or red wine
being drank, doth stay inward bleedings, and applied outwardly it does
the like; and being drank, helps to expel urine, being stopped, and
gravel and stone in the reins and kidneys. Two drams of the seed drank
in wine, purges the body of choleric humours, and helps those that are
stung by scorpions, or other venomous beasts, and may be as effectual
for the plague. It is of very good use in old sores, ulcers, cankers,
fistulas, and the like, to cleanse and heat them, by consuming the
moist humours falling into them and correcting the putrefaction of
humours offending them.
CARDUUS BENEDICTUS.
IT is called Carduus Benedictus, or Blessed Thistle, or Holy Thistle.
I suppose the name was put upon it by some that had little holiness
themselves.
I shall spare a labour in writing a description of this as almost every
one that can but write at all, may describe them from his own knowledge.
_Time._] They flower in August, and seed not long after.
_Government and virtues._] It is an herb of Mars, and under the sign
of Aries. Now, in handling this herb, I shall give you a rational
pattern of all the rest; and if you please to view them throughout the
book, you shall, to your content, find it true. It helps swimming and
giddiness of the head, or the disease called vertigo, because Aries
is in the house of Mars. It is an excellent remedy against the yellow
jaundice and other infirmities of the gall, because Mars governs
choler. It strengthens the attractive faculty in man, and clarifies the
blood, because the one is ruled by Mars. The continual drinking the
decoction of it, helps red faces, tetters, and ring-worms, because Mars
causes them. It helps the plague, sores, boils, and itch, the bitings
of mad dogs and venomous beasts, all which infirmities are under Mars;
thus you see what it doth by sympathy.
By antipathy to other planets it cures the French pox. By antipathy to
Venus, who governs it, it strengthens the memory, and cures deafness by
antipathy to Saturn, who has his fall in Aries, which rules the head.
It cures quartan agues, and other diseases of melancholy, and adust
choler, by sympathy to Saturn, Mars being exalted in Capricorn. Also
provokes urine, the stopping of which is usually caused by Mars or the
Moon.
CARROTS.
GARDEN Carrots are so well known, that they need no description; but
because they are of less physical use than the wild kind (as indeed
almost in all herbs the wild are the most effectual in physic, as being
more powerful in operation than the garden kinds,) I shall therefore
briefly describe the Wild Carrot.
_Descript._] It grows in a manner altogether like the tame, but that
the leaves and stalks are somewhat whiter and rougher. The stalks bear
large tufts of white flowers, with a deep purple spot in the middle,
which are contracted together when the seed begins to ripen, that the
middle part being hollow and low, and the outward stalk rising high,
makes the whole umbel to show like a bird’s nest. The root small, long,
and hard, and unfit for meat, being somewhat sharp and strong.
_Place._] The wild kind grows in divers parts of this land plentifully
by the field-sides, and untilled places.
_Time._] They flower and seed in the end of Summer.
_Government and virtues._] Wild Carrots belong to Mercury, and
therefore break wind, and remove stitches in the sides, provoke urine
and women’s courses, and helps to break and expel the stone; the seed
also of the same works the like effect, and is good for the dropsy,
and those whose bellies are swelling with wind; helps the cholic, the
stone in the kidneys, and rising of the mother; being taken in wine, or
boiled in wine and taken, it helps conception. The leaves being applied
with honey to running sores or ulcers, do cleanse them.
I suppose the seeds of them perform this better than the roots; and
though Galen commended garden Carrots highly to break wind, yet
experience teaches they breed it first, and we may thank nature for
expelling it, not they; the seeds of them expel wind indeed, and so
mend what the root marrs.
CARRAWAY.
IT is on account of the seeds principally that the Carraway is
cultivated.
_Descript._] It bears divers stalks of fine cut leaves, lying upon the
ground, somewhat like to the leaves of carrots, but not bushing so
thick, of a little quick taste in them, from among which rises up a
square stalk, not so high as the Carrot, at whose joints are set the
like leaves, but smaller and finer, and at the top small open tufts, or
umbels of white flowers, which turn into small blackish seed, smaller
than the Anniseed, and of a quicker and hotter taste. The root is
whitish, small and long, somewhat like unto a parsnip, but with more
wrinkled bark, and much less, of a little hot and quick taste, and
stronger than the parsnip, and abides after seed-time.
_Place._] It is usually sown with us in gardens.
_Time._] They flower in June and July, and seed quickly after.
_Government and virtues._] This is also a Mercurial plant. Carraway
seed has a moderate sharp quality, whereby it breaks wind and provokes
urine, which also the herb doth. The root is better food than the
parsnip; it is pleasant and comfortable to the stomach, and helps
digestion. The seed is conducing to all cold griefs of the head and
stomach, bowels, or mother, as also the wind in them, and helps to
sharpen the eye-sight. The powder of the seed put into a poultice,
takes away black and blue spots of blows and bruises. The herb itself,
or with some of the seed bruised and fried, laid hot in a bag or double
cloth, to the lower parts of the belly, eases the pains of the wind
cholic.
The roots of Carraway eaten as men do parsnips, strengthen the stomach
of ancient people exceedingly, and they need not to make a whole meal
of them neither, and are fit to be planted in every garden.
Carraway comfits, once only dipped in sugar, and half a spoonful of
them eaten in the morning fasting, and as many after each meal, is a
most admirable remedy, for those that are troubled with wind.
CELANDINE.
_Descript._] THIS hath divers tender, round, whitish green stalks,
with greater joints than ordinary in other herbs as it were knees,
very brittle and easy to break, from whence grow branches with large
tender broad leaves, divided into many parts, each of them cut in on
the edges, set at the joint on both sides of the branches, of a dark
blueish green colour, on the upper side like Columbines, and of a more
pale blueish green underneath, full of yellow sap, when any is broken,
of a bitter taste, and strong scent. At the flowers, of four leaves
a-piece, after which come small long pods, with blackish seed therein.
The root is somewhat great at the head, shooting forth divers long
roots and small strings, reddish on the outside, and yellow within,
full of yellow sap therein.
_Place._] They grow in many places by old walls, hedges and way-sides
in untilled places; and being once planted in a garden, especially some
shady places, it will remain there.
_Time._] They flower all the Summer, and the seed ripens in the mean
time.
_Government and virtues._] This is an herb of the Sun, and under the
Celestial Lion, and is one of the best cures for the eyes; for, all
that know any thing in astrology, know that the eyes are subject to the
luminaries; let it then be gathered when the Sun is in Leo, and the
Moon in Aries, applying to this time; let Leo arise, then may you make
into an oil or ointment, which you please, to anoint your sore eyes
with. I can prove it doth both my own experience, and the experience of
those to whom I have taught it, that most desperate sore eyes have been
cured by this only medicine; and then, I pray, is not this far better
than endangering the eyes by the art of the needle? For if this does
not absolutely take away the film, it will so facilitate the work, that
it might be done without danger. The herb or root boiled in white Wine
and drank, a few Anniseeds being boiled therewith, opens obstructions
of the liver and gall, helps the yellow jaundice; and often using it,
helps the dropsy and the itch, and those who have old sores in their
legs, or other parts of the body. The juice thereof taken fasting, is
held to be of singularly good use against the pestilence. The distilled
water, with a little sugar and a little good treacle mixed therewith
(the party upon the taking being laid down to sweat a little) has
the same effect. The juice dropped into the eyes, cleanses them from
films and cloudiness which darken the sight, but it is best to allay
the sharpness of the juice with a little breast milk. It is good in
all old filthy corroding creeping ulcers wheresoever, to stay their
malignity of fretting and running, and to cause them to heal more
speedily: The juice often applied to tetters, ring-worms, or other such
like spreading cankers, will quickly heal them, and rubbed often upon
warts, will take them away. The herb with the roots bruised and bathed
with oil of camomile, and applied to the navel, takes away the griping
pains of the belly and bowels, and all the pains of the mother; and
applied to women’s breasts stays the overmuch flowing of the courses.
The juice or decoction of the herb gargled between the teeth that ach,
eases the pain, and the powder of the dried root laid upon any aching,
hollow or loose tooth, will cause it to fall out. The juice mixed with
some powder of brimstone is not only good against the itch, but takes
away all discolourings of the skin whatsoever: and if it chance that in
a tender body it causes any itchings or inflammations, by bathing the
place with a little vinegar it is helped.
Another ill-favoured trick have physicians got to use to the eye, and
that is worse than the needle; which is to take away the films by
corroding or gnawing medicine. That I absolutely protest against.
1. Because the tunicles of the eyes are very thin, and therefore soon
eaten asunder.
2. The callus or film that they would eat away, is seldom of an equal
thickness in every place, and then the tunicle may be eaten asunder in
one place, before the film be consumed in another, and so be a readier
way to extinguish the sight than to restore it.
It is called Chelidonium, from the Greek word _Chelidon_, which
signifies a swallow; because they say, that if you put out the eyes of
young swallows when they are in the nest, the old ones will recover
their eyes again with this herb. This I am confident, for I have tried
it, that if we mar the very apple of their eyes with a needle, she will
recover them again; but whether with this herb or not, I know not.
Also I have read (and it seems to be somewhat probable) that the herb,
being gathered as I shewed before, and the elements draw apart from it
by art of the alchymist, and after they are drawn apart rectified, the
earthly quality, still in rectifying them, added to the _Terra damnata_
(as Alchymists call it) or _Terra Sacratisima_ (as some philosophers
call it) the elements so rectified are sufficient for the cure of all
diseases, the humours offending being known and the contrary element
given: It is an experiment worth the trying, and can do no harm.
THE LESSER CELANDINE, USUALLY KNOWN BY THE NAME OF PILEWORT
AND FOGWORT.
I WONDER what ailed the ancients to give this the name Celandine,
which resembles it neather in nature nor form; it acquired the name of
Pilewort from its virtues, and it being no great matter where I set it
down, so I set it down at all, I humoured Dr. Tradition so much, as to
set him down here.
_Descript._] This Celandine or Pilewort (which you please) doth spread
many round pale green leaves, set on weak and trailing branches which
lie upon the ground, and are flat, smooth, and somewhat shining, and in
some places (though seldom) marked with black spots, each standing on a
long foot-stalk, among which rise small yellow flowers, consisting of
nine or ten small narrow leaves, upon slender foot-stalks, very like
unto Crowsfoot, whereunto the seed also is not unlike being many small
kernels like a grain of corn sometimes twice as long as others, of a
whitish colour, with fibres at the end of them.
_Place._] It grows for the most part in moist corners of fields and
places that are near water sides, yet will abide in drier ground if
they be a little shady.
_Time._] It flowers betimes, about March or April, is quite gone by
May; so it cannot be found till it spring again.
_Government and virtues._] It is under the dominion of Mars, and behold
here another verification of the learning of the ancients, _viz._ that
the virtue of an herb may be known by its signature, as plainly appears
in this; for if you dig up the root of it, you shall perceive the
perfect image of the disease which they commonly call the piles. It is
certain by good experience, that the decoction of the leaves and roots
wonderfully helps piles and hæmorrhoids, also kernels by the ears and
throat, called the king’s evil, or any other hard wens or tumours.
Here’s another secret for my countrymen and women, a couple of them
together; Pilewort made into an oil, ointment, or plaister, readily
cures both the piles, or hæmorrhoids, and the king’s evil: The very
herb borne about one’s body next the skin helps in such diseases,
though it never touch the place grieved; let poor people make much of
it for those uses; with this I cured my own daughter of the king’s
evil, broke the sore, drew out a quarter of a pint of corruption, cured
without any scar at all in one week’s time.
THE ORDINARY SMALL CENTAURY.
_Descript._] THIS grows up most usually but with one round and somewhat
crusted stalk, about a foot high or better, branching forth at the top
into many sprigs, and some also from the joints of the stalks below;
the flowers thus stand at the tops as it were in one umbel or tuft,
are of a pale red, tending to carnation colour, consisting of five,
sometimes six small leaves, very like those of St. John’s Wort, opening
themselves in the day time and closing at night, after which come seeds
in little short husk, in forms like unto wheat corn. The leaves are
small and somewhat round; the root small and hard, perishing every
year. The whole plant is of an exceeding bitter taste.
There is another sort in all things like the former, save only it bears
white flowers.
_Place._] They grow ordinarily in fields, pastures, and woods, but that
with the white flowers not so frequently as the other.
_Time._] They flower in July or thereabouts, and seeds within a month
after.
_Government and virtues._] They are under the dominion of the Sun, as
appears in that their flowers open and shut as the Sun, either shews
or hides his face. This herb, boiled and drank, purges choleric and
gross humours, and helps the sciatica; it opens obstructions of the
liver, gall, and spleen, helps the jaundice, and eases the pains in the
sides and hardness of the spleen, used outwardly, and is given with
very good effect in agues. It helps those that have the dropsy, or the
green-sickness, being much used by the Italians in powder for that
purpose. It kill the worms in the belly, as is found by experience.
The decoction thereof, _viz._ the tops of the stalks, with the leaves
and flowers, is good against the cholic, and to bring down women’s
courses, helps to avoid the dead birth, and eases pains of the mother,
and is very effectual in all pains of the joints, as the gout, cramps,
or convulsions. A dram of the powder taken in wine is a wonderful good
help against the biting and poison of an adder. The juice of the herb
with a little honey put to it, is good to clear the eyes from dimness,
mists and clouds that offend or hinder sight. It is singularly good
both for green and fresh wounds, as also for old ulcers and sores, to
close up the one and cleanse the other, and perfectly to cure them
both, although they are hollow or fistulous; the green herb especially,
being bruised and laid thereto. The decoction thereof dropped into the
ears, cleanses them from worms, cleanses the foul ulcers and spreading
scabs of the head, and takes away all freckles, spots, and marks in the
skin, being washed with it; the herb is so safe you cannot fail in the
using of it, only giving it inwardly for inward diseases. It is very
wholesome, but not very toothsome.
There is beside these, another small Centaury, which bears a yellow
flower; in all other respects it is like the former, save that the
leaves are larger, and of a darker green, and the stalks pass through
the midst of them, as it does in the herb Thorowan. They are all of
them, as I told you, under the government of the Sun; yet this, if
you observe it, you shall find an excellant truth; in diseases of the
blood, use the red Centaury; if of choler, use the yellow; but if
phlegm or water, you will find the white best.
THE CHERRY-TREE.
I SUPPOSE there are few but know this tree, for its fruit’s sake; and
therefore I shall spare writing a description thereof.
_Place._] For the place of its growth, it is afforded room in every
orchard.
_Government and virtues._] It is a tree of _Venus_. Cherries, as they
are of different tastes, so they are of different qualities. The sweet
pass through the stomach and the belly more speedily, but are of little
nourishment; the tart or sour are more pleasing to an hot stomach,
procure appetite to meat, to help and cut tough phlegm, and gross
humours; but when these are dried, they are more binding to the belly
than when they are fresh, being cooling in hot diseases, and welcome to
the stomach, and provokes urine. The gum of the Cherry-tree, desolved
in wine is good for a cold, cough, and hoarseness of the throat; mends
the colour in the face, sharpens the eye-sight, provokes appetite, and
helps to break and expel the stone, and dissolved, the water thereof is
much used to break the stone, and to expel gravel and wind.
WINTER-CHERRIES.
_Descript._] THE Winter Cherry has a running or creeping root in the
ground, of the bigness many times one’s little finger, shooting forth
at several joints in several places, whereby it quickly spreads a great
compass of ground. The stalk rises not above a yard high, whereon are
set many broad and long green leaves, somewhat like nightshades, but
larger; at the joints, whereof come forth whitish flowers made of five
leaves a piece, which afterwards turn into green berries inclosed with
thin skins, which change to be reddish when they grow ripe, the berry
likewise being reddish, and as large as a cherry; wherein are contained
many flat and yellowish seeds lying within the pulp, which being
gathered and strung up, are kept all the year to be used upon occasions.
_Place._] They grow not naturally in this land, but are cherished in
gardens for their virtues.
_Time._] They flower not until the middle or latter end of July; and
the fruit is ripe about August, or the beginning of September.
_Government and virtues._] This also is a plant of Venus. They are
of great use in physic: The leaves being cooling, may be used in
inflammations, but not opening as the berries and fruit are; which
by drawing down the urine provoke it to be voided plentifully when
it is stopped or grown hot, sharp, and painful in the passage; it is
good also to expel the stone and gravel out of the reins, kidneys and
bladder, helping to dissolve the stone, and voiding it by grit or
gravel sent forth in the urine; it also helps much to cleanse inward
imposthumes or ulcers in the reins of bladder, or in those that void a
bloody or foul urine. The distilled water of the fruit, or the leaves
together with them, or the berries, green or dry, distilled with a
little milk and drank morning and evening with a little sugar, is
effectual to all the purposes before specified, and especially against
the heat and sharpness of the urine. I shall only mention one way,
amongst many others, which might be used for ordering the berries, to
be helpful for the urine and the stone; which is this: Take three or
four good handfuls of the berries, either green or fresh, or dried, and
having bruised them, put them into so many gallons of beer or ale when
it is new tunned up: This drink taken daily, has been found to do much
good to many, both to ease the pains, and expel urine and the stone,
and to cause the stone not to engender. The decoction of the berries in
wine and water is the most usual way; but the powder of them taken in
drink is more effectual.
CHERVIL.
IT is called Cerefolium, Mirrhis, and Mirrha, Chervil, Sweet Chervil,
and Sweet Cicely.
_Descript._] The garden Chervil doth at first somewhat resemble
Parsley, but after it is better grown, the leaves are much cut in and
jagged, resembling hemlock, being a little hairy and of a whitish green
colour, sometimes turning reddish in the Summer, with the stalks also;
it rises a little above half a foot high, bearing white flowers in
spiked tufts, which turn into long and round seeds pointed at the ends,
and blackish when they are ripe; of a sweet taste, but no smell, though
the herb itself smells reasonably well. The root is small and long, and
perishes every year, and must be sown a-new in spring, for seed after
July for Autumn fails.
The wild Chervil grows two or three feet high with yellow stalks and
joints, set with broader and more hairy leaves, divided into sundry
parts, nicked about the edges, and of a dark green colour, which
likewise grow reddish with the stalks; at the tops whereof stands small
white tufts, of flowers, afterwards smaller and longer seed. The root
is white, hard, and enduring long. This has little or no scent.
_Place._] The first is sown in gardens for a sallad herb; the second
grows wild in many of the meadows of this land, and by the hedge sides,
and on heaths.
_Time._] They flower and seed early, and thereupon are sown again in
the end of Summer.
_Government and virtues._] The garden Chervil being eaten, doth
moderately warm the stomach, and is a certain remedy (saith Tragus)
to dissolve congealed or clotted blood in the body, or that which is
clotted by bruises, falls, &c. The juice or distilled water thereof
being drank, and the bruised leaves laid to the place, being taken
either in meat or drink, it is good to help to provoke urine, or expel
the stone in the kidneys, to send down women’s courses, and to help the
pleurisy and pricking of the sides.
The wild Chervil bruised and applied, dissolves swellings in any part,
or the marks of congealed blood by bruises or blows, in a little space.
SWEET CHERVIL, OR SWEET CICELY.
_Descript._] THIS grows very like the great hemlock, having large
spread leaves cut into divers parts, but of a fresher green colour
than the Hemlock, tasting as sweet as the Anniseed. The stalks rise up
a yard high, or better, being creased or hollow, having leaves at the
joints, but lesser; and at the tops of the branched stalks, umbels or
tufts of white flowers; after which comes long crested black shining
seed, pointed at both ends, tasting quick, yet sweet and pleasant. The
root is great and white, growing deep in the ground, and spreading
sundry long branches therein, in taste and smell stronger than the
leaves or seeds, and continuing many years.
_Place._] This grows in gardens.
_Government and virtues._] These are all three of them of the nature
of Jupiter, and under his dominion. This whole plant, besides its
pleasantness in sallads, has its physical virtue. The root boiled, and
eaten with oil and vinegar, (or without oil) do much please and warm
old and cold stomachs oppressed with wind or phlegm, or those that have
the phthisic or consumption of the lungs. The same drank with wine is a
preservation from the plague. It provokes women’s courses, and expels
the after-birth, procures an appetite to meat, and expels wind. The
juice is good to heal the ulcers of the head and face; the candied root
hereof are held as effectual as Angelica, to preserve from infection in
the time of a plague, and to warm and comfort a cold weak stomach. It
is so harmless, you cannot use it amiss.
CHESNUT TREE.
IT were as needless to describe a tree so commonly known as to tell a
man he had gotten a mouth; therefore take the government and virtues of
them thus:
The tree is abundantly under the dominion of Jupiter, and therefore the
fruit must needs breed good blood, and yield commendable nourishment to
the body; yet if eaten over-much, they make the blood thick, procure
head ache, and bind the body; the inner skin, that covers the nut, is
of so binding a quality, that a scruple of it being taken by a man, or
ten grains by a child, soon stops any flux whatsoever: The whole nut
being dried and beaten into powder, and a dram taken at a time, is a
good remedy to stop the terms in women. If you dry Chesnuts, (only the
kernels I mean) both the barks being taken away, beat them into powder,
and make the powder up into an electuary with honey, so have you an
admirable remedy for the cough and spitting of blood.
EARTH CHESNUTS.
THEY are called Earth-nuts, Earth Chesnuts, Ground Nuts, Ciper-nuts,
and in Sussex Pig-nuts. A description of them were needless, for every
child knows them.
_Government and virtues._] They are something hot and dry in quality,
under the dominion of Venus, they provoke lust exceedingly, and stir
up to those sports she is mistress of; the seed is excellent good to
provoke urine; and so also is the root, but it doth not perform it
so forcibly as the seed doth. The root being dried and beaten into
powder, and the powder made into an electuary, is as singular a remedy
for spitting and pissing of blood, as the former Chesnut was for coughs.
CHICKWEED.
IT is so generally known to most people, that I shall not trouble
you with the description thereof, nor myself with setting forth the
several kinds, since but only two or three are considerable for their
usefulness.
_Place._] They are usually found in moist and watery places, by wood
sides, and elsewhere.
_Time._] They flower about June, and their seed is ripe in July.
_Government and virtues._] It is a fine soft pleasing herb under the
dominion of the Moon. It is found to be effectual as Purslain to all
the purposes whereunto it serves, except for meat only. The herb
bruised, or the juice applied (with cloths or sponges dipped therein)
to the region of the liver, and as they dry, to have it fresh applied,
doth wonderfully temperate the heat of the liver, and is effectual
for all imposthumes and swellings whatsoever, for all redness in the
face, wheals, pushes, itch, scabs; the juice either simply used, or
boiled with hog’s grease and applied, helps cramps, convulsions, and
palsy. The juice, or distilled water, is of much good use for all heats
and redness in the eyes, to drop some thereof into them; as also into
the ears, to ease pains in them; and is of good effect to ease pains
from the heat and sharpness of the blood in the piles, and generally
all pains in the body that arise of heat. It is used also in hot and
virulent ulcers and sores in the privy parts of men and women, or on
the legs, or elsewhere. The leaves boiled with marsh-mallows, and made
into a poultice with fenugreek and linseed, applied to swellings or
imposthumes, ripen and break them, or assuage the swellings and ease
the pains. It helps the sinews when they are shrunk by cramps, or
otherwise, and to extend and make them pliable again by this medicine.
Boil a handful of Chickweed, and a handful of red rose leaves dried, in
a quart of muscadine, until a fourth part be consumed; then put to them
a pint of oil of trotters or sheep’s feet; let them boil a good while,
still stirring them well; which being strained, anoint the grieved
place therewith, warm against the fire, rubbing it well with one hand:
and bind also some of the herb (if you will) to the place, and, with
God’s blessing, it will help it in three times dressing.
CHICK-PEASE, OR CICERS.
_Descript._] THE garden sorts whether red, black, or white, bring
forth stalks a yard long, whereon do grow many small and almost round
leaves, dented about the edges, set on both sides of a middle rib;
At the joints come forth one or two flowers, upon sharp foot stalks,
pease-fashion, either white or whitish, or purplish red, lighter or
deeper, according as the pease that follow will be, that are contained
in small, thick, and short pods, wherein lie one or two pease, more
usually pointed at the lower end, and almost round at the head, yet a
little cornered or sharp; the root is small, and perishes yearly.
_Place and Time._] They are sown in gardens, or fields as pease, being
sown later than pease, and gathered at the same time with them, or
presently after.
_Government and virtues._] They are both under the dominion of Venus.
They are less windy than beans, but nourish more; they provoke urine,
and are thought to increase sperm; they have a cleansing faculty,
whereby they break the stone in the kidneys. To drink the cream of
them, being boiled in water, is the best way. It moves the belly
downwards, provokes women’s courses and urine, increases both milk and
seed. One ounce of Cicers, two ounces of French barley, and a small
handful of Marsh-mallow roots, clean washed and cut, being boiled in
the broth of a chicken, and four ounces taken in the morning, and
fasting two hours after, is a good medicine for a pain in the sides.
The white Cicers are used more for meat than medicine, yet have the
same effect, and are thought more powerful to increase milk and seed.
The wild Cicers are so much more powerful than the garden kinds, by
how much they exceed them in heat and dryness; whereby they do more
open obstructions, break the stone, and have all the properties of
cutting, opening, digesting, and dissolving; and this more speedily and
certainly than the former.
CINQUEFOIL, OR FIVE-LEAVED GRASS; CALLED IN SOME COUNTIES,
FIVE-FINGERED GRASS.
_Descript._] IT spreads and creeps far upon the ground, with long
slender strings like straw berries, which take root again, and shoot
forth many leaves, made of five parts, and sometimes of seven, dented
about the edges, and somewhat hard. The stalks are slender, leaning
downwards and bear many small yellow flowers thereon, with some yellow
threads in the middle, standing about a smooth green head, which, when
it is ripe, is a little rough, and contains small brownish seeds. The
root is of a blackish brown colour, as big as one’s little finger, but
growing long, with some threads thereat; and by the small string it
quickly spreads over the ground.
_Place._] It grows by wood sides, hedge sides, the path-way in fields,
and in the borders and corners of them almost through all this land.
_Time._] It flowers in summer, some sooner, some later.
_Government and virtues._] This is an herb of Jupiter, and therefore
strengthens the part of the body it rules; let Jupiter be angular and
strong when it is gathered; and if you give but a scruple (which is but
twenty grains,) of it at a time, either in white wine, or in white wine
vinegar, you shall very seldom miss the cure of an ague, be it what
ague soever, in three fits, as I have often proved to the admiration
both of myself and others; let no man despise it because it is plain
and easy, the ways of God are all such. It is an especial herb used in
all inflammations and fevers, whether infectious or pestilential; or
among other herbs to cool and temper the blood and humours in the body.
As also for all lotions, gargles, infections, and the like, for sore
mouths, ulcers, cancers, fistulas, and other corrupt, foul, or running
sores. The juice hereof drank, about four ounces at a time, for certain
days together, cures the quinsey and yellow jaundice; and taken for
thirty days together, cures the falling sickness. The roots boiled in
milk, and drank, is a most effectual remedy for all fluxes in man or
woman, whether the white or red, as also the bloody flux. The roots
boiled in vinegar, and the decoction thereof held in the mouth, eases
the pains of the toothach. The juice or decoction taken with a little
honey, helps the hoarseness of the throat, and is very good for the
cough of the lungs. The distilled water of both roots and leaves, is
also effectual to all the purposes aforesaid; and if the hands be often
washed therein, and suffered at every time to dry in of itself without
wiping, it will in a short time help the palsy, or shaking in them.
The root boiled in vinegar, helps all knots, kernels, hard swellings,
and lumps growing in any part of the flesh, being thereto applied;
as also inflammations, and St. Anthony’s fire, all imposthumes, and
painful sores with heat and putrefaction, the shingles also, and all
other sorts of running and foul scabs, sores and itch. The same also
boiled in wine, and applied to any joint full of pain, ache, or the
gout in the hands or feet, or the hip gout, called the Sciatica, and
the decoction thereof drank the while, doth cure them, and eases much
pain in the bowels. The roots are likewise effectual to help ruptures
or bursting, being used with other things available to that purpose,
taken either inwardly or outwardly, or both; as also bruises or hurts
by blows, falls, or the like, and to stay the bleeding of wounds in any
parts inward or outward.
Some hold that one leaf cures a quotidian, three a tertain, and four a
quartan ague, and a hundred to one if it be not Dioscorides; for he is
full of whimsies. The truth is, I never stood so much upon the number
of the leaves, nor whether I give it in powder or decoction: If Jupiter
were strong, and the Moon applying to him, or his good aspect at the
gathering, I never knew it miss the desired effect.
CIVES.
CALLED also Rush Leeks, Chives, Civet, and Sweth.
_Government and virtues._] I confess I had not added these, had it
not been for a country gentleman, who by a letter certified me, that
amongst other herbs, I had left these out; they are indeed a kind of
leeks, hot and dry in the fourth degree as they are, and so under the
dominion of Mars; If they be eaten raw, (I do not mean raw, opposite
to roasted or boiled, but raw, opposite to chymical preparation) they
send up very hurtful vapours to the brain, causing troublesome sleep,
and spoiling the eye-sight, yet of them prepared by the art of the
alchymist, may be made an excellent remedy for the stoppage of the
urine.
CLARY, OR MORE PROPERLY CLEAR-EYE.
_Descript._] OUR ordinary garden Clary has four square stalks, with
broad, rough, wrinkled, whitish, or hoary green leaves somewhat evenly
cut in on the edges, and of a strong sweet scent, growing some near the
ground, and some by couples upon stalks. The flowers grow at certain
distances, with two small leaves at the joints under them, somewhat
like unto the flowers of Sage, but smaller, and of a whitish blue
colour. The seed is brownish, and somewhat flat, or not so round as the
wild. The roots are blackish, and spread not far, and perish after the
seed time. It is usually sown, for it seldom rises of its own sowing.
_Place._] This grows in gardens.
_Time._] It flowers in June and July, some a little later than others,
and their seed is ripe in August, or thereabouts.
_Government and virtues._] It is under the dominion of the Moon. The
seed put into the eyes clears them from motes, and such like things
gotten within the lids to offend them, as also clears them from white
and red spots on them. The mucilage of the seed made with water, and
applied to tumours, or swellings, disperses and takes them away; as
also draws forth splinters, thorns, or other things gotten into the
flesh. The leaves used with vinegar, either by itself, or with a
little honey, doth help boils, felons, and the hot inflammation that
are gathered by their pains, if applied before it be grown too great.
The powder of the dried root put into the nose, provokes sneezing, and
thereby purges the head and brain of much rheum and corruption. The
seed or leaves taken in wine, provokes to venery. It is of much use
both for men and women that have weak backs, and helps to strengthen
the reins: used either by itself, or with other herbs conducing to the
same effect, and in tansies often. The fresh leaves dipped in a batter
of flour, eggs, and a little milk, and fried in butter, and served to
the table, is not unpleasant to any, but exceedingly profitable for
those that are troubled with weak backs, and the effects thereof. The
juice of the herb put into ale or beer, and drank, brings down women’s
courses, and expels the after-birth.
WILD CLARY.
WILD Clary is most blasphemously called Christ’s Eye, because it cures
diseases of the eye. I could wish for my soul, blasphemy, ignorance,
and tyranny, were ceased among physicians, that they may be happy, and
I joyful.
_Descript._] It is like the other Clary, but lesser, with many stalks
about a foot and a half high. The stalks are square, and somewhat
hairy; the flowers of a bluish colour; He that knows the common Clary
cannot be ignorant of this.
_Place._] It grows commonly in this nation in barren places; you may
find it plentifully, if you look in the fields near Gray’s Inn, and
near Chelsea.
_Time._] They flower from the beginning of June to the latter end of
August.
_Government and virtues._] It is something hotter and drier than the
garden Clary is, yet nevertheless under the dominion of the Moon, as
well as that; the seeds of it being beat to powder, and drank with
wine, is an admirable help to provoke lust. A decoction of the leaves
being drank, warms the stomach, and it is a wonder if it should not,
the stomach being under Cancer, the house of the Moon. Also it helps
digestion, scatters congealed blood in any part of the body. The
distilled water hereof cleanses the eyes of redness, waterishness
and heat: It is a gallant remedy for dimness of sight, to take one
of the seeds of it, and put into the eyes, and there let it remain
till it drops out of itself, (the pain will be nothing to speak on,)
it will cleanse the eyes of all filthy and putrified matter; and in
often repeating it, will take off a film which covers the sight: a
handsomer, safer, and easier remedy by a great deal, than to tear it
off with a needle.
CLEAVERS.
IT is also called Aperine, Goose-shade, Goose-grass, and Cleavers.
_Descript._] The common Cleavers have divers very rough square stalks,
not so big as the top of a point, but rising up to be two or three
yards high sometimes, if it meet with any tall bushes or trees whereon
it may climb, yet without any claspers, or else much lower, and lying
on the ground, full of joints, and at every one of them shoots forth
a branch, besides the leaves thereat, which are usually six, set in
a round compass like a star, or a rowel of a spur: From between the
leaves or the joints towards the tops of the branches, come forth very
small white flowers, at every end upon small thready foot-stalks, which
after they have fallen, there do shew two small round and rough seeds
joined together which, when they are ripe, grow hard and whitish,
having a little hole on the side, something like unto a navel. Both
stalks, leaves, and seeds are so rough, that they will cleave to any
thing that will touch them. The root is small and thready spreading
much to the ground, but die every year.
_Place._] It grows by the hedge and ditch-sides in many places of this
land, and is so troublesome an inhabitant in gardens, that it ramps
upon, and is ready to choak what ever grows near it.
_Time._] It flowers in June or July, and the seed is ripe and falls
again in the end of July or August, from whence it springs up again,
and not from the old roots.
_Government and virtues._] It is under the dominion of the Moon. The
juice of the herb and the seed together taken in wine, helps those
bitten with an adder, by preserving the heart from the venom. It is
familiarly taken in broth to keep them lean and lank, that are apt
to grow fat. The distilled water drank twice a day, helps the yellow
jaundice, and the decoction of the herb, in experience, is found to do
the same, and stays lasks and bloody-fluxes. The juice of the leaves,
or they a little bruised, and applied to any bleeding wounds, stays the
bleeding. The juice also is very good to close up the lips of green
wounds, and the powder of the dried herb strewed thereupon doth the
same, and likewise helps old ulcers. Being boiled in hog’s grease,
it helps all sorts of hard swellings or kernels in the throat, being
anointed therewith. The juice dropped into the ears, takes away the
pain of them.
It is a good remedy in the Spring, eaten (being first chopped small,
and boiled well) in water-gruel, to cleanse the blood, and strengthen
the liver, thereby to keep the body in health, and fitting it for that
change of season that is coming.
CLOWN’S WOODS.
_Descript._] IT grows up sometimes to two or three feet high, but
usually about two feet, with square green rough stalks, but slender,
joined somewhat far asunder, and two very long, somewhat narrow, dark
green leaves, bluntly dented about the edges thereof, ending in a long
point. The flowers stand towards the tops, compassing the stalks at
the joints with the leaves, and end likewise in a spiked top, having
long and much gaping hoods of a purplish red colour, with whitish spots
in them, standing in somewhat round husks, wherein afterwards stand
blackish round seeds. The root is composed of many long strings, with
some tuberous long knobs growing among them, of a pale yellowish or
whitish colour, yet some times of the year these knobby roots in many
places are not seen in this plant. This plant smells somewhat strong.
_Place._] It grows in sundry counties of this land, both north and
west, and frequently by path-sides in the fields near about London, and
within three or four miles distant about it, yet it usually grows in or
near ditches.
_Time._] It flowers in June or July, and the seed is ripe soon after.
_Government and virtues._] It is under the dominion of the planet
Saturn. It is singularly effectual in all fresh and green wounds, and
therefore bears not this name for nought. And it is very available in
staunching of blood and to dry up the fluxes of humours in old fretting
ulcers, cankers, &c. that hinder the healing of them.
A syrup made of the juice of it, is inferior to none for inward wounds,
ruptures of veins, bloody flux, vessels broken, spitting, urining,
or vomiting blood: Ruptures are excellent and speedily, ever to
admiration, cured by taking now and then a little of the syrup, and
applying an ointment or plaister of this herb to the place. Also, if
any vein be swelled or muscle, apply a plaister of this herb to it, and
if you add a little Comfrey to it, it will not be amiss. I assure thee
the herb deserves commendation, though it has gotten such a clownish
name; and whosoever reads this, (if he try it, as I have done,) will
commend it; only take notice that it is of a dry earthy quality.
COCK’S HEAD, RED FITCHING, OR MEDICK
FETCH.
_Descript._] THIS has divers weak but rough stalks, half a yard long,
leaning downward, but set with winged leaves, longer and more pointed
than those of Lintels, and whitish underneath; from the tops of these
stalks arise up other slender stalks, naked without leaves unto the
tops, where there grow many small flowers in manner of a spike, of a
pale reddish colour with some blueness among them; after which rise up
in their places, round, rough, and somewhat flat heads. The root is
tough, and somewhat woody, yet lives and shoots a-new every year.
_Place._] It grows upon hedges, and sometimes in the open fields, in
divers places of this land.
_Time._] They flower all the months of July and August, and the seed
ripen in the mean while.
_Government and virtues._] It is under the dominion of Venus. It has
power to rarify and digest, and therefore the green leaves bruised and
laid as a plaister, disperse knots, nodes, or kernels in the flesh; and
if, when dry, it be taken in wine, it helps the stranguary; and being
anointed with oil, it provokes sweat. It is a singular food for cattle,
to cause them to give store of milk; and why then may it not do the
like, being boiled in ordinary drink, for nurses.
COLUMBINES.
THESE are so well known, growing almost in every garden, that I think I
may save the expence of time in writing a description of them.
_Time._] They flower in May, and abide not for the most part when June
is past, perfecting their seed in the mean time.
_Government and virtues._] It is also an herb of Venus. The leaves of
Columbines are commonly used in lotions with good success for sore
mouths and throats. Tragus saith, that a dram of the seed taken in wine
with a little saffron, opens obstructions of the liver, and is good for
the yellow jaundice, if the party after the taking thereof be laid to
sweat well in bed. The seed also taken in wine causes a speedy delivery
of women in childbirth: if one draught suffice not, let her drink the
second, and it will be effectual: The Spaniards used to eat a piece of
the root thereof in the morning fasting, many days together, to help
them when troubled with the stone in the reins or kidneys.
COLTSFOOT.
CALLED also Coughwort, Foal’s-foot, Horse-hoof, and Bull’s-foot.
_Descript._] This shoots up a slender stalk, with small yellowish
flowers somewhat earlier, which fall away quickly, and after they are
past, come up somewhat round leaves, sometimes dented about the edges,
much lesser, thicker, and greener than those of butter-bur, with a
little down or frieze over the green leaf on the upper side, which may
be rubbed away, and whitish or meally underneath. The root is small
and white, spreading much under ground, so that where it takes it will
hardly be driven away again, if any little piece be abiding therein;
and from thence spring fresh leaves.
_Place._] It grows as well in wet grounds as in drier places.
_Time._] And flowers in the end of February, the leaves begin to appear
in March.
_Government and virtues._] The plant is under Venus, the fresh leaves
or juice, or a syrup thereof is good for a hot dry cough, or wheezing,
and shortness of breath. The dry leaves are best for those that have
thin rheums and distillations upon their lungs, causing a cough, for
which also the dried leaves taken as tobacco, or the root is very
good. The distilled water hereof simply, or with Elder flowers and
Nightshade, is a singularly good remedy against all hot agues, to drink
two ounces at a time, and apply cloths wet therein to the head and
stomach, which also does much good, being applied to any hot swellings
and inflammations: It helps St. Anthony’s fire, and burnings, and is
singularly good to take away wheals and small pushes that arise through
heat; as also the burning heat of the piles, or privy parts, cloths wet
therein being thereunto applied.
COMFREY.
THIS is a very common but a very neglected plant. It contains very
great virtues.
_Descript._] The common Great Comfrey has divers very large hairy green
leaves lying on the ground, so hairy or prickly, that if they touch any
tender parts of the hands, face, or body, it will cause it to itch; the
stalks that rise from among them, being two or three feet high, hollow
and cornered, is very hairy also, having many such like leaves as grow
below, but less and less up to the top: At the joints of the stalks it
is divided into many branches, with some leaves thereon, and at the
ends stand many flowers in order one above another, which are somewhat
long and hollow like the finger of a glove, of a pale whitish colour,
after which come small black seeds. The roots are great and long,
spreading great thick branches under ground, black on the outside,
and whitish within, short and easy to break, and full of glutinous or
clammy juice, of little or no taste at all.
There is another sort in all things like this, only somewhat less, and
bears flowers of a pale purple colour.
_Place._] They grow by ditches and water-sides, and in divers fields
that are moist, for therein they chiefly delight to grow. The first
generally through all the land, and the other but in some places. By
the leave of my authors, I know the first grows in dry places.
_Time._] They flower in June or July, and give their seed in August.
_Government and virtues._] This is an herb of Saturn, and I suppose
under the sign Capricorn, cold, dry, and earthy in quality. What was
spoken of Clown’s Woundwort may be said of this. The Great Comfrey
helps those that spit blood, or make a bloody urine. The root boiled
in water or wine, and the decoction drank, helps all inward hurts,
bruises, wounds, and ulcer of the lungs, and causes the phlegm that
oppresses them to be easily spit forth: It helps the defluction of
rheum from the head upon the lungs, the fluxes of blood or humours by
the belly, women’s immoderate courses, as well the reds as the whites,
and the running of the reins happening by what cause soever. A syrup
made thereof is very effectual for all those inward griefs and hurts,
and the distilled water for the same purpose also, and for outward
wounds and sores in the fleshy or sinewy part of the body whatsoever,
as also to take away the fits of agues, and to allay the sharpness
of humours. A decoction of the leaves hereof is available to all
the purposes, though not so effectual as the roots. The roots being
outwardly applied, help fresh wounds or cuts immediately, being bruised
and laid thereto; and is special good for ruptures and broken bones;
yea, it is said to be so powerful to consolidate and knit together,
that if they be boiled with dissevered pieces of flesh in a pot, it
will join them together again. It is good to be applied to women’s
breasts that grow sore by the abundance of milk coming into them; also
to repress the over much bleeding of the hæmorrhoids, to cool the
inflammation of the parts thereabouts, and to give ease of pains. The
roots of Comfrey taken fresh, beaten small, and spread upon leather,
and laid upon any place troubled with the gout, doth presently give
ease of the pains; and applied in the same manner, gives ease to pained
joints, and profits very much for running and moist ulcers, gangrenes,
mortifications, and the like, for which it hath by often experience
been found helpful.
CORALWORT.
IT is also called by some Toothwort, Tooth Violet, Dog-Teeth Violet,
and Dentaria.
_Descript._] Of the many sorts of this herb two of them may be found
growing in this nation; the first of which shoots forth one or two
winged leaves, upon long brownish foot-stalks, which are doubled down
at their first coming out of the ground; when they are fully opened
they consist of seven leaves, most commonly of a sad green colour,
dented about the edges, set on both sides the middle rib one against
another, as the leaves of the ash tree; the stalk bears no leaves on
the lower half of it; the upper half bears sometimes three or four,
each consisting of five leaves, sometimes of three; on the top stand
four or five flowers upon short foot-stalks, with long husks; the
flowers are very like the flowers of Stockgilliflowers, of a pale
purplish colour, consisting of four leaves a-piece, after which come
small pods, which contain the seed; the root is very smooth, white and
shining; it does not grow downwards, but creeps along under the upper
crust of the ground, and consists of divers small round knobs set
together; towards the top of the stalk there grows some single leaves,
by each of which comes a small cloven bulb, which when it is ripe, if
it be set in the ground, it will grow to be a root.
As for the other Coralwort, which grows in this nation, it is more
scarce than this, being a very small plant, much like Crowfoot,
therefore some think it to be one of the sorts of Crowfoot. I know not
where to direct you to it, therefore I shall forbear the description.
_Place._] The first grows in Mayfield in Sussex, in a wood called
Highread, and in another wood there also, called Fox-holes.
_Time._] They flower from the latter end of April to the middle of May,
and before the middle of July they are gone, and not to be found.
_Government and virtues._] It is under the dominion of the Moon. It
cleanses the bladder, and provokes urine, expels gravel, and the stone;
it eases pains in the sides and bowels, is excellently good for inward
wounds, especially such as are made in the breast or lungs, by taking
a dram of the powder of the root every morning in wine; the same is
excellently good for ruptures, as also to stop fluxes; an ointment made
of it is exceedingly good for wounds and ulcers, for it soon dries up
the watery humours which hinder the cure.
COSTMARY, OR ALCOST, OR BALSAM
HERB.
THIS is so frequently known to be an inhabitant in almost every garden,
that I suppose it needless to write a description thereof.
_Time._] It flowers in June and July.
_Government and virtues._] It is under the dominion of Jupiter. The
ordinary Costmary, as well as Maudlin, provokes urine abundantly,
and moistens the hardness of the mother; it gently purges choler
and phlegm, extenuating that which is gross, and cutting that which
is tough and glutinous, cleanses that which is foul, and hinders
putrefaction and corruption; it dissolves without attraction, opens
obstructions, and helps their evil effects, and it is a wonderful
help to all sorts of dry agues. It is astringent to the stomach, and
strengthens the liver, and all the other inward parts; and taken in
whey works more effectually. Taken fasting in the morning, it is very
profitable for pains in the head that are continual, and to stay, dry
up, and consume all thin rheums or distillations from the head into
the stomach, and helps much to digest raw humours that are gathered
therein. It is very profitable for those that are fallen into a
continual evil disposition of the whole body, called Cachexia, but
especially in the beginning of the disease. It is an especial friend
and helps to evil, weak and cold livers. The seed is familiarly given
to children for the worms, and so is the infusion of the flowers
in white wine given them to the quantity of two ounces at a time;
it makes an excellent salve to cleanse and heal old ulcers, being
boiled with oil of olive, and Adder’s tongue with it, and after it is
strained, put a little wax, rosin, and turpentine, to bring it to a
convenient body.
CUDWEED, OR COTTONWEED.
BESIDES Cudweed and Cottonweed, it is also Called Chaffweed, Dwarf
Cotton, and Petty Cotton.
_Descript._] The common Cudweed rises up with one stalk sometimes,
and sometimes with two or three, thick set on all sides with small,
long and narrow whitish or woody leaves, from the middle of the stalk
almost up to the top, with every leaf stands small flowers of a dun or
brownish yellow colour, or not so yellow as others; in which herbs,
after the flowers are fallen, come small seed wrapped up, with the
down therein, and is carried away with the wind; the root is small and
thready.
There are other sorts hereof, which are somewhat less than the former,
not much different, save only that the stalks and leaves are shorter,
so that the flowers are paler and more open.
_Place._] They grow in dry, barren, sandy, and gravelly grounds, in
most places of this land.
_Time._] They flower about July, some earlier, some later, and their
seed is ripe in August.
_Government and virtues._] Venus is Lady of it. The plants are
all astringent, binding, or drying, and therefore profitable for
defluctions of rheum from the head, and to stay fluxes of blood
wheresoever, the decoction being made into red wine and drank, or the
powder taken therein. It also helps the bloody-flux, and eases the
torments that come thereby, stays the immoderate courses of women,
and is also good for inward or outward wounds, hurts, and bruises,
and helps children both of bursting and the worms, and being either
drank or injected, for the disease called Tenesmus, which is an often
provocation to the stool without doing any thing. The green leaves
bruised, and laid to any green wound, stays the bleeding, and heals it
up quickly. The juice of the herb taken in wine and milk, is, as Pliny
saith, a sovereign remedy against the mumps and quinsey; and further
saith, That whosoever shall so take it, shall never be troubled with
that disease again.
COWSLIPS, OR PEAGLES.
BOTH the wild and garden Cowslips are so well known, that I neither
trouble myself nor the reader with a description of them.
_Time._] They flower in April and May.
_Government and virtues._] Venus lays claim to this herb as her own,
and it is under the sign Aries, and our city dames know well enough the
ointment or distilled water of it adds beauty, or at least restores it
when it is lost. The flowers are held to be more effectual than the
leaves, and the roots of little use. An ointment being made with them,
takes away spots and wrinkles of the skin, sun-burning, and freckles,
and adds beauty exceedingly; they remedy all infirmities of the head
coming of heat and wind, as vertigo, ephialtes, false apparitions,
phrensies, falling-sickness, palsies, convulsions, cramps, pains in
the nerves; the roots ease pains in the back and bladder, and open the
passages of urine. The leaves are good in wounds, and the flowers take
away trembling. If the flowers be not well dried, and kept in a warm
place, they will soon putrefy and look green: Have a special eye over
them; If you let them see the Sun once a month, it will do neither the
Sun nor them harm.
Because they strengthen the brain and nerves, and remedy palsies,
Greeks gave them the name Paralysis. The flowers preserved or
conserved, and the quantity of a nutmeg eaten every morning, is a
sufficient dose for inward diseases; but for wounds, spots, wrinkles,
and sunburnings, an ointment is made of the leaves, and hog’s grease.
CRAB’S CLAWS.
CALLED also Water Sengreen, Knight’s Pond Water, Water House-leek, Pond
Weed, and Fresh-water Soldier.
_Descript._] It has sundry long narrow leaves, with sharp prickles
on the edges of them, also very sharp pointed; the stalks which bear
flowers, seldom grow so high as the leaves, bearing a forked head, like
a Crab’s Claw, out of which comes a white flower, consisting of three
leaves, with divers yellowish hairy threads in the middle; it takes
root in the mud at the bottom of the water.
_Place._] It grows plentifully in the fens in Lincolnshire.
_Time._] It flowers in June, and usually from thence till August.
_Government and virtues._] It is a plant under the dominion of Venus,
and therefore a great strengthener of the reins; it is excellently
good for inflammation which is commonly called St. Anthony’s Fire; it
assuages inflammations, and swellings in wounds: and an ointment made
of it is excellently good to heal them; there is scarcely a better
remedy growing than this is, for such as have bruised their kidneys,
and upon that account discharge blood; a dram of the powder of the herb
taken every morning, is a very good remedy to stop the terms.
BLACK CRESSES.
_Descript._] IT has long leaves, deeply cut and jagged on both sides,
not much unlike wild mustard; the stalk small, very limber, though very
tough: you may twist them round as you may a willow before they break.
The flowers are very small and yellow, after which comes small pods,
which contains the seed.
_Place._] It is a common herb, grows usually by the way-side, and
sometimes upon mud walls about London, but it delights to grow most
among stones and rubbish.
_Time._] It flowers in June and July, and the seed is ripe in August
and September.
_Government and virtues._] It is a plant of a hot and biting nature,
under the dominion of Mars. The seed of Black Cresses strengthens the
brain exceedingly, being, in performing that office, little inferior
to mustard seed, if at all; they are excellently good to stay those
rheums which may fall down from the head upon the lungs; you may beat
the seed into powder, if you please, and make it up into an electuary
with honey; so you have an excellent remedy by you, not only for the
premises, but also for the cough, yellow jaundice and sciatica. This
herb boiled into a poultice, is an excellent remedy for inflammations;
both in women’s breast, and men’s testicles.
SCIATICA CRESSES.
_Descript._] THESE are of two kinds; The first rises up with a round
stalk about two feet high, spreads into divers branches, whose lower
leaves are somewhat larger than the upper, yet all of them cut or
torn on the edges, somewhat like the garden Cresses, but smaller, the
flowers are small and white, growing at the tops of branches, where
afterwards grow husks with small brownish seeds therein very strong and
sharp in taste, more than the Cresses of the garden; the root is long,
white, and woody.
The other has the lower leaves whole somewhat long and broad, not torn
at all, but only somewhat deeply dented about the edges towards the
ends; but those that grow up higher are smaller. The flowers and seeds
are like the former, and so is the root likewise, and both root and
seeds as sharp as it.
_Place._] They grow in the way-sides in untilled places, and by the
sides of old walls.
_Time._] They flower in the end of June, and their seed is ripe in July.
_Government and virtues._] It is a Saturnine plant. The leaves, but
especially the root, taken fresh in Summer-time, beaten or made into
a poultice or salve with old hog’s grease, and applied to the places
pained with the sciatica, to continue thereon four hours if it be on a
man, and two hours on a woman; the place afterwards bathed with wine
and oil mixed together, and then wrapped with wool or skins, after they
have sweat a little, will assuredly cure not only the same disease in
hips, knuckle-bone, or other of the joints, as gout in the hands or
feet, but all other old griefs of the head, (as inveterate rheums,)
and other parts of the body that are hard to be cured. And if of the
former griefs any parts remain, the same medicine after twenty days,
is to be applied again. The same is also effectual in the diseases of
the spleen; and applied to the skin, takes away the blemish thereof,
whether they be scars, leprosy, scabs, or scurf, which although it
ulcerate the part, yet that is to be helped afterwards with a salve
made of oil and wax. Esteem this as another secret.
WATER CRESSES.
_Descript._] OUR ordinary Water Cresses spread forth with many weak,
hollow, sappy stalks, shooting out fibres at the joints and upwards
long winged leaves made of sundry broad sappy almost round leaves, of
a brownish colour. The flowers are many and white standing on long
foot-stalks after which come small yellow seed, contained in small long
pods like horns. The whole plant abides green in the winter, and tastes
somewhat hot and sharp.
_Place._] They grow, for the most part, in small standing waters, yet
sometimes in small rivulets of running water.
_Time._] They flower and seed in the beginning of Summer.
_Government and virtues._] It is an herb under the dominion of the
Moon. They are more powerful against the scurvy, and to cleanse the
blood and humours, than Brooklime is, and serve in all the other uses
in which Brooklime is available, as to break the stone, and provoke
urine and woman’s courses. The decoction thereof cleanses ulcers, by
washing them therewith. The leaves bruised, or the juice, is good, to
be applied to the face or other parts troubled with freckles, pimples,
spots, or the like, at night, and washed away in the morning. The juice
mixed with vinegar, and the fore part of the head bathed therewith, is
very good for those that are dull and drowsy, or have the lethargy.
Water-cress pottage is a good remedy to cleanse the blood in the
spring, and help headaches, and consume the gross humours winter has
left behind; those that would live in health, may use it if they
please; if they will not, I cannot help it. If any fancy not pottage,
they may eat the herb as a sallad.
CROSSWORT.
THIS herb receives its name from the situation of its leaves.
_Descript._] Common Crosswort grows up with square hairy brown stalks
a little above a foot high, having four small broad and pointed, hairy
yet smooth thin leaves, growing at every joint, each against other one
way, which has caused the name. Towards the tops of the stalks at the
joints, with the leaves in three or four rows downwards, stand small,
pale yellow flowers, after which come small blackish round seeds, four
for the most part, set in every husk. The root is very small, and full
of fibres, or threads, taking good hold of the ground, and spreading
with the branches over a great deal of ground, which perish not in
winter, although the leaves die every year and spring again anew.
_Place._] It grows in many moist grounds, well in meadows as untilled
places, about London, in Hampstead church-yard, at Wye in Kent, and
sundry other places.
_Time._] It flowers from May all the Summer long, in one place or
other, as they are more open to the sun; the seed ripens soon after.
_Government and virtues._] It is under the dominion of Saturn. This is
a singularly good wound herb, and is used inwardly, not only to stay
bleeding of wounds, but to consolidate them, as it doth outwardly any
green wound, which it quickly solders up, and heals. The decoction of
the herb in wine, helps to expectorate the phlegm out of the chest,
and is good for obstructions in the breast, stomach, or bowels, and
helps a decayed appetite. It is also good to wash any wound or sore
with, to cleanse and heal it. The herb bruised, and then boiled applied
outwardly for certain days together, renewing it often: and in the mean
time the decoction of the herb in 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.
CROWFOOT.
MANY are the names this furious biting herb has obtained, almost enough
to make up a Welchman’s pedigree, if he fetch no farther than John of
Gaunt, or William the Conquerer; for it is called Frog’s-foot, from the
Greek name Barrakion: Crowfoot, Gold Knobs, Gold Cups, King’s Knob,
Baffiners, Troilflowers, Polts, Locket Gouions, and Butterflowers.
Abundance are the sorts of this herb, that to describe them all would
tire the patience of Socrates himself, but because I have not yet
attained to the spirit of Socrates, I shall but describe the most usual.
_Descript._] The most common Crowfoot has many thin great leaves, cut
into divers parts, in taste biting and sharp, biting and blistering
the tongue: It bears many flowers, and those of a bright, resplendent,
yellow colour. I do not remember, that I ever saw any thing yellower.
Virgins, in ancient time, used to make powder of them to furrow bride
beds; after which flowers come small heads, some spiked and rugged like
a Pine-Apple.
_Place._] They grow very common every where; unless you turn your head
into a hedge you cannot but see them as you walk.
_Time._] They flower in May and June, even till September.
_Government and virtues._] This fiery and hot-spirited herb of Mars
is no way fit to be given inwardly, but an ointment of the leaves or
flowers will draw a blister, and may be so fitly applied to the nape of
the neck to draw back rheum from the eyes. The herb being bruised and
mixed with a little mustard, draws a blister as well, and as perfectly
as Cantharides, and with far less danger to the vessels of urine, which
Cantharides naturally delight to wrong; I knew the herb once applied
to a pestilential rising that was fallen down, and it saved life even
beyond hope; it were good to keep an ointment and plaister of it, if it
were but for that.
CUCKOW-POINT.
IT is called Aron, Janus, Barba-aron, Calve’s-foot, Ramp, Starchwort,
Cuckow-point, and Wake Robin.
_Descript._] This shoots forth three, four or five leaves at the most,
from one root, every one whereof is somewhat large and long, broad at
the bottom next the stalk, and forked, but ending in a point, without
a cut on the edge, of a full green colour, each standing upon a thick
round stalk, of a hand-breadth long, or more, among which, after two
or three months that they begin to wither, rises up a bare, round,
whitish green stalk, spotted and streaked with purple, somewhat higher
than the leaves: At the top whereof stands a long hollow husk close at
the bottom, but open from the middle upwards, ending in a point: in
the middle whereof stands the small long pestle or clapper, smaller at
the bottom than at the top, of a dark purple colour, as the husk is on
the inside, though green without; which, after it hath so abided for
some time, the husk with the clapper decays, and the foot or bottom
thereof grows to be a small long bunch of berries, green at the first,
and of a yellowish red colour when they are ripe, of the bigness of a
hazel-nut kernel, which abides thereon almost until Winter; the root
is round, and somewhat long, for the most part lying along, the leaves
shooting forth at the largest end, which, when it bears its berries,
are somewhat wrinkled and loose, another growing under it, which is
solid and firm, with many small threads hanging thereat. The whole
plant is of a very sharp biting taste, pricking the tongue as nettles
do the hands, and so abides for a great while without alteration. The
root thereof was anciently used instead of starch to starch linen with.
There is another sort of Cuckow-point, with less leaves than the
former, and some times harder, having blackish spots upon them, which
for the most part abide longer green in Summer than the former, and
both leaves and roots are more sharp and fierce than it: In all things
else it is like the former.
_Place._] These two sorts grow frequently almost under every hedge-side
in many places of this land.
_Time._] They shoot forth leaves in the Spring, and continue but until
the middle of Summer, or somewhat later; their husks appearing before
the fall away, and their fruit shewing in April.
_Government and virtues._] It is under the dominion of Mars. Tragus
reports, that a dram weight, or more, if need be, of the spotted Wake
Robin, either fresh and green, or dried, having been eaten and taken,
is a present and sure remedy for poison and the plague. The juice of
the herb taken to the quantity of a spoonful has the same effect. But
if there be a little vinegar added thereto, as well as to the root
aforesaid, it somewhat allays the sharp biting taste thereof upon the
tongue. The green leaves bruised, and laid upon any boil or plague
sore, doth wonderfully help to draw forth the poison: A dram of the
powder of the dried root taken with twice so much sugar in the form of
a licking electuary, or the green root, doth wonderfully help those
that are pursy and short-winded, as also those that have a cough; it
breaks, digests, and rids away phlegm from the stomach, chest, and
lungs. The milk wherein the root as been boiled is effectual also for
the same purpose. The said powder taken in wine or other drink, or
the juice of the berries, or the powder of them, or the wine wherein
they have been boiled, provokes urine, and brings down women’s courses
and purges them effectually after child-bearing, to bring away the
after-birth. Taken with sheep’s milk, it heals the inward ulcers of the
bowels. The distilled water thereof is effectual to all the purposes
aforesaid. A spoonful taken at a time heals the itch; an ounce or more
taken a time for some days together, doth help the rupture: The leaves
either green or dry, or the juice of them, doth cleanse all manner of
rotten and filthy ulcers, in what part of the body soever; and heals
the stinking sores in the nose, called Polypus. The water wherein the
root has been boiled, dropped into the eyes, cleanses them from any
film or skin, cloud or mists, which begin to hinder the sight, and
helps the watering and redness of them, or when, by some chance, they
become black and blue. The root mixed with bean-flour, and applied to
the throat or jaws that are inflamed, helps them. The juice of the
berries boiled in oil of roses, or beaten into powder mixed with the
oil, and dropped into the ears, eases pains in them. The berries or
the roots beaten with the hot ox-dung, and applied, eases the pains of
the gout. The leaves and roots boiled in wine with a little oil, and
applied to the piles, or the falling down of the fundament, eases them,
and so doth sitting over the hot fumes thereof. The fresh roots bruised
and distilled with a little milk, yields a most sovereign water to
cleanse the skin from scurf, freckles, spots, or blemishes whatsoever
therein.
Authors have left large commendations of this herb you see, but for my
part, I have neither spoken with Dr. Reason nor Dr. Experience about it.
CUCUMBERS.
_Government and virtues._] THERE is no dispute to be made, but that
they are under the dominion of the Moon, though they are so much cried
out against for their coldness, and if they were but one degree colder
they would be poison. The best of Galenists hold them to be cold and
moist in the second degree, and then not so hot as either lettuce or
purslain: They are excellently good for a hot stomach, and hot liver;
the unmeasurable use of them fills the body full of raw humours, and so
indeed the unmeasurable use of any thing else doth harm. The face being
washed with their juice, cleanses the skin, and is excellently good for
hot rheums in the eyes; the seed is excellently good to provoke urine,
and cleanses the passages thereof when they are stopped: there is not
a better remedy for ulcers in the bladder growing, than Cucumbers
are; The usual course is, to use the seeds in emulsions, as they make
almond milk; but a far better way (in my opinion) is this; When the
season of the year is, take the Cucumbers and bruise them well, and
distil the water from them, and let such as are troubled with ulcers in
the bladder drink no other drink. The face being washed with the same
water, cures the reddest face that is; it is also excellently good for
sun-burning, freckles, and morphew.
DAISIES.
THESE are so well known almost to every child, that I suppose it
needless to write any description of them. Take therefore the virtues
of them as follows.
_Government and virtues._] The herb is under the sign Cancer, and under
the dominion of Venus, and therefore excellently good for wounds in
the breast, and very fitting to be kept both in oils, ointments, and
plaisters, as also in syrup. The greater wild Daisy is a wound herb of
good respect, often used in those drinks or salves that are for wounds,
either inward or outward. The juice or distilled water of these, or
the small Daisy, doth much temper the heat of choler, and refresh the
liver, and the other inward parts. A decoction made of them and drank,
helps to cure the wounds made in the hollowness of the breast. The same
also cures all ulcers and pustules in the mouth or tongue, or in the
secret parts. The leaves bruised and applied to the privities, or to
any other parts that are swoln and hot, doth dissolve it, and temper
the heat. A decoction made thereof, of Wallwort and Agrimony, and the
places fomented and bathed therewith warm, gives great ease to them
that are troubled with the palsy, sciatica, or the gout. The same also
disperses and dissolves the knots or kernels that grow in the flesh of
any part of the body, and bruises and hurts that come of falls and
blows; they are also used for ruptures, and other inward burnings,
with very good success. An ointment made thereof doth wonderfully help
all wounds that have inflammations about them, or by reason of moist
humours having access unto them, are kept long from healing, and such
are those, for the most part, that happen to joints of the arms or
legs. The juice of them dropped into the running eyes of any, doth much
help them.
DANDELION, VULGARLY CALLED PISS-A-BEDS.
_Descript._] IT is well known to have many long and deep gashed leaves,
lying on the ground round about the head of the roots; the ends of each
gash or jag, on both sides looking downwards towards the roots; the
middle rib being white, which being broken, yields abundance of bitter
milk, but the root much more; from among the leaves, which always abide
green, arise many slender, weak, naked foot-stalks, every one of them
bearing at the top one large yellow flower, consisting of many rows
of yellow leaves, broad at the points, and nicked in with deep spots
of yellow in the middle, which growing ripe, the green husk wherein
the flowers stood turns itself down to the stalk, and the head of down
becomes as round as a ball: with long seed underneath, bearing a part
of the down on the head of every one, which together is blown away
with the wind, or may be at once blown away with one’s mouth. The root
growing downwards exceedingly deep, which being broken off within the
ground, will yet shoot forth again, and will hardly be destroyed where
it hath once taken deep root in the ground.
_Place._] It grows frequently in all meadows and pasture-grounds.
_Time._] It flowers in one place or other almost all the year long.
_Government and virtues._] It is under the dominion of Jupiter. It
is of an opening and cleansing quality, and therefore very effectual
for the obstructions of the liver, gall and spleen, and the diseases
that arise from them, as the jaundice and hypocondriac; it opens the
passages of the urine both in young and old; powerfully cleanses
imposthumes and inward ulcers in the urinary passage, and by its drying
and temperate quality doth afterwards heal them; for which purpose the
decoction of the roots or leaves in white wine, or the leaves chopped
as pot-herbs, with a few Alisanders, and boiled in their broth, are
very effectual. And whoever is drawing towards a consumption or an
evil disposition of the whole body, called Cachexia, by the use hereof
for some time together, shall find a wonderful help. It helps also to
procure rest and sleep to bodies distempered by the heat of ague fits,
or otherwise: The distilled water is effectual to drink in pestilential
fevers, and to wash the sores.
You see here what virtues this common herb hath, and that is the
reason the French and Dutch so often eat them in the Spring; and now
if you look a little farther, you may see plainly without a pair of
spectacles, that foreign physicians are not so selfish as ours are, but
more communicative of the virtues of plants to people.
DARNEL.
IT is called Jam and Wray: in Sussex they call it Crop, it being a
pestilent enemy among corn.
_Descript._] This has all the winter long sundry long, flat, and rough
leaves, which, when the stalk rises, which is slender and jointed, are
narrower, but rough still; on the top grows a long spike, composed of
many heads set one above another, containing two or three husks, with
a sharp but short beard of awns at the end; the seed is easily shaken
out of the ear, the husk itself being somewhat rough.
_Place._] The country husbandmen do know this too well to grow among
their corn, or in the borders and pathways of the other fields that are
fallow.
_Government and virtues._] It is a malicious part of sullen Saturn. As
it is not without some vices, so hath it also many virtues. The meal
of Darnel is very good to stay gangrenes, and other such like fretting
and eating cankers, and putrid sores: It also cleanses the skin of all
leprosies, morphews, ringworms, and the like, if it be used with salt
and raddish roots. And being used with quick brimstone and vinegar,
it dissolves knots and kernels, and breaks those that are hard to be
dissolved, being boiled in wine with pigeon’s dung and Linseed: A
decoction thereof made with water and honey, and the places bathed
therewith, is profitable for the sciatica. Darnel meal applied in a
poultice draws forth splinters and broken bones in the flesh: The red
Darnel, boiled in red wine and taken, stays the lask and all other
fluxes, and women’s bloody issues; and restrains urine that passes away
too suddenly.
DILL.
_Descript._] THE common Dill grows up with seldom more than one stalk,
neither so high, nor so great usually as Fennel, being round and fewer
joints thereon, whose leaves are sadder, and somewhat long, and so like
Fennel that it deceives many, but harder in handling, and somewhat
thicker, and of a strong unpleasant scent: The tops of the stalks have
four branches and smaller umbels of yellow flowers, which turn into
small seed, somewhat flatter and thinner than Fennel seed. The root is
somewhat small and woody, perishes every year after it hath borne seed:
and is also unprofitable, being never put to any use.
_Place._] It is most usually sown in gardens and grounds for the
purpose, and is also found wild in many places.
_Government and virtues._] Mercury has the dominion of this plant, and
therefore to be sure it strengthens the brain. The Dill being boiled
and drank, is good to ease swellings and pains; it also stays the belly
and stomach from casting. The decoction therefore helps women that
are troubled with the pains and windiness of the mother, if they sit
therein. It stays the hiccough, being boiled in wine, and but smelled
unto being tied in a cloth. The seed is of more use than the leaves,
and more effectual to digest raw and vicious humours, and is used in
medicines that serve to expel wind, and the pains proceeding therefrom.
The seed, being roasted or fried, and used in oils or plasters,
dissolve the imposthumes in the fundament; and dries up all moist
ulcers, especially in the fundament; an oil made of Dill is effectual
to warm or dissolve humours and imposthumes, and the pains, and to
procure rest. The decoction of Dill, be it herb or seed (only if you
boil the seed you must bruise it) in white wine, being drank, it is a
gallant expeller of wind, and provoker of the terms.
DEVIL’S-BIT.
_Descript._] THIS rises up with a round green smooth stalk, about two
feet high, set with divers long and somewhat narrow, smooth, dark green
leaves, somewhat nipped about the edges, for the most part, being else
all whole, and not divided at all, or but very seldom, even to the
tops of the branches, which yet are smaller than those below, with
one rib only in the middle. At the end of each branch stands a round
head of many flowers set together in the same manner, or more neatly
than Scabions, and of a bluish purple colour, which being past, there
follows seed which falls away. The root is somewhat thick, but short
and blackish, with many strings, abiding after seed time many years.
This root was longer, until the devil (as the friars say) bit away the
rest of it for spite, envying its usefulness to mankind; for sure he
was not troubled with any disease for which it is proper.
There are two other sorts hereof, in nothing unlike the former, save
that the one bears white, and the other bluish-coloured flowers.
_Place._] The first grows as well in dry meadows and fields as moist,
in many places of this land: But the other two are more rare, and hard
to be met with, yet they are both found growing wild about Appledore,
near Rye in Kent.
_Time._] They flower not usually until August.
_Government and virtues._] The plant is venereal, pleasing, and
harmless. The herb or the root (all that the devil hath left of it)
being boiled in wine, and drank, is very powerful against the plague,
and all pestilential diseases or fevers, poisons also, and the bitings
of venemous beasts: It helps also those that are inwardly bruised by
any casuality, or outwardly by falls or blows, dissolving the clotted
blood; and the herb or root beaten and outwardly applied, takes away
the black and blue marks that remain in the skin. The decoction of
the herb, with honey of roses put therein, is very effectual to help
the inveterate tumours and swellings of the almonds and throat, by
often gargling the mouth therewith. It helps also to procure women’s
courses, and eases all pains of the mother and to break and discuss
wind therein, and in the bowels. The powder of the root taken in drink,
drives forth the worms in the body. The juice or distilled water of
the herb, is effectual for green wounds, or old sores, and cleanses
the body inwardly, and the seed outwardly, from sores, scurf, itch,
pimples, freckles, morphew, or other deformities thereof, especially
if a little vitriol be dissolved therein.
DOCK.
MANY kinds of these are so well known, that I shall not trouble you
with a description of them: My book grows big too fast.
_Government and virtues._] All Docks are under Jupiter, of which the
Red Dock, which is commonly called Bloodwort, cleanses the blood, and
strengthens the liver; but the yellow Dock-root is best to be taken
when either the blood or liver is affected by choler. All of them
have a kind of cooling (but not all alike) drying quality, the sorrel
being most cold, and the Blood-worts most drying. Of the Burdock, I
have spoken already by itself. The seed of most of the other kinds,
whether the gardens or fields, do stay lasks and fluxes of all sorts,
the loathing of the stomach through choler, and is helpful for those
that spit blood. The roots boiled in vinegar help the itch, scabs, and
breaking out of the skin, if it be bathed therewith. The distilled
water of the herb and roots have the same virtue, and cleanses the skin
from freckles, morphews, and all other spots and discolourings therein.
All Docks being boiled with meat, make it boil the sooner: Besides
Blood-wort is exceeding strengthening to the liver, and procures good
blood, being as wholesome a pot herb as any growing in a garden; yet
such is the nicety of our times, forsooth, that women will not put it
into a pot, because it makes the pottage black; pride and ignorance (a
couple of monsters in the creation) preferring nicety before health.
DODDER OF THYME, EPITHYMUM, AND
OTHER DODDERS.
_Descript._] THIS first from seed gives roots in the ground, which
shoot forth threads or strings, grosser or finer as the property of
the plant wherein it grows, and the climate doth suffer, creeping
and spreading on that plant whereon it fastens, be it high or low.
The strings have no leaves at all on them, but wind and interlace
themselves, so thick upon a small plant, that it takes away all comfort
of the sun from it; and is ready to choak or strangle it. After these
strings are risen to that height, that they may draw nourishment
from that plant, they seem to be broken off from the ground, either
by the strength of their rising, or withered by the heat of the Sun.
Upon these strings are found clusters of small heads or husks, out of
which shoot forth whitish flowers, which afterwards give small pale
white coloured seed, somewhat flat, and twice as big as Poppy-seed. It
generally participates of the nature of the plant which it climbs upon;
but the Dodder of Thyme is accounted the best, and is the only true
Epithymum.
_Government and virtues._] All Dodders are under Saturn. Tell not me of
physicians crying up Epithymum, or that Dodder which grows upon Thyme,
(most of which comes from Hemetius in Greece, or Hybla in Sicily,
because those mountains abound with Thyme,) he is a physician indeed,
that hath wit enough to choose the Dodder according to the nature of
the disease and humour peccant. We confess, Thyme is the hottest herb
it usually grows upon; and therefore that which grows upon Thyme is
hotter than that which grows upon cold herbs; for it draws nourishment
from what it grows upon, as well as from the earth where its root is,
and thus you see old Saturn is wise enough to have two strings to his
bow. This is accounted the most effectual for melancholy diseases, and
to purge black or burnt choler, which is the cause of many diseases of
the head and brain, as also for the trembling of the heart, faintings
and swoonings. It is helpful in all diseases and griefs of the spleen,
and melancholy that arises from the windiness of the hypochondria. It
purges also the reins or kidneys by urine; it opens obstructions of
the gall, whereby it profits them that have the jaundice; as also the
leaves, the spleen: Purging the veins of the choleric and phlegmatic
humours, and helps children in agues, a little worm seed being put
thereto.
The other Dodders do, as I said before, participate of the nature of
those plants whereon they grow: As that which hath been found growing
upon nettles in the west-country, hath by experience been found very
effectual to procure plenty of urine where it hath been stopped or
hindered. And so of the rest.
Sympathy and antipathy are two hinges upon which the whole mode of
physic turns; and that physician who minds them not, is like a door
off from the hooks, more like to do a man mischief, than to secure
him. Then all the diseases Saturn causes, this helps by sympathy, and
strengthens all the parts of the body he rules; such as be caused by
Sol, it helps by antipathy. What those diseases are, see my judgment
of diseases by astrology; and if you be pleased to look at the herb
Wormwood, you shall find a rational way for it.
DOG’S-GRASS, OR COUGH GRASS.
_Descript._] IT is well known, that the grass creeps far about under
ground, with long white joined roots, and small fibres almost at every
joint, very sweet in taste, as the rest of the herb is, and interlacing
one another, from whence shoot forth many fair grassy leaves, small at
the ends, and cutting or sharp on the edges. The stalks are jointed
like corn, with the like leaves on them, and a large spiked head, with
a long husk in them, and hard rough seed in them. If you know it not
by this description, watch the dogs when they are sick, and they will
quickly lead you to it.
_Place._] It grows commonly through this land in divers ploughed
grounds to the no small trouble of the husbandmen, as also of the
gardeners, in gardens, to weed it out, if they can; for it is a
constant customer to the place it get footing in.
_Government and virtues._] ’Tis under the dominion of Jupiter, and is
the most medicinal of all the Quick-grasses. Being boiled and drank, it
opens obstructions of the liver and gall, and the stopping of urine,
and eases the griping pains of the belly and inflammations; wastes the
matter of the stone in the bladder, and the ulcers thereof also. The
roots bruised and applied, do consolidate wounds. The seed doth more
powerfully expel urine, and stays the lask and vomiting. The distilled
water alone, or with a little wormseed, kills the worms in children.
The way of use is to bruise the roots, and having well boiled them in
white wine, drink the decoction: ’Tis opening but not purging, very
safe: ’Tis a remedy against all diseases coming of stopping, and such
are half those that are incident to the body of man; and although a
gardener be of another opinion, yet a physician holds half an acre of
them to be worth five acres of Carrots twice told over.
DOVE’S-FOOT, OR CRANE’S-BILL.
_Descript._] THIS has divers small, round, pale-green leaves, cut in
about the edges, much like mallow, standing upon long, reddish, hairy
stalks lying in a round compass upon the ground; among which rise up
two or three, or more, reddish, jointed, slender, weak, hairy stalks,
with some like leaves thereon, but smaller, and more cut in up to the
tops, where grow many very small bright red flowers of five leaves
a-piece; after which follow small heads, with small short beaks pointed
forth, as all other sorts of those herbs do.
_Place._] It grows in pasture grounds, and by the path-sides in many
places, and will also be in gardens.
_Time._] It flowers in June, July, and August, some earlier and some
later; and the seed is ripe quickly after.
_Government and virtues._] It is a very gentle, though martial plant.
It is found by experience to be singularly good for wind cholic, as
also to expel the stone and gravel in the kidneys. The decoction
thereof in wine, is an excellent good cure for those that have inward
wounds, hurts, or bruises, both to stay the bleeding, to dissolve and
expel the congealed blood, and to heal the parts, as also to cleanse
and heal outward sores, ulcers, and fistulas; and for green wounds,
many do only bruise the herb, and apply it to the places, and it heals
them quickly. The same decoction in wine fomented to any place pained
with the gout, or to joint-aches, or pains of the sinews, gives much
ease. The powder or decoction of the herb taken for some time together,
is found by experience to be singularly good for ruptures and burstings
in people, either young or old.
DUCK’S MEAT.
THIS is so well known to swim on the tops of standing waters, as ponds,
pools, and ditches, that it is needless further to describe it.
_Government and virtues._] Cancer claims the herb, and the Moon will
be Lady of it; a word is enough to a wise man. It is effectual to help
inflammations, and St. Anthony’s Fire, as also the gout, either applied
by itself, or in a poultice with Barley meal. The distilled water by
some is highly esteemed against all inward inflammations and pestilent
fevers; as also to help the redness of the eyes, and swellings of
privities, and of the breasts before they be grown too much. The fresh
herb applied to the forehead, eases the pains of the head-ache coming
of heat.
DOWN, OR COTTON-THISTLE.
_Descript._] THIS has large leaves lying on the ground, somewhat cut
in, and as it were crumpled on the edges, of a green colour on the
upper side, but covered with long hairy wool, or Cotton Down, set with
most sharp and cruel pricks, from the middle of whose head of flowers,
thrust forth many purplish crimson threads, and sometimes (although
very seldom) white ones. The seed that follows in the heads, lying in
a great deal of white down, is somewhat large, long, and round, like
the seed of ladies thistle, but paler. The root is great and thick,
spreading much, yet it usually dies after seed-time.
_Place._] It grows in divers ditches, banks, and in corn-fields, and
highways, generally every where throughout the land.
_Time._] It flowers and bears seed about the end of Summer, when other
thistles do flower and seed.
_Government and virtues._] Mars owns the plant, and manifest to the
world, that though it may hurt your finger, it will help your body; for
I fancy it much for the ensuing virtues. Pliny and Dioscorides write,
That the leaves and roots thereof taken in drink, help those that have
a crick in their neck; whereby they cannot turn their neck but their
whole body must turn also (sure they do not mean those that have got a
crick in their neck by being under the hangman’s hand.) Galen saith,
that the root and leaves hereof are of a healing quality, and good
for such persons as have their bodies drawn together by some spasm or
convulsion, as it is with children that have the rickets.
DRAGONS.
THEY are so well known to every one that plants them in their gardens,
they need no description; if not, let them look down to the lower end
of the stalks, and see how like a snake they look.
_Government and virtues._] The plant is under the dominion of Mars,
and therefore it would be a wonder if it should want some obnoxious
quality or other: In all herbs of that quality, the safest way is
either to distil the herb in an alembick, in what vehicle you please,
or else to press out the juice, and distil that in a glass still, in
sand. It scours and cleanses the internal parts of the body mightily,
and it clears the external parts also, being externally applied, from
freckles, morphew, and sun-burning: Your best way to use it externally,
is to mix it with vinegar; an ointment of it is held to be good in
wounds and ulcers; it consumes cankers, and that flesh growing in the
nostrils, which they call Polypus: Also the distilled water being
dropped into the eyes, takes away spots there, or the pin and web, and
mends the dimness of sight; it is excellently good against pestilence
and poison. Pliny and Dioscorides affirm, that no serpent will meddle
with him that carries this herb about him.
THE ELDER TREE.
I HOLD it needless to write any description of this, since every boy
that plays with a pop-gun will not mistake another tree instead of
Elder: I shall therefore in this place only describe the Dwarf-Elder,
called also Dead-wort, and Wall-wort.
THE DWARF-ELDER.
_Descript._] THIS is but an herb every year, dying with his stalks to
the ground, and rising afresh every Spring, and is like unto the Elder
both in form and quality, rising up with square, rough, hairy stalks,
four feet high, or more sometimes. The winged leaves are somewhat
narrower than the Elder, but else like them. The flowers are white with
a dash of purple, standing in umbels, very like the Elder also, but
more sweet is scent; after which come small blackish berries, full of
juice while they are fresh, wherein is small hard kernels, or seed.
The root doth creep under the upper crust of the ground, springing in
divers places, being of the bigness of one’s finger or thumb sometimes.
_Place._] The Elder-tree grows in hedges, being planted there to
strengthen the fences and partitions of ground, and to hold the banks
by ditches and water-courses.
The Dwarf Elder grows wild in many places of England, where being once
gotten into a ground, it is not easily gotten forth again.
_Time._] Most of the Elder Trees, flower in June, and their fruit is
ripe for the most part in August. But the Dwarf Elder, or Wall-wort,
flowers somewhat later, and his fruit is not ripe until September.
_Government and virtues._] Both Elder and Dwarf Tree are under the
dominion of Venus. The first shoots of the common Elder boiled like
Asparagus, and the young leaves and stalks boiled in fat broth, doth
mightily carry forth phlegm and choler. The middle or inward bark
boiled in water, and given in drink, works much more violently; and
the berries, either green or dry, expel the same humour, and are often
given with good success to help the dropsy; the bark of the root boiled
in wine, or the juice thereof drank, works the same effects, but more
powerfully than either the leaves or fruit. The juice of the root
taken, doth mightily procure vomitings, and purges the watery humours
of the dropsy. The decoction of the root taken, cures the biting of
an adder, and biting of mad dogs. It mollifies the hardness of the
mother, if women sit thereon, and opens their veins, and brings down
their courses: The berries boiled in wine perform the same effect; and
the hair of the head washed therewith is made black. The juice of the
green leaves applied to the hot inflammations of the eyes, assuages
them; the juice of the leaves snuffed up into the nostrils, purges
the tunicles of the brain; the juice of the berries boiled with honey
and dropped into the ears, helps the pains of them; the decoction of
the berries in wine, being drank, provokes urine; the distilled water
of the flowers is of much use to clean the skin from sun-burning,
freckles, morphew, or the like; and takes away the head-ache, coming of
a cold cause, the head being bathed therewith. The leaves or flowers
distilled in the month of May, and the legs often washed with the
said distilled water, it takes away the ulcers and sores of them. The
eyes washed therewith, it takes away the redness and bloodshot; and
the hands washed morning and evening therewith, helps the palsy, and
shaking of them.
The Dwarf Elder is more powerful than the common Elder in opening and
purging choler, phlegm, and water; in helping the gout, piles, and
women’s diseases, colours the hair black, helps the inflammations
of the eyes, and pains in the ears, the biting of serpents, or mad
dogs, burnings and scaldings, the wind cholic, cholic, and stone, the
difficulty of urine, the cure of old sores and fistulous ulcers. Either
leaves or bark of Elder, stripped upwards as you gather it, causes
vomiting. Also, Dr. Butler, in a manuscript of his, commends Dwarf
Elder to the sky of dropsies, _viz._ to drink it, being boiled in white
wine; to drink the decoction I mean, not the Elder.
THE ELM TREE.
THIS tree is so well known, growing generally in all counties of this
land, that it is needless to describe it.
_Government and virtues._] It is a cold and saturnine plant. The leaves
thereof bruised and applied, heal green wounds, being bound thereon
with its own bark. The leaves or the bark used with vinegar, cures
scurf and leprosy very effectually; The decoction of the leaves, bark,
or root, being bathed, heals broken bones. The water that is found
in the bladders on the leaves, while it is fresh, is very effectual
to cleanse the skin, and make it fair; and if cloaths be often wet
therein, and applied to the ruptures of children, it heals them, if
they be well bound up with a truss. The said water put into a glass,
and set into the ground, or else in dung for twenty-five days, the
mouth thereof being close stopped, and the bottom set upon a layer of
ordinary salt, that the fœces may settle and water become clear, is
a singular and sovereign balm for green wounds, being used with soft
tents: The decoction of the bark of the root, fomented, mollifies hard
tumours, and the shrinking of the sinews. The roots of the Elm, boiled
for a long time in water, and the fat arising on the top thereof, being
clean skimmed off, and the place anointed therewith that is grown
bald, and the hair fallen away, will quickly restore them again. The
said bark ground with brine or pickle, until it come to the form of a
poultice, and laid on the place pained with the gout, gives great ease.
The decoction of the bark in water, is excellent to bathe such places
as have been burnt with fire.
ENDIVE.
_Descript._] COMMON garden Endive bears a longer and larger leaf than
Succory, and abides but one year, quickly running up to a stalk and
seed, and then perishes; it has blue flowers, and the seed of the
ordinary Endive is so like Succory seed, that it is hard to distinguish
them.
_Government and virtues._] It is a fine cooling, cleansing, jovial
plant. The decoction of the leaves, or the juice, or the distilled
water of Endive, serve well to cool the excessive heat of the liver
and stomach, and in the hot fits of agues, and all other inflammations
in any part of the body; it cools the heat and sharpness of the
urine, and excoriation in the urinary parts. The seeds are of the
same property, or rather more powerful, and besides are available for
fainting, swoonings, and passions of the heart. Outwardly applied, they
serve to temper the sharp humours of fretting ulcers, hot tumours,
swellings, and pestilential sores; and wonderfully help not only the
redness and inflammations of the eyes, but the dimness of the sight
also; they are also used to allay the pains of the gout. You cannot use
it amiss; a syrup of it is a fine cooling medicine for fevers.
ELECAMPANE.
_Descript._] IT shoots forth many large leaves, long and broad, lying
near the ground, small at both ends, somewhat soft in handling of a
whitish green on the upper side, and grey underneath, each set upon
a short footstalk, from among which arise up divers great and strong
hairy stalks, three or four feet high, with some leaves thereupon,
compassing them about at the lower end, and are branched towards the
tops, bearing divers great and large flowers, like those of the corn
marigold, both the border of leaves, and the middle thrum being yellow,
which turn into down, with long, small, brownish seeds amongst it, and
is carried away with the wind. The root is great and thick, branched
forth divers ways, blackish on the outside and whitish within, of a
very bitter taste, and strong, but good scent, especially when they are
dried, no part else of the plant having any smell.
_Place._] It grows on moist grounds, and shadowy places oftener than in
the dry and open borders of the fields and lanes, and in other waste
places, almost in every county of this land.
_Time._] It flowers in the end of June and July, and the seed is ripe
in August. The roots are gathered for use, as well in the Spring
before the leaves come forth, as in Autumn or Winter.
_Government and virtues._] It is a plant under the dominion of Mercury.
The fresh roots of Elecampane preserved with sugar, or made into a
syrup or conserve, are very effectual to warm a cold windy stomach,
or the pricking therein, and stiches in the sides caused by the
spleen; and to help the cough, shortness of breath, and wheezing in
the lungs. The dried root made into powder, and mixed with sugar, and
taken, serves to the same purpose, and is also profitable for those
who have their urine stopped, or the stopping of women’s courses, the
pains of the mother and the stone in the reins, kidneys, or bladder;
it resists poison, and stays the spreading of the venom of serpents,
as also putrid and pestilential fevers, and the plague itself. The
roots and herbs beaten and put into new ale or beer, and daily drank,
clears, strengthens, and quickens the sight of the eyes wonderfully.
The decoction of the roots in wine, or the juice taken therein, kills
and drives forth all manner of worms in the belly, stomach, and maw;
and gargled in the mouth, or the root chewed, fastens loose teeth, and
helps to keep them from putrefaction; and being drank is good for those
that spit blood, helps to remove cramps or convulsions, gout, sciatica,
pains in the joints, applied outwardly or inwardly, and is also good
for those that are bursten, or have any inward bruise. The root boiled
well in vinegar beaten afterwards, and made into an ointment with hog’s
suet, or oil of trotters is an excellent remedy for scabs or itch in
young or old; the places also bathed or washed with the decoction
doth the same; it also helps all sorts of filthy old putrid sores or
cankers whatsoever. In the roots of this herb lieth the chief effect
for the remedies aforesaid. The distilled water of the leaves and roots
together, is very profitable to cleanse the skin of the face, or other
parts, from any morphew, spots, or blemishes therein, and make it
clear.
ERINGO, OR SEA-HOLLY.
_Descript._] THE first leaves of our ordinary Sea-holly, are nothing so
hard and prickly as when they grow old, being almost round, and deeply
dented about the edges, hard and sharp pointed, and a little crumpled,
of a bluish green colour, every one upon a long foot stalk; but those
that grow up higher with the stalk, do as it were compass it about. The
stalk itself is round and strong, yet somewhat crested, with joints and
leaves set thereat, but more divided, sharp and prickly; and branches
rising from thence, which have likewise other small branches, each of
them having several bluish round prickly heads, with many small jagged
prickly leaves under them, standing like a star, and sometimes found
greenish or whitish: The root grows wonderfully long, even to eight or
ten feet in length, set with rings and circles towards the upper part,
cut smooth and without joints down lower, brownish on the outside, and
very white within, with a pith in the middle; of a pleasant taste, but
much more, being artificially preserved, and candied with sugar.
_Place._] It is found about the sea coast in almost every county of
this land which borders upon the sea.
_Time._] It flowers in the end of Summer, and gives ripe seed within a
month after.
_Government and virtues._] The plant is venereal, and breeds seed
exceedingly, and strengthens the spirit procreative; it is hot and
moist, and under the celestial Balance. The decoction of the root
hereof in wine, is very effectual to open obstructions of the spleen
and liver, and helps yellow jaundice, dropsy, pains of the loins, and
wind cholic, provokes urine, and expels the stone, procures women’s
courses. The continued use of the decoction for fifteen days, taken
fasting, and next to bedward, doth help the stranguary, the difficulty
and stoppage of urine, and the stone, as well as all defects of the
reins and kidneys; and if the said drink be continued longer, it is
said that it cures the stone; it is found good against the French
pox. The roots bruised and applied outwardly, help the kernels of
the throat, commonly called the king’s evil; or taking inwardly, and
applied to the place stung or bitten by any serpent, heal it speedily.
If the roots be bruised, and boiled in old hog’s grease, or salted
lard, and broken bones, thorns &c. remaining in the flesh, they do
not only draw them forth, but heal up the place again, gathering new
flesh where it was consumed. The juice of the leaves dropped into the
ear, helps imposthumes therein. The distilled water of the whole herb,
when the leaves and stalks are young, is profitable drank for all the
purposes aforesaid; and helps the melancholy of the heart, and is
available in quartan and quotidian agues; as also for them that have
their necks drawn awry, and cannot turn them without turning their
whole body.
EYEBRIGHT.
_Descript._] COMMON Eyebright is a small low herb, rising up usually
but with one blackish green stalk a span high, or not much more,
spread from the bottom into sundry branches, whereon are small and
almost round yet pointed dark green leaves, finely snipped about the
edges, two always set together, and very thick: At the joints with the
leaves, from the middle upward, come forth small white flowers, marked
with purple and yellow spots, or stripes; after which follow small
round heads, with very small seed therein. The root is long, small and
thready at the end.
_Place._] It grows in meadows, and grassy land.
_Government and virtues._] It is under the sign of the Lion, and Sol
claims dominion over it. If the herb was but as much used as it is
neglected, it would half spoil the spectacle maker’s trade; and a man
would think, that reason should teach people to prefer the preservation
of their natural before artificial spectacles; which that they may be
instructed how to do, take the virtues of Eyebright as follows.
The juice or distilled water of Eyebright, taken inwardly in white wine
or broth, or dropped into the eyes for divers days together, helps all
infirmities of the eyes that cause dimness of sight. Some make conserve
of the flowers to the same effect. Being used any of the ways, it also
helps a weak brain, or memory. This tunned up with strong beer, that
it may work together, and drank, or the powder of the dried herb mixed
with sugar, a little Mace, and Fennel seed, and drank, or eaten in
broth; or the said powder made into an electuary with sugar, and taken,
has the same powerful effect to help and restore the sight, decayed
through age; and Arnoldus de Ville Nova saith, it hath restored sight
to them that have been blind a long time before.
FERN.
_Descript._] OF this there are two kinds principally to be treated of,
_viz._ the Male and Female. The Female grows higher than the Male, but
the leaves thereof are smaller, and more divided and dented, and of
as strong a smell as the male; the virtue of them are both alike, and
therefore I shall not trouble you with any description or distinction
of them.
_Place._] They grow both in heaths and in shady places near the
hedge-sides in all counties of this land.
_Time._] They flower and give their seed at Midsummer.
The Female Fern is that plant which is in Sussex, called Brakes, the
seed of which some authors hold to be so rare: Such a thing there is I
know, and may be easily had upon Midsummer Eve, and for ought I know,
two or three days after it, if not more.
_Government and virtues._] It is under the dominion of Mercury, both
Male and Female. The roots of both these sorts of Fern being bruised
and boiled in Mead, or honeyed water, and drank, kills both the broad
and long worms in the body, and abates the swelling and hardness of
the spleen. The green leaves eaten, purge the belly of choleric and
waterish humours that trouble the stomach. They are dangerous for women
with child to meddle with, by reason they cause abortions. The roots
bruised and boiled in oil, or hog’s grease, make a very profitable
ointment to heal wounds, or pricks gotten in the flesh. The powder of
them used in foul ulcers, dries up their malignant moisture, and causes
their speedier healing. Fern being burned, the smoke thereof drives
away serpents, gnats, and other noisome creatures, which in fenny
countries do in the night time, trouble and molest people lying in
their beds with their faces uncovered; it causes barrenness.
OSMOND ROYAL, OR WATER FERN.
_Descript._] THIS shoots forth in Spring time (for in the Winter the
leaves perish) divers rough hard stalks, half round, and yellowish, or
flat on the other side, two feet high, having divers branches of winged
yellowish green leaves on all sides, set one against another, longer,
narrower, and not nicked on the edges as the former. From the top of
some of these stalks grow forth a long bush of small and more yellow,
green, scaly aglets, set in the same manner on the stalks as the leaves
are, which are accounted the flowers and seeds. The root is rough,
thick and scabby: with a white pith in the middle, which is called the
heart thereof.
_Place._] It grows on moors, bogs, and watery places, in many parts of
this land.
_Time._] It is green all the summer, and the root only abides in winter.
_Government and virtues._] Saturn owns the plant. This has all the
virtues mentioned in the former Ferns, and is much more effectual than
they, both for inward and outward griefs, and is accounted singularly
good in wounds, bruises, or the like. The decoction to be drank, or
boiled into an ointment of oil, as a balsam or balm, and so it is
singularly good against bruises, and bones broken, or out of joint,
and gives much ease to the cholic and splenetic diseases: as also
for ruptures or burstings. The decoction of the root in white wine,
provokes urine exceedingly, and cleanses the bladder and passages of
urine.
FEVERFEW OR FEATHERFEW.
_Descript._] COMMON Featherfew has large, fresh, green leaves, much
torn or cut on the edges. The stalks are hard and round, set with
many such like leaves, but smaller, and at the tops stand many single
flowers, upon small foot stalks, consisting of many small white leaves
standing round about a yellow thrum in the middle. The root is somewhat
hard and short, with many strong fibres about it. The scent of the
whole plant is very strong, and the taste is very bitter.
_Place._] This grows wild in many places of the land, but is for the
most part nourished in gardens.
_Time._] It flowers in the months of June and July.
_Government and virtues._] Venus commands this herb, and has commended
it to succour her sisters (women) and to be a general strengthener of
their wombs, and remedy such infirmities as a careless midwife hath
there caused if they will but be pleased to make use of her herb
boiled in white wine, and drink the decoction; it cleanses the womb,
expels the after-birth, and doth a woman all the good she can desire of
an herb. And if any grumble because they cannot get the herb in winter,
tell them, if they please, they may make a syrup of it in summer;
it is chiefly used for the disease of the mother, whether it be the
strangling or rising of the mother, or hardness, or inflammation of
the same, applied outwardly thereunto. Or a decoction of the flowers
in wine, with a little Nutmeg or Mace put therein, and drank often in
a day, is an approved remedy to bring down women’s courses speedily,
and helps to expel the dead birth and after-birth. For a woman to sit
over the hot fumes of the decoction of the herb made in water or wine,
is effectual for the same; and in some cases to apply the boiled herb
warm to the privy parts. The decoction thereof made with some sugar, or
honey put thereto, is used by many with good success to help the cough
and stuffing of the chest, by colds, as also to cleanse the reins and
bladder, and helps to expel the stone in them. The powder of the herb
taken in wine, with some Oxymel, purges both choler and phlegm, and
is available for those that are short winded, and are troubled with
melancholy and heaviness, or sadness of spirits. It is very effectual
for all pains in the head coming of a cold cause, the herb being
bruised and applied to the crown of the head: As also for the vertigo,
that is a running or swimming in the head. The decoction thereof drank
warm, and the herb bruised with a few corns of Bay salt, and applied to
the wrists before the coming of the ague fits, doth take them away. The
distilled water takes away freckles, and other spots and deformities
in the face. The herb bruised and heated on a tile, with some wine to
moisten it, or fried with a little wine and oil in a frying-pan, and
applied warm outwardly to the places, helps the wind and cholic in the
lower part of the belly. It is an especial remedy against opium taken
too liberally.
FENNEL.
EVERY garden affords this so plentifully, that it needs no description.
_Government and virtues._] One good old fashion is not yet left off,
_viz._ to boil Fennel with fish; for it consumes that phlegmatic
humour, which fish most plentifully afford and annoy the body with,
though few that use it know wherefore they do it; I suppose the reason
of its benefit this way is because it is an herb of Mercury, and under
Virgo, and therefore bears antipathy to Pisces. Fennel is good to break
wind, to provoke urine, and ease the pains of the stone, and helps to
break it. The leaves or seed, boiled in barley water and drank are good
for nurses, to increase their milk, and make it more wholesome for the
child. The leaves, or rather the seeds, boiled in water, stays the
hiccough, and takes away the loathings which oftentimes happen to the
stomachs of sick and feverish persons and allays the heat thereof. The
seed boiled in wine and drank, is good for those that are bitten with
serpents, or have eaten poisonous herbs, or mushrooms. The seed and
the roots much more, help to open obstructions of the liver, spleen,
and gall, and thereby help the painful and windy swellings of the
spleen, and the yellow jaundice; as also the gout and cramps. The seed
is of good use in medicines to help shortness of breath and wheezing
by stopping of the lungs. It helps also to bring down the courses,
and to cleanse the parts after delivery. The roots are of most use in
physic drinks, and broth that are taken to cleanse the blood, to open
obstructions of the liver, to provoke urine, and amend the ill colour
in the face after sickness, and to cause a good habit through the
body. Both leaves, seeds, and roots thereof are much used in drink or
broth, to make people more lean that are too fat. The distilled water
of the whole herb, or the condensate juice dissolved, but especially
the natural juice, that in some counties issues out hereof of its own
accord, dropped into the eyes, cleanses them from mists and films that
hinder the sight. The sweet Fennel is much weaker in physical uses
than the common Fennel. The wild Fennel is stronger and hotter than
the tame, and therefore most powerful against the stone, but not so
effectual to encrease milk, because of its dryness.
SOW-FENNEL, OR HOG’S-FENNEL.
BESIDES the common name in English, Hog’s Fennel, and the Latin name
Peucidanum, is called Hoar-strange, and Hoar-strong, Sulphur-wort, and
Brimstone-wort.
_Descript._] The common Sow-Fennel has divers branched stalks of thick
and somewhat long leaves, three for the most part joined together at a
place, among which arises a crested straight stalk, less than Fennel,
with some joints thereon, and leaves growing thereat, and towards the
tops some branches issuing from thence; likewise on the tops of the
stalks and branches stand divers tufts of yellow flowers, whereafter
grows somewhat flat, thin, and yellowish seed, bigger than Fennel seed.
The roots grow great and deep, with many other parts and fibres about
them of a strong scent like hot brimstone, and yield forth a yellowish
milk, or clammy juice, almost like a gum.
_Place._] It grows plentifully in the salt low marshes near Feversham
in Kent.
_Time._] It flowers plentifully in July and August.
_Government and virtues._] This is also an herb of Mercury. The juice
of Sow-Fennel (saith Dioscorides, and Galen,) used with vinegar and
rose water, or the juice with a little Euphorbium put to the nose,
helps those that are troubled with the lethargy, frenzy, giddiness of
the head, the falling sickness, long and inveterate head-aches, the
palsy, sciatica, and the cramp, and generally all the diseases of the
sinews, used with oil and vinegar. The juice dissolved in wine, or put
into an egg, is good for a cough, or shortness of breath, and for those
that are troubled with wind in the body. It purges the belly gently,
expels the hardness of the spleen, gives ease to women that have sore
travail in child-birth, and eases the pains of the reins and bladder,
and also the womb. A little of the juice dissolved in wine, and dropped
into the ears, eases much of the pains in them, and put into a hollow
tooth, eases the pain thereof. The root is less effectual to all the
aforesaid disorders; yet the powder of the root cleanses foul ulcers,
being put into them, and takes out splinters of broken bones, or other
things in the flesh, and heals them up perfectly: as also, dries up old
and inveterate running sores, and is of admirable virtue in all green
wounds.
FIG-WORT, OR THROAT-WORT.
_Descript._] COMMON great Fig-wort sends divers great, strong, hard,
square brown stalks, three or four feet high, whereon grow large, hard,
and dark green leaves, two at a joint, harder and larger than Nettle
leaves, but not stinking; at the tops of the stalks stand many purple
flowers set in husks, which are sometimes gaping and open, somewhat
like those of Water Betony; after which come hard round heads, with a
small point in the middle, wherein lie small brownish seed. The root is
great, white, and thick, with many branches at it, growing aslope under
the upper crust of the ground, which abides many years, but keeps not
his green leaves in Winter.
_Place._] It grows frequently in moist and shadowy woods, and in the
lower parts of the fields and meadows.
_Time._] It flowers about July, and the seed will be ripe about a month
after the flowers are fallen.
_Government and virtues._] Some Latin authors call it Cervicaria,
because it is appropriated to the neck; and we Throat-wort, because it
is appropriated to the throat. Venus owns the herb, and the Celestial
Bull will not deny it; therefore a better remedy cannot be for the
king’s evil, because the Moon that rules the disease, is exalted there.
The decoction of the herb taken inwardly, and the bruised herb applied
outwardly, dissolves clotted and congealed blood within the body,
coming by any wounds, bruise, or fall; and is no less effectual for the
king’s evil, or any other knobs, kernel, bunches, or wens growing in
the flesh wheresoever; and for the hæmorrhoids, or piles. An ointment
made hereof may be used at all times when the fresh herb is not to be
had. The distilled water of the whole plant, roots and all, is used
for the same purposes, and dries up the superfluous, virulent moisture
of hollow and corroding ulcers; it takes away all redness, spots,
and freckles in the face, as also the scurf, and any foul deformity
therein, and the leprosy likewise.
FILIPENDULA, OR DROP-WORT.
_Descript._] THIS sends forth many leaves, some larger, some smaller,
set on each side of a middle rib, and each of them dented about the
edges, somewhat resembling wild Tansy, or rather Agrimony, but harder
in handling; among which rise up one or more stalks, two or three feet
high, with the leaves growing thereon, and sometimes also divided into
other branches spreading at the top into many white, sweet-smelling
flowers, consisting of five leaves a-piece, with some threads in the
middle of them, standing together in a pith or umble, each upon a
small foot stalk, which after they have been blown upon a good while,
do fall away, and in their places appear small, round, chaffy heads
like buttons, wherein are the chaffy seeds set and placed. The root
consists of many small, black, tuberous pieces, fastened together by
many small, long, blackish strings, which run from one to another.
_Place._] It grows in many places of this land, in the corners of dry
fields and meadows, and the hedge sides.
_Time._] They flower in June and July, and their seed is ripe in August.
_Government and virtues._] It is under the dominion of Venus. It
effectually opens the passages of the urine, helps the stranguary; the
stone in the kidneys or bladder, the gravel, and all other pains of the
bladder and reins, by taking the roots in powder, or a decoction of
them in white wine, with a little honey. The roots made into powder,
and mixed with honey in the form of an electuary, doth much help them
whose stomachs are swollen, dissolving and breaking the wind which was
the cause thereof; and is also very effectual for all the diseases of
the lungs, as shortness of breath, wheezing, hoarseness of the throat,
and the cough; and to expectorate tough phlegm, or any other parts
thereabout.
THE FIG-TREE.
TO give a description of a tree so well known to every body that keep
it in his garden, were needless. They prosper very well in our English
gardens, yet are fitter for medicine than for any other profit which is
gotten by the fruit of them.
_Government and virtues._] The tree is under the dominion of Jupiter.
The milk that issues out from the leaves or branches where they are
broken off, being dropped upon warts, takes them away. The decoction
of the leaves is excellently good to wash sore heads with: and there
is scarcely a better remedy for the leprosy than it is. It clears the
face also of morphew, and the body of white scurf, scabs, and running
sores. If it be dropped into old fretting ulcers, it cleanses out the
moisture, and brings up the flesh; because you cannot have the leaves
green all the year, you may make an ointment of them whilst you can. A
decoction of the leaves being drank inwardly, or rather a syrup made
of them, dissolves congealed blood caused by bruises or falls, and
helps the bloody flux. The ashes of the wood made into an ointment with
hog’s grease, helps kibes and chilblains. The juice being put into an
hollow tooth, eases pain: as also pain and noise in the ears, being
dropped into them; and deafness. An ointment made of the juice and
hog’s grease, is an excellent remedy for the bitten of mad dogs, or
other venomous beasts as most are. A syrup made of the leaves, or green
fruit, is excellently good for coughs, hoarseness, or shortness of
breath, and all diseases of the breast and lungs; it is also extremely
good for the dropsy and falling sickness. They say that the Fig Tree,
as well as the Bay Tree, is never hurt by lightning; as also, if you
tie a bull, be he ever so mad, to a Fig Tree, he will quickly become
tame and gentle. As for such figs as come from beyond sea, I have
little to say, because I write not of exoticks.
THE YELLOW WATER-FLAG, OR FLOWER-DE-LUCE.
_Descript._] THIS grows like the Flower-de-luce, but it has much longer
and narrower sad green leaves, joined together in that fashion; the
stalk also growing oftentimes as high, bearing small yellow flowers
shaped like the Flower-de-luce, with three falling leaves, and other
three arched that cover their bottoms; but instead of the three
upright leaves, as the Flower-de-luce has, this has only three short
pieces standing in their places, after which succeed thick and long
three square heads, containing in each part somewhat big and flat seed,
like those of the Flower-de-luce. The root is long and slender, of a
pale brownish colour on the outside, and of a horseflesh colour on the
inside, with many hard fibres thereat, and very harsh in taste.
_Place._] It usually grows in watery ditches, ponds, lakes, and moor
sides, which are always overflowed with water.
_Time._] It flowers in July, and the seed is ripe in August.
_Government and virtues._] It is under the dominion of the Moon. The
root of this Water-flag is very astringent, cooling, and drying; and
thereby helps all lasks and fluxes, whether of blood or humours, as
bleeding at the mouth, nose, or other parts, bloody flux, and the
immoderate flux of women’s courses. The distilled water of the whole
herb, flowers and roots, is a sovereign good remedy for watering eyes,
both to be dropped into them, and to have cloths or sponges wetted
therein, and applied to the forehead: It also helps the spots and
blemishes that happen in and about the eyes, or in any other parts:
The said water fomented on swellings and hot inflammations of women’s
breasts, upon cancers also, and those spreading ulcers called _Noli me
tangere_, do much good: It helps also foul ulcers in the privities of
man or woman; but an ointment made of the flowers is better for those
external applications.
FLAX-WEED, OR TOAD-FLAX.
_Descript._] OUR common Flax-weed has divers stalks full fraught with
long and narrow ash-coloured leaves, and from the middle of them almost
upward, stored with a number of pale yellow flowers, of a strong
unpleasant scent, with deeper yellow mouths, and blackish flat seed in
round heads. The root is somewhat woody and white, especially the main
downright one, with many fibres, abiding many years, shooting forth
roots every way round about, and new branches every year.
_Place._] This grows throughout this land, both by the way sides and
in meadows, as also by hedge-sides, and upon the sides of banks, and
borders of fields.
_Time._] It flowers in Summer, and the seed is ripe usually before the
end of August.
_Government and virtues._] Mars owns the herb: In Sussex we call it
Gallwort, and lay it in our chicken’s water to cure them of the gall;
it relieves them when they are drooping. This is frequently used to
spend the abundance of those watery humours by urine which cause
the dropsy. The decoction of the herb, both leaves and flowers, in
wine, taken and drank, doth somewhat move the belly downwards, opens
obstructions of the liver, and helps the yellow jaundice; expels
poison, provokes women’s courses, drives forth the dead child, and
after-birth. The distilled water of the herb and flowers is effectual
for all the same purposes; being drank with a dram of the powder of the
seeds of bark or the roots of Wall-wort, and a little Cinnamon, for
certain days together, it is held a singular remedy for the dropsy.
The juice of the herb, or the distilled water, dropped into the eyes,
is a certain remedy for all heat, inflammation, and redness in them.
The juice or water put into foul ulcers, whether they be cancerous or
fistulous, with tents rolled therein, or parts washed and injected
therewith, cleanses them thoroughly from the bottom, and heals them up
safely. The same juice or water also cleanses the skin wonderfully of
all sorts of deformity, as leprosy, morphew, scurf, wheals, pimples,
or spots, applied of itself, or used with some powder of Lupines.
FLEA-WORT.
_Descript._] ORDINARY Flea-wort rises up with a stalk two feet high or
more, full of joints and branches on every side up to the top, and at
every joint two small, long and narrow whitish green leaves somewhat
hairy. At the top of every branch stand divers small, short scaly, or
chaffy heads out of which come forth small whitish yellow threads, like
to those of the Plantain herbs, which are the bloomings of flowers. The
seed enclosed in these heads is small and shining while it is fresh,
very like unto fleas both for colour and bigness, but turning black
when it grows old. The root is not long, but white, hard and woody,
perishing every year, and rising again of its own seed for divers
years, if it be suffered to shed: The whole plant is somewhat whitish
and hairy, smelling somewhat like rosin.
There is another sort hereof, differing not from the former in the
manner of growing, but only that the stalk and branches being somewhat
greater, do a little more bow down to the ground: The leaves are
somewhat greater, the heads somewhat less, the seed alike; and the root
and leaves abide all winter, and perish not as the former.
_Place._] The first grows only in gardens, the second plentifully in
fields that are near the sea.
_Time._] They flower in July or thereabouts.
_Government and virtues._] The herb is cold, and dry, and saturnine.
I suppose it obtained the name of Flea-wort, because the seeds are
so like Fleas. The seeds fried, and taken, stays the flux or lask of
the belly, and the corrosions that come by reason of hot choleric, or
sharp and malignant humours, or by too much purging of any violent
medicine, as Scammony, or the like. The mucilage of the seed made
with Rose-water, and a little sugar-candy put thereto, is very good in
all hot agues and burning fevers, and other inflammations, to cool the
thirst, and lenify the dryness and roughness of the tongue and throat.
It helps also hoarseness of the voice, and diseases of the breast
and lungs, caused by heat, or sharp salt humours, and the pleurisy
also. The mucilage of the seed made with Plantain water, whereunto
the yoke of an egg or two, and a little Populeon are put, is a most
safe and sure remedy to ease the sharpness, pricking, and pains of the
hæmorrhoids or piles, if it be laid on a cloth, and bound thereto. It
helps all inflammations in any part of the body, and the pains that
come thereby, as the headache and megrims, and all hot imposthumes,
swellings, or breaking out of the skin, as blains, wheals, pushes,
purples, and the like, as also the joints of those that are out of
joint, the pains of the gout and sciatica, the burstings of young
children, and the swellings of the navel, applied with oil of roses
and vinegar. It is also good to heal the nipples and sore breasts of
women, being often applied thereunto. The juice of the herb with a
little honey put into the ears helps the running of them, and the worms
breeding in them: The same also mixed with hog’s grease, and applied to
corrupt and filthy ulcers, cleanses them and heals them.
FLUX-WEED.
_Descript._] IT rises up with a round upright hard stalk, four or five
feet high, spread into sundry branches, whereon grow many greyish green
leaves, very finely cut and severed into a number of short and almost
round parts. The flowers are very small and yellow, growing spike
fashion, after which come small long pods, with small yellowish seed in
them. The root is long and woody, perishing every year.
There is another sort, differing in nothing, save only it has somewhat
broad leaves; they have a strong evil saviour, being smelled unto, and
are of a drying taste.
_Place._] They flower wild in the fields by hedge-sides and highways,
and among rubbish and other places.
_Time._] They flower and seed quickly after, namely in June and July.
_Government and virtues._] This herb is saturnine also. Both the herb
and seed of Flux-weed is of excellent use to stay the flux or lask of
the belly, being drank in water wherein gads of steel heated have been
often quenched; and is no less effectual for the same purpose than
Plantain or Comfrey, and to restrain any other flux of blood in man or
woman, as also to consoladate bones broken or out of joint. The juice
thereof drank in wine, or the decoction of the herb drank, doth kill
the worms in the stomach or belly, or the worms that grow in putrid
and filthy ulcers, and made into a salve doth quickly heal all old
sores, how foul or malignant soever they be. The distilled water of
the herb works the same effect, although somewhat weaker, yet it is a
fair medicine, and more acceptable to be taken. It is called Flux-weed
because it cures the flux, and for its uniting broken bones, &c.
Paracelsus extols it to the skies. It is fitting that syrup, ointment,
and plaisters of it were kept in your house.
FLOWER-DE-LUCE.
IT is so well known, being nourished up in most gardens, that I shall
not need to spent time in writing a description thereof.
_Time._] The flaggy kinds thereof have the most physical uses; the
dwarf kinds thereof flowers in April, the greater sorts in May.
_Government and virtues._] The herb is Luner. The juice or decoction
of the green root of the flaggy kind of Flower-de-luce, with a little
honey drank, doth purge and cleanse the stomach of gross and tough
phlegm, and choler therein; it helps the jaundice and the dropsy,
evacuating those humours both upwards and downwards; and because it
somewhat hurts the stomach, is not to be taken without honey and
spikenard. The same being drank, doth ease the pains and torments of
the belly and sides, the shaking of agues, the diseases of the liver
and spleen, the worms of the belly, the stone in the reins, convulsions
and cramps that come of old humours; it also helps those whose seed
passes from them unawares: It is a remedy against the bitings and
stingings of venomous creatures, being boiled in water and vinegar and
drank. Boiled in water and drank, it provokes urine, helps the cholic,
brings down women’s courses; and made up into a pessary with honey, and
put up into the body, draws forth the dead child. It is much commended
against the cough, to expectorate rough phlegm. It much eases pains in
the head, and procures sleep; being put into the nostrils it procures
sneezing, and thereby purges the head of phlegm. The juice of the root
applied to the piles or hæmorrhoids, gives much ease. The decoction of
the roots gargled in the mouth, eases the tooth-ache, and helps the
stinking breath. Oil called Oleum Irinum, if it be rightly made of
the great broad flag Flower-de-luce and not of the great bulbous blue
Flower-de-luce, (as is used by some apothecaries) and roots of the
same, of the flaggy kinds, is very effectual to warm and comfort all
cold joints and sinews, as also the gout and sciatica, and mollifies,
dissolves and consumes tumours and swellings in any part of the body,
as also of the matrix; it helps the cramp, or convulsions of the
sinews. The head and temples anointed therewith, helps the catarrh or
thin rheum distilled from thence; and used upon the breast or stomach,
helps to extenuate the cold tough phlegm; it helps also the pains and
noise in the ears, and the stench of the nostrils. The root itself,
either green or in powder, helps to cleanse, heal, and incarnate
wounds, and to cover the naked bones with flesh again, that ulcers have
made bare; and is also very good to cleanse and heal up fistulas and
cankers that are hard to be cured.
FLUELLIN, OR LLUELLIN.
_Descript._] IT shoots forth many long branches partly lying upon the
ground, and partly standing upright, set with almost red leaves, yet
a little pointed, and sometimes more long than round, without order
thereon, somewhat hairy, and of an evil greenish white colour; at the
joints all along the stalks, and with the leaves come forth small
flowers, one at a place, upon a very small short foot-stalk, gaping
somewhat like Snap-dragons, or rather like Toad-flax, with the upper
jaw of a yellow colour, and the lower of a purplish, with a small heel
or spur behind; after which come forth small round heads, containing
small black seed. The root is small and thready, dying every year, and
rises itself again of its own sowing.
There is another sort of Lluellin which has longer branches wholly
trailing upon the ground, two or three feet long, and somewhat more
thin, set with leaves thereon, upon small foot-stalks. The leaves are
a little larger, and somewhat round, and cornered sometimes in some
places on the edges; but the lower part of them being the broadest,
hath on each side a small point, making it seem as if they were ears,
sometimes hairy, but not hoary, and of a better green colour than the
former. The flowers come forth like the former, but the colours therein
are more white than yellow, and the purple not so far. It is a large
flower, and so are the seed and seed-vessels. The root is like the
other, and perishes every year.
_Place._] They grow in divers corn fields, and in borders about them,
and in other fertile grounds about Southfleet in Kent abundantly; at
Buchrite, Hamerton, and Rickmanworth in Huntingdonshire, and in divers
other places.
_Time._] They are in flower about June and July, and the whole plant is
dry and withered before August be done.
_Government and virtues._] It is a Lunar herb. The leaves bruised and
applied with barley meal to watering eyes that are hot and inflamed by
defluxions from the head, do very much help them, as also the fluxes of
blood or humours, as the lask, bloody flux, women’s courses, and stays
all manner of bleeding at the nose, mouth, or any other place, or that
comes by any bruise or hurt, or bursting a vein; it wonderfully helps
all those inward parts that need consolidating or strengthening, and is
no less effectual both to heal and close green wounds, than to cleanse
and heal all foul or old ulcers, fretting or spreading cankers or the
like. This herb is of a fine cooling, drying quality, and an ointment
or plaister of it might do a man a courtesy that hath any hot virulent
sores: ’Tis admirable for the ulcers of the French pox; if taken
inwardly, may cure the desease.
FOX-GLOVE.
_Descript._] IT has many long and broad leaves lying upon the ground
dented upon the edges, a little soft or woolly, and of a hoary green
colour, among which rise up sometimes sundry stalks, but one very
often, bearing such leaves thereon from the bottom to the middle, from
whence to the top it is stored with large and long hollow reddish
purple flowers, a little more long and eminent at the lower edge, with
some white spots within them, one above another with small green leaves
at every one, but all of them turning their heads one way, and hanging
downwards, having some threads also in the middle, from whence rise
round heads, pointed sharp at the ends, wherein small brown seed lies.
The roots are so many small fibres, and some greater strings among
them; the flowers have no scent, but the leaves have a bitter hot taste.
_Place._] It grows on dry sandy ground for the most part, and as well
on the higher as the lower places under hedge-sides in almost every
county of this land.
_Time._] It seldom flowers before July, and the seed is ripe in August.
_Government and virtues._] The plant is under the dominion of Venus,
being of a gentle cleansing nature, and withal very friendly to
nature. The herb is familiarly and frequently used by the Italians to
heal any fresh or green wound, the leaves being but bruised and bound
thereon; and the juice thereof is also used in old sores, to cleanse,
dry, and heal them. The decoction hereof made up with some sugar or
honey, is available to cleanse and purge the body both upwards and
downwards, sometimes of tough phlegm and clammy humours, and to open
obstructions of the liver and spleen. It has been found by experience
to be available for the king’s evil, the herb bruised and applied, or
an ointment made with the juice thereof, and so used; and a decoction
of two handfuls thereof, with four ounces of Polipody in ale, has been
found by late experience to cure divers of the falling sickness, that
have been troubled with it above twenty years. I am confident that an
ointment of it is one of the best remedies for scabby head that is.
FUMITORY.
_Descript._] OUR common Fumitory is a tender sappy herb, sends forth
from one square, a slender weak stalk, and leaning downwards on all
sides, many branches two or three feet long, with finely cut and
jagged leaves of a whitish or rather blueish sea green colour; At the
tops of the branches stand many small flowers, as it were in a long
spike one above another, made like little birds, of a reddish purple
colour, whith whitish bellies, after which come small round husks,
containing small black seeds. The root is yellow, small, and not very
long, full of juice while it is green, but quickly perishes with the
ripe seed. In the corn fields in Cornwall, it bears white flowers.
_Place._] It grows in corn fields almost every where, as well as in
gardens.
_Time._] It flowers in May, for the most part, and the seed ripens
shortly after.
_Government and virtues._] Saturn owns the herb, and presents it to
the world as a cure for his own disease, and a strengthener of the
parts of the body he rules. If by my astrological judgment of diseases,
from the decumbiture, you find Saturn author of the disease, or if by
direction from a nativity you fear a saturnine disease approaching,
you may by this herb prevent it in the one, and cure it in the other,
and therefore it is fit you keep a syrup of it always by you. The
juice or syrup made thereof, or the decoction made in whey by itself,
with some other purging or opening herbs and roots to cause it to
work the better (itself being but weak) is very effectual for the
liver and spleen, opening the obstructions thereof, and clarifying the
blood from saltish, choleric, and adust humours, which cause leprosy,
scabs, tetters, and itches, and such like breakings-out of the skin,
and after the purgings doth strengthen all the inwards parts. It is
also good against the yellow-jaundice, and spends it by urine, which
it procures in abundance. The powder of the dried herb given for some
time together, cures melancholy, but the seed is strongest in operation
for all the former diseases. The distilled water of the herb is also
of good effect in the former diseases, and conduces much against the
plague and pestilence, being taken with good treacle. The distilled
water also, with a little water and honey of roses, helps all sores
of the mouth or throat, being gargled often therewith. The juice
dropped into the eyes, clears the sight and takes away redness and
other defects in them, although it procure some pain for the present,
and cause tears. Dioscorides saith it hinders any fresh springing of
hairs on the eye-lids (after they are pulled away) if the eye-lids be
anointed with the juice hereof, with Gum Arabic dissolved therein. The
juice of the Fumitory and Docks mingled with vinegar, and the places
gently washed therewith, cures all sorts of scabs, pimples, blotches,
wheals, and pushes which arise on the face or hands or any other parts
of the body.
THE FURZE BUSH.
IT is as well known by this name, as it is in some counties by the
name of Gorz or Whins, that I shall not need to write any description
thereof, my intent being to teach my countrymen what they know not,
rather than to tell them again of that which is generally known before.
_Place._] They are known to grow on dry barren heaths, and other waste,
gravelly or sandy grounds, in all counties of this land.
_Time._] They also flower in the Summer months.
_Government and virtues._] Mars owns the herb. They are hot and dry,
and open obstructions of the liver and spleen. A decoction made with
the flowers thereof hath been found effectual against the jaundice, as
also to provoke urine, and cleanse the kidneys from gravel or stone
ingendered in them. Mars doth also this by sympathy.
GARLICK.
THE offensiveness of the breath of him that hath eaten Garlick, will
lead you by the nose to the knowledge hereof, and (instead of a
description) direct you to the place where it grows in gardens, which
kinds are the best, and most physical.
_Government and virtues._] Mars owns this herb. This was anciently
accounted the poor man’s treacle, it being a remedy for all diseases
and hurts (except those which itself breed.) It provokes urine, and
women’s courses, helps the biting of mad dogs and other venomous
creatures, kills worms in children, cuts and voids tough phlegm,
purges the head, helps the lethargy, is a good preservative against,
and a remedy for any plague, sore, or foul ulcers; takes away spots
and blemishes in the skin, eases pains in the ears, ripens and breaks
imposthumes, or other swellings. And for all those diseases the onions
are as effectual. But the Garlick hath some more peculier virtues
besides the former, _viz._ it hath a special quality to discuss
inconveniences coming by corrupt agues or mineral vapours; or by
drinking corrupt and stinking waters; as also by taking wolf-bane,
henbane, hemlock, or other poisonous and dangerous herbs. It is also
held good in hydropick diseases, the jaundice, falling sickness,
cramps, convulsions, the piles or hæmorrhoids, or other cold diseases.
Many authors quote many diseases this is good for; but conceal its
vices. Its heat is very vehement, and all vehement hot things send
up but ill-favoured vapours to the brain. In coleric men it will add
fuel to the fire; in men oppressed by melancholy, it will attenuate
the humour, and send up strong fancies, and as many strange visions to
the head; therefore let it be taken inwardly with great moderation;
outwardly you may make more bold with it.
GENTIAN, FELWORT, OR BALDMONY.
IT is confessed that Gentian, which is most used amongst us, is brought
over from beyond sea, yet we have two sorts of it growing frequently
in our nation, which, besides the reasons so frequently alledged why
English herbs should be fittest for English bodies, has been proved by
the experience of divers physicians, to be not a wit inferior in virtue
to that which comes from beyond sea, therefore be pleased to take the
description of them as follows.
_Descript._] The greater of the two hath many small long roots thrust
down deep into the ground, and abiding all the Winter. The stalks are
sometimes more, sometimes fewer, of a brownish green colour, which is
sometimes two feet high, if the ground be fruitful, having many long,
narrow, dark green leaves, set by couples up to the top; the flowers
are long and hollow, of a purple colour, ending in fine corners. The
smaller sort which is to be found in our land, grows up with sundry
stalks, not a foot high, parted into several small branches, whereon
grow divers small leaves together, very like those of the lesser
Centaury, of a whitish green colour; on the tops of these stalks grow
divers perfect blue flowers, standing in long husks, but not so big as
the other; the root is very small, and full of threads.
_Place._] The first grows in divers places of both the East and West
counties, and as well in wet as in dry grounds; as near Longfield,
by Gravesend, near Cobham in Kent, near Lillinstone in Kent, also in
a chalk pit hard by a paper-mill not far from Dartford in Kent. The
second grows also in divers places in Kent, as about Southfleet, and
Longfield; upon Barton’s hills in Bedfordshire; also not far from St.
Albans, upon a piece of waste chalky ground, as you go out by Dunstable
way towards Gorhambury.
_Time._] They flower in August.
_Government and virtues._] They are under the dominion of Mars, and
one of the principal herbs he is ruler of. They resist putrefactions,
poison, and a more sure remedy cannot be found to prevent the
pestilence than it is; it strengthens the stomach exceedingly, helps
digestion, comforts the heart, and preserves it against faintings and
swoonings: The powder of the dry roots helps the biting of mad dogs
and venomous beasts, opens obstructions of the liver, and restores
an appetite for their meat to such as have lost it. The herb steeped
in wine, and the wine drank, refreshes such as be over-weary with
traveling, and grow lame in their joints, either by cold or evil
lodgings; it helps stitches, and griping pains in the sides; is an
excellent remedy for such as are bruised by falls; it provokes urine
and the terms exceedingly, therefore let it not be given to women with
child: The same is very profitable for such as are troubled with cramps
and convulsions, to drink the decoction: Also they say it breaks the
stone, and helps ruptures most certainly: it is excellent in all cold
diseases, and such as are troubled with tough phlegm, scabs, itch,
or any fretting sores and ulcers; it is an admirable remedy to kill
the worms, by taking half a dram of the powder in a morning in any
convenient liquor; the same is excellently good to be taken inwardly
for the king’s evil. It helps agues of all sorts, and the yellow
jaundice, as also the bots in cattle; when kine are bitten on the udder
by any venomous beast, do but stroke the place with the decoction of
any of these, and it will instantly heal them.
CLOVE GILLIFLOWERS.
IT is vain to describe an herb so well known.
_Government and virtues._] They are gallant, fine, temperate flowers,
of the nature and under the dominion of Jupiter; yea, so temperate,
that no excess, neither in heat, cold, dryness, nor moisture, can be
perceived in them; they are great strengtheners both of the brain and
heart, and will therefore serve either for cordials or cephalics, as
your occasion will serve. There is both a syrup and a conserve made of
them alone, commonly to be had at every apothecary’s. To take now and
then a little of either, strengthens nature much, in such as are in
consumptions. They are also excellently good in hot pestilent fevers,
and expel poison.
GERMANDER.
_Descript._] COMMON Germander shoots forth sundry stalks, with small
and somewhat round leaves, dented about the edges. The flowers
stand at the tops of a deep purple colour. The root is composed of
divers sprigs, which shoots forth a great way round about, quickly
overspreading a garden.
_Place._] It grows usually with us in gardens.
_Time._] And flowers in June and July.
_Government and virtues._] It is a most prevalent herb of Mercury,
and strengthens the brain and apprehension exceedingly when weak, and
relieves them when drooping. This taken with honey (saith Dioscorides)
is a remedy for coughs, hardness of the spleen and difficulty of urine,
and helps those that are fallen into a dropsy, especially at the
beginning of the disease, a decoction being made thereof when it is
green, and drank. It also brings down women’s courses, and expels the
dead child. It is most effectual against the poison of all serpents,
being drank in wine, and the bruised herb outwardly applied; used with
honey, it cleanses old and foul ulcers; and made into an oil, and the
eyes anointed therewith, takes away the dimness and moistness. It is
likewise good for the pains in the sides and cramps. The decoction
thereof taken for four days together, drives away and cures both
tertain and quartan agues. It is also good against all diseases of the
brain, as continual head-ache, falling-sickness, melancholy, drowsiness
and dullness of the spirits, convulsions and palsies. A dram of the
seed taken in powder purges by urine, and is good against the yellow
jaundice. The juice of the leaves dropped into the ears kills the
worms in them. The tops thereof, when they are in flowers, steeped
twenty-four hours in a draught of white wine, and drank, kills the
worms in the belly.
STINKING GLADWIN.
_Descript._] THIS is one of the kinds of Flower-de-luce, having
divers leaves arising from the roots, very like a Flower-de-luce, but
that they are sharp-edged on both sides, and thicker in the middle,
of a deeper green colour narrower and sharper pointed, and a strong
ill-scent, if they be bruised between the fingers. In the middle
rises up a reasonably strong stalk, a yard high at least, bearing
three or four flowers at the top, made somewhat like the flowers of
the Flower-de-luce, with three upright leaves, of a dead purplish
ash-colour, with some veins discoloured in them; the other three do not
fall down, nor are the three other small ones so arched, nor cover the
lower leaves as the Flower-de-luce doth, but stand loose or asunder
from them. After they are past, there come up three square hard husks,
opening wide into three parts when they are ripe, wherein lie reddish
seed, turns black when it hath abiden long. The root is like that of
the Flower-de-luce, but reddish on the outside, and whitish within,
very sharp and hot in the taste, of as evil a scent as the leaves.
_Place._] This grows as well in upland grounds, as in moist places,
woods, and shadowy places by the sea-side in many places of this land,
and is usually nursed up in gardens.
_Time._] It flowers not until July, and the seed is ripe in August or
September, yet the husks after they are ripe, opening themselves, will
hold their seed with them for two or three months, and not shed them.
_Government and virtues._] It is supposed to be under the dominion of
Saturn. It is used by many country people to purge corrupt phlegm and
choler, which they do by drinking the decoction of the roots; and some
to make it more gentle, do but infuse the sliced roots in ale; and some
take the leaves, which serve well for the weaker stomach: The juice
hereof put up, or snuffed up the nose, causes sneezing, and draws from
the head much corruption; and the powder thereof doth the same. The
powder thereof drank in wine, helps those that are troubled with the
cramps and convulsions, or with the gout and sciatica, and gives ease
to those that have griping pains in their body and belly, and helps
those that have the stranguary. It is given with much profit to those
that have had long fluxes by the sharp and evil quality of humours,
which it stays, having first cleansed and purged them by the drying
and binding property therein. The root boiled in wine and drank, doth
effectually procure women’s courses, and used as a pessary, works the
same effect, but causes abortion in women with child. Half a dram of
the seed beaten to powder, and taken in wine, doth speedily cause one
to make water abundantly. The same taken with vinegar, dissolves the
hardness and swellings of the spleen. The root is very effectual in all
wounds, especially of the head; as also to draw forth any splinters,
thorns, or broken bones, or any other thing sticking in the flesh,
without causing pains, being used with a little verdigrease and honey,
and the great Centaury root. The same boiled in vinegar, and laid upon
an eruption or swelling, doth very effectually dissolve and consume
them; yea, even the swellings of the throat called the king’s evil;
the juice of the leaves or roots heals the itch, and all running or
spreading scabs, sores, blemishes, or scars in the skin, wheresoever
they be.
GOLDEN ROD.
_Descript._] THIS rises up with brownish small round stalks, two feet
high, and sometimes more, having thereon many narrow and long dark
green leaves, very seldom with any dents about the edges, or any stalks
or white spots therein, yet they are sometimes so found divided at the
tops into many small branches, with divers small yellow flowers on
every one of them, all which are turned one way, and being ripe, do
turn into down, and are carried away by the wind. The root consists of
many small fibres, which grows not deep in the ground, but abides all
the winter therein, shooting forth new branches every year, the old one
lying down to the ground.
_Place._] It grows in the open places of woods and copses, on both
moist and dry grounds, in many places of this land.
_Time._] It flowers about the month of July.
_Government and virtues._] Venus claims the herb, and therefore to
be sure it respects beauty lost. Arnoldus de Villa Nova commends it
much against the stone in the reins and kidneys, and to provoke urine
in abundance, whereby also the gravel and stone may be voided. The
decoction of the herb, green or dry, or the distilled water thereof,
is very effectual for inward bruises, as also to be outwardly applied,
it stays bleeding in any part of the body, and of wounds; also the
fluxes of humours, the bloody-flux, and women’s courses; and is no
less prevalent in all ruptures or burstings, being drank inwardly, and
outwardly applied. It is a sovereign wound herb, inferior to none,
both for the inward and outward hurts; green wounds, old sores and
ulcers, are quickly cured therewith. It also is of especial use in all
lotions for sores or ulcers in the mouth, throat, or privy parts of man
or woman. The decoction also helps to fasten the teeth that are loose
in the gums.
GOUT-WORT, OR HERB GERRARD.
_Descript._] IT is a low herb, seldom rising half a yard high, having
sundry leaves standing on brownish green stalks by three, snipped
about, and of a strong unpleasant savour: The umbels of the flowers
are white, and the seed blackish, the root runs in the ground, quickly
taking a great deal of room.
_Place._] It grows by hedge and wall-sides, and often in the border and
corner of fields, and in gardens also.
_Time._] It flowers and seeds about the end of July.
_Government and virtues._] Saturn rules it. Neither is it to be supposed
Gout-wort hath its name for nothing but upon experiment to heal the
gout and sciatica; as also joint-aches, and other cold griefs. The very
bearing of it about one eases the pains of the gout, and defends him
that bears it from the disease.
GROMEL.
OF this I shall briefly describe their kinds, which are principally
used in physic, the virtues whereof are alike, though somewhat
different in their manner and form of growing.
_Descript._] The greater Gromel grows up with slender hard and hairy
stalks, trailing and taking root in the ground, as it lies thereon,
and parted into many other small branches with hairy dark green leaves
thereon. At the joints, with the leaves, come forth very small blue
flowers, and after them hard stony roundish seed. The root is long and
woody, abiding the Winter, and shoots forth fresh stalks in the spring.
The smaller wild Gromel sends forth divers upright hard branched
stalks, two or three feet high full of joints, at every one of which
grow small, long, hard, and rough leaves like the former, but less;
among which leaves come forth small white flowers, and after them
greyish round seed like the former; the root is not very big, but with
many strings thereat.
The garden Gromel as divers upright, slender, woody, hairy stalks,
blown and cressed, very little branched, with leaves like the former,
and white flowers; after which, in rough brown husks, is contained a
white, hard, round seed, shining like pearls, and greater than either
the former; the root is like the first described, with divers branches
and sprigs thereat, which continues (as the first doth) all the Winter.
_Place._] The two first grow wild in barren or untilled places, and by
the way side in many places of this land. The last is a nursling in the
gardens of the curious.
_Time._] They all flower from Midsummer until September sometimes, and
in the mean time the seed ripens.
_Government and virtues._] The herb belongs to Dame Venus; and
therefore if Mars cause the cholic or stone, as usually he doth, if
in Virgo, this is your cure. These are accounted to be of as singular
force as any herb or seed whatsoever, to break the stone and to void
it, and the gravel either in the reins or bladder, as also to provoke
urine being stopped, and to help stranguary. The seed is of greatest
use, being bruised and boiled in white wine or in broth, or the like,
or the powder of the seed taken therein. Two drams of the seed in
powder taken with women’s breast milk, is very effectual to procure a
very speedy delivery to such women as have sore pains in their travail,
and cannot be delivered: The herb itself, (when the seed is not to be
had) either boiled, or the juice thereof drank, is effectual to all
the purposes aforesaid, but not so powerful or speedy in operation.
GOOSEBERRY BUSH.
CALLED also Feapberry, and in Sussex Dewberry-Bush, and in some
Counties Wineberry.
_Government and virtues._] They are under the dominion of Venus. The
berries, while they are unripe, being scalded or baked, are good to
stir up a fainting or decayed appetite, especially such whose stomachs
are afflicted by choleric humours: They are excellently good to stay
longings of women with child. You may keep them preserved with sugar
all the year long. The decoction of the leaves of the tree cools hot
dwellings and inflammations; as also St. Anthony’s fire. The ripe
Gooseberries being eaten, are an excellent remedy to allay the violent
heat both of the stomach and liver. The young and tender leaves break
the stone, and expel gravel both from the kidneys and bladder. All
the evil they do to the body of man is, they are supposed to breed
crudities, and by crudities, worms.
WINTER-GREEN.
_Descript._] THIS sends forth seven, eight, or nine leaves from a small
brown creeping root, every one standing upon a long foot stalk, which
are almost as broad as long, round pointed, of a sad green colour, and
hard in handling, and like the leaf of a Pear-tree; from whence arises
a slender weak stalk, yet standing upright, bearing at the top many
small white sweet-smelling flowers, laid open like a star, consisting
of five round pointed leaves, with many yellow threads standing in the
middle about a green head, and a long stalk with them, which in time
grows to be the seed-vessel, which being ripe is found five square,
with a small point at it, wherein is contained seed as small as dust.
_Place._] It grows seldom in fields, but frequent in the woods
northwards, _viz._ in Yorkshire, Lancashire, and Scotland.
_Time._] It flowers about June and July.
_Government and virtues._] Winter-green is under the dominion of
Saturn, and is a singularly good wound herb, and an especial remedy
for healing green wounds speedily, the green leaves being bruised
and applied, or the juice of them. A salve made of the green herb
stamped, or the juice boiled with hog’s lard, or with salad oil and
wax, and some turpentine added to it, is a sovereign salve, and highly
extolled by the Germans, who use it to heal all manner of wounds and
sores. The herb boiled in wine and water, and given to drink to them
that have any inward ulcers in their kidneys, or neck of the bladder,
doth wonderfully help them. It stays all fluxes, as the lask, bloody
fluxes, women’s courses, and bleeding of wounds, and takes away any
inflammations rising upon pains of the heart; it is no less helpful
for foul ulcers hard to be cured; as also for cankers or fistulas. The
distilled water of the herb effectually performs the same things.
GROUNDSEL.
_Descript._] OUR common Groundsel has a round green and somewhat
brownish stalk, spreading toward the top into branches, set with long
and somewhat narrow green leaves, cut in on the edges, somewhat like
the oak-leaves, but less, and round at the end. At the tops of the
branches stand many small green heads, out of which grow several small,
yellow threads or thumbs, which are the flowers, and continue many days
blown in that manner, before it pass away into down, and with the seed
is carried away in the wind. The root is small and thready, and soon
perishes, and as soon rises again of its own sowing, so that it may be
seen many months in the year both green and in flower, and seed; for it
will spring and seed twice in a year at least, if it be suffered in a
garden.
_Place._] They grow almost every where, as well on tops of walls, as
at the foot amongst rubbish and untilled grounds, but especially in
gardens.
_Time._] It flowers, as was said before, almost every month throughout
the year.
_Government and virtues._] This herb is Venus’s mistress-piece, and is
as gallant and universal a medicine for all diseases coming of heat,
in what part of the body soever they be, as the sun shines upon; it
is very safe and friendly to the body of man: yet causes vomiting if
the stomach be afflicted; if not, purging: and it doth it with more
gentleness than can be expected; it is moist, and something cold
withal, thereby causing expulsion, and repressing the heat caused
by the motion of the internal parts in purges and vomits. Lay by
our learned receipts; take so much Sena, so much Scammony, so much
Colocynthis, so much infusion of Crocus Metallorum, &c. this herb alone
preserved in a syrup, in a distilled water, or in an ointment, shall do
the deed for you in all hot diseases, and, shall do it, 1, Safely; 2,
Speedily.
The decoction of this herb (saith Dioscorides) made with wine, and
drank, helps the pains of the stomach, proceeding of choler, (which it
may well do by a vomit) as daily experience shews. The juice thereof
taken in drink, or the decoction of it in ale, gently performs the
same. It is good against the jaundice and falling sickness, being
taken in wine; as also against difficulty of making water. It provokes
urine, expels gravel in the reins or kidneys; a dram thereof given
in oxymel, after some walking or stirring of the body. It helps also
the sciatica, griping of the belly, the cholic, defects of the liver,
and provokes women’s courses. The fresh herb boiled and made into
a poultice, applied to the breasts of women that are swollen with
pain and heat, as also the privy parts of man or woman, the seat or
fundament, or the arteries, joints, and sinews, when they are inflamed
and swollen, doth much ease them; and used with some salt, helps to
dissolve knots or kernels in any part of the body. The juice of the
herb, or as (Dioscorides saith) the leaves and flowers, with some fine
Frankincense in powder, used in wounds of the body, nerves or sinews,
doth singularly help to heal them. The distilled water of the herb
performs well all the aforesaid cures, but especially for inflammations
or watering of the eyes, by reason of the defluxion of rheum unto them.
HEART’S-EASE.
THIS is that herb which such physicians as are licensed to blaspheme by
authority, without danger of having their tongues burned through with
an hot iron, called an herb of the Trinity. It is also called by those
that are more moderate, Three Faces in a Hood, Live in Idleness, Cull
me to you; and in Sussex we call them Pancies.
_Place._] Besides those which are brought up in gardens, they grow
commonly wild in the fields, especially in such as are very barren:
sometimes you may find it on the tops of the high hills.
_Time._] They flower all the Spring and Summer long.
_Government and virtues._] The herb is really saturnine, something
cold, viscous, and slimy. A strong decoction of the herbs and flowers
(if you will, you may make it into syrup) is an excellent cure for
the French pox, the herb being a gallant antivenereal: and that
antivenereals are the best cure for that disease, far better and safer
than to torment them with the flux, divers foreign physicians have
confessed. The spirit of it is excellently good for the convulsions in
children, as also for the falling sickness, and a gallant remedy for
the inflammation of the lungs and breasts, pleurisy, scabs, itch, &c.
It is under the celestial sign Cancer.
ARTICHOKES.
THE Latins call them Cinera, only our college calls them Artichocus.
_Government and virtues._] They are under the dominion of Venus, and
therefore it is no marvel if they provoke lust, as indeed they do,
being somewhat windy meat; and yet they stay the involuntary course of
natural seed in man, which is commonly called nocturnal pollutions. And
here I care not greatly if I quote a little of Galen’s nonsense in his
treatise of the faculties of nourishment. He saith, they contain plenty
of choleric juice, (which notwithstanding I can scarcely believe,) of
which he saith is engendered melancholy juice, and of that melancholy
juice thin choleric blood. But, to proceed; this is certain, that the
decoction of the root boiled in wine, or the root bruised and distilled
in wine in an alembic, and being drank, purges by urine exceedingly.
HART’S-TONGUE.
_Descript._] THIS has divers leaves arising from the root, every
one severally, which fold themselves in their first springing and
spreading: when they are full grown, are about a foot long, smooth and
green above, but hard and with little sap in them, and streaked on the
back, athwart on both sides of the middle rib, with small and somewhat
long and brownish marks; the bottoms of the leaves are a little bowed
on each side of the middle rib, somewhat small at the end. The root is
of many black threads, folded or interlaced together.
_Time._] It is green all the Winter; but new leaves spring every year.
_Government and virtues._] Jupiter claims dominion over this herb,
therefore it is a singular remedy for the liver, both to strengthen it
when weak, and ease it when afflicted, you shall do well to keep it
in a syrup all the year; For though authors say it is green all the
year, I scarcely believe it. Hart’s Tongue is much commended against
the hardness and stoppings of the spleen and liver, and against the
heat of the liver and stomach, and against lasks, and the bloody-flux.
The distilled water thereof is also very good against the passions
of the heart, and to stay the hiccough, to help the falling of the
palate, and to stay the bleeding of the gums, being gargled in the
mouth. Dioscorides saith, it is good against the stinging or biting of
serpents. As for the use of it, my direction at the latter end will be
sufficient, and enough for those that are studious in physic, to whet
their brains upon for one year or two.
HAZEL-NUT.
HAZEL Nuts are so well known to every body, that they need no
description.
_Government and virtues._] They are under the dominion of Mercury.
The parted kernels made into an electuary, or the milk drawn from the
kernels with mead or honeyed water, is very good to help an old cough;
and being parched, and a little pepper put to them and drank, digests
the distillations of rheum from the head. The dried husks and shells,
to the weight of two drams, taken in red wine, stays lasks and women’s
courses, and so doth the red skin that covers the kernels, which is
more effectual to stay women’s courses.
And if this be true, as it is, then why should the vulgar so familiarly
affirm, that eating nuts causes shortness of breath, than which nothing
is falser? For, how can that which strengthens the lungs, cause
shortness of breath? I confess, the opinion is far older than I am; I
knew tradition was a friend to error before, but never that he was
the father of slander; Or are men’s tongues so given to slander one
another, that they must slander Nuts too, to keep their tongues in use?
If any part of the Hazel Nut be stopping, it is the husks and shells,
and no one is so mad as to eat them unless physically; and the red skin
which covers the kernel, you may easily pull off And so thus have I
made an apology for Nuts, which cannot speak for themselves.
HAWK-WEED.
THERE are several sorts of Hawk-weed, but they are similar in virtues.
_Descript._] It has many large leaves lying upon the ground, much rent
or torn on the sides into gashes like Dandelion, but with greater
parts, more like the smooth Sow Thistle, from among which rises a
hollow, rough stalk, two or three feet high, branched from the middle
upward, whereon are set at every joint longer leaves, little or nothing
rent or cut, bearing on them sundry pale, yellow flowers, consisting of
many small, narrow leaves, broad pointed, and nicked in at the ends,
set in a double row or more, the outermost being larger than the inner,
which form most of the Hawk-weeds (for there are many kinds of them) do
hold, which turn into down, and with the small brownish seed is blown
away with the wind. The root is long and somewhat great, with many
small fibres thereat. The whole plant is full of bitter-milk.
_Place._] It grows in divers places about the field sides, and the
path-ways in dry grounds.
_Time._] It flowers and flies away in the Summer months.
_Government and virtues._] Saturn owns it. Hawk-weed (saith
Dioscorides) is cooling, somewhat drying and binding, and therefore
good for the heat of the stomach, and gnawings therein; for
inflammations and the hot fits of agues. The juice thereof in wine,
helps digestion, discusses wind, hinders crudities abiding in the
stomach, and helps the difficulty of making water, the biting of
venomous serpents, and stinging of the scorpion, if the herb be also
outwardly applied to the place, and is very good against all other
poisons. A scruple of the dried root given in wine and vinegar, is
profitable for those that have the dropsy. The decoction of the herb
taken in honey, digests the phlegm in the chest or lungs, and with
Hyssop helps the cough. The decoction thereof, and of wild Succory,
made with wine, and taken, helps the wind cholic and hardness of the
spleen; it procures rest and sleep, hinders venery and venerous dreams,
cooling heats, purges the stomach, increases blood, and helps the
diseases of the reins and bladder. Outwardly applied, it is singularly
good for all the defects and diseases of the eyes, used with some
women’s milk; and used with good success in fretting or creeping
ulcers, especially in the beginning. The green leaves bruised, and with
a little salt applied to any place burnt with fire, before blisters
do rise, helps them; as also inflammations, St. Anthony’s fire, and
all pushes and eruptions, hot and salt phlegm. The same applied with
meal and fair water in manner of a poultice, to any place affected
with convulsions, the cramp, and such as are out of joint, doth give
help and ease. The distilled water cleanses the skin, and takes away
freckles, spots, morphew, or wrinkles in the face.
HAWTHORN.
IT is not my intention to trouble you with a description of this tree,
which is so well known that it needs none. It is ordinarily but a
hedge bush, although being pruned and dressed, it grows to a tree of a
reasonable height.
As for the Hawthorn Tree at Glastonbury, which is said to flower
yearly on Christmas-day, it rather shews the superstition of those
that observe it for the time of its flowering, than any great wonder,
since the like may be found in divers other places of this land; as in
Whey-street in Romney Marsh, and near unto Nantwich in Cheshire, by a
place called White Green, where it flowers about Christmas and May. If
the weather be frosty, it flowers not until January, or that the hard
weather be over.
