[p. 10]

[EDGENOTE:] Mind, Heart, Faintings Swonings, Melancholy, Indigestion, Obstruction of the Brain, Heart, Arteries, Venemous Beasts, Mad Dogs, Terms provokes, Toothach, Blood Flux. Mushroms dificulty of breathing, Gout, Liver, Spleen, Women in Child bed, Fainting in travel, Boyls.

out of the mind arising from Melancholly, or black Choller; which Avicen also confirmeth. 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 Melancholly vapors from the Spirits & Blood which are in the Heart and Arteries although it cannot do so in other parts of the Body. Diascorides saith, That the Leaves steeped in Wine, and the Wine drunk, and the Leavs externally applied is a remedy against the sting of Scorpions, and the bitings of mad Dogs, and commendeth the Decoction therof for Women to bath or sit in to procure their Courses; it is good to wash aching Teeth therwith and profitable for those that have the bloody Flux. The Leaves also with a little Nitre taken in Drink, are good against a Surfet of Mushromes, helps the griping pains of the Belly and being made into an Electuary is good for them that cannot fetch their breath: Used with Salt it takes away Wens, Kernels, or hard Swellings in the Flesh or Throat; it clenseth foul Sores and easeth pains of the Gout: It is good for the Liver and Spleen. A Tansie or Cawdle made with Egs and the Juyce therof while it is yong, putting to it some Sugar and Rosewater is good for Women in Childbed when the After-birth is not throughly avoided, and for their faintings upon, or after their sore travel. The Herb bruised and boyled in a little Wine and Oyl and laid warm on a Boil, will ripen and break it.

It is an Herb of Jupiter and under Cancer, and strengthens Nature much in al its actions; let a Syrup made with the Juyce of it and Sugar, (as you shall be taught at the latter end of the Book) be kept in every Gentlewomans house, to releeve the weak stomachs and sick Bodies of their poor sickly Neighbors; as also the Herb kept dry in the Hous that so with other convenient Simples you may make it into an Electuary with Hony according as the Diseas is, and as you shall be taught at the latter end of the Book.

[EDGENOTE:] Choller, Scabs, Itch Tetters, Ringworm, Yellow Jaundice, Boyls, Agues, Burning, Scaldings, Apetit lost, Hair.

from such Diseases as Choller causeth, such be Scabs, Itch Tetters, Ringworms, yellow Jaundice, Boils, &c. It is excellent for hot Agues, Burnings, Scaldings, heat of Bloud, heat of the Liver, Bloudy-flux, for the Berries are as good as the Bark, and more pleasing; they get a man a good stomach to his victuals, by strengthning the attractive faculty, which is under Mars, as you see more at large in the latter end of my Ephemeris for the year 1651. The Hair washed with the Ly made of the Ashes of the Tree and Water, "twil make it turn yellow, viz. of Mars his own colour. The Fruit and Rind of the Shrub, the Flowers of Broom and of Heath, or Furz, clens the Body of Choller by Sympathy, as the Flowers, Leaves and Bark of the Peach-Tree do by Antipathy; because these are under Mars, that under Venus.

[p. 11]

therof, as Barly-water and other things made therof, do give great nourishment to persons troubled with Feavers, Agues, and heats in the Stomach.

[DGENOTE:] Feavers, Agues, Stomach, Apostums, Inflamations, Spleen, Ears, Throat, Neck, Kings Evil, Leprosie, Flux, Gout, Itch Eyes.

A Pultis made of Barly Meal or Flower boyled with Vinegar and Honey, and a few dry Figs put into them, dissolveth all hard Imposthums, and aswageth Inflamations being therto applied: And being boyled with Melilot and Chamomel Flowers, and som Linseed, Fenngreek and Rue in Pouder, and applied warm, it easeth the pains in the Sides and Stomach, and windiness of the Spleen. The Meal of Barly and Fleawort boyled in Water, and made into a Pultis with Honey and Oyl of Lillies, applied warm, cureth swellings under the Ears, Throat, Neck and such like: and a Plaister made therof with Tar, Wax & Oyl, helpeth the Kings-Evil in the Throat: Boyled with sharp Vinegar into a Pultis and laid on hot helpeth the Leprosie: Being boyled in red Wine with Pomgranat Rinds and Mirtles, stayeth the Lask or other Flux of the Belly: Boyled with Vinegar and a Quince, it easeth the hot pains of the Gout. Barly flower, white Salt, Honey and Vinegar mingled together, taketh away the Itch speedily and certainly: The Water distilled from the green Barly in the end of May is very good for thos that have Defluxions of humors fallen into their Eyes, and easeth the pains being dropped into them: or White-Bread steeped therein and bound on to the Eyes, doth the same.

For mine own part I presently found that speech true;

Non nostrum inter nos tantas componere lites.

[EDGENOTE:] Venemous Beasts, Bees, Wasps, Hornets.

of virulent quality with it: Being applied to the place bitten by a venemous Beast, or stung by a Wasp or Hornet, it speedily draws the Poyson to it; Every like draws his like. Myzaldus affirms, That it being laid to rot in Horsdung it wil breed Venemous Beasts. And Hollerius a French Physitian affirms upon his own knowledg, That an acquaintance of his by common smelling to it, had a Scorpion bred in his Brain. Somthing is the matter this Herb and Rue wil not grow together, no nor near one another: And we know Rue is as great an enemy to Poyson as any grows.

To conclude: It expelleth both Birth, and After-birth; and as it helps the deficiency of Venus in one kind, so it spoils al her actions in another. I dare write no more of it.

[EDGENOTE:] Stone, Obstructions of the Liver and Spleen, Dropsie, Poyson, Jaundice, Bees, Wasps, Hornets, Terms provokes, Cause Delivery, Afterbirth, Eyes,Lungs.

Liver, Spleen, and other inward parts, which bring the Dropsie, Jaundice, &c. The Berries are very effectual against al Poyson of venemous Creatures, and the Stings of Wasps and Bees, as also against the Pestilence or other infectious Diseases, and therfore is put into sundry Triacles for that purpose: They likewise procure Womens Courses; and seven of them given to a Woman in sore travel of Child-birth, do cause a speedy delivery, and expel the After-birth; and therfore not to be taken by such as have not gon out their time lest they procure Abortment, or cause Labor too soon: They wonderfully help al cold and rhumatick Distillations from the Brain to the Eyes, Lungs or other parts: And being made into an Electuary with Honey, do help the

[p. 12]

Consumption, old Coughs, shortness of Breath, and thin Rhewms: as also the Meagrim, they mightily expel wind and provoke Urin; help the Mother, and kil the Worms: The Leaves also work the like effects. A

[EDGENOTE:] Coughs, Shortness of Breath, Megrim, Wind, Vertigo, Disury, Mother, Worms, Joynts, Nerves, Arteries, Stomach, Belly, Womb, Ears, Marks in the Skin, Itch, Scabs.

Bath of the Decoction of the Leavs and Berries, is singular good for Women to sit in that are troubled with the Mother, or the Diseases therof, or the stoppings of their Courses, or for the Diseases of the Bladder, pains in the Bowels by wind, and stoppnig of Urin: A decoction likewise of equal parts of Bay-berries, Cummin-Seed, Hysop, Origanum, and Euphorbium, with some Honey, and the Head bathed therwith doth wonderfully help Distillations and Rhewms, and setleth the Pallat of the Mouth into its place. The Oyl made of the Berries is very comfortable in all cold Griefs of the Joynts, Nervs, Arteries, Stomach, Belly, or Womb, and helpeth Palsies, Convulsions, Cramps, Aches, trembling and numness in any part, weariness also, and pains that come by sore travelling: Al griefs and pains likewise proceeding from Wind, either in the Head, Stomach, Back, Belly, or Womb, by anointing the parts affected therwith: And pains in the Ears are also cured by dropping in some of the Oyl, or by receiving into the Ears the warm fume of the Decoction of the Berries through a Funnel. The Oyl takes away marks of the Skin and Flesh by bruises, Fals, &c. and dissolveth the congealed Bloud in them: It helpeth also the Itch, Scabs, and Wheals in the Skin.

I shal but only ad a word or two to what my Friend hath

[EDGENOTE:] Witchcraft.

written, viz. That it is a Tree of the Sun, and under the Coelestial Sign Leo, and resisteth Witchcraft very potently, as also al the evil 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 Myzaldus, That neither Witch nor Devil, Thunder nor Lightning wil hurt a Man in the place where a Bay-Tree is.

The distilled wather of the Flowers of Garden Beans is good to clens the Face and Skin from Spots and Wrinkles, and the Meal or Flower of them, or the smal, doth the same. The Water distilled from the green Husks is held to be very effectual against the Stone, and to provoke Urine.

[EDGENOTE:] Spots, Stone, Disury, Inflamation, Womens Breasts.

Bean Flower is used in Pultisses to asswage Inflamations rising upon Wounds, and the swelling of Womens Breasts caused by the curding of their Milk, and represseth their Milk: The Flower of Beans and Fenugreek mixed with Honey, and applied to Fellons, Boyls, Bruises, or blue Marks by blows, or the Imposthumes in the Kernels of the Ears, helpeth them all: And with Rose Leavs, Frankinsens and the white of an Egg being applied to the Eyes, helpeth them that are swoln, or do water, or have received any blow upon them if used with Wine. If a Bean be parted in two,

[EDGENOTE:] Felons, or Andicoms, Boils, Bruses, Ears, Eyes, Leeches.

the skin being taken away, and laid on the place where a Leech hath been set that bleedeth too much, it staieth the bleeding. Bean Flower boyled to a Pultis with Wine and Vinegar and some Oyl put therto, ceaseth both pain and swelling of the Cods: The Husks boyled in Water to a consumption of a third part therof staieth a Lask: and the Ashes of the Husks made up with old Hogs Greas, helpeth the old pains, contusions and Wounds of the Sinews, the

[EDGENOTE:] Cods swelled, Flux, Pain, Sinews, Sciatica, Gout.

Sciatica, and Gout. The Field Beans have all the aforementioned Vertues as the Garden Beans

Beans eaten are extream windy meat, but if after the Dutch fashion when they are half boyled you husk them, and then stew them (I cannot tell you how, for I never was Cook in al my life) they are wholsomer food.

There is also another sort of French Beans commonly growing with us in this land, which is called the Scarlet flowred Bean.