_Government and virtues._] It is a tree of Mars. The seeds in the
berries beaten to powder being drank in wine, are held singularly good
against the stone, and are good for the dropsy. The distilled water
of the flowers stay the lask. The seed cleared from the down, bruised
and boiled in wine, and drank, is good for inward tormenting pains. If
cloths or sponges be wet in the distilled water, and applied to any
place wherein thorns and splinters, or the like, do abide in the flesh,
it will notably draw them forth.
And thus you see the thorn gives a medicine for its own pricking, and
so doth almost every thing else.
HEMLOCK.
_Descript._] THE common great Hemlock grows up with a green stalk, four
or five feet high, or more, full of red spots sometimes, and at the
joints very large winged leaves set at them, which are divided into
many other winged leaves, one set against the other, dented about the
edges, of a sad green colour, branched towards the top, where it is
full of umbels of white flowers, and afterwards with whitish flat seed:
The root is long, white, and sometimes crooked, and hollow within. The
whole plant, and every part, has a strong, heady, and ill-savoured
scent, much offending the senses.
_Place._] It grows in all counties of this land, by walls and
hedge-sides, in waste grounds and untilled places.
_Time._] It flowers and seeds in July, or thereabouts.
_Government and virtues._] Saturn claims dominion over this herb, yet
I wonder why it may not be applied to the privities in a Priapism,
or continual standing of the yard, it being very beneficial to that
disease; I suppose, my author’s judgment was first upon the opposite
disposition of Saturn to Venus in those faculties, and therefore he
forbade the applying of it to those parts, that it might not cause
barrenness, or spoil the spirit procreative; which if it do, yet
applied to the privities, it stops its lustful thoughts. Hemlock is
exceedingly cold, and very dangerous, especially to be taken inwardly.
It may safely be applied to inflammations, tumours, and swellings in
any part of the body (save the privy parts) as also to St. Anthony’s
fire, wheals, pushes, and creeping ulcers that arise of hot sharp
humours, by cooling and repelling the heat; the leaves bruised and
laid to the brow or forehead are good for their eyes that are red and
swollen; as also to take away a pin and web growing in the eye; this
is a tried medicine: Take a small handful of this herb, and half so
much bay salt, beaten together, and applied to the contrary wrist of
the hand, for 24 hours, doth remove it in thrice dressing. If the root
thereof be roasted under the embers, wrapped in double wet paper, until
it be soft and tender, and then applied to the gout in the hands or
fingers, it will quickly help this evil. If any through mistake eat
the herb Hemlock instead of Parsley, or the roots instead of a Parsnip
(both of which it is very like) whereby happens a kind of frenzy, or
perturbation of the senses, as if they were stupid and drunk, the
remedy is (as Pliny saith) to drink of the best and strongest pure
wine, before it strikes to the heart, or Gentian put in wine, or a
draught of vinegar, wherewith Tragus doth affirm, that he cured a woman
that had eaten the root.
HEMP.
THIS is so well known to every good housewife in the country, that I
shall not need to write any description of it.
_Time._] It is sown in the very end of March, or beginning of April,
and is ripe in August or September.
_Government and virtues._] It is a plant of Saturn, and good for
something else, you see, than to make halters only. The seed of Hemp
consumes wind, and by too much use thereof disperses it so much that
it dries up the natural seed for procreation; yet, being boiled in
milk and taken, helps such as have a hot dry cough. The Dutch make an
emulsion out of the seed, and give it with good success to those that
have the jaundice, especially in the beginning of the disease, if there
be no ague accompanying it, for it opens obstructions of the gall,
and causes digestion of choler. The emulsion or decoction of the seed
stays lasks and continual fluxes, eases the cholic, and allays the
troublesome humours in the bowels, and stays bleeding at the mouth,
nose, or other places, some of the leaves being fried with the blood
of them that bleed, and so given them to eat. It is held very good to
kill the worms in men or beasts; and the juice dropped into the ears
kills worms in them; and draws forth earwigs, or other living creatures
gotten into them. The decoction of the root allays inflammations of
the head, or any other parts: the herb itself, or the distilled water
thereof doth the like. The decoction of the root eases the pains of the
gout, the hard humours of knots in the joints, the pains and shrinking
of the sinews, and the pains of the hips. The fresh juice mixed with a
little oil and butter, is good for any place that hath been burnt with
fire, being thereto applied.
HENBANE.
_Descript._] OUR common Henbane has very large, thick, soft, woolly
leaves, lying on the ground, much cut in, or torn on the edges, of
a dark, ill greyish green colour; among which arise up divers thick
and short stalks, two or three feet high, spread into divers small
branches, with lesser leaves on them, and many hollow flowers, scarce
appearing above the husk, and usually torn on one side, ending in five
round points, growing one above another, of a deadish yellowish colour,
somewhat paler towards the edges, with many purplish veins therein,
and of a dark, yellowish purple in the bottom of the flower, with a
small point of the same colour in the middle, each of them standing in
a hard close husk, which after the flowers are past, grow very like
the husk of Asarabacca, and somewhat sharp at the top points, wherein
is contained much small seed, very like Poppy seed, but of a dusky,
greyish colour. The root is great, white, and thick, branching forth
divers ways under ground, so like a Parsnip root (but that it is not so
white) that it has deceived others. The whole plant more than the root,
has a very heavy, ill, soporiferous smell, somewhat offensive.
_Place._] It commonly grows by the way-sides, and under hedge-sides and
walls.
_Time._] It flowers in July, and springs again yearly of its own seed.
I doubt my authors mistook July for June, if not for May.
_Government and virtues._] I wonder how astrologers could take on
them to make this an herb of Jupiter; and yet Mizaldus, a man of
a penetrating brain, was of that opinion as well as the rest; the
herb is indeed under the dominion of Saturn, and I prove it by this
argument: All the herbs which delight most to grow in saturnine places,
are saturnine herbs. Both Henbane delights most to grow in saturnine
places, and whole cart loads of it may be found near the places where
they empty the common Jakes, and scarce a ditch to be found without it
growing by it. Ergo, it is an herb of Saturn. The leaves of Henbane do
cool all hot inflammations in the eyes, or any other part of the body;
and are good to assuage all manner of swellings of the privities, or
women’s breast, or elsewhere, if they be boiled in wine, and either
applied themselves, or the fomentation warm; it also assuages the pain
of the gout, the sciatica, and other pains in the joints which arise
from a hot cause. And applied with vinegar to the forehead and temples,
helps the head-ache and want of sleep in hot fevers. The juice of the
herb or seed, or the oil drawn from the seed, does the like. The oil
of the seed is helpful for deafness, noise, and worms in the ears,
being dropped therein; the juice of the herb or root doth the same. The
decoction of the herb or seed, or both, kills lice in man or beast.
The fume of the dried herb, stalks and seed, burned, quickly heals
swellings, chilblains or kibes in the hands or feet, by holding them in
the fume thereof. The remedy to help those that have taken Henbane is
to drink goat’s milk, honeyed water, or pine kernels, with sweet wine;
or, in the absence of these, Fennel seed, Nettle seed, the seed of
Cresses, Mustard, or Radish; as also Onions or Garlic taken in wine, do
all help to free them from danger, and restore them to their due temper
again.
Take notice, that this herb must never be taken inwardly; outwardly,
an oil ointment, or plaister of it, is most admirable for the
gout, to cool the veneral heat of the reins in the French pox; to
stop the toothache, being applied to the aching side: to allay all
inflammations, and to help the diseases before premised.
HEDGE HYSSOP.
DIVERS sorts there are of this plant; the first of which is an Italian
by birth, and only nursed up here in the gardens of the curious. Two
or three sorts are found commonly growing wild here, the description of
two of which I shall give you.
_Descript._] The first is a smooth, low plant, not a foot high, very
bitter in taste, with many square stalks, diversly branched from the
bottom to the top, with divers joints, and two small leaves at each
joint, broader at the bottom than they are at the end, a little dented
about the edges, of a sad green colour, and full of veins. The flowers
stand at the joints, being of a fair purple colour, with some white
spots in them, in fashion like those of dead nettles. The seed is small
and yellow, and the roots spread much under ground.
The second seldom grows half a foot high, sending up many small
branches, whereon grow many small leaves, set one against the other,
somewhat broad, but very short. The flowers are like the flowers of the
other fashion, but of a pale reddish colour. The seeds are small and
yellowish. The root spreads like the other, neither will it yield to
its fellow one ace of bitterness.
_Place._] They grow in wet low grounds, and by the water-sides; the
last may be found among the bogs on Hampstead Heath.
_Time._] They flower in June or July, and the seed is ripe presently
after.
_Government and virtues._] They are herbs of Mars, and as choleric and
churlish as he is, being most violent purges, especially of choler
and phlegm. It is not safe taking them inwardly, unless they be well
rectified by the art of the alchymist, and only the purity of them
given; so used they may be very helpful both for the dropsy, gout,
and sciatica; outwardly used in ointments they kill worms, the belly
anointed with it, and are excellently good to cleanse old and filthy
ulcers.
BLACK HELLEBORE.
IT is also called Setter-wort, Setter-grass, Bear’s-foot,
Christmas-herb, and Christmas-flowers.
_Descript._] It hath sundry fair green leaves rising from the root,
each of them standing about an handful high from the earth; each leaf
is divided into seven, eight, or nine parts, dented from the middle
of the leaf to the point on both sides, abiding green all the Winter;
about Christmas-time, if the weather be any thing temperate, the
flowers appear upon foot stalks, also consisting of five large, round,
white leaves a-piece, which sometimes are purple towards the edges,
with many pale yellow thumbs in the middle; the seeds are divided
into several cells, like those of Columbines, save only that they are
greater; the seeds are in colour black, and in form long and round. The
root consists of numberless blackish strings all united into one head.
There is another Black Hellebore, which grows up and down in the woods
very like this, but only that the leaves are smaller and narrower, and
perish in the Winter, which this doth not.
_Place._] The first is maintained in gardens. The second is commonly
found in the woods in Northamptonshire.
_Time._] The first flowers in December or January; the second in
February or March.
_Government and virtues._] It is an herb of Saturn, and therefore no
marvel if it has some sullen conditions with it, and would be far
safer, being purified by the art of the alchymist than given raw. If
any have taken any harm by taking it, the common cure is to take goat’s
milk: If you cannot get goat’s milk, you must make a shift with such
as you can get. The roots are very effectual against all melancholy
diseases, especially such as are of long standing, as quartan agues and
madness; it helps the falling sickness, the leprosy, both the yellow
and black jaundice, the gout, sciatica, and convulsions; and this was
found out by experience, that the root of that which grows wild in our
country, works not so churlishly as those do which are brought from
beyond sea, as being maintained by a more temperate air. The root used
as a pessary, provokes the terms exceedingly; also being beaten into
powder, and strewed upon foul ulcers, it consumes the dead flesh, and
instantly heals them; nay, it will help gangrenes in the beginning.
Twenty grains taken inwardly is a sufficient dose for one time, and
let that be corrected with half so much cinnamon; country people used
to rowel their cattle with it. If a beast be troubled with a cough,
or have taken any poison, they bore a hole through the ear, and put
a piece of the root in it, this will help him in 24 hours time. Many
other uses farriers put it to which I shall forbear.
HERB ROBERT.
THE Herb Robert is held in great estimation by farmers, who use it in
diseases of their cattle.
_Descript._] It rises up with a reddish stalk two feet high, having
divers leaves thereon, upon very long and reddish foot-stalks, divided
at the ends into three or five divisions, each of them cut in on
the edges, which sometimes turn reddish. At the tops of the stalks
come forth divers flowers made of five leaves, much larger than the
Dove’s-foot, and of a more reddish colour; after which come black
heads, as in others. The root is small and thready, and smells, as the
whole plant, very strong, almost stinking.
_Place._] This grows frequently every where by the way-sides, upon
ditch banks and waste grounds wheresoever one goes.
_Time._] It flowers in June and July chiefly, and the seed is ripe
shortly after.
_Government and virtues._] It is under the dominion of Venus. Herb
Robert is commended not only against the stone, but to stay blood,
where or howsoever flowing, it speedily heals all green wounds, and
is effectual in old ulcers in the privy parts, or elsewhere. You may
persuade yourself this is true, and also conceive a good reason for it,
do but consider it is an herb of Venus, for all it hath a man’s name.
HERB TRUE-LOVE, OR ONE-BERRY.
_Descript._] ORDINARY Herb True-love has a small creeping root running
under the uppermost crust of the ground, somewhat like couch grass
root, but not so white, shooting forth stalks with leaves, some whereof
carry no berries, the others do; every stalk smooth without joints,
and blackish green, rising about half a foot high, if it bear berries,
otherwise seldom so high, bearing at the top four leaves set directly
one against another, in manner of a cross or ribband tied (as it is
called in a true-loves knot,) which are each of them apart somewhat
like unto a night-shade leaf, but somewhat broader, having sometimes
three leaves, sometimes five, sometimes six, and those sometimes
greater than in others, in the middle of the four leaves rise up one
small slender stalk, about an inch high, bearing at the tops thereof
one flower spread open like a star, consisting of four small and long
narrow pointed leaves of a yellowish green colour, and four others
lying between them lesser than they; in the middle whereof stands
a round dark purplish button or head, compassed about with eight
small yellow mealy threads with three colours, making it the more
conspicuous, and lovely to behold. This button or head in the middle,
when the other leaves are withered, becomes a blackish purple berry,
full of juice, of the bigness of a reasonable grape, having within it
many white seeds. The whole plant is without any manifest taste.
_Place._] It grows in woods and copses, and sometimes in the corners or
borders of fields, and waste grounds in very many places of this land,
and abundantly in the woods, copses, and other places about Chislehurst
and Maidstone in Kent.
_Time._] They spring up in the middle of April or May, and are in
flower soon after. The berries are ripe in the end of May, and in some
places in June.
_Government and virtues._] Venus owns it; the leaves or berries hereof
are effectual to expel poison of all sorts, especially that of the
aconites; as also, the plague, and other pestilential disorders;
Matthiolus saith, that some that have lain long in a lingering
sickness, and others that by witchcraft (as it was thought) were become
half foolish, by taking a dram of the seeds or berries hereof in
powder every day for 20 days together, were restored to their former
health. The roots in powder taken in wine eases the pains of the cholic
speedily. The leaves are very effectual as well for green wounds, as to
cleanse and heal up filthy old sores and ulcers; and is very powerful
to discuss all tumours and swellings in the privy parts, the groin, or
in any part of the body, and speedily to allay all inflammations. The
juice of the leaves applied to felons, or those nails of the hands or
toes that have imposthumes or sores gathered together at the roots of
them, heals them in a short space. The herb is not to be described for
the premises, but is fit to be nourished in every good woman’s garden.
HYSSOP.
HYSSOP is so well known to be an inhabitant in every garden, that it
will save me labour in writing a description thereof. The virtues are
as follow.
_Government and virtues._] The herb is Jupiter’s, and the sign Cancer.
It strengthens all the parts of the body under Cancer and Jupiter;
which what they may be, is found amply described in my astrological
judgment of diseases. Dioscorides saith, that Hyssop boiled with
rue and honey, and drank, helps those that are troubled with coughs,
shortness of breath, wheezing and rheumatic distillation upon the
lungs; taken also with oxymel, it purges gross humours by stool; and
with honey, kills worms in the belly; and with fresh and new figs
bruised, helps to loosen the belly, and more forcibly if the root of
Flower-de-luce and cresses be added thereto. It amends and cherishes
the native colour of the body, spoiled by the yellow jaundice; and
being taken with figs and nitre, helps the dropsy and spleen; being
boiled with wine, it is good to wash inflammations, and takes away the
black and blue spots and marks that come by strokes, bruises, or falls,
being applied with warm water. It is an excellent medicine for the
quinsy, or swellings in the throat, to wash and gargle it, being boiled
in figs; it helps the tooth-ache, being boiled in vinegar and gargled
therewith. The hot vapours of the decoction taken by a funnel in at the
ears, eases the inflammations and singing noise of them. Being bruised,
and salt, honey, and cummin seed put to it, helps those that are stung
by serpents. The oil thereof (the head being anointed) kills lice, and
takes away itching of the head. It helps those that have the falling
sickness, which way soever it be applied. It helps to expectorate tough
phlegm, and is effectual in all cold griefs or diseases of the chests
or lungs, being taken either in syrup or licking medicine. The green
herb bruised and a little sugar put thereto, doth quickly heal any cut
or green wounds, being thereunto applied.
HOPS.
THESE are so well known that they need no description; I mean the
manured kind, which every good husband or housewife is acquainted with.
_Descript._] The wild hop grows up as the other doth, ramping upon
trees or hedges, that stand next to them, with rough branches and
leaves like the former, but it gives smaller heads, and in far less
plenty than it, so that there is scarcely a head or two seen in a year
on divers of this wild kind, wherein consists the chief difference.
_Place._] They delight to grow in low moist grounds, and are found in
all parts of this land.
_Time._] They spring not until April, and flower not until the latter
end of June; the heads are not gathered until the middle or latter end
of September.
_Government and virtues._] It is under the dominion of Mars. This, in
physical operations, is to open obstructions of the liver and spleen,
to cleanse the blood, to loosen the belly, to cleanse the reins from
gravel, and provoke urine. The decoction of the tops of Hops, as well
of the tame as the wild, works the same effects. In cleansing the blood
they help to cure the French diseases, and all manner of scabs, itch,
and other breakings-out of the body; as also all tetters, ringworms,
and spreading sores, the morphew and all discolouring of the skin. The
decoction of the flowers and hops, do help to expel poison that any one
hath drank. Half a dram of the seed in powder taken in drink, kills
worms in the body, brings down women’s courses, and expels urine. A
syrup made of the juice and sugar, cures the yellow jaundice, eases the
head-ache that comes of heat, and tempers the heat of the liver and
stomach, and is profitably given in long and hot agues that rise in
choler and blood. Both the wild and the manured are of one property,
and alike effectual in all the aforesaid diseases. By all these
testimonies beer appears to be better than ale.
Mars owns the plant, and then Dr. Reason will tell you how it performs
these actions.
HOREHOUND.
THERE are two kinds of Horehound, the white and the black. The black
sort is likewise called Hen-bit; but the white one is here spoken of.
_Descript._] Common Horehound grows up with square hairy stalks, half a
yard or two feet high, set at the joints with two round crumpled rough
leaves of a sullen hoary green colour, of a reasonable good scent, but
a very bitter taste. The flowers are small, white, and gaping, set in a
rough, hard prickly husk round about the joints, with the leaves from
the middle of the stalk upward, wherein afterward is found small round
blackish seed. The root is blackish, hard and woody, with many strings,
and abides many years.
_Place._] It is found in many parts of this land, in dry grounds, and
waste green places.
_Time._] It flowers in July, and the seed is ripe in August.
_Government and virtues._] It is an herb of Mercury. A decoction of
the dried herb, with the seed, or the juice of the green herb taken
with honey, is a remedy for those that are short-winded, have a cough,
or are fallen into a consumption, either through long sickness, or
thin distillations of rheum upon the lungs. It helps to expectorate
tough phlegm from the chest, being taken from the roots of Iris or
Orris. It is given to women to bring down their courses, to expel the
after-birth, and to them that have taken poison, or are stung or bitten
by venemous serpents. The leaves used with honey, purge foul ulcers,
stay running or creeping sores, and the growing of the flesh over
the nails. It also helps pains of the sides. The juice thereof with
wine and honey, helps to clear the eyesight, and snuffed up into the
nostrils, purges away the yellow-jaundice, and with a little oil of
roses dropped into the ears, eases the pains of them. Galen saith, it
opens obstructions both of the liver and spleen, and purges the breast
and lungs of phlegm: and used outwardly it both cleanses and digests. A
decoction of Horehound (saith Matthiolus) is available for those that
have hard livers, and for such as have itches and running tetters.
The powder hereof taken, or the decoction, kills worms. The green
leaves bruised, and boiled in old hog’s grease into an ointment, heals
the biting of dogs, abates the swellings and pains that come by any
pricking of thorns, or such like means; and used with vinegar, cleanses
and heals tetters. There is a syrup made of Horehound to be had at the
apothecaries, very good for old coughs, to rid the tough phlegm; as
also to void cold rheums from the lungs of old folks, and for those
that are asthmatic or short-winded.
HORSETAIL.
OF that there are many kinds, but I shall not trouble you nor myself
with any large description of them, which to do, were but, as the
proverb is, To find a knot in a rush, all the kinds thereof being
nothing else but knotted rushes, some with leaves, and some without.
Take the description of the most eminent sort as follows.
_Descript._] The great Horsetail at the first springing has heads
somewhat like those of asparagus, and afterwards grow to be hard,
rough, hollow stalks, jointed at sundry places up to the top, a foot
high, so made as if the lower parts were put into the upper, where grow
on each side a bush of small long rush-like hard leaves, each part
resembling a horsetail, from whence it is so called. At the tops of the
stalks come forth small catkins, like those of trees. The root creeps
under ground, having joints at sundry places.
_Place._] This (as most of the other sorts hereof) grows in wet
grounds.
_Time._] They spring up in April, and their blooming catkins in July,
seeding for the most part in August, and then perish down to the
ground, rising afresh in the Spring.
_Government and virtues._] The herb belongs to Saturn, yet is very
harmless, and excellently good for the things following: Horsetail, the
smoother rather than the rough, and the leaves rather than the bare, is
most physical. It is very powerful to staunch bleeding either inward or
outward, the juice or the decoction thereof being drank, or the juice,
decoction, or distilled water applied outwardly. It also stays all
sorts of lasks and fluxes in man or woman, and bloody urine; and heals
also not only the inward ulcers, and the excoriation of the entrails,
bladder, &c. but all other sorts of foul, moist and running ulcers, and
soon solders together the tops of green wounds. It cures all ruptures
in children. The decoction thereof in wine being drank, provokes urine,
and helps the stone and stranguary; and the distilled water thereof
drank two or three times in a day, and a small quantity at a time,
also eases the bowels, and is effectual against a cough that comes by
distillations from the head. The juice or distilled water being warmed,
and hot inflammations, pustules or red wheals, and other breakings-out
in the skin, being bathed therewith, doth help them, and doth no less
the swelling heat and inflammation of the lower parts in men and women.
HOUSELEEK OR SENGREEN.
BOTH these are so well known to my countrymen, that I shall not need to
write any description of them.
_Place._] It grows commonly upon walls and house-sides, and flowers in
July.
_Government and virtues._] It is an herb of Jupiter, and it is reported
by Mezaldus, to preserve what it grows upon from fire and lightning.
Our ordinary Houseleek is good for all inward heats as well as
outward, and in the eyes or other parts of the body; a posset made with
the juice of Houseleek, is singularly good in all hot agues, for it
cools and tempers the blood and spirits, and quenches the thirst; and
also good to stay all hot defluctions or sharp and salt rheums in the
eyes, the juice being dropped into them, or into the ears. It helps
also other fluxes of humours in the bowels, and the immoderate courses
of women. It cools and restrains all other hot inflammations, St.
Anthony’s fire, scaldings and burnings, the shingles, fretting ulcers,
cankers, tettors, ringworms, and the like; and much eases the pains
of the gout proceeding from any hot cause. The juice also takes away
worts and corns in the hands or feet, being often bathed therewith, and
the skin and leaves being laid on them afterwards. It eases also the
head-ache, and distempered heat of the brain in frenzies, or through
want of sleep, being applied to the temples and forehead. The leaves
bruised and laid upon the crown or seam of the head, stays bleeding at
the nose very quickly. The distilled water of the herb is profitable
for all the purposes aforesaid. The leaves being gently rubbed on any
place stung with nettles or bees, doth quickly take away the pain.
HOUND’S TONGUE.
_Descript._] THE great ordinary Hound’s Tongue has many long and
somewhat narrow, soft, hairy, darkish green leaves, lying on the
ground, somewhat like unto Bugloss leaves, from among which rises up
a rough hairy stalk about two feet high, with some smaller leaves
thereon, and branched at the tops into divers parts, with a small leaf
at the foot of every branch, which is somewhat long, with many flowers
set along the same, which branch is crooked or turned inwards before
it flowers, and opens by degrees as the flowers blow, which consist
of small purplish red leaves of a dead colour, rising out of the husks
wherein they stand with some threads in the middle. It has sometimes a
white flower. After the flowers are past, there comes rough flat seed,
with a small pointle in the middle, easily cleaving to any garment that
it touches, and not so easily pulled off again. The root is black,
thick, and long, hard to break, and full of clammy juice, smelling
somewhat strong, of an evil scent, as the leaves also do.
_Place._] It grows in moist places of this land, in waste grounds, and
untilled places, by highway sides, lanes, and hedge-sides.
_Time._] It flowers about May or June, and the seed is ripe shortly
after.
_Government and virtues._] It is a plant under the dominion of Mercury.
The root is very effectually used in pills, as well as the decoction,
or otherwise, to stay all sharp and thin defluxions of rheum from the
head into the eyes or nose, or upon the stomach or lungs, as also
for coughs and shortness of breath. The leaves boiled in wine (saith
Dioscorides, but others do rather appoint it to be made with water, and
add thereto oil and salt) molifies or opens the belly downwards. It
also helps to cure the biting of a mad dog, some of the leaves being
also applied to the wound: The leaves bruised, or the juice of them
boiled in hog’s lard, and applied, helps falling away of the hair,
which comes of hot and sharp humours; as also for any place that is
scalded or burnt; the leaves bruised and laid to any green wound doth
heal it up quickly: the root baked under the embers, wrapped in paste
or wet paper, or in a wet double cloth, and thereof a suppository made,
and put up into or applied to the fundament, doth very effectually help
the painful piles or hæmorrhoids. The distilled water of the herbs and
roots is very good to all the purposes aforesaid, to be used as well
inwardly to drink, as outwardly to wash any sore place, for it heals
all manner of wounds and punctures, and those foul ulcers that arise by
the French pox. Mizaldus adds that the leaves laid under the feet, will
keep the dogs from barking at you. It is called Hound’s-tongue, because
it ties the tongues of hounds; whether true, or not, I never tried, yet
I cured the biting of a mad dog with this only medicine.
HOLLY, HOLM, OR HULVER BUSH.
FOR to describe a tree so well known is needless.
_Government and virtues._] The tree is Saturnine. The berries expel
wind, and therefore are held to be profitable in the cholic. The
berries have a strong faculty with them; for if you eat a dozen of them
in the morning fasting when they are ripe and not dried, they purge the
body of gross and clammy phlegm: but if you dry the berries, and beat
them into powder, they bind the body, and stop fluxes, bloody-fluxes,
and the terms in women. The bark of the tree, and also the leaves, are
excellently good, being used in fomentations for broken bones, and such
members as are out of joint. Pliny saith, the branches of the tree
defend houses from lightning, and men from witchcraft.
ST. JOHN’S WORT.
THIS is a very beautiful shrub, and is a great ornament to our meadows.
_Descript._] Common St. John’s Wort shoots forth brownish, upright,
hard, round stalks, two feet high, spreading many branches from the
sides up to the tops of them, with two small leaves set one against
another at every place, which are of a deep green colour, somewhat
like the leaves of the lesser Centaury, but narrow, and full of small
holes in every leaf, which cannot be so well perceived, as when they
are held up to the light; at the tops of the stalks and branches stand
yellow flowers of five leaves a-piece, with many yellow threads in the
middle, which being bruised do yield a reddish juice like blood; after
which come small round heads, wherein is contained small blackish seed
smelling like rosin. The root is hard and woody, with divers strings
and fibres at it, of a brownish colour, which abides in the ground many
years, shooting anew every Spring.
_Place._] This grows in woods and copses, as well those that are shady,
as open to the sun.
_Time._] They flower about Midsummer and July, and their seed is ripe
in the latter end of July or August.
_Government and virtues._] It is under the celestial sign Leo, and the
dominion of the Sun. It may be, if you meet a Papist, he will tell
you, especially if he be a lawyer, that St. John made it over to him
by a letter of attorney. It is a singular wound herb; boiled in wine
and drank, it heals inward hurts or bruises; made into an ointment,
it open obstructions, dissolves swellings, and closes up the lips of
wounds. The decoction of the herb and flowers, especially of the seed,
being drank in wine, with the juice of knot-grass, helps all manner of
vomiting and spitting of blood, is good for those that are bitten or
stung by any venomous creature, and for those that cannot make water.
Two drams of the seed of St. John’s Wort made into powder, and drank
in a little broth, doth gently expel choler or congealed blood in the
stomach. The decoction of the leaves and seeds drank somewhat warm
before the fits of agues, whether they be tertains or quartans, alters
the fits, and, by often using, doth take them quite away. The seed
is much commended, being drank for forty days together, to help the
sciatica, the falling-sickness, and the palsy.
IVY.
IT is so well known to every child almost, to grow in woods upon the
trees, and upon the stone walls of churches, houses, &c. and sometimes
to grow alone of itself, though but seldom.
_Time._] It flowers not until July, and the berries are not ripe till
Christmas, when they have felt Winter frosts.
_Government and virtues._] It is under the dominion of Saturn. A pugil
of the flowers, which may be about a dram, (saith Dioscorides) drank
twice a day in red wine, helps the lask, and bloody flux. It is an
enemy to the nerves and sinews, being much taken inwardly, but very
helpful to them, being outwardly applied. Pliny saith, the yellow
berries are good against the jaundice; and taken before one be set
to drink hard, preserves from drunkenness, and helps those that spit
blood; and that the white berries being taken inwardly, or applied
outwardly, kills the worms in the belly. The berries are a singular
remedy to prevent the plague, as also to free them from it that have
got it, by drinking the berries thereof made into a powder, for two or
three days together. They being taken in wine, do certainly help to
break the stone, provoke urine, and women’s courses. The fresh leaves
of Ivy, boiled in vinegar, and applied warm to the sides of those that
are troubled with the spleen, ache, or stitch in the sides, do give
much ease: The same applied with some Rosewater, and oil of Roses, to
the temples and forehead, eases the head-ache, though it be of long
continuance. The fresh leaves boiled in wine, and old filthy ulcers
hard to be cured washed therewith, do wonderfully help to cleanse
them. It also quickly heals green wounds, and is effectual to heal all
burnings and scaldings, and all kinds of exulcerations coming thereby,
or by salt phlegm or humours in other parts of the body. The juice of
the berries or leaves snuffed up into the nose, purges the head and
brain of thin rheum that makes defluxions into the eyes and nose, and
curing the ulcers and stench therein; the same dropped into the ears
helps the old and running sores of them, those that are troubled with
the spleen, shall find much ease by continual drinking out of a cup
made of Ivy, so as the drink may stand some small time therein before
it be drank. Cato saith, That wine put into such a cup, will soak
through it, by reason of the antipathy that is between them.
There seems to be a very great antipathy between wine and Ivy; for if
one hath got a surfeit by drinking of wine, his speediest cure is to
drink a draught of the same wine wherein a handful of Ivy leaves, being
first bruised, have been boiled.
JUNIPER BUSH.
FOR to give a description of a bush so commonly known is needless.
_Place._] They grow plentifully in divers woods in Kent, Warney common
near Brentwood in Essex, upon Finchley Common without Highgate; hard
by the Newfound Wells near Dulwich, upon a Common between Mitcham and
Croydon, in the Highgate near Amersham in Buckinghamshire, and many
other places.
_Time._] The berries are not ripe the first year, but continue green
two Summers and one Winter before they are ripe; at which time they are
all of a black colour, and therefore you shall always find upon the
bush green berries; the berries are ripe about the fall of the leaf.
_Government and virtues._] This admirable solar shrub is scarce to be
paralleled for its virtues. The berries are hot in the third degree,
and dry but in the first, being a most admirable counter-poison,
and as great a resister of the pestilence, as any growing; they are
excellent good against the biting of venomous beasts, they provoke
urine exceedingly, and therefore are very available to dysuries and
stranguaries. It is so powerful a remedy against the dropsy, that the
very lye made of the ashes of the herb being drank, cures the disease.
It provokes the terms, helps the fits of the mother, strengthens the
stomach exceedingly, and expels the wind. Indeed there is scarce a
better remedy for wind in any part of the body, or the cholic, than the
chymical oil drawn from the berries; such country people as know not
how to draw the chymical oil, may content themselves by eating ten or
a dozen of the ripe berries every morning fasting. They are admirably
good for a cough, shortness of breath, and consumption, pains in the
belly, ruptures, cramps, and convulsions. They give safe and speedy
delivery to women with child, they strengthen the brain exceedingly,
help the memory, and fortify the sight by strengthening the optic
nerves; are excellently good in all sorts of agues; help the gout and
sciatica, and strengthen the limbs of the body. The ashes of the wood
is a speedy remedy to such as have the scurvy, to rub their gums with.
The berries stay all fluxes, help the hæmorrhoids or piles, and kill
worms in children. A lye made of the ashes of the wood, and the body
bathed with it, cures the itch, scabs and leprosy. The berries break
the stone, procure appetite when it is lost, and are excellently good
for all palsies, and falling-sickness.
KIDNEYWORT, OR WALL PENNYROYAL,
OR WALL PENNYWORT.
_Descript._] IT has many thick, flat, and round leaves growing from the
root, every one having a long footstalk, fastened underneath, about the
middle of it, and a little unevenly weaved sometimes about the edges,
of a pale green colour, and somewhat yellow on the upper side like
a saucer; from among which arise one or more tender, smooth, hollow
stalks half a foot high, with two or three small leaves thereon,
usually not round as those below, but somewhat long, and divided at
the edges: the tops are somewhat divided into long branches, bearing
a number of flowers, set round about a long spike one above another,
which are hollow and like a little bell of a whitish green colour,
after which come small heads, containing very small brownish seed,
which falling on the ground, will plentifully spring up before Winter,
if it have moisture. The root is round and most usually smooth, greyish
without, and white within, having small fibres at the head of the root,
and bottom of the stalk.
_Place._] It grows very plentifully in many places of this land, but
especially in all the west parts thereof, upon stone and mud walls,
upon rocks also, and in stony places upon the ground, at the bottom of
old trees, and sometimes on the bodies of them that are decayed and
rotten.
_Time._] It usually flowers in the beginning of May, and the seed
ripening quickly after, sheds itself; so that about the end of May,
usually the stalks and leaves are withered, dry, and gone until
September, then the leaves spring up again, and so abide all winter.
_Government and virtues._] Venus challenges the herb under Libra. The
juice or the distilled water being drank, is very effectual for all
inflammations and unnatural heats, to cool a fainting hot stomach, a
hot liver, or the bowels: the herb, juice, or distilled water thereof,
outwardly applied, heals pimples, St. Anthony’s fire, and other outward
heats. The said juice or water helps to heal sore kidneys, torn or
fretted by the stone, or exulcerated within; it also provokes urine,
is available for the dropsy, and helps to break the stone. Being used
as a bath, or made into an ointment, it cools the painful piles or
hæmorrhoidal veins. It is no less effectual to give ease to the pains
of the gout, the sciatica, and helps the kernels or knots in the neck
or throat, called the king’s evil: healing kibes and chilblains if
they be bathed with the juice, or anointed with ointment made thereof,
and some of the skin of the leaf upon them: it is also used in green
wounds to stay the blood, and to heal them quickly.
KNAPWEED.
_Descript._] THE common sort hereof has many long and somewhat dark
green leaves, rising from the root, dented about the edges, and
sometimes a little rent or torn on both sides in two or three places,
and somewhat hairy withal; amongst which arises a long round stalk,
four or five feet high, divided into many branches, at the tops whereof
stand great scaly green heads, and from the middle of them thrust forth
a number of dark purplish red thrumbs or threads, which after they are
withered and past, there are found divers black seeds, lying in a great
deal of down, somewhat like unto Thistle seed, but smaller; the root
is white, hard and woody, and divers fibres annexed thereunto, which
perishes not, but abides with leaves thereon all the Winter, shooting
out fresh every spring.
_Place._] It grows in most fields and meadows, and about their borders
and hedges, and in many waste grounds also every where.
_Time._] It usually flowers in June and July, and the seed is ripe
shortly after.
_Government and virtues._] Saturn challenges the herb for his own. This
Knapweed helps to stay fluxes, both of blood at the mouth or nose,
or other outward parts, and those veins that are inwardly broken, or
inward wounds, as also the fluxes of the belly; it stays distillation
of thin and sharp humours from the head upon the stomach and lungs; it
is good for those that are bruised by any fall, blows or otherwise,
and is profitable for those that are bursten, and have ruptures, by
drinking the decoction of the herb and roots in wine, and applying
the same outwardly to the place. It is singularly good in all running
sores, cancerous and fistulous, drying up of the moisture, and healing
them up so gently, without sharpness; it doth the like to running sores
or scabs of the head or other parts. It is of special use for the
soreness of the throat, swelling of the uvula and jaws, and excellently
good to stay bleeding, and heal up all green wounds.
KNOTGRASS.
IT is generally known so well that it needs no description.
_Place._] It grows in every county of this land by the highway sides,
and by foot-paths in fields; as also by the sides of old walls.
_Time._] It springs up late in the Spring, and abides until the Winter,
when all the branches perish.
_Government and virtues._] Saturn seems to me to own the herb, and yet
some hold the Sun; out of doubt ’tis Saturn. The juice of the common
kind of Knotgrass is most effectual to stay bleeding of the mouth,
being drank in steeled or red wine; and the bleeding at the nose, to
be applied to the forehead or temples, or to be squirted up into the
nostrils. It is no less effectual to cool and temper the heat of the
blood and stomach, and to stay any flux of the blood and humours, as
lasks, bloody-flux, women’s courses, and running of the reins. It is
singularly good to provoke urine, help the stranguary, and allays the
heat that comes thereby; and is powerful by urine to expel the gravel
or stone in the kidneys and bladder, a dram of the powder of the herb
being taken in wine for many days together. Being boiled in wine and
drank, it is profitable to those that are stung or bitten by venemous
creatures, and very effectual to stay all defluxions of rheumatic
humours upon the stomach, and kills worms in the belly or stomach,
quiets inward pains that arise from the heat, sharpness and corruption
of blood and choler. The distilled water hereof taken by itself or with
the powder of the herb or seed, is very effectual to all the purposes
aforesaid, and is accounted one of the most sovereign remedies to cool
all manner of inflammations, breaking out through heat, hot swellings
and imposthumes, gangrene and fistulous cankers, or foul filthy ulcers,
being applied or put into them; but especially for all sorts of ulcers
and sores happening in the privy parts of men and women. It helps all
fresh and green wounds, and speedily heals them. The juice dropped into
the ears, cleanses them being foul, and having running matter in them.
It is very prevalent for the premises; as also for broken joints and
ruptures.
LADIES’ MANTLE.
_Descript._] IT has many leaves rising from the root standing upon
long hairy foot-stalks, being almost round, and a little cut on the
edges, into eight or ten parts, making it seem like a star, with so
many corners and points, and dented round about, of a light green
colour, somewhat hard in handling, and as it were folded or plaited at
first, and then crumpled in divers places, and a little hairy, as the
stalk is also, which rises up among them to the height of two or three
feet; and being weak, is not able to stand upright, but bended to the
ground, divided at the top into two or three small branches, with small
yellowish green heads, and flowers of a whitish colour breaking out of
them; which being past, there comes a small yellowish seed like a poppy
seed: The root is somewhat long and black, with many strings and fibres
thereat.
_Place._] It grows naturally in many pastures and wood sides in
Hertfordshire, Wiltshire, and Kent, and other places of this land.
_Time._] It flowers in May and June, abides after seedtime green all
the Winter.
_Government and virtues._] Venus claims the herb as her own. Ladies’
Mantle is very proper for those wounds that have inflammations, and
is very effectual to stay bleeding, vomitings, fluxes of all sorts,
bruises by falls or otherwise, and helps ruptures; and such women as
have large breasts, causing them to grow less and hard, being both
drank and outwardly applied; the distilled water drank for 20 days
together helps conception, and to retain the birth; if the women do
sometimes also sit in a bath made of the decoction of the herb. It is
one of the most singular wound herbs that is, and therefore highly
prized and praised by the Germans, who use it in all wounds inward and
outward, to drink a decoction thereof, and wash the wounds therewith,
or dip tents therein, and put them into the wounds, which wonderfully
dries up all humidity of the sores, and abates inflammations therein.
It quickly heals all green wounds, not suffering any corruption to
remain behind, and cures all old sores, though fistulous and hollow.
LAVENDER.
BEING an inhabitant almost in every garden, it is so well known, that
it needs no description.
_Time._] It flowers about the end of June, and beginning of July.
_Government and virtues._] Mercury owns the herb; and it carries his
effects very potently. Lavender is of a special good use for all the
griefs and pains of the head and brain that proceed of a cold cause,
as the apoplexy, falling-sickness, the dropsy, or sluggish malady,
cramps, convulsions, palsies, and often faintings. It strengthens the
stomach, and frees the liver and spleen from obstructions, provokes
women’s courses, and expels the dead child and after-birth. The
flowers of Lavender steeped in wine, helps them to make water that
are stopped, or are troubled with the wind or cholic, if the place
be bathed therewith. A decoction made with the flowers of Lavender,
Hore-hound, Fennel and Asparagus root, and a little Cinnamon, is very
profitably used to help the falling-sickness, and the giddiness or
turning of the brain: to gargle the mouth with the decoction thereof is
good against the tooth-ache. Two spoonfuls of the distilled water of
the flowers taken, helps them that have lost their voice, as also the
tremblings and passions of the heart, and faintings and swooning, not
only being drank, but applied to the temples, or nostrils to be smelled
unto; but it is not safe to use it where the body is replete with blood
and humours, because of the hot and subtile spirits wherewith it is
possessed. The chymical oil drawn from Lavender, usually called Oil of
Spike, is of so fierce and piercing a quality, that it is cautiously
to be used, some few drops being sufficient, to be given with other
things, either for inward or outward griefs.
LAVENDER-COTTON.
IT being a common garden herb, I shall forbear the description, only
take notice, that it flowers in June and July.
_Government and virtues._] It is under the dominion of Mercury. It
resists poison, putrefaction, and heals the biting of venomous beasts:
A dram of the powder of the dried leaves taken every morning fasting,
stops the running of the reins in men, and whites in women. The seed
beaten into powder, and taken as worm-seed, kills the worms, not only
in children, but also in people of riper years; the like doth the herb
itself, being steeped in milk, and the milk drank; the body bathed with
the decoction of it, helps scabs and itch.
LADIES-SMOCK, OR CUCKOW-FLOWER.
THIS is a very pretty ornament to the sides of most meadows.
_Descript._] The root is composed of many small white threads from
whence spring up divers long stalks of winged leaves, consisting of
round, tender, dark, green leaves, set one against another upon a
middle rib, the greatest being at the end, amongst which arise up
divers tender, weak, round, green stalks, somewhat streaked, with
longer and smaller leaves upon them; on the tops of which stand
flowers, almost like the Stock Gilliflowers, but rounder, and not so
long, of a blushing white colour; the seed is reddish, and grows to
small branches, being of a sharp biting taste, and so has the herb.
_Place._] They grow in moist places, and near to brooksides.
_Time._] They flower in April and May, and the lower leaves continue
green all the Winter.
_Government and virtues._] They are under the dominion of the Moon, and
very little inferior to Water Cresses in all their operations; they
are excellently good for the scurvy, they provoke urine, and break the
stone, and excellently warm a cold and weak stomach, restoring lost
appetite, and help digestion.
LETTUCE.
IT is so well known, being generally used as a Sallad-herb, that it is
altogether needless to write any description thereof.
_Government and virtues._] The Moon owns them, and that is the reason
they cool and moisten what heat and dryness Mars causeth, because Mars
has his fall in Cancer; and they cool the heat because the Sun rules
it, between whom and the Moon is a reception in the generation of men,
as you may see in my Guide for Women. The juice of Lettuce mixed or
boiled with Oil of Roses, applied to the forehead and temples procures
sleep, and eases the headache proceeding of an hot cause: Being eaten
boiled, it helps to loosen the belly. It helps digestion, quenches
thirst, increases milk in nurses, eases griping pains in the stomach
or bowels, that come of choler. Applied outwardly to the region of the
heart, liver or reins, or by bathing the said places with the juice
of distilled water, wherein some white Sanders, or red Roses are put;
not only represses the heat and inflammations therein, but comforts
and strengthens those parts, and also tempers the heat of urine. Galen
advises old men to use it with spice; and where spices are wanting,
to add Mints, Rochet, and such like hot herbs, or else Citron Lemon,
or Orange seeds, to abate the cold of one and heat of the other. The
seed and distilled water of the Lettuce work the same effects in all
things; but the use of Lettuce is chiefly forbidden to those that are
short-winded, or have any imperfection in the lungs, or spit blood.
WATER LILY.
OF these there are two principally noted kinds, _viz._ the White and
the Yellow.
_Descript._] The White Lily has very large and thick dark green
leaves lying on the water, sustained by long and thick foot-stalks,
that arise from a great, thick, round, and long tuberous black root
spongy or loose, with many knobs thereon, green on the outside, but as
white as snow within, consisting of divers rows of long and somewhat
thick and narrow leaves, smaller and thinner the more inward they be,
encompassing a head with many yellow threads or thrums in the middle;
where, after they are past, stand round Poppy-like heads, full of broad
oily and bitter seed.
The yellow kind is little different from the former, save only that it
has fewer leaves on the flowers, greater and more shining seed, and a
whitish root, both within and without. The root of both is somewhat
sweet in taste.
_Place._] They are found growing in great pools, and standing waters,
and sometimes in slow running rivers, and lesser ditches of water, in
sundry places of this land.
_Time._] They flower most commonly about the end of May, and their seed
is ripe in August.
_Government and virtues._] The herb is under the dominion of the Moon,
and therefore cools and moistens like the former. The leaves and
flowers of the Water Lilies are cold and moist, but the roots and seeds
are cold and dry; the leaves do cool all inflammations, both outward
and inward heat of agues; and so doth the flowers also, either by the
syrup or conserve; the syrup helps much to procure rest, and to settle
the brain of frantic persons, by cooling the hot distemperature of the
head. The seed as well as the root is effectual to stay fluxes of blood
or humours, either of wounds or of the belly; but the roots are most
used, and more effectual to cool, bind, and restrain all fluxes in man
or woman. The root is likewise very good for those whose urine is hot
and sharp, to be boiled in wine and water, and the decoction drank. The
distilled water of the flowers is very effectual for all the diseases
aforesaid, both inwardly taken, and outwardly applied; and is much
commended to take away freckles, spots, sunburn, and morphew from the
face, or other parts of the body. The oil made of the flowers, as oil
of Roses is made, is profitably used to cool hot tumours, and to ease
the pains, and help the sores.
LILY OF THE VALLEY.
CALLED also Conval Lily, Male Lily, and Lily Confancy.
_Descript._] The root is small, and creeps far in the ground, as grass
roots do. The leaves are many, against which rises up a stalk half
a foot high, with many white flowers, like little bells with turned
edges of a strong, though pleasing smell; the berries are red, not
much unlike those of Asparagus.
_Place._] They grow plentifully upon Hampstead-Heath, and many other
places in this nation.
_Time._] They flower in May, and the seed is ripe in September.
GOVERNMENT AND VIRTUES.] It is under the dominion of Mercury, and
therefore it strengthens the brain, recruits a weak memory, and makes
it strong again: The distilled water dropped into the eyes, helps
inflammations there; as also that infirmity which they call a pin and
web. The spirit of the flowers distilled in wine, restores lost speech,
helps the palsy, and is excellently good in the apoplexy, comforts
the heart and vital spirits. Gerrard saith, that the flowers being
close stopped up in a glass, put into an ant-hill, and taken away
again a month after, ye shall find a liquor in the glass, which, being
outwardly applied, helps the gout.
WHITE LILIES.
IT were in vain to describe a plant so commonly known in every one’s
garden; therefore I shall not tell you what they are, but what they are
good for.
_Government and virtues._] They are under the dominion of the Moon,
and by antipathy to Mars expel poison; they are excellently good in
pestilential fevers, the roots being bruised and boiled in wine, and
the decoction drank; for it expels the venom to the exterior parts of
the body: The juice of it being tempered with barley meal, baked, and
so eaten for ordinary bread, is an excellent cure for the dropsy: An
ointment made of the root, and hog’s grease, is excellently good for
scald heads, unites the sinews when they are cut, and cleanses ulcers.
The root boiled in any convenient decoction, gives speedy delivery to
women in travail, and expels the afterbirth. The root roasted, and
mixed with a little hog’s grease, makes a gallant poultice to ripen and
break plague-sores. The ointment is excellently good for swellings in
the privities, and will cure burnings and scaldings without a scar, and
trimly deck a blank place with hair.
LIQUORICE.
_Descript._] OUR English Liquorice rises up with divers woody stalks,
whereon are set at several distances many narrow, long, green leaves,
set together on both sides of the stalk, and an odd one at the end,
very well resembling a young ash tree sprung up from the seed. This
by many years continuance in a place without removing, and not else,
will bring forth flowers, many standing together spike fashion, one
above another upon the stalk, of the form of pease blossoms, but of a
very pale blue colour, which turn into long, somewhat flat and smooth
cods, wherein is contained a small, round, hard seed: The roots run
down exceeding deep into the ground, with divers other small roots and
fibres growing with them, and shoot out suckers from the main roots
all about, whereby it is much increased, of a brownish colour on the
outside, and yellow within.
_Place._] It is planted in fields and gardens, in divers places of this
land, and thereof good profit is made.
_Government and virtues._] It is under the dominion of Mercury.
Liquorice boiled in fair water, with some Maiden-hair and figs, makes a
good drink for those that have a dry cough or hoarseness, wheezing or
shortness of breath, and for all the griefs of the breast and lungs,
phthisic or consumptions caused by the distillation of salt humours
on them. It is also good in all pains of the reins, the stranguary,
and heat of urine: The fine powder of Liquorice blown through a
quill into the eyes that have a pin and web (as they call it) or
rheumatic distillations in them, doth cleanse and help them. The juice
of Liquorice is as effectual in all the diseases of the breast and
lungs, the reins and bladder, as the decoction. The juice distilled in
Rose-water, with some Gum Tragacanth, is a fine licking medicine for
hoarseness, wheezing, &c.
LIVERWORT.
THERE are, according to some botanists, upwards of three hundred
different kinds of Liverwort.
_Descript._] Common Liverwort grows close, and spreads much upon the
ground in moist and shady places, with many small green leaves, or
rather (as it were) sticking flat to one another, very unevenly cut
in on the edges, and crumpled; from among which arise small slender
stalks, an inch or two high at most, bearing small star-like flowers at
the top; the roots are very fine and small.
_Government and virtues._] It is under the dominion of Jupiter, and
under the sign Cancer. It is a singularly good herb for all the
diseases of the liver, both to cool and cleanse it, and helps the
inflammations in any part, and the yellow jaundice likewise. Being
bruised and boiled in small beer, and drank, it cools the heat of the
liver and kidneys, and helps the running of the reins in men, and the
whites in women; it is a singular remedy to stay the spreading of
tetters, ringworms, and other fretting and running sores and scabs, and
is an excellent remedy for such whose livers are corrupted by surfeits,
which cause their bodies to break out, for it fortifies the liver
exceedingly, and makes it impregnable.
LOOSESTRIFE OR WILLOW-HERB.
_Descript._] COMMON yellow Loosestrife grows to be four or five feet
high, or more, with great round stalks, a little crested, diversly
branched from the middle of them to the tops into great and long
branches, on all which, at the joints, there grow long and narrow
leaves, but broader below, and usually two at a joint, yet sometimes
three or four, somewhat like willow leaves, smooth on the edges, and
of a fair green colour from the upper joints of the branches, and at
the tops of them also stand many yellow flowers of five leaves a-piece,
with divers yellow threads in the middle, which turn into small round
heads, containing small cornered seeds: the root creeps under ground,
almost like coughgrass, but greater, and shoots up every Spring
brownish heads which afterwards grow up into stalks. It has no scent or
taste, and is only astringent.
_Place._] It grows in many places of the land in moist meadows, and by
water sides.
_Time._] It flowers from June to August.
_Government and virtues._] This herb is good for all manner of bleeding
at the mouth, nose, or wounds, and all fluxes of the belly, and the
bloody-flux, given either to drink or taken by clysters; it stays also
the abundance of women’s courses; it is a singular good wound-herb for
green wounds, to stay the bleeding, and quickly close together the lips
of the wound, if the herb be bruised, and the juice only applied. It is
often used in gargles for sore mouths, as also for the secret parts.
The smoak hereof being bruised, drives away flies and gnats, which in
the night time molest people inhabiting near marshes, and in the fenny
countries.
LOOSESTRIFE, WITH SPIKED HEADS OF
FLOWERS.
IT is likewise called Grass-polly.
_Descript._] This grows with many woody square stalks, full of joints,
about three feet high at least; at every one whereof stand two long
leaves, shorter, narrower, and a greener colour than the former, and
some brownish. The stalks are branched into many long stems of spiked
flowers half a foot long, growing in bundles one above another, out
of small husks, very like the spiked heads of Lavender, each of which
flowers have five round-pointed leaves of a purple violet colour, or
somewhat inclining to redness; in which husks stand small round heads
after the flowers are fallen, wherein is contained small seed. The
root creeps under ground like unto the yellow, but is greater than it,
and so are the heads of the leaves when they first appear out of the
ground, and more brown than the other.
_Place._] It grows usually by rivers, and ditch-sides in wet ground, as
about the ditches at and near Lambeth, and in many places of this land.
_Time._] It flowers in the months of June and July.
_Government and virtues._] It is an herb of the Moon, and under the
sign Cancer; neither do I know a better preserver of the sight when
it is well, nor a better cure for sore eyes than Eyebright, taken
inwardly, and this used outwardly; it is cold in quality. This herb
is nothing inferior to the former, it having not only all the virtues
which the former hath, but more peculiar virtues of its own, found
out by experience; as, namely, The distilled water is a present
remedy for hurts and blows on the eyes, and for blindness, so as the
Christalline humours be not perished or hurt; and this hath been
sufficiently proved true by the experience of a man of judgment, who
kept it long to himself as a great secret. It clears the eyes of dust,
or any thing gotten into them, and preserves the sight. It is also very
available against wounds and thrusts, being made into an ointment in
this manner: To every ounce of the water, add two drams of May butter
without salt, and of sugar and wax, of each as much also; let them
boil gently together. Let tents dipped into the liquor that remains
after it is cold, be put into the wounds, and the place covered with
a linen cloth doubled and anointed with the ointment; and this is also
an approved medicine. It likewise cleanses and heals all foul ulcers,
and sores whatsoever, and stays their inflammations by washing them
with the water, and laying on them a green leaf or two in the Summer,
or dry leaves in the Winter. This water, gargled warm in the mouth,
and sometimes drank also, doth cure the quinsy, or king’s evil in the
throat. The said water applied warm, takes away all spots, marks, and
scabs in the skin; and a little of it drank, quenches thirst when it is
extreme.
LOVAGE.
_Descript._] IT has many long and green stalks of large winged leaves,
divided into many parts, like Smallage, but much larger and greater,
every leaf being cut about the edges, broadest forward, and smallest at
the stalk, of a sad green colour, smooth and shining; from among which
rise up sundry strong, hollow green stalks, five or six, sometimes
seven or eight feet high, full of joints, but lesser leaves set on
them than grow below; and with them towards the tops come forth large
branches, bearing at their tops large umbels of yellow flowers, and
after them flat brownish seed. The roots grow thick, great and deep,
spreading much, and enduring long, of a brownish colour on the outside,
and whitish within. The whole plant and every part of it smelling
strong, and aromatically, and is of a hot, sharp, biting taste.
_Place._] It is usually planted in gardens, where, if it be suffered,
it grows huge and great.
_Time._] It flowers in the end of July, and seeds in August.
_Government and virtues._] It is an herb of the Sun, under the sign
Taurus. If Saturn offend the throat (as he always doth if he be
occasioner of the malady, and in Taurus is the Genesis) this is your
cure. It opens, cures and digests humours, and mightily provokes
women’s courses and urine. Half a dram at a time of the dried root
in powder taken in wine, doth wonderfully warm a cold stomach, helps
digestion, and consumes all raw and superfluous moisture therein; eases
all inward gripings and pains, dissolves wind, and resists poison and
infection. It is a known and much praised remedy to drink the decoction
of the herb for any sort of ague, and to help the pains and torments
of the body and bowels coming of cold. The seed is effectual to all
the purposes aforesaid (except the last) and works more powerfully.
The distilled water of the herb helps the quinsy in the throat, if
the mouth and throat be gargled and washed therewith, and helps the
pleurisy, being drank three or four times. Being dropped into the eyes,
it takes away the redness or dimness of them; it likewise takes away
spots or freckles in the face. The leaves bruised, and fried with a
little hog’s lard, and put hot to any blotch or boil, will quickly
break it.
LUNGWORT.
_Descript._] THIS is a kind of moss, that grows on sundry sorts of
trees, especially oaks and beeches, with broad, greyish, tough leaves
diversly folded, crumpled, and gashed in on the edges, and some spotted
also with many small spots on the upper-side. It was never seen to bear
any stalk or flower at any time.
_Government and virtues._] Jupiter seems to own this herb. It is of
great use to physicians to help the diseases of the lungs, and for
coughs, wheezings, and shortness of breath, which it cures both in man
and beast. It is very profitable to put into lotions that are taken to
stay the moist humours that flow to ulcers, and hinder their healing,
as also to wash all other ulcers in the privy parts of a man or woman.
It is an excellent remedy boiled in beer for broken-winded horses.
MADDER.
_Descript._] GARDEN Madder shoots forth many very long, weak,
four-square, reddish stalks, trailing on the ground a great way, very
rough or hairy, and full of joints: At every one of these joints come
forth divers long and narrow leaves, standing like a star about the
stalks, round also and hairy, towards the tops whereof come forth many
small pale yellow flowers, after which come small round heads, green at
first, and reddish afterwards, but black when they are ripe, wherein
is contained the seed. The root is not very great, but exceeding long,
running down half a man’s length into the ground, red and very clear,
while it is fresh, spreading divers ways.
_Place._] It is only manured in gardens, or larger fields, for the
profit that is made thereof.
_Time._] It flowers towards the end of Summer, and the seed is ripe
quickly after.
_Government and virtues._] It is an herb of Mars. It hath an opening
quality, and afterwards to bind and strengthen. It is a sure remedy
for the yellow jaundice, by opening the obstructions of the liver and
gall, and cleansing those parts; it opens also the obstructions of the
spleen, and diminishes the melancholy humour. It is available for the
palsy and sciatica, and effectual for bruises inward and outward, and
is therefore much used in vulnerary drinks. The root for all those
aforesaid purposes, is to be boiled in wine or water, as the cause
requires, and some honey and sugar put thereunto afterwards. The seed
hereof taken in vinegar and honey, helps the swelling and hardness
of the spleen. The decoction of the leaves and branches is a good
fomentation for women that have not their courses. The leaves and roots
beaten and applied to any part that is discoloured with freckles,
morphew, the white scurf, or any such deformity of the skin, cleanses
thoroughly, and takes them away.
MAIDEN HAIR.
_Descript._] OUR common Maiden-Hair doth, from a number of hard black
fibres, send forth a great many blackish shining brittle stalks, hardly
a span long, in many not half so long, on each side set very thick with
small, round, dark green leaves, and spitted on the back of them like a
fern.
_Place._] It grows upon old stone walls in the West parts in Kent,
and divers other places of this land; it delights likewise to grow by
springs, wells, and rocky moist and shady places, and is always green.
WALL RUE, OR, WHITE MAIDEN-HAIR.
_Descript._] THIS has very fine, pale green stalks, almost as fine as
hairs, set confusedly with divers pale green leaves on every short
foot stalk, somewhat near unto the colour of garden Rue, and not much
differing in form but more diversly cut in on the edges, and thicker,
smooth on the upper part, and spotted finely underneath.
_Place._] It grows in many places of this land, at Dartford, and the
bridge at Ashford in Kent, at Beaconsfield in Buckinghamshire, at Wolly
in Huntingtonshire, on Framlingham Castle in Suffolk, on the church
walls at Mayfield in Sussex, in Somersetshire, and divers other places
of this land; and is green in Winter as well as Summer.
_Government and virtues._] Both this and the former are under the
dominion of Mercury, and so is that also which follows after, and the
virtue of both are so near alike, that though I have described them and
their places of growing severally, yet I shall in writing the virtues
of them, join them both together as follows.
The decoction of the herb Maiden-Hair being drank, helps those that are
troubled with the cough, shortness of breath, the yellow jaundice,
diseases of the spleen, stopping of urine, and helps exceedingly to
break the stone in the kidneys, (in all which diseases the Wall Rue
is also very effectual.) It provokes women’s courses, and stays both
bleedings and fluxes of the stomach and belly, especially when the
herb is dry; for being green, it loosens the belly, and voids choler
and phlegm from the stomach and liver; it cleanses the lungs, and by
rectifying the blood, causes a good colour to the whole body. The herb
boiled in oil of Camomile, dissolves knots, allays swellings, and dries
up moist ulcers. The lye made thereof is singularly good to cleanse
the head from scurf, and from dry and running sores, stays the falling
or shedding of the hair, and causes it to grow thick, fair, and well
coloured; for which purpose some boil it in wine, putting some Smallage
seed thereto, and afterwards some oil. The Wall Rue is as effectual as
Maiden-Hair, in all diseases of the head, or falling and recovering of
the hair again, and generally for all the aforementioned diseases: And
besides, the powder of it taken in drink for forty days together, helps
the burstings in children.
GOLDEN MAIDEN HAIR
To the former give me leave to add this, and I shall say no more but
only describe it to you, and for the virtues refer you to the former,
since whatever is said of them, may be also said of this.
_Descript._] It has many small, brownish, red hairs, to make up the
form of leaves growing about the ground from the root; and in the
middle of them, in Summer, rise small stalks of the same colour, set
with very fine yellowish green hairs on them, and bearing a small gold,
yellow head, less than a wheat corn, standing in a great husk. The root
is very small and thready.
_Place._] It grows in bogs and moorish places, and also on dry shady
places, as Hampstead Heath, and elsewhere.
MALLOWS AND MARSHMALLOWS.
COMMON Mallows are generally so well known that they need no
description.
Our common Marshmallows have divers soft hairy white stalks, rising to
be three or four feet high, spreading forth many branches, the leaves
whereof are soft and hairy, somewhat less than the other Mallow leaves,
but longer pointed, cut (for the most part) into some few divisions,
but deep. The flowers are many, but smaller also than the other
Mallows, and white, or tending to a bluish colour. After which come
such long, round cases and seeds, as in the other Mallows. The roots
are many and long, shooting from one head, of the bigness of a thumb
or finger, very pliant, tough, and being like liquorice, of a whitish
yellow colour on the outside, and more whitish within, full of a slimy
juice, which being laid in water, will thicken, as if it were a jelly.
_Place._] The common Mallows grow in every county of this land. The
common Marsh-mallows in most of the salt marshes, from Woolwich down
to the sea, both on the Kentish and Essex shores, and in divers other
places of this land.
_Time._] They flower all the Summer months, even until the Winter do
pull them down.
_Government and virtues._] Venus owns them both. The leaves of either
of the sorts, both specified, and the roots also boiled in wine or
water, or in broth with Parsley or Fennel roots, do help to open the
body, and are very convenient in hot agues, or other distempers of the
body, to apply the leaves so boiled warm to the belly. It not only
voids hot, choleric, and other offensive humours, but eases the pains
and torments of the belly coming thereby; and are therefore used in all
clysters conducing to those purposes. The same used by nurses procures
them store of milk. The decoction of the seed of any of the common
Mallows made in milk or wine, doth marvellously help excoriations,
the phthisic, pleurisy, and other diseases of the chest and lungs,
that proceed of hot causes, if it be continued taking for some time
together. The leaves and roots work the same effects. They help much
also in the excoriations of the bowels, and hardness of the mother, and
in all hot and sharp diseases thereof. The juice drank in wine, or the
decoction of them therein, do help women to a speedy and easy delivery.
Pliny saith, that whosoever takes a spoonful of any of the Mallows,
shall that day be free from all diseases that may come unto him; and
that it is especially good for the falling-sickness. The syrup also and
conserve made of the flowers, are very effectual for the same diseases,
and to open the body, being costive. The leaves bruised, and laid to
the eyes with a little honey, take away the imposthumations of them.
The leaves bruised or rubbed upon any place stung with bees, wasps, or
the like, presently take away the pain, redness, and swelling that rise
thereupon. And Dioscorides saith, The decoction of the roots and leaves
helps all sorts of poison, so as the poison be presently voided by
vomit. A poultice made of the leaves boiled and bruised, with some bean
or barley flower, and oil of Roses added, is an especial remedy against
all hard tumours and inflammations, or imposthumes, or swellings of
the privities, and other parts, and eases the pains of them; as also
against the hardness of the liver or spleen, being applied to the
places. The juice of Mallows boiled in old oil and applied, takes away
all roughness of the skin, as also the scurf, dandriff, or dry scabs
in the head, or other parts, if they be anointed therewith, or washed
with the decoction, and preserves the hair from falling off. It is also
effectual against scaldings and burnings, St. Anthony’s fire, and all
other hot, red, and painful swellings in any part of the body. The
flowers boiled in oil or water (as every one is disposed) whereunto a
little honey and allum is put, is an excellent gargle to wash, cleanse
or heal any sore mouth or throat in a short space. If the feet be
bathed or washed with the decoction of the leaves, roots, and flowers,
it helps much the defluxions of rheum from the head; if the head be
washed therewith, it stays the falling and shedding of the hair. The
green leaves (saith Pliny) beaten with nitre, and applied, draw out
thorns or prickles in the flesh.
The Marshmallows are more effectual in all the diseases before
mentioned: The leaves are likewise used to loosen the belly gently,
and in decoctions or clysters to ease all pains of the body, opening
the strait passages, and making them slippery, whereby the stone may
descend the more easily and without pain, out of the reins, kidneys,
and bladder, and to ease the torturing pains thereof. But the roots
are of more special use for those purposes, as well for coughs,
hoarseness, shortness of breath and wheezings, being boiled in wine,
or honeyed water, and drank. The roots and seeds hereof boiled in wine
or water, are with good success used by them that have excoriations
in the bowels, or the bloody flux, by qualifying the violence of
sharp fretting humours, easing the pains, and healing the soreness.
It is profitably taken by them that are troubled with ruptures,
cramps, or convulsions of the sinews; and boiled in white wine, for
the imposthumes by the throat, commonly called the king’s evil, and
of those kernels that rise behind the ears, and inflammations or
swellings in women’s breasts. The dried roots boiled in milk and drank,
is especially good for the chin-cough. Hippocrates used to give the
decoction of the roots, or the juice thereof, to drink, to those that
are wounded, and ready to faint through loss of blood, and applied the
same, mixed with honey and rosin, to the wounds. As also, the roots
boiled in wine to those that have received any hurt by bruises, falls,
or blows, or had any bone or member out of joint, or any swelling-pain,
or ache in the muscles, sinews or arteries. The muscilage of the roots,
and of Linseed and Fenugreek put together, is much used in poultices,
ointments, and plaisters, to molify and digest all hard swellings, and
the inflammation of them, and to ease pains in any part of the body.
The seed either green or dry, mixed with vinegar, cleanses the skin of
morphew, and all other discolourings being boiled therewith in the Sun.
You may remember that not long since there was a raging disease called
the bloody-flux; the college of physicians not knowing what to make of
it, called it the inside plague, for their wits were at _Ne plus ultra_
about it: My son was taken with the same disease, and the excoriation
of his bowels was exceeding great; myself being in the country, was
sent for up, the only thing I gave him, was Mallows bruised and boiled
both in milk and drink, in two days (the blessing of God being upon
it) it cured him. And I here, to shew my thankfulness to God, in
communicating it to his creatures, leave it to posterity.
MAPLE TREE.
_Government and virtues._] IT is under the dominion of Jupiter. The
decoction either of the leaves or bark, must needs strengthen the liver
much, and so you shall find it to do, if you use it. It is excellently
good to open obstructions both of the liver and spleen, and eases pains
of the sides thence proceeding.
WIND MARJORAM.
CALLED also Origanum, Eastward Marjoram; Wild Marjoram, and Grove
Marjoram.
_Descript._] Wild or field Marjoram hath a root which creeps much under
ground, which continues a long time, sending up sundry brownish, hard,
square stalks, with small dark green leaves, very like those of Sweet
Marjoram, but harder, and somewhat broader; at the top of the stalks
stand tufts of flowers, of a deep purplish red colour. The seed is
small and something blacker than that of Sweet Marjoram.
_Place._] It grows plentifully in the borders of corn fields, and in
some copses.
_Time._] It flowers towards the latter end of the Summer.
_Government and virtues._] This is also under the dominion of Mercury.
It strengthens the stomach and head much, there being scarce a better
remedy growing for such as are troubled with a sour humour in the
stomach; it restores the appetite being lost; helps the cough, and
consumption of the lungs; it cleanses the body of choler, expels
poison, and remedies the infirmities of the spleen; helps the bitings
of venomous beasts, and helps such as have poisoned themselves by
eating Hemlock, Henbane, or Opium. It provokes urine and the terms
in women, helps the dropsy, and the scurvy, scabs, itch, and yellow
jaundice. The juice being dropped into the ears, helps deafness, pain
and noise in the ears. And thus much for this herb, between which and
adders, there is a deadly antipathy.
SWEET MARJORAM.
SWEET Marjoram is so well known, being an inhabitant in every garden,
that it is needless to write any description thereof, neither of the
Winter Sweet Marjoram, or Pot Marjoram.
_Place._] They grow commonly in gardens; some sorts grow wild in the
borders of corn fields and pastures, in sundry places of this land;
but it is not my purpose to insist upon them. The garden kinds being
most used and useful.
_Time._] They flower in the end of Summer.
_Government and virtues._] It is an herb of Mercury, and under Aries,
and therefore is an excellent remedy for the brain and other parts of
the body and mind, under the dominion of the same planet. Our common
Sweet Marjoram is warming and comfortable in cold diseases of the head,
stomach, sinews, and other parts, taken inwardly, or outwardly applied.
The decoction thereof being drank, helps all diseases of the chest
which hinder the freeness of breathing, and is also profitable for the
obstructions of the liver and spleen. It helps the cold griefs of the
womb, and the windiness thereof, and the loss of speech, by resolution
of the tongue. The decoction thereof made with some Pellitory of
Spain, and long Pepper, or with a little Acorns or Origanum, being
drank, is good for those that cannot make water, and against pains and
torments in the belly; it provokes women’s courses, if it be used as a
pessary. Being made into powder, and mixed with honey, it takes away
the black marks of blows, and bruises, being thereunto applied; it is
good for the inflammations and watering of the eyes, being mixed with
fine flour, and laid unto them. The juice dropped into the ears eases
the pains and singing noise in them. It is profitably put into those
ointments and salves that are warm, and comfort the outward parts, as
the joints and sinews; for swellings also, and places out of joint. The
powder thereof snuffed up into the nose provokes sneezing, and thereby
purges the brain; and chewed in the mouth, draws forth much phlegm.
The oil made thereof, is very warm and comfortable to the joints that
are stiff, and the sinews that are hard, to molify and supple them.
Marjoram is much used in all odoriferous water, powders, &c. that are
for ornament or delight.
MARIGOLDS.
THESE being so plentiful in every garden, and so well known that they
need no description.
_Time._] They flower all the Summer long, and sometimes in Winter, if
it be mild.
_Government and virtues._] It is an herb of the Sun, and under Leo.
They strengthen the heart exceedingly, and are very expulsive, and a
little less effectual in the small-pox and measles than saffron. The
juice of Marigold leaves mixed with vinegar, and any hot swelling
bathed with it, instantly gives ease, and assuages it. The flowers,
either green or dried, are much used in possets, broths, and drink, as
a comforter of the heart and spirits, and to expel any malignant or
pestilential quality which might annoy them. A plaister made with the
dry flowers in powder, hog’s-grease, turpentine, and rosin, applied to
the breast, strengthens and succours the heart infinitely in fevers,
whether pestilential or not.
MASTERWORT.
_Descript._] COMMON Masterwort has divers stalks of winged leaves
divided into sundry parts, three for the most part standing together
at a small foot-stalk on both sides of the greater, and three likewise
at the end of the stalk, somewhat broad, and cut in on the edges into
three or more divisions, all of them dented about the brims, of a dark
green colour, somewhat resembling the leaves of Angelica, but that
these grow lower to the ground, and on lesser stalks; among which rise
up two or three short stalks about two feet high, and slender, with
such like leaves at the joints which grow below, but with lesser and
fewer divisions, bearing umbels of white flowers, and after them thin,
flat blackish seeds, bigger than Dill seeds. The root is somewhat
greater and growing rather side-ways than down deep in the ground,
shooting forth sundry heads, which taste sharp, biting on the tongue,
and is the hottest and sharpest part of the plant, and the seed next
unto it being somewhat blackish on the outside, and smelling well.
_Place._] It is usually kept in gardens with us in England.
_Time._] It flowers and seeds about the end of August.
_Government and virtues._] It is an herb of Mars. The root of
Masterwort is hotter than pepper, and very available in cold griefs
and diseases both of the stomach and body, dissolving very powerfully
upwards and downwards. It is also used in a decoction with wine against
all cold rheums, distillations upon the lungs, or shortness of breath,
to be taken morning and evening. It also provokes urine, and helps
to break the stone, and expel the gravel from the kidneys; provokes
women’s courses, and expels the dead birth. It is singularly good for
strangling of the mother, and other such like feminine diseases. It is
effectual also against the dropsy, cramps, and falling sickness; for
the decoction in wine being gargled in the mouth, draws down much water
and phlegm, from the brain, purging and easing it of what oppresses it.
It is of a rare quality against all sorts of cold poison, to be taken
as there is cause; it provokes sweat. But lest the taste hereof, or of
the seed (which works to the like effect, though not so powerfully)
should be too offensive, the best way is to take the water distilled
both from the herb and root. The juice hereof dropped, or tents dipped
therein, and applied either to green wounds or filthy rotten ulcers,
and those that come by envenomed weapons, doth soon cleanse and heal
them. The same is also very good to help the gout coming of a cold
cause.
SWEET MAUDLIN.
_Descript._] COMMON Maudlin hath somewhat long and narrow leaves,
snipped about the edges. The stalks are two feet high, bearing at the
tops many yellow flowers set round together and all of an equal height,
in umbels or tufts like unto tansy; after which follow small whitish
seed, almost as big as wormseed.
_Place and Time._] It grows in gardens, and flowers in June and July.
_Government and virtues._] The Virtues hereof being the same with
Costmary or Alecost, I shall not make any repetition thereof, lest my
book grow too big; but rather refer you to Costmary for satisfaction.
THE MEDLAR.
_Descript._] THE Tree grows near the bigness of the Quince Tree,
spreading branches reasonably large, with longer and narrower leaves
than either the apple or quince, and not dented about the edges. At
the end of the sprigs stand the flowers, made of five white, great,
broad-pointed leaves, nicked in the middle with some white threads
also; after which comes the fruit, of a brownish green colour, being
ripe, bearing a crown as it were on the top, which were the five green
leaves; and being rubbed off, or fallen away, the head of the fruit
is seen to be somewhat hollow. The fruit is very harsh before it is
mellowed, and has usually five hard kernels within it. There is another
kind hereof nothing differing from the former, but that it hath some
thorns on it in several places, which the other hath not; and usually
the fruit is small, and not so pleasant.
_Time and Place._] They grow in this land, and flower in May for the
most part, and bear fruit in September and October.
_Government and virtues._] The fruit is old Saturn’s, and sure a better
medicine he hardly hath to strengthen the retentive faculty; therefore
it stays women’s longings: The good old man cannot endure women’s
minds should run a gadding. Also a plaister made of the fruit dried
before they are rotten, and other convenient things, and applied to
the reins of the back, stops miscarriage in women with child. They are
powerful to stay any fluxes of blood or humours in men or women; the
leaves also have this quality. The decoction of them is good to gargle
and wash the mouth, throat and teeth, when there is any defluxions of
blood to stay it, or of humours, which causes the pains and swellings.
It is a good bath for women, that have their courses flow too abundant:
or for the piles when they bleed too much. If a poultice or plaister be
made with dried medlars, beaten and mixed with the juice of red roses,
whereunto a few cloves and nutmegs may be added, and a little red coral
also, and applied to the stomach that is given to casting or loathing
of meat, it effectually helps. The dried leaves in powder strewed on
fresh bleeding wounds restrains the blood, and heals up the wound
quickly. The medlar-stones made into powder, and drank in wine, wherein
some Parsley-roots have lain infused all night, or a little boiled, do
break the stone in the kidneys, helping to expel it.
MELLILOT, OR KING’S CLAVER.
_Descript._] THIS hath many green stalks, two or three feet high,
rising from a tough, long, white root, which dies not every year, set
round about at the joints with small and somewhat long, well-smelling
leaves, set three together, unevently dented about the edges. The
flowers are yellow, and well-smelling also, made like other trefoil,
but small, standing in long spikes one above another, for an hand
breadth long or better, which afterwards turn into long crooked pods,
wherein is contained flat seed, somewhat brown.
_Place._] It grows plentifully in many places of this land, as in the
edge of Suffolk and in Essex, as also in Huntingdonshire, and in other
places, but most usually in corn fields, in corners of meadows.
_Time._] It flowers in June and July, and is ripe quickly after.
_Government and virtues._] Melilot, boiled in wine, and applied,
mollifies all hard tumours and inflammations that happen in the eyes,
or other parts of the body, and sometimes the yolk of a roasted egg, or
fine flour, or poppy seed, or endive, is added unto it. It helps the
spreading ulcers in the head, it being washed with a lye made thereof.
It helps the pains of the stomach, being applied fresh, or boiled
with any of the aforenamed things; also, the pains of the ears, being
dropped into them; and steeped in vinegar, or rose water, it mitigates
the head-ache. The flowers of Mellilot or Camomile are much used to
be put together in clysters to expel wind, and ease pains; and also
in poultices for the same purpose, and to assuage swelling tumours in
the spleen or other parts, and helps inflammations in any part of the
body. The juice dropped into the eyes, is a singularly good medicine to
take away the film or skin that clouds or dimns the eye-sight. The head
often washed with the distilled water of the herb and flower, or a lye
made therewith, is effectual for those that suddenly lose their senses;
as also to strengthen the memory, to comfort the head and brain, and to
preserve them from pain, and the apoplexy.
FRENCH AND DOG MERCURY.
_Descript._] THIS rises up with a square green stalk full of joints,
two feet high, or thereabouts, with two leaves at every joint, and the
branches likewise from both sides of the stalk, set with fresh green
leaves, somewhat broad and long, about the bigness of the leaves of
Bazil, finely dented about the edges; towards the tops of the stalk
and branches, come forth at every joint in the male Mercury two
small, round green heads, standing together upon a short foot stalk,
which growing ripe, are seeds, not having flowers. The female stalk is
longer, spike-fashion, set round about with small green husks, which
are the flowers, made small like bunches of grapes, which give no
seed, but abiding long upon the stalks without shedding. The root is
composed of many small fibres, which perishes every year at the first
approach of Winter, and rises again of its own sowing; and if once it
is suffered to sow itself, the ground will never want afterwards, even
both sorts of it.
DOG MERCURY.
HAVING described unto you that which is called French Mercury, I come
now to shew you a description of this kind also.
_Descript._] This is likewise of two kinds, male and Female, having
many stalks slender and lower than Mercury, without any branches at all
upon them, the root is set with two leaves at every joint, somewhat
greater than the female, but more pointed and full of veins, and
somewhat harder in handling: of a dark green colour, and less denied
or snipped about the edges. At the joints with the leaves come forth
longer stalks than the former, with two hairy round seeds upon them,
twice as big as those of the former Mercury. The taste hereof is herby,
and the smell somewhat strong and virulent. The female has much harder
leaves standing upon longer footstalks, and the stalks are also longer;
from the joints come forth spikes of flowers like the French Female
Mercury. The roots of them both are many, and full of small fibres
which run under ground, and mat themselves very much, not perishing
as the former Mercuries do, but abide the Winter, and shoot forth new
branches every year, for the old lie down to the ground.
_Place._] The male and female French Mercury are found wild in divers
places of this land, as by a village called Brookland in Rumney Marsh
in Kent.
The Dog Mercury in sundry places of Kent also, and elsewhere; but the
female more seldom than the male.
_Time._] They flower in the Summer months, and therein give their seed.
_Government and virtues._] Mercury, they say, owns the herb, but I
rather think it is Venus’s, and I am partly confident of it too, for
I never heard that Mercury ever minded women’s business so much:
I believe he minds his study more. The decoction of the leaves of
Mercury, or the juice thereof in broth, or drank with a little sugar
put to it, purges choleric and waterish humours. Hippocrates commended
it wonderfully for women’s diseases, and applied to the secret parts,
to ease the pains of the mother; and used the decoction of it, both to
procure women’s courses, and to expel the after-birth; and gave the
decoction thereof with myrrh or pepper, or used to apply the leaves
outwardly against the stranguary and diseases of the reins and bladder.
He used it also for sore and watering eyes, and for the deafness and
pains in the ears, by dropping the juice thereof into them, and bathing
them afterwards in white wine. The decoction thereof made with water
and a cock chicken, is a most safe medicine against the hot fits of
agues. It also cleanses the breast and lungs of phlegm, but a little
offends the stomach. The juice or distilled water snuffed up into the
nostrils, purges the head and eyes of catarrhs and rheums. Some use to
drink two or three ounces of the distilled water, with a little sugar
put to it, in the morning fasting, to open and purge the body of gross,
viscous, and melancholy humours. Matthiolus saith, that both the seed
of the male and female Mercury boiled with Wormwood and drank, cures
the yellow jaundice in a speedy manner. The leaves or the juice rubbed
upon warts, takes them away. The juice mingled with some vinegar, helps
all running scabs, tetters, ringworms, and the itch. Galen saith, that
being applied in manner of a poultice to any swelling or inflammation,
it digests the swelling, and allays the inflammation, and is therefore
given in clysters to evacuate from the belly offensive humours. The Dog
Mercury, although it be less used, yet may serve in the same manner, to
the same purpose, to purge waterish and melancholy humours.
MINT.
OF all the kinds of Mint, the Spear Mint, or Heart Mint, being most
usual, I shall only describe as follows:
_Descript._] Spear Mint has divers round stalks, and long but narrowish
leaves set thereon, of a dark green colour. The flowers stand in spiked
heads at the tops of the branches, being of a pale blue colour. The
smell or scent thereof is somewhat near unto Bazil; it encreases by the
root under ground as all the others do.
_Place._] It is an usual inhabitant in gardens; and because it seldom
gives any good seed, the seed is recompensed by the plentiful increase
of the root, which being once planted in a garden, will hardly be rid
out again.
_Time._] It flowers not until the beginning of August, for the most
part.
_Government and virtues._] It is an herb of Venus. Dioscorides saith
it hath a healing, binding and drying quality, and therefore the juice
taken in vinegar, stays bleeding: It stirs up venery, or bodily lust;
two or three branches thereof taken in the juice of four pomegranates,
stays the hiccough, vomiting, and allays the choler. It dissolves
imposthumes being laid to with barley-meal. It is good to repress the
milk in women’s breasts, and for such as have swollen, flagging, or
great breasts. Applied with salt, it helps the biting of a mad dog;
with mead and honeyed water, it eases the pains of the ears, and takes
away the roughness of the tongue, being rubbed thereupon. It suffers
not milk to curdle in the stomach, if the leaves thereof be steeped
or boiled in it before you drink it. Briefly it is very profitable to
the stomach. The often use hereof is a very powerful medicine to stay
women’s courses and the whites. Applied to the forehead and temples,
it eases the pains in the head, and is good to wash the heads of young
children therewith, against all manner of breakings-out, sores or
scabs, therein. It is also profitable against the poison of venomous
creatures. The distilled water of Mint is available to all the purposes
aforesaid, yet more weakly. But if a spirit thereof be rightly and
chymically drawn, it is much more powerful than the herb itself. Simeon
Sethi saith, it helps a cold liver, strengthens the belly, causes
digestion, stays vomits and hiccough; it is good against the gnawing of
the heart, provokes appetite, takes away obstructions of the liver, and
stirs up bodily lust; but therefore too much must not be taken, because
it makes the blood thin and wheyish, and turns it into choler, and
therefore choleric persons must abstain from it. It is a safe medicine
for the biting of a mad dog, being bruised with salt and laid thereon.
The powder of it being dried and taken after meat, helps digestion, and
those that are splenetic. Taken with wine, it helps women in their sore
travail in child-bearing. It is good against the gravel and stone in
the kidneys, and the stranguary. Being smelled unto, it is comfortable
for the head and memory. The decoction hereof gargled in the mouth,
cures the gums and mouth that are sore, and mends an ill-savoured
breath; as also the Rue and Coriander, causes the palate of the mouth
to turn to its place, the decoction being gargled and held in the
mouth.
The virtues of the Wild or Horse Mint, such as grow in ditches (whose
description I purposely omitted, in regard they are well known) are
serviceable to dissolve wind in the stomach, to help the cholic, and
those that are short-winded, and are an especial remedy for those
that have veneral dreams and pollutions in the night, being outwardly
applied. The juice dropped into the ears eases the pains of them,
and destroys the worms that breed therein. They are good against the
venemous biting of serpents. The juice laid on warm, helps the king’s
evil, or kernels in the throat. The decoction or distilled water helps
a stinking breath, proceeding from corruption of the teeth, and snuffed
up the nose, purges the head. Pliny saith, that eating of the leaves
hath been found by experience to cure the leprosy, applying some of
them to the face, and to help the scurf or dandriff of the head used
with vinegar. They are extremely bad for wounded people; and they say a
wounded man that eats Mint, his wound will never be cured, and that is
a long day.
MISSELTO.
_Descript._] THIS rises up from the branch or arm of the tree whereon
it grows, with a woody stem, putting itself into sundry branches,
and they again divided into many other smaller twigs, interlacing
themselves one within another, very much covered with a greyish green
bark, having two leaves set at every joint, and at the end likewise,
which are somewhat long and narrow, small at the bottom, but broader
towards the end. At the knots or joints of the boughs and branches grow
small yellow flowers, which run into small, round, white, transparent
berries, three or four together, full of a glutinous moisture, with a
blackish seed in each of them, which was never yet known to spring,
being put into the ground, or any where else to grow.
_Place._] It grows very rarely on oaks with us; but upon sundry others
as well timber as fruit trees, plentifully in woody groves, and the
like, through all this land.
_Time._] It flowers in the Spring-time, but the berries are not ripe
until October, and abides on the branches all the Winter, unless the
blackbirds, and other birds, do devour them.
_Government and virtues._] This is under the dominion of the Sun, I
do not question; and can also take for granted, that which grows upon
oaks, participates something of the nature of Jupiter, because an oak
is one of his trees; as also that which grows upon pear trees, and
apple trees, participates something of his nature, because he rules
the tree it grows upon, having no root of its own. But why that should
have most virtues that grows upon oaks I know not, unless because it
is rarest and hardest to come by; and our college’s opinion is in this
contrary to scripture, which saith, _God’s tender mercies are over
all his works_; and so it is, let the college of physicians walk as
contrary to him as they please, and that is as contrary as the east
to the west. Clusius affirms that which grows upon pear trees to be
as prevalent, and gives order, that it should not touch the ground
after it is gathered; and also saith, that, being hung about the
neck, it remedies witchcraft. Both the leaves and berries of Misselto
do heat and dry, and are of subtle parts; the birdlime doth molify
hard knots, tumours, and imposthumes; ripens and discusses them, and
draws forth thick as well as thin humours from the remote parts of
the body, digesting and separating them. And being mixed with equal
parts of rozin and wax, doth molify the hardness of the spleen, and
helps old ulcers and sores. Being mixed with Sandaric and Orpiment,
it helps to draw off foul nails; and if quick-lime and wine lees be
added thereunto, it works the stronger. The Misselto itself of the oak
(as the best) made into powder, and given in drink to those that have
the falling sickness, does assuredly heal them, as Matthiolus saith:
but it is fit to use it for forty days together. Some have so highly
esteemed it for the virtues thereof, that they have called it _Lignum
Sanctiæ Crucis_, Wood of the Holy Cross, believing it helps the falling
sickness, apoplexy and palsy very speedily, not only to be inwardly
taken, but to be hung at their neck. Tragus saith, that the fresh wood
of any Misselto bruised, and the juice drawn forth and dropped in the
ears that have imposthumes in them, doth help and ease them within a
few days.
MONEYWORT, OR HERB TWOPENCE.
_Descript._] THE common Moneywort sends forth from a small thready
root divers long, weak, and slender branches, lying and running upon
the ground two or three feet long or more, set with leaves two at a
joint one against another at equal distances, which are almost round,
but pointed at the ends, smooth, and of a good green colour. At the
joints with the leaves from the middle forward come forth at every
point sometimes one yellow flower, and sometimes two, standing each on
a small foot-stalk, and made of five leaves, narrow-pointed at the end,
with some yellow threads in the middle, which being past, there stand
in their places small round heads of seed.
_Place._] It grows plentifully in almost all places of this land,
commonly in moist grounds by hedge-sides, and in the middle of grassy
fields.
_Time._] They flower in June and July, and their seed is ripe quickly
after.
_Government and virtues._] Venus owns it. Moneywort is singularly
good to stay all fluxes in man or woman, whether they be lasks,
bloody-fluxes, bleeding inwardly or outwardly, or the weakness of the
stomach that is given to casting. It is very good also for the ulcers
or excoriations of the lungs, or other inward parts. It is exceedingly
good for all wounds, either fresh or green, to heal them speedily,
and for all old ulcers that are of spreading natures. For all which
purposes the juice of the herb, or the powder drank in water wherein
hot steel hath been often quenched; or the decoction of the green herb
in wine or water drank, or used to the outward place, to wash or bathe
them, or to have tents dipped therein and put into them, are effectual.
MOONWORT.
_Descript._] IT rises up usually but with one dark green, thick and
flat leaf, standing upon a short foot-stalk not above two fingers
breadth; but when it flowers it may be said to bear a small slender
stalk about four or five inches high, having but one leaf in the middle
thereof, which is much divided on both sides into sometimes five or
seven parts on a side, sometimes more; each of which parts is small
like the middle rib, but broad forwards, pointed and round, resembling
therein a half-moon, from whence it took the name; the uppermost parts
or divisions being bigger than the lowest. The stalks rise above this
leaf two or three inches, bearing many branches of small long tongues,
every one like the spiky head of the adder’s tongue, of a brownish
colour, (which, whether I shall call them flowers, or the seed, I well
know not) which, after they have continued awhile, resolve into a mealy
dust. The root is small and fibrous. This hath sometimes divers such
like leaves as are before described, with so many branches or tops
rising from one stalk, each divided from the other.
_Place._] It grows on hills and heaths, yet where there is much grass,
for therein it delights to grow.
_Time._] It is to be found only in April and May; for in June, when
any hot weather comes, for the most part it is withered and gone.
_Government and virtues._] The Moon owns the herb. Moonwort is cold
and drying more than Adder’s Tongue, and is therefore held to be more
available for all wounds both inward and outward. The leaves boiled
in red wine, and drank, stay the immoderate flux of women’s courses,
and the whites. It also stays bleeding, vomiting, and other fluxes.
It helps all blows and bruises, and to consolidate all fractures and
dislocations. It is good for ruptures, but is chiefly used, by most
with other herbs, to make oils or balsams to heal fresh or green
wounds (as I said before) either inward or outward, for which it is
excellently good.
Moonwort is an herb which (they say) will open locks, and unshoe such
horses as tread upon it: This some laugh to scorn, and those no small
fools neither; but country people, that I know, call it Unshoe the
Horse. Besides I have heard commanders say, that on White Down in
Devonshire, near Tiverton, there were found thirty horse shoes, pulled
off from the feet of the Earl of Essex’s horses, being there drawn up
in a body, many of them being but newly shod, and no reason known,
which caused much admiration: the herb described usually grows upon
heaths.
MOSSES.
I SHALL not trouble the reader with a description of these, since my
intent is to speak only of two kinds, as the most principal, viz.
Ground Moss and Tree Moss, both which are very well known.
_Place._] The Ground Moss grows in our moist woods, and at the bottom
of hills, in boggy grounds, and in shadowy ditches and many other such
like places. The Tree Moss grows only on trees.
_Government and virtues._] All sorts of Mosses are under the dominion
of Saturn. The Ground Moss is held to be singularly good to break the
stone, and to expel and drive it forth by urine, being boiled in wine
and drank. The herb being bruised and boiled in water, and applied,
eases all inflammations and pains coming from an hot cause; and is
therefore used to ease the pains of the gout.
The Tree Mosses are cooling and binding, and partake of a digesting and
molifying quality withal, as Galen saith. But each Moss partakes of the
nature of the tree from whence it is taken; therefore that of the oak
is more binding, and is of good effect to stay fluxes in man or woman;
as also vomiting or bleeding, the powder thereof being taken in wine.
The decoction thereof in wine is very good for women to be bathed in,
that are troubled with the overflowing of their courses. The same being
drank, stays the stomach that is troubled with casting, or hiccough;
and, as Avicena saith, it comforts the heart. The powder thereof
taken in drink for some time together, is thought available for the
dropsy. The oil that has had fresh Moss steeped therein for a time, and
afterwards boiled and applied to the temples and forehead, marvellously
eases the head-ache coming of a hot cause; as also the distillations of
hot rheums or humours in the eyes, or other parts. The ancients much
used it in their ointments and other medicines against the lassitude,
and to strengthen and comfort the sinews: For which, if it was good
then, I know no reason but it may be found so still.
MOTHERWORT.
_Descript._] THIS hath a hard, square, brownish, rough, strong stalk,
rising three or four feet high at least, spreading into many branches,
whereon grow leaves on each side, with long foot-stalks, two at
every joint, which are somewhat broad and long, as if it were rough
or crumpled, with many great veins therein of a sad green colour, and
deeply dented about the edges, and almost divided. From the middle of
the branches up to the tops of them (which are long and small) grow the
flowers round them at distances, in sharp pointed, rough, hard husks,
of a more red or purple colour than Balm or Horehound, but in the
same manner or form as the Horehound, after which come small, round,
blackish seeds in great plenty. The root sends forth a number of long
strings and small fibres, taking strong hold in the ground, of a dark
yellowish or brownish colour, and abides as the Horehound does: the
smell of the one not much differs from the other.
_Place._] It grows only in gardens with us in England.
_Government and virtues._] Venus owns the herb, and it is under Leo.
There is no better herb to take melancholy vapours from the heart, to
strengthen it, and make a merry, chearful, blithe soul than this herb.
It may be kept in a syrup or conserve; therefore the Latins called
it Cardiaca. Besides, it makes women joyful mothers of children, and
settles their wombs as they should be, therefore we call it Motherwort.
It is held to be of much use for the trembling of the heart, and
faintings and swoonings; from whence it took the name Cardiaca. The
powder thereof, to the quantity of a spoonful, drank in wine, is
a wonderful help to women in their sore travail, as also for the
suffocating or risings of the mother, and for these effects, it is
likely it took the name of Motherwort with us. It also provokes urine
and women’s courses, cleanses the chest of cold phlegm, oppressing it,
kills worms in the belly. It is of good use to warm and dry up the cold
humours, to digest and disperse them that are settled in the veins,
joints, and sinews of the body, and to help cramps and convulsions.
MOUSE-EAR.
_Descript._] MOUSE-EAR is a low herb, creeping upon the ground by small
strings, like the Strawberry plant, whereby it shoots forth small
roots, whereat grow, upon the ground, many small and somewhat short
leaves, set in a round form together, and very hairy, which, being
broken, do give a whitish milk: From among these leaves spring up two
or three small hoary stalks about a span high, with a few smaller
leaves thereon; at the tops whereof stands usually but one flower,
consisting of many pale yellow leaves, broad at the point, and a little
dented in, set in three or four rows (the greater uppermost) very like
a Dandelion flower, and a little reddish underneath about the edges,
especially if it grow in a dry ground; which after they have stood long
in flower do turn into down, which with the seed is carried away with
the wind.
_Place._] It grows on ditch banks, and sometimes in ditches, if they be
dry, and in sandy grounds.
_Time._] It flowers about June or July, and abides green all the Winter.
_Government and virtues._] The Moon owns this herb also; and though
authors cry out upon Alchymists, for attempting to fix quicksilver by
this herb and Moonwort, a Roman would not have judged a thing by the
success; if it be to be fixed at all, it is by lunar influence. The
juice thereof taken in wine, or the decoction thereof drank, doth help
the jaundice, although of long continuance, to drink thereof morning
and evening, and abstain from other drink two or three hours after.
It is a special remedy against the stone, and the tormenting pains
thereof: as also other tortures and griping pains of the bowels. The
decoction thereof with Succory and Centaury is held very effectual
to help the dropsy, and them that are inclining thereunto, and the
diseases of the spleen. It stays the fluxes of blood, either at the
mouth or nose, and inward bleeding also, for it is a singular wound
herb for wounds both inward and outward: It helps the bloody flux, and
helps the abundance of women’s courses. There is a syrup made of the
juice hereof and sugar, by the apothecaries of Italy, and other places,
which is of much account with them, to be given to those that are
troubled with the cough or phthisic. The same also is singularly good
for ruptures or burstings. The green herb bruised and presently bound
to any cut or wound, doth quickly solder the lips thereof. And the
juice, decoction, or powder of the dried herb is most singular to stay
the malignity of spreading and fretting cankers and ulcers whatsoever,
yea in the mouth and secret parts. The distilled water of the plant is
available in all the diseases aforesaid, and to wash outward wounds and
sores, by applying tents of cloths wet therein.
MUGWORT.
_Descript._] COMMON Mugwort hath divers leaves lying upon the ground,
very much divided, or cut deeply in about the brims, somewhat like
Wormwood, but much larger, of a dark green colour on the upper side,
and very hoary white underneath. The stalks rise to be four or five
feet high, having on it such like leaves as those below, but somewhat
smaller, branching forth very much towards the top, whereon are set
very small, pale, yellowish flowers like buttons, which fall away, and
after them come small seeds inclosed in round heads. The root is long
and hard, with many small fibres growing from it, whereby it takes
strong hold on the ground; but both stalks and leaves do lie down every
year, and the root shoots anew in the Spring. The whole plant is of a
reasonable scent, and is more easily propagated by the slips than the
seed.
_Place._] It grows plentifully in many places of this land, by the
water-sides; as also by small water courses, and in divers other places.
_Time._] It flowers and seeds in the end of Summer.
_Government and virtues._] This is an herb of Venus, therefore
maintains the parts of the body she rules, remedies the diseases of
the parts that are under her signs, Taurus and Libra. Mugwort is with
good success put among other herbs that are boiled for women to apply
the hot decoction to draw down their courses, to help the delivery of
the birth, and expel the after-birth. As also for the obstructions and
inflammations of the mother. It breaks the stone, and opens the urinary
passages where they are stopped. The juice thereof made up with Myrrh,
and put under as a pessary, works the same effects, and so does the
root also. Being made up with hog’s grease into an ointment, it takes
away wens and hard knots and kernels that grow about the neck and
throat, and eases the pains about the neck more effectually, if some
Field Daisies be put with it. The herb itself being fresh, or the juice
thereof taken, is a special remedy upon the overmuch taking of opium.
Three drams of the powder of the dried leaves taken in wine, is a
speedy and the best certain help for the sciatica. A decoction thereof
made with Camomile and Agrimony, and the place bathed therewith while
it is warm, takes away the pains of the sinews, and the cramp.
THE MULBERRY-TREE.
THIS is so well known where it grows, that it needs no description.
_Time._] It bears fruit in the months of July and August.
_Government and virtues._] Mercury rules the tree, therefore are its
effects variable as his are. The Mulberry is of different parts; the
ripe berries, by reason of their sweetness and slippery moisture,
opening the body, and the unripe binding it, especially when they are
dried, and then they are good to stay fluxes, lasks, and the abundance
of women’s courses. The bark of the root kills the broad worms in the
body. The juice, or the syrup made of the juice of the berries, helps
all inflammations or sores in the mouth, or throat, and palate of the
mouth when it is fallen down. The juice of the leaves is a remedy
against the biting of serpents, and for those that have taken aconite.
The leaves beaten with vinegar, are good to lay on any place that is
burnt with fire. A decoction made of the bark and leaves is good to
wash the mouth and teeth when they ache. If the root be a little slit
or cut, and a small hole made in the ground next thereunto, in the
Harvest-time, it will give out a certain juice, which being hardened
the next day, is of good use to help the tooth-ache, to dissolve knots,
and purge the belly. The leaves of Mulberries are said to stay bleeding
at the mouth or nose, or the bleeding of the piles, or of a wound,
being bound unto the places. A branch of the tree taken when the moon
is at the full, and bound to the wrists of a woman’s arm, whose courses
come down too much, doth stay them in a short space.
MULLEIN.
_Descript._] COMMON White Mullein has many fair, large, woolly white
leaves, lying next the ground, somewhat larger than broad, pointed at
the end, and as it were dented about the edges. The stalk rises up to
be four or five feet high, covered over with such like leaves, but
less, so that no stalk can be seen for the multitude of leaves thereon
up to the flowers, which come forth on all sides of the stalk, without
any branches for the most part, and are many set together in a long
spike, in some of a yellow colour, in others more pale, consisting of
five round pointed leaves, which afterwards have small round heads,
wherein is small brownish seed contained. The root is long, white, and
woody, perishing after it hath borne seed.
_Place._] It grows by way-sides and lanes, in many places of this land.
_Time._] It flowers in July or thereabouts.
_Government and virtues._] It is under the dominion of Saturn. A small
quantity of the root given in wine, is commended by Dioscorides,
against lasks and fluxes of the belly. The decoction hereof drank, is
profitable for those that are bursten, and for cramps and convulsions,
and for those that are troubled with an old cough. The decoction
thereof gargled, eases the pains of the tooth-ache. And the oil made
by the often infusion of the flowers, is of very good effect for the
piles. The decoction of the root in red wine or in water, (if there be
an ague) wherein red hot steel hath been often quenched, doth stay the
bloody-flux. The same also opens obstructions of the bladder and reins.
A decoction of the leaves hereof, and of Sage, Marjoram, and Camomile
flowers, and the places bathed therewith, that have sinews stiff with
cold or cramps, doth bring them much ease and comfort. Three ounces of
the distilled water of the flowers drank morning and evening for some
days together, is said to be the most excellent remedy for the gout.
The juice of the leaves and flowers being laid upon rough warts, as
also the powder of the dried roots rubbed on, doth easily take them
away, but doth no good to smooth warts. The powder of the dried flowers
is an especial remedy for those that are troubled with the belly-ache,
or the pains of the cholic. The decoction of the root, and so likewise
of the leaves, is of great effect to dissolve the tumours, swellings,
or inflammations of the throat. The seed and leaves boiled in wine, and
applied, draw forth speedily thorns or splinters gotten into the flesh,
ease the pains, and heal them also. The leaves bruised and wrapped in
double papers, and covered with hot ashes and embers to bake a while,
and then taken forth and laid warm on any blotch or boil happening in
the groin or share, doth dissolve and heal them. The seed bruised and
boiled in wine, and laid on any member that has been out of joint, and
newly set again, takes away all swelling and pain thereof.
MUSTARD.
_Descript._] OUR common Mustard hath large and broad rough leaves, very
much jagged with uneven and unorderly gashes, somewhat like turnip
leaves, but less and rougher. The stalk rises to be more than a foot
high, and sometimes two feet high, being round, rough, and branched at
the top, bearing such like leaves thereon as grow below, but lesser,
and less divided, and divers yellow flowers one above another at the
tops, after which come small rough pods, with small, lank, flat ends,
wherein is contained round yellowish seed, sharp, hot, and biting upon
the tongue. The root is small, long, and woody when it bears stalks,
and perishes every year.
_Place._] This grows with us in gardens only, and other manured places.
_Time._] It is an annual plant, flowering in July, and the seed is ripe
in August.
_Government and virtues._] It is an excellent sauce for such whose
blood wants clarifying, and for weak stomachs, being an herb of Mars,
but naught for choleric people, though as good for such as are aged,
or troubled with cold diseases. Aries claims something to do with it,
therefore it strengthens the heart, and resists poison. 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 powder, and half as much Mastich in powder, and with gum Arabic
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 will either give
me thanks, or shew manifest ingratitude. Mustard seed hath the virtue
of heat, discussing, ratifying, and drawing out splinters of bones, and
other things of the flesh. It is of good effect to bring down women’s
courses, for the falling-sickness or lethargy, drowsy forgetful evil,
to use it both inwardly and outwardly, to rub the nostrils, forehead
and temples, to warm and quicken the spirits; for by the fierce
sharpness it purges the brain by sneezing, and drawing down rheum and
other viscous humours, which by their distillations upon the lungs and
chest, procure coughing, and therefore, with some, honey added thereto,
doth much good therein. The decoction of the seed made in wine, and
drank, provokes urine, resists the force of poison, the malignity of
mushrooms, and venom of scorpions, or other venomous creatures, if it
be taken in time; and taken before the cold fits of agues, alters,
lessens, and cures them. The seed taken either by itself, or with other
things, either in an electuary or drink, doth mightily stir up bodily
lust, and helps the spleen and pains in the sides, and gnawings in the
bowels; and used as a gargle draws up the palate of the mouth, being
fallen down; and also it dissolves the swellings about the throat, if
it be outwardly applied. Being chewed in the mouth it oftentimes helps
the tooth-ache. The outward application hereof upon the pained place
of the sciatica, discusses the humours, and eases the pains, as also
the gout, and other joint aches; and is much and often used to ease
pains in the sides or loins, the shoulder, or other parts of the body,
upon the plying thereof to raise blisters, and cures the disease by
drawing it to the outward parts of the body. It is also used to help
the falling off the hair. The seed bruised mixed with honey, and
applied, or made up with wax, takes away the marks and black and blue
spots of bruises, or the like, the roughness or scabbiness of the skin,
as also the leprosy, and lousy evil. It helps also the crick in the
neck. The distilled water of the herb, when it is in the flower, is
much used to drink inwardly to help in any of the diseases aforesaid,
or to wash the mouth when the palate is down, and for the disease of
the throat to gargle, but outwardly also for scabs, itch, or other the
like infirmities, and cleanses the face from morphew, spots, freckles,
and other deformities.
THE HEDGE-MUSTARD.
_Descript._] THIS grows up usually but with one blackish green stalk,
tough, easy to bend, but not to break, branched into divers parts, and
sometimes with divers stalks, set full of branches, whereon grow long,
rough, or hard rugged leaves, very much tore or cut on the edges in
many parts, some bigger, and some less, of a dirty green colour. The
flowers are small and yellow, that grow on the tops of the branches in
long spikes, flowering by degrees; so that continuing long in flower,
the stalk will have small round cods at the bottom, growing upright and
close to the stalk, while the top flowers yet shew themselves, in which
are contained small yellow seed, sharp and strong, as the herb is also.
The root grows down slender and woody, yet abiding and springing again
every year.
_Place._] This grows frequently in this land, by the ways and
hedge-sides, and sometimes in the open fields.
_Time._] It flowers most usually about July.
_Government and virtues._] Mars owns this herb also. It is singularly
good in all the diseases of the chest and lungs, hoarseness of voice:
and by the use of the decoction thereof for a little space, those have
been recovered who had utterly lost their voice, and almost their
spirits also. The juice thereof made into a syrup, or licking medicine,
with honey or sugar, is no less effectual for the same purpose, and
for all other coughs, wheezing, and shortness of breath. The same is
also profitable for those that have the jaundice, pleurisy, pains in
the back and loins, and for torments in the belly, or cholic, being
also used in clysters. The seed is held to be a special remedy against
poison and venom. It is singularly good for the sciatica, and in
joint-aches, ulcers, and cankers in the mouth, throat, or behind the
ears, and no less for the hardness and swelling of the testicles, or of
women’s breasts.
NAILWORT, OR WHITLOW-GRASS.
_Descript._] THIS very small and common herb hath no roots, save only
a few strings: neither doth it ever grow to be above a hand’s breadth
high, the leaves are very small, and something long, not much unlike
those of Chickweed, among which rise up divers slender stalks, bearing
many white flowers one above another, which are exceeding small; after
which come small flat pouches containing the seed, which is very small,
but of a sharp taste.
_Place._] It grows commonly upon old stone and brick walls, and
sometimes in gravelly grounds, especially if there be grass or moss
near to shadow it.
_Time._] They flower very early in the year, sometimes in January, and
in February; for before the end of April they are not to be found.
_Government and virtues._] It is held to be exceedingly good for
those imposthumes in the joints, and under the nails, which they call
Whitlows, Felons, Andicorns and Nail-wheals.
NEP, OR CATMINT.
_Descript._] COMMON Garden Nep shoots forth hard four-square stalks,
with a hoariness on them, a yard high or more, full of branches,
bearing at every joint two broad leaves like balm, but longer pointed,
softer, white, and more hoary, nicked about the edges, and of a strong
sweet scent. The flowers grow in large tufts at the tops of the
branches, and underneath them likewise on the stalks many together, of
a whitish purple colour. The roots are composed of many long strings
or fibres, fastening themselves stronger in the ground, and abide with
green leaves thereon all the winter.
_Place._] It is only nursed up in our gardens.
_Time._] And it flowers in July, or thereabouts.
_Government and virtues._] It is an herb of Venus. Nep is generally
used for women to procure their courses, being taken inwardly or
outwardly, either alone, or with other convenient herbs in a decoction
to bathe them, or sit over the hot fumes thereof; and by the frequent
use thereof, it takes away barrenness, and the wind, and pains of the
mother. It is also used in pains of the head coming of any cold cause,
catarrhs, rheums, and for swimming and giddiness thereof, and is of
special use for the windiness of the stomach and belly. It is effectual
for any cramp, or cold aches, to dissolve cold and wind that afflict
the place, and is used for colds, coughs, and shortness of breath. The
juice thereof drank in wine, is profitable for those that are bruised
by an accident. The green herb bruised and applied to the fundament and
lying there two or three hours, eases the pains of the piles; the juice
also being made up into an ointment, is effectual for the same purpose.
The head washed with a decoction thereof, it takes away scabs, and may
be effectual for other parts of the body also.
NETTLES.
NETTLES are so well known, that they need no description; they may be
found by feeling, in the darkest night.
_Government and virtues._] This is also an herb Mars claims dominion
over. You know Mars is hot and dry, and you know as well that Winter is
cold and moist; then you may know as well the reason why Nettle-tops
eaten in the Spring consume the phlegmatic superfluities in the body of
man, that the coldness and moistness of Winter hath left behind. The
roots or leaves boiled, or the juice of either of them, or both made
into an electuary with honey and sugar, is a safe and sure medicine
to open the pipes and passages of the lungs, which is the cause of
wheezing and shortness of breath, and helps to expectorate tough
phlegm, as also to raise the imposthumed pleurisy; and spend it by
spitting; the same helps the swelling of the almonds of the throat, the
mouth and throat being gargled therewith. The juice is also effectual
to settle the palate of the mouth in its place, and to heal and temper
the inflammations and soreness of the mouth and throat. The decoction
of the leaves in wine, being drank, is singularly good to provoke
women’s courses, and settle the suffocation, strangling of the mother,
and all other diseases thereof; it is also applied outwardly with a
little myrrh. The same also, or the seed provokes urine, and expels the
gravel and stone in the reins or bladder, often proved to be effectual
in many that have taken it. The same kills the worms in children, eases
pains in the sides, and dissolves the windiness in the spleen, as also
in the body, although others think it only powerful to provoke venery.
The juice of the leaves taken two or three days together, stays
bleeding at the mouth. The seed being drank, is a remedy against the
stinging of venomous creatures, the biting of mad dogs, the poisonous
qualities of Hemlock, Henbane, Nightshade, Mandrake, or other such
like herbs that stupify or dull the senses; as also the lethargy,
especially to use it outwardly, to rub the forehead or temples in the
lethargy, and the places stung or bitten with beasts, with a little
salt. The distilled water of the herb is also effectual (though not so
powerful) for the diseases aforesaid; as for outward wounds and sores
to wash them, and to cleanse the skin from morphew, leprosy, and other
discolourings thereof. The seed or leaves bruised, and put into the
nostrils, stays the bleeding of them, and takes away the flesh growing
in them called polypus. The juice of the leaves, or the decoction of
them, or of the root, is singularly good to wash either old, rotten,
or stinking sores or fistulous, and gangrenes, and such as fretting,
eating, or corroding scabs, manginess, and itch, in any part of the
body, as also green wounds, by washing them therewith, or applying the
green herb bruised thereunto, yea, although the flesh were separated
from the bones; the same applied to our wearied members, refresh them,
or to place those that have been out of joint, being first set up
again, strengthens, dries, and comforts them, as also those places
troubled with aches and gouts, and the defluxion of humours upon the
joints or sinews; it eases the pains, and dries or dissolves the
defluctions. An ointment made of the juice, oil, and a little wax, is
singularly good to rub cold and benumbed members. An handful of the
leaves of green Nettles, and another of Wallwort, or Deanwort, bruised
and applied simply themselves to the gout, sciatica, or joint aches in
any part, hath been found to be an admirable help thereunto.
NIGHTSHADE.
_Descript._] COMMON Nightshade hath an upright, round, green, hollow
stalk, about a foot or half a yard high, bushing forth in many
branches, whereon grow many green leaves, somewhat broad, and pointed
at the ends, soft and full of juice, somewhat like unto Bazil, but
longer and a little unevenly dented about the edges: At the tops of the
stalks and branches come forth three or four more white flowers made
of five small pointed leaves a-piece, standing on a stalk together,
one above another, with yellow pointels in the middle, composed of
four or five yellow threads set together, which afterwards run into so
many pendulous green berries, of the bigness of small pease, full of
green juice, and small whitish round flat seed lying within it. The
root is white, and a little woody when it hath given flower and fruit,
with many small fibres at it; The whole plant is of a waterish insipid
taste, but the juice within the berries is somewhat viscous, and of a
cooling and binding quality.
_Place._] It grows wild with us under our walls, and in rubbish, the
common paths, and sides of hedges and fields, as also in our gardens
here in England, without any planting.
_Time._] It lies down every year, and rises up again of its own sowing,
but springs not until the latter end of April at the soonest.
_Government and virtues._] It is a cold Saturnine plant. The common
Nightshade is wholly used to cool hot inflammations either inwardly
or outwardly, being no ways dangerous to any that use it, as most
of the rest of the Nightshades are; yet it must be used moderately.
The distilled water only of the whole herb is fittest and safest to
be taken inwardly: The juice also clarified and taken, being mingled
with a little vinegar, is good to wash the mouth and throat that is
inflamed: But outwardly the juice of the herb or berries, with oil of
roses and a little vinegar and ceruse laboured together in a leaden
mortar, is very good to anoint all hot inflammations in the eyes. It
also doth much good for the shingles, ringworms, and in all running,
fretting and corroding ulcers, applied thereunto. The juice dropped
into the ears, eases pains thereof that arise of heat or inflammations.
And Pliny saith, it is good for hot swellings under the throat. Have
a care you mistake not the deadly Nightshade for this; if you know
it not, you may let them both alone, and take no harm, having other
medicines sufficient in the book.
THE OAK.
IT is so well known (the timber thereof being the glory and safety of
this nation by sea) that it needs no description.
_Government and virtues._] Jupiter owns the tree. The leaves and bark
of the Oak, and the acorn cups, do bind and dry very much. The inner
bark of the tree, and the thin skin that covers the acorn, are most
used to stay the spitting of blood, and the bloody-flux. The decoction
of that bark, and the powder of the cups, do stay vomitings, spitting
of blood, bleeding at the mouth, or other fluxes of blood, in men or
women; lasks also, and the nocturnal involuntary flux of men. The acorn
in powder taken in wine, provokes urine, and resists the poison of
venomous creatures. The decoction of acorns and the bark made in milk
and taken, resists the force of poisonous herbs and medicines, as also
the virulency of cantharides, when one by eating them hath his bladder
exulcerated, and voids bloody urine. Hippocrates saith, he used the
fumes of Oak leaves to women that were troubled with the strangling
of the mother; and Galen applied them, being bruised, to cure green
wounds. The distilled water of the Oaken bud, before they break out
into leaves is good to be used either inwardly or outwardly, to assuage
inflammations, and to stop all manner of fluxes in man or woman. The
same is singularly good in pestilential and hot burning fevers; for
it resists the force of the infection, and allays the heat: It cools
the heat of the liver, breaking the stone in the kidneys, and stays
women’s courses. The decoction of the leaves works the same effects.
The water that is found in the hollow places of old Oaks, is very
effectual against any foul or spreading scabs. The distilled water (or
concoction, which is better) of the leaves, is one of the best remedies
that I know of for the whites in women.
OATS,
ARE so well known that they need no description.
_Government and virtues._] Oats fried with bay salt, and applied to
the sides, take away the pains of stitches and wind in the sides or
the belly. A poultice made of meal of Oats, and some oil of Bays put
thereunto, helps the itch and the leprosy, as also the fistulas of the
fundament, and dissolves hard imposthumes. The meal of Oats boiled with
vinegar, and applied, takes away freckles and spots in the face, and
other parts of the body.
ONE BLADE.
_Descript._] THIS small plant never bears more than one leaf, but only
when it rises up with his stalk, which thereon bears another, and
seldom more, which are of a blueish green colour, pointed, with many
ribs or veins therein, like Plantain. At the top of the stalk grow many
small white flowers, star fashion, smelling somewhat sweet; after which
come small red berries, when they are ripe. The root is small, of the
bigness of a rush, lying and creeping under the upper crust of the
earth, shooting forth in divers places.
_Place._] It grows in moist, shadowy and grassy places of woods, in
many parts of this land.
_Time._] It flowers about May, and the berries are ripe in June, and
then quickly perishes, until the next year it springs from the same
root again.
_Government and virtues._] It is a precious herb of the Sun. Half a
dram, or a dram at most, in powder of the roots hereof taken in wine
and vinegar, of each equal parts, and the party laid presently to sweat
thereupon, is held to be a sovereign remedy for those that are infected
with the plague, and have a sore upon them, by expelling the poison and
infection, and defending the heart and spirits from danger. It is a
singularly good wound herb, and is thereupon used with other the like
effects in many compound balms for curing of wounds, be they fresh and
green, or old and malignant, and especially if the sinews be burnt.
ORCHIS.
IT has almost as many several names attributed to the several sorts of
it, as would almost fill a sheet of paper; as dog-stones, goat-stones,
fool-stones, fox-stones, satiricon, cullians, together with many others
too tedious to rehearse.
_Descript._] To describe all the several sorts of it were an endless
piece of work; therefore I shall only describe the roots because they
are to be used with some discretion. They have each of them a double
root within, some of them are round, in others like a hand; these roots
alter every year by course, when the one rises and waxes full, the
other waxes lank, and perishes. Now, it is that which is full which is
to be used in medicines, the other being either of no use at all, or
else, according to the humour of some, it destroys and disannuls the
virtues of the other, quite undoing what that doth.
_Time._] One or other of them may be found in flower from the beginning
of April to the latter end of August.
_Government and virtues._] They are hot and moist in operation, under
the dominion of Dame Venus, and provoke lust exceedingly, which, they
say, the dried and withered roots do restrain. They are held to kill
worms in children; as also, being bruised and applied to the place, to
heal the king’s evil.
ONIONS.
THEY are so well known, that I need not spend time about writing a
description of them.
_Government and virtues._] Mars owns them, and they have gotten this
quality, to draw any corruption to them, for if you peel one, and
lay it upon a dunghill, you shall find it rotten in half a day, by
drawing putrefaction to it; then, being bruised and applied to a plague
sore, it is very probable it will do the like. Onions are flatulent,
or windy; yet they do somewhat provoke appetite, increase thirst,
ease the belly and bowels, provoke women’s courses, help the biting
of a mad dog, and of other venomous creatures, to be used with honey
and rue, increase sperm, especially the seed of them. They also kill
worms in children if they drink the water fasting wherein they have
been steeped all night. Being roasted under the embers, and eaten
with honey or sugar and oil, they much conduce to help an inveterate
cough, and expectorate the cough phlegm. The juice being snuffed up
into the nostrils, purges the head, and helps the lethargy, (yet the
often eating them is said to procure pains in the head.) It hath been
held by divers country people a great preservative against infection,
to eat Onions fasting with bread and salt: As also to make a great
Onion hollow, filling the place with good treacle, and after to roast
it well under the embers, which, after taking away the outermost skin
thereof, being beaten together, is a sovereign salve for either plague
or sore, or any other putrefied ulcer. The juice of Onions is good for
either scalding or burning by fire, water, or gunpowder, and used with
vinegar, takes away all blemishes, spots and marks in the skin: and
dropped in the ears, eases the pains and noise of them. Applied also
with figs beaten together, helps to ripen and break imposthumes, and
other sores.
Leeks are as like them in quality, as the pome-water is like an apple:
They are a remedy against a surfeit of mushrooms, being baked under
the embers and taken, and being boiled and applied very warm, help
the piles. In other things they have the same property as the Onions,
although not so effectual.
ORPINE.
_Descript._] COMMON Orpine rises up with divers rough brittle stalks,
thick set with fat and fleshy leaves, without any order, and little
or nothing dented about the edges, of a green colour: The flowers are
white, or whitish, growing in tufts, after which come small chaffy
husks, with seeds like dust in them. The roots are divers thick, round,
white tuberous clogs; and the plant grows not so big in some places as
in others where it is found.
_Place._] It is frequent in almost every county of this land, and is
cherished in gardens with us, where it grows greater than that which is
wild, and grows in shadowy sides of fields and woods.
_Time._] It flowers about July, and the seed is ripe in August.
_Government and virtues._] The Moon owns the herb, and he that knows
but her exaltaration, knows what I say is true. Orpine is seldom used
in inward medicines with us, although Tragus saith from experience in
Germany, that the distilled water thereof is profitable for gnawings
or excoriations in the stomach or bowels, or for ulcers in the lungs,
liver, or other inward parts, as also in the matrix, and helps all
those diseases, being drank for certain days together. It stays the
sharpness of humours in the bloody-flux, and other fluxes in the body,
or in wounds. The root thereof also performs the like effect. It is
used outwardly to cool any heat or inflammation upon any hurt or wound,
and eases the pains of them; as, also, to heal scaldings or burnings,
the juice thereof being beaten with some green sallad oil, and
anointed. The leaf bruised, and laid to any green wound in the hand or
legs, doth heal them quickly; and being bound to the throat, much helps
the quinsy; it helps also ruptures and burstenness. If you please to
make the juice thereof into a syrup with honey or sugar, you may safely
take a spoonful or two at a time, (let my author say what he will) for
a quinsy, and you shall find the medicine pleasant, and the cure speedy.
PARSLEY.
THIS is so well known, that it needs no description.
_Government and virtues._] It is under the dominion of Mercury; is very
comfortable to the stomach; helps to provoke urine and women’s courses,
to break wind both in the stomach and bowels, and doth a little open
the body, but the root much more. It opens obstructions both of liver
and spleen, and is therefore accounted one of the five opening roots.
Galen commended it against the falling sickness, and to provoke urine
mightily; especially if the roots be boiled, and eaten like Parsnips.
The seed is effectual to provoke urine and women’s courses, to expel
wind, to break the stone, and ease the pains and torments thereof;
it is also effectual against the venom of any poisonous creature,
and the danger that comes to them that have the lethargy, and is as
good against the cough. The distilled water of Parsley is a familiar
medicine with nurses to give their children when they are troubled
with wind in the stomach or belly which they call the frets; and is
also much available to them that are of great years. The leaves of
Parsley laid to the eyes that are inflamed with heat, or swollen, doth
much help them, if it be used with bread or meal; and being fried
with butter, and applied to women’s breasts that are hard through the
curdling of their milk, it abates the hardness quickly; and also takes
away black and blue marks coming of bruises or falls. The juice thereof
dropped into the ears with a little wine, eases the pains. Tragus sets
down an excellent medicine to help the jaundice and falling sickness,
the dropsy, and stone in the kidneys, in this manner: Take of the seed
of Parsley, Fennel, Annise and Carraways, of each an ounce; of the
roots of Parsley, Burnet, Saxifrage, and Carraways, of each an ounce
and an half; let the seeds be bruised, and the roots washed and cut
small; let them lie all night to steep in a bottle of white wine, and
in the morning be boiled in a close earthen vessel until a third part
or more be wasted; which being strained and cleared, take four ounces
thereof morning and evening first and last, abstaining from drink after
it for three hours. This opens obstructions of the liver and spleen,
and expels the dropsy and jaundice by urine.
PARSLEY PIERT, OR PARSLEY BREAK
STONE.
_Descript._] THE root, although it be very small and thready, yet it
continues many years, from which arise many leaves lying along on the
ground, each standing upon a long small foot-stalk, the leaves as broad
as a man’s nail, very deeply dented on the edges, somewhat like a
parsley-leaf, but of a very dusky green colour. The stalks are very
weak and slender, about three or four fingers in length, set so full
of leaves that they can hardly be seen, either having no foot-stalk at
all, or but very short; the flowers are so small they can hardly be
seen, and the seed as small as may be.
_Place._] It is a common herb throughout the nation, and rejoices
in barren, sandy, moist places. It may be found plentifully about
Hampstead Heath, Hyde Park, and in Tothill-fields.
_Time._] It may be found all the Summer-time, even from the beginning
of April to the end of October.
_Government and virtues._] Its operation is very prevalent to provoke
urine, and to break the stone. It is a very good sallad herb. It were
good the gentry would pickle it up as they pickle up Samphire for
their use all the Winter. I cannot teach them how to do it; yet this
I can tell them, it is a very wholesome herb. They may also keep the
herb dry, or in a syrup, if they please. You may take a dram of the
powder of it in white wine; it would bring away gravel from the kidneys
insensibly, and without pain. It also helps the stranguary.
PARSNIPS.
THE garden kind thereof is so well known (the root being commonly
eaten) that I shall not trouble you with any description of it. But the
wild kind being of more physical use, I shall in this place describe it
unto you.
_Descript._] The wild Parsnip differs little from the garden, but
grows not so fair and large, nor hath so many leaves, and the root is
shorter, more woody, and not so fit to be eaten, and therefore more
medicinal.
_Place._] The name of the first shews the place of its growth. The
other grows wild in divers places, as in the marshes in Rochester,
and elsewhere, and flowers in July; the seed being ripe about the
beginning of August, the second year after its sowing; for if they do
flower the first year, the country people call them Madneps.
_Government and virtues._] The garden Parsnips are under Venus. The
garden Parsnip nourishes much, and is good and wholesome nourishment,
but a little windy, whereby it is thought to procure bodily lust; but
it fastens the body much, if much need. It is conducible to the stomach
and reins, and provokes urine. But the wild Parsnips hath a cutting,
attenuating, cleansing, and opening quality therein. It resists and
helps the bitings of serpents, eases the pains and stitches in the
sides, and dissolves wind both in the stomach and bowels, which is the
cholic, and provokes urine. The root is often used, but the seed much
more. The wild being better than the tame, shews Dame Nature to be the
best physician.
COW PARSNIPS.
_Descript._] THIS grows with three or four large, spread winged, rough
leaves, lying often on the ground, or else raised a little from it,
with long, round, hairy foot-stalks under them, parted usually into
five divisions, the two couples standing each against the other; and
one at the end, and each leaf, being almost round, yet somewhat deeply
cut in on the edges in some leaves, and not so deep in others, of a
whitish green colour, smelling somewhat strongly; among which rises
up a round, crusted, hairy stalk, two or three feet high, with a few
joints and leaves thereon, and branched at the top, where stand large
umbels of white, and sometimes reddish flowers, and after them flat,
whitish, thin, winged seed, two always joined together. The root is
long and white, with two or three long strings growing down into the
ground, smelling likewise strongly and unpleasant.
_Place._] It grows in moist meadows, and the borders and corners of
fields, and near ditches, through this land.
_Time._] It flowers in July, and seeds in August.
_Government and virtues._] Mercury hath the dominion over them. The
seed thereof, as Galen saith, is of a sharp and cutting quality, and
therefore is a fit medicine for a cough and shortness of breath,
the falling sickness and jaundice. The root is available to all the
purposes aforesaid, and is also of great use to take away the hard skin
that grows on a fistula, if it be but scraped upon it. The seed hereof
being drank, cleanses the belly from tough phlegmatic matter therein,
eases them that are liver-grown, women’s passions of the mother, as
well being drank as the smoke thereof received, and likewise raises
such as are fallen into a deep sleep, or have the lethargy, by burning
it under their nose. The seed and root boiled in oil, and the head
rubbed therewith, helps not only those that are fallen into a frenzy,
but also the lethargy or drowsy evil, and those that have been long
troubled with the head-ache, if it be likewise used with Rue. It helps
also the running scab and shingles. The juice of the flowers dropped
into the ears that run and are full of matter, cleanses and heals them.
THE PEACH TREE.
_Descript._] A PEACH tree grows not so great as the Apricot tree, yet
spreads branches reasonable well, from whence spring smaller reddish
twigs, whereon are set long and narrow green leaves dented about the
edges. The blossoms are greater than the plumb, and of a light purple
colour; the fruit round, and sometimes as big as a reasonable Pippin,
others smaller, as also differing in colour and taste, as russet, red,
or yellow, waterish or firm, with a frize or cotton all over, with a
cleft therein like an Apricot, and a rugged, furrowed, great stone
within it, and a bitter kernel within the stone. It sooner waxes old,
and decays, than the Apricot, by much.
_Place._] They are nursed in gardens and orchards through this land.
_Time._] They flower in the Spring, and fructify in Autumn.
_Government and virtues._] Lady Venus owns this tree, and by it opposes
the ill effects of Mars, and indeed for children and young people,
nothing is better to purge choler and the jaundice, than the leaves or
flowers of this tree being made into a syrup or conserve. Let such as
delight to please their lust regard the fruit; but such as have lost
their health, and their children’s, let them regard what I say, they
may safely give two spoonfuls of the syrup at a time; it is as gentle
as Venus herself. The leaves of peaches bruised and laid on the belly,
kill worms, and so they do also being boiled in ale and drank, and
open the belly likewise; and, being dried, is a far safer medicine to
discuss humours. The powder of them strewed upon fresh bleeding wounds
stays their bleeding, and closes them up. The flowers steeped all
night in a little wine standing warm, strained forth in the morning,
and drank fasting, doth gently open the belly, and move it downward. A
syrup made of them, as the syrup of roses is made, works more forcibly
than that of roses, for it provokes vomiting, and spends waterish and
hydropic humours by the continuance thereof. The flowers made into a
conserve, work the same effect. The liquor that dropped from the tree,
being wounded, is given in the decoction of Coltsfoot, to those that
are troubled with a cough or shortness of breath, by adding thereunto
some sweet wine, and putting some saffron also therein. It is good for
those that are hoarse, or have lost their voice; helps all defects
of the lungs, and those that vomit and spit blood. Two drams hereof
given in the juice of lemons, or of radish, is good for them that are
troubled with the stone, the kernels of the stones do wonderfully ease
the pains and wringings of the belly through wind or sharp humours, and
help to make an excellent medicine for the stone upon all occasions,
in this manner: _I take fifty kernels of peach-stones, and one hundred
of the kernels of cherry-stones, a handful of elder flowers fresh or
dried, and three pints of Muscadel; set them in a close pot into a bed
of horse-dung for ten days, after which distil in a glass with a gentle
fire_, and keep it for your use: You may drink upon occasion three or
four ounces at a time. The milk or cream of these kernels being drawn
forth with some Vervain water and applied to the forehead and temples,
doth much help to procure rest and sleep to sick persons wanting it.
The oil drawn from the kernels, the temples being therewith anointed,
doth the like. The said oil put into clysters, eases the pains of the
wind cholic: and anointed on the lower part of the belly, doth the
like, and dropped into the ears, eases pains in them; the juice of the
leaves doth the like. Being also anointed on the forehead and temples,
it helps the megrim, and all other pains in the head. If the kernels
be bruised and boiled in vinegar, until they become thick, and applied
to the head, it marvellously procures the hair to grow again upon bald
places, or where it is too thin.
THE PEAR TREE.
PEAR Trees are so well known, that they need no description.
_Government and virtues._] The Tree belongs to Venus, and so doth the
Apple tree. For their physical use they are best discerned by their
taste. All the sweet and luscious sorts, whether manured or wild, do
help to move the belly downwards, more or less. Those that are hard and
sour, do, on the contrary, bind the belly as much, and the leaves do
so also: Those that are moist do in some sort cool, but harsh or wild
sorts much more, and are very good in repelling medicines; and if the
wild sort be boiled with mushrooms, it makes them less dangerous. The
said Pears boiled with a little honey, help much the oppressed stomach,
as all sorts of them do, some more, some less: but the harsher sorts
do more cool and bind, serving well to be bound to green wounds, to
cool and stay the blood, and heal up the green wound without farther
trouble, or inflammation, as Galen saith he hath found by experience.
The wild Pears do sooner close up the lips of green wounds than others.
Schola Selerni advises to drink much wine after Pears, or else (say
they) they are as bad as poison; nay, and they curse the tree for it
too; but if a poor man find his stomach oppressed by eating Pears, it
is but working hard, and it will do as well as drinking wine.
PELLITORY OF SPAIN.
COMMON Pellitory of Spain, if it be planted in our gardens, will
prosper very well; yet there is one sort growing ordinarily here wild,
which I esteem to be little inferior to the other, if at all. I shall
not deny you the description of them both.
_Descript._] Common Pellitory is a very common plant, and will not be
kept in our gardens without diligent looking to. The root goes down
right into the ground bearing leaves, being long and finely cut upon
the stalk, lying on the ground, much larger than the leaves of the
Camomile are. At the top it bears one single large flower at a place,
having a border of many leaves, white on the upper side, and reddish
underneath, with a yellow thrum in the middle, not standing so close as
that of Camomile.
The other common Pellitory which grows here, hath a root of a sharp
biting taste, scarcely discernible by the taste from that before
described, from whence arise divers brittle stalks, a yard high and
more, with narrow leaves finely dented about the edges, standing one
above another up to the tops. The flowers are many and white, standing
in tufts like those of Yarrow, with a small yellowish thrum in the
middle. The seed is very small.
_Place._] The last grows in fields by the hedge sides and paths, almost
every where.
_Time._] It flowers at the latter end of June and July.
_Government and virtues._] It is under the government of Mercury, and
I am persuaded it is one of the best purgers of the brain that grows.
An ounce of the juice taken in a draught of Muskadel an hour before the
fit of the ague comes, it will assuredly drive away the ague at the
second or third time taken at the farthest. Either the herb or root
dried and chewed in the mouth, purges the brain of phlegmatic humours;
thereby not only easing pains in the head and teeth, but also hinders
the distilling of the brain upon the lungs and eyes, thereby preventing
coughs, phthisicks and consumption, the apoplexy and falling sickness.
It is an excellently approved remedy in the lethargy. The powder of
the herb or root being snuffed up the nostrils, procures sneezing, and
eases the head-ache; being made into an ointment with hog’s grease, it
takes away black and blue spots occasioned by blows or falls, and helps
both the gout and sciatica.
PELLITORY OF THE WALL.
_Descript._] IT rises with brownish, red, tender, weak, clear, and
almost transparent stalks, about two feet high, upon which grow at the
joints two leaves somewhat broad and long, of a dark green colour,
which afterwards turn brownish, smooth on the edges, but rough and
hairy, as the stalks are also. At the joints with the leaves from the
middle of the stalk upwards, where it spreads into branches, stand many
small, pale, purplish flowers in hairy, rough heads, or husks, after
which come small, black, rough seed, which will stick to any cloth
or garment that shall touch it. The root is somewhat long, with small
fibres thereat, of a dark reddish colour, which abides the Winter,
although the stalks and leaves perish and spring every year.
_Place._] It grows wild generally through the land, about the borders
of fields, and by the sides of walls, and among rubbish. It will endure
well being brought up in gardens, and planted on the shady side, where
it will spring of its own sowing.
_Time._] It flowers in June and July, and the seed is ripe soon after.
_Government and virtues._] It is under the dominion of Mercury. The
dried herb Pellitory made up into an electuary with honey, or the
juices of the herb, or the decoction thereof made up with sugar or
honey, is a singular remedy for an old or dry cough, the shortness of
breath, and wheezing in the throat. Three ounces of the juice thereof
taken at a time, doth wonderfully help stopping of the urine, and to
expel the stone or gravel in the kidneys or bladder, and is therefore
usually put among other herbs used in clysters to mitigate pains in
the back, sides, or bowels, proceeding of wind, stopping of urine, the
gravel or stone, as aforesaid. If the bruised herb, sprinkled with
some Muskadel, be warmed upon a tile, or in a dish upon a few quick
coals in a chafing-dish, and applied to the belly, it works the same
effect. The decoction of the herb being drank, eases pains of the
mother, and brings down women’s courses: It also eases those griefs
that arise from obstructions of the liver, spleen, and reins. The same
decoction, with a little honey added thereto, is good to gargle a
sore throat. The juice held a while in the mouth, eases pains in the
teeth. The distilled water of the herb drank with some sugar, works
the same effects, and cleanses the skin from spots, freckles, purples,
wheals, sun-burn, morphew, &c. The juice dropped into the ears, eases
the noise in them, and takes away the pricking and shooting pains
therein: The same, or the distilled water, assuages hot and swelling
imposthumes, burnings and scaldings by fire or water; as also all
other hot tumours and inflammations, or breakings-out, of heat, being
bathed often with wet cloths dipped therein: The said juice made into
a liniment with ceruss, and oil of roses, and anointed therewith,
cleanses foul rotten ulcers, and stays spreading or creeping ulcers,
and running scabs or sores in children’s heads; and helps to stay the
hair from falling off the head. The said ointment, or the herb applied
to the fundament, opens the piles, and eases their pains; and being
mixed with goats’ tallow, helps the gout. The juice is very effectual
to cleanse fistulas, and to heal them up safely; or the herb itself
bruised and applied with a little salt. It is likewise also effectual
to heal any green wound; if it be bruised and bound thereto for three
days, you shall need no other medicine to heal it further. A poultice
made hereof with Mallows, and boiled in wine and wheat bran and bean
flour, and some oil put thereto, and applied warm to any bruised
sinews, tendon, or muscle, doth in a very short time restore them to
their strength, taking away the pains of the bruises, and dissolves the
congealed blood coming of blows, or falls from high places.
The juice of Pellitory of the Wall clarified and boiled in a syrup with
honey, and a spoonful of it drank every morning by such as are subject
to the dropsy; if continuing that course, though but once a week, they
ever have the dropsy, let them but come to me, and I will cure them
_gratis_.
PENNYROYAL.
PENNYROYAL is so well known unto all, I mean the common kind, that it
needs no description.
There is a greater kind than the ordinary sort found wild with us,
which so abides, being brought into gardens, and differs not from it,
but only in the largeness of the leaves and stalks, in rising higher,
and not creeping upon the ground so much. The flowers whereof are
purple, growing in rundles about the stalks like the other.
_Place._] The first, which is common in gardens, grows also in many
moist and watery places of this land.
The second is found wild in effect in divers places by the highways
from London to Colchester, and thereabouts, more abundantly than in any
other counties, and is also planted in their gardens in Essex.
_Time._] They flower in the latter end of Summer, about August.
_Government and virtues._] The herb is under Venus. Dioscorides saith,
that Pennyroyal makes thin tough phlegm, warms the coldness of any part
whereto it is applied, and digests raw or corrupt matter; Being boiled
and drank, it provokes women’s courses, and expels the dead child and
after-birth, and stays the disposition to vomit, being taken in water
and vinegar mingled together. And being mingled with honey and salt,
it voids phlegm out of the lungs, and purges melancholy by the stool.
Drank with wine, it helps such as are bitten and stung with venomous
beasts, and applied to the nostrils with vinegar, revives those that
are fainting and swooning. Being dried and burnt, it strengthens the
gums. It is helpful to those that are troubled with the gout, being
applied of itself to the place until it was red; and applied in a
plaister, it takes away spots or marks in the face; applied with salt,
it profits those that are splenetic, or livergrown. The decoction doth
help the itch, if washed therewith. The green herb bruised and put into
vinegar, cleanses foul ulcers, and takes away the marks of bruises and
blows about the eyes, and all discolourings of the face by fire, yea,
and the leprosy, being drank and outwardly applied: Boiled in wine
with honey and salt, it helps the tooth-ache. It helps the cold griefs
by the joints, taking away the pains, and warms the cold part, being
fast bound to the place, after a bathing or sweating in a hot house.
Pliny adds, that Pennyroyal and Mints together, help faintings, being
put into vinegar, and smelled unto, or put into the nostrils or mouth.
It eases head-aches, pains of the breast and belly, and gnawings of
the stomach; applied with honey, salt, and vinegar, it helps cramps or
convulsions of the sinews: Boiled in milk, and drank, it is effectual
for the cough, and for ulcers and sores in the mouth; drank in wine it
provokes women’s courses, and expels the dead child, and after-birth.
Matthiolus saith, The decoction thereof being drank, helps the jaundice
and dropsy, all pains of the head and sinews that come of a cold cause,
and clears the eye-sight. It helps the lethargy, and applied with
barley-meal, helps burnings; and put into the ears, eases the pains of
them.
MALE AND FEMALE PEONY.
_Descript._] MALE Peony rises up with brownish stalks, whereon grow
green and reddish leaves, upon a stalk without any particular division
in the leaf at all. The flowers stand at the top of the stalks,
consisting of five or six broad leaves, of a fair purplish red colour,
with many yellow threads in the middle standing about the head, which
after rises up to be the seed vessels, divided into two, three, or
four crooked pods like horns, which being full ripe, open and turn
themselves down backwards, shewing with them divers round, black,
shining seeds, having also many crimson grains, intermixed with black,
whereby it makes a very pretty shew. The roots are great, thick and
long, spreading and running down deep in the ground.
The ordinary Female Peony hath as many stalks, and more leaves on them
than the Male; the leaves not so large, but nicked on the edges, some
with great and deep, others with small cuts and divisions, of a dead
green colour. The flowers are of a strong heady scent, usually smaller,
and of a more purple colour than the Male, with yellow thrums about
the head, as the Male hath. The seed vessels are like horns, as in
the Male, but smaller, the seed is black, but less shining. The root
consists of many short tuberous clogs, fastened at the end of long
strings, and all from the heads of the roots, which is thick and short,
and of the like scent with the Male.
_Place and Time._] They grow in gardens, and flower usually about May.
_Government and virtues._] It is an herb of the Sun, and under the
Lion. Physicians say, Male Peony roots are best; but Dr. Reason told
me Male Peony was best for men, and Female Peony for women, and he
desires to be judged by his brother Dr. Experience. The roots are
held to be of more virtue than the seed; next the flowers; and, last
of all, the leaves. The roots of the Male Peony, fresh gathered,
having been found by experience to cure the falling sickness; but the
surest way is, besides hanging it about the neck, by which children
have been cured, to take the root of the Male Peony washed clean, and
stamped somewhat small, and laid to infuse in sack for 24 hours at the
least, afterwards strain it, and take it first and last, morning and
evening, a good draught for sundry days together, before and after a
full moon: and this will also cure old persons, if the disease be not
grown too old, and past cure, especially if there be a due and orderly
preparation of the body with posset-drink made of Betony, &c. The
root is also effectual for women that are not sufficiently cleansed
after child-birth, and such as are troubled with the mother; for
which likewise the black seed beaten to powder, and given in wine,
is also available. The black seed also taken before bed-time, and in
the morning, is very effectual for such as in their sleep are troubled
with the disease called Ephialtes, or Incubus, but we do commonly call
it the Night-mare: a disease which melancholy persons are subject
unto: It is also good against melancholy dreams. The distilled water
or syrup made of the flowers, works the same effects that the root
and seed do, although more weakly. The Female’s is often used for the
purpose aforesaid, by reason the Male is so scarce a plant, that it is
possessed by few, and those great lovers of rarities in this kind.
PEPPERWORT, OR DITTANDER.
_Descript._] OUR common Pepperwort sends forth somewhat long and broad
leaves, of a light blueish green colour, finely dented about the edges,
and pointed at the ends, standing upon round hard stalks, three or
four feet high, spreading many branches on all sides, and having many
small white flowers at the tops of them, after which follow small seeds
in small heads. The root is slender, running much under ground, and
shooting up again in many places, and both leaves and roots are very
hot and sharp of taste, like pepper, for which cause it took the name.
_Place._] It grows naturally in many places of this land, as at Clare
in Essex; also near unto Exeter in Devonshire; upon Rochester common
in Kent; in Lancashire, and divers other places; but usually kept in
gardens.
_Time._] It flowers in the end of June, and in July.
_Government and virtues._] Here is another martial herb for you, make
much of it. Pliny and Paulus Ægineta say, that Pepperwort is very
successful for the sciatica, or any other gout or pain in the joints,
or any other inveterate grief: The leaves hereof to be bruised, and
mixed with old hog’s grease, and applied to the place, and to continue
thereon four hours in men, and two hours in women, the place being
afterwards bathed with wine and oil mixed together, and then wrapped up
with wool or skins, after they have sweat a little. It also amends the
deformities or discolourings of the skin, and helps to take away marks,
scars, and scabs, or the foul marks of burning with fire or iron. The
juice hereof is by some used to be given in ale to drink, to women with
child, to procure them a speedy delivery in travail.
PERIWINKLE.
_Descript._] THE common sort hereof hath many branches trailing or
running upon the ground, shooting out small fibres at the joints as it
runs, taking thereby hold in the ground, and rooteth in divers places.
At the joints of these branches stand two small, dark-green, shining
leaves, somewhat like bay leaves, but smaller, and with them come forth
also the flowers (one at a joint) standing upon a tender foot-stalk,
being somewhat long and hollow, parted at the brims, sometimes into
four, sometimes into five leaves: The most ordinary sorts are of a pale
blue colour; some are pure white, some of a dark reddish purple colour.
The root is little bigger than a rush, bushing in the ground, and
creeping with his branches far about, whereby it quickly possesses a
great compass, and is therefore most usually planted under hedges where
it may have room to run.
_Place._] Those with the pale blue, and those with the white flowers,
grow in woods and orchards, by the hedge-sides, in divers places of
this land; but those with the purple flowers, in gardens only.
_Time._] They flower in March and April.
_Government and virtues._] Venus owns this herb, and saith, That the
leaves eaten by man and wife together, cause love between them. The
Periwinkle is a great binder, stays bleeding both at mouth and nose,
if some of the leaves be chewed. The French used it to stay women’s
courses. Dioscorides, Galen, and Ægineta, commend it against the lasks
and fluxes of the belly to be drank in wine.
ST. PETER’S WORT.
IF Superstition had not been the father of Tradition, as well as
Ignorance the Mother of Devotion, this herb, (as well as St. John’s
Wort) hath found some other name to be known by; but we may say of our
forefathers, as St. Paul of the Athenians, _I perceive in many things
you are too superstitious_. Yet seeing it is come to pass, that custom
having got in possession, pleads prescription for the name, I shall let
it pass, and come to the description of the herb, which take as follows.
_Descript._] It rises up with square upright stalks for the most part,
some greater and higher than St. John’s Wort (and good reason too, St.
Peter being the greater apostle, (ask the Pope else;) for though God
would have the saints equal, the Pope is of another opinion,) but brown
in the same manner, having two leaves at every joint, somewhat like,
but larger, than St. John’s Wort, and a little rounder pointed, with
few or no holes to be seen thereon, and having sometimes some smaller
leaves rising from the bosom of the greater, and sometimes a little
hairy also. At the tops of two stalks stand many star-like flowers,
with yellow threads in the middle, very like those of St. John’s
Wort, insomuch that this is hardly discerned from it, but only by the
largeness and height, the seed being alike also in both. The root
abides long, sending forth new shoots every year.
_Place._] It grows in many groves, and small low woods, in divers
places of this land, as in Kent, Huntingdon, Cambridge, and
Northamptonshire; as also near water-courses in other places.
_Time._] It flowers in June and July, and the seed is ripe in August.
_Government and virtues._] There is not a straw to choose between this
and St. John’s Wort, only St. Peter must have it, lest he should want
pot herbs; It is of the same property of St. John’s Wort, but somewhat
weaker, and therefore more seldom used. Two drams of the seed taken at
a time in honied water, purges choleric humours, (as saith Dioscorides,
Pliny, and Galen,) and thereby helps those that are troubled with the
sciatica. The leaves are used as St. John’s Wort, to help those places
of the body that have been burnt with fire.
PIMPERNEL.
_Descript._] COMMON Pimpernel hath divers weak square stalks lying
on the ground, beset all with two small and almost round leaves at
every joint, one against another, very like Chickweed, but hath no
foot-stalks; for the leaves, as it were, compase the stalk. The flowers
stand singly each by themselves at them and the stalk, consisting of
five small round-pointed leaves, of a pale red colour, tending to an
orange, with so many threads in the middle, in whose places succeed
smooth round heads, wherein is contained small seed. The root is small
and fibrous, perishing every year.
_Place._] It grows almost every where as well in the meadows and
corn-fields, as by the way-sides, and in gardens, arising of itself.
_Time._] It flowers from May until April, and the seed ripens in the
mean time, and falls.
_Government and virtues._] It is a gallant solar herb, of a cleansing
attractive quality, whereby it draws forth thorns or splinters, or
other such like things gotten into the flesh; and put up into the
nostrils, purges the head; and Galen saith also, they have a drying
faculty, whereby they are good to solder the lips of wounds, and to
cleanse foul ulcers. The distilled water or juice is much esteemed by
French dames to cleanse the skin from any roughness and deformity, or
discolouring thereof; being boiled in wine and given to drink, it is
a good remedy against the plague, and other pestilential fevers, if
the party after taking it be warm in his bed, and sweat for two hours
after, and use the same for twice at least. It helps also all stingings
and bitings of venomous beasts, or mad dogs, being used inwardly, and
applied outwardly. The same also opens obstructions of the liver, and
is very available against the infirmities of the reins: It provokes
urine, and helps to expel the stone and gravel out of the kidneys and
bladder, and helps much in all inward pains and ulcers. The decoction,
or distilled water, is no less effectual to be applied to all wounds
that are fresh and green, or old, filthy, fretting, and running ulcers,
which it very effectually cures in a short space. A little mixed with
the juice, and dropped into the eyes, cleanses them from cloudy mists,
or thick films which grow over them, and hinder the sight. It helps the
tooth-ache, being dropped into the ear on a contrary side of the pain.
It is also effectual to ease the pains of the hæmorrhoids or piles.
GROUND PINE, OR CHAMEPITYS.
_Descript._] OUR common Ground Pine grows low, seldom rising above a
hand’s breadth high, shooting forth divers small branches, set with
slender, small, long, narrow, greyish, or whitish leaves, somewhat
hairy, and divided into three parts, many bushing together at a joint,
some growing scatteringly upon the stalks, smelling somewhat strong,
like unto rozin: The flowers are small, and of a pale yellow colour,
growing from the joint of the stalk all along among the leaves;
after which come small and round husks. The root is small and woody,
perishing every year.
_Place._] It grows more plentifully in Kent than any other county of
this land, as namely, in many places on this side Dartford, along to
Southfleet, Chatham, and Rochester, and upon Chatham down, hard by the
Beacon, and half a mile from Rochester, in a field near a house called
Selesys.
_Time._] It flowers and gives seed in the Summer months.
_Government and virtues._] Mars owns the herb. The decoction of Ground
Pine drank, doth wonderfully prevail against the stranguary, or any
inward pains arising from the diseases of the reins and urine, and
is especially good for all obstructions of the liver and spleen, and
gently opens the body; for which purpose they were wont in former
times to make pills with the powder thereof, and the pulp of figs.
It marvellously helps all the diseases of the mother, inwardly or
outwardly applied, procuring women’s courses, and expelling the dead
child and after-birth; yea, it is so powerful upon those feminine
parts, that it is utterly forbidden for women with child, for it will
cause abortion or delivery before the time. The decoction of the herb
in wine taken inwardly, or applied outwardly, or both, for some time
together, is also effectual in all pains and diseases of the joints,
as gouts, cramps, palsies, sciatica, and aches; for which purpose the
pills made with powder of Ground Pine, and of Hermodactyls with Venice
Turpentine are very effectual. The pills also, continued for some
time, are special good for those that have the dropsy, jaundice, and
for griping pains of the joints, belly, or inward parts. It helps also
all diseases of the brain, proceeding of cold and phlegmatic humours
and distillations, as also for the falling sickness. It is a special
remedy for the poison of the aconites, and other poisonous herbs, as
also against the stinging of any venomous creature. It is a good remedy
for a cold cough, especially in the beginning. For all the purposes
aforesaid, the herb being tunned up in new drink and drank, is almost
as effectual, but far more acceptable to weak and dainty stomachs. The
distilled water of the herb hath the same effects, but more weakly. The
conserve of the flowers doth the like, which Matthiolus much commends
against the palsy. The green herb, or the decoction thereof, being
applied, dissolves the hardness of women’s breasts, and all other hard
swellings in any other part of the body. The green herb also applied,
or the juice thereof with some honey, not only cleanses putrid,
stinking, foul, and malignant ulcers and sores of all sorts, but heals
and solders up the lips of green wounds in any part also. Let pregnant
women forbear, for it works violently upon the feminine part.
PLANTAIN.
THIS grows usually in meadows and fields, and by path sides, and is so
well known, that it needs no description.
_Time._] It is in its beauty about June, and the seed ripens shortly
after.
_Government and virtues._] It is true, Misaldus and others, yea, almost
all astrology-physicians, hold this to be an herb of Mars, because
it cures the diseases of the head and privities, which are under the
houses of Mars, Aries, and Scorpio: The truth is, it is under the
command of Venus, and cures the head by antipathy to Mars, and the
privities by sympathy to Venus; neither is there hardly a martial
disease but it cures.
The juice of Plantain clarified and drank for divers days together,
either of itself, or in other drink, prevails wonderfully against
all torments or excoriations in the intestines or bowels, helps the
distillations of rheum from the head, and stays all manner of fluxes,
even women’s courses, when they flow too abundantly. It is good to stay
spitting of blood and other bleedings at the mouth, or the making of
foul and bloody water, by reason of any ulcer in the reins or bladder,
and also stays the too free bleeding of wounds. It is held an especial
remedy for those that are troubled with the phthisic, or consumption
of the lungs, or ulcers of the lungs, or coughs that come of heat.
The decoction or powder of the roots or seeds, is much more binding
for all the purposes aforesaid than the leaves. Dioscorides saith,
that three roots boiled in wine and taken, helps the tertain agues,
and for the quartan agues, (but letting the number pass as fabulous)
I conceive the decoction of divers roots may be effectual. The herb
(but especially the seed) is held to be profitable against the dropsy,
the falling-sickness, the yellow jaundice, and stoppings of the liver
and reins. The roots of Plantain, and Pellitory of Spain, beaten into
powder, and put into the hollow teeth, takes away the pains of them.
The clarified juice, or distilled water, dropped into the eyes, cools
the inflammations in them, and takes away the pin and web; and dropped
into the ears, eases the pains in them, and heals and removes the heat.
The same also with the juice of Houseleek is profitable against all
inflammations and breakings out of the skin, and against burnings and
scaldings by fire and water. The juice or decoction made either of
itself, or other things of the like nature, is of much use and good
effect for old and hollow ulcers that are hard to be cured, and for
cankers and sores in the mouth or privy parts of man or woman; and
helps also the pains of the piles in the fundament. The juice mixed
with oil of roses, and the temples and forehead anointed therewith,
eases the pains of the head proceeding from heat, and helps lunatic and
frantic persons very much; as also the biting of serpents, or a mad
dog. The same also is profitably applied to all hot gouts in the feet
or hands, especially in the beginning. It is also good to be applied
where any bone is out of joint, to hinder inflammations, swellings, and
pains that presently rise thereupon. The powder of the dried leaves
taken in drink, kills worms of the belly; and boiled in wine, kills
worms that breed in old and foul ulcers. One part of Plantain water,
and two parts of the brine of powdered beef, boiled together and
clarified, is a most sure remedy to heal all spreading scabs or itch
in the head and body, all manner of tetters, ringworms, the shingles,
and all other running and fretting sores. Briefly, the Plantains are
singularly good wound herbs, to heal fresh or old wounds or sores,
either inward or outward.
PLUMS.
ARE so well known that they need no description.
_Government and virtues._] All Plums are under Venus, and are like
women, some better, and some worse. As there is great diversity of
kinds, so there is in the operation of Plums, for some that are sweet
moisten the stomach, and make the belly soluble; those that are sour
quench thirst more, and bind the belly; the moist and waterish do
sooner corrupt in the stomach, but the firm do nourish more, and offend
less. The dried fruit sold by the grocers under the names of Damask
Prunes, do somewhat loosen the belly, and being stewed, are often
used, both in health and sickness, to relish the mouth and stomach,
to procure appetite, and a little to open the body, allay choler, and
cool the stomach. Plum-tree leaves boiled in wine, are good to wash
and gargle the mouth and throat, to dry the flux of rheum coming to
the palate, gums, or almonds of the ear. The gum of the tree is good
to break the stone. The gum or leaves boiled in vinegar, and applied,
kills tetters and ringworms. Matthiolus saith, The oil preserved out of
the kernels of the stones, as oil of almonds is made, is good against
the inflamed piles, the tumours or swellings of ulcers, hoarseness of
the voice, roughness of the tongue and throat, and likewise the pains
in the ears. And that five ounces of the said oil taken with one ounce
of muskadel, drives forth the stone, and helps the cholic.
POLYPODY OF THE OAK.
_Descript._] THIS is a small herb consisting of nothing but roots and
leaves, bearing neither stalk, flower, nor seed, as it is thought. It
hath three or four leaves rising from the root, every one single by
itself, of about a hand length, are winged, consisting of many small
narrow leaves cut into the middle rib, standing on each side of the
stalk, large below, and smaller up to the top, not dented nor notched
at the edges at all, as the male fern hath, of sad green colour, and
smooth on the upper side, but on the other side somewhat rough by
reason of some yellowish flowers set thereon. The root is smaller than
one’s little finger, lying aslope, or creeping along under the upper
crust of the earth, brownish on the outside and greenish within, of a
sweetish harshness in taste, set with certain rough knags on each side
thereof, having also much mossiness or yellow hairiness upon it, and
some fibres underneath it, whereby it is nourished.
PLACE.] It grows as well upon old rotten stumps, or trunks of trees, as
oak, beech, hazel, willow, or any other, as in the woods under them,
and upon old mud walls, as also in mossy, stony, and gravelly places
near unto wood. That which grows upon oak is accounted the best; but
the quantity thereof is scarce sufficient for the common use.
_Time._] It being always green, may be gathered for use at any time.
_Government and virtues._] Polypodium of the Oak, that which grows
upon the earth is best; it is an herb of Saturn, to purge melancholy;
if the humour be otherwise, chuse your Polypodium accordingly. Meuse
(who is called the Physician’s Evangelist for the certainty of his
medicines, and the truth of his opinion) saith, That it dries up
thin humours, digests thick and tough, and purges burnt choler, and
especially tough and thick phlegm, and thin phlegm also, even from the
joints, and therefore good for those that are troubled with melancholy,
or quartan agues, especially if it be taken in whey or honied water,
or in barley-water, or the broth of a chicken with Epithymum, or with
Beets and Mallows. It is good for the hardness of the spleen, and for
pricking or stitches in the sides, as also for the cholic: Some use
to put to it some Fennel seeds, or Annis seeds, or Ginger, to correct
that loathing it brings to the stomach, which is more than needs, it
being a safe and gentle medicine, fit for all persons, which daily
experience confirms; and an ounce of it may be given at a time in a
decoction, if there be not Sena, or some other strong purger put with
it. A dram or two of the powder of the dried roots, taken fasting in
a cup of honied water, works gently, and for the purposes aforesaid.
The distilled water both of roots and leaves, is much commended for
the quartan ague, to be taken for many days together, as also against
melancholy, or fearful and troublesome sleeps or dreams; and with some
sugar-candy dissolved therein, is good against the cough, shortness of
breath, and wheezings, and those distillations of thin rheum upon the
lungs, which cause phthisicks, and oftentimes consumptions. The fresh
roots beaten small, or the powder of the dried roots mixed with honey,
and applied to the member that is out of joint, doth much help it; and
applied also to the nose, cures the disease called Polypus, which is
a piece of flesh growing therein, which in time stops the passage of
breath through that nostril; and it helps those clefts or chops that
come between the fingers or toes.
THE POPLAR TREE.
THERE are two sorts of Poplars, which are most familiar with us, viz.
the Black and White, both which I shall here describe unto you.
_Descript._] The White Poplar grows great, and reasonably high, covered
with thick, smooth, white bark, especially the branches; having long
leaves cut into several divisions almost like a vine leaf, but not
of so deep a green on the upper side, and hoary white underneath,
of a reasonable good scent, the whole form representing the form of
Coltsfoot. The catkins which it brings forth before the leaves, are
long, and of a faint reddish colour, which fall away, bearing seldom
good seed with them. The wood hereof is smooth, soft, and white, very
finely waved, whereby it is much esteemed.
The Black Poplar grows higher and straighter than the White, with a
greyish bark, bearing broad green leaves, somewhat like ivy leaves, not
cut in on the edges like the White, but whole and dented, ending in a
point, and not white underneath, hanging by slender long foot stalks,
which with the air are continually shaken, like as the Aspen leaves
are. The catkins hereof are greater than those of the White, composed
of many round green berries, as if they were set together in a long
cluster, containing much downy matter, which being ripe, is blown away
with the wind. The clammy buds hereof, before they spread into leaves,
are gathered to make Unguentum and Populneum, and are of a yellowish
green colour, and somewhat small, sweet, but strong. The wood is
smooth, tough, and white, and easy to be cloven. On both these trees
grows a sweet kind of musk, which in former times was used to put into
sweet ointments.
_Place._] They grow in moist woods, and by water-sides in sundry places
of this land; yet the White is not so frequent as the other.
_Time._] Their time is likewise expressed before: The catkins coming
forth before the leaves in the end of Summer.
_Government and virtues._] Saturn hath dominion over both. White
Poplar, saith Galen, is of a cleansing property: The weight of an
ounce in powder, of the bark thereof, being drank, saith Dioscorides,
is a remedy for those that are troubled with the sciatica, or the
stranguary. The juice of the leaves dropped warm into the ears,
eases the pains in them. The young clammy buds or eyes, before they
break out into leaves, bruised, and a little honey put to them, is a
good medicine for a dull sight. The Black Poplar is held to be more
cooling than the White, and therefore the leaves bruised with vinegar
and applied, help the gout. The seed drank in vinegar, is held good
against the falling-sickness. The water that drops from the hollow
places of this tree, takes away warts, pushes, wheals, and other the
like breakings-out of the body. The young Black Poplar buds, saith
Matthiolus, are much used by women to beautify their hair, bruising
them with fresh butter, straining them after they have been kept for
some time in the sun. The ointment called Populneon, which is made of
this Poplar, is singularly good for all heat and inflammations in any
part of the body, and tempers the heat of wounds. It is much used to
dry up the milk of women’s breasts when they have weaned their children.
POPPY.
OF this I shall describe three kinds, _viz._ the White and Black of
the Garden, and the Erratic Wild Poppy, or Corn Rose.
_Descript._] The White Poppy hath at first four or five whitish green
leaves lying upon the ground, which rise with the stalk, compassing
it at the bottom of them, and are very large, much cut or torn on the
edges, and dented also besides: The stalk, which is usually four or
five feet high, hath sometimes no branches at the top, and usually but
two or three at most, bearing every one but one head wrapped up in a
thin skin, which bows down before it is ready to blow, and then rising,
and being broken, the flowers within it spreading itself open, and
consisting of four very large, white, round leaves, with many whitish
round threads in the middle, set about a small, round, green head,
having a crown, or star-like cover at the head thereof, which growing
ripe, becomes as large as a great apple, wherein are contained a great
number of small round seeds, in several partitions or divisions next
unto the shell, the middle thereof remaining hollow, and empty. The
whole plant, both leaves, stalks, and heads, while they are fresh,
young, and green, yield a milk when they are broken, of an unpleasant
bitter taste, almost ready to provoke casting, and of a strong heady
smell, which being condensed, is called Opium. The root is white and
woody, perishing as soon as it hath given ripe seed.
The Black Poppy little differs from the former, until it bears its
flower, which is somewhat less, and of a black purplish colour, but
without any purple spots in the bottom of the leaf. The head of the
seed is much less than the former, and opens itself a little round
about the top, under the crown, so that the seed, which is very black,
will fall out, if one turn the head thereof downward.
The wild Poppy, or Corn Rose, hath long and narrow leaves, very much
cut in on the edges into many divisions, of a light green colour,
sometimes hairy withal. The stalk is blackish and hairy also, but not
so tall as the garden kind, having some such like leaves thereon to
grow below, parted into three or four branches sometimes, whereon grow
small hairy heads bowing down before the skin break, wherein the flower
is inclosed, which when it is fully blown open, is of a fair yellowish
red or crimson colour, and in some much paler, without any spot in the
bottom of the leaves, having many black soft threads in the middle,
compassing a small green head, which when it is ripe, is not bigger
than one’s little finger’s end, wherein is contained much black seeds
smaller than that of the garden. The root perishes every year, and
springs again of its own sowing. Of this kind there is one lesser in
all parts thereof, and differs in nothing else.
_Place._] The garden kinds do not naturally grow wild in any place, but
all are sown in gardens where they grow.
The Wild Poppy or Corn Rose, is plentifully enough, and many times too
much so in the corn fields of all counties through this land, and also
on ditch banks, and by hedge sides. The smaller wild kind is also found
in corn fields, and also in some other places, but not so plentifully
as the former.
_Time._] The garden kinds are usually sown in the spring, which then
flower about the end of May, and somewhat earlier, if they spring of
their own sowing.
The wild kind flower usually from May until July, and the seed of them
is ripe soon after the flowering.
_Government and virtues._] The herb is Lunar, and of the juice of it
is made opium; only for lucre of money they cheat you, and tell you it
is a kind of tear, or some such like thing, that drops from Poppies
when they weep, and that is somewhere beyond the seas, I know not where
beyond the Moon. The garden Poppy heads with seeds made into a syrup,
is frequently, and to good effect used to procure rest, and sleep, in
the sick and weak, and to stay catarrhs and defluxions of thin rheums
from the head into the stomach and lungs, causing a continual cough,
the fore-runner of a consumption; it helps also hoarseness of the
throat, and when one have lost their voice, which the oil of the seed
doth likewise. The black seed boiled in wine, and drank, is said also
to dry the flux of the belly, and women’s courses. The empty shells,
or poppy heads, are usually boiled in water, and given to procure
rest and sleep: so doth the leaves in the same manner; as also if the
head and temples be bathed with the decoction warm, or with the oil
of Poppies, the green leaves or the heads bruised and applied with
a little vinegar, or made into a poultice with barley-meal or hog’s
grease, cools and tempers all inflammations, as also the disease called
St. Anthony’s fire. It is generally used in treacle and mithridate, and
in all other medicines that are made to procure rest and sleep, and to
ease pains in the head as well as in other parts. It is also used to
cool inflammations, agues, or frenzies, or to stay defluxions which
cause a cough, or consumptions, and also other fluxes of the belly or
women’s courses; it is also put into hollow teeth, to ease the pain,
and hath been found by experience to ease the pains of the gout.
The Wild Poppy, or Corn Rose (as Matthiolus saith) is good to prevent
the falling-sickness. The syrup made with the flower, is with good
effect given to those that have the pleurisy; and the dried flowers
also, either boiled in water, or made into powder and drank, either
in the distilled water of them, or some other drink, works the like
effect. The distilled water of the flowers is held to be of much good
use against surfeits, being drank evening and morning; It is also more
cooling than any of the other Poppies, and therefore cannot but be as
effectual in hot agues, frenzies, and other inflammations either inward
or outward. Galen saith, The seed is dangerous to be used inwardly.
PURSLAIN.
GARDEN Purslain (being used as a sallad herb) is so well known that it
needs no description; I shall therefore only speak of its virtues as
follows.
_Government and virtues._] ’Tis an herb of the Moon. It is good to
cool any heat in the liver, blood, reins, and stomach, and in hot
agues nothing better: It stays hot and choleric fluxes of the belly,
women’s courses, the whites, and gonorrhæa, or running of the reins,
the distillation from the head, and pains therein proceeding from heat,
want of sleep, or the frenzy. The seed is more effectual than the herb,
and is of singular good use to cool the heat and sharpness of urine,
venereous dreams, and the like; insomuch that the over frequent use
hereof extinguishes the heat and virtue of natural procreation. The
seed bruised and boiled in wine, and given to children, expels the
worms. The juice of the herb is held as effectual to all the purposes
aforesaid; as also to stay vomitings, and taken with some sugar or
honey, helps an old and dry cough, shortness of breath, and the
phthisick, and stays immoderate thirst. The distilled water of the herb
is used by many (as the more pleasing) with a little sugar to work the
same effects. The juice also is singularly good in the inflammations
and ulcers in the secret parts of man or woman, as also the bowels
and hæmorrhoids, when they are ulcerous, or excoriations in them. The
herb bruised and applied to the forehead and temples, allays excessive
heat therein, that hinders rest and sleep; and applied to the eyes,
takes away the redness and inflammation in them, and those other parts
where pushes, wheals, pimples, St. Anthony’s fire and the like, break
forth; if a little vinegar be put to it, and laid to the neck, with as
much of galls and linseed together, it takes away the pains therein,
and the crick in the neck. The juice is used with oil of roses for the
same causes, or for blasting by lightning, and burnings by gunpowder,
or for women’s sore breasts, and to allay the heat in all other sores
or hurts; applied also to the navels of children that stick forth, it
helps them; it is also good for sore mouths and gums that are swollen,
and to fasten loose teeth. Camerarius saith, the distilled water used
by some, took away the pain of their teeth, when all other remedies
failed, and the thickened juice made into pills with the powder of gum
Tragicanth and Arabic, being taken, prevails much to help those that
make bloody water. Applied to the gout it eases pains thereof, and
helps the hardness of the sinews, if it come not of the cramp, or a
cold cause.
PRIMROSES.
THEY are so well known, that they need no description. Of the leaves of
Primroses is made as fine a salve to heal wounds as any that I know;
you shall be taught to make salves of any herb at the latter end of the
book: make this as you are taught there, and do not (you that have any
ingenuity in you) see your poor neighbours go with wounded limbs when
an halfpenny cost will heal them.
PRIVET.
_Descript._] OUR common Privet is carried up with many slender branches
to a reasonable height and breadth, to cover arbours, bowers and
banquetting houses, and brought, wrought, and cut into so many forms,
of men, horses, birds, &c. which though at first supported, grows
afterwards strong of itself. It bears long and narrow green leaves by
the couples, and sweet smelling white flowers in tufts at the end of
the branches, which turn into small black berries that have a purplish
juice with them, and some seeds that are flat on the one side, with a
hole or dent therein.
_Place._] It grows in this land, in divers woods.
_Time._] Our Privet flowers in June and July, the berries are ripe in
August and September.
_Government and virtues._] The Moon is lady of this. It is little used
in physic with us in these times, more than in lotions, to wash sores
and sore mouths, and to cool inflammations, and dry up fluxes. Yet
Matthiolus saith, it serves all the uses for which Cypress, or the East
Privet, is appointed by Dioscorides and Galen. He further saith, That
the oil that is made of the flowers of Privet infused therein, and set
in the Sun, is singularly good for the inflammations of wounds, and
for the headache, coming of a hot cause. There is a sweet water also
distilled from the flowers, that is good for all those diseases that
need cooling and drying, and therefore helps all fluxes of the belly
or stomach, bloody-fluxes, and women’s courses, being either drank or
applied; as all those that void blood at the mouth, or any other place,
and for distillations of rheum in the eyes, especially if it be used
with them.
QUEEN OF THE MEADOWS, MEADOW
SWEET, OR MEAD SWEET.
_Descript._] THE stalks of these are reddish, rising to be three feet
high, sometimes four or five feet, having at the joints thereof large
winged leaves, standing one above another at distances, consisting of
many and somewhat broad leaves, set on each side of a middle rib, being
hard, rough, or rugged, crumpled much like unto elm leaves, having
also some smaller leaves with them (as Agrimony hath) somewhat deeply
dented about the edges, of a sad green colour on the upper side, and
greyish underneath, of a pretty sharp scent and taste, somewhat like
unto the Burnet, and a leaf hereof put into a cup of claret wine, gives
also a fine relish to it. At the tops of the stalks and branches stand
many tufts of small white flowers thrust thick together, which smell
much sweeter than the leaves; and in their places, being fallen, come
crooked and cornered seed. The root is somewhat woody, and blackish on
the outside, and brownish within, with divers great strings, and lesser
fibres set thereat, of a strong scent, but nothing so pleasant as the
flowers and leaves, and perishes not, but abides many years, shooting
forth a-new every Spring.
_Place._] It grows in moist meadows that lie mostly wet, or near the
courses of water.
_Time._] It flowers in some places or other all the three Summer
months, that is, June, July, and August, and the seed is ripe soon
after.
_Government and virtues._] Venus claims dominion over the herb. It is
used to stay all manner of bleedings, fluxes, vomitings, and women’s
courses, also their whites: It is said to alter and take away the fits
of the quartan agues, and to make a merry heart, for which purpose some
use the flowers, and some the leaves. It helps speedily those that
are troubled with the cholic; being boiled in wine, and with a little
honey, taken warm, it opens the belly; but boiled in red wine, and
drank, it stays the flux of the belly. Outwardly applied, it helps old
ulcers that are cankerous, or hollow fistulous, for which it is by many
much commended, as also for the sores in the mouth or secret parts. The
leaves when they are full grown, being laid on the skin, will, in a
short time, raise blisters thereon, as Tragus saith. The water thereof
helps the heat and inflammation in the eyes.
THE QUINCE TREE.
_Descript._] THE ordinary Quince Tree grows often to the height and
bigness of a reasonable apple tree, but more usually lower, and
crooked, with a rough bark, spreading arms, and branches far abroad.
The leaves are somewhat like those of the apple tree, but thicker,
broader, and full of veins, and whiter on the under side, not dented
at all about the edges. The flowers are large and white, sometimes
dashed over with a blush. The fruit that follows is yellow, being near
ripe, and covered with a white freeze, or cotton; thick set on the
younger, and growing less as they grow to be thorough ripe, bunched out
oftentimes in some places, some being like an apple, and some a pear,
of a strong heady scent, and not durable to keep, and is sour, harsh,
and of an unpleasant taste to eat fresh; but being scalded, roasted,
baked, or preserved, becomes more pleasant.
_Place and Time._] It best likes to grow near ponds and water sides,
and is frequent through this land: and flowers not until the leaves be
come forth. The fruit is ripe in September or October.
_Government and virtues._] Old Saturn owns the Tree. Quinces when they
are green, help all sorts of fluxes in men or women, and choleric
lasks, casting, and whatever needs astriction, more than any way
prepared by fire; yet the syrup of the juice, or the conserve, are much
conducible, much of the binding quality being consumed by the fire;
if a little vinegar be added, it stirs up the languishing appetite,
and the stomach given to casting; some spices being added, comforts
and strengthens the decaying and fainting spirits, and helps the liver
oppressed, that it cannot perfect the digestion, or corrects choler and
phlegm. If you would have them purging, put honey to them instead of
sugar; and if more laxative, for choler, Rhubarb; for phlegm, Turbith;
for watery humours, Scammony; but if more forcible to bind, use the
unripe Quinces, with roses and acacia, hypocistis, and some torrified
rhubarb. To take the crude juice of Quinces, is held a preservative
against the force of deadly poison; for it hath been found most
certainly true, that the very smell of a Quince hath taken away all
the strength of the poison of white Hellebore. If there be need of any
outwardly binding and cooling of hot fluxes, the oil of Quinces, or
other medicines that may be made thereof, are very available to anoint
the belly or other parts therewith; it likewise strengthens the stomach
and belly, and the sinews that are loosened by sharp humours falling on
them, and restrains immoderate sweatings. The muscilage taken from the
seeds of Quinces, and boiled in a little water, is very good to cool
the heat and heal the sore breasts of women. The same, with a little
sugar, is good to lenify the harshness and hoarseness of the throat,
and roughness of the tongue. The cotton or down of Quinces boiled and
applied to plague sores, heals them up: and laid as a plaister, made
up with wax, it brings hair to them that are bald, and keeps it from
falling, if it be ready to shed.
RADDISH, OR HORSE-RADDISH.
THE garden Raddish is so well known, that it needs no description.
_Descript._] The Horse-Raddish hath its first leaves, that rise before
Winter, about a foot and a half long, very much cut in or torn on the
edges into many parts, of a dark green colour, with a great rib in the
middle; after these have been up a while, others follow, which are
greater, rougher, broader and longer, whole and not divided at first,
but only somewhat rougher dented about the edges; the stalks when it
bears flowers (which is seldom) is great, rising up with some few
lesser leaves thereon, to three or four feet high, spreading at the top
many small branches of whitish flowers, made of four leaves a-piece;
after which come small pods, like those of Shepherd’s Purse, but seldom
with any seed in them. The root is great, long, white and rugged,
shooting up divers heads of leaves, which may be parted for increase,
but it doth not creep in the ground, nor run above ground, and is of a
strong, sharp, and bitter taste almost like mustard.
_Place._] It is found wild in some places, but is chiefly planted in
gardens, and joys in moist and shadowy places.
_Time._] It seldom flowers, but when it doth, it is in July.
_Government and virtues._] They are both under Mars. The juice of
Horse-raddish given to drink, is held to be very effectual for the
scurvy. It kills the worms in children, being drank, and also laid upon
the belly. The root bruised and laid to the place grieved with the
sciatica, joint-ache, or the hard swellings of the liver and spleen,
doth wonderfully help them all. The distilled water of the herb and
root is more familiar to be taken with a little sugar for all the
purposes aforesaid.
Garden Raddishes are in wantonness by the gentry eaten as a sallad, but
they breed but scurvy humours in the stomach, and corrupt the blood,
and then send for a physician as fast as you can; this is one cause
which makes the owners of such nice palates so unhealthful; yet for
such as are troubled with the gravel, stone, or stoppage of urine, they
are good physic, if the body be strong that takes them; you may make
the juice of the roots into a syrup if you please, for that use: they
purge by urine exceedingly.
RAGWORT.
IT is called also St. James’-wort, and Stagger-wort, and Stammer-wort,
and Segrum.
_Descript._] The greater common Ragwort hath many large and long, dark
green leaves lying on the ground, very much rent and torn on the
sides in many places: from among which rise up sometimes but one, and
sometimes two or three square or crested blackish or brownish stalks,
three or four feet high, sometimes branched, bearing divers such-like
leaves upon them, at several distances upon the top, where it branches
forth into many stalks bearing yellow flowers, consisting of divers
leaves, set as a pale or border, with a dark yellow thrum in the
middle, which do abide a great while, but at last are turned into down,
and with the small blackish grey seed, are carried away with the wind.
The root is made of many fibres, whereby it is firmly fastened into the
ground, and abides many years.
There is another sort thereof differs from the former only in this,
that it rises not so high; the leaves are not so finely jagged, nor of
so dark a green colour, but rather somewhat whitish, soft and woolly,
and the flowers usually paler.
_Place._] They grow, both of them, wild in pastures, and untilled
grounds in many places, and oftentimes both in one field.
_Time._] They flower in June and July, and the seed is ripe in August.
_Government and virtues._] Ragwort is under the command of Dame Venus,
and cleanses, digests, and discusses. The decoction of the herb is good
to wash the mouth or throat that hath ulcers or sores therein: and for
swellings, hardness, or imposthumes, for it thoroughly cleanses and
heals them; as also the quinsy, and the king’s evil. It helps to stay
catarrhs, thin rheums, and defluxions from the head into the eyes,
nose, or lungs. The juice is found by experience to be singularly good
to heal green wounds, and to cleanse and heal all old and filthy ulcers
in the privities, and in other parts of the body, as also inward wounds
and ulcers; stays the malignity of fretting and running cankers, and
hollow fistulas, not suffering them to spread farther. It is also
much commended to help aches and pains either in the fleshy part, or
in the nerves and sinews, as also the sciatica, or pain of the hips or
knuckle-bone, to bathe the places with the decoction of the herb, or
to anoint them with an ointment made of the herb bruised and boiled in
old hog’s suet, with some Mastick and Olibanum in powder added unto it
after it is strained forth. In Sussex we call it Ragweed.
RATTLE GRASS.
OF this there are two kinds which I shall speak of, _viz._ the red and
yellow.
_Descript._] The common Red Rattle hath sundry reddish, hollow stalks,
and sometimes green, rising from the root, lying for the most part
on the ground, some growing more upright, with many small reddish or
green leaves set on both sides of a middle rib, finely dented about the
edges: The flowers stand at the tops of the stalks and branches, of a
fine purplish red colour, like small gaping hooks; after which come
blackish seed in small husks, which lying loose therein, will rattle
with shaking. The root consists of two or three small whitish strings
with some fibres thereat.
The common Yellow Rattle hath seldom above one round great stalk,
rising from the foot, about half a yard, or two feet high, and but few
branches thereon, having two long and somewhat broad leaves set at
a joint, deeply cut in on the edges, resembling the comb of a cock,
broadest next to the stalk, and smaller to the end. The flowers grow
at the tops of the stalks, with some shorter leaves with them, hooded
after the same manner that the others are, but of a fair yellow colour,
or in some paler, and in some more white. The seed is contained in
large husks, and being ripe, will rattle or make a noise with lying
loose in them. The root is small and slender, perishing every year.
_Place._] They grow in meadows and woods generally through this land.
_Time._] They are in flower from Midsummer until August be past,
sometimes.
_Government and virtues._] They are both of them under the dominion of
the Moon. The Red Rattle is accounted profitable to heal up fistulas
and hollow ulcers, and to stay the flux of humours in them, as also
the abundance of women’s courses, or any other fluxes of blood, being
boiled in red wine, and drank.
The yellow Rattle, or Cock’s Comb, is held to be good for those that
are troubled with a cough, or dimness of sight, if the herb, being
boiled with beans, and some honey put thereto, be drank or dropped into
the eyes. The whole seed being put into the eyes, draws forth any skin,
dimness or film, from the sight, without trouble, or pain.
REST HARROW, OR CAMMOCK.
_Descript._] COMMON Rest Harrow rises up with divers rough woody twigs
half a yard or a yard high, set at the joints without order, with
little roundish leaves, sometimes more than two or three at a place,
of a dark green colour, without thorns while they are young; but
afterwards armed in sundry places, with short and sharp thorns. The
flowers come forth at the tops of the twigs and branches, whereof it
is full fashioned like pease or broom blossoms, but lesser, flatter,
and somewhat closer, of a faint purplish colour; after which come small
pods containing small, flat, round seed: The root is blackish on the
outside, and whitish within, very rough, and hard to break when it is
fresh and green, and as hard as an horn when it is dried, thrusting
down deep into the ground, and spreading likewise, every piece being
apt to grow again if it be left in the ground.
_Place._] It grows in many places of this land, as well in the arable
as waste ground.
_Time._] It flowers about the beginning or middle of July, and the seed
is ripe in August.
_Government and virtues._] It is under the dominion of Mars. It is
singularly good to provoke urine when it is stopped, and to break and
drive forth the stone, which the powder of the bark of the root taken
in wine performs effectually. Matthiolus saith, The same helps the
disease called _Herma Carnosa_, the fleshy rupture, by taking the said
powder for three months together constantly, and that it hath cured
some which seemed incurable by any other means than by cutting or
burning. The decoction thereof made with some vinegar, gargled in the
mouth, eases the tooth-ache, especially when it comes of rheum; and the
said decoction is very powerful to open obstructions of the liver and
spleen, and other parts. A distilled water in _Balneo Mariæ_, with four
pounds of the root hereof first sliced small, and afterwards steeped
in a gallon of Canary wine, is singularly good for all the purposes
aforesaid, and to cleanse the urinary passages. The powder of the said
root made into an electuary, or lozenges, with sugar, as also the bark
of the fresh roots boiled tender, and afterwards beaten to a conserve
with sugar, works the like effect. The powder of the roots strewed upon
the brims of ulcers, or mixed with any other convenient thing, and
applied, consumes the hardness, and causes them to heal the better.
ROCKET.
IN regard the Garden Rocket is rather used as a sallad herb than to any
physical purposes, I shall omit it, and only speak of the common wild
Rocket. The description whereof take as follows.
_Descript._] The common wild Rocket has longer and narrower leaves,
much more divided into slender cuts and jags on both sides the middle
rib than the garden kinds have; of a sad green colour, from among
which rise up divers stalks two or three feet high, sometimes set with
the like leaves, but smaller and smaller upwards, branched from the
middle into divers stiff stalks, bearing sundry yellow flowers on them,
made of four leaves a-piece, as the others are, which afterwards yield
them small reddish seed, in small long pods, of a more bitter and hot
biting taste than the garden kinds, as the leaves are also.
_Place._] It is found wild in divers places of this land.
_Time._] It flowers about June or July, and the seed is ripe in August.
_Government and virtues._] The wild Rockets are forbidden to be used
alone, in regard their sharpness fumes into the head, causing aches
and pains therein, and are less hurtful to hot and choleric persons,
for fear of inflaming their blood, and therefore for such we may say
a little doth but a little harm, for angry Mars rules them, and he
sometimes will be restive when he meets with fools. The wild Rocket is
more strong and effectual to increase sperm and venerous qualities,
whereunto all the seed is more effectual than the garden kind. It
serves also to help digestion, and provokes urine exceedingly. The seed
is used to cure the biting of serpents, the scorpion, and the shrew
mouse, and other poisons, and expels worms, and other noisome creatures
that breed in the belly. The herb boiled or stewed, and some sugar put
thereto, helps the cough in children, being taken often. The seed also
taken in drink, takes away the ill scent of the arm-pits, increases
milk in nurses, and wastes the spleen. The seed mixed with honey,
and used on the face, cleanses the skin from morphew, and used with
vinegar, takes away freckles and redness in the face, or other parts;
and with the gall of an ox, it mends foul scars, black and blue spots,
and the marks of the small-pox.
WINTER-ROCKET, OR CRESSES.
_Descript._] WINTER-Rocket, or Winter-Cresses, hath divers somewhat
large sad green leaves lying upon the ground, torn or cut in divers
parts, somewhat like unto Rocket or turnip leaves, with smaller pieces
next the bottom, and broad at the ends, which so abide all the Winter
(if it spring up in Autumn, when it is used to be eaten) from among
which rise up divers small round stalks, full of branches, bearing many
small yellow flowers of four leaves a-piece, after which come small
pods, with reddish seed in them. The root is somewhat stringy, and
perishes every year after the seed is ripe.
_Place._] It grows of its own accord in gardens and fields, by the
way-sides, in divers places, and particularly in the next pasture to
the Conduit-head behind Gray’s Inn, that brings water to Mr. Lamb’s
conduit in Holborn.
_Time._] It flowers in May, seeds in June, and then perishes.
_Government and virtues._] This is profitable to provoke urine, to help
stranguary, and expel gravel and stone. It is good for the scurvy,
and found by experience to be a singularly good wound herb to cleanse
inward wounds; the juice or decoction being drank, or outwardly applied
to wash foul ulcers and sores, cleansing them by sharpness, and
hindering or abating the dead flesh from growing therein, and healing
them by their drying quality.
ROSES.
I HOLD it altogether needless to trouble the reader with a description
of any of these, since both the garden Roses, and the Roses of the
briars are well enough known: take therefore the virtues of them as
follows; And first I shall begin with the garden kinds.
_Government and virtues._] What a pother have authors made with Roses!
What a racket have they kept? I shall add, red Roses are under Jupiter,
Damask under Venus, White under the Moon, and Provence under the King
of France. The white and red Roses are cooling and drying, and yet the
white is taken to exceed the red in both the properties, but is seldom
used inwardly in any medicine: The bitterness in the Roses when they
are fresh, especially the juice, purges choler, and watery humours; but
being dried, and that heat which caused the bitterness being consumed,
they have then a binding and astringent quality: Those also that are
not full blown, do both cool and bind more than those that are full
blown, and the white Rose more than the Red. The decoction of red
Roses made with wine and used, is very good for the head-ache, and
pains in the eyes, ears, throat, and gums; as also for the fundament,
the lower part of the belly and the matrix, being bathed or put into
them. The same decoction with the Roses remaining in it, is profitably
applied to the region of the heart to ease the inflammation therein;
as also St. Anthony’s fire, and other diseases of the stomach. Being
dried and beaten to powder, and taken in steeled wine or water, it
helps to stay women’s courses. The yellow threads in the middle of
the Roses (which are erroneously called the Rose Seed) being powdered
and drank in the distilled water of Quinces, stays the overflowing of
women’s courses, and doth wonderfully stay the defluctions of rheum
upon the gums and teeth, preserving them from corruption, and fastening
them if they be loose, being washed and gargled therewith, and some
vinegar of Squills added thereto. The heads with the seed being used
in powder, or in a decoction, stays the lask and spitting of blood.
Red Roses do strengthen the heart, the stomach and the liver, and the
retentive faculty: They mitigate the pains that arise from heat,
assuage inflammations, procure rest and sleep, stay both whites and
reds in women, the gonorrhea, or running of the reins, and fluxes of
the belly: the juice of them doth purge and cleanse the body from
choler and phlegm. The husks of the Roses, with the beards and nails
of the Roses, are binding and cooling, and the distilled water of
either of them is good for the heat and redness in the eyes, and to
stay and dry up the rheums and watering of them. Of the Red Roses are
usually made many compositions, all serving to sundry good uses, viz.
Electuary of Roses, Conserve, both moist and dry, which is more usually
called Sugar of roses, Syrup of dry Roses, and Honey of Roses. The
cordial powder called _Diarrhoden Abbatis_, and _Aromatica Rosarum_.
The distilled Water of Roses, Vinegar of Roses, Ointment, and Oil of
Roses, and the Rose leaves dried, are of great use and effect. To
write at large of every one of these, would make my book smell too
big, it being sufficient for a volume of itself, to speak fully of
them. But briefly, the Electuary is purging, whereof two or three drams
taken by itself in some convenient liquor, is a purge sufficient for
a weak constitution, but may be increased to six drams, according to
the strength of the patient. It purges choler without trouble, it is
good in hot fevers, and pains of the head arising from hot choleric
humours, and heat in the eyes, the jaundice also, and joint-aches
proceeding of hot humours. The moist Conserve is of much use, both
binding and cordial; for until it be about two years old, it is more
binding than cordial, and after that, more cordial than binding. Some
of the younger Conserve taken with mithridate mixed together, is good
for those that are troubled with distillations of rheum from the brain
to the nose, and defluctions of rheum into the eyes; as also for
fluxes and lasks of the belly; and being mixed with the powder of
mastich, is very good for the gonorrhea, and for the looseness of the
humours in the body. The old Conserve mixed with Aromaticum Rosarum,
is a very good cordial against faintings, swoonings, weakness, and
tremblings of the heart, strengthens, both it and a weak stomach,
helps digestion, stays casting, and is a very good preservative in
the time of infection. The dry Conserve, which is called the Sugar of
Roses, is a very good cordial to strengthen the heart and spirits; as
also to stay defluctions. The syrup of dried red Roses strengthens a
stomach given to casting, cools an over-heated liver, and the blood
in agues, comforts the heart, and resists putrefaction and infection,
and helps to stay lasks and fluxes. Honey of Roses is much used in
gargles and lotions to wash sores, either in the mouth, throat, or
other parts, both to cleanse and heal them, and to stay the fluxes
of humours falling upon them. It is also used in clysters both to
cool and cleanse. The cordial powders, called Diarrhoden Abbatis and
Aromaticum Rosarum, do comfort and strengthen the heart and stomach,
procure an appetite, help digestion, stay vomiting, and are very good
for those that have slippery bowels, to strengthen them, and to dry
up their moisture. Red Rose-water is well known, and of familiar use
on all occasions, and better than Damask Rose-water, being cooling
and cordial, refreshing, quickening the weak and faint spirits, used
either in meats or broths, to wash the temples, to smell at the nose,
or to smell the sweet vapours thereof out of a perfuming pot, or cast
into a hot fire shovel. It is also of much good use against the redness
and inflammations of the eyes to bathe them therewith, and the temples
of the head; as also against pain and ache, for which purpose also
Vinegar of Roses is of much good use, and to procure rest and sleep,
if some thereof, and Rose-water together, be used to smell unto, or
the nose and temples moistened therewith, but more usually to moisten
a piece of a red Rose-cake, cut for the purpose, and heated between
a double folded cloth, with a little beaten nutmeg, and poppy-seed
strewed on the side that must lie next to the forehead and temples,
and bound so thereto all night. The ointment of Roses is much used
against heat and inflammations in the head, to anoint the forehead
and temples, and being mixt with _Unguentum Populneum_, to procure
rest: it is also used for the heat of the liver, the back and reins,
and to cool and heal pushes, wheals, and other red pimples rising in
the face or other parts. Oil of Roses is not only used by itself to
cool any hot swellings or inflammations, and to bind and stay fluxes
of humours unto sores, but is also put into ointments and plaisters
that are cooling and binding, and restraining the flux of humours. The
dried leaves of the red Roses are used both inwardly and outwardly,
both cooling, binding, and cordial, for with them are made both
_Aromaticum_, _Rosarum_, _Diarrhoden Abbatis_, and _Saccharum Rosarum_,
each of whose properties are before declared. Rose leaves and mint,
heated and applied outwardly to the stomach, stays castings, and very
much strengthen a weak stomach; and applied as a fomentation to the
region of the liver and heart, do much cool and temper them, and also
serve instead of a Rose-cake (as is said before) to quiet the over-hot
spirits, and cause rest and sleep. The syrup of Damask Roses is both
simple and compound, and made with Agaric. The simple solutive syrup
is a familiar, safe, gentle and easy medicine, purging choler, taken
from one ounce to three or four, yet this is remarkable herein, that
the distilled water of this syrup should notably bind the belly. The
syrup with Agaric is more strong and effectual, for one ounce thereof
by itself will open the body more than the other, and works as much on
phlegm as choler. The compound syrup is more forcible in working on
melancholic humours; and available against the leprosy, itch, tetters,
&c. and the French disease: Also honey of Roses solutive is made of the
same infusions that the syrup is made of, and therefore works the same
effect, both opening and purging, but is oftener given to phlegmatic
than choleric persons, and is more used in clysters than in potions,
as the syrup made with sugar is. The conserve and preserved leaves of
those Roses are also operative in gently opening the belly.
The simple water of Damask Roses is chiefly used for fumes to sweeten
things, as the dried leaves thereof to make sweet powders, and fill
sweet bags; and little use they are put to in physic, although they
have some purging quality; the wild Roses also are few or none of them
used in physic, but are generally held to come near the nature of the
manured Roses. The fruit of the wild briar, which are called Hips,
being thoroughly ripe, and made into a conserve with sugar, besides
the pleasantness of the taste, doth gently bind the belly, and stay
defluctions from the head upon the stomach, drying up the moisture
thereof, and helps digestion. The pulp of the hips dried into a hard
consistence, like to the juice of the liquorice, or so dried that
it may be made into powder and taken into drink, stays speedily the
whites in women. The briar ball is often used, being made into powder
and drank, to break the stone, to provoke urine when it is stopped,
and to ease and help the cholic; some appoint it to be burnt, and then
taken for the same purpose. In the middle of the balls are often found
certain white worms, which being dried and made into powder, and some
of it drank, is found by experience of many to kill and drive forth the
worms of the belly.
ROSA SOLIS, OR SUN DEW.
IT is likewise called Red-rot, and Youth-wort.
_Descript._] It hath, divers small, round, hollow leaves somewhat
greenish, but full of certain red hairs, which make them seem red,
every one standing upon his own foot-stalk, reddish, hairy likewise.
The leaves are continually moist in the hottest day, yea, the hotter
the sun shines on them, the moister they are, with a sliminess that
will rope (as we say,) the small hairs always holding the moisture.
Among these leaves rise up slender stalks, reddish also, three or four
fingers high, bearing divers small white knobs one above another, which
are flowers; after which in the heads are contained small seeds. The
root is a few small hairs.
_Place._] It grows usually in bogs and wet places, and sometimes in
moist woods.
_Time._] It flowers in June, and the leaves are then fittest to be
gathered.
_Government and virtues._] The Sun rules it, and it is under the
sign Cancer. Rose Solis is accounted good to help those that have a
salt rheum distilling on their lungs, which breeds a consumption,
and therefore the distilled water thereof in wine is held fit and
profitable for such to drink, which water will be of a good yellow
colour. The same water is held to be good for all other diseases of the
lungs, as phthisicks, wheezings, shortness of breath, or the cough;
as also to heal the ulcers that happen in the lungs; and it comforts
the heart and fainting spirits. The leaves, outwardly applied to the
skin will raise blisters, which has caused some to think it dangerous
to be taken inwardly; but there are other things which will also draw
blisters, yet nothing dangerous to be taken inwardly. There is an usual
drink made thereof with aqua vitæ and spices frequently, and without
any offence or danger, but to good purpose used in qualms and passions
of the heart.
ROSEMARY.
OUR garden Rosemary is so well known, that I need not describe it.
_Time._] It flowers in April and May with us, sometimes again in August.
_Government and virtues._] The Sun claims privilege in it, and it is
under the celestial Ram. It is an herb of as great use with us in these
days as any whatsoever, not only for physical but civil purposes. The
physical use of it (being my present task) is very much used both for
inward and outward diseases, for by the warming and comforting heat
thereof it helps all cold diseases, both of the head, stomach, liver,
and belly. The decoction thereof in wine, helps the cold distillations
of rheum into the eyes, and all other cold diseases of the head and
brain, as the giddiness or swimmings therein, drowsiness or dullness
of the mind and senses like a stupidness, the dumb palsy, or loss of
speech, the lethargy, and fallen-sickness, to be both drank, and the
temples bathed therewith. It helps the pains in the gums and teeth,
by rheum falling into them, not by putrefaction, causing an evil
smell from them, or a stinking breath. It helps a weak memory, and
quickens the senses. It is very comfortable to the stomach in all the
cold griefs thereof, helps both retention of meat, and digestion,
the decoction or powder being taken in wine. It is a remedy for the
windiness in the stomach, bowels, and spleen, and expels it powerfully.
It helps those that are liver-grown, by opening the obstructions
thereof. It helps dim eyes, and procures a clear sight, the flowers
thereof being taken all the while it is flowering every morning
fasting, with bread and salt. Both Dioscorides and Galen say, That if
a decoction be made thereof with water, and they that have the yellow
jaundice exercise their bodies directly after the taking thereof, it
will certainly cure them. The flowers and conserve made of them, are
singularly good to comfort the heart, and to expel the contagion of
the pestilence; to burn the herb in houses and chambers, corrects the
air in them. Both the flowers and leaves are very profitable for women
that are troubled with the whites, if they be daily taken. The dried
leaves shred small, and taken in a pipe, as tobacco is taken, helps
those that have any cough, phthisic, or consumption, by warming and
drying the thin distillations which cause those diseases. The leaves
are very much used in bathings; and made into ointments or oil, are
singularly good to help cold benumbed joints, sinews, or members. The
chymical oil drawn from the leaves and flowers, is a sovereign help for
all the diseases aforesaid, to touch the temples and nostrils with two
or three drops for all the diseases of the head and brain spoken of
before; as also to take one drop, two, or three, as the case requires,
for the inward griefs: Yet must it be done with discretion, for it is
very quick and piercing, and therefore but a little must be taken at a
time. There is also another oil made by insolation in this manner: Take
what quantity you will of the flowers, and put them into a strong glass
close stopped, tie a fine linen cloth over the mouth, and turn the
mouth down into another strong glass, which being set in the sun, an
oil will distil down into the lower glass, to be preserved as precious
for divers uses, both inward and outward, as a sovereign balm to heal
the disease before-mentioned, to clear dim sights, and to take away
spots, marks, and scars in the skin.
RHUBARB, OR REPHONTIC.
DO not start, and say, This grows you know not how far off: and then
ask me, How it comes to pass that I bring it among our English simples?
For though the name may speak it foreign, yet it grows with us in
England, and that frequent enough in our gardens; and when you have
thoroughly pursued its virtues, you will conclude it nothing inferior
to that which is brought out of China, and by that time this hath been
as much used as that hath been, the name which the other hath gotten
will be eclipsed by the fame of this; take therefore a description at
large of it as follows:
_Descript._] At the first appearing out of the ground, when the winter
is past, it hath a great round brownish head, rising from the middle
or sides of the root, which opens itself into sundry leaves one after
another, very much crumpled or folded together at the first, and
brownish: but afterwards it spreads itself, and becomes smooth, very
large and almost round, every one standing on a brownish stalk of the
thickness of a man’s thumb, when they are grown to their fulness, and
most of them two feet and more in length, especially when they grow in
any moist or good ground; and the stalk of the leaf, from the bottom
thereof to the leaf itself, being also two feet, the breadth thereof
from edge to edge, in the broadest place, being also two feet, of a
sad or dark green colour, of a fine tart or sourish taste, much more
pleasant than the garden or wood sorrel. From among these rise up some,
but not every year, strong thick stalks, not growing so high as the
Patience, or garden Dock, with such round leaves as grow below, but
small at every joint up to the top, and among the flowers, which are
white, spreading forth into many branches, consisting of five or six
small leaves a-piece, hardly to be discerned from the white threads in
the middle, and seeming to be all threads, after which come brownish
three square seeds, like unto other Docks, but larger, whereby it
may be plainly known to be a Dock. The root grows in time to be very
great, with divers and sundry great spreading branches from it, of a
dark brownish or reddish colour on the outside, having a pale yellow
skin under it, which covers the inner substance or root, which rind
and skin being pared away, the root appears of so fresh and lively a
colour, with fresh coloured veins running through it, that the choicest
of that Rhubarb that is brought us from beyond the seas cannot excel
it, which root, if it be dried carefully, and as it ought (which must
be in our country by the gentle heat of a fire, in regard the sun is
not hot enough here to do it, and every piece kept from touching one
another) will hold its colour almost as well as when it is fresh, and
has been approved of, and commended by those who have oftentimes used
them.
_Place._] It grows in gardens, and flowers about the beginning and
middle of June, and the seed is ripe in July.
_Time._] The roots that are to be dried and kept all the year
following, are not to be taken up before the stalk and leaves be
quite turned red and gone, and that is not until the middle or end of
October, and if they be taken a little before the leaves do spring, or
when they are sprung up, the roots will not have half so good a colour
in them.
I have given the precedence unto this, because in virtues also it
hath the pre-eminence. I come now to describe unto you that which is
called Patience, or Monk’s Rhubarb; and the next unto that, the great
round-leaved Dock, or Bastard Rhubarb, for the one of these may happily
supply in the absence of the other, being not much unlike in their
virtues, only one more powerful and efficacious than the other. And
lastly, shall shew you the virtues of all the three sorts.
GARDEN-PATIENCE, OR MONK’S RHUBARB.
_Descript._] THIS is a Dock bearing the name of Rhubarb for some
purging quality therein, and grows up with large tall stalks, set
with somewhat broad and long, fair, green leaves, not dented at all.
The tops of the stalks being divided into many small branches, bear
reddish or purplish flowers, and three-square seed, like unto other
Docks. The root is long, great and yellow, like unto the wild Docks,
but a little redder; and if it be a little dried, shews less store of
discoloured veins than the other does when it is dry.
GREAT ROUND-LEAVED DOCK, OR BASTARD
RHUBARB.
_Descript._] THIS has divers large, round, thin, yellowish green leaves
rising from the root, a little waved about the edges, every one
standing upon a reasonably thick and long brownish footstalk, from
among which rises up a pretty big stalk, about two feet high, with
some such high leaves growing thereon, but smaller; at the top whereof
stand in a long spike many small brownish flowers, which turn into a
hard three square shining brown seed, like the garden Patience before
described. The root grows greater than that, with many branches or
great fibres thereat, yellow on the outside, and somewhat pale; yellow
within, with some discoloured veins like to the Rhubarb which is first
described, but much less than it, especially when it is dry.
_Place and Time._] These also grow in gardens, and flower and seed at
or near the same time that our true Rhubarb doth, viz. they flower in
June, and the seed is ripe in July.
_Government and virtues._] Mars claims predominancy over all these
wholesome herbs: You cry out upon him for an unfortunate, when God
created him for your good (only he is angry with fools.) What dishonour
is this, not to Mars, but to God himself. A dram of the dried root of
Monk’s Rhubarb, with a scruple of Ginger made into powder, and taken
fasting in a draught or mess of warm broth, purges choler and phlegm
downwards very gently and safely without danger. The seed thereof
contrary doth bind the belly, and helps to stay any sort of lasks or
bloody-flux. The distilled water thereof is very profitably used to
heal scabs; also foul ulcerous sores, and to allay the inflammation
of them; the juice of the leaves or roots or the decoction of them in
vinegar, is used as the most effectual remedy to heal scabs and running
sores.
The Bastard Rhubarb hath all the properties of the Monk’s Rhubarb, but
more effectual for both inward and outward diseases. The decoction
thereof without vinegar dropped into the ears, takes away the pains;
gargled in the mouth, takes away the tooth ache; and being drank, heals
the jaundice. The seed thereof taken, eases the gnawing and griping
pains of the stomach, and takes away the loathing thereof unto meat.
The root thereof helps the ruggedness of the nails, and being boiled
in wine helps the swelling of the throat, commonly called the king’s
evil, as also the swellings of the kernels of the ears. It helps them
that are troubled with the stone, provokes urine, and helps the dimness
of the sight. The roots of this Bastard Rhubarb are used in opening
and purging diet-drinks, with other things, to open the liver, and to
cleanse and cool the blood.
The properties of that which is called the English Rhubarb are the same
with the former, but much more effectual, and hath all the properties
of the true Italian Rhubarbs, except the force in purging, wherein it
is but of half the strength thereof, and therefore a double quantity
must be used: it likewise hath not that bitterness and astriction; in
other things it works almost in an equal quantity, which are these: It
purges the body of choler and phlegm, being either taken of itself,
made into powder, and drank in a draught of white wine, or steeped
therein all night, and taken fasting, or put among other purges, as
shall be thought convenient, cleansing the stomach, liver, and blood,
opening obstructions, and helping those griefs that come thereof, as
the jaundice, dropsy, swelling of the spleen, tertain and daily agues,
and pricking pains of the sides; and also stays spitting of blood.
The powder taken with cassia dissolved, and washed Venice turpentine,
cleanses the reins and strengthens them afterwards, and is very
effectual to stay the gonorrhea. It is also given for the pains and
swellings in the head, for those that are troubled with melancholy,
and helps the sciatica, gout, and the cramp. The powder of the Rhubarb
taken with a little mummia and madder roots in some red wine, dissolves
clotted blood in the body, happening by any fall or bruise, and helps
burstings and broken parts, as well inward as outward. The oil likewise
wherein it hath been boiled, works the like effects being anointed.
It is used to heal those ulcers that happen in the eyes or eyelids,
being steeped and strained; as also to assuage the swellings and
inflammations; and applied with honey, boiled in wine, it takes away
all blue spots or marks that happen therein. Whey or white wine are the
best liquors to steep it in, and thereby it works more effectual in
opening obstructions, and purging the stomach and liver. Many do use a
little Indian Spikenard as the best corrector thereof.
MEADOW-RUE.
_Descript._] MEADOW-RUE rises up with a yellow stringy root, much
spreading in the ground, shooting forth new sprouts round about, with
many herby green stalks, two feet high, crested all the length of them,
set with joints here and there, and many large leaves on them, above
as well as below, being divided into smaller leaves, nicked or dented
in the fore part of them, of a red green colour on the upper-side, and
pale green underneath; Toward the top of the stalk there shoots forth
divers short branches, on every one whereof stand two, three or four
small heads, or buttons, which breaking the skin that incloses them,
shoots forth a tuft of pale greenish yellow threads, which falling
away, there come in their places small three-cornered cods, wherein
is contained small, long and round seed. The whole plant has a strong
unpleasant scent.
_Place._] It grows in many places of this land, in the borders of moist
meadows, and ditch-sides.
_Time._] It flowers about July, or the beginning of August.
_Government and virtues._] Dioscorides saith, That this herb bruised
and applied, perfectly heals old sores, and the distilled water of
the herb and flowers doth the like. It is used by some among other
pot-herbs to open the body, and make it soluble; but the roots washed
clean, and boiled in ale and drank, provokes to stool more than the
leaves, but yet very gently. The root boiled in water, and the places
of the body most troubled with vermin and lice washed therewith while
it is warm, destroys them utterly. In Italy it is good against the
plague, and in Saxony against the jaundice, as _Camerarius_ saith.
GARDEN-RUE.
GARDEN-RUE is so well known by this name, and the name Herb of Grace,
that I shall not need to write any farther description of it, but shall
shew you the virtue of it, as follows.
_Government and virtues._] It is an herb of the Sun, and under Leo.
It provokes urine and women’s courses, being taken either in meat
or drink. The seed thereof taken in wine, is an antidote against
all dangerous medicines or deadly poisons. The leaves taken either
by themselves, or with figs and walnuts, is called Mithridate’s
counter-poison against the plague, and causes all venomous things
to become harmless; being often taken in meat and drink, it abates
venery. A decoction thereof with some dried dill leaves and flowers,
eases all pains and torments, inwardly to be drank, and outwardly to
be applied warm to the place grieved. The same being drank, helps the
pains both of the chest and sides, as also coughs and hardness of
breathing, the inflammations of the lungs, and the tormenting pains of
the sciatica and the joints, being anointed, or laid to the places;
as also the shaking fits of agues, to take a draught before the fit
comes. Being boiled or infused in oil, it is good to help the wind
cholic, the hardness and windiness of the mother, and frees women from
the strangling or suffocation thereof, if the share and the parts
thereabouts be anointed therewith. It kills and drives forth the worms
of the belly, if it be drank after it is boiled in wine to the half,
with a little honey; it helps the gout or pains in the joints, hands,
feet or knees, applied thereunto; and with figs it helps the dropsy,
being bathed therewith: Being bruised and put into the nostrils, it
stays the bleeding thereof. It takes away wheals and pimples, if being
bruised with a few myrtle leaves, it be made up with wax, and applied.
It cures the morphew, and takes away all sorts of warts, if boiled in
wine with some pepper and nitre, and the place rubbed therewith, and
with almond and honey helps the dry scabs, or any tetter or ringworm.
The juice thereof warmed in a pomegranate shell or rind, and dropped
into the ears, helps the pains of them. The juice of it and fennel,
with a little honey, and the gall of a cock put thereunto, helps the
dimness of the eye-sight. An ointment made of the juice thereof with
oil of roses, ceruse, and a little vinegar, and anointed, cures St.
Anthony’s fire, and all running sores in the head: and the stinking
ulcers of the nose, or other parts. The antidote used by Mithridates,
every morning fasting, to secure himself from any poison or infection,
was this: Take twenty leaves of rue, a little salt, a couple of
walnuts, and a couple of figs, beaten together into a mess, with twenty
juniper berries, which is the quantity appointed for every day. Another
electuary is made thus: Take of nitre, pepper, and cummin seed, of
each equal parts; of the leaves of Rue clean picked, as much in weight
as all the other three weighed; beat them well together, and put as
much honey as will make it up into an electuary (but you must first
steep your cummin seed in vinegar twenty four hours, and then dry
it, or rather roast it in a hot fire-shovel, or in an oven) and is a
remedy for the pains or griefs in the chest or stomach, of the spleen,
belly, or sides, by wind or stitches; of the liver by obstructions;
of the reins and bladder by the stopping of urine; and helps also to
extenuate fat corpulent bodies. What an infamy is cast upon the ashes
of Mithridates, or Methridates (as the Augustines read his name)
by unworthy people. They that deserve no good report themselves,
love to give none to others, _viz._ That renowned King of Pontus
fortified his body by poison against poison. (_He cast out devils by_
Beelzebub, _Prince of the devils._) What a sot is he that knows not
if he had accustomed his body to cold poisons, but poisons would have
dispatched him? on the contrary, if not, corrosions would have done
it. The whole world is at this present time beholden to him for his
studies in physic, and he that uses the quantity but of an hazel-nut
of that receipt every morning, to which his name is adjoined, shall
to admiration preserve his body in health, if he do but consider that
Rue is an herb of the Sun, and under Leo, and gather it and the rest
accordingly.
RUPTURE-WORT.
_Descript._] THIS spreads very many thready branches round about upon
the ground, about a span long, divided into many other smaller parts
full of small joints set very thick together, whereat come forth two
very small leaves of a French yellow, green coloured branches and
all, where grows forth also a number of exceedingly small yellowish
flowers, scarce to be discerned from the stalks and leaves, which turn
into seeds as small as the very dust. The root is very long and small,
thrusting down deep into the ground. This has neither smell nor taste
at first, but afterwards has a little astringent taste, without any
manifest heat; yet a little bitter and sharp withal.
_Place._] It grows in dry, sandy, and rocky places.
_Time._] It is fresh and green all the Summer.
_Government and virtues._] They say Saturn causes ruptures; if he
do, he does no more than he can cure; if you want wit, he will teach
you, though to your cost. This herb is Saturn’s own, and is a noble
antivenerean. Rupture-wort hath not its name in vain: for it is found
by experience to cure the rupture, not only in children but also in
elder persons, if the disease be not too inveterate, by taking a dram
of the powder of the dried herb every day in wine, or a decoction made
and drank for certain days together. The juice or distilled water of
the green herb, taken in the same manner, helps all other fluxes either
of man or woman; vomitings also, and the gonorrhea, being taken any of
the ways aforesaid. It doth also most assuredly help those that have
the stranguary, or are troubled with the stone or gravel in the reins
or bladder. The same also helps stitches in the sides, griping pains
of the stomach or belly, the obstructions of the liver, and cures the
yellow jaundice; likewise it kills also the worms in children. Being
outwardly applied, it conglutinates wounds notably, and helps much to
stay defluctions of rheum from the head to the eyes, nose, and teeth,
being bruised green and bound thereto; or the forehead, temples, or the
nape of the neck behind, bathed with the decoction of the dried herb.
It also dries up the moisture of fistulous ulcers, or any other that
are foul and spreading.
RUSHES.
ALTHOUGH there are many kinds of Rushes, yet I shall only here insist
upon those which are best known, and most medicinal; as the bulrushes,
and other of the soft and smooth kinds, which grow so commonly in
almost every part of this land, and are so generally noted, that I
suppose it needless to trouble you with any description of them:
Briefly then take the virtues of them as follows:
_Government and virtues._] The seed of the soft Rushes, (saith
Dioscorides and Galen, toasted, saith Pliny) being drank in wine and
water, stays the lask and women’s courses, when they come down too
abundantly: but it causes head-ache; it provokes sleep likewise,
but must be given with caution. The root boiled in water, to the
consumption of one third, helps the cough.
Thus you see that conveniences have their inconveniences, and virtue is
seldom unaccompanied with some vices. What I have written concerning
Rushes, is to satisfy my countrymen’s questions: _Are our Rushes good
for nothing?_ Yes, and as good let them alone as taken. There are
remedies enough without them for any disease, and therefore as the
proverb is, I care not a rush for them; or rather they will do you as
much good as if one had given you a Rush.
RYE.
THIS is so well known in all the counties of this land, and especially
to the country-people, who feed much thereon, that if I did describe
it, they would presently say, I might as well have spared that labour.
Its virtue follows.
_Government and virtues._] Rye is more digesting than wheat; the bread
and the leaven thereof ripens and breaks imposthumes, boils, and other
swellings: The meal of Rye put between a double cloth, and moistened
with a little vinegar, and heated in a pewter dish, set over a chafing
dish of coals, and bound fast to the head while it is hot, doth much
ease the continual pains of the head. Matthiolus saith, that the ashes
of Rye straw put into water, and steeped therein a day and a night, and
the chops of the hands or feet washed therewith, doth heal them.
SAFFRON.
THE herb needs no description, it being known generally where it grows.
_Place._] It grows frequently at Walden in Essex, and in Cambridgeshire.
_Government and virtues._] It is an herb of the Sun, and under the
Lion, and therefore you need not demand a reason why it strengthens the
heart so exceedingly. Let not above ten grains be given at one time,
for the Sun, which is the fountain of light, may dazzle the eyes, and
make them blind; a cordial being taken in an immoderate quantity, hurts
the heart instead of helping it. It quickens the brain, for the Sun is
exalted in Aries, as he hath his house in Leo. It helps consumptions of
the lungs, and difficulty of breathing. It is excellent in epidemical
diseases, as pestilence, small-pox, and measles. It is a notable
expulsive medicine, and a notable remedy for the yellow jaundice. My
opinion is, (but I have no author for it) that hermodactyls are nothing
else but the roots of Saffron dried; and my reason is, that the roots
of all crocus, both white and yellow, purge phlegm as hermodactyls do;
and if you please to dry the roots of any crocus, neither your eyes
nor your taste shall distinguish them from hermodactyls.
SAGE.
OUR ordinary garden Sage needs no description.
_Time._] It flowers in or about July.
_Government and virtues._] Jupiter claims this, and bids me tell you,
it is good for the liver, and to breed blood. A decoction of the leaves
and branches of Sage made and drank, saith Dioscorides, provokes urine,
brings down women’s courses, helps to expel the dead child, and causes
the hair to become black. It stays the bleeding of wounds, and cleanses
foul ulcers. Three spoonfuls of the juice of Sage taken fasting, with
a little honey, doth presently stay the spitting or casting of blood
of them that are in a consumption. These pills are much commended;
Take of spikenard, ginger, of each two drams; of the seed of Sage
toasted at the fire, eight drams; of long pepper, twelve drams; all
these being brought into powder, put thereto so much juice of Sage
as may make them into a mass of pills, taking a dram of them every
morning fasting, and so likewise at night, drinking a little pure water
after them. Matthiolus saith, it is very profitable for all manner of
pains in the head coming of cold and rheumatic humours: as also for
all pains of the joints, whether inwardly or outwardly, and therefore
helps the falling-sickness, the lethargy, such as are dull and heavy
of spirit, the palsy; and is of much use in all defluctions of rheum
from the head, and for the diseases of the chest or breast. The leaves
of Sage and nettles bruised together, and laid upon the imposthume
that rises behind the ears, doth assuage it much. The juice of Sage
taken in warm water, helps a hoarseness and a cough. The leaves sodden
in wine, and laid upon the place affected with the palsy, helps much,
if the decoction be drank; Also Sage taken with wormwood is good for
the bloody-flux. Pliny saith, it procures women’s courses, and stays
them coming down too fast: helps the stinging and biting of serpents,
and kills the worms that breed in the ear, and in sores. Sage is of
excellent use to help the memory, warming and quickening the senses;
and the conserve made of the flowers is used to the same purpose, and
also for all the former recited diseases. The juice of Sage drank
with vinegar, hath been of good use in time of the plague at all
times. Gargles likewise are made with Sage, rosemary, honey-suckles,
and plantain, boiled in wine or water, with some honey or allum put
thereto, to wash sore mouths and throats, cankers, or the secret parts
of man or woman, as need requires. And with other hot and comfortable
herbs, Sage is boiled to bathe the body and the legs in the Summer
time, especially to warm cold joints, or sinews, troubled with the
palsy and cramp, and to comfort and strengthen the parts. It is much
commended against the stitch, or pains in the side coming of wind, if
the place be fomented warm with the decoction thereof in wine, and the
herb also after boiling be laid warm thereunto.
WOOD-SAGE.
_Descript._] WOOD-SAGE rises up with square hoary stalks, two feet
high at the least, with two leaves set at every joint, somewhat like
other Sage leaves, but smaller, softer, whiter, and rounder, and a
little dented about the edges, and smelling somewhat stronger. At the
tops of the stalks and branches stand the flowers, on a slender like
spike, turning themselves all one way when they blow, and are of a
pale and whitish colour, smaller than Sage, but hooded and gaping like
unto them. The seed is blackish and round; four usually seem in a husk
together: the root is long and stringy, with divers fibres thereat,
and abides many years.
_Place._] It grows in woods, and by wood-sides; as also in divers
fields and bye-lanes in the land.
_Time._] It flowers in June, July, and August.
_Government and virtues._] The herb is under Venus. The decoction of
the Wood Sage provokes urine and women’s courses: It also provokes
sweat, digests humours, and discusses swellings and nodes in the
flesh, and is therefore thought to be good against the French pox.
The decoction of the green herb, made with wine, is a safe and sure
remedy for those who by falls, bruises, or blows, suspect some vein
to be inwardly broken, to disperse and void the congealed blood, and
to consolidate the veins. The drink used inwardly, and the herb used
outwardly, is good for such as are inwardly or outwardly bursten, and
is found to be a sure remedy for the palsy. The juice of the herb,
or the powder thereof dried, is good for moist ulcers and sores in
the legs, and other parts, to dry them, and cause them to heal more
speedily. It is no less effectual also in green wounds, to be used upon
any occasion.
SOLOMON’S SEAL.
_Descript._] THE common Solomon’s Seal rises up with a round stalk half
a yard high, bowing or bending down to the ground, set with single
leaves one above another, somewhat large, and like the leaves of the
lily-convally, or May-lily, with an eye of bluish upon the green,
with some ribs therein, and more yellowish underneath. At the foot of
every leaf, almost from the bottom up to the top of the stalk, come
forth small, long, white and hollow pendulous flowers, somewhat like
the flowers of May-lily, but ending in five long points, for the most
part two together, at the end of a long foot-stalk, and sometimes but
one, and sometimes also two stalks, and flowers at the foot of a leaf,
which are without any scent at all, and stand on the top of the stalk.
After they are past, come in their places small round berries great at
the first, and blackish green, tending to blueness when they are ripe,
wherein lie small, white, hard, and stony seeds. The root is of the
thickness of one’s finger or thumb, white and knotted in some places, a
flat round circle representing a Seal, whereof it took the name, lying
along under the upper crust of the earth, and not growing downward, but
with many fibres underneath.
_Place._] It is frequent in divers places of this land; as, namely
in a wood two miles from Canterbury, by Fish-Pool Hill, as also in
Bushy Close belonging to the parsonage of Alderbury, near Clarendon,
two miles from Salisbury: in Cheffon wood, on Chesson Hill, between
Newington and Sittingbourn in Kent, and divers other places in Essex,
and other counties.
_Time._] It flowers about May: The root abides and shoots a-new every
year.
_Government and virtues._] Saturn owns the plant, for he loves his
bones well. The root of Solomon’s Seal is found by experience to be
available in wounds, hurts, and outward sores, to heal and close up the
lips of those that are green, and to dry up and restrain the flux of
humours to those that are old. It is singularly good to stay vomitings
and bleeding wheresoever, as also all fluxes in man or woman; also,
to knit any joint, which by weakness uses to be often out of place,
or will not stay in long when it is set; also to knit and join broken
bones in any part of the body, the roots being bruised and applied to
the places; yea, it hath been found by experience, and the decoction
of the root in wine, or the bruised root put into wine or other
drink, and after a night’s infusion, strained forth hard and drank,
hath helped both man and beast, whose bones hath been broken by any
occasion, which is the most assured refuge of help to people of divers
counties of the land that they can have. It is no less effectual to
help ruptures and burstings, the decoction in wine, or the powder in
broth or drink, being inwardly taken, and outwardly applied to the
place. The same is also available for inward or outward bruises, falls
or blows, both to dispel the congealed blood, and to take away both the
pains and the black and blue marks that abide after the hurt. The same
also, or the distilled water of the whole plant, used to the face, or
other parts of the skin, cleanses it from morphew, freckles, spots, or
marks whatsoever, leaving the place fresh, fair, and lovely; for which
purpose it is much used by the Italian Dames.
SAMPHIRE.
_Descript._] ROCK Samphire grows up with a tender green stalk about
half a yard, or two feet high at the most, branching forth almost
from the very bottom, and stored with sundry thick and almost round
(somewhat long) leaves of a deep green colour, sometimes two together,
and sometimes more on a stalk, and sappy, and of a pleasant, hot, and
spicy taste. At the top of the stalks and branches stand umbels of
white flowers, and after them come large seed, bigger than fennel seed,
yet somewhat like it. The root is great, white, and long, continuing
many years, and is of an hot and spicy taste likewise.
_Place._] It grows on the rocks that are often moistened at the least,
if not overflowed with the sea water.
_Time._] And it flowers and seeds in the end of July and August.
_Government and virtues._] It is an herb of Jupiter, and was in former
times wont to be used more than now it is; the more is the pity. It is
well known almost to every body, that ill digestions and obstructions
are the cause of most of the diseases which the frail nature of man
is subject to; both which might be remedied by a more frequent use of
this herb. If people would have sauce to their meat, they may take some
for profit as well as for pleasure. It is a safe herb, very pleasant
both to taste and stomach, helps digestion, and in some sort opening
obstructions of the liver and spleen: provokes urine, and helps thereby
to wash away the gravel and stone engendered in the kidneys or bladder.
SANICLE.
THIS herb is by many called Butter-wort.
_Descript._] Ordinary Sanicle sends forth many great round leaves,
standing upon long brownish stalks, every one somewhat deeply cut or
divided into five or six parts, and some of these also cut in somewhat
like the leaf of crow’s-foot, or dove’s-foot, and finely dented about
the edges, smooth, and of a dark shining colour, and somewhat reddish
about the brims; from among which arise up small, round green stalks,
without any joint or leaf thereon, saving at the top, where it branches
forth into flowers, having a leaf divided into three or four parts at
that joint with the flowers, which are small and white, starting out of
small round greenish yellow heads, many standing together in a tuft,
in which afterwards are the seeds contained, which are small round
burs, somewhat like the leaves of clevers, and stick in the same manner
upon any thing that they touch. The root is composed of many blackish
strings or fibres, set together at a little long head, which abides
with green leaves all the Winter, and perishes not.
_Place._] It is found in many shadowy woods, and other places of this
land.
_Time._] It flowers in June, and the seed is ripe shortly after.
_Government and virtues._] This is one of Venus’s herbs, to cure the
wounds or mischiefs Mars inflicts upon the body of man. It heals green
wounds speedily, or any ulcers, imposthumes, or bleedings inward, also
tumours in any part of the body; for the decoction or powder in drink
taken, and the juice used outwardly, dissipates the humours: and there
is not found any herb that can give such present help either to man
or beast, when the disease falleth upon the lungs or throat, and to
heal up putrid malignant ulcers in the mouth, throat, and privities,
by gargling or washing with the decoction of the leaves and roots made
in water, and a little honey put thereto. It helps to stay women’s
courses, and all other fluxes of blood, either by the mouth, urine, or
stool, and lasks of the belly; the ulcerations of the kidneys also, and
the pains in the bowels, and gonorrhea, being boiled in wine or water,
and drank. The same also is no less powerful to help any ruptures or
burstings, used both inwardly and outwardly: And briefly, it is as
effectual in binding, restraining, consolidating, heating, drying and
healing, as comfrey, bugle, self-heal, or any other of the vulnerary
herbs whatsoever.
SARACEN’S CONFOUND, OR SARACEN’S
WOUNDWORT.
_Descript._] THIS grows sometimes, with brownish stalks, and other
whiles with green, to a man’s height, having narrow green leaves
snipped about the edges, somewhat like those of the peach-tree, or
willow leaves, but not of such a white green colour. The tops of the
stalks are furnished with many yellow star-like flowers, standing in
green heads, which when they are fallen, and the seed ripe, which
is somewhat long, small and of a brown colour, wrapped in down, is
therefore carried away with the wind. The root is composed of fibres
set together at a head, which perishes not in Winter, although the
stalks dry away and no leaf appears in the Winter. The taste hereof is
strong and unpleasant; and so is the smell also.
_Place._] It grows in moist and wet grounds, by wood-sides, and
sometimes in moist places of shadowy groves, as also by the water side.
_Time._] It flowers in July, and the seed is soon ripe, and carried
away with the wind.
_Government and virtues._] Saturn owns the herb, and it is of a sober
condition, like him. Among the Germans, this wound herb is preferred
before all others of the same quality. Being boiled in wine, and drank,
it helps the indisposition of the liver, and freeth the gall from
obstructions; whereby it is good for the yellow jaundice and for the
dropsy in the beginning of it; for all inward ulcers of the reins,
mouth or throat, and inward wounds and bruises, likewise for such sores
as happen in the privy parts of men and women; being steeped in wine,
and then distilled, the water thereof drank, is singularly good to
ease all gnawings in the stomach, or other pains of the body, as also
the pains of the mother: and being boiled in water, it helps continual
agues; and the said water, or the simple water of the herb distilled,
or the juice or decoction, are very effectual to heal any green wound,
or old sore or ulcer whatsoever, cleansing them from corruption, and
quickly healing them up: Briefly, whatsoever hath been said of bugle or
sanicle, may be found herein.
SAUCE-ALONE, OR JACK-BY-THE-HEDGE-SIDE.
_Descript._] THE lower leaves of this are rounder than those that grow
towards the top of the stalks, and are set singly on a joint being
somewhat round and broad, pointed at the ends, dented also about the
edges, somewhat resembling nettle leaves for the form, but of a fresher
green colour, not rough or pricking: The flowers are white, growing
at the top of the stalks one above another, which being past, follow
small round pods, wherein are contained round seed somewhat blackish.
The root stringy and thready, perishes every year after it hath given
seed, and raises itself again of its own sowing. The plant, or any part
thereof, being bruised, smells of garlic, but more pleasantly, and
tastes somewhat hot and sharp, almost like unto rocket.
_Place._] It grows under walls, and by hedge-sides, and path-ways in
fields in many places.
_Time._] It flowers in June, July, and August.
_Government and virtues._] It is an herb of Mercury. This is eaten by
many country people as sauce to their salt fish, and helps well to
digest the crudities and other corrupt humours engendered thereby. It
warms also the stomach, and causes digestion. The juice thereof boiled
with honey is accounted to be as good as hedge mustard for the cough,
to cut and expectorate the tough phlegm. The seed bruised and boiled
in wine, is a singularly good remedy for the wind colic, or the stone,
being drank warm: It is also given to women troubled with the mother,
both to drink, and the seed put into a cloth, and applied while it is
warm, is of singularly good use. The leaves also, or the seed boiled,
is good to be used in clysters to ease the pains of the stone. The
green leaves are held to be good to heal the ulcers in the legs.
WINTER AND SUMMER SAVOURY.
BOTH these are so well known (being entertained as constant inhabitants
in our gardens) that they need no description.
_Government and virtues._] Mercury claims dominion over this herb,
neither is there a better remedy against the colic and iliac passion,
than this herb; keep it dry by you all the year, if you love yourself
and your ease, and it is a hundred pounds to a penny if you do not;
keep it dry, make conserves and syrups of it for your use, and withal,
take notice that the Summer kind is the best. They are both of them
hot and dry, especially the Summer kind, which is both sharp and quick
in taste, expelling wind in the stomach and bowels, and is a present
help for the rising of the mother procured by wind; provokes urine and
women’s courses, and is much commended for women with child to take
inwardly, and to smell often unto. It cures tough phlegm in the chest
and lungs, and helps to expectorate it the more easily; quickens the
dull spirits in the lethargy, the juice thereof being snuffed up into
the nostrils. The juice dropped into the eyes, clears a dull sight, if
it proceed of thin cold humours distilled from the brain. The juice
heated with the oil of Roses, and dropped into the ears, eases them
of the noise and singing in them, and of deafness also. Outwardly
applied with wheat flour, in manner of a poultice, it gives ease to
the sciatica and palsied members, heating and warming them, and takes
away their pains. It also takes away the pain that comes by stinging of
bees, wasps, &c.
SAVINE.
TO describe a plant so well known is needless, it being nursed up
almost in every garden, and abides green all the Winter.
_Government and virtues._] It is under the dominion of Mars, being hot
and dry in the third degree, and being of exceeding clean parts, is of
a very digesting quality. If you dry the herb into powder, and mix it
with honey, it is an excellent remedy to cleanse old filthy ulcers and
fistulas; but it hinders them from healing. The same is excellently
good to break carbuncles and plague-sores; also helps the king’s evil,
being applied to the place. Being spread over a piece of leather, and
applied to the navel, kills the worms in the belly, helps scabs and
itch, running sores, cankers, tetters, and ringworms; and being applied
to the place, may haply cure venereal sores. This I thought good to
speak of, as it may be safely used outwardly, for inwardly it cannot be
taken without manifest danger.
THE COMMON WHITE SAXIFRAGE.
_Descript._] THIS hath a few small reddish kernels of roots covered
with some skins, lying among divers small blackish fibres, which
send forth divers round, faint or yellow green leaves, and greyish
underneath, lying above the grounds, unevenly dented about the edges,
and somewhat hairy, every one upon a little foot-stalk, from whence
rises up round, brownish, hairy, green stalks, two or three feet
high, with a few such like round leaves as grow below, but smaller,
and somewhat branched at the top, whereon stand pretty large white
flowers of five leaves a-piece, with some yellow threads in the middle,
standing in a long crested, brownish green husk. After the flowers are
past, there arises sometimes a round hard head, forked at the top,
wherein is contained small black seed, but usually they fall away
without any seed, and it is the kernels or grains of the root which are
usually called the White Saxifrage-seed, and so used.
_Place._] It grows in many places of our land, as well in the
lower-most, as in the upper dry corners of meadows, and grassy sandy
places. It used to grow near Lamb’s conduit, on the backside of Gray’s
Inn.
_Time._] It flowers in May, and then gathered, as well for that which
is called the seed, as to distil, for it quickly perishes down to the
ground when any hot weather comes.
_Government and virtues._] It is very effectual to cleanse the reins
and bladder, and to dissolve the stone engendered in them, and to
expel it and the gravel by urine; to help the stranguary; for which
purpose the decoction of the herb or roots in white wine, is most
usual, or the powder of the small kernelly root, which is called the
seed, taken in white wine, or in the same decoction made with white
wine, is most usual. The distilled water of the whole herb, root
and flowers, is most familiar to be taken. It provokes also women’s
courses, and frees and cleanses the stomach and lungs from thick and
tough phlegm that trouble them. There are not many better medicines to
break the stone than this.
BURNET SAXIFRAGE.
_Descript._] THE greater sort of our English Burnet Saxifrage grows
up with divers long stalks of winged leaves, set directly opposite
one to another on both sides, each being somewhat broad, and a little
pointed and dented about the edges, of a sad green colour. At the top
of the stalks stand umbels of white flowers, after which come small and
blackish seed. The root is long and whitish, abiding long. Our lesser
Burnet Saxifrage hath much finer leaves than the former, and very
small, and set one against another, deeply jagged about the edges, and
of the same colour as the former. The umbels of the flowers are white,
and the seed very small, and so is the root, being also somewhat hot
and quick in taste.
_Place._] These grow in moist meadows of this land, and are easy to be
found being well sought for among the grass, wherein many times they
lay hid scarcely to be discerned.
_Time._] They flower about July, and their seed is ripe in August.
_Government and virtues._] They are both of them herbs of the Moon.
The Saxifrages are hot as pepper; and Tragus saith, by his experience,
that they are wholesome. They have the same properties the parsleys
have, but in provoking urine, and causing the pains thereof, and of
the wind and colic, are much more effectual, the roots or seed being
used either in powder, or in decoctions, or any other way; and likewise
helps the windy pains of the mother, and to procure their courses, and
to break and void the stone in the kidneys, to digest cold, viscous,
and tough phlegm in the stomach, and is an especial remedy against all
kind of venom. Castoreum being boiled in the distilled water thereof,
is singularly good to be given to those that are troubled with cramps
and convulsions. Some do use to make the seeds into comfits (as they do
carraway seeds) which is effectual to all the purposes aforesaid. The
juice of the herb dropped into the most grievous wounds of the head,
dries up their moisture, and heals them quickly. Some women use the
distilled water to take away freckles or spots in the skin or face; and
to drink the same sweetened with sugar for all the purposes aforesaid.
SCABIOUS, THREE SORTS.
_Descript._] COMMON field Scabious grows up with many hairy, soft,
whitish green leaves, some whereof are very little, if at all jagged
on the edges, others very much rent and torn on the sides, and have
threads in them, which upon breaking may be plainly seen; from among
which rise up divers hairy green stalks, three or four feet high,
with such like hairy green leaves on them, but more deeply and finely
divided and branched forth a little: At the tops thereof, which
are naked and bare of leaves for a good space, stand round heads
of flowers, of a pale blueish colour, set together in a head, the
outermost whereof are larger than the inward, with many threads also
in the middle, somewhat flat at the top, as the head with the seed is
likewise; the root is great, white and thick, growing down deep into
the ground, and abides many years.
There is another sort of Field Scabious different in nothing from the
former, but only it is smaller in all respects.
The Corn Scabious differs little from the first, but that it is greater
in all respects, and the flowers more inclining to purple, and the root
creeps under the upper crust of the earth, and runs not deep into the
ground as the first doth.
_Place._] The first grows more usually in meadows, especially about
London every where.
The second in some of the dry fields about this city, but not so
plentifully as the former.
The third in standing corn, or fallow fields, and the borders of such
like fields.
_Time._] They flower in June and July, and some abide flowering until
it be late in August, and the seed is ripe in the mean time.
There are many other sorts of Scabious, but I take these which I have
here described to be most familiar with us. The virtues of both these
and the rest, being much alike, take them as follow.
_Government and virtues._] Mercury owns the plant. Scabious is very
effectual for all sorts of coughs, shortness of breath, and all other
diseases of the breast and lungs, ripening and digesting cold phlegm,
and other tough humours, voids them forth by coughing and spitting: It
ripens also all sorts of inward ulcers and imposthumes; pleurisy also,
if the decoction of the herb dry or green be made in wine, and drank
for some time together. Four ounces of the clarified juice of Scabious
taken in the morning fasting, with a dram of mithridate, or Venice
treacle, frees the heart from any infection of pestilence, if after the
taking of it the party sweat two hours in bed, and this medicine be
again and again repeated, if need require. The green herb bruised and
applied to any carbuncle or plague sore, is found by certain experience
to dissolve and break it in three hours space. The same decoction also
drank, helps the pains and stitches in the side. The decoction of the
roots taken for forty days together, or a dram of the powder of them
taken at a time in whey, doth (as Matthiolus saith) wonderfully help
those that are troubled with running of spreading scabs, tetters,
ringworms, yea, although they proceed from the French pox, which, he
saith he hath tried by experience. The juice or decoction drank, helps
also scabs and breakings-out of the itch, and the like. The juice also
made up into an ointment and used, is effectual for the same purpose.
The same also heals all inward wounds by the drying, cleansing, and
healing quality therein: And a syrup made of the juice and sugar, is
very effectual to all the purposes aforesaid, and so is the distilled
water of the herb and flowers made in due season, especially to be
used when the green herb is not in force to be taken. The decoction of
the herb and roots outwardly applied, doth wonderfully help all sorts
of hard or cold swellings in any part of the body, is effectual for
shrunk sinews or veins, and heals green wounds, old sores, and ulcers.
The juice of Scabious, made up with the powder of Borax and Samphire,
cleanses the skin of the face, or other parts of the body, not only
from freckles and pimples, but also from morphew and leprosy; the head
washed with the decoction, cleanses it from dandriff, scurf, sores,
itch, and the like, used warm. The herb bruised and applied, doth in
a short time loosen, and draw forth any splinter, broken bone, arrow
head, or other such like thing lying in the flesh.
SCURVYGRASS.
_Descript._] THE ordinary English Scurvygrass hath many thick flat
leaves, more long than broad, and sometimes longer and narrower;
sometimes also smooth on the edges, and sometimes a little waved;
sometimes plain, smooth and pointed, of a sad green, and sometimes a
blueish colour, every one standing by itself upon a long foot-stalk,
which is brownish or greenish also, from among which arise many slender
stalks, bearing few leaves thereon like the other, but longer and less
for the most part: At the tops whereof grow many whitish flowers,
with yellow threads in the middle, standing about a green head, which
becomes the seed vessel, which will be somewhat flat when it is ripe,
wherein is contained reddish seed, tasting somewhat hot. The root is
made of many white strings, which stick deeply into the mud, wherein it
chiefly delights, yet it will well abide in the more upland and drier
ground, and tastes a little brackish and salt even there, but not so
much as where it hath the salt water to feed upon.
_Place._] It grows all along the Thames sides, both on the Essex and
Kentish shores, from Woolwich round about the sea coasts to Dover,
Portsmouth, and even to Bristol, where it is had in plenty; the other
with round leaves grows in the marshes in Holland, in Lincolnshire, and
other places of Lincolnshire by the sea side.
_Descript._] There is also another sort called Dutch Scurvygrass, which
is most known, and frequent in gardens, which has fresh, green, and
almost round leaves rising from the root, not so thick as the former,
yet in some rich ground, very large, even twice as big as in others,
not dented about the edges, or hollow in the middle, standing on a long
foot-stalk; from among these rise long, slender stalks, higher than
the former, with more white flowers at the tops of them, which turn
into small pods, and smaller brownish seed than the former. The root is
white, small and thready. The taste is nothing salt at all; it hath a
hot, aromatical spicy taste.
_Time._] It flowers in April and May, and gives seed ripe quickly after.
_Government and virtues._] It is an herb of Jupiter. The English Scurvy
grass is more used for the salt taste it bears, which doth somewhat
open and cleanse; but the Dutch Scurvygrass is of better effect, and
chiefly used (if it may be had) by those that have the scurvy, and
is of singular good effect to cleanse the blood, liver, and spleen,
taking the juice in the Spring every morning fasting in a cup of drink.
The decoction is good for the same purpose, and opens obstructions,
evacuating cold, clammy and phlegmatic humours both from the liver and
the spleen, and bringing the body to a more lively colour. The juice
also helps all foul ulcers and sores in the mouth, gargled therewith;
and used outwardly, cleanses the skin from spots, marks, or scars that
happen therein.
SELF-HEAL.
_Descript._] THE common Self-heal which is called also Prunel,
Carpenter’s Herb, Hook-heal, and Sickle-wort, is a small, low, creeping
herb, having many small, roundish pointed leaves, like leaves of wild
mints, of a dark green colour, without dents on the edges; from among
which rise square hairy stalks, scarce a foot high, which spread
sometimes into branches with small leaves set thereon, up to the top,
where stand brown spiked heads of small brownish leaves like scales and
flowers set together, almost like the heads of Cassidony, which flowers
are gaping, and of a blueish purple, or more pale blue, in some places
sweet, but not so in others. The root consists of many fibres downward,
and spreading strings also whereby it increases. The small stalks, with
the leaves creeping on the ground, shoot forth fibres taking hold on
the ground, whereby it is made a great tuft in a short time.
_Place._] It is found in woods and fields every where.
_Time._] It flowers in May, and sometimes in April.
_Government and virtues._] Here is another herb of Venus, Self-heal,
whereby when you are hurt you may heal yourself: It is a special herb
for inward and outward wounds. Take it inwardly in syrups for inward
wounds: outwardly in unguents, and plaisters for outward. As Self-heal
is like Bugle in form, so also in the qualities and virtues, serving
for all the purposes whereto Bugle is applied to with good success,
either inwardly or outwardly, for inward wounds or ulcers whatsoever
within the body, for bruises or falls, and such like hurts. If it be
accompanied with Bugle, Sanicle, and other the like wound herbs, it
will be more effectual to wash or inject into ulcers in the parts
outwardly. Where there is cause to repress the heat and sharpness of
humours flowing to any sore, ulcers, inflammations, swellings, or the
like, or to stay the fluxes of blood in any wound or part, this is used
with some good success; as also to cleanse the foulness of sores, and
cause them more speedily to be healed. It is an especial remedy for all
green wounds, to solder the lips of them, and to keep the place from
any further inconveniencies. The juice hereof used with oil of roses to
anoint the temples and forehead, is very effectual to remove head ache,
and the same mixed with honey of roses, cleanses and heals all ulcers,
in the mouth, and throat, and those also in the secret parts. And the
proverb of the Germans, French, and others, is verified in this, _That
he needs neither physician nor surgeon that hath _Self-heal_ and
_Sanicle_ to help himself_.
THE SERVICE-TREE.
IT is so well known in the place where it grows, that it needs no
description.
_Time._] It flowers before the end of May, and the fruit is ripe in
October.
_Government and virtues._] Services, when they are mellow, are fit to
be taken to stay fluxes, scouring, and casting, yet less than medlers.
If they be dried before they be mellow, and kept all the year, they
may be used in decoctions for the said purpose, either to drink, or to
bathe the parts requiring it; and are profitably used in that manner to
stay the bleeding of wounds, and of the mouth or nose, to be applied to
the forehead and nape of the neck; and are under the dominion of Saturn.
SHEPHERD’S PURSE.
IT is called Whoreman’s Permacety, Shepherd’s Scrip, Shepherd’s Pounce,
Toy-wort, Pickpurse, and Casewort.
_Descript._] The root is small, white, and perishes every year. The
leaves are small and long, of a pale green colour, and deeply cut in
on both sides, among which spring up a stalk which is small and round,
containing small leaves upon it even to the top. The flowers are white
and very small; after which come the little cases which hold the seed,
which are flat, almost in the form of a heart.
_Place._] They are frequent in this nation, almost by every path-side.
_Time._] They flower all the Summer long; nay some of them are so
fruitful, that they flower twice a year.
_Government and virtues._] It is under the dominion of Saturn, and of
a cold, dry, and binding nature, like to him. It helps all fluxes of
blood, either caused by inward or outward wounds; as also flux of the
belly, and bloody flux, spitting blood, and bloody urine, stops the
terms in women; being bound to the wrists of the hands, and the soles
of the feet, it helps the yellow jaundice. The herb being made into a
poultice, helps inflammations and St. Anthony’s fire. The juice being
dropped into the ears, heals the pains, noise, and mutterings thereof.
A good ointment may be made of it for all wounds, especially wounds in
the head.
SMALLAGE.
THIS is also very well known, and therefore I shall not trouble the
reader with any description thereof.
_Place._] It grows naturally in dry and marshy ground; but if it be
sown in gardens, it there prospers very well.
_Time._] It abides green all the Winter, and seeds in August.
_Government and virtues._] It is an herb of Mercury. Smallage is
hotter, drier, and much more medicinal than parsley, for it much more
opens obstructions of the liver and spleen, rarefies thick phlegm,
and cleanses it and the blood withal. It provokes urine and women’s
courses, and is singularly good against the yellow jaundice, tertian
and quartan agues, if the juice thereof be taken, but especially
made up into a syrup. The juice also put to honey of roses, and
barley-water, is very good to gargle the mouth and throat of those
that have sores and ulcers in them, and will quickly heal them. The
same lotion also cleanses and heals all other foul ulcers and cankers
elsewhere, if they be washed therewith. The seed is especially used to
break and expel wind, to kill worms, and to help a stinking breath.
The root is effectual to all the purposes aforesaid, and is held
to be stronger in operation than the herb, but especially to open
obstructions, and to rid away any ague, if the juice thereof be taken
in wine, or the decoction thereof in wine used.
SOPEWORT, OR BRUISEWORT.
_Descript._] THE roots creep under ground far and near, with many
joints therein, of a brown colour on the outside and yellowish within,
shooting forth in divers places weak round stalks, full of joints, set
with two leaves a-piece at every one of them on a contrary side, which
are ribbed somewhat like to plantain, and fashioned like the common
field white campion leaves, seldom having any branches from the sides
of the stalks, but set with flowers at the top, standing in long husks
like the wild campions, made of five leaves a-piece, round at the ends,
and dented in the middle, of a rose colour, almost white, sometimes
deeper, sometimes paler; of a reasonable scent.
_Place._] It grows wild in many low and wet grounds of this land, by
brooks and the sides of running waters.
_Time._] It flowers usually in July, and so continues all August, and
part of September, before they be quite spent.
_Government and virtues._] Venus owns it. The country people in divers
places do use to bruise the leaves of Sopewort, and lay it to their
fingers, hands or legs, when they are cut, to heal them up again. Some
make great boast thereof, that it is diuretical to provoke urine, and
thereby to expel gravel and the stone in the reins or kidneys, and do
also account it singularly good to void hydropical waters: and they no
less extol it to perform an absolute cure in the French pox, more than
either sarsaparilla, guiacum, or China can do; which, how true it is, I
leave others to judge.
SORREL.
OUR ordinary Sorrel, which grows in gardens, and also wild in the
fields, is so well known, that it needs no description.
_Government and virtues._] It is under the dominion of Venus. Sorrel
is prevalent in all hot diseases, to cool any inflammation and heat
of blood in agues pestilential or choleric, or sickness and fainting,
arising from heat, and to refresh the overspent spirits with the
violence of furious or fiery fits of agues; to quench thirst, and
procure an appetite in fainting or decaying stomachs: For it resists
the putrefaction of the blood, kills worms, and is a cordial to the
heart, which the seed doth more effectually, being more drying and
binding, and thereby stays the hot fluxes of women’s courses, or of
humours in the bloody flux, or flux of the stomach. The root also in a
decoction, or in powder, is effectual for all the said purposes. Both
roots and seeds, as well as the herb, are held powerful to resist the
poison of the scorpion. The decoction of the roots is taken to help
the jaundice, and to expel the gravel and the stone in the reins or
kidneys. The decoction of the flowers made with wine and drank, helps
the black jaundice, as also the inward ulcers of the body and bowels. A
syrup made with the juice of Sorrel and fumitory, is a sovereign help
to kill those sharp humours that cause the itch. The juice thereof,
with a little vinegar, serves well to be used outwardly for the same
cause, and is also profitable for tetters, ringworms, &c. It helps also
to discuss the kernels in the throat; and the juice gargled in the
mouth, helps the sores therein. The leaves wrapt in a colewort leaf and
roasted in the embers, and applied to a hard imposthume, botch, boil,
or plague sore, doth both ripen and break it. The distilled water of
the herb is of much good use for all the purposes aforesaid.
WOOD SORREL.
_Descript._] THIS grows upon the ground, having a number of leaves
coming from the root made of three leaves, like a trefoil, but broad
at the ends, and cut in the middle, of a yellowish green colour, every
one standing on a long foot-stalk, which at their first coming up are
close folded together to the stalk, but opening themselves afterwards,
and are of a fine sour relish, and yielding a juice which will turn
red when it is clarified, and makes a most dainty clear syrup. Among
these leaves rise up divers slender, weak foot-stalks, with every one
of them a flower at the top, consisting of five small pointed leaves,
star-fashion, of a white colour, in most places, and in some dashed
over with a small show of blueish, on the back side only. After the
flowers are past, follow small round heads, with small yellowish seed
in them. The roots are nothing but small strings fastened to the end of
a small long piece; all of them being of a yellowish colour.
_Place._] It grows in many places of our land, in woods and wood-sides,
where they be moist and shadowed, and in other places not too much upon
the Sun.
_Time._] It flowers in April and May.
_Government and virtues._] Venus owns it. Wood Sorrel serves to all the
purposes that the other Sorrels do, and is more effectual in hindering
putrefaction of blood, and ulcers in the mouth and body, and to quench
thirst, to strengthen a weak stomach, to procure an appetite, to stay
vomiting, and very excellent in any contagious sickness or pestilential
fevers. The syrup made of the juice, is effectual in all the cases
aforesaid, and so is the distilled water of the herb. Sponges or linen
cloths wet in the juice and applied outwardly to any hot swelling or
inflammations, doth much cool and help them. The same juice taken
and gargled in the mouth, and after it is spit forth, taken afresh,
doth wonderfully help a foul stinking canker or ulcer therein. It is
singularly good to heal wounds, or to stay the bleeding of thrusts or
scabs in the body.
SOW THISTLE.
SOW Thistles are generally so well known, that they need no description.
_Place._] They grow in gardens and manured grounds, sometimes by old
walls, pathsides of fields, and high ways.
_Government and virtues._] This and the former are under the influence
of Venus. Sow Thistles are cooling, and somewhat binding, and are very
fit to cool a hot stomach, and ease the pains thereof. The herb boiled
in wine, is very helpful to stay the dissolution of the stomach, and
the milk that is taken from the stalks when they are broken, given
in drink, is beneficial to those that are short winded, and have a
wheezing. Pliny saith, That it hath caused the gravel and stone to be
voided by urine, and that the eating thereof helps a stinking breath.
The decoction of the leaves and stalks causes abundance of milk in
nurses, and their children to be well coloured. The juice or distilled
water is good for all hot inflammations, wheals, and eruptions or heat
in the skin, itching of the hæmorrhoids. The juice boiled or thoroughly
heated in a little oil of bitter almonds in the peel of a pomegranate,
and dropped into the ears, is a sure remedy for deafness, singings,
&c. Three spoonfuls of the juice taken, warmed in white wine, and some
wine put thereto, causes women in travail to have so easy and speedy
a delivery, that they may be able to walk presently after. It is
wonderful good for women to wash their faces with, to clear the skin,
and give it a lustre.
SOUTHERN WOOD.
SOUTHERN Wood is so well known to be an ordinary inhabitant in our
gardens, that I shall not need to trouble you with any description
thereof.
_Time._] It flowers for the most part in July and August.
_Government and virtues._] It is a gallant mercurial plant, worthy of
more esteem than it hath. Dioscorides saith, That the seed bruised,
heated in warm water, and drank, helps those that are bursten, or
troubled with cramps or convulsions of the sinews, the sciatica, or
difficulty in making water, and bringing down women’s courses. The same
taken in wine is an antidote, or counter-poison against all deadly
poison, and drives away serpents and other venomous creatures; as also
the smell of the herb, being burnt, doth the same. The oil thereof
anointed on the back-bone before the fits of agues come, takes them
away: It takes away inflammations in the eyes, if it be put with some
part of a roasted quince, and boiled with a few crumbs of bread, and
applied. Boiled with barley-meal it takes away pimples, pushes or
wheals that arise in the face, or other parts of the body. The seed as
well as the dried herb, is often given to kill the worms in children:
The herb bruised and laid to, helps to draw forth splinters and thorns
out of the flesh. The ashes thereof dries up and heals old ulcers,
that are without inflammation, although by the sharpness thereof it
bites sore, and puts them to sore pains; as also the sores in the privy
parts of man or woman. The ashes mingled with old sallad oil, helps
those that have hair fallen, and are bald, causing the hair to grow
again either on the head or beard. Daranters saith, That the oil made
of Southern-wood, and put among the ointments that are used against
the French disease, is very effectual, and likewise kills lice in the
head. The distilled water of the herb is said to help them much that
are troubled with the stone, as also for the diseases of the spleen and
mother. The Germans commend it for a singular wound herb, and therefore
call it Stabwort. It is held by all writers, ancient and modern, to be
more offensive to the stomach than worm-wood.
SPIGNEL, OR SPIKENARD.
_Descript._] THE roots of common Spignel do spread much and deep in
the ground, many strings or branches growing from one head, which is
hairy at the top, of a blackish brown colour on the outside, and white
within, smelling well, and of an aromatical taste from whence rise
sundry long stalks of most fine cut leaves like hair, smaller than
dill, set thick on both sides of the stalks, and of a good scent. Among
these leaves rise up round stiff stalks, with a few joints and leaves
on them, and at the tops an umbel of pure white flowers; at the edges
whereof sometimes will be seen a shew of the reddish blueish colour,
especially before they be full blown, and are succeeded by small,
somewhat round seeds, bigger than the ordinary fennel, and of a brown
colour, divided into two parts, and crusted on the back, as most of the
umbelliferous seeds are.
_Place._] It grows wild in Lancashire, Yorkshire, and other northern
counties, and is also planted in gardens.
_Government and virtues._] It is an herb of Venus. Galen saith, The
roots of Spignel are available to provoke urine, and women’s courses;
but if too much thereof be taken, it causes head-ache. The roots
boiled in wine or water, and drank, helps the stranguary and stoppings
of the urine, the wind, swellings and pains in the stomach, pains of
the mother, and all joint-aches. If the powder of the root be mixed
with honey, and the same taken as a licking medicine, it breaks tough
phlegm, and dries up the rheum that falls on the lungs. The roots are
accounted very effectual against the stinging or biting of any venomous
creature.
SPLEENWORT, CETERACH, OR HEART’S
TONGUE.
_Descript._] THE smooth Spleenwort, from a black, thready and bushy
root, sends forth many long single leaves, cut in on both sides into
round dents almost to the middle, which is not so hard as that of
polypody, each division being not always set opposite unto the other,
cut between each, smooth, and of a light green on the upper side, and a
dark yellowish roughness on the back, folding or rolling itself inward
at the first springing up.
_Place._] It grows as well upon stone walls, as moist and shadowy
places, about Bristol, and other west parts plentifully; as also on
Framlingham Castle, on Beaconsfield church in Berkshire, at Stroud in
Kent, and elsewhere, and abides green all the Winter.
_Government and virtues._] Saturn owns it. It is generally used against
infirmities of the Spleen: It helps the stranguary, and wasteth the
stone in the bladder, and is good against the yellow jaundice and the
hiccough; but the juice of it in women hinders conception. Matthiolus
saith, That if a dram of the dust that is on the backside of the leaves
be mixed with half a dram of amber in powder, and taken with the juice
of purslain or plantain, it helps the gonorrhea speedily, and that the
herb and root being boiled and taken, helps all melancholy diseases,
and those especially that arise from the French diseases. Camerarius
saith, That the distilled water thereof being drank, is very effectual
against the stone in the reins and bladder; and that the lye that is
made of the ashes thereof being drank for some time together, helps
splenetic persons. It is used in outward remedies for the same purpose.
STAR THISTLE.
_Descript._] A COMMON Star Thistle has divers narrow leaves lying next
the ground, cut on the edges somewhat deeply into many parts, soft
or a little wooly, all over green, among which rise up divers weak
stalks, parted into many branches: all lying down to the ground, that
it seems a pretty bush, set with divers the like divided leaves up to
the tops, where severally do stand small whitish green heads, set with
sharp white pricks (no part of the plant else being prickly) which
are somewhat yellowish; out of the middle whereof rises the flowers,
composed of many small reddish purple threads; and in the heads, after
the flowers are past, come small whitish round seed, lying down as
others do. The root is small, long and woody, perishing every year, and
rising again of its own sowing.
_Place._] It grows wild in the fields about London in many places, as
at Mile-End green, and many other places.
_Time._] It flowers early, and seeds in July, and sometimes in August.
_Government and virtues._] This, as almost all Thistles are, is under
Mars. The seed of this Star Thistle made into powder, and drank in
wine, provokes urine, and helps to break the stone, and drives it
forth. The root in powder, and given in wine and drank, is good against
the plague and pestilence; and drank in the morning fasting for some
time together, it is very profitable for fistulas in any part of the
body. Baptista Sardas doth much commend the distilled water thereof,
being drank, to help the French disease, to open the obstructions
of the liver, and cleanse the blood from corrupted humours, and is
profitable against the quotidian or tertian ague.
STRAWBERRIES.
THESE are so well known through this land, that they need no
description.
_Time._] They flower in May ordinarily, and the fruit is ripe shortly
after.
_Government and virtues._] Venus owns the herb. Strawberries, when they
are green, are cool and dry; but when they are ripe, they are cool and
moist: The berries are excellently good to cool the liver, the blood,
and the spleen, or an hot choleric stomach; to refresh and comfort
the fainting spirits, and quench thirst: They are good also for other
inflammations; yet it is not amiss to refrain from them in a fever,
lest by their putrifying in the stomach they increase the fits. The
leaves and roots boiled in wine and water, and drank, do likewise cool
the liver and blood, and assuage all inflammations in the reins and
bladder, provoke urine, and allay the heat and sharpness thereof. The
same also being drank stays the bloody flux and women’s courses, and
helps the swelling of the spleen. The water of the Berries carefully
distilled, is a sovereign remedy and cordial in the panting and beating
of the heart, and is good for the yellow jaundice. The juice dropped
into foul ulcers, or they washed therewith, or the decoction of the
herb and root, doth wonderfully cleanse and help to cure them. Lotions
and gargles for sore mouths, or ulcers therein, or in the privy parts
or elsewhere, are made with the leaves and roots thereof; which is also
good to fasten loose teeth, and to heal spungy foul gums. It helps also
to stay catarrhs, or defluctions of rheum in the mouth, throat, teeth,
or eyes. The juice or water is singularly good for hot and red inflamed
eyes, if dropped into them, or they bathed therewith. It is also of
excellent property for all pushes, wheals and other breakings forth of
hot and sharp humours in the face and hands, and other parts of the
body, to bathe them therewith, and to take away any redness in the
face, or spots, or other deformities in the skin, and to make it clear
and smooth. Some use this medicine, Take so many Strawberries as you
shall think fitting, and put them into a distillatory, or body of glass
fit for them, which being well closed, set it in a bed of horse dung
for your use. It is an excellent water for hot inflamed eyes, and to
take away a film or skin that begins to grow over them, and for such
other defects in them as may be helped by any outward medicine.
SUCCORY, OR CHICORY.
_Descript._] THE garden Succory hath long and narrower leaves than the
Endive, and more cut in or torn on the edges, and the root abides many
years. It bears also blue flowers like Endive, and the seed is hardly
distinguished from the seed of the smooth or ordinary Endive.
The wild Succory hath divers long leaves lying on the ground, very much
cut in or torn on the edges, on both sides, even to the middle rib,
ending in a point; sometimes it hath a rib down to the middle of the
leaves, from among which rises up a hard, round, woody stalk, spreading
into many branches, set with smaller and less divided leaves on them up
to the tops, where stand the flowers, which are like the garden kind,
and the seed is also (only take notice that the flowers of the garden
kind are gone in on a sunny day, they being so cold, that they are not
able to endure the beams of the sun, and therefore more delight in the
shade) the root is white, but more hard and woody than the garden kind.
The whole plant is exceedingly bitter.
_Place._] This grows in many places of our land in waste untilled and
barren fields. The other only in gardens.
_Government and virtues._] It is an herb of Jupiter. Garden Succory,
as it is more dry and less cold than Endive, so it opens more. An
handful of the leaves, or roots boiled in wine or water, and a draught
thereof drank fasting, drives forth choleric and phlegmatic humours,
opens obstructions of the liver, gall and spleen; helps the yellow
jaundice, the heat of the reins, and of the urine; the dropsy also;
and those that have an evil disposition in their bodies, by reason
of long sickness, evil diet, &c. which the Greeks call Cachexia. A
decoction thereof made with wine, and drank, is very effectual against
long lingering agues; and a dram of the seed in powder, drank in wine,
before the fit of the ague, helps to drive it away. The distilled water
of the herb and flowers (if you can take them in time) hath the like
properties, and is especially good for hot stomachs, and in agues,
either pestilential or of long continuance; for swoonings and passions
of the heart, for the heat and head-ache in children, and for the blood
and liver. The said water, or the juice, or the bruised leaves applied
outwardly, allay swellings, inflammations, St. Anthony’s fire, pushes,
wheals, and pimples, especially used with a little vinegar; as also to
wash pestiferous sores. The said water is very effectual for sore eyes
that are inflamed with redness, for nurses’ breasts that are pained by
the abundance of milk.
The wild Succory, as it is more bitter, so it is more strengthening to
the stomach and liver.
STONE-CROP, PRICK-MADAM, OR SMALL-HOUSELEEK.
_Descript._] IT grows with divers trailing branches upon the ground,
set with many thick, flat, roundish, whitish green leaves, pointed at
the ends. The flowers stand many of them together, somewhat loosely.
The roots are small, and run creeping under ground.
_Place._] It grows upon the stone walls and mud walls, upon the tiles
of houses and pent-houses, and amongst rubbish, and in other gravelly
places.
_Time._] It flowers in June and July, and the leaves are green all the
Winter.
_Government and virtues._] It is under the dominion of the Moon,
cold in quality, and something binding, and therefore very good to
stay defluctions, especially such as fall upon the eyes. It stops
bleeding, both inward and outward, helps cankers, and all fretting
sores and ulcers; it abates the heat of choler, thereby preventing
diseases arising from choleric humours. It expels poison much, resists
pestilential fevers, being exceeding good also for tertian agues: You
may drink the decoction of it, if you please, for all the foregoing
infirmities. It is so harmless an herb, you can scarce use it amiss:
Being bruised and applied to the place, it helps the king’s evil, and
any other knots or kernels in the flesh; as also the piles.
ENGLISH TOBACCO.
_Descript._] THIS rises up with a round thick stalk, about two feet
high, whereon do grow thick, flat green leaves, nothing so large as
the other Indian kind, somewhat round pointed also, and nothing dented
about the edges. The stalk branches forth, and bears at the tops divers
flowers set on great husks like the other, but nothing so large: scarce
standing above the brims of the husks, round pointed also, and of a
greenish yellow colour. The seed that follows is not so bright, but
larger, contained in the like great heads. The roots are neither so
great nor woody; it perishes every year with the hard frosts in Winter,
but rises generally from its own sowing.
_Place._] This came from some parts of Brazil, as it is thought, and is
more familiar in our country than any of the other sorts; early giving
ripe seed, which the others seldom do.
_Time._] It flowers from June, sometimes to the end of August, or
later, and the seed ripens in the mean time.
_Government and virtues._] It is a martial plant. It is found by
good experience to be available to expectorate tough phlegm from the
stomach, chest, and lungs. The juice thereof made into a syrup, or the
distilled water of the herb drank with some sugar, or without, if you
will, or the smoak taken by a pipe, as is usual, but fainting, helps
to expel worms in the stomach and belly, and to ease the pains in the
head, or megrim, and the griping pains in the bowels. It is profitable
for those that are troubled with the stone in the kidneys, both to
ease the pains by provoking urine, and also to expel gravel and the
stone engendered therein, and hath been found very effectual to expel
windiness, and other humours, which cause the strangling of the mother.
The seed hereof is very effectual to expel the tooth ache, and the
ashes of the burnt herb to cleanse the gums, and make the teeth white.
The herb bruised and applied to the place grieved with the king’s
evil, helps it in nine or ten days effectually. Monardus saith, it is
a counter poison against the biting of any venomous creature, the herb
also being outwardly applied to the hurt place. The distilled water
is often given with some sugar before the fit of an ague, to lessen
it, and take it away in three or four times using. If the distilled
fæces of the herb, having been bruised before the distillation, and not
distilled dry, be set in warm dung for fourteen days, and afterwards
be hung in a bag in a wine cellar, the liquor that distills therefrom
is singularly good to use in cramps, aches, the gout and sciatica,
and to heal itches, scabs, and running ulcers, cankers, and all foul
sores whatsoever. The juice is also good for all the said griefs, and
likewise to kill lice in children’s heads. The green herb bruised and
applied to any green wounds, cures any fresh wound or cut whatsoever:
and the juice put into old sores, both cleanses and heals them. There
is also made hereof a singularly good salve to help imposthumes, hard
tumours, and other swellings by blows and falls.
THE TAMARISK TREE.
IT is so well known in the place where it grows, that it needs no
description.
_Time._] It flowers about the end of May, or June, and the seed is
ripe and blown away in the beginning of September.
_Government and virtues._] A gallant Saturnine herb it is. The root,
leaves, young branches, or bark boiled in wine, and drank, stays the
bleeding of the hæmorrhodical veins, the spitting of blood, the too
abounding of women’s courses, the jaundice, the cholic, and the biting
of all venomous serpents, except the asp; and outwardly applied, is
very powerful against the hardness of the spleen, and the tooth-ache,
pains in the ears, red and watering eyes. The decoction, with some
honey put thereto, is good to stay gangrenes and fretting ulcers, and
to wash those that are subject to nits and lice. Alpinus and Veslingius
affirm, That the Egyptians do with good success use the wood of it to
cure the French disease, as others do with lignum vitæ or guiacum; and
give it also to those who have the leprosy, scabs, ulcers, or the like.
Its ashes doth quickly heal blisters raised by burnings or scaldings.
It helps the dropsy, arising from the hardness of the spleen, and
therefore to drink out of cups made of the wood is good for splenetic
persons. It is also helpful for melancholy, and the black jaundice that
arise thereof.
GARDEN TANSY.
GARDEN Tansy is so well known, that it needs no description.
_Time._] It flowers in June and July.
_Government and virtues._] Dame Venus was minded to pleasure women with
child by this herb, for there grows not an herb, fitter for their use
than this is; it is just as though it were cut out for the purpose.
This herb bruised and applied to the navel, stays miscarriages; I
know no herb like it for that use: Boiled in ordinary beer, and the
decoction drank, doth the like; and if her womb be not as she would
have it, this decoction will make it so. Let those women that desire
children love this herb, it is their best companion, their husbands
excepted. Also it consumes the phlegmatic humours, the cold and
moist constitution of Winter most usually affects the body of man
with, and that was the first reason of eating tansies in the Spring.
The decoction of the common Tansy, or the juice drank in wine, is a
singular remedy for all the griefs that come by slopping of the urine,
helps the stranguary and those that have weak reins and kidneys. It is
also very profitable to dissolve and expel wind in the stomach, belly,
or bowels, to procure women’s courses, and expel windiness in the
matrix, if it be bruised and often smelled unto, as also applied to the
lower part of the belly. It is also very profitable for such women as
are given to miscarry. It is used also against the stone in the reins,
especially to men. The herb fried with eggs (as it is the custom in
the Spring-time) which is called a Tansy, helps to digest and carry
downward those bad humours that trouble the stomach. The seed is very
profitably given to children for the worms, and the juice in drink is
as effectual. Being boiled in oil, it is good for the sinews shrunk by
cramps, or pained with colds, if thereto applied.
WILD TANSY, OR SILVER WEED.
THIS is also so well known, that it needs no description.
_Place._] It grows in every place.
_Time._] It flowers in June and July.
_Government and virtues._] Now Dame Venus hath fitted women with
two herbs of one name, the one to help conception, and the other to
maintain beauty, and what more can be expected of her? What now remains
for you, but to love your husbands, and not to be wanting to your poor
neighbours? Wild Tansy stays the lask, and all the fluxes of blood in
men and women, which some say it will do, if the green herb be worn in
the shoes, so it be next the skin; and it is true enough, that it will
stop the terms, if worn so, and the whites too, for ought I know. It
stays also spitting or vomiting of blood. The powder of the herb taken
in some of the distilled water, helps the whites in women, but more
especially if a little coral and ivory in powder be put to it. It is
also recommended to help children that are bursten, and have a rupture,
being boiled in water and salt. Being boiled in water and drank, it
eases the griping pains of the bowels, and is good for the sciatica
and joint-aches. The same boiled in vinegar, with honey and allum,
and gargled in the mouth, eases the pains of the tooth-ache, fastens
loose teeth, helps the gums that are sore, and settles the palate of
the mouth in its place, when it is fallen down. It cleanses and heals
ulcers in the mouth, or secret parts, and is very good for inward
wounds, and to close the lips of green wounds, and to heal old, moist,
and corrupt running sores in the legs or elsewhere. Being bruised
and applied to the soles of the feet and hand wrists, it wonderfully
cools the hot fits of agues, be they never so violent. The distilled
water cleanses the skin of all discolourings therein, as morphew,
sun-burnings, &c. as also pimples, freckles, and the like; and dropped
into the eyes, or cloths wet therein and applied, takes away the heat
and inflammations in them.
THISTLES.
OF these are many kinds growing here in England which are so well
known, that they need no description: Their difference is easily known
on the places where they grow, _viz._
_Place._] Some grow in fields, some in meadows, and some among the
corn; others on heaths, greens, and waste grounds in many places.
_Time._] They flower in June and August and their seed is ripe quickly
after.
_Government and virtues._] Surely Mars rules it, it is such a prickly
business. All these thistles are good to provoke urine, and to mend
the stinking smell thereof; as also the rank smell of the arm-pits, or
the whole body; being boiled in wine and drank, and are said to help a
stinking breath, and to strengthen the stomach. Pliny saith, That the
juice bathed on the place that wants hair, it being fallen off, will
cause it to grow speedily.
THE MELANCHOLY THISTLE.
_Descript._] IT rises up with tender single hoary green stalks, bearing
thereon four or five green leaves, dented about the edges; the points
thereof are little or nothing prickly, and at the top usually but one
head, yet sometimes from the bosom of the uppermost leaves there shoots
forth another small head, scaly and prickly, with many reddish thrumbs
or threads in the middle, which being gathered fresh, will keep the
colour a long time, and fades not from the stalk a long time, while it
perfects the seed, which is of a mean bigness, lying in the down. The
root hath many strings fastened to the head, or upper part, which is
blackish, and perishes not.
There is another sort little differing from the former, but that the
leaves are more green above, and more hoary underneath, and the stalk
being about two feet high, bears but one scaly head, with threads and
seeds as the former.
_Place._] They grow in many moist meadows of this land, as well in the
southern, as in the northern parts.
_Time._] They flower about July or August, and their seed ripens
quickly after.
_Government and virtues._] It is under Capricorn, and therefore under
both Saturn and Mars, one rids melancholy by sympathy, the other by
antipathy. Their virtues are but few, but those not to be despised; for
the decoction of the thistle in wine being drank, expels superfluous
melancholy out of the body, and makes a man as merry as a cricket;
superfluous melancholy causes care, fear, sadness, despair, envy,
and many evils more besides; but religion teaches to wait upon God’s
providence, and cast our care upon him who cares for us. What a fine
thing were it if men and women could live so? And yet seven years’
care and fear makes a man never the wiser, nor a farthing richer.
Dioscorides saith, the root borne about one doth the like, and removes
all diseases of melancholy. Modern writers laugh at him; _Let them
laugh that win_: my opinion is, that it is the best remedy against all
melancholy diseases that grows; they that please may use it.
OUR LADY’S THISTLE.
_Descript._] OUR Lady’s Thistle hath divers very large and broad leaves
lying on the ground cut in, and as it were crumpled, but somewhat hairy
on the edges, of a white green shining colour, wherein are many lines
and streaks of a milk white colour, running all over, and set with many
sharp and stiff prickles all about, among which rises up one or more
strong, round, and prickly stalks, set full of the like leaves up to
the top, where at the end of every branch, comes forth a great prickly
Thistle-like head, strongly armed with prickles, and with bright purple
thumbs rising out of the middle; after they are past, the seed grows in
the said heads, lying in soft white down, which is somewhat flattish
in the ground, and many strings and fibres fastened thereunto. All the
whole plant is bitter in taste.
_Place._] It is frequent on the banks of almost every ditch.
_Time._] It flowers and seeds in June, July, and August.
_Government and virtues._] Our Lady’s Thistle is under Jupiter, and
thought to be as effectual as Carduus Benedictus for agues, and to
prevent and cure the infection of the plague: as also to open the
obstructions of the liver and spleen, and thereby is good against the
jaundice. It provokes urine, breaks and expels the stone, and is good
for the dropsy. It is effectual also for the pains in the sides, and
many other inward pains and gripings. The seed and distilled water
is held powerful to all the purposes aforesaid, and besides, it is
often applied both outwardly with cloths or spunges to the region of
the liver, to cool the distemper thereof, and to the region of the
heart, against swoonings and the passions of it. It cleanses the blood
exceedingly: and in Spring, if you please to boil the tender plant (but
cut off the prickles, unless you have a mind to choak yourself) it will
change your blood as the season changes, and that is the way to be safe.
THE WOOLLEN, OR, COTTON THISTLE.
_Descript._] THIS has many large leaves lying upon the ground, somewhat
cut in, and as it were crumpled on the edges, of a green colour on the
upper side, but covered over with a long hairy wool or cotton down, set
with most sharp and cruel pricks; from the middle of whose heads of
flowers come forth many purplish crimson threads, and sometimes white,
although but seldom. The seed that follow in those white downy heads,
is somewhat large and round, resembling the seed of Lady’s Thistle, but
paler. The root is great and thick, spreading much, yet usually dies
after seed time.
_Place._] It grows on divers ditch-banks, and in the corn-fields,
and highways, generally throughout the land, and is often growing in
gardens.
_Government and virtues._] It is a plant of Mars. Dioscorides and Pliny
write, That the leaves and roots hereof taken in drink, help those that
have a crick in their neck, that they cannot turn it, unless they turn
their whole body. Galen saith, That the roots and leaves hereof are
good for such persons that have their bodies drawn together by some
spasm or convulsion, or other infirmities; as the rickets (or as the
college of physicians would have it, Rachites, about which name they
have quarrelled sufficiently) in children, being a disease that hinders
their growth, by binding their nerves, ligaments, and whole structure
of their body.
THE FULLER’S THISTLE, OR TEASLE.
IT is so well known, that it needs no description, being used with the
clothworkers.
The wild Teasle is in all things like the former, but that the prickles
are small, soft, and upright, not hooked or stiff, and the flowers
of this are of a fine blueish, or pale carnation colour, but of the
manured kind, whitish.
_Place._] The first grows, being sown in gardens or fields for the use
of clothworkers: The other near ditches and rills of water in many
places of this land.
_Time._] They flower in July, and are ripe in the end of August.
_Government and virtues._] It is an herb of Venus. Dioscorides saith,
That the root bruised and boiled in wine, till it be thick, and kept
in a brazen vessel, and after spread as a salve, and applied to the
fundament, doth heal the cleft thereof, cankers and fistulas therein,
also takes away warts and wens. The juice of the leaves dropped into
the ears, kills worms in them. The distilled water of the leaves
dropped into the eyes, takes away redness and mists in them that
hinder the sight, and is often used by women to preserve their beauty,
and to take away redness and inflammations, and all other heat or
discolourings.
TREACLE MUSTARD.
_Descript._] IT rises up with a hard round stalk, about a foot high,
parted into some branches, having divers soft green leaves, long
and narrow, set thereon, waved, but not cut into the edges, broadest
towards the ends, somewhat round pointed; the flowers are white that
grow at the tops of the branches, spike-fashion, one above another;
after which come round pouches, parted in the middle with a furrow,
having one blackish brown seed on either side, somewhat sharp in taste,
and smelling of garlick, especially in the fields where it is natural,
but not so much in gardens: The roots are small and thready, perishing
every year.
Give me leave here to add Mithridate Mustard, although it may seem more
properly by the name to belong to M, in the alphabet.
MITHRIDATE MUSTARD.
_Descript._] THIS grows higher than the former, spreading more and
higher branches, whose leaves are smaller and narrower, sometimes
unevenly dented about the edges. The flowers are small and white,
growing on long branches, with much smaller and rounder vessels after
them, and parted in the same manner, having smaller brown seeds than
the former, and much sharper in taste. The root perishes after seed
time, but abides the first Winter after springing.
_Place._] They grow in sundry places in this land, as half a mile from
Hatfield, by the river side, under a hedge as you go to Hatfield, and
in the street of Peckham on Surrey side.
_Time._] They flower and seed from May to August.
_Government and virtues._] Both of them are herbs of Mars. The Mustards
are said to purge the body both upwards and downwards, and procure
women’s courses so abundantly, that it suffocates the birth. It breaks
inward imposthumes, being taken inwardly; and used in clysters, helps
the sciatica. The seed applied, doth the same. It is an especial
ingredient in mithridate and treacle, being of itself an antidote
resisting poison, venom and putrefaction. It is also available in many
cases for which the common Mustard is used, but somewhat weaker.
THE BLACK THORN, OR SLOE-BUSH.
IT is so well known, that it needs no description.
_Place._] It grows in every county in the hedges and borders of fields.
_Time._] It flowers in April, and sometimes in March, but the fruit
ripens after all other plums whatsoever, and is not fit to be eaten
until the Autumn frost mellow them.
_Government and virtues._] All the parts of the Sloe-Bush are binding,
cooling, and dry, and all effectual to stay bleeding at the nose and
mouth, or any other place; the lask of the belly or stomach, or the
bloody flux, the too much abounding of women’s courses, and helps
to ease the pains of the sides, and bowels, that come by overmuch
scouring, to drink the decoction of the bark of the roots, or more
usually the decoction of the berries, either fresh or dried. The
conserve also is of very much use, and more familiarly taken for the
purposes aforesaid. But the distilled water of the flower first steeped
in sack for a night, and drawn therefrom by the heat of Balneum and
Anglico, a bath, is a most certain remedy, tried and approved, to
ease all manner of gnawings in the stomach, the sides and bowels,
or any griping pains in any of them, to drink a small quantity when
the extremity of pain is upon them. The leaves also are good to make
lotions to gargle and wash the mouth and throat, wherein are swellings,
sores, or kernels; and to stay the defluctions of rheum to the eyes,
or other parts; as also to cool the heat and inflammations of them,
and ease hot pains of the head, to bathe the forehead and temples
therewith. The simple distilled water of the flowers is very effectual
for the said purposes, and the condensate juice of the Sloes. The
distilled water of the green berries is used also for the said effects.
THOROUGH WAX, OR THOROUGH LEAF.
_Descript._] COMMON Thorough-Wax sends forth a strait round stalk, two
feet high, or better, whose lower leaves being of a bluish colour, are
smaller and narrower than those up higher, and stand close thereto,
not compassing it; but as they grow higher, they do not encompass
the stalks, until it wholly pass through them, branching toward the
top into many parts, where the leaves grow smaller again, every one
standing singly, and never two at a joint. The flowers are small
and yellow, standing in tufts at the heads of the branches, where
afterwards grow the seed, being blackish, many thick thrust together.
The root is small, long and woody, perishing every year, after
seed-time, and rising again plentifully of its own sowing.
_Place._] It is found growing in many corn-fields and pasture grounds
in this land.
_Time._] It flowers in July, and the seed is ripe in August.
_Government and virtues._] Both this and the former are under the
influence of Saturn. Thorough-Wax is of singular good use for all sorts
of bruises and wounds either inward or outward; and old ulcers and
sores likewise, if the decoction of the herb with water and wine be
drank, and the place washed therewith, or the juice of the green herb
bruised, or boiled, either by itself, or with other herbs, in oil or
hog’s grease, to be made into an ointment to serve all the year. The
decoction of the herb, or powder of the dried herb, taken inwardly, and
the same, or the leaves bruised, and applied outwardly, is singularly
good for all ruptures and burstings, especially in children before they
be too old. Being applied with a little flour and wax to children’s
navels that stick forth, it helps them.
THYME.
IT is in vain to describe an herb so commonly known.
_Government and virtues._] It is a noble strengthener of the lungs, as
notable a one as grows; neither is there scarce a better remedy growing
for that disease in children which they commonly call the Chin-cough,
than it is. It purges the body of phlegm, and is an excellent remedy
for shortness of breath. It kills worms in the belly, and being a
notable herb of Venus, provokes the terms, gives safe and speedy
delivery to women in travail, and brings away the after birth. It is so
harmless you need not fear the use of it. An ointment made of it takes
away hot swellings and warts, helps the sciatica and dullness of sight,
and takes away pains and hardness of the spleen. ’Tis excellent for
those that are troubled with the gout. It eases pains in the loins and
hips. The herb taken any way inwardly, comforts the stomach much, and
expels wind.
WILD THYME, OR MOTHER OF THYME.
WILD Thyme also is so well known, that it needs no description.
_Place._] It may be found commonly in commons, and other barren places
throughout the nation.
_Government and virtues._] It is under the dominion of Venus, and
under the sign Aries, and therefore chiefly appropriated to the head.
It provokes urine and the terms, and eases the griping pain of the
belly, cramps, ruptures, and inflamation of the liver. If you make a
vinegar of the herb, as vinegar of roses is made (you may find out
the way in my translation of the London Dispensatory) and anoint the
head with it, it presently stops the pains thereof. It is excellently
good to be given either in phrenzy or lethargy, although they are two
contrary diseases: It helps spitting and voiding of blood, coughing,
and vomiting; it comforts and strengthens the head, stomach, reins, and
womb, expels wind, and breaks the stone.
TORMENTIL, OR SEPTFOIL.
_Descript._] THIS hath reddish, slender, weak branches rising from the
root, lying on the ground, rather leaning than standing upright, with
many short leaves that stand closer to the stalk than cinquefoil (to
which this is very like) with the root-stalk compassing the branches
in several places; but those that grow to the ground are set upon
long foot stalks, each whereof are like the leaves of cinquefoil, but
somewhat long and lesser dented about the edges, many of them divided
into five leaves, but most of them into seven, whence it is also called
Septfoil; yet some may have six, and some eight, according to the
fertility of the soil. At the tops of the branches stand divers small
yellow flowers, consisting of five leaves, like those of cinquefoil,
but smaller. The root is smaller than bistort, somewhat thick, but
blacker without, and not so red within, yet sometimes a little crooked,
having blackish fibres thereat.
_Place._] It grows as well in woods and shadowy places, as in the open
champain country, about the borders of fields in many places of this
land, and almost in every broom field in Essex.
_Time._] It flowers all the Summer long.
_Government and virtues._] This is a gallant herb of the Sun. Tormentil
is most excellent to stay all kind of fluxes of blood or humours in man
or woman, whether at nose, mouth, or belly. The juice of the herb and
root, or the decoction thereof, taken with some Venice treacle, and
the person laid to sweat, expels any venom or poison, or the plague,
fever, or other contagious diseases, as pox, measles, &c. for it is an
ingredient in all antidotes or counter poisons. Andreas Urlesius is of
opinion that the decoction of this root is no less effectual to cure
the French pox than Guiacum or China; and it is not unlikely, because
it so mightily resists putrefaction. The root taken inwardly is most
effectual to help any flux of the belly, stomach, spleen, or blood; and
the juice wonderfully opens obstructions of the liver and lungs, and
thereby helps the yellow jaundice. The powder or decoction drank, or
to sit thereon as a bath, is an assured remedy against abortion, if it
proceed from the over flexibility or weakness of the inward retentive
faculty; as also a plaster made therewith, and vinegar applied to
the reins of the back, doth much help not only this, but also those
that cannot hold their water, the powder being taken in the juice of
plantain, and is also commended against the worms in children. It
is very powerful in ruptures and burstings, as also for bruises and
falls, to be used as well outwardly as inwardly. The root hereof made
up with pellitory of Spain and allum, and put into a hollow tooth, not
only assuages the pain, but stays the flux of humours which causes it.
Tormentil is no less effectual and powerful a remedy against outward
wounds, sores and hurts, than for inward, and is therefore a special
ingredient to be used in wound drinks, lotions and injections, for
foul corrupt rotten sores and ulcers of the mouth, secrets, or other
parts of the body. The juice or powder of the root put in ointments,
plaisters, and such things that are to be applied to wounds or sores,
is very effectual, as the juice of the leaves and the root bruised
and applied to the throat or jaws, heals the king’s evil, and eases
the pain of the sciatica; the same used with a little vinegar, is a
special remedy against the running sores of the head or other parts;
scabs also, and the itch or any such eruptions in the skin, proceeding
of salt and sharp humours. The same is also effectual for the piles
or hæmorrhoids, if they be washed or bathed therewith, or with the
distilled water of the herb and roots. It is found also helpful to dry
up any sharp rheum that distills from the head into the eyes, causing
redness, pain, waterings, itching, or the like, if a little prepared
tutia, or white amber, be used with the distilled water thereof. And
here is enough, only remember the Sun challengeth this herb.
TURNSOLE, OR HELIOTROPIUM.
_Descript._] THE greater Turnsole rises with one upright stalk, about a
foot high, or more, dividing itself almost from the bottom, into divers
small branches, of a hoary colour; at each joint of the stalk and
branches grow small broad leaves, somewhat white and hairy. At the tops
of the stalks and branches stand small white flowers, consisting of
four, and sometimes five small leaves, set in order one above another,
upon a small crooked spike, which turns inwards like a bowed finger,
opening by degrees as the flowers blow open; after which in their place
come forth cornered seed, four for the most part standing together; the
root is small and thready, perishing every year, and the seed shedding
every year, raises it again the next spring.
_Place._] It grows in gardens, and flowers and seeds with us,
notwithstanding it is not natural to this land, but to Italy, Spain,
and France, where it grows plentifully.
_Government and virtues._] It is an herb of the Sun, and a good one
too. Dioscorides saith, That a good handful of this, which is called
the Great Turnsole, boiled in water, and drank, purges both choler and
phlegm; and boiled with cummin, helps the stone in the reins, kidneys,
or bladder, provokes urine and women’s courses, and causes an easy
and speedy delivery in child-birth. The leaves bruised and applied to
places pained with the gout, or that have been out of joint and newly
set, and full of pain, do give much ease; the seed and juice of the
leaves also being rubbed with a little salt upon warts and wens, and
other kernels in the face, eye-lids, or any other part of the body,
will, by often using, take them away.
MEADOW TREFOIL, OR HONEYSUCKLES.
IT is so well known, especially by the name of Honeysuckles, white and
red, that I need not describe them.
_Place._] They grow almost every where in this land.
_Government and virtues._] Mercury hath dominion over the common sort.
Dodoneus saith, The leaves and flowers are good to ease the griping
pains of the gout, the herb being boiled and used in a clyster. If
the herb be made into a poultice, and applied to inflammations, it
will ease them. The juice dropped in the eyes, is a familiar medicine,
with many country people, to take away the pin and web (as they call
it) in the eyes; it also allays the heat and blood shooting of them.
Country people do also in many places drink the juice thereof against
the biting of an adder; and having boiled the herb in water, they
first wash the place with the decoction, and then lay some of the herb
also to the hurt place. The herb also boiled in swine’s grease, and so
made into an ointment, is good to apply to the biting of any venomous
creature. The herb also bruised and heated between tiles, and applied
hot to the share, causes them to make water who had it stopt before.
It is held likewise to be good for wounds, and to take away seed. The
decoction of the herb and flowers, with the seed and root, taken for
some time, helps women that are troubled with the whites. The seed and
flowers boiled in water, and afterwards made into a poultice with some
oil, and applied, helps hard swellings and imposthumes.
HEART TREFOIL.
BESIDES the ordinary sort of Trefoil, here are two more remarkable, and
one of which may be properly called Heart Trefoil, not only because the
leaf is triangular, like the heart of a man, but also because each leaf
contains the perfection of a heart, and that in its proper colour, viz.
a flesh colour.
_Place._] It grows between Longford and Bow, and beyond Southwark, by
the highway and parts adjacent.
_Government and virtues._] It is under the dominion of the Sun, and if
it were used, it would be found as great a strengthener of the heart,
and cherisher of the vital spirits as grows, relieving the body against
fainting and swoonings, fortifying it against poison and pestilence,
defending the heart against the noisome vapours of the spleen.
PEARL TREFOIL.
IT differs not from the common sort, save only in this particular, it
hath a white spot in the leaf like a pearl. It is particularly under
the dominion of the Moon, and its icon shews that it is of a singular
virtue against the pearl, or pin and web in the eyes.
TUSTAN, OR PARK LEAVES.
_Descript._] IT hath brownish shining round stalks, crested the length
thereof, rising two by two, and sometimes three feet high, branching
forth even from the bottom, having divers joints, and at each of them
two fair large leaves standing, of a dark blueish green colour on the
upper side, and of a yellowish green underneath, turning reddish toward
Autumn. At the top of the stalks stand large yellow flowers, and heads
with seed, which being greenish at the first and afterwards reddish,
turn to be of a blackish purple colour when they are ripe, with small
brownish seed within them, and they yield a reddish juice or liquor,
somewhat resinous, and of a harsh and stypick taste, as the leaves also
and the flowers be, although much less, but do not yield such a clear
claret wine colour, as some say it doth, the root is brownish, somewhat
great, hard and woody, spreading well in the ground.
_Place._] It grows in many woods, groves, and woody grounds, as parks
and forests, and by hedge-sides in many places in this land, as in
Hampstead wood, by Ratley in Essex, in the wilds of Kent, and in many
other places needless to recite.
_Time._] It flowers later than St. John’s or St. Peter’s-wort.
_Government and virtues._] It is an herb of Saturn, and a most noble
anti-venerean. Tustan purges choleric humours, as St. Peter’s-wort,
is said to do, for therein it works the same effects, both to help
the sciatica and gout, and to heal burning by fire; it stays all the
bleedings of wounds, if either the green herb be bruised, or the powder
of the dry be applied thereto. It hath been accounted, and certainly it
is, a sovereign herb to heal either wound or sore, either outwardly or
inwardly, and therefore always used in drinks, lotions, balms, oils,
ointments, or any other sorts of green wounds, ulcers, or old sores, in
all which the continual experience of former ages hath confirmed the
use thereof to be admirably good, though it be not so much in use now,
as when physicians and surgeons were so wise as to use herbs more than
now they do.
GARDEN VALERIAN.
_Descript._] THIS hath a thick short greyish root, lying for the most
part above ground, shooting forth on all other sides such like small
pieces of roots, which have all of them many long green strings and
fibres under them in the ground, whereby it draws nourishment. From
the head of these roots spring up many green leaves, which at first
are somewhat broad and long, without any divisions at all in them, or
denting on the edges; but those that rise up after are more and more
divided on each side, some to the middle rib, being winged, as made of
many leaves together on a stalk, and those upon a stalk, in like manner
more divided, but smaller towards the top than below; the stalk rises
to be a yard high or more, sometimes branched at the top, with many
small whitish flowers, sometimes dashed over at the edges with a pale
purplish colour, of a little scent, which passing away, there follows
small brownish white seed, that is easily carried away with the wind.
The root smells more strong than either leaf or flower, and is of more
use in medicines.
_Place._] It is generally kept with us in gardens.
_Time._] It flowers in June and July, and continues flowering until the
frost pull it down.
_Government and virtues._] This is under the influence of Mercury.
Dioscorides saith, That the Garden Valerian hath a warming faculty,
and that being dried and given to drink it provokes urine, and helps
the stranguary. The decoction thereof taken, doth the like also, and
takes away pains of the sides, provokes women’s courses, and is used
in antidotes. Pliny saith, That the powder of the root given in drink,
or the decoction thereof taken, helps all stoppings and stranglings
in any part of the body, whether they proceed of pains in the chest
or sides, and takes them away. The root of Valerian boiled with
liquorice, raisins, and anniseed, is singularly good for those that are
short-winded, and for those that are troubled with the cough, and helps
to open the passages, and to expectorate phlegm easily. It is given to
those that are bitten or stung by any venomous creature, being boiled
in wine. It is of a special virtue against the plague, the decoction
thereof being drank, and the root being used to smell to. It helps
to expel the wind in the belly. The green herb with the root taken
fresh, being bruised and applied to the head, takes away the pains and
prickings there, stays rheum and thin distillation, and being boiled
in white wine, and a drop thereof put into the eyes, takes away the
dimness of the sight, or any pin or web therein. It is of excellent
property to heal any inward sores or wounds, and also for outward hurts
or wounds, and drawing away splinters or thorns out of the flesh.
VERVAIN.
_Descript._] THE common Vervain hath somewhat long broad leaves next
the ground deeply gashed about the edges, and some only deeply dented,
or cut all alike, of a blackish green colour on the upper side,
somewhat grey underneath. The stalk is square, branched into several
parts, rising about two feet high, especially if you reckon the long
spike of flowers at the tops of them, which are set on all sides one
above another, and sometimes two or three together, being small and
gaping, of a blue colour and white intermixed, after which come small
round seed, in small and somewhat long heads. The root is small and
long.
_Place._] It grows generally throughout this land in divers places of
the hedges and way-sides, and other waste grounds.
_Time._] It flowers in July, and the seed is ripe soon after.
_Government and virtues._] This is an herb of Venus, and excellent
for the womb to strengthen and remedy all the cold griefs of it, as
Plantain doth the hot. Vervain is hot and dry, opening obstructions,
cleansing and healing. It helps the yellow jaundice, the dropsy and the
gout; it kills and expels worms in the belly, and causes a good colour
in the face and body, strengthens as well as corrects the diseases
of the stomach, liver, and spleen; helps the cough, wheezings, and
shortness of breath, and all the defects of the reins and bladder,
expelling the gravel and stone. It is held to be good against the
biting of serpents, and other venomous beasts, against the plague,
and both tertian and quartan agues. It consolidates and heals also
all wounds, both inward and outward, stays bleedings, and used with
some honey, heals all old ulcers and fistulas in the legs or other
parts of the body; as also those ulcers that happen in the mouth; or
used with hog’s grease, it helps the swellings and pains of the secret
parts in man or woman, also for the piles or hæmorrhoids; applied with
some oil of roses and vinegar unto the forehead and temples, it eases
the inveterate pains and ache of the head, and is good for those that
are frantic. The leaves bruised, or the juice of them mixed with some
vinegar, doth wonderfully cleanse the skin, and takes away morphew,
freckles, fistulas, and other such like inflamations and deformities
of the skin in any parts of the body. The distilled water of the herb
when it is in full strength, dropped into the eyes, cleanses them
from films, clouds, or mists, that darken the sight, and wonderfully
strengthens the optic nerves. The said water is very powerful in all
the diseases aforesaid, either inward or outward, whether they be old
corroding sores, or green wounds. The dried root, and peeled, is known
to be excellently good against all scrophulous and scorbutic habits
of body, by being tied to the pit of the stomach, by a piece of white
ribband round the neck.
THE VINE.
THE leaves of the English vine (I do not mean to send you to the
Canaries for a medicine) being boiled, makes a good lotion for sore
mouths; being boiled with barley meal into a poultice, it cools
inflammations of wounds; the dropping of the vine, when it is cut in
the Spring, which country people call Tears, being boiled in a syrup,
with sugar, and taken inwardly, is excellent to stay women’s longings
after every thing they see, which is a disease many women with child
are subject to. The decoction of Vine leaves in white wine doth the
like. Also the tears of the Vine, drank two or three spoonfuls at a
time, breaks the stone in the bladder. This is a very good remedy, and
it is discreetly done, to kill a Vine to cure a man, but the salt of
the leaves are held to be better. The ashes of the burnt branches will
make teeth that are as black as a coal, to be as white as snow, if you
but every morning rub them with it. It is a most gallant Tree of the
Sun, very sympathetical with the body of men, and that is the reason
spirit of wine is the greatest cordial among all vegetables.
VIOLETS.
BOTH the tame and the wild are so well known, that they need no
description.
_Time._] They flower until the end of July, but are best in March, and
the beginning of April.
_Government and virtues._] They are a fine pleasing plant of Venus,
of a mild nature, no way harmful. All the Violets are cold and moist
while they are fresh and green, and are used to cool any heat,
or distemperature of the body, either inwardly or outwardly, as
inflammations in the eyes, in the matrix or fundament, in imposthumes
also, and hot swellings, to drink the decoction of the leaves and
flowers made with water in wine, or to apply them poultice-wise to the
grieved places: it likewise eases pains in the head, caused through
want of sleep; or any other pains arising of heat, being applied in
the same manner, or with oil of roses. A dram weight of the dried
leaves or flower of Violets, but the leaves more strongly, doth purge
the body of choleric humours, and assuages the heat, being taken in a
draught of wine, or any other drink; the powder of the purple leaves
of the flowers, only picked and dried and drank in water, is said to
help the quinsy, and the falling-sickness in children, especially in
the beginning of the disease. The flowers of the white Violets ripen
and dissolve swellings. The herb or flowers, while they are fresh, or
the flowers when they are dry, are effectual in the pleurisy, and all
diseases of the lungs, to lenify the sharpness in hot rheums, and the
hoarseness of the throat, the heat also and sharpness of urine, and
all the pains of the back or reins, and bladder. It is good also for
the liver and the jaundice, and all hot agues, to cool the heat, and
quench the thirst; but the syrup of Violets is of most use, and of
better effect, being taken in some convenient liquor: and if a little
of the juice or syrup of lemons be put to it, or a few drops of the
oil of vitriol, it is made thereby the more powerful to cool the heat,
and quench the thirst, and gives to the drink a claret wine colour,
and a fine tart relish, pleasing to the taste. Violets taken, or made
up with honey, do more cleanse and cool, and with sugar contrary-wise.
The dried flower of Violets are accounted amongst the cordial drinks,
powders, and other medicines, especially where cooling cordials are
necessary. The green leaves are used with other herbs to make plaisters
and poultices to inflammations and swellings, and to ease all pains
whatsoever, arising of heat, and for the piles also, being fried with
yolks of eggs, and applied thereto.
VIPER’S BUGLOSS.
_Descript._] THIS hath many long rough leaves lying on the ground,
from among which rises up divers hard round stalks, very rough, as if
they were thick set with prickles or hairs, whereon are set such like
rough, hairy, or prickly sad green leaves, somewhat narrow; the middle
rib for the most part being white. The flowers stand at the top of the
stalk, branched forth in many long spiked leaves of flowers bowing or
turning like the turnsole, all opening for the most part on the one
side, which are long and hollow, turning up the brims a little, of a
purplish violet colour in them that are fully blown, but more reddish
while they are in the bud, as also upon their decay and withering; but
in some places of a paler purplish colour, with a long pointel in the
middle, feathered or parted at the top. After the flowers are fallen,
the seeds growing to be ripe, are blackish, cornered and pointed
somewhat like the head of a viper. The root is somewhat great and
blackish, and woolly, when it grows toward seed-time, and perishes in
the Winter.