This ariseth up with sundry Branches as the other, but runs up higher to the length of Hop-poles, about which they grow twining, but turning contrary to the Sun, having Foot-

[p. 13]

stalks with three Leaves on each as on the other: The Flowers also are in fashion like the other, but many more set together, and of a most Orient Scalet colour. The Beans are larger than the ordinary kind, of a deep Purple colour, turning black when it is ripe and dry: The Root perisheth also in Winter.

[EDGENOTE:] Disury, Shortess of breath, Incite to Venery. A gallant shew.

And the Scarlet-coloured Beans in regard of the glorious beauty of their colour being set near a Quickset Hedg, wil bravely adorn the same, by climing up theron; so that they may be discerned a great way, not without admiration of the beholder at a distance. But they wil go near to kil the Quicksets by cloathing them in Scarlet.

There is also another sort of Ladies-Bedstraw growing frequently in England, which beareth 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 groweth it wil lie down on the ground; the Leaves a little bigger than the former, and the Flowers not so plentiful as those; and the Root hereof is also thridy, and abiding.

[EDGENOTE:] Stone, Dysury, Bleeding, Wounds.

Herb or Flower bruised and put up into the Nostrils, stayeth their bleeding likewise: The Flowers and the Herb made into an Oyl by being set in the Sun, and changed after it hath stood ten or twelve daies; or into an Ointment being boyled in Axungia or Sallet-Oyl with some Wax melted therein after it is strained; either the Oyl made therof 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 bath the Feet of Travellers and Lacquies whose long running causeth weariness and stifness in their Sinews and Joynts; If the Decoction be used warm, and the Joynts afterwards anointed with the Ointment. It helpeth the dry Scab, and the Itch in Children: And the Herb with the white Flower is also very good for the Sinews, Arteries, and Joynts to comfort and strengthen them after travel, cold and pains.

[EDGENOTE:] Burnings, Gauled-Feet, Weariness, Stiffness of Joynts, Scabs, Itch.

They are both Herbs of Venus and therfore strengthen the patrs both internal and external which she rules.

The Common White Beet hath many great Leaves next the ground somwhat 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, smal at the ends, and turning down their Heads, which are smal, pale, greenish, yellow Burrs, giving cornered prickled Seed. The Root is great, long and hard, and when it hath given Seed of no use at all.

The Common Red Beet differeth not from the White, but only it is lesser and the Leaves and the Roots are somwhat red: The Leaves are differently red, in som only with red strakes or veins, som of a fresh red, and others of a dark red. The Root hereof is red, spungy and not used to be eaten.

[EDGENOTE:] Clens, Digest, Disury, Obstructions of the Liver and Spleen, Vertigo, Venemous Beasts.

The White Beet doth much loosen the Belly, and is of a clensing and digesting quality, and provoketh Urin: The Juyce of it openeth obstructions both of the Liver and Spleen, and is good for the Headaches and swimmings therein, and turnings of the Brain; and is effectual also against al venemous creatures: and applied upon the Temples, stayeth Inflamati-

[p. 14]

ons in the Eyes; it helpeth Burnings being used without Oyl, and with a little Allum

[EDGENOTE:] Brning, St. Anthonies Fire, Wheals, Blisters, Chilblains, Kibes,Itch, Dandriff, Scurff Scabs, Ulcers, Cankers, Baldness.

put to it, is good for St. Anthonies fire. It is also good for al Wheals, Pushes, Blisters, and Blains in the Skin: The Herb boyled and laid upon Chilblains or Kibes, helpeth them: The Decoction therof in Water and some Vinegar healeth the Itch, if bathed therwith, and clenseth the Head of Dandraf, Scurff, and dry Scabs, and doth much good for fretting and running Sores, Ulcers, & Cankers in the Head, Legs, or other parts, and is much commended against Baldness and shedding of Hair.

The red Beet is good to stay the Bloody Flux, Womens Courses, and the Whites, and to help the yellow Jaundice.

[EDGENOTE:] Flux Terms, Stops, Whites, Stinking Breath, Noise in the Ears, Toothach, Smell lost.

The Juyce or the Root put into the Nostrils purgeth the Head, helpeth the nois in the Ears, and the Tooth-ach; the Juyce snuffed up the Nose helps a stinking Breath if the caus lie in the Nose as many times it doth, if any bruis have been there, as also want of smel coming that way.

[EDGENOTE:] Ulcers, Bruises, Sunburning.

inward or outward. The distilled water of the Leaves is used for the same purposes; as also to bath the Face or Hands spotted or blemished, or discolored by Sunburning.

I confess I do not much fancy distilled Waters, I mean such Waters as are distilled cold, some vertue of the Herb they may happliy have (it were a strange thing else) but this I am confident of, that being distilled in a Pewter Stil, as the vulgar and apish fashion is, both Chymical Oyl and Salt is left behind, unless you burn them, and then all is spoiled, Water and al, which was good for as little as can be by such a Distillation. You have the best way of Distillation in my Translation of the London Dispensatory. The Colledg of Physitians having as much skil in Distillations as an Ass hath reading Hebrew.

Water-Betony is an Herb of Jupiter in Cancer and is apropriated more to Wounds and Hurts in the Breast than Wood-Betony which follows.

[EDGENOTE:] Epidemical Diseases, Witchcraft, Apetite, Indigestion, Stomach, Belching, Jaundice, Falling sickness, Palsey, Convulsion, Shrinking of the Sinews, Gout, Dropsie, Frensie, Cough, Cold, Shortness of Breath, Agues of all sorts, Sore Eyes, Worms, Obstructions of the Liver and Spleen, Stitches, Pains in the Back and Belly, Terms provokes, Mother, Childbirth, Stone, Toothach, Venemous Beasts, Mad-dogs, Weariness, Bleeding at Mouth and Nose, Pissing & spitting of Blood, Ruptures, Bruises, Wounds, Veins and Sinews, Cuts, Ulcers, Fistulaes, Boyls, Ears.

that loath, or cannot digest their Meat, those that

[p. 15]

have weak Stomachs, or sower belchings, or continual rising in their Stomach, using it familiarly either green or dry; either the Herb, the root, or the Flowers in Broth drunk, or Meat, or made into Conserve, Syrup, Water Electuary, or Pouder as every one may best frame themselvs unto, or as the time or season requireth, taken any of the aforesaid waies. It helpeth the Jaundice, Falling-sickness, the Palsie, Convulsions, or shrinking of the Sinews, the Gout, and those that are inclined to Dropsies, those that have continual Pains in their Head, although it turn to Phrensie. The Pouder mixed with pure Honey is no less available for al sorts of Coughs or Colds, Wheesing or shortness of Breath, Distillations of thin Rhewm upon the Lungues, which causeth Consumptions. The Decoction made with Mead and a little Penyroyal, is good for those that are troubled with putrid Agues, whether Quotidian, Tertian, or Quartan, and to draw down and evacuate the Blood and humors that by falling into the Eyes do hinder the Sight: The Decoction therof made in Wine and taken, killeth the Worms in the Belly, openeth Obstructions both of the Spleen and Liver, cureth Stitches and Pains in the Back, or Sides, the Torments and griping pains of the Bowels, and the wind Chollick: and mixed with Honey purgeth the Belly, helpeth to bring down Womens Courses, and is of especial use for those that are troubled with the falling down of the Mother, and pains therof, and causeth an easie and speedy delivery of Women in Childbirth: it helpeth also to break and expel the Stone either in the Bladder or Kidneys. The Decoction with Wine gargled in the Mouth, easeth the Toothach. It is commended against the sting or biting or Venemous Serpents or Mad Dogs. Being used inwardly and applied outwardly to the place. A dram of the Pouder in Betony taken with a little Honey in some Vinegar, doth wonderfully refresh those that are overwearied by travail; it staieth bleedings at the Mouth or Nose, and helpeth those that piss 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 Juyce applied to any inward hurt or outward green Wound in the Head or Body wil quickly heal and close it up; as also any Veins or Sinews that are cut; and will draw forth any broken Bone, or Splinter, Thorn or other thing gotten into the Flesh: It is no less profitable for old Sores, or filthy Ulcers, yea, though they be Fistulaus and hollow, but some do advise to put in a little Salt to this purpose: Being applied with a little Hogs Lard, it helpeth a Plague-Sore, and other Boyls and Pushes: The fumes of the Decoction while it is warm received by a Funnel into the Ears, easeth the pains of them, destroyeth the Worms, and cureth the running Sores in them. The Juyce dropped into them doth the same. The Root of Betony is displeasing both to the tast and Stomach, whereas the Leavs and Flowers by their sweet and spicy tast, are comfortable both in Meat and Medicine.

There are some of the many Vertues Antony Musa an expert Physitian (for it was not the practice of Octavius Caesar to keep Fools about him) apropriates to Bethony; It is a very precious Herb that's certain, and most fitting to be kept in a mans hous both in Syrup, Conserve, Oyl, Oyntment, and Plaister. The Flowers are usually Conserved.

The Herb is apropriated to the Planet Jupiter, and the Sign Aries.

I suppose it needless to describe it, being already so wel known to my Countrymen.

[p. 16]

This smal Bush creepeth along upon the ground scarce rising half a yard high, with divers smal dark green Leaves set on the green Branches, not alwaies one against another, and a little dented about the edges: At the foot of the Leaves com forth smal, hollow, pale, blush coloured Flowers, the brims ending in five points, with a reddish threed in the middle, which pass into smal round Berries of the bigness and colour of Juniper Berries, but of a Purple sweetish sharp tast; the Juyce of them giveth a Purplish colour to their Hands and Lips that eat and handle them, especially if they break them. The Root groweth asloop under ground, shooting forth in sundry places as it creepeth: This loseth its Leaves in Winter.

The Red Bilberry, or Whortle-bush, riseth up like the former, having sundry harder Leaves, like the Box-Tree Leaves, green and round pointed standing on the several Branches, at the tops whereof only, and not from the sides as in the former, com forth divers round flowers of a pale red color, after which succeed, round reddish sappy Berries when they are ripe, of a sharp tast: The Root runneth in the ground, as the former; but the Leaves of this abide al Winter.

[EDGENOTE:] Agues, Stomach, Liver, Vomiting, Apetite lost, Cough, Phtisick, Fluxes.

the Berries made into 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 Whorts are more binding, and stop Womens Courses, spitting of Blood, or any other Flux of Blood or Humors, being used aswel outwardly as inwardly.