There is another sort, little differing from the former, only in this,
that it bears white flowers.
_Place._] The first grows wild almost every where. That with white
flowers about the castle-walls at Lewis in Sussex.
_Time._] They flower in Summer, and their seed is ripe quickly after.
_Government and virtues._] It is a most gallant herb of the Sun; it
is a pity it is no more in use than it is. It is an especial remedy
against the biting of the Viper, and all other venomous beasts, or
serpents; as also against poison, or poisonous herbs. Dioscorides and
others say, That whosoever shall take of the herb or root before they
be bitten, shall not be hurt by the poison of any serpent. The root or
seed is thought to be most effectual to comfort the heart, and expel
sadness, or causeless melancholy; it tempers the blood, and allays
hot fits of agues. The seed drank in wine, procures abundance of milk
in women’s breasts. The same also being taken, eases the pains in the
loins, back, and kidneys. The distilled water of the herb when it is
in flower, or its chief strength, is excellent to be applied either
inwardly or outwardly, for all the griefs aforesaid. There is a syrup
made hereof very effectual for the comforting the heart, and expelling
sadness and melancholy.
WALL FLOWERS, OR WINTER GILLI-FLOWERS.
THE garden kind are so well known that they need no description.
_Descript._] The common single Wall-flowers, which grow wild abroad,
have sundry small, long, narrow, dark green leaves, set without order
upon small round, whitish, woody stalks, which bear at the tops divers
single yellow flowers one above another, every one bearing four leaves
a-piece, and of a very sweet scent: after which come long pods,
containing a reddish seed. The roots are white, hard and thready.
_Place._] It grows upon church walls, and old walls of many houses, and
other stone walls in divers places; The other sort in gardens only.
_Time._] All the single kinds do flower many times in the end of
Autumn; and if the Winter be mild, all the Winter long, but especially
in the months of February, March, and April, and until the heat of
the spring do spend them. But the double kinds continue not flowering
in that manner all the year long, although they flower very early
sometimes, and in some places very late.
_Government and virtues._] The Moon rules them. Galen, in his seventh
book of simple medicines, saith, That the yellow Wall-flowers work more
powerfully than any of the other kinds, and are therefore of more use
in physic. It cleanses the blood, and fretteth the liver and reins from
obstructions, provokes women’s courses, expels the secundine, and the
dead child; helps the hardness and pain of the mother, and of spleen
also; stays inflammations and swellings, comforts and strengthens any
weak part, or out of joint; helps to cleanse the eyes from mistiness or
films upon them, and to cleanse the filthy ulcers in the mouth, or any
other part, and is a singular remedy for the gout, and all aches and
pains in the joints and sinews. A conserve made of the flowers, is used
for a remedy both for the apoplexy and palsy.
THE WALLNUT TREE.
IT is so well known, that it needs no description.
_Time._] It blossoms early before the leaves come forth, and the fruit
is ripe in September.
_Government and virtues._] This is also a plant of the Sun. Let the
fruit of it be gathered accordingly, which you shall find to be of most
virtues while they are green, before they have shells. The bark of
the Tree doth bind and dry very much, and the leaves are much of the
same temperature: but the leaves when they are older, are heating and
drying in the second degree, and harder of digestion than when they
are fresh, which, by reason of their sweetness, are more pleasing,
and better digesting in the stomach; and taken with sweet wine, they
move the belly downwards, but being old, they grieve the stomach; and
in hot bodies cause the choler to abound and the head-ach, and are an
enemy to those that have the cough; but are less hurtful to those that
have a colder stomach, and are said to kill the broad worms in the
belly or stomach. If they be taken with onions, salt, and honey, they
help the biting of a mad dog, or the venom or infectious poison of any
beast, &c. Caias Pompeius found in the treasury of Mithridates, king
of Pontus, when he was overthrown, a scroll of his own hand writing,
containing a medicine against any poison or infection; which is this;
Take two dry walnuts, and as many good figs, and twenty leaves of
rue, bruised and beaten together with two or three corns of salt and
twenty juniper berries, which take every morning fasting, preserves
from danger of poison, and infection that day it is taken. The juice
of the other green husks boiled with honey is an excellent gargle for
sore mouths, or the heat and inflammations in the throat and stomach.
The kernels, when they grow old, are more oily, and therefore not
fit to be eaten, but are then used to heal the wounds of the sinews,
gangrenes, and carbuncles. The said kernels being burned, are very
astringent, and will stay lasks and women’s courses, being taken in
red wine, and stay the falling of the hair, and make it fair, being
anointed with oil and wine. The green husks will do the like, being
used in the same manner. The kernels beaten with rue and wine, being
applied, help the quinsy; and bruised with some honey, and applied to
the ears, ease the pains and inflammation of them. A piece of the green
husks put into a hollow tooth, eases the pain. The catkins hereof,
taken before they fall off, dried, and given a dram thereof in powder
with white wine, wonderfully helps those that are troubled with the
rising of the mother. The oil that is pressed out of the kernels,
is very profitable, taken inwardly like oil of almonds, to help the
cholic, and to expel wind very effectually; an ounce or two thereof may
be taken at any time. The young green nuts taken before they be half
ripe, and preserved with sugar, are of good use for those that have
weak stomachs, or defluctions thereon. The distilled water of the green
husks, before they be half ripe, is of excellent use to cool the heat
of agues, being drank an ounce or two at a time: as also to resist the
infection of the plague, if some of the same be also applied to the
sores thereof. The same also cools the heat of green wounds and old
ulcers, and heals them, being bathed therewith. The distilled water of
the green husks being ripe, when they are shelled from the nuts, and
drank with a little vinegar, is good for the place, so as before the
taking thereof a vein be opened. The said water is very good against
the quinsy, being gargled and bathed therewith, and wonderfully helps
deafness, the noise, and other pains in the ears. The distilled water
of the young green leaves in the end of May, performs a singular cure
on foul running ulcers and sores, to be bathed, with wet cloths or
spunges applied to them every morning.
WOLD, WELD, OR DYER’S WEED.
THE common kind grows bushing with many leaves, long, narrow and
flat upon the ground; of a dark blueish green colour, somewhat like
unto Woad, but nothing so large, a little crumpled, and as it were
round-pointed, which do so abide the first year; and the next spring
from among them, rise up divers round stalks, two or three feet high,
beset with many such like leaves thereon, but smaller, and shooting
forth small branches, which with the stalks carry many small yellow
flowers, in a long spiked head at the top of them, where afterwards
come the seed, which is small and black, inclosed in heads that are
divided at the tops into four parts. The root is long, white and thick,
abiding the Winter. The whole herb changes to be yellow, after it hath
been in flower awhile.
_Place._] It grows every where by the way sides, in moist grounds, as
well as dry, in corners of fields and bye lanes, and sometimes all over
the field. In Sussex and Kent they call it Green Weed.
_Time._] It flowers in June.
_Government and virtues._] Matthiolus saith, that the root hereof cures
tough phlegm, digests raw phlegm, thins gross humours, dissolves hard
tumours, and opens obstructions. Some do highly commend it against
the biting of venomous creatures, to be taken inwardly and applied
outwardly to the hurt place; as also for the plague or pestilence. The
people in some countries of this land, do use to bruise the herb, and
lay it to cuts or wounds in the hands or legs, to heal them.
WHEAT.
ALL the several kinds thereof are so well known unto almost all people,
that it is all together needless to write a description thereof.
_Government and virtues._] It is under Venus. Dioscorides saith, That
to eat the corn of green Wheat is hurtful to the stomach, and breeds
worms. Pliny saith, That the corn of Wheat, roasted upon an iron pan,
and eaten, are a present remedy for those that are chilled with cold.
The oil pressed from wheat, between two thick plates of iron, or copper
heated, heals all tetters and ring-worms, being used warm; and hereby
Galen saith, he hath known many to be cured. Matthiolus commends the
same to be put into hollow ulcers to heal them up, and it is good for
chops in the hands and feet, and to make rugged skin smooth. The green
corns of Wheat being chewed, and applied to the place bitten by a mad
dog, heals it; slices of Wheat bread soaked in red rose water, and
applied to the eyes that are hot, red, and inflamed, or blood-shotten,
helps them. Hot bread applied for an hour, at times, for three days
together, perfectly heals the kernels in the throat, commonly called
the king’s evil. The flour of Wheat mixed with the juice of henbane,
stays the flux of humours to the joints, being laid thereon. The said
meal boiled in vinegar, helps the shrinking of the sinews, saith Pliny;
and mixed with vinegar, and boiled together, heals all freckles, spots
and pimples on the face. Wheat flour, mixed with the yolk of an egg,
honey, and turpentine, doth draw, cleanse and heal any boil, plague,
sore, or foul ulcer. The bran of Wheat meal steeped in sharp vinegar,
and then bound in a linen cloth, and rubbed on those places that have
the scurf, morphew, scabs or leprosy, will take them away, the body
being first well purged and prepared. The decoction of the bran of
Wheat or barley, is of good use to bathe those places that are bursten
by a rupture; and the said bran boiled in good vinegar, and applied
to swollen breasts, helps them, and stays all inflamations. It helps
also the biting of vipers (which I take to be no other than our English
adder) and all other venomous creatures. The leaves of Wheat meal
applied with some salt, take away hardness of the skin, warts, and hard
knots in the flesh. Wafers put in water, and drank, stays the lask
and bloody flux, and are profitably used both inwardly and outwardly
for the ruptures in children. Boiled in water unto a thick jelly, and
taken, it stays spitting of blood; and boiled with mint and butter, it
helps the hoarseness of the throat.
THE WILLOW TREE.
THESE are so well known that they need no description. I shall
therefore only shew you the virtues therof.
_Government and virtues._] The Moon owns it. Both the leaves, bark,
and the seed, are used to stanch bleeding of wounds, and at mouth and
nose, spitting of blood, and other fluxes of blood in man or woman,
and to stay vomiting, and provocation thereunto, if the decoction of
them in wine be drank. It helps also to stay thin, hot, sharp, salt
distillations from the head upon the lungs, causing a consumption. The
leaves bruised with some pepper, and drank in wine, helps much the wind
cholic. The leaves bruised and boiled in wine, and drank, stays the
heat of lust in man or woman, and quite extinguishes it, if it be long
used: The seed also is of the same effect. Water that is gathered from
the Willow, when it flowers, the bark being slit, and a vessel fitting
to receive it, is very good for redness and dimness of sight, or films
that grow over the eyes, and stay the rheums that fall into them; to
provoke urine, being stopped, if it be drank; to clear the face and
skin from spots and discolourings. Galen saith, The flowers have an
admirable faculty in drying up humours, being a medicine without any
sharpness or corrosion; you may boil them in white wine, and drink as
much as you will, so you drink not yourself drunk. The bark works the
same effect, if used in the same manner, and the Tree hath always a
bark upon it, though not always flowers; the burnt ashes of the bark
being mixed with vinegar, takes away warts, corns, and superfluous
flesh, being applied to the place. The decoction of the leaves or bark
in wine, takes away scurff and dandriff by washing the place with it.
It is a fine cool tree, the boughs of which are very convenient to be
placed in the chamber of one sick of a fever.
WOAD.
_Descript._] IT hath divers large leaves, long, and somewhat broad
withal, like those of the greater plantain, but larger, thicker, of a
greenish colour, somewhat blue withal. From among which leaves rises up
a lusty stalk, three or four feet high, with divers leaves set thereon;
the higher the stalk rises, the smaller are the leaves; at the top it
spreads divers branches, at the end of which appear very pretty, little
yellow flowers, and after they pass away like other flowers of the
field, come husks, long and somewhat flat withal; in form they resemble
a tongue, in colour they are black, and they hang bobbing downwards.
The seed contained within these husks (if it be a little chewed) gives
an azure colour. The root is white and long.
_Place._] It is sowed in fields for the benefit of it, where those
that sow it, cut it three times a year.
_Time._] It flowers in June, but it is long after before the seed is
ripe.
_Government and virtues._] It is a cold and dry plant of Saturn. Some
people affirm the plant to be destructive to bees, and fluxes them,
which, if it be, I cannot help it. I should rather think, unless bees
be contrary to other creatures, it possesses them with the contrary
disease, the herb being exceeding dry and binding. However, if any bees
be diseased thereby, the cure is, to set urine by them, but set it in
a vessel, that they cannot drown themselves, which may be remedied, if
you put pieces of cork in it. The herb is so drying and binding, that
it is not fit to be given inwardly. An ointment made thereof stanches
bleeding. A plaister made thereof, and applied to the region of the
spleen which lies on the left side, takes away the hardness and pains
thereof. The ointment is excellently good in such ulcers as abound with
moisture, and takes away the corroding and fretting humours: It cools
inflammations, quenches St. Anthony’s fire, and stays defluxion of the
blood to any part of the body.
WOODBINE, OR HONEY-SUCKLES.
IT is a plant so common, that every one that hath eyes knows it, and he
that hath none, cannot read a description, if I should write it.
_Time._] They flower in June, and the fruit is ripe in August.
_Government and virtues._] Doctor Tradition, that grand introducer of
errors, that hater of truth, lover of folly, and the mortal foe to Dr.
Reason, hath taught the common people to use the leaves or flowers of
this plant in mouth-water, and by long continuance of time, hath so
grounded it in the brains of the vulgar, that you cannot beat it out
with a beetle: All mouth-waters ought to be cooling and drying, but
Honey Suckles are cleansing, consuming and digesting, and therefore
fit for inflammations; thus Dr. Reason. Again if you please, we will
leave Dr. Reason a while, and come to Dr. Experience, a learned
gentleman, and his brother. Take a leaf and chew it in your mouth, and
you will quickly find it likelier to cause a sore mouth and throat
than to cure it. Well then, if it be not good for this, What is it
good for? It is good for something, for God and nature made nothing in
vain. It is an herb of Mercury, and appropriated to the lungs; Crab
claims dominion over it; neither is it a foe to the Lion; if the lungs
be afflicted by Jupiter, this is your cure: It is fitting a conserve
made of the flowers of it were kept in every gentlewoman’s house; I
know no better cure for an asthma than this: besides, it takes away
the evil of the spleen, provokes urine, procures speedy delivery
of women in travail, helps cramps, convulsions, and palsies, and
whatsoever griefs come of cold or stopping; if you please to make use
of it as an ointment, it will clear your skin of morphew, freckles,
and sun-burnings, or whatsoever else discolours it, and then the maids
will love it. Authors say, The flowers are of more effect than the
leaves, and that is true; but they say the seeds are least effectual
of all. But Dr. Reason told me, That there was a vital spirit in every
seed to beget its like; and Dr. Experience told me, That there was a
greater heat in the seed than there was in any other part of the plant;
and withal, That heat was the mother of action, and then judge if old
Dr. Tradition (who may well be honoured for his age, but not for his
goodness) hath not so poisoned the world with errors before I was born,
that it was never well in its wits since, and there is a great fear it
will die mad.
WORMWOOD.
THREE Wormwoods are familiar with us; one I shall not describe, another
I shall describe, and the third be critical at; and I care not greatly
if I begin with the last first.
_Sea Wormwood_ hath gotten as many names as virtues, (and perhaps one
more) Seriphian, Santomeon, Belchion, Narbinense, Hantonicon, Misneule,
and a matter of twenty more which I shall not blot paper withal. A
papist got the toy by the end, and he called it Holy Wormwood; and in
truth I am opinion, their giving so much holiness to herbs, is the
reason there remains so little in themselves. The seed of this Wormwood
is that which women usually give their children for the worms. Of all
Wormwoods that grow here, this is the weakest, but Doctors commend
it, and apothecaries sell it; the one must keep his credit, and the
other get money, and that is the key of the work. The herb is good for
something, because God made nothing in vain: Will you give me leave
to weigh things in the balance of reason; Then thus: The seeds of
the common Wormwood are far more prevalent than the seed of this, to
expel worms in children, or people of ripe age; of both some are weak,
some are strong. The Seriphian Wormwood is the weakest, and haply may
prove to be fittest for the weak bodies, (for it is weak enough of all
conscience.) Let such as are strong take the common Wormwood, for the
others will do but little good. Again, near the sea many people live,
and Seriphian grows near them, and therefore is more fitting for their
bodies, because nourished by the same air; and this I had from Dr.
Reason. In whose body Dr. Reason dwells not, dwells Dr. Madness, and
he brings in his brethren, Dr. Ignorance, Dr. Folly, and Dr. Sickness,
and these together make way for Death, and the latter end of that man
is worse than the beginning. Pride was the cause of Adam’s fall; pride
begat a daughter, I do not know the father of it, unless the devil,
but she christened it, and called it Appetite, and sent her daughter
to taste these wormwoods, who finding this the least bitter, made the
squeamish wench extol it to the skies, though the virtues of it never
reached the middle region of the air. Its due praise is this; It is
weakest, therefore fittest for weak bodies, and fitter for those bodies
that dwell near it, than those that dwell far from it; my reason is,
the sea (those that live far from it, know when they come near it)
casts not such a smell as the land doth. The tender mercies of God
being over all his works, hath by his eternal Providence, planted
Seriphian by the seaside, as a fit medicine for the bodies of those
that live near it. Lastly, It is known to all that know any thing in
the course of nature, that the liver delights in sweet things, if
so, it abhors bitter; then if your liver be weak, it is none of the
wisest courses to plague it with an enemy. If the liver be weak, a
consumption follows; would you know the reason? It is this, A man’s
flesh is repaired by blood, by a third concoction, which transmutes the
blood into flesh, it is well I said, (concoction) say I, if I had said
(boiling) every cook would have understood me. The liver makes blood,
and if it be weakened that if it makes not enough, the flesh wastes;
and why must flesh always be renewed? Because the eternal God, when he
made the creation, made one part of it in continual dependency upon
another; and why did he so? Because himself only is permanent; to teach
us, That we should not fix our affections upon what is transitory, but
what endures for ever. The result of this is, if the liver be weak, and
cannot make blood enough, I would have said, Sanguify, if I had written
only to scholars, the Seriphian, which is the weakest of Wormwoods, is
better than the best. I have been critical enough, if not too much.
_Place._] It grows familiarly in England, by the sea-side.
_Descript._] It starts up out of the earth, with many round, woody,
hairy stalks from one root. Its height is four feet, or three at least.
The leaves in longitude are long, in latitude narrow, in colour white,
in form hoary, in similitude like Southernwood, only broader and
longer; in taste rather salt than bitter, because it grows so near the
salt-water; at the joints, with the leaves toward the tops it bears
little yellow flowers; the root lies deep, and is woody.
_Common Wormwood_ I shall not describe, for every boy that can eat an
egg knows it.
_Roman Wormwood_; and why Roman, seeing it grows familiarly in England?
It may be so called, because it is good for a stinking breath, which
the Romans cannot be very free from, maintaining so many bad houses by
authority of his Holiness.
_Descript._] The stalks are slender, and shorter than the common
Wormwood by one foot at least; the leaves are more finely cut and
divided than they are, but something smaller; both leaves and stalks
are hoary, the flowers of a pale yellow colour; it is altogether like
the common Wormwood, save only in bigness, for it is smaller; in taste,
for it is not so bitter; in smell, for it is spicy.
_Place._] It grows upon the tops of the mountains (it seems ’tis
aspiring) there ’tis natural, but usually nursed up in gardens for the
use of the apothecaries in London.
_Time._] All Wormwoods usually flower in August, a little sooner or
later.
_Government and virtues._] Will you give me leave to be critical a
little? I must take leave. Wormwood is an herb of Mars, and if Pontanus
say otherwise, he is beside the bridge; I prove it thus: What delights
in martial places, is a martial herb; but Wormwood delights in martial
places (for about forges and iron works you may gather a cart-load
of it,) _ergo_, it is a martial herb. It is hot and dry in the first
degree, viz. just as hot as your blood, and no hotter. It remedies the
evils choler can inflict on the body of man by sympathy. It helps
the evils Venus and the wanton Boy produce, by antipathy; and it doth
something else besides. It cleanses the body of choler (who dares say
Mars doth no good?) It provokes urine, helps surfeits, or swellings
in the belly; it causes appetite to meat, because Mars rules the
attractive faculty in man: The sun never shone upon a better herb for
the yellow jaundice than this; Why should men cry out so much upon
Mars for an infortunate, (or Saturn either?) Did God make creatures to
do the creation a mischief? This herb testifies, that Mars is willing
to cure all diseases he causes; the truth is, Mars loves no cowards,
nor Saturn fools, nor I neither. Take of the flowers of Wormwood,
Rosemary, and Black Thorn, of each a like quantity, half that quantity
of saffron; boil this in Rhenish wine, but put it not in saffron till
it is almost boiled; This is the way to keep a man’s body in health,
appointed by Camerarius, in his book intitled _Hortus Medicus_, and
it is a good one too. Besides all this, Wormwood provokes the terms.
I would willingly teach astrologers, and make them physicians (if I
knew how) for they are most fitting for the calling; if you will not
believe me, ask Dr. Hippocrates, and Dr. Galen, a couple of gentlemen
that our college of physicians keep to vapour with, not to follow. In
this our herb, I shall give the pattern of a ruler, the sons of art
rough cast, yet as near the truth as the men of Benjamin could throw
a stone: Whereby, my brethren, the astrologers may know by a penny
how a shilling is coined: As for the college of physicians, they are
too stately to college or too proud to continue. They say a mouse is
under the dominion of the Moon, and that is the reason they feed in the
night; the house of the Moon is Cancer; rats are of the same nature
with mice, but they are a little bigger; Mars receives his fall in
Cancer, _ergo_, Wormwood being an herb of Mars, is a present remedy
for the biting of rats and mice. Mushrooms (I cannot give them the
title of Herba, Frutex, or Arbor) are under the dominion of Saturn,
(and take one time with another, they do as much harm as good;) if any
have poisoned himself by eating them, Wormwood, an herb of Mars, cures
him, because Mars is exalted in Capricorn, the house of Saturn, and
this it doth by sympathy, as it did the other by antipathy. Wheals,
pushes, black and blue spots, coming either by bruises or beatings.
Wormwood, an herb of Mars, helps, because Mars, (as bad you love him,
and as you hate him) will not break your head, but he will give you
a plaister. If he do but teach you to know yourselves, his courtesy
is greater than his discourtesy. The greatest antipathy between the
planets, is between Mars and Venus: one is hot, the other cold; one
diurnal, the other nocturnal; one dry, the other moist; their houses
are opposite, one masculine, the other feminine; one public, the other
private; one is valiant, the other effeminate; one loves the light, the
other hates it; one loves the field, the other sheets; then the throat
is under Venus, the quinsy lies in the throat, and is an inflammation
there; Venus rules the throat, (it being under Taurus her sign.) Mars
eradicates all diseases in the throat by his herbs (for wormwood is
one) and sends them to Egypt on an errand never to return more, this
done by antipathy. The eyes are under the Luminaries; the right eye of
a man, and the left eye of a woman the Sun claims dominion over: the
left eye of a man, and the right eye of a woman, are privileges of the
Moon, Wormwood, an herb of Mars cures both; what belongs to the Sun
by sympathy, because he is exalted in his house; but what belongs to
the Moon by antipathy, because he hath his fall in hers. Suppose a man
be bitten or stung by a martial creature, imagine a wasp, a hornet,
a scorpion, Wormwood, an herb of Mars, gives you a present cure; that
Mars, choleric as he is, hath learned that patience, to pass by your
evil speeches of him, and tells you by my pen, That he gives you no
affliction, but he gives you a cure; you need not run to Apollo, nor
Æsculapius; and if he was so choleric as you make him to be, he would
have drawn his sword for anger, to see the ill conditions of these
people that can spy his vices, and not his virtues. The eternal God,
when he made Mars, made him for public good, and the sons of men shall
know it in the latter end of the world. _Et cælum Mars solus babet._
You say Mars is a destroyer; mix a little Wormwood, an herb of Mars,
with your ink, neither rats nor mice touch the paper written with it,
and then Mars is a preserver. Astrologers think Mars causes scabs and
itch, and the virgins are angry with him, because wanton Venus told
them he deforms their skins; but, quoth Mars, my only desire is, they
should know themselves; my herb Wormwood will restore them to the
beauty they formerly had, and in that I will not come an inch behind my
opposite, Venus: for which doth the greatest evil, he that takes away
an innate beauty, and when he has done, knows how to restore it again?
or she that teaches a company of wanton lasses to paint their faces?
If Mars be in a Virgin, in the nativity, they say he causes the cholic
(it is well God hath set some body to pull down the pride of man.) He
in the Virgin troubles none with the cholic, but them that know not
themselves (for who knows himself, may easily know all the world.)
Wormwood, an herb of Mars, is a present cure for it; and whether it be
most like a Christian to love him for his good, or hate him for his
evil, judge ye. I had almost forgotten, that charity thinks no evil. I
was once in the Tower and viewed the wardrobe, and there was a great
many fine clothes: (I can give them no other title, for I was never
either linen or woolen draper) yet as brave as they looked, my opinion
was that the moths might consume them; moths are under the dominion of
Mars; this herb Wormwood being laid among cloaths, will make a moth
scorn to meddle with the cloaths, as much as a lion scorns to meddle
with a mouse, or an eagle with a fly. You say Mars is angry, and it is
true enough he is angry with many countrymen, for being such fools to
be led by the noses by the college of physicians, as they lead bears to
Paris garden. Melancholy men cannot endure to be wronged in point of
good fame, and that doth sorely trouble old Saturn, because they call
him the greatest infortunate; in the body of man he rules the spleen,
(and that makes covetous man so splenetic) the poor old man lies crying
out of his left side. Father Saturn’s angry, Mars comes to him; Come,
brother, I confess thou art evil spoken of, and so am I; thou knowest I
have my exaltation in thy house, I give him an herb of mine, Wormwood,
to cure the old man: Saturn consented, but spoke little, and so Mars
cured him by sympathy. When Mars was free from war, (for he loves to
be fighting, and is the best friend a soldier hath) I say, when Mars
was free from war, he called a council of war in his own brain, to know
how he should do poor sinful man good, desiring to forget his abuses in
being called an infortunate. He musters up his own forces, and places
them in battalia. Oh! quoth he, why do I hurt a poor silly man or
woman? His angel answers him, It is because they have offended their
God, (Look back to Adam:) Well, says Mars, though they speak evil of
me, I will do good to them; Death’s cold, my herb shall heat them: they
are full of ill humours (else they would never have spoken ill of me;)
my herb shall cleanse them, and dry them; they are poor weak creatures,
my herb shall strengthen them; they are dull witted, my herb shall
fortify their apprehensions; and yet among astrologers all this does
not deserve a good word: Oh the patience of Mars!
_Felix qui potuit rerum cognoscere caucas,
Inque domus superum scandere cura facit._
O happy he that can the knowledge gain,
To know the eternal God made nought in vain.
To this I add,
I know the reason causeth such a dearth
Of knowledge; ’tis because men love the earth.
The other day Mars told me he met with Venus, and he asked her, What
was the reason that she accused him for abusing women? He never gave
them the pox. In the dispute they fell out, and in anger parted, and
Mars told me that his brother Saturn told him, that an antivenerean
medicine was the best against the pox. Once a month he meets with the
Moon. Mars is quick enough of speech, and the Moon not much behind
hand, (neither are most women.) The Moon looks much after children, and
children are much troubled with the worms; she desired a medicine of
him, he bid her take his own herb, Wormwood. He had no sooner parted
with the Moon, but he met with Venus, and she was as drunk as a hog;
Alas! poor Venus, quoth he; What! thou a fortune, and be drunk? I’ll
give thee antipathetical cure; Take my herb Wormwood, and thou shall
never get a surfeit by drinking. A poor silly countryman hath got an
ague, and cannot go about his business: he wishes he had it not, and
so do I; but I will tell him a remedy, whereby he shall prevent it;
Take the herb of Mars, Wormwood, and if infortunes will do good, what
will fortunes do? Some think the lungs are under Jupiter; and if the
lungs then the breath; and though sometimes a man gets a stinking
breath, and yet Jupiter is a fortune, forsooth; up comes Mars to him;
Come brother Jupiter, thou knowest I sent thee a couple of trines to
thy house last night, the one from Aries, and the other from Scorpio;
give me thy leave by sympathy to cure this poor man with drinking a
draught of Wormwood beer every morning. The Moon was weak the other
day, and she gave a man two terrible mischiefs, a dull brain and a weak
sight; Mars laid by his sword, and comes to her; Sister Moon, said
he, this man hath angered thee, but I beseech thee take notice he is
but a fool; prithee be patient, I will with my herb wormwood cure him
of both infirmities by antipathy, for thou knowest thou and I cannot
agree; with that the Moon began to quarrel; Mars (not delighting much
in women’s tongues) went away, and did it whether she would or no.
He that reads this, and understands what he reads, hath a jewel of more
worth than a diamond; he that understands it not, is as little fit to
give physick. There lies a key in these words which will unlock, (if it
be turned by a wise hand) the cabinet of physick: I have delivered it
as plain as I durst; it is not only upon Wormwood as I wrote, but upon
all plants, trees, and herbs; he that understands it not, is unfit (in
my opinion) to give physic. This shall live when I am dead. And thus
I leave it to the world, not caring a farthing whether they like it
or dislike it. The grave equals all men, and therefore shall equal me
with all princes; until which time the eternal Providence is over me:
Then the ill tongue of a prating fellow, or one that hath more tongue
than wit, or more proud than honest, shall never trouble me. _Wisdom is
justified by her children._ And so much for Wormwood.
YARROW, CALLED NOSE-BLEED, MILFOIL
AND THOUSAND-LEAL.
_Descript._] IT hath many long leaves spread upon the ground, finely
cut, and divided into many small parts. Its flowers are white, but not
all of a whiteness and stayed in knots, upon divers green stalks which
rise from among the leaves.
_Place._] It is frequent in all pastures.
_Time._] It flowers late, even in the latter end of August.
_Government and virtues._] It is under the influence of Venus. An
ointment of them cures wounds, and is most fit for such as have
inflammations, it being an herb of Dame Venus; it stops the terms in
women, being boiled in white wine, and the decoction drank; as also the
bloody flux; the ointment of it is not only good for green wounds, but
also for ulcers and fistulas, especially such as abound with moisture.
It stays the shedding of hair, the head being bathed with the decoction
of it; inwardly taken it helps the retentive faculty of the stomach: it
helps the gonorrhea in men, and the whites in women, and helps such as
cannot hold their water; and the leaves chewed in the mouth eases the
tooth-ache, and these virtues being put together, shew the herb to be
drying and binding. Achilles is supposed to be the first that left the
virtues of this herb to posterity, having learned them of this master
Chiron, the Centaur; and certainly a very profitable herb it is in
cramps, and therefore called Militaris.
DIRECTIONS FOR MAKING SYRUPS, CONSERVES,
_&c._ _&c._
HAVING in divers places of this Treatise promised you the way of making
Syrups, Conserves, Oils, Ointments, &c., of herbs, roots, flowers, &c.
whereby you may have them ready for your use at such times when they
cannot be had otherwise; I come now to perform what I promised, and you
shall find me rather better than worse than my word.
That this may be done methodically, I shall divide my directions into
two grand sections, and each section into several chapters, and then
you shall see it look with such a countenance as this is.
SECTION I.
_Of gathering, drying, and keeping Simples, and their juices._
CHAP. I. _Of leaves of Herbs, &c._
CHAP. II. _Of Flowers._
CHAP. III. _Of Seeds._
CHAP. IV. _Of Roots._
CHAP. V. _Of Barks._
CHAP. VI. _Of Juices._
SECTION II.
_Of making and keeping Compounds._
CHAP. I. _Of distilled waters._
CHAP. II. _Of Syrups._
CHAP. III. _Of Juleps._
CHAP IV. _Of Decoctions._
CHAP. V. _Of Oils._
CHAP. VI. _Of Electuaries._
CHAP. VII. _Of Conserves._
CHAP. VIII. _Of Preserves._
CHAP. IX. _Of Lohochs._
CHAP. X. _Of Ointments._
CHAP. XI. _Of Plaisters._
CHAP. XII. _Of Poultices._
CHAP. XIII. _Of Troches._
CHAP. XIV. _Of Pills._
CHAP. XV. _The way of fitting Medicines to Compound Diseases._
Of all these in order.
CHAPTER I.
_Of Leaves of Herbs, or Trees._
1. OF leaves, choose only such as are green, and full of juice; pick
them carefully, and cast away such as are any way declining, for they
will putrify the rest: So shall one handful be worth ten of those you
buy at the physic herb shops.
2. Note what places they most delight to grow in, and gather them
there; for Betony that grows in the shade, is far better than that
which grows in the Sun, because it delights in the shade; so also such
herbs as delight to grow near the water, shall be gathered near it,
though happily you may find some of them upon dry ground: The Treatise
will inform you where every herb delights to grow.
3. The leaves of such herbs as run up to seed, are not so good when
they are in flower as before (some few excepted, the leaves of which
are seldom or never used) in such cases, if through ignorance they were
not known, or through negligence forgotten, you had better take the top
and the flowers, then the leaf.
4. Dry them well in the Sun, and not in the shade, as the saying of
physicians is; for if the sun draw away the virtues of the herb, it
must need do the like by hay, by the same rule, which the experience of
every country farmer will explode for a notable piece of nonsense.
5. Such as are artists in astrology, (and indeed none else are fit to
make physicians) such I advise; let the planet that governs the herb be
angular, and the stronger the better; if they can, in herbs of Saturn,
let Saturn be in the ascendant; in the herbs of Mars, let Mars be in
the mid heaven, for in those houses they delight; let the Moon apply to
them by good aspect, and let her not be in the houses of her enemies;
if you cannot well stay till she apply to them, let her apply to a
planet of the same triplicity; if you cannot wait that time neither,
let her be with a fixed star of their nature.
6. Having well dried them, put them up in brown paper, sewing the paper
up like a sack, and press them not too hard together, and keep them in
a dry place near the fire.
7. As for the duration of dried herbs, a just time cannot be given, let
authors prate their pleasure; for,
1st. Such as grow upon dry grounds will keep better than such as grow
on moist.
2dly, Such herbs as are full of juice, will not keep so long as such as
are drier.
3dly. Such herbs as are well dried, will keep longer than such as are
slack dried. Yet you may know when they are corrupted, by their loss of
colour, or smell, or both; and if they be corrupted, reason will tell
you that they must needs corrupt the bodies of those people that take
them.
4. Gather all leaves in the hour of that planet that governs them.
CHAPTER II.
_Of Flowers._
1. THE flower, which is the beauty of the plant, and of none of the
least use in physick, grows yearly, and is to be gathered when it is in
its prime.
2. As for the time of gathering them, let the planetary hour, and the
planet they come of, be observed, as we shewed you in the foregoing
chapter: as for the time of the day, let it be when the sun shine upon
them, that so they may be dry; for, if you gather either flowers or
herbs when they are wet or dewy, they will not keep.
3. Dry them well in the sun, and keep them in papers near the fire, as
I shewed you in the foregoing chapter.
4. So long as they retain the colour and smell, they are good; either
of them being gone, so is the virtue also.
CHAPTER III.
_Of Seeds._
1. THE seed is that part of the plant which is endowed with a vital
faculty to bring forth its like, and it contains potentially the whole
plant in it.
2. As for place, let them be gathered from the place where they delight
to grow.
3. Let them be full ripe when they are gathered; and forget not the
celestial harmony before mentioned, for I have found by experience that
their virtues are twice as great at such times as others: “There is an
appointed time for every thing under the sun.”
4. When you have gathered them, dry them a little, and but a little in
the sun, before you lay them up.
5. You need not be so careful of keeping them so near the fire, as
the other before-mentioned, because they are fuller of spirit, and
therefore not so subject to corrupt.
6. As for the time of their duration, it is palpable they will keep a
good many years; yet, they are best the first year, and this I make
appear by a good argument. They will grow sooner the first year they be
set, therefore then they are in their prime; and it is an easy matter
to renew them yearly.
CHAPTER IV.
_Of Roots._
1. OF roots, chuse such as are neither rotten nor worm-eaten, but
proper in their taste, colour, and smell; such as exceed neither in
softness nor hardness.
2. Give me leave to be a little critical against the vulgar received
opinion, which is, That the sap falls down into the roots in the
Autumn, and rises again in the Spring, as men go to bed at night, and
rise in the morning; and this idle talk of untruth is so grounded in
the heads, not only of the vulgar, but also of the learned, that a
man cannot drive it out by reason. I pray let such sapmongers answer
me this argument; If the sap falls into the roots in the fall of the
leaf, and lies there all the Winter, then must the root grow only in
the Winter. But the root grows not at all in the Winter, as experience
teaches, but only in the Summer: Therefore, If you set an apple-kernel
in the Spring, you shall find the root to grow to a pretty bigness in
the Summer, and be not a whit bigger next Spring. What doth the sap do
in the root all that while? Pick straws? ’Tis as rotten as a rotten
post.
The truth is, when the sun declines from the tropic of Cancer, the sap
begins to congeal both in root and branch; when he touches the tropic
of Capricorn, and ascends to us-ward, it begins to wax thin again, and
by degrees, as it congealed. But to proceed.
3. The drier time you gather the roots in, the better they are; for
they have the less excrementitious moisture in them.
4. Such roots as are soft, your best way is to dry in the sun, or else
hang them in the chimney corner upon a string; as for such as are hard,
you may dry them any where.
5. Such roots as are great, will keep longer than such as are small;
yet most of them will keep a year.
6. Such roots as are soft, it is your best way to keep them always near
the fire, and to take this general rule for it: If in Winter-time you
find any of your roots, herbs or flowers begin to be moist, as many
times you shall (for it is your best way to look to them once a month)
dry them by a very gentle fire; or, if you can with convenience keep
them near the fire, you may save yourself the labour.
7. It is in vain to dry roots that may commonly be had, as Parsley,
Fennel, Plantain, &c. but gather them only for present need.
CHAPTER V
_Of Barks._
1. BARKS, which physicians use in medicine, are of these sorts: Of
fruits, of roots, of boughs.
2. The barks of fruits are to be taken when the fruit is full ripe,
as Oranges, Lemons, &c. but because I have nothing to do with exotics
here, I pass them without any more words.
3. The barks of trees are best gathered in the Spring, if of oaks, or
such great trees; because then they come easier off, and so you may dry
them if you please; but indeed the best way is to gather all barks only
for present use.
4. As for the barks of roots, ’tis thus to be gotten. Take the roots of
such herbs as have a pith in them, as parsley, fennel, &c. slit them in
the middle, and when you have taken out the pith (which you may easily
do) that which remains is called (tho’ improperly) the bark, and indeed
is only to be used.
CHAPTER VI.
_Of Juices._
1. JUICES are to be pressed out of herbs when they are young and
tender, out of some stalks and tender tops of herbs and plants, and
also out of some flowers.
2. Having gathered the herb, would you preserve the juice of it, when
it is very dry (for otherwise the juice will not be worth a button)
bruise it very well in a stone mortar with a wooden pestle, then having
put it into a canvas bag, the herb I mean, not the mortar, for that
will give but little juice, press it hard in a press, then take the
juice and clarify it.
3. The manner of clarifying it is this: Put it into a pipkin or
skillet, or some such thing, and set it over the fire; and when the
scum arises, take it off; let it stand over the fire till no more scum
arise; when you have your juice clarified, cast away the scum as a
thing of no use.
4. When you have thus clarified it, you have two ways to preserve it
all the year.
(1.) When it is cold, put it into a glass, and put so much oil on it as
will cover it to the thickness of two fingers; the oil will swim at the
top, and so keep the air from coming to putrify it: When you intend to
use it, pour it into a porringer, and if any oil come out with it, you
may easily scum it off with a spoon, and put the juice you use not into
the glass again, it will quickly sink under the oil. This is the first
way.
(2.) The second way is a little more difficult, and the juice of fruits
is usually preserved this way. When you have clarified it, boil it over
the fire, till (being cold) it be of the thickness of honey; This is
most commonly used for diseases of the mouth, and is called Roba and
Saba. And thus much for the first section, the second follows.
SECTION II.
_The way of making and keeping all necessary Compounds._
CHAPTER V.
_Of distilled Waters._
HITHERTO we have spoken of medicines which consist in their own nature,
which authors vulgarly call Simples, though sometimes improperly; for
in truth, nothing is simple but pure elements; all things else are
compounded of them. We come now to treat of the artificial medicines,
in the form of which (because we must begin somewhere) we shall place
distilled waters in which consider,
1. Waters are distilled of herbs, flowers, fruits, and roots.
2. We treat not of strong waters, but of cold, as being to act Galen’s
part, and not Paracelsus’s.
3. The herbs ought to be distilled when they are in the greatest
vigour, and so ought the flowers also.
4. The vulgar way of distillations which people use, because they know
no better, is in a pewter still; and although distilled waters are the
weakest of artificial medicines, and good for little but mixtures of
other medicines, yet they are weaker by many degrees, than they would
be were they distilled in sand. If I thought it not impossible, to
teach you the way of distilling in sand, I would attempt it.
5. When you have distilled your water, put it into a glass, covered
over with a paper pricked full of holes, so that the excrementitious
and fiery vapours may exhale, which cause that settling in distilled
waters called the Mother, which corrupt them, then cover it close, and
keep it for your use.
6. Stopping distilled waters with a cork, makes them musty, and so
does paper, if it but touch the water: it is best to stop them with a
bladder, being first put in water, and bound over the top of the glass.
Such cold waters as are distilled in a pewter still (if well kept) will
endure a year; such as are distilled in sand, as they are twice as
strong, so they endure twice as long.
CHAPTER II.
_Of Syrups._
1. A SYRUP is a medicine of a liquid form, composed of infusion,
decoction and juice. And, 1. For the more grateful taste. 2. For the
better keeping of it: with a certain quantity of honey or sugar,
hereafter mentioned, boiled to the thickness of new honey.
2. You see at the first view, That this aphorism divides itself into
three branches, which deserve severally to be treated of, viz.
1. Syrups made by infusion.
2. Syrups made by decoction.
3. Syrups made by juice.
Of each of these, (for your instruction-sake, kind countrymen and
women) I speak a word or two apart.
1st, Syrups made by infusion, are usually made of flowers, and of such
flowers as soon lose their colour and strength by boiling, as roses,
violets, peach flowers, &c. They are thus made: Having picked your
flowers clean, to every pound of them add three pounds or three pints,
which you will (for it is all one) of spring water, made boiling hot;
first put your flowers into a pewter-pot, with a cover, and pour the
water on them; then shutting the pot, let it stand by the fire, to
keep hot twelve hours, and strain it out: (in such syrups as purge), as
damask roses, peach flowers, &c. the usual, and indeed the best way, is
to repeat this infusion, adding fresh flowers to the same liquor divers
times, that so it may be the stronger) having strained it out, put the
infusion into a pewter bason, or an earthen one well glazed, and to
every pint of it add two pounds of sugar, which being only melted over
the fire, without boiling, and scummed, will produce you the syrup you
desire.
2dly, Syrups made by decoction are usually made of compounds, yet may
any simple herb be thus converted into syrup: Take the herb, root,
or flowers you would make into a syrup, and bruise it a little; then
boil it in a convenient quantity of spring water; the more water you
boil it in, the weaker it will be; a handful of the herb or root is a
convenient quantity for a pint of water, boil it till half the water
be consumed, then let it stand till it be almost cold, and strain
it through a woollen cloth, letting it run out at leisure: without
pressing. To every pint of this decoction add one pound of sugar, and
boil it over the fire till it come to a syrup, which you may know, if
you now and then cool a little of it with a spoon: Scum it all the
while it boils, and when it is sufficiently boiled, whilst it is hot,
strain it again through a woollen cloth, but press it not. Thus you
have the syrup perfected.
3dly, Syrups made of juice, are usually made of such herbs as are full
of juice, and indeed they are better made into a syrup this way than
any other; the operation is thus: Having beaten the herb in a stone
mortar, with a wooden pestle, press out the juice, and clarify it, as
you are taught before in the juices; then let the juice boil away till
about a quarter of it be consumed; to a pint of this add a pound of
sugar, and when it is boiled, strain it through a woollen cloth, as we
taught you before, and keep it for your use.
3. If you make a syrup of roots that are any thing hard, as parsley,
fennel, and grass roots, &c. when you have bruised them, lay them in
steep some time in that water which you intend to boil them in hot, so
will the virtue the better come out.
4. Keep your syrups either in glasses or stone pots, and stop them not
with cork nor bladder, unless you would have the glass break, and the
syrup lost, only bind paper about the mouth.
5. All syrups, if well made, continue a year with some advantage; yet
such as are made by infusion, keep shortest.
CHAPTER III.
_Of Juleps._
1. JULEPS were first invented, as I suppose, in Arabia; and my reason
is, because the word Julep is an Arabic word.
2. It signifies only a pleasant potion, as is vulgarly used by such as
are sick, and want help, or such as are in health, and want no money
to quench thirst.
3. Now-a-day it is commonly used—
1. To prepare the body for purgation.
2. To open obstructions and the pores.
3. To digest tough humours.
4. To qualify hot distempers, &c.
4. Simple Juleps, (for I have nothing to say to compounds here) are
thus made; Take a pint of such distilled water, as conduces to the cure
of your distemper, which this treatise will plentifully furnish you
with, to which add two ounces of syrup, conducing to the same effect;
(I shall give you rules for it in the next chapter) mix them together,
and drink a draught of it at your pleasure. If you love tart things,
add ten drops of oil of vitriol to your pint, and shake it together,
and it will have a fine grateful taste.
5. All juleps are made for present use; and therefore it is in vain to
speak of their duration.
CHAPTER IV.
_Of Decoctions._
1. ALL the difference between decoctions, and syrups made by decoction,
is this; Syrups are made to keep, decoctions only for present use; for
you can hardly keep a decoction a week at any time; if the weather be
hot, not half so long.
2. Decoctions are made of leaves, roots, flowers, seeds, fruits or
barks, conducing to the cure of the disease you make them for; are made
in the same manner as we shewed you in syrups.
3. Decoctions made with wine last longer than such as are made with
water; and if you take your decoction to cleanse the passages of the
urine, or open obstructions, your best way is to make it with white
wine instead of water, because this is penetrating.
4. Decoctions are of most use in such diseases as lie in the passages
of the body, as the stomach, bowels, kidneys, passages of urine and
bladder, because decoctions pass quicker to those places than any other
form of medicines.
5. If you will sweeten your decoction with sugar, or any syrup fit for
the occasion you take it for, which is better, you may, and no harm.
6. If in a decoction, you boil both roots, herbs, flowers, and seed
together, let the roots boil a good while first, because they retain
their virtue longest; then the next in order by the same rule, _viz._
1. Barks. 2. The herbs. 3. The seeds. 4. The flowers. 5. The spices, if
you put any in, because their virtues come soonest out.
7. Such things as by boiling cause sliminess to a decoction, as figs,
quince-seed, linseed, &c. your best way is, after you have bruised
them, to tie them up in a linen rag, as you tie up calf’s brains, and
so boil them.
8. Keep all decoctions in a glass close stopped, and in the cooler
place you keep them, the longer they will last ere they be sour.
Lastly, The usual dose to be given at one time, is usually two, three,
four, or five ounces, according to the age and strength of the patient,
the season of the year, the strength of the medicine, and the quality
of the disease.
CHAPTER V.
_Of Oils._
1. OIL Olive, which is commonly known by the name of Sallad Oil, I
suppose, because it is usually eaten with sallads by them that love it,
if it be pressed out of ripe olives, according to Galen, is temperate,
and exceeds in no one quality.
2. Of oils, some are simple, and some are compound.
3 Simple oils, are such as are made of fruits or seeds by expression,
as oil of sweet and bitter almonds, linseed and rape-seed oil, &c. of
which see in my Dispensatory.
4. Compound oils, are made of oil of olives, and other simples, imagine
herbs, flowers, roots, &c.
5. The way of making them is this: Having bruised the herbs or flowers
you would make your oil of, put them into an earthen pot, and to two or
three handfuls of them pour a pint of oil, cover the pot with a paper,
set it in the sun about a fortnight or so, according as the sun is in
hotness; then having warmed it very well by the fire, press out the
herb, &c. very hard in a press, and add as many more herbs to the same
oil; bruise the herbs (I mean not the oil) in like manner, set them in
the sun as before; the oftener you repeat this, the stronger your oil
will be; At last when you conceive it strong enough, boil both herbs
and oil together, till the juice be consumed, which you may know by its
bubbling, and the herbs will be crisp; then strain it while it is hot,
and keep it in a stone or glass vessel for your use.
6. As for chymical oils, I have nothing to say here.
7. The general use of these oils, is for pains in the limbs, roughness
of the skin, the itch, &c. as also for ointments and plaisters.
8. If you have occasion to use it for wounds or ulcers, in two ounces
of oil, dissolve half an ounce of turpentine, the heat of the fire
will quickly do it; for oil itself is offensive to wounds, and the
turpentine qualifies it.
CHAPTER VI.
_Of Electuaries._
PHYSICIANS make more a quoil than needs by half, about electuaries.
I shall prescribe but one general way of making them up; as for
ingredients, you may vary them as you please, and as you find
occasion, by the last chapter.
1. That you may make electuaries when you need them, it is requisite
that you keep always herbs, roots, flowers, seeds, &c. ready dried in
your house, that so you may be in a readiness to beat them into powder
when you need them.
2. It is better to keep them whole than beaten; for being beaten,
they are more subject to lose their strength; because the air soon
penetrates them.
3. If they be not dry enough to beat into powder when you need them,
dry them by a gentle fire till they are so.
4. Having beaten them, sift them through a fine tiffany searce, that no
great pieces may be found in your electuary.
5. To one ounce of your powder add three ounces of clarified honey;
this quantity I hold to be sufficient. If you would make more or less
electuary, vary your proportion accordingly.
6. Mix them well together in a mortar, and take this for a truth, you
cannot mix them too much.
7. The way to clarify honey, is to set it over the fire in a convenient
vessel, till the scum rise, and when the scum is taken off, it is
clarified.
8. The usual dose of cordial electuaries, is from half a dram to two
drams; of purging electuaries, from half an ounce to an ounce.
9. The manner of keeping them is in a pot.
10. The time of taking them, is either in a morning fasting, and
fasting an hour after them; or at night going to bed, three or four
hours after supper.
CHAPTER VII.
_Of Conserves._
1. THE way of making conserves is two-fold, one of herbs and flowers,
and the other of fruits.
2. Conserves of herbs and flowers, are thus made: if you make your
conserves of herbs, as of scurvy-grass, wormwood, rue, and the like,
take only the leaves and tender tops (for you may beat your heart out
before you can beat the stalks small) and having beaten them, weigh
them, and to every pound of them add three pounds of sugar, you cannot
beat them too much.
3. Conserves of fruits, as of barberries, sloes and the like, is thus
made: First, Scald the fruit, then rub the pulp through a thick hair
sieve made for the purpose, called a pulping sieve; you may do it for a
need with the back of a spoon: then take this pulp thus drawn, and add
to it its weight of sugar, and no more; put it into a pewter vessel,
and over a charcoal fire; stir it up and down till the sugar be melted,
and your conserve is made.
4. Thus you have the way of making conserves; the way of keeping them
is in earthen pots.
5. The dose is usually the quantity of a nutmeg at a time morning and
evening, or (unless they are purging) when you please.
6. Of conserves, some keep many years, as conserves of roses: others
but a year, as conserves of Borage, Bugloss, Cowslips and the like.
7. Have a care of the working of some conserves presently after they
are made; look to them once a day, and stir them about; conserves of
Borage, Bugloss, Wormwood, have got an excellent faculty at that sport.
8. You may know when your conserves are almost spoiled by this; you
shall find a hard crust at top with little holes in it, as though worms
had been eating there.
CHAPTER VIII.
_Of Preserves._
OF Preserves are sundry sorts, and the operation of all being somewhat
different, we will handle them all apart. These are preserved with
sugar:
1. Flowers.
2. Fruits.
3. Roots.
4. Barks.
1. Flowers are very seldom preserved; I never saw any that I remember,
save only cowslip flowers, and that was a great fashion in Sussex when
I was a boy. It is thus done, Take a flat glass, we call them jat
glasses; strew on a laying of fine sugar, on that a laying of flowers,
and on that another laying of sugar, on that another laying of flowers,
so do till your glass be full; then tie it over with a paper, and in a
little time, you shall have very excellent and pleasant preserves.
There is another way of preserving flowers; namely, with vinegar and
salt, as they pickle capers and broom-buds; but as I have little skill
in it myself, I cannot teach you.
2. Fruits, as quinces, and the like, are preserved two ways;
(1.) Boil them well in water, and then pulp them through a sieve, as
we shewed you before; then with the like quantity of sugar, boil the
water they were boiled in into a syrup, viz. a pound of sugar to a pint
of liquor; to every pound of this syrup, add four ounces of the pulp;
then boil it with a very gentle fire to their right consistence, which
you may easily know if you drop a drop of it upon a trencher; if it be
enough, it will not stick to your fingers when it is cold.
(2.) Another way to preserve fruits is this; First, Pare off the rind;
then cut them in halves, and take out the core: then boil them in water
till they are soft; if you know when beef is boiled enough, you may
easily know when they are; Then boil the water with its like weight of
sugar into a syrup; put the syrup into a pot, and put the boiled fruit
as whole as you left it when you cut it into it, and let it remain
until you have occasion to use it.
3. Roots are thus preserved; First, Scrape them very clean, and cleanse
them from the pith, if they have any, for some roots have not, as
Eringo and the like; Boil them in water till they be soft, as we shewed
you before in the fruits; then boil the water you boiled the root in
into a syrup, as we shewed you before; then keep the root whole in the
syrup till you use them.
4. As for barks, we have but few come to our hands to be done, and of
those the few that I can remember, are, oranges, lemons, citrons, and
the outer bark of walnuts, which grow without-side the shell, for the
shells themselves would make but scurvy preserves; these be they I can
remember, if there be any more put them into the number.
The way of preserving these, is not all one in authors, for some are
bitter, some are hot; such as are bitter, say authors, must be soaked
in warm water, oftentimes changing till their bitter taste be fled; But
I like not this way and my reason is this; Because I doubt when their
bitterness is gone, so is their virtue also; I shall then prescribe one
common way, namely, the same with the former, _viz._ First, boil them
whole till they be soft, then make a syrup with sugar and the liquor
you boil them in, and keep the barks in the syrup.
5. They are kept in glasses or in glaz’d pots.
6. The preserved flowers will keep a year, if you can forbear eating of
them; the roots and barks much longer.
7. This art was plainly and first invented for delicacy, yet came
afterwards to be of excellent use in physic; For,
(1.) Hereby medicines are made pleasant for sick and squeamish
stomachs, which else would loath them.
(2.) Hereby they are preserved from decaying a long time.
CHAPTER IX.
_Of Lohocks._
1. THAT which the Arabians call Lohocks, and the Greeks Eclegma, the
Latins call Linctus, and in plain English signifies nothing else but a
thing to be licked up.
2. They are in body thicker than a syrup, and not so thick as an
electuary.
3. The manner of taking them is, often to take a little with a
liquorice stick, and let it go down at leisure.
4. They are easily thus made; Make a decoction of pectoral herbs, and
the treatise will furnish you with enough, and when you have strained
it, with twice its weight of honey or sugar, boil it to a lohock; if
you are molested with much phlegm, honey is better than sugar; and if
you add a little vinegar to it, you will do well; if not, I hold sugar
to be better than honey.
5. It is kept in pots, and may be kept a year and longer.
6. It is excellent for roughness of the wind-pipe, inflammations and
ulcers of the lungs, difficulty of breathing, asthmas, coughs, and
distillation of humours.
CHAPTER X.
_Of Ointments._
1. VARIOUS are the ways of making ointments, which authors have left
to posterity, which I shall omit, and quote one which is easiest to
be made, and therefore most beneficial to people that are ignorant in
physic, for whose sake I write this. It is thus done:
Bruise those herbs, flowers, or roots, you will make an ointment of,
and to two handfuls of your bruised herbs add a pound of hog’s grease
dried, or cleansed from the skins, beat them very well together in a
stone mortar with a wooden pestle, then put it into a stone pot, (the
herb and grease I mean, not the mortar,) cover it with a paper and set
it either in the sun, or some other warm place; three, four, or five
days, that it may melt; then take it out and boil it a little; then
whilst it is hot, strain it out, pressing it out very hard in a press:
to this grease add as many more herbs bruised as before; let them stand
in like manner as long, then boil them as you did the former; If you
think your ointment is not strong enough, you may do it the third and
fourth time; yet this I will tell you, the fuller of juice the herbs
are, the sooner will your ointment be strong; the last time you boil
it, boil it so long till your herbs be crisp, and the juice consumed,
then strain it pressing it hard in a press, and to every pound of
ointment add two ounces of turpentine, and as much wax, because grease
is offensive to wounds, as well as oil.
2. Ointments are vulgarly known to be kept in pots, and will last above
a year, some above two years.
CHAPTER XI.
_Of Plaisters._
1. THE Greeks made their plaisters of divers simples, and put metals
into the most of them, if not all; for having reduced their metals into
powder, they mixed them with that fatty substance whereof the rest of
the plaister consisted, whilst it was thus hot, continually stirring
it up and down, lest it should sink to the bottom; so they continually
stirred it till it was stiff; then they made it up in rolls, which when
they needed for use, they could melt by the fire again.
2. The Arabians made up theirs with oil and fat, which needed not so
long boiling.
3. The Greeks emplaisters consisted of these ingredients, metals,
stones, divers sorts of earth, feces, juices, liquors, seeds, roots,
herbs, excrements of creatures, wax, rosin, gums.
CHAPTER XII.
_Of Poultices._
1. POULTICES are those kind of things which the Latins call
_Cataplasmata_, and our learned fellows, that if they can read English,
that’s all, call them Cataplasms, because ’tis a crabbed word few
understand; it is indeed a very fine kind of medicine to ripen sores.
2. They are made of herbs and roots, fitted for the disease, and
members afflicted, being chopped small, and boiled in water almost to
a jelly; then by adding a little barleymeal, or meal of lupins, and a
little oil, or rough sweet suet, which I hold to be better, spread upon
a cloth and apply to the grieved places.
3. Their use is to ease pain, to break sores, to cool inflammations,
to dissolve hardness, to ease the spleen, to concoct humours, and
dissipate swellings.
4. I beseech you take this caution along with you; Use no poultices (if
you can help it) that are of an healing nature, before you have first
cleansed the body, because they are subject to draw the humours to them
from every part of the body.
CHAPTER XIII.
_Of Troches._
1. THE Latins call them _Placentula_, or little cakes, and the Greeks
_Prochikois_, _Kukliscoi_, and _Artiscoi_; they are usually little
round flat cakes, or you may make them square if you will.
2. Their first invention was, that powders being so kept might resist
the intermission of air, and so endure pure the longer.
3. Besides, they are easier carried in the pockets of such as travel;
as many a man (for example) is forced to travel whose stomach is too
cold, or at least not so hot as it should be, which is most proper,
for the stomach is never cold till a man be dead; in such a case, it
is better to carry troches of wormwood, or galangal, in a paper in his
pocket, than to lay a gallipot along with him.
4. They are made thus; At night when you go to bed, take two drams of
fine gum tragacanth; put it into a gallipot, and put half a quarter of
a pint of any distilled water fitting for the purpose you would make
your troches for to cover it, and the next morning you shall find it in
such a jelly as the physicians call mucilage; With this you may (with
a little pains taken) make a powder into a paste, and that paste into
cakes called troches.
5. Having made them, dry them in the shade, and keep them in a pot for
your use.
CHAPTER XIV.
_Of Pills._
1. THEY are called _Pilulæ_, because they resemble little balls; the
Greeks call them _Catapotia_.
2. It is the opinion of modern physicians, that this way of making
medicines, was invented only to deceive the palate, that so by
swallowing them down whole, the bitterness of the medicine might not be
perceived, or at least it might not be unsufferable: and indeed most of
their pills, though not all, are very bitter.
3. I am of a clean contrary opinion to this. I rather think they
were done up in this hard form, that so they might be the longer in
digesting; and my opinion is grounded upon reason too, not upon fancy,
or hearsay. The first invention of pills was to purge the head, now, as
I told you before, such infirmities as lie near the passages were best
removed by decoctions, because they pass to the grieved part soonest;
so here, if the infirmity lies in the head, or any other remote part,
the best way is to use pills, because they are longer in digestion,
and therefore the better able to call the offending humour to them.
4. If I should tell you here a long tale of medicine working by
sympathy and antipathy, you would not understand a word of it: They
that are set to make physicians may find it in the treatise. All modern
physicians know not what belongs to a sympathetical cure, no more than
a cuckow what belongs to flats and sharps in music, but follow the
vulgar road, and call it a hidden quality, because ’tis hidden from the
eyes of dunces, and indeed none but astrologers can give a reason for
it; and physic without reason is like a pudding without fat.
5. The way to make pills is very easy, for with the help of a pestle
and mortar, and a little diligence, you may make any powder into pills,
either with syrup, or the jelly I told you before.
CHAPTER XV.
_The way of mixing Medicines according to the Cause of the
Disease, and Parts of the Body afflicted._
THIS being indeed the key of the work, I shall be somewhat the more
diligent in it. I shall deliver myself thus;
1. To the Vulgar.
2. To such as study Astrology; or such as study physic astrologically.
1st, To the Vulgar. Kind souls, I am sorry it hath been your hard
mishap to have been so long trained in such Egyptian darkness which to
your sorrow may be felt; The vulgar road of physic is not my practice,
and I am therefore the more unfit to give you advice. I have now
published a little book, (_Galen’s Art of Physic_,) which will fully
instruct you, not only in the knowledge of your own bodies, but also
in fit medicines to remedy each part of it when afflicted; in the mean
season take
1. With the disease, regard the cause, and the part of the body
afflicted; for example, suppose a woman be subject to miscarry, through
wind, thus do;
(1.) Look Abortion in the table of diseases, and you shall be directed
by that, how many herbs prevent miscarriage.
(2.) Look Wind in the same table, and you shall see how many of these
herbs expel wind.
These are the herbs medicinal for your grief.
2. In all diseases strengthen the part of the body afflicted.
3. In mix’d diseases there lies some difficulty, for sometimes two
parts of the body are afflicted with contrary humours, as sometimes the
liver is afflicted with choler and water, as when a man hath both the
dropsy and the yellow-jaundice; and this is usually mortal.
In the former, Suppose the brain be too cool and moist, and the liver
be too hot and dry; thus do;
1. Keep your head outwardly warm.
2. Accustom yourself to the smell of hot herbs.
3. Take a pill that heats the head at night going to bed.
4. In the morning take a decoction that cools the liver, for that
quickly passes the stomach, and is at the liver immediately.
You must not think, courteous people, that I can spend time to give you
examples of all diseases; These are enough to let you see so much light
as you without art are able to receive; If I should set you to look at
the sun, I should dazzle your eyes, and make you blind.
2dly, To such as study Astrology, (who are the only men I know that are
fit to study physic, physic without astrology being like a lamp without
oil) you are the men I exceedingly respect, and such documents as my
brain can give you at present (being absent from my study) I shall give
you.
1. Fortify the body with herbs of the nature of the Lord of the
Ascendant, ’tis no matter whether he be a Fortune or Infortune in this
case.
2. Let your medicine be something antipathetical to the Lord of the
sixth.
3. Let your medicine be something of the nature of the sign ascending.
4. If the Lord of the Tenth be strong, make use of his medicines.
5. If this cannot well be, make use of the medicines of the Light of
Time.
6. Be sure always to fortify the grieved part of the body by
sympathetical remedies.
7. Regard the heart, keep that upon the wheels, because the Sun is the
foundation of life, and therefore those universal remedies, _Aurum
Potabile_, and the Philosopher’s Stone, cure all diseases by fortifying
the heart.
THE
ENGLISH PHYSICIAN
AND
FAMILY DISPENSATORY.
AN ASTROLOGO-PHYSICAL DISCOURSE OF THE HUMAN VIRTUES IN THE BODY OF
MAN; BOTH PRINCIPAL AND ADMINISTERING.
HUMAN virtues are either PRINCIPAL for _procreation, and conservation_;
or ADMINISTRING, for _Attraction, Digestion, Retention, or Expulsion_.
* * * * *
Virtues _conservative_, are Vital, Natural, and Animal.
By the _natural_ are bred Blood, Choler, Flegm, and Melancholy.
The _animal virtue_ is Intellective, and Sensitive.
The _Intellective_ is Imagination, Judgment, and Memory.
The _sensitive_ is Common, and Particular.
The _particular_ is Seeing, Hearing, Smelling, Tasting, and Feeling.
THE scope of this discourse is, To preserve in soundness and vigour,
the mind and understanding of man; to strengthen the brain, preserve
the body in health, to teach a man to be an able co-artificer, or
helper of nature, to withstand and expel Diseases.
I shall touch only the principal faculties both of body and mind; which
being kept in a due decorum, preserve the body in health, and the mind
in vigour.
I shall in this place speak of them only in the general, as they are
laid down to your view in the _Synopsis_, in the former pages, and in
the same order.
_Virtue Procreative._] The first in order, is the Virtue Procreative:
for natural regards not only the conservation of itself, but to beget
its like, and conserve in _Species_.
The seat of this is the Member of Generation, and is governed
principally by the influence of _Venus_.
It is augmented and encreased by the strength of _Venus_, by her Herbs,
Roots, Trees, Minerals, &c.
It is diminished and purged by those of _Mars_, and quite extinguished
by those of _Saturn_.
Observe the hour and Medicines of _Venus_, to fortify; of _Mars_, to
cleanse this virtue; of _Saturn_, to extinguish it.
_Conservative._] The conservative virtue is Vital, Natural, Animal.
_Vital._] The Vital spirit hath its residence in the heart, and is
dispersed from it by the Arteries; and is governed by the influence
of the Sun. And it is to the body, as the Sun is to the Creation; as
the heart is in the _Microcosm_, so is the Sun in the _Megacosm_: for
as the Sun gives life, light, and motion to the Creation, so doth the
heart to the body; therefore it is called _Sol Corporis_, as the Sun is
called _Cor Cœli_, because their operations are similar.
Inimical and destructive to this virtue, are _Saturn_ and _Mars_.
The Herbs and Plants of _Sol_, wonderfully fortify it.
_Natural._] The natural faculty or virtue resides in the liver, and is
generally governed by _Jupiter_, _Quasi Juvans Pater_; its office is to
nourish the body, and is dispersed through the body by the veins.
From this are bred four particular humours, _Blood, Choler, Flegm, and
Melancholy_.
_Blood_ is made of meat perfectly concocted, in quality hot and moist,
governed by _Jupiter_: It is by a third concoction transmuted into
flesh, the superfluity of it into seed, and its receptacle is the
veins, by which it is dispersed through the body.
_Choler_ is made of meat more than perfectly concocted; and it is
the spume or froth of blood: it clarifies all the humours, heats the
body, nourishes the apprehension, as blood doth the judgment: It is in
quality hot and dry; fortifies the attractive faculty, as blood doth
the digestive; moves man to activity and valour: its receptacle is the
gall, and it is under the influence of _Mars_.
_Flegm_ is made of meat not perfectly digested; it fortifies the virtue
expulsive, makes the body slippery, fit for ejection; it fortifies the
brain by its consimilitude with it; yet it spoils apprehension by its
antipathy to it: It qualifies choler, cools and moistens the heart,
thereby sustaining it, and the whole body, from the fiery effects,
which continual motion would produce. Its receptacle is the lungs,
and is governed by _Venus_, some say by the _Moon_, perhaps it may be
governed by them both, it is cold and moist in quality.
_Melancholy_ is the sediment of blood, cold and dry in quality,
fortifying the retentive faculty, and memory; makes men sober, solid,
and staid, fit for study; stays the unbridled toys of lustful blood,
stays the wandering thoughts, and reduces them home to the centre: its
receptacle is in the spleen, and it is governed by _Saturn_.
Of all these humours blood is the chief, all the rest are superfluities
of blood; yet are they necessary superfluities, for without any of
them, man cannot live.
Namely; Choler is the fiery superfluities; Flegm, the Watery;
Melancholy, the Earthly.
_Animal._] The third principal virtue remains, which is Animal; its
residence is in the brain, and _Mercury_ is the general significator of
it. _Ptolomy_ held the _Moon_ signified the Animal virtue; and I am of
opinion, both _Mercury_ and the _Moon_ dispose it; and my reason is,
1, Because both of them in nativities, either fortify, or impedite it.
2, Ill directions to either, or from either, afflict it, as good ones
help it. Indeed the _Moon_ rules the bulk of it, as also the sensitive
part of it: _Mercury_ the rational part: and that’s the reason, if in
a nativity the _Moon_ be stronger than _Mercury_, sense many times
over-powers reason; but if _Mercury_ be strong, and the _Moon_ weak,
reason will be master ordinarily in despite of sense.
It is divided into Intellective, and Sensitive.
1. _Intellective._] The Intellectual resides in the brain, within the
_Pia mater_, is governed generally by _Mercury_.
It is divided into Imagination, Judgment, and Memory.
_Imagination_ is seated in the forepart of the brain; it is hot and
dry in quality, quick, active, always working; it receives vapours
from the heart, and coins them into thoughts: it never sleeps, but
always is working, both when the man is sleeping and waking; only when
Judgment is awake it regulates the Imagination, which runs at random
when Judgment is asleep, and forms any thought according to the nature
of the vapour sent up to it. _Mercury_ is out of question the disposer
of it.
A man may easily perceive his Judgment asleep before himself many
times, and then he shall perceive his thoughts run at random.
Judgment always sleeps when men do, Imagination never sleeps; Memory
sometimes sleeps when men sleep, and sometimes it doth not: so then
when memory is awake, and the man asleep, then memory remembers what
apprehension coins, and that is a dream: The thoughts would have been
the same, if memory had not been awake to remember it.
These thoughts are commonly (I mean in sleep, when they are purely
natural,) framed according to the nature of the humour, called
complexion, which is predominate in the body; and if the humour be
peccant it is always so.
So that it is one of the surest rules to know a man’s own complexion,
by his dreams, I mean a man void of distractions, or deep studies:
(this most assuredly shews _Mercury_ to dispose of the Imagination,
as also because it is mutable, applying itself to any object, as
_Mercury’s_ nature is to do;) for then the imagination will follow its
old bent; for if a man be bent upon a business, his apprehension will
work as much when he is asleep, and find out as many truths by study,
as when the man is awake; and perhaps more too, because then it is not
hindered by ocular objects.
And thus much for imagination, which is governed by _Mercury_, and
fortified by his influence; and is also strong or weak in man,
according as _Mercury_ is strong or weak in the nativity.
_Judgment_ is seated in the midst of the brain, to shew that it ought
to bear rule over all the other faculties: it is the judge of the
little world, to approve of what is good, and reject what is bad; it is
the seat of reason, and the guide of actions; so that all failings are
committed through its infirmity, it not rightly judging between a real
and an apparent good. It is hot and moist in quality, and under the
influence of _Jupiter_.
_Memory_ is seated in the hinder cell of the brain, it is the great
register to the little world; and its office is to record things either
done and past, or to be done.
It is in quality cold and dry, melancholic, and therefore generally
melancholic men have best memories, and most tenacious every way. It is
under the dominion of _Saturn_, and is fortified by his influence, but
purged by the luminaries.
2. _Sensitive._] The second part of the animal virtue, is sensitive,
and it is divided into two parts, common and particular.
Common sense is an imaginary term, and that which gives virtue to all
the particular senses, and knits and unites them together within the
_Pia Mater_. It is regulated by _Mercury_, (perhaps this is one reason
why men are so fickle-headed) and its office is to preserve a harmony
among the senses.
Particular senses are five, _viz._ _seeing, hearing, smelling, tasting,
and feeling_.
These senses are united in one, in the brain, by the common sense, but
are operatively distinguished into their several seats, and places of
residence.
The _sight_ resides in the eyes, and particularly in the christaline
humour. It is in quality cold and moist, and governed by the
luminaries. They who have them weak in their genesis, have always weak
sights; if one of them be so, the weakness possesses but one eye.
The _hearing_ resides in the ears; is in quality, cold and dry,
melancholy, and under the dominion of _Saturn_.
The _smelling_ resides in the nose, is in quality hot and dry,
choleric, and that is the reason choleric creatures have so good
smells, as dogs. It is under the influence of _Mars_.
The _taste_ resides in the palate, which is placed at the root of the
tongue on purpose to discern what food is congruous for the stomach,
and what not; as the meseraik veins are placed to discern what
nourishment is proper for the liver to convert into blood. In some very
few men, and but a few, and in those few, but in few instances these
two tasters agree not, and that is the reason some men covet meats that
make them sick, _viz._ the taste craves them, and the meseraik veins
reject them: In quality hot and moist, and is ruled by _Jupiter_.
The _feeling_ is deputed to no particular organ, but is spread abroad,
over the whole body; is of all qualities, hot, cold, dry, and moist,
and is the index of all tangible things; for if it were only hot alone,
it could not feel a quality contrary, _viz._ cold, and this might be
spoken of other qualities. It is under the dominion of _Venus_, some
say, _Mercury_: A thousand to one, but it is under _Mercury_.
The four ADMINISTERING VIRTUES are, _attractive, digestive, retentive,
and expulsive_.
The _attractive_ virtue is hot and dry, hot by quality, active, or
principal, and that appears because the fountain of all heat is
attractive, _viz._ the sun. Dry by a quality passive, or an effect of
its heat; its office is to remain in the body, and call for what nature
wants.
It is under the influence of the _Sun_, say authors, and not under
_Mars_, because he is of a corrupting nature, yet if we cast an
impartial eye upon experience, we shall find, that martial men call
for meat none of the least, and for drink the most of all other men,
although many times they corrupt the body by it, and therefore I see
no reason why _Mars_ being of the same quality with the _Sun_, should
not have a share in the dominion. It is in vain to object, that the
influence of _Mars_ is evil, and therefore he should have no dominion
over this virtue; for then,
1. By the same rule, he should have no dominion at all in the body of
man.
2. All the virtues in man are naturally evil, and corrupted by _Adam’s_
fall.
This _attractive_ virtue ought to be fortified when the _Moon_ is in
fiery signs, _viz._ _Aries_ and _Sagitary_, but not in _Leo_, for the
sign is so violent, that no physic ought to be given when the _Moon_ is
there: (and why not _Leo_, seeing that is the most attractive sign of
all; and that’s the reason such as have it ascending in their genesis,
are such greedy eaters.) If you cannot stay till the _Moon_ be in one
of them, let one of them ascend when you administer the medicine.
The _digestive_ virtue is hot and moist, and is the principal of them
all, the other like handmaids attend it.
The _attractive_ virtue draws that which it should digest, and serves
continually to feed and supply it.
The _retentive_ virtue, retains the substance with it, till it be
perfectly digested.
The _expulsive_ virtue casteth out, expels what is superfluous by
digestion. It is under the influence of _Jupiter_, and fortified by his
herbs and plants, &c. In fortifying it, let your _Moon_ be in _Gemini_,
_Aquary_, or the first half of _Libra_, or if matters be come to that
extremity, that you cannot stay till that time, let one of them ascend,
but both of them together would do better, always provided that the
_Moon_ be not in the ascendent. I cannot believe the _Moon_ afflicts
the ascendent so much as they talk of, if she be well dignified, and in
a sign she delights in.
The _retentive_ virtue is in quality cold and dry; cold, because the
nature of cold is to compress, witness the ice; dry, because the nature
of dryness, is to keep and hold what is compressed. It is under the
influence of _Saturn_, and that is the reason why usually Saturnine men
are so covetous and tenacious. In fortifying of it, make use of the
herbs and plants, &c. of _Saturn_, and let the _Moon_ be in _Taurus_
or _Virgo_, _Capricorn_ is not so good, say authors, (I can give no
reason for that neither;) let not _Saturn_ nor his ill aspect molest
the ascendent.
The _expulsive_ faculty is cold and moist; cold because that compasses
the superfluities; moist, because that makes the body slippery and
fit for ejection, and disposes it to it. It is under the dominion of
_Luna_, with whom you may join _Venus_, because she is of the same
nature.
Also in whatsoever is before written, of the nature of the planets,
take notice, that fixed stars of the same nature, work the same effect.
In fortifying this, (which ought to be done in all purgations,) let
the _Moon_ be in _Cancer_, _Scorpio_, or _Pisces_, or let one of these
signs ascend.
_Although I did what I could throughout the whole book to express
myself in such a language as might be understood by all, and therefore
avoided terms of art as much as might be, Yet, 1. Some words of
necessity fall in which need explanation. 2. It would be very tedious
at the end of every receipt to repeat over and over again, the way of
administration of the receipt, or ordering your bodies after it, or to
instruct you in the mixture of medicines, and indeed would do nothing
else but stuff the book full of tautology._
_To answer to both these is my task at this time._
_To the first: The words which need explaining, such as are obvious to
my eye, are these that follow._
_1. To distil in _Balneo Mariæ_, is the usual way of distilling
in water. It is no more than to place your glass body which holds the
matter to be distilled in a convenient vessel of water, when the water
is cold (for fear of breaking) put a wisp of straw, or the like under
it, to keep it from the bottom, then make the water boil, that so the
spirit may be distilled forth; take not the glass out till the water be
cold again, for fear of breaking: It is impossible for a man to learn
how to do it, unless he saw it done._
2. _Manica Hippocrates_, Hippocrates’s sleeve, is a piece of woolen
cloth, new and white, sewed together in form of a sugar-loaf. Its use
is, to strain any syrup or decoction through, by pouring it into it,
and suffering it to run through without pressing or crushing it.
3. _Calcination_, is a burning of a thing in a crucible or other such
convenient vessel that will endure the fire. A crucible is such a thing
as goldsmiths melt silver in, and founders metals; you may place it in
the midst of the fire, with coals above, below, and on every side of it.
4. _Filtrition_, is straining of a liquid body through a brown paper:
make up the paper in form of a funnel, the which having placed in a
funnel, and the funnel and the paper in it in an empty glass, pour in
the liquor you would filter, and let it run through at its leisure.
5. _Coagulation_, is curdling or hardening: it is used in physic for
reducing a liquid body to hardness by the heat of the fire.
6. Whereas you find _vital_, _natural_, and _animal spirits_ often
mentioned in the virtues or receipts, I shall explain what they be, and
what their operation is in the body of man.
The actions or operations of the animal virtues, are, 1. _sensitive_,
2. _motive_.
The sensitive is, 1. _external_, 2. _internal_.
The external senses are, 1. _seeing_, 2. _hearing_, 3. _tasting_, 4.
_smelling_, 5. _feeling_.
The internal senses are, 1. _the Imagination, to apprehend a thing_. 2.
_Judgment, to judge of it_. 3. _Memory, to remember it_.
The seat of all these is in the brain.
The _vital spirits_ proceed from the heart, and cause in man _mirth_,
_joy_, _hope_, _trust_, _humanity_, _mildness_, _courage_, _&c._ and
their opposite: _viz._ _sadness_, _fear_, _care_, _sorrow_, _despair_,
_envy_, _hatred_, _stubbornness_, _revenge_, _&c._ by heat natural or
not natural.
The _natural spirit_ nourishes the body throughout (as the vital
quickens it, and the animal gives it sense and motion) its office is to
alter or concoct food into chile, chile into blood, blood into flesh,
to form, engender, nourish, and increase the body.
7. _Infusion_, is to steep a gross body into one more liquid.
8. _Decoction_, is the liquor in which any thing is boiled.
As for the manner of using or ordering the body after any sweating,
or purging medicines, or pills, or the like, they will be found in
different parts of the work, as also in the next page.
The different forms of making up medicines, as some into syrups,
others into electuaries, pills, troches, &c. was partly to please
the different palates of people, that so medicines might be more
delightful, or at least less burdensome. You may make the mixtures
of them in what form you please, only for your better instruction at
present, accept of these few lines.
1. Consider, that all diseases are cured by their contraries, but all
parts of the body maintained by their likes: then if heat be the cause
of the disease, give the cold medicine appropriated to it; if wind, see
how many medicines appropriated to that disease expel wind, and use
them.
2. Have a care you use not such medicines to one part of your body
which are appropriated to another, for if your brain be over heated,
and you use such medicines as cool the heart or liver, you may make bad
work.
3. The distilled water of any herb you would take for a disease, is a
fit mixture for the syrup of the same herb, or to make any electuary
into a drink, if you affect such liquid medicines best; if you have not
the distilled water, make use of the decoction.
4. Diseases that lie in the parts of the body remote from the stomach
and bowels, it is in vain to think to carry away the cause at once, and
therefore you had best do it by degrees; pills, and such like medicines
which are hard in the body, are fittest for such a business, because
they are longest before they digest.
5. Use no strong medicines, if weak will serve the turn, you had better
take one too weak by half, than too strong in the least.
6. Consider the natural temper of the part of the body afflicted, and
maintain it in that, else you extinguish nature, as the heart is hot,
the brain cold, or at least the coldest part of the body.
7. Observe this general rule; That such medicines as are hot in the
first degree are most habitual to our bodies, because they are just of
the heat of our blood.
8. All opening medicines, and such as provoke urine or the menses, or
break the stone, may most conveniently be given in white wine, because
white wine of itself is of an opening nature, and cleanses the veins.
9. Let all such medicines as are taken to stop fluxes or looseness, be
taken before meat, about an hour before, more or less, that so they may
strengthen the digestion and retentive faculty, before the food come
into the stomach, but such as are subject to vomit up their meat, let
them take such medicines as stay vomiting presently after meat, at the
conclusion of their meals, that so they may close up the mouth of the
stomach; and that is the reason why usually men eat a bit of cheese
after meat, because by its sourness and binding it closes the mouth of
the stomach, thereby staying belching and vomiting.
10. In taking purges be very careful, and that you may be so, observe
these rules.
(1.) Consider what the humour offending is, and let the medicine be
such as purges that humour, else you will weaken nature, not the
disease.
(2.) Take notice, if the humour you would purge out be thin, then
gentle medicines will serve the turn, but if it be tough and viscous,
then such medicines as are cutting and opening, the night before you
would take the purge.
(3.) In purging tough humours, forbear as much as may be such medicines
as leave a binding quality behind them.
(4.) Have a care of taking purges when your body is astringent; your
best way, is first to open it by a clyster.
(5.) In taking opening medicines, you may safely take them at night,
eating but a little supper three or four hours before, and the next
morning drinking a draught of warm posset-drink, and you need not
fear to go about your business. In this manner you may take _Lenitive
Electuary_, _Diacatholicon_, _Pulp of Cassia_, and the like gentle
electuaries, as also all pills that have neither _Diagrydium_ nor
_Colocynthus_, in them. But all violent purges require a due ordering
of the body; such ought to be taken in the morning after you are up,
and not to sleep after them before they are done working, at least
before night: two hours after you have taken them, drink a draught
of warm posset-drink, or broth, and six hours after eat a bit of
mutton, often walking about the chamber; let there be a good fire in
the chamber, and stir not out of the chamber till the purge have done
working, or not till next day.
Lastly, Take sweating medicines when you are in bed, covered warm, and
in the time of your sweating drink posset-drink as hot as you can. If
you sweat for a fever, boil sorrel and red sage in your posset-drink,
sweat an hour or longer if your strength will permit, then (the chamber
being kept very warm) shift yourself all but your head, about which
(the cap which you sweat in being still kept on) wrap a napkin very
hot, to repel the vapours back.
I confess these, or many of these directions may be found in one place
of the book or other, and I delight as little to write tautology as
another, but considering it might make for the public good, I inserted
them in this place: if, notwithstanding, any will be so mad as to do
themselves a mischief, the fault is not mine.
ROOTS.
_Acanths, Brancæ Ursinæ._ Of bearsbreech, or brankursine, it is meanly
hot and dry, helps aches and numness of the joints, and is of a binding
quality, good for wounds and broken bones. _Dioscorides_ saith, they
are profitable for ruptures, or such as are bursten, or burnt with
fire, a dram of the root in powder being taken in the morning fasting,
in a decoction made with the same root and water.
_Acori, Veri, Perigrini, vulgaris, &c._ See _Calamus Aromaticus_. I
shall not speak concerning the several sorts of it, one of which is
Water-flag, or Flower-de-luce, which is hot and dry in the second
degree, binds, strengthens, stops fluxes of the belly, and immoderate
flowing of the menses, a dram being taken in red wine every morning.
_Allium._ Garlic. It is hot and dry in the fourth degree, breeds
corrupt blood, yet is an enemy to all poisons, and such as are bitten
by cold venomous beasts, viz. Adders, Toads, Spiders, &c. it provokes
urine, and expels wind.
_Alcannæ._ Of privet. See the leaves.
_Althææ._ Of Marsh mallows, are meanly hot, of a digesting, softening
nature, ease pains, help bloody fluxes, the stone, and gravel; being
bruised and boiled in milk, and the milk drank, is a good remedy for
gripings of the belly, and the bloody flux. If a fever accompany the
disease, boil a handful of common mallow leaves with a handful of these
roots.
_Angelicæ._ Of Angelica; is hot and dry in the third degree,
strengthens the heart, and is good against pestilence and poison, half
a dram taken in the morning fasting.
_Anchusæ._ Of Alkanet; cold and dry, binding, good for old ulcers.
_Anthoræ._ A foreign root, the counterpoison for Monkshood, it is an
admirable remedy for the wind cholic, and resists poison.
_Apii._ Of smallage. See the barks.
_Aristolochiæ._ Of birthwort; of which are three sorts, long, round,
and climing: All hot and dry in the third degree. The long, being
drank in wine, brings away both birth and after-birth, and whatsoever
a careless midwife hath left behind. _Dioscorides, Galen._ The round,
being drank with wine, helps (besides the former) stuffings of the
lungs, hardness of the spleen, ruptures, convulsions; both of them
resist poison. I never read any use of the climing birthwort.
_Artanitæ, Cyclaminis, &c._ Or Sowbread; hot and dry in the third
degree, a most violent purge, dangerous; outwardly applied to the
place, it profits much in the bitings of venomous beasts, also being
hung about women in labour, it causes speedy deliverance. See the Herb.
_Arundinis, Vallanoriæ, and Saccharinæ._ Of common reeds and sugar
reeds. The roots of common reeds applied to the place draw out thorns,
and ease sprains; the ashes of them mixed with vinegar, take scurf, or
dandrif off from the head, and prevent the falling off of the hair,
they are hot and dry in the second degree, according to _Galen_. I
never read any virtue of the root of sugar cane.
_Ari, &c._ Of Cuckow-points, or Wake-Robin, hot and dry in the third
degree, I know no great good they do inwardly taken, unless to play the
rogue withal, or make sport: outwardly applied, they take off scurf,
morphew, or freckles from the face, clear the skin, and ease the pains
of the gout.
_Asclepiadis, vincetoxici._ Of Swallow-wort, hot and dry, good against
poison, and gripings of the belly, as also against the bitings of mad
dogs, taken inwardly.
_Asari._ Of Asarabacca: the roots are a safer purge than the leaves,
and not so violent, they purge by vomit, stool, and urine; they are
profitable for such as have agues, dropsies, stoppings of the liver, or
spleen, green sickness.
_Asparagi._ Of Asparagus, or sperage: they are temperate in quality,
opening, they provoke urine, and cleanse the reins and bladder, being
boiled in white wine, and the wine drank.
_Asphodeli, Hastæ Regiæ fœm._ Of Kings Spear, or Female Asphodel. I
know no physical use of the roots; probably there is, for I do not
believe God created any thing of no use.
_Asphodeli, Albuci, muris._ Of male Asphodel. Hot and dry in the second
degree, inwardly taken, they provoke vomit, urine, and the menses:
outwardly used in ointments, they cause hair to grow, cleanse ulcers,
and take away morphew and freckles from the face.
_Bardanæ, &c._ Of Bur, Clot-bur, or Burdock, temperately hot and dry.
Helps such as spit blood and matter; bruised and mixed with salt and
applied to the place, helps the bitings of mad dogs. It expels wind,
eases pains of the teeth, strengthens the back, helps the running
of the reins, and the whites, being taken inwardly. _Dioscorides_,
_Apuleius_.
_Behen. alb. rub._ Of Valerian, white and red. _Mesue_, _Serapio_, and
other Arabians, say they are hot and moist in the latter end of the
first, or beginning of the second degree, and comfort the heart, stir
up lust. The Grecians held them to be dry in the second degree, that
they stop fluxes, and provoke urine.
_Bellidis._ Of Dasies. See the Leaves.
_Betæ, nigræ, albæ, rubræ._ Of Beets, black, white, and red; as for
black Beets I have nothing to say, I doubt they are as rare as black
swans. The red Beet root boiled and preserved in vinegar, makes a fine,
cool, pleasing, cleansing, digesting sauce. See the leaves.
_Bistortæ, &c._ Of Bistort, or snakeweed, cold and dry in the third
degree, binding: half a dram at a time taken inwardly, resists
pestilence and poison, helps ruptures and bruises, stays fluxes,
vomiting, and immoderate flowing of the menses, helps inflammations
and soreness of the mouth, and fastens loose teeth, being bruised and
boiled in white wine, and the mouth washed with it.
_Borraginis._ Of Borrage, hot and moist in the first degree, cheers
the heart, helps drooping spirits. _Dioscorides._
_Brionæ, &c._ Of Briony both white and black: they are both hot and
dry, some say in the third degree, and some say but in the first; they
purge flegm and watery humours, but they trouble the stomach much,
they are very good for dropsies; the white is most in use, and is good
for the fits of the mother: both of them externally used, take away
freckles, sunburning, and morphew from the face, and cleanse filthy
ulcers: It is but a churlish purge, but being let alone, can do no harm.
_Buglossi._ Of Bugloss: Its virtues are the same with Borrage, and the
roots of either seldom used.
_Bulbus Vomitorius._ A Vomiting Root: I never read of it elswhere by
this general name.
_Calami Aromatici._ Of Aromatical Reed, or sweet garden flag: it
provokes urine, strengthens the lungs, helps bruises, resists poison,
&c. being taken inwardly in powder, the quantity of half a dram at a
time. You may mix it with syrup of violets, if your body be feverish.
_Capparum._ Capper Roots. Are hot and dry in the second degree, cutting
and cleansing: they provoke menses, help malignant ulcers, ease the
toothache, assuage swelling, and help the rickets. _See Oil of Cappers._
_Cariophillatæ, &c._ Of Avens, or Herb Bennet. The roots are dry, and
something hot, of a cleansing quality, they keep garments from being
moth-eaten. See the leaves.
_Caulium._ Of Colewort. I know nothing the roots are good for, but only
to bear the herbs and flowers.
_Centaurii majoris._ Of Centaury the Greater. The roots help such as
are bursten, such as spit blood, shrinking of sinews, shortness of
wind, coughs, convulsions, cramps: half a dram in powder being taken
inwardly, either in muskadel, or in a decoction of the same roots. They
are either not at all, or very scarce in _England_, our centaury is the
small centaury.
_Cepœ._ Of Onions. Are hot and dry (according to _Galen_) in the
fourth degree: they cause dryness, and are extremely hurtful for
choleric people, they breed but little nourishment, and that little is
naught: they are bad meat, yet good physic for phlegmatic people, they
are opening, and provoke urine and the menses, if cold be the cause
obstructing: bruised and outwardly applied, they cure the bitings of
mad dogs, roasted and applied, they help boils, and aposthumes: raw,
they take the fire out of burnings, but ordinarily eaten, they cause
headache, spoil the sight, dull the senses, and fill the body full of
wind.
_Chameleontis albi nigri, &c._ Of Chameleon, white and black. _Tragus_
calls the carline thistle by the name of white chameleon, the root
whereof is hot in the second degree, and dry in the third, it provokes
sweat, kills worms, resists pestilence and poison; it is given with
success in pestilential fevers, helps the toothache by being chewed in
the mouth, opens the stoppings of the liver and spleen, provokes urine,
and the menses: give but little of it at a time, by reason of its heat.
As for the black chameleon, all physicians hold it to have a kind of
venomous quality, and unfit to be used inwardly, _Galen, Clusius,
Nicander, Dioscorides, and Ægineta_. Outwardly in ointments, it is
profitable for scabs, morphew, tetters, &c. and all things that need
cleansing.
_Chelidonij majoris, minoris._ Of celandine, the greater and lesser:
The greater is that which we usually call Celandine: the root is hot
and dry, cleansing and scouring, proper for such as have the yellow
jaundice, it opens obstructions of the liver, being boiled in white
wine, and the decoctions drank; and if chewed in the mouth it helps
the tooth-ache. Celandine the lesser is that which usually we call
Pilewort, which with us is hot in the first degree; the juice of the
root mixed with honey and snuffed up in the nose, purges the head,
helps the hemorrhoids or piles being bathed with it, as also doth the
root only carried about one: being made into an ointment, it helps the
king’s evil or _Scrophula_.
_China_, wonderfully extenuates and dries, provokes sweat, resists
putrefaction; it strengthens the liver, helps the dropsy and malignant
ulcers, leprosy, itch, and venereal, and is profitable in diseases
coming of fasting. It is commonly used in diet drinks for the premises.
_Cichorii._ Of Succory; cool and dry in the second degree, strengthens
the liver and veins, it opens obstructions, stoppings in the liver and
spleen, being boiled in white wine and the decoction drank.
_Colchici._ Of Meadow Saffron. The roots are held to be hurtful to the
stomach, therefore I let them alone.
_Consolidæ, majoris, minoris._ Consolida Major, is that which we
ordinarily call Comfry, it is of a cold quality, yet pretty temperate,
so glutinous, that, according to _Dioscorides_, they will join meat
together that is cut in sunder, if they be boiled with it; it is
excellent for all wounds, both internal and external, for spitting of
blood, ruptures or burstness, pains in the back, it strengthens the
reins, it stops the menses, and helps hemorrhoids. The way to use them
is to boil them in water and drink the decoction. Consolida minor, is
that we call Self-heal, and the latins _Prunella_. See the herb.
_Costi utriusque._ Of Costus both sorts being roots coming from beyond
sea, hot and dry, break wind, being boiled in oil, it is held to help
the gout by anointing the grieved place with it.
_Cucumeris a grestis._ Of wild Cucumber roots; they purge flegm, and
that with such violence, that I would advise the country man that knows
not how to correct them, to let them alone.
_Cinaræ, &c._ Of Artichokes. The roots purge by urine, whereby the rank
savour of the body is much amended.
_Cynoglossæ, &c._ Of Hounds-tongue, Cold and dry: being roasted and
laid to the fundament, helps the hemorrhoids, is also good for burnings
and scaldings.
_Curcumæ._ Of Turmerick, hot in the third degree, opens obstructions,
is profitable against the yellow jaundice, and cold distemper of the
liver and spleen, half a dram being taken at night going to bed in the
pulp of a roasted apple, and if you add a little saffron to it, it will
be the better by far.
_Cyperiutriusque, longi, rotundi._ Of Cyprus Grass, or English Galanga,
both sorts, long and round: is of a warm nature, provokes urine, breaks
the stone, provokes the menses; the ashes of them (being burnt) are
used for ulcers in the mouth, cankers, &c.
_Dauci._ Of Carrots. Are moderately hot and moist, breed but little
nourishment, and are windy.
_Dentaria majoris, &c._ Of Toothwort, toothed violets, or corralwort:
they are drying, binding, and strengthening; are good to ease pains in
the sides and bowels; also being boiled, the decoction is said to be
good to wash green wounds and ulcers with.
_Dictiamni._ Of Dittany: is hot and dry in the third degree, hastens
travail in women, provokes the menses. (See the leaves.)
_Doronici._ Of Doronicum, a supposed kind of Wolf’s bane: It is hot
and dry in the third degree, strengthens the heart, is a sovereign
cordial, and preservative against the pestilence: it helps the vertigo
or swimming of the head, is admirable against the bitings of venomous
beasts, and such as have taken too much opium, as also for lethargies,
the juice helps hot rheums in the eyes; a scruple of the root in powder
is enough to take at one time.
_Dracontii, Dracunculi._ Divers authors attribute divers herbs to this
name. It is most probable that they mean dragons, the roots of which
cleanse mightily, and take away proud, or dead flesh, the very smell of
them is hurtful for pregnant women: outwardly in ointments, they take
away scurf, morphew, and sun-burning; I would not wish any, unless very
well read in physic, to take them inwardly. _Matthiolus_, _Dioscorides_.
_Ebuli._ Of Dwarf Elder, Walwort, or Danewort; hot and dry in the third
degree, the roots are as excellent a purge for the dropsy as any under
the sun. You may take a dram or two drams (if the patient be strong) in
white wine at a time.
_Echij._ Of Viper’s Bugloss, or wild Bugloss. _This root is cold and
dry, good for such as are bitten by venemous beasts, either being
boiled in wine and drank, or bruised and applied to the place: being
boiled in wine and drank, it encreaseth milk in nurses._
Ellebori, Veratri, albi nigri. _Of Hellebore white and black. The root
of white Hellebore, or sneezewort, being grated and snuffed up the
nose, causeth sneezing; kills rats and mice being mixed with their
meat._
_Black Hellebore, Bears-foot or Christmas flower: both this and the
former are hot and dry in the third degree. This is neither so violent
nor dangerous as the former._
Enulæ Campanæ Helenij. _Of Elecampane. It is hot and dry in the
third degree, wholesome for the stomach, resists poison, helps old
coughs, and shortness of breath, helps ruptures, and provokes lust; in
ointments, it is good against scabs and itch._
Endivæ, &c. _Of Endive, Garden Endive, which is the root here
specified, is held to be somewhat colder, though not so dry and
cleansing as that which is wild; it cools hot stomachs, hot livers,
amends the blood corrupted by heat, and therefore is good in fevers,
it cools the reins, and therefore prevents the stone, it opens
obstructions, and provokes urine: you may bruise the root, and boil it
in white wine, ’tis very harmless._
Eringij. _Of Eringo or Sea-holly: the roots are moderately hot,
something drying and cleansing, bruised and applied to the place; they
help the _Scrophula_, or disease in the throat called the King’s
Evil, they break the stone, encrease seed, stir up lust, provoke the
terms, &c._
Esulæ, majoris, minoris. _Of Spurge the greater and lesser, they
are both (taken inwardly) too violent for common use; outwardly in
ointments they cleanse the skin, take away sunburning._
Filicis, &c. _Fearn, of which are two grand distinctions, _viz._
male and female. Both are hot and dry, and good for the rickets in
children, and diseases of the spleen, but dangerous for pregnant women._
Filipendulæ. _Of Dropwort. The roots are hot and dry in the third
degree, opening, cleansing, yet somewhat binding; they provoke urine,
ease pains in the bladder, and are a good preservative against the
falling-sickness._
Fœniculi. _Of Fennel. The root is hot and dry, some say in the third
degree, opening; it provokes urine, and menses, strengthens the liver,
and is good against the dropsy._
Fraxini. _Of Ash-tree. I know no great virtues in physic of the roots._
Galangæ, majoris, minoris. _Galanga, commonly called Galingal, the
greater and lesser: They are hot and dry in the third degree, and
the lesser are accounted the hotter, it strengthens the stomach
exceedingly, and takes away the pains thereof coming of cold or wind;
the smell of it strengthens the brain, it relieves faint hearts, takes
away windiness of the womb, heats the reins, and provokes amorous
diseases. You may take half a dram at a time._ Matthiolus.
Gentiana. _Of Gentian; some call it Felwort, and Baldmoney. It is
hot, cleansing, and scouring, a notable counterpoison, it opens
obstructions, helps the biting of venemous beasts, and mad dogs,
helps digestion, and cleanseth the body of raw humours; the root is
profitable for ruptures, or such as are bursten._
Glycyrrhizæ. _Of Liquorice; the best that is grows in _England_:
it is hot and moist in temperature, helps the roughness of the
windpipe, hoarsness, diseases in the kidneys and bladder, and ulcers in
the bladder, it concocts raw humours in the stomach, helps difficulty
of breathing, is profitable for all salt humours, the root dried and
beaten into powder, and the powder put into the eye, is a special
remedy for a pin and web._
Gramminis. _Of Grass, such as in _London_ they call couch grass,
and Squitch-grass; in _Sussex_ Dog-grass. It gallantly provokes
urine, and easeth the kidneys oppressed with gravel, gripings of the
belly, and difficulty of urine. Let such as are troubled with these
diseases, drink a draught of white wine, wherein these roots (being
bruised) have been boiled, for their morning’s draught, bruised
and applied to the place, they speedily help green wounds._ Galen,
Dioscorides.
Hermodactyli. _Of Hermodactils. They are hot and dry, purge flegm,
especially from the joints, therefore are good for gouts, and other
diseases in the joints. Their vices are corrected with long pepper,
ginger, cinnamon, or mastich. I would not have unskilful people too
busy with purges._
Hyacinthi. _Of Jacinths. The roots are dry in the first degree, and
cold in the second, they stop looseness, bind the belly._
Iridis, vulgaris, and Florentine, &c. Orris, or Flower-de-luce, both
that which grows with us, and that which comes from _Florence_. They
are hot and dry in the third degree, resist poison, help shortness of
the breath, provoke the menses; the Root being green and bruised,
takes away blackness and blueness of a stroke, being applied thereto.
_Imperitoriæ, &c._ Of Master-wort. The root is hot and dry in the third
degree; mitigates the rigour of agues, helps dropsies, provokes sweat,
breaks carbuncles, and plague-sores, being applied to them; it is very
profitable being given inwardly in bruises.
_Isotidis, Glasti._ Of Woad. I know no great physical virtue in the
root. See the Herb.
_Labri Veneris, Dipsaci._ Fullers-Thistle, Teazle. The root being
boiled in wine till it be thick (quoth _Dioscorides_) helps by unction
the clefts of the fundament, as also takes away warts and wens. _Galen_
saith, they are dry in the second degree: and I take it all Authors
hold them to be cold and dry. Unslacked lime beaten into powder, and
mixed with black soap, takes away a wen being anointed with it.
_Lactucæ._ Of Lettice. I know no physical virtue residing in the roots.
_Lauri._ Of the Bay-tree. The Bark of the root drunk with wine,
provokes urine, breaks the stone, opens obstructions of the liver and
spleen. But according to _Dioscorides_ is naught for pregnant women.
_Galen._
_Lapathi acuti, Oxylapathi._ Sorrel, according to _Galen_; but
Sharp-pointed Dock, according to _Dioscorides_. The roots of Sorrel
are held to be profitable against the jaundice. Of Sharp-pointed Dock;
cleanse, and help scabs and itch.
_Levistici._ Of Lovage. They are hot and dry, and good for any diseases
coming of wind.
_Lillij albi._ Of white Lillies. The root is something hot and dry,
helps burnings, softens the womb, provokes the menses, if boiled in
wine, is given with good success in rotten Fevers, Pestilences, and all
diseases that require suppuration: outwardly applied, it helps ulcers
in the head, and amends the ill colour of the face.
_Malvœ._ Of Mallows. They are cool, and digesting, resist poison, and
help corrosions, or gnawing of the bowels, or any other part; as also
ulcers in the bladder. See Marsh-mallows.
_Mandragoræ._ Of Mandrakes. A root dangerous for its coldness, being
cold in the fourth degree: the root is dangerous.
_Mechoachanæ._ Of Mechoacah. It is corrected with Cinnamon, is
temperate yet drying, purges flegm chiefly from the head and joints,
it is good for old diseases in the head, and may safely be given even
to feverish bodies, because of its temperature: it is also profitable
against coughs and pains in the reins; as also against venereal
complaints; the strong may take a dram at a time.
_Mei, &c._ Spignel. The roots are hot and dry in the second or third
degree, and send up unwholesome vapours to the head.
_Mezerei, &c._ Of Spurge, Olive, or Widow-wail. See the Herb, if you
think it worth the seeing.
_Merorum Celci._ Of Mulberry Tree. The bark of the root is bitter, hot
and dry, opens stoppings of the liver and spleen, purges the belly, and
kills worms, boiled in vinegar, helps the tooth-ache.
_Morsus Diaboli, Succisæ, &c._ Devil’s-bit. See the herb.
_Norpi Spicæ, Indicæ, Celticæ, &c._ Of Spikenard, Indian, and Cheltic.
Cheltic Nard wonderfully provokes urine. They are both hot and dry. The
Indian, also provokes urine, and stops fluxes, helps windiness of the
stomach, resists the pestilence, helps gnawing pains of the stomach;
and dries up rheums that molest the head. The Celtic Spikenard performs
the same offices, though in a weaker measure.
_Nenupharis, Nymphæ._ Of Water-lilies. They are cold and dry, and stop
lust: I never dived so deep to find what virtue the roots have.
_Ononidis, Arrestæ Bovis, &c._ Of Cammock, or Rest-harrow, so called
because it makes oxen stand still when they are ploughing. The roots
are hot and dry in the third degree; it breaks the stone (viz.
the bark of it.) The root itself, according to _Pliny_, helps the
falling-sickness; according to _Matthiolus_, helps ruptures: you may
take half a dram at a time.
_Ostrutij._ Masterwort, given once before under the name of
_Imperitoria_. But I have something else to do than to write one thing
twice as they did.
_Pastinatæ, Sativæ, and silvestris._ Garden and Wild Parsnips. They
are of a temperate quality, inclining something to heat: The Garden
Parsnips provoke lust, and nourish as much and more too, than any root
ordinarily eaten: the wild are more physical, being cutting, cleansing,
and opening: they resist the bitings of venomous beasts, ease pains
and stitches in the sides, and are a sovereign remedy against the wind
cholic.
_Pentafylli._ Of Cinqfyl, commonly called Five-leaved, or Five-finger’d
grass: the root is very drying, but moderately hot: It is admirable
against all fluxes, and stops blood flowing from any part of the body:
it helps infirmities of the liver and lungs, helps putrified ulcers of
the mouth, the root boiled in vinegar is good against the shingles, and
appeases the rage of any fretting sores. You may safely take half a
dram at a time in any convenient liquor.
_Petacitæ._ Of Butter-bur. The roots are hot and dry in the second
degree, they are exceeding good in violent and pestilential fevers,
they provoke the menses, expel poison, and kill worms.
_Peucedani, Fœniculi porcini._ Of Sulphur-wort, Hogs-fennel, or
Hore-strange. It is very good applied to the navels of children that
stick out, and ruptures: held in the mouth, it is a present remedy
for the fits of the mother: being taken inwardly, it gives speedy
deliverance to women in travail, and brings away the placenta.
Pœoniœ, maris, fœmellæ. _Of Peony male and female. They are meanly
hot, but more drying. The root helps women not sufficiently purged
after travail, it provokes the menses, and helps pains in the belly,
as also in the reins and bladder, falling sickness, and convulsions in
children, being either taken inwardly, or hung about their necks. You
may take half a dram at a time, and less for children._
Phu, Valerinæ, majoris, minoris. _Valerian, or Setwal, greater and
lesser. They are temperately hot, the greater provokes urine and the
menses, helps the stranguary, stays rheums in the head, and takes away
the pricking pains thereof. The lesser resist poison, assuages the
swelling of the testicles, coming either through wind or cold, helps
cold taken after sweating or labour, wind cholic: outwardly it draws
out thorns, and cures both wounds and ulcers._
Pimpinellæ, &c. _Of Burnet. It doth this good, to bring forth a gallant
physical herb._
Plantaginis. _Of Plantane. The root is something dryer than the leaf,
but not so cold, it opens stoppages of the liver, helps the jaundice,
and ulcers of the reins and bladder. A little bit of the root being
eaten, instantly stays pains in the head, even to admiration._
_Polypodij._ Of Polypodium, or Fern of the Oak. It is a gallant though
gentle purger of melancholy; Also in the opinion of _Mesue_ (as famous
a physician as ever I read for a Galenist,) it dries up superfluous
humours, takes away swellings from the hands, feet, knees, and joints,
stitches and pains in the sides, infirmities of the spleen, rickets;
correct it with a few Annis seeds, or Fennel seeds, or a little ginger,
and then the stomach will not loath it. Your best way of taking it, is
to bruise it well, and boil it in white wine till half be consumed, you
may put in much, or little, according to the strength of the diseased,
it works very safely.
_Poligonati, sigilli Solomonis, &c._ Of Solomon’s Seal. Stamped and
boiled in wine it speedily helps (being drank) all broken bones, and is
of incredible virtue that way; as also being stamped and applied to the
place, it soon heals all wounds, and quickly takes away the black and
blue marks of blows, being bruised and applied to the place, and for
these, I am persuaded there is not a better medicine under the sun.
_Porri._ Of Leeks. They say they are hot and dry in the fourth degree;
they breed ill-favoured nourishment at the best, they spoil the eyes,
heat the body, cause troublesome sleep, and are noisome to the stomach:
yet are they good for something else, for the juice of them dropped
into the ears takes away the noise of them, mixed with a little vinegar
and snuffed up the nose, it stays the bleeding of it, they are better
of the two boiled than raw, but both ways exceedingly hurtful for
ulcers in the bladder: and so are onions and garlic.
_Prunellorum Silvestrium._ Of Sloe-bush, or Sloe-tree. I think the
college set this amongst the roots only for fashion sake, and I did it
because they did.
_Pyrethri Salivaris, &c._ Pelitory of Spain. It is hot and dry in
the fourth degree, chewed in the mouth, it draws away rheum in the
tooth-ache; bruised and boiled in oil, it provokes sweat by unction;
inwardly taken, they say it helps palsies and other cold effects in the
brain and nerves.
_Rhapontici_, Rhupontick, or Rhubarb of Pontus. It takes away windiness
and weakness of the stomach, sighings, sobbings, spittings of blood,
diseases of the liver and spleen, rickets, &c. if you take a dram at a
time it will purge a little, but bind much, and therefore fit for foul
bodies that have fluxes.
_Rhabarbari._ Of Rhubarb. It gently purges choler from the stomach
and liver, opens stoppings, withstands the dropsy, Hypocondriac
Melancholly; a little boiling takes away the virtue of it, and
therefore it is best given by infusion only; If your body be any thing
strong, you may take two drams of it at a time being sliced thin and
steeped all night in white wine, in the morning strain it out and drink
the white wine; it purges but gently, it leaves a binding quality
behind it, therefore dried a little by the fire and beaten into powder,
it is usually given in fluxes.
_Rhaphani, Domesticœ and Sylvestris._ Of Raddishes, garden and wild.
Garden Raddishes provoke urine, break the stone, and purge by urine
exceedingly, yet breed very bad blood, are offensive to the stomach,
and hard of digestion, hot and dry in quality. Wild, or Horse
Raddishes, such as grow in ditches, are hotter and drier than the
former, and more effectual.
_Rhodie Rad._ Rose Root. Stamped and applied to the head it mitigates
the pains thereof, being somewhat cool in quality.
_Rhabarbari Monachorum._ Monks Rhubarb, or Bastard-Rhubarb, it also
purges, and cleanses the blood, and opens obstructions of the liver.
_Rubiæ tinctorum._ Of Madder. It is both drying and binding, yet not
without some opening quality, for it helps the yellow jaundice, and
therefore opens obstructions of the liver and gall; it is given with
good success, to such as have had bruises by falls, stops looseness,
the hemorrhoids, and the menses.
_Rusci._ Of Knee-holly or Butchers-broom, or Bruscus. They are meanly
hot and dry, provoke urine, break the stone, and help such as cannot
evacuate urine freely. Use them like grass roots.
_Sambuci._ Of Elder. I know no wonders the root will do.
_Sarsæ-Parigliæ._ Of Sarsa-Parilla, or Bind-weed; somewhat hot and dry,
helpful against pains in the head, and joints; they provoke sweat, and
are used familiarly in drying diet drinks.
_Satyrij utriusque._ Of Satyrion, each sort. They are hot and moist in
temper, provoke venery, and increase seed; each branch bears two roots,
both spongy, yet the one more solid than the other, which is of most
virtue, and indeed only to be used, for some say the most spongy root
is quite contrary in operation to the other, as the one increaseth, the
other decreaseth.
_Saxifragiæ albæ._ Of white Saxifrage, in _Sussex_ we call them
Lady-smocks. The roots powerfully break the stone, expel wind, provoke
urine, and cleanse the reins.
_Sanguisorbæ._ A kind of Burnet.
_Scabiosa._ Of Scabious. The roots either boiled, or beaten into
powder, and so taken, help such as are extremely troubled with scabs
and itch, are medicinal in the french disease, hard swellings, inward
wounds, being of a drying, cleansing, and healing faculty.
_Scordij._ Of Scordium, or Water-Germander. See the herb.
_Scillæ._ Of Squills. See vinegar, and wine of Squills, in the compound.
_Scropulariæ, &c._ Of Figwort. The roots being of the same virtue with
the herb, I refer you thither.
_Scorzoneræ._ Of Vipers grass. The root cheers the heart, and
strengthens the vital spirits, resists poison, helps passions and
tremblings of the heart, faintness, sadness, and melancholy, opens
stoppings of the liver and spleen, provokes the menses, ease women of
the fits of the mother, and helps swimmings in the head.
_Seseleos._ Of Seseli, or Hartwort. The roots provoke urine, and help
the falling-sickness.
_Sisari, secacul._ Of Scirrets. They are hot and moist, of good
nourishment, something windy, as all roots are; by reason of which,
they provoke venery, they stir up appetite, and provoke urine.
_Sconchi._ Of Sow-thistles. See the herb.
_Spinæ albæ, Bedeguar._ The Arabians called our Ladies-thistles by
that name; the roots of which are drying and binding, stop fluxes,
bleeding, take away cold swellings, and ease the pains of the teeth.
_Spatulæ fœtidæ._ Stinking Gladon, a kind of Flower-de-luce, called
so for its unsavory smell. It is hot and dry in the third degree;
outwardly they help the king’s evil, soften hard swellings, draw out
broken bones: inwardly taken, they help convulsions, ruptures, bruises,
infirmities of the lungs.
_Tamarisci._ Of Tamaris. See the herbs, and barks.
_Tanaceti._ Of Tansie. The root eaten, is a singular remedy for the
gout: the rich may bestow the cost to preserve it.
_Thapsi, &c._ A venomous foreign root: therefore no more of it.
_Tormentillæ._ Of Tormentil. A kind of Sinqfoil; dry in the third
degree, but moderately hot; good in pestilences, provokes sweat, stays
vomiting, cheers the heart, expels poison.
_Trifolij._ Of Trefoil. See the herb.
_Tribuli Aquatici._ Of Water Caltrops. The roots lie too far under
water for me to reach to.
_Trachellij._ Of Throat-wort: by some called Canterbury Bells: by some
Coventry Bells. They help diseases and ulcers in the throat.
_Trinitatis herbæ._ Hearts-ease, or Pansies. I know no great virtue
they have.
_Tunicis._ I shall tell you the virtue when I know what it is.
_Tripolij._ The root purges flegm, expels poison.
_Turbith._ The root purges flegm, (being hot in the third degree)
chiefly from the exterior parts of the body: it is corrected with
ginger, or Mastich. Let not the vulgar be too busy with it.
_Tuburnum._ Or Toad-stools. Whether these be roots or no, it matters
not much: for my part I know but little need of them, either in food
or physic.
_Victorialis._ A foreign kind of Garlick. They say, being hung about
the neck of cattle that are blind suddenly, it helps them; and defends
those that bear it, from evil spirits.
Swallow-wort, and teazles were handled before.
_Ulmariæ, Reginæ, prati, &c._ Mead-sweet. Cold and dry, binding, stops
fluxes, and the immoderate flowing of the menses: you may take a dram
at a time.
_Urticæ._ Of Nettles. See the leaves.
_Zedoariæ._ Of Zedoary, or Setwall. This and _Zurumbet_, according to
_Rhasis_, and _Mesue_, are all one; _Avicenna_ thinks them different:
I hold with _Mesue_; indeed they differ in form, for the one is long,
the other round; they are both hot and dry in the second degree, expel
wind, resist poison, stop fluxes, and the menses, stay vomiting, help
the cholic, and kill worms; you may take half a dram at a time.
_Zingiberis._ Of Ginger. Helps digestion, warms the stomach, clears the
sight, and is profitable for old men: heats the joints, and therefore
is profitable against the gout, expels wind; it is hot and dry in the
second degree.
BARKS.
_A Pil Rad._ Of the roots of Smallage. Take notice here, that the Barks
both of this root, as also of Parsley, Fennel, &c. is all of the root
which is in use, neither can it properly be called bark, for it is all
the root, the hard pith in the middle excepted, which is always thrown
away, when the roots are used. It is something hotter and drier than
Parsley, and more medicinal; it opens stoppings, provokes urine, helps
digestion, expels wind, and warms a cold stomach: use them like grass
roots.
_Avellanarum._ Of Hazel. The rind of the tree provokes urine, breaks
the stone; the husks and shells of the nuts, dried and given in powder,
stay the immoderate flux of the menses.
_Aurantiorum._ Of Oranges. Both these, and also Lemons and Citrons,
are of different qualities: the outward bark, _viz._ what looks red,
is hot and dry, the white is cold and moist, the juice colder than it,
the seeds hot and dry; the outward bark is that which here I am to
speak to, it is somewhat hotter than either that of Lemons or Citrons,
therefore it warms a cold stomach more, and expels wind better, but
strengthens not the heart so much.
_Berber, &c._ Barberries. The Rind of the tree according to _Clœsius_,
being steeped in wine, and the wine drank, purges choler, and is a
singular remedy for the yellow jaundice. Boil it in white wine and
drink it. See the directions at the beginning.
_Cassia Lignea, &c._ It is something more oily than Cinnamon, yet the
virtues being not much different, I refer you thither.
_Capparis Rad._ Of Caper roots. See the roots.
_Castanearum._ Of Chesnuts. The bark of the Chesnut tree is dry and
binding, and stops fluxes.
_Cinnamonum._ Cinnamon, and Cassia Lignea, are hot and dry in the
second degree, strengthens the stomach, help digestion, cause a sweet
breath, resist poison, provoke urine, and the menses, cause speedy
delivery in women to travail, help coughs and defluxions of humours
upon the lungs, dropsy, and difficulty of urine. In ointments it takes
away red pimples, and the like deformities from the face. There is
scarce a better remedy for women in labour, than a dram of Cinnamon
newly beaten into powder, and taken in white wine.
_Citrij._ Of Pome Citrons. The outward pill, which I suppose is that
which is meant here: It strengthens the heart, resists poison, amends
a stinking breath, helps digestion, comforts a cold stomach.
_Ebuli Rad._ Of the roots of Dwarf-Elder, or Walwort. See the herbs.
_Enulæ._ Of Elecampane. See the roots.
_Esulæ Rad._ See the roots.
_Fabarum._ Of Beans. Bean Cods (or Pods, as we in _Sussex_ call them)
being bruised, the ashes are a sovereign remedy for aches in the
joints, old bruises, gouts, and sciaticas.
_Fœniculi Rad._ Of Fennel roots. See the roots, and remember the
observation given in Smallage at the beginning of the barks.
_Fraxini Rad._ Of the bark of Ash-tree roots. The bark of the tree,
helps the rickets, is moderately hot and dry, stays vomiting; being
burnt, the ashes made into an ointment, helps leprosy and other
deformity of the skin, eases pains of the spleen. You may lay the bark
to steep in white wine for the rickets, and when it hath stood so for
two or three days, let the diseased child drink now and then a spoonful
of it.
_Granatorum._ Of Pomegranates. The rind cools, and forcibly binds,
stays fluxes, and the menses, helps digestion, strengthens weak
stomachs, fastens the teeth, and are good for such whose gums waste.
You may take a dram of it at a time inwardly. Pomegranate flowers are
of the same virtue.
_Gatrujaci._ See the wood.
_Juglandium Virid._ Of green Walnuts. As for the outward green bark of
Walnuts, I suppose the best time to take them is before the Walnuts
be shelled at all, and then you may take nuts and all (if they may
properly be called nuts at such a time) you shall find them exceeding
comfortable to the stomach, they resist poison, and are a most
excellent preservative against the plague, inferior to none: they are
admirable for such as are troubled with consumptions of the lungs.
_Lauri._ Of the Bay-tree. See the root.
_Limonum._ Of Lemons. The outward peel is of the nature of Citron, but
helps not so effectually; however, let the poor country man that cannot
get the other, use this.
_Mandragora Rad._ Be pleased to look back to the root.
_Myrobalanorum._ Of Myrobalans. See the fruits.
_Macis._ Of Mace. It is hot in the third degree, strengthens the
stomach and heart exceedingly, and helps concoction.
_Maceris, &c._ It is held to be the inner bark of Nutmeg-tree, helps
fluxes and spitting of blood.
_Petroselini Rad._ Of Parsley root: opens obstructions, provokes urine
and the menses, warms a cold stomach, expels wind, and breaks the
stone. Use them as grass roots, and take out the inner pith as you were
taught in smallage roots.
_Prunelli Silvestris._ Of Sloe-tree. I know no use of it.
_Pinearum putaminae._ Pine shucks, or husks. I suppose they mean of the
cones that hold the seeds; both those and also the bark of the tree,
stop fluxes, and help the lungs.
_Querci._ Of Oak-tree. Both the bark of the oak, and Acorn Cups are
drying and cold, binding, stop fluxes and the menses, as also the
running of the reins; have a care how you use them before due purging.
_Rhaphani._ Of Radishes. I could never see any bark they had.
_Suberis._ Of Cork. It is good for something else besides to stop
bottles: being dry and binding, stanches blood, helps fluxes,
especially the ashes of it being burnt. _Paulus._
_Sambuci, &c._ Of Elder roots and branches; purges water, helps the
dropsy.
_Cort. Medius Tamaricis._ The middle Bark of Tameris, eases the spleen,
helps the rickets. Use them as Ash-tree bark.
_Tillim._ Of Line-tree. Boiled, the water helps burnings.
_Thuris._ Of Frankinsenses. I must plead _Ignoramus_.
_Ulmi._ Of Elm. Moderately hot and cleansing, good for wounds, burns,
and broken bones, _viz._ boiled in water and the grieved place bathed
with it.
WOODS AND THEIR CHIPS, OR
RASPINGS.
_A Gallochus, Lignum Aloes._ Wood of Aloes; is moderately hot and dry:
a good cordial: a rich perfume, a great strengthener to the stomach.
_Aspalathus._ Rose-wood. It is moderately hot and dry, stops looseness,
provokes urine, and is excellent to cleanse filthy ulcers.
_Bresilium._ Brasil. All the use I know of it is, to die cloth, and
leather, and make red ink.
_Buxus._ Box. Many Physicians have written of it, but no physical
virtue of it.
_Cypressus._ Cypress. The Wood laid amongst cloaths, secures them from
moths. See the leaves.
_Ebenum._ Ebony. It is held to clear the sight, being either boiled in
wine, or burnt to ashes.
_Guajacum, Lignum vitm._ Dries, attenuates, causes sweat, resists
putrefaction, is good for the French disease, as also for ulcers,
scabs, and leprosy: it is used in diet drinks.
_Juniperus._ Juniper. The smoak of the wood, drives away serpents; the
ashes of it made into lie, cures itch, and scabs.
_Nephriticum._ It is a light wood and comes from _Hispaniola_; being
steeped in water, will soon turn it blue, it is hot and dry in the
first degree, and so used as before, is an admirable remedy for the
stone, and for obstructions of the liver and spleen.
_Rhodium._ Encreases milk in nurses.
_Santalum, album, Rubrum, citrinum._ White, red, and yellow Sanders:
They are all cold and dry in the second or third degree: the red stops
defluxions from any part, and helps inflammations: the white and yellow
(of which the yellow is best) cool the heat of fevers, strengthen the
heart, and cause cheerfulness.
_Sassafras._ Is hot and dry in the second degree, it opens obstructions
or stoppings, it strengthens the breast exceedingly; if it be weakened
through cold, it breaks the stone, stays vomiting, provokes urine, and
is very profitable in the venereal, used in diet drinks.
_Tamaris._ Is profitable for the rickets, and burnings.
_Xylobalsamum._ Wood of the Balsam tree, it is hot and dry in the
second degree, according to Galen. I never read any great virtues of it.
HERBS AND THEIR LEAVES.
_A Brotanum, mas, fœmina._ Southernwood, male and female. It is hot
and dry in the third degree, resists poison, kills worms; outwardly
in plaisters, it dissolves cold swellings, and helps the bitings of
venomous beasts, makes hair grow: take not above half a dram at a time
in powder.
_Absinthium, &c._ Wormwood. Its several sorts, are all hot and dry
in the second or third degrees, the common Wormwood is thought to be
hottest, they all help weakness of the stomach, cleanse choler, kill
worms, open stoppings, help surfeits, clear the sight, resist poison,
cleanse the blood, and secure cloaths from moths.
_Abugilissa, &c._ Alkanet. The leaves are something drying and binding,
but inferior in virtue to the roots, to which I refer you.
_Acetosa._ Sorrel. Is moderately cold dry and binding, cuts tough
humours, cools the brain, liver and stomach, cools the blood in fevers,
and provokes appetite.
_Acanthus._ Bears-breech, or Branks ursine, is temperate, something
moist. See the root.
_Adiantum, Album, nigrum._ Maiden hair, white and black. They are
temperate, yet drying. White Maiden hair is that we usually call
Wall-rue; they both open obstructions, cleanse the breast and lungs of
gross slimy humours, provoke urine, help ruptures and shortness of wind.
_Adiantum Aurcum Politrycum._ Golden Maiden-hair. Its temperature and
virtues are the same with the former; helps the spleen; burned, and lye
made with the ashes, keeps the hair from falling off the head.
_Agrimonia._ Agrimony. _Galen’s Eupatorium._ It is hot and dry in
the first degree, binding, it amends the infirmities of the liver,
helps such as evacuate blood instead of water, helps inward wounds,
opens obstructions. Outwardly applied it helps old sores, ulcers, &c.
Inwardly, it helps the jaundice and the spleen. Take a dram of this or
that following, inwardly in white wine, or boil the herb in white wine,
and drink the decoction. _Galen, Pliny, Dioscorides, Serapio._
_Ageretum._ Hot and dry in the second degree, provokes urine and the
menses, dries the brain, opens stoppings, helps the green sickness, and
profits such as have a cold, weak liver; outwardly applied, it takes
away the hardness of the matrix, and fills hollow ulcers with flesh.
_Agnus Castus, &c._ Chast-tree. The leaves are hot and dry in the third
degree; expel wind, consume the seed, cause chastity being only borne
about one; it dissolves swellings of the testicles, being applied to
them, head-ache, and lethargy.
_Allajula, Lujula, &c._ Wood Sorrel. It is of the temperature of other
Sorrel, and held to be more cordial; cools the blood, helps ulcers in
the mouth; hot defluxions upon the lungs, wounds, ulcers, &c.
_Alcea._ Vervain Mallow. The root helps fluxes and burstness. _Ætius,
Dioscorides._
_Allium._ Garlick. Hot and dry in the fourth degree, troublesome to the
stomach; it dulls the sight, spoils a clear skin, resists poison, eases
the pains of the teeth, helps the bitings of mad dogs, and venomous
beasts, helps ulcers, leprosies, provokes urine, is exceedingly
opening, and profitable for dropsies.
_Althæa, &c._ Marsh-Mallows. Are moderately hot and drier than other
Mallows; they help digestion, and mitigate pain, ease the pains of the
stone, and in the sides. Use them as you were taught in the roots,
whose virtues they have, and both together will do better.
_Alsine._ Chickweed. Is cold and moist without any binding, assuages
swelling, and comforts the sinews much; therefore it is good for such
as are shrunk up; it dissolves aposthumes, hard swellings, and helps
mange in the hands and legs, outwardly applied in a pultis. _Galen._
_Alchymilla._ Ladies-Mantle. Is hot and dry, some say in the second
degree, some say in the third: outwardly it helps wounds, reduces
women’s breasts that hang down: inwardly, helps bruises, and ruptures,
stays vomiting, and the Fluor Albus, and is very profitable for such
women as are subject to miscarry through cold and moisture.
_Alkanna._ Privet hath a binding quality, helps ulcers in the mouth, is
good against burnings and scaldings, cherishes the nerves and sinews;
boil it in white wine to wash the mouth, and in hog’s grease for
burnings and scaldings.
_Amaracus, Majorana._ Marjoram. Some say ’tis hot and dry in the second
degree, some advance it to the third. Sweet Marjoram, is an excellent
remedy for cold diseases in the brain, being only smelled to helps
such as are given to much sighing, easeth pains in the belly, provokes
urine, being taken inwardly: you may take a dram of it at a time in
powder. Outwardly in oils or salves, it helps sinews that are shrunk;
limbs out of joint, all aches and swellings coming of a cold cause.
_Angelica._ Is hot and dry in the third degree; opens, digests, makes
thin, strengthens the heart, helps fluxes, and loathsomeness of meat.
It is an enemy to poison and pestilence, provokes menses, and brings
away the placanta. You may take a dram of it at a time in powder.
_Anagallis, mas, femina._ Pimpernel, male and female. They are
something hot and dry, and of such a drying quality that they draw
thorns and splinters out of the flesh, amend the sight, cleanse ulcers,
help infirmities of the liver and reins. _Galen._
_Anethum._ Dill. Is hot and dry in the second degree. It stays
vomiting, eases hiccoughs, assuages swellings, provokes urine, helps
such as are troubled with fits of the mother, and digests raw humours.
_Apium._ Smallage; So it is commonly used; but indeed all Parsley is
called by the name of Apium, of which this is one kind. It is something
hotter and dryer than Parsley, and more efficacious; it opens stoppings
of the liver, and spleen, cleanses the blood, provokes the menses,
helps a cold stomach to digest its meat, and is good against the yellow
jaundice. Both Smallage and Clevers, may be well used in pottage in the
morning instead of herbs.
_Aparine._ Goose-grass, or Clevers: They are meanly hot and dry,
cleansing, help the bitings of venomous beasts, keep men’s bodies from
growing too fat, help the yellow jaundice, stay bleeding, fluxes, and
help green wounds. _Dioscorides, Pliny, Galen, Tragus._
_Aspergula odorata._ Wood-roof: Cheers the heart, makes men merry,
helps melancholy, and opens the stoppings of the liver.
_Aquilegia._ Columbines: help sore throats, are of a drying, binding
quality.
_Argentina._ Silver-weed, or Wild Tansy; cold and dry almost in the
third degree; stops lasks, fluxes, and the menses, good against ulcers,
the stone, and inward wounds: easeth gripings in the belly, fastens
loose teeth: outwardly it takes away freckles, morphew, and sunburning,
it takes away inflammations, and bound to the wrists stops the violence
of the fits of the ague.
_Artanita._ Sow-bread: hot and dry in the third degree, it is a
dangerous purge: outwardly in ointments it takes away freckles,
sunburning, and the marks which the small pox leaves behind them:
dangerous for pregnant women.
_Aristolochia, longa, rotunda._ Birth-wort long and round. See the
roots.
_Artemisia._ Mugwort: is hot and dry in the second degree: binding: an
herb appropriated to the female sex; it brings down the menses, brings
away both birth and placenta, eases pains in the matrix. You may take a
dram at a time.
_Asparagus._ See the roots.
_Asarum, &c._ Asarabacca: hot and dry; provokes vomiting and urine, and
are good for dropsies. They are corrected with mace or cinnamon.
_Atriplex, &c._ Orach, or Arrach. It is cold in the first degree, and
moist in the second, saith _Galen_, and makes the belly soluble. It is
an admirable remedy for the fits of the mother, and other infirmities
of the matrix, and therefore the Latins called it _Vulvaria_.
_Aricula muris, major._ Mouse-ear: hot and dry, of a binding quality,
it is admirable to heal wounds, inward or outward, as also ruptures
or burstness: Edge-tools quenched in the juice of it, will cut iron
without turning the edge, as easy as they will lead: And, lastly, it
helps the swelling of the spleen, coughs and consumptions, of the
lungs.
_Attractivis hirsuta._ Wild Bastard-saffron, Distaff-thistle, or
Spindle-thistle. Is dry and moderately digesting, helps the biting of
venomous beasts: _Mesue_ saith, it is hot in the first degree, and dry
in the second, and cleanseth the breast and lungs of tough flegm.
_Balsamita, &c._ Costmary, Alecost: See Maudlin.
_Barbajovis, sedum majus._ Houseleek or Sengreen: cold in the third
degree, profitable against the Shingles, and other hot creeping ulcers,
inflammations, _St. Anthony’s_ fire, frenzies; it cools and takes away
corns from the toes, being bathed with the juice of it, and a skin of
the leaf laid over the place; stops fluxes, helps scalding and burning.
_Bardana._ Clot-bur, or Bur-dock: temperately dry and wasting,
something cooling; it is held to be good against the shrinking of the
sinews; eases pains in the bladder, and provokes urine. Also _Mizaldus_
saith, that a leaf applied to the top of the head of a woman draws
the matrix upwards, but applied to the soles of the feet draws it
downwards, and is therefore an admirable remedy for suffocations,
precipitations, and dislocations of the matrix, if a wise man have but
the using of it.
_Beta, alba, nigra, rubra._ Beets, white, black, and red; black Beets
I have no knowledge of. The white are something colder and moister
than the red, both of them loosen the belly, but have little or no
nourishment. The white provoke to stool, and are more cleansing, open
stoppings of the liver and spleen, help the vertigo or swimming in the
head: The red stay fluxes, help the immoderate flowing of the menses,
and are good in the yellow jaundice.
_Benedicta Cariphyllara._ Avens: hot and dry, help the cholic and
rawness of the stomach, stitches in the sides, and take away clotted
blood in any part of the body.
_Betonica vulgaris._ Common or Wood Betony: hot and dry in the second
degree, helps the falling sickness and all head-aches coming of cold,
cleanses the breast and lungs, opens stoppings of the liver and spleen,
as the rickets, &c. procures appetite, helps sour belchings, provokes
urine, breaks the stone, mitigates the pains of the reins and bladder,
helps cramps, and convulsions, resists poison, helps the gout, such as
evacuate blood, madness and head-ache, kills worms, helps bruises, and
cleanseth women after labour: You may take a dram of it at a time in
white wine, or any other convenient liquor proper against the disease
you are afflicted with.
_Betonica Pauli, &c._ Paul’s Betony, or Male Lluellin, to which add
_Elative_, or Female Lluellin, which comes afterwards; they are pretty
temperate, stop defluxions of humours that fall from the head into the
eyes, are profitable in wounds, help filthy foul eating cankers.
_Betonica Coronaria, &c._ Is Clove Gilli-flowers. See the flowers.
_Bellis._ Dasies: are cold and moist in the second degree, they ease
all pains and swellings coming of heat, in clysters they loose the
belly, are profitable in fevers and inflammations of the testicles,
they take away bruises, and blackness and blueness; they are admirable
in wounds and inflammations of the lungs or blood.
_Blitum._ Blites. Some say they are cold and moist, others cold and
dry: none mention any great virtues of them.
_Borrago._ Borrage: hot and moist, comforts the heart, cheers the
spirits, drives away sadness and melancholy, they are rather laxative
than binding; help swooning and heart-qualms, breed good blood, help
consumptions, madness, and such as are much weakened by sickness.
_Bonus Henricus._ Good Henry, or all good; hot and dry, cleansing and
scouring, inwardly taken it loosens the belly; outwardly it cleanseth
old sores and ulcers.
_Botrys._ Oak of Jerusalem: hot and dry in the second degree, helps
such as are short-winded, cuts and wastes gross and tough flegm, laid
among cloaths they preserve them from moths, and give them a sweet
smell.
_Branca ursina._ Bears-breech.
_Brionia, &c._ Briony, white and black; both are hot and dry in
the third degree, purge violently, yet are held to be wholesome
physic for such as have dropsies, vertigo, or swimming in the head,
falling-sickness, &c. Certainly it is a strong, troublesome purge,
therefore not to be tampered with by the unskilful, outwardly in
ointments it takes away freckles, wrinkles, morphew, scars, spots, &c.
from the face.
_Bursa pastoris._ Shepherd’s Purse, is manifestly cold and dry, though
_Lobel_ and _Pena_ thought the contrary; it is binding and stops blood,
the menses; and cools inflammations.
_Buglossom._ Buglosse. Its virtues are the same with Borrage.
_Bugula._ Bugle, or Middle Comfrey; is temperate for heat, but very
drying, excellent for falls or inward bruises, for it dissolves
congealed blood, profitable for inward wounds, helps the rickets and
other stoppings of the liver; outwardly it is of wonderful force in
curing wounds and ulcers, though festered, as also gangreens and
fistulas, it helps broken bones, and dislocations. Inwardly you may
take it in powder a dram at a time, or drink the decoction of it in
white-wine: being made into an ointment with hog’s grease, you shall
find it admirable in green wounds.
_Buphthalmum, &c._ Ox eye. _Matthiolus_ saith they are commonly used
for black Hellebore, to the virtues of which I refer.
_Buxus._ Boxtree: the leaves are hot, dry, and binding, they are
profitable against the biting of mad dogs; both taken inwardly boiled
and applied to the place: besides they are good to cure horses of the
bots.
_Calamintha, Montana, Palustris._ Mountain and Water Calamint: For
the Water Calamint: see mints, than which it is accounted stronger.
Mountain Calamint, is hot and dry in the third degree, provokes urine
and the menses, hastens the birth in women, brings away the placenta,
helps cramps, convulsions, difficulty of breathing, kills worms, helps
the dropsy: outwardly used, it helps such as hold their necks on one
side: half a dram is enough at one time. _Galen, Dioscorides, Apuleius._
_Calendula, &c._ Marigolds. The leaves are hot in the second degree,
and something moist, loosen the belly: the juice held in the mouth,
helps the toothache, and takes away any inflammation or hot swelling
being bathed with it, mixed with a little vinegar.
_Callitricum._ Maiden-hair. See _Adianthum_.
_Caprisolium._ Honey-suckles: The leaves are hot, and therefore naught
for inflammations of the mouth and throat, for which the ignorant
people oftentime give them: and _Galen_ was true in this, let modern
writers write their pleasure. If you chew but a leaf of it in your
mouth, experience will tell you that it is likelier to cause, than
to cure a sore throat, they provoke urine, and purge by urine, bring
speedy delivery to women in travail, yet procure barrenness and hinder
conception, outwardly they dry up foul ulcers, and cleanse the face
from morphew, sun-burning and freckles.
_Carduncellus, &c._ Groundsell. Cold and moist according to _Tragus_,
helps the cholic, and gripings in the belly, helps such as cannot make
water, cleanses the reins, purges choler and sharp humours: the usual
way of taking it is to boil it in water with currants, and so eat it.
I hold it to be a wholesome and harmless purge. Outwardly it easeth
women’s breasts that are swollen and inflamed; as also inflammations of
the joints, nerves, or sinews. _Ægineta._
_Carduus B. Mariæ._ Our Ladies Thistles. They are far more temperate
than _Carduus Benedictus_, open obstructions of the liver, help the
jaundice and dropsy, provoke urine, break the stone.
_Carduus Benedictus._ _Blessed Thistle_, but better known by the Latin
name: it is hot and dry in the second degree, cleansing and opening,
helps swimming and giddiness in the head, deafness, strengthens the
memory, helps griping pains in the belly, kills worms, provokes sweat,
expels poison, helps inflammation of the liver, is very good in
pestilence and venereal: outwardly applied, it ripens plague-sores, and
helps hot swellings, the bitings of mad dogs and venomous beasts, and
foul filthy ulcers. Every one that can but make a Carduus posset, knows
how to use it. _Camerarius, Arnuldus velanovanus._
_Chalina._ See the roots, under the name of white Chameleon.
_Corallina._ A kind of Sea Moss: cold, binding, drying, good for hot
gouts, inflammations: also they say it kills worms, and therefore by
some is called Maw-wormseed.
_Cussutha, cascuta, potagralini._ Dodder. See _Epithimum_.
_Caryophyllata._ Avens, or Herb Bennet, hot and dry: they help the
cholic, rawness of the stomach, stitches in the sides, stoppings of the
liver, and bruises.
_Cataputia minor._ A kind of Spurge. See _Tythymalus_.
_Cattaria, Nepeta._ Nep, or Catmints. The virtues are the same with
Calaminth.
_Cauda Equina._ Horse-tail; is of a binding drying quality, cures
wounds, and is an admirable remedy for sinews that are shrunk: it is a
sure remedy for bleeding at the nose, or by wound, stops the menses,
fluxes, ulcers in the reins and bladder, coughs, ulcers in the lungs,
difficulty of breathing.
_Caulis, Brassica hortensis, silvestris._ Colewort, or Cabbages, garden
and wild. They are drying and binding, help dimness of the sight: help
the spleen, preserve from drunkenness, and help the evil effects of it:
provoke the menses.
_Centaurium, majus, minus._ Centaury the greater and less. They say the
greater will do wonders in curing wounds: see the root. The less is a
present remedy for the yellow jaundice, opens stoppings of the liver,
gall, and spleen: purges choler, helps gout, clears the sight, purgeth
the stomach, helps the dropsy and green sickness. It is only the tops
and flowers which are useful, of which you may take a dram inwardly in
powder, or half a handful boiled in posset-drink at a time.
_Centinodium, &c._ Knotgrass: cold in the second degree, helps spitting
and other evacuations of blood, stops the menses and all other fluxes
of blood, vomiting of blood, gonorrhæa, or running of the reins,
weakness of the back and joints, inflammations of the privities, and
such as make water by drops, and it is an excellent remedy for hogs
that will not eat their meat. Your only way is to boil it, it is in
its prime about the latter end of _July_, or beginning of _August_:
at which time being gathered it may be kept dry all the year.
_Brassavolus, Camerarius._
_Caryfolium vulgare et Myrrhis._ Common and great chervil: Take them
both together, and they are temperately hot and dry, provoke urine,
stir up venery, comfort the heart, and are good for old people; help
pleurises and pricking in the sides.
_Cæpea, Anagallis aquatica._ Brooklime, hot and dry, but not so hot and
dry as Water cresses; they help mangy horses; see Water cresses.
_Ceterach, &c._ Spleenwort: moderately hot, waste and consumes the
spleen, insomuch that _Vitruvius_ affirms he hath known hogs that have
fed upon it, that have had (when they were killed) no spleens at all.
It is excellently good for melancholy people, helps the stranguary,
provokes urine, and breaks the stone in the bladder, boil it and
drink the decoction; but because a little boiling will carry away the
strength of it in vapours, let it boil but very little, and let it
stand close stopped till it be cold before you strain it out; this is
the general rule for all simples of this nature.
_Chamapitys._ Ground-pine; hot in the second degree, and dry in the
third, helps the jaundice, sciatica, stopping of the liver, and spleen,
provokes the menses, cleanses the entrails, dissolves congealed blood,
resists poison, cures wounds and ulcers. Strong bodies may take a dram,
and weak bodies half a dram of it in powder at a time.
_Chamæmelum, sativum, sylvestre._ Garden and Wild Chamomel. Garden
Chamomel, is hot and dry in the first degree, and as gallant a medicine
against the stone in the bladder as grows upon the earth, you may take
it inwardly, I mean the decoction of it, being boiled in white wine, or
inject the juice of it into the bladder with a syringe. It expels wind,
helps belchings, and potently provokes the menses: used in baths, it
helps pains in the sides, gripings and gnawings in the belly.
_Chamædris, &c._ Germander: hot and dry in the third degree; cuts and
brings away tough humours, opens stoppings of the liver and spleen,
helps coughs and shortness of breath, stranguary and stopping of urine,
and provokes the menses; half a dram is enough to take at a time.
_Chelidonium utrumque._ Celandine both sorts. Small Celandine is
usually called Pilewort; it is something hotter and dryer than the
former, it helps the hemorrhoids or piles, bruised and applied to the
grief. Celandine the greater is hot and dry (they say in the third
degree) any way used; either the juice or made into an oil or ointment,
it is a great preserver of the sight, and an excellent help for the
eyes.
_Cinara, &c._ Artichokes. They provoke venery, and purge by urine.
_Cichorium._ Succory, to which add Endive which comes after. They are
cold and dry in the second degree, cleansing and opening; they cool
the heats of the liver, and are profitable in the yellow jaundice, and
burning fevers; help excoriations in the privities, hot stomachs; and
outwardly applied, help hot rheums in the eyes.
_Cicuta._ Hemlock: cold in the fourth degree, poisonous: outwardly
applied, it helps _Priapismus_, the shingles, _St. Anthony’s fire_, or
any eating ulcers.
_Clematis Daphnoides, Vinca provinca._ Periwinkle. Hot in the second
degree, something dry and binding; stops lasks, spitting of blood, and
the menses.
_Consolida major._ Comfrey, I do not conceive the leaves to be so
virtuous as the roots.
_Consolida media._ Bugles, of which before.
_Consolida minima._ Daises.
_Consolida rubra._ Golden Rod: hot and dry in the second degree,
cleanses the reins, provokes urine, brings away the gravel: an
admirable herb for wounded people to take inwardly, stops blood, &c.
_Consolida Regalis, Delphinium._ Lark heels: resist poison, help the
bitings of venomous beasts.
_Saracenica Solidago._ Saracens Confound. Helps inward wounds, sore
mouths, sore throats, wasting of the lungs, and liver.
_Coronepus._ Buchorn Plantane, or Sea-plantain: cold and dry, helps the
bitings of venomous beasts, either taken inwardly, or applied to the
wound: helps the cholic, breaks the stone. _Ægineta._
_Coronaria._ Hath got many English names. Cottonweed, Cudweed,
Chaffweed, and Petty Cotton. Of a drying and binding nature; boiled in
lye, it keeps the head from nits and lice; being laid among clothes, it
keeps them safe from moths, kills worms, helps the bitings of venomous
beasts; taken in a tobacco-pipe, it helps coughs of the lungs, and
vehement headaches.
_Cruciata._ Crosswort: (there is a kind of Gentian called also by this
name, which I pass by) is drying and binding, exceeding good for inward
or outward wounds, either inwardly taken, or outwardly applied: and an
excellent remedy for such as are bursten.
_Crassula._ Orpine. Very good: outwardly used with vinegar, it clears
the skin; inwardly taken, it helps gnawings of the stomach and bowels,
ulcers in the lungs, bloody-flux, and quinsy in the throat, for which
last disease it is inferior to none, take not too much of it at a time,
because of its coolness.
_Crithamus, &c._ Sampire. Hot and dry, helps difficulty of urine, the
yellow jaundice, provokes the menses, helps digestion, opens stoppings
of the liver and spleen. _Galen._
_Cucumis Asininus._ Wild Cucumbers. See _Elaterium_.
_Cyanus major, minor._ Blue bottle, great and small, a fine cooling
herb, helps bruises, wounds, broken veins; the juice dropped into the
eye, helps the inflammations thereof.
_Cygnoglossam._ Hound’s-Tongue, cold and dry: applied to the fundament
helps the hemorrhoids, heals wounds and ulcers, and is a present remedy
against the bitings of dogs, burnings and scaldings.
_Cypressus, Chamœ Cyparissus._ Cypress-tree. The leaves are hot and
binding, help ruptures, and _Polypus_ or flesh growing on the nose.
_Chamæ cyparissus._ Is Lavender Cotton. Resists poison, and kills worms.
_Disetamnus Cretensis._ Dictamny, or Dittany of _Creet_, hot and dry,
brings away dead children, hastens delivery, brings away the placenta,
the very smell of it drives away venomous beasts, so deadly an enemy
it is to poison; it is an admirable remedy against wounds and gunshot,
wounds made with poisoned weapons, it draws out splinters, broken
bones, &c. The dose from half a dram to a dram.
_Dipsacus, sativ. sylv._ Teazles, garden and wild, the leaves bruised
and applied to the temples, allay the heat in fevers, qualify the rage
in frenzies; the juice dropped into the ears, kills worms in them,
dropped into the eyes, clears the sight, helps redness and pimples in
the face, being anointed with it.
_Ebulus._ Dwarf Elder, or Walwort. Hot and dry in the third degree;
waste hard swellings, being applied in form of a poultice; the hair of
the head anointed with the juice of it turns it black; the leaves being
applied to the place, help inflammations, burnings, scaldings, the
bitings of mad dogs; mingled with bulls suet is a present remedy for
the gout; inwardly taken, is a singular purge for the dropsy and gout.
_Echium._ Viper’s-bugloss, Viper’s-herb, Snake bugloss, Wal-bugloss,
Wild-bugloss, several counties give it these several names: It is
a singular remedy being eaten, for the biting of venomous beasts:
continually eating of it makes the body invincible against the poison
of serpents, toads, spiders, &c. however it be administered; it
comforts the heart, expels sadness and melancholy. The rich may make
the flowers into a conserve, and the herb into a syrup, the poor may
keep it dry, both may keep it as a jewel.
_Empetron, Calcifragra, Herniaria, &c._ Rupture-wort, or Burst-wort.
The English name tells you it is good against ruptures, and so such as
are bursten shall find it, if they please to make trial of it, either
inwardly taken, or outwardly applied to the place, or both. Also the
Latin names hold it forth to be good against the stone, which whoso
tries shall find true.
_Enula Campana._ Elicampane. Provokes urine. See the root.
_Epithimum._ Dodder of Time, to which add common Dodder, which is
usually that which grows upon flax: indeed every Dodder retains a
virtue of that herb or plant it grows upon, as Dodder that grows
upon Broom, provokes urine forcibly, and loosens the belly, and is
moister than that which grows upon flax: that which grows upon time,
is hotter and dryer than that which grows upon flax, even in the third
degree, opens obstructions, helps infirmities of the spleen, purgeth
melancholy, relieves drooping spirits, helps the rickets: That which
grows on flax, is excellent for agues in young children, strengthens
weak stomachs, purgeth choler, provokes urine, opens stoppings in
the reins and bladder. That which grows upon nettles, provokes urine
exceedingly. The way of using it is to boil it in white wine, or
other convenient decoction, and boil it very little. _Ætias, Mesue,
Actuarius, Serapio, Avincena._
_Eruch._ Rocket, hot and dry in the third degree, being eaten alone,
causeth head-ache, by its heat procures urine. _Galen._
_Eupatorium._ See _Ageratum_.
_Euphragia._ Eyebright is something hot and dry, the very sight of it
refresheth the eyes; inwardly taken, it restores the sight, and makes
old men’s eyes young, a dram of it taken in the morning is worth a
pair of spectacles, it comforts and strengthens the memory, outwardly
applied to the place, it helps the eyes.