There is another sort growes in wet grounds and Marshes, which is somwhat differing from the former: It is a smaler Plant, and greener, having somtimes three Leaves; the Spike of Flowers is less than the former, and the Roots of this do run or creep in the ground.

They are much and often used by many to good purpose for Wounds both green and old, and to consolidate or knit Ruptures.

[EDGENOTE:] Stone, sore Mouths.

any of these being drunk for some time together, is available to break the Stone in the Kidnies or Bladder; and is good also to wash sore Mouths.

There is another sort of Birds-Foot in all

[p. 17]

things like the former, but a little larger; the Flowers of a pale whitish red colour, and the Cods distinct by Joynts like the other, but a little more crooked, and the Roots do carry many small white Knots or Kernels amongst the Strings.

[EDGENOTE:] Dry, Binds Wounds, Stone, Ruptures.

Kidnies, and drive them forth, if the Decoction therof be taken; and it wonderfully helpeth the Rupture, being taken inwardly, and outwardly applied to the place.

All Salts have best operation upon the Ston, as Ointments & Plaisters have upon Wounds; and therfore if you may make a Salt of this for the Stone, the way how to do so many be found in my Translation of the London Dispensatory, and it may be I may give you again in plainer terms at the latter end of this Book.

[EDGENOTE:] Disury, Terms provokes, Wind, Chollick, Venemous Beasts, Cantharides, black and blew Spots, High Colour, Mother.

clenseth the Mother.

It is hot and dry in the third degree, of a bitter tast and somthing sharp withal; it provokes Lust to purpose; I suppose Venus owns it.

There are other sorts of Bistort, growing in this Land, but smaller, both in height, Root, and Stalks, and especially in the Leavs, The Root blackish without, and somwhat whitish within, of an austere binding tast as the former.

[EDGENOTE:] Poyson, Plague, Smal Pocks, Meazles, Purples, Epidemical Diseases. Inward bleeding, Flux, Vomiting Ruptures, Jaundice, Venemous Beasts.

in Wine being drunk, stayeth al manner of inward bleedings or spittings of Blood, and any Fluxes in the Body of either Man or Woman or Vomitings; it is also very available against Ruptures or Burstings or all bruises or fals, dissolving the congealed Blood, and easeth the pains that happen therupon, it also helpeth the Jaundice. The Wa-

[p. 17, i.e. p. 18 (two pages numbered 17)]

ter distilled from both Leavs and Roots is a singular remedy to wash any place bitten or stung by any venemous 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 drunk, hindreth Abortion or Miscarriage in Child-bearing. The Leavs also kil the Worms in Children, and is a great help for them that cannot keep their Water, if the Juyce of Plantane be added therto. And outwardly applied, much helpeth the

[EDGENOTE:] Ulcers, Abortion, Worms, Diabites, Running of the Reins, Wounds, Bleeding.

Gonorrhea, or Running of the Reins. A dram of the Pouder of the Root taken in the Water thereof, wherein som 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 humors. The Leaves, Seed, or Roots are al very good in Decoctions, Drinks or Lotians, for inward or outward Wounds or other sores: and the Pouder strewed upon any cut or wound in a Vein, stayeth the immoderat bleeding thereof. The Decoction of the Roots in Water whereunto som Pomgranate Pils and Flowers are added, injected into the Matrix, stayeth the access of humors to the Ulcers thereof, and bringeth it to its right place, being fallen down, and stayeth the immoderat flux of the Courses. The Root hereof with Pellitory of Spain and burnt Allum of each a like quantity, beaten smal and made into Past, with some Honey, and a little piece thereof put into an hollow-Tooth, or held between the Teeth if there be no hollowness in them, stayeth the defluxion of Rhewm upon them, which causeth pains, and helps to clense the Head, and avoid much offensive Water. The Distilled Water is very effectual to wash Sores or Cankers in the Nose or any other part, if the Pouder of the Root be applied

[EDGENOTE:] Matrix, Terms stops, Tooth-ach, Head, Cankers, Gums, Inflamations, Almonds of the Ears.

therunto afterwards. It is good also to fasten the Gums, and to take away the heat and inflamations that happen in the Jaws, Almonds of the Throat or Mouth, if the Decoction of the Leavs, Roots, or Seeds be used, or the Juyce of them; but the Roots are most effectual to all the purposes aforesaid.

THE BRAMBLE; or Black-Berry-Bush.

This is so wel known that it needeth no Description. The Vertues therof are as followeth.

[EDGENOTE:] Ulcers, Sores, Quinsie, Wounds, Flux, Bloody flux, Spitting Bloud, Gravel, Stone, Secrets.

unripe are very binding, and so profitable for the Bloudy-flux, Lasks, and are a fit remedy for spitting of Bloud. Either the Decoction or Pouder of the Root being taken is good to break or drive forth Gravel, and the Stone in the Reins and Kidnies. The Leavs and Brambles aswel green as dry, are excellent good Lotions for sores in the Mouth or secret parts: The Decoction of them & of the dried Branches, do much bind the Belly, and are good for the too much flowing of Womens Courses: The Berries or the Flowers are a powerful remedy against the Poyson of the most venemous Serpents, as wel drunk as outwardly applied, helpeth the sores of the Fundament, and the Piles. The Juyce of the Berries mixed with Juyce of Mulberries, do bind more effectually, and help fretting and eating sores and Ulcers whersoever. The Distilled Water of the Branches, Leaves and Flowers, or of the Fruit, is very pleasant in tast, and very effe-