_Filix fœmina._ }
_Filicula, polypidium._ } See the roots.
_Filipendula._ }
_Malahathram._ Indian-leaf, hot and dry in the second degree, comforts
the stomach exceedingly, helps digestion, provokes urine, helps
inflammations of the eyes, secures cloaths from moths.
_Fæniculum._ Fennel, encreaseth milk in nurses, provokes urine, breaks
the stone, easeth pains in the reins, opens stoppings, breaks wind,
provokes the menses; you may boil it in white wine.
_Fragaria._ Strawberry leaves, are cold, dry, and binding, a singular
remedy for inflammations and wounds, hot diseases in the throat; they
stop fluxes and the terms, cool the heat of the stomach, and the
inflammations of the liver. The best way is to boil them in barley
water.
_Fraxinus, &c._ Ash-trees, the leaves are moderately hot and dry, cure
the bitings of Adders, and Serpents; they stop looseness, and stay
vomiting, help the rickets, open stoppages of the liver and spleen.
_Fumaria._ Fumitory: cold and dry, it opens and cleanses by urine,
helps such as are itchy, and scabbed, clears the skin, opens stoppings
of the liver and spleen, helps rickets, hypochondriac melancholy,
madness, frenzies, quartan agues, loosens the belly, gently purgeth
melancholy, and addust choler: boil it in white wine, and take this one
general rule. _All things of a cleansing or opening nature may be most
commodiously boiled in white wine._ Remember but this, and then I need
not repeat it.
_Galega._ Goat’s-rue: Temperate in quality, resists poison, kills
worms, helps the falling-sickness, resists the pestilence. You may take
a dram of it at a time in powder.
_Galion._ Ladies-bed straw: dry and binding, stanches blood, boiled in
oil, the oil is good to anoint a weary traveller; inwardly it provokes
venery.
_Gentiana._ See the root.
_Genista._ Brooms: hot and dry in the second degree, cleanse and open
the stomach, break the stone in the reins and bladder, help the green
sickness. Let such as are troubled with heart-qualms or faintings,
forbear it, for it weakens the heart and spirit vital. See the flowers.
_Geranium._ Cranebill, the divers sorts of it, one of which is that
which is called Muscata; it is thought to be cool and dry, helps hot
swellings, and by its smell amends a hot brain.
_Geranium Columbinum._ Doves-foot; helps the wind cholic, pains in the
belly, stone in the reins and bladder, and is good in ruptures, and
inward wounds. I suppose these are the general virtues of them all.
_Gramen._ Grass: See the root.
_Gratiola._ Hedge-Hyssop, purges water and flegm, but works very
churlishly. _Gesner_ commends it in dropsies.
_Asphodelus fœm._ See the root.
_Hepatica, Lichen._ Liverwort, cold and dry, good for inflammations of
the liver, or any other inflammations, yellow jaundice.
_Hedera Arborea, Terrostris._ Tree and Ground-Ivy. Tree-Ivy helps
ulcers, burnings, scaldings, the bad effects of the spleen; the juice
snuffed up the nose, purges the head, it is admirable for surfeits or
headache, or any other ill effects coming of drunkenness. Ground-Ivy
is that which usually is called Alehoof, hot and dry, the juice helps
noise in the ears, fistulas, gouts, stoppings of the liver, it
strengthens the reins and stops the menses, helps the yellow jaundice,
and other diseases coming of stoppings of the liver, and is excellent
for wounded people.
_Herba Camphorata._ Stinking Ground-pine, is of a drying quality, and
therefore stops defluxions either in the eyes or upon the lungs, the
gout, cramps, palsies, aches: strengthens the nerves.
_Herbu Paralysis, Primula veris._ Primroses, or Cowslips, which you
will. The leaves help pains in the head and joints; see the flowers
which are most in use.
_Herba Paris._ Herb True-love, or One-berry. It is good for wounds,
falls, bruises, aposthumes, inflammations, ulcers in the privities.
Herb True-love, is very cold in temperature. You may take half a dram
of it at a time in powder.
_Herba Roberti._ A kind of Cranebill.
_Herba venti, Anemone._ Wind-flower. The juice snuffed up in the nose
purgeth the head, it cleanses filthy ulcers, encreases milk in nurses,
and outwardly by ointment helps leprosies.
_Herniaria._ The same with _Empetron_.
_Helxine._ Pellitory of the wall. Cold, moist, cleansing, helps the
stone and gravel in the kidnies, difficulty of urine, sore throats,
pains in the ears, the juice being dropped in them; outwardly it helps
the shingles and _St. Anthony’s fire_.
_Hyppoglossum._ Horse-tongue, Tongue-blade or Double-Tongue. The roots
help the stranguary, provoke urine, ease the hard labour of women,
provoke the menses, the herb helps ruptures and the fits of the mother:
it is hot in the second degree, dry in the first: boil it in white wine.
_Hyppolapathum._ Patience, or Monk’s Rhubarb: see the Root.
_Hypposclinum._ Alexanders, or Alisanders: provoke urine, expel the
placenta, help the stranguary, expel wind.
Sage either taken inwardly or beaten and applied plaister-wise to the
matrix, draws forth both menses and placenta.
_Horminum._ Clary: hot and dry in the third degree; helps the weakness
in the back, stops the running of the reins, and the Fluor Albus,
provokes the menses, and helps women that are barren through coldness
or moisture, or both: causes fruitfulness, but is hurtful for the
memory. The usual way of taking it is to fry it with butter, or make a
tansy with it.
_Hydropiper._ Arsmart. Hot and dry, consumes all cold swellings and
blood congealed by bruises, and stripes; applied to the place, it
helps that aposthume in the joints, commonly called a felon: strewed
in a chamber, kills all the fleas there: this is hottest Arsmart,
and is unfit to be given inwardly: there is a milder sort, called
_Persicaria_, which is of a cooler and milder quality, drying,
excellently good for putrified ulcers, kills worms: I had almost forgot
that the former is an admirable remedy for the gout, being roasted
between two tiles and applied to the grieved place, and yet I had it
from Dr. _Butler_ too.
_Hysopus._ Hysop. Helps coughs, shortness of breath, wheezing,
distillations upon the lungs: it is of a cleansing quality: kills worms
in the body, amends the whole colour of the body, helps the dropsy and
spleen, sore throats, and noise in the ears. See Syrup of Hysop.
_Hyosciamus, &c._ Henbane. The white Henbane is held to be cold in
the third degree, the black or common Henbane and the yellow, in
the fourth. They stupify the senses, and therefore not to be taken
inwardly, outwardly applied, they help inflammations, hot gouts:
applied to the temples they provoke sleep.
_Hypericon._ St. John’s Wort. It is as gallant a wound-herb as any is,
either given inwardly, or outwardly applied to the wound: it is hot and
dry, opens stoppings, helps spitting and vomiting of blood, it cleanses
the reins, provokes the menses, helps congealed blood in the stomach
and meseraic veins, the falling-sickness, palsy, cramps and aches in
the joints; you may give it in powder or any convenient decoction.
_Hypoglottis, Laurus, Alexandrina._ Laurel of Alexandria, provokes
urine and the menses, and is held to be a singular help to women in
travail.
_Hypoglossum_, the same with _Hypoglossum_ before, only different names
given by different authors, the one deriving his name from the tongue
of a horse, of which form the leaf is; the other the form of the little
leaf, because small leaves like small tongues grow upon the greater.
_Iberis Cardamantice._ Sciatica-cresses. I suppose so called because
they help the Sciatica, or Huckle-bone Gout.
_Ingumalis, Asther._ Setwort or Shartwort: being bruised and applied,
they help swellings, botches, and venerous swellings in the groin,
whence they took their name, as also inflammation and falling out of
the fundament.
_Iris._ See the roots.
_Isatis, Glastum._ Woad. Drying and binding; the side being bathed with
it, it easeth pains in the spleen, cleanseth filthy corroding gnawing
ulcers.
_Iva Arthritica._ The same with _Camæpytis_.
_Iuncus oderatus._ The same with _Schœnanthus_.
_Labrum veneris._ The same with _Dipsacus_.
_Lactuca._ Lettice. Cold and moist, cools the inflammation of the
stomach, commonly called heart-burning: provokes sleep, resists
drunkenness, and takes away the ill effects, of it; cools the blood,
quenches thirst, breeds milk, and is good for choleric bodies, and such
as have a frenzy, or are frantic. It is more wholesome eaten boiled
than raw.
_Logabus, Herba Leporina._ A kind of Trefoil growing in _France_ and
_Spain_. Let them that live there look after the virtues of it.
_Lavendula._ Lavender: Hot and dry in the third degree: the temples
and forehead bathed with the juice of it; as also the smell of the
herb helps swoonings, catalepsis, falling-sickness, provided it be not
accompanied with a fever. See the flowers.
_Laureola._ Laurel. The leaves purge upward and downward: they are good
for rheumatic people to chew in their mouths, for they draw forth much
water.
_Laurus._ Bay-tree. The leaves are hot and dry, resist drunkenness,
they gently bind and help diseases in the bladder, help the stinging of
bees and wasps, mitigate the pain of the stomach, dry and heal, open
obstructions of the liver and spleen, resist the pestilence.
_Lappa Minor._ The lesser Burdock.
_Lentiscus._ Mastich-tree. Both the leaves and bark of it stop fluxes
(being hot and dry in the second degree) spitting and evacuations of
blood, and the falling out of the fundament.
_Lens palustris._ Duckmeat: Cold and moist in the second degree, helps
inflammations, hot swellings, and the falling out of the fundament,
being warmed and applied to the place.
_Lepidium Piperites._ Dittander, Pepperwort, or Scar-wort: A hot fiery
sharp herb, admirable for the gout being applied to the place: being
only held in the hand, it helps the tooth-ache, and withall leaves a
wan colour in the hand that holds it.
_Livisticum._ Lovage. Clears the sight, takes away redness and freckles
from the face.
_Libanotis Coronaria._ See Rosemary.
_Linaria._ Toad-flax, or Wild-flax: hot and dry, cleanses the reins and
bladder, provokes urine, opens the stoppings of the liver and spleen,
and helps diseases coming thereof: outwardly it takes away yellowness
and deformity of the skin.
_Lillium convallium._ Lilly of the Valley. See the flowers.
_Lingua Cervina._ Hart’s-tongue: drying and binding, stops blood,
the menses and fluxes, opens stoppings of the liver and spleen, and
diseases thence arising. The like quantity of Hart’s-tongue, Knotgrass
and Comfrey Roots, being boiled in water, and a draught of the
decoction drunk every morning, and the materials which have boiled
applied to the place, is a notable remedy for such as are bursten.
_Limonium._ Sea-bugloss, or Marsh-bugloss, or Sea-Lavender; the seeds
being very drying and binding, stop fluxes and the menses, help the
cholic and stranguary.
_Lotus urbana._ Authors make some flutter about this herb, I conceive
the best take it to be _Trisolium Odoratum_, Sweet Trefoyl, which is of
a temperate nature, cleanses the eyes gently of such things as hinder
the sight, cures green wounds, ruptures, or burstness, helps such as
urine blood or are bruised, and secures garments from moths.
_Lupulus._ Hops. Opening, cleansing, provoke urine, the young sprouts
open stoppings of the liver and spleen, cleanse the blood, clear the
skin, help scabs and itch, help agues, purge choler: they are usually
boiled and taken as they eat asparagus, but if you would keep them,
for they are excellent for these diseases, you may make them into a
conserve, or into a syrup.
_Lychnitis Coronaria_: or as others write it, _Lychnis_. Rose Campion.
I know no great physical virtue it hath.
_Macis._ See the barks.
_Magistrantia, &c._ Masterwort. Hot and dry in the third degree: it is
good against poison, pestilence, corrupt and unwholesome air, helps
windiness in the stomach, causeth an appetite to one’s victuals, very
profitable in falls and bruises, congealed and clotted blood, the
bitings of mad-dogs; the leaves chewed in the mouth, cleanse the brain
of superfluous humours, thereby preventing lethargies, and apoplexes.
_Malva._ Mallows. The best of Authors account wild Mallows to be best,
and hold them to be cold and moist in the first degree, they are
profitable in the bitings of venomous beasts, the stinging of bees and
wasps, &c. Inwardly they resist poison, provoke to stool; outwardly
they assuage hard swellings of the privities or other places; in
clysters they help roughness and fretting of the entrails, bladder,
or fundament; and so they do being boiled in water, and the decoction
drank, as I have proved in the bloody flux.
_Majorana._ See _Amaracus_.
_Mandragora._ Mandrakes. Fit for no vulgar use, but only to be used in
cooling ointments.
_Marrubium, album, nigrum, fœtidum._
_Marrubium album_, is common Horehound. Hot in the second degree, and
dry in the third, opens the liver and spleen, cleanses the breast and
lungs, helps old coughs, pains in the sides, ptisicks, or ulceration of
the lungs, it provokes the menses, eases hard labour in child-bearing,
brings away the placenta. See the syrups.
_Marrubium, nigrum, et fœtidum._ Black and stinking Horehound, I take
to be all one. Hot and dry in the third degree; cures the bitings of
mad dogs, wastes and consumes hard knots in the fundament and matrix,
cleanses filthy ulcers.
_Marum._ Herb Mastich. Hot and dry in the third degree, good against
cramps and convulsions.
_Matricaria._ Feverfew. Hot in the third degree, dry in the second;
opens, purges; a singular remedy for diseases incident to the matrix,
and other diseases incident to women, eases their travail, and
infirmities coming after it; it helps the vertigo or dissiness of the
head, melancholy sad thoughts: you may boil it either alone, or with
other herbs fit for the same purpose, with which this treatise will
furnish you; applied to the wrists, it helps the ague.
_Matrisylva._ The same with _Caprifolium_.
_Meliotus._ Melilot. Inwardly taken, provokes urine, breaks the Stone,
cleanses the reins and bladder, cutteth and cleanses the lungs of
tough flegm, the juice dropped into the eyes, clears the sight, into
the ears, mitigates pain and noise there; the head bathed with the
juice mixed with vinegar, takes away the pains thereof: outwardly in
pultisses, it assuages swellings in the privities and elsewhere.
_Mellissa._ Balm. Hot and dry: outwardly mixed with salt and applied to
the neck, helps the King’s-evil, bitings of mad dogs, venomous beasts,
and such as cannot hold their neck as they should do; inwardly it is
an excellent remedy for a cold and moist stomach, cheers the heart,
refreshes the mind, takes away griefs, sorrow, and care, instead of
which it produces joy and mirth. See the syrup. _Galen, Avicenna._
_Mentha sativa._ Garden Mints, Spear Mints. Are hot and dry in the
third degree, provoke hunger, are wholesome for the stomach, stay
vomiting, stop the menses, help sore heads in children, strengthen the
stomach, cause digestion; outwardly applied, they help the bitings of
mad-dogs: Yet they hinder conception.
_Memtha aquatica._ Water Mints: Ease pains of the belly, head-ache, and
vomiting, gravel in the kidnies and stone.
_Methastrum._ Horse-mint. I know no difference between them and water
mints.
_Mercurialis, mas, fœmina._ Mercury male and female, they are both hot
and dry in the second degree, cleansing, digesting, they purge watery
humours, and further conception.
_Mezereon._ Spurge-Olive, or Widdow-wail. A dangerous purge, better let
alone than meddled with.
_Millefolium._ Yarrow. Meanly cold and binding, an healing herb for
wounds, stanches bleeding; and some say the juice snuffed up the nose,
causeth it to bleed, whence it was called, Nose-bleed; it stops lasks,
and the menses, helps the running of the reins, helps inflammations and
excoriations of the priapus, as also inflammations of wounds. _Galen._
_Muscus._ Mosse. Is something cold and binding, yet usually retains a
smatch of the property of the tree it grows on; therefore that which
grows upon oaks is very dry and binding. _Serapio_ saith that it being
infused in wine, and the wine drank, it stays vomiting and fluxes, as
also the Fluor Albus.
_Myrtus._ Myrtle-tree. The leaves are of a cold earthly quality, drying
and binding, good for fluxes, spitting and vomiting of blood; stop the
Fluor Albus and menses.
_Nardus._ See the root.
_Nasturtium, Aquaticum, Hortense._ Water cresses, and Garden-cresses.
Garden-cresses are hot and dry in the fourth degree, good for the
scurvy, sciatica, hard swellings, yet do they trouble the belly, ease
pains of the spleen, provoke lust. _Dioscorides._ Water-cresses are
hot and dry, cleanse the blood, help the scurvy, provoke urine and the
menses, break the stone, help the green-sickness, cause a fresh lively
colour.
_Nasturtium Alhum, Thlaspie._ Treacle-mustard. Hot and dry in the third
degree, purges violently, dangerous for pregnant women. Outwardly it is
applied with profit to the gout.
_Nicorimi._ Tobacco. It is hot and dry in the second degree, and of
a cleansing nature: the leaves warmed and applied to the head, are
excellently good in inveterate head-aches and megrims, if the diseases
come through cold or wind, change them often till the diseases be gone,
help such whose necks be stiff: it eases the faults of the breast:
Asthma’s or head-flegm in the lappets of the lungs: eases the pains
of the stomach and windiness thereof: being heated by the fire, and
applied hot to the side, they loosen the belly, and kill worms being
applied unto it in like manner: they break the stone being applied
in like manner to the region of the bladder: help the rickets, being
applied to the belly and sides: applied to the navel, they give present
ease to the fits of the mother: they take away cold aches in the joints
applied to them: boiled, the liquor absolutely and speedily cures scabs
and itch: neither is there any better salve in the world for wounds
than may be made of it: for it cleanses, fetches out the filth though
it lie in the bones, brings up the flesh from the bottom, and all this
it doth speedily: it cures wounds made with poisoned weapons, and for
this _Clusius_ brings many experiences too tedious here to relate.
It is an admirable thing for carbuncles and plague-sores, inferior
to none: green wounds ’twill cure in a trice: ulcers and gangreens
very speedily, not only in men, but also in beasts, therefore the
Indians dedicated it to their god. Taken in a pipe, it hath almost as
many virtues; it easeth weariness, takes away the sense of hunger and
thirst, provokes to stool: he saith, the Indians will travel four days
without either meat or drink, by only chewing a little of this in their
mouths: It eases the body of superfluous humours, opens stoppings. See
the ointment of Tobacco.
_Nummularia._ Money-wort, or Herb Two-pence; cold, dry, binding, helps
fluxes, stops the menses, helps ulcers in the lungs; outwardly it is a
special herb for wounds.
_Nymphea._ See the flowers.
_Ocynum._ Basil, hot and moist. The best use that I know of it, is, it
gives speedy deliverance to women in travail. Let them not take above
half a dram of it at a time in powder, and be sure also the birth be
ripe, else it causes abortion.
_Oleæ folia._ Olive leaves: they are hard to come by here.
_Ononis._ Restharrow. See the roots.
_Ophioglossum._ Adder’s-tongue. The leaves are very drying: being
boiled in oil they make a dainty green balsam for green wounds: taken
inwardly, they help inward wounds.
_Origanum._ Origany: a kind of wild Marjoram; hot and dry in the third
degree, helps the bitings of venomous beasts, such as have taken Opium,
Hemlock, or Poppy; provokes urine, brings down the menses, helps old
coughs; in an ointment it helps scabs and itch.
_Oxylapathum._ Sorrel. See _Acetosa_.
_Papaver, &c._ Poppies, white, black, or erratick. I refer you to the
syrups of each.
_Parietaria._ Given once before under the name of _Helxine_.
_Pastinæa._ Parsnips. See the roots.
_Persicaria._ See _Hydropiper_. This is the milder sort of Arsmart I
described there: If ever you find it amongst the compounds, take it
under that notion.
_Pentaphyllium._ Cinquefoil: very drying, yet but meanly hot, if at
all; helps ulcers in the mouth, roughness of the wind-pipe (whence
comes hoarsness and coughs, &c.) helps fluxes, creeping ulcers, and
the yellow jaundice; they say one leaf cures a quotidian ague, three
a tertain, and four a quartan. I know it will cure agues without this
curiosity, if a wise man have the handling of it; otherwise a cart load
will not do it.
_Petroselinum._ Parsley. See Smallage.
_Per Columbinus._ See _Geranium_.
_Persicarium folia._ Peach Leaves: they are a gentle, yet a complete
purger of choler, and disease coming from thence; fit for children
because of their gentleness. You may boil them in white wine: a
handfull is enough at a time.
_Pilosella._ Mouse-ear: once before and this is often enough.
_Pithyusa._ A new name for Spurge of the last Edition.
_Plantago._ Plantain. Cold and dry; an herb, though common, yet let
none despise it, for the decoction of it prevails mightily against
tormenting pains and excoriations of the entrails, bloody fluxes, it
stops the menses, and spitting of blood, phthisicks, or consumptions
of the lungs, the running of the reins, and the Fluor Albus, pains
in the head, and frenzies: outwardly it clears the sight, takes away
inflammations, scabs, itch, the shingles, and all spreading sores,
and is as wholesome an herb as can grow about any an house. _Tragus,
Dioscorides._
_Polium, &c._ Polley, or Pellamountain: All the sorts are hot in
the second degree, and dry in the third: helps dropsies, the yellow
jaundice, infirmities of the spleen, and provokes urine. _Dioscorides._
_Polygonum._ Knotgrass.
_Polytricum._ Maidenhair.
_Portulaca._ Purslain: Cold and moist in the second or third degree:
cools hot stomachs, and it is admirable for one that hath his teeth on
edge by eating sour apples, it cools the blood, liver, and is good for
hot diseases, or inflammations in any of these places, stops fluxes,
and the menses, and helps all inward inflammations whatsoever.
_Porrum._ Leeks. See the roots.
_Primula Veris._ See Cowslips, or the Flowers, which you will.
_Prunella._ Self-heal, Carpenter’s-herb, and Sicklewort. Moderately hot
and dry, binding. See Bugle, the virtues being the same.
_Pulegium._ Pennyroyal; hot and dry in the third degree; provokes
urine, breaks the stone in the reins, strengthens women’s backs,
provokes the menses, easeth their labour in child-bed, brings away the
placenta, stays vomiting, strengthens the brain, breaks wind, and helps
the vertigo.
_Pulmonaria, arborea, et Symphytum maculosum._ Lung-wort. It helps
infirmities of the lungs, as hoarsness, coughs, wheezing, shortness of
breath, &c. You may boil it in Hyssop-water, or any other water that
strengthens the lungs.
_Pulicaria._ Fleabane; hot and dry in the third degree, helps the
biting of venomous beasts, wounds and swellings, the yellow jaundice,
the falling sickness, and such as cannot make water; being burnt,
the smoak of it kills all the gnats and fleas in the chamber; it is
dangerous for pregnant women.
_Pyrus sylvestris._ Wild Pear-tree. I know no virtue in the leaves.
_Pyrola._ Winter-green. Cold and dry, and very binding, stops fluxes,
and the menses, and is admirably good in green wounds.
_Quercus folia._ Oak Leaves: Are much of the nature of the former, stay
the Fluor Albus. See the bark.
_Ranunculus._ Hath got a sort of English Names: Crowfoot, King-kob,
Gold-cups, Gold-knobs, Butter-flowers, &c. they are of a notable hot
quality, unfit to be taken inwardly: If you bruise the roots and apply
them to a plague-sore, they are notable things to draw the venom to
them.
_Raparum folia._ If they do mean Turnip leaves, when they are young
and tender, they are held to provoke urine.
_Rosmarirum._ Rosemary, hot and dry in the second degree, binding,
stops fluxes, helps stuffings in the head, the yellow jaundice, helps
the memory, expels wind. See the flowers. _Serapio, Dioscorides._
_Rosa solis._ See the water.
_Rosa alba, rubra, Damascena._ White, Red, and Damask Roses.
_Rumex._ Dock; All the ordinary sort of Docks are of a cool and drying
substance, and therefore stop fluxes; and the leaves are seldom used in
physic.
_Rubus Idæus_: Raspis, Raspberries, or Hind-berries: I know no great
virtues in the leaves.
_Ruta._ Rue, or Herb of Grace; hot and dry in the third degree,
consumes the seed, and is an enemy to generation, helps difficulty
of breathing, and inflammations of the lungs, pains in the sides,
inflammations of the priapus and matrix, naught for pregnant women: no
herb resists poison more. It strengthens the heart exceedingly, and no
herb better than this in pestilential times, take it what manner you
will or can.
_Ruta Muraria._ See _Adianthum_.
_Sabina._ Savin: hot and dry in the third degree, potently provokes
the menses, expels both birth and afterbirth, they (boiled in oil and
used in ointments) stay creeping ulcers, scour away spots, freckles and
sunburning from the face; the belly anointed with it kills worms in
children.
_Salvia._ Sage: hot and dry in the second or third degree, binding,
it stays abortion in such women as are subject to come before their
times, it causes fruitfulness, it is singularly good for the brain,
strengthens the senses and memory, helps spitting and vomiting of
blood: outwardly, heat hot with a little vinegar and applied to the
side, helps stitches and pains in the sides.
_Salix._ Willow leaves, are cold, dry, and binding, stop spitting of
blood, and fluxes; the boughs stuck about a chamber, wonderfully cool
the air, and refresh such as have fevers; the leaves applied to the
head, help hot diseases there, and frenzies.
_Sampsucum._ Marjoram.
_Sunicula._ Sanicle; hot and dry in the second degree, cleanses wounds
and ulcers.
_Saponaria._ Sope-wort, or Bruise-wort, vulgarly used in bruises and
cut fingers, and is of notable use in the veneral disease.
_Satureia._ Savory. Summer savory is hot and dry in the third degree,
Winter savory is not so hot, both of them expel wind.
_Sazifragia alba._ White Saxifrage, breaks wind, helps the cholic and
stone.
_Scabiosa._ Scabious: hot and dry in the second degree, cleanses the
breast and lungs, helps old rotten coughs, and difficulty of breathing,
provokes urine, and cleanses the bladder of filthy stuff, breaks
aposthumes, and cures scabs and itch. Boil it in white wine.
_Scariola._ An Italian name for Succory.
_Schœnanthus._ Schœnanth, Squinanth, or Chamel’s hay; hot and binding.
It digests and opens the passages of the veins: surely it is as great
an expeller of wind as any is.
_Scordium._ Water-Germander, hot and dry, cleanses ulcers in the inward
parts, it provokes urine and the menses, opens stopping of the liver,
spleen, reins, bladder, and matrix, it is a great counter poison, and
eases the breast oppressed with flegm: see Diascordium.
_Scrophularia._ Figwort, so called of _Scrophula_, the King’s Evil,
which it cures they say, by being only hung about the neck. If not,
bruise it, and apply it to the place, it helps the piles or hemorrhoids.
_Sedum._ And all his sorts: see _Barba Jovis_.
_Senna._ It heats in the second degree and dries in the first,
cleanses, purges and digests; it carries downward both choler, flegm,
and melancholy, it cleanses the brain, heart, liver, spleen; it cheers
the senses, opens obstructions, takes away dulness of sight, helps
deafness, helps melancholy and madness, resists resolution of the
nerves, pains of the head, scabs, itch, falling-sickness, the windiness
of it is corrected with a little ginger. You may boil half an ounce of
it at a time, in water or white wine, but boil it not too much; half an
ounce is a moderate dose to be boiled for any reasonable body.
_Serpillum._ Mother-of-Time, with Time; it is hot and dry in the third
degree, it provokes the menses, and helps the stranguary or stoppage of
urine, gripings in the belly, ruptures, convulsions, inflammation of
the liver, lethargy, and infirmities of the spleen, boil it in white
wine. _Ætius, Galen._
_Sigillum Solomonis._ Solomon’s seal. See the root.
_Smyrnium._ Alexander of _Crete_.
_Solanum._ Night-shade: very cold and dry, binding; it is somewhat
dangerous given inwardly, unless by a skilful hand; outwardly it helps
the Shingles, _St. Anthony’s_ fire, and other hot inflammations.
_Soldanella._ Bindweed, hot and dry in the second degree, it opens
obstructions of the liver, and purges watery humours, and is therefore
very profitable in dropsies, it is very hurtful to the stomach,
and therefore if taken inwardly it had need be well corrected with
cinnamon, ginger, or annis-seed, &c.
_Sonchus levis Asper._ Sow-thistles smooth and rough, they are of a
cold, watery, yet binding quality, good for frenzies, they increase
milk in nurses, and cause the children which they nurse to have a good
colour, help gnawings of the stomach coming of a hot cause; outwardly
they help inflammations, and hot swellings, cool the heat of the
fundament and privities.
_Sophi Chirurgorum._ Fluxweed: drying without any manifest heat or
coldness; it is usually found about old ruinous buildings; it is so
called because of its virtue in stopping fluxes.
_Shinachia._ Spinage. I never read any physical virtues of it.
_Spina Alba._ See the root.
_Spica._ See _Nardus_.
_Stæbe._ Silver Knapweed: The virtues be the same with Scabious, and
some think the herbs too; though I am of another opinion.
_Stœchas._ French Lavender. Cassidony, is a great counterpoison, opens
obstructions of the liver and spleen, cleanses the matrix and bladder,
brings out corrupt humours, provokes urine.
_Succisa, Marsus Diaboli._ Devil’s-bit. Hot and dry in the second
degree: inwardly taken, it eases the fits of the mother, and breaks
wind, takes away swellings in the mouth, and slimy flegm that stick to
the jaws, neither is there a more present remedy in the world for those
cold swellings in the neck which the vulgar call the almonds of the
ears, than this herb bruised and applied to them.
_Suchaha._ An Egyptian Thorn. Very hard, if not impossible to come by
here.
_Tanacetum._ Tansy: hot in the second degree and dry in the third; the
very smell of it stays abortion, or miscarriages in women; so it doth
being bruised and applied to their navels, provokes urine, and is a
special help against the gout.
_Taraxacon._ Dandelion, or to write better French, Dent-de-lion, for in
plain English, it is called lyon’s tooth; it is a kind of Succory, and
thither I refer you.
_Tamariscus._ Tamiris. It hath a dry cleansing quality, and hath a
notable virtue against the rickets, and infirmities of the spleen,
provokes the menses. _Galen, Dioscorides._
_Telephium._ A kind of Opine.
_Thlaspi._ See _Nasturtium_.
_Thymbra._ A wild Savory.
_Thymum._ Thyme. Hot and dry in the third degree; helps coughs and
shortness of breath, provokes the menses, brings away dead children and
the after birth; purges flegm, cleanses the breast and lungs, reins and
matrix; helps the sciatica, pains in the breast, expels wind in any
part of the body, resists fearfulness and melancholy, continual pains
in the head, and is profitable for such as have the falling-sickness to
smell to.
_Thymælea._ The Greek name for Spurge-Olive: _Mezereon_ being the
Arabick name.
_Tithymallus, Esula, &c._ Spurge. Hot and dry in the fourth degree:
a dogged purge, better let alone than taken inwardly: hair anointed
with the juice of it will fall off: it kills fish, being mixed with
any thing that they will eat: outwardly it cleanses ulcers, takes away
freckles, sunburning and morphew from the face.
_Tormentilla._ See the root.
_Trinitatis herba._ Pansies, or Heart’s-ease: They are cold and moist,
both herbs and flowers, excellent against inflammations of the breast
or lungs, convulsions or falling-sickness, also they are held to be
good for venereal complaints.
_Trifolium._ Trefoil: dry in the third degree, and cold: The ordinary
Meadow Trefoil, cleanses the bowels of slimy humours that stick to
them, being used either in drinks or clysters; outwardly they take away
inflammations.
_Tussilago._ Colt’s-foot: something cold and dry, and therefore good
for inflammations, they are admirably good for coughs, and consumptions
of the lungs, shortness of breath, &c. It is often used and with good
success taken in a tobacco-pipe, being cut and mixed with a little oil
of annis seeds. See the Syrup of Colt’s-foot.
_Valeriana._ Valerian, or Setwall. See the roots.
_Verbascum, Thapsus Barbatus._ Mullin, or Higtaper. It is something
dry, and of a digesting, cleansing quality, stops fluxes and the
hemorrhoids, it cures hoarseness, the cough, and such as are broken
winded.
_Verbena._ Vervain: hot and dry, a great opener, cleanser, healer, it
helps the yellow jaundice, defects in the reins and bladder, pains in
the head; if it be but bruised and hung about the neck, all diseases in
the privities; made into an ointment it is a sovereign remedy for old
head-aches, as also frenzies, it clears the skin, and causes a lovely
colour.
_Veronica._ See _Betonica Pauli_.
_Violaria._ Violet Leaves: they are cool, ease pains in the head
proceeding of heat and frenzies, either inwardly taken, or outwardly
applied; heat of the stomach, or inflammation of the lungs.
_Vitis Viniseria._ The manured Vine: the leaves are binding and cool
withal; the burnt ashes of the sticks of a vine, scour the teeth
and make them as white as snow; the leaves stop bleeding, fluxes,
heart-burnings, vomitings; as also the longings of pregnant women. The
coals of a burnt Vine, in powder, mixed with honey, doth make the teeth
as white as ivory, which are rubbed with it.
_Vincitoxicum._ Swallow-wort. A pultis made with the leaves helps sore
breasts, and also soreness of the matrix.
_Virga Pastoris._ A third name for Teazles. See _Dipsatus_.
_Virga Aurea._ See _Consolida_.
_Ulmaria._ See the root. _Meadsweet._
_Umbilicus Veneris._ Navil-wort: Cold, dry, and binding, therefore
helps all inflammations; they are very good for kibed heels, being
bathed with it and a leaf laid over the sore.
_Urtica._ Nettles: an herb so well known, that you may find them by the
feeling in the darkest night: they are something hot, not very hot; the
juice stops bleeding; they provoke lust, help difficulty of breathing,
pleurisies, inflammations of the lungs, that troublesome cough that
women call the Chincough; they exceedingly break the stone, provoke
urine, and help such as cannot hold their necks upright. Boil them in
white wine.
_Usnea._ Moss; once before.
FLOWERS.
BORAGE, and Bugloss flowers strengthen the brain, and are profitable in
fevers.
_Chamomel flowers_, heat and assuage swellings, inflammation of the
bowels, dissolve wind, are profitably given in clysters or drink, to
such as are troubled with the cholic, or stone.
_Stæchea_, opens stoppings in the bowels, and strengthens the whole
body.
_Saffron_ powerfully concocts, and sends out whatever humour offends
the body, drives back inflammations; applied outwardly, encreases
venery, and provokes urine.
_Clove-Gilliflowers_, resist the pestilence, strengthen the heart,
liver, and stomach, and provoke venery.
_Schœnanth_ (which I touched slightly amongst the herbs) provokes urine
potently, provokes the menses, breaks wind, helps such as spit or vomit
blood, eases pains of the stomach, reins, and spleen, helps dropsies,
convulsions, and inflammations of the womb.
_Lavender-flowers_, resist all cold afflictions of the brain,
convulsions, falling-sickness, they strengthen cold stomachs, and open
obstructions of the liver, they provoke urine and the menses, bring
forth the birth and placenta.
_Hops_, open stoppings of the bowels, and for that cause beer is better
than ale.
_Balm-flowers_, cheer the heart and vital spirits, strengthen the
stomach.
_Rosemary-flowers_, strengthen the brain exceedingly, and resist
madness; clear the sight.
_Winter-Gilliflowers_, or Wall-flowers, help inflammation of the womb,
provoke the menses, and help ulcers in the mouth.
_Honey-suckles_, provoke urine, ease the pains of the spleen, and such
as can hardly fetch their breath.
_Mallows_, help coughs.
_Red Roses_, cool, bind, strengthen both vital and animal virtue,
restore such as are in consumptions, strengthen. There are so many
compositions of them which makes me more brief in the simples.
_Violets_, (to wit, the blue ones,) cool and moisten, provoke sleep,
loosen the belly, resist fevers, help inflammations, correct the heat
of choler, ease the pains in the head, help the roughness of the
wind-pipe, diseases in the throat, inflammations in the breast and
sides, plurisies, open stoppings of the liver, and help the yellow
jaundice.
_Chicory_, (or Succory as the vulgar call it) cools and strengthens the
liver, so doth Endive.
_Water lilies_, ease pains of the head coming of choler and heat,
provoke sleep, cool inflammations, and the heat in fevers.
_Pomegranate-flowers_, dry and bind, stop fluxes, and the menses.
_Cowslips_, strengthen the brain, senses, and memory, exceedingly,
resist all diseases there, as convulsions, falling-sickness, palsies,
&c.
_Centaury_, purges choler and gross humours, helps the yellow jaundice,
opens obstructions of the liver, helps pains of the spleen, provokes
the menses, brings away birth and afterbirth.
_Elder flowers_, help dropsies, cleanse the blood, clear the skin, open
stoppings of the liver and spleen, and diseases arising therefrom.
_Bean-flowers_, clear the skin, stop humours flowing into the eyes.
_Peach-tree_ flowers, purge choler gently.
_Broom-flowers_, purge water, and are good in dropsies.
The temperature of all these differ either very little or not at all
from the herbs.
The way of using the flowers I did forbear, because most of them may,
and are usually made into conserves, of which you may take the quantity
of a nutmeg in the morning; all of them may be kept dry a year, and
boiled with other herbs conducing to the cures they do.
FRUITS AND THEIR BUDS.
_Green Figs_, are held to be of ill juice, but the best is, we are not
much troubled with them in _England_; dry figs help coughs, cleanse
the breast, and help infirmities of the lungs, shortness of wind, they
loose the belly, purge the reins, help inflammations of the liver and
spleen; outwardly they dissolve swellings.
_Pine-nuts_, restore such as are in consumptions, amend the failings of
the lungs, concoct flegm, and yet are naught for such as are troubled
with the head-ache.
_Dates_, are binding, stop eating ulcers being applied to them; they
are very good for weak stomachs, for they soon digest, and breed good
nourishment, they help infirmities of the reins, bladder, and womb.
_Sebestens_, cool choler, violent heat of the stomach, help roughness
of the tongue and wind-pipe, cool the reins and bladder.
_Raisins of the Sun_, help infirmities of the breast and liver, restore
consumptions, gently cleanse and move to stool.
_Walnuts_, kill worms, resist the pestilence, (I mean the green ones,
not the dry.)
_Capers_ eaten before meals, provoke hunger.
_Nutmegs_, strengthen the brain, stomach, and liver, provoke urine,
ease the pains of the spleen, stop looseness, ease pains of the head,
and pains in the joints, strengthen the body, take away weakness coming
of cold, and cause a sweet breath.
_Cloves_, help digestion, stop looseness, provoke lust, and quicken the
sight.
_Pepper_, binds, expels wind, helps the cholic, quickens digestion
oppressed with cold, heats the stomach.
_Quinces._ See the Compositions.
_Pears_ are grateful to the stomach, drying, and therefore help fluxes.
All plums that are sharp or sour, are binding, the sweet are loosening.
_Cucumbers_, cool the stomach, and are good against ulcers in the
bladder.
_Galls_, are exceeding binding, help ulcers in the mouth, wasting of
the gums, ease the pains of the teeth, help the falling out of the womb
and fundament, make the hair black.
_Pompions_ are a cold and moist fruit, of small nourishment, they
provoke urine, outwardly applied; the flesh of them helps inflammations
and burnings; applied to the forehead they help inflammations of the
eyes.
_Melons_, have few other virtues.
_Apricots_, are very grateful to the stomach, and dry up the humours
thereof. _Peaches_ are held to do the like.
_Cubebs_, are hot and dry in the third degree, they expel wind, and
cleanse the stomach of tough and viscous humours, they ease the pains
of the spleen, and help cold diseases of the womb, they cleanse the
head of flegm and strengthen the brain, they heat the stomach and
provoke venery.
_Bitter Almonds_, are hot in the first degree and dry in the second,
they cleanse and cut thick humours, cleanse the lungs, and eaten every
morning, they are held to preserve from drunkenness.
_Bay-berries_, heat, expel wind, mitigate pain; are excellent for cold
infirmities of the womb, and dropsies.
_Cherries_, are of different qualities according to their different
taste, the sweet are quickest of digestion, but the sour are more
pleasing to a hot stomach, and procure appetite to one’s meat.
_Medlars_, are strengthening to the stomach, binding, and the green are
more binding than the rotten, and the dry than the green.
_Olives_, cool and bind.
_English-currants_, cool the stomach, and are profitable in acute
fevers, they quench thirst, resist vomiting, cool the heat of choler,
provoke appetite, and are good for hot complexions.
_Services_, or Chockers are of the nature of Medlars, but something
weaker in operation.
_Barberries_, quench thirst, cool the heat of choler, resist the
pestilence, stay vomiting and fluxes, stop the menses, kill worms, help
spitting of blood, fasten the teeth, and strengthen the gums.
_Strawberries_, cool the stomach, liver, and blood, but are very
hurtful for such as have agues.
_Winter-Cherries_, potently provoke urine, and break the stone.
_Cassia-fistula_, is temperate in quality, gently purgeth choler and
flegm, clarifies the blood, resists fevers, cleanses the breast and
lungs, it cools the reins, and thereby resists the breeding of the
stone, it provokes urine, and therefore is exceeding good for the
running of the reins in men, and the Fluor Albus in women.
All the sorts or _Myrobalans_, purge the stomach; the Indian
Myrobalans, are held to purge melancholy most especially, the other
flegm; yet take heed you use them not in stoppings of the bowels: they
are cold and dry, they all strengthen the heart, brain, and sinews,
strengthen the stomach, relieve the senses, take away tremblings and
heart-qualms. They are seldom used alone.
_Prunes_, are cooling and loosening.
_Tamarinds_, are cold and dry in the second degree, they purge choler,
cool the blood, stay vomiting, help the yellow jaundice, quench thirst,
cool hot stomachs, and hot livers.
I omit the use of these also as resting confident a child of three
years old, if you should give it Raisins of the sun or Cherries would
not ask how it should take them.
SEEDS OR GRAINS.
_Coriander_ seed, hot and dry, expels wind, but is hurtful to the head;
sends up unwholesome vapours to the brain, dangerous for mad people.
_Fenugreek_ seeds, are of a softening, discussing nature, they cease
inflammations, be they internal or external: bruised and mixed with
vinegar they ease the pains of the spleen: being applied to the sides,
help hardness and swellings of the matrix, being boiled, the decoction
helps scabby heads.
_Lin-seed_ hath the same virtues with Fenugreek.
_Gromwell_ seed, provokes urine, helps the cholic, breaks the stone,
and expels wind. Boil them in white wine; but bruise them first.
_Lupines_, ease the pains of the spleen, kill worms and cast them out:
outwardly, they cleanse filthy ulcers, and gangrenes, help scabs, itch,
and inflammations.
_Dill_ seed, encreases milk in nurses, expels wind, stays vomitings,
provokes urine; yet it dulls the sight, and is an enemy to generation.
_Smallage_ seed, provokes urine and the menses, expels wind, resists
poison, and eases inward pains, it opens stoppings in any part of the
body, yet it is hurtful for such as have the falling-sickness, and for
pregnant women.
_Rocket_ seed, provokes urine, stirs up lust, encreases seed, kills
worms, eases pains of the spleen. Use all these in like manner.
_Basil_ seed: If we may believe _Dioscorides_ and _Crescentius_, cheers
the heart, and strengthens a moist stomach, drives away melancholy, and
provokes urine.
_Nettle_ seed, provokes venery, opens stoppages of the womb, helps
inflammations of the sides and lungs; purgeth the breast: boil them
(being bruised) in white wine also.
The seeds of _Ammi_, or _Bishop’s-weed_, heat and dry, help difficulty
of urine, and the pains of the cholic, the bitings of venomous beasts;
they provoke the menses, and purge the womb.
_Annis_ seeds, heat and dry, ease pain, expel wind, cause a sweet
breath, help the dropsy, resist poison, breed milk, and stop the Fluor
Albus in women, provoke venery, and ease the head-ache.
_Cardamoms_, heat, kill worms, cleanse the reins, and provoke urine.
_Fennel_ seed, breaks wind, provokes urine and the menses, encreases
milk in nurses.
_Cummin_ seed, heat, bind, and dry, stop blood, expel wind, ease
pain, help the bitings of venomous beast: outwardly applied (viz. in
Plaisters) they are of a discussing nature.
_Carrot_ seeds, are windy, provoke lust exceedingly, and encrease
seed, provoke urine and the menses, cause speedy delivery to women in
travail, and bring away the placenta. All these also may be boiled in
white wine.
_Nigella_ seeds, boiled in oil, and the forehead anointed with it,
ease pains in the head, take away leprosy, itch, scurf, and help scald
heads: Inwardly taken they expel worms, they provoke urine, and the
menses, help difficulty of breathing.
_Stavesacre_, kills lice in the head, I hold it not fitting to be given
inwardly.
_Olibanum_ mixed with as much Barrow’s Grease (beat the Olibanum first
in powder) and boiled together, make an ointment which will kill the
lice in children’s heads, and such as are subject to breed them, will
never breed them. A Medicine cheap, safe, and sure, which breeds no
annoyance to the brain.
The seeds of _Water-cresses_, heat, yet trouble the stomach and belly;
ease the pains of the spleen, are very dangerous for pregnant women,
yet they provoke lust: outwardly applied, they help leprosies, scald
heads, and the falling off of hair, as also carbuncles, and cold ulcers
in the joints.
_Mustard_ seed, heats, extenuates, and draws moisture from the brain:
the head being shaved and anointed with Mustard, is a good remedy for
the lethargy, it helps filthy ulcers, and hard swellings in the mouth,
it helps old aches coming of cold.
_French Barley_, is cooling, nourishing, and breeds milk.
_Sorrel_ seeds, potently resist poison, help fluxes, and such stomachs
as loath their meat.
_Succory_ seed, cools the heat of the blood, extinguishes lust, opens
stoppings of the liver and bowels, it allays the heat of the body, and
produces a good colour, it strengthens the stomach, liver, and reins.
_Poppy_ seeds, ease pain, provoke sleep. Your best way is to make an
emulsion of them with barley water.
_Mallow_ seeds, ease pains in the bladder.
_Chich-pease_, are windy, provoke lust, encrease milk in nurses,
provoke the menses, outwardly, they help scabs, itch, and inflammations
of the testicles, ulcers, &c.
_White Saxifrage_ seeds, provoke urine, expel wind, and break the
stone. Boil them in white wine.
_Rue_ seeds, helps such as cannot hold their water.
_Lettice_ seed, cools the blood, restrains venery.
Also _Gourds, Citruls, Cucumbers, Melons, Purslain, and Endive_ seeds,
cool the blood, as also the stomach, spleen, and reins, and allay the
heat of fevers. Use them as you were taught to do poppy-seeds.
_Wormseed_, expels wind, kills worms.
_Ash-tree Keys_, ease pains in the sides, help the dropsy, relieve men
weary with labour, provoke venery, and make the body lean.
_Piony_ seeds, help the _Ephialtes_, or the disease the vulgar call the
Mare, as also the fits of the mother, and other such like infirmities
of the womb, stop the menses, and help convulsions.
_Broom_ seed, potently provoke urine, break the stone.
_Citron_ seeds, strengthen the heart, cheer the vital spirit, resist
pestilence and poison.
TEARS, LIQUORS, AND ROZINS.
_Laudanum_, is of a heating, mollifying nature, it opens the mouth of
the veins, stays the hair from falling off, helps pains in the ears,
and hardness of the womb. It is used only outwardly in plaisters.
_Assafœtida._ Is commonly used to allay the fits of the mother by
smelling to it; they say, inwardly taken, it provokes lust, and expels
wind.
_Benzoin_, or _Benjamin_, makes a good perfume.
_Sanguis Draconis_, cools and binds exceedingly.
_Aloes_, purges choler and flegm, and with such deliberation that it
is often given to withstand the violence of other purges, it preserves
the senses and betters the apprehension, it strengthens the liver, and
helps the yellow-jaundice. Yet is naught for such as are troubled with
the hemorrhoids, or have agues. I do not like it taken raw. See Aloe
Rosata, which is nothing but it washed with the juice of roses.
_Manna_, is temperately hot, of a mighty dilative quality, windy,
cleanses choler gently, also it cleanses the throat and stomach. A
child may take an ounce of it at a time melted in milk, and the dross
strained out, it is good for them when they are scabby.
_Scamony_, or _Diagridium_, call it by which name you please, is a
desperate purge, hurtful to the body by reason of its heat, windiness,
corroding, or gnawing, and violence of working. I would advise my
countrymen to let it alone; it will gnaw their bodies as fast as
doctors gnaw their purses.
_Opopanax_, is of a heating, molifying, digesting quality.
_Gum Elemi_, is exceeding good for fractures of the skull, as also in
wounds, and therefore is put in plaisters for that end. See _Arceus_
his Liniment.
_Tragacanthum_, commonly called Gum Traganth, and Gum Dragon, helps
coughs, hoarseness, and distillations on the lungs.
_Bdellium_, heats and softens, helps hard swellings, ruptures, pains in
the sides, hardness of the sinews.
_Galbanum._ Hot and dry, discussing; applied to the womb, it hastens
both birth and after-birth, applied to the navel it stays the
strangling of the womb, commonly called the fits of the mother, helps
pains in the sides, and difficulty of breathing, being applied to it,
and the smell of it helps the vertigo or diziness in the head.
_Myrh_, heats and dries, opens and softens the womb, provokes the birth
and after-birth; inwardly taken, it helps old coughs and hoarseness,
pains in the sides, kills worms, and helps a stinking breath, helps the
wasting of the gums, fastens the teeth: outwardly it helps wounds, and
fills up ulcers with flesh. You may take half a dram at a time.
_Mastich_, strengthens the stomach exceedingly, helps such as vomit or
spit blood, it fastens the teeth and strengthens the gums, being chewed
in the mouth.
_Frankinsense_, and _Olibanum_, heat and bind, fill up old ulcers with
flesh, stop bleeding, but is extremely bad for mad people.
_Turpentine_, Purges, cleanses the reins, helps the running of them.
_Styrax Calamitis_, helps coughs, and distillations upon the lungs,
hoarseness, want of voice, hardness of the womb, but it is bad for
head-aches.
_Ammonicaum_, applied to the side, helps the hardness and pains of the
spleen.
_Camphire_, eases pains of the head coming of heat, takes away
inflammations, and cools any place to which it is applied.
JUICES.
THAT all juices have the same virtues with the herbs or fruits whereof
they are made, I suppose few or none will deny, therefore I shall only
name a few of them, and that briefly.
_Sugar_ is held to be hot in the first degree, strengthens the lungs,
takes away the roughness of the throat, succours the reins and bladder.
The juice of _Citrons_ cools the blood, strengthens the heart,
mitigates the violent heat of fevers.
The juice of _Lemons_ works the same effect, but not so powerfully.
Juice of _Liquorice_, strengthens the lungs, helps coughs and colds.
THINGS BRED FROM PLANTS.
_These have been treated of before, only two excepted. The first of
which is,_
Agaricus. _Agarick: It purges flegm, choler, and melancholy, from the
brain, nerves, muscles, marrow, (or more properly brain) of the back,
it cleanses the breast, lungs, liver, stomach, spleen, reins, womb,
joints; it provokes urine, and the menses, kills worms, helps pains in
the joints, and causes a good colour: it is very seldom or never taken
alone. See Syrup of Roses with Agarick._
_Lastly, _Vicus Quircinus_, or Misleto of the Oak, helps the
falling-sickness being either taken inwardly, or hung about one’s
neck._
LIVING CREATURES.
Millepedes _(so called from the multitude of their feet, though it
cannot be supposed they have a thousand) sows, hog-lice, wood-lice,
being bruised and mixed with wine, they provoke urine, help the yellow
jaundice, outwardly being boiled in oil, help pains in the ears, a drop
being put into them_.
The flesh of vipers _being eaten, clear the sight, help the vices of
the nerves, resist poison exceedingly, neither is there any better
remedy under the sun for their bitings than the head of the viper that
bit you, bruised and applied to the place, and the flesh eaten, you
need not eat above a dram at a time, and make it up as you shall be
taught in troches of vipers. Neither any comparable to the stinging of
bees and wasps, &c. than the same that sting you, bruised and applied
to the place._
Land Scorpions _cure their own stingings by the same means; the ashes
of them (being burnt) potently provokes urine, and breaks the stone_.
Earth-worms, _are an admirable remedy for cut nerves being applied to
the place; they provoke urine; see the oil of them, only let me not
forget one notable thing quoted by _Mizaldus_, which is, That the
powder of them put into an hollow tooth, makes it drop out_.
To draw a tooth without pain, _fill an earthen crucible full of Emmets,
Ants, or Pismires, eggs and all, and when you have burned them, keep
the ashes, with which if you touch a tooth it will fall out_.
Eels, _being put into wine or beer, and suffered to die in it, he that
drinks it will never endure that sort of liquor again_.
Oysters _applied alive to a pestilential swelling, draw the venom to
them_.
Crab-fish, _burnt to ashes, and a dram of it taken every morning helps
the bitings of mad dogs, and all other venomous beasts_.
Swallows, _being eaten, clear the sight, the ashes of them (being
burnt) eaten, preserve from drunkenness, helps sore throats being
applied to them, and inflammations_.
Grass-hoppers, _being eaten, ease the cholic, and pains in the bladder_.
Hedge Sparrows, _being kept in salt, or dried and eaten raw, are an
admirable remedy for the stone_.
Young Pigeons _being eaten, help pains in the reins, and the disease
called Tenesmus_.
PARTS OF LIVING CREATURES,
AND EXCREMENTS.
THE brain of _Sparrows_ being eaten, provokes lust exceedingly.
The brain of an _Hare_ being roasted, helps trembling, it makes
children breed teeth easily, their gums being rubbed with it, it also
helps scald heads, and falling off of hair, the head being anointed
with it.
The head of a young _Kite_, being burnt to ashes and the quantity of
a drachm of it taken every morning in a little water, is an admirable
remedy against the gout.
_Crab-eyes_ break the stone, and open stoppings of the bowels.
The lungs of a _Fox_, well dried, (but not burned) is an admirable
strengthener to the lungs: see the Lohoch of Fox lungs.
The liver of a _Duck_, stops fluxes, and strengthens the liver
exceedingly.
The liver of a _Frog_, being dried and eaten, helps quartan agues, or
as the vulgar call them, _third-day agues_.
_Castoreum_ resists poison, the bitings of venomous beasts; it provokes
the menses, and brings forth birth and after-birth; it expels wind,
eases pains and aches, convulsions, sighings, lethargies; the smell of
it allays the fits of the mother; inwardly given, it helps tremblings,
falling-sickness, and other such ill effects of the brain and nerves: A
scruple is enough to take at a time, and indeed spirit of Castorium is
better than Castorium, raw, to which I refer you.
A _Sheep’s_ or _Goat’s_ bladder being burnt, and the ashes given
inwardly, helps the _Diabetes_.
A flayed _Mouse_ dried and beaten into powder, and given at a time,
helps such as cannot hold their water, or have a _Diabetes_, if you do
the like three days together.
_Ivory_, or _Elephant’s tooth_, binds, stops the _Whites_, it
strengthens the heart and stomach, helps the yellow jaundice, and makes
women fruitful.
Those small bones which are found in the fore-feet of an _Hare_, being
beaten into powder and drank in wine, powerfully provoke urine.
_Goose grease, and Capons grease_, are both softening, help gnawing
sores, stiffness of the womb, and mitigate pain.
I am of opinion that the suet of a _Goat_ mixed with a little saffron,
is as excellent an ointment for the gout, especially the gout in the
knees, as any is.
_Bears grease_ stays the falling off of the hair.
_Fox grease_ helps pains in the ears.
_Elk’s Claws or hoofs_ are a sovereign remedy for the falling sickness,
though it be but worn in a ring, much more being taken inwardly; but
saith _Mizaldus_, it must be the hoof of the right foot behind.
_Milk_ is an extreme windy meat; therefore I am of the opinion of
_Dioscorides_, _viz._ that it is not profitable in head-aches; yet
this is for certain, that it is an admirable remedy for inward ulcers
in any part of the body, or any corrosions, or excoriations, pains in
the reins and bladder: but it is very bad in diseases of the liver,
spleen, the falling-sickness, vertigo, or dissiness in the head, fevers
and head-aches; Goat’s milk is held to be better than Cow’s for Hectic
fevers, phthisick, and consumptions, and so is Ass’s also.
_Whey_, attenuates and cleanses both choler and melancholy:
wonderfully helps melancholy and madness coming of it; opens stoppings
of the bowels; helps such as have the dropsy and are troubled with the
stoppings of the spleen, rickets and hypochondriac melancholy: for such
diseases you may make up your physic with whey. Outwardly it cleanses
the skin of such deformities as come through choler or melancholy, as
scabs, itch, morphew, leprosies, &c.
_Honey_ is of a gallant cleansing quality, exceeding profitable in all
inward ulcers in what part of the body soever; it opens the veins,
cleanses the reins and bladder. I know no vices belonging to it, but
only it is soon converted into choler.
_Wax_, softens, heats, and meanly fills sores with flesh, it suffers
not the milk to curdle in women’s breasts; inwardly it is given (ten
grains at a time) against bloody-fluxes.
_Raw-silk_, heats and dries, cheers the heart, drives away sadness,
comforts all the spirits, both natural, vital and animal.
BELONGING TO THE SEA.
_Sperma Cœti_, is well applied outwardly to eating ulcers, the marks
which the small pox leaves behind them; it clears the sight, provokes
sweat; inwardly it troubles the stomach and belly, helps bruises,
and stretching of the nerves, and therefore is good for women newly
delivered.
_Amber-grease_, heats and dries, strengthens the brain and nerves
exceedingly, if the infirmity of them come of cold, resists pestilence.
_Sea-sand_, a man that hath the dropsy, being set up to the middle in
it, it draws out all the water.
_Red Coral_, is cold, dry and binding, stops the immoderate flowing of
the menses, bloody-fluxes, the running of the reins, and the Fluor
Albus, helps such as spit blood, it is an approved remedy for the
falling sickness. Also if ten grains of red Coral be given to a child
in a little breast-milk so soon as it is born, before it take any other
food, it will never have the falling-sickness, nor convulsions. The
common dose is from ten grains to thirty.
_Pearls_, are a wonderful strengthener to the heart, encrease milk
in nurses, and amend it being naught, they restore such as are in
consumptions; both they and the red Coral preserve the body in health,
and resist fevers. The dose is ten grains or fewer; more, I suppose,
because it is dear, than because it would do harm.
_Amber_, (_viz._ yellow Amber) heats and dries, therefore prevails
against moist diseases of the head; it helps violent coughs, helps
consumption of the lungs, spitting of blood, the Fluor Albus; it stops
bleeding at the nose, helps difficulty of urine: You may take ten or
twenty grains at a time.
The Froth of the _Sea_, it is hot and dry, helps scabs, itch, and
leprosy, scald heads, &c. it cleanses the skin, helps difficulty of
urine, makes the teeth white, being rubbed with it, the head being
washed with it, it helps baldness, and trimly decks the head with hair.
METALS, MINERALS, AND
STONES.
GOLD is temperate in quality, it wonderfully strengthens the heart and
vital spirits, which one perceiving, very wittily inserted these verses:
For Gold is cordial; and that’s the reason,
Your raking Misers live so long a season.
However, this is certain, in cordials, it resists melancholy,
faintings, swoonings, fevers, falling-sickness, and all such like
infirmities, incident either to the vital or animal spirit.
_Alum._ Heats, binds, and purges; scours filthy ulcers, and fastens
loose teeth.
_Brimstone_, or flower of brimstone, which is brimstone refined, and
the better for physical uses; helps coughs and rotten flegm; outwardly
in ointments it takes away leprosies, scabs, and itch; inwardly it
helps yellow jaundice, as also worms in the belly, especially being
mixed with a little Salt-petre: it helps lethargies being snuffed up in
the nose.
_Litharge_, both of gold and silver; binds and dries much, fills up
ulcers with flesh, and heals them.
_Lead_ is of a cold dry earthly quality, of an healing nature; applied
to the place it helps any inflammation, and dries up humours.
_Pompholix_, cools, dries and binds.
_Jacynth_, strengthens the heart being either beaten into powder, and
taken inwardly, or only worn in a ring.
_Sapphire_, quickens the senses, helps such as are bitten by venomous
beasts, ulcers in the bowels.
_Emerald_; called a chaste stone because it resists lust: being worn
in a ring, it helps, or at least mitigates the falling sickness and
vertigo; it strengthens the memory, and stops the unruly passions of
men.
_Ruby_ (or _carbuncle_, if there be such a stone) restrains lust;
resists pestilence; takes away idle and foolish thoughts, makes men
cheerful. _Cardanus._
_Granite._ Strengthens the heart, but hurts the brain, causes anger,
takes away sleep.
_Diamond_, is reported to make him that bears it unfortunate.
_Amethist_, being worn, makes men sober and steady, keeps men from
drunkenness and too much sleep, it quickens the wit, is profitable in
huntings and fightings, and repels vapours from the head.
_Bezoar_, is a notable restorer of nature, a great cordial, no way
hurtful nor dangerous, is admirably good in fevers, pestilences, and
consumptions, _viz._ taken inwardly; for this stone is not used to be
worn as a jewel; the powder of it put upon wounds made by venomous
beasts, draws out the poison.
_Topaz_ (if _Epiphanius_ spake truth) if you put it into boiling
water, it doth so cool it that you may presently put your hands into
it without harm; if so, then it cools inflammations of the body by
touching them.
_Toadstone_; Being applied to the place helps the bitings of venomous
beasts, and quickly draws all the poison to it; it is known to be a
true one by this; hold it near to any toad, and she will make proffer
to take it away from you if it be right; else not. _Lemnius._
_Nephritichus lapis_; helps pains in the stomach, and is of great force
in breaking and bringing away the stone and gravel.
_Jasper_; being worn, stops bleeding, eases the labour in women, stops
lust, resists fevers and dropsies. _Mathiolus._
_Atites_, or the stone with child, because being hollow in the middle,
it contains another little stone within it, is found in an Eagle’s
nest, and in many other places; this stone being bound to the left arm
of women with child, stays their miscarriage or abortion, but when
the time of their labour comes, remove it from their arm, and bind it
to the inside of their thigh, and it brings forth the child, and that
(almost) without any pain at all. _Dioscorides, Pliny._
_Lapis Lazuli_, purges melancholy being taken inwardly; outwardly worn
as a jewel, it makes men cheerful, fortunate and rich.
And thus I end the stones, the virtues of which if any think
incredible, I answer; 1. I quoted the authors where I had them. 2. I
know nothing to the contrary but why it may be as possible as the sound
of a trumpet is to incite a man to valour; or a fiddle to dancing: and
if I have added a few simples which the Colledge left out, I hope my
fault is not much, or at a leastwise, venial.
A CATALOGUE OF SIMPLES
IN THE
NEW DISPENSATORY.
ROOTS.
College.] _Sorrel, Calamus Aromaticus, Water-flag, Privet, Garlick,
Marsh-mallows, Alcanet, Angelica, Anthora, Smallage, Aron, Birth-wort
long and round, Sowbread, Reeds, Asarabacca, Virginian Snakeweed,
Swall-wort, Asparagus, Asphodel, male and female. Burdocks great and
small, Behen, or Bazil, Valerian, white and red. Daisies, Beets,
white, red, and black. _Marsh-mallows_, Bistort, Barrage, Briony,
white and black, Bugloss, garden and wild. _Calamus Aromaticus_,
Our Lady’s thistles, Avens, Coleworts, Centaury the less. Onions,
Chameleon, white and black. Celandine, Pilewort, China, Succory,
Artichokes. _Virginian Snakeroot_, Comfry greater and lesser.
Contra yerva, Costus, sweet and bitter. Turmerick, wild Cucumbers,
Sowbread, Hound’s-tongue, Cypres, long and round. Toothwort, white
Dittany, Doronicum, Dragons, Woody Nightshade, Vipers Bugloss,
_Smallage_, Hellebore, white and black, Endive, Elicampane,
Eringo, Colt’s-foot, Fearn, male and female, Filipendula or Drop-wort,
Fennel, _white Dittany_, Galanga, great and small, Gentian,
Liquorice, Dog-grass, Hermodactils. _Swallow wort_, Jacinth,
Henbane, Jallap, Master-wort, Orris or Flower-de-luce, both English
and Florentine, sharp pointed Dock, Burdock greater and lesser,
Lovage, Privet, white Lilies, Liquorice, Mallows, Mechoacan, Jallap,
Spignel, Mercury, Devil’s bit, sweet Navew, Spikenard, Celtic and
Indian, Water lilies, Rest-harrow, sharp pointed Dock, Peony, male and
female. Parsnips, garden and wild, Cinquefoil, Butter-Bur, Parsley,
Hog’s Fennel, Valerian, greater and lesser, Burnet, Land and Water
Plantain, Polypodium of the Oak, Solomon’s Seal, Leeks, Pellitory of
Spain, Cinquefoil, Turnips, Raddishes, garden and wild, Rhapontick,
common Rhubarb, Monk’s Rhubarb, Rose Root, Madder Bruscus. Sopewort,
Sarsaparilla, Satyrion, male and female, White Saxifrage, Squills,
Figwort, Scorzonera, English and Spanish, Virginian Snake weed,
Solomon’s Seal, Cicers, stinking Gladon, Devil’s bit, Dandelion,
Thapsus, Tormentil, Turbith, Colt’s-foot, Valerian, greater and lesser,
Vervain, Swallow-wort, Nettles, Zedoary long and round, Ginger._
_Culpeper._] These be the roots the college hath named, and but only
named, and in this order I have set them down. It seems the college
holds a strange opinion, viz. That it would do an Englishman a mischief
to know what the herbs in his garden are good for.
But my opinion is, that those herbs, roots, plants, &c. which grow
near a man, are far better and more congruous to his nature than any
outlandish rubbish whatsoever, and this I am able to give a reason
of to any that shall demand it of me, therefore I am so copious in
handling of them, you shall observe them ranked in this order.
1. The temperature of the roots, herbs, flowers, &c. _viz._ Hot, cold,
dry, moist, together with the degree of each quality.
2. What part of the body each root, herb, flower, is appropriated to,
_viz._ head, throat, breast, heart, stomach, liver, spleen, bowels,
reins, bladder, womb, joints, and in those which heat those places, and
which cool them.
3. The property of each simple, as they bind, open, mollify, harden,
extenuate, discuss, draw out, suppure, cleanse, glutinate, break wind,
breed seed, provoke or stop the menses, resist poison, abate swellings,
ease pain.
This I intend shall be my general method throughout the simples,
which, having finished I shall give you a paraphrase explaining these
terms, which rightly considered, will be the key of _Galen’s_ way of
administering physic.
_Temperature of the Roots._
_Roots hot in the first degree._ Marsh-mallows, Bazil, Valerian,
Spattling, Poppy, Burdocks, Borrage, Bugloss, Calamus Aromaticus,
Avens, Pilewort, China, Self-heal, Liquorice, Dog-grass, white Lilies,
Peony, male and female, wild Parsnips, Parsley, Valerian, great and
small, Knee-holly, Satyrion, Scorzonera, Skirrets.
_Hot in the second degree._ Water-flag, Reeds, Swallow-wort, Asphodel,
male, Carline Thistle, Cypress, long and round, Fennel, Lovage,
Spignel, Mercury, Devil’s bit, Butter Bur, Hog’s Fennel, Sarsaparilla,
Squils, Zedoary.
_Hot in the third degree._ Angelica, Aron, Birthwort long and round,
Sowbread, Asarabacca, Briony, white and black, Sallendine, Virgianian
snakeroot, Hemeric, White Dittany, Doronicum, Hellebore, white
and black, Elicampane, Fillipendula, Galanga greater and lesser,
Masterwort, Orris English and Florentine, Restharrow, stinking Gladen,
Turbith, Ginger.
_Hot in the fourth degree._ Garlick, Onions, Leeks, Pellitory of Spain.
_Roots temperate in respect of heat, are_ Bear’s breech, Sparagus, our
Lady’s Thistle, Eringo, Jallap, Mallows, Mechoacan, garden Parsnips,
Cinquefoil, Tormentil.
_Roots cold in the first degree._ Sorrel, Beets, white and red, Comfrey
the greater, Plantain, Rose Root, Madder.
_Cold in the second degree._ Alcanet, Daisies, Succory, Hound’s tongue,
Endive, Jacinth.
_Cold in the third degree._ Bistort and Mandrakes are cold in the third
degree, and Henbane in the fourth.
_Roots dry in the first degree._ Bears-breech, Burdocks, Redbeets,
Calamus Aromaticus, Pilewort, Self-heal, Endive, Eringo, Jacinth,
Madder, Kneeholly.
_Dry in the second degree._ Waterflag, Marshmallows, Alkanet, Smallage,
Reeds, Sorrel, Swallow-wort, Asphodel male, Bazil, Valerian and
Spatling Poppy, according to the opinion of the Greeks. Our Lady’s
Thistles, Avens, Succory, Hound’s tongue, Cypress long and round,
Fennel, Lovage, Spignel, Mercury, Devil’s bit, Butter-bur, Parsley,
Plantain, Zedoary.
_Dry in the third degree._ Angelica, Aron, Birthwort, long and round,
Sowbread, Bistort, Asarabacca, Briony white and black, Carline Thistle,
China, Sallendine, Virginian Snake-root, white Dittany, Doronicum,
Hellebore white and black, Elicampane, Fillipendula, Galanga greater
and lesser, Masterwort, Orris, English and Florentine, Restharrow,
Peony male and female, Cinquefoil, Hog’s Fennel, Sarsaparilla, stinking
Gladen, Tormentil, Ginger.
_Dry in the fourth degree._ Garlick, Onions, Costus, Leeks, Pellitory
of Spain.
_Roots moist are_, Bazil, Valerian, and Spatling-poppy, according
to the Arabian Physicians, Daisies, white Beets, Borrage, Bugloss,
Liquorice, Dog grass, Mallows, Satyrion, Scorzonera, Parsnips,
Skirrets.
_Roots appropriated to several parts of the body._
_Heat the head._ Doronicum, Fennel, Jallap, Mechoacan, Spikenard,
Celtic and Indian. Peony male and female.
_Neck and throat._ Pilewort, Devil’s bit.
_Breast and lungs._ Birthwort long and round, Elicampane, Liquorice,
Orris English and Florentine, Calamus Aromaticus, Cinquefoil, Squills.
_Heart._ Angelica, Borrage, Bugloss, Carline Thistle, Doronicum, Butter
bur, Scorzonera, Tormentil, Zedoary, Bazil, Valerian white and red.
_Stomach._ Elicampane, Galanga greater and lesser, Spikenard, Celtic
and Indian, Ginger, Fennel, Avens, Raddishes.
_Bowels._ Valerian great and small, Zedoary, Ginger.
_Liver._ Smallage, Carline Thistle, Sullendine, China, Turmerick,
Fennel, Gentian, Dog-grass, Cinquefoil, Parsley, Smallage, Asparagus,
Rhubarb, Rhapontic, Kneeholly.
_Spleen._ Smallage, Carline Thistle, Fern male and female, Parsley,
Water-flag, Asparagus, round Birthwort, Fennel, Capers, Ash, Gentian.
_Reins and Bladder._ Marshmallows, Smallage, Asparagus, Burdock, Bazil,
Valerian, Spatling Poppy, Carline Thistle, China, Cyprus long and
round, Fillipendula, Dog grass, Spikenard, Celtic and Indian, Parsly,
Knee-holly, white Saxifrage.
_Womb._ Birthwort long and round, Galanga greater and lesser, Peony
male and female, Hog’s Fennel.
_Fundament._ Pilewort.
_Joints._ Bear’s-breech, Hermodactils, Jallap, Mecoacan, Ginger, Costus.
_Roots cool the head._ Rose root.
_Stomach._ Sow Thistles, Endive, Succory, Bistort.
_Liver._ Madder, Endive, Chicory.
_Properties of the Roots._
Although I confess the properties of the simples may be found out by
the ensuing explanation of the terms, and I suppose by that means they
were found out at first; and although I hate a lazy student from my
heart, yet to encourage young students in the art, I shall quote the
chief of them: I desire all lovers of physic to compare them with the
explanation of these rules, so shall they see how they agree, so may
they be enabled to find out the properties of all simples to their own
benefit in physic.
_Roots, bind._ Cypress, Bistort, Tormentil, Cinquefoil, Bear’s breech,
Water-flag, Alkanet, Toothwort, &c.
_Discuss._ Birthwort, Asphodel, Briony, Capers, &c.
_Cleanse._ Birthwort, Aron, Sparagus, Grass, Asphodel, Celandine, &c.
_Open._ Asarabacca, Garlic, Leeks, Onions, Rhapontick, Turmerick,
Carline Thistle, Succory, Endive, Fillipendula, Fennel, Parsly,
Bruscus, Sparagus, Smallage, Gentian, &c.
_Extenuate._ Orris English and Florentine, Capers, &c.
_Burn._ Garlick, Onions, Pellitory of Spain, &c.
_Mollify._ Mallows, Marshmallows, &c.
_Suppur._ Marshmallows, Briony, white Lillies, &c.
_Glutinate._ Comfrey, Solomon’s Seal, Gentian, Birthwort, Daisies, &c.
_Expel Wind._ Smallage, Parsly, Fennel, Water-flag, Garlick, Costus,
Galanga, Hog’s Fennel, Zedoary, Spikenard Indian, and Celtic, &c.
_Breed Seed._ Waterflag, Eringo, Satyrian, Galanga, &c.
_Provoke the menses._ Birthwort, Asarabacca, Aron, Waterflag, white
Dittany, Asphodel, Garlick, Centaury the less, Cyperus long and
round, Costus, Capers, Calamus Aromaticus, Dittany of Crete, Carrots,
Eringo, Fennel, Parsly, Smallage, Grass, Elicampane, Peony, Valerian,
Knee-holly, &c.
_Stop the menses._ Comfrey, Tormentil, Bistort, &c.
_Provoke sweat._ Carolina Thistle, China, Sarsaparilla, &c.
_Resist poison._ Angelica, Garlick, long Birthwort, Smallage,
Doronicum, Costus, Zedoary, Cyprus, Gentian, Carolina Thistle, Bistort,
Tormentil, Swallow-wort, Viper’s Bugloss, Elicampane, &c.
_Help burnings._ Asphodel, Jacinth, white Lilies, &c.
_Ease pains._ Waterflag, Eringo, Orris, Restharrow, &c.
_Purge choler._ Asarabacca, Rhubarb, Rhapontick, Fern, &c.
_Relieve melancholy._ Hellebore, white and black, Polipodium.
_Purge flegm and watery humours._ Squills, Turbith, Hermodactils,
Jallap, Mecoacan, wild Cucumbers, Sowbread, male Asphodel, Briony white
and black, Elder, Spurge great and small.
I quoted some of these properties to teach you the way how to find
the rest, which the explanation of these terms will give you ample
instructions in: I quoted not all because I would fain have you
studious: be diligent gentle reader.
How to use your bodies in, and after taking purges, you shall be taught
by and by.
_Barks mentioned by the College are these._
College.] _Hazel Nuts, Oranges, Barberries, Birch-tree, Caper roots,
Cassia Lignea, Chestnuts, Cinnamon, Citron Pills, Dwarf-Elder, Spurge
roots, Alder, Ash, Pomegranates, Guajacum, Walnut tree, green Walnuts,
Laurel, Bay, Lemon, Mace, Pomegranates, Mandrake roots, Mezereon,
Mulberry tree roots, Sloe tree roots, Pinenuts, Fistick-nuts, Poplar
tree, Oak, Elder, Sassafras, Cork, Tamerisk, Lime tree, Frankincense,
Elm, Capt. Winter’s Cinnamon._
_Culpeper._] Of these, Captain Winter’s Cinnamon, being taken as
ordinary spice, or half a dram taken in the morning in any convenient
liquor, is an excellent remedy for the scurvy; the powder of it being
snuffed up in the nose, cleanses the head of rheum gallantly.
The bark of the black Alder tree purges choler and flegm if you make a
decoction with it. Agrimony, Wormwood, Dodder, Hops, Endive and Succory
roots: Parsly and Smallage roots, or you may bruise a handful of each
of them, and put them in a gallon of ale, and let them work together:
put the simples into a boulter-bag, and a draught, (half a pint, more
or less, according to the age of him that drinks it,) being drunk every
morning, helps the dropsy, jaundice, evil disposition of the body;
also helps the rickets, strengthens the liver and spleen; makes the
digestion good, troubles not the stomach at all, causes appetite, and
helps such as are scabby and itchy.
The rest of the barks that are worth the noting, and the virtues of
them, are to be found in the former part of the book.
_Barks are hot in the first degree._ Guajacum, Tamarisk, Oranges,
Lemons, Citrons.
_In the second._ Cinnamon, Cassia, Lignea, Captain Winter’s Cinnamon,
Frankincense, Capers.
_In the third._ Mace.
_Cold in the first._ Oak, Pomegranates.
_In the third._ Mandrakes.
_Appropriated to parts of the body._
_Heat the head._ Captain Winter’s Cinnamon.
_The heart._ Cinnamon, Cassia, Lignea, Citron Pills, Walnuts, Lemon
pills, Mace.
_The stomach._ Orange pills, Cassia Lignea, Cinnamon, Citron pills,
Lemon pills, Mace, Sassafras.
_The lungs._ Cassia Lignea, Cinnamon, Walnuts.
_The liver._ Barberry-tree, Bay-tree, Captain Winter’s Cinnamon.
_The spleen._ Caper bark, Ash tree bark, Bay tree.
_The reins and bladder._ Bay-tree, Sassafras.
_The womb._ Cassia Lignea, Cinnamon.
_Cool the stomach._ Pomegranate pills.
_Purge choler._ The bark of Barberry tree.
_Purge flegm and water._ Elder, Dwarf-Elder, Spurge, Laurel.
WOODS.
College.] _Firr, Wood of Aloes, Rhodium, Brazil, Box, Willow, Cypress,
Ebony, Guajacum, Juniper, Lentisk, Nephriticum, Rhodium, Rosemary,
Sanders, white, yellow, and red, Sassafras, Tamarisk._
_Of these some are hot._ Wood of Aloes, Rhodium, Box, Ebony, Guajacum,
Nephriticum, Rosemary, Sassafras, Tamarisk.
_Some cold._ As Cypress, Willow, Sanders white, red, and yellow.
Rosemary is appropriated to the head, wood of Aloes to the heart
and stomach, Rhodium to the bowels and bladder, Nephriticum to the
liver, spleen, reins and bladder, Sassafras to the breast, stomach and
bladder, Tamarisk to the spleen, Sanders cools the heart and spirits in
fevers.
For the particular virtues of each, see that part of the book preceding.
HERBS.
College.] _Southernwood male and female. Wormwood, common, Roman, and
such as bear Wormseed, Sorrel, wood Sorrel, Maiden-hair common, white
or wall Rue, black and golden Maudlin, Agremony, Vervain, Mallow,
Ladies Mantle, Chickweed, Marshmallows, and Pimpernel both male and
female, Water Pimpernel, Dill, Angelica, Smallage, Goose-grass, or
Cleavers, Columbine, wild Tansie, or Silver Weed, Mugwort, Asarabacca,
Woodroofe, Arach, Distaff Thistle, Mousear, Costmary, or Alcost,
Burdock greater and lesser, Brooklime, or water Pimpernel, Beets
white, red, and black, Betony of the wood and water. Daisies greater
and lesser, Blite, Mercury, Borrage, Oak of Jerusalem, Cabbages,
Sodonella, Briony white and black, Bugloss, Buglesse, Shepherd’s
Purse, Ox-eye, Box leaves, Calaminth of the Mountains and Fens,
Ground Pine, Wood-bine, or Honey-suckles, Lady-smocks, Marygolds, Our
Lady’s Thistle, Carduus Benedictus, Avens, small Spurge, Horse-tail,
Coleworts, Centaury the less, Knotgrass, Cervil, Germander, Camomile,
Chamepytis female Southernwood, Chelene, Pilewort, Chicory, Hemlock,
garden and sea Scurvy-grass, Fleawort, Comfry great, middle, or bugle,
least or Daisies, Sarasens, Confound, Buck-horn, Plantain, May weed,
(or Margweed, as we in Sussex call it) Orpine, Sampeer, Crosewort,
Dodder, Blue Bottle great and small, Artichokes, Houndstone, Cypress
leaves, Dandelion, Dittany of Treet, Box leaves, Teazles garden and
wild, Dwarff Elder, Viper’s Bugloss, Lluellin, Smallage, Endive,
Elecampane, Horsetail, Epithimum, Groundsel, Hedge-mustard, Spurge,
Agrimony, Maudlin, Eye-bright, Orpine, Fennel, Sampeer, Fillipendula,
Indian leaf, Strawberry leaves, Ash tree leaves, Fumitory, Goat’s Rue,
Lady’s Bedstraw, Broom, Muscatu, Herb Robert, Doves Foot, Cottonweed,
Hedge Hyssop, Tree Ivy, Ground Ivy, or Alehoof, Elecampane, Pellitory
of the wall, Liver-wort, Cowslips, Rupture-wort, Hawkweed, Monk’s
Rhubarb, Alexanders, Clary garden and wild, Henbane, St. John’s-wort,
Horsetongue, or double tongue, Hysop, Sciatica cresses, small Sengreen,
Sharewort, Woad, Reeds, Schænanth, Chamepitys, Glasswort, Lettice,
Lagobus, Arch-angel, Burdock great and small, Lavender, Laurel, Bay
leaves, English and Alexandrian, Duckweed, Dittander, or Pepper-wort,
Lovage, Privet, Sea bugloss, Toad flax, Harts-tongue, sweet Trefoil,
Wood-sorrel, Hops, Willow-herb, Marjoram, common and tree Mallows,
Mandrake, Hore-hound white and black, Herb Mastich, Featherfew,
Woodbine, Melilot, Bawm garden and water, Mints, Horse-mints,
Mercury, Mezereon, Yarrow, Devil’s-bit, Moss, sweet Chivil, Mirtle
leaves, Garden and water Cresses, Nep, Tobacco, Money-wort, Water
Lilies, Bazil, Olive Leaves, Rest-harrow, Adder’s Tongue, Origanum,
sharp-pointed Dock, Poppy, white, black, and red, or Erratick,
Pellitory of the Wall, Cinquefoil, Ars-smart spotted and not spotted,
Peach Leaves, Thoroughwax, Parsley, Hart’s Tongue, Valeriak, Mouse-ear,
Burnet, small Spurge, Plantain common and narrow leaved, Mountain and
Cretick Poley, Knotgrass, Golden Maidenhair, Poplar leaves and buds,
Leeks, Purslain, Silverweed, or wild Tansy, Horehound white and black,
Primroses, Self-heal, Field Pellitory, or Sneezewort, Pennyroyal,
Fleabane, Lungwort, Winter-green, Oak leaves and buds, Docks, common
rue, Wall Rue or white Maidenhair, wild Rue, Savin, Osier Leaves,
Garden Sage the greater and lesser, Wild Sage, Elder leaves and
buds, Marjorum, Burnet, Sanicle, Sopewort, Savory, White Saxifrage,
Scabious, Chicory, Schœnanth, Clary, Scordium, Figwort, Houseleek, or
Sengreen the greater and lesser, Groundsel, Senna leaves and pods,
Mother of Time, Solomon’s Seal, Alexanders, Nightshade, Soldanela,
Sow-thistles, smooth and rough, Flixweed, common Spike, Spinach,
Hawthorn, Devil’s-bit, Comfry, Tamarisk leaves, Tansy, Dandelyon,
Mullen or Higcaper, Time, Lime tree leaves, Spurge, Tormentil, common
and golden Trefoil, Wood-sorrel, sweet Trefoil, Colt’s-foot, Valerian,
Mullen, Vervain, Paul’s Bettony, Lluellin, Violets, Tansy, Perewinkles,
Swallow-wort, golden Rod, Vine leaves, Meadsweet, Elm leaves,
Naval-wort, Nettles, common and Roman, Archangel, or dead Nettles,
white and red._
_Culpeper._ These be the herbs as the college set down to look upon, we
will see if we can translate them in another form to the benefit of the
body of man.
_Herbs temperate in respect of heat, are_ common Maiden-hair,
Wall-rue, black and golden Maiden-hair, Woodroof, Bugle, Goat’s Rue,
Hart’s-tongue, sweet Trefoil, Flixweed, Cinquefoil, Trefoil, Paul’s
Bettony, Lluellin.
_Intemperate and hot in the first degree, are_ Agrimony, Marsh-mallows,
Goose-grass or Cleavers, Distaff Thistle, Borrage, Bugloss, or Lady’s
Thistles, Avens, Cetrach, Chervil, Chamomel, Eyebright, Cowslips,
Melilot, Bazil, Self-heal.
_In the second._ Common and Roman Wormwood, Maudlin, Lady’s Mantle,
Pimpernel male and female, Dill, Smallage, Mugwort, Costmary, Betony,
Oak of Jerusalem, Marigold, Cuckooflowers, Carduus Benedictus, Centaury
the less, Chamepitys, Scurvy-grass, Indian Leaf, Broom, Ale-hoof,
Alexanders, Double-tongue, or Tongue-blade, Archangel, or dead Nettles,
Bay Leaves, Marjoram, Horehound, Bawm, Mercury, Devil’s-bit, Tobacco,
Parsley, Poley mountain, Rosemary, Sage, Sanicle Scabious, Senna,
Soldanella, Tansy, Vervain, Perewinkle.
_In the third degree._ Southernwood male and female, Brooklime,
Angelica, Briony white and black, Calaminth, Germander, Sullendine,
Pilewort, Fleabane, Dwarf Elder, Epithimun, Bank-cresses, Clary,
Glasswort, Lavender, Lovage, Herb Mastich, Featherfew, Mints,
Water-cresses, Origanum, biting Arsmart, called in Latin Hydropiper,
(the college confounds this with _Persicaria_, or mild Arsmart, which
is cold) Sneezewort, Pennyroyal, Rue, Savin, summer and winter Savory,
Mother of Time, Lavender, Spike, Time, Nettles.
_In the fourth degree._ Sciatica-cresses, Stone-crop, Dittany, or
Pepper-wort, garden-cresses, Leeks, Crowfoot, Rosa Solis, Spurge.
_Herbs cold in the first degree._ Sorrel, Wood-sorrel, Arach, Burdock,
Shepherd’s-purse, Pellitory of the wall, Hawk-weed, Mallows, Yarrow,
mild Arsmart, called _Persicaria_, Burnet, Coltsfoot, Violets.
_Cold in the second degree._ Chickweed, wild Tansy, or Silverweed,
Daisies, Knotgrass, Succory, Buck-horn, Plantain, Dandelyon, Endive,
Fumitory, Strawberry leaves, Lettice, Duck-meat, Plantain, Purslain,
Willow leaves.
_In the third degree._ Sengreen, or House-leek, Nightshade.
_In the fourth degree._ Hemlock, Henbane, Mandrakes, Poppies.
_Herbs dry in the first degree._ Agrimony, Marsh-mallows, Cleavers,
Burdocks, Shepherds-purse, our Lady’s Thistle, Chervil, Chamomel,
Eye-bright, Cowslips, Hawkweed, Tongue-blade, or double tongue,
Melilot, mild Arsmart, Self-heal, Senna, Flixweed, Coltsfoot,
Perewinkle.
_Dry in the second degree._ Common and Roman Wormwood, Sorrel,
Wood-sorrel, Maudlin, Lady’s mantle, Pimpernel male and female,
Dill, Smallage, wild Tansy, or Silverweed, Mugwort, Distaff Thistle,
Costmary, Betony, Bugle, Cuckooflowers, Carduus Benedictus, Avens,
Centaury the less, Chicory, commonly called Succory, Scurvy-grass,
Buckhorn, Plantain, Dandelyon, Endive, Indian Leaf, Strawberry leaves,
Fumitory, Broom, Alehoof, Alexanders, Archangel, or Dead Nettles, white
and red, Bay Leaves, Marjoram, Featherfew, Bawm, Mercury, Devil’s-bit,
Tobacco, Parsley, Burnet, Plantain, Rosemary, Willow Leaves, Sage,
Santicle, Scabious, Soldanella, Vervain.
_Dry in the third degree._ Southernwood, male and female, Brooklime,
Angelica, Briony, white and black, Calamint, Germander, Chamepitys,
Selandine, Pilewort, Fleabane, Epithinum, Dwarf-Elder, Bank cresses,
Clary, Glasswort, Lavender, Lovage, Horehound, Herb Mastic, Mints,
Watercresses, Origanum, Cinquefoil, hot Arsmart, Poley mountain,
Sneezewort, Penny-royal, Rue, or herb of Grace, Savin, winter and
summer Savory, Mother of Time, Lavender, Silk, Tansy, Time, Trefoil.
_In the fourth degree._ Garden-cresses, wild Rue, Leeks, Onions,
Crowfoot, Rosa Solis, Garlic, Spurge.
_Herbs moist in the first degree._ Borrage, Bugloss, Marigolds,
Pellitory of the wall, Mallows, Bazil.
_In the fourth degree._ Chickweed, Arach, Daisies, Lettice, Duckmeat,
Purslain, Sow Thistles, Violets, Water-lilies.
_Herbs appropriated to certain parts of the body
of man._
_Heat the head._ Maudlin, Costmary, Betony, Carduus Benedictus,
Sullendine, Scurvy-grass, Eye-bright, Goat’s Rue, Cowslips, Lavender,
Laurel, Lovage, herb Mastich, Feather-few, Melilot, Sneezewort,
Penny-royal, Senna, Mother of Time, Vervain, Rosemary.
_Heat the throat._ Archangel white and red, otherwise called dead
Nettles, Devil’s-bit.
_Heat the breast._ Maiden-hair, white, black, common and golden,
Distaff Thistle, Time, Betony, Calaminth, Chamomel, Fennel,
Indian-leaf, Bay leaves, Hyssop, Bawm, Horehound, Oak of Jerusalem,
Germander, Melilot, Origanum, Rue, Scabious, Periwinkles, Nettles.
_Heat the heart._ Southernwood male and female, Angelica, Wood-roof,
Bugloss, Carduus Benedictus, Borrage, Goat’s Rue, Senna, Bazil,
Rosemary, Elecampane.
_Heat the stomach._ Wormwood common and Roman, Smallage, Avens, Indian
leaf, Broom, Schenanth, Bay leaves, Bawm, Mints, Parsley, Fennel, Time,
Mother of Time, Sage.
_Heat the liver._ Agrimony, Maudlin, Pimpernel, male and female,
Smallage, Costmary, or Ale cost, our Lady’s Thistles, Centaury the
less, Germander, Chamepytis, Selandine, Sampier, Fox Gloves, Ash-tree
leaves, Bay leaves, Toad-flax, Hops, Horehound, Water-cresses, Parsley,
Poley Mountain, Sage, Scordium, Senna, Mother of Time, Soldanella,
Asarabacca, Fennel, Hyssop, Spikenard.
_Heat the bowels._ Chamomel, Alehoofe, Alexanders.
_Heat the spleen._ All the four sorts of Maiden-hair, Agrimony,
Smallage, Centaury the less, Cetrach, Germander, Chamepitys, Samphire,
Fox-glove, Epithimum, Ash-tree, Bay leaves, Toad-flax, Hops, Horehound,
Parsley, Poley, Mountain Sage, Scordium, Senna, Mother of Time,
Tamarisk, Wormwood, Water-cresses, Hart’s-tongue.
_Heat the reins and bladder._ Agrimony, Maudlin, Marsh-mallows,
Pimpernel male and female, Brooklime, Costmary, Bettony, Chervil,
Germander, Chamomel, Samphire, Broom, Rupture-wort, Clary, Schenanth,
Bay-leaves, Toad-flax, Hops, Melilot, Water-cresses, Origanum,
Pennyroyal, Scordium, Vervain, Mother of Time, Rocket, Spikenard,
Saxifrage, Nettles.
_Heat the womb._ Maudlin, Angelica, Mugwort, Costmary, Calaminth,
Flea-bane, May-weed, Ormarg-weed, Dittany of Crete, Schenanth,
Arch-angel or Dead Nettles, Melilot, Feather-few, Mints, Devil’s-bit,
Origanum, Bazil, Pennyroyal, Savin, Sage, Scordium, Tansy, Time,
Vervain, Periwinkles, Nettles.
_Heat the joints._ Cowslips, Sciatica-cresses, hot Arsmart,
Garden-cresses, Costmary, Agrimony, Chamomel, Saint John’s-wort,
Melilot, Water-cresses, Rosemary, Rue, Sage, Stechas.
_Herbs cooling the head._ Wood-sorrel, Teazles, Lettice, Plantain,
Willow-leaves, Sengreen or Houseleek, Strawberry-leaves, Violet-leaves,
Fumitory, Water Lilies.
_Cool the throat._ Orpine, Strawberry leaves, Privet, Bramble leaves.
_Breast._ Mulberry leaves, Bramble leaves, Violet leaves, Strawberry
leaves, Sorrel, Wood-sorrel, Poppies, Orpine, Moneywort, Plantain,
Colt’s-foot.
_Heart._ Sorrel, Wood sorrel, Viper’s Bugloss, Lettice, Burnet, Violet
leaves, Strawberry leaves, and Water-Lilies.
_Stomach._ Sorrel, Wood sorrel, Succory, Orpine, Dandelyon, Endive,
Strawberry leaves, Hawkweed, Lettice, Purslain, Sow Thistles, Violet
leaves.
_Liver._ Sorrel, Woodsorrel, Dandelyon, Endive, Succory, Strawberry
leaves, Fumitory, Liverwort, Lettice, Purslain, Nightshade, Water
Lilies.
_Bowels._ Fumitory, Mallows, Buckthorn, Plantain, Orpine, Plantain,
Burnet.
_Spleen._ Fumitory, Endive, Succory, Lettice.
_Reins and bladder._ Knotgrass, Mallows, Yarrow, Moneywort, Plantain,
Endive, Succory, Lettice, Purslain, Water Lilies, Houseleek or Sengreen.
_The womb._ Wild Tansy, Arrach, Burdocks, Willow herb, Mirtle leaves,
Moneywort, Purslain, Sow Thistles, Endive, Succory, Lettice, Water
Lilies, Sengreen.
_The joints._ Willow leaves, Vine leaves, Lettice, Henbane, Nightshade,
Sengreen or Houseleek.
_Herbs altering according to property, in operation,
some bind, as_
Amomus, Agnus Castus, Shepherd’s purse, Cypress, Horsetail, Ivy, Bay
leaves, Melilot, Bawm, Mirtles, Sorrel, Plantain, Knot-grass, Comfry,
Cinquefoil, Fleawort, Purslain, Oak leaves, Willow leaves, Sengreen or
Houseleek, &c.
_Open, as_, Garlick, Onions, Wormwood, Mallows, Marsh-mallows,
Pellitory of the Wall, Endive, Succory, &c.
_Soften._ Mallows, Marsh-mallows, Beets, Pellitory of the Wall,
Violet leaves, Strawberry leaves, Arrach, Cypress leaves, Bay leaves,
Fleawort, &c.
_Harden._ Purslain, Nightshade, Houseleek or Sengreen, Duckmeat, and
most other herbs that are very cold.
_Extenuate._ Mugwort, Chamomel, Hysop, Pennyroyal, Stœchas, Time,
Mother of Time, Juniper, &c.
_Discuss._ Southernwood male and female, all the four sorts of
Maidenhair, Marsh-mallows, Dill, Mallows, Arrach, Beets, Chamomel,
Mints, Melilot, Pelitory of the Wall, Chickweed, Rue, Stœchas, Marjoram.
_Draw._ Pimpernel, Birthwort, Dittany, Leeks, Onions, Garlick, and also
take this general rule, as all cold things bind and harden, so all
things very hot are drying.
_Suppure._ Mallows, Marsh-mallows, White Lily leaves, &c.
_Cleanse._ Pimpernel, Southernwood, Sparagus, Cetrach, Arrach,
Wormwood, Beet, Pellitory of the Wall, Chamepitis, Dodder, Liverwort,
Horehound, Willow leaves, &c.
_Glutinate._ Marsh-mallows, Pimpernel, Centaury, Chamepitis,
Mallows, Germander, Horsetail, Agrimony, Maudlin, Strawberry leaves,
Woad-chervil, Plantain, Cinquefoil, Comfry, Bugle, Self-heal,
Woundwort, Tormentil, Rupture-wort, Knot-grass, Tobacco.
_Expel wind._ Wormwood, Garlick, Dill, Smallage, Chamomel, Epithimum,
Fennel, Juniper, Marjoram, Origanum, Savory both winter and summer.
Tansy is good to cleanse the stomach and bowels of rough viscous flegm,
and humours that stick to them, which the flegmatic constitution of the
winter usually infects the body of man with, and occasions gouts and
other diseases of like nature and lasting long. This was the original
of that custom to eat Tansys in the spring; the herb may be made into
a conserve with sugar, or boil it in wine and drink the decoction, or
make the juice into a syrup with sugar, which you will.
_Herbs breed seed._ Clary, Rocket, and most herbs that are hot and
moist, and breed wind.
_Provoke the terms._ Southernwood, Garlick, all the sorts of Maiden
hair, Mugwort, Wormwood, Bishops-weed, Cabbages, Bettony, Centaury,
Chamomel, Calaminth, Germander, Dodder, Dittany, Fennel, St. John’s
Wort, Marjoram, Horehound, Bawm, Water-cresses, Origanum, Bazil,
Pennyroyal, Poley mountain, Parsley, Smallage, Rue, Rosemary, Sage,
Savin, Hartwort, Time, Mother of Time, Scordium, Nettles.
_Stop the terms._ Shepherd’s purse, Strawberries, Mirtles, Water
Lilies, Plantain, Houseleek or Sengreen, Comfry, Knotgrass.
_Resist poison._ Southernwood, Wormwood, Garlick, all sorts of Maiden
hair, Smallage, Bettony, Carduus Benedictus, Germander, Calaminth,
Alexanders, Carline Thistle, Agrimony, Fennel, Juniper, Horehound,
Origanum, Pennyroyal, Poley-mountain, Rue, Scordium, Plantain.
_Discuss swellings._ Maiden-hair, Cleavers, or Goosegrass, Mallows,
Marsh-mallows, Docks, Bawm, Water-cresses, Cinquefoil, Scordium, &c.
_Ease pain._ Dil, Wormwood, Arach, Chamomel, Calaminth, Chamepitis,
Henbane, Hops, Hog’s Fennel, Parsley, Rosemary, Rue, Marjoram, Mother
of Time.
_Herbs Purging._
_Choler._ Groundsel, Hops, Peach leaves, Wormwood, Centaury, Mallows,
Senna.
_Melancholy._ Ox-eye, Epithimum, Fumitory, Senna, Dodder.
_Flegm and water._ Briony, white and black, Spurge, both work most
violently and are not fit for a vulgar use, Dwarf Elder, Hedge Hyssop,
Laurel leaves, Mercury, Mezereon also purges violently, and so doth
Sneezewort, Elder leaves, Senna.
For the particular operations of these, as also how to order the body
after purges, the quantity to be taken at a time, you have been in part
instructed already, and shall be more fully hereafter.
FLOWERS.
College.] _Wormwood, Agnus Castus, Amaranthus, Dill, Rosemary,
Columbines, Orrenges, Balaustins, or Pomegranate Flowers, Bettony,
Borrage, Bugloss, Marigolds, Woodbine or Honeysuckles, Clove
Gilliflowers, Centaury the less, Chamomel, Winter Gilliflowers,
Succory, Comfry the greater, Saffron, Blue-bottle great and small,
(_Synosbatus_, _Tragus_, and _Dedonæus_ hold our white
thorn to be it, _Cordus_ and _Marcelus_ think it to be
Bryars, _Lugdunensis_ takes it for the sweet Bryar, but what our
College takes it for, I know not) Cytinus, (_Dioscorides_ calls
the flowers of the Manured Pomegranates, Cytinus, but _Pliny_
calls the flowers of the wild kind by that name,) Fox-glove, Vipers
Bugloss, Rocket, Eye-bright, Beans, Fumitory, Broom, Cowslips, St.
John’s Wort, Hysop, Jessamine or Shrub, Trefoil, Archangel, or Dead
Nettles white and red, Lavender, Wall-flowers, or Winter-Gilliflowers,
Privet, Lilies white, and of the valley, Hops, Common and tree Mallows,
Feather-few, Woodbine, or Honeysuckles, Melilot, Bawm, Walnuts,
Water-Lilies white and yellow, Origanum, Poppies white and red, or
Erraticks, Poppies, or corn Roses, so called because they grow amongst
Corn, Peony, Honeysuckles, or Woodbine, Peach-flowers, Primroses,
Self-heal, Sloe bush, Rosemary flowers, Roses, white, damask and red,
Sage, Elder, white Saxifrage, Scabious, Siligo, (I think they mean
wheat by it, Authors are not agreed about it) Steches, Tamarisk, Tansy,
Mullen or Higtaper, Limetree, Clove Gilliflowers, Colt’s-foot, Violets,
Agnus Castus, Dead Nettles white and red._
_Culpeper._] That these may be a little explained for the public good:
be pleased to take notice.
_Some are hot in the first degree, as_ Borrage, Bugloss, Bettony,
Ox-eye, Melilot, Chamomel, Stœchas.
_Hot in the second degree._ Amomus, Saffron, Clove-gilliflowers,
Rocket, Bawm, Spikenard, Hops, Schenanth, Lavender, Jasmine, Rosemary.
_In the third degree._ Agnus Castus, Epithimum, Winter-gilliflowers,
or Wallflowers, Woodbine, or Honey-suckles.
_Cold in the first degree._ Mallows, Roses, red, white, and damask
Violets.
_In the second._ Anemom, or Wind-flower, Endive, Succory, Water-lilies,
both white and yellow.
_In the third._ Balaustins, or Pomegranate flowers.
_In the fourth._ Henbane, and all the sorts of Poppies, only whereas
authors say, field Poppies, which some call red, others erratick and
corn Roses, are the coldest of all the others; yet my opinion is, that
they are not cold in the fourth degree.
_Moist in the first degree._ Borrage, Bugloss, Mallows, Succory, Endive.
_In the second._ Water-lilies, Violets.
_Dry in the first degree._ Ox-eye, Saffron, Chamomel, Melilot, Roses.
_In the second._ Wind-flower, Amomus, Clove-gilliflowers, Rocket,
Lavender, Hops, Peony, Rosemary, Spikenard.
_In the third._ Woodbine, or Honey-suckles, Balaustines, Epithimum,
Germander, Chamepitis.
The temperature of any other flowers not here mentioned are of the same
temperature with the herbs, you may gain skill by searching there for
them, you can loose none.
_For the parts of the body, they are appropriated
to, some heat_
_The head_; _as_, Rosemary flowers, Self-heal, Chamomel, Bettony,
Cowslips, Lavender, Melilot, Peony, Sage, Stœchas.
_The breast._ Bettony, Bawm, Scabious, Schœnanth.
_The heart._ Bawm, Rosemary flowers, Borrage, Bugloss, Saffron,
Spikenard.
_The stomach._ Rosemary-flowers, Spikenard, Schœnanth.
_The liver._ Centaury, Schænanth, Elder, Bettony, Chamomel, Spikenard.
_The spleen._ Bettony, Wall-flowers.
_The reins and bladder._ Bettony, Marsh-mallows, Melilot, Schœnanth,
Spikenard.
_The womb._ Bettony, Squinanth or Schenanth, Sage, Orris or
Flower-de-luce.
_The joints._ Rosemary-flowers, Cowslips, Chamomel, Melilot.
_Flowers, as they are cooling, so they cool_
_The head._ Violets, Roses, the three sorts of Poppies, and
Water-lilies.
_The breast and heart._ Violets, Red Roses, Water-lilies.
_The stomach._ Red Roses, Violets.
_The liver and spleen._ Endive, and Succory.
Violets, Borrage, and Bugloss, moisten the heart, Rosemary-flowers,
Bawm and Bettony, dry it.
_According to property, so they bind._
Balaustins, Saffron, Succory, Endive, red-roses, Melilot, Bawm,
Clove-gilliflowers, Agnus Castus.
_Discuss._ Dill, Chamomel, Marsh-mallows, Mallows, Melilot, Stœchas, &c.
_Cleanse._ Damask-roses, Elder flowers, Bean flowers, &c.
_Extenuate._ Orris, or Flower-de-luce, Chamomel, Melilot, Stœchas, &c.
_Mollify._ Saffron, white Lilies, Mallows, Marsh-mallows, &c.
_Suppure._ Saffron, white Lilies, &c.
_Glutinate._ Balaustines, Centaury, &c.
_Provoke the terms._ Bettony, Centaury, Chamomel, Schœnanth,
Wall-flowers, Bawm Peony, Rosemary, Sage.
_Stop the terms._ Balaustines, or Pomegranate flowers, Water Lilies.
_Expel wind._ Dill, Chamomel, Schœnanth, Spikenard.
_Help burnings._ White Lilies, Mallows, Marsh-mallows.
_Resist poison._ Bettony, Centaury.
_Ease pain._ Dill, Chamomel, Centaury, Melilot, Rosemary.
_Flowers purge choler._ Peach flowers, Damask Roses, Violets.
_Flegm._ Broom flowers, Elder flowers.
If you compare but the quality of the flowers with the herbs, and with
the explanation of these terms at the latter end, you may easily find
the temperature and property of the rest.
The flowers of Ox-eye being boiled into a poultice with a little barley
meal, take away swellings and hardness of the flesh, being applied warm
to the place.
Chamomel flowers heat, discuss, loosen and rarify, boiled in Clysters,
they are excellent in the wind cholic, boiled in wine, and the
decoction drunk, purges the reins, break the stone, opens the pores,
cast out choleric humours, succours the heart, and eases pains and
aches, or stiffness coming by travelling.
The flowers of Rocket used outwardly, discuss swellings, and dissolve
hard tumors, you may boil them into a poultice, but inwardly taken they
send but unwholesome vapours up to the head.
Hops open obstructions of the bowels, liver, and spleen, they cleanse
the body of choler and flegm, provoke urine.
Jasmine flowers boiled in oil, and the grieved place bathed with it,
takes away cramps and stitches in the sides.
The flowers of Woodbine, or Honeysuckles, being dryed and beaten
into powder, and a dram taken in white wine in the morning, helps
the rickets, difficulty of breathing; provoke urine, and help the
stranguary.
The flowers of Mallows being bruised and boiled in honey (two ounces
of the flowers is sufficient for a pound of honey; and having first
clarified the honey before you put them in) then strained out; this
honey taken with a liquorice stick, is an excellent remedy for Coughs,
Asthmas, and consumptions of the lungs.
FRUITS.
College.] _Winter-cherries, Love Apples, Almonds sweet and bitter,
Anacardia, Oranges, Hazel Nuts, the oily Nut Ben, Barberries, Capers,
Guinny Pepper, Figs, Carpobalsamum, Cloves, Cassia Fistula, Chestnuts,
Cherries black and red, Cicers, white, black and red, Pome Citrons,
Coculus Indi, Colocynthis, Currants, Cornels or Cornelian Cherries,
Cubebs, Cucumbers garden and wild, Gourds, Cynosbatus, Cypress, Cones,
Quinces, Dates, Dwarf-Elder, Green Figs, Strawberries, common and
Turkey Galls, Acorns, Acorn Cups, Pomegranates, Gooseberries, Ivy,
Herb True-Love, Walnuts, Jujubes, Juniper berries, Bayberries, Lemons,
Oranges, Citrons, Quinces, Pomegranates, Lemons, Mandrakes, Peaches,
Stramonium, Apples, garden and wild, or Crabs and Apples, Musk Melons,
Medlars, Mulberries, Myrobalans, Bellericks, Chebs, Emblicks, Citron
and Indian, Mirtle, Berries, water Nuts, Hazel Nuts, Chestnuts, Cypress
Nuts, Walnuts, Nutmegs, Fistick Nuts, Vomiting Nuts, Olives pickled in
brine, Heads of white and black Poppies, Pompions, Peaches, French or
Kidney Beans, Pine, Cones, white, black, and long Pepper, Fistick Nuts,
Apples and Crabs, Prunes, French and Damask, Sloes, Pears, English
Currants, Berries of Purging Thorn, black Berries, Raspberries, Elder
berries, Sebastens, Services, or Checkers, Hawthorn berries, Pine Nuts,
Water Nuts, Grapes, Gooseberries, Raisins, Currants._
_Culpeper._] That you may reap benefit by these, be pleased to
consider, that they are some of them
_Temperate in respect of heat._ Raisins of the sun, Currants, Figs,
Pine Nuts, Dates, Sebastens.
_Hot in the first degree._ Sweet Almonds, Jujubes, Cypress Nuts, green
Hazel Nuts, green Walnuts.
_Hot in the second degree._ The Nut Ben, Capers, Nutmegs, dry Walnuts,
dry Hazel Nuts, Fistick Nuts.
_In the third degree._ Juniper Berries, Cloves, Carpobalsamum, Cubebs,
Anacardium, bitter Almonds.
_In the fourth degree._ Pepper, white, black and long, Guinny Pepper.
_Cold in the first degree._ The flesh of Citrons, Quinces, Pears,
Prunes, &c.
_In the second._ Gourds, Cucumbers, Melons, Pompions, Oranges, Lemons,
Citrons, Pomegranates, viz. the juice of them, Peaches, Prunes, Galls,
Apples.
_In the third._ Mandrakes.
_In the fourth._ Stramonium.
_Moist in the first degree._ The flesh of Citrons, Lemons, Oranges,
viz. the inner rhind which is white, the outer rhind is hot.
_In the second._ Gourds, Melons, Peaches, Prunes, &c.
_Dry in the first degree._ Juniper Berries.
_In the second._ The Nut Ben, Capers, Pears, Fistick Nuts, Pine Nuts,
Quinces, Nutmegs, Bay berries.
_In the third._ Cloves, Galls, &c.
_In the fourth._ All sorts of pepper.
_As appropriated to the body of Man, so they
heat the head: as_
Anacardia, Cubebs, Nutmegs.
_The breast._ Bitter Almonds, Dates, Cubebs, Hazel Nuts, Pine Nuts,
Figs, Raisins of the sun, Jujubes.
_The heart._ Walnuts, Nutmegs, Juniper berries.
_The stomach._ Sweet Almonds, Cloves, Ben, Juniper berries, Nutmegs,
Pine Nuts, Olives.
_The spleen._ Capers.
_The reins and bladder._ Bitter Almonds, Juniper Berries, Cubebs, Pine
Nuts, Raisins of the sun.
_The womb._ Walnuts, Nutmegs, Bayberries, Juniper berries.
_Cool the breast._ Sebastens, Prunes, Oranges, Lemons.
_The heart._ Oranges, Lemons, Citrons, Pomegranates, Quinces, Pears.
_The stomach._ Quinces, Citruls, Cucumbers, Gourds, Musk Melons,
Pompions, Cherries, Gooseberries, Cornelian Cherries, Lemons, Apples,
Medlars, Oranges, Pears, English Currants, Cervices or Checkers.
_The liver._ Those that cool the stomach and Barberries.
_The reins and womb._ Those that cool the stomach, and Strawberries.
_By their several operations, some_
_Bind._ As the berries of Mirtles, Barberries, Chestnuts, Cornels,
or Cornelian Cherries, Quinces, Galls, Acorns, Acorn-cups, Medlars,
Checkers or Cervices, Pomegranates, Nutmegs, Olives, Pears, Peaches.
_Discuss._ Capers, all the sorts of Pepper.
_Extenuate._ Sweet and bitter Almonds, Bayberries, Juniper berries.
_Glutinate._ Acorns, Acorn Cups, Dates, Raisins of the sun, Currants.
_Expel Wind._ Bay berries, Juniper berries, Nutmegs, all the sorts of
Pepper.
_Breed seed._ Raisins of the sun, sweet Almonds, Pine Nuts, Figs, &c.
_Provoke urine._ Winter Cherries.
_Provoke the terms._ Ivy berries, Capers, &c.
_Stop the terms._ Barberries, &c.
_Resist poison._ Bay berries, Juniper berries, Walnuts, Citrons,
commonly called Pome Citrons, all the sorts of Pepper.
_Ease pain._ Bay berries, Juniper berries, Ivy berries, Figs, Walnuts,
Raisins, Currants, all the sorts of Pepper.
_Fruits purging._
_Choler._ Cassia Fistula, Citron Myrobalans, Prunes, Tamarinds, Raisins.
_Melancholy._ Indian Myrobalans.
_Flegm._ Colocynthis and wild Cucumbers purge violently, and therefore
not rashly to be meddled withal: I desire my book should be beneficial,
not hurtful to the vulgar, but Myrobalans of all sorts, especially
Chebs, Bellericks and Emblicks, purge flegm very gently, and without
danger.
Of all these give me leave to commend only one to you as of special
concernment which is Juniper berries.
SEEDS.
College.] _Sorrel, Agnus Castus, Marsh-mallows, Bishop’s weed true
and common, Amomus, Dill, Angellica, Annis, Rose-seed, Smallage,
Columbines, Sparagus, Arach, Oats, Oranges, Burdocks, Bazil,
Barberries, Cotton, Bruscus or Knee-holly, Hemp, Cardamoms greater and
lesser, Carduus Benedictus, our Lady’s Thistles, Bastard, Saffron,
Caraway, Spurge greater and lesser, Coleworts, Onions, the Kernels of
Cherry stones, Chervil, Succory, Hemlock, Citrons, Citruls, Garden
Scurvy-grass, Colocynthis, Coriander, Samphire, Cucumbers garden
and wild, Gourds, Quinces, Cummin, Cynosbatus, Date-stones, Carrots
English, and cretish, Dwarf-Elder, Endive, Rocket, Hedge Mustard,
Orobus, Beans, Fennel, Fenugreek, Ash-tree keys, Fumitory, Brooms,
Grains of Paradise, Pomegranates, wild Rue, Alexanders, Barley, white
Henbane, St. John’s Wort, Hyssop, Lettice, Sharp-pointed-Dock, Spurge,
Laurel, Lentils, Lovage, Lemons, Ash-tree-keys, Linseed, or Flaxweed,
Gromwell, Darnel, Sweet Trefoil, Lupines, Masterwort, Marjoram,
Mallows, Mandrakes, Melons, Medlars, Mezereon, Gromwell, sweet Navew,
Nigella, the kernels of Cherries, Apricots, and Peaches, Bazil, Orobus,
Rice, Panick, Poppies white and black, Parsnips garden and wild,
Thorough Wax, Parsley, English and Macedonian, Burnet, Pease, Plantain,
Peony, Leeks, Purslain, Fleawort, Turnips, Radishes, Sumach, Spurge,
Roses, Rue, garden and wild, Wormseed, Saxifrage, Succory, Sesami,
Hartwort, common and cretish, Mustard-seed, Alexanders, Nightshade,
Steves Ager, Sumach, Treacle, Mustard, sweet Trefoil, Wheat, both the
fine flour and the bran, and that which starch is made of, Vetches or
Tares, Violets, Nettles, common and Roman, the stones of Grapes, Greek
Wheat, or Spelt Wheat._
_Culpeper._] That you may receive a little more benefit by these, than
the bare reading of them, which doth at the most but tell you what they
are; the following method may instruct you what they are good for.
_Seeds are hot in the first degree._
Linseed, Fenugreek, Coriander, Rice, Gromwell, Lupines.
_In the second._ Dill, Smallage, Orobus, Rocket, Bazil, Nettles.
_In the third._ Bishop’s Weed, Annis, Amomus, Carraway, Fennel, (and
so I believe Smallage too, let authors say what they will, for if the
herb of Smallage be somewhat hotter than Parsley; I know little reason
why the seed should not be so hot) Cardamoms, Parsley, Cummin, Carrots,
Nigella, Navew, Hartwort, Staves Ager.
_In the fourth._ Water-cresses, Mustard-seed.
_Cold in the first degree._ Barley, &c.
_In the second._ Endive, Lettice, Purslain, Succory, Gourds, Cucumbers,
Melons, Citruls, Pompions, Sorrel, Nightshade.
_In the third._ Henbane, Hemlock, Poppies white and black.
_Moist in the first degree._ Mallows, &c.
_Dry in the first degree._ Beans, Fennel, Fenugreek, Barley, Wheat, &c.
_In the second._ Orobus, Lentils, Rice, Poppies, Nightshade, and the
like.
_In the third._ Dill, Smallages, Bishop’s Weed, Annis, Caraway, Cummin,
Coriander, Nigella, Gromwell, Parsley.
_Appropriated to the body of man, and so they_
_Heat the head._ Fennel, Marjoram, Peony, &c.
_The breast._ Nettles.
_The heart._ Bazil, Rue, &c. Mustard seed, &c.
_The stomach._ Annis, Bishop’s weed, Amomus, Smallage, Cummin,
Cardamoms, Cubebs, Grains of Paradise.
_The liver._ Annis, Fennel, Bishop’s weed, Amomus, Smallage, Sparagus,
Cummin, Caraway, Carrots.
_The spleen._ Annis, Caraway, Water-cresses.
_The reins and bladder._ Cicers, Rocket, Saxifrage, Nettles, Gromwell.
_The womb._ Peony, Rue.
_The joints._ Water-cresses, Rue, Mustard-seed.
_Cool the head._ Lettice, Purslain, white Poppies.
_The breast._ White Poppies, Violets.
_The heart._ Orange, Lemon, Citron and Sorrel seeds.
Lastly, the four greater and four lesser cold seeds, which you may find
in the beginning of the compositions, as also the seed of white and
black Poppies cool the liver and spleen, reins and bladder, womb and
joints.
_According to operation some seeds_
_Bind, as_ Rose-seeds, Barberries, Shepherd’s purse, Purslain, &c.
_Discuss._ Dill, Carrots, Linseeds, Fenugreek, Nigella, &c.
_Cleanse._ Beans, Orobus, Barley, Lupines, Nettles, &c.
_Mollify._ Linseed, or Flax seed, Fenugreek seed, Mallows, Nigella.
_Harden._ Purslain seed, &c.
_Suppure._ Linseed, Fenugreek seed, Darnel, Barley husked, commonly
called French Barley.
_Glutinate._ Orobus, Lupines, Darnel, &c.
_Expel wind._ Annis, Dill, Smallage, Caraway, Cummin, Carrots, Fennel,
Nigella, Parsley, Hartwort, Wormseed.
_Breed seed._ Rocket, Beans, Cicers, Ash tree keys.
_Provoke the menses._ Amomus, Sparagus, Annis, Fennel, Bishop’s weed,
Cicers, Carrots, Smallage, Parsley, Lovage, Hartwort.
_Break the stone._ Mallows, Marsh-mallows, Gromwell, &c.
_Stop the terms._ Rose seeds, Cummin, Burdock, &c.
_Resist poison._ Bishop’s weed, Annis, Smallage, Cardamoms, Oranges,
Lemons, Citrons, Fennel, &c.
_Ease pain._ Dill, Amomus, Cardamoms, Cummin, Carrots, Orobus,
Fenugreek, Linseed, Gromwell, Parsley, Panick.
_Assuage swellings._ Linseed, Fenugreek seeds, Marsh-mallows, Mallows,
Coriander, Barley, Lupines, Darnel, &c.
* * * * *
The College tells you a tale that there are such things in Rerum
Natura, as these, Gums, Rozins, Balsams, and Juices made thick, viz.
College.] _Juices of Wormwood and Maudlin, Acacia, Aloes, Lees of Oil,
Assafœtida, Balsam of Peru and India; Bdellium, Benzoin, Camphire,
Caranna, Colophonia, Juice of Maudlin, Euphorbium, Lees of Wine, Lees
of Oil, Gums of Galbanum, Amoniacum, Anime, Arabick, Cherry Trees,
Copal, Elemy, Juniper, Ivy, Plumb Trees, Cambuge, Hypocystis, Labdanum,
Lacca, Liquid Amber, Manna, Mastich, Myrrh, Olibanum, Opium, Opopanax,
Pice-bitumen, Pitch of the Cedar of Greece, Liquid and dry Rozins of
Fir-tree, Larch-tree, Pine tree, Pine-fruit, Mastich. Venice and Cyprus
Turpentine. Sugar, white, red, and Christaline, or Sugar Candy white
and red, Sagapen, Juniper, Gum, Sanguis Draconis, Sarcocolla, Scamony,
Styrax, Liquid and Calamitis, Tacha, Mahacca, Tartar, Frankincense,
Olibanum, Tragaganth, Birdlime._
_Culpeper._] That my country may receive more benefit than ever the
college of Physicians intended them from these, I shall treat of them
severally.
1. Of the Juices.
2. Of the Gums and Rosins.
_Concrete Juices, or Juices made thick, are either_
_Temperate_, _as_, Juice of Liquorice, white starch.
_Hot in the first degree._ Sugar.
_In the second._ Labdanum.
_In the third._ Benzoin, Assafœtida.
_Cold in the third degree._ Sanguis Draconis, Acacia.
_In the third._ Hypocistis.
_In the fourth._ Opium, and yet some authors think Opium is hot because
of its bitter taste.
_Aloes and Manna_ purge choler gently; and Scamony doth purge choler
violently, that it is no ways fit for a vulgar man’s use, for it
corrodes the Bowels. Opopoanax purges flegm very gently.
_White starch_ gently levigates or makes smooth such parts as are
rough, syrup of Violets being made thick with it and so taken on the
point of a knife, helps coughs, roughness of the throat, wheezing,
excoriations of the bowels, the bloody-flux.
Juice of _Liquorice_ helps roughness of the _Trachea Arteria_, which
is in plain English called the windpipe, the roughness of which causes
coughs and hoarseness, difficulty of breathing, &c. It allays the heat
of the stomach and liver, eases pains, soreness and roughness of the
reins and bladder, it quencheth thirst, and strengthens the stomach
exceedingly: It may easily be carried about in one’s pocket, and eat a
little now and then.
_Sugar_ cleanses and digests, takes away roughness of the tongue, it
strengthens the reins and bladder, being weakened: being beaten into
fine powder and put into the eyes, it takes away films that grow over
the sight.
_Labdanum_ is in operation, thickening, heating and mollifying, it
opens the passage of the veins, and keeps the hair from falling off;
the use of it is usually external: being mixed with wine, myrrh, and
oil of mirtles, and applied like a plaister, it takes away filthy
scars, and the deformity the small pox leaves behind them; being mixed
with oil of Roses, and dropped into the ears, it helps pains there;
being used as a pessary, it provokes the menses, and helps hardness or
stiffness of the womb. It is sometimes used inwardly in such medicines
as ease pains and help the cough: if you mix a little of it with old
white wine and drink it, it both provokes urine and stops looseness or
fluxes.
_Dragons blood_, cools, binds, and repels.
_Acasia_, and _Hyposistis_, do the like.
The juice of _Maudlin_, or, for want of it Costmary, which is the same
in effect, and better known to the vulgar, the juice is made thick for
the better keeping of it; first clarify the juice before you boil it to
its due thickness, which is something thicker than honey.
It is appropriated to the liver, and the quantity of a dram taken
every morning, helps the _Cachexia_, or evil disposition of the
body proceeding from coldness of the liver: it helps the rickets
and worms in children, provokes urine, and gently (without purging)
disburdens the body of choler and flegm; it succours the lungs, opens
obstructions, and resists putrifaction of blood.
_Gums are either temperate_, _as_, Lacca, Elemi, Tragacanth, &c.
_Intemperate_, _and so are hot in the first degree_, as Bdellium, Gum
of Ivy.
_In the second_, Galbanum, Myrrh, Mastich, Frankincense, Olibanum,
Pitch, Rozin, Styrax.
_In the third._ Amoniacum.
_In the fourth._ Euphorbium.
Gum Arabick is cold.
Colophonia and Styrax soften.
Gum Arabick and Tragacanth, Sandarack or Juniper Gum, and Sarcocolla
bind.
Gum of Cherry trees, breaks the stone.
Styrax provokes the menses.
Opopanax gently purges flegm.
From the prickly _Cedar_ when it is burned comes forth that which, with
us, is usually known by the name of Tar, and is excellently good for
unction either for scabs, itch, or manginess, either in men or beasts,
as also against the leprosy, tetters, ringworms, and scald heads.
All sorts of _Rozins_ fill up hollow ulcers, and relieve the body sore
pressed with cold griefs.
The _Rozin_ of Pitch-tree, is that which is commonly called Burgundy
pitch, and is something hotter and sharper than the former, being
spread upon a cloth is excellently good for old aches coming of former
bruises or dislocations.
_Pitch_ mollifies hard swellings, and brings boils and sores to
suppuration, it breaks carbuncles, disperses aposthumes, cleanses
ulcers of corruption and fills them with flesh.
_Bdellium_ heats and mollifies, and that very temperately, being mixed
with any convenient ointment or plaister, it helps kernels in the neck
and throat, _Scrophula_, or that disease which was called the King’s
Evil. Inwardly taken in any convenient medicine, it provokes the
menses, and breaks the stone, it helps coughs and bitings of venomous
beasts: it helps windiness of the spleen, and pains in the sides thence
coming. Both outwardly applied to the place and inwardly taken, it
helps ruptures or such as are burst, it softens the hardness of the
womb, dries up the moisture thereof and expels the dead child.
_Bitumen Jadaicum_ is a certain dry pitch which the dead sea, or lake
of _Sodom in India_ casts forth at certain times, the inhabitants
thereabouts pitch their ships with it. It is of excellent use to
mollify the hardness of swellings and discuss them, as also against
inflammations; the smoke of it burnt is excellently good for the fits
of the mother, and the falling-sickness: Inwardly taken in wine
it provokes the menses, helps the bitings of venomous beasts, and
dissolves congealed blood in the body.
_Ambergreese_ is hot and dry in the second degree, I will not dispute
whether it be a Gum or not: It strengthens nature much which way
soever it be taken, there are but few grains usually given of it at a
time: mixed with a little ointment of Orange flowers, and the temples
and forehead anointed with it, it eases the pains of the head and
strengthens the brain exceedingly; the same applied to the privities,
helps the fits of the mother; inwardly taken it strengthens the brain
and memory, the heart and vital spirit, warms cold stomachs, and is
an exceeding strengthener of nature to old people, adding vigour to
decayed and worn-out spirits: it provokes venery, and makes barren
women fruitful, if coldness and moisture or weakness be the cause
impediting.
_Assafœtida_ being smelled to, is vulgarly known to repress the fits of
the mother; a little bit put into an aching tooth, presently eases the
pain, ten grains of it taken before dinner, walking half an hour after
it, provokes appetite, helps digestion, strengthens the stomach, and
takes away loathing of meat, it provokes lust exceedingly and expels
wind as much.
_Borax_, besides the virtues it has to solder Gold, Silver, Copper, &c.
inwardly given in small quantities, it stops fluxes, and the running of
the reins: being in fine powder, and put into green wounds, it cures
them at once dressing.
_Gambuge_, which the College calls _Gutta Gamba_. I know no good of it.
_Caranna_ outwardly applied, is excellent for aches and swellings in
the nerves and joints: If you lay it behind the ears, it draws back
humours from the eyes; applied to the temples as they usually do
Mastich, it helps the tooth-ache.
_Gum Elimi_, authors appropriate to fractures in the skull and head.
See _Arceus’_ liniment.
_Gum Lacca_ being well purified, and the quantity of half a dram taken
in any convenient liquor, strengthens the stomach and liver, opens
obstructions, helps the yellow jaundice and dropsy; provokes urine,
breaks the stone in the reins and bladder.
Liquid _Amber_ is not much unlike liquid _Styrax_: by unction it warms
and comforts a cold and moist brain, it eases all griefs coming of
a cold cause, it mightily comforts and strengthens a weak stomach,
being anointed with it, and helps digestion exceedingly, it dissolves
swellings. It is hot in the third degree, and moist in the first.
I think it would do the commonwealth no harm if I should speak a word
or two on _Manna_ here, although it be no Gum: I confess authors make
some flutter about it, what it is, some holding it to be the juice
of a tree; I am confident it is the very same condensated that our
honey-dews here are, only the contries whence it comes being far
hotter, it falls in great abundance. Let him that desires reason for
it, be pleased to read _Butler’s_ book of Bees, a most excellent
experimental work, there he shall find reason enough to satisfy any
reasonable man. Choose the driest and whitest; it is a very gentle
purger of choler, quenches thirst, provokes appetite, eases the
roughness of the throat, helps bitterness in the throat, and often
proneness to vomit, it is very good for such as are subject to be
costive to put it into their drink instead of sugar, it hath no
obnoxious quality at all in it, but may be taken by a pregnant woman
without any danger; a child of a year old may take an ounce of it at
a time dissolved in milk, it will melt like sugar, neither will it be
known from it by the taste.
_Myrrh_ is hot and dry in the second degree, dangerous for pregnant
women, it is bitter, and yet held to be good for the roughness of
the throat and wind-pipe; half a dram of it taken at a time helps
rheumatic distillations upon the lungs, pains in the sides; it stops
fluxes, provokes the menses, brings away both birth and after-birth,
softens the hardness of the womb; being taken two hours before the
fit comes, it helps agues. _Mathiolus_ saith he seldom used any other
medicine for the quartan ague than a dram of myrrh given in Muskadel
an hour before the fit usually came; if you make it up into pills with
treacle, and take one of them every morning fasting, it is a sovereign
preservative against the pestilence, against the poison of serpents,
and other venomous beasts; a singular remedy for a stinking breath if
it arise from putrefaction of the stomach, it fastens loose teeth, and
stays the shedding off of the hair, outwardly used it breeds flesh in
deep wounds, and covers the naked bones with flesh.
_Olibanum_ is hot in the second degree, and dry in the first, you may
take a dram of it at a time, it stops looseness and the running of
the reins; it strengthens the memory exceedingly, comforts the heart,
expels sadness and melancholy, strengthens the heart, helps coughs,
rheums and pleurises; your best way (in my opinion,) to take it is to
mix it with conserve of roses, and take it in the morning fasting.
_Tachamacha_ is seldom taken inwardly, outwardly spread upon leather,
and applied to the navel; it stays the fits of the mother, applied to
the side, it mitigates speedily, and in little time quite takes away
the pain and windiness of the spleen; the truth is, whatsoever ache
or swelling proceeds of wind or cold raw humours, I know no better
plaister coming from beyond sea than this gum. It strengthens the
brain and memory exceedingly, and stops all such defluctions thence as
trouble the eyes, ears, or teeth, it helps the gout and sciatica.
_Gum Coopal, and Gum Anime_, are very like one another both in body and
operation, the former is hard to come by, the last not very easy. It
stops defluctions from the head, if you perfume your cap with the smoke
of it, it helps the headache and megrim, strengthens the brain, and
therefore the sinews.
_Gum Tragaganth_, which the vulgar call Gum Dragon, being mixed with
pectoral Syrups, (which you shall find noted in their proper places)
it helps coughs and hoarseness, salt and sharp distillations upon the
lungs, being taken with a liquorice stick, being dissolved in sweet
wine, it helps (being drank) gnawing in the bowels, sharpness and
freetings of the urine, which causes excoriations either in the reins
or bladder, being dissolved in milk and the eyes washed with it, it
takes away weals and scabs that grow on the eyelids, it is excellently
good to be put in poultice to fodder wounds, especially if the nerves
or sinews be hurt.
_Sagapen_, dissolved in juice of rue and taken, wonderfully breaks the
stone in the bladder, expels the dead child and afterbirth, clears
the sight; dissolved in wine and drank, it helps the cough, and
distillation upon the lungs, and the fits of the mother; outwardly
in oils or ointments, it helps such members as are out of joint or
over-stretched.
_Galbanum_ is of the same operation, and also taken from the same
plant, _viz._ Fennel, Giant.
_Gum Arabic_, thickens and cools, and corrects choleric sharp humours
in the body, being dissolved in the white of an egg, well beaten, it
helps burnings, and keeps the place from blistering.
_Mastich_ stays fluxes, being taken inwardly any way. Three or four
small grains of Mastich, swallowed at night going to bed, is a remedy
for pains in the stomach, being beaten into powder, and mixed with
conserve of Roses, it strengthens the stomach, stops distillations
upon the lungs, stay, vomiting, and causes a sweet breath; being mixed
with white wine and the mouth washed with it, it cleanses the gums of
corruption, and fastens loose teeth.
_Frankincense_ being used outwardly in the way of a plaister, heats and
binds; being applied to the temples, stops the rheums that flow to the
eyes, helps green wounds, and fills hollow ulcers with flesh, stops
the bleeding of wounds, though the arteries be cut; being made into an
ointment with Vinegar and Hog’s-grease, helps the itch, pains in the
ears, inflammations in women’s breasts commonly called agues in the
breast; beware of taking it inwardly, lest it cause madness.
_Turpentine_ is hot in the second degree, it heals, softens, it
discusses and purges, cleanses the reins, provokes urine.
_Styrax Calamitis_ is hot and dry in the second degree, it heals,
mollifies, and concocts; being taken inwardly helps the cough, and
distillations of the lungs, hoarseness and loss of voice, helps the
hardness of the womb, and provokes the menses.
_Ammoniacum_, hot and dry in the third degree, softens, draws, and
heats; being dissolved in vinegar, strained and applied plaister-wise,
it takes away carbuncles and hardness in the flesh, it is one of the
best remedies that I know for infirmities of the spleen, being applied
to the left side; being made into an ointment with oil, it is good to
anoint the limbs of such as are weary: a scruple of it being taken in
the form of a pill loosens the belly, gives speedy delivery to women in
travail, helps diseases of the spleen, the sciatica and all pains in
the joints, and have any humour afflicting their breast.
_Camphire_, it is held by all authority to be cold and dry in the
third degree, it is of very thin subtile parts, insomuch that being
beaten into very fine powder it will vanquish away into the air,
being beaten into powder and mixed with oil, and the temples anointed
therewith, eases headaches proceeding of heat, all inflammations
whatsoever, the back being anointed with the same, cools the reins,
and seminal vessels, stops the running of the reins and Fluor Albus,
the moderate use of Venery, the like it doth if it be drank inwardly
with Bettony-water, take but a small quantity of it at a time inwardly,
it resist poison and bitings by venomous beasts; outwardly, applied
as before, and the eyes anointed with it, stops hot rheums that flow
thither.
_Opopanax_ purges thick flegm from the most remote parts of the body,
_viz._ the brain, joints, hands, and feet, the nerves and breast, and
strengthens all those parts when they are weak, if the weakness proceed
of cold, as usually it doth; it helps weakness of the sight, old rotten
coughs, and gouts of all sorts, dropsies, and swellings of the spleen,
it helps the stranguary and difficulty of making urine, provokes the
menses, and helps all cold afflictions of the womb; have a care you
give it not to any pregnant women. The dose is one dram at most,
corrected with a little Mastich, dissolved in Vinegar and outwardly
applied helps the passions of the spleen.
* * * * *
In the next place the College tells you a tale concerning
Liquid, Juices, and Tears, which are to be kept for present
use, _viz._
College.] _Vinegar, Juice of Citrons, Juice of sour Grapes, Oranges,
Barberries, Tears of a Birch-tree, Juice of Cherries, Quinces,
Pomegranates, Lemons, Wood-sorrel, Oil of unripe Olives, and ripe
Olives, both new and old, Juice of red and Damask Roses, Wine Tears of
a Vine._
_Culpeper._] The virtues of the most of these may be found in the
Syrups, and are few of them used alone.
* * * * *
Then the College tells you there are things bred of PLANTS.
College.] _Agarick, Jew’s-ears, the berries of Chermes, the Spungy
substance of the Briar, Moss, Viscus Quercinus, Oak, Apples._
_Culpeper._] As the College would have you know this, so would I know
what the chief of them are good for.
_Jew’s-ears_ boiled in milk and drank, helps sore throats.
_Moss_ is cold, dry, and binding, therefore good for fluxes of all
sorts.
_Misleto of the Oak_, it helps the falling sickness and the
convulsions; being discreetly gathered and used.
_Oak Apples_ are dry and binding; being boiled in milk and drank, they
stop fluxes and the menses, and being boiled in vinegar, and the body
anointed with the vinegar, cures the itch.
* * * * *
Then the College acquaints you, That there are certain
living Creatures called
College.] _Bees, Woodlice, Silkworms, Toads, Crabs of the River, little
Puppy Dogs, Grass-hoppers, Cantharides, Cothanel, Hedge-hogs, Emmets
or Ants, Larks, Swallows, and their young ones, Horse-leeches, Snails,
Earthworms, Dishwashers or Wagtails, House Sparrows and Hedge Sparrows,
Frogs, Scineus, Land Scorpions, Moles, or Monts, Tortoise of the Woods,
Tenches, Vipers and Foxes._
_Culpeper._] That part of this crew of Cattle and some others which
they have not been pleased to learn, may be made beneficial to your
sick bodies, be pleased to understand, that
_Bees_ being burnt to ashes, and a lye made with the ashes, trimly
decks a bald head being washed with it.
_Snails_ with shells on their backs, being first washed from the dirt,
then the shells broken, and they boiled in spring water, but not
scummed at all, for the scum will sink of itself, and the water drank
for ordinary drink is a most admirable remedy for consumption; being
bruised and applied to the place they help the gout, draw thorns out of
the flesh, and held to the nose help the bleeding thereof.
* * * * *
Therefore consider that the College gave the Apothecaries
a catalogue of what _Parts of Living creatures_ and
_Excrements_ they must keep in their shops.
College.] _The fat, grease, or suet, of a Duck, Goose, Eel, Boar,
Herron, Thymallows, (_if you know where to get it_) Dog, Capon,
Beaver, wild Cat, Stork, Coney, Horse, Hedge-hog, Hen, Man, Lion, Hare,
Pike, or Jack, (_if they have any fat, I am persuaded ’tis worth
twelve-pence a grain_) Wolf, Mouse of the mountains, (_if you
can catch them_) Pardal, Hog, Serpent, Badger, Grey or brock Fox,
Vulture, (_if you can catch them_) Album Græcum, Anglice, Dog’s
dung, the hucklebone of a Hare and a Hog, East and West Bezoar, Butter
not salted and salted, stone taken out of a man’s bladder, Vipers
flesh, fresh Cheese, Castorium, white, yellow, and Virgin’s Wax, the
brain of Hares and Sparrows, Crabs’ Claws, the Rennet of a Lamb, a Kid,
a Hare, a Calf, and a Horse, the heart of a Bullock, a Stag, Hog, and
a Wether, the horn of an Elk, a Hart, a Rhinoceros, an Unicorn, the
skull of a man killed by a violent death, a Cockscomb, the tooth of a
Boar, an Elephant, and a Sea-horse, Ivory, or Elephant’s Tooth, the
skin a Snake hath cast off, the gall of a Hawk, Bullock, a she Goat,
a Hare, a Kite, a Hog, a Bull, a Bear, the cases of Silk-worms, the
liver of a Wolf, an Otter, a Frog, Isinglass, the guts of a Wolf and
a Fox, the milk of a she Ass, a she Goat, a Woman, an Ewe, a Heifer,
East and West Bezoar, the stone in the head of a Crab, and a Perch, if
there be any stone in an Ox Gall, stone in the bladder of a Man, the
Jaw of a Pike or Jack, Pearls, the marrow of the Leg of a Sheep, Ox,
Goat, Stag, Calf, common and virgin Honey, Musk, Mummy, a Swallow’s
nest, Crabs Eyes, the Omentum or call of a Lamb, Ram, Wether, Calf,
the whites, yolks, and shells of Hen’s Eggs, Emmet’s Eggs, bone of a
Stag’s heart, an Ox leg, Ossepiœ, the inner skin of a Hen’s Gizzard,
the wool of Hares, the feathers of Partridges, that which Bees make at
the entrance of the hive, the pizzle of a Stag, of a Bull, Fox Lungs,
fasting spittle, the blood of a Pigeon, of a Cat, of a he Goat, of a
Hare, of a Partridge, of a Sow, of a Bull, of a Badger, of a Snail,
Silk, Whey, the suet of a Bullock, of a Stag, of a he Goat, of a Sheep,
of a Heifer, Spermaceti, a Bullock’s spleen, the skin a Snake hath cast
off, the excrements of a Goose, of a Dog, of a Goat, of Pigeons, of a
stone Horse, of a Hen, of Swallows, of a Hog, of a Heifer, the ancle of
a Hare, of a Sow, Cobwebs, Water thells, as Blatta Bazantia, Buccinæ,
Crabs, Cockles, Dentalis, Entalis, Mother of Pearl, Mytuli Purpuræ, Os
sepiæ, Umbilious Marinus, the testicles of a Horse, a Cock, the hoof
of an Elk, of an Ass, a Bullock, of a Horse, of a Lyon, the urine of a
Boar, of a she Goat._
_Culpeper._] The liver of an Hedge-hog being dried and beaten into
powder and drank in wine, strengthens the reins exceedingly, and helps
the dropsy, convulsions, and the falling sickness, together with all
fluxes of the bowels.
The liver being in like manner brought into powder, strengthens the
liver exceedingly, and helps the dropsy.
* * * * *
Then the College tells you these things may
be taken from the SEA, as
College.] _Amber-grease, Sea-water, Sea-sand, Bitumen, Amber white and
yellow, Jet, Carlinæ, Coral, white and red, Foam of the Sea, Spunge,
Stone Pumice, Sea salt, Spunges, Amber._
METALS, STONES, SALTS, AND
OTHER MINERALS.
_Ver-de-grease, Scales of Brass, Ætitis, Alana Terra, Alabaster,
Alectorions, Alum Seisile and Roach Amethist, Amianth, Amphelites,
Antimony, leaves and filings of Silver, Quick Silver, Lapis, Armenius,
native Arsenic, both white and red, artificial Arsenic, white and
realgar, Argilla, Asteria, leaves and filings of Gold, Belemites,
Berril, Bole-armenick, Borrax, Toad-stone, Lapis Calaminatis, Cadmia,
Lime quick and quenched, Vitriol, white, blue, and green, Steel,
Borrax, Chrisolite, Chrisopus, Cynabris, native and artificial,
Whetstones, Chalk, white and green, Crystal Diphriges, the rust, dust,
scales, and flakes of Iron, Granite, Mortar, such as walls are daubed
with, Hematitis, Heliotropium, Jacinth, Hyber, Nicius, Jasper, Lapis
Judacious, Tiles, Lapis Lazuly, Lapis Lincis, Lithanthrax, Litharge
of Silver and Gold, Loadstone, Marchasite, or fire stone Marble, Red
Lead, native and artificial, Miss, Naptha, Lapis Nephriticus, Nitre,
Oaker yellow and red, Onyx, Opalus, Ophytes, Ostcocolla, Lead white
and black, Plumbago, Pompholix, Marchasite, Realgar, Ruby, red Oaker,
Sal Armoniach, Sal Gem, and salt Nitre, Saphyr and Sardine, Selenitis,
Flints, Emerald, Smiris, Sori, Spodium, Pewter, Brimstone, quick and
common, Talth, Earth of Cimolia, Sames, Lemnos, Sylesia, Topas, Alana,
Terra, Tutty, Vitriol, white, blue, and green._
_Precious stones alter by a way manifest or
hidden._
_By a way manifest, they are hot, in the first degree._ Hemetitis,
Pyritis, Lopis Asius, Thyitis, Smyres, Lapis Schistus.
_Precious stones cold, are in the first degree._ Jacinth, Saphyr,
Emerald, Cristal, Lapis Samius, Lapis Phrigius.
_In the second degree._ Ruby, Carbuncle, Granite, Sardony.
_In the fourth degree._ Diamond.
_In respect of property, they bind_, _as_ Lapis Asius, Nectius, Geodes,
Pumice-stone.
_Emolient_, _as_ Alabaster, Jet, Lapis Thrasius.
_Stupify_: _as_ Memphitis, Jasper, Ophites.
_Cleanse_: _as_ Lapis Arabicus.
_Glutinate_: _as_ Galactitis, Melites.
_Scarify_: _as_ Morochtus.
_Break the stone_: _as_ Lapis Lyncis, Lapis Judaicus, Lapis Sponge.
_Retain the fruit in the womb_: _as_ Ætitis, Jasper.
_Provoke the menses._ Ostracites.
_Stones altering by a hidden property (as they
call it,) are_
Bezoar, Topaz, Lapis Colubrinus, Toadstone, Emerald, Alectorius,
Calcidonius, Amethist, Saphyr, Jasper, Lapis Nephriticus, Lapis
Tibernum, Lapis, Spongites, the stone found in the maw of a Swallow,
Load-stone, Lapis Vulturis, Merucius, Coral, Lynturius, Jet, Ætites,
the stones of Crabs, Amber, Crystal, &c.
The _Load-stone_ purges gross humours.
_Lapis Armenius_ and _Lapis Lazuli_, purge melancholy.
_Pyrites_ heat and cleanse, take away dimness of sight. _Dioscorides._
Lapis Asius binds and moderately corrodes and cleanses filthy ulcers,
and fills them up with flesh; being mixed with honey, and applied to
the place, is an admirable remedy for the gout.
_Chrystal_ being beaten into very fine powder, and a dram of it taken
at a time helps the bloody-flux, stops the Fluor Albus, and increases
milk in Nurses. _Mathiolus._
_Lapis Samius_ is cooling and binding, it is very comfortable to the
stomach, but it dulls the senses, helps fluxes of the eyes and ulcers.
_Geodetes_ binds and drys, being beaten into powder and mixed with
water, and applied to the place, takes away inflammations of the
Testicles.
_Pumice-stone_ being beaten into powder and the teeth rubbed with it,
cleanses them. _Dioscorides._
_Jet_, it is of a softening and discussing nature, it resists the fits
of the mother.
_Lapis Arabicus_ being beaten into powder, and made into an ointment
helps the hemorrhoids.
_Ostracites_, a dram of it taken in powder provokes the menses; being
taken after that purgation, causes conception, also being made into an
ointment, helps inflammations of the breast.
_Myexis_ being borne about one takes away pains in the reins, and
hinders the breeding of the stone.
_Lapis Armenius_ purges melancholy, and also causes vomiting, I hold
it not very safe for our English bodies, and therefore I will speak no
more of it.
_Explanation of certain Vacuations._
The five opening Roots.
_Smallage, Sparagus, Fennel, Parsley, Knee-holly._
The two opening Roots.
_Fennel, Parsley._
The five emolient Herbs.
_Marsh-mallows, Mallows, Beets, Mercury, Pellitory of the Wall, Violet
Leaves._
The five Capillary Herbs.
_Maidenhair, Wall Rue, Cetrach, Hart’s-tongue, Politricum._
The four cordial Flowers.
_Borrage, Bugloss, Roses, Violets._
The four greater hot Seeds, Carminative, or breaking wind.
_Annis, Carraway, Cummin, Fennel._
The four lesser hot seeds.
_Bishop’s weed, Amomus, Smallage, Carrots._
The four greater cold seeds.
_Citrul, Cucumber, Gourds, Melon._
The four lesser cold seeds.
_Succory, Endive, Lettice, Purslain._
Five fragments of precious stones.
_Granite, Jacinth, Sapphire, Sardine, Emerald._
The right worshipful, the College of Physicians of _London_
in their New Dispensatory give you free leave to distil
these common waters that follow, but they never intend you
should know what they are good for.
SIMPLE DISTILLED WATERS.
Of fresh Roots of
_Briony, Onions, Elecampane, Orris, or Flower-de-luce, Turnips._
Of flowers and buds of
_Southernwood, both sorts of Wormwood, Wood Sorrel, Lady’s-Mantle,
Marsh-mallows, Angelica, Pimpernel with purple flowers, Smallage,
Columbines, Sparagus, Mouse-ear, Borrage, Shepherd’s Purse, Calaminth,
Woodbine or Honey-suckles, Carduus Benedictus, our Lady’s Thistles,
Knotgrass, Succory, Dragons, Colt’s-foot, Fennel, Goat’s Rue, Grass,
Hyssop, Lettice, Lovage, Toad-flax, Hops, Marjoram, Mallows, Horehound,
Featherfew, Bawm, Mints, Horse-mints, Water Cresses, English Tobacco,
white Poppies, Pellatory of the Wall, Parsley, Plantain, Purslain,
Self-heal, Pennyroyal, Oak leaves, Sage, Scabious, Figwort or
Throatwort, House-leek, or Sengreen, the greater and lesser Mother of
Time, Nightshade, Tansy, Tormentil, Valerian._
Of Flowers of
_Oranges, (_if you can get them_) Blue-bottle the greater, Beans,
Water-Lilies, Lavender, Nut-tree, Cowslips, Sloes, Rosemary, Roses
white, damask, and red, Satyrien, Lime-tree, Clove-gilliflowers,
Violets._
Of Fruits of
_Oranges, Black Cherries, Pome Citrons, Quinces, Cucumbers,
Strawberries, Winter Cherries, Lemons, Rasberries, unripe Walnuts,
Apples._
Of parts of living Creatures and their excrements
_Lobsters, Cockles, or Snails, Hartshorn, Bullocks dung made in May,
Swallows, Earthworms, Magpies, Spawn of Frogs._
* * * * *
SIMPLE WATERS DISTILLED,
being digested before-hand.
_Of the fresh Roots of Nettles._
Of the leaves of Agrimony, wild Tansy, or Silverweed, Mugwort, Bettony,
Marigolds, Chamomel, Chamepitys, Celandine, Pilewort, Scurvy-grass,
Comfry the greater, Dandelyon, Ash-tree leaves, Eyebright, Fumitory,
Alehoof, or ground Ivy, Horsetail, St. John’s Wort, Yarrow, Moneywort,
Restharrow, Solomon’s Seal, Res solis, Rue, Savin, Saxifrage,
Hart’s tongue, Scordium, Tamarisk, Mullin, Vervain, Paul’s Bettony,
Mead-sweet, Nettles.
Of the Flowers of Mayweed, Broom, Cowslips, Butter-bur, Peony, Elder.
Of the berries of Broom, Elder.
_Culpeper._] Then the College gives you an admonition concerning these,
which being converted into your native language, is as follows.
We give you warning that these common waters be better
prepared for time to come, either in common stills, putting
good store of ashes underneath, the roots and herbs being
dryer, &c. or if they be full of Juice, by distilling the
juice in a convenient bath, that so burning may be avoided,
which hitherto hath seldom been. But let the other Herbs,
Flowers, or Roots, be bruised, and by adding Tartar, common
salt, or leven be digested, then putting spring water to
them, distil them in an Alembick with its refrigeratory, or
Worm, till the change of the taste shew the virtue to be
drawn off; then let the oil (if any) be separated from the
water according to art.
Into the number of these waters may be ascribed.
The Tears of Vines, the liquor of the Birch-tree, May dew.
_Culpeper._] That my country may receive the benefit of these waters,
I shall first shew the temperatures, secondly, the virtues of the
most usual and most easy to come by: If any should take exceptions
that I mention not all, I answer first, I mention enough. Secondly,
who ever makes this objection, they shew extreme ingratitude; for had
I mentioned but only one, I had revealed more to them than ever the
College intended they should know, or give me thanks for doing.
_The qualities and appropriation of the simple
Distilled Waters._
Simple distilled waters either cool or heat: such as cool, either cool
the blood or choler.
_Waters cooling the blood._ Lettice, Purslain, Water Lilies, Violets,
Sorrel Endive, Succory, Fumitory.
_Waters cooling and repressing choleric humours,
or vapours in the head._
Nightshade, Lettice, Water Lilies, Plantain, Poppies, _viz._ The
flowers both of white black and red Poppies, black Cheries.
_The breast and lungs._ Violets, Poppies all three sorts, Colt’s-foot.
_In the heart._ Sorrel, Quinces, Water Lilies, Roses, Violets, green or
unripe Walnuts.
_In the stomach._ Quinces, Roses, Violets, Nightshade, Houseleeks, or
Sengreen, Lettice, Purslain.
_In the liver._ Endive, Succory, Nightshade, Purslain, Water Lilies.
_In the reins and bladder._ Endive, Succory, Winter Cherries, Plantain,
Water Lilies, Strawberries, Houseleek or Sengreen, black Cherries.
_In the womb._ Endive, Succory, Lettice, Water Lilies, Purslain, Roses.
Simple waters which are hot, concoct either flegm or melancholy.
_Waters concocting flegm in the head, are_
Bettony, Sage, Marjoram, Chamomel, Fennel, Calaminth, Rosemary-flowers,
Primroses, Eye-bright.
_In the breast and lungs._ Maiden-hair, Bettony, Hysop, Horehound,
Carduus Benedictus, Scabious, Orris, or Flower-de-luces, Bawm,
Self-heal, &c.
_In the heart._ Bawm, Rosemary.
_In the stomach._ Wormwood, Mints, Fennel, Chervil, Time, Mother of
Time, Marigolds.
_In the liver._ Wormwood, Centaury, Origanum, Marjoram, Maudlin,
Costmary, Agrimony, Fennel.
_In the spleen._ Water-cresses, Wormwood, Calaminth.
_In the reins and bladder._ Rocket, Nettles, Saxifrage, Pellitory of
the Wall, Alicampane, Burnet.
_In the womb._ Mugwort, Calaminth, Penny-royal, Savin, Mother of Time,
Lovage.
_Waters concocting Melancholy in the head,
are_
Hops, Fumitory.
_The breast._ Bawm, Carduus Benedictus.
_The heart._ Borrage, Bugloss, Bawm, Rosemary.
_The liver._ Endive, Chicory, Hops.
_The spleen._ Dodder, Hart’s-tongue, Tamarisk, Time.
Having thus ended the appropriation, I shall speak briefly of the
virtues of distilled waters.
_Lettice_ water cools the blood when it is over-heated, for when
it is not, it needs no cooling: it cools the head and liver, stays
hot vapours ascending to the head, and hinders sleep; it quenches
immoderate thirst, and breeds milk in nurses, distil it in _May_.
_Purslain_ water cools the blood and liver, quenches thirst, helps such
as spit blood, have hot coughs, or pestilences.
The distilled water of _water Lily-flowers_ cools the blood and the
bowels, and all internal parts of the body; helps such as have the
yellow jaundice, hot coughs and pleurisies, the head-ache, coming of
heat, fevers pestilential and not pestilential, as also hectic fevers.
The water of _Violet flowers_, cools the blood, the heart, liver and
lungs, over-heated, and quenches an insatiable desire of drinking, they
are in their prime about the latter end of _March_, or beginning of
_April_, according as the year falls out.
The water of _Sorrel_ cools the blood, heart, liver, and spleen: If
Venice Treacle be given with it, it is profitable in pestilential
fevers, distil it in _May_.
_Endive_ and _Succory_ water are excellent against heat in the stomach;
if you take an ounce of either (for their operation is the same)
morning and evening, four days one after another, they cool the liver,
and cleanse the blood: they are in their prime in _May_.
_Fumitory_ water is usual with the city dames to wash their faces with,
to take away morphey, freckles, and sun-burning; inwardly taken, it
helps the yellow jaundice and itch, cleanses the blood, provokes sweat,
strengthens the stomach, and cleanses the body of adust humours: it is
in its prime in _May_ and _June_.
The water of _Nightshade_ helps pains in the head coming of heat. Take
heed you distil not the deadly Nightshade instead of the common, if you
do, you may make mad work. Let such as have not wit enough to know them
asunder, have wit enough to let them both alone till they do.
The water of _white Poppies_ extinguishes all heat against nature,
helps head-aches coming of heat, and too long standing in the sun.
Distil them in _June_ or _July_.
_Colt’s-foot_ water is excellent for burns to wash the place with it;
inwardly taken it helps Phthisicks and other diseases incident to the
lungs, distil them in _May_ or _June_.
The water of _Distilled Quinces_ strengthens the heart and stomach
exceedingly, stays vomiting and fluxes, and strengthens the retentive
faculty in man.
_Damask Rose_ water cools, comforts, and strengthens the heart, so doth
Red Rose-water only with this difference, the one is binding, the other
loosening; if your body be costive, use Damask Rose water, because it
is loosening: if loose, use red, because it is binding.
_White Rose_ water is generally known to be excellent against hot
rheums, and inflammations in the eyes, and for this it is better than
the former.
The water of _Red Poppy flowers_, called by many Corn-roses, because
they grow so frequently amongst corn, cools the blood and spirits
over-heated by drinking or labour, and is therefore excellent in
surfets.
_Green Walnuts_ gathered about the latter end of _June_ or _July_,
and bruised, and so stilled, strengthen the heart, and resist the
pestilence.
_Plantain_ water helps the headache; being dropped into the ear it
helps the tooth-ache, helps the phthisicks, dropsy and fluxes, and is
an admirable remedy for ulcers in the reins and bladder, to be used as
common drink: the herb is in its prime in _May_.
_Strawberry_ water cools, quenches thirst, clarifies the blood, breaks
the stone, helps all inward inflammations, especially those in the
reins, bladder and passages of the urine; it strengthens the liver and
helps the yellow jaundice.
The distilled water of _Dog grass_, or _Couch grass_, as some call it,
cleanses the reins gallantly, and provokes urine, opens obstructions of
the liver and spleen, and kills worms.
_Black Cherry_ water provokes urine, helps the dropsy. It is usually
given in diseases of the brain, as convulsions, falling-sickness, palsy
and apoplexy.
_Betony_ is in its prime in May, the distilled water thereof is very
good for such as are pained in their heads, it prevails against the
dropsy and all sorts of fevers; it succours the liver and spleen,
and helps want of digestion and evil disposition of the body thence
arising; it hastens travail in women with child, and is excellent
against the bitings of venomous beasts.
Distil _Sage_ whilst the flowers be on it, the water strengthens the
brain, provokes the menses, helps nature much in all its actions.
_Marjoram_ is in its prime in June, distilled water is excellent for
such whose brains are too cold, it provokes urine, heats the womb,
provokes the menses, strengthens the memory and helps the judgment,
causes an able brain.
Distil _Camomel_ water about the beginning of June. It eases the
cholick and pains in the belly; it breaks the stone in the reins and
bladder, provokes the menses, expels the dead child, and takes away
pains in the head.
_Fennel_ water strengthens the heart and brain; dilates the breast, the
cough, provokes the menses, encreases milk in nurses, and if you wash
your eyes with it, it clears the sight.
The _Hooves_ of the fore feet of a Cow dried and taken any away,
encrease milk in nurses, the smoke of them drives away mice. _Mizaldus._
_Calaminth_ water heats and cleanses the womb, provokes the menses, and
eases the pains of the head, distil it in May.
The distilled water of _Rosemary flowers_, helps such as are troubled
with the yellow Jaundice, Asthmas, it cleanses the blood, helps
concoction, strengthens the brain and body exceedingly.
Water of the _flowers of Lilies_ of the _valley_, strengthens the brain
and all the senses.
The water of _Cowslip flowers_ helps the palsey; takes away pains in
the head, the vertigo and megrim, and is exceeding good for pregnant
women.
The eyes being washed every morning with _Eyebright_ water, most
strangely clears and strengthens the sight.
_Maidenhair_ distilled in May, the water cleanses both liver and lungs,
clarifies the blood, and breaks the stone.
_Hyssop_ water cleanses the lungs of flegm, helps coughs and Asthmas,
distil it in August.
The water of _Hore-hound_, helps the cough and straitness of the
breast; it strengthens the breast, lungs and stomach, and liver, distil
it in June.
_Carduus_ water succours the head, strengthens the memory, helps such
as are troubled with vertigoes and quartan agues, it provokes sweat,
strengthens the heart, and all other fevers of choler. It is in its
prime in May and June.
_Scabious_ water helps pleurises and pains, and pricking in the sides;
Aposthumes, coughs, pestilences, and straitness of the breast.
Water of _Flower-de-luce_ is very profitable in dropsies, an ounce
being drank continually every morning and evening; as also pains and
torments in the bowels.
_Bawm_ water distilled in May, restores memory, it quickens all the
senses, strengthens the brain, heart, and stomach, causes a merry mind
and a sweet breath.
The water of _Comfrey_ solders broken bones, being drank, helps
ruptures, outwardly it stops the bleeding of wounds, they being washed
with it.
_Wormwood_ water distilled cold, about the end of May, heats and
strengthens the stomach, helps concoction, stays vomiting, kills worms
in the stomach and bowels, it mitigates the pains in the teeth, and is
profitably given in fevers of choler.
_Mint_ water strengthens the stomach, helps concoction and stays
vomiting, distil it in the latter end of May, or beginning of June, as
the year is in forwardness or backwardness, observe that in all the
rest.
_Chervil_ water distilled about the end of May, helps ruptures, breaks
the stone, dissolves congealed blood, strengthens the heart and stomach.
The water of _Mother of Time_ strengthens the brain and stomach, gets a
man a good stomach to his victuals, provoke urine and the menses, heats
the womb. It is in its prime about the end of June.
The water of _Marigold flowers_ is appropriated to most cold diseases
of the head, eyes, and stomach: they are in their vigour when the Sun
is in the Lion.
The distilled water of _Centaury_ comforts a cold stomach, helps in
fever of choler, it kills worms, and provokes appetite.
_Maudlin and Costmary_ water distilled in May or June, strengthens the
liver, helps the yellow jaundice, opens obstructions, and helps the
dropsy.
_Water-cresses_ distilled in March, the water cleanses the blood, and
provokes urine exceedingly, kills worms, outwardly mixed with honey, it
clears the skin of morphew and sunburning.
Distil _Nettles_ when they are in flower, the water helps coughs and
pains in the bowels, provokes urine, and breaks the stone.
_Saxifrage_ water provokes urine, expels wind, breaks the stone,
cleanses the reins and bladder of gravel, distil them when they are in
flower.
The water of _Pellitory of the Wall_, opens obstructions of the liver
and spleen, by drinking an ounce of it every morning; it cleanses the
reins and bladder, and eases the gripings of the bowels coming of wind.
Distil it in the end of May, or beginning of June.
_Cinquefoil_ water breaks the stone, cleanses the reins, and is of
excellent use in putrified fevers. Distil it in May.
The water of Radishes breaks the stone, cleanses the reins and bladder,
provokes the menses, and helps the yellow jaundice.
_Elicampane_ water strengthens the stomach and lungs, provokes urine,
and cleanses the passages of it from gravel.
Distil _Burnet_ in May or June, the water breaks the stone, cleanses
the passages of urine, and is exceeding profitable in pestilential
times.
_Mugwort_ water distilled in May, is excellent in coughs and diseases
proceeding from stoppage of the menses, it warms the stomach, and helps
the dropsy.
Distil _Penny-royal_ when the flowers are upon it: the water heats the
womb gallantly, provokes the menses, expels the afterbirth; cuts, and
casts out thick and gross humours in the breast, eases pains in the
bowels, and consumes flegm.
The water of _Lovage_ distilled in May, eases pains in the head, and
cures ulcers in the womb being washed with it; inwardly taken it expels
wind, and breaks the stone.
The tops of _Hops_ when they are young, being distilled, the water
cleanses the blood of melancholy humours, and therefore helps scabs,
itch, and leprosy, and such like diseases thence proceeding; it opens
obstructions of the spleen, helps the rickets, and hypochondriac
melancholy.
The water of _Borrage and Bugloss_ distilled when their flowers are
upon them, strengthens the heart and brain exceedingly, cleanses the
blood, and takes away sadness, griefs and melancholy.
_Dodder_ water cleanses the liver and spleen, helps the yellow jaundice.
_Tamarisk_ water opens obstructions, and helps the hardness of the
spleen, and strengthens it.
_English Tobacco_ distilled, the water is excellently good for such as
have dropsy, to drink an ounce or two every morning; it helps ulcers in
the mouth, strengthens the lungs, and helps such as have asthmas.
The water of _Dwarf Elder_, hath the same effects.
Thus you have the virtues of enough of cold waters, the use of which is
for mixtures of other medicines, whose operation is the same, for they
are very seldom given alone: If you delight most in liquid medicines,
having regard to the disease, and part of the body afflicted by it,
these will furnish you with where withal to make them so as will please
your pallate best.
COMPOUNDS. SPIRIT AND COMPOUND
DISTILLED WATERS.
_Culpeper._] Before I begin these, I thought good to premise a few
words: They are all hot in operation, and therefore not to be meddled
with by people of hot constitutions when they are in health, for fear
of fevers and adustion of blood, but for people of cold constitutions,
as melancholy and flegmatic people. If they drink of them moderately
now and then for recreation, due consideration being had to the part
of the body which is weakest, they may do them good: yet in diseases
of melancholy, neither strong waters nor sack is to be drank, for they
make the humour thin, and then up to the head it flies, where it fills
the brain with foolish and fearful imaginations.
2. Let all young people forbear them whilst they are in health, for
their blood is usually hot enough without them.
3. Have regard to the season of the year, so shall you find them more
beneficial in Summer than in Winter, because in summer the body is
always coldest within, and digestion weakest, and that is the reason
why men and women eat less in Summer than in Winter.
Thus much for people in health, which drink strong waters for
recreation.
As for the medicinal use of them, it shall be shewed at the latter
end of every receipt, only in general they are (due respect had to
the humours afflicting, and part of the body afflicted) medicinal for
diseases of cold and flegm, chilliness of the spirits, &c.
But that my countrymen may not be mistaken in this, I shall give them
some symptoms of each complexion how a man may know when it exceeds its
due limits.
_Signs of choler abounding._
Leanness of body, costiveness, hollow eyes, anger without a cause, a
testy disposition, yellowness of the skin, bitterness in the throat,
pricking pains in the head, the pulse swifter and stronger than
ordinary, the urine higher coloured, thinner and brighter, troublesome
sleeps, much dreaming of fire, lightning, anger, and fighting.
_Signs of blood abounding._
The veins are bigger (or at least they seem so) and fuller then
ordinary; the skin is red, and as it were swollen; pricking pains in
the sides, and about the temples, shortness of breath, head-ache, the
pulse great and full, urine high coloured and thick, dreams of blood,
&c.
_Signs of melancholy abounding._
Fearfulness without a cause, fearful and foolish imaginations, the skin
rough and swarthy, leanness, want of sleep, frightful dreams, sourness
in the throat, the pulse very weak, solitariness, thin clear urine,
often sighing, &c.
_Signs of flegm abounding._
Sleepiness, dulness, slowness, heaviness, cowardliness, forgetfulness,
much spitting, much superfluities at the nose, little appetite to meat
and as bad digestion, the skin whiter, colder and smoother than it was
want to be; the pulse slow and deep: the urine thick and low coloured:
dreams of rain, floods, and water, &c.
These things thus premised, I come to the matter.
The first the College presents you with, is
_Spiritus et Aqua Absinthis minus Composita._
Or, Spirit and water of Wormwood, the lesser composition.
_College._] Take of the leaves of dryed Wormwood two pounds, Annis
seeds, half a pound: steep them in six gallons of small wine twenty
four hours, then distil them in an Alembick, adding to every pound of
the distilled water two ounces of the best Sugar.
Let the two first pound you draw out be called Spirit of Wormwood,
those which follow, Wormwood water the lesser composition.
_Culpeper._] I like this distinction of the College very well, because
what is first stilled out, is far stronger than the rest, and therefore
very fitting to be kept by itself: you may take which you please,
according as the temperature of your body, either to heat or cold, and
the season of year requires.
It hath the same virtues Wormwood hath, only fitter to be used by such
whose bodies are chilled by age, and whose natural heat abates. You
may search the herbs for the virtues, it heats the stomach, and helps
digestion.
_The College._] After the same manner (only omitting the Annis seeds)
is distilled spirit and water of Angelica, both Herb and Root, Bawm,
Mints, Sage, &c. the Flowers of Rosemary, Clary, Clove-gilliflowers,
&c. the seeds of Caraway, &c. Juniper-berries, Orange Pills, Lemons,
Citrons, &c. Cinnamon, Nutmegs, &c.
_Spiritus et Aqua Absynthii magis composita._
Or spirit and water of Wormwood, the greater composition.
_The College._] Take of common and Roman Wormwood, of each a pound;
Sage, Mints, Bawm, of each two handfuls; the Roots of Galanga, Ginger,
Calamus, Aromaticus, Elecampane, of each three drachms; Liquorice, an
ounce, Raisins of the Sun stoned, three ounces, Annis seeds, and sweet
Fennel seeds, of each three drachms; Cinnamon, Cloves, Nutmegs, of each
two drachms; Cardamoms, Cubebs, of each one drachm: let the things
be cut that are to be cut, and the things be bruised that are to be
bruised, all of them infused in twenty four pints of Spanish wine, for
twenty four hours, then, distilled in an Alembick, adding two ounces of
white sugar to every pint of distilled water.
Let the first pint be called Spirit of Wormwood the greater composition.
_Culpeper._] The opinion of Authors is, That it heats the stomach,
and strengthens it and the lungs, expels wind, and helps digestion in
ancient people.
_Spiritus et Aqua Angelica magis composita._
Or Spirit and water of Angelica, the greater composition.
_The College._] Take of the leaves of Angelica eight ounces, of Carduus
Benedictus six ounces, of Bawm and Sage, of each four ounces, Angelica
seeds six ounces; sweet Fennel seeds nine ounces. Let the herbs, being
dryed, and the seeds be grossly bruised, to which add of the species
called Aromaticum Rosarum; and of the species called Diamoschu Dulce,
of each an ounce and a half, infuse them two days in thirty two pints
of Spanish Wine, then distil them with a gentle fire, and with every
pound mix two ounces of sugar dissolved in Rose-water.
Let the three first pounds be called by the name of Spirit, the rest by
the name of water.
_Culpeper._] The chief end of composing this medicine, was to
strengthen the heart and resist infection, and therefore is very
wholesome in pestilential times, and for such as walk in stinking air.
I shall now quote you their former receipt in their former dispensatory.
_Angelica water the greater composition._
_The College._] Take of Angelica two pounds, Annis seed half a pound,
Coriander and Caraway seeds, of each four ounces, Zedoary bruised,
three ounces: steep them twenty four hours in six gallons of small
wine, then draw out the spirit, and sweeten it with sugar.
_Culpeper._] It comforts the heart, cherishes the vital spirits,
resists the pestilence, and all corrupt airs, which indeed are the
natural causes of epidemical diseases, the sick may take a spoonful
of it in any convenient cordial, and such as are in health, and have
bodies either cold by nature, or cooled by age, may take as much either
in the morning fasting, or a little before meat.
_Spiritus Lavendula compositus Matthiæ._
Or compound spirit of Lavender. Matthias.
_The College._] Take of Lavender flowers one gallon, to which pour
three gallons of the best spirits of wine, let them stand together
in the sun six days, then distil them with an Alembick with this
refrigeratory.
Take of the flowers of Sage, Rosemary, and Bettony, of each one
handful; the flowers of Borrage, Bugloss, Lilies of the Valley,
Cowslips, of each two handfuls: let the flowers be newly and seasonably
gathered, being infused in one gallon of the best spirits of wine,
and mingled with the foregoing spirit of Lavender flowers, adding
the leaves of Bawm, Feather-few, and Orange tree fresh gathered; the
flowers of Stœchas and Orange tree, Bay berries, of each one ounce.
After convenient digestion distil it again, after which add Citron
pills the outward bark, Peony seed husked, of each six drams, cinnamon,
Mace, Nutmegs, Cardamoms, Cubebs, yellow Sanders, of each half an
ounce, Wood of Aloes one dram, the best Jujubes, the stones being taken
out, half a pound, digest them six weeks, then strain it and filter it,
and add to it prepared Pearls two drams, Emeralds prepared a scruple,
Ambergrease, Musk, Saffron, of each half a scruple, red Roses dryed,
red Sanders, of each half an ounce, yellow Sanders, Citron Pills,
dryed, of each one dram. Let the species being tyed up in a rag, be
hung into the aforementioned spirit.
_Culpeper._] I could wish the Apothecaries would desire to be certified
by the College.
1. Whether the gallon of Lavender flowers must be filled by heap,
or by strike. 2. Next, whether the flowers must be pressed down
in the measure or not. 3. How much must be drawn off in the first
distillation. 4. Where they should get Orange leaves and flowers fresh
gathered. 5. What they mean by _convenient digestion_. 6. Where you
shall find Borrage, Bugloss, and Cowslips, flowering together, that
so you may have them all fresh according to their prescript, the one
flowering in the latter end of April, and beginning of May, the other
in the end of June, and beginning of July. 7. If they can make a shift
to make it, how, or which way the virtues of it will countervail the
one half of the charge and cost, to leave the pains and trouble out.
_Spiritus Castorii._
Or Spirit of Castoreum.
_The College._] Take of fresh Castoreum four ounces, Lavender flower
an ounce, the tops of Sage and Rosemary, of each half an ounce,
Cinnamon six drams, Mace, Cloves, of each two drachms, spirits of Wine
rectified, six pounds, digest them in a phial filled only to the third
part, close stopped with cork and bladder in warm ashes for two days,
then distilled in Balneo Mariæ, and the distilled water kept close
stopped.
_Culpeper._] By reason of its heat it is no ways fit to be taken alone,
but mixed with other convenient medicines appropriated to the diseases
you would give it for, it resists poison, and helps such as are bitten
by venomous beasts: it causes speedy delivery to women in travail, and
casteth out the Placenta: it helps the fits of the mother, lethargies
and convulsions, being mixed with white wine, and dropped into the
ears, it helps deafness; if stopping be the cause of it, the dose to be
given inwardly is between one dram, and half a dram, according to the
strength and age of the patient.
_Aqua Petasitidis composita._
Or, compound water of Butter-bur.
_The College._] Take of the fresh roots of Butter-bur bruised, one
pound and a half, the roots of Angelica and Masterwort, of each half a
pound, steep them in ten pints of strong Ale, then distil them till the
change of the taste gives a testimony that the strength is drawn out.
_Culpeper._] This water is very effectual being mixed with other
convenient cordials, for such as have pestilential fevers: also a
spoonful taken in the morning, may prove a good preservative in
pestilential times: it helps the fits of the mother, and such as are
short winded, and being taken inwardly, dries up the moisture of such
sores as are hard to be cured.
_Aqua Raphani Composita._
Or Compound water of Radishes.
_The College._] Take of the leaves of both sorts of Scurvy-grass, of
each six pound, having bruised them, press the juice out of them, with
which mix of the juice of brooklime, and Water-cresses, of each one
pound and a half, of the best white wine, eight pounds, twelve whole
Lemons, pills and all, fresh Briony roots four pound, the roots of wild
Radishes two pound, Captain Winter’s Cinnamon half a pound, Nutmegs
four ounces, steep them altogether, and then distil them.
_Culpeper._] I fancy it not, and so I leave it; I suppose they intended
it for purgation of women in child-bed.
_Aqua Peoniæ Composita._
Or Compound water of Peony.
_The College._] Take of the flowers of Lilies of the Valley, one pound:
infuse them in four gallons of Spanish wine so long till the following
flowers may be had fresh.
Take of the fore-named flowers half a pound, Peony flowers four
ounces: steep them together fourteen days, then distil them in _Balneo
Mariæ_ till they be dry: in the distilled liquor infuse again male
Peony roots gathered in due time, two ounces and a half, white Dittany,
long Birthwort, of each half an ounce, the leaves of Misselto of the
Oak, and Rue, of each two handfuls, Peony seeds husked, ten drams, Rue
seeds three drams and a half, Castoreum two scruples, Cubebs, Mace,
of each two drachms, Cinnamon an ounce and a half, Squills prepared,
three drachms, Rosemary flowers six pugils, Arabian Stæchas, Lavender,
of each four pugils, the flowers of Betony, Clove-gilliflowers, and
Cowslips, of each eight pugils, then adding four pound of the juice of
black Cherries, distil it in a glass till it be dry.
_Aqua Bezoartica._
Or Bezoar Water.
_College._] Take of the leaves of Celandine, roots and all, three
handfuls and a half, Rue two handfuls, Scordium four handfuls, Dittany
of Crete, Carduus, of each one handful and a half, Zedoary and Angelica
roots, of each three drams, Citrons and Lemon pills, of each six
drams, Clove-gilliflowers one ounce and a half, Red Rose, Centaury the
less, of each two drams, Cinnamon, Cloves, of each three drams, Venice
Treacle three ounces, Mithridates one ounce and a half, Camphire two
scruples, Troches of Vipers two ounces, Mace two drams, Wood of Aloes
half an ounce, Yellow Sanders one dram and a half, Carduus seeds one
ounce, Citron seeds six drams, let them be cut and infused in spirits
of Wine, and Malaga Wine, of each three pound and a half, Vinegar of
Clove-gilliflowers, Juice of Lemons, of each one pound, and distilled
in a glass still in _Balneo Mariæ_, after it is half distilled off, the
residue may be strained through a linen cloath, and be reduced to the
thickness of Honey, and called the Bezoartic extract.
_Culpeper._] Extracts have the same virtues with the waters they are
made from, only the different form is to please the palates of such
whose fancy loathes any one particular form.
This Bezoar water strengthens the heart, arteries, and vital spirits:
It provokes sweat, and is exceeding good in pestilential fevers, in
health it withstands melancholy and consumptions, and makes a merry,
blithe, chearful creature. Of the extract you may take ten grains at a
time, or somewhat more, if your body be not feverish, half a spoonful
of water is sufficient at a time, and that mixed with other cordials or
medicines appropriated to the disease that troubles you.
_Aqua et Spiritus Lambricorum, magistralis._
Or Water and Spirit of Earthworms.
_College._] Take of Earthworms well cleansed, three pound, Snails, with
shells on their backs cleansed, two gallons, beat them in a mortar, and
put them into a convenient vessel, adding stinging Nettles, roots and
all, six handfuls, wild Angelica, four handfuls, brank Ursine, seven
handfuls, Agrimony, Bettony, of each three handfuls, Rue one handful,
common Wormwood two handfuls, Rosemary flowers six ounces, Dock roots
ten ounces, the roots of Sorrel five ounces, Turmerick, the inner bark
of Barberries, of each four ounces, Fenugreek seeds two ounces, Cloves
three ounces, Hart’s-horn, Ivory in gross powder, of each four ounces,
Saffron three drams, small spirits of Wine four gallons and a half,
after twenty-four hours infusion, distil them in an alembick. Let the
four first pounds be reserved for spirit, the rest for water.
_Culpeper._] ’Tis a mess altogether, it may be they intended it for an
universal medicine.
_Aqua Gentianæ compositæ._
Or Gentian Water compound.
_College._] Take of Gentain roots sliced, one pound and a half, the
leaves and flowers of Centaury the less, of each four ounces, steep
them eight days in twelve pounds of white Wine, then distil them in an
alembick.
_Culpeper._] It conduces to preservation from ill air, and pestilential
fevers: it opens obstructions of the liver, and helps such as they
say are liver-grown; it eases pains in the stomach, helps digestion,
and eases such as have pains in their bones by ill lodging abroad
in the cold, it provokes appetite, and is exceeding good for the
yellow jaundice, as also for prickings or stitches in the sides: it
provokes the menses, and expels both birth and placenta: it is naught
for pregnant women. If there be no fever, you may take a spoonful by
itself; if there be, you may, if you please, mix it with some cooler
medicine appropriated to the same use you would give it for.
_Aqua Gilbertii._
Or Gilbert’s Water.
_College._] Take of Scabious, Burnet, Dragons, Bawm, Angelica,
Pimpernel, with purple flowers, Tormentil, roots and all, of each two
handfuls, let all of them, being rightly gathered and prepared, be
steeped in four gallons of Canary Wine, still off three gallons in an
alembick, to which add three ounces of each of the cordial flowers,
Clove-gilliflowers six ounces, Saffron half an ounce, Turmerick two
ounces, Galanga, Bazil seeds, of each one dram, Citron pills one
ounce, the seed of Citrons and Carduus, Cloves of each five ounces,
Hart’s-horn four ounces, steep them twenty four hours and then distil
them in _Balneo Mariæ_: to the distilled water add Pearls prepared,
an ounce and a half, red Coral, Crabs eyes, white Amber, of each
two drams, Crabs claws, six drams, Bezoar, Ambergrease, of each two
scruples, steep them six weeks in the sun, in a vessel well stopped,
often shaking it, then filter it, (you may keep the powders for
Spicord. temp.) by mixing twelve ounces of Sugar candy, with six
ounces of red Rose-water, and four ounces of spirit of Cinnamon with it.
_Culpeper._] I suppose this was invented for a cordial to strengthen
the heart, to relieve languishing nature. It is exceeding dear. I
forbear the dose, they that have money enough to make it themselves,
cannot want time to study both the virtues and dose: I would have
gentlemen to be studious.
_Aqua cordialis frigida Saxeniæ._
_College._] Take of the juice of Borrage, Bugloss, Bawm, Bistort,
Tormentil, Scordium, Vervain, sharp-pointed Dock, Sorrel, Goat’s Rue,
Mirrhis, Blue Bottle great and small, Roses, Marigolds, Lemon, Citrons,
of each three ounces, white Wine Vinegar one pound, Purslain seeds
two ounces, Citron and Carduus seeds, of each half an ounce, Water
Lily flowers two ounces, the flowers of Borrage, Bugloss, Violets,
Clove-gilliflowers, of each one ounce, Diatrion Sentalon six drams:
let all of them, being rightly prepared, be infused three days, then
distilled in a glass still: to the distilled Liquor add earth of
Lemnos, Siletia, and Samos, of each one ounce and an half, Pearls
prepared with the juice of Citrons, three drams, mix them, and keep
them together.
_Culpeper._] It mightily cools the blood, and therefore profitable
in fevers, and all diseases proceeding of heat of blood; it provokes
sleep. You may take half an ounce at a time, or two drams if the party
be weak.
_Aqua Theriacalis._
Or Treacle Water.
_College._] Take of the juice of green Walnuts, four pounds, the juice
of Rue three pounds, juice of Carduus, Marigolds, and Bawm, of each two
pounds, green Petasitis roots one pound and a half, the roots of Burs
one pound, Angelica and Master-wort, of each half a pound, the leaves
of Scordium four handfuls, old Venice Treacle, Mithridates, of each
eight ounces, Canary Wine twelve pounds, Vinegar six pounds, juice of
Lemons two pounds, digest them two days, either in Horse-dung, or in
a bath, the vessel being close shut, then distil them in sand; in the
distillation you may make a Theriacal extraction.
_Culpeper._] This water is exceeding good in all fevers, especially
pestilential; it expels venomous humours by sweat; it strengthens the
heart and vitals; it is an admirable counter-poison, special good for
such as have the plague, or are poisoned, or bitten by venomous beasts,
and expels virulent humours from such as have the venereal disease.
If you desire to know more virtues of it, see the virtues of Venice
Treacle. The dose is from a spoonful to an ounce.
_Aqua Brioniæ composita._
Or Briony Water compound.
_College._] Take of the juice of Briony roots, four pounds, the leaves
of Rue and Mugwort, of each two pounds, dryed Savin three handfuls,
Featherfew, Nep, Pennyroyal, of each two handfuls, Bazil, Dittany, of
Crete, of each one handful and a half, Orange pills four ounces, Myrrh
two ounces, Castoreum one ounce, Canary Wine twelve pounds, digest
them four days in a convenient vessel, then still them in _Balneo
Mariæ_: About the middle of the distillation strain it out, and make an
Hysterical extraction of the residue.
_Culpeper._] A spoonful of it taken, eases the fits of the mother in
women that have them; it potently expels the afterbirth, and clears the
body of what a midwife by heedlessness or accident hath left behind; it
cleanses the womb exceedingly, and for that I fancy it much, take not
above a tasterful at a time, and then in the morning fasting, for it is
of a purging quality, and let pregnant women forbear it.
_Aqua Imperialis._
Or Imperial Water.
_The College._] Take of dried Citron, and Orange pills, Nutmegs,
Cloves, Cinnamon, of each two ounces, the roots of Cypress, Orris,
Florentine, Calamus Aromaticus, of each one ounce, Zedoary Galanga,
Ginger, of each half an ounce, the tops of Lavender and Rosemary, of
each two handfuls, the leaves of Bay, Marjoram, Bawm, Mints, Sage,
Thyme, of each one handful, the flowers of white and Damask Roses
fresh, of each half a handful, Rose-water four pounds, white Wine eight
pounds, let all of them be bruised and infused twenty four hours, then
distil them according to art.
_Culpeper._] You must distil it in a bath, and not in sand: It comforts
and strengthens the heart against faintings and swoonings, and is held
to be a preservative against consumptions and apoplexies. You may take
half a spoonful at a time.
_Aqua Mirabilis._
_College._] Take of Cloves, Galanga, Cubebs, Mace, Cardamoms, Nutmegs,
Ginger, of each one dram, Juice of Celandine half a pound, spirits of
Wine one pound, white Wine three pounds, infuse them twenty-four hours,
and draw off two pounds with an alembick.
_Culpeper._] The simples also of this, regard the stomach, and
therefore the water heats cold stomachs, besides authors say it
preserves from apoplexies, and restores lost speech.
_Aqua Protheriacalis._
_College._] Take of Scordium, Scabius, Carduus, Goat’s Rue, of each two
handfuls, Citron and Orange pills, of each two ounces, the seeds of
Citrons, Carduus, Hartwort, Treacle, Mustard, of each one ounce, the
flowers of Marigolds and Rosemary, of each one handful, cut them, and
bruise them grossly, then infuse them in four pounds of white Wine, and
two pounds of Carduus water, in a glass, close stopped, and set it in
the sun of bath for a fortnight, often shaking it, then distil it in
_Balneo Mariæ_. Let the two first pounds be kept by themselves for use,
and the remainder of the distillation by itself: Lastly, mix one ounce
of Julep of Alexandria, and a spoonful of Cinnamon water with each
pound.
_Culpeper._] _Aqua Protheriacalis_, signifies a water for Treacle, so
then if you put Diascoridum to it, it is a water for Diascoridum; well
then, we will take it for a general water for all physick.
_Aqua Caponis._
Or Capon Water.
_College._] Take a Capon the guts being pulled out, cut in pieces, the
fat being taken away, boiled in a sufficient quantity of spring-water
in a close vessel, take of this broth three pounds. Borrage and
Violet-water, of each a pound and a half, white Wine one pound, red
rose leaves two drams and an half, the flowers of Borrage, Violets and
Bugloss, of each one dram, pieces of bread, hot out of the oven, half
a pound, Cinnamon bruised, half an ounce, distil it in a glass still
according to art.
_Culpeper._] The simples are most of them appropriated to the heart,
and in truth the composition greatly nourishes and strengthens such
as are in consumptions, and restores lost strength, either by fevers
or other sickness: It is a sovereign remedy for hectic fevers, and
Marasmos, which is nothing else but a consumption coming from them. Let
such as are subject to these diseases, hold it for a jewel.
_Aqua Limacum Magistr._
Or Water of Snails.
_College._] Take of the juice of Ground Ivy, Colt’s-foot, Scabious,
Lungwort, of each one pound and a half, the juice of Purslain,
Plantain, Ambrosia, Paul’s Bettony, of each a pound, Hog’s blood, white
Wine, of each four pounds, Garden Snails, two pound, dried Tobacco
leaves eight, powder of Liquorice two ounces, of Elecampane half an
ounce, of Orris an ounce, Cotton seeds an ounce and a half, the greater
cold seeds, Annis seeds of each six drams, Saffron one dram, the
flowers of red Roses, six pugils, of Violets and Borrage, of each four
pugils, steep them three days warm, and then distil them in a glass
still, in sand.
_Culpeper._] It purges the lungs of flegm and helps consumptions there.
If you should happen to live where no better nor readier medicine can
be gotten, you may use this.
_Aqua Scordii composita._
Or Compound Water of Scordium.
_College._] Take of the juice of Goat’s Rue, Sorrel, Scordium, Citrons,
of each one pound, London Treacle, half a pound, steep it three days,
and distil it in sand.
_Culpeper._] A tasterful taken in the morning, preserves from ill airs.
_Aqua Mariæ._
_College._] Take of Sugar Candy a pound, Canary Wine six ounces, Rose
Water four ounces; boil it well into a Syrup, and add to it Imperial
water two pounds, Ambergreese, Musk, of each eighteen grains, Saffron
fifteen grains, yellow Sanders infused in Imperial water, two drams;
make a clear water of it.
_Aqua Papaveries composita._
Or Poppy Water compound.
_College._] Take of red Poppies four pounds, sprinkle them with white
Wine two pounds, then distil them in a common still, let the distilled
water be poured upon fresh flowers and repeated three times; to which
distilled water add two Nutmegs sliced, red Poppy flowers a pugil,
Sugar two ounces, set it in the sun to give it a pleasing sharpness;
if the sharpness be more than you would have it, put some of the same
water to it which was not set in the sun.
_Aqua Juglandium composita._
Or Walnut Water compound.
_College._] Take of green Walnuts a pound and an half, Radish roots one
pound, green Asarabacca six ounces, Radish seeds, six ounces. Let all
of them, being bruised, be steeped in three pounds of white Wine for
three days, then distilled in a leaden still till they be dry.
TINCTURES.
_Tinctura Croci._
Or Tincture of Saffron.
_College._] Take two drams of Saffron, eight ounces of Treacle water,
digest them six days, then strain it.
_Culpeper._] See the virtues of Treacle water, and then know that this
strengthens the heart something more, and keeps melancholy vapours
thence by drinking a spoonful of it every morning.
_Tinctura Castorii._
Or Tincture of Castoreum.
_College._] Take of Castoreum in powder half an ounce, spirit of
Castoreum half a pound, digest them ten days cold, strain it, and keep
the Liquor for Tincture.
_Culpeper._] A learned invention! ’Tis something more prevalent than
the spirit.
_Tinctura Fragroram._
Or Tincture of Strawberries.
_College._] Take of ripe Wood-strawberries two pounds, put them in
a phial, and put so much small spirits of Wine to them, that it may
overtop them the thickness of four fingers, stop the vessel close, and
set it in the sun two days, then strain it, and press it but gently;
pour this spirit to as many fresh Strawberries, repeat this six times,
at last keep the clear liquor for your use.
_Culpeper._] A fine thing for Gentlemen that have nothing else to do
with their money, and it will have a lovely look to please their eyes.
_Tinctura Scordii._
Or Tincture of Scordium.
_College._] Take of the leaves of Scordium gathered in a dry time,
half a pound, digest them in six pounds of small spirits of Wine, in a
vessel well stopped, for three days, press them out gently, and repeat
the infusion three times, and keep the clarified liquor for use.
So is made Tincture of Celandine, Rest-harrow, and Rosa-solis.
_Culpeper._] See the herbs for the virtues, and then take notice that
these are better for cold stomachs, old bodies.
_Tinctura Theriacalis vulgo Aqua Theriacalis
Ludg. per infus._
Or Tincture of Treacle.
_College._] Take of Canary Wine often times distilled, Vinegar in which
half an ounce of Rue seeds have been boiled, two pounds choice treacle,
the best Mithridate, of each half a pound; mix them and set them in the
sun, or heat of a bath, digest them, and keep the water for use.
_Tinctura Cinnamoni, vulgo, Aqua Clareta
Cinnam._
Or Tincture of Cinnamon.
_College._] Take of bruised Cinnamon two ounces, rectified spirits of
Wine two pounds, infuse them four days in a large glass stopped with
cork and bladder, shake it twice a day, then dissolve half a pound of
Sugar Candy by itself in two pounds of Rose water, mix both liquors,
into which hang a nodule containing, Ambergris half a scruple, Musk
four grains.
_Tinctura Viridis._
Or a green Tincture.
_College._] Take of Verdigris, half an ounce, Auripigmentum six
drams, Alum three drams, boil them in a pound of white Wine till half
be consumed, adding, after it is cold, the water of red Roses, and
Nightshade, of each six ounces.
_Culpeper._] This was made to cleanse ulcers, but I fancy it not.
_Aqua Aluminosa Magistralis._
_College._] Take of Plantain and red Rose water, of each a pound, roch
Alum and Sublimatum, of each two drams; let the Alum and Sublimatum,
being in powder, boil in the waters, in a vessel with a narrow mouth
till half be consumed, when it has stood five days, strain it.
PHYSICAL WINES.
_Vinum Absynthitis._
Or Wormwood Wine.
_College._] Take a handful of dried Wormwood, for every gallon of
Wine, stop it in a vessel close, and so let it remain in steep: so is
prepared wine of Rosemary flowers, and Eye-bright.
_Culpeper._] It helps cold stomachs, breaks wind, helps the wind
cholic, strengthens the stomach, kills worms, and helps the green
sickness.
Rosemary-flower Wine, is made after the same manner. It is good against
all cold diseases of the head, consumes flegm, strengthens the gums and
teeth.
Eye-bright Wine is made after the same manner. It wonderfully clears
the sight being drank, and revives the sight of elderly men: A cup of
it in the morning is worth a pair of spectacles.
All other Wines are prepared in the same manner.
The best way of taking any of these Wines is, to drink a draught of
them every morning. You may, if you find your body old or cold, make
Wine of any other herb, the virtues of which you desire; and make it
and take it in the same manner.
_Vinum Cerassorum Nigrorum._
Or Wine of Black Cherries.
_College._] Take a gallon of Black Cherries, keep it in a vessel close
stopped till it begin to work, then filter it, and an ounce of Sugar
being added to every pound, let pass through Hippocrates’ sleeve, and
keep in a vessel close stopped for use.
_Vinum Helleboratum._
Or Helleborated Wine.
_College._] Take of white Hellebore cut small, four ounces, Spanish
Wine two pounds, steep it in the sun in a phial close stopped, in the
dog days, or other hot weather.
_Vinum Rubellum._
_College._] Take of Stibium, in powder, one ounce, Cloves sliced two
drams, Claret Wine two pounds, keep it in a phial close shut.
_Vinum Benedictum._
_College._] Take of Crocus Metallorum, in powder, one ounce, Mace one
dram, Spanish Wine one pound and an half, steep it.
_Vinum Antimoniale._
Or Antimonial Wine.
_College._] Take of Regulus of Antimony, in powder, four ounces, steep
it in three pounds of white Wine in a glass well stopped, after the
first shaking let the Regulus settle.
_Culpeper._] These last mentioned are vomits, and vomits are fitting
medicines for but a few, the mouth being ordained to take in
nourishment, not to cast out excrements, and to regulate a man’s body
in vomiting; and doses of vomits require a deeper study in physic,
than I doubt the generality of people yet have; I omit it therefore at
this time, not because I grudge it my country, but because I would not
willingly have them do themselves a mischief, I shall shortly teach
them in what diseases vomits may be used, and then, and not till then,
the use of vomits.
_Vinum Scilliticum._
Or Wine of Squills.
_College._] Take of a white Squill of the mountains, gathered about the
rising of the dog star, cut it in thin pieces, and dried for a month,
one pound, put it in a glass bottle, and pour to it eight pounds of
French Wine, and when it hath stood so four days, take out the Squill.
The virtues of this are the same with Vinegar of Squills, only it is
hotter.
PHYSICAL VINEGARS.
_Acetum distillatum._
Or distilled Vinegar.
_College._] Fill a glass or stone alembick with the best Vinegar to the
third part, separate the flegm with a gentle fire, then encrease the
fire by degrees, and perform the work.
_Acetum Rosarum._
Or Rose Vinegar.
_College._] Take of red Rose buds, gathered in a dry time, the whites
cut off, dried in the shade three or four days, one pound, Vinegar
eight sextaries, set them in the sun forty days, then strain out the
Roses, and repeat the infusion with fresh ones.
After the same manner is made Vinegar of Elder flowers, Rosemary
flowers, and Clove-gilliflowers.
_Culpeper._] For the virtues of all Vinegars, take this one only
observation, They carry the same virtues with the flowers whereof they
are made, only as we said of Wines, that they were better for cold
bodies then the bare simples whereof they are made; so are Vinegars
for hot bodies. Besides, Vinegars are often, nay, most commonly used
externally, viz. to bathe the place, then look amongst the simples,
and see what place of the body the simple is appropriated to, and you
cannot but know both what Vinegar to use, and to what place to apply it.
_Acetum Scilliticum._
Or Vinegar of Squils.
_College._] Take of that part of the Squill which is between the
outward bark and the bottom, cut in thin slices, and placed thirty or
forty days in the sun or some remiss heat, then a pound of them (being
cut small with a knife made of ivory or some white wood) being put in
a vessel, and six pounds of Vinegar put to them; set the vessel, being
close stopped, in the sun thirty or forty days, afterwards strain it,
and keep it for use.
_Culpeper._] A little of this medicine being taken in the morning
fasting, and walking half an hour after, preserves the body in health,
to extreme old age, (as _Sanius_ tried, who using no other medicine but
this, lived in perfect health till one hundred and seventeen years of
age) it makes the digestion good, a long wind, a clear voice, an acute
sight, a good colour, it suffers no offensive thing to remain in the
body, neither wind, flegm, choler, melancholy, dung, nor urine, but
brings them forth; it brings forth filth though it lie in the bones, it
takes away salt and sour belchings, though a man be never so licentious
in diet, he shall feel no harm: It hath cured such as have the
phthisic, that have been given over by all Physicians: It cures such
as have the falling sickness, gouts, and diseases and swellings of the
joints: It takes away the hardness of the liver and spleen. We should
never have done if we should reckon up the particular benefits of this
medicine: Therefore we commend it as a wholesome medicine for soundness
of body, preservation of health, and vigour of mind. Thus _Galen_.
_Acetum Theriacale, Norimberg._
Or Treacle Vinegar.
_College._] Take of the roots of Celandine the greater, one ounce
and a half: the roots of Angelica, Masterwort, Gentian, Bistort,
Valerian, Burnet, white Dittany, Elecampane, Zedoary, of each one dram,
of Plantain the greater one dram and a half, the leaves of Mousear,
Sage, Scabious, Scordium, Dittany of Crete, Carduus, of each half an
handful, barks and seeds of Citrons, of each half a dram, Bole Amoniac
one dram, Saffron three drams, of these let the Saffron, Hart’s-horn,
Dittany, and Bole, be tied up in a rag, and steeped with the things
before mentioned, in five pints of Vinegar, for certain days by a
temperate heat in a glass well stopped, strain it, and add six drams of
the best Treacle to it, shake it together, and keep it for your use.
_Acetum Theriacale._
Or Treacle Vinegar.
_College._] Add to the description of Treacle water, Clove-gilliflowers
two ounces, Lavender flowers an ounce and a half, Rose, and Elder
flower Vinegar, of each four pounds, digest it without boiling, three
days, then strain it through Hippocrates’ sleeve.
_Culpeper._] See Treacle Water for the virtues, only this is more cool,
a little more fantastical.
DECOCTIONS.
_Decoctum commune pro clystere._
Or a common Decoction for a Clyster.
_College._] Take of Mallows, Violets, Pellitory, Beets, and Mercury,
Chamomel flowers, of each one handful, sweet Fennel seeds half an
ounce, Linseeds two drams, boil them in a sufficient quantity of common
water to a pound.
_Culpeper._] This is the common decoction for all clysters, according
to the quality of the humour abounding, so you may add what Simples, or
Syrups, or Electuaries you please; only half a score Linseeds, and a
handful of Chamomel flowers are added.
_Decoctum Epythimi._
Or a Decoction of Epithimum.
_College._] Take of Myrobalans, Chebs, and Inds, of each half an
ounce, Stœchas, Raisins of the sun stoned, Epithimum, Senna, of each
one ounce, Fumitory half an ounce, Maudlin five drams, Polipodium six
drams, Turbith half an ounce, Whey made with Goat’s milk, or Heifer’s
milk four pounds, let them all boil to two pounds, the Epithimum
excepted, which boil but a second or two, then take it from the fire,
and add black Hellebore one dram and an half, Agerick half a dram, Sal.
Gem. one dram and an half, steep them ten hours, then press it strongly
out.
_Culpeper._] It purges melancholy, as also choler, it resists madness,
and all diseases coming of melancholy, and therefore let melancholy
people esteem it as a jewel.
_Decoctum Sennæ Gereonis._
Or a Decoction of Senna.
_College._] Take of Senna two ounces, Pollipodium half an ounce, Ginger
one dram, Raisins of the sun stoned two ounces, Sebestens, Prunes, of
each twelve, the flowers of Borrage, Violets, Roses, and Rosemary, of
each two drams, boil them in four pounds of water till half be consumed.
_Culpeper._] It is a common Decoction for any purge, by adding other
simples or compounds to it, according to the quality of the humour you
would have purged, yet, in itself, it chiefly purges melancholy.
_Decoctum Pectorale._
Or a Pectoral Decoction.
_College._] Take of Raisins of the sun stoned, an ounce, Sebestens,
Jujubes, of each fifteen, Dates six, Figs four, French Barley one
ounce, Liquorice half an ounce, Maiden-hair, Hyssop, Scabious,
Colt’s-foot, of each one handful, boil them in three pounds of water
till two remain.
_Culpeper._] The medicine is chiefly appropriated to the lungs,
and therefore causes a clear voice, a long wind, resists coughs,
hoarseness, asthmas, &c. You may drink a quarter of a pint of it every
morning, without keeping to any diet, for it purges not.
I shall quote some Syrups fitting to be mixed with it, when I come to
the Syrups.
_Decoctum Trumaticum._
_College._] Take of Agrimony, Mugwort, wild Angelica, St. John’s Wort,
Mousear, of each two handfuls, Wormwood half a handful, Southernwood,
Bettony, Bugloss, Comfrey the greater and lesser, roots and all, Avens,
both sorts of Plantain, Sanicle, Tormentil with the roots, the buds of
Barberries and Oak, of each a handful, all these being gathered in May
and June and diligently dried, let them be cut and put up in skins or
papers against the time of use, then take of the forenamed herbs three
handfuls, boil them in four pounds of conduit water and two pounds of
white Wine gently till half be consumed, strain it, and a pound of
Honey being added to it, let it be scummed and kept for use.
_Culpeper._] If sight of a medicine will do you good, this is as like
to do it as any I know.
SYRUPS.
ALTERING SYRUPS.
_Culpeper._] READER, before we begin with the particular Syrups, I
think good to advertise thee of these few things, which concern the
nature, making, and use of Syrups in general. 1. A Syrup is a medicine
of a liquid body, compounded of Decoction, Infusion, or Juice, with
Sugar or Honey, and brought by the heat of the fire, into the thickness
of Honey. 2. Because all Honey is not of a thickness, understand new
Honey, which of all other is thinnest. 3. The reason why Decoctions,
Infusions, Juices, are thus used, is, Because thereby, First, They will
keep the longer. Secondly, They will taste the better. 4. In boiling
Syrups have a great care of their just consistence, for if you boil
them too much they will candy, if too little, they will sour. 5. All
simple Syrups have the virtues of the simples they are made of, and are
far more convenient for weak people, and delicate stomachs.
_Syrupus de Absinthio simplex._
Or Syrup of Wormwood simple.
_The College._] Take of the clarified Juice of common Wormwood,
clarified Sugar, of each four pounds, make it into a Syrup according
to art. After the same manner, are prepared simple Syrups of Betony,
Borrage, Bugloss, Carduus, Chamomel, Succory, Endive, Hedge-mustard,
Strawberries, Fumitory, Ground Ivy, St. John’s Wort, Hops, Mercury,
Mousear, Plantain, Apples, Purslain, Rasberries, Sage, Scabious,
Scordium, Houseleek, Colt’s-foot, Paul’s Bettony, and other Juices not
sour.
_Culpeper._] See the simples, and then you may easily know both their
virtues, and also that they are pleasanter and fitter for delicate
stomachs when they are made into Syrups.
_Syrupus de Absinthio Compositus._
Or Syrup of Wormwood compound.
_College._] Take of common Wormwood meanly dry, half a pound, red Roses
two ounces, Indian Spikenard three drams, old white Wine, juice of
Quinces, of each two pounds and an half, steep them a whole day in an
earthen vessel, then boil them gently, and strain it, and by adding two
pounds of sugar, boil it into a Syrup according to art.
_Culpeper._] _Mesue_ is followed verbatim in this; and the receipt is
appropriated to cold and flegmatic stomachs, and it is an admirable
remedy for it, for it strengthens both stomach and liver, as also
the instruments of concoction, a spoonful taken in the morning, is
admirable for such as have a weak digestion, it provokes an appetite to
one’s victuals, it prevails against the yellow iaundice, breaks wind,
purges humours by urine.
_Syrupus de Acetosus simplex._
Or Syrup of Vinegar simple.
_College._] Take of clear Water four pounds, white Sugar five pounds,
boil them in a glazed vessel over a gentle fire, scumming it till half
the water be consumed, then by putting in two pounds of white Wine
Vinegar by degrees, perfect the Syrup.
_Culpeper._] That is, only melt the Sugar with the Vinegar over the
fire, scum it, but boil it not.
_Syrupus Acetosus simplicior._
Or Syrup of Vinegar more simple.
_College._] Take of white Sugar five pounds, white Wine Vinegar two
pounds, by melting it in a bath, make it into a Syrup.
_Culpeper._] Of these two Syrups let every one use which he finds by
experience to be best; the difference is but little. They both of them
cut flegm, as also tough, hard viscous humours in the stomach; they
cool the body, quench thirst, provoke urine, and prepare the stomach
before the taking of a vomit. If you take it as a preparative for an
emetic, take half an ounce of it when you go to bed the night before
you intend it to operate, it will work the easier, but if for any of
the foregoing occasions, take it with a liquorice stick.
_Syrupus Acetosus compositus._
Or Syrup of Vinegar compound.
_College._] Take of the roots of Smallage, Fennel, Endive, of each
three ounces, the seeds of Annis, Smallage, Fennel, of each one ounce,
of Endive half an ounce, clear Water six pounds, boil it gently in an
earthen vessel till half the water be consumed, then strain and clarify
it, and with three pounds of Sugar, and a pound and a half of white
Wine Vinegar, boil it into a Syrup.
_Culpeper._] This in my opinion is a gallant Syrup for such whose
bodies are stuffed either with flegm, or tough humours, for it opens
obstructions or stoppings both of the stomach, liver, spleen, and
reins; it cuts and brings away tough flegm and choler, and is therefore
a special remedy for such as have a stuffing at their stomach.
_Syrupus de Agno Casto._
Or Syrup of Agnus Castus.
_College._] Take of the seeds of Rue and Hemp, of each half a dram,
of Endive, Lettice, Purslain, Gourds, Melons, of each two drams, of
Fleawort half an ounce, of Agnus Castus four ounces, the flowers of
Water Lilies, the leaves of Mints, of each half a handful, decoction
of seeds of Lentils, and Coriander seeds, of each half an ounce, three
pounds of the decoction, boil them all over a gentle fire till two
pounds be consumed, add to the residue, being strained, two ounces of
juice of Lemons, a pound and a half of white sugar, make it into a
Syrup according to art.
_Culpeper._] A pretty Syrup, and good for little.
_Syrupus de Althæa._
Or Syrup of Marsh-mallows.
_College._] Take of roots of Marsh-mallows, two ounces, the roots of
Grass Asparagus, Liquorice, Raisins of the Sun stoned, of each half
an ounce, the tops of Mallows, Marsh-mallows, Pellitory of the Wall,
Burnet, Plantain, Maiden-hair white and black, of each a handful, red
Cicers an ounce, of the four greater and four lesser cold seeds, of
each three drams, boil them in six pounds of clear Water till four
remain, which being strained, boil into a syrup with four pounds of
white sugar.
_Culpeper._] It is a fine cooling, opening, slipery Syrup, and chiefly
commendable for the cholic, stone, or gravel, in the kidneys or bladder.
_Syrupus de Ammoniaca._
Or Syrup of Ammoniacum.
_College._] Take of Maudlin and Cetrach, of each four handfuls, common
Wormwood an ounce, the roots of Succory, Sparagus, bark of Caper roots,
of each two ounces, after due preparation steep them twenty-four hours
in three ounces of white Wine, Radish and Fumitory water, of each two
pounds, then boil it away to one pound eight ounces, let it settle,
in four ounces of which, whilst it is warm, dissolve by itself Gum
Ammoniacum, first dissolved in white Wine Vinegar, two ounces, boil the
rest with a pound and an half of white sugar into a Syrup, adding the
mixtures of the Gum at the end.
_Culpeper._] It cools the liver, and opens obstructions both of it and
the spleen, helps old surfeits, and such like diseases, as scabs, itch,
leprosy, and what else proceed from the liver over heated. You may take
an ounce at a time.
_Syrupus de Artemisia._
Or Syrup of Mugwort.
_College._] Take of Mugwort two handfuls, Pennyroyal, Calaminth,
Origanum, Bawm, Arsmart, Dittany of Crete, Savin, Marjoram, Germander,
St. John’s Wort, Camepitis, Featherfew with the flowers, Centaury the
less, Rue, Bettony, Bugloss, of each a handful, the roots of Fennel,
Smallage, Parsley, Sparagus, Bruscus, Saxifrage, Elecampane, Cypress,
Madder, Orris, Peony, of each an ounce, Juniper Berries, the seeds of
Lovage, Parsley, Smallage, Annis, Nigella, Carpobalsamum or Cubebs,
Costus, Cassia Lignea, Cardamoms, Calamus Aromaticus, the roots of
Asarabacca, Pellitory of Spain, Valerian, of each half an ounce, being
cleansed, cut, and bruised, let them be infused twenty-four hours in
fourteen pounds of clear water, and boiled till half be consumed, being
taken off from the fire, and rubbed between your hands whilst it is
warm, strain it, and with honey and sugar, of each two pounds, sharp
Vinegar four ounces, boil it to a Syrup, and perfume it with Cinnamon
and Spikenard, of each three drams.
_Culpeper._] It helps the passion of the matrix, and retains it in
its place, it dissolves the coldness, wind, and pains thereof: it
strengthens the nerves, opens the pores, corrects the blood, it
corrects and provokes the menses. You may take a spoonful of it at a
time.
_Syrupus de Betonica compositus._
Or Syrup of Bettony compound.
_College._] Take of Bettony three handfuls, Marjoram four handfuls and
a half, Thyme, red Roses, of each a handful, Violets, Stœchas, Sage,
of each half a handful, the seeds of Fennel, Annis, and Ammi, of each
half an ounce, the roots of Peons, Polypodium, and Fennel, of each five
drams, boil them in six pounds of river water, to three pounds, strain
it, and add juice of Bettony two pounds, sugar three pounds and a half,
make it into a Syrup.
_Culpeper._] It helps diseases coming of cold, both in the head and
stomach, as also such as come of wind, vertigos, madness; it concocts
melancholy, it provokes the menses, and so doth the simple Syrup more
than the compound.
_Syrupus Byzantinus, simple._
_College._] Take of the Juice of the leaves of Endive and Smallage,
of each two pounds, of Hops and Bugloss, of each one pound, boil them
together and scum them, and to the clarified liquor, add four pounds of
white sugar, to as much of the juices, and with a gentle fire boil it
to a Syrup.
_Syrupus Byzantinus, compound._
_College._] Take of the Juices so ordered as in the former, four
pounds, in which boil red Roses, two ounces, Liquorice half an ounce,
the seeds of Annis, Fennel, and Smallage, of each three drams,
Spikenard two drams, strain it, and to the three pounds remaining,
add two pounds of Vinegar, four pounds of Sugar, make it into a syrup
according to art.
_Culpeper._] They both of them (viz. both Simple and Compound)
open stoppings of the stomach, liver, and spleen, help the rickets
in children, cut and bring away tough flegm, and help the yellow
jaundice. You may take them with a Liquorice stick, or take a spoonful
in the morning fasting.
_Syrupus Botryos._
Or Syrup of Oak of Jerusalem.
_College._] Take of Oak of Jerusalem, Hedge-mustard, Nettles, of each
two handfuls, Colt’s-foot, one handful and a half, boil them in a
sufficient quantity of clear water till half be consumed; to two pounds
of the Decoction, add two pounds of the Juice of Turnips baked in an
oven in a close pot, and with three pounds of white sugar, boil it into
a Syrup.
_Culpeper._] This Syrup was composed against coughs, shortness of
breath, and other the like infirmities of the breast proceeding of
cold, for which (if you can get it) you may take it with a Liquorice
stick.
_Syrupus Capillorum Veneris._
Or Syrup of Maiden-hair.
_College._] Take of Liquorice two ounces, Maiden-hair five ounces,
steep them a natural day in four pounds of warm water, then after
gentle boiling, and strong straining, with a pound and a half of fine
sugar make it into a Syrup.
_Culpeper._] It opens stoppings of the stomach, strengthens the lungs,
and helps the infirmities of them. This may be taken also either with
a Liquorice stick, or mixed with the Pectoral Decoction like Syrup of
Coltsfoot.
_Syrupus Cardiacus, vel Julepum Cardiacum._
Or a Cordial Syrup.
_College._] Take of Rhenish Wine two pounds, Rose Water two ounces and
a half, Cloves two scruples, Cinnamon half a dram, Ginger two scruples,
Sugar three ounces and a half, boil it to the consistence of a Julep,
adding Ambergris three grains, Musk one grain.
_Culpeper._] If you would have this Julep keep long, you may put in
more sugar, and yet if close stopped, it will not easily corrupt
because it is made up only of Wine, indeed the wisest way is to order
the quantity of sugar according to the palate of him that takes it. It
restores such as are in consumptions, comforts the heart, cherishes the
drooping spirits, and is of an opening quality, thereby carrying away
those vapours which might otherwise annoy the brain and heart: You may
take an ounce at a time, or two if you please.
_Syrupus infusionis florum Cariophillorum._
Or Syrup of Clove-gilliflowers.
_College._] Take a pound of Clove-gilliflowers, the whites being cut
off, infuse them a whole night in two pounds of water, then with four
pounds of sugar melted in it, make it into a Syrup without boiling.
_Culpeper._] This Syrup is a fine temperate Syrup: it strengthens the
heart, liver, and stomach; it refreshes the vital spirits, and is a
good cordial in fevers; and usually mixed with other cordials, you can
hardly err in taking it, it is so harmless a Syrup.
_Syrupus de Cinnamomo._
Or Syrup of Cinnamon.
_College._] Take of Cinnamon grossly bruised, four ounces, steep it in
white Wine, and small Cinnamon Water, of each half a pound, three days,
in a glass, by a gentle heat; strain it, and with a pound and a half of
sugar, boil it gently to a Syrup.
_Culpeper._] It refreshes the vital spirits exceedingly, and cheers
both heart and stomach languishing through cold, it helps digestion
exceedingly, and strengthens the whole body. You may take a spoonful at
a time in a cordial.
_College._] Thus also you may conveniently prepare Syrups (but only
with white Wine,) of Annis seeds, sweet Fennel seeds, Cloves, Nutmegs,
Ginger, &c.
_Syrupus Acetositatis Citriorum._
Or Syrup of Juice of Citrons.
_College._] Take of the Juice of Citrons, strained without expression,
and cleansed, a pound, Sugar two pounds, make it into a Syrup like
Syrup of Clove-gilliflowers.
_Culpeper._] It prevails against all diseases proceeding from choler,
or heat of blood, fevers, both pestilential, and not pestilential; it
resists poison, cools the blood, quenches thirst, cures the vertigo, or
dizziness in the head.
_College._] After the same manner is made Syrups of Grapes, Oranges,
Barberries, Cherries, Quinces, Lemons, Woodsorrel, Mulberries, Sorrel,
English Currants, and other sour Juices.
_Culpeper._] If you look the simples you may see the virtues of them:
they all cool and comfort the heart, and strengthen the stomach, Syrup
of Quinces stays vomiting, so doth all Syrup of Grapes.
_Syrupus Corticum Citriorum._
Or Syrup of Citron Pills.
_College._] Take of fresh yellow Citron Pills five ounces, the berries
of Chermes, or the juice of them brought over to us, two drams, Spring
Water four pounds, steep them all night, boil them till half be
consumed, taking off the scum, strain it, and with two pounds and a
half of sugar boiled it into a Syrup: let half of it be without Musk,
but perfume the other half with three grains of Musk tied up in a rag.
_Culpeper._] It strengthens the stomach, resists poison, strengthens
the heart, and resists the passions thereof, palpitation, faintings,
swoonings; it strengthens the vital spirits, restores such as are in
consumptions, and hectic fevers, and strengthens nature much. You may
take a spoonful at a time.
_Syrupus e Coralliis simplex._
Or Syrup of Coral simple.
_College._] Take of red Coral in very fine powder four ounces, dissolve
it in clarified juice of Barberries in the heat of a bath, a pound, in
a glass well stopped with wax and cork, a digestion being made three or
four days, pour off what is dissolved, put in fresh clarified juice,
and proceed as before, repeat this so often till all the coral be
dissolved; lastly, to one pound of this juice add a pound and a half of
sugar, and boil it to a Syrup gently.
_Syrupus e Coralliis compositus._
Or Syrup of Coral compound.
_College._] Take of red Coral six ounces, in very fine powder, and
levigated upon a marble, add of clarified juice of Lemons, the
flegm being drawn off in a bath, sixteen ounces, clarified juice of
Barberries, eight ounces, sharp white Wine Vinegar, and juice of
Wood-sorrel, of each six ounces, mix them together, and put them in
a glass stopped with cork and bladder, shaking it every day till it
have digested eight days in a bath, or horse dung, then filter it, of
which take a pound and a half, juice of Quinces half a pound, sugar of
Roses twelve ounces, make them into a Syrup in a bath, adding Syrup of
Clove-gilliflowers sixteen ounces, keep it for use, omitting the half
dram of Ambergris, and four grains of Musk till the physician command
it.
_Culpeper._] Syrup of Coral both simple and compound, restore such as
are in consumptions, are of a gallant cooling nature, especially the
last, and very cordial, good for hectic fevers, it stops fluxes, the
running of the reins, and the Fluor Albus, helps such as spit blood,
and such as have the falling-sickness, it stays the menses. Half a
spoonful in the morning is enough.
_Syrupus Cydoniorum._
Or Syrup of Quinces.
_College._] Take of the Juice of Quinces clarified six pounds, boil it
over a gentle fire till half of it be consumed, scumming it, adding red
Wine three pounds, white sugar four pounds, boil it into a Syrup, to be
perfumed with a dram and a half of Cinnamon, Cloves and Ginger, of each
two scruples.
_Culpeper._] It strengthens the heart and stomach, stays looseness and
vomiting, relieves languishing nature: for looseness, take a spoonful
of it before meat, for vomiting after meat, for both, as also for the
rest, in the morning.
_Syrupus de Erysimo._
Or Syrup of Hedge-mustard.
_College._] Take of Hedge-mustard, fresh, six handfuls, the roots
of Elecampane, Colt’s-foot, Liquorice, of each two ounces, Borrage,
Succory, Maiden-hair, of each a handful and a half, the cordial
flowers, Rosemary and Bettony, of each half a handful, Annis seeds half
an ounce, Raisins of the sun stoned, two ounces, let all of them, being
prepared according to art, be boiled in a sufficient quantity of Barley
Water and Hydromel, with six ounces of juice of Hedge-mustard to two
pounds and a half, the which, with three pounds of sugar, boil it into
a Syrup according to art.
_Culpeper._] It was invented against cold afflictions of the breast
and lungs, as asthmas, hoarseness, &c. You may take it either with a
Liquorice stick, or which is better, mix an ounce of it with three or
four ounces of Pectoral Decoction, and drink it off warm in the morning.
_Syrupus de Fumaria._
Or Syrup of Fumitory.
_College._] Take of Endive, common Wormwood, Hops, Dodder,
Hart’s-tongue, of each a handful, Epithimum an ounce and a half, boil
them in four pounds of water till half be consumed, strain it, and
add the juice of Fumitory a pound and a half, of Borrage and Bugloss,
of each half a pound, white sugar four pounds, make them into a Syrup
according to art.
_Culpeper._] The receipt is a pretty concocter of melancholy, and
therefore a rational help for diseases arising thence, both internal
and external, it helps diseases of the skin, as Leprosies, Cancers,
Warts, Corns, Itch, Tetters, Ringworms, Scabs, &c. and it is the better
to be liked, because of its gentleness. It helps surfeits exceedingly,
cleanses, cools, and strengthens the liver, and causes it to make good
blood, and good blood cannot make bad flesh. I commend this receipt to
those whose bodies are subject to scabs and itch. If you please you may
take two ounces by itself every morning.
_Syrupus de Glycyrrhiza._
Or Syrup of Liquorice.
_College._] Take of green Liquorice, scraped and bruised, two ounces,
white Maiden-hair an ounce, dryed Hyssop half an ounce, steep these in
four pounds of hot water, after twenty-four hours, boil it till half
be consumed, strain it, and clarify it, and with Honey, Penids, and
Sugar, of each eight ounces, make it into a Syrup, adding, before it be
perfectly boiled, red Rose Water six ounces.
_Culpeper._] It cleanses the breast and lungs, and helps continual
coughs and pleurisies. You may take it with a Liquorice stick, or add
an ounce of it or more to the Pectoral Decoction.
_Syrupus Granatorum cum Aceto; vulgo,
Oxysaccharum simplex._
Or Syrup of Pomegranates with Vinegar.
_College._] Take of white sugar a pound and a half, juice of
Pomegranates eight ounces, white Wine Vinegar four ounces, boil it
gently into a Syrup.
_Culpeper._] Look the virtues of Pomegranates among the simples.
_Syrupus de Hyssopo._
Or Syrup of Hyssop.
_College._] Take eight pounds of Spring Water, half an ounce of Barley,
boil it about half an hour, then add the Roots of Smallage, Parsley,
Fennel, Liquorice, of each ten drams, Jujubes, Sebestens, of each
fifteen, Raisins of the sun stoned, an ounce and a half, Figs, Dates,
of each ten, the seeds of Mallows and Quinces, Gum Tragacanth tied
up in a rag, of each three drams, Hyssop meanly dryed, ten drams,
Maiden-hair six drams, boil them together, yet so, that the roots may
precede the fruits, the fruits the seeds, and the seeds the herbs,
about a quarter of an hour; at last, five pounds of water being
consumed, boil the other three (being first strained and clarified)
into a Syrup with two pounds and a half of sugar.
_Culpeper._] It mightily strengthens the breast and lungs, causes long
wind, clears the voice, is a good remedy against coughs. Use it like
the Syrup of Liquorice.
_Syrupus Ivæ arthriticæ, sive Chamæpityos._
Or Syrup of Chamepitys.
_College._] Take of Chamepitys, two handfuls, Sage, Rosemary, Poley
Mountain, Origanum, Calaminth, wild Mints, Pennyroyal, Hyssop, Thyme,
Rue, garden and wild, Bettony, Mother of Thyme, of each a handful, the
roots of Acorns, Birthwort long and round, Briony, Dittany, Gentian,
Hog’s Fennel, Valerian, of each half an ounce, the roots of Smallage,
Asparagus, Fennel, Parsley, Bruscus, of each an ounce, Pellitory of
Spain, an ounce and a half, Stœchas, the seeds of Annis, Ammi, Caraway,
Fennel, Lovage, Hartwort, of each three drams, Raisins of the sun two
ounces, boil them in ten pounds of water to four, to which add honey
and sugar, of each two pounds, make it into a Syrup to be perfumed with
Sugar, Nutmegs, and Cubebs, of each three drams.
_Syrupus Jujubinus._
Or Syrup of Jujubes.
_College._] Take of Jujubes, Violets, five drams, Maiden-hair,
Liquorice, French Barley, of each an ounce, the seeds of Mallows five
drams, the seeds of white Poppies, Melons, Lettice, (seeds of Quinces
and Gum Tragacanth tied up in a rag) of each three drams, boil them in
six pounds of rain or spring water till half be consumed, strain it,
and with two pounds of sugar make it into a Syrup.
_Culpeper._] It is a fine cooling Syrup, very available in coughs,
hoarseness, and pleurisies, ulcers of the lungs and bladder, as also
in all inflammations whatsoever. You may take a spoonful of it once in
three or four hours, or if you please take it with a Liquorice stick.
_Syrupus de Meconio, sive Diacodium._
Or Syrup of Meconium, or Diacodium.
_College._] Take of white Poppy heads with their seeds, gathered a
little after the flowers are fallen off, and kept three days, eight
ounces, black Poppy heads (so ordered) six ounces, rain Water eight
pounds, steep them twenty-four hours, then boil and press them gently,
boil it to three pounds, and with twenty-four ounces of sugar boil it
into a Syrup according to art.
_Syrupus de Meconio compositus._
Or Syrup of Meconium compound.
_College._] Take of white and black Poppy heads with their seeds, fifty
drams, Maiden-hair fifteen drams, Jujubes thirty, the seeds of Lettice,
forty drams, of Mallows and Quinces tied up in a rag, a dram and a
half, Liquorice five drams, water eight pounds, boil it according to
art, strain it, and to three pounds of Decoction add Sugar and Penids,
of each one pound, make it into a Syrup.
_Culpeper._] _Meconium_ is nothing else but the juice of English
Poppies boiled till it be thick: It prevails against dry coughs,
phthisicks, hot and sharp gnawing rheums, and provokes sleep. It is an
usual fashion for nurses when they have heated their milk by exercise
or strong liquor (no marvel then if their children be froward) then run
for Syrup of Poppies, to make their young ones sleep. I would fain have
that fashion left, therefore I forbear the dose; let nurses keep their
own bodies temperate, and their children will sleep well enough, never
fear.
_Syrupus Melissophylli._
Or Syrup of Bawm.
_College._] Take of the Bark of Bugloss roots, an ounce, the roots of
white Dittany, Cinquefoil, Scorzonera, of each half an ounce, the
leaves of Bawm, Scabious, Devil’s-bit, the flowers of both sorts of
Bugloss, and Rosemary, of each a handful, the seeds of Sorrel, Citrons,
Fennel, Carduus, Bazil, of each three drams, boil them in four pounds
of water till half be consumed, strain it, and add three pounds of
white sugar, juice of Bawm and Rose Water, of each half a pound, boil
them to a Syrup, the which perfume with Cinnamon and yellow Sanders, of
each half an ounce.
_Culpeper._] It is an excellent cordial, and strengthens the heart,
breast, and stomach, it resists melancholy, revives the spirits, is
given with good success in fevers, it strengthens the memory, and
relieves languishing nature. You may take a spoonfull of it at a time.
_Syrupus de Mentha._
Or Syrup of Mints.
_College._] Take of the juices of Quinces sweet and between sweet and
sour, the juice of Pomegranates sweet, between sweet and sour, and
sour, of each a pound and a half, dried Mints half a pound, red Roses
two ounces, let them lie in steep one day, then boil it half away,
and with four pounds of sugar boil it into a Syrup according to art:
perfume it not unless the Physicians command.
_Culpeper._] The Syrup is in quality binding, yet it comforts the
stomach much, helps digestion, stays vomiting, and is as excellent
a remedy against sour or offensive belchings, as any is in the
Dispensatory. Take a spoonful of it after meat.
_Syrupus de Mucilaginibus._
Or Syrup of Mussilages.
_College._] Take of the seeds of Marsh-mallows, Mallows, Quinces, of
each an ounce, Gum Tragacanth three drams, let these infuse six hours
in warm Decoction of Mallows, white Poppy seeds, and Winter Cherries,
then press out the Mussilage to an ounce and an half, with which, and
three ounces of the aforesaid Decoction, and two ounces of sugar, make
a Syrup according to art.
_Culpeper._] A spoonful taken by itself, or in any convenient liquor,
is excellent for any sharp corroding humours be they in what part
of the body soever, phthisicks, bloody-flux, stone in the reins or
bladder, or ulcers there: it is excellent good for such as have taken
purges that are too strong for their bodies, for by its slippery nature
it helps corrosions, and by its cooling helps inflammations.
_Syrupus Myrtinus._
Or Syrup of Myrtles.
_College._] Take of Myrtle Berries two ounces and an half, Sanders
white and red, Sumach, Balaustines, Barberry stones, red Roses, of
each an ounce and a half, Medlars half a pound, bruise them in eight
pounds of water to four, strain it, and add juice of Quinces and sour
Pomegranates, of each six ounces, then with three pounds of sugar, boil
it into a Syrup.
_Culpeper._] The Syrup is of a very binding, yet comforting nature, it
helps such as spit blood, all fluxes of the belly, or corrosions of
the internal parts, it strengthens the retentive faculty, and stops
immoderate flux of menses. A spoonful at a time is the dose.
_Syrupus Florum Nymphæ simplex._
Or Syrup of Water-Lily flowers, simple.
_College._] Take of the whitest of white Water-Lily flowers, a pound,
steep them in three pounds of warm water six or seven hours, let them
boil a little, and strain them out, put in the same weight of flowers
again the second and third time, when you have strained it the last
time, add its weight of sugar to it, and boil it to a Syrup.
_Syrupus Florum Nymphæ compositus._
Syrup of Water-Lily flowers compound.
_College._] Take of white Water-Lily flowers half a pound, Violets
two ounces, Lettice two handfuls, the seeds of Lettice, Purslain, and
Gourds, of each half an ounce, boil them in four pounds of clear water
till one be consumed, strain it, and add half a pound of red Rose
water, white sugar four pounds, boil it into a Syrup according to art.
_Culpeper._] They are both fine cooling Syrups, allay the heat of
choler, and provoke sleep, they cool the body, both head, heart, liver,
reins, and matrix, and therefore are profitable for hot diseases in
either, you may take an ounce of it at a time when your stomach is
empty.
_Syrupus de Papavere Erratico, sive Rubro._
Or Syrup of Erratic Poppies.
_College._] Take of the fresh flowers of red Poppies two pounds, steep
them in four pounds of warm spring water, the next day strain it, and
boil it into a Syrup with its equal weight in sugar.
_Culpeper._] The Syrup cools the blood, helps surfeits, and may safely
be given in frenzies, fevers, and hot agues.
_Syrupus de Pilosella._
Or Syrup of Mousear.
_College._] Take of Mousear three handfuls, the roots of Lady’s-mantle
an ounce and an half, the roots of Comfrey the greater, Madder,
white Dittany, Tormentil, Bistort, of each an ounce, the leaves
of Wintergreen, Horsetail, Ground Ivy, Plantain, Adder’s Tongue,
Strawberries, St. John’s Wort with the flowers, Golden Rod, Agrimony,
Bettony, Burnet, Avens, Cinquefoil the greater, red Coleworts,
Balaustines, red Roses, of each a handful, boil them gently in six
pounds of Plantain Water to three, then strain it strongly, and when it
is settled, add Gum Tragacanth, the seeds of Fleawort, Marsh-mallows
and Quinces, made into a Mussilage by themselves in Strawberry and
Bettony Water, of each three ounces, white sugar two pounds, boil it to
the thickness of honey.
_Culpeper._] It is drying and healing, and therefore good for ruptures.
_Syrupus infusionis florum Pæoniæ._
Or Syrup of the infusion of Peony flowers.
_College._] It is prepared in the same manner as Syrup of
Clove-gilliflowers.
_Syrupus de Pæonia compositus._
Or Syrup of Peony compound.
_College._] Take of the Roots of both sorts of Peony taken up at the
full Moon, cut in slices, and steeped in white Wine a whole day, of
each an ounce and an half, Contra Yerva half an ounce, Siler Mountain
six drams, Elk’s Claws an ounce, Rosemary with the flowers on, one
handful, Bettony, Hyssop, Origanum, Chamepitys, Rue, of each three
drams, Wood of Aloes, Cloves, Cardamoms the less, of each two drams,
Ginger, Spikenard, of each a dram, Stœchas, Nutmegs, of each two drams
and an half, boil them after one day’s warm digestion, in a sufficient
quantity of distilled water of Peony roots, to four pounds, in which
(being strained through _Hippocrates’_ sleeve) put four pounds and an
half of white sugar, and boil it to a Syrup.
_Culpeper._] It helps the falling-sickness, and convulsions.
_Syrupus de Pomis aiterans._
Or Syrup of Apples.
_College._] Take four pounds of the juice of sweet scented Apples, the
juice of Bugloss, garden and wild, of Violet leaves, Rose Water, of
each a pound, boil them together, and clarify them, and with six pounds
of pure sugar, boil it into a Syrup according to art.
_Culpeper._] It is a fine cooling Syrup for such whose stomachs are
overpressed with heat, and may safely be given in fevers, for it rather
loosens than binds: it breeds good blood, and is profitable in hectic
fevers, and for such as are troubled with palpitation of the heart, it
quenches thirst admirably in fevers, and stays hiccoughs. You may take
an ounce of it at a time in the morning, or when you need.
_Syrupus de Prasio._
Or Syrup of Horehound.
_College._] Take of white Horehound fresh, two ounces, Liquorice,
Polipodium of the Oak, Fennel, and Smallage roots, of each half an
ounce, white Maiden-hair, Origanum, Hyssop, Calaminth, Thyme, Savory,
Scabious, Colt’s-foot, of each six drams, the seeds of Annis and
Cotton, of each three drams, Raisins of the sun stoned two ounces, fat
Figs ten, boil them in eight pounds of Hydromel till half be consumed,
boil the Decoction into a Syrup with honey and sugar, of each two
pounds, and perfume it with an ounce of the roots of Orris Florentine.
_Culpeper._] It is appropriated to the breast and lungs, and is a
fine cleanser to purge them from thick and putrified flegm, it helps
phthisicks and coughs, and diseases subject to old men, and cold
natures. Take it with a Liquorice stick.
_Syrupus de quinq. Radicibus._
Or Syrup of the five opening Roots.
_College._] Take of the roots of Smallage, Fennel, Parsley, Bruscus,
Sparagus of each two ounces, spring Water, six pounds, boil away the
third part, and make a Syrup with the rest according to art, with three
pounds of sugar, adding eight ounces of white Wine Vinegar, towards the
latter end.
_Culpeper._] It cleanses and opens very well, is profitable against
obstructions, provokes urine, cleanses the body of flegm, and is safely
and profitably given in the beginning of fevers. An ounce at a time
upon an empty stomach is a good dose.
_Syrupus Raphani._
Or Syrup of Radishes.
_College._] Take of garden and wild Radish roots, of each an ounce,
the roots of white Saxifrage, Lovage, Bruscus, Eringo, Rest-harrow,
Parsley, Fennel, of each half an ounce, the leaves of Bettony, Burnet,
Pennyroyal, Nettles, Water-cresses, Samphire, Maiden-hair, of each one
handful, Winter Cherries, Jujubes, of each ten, the seeds of Bazil,
Bur, Parsley of Macedonia, Hartwort, Carraway, Carrots, Gromwell,
the bark of the root of Bay-tree, of each two drams, Raisins of the
sun stoned, Liquorice, of each six drams, boil them in twelve pounds
of water to eight, strain it, and with four pounds of sugar, and two
pounds of honey, make it into a Syrup, and perfume it with an ounce of
Cinnamon, and half an ounce of Nutmegs.
_Culpeper._] A tedious long medicine for the stone.
_Syrupus Regius, alias Julapium Alexandrinum._
Or Julep of Alexandria.
_College._] Boil four pounds of Rose-water, and one pound of white
Sugar into a Julep. Julep of Roses is made with Damask Rose water, in
the very same manner.
_Culpeper._] Two fine cooling drinks in the heat of summer.
_Syrupus de Rosis siccis._
Or Syrup of dried Roses.
_College._] Make four pounds of spring water hot, in which infuse a
pound of dried Roses, by some at a time, press them out and with two
pounds of sugar, boil it into a Syrup according to art.
_Culpeper._] Syrup of dried Roses, strengthens the heart, comforts the
spirits, binds the body, helps fluxes, and corrosions, or gnawings of
the bowels, it strengthens the stomach, and stays vomiting. You may
take an ounce at a time, before meat, if for fluxes; after meat if for
vomiting.
_Syrupus Scabiosæ._
Or Syrup of Scabious.
_College._] Take of the roots of Elecampane, and Polypodium of the
Oak, of each two ounces, Raisins of the sun stoned an ounce, Sebestens
twenty, Colt’s-foot, Lungwort, Savory, Calaminth, of each a handful and
an half, Liquorice, Spanish Tobacco, of each half an ounce, the seeds
of Nettles and Cotton, of each three drams, boil them all (the roots
being infused in white Wine the day before) in a sufficient quantity
of Wine and Water to eight ounces, strain it, and adding four ounces
of the Juice of Scabious, and ten ounces of sugar, boil it to a Syrup,
adding to it twenty drops of oil of sulphur.
_Culpeper._] It is a cleansing Syrup appropriated to the breast
and lungs, when you perceive them oppressed by flegm, crudites, or
stoppings, your remedy is to take now and then a spoonful of this
Syrup, it is taken also with good success by such as are itchy, or
scabby.
_Syrupus de Scolopendrio._
Or Syrup of Hart’s-tongue.
_College._] Take of Hart’s-tongue three handfuls, Polypodium of the
Oak, the roots of both sorts of Bugloss, bark of the roots of Capers
and Tamerisk, of each two ounces, Hops, Dodder, Maiden-hair, Bawm, of
each two handfuls, boil them in nine pounds of Spring water to five,
and strain it, and with four pounds of white sugar, make it into a
Syrup according to art.
_Culpeper._] It helps the stoppings of melancholy, opens obstructions
of the liver and spleen, and is profitable against splenetic evils, and
therefore is a choice remedy for the disease which the vulgar call the
rickets, or liver-grown: A spoonful in a morning is a precious remedy
for children troubled with that disease. Men that are troubled with the
spleen, which is known by pain and hardness in their left side, may
take three or four spoonfuls, they shall find this one receipt worth
the price of the whole book.
_Syrupus de Stœchade._
Syrup of Stœchas.
_College._] Take of Stœchas flowers four ounces, Rosemary flowers half
an ounce, Thyme, Calaminth, Origanum, of each an ounce and an half,
Sage, Bettony, of each half an ounce, the seeds of Rue, Peony, and
Fennel, of each three drams, spring water ten pounds, boil it till half
be consumed, and with honey and sugar, of each two pounds, boil it into
a Syrup, which perfume with Cinnamon, Ginger, and Calmas Aromaticus, of
each two drams tied up in a rag.
_Syrupus de Symphyto._
Or Syrup of Comfrey.
_College._] Take of roots and tops of Comfrey, the greater and lesser,
of each three handfuls, red Roses, Bettony, Plantain, Burnet, Knot
grass, Scabious, Colt’s foot, of each two handfuls, press the juice
out of them all, being green and bruised, boil it, scum it, and strain
it, add its weight of sugar to it that it may be made into a Syrup,
according to art.
_Culpeper._] The Syrup is excellent for all inward wounds and bruises,
excoriations, vomitings, spittings, or evacuation of blood, it unites
broken bones, helps ruptures, and stops the menses: You cannot err in
taking of it.
_Syrupus Violarum._
Or Syrup of Violets.
_College._] Take of Violet flowers fresh and picked, a pound, clear
water made boiling hot, two pounds, shut them up close together into
a new glazed pot, a whole day, then press them hard out, and in two
pounds of the liquor dissolve four pounds and three ounces of white
sugar, take away the scum, and so make it into a Syrup without boiling.
Syrup of the juice of Violets, is made with its double weight of sugar,
like the former.
_Culpeper._] This Syrup cools and moistens, and that very gently, it
corrects the sharpness of choler, and gives ease in hot vices of the
breast, it quenches thirst in acute fevers, and resist the heat of the
disease; it comforts hot stomachs exceedingly, cools the liver and
heart, and resists putrefaction, pestilence, and poison.
_College._] Julep of Violets is made of the water of Violet flowers
and sugar, like Julep of Roses.
_Culpeper._] It is cooling and pleasant.
PURGING SYRUPS.
_Syrupus de Cichorio cum Rhubarbaro._
Or Syrup of Succory with Rhubarb.
_College._] Take of whole Barley, the roots of Smallage, Fennel, and
Sparagus, of each two ounces, Succory, Dandelyon, Endive, smooth
Sow-thistles, of each two handfuls, Lettuce, Liverwort, Fumitory, tops
of Hops, of each one handful, Maiden-hair, white and black, Cetrachs,
Liquorice, winter Cherries, Dodder, of each six drams, to boil these
take sixteen pounds of spring water, strain the liquor, and boil in
it six pounds of white sugar, adding towards the end six ounces of
Rhubarb, six drams of Spikenard, bound up in a thin slack rag the which
crush often in boiling, and so make it into a Syrup according to art.
_Culpeper._] It cleanses the body of venemous humours, as boils,
carbuncles, and the like; it prevails against pestilential fevers, it
strengthens the heart and nutritive virtue, purges by stool and urine,
it makes a man have a good stomach to his meat, and provokes sleep.
But by my author’s leave, I never accounted purges to be proper physic
in pestilential fevers; this I believe, the Syrup cleanses the liver
well, and is exceeding good for such as are troubled with hypocondriac
melancholy. The strong may take two ounces at a time, the weak, one, or
you may mix an ounce of it with the Decoction of Senna.
_Syrupus de Epithymo._
Or Syrup of Epithimum.
_College._] Take of Epithimum twenty drams, Mirobalans, Citron, and
Indian of each fifteen drams, Emblicks, Belloricks, Polypodium,
Liquorice, Agrick, Thyme, Calaminth, Bugloss, Stœchas of each six
drams, Dodder, Fumitory, of each ten drams, red Roses, Annis-seeds and
sweet Fennel seeds of each two drams and an half, sweet Prunes ten,
Raisins of the sun stoned four ounces, Tamarinds two ounces and an
half, after twenty-four hours infusion in ten pints of spring water,
boil it away to six, then take it from the fire and strain it, and with
five pounds of fine sugar boil it into Syrup according to art.
_Culpeper._] It is best to put in the Dodder, Stœchas and Agarick,
towards the latter end of the Decoction. It purges melancholy, and
other humours, it strengthens the stomach and liver, cleanses the body
of addust choler and addust blood, as also of salt humours, and helps
diseases proceeding from these, as scabs, itch, tetters, ringworms,
leprosy, &c. A man may take two ounces at a time, or add one ounce to
the Decoction of Epithimum.
_Syrupus e Floribus Persicorum._
Or Syrup of Peach-flowers.
_College._] Take of fresh Peach-flowers a pound, steep them a whole day
in three pounds of warm water, then boil a little and strain it out,
repeat this infusion five times in the same liquor, in three pounds of
which dissolve two pounds and an half of sugar and boil it into a Syrup.
_Culpeper._] It is a gentle purger of choler, and may be given even in
fevers to draw away the sharp choleric humours.
_Syrupus de Pomis purgans._
Or Syrup of Apples purging.
_College._] Take of the juice of sweet smelling Apples two pounds, the
juice of Borrage and Bugloss of each one pound and an half, Senna two
ounces, Annis seeds half an ounce, Saffron one dram, let the Senna be
steeped in the juices twenty-four hours, and after a boil or two strain
it, and with two pounds of white sugar boil it to a Syrup according
to art, the saffron being tied up in a rag, and often crushed in the
boiling.
_Culpeper._] The Syrup is a cooling purge, and tends to rectify the
distempers of the blood, it purges choler and melancholy, and therefore
must needs be effectual both in yellow and black jaundice, madness,
scurf, leprosy, and scabs, it is very gentle. The dose is from one
ounce to three, according as the body is in age and strength. An ounce
of it in the morning is excellent for such children as break out in
scabs.
_Syrupus de Pomis magistralis._
Or Syrup of Apples magisterial.
_College._] Take of the Juice and Water of Apples of each a pound
and an half, the Juice and Water of Borrage and Bugloss of each nine
ounces, Senna half a pound, Annis seeds, and sweet Fennel seeds, of
each three drams, Epithimum of Crete, two ounces, Agarick, Rhubarb, of
each half an ounce, Ginger, Mace, of each four scruples, Cinnamon two
scruples, Saffron half a dram, infuse the Rhubarb and Cinnamon apart
by itself, in white Wine and Juice of Apples, of each two ounces, let
all the rest, the Saffron excepted, be steeped in the Waters above
mentioned, and the next day put in the juices, which being boiled,
scummed, and strained, then with four ounces of white sugar boil it
into a Syrup, crushing the saffron in it being tied up in a linen rag,
the infusion of the Rhubarb being added at the latter end.
_Culpeper._] Out of doubt this is a gallant Syrup to purge choler and
melancholy, and to resist madness.
_Syrupus de Rhubarbaro._
Or Syrup of Rhubarb.
_College._] Take of the best Rhubarb and Senna of each two ounces and
an half, Violet flowers a handful, Cinnamon one dram and an half,
Ginger half a dram, Bettony, Succory and Bugloss Water of each one
pound and an half, let them be mixed together warm all night, and in
the morning strained and boiled into a Syrup, with two pounds of white
sugar, adding towards the end four ounces of Syrup of Roses.
_Culpeper._] It cleanses choler and melancholy very gently, and is
therefore fit for children, old people, and weak bodies. You may add an
ounce of it to the Decoction of Epithimum or to the Decoction of Senna.
_Syrupus Rosaceus solutivus._
Or Syrup of Roses solutive.
_College._] Take of Spring Water boiling hot four pounds, Damask Rose
leaves fresh, as many as the water will contain; let them remain twelve
hours in infusion, close stopped; then press them out and put in fresh
Rose leaves; do so nine times in the same liquor, encreasing the
quantity of the Roses as the liquor encreases, which will be almost by
the third part every time: Take six parts of this liquor, and with four
parts of white sugar, boil it to a Syrup according to art.
_Culpeper._] It loosens the belly, and gently brings out choler and
flegm, but leaves a binding quality behind it.
_Syrupus e succo Rosarum._
Or Syrup of the Juice of Roses.
_College._] It is prepared without steeping, only with the juice of
Damask Roses pressed out, and clarified, and an equal proportion of
sugar added to it.
_Culpeper._] This is like the other.
_Syrupus Rosaceus solutivus cum Agarico._
Or Syrup of Roses solutive with Agarick.
_College._] Take of Agarick cut thin an ounce, Ginger two drams, Sal.
Gem. one dram, Polipodium bruised two ounces, sprinkle them with white
Wine and steep them two days over warm ashes, in a pound and an half of
the infusion of Damask Roses prescribed before, and with one pound of
sugar boil it into a Syrup according to art.
_Culpeper._] It purges flegm from the head, relieves the senses
oppressed by it, provokes the menses, purges the stomach and liver,
and provokes urine.
_Syrupus Rosaceus solutivus cum Helleboro._
Or Syrup of Roses solutive with Hellebore.
_College._] Take of the bark of all the Myrobalans, of each four
ounces, bruise them grossly, and steep them twenty-four hours in twelve
pounds of the infusion of Roses before spoken, Senna, Epithimum,
Polypodium of the Oak, of each four ounces, Cloves an ounce, Citron
seeds, Liquorice, of each four ounces, the bark of black Hellebore
roots six drams, let the fourth part of the liquor gently exhale,
strain it, and with five pounds of sugar, and sixteen drams of Rhubarb
tied up in a linen rag, make it into a Syrup according to art.
_Culpeper._] The Syrup, rightly used, purges melancholy, resists
madness.
_Syrupus Rosaceus solutivus cum Senna._
Or Syrup of Roses solutive with Senna.
_College._] Take of Senna six ounces, Caraway, and sweet Fennel seeds,
of each three drams, sprinkle them with white Wine, and infuse them two
days in three pounds of the infusion of Roses aforesaid, then strain
it, and with two pounds of sugar boil it into a Syrup.
_Culpeper._] It purges the body of choler and melancholy, and expels
the relics a disease hath left behind it; the dose is from one ounce
to two, you may take it in a Decoction of Senna, it leaves a binding
quality behind it.
_Syrupus de Spina Cervina._
Or Syrup of Purging Thorn.
_College._] Take of the berries of Purging Thorn, gathered in
September, as many as you will, bruise them in a stone mortar, and
press out the juice, let the fourth part of it evaporate away in a
bath, then to two pounds of it add sixteen ounces of white sugar,
boil it into a Syrup, which perfume with Mastich, Cinnamon, Nutmegs,
Anni-seeds in fine powder, of each three drams.
SYRUPS MADE WITH VINEGAR
AND HONEY.
_Mel Anthosatum._
Or Honey of Rosemary Flowers.
_College._] Take of fresh Rosemary flowers a pound, clarified Honey
three pounds, mix them in a glass with a narrow mouth, set them in the
sun, keep them for use.
_Culpeper._] It hath the same virtues with Rosemary flowers, to which I
refer you, only by reason of the Honey it may be somewhat cleansing.
_Mel Helleboratum._
Or Honey Helleborated.
_College._] Take of white Hellebore roots bruised a pound, clear Water
fourteen pounds, after three days infusion, boil it till half be
consumed, then strain it diligently, and with three pounds of Honey,
boil it to the thickness of Honey.
_Mel Mercuriale._
Or Honey of Mercury.
_College._] Boil three pounds of the juice of Mercury, with two pounds
of Honey to the thickness of Honey.
_Culpeper._] It is used as an emollient in clysters.
_Mel Mororum, vel Diamoron._
Or Honey of Mulberries.
_College._] Take of the juice of Mulberries and Blackberries, before
they be ripe, gathered before the sun be up, of each a pound and a
half, Honey two pounds, boil them to their due thickness.
_Culpeper._] It is vulgarly known to be good for sore mouths, as also
to cool inflammations there.
_Mel Nuceum, alias, Diacarion et Dianucum._
Or Honey of Nuts.
_College._] Take of the juice of the outward bark of green Walnuts,
gathered in the dog days two pounds, boil it gently till it be thick,
and with one pound of Honey, boil it to the thickness of Honey.
_Culpeper._] It is a good preservative in pestilential times, a
spoonful being taken as soon as you are up.
_Mel Passalatum._
Or Honey of Raisins.
_College._] Take of Raisins of the sun cleansed from the stones two
pounds, steep them in six pounds of warm water, the next day boil it
half away, and press it strongly, and with two pounds of Honey, let the
expressed liquor boil to its thickness.
_Culpeper._] It is a pretty pleasing medicine for such as are in
consumptions, and are bound in body.
_Mel Rosatum commune, sive Foliatum._
Or common Honey of Roses.
_College._] Take of red Roses not quite open two pounds, Honey six
pounds, set them in the sun according to art.
_Mel Rosatum Colatum._
Or Honey of Roses strained.
_College._] Take of the best clarified Honey ten pounds, juice of fresh
red Roses one pound, set it handsomely over the fire, and when it
begins to boil, put in four pounds of fresh red Roses, the whites being
cut off; the juice being consumed by boiling and stirring, strain it
and keep it for use.
_Culpeper._] They are both used for diseases in the mouth.
_Mel Rosatum solutivum._
Or Honey of Roses solutive.
_College._] Take of the often infusion of Damask Roses five pounds,
Honey rightly clarified four pounds, boil it to the thickness of Honey.
_Culpeper._] It is used as a laxative in clysters, and some use it to
cleanse wounds.
_College._] After the same manner is prepared Honey of the infusion of
red Roses.
_Mel scilliticum._
Or Honey of Squils.
_College._] Take one Squil full of juice, cut in bits, and put it in a
glass vessel, the mouth close stopped, and covered with a skin, set in
the sun forty days, to wit, twenty before and after the rising of the
dog star, then open the vessel, and take the juice which lies at the
bottom, and preserve it with the best Honey.
_College._] Honey of Violets is prepared like as Honey of Roses.
_Oxymel, simple._
_College._] Take of the best Honey four pounds, clear Water and white
Wine Vinegar, of each two pounds, boil them in an earthen vessel,
taking the scum off with a wooden scummer, till it be come to the
consistence of a Syrup.
_Culpeper._] It cuts flegm, and it is a good preparative against a
vomit.
_Oxymel compound._
_College._] Take of the Bark of the Root of Fennel, Smallage, Parsley,
Bruscus, Asparagus, of each two ounces, the seeds of Fennel, Smallage,
Parsley, Annis, of each one ounce, steep them all (the roots being
first cleansed and the seeds bruised) in six pounds of clear Water
and a pound and a half of Wine Vinegar, the next day boil it to the
consumption of the third part, boil the rest being strained, with three
pounds of Honey into a liquid Syrup according to art.
_Culpeper._] First having bruised the roots and seeds, boil them in the
water till half be consumed, then strain it and add the Honey, and when
it is almost boiled enough, add the Vinegar.
_Oxymel Helleboratum._
Or Oxymel Helleborated.
_College._] Take of Rue, Thyme, Dittany of Crete, Hyssop, Pennyroyal,
Horehound, Carduus, the roots of Celtick, Spikenard without leaves,
the inner bark of Elders, of each a handful, Mountain Calaminth two
pugils, the seeds of Annis, Fennel, Bazil, Roman Nettles, Dill, of
each two drams, the roots of Angelica, Marsh-mallows, Aron, Squills
prepared, Birthwort, long, round, and climbing, Turbith, English Orris,
Costus, Polypodium, Lemon pills, of each an ounce, the strings of black
Hellebore, Spurge, Agerick, added at the end of the Decoction, of each
two drams, the bark of white Hellebore half an ounce, let all of them
being dried and bruised, be digested in a glass, or glazed vessel
close stopped, in the heat of the sun, or of a furnace, Posca, made of
equal parts of Water and Vinegar, eight pounds, Sapa two ounces, three
days being expired, boil it little more than half away, strain it,
pressing it gently, and add to the liquor a pound and a half of Honey
Roses, wherein two ounces of Citron pills have been infused, boil it to
the thickness of Honey, and perfume it with Cloves, Saffron, Ginger,
Galanga, Mace, of each a dram.
_Oxymel Julianizans._
_College._] Take of the Bark of Caper roots, the roots of Orris,
Fennel, Parsley, Bruscus, Chicory, Sparagus, Cypress, of each half an
ounce, the leaves of Harts-tongue, Schænanth, Tamarisk, of each half a
handful, sweet Fennel seed half an ounce, infuse them in three pounds
of Posca, which is something sour, afterwards boil it till half be
consumed, strain it, and with Honey and sugar clarified, of each half a
pound, boil it to the thickness of Honey.
_Culpeper._] This medicine is very opening, very good against
Hypocondriac melancholy, and as fit a medicine as can be for that
disease in children called the Rickets.
_College._] Oxymel of Squills simple, is made of three pounds of
clarified Honey; Vinegar of Squills two pounds, boil them according to
art.
_Culpeper._] It cuts and divides humours that are tough and viscous,
and therefore helps the stomach and bowels afflicted by such humours,
and sour belchings. If you take but a spoonful in the morning, an able
body will think enough.
_Oxymel Scilliticum compositus._
Or Oxymel of Squills compound.
_College._] Take of Origanum, dried Hyssop, Thyme, Lovage, Cardamoms
the less, Stœchas, of each five drams, boil them in three pounds of
Water to one, strain it and with two pounds of Honey, Honey of Raisins
half a pound, juice of Briony five ounces, Vinegar of Squills a pound
and a half, boil it, and scum it according to art.
_Culpeper._] This is good against the falling-sickness, Megrim,
Head-ache, Vertigo, or swimming in the head, and if these be occasioned
by the stomach as many times they are, it helps the lungs obstructed by
humour, and is good for women not well cleansed after labour, it opens
the passage of the womb.
_Syrup of Purslain._ Mesue.
_College._] Take of the seeds of Purslain grossly bruised, half a
pound, of the juice of Endive, boiled and clarified, two pounds, Sugar
two pounds, Vinegar nine ounces, infuse the seeds in the juice of
Endive twenty-four hours, afterwards boil it half away with a gentle
fire, then strain it, and boil it with the sugar to the consistence of
a Syrup, adding the Vinegar towards the latter end of the decoction.
_Culpeper._] It is a pretty cooling Syrup, fit for any hot disease
incident to the stomach, reins, bladder, matrix, or liver; it thickens
flegm, cools the blood, and provokes sleep. You may take an ounce of it
at a time when you have occasion.
_Compound Syrup of Colt’s-foot._ Renod.
_College._] Take six handfuls of green Colt’s-foot, two handfuls of
Maiden-hair, one handful of Hyssop, and two ounces of Liquorice, boil
them in four pints, either of rain or spring water till the fourth part
be consumed, then strain it, and clarify it, to which add three pounds
of white sugar, boil it to the perfect consistence of a Syrup.
_Culpeper._] The composition is appropriated to the lungs, and
therefore helps the infirmities, weaknesses, or failings thereof as
want of voice, difficulty of breathing, coughs, hoarseness, catharrs,
&c. The way of taking it is with a Liquorice-stick, or if you please,
you may add an ounce of it to the Pectoral Decoction before mentioned.
_Syrup of Poppies, the lesser composition._
_College._] Take of the heads of white Poppies and black, when both of
them are green, of each six ounces, the seeds of Lettice, the flowers
of Violets, of each one ounce, boil them in eight pints of water till
the virtue is out of the heads; then strain them, and with four pounds
of sugar boil the liquor to a Syrup.
_Syrup of Poppies, the greater composition._
_College._] Take of the heads of both white and black Poppies, seeds
and all, of each fifty drams, Maiden-hair, fifteen drams, Liquorice,
five drams, Jujubes, thirty by number, Lettice seeds, forty drams, of
the seeds of Mallows and Quinces, (tied up in a thin linen cloth) of
each one dram and an half, boil these in eight pints of water till
five pints be consumed, when you have strained out the three pints
remaining, add to them, Penids and white sugar, of each a pound, boil
them into a Syrup according to art.
_Culpeper._] All these former Syrups of Poppies provoke sleep, but
in that, I desire they may be used with a great deal of caution and
wariness: such as these are not fit to be given in the beginning of
fevers, nor to such whose bodies are costive, yet to such as are
troubled with hot, sharp rheums, you may safely give them: The last is
appropriated to the lungs; It prevails against dry coughs, phthisicks,
hot and sharp gnawing rheums, and provokes sleep. It is an usual
fashion for nurses when they have heated their milk by exercise or
strong liquor then run for Syrup of Poppies to make their young ones
sleep. I would fain have that fashion left off, therefore I forbear the
dose: Let nurses keep their own bodies temperate, and their children
will sleep well enough.
_Syrup of Eupatorium (or Maudlin.)_ Mesue.
_College._] Take of the Roots of Smallage, Fennel, and Succory, of
each two ounces, Liquorice, Schænanth, Dodder, Wormwood, Roses, of
each six drams, Maidenhair, Bedeguar, or instead thereof, the roots
of Carduus Mariæ, Suchaha or instead thereof the roots of Avens, the
flowers or roots of Bugloss, Annis seeds, sweet Fennel seeds, Ageratum,
or Maudlin, of each five drams, Rhubarb, Mastich, of each three drams,
Spikenard, Indian leaf, or instead of it put Roman spike, of each
two drams, boil them in eight pints of Water till the third part be
consumed, then strain the Decoction, and with four pounds of sugar,
clarified juice of Smallage and Endive, of each half a pound, boil it
into a Syrup.
_Culpeper._] It amends infirmities of the liver coming of cold,
opens obstructions, helps the dropsy, and evil state of the body; it
extenuates gross humours, strengthens the liver, provoake urine, and is
a present succour for hypocondriac melancholy. You may take an ounce at
a time in the morning, it opens but purges not.
_Honey of Emblicks._ Augustanus.
_College._] Take fifty Emblick Myrobalans, bruise them and boil them in
three pints of water till two be consumed, strain it, and with the like
weight of Honey, boil it into a Syrup.
_Culpeper._] It is a fine gentle purger both of flegm and melancholy:
it strengthens the brain and nerves, and senses both internal and
external, helps tremblings of the heart, stays vomiting, provokes
appetite. You may take a spoonful at a time.
ROB, OR SAPA: AND JUICES.
_Culpeper._] 1. Rob, or Sapa, is the juice of a fruit, made thick by
the heat either of the sun, or the fire, that it is capable of being
kept safe from putrefaction. 2. Its use was first invented for diseases
in the mouth. 3. It is usually made, in respect of body, somewhat
thicker than new Honey. 4. It may be kept about a year, little more or
less.
_Rob sive Sapa, simplex._
Or Simple Rob, or Sapa.
_College._] Take of Wine newly pressed from white and ripe Grapes, boil
it over a gentle fire to the thickness of Honey.
_Culpeper._] Whenever you read the word Rob, or Sapa throughout the
Dispensatory, simply quoted in any medicine without any relation of
what it should be made, this is that you ought to use.
_Rob de Barberis._
Or Rob of Barberries.
_College._] Take of the juice of Barberries strained as much as you
will, boil it by itself (or else by adding half a pound of sugar to
each pound of juice) to the thickness of Honey.
_Culpeper._] It quenches thirst, closes the mouth of the stomach,
thereby staying vomiting, and belching, it strengthens stomachs
weakened by heat, and procures appetite. Of any of these Robs you may
take a little on the point of a knife when you need.
_Rob de Cerasis._
Or Rob of Cherries.
_College._] Take of the juice of red Cherries somewhat sowerish, as
much as you will, and with half their weight in sugar boil them like
the former.
_Culpeper._] See the virtue of Cherries, and there you have a method to
keep them all the year.
_Rob de Cornis._
Or Rob of Cornels.
_College._] Take of the juice of Cornels two pounds, sugar a pound and
an half, boil it according to art.
_Culpeper._] Of those Cornel trees are two sorts, male and female, the
fruit of the male Cornel, or Cornelian Cherry is here to be used. The
fruit of male Cornel, binds exceedingly, and therefore good in fluxes,
and the immoderate flowing of the menses.
_Rob Cydoniorum._
Or Rob of Quinces.
_College._] Take of the clarified juice of Quinces, boil it till two
parts be consumed and with its equal weight in sugar boil it into a Rob.
_Miva vel Gelatina Eorundem._
Or Jelly of Quinces.
_College._] Take of the juice of Quinces clarified twelve pounds, boil
it half away, and add to the remainder, old white Wine five pounds,
consume the third part over a gentle fire, taking away the scum (all
you ought) let the rest settle, and strain it, and with three pounds of
sugar boil it according to art.
_Culpeper._] Both are good for weak and indisposed stomachs.
_College._] Rob of sour Plums is made as Rob of Quinces, the use of
sugar is indifferent in them both.
Rob of English Currants is made in the same manner, let the juice be
clarified.
_Culpeper._] The virtues are the same with Rob of Barberries.
_Rob Baccarum Sambuci._
Or Rob of Elder Berries.
_College._] Take of the juice of Elder Berries, and make it thick with
the help of a gentle fire, either by itself, or a quarter of its weight
in sugar being added.
_Culpeper._] Both Rob of Elder Berries, and Dwarf-Elder, are excellent
for such whose bodies are inclining to dropsies, neither let them
neglect nor despise it. They may take the quantity of a nutmeg each
morning, it will gently purge the watery humour.
_College._] In the same manner is made Rob of Dwarf-Elder, Junipers,
and Paul’s Betony, only in the last, the sugar and juice must be equal
in weight.
_Succus Glycyrrhizæ simplex._
Or Juice of Liquorice simple.
_College._] Infuse Liquorice Roots cleansed and gently bruised, three
days in Spring Water, so much that it may over-top the roots the
breadth of three fingers, then boil it a little, and press it hard out,
and boil the liquor with a gentle fire to its due thickness.
_Culpeper._] It is vulgarly known to be good against coughs, colds, &c.
and a strengthner of the lungs.
_Succus Glycyrrhizæ compositus._
Or Juice of Liquorice compound.
_College._] Take of the water of tender Oak leaves, of Scabious, of
each four pounds, English Liquorice scraped and bruised two pounds,
boil them by degrees till they be soft, then press out the liquor
strongly in a press, to which add three pounds of juice of Hyssop, and
dry it away in the sun in a broad earthen vessel.
_Culpeper._] The virtues are the same with the former.
_Succus Pronorum Sylvestrum._
Or Juice of Sloes, called Acacia.
_College._] Take of Sloes hardly ripe, press out the juice, and make it
thick in a bath.
_Culpeper._] It stops fluxes, and procures appetite.
_College._] So are the Juices of Wormwood, Maudlin, and Fumitory made
thick, to wit, the herbs bruised while they be tender, and the juice
pressed out and after it be clarified, boil over the fire to its just
thickness.
LOHOCH, OR ECLEGMATA.
_Culpeper._] Because this word also is understood but by few, we will
first explain what it is. 1. The word _Lohoch_ is an Arabick word,
called in Greek _Eclegma_, in Latin _Linctus_, and signifies a thing
to be licked up. 2. It is in respect of body, something thicker than
a Syrup, and not so thick as an electuary. 3. Its use was against the
roughness of the windpipe, diseases, and inflammations of the lungs,
difficulty of breathing, colds, coughs, &c. 4. Its manner of reception
is with a Liquorice stick, bruised at the end, to take up some and
retain it in the mouth, till it melt of its own accord.
_Lohoch de Farfara._
Or Lohoch of Coltsfoot.
_College._] Take of Colts-foot roots cleansed eight ounces,
Marsh-mallow roots four ounces cleansed, boil them in a sufficient
quantity of water, and press the pulp out through a sieve, dissolve
this again in the Decoction, and let it boil once or twice, then take
it from the fire, and add two pounds of white sugar, Honey of Raisins
fourteen ounces, juice of Liquorice two drams and an half, stir them
stoutly with a wooden pestle, mean season sprinkle in Saffron and
Cloves, of each a scruple, Cinnamon and Mace, of each two scruples,
make them into a Lohoch according to art.
_Culpeper._] It was invented for the cough.
_Lohoch de Papavere._
Or Lohoch of Poppies.
_College._] Take white Poppy seeds twenty four drams, sweet Almonds
blanched in Rose Water, Pine-nuts cleansed, Gum Arabick and Tragacanth,
of each ten drams, juice of Liquorice an ounce, Starch three drams, the
seeds of Lettuce, Purslain, Quinces, of each half an ounce, Saffron a
dram, Penids four ounces, Syrup of Meconium three pounds, make it into
a Lohoch according to art.
_Culpeper._] It helps salt, sharp and thin distillations upon the
lungs, it allays the fury of such sharp humours, which occasion both
roughness of the throat, want of sleep, and fevers; it is excellent for
such as are troubled with pleurises to take now and then a little of
it.
_Lohoch e Passulis._
Or Lohoch of Raisins.
_College._] Take of male Peony roots, Liquorice, of each half an ounce,
Hyssop, Bawm, Hart’s-tongue, or Cetrach, of each half a handful, boil
them in Spring Water, and press them strongly, and by adding a pound of
Raisins bruised, boil it again, pressing it through a linen cloth, then
with a pound of white sugar, make it into a Lohoch according to art.
_Culpeper._] It is very good against coughs, consumptions of the lungs,
and other vices of the breast, and is usually given to children for
such diseases, as also for convulsions, and falling-sickness.
_Lohoch e Pino._
Or Lohoch of Pinenuts.
_College._] Take of Pine-nuts, fifteen drams, sweet Almonds, Hazel
Nuts gently roasted, Gum Arabick and Tragacanth, powder and juice of
Liquorice, white Starch, Maiden-hair, Orris roots, of each two drams,
the pulp of Dates seventeen drams, bitter Almonds one dram and an half,
Honey of Raisins, white Sugar-candy, fresh Butter, of each two ounces,
Honey one pound and an half, dissolve the Gums in so much Decoction of
Maiden-hair as is sufficient; let the rest be mixed over a gentle fire,
and stirred, that so it may be made into a Lohoch.
_Culpeper._] The medicine is excellent for continual coughs, and
difficulty of breathing, it succours such as are asthmatic, for it cuts
and atenuates tough humours in the breast.
_Lohoch de Portulaca._
Or Lohoch of Purslain.
_College._] Take of the strained Juice of Purslain two pounds,
Troches of _Terra Lemnia_ two drams, Troches of Amber, Gum Arabic,
Dragon’s-blood of each one dram, _Lapis Hematilis_, the wool of a
Hare toasted, of each two scruples, white Sugar one pound, mix them
together, that so you may make a Lohoch of them.
_Culpeper._] The medicine is so binding that it is better let alone
than taken, unless in inward bruises when men spit blood, then you may
safely take a little of it.
_Lohoch e Pulmone Vulpis._
Or Lohoch of Fox Lungs.
_College._] Take of Fox Lungs rightly prepared, juice of Liquorice,
Maiden-hair, Annis-seeds, sweet Fennel seeds, of each equal parts,
Sugar dissolved in Colt’s-foot, and Scabious Water, and boiled into a
Syrup, three times their weight; the rest being in fine powder, let
them be put to it and strongly stirred together, that it may be made
into a Lohoch according to art.
_Culpeper._] It cleanses and unites ulcers in the lungs and breast, and
is a present remedy in phthisicks.
_Lohoch sanum et Expertum._
Or a sound and well experienced Lohoch.
_College._] Take of dried Hyssop and Calaminth, of each half an ounce,
Jujubes, Sebestens, the stones being taken out, fifteen Raisins of the
Sun stoned, fat Figs, Dates, of each two ounces, Linseed, Fenugreek
seed, of each five drams, Maiden-hair one handful, Annis-seeds, sweet
Fennel seeds, Orris Roots cut, Liquorice, Cinnamon, of each an ounce,
boil them according to art in four pounds of clear water till half
be consumed, and with two pounds of Penids boil it into a Syrup,
afterwards cut and bruise very small Pine-nuts five drams, sweet
Almonds blanched, Liquorice, Gum Tragacanth and Arabick, white Starch
of each three drams, let these be put into the Syrup when it is off the
fire, and stir it about swiftly with a wooden pestle till it look white.
_Culpeper._] It succors the breast, lungs, throat, oppressed by cold,
it restores the voice lost by reason of cold, and attenuates thick and
gross humours in the breast and lungs.
_Lohoch Scilliticum._
Or Lohoch of Squils.
_College._] Take three drams of a Squil baked in paste, Orris Roots two
drams, Hyssop, Hore-hound, of each one dram, Saffron, Myrrh, of each
half a dram, Honey two ounces and an half, bruise the Squil, after it
is baked, in a stone mortar, and after it hath boiled a walm or two
with the Honey, put in the rest of the things in powder, diligently
stirring it, and make it into a Lohoch according to art.
_Eclegma of Squils._ Mesue.
_College._] Take of the juice of Squils and Honey, both of them
clarified, of each two pounds, boil them together according to art to
the consistence of Honey.
_Culpeper._] For the virtues of it see Vinegar of Squils, and Oximel
of Squils, only this is more mild, and not so harsh to the throat,
because it hath no Vinegar in it, and therefore is far more fitting for
_Asthmaes_, and such as are troubled with difficulty of breathing, it
cuts and carries away humours from the breast, be they thick or thin,
and wonderfully helps indigestion of victuals, and eases pains in the
breast, and for this, I quote the authority of _Galen_.
_Lohoch of Coleworts._ Gordonius.
_College._] Take one pound of the juice of Coleworts, clarified Saffron
three drams, clarified Honey, and Sugar, of each half a pound, make of
them a Lohoch according to art.
_Culpeper._] It helps hoarseness, and loss of voice, eases surfeits and
head-ache coming of drunkenness, and opens obstructions of the liver
and spleen, and therefore is good for that disease in children called
the rickets.
PRESERVED ROOTS, STALKS,
BARKS, FLOWERS, FRUITS.
_College._] Take of Eringo Roots as many as you will, cleanse them
without and within, the pith being taken out, steep them two days in
clear water, shifting the water sometimes, then dry them with a cloth,
then take their equal weight in white Sugar, and as much Rose-water
as will make it into a Syrup, which being almost boiled, put in the
roots, and let them boil until the moisture be consumed, and let it
be brought to the due body of a Syrup. Not much unlike to this are
preserved the roots of Acorus, Angelica, Borrage, Bugloss, Succory,
Elecampane, Burnet, Satyrion, Sicers, Comfrey the greater, Ginger,
Zedoary. Take of the stalks of Artichokes, not too ripe, as many as you
will, and (_contrary to the roots_) take only the pith of these, and
preserve them with their equal weight in sugar, like the former. So is
prepared the stalks of Angelica, Burs, Lettuce, &c. before they be too
ripe. Take of fresh Orange pills as many as you will, take away the
exterior yellowness, and steep them in spring water three days at the
least, often renewing the water, then preserve them like the former.
In like manner are Lemon and Citron pills preserved. Preserve the
flowers of Citrons, Oranges, Borrage, Primroses, with Sugar, according
to art. Take of Apricots as many as you will, take away the outer skin
and the stones, and mix them with their like weight in sugar, after
four hours take them out, and boil the Sugar without any other Liquor,
then put them in again, and boil them a little. Other Fruits may be
preserved in the same manner, or at least not much unlike to it, as
whole Barberries, Cherries, Cornels, Citrons, Quinces, Peaches, common
Apples, the five sorts of Myrobalans, Hazel Nuts, Walnuts, Nutmegs,
Raisins of the Sun, Pepper brought green from India, Plums, garden
and wild Pears, Grapes. Pulps are also preserved, as Barberries,
Cassia Fistula, Citrons, Cinosbatus, Quinces, and Sloes, &c. Take of
Barberries as many as you will, boil them in spring water till they
are tender, then having pulped them through a sieve, that they are
free from the stones, boil it again in an earthen vessel over a gentle
fire, often stirring them for fear of burning, till the watery humour
be consumed, then mix ten pounds of sugar with six pounds of this pulp,
boil it to its due thickness. Broom buds are also preserved, but with
brine and vinegar, and so are Olives and Capers. Lastly, Amongst the
Barks, Cinnamon, amongst the flowers, Roses, and Marigolds, amongst the
fruits, Almonds, Cloves, Pine-nuts, and Fistick-nuts, are said to be
preserved but with this difference, they are encrusted with dry sugar,
and are more called confects than preserves.
CONSERVES AND SUGARS.
_College._] Conserves of the herbs of Wormwood, Sorrel, Wood-sorrel,
the flowers of Oranges, Borrage, Bugloss, Bettony, Marigolds, the Tops
of Carduus, the Flowers of Centaury the less, Clove-gilliflowers,
Germander, Succory, the Leaves of Scurvy-grass, the flowers of Comfrey
the greater. Citratiæ, Cinosbati, the roots of Spurge, herbs and
flowers of Eye-bright, the tops of Fumitory, Goat’s-rue, the flowers
of Broom not quite open, Hyssop, Lavender, white Lilies, Lilies of the
Valley, Marjoram, Mallows, the tops of Bawm, the leaves of Mints, the
flowers of Water Lilies, red Poppies, Peony, Peaches, Primroses, Roses,
the leaves of Rue, the flowers of Sage, Elder Scabious, the leaves of
Scordium, the flowers of Limetree, Coltsfoot, Violets, with all these
are conserves made with their treble proportion of white sugar; yet
note, that all of them must not be mixed alike, some of them must be
cut, beaten, and gently boiled, some neither cut, beaten nor boiled,
and some admit but one of them, which every artist in his trade may
find out by this premonition and avoid error.
SUGARS.
_Diacodium Solidum, sive Tabulatum._
_College._] Take of white Poppy heads, meanly ripe, and newly gathered,
twenty, steep them in three pounds of warm spring water, and the next
day boil them until the virtue is out, then strain out the liquor, and
with a sufficient quantity of good sugar, boil it according to art,
that you may make it up into Lozenges.
_Culpeper._] The virtues are the same with the common Diacodium,
viz. to provoke sleep, and help thin rheums in the head, coughs, and
roughness of the throat, and may easily be carried about in one’s
pocket.
_Saccharum tabulatum simplex, et perlatum._
Or Lozenges of Sugar both simple and
pearled.
_College._] The first is made by pouring the sugar upon a marble, after
a sufficient boiling in half its weight in Damask Rose Water: And the
latter by adding to every pound of the former towards the latter end of
the decoction, Pearls, prepared and bruised, half an ounce, with eight
or ten leaves of gold.
_Culpeper._] It is naturally cooling, appropriated to the heart,
it restores lost strength, takes away burning fevers, and false
imaginations, (I mean that with Pearls, for that without Pearls is
ridiculous) it hath the same virtues Pearls have.
_Saccharum Tabulatum compositum._
Or Lozenges of Sugar compound.
_College._] Take of choice Rhubarb four scruples, Agarick Trochiscated,
Corallins, burnt Hart’s-horn, Dittany of Crete, Wormseed and Sorrel
seed, of each a scruple, Cinnamon, Zedoary, Cloves, Saffron, of each
half a scruple, white Sugar a pound, dissolved in four ounces of
Wormwood Water, Wormwood Wine, an ounce, Cinnamon Water a spoonful,
with the forenamed powders make it into Lozenges according to art.
_Culpeper._] The title shews you the virtues of it.
_Saccharum Penidium_,
Or Sugar Penids
_College._] Are prepared of sugar dissolved in spring water by a gentle
fire, and the whites of Eggs diligently beaten, and clarified once, and
again whilst it is boiling, then strain it and boil it gently again,
till it rise up in great bubbles, and being chewed it stick not to your
teeth, then pour it upon a marble, anointed with oil of Almonds, (let
the bubbles first sink, after it is removed from the fire) bring back
the outsides of it to the middle till it look like Larch rosin, then,
your hands being rubbed with white starch, you may draw it into threads
either short or long, thick or thin, and let it cool in what form you
please.
_Culpeper._] I remember country people were wont to take them for
coughs, and they are sometimes used in other compositions.
_Confectio de Thure._
Or Confection of Frankincense.
_College._] Take Coriander seeds prepared half an ounce, Nutmegs, white
Frankincense, of each three drams, Liquorice, Mastich, of each two
drams, Cubebs, Hart’s-horn prepared, of each one dram, conserve of Red
roses an ounce, white Sugar as much as is sufficient to make it into
mean bits.
_Culpeper._] I cannot boast much of the rarity nor virtues of this
receipt.
_Saccharum Rosatum._
Or Sugar of Roses.
_College._] Take of red Rose leaves, the whites being cut off, and
speedily dried in the sun an ounce, white Sugar a pound, melt the
Sugar in Rose-water and juice of Roses of each two ounces which being
consumed by degrees, put in the Rose leaves in powder, mix them, put it
upon a marble, and make it into Lozenges according to art.
_Culpeper._] As for the virtues of this, it strengthens weak stomachs,
weak hearts, and weak brains, restores such as are in consumptions,
restores lost strength, stays fluxes, eases pains in the head, ears
and eyes, helps spitting, vomiting, and urining of blood; it is a fine
commodity for a man in a consumption to carry about with him, and eat
now and then a bit.
SPECIES, OR POWDERS.
_Aromaticum Caryophyllatum._
_College._] Take of Cloves seven drams, Mace, Zedoary, Galanga the
less, yellow Sanders, Troches, Diarrhodon, Cinnamon, wood of Aloes,
Indian Spikenard, long Pepper, Cardamoms the less, of each a dram, Red
Roses four ounces, Gallia Moschata, Liquorice, of each two drams, of
Indian leaf, Cubebs of each two scruples, beat them all diligently into
powder.
_Culpeper._] This powder strengthens the heart and stomach, helps
digestion, expels wind, stays vomiting, and cleanses the stomach of
putrified humors.
_Aromaticum Rosatum._
_College._] Take of Red Roses exungulated fifteen drams, Liquorice
seven drams, wood of Aloes, yellow Sanders, of each three drams,
Cinnamon five drams, Cloves, Mace, of each two drams and an half, Gum
Arabic and Tragacanth, of each eight scruples, Nutmegs, Cardamoms the
less, Galanga of each one dram, Indian Spikenard two scruples, make it
into a powder to be kept in a glass for use.
_Culpeper._] It strengthens the brain, heart and stomach, and all
such internal members as help towards decoction, it helps digestion,
consumes the watery excrements of the bowels, strengthens such as are
pined away by reason of the violence of a disease, and restores such as
are in consumption.
_Pulvus ex chelus Cancrorum compositus._
Or Powder of Crab’s claws compound.
_College._] Take of Pearls prepared, Crab’s eyes, red Coral, white
Amber, Hart’s-horn, oriential Bezoar, of each half an ounce, powder of
the black tops of Crab’s claws, the weight of them all, beat them into
powder, which may be made into balls with jelly, and the skins which
our vipers have cast off, warily dried and kept for use.
_Culpeper._] This is that powder they ordinarily call _Gascoigns_
powder, there are divers receipts of it, of which this is none of the
worst, four, or five, or six grains is excellently good in a fever to
be taken in any cordial, for it cheers the heart and vital spirits
exceedingly, and makes them impregnable.
_Species Cordiales Temperatæ._
_College._] Take of wood of Aloes, Spodium of each a dram, Cinnamon,
Cloves, bone of a Stag’s-heart, the roots of Angelica, Avens, and
Tormentil, of each a dram and an half, Pearls prepared six drams, raw
Silk toasted, both sorts of Coral of each two drams, Jacinth, Emerald,
Samphire, of each half a dram, Saffron a scruple, the leaves of gold
and silver, of each ten, make them into powder according to art.
_Culpeper._] It is a great cordial, a great strengthener of the heart,
and brain.
_Diacalaminthe Simple._
_College._] Take of Mountain Calaminth, Pennyroyal, Origanum, the seeds
of Macedonian Parsley, common Parsley, and Hartwort, of each two drams,
the seeds of Smallage, the tops of Thyme of each half an ounce, the
seeds of Lovage, black Pepper, of each an ounce, make them into powder
according to art.
_Culpeper._] It heats and comforts cold bodies, cuts thick and gross
flegm, provokes urine and the menses. I confess this differs something
from _Galen_, but is better for our bodies in my opinion than his. It
expels wind exceedingly, you may take half a dram of the powder at a
time. There is nothing surer than that all their powders will keep
better in Electuaries than they will in powders, and into such a body,
you may make it with two pound and an half of white sugar dissolved in
rose water.
_Diacalamintha compound._
_College._] Take of Diacalamintha simple, half an ounce, the leaves
of Horehound, Marjoram, Bawm, Mugwort, Savin dried, of each a dram,
Cypress roots, the seeds of Maddir and Rue, Mace, Cinnamon, of each two
scruples, beat them and mix them diligently into a powder according to
art.
_Culpeper._] This seems to be more appropriated to the feminine gender
than the former, viz. to bring down the terms, to bring away the birth,
and after-birth, to purge them after labour, yet it is dangerous for
pregnant women.
_Dianisum._
_College._] Take of Annis seeds two ounces and an half, Liquorice,
Mastich, of each an ounce, the seeds of Caraway, Fennel, Galanga, Mace,
Ginger, Cinnamon, of each five drams, the three sorts of Pepper, Cassia
Lignea, mountain Calaminth, Pellitory of Spain, of each two drams,
Cardamoms the greater, Cloves, Cubebs, Indian Spikenard, Saffron, of
each a dram and an half, make them into powder.
_Culpeper._] It is chiefly appropriated to the stomach, and helps the
cold infirmities thereof, raw, flegm, wind, continual coughs, and
other such diseases coming of cold. You may safely take a dram of the
electuary at a time. You may make an electuary of it with its treble
weight of clarified Honey.
_Pulvis Radicum Ari compositus._
Or Powder of Aron Roots compound.
_College._] Take of Aron Roots two ounces, of common Water Flag, and
Burnet, of each one ounce, Crab’s eyes, half an ounce, Cinnamon three
drams, salt of Wormwood, and Juniper, of each one dram, make them into
powder.
_Culpeper._] And when you have done tell me what it is good for.
_Diaireos simple._
_College._] Take of Orris roots half an ounce, Sugar-candy,
Diatragacanthum frigidum, of each two drams, make them into powder.
_Culpeper._] I do not mean the Diatragacanthum frigidum, for that is
in powder before. It comforts the breast, is good in colds, coughs,
and hoarseness. You may mix it with any pectoral Syrups which are
appropriated to the same diseases, and so take it with a Liquorice
stick.
_Dialacca._
_College._] Take of Gum-lacca, prepared Rhubarb, Schænanth, of each
three drams, Indian Spikenard, Mastich, the juice of Wormwood and
Agrimony, made thick, the seeds of Smallage, Annis, Fennel, Ammi,
Savin, bitter Almonds, Myrrh, Costus, or Zedoary, the roots of Maddir,
Asarabacca, Birthwort long and round, Gentian, Saffron, Cinnamon, dried
Hyssop, Cassia Lignea, Bdellium, of each a dram and an half, black
Pepper, Ginger, of each a dram, make them into powder according to art.
_Culpeper._] It strengthens the stomach and liver, opens obstructions,
helps dropsies, yellow jaundice, provokes urine, breaks the stone in
the reins and bladder. Half a dram is a moderate dose, if the patient
be strong they may take a dram in white Wine. Let pregnant women
forbear it.
_Pulvis Cardiacus Magistralis._
_College._] Take of East Bezoar, bone of a Stag’s-heart, of each a
dram and an half, Magisterium, of white and red Coral, white Amber,
Magisterium of Pearl, Hart’s-horn, Ivory, Bole-amoniac, Earth of
Germany, Samos and Lemnos, Elk’s-claw, Tormentil roots, of each a dram,
Wood of Aloes, Citron peels, the roots of Angelica and Zedoary, of each
two scruples, leaves of Gold twenty, Ambergris one scruple, Musk six
grains, mix them and make them into powder.
_Culpeper._] It is too dear for a vulgar purse, yet a mighty cordial
and great strengthener of the heart and vitals in fevers.
_Diamargariton frigidum._
_College._] Take of the four greater cold seeds, the seeds of Purslain,
white Poppies, Endive, Sorrel, Citrons, the three Sanders, Wood of
Aloes, Ginger, red Roses exungulated, the flowers of Water-lilies,
Bugloss, Violets, the berries of Mirtles, bone in a Stag’s heart,
Ivory, Contra yerva, Cinnamon of each one dram, both sorts of Coral, of
each half a dram, Pearls three drams, Camphire six grains, make them
into powder according to art. Observe that the four greater cold seeds,
and the Poppy seeds, are not to be added before the powder be required
by physician for use. Do so by the other powder in the composition of
which these powders are used.
_Culpeper._] Authors hold it to be restorative in consumptions, to help
such as are in hectic fevers, to restore strength lost, to help coughs,
asthmaes, and consumptions of the lungs, and restore such as have
laboured long under languishing or pining diseases.
_Diamoschu Dulce._
_College._] Take of Saffron, Galanga, Zedoary, Wood of Aloes, Mace,
of each two drams, Pearls, raw Silk toasted, white Amber, red Coral
prepared, Gallia Moschata, Bazil, of each two drams and an half,
Ginger, Cubebs, Long Pepper, of each a dram and an half, Nutmegs,
Indian leaf or Cinnamon, Cloves, of each one dram, Musk two scruples,
make them into powder according to art.
_Culpeper._] It wonderfully helps cold afflictions of the brain, that
come without a fever, melancholy and its attendants, viz. sadness
without a cause, vertigo or diziness in the head, falling-sickness,
palsies, resolution of the nerves, convulsions, heart-qualms,
afflictions of the lungs, and difficulty of breathing. The dose of the
powder is half a dram, or two scruples, or less; according to the age
or strength of him or her that takes it. _Mesue_ appoints it to be made
into an electuary with clarified honey, and of the electuary, two
drams is the dose: The time of taking it is, in the morning fasting.
_Diamoschu Amarum_
_College._] Is prepared by adding to the forenamed Wormwood, dried
Roses, of each three drams, Aloes half an ounce, Cinnamon two drams and
an half, Castorium and Lovage, of each one dram, make them into powder.
_Culpeper._] Besides the virtues of the former, it purges the stomach
of putrified humours.
_Specia Dianthus._
_College._] Take of Rosemary flowers an ounce, red Roses, Violets,
Liquorice, of each six drams, Cloves, Indian Spikenard, Nutmegs,
Galanga, Cinnamon, Ginger, Zedoary, Mace, Wood of Aloes, Cardamoms the
less, the seeds of Dill and Anis, of each four scruples, make them into
powder according to art.
_Culpeper._] It strengthens the heart and helps the passions thereof,
it causes a joyful and cheerful mind, and strengthens such as have been
weakened by long sickness, it strengthens cold stomachs, and helps
digestion notably. The dose is half a dram, you may make it into an
electuary with honey, and take two drams of that at a time.
_Diapendion._
_College._] Take of Penides two ounces, Pine-nuts, sweet Almonds
blanched, white Poppy seeds, of each three drams and a scruple,
(Cinnamon, Cloves, Ginger, which three being omitted, it is a
Diapendion without spices) juice of Liquorice, Gum Tragacanth and
Arabic, white Starch, the four greater cold seeds husked, of each a
dram and an half, Camphire seven grains, make them into powder.
_Culpeper._] It helps the vices of the breast, coughs, colds,
hoarseness, and consumptions of the lungs, as also such as spit matter.
You may mix it with any pectoral syrup, and take it with a Liquorice
stick, if you fancy the powder best, but if the electuary, you may
take a dram of it upon a knife’s point at any time when the cough comes.
_Diarrhodon Abbatis._
_College._] Take of Sanders white and red, of each two drams and an
half, Gum Tragacanth, Arabic, Ivory of each two scruples, Asarabacca
roots, Mastich, Indian Spikenard, Cardamoms, Liquorice, Saffron, Wood
of Aloes, Cloves, Gallia Moschata, Annis and sweet Fennel seeds,
Cinnamon, Rhubarb, Bazil seeds, Barberry seeds, the seeds of Succory,
Purslain, the four greater cold seeds cleansed, white Poppy seeds, of
each a scruple, Pearls, bone of a Stag’s-heart of each half a scruple,
red Roses exungulated, one ounce and three drams, Camphire seven
grains, make them into powder according to art.
_Culpeper._] It cools the violent heat of the heart and stomach, as
also of the liver, lungs, and spleen, eases pains in the body, and
most infirmities coming to the body by reason of heat. The dose of the
powder is half a dram, and two ounces of the electuary, into which with
sugar dissolved in Rose-water you may make it.
_Diospoliticum._
_College._] Take of Cummin seeds steeped in vinegar and dried, long
Pepper, Rue leaves, of each an ounce, Nitre half an ounce, make them
into powder.
_Culpeper._] It is an admirable remedy for such whose meat is putrified
in their stomachs, it helps cold stomachs, cold belchings and windy.
You may take half a dram after meat, either in a spoonful of Muskadel,
or in a Syrup of Mirtles or Quinces, or any Cordial Water whose effects
is the same.
_Species Diatragacanthi frigidi._
_College._] Take of Gum Tragacanth two ounces, Gum Arabic an ounce
and two drams, white Starch half an ounce, Liquorice, the seeds of
Melons and white Poppies, of each three drams, the seeds of Citruls,
Cucumbers and Gourds, of each two drams, Penids three ounces, Camphire
half a scruple, make of them a powder according to art. Also you may
make an electuary of them with a sufficient quantity of Syrup of
Violets, but have a care of what was told you before of the seeds.
_Culpeper._] Make up into an electuary. It helps the faults of the
breast and lungs coming of heat and dryness, it helps consumptions,
leanness, inflammations of the sides, pleurises, &c. hot and dry
coughs, roughness of the tongue and jaws.
_Diatrion Piperion._
_College._] Take of the three sorts of Peppers, of each six drams and
fifteen grains, Annis seeds, Thyme, Ginger, of each one dram, beat them
into gross powder.
_Culpeper._] It heats the stomach and expels wind. Half a dram in
powder, or two drams in electuary (for so _Galen_ who was author of it,
appoints it to be made with clarified honey, a sufficient quantity) if
age and strength permit, if not, half so much, is a sufficient dose, to
be taken before meat, if to heat the stomach and help digestion; after
meat, if to expel wind.
_Diatrion Santalon._
_College._] Take of all the sorts of Sanders, red Roses, of each three
drams, Rhubarb, Ivory, Juice of Liquorice, Purslain seeds, of each two
drams and fifteen grains, white Starch, Gum Arabic, Tragacanth, the
seeds of Melons, Cucumbers, Citruls, Gourds, Endive, of each a dram and
an half, Camphire a scruple, make them into powder according to art.
_Culpeper._] It is very profitable against the heat of the stomach and
liver, besides, it wonderfully helps such as have the yellow jaundice,
and consumptions of the lungs. You may safely take a dram of the
powder, or two drams of the electuary in the morning fasting, for most
of these powders will keep better by half in electuaries.
_Pulvis Haly._
_College._] Take of white Poppy seeds ten drams, white Starch, Gum
Arabic and Tragacanth, of each three drams, the seeds of Purslain,
Marsh-mallows, Mallows, of each five drams, Cucumbers, Melons, Gourds,
Citruls, Quinces of each seven drams, Ivory, Liquorice, of each three
drams, Penids the weight of them all, make them into powder according
to art.
_Culpeper._] It is a gallant cool powder, fit for all hot imperfections
of the breast and lungs, as consumptions, pleurisies, &c. Your best way
is to make it into a soft electuary with Syrups of Violets, and take it
as _Diatragacanthum frigidum_.
_Lætificans._
_College._] Take the flowers of Clove-bazil, or the seeds thereof,
Saffron, Zedoary, Wood of Aloes, Cloves, Citron pills, Galanga, Mace,
Nutmegs, Styrax Calamitis, of each two drams and an half, Ivory, Annis
seeds, Thyme, Epithimum, of each one dram, bone of a Stag’s heart,
Pearls, Camphire, of each half a dram, leaves of Gold and Silver, of
each half a scruple, make it into powder according to art.
_Culpeper._] It causes a merry heart, a good colour, helps digestion,
and keeps back old age. You may mix half a dram of it to take at one
time, or less if you please, in any cordial Syrup, or cordial electuary
appropriated to the same uses.
_Pulvis Saxonicus._
_College._] Take of the roots of both sorts of Angelica, Swallow-wort,
garden Valerian, Polipodium of the Oak, Marsh-mallows, Nettles, of each
half an ounce, the bark of German Mezereon, two drams, twenty grains of
herb True-love, the leaves of the same, roots and all, thirty six, the
roots being steeped in vinegar and dried, beat it all into powder.
_Culpeper._] It seems to be as great an expeller of poison, and as
great a preservative against it, and the pestilence, as one shall
usually read of.
_Rosate Novelle._
_College._] Take of red Roses, Liquorice, of each one ounce, one dram,
two scruples and an half, Cinnamon two drams, two scruples, and two
grains, Cloves, Indian Spikenard, Ginger, Galanga, Nutmegs, Zedoary,
Styrax, Calamitis, Cardamoms, Parsley seeds, of each one scruple eight
grains, beat them into powder.
_Culpeper._] It quenches thirst, and stays vomiting, and the author
saith it helps hot and dry stomachs, as also heat and dryness of the
heart, liver, and lungs, (yet is the powder itself hot,) it strengthens
the vital spirits, takes away heart-qualms, it provokes sweat, and
strengthens such as have laboured under long chronical diseases. You
may take a dram of the electuary every morning, if with clarified Honey
you please to make it into such a body.
_Pulvus Thuraloes._
_College._] Take of Frankincense one dram, Aloes half a dram, beat them
into powder.
_Culpeper._] And when you have occasion to use it, mix so much of it
with the white of an egg, (beat the white of the egg well first) as
will make it of the thickness of Honey, then dip the wool of a Hare in
it, and apply it to the sore or part that bleeds, binding it on.
_Pulvis Hermidactylorum compositus._
Or Powder of Hermodactils compound.
_College._] Take of men’s bones burnt, Scammony, Hermodactils, Turbith,
Sena, Sugar, of each equal parts, beat them into powder.
_Pulvis Senæ compositus major._
Or Powder of Sena the greater composition.
_College._] Take of the seeds of Annis, Carraway, Fennel, Cummin,
Spikenard, Cinnamon, Galanga, of each half an ounce, Liquorice,
Gromwell, of each an ounce, Sena, the weight of them all, beat it into
powder.
_Culpeper._] That this receipt is gallantly composed none can deny, and
is an excellent purge for such whose bodies as are troubled with the
wind cholic, or stoppage either of guts or kidneys, two drams taken in
white Wine will work sufficiently with any ordinary body. Let weak men
and children take less, keeping within doors, and warm.
_Pulvis Senæ compositus minor._
Or Powder of Sena, the lesser composition.
_College._] Take of Sena two ounces, Cremor Tartar half an ounce, Mace
two scruples and an half, Ginger, Cinnamon, of each a dram and an half,
Salgem one dram, beat it into powder according to art.
_Culpeper._] This powder purges melancholy, and cleanses the head.
_Diasenæ._
_College._] Take of Sena, Cremor Tartar, of each two ounces, Cloves,
Cinnamon, Galanga, Ammi, of each two drams, Diacridium half an ounce,
beat it into powder according to art.
_Diaturbith with Rhubarb._
_College._] Take of Turbith, Hermodactils, of each an ounce, Rhubarb
ten drams, Diacrydium half an ounce, Sanders red and white, Violets,
Ginger, of each a dram and an half, Mastich, Annis seeds, Cinnamon,
Saffron, of each half a dram, make it into powder.
_Culpeper._] This also purges flegm and choler. Once more let me desire
such as are unskilful in the rules of physic, not to meddle with purges
of this nature (unless prescribed by a skilful Physician) lest they do
themselves more mischief in half an hour, than they can remove in half
a year.
_The lesser cordial Powder._ Fernelius.
_College._] Take of Hart’s-horn, Unicorn’s horn, Pearls, Ivory, of each
six grains, beat them into fine powder. If you mean to keep it, you may
encrease the quantity analogically.
_The greater cordial Powder._ Fern.
_College._] Take of the roots of Tormentil, Dittany,
Clove-gilliflowers, Scabious, the seed of Sorrel, Coriander prepared,
Citron, Carduus Benedictus, Endive, Rue, of each one dram, of the three
sorts of Sanders, (white, red, and yellow,) Been, white and red (or if
you cannot get them, take the roots of Avens and Tormentil, in their
stead) Roman Doronicum, (a kind of wolf-bane) Cinnamon, Cardamoms,
Saffron, the flowers of both sorts of Bugloss, (viz. Borrage and
Bugloss,) red Roses, and Water-Lilies, Wood of Aloes, Mace, of each two
scruples, Ivory, Spodium, bone of a Stag’s-heart, red Coral, Pearls,
Emerald, Jacinth, Granite of each one scruple, raw Silk torrified,
(dried or roasted by the fire,) Bole-amoniac, Earth of Lemnos, of each
half a dram, Camphire, Ambergris, Musk, of each six grains, beat them
into powder according to art, and with eight times their weight in
white sugar, dissolved in Rose-water, you may make them into Lozenges,
if you please.
_Culpeper._] Both this and the former powder, are appropriated to the
heart, (as the title shew) therefore they do strengthen that, and the
vital spirit, and relieve languishing nature. All these are cordial
Powders, and seldom above half a dram of them given at a time.
_A Powder for such as are bruised by a fall._
The Augustan Physicians.
_College._] Take of Terra sigillata, Sanguis Draconis, Mummy of each
two drams, Spermaceti one dram, beat them into powder according to art.
_Culpeper._] You must beat the rest into powder, and then add the
Spermaceti to them afterwards, for if you put the Spermaceti and the
rest all together and go to beat them in that fashion, you may as soon
beat the mortar into powder, as the simples. Indeed your best way
is to beat them severally, and then mix them altogether, which being
done, makes you a gallant medicine for the infirmities specified in the
title, a dram of it taken in Muskadel and sweating after it.
_Species Electuarii Dyacymini._ Nicholaus.
_College._] Take of Cummin seeds infused a natural day in Vinegar, one
ounce and one scruple, Cinnamon, Cloves, of each two drams and an half,
Galanga, Savory, Calaminth, of each one dram and two scruples, Ginger,
black Pepper, of each two drams and five grains, the seeds of Lovage,
and Ammi, (Bishop’s-weed,) of each one dram and eighteen grains, long
Pepper one dram, Spikenard, Nutmegs, Cardamoms, of each two scruples
and an half, beat them and keep them diligently in powder for your use.
_Culpeper._] It heats the stomach and bowels, expels wind exceedingly,
helps the wind cholic, helps digestion hindered by cold or wind, is an
admirable remedy for wind in the bowels, and helps quartan agues. The
powder is very hot, half a dram is enough to take at one time, and too
much if the patient be feverish, you may take it in white Wine. It is
in my opinion a fine composed powder.
_Species Electuarii Diagalangæ._ Mesue.
_College._] Take of Galanga, wood of Aloes, of each six drams, Cloves,
Mace, seeds of Lovage of each two drams, Ginger, long and white Pepper,
Cinnamon, Calamus Aromaticus of each a dram and an half, Calaminth,
and Mints dried, Cardamoms the greater, Indian Spikenard, the seeds
of Smallage, Annis, Fennel, Caraway, of each one dram, beat them into
powder according to art. Also it may be made into an electuary with
white sugar dissolved in Malaga wine, or twelve times the weight of it
of clarified Honey.
_Culpeper._] _Mesue_ quotes it only as an electuary, which he saith
prevails against wind, sour belchings, and indigestion, gross humours
and cold afflictions of the stomach and liver. You may take half a
dram of the powder at a time, or two of the electuary in the morning
fasting, or an hour before meat. It helps digestion exceedingly, expels
wind, and heats a cold stomach.
_Species Electuarii Diamargariton Calidi._
Avicenna.
_College._] Take of Pearls and Pellitory of the Wall, of each one dram,
Ginger, Mastich, of each half an ounce, Doronicum, Zedoary, Smallage
seeds, both sorts of Cardamoms, Nutmegs, Mace, of each two drams, Been
of both sorts, (if they cannot be procured take the roots of Avens and
Tormentil) black and long Pepper of each three drams, beat them into
powder and keep them for your use.