[p. 18, i.e. p. 19 (19 skipped in numbering)]

ctual in Feavers and hot distempers of the Body, Head, Eyes and other parts, and for al the purposes aforesaid. The Leaves boyled in Ly and the Head washed therewith, healeth the Itch and the running sores therof, and maketh the Hair black. The Pouder of the Leaves strewed on cankrous and running Ulcers, doth wonderfully help to heal them. Some

[EDGENOTE:] Terms stops, Poyson, Venemous Beasts. Fundament Piles, Feavers, Head, Eyes, Itch, Scabby Heads.

use to condensate the Juyce of the Leaves, and some the Juyce of the Berries to keep for their use all the year, for the purposes aforesaid.

It is a Plant of Venus in Aries: You shall have Som directions at the latter end of the Book for the gathering of al Herbs and Plants &c. If any ask the reason why Venus is so prickly? Tel them 'tis because she is in the house of Mars.

The red Blite is in all things like the white, but that his Leavs and tufted heads are exceeding red at first, and after turn more Purplish.

There are other kinds of Blites which grow wild, differing from the two former sorts but little, only the wild are smaler in every part.

[EDGENOTE:] Reds and Whites in Women.

There is one other sort of wild Blites, like the other wild kinds, but having long and spike heads of greenish Seed, seeming by the thick setting together to be al Seed.

This sort the Fishes are delighted with, and it is a good and usual Bait; for the Fishes will bite fast enough at them, if you have but wit enough to catch them when they bite.

[EDGENOTE:] Feavers, Pestilence, Poyson, Venemous Beasts. Milk in Nurses. Melancholy, Ill Bloud.

any of them are good to expel Pensiveness and Melancholly: it helpeth to clarifie the Bloud, and mitigate heat in Feavers. The Juyce made into a Syrup prevaileth much to all the purposes aforesaid, and is put with other cooling, opening, clensing Herbs, to open obstructions, and help the yellow-Jaundice, and mixed with Fumitory, to cool, clens, and temper the Blood, therby it helpeth the Itch, Ringworms, and Tetters, or other spreading Scabs or Sores. The Flowers candied, or made into a Conserve are helping in the former causes, but are chiefly used as a Cordial, and is good for those that are weak with long sickness, and to comsumptions, or troubled with often swoonings or

[EDGENOTE:] Yellow-Jaundice, Itch, Ringworms, Tetters, Scabs, Weakness by long sickness, Consumption, Swooning, Inflamations. Ulcers, sore Mouths & Throat, Cough, Flegm.

passions of the Heart: The Distilled Water is no less effectual to all the purposes aforesaid, and helpeth the redness and inflamations of the Eyes being washed therewith: The dried Herb is never used, but the green; yet the Ashes therof boyled in Mead, or Honyed Water is available against Inflamations and Ulcers in the Mouth or Throat, to wash and gargle it therewith. The Roots of Bugloss are effectual being made into a licking Electuarie, for the Cough, and to condensate thin flegm, and Rhewmatick Distillations upon the Lungs.

They are both Herbs of Jupiter, and under Leo, both great Cordials, great strengthners of Nature.

[p. 20 (19 skipped in numbering)]

which I purposely omit both in this and others, my intent being only to insist most principally upon the vulgarly known, and commonly growing Flowers and Herbs.

[EDGENOTE:] Bruises, Broken Veins, Poyson, Plague, Epidemical Diseases, Wounds, Ulcers, Inflamations in the Eyes.

Juyce put into fresh or green Wounds doth quicky soder up the Lips of them together, and is very effectual to heal al Ulcers and Sores in the Mouth: The Juyce dropped into the Eyes, taketh away the heat and inflamation in them. The distilled Water of the Herb hath the same properties, and may be used for all the Effects aforesaid.

[EDGENOTE:] Falling-sickness, Vertigo, Flegm, Palsies, Convulsion, Cramp, Stitches, Dropsies, Gravel, Stone, Obstructions, Womb, Mother, Dead Child, After-birth.

for Palseys, Convulsions, Cramps, and Stitches in the Sides, and the Dropsie; and in provoking Urin it clenseth the Reins and Kidnies from Gravel and the Stone, and consumeth the hardness and swellings therof. The Decoction of the Root in Wine drunk once a week at going to bed, clenseth the Mother, and helpeth the rising, therof, expelleth the dead Child, and Afterbirth, but is not to be used by Women with Child, for fear of abortion; a dram of the Root in Pouder taken in white Wine bringeth down their Courses. An Electuary made of the Roots and Honey, doth mightily clens the Chest of Rotten Flegm, and wonderfully help an old strong Cough, those that are troubled with shortness of Breath, and is very good for them that are brused inwardly, to help to expel the clotted or congealed Blood. The Leavs, Fruit, and Root, do clens old and filthy Sores, are good against al fretting and running Cankers, Gangrenes, and Tetters, and therfore the Berries are by some Country People called Tetter-Berries. The Root clenseth the Skin wonderfully from al black and blew Spots, Freckles, Morphew, Leprosie, foul Scars, or other deformity whatsoever: as also al running Scabs, and Manginess are healed by the Pouder of the dried Root, or the Juyce therof, but especially by the fine white hardned Juyce: The distilled water of the

[EDGENOTE:] Cough, Shortness of Breath, Sores, Cankers, Gangrenes, Tetters, Ringworms, Black Spots, Freckles, Morphew, Leprosie.