_Culpeper._] This (quoth _Avicenna_) is appropriated to women, and in
them to diseases incident to their matrix; but his reasons I know not.
It is cordial and heats the stomach.
_Lithontribon_ Nicholaus, according to Fernelius.
_College._] Take of Spikenard, Ginger, Cinnamon, black Pepper,
Cardamoms, Cloves, Mace, of each half a dram, Costus, Liquorice,
Cypress, Tragacanth, Germander, of each two scruples, the seeds of
Bishop’s-weed, (Ammi,) Smallage, Sparagus, Bazil, Nettles, Citrons,
Saxifrage, Burnet, Caraway, Carrots, Fennel, Bruscus, Parsley of
Macedonia, Burs, Seseli, (or Hartwort,) Asarabacca, of each one dram,
Lapis Spongiæ, Lyncis, Cancri, Judaici, of each one dram and an half,
Goat’s blood prepared an ounce and half, beat them all into powder
according to art.
_Culpeper._] It heats the stomach, and helps want of digestion coming
through cold, it eases pains in the belly and loins, the Illiac
passion, powerfully breaks the stone in the reins and bladder, it
speedily helps the cholic, stranguary, and disury. The dose is from
a dram to half a dram, take it either in white Wine, or decoction of
herbs tending to the same purposes.
_Pleres Arconticon._ Nicholaus.
_College._] Take of Cinnamon, Cloves, Galanga, Wood of Aloes, Indian
Spikenard, Nutmegs, Ginger, Spodium, Schœnanthus, Cypress, Roses,
Violets of each one dram, Indian Leaf or Mace, Liquorice, Mastich,
Styrax Calamitis, Marjoram, Costmary, or Water-mints, Bazil, Cardamoms,
long and white Pepper, Myrtle berries, and Citron pills, of each half
a dram and six grains, Pearls, Been white and red, (or, if they be
wanting, take the roots of Avens and Tormentil in their stead) red
Coral, torrified Silk, of each eighteen grains, Musk six grains,
Camphire four grains, beat them into powder according to art, and with
ten times their weight in sugar dissolved in Bawm water, you may make
them into an electuary.
_Culpeper._] It is exceedingly good for sad, melancholy, lumpish,
pensive, grieving, vexing, pining, sighing, sobbing, fearful, careful
spirits, it strengthens weak stomachs exceedingly, and help such as
are prone to faintings and swoonings, it strengthens such as are
weakened by violence of sickness, it helps bad memories, quickens
all the senses, strengthens the brain and animal spirits, helps the
falling-sickness, and succours such as are troubled with asthmas, or
other cold afflictions of the lungs. It will keep best in an electuary,
of which you may take a dram in the morning, or more, as age and
strength requires.
_A Preservative Powder against the Pestilence._
Montagnam.
_College._] Take of all the Sanders, (white, red, and yellow,) the
seeds of Bazil, of each an ounce and an half, Bole Amoniac, Cinnamon,
of each an ounce, the roots of Dittany, Gentian, and Tormentil, of each
two drams and an half, the seeds of Citron and Sorrel, of each two
drams, Pearls, Saphire, bone of a Stag’s heart, of each one dram, beat
them into powder according to art.
_Culpeper._] The title tells you the virtue of it, besides, it cheers
the vital spirits, and strengthens the heart. You may take half a dram
every morning either by itself, or mixed with any other convenient
composition, whether Syrup or Electuary.
_Diaturbith the greater, without Rhubarb._
_College._] Take of the best Turbith an ounce, Diagridium, Ginger, of
each half an ounce, Cinnamon, Cloves, of each two drams, Galanga, long
Pepper, Mace, of each one dram, beat them into powder, and with eight
ounces and five drams of white sugar dissolved in Succory Water, it may
be made into an electuary.
_Culpeper._] It purges flegm, being rightly administered by a skilful
hand. I fancy it not.
_A Powder for the Worms._
_College._] Take of Wormseed, four ounces, Sena, one ounce, Coriander
seeds prepared, Hart’s-horn, of each half a dram, Rhubarb half an
ounce, dried Rue, two drams, beat them into powder.
_Culpeper._] I like this powder very well, the quantity (or to write
more scholastically, the dose) must be regulated according to the age
of the patient, even from ten grains to a dram, and the manner of
taking it by their palate. It is something purging.
ELECTUARIES.
_Antidotus Analeptica._
_College._] Take of red Roses, Liquorice of each two drams and five
grains, Gum Arabic and Tragacanth, of each two drams and two scruples,
Sanders white and red, each four scruples, juice of Liquorice, white
Starch, the seeds of white Poppies, Purslain, Lettuce, and Endive, of
each three drams, the four greater cold seeds husked, of Quinces,
Mallows, Cotton, Violets, Pine-nuts, fistic Nuts, sweet Almonds, pulp
of Sebestens, of each two drams, Cloves, Spodium, Cinnamon, of each one
dram, Saffron five grains, Penids half an ounce, being beaten, make
them all into a soft electuary with three times their weight in Syrup
of Violets.
_Culpeper._] It restores consumptions, and hectic fevers, lost
strength, it nourishes much, and restores radical moisture, opens the
pores, resists choler, takes away coughs, quenches thirst, and resists
fevers. You may take an ounce in a day, by a dram at a time, if you
please.
_Confectio Alkermes._
_College._] Take of the juice of Apples, Damask Rose-water, of each
a pound and an half, in which infuse for twenty-four hours, raw Silk
four ounces, strain it strongly, and add Syrup of the berries of
Cherms brought over to us, two pounds, Sugar one pound, boil it to the
thickness of Honey; then removing it from the fire whilst it is warm,
add Ambergris cut small, half an ounce, which being well mingled,
put in these things following in powder, Cinnamon, Wood of Aloes, of
each six drams, Pearls prepared, two drams, Leaf-Gold a dram, Musk a
scruple, make it up according to art.
_Culpeper._] Questionless this is a great cordial, and a mighty
strengthener of the heart, and vital spirits, a restorer of such as
are in consumptions, a resister of pestilences and poison, a relief
to languishing nature, it is given with good success in fevers, but
give not too much of it at a time, lest it prove too hot for the body,
and too heavy for the purse. You may mix ten grains of it with other
convenient cordials to children, twenty or thirty to men.
_Electuarium e Sassaphras._
_College._] Take of Sassafras two ounces, common Water three pounds,
boil it to the consumption of the third part, adding, towards the
end, Cinnamon bruised half an ounce, strain it, and with two pounds
of white sugar, boil it to the thickness of a Syrup, putting in, in
powder, Cinnamon, a dram, Nutmegs, half a scruple, Musk three grains,
Ambergris, two and thirty grains, ten leaves of Gold, Spirit of Vitriol
four drops, and so make it into an electuary according to art.
_Culpeper._] It opens obstruction of the liver and spleen, helps cold
rheums or defluxions from the head to the lungs, or teeth, or eyes, it
is excellent in coughs, and other cold afflictions of the lungs and
breast, it helps digestion, expels wind and the gravel of the kidneys,
it provokes the menses, warms and dries up the moisture of the womb,
which is many times the cause of barrenness, and is generally a helper
of all diseases coming of cold, raw thin humours, you may take half a
dram at a time in the morning.
_Electuarium de Baccis Lauri._
Or Electuary of Bay-berries.
_College._] Take of the leaves of dried Rue ten drams, the seeds of
Ammi, Cummin, Lovage, Origanum, Nigella, Caraway, Carrots, Parsley,
bitter Almonds, Pepper black and long, wild Mints, Calamus Aromaticus,
Bay-berries, Castorium of each two drams, Sagapenum half an ounce,
Opopanax three drams, clarified Honey a pound and an half, the things
to be beaten; being beaten, and the Gums dissolved in Wine, make it
into an electuary according to art.
_Culpeper._] It is exceeding good either in the cholic, or Iliac
passion, or any other disease of the bowels coming of cold or wind, it
generally eases pains in the bowels. You may give a dram in the morning
fasting, or half an ounce in a clyster, according as the disease is.
_Diacapparit._
_College._] Take of Capers four ounces Agrimony Roots, Nigella seeds,
Squils, Asarabacca, Centaury, black Pepper, Smallage, Thyme of each
an ounce, Honey three times their weight, make it into an electuary
according to art.
_Culpeper._] They say it helps infirmities of the spleen, and indeed
the name seems to promise so much, it may be good for cold bodies, if
they have strength of nature in them.
_Diacinnamomum._
_College._] Take of Cinnamon fifteen drams, Cassia Lignea, Elecampane
roots, of each half an ounce, Galanga, seven drams, Cloves, long
Pepper, both sorts of Cardamoms, Ginger, Mace, Nutmegs, Wood of Aloes,
of each three drams, Saffron, one dram, Sugar five drams, Musk two
scruples, adding according to the prescript of the Physician, and by
adding three pounds eight ounces of clarified Honey, boil it and make
it into an electuary according to art.
_Culpeper._] _Diacinnamomum_, or in plain English, _A composition of
Cinnamon_, heats the stomach, causes digestion, provokes the menses,
strengthens the stomach and other parts that distribute the nourishment
of the body, a dram of it taken in the morning fasting, is good for
ancient people and cold bodies, such as are subject to dropsies and
diseases of flegm, or wind, for it comforts and strengthens nature
much. If you take it to help digestion, take it an hour before meat, do
so in all things of like quality.
_Diacorallion._
_College._] Take of Coral white and red, Bole-amoniac, Dragon’s-blood,
of each one dram, Pearls half a dram, Wood of Aloes, red Roses, Gum
Tragacanth, Cinnamon, of each two scruples, Sanders white and red, of
each one scruple, with four times its weight in sugar dissolved in
small Cinnamon Water, make it into an electuary, according to art.
_Culpeper._] It comforts and strengthens the heart exceedingly, and
restores such as are in consumptions, it is cooling, therefore good in
hectic fevers, very binding, and therefore stops fluxes, neither do
I know a better medicine in all the dispensatory for such as have a
consumption accompanied with looseness. It stops the menses and Fluor
Albus. Take but a dram at a time every morning, because of its binding
quality, except you have a looseness, for then you may take so much two
or three times a day.
_Diacorum._
_College._] Take of the roots of Cicers, Acorus, or Calamus Aromaticus,
Pine-nuts, of each a pound and a half, let the Cicers roots, being
cleansed, cut, boiled, and pulped, be added to ten pounds of clarified
honey, and boiled, (stirring it) to its just thickness, then being
removed from the fire, add the Acorus roots beaten, the Pine-nuts cut,
and these following in powder. Take of black Pepper an ounce, long
Pepper, Cloves, Ginger, Mace, of each half an ounce, Nutmegs, Galanga,
Cardamons, of each three drams, mix them with the roots and Honey into
an electuary according to art.
_Culpeper._] The electuary provokes lust, heats the brain, strengthens
the nerves, quickens the senses, causes an acute wit, eases pains in
the head, helps the falling-sickness and convulsions, coughs, catharrs,
and all diseases proceeding from coldness of the brain. Half a dram is
enough to take at one time, because of its heat.
_Peony_ is an herb of the _sun_, the roots of it cure the
falling-sickness.
_Diacydonium simple._
_College._] Take of the flesh of Quinces cut and boiled in fair water
to a thickness, eight pounds, white sugar six pounds, boil it to its
just thickness.
_Diacydonium with Species._
_College._] Take of the juice of Quinces, Sugar, of each two pounds,
white Wine Vinegar half a pound, added at the end of the decoction, it
being gently boiled, and the scum taken away, add Ginger two ounces,
white Pepper ten drams and two scruples, bruise them grossly, and boil
it again to the thickness of Honey.
_Diacydonium compound, Magisterial._
_College._] Take of white Sugar six pounds, Spring Water four pounds,
clarify them well with the white of an egg, scumming them, then take
of ripe Quinces cleansed from the rind and seeds, and cut in four
quarters, eight pounds, boil them in the foregoing Syrup till they be
tender, then strain the Syrup through a linen cloth, _vocata Anglice_,
Boulter; boil them again to a jelly, adding four ounces of white wine
Vinegar towards the end; remove it from the fire, and whilst it is
warm put in these following species in powder, Ginger an ounce, white
Pepper, Cinnamon, Nutmegs, of each two drams, keep it for use.
_Culpeper._] The virtues of all these three are, they comfort the
stomach, help digestion, stays vomiting, belchings, &c. stop fluxes
and the menses. They are all harmless, you may take the quantity of a
nutmeg of them at a time, before meat to help digestion and fluxes,
after meat to stay vomiting, in the morning for the rest.
_Confectio de Hyacintho._
_College._] Take of Jacinth, red Coral, Bole-amoniac, Earth of Lemnos,
of each half an ounce, the berries of Chermes, the Roots of Tormentil
and Dittany, the seeds of Citrons, Sorrel, and Purslain, Saffron,
Myrrh, red Roses exungulated, all the sorts of Sanders, bone of a
Stag’s heart, Hart’s-horn, Ivory prepared, of each four scruples,
Samphire, Emerald, Topaz, Pearls, raw Silk, leaves of Gold and Silver,
of each two scruples, Camphire, Musk, Ambergris, of each five grains,
with Syrup of Lemons make it into a confection according to art.
_Culpeper._] It is a great cordial and cool, exceeding good in acute
fevers and pestilences, it mightily strengthens and cherishes the
heart. Never above half a dram is given at a time, very seldom so
much.
_Antidotum Hæmagogum._
_College._] Take of Lupines husked two drams, black Pepper five
scruples and six grains, Liquorice four scruples, long Birthwort,
Mugwort, Cassia Lignea, Macedonian Parsley seed, Pellitory of Spain,
Rue seed, Spikenard, Myrrh, Pennyroyal, of each two scruples and
fourteen grains, the seeds of Smallage, Savin, of each two scruples
and thirteen grains, Centaury the greater, Cretish Carrots, Nigella,
Caraway, Annis, Cloves, Alum, of each two scruples, Bay leaves one
scruple, one half scruple, and three grains, Schænanth one scruple
and thirteen grains, Asarabacca, Calamus Aromaticus, Amomum, Centaury
the less, the seed of Orrach, Peony, Fennel, of each one scruple and
six grains, wood of Aloes, a scruple and fourteen grains, Cypress,
Elecampane, Ginger, Cappar roots, Cummin, Orobus, of each one scruple,
all of them being beaten into very fine powder, let them be made into
an electuary according to art, with four times their weight in sugar,
let it stand one month before you use it.
_Culpeper._] It provokes the menses, brings away both birth and
after-birth, the dead child, purges such as are not sufficiently purged
after travail, it provokes urine, breaks the stone in the bladder,
helps the stranguary, disury, iskury, &c. helps indigestion, the
cholic, opens any stoppings in the body, it heats the stomach, purges
the liver and spleen, consumes wind, stays vomiting, but let it not be
taken by pregnant women, nor such people as have the hemorrhoids. The
dose is from one dram to two drams.
_Diasatyrion._
_College._] Take of Satyrion roots three ounces, Dates, bitter Almonds,
Indian Nuts, Pine nuts, Festick nuts, green Ginger, Eringo roots
preserved, of each one ounce, Ginger, Cloves, Galanga, Pepper long and
black, of each three drams, Ambergris one scruple. Musk two scruples,
Penins four ounces, Cinnamon, Saffron, of each half an ounce, Malaga
Wine three ounces, Nutmegs, Mace, Grains of Paradise, of each two
drams, Ash-tree keys, the belly and loins of Scinks, Borax, Benjamin,
of each three drams, wood of Aloes, Cardamoms, of each two drams, the
seeds of Nettles and Onions, the roots of Avens, of each a dram and an
half, with two pounds and an half of Syrup of green Ginger, make them
into an electuary according to art.
_Electuarium Diaspermaton._
_College._] Take of the four greater and lesser cold seeds, the seeds
of Asparagus, Burnet, Bazil, Parsley, Winter Cherries, of each two
drams, Gromwell, Juice of Liquorice, of each three drams, Cinnamon,
Mace, of each one dram, with eight times their weight in white Sugar
dissolved in Marsh-mallows water, make it into an electuary according
to art.
_Culpeper._] It breaks the stone, and provokes urine. Men may take half
an ounce at a time, and children half so much, in water of any herb or
roots, &c. (or decoction of them) that break the stone.
_Micleta._
_College._] Take of the barks of all the Myrobalans torrified, of each
two drams and an half, the seeds of Water-cresses, Cummin, Annis,
Fennel, Ammi, Caraway, of each a dram and an half, bruise the seeds
and sprinkle them with sharp white wine Vinegar, then beat them into
powder, and add the Mirobalans, and these things that follow, Spodium,
Balaustines, Sumach, Mastich, Gum Arabic, of each one dram and fifteen
grains, mix them together, and with ten ounces of Syrup of Myrtles,
make them into an electuary according to art.
_Culpeper._] It gently eases the bowels of the wind cholic, wringing
of the bowels, infirmities of the spleen, it stops fluxes, the
hemorrhoids, as also the menses.
_Electuarium Pectorale._
Or a Pectoral Electuary.
_College._] Take of the juice of Liquorice, sweet Almonds, Hazel-Nuts,
of each half an ounce, Pine-nuts an ounce, Hysop, Maidenhair, Orris,
Nettle seeds, round Birthwort, of each a dram and an half, black
Pepper, the seeds of Water-cresses, the roots of Elecampane, of each
half a dram, Honey fourteen ounces, make them into an electuary
according to art.
_Culpeper._] It strengthens the stomach and lungs, and helps the vices
thereof. Take it with a Liquorice stick.
_Theriaca Diatessaron._
_College._] Take of Gentain, Bay-berries, Myrrh, round Birthwort,
of each two ounces, Honey two pounds, make them into an electuary
according to art.
_Culpeper._] This is a gallant electuary. It wonderfully helps cold
infirmities of the brain, as convulsions, falling-sickness, dead
palsies, shaking palsies, &c. As also the stomach, as pains there,
wind, want of digestion, as also stoppings of the liver, dropsies, it
resists the pestilence and poison, and helps the bitings of venomous
beasts. The dose is from half a dram to two drams, according to the age
and strength of the patient, as also the strength of the diseases: you
may take it either in the morning, or when urgent occasion calls for it.
_Diascordium._
_College._] Take of Cinnamon, Cassia Lignea, of each half an ounce,
Scordium, an ounce, Dittany of Crete, Tormentil, Bistort, Galbanum, Gum
Arabic, of each half an ounce, Opium one dram and an half, Sorrel seeds
one dram and a half, Gentain half an ounce, Bole-amoniac an ounce and
an half, Earth of Lemnos half an ounce, long Pepper, Ginger, of each
two drams, clarified Honey two pounds and an half, Sugar of Roses one
pound, Canary Wine ten ounces, make them into an electuary according to
art.
_Culpeper._] It is a well composed electuary, something appropriated to
the nature of women, for it provokes the menses, hastens labour, helps
their usual sickness at the time of their lying in; I know nothing
better, it stops fluxes, mightily strengthens the heart and stomach,
neither is it so hot but it may safely be given to weak people, and
besides provokes sleep. It may safely be given to young children ten
grains at a time, ancient people may take a dram or more. It is given
as an excellent cordial in such fevers as are accompanied with want of
sleep.
_Mithridate._
_College._] Take of Myrrh, Saffron, Agarick, Ginger, Cinnamon,
Spikenard, Frankincense, Treacle, Mustard seeds, of each ten drams,
the seeds of Hartwort, Opobalsamum, or oil of Nutmegs by expression,
Schenanth, Stœchas, Costus, Galbanum, Turpentine, long Pepper,
Castorium, juice of Hypocistis, Styrax, Calamitis, Opopanax, Indian
leaf, or for want of it Mace, of each an ounce, Cassia Lignea, Poley
Mountain, white Pepper, Scordium, the seeds of Carrots of Crete,
Carpobalsamum or Cubebs, Troch, Cypheos, Bdelium, of each seven
drams, Celtic Spikenard, Gum Arabic, Macedonian Parsley seeds, Opium,
Cardamoms the less, Fennel seed, Gentian, red Rose leaves, Dittany
of Crete, of each five drams, Annis seeds, Asarabacca, Orris Acorus,
the greater Valerian, Sagapen, of each three drams, Meum Acacia, the
bellies of Scinks, the tops of St. John’s Wort, of each two drams and
an half, Malaga Wine, so much as is sufficient to dissolve the juices
and gums, clarified Honey the treble weight of all, the wine excepted,
make them into an electuary according to art.
_Culpeper._] It is good against poison and such as have done themselves
wrong by taking filthy medicines, it provokes sweat, it helps continual
waterings of the stomach, ulcers in the body, consumptions, weakness
of the limbs, rids the body of cold humours, and diseases coming of
cold, it remedies cold infirmities of the brain, and stopping of the
passage of the senses, (viz. hearing, seeing, smelling, &c.) by cold,
it expels wind, helps the cholic, provokes appetite to one’s victuals,
it helps ulcers in the bladder, if _Galen_ say true, as also difficulty
of urine, it casts out the dead child, and helps such women as cannot
conceive by reason of cold, it is an admirable remedy for melancholy,
and all diseases of the body coming through cold, it would fill a
whole sheet of paper to reckon them all up particularly. You may take
a scruple or half a dram in the morning, and follow your business, two
drams will make you sweat, yea one dram if your body be weak, for then
two drams may be dangerous because of its heat.
_Phylomum Persicum._
_College._] Take of white Pepper, the seeds of white Henbane, of each
two drams, Opium, Earth of Lemnos, of each ten drams, Lap, Hematitus,
Saffron, of each five drams, Castorium, Indian Spikenard, Euphorbium
prepared, Pellitory of Spain, Pearls, Amber, Zedoary, Elecampane,
Troch, Ramach, of each a dram, Camphire a scruple, with their treble
weight in Honey of Roses, make it into an electuary according to art.
_Culpeper._] It stops blood flowing from any part of the body, the
immoderate flowing of the menses, the hemorrhoids in men, spitting of
blood, bloody fluxes, and is profitable for such women as are subject
to miscarry: See the next receipt.
_Phylonium Romanum._
_College._] Take of white Pepper, white Henbane seeds, of each five
drams, Opium two drams and an half, Cassia Lignea a dram and an half,
the seeds of Smallage a dram, Parsley of Macedonia, Fennel, Carrots of
Crete, of each two scruples and five grains, Saffron a scruple and an
half, Indian Spikenard, Pellitory of Spain, Zedoary fifteen grains,
Cinnamon a dram and an half, Euphorbium prepared, Myrrh, Castorium, of
each a dram with their treble weight in clarified Honey, make it into
an electuary.
_Electuarium de Ovo._
Or electuary of Eggs.
_College._] Take a Hen’s Egg new laid, and the white being taken out
by a small hole, fill up the void place with Saffron, leaving the yolk
in, then the hole being stopped, roast it in ashes till the shell begin
to look black, take diligent heed the Saffron burn not, for then is
the whole medicine spoiled, then the matter being taken out dry, if
so that it may be beaten into powder and add to it as much powder of
white Mustard seed as it weighs. Then take the roots of white Dittany
and Tormentil, of each two drams, Myrrh, Hart’s-horn, Petasitis roots,
of each one dram, the roots of Angelica and Burnet, Juniper Berries,
Zedoary, Camphire of each half an ounce, mix them all together in a
mortar, then add Venice Treacle the weight of them all, stir them about
with a pestle three hours together, putting in so much Syrup of Lemons,
as is enough to make it into an electuary according to art.
_Culpeper._] A dram of it given at a time, is as great a help in a
pestilential fever as a man shall usually read of in a Galenist. It
provokes sweat, and then you shall be taught how to use yourself. If
years do not permit, give not so much.
_Theriaca Andromachi._
Or Venice Treacle.
_College._] Take of Troches of Squils forty-eight drams, Troches of
Vipers, long Pepper, Opium of Thebes, Magma, Hedycroi dried, of each
twenty-four drams, red Roses exungulated, Orris, Illirick, juice of
Liquorice, the seeds of sweet Navew, Scordium, Opobalsamum, Cinnamon,
Agerick, of each twelve drams, Myrrh, Costus, or Zedoary, Saffron,
Cassia Lignea, Indian Spikenard, Schenanth, Pepper white and black,
Olibanum, Dittany of Crete, Rhapontic, Stœchas, Horehound, Macedonian
Parsley seed, Calaminth, Cypress, Turpentine, the roots of Cinquefoyl
and Ginger, of each six drams, Poley Mountain, Chamepitis, Celtic
Spikenard, Amomus, Styrax Calamitis, the roots of Meum, the tops
of Germander, the roots of Rhapontic, Earth of Lemnos, Indian Leaf,
Chalcitis burnt, or instead thereof Roman Vitriol burnt, Gentian
roots, Gum Arabic, the juice of Hypositis, Carpobalsamum or Nutmegs,
or Cubebs, the seeds of Annis, Cardamoms, Fennel, Hartwort, Acacia, or
instead thereof the juice of Sloes made thick, the seeds of Treacle
Mustard, and Ammi, the tops of St. John’s Wort, Sagapen, of each four
drams, Castorium, the roots of long Birth-wort, Bitumen, Judaicum,
Carrot seed, Opopanax, Centaury the less, Galbanum, of each two drams,
Canary Wine enough to dissolve what is to be dissolved, Honey the
treble weight of the dry species, make them into an Electuary according
to art.
_Culpeper._] It resists poison, and the bitings of venomous beasts,
inveterate head-aches, vertigo, deafness, the falling-sickness,
astonishment, apoplexies, dulness of sight, want of voice, asthmaes,
old and new coughs, such as spit or vomit blood, such as can hardly
spit or breathe, coldness of the stomach, wind, the cholic, and illiac
passion, the yellow jaundice, hardness of the spleen, stone in the
reins and bladder, difficulty of urine, ulcers in the bladder, fevers,
dropsies, leprosies, it provokes the menses, brings forth birth and
after-birth, helps pains in the joints, it helps not only the body,
but also the mind, as vain fears, melancholy, &c. and is a good remedy
in pestilential fevers. You may take half a dram and go about your
business, and it will do you good if you have occasion to go in ill
airs, or in pestilent times, if you shall sweat under it, as your best
way is, if your body be not in health, then take one dram, or between
one and two, or less than one, according as age and strength is, if
you cannot take this or any other sweating medicine by itself, mix it
with a little Carduus or Dragon’s water, or Angelica water, which in my
opinion is the best of the three.
_Theriacca Londinensis._
Or London Treacle.
_College._] Take of Hart’s-horn two ounces, the seeds of Citrons,
Sorrel, Peony, Bazil, of each one ounce, Scordium, Coral-liana, of
each six drams, the roots of Angelica, Tormentil, Peony, the leaves
of Dittany, Bay-berries, Juniper-berries, of each half an ounce,
the flowers of Rosemary, Marigolds, Clove Gilliflowers, the tops of
Saint John’s Wort, Nutmegs, Saffron, of each three drams, the Roots
of Gentian, Zedoary, Ginger, Mace, Myrrh, the leaves of Scabious,
Devil’s-bit, Carduus, of each two drams, Cloves, Opium, of each a dram,
Malaga Wine as much as is sufficient, with their treble weight in
Honey, mix them according to art.
_Culpeper._] The receipt is a pretty cordial, resists the pestilence,
and is a good antidote in pestilential times, it resists poison,
strengthens cold stomachs, helps digestion, crudities of the stomach. A
man may safely take two drams of it in a morning, and let him fear no
harm.
_Diacrocuma._
_College._] Take of Saffron, Asarabacca roots, the seeds of Parsley,
Carrots, Annis, Smallage, of each half an ounce, Rhubarb, the roots
of Meum, Indian Spikenard, of each six drams, Cassia Lignea, Costus,
Myrrh, Schenanth, Cubebs, Madder roots, the juices of Maudlin, and
Wormwood made thick, Opobalsamum, or oil of Nutmegs, of each two drams,
Cinnamon, Calamus Aromaticus, of each a dram and an half, Scordium,
Cetrach, juice of Liquorice, of each two drams and an half, Tragacanth
a dram, with eight times their weight in white sugar, dissolved in
Endive water, and clarified, make it into an electuary according to
art.
_Culpeper._] It is exceeding good against cold diseases of the stomach,
liver, or spleen, corruption of humours and putrefaction of meat in the
stomach, ill favoured colour of the body, dropsies, cold faults in the
reins and bladder, provokes urine. Take a dram in the morning.
PURGING ELECTUARIES.
_Benedicta Laxativa._
_College._] Take of choice Turbith ten drams, Diacridium, bark of
Spurge Roots prepared, Hermodactils, Red Roses, of each five drams,
Cloves, Spikenard, Ginger, Saffron, long Pepper, Amomus, or for want
of it Calamus Aromaticus, Cardamoms the less, the seeds of Smallage,
Parsley, Fennel, Asparagus, Bruscus, Saxifrage, Gromwell, Caraway,
sal. gem. Galanga, Mace, of each a dram, with their treble weight of
clarified Honey: make them into an electuary according to art. Also you
may keep the species itself in your shops.
_Culpeper._] It purges flegm, chiefly from the joints, also it purges
the reins and bladder.
_Caryocostinum._
_College._] Take of Cloves, Costus, or Zedoary, Ginger, Cummin, of
each two drams, Hermodactils, Diacridium, of each half an ounce: with
their double weight of Honey clarified in white wine, make them into an
electuary according to art.
_Culpeper._] Authors say it purges hot rheums, and takes away
inflammations in wounds, I assure you the electuary works violently,
and may safely be given in clysters, and so you may give two or three
drams at a time, if the patient be strong. For taken otherwise it would
kill a horse _cum privilegio_.
_Cassia Extracta pro Clysteribus._
Or Cassia extracted for Clysters.
_College._] Take of the leaves of Violets, Mallows, Beets, Mercury,
Pellitory of the Wall, Violet flowers, of each a handful, boil them in
a sufficient quantity of water, the benefit of which let the Cassia be
extracted, and the canes washed; then take of this Cassia so drawn, and
boil it to its consistence, a pound, Sugar a pound and a half, boil
them to the form of an electuary according to art.
_Culpeper._] You may take it in white Wine, it is good for gentle
bodies, for if your body be hard to work upon, perhaps it will not
work at all; it purges the reins gallantly, and cools them, thereby
preventing the stone, and other diseases caused by their heat.
_Electuarium Amarum Magistrale majus._
Or the greater bitter Electuary.
_College._] Take of Agarick, Turbith, Species Hiera Simplex, Rhubarb,
of each one dram, choice Aloes unwashed two drams, Ginger, Crystal of
Tartar, of each two scruples, Orris, Florentine, sweet Fennel seeds,
of each a scruple, Syrup of Roses solutive as much as is sufficient to
make it into an electuary according to art.
_Electuarium Amarum minus._
Or the lesser bitter Electuary.
_College._] Take of Epithimum half an ounce, the roots of Angelica
three drams, of Gentian, Zedoary, Acorus, of each two drams, Cinnamon
one dram and an half, Cloves, Mace, Nutmegs, Saffron, of each one dram,
Aloes six ounces, with Syrup of Fumitory, Scabious and Sugar so much as
is sufficient to make it into a soft electuary.
_Culpeper._] Both these purge choler, the former flegm, and this
melancholy, the former works strongest, and this strengthens most, and
is good for such whose brains are annoyed. You may take half an ounce
of the former, if your body be any thing strong, in white Wine, if very
strong an ounce, a reasonable body may take an ounce of the latter,
the weak less. I would not have the unskilful too busy about purges
without advice of a physician.
_Diacassia with Manna._
_College._] Take of Damask Prunes two ounces, Violet flowers a handful
and an half, Spring Water a pound and an half, boil it according to art
till half be consumed, strain it, and dissolve in the decoction six
ounces of Cassia newly drawn, sugar of Violets, Syrup of Violets, of
each four ounces, Pulp of Tamarinds an ounce, Sugar Candy an ounce and
an half, Manna two ounces, mix them, and make them into an electuary
according to art.
_Culpeper._] It is a fine cool purge for such as are bound in the body,
for it works gently, and without trouble, it purges choler, and may
safely be given in fevers coming of choler: but in such cases, if the
body be much bound, the best way is first to administer a clyster, and
then the next morning an ounce of this will cool the body, and keep it
in due temper.
_Cassia extracta sine soliis Senæ._
Or Cassia extracted without the leaves of
Sena.
_College._] Take twelve Prunes, Violet flowers a handful, French
Barley, the seed of Annis, and bastard Saffron, Polypodium of the Oak,
of each five drams, Maiden-hair, Thyme, Epithimum, of each half a
handful, Raisins of the Sun stoned half an ounce, sweet Fennel seeds
two drams, the seeds of Purslain, and Mallows, of each three drams,
Liquorice half an ounce, boil them in a sufficient quantity of water,
strain them and dissolve in the decoction, pulp of Cassia two pounds,
of Tamarinds an ounce, Cinnamon three drams, Sugar a pound, boil it
into the form of an electuary.
_Cassia extracta cum soliis Senæ._
Or Cassia extracted with the leaves of Sena.
_College._] Take of the former receipt two pounds, Sena in powder two
ounces, mix them according to art.
_Culpeper._] This is also a fine cool gentle purge, cleansing the
bowels of choler and melancholy without any griping, very fit for
feverish bodies, and yet the former is gentler than this. They both
cleanse and cool the reins; a reasonable body may take an ounce and an
half of the former, and an ounce of the latter in white Wine, if they
keep the house, or their bodies be oppressed with melancholy, let them
take half the quantity in four ounces of decoction of Epithimum.
_Diacarthamum._
_College._] Take of Diatragacanthum frigidum, half an ounce, pulp of
preserved Quinces an ounce, the inside of the seeds of Bastard Saffron
half an ounce, Ginger two drams, Diacrydium beaten by itself three
drams, Turbith six drams, Manna two ounces, Honey of Roses solutive,
Sugar Candy, of each an ounce, Hermodactils half an ounce, Sugar ten
ounces and an half, make of them a liquid electuary according to art.
_Diaphœnicon._
_College._] Take of the pulp of Dates boiled in Hydromel, Penids, of
each half a pound, sweet Almonds blanched, three ounces and an half, to
all of them being bruised and mixed, add clarified Honey two pounds,
boil them a little, and then strew in Ginger, long Pepper, Mace,
Cinnamon, Rue leaves, the seeds of Fennel and Carrots, of each two
drams, Turbith four ounces, Diacridium an ounce and an half, make of
them an electuary according to art.
_Culpeper._] I cannot believe this is so profitable in fevers taken
downwards as authors say, for it is a very violent purge.
_Diaprunum Lenitive._
_College._] Take one hundred Damask Prunes, boil them in water till
they be soft, then pulp them, and in the liquor they were boiled in,
boil gently one of Violet flowers, strain it, and with two pounds of
sugar boil it to a Syrup, then add half a pound of the aforesaid pulp,
the pulp of Cassia, and Tamarinds, of each one ounce, then mix with it
these powders following: Sanders white and red, Spodium, Rhubarb, of
each three drams, red Roses, Violets, the seeds of Purslain, Succory,
Barberries, Gum Tragacanth, Liquorice, Cinnamon, of each two drams, the
four greater cold seeds, of each one dram, make it into an electuary
according to art.
_Culpeper._] It may safely, and is with good success, given in acute,
burning, and all other fevers, for it cools much, and loosens the body
gently: it is good in agues, hectic fevers, and Mirasmos. You may take
an ounce of it at a time, at night when you go to bed, three hours
after a light supper, neither need you keep your chamber next day,
unless the weather be very cold, or your body very tender.
_Diaprunum solutive._
_College._] Take of Diaprunum Lenitive whilst it is warm, four pounds,
Scammony prepared two ounce and five drams, mix them into an electuary
according to art.
Seeing the dose of Scammony is increased according to the author in
this medicine, you may use a less weight of Scammony if you please.
_Catholicon._
_College._] Take of the pulp of Cassia and Tamarinds, the leaves of
Sena, of each two ounces, Polypodium, Violets, Rhubarb, of each one
ounce, Annis seeds, Penids, Sugar Candy, Liquorice, the seeds of
Gourds, Citruls, Cucumbers, Melons, of each two drams, the things to be
bruised, being bruised, take of fresh Polypodium three ounces, sweet
Fennel seeds six drams, boil them in four pounds of water till the
third part be consumed, strain it, and with two pounds of sugar, boil
the decoction to the thickness of a Syrup; then with the pulps and
powder make it into an electuary according to art.
_Culpeper._] It is a fine cooling purge for any part of the body,
and very gentle, it may be given (an ounce, or half an ounce at a
time, according to the strength of the patient) in acute, or peracute
diseases, for it gently loosens the belly, and adds strength, it helps
infirmities of the liver and spleen, gouts of all sorts, quotidian,
tertian, and quartan agues, as also head-aches. It is usually given in
clysters. If you like to take it inwardly, you may take an ounce at
night going to bed; in the morning drink a draught of hot posset drink
and go about your business.
_Electuarium de Citro Solutivum._
Or Electuary of Citrons, solutive.
_College._] Take of Citron pills preserved, conserves of the flowers of
Violets and Bugloss, Diatragacanthum frigidum, Diacrydium, of each half
an ounce, Turbith five drams, Ginger half a dram, Sena six drams, sweet
Fennel seeds one dram, white sugar dissolved in Rose-water, and boiled
according to art, ten ounces, make a solid electuary according to art.
_Culpeper._] Here are some things very cordial, others purge violently,
both put together, make a composition no way pleasing to me; therefore
I account it a pretty receipt, good for nothing.
_Electuarium Elescoph._
_College._] Take of Diacrydium, Turbith, of each six drams, Cloves,
Cinnamon, Ginger, Myrobalans, Emblicks, Nutmegs, Polypodium, of each
two drams and an half, Sugar six ounces, clarified Honey ten ounces,
make it into an electuary according to art.
_Culpeper._] It purges choler and flegm, and wind from all parts of the
body, helps pains of the joints and sides, the cholic, it cleanses the
reins and bladder, yet I advise you not to take too much of it at a
time, for it works pretty violently, let half an ounce be the most, for
such whose bodies are strong, always remembering that you had better
ten times take too little, than once too much; you may take it in
white wine, and keep yourself warm. If you would have my opinion of it,
I do not like it.
_Confectio Hamech._
_College._] Take of the bark of Citron, Myrobalans two ounces,
Myrobalans, Chebs and blacks, Violets, Colocynthis, Polypodium of the
Oak, of each one ounce and an half, Wormwood, Thyme, of each half an
ounce, the seeds of Annis, and Fennel, the flowers of red Roses of
each three drams, let all of them being bruised, be infused one day
in six pounds of Whey, then boiled till half be consumed, rubbed with
your hands and pressed out: to the decoction add juice of Fumitory,
pulp of Prunes, and Raisins of the Sun, of each half a pound, white
Sugar, clarified Honey, of each one pound, boil it to the thickness
of Honey, strewing in towards the end. Agarick trochiscated, Sena of
each two ounces, Rhubarb one ounce and an half, Epithimum one ounce,
Diacrydium six drams, Cinnamon half an ounce, Ginger two drams, the
seeds of Fumitory and Annis, Spikenard, of each one dram, make it into
an electuary according to art.
_Culpeper._] The receipt is chiefly appropriated as a purge for
melancholy and salt flegm, and diseases thence arising, as scabs, itch,
leprosies, cancers, infirmities of the skin, it purges adust humours,
and is good against madness, melancholy, forgetfulness, vertigo. It
purges very violently, and is not safe given alone. I would advise the
unskilful not to meddle with it inwardly: You may give half an ounce of
it in clysters, in melancholy diseases, which commonly have astringency
a constant companion with them.
_Electuarium Lenitivum._
Or Lenitive Electuary.
_College._] Take of Raisins of the Sun stoned, Polypodium of the
Oak, Sena, of each two ounces, Mercury one handful and an half,
Jujubes, Sebestens, of each twenty, Maidenhair, Violets, French
Barley, of each one handful, Damask Prunes stoned, Tamarinds of each
six drams, Liquorice half an ounce, boil them in ten pounds of water
till two parts of the three be consumed; strain it, and dissolve in
the decoction, pulp of Cassia, Tamarinds, and fresh Prunes, Sugar of
Violets, of each six ounces, Sugar two pounds, at last add powder of
Sena leaves, one ounce and an half, Annis seeds in powder, two drams to
each pound of electuary, and so bring it into the form of an electuary
according to art.
_Culpeper._] It gently opens and molifies the bowels, brings forth
choler, flegm, and melancholy, and that without trouble, it is cooling,
and therefore is profitable in pleurisies, and for wounded people: A
man of reasonable strength may take an ounce of it going to bed, which
will work next morning.
_Electuarium Passulatum._
_College._] Take of fresh Polypodium roots three ounces, fresh
Marsh-mallow roots, Sena, of each two ounces, Annis seeds two drams,
steep them in a glazed vessel, in a sufficient quantity of spring
water, boil them according to art; strain it and with pulp of Raisins
of the Sun half a pound, white Sugar, Manna, of each four ounces, boil
it to the thickness of a Cydoniate, and renew it four times a year.
_Culpeper._] It gently purges both choler and melancholy, cleanses the
reins and bladder, and therefore is good for the stone and gravel in
the kidneys.
_Electuarium e succo Rosarum._
Or Electuary of the Juice of Roses.
_College._] Take of Sugar, the juice of red Roses clarified, of each a
pound and four ounces, the three sorts of Sanders of each six drams,
Spodium three drams, Diacydonium twelve drams, Camphire a scruple, let
the juice be boiled with the sugar to its just thickness, then add the
rest in powder, and so make it into an electuary according to art.
_Culpeper._] It purges choler, and is good in tertian agues, and
diseases of the joints, it purges violently, therefore let it be warily
given.
_Hiera Picra simple._
_College._] Take of Cinnamon, Xylobalsamum, or wood of Aloes, the roots
of Asarabacca, Spikenard, Mastich, Saffron, of each six drams, Aloes
not washed twelve ounces and an half, clarified Honey four pounds and
three ounces, mix them into an electuary according to art. Also you may
keep the species by itself in your shops.
_Culpeper._] It is an excellent remedy for vicious juices which lie
furring the tunicle of the stomach, and such idle fancies and symptoms
which the brain suffers thereby, whereby some think they see, others
that they hear strange things, especially when they are in bed, and
between sleeping and waking; besides this, it very gently purges the
belly, and helps such women as are not sufficiently purged after their
travail.
_Hiera with Agarick._
_College._] Take of species Hiera, simple without Aloes, Agarick
trochiscated, of each half an ounce, Aloes not washed one ounce,
clarified Honey six ounces, mix it, and make it into an electuary
according to art.
_Culpeper._] Look but to the virtues of Agarick and add them to the
virtues of the former receipt, so is the business done without any
further trouble.
_Hiera Logadii._
_College._] Take of Coloquintida, Polypodium, of each two drams,
Euphorbium, Poley mountain, the seeds of Spurge, of each one dram
and an half, and six grains, Wormwood, Myrrh, of each one dram and
twelve grains, Centaury the less, Agarick, Gum Ammoniacum, Indian leaf
or Mace, Spikenard, Squills prepared, Diacrydium of each one dram,
Aloes, Thyme Hermander, Cassia Lignea, Bdellum, Horehound, of each
one scruple and fourteen grains, Cinnamon, Oppopanax, Castorium, long
Birthwort, the three sorts of Pepper, Sagapen, Saffron, Parsley of each
two drams, Hellebore black and white, of each six grains, clarified
Honey a pound and a half, mix them, and make of them an electuary
according to art. Let the species be kept dry in your shops.
_Culpeper._] It takes away by the roots daily evils coming of
melancholy, falling-sickness, vertigo, convulsions, megrim, leprosies,
and many other infirmities; for my part I should be loth to take it
inwardly unless upon desperate occasions, or in clysters. It may well
take away diseases by the roots, if it takes away life and all.
_Hiera Diacolocynthidos._
_College._] Take of Colocynthis, Agarick, Germander, white Horehound,
Stœchas, of each ten drams, Opopanax, Sagapen, Parsley seeds, round
Birthwort roots, white Pepper of each five drams, Spikenard, Cinnamon,
Myrrh, Indian leaf or Mace, Saffron, of each four drams, bruise the
Gums in a mortar, sift the rest, and with three pounds of clarified
honey, three ounces and five drams, make it into an electuary according
to art.
_Culpeper._] It helps the falling-sickness, madness, and the pain in
the head called Kephalalgia, pains in the breast and stomach whether
they come by sickness or bruises, pains in the loins or back-bone,
hardness of womens breasts, putrefaction of meat in the stomach, and
sour belchings. It is but used seldom and therefore hard to be gotten.
_Triphera the greater._
_College._] Take of Myrobalans, Chebs, Bellericks, Inds and Emblicks,
Nutmegs, of each five drams, Water-cress seeds, Asarabacca roots,
Persian Origanum, or else Dittany of Crete, black Pepper, Olibanum,
Ammi, Ginger, Tamarisk, Indian Nard, Squinanth, Cypress roots of each
half an ounce, filings of steel prepared with Vinegar twenty drams,
let the Myrobalans be roasted with fresh butter, let the rest, being
powdered, be sprinkled with oil of sweet Almonds, then add Musk one
dram, and with their treble weight in Honey, make it into an electuary
according to art.
_Culpeper._] It helps the immoderate flowing of the menses in women,
and the hæmorrhoids in men, it helps weakness of the stomach, and
restores colour lost, it frees the body from crude humours, and
strengthens the bladder, helps melancholy, and rectifies the distempers
of the spleen. You may take a dram in the morning, or two if your body
be any thing strong.
_Triphera solutive._
_College._] Take of Diacrydium, ten drams, Turbith, an ounce and an
half, Cardamoms the less, Cloves, Cinnamon, Honey, of each three drams,
yellow Sanders, Liquorice, sweet Fennel seeds, of each half an ounce,
Acorns, Schœnanth, of each a dram, red Roses, Citron pills preserved,
of each three drams, Violets two drams, Penids four ounces, white Sugar
half a pound, Honey clarified in juice of Apples one pound, make an
electuary according to art.
_Culpeper._] The Diacrydium and Turbith, are a couple of untoward
purges, the rest are all cordials.
_Athanasia Mithridatis._ Galen.
_College._] Take of Cinnamon, Cassia, Schœnanth, of each an ounce and
an half, Saffron, Myrrh, of each one ounce, Costus, Spignel, (Meum,)
Acorus, (Water-flag perhaps they mean. See the root in the Catalogue of
Simples,) Agarick, Scordium, Carrots, Parsley, of each half an ounce,
white Pepper eleven grains, Honey so much as is sufficient to make it
into an electuary according to art.
_Culpeper._] It prevails against poison, and the bitings of venomous
beasts, and helps such whose meat putrifies in their stomach, stays
vomiting of blood, helps old coughs, and cold diseases in the liver,
spleen, bladder, and matrix. The dose is half a dram.
_Electuarium scoriaferri._ Rhasis.
_College._] Take of the flakes of Iron infused in Vinegar seven days
and dried, three drams, Indian Spikenard, Schœnanth, Cypress, Ginger,
Pepper, Bishop’s weed, Frankincense, of each half an ounce, Myrobalans,
Indian Bellericks, and Emblicks, Honey boiled with the decoction of
Emblicks, sixteen ounces, mix them together, and make of them an
electuary.
_Culpeper._] The medicine heats the spleen gently, purges melancholy,
eases pains in the stomach and spleen, and strengthens digestion.
People that are strong may take half an ounce in the morning fasting,
and weak people three drams. It is a good remedy for pains and hardness
of the spleen.
_Confectio Humain._ Mesua.
_College._] Take of Eyebright two ounces, Fennel seeds five drams,
Cloves, Cinnamon, Cubebs, long Pepper, Mace, of each one dram, beat
them all into powder, and with clarified Honey one pound, in which boil
juice of Fennel one ounce, juice of Celandine and Rue, of each half an
ounce, and with the powders make it up into an electuary.
_Culpeper._] It is chiefly appropriated to the brain and heart,
quickens the senses, especially the sight, and resists the pestilence.
You may take half a dram if your body be hot, a dram if cold, in the
morning fasting.
_Diaireos Solomonis._ Nich.
_College._] Take of Orris roots one ounce, Pennyroyal, Hyssop,
Liquorice, of each six drams, Tragacanth, white Starch, bitter Almonds,
Pine-nuts, Cinnamon, Ginger, Pepper, of each three drams, fat Figs, the
pulp of Raisins of the Sun, and Dates, of each three drams and an half,
Styrax, Calamitis two drams and an half, Sugar dissolved in Hyssop
water, and clarified Honey, of each twice the weight of all the rest,
make them into an electuary according to art.
_Culpeper._] The electuary is chiefly appropriated to the lungs, and
helps cold infirmities of them, as asthmaes, coughs, difficulty of
breathing, &c. You may take it with a Liquorice stick, or on the point
of a knife, a little of it at a time, and often.
_Diasaiyrion._ Nich.
_College._] Take of the roots of Satyrion fresh and sound, garden
Parsnips, Eringo, Pine-nuts, Indian Nuts, or if Indian Nuts be wanting,
take the double quantity of Pine-nuts, Fistic-nuts, of each one ounce
and an half, Cloves, Ginger, the seeds of Annis, Rocket, Ash Keys, of
each five drams, Cinnamon, the tails and loins of Scincus, the seeds of
Bulbus Nettles, of each two drams and an half, Musk seven grains, of
the best sugar dissolved in Malaga Wine, three pounds, make it into an
electuary according to art.
_Culpeper._] It helps weakness of the reins and bladder, and such as
make water with difficulty, it provokes lust exceedingly, and speedily
helps such as are impotent in the acts of _Venus_. You may take two
drams or more at a time.
__Matthiolus’s_ great antidote against Poison
and Pestilence._
_College._] Take of Rhubarb, Rhapontic, Valerian roots, the roots
of Acorus, or Calamus Aromaticus, Cypress, Cinquefoyl, Tormentil,
round Birthwort, male Peony, Elecampane, Costus, Illirick, Orris,
white Chamelion, or Avens, of each three drams, the Roots of Galanga,
Masterwort, white Dictamni, Angelica, Yarrow, Fillipendula or Dropwort,
Zedoary, Ginger, of each two drams, Rosemary, Gentian, Devil’s-bit, of
each two drams and an half, the seeds of Citrons, and Agnus Castus,
the berries of Kermes, the seeds of Ash-tree, Sorrel, wild Parsnips,
Navew, Nigella, Peony the male, Bazil, Hedge Mustard, (Irio) Treacle
Mustard, Fennel, Bishop’s-weed, of each two drams, the berries of
Bay, Juniper, and Ivy, Sarsaparilla, (or for want of it the double
weight of Cubebs,) Cubebs, of each one dram and an half, the leaves of
Scordium, Germander, Chamepitys, Centaury the less, Stœchas, Celtic
Spikenard, Calaminth, Rue, Mints, Betony, Vervain, Scabious, Carduus
Benedictus, Bawm, of each one dram and an half, Dittany of Crete
three drams, Marjoram, St. John’s Wort, Schœnanth, Horehound, Goats
Rue, Savin, Burnet, of each two drams, Figs, Walnuts, Fistic-nuts, of
each three ounces, Emblicks, Myrobalans half an ounce, the flowers
of Violets, Borrage, Bugloss, Roses, Lavender, Sage, Rosemary, of
each four scruples, Saffron three drams, Cassia Lignea ten drams,
Cloves, Nutmegs, Mace, of each two drams and an half, black Pepper,
long Pepper, all the three sorts of Sanders, wood of Aloes, of each
one dram and an half, Hart’s-horn half an ounce, Unicorn’s-horn, or
in its stead, Bezoar stone, one dram, bone in a Stag’s heart, Ivory,
Stag’s pizzle, Castoreum, of each four scruples, Earth of Lemnos three
drams, Opium one dram and an half, Orient Pearls, Emeralds, Jacinth,
red Coral, of each one dram and an half, Camphire two drams, Gum
Arabic, Mastich, Frankincense, Styrax, Turpentine, Sagapenum, Opopanax,
Laserpitium, or Myrrh, of each two drams and an half, Musk, Ambergris,
of each one dram, oil of Vitriol half an ounce, species cordiales
temperatæ, Diamargariton, Diamoscu, Diambra, Electuarij de Gemmis,
Troches of Camphire, of Squills, of each two drams and an half, Troches
of Vipers two ounces, the juice of Sorrel, Sow Thistles, Scordium,
Vipers Bugloss, Borrage, Bawm, of each half a pound, Hypocistis two
drams, of the best Treacle and Mithridate, of each six ounces, old Wine
three pounds, of the best Sugar, or choice Honey eight pounds six
ounces. These being all chosen and prepared with diligence and art, let
them be made into an electuary just as Treacle or Mithridate is.
_Culpeper._] The title shews you the scope of the author in compiling
it, I believe it is excellent for those uses. The dose of this is from
a scruple to four scruples, or a dram and an half: It provokes sweating
abundantly, and in this or any other sweating medicine, order your body
thus: Take it in bed, and cover yourself warm, in your sweating, drink
posset-drink as hot as you can, if it be for a fever, boil Sorrel and
red Sage in posset-drink, sweat an hour or two if your strength will
bear it, then the chamber being kept very warm, shift yourself all but
your head, about which (your cap which you sweat in being kept on) wrap
a hot napkin, which will be a means to repel the vapours back. This I
hold the best method for sweating in fevers and pestilences, in which
this electuary is very good. I am very loth to leave out this medicine,
which if it were stretched out, and cut in thongs, would reach round
the world.
_Requies._ Nicholaus.
_College._] Take of red Rose leaves, the whites being cut off, blue
Violets, of each three drams, Opium of Thebes, dissolved in Wine,
the seeds of white Henbane, Poppies white and black, the roots of
Mandrakes, the seeds of Endive, Purslain, garden Lettuce, Psyllium,
Spodium, Gum Tragacanth, of each two scruples and five grains, Nutmegs,
Cinnamon, Ginger, of each a dram and an half, Sanders, yellow, white,
and red, of each a dram and an half, Sugar three times their weight,
dissolved in Rose-water: mix them together, and make of them an
electuary according to art.
_Culpeper._] I like not the receipt taken inwardly.
_Electuarium Reginæ Coloniens._
_College._] Take of the seeds of Saxifrage and Gromwell, juice of
Liquorice, of each half an ounce, the seeds of Caraway, Annis,
Smallage, Fennel, Parsley of Macedonia, Broom, Carrots, Bruscus,
Asparagus, Lovage, Cummin, Juniper, Rue, Siler Mountain, the seeds of
Acorus, Pennyroyal, Cinquefoyl, Bayberries, of each two drams, Indian
Spikenard, Schœnanth, Amber, Valerian, Hog’s Fennel, Lapis Lincis, of
each a dram and an half, Galanga, Ginger, Turbith, of each two drams,
Sena an ounce, Goat’s blood prepared half an ounce, mix them together:
first beat them into powder, then make them into an electuary according
to art, with three times their weight in Sugar dissolved in white Wine.
_Culpeper._] It is an excellent remedy for the stone and wind cholic, a
dram of it taken every morning: I assure such as are troubled with such
diseases, I commend it to them as a jewel.
PILLS.
_Culpeper._] Pills in Greek are called, _Katopotia_, in Latin,
_Pilulæ_: which signifies little balls, because they are made up in
such a form, that they may be the better swallowed down, by reason of
the offensiveness of their taste.
_Pilulæ de Agarico._
Or Pills of Agarick.
_College._] Take of Agarick three drams, our own blue Orris roots,
Mastich, Horehound, of each one dram, Turbith five drams, Species
Hiera Picra half an ounce, Colocynthis, Sarcocol, of each two drams,
Myrrh one dram, Sapa as much as is sufficient to make it into a mass
according to art.
_Culpeper._] It was invented to cleanse the breast and lungs of flegm,
it works pretty strongly. Half a dram at a time (keeping yourself
warm,) cannot well do you harm, unless your body be very weak.
_Pilulæ Aggregativæ._
_College._] Take of Citron, Myrobalans, Rhubarb, of each half an
ounce, juice of Agrimony and Wormwood made thick, of each two drams,
Diagridium five drams, Agarick, Colocynthis, Polypodium of each two
drams, Turbith, Aloes, of each six drams, Mastich, red Roses, Sal. Gem.
Epithymum, Annis, Ginger, of each a dram, with Syrup of Damask Roses,
make it into a mass according to art.
_Culpeper._] It purges the head of choler, flegm and melancholy, and
that stoutly: it is good against quotidian agues, and faults in the
stomach and liver, yet because it is well corrected if you take but
half a dram at a time, and keep yourself warm, I suppose you may take
it without danger.
_Pilulæ Alœphanginæ._
_College._] Take of Cinnamon, Cloves, Cardamoms the less, Nutmegs,
Mace, Calamus Aromaticus, Carpobalsamum, or Juniper berries, Squinanth,
Wood of Aloes, yellow Sanders, red Roses dried, Wormwood, of each half
an ounce, let the tincture be taken out of these, being grossly bruised
in spirit of Wine, the vessel being close stopped; in three pounds of
this tincture, being strained, dissolve Aloes one pound, which being
dissolved, add Mastich, Myrrh, of each half an ounce, Saffron two
drams, Balsam of Peru one dram, the superfluous liquor being consumed,
either over hot ashes, or a bath, bring it into a mass of pills.
_Culpeper._] It cleanses both stomach and brain of gross and putrified
humours, and sets the senses free when they are thereby troubled, it
cleanses the brain offended by ill humours, wind, &c. helps vertigo and
head-aches, and strengthens the brain exceedingly, helps concoction,
and strengthens the stomach, one dram taken at night going to bed,
will work gently next day: if the party be weak, you may give less, if
strong more. If you take but half a dram, you may go abroad the next
day: but if you take a dram, you may keep the house; there can be no
harm in that.
_Pilulæ de Aloe Lota._
Or Pills of washed Aloes.
_College._] Take of Aloes washed with juice of red Roses, one ounce,
Agarick three drams, Mastich two drams, Diamoscu Dulce half a dram,
Syrup of Damask-roses, so much as is sufficient to make it into a mass
according to art.
_Culpeper._] It purges both brain, stomach, bowels, and eyes of
putrified humours, and also strengthens them. Use these as the
succeeding.
_Aloe Rosata._
_College._] Take of Aloes in powder four ounces, juice of Damask Roses
clarified one pound, mix them and digest them in the sun, or in a bath,
till the superfluous liquor be drawn off, digest it, and evaporate it
four times over, and keep the mass.
_Culpeper._] It is a gallant gentle purger of choler, frees the stomach
from superfluous humours, opens stoppings, and other infirmities of
the body proceeding from choler and flegm, as yellow jaundice, &c. and
strengthens the body exceedingly. Take a scruple, or half a dram at
night going to bed, you may walk abroad, for it will hardly work till
next day in the afternoon.
_Pilulæ Aureæ._
_College._] Take of Aloes, Diacrydium, of each five drams, red Roses,
Smallage seeds, of each two drams and an half, the seeds of Annis
and Fennel, of each one dram and an half, Mastich, Saffron, Troch,
Alhandal, of each one dram, with a sufficient quantity of Honey Roses,
make it into a mass according to art.
_Culpeper._] They are held to purge the head, to quicken the senses,
especially the sight, and to expel wind from the bowels, but works
something harshly. Half a dram is the utmost dose, keep the fire, take
them in the morning, and sleep after them, they will work before noon.
_Pilulæ Cochiæ, the greater._
_College._] Take of Species, Hiera Picra, ten drams, Troch, Alhandal,
three drams and an half, Diacrydium two drams and an half, Turbith,
Stœchas, of each five drams, with a sufficient quantity of Syrup of
Stœchas, make it into a mass, according to art.
_Culpeper._] It is held to purge the head, but it is but a dogged purge
at best, and must be given only to strong bodies, and but half a dram
at a time, and yet with great care.
_Pilulæ Cochiæ, the less._
_College._] Take of Aloes, Scammony, Colocynthis, of each one ounce,
with equal parts of Syrup of Wormwood, and of purging thorn, make it
into a mass according to art.
_Pilulæ de Cynoglosso._
Or Pills of Hound’s-tongue.
_College._] Take of the Roots of Hound’s-tongue dried, white Henbane
seed, Opium prepared, of each half an ounce, Myrrh six drams, Olibanum
five drams, Saffron, Castoreum, Styrax, Calamitis, of each one dram and
an half, with Syrup of Stœchas, make it into a mass.
_Culpeper._] It stays hot rheums that fall down upon the lungs,
therefore is good in phthisics, also it mitigates pain, a scruple is
enough to take at a time going to bed, and too much if your body be
weak: have a care of opiates for fear they make you sleep your last.
_Pilulæ ex Duobus._
Or Pills of two things.
_College._] Take of Colocynthis, and Scamony, of each one ounce, oil of
Cloves as much as is sufficient to malax them well, then with a little
Syrup of purging Thorn, make it into a mass.
_Pilulæ de Eupatorio._
Or Pills of Eupatorium.
_College._] Take of the juice of Maudlin, and Wormwood made thick,
Citron, Myrobalans, of each three drams, Rhubarb three drams and an
half, Mastich one dram, Aloes five drams, Saffron half a dram, Syrup of
the juice of Endive, as much as is sufficient to make it into a mass.
_Culpeper._] It is a gallant gentle purge, and strengthening, fitted
for such bodies as are much weakened by disease of choler. The author
appropriates it to such as have tertian agues, the yellow jaundice,
obstructions or stoppings of the liver; half a dram taken at night
going to bed, will work with an ordinary body, the next day by noon.
_Pilulæ Fætidæ._
Or Stinking Pills.
_College._] Take of Aloes, Colocynthis, Ammoniacum, Sagapen, Myrrh,
Rue-seeds, Epithymum, of each five drams, Scamony three drams, the
roots of Turbith half an ounce, the roots of Spurge the less prepared,
Hermodactils of each two drams, Ginger one dram and an half, Spikenard,
Cinnamon, Saffron, Castoreum, of each one dram, Euphorbium prepared two
scruples, dissolve the Gums in juice of Leeks, and with Syrup made with
the juice of Leeks and Sugar, make it into a mass.
_Culpeper._] They purge gross and raw flegm, and diseases thereof
arising; gouts of all sorts, pains in the back-bone, and other joints:
it is good against leprosies, and other such like infirmities of the
skin. I fancy not the receipt much.
_Pilulæ de Hermodactilis._
Or Pills of Hermodactils.
_College._] Take of Sagapen six drams, Opopanax three drams, melt them
in warm juice of Coleworts, so much as is sufficient, then strain it
through a convenient rag, afterwards boil it to a mean thickness, then
take of Hermodactils, Aloes, Citron, Myrobalans, Turbith, Coloquintida,
soft Bdellium, of each six drams, Euphorbium prepared, the seeds of Rue
and Smallage, Castoreum, Sarcocol, of each three drams, Saffron one
dram and an half, with the Syrup of the juice of Coleworts made with
honey, make it into a mass according to art.
_Culpeper._] They are good against the gout, and other cold afflictions
of the joints. These are more moderate by half than _Pilulæ Fœtidæ_,
and appropriated to the same diseases.
_Pilulæ de Hiera cum Agarico._
Or Pills of Hiera with Agarick.
_College._] Take of Species Hiera Picra, Agarick, of each half an
ounce, Aloes one ounce, Honey Roses so much as is sufficient to make it
into a mass according to art.
_Pilulæ Imperiales._
Or Imperial Pills.
_College._] Take of Aloes two ounces, Rhubarb one ounce and an half,
Agarick, Sena, of each one ounce, Cinnamon three drams, Ginger two
drams, Nutmegs, Cloves, Spikenard, Mastich, of each one dram with Syrup
of Violets, make it into a mass according to art.
_Culpeper._] It cleanses the body of mixt humours, and strengthens the
stomach exceedingly, as also the bowels, liver, and natural spirits: it
is good for cold natures, and cheers the spirits. The dose is a scruple
or half a dram, taken at night.
_Pilulæ de Lapide Lazuli._
Or Pills of Lapis Lazuli.
_College._] Take of Lapis Lazuli in powder and well washed, five drams,
Epithymum, Polypodium, Agarick, of each an ounce, Scamony, black
Hellebore roots, Sal. Gem. of each two drams and an half, Cloves, Annis
seeds, of each half an ounce, Species Hiera simple fifteen drams, with
Syrup of the juice of Fumitory, make it into a mass according to art.
_Culpeper._] It purges melancholy very violently.
_Pilulæ Macri._
_College._] Take of Aloes two ounces, Mastich half an ounce, dried
Marjoram two drams, Salt of Wormwood one dram, make them all, being in
powder, into a mass according to art with juice of Coleworts and Sugar,
so much as is sufficient.
_Culpeper._] It strengthens both stomach and brain, especially the
nerves and muscles, and eases them of such humours as afflict them, and
hinder the motion of the body, they open obstructions of the liver and
spleen, and takes away diseases thence coming.
_Pilulæ Mastichinæ._
Or Mastich Pills.
_College._] Take of Mastich two ounces, Aloes four ounces, Agarick,
Species Hiera simple, of each one ounce and an half, with Syrup of
Wormwood, make it into a mass according to art.
_Culpeper._] They purge very gently, but strengthen much, both head,
brain, eyes, belly, and reins.
_Pilulæ Mechoacanæ._
Or Pills of Mechoacan.
_College._] Take of Mechoacan roots half an ounce, Turbith three
drams, the leaves of Spurge steeped in Vinegar and dried, the seeds
of Walwort, Agarick trochiscated, of each two drams, Spurge roots
prepared, Mastich, of each one dram and an half, Mace, Cinnamon, Sal.
Gem. of each two scruples, beat them into powder, and with white Wine,
bring them into a mass. When it is dry, beat it into powder, and with
Syrup made with the juice of Orris roots and sugar, make it the second
time into a mass for pills.
_Culpeper._] They purge flegm very violently.
_Pilulæ de Opopanace._
Or Pills of Opopanax.
_College._] Take of Opopanax, Sagapen, Bdellium, Ammoniacum,
Hermodactils, Coloquintida, of each five drams, Saffron, Castoreum,
Myrrh, Ginger, white Pepper, Cassia Lignea, Citron, Myrobalans, of each
one dram, Scamony two drams, Turbith half an ounce, Aloes an ounce and
an half, the Gums being dissolved in clarified juice of Coleworts,
with Syrup of the juice of Coleworts, make them into a mass according
to art.
_Culpeper._] It helps tremblings, palsies, gouts of all sorts,
cleanses the joints, and is helpful for such as are troubled with cold
afflictions of the nerves. It works violently.
_Pilulæ Rudii._
_College._] Take of Coloquintida six drams, Agarick, Scamony, the roots
of black Hellebore, and Turbith, of each half an ounce, Aloes one
ounce, Diarrhodon Abbatis half an ounce, let all of them (the Diarrh.
Abbatis excepted) be grossly bruised, and infused eight days in the
best spirits of Wine in a vessel close stopped, in the sun, so that the
liquor may swim at top the breadth of six fingers: afterwards infuse
the Diarrhodon Abbatis in the same manner four days in Aqua vitæ, then
having strained and pressed them hard, mix them both together, casting
the dross away, and draw off the moisture in a glass Alembick, and let
the thick matter remain in a mass.
_Culpeper._] It cleanses both head and body of choler, flegm, and
melancholy: it must not be taken in any great quantity, half a dram is
sufficient for the strongest body.
_Pilulæ Russi._
_College._] Take of Aloes two ounces, Myrrh one ounce, Saffron half an
ounce, with Syrup of the juice of Lemons, make it into a mass according
to art.
_Culpeper._] A scruple taken at night going to bed, is an excellent
preservative in pestilential times; also they cleanse the body of such
humours as are gotten by surfeits, they strengthen the heart, and weak
stomachs, and work so easily that you need not fear following your
business the next day.
_Pilulæ sine Quibus._
Or Pills without which——
_College._] Take of washed Aloes fourteen drams, Scammony prepared
six drams, Agarick, Rhubarb, Sena, of each half an ounce, Wormwood,
red Roses exungulated, Violet flowers, Dodder, Mastich, of each one
dram, salt of Wormwood, of each half a dram, with Syrup of the juice of
Fennel made with Honey, make it into a mass according to art.
_Culpeper._] It purges flegm, choler, and melancholy from the head,
makes the sight and hearing good, and gives ease to a burdened brain.
_Pilulæ Stomachiæ._
Or Stomach Pills.
_College._] Take of Aloes six drams, Mastich, red Roses, of each two
drams, with Syrup of Wormwood, make it into a mass according to art.
_Culpeper._] They cleanse and strengthen the stomach, they cleanse but
gently, strengthen much, help digestion.
_Pilulæ Stomachiæ cum Gummi._
Or Stomach Pills with Gums.
_College._] Take of Aloes an ounce, Sena five drams, Gum Amoniacum
dissolved in Elder-flower Vinegar half an ounce, Mastich, Myrrh, of
each a dram and an half, Saffron, salt of Wormwood, of each half a
dram, with Syrup of purging Thorn, make it into a mass according to art.
_Culpeper._] They work more strongly than the former.
_Pilulæ e Styrace._
Or Pills of Styrax.
_College._] Take of Styrax Calamitis, Olibanum, Myrrh, juice of
Liquorice, Opium, of each half an ounce, with Syrup of white Poppies,
make it into a mass according to art.
_Culpeper._] They help such as are troubled with defluxion of rheum,
coughs, and provoke sleep to such as cannot sleep for coughing.
_Pilulæ de Succino._
Or Pills of Amber.
_College._] Take of white Amber, Mastich, of each two drams, Aloes
five drams, Agaric a dram and an half, long Birthwort half a dram, with
Syrup of Wormwood make it into a mass.
_Culpeper._] It amends the evil state of a woman’s body, strengthens
conception, and takes away what hinders it; it gently purges choler and
flegm, and leaves a binding, strengthening quality behind it.
_Pilulæ ex Tribus._
Or Pills of three things.
_College._] Take of Mastich two ounces, Aloes four ounces, Agarick,
Hiera simple, of each an ounce and an half, Rhubarb two ounces,
Cinnamon two drams, with Syrup of Succory, make it into a mass
according to art.
_Culpeper._] They gently purge choler, and help diseases thence
arising, as itch, scabs, wheals, &c. They strengthen the stomach and
liver, and open obstructions, as also help the yellow jaundice.
_Pilulæ Turpeti Aureæ._
_College._] Take of Turbith two ounces, Aloes an ounce and an half,
Citron Myrobalans ten drams, red Roses, Mastich, of each six drams,
Saffron three drams, beat them all into powder, and with Syrup of
Wormwood bring them into a mass.
_Culpeper._] They purge choler and flegm, and that with as much
gentleness as can be desired; also they strengthen the stomach and
liver, and help digestion.
_Laudanum._
_College._] Take of Thebane Opium extracted in spirit of Wine, one
ounce, Saffron alike extracted, a dram and an half, Castorium one dram:
let them be taken in tincture of half an ounce of species Diambræ
newly made in spirit of Wine, add to them Ambergris, Musk, of each six
grains, oil of Nutmegs ten drops, evaporate the moisture away in a
bath, and leave the mass.
_Culpeper._] It was invented (and a gallant invention it is) to
mitigate violent pains, stop the fumes that trouble the brain in
fevers, (but beware of Opiates in the beginning of fevers) to provoke
sleep, take not above two grains of it at a time, going to bed; if that
provoke not sleep, the next night you may make bold with three. Have a
care how you be too busy with such medicines, lest you make a man sleep
to doom’s-day.
_Nepenthes Opiatum._
_College._] Take of tincture of Opium made first with distilled
Vinegar, then with spirit of Wine, Saffron extracted in spirit of Wine,
of each an ounce, salt of Pearl and Coral, of each half an ounce,
tincture of species Diambræ seven drams, Ambergris one dram: bring them
into the form of Pills by the gentle heat of a bath.
_Culpeper._] The operation is like the former.
_Pilulæ Assaireth._ Avicenna.
_College._] Take of Species Hiera Picra Galeni one ounce, Mastich,
Citron Myrobalans, of each half an ounce, Aloes two ounces, the Syrup
of Stœchas as much as is sufficient, make of them a mass according to
art.
_Culpeper._] It purges choler and flegm, and strengthens the whole body
exceedingly, being very precious for such whose bodies are weakened by
surfeits, or ill diet, to take half a dram or a scruple at night going
to bed.
_Pills of Bdellium._ Mesue.
_College._] Take of Bdellium ten drams, Myrobalans, Bellericks,
Emblicks, and Blacks, of each five drams, flakes of Iron, Leek seeds,
of each three drams, Choncula Veneris burnt, Coral burnt, Amber, of
each a dram and an half, Pearls half an ounce, dissolve the Bdellium
in juice of Leeks and with so much Syrup of juice of Leeks as is
sufficient, make it into a mass according to art.
_Culpeper._] Both this and the former are seldom used, and therefore
are hardly to be had.
_Pills of Rhubarb._ Mesue.
_College._] Take of choice Rhubarb three drams, Citron Myrobalans,
Trochisci Diarrhodon, of each three drams and an half, juice of
Liquorice, and juice of Wormwood, Mastich, of each one dram, the seeds
of Smallage and Fennel, of each half a dram, Species Hiera Picra simp.
Galeni, ten drams, with juice of Fennel not clarified, and Honey so
much as is sufficient, make it into a mass.
_Culpeper._] It purges choler, opens obstructions of the liver, helps
the yellow jaundice, and dropsies in the beginning, strengthens the
stomach and lungs.
_Pilulæ Arabica._ Nicholaus.
_College._] Take of the best Aloes four ounces, Briony roots,
Myrobalans, Citrons, Chebs, Indian Bellerick, and Emblick, Mastich,
Diagrydium, Asarabacca, Roses, of each an ounce, Castorium three drams,
Saffron one dram, with Syrup of Wormwood, make it into a mass according
to art.
_Culpeper._] It helps such women as are not sufficiently purged in
their labour, helps to bring away what a careless midwife hath left
behind, purges the head, helps head-ach, megrim, vertigo, and purges
the stomach of vicious humours.
_Pilulæ Arthriticæ._ Nicholaus.
_College._] Take of Hermodactils, Turbith, Agarick, of each half an
ounce, Cassia Lignea, Indian Spikenard, Cloves, Xylobalsamum, or Wood
of Aloes, Carpobalsamum or Cubebs, Mace, Galanga, Ginger, Mastich,
Assafœtida, the seeds of Annis, Fennel, Saxifrage, Sparagus, Bruscus,
Roses, Gromwell, Sal. Gem. of each two drams, Scammony one ounce, of
the best Aloes, the weight of them all, juice of Chamepitys made thick
with sugar, so much as is sufficient: or Syrup of the juice of the
same, so much as is sufficient to make it into a mass.
_Culpeper._] It helps the gout, and other pains in the joints, comforts
and strengthens both brain and stomach, and consumes diseases whose
original comes of flegm.
_Pilulæ Cochiæ_ with Helebore.
_College._] Take of the powder of the Pills before prescribed, the
powder of the bark of the roots of black Hellebore, one ounce: make it
into a mass with Syrup of Stœchas according to art.
_Pills of Fumitory._ Avicenna.
_College._] Take of Myrobalans, Citrons, Chebs, and Indian Diagrydium,
of each five drams, Aloes seven drams; let all of them being bruised,
be thrice moistened with juice of Fumitory, and thrice suffered to dry,
then brought into a mass with Syrup of Fumitory.
_Culpeper._] It purges melancholy. Be not too busy with it I beseech
you.
_Pilulæ Indæ._ Mesue _out of_ Haly.
_College._] Take of Indian Myrobalans, black Hellebore, Polypodium of
the Oak, of each five drams, Epithymum, Stœchas, of each six drams,
Agarick, Lapis Lazuli often washed troches Alhandal, Sal Indi, of each
half an ounce, juice of Maudlin made thick, Indian Spikenard, of each
two drams, Cloves one dram, Species Hiera Picra simplex Galeni, twelve
drams, with juice of Smallage make it into a mass according to art.
_Culpeper._] It wonderfully prevails against afflictions coming of
melancholy, cancers which are not ulcerated, leprosy, evils of the mind
coming of melancholy, as sadness, fear, &c. quartan agues, jaundice,
pains and infirmities of the spleen.
_Pilulæ Lucis Majores._ Mesue.
_College._] Take of Roses, Violets, Wormwood, Colocynthis, Turbith,
Cubebs, Calamus Aromaticus, Nutmegs, Indian Spikenard, Epithimum,
Carpobalsamum, or instead thereof, Cardamoms, Xylabalsamum, or Wood
of Aloes, the seeds of Seseli or Hartwort, Rue, Annis, Fennel and
Smallage, Schænanthus, Mastich, Asarabacca roots, Cloves, Cinnamon,
Cassia Lignea, Saffron, Mace, of each two drams, Myrobalans, Citrons,
Chebuls, Indian Bellerick, and Emblick, Rhubarb, of each half an ounce,
Agarick, Sena, of each five drams, Aloes Succotrina, the weight of them
all: with Syrup of the juice of Fennel make it into a mass according to
art.
_Culpeper._] It purges mixt humours from the head, and clears it of
such excrements as hinder the sight.
_Pills of Spurge._ Fernelius.
_College._] Take of the bark of the roots of Spurge the less, steeped
twenty-four hours in Vinegar and juice of Purslain, two drams, grains
of Palma Christi torrified, by number, forty, Citron Myrobalans one
dram and an half, Germander, Chamepitys, Spikenard, Cinnamon, of each
two scruples, being beaten into fine powder with an ounce of Gum
Tragacanth dissolved in Rose Water, and Syrup of Roses so much as is
sufficient, let it be made into a mass.
_Pills of Euphorbium._ Mesue.
_College._] Take of Euphorbium, Colocynthis, Agarick, Bdellium,
Sagapenum, of each two drams, Aloes five drams, with Syrup made of the
juice of Leeks, make it into a mass.
_Culpeper._] The Pills are exceeding good for dropsies, pains in the
loins, and gouts coming of a moist cause. Take not above half a dram at
a time and keep the house.
_Pilulæ Scribonii._
_College._] Take of Sagapen, and Myrrh, of each two drams, Opium,
Cardamoms, Castorium, of each one dram, white Pepper half a dram, Sapa
so much as is sufficient to make it into a mass according to art.
_Culpeper._] It is appropriated to such as have phthisicks, and such as
spit blood, but ought to be newly made, a scruple is sufficient taken
going to bed.
TROCHES.
_Trochisci de Absinthio._
Or Troches of Wormwood.
_College._] Take of red Roses, Wormwood leaves, Annis seeds, of each
two drams, juice of Maudlin made thick, the roots of Asarabacca,
Rhubarb, Spikenard, Smallage seeds, bitter Almonds, Mastich, Mace, of
each one dram, juice of Succory so much as is sufficient to make it
into troches according to art.
_Culpeper._] They strengthen the stomach exceedingly, open
obstructions, or stoppings of the belly and bowels: strengthen
digestion, open the passages of the liver, help the yellow jaundice,
and consume watery superfluities of the body. They are somewhat bitter,
and seldom taken alone; if your pallate affect bitter things, you may
take a dram of them in the morning: They cleanse the body of choler,
but purge not, or not to any purpose.
_Agaricus Trochiscatus._
Or Agarick Trochiscated.
_College._] Take of Agarick sifted and powdered, three ounces, steep it
in a sufficient quantity of white Wine, in which two drams of ginger
have been infused, and make it into troches.
_Trochisci Albi._ Rhasis.
Or white Troches.
_College._] Take of Ceruss washed in Rosewater ten drams, Sarcocol
three drams, white Starch two drams, Gum Arabic and Tragacanth, of each
one dram, Camphire half a dram, either with Rosewater, or women’s milk,
or make it into troches according to art.
_Trochisci Alexiterii._
_College._] Take of Zedoary roots, powder of Crab’s Claws, of each one
dram, and an half, the outward Citron preserved and dried, Angelica
seeds, Pills, of each one dram, Bole-amoniac half a dram, with their
treble weight in sugar make them into powder, and with a sufficient
quantity of Mussilage of Gum Tragacanth, made into treacle water
distilled, make it into paste, of which make troches.
_Culpeper._] This preserves the body from ill airs, and epidemical
diseases, as the pestilence, small pox, &c. and strengthens the heart
exceedingly, eating now and then a little: you may safely keep any
troches in your pocket, for the drier you keep them, the better they
are.
_Trochisci Alhandal._
_College._] Take of Coloquintida freed from the seeds and cut small,
and rubbed with an ounce of oil of Roses, then beaten into fine powder,
ten ounces, Gum Arabic, Tragacanth, Bdellium, of each six drams. Steep
the Gums three or four days in a sufficient quantity of Rose-water till
they be melted, then with the aforesaid pulp, and part of the said
mussilage, let them be dried in the shadow, then beaten again, and with
the rest of the mussilage, make it up again, dry them and keep them for
use.
_Culpeper._] They are too violent for a vulgar use.
_Trochisci Aliptæ Moschatæ._
_College._] Take of Labdanum bruised three ounces, Styrax Calamitis
one ounce and an half, Benjamin one ounce, Wood of Aloes two drams,
Ambergris one dram, Camphire half a dram, Musk half a scruple, with a
sufficient quantity of Rose-water, make it into troches according to
art.
_Culpeper._] It is singularly good for such as are asthmatic, and can
hardly fetch their breath; as also for young children, whose throat is
so narrow that they can hardly swallow down their milk.
_Trochisci Alkekengi._
Or Troches of Winter-cherries.
_College._] Take of Winter Cherries three drams, Gum Arabic,
Tragacanth, Olibanum, Dragon’s-blood, Pine-nuts, bitter Almonds, white
Styrax, juice of Liquorice, Bole-ammoniac, white Poppy seeds, of each
six drams, the seeds of Melons, Cucumbers, Citruls, Gourds, of each
three drams and an half, the seeds of Smallage and white Henbane,
Amber, Earth of Lemnos, Opium, of each two drams, with juice of fresh
Winter-Cherries, make them into troches according to art.
_Culpeper._] They potently provoke urine, and break the stone. Mix them
with other medicine of that nature, half a dram at a time, or a dram if
age permit.
_Trochisci Bechici aloi, vel, Rotulæ pectorales._
Or, Pectoral Rolls.
_College._] Take of white Sugar one pound, white Sugar Candy, Penids,
of each four ounces, Orris Florentine one ounce, Liquorice six drams,
white Starch one ounce and an half, with a sufficient quantity of
mussilage of Gum Tragacanth made in Rose Water, make them into small
troches. You may add four grains of Ambergris, and three grains of Musk
to them, if occasion serve.
_Trochisci Bechici nigri._
_College._] Take of juice of Liquorice, white Sugar, of each one dram,
Gum Tragacanth, sweet Almonds blanched, of each six drams, with a
sufficient quantity of mussilage of Quince seeds, made thick with Rose
Water. Make them into troches according to art.
_Culpeper._] Both this and the former will melt in ones mouth, and
in that manner to be used by such as are troubled with coughs, cold,
hoarseness, or want of voice. The former is most in use, but in my
opinion, the latter is most effectual.
_Trochisci de Barberis._
Or, Troches of Barberries.
_College._] Take of juice of Barberries, and Liquorice made thick,
Spodium, Purslain seeds, of each three drams, red Roses, six drams,
Indian Spikenard, Saffron, white Starch, Gum Tragacanth, of each a
dram, Citrul seeds cleansed three drams and an half, Camphire half
a dram; with Manna dissolved in juice of Barberries, make them into
troches according to art.
_Culpeper._] They wonderfully cool the heat of the liver, reins, and
bladder, breast, and stomach, and stop looseness, cools the heat of
fevers.
_Trochisci de Camphora._
Or, Troches of Camphire.
_College._] Take of Camphire half a dram, Saffron two drams, white
Starch three drams, red Roses, Gum Arabic, and Tragacanth, Ivory,
of each half an ounce, the seeds of Cucumbers husked, of Purslain,
Liquorice, of each an ounce, with mussilage of the seeds of Fleawort,
drawn in Rose-water, make them into troches.
_Culpeper._] It is exceeding good in burning fevers, heat of blood
and choler, together with hot distempers of the stomach and liver,
and extreme thirst coming thereby, also it is good against the yellow
jaundice, phthisics, and hectic fevers.
_Trochisci de Capparibus._
Or, Troches of Capers.
_College._] Take of the bark of Caper roots, the seeds of Agnus Castus,
of each six drams, Ammoniacum half an ounce, the seeds of Water Cresses
and Nigella, the leaves of Calaminth and Rue, the roots of Acorus and
long Birthwort, the juice of Maudlin made thick, bitter Almonds, of
each two drams, Hart’s-tongue, the roots of round Cypress, Madder, Gum
Lac. of each one dram: being bruised let them be made into troches
according to art, with Ammoniacum dissolved in Vinegar, and boiled to
the thickness of Honey.
_Culpeper._] They open stoppings of the liver and spleen, and help
diseases thereof coming; as rickets, hypochondriac melancholy, &c. Men
may take a dram, children a scruple in the morning.
_Trochisci de Carabe._
Or, Troches of Amber.
_College._] Take of Amber an ounce, Hart’s-horn burnt, Gum Arabic
burnt, red Coral burnt, Tragacanth, Acacia, Hypocistis, Balaustines,
Mastich, Gum Lacca washed, black Poppy seeds roasted, of each two drams
and two scruples, Frankincense, Saffron, Opium, of each two drams, with
a sufficient quantity of mussilage of the seeds of Fleawort drawn in
Plantain Water, make them into troches according to art.
_Culpeper._] They were invented to stop fluxes of blood in any part of
the body, the menses, the hæmorrhoids or piles; they also help ulcers
in the breast and lungs. The dose is from ten grains to a scruple.
_Trochisci Cypheos, for Mithridate._
_College._] Take of pulp of Raisins of the Sun, Cypress, Turpentine,
of each three ounces, Myrrh, Squinanth, of each an ounce and an half,
Cinnamon half an ounce, Calamus Aromaticus nine drams, the roots of
round Cypress, and Indian Spikenard, Cassia Lignea, Juniper berries,
Bdellium, Aspalthus or Wood of Aloes, two drams and an half, Saffron
one dram, clarified Honey as much as is sufficient, Canary Wine a
little: let the Myrrh and Bdellium be ground in a mortar with the wine,
to the thickness of liquid Honey, then add the Turpentine, then the
pulp of Raisins, then the powders: at last with the Honey, let them all
be made into troches.
_Culpeper._] It is excellently good against inward ulcers in what part
of the body soever they be. It is chiefly used in compositions, as
Treacle and Mithridate.
_Trochisci de Eupatorio._
Or Troches of Maudlin.
_College._] Take of the juice of Maudlin made thick, Manna, of each
an ounce, red Roses half an ounce, Spodium three drams and an half,
Spikenard three drams, Rhubarb, Asarabacca roots, Annis seeds, of each
two drams. Let the Nard, Annis seeds, and Roses, be beaten together,
the Spodium, Asarabacca, and Rhubarb by themselves, then mix the Manna
and juice of Maudlin in a mortar, add the powders, and with new juice
make it into troches.
_Culpeper._] Obstructions, or stoppings, and swelling above nature,
both of the liver and spleen, are cured by the inward taking of these
troches, and diseases thereof coming, as yellow and black jaundice, the
beginning of dropsies, &c.
_Troches of Gallia Moschata._
_College._] Take of Wood of Aloes five drams, Ambergris three drams,
Musk one dram, with mussilage of Gum Tragacanth made in Rose Water,
make it into troches according to art.
_Culpeper._] They strengthen the brain and heart, and by consequence
both vital and animal spirits, and cause a sweet breath. They are of an
extreme price, therefore I pass by the dose.
_Trochisci Gordonii._
_College._] Take of the four greater cold seeds husked, the seeds
of white Poppies, Mallows, Cotton, Purslain, Quinces, Mirtles, Gum
Tragacanth, and Arabic, Fistic-nuts, Pine-nuts, Sugar-candy, Penids,
Liquorice, French-barley, mussilage of Fleawort seeds, sweet Almonds
blanched, of each two drams, Bole-ammoniac, Dragon’s-blood, Spodium,
red Roses, Myrrh, of each half an ounce, with a sufficient quantity of
Hydromel, make it into troches according to art.
_Culpeper._] They are held to be very good in ulcers of the bladder,
and all other inward ulcers whatsoever, and ease fevers coming thereby,
being of a fine cooling, slippery heating nature.
_Trochisci Hedichroi, (_Galen_) for Treacle._
_College._] Take of Aspalthus, or yellow Sanders, the leaves of
Mastich, the roots of Asarabacca, of each two drams, Rhupontic, Castus,
Calamus Aromaticus, Wood of Aloes, Cinnamon, Squinanth, Opobalsamum
or oil of Nutmegs by expression, of each three drams, Cassia Lignea,
Indian Leaf or Mace, Indian Spikenard, Myrrh, Saffron, of each six
drams, Amomus, or Cardamoms the less, an ounce and an half, Mastich a
dram, Canary Wine as much as is sufficient. Let the Myrrh be dissolved
in the wine, then add the Mastich and Saffron well beaten, then the
Opobalsamum, then the rest in powder, and with the wine, make them up
into troches, and dry them gently.
_Culpeper._] They are very seldom or never used but in other
compositions, yet naturally they heat cold stomachs, help digestion,
strengthen the heart and brain.
_Trochisci Hysterici._
_College._] Take of Asafœtida, Galbanum, of each two drams and an half,
Myrrh two drams, Castoreum a dram and an half, the roots of Asarabacca
and long Birthwort, the leaves of Savin, Featherfew, Nep, of each one
dram, Dittany half a dram, with either the juice or decoction of Rue,
make it into troches according to art.
_Culpeper._] These are applied to the fœminine gender, help fits of the
mother, expel both birth and after-birth, cleanse women after labour,
and expel the relics of a careless midwife.
_Trochisci de Ligno Aloes._
Or Troches of Wood of Aloes.
_College._] Take of Wood of Aloes, red Roses, of each two drams,
Mastich, Cinnamon, Cloves, Indian Spikenard, Nutmegs, Parsnip seed,
Cardamoms the greater and lesser, Cubebs, Gallia Moschata, Citron
Pills, Mace, of each one dram and an half, Ambergris, Musk, of each
half a scruple, with Honey of Raisins make it into troches.
_Culpeper._] It strengthens the heart, stomach, and liver, takes away
heart-qualms, faintings, and stinking breath, and resists the dropsy.
_Trochisci e Mirrha._
Or Troches of Myrrh.
_College._] Take of Myrrh three drams, the Meal of Lupines five drams,
Madder roots, the leaves of Rue, wild Mints, Dittany of Crete, Cummin
seeds, Asafœtida, Sagapen, Opopanax, of each two drams, dissolve the
Gums in Wine wherein Mugwort hath been boiled, or else Juniper-berries,
then add the rest, and with juice of Mugwort, make it into troches
according to art.
_Culpeper._] They provoke the menses, and that with great ease to
such as have them come down with pain. Take a dram of them beaten
into powder, in a spoonful or two of Syrup of Mugwort, or any other
composition tending to the same purpose.
_Sief de Plumbo._
Or Sief of Lead.
_College._] Take of Lead burnt and washed, Brass burnt, Antimony, Tutty
washed, Gum Arabic and Tragacanth of each an ounce, Opium half a dram,
with Rose-water, make them, being beaten and sifted, into troches.
_Trochisci Polyidæ Androm._
_College._] Take of Pomegranate flowers twelve drams, Roach Album three
drams, Frankincense, Myrrh, of each half an ounce, Chalcanthum two
drams, Bull’s gall six drams, Aloes an ounce, with austere Wine, or
juice of Nightshade or Plantain, make them into troches according to
art.
_Culpeper._] They are very good they say, being outwardly applied, both
in green wounds and ulcers. I fancy them not.
_Trochisci de Rhubarbaro._
Or Troches of Rhubarb.
_College._] Take of Rhubarb ten drams, juice of Maudlin made thick,
bitter Almonds, of each half an ounce, red Roses three drams, the
roots of Asarabacca, Madder, Indian Spikenard, the leaves of Wormwood,
the seeds of Annis and Smallage, of each one dram, with Wine in which
Wormwood hath been boiled, make them into troches according to art.
_Culpeper._] They gently cleanse the liver, help the yellow jaundice,
and other diseases coming of choler and stoppage of the liver.
_Trochisci de Santalis._
Or Troches of Sanders.
_College._] Take of the three Sanders, of each one ounce, the seeds of
Cucumbers, Gourds, Citruls, Purslain, Spodium, of each half an ounce,
red Roses seven drams, juice of Barberries six drams, Bole-ammoniac
half an ounce, Camphire one dram, with Purslain Water make it into
troches.
_Culpeper._] The virtues are the same with troches of Spodium, both of
them harmless.
_Trochisci da Scilla ad Theriacam._
Or Troches of Squils, for Treacle.
_College._] Take a Squil gathered about the beginning of July, of a
middle bigness, and the hard part to which the small roots stick, wrap
it up in paste, and bake it in an oven, till the paste be dry, and the
Squil tender, which you may know by piercing it with a wooden skewer,
or a bodkin, then take it out and bruise it in a mortar, adding to
every pound of the Squil, eight ounces of white Orobus, or red Cicers
in powder, then make it into troches, of the weight of two drams a
piece, (your hands being anointed with Oil of Roses) dry them on the
top of the house, opening towards the South, in the shadow, often
turning them till they be well dry, then keep them in a pewter or glass
vessel.
_Troches of Spodium._
_College._] Take of red Roses twelve drams, Spodium ten drams, Sorrel
seed six drams, the seeds of Purslain and Coriander, steeped in Vinegar
and dried, pulp of Sumach, of each two drams and an half, white Starch
roasted, Balaustines, Barberries, of each two drams, Gum Arabic roasted
one dram and an half, with juice of unripe Grapes, make it into troches.
_Culpeper._] They are of a fine cooling binding nature, excellent in
fevers coming of choler, especially if they be accompanied with a
looseness, they also quench thirst.
_Trochisci de terra Lemnia._
Or Troches of Earth of Lemnos.
_College._] Take of Earth of Lemnos, Bole-ammoniac, Acacia, Hypocystis,
Gum Arabic toasted, Dragon’s blood, white Starch, red Roses, Rose
seeds, Lap. Hematitis, red Coral, Amber, Balaustines, Spodium, Purslain
seeds a little toasted, Olibanum, Hart’s-horn burnt, Cypress Nuts,
Saffron of each two drams, black Poppy seeds, Tragacanth, Pearls, of
each one dram and an half, Opium prepared one dram, with juice of
Plantain, make it into troches.
_Sief de Thure._
Or Sief of Frankincense.
_College._] Take of Frankincense, Lap. Calaminaris, Pompholix, of each
ten drams, Cyrus forty drams, Gum Arabic, Opium, of each six drams,
with fair water make it into balls: dry them and keep them for use.
_Trochisci e Violis solutivi._
Or Troches of Violets solutive.
_College._] Take of Violet flowers meanly dry, six drams, Turbith one
ounce and an half, juice of Liquorice, Scammony, Manna, of each two
drams, with Syrup of Violets, make it into troches.
_Culpeper._] They are not worth talking of, much less worth cost, the
cost and labour of making.
_Trochisci de Vipera ad Theriacum._
Or Troches of Vipers, for Treacle.
_College._] Take of the flesh of Vipers, the skin, entrails, head,
fat, and tail being taken away, boiled in water with Dill, and a
little salt, eight ounces, white bread twice baked, grated and sifted,
two ounces, make it into troches, your hands being anointed with
Opobalsamum, or Oil of Nutmegs by expression, dry them upon a sieve
turned the bottom upwards in an open place, often turning them till
they are well dried, then put them in a glass or stone pot glazed,
stopped close, they will keep a year, yet is it far better to make
Treacle, not long after you have made them.
_Culpeper._] They expel poison, and are excellently good, by a certain
sympathetical virtue, for such as are bitten by an adder.
_Trochisci de Agno Casto._
Or Troches of Agnus Castus.
_College._] Take of the seeds of Agnus Castus, Lettuce, red Rose
flowers, Balaustins, of each a dram, Ivory, white Amber, Bole-ammoniac
washed in Knotgrass Water two drams, Plantain seeds four scruples,
Sassafras two scruples, with mussilage of Quince seeds, extracted in
water of Water-lily flowers, let them be made into troches.
_Culpeper._] Very pretty troches and good for little.
_Trochisci Alexiterii._ Renodæus.
_College._] Take of the roots of Gentian, Tormentil, Orris Florentine,
Zedoary, of each two drams, Cinnamon, Cloves, Mace, of each half a
dram, Angelica roots three drams, Coriander seeds prepared, Roses, of
each one dram, dried Citron pills two drams, beat them all into powder,
and with juice of Liquorice softened in Hippocras, six ounces, make
them into soft paste, which you may form into either troches or small
rolls, which you please.
_Culpeper._] It preserves and strengthens the heart exceedingly, helps
faintings and failings of the vital spirits, resists poison and the
pestilence, and is an excellent medicine for such to carry about them
whose occasions are to travel in pestilential places and corrupt air,
only taking a very small quantity now and then.
_Troches of Annis seed._ Mesue.
_College._] Take of Annis seeds, the juice of Maudlin made thick, of
each two drams, the seeds of Dill, Spikenard, Mastich, Indian leaf or
Mace, the leaves of Wormwood, Asarabacca, Smallage, bitter Almonds,
of each half a dram, Aloes two drams, juice of Wormwood so much as is
sufficient to make it into troches according to art.
_Culpeper._] They open obstructions of the liver, and that very gently,
and therefore diseases coming thereof, help quartan agues. You can
scarce do amiss in taking them if they please but your palate.
_Trochisci Diarhodon._ Mesue.
_College._] Take of the flowers of red Roses six drams, Spikenard, Wood
of Aloes, of each two drams, Liquorice three drams, Spodium one dram,
Saffron half a dram, Mastich two drams, make them up into troches with
white Wine according to art.
_Culpeper._] They wonderfully ease fevers coming of flegm, as quotidian
fevers, agues, epiatos, &c. pains in the belly.
_Trochisci de Lacca._ Mesue.
_College._] Take of Gum Lacca cleansed, the juice of Liquorice,
Maudlin, Wormwood, and Barberries, all made thick, Rhubarb, long
Birthwort, Costus, Asarabacca, bitter Almonds, Madder, Annis, Smallage,
Schænanth, of each one dram, with the decoction of Birthwort,
Schænanth, or the juice of Maudlin, or Wormwood, make them into troches
according to art.
_Culpeper._] It helps stoppings of the liver and spleen, and fevers
thence coming, it expels wind, purges by urine, and resists dropsies.
_Pastilli Adronis._ Galen.
_College._] Take of Pomegranate flowers ten drams, Copperas twelve
drams, unripe Galls, Birthwort, Frankincense, of each an ounce, Alum,
Myrrh, of each half an ounce, Misy two drams, with eighteen ounces of
austere Wine, make it into troches according to art.
_Culpeper._] This also is appropriated to wounds, ulcers, and fistulas,
it clears the ears, and represses all excressences of flesh, cleanses
the filth of the bones.
_Trochisci Musæ._ Galen.
_College._] Take of Alum, Aloes, Copperas, Myrrh, of each six drams,
Crocomagma, Saffron, of each three drams, Pomegranate flowers half an
ounce, Wine and Honey, of each so much as is sufficient to make it up
into troches according to art.
_Culpeper._] Their use is the same with the former.
_Crocomagma of Damocrates._ Galen.
_College._] Take of Saffron an hundred drams, red Roses, Myrrh, of each
fifty drams, white Starch, Gum, of each thirty drams, Wine, so much as
is sufficient to make it into troches.
_Culpeper._] It is very expulsive, heats and strengthens the heart and
stomach.
_Trochisci Ramich._ Mesue.
_College._] Take of the juice of Sorrel sixteen ounces, red Rose
Leaves, an ounce, Myrtle Berries two ounces, boil them a little
together, and strain them, add to the decoction, Galls well beaten,
three ounces, boil them again a little, then put in these following
things, in fine powder: take of red Roses an ounce, yellow Sanders,
ten drams, Gum Arabic an ounce and an half, Sumach, Spodium, of each
an ounce, Myrtle berries four ounces, Wood of Aloes, Cloves, Mace,
Nutmegs, of each half an ounce, sour Grapes seven drams, mix them all
together, and let them dry upon a stone, and grind them again into
powder, and make them into small troches with one dram of Camphire,
and so much Rose Water as is sufficient, and perfume them with fifteen
grains of Musk.
_Culpeper._] They strengthen the stomach, heart, and liver, as also the
bowels, they help the cholic, and fluxes of blood, as also bleeding
at the nose if you snuff up the powder of them, disburden the body of
salt, fretting, choleric humours. You may carry them about you, and
take them at your pleasure.
_Troches of Roses._ Mesue.
_College._] Take of red Roses half an ounce, Wood of Aloes two
drams, Mastich, a dram and an half, Roman Wormwood, Cinnamon, Indian
Spikenard, Cassia Lignea, Schœnanth, of each one dram, old Wine, and
decoction of the five opening roots, so much as is sufficient to make
it into troches according to art.
_Culpeper._] They help pains in the stomach, and indigestion, the
illiac passion, hectic fevers, and dropsies, in the beginning, and
cause a good colour.
_Trochisci Diacorallion._ Galen.
_College._] Take of Bole-ammoniac, red Coral, of each an ounce,
Balaustines, Terra Lemnia, white Starch, of each half an ounce,
Hypocistis, the seeds of Henbane, Opium, of each two drams, juice of
Plantain so much as is sufficient to make them into troches according
to art.
_Culpeper._] These also stop blood, help the bloody flux, stop the
menses, and are a great help to such whose stomachs loath their
victuals. I fancy them not.
_Trochisci Diaspermaton._ Galen.
_College._] Take of the seeds of Smallage, and Bishop’s weed, of each
an ounce, Annis and Fennel seeds, of each half an ounce, Opium, Cassia
Lignea, of each two drams, with rain water, make it into troches
according to art.
_Culpeper._] These also bind, ease pain, help the pleurisy.
_Hæmoptoici Pastilli._ Galen.
_College._] Take of white Starch, Balaustines, Earth of Samos, juice
of Hypocystis, Gum, Saffron, Opium, of each two drams, with juice of
Plantain, make them into troches according to art.
_Culpeper._] The operation of this is like the former.
_Troches of Agarick._
_College._] Take of choice Agarick three ounces, Sal. Gem. six drams,
Ginger two drams, with Oxymel simplex, so much as is sufficient, make
it into troches according to art.
OILS.
SIMPLE OILS BY EXPRESSION.
_Oil of Sweet Almonds._
_College._] Take of Sweet Almonds not corrupted, as many as you will,
cast the shells away, and blanch them, beat them in a stone mortar,
beat them in a double vessel, and press out the oil without heat.
_Culpeper._] It helps roughness and soreness of the throat and stomach,
helps pleurisies, encreases seed, eases coughs and hectic fevers,
by injection it helps such whose water scalds them; ulcers in the
bladder, reins, and matrix. You may either take half an ounce of it by
itself, or mix it with half an ounce of Syrup of Violets, and so take
a spoonful at a time, still shaking them together when you take them:
only take notice of this, if you take it inwardly, let it be new drawn,
for it will be sour in three or four days.
_Oil of bitter Almonds._
_College._] It is made like Oil of sweet Almonds, but that you need not
blanch them, nor have such a care of heat in pressing out the oil.
_Culpeper._] It opens stoppings, helps such as are deaf, being dropped
into their ears, it helps the hardness of the nerves, and takes away
spots in the face. It is seldom or never taken inwardly.
_Oil of Hazel Nuts._
_College._] It is made of the Kernels, cleansed, bruised, and beat, and
pressed like Oil of sweet Almonds.
_Culpeper._] You must put them in a vessel (viz. a glass, or some such
thing) and stop them close that the water come not to them when you put
them into the bath. The oil is good for cold afflictions of the nerves,
the gout in the joints, &c.
_College._] So is Oil of Been, Oil of Nutmegs, and Oil of Mace drawn.
_Oleum Caryinum._
_College._] Is prepared of Walnut Kernels, in like manner, save only
that in the making of this sometimes is required dried, old, and rank
Nuts.
_Oleum Chrysomelinum._
_College._] Is prepared in the same manner of Apricots, so is also
Oils of the Kernels of Cherry stones, Peaches, Pine-nuts, Fistic
Nuts, Prunes, the seeds of Oranges, Hemp, Bastard Saffron, Citrons,
Cucumbers, Gourds, Citruls, Dwarf Elder, Henbane, Lettuce, Flax,
Melons, Poppy, Parsley, Radishes, Rape, Ricinum, Sesani, Mustard seed,
and Grape stones.
_Culpeper._] Because most of these Oils are out of use, I took not the
pains to quote the virtues of them; if any wish to make them, let them
look to the simples, and there they have them; if the simples be not to
be found in this book, there are other plentiful medicines conducing to
the cure of all usual diseases; which are—
_Oil of Bays._
_College._] Take of Bay-berries, fresh and ripe, so many as you please,
bruise them sufficiently, then boil them in a sufficient quantity of
water till the Oil swim at top, which separate from the water, and keep
for your use.
_Culpeper._] It helps the cholic, and is a sovereign remedy for any
diseases in any part of the body coming either of wind or cold.
_College._] _Common Oil of Olives_, is pressed out of ripe olives, not
out of the stones. Oil of Olives omphacine, is pressed out of unripe
olives.
_Oil of Yolks of Eggs._
_College._] Boil the yolks till they be hard, and bruise them with
your hand or with a pestle and mortar; beat them in an earthen vessel
glazed until they begin to froth, stirring them diligently that they
burn not, being hot, put them in a linen bag, and sprinkle them with
Aromatic Wine, and press out the oil according to art.
_Culpeper._] It is profitable in fistulas, and malignant ulcers, it
causes the hair to grow, it clears the skin, and takes away deformities
thereof, viz. tetters, ringworms, morphew, scabs.
SIMPLE OILS BY INFUSION AND
DECOCTION.
_Oil of Roses omphacine._
_College._] Take of red Roses before they be ripe, bruised in a stone
mortar, four ounces, oil Omphacine one pound, set them in a hot sun,
in a glass close stopped, a whole week, shaking them every day, then
boil them gently in a bath, press them out, and put in others, use them
in like manner, do so a third time: then keep the Oil upon a pound of
juice of Roses.
_Oil of Roses complete,_
Is made in the same manner, with sweet and ripe oil, often washed, and
red Roses fully open, bruised, set in the sun, and boiled gently in a
double vessel, only let the third infusion stand in the sun forty days,
then keep the roses and oil together.
In the same manner is made Oil of Wormwood, of the tops of common
Wormwood thrice repeated, four ounces, and three pounds of ripe oil;
only, the last time put in four ounces of the juice of Wormwood, which
evaporate away by gentle boiling.
_Oil of Dill_: Of the flowers and leaves of Dill four ounces, complete
oil, one pound, thrice repeated.
_Oil of Castoreum_: Of one ounce of Castoreum oil one pound, Wine four
ounces, which must be consumed with the heat of a bath.
_Oil of Chamomel_ (which more than one call Holy) of complete oil,
and fresh Chamomel flowers, the little white leaves taken away, cut,
bruised, and the vessel covered with a thin linen cloth, set in the
sun, pressed out, and three times repeated.
_Oil of Wall-flowers_, as oil of Dill.
_Oil of Quinces_: Of six parts of oil Omphacine, the meat and juice
of Quinces one part, set them in the sun fifteen days in a glass, and
afterwards boil them four hours in a double vessel, press them out, and
renew them three times.
_Oil of Elecampane_: Of ripe oil, and the roots of Elecampane bruised,
and their juice, of each one part, and of generous Wine half a part,
which is to be evaporated away.
_Oil of Euphorbium_: Of six drams of Euphorbium, Oil of Wall-flowers,
and sweet Wine, of each five ounces, boiling it in a double vessel till
the Wine be consumed.
_Oil of Ants_: Of winged Ants infused in four times their weight of
sweet oil, set in the sun in a glass forty days, and then strain it out.
_Oil, or Balsam of St. John’s Wort simple_, is made of the oil of seeds
beaten and pressed, and the flowers being added, and rightly set in the
sun.
_Oil of Jesmine_, is made of the flowers of Jesmine, put in clear oil,
and set in the sun and afterwards pressed out.
_Oil of Orris_, made of the roots of Orris Florentine one pound,
purple Orris flowers half a pound: boil them in a double vessel in a
sufficient quantity of decoction of Orris Florentine, and six pounds of
sweet oil, putting fresh roots and flowers again and again; the former
being cast away as in oil of Roses.
_Oil of Earthworms_, is made of half a pound of Earthworms washed in
white Wine, ripe Oil two pounds, boiled in a double vessel with eight
ounces of good white Wine till the Wine be consumed.
_Oil of Marjoram_, is made with four ounces of the herb a little
bruised, white Wine six ounces, ripe oil a pound, mixed together, let
them be set in the sun repeated three times; at last boiled to the
consumption of the Wine.
Oil of Mastich, is made of oil of Roses omphacine one pound, Mastich
three ounces, Wine four ounces: boil them in a double vessel to the
consumption of the Wine.
Oil of Melilot is made with the tops of the herb like oil of Chamomel.
Oil of Mints is made of the herb and oil omphacine, as oil of Roses.
Oil of Mirtles, is made of Mirtle berries bruised and sprinkled with
sharp Wine one part, oil omphacine three parts; set it in the sun
twenty-four days, and in the interim thrice renewed, boiled, and the
berries pressed out.
Oil of Daffodils is made as oil of Roses.
Nard Oil is made of three ounces of Spikenard, sweet oil one pound and
an half, sweet white Wine and clear water, of each two ounces and an
half, boiled to the consumption of the moisture.
Oil of Water-lilies, is made of fresh white Water-lily flowers, one
part, oil omphacine three parts, repeating the flowers as in oil of
Roses.
Oil of Tobacco is made of the juice of Tobacco, and common oil, of each
equal parts boiled in a bath.
Oil of Poppies, is made of the flowers, heads, and leaves of garden
Poppies, and oil omphacine, as oil of Dill.
Oil of Poplars, is made of the buds of the Poplar tree three parts,
rich white Wine four parts, sweet oil seven parts; first let the buds
be bruised, then infused in the Wine and oil seven days, then boiled,
then pressed out.
Oil of Rue, is made of the herb bruised, and ripe oil, like oil of
Roses.
Oil of Savin is made in the same manner.
So also is Oil of Elder flowers made.
Oil of Scorpions, is made of thirty live Scorpions, caught when the sun
is in the lion; oil of bitter Almonds two pounds, let them be set in
the sun, and after forty days strained.
Oleum Cicyonium, is made of wild Cucumber roots, and their juice,
of each equal parts; with twice as much ripe oil, boil it to the
consumption of the juice.
Oil of Nightshade, is made of the berries of Nightshade ripe, and one
part boiled in ripe oil, or oil of Roses three parts.
Oil of Styrax, is made of Styrax and sweet white Wine, of each one
part, ripe oil four parts gently boiled till the Wine be consumed.
Oil of Violets, is made of oil omphacine, and Violet flowers, as oil of
Roses.
Oil of Vervain, is made of the herb and oil, as oil of Mints.
_Culpeper._] That most of these Oils, if not all of them, are used only
externally, is certain; and as certain that they retain the virtues of
the simples whereof they are made, therefore the ingenious might help
themselves.
COMPOUND OILS BY INFUSION
AND DECOCTION.
_Oleum Benedictum._
Or Blessed Oil.
_College._] Take of the roots of Carduus and Valerian, of each one
ounce, the flowers of St. John’s Wort two ounces, Wheat one ounce
and an half, old Oil four ounces, Cypress Turpentine eight ounces,
Frankincense in powder two ounces, infuse the roots and flowers, being
bruised, in so much white Wine as is sufficient to cover them, after
two days’ infusion put in the Oil with the Wheat, bruised, boil them
together till the Wine be consumed; then press it out, and add the
Frankincense and Turpentine, then boil them a little, and keep it.
_Culpeper._] It is appropriated to cleanse and consolidate wounds,
especially in the head.
_Oleum de Capparibus._
Or, Oil of Capers.
_College._] Take of the bark of Caper roots an ounce, bark of Tamarisk,
the leaves of the same, the seeds of Agnus Castus, Cetrach, or
Spleenwort, Cypress roots, of each two drams, Rue one dram, oil of
ripe Olives one pound, white Wine Vinegar, and white Wine, of each two
ounces, cut them and steep them, and boil them (two days being elapsed)
gently in a bath, then the Wine and Vinegar being consumed, strain it,
and keep it.
_Culpeper._] The oil is opening, and heating, absolutely appropriated
to the spleen, hardness and pains thereof, and diseases coming of
stoppings there, as hypocondriac melancholy, the rickets, &c.
_Oil of Castoreum compound._
_College._] Take of Castoreum, Styrax Calamitis, Galbanum, Euphorbium,
Opopanax, Cassia Lignea, Saffron, Carpobalsamum or Cubebs, Spikenard,
Costus, of each two drams, Cypress, Squinanth, Pepper long and black,
Savin, Pellitory of Spain, of each two drams and an half, ripe Oil
four pounds, Spanish Wine two pounds, the five first excepted, let the
rest be prepared as they ought to be, and gently boiled in the Oil and
Wine, until the Wine be consumed, mean time the Galbanum, Opopanax, and
Euphorbium beaten in fine powder, being dissolved in part of the Wine,
and strained, let them be exquisitely mixed with it (while the oil is
warm) by often stirring; the boiling being finished, put in the Styrax
and Castoreum.
_Culpeper._] The virtues are the same with the simple.
_Oleum Castinum._
_College._] Take of the roots of bitter Castus two ounces, Cassia
Lignea one ounce, the tops of Marjoram eight ounces, being bruised,
steep them two days in twelve ounces of sweet white Wine; then with
three pounds of sallad oil washed in white Wine, boil it in _Balneo
Mariæ_ till the Wine be consumed.
_Culpeper._] It heats, opens obstructions, strengthens the nerves,
and all nervous parts, as muscles, tendons, ligaments, the ventricle;
besides these, it strengthens the liver, it keeps the hairs from
turning grey, and gives a good colour to the body. I pray you take
notice that this and the following oils, (till I give you warning to
the contrary) are not made to eat.
_Oleum Crocinum,_
Or, Oil of Saffron.
_College._] Take of Saffron, Calamus Aromaticus, of each one ounce,
Myrrh, half an ounce, Cardamoms nine drams, steep them six days, (the
Cardamoms excepted, which are not to be put in till the last day,)
in nine ounces of Vinegar, the day after put in a pound and an half
of washed oil, boil it gently according to art, till the Vinegar, be
consumed, then strain it.
_Culpeper._] It helps pains in the nerves, and strengthens them,
mollifies their hardness, helps pains in the matrix, and causes a good
colour.
_Oil of Euphorbium._
_College._] Take of Stavesacre, Sopewort, of each half an ounce,
Pellitory of Spain six drams, dried Mountain Calamint one ounce and
an half, Castus two drams, Castoreum five drams, being bruised, let
them be three days steeped in three pounds and an half of Wine, boil
them with a pound and an half of Oil of Wall-flowers, adding half an
ounce of Euphorbium, before the Wine be quite consumed, and so boil it
according to art.
_Culpeper._] It hath the same virtue, only something more effectual
than the simple.
_Oleum Excestrense,_
Or, Oil of Exeter.
_College._] Take of the leaves of Wormwood, Centaury the less,
Eupatorium, Fennel, Hyssop, Bays, Marjoram, Bawm, Nep, Pennyroyal,
Savin, Sage, Thyme, of each four ounces, Southernwood, Betony,
Chamepitys, Lavender, of each six ounces, Rosemary one pound, the
flowers of Chamomel, Broom, white Lilies, Elders, the seeds of Cummin,
and Fenugreek, the roots of Hellebore black and white, the bark of
Ash and Lemons, of each four ounces, Euphorbium, Mustard, Castoreum,
Pellitory of Spain, of each an ounce, Oil sixteen pounds, Wine three
pounds, the herbs, flowers, seeds, and Euphorbium being bruised, the
roots, barks, and Castoreum cut, all of them infused twelve hours in
the Wine and Oil, in a warm bath, then boiled with a gentle fire, to
the consumption of the Wine and moisture, strain the Oil and keep it.
_Culpeper._] Many people by catching bruises when they are young, come
to feel it when they are old: others by catching cold, catch a lameness
in their limbs, to both which I commend this sovereign oil to bathe
their grieved members with.
_Oleum Hirundinum,_
Or, Oil of Swallows.
_College._] Take of whole Swallows sixteen, Chamomel, Rue, Plantain the
greater and lesser, Bay leaves, Pennyroyal, Dill, Hyssop, Rosemary,
Sage, Saint John’s Wort, Costmary, of each one handful, common Oil four
pounds, Spanish Wine one pound, make it up according to art.
_Culpeper._] Both this and the former are appropriated to old bruises
and pains thereof coming, as also to sprains.
_Oleum Hyperici compositum._
Or, Oil of St. John’s Wort compound.
_College._] Take of the tops of St. John’s Wort four ounces, steep them
three whole days in a pound of old Sallad Oil, in the heat either of
a bath, or of the sun, then press them out, repeat the infusion the
second or third time, then boil them till the wine be almost consumed,
press them out, and by adding three ounces of Turpentine, and one
scruple of Saffron, boil it a little and keep it.
_Culpeper._] See the simple oil of St. John’s Wort, than which this is
stronger.
_Oleum Hyperici magis compositum._
Or, Oil of St. John’s Wort more compound.
_College._] Take of white Wine three pounds, tops of St. John’s Wort
ripe and gently bruised, four handfuls, steep them two days in a glass,
close stopped, boil them in a bath, and strain them strongly, repeat
the infusion three times, having strained it the third time, add to
every pound of decoction, old Oil four pounds, Turpentine six ounces,
oil of Wormwood three ounces, Dittany, Gentian, Carduus, Tormentil,
Carline, or Cordus Maria, Calamus Aromaticus, all of them bruised, of
each two drams, Earth-worms often washed in white Wine two ounces, set
it in the sun five or six weeks, then keep it close stopped.
_Culpeper._] Besides the virtue of the simple oil of St. John’s Wort,
which this performs more effectually, it is an excellent remedy for old
bruises, aches, and sprains.
_Oleum Irinum,_
Or, Oil of Orris.
_College._] Take of the roots of Orris Florentine, three pounds four
ounces, the flowers of purple Orris fifteen ounces, Cypress roots six
ounces, of Elecampane three ounces, of Alkanet two ounces, Cinnamon,
Spikenard, Benjamin, of each one ounce: let all of them, being bruised
as they ought to be, be steeped in the sun, or other hot place, in
fifteen pounds of old oil, and four pounds and an half of clear water,
after the fourth day, boil them in Balneo Mariæ, the water being
consumed, when it is cold, strain it and keep it.
_Culpeper._] The effects are the same with the simple, only ’tis
stronger.
_Oleum Marjoranæ._
Or, Oil of Marjoram.
_College._] Take of Marjoram four handfuls, Mother of Thyme two
handfuls, the leaves and berries of Myrtles one handful, Southernwood,
Water Mints, of each half an handful, being cut, bruised, and put in
a glass, three pounds of Oil Omphacine being put to it, let it stand
eight days in the sun, or in a bath, close stopped, then strain it out,
in the oil put in fresh simples, do so the third time, the oil may be
perfected according to art.
_Culpeper._] It helps weariness and diseases of the brain and nerves,
coming of cold; it helps the dead palsy, the back (viz. the region
along the back bone) being anointed with it; being snuffed up in the
nose, it helps _Spasmus cynicus_, which is a wrying the mouth aside;
it helps noise in the ears being dropped into them, it provokes
the menses, and helps the biting of venomous beasts; it is a most
gallant oil to strengthen the body, the back being anointed with it;
strengthens the muscles, they being chafed with it; helps head-ache,
the forehead being rubbed with it.
_Moschelæum,_
Or, Oil of Musk.
_College._] Take two Nutmegs, Musk one dram, Indian leaf or Mace,
Spikenard, Costus, Mastich, of each six drams, Styrax Calamitis, Cassia
Lignea, Myrrh, Saffron, Cinnamon, Cloves, Carpobalsamum or Cubebs,
Bdellium, of each two drams, pure Oil three pounds, Wine three ounces,
bruise them as you ought to do, mix them, and let them boil easily,
till the Wine be consumed, the Musk being mixed according to art after
it is strained.
_Culpeper._] It is exceeding good against all diseases of cold,
especially those of the stomach, it helps diseases of the sides, they
being anointed with it, the stranguary, cholic, and vices of the
nerves, and afflictions of the reins.
_Oleum Nardinum._
Or, Oil of Nard.
_College._] Take of Spikenard three ounces, Marjoram two ounces, Wood
of Aloes, Calamus Aromaticus, Elecampane, Cypress, Bay leaves, Indian
leaf or Mace, Squinanth, Cardamoms, of each one ounce and a half,
bruise them all grossly, and steep them in water and wine, of each
fourteen ounces, Oil of Sesamin, or oil of Olives, four pounds and
an half, for one day: then perfect the oil by boiling it gently in a
double vessel.
_Oleum Populeum._ Nicholaus.
_College._] Take of fresh Poplar buds three pounds, Wine four pounds,
common Oil seven pounds two ounces, beat the Poplar buds very well,
then steep them seven days in the oil and wine, then boil them in a
double vessel till the wine be consumed, (if you infuse fresh buds once
or twice before you boil it, the medicine will be the stronger,) then
press out the oil and keep it.
_Culpeper._] It is a fine cool oil, but the ointment called by that
name which follows hereafter is far better.
OINTMENTS MORE SIMPLE.
_Unguentum album,_
Or, white Ointment.
_College._] Take of Oil of Roses nine ounces, Ceruss washed in
Rose-water and diligently sifted, three ounces, white Wax two ounces,
after the wax is melted in the oil, put in the Ceruss, and make it
into an ointment according to art, add two drams of Camphire, made
into powder with a few drops of oil of sweet Almonds, so will it be
camphorated.
_Culpeper._] It is a fine cooling, drying ointment, eases pains, and
itching in wounds and ulcers, and is an hundred times better with
Camphire than without it.
_Unguentum Egyptiacum._
_College._] Take of Verdigris finely powdered, five parts, Honey
fourteen parts, sharp Vinegar seven parts, boil them to a just
thickness, and a reddish colour.
_Culpeper._] It cleanses filthy ulcers and fistulas forcibly, and not
without pain, it takes away dead and proud flesh, and dries.
_Unguentum Anodynum._
Or, an Ointment to ease pain.
_College._] Take of Oil of white Lilies, six ounces, Oil of Dill, and
Chamomel, of each two ounces, Oil of sweet Almonds one ounce, Duck’s
grease, and Hen’s grease, of each two ounces, white Wax three ounces,
mix them according to art.
_Culpeper._] Its use is to assuage pains in any part of the body,
especially such as come by inflammations, whether in wounds or tumours,
and for that it is admirable.
_Unguentum ex Apio._
Or, Ointment of Smallage.
_College._] Take of the juice of Smallage one pound, Honey nine ounces,
Wheat flower three ounces, boil them to a just thickness.
_Culpeper._] It is a very fine, and very gentle cleanser of wounds and
ulcers.
_Liniment of Gum Elemi._
_College._] Take of Gum Elemi, Turpentine of the Fir-tree, of each one
ounce and an half, old Sheep’s Suet cleansed two ounces, old Hog’s
grease cleansed one ounce: mix them, and make them into an ointment
according to art.
_Culpeper._] It gently cleanses and fills up an ulcer with flesh, it
being of a mild nature, and friendly to the body.
_Unguentum Aureum._
_College._] Take of yellow Wax half a pound, common Oil two pounds,
Turpentine two ounces, Pine Rozin, Colophonia, of each one ounce and an
half, Frankincense, Mastich, of each one ounce, Saffron one dram, first
melt the wax in the oil, then the Turpentine being added, let them boil
together; having done boiling, put in the rest in fine powder, (let
the Saffron be the last) and by diligent stirring, make them into an
ointment according to art.
_Basilicon, the greater._
_College._] Take of white Wax, Pine Rozin, Heifer’s Suet, Greek Pitch,
Turpentine, Olibanum, Myrrh, of each one ounce, Oil five ounces,
powder the Olibanum and Myrrh, and the rest being melted, make it into
an ointment according to art.
_Basilicon, the less._
_College._] Take of yellow Wax, fat Rozin, Greek Pitch, of each half a
pound, Oil nine ounces: mix them together, by melting them according to
art.
_Culpeper._] Both this and the former, heat, moisten, and digest,
procure matter in wounds, I mean brings the filth or corrupted blood
from green wounds: they clense and ease pain.
_Ointment of Bdellium._
_College._] Take of Bdellium six drams, Euphorbium, Sagapen, of each
four drams, Castoreum three drams, Wax fifteen drams, Oil of Elder or
Wall-flowers, ten drams, the Bdellium, and Sagapen being dissolved in
water of wild Rue, let the rest be united by the heat of a bath.
_Unguentum de Calce._
Or, Ointment of Chalk.
_College._] Take of Chalk washed, seven times at least, half a pound,
Wax three ounces, Oil of Roses one pound, stir them all together
diligently in a leaden mortar, the wax being first melted by a gentle
fire in a sufficient quantity of the prescribed oil.
_Culpeper._] It is exceeding good in burnings and scaldings.
_Unguentum Dialthæ._
Or, Ointment of Marsh-mallows.
_College._] Take of common Oil four pounds, mussilage of Marsh-mallow
roots, Linseed, and Fenugreek seed two pounds: boil them together till
the watery part of the mussilage be consumed, then add Wax half a pound,
Rozin three ounces, Turpentine an ounce, boil them to the consistence
of an ointment, but let the mussilage be prepared of a pound of fresh
roots bruised, and half a pound of each of the seeds steeped, and
boiled in eight pounds of spring water, and then pressed out. _See the
compound._
_Unguentum Diapompholygos._
_College._] Take of Oil of Nightshade sixteen ounces, white Wax,
washed, Ceruss, of each four drams, Lead burnt and washed, Pompholix
prepared, of each two ounces, pure Frankincense one ounce: bring them
into the form of an ointment according to art.
_Culpeper._] This much differing from the former, you shall have that
inserted at latter end, and then you may use which you please.
_Unguentum Enulatum._
Or, Ointment of Elecampane.
_College._] Take of Elecampane roots boiled in Vinegar, bruised and
pulped, one pound, Turpentine washed in their decoction, new Wax, of
each two ounces, old Hog’s grease salted ten ounces, old oil four
ounces, common salt one ounce, add the Turpentine to the grease, wax,
and oil, being melted, as also the pulp and salt being finely powdered,
and so make it into an ointment according to art.
_Unguentum Enulatum cum Mercurio._
Or, Ointment of Elecampane with Quick-silver,
_College._] Is made of the former ointment, by adding two ounces of
Quick-silver, killed by continual stirring, not only with spittle, or
juice of Lemons, but with all the Turpentine kept for that intent, and
part of the grease, in a stone mortar.
_Culpeper._] My opinion of this ointment, is (briefly) this: It was
invented for the itch, without quick-silver it will do no good, with
quick-silver it may do harm.
_Unguentum Laurinum commune._
Or, Ointment of Bays common.
_College._] Take of Bay leaves bruised one pound, Bay berries bruised
half a pound, Cabbage leaves four ounces, Neat’s-foot Oil five pounds,
Bullock’s suet two pounds, boil them together, and strain them, that so
it may be made into an ointment according to art.
_Unguentum de minie sive rubrum Camphora._
Or, Ointment of red Lead.
_College._] Take of Oil of Roses one pound and an half, red Lead three
ounces, Litharge two ounces, Ceruss one ounce and an half, Tutty three
drams, Camphire two drams, Wax one ounce and an half, make it into an
ointment according to art, in a pestle and mortar made of Lead.
_Culpeper._] This ointment is as drying as a man shall usually read
of one, and withal cooling, therefore good for sores, and such as are
troubled with defluctions.
_Unguentum e Nicotiona, seu Peto._
Or, Ointment of Tobacco.
_College._] Take of Tobacco leaves bruised, two pounds, steep them a
whole night in red Wine, in the morning boil it in fresh Hog’s grease,
diligently washed, one pound, till the Wine be consumed, strain it, and
add half a pound of juice of Tobacco, Rozin four ounces, boil it to the
consumption of the juice, adding towards the end, round Birthwort roots
in powder, two ounces, new Wax as much as is sufficient to make it into
an ointment according to art.
_Culpeper._] It would take a whole summer’s day to write the particular
virtues of this ointment, and my poor _Genius_ is too weak to give it
the hundredth part of its due praise: It cures tumours, imposthumes,
wounds, ulcers, gun-shot, stinging with nettles, bees, wasps, hornets,
venomous beasts, wounds made with poisoned arrows, &c.
_Unguentum Nutritum, seu Trifarmacum._
_College._] Take of Litharge of Gold finely powdered, half a pound,
Vinegar one pound, Oil of Roses two pounds, grind the Litharge in
a mortar, pouring to it sometimes Oil, sometimes Vinegar, till by
continual stirring, the Vinegar do no more appear, and it come to a
whitish ointment.
_Culpeper._] It is of a cooling, drying nature, good for itching of
wounds, and such like deformities of the skin.
_Unguentum Ophthalmicum._
Or, An Ointment for the Eyes.
_College._] Take of Bole-ammoniac washed in Rose water, one ounce,
Lapis Calaminaris washed in Eye bright Water, Tutty prepared, of each
two drams, Pearls in very fine powder half a dram, Camphire half a
scruple, Opium five grains, fresh Butter washed in Plantain Water, as
much as is sufficient to make it into an ointment according to art.
_Culpeper._] It is exceeding good to stop hot rheums that fall down
into the eyes, the eyelids being but anointed with it.
_Unguentum ex Oxylapatho._
Or, Ointment of sharp-pointed Dock.
_College._] Take of the roots of sharp-pointed Dock boiled in Vinegar
until they be soft, and then pulped, Brimstone washed in juice of
Lemons, of each one ounce and an half, Hog’s grease often washed in
juice of Scabious, half a pound, Unguentum Populeon washed in juice of
Elecampane, half an ounce: make them into an ointment in a mortar.
_Culpeper._] It is a wholesome, though troublesome medicine for scabs
and itch.
_Unguentum e Plumbo._
Or, Ointment of Lead.
_College._] Take of Lead burnt according to art, Litharge, of each two
ounces, Ceruss, Antimony, of each one ounce, Oil of Roses as much as is
sufficient: make it into an ointment according to art.
_Culpeper._] Take it one time with another, it will go neer to do more
harm than good.
_Unguentum Pomatum._
_College._] Take of fresh Hog’s grease three pounds, fresh Sheep’s suet
nine ounces, Pomewater pared and cut, one pound and nine ounces, Damask
Rose-water six ounces, the roots of Orris Florentine grossly bruised
six drams, boil them in _Balneo Mariæ_ till the Apples be soft, then
strain it, but press it not and keep it for use; then warm it a little
again and wash it with fresh Rose-water, adding to each pound twelve
drops of oil of _Lignum Rhodium_.
_Culpeper._] Its general use is, to soften and supple the roughness of
the skin, and take away the chops of the lips, hands, face, or other
parts.
_Unguentum Potabile._
_College._] Take of Butter without salt, a pound and an half,
Spermaceti, Madder, Tormentil roots, Castoreum, of each half an ounce:
boil them as you ought in a sufficient quantity of Wine, till the Wine
be consumed, and become an ointment.
_Culpeper._] I know not what to make of it.
_Unguentum Resinum._
_College._] Take of Pine Rozin, or Rozin of the Pine-tree, of the
purest Turpentine, yellow Wax washed, pure Oil, of each equal parts:
melt them into an ointment according to art.
_Culpeper._] It is as pretty a Cerecloth for a new sprain as most is,
and cheap.
_Unguentum Rosatum._
Or, Ointment of Roses.
_College._] Take of fresh Hog’s grease cleansed a pound, fresh red
Roses half a pound, juice of the same three ounces, make it into an
ointment according to art.
_Culpeper._] It is of a fine cooling nature, exceeding useful in all
gallings of the skin, and frettings, accompanied with choleric humours,
angry pushes, tetters, ringworms, it mitigates diseases in the head
coming of heat, as also the intemperate heat of the stomach and liver.
_Desiccativum Rubrum._
Or, a drying Red Ointment.
_College._] Take of the oil of Roses omphacine a pound, white Wax five
ounces, which being melted and put in a leaden mortar, put in the Earth
of Lemnos or Bole-ammoniac, Lapis Calaminaris, of each four ounces,
Litharge of Gold, Ceruss, of each three ounces, Camphire one dram,
make it into an ointment according to art.
_Culpeper._] It binds and restrains fluxes of humours.
_Unguentum e Solano._
Or, Ointment of Nightshade.
_College._] Take of juice of Nightshade, Litharge washed, of each
five ounces, Ceruss washed eight ounces, white Wax seven ounces,
Frankincense in powder ten drams, oil of Roses often washed in water
two pounds, make it into an ointment according to art.
_Culpeper._] It was invented to take away inflammations from wounds,
and to keep people from scratching of them when they are almost well.
Or, Ointment of Tutty.
_College._] Take of Tutty prepared two ounces, Lapis Calaminaris often
burnt and quenched in Plantain Water an ounce, make them, being finely
powdered, into an ointment, with a pound and an half of ointment of
Roses.
_Culpeper._] It is a cooling, drying ointment, appropriated to the
eyes, to dry up hot and salt humours that flow down thither, the
eyelids being anointed with it.
_Valentia Scabiosæ._
_College._] Take of the juice of green Scabious, pressed out with a
screw, and strained through a cloth, Hog’s grease, of each as much
as you will, heat the Hog’s grease in a stone mortar, not grind it,
putting in the juice by degrees for the more commodious mixture and
tincture, afterwards set it in the sun in a convenient vessel, so as
the juice may overtop the grease, nine days being passed, pour off the
discoloured juice, and beat it again as before, putting in fresh juice,
set it in the sun again five days, which being elapsed, beat it again,
put in more juice, after fifteen days more, do so again, do so five
times, after which, keep it in a glass, or glazed vessel.
_Tapsivalentia._
_College._] Take of the juice of Mullen, Hog’s grease, of each as much
as you will, let the grease be cleansed and cut in pieces, and beat it
with the juice, pressed and strained as you did the former ointment,
then keep it in a convenient vessel nine or ten days, then beat it
twice, once with fresh juice, until it be green, and the second time
without juice beaten well, pouring off what is discoloured, and keep it
for use.
_Tapsimel._
_College._] Take of the juice of Celandine and Mullen, of each one
part, clarified Honey, two parts, boil them by degrees till the juice
be consumed, adding (the physician prescribing) Vitriol, burnt Alum,
burnt Ink, and boil it again to an ointment according to art.
OINTMENTS MORE COMPOUND.
_Unguentum Agrippa._
_College._] Take of Briony roots two pounds, the roots of wild
Cucumbers one pound, Squills half a pound, fresh English Orris roots,
three ounces, the roots of male Fern, dwarf Elder, water Caltrops, or
Aaron, of each two ounces, bruise them all, being fresh, and steep them
six or seven days in four pounds of old oil, the whitest, not rank,
then boil them and press them out, and in the oil melt fifteen ounces
of white Wax, and make it into an ointment according to art.
_Culpeper._] It purges exceedingly, and is good to anoint the bellies
of such as have dropsies, and if there be any humour or flegm in any
part of the body that you know not how to remove (provided the part be
not too tender) you may anoint it with this; but yet be not too busy
with it, for I tell you plainly it is not very safe.
_Unguentum Amarum._
Or, A bitter Ointment.
_College._] Take of Oil of Rue, Savin, Mints, Wormwood, bitter Almonds,
of each one ounce and an half, juice of Peach flowers and leaves, and
Wormwood, of each half an ounce, powder of Rue, Mints, Centaury the
less, Gentian, Tormentil, of each one dram, the seeds of Coleworts, the
pulp of Colocynthis, of each two drams, Aloes Hepatic, three drams,
meal of Lupines half an ounce, Myrrh washed in Grass water a dram and
an half, Bull’s Gall an ounce and an half, with a sufficient quantity
of juice of Lemons, and an ounce and an half of Wax, make it into an
ointment according to art.
_Unguentum Apostolorum._
Or, Ointment of the Apostles.
_College._] Take of Turpentine, yellow Wax, Ammoniacum, of each
fourteen drams, long Birthwort roots, Olibanum, Bdellium, of each six
drams, Myrrh, Gilbanum, of each half an ounce, Opopanax, Verdigris, of
each two drams, Litharge nine drams, Oil two pounds, Vinegar enough to
dissolve the Gums, make it into an ointment according to art.
_Culpeper._] It consumes corrupt and dead flesh, and makes flesh soft
which is hard, it cleanses wounds, ulcers, and fistulas, and restores
flesh where it is wanting.
_Unguentum Catapsoras._
_College._] Take of Ceruss washed in Purslain water, then in Vinegar
wherein wild Rhadish roots have been steeped and pressed out, Lapis
Calaminaris, Chalcitis, of each six drams, burnt Lead, Goat’s blood,
of each half an ounce, Quick-silver sublimated an ounce, the juice
of Houseleek, Nightshade, Plantain, of each two ounces, Hog’s grease
cleansed three pounds, Oil of Violets, Poppies, Mandrakes, of each an
ounce: first let them sublimate and exungia, then the oils, juices, and
powders, be mixed, and so made into an ointment according to art.
_Unguentum Citrinum._
Or, A Citron Ointment.
_College._] Take of Borax an ounce, Camphire a dram, white Coral half
an ounce, Alum Plume an ounce, Umbilicus Marinus, Tragacanth, white
Starch, of each three drams, Crystal, Dentalis Utalis, Olibanum, Niter,
white Marble, of each two drams, Gersa Serpentaria an ounce, Ceruss
six ounces, Hog’s grease not salted, a pound and an half, Goat’s suet
prepared, an ounce and an half, Hen’s fat two ounces and an half.
Powder the things as you ought to do both together, and by themselves,
melt the fats being cleansed in a stone vessel, and steep in them two
Citrons of a mean bigness cut in bits, in a warm bath, after a whole
week strain it, and put in the powders by degrees, amongst which let
the Camphire and Borax be the last, stir them, and bring them into the
form of an ointment.
_Unguentum Martiatum._
_College._] Take of fresh Bay leaves three pounds, Garden Rue two
pounds and an half, Marjoram two pounds, Mints a pound, Sage, Wormwood,
Costmary, Bazil, of each half a pound, Sallad Oil twenty pounds, yellow
Wax four pounds, Malaga Wine two pounds, of all of them being bruised,
boiled, and pressed out as they ought, make an ointment according to
art.
_Culpeper._] It is a great strengthener of the head, it being anointed
with it; as also of all the parts of the body, especially the nerves,
muscles, and arteries.
_Unguentum Mastichinum._
Or, An Ointment of Mastich.
_College._] Take of the Oil of Mastich, Wormwood, and Nard, of each an
ounce, Mastich, Mints, red Roses, red Coral, Cloves, Cinnamon, Wood of
Aloes, Squinanth, of each a dram, wax as much as is sufficient to make
it into an ointment according to art.
_Culpeper._] This is like the former, and not a whit inferior to it;
it strengthens the stomach being anointed with it, restores appetite
and digestion. Before it was called a stomach ointment.
_Unguentum Neapolitanum._
_College._] Take of Hog’s grease washed in juice of Sage a pound,
Quick-silver strained through leather, four ounces, oil of Bays,
Chamomel, and Earthworms, of each two ounces, Spirit of Wine an ounce,
yellow Wax two ounces, Turpentine washed in juice of Elecampane three
ounces, powder of Chamepitys and Sage, of each two drams, make them
into an ointment according to art.
_Culpeper._] A learned art to spoil people: hundreds are bound to curse
such ointments, and those that appoint them.
_Unguentum Nervinum._
_College._] Take of Cowslips with the flowers, Sage, Chamepitys,
Rosemary, Lavender, Bay with the berries, Chamomel, Rue, Smallage,
Melilot with the flowers, Wormwood, of each a handful, Mints, Betony,
Pennyroyal, Parsley, Centaury the less, St. John’s Wort, of each a
handful, oil of Sheep’s or Bullock’s feet, five pounds, oil of Spike,
half an ounce, Sheep’s or Bullock’s Suet, or the Marrow of either, two
pounds: the herbs being bruised and boiled with the oil and suet, make
it into an ointment according to art.
_Culpeper._] It is appropriated to the nerves, and helps their
infirmities coming of cold, as also old bruises, make use of it in dead
palsies, chilliness or coldness of particular members, such as the
arteries perform not their office to as they ought; for wind anoint
your belly with it; for want of digestion, your stomach; for the
cholic, your belly; for whatever disease in any part of the body comes
of cold, esteem this as a jewel.
_Unguentum Pectorale._
Or, A Pectoral Ointment.
_College._] Take of fresh Butter washed in Violet Water six ounces,
oil of Sweet Almonds four ounces, oil of Chamomel and Violets, white
Wax, of each three ounces, Hen’s and Duck’s grease, of each two ounces,
Orris roots two drams, Saffron half a dram: The two last being finely
powdered, the rest melted and often washed in Barley or Hyssop water,
make an ointment of them according to art.
_Culpeper._] It strengthens the breast and stomach, eases the pains
thereof, helps pleurises and consumptions of the lungs, the breast
being anointed with it.
_Unguentum Resumptivum._
_College._] Take of Hog’s grease three ounces, the grease of Hen’s,
Geese, and Ducks, of each two ounces, Oesipus half an ounce, oil of
Violets, Chamomel, and Dill, fresh Butter a pound, white Wax six
ounces, mussilage of Gum Tragacanth, Arabic, Quince seeds, Lin-seeds,
Marsh-mallow roots, of each half an ounce. Let the mussilages be made
in Rose water, and adding the rest, make it into an ointment according
to art.
_Culpeper._] It mightily molifies without any manifest heat, and is
therefore a fit ointment for such as have agues, asthmas, hectic
fevers, or consumptions. It is a good ointment to ease pains coming
by inflammations of wounds or aposthumes, especially such as dryness
accompanies, an infirmity wounded people are many times troubled with.
In inward aposthumes, as pleurises, one of them to anoint the external
region of the part, is very beneficial.
_Unguentum Splanchnicum._
_College._] Take of oil of Capers an ounce, oil of white Lillies,
Chamomel, fresh Butter, juice of Briony and Sowbread, of each half
an ounce, boil it to the consumption of the juice, add Ammoniacum
dissolved in Vinegar, two drams and an half, Hen’s grease, Oesypus,
Marrow of a Calf’s Leg, of each half an ounce, powder of the bark
of the roots of Tamaris and Capers, Fern roots, Cetrach, of each a
dram, the seeds of Agnus Castuus, and Broom, of each a scruple, with a
sufficient quantity of Wax, make it into an ointment according to art.
_Unguentum Splanchnicum Magistrale._
_College._] Take of the bark of Caper roots six drams, Briony roots,
Orris Florentine, powder of sweet Fennel seeds, Ammoniacum dissolved in
Vinegar, of each half an ounce, tops of Wormwood, Chamomel flowers, of
each a dram, ointment of the juice and of flowers of Oranges, of each
six drams, oil of Orris and Capers, of each an ounce and an half: the
things which ought being powdered and sifted, the rest diligently mixed
in a hot mortar, make it into an ointment according to art.
_Culpeper._] Both these ointments are appropriated to the spleen, and
eases the pains thereof, the sides being anointed with them. I fancy
not the former.
_Unguentum e Succis._
Or, Ointment of Juices.
_College._] Take of the juice of Dwarf-Elder eight ounces, of Smallage
and Parsley, of each four ounces, Wormwood and Orris, of each five
ounces, common Oil half a pound, oil of white Lilies ten ounces, of
Wormwood and Chamomel, of each six ounces, the fat of Ducks and Hens,
of each two ounces, boil them together with a gentle fire till the
juice be consumed, then strain it, and with seven ounces of white Wax,
and a little white Wine Vinegar, make it into an ointment according to
art.
See Unguentum ex Succis Aperitivis.
_Unguentum Sumach._
_College._] Take of Sumach, unripe Galls, Myrtle berries, Balaustines,
Pomegranate Pills, Acorn Cups, Cypress Nuts, Acacia, Mastich, of each
ten drams, white Wax five ounces, oil of Roses often washed in Alum
water, a pound and ten ounces, make a fine powder of the things you
can, and steep them four whole days in juice of Medlars and Services,
of each a sufficient quantity, then dry them by a gentle fire, and with
the oil and wax boil it into an ointment.
_Culpeper._] It is a gallant drying and binding ointment. Besides, the
stomach anointed with it, stays vomiting, and the belly anointed with
it stays looseness, if the fundament fall out, when you have put it up
again anoint it with this ointment, and it will fall out no more. Do
the like by the womb if that fall out.
_Ointment of Marsh-mallows, compound._
Nicholaus.
_College._] Take of Marsh-mallow roots two pounds, the seeds of Flax
and Fœnugreek, of each one pound, pulp of Squills half a pound, Oil
four pounds, Wax one pound, Turpentine, Gum of Ivy, Galbanum, of each
two ounces, Colophonia, Rozin, of each half a pound: Let the roots
be well washed and bruised, as also the Linseed, Fœnugreek seed, and
Squills, then steep them three days in eight pints of water, the fourth
day boil them a little upon the fire, and draw out the mussilage, of
which take two pounds, and boil it with the oil to the consumption of
the juice, afterwards add the Wax, Rozin, and Colophonia, when they
are melted, add the Turpentine, afterwards the Galbanum and Gum of
Ivy, dissolved in Vinegar, boil them a little, and having removed them
from the fire, stir them till they are cold, that so they may be well
incorporated.
_Culpeper._] It heats and moistens, helps pains of the breast coming of
cold and pleurises, old aches, and stitches, and softens hard swellings.
_Unguentum Diapompholigos nihili._
Nicholaus.
_College._] Take of Oil of Roses sixteen ounces, juice of Nightshade
six ounces, let them boil to the consumption of the juice, then add
white Wax five ounces, Ceruss washed two ounces, Lead burnt and
washed, Pompholix prepared, pure Frankincense, of each an ounce, let
them be brought into the form of an ointment according to art.
_Culpeper._] It cools and binds, drys, and stays fluxes, either of
blood or humours in wounds, and fills hollow ulcers with flesh.
_Unguentum Refrigerans._ Galenus.
It is also called a Cerecloath.
_College._] Take of white Wax four ounces, Oil of Roses omphacine one
pound, melt it in a double vessel, then pour it out into another, by
degrees putting in cold water, and often pouring it out of one vessel
into another, stirring it till it be white, last of all wash it in Rose
water, adding a little Rose Water, and Rose Vinegar.
_Culpeper._] It is a fine cooling thing, to cure inflammations in
wounds or tumours.
_Unguentum e Succis Aperitivis primum._
Fœsius.
_College._] Take of the juice of Smallage, Endive, Mints, Wormwood,
common Parsley, Valerian, of each three ounces, oil of Wormwood and
Mints, of each half a pound, yellow Wax three ounces, mix them together
over the fire, and make of them an ointment.
_Culpeper._] It opens stoppages of the stomach and spleen, eases the
rickets, the breast and sides being anointed with it.
_An Ointment for the Worms._ Fœsius.
_College._] Take of oil of Rue, Savin, Mints, Wormwood, and bitter
Almonds, of each an ounce and an half, juice of the flowers or leaves
of Peaches, and Wormwood, of each half an ounce, powder of Rue, Mints,
Gentian, Centaury the less, Tormentil, of each one dram, the seeds of
Coleworts, the pulp of Colocynthis, of each two drams, Aloes Hepatic,
three drams, the meal of Lupines half an ounce, Myrrh washed in grass
water a dram and an half, Bull’s Galls an ounce and an half, with juice
of Lemons, so much as is sufficient, and an ounce and an half of Wax,
make it into an ointment according to art.
_Culpeper._] The belly being anointed with it kills the worms.
CERECLOATHS.
_Ceratum de Galbano._
Or, Cerecloath of Galbanum.
_College._] Take of Galbanum prepared, an ounce and an half, Assafœtida
half an ounce, Bdellium a dram, Myrrh two drams, Wax two ounces, Carrot
seeds a scruple, Featherfew, Mugwort, of each half a dram, dissolve the
Gums in Vinegar, and make it a cerecloath according to art.
_Culpeper._] Being applied to the belly of a woman after labour, it
cleanses her of any relicts accidently left behind, helps the fits of
the mother, and other accidents incident to women in that case.
_Ceratum Oesypatum._
_College._] Take of Oesypus ten ounces, Oil of Chamomel, and Orris,
of each half a pound, yellow Wax two pounds, Rozin a pound, Mastich,
Ammoniacum, Turpentine, of each an ounce, Spikenard two drams and an
half, Saffron a dram and an half, Styrax Calamitis half an ounce, make
them into a cerecloath according to art.
_Culpeper._] It molifies and digests hard swellings of the liver,
spleen, womb, nerves, joints, and other parts of the body, and is a
great easer of pain.
_Ceratum Santalinum._
_College._] Take of red Sanders, ten drams, white and yellow Sanders,
of each six drams, red Roses twelve drams, Bole-ammoniac seven drams,
Spodium four drams, Camphire two drams, white Wax washed thirty drams,
Oil of Roses omphacine six ounces: make it into a cerecloath according
to art.
_Culpeper._] It wonderfully helps hot infirmities of the stomach,
liver, and other parts, being but applied to them.
PLAISTERS.
_Emplastrum ex Ammoniaco._
Or, A Plaister of Ammoniacum.
_College._] Take of Ammoniacum, Bran well sifted, of each an ounce,
Ointment of Marsh-mallows, Melilot plaister compound, roots of Briony,
and Orris in powder, of each half an ounce, the fat of Ducks, Geese,
and Hens, of each three drams, Bdellium, Galbanum, of each one dram and
an half, Per-Rozin, Wax, of each five ounces, oil of Orris, Turpentine,
of each half an ounce, boil the fats and oil with mussilage of
Lin-seed, and Fenugreek seed, of each three ounces, to the consumption
of the mussilage, strain it, and add the Wax, Rozin, and Turpentine,
the ointment of Marsh-mallows with the plaister of Melilot; when it
begins to be cold, put in the Ammoniacum, dissolved in Vinegar, then
the Bdellium in powder, with the rest of the powders, and make it into
a plaister according to art.