Roots worketh the same effects but more weakly. The Root bruised and applied of it self to any place where the Bones are broken, helpeth to draw them forth, as also Splinters and Thorns in the Flesh; and being applied with a little Wine mixed therwith it breaketh Boyls, and helpeth Whitlows on the Joynts.

For al these latter beginning at Sores, Cankers &c. apply it outwardly and take my advice along with you, you shal find in my Translation of the London Dispensatory,

[EDGENOTE:] Broken Bones, Splinters, Thorns, Whitlows, or Nail-wheals, or Andicoms.

among the Preparations at latter end, a Medicin called Focculae Brioniae, take that and use it, you have the way there how to make it, and mix that with a little Hogs Greas or other convenient Oyntment, and use it at your need.

As for the former Diseases where it must be taken inwardly, it purgeth very Violently, and

[p. 21]

needs an abler hand to correct it than most Country people have, therfore it is a better way for them (in my opinion) to let the Simple alone, and take the Compound Water of it, mentioned in my Dispensatory, and that is far more safe, being wisely corrected.

There is another sort nothing differing from the former, but that it is greater, and the Flowers of a paler blue Colour.

[EDGENOTE:] Blood purgeth, Ill Humors, Scurvy, Disury, Stone, Terms provokes, Dead child, Swellings, Inflamations.

Urin, and help to break the Stone and pass it away; they procure Womens Courses, and expel the dead Child. Being fried with Butter and Vinegar and applied warm, it helpeth all manner of Tumors or Swellings, and Inflamations.

Such drinks ought to be made of Sundry Herbs according to the Malady offending, I shal give a plain and easie Rule at the latter end of the Book.

[EDGENOTE:] Obstructions, Disury, Gravel, Stone, Strangury Terms provokes, Yellow-Jaundice, Headach, Flegm. Broken Bones, Dislocations.

Berries and Leavs being applied, are effectual in knitting and consolidating broken Bones and Parts out of Joynt.

It is called Bruscus in some places, and in Sussex Kneeholly, and Kneeholm. The common way of using it is to boyl the Roots of it and Parsly, and Fennel, and Smallage in white Wine, and drink the Decoction, adding the like quantity of Grass Roots to them; the more of the Roots you boyl 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.

The Broomrape springeth up in many places from the Roots of the Broom, (but more often in fields, by Hedg sides, and on Heaths). The Stalk wherof is of the bigness of a Finger or Thumb, above two Foot high having a show of Leavs on them and many Flowers at

[p. 22]

the top, of a deadish, yellow colour, as also the Stalks and Leavs are.

[EDGENOTE:] Flegm, Joynts, Dropsie, Sides, Spleen, Bladder, Kidneys, Stone, Disury, black Jaundice, Agues.

in the Body. The continual use of the Pouder of the Leaves and Seed, doth cure the Black Jaundice: The distilled Water of the Flowers is profitable for al the same purposes; it also helpeth Surfets, and altereth the Fits of Agues, if three or four ounces therof, with as much of the Water of the lesser Centaury and a little Sugar put therin, be taken a little before the fit cometh, and the party be laid down to sweat in their Bed. The Oyl or Water that is drawn from the ends of the green sticks heated in the fire, helpeth the Toothach. The Juyce of the yong Branches made into an Oyment of old Hogs Greas and anointed, Or the yong Branches bruised and heated in Oyl or Hogs Greas, and laid to the Sides pained by wind, as in Stitches, or the Spleen, easeth them in once or twice using it: The same boyled in Oyl is the safest and surest Medicine to kil Lice in the Head or Body of any; and is an especial Remedy for Joynt aches, and swoln Knees that come by the falling down of Humors.

The Broomrape also is not without his Vertues.

[EDGENOTE:] Toothach, Wind, Stitches, Lice, Stone, Disury, Green Wounds.

The Decoction therof in Wine is thought to be as effectual to avoid the Stone in the Kidnies and Bladder, and to provoke Urin, as the Broom it self: The Juyce therof is a singular good help to cure as wel green Wounds, as old and filthy Sores, and malignant Ulcers. The insolate Oyl wherin there hath been three or four Repetitions of Infusion of the top stalks with Flowers strained and cleered, clenseth the Skin of al manner of Spots, Marks and Freckles that arise either by the heat of the Sun, or the Malignity of humors.

As for the Broom (for as yet I know not what to say to Broomrape in the business) but as from Broom, Mars owns it, and it is exceeding prejucidial to the Liver, I suppose by reason of the Antipathy between Jupiter and Mars, therfore if the Liver be disaffected, administer not of it.

[EDGENOTE:] Venemous Beasts, Stone, Stomach, Vomiting, Bleeding, Pissing blood, Flux, Bloody Flux, Agues, Eyes.

Venus challengeth the Dominion of this Herb.