_Culpeper._] It softens and assuages hard swellings, and scatters the
humours offending, applied to the side it softens the hardness of the
spleen, assuages pains thence arising.
_Emplastrum e Baccus Lauri._
Or, A Plaister of Bay-berries.
_College._] Take of Bay-berries husked, Turpentine, of each two ounces,
Frankincense, Mastich, Myrrh, of each an ounce, Cypress, Costus, of
each half an ounce, Honey warmed and not scummed, four ounces: make it
into a plaister according to art.
_Culpeper._] It is an excellent plaister to ease any pains coming of
cold or wind, in any part of the body, whether stomach, liver, belly,
reins, or bladder. It is an excellent remedy for the cholic and wind in
the bowels.
_Emplastrum Barbarum Magnum._
_College._] Take of dry Pitch eight pounds, yellow Wax six pounds and
eight ounces, Per-Rozin five pounds and four ounces, Bitumen, Judaicum,
or Mummy, four pounds, Oil one pound and an half, Verdigris, Litharge,
Ceruss, of each three ounces, Frankincense half a pound, Roach Alum
not burnt, an ounce and an half, burnt, four ounces, Opopanax, scales
of Brass, Galbanum, of each twelve drams, Aloes, Opium, Myrrh, of each
half an ounce, Turpentine two pounds, juice of Mandrakes, or else dried
bark of the root, six drams, Vinegar five pounds: Let the Litharge,
Ceruss, and Oil, boil to the thickness of Honey, then incorporate with
them the Pitch, being melted with Bitumen in powder; then add the rest,
and boil them according to art, till the vinegar be consumed, and it
stick not to your hands.
_Culpeper._] It helps the bitings of men and beasts, eases
inflammations of wounds, and helps infirmities of the joints, and gouts
in the beginning.
_Emplastrum de Betonica._
Or, A Plaister of Betony.
_College._] Take of Betony, Burnet, Agrimony, Sage, Pennyroyal, Yarrow,
Comfrey the greater, Clary, of each six ounces, Frankincense, Mastich,
of each three drams, Orris, round Birthwort, of each six drams, white
Wax, Turpentine, of each eight ounces, Per-Rozin six ounces, Gum Elemi,
Oil of Fir, of each two ounces, white Wine three pounds: bruise the
herbs, boil them in the Wine, then strain them, and add the rest, and
make them into a plaister according to art.
_Culpeper._] It is a good plaister to unite the skull when it is
cracked, to draw out pieces of broken bones, and cover the bones with
flesh: It draws filth from the bottom of deep ulcers, restores flesh
lost, cleanses, digests, and drys.
_Emplastrum Cæsarus._
_College._] Take of red Roses one ounce and an half, Bistort roots,
Cypress Nuts, all the Sanders, Mints, Coriander seeds, of each three
drams, Mastich half an ounce, Hypocistis, Acacia, Dragon’s blood, Earth
of Lemnos, Bole-ammoniac, red Coral, of each two drams, Turpentine
washed in Plantain water four ounces, Oil of Roses three ounces, white
Wax twelve ounces, Per-Rozin ten ounces, Pitch six ounces, the juice
of Plantain, Houseleek, and Orpine, of each an ounce, the Wax, Rozin,
and Pitch being melted together, add the Turpentine and Oil, then the
Hypocistis and Acacia dissolved in the juices, at last the powders, and
make it into a plaister according to art.
_Culpeper._] It is of a fine, cool, binding, strengthening nature,
excellently good to repel hot rheums or vapours that ascend up to the
head, the hair being shaved off, and it applied to the crown.
_Emplastrum Catagmaticum the first._
_College._] Take of juice of Marsh-mallow roots six ounces, bark of
Ashtree roots, and their leaves, the roots of Comfrey the greater and
smaller with their leaves, of each two ounces, Myrtle Berries an ounce
and an half, the leaves of Willow, the tops of St. John’s Wort, of each
an handful and an half, having bruised them, boil them together in red
Wine, and Smith’s Water, of each two pound, till half be consumed,
strain it, and add Oil of Myrtles, and Roses omphacine, of each one
pound and an half, Goat’s suet eight ounces, boil it again to the
consumption of the decoction, strain it again, and add Litharge of
Gold and Silver, red Lead, of each four ounces, yellow Wax one pound,
Colophonia half a pound, boil it to the consistance of a plaister, then
add Turpentine two ounces, Myrrh, Frankincense, Mastich, of each half
an ounce, Bole-ammoniac, Earth of Lemnos, of each one ounce, stir them
about well till they be boiled, and made into an emplaister according
to art.
_Catagmaticum the second._
_College._] Take of the roots of Comfrey the greater, Marsh-mallows,
Misselto of the Oak, of each two ounces, Plantain, Chamepitys, St.
John’s Wort, of each a handful, boil them in equal parts of black
Wine, and Smith’s Water till half be consumed, strain it, and add
mussilage of Quince seeds made in Tripe water, Oil of Mastich and
Roses, of each four ounces, boil it to the consumption of the humidity,
and having strained it, add Litharge of Gold four ounces, boil it to
the consistence of an emplaister, then add yellow Wax four ounces,
Turpentine three ounces, Colophonia six drams, Ship Pitch ten ounces,
powders of Balaustines, Roses, Myrtles, Acacia, of each half an ounce,
Mummy, Androsamum, Mastich, Amber, of each six drams, Bole-ammoniac
fine flowers, Frankincense, of each twelve drams, Dragon’s blood two
ounces: make it into a plaister according to art.
_Culpeper._] Both this and the former are binding and drying, the
former rules will instruct you in the use.
_Emplastrum Cephalicum._
Or, A Cephalic Plaister.
_College._] Take of Rozin two ounces, black Pitch one ounce, Labdanum,
Turpentine, flower of Beans, and Orobus, Dove’s dung, of each half an
ounce, Myrrh, Mastich, of each one dram and an half, Gum of Juniper,
Nutmegs, of each two drams, dissolve the Myrrh and Labdanum in a hot
mortar, and adding the rest, make it into a plaister according to art.
If you will have it stronger, add the powders, Euphorbium, Pellitory of
Spain, and black Pepper, of each two scruples.
_Culpeper._] It is proper to strengthen the brain, and repel such
vapours as annoy it, and those powders being added, it dries up the
superfluous moisture thereof, and eases the eyes of hot scalding
vapours that annoy them.
_Emplastrum de Cerussa._
Or, A Plaister of Ceruss.
_College._] Take of Ceruss in fine powder, white Wax, Sallad Oil, of
each three ounces, add the Oil by degrees to the Ceruss, and boil it by
continual stirring over a gentle fire, till it begin to swell, then add
the Wax cut small by degrees, and boil it to its just consistence.
_Culpeper._] It helps burns, dry scabs, and hot ulcers, and in general
whatever sores abound with moisture.
_Emplastrum ex Cicuta cum Ammoniaco._
Or, A Plaister of Hemlock with
Ammoniacum.
_College._] Take of the juice of Hemlock four ounces, Vinegar, of
Squills, and Ammoniacum, of each eight ounces, dissolve the Gum in the
juice and Vinegar, after a due infusion, then strain it into its just
consistence according to art.
_Culpeper._] I suppose it was invented to mitigate the extreme pains,
and allay the inflammations of wounds, for which it is very good: let
it not be applied to any principal part.
_Emplastrum e crusta Panis._
Or, A Plaister of a crust of Bread.
_College._] Take of Mastich, Mints, Spodium, red Coral, all the
Sanders, of each one dram, Oil of Mastich and Quinces, of each one
drain and an half, a crust of Bread toasted, and three times steeped
in red Rose Vinegar, and as often dried, Labdanum, of each two ounces,
Rozin four ounces, Styrax Calamitis half an ounce, Barley meal five
drams: make them into a plaister according to art.
_Culpeper._] I shall commend this for a good plaister to strengthen
the brain as any is in the Dispensatory, the hair being shaved off,
and it applied to the crown; also being applied to the stomach, it
strengthens it, helps digestion, stays vomiting and putrefaction of
the meat there.
_Emplastrum e Cymino._
Or, A Plaister of Cummin.
_College._] Take of Cummin-seed, Bayberries, yellow Wax, of each one
pound, Per-Rozin two pounds, common Rozin three pounds, Oil of Dill
half a pound: mix them, and make them into a plaister.
_Culpeper._] It assuages swellings, takes away old aches coming of
bruises, and applied to the belly, is an excellent remedy for the wind
cholic. This I have often proved, and always with good success.
_Emplastrum Diacalciteos._
_College._] Take of Hog’s grease fresh and purged from the skins two
pounds, oil of Olives omphacine, Litharge of Gold beaten and sifted,
of each three pounds, white Vitriol burnt and purged four ounces: let
the Litharge, grease, and oil boil together with a gentle fire, with
a little Plantain water, always stirring it, to the consistence of a
plaister, into which (being removed from the fire) put in the Vitriol
and make it into a plaister according to art.
_Culpeper._] It is a very drying, binding plaister, profitable in green
wounds to hinder putrefaction, as also in pestilential sores after they
are broken, and ruptures, and also in burnings and scaldings.
_Diachylon simple._
_College._] Take of mussilage of Linseed, Fenugreek seed, Marsh-mallow
roots, of each one pound, old Oil three pounds: boil it to the
consumption of the mussilage, strain it, and add Litharge of Gold in
fine powder, one pound and an half: boil them with a little water over
a gentle fire always stirring them to a just thickness.
_Culpeper._] It is an exceeding good remedy for all swellings without
pain, it softens hardness of the liver and spleen, it is very gentle.
_Diachylon Ireatum._
_College._] Add one ounce of Orris in powder to every pound of
Diachylon simple.
_Diachylon Magnum._
_College._] Take of mussilage of Raisins, fat Figs, Mastich,
Mallow-roots, Linseeds, and Fenugreek-seeds, Bird-lime, the juice of
Orris and Squills, of each twelve drams and an half, Œsypus or oil
of Sheep’s feet an ounce and an half, Oil of Orris, Chamomel, Dill,
of each eight ounces, litharge of Gold in fine powder one pound,
Turpentine three ounces, Per-Rozin, yellow Wax, of each two ounces,
boil the oil with the mussilages and juices to the consumption of the
humidity, strain the oil from the faces, and by adding the Litharge
boil it to its consistence; then add the Rozin and Wax; lastly, it
being removed from the fire, add the Turpentine, Œsypus and Birdlime,
make of them a plaister by melting them according to art.
_Culpeper._] It dissolves hardness and inflammations.
_Diachylon magnum cum Gummi._
_College._] Take of Bdellium, Sagapenum, Amoniacum, of each two ounces,
dissolved in Wine, and added to the mass of Diachylon magnum: first
boil the gums being dissolved, to the thickness of Honey.
_Culpeper._] This is the best to dissolve hard swellings of all the
three.
_Diachylon compositum, sive Emplaistrum e
Mussilaginibus._
Or, A Plaister of Mussilages.
_College._] Take of mussilages of the middle bark of Elm, Marsh-mallow
roots, Linseed, and Fenugreek seed, of each four ounces and an half,
oil of Chamomel, Lilies, and Dill, of each an ounce and an half,
Ammoniacum, Galbanum, Sagapen, Opopanax, of each half an ounce, new Wax
twenty ounces, Turpentine two ounces, Saffron two drams, dissolve the
Gums in Wine, and make it into a plaister according to art.
_Culpeper._] It ripens swellings, and breaks them, and cleanses them
when they are broken. It is of a most excellent ripening nature.
_Emplaistrum Diaphœnicon hot._
_College._] Take of yellow Wax two ounces, Per-Rozin, Pitch, of each
four ounces, Oil of Roses and Nard, of each one ounce, melt them
together, and add pulp of Dates made in Wine four ounces, flesh of
Quinces boiled in red Wine an ounce, then the powders following: take
of Bread twice baked, steeped in Wine and dried, two ounces, Mastich an
ounce, Frankincense. Wormwood, red Roses, Spikenard, of each two drams
and an half, Wood of Aloes, Mace, Myrrh, washed Aloes, Acacia, Troches
of Gallia Moschata, and Earth of Lemnos, Calamus Aromaticus, of each
one dram, Labdanum three ounces, mix them and make them into a plaister
according to art.
_Culpeper._] It strengthens the stomach and liver exceedingly, helps
fluxes, apply it to the places grieved.
_Diaphœnicon cold._
_College._] Take of Wax four ounces, Ship Pitch five ounces, Labdanum
three ounces and an half, Turpentine an ounce and an half, Oil of Roses
one ounce, melt these, and add pulp of Dates almost ripe, boiled in
austere Wine four ounces, flesh of Quinces in like manner boiled, Bread
twice baked often steeped in red Wine and dried, of each an ounce,
Styrax Calamitis, Acacia, unripe Grapes, Balaustines, yellow Sanders,
troches of Terra Lemnia, Myrrh, Wood of Aloes, of each half an ounce,
Mastich, red Roses, of each an ounce and an half, austere Wine as
much as is sufficient to dissolve the juices, make it into a plaister
according to art.
_Culpeper._] It strengthens the belly and liver, helps concoction in
those parts, and distribution of humours, stays vomiting and fluxes.
_Emplastrum Divinum._
Or, A Divine Plaster.
_College._] Take of Loadstone four ounces, Ammoniacum three ounces and
three drams, Bdellium two ounces, Galbanum, Myrrh, of each ten drams,
Olibanum nine drams, Opopanax, Mastich, long Birthwort, Verdigris,
of each an ounce, Litharge, common Oil, of each a pound and an half,
new Wax eight ounces: let the Litharge in fine powder be boiled with
the oil to a thickness, then add the Wax, which being melted, take it
from the fire, add the Gums dissolved in Wine and Vinegar, strain it,
then add the Myrrh, Mastich, Frankincense, Birthwort, and Loadstone in
powder, last of all the Verdigris in powder, and make it into a plaster
according to art.
_Culpeper._] It is of a cleansing nature, exceeding good against
malignant ulcers, it consumes corruption, engenders new flesh, and
brings them to a scar.
_Emplastrum Epispasticum._
_College._] Take of Mustard seed, Euphorbium, long Pepper, of each one
dram and an half, Stavesacre, Pellitory of Spain of each two drams,
Ammoniacum, Galbanum, Phellium, Sagapen, of each three drams, whole
Cantharides five drams, Ship Pitch, Rozin, yellow Wax, of each six
drams, Turpentine as much as is sufficient to make it into a plaster.
_Culpeper._] Many people use to draw blisters in their necks for the
tooth ache, or for rheums in their eyes; if they please to lay a
plaster of this there, it will do it.
_Emplastrum a nostratibus, Flos Unguentorum Dictum._
Or, Flower of Ointments.
_College._] Take of Rozin, Per Rozin, yellow Wax, Sheep’s Suet, of each
half a pound, Olibanum four ounces, Turpentine two ounces and an half,
Myrrh, Mastich, of each an ounce, Camphire two drams, white Wine half a
pound, boil them into a plaster.
_Culpeper._] I found this receipt in an old manuscript written in the
year 1513, the quantity of the ingredients very little altered.
_A Plaster of Gum Elemi._
_College._] Take of Gum Elemi three ounces, Per Rozin, Wax, Ammoniacum,
of each two ounces, Turpentine three ounces and an half, Mallaga Wine
so much as is sufficient: boil it to the consumption of the Wine, then
add the Ammoniacum dissolved in Vinegar.
_Culpeper._] The operation is the same with _Arceus_ Liniment.
_A Plaister of Lapis Calaminaris._
_College._] Take of Lapis Calaminaris prepared an ounce, Litharge two
ounces, Ceruss half an ounce, Tutty a dram, Turpentine six drams, white
Wax an ounce and an half, Stag’s Suet two ounces, Frankincense five
drams, Mastich three drams, Myrrh two drams, Camphire a dram and an
half, make it up according to art.
_Emplastrum ad Herniam._
_College._] Take of Galls, Cypress Nuts, Pomegranate Pills,
Balaustines, Acacia, the seeds of Plantain, Fleawort, Water-cresses,
Acorn Cups, Beans torrified, Birth-wort long and round, Myrtles of each
half an ounce. Let these be powdered, and steeped in Rose Vinegar four
days, then torrified and dried, then take of Comfrey the greater and
lesser, Horsetail, Woad, Cetrach, the roots of Osmond Royal, Fearn, of
each an ounce, Frankincense, Myrrh, Aloes, Mastich, Mummy, of each two
ounces, Bole-ammoniac washed in Vinegar, Lap, Calaminaris prepared,
Litharge of Gold, Dragon’s blood, of each three ounces, Ship Pitch two
pounds, Turpentine six ounces, or as much as is sufficient to make it
into a plaster according to art.
_Culpeper._] The plaster is very binding and knitting, appropriated to
ruptures or burstens, as the title of it specifies, it strengthens the
reins and womb, stays abortion, it consolidates wounds, and helps all
diseases coming of cold and moisture.
_Emplastrum Hystericum._
_College._] Take of Bistort roots one pound, Wood of Aloes, yellow
Sanders, Nutmegs, Barberry Kernels, Rose seeds, of each one ounce,
Cinnamon, Cloves, Squinanth, Chamomel flowers, of each half an ounce,
Frankincense, Mastich, Alipta Moschata, Gallia Moschata, Styrax
Calamitis, of each one dram, Mosch half a dram, yellow Wax one pound
and an half, Turpentine half a pound, Moschæleum four ounces, Labdanum
four pounds, Ship Pitch three pounds: let the Labdanum and Turpentine
be added to the Pitch and Wax, being melted, then the Styrax, lastly
the rest in powder, and sifted, that they may be made into a plaster
according to art.
_Culpeper._] The plaster being applied to the navel, is a means to
withstand the fits of the mother in such women as are subject to them,
by retaining the womb in its place.
_Emplastrum de Mastich._
Or, A Plaster of Mastich.
_College._] Take of Mastich three ounces, Bole-ammoniac washed in black
Wine, an ounce and an half, red Roses six drams, Ivory, Myrtle Berries,
red Coral, of each half an ounce, Turpentine, Colophonia, Tachamahacca,
Labdanum, of each two ounces, yellow Wax half a pound, Oil of Myrtles
four ounces: make it into a plaster according to art.
_Culpeper._] It is a binding plaster, strengthens the stomach being
applied to it, and helps such as loath their victuals, or cannot digest
it, or retain it till it be digested.
_Emplastrum de Meliloto Simplex._
Or, A Plaster of Melilot simple.
_College._] Take of Rozin eight pounds, yellow Wax four pounds, Sheep’s
Suet two pounds: these being melted, add green Melilot cut small, five
pounds: make it into a plaster according to art.
_Emplastrum de Meliloto compositum._
Or, A Plaster of Melilot compound.
_College._] Take of Melilot flowers six drams, Chamomel flowers, the
seeds of Fenugreek, Bay berries husked, Marsh-mallow roots, the tops
of Wormwood and Marjoram, of each three drams, the seeds of Smallage,
Ammi, Cardamoms, the roots of Orris, Cypress, Spikenard, Cassia Lignea,
of each one dram and an half, Bdellium five drams: beat them all
into fine powder, the pulp of twelve Figs, and incorporate them with
a pound and an half of Melilot plaster simple, Turpentine an ounce
and an half, Ammoniacum dissolved in Hemlock Vinegar, three ounces,
Styrax five drams, oil of Marjoram, and Nard, of each half an ounce,
or a sufficient quantity, make it into a plaster with a hot mortar and
pestle, without boiling.
_Culpeper._] It mollifies the hardness of the stomach, liver, spleen,
bowels, and other parts of the body: it wonderfully assuages pain, and
eases hypochondriac melancholy, and the rickets.
_Emplastrum de minio compositum._
Or, A Plaster of red Lead compound.
_College._] Take of Oil of Roses omphacine twenty ounces, oil of
Mastich two ounces, Suet of a Sheep and a Calf, of each half a pound,
Litharge of Gold and Silver, red Lead, of each two ounces, a taster
full of Wine: boil them by a gentle fire continually stirring it till
it grow black, let the fire be hottest towards the latter end, then add
Turpentine half a pound, Mastich two ounces, Gum Elemi one ounce, white
Wax as much as is sufficient: boil them a little, and make them into a
plaster according to art.
_Culpeper._] It potently cures wounds, old malignant ulcers, and is
very drying.
_Emplastrum de minio Simplicius._
Or, A Plaster of red Lead simple.
_College._] Take of red Lead nine ounces, Oil of red Roses one pound
and an half, white Wine Vinegar six ounces, boil it into the perfect
body of a plaster. It is prepared without Vinegar, thus: take of red
Lead one pound, Oil of Roses one pound and an half, Wax half a pound,
make it into a plaster according to art.
_Culpeper._] It is a fine cooling healing plaster, and very drying.
_Emplastrum Metroproptoticon._
_College._] Take of Mastich one ounce and an half, Galbanum dissolved
in red Wine and strained, six drams, Cypress Turpentine two drams,
Cypress Nuts, Galls, of each one dram and an half, oil of Nutmegs
by expression one dram, Musk two grains and an half, Pitch scraped
off from old ships two drams and an half; beat the Galbanum, Pitch,
Turpentine, and Mastich gently in a hot mortar and pestle, towards the
end, adding the Oil of Nutmegs, then the rest in powder, last of all
the Musk mixed with a little Oil of Mastich upon a marble, and by exact
mixture make them into a plaster.
_Emplastrum Nervinum._
_College._] Take of Oil of Chamomel and Roses, of each two ounces,
of Mastich, Turpentine, and Linseeds, of each an ounce and an half,
Turpentine boiled four ounces, Rosemary, Bettony, Horsetail, Centaury
the less, of each a handful, Earth-worms washed and cleansed in Wine
three ounces, tops of St. John’s Wort a handful, Mastich, Gum Elemi,
Madder roots, of each ten drams, Ship-pitch, Rozin, of each an ounce
and an half, Litharge of Gold and Silver, of each two ounces and an
half, red Lead two ounces, Galbanum, Sagapen, Ammoniacum, of each three
drams; boil the roots, herbs, and worms, in a pound and an half of Wine
till half be consumed, then press them out, and boil the decoction
again with the Oils, Suets, Litharge, and red Lead, to the consumption
of the Wine: then add the Gums dissolved in Wine, afterwards the
Turpentine, Rozin, Pitch, and Mastich, in powders and make them into a
plaster according to art.
_Culpeper._] It strengthens the brain and nerves, and then being
applied to the back, down along the bone, it must needs add strength to
the body.
_Emplastrum Oxycroceum._
_College._] Take of Saffron, Ship-pitch, Colophonia, yellow Wax,
of each four ounces, Turpentine, Galbanum, Ammoniacum, Myrrh,
Olibanum, Mastich, of each one ounce and three drams. Let the Pitch
and Colophonia be melted together, then add the Wax, then (it being
removed from the fire) the Turpentine, afterwards the Gums dissolved in
Vinegar, lastly the Saffron in powder, well mixed with Vinegar, and so
make it into a plaster according to art.
_Culpeper._] It is of a notable softening and discussing quality, helps
broken bones, and any part molested with cold, old aches, stiffness of
the limbs by reason of wounds, ulcers, fractures, or dislocations, and
dissipates cold swellings.
_Emplastrum Stephaniaion._
_College._] Take of Labdanum half an ounce, Styrax, Juniper Gum, of
each two drams, Amber, Cypress, Turpentine, of each one dram, red
Coral, Mastich, of each half a dram, the flowers of Sage, red Roses,
the roots of Orris Florentine, of each one scruple, Rozin washed
in Rose-water half an ounce, the Rozin, Labdanum, Juniper Gum, and
Turpentine, being gently beaten in a hot mortar, with a hot pestle,
sprinkling in a few drops of red Wine till they are in a body; then
put in the powders, and by diligent stirring make them into an exact
plaster.
_Emplastrum Sticticum._
_College._] Take of Oil of Olives six ounces, yellow Wax an ounce
and an half, Litharge in powder four ounces and an half, Ammoniacum,
Bdellium, of each half an ounce, Galbanum, Opopanax, Oil of Bays,
Lapis Calaminaris, both sorts of Birthwort, Myrrh, Frankincense,
of each two drams, pure Turpentine an ounce. Let the Oil, Wax, and
Litharge be boiled together till it stick not to your fingers, then
the mass being removed from the fire and cooled a little, and the Gums
dissolved in white Wine Vinegar, which evaporate away by boiling,
strain it strongly, then add the powders, Turpentine, and Oil of Bays,
that it may be made into a plaster according to art.
_Culpeper._] It strengthens the nerves, draws out corruption, takes
away pains and aches, and restores strength to members that have lost
it: the last is most effectual.
_Emplastrum Stomachicum Magistrale._
Or, A Stomach Plaster.
_College._] Take of Mints, Wormwood, Stœchas, Bay leaves, of each a
dram, Marjoram, red Roses, yellow Sanders, of each two drams, Calamus
Aromaticus, Wood of Aloes, Lavender flowers, Nutmegs, Cubebs, Galanga,
long Pepper, Mace, of each a dram, Mastich three drams, Cloves two
drams and an half, Oil of Mints an ounce and an half, Oil of Nard an
ounce, Oil of Spike a dram, Rozin, Wax, of each four ounces, Labdanum
three ounces, Styrax half an ounce: make it into a plaster.
_Culpeper._] Both this and the other of that name which you shall have
by and by, strengthen the stomach exceedingly, help digestion and stay
vomiting.
_Emplastrum Ceroma, or, Ceroneum._
Nich. Alex.
_College._] Take of Pitch scraped from a Ship that hath been a long
time at Sea, yellow Wax, of each seven drams, Sagapenum six drams,
Ammoniacum, Turpentine, Colophonia, Saffron, of each four drams, Aloes,
Olibanum, Myrrh, of each three drams, Styrax Calamitis, Mastich,
Opopanax, Galbanum, Alum, the seeds of Fenugreek, of each two drams,
the settlings or faces of liquid Styrax, Bdellium, of each one dram,
Litharge half a dram.
_Culpeper._] It is of a gentle emolient nature, prevails against
stoppings of the stomach, coming of cold, hardness of the spleen,
coldness of the liver and matrix.
_Emplastrum Gratia Dei._ Nich.
Or, the Grace of God.
_College._] Take of Turpentine half a pound, Rozin one pound, white Wax
four ounces, Mastich an ounce, fresh Betony, Vervain, and Burnet, of
each one handful. Let the herbs, being bruised, be sufficiently boiled
in white Wine, the liquor pressed out, in which let the Wax and Rozin
be boiled to the consumption of the liquor: being taken from the fire,
let the Turpentine be mixed with it; lastly the Mastich in powder, and
so make of them a plaster according to art.
_Culpeper._] It is excellent good in wounds and green ulcers, for it
keeps back inflammations, cleanses and joins wounds, fills up ulcers
with flesh.
_Emplastrum de Janua, or of Betony._
Nicholaus.
_College._] Take of the juice of Betony, Plantain, and Smallage, of
each one pound, Wax, Pitch, Rozin, Turpentine, of each half a pound,
boil the Wax and Rozin in the juices with a gentle fire, continually
stirring them till the juice be consumed; then add the Turpentine and
Pitch, continually stirring it till it be brought into the consistence
of a plaster according to art.
_Emplastrum Isis Epigoni._ Galen.
_College._] Take of yellow Wax an hundred drams, Turpentine two hundred
drams, scales of Copper, Verdigris, round Birthwort, Frankincense,
Sal-ammoniac, Ammoniacum, burnt brass of each eight drams, burnt Alum
six drams, Aloes, Myrrh, Galbanum, of each an ounce and a half, old
Oil one pound, sharp Vinegar so much as is sufficient. Let the metals
be dissolved in the sun with the Vinegar, then put in those things
that may be melted, last of all the powders, and make them all into an
emplaster.
_Culpeper._] _Galen_ appropriates it to the head, and ulcers there. I
know no reason but why it may as well serve for other parts of the body.
_A Plaster of Mastich._ Nich. Alex.
_College._] Take of Mastich, Ship Pitch, Sagapenum, Wax, of each
six drams, Ammoniacum, Turpentine, Colophonia, Saffron, Aloes,
Frankincense, Myrrh, of each three drams, Opopanax, Galbanum, Styrax,
Calamitis, Alum, (Rondeletius appoints, and we for him) Bitumen,
Fenugreek, of each two drams, the feces of Liquid Styrax, Bdellium,
Litharge, of each half a dram: Let the Litharge, being beaten into
powder, be boiled in a sufficient quantity of water; then add the
pitch, which being melted, add the Wax and Ammoniacum, afterwards let
the Sagapenum, Opopanax, and Galbanum be put in; then the Styrax and
Feces being mixed with the Turpentine, last of all the Colophonia,
Mastich, Frankincense, Bdellium, Alum, Myrrh, and Fenugreek in powder:
let them be made into a plaster.
_Culpeper._] It strengthens the stomach, and helps digestion.
_Emplastrum Nigrum._ August. Called in
High Dutch _Stichstaster_.
_College._] Take of Colophonia, Rozin, Ship Pitch, white Wax, roman
Vitriol, Ceruss, Olibanum, Myrrh, of each eight ounces, Oil of roses
seven ounces, Oil of Juniper Berries three ounces, Oil of Eggs two
ounces, Oil of Spick one ounce, white Vitriol, red Coral, Mummy, of
each two ounces, Earth of Lemnos, Mastich, Dragon’s blood, of each one
ounce, the fat of an Heron one ounce, the fat of Pimullus three ounces,
Load stone prepared, two ounces, Earthworms prepared, Camphire, of each
one ounce; make them into a plaster according to art.
_Culpeper._] It is very good in green wounds and shootings.
A KEY
TO
GALEN’S METHOD OF PHYSIC.
_The general use of physic._
I SHALL desire thee, whoever thou art, that intendest the noble (though
too much abused) study of physic, to mind heedfully these following
rules; which being well understood, shew thee the Key of _Galen_ and
_Hippocrates_ their method of physic: he that useth their method, and
is not heedful of these rules, may soon cure one disease, and cause
another more desperate.
That thou mayest understand what I intend, it is to discover in a
general way of the manifest virtues of medicines.
I say of the _manifest_ virtues, and qualities, viz. Such as are
obvious to the senses, especially to the taste and smell: for it hath
been the practice of most Physicians, in these latter ages as well as
ours, to say, when they cannot give, nor are minded to study a reason,
why an herb, plant, &c. hath such an operation, or produces such an
effect in the body of man: It doth it by an hidden quality, for they
not minding the whole creation, as one united body, not knowing what
belongs to _astral influence_, not regarding that excellent harmony
the only wise God hath made in a composition of contraries (in the
knowledge of which consists the whole ground and foundation of physic)
are totally led astray by _Tradition_.
It is the manifest qualities of medicines that here I am to speak to,
and you may be pleased to behold it in this order.
SECTION. 1. _Of the Temperature of Medicines._
SECTION. 2. _Of the appropriation of Medicines._
SECTION. 3. _Of the Properties of Medicines._
SECTION I.
_Of the Temperature of Medicines._
Herbs, plants, and other medicines manifestly operate, either by heat,
coldness, dryness, or moisture, for the world being composed of so
many qualities, they and only they can be found in the world, and the
mixtures of them one with another.
But that they may appear as clear as the sun when he is upon the
meridian, I shall treat of them severally, and in this order
1. _Of Medicines temperate._
2. _Of Medicines hot._
3. _Of Medicines cold._
4. _Of Medicines moist._
5. _Of Medicines dry._
_Of Medicines Temperate._
If the world be composed of extremes, then it acts by extremes, for
as the man is, so is his work: therefore it is impossible that any
medicine can be temperate, but may be reduced to heat, cold, dryness,
or moisture, and must operate, (I mean such as operate by manifest
quality) by one of these, because there is no other to operate by, and
that there should be such a temperate mixture, so exquisitely of these
qualities in any medicine, that one of them should not manifestly excel
the other, I doubt it is a system too rare to find.
Thus then I conclude the matter to be, those Medicines are called
temperate (not because they have excess of temperature at all in them)
which can neither be said, to heat nor cool so much as will amount to
the first degree of excess, for daily experience witnesses that they
being added to medicines, change not their qualities, they make them
neither hotter nor colder.
_Their use._ They are used in such diseases where there is no manifest
distemper of the first qualities, viz. heat and cold, for example;
In obstruction of the bowels, where cold medicines might make the
obstruction greater, and hot medicines cause a fever.
In fevers of flegm, where the cause is cold and moist, and the effect
hot and dry; in such, use temperate medicines which may neither
encrease the fever by their heat, nor condensate the flegm by their
coldness.
Besides, because contraries are taken away by their contraries,
and every like maintained by its like, they are of great use, to
preserve the constitution of the body temperate, and the body itself
in strength and vigour, and may be used without danger, or fear of
danger, by considering which part of the body is weak, and using such
temperate medicines as are appropriated to that part.
_Of Medicines hot._
The care of the ancient Physicians was such that they did not labour
to hide from, but impart to posterity, not only the temperature of
medicines in general, but also their degrees in temperature, that so
the distempered part may be brought to its temperature, and no further;
for all things which are of a contrary temperature, conduce not to
cure, but the strength of the contrariety must be observed, that so the
medicine may be neither weaker nor stronger, than just to take away
the distemper; for if the distemper be but meanly hot, and you apply
a medicine cold in the fourth degree, it is true, you may soon remove
that distemper of heat, and bring another of cold twice as bad. _Galen,
de simp. med. facul. lib. 3. cap. 12._
Then, secondly, Not only the distemper itself, but also the part of
the body distempered must be heeded; for if the head be distempered by
heat, and you give such medicines as cool the heart or liver, you will
bring another disease, and not cure the former.
The degrees then of temperature are to be diligently heeded, which
antient physicians have concluded to be four in the qualities, viz.
heat and cold, of each we shall speak a word or two severally.
_Of Medicines hot in the first degree._
Those are said to be hot in the first degree, which induce a moderate
and natural heat to the body, and to the parts thereof; either cold by
nature, or cooled by accident, by which natural heat is cherished when
weak, or restored when wanting.
_Effect 1._ The first effect then of medicines hot in the first degree,
is, by their sweat and temperate heat to reduce the body to its
natural heat, as the fire doth the external parts in cold weather,
unless the affliction of cold be so great that such mild medicines will
not serve the turn.
_Effect 2._ The second effect is, the mitigation of pain arising from
such a distemper, and indeed this effect hath other medicines, some
that are cold, and some that are hotter than the first degree, they
being rationally applied to the distemper. These medicines the Greeks
call _Anodyna_, and shall be spoken of in their proper places. In this
place let it suffice that medicines hot in the first degree, make
the offending humours thin, and expel them by sweat, or insensible
transpiration, and these of all others are most congruous or agreeable
to the body of man, for there is no such equal temperature of heat
and cold in a sound man, but heat exceeds, for we live by heat and
moisture, and not by cold.
Medicines then which are hot in the first degree, are such as just
correspond to the natural heat of our bodies; such as are hotter or
colder, are more subject to do mischief, being administered by an
unskilful hand, than these are, because of their contrariety to nature;
whereas these are grateful to the body by their moderate heat.
_Effect 3._ Thirdly, These take away weariness, and help fevers, being
outwardly applied, because they open the pores of the skin, and by
their gentle heat prepare the humours, and take away those fuliginous
vapours that are caused by fevers.
_Discommodities._] Yet may discommodities arise by heedless giving
even of these, which I would have young students in physic to be very
careful in, lest they do more mischief than they are aware of, viz.
It is possible by too much use of them, to consume not only what is
inimical in the body, but also the substance itself, and the strength
of the spirits, whence comes faintings, and sometimes death: besides,
by applying them to the parts of the body they are not appropriated
to, or by not heeding well the complexion of the patient, or the
natural temper of the part of the body afflicted, for the heart is hot,
but the brain temperate.
_Effect 4._ Lastly, Medicines hot in the first degree, cherish heat in
the internal parts, help concoction, breed good blood, and keep it good
in temper, being bred.
_Of Medicines hot in the second degree._
These are something hotter than the natural temper of a man.
_Use._ Their use for such whose stomachs are filled with moisture,
because their faculty is too hot and dry; they take away obstructions
or stoppings, open the pores of the skin, but not in the same manner
that such do as are hot in the first degree, for they do it without
force, by a gentle heat, concocting, and expelling the humours, by
strengthening and helping nature in the work; but these cut tough
humours, and scatter them by their own force and power when nature
cannot.
_Of Medicines hot in the third degree._
Those which attain the third degree of heat, have the same faculties
with those before mentioned; but as they are hotter, so are they more
powerful in their operations, for they are so powerful in heating and
cutting, that if unadvisedly given they cause fevers. _Use._ Their use
is to cut tough and compacted humours, to provoke sweat abundantly;
hence it comes to pass they all of them resist poison.
_Of Medicines hot in the fourth degree._
Those medicines obtain the highest degree of heat, which are so hot
that they burn the body of a man, being outwardly applied to it, and
cause inflammations, or raise blisters, as Crowfoot, Mustard-seed,
Onions, &c. Of these more hereafter.
_Of cooling Medicines._
Physicians have also observed four degrees of coldness in medicines,
which I shall briefly treat of in order.
_Of Medicines cold in the first degree._
Those medicines which are least cold of all, obtain the first degree of
coldness; and I beseech you take notice of this, that seeing our bodies
are nourished by heat, and we live by heat, therefore no cold medicines
are friendly to the body, but what good they do our bodies, they do it
by removing an unnatural heat, or the body heated above its natural
temper.
The giving then of cold medicines to a man in his natural temper, the
season of the year also being but moderately hot, extinguishes natural
heat in the body of man.
Yet have these a necessary use in them too, though not so frequent as
hot medicines have; and that may be the reason why an all wise God hath
furnished us with far more hot herbs and plants, &c. than cold.
_Use 1._ Their use is first, in nourishment, that so the heat of food
may be qualified, and made for a weak stomach to digest.
_Use 2._ Secondly, To restrain and assuage the heat of the bowels, and
to cool the blood in fevers.
Therefore if the distemper of heat be but gentle, medicines cold in
the first degree will suffice; also children, and such people whose
stomachs are weak, are easily hurt by cold medicines.
_Of Medicines cold in the second and third degree._
_Use 1._ Such whose stomachs are strong, and livers hot, may easily
bear such medicines as are cold in the second degree, and in cases of
extremity find much help by them: as also by such as are cold in the
third degree, the extremity of the disease considered, for by both
these the unbridled heat of choler is assuaged.
_Use 2._ Also they are outwardly applied to hot swellings, due
consideration being had, that if the inflammation be not great, use
those that are less; if the inflammation be vehement, make use of
medicines cold in the second or third degree, always let the remedy
correspond to the just proportion of the affliction.
_Use 3._ Thirdly, Sometimes the spirits are moved inordinately through
heat, thence follows immoderate watchings, if not deprivation of the
senses, this also must be remedied with cold medicines, for cold stops
the pores of the skin, makes the humours thick, represses sweat, and
keeps up the spirits from fainting.
_Of Medicines cold in the fourth degree._
Lastly, The use of medicines cold in the fourth degree, is, To mitigate
desperate and vehement pains, stupifying the senses, when no other
course can be taken to save life: of the use of which more hereafter.
_Of moistening Medicines._
There can be no such difference found amongst moistening medicines,
that they should surpass the second degree. For seeing all medicines
are either hot or cold, neither heat nor cold, seeing they are
extremes, can consist with moisture, for the one dries it up, the other
condensates it.
_Use._ Phylosophers therefore call moisture and dryness, _passive
qualities_, yet have they their operation likewise; for moist medicines
lenify and make slippery, ease the cough, and help the roughness of the
throat. These operations are proper to medicines moist in the first
degree.
Those which are moister, take away naturally strength, help the
sharpness of humours, make both blood and spirits thicker, looses the
belly, and fits it for purgation.
The immoderate or indiscreet use of them dulls the body, and makes it
unfit for action.
_Of drying Medicines._
Drying medicines have contrary faculties to these, viz. To consume
moisture, stop fluxes, and make such parts dry as are slippery, they
make the body and members firm, when they are weakened by too much
moisture, that so they may perform their proper functions.
Yet although the members be strengthened by drying medicines, they have
notwithstanding their own proper moisture in them, which ought to be
conserved, and not destroyed, for without it they cannot consist: If
then this moisture be consumed by using, or rather over use of drying
medicines, the members can neither be nourished, nor yet perform their
proper actions.
Such medicines as are dry in the third degree, being unadvisedly
given, hinder the parts of the body they are appropriated to, of their
nourishment, and by that means brings them into consumption.
Besides, There is a certain moisture in the body of man, which is
called _radical moisture_, which being taken away, the parts must needs
die, seeing natural heat and life also consists in it, and this may be
done by too frequent use of medicines dry in the fourth degree: And it
may be this was the reason of _Galen’s_ writing, that things dry in the
fourth degree, must of necessity burn; which is an effect of heat, and
not of dryness, unless by burning, _Galen_ means consuming the radical
moisture.
The use then of drying medicines, is only to such bodies, and parts of
the body, as abound with moisture, in which observe these rules.
1. If the moisture be not extreme, let not the medicine be extremely
drying.
2. Let it be proper to the part of the body afflicted, for if the liver
be afflicted by moisture, and you go about to dry the brain or heart,
you may sooner kill than cure.
Thus have we briefly spoken of the first qualities of medicines, and in
the general only, and but briefly, because we shall always touch upon
them in the exposition of the other qualities, in which you must always
have an eye to these.
SECTION II.
_Of the appropriation of Medicines to the
several parts of the body._
That the qualities and use of these medicines may be found out, and
understood by every one, and so my country reap the benefit of my
labour, they shall find them presented to their view in this order.
Medicines appropriated.
1. _To the head._
2. _To the breast and lungs._
3. _To the heart._
4. _To the stomach._
5. _To the liver._
6. _To the spleen._
7. _To the reins and bladder._
8. _To the womb._
9. _To the joints._
CHAPTER I.
_Of Medicines appropriated to the head._
By [_head_] is usually understood all that part of the body which is
between the top of the crown, and the uppermost joint of the neck,
yet are those medicines properly called _Cephalical_, which are
appropriated to the brain, not to the eyes, ears, nor teeth; neither
are those medicines which are proper to the ears, proper also to the
eyes, therefore (my intent being to write as plain as I can) I shall
subdivide this chapter into these parts.
Medicines appropriated
1. _To the brain._
2. _To the eyes._
3. _To the mouth, and nostrils._
4. _To the ears._
5. _To the teeth._
For what medicines are appropriated to an unruly tongue, is not in my
power at present to determine.
_Of Medicines appropriated to the brain._
Before we treat of medicines appropriated to the brain, it is requisite
that we describe what the nature and affection of the brain is.
The brain which is the seat of apprehension, judgment, and memory, the
original of sense and motion, is by nature temperate, and if so, then
you will grant me that it may easily be afflicted both by heat and
cold, and it is indeed more subject to affliction by either of them,
than any other part of the body, for if it be afflicted by heat, sense
and reason, it is immoderately moved, if by cold, they languish, and
are dulled, to pass by other symptoms which invade the head, if the
brain be altered from its proper temper.
Also this is peculiar to the brain, that it is delighted or offended by
smells, sights, and sounds, but I shall meddle no further with these
here, because they are not medicines.
_Cephalical_ Medicines may be found out from the affections of the
brain itself. The brain is usually oppressed with moisture in such
afflictions; therefore give such medicines as very gently warm,
cleanse, cut, and dry: but withal, let them be such as are appropriated
to the head, such as physicians say (by an hidden quality) strengthen
the brain.
Again, if you consider the situation of the brain, you shall find
it placed in the highest part of the body, therefore it is easily
afflicted with hot vapours: this punishes a man with watching and
head-ache, as the former did with sottishness and sleepiness, in such
cases use such _Cephalecs_ as gently cool the brain.
To make _Cephalecs_ of _Narcoticks_, or stupifying medicines, is not my
intent, for I am confident they are inimical both to brain and senses.
Of these, and such medicines as also purge the brain, I shall speak by
and by. To return to my purpose.
Some Cephalics purge the brain, some heat it, some cool it, some
strengthen it; but how they perform this office peculiarly to the
brain, most physicians confess they could neither comprehend by reason,
nor describe by precepts, only thus, they do it by an hidden quality,
either by strengthening the brain, thereby descending it from diseases,
or by a certain antipathy between them and the diseases incident to the
brain.
Lastly, For the use of Cephalics, observe, if the brain be much
afflicted, you cannot well strengthen it before you have purged it,
neither can you well purge the brain before you have cleansed the rest
of the body, it is so subject to receive the vapours up to it; give
cooling Cephalics when the brain is too hot, and hot Cephalics when it
is too cold.
Beware of using cooling medicines to the brain when the crisis of a
disease is near: how that time may be known, I shall (God assisting
me) instruct you hereafter, let it suffice now, that according as the
disease afflicting your head is, so let your remedy be.
_Of Medicines appropriated to the eyes._
Take such medicines as are appropriated to the eyes under the name of
(_Ocular Medicines_) I do it partly to avoid multiplicity of words,
and partly to instruct my countrymen in the terms of art belonging to
physic, (I would have called them [_Ophthalmics_] had not the word
been troublesome to the reading, much more to the understanding of a
countryman) as I even now called such medicines [_Cephalics_] as were
appropriated to the brain.
Ocular medicines are two-fold, viz. such as are referred to the visive
virtues, and such as are referred to the eyes themselves.
Such as strengthen the visive virtue or the optick nerves which convey
it to the eyes (say Doctors) do it by an hidden virtue, into the
reason which no man can dive, unless they should fetch it from the
similitude of the substance: And yet they say a Goat’s liver conduces
much to make one see in the night, and they give this reason, because
Goats see as well in the night as in the day. Yet is there no affinity
in temperature nor substance between the liver and the eyes: However
Astrologers know well enough that all herbs, plants, &c. that are under
the dominion of either sun or moon, and appropriated to the head, be
they hot or cold they strengthen the visive virtue, as Eyebright, which
is hot, _Lunaria_, or Moonwort which is cold.
As for what appertains to the constitution of the eyes themselves,
seeing they are exact in sense, they will not endure the least
inconvenience, therefore such medicines as are outwardly applied to
them (for such medicines as strengthen the visive virtues are always
given inwardly) let them neither hurt by their hardness nor gnawing
quality, nor be so tough that they should stick to them. Therefore
let ocular medicines be neither in powders nor ointments, because oil
itself is offensive to the eyes, and how pleasing powders are to them,
you may perceive yourself by just going into the dust.
_Medicines appropriated to the mouth and nose._
Apply no stinking medicine to a disease in the nose, for such offend
not only the nose, but also the brain; neither administer medicines
of any ill taste to a disease in the mouth, for that subverts the
stomach, because the tunicle of the mouth and of the stomach is the
same: and because both mouth and nostrils are ways by which the brain
is cleansed, therefore are they infected with such vices as need almost
continual cleansing, and let the medicines you apply to them be either
pleasant, or at least, not ingrateful.
_Medicines appropriated to the ears._
The ears are easily afflicted by cold, because they are always open,
therefore they require hot medicines. And because they are of
themselves very dry, therefore they require medicines which dry much.
_Medicines appropriated to the teeth._
Vehement heat, and vehement cold, are inimical to the teeth, but they
are most of all offended by sharp and sour things, and the reason is,
because they have neither skin nor flesh to cover them, they delight in
such medicines as are cleansing and binding, because they are troubled
with defluxions and rheums upon every light occasion; and that’s the
reason the common use of fat and sweet things, soon rots the teeth.
CHAPTER II.
_Of Medicines appropriated to the breast and lungs._
The medicines appropriated to the breast and lungs, you shall find
called all along by the name of [_pectorals_] that’s the term
Physicians give them, when you heat them talk of pectoral Syrups,
pectoral rows, or pectoral Ointments.
They are divers, some of which regard the part afflicted, others the
matter afflicting.
But although sometimes in ulcers of the lungs, we are forced to
use binding medicines, to join the ulcer, yet are not these called
pectorals, because binding medicines are extreme hurtful to the breast
and lungs, both because they hinder one’s fetching his breath, and also
because they hinder the avoiding that flegm by which the breast is
oppressed.
Such medicines are called pectorals, which are of a lenifying nature.
Besides, Those which make thin matter thicker are of two sorts, _viz._
Some are mild and gentle, which may safely be administered, be the
matter hot or cold which offendeth; others are very cold, which are
used only when the matter offending is sharp.
But because such medicines as conduce to the cure of the phthisics
(which is an ulceration of the lungs, and the disease usually called,
the consumption of the lungs,) are also reckoned in amongst pectorals,
it is not amiss to speak a word or two of them.
In the cure of this disease are three things to be regarded.
1. _To cut and bring away the concreted blood._
2. _To cherish and strengthen the lungs._
3. _To conglutinate the ulcer._
And indeed some particular simples will perform all these, and
physicians confess it; which shews the wonderful mystery the all-wise
God hath made in the creation, that one and the same simple should
perform two contrary operations on the same part of the body; for the
more a medicine cleanses, the more it conglutinates.
To conclude then, Pectoral Medicines are such as either cut and cleanse
out the compacted humours from the arteries of the lungs, or make thin
defluxions thick, or temper those that are sharp, help the roughness of
the wind-pipe, or are generally lenitive and softening, being outwardly
applied to the breast.
CHAPTER III.
_Of Medicines appropriated to the heart._
These are they which are generally given under the notion of Cordials;
take them under that name here.
The heart is the seat of the vital spirit, the fountain of life, the
original of infused heat, and of the natural affections of man.
So then these two things are proper to the heart.
1. By its heat to cherish life throughout the body.
2. To add vigour to the affections.
And if these be proper to the heart, you will easily grant me, that
it is the property of cordials to administer to the heart in these
particulars.
Of Cordials, some cheer the mind, some strengthen the heart, and
refresh the spirits thereof, being decayed.
Those which cheer the mind, are not one and the same; for as the heart
is variously disturbed, either by anger, love, fear, hatred, sadness,
&c. So such things as flatter lovers or appease the angry, or comfort
the fearful, or please the hateful, may well be called cordials; for
the heart, seeing it is placed in the middle between the brain and the
liver, is wrought upon by reason, as well as by digestion, yet these,
because they are not medicines, are beside my present scope.
And although it is true, that mirth, love, &c. are actions, or motions
of the mind, not of the body; yet many have been induced to think such
affections may be wrought in the body by medicines.
The heart is chiefly afflicted by too much heat, by poison, and
by stinking vapours, and these are remedied by the second sort of
cordials, and indeed chiefly belong to our present scope.
According to these three afflictions, _viz._
1. _Excessive heat._
2. _Poison._
3. _Melancholy vapours._
Are three kinds of remedies which succour the afflicted heart.
Such as
1. _By their cooling nature mitigate the heat of fevers._
2. _Resist poison._
3. _Cherish the vital spirits when they languish._
All these are called Cordials.
1. Such as cool the heart in fevers, yet is not every thing that
cooleth cordial, for lead is colder than gold, yet is not lead cordial
as gold is, some hold it cordial by a hidden quality, others by reason.
2. Such as resist poison; there is a two-fold resisting of poison.
1. _By an antipathy between the medicine and poison._
2. _By a sympathy between the medicine and the heart._
Of the first we shall speak anon, in a chapter by itself. The latter
belongs to this chapter, and they are such medicines, whose nature is
to strengthen the heart, and fortify it against the poison, as Rue,
Angelica, &c. For as the operation of the former is upon the poison,
which afflicteth the heart, so the operation of the latter is upon the
heart afflicted by the poison.
To this class may be referred all such medicines as strengthen the
heart either by astral influence, or by likeness of substance, if there
be such a likeness in medicines, for a Bullock’s heart is of like
substance to man’s, yet I question whether it be cordial or not.
3. And lastly, Such as refresh the spirits, and make them lively and
active, both because they are appropriated to the office, and also
because they drive stinking and melancholy vapours from the heart, for
as the animal spirit be refreshed by fragrant smells, and the natural
spirits by spices, so are the vital spirits refreshed by all such
medicines as keep back melancholy vapours from the heart, as Borrage,
Bugloss, Rosemary, Citron Pills, the compositions of them, and many
others, which this treatise will amply furnish you with.
CHAPTER IV.
_Of Medicines appropriated to the stomach._
By stomach, I mean that ventricle which contains the food till it be
concocted into chyle.
Medicines appropriated to the stomach are usually called stomachicals.
The infirmities usually incident to the stomach are three.
1. Appetite lost.
2. Digestion weakened.
3. The retentive faculty corrupted.
When the appetite is lost, the man feels no hunger when his body needs
nourishment.
When digestion is weakened it is not able to concoct the meat received
into the stomach, but it putrifies there.
When the retentive faculty is spoiled the stomach is not able to retain
the food till it be digested, but either vomits it up again, or causes
fluxes.
Such medicines then as remedy all these, are called stomachicals. And
of them in order.
1. Such as provoke appetite are usually of a sharp or sourish taste,
and yet withal of a grateful taste to the palate, for although loss of
appetite may proceed from divers causes, as from choler in the stomach,
or putrefied humours or the like, yet such things as purge this choler
or humours, are properly called _Orecticks_, not stomachicals; the
former strengthen appetite after these are expelled.
2. Such medicines help digestion as strengthen the stomach, either by
convenient heat, or aromatic (viz. spicy) faculty, by hidden property,
or congruity of nature.
3. The retentive faculty of the stomach is corrected by binding
medicines, yet not by all binding medicines neither, for some of them
are adverse to the stomach, but by such binding medicines as are
appropriated to the stomach.
For the use of these.
_Use 1._ Use not such medicines as provoke appetite before you have
cleansed the stomach of what hinders it.
_Use 2._ Such medicines as help digestion, give them a good time before
meat that so they may pass to the bottom of the stomach, (for the
digestive faculty lies there,) before the food come into it.
_Use 3._ Such as strengthen the retentive faculty, give them a little
before meat, if to stay fluxes, a little after meat, if to stay
vomiting.
CHAPTER V.
_Of Medicines appropriated to the liver._
Be pleased to take these under the name of _Hepatics_, for that is the
usual name physicians give them, and these also are of three sorts.
1. Some the liver is delighted in.
2. Others strengthen it.
3. Others help its vices.
The palate is the seat of taste, and its office is to judge what food
is agreeable to the stomach, and what not, by that is both the quality
and quantity of food for the stomach discerned: the very same office
the _meseraik_ veins perform to the liver.
Sometimes such food pleases the palate which the liver likes not (but
not often) and therefore the _meseraik_ veins refuse it, and that is
the reason some few men fancy such food as makes them sick after the
eating thereof.
1. The liver is delighted exceedingly with sweet things, draws them
greedily, and digests them as swiftly, and that is the reason honey is
so soon turned into choler.
2. Such medicines strengthen the liver, as (being appropriated to it)
very gently bind, for seeing the office of the liver is to concoct,
it needs some adstriction, that so both the heat and the humour to be
concocted may be stayed, that so the one slip not away, nor the other
be scattered.
Yet do not hepatical medicines require so great a binding faculty as
stomachicals do, because the passages of the stomach are more open
than those of the liver by which it either takes in chyle, or sends
out blood to the rest of the body, therefore medicines that are very
binding are hurtful to the liver, and either cause obstructions, or
hinder the distribution of the blood, or both.
And thus much for the liver, the office of which is to concoct chyle,
(which is a white substance the stomach digests the food into) into
blood, and distributes it, by the veins, to every part of the body,
whereby the body is nourished, and decaying flesh restored.
CHAPTER VI.
_Of Medicines appropriated to the spleen._
In the breeding of blood, are three excrements most conspicuous, viz.
_urine_, _choler_, and _melancholy_.
The proper seat of choler is in the gall.
The urine passeth down to the reins or kidneys, which is all one.
The spleen takes the thickest or melancholy blood to itself.
This excrement of blood is twofold: for either by excessive heat, it
is addust, and this is that the Latins call _Atra Bilis_: or else it
is thick and earthly of itself, and this properly is called melancholy
humour.
Hence then is the nature of splenical medicines to be found out, and
by these two is the spleen usually afflicted for _Atra bilis_, (I know
not what distinct English name to give it) many times causes madness,
and pure melancholy causeth obstructions of the bowels, and tumours,
whereby the concoction of the blood is vitiated, and dropsies many
times follow.
Medicines then peculiar to the spleen must needs be twofold also, some
appropriated to _Atra bilis_, others to pure melancholy; but of purging
either of them, I shall omit till I come to treat of purging in a
chapter by itself.
1. Such medicines are splenical, which by cooling and moistening temper
_Atra bilis_: let not these medicines be too cold neither, for there is
no such heat in _Atra bilis_ as there is in choler, and therefore it
needs no such excessive cooling: amongst the number of these are such
as we mentioned amongst the cordials to repel melancholy vapours from
the heart, such temper and assuage the malice of _Atra bilis_.
2. Those medicines are also splenical, by which melancholy humours are
corrected and so prepared, that they may the more easily be evacuated:
such medicines are cutting and opening, and they differ from hepaticals
in this that they are no ways binding; for the spleen being no ways
addicted to concoction, binding medicines do it harm, and not good.
3. Sometimes the spleen is not only obstructed, but also hardened by
melancholy humours, and in such cases emolient medicines may be well
called splenicals, not such as are taken inwardly, for they operate
upon the stomach and bowels, but such as are outwardly applied to the
region of the spleen.
And although sometimes medicines, are outwardly applied to hardness of
the liver, yet they differ from splenicals, because they are binding,
so are not splenicals.
CHAPTER VII.
_Of Medicines appropriated to the reins and bladder._
The office of the reins is, to make a separation between the blood and
the urine; to receive this urine thus separated from the blood, is the
bladder ordained, which is of a sufficient bigness to contain it.
Both these parts of the body officiating about the urine, they are both
usually afflicted by the vices of the urine.
1. _By stones._
2. _By inflammation._
3. _By thick humours._
Medicines appropriated to the reins and bladder are usually called
_Nephriticals_, and are threefold; some cool, others cut gross humours,
and a third sort breaks the stone.
In the use of all these, take notice, that the constitution of the
reins and bladder is such, that they abhor all binding medicines
because they cause stoppage of urine.
Take notice, that the reins and bladder being subject to inflammations
endure not very hot medicines.
Because the bladder is further remote from the centre of the body than
the kidnies are, therefore it requires stronger medicines than the
kidnies do, lest the strength of the medicine be spent before it be
come to the part afflicted.
CHAPTER VIII.
_Of Medicines appropriated to the womb._
These, physicians call _Hystericals_, and to avoid multiplicity of
words, take them in this discourse under that notion.
Take notice that such medicines as provoke the menses, or stop them
when they flow immoderately, are properly hystericals, but shall be
spoken to by and by in a chapter by themselves.
As for the nature of the womb, it seems to be much like the nature of
the brain and stomach, for experience teacheth that it is delighted
with sweet and aromatical medicines, and flies from their contraries.
For example: a woman being troubled with the fits of the mother, which
is drawing of the womb upward, apply sweet things, as Civet, or the
like, to the place of conception, it draws it down again; but apply
stinking things to the nose, as Assafœtida, or the like, it expels it
from it, and sends it down to its proper place.
CHAPTER IX.
_Of Medicines appropriated to the joints._
The joints are usually troubled with cephalic diseases, and then are to
be cured by cephalic medicines.
Medicines appropriated to the joints, are called by the name
_Arthritical_ medicines.
The joints, seeing they are very nervous, require medicines which are
of a heating and drying nature, with a gentle binding, and withal, such
as by peculiar virtue are appropriated to them, and add strength to
them. It is true, most cephalics do so, yet because the joints are more
remote from the centre, they require stronger medicines.
For removing pains in the joints this is the method of proceeding.
Pain is either taken away or eased, for the true cure is to take away
the cause of the pain, sometimes the vehemency of the pain is so great
that you must be forced to use _Anodines_ (for so physicians call such
medicines as ease pain) before you can meddle with the cause, and
this is usually when the part pained is inflamed, for those medicines
which take away the cause of pain being very hot, if there be any
inflammation in the part pained, you must abstain from them till the
inflammation be taken away.
SECTION III.
_Of the propriety or operation of Medicines._
CHAPTER I.
_Of Emolient Medicines._
The various mixtures of heat, cold, dryness, and moisture in simples,
must of necessity produce variety of faculties, and operations in them,
which now we come to treat of, beginning first at emolients.
What is hard, and what is soft, most men know, but few are able to
express. Phylosophers define that to be hard which yields not to
touching, and soft to be the contrary. An emolient, or softening
medicine is one which reduceth a hard substance to its proper
temperature.
But to leave phylosophy, and keep to physic: physicians describe
hardness to be two-fold.
1. A distention or stretching of a part by too much fulness.
2. Thick humours which are destitute of heat, growing hard in that part
of the body into which they flow.
So many properties then ought emolient medicines to have, viz. To
moisten what is dry, to discuss what is stretched, to warm what is
congealed by cold; yet properly, that only is said to mollify which
reduceth a hard substance to its proper temperature.
Dryness and thickness of humours being the cause of hardness, emolient
medicines must of necessity be hot and moist; and although you may
peradventure find some of them dry in the second or third degrees, yet
must this dryness be tempered and qualified with heat and moisture, for
reason will tell you that dry medicines make hard parts harder.
Mollifying medicines are known, 1. by their taste, 2. by their feeling.
1. In taste, they are near unto sweat, but fat and oily; they are
neither sharp, nor austere, nor sour, nor salt, neither do they
manifest either binding, or vehement heat, or cold to be in them.
2. In feeling you can perceive no roughness, neither do they stick to
your fingers like Birdlime, for they ought to penetrate the parts to
be mollified, and therefore many times if occasion be, are cutting
medicines mixed with them.
CHAPTER II.
_Of hardening Medicines._
Galen in _Lib. 5. de Simple, Med. Facult. Cap. 10._ determines
hardening medicines to be cold and moist, and he brings some arguments
to prove it, against which other physicians contest.
I shall not here stand to quote the dispute, only take notice, that
if softening medicines be hot and moist (as we shewed even now) then
hardening medicines must needs be cold and dry, because they are
contrary to them.
The universal course of nature will prove it, for dryness and moisture
are passive qualities, neither can extremeties consist in moisture as
you may know, if you do but consider that dryness is not attributed to
the air, nor water, but to the fire, and earth.
2. The thing to be _congealed_ must needs be moist, therefore the
medicine _congealing_ must of necessity be dry, for if cold be joined
with dryness, it contracts the pores, that so the humours cannot be
scattered.
Yet you must observe a difference between medicines drying, making
thick, hardening, and congealing, of which differences, a few words
will not do amiss.
1. Such medicines are said to dry, which draw out, or drink up the
moisture, as a spunge drinks up water.
2. Such medicines are said to make thick, as do not consume the
moisture, but add dryness to it, as you make syrups into a thick
electuary by adding powders to them.
3. Such as congeal, neither draw out the moisture, nor make it thick
by adding dryness to it, but contract it by vehement cold, as water is
frozen into ice.
4. Hardness differs from all these, for the parts of the body swell,
and are filled with flegmatic humours, or melancholy blood, which at
last grows hard.
That you may clearly understand this, observe but these two things.
1. What it is which worketh.
2. What it worketh upon.
That which worketh is outwardly cold. That which is wrought upon, is a
certain thickness and dryness, of humours, for if the humour were fluid
as water is, it might properly be said to be congealed by cold, but not
so properly hardened. Thus you see cold and dryness to be the cause of
hardening. This hardening being so far from being useful, that it is
obnoxious to the body of man. I pass it without more words. I suppose
when _Galen_ wrote of hardening medicines, he intended such as make
thick, and therefore amongst them he reckons up Fleawort, Purslain,
Houseleek, and the like, which assuage the heat of the humours in
swellings, and stops subtil and sharp defluxions upon the lungs; but of
these more anon.
CHAPTER III.
_Of Loosening Medicines._
By loosening here, I do not mean purging, nor that which is opposite
to astringency; but that which is opposite to stretching: I knew
not suddenly what fitter English name to give it, than loosening or
laxation, which latter is scarce English.
The members are distended or stretched divers ways, and ought to be
loosened by as many, for they are stretched sometimes by dryness,
sometimes by cold, sometimes by repletion or fullness, sometimes by
swellings, and sometimes by some of these joined together. I avoid
terms of art as much as I can, because it would profit my country
but little, to give them the rules of physic in such English as they
understand not.
I confess the opinion of ancient physicians hath been various about
these loosening medicines. _Galen’s_ opinion was, that they might be
referred either to moistening, or heating, or mollifying, or evacuating
medicines, and therefore ought not to be referred to a chapter by
themselves.
It is likely they may, and so may all other medicines be referred to
heat, or coldness, or dryness, or moisture: but we speak not here of
the particular properties of medicines, but of their joined properties,
as they heat and moisten.
Others, they question how they can be distinguished from such as
mollify, seeing such as are loosening, and such as are emolient, are
both of them hot and moist.
To that, thus: stretching and loosening are ascribed to the moveable
parts of the body, as to the muscles and their tendons, to the
ligaments and _Membranæ_; but softness and hardness to such parts
of the body as may be felt with the hand: I shall make clear by a
similitude, Wax is softened, being hard, but Fiddle-strings are
loosened being stretched. And if you say that the difference lying only
in the parts of the body is no true difference, then take notice, that
such medicines which loosen, are less hot, and more moistening, than
such as soften, for they operate most by heat, these by moisture.
The truth is, I am of opinion the difference is not much, nay, scarce
sensible, between emolient and loosening medicines; only I quoted this
in a chapter by itself, not so much because some authors do, as because
it conduceth to the increase of knowledge in physic, for want of which,
this poor nation is almost spoiled.
The chief use of loosening medicines is in convulsions and cramps, and
such like infirmities which cause distention or stretching.
They are known by the very same marks and tokens that emolient
medicines are.
CHAPTER IV.
_Of drawing Medicines._
The opinion of physicians is, concerning these, as it is concerning
other medicines, viz. Some draw by a manifest quality, some by a
hidden, and so (quoth they) they draw to themselves both humours and
thorns, or splinters that are gotten into the flesh; however this is
certain, they are all of them hot, and of thin parts; hot because the
nature of heat is to draw off thin parts that so they may penetrate to
the humours that are to to be drawn out.
Their use is various, _viz._
_Use 1._ That the bowels may be disburdened of corrupt humours.
2. Outwardly used, by them the offending humour (I should have said the
peccant humour, had I written only to scholars,) is called from the
internal parts of the body to the superfices.
3. By them the crisis of a disease is much helped forward.
4. They are exceedingly profitable to draw forth poison out of the body.
5. Parts of the body over cooled are cured by these medicines, viz.
by applying them outwardly to the place, not only because they heat,
but also because they draw the spirits by which life and heat are
cherished, to the part of the body which is destitute of them: you
cannot but know that many times parts of the body fall away in flesh,
and their strength decays, as in some persons arms or legs, or the
like, the usual reason is, because the vital spirit decays in those
parts, to which use such plaisters or ointments as are attractive
(which is the physical term for drawing medicines) for they do not only
cherish the parts by their own proper heat, but draw the vital and
natural spirits thither, whereby they are both quickened and nourished.
They are known almost by the same tokens that attenuating medicines
are, seeing heat; and thinness of parts is in them both, they differ
only in respect of quantity, thinness of parts being most proper to
attenuating medicines, but attractive medicines are hotter.
CHAPTER V.
_Of discussive Medicines._
The nature of discussing (or sweating) medicines is almost the same
with attractive, for there are no discussive medicines but are
attractive, nor scarce any attractive medicine but is in some measure
or other discussing. The difference then is only this; that discussive
medicines are hotter than attractive, and therefore nothing else need
be written of their nature.
_Use._ Their use may be known even from their very name; for diseases
that come by repletion or fulness, are cured by evacuation or emptying;
yet neither blood nor gross humours are to be expelled by sweating,
or insensible transpiration (as they call it) but the one requires
blood-letting, the other purgation, but _scrosus_ or thin humours and
filthy vapours, and such like superfluities, are to be expelled by
sweat, and be wary in this too, for many of them work violently, and
violent medicines are not rashly to be given.
_Caution 2._ Besides, swellings are sometimes made so hard by sweating
medicines, that afterwards they can never be cured; for what is thin
being by such medicines taken away, nothing but what is perfectly hard
remains: If you fear such a thing, mix emolients with them.
_Caut. 3._ Again, sometimes by using discussives, the humours offending
(which physicians usually call the _peccant humours_) is driven to some
more noble part of the body, or else it draws more than it discusseth;
in such cases, concoct and attenuate the matter offending before you go
about to discuss it.
From hence may easily be gathered at what time of the disease
discussive medicines are to be used, viz. about the declining of the
disease, although in diseases arising from heat of blood, we sometimes
use them in the encrease and state of them.
They are known by the same marks and tokens attenuating medicines are,
viz. by their burning and biting quality, they being very hot, and of
thin parts, void of any biting quality, therefore they contract not the
tongue in tasting of them.
CHAPTER VI.
_Of repelling Medicines._
Repelling medicines are of contrary operation to these three last
mentioned, viz. attenuating, drawing, and discussive medicines: It is
true, there is but little difference between these three, some hold
none at all; and if you will be so nice, you may oppose them thus. And
so medicines making thick, correspond to attenuating medicines, or such
as make thin, repelling medicines are opposed to such as draw, and such
as retain the humours and make them tough, are opposite to such as
discuss, some hold this niceness needless.
2. The sentence of authors about repulsive medicines is various.
For seeing an influxion may be caused many ways, a repulsive hath got
as many definitions.
For such things as cool, bind, stop, and make thick, stay influxions,
and therefore repulsives are by authors opposed, not only to
attractives, but also to attenuating, and discussing medicines.
But properly such things are called repulsives, which do not only stay
influxions, (for so do such medicines which stop and make thick) but
such as drive the humours flowing to, or inherit in the place, to some
other place.
The truth is, binding is inherent to repulsives, so is not coldness nor
making thick: Yet such as are binding, cold and thin in operation, are
most effectual.
Your taste will find repulsives to be, tart, or sharp, or austere, with
a certain binding which contracts the tongue.
_Use 1._ Their use is manifold, as in hot tumours, head-aches, or the
like.
_Use 2._ By these in fevers are the vapours driven from the head,
Vinegar of Roses is notable.
_Time of giving._ They are most commodious in the beginning and
encrease of a disease, for then influxions most prevail.
But seeing that in the cure of tumours there are two scopes, 1. That
that which flows to it may be repelled. 2. That that which is already
in it may be discussed; repulsives are most commodiously used in the
beginning, discussives in the latter end.
In the middle you may mix them, with this proviso, that repulsives
exceed in the beginning, discussives in the latter end.
_Caution 1._ If the matter offending be of a venomous quality, either
abstain from repulsives altogether, or use purging first, lest the
matter fly to the bowels and prove dangerous, especially if the bowels
be weak.
2. Also forbear repulsives, if the pain be great.
3. Lastly, Have a care lest by repulsives you contract the pores so
much, that the matter cannot be removed by discussives.
CHAPTER VII.
_Of cleansing Medicines._
Cleansing medicines can neither be defined by heat, nor coldness,
because some of both sorts cleanse.
A cleansing medicine, then, is of a terrene quality, which takes away
the filth with it, and carries it out.
_Definition._] Here, to avoid confusion, a difference must be made
between washing and cleansing.
A thing which washeth, carries away by fluxion, as a man washeth the
dirt off from a thing.
A cleansing medicine by a certain roughness or nitrous quality, carries
away the compacted filth with it.
This also is the difference between cleansing and discussing medicines,
the one makes thick humours thin, and so scatters them, but a cleansing
medicine takes the most tenacious humour along with it, without any
alteration.
Besides, of cleansing medicines, some are of a gentler nature, some are
more vehement.
These are not known one and the same way; for some are sweet, some
salt, and some bitter.
The use of cleansing is external, as the use of purges are internal.
They are used to cleanse the sanies and other filth of ulcers, yea, and
to consume and eat away the flesh itself, as burnt Alum, _precipitate_,
&c.
When these must be used, not only the effects of the ulcers, but also
the temperature of the body will tell you.
For if you see either a disease of fulness, which our physicians call
[_Plethora_] or corrupted humours which they call [_Cacochyma_] you
must empty the body of these, viz. fulness by bleeding, and corrupt
humours, or evil state of the body, by purging before you use cleansing
medicines to the ulcer, else your cure will never proceed prosperously.
CHAPTER VIII.
_Of Emplasters._
By Emplasters, here, I do mean things glutinative, and they are quite
contrary to things cleansing.
They are of a far more glutinous and tenacious substance.
They differ from things stopping because they do not stop the pores so
much, as stick to them like Birdlime.
They have a certain glutinous heat, tempered both with coldness and
moisture.
From these plasters take their names.
Their taste is either none at all, or not discernable whether hot or
cold, but fat, insipid, or without taste, or sweet, and viscous in
feeling.
Their use is to stop flowing of blood, and other fluxes, to cause
suppuration, to continue the heat, that so tumours may be ripened.
Also they are mixed with other medicines, that they may the better be
brought into the form of an emplaster, and may stick the better to the
members.
CHAPTER IX.
_Of suppuring Medicines._
These have a great affinity with emolients, like to them in
temperature, only emolients are somewhat hotter.
Yet is there a difference as apparent as the sun when he is upon the
meridian, and the use is manifest. For,
Emolients are to make hard things soft, but what suppures, rather makes
a generation than an alteration of the humour.
Natural heat is the efficient cause of suppuration, neither can it be
done by any external means.
Therefore such things are said to suppure, which by a gentle heat
cherish the inbred heat of man.
This is done by such medicines which are not only temperate in heat,
but also by a gentle viscosity, fill up or stop the pores, that so the
heat of the part affected be not scattered.
For although such things as bind hinder the dissipation of the spirits,
and internal heat, yet they retain not the moisture as suppuring
medicines properly and especially do.
The heat then of suppuring medicines is like the internal heat of our
bodies.
As things then very hot, are ingrateful either by biting, as Pepper,
or bitterness: in suppuring medicines, no biting, no binding, no
nitrous quality is perceived by the taste, (I shall give you better
satisfaction both in this and others, by and by.)
For reason will tell a man, that such things hinder rather than help
the work of nature in maturation.
Yet it follows not from hence, that all suppuring medicines are
grateful to the taste, for many things grateful to the taste provokes
vomiting, therefore why may not the contrary be?
The most frequent use of suppuration is, to ripen _Phlegmonæ_, a
general term physicians give to all swellings proceeding of blood,
because nature is very apt to help such cures, and physic is an art to
help, not to hinder nature.
The time of use is usually in the height of the disease, when the flux
is stayed, as also to ripen matter that it may be the easier purged
away.
CHAPTER X.
_Of Medicines provoking urine._
The causes by which urine is suppressed are many.
1. By too much drying, or sweating, it may be consumed.
2. By heat or inflammation of the reins, or passages whereby it passes
from the reins, it may be stopped by compression.
Urine is the thinnest part of blood, separated from the thickest part
in the reins.
If then the blood be more thick and viscous than ordinary, it cannot
easily be separated without cutting and cleansing medicines.
This is for certain, that blood can neither be separated nor
distributed without heat.
Yet amongst diureticks are some cold things, as the four greater cold
seeds, Winter-cherries, and the like.
Although this seem a wonder, yet it may be, and doth stand with truth.
For cool diureticks, though they further not the separation of the
blood one jot, yet they cleanse and purge the passages of the urine.
Diureticks then are of two sorts:
1. Such as conduce to the separation of the blood.
2. Such as open the urinal passages.
The former are biting (and are known by their taste) very hot and
cutting, whence they penetrate to the reins, and cut the gross humours
there.
Bitter things, although they be very hot, and cut gross humours, yet
are they of a more dry and terrene substance than is convenient to
provoke urine.
Hence then we may safely gather, that bitter things are not so moist
nor penetrating, as such as bite like Pepper.
CHAPTER XI.
_Of Medicines breeding flesh._
There are many things diligently to be observed in the cures of wounds
and ulcers, which incur and hinder that the cure cannot be speedily
done, nor the separated parts reduced to their natural state.
_Viz._ Fluxes of blood, inflammation, hardness, pain, and other things
besides our present scope.
Our present scope is, to shew how the cavity of ulcers may be filled
with flesh.
Such medicines are called _Sarcoticks_.
This, though it be the work of nature, yet it is helped forward with
medicines, that the blood may be prepared, that it may the easier be
turned into flesh.
These are not medicines which breed good blood, nor which correct the
intemperature of the place afflicted, but which defend the blood and
the ulcer itself from corruption in breeding flesh.
For nature in breeding flesh produceth two sorts of excrements, viz.
scrosus humours, and purulent dross.
Those medicines then which cleanse and consume, these by drying are
said to breed flesh, because by their helps nature performs that office.
Also take notice that these medicines are not so drying that they
should consume the blood also as well as the sanies, nor so cleansing
that they should consume the flesh with the dross.
Let them not then exceed the first degree unless the ulcer be very
moist.
Their difference are various, according to the part wounded, which
ought to be restored with the same flesh.
The softer then, and tenderer the place is, the gentler let the
medicines be.
CHAPTER XII.
_Of glutinative Medicines._
That is the true cure of an ulcer which joins the mouth of it together.
That is a glutinative medicine, which couples together by drying and
binding, the sides of an ulcer before brought together.
These require a greater drying faculty than the former, not only to
consume what flows out, but what remains liquid in the flesh, for
liquid flesh is more subject to flow abroad than stick to together.
The time of using them, any body may know without teaching, viz. when
the ulcer is cleansed and filled with flesh, and such symptoms as
hinder are taken away.
For many times ulcers must be kept open that the sanies, or fords that
lie in them may be purged out, whereas of themselves they would heal
before.
Only beware, lest by too much binding you cause pain in tender parts.
CHAPTER XIII.
_Of Medicines resisting poison._
Such medicines are called _Alexiteria_, and _Alexipharmaca_, which
resist poison.
Some of these resist poison by astral influence, and some physicians
(though but few) can give a reason for it.
These they have sorted into three ranks:
1. Such as strengthen nature, that so it may tame the poison the easier.
2. Such as oppose the poison by a contrary quality.
3. Such as violently thrust it out of doors.
Such as strengthen nature against poison, either do it to the body
universally, or else strengthen some particular part thereof.
For many times one particular part of the body is most afflicted by
the poison, suppose the stomach, liver, brain, or any other part: such
as cherish and strengthen those parts, being weakened, may be said to
resist poison.
Such as strengthen the spirits, strengthen all the body.
Sometimes poisons kill by their quality, and then are they to be
corrected by their contraries.
They which kill by cooling are to be remedied by heating, and the
contrary; they which kill by corroding, are to be cured by lenitives,
such as temper their acrimony.
Those which kill by induration, or coagulation, require cutting
medicines.
Also because all poisons are in motion, neither stay they in one till
they have seized and oppressed the fountain of life, therefore they
have invented another faculty to stay their motion, viz. terrene and
emplastic.
For they judge, if the poison light upon these medicines, they embrace
them round with a viscous quality.
Also they say the ways and passages are stopped by such means, to
hinder their proceeding; take _Terra Lemnia_ for one.
Truly if these reasons be good, which I leave to future time to
determine, it may be done for little cost.
Some are of opinion that the safest way is to expel the poison out of
the body, so soon as may be, and that is done by vomit, or purge, or
sweat.
You need not question the time, but do it as soon as may be; for there
is no parlying with poison.
Let vomiting be the first, purging the next, and sweating the last.
This is general. But,
If thou dost but observe the nature and motion of the venom, that will
be thy best instructor.
In the stomach it requires vomiting, in the blood and spirits,
sweating, if the body be plethoric, bleeding, if full of evil humours,
purging.
Lastly, The cure being ended, strengthen the parts afflicted.
CHAPTER XIV.
_Of purging Medicines._
Much jarring hath been amongst physicians about purging medicines,
namely, whether they draw the humours to them by a hidden quality,
which in plain English is, they know not how; or whether they perform
their office by manifest quality, viz. by heat, dryness, coldness, or
moisture: it is not my present scope to enter the lists of a dispute
about the business, neither seem it such an hidden thing to me that
every like should draw its like, only to make the matter as plain as I
can, I sub-divide this chapter into these following parts.
1. _Cautions concerning purging._
2. _Of the choice of purging medicines._
3. _Of the time of taking them._
4. _Of the correcting of them._
5. _Of the manner of purging._
_Cautions concerning purging._
In this, first consider diligently, and be exceeding cautious in it
too, what the matter offending is, what part of the body is afflicted
by it, and which is the best way to bring it out.
Only here, by the way, first, have a care of giving vomits, for they
usually work more violently, and afflict the body more than purges do,
therefore are not fit for weak bodies; be sure the matter offending lie
in the tunicle of the stomach, else is a vomit given in vain.
Vomits are more dangerous for women than men, especially such as are
either with child, or subject to the fits of the mother.
What medicine is appropriated to the purging of such a humour, for
seeing the offending matter is not alike in all, the purging medicine
ought not to be the same to all. I shall speak more of this anon. As
also of the divers ways whereby medicines draw out or cast out humours,
_viz._ by lenifying, cleansing, provoking nature to expulsion, and
(which is stranger than the doctor’s _hidden quality_) some purge by
binding, but indeed, and in truth, such as are properly called purging
medicines, which, besides these faculties, have gotten another, by
which they draw or call out the humours from the most remote parts
of the body, whether these do it by heat or by an hidden quality,
physicians are scarce able to determine, it being very well known
to modern physicians, though the ancients denied it, that many cold
medicines purge.
There is this faculty in all the purges of _Galen’s_ model, (because he
gives the whole _simple_ which must needs consist of divers qualities,
because the creation is made up of and consists by an harmony of
contraries) there is (I say) this faculty in all purges of that nature,
that they contain in them a substance which is inimical both to the
stomach and bowels, and some are of opinion this doth good, namely,
provokes nature the more to expulsion; the reason might be good if
the foundation of it were so, for by this reason nature herself
should purge, not the medicine, and a physician should help nature
in her business and not hinder her. But to forbear being critical,
this substance which I told you was inimical to the stomach, must be
corrected in every purge.
_CULPEPER’S LAST LEGACIES._
[Illustration]
_Select Medicinal Aphorisms and Receipts, for many diseases our frail
natures are incident to._
1. _A general Caution._
LET such as love their heads or brains, either forbear such things
as are obnoxious to the brain, as Garlick, Leeks, Onions, beware of
surfeiting and drunkenness.
2. _To purge the Head._
The head is purged by Gargarisms, of which Mustard, in my opinion, is
excellent, and therefore a spoonful of Mustard put into the mouth, is
excellent for one that is troubled with the lethargy: also the head is
purged by sneezing; but be sure if you would keep your brain clear,
keep your stomach clean.
3. _For a rheum in the Head, and the Palsy._
Take a red Onion, and bruise it well, and boil it in a little Verjuice,
and put thereto a little clarified honey, and a great spoonful of good
Mustard, when it is well boiled, raise the sick upright, and let him
receive the smell up his nose twice a day, whilst it is very hot.
4. _For a rheum in the Head._
Boil Pimpernel well in Wine, and drink a draught of the Wine in the
evening, hot, but in the morning cold.
5. _Another._
Stew Onions in a close pot, and bathe the head and mouth, and nose
therewith.
6. _For the falling off of the Hair._
Beat Linseeds very well, and mix them with Sallad-oil; and when you
have well mixed them, anoint the head therewith, and in three or four
times using it will help you.
7. _To purge the Head._
Chew the root of Pellitory of Spain, and chew it on both sides of thy
mouth, and as the rheum falls down into thy mouth, spit it out, but
retain the root there still, till you think the head is purged enough
for that time.
FOR THE EYES, AND THEIR IMPEDIMENTS.
8. _For Eyes that are blasted._
Only wear a piece of black Sarcenet before thy eyes, and meddle with no
medicine; only forbear wine and strong drink.
9. _An excellent water to clear the Sight._
Take of Fennel, Eyebright, Roses, white, Celandine, Vervain and Rue, of
each a handful, the liver of a Goat chopt small, infuse them well in
Eyebright-water, then distil them in an alembic, and you shall have a
water will clear the sight beyond comparison.
10. _For a hurt in the Eye with a stroke._
Take Agrimony, and bruise it very well, and temper it with white Wine,
and the white of an egg: spread it pretty thick upon a cloth, like a
plaster, and apply it to the outside of the eye-lid, and, although it
be almost out, it will cure it.
11. _To draw rheum back from the Eyes._
Take an egg and roast it hard, then pull off the shell, and slit it in
two, and apply it hot to the nape of the neck, and thou shalt find ease
presently.
12. _For the web in the Eye._
Take the gall of a hare, and clarified honey, of each equal
proportions: mix them together, and lay it to the web.
FOR THE EARS, AND THEIR IMPEDIMENTS.
13. _For pain in the Ears._
Drop a little oil of sweet Almonds into the ear, and it easeth the
pain instantly: (and yet oil of bitter Almonds is our doctor’s common
remedy.)
14. _For an imposthume in the Ear._
Boil some milk, and put it into a stone pot with a narrow mouth, and
hold the sore ear over the pot whilst the milk is very hot, that the
vapour of the milk may ascend into the ear: this is an often approved
remedy to take away the pain, and break the imposthume.
FOR THE NOSE, AND ITS INFIRMITIES.
15. _For Polypus; or a fleshy substance growing
in the Nose._
Take the juice of Ivy, and make a tent with a little cotton, the which
dip in the juice and put it up in the nostril.
16. _To cleanse the Nose._
Snuff up the juice of red Beet-root; it will cleanse not only the nose,
but also the head, this is a singular remedy for such as are troubled
with hard congealed stuff in their nostrils.
17. _For bleeding at the Nose._
Bind the arms and legs as hard as you can with a piece of
tape-ribboning; that, perhaps, may call back the blood.
18. _For a Canker in the Nose._
Boil strong ale till it be thick, if the Canker be in the outside of
the nose, spread it as a plaster, and apply it; if in the inside, make
a tent of a linen rag, and put it up the nostril.
19. _Another for the Polypus._
The water of Adder’s-tongue snuffed up the nose, is very good: but it
were better, in my opinion, to keep a rag continually moistened with it
in the nose.
20. _For bleeding at the Nose._
Take Amber and bruise into gross powder, put it upon a chafing-dish of
coals, and receive the smoke up into the nose with a funnel.
21. _Another._
When no other means will stop the bleeding at the nose, it has been
known that it hath been stopped by opening a vein in the ear.
OF THE MOUTH, AND ITS DISEASES.
22. _A Caution._
Whosoever would keep their mouth, or tongue, or nose, or eyes, or ears,
or teeth, from pain or infirmities, let them often use sneezing, and
such gargarisms as they were instructed in a preceding chapter; for,
indeed, most of the infirmities, if not all, which infest those parts,
proceed from rheum.
23. _For extreme heat of the Mouth._
Take Rib-wort, and boil it in red Wine, and hold the decoction as warm
in your mouth as you can endure it.
24. _For a Canker in the Mouth._
Wash the mouth often with Verjuice.
OF THE TEETH, AND THEIR MEDICINES.
25. _A Caution._
If you will keep your teeth from rotting, or aching, wash your mouth
continually every morning with juice of Lemons, and afterwards rub your
teeth either with a Sage-leaf, or else with a little Nutmeg in powder;
also wash your mouth with a little fair water after meats; for the only
way to keep teeth sound, and free from pain, is to keep them clean.
26. _To keep Teeth white._
Dip a little piece of white cloth in Vinegar of Quinces, and rub your
gums with it, for it is of a gallant binding quality, and not only
makes the teeth white, but also strengthens the gums, fastens the
teeth, and also causeth a sweet breath.
27. _To fasten the Teeth._
Seethe the roots of Vervain in old Wine, and wash your teeth often with
them, and it will fasten them.
28. _For the Tooth-ache._
Take the inner rind of an Elder-tree, and bruise it, and put thereto a
little Pepper, and make it into balls, and hold them between the teeth
that ache.
OF THE GUMS, AND THEIR INFIRMITIES.
29. _For a Scurvy in the gums._
Take Cloves, and boil them in Rose-water, then dry them, and beat them
to powder, and rub the gums with the powder, and drink the decoction in
the morning fasting an hour after it. Use red Rose-water, for that is
the best.
30. _For rotting and consuming of the gums._
Take Sage-water, and wash your mouth with it every morning, and
afterwards rub your mouth with a Sage-leaf.
OF THE FACE, AND ITS INFIRMITIES.
31. _The cause._
It is palpable, that the cause of redness and breaking out of the
face, is a venomous matter, or filthy vapours ascending from the
stomach towards the head; where meeting with a rheum or flegm thence
descending, mix with it, and break out in the face. Therefore let the
first intention of cure be to cleanse the stomach.
32. _Caution negative._
Let such as are troubled with red faces, abstain from salt meats, salt
fish and herrings, drinking of strong beer, strong waters or Wine,
Garlick, Onions, and Mustard.
33. _For a face full of red pimples._
Dissolve Camphire in Vinegar, and mix it, and the Vinegar with
Celandine-water, and wash the face with it: this cured a maid in twenty
days, that had been troubled with the infirmity half so many years.
34. _To take away the marks of the small pox._
Take the juice of Fennel, heat it lukewarm, and when the small Pox are
well scabbed, anoint the face with it divers times in a day, three or
four days together.
OF THE THROAT, AND ITS INFIRMITIES.
35. _A caution._
Diseases in the throat, most commonly proceed of rheum descending from
the head upon the _trachea arteria_, or wind-pipe; in such cases there
is many times no other cure than first to purge the body of flegm, and
then the head of rheum, as you were taught in the first chapter.
36. _For hoarseness._
Take of sugar so much as will fill a common taster, then put so much
rectified spirit of Wine to it as will just wet it, eat this up at
night going to bed, use this three or four times together.
37. _Another._
If the body be feverish, use the former medicine as before, only use
Oil of sweet Almonds, or for want of it, the best Salled-oil instead of
spirit of Wine.
38. _Another._
Take Penny-royal, and seethe it in running water, and drink a good
draught of the decoction at night going to bed, with a little sugar in
it.
39. _For the Quinsey._
Take notice that bleeding is good in all inflammations, therefore in
this.
It were very convenient that a syrup, and an ointment of Orpine were
always ready in the house for such occasions; for I know no better
remedy for the Quinsey, than to drink the one, and anoint the throat
with the other.
OF WOMEN’S BREASTS, THEIR INFIRMITIES
AND CURES.
40. _For sore Breasts._
Take a handful of Figs, and stamp them well till the kernels are
broken, then temper them with a little fresh grease, and apply them to
the breast as hot as the patient can endure; it will presently take
away the anguish, and if the breast will break, it will break it, else
it will cure it without breaking.
41. _An inward medicine for a sore Breast._
Let her drink either the juice or decoction of Vervain: it were fit
that syrup were made of it to keep all the year.
OF THE STOMACH, AND ITS INFIRMITIES.
42. _A caution._
Infirmities of the stomach usually proceed from surfeiting.
43. _Another._
Let such as have weak stomachs, avoid all sweet things, as honey,
sugar, and the like; milk, cheese and all fat meats: let him not eat
till he is hungry, nor drink before he is dry; let him avoid anger,
sadness, much travel, and all fryed meats: let him not vomit by any
means, nor eat when he is hot.
44. _For moisture of the Stomach._
Take a drachm of Galanga, in powder, every morning in a draught of that
Wine you like best.
45. _For heat of the Stomach._
Swallow four or five grains of Mastich every night going to bed.
OF THE LIVER, AND ITS INFIRMITIES.
46. _A caution._
If the liver be too hot, it usually proceeds from too much blood, and
is known by redness of urine, the pulse is swift, the veins great and
full, the spittle, mouth, and tongue, seem sweeter than they used to
be: the cure is letting blood in the right arm.
47. _To cause the Liver well to digest._
Take Oil of Wormwood, and so much Mastich in powder as will make it
into a poultice, lay it warm to your right side.
48. _A caution._
If the liver be stopped, the face will swell, and you shall be as sure
to have a pain in your right side, as though you had it there already.
49. _For stoppage of the Liver._
Use Garden-thyme in all your drinks and broaths, it will prevent
stoppages before they come, and cure them after they are come.
50. _For the liver._
The liver of a Hare dryed, and beaten into powder, cures all the
diseases of the liver of man.
FINIS.
A. CROSS, PRINTER, 89, PAUL STREET FINSBURY.
GENERAL INDEX
TO THE
ENGLISH PHYSICIAN ENLARGED,
AND
GALEN’S KEY TO PHYSIC.
ADDER’S Tongue, or Serpent’s Tongue, 3
Agrimony, 4
—— Water, 5
Alder Tree, the black, 6
—— the common, 7
Alehoof, or Ground-Ivy, 5
Alexander, 6
Alkanet, 3, 218
All-Heal, 2
Amara Dulcis, or Bitter Sweet, 1
Amaranthus, 9
Anemone, 9
Angelica, 8, 218
Anthoræ, 218
Archangel, 11
Arrach, garden, 10
—— wild and stinking, 10
Ars-smart, 12
Artichokes, 88, 221
Asarabacca, 13, 218
Ash Tree, 14, 222
Asparagus, 213
—— prickly, 14
—— or Sperage, 218
Asphodel, Female, or King’s Spear, 218
—— Male, 219
Avens, Colewort, or Herb Bonet, 15
Avens, or Herb Bennet, 219
Balm, 215
Barks, 259
—— appropriated to parts of the body, 259
Barberry, 16
Barks, 202
Barks, 227
Barley, 16
Bay Tree, 18, 223
Bazil, garden, or Sweet Bazil, 18
Beans, 18
Beans, French, 19
Bearsbreach, or Brank Ursine, 29, 217
Bed-straw, Ladies, 19
Beech Tree, 23
Beets, 20
Beets, black, white, and red, 219
Betony, Water, 21
—— Wood, ib.
Bifoil, or Twoblade, 24
Bilberries, Whorts, or Whortleberries, 23
Birch Tree, 24
Bird’s Foot, 24
Birthwort, 218
Bishop’s-Weed, 25
Bistort, or Snakeweed, 25, 219
Bitter Sweet, 1
Blade, One, 26
Blites, 27
Blue Bottle, 28
Borrage, 219
Borrage and Bugloss, 28
Bramble, or Blackberry Bush, 27
Brank Ursine, 29
Briony, or Wild Vine, 30
Briony, white and black, 219
Brooklime, or Water Pimpernel, 31
Broom and Broom-rape, 32
Buck’s horn Plantain, 33
—— —— ib.
Bugle, 33
Bugloss, 219
Bulbus Vomitorius, 219
Bur, Clot-bur, or Burdock, 219
Burdock, 36
Burnet, 35, 224, 226
Butcher’s Broom, 31
Butter-bur, 224
Butter-bur, or Petasitis, 35
Cabbages and Coleworts, 37
Calamint, or Mountain Mint, 38
Caltrops, Water, 39, 216
Cammock, or Rest-harrow, 223
Camomile, 39
Campion Wild, 40
Caper Roots, 219
Carduus Benedictus, 41
Carraway, 42
Carrots, 41, 221
Celandine, 42
—— lesser, 44
Celandine, the greater and lesser, 220
Centaury, ordinary small, 44
Centaury, the greater, 219
Cerecloths, 366
Chamelion, white and black, 220
Cherries, Winter, 45
Cherry-Tree, 45
Chervil, 46
—— Sweet, or Sweet Cicely, 47
Chesnut-Tree, 47
Chesnuts, Earth, ib.
Chickweed, 48
Chick-pease, or Cicers, ib.
China, 220
Cinquefoil, 224
Cinquefoil, or Five-leaved Grass, 49
Cives, 50
Clary, or Clear Eye, 50
—— Wild, 50
Cleavers, 51
Clown’s Woodwort, 52
Cock’s Head, Red Fitching, or Medick Fetch, 52
Colewort, 219
Coleworts, Sea, ib.
Coltsfoot, 53
Columbines, 53
Comfrey, 54, 220
Compounds, Spirit and Compound Distilled Waters, 283
Conserves, 206
Conserves and Sugars, 315
Coralwort, 54
Costmary, or Alecost, or Balsam Herb, 55
Costus, both sorts, 220
Cowslips, or Peagles, 56
Crab’s Claws, or Fresh Water Soldier, 57
Creatures, Living, 252
Creatures, part of Living and Excrements, 253
Cresses, black, 57
—— Sciatica, ib.
—— Water, 58
Crosswort, 58
Crowfoot, 59
Cuckow Point, ib.
Cuckow-points, or Wake-robin, 218
Cucumber-roots, wild, 221
Cucumbers, 61
Cudweed, or Cotton-weed, 56
Daisies, 61, 219
Dandelion, vulgarly called Piss a-beds, 62
Darnel, 62
Decoctions, 204, 293
Devil’s Bit, 63, 223
Dill, 63
Distilled Waters, Simples, 278
—— —— —— being digested before hand, 278
Dittany, 221
Dock, 64
Dodder of Thyme, Epithymun, &c., 64
Dog’s Grass, or Cough Grass, 65
Doronicum, 221
Dove’s-Foot, or Crane’s-Bill, 66
Down, or Cotton Thistle, 67
Dracunculi, 221
Dragons, 67
Dropwort, 222
Duck’s Meat, 66
Dwarf Elder, Walwort, or Danewort, 221
Elder, 225
Elder Tree, 67
—— Dwarf, 67
Elecampane, 69, 221
Electuaries, 205
Electuaries, 324
—— purging, 33
Elm Tree, 68
Emplasters, 391
Endive, 69
Endive, Garden Endive, 221
Eringo, or Sea Holly, 70, 222
Eyebright, 71
Fennel, 73, 222
—— Sow, or Hog’s Fennel, 47
Fern, 71
—— Water, or Osmond Royal, 72
—— Male and Female, 222
—— of the Oak, 224
Feverfew, or Fetherfew, 72
Fig-wort, 226
Fig-wort, or Throat-wort, 74
Fig Tree, 75
Filipendula, or Drop-Wort, 75
Flag, Yellow Water, or Flower-de-luce, 76
Flax-weed, or Toad Flax, 76
Flea-Wort, 77
Flower-de-luce, 78
Flowers, 200, 247
—— 264
—— appropriated to certain parts of the body, 265
Fluellin, or Lluellin, 79
Fluxweed, 78
Fox-Gloves, 80
Fresh-water Soldier, or Crab’s Claws, 57
Fruits, 267
—— appropriated to the body of man, 267
—— by their several operations, bind, &c., 268
—— purging, 208
—— and their buds, 248
Fuller’s Thistle, 223
Fumitory, 80
Furze Bush, 81
Galanga, or Galingal, 222
Galanga, English, long and round, 221
Galen’s Method of Physic, Key to, 376
Garlick, 82, 218, 227
Gentian, 222
Gentian, Felwort, or Baldmony, 82
Germander, 83
Gilliflowers, Clove, 83
Ginger, 227
Gladon, Stinking, 226
Gladwin, Stinking, 84
Golden Rod, 85
Gooseberry Bush, 86
Gout-wort, or Herb Gerrard, 85
Grass, 222
Green, Winter, 86
Gromel, 85
Groundsel, 87
Gums, Rosins, Balsams, and Juices, 270
Hart’s Tongue, 88
Hawk-weed, 88
Hawthorn, 90
Hazel-Nut, 89
Heart’s Ease, 88
Heart’s-ease, or Pansies, 226
Hedge Hyssop, 92
Hellebore, black, 93
Hellebore, white and black, 221
Hemlock, 90
Hemp, 91
Henbane, 91
Herb Robert, 94
—— True-Love, or One Berry, 94
Herbs, 260
—— appropriated to certain parts of the body of man, 262
—— altering according to property, 263
—— purging, 264
Herbs or Trees, of the leaves of, 200
—— and their Leaves, 229
Hermodactils, 222
Holly, Holm, or Hulver Bush, 99
Hops, 95
Horehound, 96
Horsetail, 97
Hound’s Tongue, 98, 221
Houseleek, or Sengreen, 97
Hyssop, 95
Ivy, 99
Jacinths, 222
John’s Wort, St., 99
Juniper Bush, 100
Juices, 202, 252
Juleps, 204
Kidney Wort, or Wall Penny-royal, or Wall Penny-wort, 101
Knapweed, 102
Knotgrass, ib.
Knee-holly, or Butcher’s-broom, or Bruscus, 225
Ladies’ thistles, 220
—— Mantle, 103
—— Smock, 104
Lavender, ib.
—— Cotton, 104
Leeks, 225
Lettice, 223
Lettuce, 104
Lilies, Water, 223
Lilies, White, 106, 223
Lily, Water, 105
—— of the Valley, ib.
Liquorice, 106, 222
Liverwort, 107
Lohochs, 208
Loosestrife, or Willow-herb, 107
—— with spiked heads of flowers, ib.
Lovage, 108, 223
Lungwort, 109
Madder, 109, 225
Maidenhair, 110
—— white, or Wall Rue, ib.
—— Golden, ib.
Mallows, 223
Mandrakes, ib.
Maple Tree, 112
Marigolds, 114
Marjoram, wind, 112
—— sweet, 113
Marsh-mallows, 218
Masterwort, 114, 223, 224
Maudlin, Sweet, 114
Mead-sweet, 227
Mechracah, 223
Medicines, method of mixing, 210
—— on the Temperature of, 376
—— Temperate, 377
—— Hot, ib.
—— Hot in the first degree, ib.
—— —— second degree, 378
—— —— third degree, ib.
—— —— fourth degree, ib.
—— Cooling, 378
—— cool in the first degree, 379
—— —— second and third degree, ib.
—— cold in the fourth degree, 379
—— moistening, ib.
—— drying, ib.
—— of the appropriation of the several parts of the body, 380
—— appropriated to the Head, ib.
—— —— Brain, ib.
—— —— Eyes, ib.
—— —— Mouth & Nose, 382
—— —— Ears, ib.
—— —— Teeth, ib.
—— —— Breast & lungs, ib.
—— —— Heart, 383
—— —— Stomach, 384
—— —— Spleen, ib.
—— —— Reins and Bladder, 386
—— —— Womb, ib.
—— —— Joints, ib.
—— —— Propriety, or operation of, 387
—— —— Hardening, ib.
—— —— Loosening, 388
—— —— Drawing, 389
—— —— Discussive, ib.
—— —— Repelling, 390
—— —— appropriated to the Liver, 385
—— —— Cleansing, 391
—— —— Suppuring, 392
—— —— Provoking urine, ib.
—— —— Breeding flesh, 393
—— —— Glutinative, ib.
—— —— Resisting poison, ib.
—— —— Purging, 394
Medlar, 115
Melilot, or King’s Claver, 115
Mercury, French and Dog, 116
—— Dog, ib.
Metals, Minerals, and Stones, 254
Metals, Stones, Salts, and other Minerals, 276
Mints, 117
Misselto, 118
Mithridate Mustard, 182
Money-wort, or Herb Twopence, 119
Monk’s Rhubarb, 225
Moonwort, 120
Mosses, 120
Motherwort, 121
Mouse-ear, 122
Mugwort, 122
Mulberry Tree, 123, 223
Mullein, ib.
Mustard, 124
—— Hedge, 125
Nailwort, or Whitlow-grass, 126
Nep, or Catmint, ib.
Nettles, 127, 227
Nightshade, 128
Oak, 128
Oats, 129
Oils, 205
Oils, 353
—— Simple Oils, by expression, ib.
—— —— —— Infusion and Decoction, 354
—— Compound Oils by Infusion and Decoction, 355
Ointments, 208
Ointments, more simple, 358
—— more compound, 362
One Blade, ib.
Onions, 130, 220
Orchis, 129
Orpine, ib.
Orris, or Flower-de-luce, 222
Parsley, 131
—— Piert, or Parsley Breakstone, ib.
Parsnips, 132
—— Cow, ib.
—— garden and wild, 224
Peach Tree, 133
Pear Tree, 134
Pellitory of Spain, 134, 225
—— of the Wall, 135
Peony, male and female, 224
Pennyroyal, 136
Peony, male and female, 137
Pepperwort, or Dittander, 138
Periwinkle, 138
Peter’s Wort, St., 139
Pimpernel, 139
Physic, a Key to Galen’s Method of, 376
—— the general use of, ib.
—— of the temperature, ib.
Pills, 209, 339
Pine, Ground, 140
Plaisters, 208, 367
Plantain, 141, 224
Plants, things bred from, 252
Plums, 142
Polypody of the Oak, 142
Poplar Tree, 143
Poppy, 144
Poultices, 209
Preserved Roots, Stalks, Barks, Flowers, Fruits, 314
Preserves, 206
Primroses, 146
Privet, 146, 218
Purslain, 146
Queen of the Meadows, or Meadow Sweet, 147
Quince Tree, 148
Radishes, garden and wild, 225
Ragwort, 149
Rest-Harrow, or Camonack, 150
Rattle Grass, 150
Receipts, General Caution, 395
—— to purge the Head, ib.
—— for a Rheum in the Head, and the Palsy, ib.
—— —— ib. 396
—— for the falling off of the Hair, ib.
—— to purge the Head, ib.
—— for Eyes that are blasted, ib.
—— Excellent Water to clear the Sight, ib.
—— for a hurt in the Eye with a stroke, ib.
—— to draw Rheum back from the Eyes, ib.
—— for a Web in the Eye, ib.
—— pain in the Ears, ib.
—— an Imposthume in the Ear, ib.
—— Polypus, or a fleshy substance growing in the Nose, ib.
—— bleeding at the Nose, ib.
—— a Canker in the Nose, ib.
—— another for the Polypus, ib.
—— extreme heat of the Mouth, 397
—— for a Canker in the Mouth, ib.
—— to keep Teeth white, ib.
—— —— fasten the Teeth, ib.
—— for the Tooth-ache, ib.
—— Scurvy in the Gums, ib.
—— for rotting and consuming of the Gums, ib.
—— the cause of Infirmities in the Face, ib.
—— for a Face full of red pimples, ib.
—— to take away the marks of Small Pox, ib.
—— caution concerning the Infirmities of the Throat, ib.
—— for Hoarseness, 398
—— for the Quinsey, ib.
—— for Sore Breasts, ib.
—— —— —— —— inward Medicine for, ib.
—— for Moisture of the Stomach, ib.
—— for the heat of the Stomach, ib.
—— to cause the Liver well to digest, ib.
—— a Caution, ib.
—— for a stoppage of the Liver, ib.
—— for the Liver, ib.
Reed, Aromatical, 219
Reeds, common and sugar, 218
Rhadish, or Horse Rhadish, 148
Rhapontick, or Rhubarb of Pontus, 225
Rhubarb, 225
Rhubarb, or Rephontic, 156
—— Monk’s or garden Patience, 157
—— Bastard, or great Round-leaved Dock, ib.
Rocket, 151
—— Winter, or Cresses, 152
Roots, 201, 217, 256
—— Temperature of, 257
—— appropriated to several parts of the body, 258
—— properties of, ib.
Rosa Solis, or Sun Dew, 155
Rosemary, ib.
Rose Root, 225
Roses, 152
Rue, Meadow, 158
—— Garden, 159
Rupture-wort, 160
Rushes, 161
Rye, ib.
Saffron, Meadow, 220
Saffron, 161
Sage, 162
—— Wood, ib.
Samphire, 164
Sanicle, ib.
Saracen’s Confound, or Saracen’s Wound-wort, 165
Sarsaparilla, or Bind-weed, 225
Satyrion, 226
Sauce-alone, or Jack by the Hedge-side, 165
Savine, 166
Savory, Winter and Summer, ib.
Saxifrage, the common white, 167
—— Burnet, ib.
—— white, or Lady-Smocks, 226
Scabious, ib.
Scabious, three sorts, 161
Scirrits, 226
Scordium, or Water-Germander, ib.
Scurvygrass, 169
Sea, things belonging to, 254
Seeds, 201
—— or Grains, 249, 268
—— according to their operation, bind, &c. 269
Self-heal, 170
Service Tree, 171
Seseli, or Hartwort, 226
Shepherd’s Purse, 171
Sloe-bush, or Sloe-tree, 225
Smallage, 171, 218
Solomon’s Seal, 163, 225
Sope-wort, or Bruise-wort, 172
Sorrel, ib.
—— Wood, ib.
Sow Thistles, 173
Southern-wood, ib.
Sorrel, 223
Sowbread, 218
Sow-thistles, 226
Species, or Powders, 317
Spignel, 223
Spignel, or Spikenard, 174
Spikenard, 223
Spleenwort, Ceterach, or Hart’s Tongue, ib.
Spurge, greater and lesser, 222
Spurge, Olive, or Widow-wail, 222
Squills, 226
Star-Thistle, 175
Stone-Crop, Prick-Madam, or small Houseleek, 177
Strawberries, 175
Swallow-wort, 218, 227
Succory, 220
Succory, or Chicory, 176
Sugars, 316
Sulphur-wort, Hog’s-fennel, or Hore-strange, 224
Syrups, 203, 294
—— altering, 294
—— purging, 305
—— made with Vinegar and Honey, 308
Tamaris, 226
Tamarisk Tree, 178
Tansie, 226
Tansy, garden, 178
Tansy, Wild, or Silver Weed, 179
Tears, Liquors, and Rosins, 251
Teazle, 223
Thistles, 179
—— Melancholy, 180
—— our Lady’s, ib.
—— Woollen or Cotton, 181
—— Fuller’s, or Teazle, ib.
Thorn, black, or Sloe Bush, 182
Thorough Wax, or Thorough Leaf, 183
Throat-wort, 226
Thyme, 123
—— Wild, or Mother of Thyme, ib.
Tinctures, 290
Toad-stools, 226
Tobacco, English, 177
Toothwort, 221, 54
Tormentil, 226
Tormentil, or Septfoil, 184
Treacle Mustard, 181
Trefoil, 226
Trefoil, Meadow, or Honey-suckles, 115
—— Heart, 186
—— Pearl, ib.
Troches, 209, 346
Turbith, 226
Turmerick, 221
Turnsole, or Heliotropium, 224
Tustan, or Park Leaves, 186
Valerian, white and red, 219
Valerian, or Setwell, greater and lesser, 224
Valerian, garden, 186
Vervain, 187
Vine, 188
Vinegars, Physical, 292
Violets, 188
Viper’s Bugloss, 189
—— —— or Wild Bugloss, 221
Viper’s Grass, 226
Wall Flowers, or Winter Gillflowers, 190
Walnut Tree, ib.
Water-flag, or Flower-de-luce, 218
Waters, distilled, 202
Weld, Wold, or Dyer’s Weed, 191
Wheat, 192
Willow Tree, ib.
Wines, Physical, 291
Wood, 193
—— 193, 223
Woodbine, or Honey-suckles, ib.
Woods, 260
Woods, and their Chips or Rapeings, 229
Wormwood, 194
Yarrow, Nose-bleed, Milfoil, or Thousand Leaf, 198
Zedoary, or Setwall, 227
A LIST OF THE PRINCIPAL DISEASES.
Abortion, (to prevent).
Sage, 244.
Tansey, 245
Aches in the joints.
Of Beans, 228, 274
Agues.
Archangel, 11.
Buck’s-horn-plantain, 33, 281.
Camomile, 39.
Pellitory, 134.
Meadow-sweet, 147
—— Dry.
Maudlin, 114.
Lovage, 108
—— Hot.
Mallows, 111, 302.
Wild Tansey, 179
—— Quartan.
Fumitory, 237.
Cinque-foil, 242
Almonds of the Ears.
Devil’s-bit, 245
Anthony’s Fire.
Crab’s-claws, 57.
Duck’s-meat, 66.
Hawk-weed, 89
Appetite, (to restore).
Wild Marjoram, 112.
Masterwort, 240, 295
Apoplexy.
Lavender, 103.
Lily of the Valley, 105
Asthma.
Woodbine, 193.
Lungwort, 109, 313, 346
Blood, (to cleanse).
Nettles, 127, 281, 282.
Hops, 240
Bloody Flux.
Amaranthus, 9.
Mallows, 112.
Blackberry, 27.
Brank Ursine, 29.
Clown’s-wood, 52
Blows, (black and blue, marks of).
Daisies, 232.
Of Solomon’s-seal, 225
Boils.
Barberry, 16.
Cuckow-point, 59.
Wheat, 192
Bowels, (obstructions of).
Stachea, 247.
Hops, 247, 346
Brain, (to strengthen).
Rosemary, 247.
Cowslips, 347.
Nutmegs, 248, 272, 273, 281, 324
Bruises.
Bishop’s-weed, 25.
Chervil, 46.
Solomon’s-seal, 163
Burns.
Burdock, 36.
Hound’s-tongue, 98, 359
Cancers.
Asarabacca, 13.
Briony, 30.
Yellow Water-Flag, 76.
Cinquefoil, 49
Cankers.
Dragons, 67.
Flower-de-luce, 78.
Winter-green, 86
Chest, (diseases of).
Sweet Marjoram, 113
Chilblains.
Henbane, 91
Chin-Cough.
Thyme, 183
Cholic.
All-Heal, 2.
Dove’s-foot, 66.
Mullein, 123.
Osmond Royal, 72
Chops of the hands, &c.
Pomatum, 361
Colds.
Nep, 126.
Juice of Liquorice, 312
Consumption.
Sweet-Chervil, 47, 246, 289, 293, 316.
Plantain, 141.
Pine-Nuts, 248, 275
Convulsions.
Down, 67.
Pansies, 246, 328
Corns.
Houseleek, 97, 232.
Willow, 192
Coughs.
Angelica, 8.
Garlick, 82.
Hore-hound, 96
Cramp.
Mug-wort, 122.
Mullein, 123.
Sage, 162
Diabetes (an involuntary discharge of urine), 253
Dimness of Sight.
Pearl-trefoil, 186.
Vervain, 187.
Mellilot, 115.
Valerian, 186
Dizziness of the Head.
Sweet Marjoram, 113, 298.
Sow-fennel, 74.
Rosemary, 155
Dropsy.
Elder, 67, 221.
Bay, 248, 254.
Juniper, 100.
Flax-weed, 76.
Pellitory of the Wall, 135
Ears.
Fig-Tree, 75.
Ale-hoof, 5.
Sow Thistle, 173, 396
Eyes.
Eye-bright, 71, 396.
Hawkweed, 89.
Wild Clary, 51.
Rattle-grass, 150.
Beets, 20
—— (inflammations of).
Violets, 188.
Anemone, 9.
Groundsel, 87
Faintings.
Balm, 15.
Endive, 69.
Penny-royal, 136.
Heart Trefoil, 186
Face, 397.
Beans, 18
Falling Sickness.
Elk’s-claws, 253.
Mallows, 111.
Masterwort, 114
Felons of the Finger.
Amara-dulcis, 1.
True Love, 94.
Nailwort, 126
Fevers.
Endive, 69.
Flea-wort, 77.
Master-wort, 114.
Marigolds, 114, 333
—— (Pestilential).
Butter-burr, 35.
Elecampane, 69.
Clove-gilliflowers, 83
—— (Putrid).
Borage, 28
Fistulas, 351.
Bugle, 33.
Wintergreen, 86.
Cow-parsnips, 132.
Campion Wild, 40
Fits.
Wild Arrach, 10
Flux.
Bistort, 25.
Flux-weed, 78.
Rhubarb of Pontus, 225
Fundament falling, 239, 365.
Duck-meat, 240
Gout.
Comfrey, 54.
Sciatica-cresses, 57.
Gout-wort, 85.
Elm, 68
Gravel.
Asparagus, 13.
Butcher’s-broom, 31.
Parsley-piert, 131
Gums, 397
Head, 343, 395.
Cives, 50.
Feverfew, 72.
Flower-de-luce, 78.
Pellitory, 134.
Roses, 153
—— Ache.
Beets, 20.
Duck’s-meat, 66.
Ivy, 99.
Privet, 146
—— Bald.
White-lilies, 106.
Wall-Rue, 110, 396
—— Scabby.
Fox-glove, 80.
Knapweed, 102.
Nep, 126
—— Scald.
White-Lilies, 106
Heart-Burn.
Vine, 246
—— (to strengthen), 284, 287, 289, 298, 318, 326, 349
—— (palpitation of).
Syrup of Apples, 303
Hic-cough.
Mint, 117
Hoarseness.
Fig-tree, 75.
Liquorice, 106.
Peach-tree, 133
Imposthumes.
Barley, 16.
Chickweed, 48.
Dandelion, 62, 360
Indigestion.
Avens, 15.
Ragwort, 149.
Samphire, 164, 319, 374
Inflammations.
Arssmart, 12.
Sea-Coleworts, 37.
Cinquefoil, 49.
Black Cresses, 57
—— in the sides.
Violets, 247
Infection, (to preserve from).
Scabious, 168.
Bay, 18
Itch.
Black-alder, 6.
Celandine, 42.
Stinking-gladwin, 84.
Juniper, 100
Jaundice.
Agrimony, 4.
Ash, 14.
Carduus Benedict, 41
—— Yellow.
Wormwood, 196.
Barberries, 227
King’s-evil.
Wheat, 192
Leprosy.
Nigella, 250
Lice, (in the head, to kill).
Stavesacre, 250.
Olibanum, 250
Liver, 398.
Sage, 162.
Strawberries, 175.
Maple-tree, 112
—— (inflammation of).
Wild Thyme, 183
—— (obstructions of).
Rhubarb, 157, 225.
Parsley, 131.
Columbines, 53.
Liver-wort, 107.
Alexander, 6
—— (to strengthen).
Cleavers, 51.
Costmary, 55.
Dock, 64.
Hart’s-tongue, 88
Looseness, (to stop).
Cloves, 248
Lungs.
Lungwort, 109.
Water Agrimony, 5.
Nettles, 127.
Filipendula, 75.
Scabious, 168
—— (inflammation of).
Garden Rue, 159, 244.
Heart’s-ease, 88
—— (ulcers of).
Money-wort, 119.
Horehound, 240
Measles.
Tormentil, 184.
Saffron, 161
—— (to drive out).
Alkanet, 2.
Marigolds, 114
Melancholy.
Melancholy-thistle, 180.
Germander, 83.
Vipers Bugloss, 189.
Mother-wort, 121, 294.
Burnet, 35.
Dodder, 64, 345
Memory, (to strengthen).
Olibanum, 273, 281.
Sage, 244
Menses, (to provoke).
Bdellium, 271, 258, 269.
Marjoram, 281, 274
—— (to stop), 259, 264, 270, 299, 305.
Tansy, 179
Milk, (to increase in Nurses).
Fennel, 237.
Of Vipers Bugloss, 221, 250
Miscarriage, (good against).
Ladies’ Mantle, 103.
Tansey, 178
Mouth, 397
Nervous Complaints.
Privet, 230, 356, 363
—— Head-ache.
Lily of the Valley, 105.
Plantain, 224
Nose, 396
—— (bleeding at).
Fluellin, 79.
Houseleek, 97.
Periwinkle, 138
Pain in the Bowels.
Mouse-ear, 122.
Of Marsh-mallows, 218, 281
—— in the Side.
Chick-pease, 48.
Coral-wort, 54.
Gentian, 82
—— in the Stomach.
Rupture-wort, 160.
Spignel, 174.
Black-thorn, 182, 273
Palsies.
Cowslips, 56.
Juniper, 100.
Lavender, 103, 328, 342, 395
Piles.
Lesser Celandine, 44.
Colt’s-foot, 53.
Stone-crop, 171
Pleurisies.
Lohoch of Poppies, 313, 321
Poison, (to expel).
White Lilies, 106.
Master-wort, 114.
Rue, 244, 337
Polypus.
Polypody, 142, 396
Purging.
Flowers, 266
—— Fruits, 268
—— Herbs, 264
—— Syrups, 305
Quinsey.
Cudweed, 56.
Hyssop, 95.
Orpine, 130.
Ragwort, 149.
Blackberry, 27
Rickets.
Fearn, 222.
Syrup Hart’s-tongue, 304, 309
Ring-worm.
Savine, 166.
Celandine, 42.
Barberry, 16
Ruptures.
Rupture-wort, 236.
Thorough wax, 183.
Tormentil, 184.
Consolida-Major, 220
Scrophula.
Celandine, 220.
Eringo, 222
Scurvy.
Scurvy-grass, 169.
Water-cresses, 58.
Winter Rocket, 152.
Cuckoo Flower, 104, 259
Scurf, (or running tetters).
Beech, 23.
Plantain, 141
Shingles.
Plantain, 243
Shortness of Breath.
Angelica, 8.
Calamint, 38.
Hyssop, 95.
Pellitory of the Wall, 136
Skin, (to clear).
Madder, 109.
Of Cuckow-points, 218.
Vervain, 246
Sleep, (to procure).
Poppy, 144.
Lettuce, 104, 310
Small Pox.
Marigolds, 114.
Saffron, 161
Sore Breasts.
Purslain, 146.
Quince, 148, 398
—— Eyes.
Buck’s-horn-plantain, 33.
Succory, 176.
Celandine, 42.
Loose-strife, 108
—— Head.
Garden Rue, 159.
Tormentil, 184
—— Mouth.
Blue-bottle, 28.
Birch, 24.
Golden Rod, 84
—— Throat.
Sanicle, 164.
Self-heal, 170, 398.
Saracen’s Confound, 165
Sprains, 357, 361
Spring Medicine.
Lady’s-thistle, 180.
Nettles, 127
Stings and Venomous Bites.
Bazil, 17.
John’s-wort, 99.
Bay, 18.
Eringo, 70.
Rocket, 151
Stomach.
Mint, 117.
Lovage, 108, 398
—— (inflammations of).
Wallnut-Tree, 190
—— (obstructions of).
Cross-wort, 58.
Rhubarb, 157, 297, 317, 343
—— (to strengthen).
Gentian, 82.
Mustard, 124.
Roses, 152.
Wood-sorrel, 172, 280, 374
Stone.
Ash, 14.
Bird’s-foot, 24.
Broom, 32.
Burdock, 36.
Camomile, 39.
Parsley-piert, 131, 253
Surfeits.
Liver-wort, 107, 280
Sweat, (to provoke), 259, 281, 325, 329, 338
Swellings.
Common Alder, 7.
Sea-Coleworts, 37.
Chick-weed, 48
—— in the Throat.
Water Caltrops, 39.
Devil’s-bit, 63.
S. Gladwin, 84
Teeth, (to draw without pain), 252
—— (to fasten).
Mastich, 251.
Bistort, 219.
Silver-weed, 231
—— (to whiten).
Vine, 246, 397
Teething of Children, 253
Tooth-ache.
Tobacco, 177.
Wild Tansy, 179.
Henbane, 91, 397
Tumours.
Cives, 50.
Hemlock, 90.
Lesser Celandine, 42.
True Love, 91, 359, 360
—— (hard).
Misselto, 118.
Mallows, 111
—— (hot).
Water Lily, 105
Ulcers.
Centaury, 44.
Coral-wort, 54.
Bistort, 25.
Archangel, 11.
Alehoof, 5
Venereal Disease.
Sope-wort, 244
Voice, (to restore), 310, 314, 347
Vomit.
Antimonial Wine, 292
Vomiting, (to stay).
Lady’s Mantle, 103, 304, 311, 321, 327
Warts.
Buck’s-horn, 33.
Houseleek, 97.
Poplar, 143
Wens.
Turnsole, 185.
Fuller’s Thistle, 223
Wheezing.
Liquorice, 106.
Hyssop, 95.
Lungwort, 109
Whitlows.
Nail-wort, 126
Wind.
Bishop’s-weed, 25.
Carraway, 42.
Dill, 63.
Fennel, 73.
Hemp, 91, 264, 323
—— in the Stomach.
Lovage, 108.
Thyme, 183.
Mint, 118.
Rosemary, 155.
Garden Tansy, 178
Womb, (cold infirmities of).
Bayberries, 248
—— (diseases of).
Wild Arrach, 10.
Feverfew, 72, 365
—— (inflammations of).
Schœnanth, 247
Women’s Diseases.
Dog Mercury, 116.
Moses, 120.
Mugwort, 122, 231
—— in Labour.
Cinnamon, 227.
Hore-hound, 240.
Penny-royal, 243
Worms.
Dog’s-grass, 65.
Wormwood, 195.
Calamint, 38, 324.
Arssmart, 12.
Butter-bur, 35.
Centaury, 44.
Lavender-cotton, 104
Wounds.
Adder’s-tongue, 3.
Bifoil, 24.
Primroses, 146.
Burnet, 35.
One Blade, 26.
Bistort, 25.
Moon-wort, 120.
Lupines, 249
—— in the Head.
Shepherd’s-purse, 171
* * * * *
Transcriber’s Notes:
Only the most obvious punctuation errors were repaired. Due to the
age of the manuscript, most spelling and hyphenation variations
were retained as printed. For example, if the reader is looking for
anniseed, search also for annis-seed, aniseed and annis seed, etc.
Changes made to the text are noted below. Only things that seemed to
be clearly typos instead of 1600s spelling variations were changed and
noted below. For example, text consistently uses “tertain” instead of
“tertian.” Also watch for œ where one might expect æ and vice versa.
“Bean” is often spelled as “Been.”
Occasionally, items are out of alphabetical order. For example,
_Malahathram_ is located in the beginning of the F section. This was
retained as printed. At times, in long lists of names, certain plants
are repeated and this was retained.
Most but not all Latin terms are italicized. These were retained as
printed.
Some section titles were formatted in a certain way with a change made
mid-section. Each was retained as printed. For example at the end of
page 283, the paragraph after the italic title that began with “Or”
was laid out as all other paragraphs. Two pages later, the paragraphs
beginning with “Or” were included with the italic centered title.
Additionally, there are a few instances of unmatched parentheses that
were retained as printed for no clear location of the match could be
ascertained. An asterisk below indicates a blank or smudged place in
the original type.
Page 4, “tartian” changed to “tertian” (tertian or quartan agues)
Page 10, “CARDEN” changed to “GARDEN” (GARDEN ARRACH)
Page 11, “then” changed to “than” (drier than the stinging)
Page 12, “yon” changed to “you” (from it, if you will)
Page 16 et seq., the first word of a description such as under BARBERRY
and BARLEY, “The” changed to “THE” to match rest of book’s layout (THE
shrub is so) (THE continual usefulness) and so on.
Page 18, “helps” changed to “help” (provoke urine; help the mother)
Page 19, “it” changed to “is” (that is to say, white, yellow)
Page 20, “and” changed to “an” (being made into an oil)
Page 20, “couses” changed to “causes” (long running causes)
Page 22, “perishes” changed to “perish” (the stalks perish)
Page 23, “Cesar” changed to “Cæsar” (of Octavius Cæsar)
Page 29, “Scabions” changed to “Scabious” (those of Corn-Scabious)
Page 29, “excellant” changed to “excellent” (excellent good to mollify)
Page 30, “viens” changed to “veins” (of the veins which)
Page 45, “speen” changed to “spleen” (liver, gall, and spleen, helps)
Page 45, “frickles” changed to “freckles” (away all freckles, spots)
Page 45, “offorded” changed to “afforded” (is afforded room in)
Page 45, “Chery” changed to “Cherry” (gum of the Cherry-tree)
Page 45, “horseness” changed to “hoarseness” (cough, and hoarseness of)
Page 46, “keep” changed to “kept” (kept all the year)
Page 46, “as” changed to “has” (This has little or no)
Page 49, “colours” changed to “colour” (root is of a blackish brown
colour)
Page 52, “IT” changed to “It” to conform to majority of usage in this
context (_Place._] It grows in sundry)
Page 52, “vain” changed to “vein” (any vein be swelled)
Page 53, “Foals’s” changed to “Foal’s” (also Coughwort, Foal’s-foot)
Page 56, “stays” changed to “stay” (stay fluxes of)
Page 56, “think” changed to “thing” (without doing any thing)
Page 56, “ounce” changed to “once” (Sun once a month)
Page 56, word “and” removed from text. Original read (remedy palsies,
and Greeks)
Page 57, “*as” changed to “has” ( IT has long leaves)
Page 59, “phlem” changed to “phlegm” (expectorate the phlegm)
Page 61, “Take” changed to “take” (the year is, take the)
Page 62, “othe*wise” changed to “otherwise” (fits, or otherwise:)
Page 62, “norrower” changed to “narrower” (narrower, but rough)
Page 64, “freekles” changed to “freckles” (freckles, morphews, and)
Page 65, “fine” changed to “find” (shall find a rational)
Page 66, “*he” changed to “the” (stays the lask and)
Page 66, “conpass” changed to “compass” (in a round compass)
Page 66, “others” changed to “other” (other sorts of those)
Page 67, word “a” removed from text. Original read (a square, rough,
hairy stalks)
Page 70, “stengthens” changed to “strengthens” (clears, strengthens,
and quickens)
Page 73, “so” changed to “to” (liver, to provoke urine)
Page 78, “indammations” changed to “inflammations” (helps all
inflammations)
Page 78, “extol” changed to “extols” (Paracelsus extols it)
Page 78, “Fower” changed to “Flower” (flaggy kind of Flower-de-luce)
Page 80, “*as” changed to “has” (spleen. It has been found by)
Page 81, “general” changed to “generally” (is generally known before)
Page 83, “open” changed to “opens” (beasts, opens obstructions)
Page 83, “the” changed to “The” (lost it. The herb)
Page 85, “an” changed to “on” (on both moist and dry)
Page 85, “rule” changed to “rules” (Saturn rules it)
Page 88, “*eally” changed to “really” (really saturnine, something)
Page 90, “druised” changed to “bruised” (leaves bruised, and with)
Page 90, “o*” changed to “of” (It is a tree of)
Page 92, “Diverrs” changed to “Divers” (DIVERS sorts there)
Page 100, “Dioscocorides” changed to “Dioscorides” (saith Dioscorides)
Page 101, “*igh” changed to “high” (high, with two or)
Page 103, “it” changed to “is” (Ladies’ Mantle is very proper)
Page 104, “*he” changed to “the” (the place be bathed)
Page 105, “with*n” changed to “within” (both within and without)
Page 112, “discolouri***” changed to “discolourings” (all other
discolourings)
Page 113, “thatare” changed to “that are” (that are for ornament)
Page 115, “breath” changed to “breadth” (an hand breadth long)
Page 120, “*ungs” changed to “lungs” (lungs, or other inward)
Page 120, “Tre*” changed to “Tree” (The Tree Moss grows)
Page 120, “o*” changed to “of” (All sorts of)
Page 122, “*ormenting” changed to “tormeting” (tormenting pains thereof)
Page 123, “*laces” changed to “places” (places of this land)
Page 123, “*he” changed to “the” (Mercury rules the tree)
Page 124, “o*” changed to “or” (groin or share)
Page 128, “*aste” changed to “taste” (a waterish insipid taste)
Page 128, “th*” changed to “the” (dropped into the ears)
Page 128, “hea*” changed to “heat” (that arise of heat)
Page 128, “mad*” changed to “made” (the bark made in)
Page 130, “*hat” changed to “that” (undoing what that doth)
Page 130, word “them.” added to end of paragraph where a blank line was
present in the original. This agrees with an earlier version of the
text. (THEY are so well known, that I need not spend time about writing
a description of them.)
Page 130, “ot***” changed to “other” (sore, or any other putrefied)
Page 135, “plegmatic” changed to “phlegmatic” (brain of phlegmatic)
Page 135, “*talks” changed to “stalks” (hairy, as the stalks are)
Page 135, “it” changed to “its” (spring of its own)
Page 136, “weak” changed to “week” (once a week)
Page 139, “fo” changed to “of” (property of St. John’s Wort)
Page 141, “harhness” changed to “hardness” (the hardness of women’s)
Page 141, “an” changed to “all” (against all inflammations)
Page 142, “moistens” changed to “moisten” (moisten the stomach)
Page 142, “*hroat” changed to “throat” (throat, to dry the)
Page 143, “an” changed to “and” (to make Unguentum and)
Page 144, “black” changed to “Black” (Black of the Garden)
Page 144, “baers” changed to “bears” (it bears its flower)
Page 146, “snd” changed to “and” (dreams, and the like)
Page 146, “vitue” changed to “virtue” (the heat and virtue of)
Page 146, “serect” changed to “secret” (ulcers in the secret)
Page 146, “lightening” changed to “lightning” (blasting by lightning)
Page 147, “imflammation” changed to “inflammation” (inflammation in the
eyes)
Page 148 “anoin*” changed to “anoint” (available to anoint)
Page 148, word “a” added to text in space (Quinces, and boiled in a)
Page 148, “hea*” changed to “heat” (good to cool the heat)
Page 148, “hai*” changed to “hair” (it brings hair to them)
Page 148, “man*” changed to “many” (at the top many)
Page 155, “*ed” changed to “red” (red, every one standing)
Page 155, “*talk” changed to “stalk” (his own foot-stalk)
Page 155, “lethary” changed to “lethargy” (the lethargy, and
fallen-sickness)
Page 156, the first letters of two lines were traded thus “ro” was
changed to “to” and “tequires” to “requires” (to take one drop)
(requires, for the inward)
Page 158, “slght” changed to “sight” (dimness of the sight)
Page 158, “rwu” changed to “rue” (MEADOW-RUE rises)
Page 160, “*hready” changed to “thready” (thready branches round)
Page 161, “abundaily” changed to “abundantly” (come down too abundantly)
Page 167, “*ong” changed to “long” (long crested, brownish)
Page 167, “o*” changed to “of” (of a sad green color)
Page 167, “*talks” changed to “stalks” (stalks stand umbels)
Page 169, “costs” changed to “coasts” (sea coasts to Dover)
Page 169, “hedges” changed to “edges” (dented about the hedges)
Page 171, “u*” changed to “up” (especially made up)
Page 173, “erputions” changed to “eruptions” (wheals, and eruptions or)
Page 173, “giv*” changed to “give” (the skin, and give)
Page 174, “pimpels” changed to “pimples” (pimples, pushes or wheals)
Page 174, text misprinted and missing, another copy was consulted and
the following changes made:
Original text:
brown colour on the outside, and white
within, from whence rise sundry long stalks
taste, from whence rise sundry long stalks
of most fine cut leaves like hair, smaller
Edited text:
brown colour on the outside, and white
within, smelling well, and of an aromatical
taste, from whence rise sundry long stalks
of most fine cut leaves like hair, smaller
Page 175, word “the” removed from text. Original read (and other the
west parts)
Page 178, “naval” changed to “navel” (to the navel, stays)
Page 184, “of the” changed to “and” (herb and root, or the)
Page 184, “plaintain” changed to “plantain” (plantain, and is also)
Page 185, word “a” added to text (Sun, and a good)
Page 185, “berb” changed to “herb” (boiled the herb in)
Page 185, “th*” changed to “the” (flowers, with the)
Page 187, “browinsh” changed to “brownish” (follows small brownish)
Page 186, lines were printed out of order. Original read:
therefore always used in drinks, lotions,
green wounds, ulcers, or old sores, in all
balms, oils, ointments, or any other sorts of
which the continual experience of former
After consulting earlier edition, now reads:
therefore always used in drinks, lotions,
balms, oils, ointments, or any other sorts of
green wounds, ulcers, or old sores, in all
which the continual experience of former
Page 188, “sepents” changed to “serpents” (the biting of serpents)
Page 189, “*he” changed to “the” (the flowers, only picked)
Page 192, “Mitthiolus” changed to “Matthiolus” (cured. Matthiolus
commends)
Page 193, “plntain” changed to “plantain” (the greater plantain, but)
Page 194, first instance of repeated phrase “neither is it” removed
from text. Original read:
nothing in vain. It is an herb of Mercury,
and appropriated to the lungs; neither is it
Crab claims dominion over it; neither is it
a foe to the Lion; if the lungs be afflicted
Page 194, “calle*” changed to “called” (christened it, and called)
Page 195, “woods” changed to “woody” (lies deep, and is woody)
Page 196, “is” changed to “his” (courtesy is greater than his)
Page 196, “Tamus” changed to “Taurus” (under Taurus her sign)
Page 197, repeated word “it” removed from text. Original read (shall
know it it in the)
Page 198, “THOUSALD” changed to “THOUSAND” (AND THOUSAND-LEAL)
Page 198, “It” changed to “Its” (parts. Its flowers)
Page 201, “8” changed to “6” (6. Such roots as are)
Page 202, “purtify” changed to “putrify” (coming to putrify)
Page 202, “CHAPTER V.” changed to “CHAPTER I.” (CHAPTER I. _Of
distilled Waters._)
Page 203, “of” changed to “or” (pewter bason, or an earthen)
Page 204, “**” changed to “is” (is vulgarly used)
Page 205, “makin*” changed to “making” (general way of making)
Page 205, “****” changed to “vary” added to text (ingredients, you may
vary)
Page 206, “*hem” changed to “them” (them as you please)
Page 206, “you” changed to “your” (found in your electuary)
Page 206, “other” changed to “others” (roses: others but)
Page 211, “DIPENSATORY” changed to “DISPENSATORY” (FAMILY DISPENSATORY)
Page 212, “eithe*” changed to “either” (either, or from either)
Page 213, final line of first column not present in this edition. All
other editions conclude the paragraph with “is always so.” This has
been added to this text.
Page 213, “th*” changed to “the” (the midst of the)
Page 214, “connot” changed to “cannot” (If you cannot stay)
Page 214, “whi*****” changed to “which it” (draws that which it)
Page 215, “Yerus” changed to “Venus” (may join _Venus_, because)
Page 215, “follaw” changed “follow” (these that follow)
Page 215, “Balno” changed “Balneo” (distil in _Balneo Mariæ_)
Page 215, “covenient” changed “convenient” (in a convenient vessel)
Page 215, “is” changed to “it” (the like under it)
Page 217, “reins” changed to “veins” (and cleanses the veins)
Page 217, word “a” added to text in blank space (hours after eat a)
Page 218, “*oot” changed to “root” (root and water)
Page 218, “*eing” changed to “being” (being taken in red)
Page 218, “care*ess” changed to “careless” (and whatsoever a careless)
Page 218, “*elps” changed to “helps” (being drank with wine, helps)
Page 218, “*ungs” changed to “lungs” (lungs, hardness of)
Page 218, “Saccharinœ” changed to “Saccharinæ” (Vallanoriæ, and
Saccharinæ)
Page 218, “Reigæ” changed to “Regiæ” (Hastæ Regiæ fœm.)
Page 219, “Broniæ” changed to “Brionæ” (_Brionæ, &c._ Of Briony)
Page 219, “Centrurii” changed to “Centaurii” (_Centaurii majoris._ Of
Centaury)
Page 221, “*eaves” changed to “leaves” (See the leaves.)
Page 221, “sortness” changed to “shortness” (and shortness of breath)
Page 222, “*unburning” changed to “sunburning” (skin, take away
sunburning)
Page 222, line of text at bottom of first column was missing. Text
added from the 1814 edition. Original read:
or wind; the smell of it strengthens the brain,
it relieves faint hearts, takes away windiness
of the womb, heats the reins, and provokes
at a time.
Now corrected to:
or wind; the smell of it strengthens the brain,
it relieves faint hearts, takes away windiness
of the womb, heats the reins, and provokes
amorous diseases. You may take half a dram
at a time.
Page 222, “bes*” changed to “best” (Of Licorice; the best)
Page 222, “mois*” changed to “moist” (it is hot and moist)
Page 222, “wherin” changed to “wherein” (of white wine, wherein)
Page 224, “Cam*ock” changed to “Cammock” (Of Cammock, or Rest-harrow)
Page 225, “*hese” changed to “these” (these, I am persuaded)
Page 225, “*reed” changed to “breed” (breed ill-favoured)
Page 225, “***y” changed to “they” (they spoil the eyes)
Page 226, “Whethe*” changed to “Whether” (Whether these be roots)
Page 227, “mean*” changed to “meant” (that which is meant)
Page 228, “especeially” changed to “especially” (especially the ashes
of)
Page 229, an unusual ligature involving a script “m” was used on this
page in place of what seems to be æ. This was retained as “m” in both
“Tillim” and “Guajacum, Lignum vitm.”
[Illustration: Tillm]
[Illustration: vitm]
Page 229, “dis*ases” changed to “diseases” (for cold diseases)
Page 231, “*he” changed to “the” and “melan*holy” changed to
“melancholy” (the heart, makes men merry, helps melancholy)
Page 232, “Beuedicta” changed to “Benedicta” (Benedicta Cariphyllara)
Page 232, “**” changed to “or” (Common or Wood Betony)
Page 232, “a*” changed to “as” (the gout, such as)
Page 236, “Provok**” changed to “Provokes” (Elicampane. Provokes)
Page 236, “whic*” changed to “which” (Dodder of Time, to which)
Page 237, “*t” changed to “it” (it grows upon, as)
Page 239, “ou*” changed to “out” (and the falling out)
Page 240, “Amareus” changed to “Amaracus” (_Majorana._ See _Amaracus_)
Page 241, “Horehouud” changed to “Horehound” (stinking Horehound, I
take)
Page 241, “cloanses” changed to “cleanses” (matrix, cleanses filthy)
Page 241, “Memba” changed to “Mentha” (_Mentha aquatica._ Water Mints)
Page 241, “Spruge” changed to “Spurge” (Spurge-Olive, or Widdow-wail)
Page 241, “thes curvey” changed to “the scurvey” (for the scurvy,
sciatica)
Page 245, “Nasturitum” changed to “Nasturtium” (_Thlaspi._ See _Nasturtium_)
Page 246, “Voronica” changed to “Veronica” (_Veronica._ See _Betonica Pauli_)
Page 246, “Umbslicus” changed to “Umbilicus” (_Umbilicus Veneris._ Navil-wort)
Page 247, “Watev” changed to “Water” (_Water lilies_, ease pains)
Page 248, “b*eath” changed to “breath” (a sweet breath)
Page 249, “**eaks” changed to “breaks” (cholic, breaks the stone)
Page 250, repeated word “of” removed from text (inflammations of the
sides)
Page 253, “**me” changed to “time” (time, and indeed spirit)
Page 255, “*legm” changed “flegm” (flegm; outwardly in)
Page 255, “*eprosies” changed to “leprosies” (leprosies, scabs, and)
Page 256, “ana” changed to “and” (Spikenard, Celtic and Indian)
Page 258, “chie” changed to “chief” (quote the chief of them)
Page 260, “Daises” changed to “Daisies” (wood and water. Daisies)
Page 260, “Camomle” changed to “Camomile” (Camomile, Chamepytis)
Page 262, “Sabious” changed to “Scabious” (Origanum, Rue, Scabious)
Page 264, “Marjoran” changed to “Marjoram” (John’s Wort, Marjoram)
Page 264, “Bazi” changed to “Bazil” (Water-cresses, Origanum, Bazil)
Page 265, “*pikenard” changed to “Spikenard” (Spikenard, Hops,
Schenanth)
Page 272, “an*” changed to “and” (strengthens the stomach and)
Page 272, “commonwealt*” changed to “commonwealth” (do the commonwealth)
Page 272, “o*” changed to “on” (a word or two on)
Page 273, “bring” changed to “being” (a sweet breath; being)
Page 274, “*hin” changed to “thin” (thin subtile parts)
Page 274, “vix.” changed to “viz.” (body, _viz._ the)
Page 274, “Chermes” changed to “Cherries” (Juice of Cherries, Quinces)
Page 274, “cold” changed to “old” (Olives, both new and old)
Page 275, “when” changed to “Then” (Then the college tells you)
Page 275, “Bore” changed to “Boar” (tooth of a Boar, an Elephant)
Page 276, “**” changed to “of” (stone in the head of)
Page 276, “thells” was retained as printed as more than one copy and
resource used this word.
Page 276, final line of first column missing. "Amber." added after consulting
other editions.
_Carlinæ, Coral, white and red, Foam of the
Sea, Spunge, Stone Pumice, Sea salt, Spunges,
Amber._
Page 278, “*ood” changed to “Wood” (Wood Sorrel, Lady’s-Mantle)
Page 279, “Lily-flower*” changed to “Lily-flowers” (water of _water
Lily-flowers_)
Page 280, “stay,” changed to “stays” (stomach exceedingly, stays)
Page 281, “Hooses” changed to “Hooves” (The _Hooves_ of the)
Page 283, “watersnor” changed to “waters nor” (strong waters nor sack)
Page 285, “*ay” changed to “Bay” (tree, Bay berries)
Page 286, “o*” changed to “of” (long Birthwort, of)
Page 290, “spiri*” changed to “spirit” (pour this spirit)
Page 291, “i*” changed to “it” (close stopped till it)
Page 291, the “t” for “let” (the last word on page 291) is present as
the first letter on page 292. This has been repaired. (added to every
pound, let)
Page 293, “Polipodiu*” changed to “Polipodium” (five drams, Polipodium)
Page 298, “Syru*” changed to “Syrup” (into a Syrup: let)
Page 306, “inty” changed to “into” (into Syrup according)
Page 306, “******” changed to “Syrup,” (boiled into a Syrup,)
Page 308, “an” changed to “and” (pound and a half)
Page 309, “th**” changed to “them” (boil them in the)
Page 311, “respec*” changed to “respect” (made, in respect)
Page 315, “*hat” changed to “that” (sugar; yet note, that)
Page 316, “i*” changed to “it” (make it into Lozenges)
Page 316, “*eaves” changed to “leaves” (of red Rose leaves)
Page 319, “Stag’sh eart” changed to “Stag’s heart” (a Stag’s heart,
Ivory)
Page 319, word “_College._]” missing and added to text for paragraph
under _Diamoschu Dulce._
Page 319, “Boses” changed to “Roses” (ounce, red Roses, Violets)
Page 320, “powder” changed to “powders” (of these powders will)
Page 322, “*han” changed to “than” (than they can remove)
Page 322, “*hem” changed to “them” (them into fine powder)
Page 322, “eigh” changed to “eight” (with eight times their)
Page 322, “thefore” changed to “therefore” (therefore they do
strengthen)
Page 325, repeated word “a” removed from text. Original read (it at a a
time, lest)
Page 326, “it” changed to “its” (its just thickness)
Page 327, “*hickness” changed to “thickness” (thickness of Honey)
Page 327, “*ool” changed to “cool” (cool, exceeding good)
Page 327, final word and closing punctuation added to last paragraph
in first column (very seldom so much.)
Page 328, “and” changed to “of” (loins of Scinks)
Page 328, “and” changed to “an” (and an half, with two)
Page 329, word “it” added to text (neither is it so hot)
Page 330, “weigh” changed to “weight” (Treacle the weight)
Page 330, “**” changed to “as” (one, according as)
Page 331, “electuar,” changed to “electuary” (clarified, make it into
an electuary)
Page 332, “an” changed to “and” (Water a pound and an half)
Page 334, “onnce” changed to “ounce” (may take an ounce at)
Page 334, “acconut” changed to “account” (I account it a pretty)
Page 335, “no*” changed to “not” (such women as are not)
Page 339, “thay” changed to “they” (form, that they may be)
Page 341, “weakned” changed to “weakened” (weakened by disease)
Page 346, “thre*” changed to “three” (Winter Cherries three)
Page 348, “ha**” changed to “half” (Myrrh, of each half)
Page 349, “lessen” changed to “lesser” (lesser, Cubebs, Gallia)
Page 350, “Mutmegs” changed to “Nutmegs” (Oil of Nutmegs by)
Page 353, “**********megs” changed to “Oil of Nutmegs” (Been, Oil of
Nutmegs)
Page 354, “oi*” changed to “oil” (six parts of oil)
Page 354, “puting” changed to “putting” (sweet oil, putting)
Page 355, “*corpions” changed to “Scorpions” (thirty live Scorpions)
Page 355, “**on” changed to “lion” (when the sun is in the lion)
Page 355, “Carduu*” changed to “Carduus” (the roots of Carduus)
Page 359, “watry” changed to “watery” (till the watery part)
Page 361, “Uuguentum” changed to “Unguentum” (_Unguentum Pomatum._)
Page 361, “**pis” changed to “Lapis” (ammoniac, Lapis Calaminaris)
Page 361, “Litha*ge” changed to “Litharge” (Litharge of Gold, Ceruss)
Page 363, “the” changed to “them” (first let them sublimate)
Page 363, “Uunguentum” changed to “Unguentum” (_Unguentum Martiatum._)
Page 364, “greese” changed to “grease” (Hen’s and Duck’s grease)
Page 364, “benefical” changed to “beneficial” (part, is very beneficial)
Page 366, “*nto” changed to “into” (into an ointment according)
Page 367, “los*” changed to “lost” (ulcers, restores flesh lost)
Page 368, “Platain” changed to “Plantain” (ounces, Plantain, Chamepitys)
Page 370, word “_College._]” missing and added to text for paragraph
under _Emplaistrum Diaphœnicon hot._
Page 371, “o*” changed to “or” (appropriated to ruptures or)
Page 377, “whch” changed to “which” (danger, by considering which)
Page 378, “natura*” changed to “natural” (patient, or the natural)
Page 378, “o*” changed to “of” (attain the third degree of)
Page 378, “pas*” changed to “pass” (hence it comes to pass)
Page 378, “sha**” changed to “shall” (medicines, which I shall)
Page 379, “it” changed to “its” (above its natural temper)
Page 379, “in****” changed to “in the” (cold in the second and)
Page 379, “lenifies” changed to “lenify” (lenify and make slippery)
Page 380, “exteme” changed to “extreme” (moisture be not extreme)
Page 382, “administed” changed to “administered” (safely be
administered)
Page 382, “on*y” changed to “only” (which are used only)
Page 386, “seem*” changed to “seems” (the womb, it seems)
Page 387, “Pains” changed to “Pain” (Pain is either taken)
Page 387, “know” changed to “known” (medicines are known)
Page 388, “*ontrary” changed to “contrary” (contrary to them)
Page 390, “evacution” changed to “evacuation” (cured by evacuation)
Page 390, “discussseth” changed to “discusseth” (more than it
discusseth)
Page 394, “thurst” changed to “thrust” (violently thrust it)
Page 394, “*nd” changed to “and” (and sweating the last)
Page 396, “int*” changed to “into” (of sweet Almonds into)
Page 399, “fourth” repeated under “Hot in the first degree” under
“second”. The first “fourth” was changed to “third” (—— —— third
degree, ib.)
Page 401, page number added to entry for “Tamarisk Tree.”
Page 402, “Yellow-water Flag” changed to “Yellow Water-flag” (Yellow
Water-flag)
Page 402, “Termintil” changed to “Tormentil” (Measles. Tormentil, 184)
Page 402, page number added to entry for “Ladies’ Mantle.”
*** End of this LibraryBlog Digital Book "The Complete Herbal - To which is now added, upwards of one hundred additional - herbs, with a display of their medicinal and occult - qualities physically applied to the cure of all disorders - incident to mankind: to which are now first annexed, the - English physician enlarged, and key to Physic." ***
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