[p. 23]

The White-flowered Bugle differeth not in form or greatness from the former, saving that the Leavs and Stalks are alwaies green and never brown like the other, and that the Flowers therof are very white.

[EDGENOTE:] Bruises, Falls, Wounds, Scabs, Ulcers, Liver-grown, Gangreans, Fistulaes, Sore Mouths, Gums. Sores in the Secrets, broken bones.

Scabious and Sanicle bruised and boyled in Hogs-Greas, until the Herbs be dry, and then strained forth into a Pot, for such occasions as shal require it is so singular good for all sorts of hurts in the Body, that non that know its usefulness will be without it.

This Herb is belonging to Dame Venus, and if the Vertues of it make you in love with it, (as they wil if you be wise) keep a Syrup of it to take inwardly, and an Ointment and Plaister of it to use outwardly alwaies by you.

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 themselvs much to drinking are troubled with strange Fancies, strange sights in the night-time, and some with Voices, as also with the Diseas Ephialtes or the Mare. I take the reason of this to be (according to

[EDGENOTE:] Mares, Strange Sights in the night.

Fernelius) a Melancholly vapor made thin by excessive drinking strong Liquor, and so flys up and disturbs the Fancy, and breeds imaginations like it self, viz. fearful and troublesom: These 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 do it by Sympathy or Antipathy is som question; all that know any thing in Astrologie, know that there is a great Antipathy between Saturn and Venus in matter of Procreation, yea such an one, that the barreness of Saturn can be removed by none but Venus, nor the lust of Venus be repelled by none but Saturn: but I am not yet of opinion this is done this way; and my reason is because these vapors though in quality Melancholly, yet by their flying upward seem to be somthing Aeriel, therfore I rather think it is done by Sympathy, Saturn being exalted in Libra the house of Venus.

Selfheal, which follows, is of the same nature, and I am of opinion the same Herb, only differs a little in form according to the difference of place they grow in; this I am sure they work the same effect.

[p. 24]

come smal dark purple Flowers, like the former, but greater. The Root is black and long like the other, but greater also: It hath almost neither scent nor tast therin like the Garden kind.

[EDGENOTE:] Heart, Liver, Melancholy, Pestilence, epidemical Diseases, Bleeding, Stoppeth Terms and Whites, Belching, Vomiting, Wound, Ulcers, Cankers, Sores, Fluxes.

They have also a drying and an astringent quality, whereby they are available in all manner of Fluxes or Bloud or Humors, to stanch bleedings inward or outward, Lasks, Scourings, the Bloudy-flux, Womens too abundant Courses, the Whites, and the Chollerick belchings and castings of the Stomach; and is a singular good Wound-herb for all sorts of Wounds both of the Head and Body, either inward or outward; for all old Ulcers, or running Cankers and moist sores to be used either by the Juyce or Decoction of the Herb, or by the Pouder of the Herb or Root, or the Water of the Distilled Herb, or Ointment by it self, 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 Pouder inwardly, in Wine or steeled Water, that is, wherin hot Gads of Steel have been quenched. Or the Pouder of the Seed mixed with the Ointments.

This is an Herb the Sun challengeth dominion over, and is a most precious Herb, little inferior to Betony: The continual use of it preservs the Body in health, and the Spirits in vigor; for if the Sun be the preserver of life under God, his Herbs are the best in the World to do it by.

[EDGENOTE:] Plague, epidemical Diseases. Poyson, Mother, Wheezing, Difficulty of breathing, Disury, Terms provokes, Flat and broad Worms, Blemishes of the skin.

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 singular good for those that wheeze much, or are short-winded. It provoketh Urin also and Womens courses, and killeth the flat and broad Worms in the Belly. The Pouder of the Root doth wonderfully help to dry up the moisture of sores that are hard to be cured, and taketh away all spots and blemishes of the skin.

It were wel if Gentlewomen would keep this Root preserved to help their poor Neighbors: It is fit the Rich should help the Poor, for the Poor cannot help themselvs.

[p. 25]

[EDGENOTE:] Cools, Dryes, Ulcers, Sores, Flegm, Sinews, Arteries, Venemous Beast, Mad dogs, Disury, Bladder, Sciatica, Burning, Sores, Cankers, Consumption, Stone, Flux.

helpeth those that are bit with a mad-Dog. The Juyce of the Leavs taken with Honey provoketh Urin, and remedieth the pain of the Bladder. The Seed being drunk in Wine forty daies together, doth wonderfully help the Sciatica. The Leavs bruised with the White of an Egg and applied to any place burnt with Fire, taketh out the Fire, gives sudden ease, and heals it up afterwards. The Decoction of them fomented on any fretting sore or Canker stayeth the corroding quality, which must be afterwards anointed with an Ointment made of the same Liquor, Hogs-Greas, Nitre and Vinegar, boyled together. The Roots may be preserved with Sugar, and taken fasting, or at other times for the said purposes, and for Consumptions, the Ston, and the Lask. The Seed is much commended to break the Stone and cause it to be expelled by Urin; and is often used with other Seeds and things to that purpose.

Venus challengeth this Herb for her own, and by its Leaf or Seed you may draw the Womb which way you pleas, either upward by applying it to the Crown of the Heed, if in case it fal out; or downward in fits of the Mother, by applying it to the Soals 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. See more of it in my Guide for Women.

Next section
Table of Contents